Brrring: When the clock strikes 1 a.m., Beth Rangel’s alarm sounds. Soon after, she starts cooking meat and prepping ingredients to make the day’s batch of tamales. Call BethBeth’s Tamales and Tacos opens at 11 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday and at 10 a.m. Friday and Saturday, closing at 11 p.m. On Sundays it’s open from […]
Santa Maria
Posted inNews
Guadalupe adopts its first food truck ordinance
In the name of public health and safety, the city of Guadalupe now has a concrete set of regulations that operators of food trucks and trailers must abide by. The food truck ordinance saga in Guadalupe has lasted more than seven years, city contracted Planning Director Larry Appel said at a Feb. 24 City Council […]
Posted inNews
Longtime hearing aid specialist takes on practitioner role with Santa Maria’s Beltone office
Constant ringing. Buzzing. Swishing. Hissing. Tinnitus can take on many different sounds for those who suffer from the condition, commonly due to hearing loss. Local hearing care practitioner Remy Salazar said one seldomly reported form of tinnitus she’s observed over the course of her career is kind of like having a song stuck in your […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria middle schoolers put their creativity on display
Junior high students in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District are proud to present their artwork for one weekend only at the city’s public library. Expanding Perspectives is displayed inside Shepard Hall. Community members are invited to opening night on May 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. The exhibit is also open to the public on […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Try something new with the Central Coast Meatless Meetup crew
Thirteen years ago, Steve Key decided to stop eating animal products. Before he flipped the switch, he’d call himself a “wannabe vegetarian,” refraining from meat most of the time but not going against the grain while out to eat with his buddies. He found it difficult in the 1980s and 1990s to find meatless options […]
Posted inNews
A new live-actionrole-play chapter in Santa Maria extends a sword to prospective participants
In a land not so far away, mortals of all ages build friendships while running around the park swinging harmless weapons and defending themselves with handmade shields. Though it’s a pretend world, their bonds are quite real. Dean Scott often spends his Sundays with friends competing in live-action role-play (LARP) games. They pretend to be […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Old Orcutt Yarnery is accepting sign-ups for classes and a weekend retreat
Whether you’ve never held a knitting needle or you’ve fashioned plenty of garments, the Old Orcutt Yarnery has a spot for you. Seats go quickly for trainings, but the shop released a docket filled with opportunities through the fall. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the help desk is open. Owner Lisa Long and her team are […]
Posted inFood & Drink
From fine dining to delicatessen delights, Tony Minniti knows how to please a crowd
Before discovering Tony’s on Palisade, Craig Diamantopoulos was indifferent about driving with his wife to her doctor’s appointments. She commutes from their home in Lompoc to the Marian Regional Medical Center campus in Santa Maria. But for months now, Diamantopoulos has insisted on making the trek with his wife so he can grab a bite. […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria-Bonita brings on a statewide nonprofit to run after-school programs
Two local groups will continue providing after-school enrichment for elementary and middle school students in Santa Maria, but a statewide organization will soon be in the mix, too. Santa Maria-Bonita School District board members voted 4-1 on April 15 to approve three-year contracts with the Boys and Girls Club of the Central Coast, the Santa […]
Posted inNews
Strawberry grower pays $66,000 to resolve labor dispute
A saga brewing since 2022 for two local ag workers led to a recent $66,000-plus settlement from their employer. In early April, the California Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) announced that a complaint filed against Red Blossom Farms in Santa Maria was resolved when the strawberry grower agreed to compensate two individuals for $66,925 in […]
Posted inOpinion
Santa Maria City Council’s appointment process is seriously flawed
Ricardo Batalla was chosen to represent the voters of District 1 on the City Council by Mayor Alice Patino and Councilmembers Gloria Flores and Maribel Aguilera at the April 7 council meeting. I wish Mr. Batalla, father of three and director of youth development at the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, the very best. He will […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A local director presents Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s last show of the season
A 20-year drought. No private bathrooms. Corporate greed. That’s the dystopian recipe for Urinetown. Not your average musical, the fast-paced dark comedy with over-the-top characters prompts real questions about the shortcomings of bureaucracy and how society manages precious resources. It’s No. 1Urinetown runs from May 15 to 31 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visit smct.org […]
