Get ready folks, your trash bills will be growing soon. That doesn’t mean that the service would get any better than it already is, it just means that the cost to your local solid waste utility is going to go up significantly because the state of California will begin requiring the acquisition of fully electric […]
All-electric trash trucks will cost much more than the current versions
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Ebenezer Scrooge returns to Great American Melodrama for The Holiday Extravaganza
The Great American Melodrama’s 2023 production of The Holiday Extravaganza is scheduled to open on Nov. 17. Performances of this annual holiday production will run through Dec. 31. The three-act show includes the venue’s traditional retelling of A Christmas Carol, a fractured fairy tale opera segment, and a holiday-themed vaudeville act. For more details, call […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Diane Rose Zink’s The Nutcracker showcases two Santa Maria-based dance studios
The Santa Maria Civic Ballet and Everybody Can DANCE 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 Nov. 25, at 7 p.m., and Nov. 26, at 3 p.m. As the show’s artistic director, Zink has helmed this unique […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Holidays in shelters
Good Samaritan’s holiday events • Toy Drive: Dec. 19 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Stowasser Buick GMC, 600 Betteravia Road • Parade of Lights: Dec. 2 at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, 1309 N. Bradley Road • Christmas in the Country display, a drive through holiday experience: Nov. 24 to Dec. 25 at […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Holiday Guide 2023
Holidays in shelters: Good Samaritan Shelter provides a variety of events this holiday season for individuals experiencing homelessness By Taylor O’Connor Off-centered cheer: Shake up your holiday table with showstopper dinners that aren’t just turkey or ham By Bulbul Rajagopal Check out the local holiday events, happenings, festivities, and more!
Posted inOpinion
The hardest thing
Math might be the subject that confuses all of us at times. I know I’m confused by the numbers that Santa Barbara County Planning Commissioner Laura Bridley proffered during a recent meeting. During the Nov. 8 meeting, she was the sole commissioner to vote against the new cycle of the Housing Element—a state requirement to […]
Posted inNews
The Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum launches new World War II exhibit to honor local veterans
Shelley Klein embarked on a journey gathering stories from local Santa Marians about their personal or family history in World War II and received more than she expected for a new exhibit at the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum. “I told my board, ‘I think I bit off more than I could chew.’ It’s […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: November 16, 2023
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) recently reacted to news that the United States successfully brokered a deal with Israel to approve daily pauses in military action in Gaza to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians in need and facilitate the safe evacuation of civilians from areas where Israel may be conducting operations, according […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria expects to save $12 million with solar agreement
Santa Maria stepped toward clean energy and dollars saved as the City Council voted 4-0 (with Councilmember Maribel Aguilera-Hernandez absent) to approve a 20-year contract to construct and operate solar power infrastructure at eight city-owned sites—generating expected savings of more than $12 million throughout the contract’s lifespan. The wastewater treatment plant, civic center, police department, […]
Posted inNews
Solvang City Council addresses recent Zoombombing incidents
Zoom calls from public comment participants are commonplace at city hearings in Solvang, but the popular platform was ironically not used by any speakers during a recent discussion on silencing certain kinds of virtual discourse in the future. “I’ll point out that I keep looking at the screen to see if anyone has joined us,” […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approves Housing Element
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission recently voted 4-1 (with 2nd District Commissioner Laura Bridley dissenting) to approve the county’s Housing Element update, which will go to the Board of Supervisors on Dec. 5. The Housing Element is a process each jurisdiction in the state is required to go through every eight years to address […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
BLAST FROM THE PAST: Psycho
Psycho What’s it rated? R When? 1960 Where’s it showing? The Palm Theater of San Luis Obispo on Nov. 12 (1:30, 4:15, and 7 p.m.) I’ve watched Psycho many times, but only once on the big screen during a college film class. It is absolutely a different experience from watching it on TV. Director Alfred […]