I’m at an undisclosed location nestled off a dirt road atop a hillside across the way from the SLO airport. With a quaint yellow farmhouse, rolling green lawn, and epic sunset view, the setting feels very much “the Central Coast wedding venue.” On this evening, everything is decked out like a bride’s dream Pinterest board: […]
Dank dinner served: Weed-infused wedding fare makes for a high time
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Adult children
My youngest offspring—my only daughter, my little girl, the apple of my eye—turned 18 recently. This means I’m old. I can’t run around and act like a kid if my own kid isn’t a kid anymore and is actually an adult. I only have myself to blame for this situation because years ago, when my […]
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Local musicians can submit new albums and songs to the New Times Music Awards
It’s that time of year again, when local singer-songwriters, bands, rappers, and composers seal their EPs, albums, or recordings with a bow and send them into the New Times Music Awards. Is this the year you’ll finally enter, or are you going to watch someone else take home the coveted Newtie? The competition is open […]
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Allan Hancock College receives Makerspace grant
Allan Hancock College was one of 24 colleges to receive a CCC Maker Implementation Grant from the California Community Colleges (CCC) Chancellor’s Office. The college was awarded $350,000 to build an inclusive makerspace community in collaboration with the Santa Maria Public Library and the Santa Maria Discovery Museum. In January, CCC Maker awarded Hancock an […]
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Santa Maria Public Library awarded bilingual book grant
The California State Library’s Immigrant Alliance Project gave the Santa Maria Public Library System a $7,500 grant to purchase bilingual children’s books for the main library and all branch library locations. The books will feature printed text in both Spanish and English, to help meet the needs of families in various local communities. The library […]
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Daytripper: Walk the plank to the Needles Lookout in Giant Sequoia National Monument
My hands are shaking slightly as I tentatively try to take an iPhone panorama with one hand while hanging on tightly to my dog’s leash in the other. My mind is telling me that maybe this wasn’t the best choice, but I’ve adapted to ignoring that insistent little whisper. And the payoff is almost always […]
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‘Tree’ novel chronicles California history through an unusual narrator
We humans are lucky if we get a solid 100 years on this planet, but imagine what it might be like to live for several centuries, all in the same exact spot you were born. Well, in a fascinating work of magical realism, author Melina Sempill Watts’ novel released earlier this year explores just that. […]
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Local family agencies merge to offer services countywide
The Santa Maria Valley Youth and Family Center and the Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County (FSA) recently merged to form a single countywide organization that will provide mental health counseling, basic needs assistance, and case management services to more than 28,000 residents a year. Services are now more readily available countywide, according to […]
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Hobnobbing with Helen: Merry mixer
“Christmas in July.” Oh, my goodness, this pre-holiday happening sounded intriguing! Christmas was the theme of the monthly Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce mixer hosted by Altrusa of the Golden Valley on July 20 at the Santa Maria Town Center mall. The theme was carried out with red and green decorations, holiday napkins, and […]
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Salud Carbajal opens Santa Maria office
Along with residents of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria voters can now indulge in all the luxuries that accompany having a fully staffed congressional district office within city limits. Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) hosted an open house on July 31 to celebrate the grand opening of his newest district office in Santa […]
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Santa Maria aims to make Depot/Fesler intersection safer
A recent traffic report conducted by the Santa Maria Public Works Department revealed what many Santa Marians already knew: The intersection at North Depot and West Fesler streets is congested and dangerous. The traffic study was done as part of an environmental impact report (EIR) that was completed when plans were made to develop a […]
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Buellton City Council agrees to retool RV ordinance
The Buellton City Council saw packed chambers at its July 27 meeting, when it reconsidered an ordinance banning trailers, boats, and recreational vehicles (RVs) from being parked on residential driveways, lawns, and streets. Residents filled every seat, stood, and a line of children sat along a back wall during a charged public comment session. “First […]