The beginning of the the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Dec. 11 meeting included a fair share of honors, thanks, and some held back tears for 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf’s last day on the dais. Wolf, who retires from the board after three four-year terms, was celebrated by nonprofit organizers, fellow supervisors, and […]
Retiring county supervisor Janet Wolf receives honors
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Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approve recommendation to purchase Blackhawk helicopter
The prospect of adding a Blackhawk helicopter to the Santa Barbara County Fire Department’s fleet of emergency response aircraft was met with unanimous approval from the county’s Board of Supervisors, despite the $4.7 million price tag. At the board’s Dec. 11 meeting, county Fire Department Interim Chief Michael Dyer delivered a presentation to the board, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Kick it root down: Chef Crystal ‘Pink’ DeLongpré quietly re-enters Solvang’s culinary scene with an intriguing new menu
At the top of the new fall menu at Root 246 is a famous quote from beloved chef and television personality Julia Child. “People who love to eat are always the best people.” The quote is a fitting kickoff not just for the menu but for the chef behind its execution. Chef Crystal “Pink” DeLongpré, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Melting pop: Complicated Animals bring their indie pop and Brazilian bossa nova fusion to Naughty Oak in Orcutt
It’s been a nonstop year-and-a-half for Complicated Animals, ever since the indie pop fusion duo moved to California to pursue music together. Monica da Silva and Chad Alger have played at venues up and down and across the state, da Silva told the Sun on the way to a gig in Pismo Beach in late […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Flying Goat Winery hosts Katie Marie solo show
Patrons of Flying Goat Cellars tasting room in Lompoc might spot a familiar name behind the new artwork that’s currently featured on the walls. Katie Marie, artist and surfer, works part time in the winery, which is known as a forum for local artists to display their artwork. Marie’s work will be highlighted in a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Artwork at the Santa Maria Public Airport District shows a diverse group of visionary artists
The holiday season has brought with it a new series of artwork at the Santa Maria Public Airport, with a lot of new pieces from local artists. The show is curated by the Valley Art Gallery in Orcutt and features many of the nonprofit’s members. One of the first things I was immediately impressed by […]
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District officials discuss battle over proposed changes to teacher transfer policy
Santa Maria’s high school district and its Faculty Association have been debating their 2018-19 school year contracts since last fall, but unlike in years past, salaries are only playing a small role in the dispute. Instead, much of this year’s debate surrounds proposed changes to the district’s teacher transfer and reassignment policy, and with the […]
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Spotlight on: Grid Alternatives
Power tools whirred atop the roof of a modest Santa Maria home as a work crew of 10 volunteers mounted a set of solar panels on a sunny November afternoon. Once installed, the new solar grid would reduce the family’s electric bill by as much as 80 percent, the workers said. Their efforts, like the […]
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Local olive oil producers grapple with state’s worst harvest in decades
Last year, California’s olive groves produced roughly 4 million gallons of olive oil. But because of this year’s strange weather patterns–an unusually hot winter followed by a bout of cold–the California Olive Oil Council estimates that only about 2.8 million gallons will have been produced by the end of this year’s harvest. It’s a 25 […]
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Central Coast super region touted by local politicians and business leaders
The idea is a simple one: Stop competing with your neighbors, share information, work collaboratively, and in turn foster growth. This is the sales pitch from a newly unveiled organization backed by 13 Central Coast chambers of commerce that aims “to tackle the region’s systemic economic challenges” by creating a “super region” from Lompoc to […]
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County taking public comment on proposed Cat Canyon oil field
After four years of waiting, Aera Energy’s environmental impact report (EIR) for its East Cat Canyon Oil Field redevelopment project is available for public inspection. The Santa Barbara County Planning and Development Department released the draft document on Nov. 30. Aera, which is owned by the Exxon Mobil Corporation and the Shell Energy Company, is […]
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SpaceX helps complete historic launch at Vandenberg
Hundreds of people lined West Ocean Avenue just outside of Lompoc and Vandenberg Air Force Base on Dec. 3 to witness a historic SpaceX rocket launch. Viewers were greeted with clear skies as the Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket carried 64 different spacecraft from 34 separate organizations as part of the Spaceflight Industries SSO-A: SmallSat Express […]