May 2-12, 2024

May 2-12, 2024 / Vol. 25 / No. 10
The Santa Maria Speedway is a cultural icon right on the county line. Families have spent generations racing vehicles there, attending races and rallies, and building memories. But for the last two years, its track and stands have been empty, following the COVID-19 pandemic and a fight with neighbors over noise, concerts, and what the […]

Cover Story

Abigail delivers glorious gore and biting humor

Abigail What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Bulbul? Matinee What’s it worth, Caleb? Matinee Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett (Ready or Not, Scream 2022) co-direct this horror film about a group of kidnappers who snatch a mob boss’s daughter, Abigail…

Bingeable: Shōgun

Shōgun What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Hulu  Created by Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks and based on James Clavell’s sweeping 1975 historical fiction novel, Shōgun tells the story of shipwrecked English sailor John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis), the powerful Japanese warlord Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) who takes him in, interpreter Toda Mariko…

Bingeable: Baby Reindeer

Baby Reindeer What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Wowza, this one’s a ride, even more so because it’s based on Richard Gadd’s true-life stalker experience. Martha (Jessica Gunning) seemingly wandered into his bar one night, and her eager laugh and undying attention feeds something in Donny he desperately needs. He’s a…

Buellton grants emergency support to SYV Community Outreach

A local nonprofit recently secured emergency funds from the city of Buellton to keep its Meals on Wheels program for seniors from going belly up.  In an April 24 letter to the city, Pam Gnekow, CEO of SYV Community Outreach, reported a deficit of $110,000 during 2023, due to expenses out of the organization’s control…

State completes Santa Barbara County cannabis business licensing audit

Santa Barbara County will change its cannabis licensing application as it implements suggestions from the State Auditor’s Office.  “To my knowledge, this is the first time cannabis has been audited at the state level. It’s relatively new with recreational level,” Deputy County Executive Officer Brittany Odermann told the Sun. “It’s typical that the Legislature will…

Political Watch: May 2, 2024

• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) highlighted $850,000 he helped secure in the 2024 federal budget to build a 1.2 mile bike and pedestrian path adjacent to Highway 227 in San Luis Obispo, according to an April 25 statement from Carbajal’s office. The funding is set aside to help complete segments two of the…

Too little, too late?

The United States is getting $80 million from Southern California Edison for the 2017 Thomas Fire, which burned through more than 280,000 acres. That’s cash money.  Why? To recoup the damages and cost of fighting said fire on 150,000 acres of Los Padres National Forest in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Los Padres is getting…

Mother Nature will have her revenge on Dana Reserve development

[Regarding the SLO County Board of Supervisors April 24 approval of the Dana Reserve development in Nipomo.] Really? This is an outrage on all levels, an insult and attack on our sense and sensibilities. We have surpassed our oak tree removal quota after letting Resnick clear-cut 15,000 oaks in Paso Robles. What is going on…

Lompoc’s RocketTown Comic-Con unites several actors under one roof

Comic relief RocketTown Comic-Con in Lompoc will feature appearances from more than a dozen actors with credits that span various arenas of pop culture. For the full lineup of guests, visit rockettown-comic-con.company.site.  Tickets to the two-day convention, scheduled for May 4 and 5 in the Lompoc Valley Middle School Gym, are available in advance at…


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