Kindergarten registration for schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Children who turn 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 are eligible for regular kindergarten in the 2016-2017 school year. Registration will also take place for a program called transitional kindergarten for children who are slightly younger. Parents […]
SHELLY CONE
Posted inFood & Drink
BBQ In The Stix launches tri-tip food truck
Santa Maria Valley loves its signature tri-tip barbecue: oak wood, open fire grill, just a bit of salt, and salsa on the side. So what could make it better? A couple of entrepreneurs decided to take on that challenge, and what they came up with can be described as deliciously instant gratification. For most people, […]
Posted inNews
Laurus College holds commencement
Laurus College held its semi-annual commencement Jan. 23 at the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, located next to Laurus College’s campus, in Oxnard. The ceremony recognized the achievements of students who completed their certificate and/or associate degree programs in 2015. While the majority of Laurus College graduates don’t reside in Oxnard, that didn’t prevent 41 graduates and […]
Posted inNews
Sandoval reappointed to California State Board of Education
Gov. Jerry Brown has reappointed Nicolasa “Niki” Sandoval, the education director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, to the state Board of Education. Sandoval, who’s been director of the tribe’s education department since 2009 and a lecturer at University of California, Santa Barbara since 2007, was first appointed to the state board in […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria High School Robotics Club teams with Zodiac engineers for competition
The Santa Maria High School Robotics Club and a few engineers from Zodiac Aerospace participated in the Lego NXT Sumo Competition on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Members were divided into several teams and used the robots they constructed to battle each other. Students Michael Salas and Sammy Lagunas, said the club has made them want to […]
Posted inFood & Drink
The Food Archivist: Preserving the food-family connection
It seems like every family has that one signature dish that brings everyone together. It’s treasured like a priceless jewel. And more often than not, it’s a secret. Family recipes are special because they are the root of numerous fond memories, in which the food is the focal point to where everyone gathers. Often that […]
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McKenzie Jr. High celebrates opening of Learning Center
Kermit McKenzie Junior High School’s newly renovated Learning Center will take student, parent, and staff engagement and technology to a new level in Guadalupe. The grand opening for the nearly $400,000 learning center took place Jan. 20. The multipurpose facility features an educational environment for students where Google Chromebooks, a variety of books, and audio/visual […]
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Santa Maria Public Library offers free homework help after school
The Santa Maria Public Library began offering homework help Jan. 20 at the main library in the Homework Center on the first floor, 421 S. McClelland St. The free After School Homework Help program is available for students in grades kindergarten through sixth Monday through Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Volunteer tutors will […]
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Renowned Santa Maria author addresses Fairlawn Elementary students
On Thursday, Jan. 21, renowned author and former Santa Maria student Francisco Jiménez spoke to about 60 sixth-grade students at Fairlawn School in Santa Maria. Jiménez was invited to the school by his nephew, sixth-grade teacher Robert A. Jiménez. Jiménez spoke about his childhood in Santa Maria and his books, The Circuit and Breaking Through. […]
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Santa Maria area high school students encouraged to ‘think big’
Santa Maria and Righetti high schools had the opportunity to participate in assemblies featuring “ithinkbig.org.” The presentations held at Santa Maria High Jan. 21 and Righetti on Jan. 22 are creatively designed to encourage students to think “bigger,” and to go “deeper” with their lives. The activities include life-changing illustrations of personal struggles and accomplishments, […]
Posted inNews
Strong grrrls: Crazy cardio and strict diets are out as women embrace a fitness trend that emphasizes strength and health over what the scale says
Strong is the new skinny. It’s a motto that’s heard throughout the fitness community, and it’s changing women’s approach to fitness and providing a boost to women’s confidence and body image. Trends in fitness are nothing new. In earlier times people were told, “Reach for a Lucky instead of a sweet,” promoting cigarette smoking, or […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Danita Estorga
Coming from a sports-oriented family, Danita Estorga, 16, began playing basketball in the second grade. It didn’t take long before she knew it was a game for which she was well suited. “When I started getting taller I thought basketball would be my sport. I love the game,” she said. The Righetti High School junior […]
