Taylor O'Connor, Author at Santa Maria Sun

Pipeline takeover

ExxonMobil-affiliated companies take ownership of the Plains oil pipeline, environmentalists concerned for future

by Taylor O'Connor June 22, 2023August 26, 2023

Santa Barbara County’s ongoing discussion about what to do with the oil pipeline that spilled oil onto the Gaviota Coast continues with ExxonMobil’s proposal to take over ownership. While the county Planning Commission approved the application in a 3-1 vote, environmental groups vowed to appeal the decision to the Board of Supervisors, citing concerns that it will eventually lead to the pipeline’s restart. Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor writes about the conversation and what comes next.

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Rescue shelter holds Pony Parties for children to spend quality time with farm animals

by Taylor O'Connor June 22, 2023July 20, 2023

As someone who’s worked with animals and as an agriculture teacher her whole life, Julie Hilton wanted to share this lifestyle with others. In 2021, Hilton and her two daughters opened up Hoofprints—a farm animal rescue center that teaches children and youth how to work with the animals. “Ideally, it’s just basic animal care: how […]

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Supervisors request deeper dive into postpartum visitation programs

by Taylor O'Connor June 22, 2023July 10, 2023

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors directed the Public Health Department during its June 16 budget hearing to look into potential ways to keep afloat a program serving infants and new families. Santa Barbara County’s budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year is $1.48 billion, a 6.4 percent increase from the previous year. About 34 […]

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New Cuyama gets a new joint County Fire and Sheriff’s station

by Taylor O'Connor June 15, 2023October 5, 2023

After three years of construction and working out of temporary facilities, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office celebrated a new joint station opening in New Cuyama to serve the community and the surrounding Cuyama Valley. “It represents more than emergency services, but pillars of safety, resilience, and unity for the New Cuyama […]

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County supervisors approve nonexclusive ambulance services agreement

by Taylor O'Connor June 15, 2023January 3, 2024

Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson shared his recent experience calling 911 as an example of the need for changes to a county ordinance governing ambulance services. “Last Friday [June 2] I was at the scene of someone overdosing and was able to call 911 and had AMR [American Medical Response] and County […]

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The Rainbow House Inc. celebrates Pride Month with a drag brunch fundraiser for education, health kits, and nonprofit general funds

by Taylor O'Connor June 15, 2023September 26, 2024

Support with a show The Rainbow House’s Drag Brunch on June 24 serves food at 10:30 a.m. and then the show runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Craft House at Corque—420 Alisal Road, Solvang. General admission tickets are $125 and VIP are $225 and are available at therainbowhouseinc.com. Pride-themed banners will hang […]

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State grant supports Santa Maria Hi-Way Drive-In housing development

by Taylor O'Connor June 8, 2023June 18, 2025

The California Department of Housing and Community Development awarded more than $4 million in grant funding to People’s Self Help Housing to support farmworker homeownership at its Hi-Way Drive-In housing project. “What this award will translate into is essentially down payment assistance that will make their first mortgage smaller, and the size will become the […]

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The Santa Maria-Lompoc branch of the NAACP hosts its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration

by Taylor O'Connor June 8, 2023June 20, 2023

June 19, 1865, marked the end of slavery in the United States, with Texas ending slavery two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. “[Former slaves] celebrated the end of a very brutal and horrific time in their lives where they were treated less than,”said Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP branch president. “We continue the celebration […]

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Foam legacy

A firefighting substance used at the Santa Maria Public Airport decades ago contaminated its water, soil

by Taylor O'Connor June 8, 2023May 9, 2025

Cleaning chemicals used decades ago seeped into the soil and groundwater at airports across the state, including Santa Maria’s, Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson told the Sun. “We know more than we did 40 years ago. I don’t think anyone intentionally polluted our groundwater, but there is a chemical down in the […]

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Lompoc adds overdose rescue kits at all public facilities

by Taylor O'Connor June 8, 2023August 9, 2023

With the highest fatal opioid overdose rates in Santa Barbara County, Lompoc city officials installed opioid rescue kits throughout public facilities to potentially help save lives, Mayor Jenelle Osborne said. “Deaths were slightly higher than the rest of the county; that’s a sign to me that we have an issue and we’re not talking about […]

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Santa Maria closer to zero emissions fleet with 16-bus purchase

by Taylor O'Connor June 1, 2023June 23, 2025

Santa Maria purchased 16 new electric buses, and the City Council approved a new plan that analyzes its approach to achieving a 100 percent renewable energy fleet—putting it well ahead of the state’s 2040 deadline for local transportation agencies to transition to renewable energy, Transit Manager Gamaliel Anguiano said. The California Air Resources Board is […]

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Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley hosts educational opportunities for parents, students about substance use

by Taylor O'Connor June 1, 2023July 8, 2025

Educational opportunies Visit fbsmv.com, like Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley’s Facebook page, or follow them on Instagram @fbsmv to stay up to date with the nonprofit’s parent and youth education and substance use prevention programs. Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley formed in 2003 as the Drug and Alcohol Coalition to educate the community’s youth on […]