Cover Story
The Awareness Issue 2020
It’s October, and that means more than just the beginning of spooky season. This is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which means that it’s time for the Sun’s annual Awareness issue! This year you can read about state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s work to help prevent domestic violence and aid its victims,…
Cannabis grow near Buellton approved
It’s been about a year and a half since Castlerock Family Farms first applied to operate a cannabis grow on a ranch just outside of Buellton, and despite two appeals and concerns about how cannabis odors will impact neighboring communities and businesses, the project is moving forward. At a hearing on Oct. 6, the Santa…
The Santa Barbara Vintners Association proposes a business improvement district for wine marketing efforts
Solvang resident Tom Orem is in seven wine clubs and purchases maybe 300 bottles of wine a year from Santa Barbara County wineries. “You gotta have something that’s your hobby, and mine’s drinking wine,” Orem said. “I know how many [bottles] I drink a year, because there are 365 days, so that’s easy to figure…
Touchy, touchy
People are testy these days, with patience worn thin, looking for any excuse to get snippy. Take this exchange between 4th District Supervisor Peter Adam and County Public Health Director Dr. Van Do-Reynoso at the Oct. 6 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ meeting. They were chit-chatting about COVID-19 stats, as they often do these…
Unsavory stories from the Lompoc sewer system
When you flush your waste down the drain it doesn’t just “disappear”; it eventually finds its way to the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW), otherwise known as the wastewater treatment plant. Before your waste can be released as effluent into the Santa Ynez River, it must be treated to remove harmful substances. The treatment process…
Carbajal reintroduces bill to incentivize renewable energy
As Diablo Canyon Power Plant’s closure nears, many fear the impact that job and energy losses may have on the Central Coast, with the plant currently employing 1,500 people—but a new bill aims to mitigate some of those losses. U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced on Oct. 6 that he will be re-introducing the…
Santa Barbara County schools could open Oct. 13, but not all will
If Santa Barbara County continues to remain in the red tier in the state’s reopening plan, K-12 schools would be allowed to reopen starting Oct. 13. But it doesn’t mean that every school will choose to reopen. “The decision of when and how to reopen schools remains with our locally elected school board leaders,” said…
Four candidates vie for two open Solvang City Council seats
Solvang’s four City Council candidates racing to fill the seats being vacated by current Councilmembers Karen Waite and Daniel Johnson were unanimous about one thing: They want to do things differently than the current council. Former Architectural Review Board member Mark Infanti said that he feels the current councilmembers have not been responsive to what…
Political Watch: October 8, 2020
• On Sept. 30, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a series of bills into law that address criminal justice, juvenile justice, and policing reforms in California, the governor’s office announced. Most notably, the governor signed AB 1196 by Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), which bans the use of the carotid restraint statewide, as well as AB 1506…
Santa Maria musician Richard Hernandez composes Suite for a Journey, donates proceeds to Mission Hope Cancer Center
In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, composer and pianist Richard Hernandez is donating proceeds from his recent instrumental album, Suite for a Journey (Suite Para Un Viaje), to the Mission Hope Cancer Center in Santa Maria. The album was directly influenced by people in Hernandez’s own life who have suffered from breast cancer, the…
Lompoc Valley Art Association presents It’s a Watercolor World at Cypress Gallery, showcasing the works of Claudette Carlton
As this month’s featured artist at Cypress Gallery in Lompoc, local painter Claudette Carlton is showcasing a variety of her latest watercolor works in a new exhibition, hence the show’s title—It’s a Watercolor World. Hosted by the Lompoc Valley Art Association, this exhibit includes landscapes, seascapes, animal portraits, and other pieces, all painted in the…
SLOPOKE announces winners Art of the West Exhibition
Twenty-three artists participated in SLOPOKE’s 10th annual Art of the West Exhibition and Sale, held on Sept. 25 through 27 at Flag is Up Farms in Solvang. Three awards were presented by featured artist and jurist Jim Wodark of the California Art Club, and two additional sponsored awards were presented by SLOPOKE owner and developer…
Lompoc Public Library presents 31 Dreadful Days of Terrifying Treats
The Lompoc Public Library is hosting 31 Dreadful Days of Terrifying Treats, a special month-long Halloween program online for children ages 4 through 12, through Oct. 31. Participants can win one of 10 $25 gift cards by taking part in daily Halloween-themed activities to earn raffle entries. Registrants can sign up for the program on…
Alberto Ugalde and Will Smith are seeking to unseat incumbent Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino
Editor’s note: This article is the second of a two-part series highlighting Santa Maria’s three mayoral candidates. The first part, “Incumbent upon us,” published on Oct. 1. Alberto Ugalde, lifelong Santa Marian and business owner, and Will Smith, a former educator and preacher, are each hoping to win the Santa Maria mayorship this November. Born…
