White jujube flowers shriveled up and fell off Alisha Taff’s trees during the summer, and all she could do was watch. “The type of fruit tree I have is really resilient,” Taff said. “It’s the perfect tree to grow out here but the extreme duration and heat temperatures in July were very impactful. … When…
Certain as the sun The Pacific Conservatory Theatre (PCPA) presents its production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Marian Theatre through Dec. 22. Visit pcpa.org for tickets or more info. The Marian Theatre is located at 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria. If there’s one tale as old as time that ages particularly…
Thank you for publishing another well-informed and well-written piece by John Ashbaugh (“Don’t be afraid to talk about climate change during the holidays,” Dec. 5). The statement by Trump’s nominee for secretary for energy, Chris Wright, “There is no climate crisis, and we’re not in the midst of an energy transition, either,” is just wishful…
As Christmas approaches, so do two chances to see Pryor Baird live in concert without venturing outside of the Central Coast. The prolific blues and country musician with local roots, widely known for his time on NBC’s The Voice, will perform in Atascadero on Friday, Dec. 20, at 6:30 p.m., and in Orcutt on Saturday,…
Nightbitch What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo Writer and director Marielle Heller (The Diary of a Teenage Girl) helms this magical-realism/horror-comedy based on Rachel Yoder’s 2021 novel about a woman (Amy Adams) who pauses her…
Interior Chinatown What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Hulu Oh boy! An adaptation of a book I read for my book club has come my way! If you’re unfamiliar with movie script formatting, this book may pose a challenge; however, the television show is here! Interior Chinatown follows the story of background…
Dear Santa What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Paramount Plus Bobby Farrelly directs this comedy about sweet but dyslexic sixth-grader Liam Turner (Robert Timothy Smith), who’s too old to believe in Santa Claus but writes his annual letter anyway, accidently addressing it to “Satan.” The next night, “Santa” (Jack Black) shows up,…
Pinot neigh To find out more about Flying Goat Cellars, call (805) 736-9032 or visit flyinggoatcellars.com. The winery is located at 1520 E. Chestnut Court, unit A, Lompoc. Call (805) 737-9246 or visit returntofreedom.org for more info on the Return to Freedom wild horse sanctuary, located at 4115 Jalama Road, Lompoc. Sweet notes of cola…
Senior mobile home parks will be protected from conversion to all-ages for 10 more months after the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a moratorium extension during its Dec. 10 meeting. “The issue of senior mobile home park conversion mostly directly impacts my constituents in my district, especially in the Orcutt area—which has…
Local residents need more local authority when it comes to approving cell towers in neighborhoods, not less, Janet del’Giudice wrote to the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission in a public comment letter. “I and thousands of people like me oppose installations of unneeded, overpowered cell towers, often without proper notification to occupants and without proof…
A new blueprint for a greener future in Lompoc is moving forward thanks to a recent City Council decision. Over the course of four public hearings (held in May, June, August, and September), the Lompoc Planning Commission worked with city staff to discuss and draft the city’s first environmental justice element, which the City Council…
• The House of Representatives unanimously approved U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-California) bill to rename the U.S. Post Office on E. Battles Road in Santa Maria in honor of Larry Lavagnino, former Santa Maria mayor and City Council member and longtime resident, according to a Dec. 4 statement from Carbajal’s office. “Every community should be…
Playing outside, practicing sports, riding bicycles, and hiking on trails are a few of the activities highlighted in artwork Santa Barbara County students submitted for the Air Pollution Control District’s inaugural art contest. “It’s a way to bring awareness of the importance of clean air in our community and the progress we’ve made,” Air Pollution…
In a first for Lompoc, the city now has an environmental justice element. City staff may have swung this one through the council in the nick of time! Mayor Jenelle Osborne is on the way out and Mayor Elect Jim Mosby is on his way in. I can’t imagine any sort of environmental justice anything…
“Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor the gloom of night stays these couriers from the completion of their appointed rounds” has been the unofficial motto of the U.S. Postal Service for generations. According to its website, one of the official missions of the U.S. Postal Service “is to provide the nation with reliable” service.…
The “original sin” was having super delegates in the first place (“Democrats are paying now for their 2020 deal with the devil,” Nov. 21). If democracy had been allowed to run its natural course, in 2016, Bernie Sanders would have beaten Trump and we wouldn’t be having this conversation today. Of the people, by the…
Change is in the air. Masatani’s Market is closing in Guadalupe, possibly replaced by another business, run by someone else. MM has been part of Guadalupe’s community since 1922. When the Masatani family was interned during World War II, the community welcomed their return and supported the business ever since. It really was the unofficial…
