Cover Story
Out with the old: Most of the country can agree it feels good to look forward to a new year of fresh possibilities
Let’s just get it out of the way: 2016 was rough, mostly thanks to that nasty election season. Regardless of whether the results worked in your favor, I’m sure most can agree we’re glad it’s over. It was a long and stressful road, on both national and local levels. Beyond the election, the Central Coast…
What’s your favorite memory of 2016?
Ricky Koch student at Allan Hancock College, studying English “Watching the San Jose Sharks beat the St. Louis Blues in person at the SAP Center.” Julie Eberhardt works for Testa Catering “Over the summer, I drove 17 hours to visit some of my best friends in Idaho.” Anna Eberhardt student at Allan Hancock College, studying…
Police bust alleged prostitution operation at Orcutt spa
A massage parlor in Orcutt offered more than massages, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. On Dec. 22, following a months-long investigation, detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau arrested 38-year-old Jinfreng Xu and 43-year-old Yaqing Yu with the Relax Station Spa on suspicion of prostitution. According to Kelly Hoover, the Sheriff’s…
Firefighters knock down Christmas Day house fire in Santa Maria
Santa Maria’s Smoke Tree Lane faced some cruel irony on Christmas Day, when four engines responded to a structure fire at a residence on its 1300 block. According to a news release from the Santa Maria Fire Department, emergency crews responded to multiple reports of a house on fire at 5:46 p.m. on Dec. 25.…
Pesticide mixtures could pose increased risk to farmworkers, pollinators
Environmentalists and farmworker rights advocates are standing up to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the latest point of concern in the world of pesticides: synergy, or the mixture of pesticides with other chemicals that enhance their toxic effects. On Dec. 21, 15 conservation and farmworker advocacy groups wrote to the EPA urging the agency…
Political Watch 12/29/16
• As momentum continues to grow nationwide for stronger family leave policies, Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) recently introduced two bills to ensure that more Californians can take leave to care for a newborn or a seriously ill family member without the fear of losing their jobs. Senate Bill 63, the New Parent Leave Act,…
Lompoc City Council rejects marijuana ordinance; forms ad hoc committee
Lompoc City Council members unanimously rejected a proposed ordinance to regulate marijuana cultivation but approved the formation of a committee to explore the subject, at a Dec. 20 public meeting. Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, was passed by voters on Nov. 8. It effectively legalized marijuana in California for adults aged 21…
Pushing the limit: It was an exciting year for Central Coast sports as many teams and numerous athletes showed their grit
The Central Coast loves its youth sports. And why not? With the accomplishments of many of the area’s talented teams, it’s hard not to become a sports fan. From first-time championship wins, to the creation of unified teams that include players of all intellectual abilities, 2016 was an exciting year for Central Coast sports. Of…
The year we as a nation ate our feelings: A look back on 2016’s best foodie spots
This past year was, for many of us, heartbreakingly divisive. A tumultuous election season landed family and friends on opposite sides of the political fence, straining relationships and narrowing Facebook friends lists. Natural disasters ravaged some parts of the world; perpetual violence drove millions from their home country; far too many iconic, beloved celebrities died;…
Keeping music live: Music groups big and small made 2016 a year worth listening to on the Central Coast
There was something for everybody’s musical tastes in 2016, from the solo singer/songwriters to the concert orchestras. Every week, Local Notes serves as a place to celebrate—and more often give a heads-up about—the skill of local musicians, bands, and ensembles. Everyone is welcome. Interesting artists came through town, local music organizations welcomed new collaborators, but…
Making life beautiful: Local artists, organizations, and ensembles made 2016 a year bursting with creativity
The Central Coast is home to some exceptionally creative people. Painters, sculptors, actors, musicians, poets, novelists, dancers, photographers, and plenty of others make it a fantastic place to live, and 2016 didn’t slow anybody down in terms of output. A year can go by so fast, but art is something that can slow that time…
The thought doesn’t always count
As I write this, the Christmas holiday is days away, with local businesses decked out in festive decor and families all over town getting ready to see what Santa leaves under the tree. I could spend the few hundred words of this column celebrating all the positive, enlightening, and heartwarming reasons to celebrate the Christmas…
