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Coastal Commission fines Sable $18 million for violating the Coastal Act

The regional water board will discuss Sable Offshore Corporation’s alleged state water code violations one week after the California Coastal Commission opted to fine the oil company $18 million for “egregious and flagrant” refusal to abide by the Coastal Act.  “What we really have before us is a compliance issue,” commission Chair Justin Cummings said […]

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Art exhibition in Santa Maria highlights the talents and perspectives of local artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities

View the visions The New Muralism: Valley Visions exhibition will tentatively be on display throughout the rest of the year in the Betteravia Gallery at the Government Center in Santa Maria. Find more information at sbac.ca.gov/current-gallery-exhibitions. What began as colored pencil drawings depicting local artists’ interpretations and perspectives of the Santa Maria Valley evolved into […]

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Santa Barbara County upholds Richards Ranch appeal, deems application complete

Richards Ranch in Orcutt continues to move forward with two separate project applications for the same site, thanks to a recent Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors decision. On April 8, the board unanimously voted in favor of Richards Ranch, upholding the developer’s appeal of the county Planning Department’s decision and subsequent Planning Commission vote […]

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Cypress Gallery brings handmade masks, crafts, and interactive art to Lompoc

Solo round Santa Barbara-based artist Mitra Cline’s solo exhibition at Cypress Gallery opened in early April and will remain on display through Sunday, April 27. Visit lompocart.org to find out more. The gallery is located at 119 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc. Often latched behind Mitra Cline’s bicycle, the local crafter’s mobile art studio has a […]

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Man who flew drone over Vandenberg pleads guilty to breaking federal law

A Chinese national who took photographs of Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) with a drone pleaded guilty in March to violating the national defense airspace.  According to a plea deal reached with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Yinpiao Zhou—a Chinese citizen and lawful permanent resident of the United States—was sentenced to time served in prison (four […]

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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 […]

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Students at four Santa Maria-Bonita schools finally get their playgrounds

After months of playing on concrete slabs, students at Alvin, Fairlawn, Ontiveros, and Tunnell elementary schools are now jumping, swinging, and climbing on new equipment.  On March 20, the Santa Maria-Bonita School District announced that construction, which started last summer, was finished at those four schools and that all of the district’s schools either have […]

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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 […]

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Santa Maria painter Helen Yanez pays homage to her heritage through illustrations and collaborations

Spring showcase For more info on Santa Maria-based artist and freelance illustrator Helen Yanez, visit yanezsart.com. Yanez is one of the featured artists in Corazón Café’s second annual Chingonas show, which opened in early March and is slated to remain up through the end of April. The café is located at 847 Higuera St., San […]

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