Cover Story
Healing with food
Common wisdom says when you’re sick, go to the doctor, but modern wisdom says go to your refrigerator—or more appropriately, your fruit and vegetable drawer. Just as the four food groups have given way to the food pyramid, which is now often criticized as well, so has the idea of relying on medication to fix…
What celebrity would you like to see enter politics?
Kevin Willis clerk “They should stay out of politics and stick to whatever their business is—unless they have a background in economics.” Martin Johnsen picture framer “Bill Maher. He seems to be honest and straightforward.” Bill Psomls retired “Bill Maher. He’s knowledgeable and knows more about politics than politicians.” Stephanie Palomarez artist “Oprah, although she…
Don’t feed the writer
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On a rescue mission
The new year is here, and everyone seems to be in the spirit of newness: new resolutions, new goals, new beginnings. The idea of a fresh start is a welcome one for those struggling through hard times in a hard land. The need for food, clothing, and shelter seems to be ever increasing. Sitting at…
The tough questions
By now, it’s a story we all know, but wished we didn’t: On Jan. 8, 22-year-old Jared Lee Laughner walked into a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store and opened fire on people attending a political meet-and-greet with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Loughner managed to kill six people, and injure several others including Giffords, before some bystanders…
Luncheon lauds Santa Maria’s finest
It’s time once again for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce to honor the city’s men and women behind the badge at the 16th annual Police Awards Luncheon on Feb. 9. The Chamber will name the Santa Maria Police Department’s Officer of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, Distinguished Citizen, and Distinguished Team Award…
Game on at Leisure Time
Gamers, dust off those decks, because Leisure Time Games in the Town Center mall is slated to host a series of special events through February. The store will hold a Magic the Gathering: Mirrodin Besieged prerelease tournament on Jan. 29, starting at 11 a.m., and a Mirrodin Besieged Release Party on Feb. 5 at 11…
Learn to improve your credit
In school, you were graded on your report card. These days, you’re graded on your FICO scores. Find out how to improve your credit at Keller Williams Coastal Valley and OiC Credit’s free seminar “Learning to Play the Credit Game and Win” on Jan. 22. The seminar is for all ages: students with no credit,…
Women’s Network seeks nominations
Know a woman who’s made a difference? The Santa Maria Women’s Network is asking for nominations for the group’s Women of Excellence Award, recognizing women in the Santa Maria Valley who’ve contributed to public life and the community. Categories include “Women Taking Creative Risks,” “Women of Spirit,” “Women Helping Women,” and “Lifetime Achievement.” A panel…
Lunching with the law
On Feb. 9, at the Santa Maria Elk’s Lodge, the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce will hold its 16th annual Police Awards Luncheon. The event is to be held at noon. For $17, one can purchase a lunch and attend the event, but there is also the choice of sponsoring an officer, which will pay…
Senate bills seek to address special elections
Just as newly elected Gov. Jerry Brown announced his intention to hold another special election this summer, new legislation is being introduced to address some of the fiscal concerns of a ballot-weary electorate. Last summer’s two special elections to fill the seat vacated by former State Sen. Abel Maldonado cost Santa Barbara County $438,000, according…
Guadalupe Dunes are back open … for now
In a surprising turn of events, officials reopened the Rancho Guadalupe Dunes County Park on Jan. 14 after county engineers deemed the park’s main access road “passable.” Santa Barbara County transportation crews concluded the road, closed due to flooding and erosion, could be reopened safely as long as the river wasn’t flowing. Traffic was narrowed…
Santa Barbara Collective owner and 14 others arrested in pot sting
A few of the charges filed against 15 Los Angeles and San Luis Obispo County residents arrested during a recent mobile medical marijuana dispensary sting didn’t stick in the courtroom earlier this month. However, it’s still isn’t clear why the charges were dropped. In the final days of 2010, roughly 50 agents from SLO County’s…
Hancock teaches about getting free cash
With only a few months left in the school year, there will soon be many high school graduates wondering what to do. So Allan Hancock College, partnering with Cuesta College, is going to hold workshops to inform high school students, and their parents, about the opportunities available for “free cash for college.” The workshops will…
Arellanes celebrates MLK Day with yard work
Instead of spending the day sleeping in, students, teachers, school faculty members, and even Santa Maria-Bonita School District superintendent Phil Alvarado spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day planting 80 trees at Arellanes Junior High School. When George Jimenez’s daughter started attending Arellanes, he noticed that there weren’t any trees at the school. That’s when the…
Be healthy past 50
Uncle Bob’s health changed for the worse at about 60. He had been on medication for a long time. It was the usual: blood pressure medication, cholesterol pills, diuretics, and others. As years went on, his list of medications grew. When he finally died after a long, painful, and slow spiral down, everyone said, “Well,…
California is broken because you can’t fix stupid
There’s been a lot of talk about how Arnold Schwarzenegger failed to fix California’s deficit, but very little about why. How liberal voters, unions, and activist judges fought, opposed, and attacked him at every turn; how 80 cents of every government dollar were spent on employee salaries and benefits; and how hyper-environmentalist, anti-business regulations, and…
How do you explain the shooting?
While certainly expected, I’m stunned at the callousness exhibited by political entities and supporters who place the blame for the Tucson Tragedy on the shoulders of the mentally ill. Political rhetoric used the term “man it up” on many occasions to indicate it’s time to take a tough stand no matter what it costs others.…
If everybody’s mad, Brown must be doing something right
Concerning your Jan. 13 article, “Gov. Brown’s budget proposal upsets nearly everyone,” I’m not sure how everything will turn out with our budget. But if he’s managing to piss everyone off, he’s probably doing good. At least it seems like he’s not using smoke and mirrors and temporary quick fixes like the former Governator did.
People are siding with Fighting Back employees
Shame on you for making light of a very serious situation going on at Fighting Back (“Big trouble all around us, Jan. 13)! Those employees have literally been mentally abused, harassed, and treated like dogs by Teresa Menchaca. The way she treats people/employees is appalling! Her best friend is Alice Patino, who is the president…
Dig deep, find courage to fix Fighting Back
I would like to express my disappointment in the opinion piece written about the issues happening at Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley (“Big trouble all around us, Jan. 13). I know some of the staff who currently work at that organization, as well as a couple who used to work there, and am appalled at…
Piano auditions end on high note
The Central Coast Music Teachers Association held its 21st annual Piano Auditions recently with 23 of 44 participating students receiving the highest rating of 5. All three of the ensemble teams that participated received the “5” rating, which qualifies these students to play at the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) Northern Festival at…
Sitting stylish
Sculptors are invited to submit chair sculptures for this year’s annual Chair Faire, scheduled for July 30, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The chair sculptures will be a new component to the Chair Faire and will be part of a sculpture yard of fine art chair sculptures for auction. There are three categories of…
Show off your quality of life in Lompoc
The Lompoc Parks, Recreation & Urban Forestry Department is hosting a “Quality of Life” Photo Contest, open to all ages and artistic abilities. Grab your camera and submit the picture or pictures that you feel best represent the “Quality of Life” in Lompoc. Photo entries are $10 each and can be submitted to the Anderson…
Fresh palette
Patrons of the Los Olivos Gallery will get to see some fresh faces next month or at least some new names, as the gallery hosts a group of diverse and colorful paintings by some talented local artists throughout the month of February. The exhibit will run Feb. 1 through 28. The public is invited to…
Bohemian Spirit
Most artists paint what they see around them. Some travel in search of beauty and inspiration. Others find it where they live. Michelle Schaefer has been fortunate enough to do both. The images from her travels, and her perception of what’s around her, will be on display at the Grossman Gallery at the Lompoc Public…
Mariah Cooks
The above statement has almost become cliché in today’s culture, but still rings true for hardworking student athletes across the nation. And it definitely rings true for the woman who said it: Righetti High School’s Mariah Cooks. Cooks plays basketball year round, constantly practicing, constantly getting better. She can play any position and is the…
Battle of the bulge
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Sign up for Orcutt Youth Softball
There’s still one more chance to register your child for youth softball in Orcutt. The Orcutt Youth Softball Association is taking signups at Guadalupe City Hall on Jan. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon. All players must provide current proof of address, such as a current utility bill. New players must provide a copy of…
Be the ‘Biggest Winner’ at In-Shape City
In-Shape City locations in Santa Maria and Lompoc are joining the company’s other franchises in the first-ever “Biggest Winner Fitness Challenge,” a competition awarding $10,000 in cash and prizes to members who lose the most body fat. The contest is open to all club members and the two “Biggest Winners” (one male and one female)…
Get class
If the arrival of January 2011 inspired a resolution to become a better cook, look no further for help than the Lucia Mar Unified School District’s Adult Education department. Delighting would-be kitchen wizards, local food guru Joe Seals offers a line-up of how-to classes guaranteed to fire the imagination, while polishing culinary skills. Seals, a…
Clubs & Meetings
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Spiritual
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Farmers Markets
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Barbecues
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Health
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Art
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Learning
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Recreation
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Kids & Family
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Dance Lessons
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Stage
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Night Life
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Concerts
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Special Events
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