Vistas to visit Visit laparliere.com for more info on French painter Maryvonne LaParlière and her new studio space, Gallerie LaParlière, located on the second floor of Fredericks Court, at 485 Alisal Road, suite 209, Solvang. For appointment inquiries, call or text (434) 962-3407. The backstory behind Solvang-based artist Maryvonne LaParlière’s painted rocking horse makes it […]
Galerie LaParlière showcases local artist’s hand-painted furniture, wall decor
Posted inOpinion
‘No profound thinkers should be censored!’
Censorship in our schools and elsewhere must not be tolerated. Those who question authority are often censored. The most profound thinkers have traditionally been censored. Schools should not be a place for indoctrination by either the right or left, depending on who’s in power. Traditionally, classics like Huckleberry Finn, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher […]
Posted inOpinion
Giving unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, and leaving God out of it
Decades ago, I earned a Ph.D. in political science. Today I’m ready to toss my diploma into the trash. “Political” and “science” are two words that should no longer be connected. They form an oxymoron, at least in their application to contemporary American governmental processes. U.S. politics are becoming ever more irrational. Americans in […]
Posted inOpinion
Painful disdain
Santa Maria Planning Commissioner Robert Dickerson has such spite for the state Legislature’s attempts to facilitate housing development that he refused to vote on the city’s attempts to comply with accessory dwelling unit requirements that went into effect 10 months ago. “I cannot express any more than I have many, many times in the past […]
Posted inNews
Solvang Skate Shop owner shares plans to start a nonprofit to promote skateboarding access
Robby Hargreaves started skateboarding when he moved to the Central Coast. Landing in Vandenberg Space Force Base with his family, he had a skateboard but no place to skate, he said. “We didn’t have a skate park and my parents didn’t feel comfortable with me at 14 going to Lompoc skate park and staying there,” […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: November 9, 2023
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Mike Braun (R-Indiana) applauded the unanimous Senate passage of their bipartisan legislation to streamline veterans’ access to their benefit claim files, according to a Nov. 2 statement from Padilla’s office. The Wounded Warrior Access Act will require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and maintain a […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County supervisors approve $18 million for County Fire
After deciding to switch to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department as the county ambulance provider, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 (with 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino dissenting) to approve an $18 million investment to cover startup costs as the county fire department gets ready to take over ambulance services on […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Planning Commission dissects ADU protocols
The public will have a chance to weigh in on some new rules regarding accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Santa Maria at an upcoming study session. January 2024 is the earliest the hearing could occur, Planning Division Manager Dana Eady said during the Santa Maria Planning Commission’s Nov. 1 meeting, after commissioners could not come […]
Posted inNews
State, regional water boards’ nitrate policies face lawsuits
California environmental nonprofits and local agriculture organizations recently filed lawsuits against the state and regional water boards over nitrate regulations, but for different reasons. Agriculture wants a better balance between the need to grow food and need to protect water quality, while environmental groups want to see a limit to nitrates’ use in agriculture. Nitrates […]
Posted inNews
Sticking point
A Nipomo development reduced the number of oak trees it would cut down, but the Dana Reserve project still asks to remove a little more than 3,000 oak trees from its 288-acre property. Community members and local environmentalists think that number continues to be far too high. San Luis Obispo County’s biggest housing development in […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Kings Carey’s inaugural tasting room flourishes in Solvang
Say yes to pinot Visit kingscarey.com for more info on Kings Carey. The boutique winery and tasting room is located at 1210 Mission Drive, unit 103, Solvang. Tastings are offered by appointment only. For appointment inquiries, call (805) 680-7006 or email james@kingscarey.com. Achieving a healthy work-life balance won’t be in the cards for local vintner […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Barn at The Hilt Estate launches fall tasting opportunities, happy hour program
A star is barn Visit thehiltestatevineyard.com or call (805) 564-8581 for more info on The Barn at The Hilt Estate, located at 2240 Santa Rosa Road, Lompoc. The tasting room is hosting its limited time fall happy hour program on Nov. 3, 10, and 17, between 3:30 and 5 p.m. each day. Reservations are not […]