Santa Maria Fire Battalion Chief Evan Scott got his third physical exam in his 20-year career as a Santa Maria firefighter after he helped establish the department’s health and wellness program. “It was a big deal. It was the goal I was shooting for before I retired,” Scott told the Sun. “I banged that drum […]
Section Feature
A useless vote
A recent Solvang Planning Commission meeting gave us proof that artificial intelligence will take over human jobs. Instead of drawing names out of hat, the city relied on ChatGPT to tell it the commissioner who would remain on the dais to decide on whether to recommend rezoning city land for housing purposes. Three commissioners lived […]
Former Wildling Museum enters new era as the California Nature Art Museum
Don’t fear the reboot Call (805) 686-1082 or visit calnatureartmuseum.org for more info on the California Nature Art Museum (Cal-NAM), located at 1511 Mission Drive, unit B, Solvang. The word “wildling” can apply to a variety of wild plants or undomesticated animals. But its use in pop culture is often streamlined, as it almost always […]
State budget deficit shadows Assembly race
Facing a projected $73 billion budget deficit, state Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) adjusted his priorities going into the March 5 primary, Hart told the Sun. “There’s no rosy way to describe the situation; we’ve had very strong budgets for more than … 10 years, and we want to do what we can to protect […]
Complaints all around
I’d almost rather pay for a wedding than vote in the primary election. I might not be the only person who feels that way. There isn’t a lot of exciting stuff on the ballot. The choices are almost predetermined. But, hey, at least no one is running unopposed! You’ve got incumbent conservative 4th District Santa […]
Weddings Issue 2024
Wedding season is almost here, and we’ve got some information for those of you still trying to decide what to do for yours. In this year’s annual Weddings Issue, Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor speaks with wedding dress purveyors and planners about what’s on-trend in bride and bridesmaid fashion; Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey from the […]
Birchwood Nipomo beer garden and nursery pairs competing locals’ mac and cheese recipes with brews on tap
March gladness Birchwood Nipomo’s mac and cheese cookoff takes place on Saturday, March 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Rain postpones the event—visit birchwoodnipomo.com or call (805) 723-5102 for more info. The venue is located at 323 W. Tefft St., Nipomo. As a garden nursery and beer garden, Birchwood Nipomo is a haven for […]
PCPA stages Henry V with regal flair and killer combat choreography
Fifth time’s the charm The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) presents its production of Henry V through March 3 at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria. Visit pcpa.org or facebook.com/pacificconservatorytheatre for tickets and show times. For more info, call the PCPA box office at (805) 922-8313. PCPA’s next show, Wolf at the Door, is scheduled to […]
World of Pinot Noir celebrates vintners’ varying approaches to making wine from the same grape
One grape to rule them all For more info on World of Pinot Noir, visit worldofpinotnoir.com. The Santa Barbara program will include various events to highlight local and visiting wineries between Feb. 29 and March 2. World of Pinot Noir will take place at the Ritz-Carlton Bacara, located at 8301 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara. One […]
Shifting services
California voters will vote on Proposition 1 in March, which could change local behavioral wellness program funding and structure. The multi-pronged legislation attempts to modernize the 2004 Mental Health Services Act (MHSA)—a personal income tax measure that established the current structure of county behavioral wellness programs—and add a $6.4 billion bond measure to build 10,000 […]
Arroyo Grande High School’s Theatre Company performance of Silent Sky nets them a chance to perform at the International Thespian Festival
Next stop, Indiana Follow Arroyo Grande High School Theatre Company on Facebook or Instagram @aghstheatrecompany to find out how you can help the group get to its summer performance at the International Thespian Festival. The moment was almost four years in the making for one Arroyo Grande High School (AGHS) Theatre Company member. “I thought […]
The bond and the baby
What can I say about Proposition 1? It’s hard to know how to vote—unless you’re adamantly against the state taking out a $6.4 billion bond to build more places where people can get mental health care and substance abuse treatment and more housing for people with health and substance abuse challenges. Sounds like a problem […]

