In the years after one of the hardest moments of his life, longtime Central Coast resident and firefighter David has reflected on the events surrounding his dad’s death. David lost his father in 2004 to a heart attack. He experienced the major cardiac event at home in Orcutt, and though he didn’t survive, the service […]
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Autumn Arts Annual 2021
Summer’s over. It may not feel like it with the warmth of these late September days, but fall is here and so are those autumn events! And we’ve got all the fun festivities in Northern Santa Barbara County and SLO County compiled into one calendar for you to peruse. Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood pooled music, […]
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Roblar Winery pairs signature sparkling wines with chef Peter Cham’s buttermilk fried chicken every Thursday, during Birds & Bubbles
Santa Barbara local Peter Cham said most people are surprised to hear that it takes him multiple days to make fried chicken. “I know fried chicken sounds really simple, but it’s surprisingly difficult to make really good,” said Cham, executive chef at Roblar Winery in Santa Ynez. “So with ours, we brine it for 24 […]
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The Good Samaritan Shelter works with Lompoc and Santa Barbara County to provide Pallet sheltering for homeless in the community
Outside the Bridgehouse Homeless Shelter in Lompoc, 18 8-by-8-foot sheds sit on freshly laid asphalt in a circle. Beds, flowers, a bag of snacks, and water inside each welcome their guests. Picnic tables sit under the shaded middle of the neighborhood with potted plants scattered around. The white buildings—which will be painted purple, red, and […]
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Health care workers are still grappling with the trauma of the past year as COVID-19 surges again
As an infectious disease specialist for Cottage Health, Dr. Lynn Fitzgibbons is no stranger to witnessing suffering and death. But nothing, she said, could have prepared her for what she saw during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I don’t think you ever get used to seeing your patients suffering,” Fitzgibbons told the Sun. […]
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Best of Northern Santa Barbara County 2021
This just in: the Sun’s annual Northern Santa Barbara County Best of reader’s poll results! We asked and you answered. You told us who and what your favorites were, and we tabulated and compiled all the results that were fit to print, packaged them up for you, and delivered! Find out the community’s favorite restaurants, […]
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A much-needed mental health crisis unit is ready to open on the Central Coast, but it’s caught in the state’s approval process
After years of planning and preparation, Marian Regional Medical Center’s new Behavioral Health Outpatient Unit is ready to open, and local health professionals say it’s needed more than ever after the trauma of the past pandemic year. But red tape at the state level is road-blocking the unit from accepting patients just yet, leaving hospital […]
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Education Today
It’s that time of year again: back to school time. And this year, kids actually get to start the year in classrooms! But due to COVID-19 lingering around like an unwanted guest, the state of California is requiring students to mask up while indoors on campus. For this year’s Education Today issue, New Times Assistant […]
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55 Fiction 2021
Short stories about love, life, and sandwiches It doesn’t sound like much, but writers can do a lot with 55 words. They can kill someone, love someone, and surprise someone. And this year, yes, people from around the world submitted stories about the Trump administration, discrimination, and COVID-19. Some were cheesy, some were mushy, and […]
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Santa Barbara County Foodbank’s Picnic in the Park program provides nutritious meals to local kids when school isn’t in session
On July 14, local resident Maria drove up to Minami Park around 11:30 a.m. Two smiling Foodbank volunteers opened a large cooler and handed her two pre-packaged meals. Patsy Aguirre, who has volunteered with the Foodbank for the last four years, said that she typically hands out 70 to 80 meals in an hour at […]
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Central Coast Community Energy overhauls electricity rates, looks to ramp up local energy programs
Since Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) first launched in 2018, it’s made two promises to its ratepayers from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara counties: that it will provide carbon-free electricity, and it will provide that electricity at a discounted rate. While the regional public power provider says it still intends to keep both of those […]
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Ocean Fathoms says the seafloor makes for ideal wine storage with little marine life impact. Coastal Commission says otherwise
Emanuele Azzaretto believes the seafloor is the best spot on Earth to store wine. He’s one of the co-founders of Ocean Fathoms, a Santa Barbara County based company that developed a process to store wine bottles at the bottom of the ocean. The consistent cold temperatures and dark waters make an ideal environment for the […]
