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 […]
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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 […]
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LAFCO supports water connection between Santa Maria and Bonita Elementary School
Potable water at Bonita Elementary School is strictly of the bottled variety, at least until a newly county-greenlit plan to connect with a municipal utility comes to fruition. Elevated levels of groundwater nitrates are at the fountainhead of the issue, evaluated by the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) in December 2024, and again […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Miller Family Wine Company named Grower of the Year, launches AI sommelier service
Not long after accepting a coveted award for winemaking innovation at the state’s capital, the Miller Family Wine Company pushed industry boundaries further with a state-of-the-art update. In January, the local producer—the umbrella company that includes Bien Nacido Estates, J. Wilkes, Ballard Lane, Pandemonium, and other Central Coast staples—was recognized as the 2025 Grower of […]
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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 […]
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Orchids After Dark shines a light on local wine-produced paintings and DJ sets
Orchid kindred For more info on the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show and Orchids After Dark, held March 7 through 9, visit sborchidshow.com. Both events will be at Earl Warren Showgrounds, located at 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara. Intricate floral arrangements at the 77th annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show will take on a new […]
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Brix Wine Bar makes a splash in Shell Beach
For après-beach and beauty Brix Wine Bar & Bottle Shop, located next to Fringe by Jasi & Co. hair salon at 753 Shell Beach Road in Pismo Beach, is open Monday and Thursday from 2 to 8 p.m., Friday from 2 to 9 p.m., Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m., Sunday from 1 to 8 […]
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Santa Barbara County supervisors increase salaries 48 percent, push back on Andy Caldwell
After reaching out to what he said was 70,000 to 80,000 Santa Barbara County residents about the Board of Supervisors’ proposed salary increase, Andy Caldwell told supervisors that they didn’t have the “consent of the governed.” “Think of the people who are struggling with inflation right now. What you are doing is a slap in […]
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Santa Maria students marched toward City Hall to protest immigration enforcement tactics
School bells didn’t dictate about 300 students’ early departure from local campuses, recalled Cesar Vasquez, the 17-year-old organizer of a Feb. 18 walkout. The recent rally called for certain protective parameters between Santa Maria residents—documented or not—and officers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Students from middle schools and high schools in Santa Maria and […]
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Trilogy Art Group holds spring exhibit at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts
March gladness The Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande will debut its new exhibit of artworks by members of the Trilogy Art Group on Saturday, March 1. An opening reception will be held on Sunday, March 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. The show is scheduled to remain on display through Wednesday, […]
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Farm-to-jar juice vendor Kimberly Zimmerman is living The Juicy Life
Special delivery For more info on farm-to-jar juice vendor and yoga instructor Kimberly Zimmerman’s business, The Juicy Life, visit thejuicylifeyoga.com. Zimmerman will be among the featured food and drink professionals participating at this year’s Santa Barbara County Women Winemakers and Culinarians Celebration, set to run March 6 through 9. Visit sbwomenwinemakers.com to find out more. […]
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Santa Maria local Juliana Neel takes on new leadership role at Talley Vineyards
Talley chart Call (805) 489-0446(805) 489-0446 or visit talleyvineyards.com to find out more about Talley Vineyards, located at 3031 Lopez Drive, Arroyo Grande. Imagine a cozy blanket in wine form. That’s what makes Talley Vineyards’ 2022 grenache perfect for cold, stormy nights, according to the local winery’s new tasting room manager, Juliana Neel. “[It’s] pure […]