Cover Story
Surf Beach closures have helped the birds recover, but have burdened beachgoers
Standing only a few inches off the ground, a Western snowy plover scurries down a sand dune and across a flat stretch of beach searching for bugs to eat in a clump of kelp that’s washed ashore. Weighing about 2 ounces, its tiny frame carries just enough weight to leave faint impressions of its quick…
Morrell’s Farm Fresh Dining keeps their fine culinary creations in the community
It’s hard to say whether I’m generally broke because I’m bad with money, or if I’m bad with money because I’m generally too broke to practice using it wisely, but one thing’s for sure: If I’ve got extra money in my pocket, I’m about to spend it. Case in point, when I made the very…
Grossman Gallery showcases oil paintings that illustrate the simplicity of small town life
As far back as Elizabeth Monks Hack can remember, art has been a prevalent force in her life—whether it’s music, theater, or fashion. Hack pursued studying painting in college, while earning a degree in studio art from UC Irvine. In her view, gaining as much technical knowledge as possible while still young is the best…
Here we go again: Melodrama parodies Mamma Mia musical
Oh my cod! You’ve got to sea this show. Still with me? Then definitely surf on over to the Great American Melodrama for oceanic puns and Abba inspired song satires galore in the hilarious Mamma Mia parody, Pappa Pia. While I love Mamma Mia, it always seemed like a stretch that creator Catherine Johnson listened…
Gallery Los Olivos presents Summer Bloom
Summer Bloom, a new pastel exhibit at Gallery Los Olivos, opened Monday, July 1, and runs through Wednesday, July 31. The show features a collection of plein-air and studio paintings of Santa Barbara County landscapes and succulents by artists Kris Buck and Deborah Breedon. Both artists are members of the Pastel Society of the West…
Isaiah Sanchez wins Odd Fellows’ annual essay contest
Lompoc High School graduate Isaiah Sanchez (pictured below, right) was awarded a $1,000 scholarship by the Lompoc Odd Fellows for winning the organization’s second annual essay contest. The contest came down to two finalists, Sanchez and Cabrillo High School student Kailey McNamee, who both read their essays aloud at the Odd Fellows Lodge at the…
Guadalupe installs new sculpture exhibition
Guadalupe is partnering with the Squire Foundation to place approximately 20 sculptures in various prominent locations throughout the city. Each site that has been selected is highly visible and accessible for the public to view. The sculptures, which include figures of musicians and dancers, vary in size and theme and are on loan to the…
Study finds correlation between immigration policy concerns and health issues in Latino children
Much of Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign hinged on a promise to crack down on immigration—sweeping deportations, stringent asylum policies, a wall. Since getting elected, Trump hasn’t followed through with all those ideas, but he’s tried, and the debate over who can stay in this county has intensified to the point that a group of…
Political Watch: July 4, 2019
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced recently that an amendment he authored aiming to ban offshore oil and gas drilling off the west coast passed the House of Representatives on June 25. The amendment was included in a fiscal year 2020 appropriations package. “Protecting our environment is paramount, and I refuse to put…
Lompoc seeking input on biking, walking plan
Walkers, joggers, bikers, and other interested Lompoc residents can participate in a community survey to provide input on a pedestrian and bicycle master plan for the city. The goal of this plan is to assess the existing conditions of sidewalks and bike paths throughout the city and to identify where improvements are needed. According to…
Cuyama, Chumash awarded thousands for environmental justice projects
With the help of seperate $50,000 grants, two Santa Barbara County groups will soon be working to address pressing environmental concerns in their communities. In late June, the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) announced a long list of participants in its 2019 Environmental Justice Small Grants Project, a competitive program that offers up to $50,000…
Grand jury releases report on inmate suicide
The Santa Barbara County grand jury released a report on June 29 about its investigation into Alexander Ricardo Braid’s suicide while in a Santa Barbara County Jail cell last year. In its report, the grand jury lists nine findings and recommendations, most of which were related to jail personnel’s inability to spot Braid’s history with…
Study finds Diablo closure would be insignificant to Santa Barbara County
State Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and researchers at UC Berkeley hosted a public forum on June 28, where they presented the findings included in a study regarding the economic impacts that the closure of Diablo Canyon Power Plant would have on Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. In the 144-page report, which was…
CANARY: Commission shuffle
Who’s flipping out about the California Coastal Commission’s upcoming July 11 meeting concerning the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area? I know, I know. It’s everyone! Environmentalists are beside themselves because commission staff is finally recommending that the state regulatory body quash those dangerous, oil-spewing, sand-spinning off-roaders from messing up an ecological paradise! It’s about…
When a budget raise is actually a budget cut
On June 24, the Lompoc City Council had a special meeting concerning the budget. At the end of the meeting, they adopted a budget with some serious flaws. However, there was one big surprise. Reading the city budget is like studying the printed circuit of an Alexa device and trying to figure out how it…
Do you believe Big Oil?
“My doctor said if I want to stay slender, I should reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet!” reads a typical cigarette ad from the ’50s. Another: “After ten months … medical specialists report no adverse effects from smoking Chesterfield.” It wasn’t until 1964 that the Surgeon General’s report announced that cigarettes cause cancer.…
Spotlight on: Santa Maria Public Library Briana Martenies, library management analyst
For the first time in decades, the Santa Maria Public Library will soon be open for at least a few hours every day of the week. At a recent meeting, City Council approved the library’s hiring of two librarians and six additional support staff positions, which will give the library the staffing it needs to…
Paul Thorn and Rising Appalachia perform back-to-back at Presqu’ile Winery
Presqu’ile Winery is home to not one, but two formidable acts touring to celebrate the release of their latest albums this weekend. The festivities begin with Southern rocker Paul Thorn, who performs at the winery on Saturday, July 6, at 6 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $30. “This is the culmination of my whole…
