The city of Lompoc announced a new Charlotte’s Web bookmobile, which will “weave a web of fun” with stops throughout Lompoc this summer. The bookmobile is named after longtime Lompoc civic leader and entrepreneur Charlotte Benton, and the vehicle is a green-energy fueled mobile children’s book library. The bookmobile is scheduled for stops at festivals, […]
Joe Payne
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Nature shows at Los Olivos Cafe
Santa Ynez Valley Arts announced that member artist Sheila Krausse will be the featured artist at the Los Olivos Café, with the exhibit For Love of Nature showing July 7 through Sept. 1. The exhibit features the acrylic landscape paintings by Krausse, who blends impressionism and realism into colorful scenes. The exhibit is part of […]
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Roy Bozarth leads photo safaris at the Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary
Strong sinewy legs, heavily thudding hooves, and brambly manes move in concert with an Earth-rumbling majesty at the Return to Freedom Wild Horse Sanctuary in Lompoc, where 1,500 acres of wooded hills and pastures serve as the home for a number of distinct herds of wild horses. The sanctuary separates several bloodlines of wild horses, […]
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The Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s production of ‘Shrek The Musical’ is comedy at its best
So many fairytale stories involve flawless princesses, dashing heroes, and endings wrapped up in a bow. Shrek is not one of those stories. The story of the big, smelly, and rude ogre Shrek premiered with the book Shrek! in 1990, which was the basis for the Dreamworks film Shrek in 2001. In 2008, the story […]
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Local musicians can join the Old Town Market Backroom Jam in Orcutt
The rules of impromptu musical gatherings clearly state: An open mic is never a jam session, and a jam session is never an open mic. Open mics include solo performers or ensembles that take turns performing covers or their own material, often under the organization of an emcee. A jam session, however, is when a […]
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Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation holds murder mystery fundraiser
The Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation (SYVCHF) recently hosted a dinner theater benefit event at the Santa Ynez Valley Historical Society Museum. The “Murder Mystery at the Carriage House” event raised $13,000 for the hospital’s Patient Care Fund, which helps SYVCHF with funding for upgrades in specialized equipment and innovative patient care programs. Prism […]
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Bedford Winery holds pie baking contest
Bedford Winery in Los Alamos will hold its All-American Pie Baking Contest & Picnic the Sunday before the Fourth of July, beginning at 1 p.m. Last year’s event was the first time the contest was held, and attracted more than 30 pie entries including apple, blueberry, pear, cherry, peach, buttermilk, banana cream, lemon meringue, and […]
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Temple Beth El will host bluegrass music July 4
Temple Beth El in Santa Maria hosts an Independence Day celebration with a barbecue lunch and live music by bluegrass group Blue Moonshine. Described as “high octane bluegrass music,” Blue Moonshine will perform with special guest steel guitar player John Clarke. The barbecue lunch includes tri-tip, hot dogs, veggie burgers, and side dishes on July […]
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Defining homelessness: Santa Maria continues to see an uptick in homeless people, but locals find themselves living on the street for a variety of reasons
It’s a sunny day at Waller Park in Santa Maria; children run about the playground; disc golfers leisurely stroll across the grassy, tree-dotted hills; and the water fountain sparkles with the afternoon sunlight. A gray-haired retiree who goes by the name Kat sits alone in a sedan, a clean looking vehicle outside and in, if […]
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Music with the maestro: Santa Maria Philharmonic Society fundraiser to feature performance by Michael Nowak
Fresh from announcing the appointment of new Music Director Michael Nowak, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society scheduled a couple of fundraiser concerts to help aid the growing organization’s upcoming season. The first event was at Presqu’ile Winery in May, which included food and wine while local singer-songwriter Inga Swearingen performed in the beautiful outdoor amphitheater […]
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Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. holds Americana Festival at Buellton brewery
Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. announced a day of concerts at its flagship brewery in Buellton, scheduled for July 3, and featuring a lineup of Americana-style bands. Four bands will perform beginning at 1 p.m. and rocking their distinct blend of American music genres into the evening. Americana Fest will also include craft beer tasting, barbecue […]
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Santa Barbara County Animal Services hopes to expand kids reading program
Santa Barbara County Animal Services shared a post on its Facebook page announcing the expansion of a program that gets young people involved in volunteering and socializing the animals at county shelters. A teenager named Allegra, whose parents were unable to adopt a dog for her, began visiting the Santa Maria shelter regularly, so the […]
