Cover Story
Education Today 2022
Local students will be returning to campus later this month for the 2022-23 school year, and they’ll be met with a few changes. In our annual Education Today issue, we delve into those changes on the statewide and local levels. Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor talks with officials about how local school districts and community nonprofits…
NEW FLICKS: PREY
NEW FLICKS: PREY Where’s it playing? Hulu What’s it rated? R Dan Tractenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) directs this prequel to the Predator franchise that began with Predator (1987), followed by three sequels and two films in a crossover mashup, Alien vs. Predator. This film presents Predator’s origin story as it hunts in the Comanche Nation…
Local sci-fi author H.W. Portland explores the final frontier in first novel, ‘Explorer’s End’
Trekkies and wookie worshipers are among the target audience of Orcutt local H.W. Portland’s debut sci-fi novel, Explorer’s End. “I tell people, if you enjoy Indiana Jones, Star Trek, or Star Wars, you will enjoy Explorer’s End,” Portland said, before describing his film-friendly writing style. “I write as if I am a film director using…
Dana Adobe’s Heritage Day features crafts, live music, dance demos, and more
On Saturday, Aug. 6, the Dana Adobe and Cultural Center in Nipomo will host Heritage Day, which includes a variety of family-friendly programs between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Activities at the event include crafting, tortilla making, dance demonstrations, and more. Attendees of Heritage Day can also expect to enjoy live music, tours, and historical…
Entry period for New Times Music Awards closes Aug. 8
Local bands, singers, and songwriters are welcome to compete in the 2022 New Times Music Awards. The entry period closes on Monday, Aug. 8, at 5 p.m. Participants can enter their songs online at newtimesslo.com. All entrants must reside primarily in San Luis Obispo County or Santa Barbara County. The competition’s awards showcase, which will…
Mid-State Fair selected Pioneer Valley High School student to sing the national anthem
Pioneer Valley High School senior Makai Copado was selected to sing the national anthem during the Mid-State Fair’s Live to Rock concert in Paso Robles at the end of July. The multi-act show featured performances from Skid Row, Warrant, Quiet Riot, and Kip Winger. “This is a very big accomplishment for me, and I couldn’t…
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County holds first in-person Lompoc Empty Bowls fundraiser since 2019
Four long tables full of handcrafted ceramic bowls stood near the entrance of the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center on Wednesday, July 27. Many guests of this year’s Lompoc Empty Bowls fundraiser circled the display more than once before making a selection. “They’re all painted by hand. Every bowl is one of a kind,”…
Santa Barbara County crop report shows ag industry isn’t spreading the wealth
It’s been a great year for local ag, according to Santa Barbara County’s recently released agricultural production report: There was a 5 percent increase in the gross production value in 2021. That means ag was a $1.9 billion industry in the county that year, bringing in $98 million more than 2020. Sounds like big raises…
Hold insurrectionists accountable!
If we’ve learned anything from the Jan. 6 hearings so far, it’s that Trump and his allies will go to any lengths to gain and stay in power. The hearings have proven that they planned, promoted, and paid for a months-long criminal conspiracy to overturn the election they knew they lost—and which ultimately ended in…
Trust is the issue when it comes to legislating weapons and the right to bear arms
Why won’t conservatives agree to what you anti-gun liberals see as “common sense” gun restrictions? In a word: trust. Some of the proposals aren’t that bad, but with your visceral loathing of all guns and gun owners, and your insistence on blaming gun violence on everything but the shooter, we don’t trust you to act…
New Santa Maria-Bonita superintendent focuses on community relationship building
Darren McDuffie was selected as the Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s new superintendent, closing the months-long search after Luke Ontiveros announced his retirement for the end of December 2021. McDuffie told the Sun he was working in San Bernardino County’s Rialto Unified School District as its lead strategic agent for deputy superintendent and was looking for…
Orcutt Union School District is building a multi-use facility at Orcutt Academy High School
For years, students at Orcutt Academy High School didn’t get to experience the echoing creaks of people clambering up and down the bleachers of their own gym for home games or rallies. Instead, they’d go to neighboring schools in the Orcutt Union School District for sports games, pep rallies, and gym class, said Superintendent Holly…
Political Watch: August 4, 2022
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) helped send key pieces of the Inflation Action Plan to President Joe Biden to become law, including provisions to invest in U.S. manufacturing of semiconductors—which will help lower costs of household items and create technology jobs, according to a July 28 statement from the congressman’s office. The bipartisan…
County Planning Commission weighs in on Solvang garage dispute
Solvang resident Jordan Sideris’ plan to build a detached garage on his property caused a stir among some of his neighbors, one of whom filed an appeal to the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission shortly after the project’s approval. The appellant, Janeen Beller, discussed her concerns during the Planning Commission’s July 27 meeting. Beller’s backyard…
Agriculture industry’s economic increase presents continued wage issues
Strawberries, wine grapes, and cauliflower along with several other fruits and veggies made big bucks for Santa Barbara County last year, rounding out to about $1.9 billion, according to the county’s 2021 agricultural production report. The 2021 gross production value surpassed 2020’s by about $98 million (a 5 percent increase) with strawberries valued at $8.49…
