St. Joseph High School senior Ysabel Adoremos always knew she wanted to be a nurse. Both of her parents are nurses, and she loved the idea of working in the medical field. After her first week in the Dignity Health Centers of the Central Coast physician mentor program this summer, Adoremos discovered her interest in […]
Category Feature
Posted inOpinion
Best of the best
We’ve had not just one fire, but two this summer. Both started along Highway 166’s lonely stretch of two-lane road and lapped up vegetation, grassland, and oak-studded hills stretching through federal land—Los Padres National Forest, Carrizo Plain National Monument, the Caliente Mountain Wilderness Study Area, the Garcia Wilderness—threatened ranches, remote houses, county parks, cattle, crops, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Pico Los Alamos hosts a tomato-forward lunch with the farmer who grew them
Nine years ago, Kali Kopley and Will Henry bought the original Los Alamos General Store that was built in 1880 and turned it into their restaurant, Pico Los Alamos. Their goal was to create a farmer-driven, fine dining spot. The husband-wife duo tore out the parking lot behind the building and planted a garden. Let’s […]
Posted inOpinion
The land itself is the area’s biggest loss in the aftermath of the Gifford Fire
The Gifford Fire has been burning in two counties for a couple of weeks. This fire, combined with a previous burn in the same area, has incinerated well over 200,000 acres of vegetation; that’s more than 300 square miles of now barren land. The immediate losses, millions of dollars in losses, are associated with ranches, […]
Posted inOpinion
‘American silence is a crime’
With so many humanitarian atrocities continuing to happen here locally on the Central Coast, in our state, across the United States, and globally, I’ve spent many sleepless hours pondering how I’ve become so disillusioned and frustrated with Americans. Until this year, I’ve been proud to be an American and part of our society that I […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A Lompoc artist strengthens the community with art clubs and shows
See the show Visit the Creating Through Chaos show through Aug. 24 at the Cypress Gallery, which is located at 119 E. Cypress Ave. in Lompoc. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Reach Manic Creative online at maniccreativeart.com or on Instagram at @maniccreativeart. Mixed-media artist Jasmine Gonzalez moved […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Best of NSBC 2025
Find out who won!
You’ve worked hard to get here. You’ve struggled, failed, and overcome. You’ve built your business through hard work, teamwork, and thankless work. And I’m here to tell you two things: First, it’s paid off. And second, this is just the beginning of your storied life as one of Northern Santa Barbara County’s best. So savor […]
Posted inNews
Red Cross provides safe parking for evacuee during the Gifford Fire
Often wedged between Dave Hild’s van dashboard and windshield, the retired zookeeper’s road maps range from blueprint-style scrolls to thick, paperback atlases. “These don’t require batteries or a signal, and I can drop them in the creek and they’ll still work,” said the former Charles Paddock Zoo employee, who’s lived off-grid in his van for […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Freakier Friday delivers emotive body swap comedy
Freakier Friday What’s it rated? PG What’s it worth, Chuck? Full price What’s it worth, Glen? Full price Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande, Fair Oaks Nisha Ganatra (Late Night, The High Note) directs this sequel to Freaky Friday (2003), itself a remake of a 1976 film […]
Posted inOpinion
Flooding downtown
Do you think it’s possible that converting a dingy old department store in downtown Santa Maria into apartments is the step needed to reinvigorate an area that’s needed reinvigoration for as long as it can remember? I remember when Fallas Discount Store first proposed filling the space on Broadway. It was 2013. Mayor Alice Patino […]
Posted inOpinion
The Central Coast desperately needs to build its way out of the housing crisis
We are pro-housing. Period. At Generation Build, housing is our core mission. We advocate for it all: for all types, at all levels. Unlike some organizations, we aren’t afraid to engage in the tough political conversations that others shy away from. That’s because we know real progress requires bold action, not empty platitudes. To solve […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Rideau Vineyard celebrates National Relaxation Day with new wines
In its 141 years of existence, the Rancho El Alamo Pintado Adobe has lived many lives. It was a French countess’ social spot, an innkeeper’s guest house, and a rancher’s home. In 1996 Iris Rideau bought the estate, and Rideau Vineyard was born. The adobe is now Rideau’s tasting room, where guests take in a […]