The next time wine tasters visit Presqu’ile Winery, they can collect artwork from a coin-operated mini print vending machine. It’s the latest effort from the winery to involve creativity with its food and wine offerings. Created by artist Ana Inciardi, the machine is the first of its kind at a winery in the U.S., according […]
Santa Barbara County
Posted inFood & Drink
Orcutt Bakery calls dibs on the dessert table
For any occasionThe Gerbers deliver from San Luis Obispo to the Santa Ynez Valley. Place online orders for Orcutt Bakery goods by visiting orcuttbakery.com. Call (805) 938-9140 with questions, and see the treats for yourself at 4869 S. Bradley Road, suite 112, in Orcutt. After Danielle and Shawn Gerber spend hours baking and decorating a […]
Posted inNews
‘Small water user:’ Some farmers facing a Cuyama Valley groundwater rights lawsuit could get help from new state legislation
There’s plenty of legal jargon that goes over Jake Furstenfeld’s head when he tunes in via Zoom to court proceedings tied to a Cuyama Valley groundwater dispute. This wasn’t the case, however, when the local rancher and others with stakes in a lawsuit over water rights for a critically overdrafted basin heard a judge’s tentative […]
Posted inNews
Maribel Aguilera leads campaign contributions in 5th District supervisor race
Without holding a single fundraiser, Maribel Aguilera’s campaign for Santa Barbara County 5th District supervisor has raised $98,000 as of mid-February. Local farms, restaurants, nonprofits, law firms, and private individuals were among the contributors who clicked the green “donate” button on the candidate’s website. Her campaign filings show she raised about $86,000 in 2025. She […]
Posted inNews
Solvang inventories city curbs to aid future parking enforcement
Sidewalk edges in Solvang appear in many colors: red, yellow, white, and green. They signal no parking zones, 15-minute limits, and loading areas. Solvang wants to keep track of what all the colors mean, but some of the paint has faded over the course of many years. Curb markings have been installed under different city […]
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 inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria’s Inspirational Art Center knows how to throw a party
Alisha Muller lives for “mirror moments.” She can create them in just five minutes, using paint, sponges, brushes, and a touch of glitter. Her clients, most often children, climb onto a tall director’s chair and choose a design from Muller’s face painting samples. Then they try to sit still, anticipating their transformation. Ready to party?Book […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Melodrama presents its first production of the year
Catch The Super Trio at The Great American Melodrama Theatre before the final curtain closes on March 7. “In a universe brimming with superpowered folks, three friends flipping burgers at a fast-food joint get the chance of a lifetime: an internship to become The Super Trio,” according to the Melodrama. Enter antagonist Minerva, who threatens […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Solvang Theaterfest offers VIP package for 2026 season
Get the most out of your experience at the Solvang Festival Theater by signing up for the Star Patron program to see three shows performed by the Pacific Conservatory Theatre. Members will receive tickets for three shows this summer on Star Patron nights as well as access to pre-performance and intermission receptions with guest speakers, […]
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 […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc Police Department uses AI tool for non-emergency dispatch
An AI assistant is now answering calls made to the Lompoc Police Department’s business line to report non-emergencies. Police hope the technology, called Hyper, will allow dispatchers to focus on emergency situations. “It’ll help reduce the volume of calls coming directly into dispatch because there’s an enormous amount of calls that come through that aren’t […]
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County orders monthly audits of Sheriff’s Office overtime use
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will continue tracking overtime use at the Sheriff’s Office after a recent review showed that a few employees more than doubled their pay. “The current system really rewards overspending,” 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann said during the Feb. 10 board hearing. According to county staff, during the fiscal […]