Traffic concerns are slowing down a fast food chain’s efforts to bring a new drive-through restaurant to Buellton. On Dec. 15, the Buellton Planning Commission will decide whether to grant the In-N-Out Burger corporation a conditional use permit to commandeer the site of the vacant Parks Plaza Theatre on McMurray Road. The Planning Commission originally […]
Buellton reevaluates In-N-Out
Posted inNews
County supervisors ease child care facility requirements
New child care operators will have an easier time beginning their programs as the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed amendments to revise permit requirements and standards for facilities. “This will afford operators of day care centers greater flexibility and options for running day care centers,” a staff report said. Now, small day […]
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Political Watch: December 8, 2022
• Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that $240 million is available from the Encampment Resolution Fund grant program to close down encampments and get people into housing and shelter, according to a Dec. 1 statement from the governor’s office. This move is part of the $700 million, two-year program to assist projects serving people living in […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
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 inNews
County supervisors move forward with farmworker resource center grant
More than 20 farmworker families and advocacy groups demonstrated their support for a new farmworker resource center by sharing the challenges they face during the Nov. 29 Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting. The community members came forward as supervisors discussed applying for a new $833,000 state grant to create a resource center that […]
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Solvang officials consider new stormwater management measures
Solvang’s Public Works Department predicts the city will need to increase inspections of local businesses’ stormwater management practices, starting in 2024. “As I understand it, this is something that is looking to be added by the Regional Water Quality Control Board as part of our next general permit,” Rodger Olds, Solvang Public Works director and […]
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Voters pass abortion, arts education, anti-tobacco propositions
California and Santa Barbara County voters both said “yes” to abortion protections, arts education funding, and a flavored tobacco ban, but soured on the remaining statewide propositions, according to Nov. 8 election results. With 98 percent of the statewide vote counted as of press time, the seven proposition contests are all but decided. Of the […]
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New state program to fund housing navigation, medical services raises vacancy and start-up concerns
Less than 2 percent of the homes in Santa Barbara County are vacant. This makes it extremely challenging to find rentals for anyone, especially those experiencing homelessness, said Sylvia Barnard with Good Samaritan Shelter. “We find that for anyone experiencing homelessness, it’s over 120 days to get into housing,” Barnard said. “Having the resources available […]
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Political Watch: December 1, 2022
• The U.S. Department of Energy conditionally selected Diablo Canyon Power Plant to receive the first round of funding from the Civil Nuclear Credit Program, according to a Nov. 21 statement from U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-Santa Barbara) office. “In the face of record heat waves and a deepening climate crisis, there is too much […]
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The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County hosted its annual holiday food drive, but it needs more to keep up with demand
Until 2020, the Letter Carriers Food Drive—a drive that used the U.S. Postal Service to pick up nonperishable foods from residents’ homes—was a major source of big food donations for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. Letter carriers would deliver brown paper bags to people’s mailboxes and people would fill them up with nonperishable foods […]
Posted inOpinion
Poop city
Solvang is in deep doo-doo. Technically, it’s not deep yet, but it could be if it actually rains. On Dec. 3, the city’s Julefest Parade hits the streets complete with horses and their accompanying excrement—a steamingly hot topic at the Nov. 28 City Council meeting, where they talked about the most boring topic of them […]
Posted inOpinion
Try to think positively and give thanks beyond Thanksgiving
Last week was Thanksgiving. The day represents a couple of things; one is that we give thanks for having a warm, dry place to sleep and food to eat. We are also thankful for the health and well-being of our families and wish that there hadn’t been as many tragedies over the last 12 months. […]
