Iam an employee of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, having worked there for just over a year. I have learned a lot on the railroad over the past year, including track and train operations, signals, customers, and federal and state railroad regulations. There is a lot of satisfaction working for a transportation system that gives […]
Santa Maria should support the railroad
Posted inNews
Political Watch 10/4/18
• Gov. Jerry Brown signed a few bills authored by state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) on Oct. 1, including a historic bill requiring gender diversity on corporate boards in California. SB 826 requires every publicly held corporation in the state to have a minimum of one woman on its board of directors by the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Angie Cruz
When the Santa Maria High School girls volleyball team is in need of a little help, senior Angie Cruz unleashes her secret weapon: versatility. It’s been a tough season for the Saints, according to head coach Stella Guild, who said her already young and inexperienced team is also facing a recent change in coaching, and […]
Posted inNews
County considers fuel management and community defense plans for fires
A hearing designed to provide the public with information about fuel management and defensible space for fires in Santa Barbara County revealed differing philosophies between government officials and environmental groups. “The purpose of this is primarily to clarify and explain a fairly complex and in my opinion needlessly controversial part of what we do,” County […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Espresso a-go-go: Coffee a la Cart comes to you with best coffee drinks in town
I‘ve been saying it for what feels like years now: The best coffee shop in Santa Maria isn’t even a shop. If you’ve never seen the light-roast-with-cream-brown trailer pulled by the dark-roast-hold-the-cream-black pickup truck cruising around town, it’s time to let you in on the best kept caffeinated secret in the valley–Coffee a la Cart. […]
Posted inNews
Cuesta writers conference inspires best selling novels, Netflix shows
She was so scared she couldn’t even bring herself to get out of the car. So Teri Bayus sat in the parking lot at Cuesta College until she summoned the courage to get out and walk over to registration to sign up for the Central Coast Writers Conference. After all, her husband had double-dog dared […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing with Helen: September socialite
Tis the season to try new things, and the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum did just that at its annual fundraiser event. Instead of “heavy appetizers” served on trays at a buffet bar, they staged a Sunday afternoon sit-down, family-style dinner for 142 at the Museum on Jones Street, on the Sunday afternoon of Oct. […]
Posted inNews
Spotlight on: A Heart’s Desires Bridal
It’s been a confusing couple weeks for A Heart’s Desires Bridal and its newest location at 2125 S. Broadway (suite 103). Upon first moving into their Santa Maria office, manager Ashley Pacheco discovered that some customers were being directed by Google and other search engines like Yelp! to a store that no longer exists. “There’s […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc triage center set to close on Oct. 10
They had arrested three by the first week. Lompoc Police Chief Pat Walsh told the City Council members on Sept. 18 that the individuals had been found roaming the borders of the homeless triage center on the north side of River Park. They were charged with trespassing. A few days later, officers made their fourth […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria Philharmonic Orchestra welcomes violinist Amy Sze to the main stage for Tchaikovsky concerto
Amy Sze isn’t old enough to vote in the midterms, but this kid already has one impressive resume. A 17-year-old violinist who grew up in Pismo Beach, Sze now studies at the Crossroads School of Arts & Sciences in Santa Monica and violin at the Colburn School. Her list of awards, recognitions, concert credits, and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Minita Gandhi brings her one-woman show ‘Muthaland’ to PCPA
Minita Gandhi was always drawn to acting, even as a young girl. But she never thought she would one day be on the stage, telling her own story to a room full of strangers. “I didn’t grow up with the arts as a possible career choice,” she said. “It wasn’t until later in life that […]