Loft opening Santa Ynez Valley-based author Lida Sideris’ books are available locally at the Book Loft, located at 1680 Mission Drive, Solvang, and Barnes and Noble, located at 894 Marsh St., building G, San Luis Obispo. On Saturday, Dec. 16, the Book Loft will host a book signing event with Sideris, who will sign copies […]
Psychic visions, family quarrels loom over Lida Sideris’ sixth mystery novel, <i>Murderous Means</i>
Posted inOpinion
Classical economics breeds greed
John Texeira’s letter (“Bidenomics led to inflation, increased costs for consumers,” Nov. 16) is an attempt to gaslight us about how our economy is doing. Inflation is down to about 3 percent. Europe is still dealing with 8 or 9 percent. Much of the inflation we have now is price gouging. We are at near […]
Posted inOpinion
An epidemic of loneliness and how to leave it behind
“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 […]
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 […]