“Eleanor Rigby” came out in 1966, and The Beatles’ plaintive rock anthem has aged well (clearly better than I have). “All the lonely people—where do they all come from? Where do they all belong?” Evidently they’ve all crossed the Atlantic, because loneliness seems to be a uniquely American problem. Our nation’s top health authorities have […]
An epidemic of loneliness and how to leave it behind
Posted inOpinion
New blue
As Larry Ferini takes a bow from the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission, Roy Reed takes his seat on the dais. Fulfilling the 4th District tradition of supplanting a business-oriented blue-collar type with another business-oriented blue-collar type, Bob Nelson replaced the family farm operator with a rancher and taxpayer advocate. Hey, and both Ferini and […]
Posted inNews
Sierra Club report highlights need for idle oil wells policy change
About 1,600 of California’s 41,000-plus idle or orphaned oil wells are in Santa Barbara County, according to a new report by environmental nonprofit the Sierra Club. The California Department of Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) Well Finder database shows that Santa Barbara County had 1,481 idle wells with approximately 35,000 total in the state. According […]
Posted inNews
New hotel planned for Old Mission Santa Inés-owned parcel
Vacant for about 20 years, an empty lot in Solvang is being eyed by a developer with a different type of vacancy in mind. During its Dec. 4 meeting, the Solvang Planning Commission reviewed a proposal to build a new nine-unit boutique hotel at the site of a former gas station, on a 16,309-square-foot plot […]
Posted inNews
County Planning Commission begins conceptual hearings for ag enterprise ordinance
An opportunity to expand beyond cattle ranching could help Mary Heyden and her family keep the historic Ted Chamberlin Ranch in Los Olivos, she said. Heyden’s grandfather purchased the 8,000-acre ranch in 1929, and it has remained intact with her family for the last three generations, but it’s been difficult, she said at the Nov. […]
Posted inNews
Signing off
After serving 11 years on the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission, 4th District Commissioner Larry Ferini stepped down to focus on his family agriculture business, Rancho Laguna Farms. “I have two of my sons working for the farming operation, and it seems like a great time in my life to spend more time with them […]
Posted inOpinion
An opportunity that’s now lost forever
As a 93-year-old Holocaust survivor, I have always been proud to be a Jew. I have no desire for that pride to diminish. However, a unique opportunity has been lost forever. The inhuman barbarism that Hamas released on Israel on Oct. 7 provided an ideal chance to show the world that Jewish values of life […]
Posted inOpinion
Square peg in round hole
The recent Sun article, “Sticking point” (Nov. 9), highlighted concerns from residents and the California Native Plant Society regarding the proposed Dana Reserve Project in Nipomo. The project aims to remove 3,000 mature oak trees, impacting the Burton Mesa chaparral habitat. The developers’ stated focus is on carbon reduction and oxygen replenishment, with plans to […]
Posted inOpinion
Locals will suffer because of politicians’ mistaken changes to the county’s ambulance system
When politicians make a mistake, who suffers the consequences? It’s usually tax-paying citizens who pay the price, and in one case it could have a dramatic impact on your health if you need emergency medical transportation. Recently the Board of Supervisors unanimously chose to award a 10-year ambulance services contract to the Santa Barbara County […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Ten wineries participate in two-day festival, Christmas on the Trail
Canyon can-dos For more information on wineries located along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, visit foxencanyonwinetrail.net. The Christmas on the Trail program will include festivities at various venues in the Santa Maria and Santa Ynez valleys on Saturday, Dec. 2, and Sunday, Dec. 3. Bribing Santa Claus is probably not the best way to get […]
Posted inOpinion
Protest permit?
One Solvang City Council member is very concerned that her city could attract the next protest where people glue their hands to the streets. Not only is she concerned about that, she’s also worried about the damage that glue could do to the city. Councilmember Elizabeth Orona was so perturbed about the possibility that she […]
Posted inNews
New co-working space and commercial hub open their doors in Santa Maria
As Santa Maria approves more housing as part of the Downtown Revitalization Plan, new creative spaces are bringing residents a unique set of experiences, including Flow: a co-working space where residents can rent out office space with the goal of bringing people together and forming a professional community, said Flow’s co-founder, Matt Ladin. Individuals can […]