Freaky Tales What’s it rated? R When? 2025 Where’s it showing? HBO Max Co-written and directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel), Freaky Tales tells four interconnected stories all set in real locations and connected to historical events in 1987 Oakland. “Strength in Numbers: The Gilman Strikes Back” depicts young punk rock fans […]
<i>Freaky Tales</i> is an entertaining anthology action comedy set in 1987 Oakland
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Katrina: Come Hell and High Water chronicles the multiple failures of the hurricane response
Consisting of three episodes—“We Gonna Ride It Out Like We Always Do” directed by Geeta Gandbhir; “Shelter of Last Resort” directed by Samantha Knowles; and “God Takes Care of Fools and Babies” directed by Spike Lee—this new documentary miniseries explores the New Orleans tragedy on its 20-year anniversary. (three approximately one-hour episodes) Katrina: Come Hell […]
Posted inArts
Hancock College graduates’ art exhibit is on display at the Foxworthy Gallery
Art created by two Allan Hancock College alumni is featured at the Ann Foxworthy Gallery on campus until Oct. 2. The exhibit, called Made in Santa Maria, highlights the professional accomplishments of Ruben Espinoza and Aaron Cribbs, who both started their careers at Hancock’s art program. Espinoza and Cribbs will be talking about the exhibit […]
Posted inArts
Lompoc committee is accepting art submissions for exhibits at libraries
Central Coast artists can submit samples of their work for a chance to be displayed in two galleries at Lompoc libraries. The Lompoc Public Library Art Advisory Committee will evaluate the submissions during its meeting on Sept. 18. The committee is looking for representative bodies of work, consisting of at least six original pieces that […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County upholds a Ballard homeowner’s permit to build new bathrooms, delayed by a neighbor’s appeal
Fire hazards. Height violations. Improper noticing. Claims tied to a Santa Ynez Valley resident’s appeal of a neighboring family’s permit to add two new ground-floor bathrooms—together totaling 150 square feet—to their home didn’t hold water during a Santa Barbara County Planning Commission review. “When I first got this, I thought, why is this even before […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria PD to issue citations for the state’s new parking law
For the past nine months, the Santa Maria Police Department has issued warnings for vehicles violating a new state parking law. The officers will begin ticketing individuals later this month with $100 citations. The “daylighting” law, AB 413, prohibits drivers from stopping or parking vehicles within 20 feet of corners, intersections, and crosswalks, even if […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A local author with global reach releases a new young-adult mystery
There have been numerous times that Pismo Beach author Wendelin Van Draanen thought she’d written her last novel, but she keeps thinking of plot ideas—more than 30 to date. Her latest novel, The Steps, was released on Sept. 2. Plus, Van Draanen has another book coming out in the fall of 2026, and she’s working […]
Posted inNews
Write-handed: As colleges kick off their fall terms, local educators and students reflect on the lost art of taking notes by hand
When it comes to taking in a new piece of information, there’s something about putting pen to paper that just hits differently, compared to typing something on a laptop, tablet, or phone. While there’s no shortage of ways to replicate notepad-style note-taking via apps and websites nowadays, the small joys get lost in translation: gliding […]
Posted inOpinion
Central Coast has an affordable-housing lockout, not a market
The Central Coast doesn’t have a housing shortage—we have an affordability shortage (“The Central Coast desperately needs to build its way out of the housing crisis,” Aug. 14). A quick look at today’s housing market tells the real story. On Aug. 4, 2025, Zillow showed 1,407 homes and lots priced over $1 million in our […]
Posted inNews
Halcyon’s former Temple of the People leader, Eleanor Shumway, dies at 92
Halcyon’s former Temple of the People Guardian-in-Chief Eleanor Shumway died on Aug. 12 at home in Arroyo Grande. She was 92. The leader of the local Theosophical Society for 32 years, Shumway was the only guardian-in-chief who lived to retire and witness her successor head the century-old Temple of the People. To her family, Shumway […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s time for Americans to speak truth to power
On Aug. 25 Israel attacked Nasser Medical Complex, the largest health facility in southern Gaza, and murdered 20 innocent people. They used what is called a “double tap.” First they attacked the fourth floor stairway of the hospital with a drone strike, killing two and injuring dozens. The attack gathered rescuers, aid workers, doctors, and […]
Posted inOpinion
Crossy road
Happy Pedestrian Safety Month! Did you know that was a thing? I didn’t. But I’m not a pedestrian. Well, this winged wanderer just got another reason to be glad I’m neither a driver nor a walker. Local police are starting to enforce a new law this month, one that went into effect in January. The […]