It’s not unusual for the Santa Maria Police Department to receive calls from cellphones, which can be difficult to track. In one such case, a 10-year-old called the department’s dispatch center from her apartment, where she had locked herself in the bathroom with a cellphone. In the next room, her mother was being robbed at […]
Santa Maria invites neighboring agencies to join upgraded radio communication system
Posted inNews
Man killed by Chumash security had been banned from casino
The man shot and killed by a Chumash Casino security officer on Feb. 20 had been banned from the property since November 2017, according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Jose Guido, 37, was killed near a parking structure on casino grounds at 2:15 a.m. that day after allegedly trespassing and refusing to leave […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc police seek help to ID stabbing, robbery suspects
The Lompoc Police Department requested help from the public on Feb. 27, following a robbery at a 7-Eleven convenience store at 1337 N. H St. Police spokespersons said in a statement that the crime occurred just after 2:30 a.m. The suspect reportedly entered the business armed with a pistol and a large knife and punched […]
Posted inOpinion
On repeat
Are we caught in some kind of Star Trek-esque time loop, where the same events keep repeating themselves in perpetuity? Another threat on a local school following a national mass shooting. Violent crimes in the streets of North County cities. Natural disaster warnings buzzing phones. County government and residents arguing over recreational cannabis regulations. It’s […]
Posted inOpinion
Hey Canary
Regarding last week’s review of the description of the walking trail “between the city and the town” (“Crucial concerns,” Feb. 22) … What town and what city? If a trail along the “levee” is envisioned, let it be known there is no levee in Guadalupe. The Santa Maria River embankment/levee stops above (east of) the […]
Posted inOpinion
California’s early release program denies crime victims a chance to speak
Like much of the country, I watched the emotional testimony unfold from the victims of disgraced U.S. Olympic Gymnastics sports doctor Larry Nassar. It is a powerful reminder of how we can give victims a chance to heal by speaking in court, face to face with the person who harmed them. The process of healing […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 3/1/18
• U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-California) failed to receive the endorsement of California Democratic Party delegates for re-election to her U.S. Senate seat after a vote at the party convention on Feb. 24 in San Diego left her with fewer votes than Democratic challenger and state Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles), who also didn’t […]
Posted inNews
A river runs through them: Six artists take ‘A River’s Journey’ through the heart of the Santa Ynez Valley watershed at the Wildling Museum
View a slideshow from the hanging of the exhibit. There is an idea of water. There is an idea of how it bends. It cools, quenches, consumes. It drowns, rebirths, soothes. And it carries. Artist Nicole Strasburg has been alive with all of these ideas about water for the better part of two years. Stepping […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Vintners Bar and Grill is perfect for lovers or anyone who enjoys upscale casual dining
One of the best ways to experience the talents of local chefs is to try out their prix fixe menu. A prix fixe menu comes with a set list of menu options at a fixed price and is generally meant to showcase the diversity of a chef as well as highlight the overall vision of […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Solvang Library seeks poetry submissions from Santa Ynez Valley students
The Solvang Library is asking Santa Ynez Valley sixth, seventh, and eighth graders to write a poem and share it with the community in a public reading. Writers are asked to submit a 25-line poem on the theme “Selfies: Pretense, Truth, and Dreams.” Submissions are due by March 30, and a public reading and showcase […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Solvang artist Laura Scandalis Cross takes a playful look at life
A visit to Laura Scandalis Cross’ Solvang home and makeshift studio first starts with a greeting from Betty. Betty is Cross’ dog, who’s ready to inspect any visitor approaching the front door. Once she’s satisfied with an offering of pets and dog-friendly affirmations, she retires to the welcoming space of Cross’ living room, adorned with […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA delivers powerful production of Arthur Miller’s ‘The Crucible’
When watching a play like The Crucible, now more than 65 years old, one wonders what playwright Arthur Miller would make of America now. Miller set his landmark, Tony Award-winning play in one of the darkest eras in American history, to shine a light on the troubling hysteria of the Red Scare, led by Joseph […]