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Santa Barbara County stopped allowing mental health evaluators to enter the Main Jail, pausing services for inmates
The Santa Maria Police Department arrested Jonathan Paul Thomas on suspicion of domestic violence and false imprisonment on Jan. 11 at 9:32 p.m. They transported him to the Santa Barbara County Main Jail, where the 45-year-old made statements about suicide and was escorted to a single-occupant safety cell, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Deputies found…
BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE SHOOTING (1966)
BLAST FROM THE PAST: THE SHOOTING (1966) Where’s it playing? HBO Max What’s it rated? PG This largely forgotten gem from 1966 recently found its way to HBO Max, and for any serious cinephile, it’s essential viewing—an existentialist Western with a minimalist style filmed in the Utah desert in 1965 by director Monte Hellman at…
BINGEABLE: THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW (2022)
BINGEABLE: THE WOMAN IN THE HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE GIRL IN THE WINDOW (2022) Where’s it playing? Netflix What’s it rated? TV-MA Kristen Bell gives it her best deadpan humor in this first season of Netflix’s new series. We soon learn that Anna’s life is far from perfect. Her husband is now an…
Michael and Sarah Cherney emphasize the deli in delicious with new Solvang venture, peasants DELI & MARKET
Revenge is a dish best served cold—or in chef Michael Cherney’s case, a dish best served cured.The co-owner of peasants DELI & MARKET explained why he considers his Cinco Jotas Jamón sandwich—made with a rarely found, imported cured ham from Spain—such a tasty reprisal. “When I worked for Robuchon in Las Vegas for three years,…
Singer-songwriter Erika Slikker opens up about releasing her first single, performing locally, and more
Although her first public performance was more than two years ago, the anxiety that singer Erika Slikker felt that night remains fresh in her mind. “I went out there and did something scary that I was nervous about, but I just felt the calling to share my art,” said the Lompoc local, who ventured south…
Oceano’s Great American Melodrama presents ‘Muskie Love’
The Great American Melodrama’s latest production, Muskie Love, is described as a modern take on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. The show premiered at the end of January and is scheduled to run through Saturday, March 12. Performances are held every Wednesday through Sunday at various times. Muskie Love marks the Melodrama’s first production…
PCPA brings ‘As You Like It’ to the Marian Theatre
Tickets are now available for the Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) upcoming production of William Shakespeare’s As You Like It, which is scheduled to open on Thursday, Feb. 17, and run through Sunday, March 6, at the Marian Theatre in Santa Maria. Described as a timeless comedic love story, As You Like It follows cousins Rosalind…
Sheriff’s Office new rates draw negative feedback from four cities
Buellton, Solvang, Goleta, and Carpinteria oppose the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office proposal to increase its rates for continuing to provide contracted public safety services to the cities. Although their stances align, each of the four contracted cities is required to draft their own individual complaints to the Sheriff’s Office. After voting unanimously, the Carpinteria…
Lompoc teacher’s union declares impasse in salary talks
After nearly 100 hours of negotiations over salaries, the Lompoc Union School District decided it can’t give its teachers more than a 1.25 percent ongoing raise and $1,000 one-time payment. The Lompoc Federation of Teachers, the teachers union, has been pushing for raises to attract new employees to what it calls an “isolated” district and…
Political Watch: February 3, 2022
• Gov. Gavin Newsom, First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and the California Department of Human Resources announced the signing of the California Equal Pay Pledge, an initiative launched to close the gender pay gap, according to a Jan. 27 statement. Gov. Newsom also announced the creation of a new chief equity officer position to lead…
Santa Barbara County debuts its first all-electric bus
The Clean Air Express has a new 45-foot fully electric, inter-city commuter bus—the third electric commuter bus in the nation—that will begin weekday routes between Santa Maria and Lompoc and routes to employment locations in South Santa Barbara County. The bus made its debut with a ribbon cutting ceremony and guest speakers U.S. Rep. Salud…
Excuses, excuses
COVID-19’s such a little devil. As of Feb. 1, this thing ain’t over yet, according to the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department, which once again extended the indoor mask mandate for yet another month. Community transmission is still considered “high,” the department stated. The county had 4,330 active cases with 108 in the hospital,…
Nonprofits stand in solidarity against vandalism of the arts, cultural center
The undersigned arts and cultural organizations from around the Tri-County area are appalled by the recent Jan. 18 vandalism and racist stereotypes against Corazon del Pueblo in Santa Maria. We are writing this on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s holiday and were reminded of this quote of his, “Every man must decide whether he will…
Federal legalization is necessary to understand health benefits of cannabis
I just read about the research study from Oregon State University, which found that consuming two cannabinoids (called cannabigerolic acid, or CBGA, and cannabidiolic acid, or CBDA) could prevent the spread of COVID-19. Awesome! But the study falls short. CBG-A and CBD-A are both derived from hemp (i.e., part of the cannabis sativa species, but…
It’s not too late for Santa Maria leaders to save homelessness project
It saddens me to see some members of the City Council reject funding from the county to house the homeless. They complain about riverbed encampments, then refuse money that could house people who live there. Around the country, cities have found that housing the homeless is key to their success as people. Once housed they…
Santa Maria Mayor’s Youth Task Force offers new activities for February
After Santa Maria experienced a series of violent incidents a few years ago, Mayor Alice Patino called parents and businesses together to brainstorm a way to combat the youth-on-youth violence and alarming rates of teen murders. Santa Maria saw 21 homicides in 14 months in 2016, a rate 80 percent higher than the national average,…
