Cover Story
New state program to fund housing navigation, medical services raises vacancy and start-up concerns
Less than 2 percent of the homes in Santa Barbara County are vacant. This makes it extremely challenging to find rentals for anyone, especially those experiencing homelessness, said Sylvia Barnard with Good Samaritan Shelter. “We find that for anyone experiencing homelessness, it’s over 120 days to get into housing,” Barnard said. “Having the resources available…
UNDERRATED: ZOLA (2020)
UNDERRATED: ZOLA (2020) Where’s it playing? Showtime What’s it rated? R You’d be forgiven if you’ve never heard of Zola. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 and had a limited theatrical release in 2021, but despite being nominated for and winning a raft of awards, it’s drifted into obscurity. Frankly, it…
BINGEABLE: FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE (2022)
BINGEABLE: FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE (2022) Where’s it playing? Hulu What’s it rated? TV-MA Dr. Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg) can’t find his wife, Rachel (Claire Danes). Well, ex-wife that is. He’s working through the dissolution of his marriage, diving into the world of dating apps, trading a fancy New York apartment for a bachelor pad,…
County supervisors move forward with farmworker resource center grant
More than 20 farmworker families and advocacy groups demonstrated their support for a new farmworker resource center by sharing the challenges they face during the Nov. 29 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting. The community members came forward as supervisors discussed applying for a new $833,000 state grant to create a resource center that…
Solvang officials consider new stormwater management measures
Solvang’s Public Works Department predicts the city will need to increase inspections of local businesses’ stormwater management practices, starting in 2024. “As I understand it, this is something that is looking to be added by the Regional Water Quality Control Board as part of our next general permit,” Rodger Olds, Solvang Public Works director and…
Voters pass abortion, arts education, anti-tobacco propositions
California and Santa Barbara County voters both said “yes” to abortion protections, arts education funding, and a flavored tobacco ban, but soured on the remaining statewide propositions, according to Nov. 8 election results. With 98 percent of the statewide vote counted as of press time, the seven proposition contests are all but decided. Of the…
Political Watch: December 1, 2022
• The U.S. Department of Energy conditionally selected Diablo Canyon Power Plant to receive the first round of funding from the Civil Nuclear Credit Program, according to a Nov. 21 statement from U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-Santa Barbara) office. “In the face of record heat waves and a deepening climate crisis, there is too much…
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County hosted its annual holiday food drive, but it needs more to keep up with demand
Until 2020, the Letter Carriers Food Drive—a drive that used the U.S. Postal Service to pick up nonperishable foods from residents’ homes—was a major source of big food donations for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. Letter carriers would deliver brown paper bags to people’s mailboxes and people would fill them up with nonperishable foods…
Poop city
Solvang is in deep doo-doo. Technically, it’s not deep yet, but it could be if it actually rains. On Dec. 3, the city’s Julefest Parade hits the streets complete with horses and their accompanying excrement—a steamingly hot topic at the Nov. 28 City Council meeting, where they talked about the most boring topic of them…
Try to think positively and give thanks beyond Thanksgiving
Last week was Thanksgiving. The day represents a couple of things; one is that we give thanks for having a warm, dry place to sleep and food to eat. We are also thankful for the health and well-being of our families and wish that there hadn’t been as many tragedies over the last 12 months.…
Santa Maria Arts Council holds Community Arts Mixer
Members of the Santa Maria Arts Council hope to see some new faces at an upcoming mixer event—and bring some new artists into the fold. Gale McNeeley, one of the event’s organizers and a longtime member of the Arts Council, said that the group’s goal is to recruit below-the-radar artists in the area and assist…
California franchisees bring Nothing Bundt Cakes to Santa Maria
Slot machines. Poker tables. Bundt cakes. Husband and wife Tom and Terre Downey hit the jackpot in one of these arenas during a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, when they were introduced to a hip bakery in town. It happened about two decades ago. The couple was visiting their son, who lived in Vegas at…
Gallery Los Olivos presents annual Winter Salon
Gallery Los Olivos’ 2022 Winter Salon group exhibition is scheduled to open on Thursday, Dec. 1. The annual showcase features a collection of artworks—including Welcome to My World (pictured) by Annie Hoffman—in various media, from several participating artists. The exhibit will remain on display through the end of January 2023. Call (805) 688-7517 or visit…
Wildling Museum announces mortgage payoff, hosts Holiday Market
In 2017, the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature purchased its current facility on Mission Drive in Solvang with a $1.6 million loan from the Adams Legacy Foundation, and planned out a 10-year timetable for repayment. The museum’s board of directors recently announced that the nonprofit has paid off its mortgage in full, five years…
