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 […]
Square peg in round hole
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 […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: November 30, 2023
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers urged NASA Administrator Bill Nelson to reverse unilateral funding cuts to the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, which would result in the loss of hundreds of California jobs, prevent the Jet Propulsion Laboratory from making its 2030 launch window, and lead to […]
Posted inNews
Local nonprofits complete Guadalupe’s first air quality monitoring project
While Guadalupe’s first air quality monitors reported healthy air quality levels, there’s still a lot to learn about the city’s air quality and other pollutants that concern residents, Alhan Diaz-Correa told the Sun. “The Santa Maria Valley area is a big agricultural [community] with a lot of farmworkers and farmworker families and schools and public […]
Posted inNews
Solvang City Council delays decision on new permitted event standards
Partly designed as a guide to help differentiate events in Solvang that require city permits from public gatherings protected by the First Amendment, a proposed ordinance faced scrutiny at the end of November from officials who felt it would leave the city unprotected under certain circumstances. In September, the Solvang City Council directed staff to […]
Posted inNews
Boavista Farms, E&A Farming pay penalties for failing to report nitrate use
The Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board issued penalties against four Central Coast growers, with two in Santa Barbara County, for failing to report the amount of nitrogen used in their operations. Nitrates are inorganic compounds containing nitrogen that are often used as fertilizers, but they have potential to cause health problems like cancer […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
NEW FLICKS: Quiz Lady
Quiz Lady What’s it rated? R When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Hulu Anne Yum (Awkwafina) leads a tightly wound, boring life. She’s pretty solitary, except for her aging pug, Mr. Linguini, with whom every night she faithfully watches her favorite game show, Can’t Stop the Quiz. When Anne’s mom flees the country to escape gambling […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
NEW FLICKS: The Killer
The Killer What’s it rated? R When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Netflix David Fincher is one of my favorite living directors, who started directing music videos but went on to make classic films such as Se7en, Fight Club, Panic Room, Zodiac, and Gone Girl. Much of his work is about obsession, and The Killer fits […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
All the Light We Cannot See brings Anthony Doerr’s 2014 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to the small screen
All the Light We Cannot See What’s it rated? TV-MA What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Netflix Anthony Doerr’s 2014 Pulitzer Prize-winning war novel All the Light We Cannot See has been developed by Steven Knight and directed by Shawn Levy into a four-part Netflix miniseries […]