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City council races kick off in Northern Santa Barbara County: Get a jump on Election Day and meet the candidates
And just like that, it’s September. Autumn is coming, which for the Central Coast means a scorching Indian summer, an influx of college students, and—everyone’s favorite—election season. Come November, North County residents will hire a new cast of city council members. And in case you’re not sure what your options are, we’ve got them covered.…
Allan Hancock College features Jill Thayer in gallery
Allan Hancock College will feature the work of instructor Jill Thayer in the college’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery from Sept. 1 through Oct. 7. The exhibit, titled In Context: Transdisciplinary Works and Other Musings, will showcase the artist and teacher’s multifaceted approach to art and study. An opening reception event is Sept. 14 from 2:30 to…
Viva el Arte finds replacement ensemble for season opener
After the featured ensemble for Viva el Arte de Santa Barbara’s season opener, Cimarrón, canceled its entire tour just weeks before its performance for Viva, the local nonprofit educational concert series had to scramble to find a replacement group. Instead the LA-based son jarocho group Cambalache is filling the three-day concert and outreach tour in…
Lompoc Library calls for artists
The Lompoc Public Library gives local artists the opportunity to show their work at the library’s Grossman Gallery space, and the call for artists is currently out for featured exhibits in 2017. Local artists can submit work samples for consideration now through Sept. 7. In order to be considered, artists must provide a representative body…
Hobnobbing with Helen
Mellow is the word to describe the Old Orcutt Merchants Association’s (OOMA) annual barbecue fundraiser held on Saturday evening, Aug. 20, in the courtyard of Déjà Vu (you may remember this place as the former Loading Dock). I say this event was mellow because the setting was pastoral and bucolic—on the edge of Old Orcutt—and…
Santa Maria extends Safe N’ Strong program through the school year
The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is extending the successful Safe N’ Strong summer program through the school year. Safe N’ Strong is designed to help keep youth active and safe during the after-school hours. Participants will enjoy interactive games and crafts projects while making new friends. The program is for youth…
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District provides update on ag education and career technical centers
Farmers and ranchers of the Santa Maria valley received updated details about plans for Santa Maria Joint Union High School District’s new Agricultural Education and Career Technical Centers during a meeting on Aug. 25. More than 70 members of the district’s Ag Advisory Committee attended the informational event inside a classroom and then enjoyed a…
Rey, Chimney fires slow down, Soberanes Fire puts up fight
California: where rain is rare and fires are frequent. As predicted at the beginning of summer, fire season has hit the Central Coast hard this year, and flames are currently scorching Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties. The Rey Fire is hitting closest to home, and as of 5:54 a.m. on Aug. 30…
California State Senate approves bill to expand overtime pay for farmworkers
On Aug. 29 the state Senate approved a bill to expand overtime pay for California farmworkers, who currently only receive overtime pay for shifts longer than 10 hours. Assembly Bill 1066 will provide farmworkers with a standard eight-hour workday and 40-hour workweek. The standards will be phased in from 2019 to 2022, with each year…
Plaintiffs file for class certification in suit against Plains All American
A proposed class of plaintiffs is seeking recompenses from Plains All American Pipeline, whose pipeline rupture last year caused the May 19, 2015, Refugio oil spill and allegedly injured thousands of nearby workers, residents, and property owners. The plaintiffs would include fishermen and fish processors, oil industry workers, small business owners, and landowners whose livelihoods…
Do you follow your local city council elections?
Victoria Martin student, certified nursing assistant (CNA) “Nope. Not a top priority.” Ana Chavez student, CNA “No. I’m not interested. I have other priorities.” Amy Stanzione student, CNA “No. I just don’t think about it. I’m too focused on other stuff.” Darrin Westbrook maintenance worker “Not really. I follow the U.S. political elections.”
Sibling rivalry
Thanks to Facebook’s memories feature, I’m reminded of how crappy big brothers can be to little brothers. The specific memory I was reminded of happened three years ago when Sebastian was only 5 years old. Only knowing that my husband’s work has something to do with rockets and requires him to travel a lot, he…
Standing Sun Wines welcomes up-and-comer K Phillips
K Phillips was first brought to my attention as an artist of note during a visit to Standing Sun Wines last year to interview owner John Wright about his wine collaboration with Adam Duritz of Counting Crows and artist Felipe Molina. Wright excitedly queued up a YouTube video of Duritz performing Phillips’ “Kay’s Song” at…
The Book Loft in Solvang offers a glimpse into the life of Hans Christian Andersen
You may never have learned the name of Hans Christian Andersen, but you almost certainly grew up hearing the tales the prolific Danish author penned. Walt Disney adaptations, television shows, songs, picture books, and even stage productions relate the stories spun by Andersen, whose iconic tales are embedded deep in the cultural psyche. And at…
Lee-Volker Cox shares colorful photos at the Grossman Gallery in Lompoc
Traveling the world can be a lot of fun, but memories are fleeting. That’s why many travelers bring a camera along. Local photographer Lee-Volker Cox began shooting images during his travels around the world while in the U.S. Air Force, but the hobby quickly became a serious endeavor, even after Cox settled on the Central…
Nipomo’s The Central Grill offers a strong, tasty menu
My first thought upon entering The Central Grill in Nipomo went something like this: “Eh, I can see what it’s going for.” It’s a huge restaurant space, filled with tables and chairs that, at around 2 p.m. on a Thursday, weren’t seating anyone. Though a theme wasn’t immediately apparent, the few personal touches scattered about…
CJ Cole
St. Joseph High School senior CJ Cole has a lot to look forward to. Over the summer, Cole and his friend and longtime football and track teammate, Fenton Will, received offers to join the football program at Cal Poly in 2017. “We got offers on the same day in late June,” the all-league wide receiver…
More to run for: For Santa Maria High’s cross country team, this season means more than finishing first
“You’re better than you think you are!” Cesar Diaz, a junior at Santa Maria High School, vividly remembers those words being said to him. He would hear them during the most trying moments of his first season running cross country—when one more mile felt impossible, when Diaz felt like quitting the sport entirely. It was…
Sitting it out
As the last bit of summer slowly burns out on the Central Coast, I can almost feel the cool breeze ushering in the fall. This is my time of year. NFL pre-season has begun, and like any other red-blooded American bird I’m giddy with excitement. At least I was. Until my merry pre-season madness was…
The county needs a supervisor with leadership skills and common sense
I support Bruce Porter for Santa Barbara County supervisor. I’ve known Bruce for a number of years. He has an amazing passion for our community and its citizens and has dedicated countless hours in volunteer time to work hard for the benefit of others. As chairman of the Santa Barbara county Chapter of the American…
Law enforcement supports Porter
As a former police officer, I deeply appreciated the article by Bruce Porter about local law enforcement officers. Our county needs a supervisor who himself has a background in public service, and who has taken the time to ride along with deputy sheriffs, firefighters, and even UCSB police officers on Halloween. Bruce’s background gives him…
Bruce Porter supports charity fundraisers
I first met Bruce Porter at a Buellton City Council meeting. Before the Buellton City Council was a resolution asking the county not to count winery charity fundraisers as a special event. Bruce was there representing the Red Cross and urged the Buellton City Council to approve the resolution. The Buellton librarian and nonprofit organizations…
Are the Clintons cashing in?
One of the complaints against rich people in America is that they do not pay enough taxes. The truth is, however, that the rich do not pay more in taxes than they need to by virtue of the law. One of the strategies they employ to avoid paying taxes is the creation of trusts and…
Spotlight on: A and A Equestian
In the U.S., competitive sports involving horses, such as rodeo and horse racing, are well-known, but then there is working equitation—a sport where a rider showcases riding technique while maneuvering his or her horse through a compulsory series of obstacles. Agapito De La Cruz and Adrianna Silvestri own and operate A and A Equestrian in…
Political Watch 9/1/16
• A bill jointly authored by Dr. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento) and Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to ensure autopsies are conducted only by licensed physicians and forensic autopsy reports are accurate and unbiased passed off the Senate floor on Aug. 24 on a 38-1 vote and is now headed to the governor. “At the Ventura…
Community Notebook 9/1/16 – 9/8/16
MONDAY, SEPT. 5 • The Solvang Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 7 p.m. in City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak Street, Solvang. TUESDAY, SEPT. 6 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. …
Camped out: Wildfire base camps in California are multi-million dollar logistical operations
On the morning of Aug. 23, the Santa Ynez Mountains were barely visible from the junction of highways 154 and 246. The normally scenic view was obscured by smoke from the nearby Rey Fire, which began several days earlier on Aug. 18 in a section east of Lake Cachuma and was heading toward the Los…
First case of travel-related Zika virus confirmed in Santa Barbara County
Zika virus has emerged on the Central Coast. The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department confirmed on Aug. 25 that a county resident, a pregnant female, contracted Zika virus during travel to Central America. In order to protect her privacy, the county wouldn’t release any more information on the patient. However, Dr. Charity Dean, a…
