The county Board of Supervisors’ decision on the Northern Branch Jail expansion will impact future boards, sheriffs, county staff, and community members, Sheriff Bill Brown said at the April 1 meeting. In a 3-2 vote (with 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson and 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino dissenting), the board decided to build 1.5 new […]
Category Feature
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The music makers: Santa Ynez nonprofit Muffin Music brings performances, education to local schools
Much ado about Muffin For more info on Muffin Music and its offerings, visit muffinmusic.org. Co-founders Sylvia Jiang and Davis Reinhart will present free concert programs on April 11 and 12 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Unity of Santa Maria and Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Santa Ynez, respectively. From an early […]
Posted inNews
CenCal Health works to expand healthcare services for local residents through partnerships and implementation of CalAIM
Local lifeline For more information on CenCal Health and the services it provides, visit cencalhealth.org. To learn more about the CalAIM initiative and how it seeks to transform Medi-Cal, visit dhcs.ca.gov/calaim. One-third of Santa Barbara County residents are members of CenCal Health. In San Luis Obispo County, 1 in 4 residents use the plan. CenCal […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Naughty Oak Brewing Company gets nutty with new squirrel mural, affogatos, and soda floats
The long and winding oak Naughty Oak Brewing Company is located at 165 S. Broadway St., suite 102, Orcutt. For more info on the brewery’s ongoing mural scavenger hunt contest (open for the public to participate in through April 15), visit naughtyoak.com/contest. “There were brief moments that I worried that a 25-foot-long painting of a […]
Posted inOpinion
The long haul
If you were a legal resident of the U.S.—not a citizen—and had to choose between flying a drone over Vandenberg Space Force Base or being a pro-Palestinian protester on a college campus, which would you choose? One is illegal and the other riles up the delicate sensibilities of the Trump administration but is legal under […]
Posted inOpinion
Take a look at whether government operations are expedient, efficient, or cost conscious
In private businesses, big and small decisions are made much quicker than in government. The management team makes a presentation to the board of directors and action is taken. In government, it can either be the professional staff or a group of “concerned citizens” that approach the elected officials, who then discuss the issue, sometimes […]
Posted inOpinion
America deserves better than this
As an elder, I’ve lived through many political crises in this country—but I have never seen an attack on our democracy like this. In the past, there was bipartisan opposition to lawlessness. Today, the guardrails are being dismantled before our eyes, and we must sound the alarm. The damage this administration has done to our […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Death of a Unicorn satirizes greed with a dose of family drama
Death of a Unicorn What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Matinee What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande In his feature-length debut, writer-director Alex Scharfman helms this horror comedy about Elliot Kintner (Paul Rudd) and his teenage daughter, Ridley (Jenna Ortega), […]
Posted inNews
OmniTRAX enters joint venture with Coast Belle Rail Corporation to improve century-old Santa Maria Valley Railroad
The Santa Maria Valley Railroad (SMVRR) has been in operation for 114 years and survived both the Great Depression and World War II under Capt. G. Allan Hancock’s ownership. After struggling with the rise of trucking, the railroad remained under Hancock’s descendants until the Himoto family acquired it in 2006. According to Rob Himoto, president […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Menus – Spring/Summer 2025
The Central Coast Guide to All Things Food and Drink
Posted inNews
Got odor?: County’s updated cannabis ordinance establishes threshold for odors from indoor grows
While standing on the property line of a licensed cannabis grower in a little more than one year’s time, a trained operator of a Nasal Ranger device will need to measure 4 or less D/T—dilution over threshold—for three minutes to determine whether the grower complies with the now amended cannabis ordinance. Arriving at this number […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Local winemaker Emily Myers makes a name for herself through two SYV brands
Act naturally Visit eislynnwines.com or demetriaestate.com for more info on Eislynn Wines or Demetria Estate, respectively. Both brands are based in the Santa Ynez Valley. On Saturday, April 26, Eislynn Wines will be among the featured wineries at the Natural Coast, a Santa Barbara-based wine festival, from noon to 5 p.m. at The Factory, located […]
