FEATURE Folks at the Morro Coast Audubon Society like to say that protecting birds means protecting the entire ecosystem. Torrey Gage-Tomlinson, the organization’s program director, believes it wholeheartedly. The concept was a continuation of his early memories traveling across Latin America to go bird watching with his parents. “It was a really unique childhood, and […]
Madison White
Posted inNews
Lompoc Police Department uses AI tool for non-emergency dispatch
An AI assistant is now answering calls made to the Lompoc Police Department’s business line to report non-emergencies. Police hope the technology, called Hyper, will allow dispatchers to focus on emergency situations. “It’ll help reduce the volume of calls coming directly into dispatch because there’s an enormous amount of calls that come through that aren’t […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
With many instruments in his toolbelt, a Central Coast musician passes his knowledge on to students of all ages
In kindergarten, Michael Nunez learned how to play the accordion. It was a popular instrument at the time, so his parents started him in group lessons. By the time he was in junior high, Michael was also playing drums, piano, and guitar. When his friends took interest in the instruments, he lent them a hand […]
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Buellton Rec Center hosts kids’ art classes during break
Registration is open for kids’ activities and day camps organized by the Buellton Rec Center for students to enjoy during school break. From Feb. 17 to 20 the Rec Center is holding a day camp for 6-to-12-year-olds. Students will go on field trips and take part in games and crafts each day from 8 a.m. […]
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PCPA’s next show transports viewers back to the Wild West
A quiet, mysterious gunslinger settles in a Wyoming town, stirring up trouble for the characters of Karen Zacarías’ Shane, presented by the Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA). The play, adapted from a 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer, opens at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria on Feb. 12 and runs until March 1. In a story […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Early Central Coast lavender proprietor continues sharing the flower’s many uses
Bees and lavender are a natural combination. When the weather was warm, the fields of lavender at Lila Avery-Fuson’s family farm hummed. “Basically, the bees own the lavender. We just get to borrow it when it’s cool,” she said. The 7-acre farm was known for hosting you-pick events before the summer heat in Paso Robles […]
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Guadalupe is building its first skate park at Las Mujeres Park
Skaters in Guadalupe are excited. Right now, the closest skate parks are located in Santa Maria and Nipomo, but that’ll change when construction on Las Mujeres Park is complete. Instead of driving 20 minutes away, Guadalupe residents will be able to walk 10 minutes to the new park from anywhere in town, explained the city’s […]
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A Santa Barbara County native lends a comforting hand to families and their senior relatives
Cheryl DeLaby thinks of life as the passage of seasons. People experience them in all kinds of ways, under varying circumstances, and at different ages, but everybody goes through changes. Reaching for resourcesFor more information about Monarch Senior Transitions and its free services, visit monarchseniortransitions.com or follow Monarch Senior Transitions on Facebook. Contact founder Cheryl […]
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A new member of Gallery Los Olivos shares her love for the Central Coast through paintings
Leading up to Hilda Freyre’s childhood home was a thick canopy of trees. She grew up on a sugarcane plantation in Peru, an environment she was reminded of while on a drive in Los Olivos a few months ago. She saw an archway of leaves blanketing the road from above. “The trees were different, and […]
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Allan Hancock College professors display their work at campus gallery
Faculty at Allan Hancock College will be showcasing their work at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery, located on the school’s Santa Maria campus from Feb. 9 to March 12. There’ll be a reception on Feb. 11 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and the gallery invites community members to attend. “The exhibition features work by Hancock’s fine […]
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Youth Arts Alive invites the community to its 10th anniversary fiesta
On Feb. 13, Youth Arts Alive is hosting a celebration at the Santa Maria Veterans’ Memorial Center to commemorate its 10th year of providing free classes to local kids. The event starts at 6 p.m. with dinner and a lineup of performances. The fiesta celebrates the hard work of teachers, site coordinators, volunteers, and interns […]
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A Santa Ynez café moves to an Airstream in Los Olivos
A retrofitted 1959 Airstream camper remains parked on Nojoqui Avenue in Los Olivos, right next to a historic Victorian home. The vehicle, dubbed The Caravan, is a fully fledged coffee shop, appointed with a classic espresso machine, a gigantic ice maker, and cooking appliances. “It’s like the cutest thing ever,” co-owner Alyce Barrick said. CaravaningQueen […]
