Cover Story
How to teach, each and every one
Few people, if any, refute that there are achievement gaps in academic performance among American students. There are students who succeed, and there are students who fall into a void of low test scores, poor academic performance, and disinterest in learning. The reality of the gaps isn’t really up for debate. The factors that have…
Obama’s president. Now what?
Daisy Flores singer “Change will finally start happening.” Victor Tapere retail “Now what? Now I wait to see what’s going on.” Tina Hall caregiver “I have no clue!” Richard Lara construction “You never know with that guy. … Let’s hope he can come up with some jobs.”
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…
Farmer’s Market
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
SMOKING CESSATION CLASSES are offered on Jan. 29 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in Santa Maria at 2801 Santa Maria Way, suite B; 425 W Central Ave., Lompoc; 2050 Viborg Road, Santa Ynez; 915 N Milpas St., Santa Barbara; and at Cottage Hospital at Pueblos and Bath streets, Santa Barbara. Info: 346-7275 for Santa Maria…
Art
MARILYN DOVER BENSON presents her art in a one-woman show through Jan. 31 at the Grossman Gallery, Lompoc. Info: 937-8108. THE LOMPOC PHOTOGRAPHERS GUILD presents its 2009 Exhibition Feb. 4 through 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Southside Coffee Company, 105 H St., Lompoc. Info: 733-4944 or gstroup200@yahoo.com. THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ARTS…
Learning
THE ACTIVE AGING TASK FORCE OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY presents a training for fitness instructors, physical therapists, and others interested in teaching the elderly safe fitness on Jan. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Mussell Senior Center, 510 East Park Ave., Santa Maria. Info: 739-3593. THE CENTRAL COAST COUNSELING CENTER presents “Mastering…
Recreation
THE LUIS OASIS SENIOR CENTER offers a floral design class on Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. Senior Exercise meets Jan. 30 at 8 a.m. Painting and ceramics meets at 9 a.m. The Luis Oasis Senior Center is located at 420 Soares Ave., Old Orcutt. THE COTTONWOOD CANYON VINEYARD AND WINERY presents a Rose Planting Workshop…
Kids & Family
THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION is seeking adult volunteer wish granters through January in preparation for its annual training in February. Info: tri-counties.wish.org or jboehrer@tri-counties.wish.org. LA PURISIMA SCHOOL invites all families to meet teachers and learn about the school on Feb. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at 219 West Olive Ave., Lompoc. Info: 736-6210. THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC…
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
WORTH THE DRIVE CAL POLY ORCHESIS DANCE COMPANY presents “Impact” on Jan. 30 and 31 and Feb. 5-7 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 1 at 2 p.m. in the Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, SLO. Cost is $13, $10 for students. Info: 756-2787 or pacslo.org. KELRIK PRODUCTIONS presents its production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor…
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
WORTH THE DRIVE UCSB ARTS AND LECTURES presents the Neville Brothers in concert on Jan. 29 at 8 p.m. at the UCSB Campbell Hall, Santa Barbara. Cost is $45, $19 for students. The Tokyo String Quartet performs in concert with special guest Paul Berkowitz on Feb. 4 at 8 p.m. in the UCSB Campbell Hall,…
Special Events
THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA AND CALTRANS hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Highway 101 six-lane widening project on Jan. 30 at 11 a.m., featuring Sen. Abel Maldonado, Mayor Larry Lavagnino, and Jim Kemp at River Oaks Park, 809 Stanford Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 549-3318. LOMPOC VALLEY IN BLOOM presents a benefit afternoon for…
It’s official: 17 teams will race in Tour of California
The recently announced complete roster for Amgen Tour of California boasts 17 professional cycling teams from around the world: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana, Bissell Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing Team, Cervelo Test Team, Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team, Garmin-Chipotle, Jelly Belly Cycling Team, Liquigas, Ouch presented…
Water polo everywhere
Coach Charlie Bell walks around the Olympic-sized pool, doing three things at once and loving every minute of it. Normally he has twice as many players and coaches, but today they’re in Bakersfield defending the honor of the One Way Water Polo club. “In fact, I’m kind of bummed I’m not playing with them today,”…
Sonny Martinez
Sonny Martinez is a soft-spoken guy with an easy smile, but don’t let that fool you—he’s one of the best wrestlers in the area. The Pioneer Valley junior is 37-1 this year. Martinez knew from early on that he wanted to get into sports. So early, in fact, that “wrestling was the only sport that…
Just say no to leapfrog developments
Driving home from Irvine recently, I noticed how nice it was to leave the Ventura/Los Angeles county areas and head into Santa Barbara County and the open areas of the Central Coast. No wonder tourists like to come here! The squeeze of the shoulder-to-shoulder impact of homes, asphalt, and cars was lifted from my head…
Football and finger foods
Partisan supporters, die-hard fans, and even the gridiron action-impaired eagerly anticipate the big day that lies just ahead. Whether drawn to the spectacle of sport or merely tagging along for the lively social scene, Super Bowl Sunday revelers know they’ll be digging into bowls, baskets, and platters loaded with tasty food. In the United States,…
Arts Briefs
Students can dance Two students from the Everybody Can DANCE Vaganova Ballet Academy received scholarships awarded by the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance on Jan. 23. Sydney Burkert and Kaila Holford started with a recommendation from their teacher, Diane Zink, for scholarship competition. After excelling in October auditions, the young artists were among 14 students who…
Hitting a high note
Gaetano Ferro has the accent of a Latin lover, a natural singing ability, and the voice of a man many years his junior. At 71, Ferro said he’s often told that he sounds much younger—a feat he chalks up to good living. “I don’t care what the calendar says, I just don’t feel that old,”…
All gussied up
In a time before mass production, abundant materials, and cheap labor, garments were made one at a time, each piece fashioned by hand. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a family’s means were typically meager, and that often meant clothes were handed down from child to child and sometimes to grandchild. Some of those…
Hobnobbing with Helen
He did it again! Yes, the irrepressible Judy Hearn won the bid to lead the Santa Maria Philharmonic in the “Star Spangled Banner” at the first concert of the orchestra’s 2009-2010 season. Fans will recall that Clark-Center-Follies-tap-dancing star Judy also guest conducted at a previous season-starting concert. The bidding took place at the Philharmonic’s annual…
Political Watch
• Frustrated by his colleagues’ reactions to the State budget crisis, State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) recently introduced two constitutional amendments regulating legislators’ salaries. Maldonado’s “No Budget, No Pay or Per Diem” bill, SCA 7, would prohibit legislators from receiving their salaries or per diem if the budget has not been passed by the…
Need cash for college?
As high school seniors start to hear back from college admissions offices, determining the cost of a college education will soon become a reality for many families. Students and their parents can help ease the financial burden by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) or applying for a Cal Grant. To…
National publication recognizes Santa Maria High School for stellar college
The College Board, a national nonprofit association of schools, colleges, and universities, recently listed Santa Maria High School as a school with “exemplary college counseling.” The high school was one of six schools listed in the publication Inspiration and Innovation: Ten Effective Counseling Practices from the College Board’s Inspiration Award Schools. Commissioned by the College…
Hook a green investor for your green enterprise
The California Coast Venture Forum recently announced the launch of its Clean Business Investment Summit, set for March 26 at UCSB’s Corwin Pavilion. “Clean tech,” green, socially responsible, and sustainable businesses will present their companies to investors at the event. The California Coast Venture Forum is looking for such enterprises—in renewable energy sources, agricultural technology,…
How did Community Bank of Santa Maria fare in 2008?
Jim Glines, president and chief executive officer of Community Bank of Santa Maria, recently released the bank’s year-end earnings report. “Our financial numbers are a direct reflection of the community we service,” he said in a release to the media. “We hope the new year will bring an economic upswing that will undoubtedly strengthen the…
Explore short sales in a local seminar
Explore short sales in a local seminar Pat Haley, sales manager with Short Sale Realty, set up a seller seminar with the hopes of explaining how short sales are made, why they’re “better for sellers than a foreclosure,” and why buyers tend to get a better house in better condition than if they bought a…
Taking the bench
In November 2008, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Kay Kuns to fill a judgeship vacated by retiring Santa Maria Judge Rodney Melville. In a recent interview with the Sun, Kuns said the appointment came as a bit of a surprise. “I put in an application several years ago and didn’t think much else about it,” Kuns…
Community Notebook
TUESDAY, FEB. 3 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Agendas are available at bos-agenda.sbcgov.net. • The Vandenberg Village Community Services District has its regular board meeting at 7 p.m. in the District Office…
They’ve improved Santa Maria recreation
On Jan. 22, the Santa Maria City Recreation and Parks department held its Meritorious Community Service Awards dinner at the Abel Maldonado Youth Center in Santa Maria. According to Dennis Smitherman, recreation supervisor with the city, the awards, which are handed out every two years, recognize community members who have a history of helping improve…
Vandenberg Air Force Base airmen handle a lot of (fake) casualties
Members of Vandenberg Air Force Base’s 30th Space Wing medical group are in the final stages of completing their annual Medical Emergency Response Capability Assessment and Training (MERCAT) exercise. The four-day exercise, which ends on Jan. 29, tests the ability of airmen to respond to a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attack on the base.…
California Conservation Corps is in danger of closing
The California Conservation Corps is facing possible extinction under Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most recent budget plan, which proposes nixing the 33-year-old program to help relieve the state’s $42 billion deficit. The cut could save the state as much as $17 million, according to estimates from the Capitol. If approved, the cut would force dozens of…
New U.S. Census Bureau will generate jobs in Santa Maria
A newly opened U.S. Census Bureau office in Santa Maria could create more than 200 local jobs and as many as 1,500 jobs in five counties, according to estimates from bureau officials. At an opening ceremony on Jan. 21, potential employees, along with a handful of local and state representatives, met at the new office…
