It took less than a day for a wildfire near New Cuyama to grow into California’s largest of the year by acreage so far. While the cause of the Madre Fire remains under investigation, fire officials traced back its point of origin to the early afternoon of July 2, along Highway 166 in the Cuyama […]
Madre Fire consumes 80,000-plus acres across the Cuyama Valley
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Sirens examines family dysfunction and the weird power dynamics of the uber-wealthy
Sirens What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix Based on show creator Molly Smith Metzler’s 2011 play Elemento Pea, Sirens is set over the course of a long weekend in one of those beach communities whose only non-millionaire visitors are the workers who drive in to serve the uber rich homeowners and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Jurassic World Rebirth is predictably derivative but entertaining
Jurassic World Rebirth What’s it rated? PG-13 What’s it worth, Anna? Matinee What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande Gareth Edwards (Monsters, Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story) directs this new installment in the Jurassic Park franchise. Written by David Koepp (Jurassic […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Guadalupe Buddhist Church hosts annual Obon festival to honor ancestors
Savor Japanese cuisine, partake in traditional dance, and bask in the Taiko drummers’ traditional booms. The Guadalupe Buddhist Church will host its annual Obon festival July 27 from 12 to 6 p.m. at the Santa Maria Veterans’ Memorial Building. Join community members in the sea of smiles and colorful kimonos to honor Japanese Buddhist ancestors’ […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Cellist-led rock band will blend blues, classical music at Lost Chord Guitars in Solvang
A globetrotting blues, rock, and Americana band will take the stage in Solvang on July 25. With a set list ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Charlie Daniels, Dirty Cello will perform at Lost Chord Guitars at 8 p.m. Instead of a guitarist, cellist Rebecca Roudman leads the band. “We’re all about the fun at our […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Chumash illustrator John Khus highlights cultural heritage, fight for social justice with colorful imagery
When pen meets pad Chumash artist John Khus has been keeping the spirits of his Central Coast ancestors alive for more than four decades. You can find him on Instagram @john.khus. A faceless Statue of Liberty with flowing, black hair dons a colorful array of Indigenous tattoos. The white “Be Human” book she holds in […]
Posted inOpinion
This administration threatens our land, sea, and air
It is all too clear that California’s communities and environment are not immune to the Trump administration—and that state and local leaders’ pushback is powerful and necessary. Having already moved to open public lands to mining and drilling, the Trump administration is now making its presence known off the Central Coast. On April 30, the […]
Posted inOpinion
Swapping dollars
Santa Barbara County is losing its cannabis enforcement team. That’s one way to save $3 million! Apparently illegal cannabis activities in the county have declined significantly since 2018, when the Sheriff’s Office Cannabis Compliance Team first started ripping through illegal grows, weed whacking, bagging, and confiscating all things pot. I remember the images that the […]
Posted inNews
Local nonprofit buys livestock from ag students to help feed the food insecure
Hundreds of animals that have trotted across the Santa Maria Fairpark’s auction grounds over the past three years were raised by young participants of a local charity initiative. Elementary, middle, and high school students who take part in the annual Santa Barbara County Fair’s livestock exhibitions for 4-H, FFA, and Grange programs are eligible for […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch: July 3, 2025
• On June 30, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) introduced the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act—legislation to prevent people who are in crisis from accessing deadly weapons, according to Carbajal’s office. The bill would establish grants to support the implementation of extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws, also known as “red flag” laws, […]
Posted inNews
Buellton City Council scrutinizes proposed $500 hourly fee for library meeting areas
Bounce houses. Cocktail hours. Knitting clubs. Members of the Buellton City Council were recently torn on which types of uses it should allow during temporary rentals of the Buellton Library’s meeting rooms and spacious front lawn. However, all four council members came to a quick consensus on one crucial aspect of city staff’s proposed rental […]
Posted inNews
Man found dead in his Northern Branch Jail cell
A 54-year-old Santa Maria man was found dead in his cell at the Northern Branch Jail on June 28. A custody deputy conducting a routine security and welfare check found Juan Lara unresponsive in his cell in the B Unit around 10:45 p.m., according to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office press release. Deputies and […]
