Cover Story
Greg Brewer, Wine Enthusiast’s 2020 Winemaker of the Year, is disciplined about doing things the same way year after year
In 30 years, the Sta. Rita Hills hasn’t let Greg Brewer down. “I’ve been reflecting a lot on my relationship with this place,” the Brewer-Clifton winemaker said. “I’m very loyal to this place. I’m very provincial in that way. I’ll always work here. I’ve only worked here.” He describes his relationship with the region as…
North County city councils mull campaign contribution limits with decision deadline fast approaching
As the dust continues to settle after Election Day, local city councils are grappling with how much individual donors should be allowed to influence future elections. With the passing of Assembly Bill 571, an update to the state’s election code, cities that don’t already have local campaign contribution limits must decide before the end of…
Political Watch: December 3, 2020
• On Nov. 21, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) hosted his fourth annual Citizenship Recognition Ceremony where he virtually presented Special Congressional Recognitions to 102 new Central Coast citizens who took their oaths between July 2019 and November 2020. “These new U.S. citizens have rights, responsibilities, and opportunities that will strengthen and shape the…
Child care providers struggle to meet increased need caused by COVID-19
Santa Barbara County is struggling to meet new child care needs created by the pandemic, but local organizations are finding ways to support providers. Children’s Resource & Referral of Santa Barbara County, a nonprofit that provides services to both families and child care providers, is teaming up with First 5 Santa Barbara County for the…
Santa Barbara County sees record turnout in 2020 election
It’s official—Santa Barbara County certified its 2020 general election results on Nov. 25, marking the completion of an election that was extraordinary in more than one way, including the sheer volume of voter turnout nationwide. In Santa Barbara County, more registered voters cast ballots in this election than in any of the last five presidential…
Solvang accepts recall of former councilman Chris Djernaes
Solvang City Council held a special meeting on Nov. 30 to accept the recall of former Councilmember Chris Djernaes and swear in the candidate elected to fill the vacancy. All members of the council were present except for Djernaes, leaving his seat already empty for the next council member. The certified election results show 2,878…
Newsom hints at stay-at-home order for purple tier counties
Californians who live in purple tier counties may soon be under a stay-at-home order similar to those imposed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Gavin Newsom floated the possibility at a Nov. 30 virtual press conference, though he didn’t specify exactly what would necessitate a new order. He said that alarming increases in…
Kick, kick!
Nothing like kicking a man when he’s down. Solvang Mayor Ryan Toussaint reveled in it on Nov. 30, verbally chastising recalled City Councilmember Chris Djernaes at a special meeting meant to accept the vote to kick the dude out of office. Nearly 90 percent of Solvang residents who voted in the November election, opted to…
Greg Brewer, Wine Enthusiast’s 2020 Winemaker of the Year, is disciplined about doing things the same way year after year
In 30 years, the Sta. Rita Hills hasn’t let Greg Brewer down. “I’ve been reflecting a lot on my relationship with this place,” the Brewer-Clifton winemaker said. “I’m very loyal to this place. I’m very provincial in that way. I’ll always work here. I’ve only worked here.” He describes his relationship with the region as…
Lompoc-based filmmaker and Mad Sin Cinema founder Shane Ryan discusses upcoming projects
From the suburbs of Buellton and Santa Maria to the sprawling fields of the Santa Ynez Valley, local filmmaker Shane Ryan never gets tired of shooting on location at destinations throughout the Central Coast—especially when they’re not too far from his hometown of Lompoc. “Shooting in LA can be just the worst, and costly beyond…
Cuyama Buckhorn’s first artist-in-residence, Kimberly Sutherland, releases latest issue of RURAL series
If there’s one thing Kimberly Sutherland is no stranger to, it’s talking to strangers. While creating the second installment of her ongoing art project and publication series, RURAL, Sutherland’s three-week artist residency at the Cuyama Buckhorn in New Cuyama was full of cold calls and warm conversations. “It’s the most enjoyable and inspiring project I’ve…
Cypress Gallery presents Into the Light, a new exhibit showcasing local artist Kathy Badrak
The Lompoc Valley Art Association presents Into the Light, a new multimedia art exhibition at Cypress Gallery, which will open on Friday, Dec.4, and is scheduled to remain on display through Sunday, Dec. 27. This solo exhibit showcases works by local artist Kathy Badrak. “For over 40 years, I’ve spent as much time as possible…
Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series hosts virtual Bach tribute, featuring Grammy-winning violinist Johnny Gandelsman
The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series presents a virtual program, A Violinist Explores Bach’s Cello Suites, featuring violinist Johnny Gandelsman on Thursday, Dec. 3, at 5:30 p.m. Gandelsman was originally slated to perform live at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Church in Santa Ynez in March, before the pandemic closures put a halt on in-person concerts. The virtual…
The Tri-County Regional Energy Network reduces local energy use, trains the building industry workforce of tomorrow
Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties have some of the most ambitious climate goals in the state: Santa Barbara County’s new 2030 Climate Action Plan will seek to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent over the next 10 years, and the city of San Luis Obispo aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2035.…
Renew your efforts to stay masked
This week kicks of the fall and winter holiday season, amid a doubling of COVID-19 case numbers across Santa Barbara County. This alarming trend is also reflected nationally and globally. As health care workers on the front lines and as educators eager to see students back in the classroom, we are making a sincere plea…
Make President Trump the man of the past four years
President Donald Trump is this year’s—in fact for the past four years—Man of the Year. Not since the likes of Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, and Theodore Roosevelt has any president taken to heart the words in the oath of office. Dismantling the runaway bureaucracy created by past administrations as they abdicated their responsibilities to unelected special…
In a misguided cleanup effort, the city of Lompoc evicted the rabbits and quail from a popular trail
Everyone follows a path through life; some paths are littered with traps and dead ends, others with an easy ride/walk/run and nothing but positive outcomes. In Lompoc, the city used a transportation grant to build a paved path with all of those things wrapped up into one project. Dubbed the Riverbend Bike Path it was…
