Local right-wing media host, lobbyist, and failed candidate for Congress, Andy Caldwell, sunk to even lower lows on his radio show on Jan. 6, after far-right domestic terrorists goaded by President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol in an attempt to overthrow American democracy. After our criminal president whipped up his MAGA mob to […]
Joe Payne
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A-ca-mazing
Lompoc Concert Association welcomes New York-based a cappella ensemble Backtrack Vocals
Ludwig van Beethoven might have had an inkling that his “Symphony No. 5 in C minor” would go down in history, but he probably didn’t foresee the piece realized by an a cappella choir complete with techno beatboxing. That’s exactly the kind of approach to a classic that helped skyrocket the New York City-based a […]
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VOLUNTEERS: CALM volunteer Shannon Elliott helped ensure local families in need weren’t forgotten during the holidays
Last year’s holiday season was extra busy for Shannon Elliott. As a volunteer for CALM (Child Abuse Listening Mediation), a nonprofit that serves local families with therapy regardless of financial means, Elliott was tasked with helping organize gift giving for not just her own family, but more than 100 families in Santa Maria and Lompoc […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Creative crescendo: Central Coast musicians performed more songs at more venues for more listeners in 2018
Sometimes, getting through the year is only as good as the soundtrack you have playing. Thankfully, the Central Coast is home to a variety of skilled and talented musicians who set the tone for 2018. There were competitions, awards, new albums, milestone performances, and more venues at which to enjoy live music. And there are […]
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Sheriff’s Office arrests alleged meth dealer in Santa Maria
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office arrested a Santa Maria man on Dec. 18 on suspicion of dealing and possessing methamphetamine, and possessing a stolen gun and stolen car. The Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations Bureau searched a house in the 700 block of West Harding Avenue, where they reportedly found 38-year-old Julio Cesar Aguilar-Lopez in […]
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Santa Maria fire crews respond to blaze at Shaw’s steakhouse, furniture store
At 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 3, fire crews were still working to put out a fire reported hours earlier at Shaw’s Restaurant and the neighboring furniture store. The Santa Maria Fire Department responded to the fire at 5:45 a.m., according to Battalion Chief Tony Clayburg. Despite “aggressive” efforts to put out the fire, it […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Viva el Arte brings Mariachi Los Camperos to Guadalupe for two free concerts
It’s been almost two years since Guadalupe heard the cascading trumpets, violins, and operatic vocals of Mariachi Los Camperos, the renowned mariachi group out of LA, but the sleepy town is about to blow up again with their music. The group is set to return on Jan. 12 for two free community concerts thanks to […]
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Spotlight on: Mindbody/Vista Equity Partners
Rick Stollmeyer, CEO
The fast-growing, high-earning Central Coast tech firm Mindbody made a billion-dollar announcement just in time for Christmas. On Dec. 24, the SLO-based company announced an acquisition agreement with the San Francisco-based investment firm Vista Equity Partners, which plans to buy all of Mindbody’s outstanding shares for $1.9 billion. The move will return Mindbody, which first […]
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County responds to LA Times report, issues emergency debris flow mitigation permit
Santa Barbara County spent the weekend before Christmas defending its actions prior to the Montecito debris flow after an extensive LA Times report said county officials didn’t do enough to help mitigate the disaster. According to the report published on Dec. 20, county officials “did not heed decades-old warnings to build bigger basins” above Montecito […]
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Local federal employees home for shutdown
As the president and Congress played chicken over funding for a proposed wall at the U.S.-Mexico border at the end of the year, some local federal employees were out of work. The stalemate between President Donald Trump and Democratic Party leaders led to a partial government shutdown in late December, with federal employees across the […]
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Santa Maria City Council swears in re-elected and new members, honors retiring member
The Santa Maria City Council chambers were packed with supporters and city residents on Dec. 18 who were eager to see returning and new members of the council sworn in. But before re-elected Councilmember Etta Waterfield and newly elected Gloria Soto were sworn in to represent their respective districts, the council issued a proclamation honoring […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Cellar songs: The Good Life in Solvang welcomes local artists and audiences for live music in the cellar
When local musician Nataly Lola first started playing at The Good Life in Solvang around six years ago, the venue stood out to her immediately. The small craft wine and beer spot, located in a brick-floored cellar in downtown Solvang, wasn’t what she was used to. “It’s down inside an actual cellar, so it’s actually […]