A measure to help straighten the path to potentially expanding Buellton’s city limits will be on residents’ ballots in November. During its June 13 meeting, the Buellton City Council agreed to pose a question to city voters: Should the city’s general plan be amended to expand the area within Buellton’s urban growth boundary (UGB) by […]
Buellton’s 2024 election will ask voters to consider urban growth boundary
Posted inSpecial Issues
Winning Images 2024
Amateur photographers from across the Central Coast entered our annual Winning Images photo contest, sharing their carefully crafted view of the world with us. Our judges narrowed down the entries to three winners in each category and an honorable mention based on the composition and uniqueness of each photo, among other qualities. Catch this year’s […]
Posted inNews
Guadalupe will put Royal Theater bond measure on ballot
Facing grant deadlines and increased costs, the Guadalupe City Council voted 4-1 (with Councilmember Eugene Costa Jr. dissenting) during its June 11 meeting to approve a bond measure for the Nov. 5 ballot that would help fund the Royal Theater renovation project. The project proposes to revitalize the historic site (built in 1940) with a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Nipomo Library showcases summer exhibition of digital art
More than 20 digital artworks will be on display at the Nipomo Library throughout the month of July, as part of a solo exhibition of art by local digital artist Fred Ventura. The show opens on Tuesday, July 2. The artist will lead a special presentation and demonstration, in conjunction with the showcase, on Saturday, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Oceano Depot Association holds book signing and artifact display
Local historian James D. Cain will sign copies of his book, Ella Young Remembered, during a special event, hosted by the Oceano Depot Association, at the Oceano Train Depot on Saturday, June 15, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. During his time as a school teacher in Santa Maria, Cain became interested in Young—a famous […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Elverhoj Museum hosts intimate dialogue and demo with five artists
Get a closer look Call (805) 686-1211 visit elverhoj.org for more info on Under the Same Sun, a group exhibition of contemporary artworks from five participating artists, on display at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art in Solvang through July 7. The museum is located at 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang. With an upcoming artist […]
Posted inOpinion
We’ve come close to an actual dictator in the Oval Office
The May 18, 2024, issue of The Economist reflected upon the vulnerability of the United States to becoming a dictatorship. But while the writer’s focus was on another Donald Trump presidency, I think our closest encounter with dictatorship was in our not-so-distant past. A “dictator” is defined as a leader who has absolute power, […]
Posted inOpinion
Has your family’s standard of living improved in the last four years?
Your standard of living is defined as the degree of wealth and material comfort available to a person or community. Your quality of life is similar, the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group: the things that are needed for a good quality of life. Inflation is a general increase […]
Posted inOpinion
Big bucks
After almost getting shut down by the Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District last year for noncompliance, one cannabis company agreed to pay more than $1.3 million for its polluting ways. Central Coast Agriculture will now hold the incredible title of paying more than any other for violating air pollution regulations in the county—even […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP and Collective Cultures Creating Change host annual Juneteenth celebration in Lompoc
Guadalupe Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Michael Cash will be recognized as the first and only African American police chief in Santa Barbara County during this year’s Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP and Collective Cultures Creating Change’s Juneteenth celebration. “I’m very honored and humbled to be even thought of in that sense. I’m very much […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: June 13, 2024
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California), Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), and Peter Welch (D-Vermont) led senators in calling on the Biden administration to finalize the proposed mental health parity rule released in 2023, according to a June 6 statement from Padilla’s office. The senators emphasized that these rules will hold insurers accountable and ensure they follow […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc cannabis manufacturer to pay Air Pollution Control District $1.3 million for air quality violations
The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) will secure one of the largest settlements in its history after Central Coast Agriculture agreed to pay $1.3 million for air quality-related notices of violations. “The magnitude of this settlement reflects the significance of the violations and the amount of emissions over three years,” APCD Executive […]