The Nature Conservancy announced the purchase of 24,000 acres of coastal habitat along Santa Barbara County’s coast surrounding Point Conception and bordering Vandenberg Air Force Base on Dec. 22. The historic purchase was made thanks to a donation of $165 million from Jack and Laura Dangermond, conservationists and co-founders of Esri, based out of Redlands, […]
The Nature Conservancy acquires 24,000 acres near Vandenberg
Posted inNews
Donations to the Hancock Promise push college closer to goal of $10 million in funding
Donations from a small group of community members, foundations, and businesses allowed Allan Hancock College to announce at a press conference on Dec. 13 the start of its five-year, $10 million endowment campaign to support the Hancock Promise program, which will give local high school graduates a free first year of tuition and fees at […]
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Spotlight on: Posh Pet Sitting
When Joanne Trudeau took her two great danes to a nearby kennel before going on vacation a few years back, she knew at least one of the dogs was going to struggle with the experience. Instead, they both did. And by the time she and her husband, Michael, came home from their seven-day trip, the […]
Posted inOpinion
How do you think Santa Barbara County should regulate recreational cannabis?
Rudy Ruiz business owner “I’m not one for cannabis, but if it was to be done it needs to be regulated the same way that we regulate alcohol. If people want to have marijuana bars, I guess I’m OK with that, but I think it needs to have the same laws where you can get […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 12/21/17
• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) sent four letters as the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee requesting information related to the Senate investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible obstruction of the FBI’s investigations into potential ties between Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia. Feinstein sent a letter to K.T. McFarland, […]
Posted inNews
Seal the deal: Santa Barbara County government and cultivators work to hammer out recreational cannabis regulations for 2018
For the past two decades, California has regulated medicinal cannabis with a loose legal framework. On Jan. 1, 2018, all that goes up in smoke, and counties like Santa Barbara are scrambling to keep up as the state steadily releases its new set of rules for legalized adult-use recreational marijuana. The day will mark the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
LOCAL NOTES: Lompoc Theatre Project holds benefit concert with Sgt. Pepper
Half a century ago, a band of four 20-somethings from Liverpool, England, got tired of constantly touring the world to perform their billboard-topping rock ‘n’ roll songs, and so composed a studio album that would change rock history. The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band was an incredible new sound in 1967 when it […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Local artists thrive at Santa Maria Public Library in December
There has been much talk of the need for public arts in the city of Santa Maria this year. Thankfully, no matter what a bunch of city lawmakers decide, at least residents can count on the Santa Maria Public Library as a resource for viewing compelling and unique work from local artists. The library’s Shepard […]
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Lawsuit seeks court-ordered reforms for treatment of inmates in Santa Barbara County Jail
From September 2016 to January 2017, at least 12 prisoners in the Santa Barbara County Jail attempted to kill themselves while inside isolation cells, according to court documents. That’s more than one suicide attempt every two weeks. One inmate, Hector Higareda, died on Oct. 16, 2016, after hanging himself in one of the jail’s isolation […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Garden Mediterranean Restaurant and Cafe is ready to bring authentic homemade food to Santa Maria
It’s a quiet evening in downtown Santa Maria when we enter The Garden Mediterranean Restaurant and Cafe. Owner Reda Kchik comes out to warmly greet us and joins us as we sip red wine and talk about the newly opened venue. He is eagerly sharing stories of the work he has put into the stunning […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Humor: Krider recalls his last Christmas with a real tree in the house
During this time of year my house contains a beautiful, tall, decorated Christmas tree. It has colorful lights, shiny ornaments, and like any good old American family in the 21st century, our tree is completely made of plastic. We didn’t always have a fake tree; back in the day I was more of a purist. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wildling Museum hosts Theodore Waddell exhibit with works by his mentor and friend Isabelle Johnson
While the art lovers viewing his work at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature in Solvang enjoy moderate temperatures that barely demand a thin pair of socks to stay comfortable, Theodore Waddell is bracing for a bitter winter in his Montana home. “It’s about 13 degrees right now,” he explained during an interview with […]
