Some local fish are about to get a big hand from the government. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a press release on Jan. 10 that unveiled the agency’s plan to restore the steelhead trout population from the Santa Maria River in Santa Barbara County south to the United States/Mexico border. Steelhead trout […]
KRISTINA SEWELL
Posted inNews
Lompoc High School principal is still on administrative leave
When Lompoc High School students return from their winter break, they might be surprised by the absence of their principal, Alfonso Garagarza. Garagarza, who has been principal of Lompoc High School for the last three years, was placed on paid administrative leave after a fellow staff member filed a complaint against him at the end […]
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Santa Maria’s California Fresh closes
Santa Marians bid farewell to smoothie and sandwich shop California Fresh on Jan. 13, after eight years of business on the Central Coast. To say goodbye to customers, California Fresh owner Chad Jordan held a barbecue at his shop’s relatively new location on Industrial Parkway. Jordan moved his business from a storefront on Betteravia Road […]
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Fighting fire with fiery passion
Meet Santa Maria’s new fire chief in the new year
On Dec. 20, the Santa Maria City Council welcomed a fresh face to the fire department when Dan Orr was sworn in as the new fire chief. Orr is taking over for Jeff Jones, who retired after seven years at the top. According to Orr, the city manager’s office selected him because of his experience […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Change of scene
Zaca Mesa’s new assistant winemaker brings her passion to the craft
Zaca Mesa Winery in Los Olivos has a lot of history. And it should; it’s one of Santa Barbara County’s premiere pioneer wineries. Established in 1972, Zaca Mesa developed its own unique method of wine production, since there weren’t many other wineries to learn from at the time. The winery eventually figured out that its […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Time to celebrate
Rancho Sisquoc Winery gears up for the annual Celebration of Harvest
The first time the annual Celebration of Harvest event took place at Rancho Sisquoc Winery—on Oct. 23, 1991—it was pouring rain and there was mud everywhere. Jim Fiolek, executive director of the Santa Barbara County Vintner’s Association (SBCVA), recalls the first celebration with fondness. “It had rained so much that the school buses that were […]
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Soothing Touch Infant Massage
Jayna Troutman, owner/practitioner
If someone on the street walked up to you and said there’s such a thing as massage therapy for infants, you’d probably be skeptical. But seriously, there is such a thing. Infant massage, though not often talked about, is a medically proven practice that delivers numerous benefits to infants. Silly parents—babies can get massages, too! […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Atsuko Wolcott
Atsuko Wolcott has always been fascinated by the art of karate, and she reveled in the mental and spiritual aspects of the sport while watching her sons at karate practice. It wasn’t until the age of 48, after both of her sons had graduated from high school, that Wolcott found the courage to take a […]
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Flexing to fight muscular dystrophy
When asked to define the Pentecostal faith, many people would probably know just enough to say it’s a mystical religion that involves lots of singing, speaking in tongues, and sometimes even snakes. But to thousands of people across the United States and countless other countries, it’s much more. “We’re not a cult by any means,” […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Athlete of the Week
Carlos Angulo
Carlos Angulo steps up to the starting block, takes a deep breath, and waits for the start of the race. At the signal, he’s off the block in the blink of an eye, racing ahead of the pack. Since last May, Angulo has been training and racing for a shot at the track at the […]
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Healing with horses
Famed ‘horse whisperer’ Monty Roberts invites war veterans to his Solvang ranch for some emotional healing.
It’s another day at war, another day of fighting off ruthless insurgent attacks in the name of your country. You get up, clean your weapon, and prepare for patrol. You spend all day walking through the blazing deserts, shooting at threats and getting shot at. At the end of your watch, you return to base, […]
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Local women use the ‘power of the purse’ to make a big difference
Giving back or making a difference doesn’t always mean donating millions of dollars or building monstrous recreation centers. The Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County is living proof that it only takes a little effort to make a big difference. The fund was recently host to its fourth annual presentation reception, where members awarded […]