Cover Story
Locals seek to preserve the golden years
In 2006, Santa Maria resident Abigail Garcia went to visit an ailing friend of the family. The woman had been sick for some time and was living in a skilled nursing facility where she could receive around-the-clock medical care. The visit, though only about an hour long, made a powerful impact on Abigail, whose then-84-year-old…
CLUBS & MEETINGS
ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL INC. of SANTA MARIA, a nonprofit business and professional organization, meets the second Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m., in the downstairs conference room at United Way, 1660 S. Broadway. Info: 352-0026 or 937-4071. ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL INC. OF THE CENTRAL COAST meets at noon the second and fourth Monday of every month at…
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
ONGOING ARTHRITIS FDN. is a low impact, sit-in-chair exercise program held every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Valentine St. Community Room, 280 E. New Love St. Info: 346-1981. SYCAMORE MINERAL SPRINGS HEALING ARTS INSTITUTE offers a range of classes including yoga and meditation, alternative and herbal medicine, aroma and color therapy, compassionate…
ART
THE CYPRESS GALLERY currently features the exhibition Abstract Thought by Elizabeth Monks Hack through August at the gallery, 119 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc. Info: 737-1129. ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents an exhibit, Framing of Light, featuring the photography of Cathy L. Gregg, through Sept. 5 in the Allan Hancock Student Center Art Gallery, building G, Santa…
LEARNING
THE DANA ADOBE NIPOMO AMIGOS present Barbara Watson speaking about “Mi Casa es Su Casa; Visitors at the Dana” on Aug. 23 at 1 p.m. at the Dana Adobe, 671 S Oakglen Ave., Nipomo. Info: 929-5679. THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SANTA MARIA presents Dr. James Sutton speaking about Parkinsons’ disease on Aug. 28 at…
RECREATION
LA PURISIMA MISSION presents Village Days, featuring portrayals of life in an earlier time, Aug. 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the mission in Lompoc. Info: 733-3713. THE CALIFORNIA STARS COAST GIRLS SOFTBALL team holds tryouts Aug. 24 at noon at the Hagerman Softball Complex, 3300 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 598-5423 or…
KIDS & FAMILY
THE CACHUMA LAKE NATURE CENTER presents a kids’ fishing workshop for ages 7 to 15 on Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Nature Center, Cachuma Lake. Info: 686-5055 or cachuma.com. PISMO BEACH YOUTH THEATER offers Youth Theater classes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. through August at YOYO, Foster…
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
LOMPOC CIVIC THEATRE presents its production of Ruthless—The Musical Aug. 22, 23, and 24, showing in Lompoc. Info: 735-ACT1. PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of The Imaginary Invalid through Aug. 23 in the Marian Theatre, Allan Hancock College, Santa Maria. Info: www.pcpa.org. IMPROVISATIONAL HUMOR CLASS meets Mondays at the Santa Maria Town Center second-floor community…
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.…
CONCERTS
ORCUTT CHRISTIAN CHURCH presents The Lighthouse Boys performing Southern Gospel in concert Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. at the church at 204 Patterson Road in Santa Maria. Info: www.orcuttchristian.org. WORTH THE DRIVE THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY BAND performs a T wilight Concert on Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. at Mitchell Park, on the…
SPECIAL EVENTS
THE SANTA MARIA HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATING CLASS OF 1978 holds its 30th reunion Aug. 23 from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Inn. Cost is $50. Info: 260-2253 or saraleemacdonald@verizon.net. WORTH THE DRIVE ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS holds its annual district convention, titled “Friendship and Fellowship,” on Aug. 22, 23, and 24 at the…
What’s your favorite sport to watch in the Summer Olympics?
Jim Perry retired/photographer “Baseball. Anything I can do with my grandson is interesting.” Omar Herrera student “Track, because it’s more of a single-person event.” Sarah Candey mother “Probably the swimming and the gymnastics are the most fun for us to watch.” Mike Doe mystery man “I like them all. I’m interested in all of the…
Parent-child workshop comes to the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum
Pack up your bags and bring your crayons: Allan Hancock College’s parent-child workshop has moved to a new site. The program is now operating inside the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. According to a press release from Allan Hancock College, applications are still available for the 2008-09 academic year. Enrollment is open to children who…
Eighth-graders will get a Warrior Welcome at Righetti
Local eighth-grade students better bring their Warrior appetites to the Eighth Grade Warrior Welcome at Righetti High School on Aug. 28. Members of the high school’s Future Farmers of America will prepare a Santa Maria-style barbecue, offering a sandwich and a drink for $5, followed by the welcome presentation at 5:30 p.m. in the gym.…
New Blackboard system helps Hancock students 24/7
A new around-the-clock, online academic system at Allan Hancock College means help is just a click away for thousands of local students. Whether they’re enrolled in traditional classroom-based classes or are learning online, Blackboard gives students access to class materials, including assignment lists, reading materials, forum sessions, and instructor contact information. Now, thanks to recent…
Local engineering company is full of ‘spirit’
Joseph Engineering, a company located in Santa Maria, has received the “Spirit of Small Business Award” from the Pacific Coast Business Times. “It is an honor to be recognized for our hard work,” Brian Joseph, owner of Joseph Engineering, said in a press release. “Receiving this award motivates us to continue to strive for excellence.…
Fresh faces appear on the Santa Ynez Visitors Association board
The results are in, and there are now three new members of the board of directors of the Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association: Thomas O’Higgins, Bent Olsen, and Sherry Thore. O’Higgins is the owner of Wine Country Home in Los Olivos and a partner in Artiste Winery in Santa Ynez. He’s been a Valley resident…
Political Watch
• Hey Obamans, check it out! On Aug. 21, the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley welcomes Obama District Campaign Coordinator Walter Heath, who will lead a discussion about the coordinated campaign for the Santa Maria Valley. Also, the draft of the local vision of the Democratic Platform will be presented. This work, recently crafted…
Celebrate the community’s big givers
The night was heavy and dark, but the 300 people attending the 89th Annual Installation and Awards Dinner at Elks Lodge No. 1538 could see nothing but the shining lights of the three award recipients on Aug. 13. The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau—along with major sponsor BreitBurn Energy—ignited…
Correction
The Aug. 14 cover story, “You oughtta stay in pictures,” mistakenly reported some dollar amounts. Santa Barbara County Film Commissioner Geoff Alexander should have been quoted as saying that the movie industry is a $38 billion industry for the state and that companies filming car commercials usually spend $100,000 or more.
Santa Maria battles congestion concerns at Kohl’s Shopping Center
Roadwork began Aug. 18 on the Kohl’s Shopping Center driveway intersection—a section of road that’s proved troublesome for Santa Maria drivers. Santa Maria city officials hired a contractor to improve vehicle access on McCoy Lane and modify roadway markings. The left turn access into and out of the commercial driveway to the Kohl’s Shopping Center…
Portions of Los Padres National Forest close due to fires
Several lightning-sparked fires in the area have caused the U.S. Forest Service to close a portion of the Los Padres National Forest in Northern Santa Barbara County. The “Lightning Complex Fires” started on Aug. 15 in a remote area of Los Padres National Forest, approximately 18 miles east of Santa Maria. As of press time,…
Stroll down memory lane with missiles at Vandenberg Air Force Base
On Aug. 18, in front of a crowd of more than 150 family members, airmen, and civilians, five men who worked on Vandenberg Air Force Base’s first-ever missile launch answered questions and reminisced about the Golden Age of missile defense systems. Darrell Cummings, Larry Newton, Dave Norlund, Dick Parker, and Phil Payne were the guests…
Searching for intelligent life
On Aug. 16 and 17, a handful of scientists and academics—accompanied by a crowd of several hundred people—descended on the Historic Santa Maria Inn. Their mission: to discuss and debate the existence of extraterrestrial life, alien or otherwise. Far from a top-secret military debriefing, the Central Coast Science and UFO Symposium welcomed people from different…
After-school programs circle the wagons
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…
Excuse me, could you spare a nickel or dime?
I used my second-grade math skills the other day, but somehow forgot to move a decimal point, resulting in my bank account being overdrawn. Whoops. For this act of stupidity, the bank awarded me with a charge (overdraft fee) for insufficient funds. The fee put my bank account further in the red. This process seems…
Arts Briefs
Get ready for an Orcutt Aquacenter poolside party Get one last summer swim in and help support the Orcutt Aquacenter from noon to 3 p.m. on Sept. 28 at the Foxenwood Tennis and Swim Club, 1087 Clubhouse Drive in Orcutt. The Aquacenter’s board of directors is hosting a poolside party and barbecue in celebration of…
It’s all about heart
This is the story of a group of guys trying to make it big in rock’n’roll. It’s a story like a lot of other stories in a lot of other cities. It’s a story about young friends who are passionate about music, give up the comforts of a secure lifestyle, move in together, and devote…
Goodbye, summer
The end of summer is always a mixture of sadness and relief: sadness as I recall all the things I didn’t get to do and realize that now, with summer ending, I don’t get to do them, and relief in knowing that lazy days will turn into a finely orchestrated schedule of work, school, soccer,…
Meet the new coach
Rod Garcia didn’t even know about a job opening at Allan Hancock College, until he started getting the calls. “A lot of folks over there had been kind enough to let me know about it,” he said, “and they told me maybe I should take the job.” So he did. Rod is now the new…
Global inspiration
A vacationer’s dream and a resident’s paradise, the little town of Los Olivos offers art galleries, fine dining, and lots of winetasting, as well as quiet neighborhoods, a post office, and a well-stocked market. In the heart of downtown, within the embrace of Fess Parker’s renowned Wine Country Inn and Spa, the cozy Restaurant Marcella…
Marching on Washington
It was August 1963, and I was a college junior. I had a summer job in New York City, and each day I took the commuter train with my father. On one such trip, I looked at the New York Post and was surprised to learn that college students had gone down south to help…
Because cars and sports go together
Check out some hot cars and support a good cause. That’s the idea behind the Seventh Annual Lompoc Police Department Car Show to benefit the Special Olympics. There are two parts to the event: the cruise night on Aug. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m. and the actual car show, held Aug. 30 at Ryon…
Athlete of the Week
The Balderas brothers are back in the spotlight in the junior boxing world after coming back from the 7th annual Desert Showdown National competition in Coachella. Carlos, 11 (left), and Rudy, 12, both made it to the final round in the 75-pound weight class (though in different age groups). Just making the finals is a…
