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A new kind of Mole Hole Solvang store adds second location geared toward Southern California tourists
Sheriff’s detectives start homicide investigation Detectives believe driver intentionally struck woman on East Mountain Drive By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office has launched a homicide investigation following the death of a woman who was reportedly struck by a vehicle on East Mountain Drive in Montecito. At approximately 5:35 a.m. on Thursday, deputies were dispatched to the street’s 800 block after a report of a woman heard screaming. When deputies arrived, they found a woman who was seriously injured, lying in the roadway. The vehicle that struck the woman fled the area prior to deputies’ arrival, said Raquel Zick, the public information
officer for the sheriff’s office. Ms. Zick said the woman was transported to an area hospital, where she died of her injuries at approximately 7:45 p.m. Based on their initial investigation, detectives believe the woman was intentionally struck by the driver of the vehicle, and they are investigating this as a homicide, Ms. Zick said. She said the identity of the victim is pending family notification and that the vehicle description is not yet available for release. Ms. Zick said the suspect and the victim knew each other and that this was not a random attack. email: kzehnder@newspress.com
ELECTION 2022
KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS
Linda and Harlan Munneke stand inside their second Mole Hole shop, which is scheduled to open Oct. 14 in Solvang.
Lompoc candidates speak at AAUW forum Issues vary from crime to schools
By JARED DANIELS NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER
The Mole Hole in Solvang, a 50-year-old renowned gift shop known for its quality gifts (you’ll find no “touristy” kitsch or tchotchkes here), will be opening a second location in the city — with a different feel from the original store. The goal is to meet the demand from a new type of tourist. Harlan and Linda Munneke, who have run The Mole Hole since 2005, plan on opening the new storefront — which will be named “Mole Hole Cottage” — on Oct. 14. Located at 1539 Mission Drive, the new store will primarily feature baby products and other lifestyle gifts. Mole Hole Cottage will also differ greatly in aesthetic from The Mole Hole, which is a threefloor wonderland of gifts located in an English-style Tudor building that is, as Mrs. Munneke put it, “more of a store that you have to have the time to explore.” “With the new store it’s a totally different feel. It’s a modern, very open small space that was designed by MC Design Collaboration from Los Angeles,” she told the News-Press. “I’ve been told by other people that it’s the type of store that someone from L.A. would just walk into and feel right at home. It doesn’t have any Danish feel. It just looks like a fine clean modern shoppable store with baby and lifestyle products.” This decision was made in large part due to the changes in Solvang tourism that the owners saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, which they said brought a new type of customer to the world-
NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The new business, Mole Hole Cottage, is located at 1539 Mission Drive in Solvang.
famous Danish-themed town. “The pandemic definitely put an end to international travelers that came to Solvang, but what happened I think in that shift was that (people in California) got tired of being pent up and couldn’t air-travel anywhere,” Mrs. Munneke said. “So there were a lot more people that came out to just explore what’s close by (to them) that they could drive to. I think it’s just the joy of being Please see MOLE HOLE on A4
Located at 1539 Mission Drive, the new store will primarily feature baby products and other lifestyle gifts. FOLLOW US ON
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FYI
The new store is intended to appeal to a younger demographic.
To learn more about Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne, see www. vote4osborne.com. To learn more about Lompoc mayoral candidate Jim Mosby, see www. mosbyformayor.com.
LOTTERY
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Candidates for Lompoc mayor and the Lompoc Unified School District board discussed issues at a forum hosted by the Lompoc-Vandenberg branch of the American Association of University Women. Thursday’s event featured a half hour dedicated to the two mayoral candidates and about 45 minutes dedicated to the four candidates for a single school board seat. Running for mayor in the Nov. 8 general election are the incumbent since 2018, Jenelle Osborne, and Jim Mosby. The incumbent on the Lompoc Unified School Board is Nancy Schuler-Jones, the current board president. Running to unseat her are Kathy Howard, Joshua Zebley and Jerri Thiel. The mayoral and school board candidates gave opening and closing statements and answered questions. Mayoral candidates discussed economic and workforce development, as well as public safety and housing. School board candidates discussed working with the superintendent, bond issues, curriculum, staff retention, and parental and community involvement. In his opening statement, Mr. Mosby addressed why he was
running for mayor. “The community we all love and enjoy deserves better,” he said. Mr. Mosby noted that in the past year, Lompoc has experienced murders, 72 shootings and a homelessness problem that is getting worse. He said most residents don’t feel safe enough to get out of their vehicles or go into a bank or store. “I am running on solutions, not excuses,” he said. In her opening statement, Mayor Osborne noted the support and confidence voters have shown her. “In the past three years, we have really seen a council that works together and makes compromises,” she said. “I love Lompoc. I have said it over and over since I began this campaign … there is still a lot of work to do, and we want to continue to do that work.” In terms of public safety, both candidates emphasized the need for upgrading radios, purchasing body cameras and adding officers to the police force. Candidates also addressed what they thought was an obstacle to economic growth. Mr. Mosby emphasized the availability of industrial property. Mayor Osborne addressed the availability of housing, the condition of schools and the need to partner with school district leadership. The candidates also discussed what should be done to encourage both low- and highend housing. Mr. Mosby emphasized the need to modify or adjust impact fees or set them aside to stimulate economic development. Steps have already been taken to reduce fees, Mayor Osborne Please see LOMPOC on A4
Sudoku................. b3 Sports ................... XX Weather................ a4
Wednesday’s SUPER LOTTO: 13-16-28-33-45 Mega: 9
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