With the highest fatal opioid overdose rates in Santa Barbara County, Lompoc city officials installed opioid rescue kits throughout public facilities to potentially help save lives, Mayor Jenelle Osborne said. “Deaths were slightly higher than the rest of the county; that’s a sign to me that we have an issue and we’re not talking about […]
Lompoc adds overdose rescue kits at all public facilities
Posted inNews
Foam legacy
Cleaning chemicals used decades ago seeped into the soil and groundwater at airports across the state, including Santa Maria’s, Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson told the Sun. “We know more than we did 40 years ago. I don’t think anyone intentionally polluted our groundwater, but there is a chemical down in the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Trilogy Art Group holds new multi-artist exhibit at Nipomo Library
The Nipomo Library is currently showcasing a collection of paintings and other media by various members of the Trilogy Art Group. The exhibition debuted in early June and is scheduled to remain on display through the end of the month. On Saturday, June 10, the library will celebrate the new exhibit with a special reception, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company presents annual showcase
Performances of An Invitation to Dance—the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company’s 34th annual recital—will be held at the Santa Ynez High School Little Theater on June 22, 23, and 24 at 7 p.m. each evening. Local dance instructor Christine Fossemalle directed the program, with assistance from Sonia Ibarra Corona. Dancers of various ages will […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Central Coast author highlights local hiking destinations in new book
Book it For more info on Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast, and its author, Jill Thayer, visit jillthayer.com. The book is available through various sellers and at an upcoming book signing on Saturday, June 17, at 2 p.m., at Terracotta Home and Garden, located at 4070 Burton Drive, Cambria. […]
Posted inOpinion
Eat dirt
Is it better to know or is ignorance bliss? According to Lars Seifert with Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services: “It’s good for people to be aware of what they are eating, drinking, and what they’re exposed to. … It gives people the power to make choices and reduce their risk if they are concerned.” […]
Posted inOpinion
My memories of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area
This month the court will decide if the California Coastal Commission has the right to ban driving on the Oceano beach and dunes. I raised my son in Oceano, and I have no memories of us on the Oceano beach because we never went there: I didn’t want to risk our lives dodging cars, trucks, […]
Posted inOpinion
The legislative process exists for a reason, and the governor shouldn’t introduce exceptions at the eleventh hour
In mid-May, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he was submitting a package of bills to the Legislature and declaring an executive order establishing an “Infrastructure Strike Team,” both with the same goal: to “streamline” permitting and judicial review for infrastructure projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA is a vital process that provides […]
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The Santa Maria-Lompoc branch of the NAACP hosts its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration
June 19, 1865, marked the end of slavery in the United States, with Texas ending slavery two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. “[Former slaves] celebrated the end of a very brutal and horrific time in their lives where they were treated less than,”said Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP branch president. “We continue the celebration […]
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Political Watch: June 8, 2023
• Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced $16 million in grants to increase home ownership for farmworkers in California. The grants will support five programs statewide to build or purchase homes for lower-income farmworkers and advance programs that help farmworkers become or remain homeowners through mortgage assistance. “California isn’t California without our farmworkers—not only are they […]
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State grant supports Santa Maria Hi-Way Drive-In housing development
The California Department of Housing and Community Development awarded more than $4 million in grant funding to People’s Self Help Housing to support farmworker homeownership at its Hi-Way Drive-In housing project. “What this award will translate into is essentially down payment assistance that will make their first mortgage smaller, and the size will become the […]
Posted inNews
County Planning Commission approves new wildfire mitigation policies
Just before the Santa Barbara County Fire Department declared June 5 as the start of this year’s high fire season, it proposed changes to county wildfire policy. County Fire Marshal Rob Hazard presented those amendments to wildfire protocols during the county Planning Commission’s May 31 meeting. Hazard described the amendment drafting process as a collaboration […]