Read Chester “Gavin” A. Arthur III’s magazine ‘The Dune Forum’, courtesy of the South County Historical Society. I was ambushed by the commonplace, Led confidently to believe that I was merely walking from the ocean into camp, Carrying my pack and eager to get the load off my back, But always welcoming […]
Joe Payne
Posted inNews
Lompoc Theatre Project group shares its mission statement
After agenda discussion and social time at the Lompoc Valley Arts Council meeting on Feb. 20, members of the Lompoc Theatre Project detailed what’s necessary to acquire the theater and get it to operational capacity. Board member Steve Stormoen related the group’s mission statement to enhance Lompoc’s historic Old Town: to act as a multi-use […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Quality lasts: Tales from the Tavern celebrates veteran songwriters Steve Forbert and Steve Poltz
The pop music industry is a meat grinder, leaving many a talented artist jumping through hoop after hoop before being thrown to the side as yesterday’s news. Thankfully, true songwriters concern themselves not with chart numbers or revenue, but with the quality of their work. These kinds of artists aren’t jostled by the waves of […]
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Santa Maria Arts Council to honor Marti Fast
Marti Fast, Allan Hancock College’s art gallery director and a fine arts instructor, has been chosen as the 2014 Santa Maria Arts Council Grants Showcase honoree in recognition of her contributions to the local arts community. The arts council will award more than $13,000 in grants to local emerging musicians, dancers, actors, and visual artists […]
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PVHS student wins county arts commission’s ‘Poetry Out Loud’
Pioneer Valley High School students took top honors at the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission’s annual “Poetry Out Loud” competition on Feb. 12. Panther Jessica Osborn took first place in the contest, and will move forward to compete in Sacramento for a chance to compete in the national contest in Washington, D.C. Osborn performed “Queens […]
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PCPA Foundation invites locals to ‘Name-A-Seat’
The PCPA Foundation is inviting locals to celebrate PCPA’s 50th anniversary with the “Name-A-Seat” campaign. For a donation, patrons can emblazon their names or others’ names on brass plates on the seats in the Marian Theater, the theater company’s performing headquarters in Santa Maria. Two couples have already made contributions. Those who donate will be […]
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When the West was wild: B.A. Kelly takes readers back to a rougher time in her new novel, ‘Wild Justice’
Imagine only being able to go as fast as the four legs of a horse could carry you, like the horsepower in your car was turned down to one. Now imagine someone is hot on your trail, on a horse that could be just as fast—if not faster—than yours. The open country of the Wild […]
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The historical valley: A day in Lompoc is a veritable trip through history
The wide, sprawling Santa Maria Valley has been home my entire life. Growing up on the Central Coast has always been a great experience, but for me, the wonder of the area really opened up when I started exploring the magnificent ecology and historical destinations in the area, both in school field trips and family […]
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The AJM Band celebrates its new album with a performance at Shaw’s
The crackle of a distorted electric guitar or the explosive power of a barred chord is the musical equivalent of an illegal firework: It packs a punch. The same excitement that ignites in the heart of any young pyromaniac is stoked by the sizzling energy of rock ’n’ roll, a genre of music that has […]
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Crafty kids at Michaels
Michaels offers crafting events for kids ages 3 and up. A “Craft Foam and Felt Butterfly” event is scheduled for Feb. 22 for 30-minute sessions from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the store. Cost is $2. Michaels is located at 1934 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. More information is available at 349-8801 or michaels.com.
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New gallery in Orcutt welcomes first featured artist
The Frame Gallery, Orcutt’s new frame shop and art gallery, welcomes local artist Betsy Jones and her original acrylic paintings. The gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is located at 1157 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. More information is available at 287-9402.
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Dunes Center needs help preserving ‘Ten Commandments’ set
Though the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center helped facilitate and now houses the fruits of an archeological excavation at the set of Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments. Much of the set still lies submerged beneath the dunes sand. The Dunes Center recently submitted a proposal for funding from the Santa Barbara County Coastal Resource Enhancement Fund to […]
