The Santa Maria Public Library welcomes all owners—or prospective buyers—of the Nook or Nook Simple Touch e-reader devices to a free “Nook E-book Workshop.” The program will instruct participants in how to borrow books from the library using only the digital files and device. The workshop is scheduled for July 30 from 11 a.m. to […]
Joe Payne
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Dunes Center gets creative
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center has announced funding for a nature-based creative writing program that will be offered over the summer in Santa Maria and Guadalupe. The program was piloted during the spring quarter in Guadalupe with enthusiastic feedback from the 3rd to 5th graders in the program. Thanks to the positive support, the program will […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
South Coast Railroad Museum offers historic excursions
The South Coast Railroad Museum has more than just models; the historical organization has preserved and restored several working, vintage railroad cars. It will be offering rides on several of these antique locomotives from Santa Barbara to San Luis Obispo and back. An expedition is scheduled for July 13 featuring the Vista Dome car, “Silver […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Back with a vision
The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission’s newly renovated Betteravia Gallery North gives community and fine art a home in Santa Maria
The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission has been patiently waiting—for more than a year—for completed renovations at the Joseph Centeno Betteravia Government Center, location of the Betteravia Gallery. The update to the facility afforded much more room for the government programs that make use of the space, including the art gallery. “An ‘art drought’ is […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Go and park it
The city of Santa Maria presents more ‘Concerts in the Park’ than ever before, thanks to community support
The only thing that could possibly improve a lazy day at one of Santa Maria’s beautiful parks is live music. At least, that’s what the Santa Maria Parks and Recreation Department thought when it first started the concert series years ago. “We started about six years ago; it was only four concerts,” said city recreation […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Crafty kids
Michaels arts and crafts store offers two upcoming classes for kids. The first event is titled “Kids Club Fourth of July Hat Event” on June 29 from 10 a.m. to noon. “Kids Club Summer Games Event” is July 6 from 10 a.m. to noon. Cost is $2. Crafting happens in 30-minute sessions for both events. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Betteravia Gallery is back in business
After the remodeling of the Joseph Centeno Government Center at 511 E. Lakeside Parkway in Santa Maria, the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission has been at work preparing two new exhibits for the locations. “Town Center Moves North: Town Center Gallery Artists” will be showing June 24 through Sept. 27 and “The Anne and Walon […]
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Dunes Center leads memorial hike
The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center will be leading a memorial hike in remembrance of a local who helped preserve the dunes decades ago. The “Kathleen Goddard Jones Memorial Hike” will meet on July 6 and take walkers through the Black Lake area owned by the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County, in honor of Jones’ […]
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Reawakening discipline
A new approach brings classical dance to center stage in an already respected Santa Ynez program
A classical education in any medium has proved time and again that people benefiting from the classes can become highly skilled, disciplined, and sensitive artists. One Santa Ynez-based youth dance program has recommitted to a more classical approach for its students, culminating in an upcoming dance recital that will feature selections of involved classical dance, […]
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Voices of the past
The Lompoc Oral History Project, after decades on the shelf, illuminates Lompoc history with the voices of people who lived it
Lompoc is a valley rich with history. As the massive archives at the Lompoc Historical Society and the Lompoc Museum relate, before La Purisima Mission was even built, Chumash tribes called the beautiful location home, giving it its name, which means “lagoon” or “standing water.” The museum and historical society, always close collaborators, are tapping […]
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Nature by night
Cachuma Lake’s Neal Taylor Nature Center offers some nocturnal activities during the summer
Cachuma Lake’s Neal Taylor Nature Center is a hub of information, technology, and skilled people who help locals understand the complex ecosystem at Cachuma Lake, which borders the stunning and expansive Los Padres National Forest. The nature center is central to the activities going on at the lake during the day, including multiple day hikes, […]
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Party with the Pops
The Lompoc Pops Orchestra opens Lompoc’s Flower Festival week with a patriotic concert
The Lompoc Flower Festival theme this year is a “Patriotic Party.” That theme is being explored by none other than the Lompoc Pops Orchestra, which will be presenting an upcoming concert of patriotic and American music to serve as a kick-off event to a week of hometown celebration. The Lompoc Pops Orchestra is modeled after […]
