Cover Story
Hard work
When Allan Hancock College student Stephanie Fredriks started looking for a job back in December 2008, she knew the endeavor would be a difficult one. The recent Righetti High School graduate needed a part-time job to help pay for school and other expenses. With the weight of a down economy on her shoulders, she started…
Matt Miller
Whether he’s on the baseball diamond or on the football field, one thing is for sure about Matt Miller: He likes to hit. The 5-foot-11, 184-pound Righetti High School junior is a standout as a slugging left fielder and as a starting free safety for the Warriors. While his football team ran through its first…
Are you now or have you ever been a Star Trek fan?
Terra Rubio photographer “Well, Spock was pretty gangsta from what episodes I’ve seen, and yes I’m a fan.” Garry Reinhart teacher “Yes, I’ve been a fan since 1968 when it came out. I have seen every episode at least 15 times, and my favorite line from the series was, ‘He’s dead, Jim!’” Bekki Gonzalez Toys…
Clubs & Meetings
4-H welcomes anyone interested in the group to sign up now. Find a nearby club by contacting the Santa Barbara County 4-H Office at 692-1730 or zmhughes@ucdavis.edu. ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. of SANTA MARIA, a nonprofit business and professional organization, meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., in the Altrusa Theatre of the Santa…
Spiritual
BAHA’I interfaith worship services are the second Sunday of each month. Info: 489-4172. Children’s classes are the first Saturday of each month. Info: 937-9451. Study circles about The Life of the Spirit are ongoing in Santa Maria. For questions, dates, and times: 614-0963. Info: 937-9451. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH holds worship services Sundays with Holy Communion…
Farmer’s Markets
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.…
Barbecues
ONGOING FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY barbecues Filipino food at the Smart and Final parking lot, N. Broadway on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include tri-tip, chicken, beef kabobs, chicken adobo, salad, rice, and bread. Meals cost $6. Info: 922-3422 or 922-3799. FILIPINO CATHOLIC SOCIETY, under the direction of St. Mary’s Church and St.…
Health
SANSUM CLINIC presents a “Diabetes Essentials” class May 14 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the clinic. Cost is $8. The clinic is located at 1225 North H St., Lompoc. Info: 737-8700. MARIAN MEDICAL CENTER presents a “Congestive Heart Failure” class on May 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the center, 1400 E. Church St., Santa…
Art
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents its annual spring pottery sale, featuring handmade ceramics, on May 15 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on May 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 800 South College Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3252. THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION presents the exhibit Visual Inquiry: Mixed Media,…
Learning
PEOPLES’ SELF-HELP HOUSING presents a free foreclosure prevention seminar on May 20 at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Building at Los Adobes de Maria II, 1148 W. Boone St., Santa Maria. Info: 781-3088 or pshhc.org. THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SANTA MARIA will be host to Carol Walton, CEO of the Parkinson Alliance, on May…
Recreation
WORTH THE DRIVE THE CACHUMA LAKE NATURE CENTER presents Saving Wildlife International with a program featuring live wild animals on May 16 at 11 a.m. at the Cachuma Lake Nature Center. Cost is $8. Info: clnatctr@dialup4less.com. THE ENDOWMENT FOR YOUTH COMMITTEE presents the Tournament of Champions for Boys Basketball, open to grades 6 through 8,…
Kids & Family
ONGOING LA LECHE LEAGUE SANTA MARIA offers pregnant and nursing moms free breastfeeding support and information the third Wednesday of each month. Info: 734-9895 or 938-0789. THE LITTLE VILLAGE offers a daily enrichment program for kids ages 3 to 6 during the summer and fall. Activities include arts and crafts, baking, music, gardening, and creative…
Dance Lessons
ONGOING EVERYBODY CAN DANCE offers classes in ballet dance for ages 3 to adult. Call for schedules. Boys and men receive full scholarships. The studio is located at 800 S. Broadway. Info: 937-6753. COUNTRY WESTERN DANCE CLASSES by Jeannette and Henry are Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. for country two-step lessons and from 8…
Stage
PCPA THEATERFEST presents Conservatory Showcase featuring “Bat Boy the Musical” and “Henry 6” May 14 through 16 in the Marian Theatre, 800 S College Drive, Santa Maria. Cost is $12, $10 for students. Info: pcpa.org. ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents the Allan Hancock College Youth Dancers and their spring recital on May 16 at 7 p.m.…
Night Life
The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. IN THE AREA CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway, 614-9316. DJ Davey D Saturday nights. THE COACHMAN: 1531 S. Broadway, 922-5556. Thursday through Saturday: DJ from 9 p.m. to…
Concerts
THE CUESTA COLLEGE CHOIRS AND THE RIGHETTI HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS present a concert featuring the Cuesta Chamber Singers, VOCE, the Righetti Choir, and Righetti Madrigals on May 15 at 7 p.m. at Pacific Christian Center, 3435 Santa Maria Way, Santa Maria. Cost is $7, $4 for students, seniors, and kids younger than 12. Info: 546-3195.…
Special Events
PIONEER VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL holds an event for incoming ninth grade students and family on May 14 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Maria. Info: 922-1305 or wcurry@smjuhsd.org. THE NORTH COUNTY RAPE CRISIS AND CHILD PROTECTION CENTER presents the 24th Annual Kid’s Day in the Park and Car Show on…
Political Watch 5-14
• There’s an up side to the potential swine flu pandemic. On May 4, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) introduced companion legislation to guarantee emergency treatment for victims affected by a major public health disaster, regardless of their health insurance status or ability to pay. The Public Health Emergency…
Community Notebook 5-14
FRIDAY, MAY 15 • The Santa Maria City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from 10 a.m. to noon at the Betteravia Government Center conference room, 511 East Lakeside Parkway. • The Lompoc City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Conference…
Grant will support disaster services
The American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County chapter, announced that it has received a $50,540 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation to further support its disaster-related services. This chapter, which serves all of Santa Barbara County, is one of 128 Red Cross chapters awarded funds as part of the Wal-Mart Foundation’s initiative to support disaster response…
Winds worry Jesusita Fire fighters
Fire season hasn’t officially started yet, but the hills above Santa Barbara are burning. What’s now known as the Jesusita Fire began on May 5 at approximately 1:45 p.m. in the Cathedral Peak area. Fire crews from Santa Barbara Fire Department, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Montecito Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service have been…
It’s an emergency
In light of the Jesusita Fire burning near Santa Barbara, the county’s substandard Emergency Operations Center—which coordinates multi-agency response and recovery plans during catastrophes—is under scrutiny from the Santa Barbara County civil grand jury. In a prescient report released on April 29—one week before the inferno broke out—the grand jury found that operating the EOC…
Vandenberg Air Force Base stalls Minuteman III launch
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile—scheduled for a May 20 launch—was grounded until further notice, according to a press release from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Second Lt. Raymond Geoffroy, a spokesman for 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, told the Sun that launch officials want to make sure the launch they’re simulating is as close…
Santa Barbara County releases death statistics
Full copies of the 2009 Santa Barbara County Community Health Status Report and its supplemental report are now available online at the county’s public health department website: sbcphd.org. The two documents investigate the leading causes of premature death and offer information about risk factors and preventative steps to improve public health. The Public Health Department…
Jesusita Fire turns up the heat on Santa Maria firebase debate
Controversy over the designation of the Santa Maria Public Airport’s air attack base from full-time to “call-when-needed” status has been fueled by the recent Jesusita Fire, which started burning on May 5. Some members of the public, including people displaced by the fire, have questioned whether or not the base’s downgraded status and an incomplete…
Be informed about Jane Russell
The Santa Maria Community Television show Be Informed will feature a special one-hour interview with actress and Santa Maria resident Jane Russell spilling the beans about her life in film, stage, and other entertainment venues, as well as her personal life. Russell has appeared with Hollywood’s biggest stars in 25 films, including The Outlaw, His…
Documentary follows the first vaqueros
The fifth film in the vaquero series of documentaries produced by Susan Jensen and Paul Singer, Los Primeros—The First Vaqueros, will show at 6 p.m. on May 15 at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Museum. Refreshments and a no-host bar will be available. The documentary will shed new light on why Santa Ynez boasts such…
Sanctuary! Sanctuary!
Some artists opt for planned chaos. Some like to make bold statements. Others, like San Francisco artist Lawrence Abrahamsen, choose to evoke a sense of calm, inviting viewers to become part of the creative experience. Abrahamsen’s Creating Sanctuary evokes sea, air, and landscapes to offer an atmosphere that conveys his physical energy while retaining a…
Sobering up
Claude Hooten is a disorderly alcoholic. Yup, I said it. OK, actually, he said it. And he doesn’t care who knows about it. In fact, he wants you to know about it. Because if you don’t, then he wasted months of reliving the ups and downs of his crazy drunken days as a radio disc…
You snooze, you lose
I have this one bad habit my poor wife has to deal with on a daily basis. No, I’m not talking about body odor or stomach gas, although she is forced to deal with that, too. I’ll come clean and admit it: I’m a snoozer. No, not a boozer (which exhibits some of the same…
Joe Nightingale turns 50
Calling all Eagles! On May 29, Joe Nightingale Elementary School will host its 50th birthday celebration from 3 to 7 p.m. at the school’s campus, 255 Winter Road, in Orcutt. All current and former students, staffers, and their families are invited to attend the free event. The celebration will begin with family activities, including campus…
And the Academy Award goes to …
The California Department of Education and Los Angeles County Office of Education recently named Lompoc’s Cabrillo High School an “Academy Award” winner for its Support Personnel Accountability Report Card. Every year, the state and regional education office recognize a handful of exemplary school counseling and student support programs by presenting them with the accolades. The…
United Way hires PR
The Northern Santa Barbara County United Way announced the hiring of Donna Polizzi to help the organization with fundraising and public relations. Polizzi boasts more than 20 years of experience in PR, advertising, media buying, commercial production, and event marketing. She’s a 22-year resident of the Central Coast and lives in Orcutt with her husband…
Prevent a foreclosure
Homeowners who want to learn about alternatives to foreclosure are invited to attend a free foreclosure prevention seminar put on by the People’s Self-Help Housing Corporation in Santa Maria on May 20. The bi-lingual workshop takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Building at Los Adobes de Maria II, 1148 W. Boone St. Brian…
Grants are available for social services
The Santa Barbara Foundation announced the creation of a new fund to provide grants for food, shelter, and medical care assistance to nonprofit groups in the community. The Community Economic Recovery Fund will award grants of up to $50,000 in emergency relief for established organizations that assess needs and provide basic services to people who’ve…
Kids get a day at Nipomo Park
Children can enjoy a free day of pony rides, bounce houses, community booths, live entertainment, and a petting zoo at Nipomo Recreation Association’s annual Kids Day event on May 16. The fun takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Park. Other entertainment includes a magic show, Little Bits Preschool, Spirit…
Stop the teen pregnancy epidemic
A recent issue of the Pediatrics journal found that teens who take virginity pledges are just as likely to have sex as those who do not take the pledge. Also, they are less likely to use condoms or other forms of contraception, thus resulting in unwanted teen pregnancy, which is an epidemic in Santa Maria.…
Read about finance
The time is deliciously ripe for genuine political unity and perhaps even a shot at reasonable equity for the tattered, beleaguered, ever-shrinking, working middle class. First, the large segment of the populace that has apparently been living in monastic seclusion on an eight-year camping trip in remote Absurdistan needs to be welcomed back into the…
We salute all teachers
In honor of the “Day of the Teacher,” the California Retired Teachers Association, Division 17, has donated to the Lompoc Public Library $200 to purchase books for their children’s section. The local organization of the CRTA honors all teachers, but especially those teaching in Northern Santa Barbara County. We are proud of the teachers and…
These students have no place in our society
On Friday, May 1, approximately 70 students from both Pioneer Valley and Santa Maria high schools decided to cut school so they could protest America’s current stand on illegal immigration. All of the students held Mexican flags as they marched from Main Street to City Hall, where they finally congregated on the corner of Broadway…
Fairpark revs up for May motor events
If it’s the weekend and the ground starts shaking, don’t panic—it just might be Harleys and hotrods rolling into the Santa Maria Fairpark. First, Quick Throttle and Santa Maria Harley-Davidson present “Santa Maria Motorcycle Madness” on May 16 and 17. The event includes bike shows, games, slow races, concerts from bands like the Filthies and…
Take a dip in the pool
It’s beginning to warm up outside, and the pools at Paul Nelson Aquatic Center and Pioneer Valley High School are opening for recreational swimming. From now until June 12, the pool at Paul Nelson is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:30 to 3:30…
It’s been a long time coming
Allan Hancock College and post-season baseball are two phrases that haven’t been heard together for some time—six years, to be exact. But this year’s Bulldogs have a bite that’s worse than their bark, and on a club without superstars, the name of the game is teamwork. “This team has no one standout player, but they…
Summer sippers
With Memorial Day festivities lurking just around the corner, party planners are busy supplementing their wine collections with a stash of summer sippers. Sure, the casserole Cabernets and pot roast reds still deserve a place in the rack, but oenophiles with an eye on the sultry days ahead had best make room for the fruit-driven…
