THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY offers its summer reading program “Catch the Reading Bug” June 23 through Aug. 1 at the library, 420 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY YMCA presents its Summer Camp starting every week through Aug. 15 at the YMCA, 3400 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. The YMCA offers swim lessons […]
Music, Arts & Culture
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
DANCE LESSONS
DANCE LESSONS in preparation for the Obon Festival are from 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 26, July 3, 9, and 17 at the Veteran’s Memorial Cultural Center, 313 W. Tunnel St., Santa Maria. Info: 937-7026 or 934-1797. ONGOING EVERYBODY CAN DANCE Academy offers classes in ballet, jazz, modern, and Spanish dance for ages 3 […]
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STAGE
PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of The Heart’s Desire through June 28 in the Marian Theatre, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria. Info: 922-8313 or pcpa.org. IMPROVISATIONAL HUMOR CLASS meets Mondays at the Santa Maria Town Center mall’s second-floor community room to teach theater games, comedy concepts, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?-style games from 5:30 […]
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NIGHT LIFE
The following venues offer either regularly scheduled live entertainment or DJ-hosted dance music. Most performances start after 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. IN THE AREA CLUB 805, AKA STINKY’S BAR & GRILL: 2430 South Broadway, 614-9316. DJ Davey D Saturday nights. THE COACHMAN: 1531 S Broadway, 922-5556. Thursday through Saturday: DJ from 9 p.m. to […]
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CONCERTS
THE LOMPOC POPS ORCHESTRA presents a “Festival of Music” concert June 23 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lompoc Civic Auditorium, 217 S. L St., Lompoc. Info: 735-8511. WORTH THE DRIVE DARE TO MOVE features 35 high school youth from the Bay Area performing in concert June 21 at 7:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, […]
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SPECIAL EVENTS
THE SANTA MARIA NOONTIME KIWANIS CLUB presents its annual “All you Can Eat Spaghetti Feed” June 20 from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, 313 W, Tunnell St., Santa Maria. Info: 925-3221. THE ST. JOSEPH HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION presents its fifth annual wine and beer tasting event, featuring live music, art, […]
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Rain and hail can’t dampen out spirits – just our clothes
My trip to Yosemite was a success, and with minimal complaints on my part
“Hey, don’t downplay my achievement strange man,” I said to the portly, middle-aged tourist standing in front of me. It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon, and I had just finished hiking up the Yosemite Falls trail to the top of the upper falls and then down again—all during a continuous drizzle and, at the […]
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Athlete of the Week
The first time Joseph Rodriguez, 12, hit a home run, he got a piece of a low pitch and lobbed it out past center field. It was a bit of a surprise, he said, when that hit sailed out of the park. But the second time Rodriguez hit a homer, it was much more definite. […]
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Hancock softball team recognized for rising stars
An all-freshman team, led by coach Angeli Guerrero, has earned recognition from the Western State Conference. Guerrero was named Co-divisional Coach of the Year for her efforts with the team, leading them to a third-place finish with a record of 15-26. Three players were also named to the all-conference second team: first baseman Lily Ruiz […]
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Two pools are ready for swimmers, just in time for summer
This summer, Santa Maria Valley residents have more pool choices than ever. Both the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center and the new Pioneer Valley High School pool will be open to the public and hosting special lessons and events. At Paul Nelson, the People for Leisure and Youth and the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department […]
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Hanging it up
Remodeling at the mall displaces Town Center Gallery
It was a sad day at the Town Center Gallery as artists filtered in and out of the space, taking their artwork down and packing boxes. On June 13, the walls were bare at the rent-free venue where local painters, sculptors, and other artisits have displayed their work for the last three years. A group […]
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Battles of the heart
PCPA’s world premiere of Heart’s Desire tells a tale of war, racism, and the American Dream
There’s hardly a war story out there that isn’t heart wrenching, that doesn’t touch the soul on some level. In that respect, Jos» Cruz González’s play, Heart’s Desire, is no different than any other tale of wartime strife—but just when you think you’ve seen it before, this play reaches out and hits you were it […]