Cover Story
Fake outbreak
Hospital staffers pace up and down the hall, whispering urgently about some kind of outbreak. A woman dressed in scrubs and a red emergency vest enters the control room to talk to someone about the barrage of patients crowding the emergency room. No, this isn’t a cliffhanger scene out of the popular medical dramedy Grey’s…
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…
FARMERS’ 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
ONGOING ARTHRITIS FDN. is a low impact, sit-in-chair exercise program held every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Valentine St. Community Room, 280 E. New Love St. Info: 346-1981. SYCAMORE MINERAL SPRINGS HEALING ARTS INSTITUTE offers a range of classes including yoga and meditation, alternative and herbal medicine, aroma and color therapy, compassionate…
ART
THE LOMPOC VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY presents vintage quilts on display in the Fabing-McKay-Spanne House through September. An opening reception is June 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the house, 207 North L St., Lompoc. Info: lompochistory.org or 735-4626. THE GROSSMAN GALLERY presents an exhibition featuring the photography of Jeff Jones with an environmental education…
LEARNING
THE MARIAN CANCER CENTER, in cooperation with Allan Hancock College, presents a four-part lecture series titled “Living with Cancer” Tuesdays from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. through June in the Community Education Building, Hancock College, building S, rooms 108 and 109. Info: 739-3780. THE UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX offers a criminal justice degree program starting June 26,…
RECREATION
A HAM RADIO FIELD DAY features a ham radio open house June 28 and 29 starting at 11 a.m. at the Santa Maria Fire Department Administration Building, 314 W. Cook St., Santa Maria. Info: 448-0785. THE GUADALUPE DUNES CENTER presents a “Wonder of the Dunes” hike June 29, meeting at 9 a.m. at Oso Flaco…
KIDS & FAMILY
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY offers its summer reading program “Catch the Reading Bug” through Aug. 1 at the library, 420 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY YMCA presents its Summer Camp starting every week through Aug. 15 at the YMCA, 3400 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. The YMCA offers swim lessons for kids…
DANCE LESSONS
DANCE LESSONS in preparation for the Obon Festival are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 26, July 3, 9, and 17 at the Veteran’s Memorial Cultural Center, 313 W. Tunnel St., Santa Maria. Info: 937-7026 or 934-1797. THE EVERYBODY CAN DANCE BALLET ACADEMY presents a five-week intensive dance teaching session featuring Jordi Ribera and Aubrey…
STAGE
FIGHTING BACK SANTA MARIA VALLEY presents “Comedy Central Coast” featuring comedians Dave Landau and Ryan Hamilton on June 27 with a social hour at 6:30 p.m. and dinner and performance at 7:30 in Santa Maria. Cost is $100 per ticket, $1,000 per table. Info: 346-1774. THE SKY WORLD POETRY SERIES presents San Diego poet Roger…
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 LOMPOC MUSIC ASSOCIATION presents its annual free concert, featuring guest conductor David Hensley, June 29 at 3 p.m. at the La Purisima Mission, Lompoc. Info: 746-8702. WORTH THE DRIVE THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY BAND presents a twilight concert June 26 and July 3 at 7 p.m. at Mitchell Park, on the corner of…
SPECIAL EVENTS
RELAY FOR LIFE’s team Tough Enough to Wear Pink presents an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast benefit on June 28 from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge. Cost is $5. Info: 922-5590. THE GENSPAN FOUNDATION holds a rummage sale June 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Shepard Eye Center…
Benefits of Being Thrifty On the Central Coast
The ribbon has been cut, opening a new thrift store with the lofty goal of benefiting the homeless and the poor of the Central Coast. Free hot dogs and sodas weren’t the only benefits attributed to the grand opening of the Central Coast Rescue Mission’s thrift store on 306 N. Broadway in Santa Maria, although…
Santa Maria, Guadalupe to receive millions in state funding for water treatment plants
The cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe announced earlier this month that they are planning to use a little over $9 million, awarded by the state, to help fund two major projects in the Santa Maria Valley area. In Santa Maria, $4.8 million will go toward expanding the city’s wastewater treatment plant. The city of…
Deadline for hands-free cell phones approaches
Starting July 1, Californians ages 18 and older, will be required to switch from using hand-held wireless phones to hands-free devices while driving a car. According to a press release from the California Highway Patrol, there are two acts going into affect in July. The first law prohibits all drivers from using handheld wireless phones…
County supes put out fireworks’ fire
Waving sparklers and other non-explosive fireworks in honor of Independence Day is now a thing of the past in Santa Barbara County following the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors June 17 decision to ban all fireworks in unincorporated areas of the county. The board voted 4-1, with 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone dissenting, to…
Delta II rocket carries ocean reading satellite to space
A satellite intended to collect information about the ocean’s topography successfully launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base Saturday. The Delta II rocket launched from Space Launch Complex-2 at 12:46 a.m. Saturday, carrying the OSTM/Jason-2 satellite into an 830-mile near-circular orbit. Col. Steve Tanous, 30th Space Wing commander, was the spacelift…
Plane, train, or automobile?
Melissa Enriquez housewife “Plane—I feel safer. They’re safer and faster.” [image-2] Kaylie Emry student “A car, because I’m afraid of heights, and [for the trains] I don’t like … going through the hills and tunnels and the cliff areas. I’m kind of claustrophobic.” [image-3] Karen Sandquist doctor “A train, because I wouldn’t have to focus…
State parks are an endangered species
Each year, The National Trust for Historic Preservation comes out with a list of the most endangered historic places in the United States. Most years, this includes buildings, houses, and locations that are at risk for destruction or irreparable damage. This year’s list includes among other things, an airplane hanger built in 1932, an old-fashioned…
While some kids are swimming, others are shooting hoops
The West Coast Xtreme Basketball Academy has released its clinic schedule for the month of July. All clinics will be held in the St. Joseph High School gym and focus on ball handling, passing, shooting, and three-on-three play. The first clinic will be held July 6; with grades 3 to 6 reporting to the gym…
One Way for kids and adults to play water polo in Santa Maria
With record heat on the Central Coast, there’s no better time to get into a new sport—if that sport involves lots of water, that is. Luckily One Way Water polo is offering the first two weeks of lessons free to anyone willing to try the sport. And by anyone, they mean anyone, cjildren and adults.…
Athlete of the Week
Shea Herrera isn’t following in his brother’s footsteps; he’s following in his tracks instead. More specifically, the tracks left behind by the four tiny wheels on a skateboard. Shea is only 11, but he’s already got his first skateboarding contest behind him and he’s ready for the next one. His coach is his older brother…
How to become a professional wino
Get out the wine glasses. The decade-old wine program at Allan Hancock College is offering several new classes to students and members of the public interested in learning about making wine and growing grapes. An Introduction to Winemaking/Enology will be offered from 6 to 9:05 p.m. on Wednesdays beginning Aug. 27 at the college’s Solvang…
AHC geology students tour American southwest
Earlier this month, a handful of Allan Hancock students embarked on a 15-day tour of the Colorado Plateau that included several national parks in Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Nevada. Led by Robert Meyer, a geology and physical science instructor at Allan Hancock College, and four other staff members, the students explored and studied sections of…
Santa Ynez has new summer savings certificates
Tourism is great for the local economy, but it can get expensive for the people doing the touring. To help out, the Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association (SYVVA) has announced a first-ever 10 percent savings offer for mid-week summer visitors. “Gas prices and the economy can take a toll on vacation budgets,” SYVVA president Mike…
Marian Medical Center president earns Healthy Prestige award
Falling ill during the summer months can put a damper on vacation plans, but local healthcare managers are confident in their abilities to get people back under sunny skies. They have reason to be. After all, the president of Marian Medical Center and CHW Central Coast Service Area, Charles J. Cova, has become a Fellow…
County employees agree to mandatory vacation
During the 2008 holiday season, while most workers will be counting down the hours until they get a few blissful uninterrupted vacation days, about 2,000 county employees will be off from work, spending a full two weeks away from their desks. It seems like a good deal, but first impressions can be deceiving. “It was…
Where it’s tat
At first glance, tattoo artist Jimmy Coffin looks nothing like a savvy businessman. He looks more like the byproduct of a torrid love affair between a sea-worn sailor and a punk rock princess with a strange affection for cowboy hats. But don’t judge Coffin based on his appearance, because beneath the straw-colored hat and ink-soaked…
Charge into the fourth quarter
It was not unexpected. I always knew it would someday arrive knocking at my door. I asked myself, “How could 61 years have gone by so fast?” Now I hear, not a pleasant tapping, but a clenched fist banging at my door. It’s here. Open the door and face it. You are 62 years old.…
Roll on in
The food that swims, grows, and grazes within just a few miles of our dining room tables on the Central Coast, offers zesty flavors and farm-fresh nutrition. At Yanagi Sushi and Grill, these same comestibles shine as the stars of the show in a performance that turns ordinary cooking into lively entertainment. Located in a…
Songs from his soul
It’s a dream that’s been around as long as rock’n’roll itself: being in a band, being a rock star, playing music to adoring masses. While most dreamers actually only get as far as perfecting their air guitar and that fake, muffled audience scream, some get pretty close to the real thing. Santa Maria resident Paul…
Exploring the home front
Inflation and a weak economy have given rise to a summer phenomenon called the “staycation”—in other words, staying home rather than taking a trip to Disney World. The trend stems from a budget-conscious mindset that Americans—especially families—are increasingly adopting. To celebrate the beginning of summer, I thought I’d try it. I laid out my plans…
Wax on, wax off
Women spend a lot of time and money making themselves look good. Guys rarely appreciate how much pain and suffering goes into the effort of beautification. The fact of the matter is, guys don’t appreciate it because guys have never tried to do it. When we want to look good, we get a $12 haircut…
