Ricardo Batalla was chosen to represent the voters of District 1 on the City Council by Mayor Alice Patino and Councilmembers Gloria Flores and Maribel Aguilera at the April 7 council meeting. I wish Mr. Batalla, father of three and director of youth development at the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, the very best. He will […]
Santa Maria City Council’s appointment process is seriously flawed
Posted inOpinion
Help keep Oceano Dunes free of vehicles forever
A federal court recently ruled that the California Department of Parks and Recreation violates the Endangered Species Act by allowing motorized vehicle use that harms shorebirds at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The ruling also restricts that use. Since Tuesday, April 14, big signs at the Oceano beach vehicle ramp alert beach drivers […]
Posted inOpinion
Claims of voter fraud are fraud
The June 2 election is fast approaching. All eligible California voters will receive a mail-in ballot the first week in May. Now is the time to make sure you will receive your ballot in a timely fashion. To make sure your voter registration is up to date, to change your registration information, or, if you […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A local director presents Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s last show of the season
A 20-year drought. No private bathrooms. Corporate greed. That’s the dystopian recipe for Urinetown. Not your average musical, the fast-paced dark comedy with over-the-top characters prompts real questions about the shortcomings of bureaucracy and how society manages precious resources. It’s No. 1Urinetown runs from May 15 to 31 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visit smct.org […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Experience the work of a Danish violinist in Solvang
Musician and composer Mads Tolling will show off all that a violin can do on the Elverhoj Museum’s patio. The May 9 performance starts at 7 p.m. in Solvang, and doors open half an hour prior. The two-time Grammy award winner is originally from Copenhagen, Denmark. Tolling was part of The Turtle Island Quartet and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Allan Hancock College students display artwork on campus
Local fine arts students proudly present their creativity at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery through May 7. The Allan Hancock College gallery is located on campus in Santa Maria, and the show is free of charge to the public. “The exhibition brings together work from students across a variety of disciplines and media, highlighting the creativity, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Left-Handed Girl is a stunning family drama shot on iPhone 13s
Shih-Ching Tsou (Take Out) directs this script co-written with her longtime creative partner Sean Baker (The Florida Project, Anora) about single mother Shu-Fen (Janel Tsai) and her two daughters, rebellious high school dropout I-Ann (Shoh-Yuan Ma) and precocious 5-year-old I-Jing (Nina Ye), who open a noodle stand at a bustling Taipei night market as they […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Valentina follows a young woman battling poverty and an oppressive system
ValentinaWhat’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Friday, April 24, 7:45 p.m., at the Palm Theatre in SLO; and Saturday, April 25, 11 a.m., and Monday, April 27, at 1:15 p.m., at Downtown Centre Cinemas in SLO. Tickets at slofilmfest.org. Tatti Ribeiro directs this tale of Valentina (Keyla Monterroso Mejia), a young woman […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Birds of War follows a love story that grows out of war coverage
Birds of WarWhat’s it rated? R When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Friday, April 24, 4 p.m., and Saturday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. at Downtown Centre Cinemas; and Monday, April 27, 4:30 p.m. at the Palm Theatre in SLO. Tickets at slofilmfest.org. Janay Boulos and Abd Alkader Habak co-direct this script they co-wrote with story consultant […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Pick up your next sourdough loaf from a new Santa Maria farm stand
Ready to be slicedFind everything you need to know about Elizabeth Nunez’s business on Instagram @homemade_heritage_. Customers receive the farm stand address after placing an order online. Homemade Heritage will also be at the Old Town Orcutt summer farmers market starting May 20. Making sourdough is a little bit like teaching first grade. “It’s a […]
Posted inNews
Checkout aisle: New housing restrictions impact long-term motel tenants on one corridor in Buellton
There’s at least one framed photo in 34-year-old Cesar Garcia’s living room that tends to elicit a physiological reaction from first-time visitors. Within days of departing from the White House, Joe Biden posed with Garcia in early 2025 for a selfie at Mission Santa Ines—where the Buellton resident has regularly attended Sunday mass since he […]
Posted inNews
County supervisors discuss balancing budgets to quell deficits
Trying to work its way out of the red, Santa Barbara County is considering almost $71 million in reductions for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Multiple departments are facing layoffs and program reductions if the board approves the budget in June. On April 13, the Public Health and Social Services departments presented financial plans to the […]
