Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., widely known as the Golden State Killer, was sentenced on Aug. 21 to 11 consecutive life sentences for committing 13 murders, plus an additional life sentence for 13 kidnappings, without the possibility of parole. Among his 13 felony counts of first-degree murder, four were committed in Santa Barbara County. DeAngelo also […]
Golden State Killer sentenced to life in prison without parole
Posted inNews
County to consider fines for violations of COVID-related health orders
An ordinance that would have allowed Santa Barbara County officials to fine individuals for violating coronavirus-related health orders was tabled on Aug. 25, after it was criticized by several community members as being, at best, unnecessary, and, at worst, tyrannical. The proposed urgency ordinance, which the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors discussed at a […]
Posted inNews
Solvang denies Doubletree Carriages application amid pressure from out-of-state residents
The Solvang City Council denied Doubletree Carriages’ application for a horse-drawn conveyance license, stating that some of the streets downtown were closed to accommodate businesses for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The council asked for community input on the horse-drawn carriages after receiving comments that called on the city to ban the service altogether. […]
Posted inNews
Large North County COVID-19 outbreaks subside, but smaller ones persist
As Santa Barbara County Public Health Department continues to juggle and monitor COVID-19 outbreaks throughout the county, some of the largest congregate living outbreaks appear to be cooling off. Congregate living facilities are among the most susceptible spaces to COVID-19 outbreaks due to close living quarters and sustained interaction between individuals. But depending on the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Chef B from Orcutt schools talks healthy meals, food education, and pandemic lunches
Orcutt Union School District served a little fewer than 100,000 meals from March to June and packed between 1,600 to 1,900 meals a day. But Director of Child Nutrition Bethany “Chef B” Markee thinks those numbers will be much lower during this school year, unless the state changes things. “Yesterday was our first day, and […]
Posted inNews
Local doctors talk about how COVID-19 treatments have changed for the better
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the word “change” has overwhelmingly become laden with connotation of difficulty, confusion, and hopelessness. From lost jobs to missed rents to curves that won’t flatten, many of the changes happening around us are wrought with pain and hardship. But positive changes are happening, too, one being an in-the-works vaccine, perhaps the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Gallery Los Olivos’ first virtual exhibition showcases paintings by Carol Talley and Terri Taber
Vivid, colorful landscapes—once destined to adorn the walls of Gallery Los Olivos—are now available for viewers to observe any time, anywhere, as long as there’s an internet connection. While the gallery produced an online coloring book during the course of the COVID-19 crisis, this new duo show marks the venue’s first foray into digital exhibiting. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wilshire Health and Community Services presents an original podcast, ‘Wisdom from the Porch’
Wisdom from the Porch, an original podcast produced by Wilshire Health and Community Services, is available to listen to online for free at wisdomfromtheporch.org. The series features six episodes so far and focuses on the exploration of healthy aging and lifestyle choices for senior adults and their families. “As we age, choice is vital. Emotions […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA and Orcutt Community Theater postpone reopening dates once again
Based on the resurgence of COVID-19 and the unpredictability of public gatherings resuming, the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) has announced it will delay holding live performances in Santa Maria and Solvang until June 2021. The company also announced the suspension of its two-year conservatory programs (for acting and technical theater) until August 2021. “In spite […]
Posted inOpinion
CANARY: Bye, bye energy
Well, it really happened. Solvang’s voters will get the chance to recall City Councilmember Chris Djernaes on Nov. 3. More than 25 percent of the city’s registered voters signed the petition, so neither the city nor Santa Barbara County has a choice but to put it on the ballot. The people have spoken! Lammy Johnstone, […]
Posted inOpinion
Hearing what you want to hear?
To all of the Americans who are still adamantly supporting, defending, and enabling the president—have you had enough yet? Has the swamp been drained enough yet? Four years ago the president appointed the wealthiest cabinet in U.S. history and plugged in family members. His tax plan two years ago disproportionately benefited the wealthy (not the […]
Posted inOpinion
We’re clearly not affected equally
With a language as rich as what is spoken in the United States, how is it that we have been reduced to four catchphrases: “In these uncertain times.” “In these unprecedented times.” Maybe there are only three. “We’re all in this together” is the third, and it is the most annoying. We are not all […]