Ride SMRT For more information, including a ride guide, route maps and schedules, fare information, and other rider tools, visit the Santa Maria Regional Transit website. Without a car of her own, lifetime Santa Maria resident Faith Collar relies on public transit nearly every day to get to and from Allan Hancock College. She’s been…
Maintaining the look and feel of a quaint fairy tale village without clashing with state housing directives is among the goals leading Solvang officials down a regulations rabbit hole. The Solvang Planning Commission and Design Review Committee (DRC) are inviting the public to provide input or seek clarity on the topic at a joint workshop…
Since January, Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services has issued 137 citations to illegal food vendors who operate on sidewalks or the side of the road. But the citations don’t do much, according to Gina Fischer, 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann’s chief of staff. “They can legally refuse to sign civil citations,” Fischer told the…
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined congressmen from Washington state, Texas, and New Mexico in introducing the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act to improve the nation’s aerial firefighting capabilities through expanded use of excess military aircrafts and parts, according to a Feb. 20 press release from Carbajal’s office. The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize military…
It takes about nine months for a lemon to go from a flower to a harvestable fruit. That’s one of Caitlin Paulus-Case’s favorite lessons to teach students, helping them put into perspective how much time and effort goes into the food they consume. “By the time that it reaches your fridge, just the amount of…
Raising your own salary is never a good look. But it’s something we task many elected decision-making bodies with, from city councils and community services districts to boards of supervisors and sometimes even the Legislature—although not in California. In California, our legislators’ salaries are determined by an independent commission. I bet that the Santa Barbara…
Response times are very important when defining adequate emergency medical/fire services; the National Fire Protection Association established nationwide consensus standards, NFPA Standard 1710, for those services. For example, the standard specifies that a fire engine with four members is expected to arrive at a medical or fire emergency four minutes after dispatch 90 percent of…
Upgrades better than Moss Landing is not good enough (“Nipomo residents express concerns about battery energy storage plant safety,” Feb. 27). If the Nipomo battery energy storage facility needed upgrades, it was not perfect, and safety is still an issue. Can we do better? Can we even trust that the safety measures and standards are…
Regarding “Don’t Palestinians have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?” (Feb. 27): Unfortunately, the short answer to your question is … no. At least, not until the so-called right-wing Christian Nationalists, who ignore the teachings of the Christ and follow the edicts of an Israelite war god, wake up and realize…
Orchid kindred For more info on the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show and Orchids After Dark, held March 7 through 9, visit sborchidshow.com. Both events will be at Earl Warren Showgrounds, located at 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Intricate floral arrangements at the 77th annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show will take on a new…
An upcoming art exhibition in downtown Solvang celebrates one California-based photographer’s singular views captured in Yosemite National Park. The new solo show—titled Yosemite: Sanctuary in Stone, Photographs by William Neill—will open at Solvang’s California Nature Art Museum (Cal-NAM) on Saturday, March 8, with an artist meet-and-greet reception featuring Neill, from 3 to 5 p.m. A…
Last Breath What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Fair Oaks, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande Alex Parkinson directs this story he co-wrote with Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks based on his 2019 documentary he co-directed with…
American Murder: Gabby Petito What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix All of us true crime fans knew it was coming: the painful tale of Gabby Petito’s final days and the gruesome discovery of who was behind her death. However, Netflix storytelling shines here, focusing much of the three-part series on who…
The Secret of Roan Inish What’s it rated? PG When? 1994 Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo on March 9 and 10 Just in time to get you in a St. Paddy’s Day mood, the SLO Film Center at the Palm Theatre has an offering of Irish-centric films all month, including…
For après-beach and beauty Brix Wine Bar & Bottle Shop, located next to Fringe by Jasi & Co. hair salon at 753 Shell Beach Road in Pismo Beach, is open Monday and Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., Friday from 2 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m., Sunday from 1 to 8…
After reaching out to what he said was 70,000 to 80,000 Santa Barbara County residents about the Board of Supervisors’ proposed salary increase, Andy Caldwell told supervisors that they didn’t have the “consent of the governed.” “Think of the people who are struggling with inflation right now. What you are doing is a slap in…
