Supervisors change directions on cannabis retail plan
Santa Barbara County scrapped its plan for rolling out cannabis retail stores throughout the county, weeks after it was supposed to be implemented. The county plans to allow a maximum of eight retail stores to operate. One store is allowed in each of the county’s six community plans, such as Orcutt, and two stores are…
Cannabis farmers argue their crop is compatible with other crops, despite winemakers’ concerns
In the early morning, low-lying fog rolls into the Santa Rita Hills, obscuring the view of the vineyards and farms dotting the countryside. Quails, rabbits, and squirrels scurry to safety as the occasional car zips by on Santa Rosa Road, which cuts through the area, connecting Lompoc to Buellton. Almost 8 miles down the road,…
Spotlight on: April Sargeant, owner, Neuroboxing Santa Maria
What would become personal trainer April Sargeant’s life’s work first began as a request. It came from Lisa Murray, a fellow attendee of a women’s group who asked Sargent to work with her husband, Ed. He had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a degenerative condition that weakens motor skills and often slurs speech. Sargeant had…
PCPA’s The Importance of Being Earnest is an engagement not to be missed
The trivialities of high society get thrown on the chopping block in the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) rendition of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest. In order to win their loves’ hearts, Jack Worthing (Michael Brusasco) and Algernon Moncrieff (Yusef Seevers) must be christened new identities, for both Gwendolen Fairfax (Emily Trask) and Cecily…
Ann Foxworthy Gallery projects digital video art from Bryn Forbes
Using long exposures and intentional camera movement, digital artist Bryn Forbes strives to capture “the essence of motion” in his abstract photography and video art. While eliminating certain details that the human eye usually perceives, the process leaves only broad strokes of color behind, allowing viewers to bridge the gaps for themselves. “It’s the photographic…
Local sound designer Jesse Flower-Ambroch combines music and meditation in Los Olivos
The sounds of bells, chimes, and singing bowls are set to enrapture participants at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church during A Night of Meditative Sound, which takes place on Thursday, Aug. 22, at 7 p.m. Local musician, sound designer, and mixer Jesse Flower-Ambroch will utilize a variety of instruments to lead an experimental meditation during this…
‘Mama’ treats every customer like family at La Botte Ristorante Italiano in Lompoc
My family doesn’t usually go out for Italian food, except for the occasional Americanized junk pizza when we’re feeling lazy or hosting a sleepover or what have you. My wife’s grandmother was born in Italy and passed her family’s cooking techniques to her grandkids, so most of the time, my wife’s two-day Bolognese sauce and…
We need some independent thinkers
Again, the wholesale attack against the National Rifle Association (NRA) is mounting to a fevered pitch. U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-Santa Barbara) recent town hall was filled with cheers denouncing the NRA. Let’s make a couple of things clear. The NRA promotes gun safety and gun ownership rights. None of the shootings, mass executions, or…
Decision time for clean energy
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors face a choice to promote a future of clean energy development in the county or double down on our past history of high-risk and polluting oil development. ERG and Aera’s dangerous oil project proposals are being stretched out to wear the county down and…
Guadalupe holds ribbon cutting for sculpture project
To celebrate the Squire Foundation’s new public exhibition of sculptures, prominently displayed in various locations throughout Guadalupe, a ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at Guadalupe City Hall on Thursday, Aug. 29, at 11 a.m. After the reception, guests will be provided with a map, which they can use to guide them through a walking…
Gallery Los Olivos announces September show
Feathers and Fur, a new duo exhibition featuring paintings by local artists Emil Morhardt and Claudia Chapman, will debut at Gallery Los Olivos on Sunday, Sept. 1, and run through Tuesday, Oct. 1. Both Santa Barbara-based artists were inspired by the beauty and expressive nature of wild birds and mammals while creating the show’s paintings…
Land Trust announces expansion plans
The Land Trust for Santa Barbara County announced ambitious plans to broaden its conserved area to 40,000 acres by 2025. “One of the most important innovations at the Land Trust over the past few years has been a discernible shift in the execution of our mission from an opportunistic and largely reactive organization to one…
West Cat Canyon oil project decision delayed indefinitely
Almost three months after oil company ERG requested to delay the discussion over its West Cat Canyon Revitalization Project, the company that recently purchased ERG has asked to do the same. Discussion over this project, which includes the development of 233 new steam injection wells, originally took place during the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission’s…
Guadalupe is ready for some parks and rec
The city of Guadalupe plans to create a new five-person recreation commission to spend $4.5 million the city received in state grant funding. The commission was re-established on Aug. 13 during the Guadalupe City Council meeting. Mayor Ariston Julian said it was one of the city’s top priorities. “We felt, and the community felt, we…
Political Watch: August 22, 2019
• On Aug. 19, Kelly Hubbard began serving as the director of Santa Barbara County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM), according to the county. The position was previously held by Rob Lewin, who left the county in May after serving in the role for three years. During his time leading the department, Lewin oversaw the…
Santa Maria high school district aims to make financial aid forms mandatory for graduating seniors
Diana Perez and her fellow members of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board of education saw a problem: Too few students were attending college. The culprit in their minds? Not enough students filing financial aid applications. “I think the students who were missing were middle-income students,” Perez said. “I think middle-income students…
Canary: Caged bird will sing
In case you thought I had turned into a cockatiel and finally found my way into the Santa Barbara County Jail cell I deserve, I just want to clear the air. It definitely wasn’t me. That being said, the person who took over for Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover is…
The beginning of the academic year provides continuity, sense of promise
Starting in Guadalupe on Aug. 8 and ending in Carpinteria on Aug. 26, schools throughout Santa Barbara County are welcoming students back into their classrooms. The beginning of the school year can signal optimism, wonder, and a fresh start for students, families, and the entire education community. This year, the start of school may even…
