Cover Story

Dirt squishes beneath tightly laced hiking boots, and the trees shadow the sun as the trail begins to incline. A fresh breeze blows through the grass and ahead is nothing but the rolling hills of Santa Barbara County. Trails are nearby—maybe within walking distance from some homes—where residents and visitors can embrace the true beauty […]

Cuyama Valley’s water woes dominated 1st District Supervisor Das Williams’ comments during a recent hearing about the future of water well permits in Santa Barbara County.  “I just have some concerns about how this is going to impact high priority basins, particularly Cuyama,” Williams said during the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ May 24 […]

Our annual Pride issue is coming a little early this year, but is it ever really too early to celebrate the activism and visibility of the LGBTQ-plus community? We talk to the Pacific Pride Foundation about the upcoming summer of in-person events, why it’s important to remember the activist roots of Pride, and the current […]

Mike Sinor of Arroyo Grande prefers to fly under the Central Coast wine-industry radar, according to friends and colleagues. However, his long list of accolades and endeavors continues to keep him in the spotlight. Among his achievements during his 30-year career are producing a Wine Spectator 96-point pinot noir, helping launch the nonprofit organization World […]

Editor’s note: This is the second segment of a two-part story covering scam calls on the Central Coast. The first installment described one local woman’s experience with a scammer who used knowledge of her job and background to target her. The second focuses on the aftermath, others who have had similar experiences, and the resources […]

Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about scam calls on the Central Coast. The first part describes one local woman’s experience with a scammer who used her job and background to target her. The second will focus on the aftermath, others who have had similar experiences, and the resources available to […]

Editor’s note: This is the second story in a two-part series on solutions to homelessness. The first, “Shelter,  services, support: Local governments along the Pacific Coast innovate to address the growing issue of homelessness,” ran on April 14. When the COVID-19 shelter-at-home mandate went into place in March 2020, 5 Cities Homeless Coalition (5CHC) Executive […]

Editor’s note: This is the first installment of a two-part series on solutions to homelessness. What’s the solution to homelessness? “It is apparent that there is not panacea to solve this complex problem, as it is diverse and nuanced,” Katie Grainger wrote in a letter to the SLO County Board of Supervisors as the chair/facilitator […]

To honor the memory of her son, Connie Branquinho recently placed a $100 personalized cross on his gravesite at the Santa Maria Cemetery, but it disappeared.  He passed away from an accidental fentanyl overdose in May 2021, and it’s not the first time items have disappeared from the family’s gravesites. Branquinho’s father—a war veteran—is also […]

Rancho Buena Vista Mobile Home Park resident Gary Hall has spoken at the last 27 Santa Maria City Council meetings. His mission: to get a mobile home rent stabilization ordinance on the council’s agenda.  A rent stabilization ordinance would limit the amount by which landowners can increase the rent each year, said Hall, the North […]