Candy Chang didn’t set out to create a memorial to her late friend Joan, who had been like a mother to her for 15 years before she died. To deal with the loss, Chang set out to find a way for people to avoid hiding from the realities of death. She made a stencil that […]
A better wall: The Ann Foxworthy Gallery in Santa Maria hosts Before I Die, an exhibit that encourages viewer engagement
Posted inNews
Local organizations assist furloughed federal employees
Just inside the Santa Maria branch of the Santa Barbara County Foodbank‘s open garage door sat two massive crates, one holding 30 bags of non-perishable food products, the other holding fresh produce. Two employees stood behind them, offering brief explanations and help to those who trickled in to pick up food, which was being distributed […]
Posted inNews
Newly introduced bill would affirm Camp 4 trust status
The 2017-18 Congressional session came and went, and during those two years, a House resolution that would have affirmed Camp 4’s fee-to-trust status with the federal government was not approved in time for the new year. So on Jan. 8, a new bill with the same wording and intent was introduced into Congress, with hopes […]
Posted inNews
Inmate dies in Santa Barbara County Jail
The Santa Barbara County Jail reported its first inmate death of 2019, after a 52-year-old died of an undisclosed medical condition. Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office officials reported that the inmate, identified as Jose A. Curiel of Santa Maria, died shortly after 7 p.m. on Jan. 10 at an area hospital. Curiel was transported from […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
It’s not complicated: Get cozy with the indie pop duo Complicated Animals at Presqu’ile Winery
Brazilian-American duo the Complicated Animals is touching down at Presqu’ile Winery for the first 3rd Fridays Live performance of the year on Friday, Jan. 18, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The Los Angeles based sound of Monica da Silva and Chad Alger fuses indie pop, Brazilian bossa nova, and a little bit of 1980s synthesizer […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Flagship: Ringing in the new year at Six Flags Magic Mountain
Anyone living south of Valencia should heed this piece of The Californians‘ advice at least once in their life: “Go up the 5, go to Magic Mountain, get on Riddler’s Revenge, and never get off!” Really, it’s down the 101 to the 126 for those of us residing in the north. Although I’m much more […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wildling Museum features Ray Strong exhibit
The Wilding Museum of Art and Nature will feature the work of painter Ray Strong from Feb. 2 through July 18. Strong, who died in 2006, was a prolific Santa Barbara artist who depicted the landscapes of the county and Northern California. Collector David Parker shares his private collection with the museum for a unique […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA presents comedy Shakespeare in Love
The Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) next production Shakespeare in Love will run from Feb. 7 through March 3. The play is a romantic comedy based on the movie written by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman. In the play, William Shakespeare is suffering from writer’s block while working on his new play, Romeo and Ethel the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Elverhoj Museum hosts children’s book authors
The Elverhoj Museum of History and art will host four children’s authors from the Central Coast in a special event on Jan. 16 Authors include Patricia Eubank reading Natalia’s Favorite Color; Grady Hall with On the Trail with Seymour the Snail, a nature-themed children’s book; Robert Byrne with Like Mother Like Daughter; and Ayn Cates […]
Posted inOpinion
Garbage in, garbage out
A UCSB-affiliated study purportedly estimates the economic impact on our county of Aera’s proposed oil project in Cat Canyon, between Santa Maria and Los Alamos. The study was paid for by the oil company’s public realtions firm. The report admits that it relied primarily on information provided by Aera itself. In the report, by UCSB’s […]
Posted inOpinion
Aera Energy’s economic errors
In the Santa Maria Times and Lompoc Record on Dec. 16 (“Aera Energy taps Cat Canyon project’s environmental stewardship”), Aera’s PR representative claims that development of oil wells in our county will bring major economic benefits, including millions to support schools and other vital services. His figures come from UCSB’s Economic Forecast Project, whose research […]
Posted inOpinion
A madman
It’s taken two years for the media, Donald Trump voters, and the world to understand what a madman inhabits the White House. We, who saw him as harmful to our democracy from early on, have experienced anxiety, fear for “the others” of the country, future for children, and our future. Trump’s daily lies, Congressional Republicans’ […]