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FOOD & DRINK 2019: Ice cream, butchers, coffee shops, and picnics
From catering to brick-and-mortar, Creme De La Ice Cream brings fresh ideas to change the ice cream game BY KAREN GARCIA Whenever summer decides to grace us with its presence, certain treats are a must at picnics, Fourth of July parties, and community gatherings. Among fresh watermelon, pies, and lemonade, the vital ingredient to a…
Spotlight on: Simply Chic
About eight years ago, Annie Looysen and her husband acquired a few pet finches and purchased a table to place the birds’ cage on. Unfortunately, the avians didn’t work out as pets in their 800-square-foot home, so Looysen painted the table and sold it on Craigslist for much more than she anticipated. Although the birds…
If you squint real hard, this little corner of Lompoc tastes like paradise
Have you ever avoided an entire cuisine out of pure spite? To be clear, I’m not talking about race-based spite here. I’m an idiot, not an asshole, and for decades my aversion to Hawaiian food has been based entirely on an unarticulated resentment from being too broke to visit America’s favorite tropical getaway. Forget Hawaii,…
The Mads Tolling Quartet take over Solvang Festival Theater
All it took was a Miles Davis cassette tape to change one Danish classical violin student’s life forever. Mads Tolling was 14 when his father introduced him to Davis’ music, which spawned an everlasting adoration of jazz, soul, and R&B of the 1960s. Within this decade’s sounds, Tolling found a paradoxical sense of freedom and…
Cannabis conspiracy
Apparently, there are some residents of Santa Barbara County who choose to live under rocks for years at a time. I’m having a hard time believing that people actually exist who don’t realize that the county has spent a massive amount of public time developing its cannabis ordinance in a very public way. I guess…
Local farmer discusses new regulations for lettuce growers in wake of E. coli outbreaks
Last year wasn’t an easy one for U.S. lettuce farmers. In the spring of 2018, an E. coli outbreak that was linked back to contaminated romaine lettuce caused nearly 210 reported illnesses, 96 hospitalizations, and five deaths across 36 states. Just months after that outbreak was declared over, in June 2018, another strain of E.…
Local groups capitalize on unofficial groundwater, oil field study results to protest new project
Preliminary findings in a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study show indications of oil field-related substances mixing with groundwater at various sites in the Orcutt oil field. Local environmental groups are using these unofficial findings to protest further oil and gas projects in Santa Barbara County. In a 33-page letter to the Santa Barbara County Planning…
Lompoc Civic Theatre’s production of A Dog’s Life is a barking good time
Three dogs at the pound eagerly await their chances of getting adopted when they hear a new human’s voice coming around the corner. Joel (Craig Scott) doesn’t want a dog, but his ex-girlfriend does, and he’s just about ready to try anything to win her back. The canine candidates flaunt themselves before Joel, desperately competing…
This and That showcases three local artists at Gallery Los Olivos
For oil painter Patti Robbins, no still life begins without a “treasure hunt,” as she calls it. A collection of vessels, plants, fabrics, and other items that appeal to the artist ensues before she’s ready to start painting. Robbins will occasionally borrow vases, bowls, and plates from friends or purchase new ones that catch her…
LVAA presents Captured Moments at Cypress Gallery
Captured Moments, a new exhibit showcasing photography by Bill Morson, which opened Tuesday, May 28, and runs through Sunday, June 23, at Cypress Gallery in Lompoc. Morson is a Central Coast-based photographer with professional experience in both corporate photography and photojournalism. The exhibit showcases an eclectic selection of Morson’s photos, from nature photography to portraits. …
Gavin’s Books holds ‘Murder in the Cards’ book signing
Local mystery author Tony Piazza will be signing copies of his new novel, Murder in the Cards, at Gavin’s Books in Santa Maria on Saturday, June 15, from noon to 3 p.m. Piazza will also be reading a portion of the novel during the event. Copies of the book will be available for purchase. Guests…
stART showcases artists with disabilities at CORE Winery
The artist reception for stART, which displays works created by student artists from the Special Needs Network and Vocational Training Program, takes place at CORE Winery in Orcutt on Sunday, June 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. Last year’s show included abstract pieces, mixed media, kinetic art, and sculptures. Nineteen pieces were sold at the…
Bill to keep firearms from drunk drivers passes Senate
A bill that would keep guns away from those who have been convicted of some alcohol-related crimes passed the state Senate on May 23, the fifth anniversary of the Isla Vista shooting, which left six dead and 14 injured at the hands of 22-year-old Elliot Rodger. Senate Bill 55, which state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa…
Santa Maria residents urge city to resume water fluoridation
The city of Santa Maria is reconsidering its decision to discontinue the fluoridation of the city’s water supply after some residents pushed back on the move at a recent City Council meeting. Santa Maria began fluoridating its water in 2004, but stopped last year as a cost-saving measure. According to the city’s 2018-19 budget, not…
County puts kibosh on cannabis rumors in ‘open letter to residents’
It’s been more than two years since Santa Barbara County formally started its debate over how to deal with the state’s legalization of recreational cannabis, a process that has included dozens of lengthy public meetings, community input, and workshops across the county. But county officials say rumors are starting to spread—rumors that the county’s handling…
Animal Kingdom wins small claims court case
A San Luis Obispo County small claims court recently released a ruling in favor of Animal Kingdom Pet Shop, a local pet store accused of knowingly selling an unhealthy puppy to an Arroyo Grande family. Jen Toste, who purchased an $1,800 goldendoodle puppy from Animal Kingdom in July 2018, filed a complaint against the pet…
Political Watch June 6, 2019
• The California state Senate approved a bill authored by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) that would direct the state’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) to assess the eventual costs of shutting down California’s entire oil and gas infrastructure, including cleaning up and remediating wells, facilities, and equipment associated with production. The…
Ego foregoes common sense
Lompoc City Councilmember Jim Mosby is still searching for truth but can’t seem to find it. His recent statements and the actions he supported on May 28 are indicative of a person who is totally out of touch with the needs of the constituents he serves and seemingly unable to simply tell the truth. Preparing…
