Cover Story
In the middle of the pandemic, community leaders find creative ways to rally around those who served our country
For many, the COVID-19 pandemic brought about previously unexperienced struggles: Some people lost their jobs, used food banks, or applied for rent relief for the first time in their lives. But for those who are already familiar with these challenges, such as the veteran community, the pandemic only exacerbated the hardship. It’s well documented that…
The Book Loft in Solvang celebrates its 50th anniversary with an eventful weekend
On Friday, Nov. 20, Solvang City Councilmember Robert Clarke will present a unique, commemorative banner to local bookstore owner Kathy Mullins, who co-founded The Book Loft in 1970 with her late husband, Gary. In celebrating the shop’s 50th year in business, Book Loft lovers and the public are invited to a weekend of special events,…
Oak Group hosts virtual art show and sale to benefit the NatureTrack Foundation
While driving home one evening, Santa Barbara artist Linda Mutti couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stop and capture Hendry’s Beach (aka Arroyo Burro Beach) just before sunset, near the peak of golden hour. Mutti had already passed the beach before deciding to turn around, she explained. “I made a U-turn and headed straight for…
The ARTery seeks Central Coast-based artists for its annual Under $200 Art Show
The ARTery in Atascadero is accepting submissions for this year’s rendition of its annual Under $200 Art Show, an unjuried showcase open to all skill levels. Local artists hoping to participate can submit their artworks through the end of November. There is no entry fee. The ARTery is seeking one or two original art pieces…
The Nipomo Artists hosts open studio event that accommodates social distancing
The Nipomo Artists presents its Socially Distanced Open Studio event on Saturday, Nov. 28, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at various locations throughout Nipomo and Arroyo Grande. Visit nipomoartists.com for a map and list of the event’s featured locations and respective addresses. This group show and sale will include paintings, jewelry, ceramics, sculptures, and…
Santa Maria Public Library’s virtual cookbook club discusses ‘The New Homemade Kitchen’
The Santa Maria Public Library holds its next virtual cookbook meeting—What’s Cookin’ Santa Maria?—on Saturday, Nov. 21, from 3 to 4 p.m. Participants will discuss author Joseph Shuldiner’s The New Homemade Kitchen. This cookbook was written with both professional chefs and home cooks in mind and includes 250 different recipes as well as tips on…
Alfie’s Fish & Chips celebrates a year at its expanded location, continuing to serve fried goodness through COVID-19 challenges
This year has been particularly hard on the owners of Alfie’s Fish & Chips in Lompoc, Mike and Nellie Sewall. Similar to other Santa Barbara County restaurants, the pandemic has forced the longtime Lompoc establishment to shut down not once, but twice. And on top of that, Nellie has been battling cancer. “I was diagnosed…
Yo-yo time
Here we are. Back in the purple zone. And it’s not just Santa Barbara County either. It’s basically most of the state’s populated areas. COVID-19 is here and spreading fast, again. New lockdowns seem imminent. It looks like distance learning won’t become a thing of the past anytime soon, mask wearing isn’t going away, and…
Why the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ wine BID imploded
After two years, untold tens of thousands of dollars spent, scores of meetings with wineries, several press releases, a business improvement district (BID) website, four proposals, and a rejection by the Board of Supervisors staff, the Santa Barbara County Vintners Association board at the end of October announced they were dropping the wine BID. How…
A tale of a town
A developer wants to build as many as 11 homes on a 1 1/2 acre lot in Los Alamos with access from a quiet road that is less accustomed to vehicular traffic than to walkers and joggers, dog walkers, children on bikes, and parents with infants in strollers. The county Planning Department is in the…
The election ushered in a new era for Lompoc’s leadership
By all accounts, the recent election had the highest level of participation in anyone’s memory—a stunning 85 percent countywide! Maybe this is the only positive outcome of the COVID-19 virus pandemic. I think that our county handled this well by allowing four in-person days of voting and counting vote-by-mail ballots as they arrived to provide…
Cuesta College nursing students graduate and provide essential health care services amid the pandemic
Kelly Maguire was just a few months away from completing Cuesta College’s registered nursing (RN) program when COVID-19 first started making its way around the Central Coast. As cases trickled into San Luis Obispo County in March, Cuesta closed its campus and canceled in-person classes. In an effort to limit person-to-person contact and reserve personal…
Political Watch: November 19, 2020
• Oregon Gov. Kate Brown and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee joined California Gov. Gavin Newsom in issuing travel advisories on Nov. 13, urging people who visit or return home from these states to self-quarantine to mitigate the spread of the virus. The advisories also urge against nonessential out-of-state travel and encourage residents to stay local…
Stadium 805 gets green light to host six concerts in 2021
If COVID-19 allows it, Central Coast residents will very likely be able to attend concerts at the Santa Maria Raceway at some point next year. At a meeting on Nov. 10, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a temporary commercial outdoor entertainment license application submitted by the Santa Maria Raceway, aka…
Santa Barbara County embarks on new challenge to reduce homelessness
Santa Barbara County wants to house 75 homeless veterans by the end of January after successfully housing more than 50 young people over the last few months. If successful, the 100-Day Challenge to Reduce Homelessness Among Veterans would get about half of the county’s current homeless veteran population off the streets. Led by the Santa…
Solvang voters recall City Council member, and he’s OK with it
Solvang’s citizen-led effort to recall City Councilmember Chris Djernaes on the Nov. 3 ballot passed with approximately 86 percent of voters supporting his removal. Djernaes told the Sun that he’s accomplished what he set out to do when he was elected in 2018 and will continue to support his community regardless of the recall. The…
High school students protest distance learning changes
Late in the afternoon on Nov. 16, high school students holding protest signs begin to gather on the street corner of Skyway and Fairway in Santa Maria. Every few minutes, a car honks in support as the protesters chant “No education without representation,” and “Sí se puede.” Yellow buses pull into the Santa Maria Joint…
