Cover Story
Cocktail-pop artist Maeve Steele performs virtual concert to benefit the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
I’m thinking a Britney Spears cover, cuz why not?” said singer-songwriter Maeve Steele, in response to whether or not the set lists of her upcoming virtual concerts will be exclusive to her own material. Among a few potential surprise selections, Steele will be performing songs from her new EP, Barefoot—set to be released on Friday,…
Beekeeper Jeremy Rose of CBC gets raw on honey, the bee biz, and the fate of his winged essential workers
Jeremy Rose’s fascination with bees began as a fourth grader. As his classmates ran in fear and his teacher herded the children indoors to avoid bee stings, Rose took pause, felt the impressiveness of the insect energy, and wanted to learn more. When he witnessed a beekeeper smoke a swarm of bees out of an…
Local novelists reimagine events leading up to the 1923 Honda Point disaster off the coast near Lompoc
It all started with a tasty burger,” Therese Vannier, co-author of upcoming historical novel Dead Reckoning, revealed before amending—“tastiest burger on the planet.” Vannier’s inaugural dining experience at the Jalama Beach Grill coincided with her introduction to a tragic piece of local history. “We sat at the indoor dining area of the Jalama Beach Store…
County Office of Arts and Culture announces new video series, ‘805 Inspires’
The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture is collaborating with local museums and other institutions to produce 805 Inspires, a new video series to highlight the region’s cultural and educational assets. The series includes a variety of 15-minute video segments available online at sbac.ca.gov/805inspires. The videos will also periodically air on TVSB’s local…
Wildling Museum launches its first public art project, ‘Nature Takes the Wheel’
Thanks to a grant from the Buellton Arts and Culture Committee, the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature is initiating its first public art project, titled Nature Takes the Wheel. Headed by art therapist Stacey Thompson, the project is open to all community members who wish to paint and embellish used hubcaps into nature-inspired artworks. …
CANARY: Consider this
Lompoc has some roiling drama in its Federal Correctional Complex (FCC). It’s under the microscope for how its leadership has been handling, or apparently not handling, the efforts to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the prison facilities. In a nutshell: The Lompoc FCC should have released more of its eligible incarcerated individuals to home…
Get Diablo closed
William Gloege (“Keep Diablo open,” July 23) is using old data in his argument to keep the expensive, nuclear waste producing Diablo Canyon Power Plant open. Here’s the current data from government sources: Renewable energy is the fastest-growing energy source in the U.S., increasing 100 percent from 2000 to 2018. Renewables are adding more jobs…
There is a pivotal election looming in Lompoc; do we stick with old-school thought processes?
Councilwoman Gilda Cordova was appointed two years ago by a City Council majority to fill an unexpired term when Jenelle Osborne was elected mayor. We have had more than one appointee in years past; some take it seriously, some have had agendas, and some have just kept the seat warm until the next election. Cordova…
Local barber shops, hair salons adapt to changing state regulations to slow the spread of COVID-19
When Alberto Licerio learned he would have to close his barber shop in Orcutt again only about a month after reopening, he was shocked. He is the owner and one of three barbers who work at Old Orcutt Barber Shop. Following California health orders aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, Licerio initially closed the…
Political Watch: July 30, 2020
• The House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for the 2021 fiscal year on July 21, which provides military, defense, and security funding. The bill contains several proposals from Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) that directly support the Central Coast. “I fought to include protections for our public lands, bring offshore wind…
Court order, federal inspection agree with class-action lawsuit’s claims that Lompoc penitentiary could have better stopped the spread of COVID-19 with more home confinement
Editor’s note: This is the first part of a two-part series examining pandemic response in the federal prison at Lompoc. Though the number of active COVID-19 cases reported from Lompoc’s federal prison has decreased dramatically since May 11—when more than 75 percent of prisoners in one facility tested positive—pro bono lawyers and governmental entities alike…
Pacific Pride Foundation announces new executive director
After two decades of working in different roles for various organizations in the LGBTQ-plus movement, Kristin Flickinger is starting a new venture as the executive director of the Pacific Pride Foundation. The foundation announced the hire on July 13, following a four-month nationwide search. “Kristin is going to be a key part in achieving our…
County issues mask order, enforcement is up to individual jurisdictions
On July 23, Santa Barbara County Health Officer Dr. Henning Ansorg issued a health order that requires individuals in the county to wear face coverings “when in high-risk situations that may contribute to the spread of COVID-19,” a Public Health Department press release announced. All individuals must wear a face covering in business settings—both customers…
Overall COVID-19 rate keeps county on watchlist though positivity rate, hospitalization trends improve
Santa Barbara County saw an improvement in a couple of the metrics that have kept it on the state’s COVID-19 monitoring list. However, the county still falls short in getting down its overall case rate. To get off the state’s watchlist, a county has to meet a number of public health requirements. First, it needs…
Solvang City Council recall election set for November
In November, Solvang residents will decide whether to recall sitting City Councilmember Chris Djernaes following a successful citizen-led petition effort. Lammy Johnstone, who is leading the recall effort, filed paperwork to begin the process on June 25. The notice Johnstone filed states, among other claims, that Djernaes isn’t respectful to residents and disregards the wishes…
Santa Maria high schools to begin year with students at home, teachers in classrooms
The day after Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s board of education approved a reopening plan that starts the year with distance learning, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s (SMJUHSD) board followed suit by voting in a similar plan during a July 23 special meeting. The unanimously approved plan will have students begin at-home instruction on…
