Starting in January, students at 15 elementary schools will have the opportunity to join a ballet folklórico dance program after school. The Santa Maria-Bonita School District board approved a roughly $59,000 contract with Children’s Creative Project at the Dec. 10 meeting. “By securing these services, we demonstrate our commitment to providing students with high quality, […]
More cultural arts programming is headed to Santa Maria-Bonita schools
Posted inNews
Los Olivos CSD considers testing groundwater wells once a year
A local agency’s decision to postpone one of Los Olivos’ regularly scheduled groundwater well tests—used to measure nitrate concentration levels—opened the floodgates to a different kind of monitoring for resident Kathryn Lohmeyer Rohrer. “It seems problematic on several fronts,” Rohrer said during public comment at the Los Olivos Community Services District’s (CSD) Nov. 12 meeting. […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: December 18, 2025
• The House of Representatives recently passed U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal’s (D-Santa Barbara) legislation to rename a post office in Goleta for Frederick Lopez, a retired brigadier general in the U.S. Marine Corps with a 30-year career of distinguished service. “General Lopez represents the best of the Central Coast and of our nation’s armed forces,” […]
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Oak Folk Studio combines kid-friendly yoga, improv, painting, and more in Orcutt
Movement and mindfulness go hand in hand at Oak Folk Studio, where self-expression takes on many forms for many ages. Since its soft opening in November, the eclectic Orcutt venue has hosted kid-friendly classes in art, performing arts, and yoga. “I feel like they all kind of weave together,” founder, owner, and instructor Katlin Majewski […]
Posted inOpinion
The squeaky wheel
It seems like the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is working to course correct when it comes to the number of outstanding arrest warrants—something 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino has been asking for. After he expressed concerns about the issue during a Northern Branch Jail expansion discussion in April—which will cost $165 million, by the […]
Posted inOpinion
The Migrant Mothers’ story is our story
Her name was Florence Owens. She was 32 when she, her companion, Jim Hill; and her seven children arrived in Nipomo in February 1936. It was a cold, wintery afternoon in the depths of the Great Depression, the worst economic crisis our nation had ever known. Their car had just broken down, and Jim went […]
Posted inOpinion
Let’s get rid of nuclear power and weapons
On the controversies surrounding Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, it would be most wise to move things rapidly toward decommissioning and safety protocols as this aging dinosaur becomes more susceptible to a serious accident. The machinery is becoming more brittle and weak, further increasing the chance of a serious accident. And let’s not forget the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Christine Fossemalle’s passion of four decades is still going strong
Every day when Christine Fossemalle arrives and parks across the street from her dance studio, she sees her name on the sign. It never gets old, even though the studio is about to turn 40 next summer. “When I look at my sign, Fossemalle Dance Studio, I smile every time,” the owner told the Sun. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Flying Goat Cellars presents exhibit by contemporary artist
Reena Howmiller’s art show, titled What Lies Beneath, is up at Flying Goat Cellars in Lompoc through January. She created colorful, abstract paintings and scarves made with Indian silk that are inspired by her other artwork. The scarves are “colorful, wearable art to swaddle one’s decolletage in an affordable luxury item,” Howmiller said in an […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Enjoy holiday movies at the Santa Maria Public Library this month
Friends and families can see three movies during winter break in the Santa Maria Public Library’s Altrusa Theater. The showings will each last an hour and a half. To kick things off, the library will show Elf on Dec. 23 at 3:30 p.m. alongside interactive activities designed to help the audience engage with select scenes, […]
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Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is another worthy entry into the whodunit franchise
Writer-director Rian Johnson (Brick, The Brothers Bloom, Looper, Star Wars: Episode VIII—The Last Jedi) returns with the third installment of his Knives Out franchise about private detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig). This time around, the droll Southern investigator is brought in to solve the murder of Catholic Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin), stabbed in the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Sean Combs: The Reckoning examines the many personal and professional travails P Diddy
Sean Combs: The ReckoningWhat’s it rated? TV-MAWhen? 2025Where’s it showing? Netflix Delving into Sean Combs’ past is not what the world needs right now; any attention is ill-deserved. Despite that, it’s nothing less than fascinating to see how the once big-time music mogul snaked his way up the proverbial ladder and became someone who believed […]