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The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office blames an increase in crime on a rule aimed at decreasing jail populations amid COVID-19
By the end of 2020, reports of the most serious violent crimes were trending 10 percent higher than the immediately preceding three-year average in areas of Santa Barbara County served by the Sheriff’s Office. Reports of arson were trending 41 percent higher, reported robberies were up by 30 percent, and reports of forcible rape were…
After closure of Old Orcutt location, cnagy wines plans to streamline production and tasting under one roof
With a new year comes a new beginning for local winemaker Clarissa Nagy, who announced a big change for cnagy wines near the end of 2020. On Dec. 26, Nagy said goodbye to her winery’s original tasting room, which closed its doors for good after six years of operating on South Gray Street in Old…
Mixed media artist Belinda Hart experiments with abstract painted silks in Solvang
While primarily working with fabrics and textiles, contemporary artist Belinda Hart loves creating pieces that invoke “an invitation to touch,” and she described her intricate hand-dye method as a thrilling challenge. Hart’s process is an iteration of Arashi Shibori, a Japanese technique that results in shades and hues reminiscent of storm-driven rain. “The impressionistic aspect…
Santa Maria Public Library offers Writing Club take-home packs for students
Students through grade 12 can pre-register for a Writing Club take-home pack, which will soon be available from the Santa Maria Public Library. Pickup dates for the pack include Jan. 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30. This workshop is designed for aspiring writers, and each pack includes a journal and a selection of…
Healing Justice SB seeks Black artists for upcoming virtual showcase, Black is Beautiful
Healing Justice SB, a Black-led and Black-centered organizing collective based in Santa Barbara County, is preparing for an upcoming virtual showcase, Black is Beautiful, which is scheduled to debut in February in celebration of Black History Month. This visual and performing arts showcase will include acts of dance, spoken word, street art, comedy skits, music,…
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Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown dropped some jaws on Dec. 1 when he pronounced that most serious violent crimes were up by 10 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, reports of forcible rape were up by 14 percent, robberies by 30 percent, and arson by 41 percent, he told the county Board of…
County students, educators, staff share some of their 2020 silver linings and hopes for the year ahead
Looking back, 2020 was a year of downs, ups, backwards and sideways, to say the least. The year was full of reality that seemed unimaginable at this time last year. Far too many friends, family members, and neighbors lost jobs and closed businesses, and a staggering number of individuals lost their lives. The daily interactions…
Future of Old Town Market still unclear
Orcutt’s Old Town Market is up and running as a local neighborhood grocery store again after a roller-coaster of a year, but the future of the store remains uncertain. In May 2020, longtime market owners Mark and Wendy Steller announced in a Facebook post that they had suddenly received an eviction notice shortly after…
Domestic Violence Solutions’ executive director looks back at a year of meeting unprecedented need, all while pivoting to the virtual realm
When stay-at-home orders first came down in March, Domestic Violence Solutions Executive Director Jan Campbell expected her organization to be flooded with calls from victims quarantined at home with their abusers. At first, the opposite happened. “The numbers in the beginning just clamped down,” Campbell recalled. “It was like people had never heard of domestic…
Political Watch: January 7, 2021
• Both legislative bodies of Congress voted to override President Donald Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report, the annual defense bill for which U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) served as a conferee and helped draft the final product. According to a Jan. 1 statement from Carbajal’s office, this marks the…
Santa Maria pool closed until Jan. 14, no additional cases reported
The Paul Nelson Aquatic Center will be closed until at least Jan. 14 to those who use its facilities, which averages around 100 people daily. According to Santa Maria Recreation Services Manager Dennis Smitherman, 20 percent of the pool’s lifeguard staff either tested positive for coronavirus or were exposed to someone who did. Those staff…
Large gatherings can’t be stopped in Solvang but safety is encouraged
Despite the pandemic, Solvang—similar to many other communities—has had several unpermitted, politically oriented gatherings in 2020. Two such gatherings occurred over the Dec. 19 weekend at Solvang Park, prompting many residents to alert the city about their concerns over the crowds. City Manager Xenia Bradford told the Sun that she learned one was an annual…
Fatal shooting in Guadalupe is still under investigation
An investigation into a Dec. 22 shooting in Guadalupe is ongoing after the city’s police department handed the case over to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. The shooting resulted in one death and one injury. According to the county Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred just after 10 p.m. in the 1000 block of Escalante…
