Santa Maria Sun

The Santa Maria-Bonita School District approved its Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) at a June 23 board meeting outlining district goals and spending that supports students. The plan includes funding for two school resource officers, which some board members and public commenters opposed. Read the full story by Staff Writer Malea Martin.

Defense Attorney Dandi (Krista Harris, right) defends three men (Gabriel Bustamante, Jason Mergenov, and Kris Beverly, pictured from left to right) on trial for murdering a litterbug, in Los Alamos Theatre Group’s latest production, TRASH. Courtesy photo by Jeffrey Bloom

In June, Central Coast Community Choice Energy (3CE) approved a new rate structure that’s based on its own costs rather than PG&E’s rates. The reason? Giving a discount to PG&E’s constantly fluctuating rates which caused the electric utility to end the year at a loss. Assistant Editor Peter Johnson from New Times, the Sun’s sister paper, speaks with 3CE about the change and how it impacts customers. Cover file photo by Jayson Mellom. Cover design by Alex Zuniga.

You've got until 5pm TODAY to cast your votes in this year's Best of Northern Santa Barbara County Readers Poll! #bestofnsbc #santamariasun #santamariasunreaderspoll https://posting.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/Survey

The Santa Maria-Bonita School District hopes to increase equity between its students by putting a preschool at every elementary school site and making sure kids are progressing by at least one grade level every year. These are among the six goals and priorities in support of equitable student outcomes that Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services Melissa Dutra presented during a June 23 board meeting. Read the full story by Staff Writer Malea Martin.

What comes to mind when you hear the word luffa? Is it the brightly colored, meshy plastic bath sponge? The rough, dense exfoliator, often tacked to the end of a wooden stick, that you might find at the drugstore? If you haven’t yet visited The Luffa Farm in Nipomo, chances are these are the only types of luffa you’ve encountered: either the fake ones made of plastic, or the highly processed natural luffa that doesn’t exactly leave you skin feeling soothed. Read the full s...tory by Staff Writer Malea Martin at santamariasun.com. Photo courtesy of The Luffa Farm.

Santa Barbara County Animal Services is shifting toward a community-based sheltering model for pets that might otherwise end up in local shelters. As part of that effort, the county closed its animal shelter in Lompoc during 2020 and opened three pet resource centers in 2020 and 2021. Their goal is to provide residents with the resources they need to keep their pets at home. Staff Writer Malea Martin speaks with pet owners and others about how the effort is going. Cover courtesy photo by Winkface Photography. Cover design by Alex Zuniga.

It's time to vote in the 21st annual Best of Northern Santa Barbara County Readers Poll! Please take a moment to vote for all your favorite eateries, drinkeries, businesses, and people in Northern Santa Barbara County.... Grab a paper and fill out a ballot or vote online at SantaMariaSun.com Voting closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Results will be published in our biggest publication of the year on August 19. #BestOfNSBC #BestOfNSBC2021 #BestOfSantaMaria #BestOfSM #BestOfSantaBarbara #BestOfSB #BestOfSBCounty #SantaMariaCA #SantaMariaValley #SantaBarbara #SantaMariaSun #SantaMariaSunReadersPoll #BestOfTheBest

To see, or not to see, that is the question. In the case of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare [abridged]San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre’s first live, in-person production in more than a yearthe answer is yes! Cast members Billy Breed, Suzy Newman, and Jeff Salsburythree very familiar faces to Central Coast theater buffs, each sharing past credits with both PCPA and the Great American Melodramatask themselves to perform as many highlights as they can from all 38 of Shakespeare’s plays in a single sitting, dividing the major and minor roles among themselves, in under three hours. Read the full story by Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood at santamariasun.com.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then we’ve got 32,000 beautiful, captivating, intimate, and skillfully wrought words for you this week. We’re pleased to present the top photos from this year’s Winning Images annual photography contest. Despite pandemic shutdowns, these intrepid photographers of all ages got behind their lenses to capture moments of drama, peace, and light in landscapes, animals, people, and everything in between. Head to santamariasun.com to enjoy these photographs. Cover photo by Jonathan Shapiro. Cover design by Alex Zuniga.

Our 21st annual Best of Northern Santa Barbara County Readers Poll is live now! Please take a moment to vote for all your favorite eateries, drinkeries, businesses, and people in Northern Santa Barbara County. Voting closes at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 6, 2021.... Results will be published in our biggest publication of the year on August 19. #BestOfNSBC #BestOfSantaMaria #SantaMariaSun https://posting.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobispo/Survey

Some conservatives are criticizing the Santa Barbara County Citizens Independent Redistricting Commission and the process it used to select a white Democrat to fill a recently vacated seat instead of a Latino Republican. Read the full story by Staff Writer Kasey Bubnash.

June 15 marked the end of the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, the color-coded reopening system that Santa Barbara County finally made its way through when it reached the yellow tier on June 8. Public health officials say the county is ready to reopen, but that the community shouldn’t let its guard down entirely: COVID-19 is still among us. Read the full story by Staff Writer Malea Martin.

You have only one week left to enter our annual 55 Fiction contest! Stories are due by June 28 at 5 p.m. The rules are simple: No longer than a 7-word headline. No more than 55 words. Be funny. Be brave. Be surprising. Email them to [email protected]. Need more info? Head to newtimesslo.com. #newtimesslo #santamariasun #55fiction #writemore #slocountywriters

Lompoc City Council voted unanimously to pass a resolution opposing a Santa Barbara County wine business improvement district (BID) at the council’s Oct. 20 meeting. BIDs, more often implemented in the hotel industry, levy an assessmentin this case, a 1 percent fee for Santa Barbara County wineries on all direct-to-consumer wine sales is proposedin exchange for benefits such as marketing and promotion. Local winemakers who spoke during public comment opposed the wine BID be...cause they say it would place an unfair burden on smaller wineries. Read the full story by Staff Writer Malea Martin.

Calling all art and nonprofit organizations in Northern Santa Barbara County! There is still time to take advantage of New Times Media Group's Matching Grant Program. Double your ad budget by advertising in the New Times and Sun weekly publications! Call today for more information!... Sun Office: (805) 347-1968 @santamariachamberofcommerce #santamariasun #northernsantabarbaracounty #localmedia #newtimesmediagroup #centralcoastmedia #northcounty See more

Described as a visual representation of solidarity, a new virtual, multimedia campaign from Healing Justice: BLM SBa countywide, Black-led and Black-centered organizing collectiveurges viewers to act with urgency and intention while voting in upcoming local, state, and federal elections. A group of models, artists, and photographers contributed their talents to the campaign, and their collaborative photographs will be available to view as static content on the Healing Justice Santa Barbara website, as well as the collective’s social media platforms. Read the full story by Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood.

Sunkissed Tanning Salon opened on March 15, the day that Santa Barbara County reported its first case of COVID-19. Owner Cristin Nightingale was forced to close her doors just four days later. Now, more than half a year later, personal care services like tanning salons are allowed to reopen, so long as the county they’re in stays in the red tier in the state’s reopening system. Read this week's Spotlight by Staff Writer Malea Martin.

Proposition 20 would restrict access to parole for some nonviolent offenses, increase penalties for certain theft-related crimes, and add opportunities for DNA collection. The fiscal result would be higher law enforcement costs. Proponents argue that it closes a loophole allowing some offenders to be released early through parole programs, while opponents call it a prison spending scam that would result in cuts to rehabilitation and mental health funding. Proposition 25, a... referendum on the state’s bail reform law that passed in 2018, would take the financial ability to post bail out of the equation. Read the full story by Staff Writer Malea Martin to learn the facts behind the ballot measures.

Proposition 22created by Uber, Lyft, Instacart, and Doordashwould exempt app-based transportation and delivery companies from providing employee benefits to certain drivers and would reclassify drivers as independent contractors. According to campaign finance reports, as of Sept. 4, Uber, Lyft, Doordash, and Instacart have collectively poured more than $180 million into their initiative Yes on 22. Lyft and Uber driver Justin Vitcov, 42, said he believes the proposition als...o sets a dangerous precedent for the potential future of the gig economy. He’s against the proposition. Read the full story by Staff Writer Karen Garcia.

Memorialize your loved ones in your local news source in a unique way fitting to who they were. Visit the link below for obituary bookings and more information: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/santamariasun/... #santamariasunobits #santamariasunobituaries #sunobits #northcountyobits #obits #obituaries #obit #localobits #localobituaries #northernsantabarbaracountyobits #northernsbcountyobituaries @santamariachamberofcommerce #santamariasun #northernsantabarbaracounty #localmedia #newtimesmediagroup #centralcoastmedia #northcounty

After a COVID-19 update on Oct. 20 discussing outbreaks in Isla Vista, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted to pass an ordinance allowing the county to levy fines against large gatherings and businesses that don’t comply with public health orders. Read the full story by Editor Camillia Lanham.

You may be wondering why I’m sitting in an empty theater. Perhaps it’s because I like large, dark, empty spaces, a mysterious, masked vigilante tells viewers during a YouTube promo for Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s next production. Unfortunately, due to coronavirus, the Santa Maria Civic Theatre is currently empty and dark, the Caped Crusader continues. Fortunately, there’s a beacon of light in the distance, and it is not the Bat-Signal. It’s the Santa Maria Civic Theatre...’s Drive Up Spooktacular! Like the Civic Theatre’s inaugural drive-up event held at the end of August, ticket holders of the Spooktacular (Sunday, Oct. 25, from 1 to 4 p.m.) will receive a map that highlights five different outdoor destinations to visit throughout Santa Maria where they can enjoy a variety of live performances. Read the full story by Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood.

Don't miss out on this year's Winning Images showcase! See the winning shots at The Photoshop (1027 Marsh St, SLO) now through the end of October. The images can also be found on posters throughout downtown SLO and on the New Times website (link below.) For more information on poster locations hit the link below! ... https://www.newtimesslo.com//central-coast-photog/Content @photoshop_slo @downtownslo @slomuseumofart @bigskycafeslo @hotelcerroslo @shopblackwater @kin.slo @urbanopticsslo @sloprovisions #thephotoshopslo #thephotoshop #2020winningimages #downtownslo #slomuseumofart #sloma #bigskycafeslo #hotelcerroslo #shopblackwater #kincoffee #urbanopticsslo #sloprovisions #newtimes #newtimesslo #slocounty #sloco #slo #slocal #localmedia #sanluisobispo #sansluisobispocounty #centralcoast #centralcoastmedia See more

The holiday season is fast approaching-- book your space today! Don't miss this opportunity to reach 100,000+ local readers and shoppers here on the Central Coast! What is the annual Holiday Guide?... - Special themed Holiday Guide design, - Covers the entire Central Coast from Paso Robles to Santa Ynez, - Includes everything happening in the Central Coast from now to New Year's Day, - Special rates including ad design and color, - Publication date right before Thanksgiving; perfect timing to be the talk of Thanksgiving dinner! Contact your rep TODAY! New Times Office: (805) 546-8208 [email protected] Sun Office: (805) 347-1968 [email protected] AND-- Don't forget to send us your FREE calendar listings, link below! SLO County Event Listings: https://posting.newtimesslo.com/sanluisobi/Events/AddEvent Northern Santa Barbara County Event Listings: http://www.santamariasun.com/calendar.php @slochamber @downtownslo @morrobaychamber #newtimes #newtimesslo #slocounty #sloco #slo #slocal #localmedia #sanluisobispo #sansluisobispocounty #centralcoast #centralcoastmedia #slochamber #downtownslo #morrobaychamber @santamariachamberofcommerce #santamariasun #northernsantabarbaracounty #localmedia #newtimesmediagroup #centralcoastmedia #northcounty #slocalender #ntmgcalendar #newtimescalendar #newtimesevents #localmedia #centralcoast #centralcoastmedia #suncalendar #santamariasunevents #sunevents See more

The words on the window to the left of the Tom's Burgers entrance, and on the window to the right of it, read, Lompoc Strong. Those words signify a commitment the business has made to the Lompoc Valley since opening its doors in 1979. Tom’s Burgers, whose menu includes burger offerings literally from A to Zthere’s a different burger for every letter of the alphabethas a community feel, right down to its location.... Read the full story by Contributor Kenny Cress. Tom's "Home of the Educated Hamburger"

The Solvang Trolley and Carriage Company is again at odds with City Council member Chris Djernaes, as the business’s owners claim Djernaes is the reason PETA protested outside their business on Oct. 10. Protesters stood outside of the Solvang Trolley on Copenhagen Drive, speaking into a megaphone and holding signs that read Honor Hazel with Ban on Horse-Drawn Carriages! The Orona family claims that the protests caused them to cease trolley rides that day. During the Oct. 1...2 Solvang City Council meeting, Solvang Trolley co-owners Lorena and Hector and their son Sal Jr. Orona alleged that PETA was contacted by the owner of Esko Esko, a local gift apparel and accessory store. Read the full story by Staff Writer Karen Garcia.

U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal, the 24th Congressional District incumbent who represents San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, faced off against challenger Andy Caldwell in an Oct. 17 virtual debate, which aired on KEYT Channel 13. The opponents gave their takes on COVID-19 recovery, Diablo Canyon decommissioning, immigration, and police reform.