Cover Story
As cities await finalized American Rescue Plan Act guidelines, some funding decisions remain in limbo
Lompoc Interim Fire Chief Brian Federmann is well aware of the health risks that his job carries. But seeing those risks impact one of the Lompoc Fire Department’s own made it all a bit more real. “Cancer has become quickly one of the No. 1 killers in firefighting,” Federmann said. “It used to be heart…
From Santa Maria to Solvang, Golden Opal Baking has the sweet beat covered with cakes and pastries made with locally sourced ingredients
While the opal in Golden Opal Baking is a reference to founder Taylor Tate’s birthstone, the gold exterior also serves as a loving nod to her lineage. “I chose golden because my grandparents have had many loved golden retrievers over the years, and it just felt fitting to have a little piece of them in…
Art Spot on Wheels hosts pop-up painting events in outdoor settings throughout Santa Barbara County
Whether you’re Michelangelo the late artist, Michelangelo the Ninja Turtle, or any Michelangelo in between, painters of all skill levels (including first-timers) are invited to attend Painting in the Vineyard, a mobile plein-air workshop offered by Art Spot on Wheels. The next class takes place on Saturday, June 26, at Ca’ Del Grevino Estate Winery…
Santa Ynez Chamber hosts Artisan Market event in lieu of traditional Old Santa Ynez Day festivities
In the place of the annual Old Santa Ynez Day celebration, which is traditionally held every June but is canceled this year, the Santa Ynez Chamber is hosting a special Artisan Market event on June 19, from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will feature a variety of arts and crafts vendors, as…
Santa Barbara Bowl recognizes Orcutt music instructor Josie Coburn as Performing Arts Teacher of the Year
The Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, in association with the Santa Barbara County Education Office, recently selected Josie Coburn as the Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year. Coburn is a music and band instructor in the Orcutt Union School District, where she has taught for more than eight years at five different schools…
Wake up!
Wake up, you sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed. Wake up, the confusing Blueprint For a Safer Economy is dead! The Blueprint is dead. Dead! And California Gov. Gavin Newsom is singing it high, singing it low to let everyone know how well the state did to get the COVID-19 pandemic to…
Oceano should elect a new council
Dozens of county residents offered public comment at the June 8 Board of Supervisors meeting on the formation of a second Oceano Advisory Council (OAC) to be called Vitality Advisory Council of Oceano (VACO). It was approved. Most VACO supporters sounded like this: “My name is, I support VACO, the current OAC doesn’t represent me…
Lompoc voters will finally get to decide whether to tax local cannabis manufacturing
On June 1, the Lompoc City Council decided on a rare 5-0 vote to allow voters to decide whether or not to tax manufacturers of cannabis products in Lompoc. But first a brief history lesson. The council first considered this idea on March 20, 2018; here is how the discussion went according to the minutes…
Area Agency on Aging runs senior meal delivery while seeking local organizations to take on the service
With CommUnify’s Senior Nutrition Program set to end on June 30 because it’s not financially sustainable, the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens, Area Agency on Aging will be taking over senior meal delivery starting July 1—at least for now. “The Area Agency on Aging is a local entity that’s responsible for bringing in federal…
Political Watch: June 17, 2021
• The U.S. Department of Transportation reached a settlement with the state of California to fund the high-speed rail project and will receive nearly a billion dollars in restored federal grant funding after that money was taken away during the Trump administration. “Tonight’s action by the federal government is further proof that California and the…
Solvang continues its work to create a unified brand for its tourism marketing
Solvang’s City Council is taking steps toward a unifying its tourism marketing, overall brand, and direction for its visitor center. Currently there are three different agencies—IDK Events, the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, and Central Coast Marketing—that helm the city’s events, tourism, and marketing. All three use different websites and social media accounts to reach prospective…
Promotores Network receives grant to train more volunteers
Santa Barbara County’s Promotores Network will grow in the near future thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara. The Promotores is a group of volunteers throughout Santa Barbara County who engage Spanish-speaking community members and bridge the gap to help them access resources. The organization operates as part of Children…
Redistricting Commission criticized for recent appointment of Kevin Kaseff
Some conservatives are criticizing the Santa Barbara County Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission and the process it used to select a white Democrat to fill a recently vacated seat instead of a Latino Republican. At a meeting on June 2, the Redistricting Commission voted 8-2 to appoint Santa Ynez Valley resident Kevin Kaseff to represent District…
With the tier system gone, public health officials talk about what comes next
June 15 marked the end of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the color-coded reopening system that Santa Barbara County finally made its way through when it reached the yellow tier on June 8. Public health officials say the county is ready to reopen, but that the community shouldn’t let its guard down entirely: COVID-19…
