• Acting as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) requested that U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan “provide a detailed explanation” regarding the circumstances around the death of Jakelin Caal Maquin, a 7-year-old Guatemalan girl who died after being taken into Border Protection custody. “I am disappointed […]
Political Watch 12/20/18
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Tommie Kunst seventh grade boys’ basketball
It was quite the season for Tommie Kunst Junior High School’s seventh grade boys’ basketball team, which won the school its first ever boys league championship title on Dec. 13. It had been a long time coming, according to coach Kevin Smith, who said the girls’ basketball teams have won a few championships since the […]
Posted inNews
Wishes DO come true: Local nonprofits share the donations they need most
There are only a few days left in the year, all the precious hours that remain to give one last tax-deductible gift to your favorite local nonprofit. Organizations are in need this year, they told us. In the hopes of connecting benevolent readers and some of Northern Santa Barbara County’s nonprofits in need, the Sun’s […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Lady of Los Olivos: Theodora Stephan’s Global Gardens produces organic boutique olive oil from the Central Coast
It was already dark just before 6 p.m. as we cruised down the rural Los Olivos road, but thankfully it was glowing at Global Gardens. The long, pale branches of the olive trees there were festooned with bright holiday lights, wreathing the picnic area of Theodora “Theo” Stephan’s farm stand property with a welcoming shine. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Photographer Lee-Volker Cox brings Imagine to the Santa Maria Public Library
A dog stands on a dimly lit pier, his gaze caught by something behind him. In the milky glow of the lamplight, a tennis ball is barely visible beside him. The moment is filled with a rich bounty of expression and sentiment. “The dog is about 12 or 13 years old and he can’t walk […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Joellen and Tom Chrones’ featured in His and Hers art show
Tom and Joellen Chrones met through their artistic endeavors, setting up a lifelong mutual bond. “We met each other at the first photo club that was in town in Lompoc,” Joellen Chrones said. “That was 40 years ago.” While Joellen moved on to glass and knitwork as an artist, Tom, a retired fire captain for […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Arts commission seeks feedback for housing survey
The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture is currently seeking feedback from the arts community regarding housing. The commission is asking for participants to complete one of two surveys–one for artists and employees of arts organizations and the other for organizations themselves–regarding temporary artist housing. The survey aims to help identify solutions and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Don’t let the hectic holiday season keep you from taking in some live music
Everybody’s busy during the holidays, I get it, and live music isn’t at the top of everyone’s list of priorities. But why? For starters, we’re all inundated by holiday and Christmas music from the moment Thanksgiving ends. Stereo systems blare generations of “Jingle Bells” and “Silent Night,” from Elvis’ iconic interpretations to Ariana Grande’s dance […]
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Legislators consider ways to deter e-cigarette use among teens
Electronic cigarette use is rising dramatically among teens. The number of U.S. high school students who reported e-cigarette use increased by 78 percent between 2017 and 2018 alone, according to the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey. Numbers among middle school students rose by 48 percent. This after only 1.5 percent of high school and 0.6 […]
Posted inNews
Spotlight on: IBEW 413, Angel Tree fundraiser
Chris Scott has known of the Salvation Army’s annual Angel Tree toy drive for years, ever since he worked at Best Buy, which would help donate toys. But last year, the now five-year apprentice electrician made his first donation to the program as a father, which changed his perspective on the program. “We were looking […]
Posted inNews
Local farmer featured on popular podcast to discuss disconnect between food consumers and producers
Farming is arguably the most vital industry in the world. One American farm feeds roughly 165 people annually in the U.S. and abroad, according to data collected by the American Farm Bureau Federation, and about 2.1 million farms are scattered throughout the country. But fewer Americans are farming now than ever before. While farm and […]
Posted inNews
Harvest Community Center to build homeless shelter in Santa Maria
At a meeting in September, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors declared a countywide “shelter crisis,” a label that made the area eligible for millions of dollars in state funding that would go toward fighting homelessness through housing assistance and emergency aid. County staff said at the meeting that they were looking into housing […]