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Santa Maria’s 4th District candidates Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez and Carol Karamitsos discuss their top priorities
After serving as an elected official for eight years, Santa Maria 4th District City Councilmember Etta Waterfield is stepping away from her role and moving to Montana to retire. Attorney and city Planning Commissioner Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez is facing off against obstetrics and gynecologist and Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board President Carol Karamitsos…
Vegetative state
In a race that will determine who takes Etta Waterfield’s (I hope Montana doesn’t send her back!) seat on the Santa Maria City Council, we’ve got one candidate with very specific ideas about city issues and one candidate with somewhat specific ideas about education. Are they running for the same office? I guess you’ll have…
Medium, author Tyler Henry brings live show to Santa Ynez
The Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez presents An Evening of Hope and Healing with Tyler Henry on Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22, starting at 8 p.m. both evenings. Henry is a medium, author, and reality television personality widely known for his work on the series Life After Death with Tyler Henry, currently…
Potential Santa Maria animal services contract sparks controversy
Santa Maria residents called out Santa Barbara Humane’s leadership issues, euthanasia policies, and mismanagement during the Oct. 18 City Council meeting as reasons the city shouldn’t contract with the nonprofit for its animal services. The comments came after the nonprofit responded to a city request for proposal (RFP) to provide future animal services to the…
County greenlights 60-acre cannabis cultivation near Orcutt
After two hours of deliberation, one Santa Barbara County planning commissioner stood firm about denying a local grower’s cannabis permit, which would have otherwise been approved unanimously. “We’ve succeeded in extending our one case to the same length as three others,” Planning Commissioner C. Michael Cooney said near the end of the Planning Commission’s Oct.…
Sheriff’s Office overtime costs soaring to historic levels
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to create Sheriff’s Office hiring incentive programs, redirect funds and personnel to alleviate jail staffing challenges, and develop additional hiring data in order to address overtime spending and staffing shortages at the sheriff’s department. Although incentives like bonuses were not supported by Sheriff Bill Brown, the…
Political Watch: October 20, 2022
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced that California will receive more than $5 billion from programs funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen roads and bridges and build out a statewide network of electric vehicle charging stations, according to an Oct. 13 statement from the congressman’s office. “Through my work on the…
Agriculture education nonprofit connects science and farming through immersive experiences
Kids learn about the water cycle, soil, and plants in their science classes at school, but there’s something about seeing it in real time that enhances the experience and understanding, Seth Wilmoth said. Wilmoth is the education program director for Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG)—a Ventura County-born education nonprofit that teaches kids the importance…
Santa Maria novelist releases new mystery, ‘A Murder, Well-Scripted’
A previous career in the film industry became the inspiration for Tony Piazza’s latest detective novel, set in 1930s Hollywood. “When writing my stories, I draw on many experiences from my life,” said the Santa Maria-based novelist, who used to work as a stand-in and stunt double for actors in the 1970s, including Michael Douglas.…
Oceano dunes photography exhibit gets extension in SLO
An exhibition of Oceano-based artist Karl Kempton’s dune photographs is currently on display at the Photo Shop in San Luis Obispo, where it debuted at the end of August and was originally scheduled to run through the end of September. Kempton recently announced that the exhibit’s stay has been extended through Monday, Nov. 14. The…
Lompoc brewery wins prestigious medal at nationwide beer competition
It’s been in business for less than a year, and COLD Coast Brewing Company has already gained national recognition for one of its ales. In early October, the Lompoc-based brewery’s co-founders flew to Denver, Colorado, to attend the Great American Beer Festival—the largest annual commercial beer competition in the U.S. More than 2,000 breweries from…
Reelect Judy Frost to county board of education
In today’s super-charged political climate, I strongly support leaders in education and public life who are quiet, effective leaders getting difficult jobs done. I join the many Santa Maria Valley community members and leaders who are grateful to Judy Frost for her tireless, low-key, renowned track record, working for causes that matter, and getting the…
The current Lompoc mayor’s civility, resourcefulness will keep this city on track for improvements
Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne is seeking reelection for a third term in office; why should you choose her instead of her opponent? If you have witnessed many of the City Council meetings in the past couple of years, you will have noted a change in the tone of meetings. As mayor, Osborne is responsible for…
