Santa Maria will host its second annual Open Streets festival on March 29, marking the return of an event that reportedly drew 20,000 attendees last year. The event is organized by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), which has sought to bring Open Streets to cities all over the county. The Open Streets […]
William D'Urso
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Solvang mayor initiates ouster of Board of Architectural Review director
The city of Solvang has been rocked by changes in recent months, some administrative, some cultural, some the result of a difference in vision. At a recent City Council meeting—which are typically scheduled for Mondays, but was moved to Wednesday, Jan. 15—the controversial item for the evening was the ouster of Joan Jamieson, who served […]
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The Santa Maria Airport announced travel to new cities starting Jan. 11
Flights will return to the Santa Maria Airport, served by United Airlines, spiriting travelers to Los Angeles, Denver, and San Francisco. The flights, local leaders in government and business hope, will make the city more appealing for business and will boost tourism. The plan has been years in the making, said airport General Manager Chris […]
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Santa Barbara County has slowly been getting money to fight homelessness, and it’s scheduled to get another boost
Homeless spending in California has climbed every year since 2018, with Gov. Gavin Newsom determined to make each subsequent budget another step toward aiding the state’s needy. He followed through in early January when he proposed another $1 billion to help slow the spike in homelessness. “The $1 billion budget proposal to combat homelessness is […]
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Allan Hancock College looks at potential on-campus housing
Allan Hancock College is still considering the option of on-campus housing, a potential plan that’s been in the works since President Kevin Walthers joined the school in 2013. But it’s unclear how such housing would happen, who would build it, how many units there would be, or even how much it would cost to build. […]
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Guadalupe seeks community feedback on infrastructure improvements
Guadalupe held a meeting on Jan. 12 to get community input about how to improve local infrastructure. “There was something like 80 people, which I was told was a pretty big turnout,” said Todd Bodem, the new city administrator. The meeting concerned a $206,450 Sustainable Communities Grant the city received in 2018. The grant, which […]
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Orcutt doughnut shop feels the Krispy Kreme effect
In the meandering hours of the late afternoon, Houth Hak served doughnuts with metal tongs and chatted with her Golden Donut regulars. The quiet followed the usual morning bustle and the recent crush of longtimers and newcomers—a show of support for the Orcutt staple in response to a plea of sorts from Hak’s daughter, Nicky, […]
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Solvang wastewater treatment plan still waiting on Santa Ynez
The Solvang City Council is still shopping for ways to cut costs for management of its wastewater treatment plant as plans for a new facility inch along. The city is looking to upgrade its wastewater system, but Solvang’s 6,000 people would be on the hook for a $16 million facility if it moves forward with […]
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Solvang drone show draws eyeballs from near and far
The city of Solvang took a step toward rebranding itself by drawing national attention with the drone show that was part of Julefest 2019. The show drew roughly 1,500 ticket purchasers but was seen from miles away on Dec 21. It was one of the city’s “show stopper” events, designed to broaden Solvang’s profile, draw […]
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Vandenberg gets a boost with recently signed defense budget act
The U.S. Space Force is the nation’s newest military branch, signed into being on Dec. 20 with the sharp vertical strokes of Donald Trump’s presidential pen. It was part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Pentagon’s annual defense bill, with some dollars flowing to the Central Coast. The bill will also direct the […]
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A federal rule change to California’s food assistance program could leave some county residents hungry
The Trump administration recently announced new eligibility restrictions for the country’s food assistance program, which food advocates say will limit access for the needy. Planned to go into effect on April 1, the change would make it more difficult for states to waive work requirements to qualify for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), known […]
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Buellton Planning Commission considers mixed-use project
Buellton is reviewing a proposal for a mixed-use property that would add to the city’s affordable housing offerings. The city Planning Commission discussed the proposal at its Dec. 19 meeting. According to the staff report, the three-story, mixed-use property is subject to a “15 percent inclusionary housing requirement and would require the construction of an […]