Cover Story
Local views on national change
“When they announced it, I had just ordered a hamburger and I think I took a bite, but I had to put it down,” grinned Addie Singleton, 80, a retired Lompoc teacher. “I couldn’t eat it. I just sat and cried. It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve seen in ages.” Clarence Willis of Vandenberg Village…
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 on 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. ONGOING ARTHRITIS FDN. is a low impact, sit-in-chair exercise program held every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at…
ART
THE TOWN CENTER GALLERY holds a reception for its new show on Nov. 21 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Good Neighbor Bakery, 2660 Industrial Parkway, Santa Maria. The Artists Holiday Art and Gift Sale features handmade artistic gifts. Info: 937-2075. THE LOMPOC VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION presents the art of Betsee Talavera through Nov.…
LEARNING
ONGOING EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS for inventors, entrepreneurs, new product developers, and creative individuals that feature expert speakers and resources meet every first Wednesday of the month from 6 to 7 p.m. for the public at the eastside branch of the Santa Barbara Public Library, 1100 E. Montecito St. Info: 879-1729. SMALL BUSINESS START-UP WORKSHOP features successful…
RECREATION
THE DUNES CENTER offers a dunes photography hike with docent Jules Reuter on Nov. 23 at 3:30 p.m. Info: www.dunescenter.org. WORTH THE DRIVE FREE YOGA FOR CANCER SURVIVORS sessions, with instructor Shoosh Crotzer, are Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. through Dec. 10 at the San Luis Obispo Veteran’s Memorial Building, 801 Grand Ave.,…
KIDS & FAMILY
THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY YMCA offers a Thanksgiving Break camp on Nov. 24, 25, and 26 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a Winter Break camp Dec. 22 through Jan. 20 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday at the YMCA. Info: 937-8521 or www.smvymca.org. THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents “Gigglin’…
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
THE SANTA MARIA CIVIC THEATRE presents its production of A Christmas Cactus by Eliot Byerrum Nov. 21, 22, 28, and 29, and Dec. 5, 6, 12, and 13 at 8 p.m. at the Santa Maria Civic Theatre, 1660 North McClelland, Santa Maria. Cost is $14. Info: 922-4442 or www.smct.org. EVERYBODY CAN DANCE AND THE SANTA…
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
THE SANTA MARIA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA presents a pre-holiday show featuring selections by Berlioz, Mendelssohn, Ravel, and Mozart on Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, McCoy Lane and College Drive, in Santa Maria. Cost is $27, $22 for seniors, and $12 for students. Info: 925-0412 or www.santamariaphilharmonic.org. THE LOMPOC CONCERT ASSOCIATION presents folk…
SPECIAL EVENTS
THE FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH presents a Holiday Bazaar, featuring handcrafted gifts on Nov. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. and Nov. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at First Christian Church, 1550 S College, Santa Maria. Info: 922-8479. THE ORCUTT MOMS CLUB holds a fundraiser Holiday Bazaar in benefit of baby Andrew Morse on…
What Thanksgiving side dish could you not live without?
Christian Gardner Language Lab coordinator “Mashed potatoes. If I don’t get mashed potatoes, it just isn’t Thanksgiving.” Katie Draeger student “Stuffing. Or homemade cranberry sauce. Or apple pie, or argh! I can’t decide!” Alison Randall having fun is her job “I’m going to have to say I can’t go without the gravy, but my favorites…
Hey high school students: Make good choices!
On Nov. 24, U.S. Investigations Service investigator Tammy Brown will talk with high school students at Lompoc High School, educating them about how decisions they make today can impact their lives into the future. Brown is one of 3,000 investigators working nationwide for USIS, which performs security clearance investigations for the federal government. Brown has…
‘Angels’ in disguise
Earlier this month, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Maria recognized seven teaches from the Santa Maria-Bonita School District with the “Angels in Education” award for “going above and beyond the call of duty” in their teaching careers. The awards are presented two times during the school year and are sponsored by the club’s members. Schools…
Bring a toy, buy a burger, help some tots
On Dec. 12, from 5 to 8 p.m., locals are invited to drop off a wrapped toy worth at least $10 at JR’s Drive-In Burgers, 603 E. Main St., Santa Maria. Locals can also take their toys to David Ryan Gallery, 205 E. Clark Ave. in Old Orcutt, between 1 and 4 p.m. on Dec.…
Santa Maria Community West Bank branch hires new officer
Community West Bank recently announced that Ruth Moran has been hired as vice president, commercial loan officer in the bank’s Santa Maria branch office. According to a press release, she spent most of her 14-year lending career with California Coastal Rural Development Corporation, which provides loan capital and other financial services to businesses and farms…
Local heart health help gets new director
The American Heart Association has a new executive director for its Tri-Counties Division. Julia Nagy, who served as business development director for the association’s Santa Barbara Division, is now heading up the organization that covers Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties. Nagy replaces Liz Adams, who has taken on a new role in…
Wineries, start thinking about next year’s activities
In honor of its 50th birthday in 2009, Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County is holding its fifth annual Taste for Justice on March 7, 2009, starting at 2 p.m. at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum. The event features food and drink, so Legal Aid is looking for about a dozen or so…
Political Watch
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies recently announced that tickets for the Jan. 20 swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama won’t be provided directly to the public, but will go to Members of the 111th Congress. Each Member of the House of Representatives will receive 198 tickets to the inaugural ceremonies for distribution. All official…
Local volunteers get recognition for their efforts
Community Partners in Caring held its annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon at the Radisson Hotel in Santa Maria on Nov. 14. This year, the nonprofit is celebrating 10 years of providing service to the community in the form of volunteer assistance to seniors (most of which is medical transport for homebound seniors who can’t drive or…
Celebrate Philanthropy!
“We are here today to celebrate people who do good things.” The Rev. Dr. Brian T. Parcel of First United Methodist Church was talking to the 240 guests at the inaugural Celebrate Philanthropy! Luncheon held Nov. 6 at the Santa Maria Country Club. Tickets were $20. The event honored three local couples well known for…
Give thanks – plant a tree!
The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County is inviting volunteers to give thanks this Thanksgiving season by helping to plant 500 native shrubs and plants at the Black Lake Ecological Area in Nipomo. On Nov. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, Land Conservancy staffers, members, and volunteers will plant native flora as part of…
Santa Maria: This is only a test
The city of Santa Maria will conduct a citywide call on Nov. 24 at 10 a.m. to test its emergency alert notification system, which allows city officials to record and send personalized voice messages to thousands of residents and businesses through a single phone call. According to a press release from the city, the goal…
Police issue hundreds of citations during weekend checkpoint
The Santa Maria Police Department’s traffic bureau was busy on Nov. 15 and 16, conducting two Driving Under the Influence (DUI) checkpoints and a driver’s license checkpoint. The first DUI checkpoint took place on Nov. 15, from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., at the intersection of Main Street and Western Avenue, and later moved to…
‘King of Pop’ gives up his castle
Pop star Michael Jackson recently sold his Santa Ynez ranch, Neverland, transferring the property deed to the Sycamore Valley Ranch Co. LLC. The singer filed a grant deed on the ranch on Nov. 10, according to documents posted on the Santa Barbara County clerk-recorder website, sbcrecorder.com. Jackson went into default on a $24.5 million loan…
Gap Fire arson suspect arrested
Progress has been made on determining the cause of another recent fire. On Nov. 17, U.S. Forest Service and Santa Barbara County Fire Department investigators announced that they had arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for starting the Gap Fire. As of press time, the 16-year-old suspect was in custody at the Santa Barbara…
Tea fire contained, believed to be ‘human-caused’
South Santa Barbara County’s Tea Fire is now totally contained, but the cause of the blaze, which destroyed 210 Santa Barbara residences and injured 25 people, remains under investigation. On Nov. 17, a joint investigation team made up of staff members from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, Cal Fire, and the U.S. Forest Service…
Micro car owners are still smiling
Gas prices in California fell to less than $3 a gallon in November. That is a whopping drop from the state record of $4.58 in June. There’s already evidence big car and truck sales are perking up in response. “This drop has been a wonderful thing,” said Kurt Rodriguez of Santa Maria Ford. “We definitely…
Arts Briefs
Christmas show offers plenty of gift ideas Get those wish lists ready. The Los Padres Artist Guild will present its 32nd annual Christmas show, “The Gifts of Christmas,” at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, 600 South McClelland, in Santa Maria on Nov. 28, 29, and 30. The catered reception runs from 7 to 10…
The two sides of Oates
When Hall and Oates played the Chumash Casino recently, they took a stage surrounded by rabid fans who were treated to crowd favorites, as well as rare “way back” tunes. With a new solo album (1,000 Miles of Life) released in September and a concert CD/DVD with Daryl Hall (Live at the Troubadour) set to…
May all your Christmases be white
Violin virtuoso Isaac Stern once said, “America’s music was born at his piano.” He was talking about Irving Berlin, who touted “White Christmas” as the best song he’d ever written. Berlin proclaimed, in fact, that it was the best song “anybody had ever written!” This bold declaration came from the man who also wrote “God…
Wine and dine
Tasters exploring Santa Barbara County’s wine country have long faced the dilemma of whether to pack a meal or take a chance on finding food when hunger strikes. Traditionally a logistical challenge along the wine trails, lunch just got a little easier. Located on a restaurant-less stretch of Alamo Pintado, Rideau Winery has solved the…
On separation and taxes
The Mormon Church strongly promoted yes on Proposition 8. Its passage now takes away equal rights from a minority. Our Constitution demands a separation of church and state. The Mormon Church should no longer be tax exempt.
We will get mutual respect and equality
What happens when a majority of voters denies equal rights to a minority? It took decades for interracial marriage to be legal in every state. Now, we will have a biracial president. Why should we believe that the passage of California Proposition 8 will permanently deny marriage to all consenting adults? It is only a…
No bailout for the automakers
Do we bail out the Big Three American automakers.? No. The solution must involve the special interest ethanol producers, state air pollution boards, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Look at what we are being offered: Cadillac hybrids and Ford Flexes that get 24 miles per gallon. Foreign SUVs touting 24 to 30 mpg. General…
Bye-bye, hypocrites!
Memo to Republicans: The 2008 presidential election is over. You and your phony ideals have been soundly rejected. Your hypocritical and unsubstantiated rhetoric has been overwhelmingly defeated by concepts that have apparently escaped your vocabulary. The concepts I refer to are common sense and morality. Allow me to explain. Your flag bearer, Ronald Reagan, invented…
Obama is up to the task of fixing this country
Many thanks to the American voters, for creating a historical event in American politics, by electing its first black American president, Sen. Barack Obama. He was elected by the content of his character, and not the color of his skin. In spite of the nay-sayers, skeptics, and the so-called “undecided” voters, who mostly didn’t vote…
Talk about primitive …
If we didn’t know how people lived a hundred years ago, Bill Denneen has just described it (“We need to change,” Nov. 6). A hundred years ago, they didn’t have photo cells for lights, hoses to heat their water, or pneumatic tires. Large corporations were not around to supply half the population with jobs while…
For the athlete (or fan) in your life
If you can afford tickets to a playoff game for the sports fan in your life, and they can afford to take time off of work to get there, then put this paper down right now. That’s right, stop reading. You’re done—Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa is taken care of, because there’s nothing better to buy a sports fan…
Become the boxing official you’ve always wanted to be
Can you take a punch? Or at least watch others take punches? The Lompoc Valley Police Activities League (PAL) is looking for local volunteers to become certified USA Boxing officials. A free training course is set for Nov. 29 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lompoc Valley PAL Boxing Gym at 909 E.…
Athlete of the Week
St. Joseph’s Ane (pronounced Ah-nay) McPike is one of those people with enough talent to make you feel bad about yourself. The 5-foot-11 senior is an accomplished tennis and basketball player. “She’s one of our outstanding female athletes,” said St. Joseph Athletic Director John Osborne. “Ane is also one of our best girls’ basketball players.…
