“Israel right or wrong” is the approach America takes in its support of Israel against the Palestinians. Israel has a right to defend itself against attack. Israel has no right to commit indiscriminate crimes against the Palestinian people. Pope Francis recently said this, “I continue to receive very serious and painful news from Gaza. Unarmed […]
Speak up against genocide in Gaza
Posted inOpinion
Increasing minimum wage increases costs and does nothing to ‘help the poor’
Attention minimum wage workers, the government is here to help you—or is it? The U.S. census estimates that the median household income in Lompoc was $66,947 in 2023 and that 17 percent of the population was living in poverty. In Santa Maria the median income was $81,237 and 13.5 percent of the population lives in […]
Posted inOpinion
Dis-Harmony
If you Google “Harmony Communities California,” in between the corporate mobile home park owner/operator’s marketing gobbledygook, the headlines are not good. The company recently purchased Del Cielo Estates in Orcutt—a 55-and-over mobile home community where seniors own their homes and rent the land they sit on—and informed residents that it was planning to make the […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health offers two $2,500 scholarships to those with mental illness or substance use disorder
Going back to school. Rental assistance. Buying professional clothing. These are some of the many ways people can use the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness John Kovacs Scholarship: $2,500 awarded to individuals with lived experience of mental illness or substance use disorder who want to expand their learning opportunities or advance in life, […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: September 5, 2024
• State Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) announced that Assembly Bill 1866 passed the Legislature and was on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature, according to an Aug. 29 statement from Hart’s office. The legislation addresses the urgent climate and public health crisis posed by idle oil wells by mandating that companies meet ambitious […]
Posted inNews
Lucia Mar school district fixes its bus shortage in time for school year
After originally saying it didn’t have enough bus seats for every student who needed a ride to and from Mesa Middle School, the Lucia Mar Unified School District fixed the issue before school started. Dozens of parents received word that their students didn’t get bus pass applications approved, but Lucia Mar Marketing and Communications Director […]
Posted inNews
Nipomo CSD votes to annex Dana Reserve, split its property tax with SLO County
The Dana Reserve moved one step closer to breaking ground after the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) voted in favor of splitting the development’s future property taxes with SLO County and annexing the project into its service area. More than 100 community members were present at the NCSD’s Aug. 28 board meeting to show their […]
Posted inNews
Farmworkers advocate wage increases at Board of Supervisors meeting
Instead of spending summers at camp when she was a child, Blanca Antonio Aquino—alongside other children of farmworkers—worked in the fields to help their families pay bills. “At age 8, I recall my mom telling me, ‘When you’re picking strawberries, think as if you’re picking up a single cent,” Antonio Aquino told the Santa Barbara […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Spud Street’s food truck is the quickest route to every local french fry fanatic’s heart
Fry parking Visit spudstreetinc.com for more info on Spud Street, based in Santa Maria and surrounding areas. For updates on the local food truck’s weekly pop-up locations, follow Spud Street on Instagram, @spudstreet, or text the word “schedule” to (820) 500-7783. One of the Santa Maria Valley’s newest food trucks is a well-oiled machine with […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc debates how to fund road improvements, fix potholes
Raising the sales tax in Lompoc is one path to revamping the city’s deteriorating streets, but it’s not a road some local leaders want to take. During the Lompoc City Council’s Aug. 20 meeting, Councilmember Jeremy Ball and Councilmember Dirk Starbuck responded to city staff’s presentation on potential options to improve road health with differing […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
NEW FLICKS: The Union
The Union What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2024 Where’s it showing? Netflix Oh, Marky Mark, you do know how to churn out the cheese. Mostly TV director Julian Farino helms this action spy comedy about regular guy Mike McKenna (Mark Wahlberg), a New Jersey high-rise steel worker who likes to drink beer with his pals […]
Posted inNews
Housing, homelessness highlighted in 2nd District City Council Race
First-time candidates Gloria Flores and Benjamin Ortiz are fighting long-time councilmember Mike Cordero for the Santa Maria City Council 2nd District seat. The 2nd District sits between N. Railroad Avenue and N. Suey Road, with the 1st and 4th districts hugging its west and east sides. The Santa Maria River acts as the district’s northern […]
