New Lompoc medical practice aims to restore the doctor-patient relationship
In his three decades of Central Coast medical experience, Dr. Dale Ekstrum noticed a shift in the patient-doctor relationship at traditional medical practices. “Patients as well as doctors have experienced increasing demands, having to do more regulatory work or more electronic records work,” Ekstrum said. “Spending 10 minutes with a patient involves another 20 or…
Political Watch: July 9, 2020
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) released a statement acknowledging a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan that the U.S. House of Representatives passed on July 1. The Moving Forward Act would allocate money toward improving roads, bridges, transit systems, and broadband access, among other forms of infrastructure. The legislation would also invest in reducing carbon…
After a few weeks of not quite normal operations, many businesses in the county shut down for a second time
Amid a surge of COVID-19 cases, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently required many businesses in Santa Barbara County to fully or partially close, a few weeks after many reopened from the previous closure. During a press conference on July 1, Newsom announced a health order that mandates certain businesses in counties on a state COVID-19 watch…
Grand jury criticizes county’s cannabis regulations in recent report
Echoing many of the talking points of the local anti-cannabis crowd, the Santa Barbara County grand jury recently released a scathing report in which it criticized county officials for allowing the creation of a cannabis industry to the detriment of county residents. “The action taken by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to certify…
Buellton joins Monterey Bay Community Power
In June, the city of Buellton became the latest jurisdiction to opt into joining Monterey Bay Community Power, a community choice aggregation agency that has expanded along the Central Coast over the last two years. Community choice aggregation agencies are public entities governed by a board of directors made up of officials from participating jurisdictions…
Local organizations call for action over farmworker conditions during COVID-19
With about 20 percent of Santa Maria’s COVID-19 cases being among farmworkers, Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and Mixteco Indigena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) released a joint statement calling on Santa Barbara County elected officials and public health to take action. CAUSE and MICOP are asking the Board of Supervisors to…
County begins drafting plan to reach 2030 emission reduction goal
Over the next two years, the county of Santa Barbara will develop a plan identifying programs and policies the jurisdiction can pursue to meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals. During its meeting on July 7, the county Board of Supervisors authorized staff to hire a consultant and move forward with developing the Climate Action Plan…
Santa Barbara County picked for challenge to reduce youth homelessness
The Santa Maria/Santa Barbara County Continuum of Care and 20 local stakeholders launched a 100-Day Challenge to reduce youth homelessness in Santa Barbara County at the end of June, and things are already off to a great start. “I’m so excited to have all of these partners involved,” said Lucille Boss, housing programs specialist at…
CANARY: Aggresive much?
Hey, you guys! It turns out that a bunch of retirees who have an extra 20 hours a week on their hands to do research and write reports don’t actually like marijuana. A real shocker, I know. The most recent report released by the Santa Barbara County grand jury is aptly titled “Cannabis.” It’s about—you…
We need intellect over instinct
Regarding the catastrophe of this pandemic—the anger, insecurity, and fear of the unknown is bringing out the baser behavior in man. The difficulties of no income generates a fight-or-flight response in us, which can help us survive. Conversely, a misfire could cause us to respond to the perception of threat inappropriately in violence and in…
Not everyone has access to nature, and that needs to change
In typical Latino culture, daughters are taught how to clean and cook to keep their men happy. Not me, I was raised by a single mom who worked two jobs and cleaned houses on the weekends. I was shown the miracles of what Fabuloso could do in a bathroom and how Vicks VapoRub could cure…
With the official cancellation of Solvang Danish Days, IDK Events proposes an alternative lineup of celebratory options
For Max Hanberg, owner of Solvang Shoe Store, the cancellation of this year’s Solvang Danish Days Festival (originally scheduled to take place Sept. 18 through 20) is disappointing not only as a local business holder but also as a nearly lifelong fan of the event. Fond memories of the town’s beloved tradition are easy to…
Elverhoj Museum of History and Art reflects on traditional Solstice Sundowner fundraiser over the years
In an alternate reality devoid of COVID-19, June 20 would have marked the eighth annual Solstice Sundowner Benefit Party—traditionally hosted by the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art in Solvang every summer to celebrate each year’s longest day. Although the fundraiser was inevitably canceled this year, all of the event’s sponsors—including Alisal Guest Ranch and…
Dana Adobe and Cultural Center’s new exhibit showcases paintings by the late Milford Zornes
The Dana Adobe and Cultural Center will open its upcoming paintings exhibition, All About Trees, on July 15. This group show will showcase about 20 to 25 different paintings and will remain on display at the center through Sept. 25. The exhibit’s special featured artist is the late regional painter Milford Zornes (1908-2008), known for…
County Arts Commission, Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation launch artist awards
The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission announced it will award up to 20 stipends of $500 each to local artists who have created work in response to circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arts Commission is partnering with the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation to present these awards “in recognition of artists’ essential social contributions,” according…
Tastry takes small wineries to the next level, while making the Central Coast the epicenter of wine innovation
Katerina Axelsson was tinkering in a wine lab when she unlocked the flavor matrix for wine. She’s always been fascinated by human biology—particularly biotech—and relocated from Southern California to Cal Poly to pursue a chemistry degree, before getting a master’s degree in bioinformatics. So naturally, data science professor Alexander Dekhtyar, who oversaw Axelsson’s master’s program,…
