Information about Santa Maria’s historical landmarks is now available for the public at a new panel on the kiosk at the Santa Maria Public Library, located on the east side in Lavagnino Plaza. “There isn’t a book about Santa Maria’s landmarks,” said Mark Van de Kamp, a management analyst with the city. “So we think […]
HENRY HOUSTON
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Manny Flores
As Manny Flores was finishing the first-ever Elks Rodeo P.L.A.Y. 1-mile stampede, he thought to himself that he should start pursuing running more for a sport. Flores, who just wrapped up his freshman year at Pioneer Valley High School, quickly established himself as a great athlete. He’s already earned a letter for being on the […]
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Discover the wild, wild west
In honor of Father’s Day and the recent Elks Rodeo, the Discovery Museum will be holding its first-ever Rodeo Roundup on June 13, from noon to 2 p.m. Kids who attend will have an opportunity to ride ponies from Happy Trails Pony Rides and watch two local youth roping champions: Nick, 14 years old, and […]
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Maldonado pushes for Proposition 14
After campaigning in Monterey and Santa Cruz for Proposition 14—a ballot measure that would create open primaries in California—newly minted Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado finished off his last-minute campaign trail on June 7 at the Swiss Chalet Restaurant in Santa Maria. Maldonado greeted the customers, who were all grins as they talked to the Santa […]
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Hancock’s Class of 2010 turns the tassel
After Allan Hancock College’s 89th commencement, it was neither the school’s president Jose M. Ortiz nor the keynote speaker, Henry A.J. Ramos, who had the final word on the occasion: It was the Allan Hancock College Concert Band, which, after the recession of the graduates, performed the Looney Tunes theme song “That’s All, Folks.” Graduates […]
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County puts a $1,000 bounty on polluting cars
Cornered into frustration by high gas prices and the low economy? Never fear. The Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District is running a program—“Old Car Buyback”—to entice drivers to take their older cars off the road, which will, in turn, lower the amount of greenhouse gases pumping into the atmosphere. Under the program, the […]
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Athlete of the Week
Reilly McMahon, Righetti High School’s rising golf star, is one part lemonade, one part iced tea short of being on par with Arnold Palmer. Although McMahon is just finishing his sophomore year, he already can boast the history of a seasoned golfer. He’s played in numerous tournaments around the United States—from the deserts of Arizona […]
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Recipients show two sides of the law
The Santa Barbara Citizens Council on Crime recently awarded four officers—two from the Santa Barbara Police Department and two from the Lompoc Police Department—and one agent from Lompoc with the H. Thomas Guerry Award for Valor. Here’s the story behind the Lompoc awards: Lompoc’s Officer David Lamar had been notified of a fire in a […]
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Learn about the hidden disease
Huntington’s Disease is one of the most common hereditary diseases, with about 150,000 Americans at risk of inheriting it. In order to educate the masses, Huntington’s Disease Society of America will be holding an educational symposium in Santa Maria at the Radisson Hotel on May 26, 6 to 8:30 p.m. The Huntington’s symposium will focus […]
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JIM GRAM
There aren’t too many people who can lawn bowl, and there aren’t too many of those who can lawn bowl into their older age, but Jim Gram isn’t too many people. He started lawn bowling in 1952 at the age of 19 because he thought it looked like an interesting sport. After his first year […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Douglass Webb
“What is that?” Coach Louis Quintana said, pointing to Allan Hancock College’s rising track and field star Douglass Webb’s stomach. “Was that from the weekend? He sucks in that stomach when he runs, you know.” If there really is a stomach there, it’s hard to notice with the times Webb’s racking up. The freshman is […]
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If we shadows have offended
The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to review a ban on video games
It’s an old adage that has plagued mankind since cavemen first drew figures on their walls: What’s the difference between obscenity and art? The U.S. Supreme Court will also ponder this question when it hears a case focusing on repealing the ban on selling and renting “ultra-violent” video games to minors. However, the respondents—the Entertainment […]