Cover Story
Reading between the lines
Once upon a time, there was a well-meaning group of politicians—the 110th Congress—that approved a law requiring lead and phthalate testing for children’s products. The politicians penned the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) after thousands of children’s toys, clothes, and other items were recalled because of unsafe lead levels. Not long after,…
When’s the last time you went to the dentist? How’d it go?
Rey Monge retired “I went about three weeks ago, the last week in March, for a cleaning, and it went well.” Jeremiah Carroll barista “I went two weeks ago, and it went pretty well. It went by really quick.” Elaine Hanko school district library clerk “I went two weeks ago, and it went very well.”…
Clubs & Meetings
4-H welcomes anyone interested in the group to sign up now. Find a nearby club by contacting the Santa Barbara County 4-H Office at 692-1730 or zmhughes@ucdavis.edu. ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. of SANTA MARIA, a nonprofit business and professional organization, meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., in the Altrusa Theatre of the Santa…
Spiritual
BAHA’I interfaith worship services are the second Sunday of each month. Info: 489-4172. Children’s classes are the first Saturday of each month. Info: 937-9451. Study circles about The Life of the Spirit are ongoing in Santa Maria. For questions, dates, and times: 614-0963. Info: 937-9451. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH holds worship services Sundays with Holy Communion…
Farmers Markets
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.…
Barbecues
ONGOING FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY barbecues Filipino food at the Smart and Final parking lot, N. Broadway on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include tri-tip, chicken, beef kabobs, chicken adobo, salad, rice, and bread. Meals cost $6. Info: 922-3422 or 922-3799. FILIPINO CATHOLIC SOCIETY, under the direction of St. Mary’s Church and St.…
Health
SANSUM CLINIC offers a “Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes Nutrition” class is April 16 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the clinic. Cost is $8. The clinic is located at 1225 North H St., Lompoc. Info: 737-8700. MARIAN MEDICAL CENTER presents a “Healthier Living: Your Life, Take Care” class on April 23 from 12:30 to 3 p.m.…
Art
THE ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE fine arts faculty presents its annual art exhibit through April 17 in the campus’ Ann Foxworthy Gallery, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3252. THE LOMPOC VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION presents its annual Spring Show, featuring the works of local artists through April 26 at the Cypress Gallery, 119 East…
Learning
THE NIPOMO COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT presents a free gardening workshop with Celeste Whitlow, titled “Sages, Grasses, and Ceanothus,” on April 18 from 9 a.m. to noon at 148 Wilson St., Nipomo. Info: 929-113 or ncsd.ca.gov. THE LIGIA DANTES FOUNDATION presents “Living From the Heart” with Dantes on April 18 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.…
Recreation
THE CACHUMA LAKE NATURE CENTER presents its 14th annual Cachuma Lake Nature Center Trout Derby for kids and adults on April 18 and 19 at the Nature Center, Cachuma Lake. Cost is $35, $10 for kids. Info: 693-8381. THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY hosts a Scrabble Mania fundraiser event on April 19 at 5 p.m.…
Kids & Family
THE BOY AND GIRL SCOUTS present a Junior Modelers Fly-In competition on April 18 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Abel Maldonado Youth Center gym, Santa Maria. Info: 925-1955. THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY YMCA presents its Family Fun and Healthy Kid’s Day, featuring carnival games and free health screenings, on April 18 from…
Dance Lessons
ONGOING EVERYBODY CAN DANCE offers classes in ballet dance for ages 3 to adult. Call for schedules. Boys and men receive full scholarships. The studio is located at 800 S. Broadway. Info: 937-6753. THE DANCE STUDIO offers dance classes in Santa Maria and Nipomo in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Acrobatics, and Dance Team. Info:…
Stage
PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of Les Miserables through May 10 at the Marian Theatre, 800 S. College, Santa Maria. Cost is $33 to $35. Info: pcpa.org. WORTH THE DRIVE KELRIK PRODUCTIONS presents its production of Willy Wonka April 18 through May 10 on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 p.m. at Unity, 1490 Southwood Drive,…
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…
Concerts
VIVA EL ARTE DE SANTA BARBARA presents a free concert featuring Mariachi Divas on April 18 at 7:30 p.m. at the Royal Theatre, 884 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. Info: gcaec@verizon.net or 343-2939. THE LOMPOC POPS ORCHESTRA presents a concert featuring themes from Schindler’s List, Sound of Music, Dances with Wolves, South Pacific, and Fiddler on the…
Special Events
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE accepts entries to the 2009 Strawberry Queen Pageant with the ticket-selling competition ending April 17. The pageant is April 24 at 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Fairpark Center Stage, 614 S. Broadway, Santa Maria. Info: 925-2403, Ext. 816, marcy@santamaria.com, or the Chamber office at 614 S. Broadway,…
Kids get a day at the ranch
Children younger than 18 and their parents are invited see what the world of horses has to offer at the Lompoc Valley Riders’ Kids Day on April 19. The fun begins at 9 a.m. and continues all day with riding, food, and games at La Salle Stables, 451 La Salle Canyon Road in Lompoc. Horse…
Race to the Town Center
Racing enthusiasts have an opportunity to get up close and personal with the drivers and cars that will take to the Santa Maria Speedway this season at the Santa Maria Town Center. The Central Coast’s best drivers and their freshly painted factory stocks, mini stocks, modifieds, late-models, mini-dwarfs, and sprint cars will be on hand…
Santa Maria Swim Club honored
For the third year in a row, USA Swimming recognized the Santa Maria Swim Club as one of the top 200 swimming programs in the country. The team was awarded a spot as a bronze medal team by the national swimming governing body’s Club Excellence Program, ranking it No. 178 overall out of more than…
How to track success
Allan Hancock College is enjoying a great track and field season. Even with the track team pushed to practice at Santa Maria High School because of the Hancock track’s poor condition, nine Hancock athletes were ranked in the top 10 in the Western State Conference in 13 different events. So why does track and field…
Josh Prenot
When it comes to swimming fast, Josh Prenot is without peer in the local pool—or most anywhere else, for that matter. At the National Club Swimming Association’s Junior Nationals, held March 17 to 21 in Orlando, Prenot finished 11th in the 1,500-meter freestyle, making him one of the nation’s best swimmers in the event for…
Here’s how a health plan could make us great
President Obama’s public health insurance option is a good way to lower privatized health insurance. Why is this? One: If the federal government starts taking over health insurance for all (the poor, who cannot afford private health insurance; small businesses; up to the mega corporations and even the wealthy), the privatized health corporation would fail.…
Drop socialism, get affordable housing
Regarding the commentary, “Eureka! We’ve been selected for a rezone!” by Ken McCalip in the April 2 edition: The idea of affordable housing or low-income housing are another example of government-sponsored socialism at work. The recent example of the federal-level programs is the “subprime loan” national financial crisis that has resulted from the government insisting…
Illegal immigrants cause hit-and-runs and more
I would like to commend our local police for taking steps to make our streets safer by setting up checkpoints for drunk drivers and unlicensed drivers. Santa Maria is currently the hit-and-run capital for a city its size in our state. I know that this is just one problem of many that plague our city,…
Dine out, Santa Maria style
Most imbibers have learned that wine can transform a meal into a delicious whole bursting with flavors beyond the sum of its ingredients. In a bid to showcase the fine dining scene on the Central Coast, as well as the merits of pairing wine with food, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and five…
Dad, uninterrupted
My wife took some much-needed R&R from the kids—or maybe it was the kids and me she was taking a vacation from. Regardless of whom she was sick of picking up after/feeding/taking care of, she was gone, and “coincidently” her cell phone battery died. This meant the kids and I were on our own. We…
Make your lawn water-smart
The Nipomo Community Services District will present one last chance to learn about water-smart gardening with its free spring 2009 gardening workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on April 18 at the district office at 148 S. Wilson in Nipomo. According to the district, manicured landscapes seen in most neighborhoods account for as much as…
Shinn shares his expertise
Studio potter, painter, and sculptor Bill Shinn will share some of his secrets to success when he presents a program about painting and ceramics at 2 p.m. on May 18 in the Grange Hall at 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave. in Los Olivos. The presentation will consist of a slide show of his techniques as well…
The flap about spring
There’s a cul-de-sac in downtown Lompoc that stands out for its little ornate houses all in a row. The residents are quite transient, but welcomed nonetheless—so welcome, in fact, that one man has built these homes for 20 years. They aren’t for people, though. They’re for the birds. Jim Manweiler builds intricate birdhouses and feeders.…
Masters of the stage
Perhaps my favorite thing about PCPA (besides eavesdropping on the conversations of fellow audience members that precede each play) is the fact that once you’re somewhat familiar with the company, you begin to compare the actors’ roles in various productions—often with comedic or surprising results. Erik Stein, for example, assumes the role of Javert in…
Look up, up, and away
Keep your eyes on the skies on April 23 and 24 when Orcutt Academy and Endeavour Academy hold their first joint Balloon Festival. Students from the academies’ science classes will be conducting atmospheric research by releasing weather balloons carrying testing instruments 300 feet above the Orcutt Academy campus. The balloons will be used to collect…
Allan Hancock College’s summer schedule is now online
Want to catch up on college credits this summer? Allan Hancock College’s summer schedule is now available online at hancockcollege.edu. Beginning April 17, printed schedules will be available at all of the college’s campuses, as well as some community locations. Online registration for summer courses begins April 27, and classes begin June 15. According to…
And the Crystal Apple Award goes to …
The Teachers Network of Santa Barbara County recently announced winners of the county’s 2009 Crystal Apple Educator Awards. Nominated by their peers, Crystal Apple winners are recognized for outstanding teaching and leadership skills in the classroom and community. Each year, school employees, parents, and students are invited to nominate outstanding educators. Award winners receive a…
Eat well during DineOut week
Local restaurants are serving up fine food at delicious prices during the first-ever “DineOut: Santa Maria Style” promotion, set for April 20 through 26. Special menus and pricing will be available all week at five participating eateries: the Garden Room at the Historic Santa Maria Inn, the Hitching Post in Casmalia, Vintner’s Bar and Grill…
Nipomo Chamber of Commerce goes west
Get your Bret Maverick on at the Nipomo Chamber of Commerce’s annual Old West Casino Night fundraiser, set for April 18 at Edwards Barn on the corner of Pomeroy and Willow Road in Nipomo. Running from 5 to 10 p.m., the event includes a barbecue dinner, casino gaming tables, dancing, a silent and a live…
Get help for house hunting
First-time homebuyers can find help when it comes to making loan decisions and avoid getting into a bad investment by attending a free seminar on April 22 in Orcutt. Peoples’ Self-Help Housing will be host to the workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Mariposa Townhomes, 290 Park View South. Brian Kerrigan, the organization’s housing…
Santa Barbara Foundation names VP
The Santa Barbara Foundation, a nonprofit serving Santa Barbara County, announced Martha Harmon as its new vice president of programs. Harmon will oversee five employees, providing direction and managing the foundation’s discretionary grant making. She’ll also be responsible for building coalitions on community initiatives. The former CEO of the Arizona Scholarship Foundation also served on…
Community Notebook 4-16
FRIDAY, APRIL 17 • The Santa Maria City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from 10 a.m. to noon at the Betteravia Government Center conference room, 511 East Lakeside Parkway. • The Lompoc City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Conference…
One woman’s trash is another’s treasure
The Minerva Club has been meeting in town since its start in 1894 by a group of women who called themselves “The Ladies Library.” Now, more than 100 years have passed since those 25 pioneering women made the decision to take a step up and establish a club that would focus on the community. This…
Lompoc’s most unwanted
Kenneth Rasmuson was the first convicted child molester designated as a “sexually violent predator” to be conditionally released into Santa Barbara County. On March 20, he moved onto a 21-acre property northeast of Lompoc. Neighbors there say he isn’t welcome in their community, and county officials are up in arms over what to do with…
Santa Maria to hold homelessness workshop
On April 20, homelessness prevention will take center stage during a public workshop held by the city of Santa Maria, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St. During the workshop, the City Block Grants Advisory Committee will provide information—in English and Spanish—about the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing…
Agriculture is going strong in Santa Barbara County
For the third year in a row, Santa Barbara County’s agriculture industry has generated more than $1 billion, Agricultural Commissioner Bill Gillette announced on April 13. Agriculture continued to be the county’s major producing industry in 2008, grossing approximately $1.14 billion, according to a press release from the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. This is an increase…
PUEBLO seeks public input on immigration reform
A lack of immigration reform and its effect on the local economy will be the subject of an open public forum set for April 22 at the Santa Maria Public Library. The Immigration Committee of PUEBLO—People United for Economic Justice Building Leadership through Organizing—is putting the forum together. The organization supports the legalization of undocumented…
Easter rescue
There are no holidays for members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, who, on April 12, responded to an emergency helicopter rescue request from the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department. A man in his early 20s climbed to the top of a large rock north of Shell Beach and was unable to climb…
Santa Maria high school district board of trustees names new superintendent
There’s a new superintendent in town. On April 8, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board of trustees announced during its weekly meeting that Doug Kimberly will replace Jeff Hearn as superintendent. Hearn is set to retire in June. Kimberly is currently assistant superintendent of human resources for the Fullerton Joint Union High…
