People are still talking about Martin Testa’s wonderful food served at St. Joseph High School’s 27th annual BASH fundraiser, “A Knight in Central Park,” held Saturday evening, March 10. I am still thinking about the ooh-la-la, NYC-theme decorations in the girls’ locker room of the school’s gym, where this splendiferous party is held each year. […]
PAMELLA WOOD
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Spotlight on: The Boy’s Restaurant
Francisco Maciel, owner
Yes, even though The Boy’s Restaurant in Santa Maria is under new ownership, they still serve breakfast all day. According to Eric Maciel, son of new owner Francisco Maciel, that’s the most frequent question customers ask when they visit the restaurant, which has been under new ownership since Aug. 1. When the previous owner was […]
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Spotlight on: La Fogata
Israel and Melisa Gonzalez, owners
Guadalupe’s La Fogata re-opened its doors for business in February and is serving delicious, traditional Mexican food, enhanced by the creativity of new owner and chef Israel Gonzales. He and wife/co-owner Melisa have both worked in restaurants for many years, and they share a life-long passion for good food. Opening a restaurant of their own […]
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If you build it …
Santa Maria is another step closer to having a new high school
Santa Maria Joint Unified High School District officials recently released findings of an environmental test done on the proposed site for a new continuation high school—and there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is that testing revealed the presence of elevated concentrations of hazardous substances in one soil sample. The good news is […]
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Fashion in Aktion
The Aktion Club of Santa Maria is holding its seventh annual Fashion in Aktion show on March 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. Models of all ages will strut their stuff, wearing outfits that come from Vocational Training Center (VTC) thrift shops. This sometimes-raucous event usually attracts about 400 attendees for an afternoon of entertainment, […]
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Spotlight on: Recovery Ranch
Daniel Ross and Andy Kirk, owners
Recovery Ranch in Santa Ynez is a structured, sober-living house with a slogan: “We are clean and sober men who live as gentlemen.” The concept of being a gentleman is one of the keys to the success of the program, according to the ranch’s founders. Profanity is prohibited, good manners are stressed, and the men […]
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St. Joe juniors visit Northern California universities
St. Joseph High School juniors took another step on the road to higher education recently as they set off on a three-day tour of Northern California universities, giving them the opportunity to experience college life first-hand. Students toured campuses, spoke to university officials, and learned about the various programs offered at each college. The tour […]
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Spotlight on: Rendezvous Home & Garden
Rendezvous Home & Garden has returned to its roots in the Broadway Pavilion Shopping Center in Santa Maria, re-occupying the space where the business first opened its doors 11 years ago. Though the square footage is less than it once was, the store itself remains an inviting, relaxing place where customers can meander through different […]
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Toru Miyoshi is running for Santa Maria city clerk
“I will probably go on record as the oldest candidate ever to run for public office,” joked Toru Miyoshi, who, at 82, is running for Santa Maria city clerk on the Nov. 6 ballot. Miyoshi is no stranger to public office. He served four terms on the Santa Maria City Council from 1970 to 1982, […]
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Miller Elementary School students learn the ‘ABCs of Etiquette’
Sixth-grade students at Miller Elementary School are learning how to mind their manners in a new program called “The ABCs of Etiquette,” which is intended to reinforce what many students have already been taught at home. The first lesson covered restaurant ordering and dining. School principal Karen Porter talked with students in Trinity Hamilton’s 6th […]
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CHC’s Mobile Dental Clinic visits Dana Elementary School
Students at Dana Elementary School in Nipomo lined up outside a large, brightly decorated mobile dental clinic on Feb. 23, waiting their turn to see the dentist and to show off their skills at brushing, as part of the Community Health Centers (CHC) “Brush! Brush! Brush!” program. U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) was also […]
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510 Event Center
There’s a new kid on the block in downtown Santa Maria: The 510 Event Center. Though it’s a new business, it occupies a building, built in 1945, with a colorful past. After extensive restoration and redecoration, the 510 Event Center’s transformation into a warm, welcoming venue with mahogany tables and chairs, pale green walls, and […]