Cover Story
Nipomo’s residents are waiting for recreational facilities as the county waits on potential skate park grants
Former Santa Cruz locals Jameson and Laura Lucero were in for a shock when they moved to Nipomo five years ago. Coming from the “skate capital of the world,” the couple found Nipomo’s lack of recreational activities staring starkly at them. “It’s really sad, because I have young children, and when I take them to…
BINGEABLE: CASTLEVANIA (2017-2021)
BINGEABLE: CASTLEVANIA (2017-2021) Where’s it playing? Netflix What’s it rated? TV-MA Castlevania is a poignant work of art, considering its source material is an 8-bit Japanese video game from the 1980s. Set in a Middle Ages-esque eastern Europe ravaged by vampires at the command of none other than Dracula himself, this animated Netflix series is…
BLAST FROM THE PAST: COWBOY BEBOP (1998)
BLAST FROM THE PAST: COWBOY BEBOP (1998) Where’s it playing? Netflix What’s it rated? TV-14 If you were ever planning on giving Netflix’s new live-action iteration of Cowboy Bebop a whirl, why not rewatch or, if it’s your first time, dip your toes into the original anime beforehand? Conveniently, both shows are currently available through…
Visual poet Karl Kempton’s new photography book offers unique meditations on the Oceano Dunes
Nearly two decades after his first poem was published, Oceano resident Karl Kempton envisioned a new way for Central Coast locals to enjoy poetry, without necessarily having to open a single book or crash an intimate, live reading. “In 1983, I thought the area could and should support an annual open poetry festival. I called…
Cordon of Santa Barbara pairs local wines with Central Coast art at new tasting room in Solvang
Looking back on his youth, one local winemaker recalls fond memories of exploring his grandfather’s wine cellar—but not for the reasons some might expect. “The cellar was pretty vast and it was below the house, so we’d hide there during hide and seek,” said Etienne Terlinden, owner and founder of Cordon of Santa Barbara. Between…
PCPA brings Education and Outreach Tour to schools across SB and SLO counties
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) announced the return of its Education and Outreach Tour, which will kick off on Feb. 1, 2022. Schools throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties are now able to reserve a slot on the tour, scheduled to run through March 11. This program marks PCPA’s first multi-school tour since…
Lompoc announces winners of annual Holiday Decoration Contest
Lompoc’s Urban Forestry Division recently announced the winners of the 27th annual Lompoc Holiday Decoration Contest. The judging of participating homes and businesses throughout Lompoc took place on Dec. 9. The winning addresses in the residential category are: 432 S. A St. (first place), 1352 Marigold Way (second place), and 304 Ladera (third place). The…
Political Watch: December 23, 2021
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced Dec. 15 that the first installments of federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law are heading to the Central Coast soon. The Federal Aviation Administration allocation includes more than $7.3 million to local airports like the SLO County Regional Airport and the Santa Maria Airport. California as…
County supervisors side with Maldonado in cannabis project appeal
Nobody wants to argue with their neighbors, but former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado said there isn’t anything he can do to make Bien Nacido Vineyards happy when it comes to his 48-acre cannabis cultivation project. “I’m just negotiating with myself,” Maldonado said during a Dec. 14 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting. He told…
Santa Maria Planning Commission rejects proposal for Starbucks drive-through
A local Starbucks was denied the permits needed to add a drive-through after the project’s applicant doubled-down on their stance against altering the proposal. The request was originally presented to the Santa Maria Planning Commission during its Nov. 17 meeting, where commissioners initially moved to deny the project proposed for a Starbucks on East Main…
Cunningham’s district removed from Santa Barbara County in final redistricting map
The California Citizens Redistricting Commission wrapped up its work on Dec. 20—finalizing a set of new boundaries for state Senate, state Assembly, and congressional districts that will be in effect for the next decade. The new maps—which account for population changes and the loss of a congressional district in California for the first time in…
Exploration Discovery Center in Grover Beach offers science exhibits and tactile fun for kids
Between an aquaponic garden, a 25 foot tall Aztec pyramid replica, and an Inventors’ Lab with enough tactile treasures to fill a whole day of play, the Exploration Discovery Center in Grover Beach is more than your typical children’s museum. Debra Ugalde taught as a bilingual educator for 25 years in Santa Maria and is…
Cannabis. Cannabis.
I almost felt bad for the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 14 when they had to decide on yet another appeal of an approved cannabis cultivation project. Only this time, the decision before them felt like it had higher stakes. Former Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado was on one side, and the Millers…
Designating a national marine sanctuary off the coast of the Central Coast isn’t needed to protect an already protected ocean
In 1974, President Ford established the first National Marine Sanctuary off North Carolina—The USS Monitor National Marine Sanctuary. It was established to protect the shipwreck, and is currently being considered for expansion to protect additional shipwrecks. Currently there are five National Marine Sanctuaries off the West Coast, four of which are located off the coast…
