• The U.S. House of Representatives approved the Protect Patriot Parents Act, a measure authored by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) that would make parents of U.S. military service members eligible for lawful permanent resident status, preventing potential deportation or separation of military families, according to a Dec. 8 statement from the congressman’s office. “I […]
Political Watch: December 15, 2022
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County Fire received a $144,000 grant to support mental health services, but firefighters and nonprofit leaders worry about the program’s sustainability
Sam Dudley replayed the Montecito debris flow over and over in his head driving to and from work for months after the 2018 disaster. “A lot of things really stacked up that made that experience really hard,” the Santa Barbara County firefighter said. “Finding children severely injured, and specifically we found one child deceased. That […]
Posted inOpinion
Disadvantaged advantage
What’s the advantage of being labeled a disadvantaged unincorporated community? You might get a new fire station, but if you’re looking for water or sewer service, you might be out of luck. And if you desperately need flood control help, well, bonne chance! While the county is required to catalog infrastructure deficiencies in certain unincorporated […]
Posted inOpinion
Los Olivos’ sewage treatment plan is a problem, not a solution
Los Olivos is a small, dusty, Western town, while Washington, D.C., is a former swamp in north Virginia. Unlike Washington, Los Olivos neither needs nor wants a big government “solution” in search of a problem. The Los Olivos Community Services District board is ignoring its original plan, endorsed by voters and county regulators, for a […]
Posted inOpinion
It will take something more than a fence to keep trespassing homeless individuals out of private property in Lompoc
For several decades, a homeless encampment has existed near and under the H Street bridge on the north end of Lompoc. Until the last five years or so, the homeless largely stayed to themselves and didn’t bother anyone. Now they are everywhere, including the shopping center that occupies the northeast intersection of Central Avenue and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Solvang restaurateurs celebrate Bib Gourmand win for peasants FEAST
When local chef Michael Cherney found out one of his restaurant ventures had received the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award, he felt like waiting for Ashton Kutcher to come around the corner to tell him he’d been Punk’d. “I seriously thought it was one of my friends or employees playing a joke on me,” said Cherney, […]
Posted inNews
Last Minute Gift Guide 2022
’Tis the season to spend some money on loved ones, friends, and possibly frenemies—if you’re into that kind of thing. But let’s not be boring. No socks, ok? Having trouble coming up with something else? We’ve got you covered with our annual Last Minute Gift Guide, which keeps the focus hyper local and very fun. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
UNDERRATED: ZOLA (2020)
UNDERRATED: ZOLA (2020) Where’s it playing? Showtime What’s it rated? R You’d be forgiven if you’ve never heard of Zola. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 and had a limited theatrical release in 2021, but despite being nominated for and winning a raft of awards, it’s drifted into obscurity. Frankly, it […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
BINGEABLE: FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE (2022)
BINGEABLE: FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE (2022) Where’s it playing? Hulu What’s it rated? TV-MA Dr. Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg) can’t find his wife, Rachel (Claire Danes). Well, ex-wife that is. He’s working through the dissolution of his marriage, diving into the world of dating apps, trading a fancy New York apartment for a bachelor pad, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Route One launches mobile farmers market in Lompoc
A local produce carrier is hoping to redefine the farmers market scene in Lompoc. Route One, a nonprofit that hosts weekly farmers market events in Vandenberg Village, is extending its reach to multiple locations in the Lompoc Valley, thanks to a new custom-designed food truck. “Getting this truck ready to roll has definitely been a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Altrusa raffles holiday trees and prizes to benefit local nonprofits and student scholarships
’Tis the season for televised holiday favorites, like Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special. Characters from both winter essentials were recently sighted at the Santa Maria Town Center. A storefront on the mall’s second floor currently houses a couple dozen Christmas trees up for raffle to benefit […]
Posted inNews
The county Public Defender’s Office needs sleeping bags, warm clothes for its annual Sleeping Bag Drive
Hypothermia kills about 700 people experiencing homelessness in the United States annually, according to the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. This year, Santa Barbara County counted more than 1,900 people who were homeless during its Point-in-Time Count. Although specific data about homeless, weather-related mortalities couldn’t be verified, Erica Bottorff—a holistic defense advocate at […]
