It’s happening again! The Russians are trying to “influence” the next election in our country. Strike that, “overturn” our election. No, hang on a minute, they’re trying to “ruin” our election, except in the case of Democrats winning. Then, to quote, paraphrase, or obfuscate President Obama (when they all thought Hillary would win) “… Ha […]
The Russians are coming!
Posted inOpinion
Congressional leaders must support environmental program
The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) provides critical funding for California’s open spaces, parks, rivers, and wildlife habitats. Unfortunately, this vital program is set to expire at the end of September. Without congressional reauthorization, up to $900 million in annual spending for our environment and local communities will be lost. In a year of […]
Posted inOpinion
Millennials must vote Democratic
Platinum-selling millennial rapper Post Malone muses on his latest album, Beerbongs and Bentleys, “Politicians and their lies, tell me what’s the point in pickin’ sides.” Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and Nike luminary Colin Kaepernick admitted in late 2016 that he had not even bothered to vote in the presidential election, despite spending a year […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 9/20/18
• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) faced criticism in mid September after reports that she had received a letter in late July regarding an alleged attempt at sexual assault by Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh against a then-unnamed accuser. Feinstein’s critics among Democrats and liberals chastised her for not sharing the letter initially with the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Mayley DiBernardi
On the volleyball court, Valley Christian Academy senior Mayley DiBernardi certainly knows how to dig deep. As her team’s main passer and digger, she gets roughly 85 percent of hits and serves to the setter, according to head coach Rebecca Maples. It’s not an easy job, but Maples said the 17-year-old’s never-give-up attitude keeps the […]
Posted inNews
Transitions-Mental Health brings suicide prevention program to Santa Maria
“I‘m not smart.” “I’m not good enough.” “I can’t.” Those are the sentences written in boldly drawn thought bubbles stemming from a distressed stick figure’s mind. His brain inside is clouded and chaotic, his stomach is filled with butterflies, and his heart is heavy and black. The drawing is one student’s idea of what anxiety looks like, […]
Posted inNews
County warns cannabis growers of increased enforcement for out of compliance operators
In a meeting designed to provide an update for cannabis operators, Santa Barbara County’s pot czar gave a stern warning: Get up to date with your documents or face the consequences. “Our goal is keeping people in compliance until they don’t want to be in compliance anymore, and then we have enforcement,” Deputy CEO Dennis […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc Police Chief asks for donations for homeless emergency shelter
Just a few days after opening an emergency shelter for displaced homeless in Lompoc, the city’s police chief called on its citizens to do more. On Sept. 14, Police Chief Pat Walsh issued a statement that said 55 people had checked into the triage center at River Park. The center provides services to homeless individuals […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
MUSIC: Tales from the Tavern concert series expands to include the all-day Ya Ya Festival
More than a decade ago, siblings Ron and Carole Ann Colone decided to start a concert series in Santa Ynez Valley, a place where they say live music was sorely lacking at the time. The music-going community of the valley and the greater Central Coast was waiting for it, they said. The very first […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Competitive eater Raina Huang takes on the Santa Ynez Valley
How much of your favorite food do you think you could eat during one sitting? If you’re a fan of competitive eating, a popular event that’s gained steam over the years, you might have a chance to put your skills to the test. From Sept. 15 through 18, Raina Huang, a rising YouTube star in […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Mary Kay West’s work pays homage to classical realism
If you’re looking for broad, long-winded conversations about symbolism or complex theory behind works of art, don’t ask Mary Kay West. West, a skilled classical realist painter, prefers to keep it simple when discussing her art. “Honestly, I don’t intellectually analyze my work,” she said. “That’s not the way I do it. I just love, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Local artists use acrylic pour painting process to create work
Paint has a mind of its own. Artists know this frustrating truth about the medium all too well. Sometimes it’s hard to blend; sometimes it decides to dry into a different color. It’s a sneaky element of the artistic process. But for some artists who specialize in a technique called acrylic pour or paint pour, […]
