SANTA MARIA HARLEY DAVIDSON presents a bike night featuring music, food, and motorcycle events on April 2 at Harley-Davidson, 2022 Preisker Lane, Santa Maria. Info: 928-3668 or santamariaharley.com.
THE CENTRAL COAST HOME EDUCATION CONFERENCE is April 4 at Grace Baptist Church, Santa Maria. Info: 938-7858 or srvnghanz@verizon.net.
THE CENTRAL COAST GREENHOUSE GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION presents its eighth annual Open House at various greenhouses on April 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Nipomo. Info: 1-800-961-8901 or ccgga.com.
THE SANTA MARIA/LOMPOC NAACP presents its kickoff Centennial Celebration with a Centennial Prayer Breakfast on April 4 at 10 a.m. at the Historic Santa Maria Inn, 801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. Cost is $20. Info: 757-3529.
THE MINERVA CLUB hosts a gourmet luncheon and Bingo on April 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Minerva Club, Santa Maria. Info: 937-7416.
THE SANTA MARIA AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN presents an afternoon of Wine and Women … Santa Maria Style on April 4 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Quail Meadows West Clubhouse, 866 Whippoorwill Drive, Santa Maria. Cost is $10. Info: 937-6576 or smnph@verizon.net.
A BOOK READING AND SIGNING of The Sons of Guadalupe: Voices of the Vietnam Generation and Their Journey Home by Michael R. Ornelas features an honor guard, MIA tribute, and roll callon April 4 at 2 p.m. at Cine Royal, Guadalupe. Info: (619) 267-7464.
THE SANTA MARIA POLICE DEPARTMENT presents a ceremony celebrating the career and retirement of Lt. Mike Cordero, now a City Council member, on April 4 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Santa Maria Veterans Hall, Santa Maria. Cost is $20 for barbecue. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3652; or 928-3781, Ext. 417, Ext. 361, Ext. 1174.
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE accepts entries to the 2009 Strawberry Queen Pageant with the ticket-selling competition ending April 17. The pageant is April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Fairpark Center Stage, 614 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. Info: 925-2403, Ext. 816, marcy@santamaria.com, or the Chamber office at 614 S. Broadway, Santa Maria.
THE SANTA MARIA ELK’S CLUB starts its annual Beard a Reno and Miss Wrangler contest, accepting entries through April 21at the Elk’s Club. The Elk’s Club is located at 1309 N. Bradley, Santa Maria. Info: 925-4125.
WORTH THE DRIVE
THE SANTA YNEZ VALLEY HISTORICAL MUSEUM presents “A Bit of the Best That Was”—featuring a symposium on the horse-drawn carriage, carriage rides, and a Western-style dinner dance—April 2–5 at the Santa Valley Historical Museum, Santa Ynez. Info: 688-7889 or santaynezmuseum.org.
AN ALZHEIMERS ASSOCIATION BENEFIT EVENING, presented by the Five Cities Orchid Society, is an “Orchid Stampede” featuring live music, wine tasting, silent auctions, and orchid awards and displays on April 3 from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the South County Regional Center, 800 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande. Cost is $40. Info: 929-5749 or 481-3991.
THE FIVE CITIES ORCHID SOCIETY presents the 14th annual Orchid Show and Sale, “Orchid Stampede,” on April 4 from 9 to 5 p.m. and April 5 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the South County Regional Center, 800 West Branch, Arroyo Grande. Cost is $5. Info: 929-5749 or fcos.org.
AN MS SOCIETY BENEFIT features music by Unfinished Business, a car and motorcycle show, an art show, and a barbecue party on April 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1771 Corbett Canyon Road, Arroyo Grande. Cost is $10, $30 for barbecue. Info: 929-5211.
CAL POLY DANCESPORT presents its third annual Ballroom and Latin DanceSport Competition on April 4 from noon to 10 p.m. in the Mott Gym at Cal Poly, SLO. Cost is $7, free for students. Info: 627-2474.
THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT presents a free hazardous waste collection event on April 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Santa Ynez Valley Recycling and Transfer Station, 4004 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos. Info: lessismore.org or 568-3400.
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS of San Luis Obispo County presents a “Party for a Cause” singles charity mixer on April 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Kennedy Club Fitness, 188 Tank Farm Road, SLO. Info: Julie@slobigs.org or 781-3226.
This article appears in Apr 2-9, 2009.