Affordable books are hard to come by, let alone affordable books written in Spanish. But Kathleen Gabel and the Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library are determined to make sure that families have access to books in their native language. “Our mission is to also support literacy and reading,” said Gabel, president of the […]
The Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library are collecting books in Spanish ahead of the holiday season
Political Watch: November 28, 2024
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) announced a $60.4 million grant from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the city of Ventura’s large-scale water recycling program, VenturaWaterPure, according to a Nov. 19 statement from Carbajal’s office. VenturaWaterPure is estimated to produce 3,600 acre-feet of recycled water annually. The grant is the largest in a […]
Mosby, Bridge lead Lompoc races, Ken Adam Park measure passing
The third time seems to be the charm for Jim Mosby. “I think people wanted change; nearly 70 percent of the people voted for change,” the former Lompoc City Council member and mayoral candidate told the Sun. “There’s a lot of things that we were doing before that we need to bring back; we need […]
LAFCO approves Dana Reserve annexation despite new plant species claims
November was a triumphant month for Dana Reserve developer Nick Tompkins, as the San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) gave his housing project one of the last go-aheads it needed despite the Nipomo Action Committee’s final attempts to stall it. “Reaching this stage is incredibly gratifying for everyone who has been part of […]
Tunnell, Alvin, Fairlawn, and Ontiveros playground construction starts at end of year
After a months-long delay due to contract errors, playground construction will begin at four Santa Maria-Bonita School District elementary schools while the students are on winter break. The Santa Maria-Bonita school board unanimously approved contract agreements during its Nov. 13 meeting to build playgrounds at Fairlawn, Tunnell, Alvin, and Ontiveros elementary schools. “Though the delay […]
Waiting for care: Lompoc only has child care space available for about 7 percent of its infants
Jacob Lindley and his wife got on child care waiting lists before their daughter was born. “We had heard horror stories about how hard it was to find child care and affordable child care at that,” the Vandenberg Village resident told the Sun. “We started looking early, and it took three to four months of […]
Firestone Walker teams up with Ernie Ball on limited-release IPA
Burnin’ for you To find out more about Firestone Walker, visit firestonewalker.com. The company’s venues include breweries in Buellton (at 620 McMurray Road) and Paso Robles (at 1400 Ramada Drive). Visit ernieball.com for more info on Ernie Ball, located at 4117 Earthwood Lane, San Luis Obispo. The goal behind Firestone Walker’s new IPA project was […]
BINGEABLE: Disclaimer
Disclaimer What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Apple TV Plus Famed Mexican auteur Alfonso Cuarón (Y tu mama también, Gravity, Roma) helms this miniseries based on Renée Knight’s 2015 novel about documentarian Catherine Ravenscroft (Cate Blanchett), who receives a mysterious novel she believes features her as a central character portrayed as a […]
NEW FLICKS: My Old Ass
My Old Ass What’s it rated? R When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime Writer-director Megan Park (The Fallout) helms this irreverent coming-of-age story about avowed lesbian Elliott (Maisy Stella), who’s on the cusp of her 18th birthday and about to leave her family’s cranberry farm to head to college in Toronto. She and her […]
Wicked offers a dazzling Wicked Witch of the West origin story
Wicked: Part I What’s it rated? PG 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, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians, In the Heights) directs this musical featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book […]
Lompoc’s Cabrillo High School choir participates in upcoming Cal Poly recital
Cal Poly Choirs presents its annual Holiday Kaleidoscope Concert at the Performing Arts Center in SLO on Friday, Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m. The college’s four student choirs will be accompanied by members of the Cal Poly Symphony and additional guest artists. The event will also feature performances from the Cabrillo High School student choir […]
Riptide Big Band welcomes 2025 with free Noon Year’s Eve concert
The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens Club and Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department are partnering to co-host a free New Year’s Eve celebration, albeit about 12 hours earlier than most parties designed to ring in 2025. The Noon Year’s Eve Celebration Dance will take place at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center in Santa Maria […]

