Chumash Fire Department Capt. Quntan Garcia placed a stalky beige plant into my hand and slowly trickled water from his Kirkland water bottle over it. My hands were slightly coated with dust after spending a dry October day outside on Sierra Madre in Los Padres National Forest. “This is soap plant,” he explained as he […]
Section Feature
Posted inOpinion
Soaring to new heights
Old Town Lompoc is about to grow up. At the ripe age of 150 years old, the city is primed for a good ol’ fashioned growth spurt—from 45 feet to 50 feet tall. Lompoc is aiming for increasing its housing density, both to comply with state law and some city goals. To do that, the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Stone Pine Hall holds concert benefit for the Lompoc Theatre Project
There’ll be church pews and stacking chairs but no standing room for guests of an intimate concert, set to bring a handful of rock, roots, and country acts to Stone Pine Hall in late December. With a capacity limit under 100, the historic building—previously a First Church of Christ Scientist Reading Room—is hosting the show […]
Posted inOpinion
Issues and action
In a first for Lompoc, the city now has an environmental justice element. City staff may have swung this one through the council in the nick of time! Mayor Jenelle Osborne is on the way out and Mayor Elect Jim Mosby is on his way in. I can’t imagine any sort of environmental justice anything […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA’s Beauty and the Beast is a sweeping spectacle
Certain as the sun The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) presents its production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Marian Theatre through Dec. 22. Visit pcpa.org for tickets or more info. The Marian Theatre is located at 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria. If there’s one tale as old as time that ages particularly […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Flying Goat Cellars donates 40 percent of new pinot noir sales to local horse sanctuary
Pinot neigh To find out more about Flying Goat Cellars, call (805) 736-9032 or visit flyinggoatcellars.com. The winery is located at 1520 E. Chestnut Court, unit A, Lompoc. Call (805) 737-9246 or visit returntofreedom.org for more info on the Return to Freedom wild horse sanctuary, located at 4115 Jalama Road, Lompoc. Sweet notes of cola […]
Posted inNews
Heat shock: Cuyama Valley farmers lost crops due to extreme temperatures over the summer
White jujube flowers shriveled up and fell off Alisha Taff’s trees during the summer, and all she could do was watch. “The type of fruit tree I have is really resilient,” Taff said. “It’s the perfect tree to grow out here but the extreme duration and heat temperatures in July were very impactful. … When […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s never too late
Tourism is the answer to all of our budget woes! Even if the economy tanks, tourists will still be here—oh wait, probably not. But still, they should be paying for our needs! At least according to voters in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Barbara County, who voted to increase bed taxes in Solvang, Buellton, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Trisha Cole compiles a new book of recipes and stories from her newsletter series
Book it Copies of Life at the Dumpling are currently available locally at Alisal Ranch in Solvang and Field Day Coffee in San Luis Obispo. Cuyama Buckhorn in New Cuyama and A Satellite of Love in San Luis Obispo and additional venues slated to carry the book in the near future, author Trisha Cole told […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Ebenezer Scrooge and Princess Aurora take the stage at the Great American Melodrama
Selling fast Get tickets to the Great American Melodrama’s Holiday Extravaganza show running until Dec. 31 at americanmelodrama.com. Changing leaves, crisp mornings, and Christmas music on the radio all mark the holiday season’s approach. For theater lovers on the Central Coast, the Great American Melodrama’s annual Holiday Extravaganza is another holiday harbinger. Playing until Dec. […]
Posted inNews
Maximizing dollars: Allan Hancock and Cuesta College hope to receive needed infrastructure funding from Proposition 2
California’s community colleges, including Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College, rely on bond measures to help fund campus enhancements—anything from adding new buildings to renovating existing structures. In the Nov. 5 election, voters approved Proposition 2, a statewide $10 billion bond intended for public schools and community colleges. Public schools would receive $8.5 billion for […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Craft & Create welcomes winter with December DIY painting events
Get crafty Craft & Create is located at 446 Alisal Road, suite 11, Solvang. Owned by Art Spot on Wheels, this DIY lounge is open Sundays and Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from noon to 5 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (805) […]
