Instead of soaring on swings, racing down slides, and climbing on monkey bars, students at four Santa Maria elementary schools are playing on concrete slabs. The Santa Maria-Bonita School District allocated federal COVID-19 relief dollars to improve the playgrounds at Fairlawn, Tunnell, Alvin, and Ontiveros elementary schools. Over the summer, the district removed the outdated…
On and off the grid Check out Santa Maria-based artist Kristen Bates’ artworks online on her Facebook page. Bates’ works will be available for sale in-person at the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art on Nov. 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can find them…
Whether you’re for or against oil operations in Santa Barbara County, you’re passionate about that position. But that decades-long debate turned up a notch at a recent Santa Barbara County Planning Commission meeting. “Coming to the Planning Commission hearings or Board [of Supervisors] hearings is a really important part of our public process,” Planning…
Musicians who perform in bars and tasting rooms across Solvang can look forward to dropping their mics with less micromanagement if the city clears a recent permitting proposal. During its first meeting of November, the Solvang Planning Commission endorsed staff’s recommendation to instate an official temporary use permits policy, which is “alluded to in zoning…
The Dana Reserve inches closer to reality after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors approved a property tax agreement with the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) on Oct. 22. Following a back-and-forth negotiation between the NCSD and county, the two finally came to an agreement after negotiating over their conflicting property tax policies. …
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced another $1.7 million in federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to prevent roadway deaths and protect pedestrians and cyclists on the Central Coast, according to an Oct. 31 statement from Carbajal’s office. “Part of revitalizing our infrastructure and improving our roads and highways is making sure…
By opening its doors in Guadalupe, Root One became the first cannabis dispensary to serve the Santa Maria Valley. “It’s been great to see this multiyear mission come to fruition and for us to be so welcomed by the community, which has been the best part so far,” said Austen Connella, the owner and CEO…
The Great American Melodrama in Oceano presents its annual production of The Holiday Extravaganza, which opens on Nov. 15 and is scheduled to run through Dec. 31. The three-act show includes the venue’s traditional retelling of A Christmas Carol, a fairy tale spoof segment, and a holiday-themed vaudeville act. During A Christmas Carol, miser Ebenezer…
Several original artworks from a pool of 19 participating artists are on display as part of the Gallery at Monarch Dunes’ Fall Showcase, which premiered in early November. The exhibit will open to the public on Nov. 9, 16, 23, and 30, from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. The show’s featured artists are residents…
Chasing Chasing Amy What’s it rated? Not rated What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? The SLO Film Center at The Palm Theatre In his feature film debut, writer-director Sav Rodgers, a queer kid who grew up in Kansas, helms this documentary that explores the complicated legacy…
Woman of the Hour What’s it rated? R When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Netflix True crime fans likely already know the name Rodney Alcala and his incredibly vile acts in the ’70s. If you’re like me, you’ve even watched clips of The Dating Game episode he was on. This version of the story adds a…
Don’t Move What’s it rated? R When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Brian Netto (Delivery: The Beast Within) and Adam Schindler (Intruders) co-direct this psychological horror thriller about Richard (Finn Wittrock), a serial killer who injects a paralytic agent into his next victim, Iris (Kelsey Asbille), a mother who lost her child. She’s forced to…
Between the vines Find out more about Bien Nacido at biennacidoestate.com. The Bien Nacido Vineyard is located at 4705 Santa Maria Mesa Road, Santa Maria. Its sister vineyard, Solomon Hills, is located at 5550 Telephone Road, Santa Maria. One of Santa Maria’s top vintners is dotting its i’s with a new set of eyes. As…
By the time you read this, you’ll either be crying, laughing, curled up in the fetal position, clapping, or losing your mind. It really depends on who wins and who you voted for in the presidential election. I don’t know what’s going on yet, because it’s 3:30 p.m. on Election Day and we’re about to…
The Santa Ynez Valley has long captivated residents and visitors alike with its stunning landscapes and vibrant community spirit. However, as we face an onslaught of development projects, the need for a critical examination of these changes is more pressing than ever. While growth can be beneficial, we must be wary of the motivations behind…
Bravo to Ojai for adopting a groundbreaking new law—an ordinance protecting companion animals from unethical breeding—making it the first U.S. city to ban “torture breeding.” This cruel practice involves intentionally breeding animals to have distorted physical features—such as grotesquely flattened faces and disproportionately long spines—which lead to a lifetime of suffering. Ojai’s law will…
