It’s been almost 60 years since Rancho Bowl first opened its doors in Santa Maria. A lot can change in that time, but not the family that owns it. Ashlee Carranza found her way into the bowling business when she married her partner, Luke, whose family has owned the establishment since the beginning. “We have […]
Spotlight on: Rancho Bowl and Lounge: Ashlee Carranza, owner
Posted inNews
Political Watch 7/26/18
• Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) issued a statement on July 19 on the rates of Covered California, which a release from her office said “will be 8.7 percent higher, on average, with 3.5 percent due to the repeal of the individual mandate.” “Republican efforts to sabotage health care will hit middle-class families the hardest,” […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Bright lights, small town: A group of independent filmmakers bring Hollywood to Santa Maria
Santa Maria is going a little bit Hollywood, thanks to some local filmmakers. Cindy Kitagawa was born and raised in Santa Maria and worked in Los Angeles as an aspiring writer and filmmaker. Now she and a group of local and non-local filmmakers are in Santa Maria shooting a feature length film called Coast. Like […]
Posted inNews
Exxon tanker truck proposal met by protesters before meeting
They came by the dozen and filed in front of the county Engineering Building in Santa Barbara just as the sun began to set on July 11. Armed with signs and shouting slogans decrying fossil fuels, the protesters then marched haphazardly inside, squeezing into the small meeting room that was quickly packed to near capacity. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Debonair affair: Urbane Cafe brings a diverse menu to Santa Maria
When the Urbane Cafe first opened, we beelined it straight for the new venue. Journalists like two things in life: fast, affordable food and funny videos of cats (but we’re not here to talk about that). The venue quietly opened a few months ago in the new Enos Ranch center, which along with bringing mind-numbing […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Fly me to the moon: Santa Maria Public Airport’s latest art display is filled with bold visions
The Santa Maria Public Airport is filled with quiet spaces–people reading books, waiting in line for car rentals, or sharing a meal at the restaurant. Hovering over all of them is an ongoing display of public art featuring painters and photographers from the community. Valley Art Gallery is behind the colorful works that line the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Building a band: Certain Sparks Music offers summer program so kids can join a band in Lompoc
Studying the art of music can often feel like an isolating, solitary affair, with hours spent alone practicing the necessary scales and chords to one day become a “real” musician. That approach to education neglects one thing that has always spurred musicianship throughout the ages: collaboration. Having aspiring musicians study together can actually be an […]
Posted inOpinion
Of course
Sometimes, you just see things coming. At least, those of us who’ve reported on Santa Barbara County, its cities, towns, industries, and activists for any period of time can. That’s why I wasn’t at all surprised to see the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission flooded by protesters from The Center for Biological Diversity, Citizens For […]
Posted inOpinion
Cave rescue in Thailand was no ‘miracle’
The rescue of 12 boys and their soccer coach who were trapped deep in a cave in Mae Sai, Thailand, by flooding from monsoon rains in late June captured worldwide attention. “Miraculous!” was the common exclamation made in response to the news when the last boy and coach were escorted out of the cave. […]
Posted inNews
Spotlight on: Pashion Footwear, Haley Pavone, CEO
It took a freak dance floor accident for Haley Pavone, 22, to look down at her high-heeled shoes and wonder if there was a better way. Working her way through college at Cal Poly SLO as a business major with a focus on entrepreneurship, Pavone attended a formal event in spring of 2016. Like she […]
Posted inNews
Strips that save: Pacific Pride Foundation distributed thousands of fentanyl test strips in past year
It’s been a little over a year since several organizations throughout the state started giving out free fentanyl test strips in an effort to curb opioid overdoses. Since then, California has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars distributing the strips to syringe exchange programs across California, including Santa Barbara County’s Pacific Pride Foundation, which alone […]
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55 Fiction 2018: Keep it short, keep it sweet, and if it’s good enough, you’ll read it this week
55 Fiction Keep it short, keep it sweet, and if it’s good enough, you’ll read it this week You can say a lot in 55 words. You can kill someone, love someone, or save someone. Tell stories about torture, divorce, or family drama. Make political statements. Riff on societal issues. But there are only […]
