On Dec. 12, students at St. Mary of the Assumption School will be giving thanks over hot chocolate and other traditional Mexican foods at the school’s annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration. The school day starts at 6 a.m. with a special welcome featuring prayers and music, followed by a specially prepared breakfast and a […]
AMY ASMAN
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Brooklyn’s Blood Drive needs donors
Ralph Dunlap Elementary School is looking for a few good blood donors to participate in “Brooklyn’s Blood Drive” on Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Orcutt school. Dunlap teacher Kelly Sanders is organizing the event in memory of her daughter, Brooklyn. Sanders gave birth to Brooklyn and her twin sister, Aubrey, […]
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Get on the pole
The Dance Studio brings pole dancing classes to Santa Maria area
I many countries, it’s linked to stripping and erotic dancing. In the United Kingdom, it’s considered a sport. In Montreal, the world-renowned dance troupe Cirque du Soleil recently added it to its tantalizing lineup. Now pole dancing has made its way to Santa Maria. Here, it’s an exercise class at The Dance Studio. For […]
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Allan Hancock College gears up for its spring semester
Allan Hancock College’s spring 2009 classes don’t start until the week of Jan. 26, but online registration (WebReg) starts Dec. 1 and continues through Dec. 23. WebReg will also be available after the holiday season, Jan. 2 to 14, and in-person registration is scheduled for Jan. 20 and 21. Registration fees for qualified low-income students […]
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Get an alternative education at Lompoc’s Mission Valley School
Located behind the Lompoc Unified School District offices, Mission Valley School offers alternative education opportunities to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including hands-on field trips and workshops in math, science, and the arts. Formerly known as The Learning Center, Mission Valley School is a home- and independent-study program run through the Lompoc Unified School […]
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CHP: Drive safely this holiday season
The California Highway Patrol is asking motorists to help make the state’s roads safer by planning ahead for all holiday travel. The Thanksgiving holiday driving period runs Nov. 26 to 30. During that time, the CHP will employ maximum enforcement, putting every available officer on the road, according to a press release from CHP officials. […]
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Lompoc businesses successfully prohibit sale of alcohol to minors
On Nov. 20, the Lompoc Police Department conducted a “Shoulder Tap” decoy operation at numerous liquor and convenience stores in Lompoc. During the four-hour operation, about 25 adults were asked by two minor decoys (16 and 18 years old) to buy beer for them. Only one of the adults purchased and provided alcohol to the […]
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Santa Barbara County residents line up for federal aid
On Nov. 19, President George W. Bush made a major disaster declaration and ordered federal aid to be channeled to California communities struck by the wildfires. Since then, about 170 Santa Barbara County homeowners affected by the Tea Fire have applied for aid, said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesman Don Daniel. Currently, federal funding […]
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Proposition 8 is still making waves
Protests, boycotts, and confusion fill the state in the weeks after the election
On Nov. 4, Proposition 8 passed with a four-percent margin, amending the California Constitution to define marriage as a union “between a man and a woman.” The longevity of that controversial clause, however, remains in question. On Nov. 19, the California Supreme Court announced it would review three petitions challenging the legality of Proposition 8. […]
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King of the toys
Santa Maria-based Prince Lionheart is filling the world with its unique toys and products
The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes cheesy piped-in Christmas music and hordes of frazzled parents on the hunt for the perfect children’s toy. At the top of the list, according to the Canadian Toy Testing Council, should be Prince Lionheart’s Wheely Bug. The Wheely Bug generated considerable international buzz for the […]
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Hey high school students: Make good choices!
On Nov. 24, U.S. Investigations Service investigator Tammy Brown will talk with high school students at Lompoc High School, educating them about how decisions they make today can impact their lives into the future. Brown is one of 3,000 investigators working nationwide for USIS, which performs security clearance investigations for the federal government. Brown has […]
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‘Angels’ in disguise
Earlier this month, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria recognized seven teaches from the Santa Maria-Bonita School District with the “Angels in Education” award for “going above and beyond the call of duty” in their teaching careers. The awards are presented two times during the school year and are sponsored by the club’s members. Schools […]