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Aug 18, 2024 | 
independent.com | Lauren Chiou |Tia Trinh |Callie Fausey |Gina Rodarte Quiroz
This year’s Friendship Paddle honoree, Courtney Brewer, says her love for swimming and the ocean has been a longtime constant in her life. The water has been an integral part of her daily routine for decades. As a swimmer during her college years at UCSB and now an active participant of local swim groups, such as the Santa Barbara Masters Swimming program and the Swim Wild group, Brewer’s devotion to swimming has had a lasting influence on her life.
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Aug 18, 2024 | 
independent.com | Andrea Weir |Maggie Yates |Callie Fausey |Gina Rodarte Quiroz
Bringing Susan B.
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Aug 17, 2024 | 
independent.com | Jean Yamamura |Ryan Cruz |Callie Fausey |Gina Rodarte Quiroz
The Santa Barbara Independent republishes stories from CalMatters.org on state and local issues impacting readers in Santa Barbara County.
Like single-family homeowners in California, landlords are facing higher insurance premiums, too. And they’re passing along some of those costs to their tenants. Many insurance companies have stopped writing policies in the state because of increased wildfire risks, but that’s not the only reason.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
independent.com | Ryan Cruz |Jean Yamamura |Gina Rodarte Quiroz |Callie Fausey
Happiness dances out of Michelle Sanchez’s room at Buena Tierra, as visitors cluster at her doorway on Thursday, hearing her story of how she came to this small apartment full of butterflies and hummingbirds and with her little dog Kiko at her side. “I’ve been here since February,” Sanchez says, arriving by way of Isla Vista’s Hedges House of Hope and the Dignity Moves tiny homes in downtown Santa Barbara. “I loved those tiny homes,” she said.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
independent.com | Tia Trinh |Debra Herrick |Gina Rodarte Quiroz |Callie Fausey
The sunny beaches in Santa Barbara are a stark change from the Death Valley’s hot deserts, and for incoming UCSB first year Autumn Smith, it’s the perfect change of scenery. The nearest brick-and-mortar (traditionally built) high school is about two hours from where Smith lives, making transportation difficult.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
independent.com | Lauren Chiou |Tia Trinh |Leslie Dinaberg |Gina Rodarte Quiroz
With tall ceilings, cozy wraparound leather couches, clean white tile countertops, and walls dotted with a few key vintage posters, the new Tyler x Lieu Dit tasting room on Canon Perdido is an oasis of tranquility. The hip minimalist design serves as the perfect canvas for vibrant pops of color and flavor from their beautiful selection of ruby-red pinot noirs, scarlet cab francs, and peach-hued rosé.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
independent.com | Roger Durling |Caitlin Scialla |Leslie Dinaberg |Gina Rodarte Quiroz
Paso Robles’ wine and hospitality scenes are popping, and an extraordinary experience I’ve sought out two hours north is Sensorio, where Bruce Munro’s light exhibits continue to dazzle locals and tourists. Their first collaboration with outside artists is their latest exhibit, DIMENSIONS by HYBYCOZO, which landed this summer. A friend introduced me to HYBYCOZO’s lights years ago when they were making smaller versions you could purchase for your home or office (you still can).
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
independent.com | Stephanie Gerson |Lauren Chiou |Rebecca Horrigan |Gina Rodarte Quiroz
Television host, culinary writer, and Barbecue Hall of Famer Steven Raichlen will be bringing his grill expertise to Alisal Ranch, the upcoming setting for the chef’s Barbecue University. The three-day interactive cooking course provides participants with live fire cooking experience taught by Raichlen himself. Raichlen’s barbecue concentration is primarily on the art of global grilling, having traveled around the world to learn about the variety of different cultural approaches to grilling.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
independent.com | Aidan Kenney |Margaux Lovely |Gina Rodarte Quiroz |Callie Fausey
This article was underwritten in part by the Mickey Flacks Journalism Fund for Social Justice, a proud, innovative supporter of local news. To make a contribution go to sbcan.org/journalism_fund. The powerhouse team of nonprofit lawyers at the Santa Barbara–based Environmental Defense Center (EDC) has never been sued. As such, it’s only proper that an offshore oil company crafted by the God-like hands of ExxonMobil is the first to take a stab at it — over “national security” concerns, no less.
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Aug 16, 2024 | 
independent.com | Tia Trinh |Lauren Chiou |Caitlin Scialla |Gina Rodarte Quiroz
Wood Glen Senior Living in Santa Barbara provides a home to multiple senior citizens in the area. It is also the setting of Santa Barbara High School senior Mary Moses’ new documentary series, “Life Stories of Santa Barbara.” Produced and edited by Moses herself, the series dives into the lives of elderly residents living at Wood Glen, with the hopes of sharing their life stories with a larger audience.
