A preordained, carefully scripted coronation, or a food fight at a cannibal’s banquet? To the surprise of no one, Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid following his disastrous debate performance and the failure of subsequent “soft ball” interviews with pre-cleared questions to reassure the public of his mental soundness. Biden then endorsed Vice President Kamala […]
Democrats are the victims of their own infatuation with DEI
Posted inOpinion
The 2024 election is fraught with information overflow and faulty facts
The election season is in full swing locally, regionally, and nationally. In most places the candidate filing period is closed, and each candidate is busy trying to convince voters to support their ideas. On the federal level, two very different people are competing to become the president of the United States; each has a public […]
Posted inOpinion
Capital needed
It seems a little strange that Guadalupe is moving forward with its theater renovation project without having all the cash it needs in the bank yet. The Royal Theater revamp fund is still short $3 million—that’s the same $3 million the Guadalupe City Council declined to ask its residents to fund via a bond measure […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc’s reading challenges promote continued learning and family connection
Lompoc residents collectively read for more than 364,000 minutes this summer, quadrupling the number of minutes set in the library’s goal for its annual summer reading challenge. “Lompoc is a great community, and the reading numbers far exceeded my expectations, which was amazing. We just kept passing our goal, so we changed it, and we […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: August 22, 2024
• Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) announced that Assembly Bill 1866, which addresses idle oil wells, has made it to the California Senate floor, according to an Aug. 15 statement from Hart’s office. The legislation specifically mandates that oil companies plug an estimated 40,000 idle wells in California and prioritize plugging wells within 3,200 feet […]
Posted inNews
County Behavioral Wellness could implement mental health care changes next July
Santa Barbara County will need to fund three new positions in the public guardian’s office, consolidate office space, and eventually purchase more mental health beds to come in compliance with a new state mental health law. “Some of our precious discretionary revenue will be going to this, as it is a mandate,” County Executive Officer […]
Posted inNews
Buellton youth gymnastics center moves forward with traffic caveats
When it comes to activities geared toward families in Buellton, some city officials fear the list rarely lends itself to young children other than those who love feeding ostriches. While reviewing a conditional use permit request for a proposed youth gymnastics center at the Buellton Planning Commission’s Aug. 15 meeting, two commissioners described the project […]
Posted inNews
Guadalupe wants project bids for Royal Theater remodel
Guadalupe recently released the Royal Theater renovation project’s construction bid and request for proposal for its operator while facing a $3 million funding shortfall. “It’s a key piece of the chain where we need to make sure this does happen,” Guadalupe Mayor Ariston Julian told the Sun. “We’re gathering around what the community needs and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Terri Buzzard takes on new role as Roblar Winery’s executive chef
Wine and dine Call (805) 686-2603 or visit roblarwinery.com for more info on Executive Chef Terri Buzzard’s seasonal menus at Roblar Winery, located at 3010 Roblar Ave., Santa Ynez. While bringing some fresh and exciting additions to Roblar Winery’s brunch, lunch, and dinner menus, the Santa Ynez staple’s new executive chef has some old habits […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Best of NSBC 2024
Are you ready to catch all the top dogs and cool cats as they fly by into the winners’ circle? You better hold on, because there are a lot in Northern Santa Barbara County! With more than 160 restaurants, bars, businesses, and community members in this formation, we barely had room in this issue for […]
Posted inNews
Buellton considers historic incentives to fast-track a new bowling alley
With an aim to entice more business developers to work within Buellton’s limits, city officials are hoping to spare some expenses for a long-running bowling alley project in flux. During its Aug. 8 meeting, the Buellton City Council directed staff to research ways to incentivize the project’s completion that could offset some fees associated with […]
Posted inNews
Domoic acid sickens Central Coast marine mammals, raises human health concerns
Mouth foaming. Lethargic and erratic behavior. Muscle spasms. Seizures. Death. Up and down Central Coast beaches, sea lions are suffering the effects of domoic acid poisoning—a neurotoxin produced by a harmful algal bloom that comes around every few years, possibly because of climate change and runoff impacts, Dr. Sam Dover told the Sun. “Sea lions […]