Once the school bell rings every afternoon, between 20 and 40 middle and high schoolers walk through the doors of the Lompoc Teen Center on N. H Street. Staff offer rides to the center after school and back to students’ homes in the evening. Since 2022 the Teen Center has focused heavily on academics and […]
Lompoc Teen Center offers financial, academic, and social support
Posted inOpinion
Choices, choices
So far, in the most competitive race Santa Barbara County’s 5th District has seen in more than a decade, things aren’t looking very competitive at all. Santa Maria City Councilmember Maribel Aguilera has almost raised more than her two opponents combined. With what she says is $98,000 in the bank, she’s prepared to give dollars […]
Posted inOpinion
Take the time to acknowledge the contributions of early Black leaders
Many people would have us believe that it was an exclusive “club” of rich white men that founded our country. They would be wrong. Many textbooks omit the achievements of our Black founders. Most people don’t know that scores of African Americans made significant contributions to the founding of our nation. Let’s look at some […]
Posted inOpinion
Santa Maria leadership missed an opportunity to truly support its immigrant community
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, I attended the Santa Maria City Council meeting, excited to hear how my city officials would respond to the violent ICE presence harming my community. Instead, everyone, including myself, left feeling frustrated, unheard, and saddened by how quickly the issue was glanced through, despite many of us going to voice real […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria’s Inspirational Art Center knows how to throw a party
Alisha Muller lives for “mirror moments.” She can create them in just five minutes, using paint, sponges, brushes, and a touch of glitter. Her clients, most often children, climb onto a tall director’s chair and choose a design from Muller’s face painting samples. Then they try to sit still, anticipating their transformation. Ready to party?Book […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Melodrama presents its first production of the year
Catch The Super Trio at The Great American Melodrama Theatre before the final curtain closes on March 7. “In a universe brimming with superpowered folks, three friends flipping burgers at a fast-food joint get the chance of a lifetime: an internship to become The Super Trio,” according to the Melodrama. Enter antagonist Minerva, who threatens […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Solvang Theaterfest offers VIP package for 2026 season
Get the most out of your experience at the Solvang Festival Theater by signing up for the Star Patron program to see three shows performed by the Pacific Conservatory Theatre. Members will receive tickets for three shows this summer on Star Patron nights as well as access to pre-performance and intermission receptions with guest speakers, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Crime 101 is a multi-threaded crime thriller about a multi-million-dollar heist
Bart Layton (The Imposter, American Animals) directs his adaptation of Don Winslow’s 2020 novella of the same name about thief Mike Davis (Chris Hemsworth), whose series of heists along the 101 freeway draws the attention of Detective Lou Lubesnick (Mark Ruffalo) and intersects with the plans of disgruntled insurance broker Sharon Combs (Halle Berry). (139 […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Playing Gracie Darling is a thriller about a séance gone wrong
Playing Gracie DarlingWhat’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 to present Where’s it showing? Neflix Child psychologist Joni (Morgana O’Reilly) is mother to teenager, Mina (Chloe Brink), but when Joni was 14, her best friend, Gracie Darling (Kristina Bogic), disappeared under mysterious circumstances following a Ouija board session in a cabin in the woods. Joni can’t […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Earth’s Greatest Enemy documents U.S. military’s environmental destruction
Earth’s Greatest EnemyWhat’s it rated? Not rated When? 2026 Where’s it showing? Friday, Feb. 20, at Cal Poly PACSLO (6:30 p.m.; $10 student, $20 general at pacslo.org), and Saturday, Feb. 21, at Cuesta College CPAC (12:30 p.m.; $15 at eventbrite.com) Wife-and-husband documentarians Abby Martin and Mike Prysner (Chevron vs. The Amazon) spent five years on […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Lompoc’s Sea-Stainable makes 100 percent natural pet snacks
Jesse Crouse-Tell doesn’t routinely eat the dog treats he makes, but the ingredients are 100 percent human grade. In the early days of his company, Sea-Stainable Pet Food, the business owner had to try his treats because he wanted to know how they tasted. “I’ll take little nibbles of stuff here and there, just to […]
Posted inGet Outside
A quick trip through California’s national parks
TRAILBLAZING Two and a half years ago, my brother hatched a scheme to visit every one of the U.S. National Parks. We’re not talking about drive-through visits—this plan involves camping in the parks whenever feasible and truly experiencing what each one has to offer. We started in California. Farthest south is Joshua Tree National Park, […]