Most protests are about being seen and heard. For Bloodstained Men and Their Friends—a nonprofit that aims to educate the public about the dangers and ethical issues surrounding infant circumcision—the former seems particularly important. On Oct. 23, protesters on the corner of East Betteravia Road and South Broadway in Santa Maria donned white cowboy hats, […]
SPENCER COLE
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County fines Solvang Hotel Group for illegally dumping chemicals
Santa Barbara County fined a Santa Ynez Valley hotel $31,000 for illegally disposing hazardous waste in an adjacent dumpster. “This settlement holds the hotel owners responsible for putting our environment, our communities, and our first responders at risk,” county District Attorney Joyce Dudley said in an Oct. 20 statement. “Even though the illegal conduct […]
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Spotlight On: Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County
Amy Curti, president
For Amy Curti, and her fellow members at the collective volunteer donor group, the Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County, the power of the purse should not be underestimated. “With my median income, I would never be able to write a check for $25,000 to an organization, but when I write my $125 check […]
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County chasing millions in grants for stormwater resource projects
Santa Barbara County officials are scrambling to receive public input on a stormwater resources plan as the window for grants to fund the program threatens to slam shut. “We anticipate the next round of grant implementation grant funding to come out next fall,” the county’s Water Resources Program Manager Matt Young told the Sun, “so […]
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DA charges Camarillo man for allegedly defrauding elders
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office warned the public to protect its elderly population from potential fraudsters in light of a case currently in court. On Oct. 13, the office issued a news release stating authorities arrested Brett Lovett, 46, of Camarillo, and Robert Burlison, 64, of La Canada, following a 17-month investigation by […]
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Supervisors argue over revenue, cuts, deficit in budget hearings
Budget talks in Santa Barbara County heated up as the Board of Supervisors grappled with the prospect of a deficit numbering in the tens of millions of dollars. Documents detailing the county’s five-year budget forecast—first made public in January—reveal that although the county is increasing in revenues on an annual basis, the earnings are offset […]
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Spotlight On: Studio 8
Berta Cabrera, owner
When Berta Cabrera first started cutting hair, she wasn’t sure how long she would stick with it. “I wanted to be a police officer, but my parent’s didn’t believe in a girl being a police officer,” she said. “My father said, ‘No.’” The refusal was hard to bear. Around that same time, one of Cabrera’s […]
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The art of funding
Santa Maria City Council sends Public Arts Master Plan back for revisions
The Santa Maria City Council is in agreement for the need of a public arts master plan. What council members cannot agree on is how to fund it. “That’s what it really is about,” Councilmember Mike Cordero told the Sun. “It’s gotta be paid for. The trick is, who pays?” On Oct. 3, council members […]
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SpaceX launches satellites from Vandenberg, completes landing
Another SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket blasted into low-earth orbit just after 5:30 a.m. on Oct. 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base. After delivering its payload of Iridium Communications Inc. satellites, the rocket booster successfully landed on a platform in the Pacific Ocean, according to a SpaceX news release. “Each successful launch brings us one step […]
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Lompoc City Council grants city manager vote of confidence
Following months of public feuding, Lompoc City Council members unanimously agreed in closed session on Oct. 3 that they had confidence in their city manager, Patrick Wiemiller. Mayor Bob Lingl made the announcement in open session at that night’s City Council meeting. “We had a very good discussion, some back and forth, and at the […]
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County and city fire agencies respond to fires across state
As thousands of acres in California burn, firefighters from across the state are scrambling to douse the flames, including some from Santa Barbara County and city fire agencies. According to a news release from Cal Fire on Oct. 10, at least 17 large wildfires started over a span of 36 hours, burning more than 115,000 […]
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Spotlight on: Maverick Saloon
Mark Burnett, owner
The Maverick Saloon has sold. For the past 14 years, Mark Burnett and his son, Travis, have owned and operated the 54-year-old bar and music venue, which featured live acts ranging from members of the original Byrds to Sugarland to a young Taylor Swift. That changes on Oct. 1, when the Burnetts hand off ownership […]