Cover Story
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ fills PCPA’s stage with majesty
The glass slippers. The fairy godmother. The pumpkin that turns into a carriage. Few retellings of the Cinderella story exclude these magic motifs, and the best ones manage to still feel fresh while doing so. The Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) new take on the classic rags-to-riches fantasy is one such case. Now playing through Dec.…
Golden Moon is a family-run restaurant that raises the bar for Chinese cuisine on the Central Coast
I’ve spent a lot of time on San Luis Obispo County’s sparse number of buses. By the time they’re done slowly meandering, I’m always hungry but invariably stuffed with a little more information about this sliver of the Central Coast. Golden Moon Chinese Restaurant revved up both my appetite and curiosity when I caught a…
Santa Barbara County has almost 3,000 votes left to count
Only 2,980 votes are left to be counted in Santa Barbara County after the Clerk-Recorder’s Office updated the election count on Nov. 18, bringing the county one step closer to finalizing the Nov. 8 midterm results—which have to be certified by Dec. 8. According to updated results, incumbent Gloria Soto is ahead of Steven…
Democrats Carbajal, Panetta lead local congressional races
The two congressional districts on the Central Coast lean blue, according to updated vote counts. U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal and Jimmy Panetta, both Democrats, hold the most tallied votes for the 24th and 19th Districts, respectively. As of Nov. 21, vote counts show that Carbajal received 61 percent of the votes from the 24th District,…
Guadalupe passed two tax measures to finance the construction of a new school in the community
For a city with 37 percent of its population younger than 18, Guadalupe only has two schools to serve one of its largest demographics. Between the elementary and junior high schools, Guadalupe Union School District Superintendent Emilio Handall said there are a lot of portable classrooms to meet the needs of its students. “There’s a…
Santa Maria received two new zero-emissions buses, bringing the city closer to an all-electric fleet
Santa Maria recently gained its first two all-electric buses as part of an effort to fully electrify its fleet, which should be completed by early 2024. The push toward a zero-emission public transportation system comes after a 2018 state mandate that requires all public entities to make this change by 2035, Transit Service Manager Gamaliel…
We still have a long way to go to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act
I remember how things were when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990. People with physical disabilities could not get on buses because they couldn’t climb the stairs or the bus couldn’t carry a wheelchair. It was hard to cross city streets because there were no curb cuts. Those with hearing impairments received…
Avoid a holiday tragedy for you and those around you
The holiday season comes with family gatherings, social time with friends, and office parties. These events can lead to life-altering consequences, like drunken driving. When I was 16 years old in 1992, a drunken driver hit me. I had a four-month coma, broken bones, paralysis, and brain injuries. My gait and speech are affected, and…
Beyond optics
Pop quiz, readers. When you read the statement: “The public figure did not respond before press time,” what do you perceive? How does that sound to you? Do you: a) shrug—public figures are busy and deadlines are tight. b) roll your eyes—it takes just a second to respond. c) lose faith—public figures should stop hiding. …
Political Watch: November 24, 2022
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined several other representatives to introduce bipartisan legislation to address pervasive understaffing in federal prisons, according to a Nov. 14 statement from the congressman’s office. The Prison Staffing Reform Act would direct the Bureau of Prisons to conduct a review of understaffing, devise a three-year plan to fill…
Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ fills PCPA’s stage with majesty
The glass slippers. The fairy godmother. The pumpkin that turns into a carriage. Few retellings of the Cinderella story exclude these magic motifs, and the best ones manage to still feel fresh while doing so. The Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) new take on the classic rags-to-riches fantasy is one such case. Now playing through Dec.…
Jim Summers headlines stand-up comedy show in Santa Ynez
The Maverick Saloon in Santa Ynez presents its next Laugh Therapy event on Wednesday, Nov. 30, from 8 to 10 p.m. The show includes sets from a handful of stand-up comedians, including headliner Jim Summers (pictured), a prolific comic and former prison guard. Throughout his comedy career, Summers has opened for Robin Williams, Paul Rodriguez,…
Ann Foxworthy Gallery holds mixer event with the Santa Maria Arts Council
The Santa Maria Arts Council will host its Community Arts Mixer at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery in Santa Maria on Friday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. Local artists, art teachers, art students, and supporters of the arts are encouraged to attend the event, which will include entertainment, light refreshments, and free parking for…
