One of Santa Maria’s Town Center East shopping plazas felt like the Old West to two police officers who chased down a suspected shoplifter outside of Big 5 Sporting Goods last summer. “We were actually in a hoof pursuit,” Santa Maria Police Department officer Jessica Rubio recalled, while sitting on her patrol horse named Buddy.…
The county Fire Department will begin prescribed burns around the Santa Ynez and Los Alamos valleys with a nearly $1 million grant from Cal Fire. “It’s one of the most effective and cost-effective ways to reduce fuel,” Santa Barbara County Fire Marshal Fred Tan told the Sun. First, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department will…
During a routine inspection of a Solvang hotel in the building process, the city ordered its owner to halt construction after discovering inconsistencies between approved blueprints and the project as it now stands. “We did issue a stop work order for the on-site work which went beyond the scope of the permit,” Solvang Community Development…
Described as a win-win project by some local officials, an affordable housing development set for East Foster Road in Orcutt will cause the surrounding area to lose its “overall character,” in the eyes of one homeowners association. “We absolutely understand the need for more affordable housing. Our concern isn’t about who will live there,” Edgewood…
• On Oct. 7, U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-California) and Alex Padilla (D-California) partnered with state representatives from Oregon and Illinois on a joint statement that addresses National Guard deployment concerns related to each officials’ respective state. “Whether in Los Angeles, Chicago, or Portland, the Trump administration continues fabricating claims of chaos and crime on…
Connecting the dots, learning colors, and solving jigsaw puzzles are some of the activities kids now have access to on bilingual learning computers at the Santa Maria Public Library. The computers provide safe, engaging educational content for ages 2 to 12. Set up in the children’s area on the first level of the library at…
A fairy-tale Danish “village” has Solvang’s policy preferences all twisted up. Nine cottage-style hotel units went a little off-script during the construction process, and Solvang put a stop to developer Ed St. George’s dreams. Apparently, he got a little too slap-happy with the half-timbers for the city’s liking. Too much wood! St. George didn’t take…
Government “shutdowns” have occurred numerous times over the last few decades due to a lack of an approved budget, but the politicians we elect to provide funding have never been held accountable. It’s time for a change, but how? Based on an email recently sent by Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), it appears that the…
The League of Women Voters urges all eligible voters to get ready to vote in the upcoming special election on Nov. 4 by registering to vote, studying fact-based information on Proposition 50, and casting an informed vote. Vote-by-mail ballots for the Nov. 4 election will be sent to all active registered voters in early October,…
We have an upcoming election aimed at combating rigged elections. Our ballots and envelopes are mailed to everyone, unsecured, and are returned to unmanned ballot boxes. The instructions advise, “It’s OK to re-seal (the envelope) with tape.” The ballot instructions for voting advise, “If you make a mistake, mark an X over the oval filled…
In Paulo Lima’s mind, a rusty piece of wire in the middle of the street was a great topper for one of his sculptures. Even though he thought the metal had been run over by a car, it didn’t matter. “I picked it up in the middle of the street, like, ‘Oh my God. This…
Celebrate the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead with cultural activities and crafts at Santa Maria’s 15th annual Día de los Muertos Festival. The Fine Arts Complex at Allan Hancock College will be transformed into a vibrant festival for Día de los Muertos on Oct. 26. Hosted by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks…
The Flying Miz Daisy vintage market returns to Solvang on Oct. 25 at Mission Santa Inés. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission and parking are free. Visitors can shop from more than 60 vendors for vintage goods, architectural salvages, garden décor, clothing, jewelry, and more. There’ll also be music and…
Co-writer Paul Greengrass (United 93, Green Zone, Captain Phillips, News of the World, and three of the Jason Bourne franchise films) directs this screenplay he wrote with Brad Ingelsby (Out of the Furnace, Run All Night, Mare of Easttown) based on a segment of San Francisco Chronicle journalist Lizzie Johnson’s 2021 nonfiction book Paradise: One…
Play DirtyWhat’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Prime Shane Black (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Nice Guys) co-writes and directs this heist flick based on the Parker book series by Richard Stark (aka Donald E. Westlake). In this go-around, we’re dropped into the middle of the story as professional thieves Parker (Mark…
SteveWhat’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix To say that Steve (Cillian Murphy) has a difficult job is an understatement. The young men in his care are difficult at best. They’ve been institutionalized young and all carry their own unique baggage. Steve himself battles his own demons after an accident left him…
On its face, Whiskey ’N Rye Smokehouse is a classic barbecue joint. However, Don Conner opened the restaurant with the idea to serve a lot more than ribs and brisket. “Our primary focus is smoking and grilling more so than just meats,” Conner said. “We try to incorporate a little flare of barbecue into all…
