Cover Story
Council contenders
They say seven is a lucky number. When it comes to the Santa Maria City Council race, however, only two of the seven candidates vying for council positions will end up winners come November. The two seats opening up this fall currently belong to council members Hilda Zacarias and Alice Patino. Zacarias announced earlier this…
What’s your least favorite back-to-school memory?
Chris Avila salesman “Eating on campus. When I was in school, the food wasn’t good at all.” Chris Cavazos plumber “Every first day of school, all of the fights with my mom about laundry, shoes, food, and so on.” Garrett Rice youth minister “It was the first day of school at Pioneer Valley High School.…
Political Watch 08.26
California will soon be receiving $487 million in additional American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, according to a press release from U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara). The money is expected to be used to preserve education jobs throughout the state during the upcoming fiscal year. More than $53 billion in stimulus funding has been…
Community Notebook 08.26
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 1 • The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Planning Commission Hearing Room, 123 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The agenda is available at co.santa-barbara.ca.us. • The Santa Maria Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City…
Hobnobbing With Helen
Tres Hermanas Winery was the site of Marian Medical Center’s (MMC’s) big annual fundraiser, “Waiters Night.” Saturday, Aug. 7, boasted a beautiful afternoon and evening on which to celebrate the successful completion of MMC’s “Cornerstone Campaign,” co-chaired by Georganne Ferini and Ann Foxworthy Lewellen. These two intrepid ladies helped MMC pull in a whopping $15…
Sides take shape in the jail tax debate
Where three of his predecessors have failed, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown is determined to succeed. For more than 20 years, officials, judges, and grand juries have deemed the county’s jail capacity inadequate, and Brown is stumping heavily for what would be the largest public works building project in the county’s history: an $80…
Be PetSafe
On Aug. 29, Santa Barbara County Animal Services will be giving away some free swag to dogs and their people at the Project PetSafe Outreach Clinic. The event will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Wags n’ Whiskers Festival 2010 at Girsh Park in Goleta. The clinic could be worth the drive…
Oceano CSD discovers mysterious bank accounts
Officials of the Oceano Community Services District are struggling to uncover how almost $368,000 in district funds were kept secret from the district’s board of directors and even the general manager. General Manager Raffaele Montemurro recently discovered five certificate of deposit accounts, the earliest of which was opened in 1991. The most recent account was…
Who composted?
After hundreds of neighbor complaints about smelly composting operations at Cold Canyon Landfill in San Luis Obispo, the landfill operators are planning to shut down an 11-year-old recycling program. Though the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) hasn’t mandated the closure of composting at Cold Canyon, landfill officials said the department will instead…
Lompoc City Council gives new community center the go-ahead
After several years of uncertainty, Lompoc is finally getting a new community center. And now it will bear the name of longtime mayor and city advocate Dick DeWees, who passed away last year. On Aug. 17, the Lompoc City Council authorized city staffers to award construction and management contracts to two different companies. They also…
Los Padres Bank is seized by federal regulators and acquired by Pacific Western
The prolonged banking crisis hit close to home on Aug. 20 as the federal Office of Thrift Supervision shut down branches of Los Padres Bank, a financial institution headquartered in Solvang. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) was named temporary receiver of the failed bank, in turn selling it to San Diego-based PacWest Bancorp—parent company…
Clay artist meets art association
The Lompoc Valley Art Association will hold its monthly meeting and art program at 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 at the Alpha Clubhouse, 704 E. Ocean Ave., in Lompoc. The guest artist will be Ramona Clayton, a microbiologist who works in clay. She’s studied under master potter Gisela Simon and now specializes in functional pieces…
Second star to the right, and straight on to audition
PCPA is looking for young performers for its upcoming holiday production of Peter Pan. Girls of any ethnicity who look to be between the ages of 10 and 12 and boys of any ethnicity who look to be between the ages of 6 and 12 will be considered. Auditions are scheduled for Sept. 5 from…
Hollywood gets Flipped
This is the story of how a book becomes a movie. Actually, it’s the story of how a book became a movie, because it doesn’t always happen this way. Obviously, director Rob Reiner doesn’t often call the author of the source material out of the blue on Halloween to chat about his enthusiasm for the…
Saturday in the park(s)
There’s a Chicago song—if you’re old enough to remember it—called Saturday in the Park. For me, it’s one of those “memory songs” that has a sense of place or emotion tied to it. As a kid, I used to think they were singing about Waller Park. Those were the days when my world consisted of…
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. ADULT CHILDREN OF ALCOHOLICS for men meets in San Luis Obispo and Grover Beach. Men interested in attending may contact representatives: 550-6718 or not_moses@fastmail.fm. ALL-AMERICAN QUILTERS’ GUILD meets…
Spiritual
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH is located at 1000 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. “Jazz Devine” presents a new jazz worship service on July 11 at 6 p.m. at the church. Info: 735-3769 or ghmoran@yahoo.com. 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:…
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…
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
THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SANTA MARIA holds its regular meeting featuring speaker Trainer Sandi Sandberg, dog trainer for Doggie Do Good, giving a demonstration on helper dogs for Parkinson’s victims on Aug. 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 605 E. McCoy Lane, Santa Maria. Info: 937-7776 or 925-0266. THE GLOBAL…
Art
THE SHEPARD HALL GALLERY presents the inaugural exhibit and awards for the National Arts Program for the City of Santa Maria and Santa Maria Valley School Districts Employees and their Families through Aug. 27 at the library’s Shepard Hall, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 925-0994, Ext. 117, or dhildinger@ci.santa-maria.ca.us. GOLD COAST ART AND…
Learning
TEMPLE BETH EL holds a discussion of the book Entering the High Holy Days by Reuven Hammer as part of a Selichot program and potluck on Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El, 1501 E. Alvin Ave., Santa Maria. Info: 347-8717. THE SANTA MARIA COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) hold a training series…
Recreation
WORTH THE DRIVE CAL POLY presents its students’ annual performance and ranch horse sale on Aug. 28 at 1 p.m. at Cal Poly, SLO. Info: aconly@calpoly.edu or 756-7414. THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF ART presents a free lecture series featuring “The Frontality of Postwar Korean Photography” on Aug. 29 at 2:30 p.m. at the Mary…
Kids & Family
SUMMER WORLD CUP YOUTH SOCCER CAMPS: Cal Poly Mustang Soccer and Catalyst Soccer take place through August with a top coaching staff that includes Cal Poly Mustang soccer coaches and current and former players. Camps will take place at local fields throughout the area: Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Arroyo Grande,…
Dance Lessons
ONGOING BLUE MOON HAVEN BELLY DANCE currently teaches American Tribal Style dance classes on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in Lompoc and Thursdays in Grover Beach. Info: 709-4686 or BlueMoonHaven.com. THE DANCE STUDIO offers dance classes in Santa Maria in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, and Dance Team. Info: 349-9016 or 931-0444. EVERYBODY CAN DANCE…
Stage
THE LOMPOC CIVIC THEATRE presents its production of Artificial Jungle by Charles Ludlam Aug. 27 through 29 at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays at the Lompoc Civic Auditorium, 217 South L St., Lompoc. Info: 735-2281. PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of Invierno by Jose Cruz Gonzalez Aug. 27 through…
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 ADDAMO VINEYARD/TASTING ROOM: 400 E. Clark Ave., suite E, Santa Maria, 937-6400. Live music Sundays from 2 to 5 p.m. CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway,…
Concerts
JOHNNY’S BAR AND GRILL presents a concert featuring local punk rock groups Stab Your Back, The 1st Line, SP&C, Dead Lazlo’s Place, and Off by an Inch on Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. at Johnny’s Bar and Grill, 321 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. Info: 458-3241 or jcnfi@hotmail.com. THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA presents “Concerts in…
Special Events
ONE WAY BOARD SHOP and the Santa Maria Valley YMCA present an afternoon of skate competitions, free giveaways, barbecue, vendors, and live music on Aug. 28 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with sign-ups starting at 9 a.m. at the YMCA Skate Park, 3400 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 937-8521 or aguerrero@smvymca.org. ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE…
EmPowerment for contractors
Santa Barbara County will be holding a workshop in Santa Maria to provide information to contractors about the county’s emPowerSBC program on Aug. 30. EmPowerSBC offers financing to help residential and commercial property owners cover the upfront costs of energy efficiency, water efficiency, or renewable property improvements. Contractors who take part in the workshop will…
Recycle your e-waste
Got an old TV or computer you’re looking to toss? Clean out your closets and storage rooms and drop off your old electronics at the August recycling event held by Electronic Recyclers and the Santa Maria Fairpark. Items accepted for recycling include televisions, computer monitors, towers and keyboards, LCD and plasma screens, laptops, printers, copiers,…
Local Copies Etc. wins award
For the second straight year, the U.S. Commerce Association (USCA) selected Local Copies Etc., a locally owned and operated copy and print center, for its Best of Santa Maria Award in the Art Copy category. The USCA “Best of Local Business”award program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USCA identifies companies…
Get fit–physically and mentally–with the city of Santa Maria
Need some family outing ideas for this fall? You’re in luck: The city of Santa Maria’s Recreation and Parks Department’s 2010 Fall/Winter Recreation Guide is now available to residents in the Santa Maria Valley. According to city officials, the guide was mailed to local homes in August, and is also available at the Recreation and…
National education organization recognizes local preschools
Santa Barbara County’s preschool programs are top-notch, according to a national education association. On Aug. 19, the Santa Barbara County Education Office announced in a press release that all six state preschool programs under its operation have earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, an acclaimed organization of early childhood…
Art must not flinch
We live in an insane world. There really is no other way to describe it. And it is we human beings who are responsible. For we humans invented insanity. There is no insanity in nature. Although we, as humans, are a part of nature, we do not embrace what nature does. As a whole, we…
Rory Slikker
Rory Slikker might just be the incarnation of John Philip Sousa. With baton in hand, feet pounding to the thundering rhythms of the drumline, Slikker is feeding his passion for music—a passion just as demanding as hurdles or tossing a pigskin. When Slikker isn’t giving marching orders to the band, he plays the trombone and…
There’s more than one way to skate
One Way Board Shop and the Santa Maria Valley YMCA are teaming up to offer skating giveaways and cash prizes at the “Skate One Way with the Y” event on Aug. 28. Skaters of all ages, sponsored and non-sponsored, are welcome to attend and compete. Skating vendors will be on hand, along with live music…
Camp teaches basketball fundamentals
Offensive and defensive basketball fundamentals will be the focus of West Coast Xtreme Youth Basketball Academy’s “Back to School” mini basketball camp at St. Joseph High School on Aug. 30 and 31. Boys and girls in grades fifth through eighth are encouraged to participate. Prospective players should bring their own basketball and water. The cost…
Bleacher Bum Chronicles Vol. VII
It’s beginning to look a lot like that magical time of year in the sporting world I like to call “The Overlap.” It’s the window that begins with colleges and high schools getting back in session and conjuncts neatly with the start of professional football and basketball and the winding down of the baseball season.…
New in town
A quiet berg of antique shops, art galleries, and family-owned eateries, Los Alamos lies only slightly off the beaten path. On the sleepy main drag of Bell Street, things got a lot more animated in January, when Bedford Winery reopened its tasting room. Located next door to Café Quackenbush, the tasting room provides a friendly…
