The Santa Maria Fairpark has always served as “the heartbeat of our local community,” Santa Barbara County Farm Bureau Executive Director Teri Bontrager said during a virtual agriculture forum on Sept. 11. That is, until COVID-19 hit, leaving in its wake canceled gatherings and empty event spaces. As a result, “the lifeblood of our community,” […]
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Lompoc’s mayoral candidates talk about their campaign platforms and hot issues
The Lompoc mayoral race this year brings together familiar faces, with incumbent Mayor Jenelle Osborne running against 2nd District City Councilmember Victor Vega. The Sun spoke with the candidates to hear more about their campaign priorities and issues that will define the upcoming election and beyond. Though Osborne is originally from Texas, the mayoral incumbent […]
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Additional Santa Barbara County schools approved, apply for reopening waivers
Santa Barbara County Public Health Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso announced at a Sept. 15 Board of Supervisors meeting that this week the county is, once again, assigned to the “purple tier” in California’s new reopening system. This means that schools have to stay distanced, gyms and restaurants must operate outdoors, and the county continues to […]
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New health order will regulate homeless shelters, H-2A housing
After experiencing multiple serious COVID-19 outbreaks and community groups’ continued advocacy for increased Public Health Department involvement, Santa Barbara County H-2A housing and homeless shelters are now regulated through a new health order. Issued on Sept. 11, the order applies to all individuals entering or residing in homeless shelters and H-2A housing. It requires that […]
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CARE4Paws is hosting a pet food drive and donation-matching campaign this month to help pet owners and animals in need
It’s well documented that owning a pet can help reduce anxiety and depression. Studies conducted by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute found that pets can alleviate worry, provide comfort, and even reduce blood pressure in their owners. But when owning a pet becomes a financial burden, some of those positive effects can be threatened—and […]
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Buellton gym faces closure for health order noncompliance
While local enforcement agencies have, for the most part, found success with voluntary compliance when enforcing COVID-19 health orders, the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office announced on Sept. 2 that a gym in Buellton is being taken to court for refusing to halt indoor operations during the pandemic. According to a press release, an […]
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Santa Maria allows U-Haul to add 600 mini-storage units to its property
Santa Maria’s miniature storage options are about to increase. The City Council voted on Sept. 1 to deny an appeal brought before them by Stephen Wagner, a concerned community member who opposed the city Planning Commission’s June 17 decision to approve permits for the U-Haul Mini Storage and Office project. The Planning Commission’s decision in […]
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COVID-19 has particularly challenged organizations that rely on large fundraising events to keep doors open
The pandemic has forced nonprofits and small businesses alike to find creative ways to stay afloat. For businesses, that could look like upping online sales while physical doors remain closed, or bringing services outdoors. But for organizations and foundations, adapting to pandemic limitations has been uniquely challenging—especially with budgets that depend more on fundraising events […]
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Rental assistance available for most eligible North County residents
The city of Santa Maria announced a new emergency rental assistance program on Aug. 27 for low- to moderate-income households that have experienced a decrease in income as a result of COVID-19. Made possible through special Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding that’s targeted at pandemic response, the program offers up to three months of […]
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New apartments could increase Guadalupe’s population, alleviate housing shortages
The city of Guadalupe’s population size could grow by the hundreds in the near future thanks to new housing developments that are set to receive occupancy clearance this month. Peoples’ Self-Help Housing has 38 new units, Guadalupe City Planning Director Larry Appel told the Sun. These affordable housing units are deed restricted, meaning they will […]
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Free class gives local families the tools to support a loved one’s mental health
Mental illness doesn’t just affect the people who receive the diagnosis; it’s an experience that loved ones go through with them. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), with chapters in both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, is working to equip families with the tools they need to support a loved one who […]
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Golden State Killer sentenced to life in prison without parole
Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., widely known as the Golden State Killer, was sentenced on Aug. 21 to 11 consecutive life sentences for committing 13 murders, plus an additional life sentence for 13 kidnappings, without the possibility of parole. Among his 13 felony counts of first-degree murder, four were committed in Santa Barbara County. DeAngelo also […]