Around 200 motorcycles are expected to gather Saturday morning at the Santa Maria Airport The California State Rally is being put on by local members of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association "We want to let our community know that we're here We also raise money to help local communities with their events whatever is needed," says Patrick "Reaper" Weart member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Organizers say the inaugural event will raise funds for local charities and veterans in need The Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association says that veterans are traveling from across the state to take part in the event To learn more, become a member or donate, click here for more details EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated throughout The body of an 18-year-old from Matamoros was found on Sunday morning near Santa Maria according to Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino The body was found along the bank of the Rio Grande Trevino said the death is being treated as an accidental drowning Trevino said the victim was identified by his family as an 18-year-old from Matamoros and his name is being withheld from the public out of respect for his family.  We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy '+n.escapeExpression("function"==typeof(o=null!=(o=r(e,"eyebrowText")||(null!=l?r(l,"eyebrowText"):l))?o:n.hooks.helperMissing)?o.call(null!=l?l:n.nullContext||{},{name:"eyebrowText",hash:{},data:t,loc:{start:{line:28,column:63},end:{line:28,column:78}}}):o)+" \n '+(null!=(o=c(e,"if").call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2PreText"):l,{name:"if",hash:{},fn:n.program(32,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:63,column:20},end:{line:63,column:61}}}))?o:"")+"\n"+(null!=(o=(c(e,"ifAll")||l&&c(l,"ifAll")||n.hooks.helperMissing).call(r,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Text"):l,null!=l?c(l,"cta2Link"):l,{name:"ifAll",hash:{},fn:n.program(34,t,0),inverse:n.noop,data:t,loc:{start:{line:64,column:20},end:{line:70,column:30}}}))?o:"")+" The pontiff shunned fanfare by picking a small niche in the basilica he visited more than 100 times during his papacy Jorge Mario Bergoglio would always call into Santa Maria Maggiore (Saint Mary Major) during his regular visits to the Italian capital The fourth-century basilica with its distinctive bell tower is perched on one of Rome’s seven ancient hills in Esquilino a neighbourhood that lies between the Colosseum and Termini train station which during the Roman empire served as a burial ground for slaves Bergoglio had a close shave with a suspected pickpocket Read moreFrancis frequented the basilica, which is about two-and-a-half miles away from Vatican City, more than 100 times during his 12-year papacy, mostly to pray before and after trips overseas. On 23 March, the day he was discharged from hospital after a near-fatal bout of pneumonia he stopped by to deliver flowers on his way back to the Vatican On Saturday, Francis, who died on Monday aged 88, will make the final journey to Santa Maria Maggiore for his burial. He will leave behind the presidents, prime ministers and royals attending his funeral mass in St Peter’s Square and on arrival at the basilica will be given a final sendoff by Rome’s poor and needy Francis is the first pontiff in more than a century not to be buried with great fanfare in the grottoes beneath St Peter’s Basilica his simple wooden coffin will be entombed in a small niche that until now has been used to store candlestick holders because he felt [papal funerals] were overembellished,” said Martínez-Brocal “He didn’t want to be shown lying on cushions Francis was shown several areas in the vast basilica before settling on the niche in the left nave close to Paolina chapel home to the venerated Byzantine icon of Mary that he always prayed before the tomb will not be decorated and will be inscribed only with his papal name in Latin: Franciscus I want to be buried here,’” Martínez-Brocal said Francis told Martínez-Brocal that the basilica had endeared him because of his “great devotion” to Mary He also recalled his encounter with the suspected pickpocket to the journalist a moment Francis said “I will never forget” “He was walking towards the basilica and someone went up to him and said: ‘I don’t have petrol can you give me some money?’,” Martínez-Brocal said The man then tried to sell him a flashy watch for pittance I was told that if I had taken out my wallet The once-neglected Esquilino is a populous multicultural neighbourhood where in recent years many actors and film directors have settled Even though Santa Maria Maggiore is less well known than St Peter’s visitors can gaze up at the stunning coffered ceiling said to be gilded with gold brought back from the Americas by Christopher Columbus There is also a chapel designed by Michelangelo The fourth-century basilica sits on one of Rome’s seven ancient hills in Esquilino Photograph: Andreea Alexandru/APAnd Pope Francis is not the only famous person to be buried there On the opposite side of the basilica is the tomb of the 17th-century Italian sculptor and architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini The basilica has become increasingly popular with pilgrims and tourists in recent years particularly in the days since Francis died “He radiated peace through every pore of his being,” said Erika after leaving a message in a tribute book for Francis by the basilica’s entrance priests are on hand to give pilgrims confessions and blessings Standing in a queue waiting for a priest to bless various holy souvenirs bought during her trip to Rome said: “I can understand why Francis chose to be buried here This article was amended on 25 April 2025 An earlier version referred to mosaics in Santa Maria Maggiore brought over by Christopher Columbus; however it is the gold on the ceiling that is said to be from Columbus ROME — Pope Francis will be the first pontiff in more than a century to be buried outside the Vatican Grottoes he will be laid to rest in the Basilica of St which stands sentinel across the city in the Esquilino district Legend has it that this fourth century church was built after the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to an aristocrat requesting a house of worship in her honor who is the coadjutor archpriest of the Basilica of St requesting that he be laid to rest in her church divine from Mary directly," Makrickas said Francis recounted the story of the Virgin Mary's appearance before him during a meeting at his residence in which the Pope asked Makrickas to make the necessary arrangements for his tomb at the basilica "He told me: 'I am very I am so happy that Mary didn't forget me.' " Mary Major basilica — with its colonnades of cipollino marble and intricate statues — 126 times He went there principally to pray to the Salus Populi Romani health or protectress of the Roman people in Latin a painting on cedar wood that shows the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus This icon was brought to Rome from the East in the fifth century when Mary was declared the Mother of God at the Council of Ephesus in 431 whose written narratives became the gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts in the New Testament The Virgin Mary icon seemed to become almost an ally for Francis in his papacy. He visited her on his first day as pope in 2013, and would pray to her before and after every trip out of Rome. It was the first place he went after he was discharged from Gemelli hospital in March to convalesce from double pneumonia at the Vatican And he returned to pray there just days before he died on Easter Monday The Salus Populi Romani is said to have saved Rome from a plague in the year 590 when Pope Gregory the Great organized a procession with her through the city streets And during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 "We know that you can take care of us," Francis said during his prayers "But the vast majority of these popes were buried here during the 120 plus years it took to build St In the days leading up to Francis' funeral the basilica has been alive with visitors curious to see the church where he will be buried The chapel that houses the Salus Populi Romani was crowded with faithful in prayer Their words and song rang out into the high ceilinged basilica And beside the chapel was the nave where Francis will be buried it was obscured by chipboard panels as works continued on Francis' burial vault The Vatican later released a photo showing the tomb ready to receive him after the funeral On the back wall of the nave hangs a replica of Francis' pectoral cross And on the ground is a simple marble stone containing a single word engraved: Franciscus The simplicity of his resting place follows the express request made by Francis in his will Pope Francis shunned much of the pomp and frills of papacy — choosing simpler dress appearing in a modest Fiat car (when not riding in the popemobile) Popes are traditionally buried inside three nested coffins: one of cypress wood Francis has chosen a single wooden casket lined with zinc "The message we took from Francis' simplicity is that he was trying to make people understand that we are all the same," says Giuseppe Cipolla "And that this planet is for everyone — there shouldn't be the privileged and the poor." Francis will be the first pope in more than 350 years to be buried at the Basilica of St. Mary Major. (The last one was Clement IX.) the Esquilino district where it is housed has a large immigrant population and the city's main train station  the area — the Esquiline Hill — was one of the seven ancient hills on which Rome was founded The foundational story is a miraculous tale After the Virgin Mary appeared to the aristocrat Giovanni and to Pope Liberius in a dream asking for a church in her honor she told them they should build it in a location that would be miraculously revealed Become an NPR sponsor Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time e-mail us at webmaster@santamariatimes.com or call us at 805.925.2691 A major development could reshape part of Orcutt as Santa Maria city leaders and county officials consider the proposed annexation of land for the Richards Ranch project a 44-acre residential and commercial development plan The project site is located near the intersection of Union Valley Parkway and Highway 135 the development would bring 400 apartments The land is currently part of unincorporated Santa Barbara County, but the developer has applied to have it annexed into the City of Santa Maria. In November 2024, the Santa Maria City Council approved a resolution to submit an annexation application to the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) “The annexation application is under review by LAFCO currently,” said Dana Eady Planning Division Manager for the Community Development Department of Santa Maria “A hearing for review by LAFCO to either approve or deny the application will be held sometime in the future.” A study session with LAFCO is scheduled for Thursday at 511 East Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria for informational purposes only allowing commissioners to ask questions about the proposal Pastor Greg Kintzi of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church which sits directly behind the proposed development site says the congregation has been learning about the project through regular meetings he’s hosted “I have mixed feelings about it,” Kintzi said It's been wonderful to have these open fields behind our church for so many years but it also offers some opportunities for us to reach out to neighbors and invite them to be a part of our ministry here at Gloria Dei.” He also sees potential in the mixed-use design “There’ll be some businesses that people can frequent There will be a pool that will be part of the apartment complex,” Kintzi said while also expressing concern about infrastructure “Union Valley Parkway is unique in terms of how it’s going to widen as they develop so there’ll be parts that will be getting wider while other parts remain small the developer will still need to go through additional permitting with the Santa Maria Planning Commission before construction can begin A Santa Maria grocery store was destroyed by a fire Tuesday night Santa Maria Fire Marshal Jim Austin says firefighters responded to a fire alarm call at Lassen’s Natural Food on the 1700 block of South Broadway at 11:44 p.m Austin says firefighters were able to gain control of the fire in less than two hours active areas of the fire that burned into the afternoon on Wednesday due to the severity of the fire it’s believed to have started in the attic area and likely on the south end of the building He says there was no indication of foul play or the fire being intentionally set and is confident it’s accidental; however due to the roof partially collapsing and safety concerns the fire investigation was unable to be completed Austin says specialized equipment will be needed to assist them with completing their investigation which he’s hoping can be done in the next week or two Multiple agencies assisted with the firefight a ladder truck and battalion chief from Santa Maria City Fire an engine and battalion chief from Santa Barbara County Fire a ladder truck from the Five Cities Fire Authority an engine from Pismo Fire and additional help from CAL FIRE crews in Nipomo locks were placed on the doors to the store and fencing put up around the perimeter to keep people out Austin says the structure is unstable and the roof is continuing to collapse KSBY has reached out to Lassen’s for comment but has not yet heard back and volunteers took part in a large-scale emergency drill at the Santa Maria Airport on Thursday The exercise simulated a mass casualty incident (MCI) and is part of a federal requirement to ensure airports are ready to handle real-life crises is mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and involves testing the airport’s emergency response plan This year’s scenario included simulated victims “It’s huge for volunteers to give us real-life aspect of a live victim,” said Battalion Chief Seth Wells but a lot of these volunteers are doing great in playing the part.” Wells added that hands-on experience is invaluable for crews “It just gets that real-world experience you just can’t get from a piece of cardboard or a blow-up dummy or anything like that,” he said representatives from the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara airports also participated “We work together and train together to prepare if something like this were to happen at one of our local airports,” said Martin Pehl Santa Maria Public Airport District Manager The drill helps test everything from communication systems to patient transport ensuring that in the event of an actual emergency all involved agencies can respond swiftly and effectively A key element of this year’s drill was the involvement of the new Regional Fire Communications Center which handled all incident communications during the exercise With the center set to go live in the next two weeks officials saw this as an opportunity to give dispatchers a realistic From managing radio traffic to coordinating with multiple agencies the goal was to simulate the intensity of a real emergency and ensure the communications team is ready when it counts A Santa Maria man has been arrested on charges of illicit marijuana sales and a weapons violation according to the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office (SBCSO) Authorities say detectives from the Cannabis Compliance Team began their investigation in early March when they found indications on social media that a subject was selling illicit marijuana in the Santa Maria area detectives reportedly identified the suspect as 23-year-old Alexis Silviano Vazquez Guzman SBCSO says detectives served a search warrant at Vazquez Guzman’s residence on the 300 block of East Bunny Avenue in Santa Maria detectives reportedly seized 1,104 THC vaporizer pens/cartridges 33 miscellaneous battery packs/pods for THC vaporizer pens One handgun that was not serialized and approximately $37,597 in cash were also found at the residence SBCSO says they believe the marijuana products were purchased legally with the intent to resell without a license Vazquez Guzman was arrested and booked at the Northern Branch Jail for several misdemeanors including possession of marijuana for sale possession of a firearm without a serial number The Santa Maria resident was also charged with various felonies including selling marijuana to a minor and possession with intent to sell to a minor Vazquez Guzman has since been released on bail SBCSO is encouraging parents and guardians to stay informed and vigilant of their children misusing social media platforms for illegal activities including the purchase of cannabis products Officials suggest taking note of these important signs and tips: SBCSO also provides some tips for how parents or guardians can respond to the issue: Officials say anyone with information about illicit marijuana sales can contact the SBCSO Cannabis Compliance Team at (805) 681-4150 or the anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4171 It's the sweetest time of the year in the Santa Maria Valley That's because the Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival kicks off Friday with a three-day weekend community event at the Santa Maria Fairpark The festival offers a wide variety of unique things to do including free strawberry tasting and dessert eating contests Tickets sold at the gate are $17 for adults There are a few sweet ticket specials for the Strawberry Festival this year Seniors get in free all day Friday and youth tickets are reduced to $6 all day Saturday The Santa Maria Fairpark is located at 937 S After discovering a subject was using social media to illegally sell marijuana to minors in Santa Maria the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office mounted an investigation in early March Detectives later identified 23-year-old Alexis Silviano Vazquez Guzman as the illegal pot dealer detectives served a search warrant at Vazquez Guzman’s residence in the 300-block of E Detectives seized over 1,100 THC vaporizer pens 33 miscellaneous battery packs for THC vaporizer pens approximately three pounds of cannabis flower Detectives believe the marijuana products were purchased legally with the intent to resell without a license Officers booked Vazquez Guzman in Northern Branch Jail for possession of marijuana for sales selling marijuana to a minor and possession for sales to a minor As social media platforms become more integrated into daily life they are increasingly being misused for illegal activities — including the purchase of cannabis products The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office encourages parents and guardians to stay informed and vigilant Sudden increase in privacy or secretiveness online Unexpected cash transactions or use of payment apps Packages arriving at home with no clear origin The comments below represent the opinion of the writer and do not represent the views or policies of CalCoastNews.com.  Please address the Policies, events and arguments, not the person. Constructive debate is good; mockery, taunting, and name calling is not.   Comment Guidelines and drug dealers who target young people are particularly loathsome lower life forms Guzman deserves the absolute maximum punishment the judge can impose in this case But but but it’s no more dangerous that alcohol…..among all the other nonsense we hear about illegal drugs At least be smart enough to hide the cash to use for bail   Editor Bill Loving Reporter Karen Velie, (805) 234-1703 Reporter Josh Friedman Founder Daniel Blackburn Tip Your Team tips@calcoastnews.com Advertise ads@calcoastnews.com Moderator moderator@calcoastnews.com Site Issues admin@calcoastnews.com The Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library is holding its 14th annual Painted Chair raffle The fundraiser allows people to buy raffle tickets for the chance to win book-themed items crafted by local artists Organizers say the money raised will go toward materials programs and services that the Santa Maria Public Library would not otherwise have The charity raffle goes through May 10 and is located on the second floor of the Santa Maria Town Center Mall next to Macy’s Tickets are $1 dollar each or six for $5. A live drawing of those tickets will happen on May 10 and 4 p.m. on the non-profit’s Facebook page feeling burdened by the world that never seems to slow down I didn’t exactly know what that break would look like; all I really did was say “yes” when a friend mentioned going out of town for the weekend for his sister’s confirmation That’s the sound my phone makes at any given time of day — boring emails Canvas notifications and group chats I don’t have the energy to answer grabbed gas station snacks and drove down the coast with no real plan besides showing up and not thinking too hard about it the quieter my brain started to feel — like the noise of everything I’d been carrying couldn’t be heard past a certain mile marker Santa Maria wasn’t some flashy escape; it was slow a little sleepy and exactly what I didn’t know I needed there was no pressure to perform or explain myself — just time space and the kind of stillness that reminds you what it feels like to just be We were disappointed that we’d missed the infamous St reminding me of my family trips to Santa Barbara My friends and I wandered in and out of bookstores and knick-knack shops swelling adoration for the people I was with each so wildly different from the next that you’d never mix us up in a police lineup they made me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be One of them moved through the world like sunlight always radiating warmth toward anyone lucky enough to have a conversation with him like even my heaviest thoughts couldn’t quite stick the kind of person who remembers your favorite candy from weeks ago and notices when your smile doesn’t quite reach your eyes they always said exactly what I needed to hear someone who made me feel like I was living in one of their poems constantly narrating the world with a kind of wit and wonder that made everything feel more vivid I think I grew to love each of them in different ways — not the kind of love that needs to be declared or defined The way we shared fries in the gas station Arby’s The way they pulled me into the ocean even though I swore I wasn’t going to get my jeans wet The way I caught myself smiling just because they were near a nearby coastal town with an ocean that looked as if it should have been slapped onto a postcard kicked off our shoes and walked along the shore collecting shells without a care in the world I wasn’t thinking about what I needed to do next the salt in the air and the comfort of being somewhere that only demanded that I live in the present As we wandered through the bustling streets and talked about nothing and everything at once I felt something I hadn’t in a long time: gratitude There was something healing about the simplicity of it all: the soft wind the good company and the kind of laughter that comes easily when you’re with people who don’t need you to be “on.” Even the burgers we grabbed afterward — greasy The day wound down as we made it to our friend’s family home a house that smelled like home-cooked meals and beckoned us with its warmth even before we stepped inside His parents welcomed us with that effortless hospitality only big Latino families seem to have mastered The living room was soft-lit and a little cluttered in the way that says a house is lived in wake time felt criminal after the full day we’d had but the smell of bolillos and fresh coffee was enough to peel us off the couch Someone’s mom was already bustling around the kitchen making sure everything was perfect for the party that was to follow We went to church and watched as our friend’s little sister walked down the aisle and I couldn't help but think about all the things we miss when we’re too caught up in our own lives to show up for someone else’s But what stuck with me most wasn’t the ceremony the front yard had been completely transformed pink and blue balloons fluttering in the breeze trays of food that never seemed to run out and the joyous laughs of kids bouncing up and down in the playhouse toddlers in tiny formal wear and a type of warmth that made me want to give my mom a call someone was handing me a drink or asking where I was from or pulling me into a conversation like I’d been a part of the family for years and I couldn’t help but look out at the road ahead and wish I had just a little more time but just to exist in that pocket of peace for a bit longer deadlines and feelings I hadn’t sorted through I felt like I could face it all — like maybe I didn’t have to have it all figured out as long as I had people who made the world feel a little softer Sometimes peace doesn’t look like breakthroughs or big moments Sometimes it’s a weekend in Santa Maria instead Email notifications are only sent once a day We're an independent student-run newspaper and need your support to maintain our coverage Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Santa Maria police say a deadly crash happened Wednesday at the onramp to Northbound 101 at Main and Nicholson a motorcycle and an agricultural bus crashed Police say the motorcyclist was stopped at a red light on Main Street and did not yield before attempting to turn onto the onramp crashing into the passenger side of the bus Police say the crash is under investigation but do not believe drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash Officials are not releasing the name of the victim pending notification of family.