Additions to Lompoc’s public transportation system mean slight fare increases, which went into effect on Sept. 2. The new services are part of the city’s effort to address the evolving mobility needs of the community, City Transit and Airport Administrator Richard Fernbaugh said in an email interview with the Sun. The City of Lompoc Transit […]
Madison White
Art exhibit at Mattei’s Tavern showcases horses and the wild West
Experience the power and grace of open roads and roaming horses at an art show at the Inn at Mattei’s Tavern from Aug. 30 to 31. Artists Kimerlee Curyl and Karen Bezuidenhout showcase work that “invites you to pause, reflect, and reconnect with nature, spirit, and the beauty that exists in the unspoken,” according to […]
Local artists support fundraising efforts for Carrizo Plain after Madre Fire
Artists are donating 50 percent of their sales from an online art show to support the restoration of Carrizo Plain National Monument, which was damaged by the Madre Fire in July. The landscape paintings of Carrizo are available online through Oct. 15 and include oil, watercolor, pastel, and acrylic works. Members of San Luis Obispo […]
A new family-run brunch spot in Grover Beach serves American classics with a Mexican flair
Cindy Flores never pictured herself running a restaurant. Instead, she was thinking of opening her own hair salon when she found a restaurant space for rent in Grover Beach last October. Flores sent the link to two of her brothers, who have worked in the food industry for decades, and they visited the spot soon […]
Lompoc continues pushing for county to annex land for housing
Lompoc is still in the middle of a long-standing debate with Santa Barbara County over annexing two parcels of land into the city to pave the way for a housing project. Bodger Meadows would provide 200 single-family homes and 140 apartment units. The apartments range from studios to three-bedroom units, and 20 percent of the […]
A muralist returns home to Lompoc, aiming to inspire students through affirmations and art
Follow along In the future, Jose Bustos plans to paint more murals in Lompoc and experiment with new media like spray paint. Follow Jose Bustos on Instagram @jose_bustos_art. In 1992, when Jose Bustos was 12 years old, he painted his first mural. He created the design for an art contest at Arthur Hapgood Elementary in […]
A Lompoc artist strengthens the community with art clubs and shows
See the show Visit the Creating Through Chaos show through Aug. 24 at the Cypress Gallery, which is located at 119 E. Cypress Ave. in Lompoc. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Reach Manic Creative online at maniccreativeart.com or on Instagram at @maniccreativeart. Mixed-media artist Jasmine Gonzalez moved […]
An indie movie with local ties plays in Santa Maria for one night only
Umbag, an independent Filipino-American film, will be playing in Santa Maria on Aug. 25. Rosemarie Dumadara Koerner, a member of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, executive produced the movie, and her daughter, Marie Dumadara, stars in one of the leading roles. “The story delves into universal experiences of family dynamics, sibling rivalry, and […]
PCPA’s Frozen musical auditions open soon for young actors
Young actors are invited to audition for the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) production of Disney’s Frozen. Auditions start at 10 a.m. on Aug. 23 at 900 E. Stowell Road in Santa Maria. Actors should memorize approximately one minute of a song from a musical to perform and bring sheet music for the provided accompanist. The […]
Animals return home after being evacuated from Gifford Fire
The large animals evacuated due to the Gifford Fire are back at home as of Aug. 19. Starting on Aug. 2, the Horse Emergency Evacuation Team (HEET) of San Luis Obispo County helped facilitate the evacuation of around 50 animals including horses, goats, llamas, donkeys, and pigs. Animals were evacuated from Huasna, Ranchita, Santa Margarita, […]
Students learn from nurses and doctors during a summer mentorship program at Dignity Health hospitals
St. Joseph High School senior Ysabel Adoremos always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Both of her parents are nurses, and she loved the idea of working in the medical field. After her first week in the Dignity Health Centers of the Central Coast physician mentor program this summer, Adoremos discovered her interest in […]
Pico Los Alamos hosts a tomato-forward lunch with the farmer who grew them
Nine years ago, Kali Kopley and Will Henry bought the original Los Alamos General Store that was built in 1880 and turned it into their restaurant, Pico Los Alamos. Their goal was to create a farmer-driven, fine dining spot. The husband-wife duo tore out the parking lot behind the building and planted a garden. Let’s […]

