A 1-year-old octopus gently wrapped one of its tentacles around Jenna Gorndt’s fingers as the Cabrillo High School senior lightly touched the top of its aquarium. “I think it’s cool, having an animal that can recognize you when you’re trying to interact with her, because most animals, they aren’t going to be this excited to…
Monkey Man What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Regal Arroyo Grande Dev Patel stars in and directs this screenplay he co-wrote with Paul Angunawela and John Collee about a young man, Kid (Patel), who earns a meager…
Apples Never Fall What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Peacock Liane Moriarty is an author known for her twisty tales, and Apples Never Fall isn’t her first work to hit the big screen. She also wrote Big Little Lies, which packed a punch with its star-studded cast. Apples Never Fall also has…
You People What’s it rated? R When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Netflix Kenya Barris (Black-ish, #BlackAF) directs this script co-written with Jonah Hill about a new couple, Ezra Cohen (Hill), who’s white and Jewish, and Amira Mohammed (Lauren London), who’s Black and Muslim. Their problem is their respective families—his are cringy tone-deaf liberals falling all…
During a special meeting to discuss jail health care, Santa Barbara County residents and the Board of Supervisors expressed concerns about care transparency, inmates’ access to timely care, and continued care for individuals once they leave the jail system. While the Sheriff’s Office shared ongoing efforts to address these concerns, jail staffing shortages, inadequate infrastructure,…
With the aim of completing 15 projects in a two-year time frame, the city of Solvang is recruiting additional staff members, including a management analyst. At least half of the hiree’s workload will be dedicated to helping resolve issues the City Council decided to prioritize for the 2024-26 budget. Traffic congestion, code enforcement, and water…
Facing increasing costs and revenue that’s struggling to keep up, the Santa Barbara County Executive Office is recommending that the county allocate funds that will maintain current services and avoid expansions. “Our theme this year is prudence and progress,” County CEO Mona Miyasato told the Board of Supervisors during the April 9 budget workshops. “We…
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) is continuing his push to preserve the Affordable Connectivity Program, the federal internet affordability program that is lowering monthly internet bills for more than 38,000 Central Coast households, according to a March 26 statement from Carbajal’s office. Carbajal and his colleagues created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through…
Guadalupe resident Arnulfo Navarro III was always drawn to fashion as a form of personal expression. “That’s where I think I’m breaking through the most. I’m showing up as myself and people are taking that at face value,” he said. “I’m just trying to enjoy life and enjoy my everyday life, and … I’m trying…
Every time the Santa Barbara County jails get critiqued, Sheriff Bill Brown is ready with one of his classics: We need more money. He’s uttered an iteration of that line more times than I can count. With any whiff of constructive criticism, Brown’s armed and ready with his defenses. The county jail is short-staffed, has…
Seventy-five years ago, the legendary California Zephyr debuted with “modern” passenger train service from Chicago to Oakland. As a child, I often watched from my bedroom as the orange-and-silver Zephyr locomotive roared by our Redding home. In the 19th century, iron rails literally stitched our continent together. In 1875, the narrow-gauge Pacific Coast Railway reached…
Most people can broadly agree on a few things about the homeless. It is distressing to see them. They make an awful mess. Some of them are dangerous. They devalue our cities and neighborhoods. They reduce our collective quality of life. Beyond these areas of broad agreement opinions diverge. Consensus is lost. Possibilities are limited.…
Hook, line, and sinker The Great American Melodrama presents its production of The Fish Whisperer through May 11. The two-act show, which opened on March 22, is followed by the Melodrama’s new vaudeville revue, Maestrolio. The theater is located at 1863 Front St., Oceano. Call 1-(805-489-2499 or visit americanmelodrama.com for tickets and more info. When…
The Oceano Community Center will host a free climate justice poster-making workshop with acclaimed artist and social justice activist Favianna Rodriguez on Sunday, April 14, from noon to 3 p.m. The program is organized by the Electrification for Everyone initiative—a partnership between R.A.C.E. Matters SLO County, Diversity Coalition SLO County, Central Coast Coalition for Undocumented…
The SLO Model Railroad Association presents Model Rail Days 2024 at the Oceano Train Depot with six days of activities on April 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, and 21. The venue will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. The upcoming program will include free exhibits of working model…
Take the high road Call (805) 623-5911 for more info on Seoul Street, located at 230 Betteravia Road, suite D, Santa Maria. Formerly known as Mochilicious Society, the eatery is owned by Teresa Choi, who also operates MilkT Society boba shops in Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo. Choi plans to rebrand both locations under…
