Santa Barbara County’s poverty rate is the third highest in the state, according to a new report from the nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). The Central Coast county’s 23 percent poverty rate trailed only Los Angeles (24.3) and Santa Cruz (23.8) counties. “The picture of poverty is quite different than […]
SPENCER COLE
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Spotlight on: Community Bank of Santa Maria Janet Silveria, CEO
It’s been a year of change for the Community Bank of Santa Maria. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, since the firm completed the sale of its Lompoc branch on May 18, net income increased by more than 130 percent, according to Janet Silveria, the bank’s president and CEO. The agreement between […]
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Missing the pointe: Dance studio may move despite being granted youth center status
When Angela Mill and her husband, Mason, built their several-thousand-square-foot dance studio in Old Town Lompoc, it was a dream come to life. But in recent months, the owners of the Classical School of Ballet say they felt as if they’ve been living in a nightmare. “This has been hell,” Angela said, as she weaved […]
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Following footprints: State scientists aim to map mountain lion numbers and species health
You probably should’ve died,” the husky, walrus-mustached U.S. Forest Service worker told me that balmy July evening. It was 2015, the height of the last so-called drought that never really ended on California’s Central Coast. And the animals, myself included, were restless. One long summer after another, interrupted by brief winters that brought only sputters […]
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U.S. Forest Service releases proposal for new trail east of Santa Maria
A new U.S. Forest Service project aims to convert miles of damaged dirt road into non-motorized trail in the Los Padres National Forest. Forest Service officials released an environmental assessment for the La Brea Restoration Project on July 23. The work would involve repairing road destroyed by major flooding about a decade ago along the […]
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Santa Barbara County Ag report says most crops increasing in value
Strawberries up, dairy, grapes, and bee products down
The 2017 Santa Barbara County Crop Report released this month said most commodities were rising in value, with strawberries leading the pack and broccoli replacing wine grapes as the years’ second most valuable. “Agriculture is the No. 1 contributor to the county’s economy and through the multiplier effect, contributes approximately $2.8 billion to the local […]
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Spotlight on: Rancho Bowl and Lounge: Ashlee Carranza, owner
It’s been almost 60 years since Rancho Bowl first opened its doors in Santa Maria. A lot can change in that time, but not the family that owns it. Ashlee Carranza found her way into the bowling business when she married her partner, Luke, whose family has owned the establishment since the beginning. “We have […]
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Exxon tanker truck proposal met by protesters before meeting
They came by the dozen and filed in front of the county Engineering Building in Santa Barbara just as the sun began to set on July 11. Armed with signs and shouting slogans decrying fossil fuels, the protesters then marched haphazardly inside, squeezing into the small meeting room that was quickly packed to near capacity. […]
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Spotlight on: Pashion Footwear, Haley Pavone, CEO
It took a freak dance floor accident for Haley Pavone, 22, to look down at her high-heeled shoes and wonder if there was a better way. Working her way through college at Cal Poly SLO as a business major with a focus on entrepreneurship, Pavone attended a formal event in spring of 2016. Like she […]
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Lompoc City Council provides exemption buffer zone for dance studio
Lompoc’s Classical School of Ballet will have a buffer zone protecting it from encroaching marijuana businesses after all, following an agreement struck between the school’s owners and the city’s attorney. Owner Angela Mill threatened the city with legal action after its council voted 3-2 not to include dance studios as youth centers, eliminating a protective […]
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Spotlight on: Santa Barbara County Fair
Shelly Cone, public relations
Hold on to your cowboy hats, the fair is back in town. The annual event, now celebrating its 127th year, features the state’s largest junior livestock auction, big-name musical artists, and an assortment of local goods ranging from jams, jellies, pies, homemade quilts, floriculture, and photography at the Santa Maria Fairpark. “It’s going to be […]
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Dividing lines: Pair of competing ordinances aim to control supervisorial redistricting process
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and citizen activists traded barbs over two competing ordinances that aim to redraw the supervisors’ district boundaries. The conflict was pushed into public discussion during two separate hearings at the board’s regular meeting on July 2. At issue were the differing language and requirements found in the ordinances, […]