Community West Bank recently announced that Ruth Moran has been hired as vice president, commercial loan officer in the bank’s Santa Maria branch office. According to a press release, she spent most of her 14-year lending career with California Coastal Rural Development Corporation, which provides loan capital and other financial services to businesses and farms […]
RYAN MILLER
Posted inNews
Local heart health help gets new director
The American Heart Association has a new executive director for its Tri-Counties Division. Julia Nagy, who served as business development director for the association’s Santa Barbara Division, is now heading up the organization that covers Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties. Nagy replaces Liz Adams, who has taken on a new role in […]
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Wineries, start thinking about next year’s activities
In honor of its 50th birthday in 2009, Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is holding its fifth annual Taste for Justice on March 7, 2009, starting at 2 p.m. at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. The event features food and drink, so Legal Aid is looking for about a dozen or so […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Become the boxing official you’ve always wanted to be
Can you take a punch? Or at least watch others take punches? The Lompoc Valley Police Activities League (PAL) is looking for local volunteers to become certified USA Boxing officials. A free training course is set for Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lompoc Valley PAL Boxing Gym at 909 E. […]
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What Kids are Reading
Marveltown by Bruce McCall recommended for ages 5 to 8 Marveltown is a gleaming, retro-futuristic city of wonder. Flying vehicles soar over, under, and around suspended roads and improbable towering buildings. Daredevil antics, such as sky-skiing and elevated marlin fishing, are commonplace. And every Saturday, all of the kids in the town get access to […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Dress like a sleuth
Join a Sammy Keyes costume party in celebration of author Wendelin Van Draanen’s newest book
Sammy Keyes has encountered singing nuns, costumed wrestlers, cranky seniors, busy girl scouts, and flashy artists—and that’s just in a few of her books. The teen sleuth’s adventures seem tailor-made to be a jumping off point for a costume party—they’re packed with colorful characters who tend to wear crazy outfits—so it’s not surprising that Santa […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A dash of the surreal
One local artist’s colorful work practically drips off of the page
Splash a Disney cartoon character with bright paint, then slowly melt it on a barbecue while listening to one of the trippier Beatles’ albums. Your end result may begin to approach something born from the brain of Brent Parker. The jack-of-all-visual-artsy-trades, Sun freelancer, and former Santa Maria Arts Council grant recipient is currently showing his […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Authentic guys prepare food
Males show off their culinary skills for a good cause
Gentlemen, fire up your ovens, grills, and breadmakers! Tie on those manly aprons and head for the kitchen—it’s time once again to brandish your giant spoons at Real Men Cook, the Arts Outreach annual fundraiser and lively showcase for brawny local talent. This year’s event, slated for Oct. 25 at Flag Is Up Farms, marks […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Arts Briefs
257 words David Ryan gets ready for Empty Bowls David Ryan Gallery’s Oct. 3 Art and Wine Party will feature the kickoff for this year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. Stop by to browse bowls made by local ceramists. Most will be available for $20. Buy them at the event, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The farm is here to stay
Transition Mental Health’s Growing Grounds Farm celebrates the harvest – and good news from the county
The people could be a metaphor for the soil. Or the soil could be a metaphor for the people. The farmers are predominantly bipolar, schizophrenic, severely depressed. The land is a dusty four acres of sandy dirt, once home to abandoned machinery. A promise of good things to come isn’t the first thing that comes […]
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After-school programs circle the wagons
A possible threat to Proposition 49 funding is uniting providers around the state
While the legal tussle between the governor and the state controller has been the most visible budget battle in recent days, another skirmish has been brewing beneath the threats of a lowered minimum wage and Superior Court proceedings. This lesser-known fight is still mostly saber rattling for now—and will likely remain so until California’s budget […]
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Community groups join together to discuss home-care threats from budget cuts
The Quality Home Care Coalition of Santa Barbara County’s name says it all. The collection of community groups cares about quality home care. Members of the group include Congress of California Seniors, Independent Living Resource Center, AARP, and United Domestic Workers of America. In response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s revised budget proposal, the coalition will […]