PRIVACY POLICY

Last updated: April 30, 2026

1. Introduction

Central Coast Companion ("we," "our," or "us") operates the website centralcoastcompanion.com and publishes a free weekly email newsletter covering events, dining, and traditions along California's Central Coast. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you visit our website or subscribe to our newsletter.

We are committed to protecting your privacy. This policy applies to all information collected through our website and any related services.

2. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

  • Email address — when you subscribe to our newsletter
  • Event submissions — event name, date, location, description, and your contact information when you submit an event through our form
  • Correspondence — any information you include when you contact us via email

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address and approximate geographic location (city/region level)
  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited and time spent on those pages
  • Referring website or link
  • Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)

This information is collected through standard web technologies including server logs and, if you consent, analytics tools.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Deliver our weekly newsletter to your inbox
  • Process and review event submissions
  • Respond to your questions, comments, or requests
  • Improve our website content and user experience
  • Analyze website traffic and usage patterns (with your consent)
  • Comply with legal obligations

4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and improve our website. For a complete list of cookies we use and what each one does, please see our Cookie Policy.

Essential cookies are required for the website to function (session management, security). These are set automatically.

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our site. These are only set if you provide consent through our cookie banner.

You can manage your cookie preferences at any time by clicking "Cookie Preferences" in the footer or visiting our Cookie Policy page.

5. Third-Party Services

We may use the following third-party services:

  • Email delivery — to send our newsletter
  • Google Fonts — for website typography, which may set cookies
  • Analytics — to understand website usage (only with your consent)
  • Hosting — our website is hosted on a cloud platform that processes requests on our behalf

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

6. Your Rights Under CCPA

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) gives you the following rights:

  • Right to Know — You can request a copy of the personal information we have collected about you in the past 12 months.
  • Right to Delete — You can request that we delete the personal information we have collected from you, with certain exceptions.
  • Right to Opt-Out of Sale — We do not sell your personal information. You have the right to opt out of any future sale of your data.
  • Right to Non-Discrimination — We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights.

How to Exercise Your Rights

To submit a request, email us at [email protected] with "Privacy Request" in the subject line. We will respond within 45 days. We may ask you to verify your identity before processing your request.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy:

  • Newsletter subscriptions — retained until you unsubscribe
  • Event submissions — retained for the duration the event is published, then archived
  • Website analytics — retained for up to 26 months
  • Server logs — retained for up to 90 days

8. Data Security

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information, including encryption in transit (HTTPS), secure session handling, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website and newsletter are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have collected such information, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will post the updated version on this page with a revised "Last updated" date. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us: