I’m amazed by how locals foster so many arts communities in northern Santa Barbara County. Creative circles come to life in small towns and bigger cities, rounding up eager residents and seasonal visitors. There’s not nearly enough space to capture all the impactful work we saw in 2025. I think back to the Lompoc muralist […]
Lompoc
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Lompoc artists and businesses host the first community Art Walk of the year
The monthly Lompoc Art Walk is planned for Jan. 8 from 5 to 8 p.m. It’s hosted by the Lonely Plover Social Club, an organization that supports local businesses and artists. “Our mission is simple but impactful: to celebrate and elevate Lompoc’s vibrant arts community,” according to the organization’s website. Residents, businesses, and artists come […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Let’s remember the people who served impeccable food and beverages last year
Allow me, the Sun’s Eats writer, to make a toast. We’ve made it through a quarter of the century, and that alone is worth a bit of cheer. Gathering around a table to break bread is one of life’s great pleasures, and it’s even better with a fun drink in hand and a spoonful of […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc Police Department’s Drone First Responder program is ready to take flight
Lompoc City Council members approved a deal for the Lompoc Police Department to buy and operate drones as first responders on calls. Officials hope deploying the drones will improve public safety and the department’s efficiency. At the Dec. 16 meeting, council members voted 5-0 for a two-year pilot period, which will cost $100,000 per year. […]
Posted inNews
At Santa Maria’s Neurofighters gym, boxers combat the progression of neurological conditions
Around 20 boxers filed into a studio on East Main Street on a Wednesday afternoon in December. Led by sisters Kristi Boasso and April Huckabey, the class warmed up with moves like marching in place, opening and closing their fists, and cross body punches. The oldies station was on, and a few participants sang along. […]
Posted inOpinion
Reflect on the most wonderful time of the year before 2026
Well, the Christmas parades are behind us; all the Christmas displays are up and running, and the Lompoc City electric division is counting more revenue from all those home-lighting themes. When I was young, Christmas morning was the long-awaited culmination of a boy’s hopes and dreams. We saw angels, mangers, tumbleweed snowmen, and Santa’s sleighs […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Cypress Gallery displays tributes to winter
To kick off 2026, artists of the Cypress Gallery are putting together a tribute to winter’s cozy and serene delights. Simple Pleasures will be up from Jan. 2 to 25. “As January brings some of the darkest and coldest days of the year, take a moment to find comfort in the simple pleasures that make […]
Posted inNews
Food patrol: The county aims to tackle unpermitted streetside vending with the help of a task force
Tensions were sky-high the night Lompoc Mayor Jim Mosby went viral on TikTok for protesting a taco stand located behind a Conserve Fuel station. “This is not legal,” Mosby told sidewalk vendors on the corner of North A and North H streets. “Where’s the refrigeration? What are your temperatures? You have no health permit.” He […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc City Councilmember Steve Bridge pleads not guilty to felony charges
Charged with embezzlement and misuse of city funds, Lompoc 1st District Councilmember Steve Bridge showed no intention of stepping down from the dais after one of his peers called for his resignation. “I will be found not guilty. Therefore, I’ll continue to support and represent every member of the community and District 1,” Bridge said […]
Posted inNews
The Silly Bee and other small businesses set out to reinvigorate Lompoc
Danny Diaz is focused on bringing Old Town Lompoc back to life. When he moved there a year and a half ago, he’d ask people what there is to do in town but got responses like, “There’s nothing to do here,” and, “Lompoc is boring.” Since then, he’s grown to love Old Town and would […]
Posted inOpinion
Lompoc citizens deserve trustworthy leaders
Political history was made during the public comment period at the Lompoc City Council meeting on Dec. 2. It wasn’t the kind of history any city would be proud of. I have been commenting on the political scene in Lompoc for more than three decades in various publications. During this time, there have been numerous […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A nonprofit’s residency program merges creativity and nature
Somewhere on the 1,000-acre Jalama Canyon Ranch, there comes a point when the oak canopy clears, giving way to manzanitas. Standing on a ridgeline among vegetation and rolling hills, the vista reveals the ocean in one direction and the Santa Ynez River in the other. The scene at the Lompoc ranch is like a microcosm […]
