The Santa Maria Planning Commission just greenlit a proverbial field of dreams for the Central Coast. As of June 7, the Blosser Ranch apartment development is a go, and its plans call for 301 apartments and more than 301 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. You heard that right: If the city builds it, they will […]
If you build it
Posted inOpinion
The commercial space industry is poised to continue flourishing at Vandenberg Space Force Base
Vandenberg Space Force Base just outside Lompoc has been in the missile launching business for more than six decades. Initially there were scores of launch attempts before a successful mission was completed. Why? Because in the early days several test attempts were required to prove that the design would work. It’s no different with commercial […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Pioneer Valley High School’s music director announces retirement
A local music educator for more than 30 years, Cindy Wehlander recently announced that she’ll be retiring from her role as music director of bands and instrumental music at Pioneer Valley High School. Throughout her career, Wehlander also worked in similar roles at Patterson Road Elementary School and Ernest Righetti High School. She’s been teaching […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
New solo exhibit in Nipomo highlights seascapes by Rich Brimer
Mystic Nature in Nipomo will hold an artist reception for painter Rich Brimer, the gallery’s new featured artist, on June 16 from 2 to 6 p.m. The new exhibition debuted in early June and highlights a collection of Brimer’s scenic paintings. Brimer was born and raised in Long Beach, the city that would inspire many […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Directing four orchestras across the Central Coast keeps one local conductor busy
Curtain call The Lompoc Pops Orchestra presents its next concert at the First United Methodist Church on Monday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. The church is located at 925 N. F St., Lompoc. Admission is $25 for adults, $5 for students with ID, and free for children ages 12 and under. Call (805) 733-1796 for […]
Posted inNews
The Rainbow House Inc. celebrates Pride Month with a drag brunch fundraiser for education, health kits, and nonprofit general funds
Support with a show The Rainbow House’s Drag Brunch on June 24 serves food at 10:30 a.m. and then the show runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Craft House at Corque—420 Alisal Road, Solvang. General admission tickets are $125 and VIP are $225 and are available at therainbowhouseinc.com. Pride-themed banners will hang […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: June 15, 2023
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) introduced the Community College Agriculture Advancement Act: a bipartisan bill that would fund community college workforce training, education, and research programs in agriculture, according to a June 7 statement from Carbajal’s office. This legislation will be considered for inclusion in this year’s Farm Bill and amending the National […]
Posted inNews
County supervisors approve nonexclusive ambulance services agreement
Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson shared his recent experience calling 911 as an example of the need for changes to a county ordinance governing ambulance services. “Last Friday [June 2] I was at the scene of someone overdosing and was able to call 911 and had AMR [American Medical Response] and County […]
Posted inNews
New Cuyama gets a new joint County Fire and Sheriff’s station
After three years of construction and working out of temporary facilities, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department and Sheriff’s Office celebrated a new joint station opening in New Cuyama to serve the community and the surrounding Cuyama Valley. “It represents more than emergency services, but pillars of safety, resilience, and unity for the New Cuyama […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Planning Commission greenlights Blosser Ranch apartments
An LA-based developer’s plan to build 301 new apartments in Santa Maria—featuring an electric vehicle (EV) charging station for each apartment—recently won unanimous approval from the city’s Planning Commission and was lauded as “unprecendented” in its EV provisions. Canfield Development Inc. was granted a planned development permit during the Santa Maria Planning Commission’s June 7 […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Winning Images 2023
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then we’ve got 32,000 beautiful, captivating, intimate, and skillfully wrought “words” for you this week. For our annual Winning Images photography contest, intrepid photographers of all ages got behind their lenses to capture moments of drama, peace, and light in landscapes, animals, people, and everything in between. Give yourself plenty of time to feast your eyes on these incredible photographs.
Posted inFood & Drink
Take a tour of Indo-Chinese cooking through Calcutta’s iconic Bar-B-Q restaurant
Around the world Visiting Calcutta? Check out Bar-B-Q. Call +91 (033) 3028-8689 to reserve a table, or walk into the restaurant on 47 Park St., Calcutta, from noon until 10:45 p.m. on weekdays, and until 11 p.m. on weekends. My love for regional Chinese food is insatiable and never-ending. I’ve demolished fair portions of it […]