The holiday season is in full swing, and the Santa Barbara County Food Bank will be accepting turkey donations for its entire duration. However, this year’s annual drive for Thanksgiving dinner’s most popular centerpiece has thus far fallen short of expectations, by a couple thousand turkeys. “We have just under 10 percent of what we […]
Spotlight on: Santa Barbara County Food Bank
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Political Watch 11/16/17
• Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Kamala Harris (D-California) introduced leglislation to prevent earthquake mitigation incentives from being taxed at the federal level, according to a statement released by Feinstein’s office Nov. 9. The Earthquake Mitigation Incentive and Tax Parity Act of 2017 comes ahead of the Senate Republicans’ tax bill, the statement said. “Our […]
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Growing boundaries: State further restricts pesticide use near schools
Santa Barbara County is an agriculturally focused region where crops are often located at the center of cities, butting right up against neighborhoods and local businesses. This prevalence of in-city crops presents the possibility of exposing closely neighboring residents to pesticides, including students and staff at some of Santa Maria Valley’s K-through-12 schools. Because of […]
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Santa Maria DUI checkpoint results in unlicensed driving citations
A recent DUI checkpoint arranged by the Santa Maria Police Department (SMPD) didn’t nab any intoxicated drivers. None of the 550 drivers screened on Nov. 11 were arrested for drug or alcohol impaired driving, but 11 were sited for driving without a valid license. SMPD’s Traffic Unit has conducted several DUI checkpoints throughout the last […]
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Veterans find life after service at Space X
Since its founding in 2002, SpaceX has sought to “revolutionize space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets.” In the meantime, the company aims to provide a work environment friendly to all backgrounds. And one group the company’s officials take great pride in including in their vision is military […]
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Lompoc Police tell residents to call to report crimes
The Lompoc Police Department (LPD) sent out a gentle reminder to its citizens on Nov. 8—if you see suspicious activity, call 911. Or, at the very least, call the department’s main office line at 736-2341. LPD Police Sgt. Kevin Martin told the Sun the effort was a response to several instances of suspicious or potentially […]
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Warming centers provide shelter to homeless during winter months
Despite California’s famously warm and sunny weather, winter months still bring rain and nighttime temperatures that dip below freezing—conditions that can and have claimed lives. A homeless man, Freedom, died on Santa Barbara’s streets during such weather conditions in 2009. The incident sparked pressure from community members for the development of local warming centers, short-term […]
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Lompoc city manager to become Santa Maria’s assistant city manager
Patrick Wiemiller, Lompoc’s at times embattled city manager, will take his services a few miles north, about 28 to be exact. In roughly three months, he will join Santa Maria as its new assistant city manager. Both cities made the announcement a little after 3 p.m. on Nov. 9. Lompoc’s public information officer, Samantha Scroggin, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Gallery Los Olivos highlights pastel artists’ friendship and love of nature
Terri Taber is most at home when she’s lost deep in nature. “I’ve always really loved the outdoors. To me the outdoors is always a source of giving me strength. It regenerates. Solace.” Taber, along with fellow painter Carol Talley, is featured in a new show highlighting the pair’s love of the outdoors called Surrounded […]
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Spotlight on: California’s Gas Tax
California’s 12-cent gas tax hike kicked in on Nov. 1 and consumers almost instantly felt pain at the pumps. “The tax hike’s effect at many, but not all, gas pumps was immediate on Wednesday,” said Auto Club spokesman Jeffrey Spring in a statement. “While we believed the switch to the cheaper winter blend of gasoline […]
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Attorney claims youth client was beaten in Juvenile Hall lock-up
On Jan. 23, 2016, detainees at the Susan J. Gionfriddo Juvenile Justice Center in Santa Maria beat Paul Purter III while in lockup. The attack was brutal. More than once, Purter was kicked in the chest, head, and face. He suffered permanent optic nerve damage to his right eye and a contusion to his eye […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Los Angeles area poets grace Orcutt stage for Poetry at Core
Poet Rick Lupert can almost recall the very first time he was called on to create a poem. “I have a vague memory of third grade,” he said. “We had some poets come to our school and teach poetry. I don’t recall a lot about it, but they took everything we wrote and bound it.” […]
