NEW FLICKS: BEST SELLERS Where’s it playing? Rent on Amazon Prime, Redbox, Vudu, and Apple TV What’s it rated? PG-13 Lucy (Aubrey Plaza) inherited her book publication business from her father, whose skillful editing and salesman smarts led to Harris Shaw’s (Michael Caine) hit novel way long ago. Unfortunately, the world of publishing has changed […]
NEW FLICKS: BEST SELLERS
Posted inOpinion
Unnamed Animal Services employee has dubious experience
I was disappointed by part of a recent story about crowding at the Santa Maria Animal Center (“More adoption needed with overcrowding concerns at Animal Services,” Dec. 15). The end of the pandemic and inflation have resulted in animal shelters flooded with homeless animals. We are seeing our share here, although not nearly as badly […]
Posted inOpinion
Rallying for America
At breakfast I read with interest a letter to the editor in the Sun. Entitled “Rallying for President Trump” (Dec. 22), it made an enthusiastic case for continuing to fully support him. The unflinchingly ardent argument by the writer was more bracing than two cups of my morning java. The public airing of all types […]
Posted inOpinion
The metamorphosis of Elon Musk and the left
If you thought that the transformation of Jeff Goldblum from a bookish scientist into a fly in the 1986 movie The Fly was a dramatic metamorphosis, just consider the sudden conversion of Elon Musk from liberal hero to hated nemesis. And a transmogrifier wasn’t even necessary! It seems like just yesterday that Musk was the […]
Posted inOpinion
Fees needed
It’s 2023. And with that big bad announcement, I’ve got another thing in store for you: Santa Barbara County needs to facilitate the building of more than 5,000 housing units by 2031. And that’s just in the unincorporated areas of the county. Santa Maria needs to coax developers to erect more than 5,400. Santa Barbara: […]
Posted inNews
PG&E grant enables State Parks to pay for class field trips to coastal landmarks
For thousands of school-age kids, the San Luis Obispo County coastline is a premier destination for epic field trips. The Central Coast State Parks Association plays an important role in that. The nonprofit arm of State Parks routinely offers educational field trip tours at local landmarks like the Oceano Dunes, the Morro Bay Museum of […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: January 5, 2023
• On Dec. 23, President Joe Biden signed legislation inspired by the 2019 Conception boat fire near Santa Barbara. The Small Passenger Vessel Liability Act proposed by U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) changes an 1851 law that can prevent victims of maritime accidents from receiving compensation from those responsible […]
Posted inNews
Housing development project wants Santa Maria to annex county land
A project proposal to add Santa Barbara County property to Santa Maria for residential and commercial development could help local leaders meet state housing requirements, but the development has some residents concerned about density and consistency with the surrounding areas. Richards Ranch Annexation Project requested that the city annex a 43-acre county property southeast of […]
Posted inNews
Fees levied against housing developers to fund new parks aren’t accumulating enough for Santa Maria to purchase land
Santa Maria is about 100 acres shy of meeting its parks-to-residents ratio—3 acres of accessible park or open space land for every 1,000 residents—but officials said the city needs more cash from developers to hit the target. Typically, fees levied against new housing developments fund Santa Maria Recreation and Parks’ purchasing power. Developers either build […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Cubanissimo Cafe in Orcutt holds weekly swing dance classes
Every Tuesday night, there’s a coffee house in Orcutt that transforms into a popping dance hub for a couple of hours. Local instructor Gina Sigman’s intro to swing dancing class, held once a week at Cubanissimo Cafe, is open to walk-ins and is free to join. The class is followed by an intermediate course, with […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
SMCT presents ‘The Red Velvet Cake War’
The Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s (SMCT) upcoming production of The Red Velvet Cake War is scheduled to premiere on Friday, Jan. 13. Performances of the show are slated to run through Sunday, Jan. 29. This Texas-based comedy follows three cousins who “could not have picked a worse time to throw a family reunion,” according to […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Los Angeles Reed Quintet to perform in Los Olivos
The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series presents the Los Angeles Reed Quintet, live in concert, at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos on Friday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m. The ensemble regularly performs a wide variety of music selections, including Baroque pieces, 21st century compositions, and other songs. The quintet’s oboist is Claire Brazeau […]