Dec 14-24, 2023

Dec 14-24, 2023 / Vol. 24 / No. 42
Last minute gifting is a rite of passage in my family. We’re really good at it, and you might be, too. But sometimes it’s nice to have a little help coming up with ideas and places to shop. That’s why we’ve got the annual Last Minute Gift Guide ready just for you! Staff Writer Taylor […]

Cover Story

America’s on a dark path

So now the Biden administration has bypassed Congress to provide military support to a religious state in a street fight with the terrorists of Hamas, who are funded by a religious republic, but that same administration is somehow unable in a similar manner to provide military support to the democratic secular state of Ukraine in…

County Planning Commission OKs Los Alamos cannabis shop

With an address across the street from a popular bar, an upcoming dispensary in Los Alamos raised more concerns about jaywalking than smoking from one member of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission. “Bell’s a wide street and it doesn’t have much lighting, and I think you’re going to get a lot of jaywalking back…

Political Watch: December 14, 2023

• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced on Dec. 8 $1 million in investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support improved passenger rail options for Central Coast residents. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which passed in November 2021, authorized the creation of a new rail program to support development of improved intercity passenger rail.…

Santa Maria adopts hybrid land use alternative for general plan

The Santa Maria City Council voted 3-2 (with Councilmembers Gloria Soto and Carlos Escobedo dissenting) to adopt a land use alternative for the city’s general plan that will look at 985 acres east of the city for potential annexation, identify infill development within city limits, and provide direction to study a new area to the…

Mesa Pines in Arroyo Grande grows affordable, native Christmas trees

In  rural Arroyo Grande, a mulit-generational family-owned farm specializes in selling native Central Coast trees for Christmas at a reduced price to help SLO County families have a budget-friendly holiday season.  Mesa Pines is run by Erin Riffle and his family who only plant and sell Monterey Pines to support California’s native plant life—and because…

Leave the World Behind drips with tension and dread

Leave the World Behind What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Glen? Full price What’s it worth, Anna? Full price Where’s it showing? Netflix Co-writer and director Sam Esmail (Comet, Homecoming, Mr. Robot) helms this thriller about a cyberattack. The story focuses on the Sandfords—mom Amanda (Julia Roberts), dad Clay (Ethan Hawke), and kids Rose…

NEW FLICKS: May December

May December What’s it rated? R When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Netflix This is showing up on many critics’ best picture list, and for good reason: The performances are absolutely mesmerizing. The story focuses on a couple—Gracie Atherton (Julianne Moore) and Joe Yoo (Charles Melton)—whose notorious romance was tabloid fodder in 1992 when Gracie was…

BINGEABLE: Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence

Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult at Sarah Lawrence What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Hulu When you send your kids off to college, you worry about the normal things: Will they eat anything besides candy and french fries for the next four years? Was that a beer bong you saw the…

Stocking stuffers for the music lover in your life

If you’re like me and have friends who play the guitar or bass, shopping for the perfect gift can sometimes be overwhelming and beyond budget. But you don’t have to get them the instrument they’ve always wanted: There are easier (cheaper) ways to give. Here are some recommendations and places to get practical stocking stuffers…

Good news, bad news

Great news, everyone!  Santa Barbara County’s farmworker resource pilot program is a success!  Why? Well, according to a Dec. 14 presentation, it connected with more than 3,500 farmworkers from July to November—helping them fill out forms for CalFresh and Medi-Cal, get school supplies, and learn financial literacy.  “This could now be the model for the…


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