The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office recently announced a resolution with a Buellton auto dealer that didn’t include an admission of guilt, according to a news release. DA Joyce E. Dudley brought a case against Jim Vreeland Ford to Santa Barbara County Superior Court on Sept 4, alleging that the dealership was in violation […]
William D'Urso
Posted inNews
Solvang hires company to plan, manage Julefest
Solvang is continuing to adjust after parting ways with its tourism promotion arm, the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau (SCVB). The city sought bids to manage its Julefest event, and Solvang City Council members fielded responses during a special meeting on Sept. 25. The proposals came from IDK Events, Pink Cadillac Entertainment, and Daniel Lahr. […]
Posted inNews
Cash for College workshops help students apply for aid
Upcoming Cash For College workshops co-presented by Allan Hancock College are just what they sound like. The events—there are 42 in all—are presented along with Central Coast California Student Opportunity and Access Program (Cal-SOAP) and Cuesta College. Their aim is to get high school seniors to fill out applications that will get them money for […]
Posted inNews
Jackson plans to reintroduce bill to keep guns from repeat DUI offenders
State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) plans to renew her efforts to restrict gun access to people with “repeat alcohol convictions.” Her Senate Bill 55 ran aground in the Assembly Public Safety Committee this year, but she hopes to try again early next year. According to her office, there is a new study that Jackson […]
Posted inNews
Balance Treatment Center offers mental health services in Santa Maria
A new mental health clinic in Santa Maria is designed to give patients short-term, intensive care. #img15141 Balance Treatment Center offers an intensive outpatient program (IOP), which for most patients means a nine- to 15-hour weekly commitment. Coraline Robinson, the program director at the new location, which opened in early September, said it’s meant to […]
Posted inNews
Porter announces second try against Hartmann for District 3 seat
Bruce Porter recently announced he would once again be running for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors 3rd District seat against Joan Hartmann, who won 53 percent of the district’s votes in a November 2016 runoff election against Porter. “There’s a pretty significant amount of people who are unhappy with how things are going […]
Posted inNews
Guadalupe works to enact new ADU regulations
The city of Guadalupe is in the process of looking at the parameters under which ADUs, or accessory dwelling units, can be built. Larry Appel, the city’s planning director, said Guadalupe wants to keep up with state regulation. He said that while there are only five or six ADUs in the city, new bills making […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria arson suspect nabbed on scene
When deputies from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office rolled up to a fire at the Winepress Church on Aug. 23, they found 19-year-old Gage Rowdy Tuttle. According to a release from the Sheriff’s Office, while speaking with Tuttle “[deputies] learned that the man actually started the fire.” Heavy smoke was billowing from a structure […]
Posted inNews
Solvang shops around for better deal on waste water
The city of Solvang is looking to upgrade its waste water system, but it wants the best deal. With a handful of alternatives available, it’s seeking out another one with the Santa Ynez Community Services District (CSD). Solvang City Council was scheduled to vote on a plan Aug. 26 but pushed the date until it […]
Posted inNews
Peoples’ Self-Help Housing is concerned census numbers could affect its ability to provide services
John Fowler likes numbers. As a certified public accountant, they’re kind of his thing. Spreadsheets, tax credits, mortgage rates, all of it. But as the president and chief executive officer of Peoples’ Self-Help Housing, he’s got different numbers on the brain: Next year’s census. He’s concerned that housing needs, despite record low unemployment rates, are […]
Posted inNews
Solvang hires acting city manager
Just days after removing its old city manager in a “mutual agreement,” the city of Solvang has an acting one in place. Xenia Bradford is the acting city manager, for now, the city said in a news release Sept. 9. The City Council first offered the job to Matt van der Linden, the public works […]
Posted inNews
Marian Regional Medical Center will use donated building for mental health treatment facility
David Ketelaar went to the Santa Maria City Council to ask for help. As director of emergency services at Marian Regional Medical Center, he’s seen a growing number of patients with mental health needs and no local services that can offer emergency treatment. The Sierra Land Group, which used to own the Marian West campus, […]