HELEN ANN THOMAS

It is fitting that Community Partners in Caring holds its annual volunteer appreciation luncheon in February—Valentine’s Day month—because this event celebrates people who have a heart.  More than 80 big-hearted people attended the luncheon at the Santa Maria Country Club on Feb. 6.  In her snazzy red dress, Community Partners in Caring Executive Director Ashley […]

What better way to start the New Year than to get the skinny on what’s coming up in the wonderful world of the arts in Santa Maria? With that thought in mind, on Wed., Jan. 15, I trundled off to the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, which apparently is not in danger of being renamed […]

One of the highlights of the year 2013 was the Nov. 23 appearance of children’s book author Wendelin Van Draanen at the Santa Maria Public Library’s Shepard Hall. Starting at 11 a.m., the personable, perky Van Draanen played to a packed house that was clearly delighted and mesmerized by her story. For close to an […]

The invitation, usually a cause for joy and gladness, was ominous: “This is the last one!” The end-of-November e-mail sounded out the message loud and clear. “The last one” e-mail decreed that the very last-ever holiday wingding to be given by Rick Sweet and Nancy Jo Ward would take place on Dec. 6. For the […]

Let’s play holiday Jeopardy! Question: What celebrated, distinctive events make Christmas and the holidays ultra-special, glamorous, and exciting in our hometown? Answer: What are three Altrusa Christmas tree raffles? Here’s another question: When do these raffles take place? Answer: What is mid-November, when the nighttime Altrusa Club has its annual Christmas Tree Extravaganza at the […]

Well, this was an unexpected, pleasant surprise. I’m talking about the “2013 Spurs & Spice Local Celebrity Chefs Dutch Oven Cook-Off.” This benefit for the Boy Scouts featured a lot of tasty vittles, some cooked up by the likes of Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, Lompoc Mayor John Linn, Trent Benedetti, radio host Andy Caldwell, […]

It’s no secret that Rotary fundraising shindigs are rip-roaring funfests. Perhaps that’s why 480 people showed up at Santa Maria Noontime Rotary’s annual fundraiser, “Spurs & Diamonds,” held on Nov. 2 at the at Santa Maria Fairpark. “This is the most [people] we have ever had at this event,” the clearly pleased emcee for the […]

Hobnobbing traveled 20 miles on Friday evening, Oct.18. You would have made the trip, too, if you knew that you could have mingled with some of Guadalupe’s delightful citizens and supporters—and that you would have enjoyed flavorful Caribbean cuisine. The occasion was the Guadalupe Salad Festival’s annual award dinner. For the fourth year in a […]

Imagine this: you walk into the foyer of the Santa Maria Country Club and sense that you have stumbled into an Enchanted Forest. The room is flooded with green light. Lifelike faux trees sport leaf-laden branches that arch overhead, dripping with lengths of crystals. Containers of flowers, on faux stone paths, line the walls. Can […]

Margaret Cooper is like the Energizer Bunny. She just keeps going and going and going. Sometimes to Turkey. Sometimes to Australia. Sometimes to Waller Park.  The retired art teacher took time off from her rigorous swimming routine, travel schedule, and volunteer work at the library to organize this year’s fourth, or fifth, or sixth (who’s […]

The indomitable Liz Addamo e-mailed me and asked if I would like to join a group of 20 for wine and appetizers at the home of Etta and Buck Waterfield. If Liz was callin’, Liz was cookin’. Who could say no to the former Bistro Baroness (she recently sold her fabled tasting room and restaurant […]

Delicious and delightful. That pretty much sums up Altrusa’s fashion show and chocolate extravaganza held on Aug. 18 at the Elks Lodge. Strutting their stuff on the runway for this first-time combo event were models Josie Baldiviez, Maria Robb, Gina Rodriguez, Yolanda Soares, Loretta Talamantes, and Kathy Telleria. They all looked simply smashing and ever-so-chic […]