A 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judge ruled in favor of the U.S. Forest Service’s controversial tree and chaparral removal project in the Pine Mountain area that’s caused contention between the federal agency and local environmental groups. “Specifically, plaintiffs argue that the Forest Service did not properly evaluate the project’s potential impact on religious […]
Federal appeals court sides with Forest Service in Pine Mountain lawsuit
Posted inSpecial Issues
From being an elf to cheering on racers, holiday-based volunteering opportunities are abundant on the Central Coast
For some, the holiday spirit revolves around giving back to their community. Luckily for those who carry these beliefs or for those who want to begin a new tradition, the Central Coast is offering some fun, festive volunteering opportunities this holiday season. Have you ever walked by Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo during the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Paso Robles authors pen books celebrating food and wine
Reach the writers To connect with the authors and purchase their books, contact: Lori Rice, The California Farm Table Cookbook, loririce.com; Candice Custodio, The Versatile Chef, chefcandice.com; Brigit Binns, Rottenkid, brigitbinns.com; Debbie Thomas, Fork Me!, winedinetravelwithdeb.com; and Sean Weir, The Mad Crush, seanweir.com. The Central Coast, an agricultural oasis, is also a hotbed of literary […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Odd international holiday traditions abound
Most of us likely have traditions we adhere to around the holidays. Decorate a Christmas tree, bake cookies (and leave some for Santa), hang stockings, drink eggnog, attend a parade, yada-yada-yada. You know the drill. You’re probably not surprised to learn that other cultures have their own holiday traditions, and sorry-not-sorry, but some of them […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
NEW FLICKS: Red Right Hand
Red Right Hand What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Hulu Siblings Eshom and Ian Nelms (Small Town Crime) co-direct this action thriller asking, “Is violence ever justified?” The answer is heck yeah! Cash (a jacked Orlando Bloom) is living quietly after extracting himself from a gang run by crime maven Big […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Midwestern recipes transplants who miss their roots during the holiday season
I may have lived in the Western United States for the past eight years, but I am a Minnesotan first and foremost. I grew up battling bitter cold winters, praying for snow days, boating on the many lakes in the summer, wearing shorts when the weather creeped above 55 degrees, going to Perkins after high […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
NEW FLICKS: Janet Planet
Janet Planet What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2023 Where’s it showing? HBO Max Eleven-year-old Lacy (Zoe Ziegler) lives in rural Massachusetts with her mother, Janet (Julianne Nicholson), an offbeat acupuncturist who stumbles from one romantic situation to another until she tires of them. This quietly ambitious film is a meandering love story of a mother […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Red One obnoxiously mashes superhero and Christmas tropes
Red One What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Cori? Matinee What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande Editor’s note: Anna Starkey was camping in Death Valley last weekend, so Glen tapped his hair stylist and favorite stand-up comic, Cori Ramsey, to co-write […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria-based dance studios bring Diane Rose Zink’s The Nutcracker to life at Arroyo Grande’s Clark Center
Everybody Can DANCE and the Santa Maria Civic Ballet present their annual collaborative production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by Diane Rose Zink, at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande on Saturday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 1, at 3 p.m. As the show’s artistic director, Zink has helmed […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Canine Companions at Lompoc’s Cypress Gallery is full of heartfelt hues
Vista points The Lompoc Valley Art Association presents Canine Companions, a solo show featuring paintings by local artist Liz Poulin Alvarez that opened at Cypress Gallery in early November and will remain up through Nov. 24. Visit lompocart.org to find out more. The gallery is located at 119 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc. A separate collection […]
Posted inOpinion
Don’t forget about history
The “America must do all it can to prevent nuclear war in the Middle East” (Oct. 10) author assumes Jews arrived in the Middle East in 1947. No mention is made of the Jewish kingdoms of Judea and Samaria 2,000 years ago. Yes, this is before the existence of British Palestine in the 19th century. […]
Posted inOpinion
Congressman Carbajal should not obstruct Trump’s agenda
Salud Carbajal sent out a letter to his constituents (that’s us the people) making it clear he intends to continue to obstruct President Trump’s agenda. Clearly, he can’t appreciate how soundly a majority of the people rejected the Democrat agenda. I encourage everyone send a response similar to the response I sent to him: I […]