One freezer. Two steel storage containers. Six months of designated overtime. To improve and increase its enforcement efforts against unlawful food pop-ups across Santa Barbara County, Environmental and Health Services (EHS) recently asked the county Board of Supervisors for an extra $42,000. More than 75 percent of the sum will fund overtime hours for up […]
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New affordable senior housing is coming to Santa Maria
The city of Santa Maria is one step closer to breaking ground on 85 new senior housing units at the corner of Broadway and Stowell Road. A new three-story building will sustain 54 units, and an additional 31 will be added to the existing Vandenberg Senior Residence property. Apartments will be available for people 55 […]
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Guadalupe abandons Brown Act route for Royal Theater committee
Over the past six months, the Guadalupe City Council has discussed its intention to form a Brown Act advisory committee to oversee the Royal Theater revival project multiple times. In September 2025, the council voted 4-1 (Councilmember Christina Hernandez dissented) to appoint a five-member board. On Feb. 24, Councilmember Whitney Furness motioned to uphold that […]
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Political Watch: March 5, 2026
• On Feb. 28, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’s military strikes in Iran. “Congress was not given any information that would indicate there was an imminent threat coming from Iran. Without such credible evidence, there’s no justification in sending our servicemembers into this conflict,” stated […]
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Lompoc Valley Chamber aims for a reset
Calling all to LompocTo learn more about goings-on at the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce, visit lompoc.com or call (805) 736-4567. Its new office is located at 109 S. H St. next to Certain Sparks Music. In 2009, the Air Force brought Melanie Lindley to Lompoc. She discovered a love for the area and decided […]
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Santa Maria agendizes hearing to discuss forming immigration ad hoc committee
For local high school student Lorena Martinez, real-time events have shown that the Santa Maria City Council’s pace in deciding whether to form an immigration ad hoc committee is too slow. “Real families are being torn apart. Children are living with fear and uncertainty. Parents are afraid to go to work. This is happening here […]
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Lompoc to rebuild stage at Ryon Park
By the end of the year, Lompoc residents are scheduled to have a new stage at Ryon Park for community gatherings and performances. City Council members unanimously approved the project at the Feb. 17 meeting. The Ryon Park stage has deteriorated below accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the staff […]
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Buellton developer preps to demolish Parks Plaza theater
Idle and shuttered since 2020, Buellton’s former movie theater—Parks Plaza on McMurray Road—will be demolished to make way for a new three-story Cottage Health medical office thanks to a recent Planning Commission vote. The 20-day period for the public to formally appeal the commission’s decision to the City Council kicked off on Feb. 19. At […]
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Political Watch: February 26, 2026
• On Feb. 17, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) visited Guadalupe, where he toured the Guadalupe Senior Center and Guadalupe Union School District’s Early Learning Center. Both facilities are undergoing upgrades with federal dollars that Schiff, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California), and U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) jointly helped secure, according to Schiff’s office. […]
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Divorce Party Handbook tackles touchy topics with levity, introspection
Every divorce involves two people, both of whom can often feel quite isolated throughout their respective ordeals. But not just from each other, local author Christine Gallagher told the Sun. “I’ve been divorced myself. It’s a very big deal, and the whole point of this,” she said while holding up a paperback copy of The […]
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‘Small water user:’ Some farmers facing a Cuyama Valley groundwater rights lawsuit could get help from new state legislation
There’s plenty of legal jargon that goes over Jake Furstenfeld’s head when he tunes in via Zoom to court proceedings tied to a Cuyama Valley groundwater dispute. This wasn’t the case, however, when the local rancher and others with stakes in a lawsuit over water rights for a critically overdrafted basin heard a judge’s tentative […]
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Maribel Aguilera leads campaign contributions in 5th District supervisor race
Without holding a single fundraiser, Maribel Aguilera’s campaign for Santa Barbara County 5th District supervisor has raised $98,000 as of mid-February. Local farms, restaurants, nonprofits, law firms, and private individuals were among the contributors who clicked the green “donate” button on the candidate’s website. Her campaign filings show she raised about $86,000 in 2025. She […]
