Joe Payne

My wife would be the first to tell you that I’m not the most prolific planner of dates. She wouldn’t mean it in any harsh way though; she’s particular, and I’m lazy, so I’ve always been more comfortable with her planning our outings and such. That’s why she was a bit surprised when I told […]

It’s finally here. Some wait all year for the span of time we call the holiday season to arrive with its colorful lights, shiny tinsel, and jingling bells at the ready. Local cities and organizations have been waiting too, to round up parades and deck out and light the trees with public gatherings of community […]

Since 2008 a group of dedicated volunteers including veterans, local politicians, business owners, and citizens have given a gargantuan amount of time and money to restore the Lompoc Veterans Memorial Building. The 80-year-old building was in a state of disrepair, but thanks to hundreds of thousands of dollars raised, which put contractors and other laborers […]

The First Friday events in Old Town Orcutt see a number of businesses participate, enticing locals to enjoy specials at restaurants or shops, but one attraction isn’t put on by a local business. The Orcutt Children’s Art Foundation (OCAF) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the arts. The group found a perfect venue in First […]

There is an art to science, they say, and one of the earliest intersections between the two seemingly separate fields was cartography. The earliest maps always had an artistic flair to them, whether it was the incredible accuracy cartographers could achieve or the ornate compass roses that adorned them. The Los Alamos Public Library is […]

The Santa Maria Discovery Valley Museum has teamed up with an acclaimed children’s performing arts program called Pyjama Drama to host several sessions for kids ages 6 months to 7 years old. The lead teacher for the program is Megan Walker, who has performed with PCPA, the Great American Melodrama, and the SLO Little Theatre.  […]