Drinkers visiting Los Olivos’ many wine tasting rooms may finally enjoy an important feature that some county residents say has long been missing from the area—public restrooms. But first, the unincorporated area needs a regulated way to deal with wastewater. Los Olivos residents have until Jan. 30 to cast a vote on Measure P2018, which, […]
Kasey Bubnash
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Local animal shelters receive disaster relief funding
The Santa Barbara County Animal Care Foundation received a $10,000 grant from the Bissell Pet Foundation to help support the care of animals impacted by the county’s recent wildfires and mudslides. Shelters in Santa Barbara County take in thousands of strays each year, according to Bissell, and when recent natural disasters threatened even more animal […]
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Allan Hancock College music professor offers free recording time to local musicians
As music professor Chris Diaz pushed and turned the seemingly endless array of buttons and nobs on the mixing console in Allan Hancock College’s recently remodeled recording studio, the music pumping out of the studio’s speakers changed dramatically. “A lot of the cool stuff comes from breaking the rules,” Diaz said, citing the distortion used […]
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Downtown Santa Maria may get a much needed facelift, but not before city officials hear from the community
Dangerous, unwelcoming, noisy, and unattractive were just some of the words used by community members to describe downtown Santa Maria at two design workshops hosted by the city in October 2017. Other residents mentioned a lack of local cafes, art galleries, and other businesses present in the area, as well as low walkability, and a […]
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Aggressive influenza season causes deaths, strains medical facilities
This season’s aggressive strains of influenza have killed six Santa Barbara County residents in the last two weeks alone. Although the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department said all six victims were older than 65, the two-week count is already a significant increase from last year’s season total of three influenza-related deaths. And the number […]
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State blocks use of neonicotinoid pesticides during re-evaluation
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) announced on Jan. 3 its decision to re-evaluate four neonicotinoid pesticides due to possible adverse impacts on pollinators. The decision temporarily bans new or expanded uses of the neonicotinoids for the duration of the DPR’s re-evaluation process, effective immediately. Neonicotinoids—pesticides used to deter insect activity on a variety […]
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Last Santa Maria DUI checkpoint of 2017 nabs unlicensed driver
The last in a string of DUI checkpoints arranged by the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) in 2017 again failed to catch any intoxicated drivers. As in previous checkpoints, none of the 532 drivers screened on Dec. 29, 2017, were arrested for drugged or alcohol-impaired driving. The SMPD’s Traffic Unit conducted several DUI checkpoints throughout […]
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Chumash Technology in Schools Program ends first year with major donation to Guadalupe schools
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians donated 48 laptop computers and two mobile charging carts to Guadalupe Union School District in December, the last of many donations made through the tribe’s first year of its Technology in Schools Program. Guadalupe Union School District will put its new Chromebooks to use in classrooms at both […]
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Statewide regulations restricting pesticide use near schools go into effect
New regulations adopted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) further restricting pesticide use near schools went into effect on Jan. 1. The regulations impact about 4,100 public K-12 schools and licensed child day care facilities in California, including 50 in Santa Barbara County, and nearly 2,500 growers statewide. The rules ban California farmers […]
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Santa Ynez Valley Foundation donates $7,000 to help rebuild Circle V Ranch Camp
The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation announced on Dec. 25 that it would give a special $7,000 grant to the Circle V Ranch Camp and Retreat Center, a Catholic summer camp near Cachuma Lake that was badly damaged during the Whittier Fire. The fire, which ignited near the camp in July 2017, trapped more than 80 […]
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Thomas Fire close to containment as locals organize support
Since its start on the evening of Dec. 4, the Thomas Fire has caused irreparable damages—it’s killed a firefighter, destroyed 1,063 structures, and damaged another 267. It’s burned 272,800 acres so far in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties and cost more than $160 million to suppress as of the Sun‘s press time. But after weeks […]
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Santa Maria man charged after alleged drunk driving incident killed two on Highway 154
A Santa Maria man was arrested on felony charges after he allegedly lost control of his car on Highway 154 on Dec. 17, causing a three-vehicle crash that killed two people and injured two more. Rigoberto Gracida, 30, has been charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence of alcohol causing injury and […]