Cover Story
From Broadway to Broadway
When the Sun’s ode to geekdom, “Let your geek flag fly,” hit stands in July, we reveled in the chance to gush about our favorite sci-fi and fantasy obsessions. In describing fantasized outer space adventures or wizarding world fixations, that issue pretty much announced to the greater Santa Maria area that the Sun’s editorial staff…
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 Essentials” class Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the clinic. Cost is $8. A “Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes Nutrition” class is Nov. 20 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Sansum Clinic. Cost is $8. Sansum Clinic is located at 1225 North H St., Lompoc. Info: 737-8700. WORTH THE…
ART
THE LOMPOC VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION presents the art of Betsee Talavera through Nov. 23 at the Cypress Gallery, 119 East Cypress Ave., Lompoc. Info: 737-1129. THE LOMPOC VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL presents its annual “Best of the Best” art exhibition through Nov. 29 at the Grossman Gallery, Lompoc Library, 510 E North Ave., Lompoc. Info: 736-3477.…
LEARNING
THE SANTA MARIA RED CROSS Santa Barbara Chapter offers a “Disaster Action Team Training” on Nov. 13 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Red Cross, Santa Maria. Info: 928-0778, Ext. 415, or osalcido@sbredcross.org. THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN presents Roy Drugger, district American Red Cross director, speaking about Disaster Preparedness on Nov. 15…
RECREATION
THE DUNES CENTER offers a Guadalupe City Walk and Talk with Shirley Boydstun on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. at the Dunes Center, 1055 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. A Wonder of the Dunes hike with Ken Wolf is Nov. 16 at 9 a.m. starting at Oso Flaco Lake. Info: 343-2455, Ext. 203. WORTH THE DRIVE…
KIDS & FAMILY
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents “Gigglin’ Granny Preschool Story Time” for kids ages 3 to 5 on Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. and Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. through Dec. 11 at the library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 925-0994 or 925-4354. ONGOING BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS is looking for volunteers to meet…
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 Irving Berlin’s White Christmas through Dec. 21 in the Marian Theatre, Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Dr., Santa Maria. Cost is $16.75 to $28.25. Info: 922-8313 or pcpa.org. IMPROVISATIONAL HUMOR CLASS meets Mondays at the Loading Dock, Old Orcutt, to teach theater games, comedy concepts, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?-style…
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
BIBLES FOR THE WORLD presents the India Children’s Choir in concert at Grace Baptist Churchon Nov. 15 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the church, 605 E McCoy Lane, Santa Maria. Info: bftw.org or 382-4253. THE RIGHETTI HIGH SCHOOL MARIMBA BAND AND BALLET FOLKLORICO presents “A Celebration of Mexican Culture,” featuring guest performances by Allan…
SPECIAL EVENTS
THE MILITARY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, Santa Maria and Lompoc chapter, holds a Veteran’s Day celebration featuring a pork loin dinner on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Pacific Coast Club, Vandenberg. Info: 922-0429. THE SANTA MARIA RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT presents its fifth annual “Celebration of Life,” honoring community members who are 90 years old…
Thanksgiving strategies
Deep in the heart of autumn, families begin gearing up for the holiday season. With Thanksgiving just days away, Central Coast area hotels and restaurants ride to the rescue with a spate of innovative menus and relaxing spa packages for both hosts and their guests. If relatives are headed your way in the upcoming weeks,…
Are you one of those people that’s already started their holiday shopping?
Kim Kenney departmental assistant “Yes. I’ve been working on my cards since January. That, and I bought some slippers, but don’t say anything because she’s standing right here.” Kayla Burch Macy’s employee “No. I’ll probably start around mid-December.” Chris Cook consultant “Definitely not—probably start a week or two before Christmas.” Josie Gamboa attendance assistant “Yes.…
See ya, Sunshine
Since writers love analogies, metaphors, and symbolism, it’s only fitting that, in my mind, my entire time here at the Sun can be wrapped up into one tiny bouncy ball—the coveted “mosaic,” as we dubbed it—and I’ve lost it. (Not my mind, the ball.) Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but I’d already decided…
Local players get ready for playoffs as football season comes to an end
With one game to go—or none at all for some teams—the football season is almost over. Leading the PAC-7 with one week left as of press time was Paso Robles with an 8-1 record. Atascadero, Righetti, San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, and Lompoc high schools followed Paso in the rankings. The Warriors have one game…
Athlete of the Week
Righetti senior Ehi Robinson is playing football for the first time this year—but you wouldn’t think that was the case from watching him play. Ehi (pronounced Ae-he) says he got into football from soccer after his friends said he would be good at it. Turns out they were right. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound corner and kick…
Women’s Economic Ventures partners with Maria Shriver’s WE Invest program
Maria Shriver, in partnership with The Women’s Conference, has recently launched WE Invest, a statewide women’s economic empowerment initiative. The WE Invest program is partnering with Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) and two other nonprofit organizations in California to launch this initiative. The WE Invest partnership will help link women with WEV’s Self-Employment Training Program, the…
Touring and Tasting hosts warehouse wine sale for charity
For the first time, Touring and Tasting Magazine and wine club is selling off cases of their inventory of limited production wines. The Holiday Warehouse Sale will take place on Nov. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m. at 125 S. Quarantina St. in Santa Barbara. A portion of the proceeds will go to benefit three…
Board of Supervisors passes resolution honoring local vineyards
To recognize the importance of wine grape vineyards and winemaking to the county’s economy, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution during their Oct. 28 meeting. The resolution was sponsored by Supervisor Joni Gray and presented to Kevin Merrill, vineyard manager for Mesa Vineyard Management in Santa Maria. “Winemaking and vineyards are…
Longtime ESL instructor is set to retire from Allan Hancock College
On Nov. 19, friends and colleagues of June Grimm will be thanking her for two decades of service to the Allan Hancock College English as a Second Language (ESL) program during a luncheon at Olive Garden in Santa Maria. Lunch will begin at 11:30 a.m. Grimm, 83, came to Santa Maria in 1987 after a…
Political Watch
A furlough program approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to help balance the county’s budget has garnered statewide attention from leaders throughout California. Political leaders are calling the county staff members, who are taking a 64-hour pay cut as part of the program, “positive role models for civil servants during these turbulent…
Shop a little, eat a little
Looking to get a head start on the holiday shopping season? The ladies of the Minerva Club can help. From 9:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Nov. 15, they’ll be hosting their Holiday Faire and Luncheon. The faire will feature a variety of merchandise for sale. There will be homemade baked goods, candies, jams, and…
Santa Maria Public Library tech team wins city’s GEM award
The Information Technology Division team at the new Santa Maria Public Library was recently named Santa Maria’s Going the Extra Mile (GEM) Award winner for the third quarter of 2008. The award recognized the team’s ability under deadline pressure to install a fully functioning computer network at the library. Team members honored include Teri Maa,…
Join a public hearing to discuss Union Valley Parkway
Community members interested in discussing the future Union Valley Parkway project are invited to a public hearing to be held on Nov. 19 at the Santa Maria City Council Chambers, 110 E. Cook St., at 6:30 p.m. The Santa Maria City Planning Commission will host the meeting, and will also consider making recommendations to the…
Local Circuit City branch is closing its doors
On Nov. 11, technology chain Circuit City announced that it’s filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On top of that, the chain said it will close approximately 20 percent—about 155—of its more than 700 stores in the United States by Dec. 31. Santa Maria’s Circuit City, located at 1535 South Bradley Road, is scheduled to close,…
City of Santa Maria eyes a new location for the police department
The Santa Maria Police Department is about to get an upgrade. The city recently announced that escrow is expected to close in mid-November on land and a building on West Betteravia Road, near the intersection of Blosser and Betteravia roads. In a release to the media, Santa Maria City Manager Tim Ness said that the…
Doreen Farr takes over the Third District
Doreen Farr had an exciting election night party, but she wishes she hadn’t. If the votes had gone in her favor earlier in the night, she could have avoided the long, nerve-wracking hours she spent waiting for the votes to be counted. Trailing behind Steve Pappas with 48 percent of the vote to his 51…
Keep marriages to the churches
Despite opposing redefinition of marriage, Californians have already conceded civil unions to same-sex couples. But gays have rejected anything short of full use of the same word that applies to traditional couples. Therefore, I propose a solution: Marriage obviously means different things to different people, and carries many religious implications. Hence, like separation of church…
Prop 8’s passing presents a problem
The California electorate has approved Proposition 8, deeming marriage to be legal only for couples of one man and one woman. However, a significant legal and procedural problem not addressed in the wording of Proposition 8 remains unresolved. Unless the secretary of state acts immediately to deal with this heretofore-unrecognized threat, the legal veracity of…
Immigrants aren’t the problem, but they’re part of it
The news item “What’s behind those ads?” by Colin Rigley (Nov. 6) discussing the reaction to TV ads linking immigration to global warming was probably not intentionally biased, but it certainly misrepresented the opinions of many people concerned about unlimited population growth, and certainly didn’t capture the intent of the people who ran the ads.…
I may not have won, but I’ll keep spreading my message
It has been an honor for me to run for U.S. Congress in the November general election to represent the people in the 23rd District in California. When I immigrated to America at 16 by myself, little did I imagine that one day I would be able to do this. I thank the tens of…
His cheating heart
Last Sunday, I was living the dream. I was lying on my couch, lazily sliding in and out of consciousness. I was watching the NASCAR race, or I guess I should say listening to the NASCAR race since my eyes were shut. I don’t think I have ever watched a NASCAR race without falling asleep.…
Union Hotel serves up death and dinner
Want a little murder and mystery with your turkey dinner? Head to the Gobble Gobble Death and Trouble murder mystery dinner theater at Union Hotel at 7 p.m. on Nov. 21 and 28. Chef Ramsey Gordon has the world’s most sought after turkey recipe. What length would someone go to get it? Find out at…
Short on shillings, long on talent
It’s not unusual for a folk musician to strive for release from a conventional lifestyle, longing to take to the road to share music and a message. Then there are the brave souls who actually do it and are better for it. Four Shillings Short falls into the latter category. Being homeless and owning few…
Surf trip
Surfers travel to where the surf is. Likewise, art enthusiasts travel to where the art is. And sometimes, people are lucky enough to be able to do both. On a recent weekend, the marriage of three circumstances—falling gas prices, dismal weather, and an ever-present feeling of wanderlust—led us to pack up and take a drive…
