Cover Story
WEDDINGS 2020
The Kaleidoscope Inn offers a unique setting for a wedding with a Victorian house surrounded by gardens BY ZAC EZZONE Tucked in behind a tree-lined lawn in Old Town Nipomo sits a 130-year-old blue and white Victorian house with stained glass windows, a house that looks unlike any other on Dana Street. The aptly…
PCPA presents Neil Simon’s richly complex coming-of-age tale, ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’
Teenage New Yorker Eugene Morris Jerome (Isaac Capp) doesn’t hold back when it comes to discussing his favorite daydreams, from playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers someday (this is 1937, mind you) or seeing a naked woman for the first time. The 14-year-old learns most about puberty and female anatomy (“the Golden Palace of the Himalayas”…
Allan Hancock College’s student exhibition showcases provocative digital paintings, among several media
During the opening reception for Allan Hancock College’s annual Fine Arts Student Art Show, featured artist Victoria Alvarez tried her best to remain incognito while casually browsing at her own display, hoping to overhear candid comments from the public—unclouded, honest opinions not colored by her presence. She noticed two women in particular, in the middle…
Festival Mozaic presents Bach tribute with solo cellist Jonah Kim in Nipomo
Guess who’s Bach? Bach again. The Monarch Club, at Trilogy Monarch Dunes in Nipomo, hosts solo cellist Jonah Kim on Friday, Feb. 21, at 5:30 p.m. Presented by Festival Mozaic as part of its Notable Encounter Insight concert series, Kim will cover Bach’s suites for solo cello and Baroque dance movements during this performance. The…
Solvang Folk School Talks series debuts with ‘The Liturgists’
Bethania Lutheran Church will host a group panel and workshop series with the hosts of The Liturgists—a popular podcast that features discussions of topics on race, sexuality, and religion—starting Friday, Feb. 21, and through Sunday, Feb. 23. Talks will be hosted by the team behind the podcast: clinical counselor Hillary McBride (pictured) and musicians Michael…
OCT holds auditions for ‘Lot’s Wife’
Orcutt Community Theater (OCT) is seeking actors to join its upcoming production of Lot’s Wife, which is scheduled to open on Friday, April 17. Auditions for the show will be held at Klein Dance Arts Studio in Santa Maria on Monday, March 16, and Tuesday, March 17, from 7 to 9 p.m. both evenings. The…
Santa Maria Ameriprise showcases local artist Irina Malkmus
Ameriprise Financial in Santa Maria hosts an opening reception for its next featured artist, Solvang resident Irina Malkmus, on Thursday, March 5, from 4 to 6 p.m. This showcase is one of a continuing series of exhibitions at the office, curated by financial advisor Terry Dworaczyk. Malkmus was born and raised in Ukraine and became…
Santa Maria’s new Thai spot serves up perfectly seasoned, complex food with an authentic twist
Sonya Ela keeps her pad thai recipe close to her chest. So close, in fact, that she hasn’t taught her chefs at Baan Thai how to make it yet—and probably never will. Ela comes in an hour before everyone else does to make the special sauce. Her restaurant off South Broadway in Santa Maria has…
Re-elect Supervisor Hartmann
Please join me in voting for Joan Hartmann in the upcoming election for the 3rd District supervisor. I have known Joan for several years and have found her to be a caring, compassionate, intelligent woman, willing to listen to all sides of an issue. Joan has reached out to residents here in Los Alamos to…
Campaign cash speaks for itself
Follow the money. We can all access official campaign contribution information by going online. It’s at sbcvote.com. When I did recently, it became clear that Joan Hartmann, our county supervisor, has received contributions from lots of average folks. Bruce Porter, however, is getting his contributions from a very small group, a handful of wealthy donors…
Joan Hartmann truly cares
As a daughter who took care of aging parents until their passing, I saw firsthand how dedicated Joan Hartmann is to our senior citizens. Joan worked closely with the staff of the Solvang Senior Center to secure a long-term lease so the center could stay in its present location. She is currently doing the same…
No-party voters can vote for president
What if you are a registered voter, but not registered with a political party? Can you still vote in the March 3 Democratic presidential primary? You can. If you signed up to vote by mail, you should have received your ballot by now. However, it may not have the list of Democratic presidential candidates printed…
Bruce Porter’s potential policies would harm the local climate goals
With a wide-open field of contenders in the Democratic presidential primary and with California’s primary election moved up to March 3 (mail-in voting started Feb. 3), California has a meaningful role to play in choosing who will face Trump in November. The stakes could not be higher for Santa Barbara County. In addition to president,…
CANARY: Chopping block
I know the Santa Barbara County Animal Services shelter primarily deals with our four-legged and a few feathered friends, but something smells fishy in that department. The good folks of the general public were sharing heartfelt testimony in favor of recently terminated Animal Services Director Tara Diller. She was fired Feb. 6, less than a…
Political Watch: February 20, 2020
• On Feb. 12, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting America’s Wilderness Act, a bill package aimed at preserving public lands, which includes a bill Carbajal authored. House Resolution 2199, known as the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act, would designate 250,000 acres of land within…
Concerts, festivals at former Santa Maria Raceway stir controversy
Nearly three months after a group of about 10 Nipomo residents voiced concerns about what they see as the nuisance and safety hazards caused by the non-racing events at Stadium805, nothing has changed. But neighbors aren’t giving up. When Erika Bylund and Mike May bought their $700,000 Nipomo home in May 2017, they knew a…
County volunteers look for answers in animal services director firing
Santa Barbara County has fired its Animal Services director less than a year after she was appointed, and volunteers aren’t happy with the decision. During the county Board of Supervisors meeting on Feb. 11, volunteers who spend time with animals at county shelters spoke in defense of former director Tara Diller. Of the nine people…
Santa Barbara, Santa Maria Humane Societies announce merger
Amid financial challenges, and a week after its executive director stepped down, the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society announced it’s merging with the Santa Barbara Humane Society. The organizations announced this change on Feb. 4. This move comes after 18 months of discussions among various animal welfare groups throughout the county about how to work…
Coastal Commission approves amendment streamlining county housing permit process
Santa Barbara County is attempting to overcome some of its existing labor and housing shortages by streamlining its process for developing homes for agricultural employees. The county Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance making changes to its permit process for agricultural employee dwellings during its Dec. 11, 2018, meeting. While this took care of much…
Assembly Bill 5 hinders local independent contractors
Sarah Levanway has been a sign language interpreter on the Central Coast for more than 15 years. She provides her service primarily in medical and educational settings. Her job gives her a sense of fulfillment because she’s able to bridge an important gap of communication in a medical environment. “If the patient does not understand…
