Outdoor destinations in Oceano, San Simeon, and other areas along the Central Coast are among the locales featured in author Jill Thayer’s book, Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast. Thayer—a local author, artist, art historian, and professor who teaches at Allan Hancock College and other schools—will be signing copies of […]
Jill Thayer’s upcoming signing highlights her book on local hiking spots
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Local oil painter sets up shop at Los Olivos General Store during solo exhibit
No paint, no gain Michelle Feldman’s current solo exhibit at the Los Olivos General Store will remain up through Sunday, Nov. 10. She will also be participating, among nine other painters, in the Central Coast Art League’s upcoming group show at the venue, scheduled to debut on Friday, Nov. 15, and run through March 2025. […]
Posted inOpinion
Give Lompoc a continued bright future: reelect Mayor Osborne
As a 30-year resident of Lompoc, I am writing to support the reelection of Mayor Jenelle Osborne. She has turned the town around with her dedication to security and improved work conditions for all. She has balanced the budget and taken part in most city-related associations. So let’s give Lompoc a continued bright future by […]
Posted inOpinion
Americans love to hate
Nov. 5. It’s coming at us fast. The divisiveness is dragging us down. I keep hearing that, “our bipartisan bill”; to be perfectly clear, the only bipartisan cooperation that I see is to protect the insider trading that’s going on among our elected officials, both sides being complicit in this. But, I digress. The election. […]
Posted inOpinion
Get the lies and hate out of conservatism in this country
Let’s return to reasonable conservatism where discourse is both practiced and honored. To my fellow patriotic Americans, are you not tired of all the lies and myths put out by Trump and his fascistic MAGA cult followers? Yes, I meant fascist. Look at the definition. It has three components: 1) ultra conservatism 2) disdain for […]
Posted inOpinion
Public participants
Wildwood in Solvang is getting wild before it’s even got roots in the ground. The proposed 100-unit, multi-family, two-story apartment and condo development is running into ye ol’ “we want development, we just want it to be the right kind of development.” Which is code for “This development is going to bring in people who […]
Posted inNews
Orcutt Union School District joined nationwide League of Innovative Schools to improve education opportunities
The jobs that exist now are not going to be the same in the future, Orcutt Union School District Superintendent Dr. Holly Edds said. “We’re always looking to the future and how we can improve our instruction here in the district because we do want to be responsive, we do want to have students ready […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: October 24, 2024
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for making improvements to the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline to help callers access localized, lifesaving behavioral health resources, according to an Oct. 17 statement from Padilla’s office. The FCC Board of Directors unanimously voted to finalize the […]
Posted inNews
Buellton City Councilmember David Silva faces incumbent Dave King for mayor
Both Dave King and David Silva want to see the creation of more gathering spaces for activities, and they both believe that they can streamline that process if elected as Buellton mayor. Regional baseball parks on city-owned property by Riverview Park, the long-awaited bowling alley, reopening parts of the movie theater, renovating the high school […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Aww factor: This issue features the Central Coast’s cutest pets and a little something extra
Brighten up your day by flipping through the winners of our second annual pet photo contest. Readers from across the Central Coast submitted more than 400 images of their cats, dogs, lizards, chickens, horses, bunnies, and even fish in this year’s competition. A panel of five judges narrowed them to the top three in each […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc cuts back on number of annual public safety meetings
Every other month, the Lompoc Public Safety Commission meets to discuss concerns related to police, fire, and emergency medical services—but rarely ever have there been more than a couple of attendees. “We have one or two members of the community show up,” Lompoc Police Chief Kevin Martin said at the Lompoc City Council’s Oct. 15 […]
Posted inNews
Solvang’s Wildwood housing proposal creates tension among neighbors
Several Solvang residents are ringing alarm bells about a housing development project that’s still behind the starting line. “This area is unique, it’s precious, it’s a place where people come because it’s so special,” Michelle Neels said. “If we start to allow development that hurts that feel, that charm, then we become Anytown, USA, and […]
