Dressing for the occasion takes on a whole new meaning during the Pacific Conservatory Theatreās (PCPA) Pride Night events. Audience members are encouraged to don attire that may get them mistaken for cast members, Event and Development Coordinator Lolly Tolan explained. āYou canāt go wrong with a cowboy hat and bolo tie,ā Tolan (whose pronouns […]
Santa Barbara County
Lompoc Unified approves a plan for more equitable arts classes districtwide
Jackalynn Snow channeled her inner Cynthia Erivo from the film Wicked at the most recent Lompoc Unified School District board meeting. āUnlimited. With arts we are unlimited,ā Snow sang during her presentation of the districtās strategic arts plan. Snow, the districtās visual and performing arts program specialist, hoped her rendition of āUnlimitedā would bring people […]
The Maverick Saloon hosts Pride-themed karaoke nights for the fifth year in a row
Calling all singersPut yourself out there at the Maverick Saloon during gayraoke on Tuesday nights in June at 8 p.m. located at 3687 Sagunto St. in Santa Ynez. Follow karaoke DJ Sam Silva on Instagram @samcrazypants. For more information about Santa Ynez Valley Pride activities, visit syvpride.org or check out @syv.pride on Instagram. Standing in […]
Celebrate Pride Prom in Buellton
Disco. Glitz. Grunge. Y2K. Itās Pride Prom Through the Ages. The Tavern at Zaca Creek in Buellton will host the event on June 12, which benefits Santa Ynez Valley Pride and House of Pride and Equality. Pride Prom is meant to give members of the LGBTQ-plus community a safe space to show up as their […]
Santa Ynez performers present An Invitation to Dance
In its 37th season, the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company is proud to present An Invitation to Dance. Summer performances will be held at the Santa Ynez High School Little Theater on June 17, 18, and 20 starting at 7 p.m. each night. āThis presentation showcases the elegance and refinement of ballet and lyrical, […]
A Guadalupe butcher cuts up quality meats for barbecuers on the Central Coast
Ernesto Valle used to be known as the guy who cuts meat in the middle of nowhere. He opened Lobo Butcher Shop in Guadalupe four and a half years ago when the economy was still hurting from the pandemic. āFor a couple months, I thought I was going to shut down in my first year,ā […]
Flying Goat Cellars sues county over wine district fees
A local winery asked a federal court to weigh in on its clash with Santa Barbara County for collecting mandatory fees that support a newly created wine business improvement district. The dispute is at the center of a civil lawsuit Flying Goat Cellars co-owners Norm Yost and Kate Griffith filed against the county on May […]
Santa Maria-Bonita makes steps toward new school at Blosser Ranch
Before starting on a new campus at Blosser Ranch, builders need to secure enough dirt to fill around 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools. They also need drivers to bring it on-site. Over the course of six to 10 weeks, itāll take 12 to 15 trucks hauling dirt eight to 10 hours a day to get the […]
Orcutt students graduate with high school diplomas and Hancock associate degrees in a new college readiness program
Jackson Payne took his first college class when he was a freshman in high school. He arrived around 7 a.m. to Orcutt Academy High School. The campus was quiet except for his 29 other classmates in the Early College Cadre program. Soon enough their professor showed up and introduced the group members to their first […]
Lompoc Fire Departmentās unresolved āat riskā conditions will only worsen its service over time
On May 5, the Lompoc City Council received a sobering presentation by interim Fire Chief Kevin Shay. Chief Shay reported that the Lompoc City Fire Department has the two busiest fire stations in Santa Barbara County. The three fire units and nine crew members respond to more than 5,300 calls for service each yearāthatās an […]
With help from her mentor, a Lompoc native reunites the Polynesian dance group she grew up performing in
Michelle Lujan looks back at her wedding day with bittersweetness because although she didnāt know it at the time, the December day in 2019 was the last time the Pacific Legends danced before the pandemic exploded. āTo me, thatās like the marker of when it ended, but we had no idea,ā Lujan told the Sun. […]
Klein Dance Arts presents its Spring Selections recital
Support Santa Mariaās youth dancers as they perform a variety of styles theyāve been hard at work perfecting. The recital will be held at Santa Maria High School inside the Ethel Pope Auditorium at 5:30 p.m. on June 5 and 2:30 p.m. on June 6. Guest performers and Klein Dance Arts students have prepared ballet, […]

