Paintings of a salsa-dancing duo, monarch butterflies perched on flowers, and a ship sailing under a cloudy sky are all displayed on a unique canvas—utility boxes in downtown Santa Maria. Local artists added their own colorful illustrations to the industrial boxes in April, which are just a few examples of more than 20 public art […]
EMILY HOLLAND
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Olympic boxer visits Arellanes Junior High
Olympic Boxer and Santa Maria native Carlos Balderas visited Arellanes Junior High on Wednesday, June 14. Balderas, who previously attended the junior high, spoke to the students outside on the field. A banner, paid for by the school’s Builder’s Club, was unveiled after his speech. The banner reads: “Home of Olympian Carlos Balderas Rio 2016.”
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Care for Our Earth grants awarded to 21 schools
Care for Our Earth grants were awarded to teachers at the annual Santa Barbara County Education Celebration on May 25. There were 23 classroom projects—from 21 Santa Barbara County schools—that earned grants. The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Santa Barbara County Education Office, and Santa Barbara County Water Agency awarded the grants as […]
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Santa Maria Valley high school seniors celebrate graduation
On June 8, 581 Pioneer Valley High School seniors lined up waiting for their names to be announced as they walked across the stage. A monumental moment: high school graduation. Pioneer Valley’s graduating class earned $1.1 million in tuition, scholarships, and awards, according to Principal Shanda Herrera. “I’m so proud of the accomplishments of the […]
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New Bill Cirone Heart of Education Award established
The Santa Barbara County Education Office announced that the new Bill Cirone Heart of Education Award has been established in recognition of county Superintendent of Schools Cirone’s leadership and service throughout his career, according to a press release from the office. Cirone will retire on July 1 this year. The annual grant award will acknowledge […]
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Allan Hancock College’s 2017 class shatters records
Time management is a common challenge among students, but for Donté Day, a 2017 graduate of Allan Hancock College, it was a challenge he was able to overcome. A member of the U.S. Air Force, Day often found himself balancing school and 12-hour work shifts at Vandenberg Air Force Base, surviving by taking “light naps” […]
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Drawing awareness: Santa Maria Utilities Department awards third-grade artists who crafted water wise posters
Although everyone had to shake the dust off of their raincoats for the recent rainfall, the drought still weighs heavy in the minds of those at the Santa Maria Utilities Department. That’s why Myra Ritchie, a water conservation specialist with the department, continued the annual Water Awareness Poster Contest despite the wet season. Third grade […]
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Stuart Repon-Ness
For some, running 1 mile is something to dread. But running 1,500 miles? Out of the question. Stuart Repon-Ness, an United Kingdom native, is running from San Diego to Seattle, Wash.—including along Highway 101 between Solvang and Orcutt on April 27—in order to raise money and awareness for a handful of charities. Repon-Ness is a […]
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Spotlight on: Sisters Gifts and Home
Ana Lomeli Curiel, owner
Natural light filters in through the windows of the historic home-turned-antique-store Sisters Gift and Home, creating a tranquil, airy environment that would lead anyone to lose track of time while leisurely wandering around. Owner Ana Lomeli Curiel recently moved her business from Orcutt into the oldest home in Los Alamos after her lease ended and […]
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Driven to disc: The Santa Maria Showdown welcomes disc golfers of all ages to compete at Waller Park
A plastic disc zips through the air and clinks into the metal chains of a disc golf basket at Waller Park. Score! People play disc golf there daily, but on April 29, the second annual Santa Maria Showdown will take over the park. The tournament, sponsored by Legacy Discs, is part of the CenCal series […]
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Textile techniques: The artists of FiberVision break away from standard quilt making
While white stucco and conference rooms may not typically share their space with idiosyncratic art, FiberVision’s bright, patterned textiles illuminate the walls of the Cabrillo Pavillion in Santa Barbara. FiberVision—a group of 25 textile artists with various styles and artistic abilities—started in 2003 after Lorna Morck and friends traveled to Ventura County for a Studio […]
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Spotlight on: Deasee’s Boutique
Terri Deasee, Owner
Surrounded by stacks of colorful spring dresses and dangling metal jewelry, Randy and Terri Deasee manage every aspect of their growing business, Deasee’s Boutique, out of the back office of their store. The shop offers a variety of clothing, intimates, accessories, and home decor, but its roots are in jewelry. After successfully starting a small […]