The ICE assault of a disabled student walking to school on Oct. 21 still reverberates throughout Santa Maria. The just outrage is growing. The unhinged cruelty and arrogance of ICE, running rampant through Santa Maria and the 805, calls into question: why here? I would like to suggest a major contributing factor not seen in […]
Taylor Saugstad
Posted inOpinion
A word about elections
Elections are an opportunity to consider the future of our community and the qualifications and qualities we value in those entrusted with representing it. The decisions we make, the trust we build, and the standards we uphold continue to shape our city long after the election is over. Throughout my years of service to Pismo […]
Posted inOpinion
Vote Donna Kandel to represent Nipomo on Lucia Mar’s board
On Nov. 3, Nipomo voters have an outstanding choice for the Lucia Mar Unified school board of trustees, Area 7. Donna Kandel has deep roots in the community. She raised her family, graduated from Allan Hancock College and Cal Poly and taught math at Nipomo High School for many years. She is very experienced with […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t let the government restrict hand-imports of prescription drugs
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has a dangerous new rule that was set to begin Oct. 22 that will threaten the healthcare of millions of Americans. The rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments,” will effectively end Americans’ ability to personally import their prescription medicines. CBP extended the date to […]
Posted inOpinion
Is gun violence a necessary cost of preventing tyranny?
Another school shooting, and it’s off the news cycle in 24 hours. Columbine and Sandy Hook shocked our conscience and were discussed for years. Have we accepted that losing children to gun violence is a necessary cost to prevent tyranny? Then why are gun advocates supporting a tyrant with insurrection and extrajudicial killings of U.S. […]
Posted inOpinion
How do you stop a masked and armed ICE agent? With a ballot
Right now, in California, New York, Texas, and everywhere in between, ICE agents are ramping up to meet Stephen Miller’s new, hate-fueled quota of 3,000 people per day. Three thousand families ripped apart. A father dropping off a student at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria was kidnapped in early October. A father in New […]
Posted inOpinion
The oak trees in Nipomo are worth saving
While Jim Crouch (see the Sept. 19 LA Times article on oak tree preservation) has dedicated himself to planting oak trees to help the environment, San Luis Obispo County is going in the opposite direction. The county supervisors approved the “Dana Reserve,” a proposed massive development in Nipomo where there are plans to destroy 3,000-plus […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Central Coast wine pioneer John Alban is the San Francisco Wine Auction’s 2026 Winemaker of the Year
Taste it yourselfTo connect with Alban Vineyards or learn more about its educational tastings and seminars, visit albanvineyards.com or rakedranch.com. The only way to taste is to attend one of the winery’s Private Tasting Series dates, which are scheduled for April 10 and 17 and May 1, 2027. Check the website for updates. Visit Alban […]
Posted inOpinion
Guadalupe City Council and administration need to be held accountable now for their ongoing mismanagement of funds
When my husband and I moved to Guadalupe in 1997 and bought our first home, we did so because we saw potential. This little coastal city was frozen in time and offered beach weather without a high price tag. Granted, if the city had a dollar for every time someone said they saw potential, Guadalupe’s […]
Posted inUncategorized
Thanks to all the firefighters who battled a recent fire
On Aug. 30, a fire was set on the hillside not far from my home in Pismo Beach. We are very grateful to the workers who extinguished the fire quickly. I could tell that there were two troops of firefighters, some wearing orange and some wearing yellow and black. The ones wearing orange are inmates. […]
Posted inOpinion
Look closely, listen, and choose candidates carefully
As the midterm campaign season begins in earnest, it’s a good time to get grounded. When considering which candidate to vote for, remember that an elective office is first and foremost a job. The campaign is the job interview, and every citizen is part of the interview panel. The questions to ask oneself are: Which […]
Posted inOpinion
Future local tax measures should put roads first
What if we could fix more roads, bring home more state and federal transportation dollars, and do it without raising the overall tax burden? The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) board and the county Board of Supervisors voted to remove Measure H from the November ballot after consultants concluded it did not have […]
