Bird is the word Local artist Fred Ventura hosts his Birds of the Winter Garden workshops on Jan. 19 in the art room at Trilogy Monarch Dunes in Nipomo and Jan. 26 at Art Center Morro Bay from noon to 3 p.m. both days. Visit venturaes.com/workshops for more info. Some of Ventura’s bird-centric artworks are […]
Section Feature
Posted inOpinion
Sleight of hand
Oceano is hoping for a brand new 2024. The little town in southern San Luis Obispo County is hoping that its Community Services District will finally pull itself together, that the governing board will do more than bicker, and that its new leaders will move forward into a more civil era of policymaking. I wouldn’t […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hearst heist
Searching for Patty Hearst brings new perspectives to an old Central Coast tale
Hear all about it Meet author Roger Rapoport and catch a talk about his new book—Searching for Patty Hearst, which will be released on Jan. 16—at the San Luis Obispo public library on Jan. 31. For more information, visit pattyhearst.com. Almost 50 years ago, Patty Hearst’s kidnapping captivated viewers across the country. Roger Rapoport covered […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Hanna’s dishes out Mexican fusion in Arroyo Grande
A grand addition to Grand Avenue Call (805) 904-6876 for more info on Hanna’s Mexican Fusion Restaurant, located at 1412 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande. Follow the eatery’s Instagram page for updates on both its new brick-and-mortar and its food truck, @hannas.street._.tacos. When SLO local Cesar Cortes and his family embarked on running a taco […]
Posted inNews
Cuyama water lawsuit moves forward as Bolthouse, Grimmway drop out
The Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin adjudication is scheduled to begin on Jan. 8 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, but Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms are no longer plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Originally filed in 2021, the adjudication calls for a judge to rule on how much water everyone can pump from the basin, which […]
Posted inNews
What a year!
Floods and historic rainfall ushered us into a chaotic 2023
January kicked us off with a rush of floodwater, and the rain didn’t stop until April. Certain areas of Santa Barbara County are still dealing with the ramifications from all that water and concerned about what the rainy season ahead has in store. The tension that started the year continued throughout the year, with fights […]
Posted inFood & Drink
New local outlets for lunch, dinner, dessert, and wine dominate 2023
Ribbon cuttings for new eateries along the Central Coast weren’t in short supply over the past 12 months. When I looked back on the Sun’s food and wine stories of 2023, I was reminded of the contagious enthusiasm some of my interviewees exuded while gushing about their dreams of owning their own restaurant or tasting […]
Posted inOpinion
For the birds!
We sure did a lot of fighting this year! Maybe it was all that rain in January and March, filling up Northern Santa Barbara County’s streets with mud and debris, causing our reservoirs to spill over, and leaving us with repair needs—some of which have yet to be fixed. It made us grumpy for the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Out-of-town artists flock to the Central Coast for local showcases in 2023
Throughout 2023, galleries and other art venues across Northern Santa Barbara County proved to be not only familiar outposts for paint brush-happy locals, but hubs for traveling artisans as well. Some of my favorite exhibits in the Sun’s coverage area this year showcased artists hailing from settings far from the Central Coast, such as London, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria-based poet leads poetry facilitation groups
Dot your calendar Visit dotwinslow.com for more info on local poet Dot Winslow, who currently hosts monthly poetry facilitation groups at the Santa Maria Public Library and the Orcutt Area Seniors in Service (OASIS) Center. The library group is open to adults ages 18 and over and is free to attend. Admission to join Winslow’s […]
Posted inNews
No beds available
A lack of facilities, mental health providers cause Santa Barbara County to delay implementation of new state law
Hospitals and emergency departments are going to “fail miserably” if Santa Barbara County implements new state legislation without giving the county’s health systems enough time to set up the support needed to manage a potential influx of patients, Denise McDonald told the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 12. “There’s nothing harder for an ER [emergency […]
Posted inOpinion
More is more
The lack of mental health help in North Santa Barbara County isn’t a new issue. It comes up repeatedly. We don’t have enough inpatient beds for involuntary or voluntary mental health holds. We need more outpatient facilities. If you need emergency help, head to Marian Regional Medical Center’s emergency room and plan to wait a […]
