On Nov. 19, 2021, the Santa Barbra County grand jury issued a report titled, “The keys to housing the homeless.” In it the members of the jury make several observations/recommendations concerning the implementation of two programs to help communities manage their homeless populations: Project Roomkey and Project Homekey. Summarizing their findings, the grand jury said, […]
Are projects Roomkey and Homekey helping Lompoc’s homeless?
Posted inFood & Drink
Celebrate the olive
All that jazz Find out more about the 17th annual Los Olivos Jazz and Olive Festival at jazzandolivefestival.org. The upcoming festival is hosted by the Los Olivos Rotary Club and will be held on Saturday, June 10, at Lavinia Campbell Park, located at 2398 Alamo Pintado Ave., Los Olivos. The olive-themed appetizers at an upcoming […]
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Sunshine Poker League brings the community together while supporting charities
About five years ago, a man who goes by Donnie Sunshine moved to Santa Maria from Philadelphia and started a free local poker league called Sunshine Poker. Sunshine fell in love with the game while playing in a Philadelphia bar league called River Chasers. He decided to start one of his own on the Central […]
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Political Watch: May 18, 2023
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla, and 12 other California members of Congress urged the U.S. Department of Commerce to prioritize completing the designation process for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the Central Coast, according to a May 10 statement from Carbajal’s office. The Department […]
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Locals celebrate Nipomo Skate Park’s long-awaited grand opening
Typically the first to roll out their boards at any skate park, childhood friends Wyatt Russell and Owen Slater took a step back on May 6 to admire the joyous scene at the Nipomo Skate Park. Dozens of locals of all ages zipped around the 10,000 square feet of concrete peppered with quarter pipes, stairs, […]
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Reservoir project for Cuyama vineyard falls through
A proposal to develop more than 15 acres of new water reservoirs in the Cuyama Valley stirred division among local farmers and county officials at a recent public hearing. During the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission’s May 10 meeting, county staff presented findings to deny the project, which would include the construction of three frost […]
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Social justice organizations invite community members to apply for six-month leadership development program
To get more members from historically marginalized communities serving in public leadership, the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) launched a program to better equip Santa Barbara and Ventura county residents. “There can be so many personal and societal [influences] that prevent well intentioned people from serving in public leadership,” said Hazel […]
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Political Watch: May 11, 2023
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) recently visited the North T-Pier in Morro Bay to highlight the impact that $1.5 million in federal funds will have in repairs and upgrades to the structure, which is critical to the city’s residents, industries, and tourism revenue, according to a May 4 statement from the congressman’s office. […]
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North County superintendents discuss enrollment rates’ impact on school districts
School site development and expansion due to higher student enrollment rates and the investments being made in quality education and career preparation were highlighted during the Santa Barbara County Education Office’s State of Education on May 9. Hosted by the Office of Education and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, the annual North County […]
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County Planning Commission green-lights public safety radio network upgrade
The radio network Santa Barbara County emergency services and other departments rely on is getting a significant upgrade. Although the radio tower enhancement project was unanimously approved by the county Planning Commission, it initially faced some scrutiny. Planning Commissioner C. Michael Cooney pulled the item from the commission’s May 3 consent agenda for additional review. […]
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Local leaders celebrate Hope Village groundbreaking ceremony
After more than a year of searching for and debating over a location that could provide temporary housing and services for those experiencing homelessness in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County officials, local nonprofit leaders, and DignityMoves held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new homeless facility on May 9. Known as Hope Village, it will […]
Posted inNews
The price of politics
Alyce Barrick was excited for her daughter to transfer to Santa Ynez Valley Union High School because of Principal Michael Niehoff. As Santa Ynez Valley Pride’s vice president and the owner of a local coffee shop, Barrick works with a lot of the students either for employment purposes or as part of Santa Ynez Valley […]