Receipts for fixing leaky pipes and installing lights are at the heart of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s investigation into Lompoc Councilmember Steve Bridge’s invoices. In late 2025, Bridge was arraigned in Santa Maria Superior Court for eight felony counts, including forgery, identity theft, grand theft, and fraudulent use of a contractor’s license. A […]
Lompoc
Posted inOpinion
Lompoc Councilman Steve Bridge’s fraud case moves forward, exposing layers of alleged deception
In 1808 Sir Walter Scott wrote, “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!” The preliminary hearing for Lompoc City Councilman Steve Bridge for multiple felonies and a few misdemeanors related to the receipt of reimbursements from the city of Lompoc has produced just such a tangled web concerning how […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Photography exhibit highlights Lompoc’s Filipino history
Learn about how Filipino pioneers shaped Lompoc’s history at an exhibit inside the public library’s Grossman Gallery. The exhibit, “Manongs of the Central Coast: Forming Communities Across Generations,” will be featured in the gallery through April, including a public discussion on April 3 at 6 p.m. Bing Aradanas, a project contributor, was raised in Lompoc […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Lompoc Pops presents an evening of hits by Ella Fitzgerald
Calling all fans of jazz and American pop hits. The Lompoc Pops Orchestra is performing a show dedicated to Ella Fitzgerald’s portfolio on March 29 at 4 p.m. Audience members will cherish the sounds of nostalgia from the era of soul, guided by the Great American Songbook. Though loosely defined, the songbook is a treasure […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc to petition state for exemption from solar mandate
Lompoc wants the California Energy Commission to exempt the city from the state’s renewable energy mandates for new homes. The Energy Commission’s 2025 code for new construction requires photovoltaic solar and battery storage systems on homes to reduce wasteful and expensive energy use. However, under the state’s economic model, Lompoc residents wouldn’t be saving as […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Indivisible Lompoc members use arts, crafts to stand up for their beliefs
Artistry has been intertwined with social justice activism for hundreds of years. Quilt patterns gave signals to slaves escaping through the Underground Railroad, one Lompoc resident said. Red knit caps symbolized resistance in Norway during Nazi occupation, another told the Sun. Calls for actionFor more information about joining Indivisible Lompoc’s events, visit indivisiblelompoc.org or follow […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc Valley Chamber aims for a reset
Calling all to LompocTo learn more about goings-on at the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce, visit lompoc.com or call (805) 736-4567. Its new office is located at 109 S. H St. next to Certain Sparks Music. In 2009, the Air Force brought Melanie Lindley to Lompoc. She discovered a love for the area and decided […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Fika Coffee Company brings Swedish heritage to Lompoc
Elizabeth Hudson quit her day job last year to follow a longtime dream of running a coffee business. Her husband was 100 percent in. “We retired the 9-to-5 and started a 24/7 instead,” Hudson said with a laugh. “It’s been a blessing. It’s been my dream job.” The Lompoc couple founded Fika Coffee Company, a […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc to rebuild stage at Ryon Park
By the end of the year, Lompoc residents are scheduled to have a new stage at Ryon Park for community gatherings and performances. City Council members unanimously approved the project at the Feb. 17 meeting. The Ryon Park stage has deteriorated below accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act, according to the staff […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Lompoc photographer captures all of life’s special moments
The Central Coast is darn close to a photographer’s dream setting, so scouting locations is one of the most fun parts of the job for Amanda Booker. “I just love this area. There’s so much to offer,” she said. “Basically anything a client envisions, you can find here.” Book BookerAmanda Booker takes photos for couples, […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc Teen Center offers financial, academic, and social support
Once the school bell rings every afternoon, between 20 and 40 middle and high schoolers walk through the doors of the Lompoc Teen Center on N. H Street. Staff offer rides to the center after school and back to students’ homes in the evening. Since 2022 the Teen Center has focused heavily on academics and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Lompoc’s Sea-Stainable makes 100 percent natural pet snacks
Jesse Crouse-Tell doesn’t routinely eat the dog treats he makes, but the ingredients are 100 percent human grade. In the early days of his company, Sea-Stainable Pet Food, the business owner had to try his treats because he wanted to know how they tasted. “I’ll take little nibbles of stuff here and there, just to […]
