Bravo to Ojai for adopting a groundbreaking new law—an ordinance protecting companion animals from unethical breeding—making it the first U.S. city to ban “torture breeding.” This cruel practice involves intentionally breeding animals to have distorted physical features—such as grotesquely flattened faces and disproportionately long spines—which lead to a lifetime of suffering. Ojai’s law will […]
Sun Staff
Posted inNews
Political Watch: October 31, 2024
• Santa Barbara County Registrar of Voters Joe Holland reminds voters that as Election Day approaches, voters have several options for returning their ballots, according to an Oct. 24 statement from the county. “All registered voters in Santa Barbara County were mailed an official vote-by-mail ballot and voting materials in early October,” Holland said in […]
Posted inOpinion
Alice Patino is good for Santa Maria
Mayor Alice Patino has been serving the community of Santa Maria since 2000. As a city official for 24 years, she has a proven track record of supporting public safety. Under her leadership, backing, and approval, Mayor Patino has facilitated adding two new fire stations, relocating a fire station, and adding a second fully staffed […]
Posted inOpinion
Vote Lydia Perez for Lompoc mayor
Everyone recognizes that Lompoc is a community with immense potential. From its beautiful natural surroundings, historical richness, and vibrant cultural life to its agricultural prowess and dedicated residents, Lompoc has all the makings of a thriving city. However, despite these desirable assets, we’ve seen the city struggle with a lack of active leadership on its […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: October 24, 2024
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for making improvements to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to help callers access localized, lifesaving behavioral health resources, according to an Oct. 17 statement from Padilla’s office. The FCC Board of Directors unanimously voted to finalize the […]
Posted inOpinion
Americans love to hate
Nov. 5. It’s coming at us fast. The divisiveness is dragging us down. I keep hearing that, “our bipartisan bill”; to be perfectly clear, the only bipartisan cooperation that I see is to protect the insider trading that’s going on among our elected officials, both sides being complicit in this. But, I digress. The election. […]
Posted inOpinion
Give Lompoc a continued bright future: reelect Mayor Osborne
As a 30-year resident of Lompoc, I am writing to support the reelection of Mayor Jenelle Osborne. She has turned the town around with her dedication to security and improved work conditions for all. She has balanced the budget and taken part in most city-related associations. So let’s give Lompoc a continued bright future by […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Menus – Fall/Winter 2024-25
The Central Coast Guide to All Things Food and Drink
Posted inSpecial Issues
Aww factor: This issue features the Central Coast’s cutest pets and a little something extra
Brighten up your day by flipping through the winners of our second annual pet photo contest. Readers from across the Central Coast submitted more than 400 images of their cats, dogs, lizards, chickens, horses, bunnies, and even fish in this year’s competition. A panel of five judges narrowed them to the top three in each […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: October 17, 2024
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) celebrated the launch of California’s first federal home energy rebates program to help lower utility bills and home energy costs for Central Coast residents, according to an Oct. 8 statement from Carbajal’s office. The rebate program will make it cheaper for California residents to install heat pumps, electrical […]
Posted inOpinion
Trump presidency would end American freedom as we know it
I’m replying to a letter that was supporting Trump with statements that have been proven to be false (“Reelect Donald Trump, the champion of ‘we the people,’” Oct. 10). 1. Successful business people do not file for bankruptcy six times. 2. World peace would mean Putin can run rampant and take over any country he […]
Posted inOpinion
Richards Ranch annexation is not an even playing field
Orcutt finds itself in an odd position with this annexation. We have to forward our concerns to the city, not the county. We have to rely on the city to support us even though they may hold other interests. Not an even playing field. This annexation process has been compared to a hostile takeover. I’ve […]
