Cover Story
Cuyama Valley landowners face an adjudication lawsuit as they try to sustainably manage their groundwater basin
Cuyama Valley’s water woes dominated 1st District Supervisor Das Williams’ comments during a recent hearing about the future of water well permits in Santa Barbara County. “I just have some concerns about how this is going to impact high priority basins, particularly Cuyama,” Williams said during the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ May 24…
BINGEABLE: JOE PICKETT (2021)
BINGEABLE: JOE PICKETT (2021) Where’s it playing? Paramount Plus What’s it rated? TV-14 Now that a second season has been confirmed for release in late 2022, it’s time to dive into Joe Pickett, a soulful contemporary Western that follows Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett (Michael Dorman), who’s recently been posted to a small rural community…
No fair?
What’s orange, green, and hairy all over with a penchant for gulping up water and a sweet crunch that’s satisfyingly healthy? Anyone? Carrots. They like at least an inch of water per week during the growing season and will get misshapen or develop a bitter taste if the soil gets too dry, according to San…
Local winemaker Alisa Jacobson celebrates the bottling of two new Turning Tide wines
With great grapes, come great expectations. And those high expectations will be met with both of Turning Tide’s two newest wines, created from locally sourced grapes—picpoul and sauvignon blanc—picked in October 2021. The back label of the wines—both of which Turning Tide bottled during the spring of 2022—describes the unique, atmospheric conditions that lended a…
Oceano Depot Association hosts new WWII exhibition
A new World War II exhibition debuted at the Oceano Train Depot at the end of May, in honor of Memorial Day. The exhibit features a unique grouping of rare WWII military figures wearing authentic uniforms from the era, along with posters, memorabilia, equipment, and other items. The showcase is scheduled to remain on display…
Santa Maria unveils new sculpture at Hagerman Sports Complex
In mid-May, the city of Santa Maria celebrated the unveiling of a new softball-themed sculpture at the Hagerman Sports Complex. This colorful sculpture, created by local welders Jeremy and Tammy Mogavero, also functions as a recycling bin. The piece invites viewers to recycle cans or bottles by “pitching” them inside the sculpture, according to Santa…
Orcutt Community Theater presents ‘Laughter on the 23rd Floor’
Director Alan Sutterfield helms Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Orcutt Community Theater’s latest production, which debuts on Friday, June 3. Performances of the show are scheduled to run through Sunday, June 19, at KDA Studios in Santa Maria. This iteration of Neil Simon’s classic comedy features an ensemble cast of Orcutt Community Theater regulars, including…
SYV Performing Arts Company brings back its in-person recital, An Invitation to Dance, after a two-year hiatus
Classical. Jazz. Hip-hop. An eclectic mix of music sets the tone for an upcoming dance recital in Santa Ynez, with songs including compositions by Alexander Glazunov, pop hits from Madonna, and Broadway showtunes. Christine Fossemalle, artistic director of the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company, and her longtime assistant, Sonia Ibarra Corona, co-choreographed the showcase,…
County cannabis ordinance changes aim to mitigate odor
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors decided to change permit requirements for cannabis cultivation permits, which will give decision makers like the board more say over projects and place additional requirements on cannabis businesses. The proposal would require commercial cannabis license applicants to obtain a conditional use permit, a permit that requires a public…
Salcido is tested and true
During this difficult and contentious election season, it’s refreshing to see a candidate who enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support throughout Santa Barbara County. Susan Salcido, who is running for reelection as county superintendent of schools, is that candidate. Dr. Salcido has been tested in crisis management to the extreme. In 2017 (the year she took office)…
Sheriff Brown represents the finest in law enforcement
Sheriff Bill Brown is clearly the most qualified candidate! Brown has earned my vote because he has the experience, integrity, and proven track record of doing a stellar job for Santa Barbara County. He is a brilliant leader who has successfully led us through challenging times. He has implemented new and innovative programs to reduce…
Lompoc’s bicycle path improvement plan is a good one, but it could take decades to complete
When any plan is developed, there can be some questionable ideas as it makes its way through the process and is eventually implemented; but sometimes groupthink can produce an idea that’s a hit. Recreational bicycling has gained traction in the last couple of decades. In some countries, bicycles are used primarily for transportation, but that…
Political Watch: June 2, 2022
• Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido released a May 24 statement regarding the shooting in Uvalde, Texas. “The school shooting that killed 14 students and one teacher at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, is the latest example of horrifying violence in our country. This senseless, devastating loss of life is difficult…
Department of Labor recovers wages for local farmworkers
Several U.S. Department of Labor investigations spanning from April 2020 to February 2022 found that four Santa Maria area farms failed to provide meals for temporary farmworkers (or lacked kitchen facilities), didn’t pay for the required transportation, failed to provide a contract to workers, and shortchanged workers’ wages—violating H-2A farmworker visa requirements—according to the Department…
Solvang City Council considers funding requests from several nonprofits
In preparation of finalizing its next two-year financial plan, the Solvang City Council recently discussed the proposed budget, including funding requests from multiple nonprofits. The final 2022-24 budget will be presented for adoption at the end of June, but several representatives spoke during the City Council’s May 23 meeting to explain their respective organizations’ requests…
Nipomo-based pilates and barre studio creates a new sense of community
When Shannon Mako moved to Nipomo from San Clemente four years ago, she knew no one and found it really hard to make new friends, she said. “The nature of the Central Coast is that it’s very small town. Properties are spread out, people have their houses sit further back in their land. You don’t…
