When the time came for first-time vineyard operator Chiara Shannon to name her new business venture, she simply looked toward the stars. Not the kind of stars astronomers study, although these ones do neighbor some local rocket launch facilities. “I sound a little spiritual when I say this, but, … I feel like this is […]
Outdoor Kitchen: Groundstar Vineyard shines a light on regenerative farming—and Vandenberg’s “small but mighty” native flower
Posted inSpecial Issues
Outdoor Kitchen: Central Coast Outdoors offers private lunches and dinner with kayak tours
Book a tour To make a reservation with Central Coast Outdoors, call (805) 528-1080 or submit a private tour request form available at centralcoastoutdoors.com. Kayaking tours are common for the Central Coast, but one experience breaks up exploring Morro Bay waters with picnic lunches and dinners. “I don’t know anyone else who does it actually,” […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Feature: Addison Jerlow sets the record for completing the 400-mile-long Condor Trail
A little more than 400 miles; 69,000 feet vertical gain. Rain, snow, ticks, and poison oak. Addison Jerlow conquered all these things in 21 days this spring on the Condor Trail. “I was going to do a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail and was doing a train hike with my uncle. This was in […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Feature: Cal Poly’s partnership with Zero Foodprint could help SLO County’s farmers and regenerative agriculture practices
Cal Poly’s Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience is on a mission to bring a program that supports regenerative agriculture to San Luis Obispo County. Called Zero Foodprint, the California-based nonprofit aims to help restaurants reduce their climate impacts by focusing on the root source—changing the way food itself is grown. Erin Pearse, the Cal […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Gear Hub: Is an inexpensive survival kit worth the money?
You’re driving in the country after a daylong fishing trip when the unthinkable happens: Your car sputters out, you have no cell service, and it’s getting dark. It’s at least a two-day walk to civilization, and you haven’t seen another car or person all day. The fish weren’t biting, and you ate your lunch hours […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Gear Hub: SLO and Santa Barbara counties spear fishers talk spearguns and offer tips for the sport
Dive right in Need spearguns, pole spears, snorkels, or wetsuits? Check out Riffe International’s spearfishing gear collection suited for newbies to pros at speargun.com. When Mossimo Jar was spearfishing in Cambria with some friends this spring, he said he heard them suddenly flounder to their kayaks and hold four fingers up, thumbs to their foreheads. […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Feature: A Central Coast transplant tries surfing for the first time
Go for a lesson Sandbar Surf School teaches private group lessons for $85 hour and open group lessons for $60 hour. Find Sandbar Surf School at sandbarsurf.com or call (805) 835-7873 for more information. I can officially say I have been humbled by the ocean, and nearly every part of my body can vouch for […]
Posted inOpinion
The ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ will destroy us
I am a lifelong Republican. I have developed a new reason to hate getting older. It means I will have only a few more opportunities to vote against all of the elected buffoons from the top down who voted for this “Big, Beautiful Bill” that will destroy our country. The only reason for anyone to […]
Posted inOpinion
The majority of us aren’t in the American Dream club
George Carlin once suggested that the concept of the American Dream is a tool used by “the owners” to keep people placid and focused on trivial things, preventing them from realizing how rigged the system is against them. “It’s a big club, and you and me ain’t in it.” This concept has never proved to […]
Posted inOpinion
Start assisting in immigration issues—and urge Congress to make better laws
I am discouraged by Democrats’ disregard for the oath they took when they were elected to serve in Congress. That oath states in part that “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Article 1 of the Constitution established how the government would be run. […]
Posted inOpinion
Easy-peasy?
Fire season is here, y’all. With more than 80,000 acres burned in the Cuyama Valley and on the Carrizo Plain National Monument since before July 2, and a number of other starts since summer began, now is the time to be careful. That means: Be done with the fireworks, people. I can still hear the […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum and Children’s Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County merge
New kid on the block Located at 705 S. McClelland St. in Santa Maria, the new Children’s Resource and Referral Discovery Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit crrsbc.org or smvdiscoverymuseum.org. The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum and Children’s Resource and Referral of Santa Barbara County […]