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 […]
Fees levied against housing developers to fund new parks aren’t accumulating enough for Santa Maria to purchase land
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 […]
Posted inFood & Drink
New cottage style bakery stems from a local confectioner’s lifelong hobby
Muffins. Cookies. Cupcakes. No matter which of her baked goods is up for review, Jacqueline Rubio never gets tired of hearing “nostalgia-inducing” and similar adjectives as feedback from her customers. “I love when someone tells me it reminds them of a specific time or memory after they taste a certain treat,” said Rubio, the founder […]
Posted inNews
In 2022, COVID-19 took a back seat to long-simmering issues
As we gaze back at what 2022 brought with it, the big issues that stick out include homelessness, opioid overdoses, and rural crime—all of which were exacerbated in the wake of the pandemic and are still waiting for solutions from public officials. As we head into 2023, expect those conversations to stay on the agendas […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Year in Review 2022
As we gaze back at what 2022 brought with it, the big issues that stick out include homelessness, opioid overdoses, and rural crime—all of which were exacerbated in the wake of the pandemic and are still waiting for solutions from public officials. As we head into 2023, expect those conversations to stay on the agendas […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
BINGEABLE: WEDNESDAY (2022)
BINGEABLE: WEDNESDAY (2022) Where’s it playing? Netflix What’s it rated? TV-14 Netflix is hitting us right in the nostalgia with Wednesday. While the whole Addams family is iconic, this series focuses on Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) and her new school—one she’s forced to go to after setting piranhas free in her former school’s pool. Take that, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
BINGEABLE: THE WHITE LOTUS (SEASON 2) (2022)
BINGEABLE: THE WHITE LOTUS (SEASON 2) (2022) Where’s it playing? HBO Max What’s it rated? TV-MA If you’re worried that your relationship has problems, you and your significant other should tune into The White Lotus and behold the psycho-social dysfunctions of the various characters in this delicious black comedy about upscale resort vacationers and the […]
Posted inNews
A Santa Maria-Bonita School District teacher completed his third young adult fiction book
Steven Waiters wanted to be a writer ever since he was in high school. As he went through life, raising a family and teaching at the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, he never let that dream go. “Writing has given me an outlet to do something different that I actually can bring into the classroom and […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: December 29, 2022
• U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) reintroduced a Senate resolution to declare racism a public health crisis, according to a Dec. 21 statement from Padilla’s office. The senators previously introduced the resolution in April 2021. Their resolution acknowledges the history of racism and discrimination within health care […]