Cover Story
People incarcerated at the Lompoc penitentiary speak out about how they were treated during one of the largest COVID-19 prison outbreaks in the nation
Editor’s note: This is the second part in a two-part series examining pandemic response in the federal prison at Lompoc. The first part (“Constitutionally confined?” July 30) covered a class-action lawsuit that pushed for more inmates to be released to home confinement. A class-action lawsuit filed against the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex achieved a recent…
Demand for locally sourced meat rises as the Central Coast feels the pinch of nationwide shortages
Finding good local meat right now makes one feel like a pirate searching for pieces of eight and buried treasure. Demand is up, impacting the ability to process local supply, thanks in part to the coronavirus’ impacts across the state. J&R Natural Meat and Sausage’s butcher shop has been holding the line as one of…
A day of reflection, relaxation, and poetry at Sycamore Mineral Springs, inspired by ‘Ghost of Tsushima’
I can’t seem to get Ghost of Tsushima (2020) out of my head, so I’m taking it with me—in spirit at least (get it?) to the Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa in Avila Beach, where I’ve booked a room for the night as a week-early birthday gift to myself. Since renting one of the…
Designers, directors, and actors lend their unique perspectives to PCPA’s Community Enrichment workshops
Although the Marian Theatre’s doors remain closed, scenic artist Abby Hogan recently shed some light on a crucial aspect of the venue that often gets overlooked and, quite literally, walked all over—the stage floor, that is. Hogan planned to host Painting Floors the PCPA Way on Wednesday, Aug. 5, as part of PCPA Plays On:…
Nipomo-based artist group announces new virtual show and sale for September
Between Saturday, Sept. 5, and Monday, Sept. 7, the community will be able to view and shop from a new virtual art show and sale at nipomoartists.com. This collaborative website was formed by a group of Central Coast artists hoping to exhibit and possibly sell their works online amid gallery closures during the course of…
Gallery Los Olivos’ online exhibit showcases local landscapes from Terri Taber, Carol Talley
During the month of August, Gallery Los Olivos’ new website, Gallery Los Olivos Online, will be exhibiting landscapes by local painters Terri Taber and Carol Talley. Visitors of the site can view more than 20 different paintings from each artist, which are also available for sale. Deliveries are free to buyers within Santa Barbara and…
CANARY: Suspicious seeds
Order anything from China lately? How about a pair of pumpkin stud earrings? Just kidding! They’re just seeds. Seeds you didn’t order. And they’re showing up in your mailbox after you order random stuff online. And they come labeled as jewelry such as “pumpkin stud earrings.” At least the package that arrived on Mike Brown’s…
COVID-19 response requires focus on safety, equity across all school reopening plans
The long-awaited answer about what schools will look like in the fall was delivered on July 17 when Gov. Newsom announced all public and private schools in counties on the state’s monitoring list, which includes Santa Barbara County, must open via distance learning. This includes all public, private, and charter schools serving students from transitional…
Political Watch: August 6, 2020
• On July 29, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) released a statement following the House’s passing of two pieces of legislation aimed at supporting the child care sector amid the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Carbajal’s office, the legislation provides grants for child care providers to use on staffing, training, and cleaning costs as needed…
Nipomo High School ag teacher wins national education award
When COVID-19 forced schools to close in March, Rosemary Cummings and her Nipomo High School agriculture students missed out on the most exciting time of their year. Usually on weekends between March and May, Cummings and 50 or more students travel to compete on college campuses across the state as part of the Future Farmers…
Santa Barbara County releases environmental impact report for ExxonMobil trucking project
Santa Barbara County recently released an environmental analysis reviewing ExxonMobil’s proposal to transport oil on local roadways using tanker trucks so that it can resume the operation of three offshore oil rigs and a processing facility. The final supplemental environmental impact report the county made public on July 29 assesses ExxonMobil’s plans to move about…
Solvang accepts branding committee applications
On July 27, Solvang announced it was beginning the recruitment process for the new Branding & Design Committee, which is replacing the Solvang Board of Architectural Review (BAR). The committee of five’s first task will be to create design guidelines for the long-term Copenhagen Drive Street closure, City Manager Xenia Bradford told the Sun. The…
Unsolicited seeds from China arrive locally
Within the last few years, Santa Maria resident Mike Brown has ordered hundreds of items from Wish, an e-commerce platform where Brown said you can order pretty much anything at lower than market rates, so long as you’re willing to wait longer than usual for shipping. Brown’s past orders through Wish have all come without…
Santa Maria seeks general plan engagement
Santa Maria wants to know what residents want for the future, according to a new website designed to gather input for the city’s next general plan update. In a video linked on the Imagine Santa Maria website, Mayor Alice Patino said that it’s more important than ever to work together on a plan that can…
Solvang may close Copenhagen Drive for the year
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging on, the Solvang City Council agreed that the city will likely need to keep Copenhagen Drive closed to vehicles for the rest of the year. The city closed off the road in June to provide businesses with space to expand into the street as public health regulations limited shops’ and…
Santa Maria Public Library book mobile returns
The last time the Santa Maria Public Library had a book mobile was the 1980s, Library Director Mary Housel told the Sun. Now, thanks to grant funding, the once popular library-on-wheels is back. “It’s a brand new service offering, and we hope to reach out to our underserved community, specifically to those who can’t travel…
