A group of landowners filed a lawsuit against the city of Solvang on March 7 over a development that is still in the planning process. The Santa Ynez Valley Residents Association (SYVRA) is asking the court to vacate the city’s December 2024 determination that the Wildwood project application is complete, saying the city violated one […]
Santa Ynez residents sue Solvang over Wildwood development
Posted inNews
Cal Poly commits to three new bachelor’s programs at Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus
Less than a month after introducing a new bill centered on postsecondary education, Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) withdrew from pushing it forward. Without reaching a single hearing, the proposal itself helped solve the problem the bill aimed to fix, Allan Hancock College President Kevin Walthers said. On March 17, Walthers shared a stage with […]
Posted inNews
Precarious permits: Sable awaits Santa Barbara County’s decision on whether it can take over operator permits from ExxonMobil
About a month after Santa Barbara County supervisors voted 2-2 on the appeal to Sable Offshore Corporation’s permit transfer application, the county is still trying to decide what it means. “We are still considering the issue internally, and I do not have an update on our final determination yet,” county Energy, Minerals, and Compliance Deputy […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Amada Cellars opens wine tasting room in Los Alamos, making decades-old dream a reality
Opening soon On April 19, Amada Cellars will host the grand opening for its tasting room at 490 Bell St., No. 104, in Los Alamos. The event will feature a selection of their wines and live music. For more information on the new tasting room, visit exploretock.com/amada-cellars. Seated at a picnic table at Sequoia Grove […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Electric State is visually dazzling and a fun sci-fi comedy romp
The Electric State What’s it rated? PG-13 When? 2025 Where’s it showing? Netflix Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War) direct this sci-fi adventure comedy set in a retro-futuristic 1990s alternative reality. After a war between robots and humans (no, not like Terminator … these bots look like they were […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Crip Camp traces the difficult road to disabled rights
Crip Camp What’s it rated? R When? 2020 Where’s it showing? Netflix I first heard about Crip Camp on a podcast that discusses documentaries, and not only did it sound like a wonderfully touching film, but it was executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, so I knew as soon as this came across one […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Novocaine is sweet, funny, bloody fun
Novocaine What’s it rated? R What’s it worth, Anna? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande Co-directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen bring Lars Jacobson’s action comedy to the screen about Nathan “Nate” Caine (Jack Quaid), an introverted bank executive […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Mitra Cline showcases digital art, interactive installations, and crafts at Lompoc’s Cypress Gallery
The Lompoc Valley Art Association presents Cuckoo’s Mixed Reality Nest, a solo exhibition showcasing works by Santa Barbara-based artist Mitra Cline, at Cypress Gallery. The exhibit is scheduled to open on April 3 and remain on display through April 27. The show is described as a collection of traditional crafts—such as masks, bowls, and cards—and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A $500,000 matching grant boosts SLO REP’s new theater capital campaign
Donate before June 30 Thanks to the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust’s generosity, through June 30, donations to the SLO Repertory Theatre will be doubled. Altogether, the project will cost $21.5 million, and there’s still $2.4 million to raise. More than 90 percent of the goal has been met to break ground in early 2026. […]
Posted inOpinion
Democrats, take this opportunity to engage!
We’ve all seen the many viral videos of town hall meetings during which Republican voters are haranguing their elected Republican officials over the gutting of federal programs crucial to American families. As a result, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has been advising Republicans to stop holding town hall meetings for their […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Local high school students stage Newsies in Santa Maria
Pioneer Valley High School presents its production of Newsies, with performances at the school’s Performing Arts Center—aka the SMJUHSD Performing Arts Center—in Santa Maria through Saturday, March 15 (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. each evening). Inspired by the Newsboys’ Strike of 1899 in New York City, the plot of this Broadway sensation centers […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Artisan natural perfumer Susan Farber guides CalNAM visitors in building transportive scents from the ground up
Follow your nose Sol Aromatics founder Susan Farber will host natural perfume-making workshops at the California Nature Art Museum in Solvang on Sunday, March 16, and Sunday, April 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. on both days. Register in advance at calnatureartmuseum.org. Admission is $130 for museum members and $140 for nonmembers. The museum is […]