Cover Story
Footprints in time
In a state brimming with natural beauty, it’s little wonder that the photographers who have traipsed its expanses are as revered as the landscapes themselves. It’s difficult to imagine Yosemite Valley without the majestic work of Ansel Adams working its way into the visual reckoning or the coastal treasure trove of Point Lobos revealing itself…
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…
HEALTH
THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SANTA MARIA presents speaker Dr. Robert M. Hutchman as part of its meeting on Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, E. McCoy Lane and College, Santa Maria. Info: 937-7776 or 925-0266. SANTA BARBARA COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT offers free flu vaccinations on Oct. 23 from 3 to…
ART
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents the art show Terra Tectonica, featuring ceramic works by fine arts instructor Bob Nichols, through Oct. 25 at the gallery, Academic Resource Center, Allan Hancock College, 800 S College Ave., Santa Maria. A closing reception is Oct. 25 from noon to 4 p.m. Info: 922-6966, Ext. 3465 or Ext. 3252. THE…
LEARNING
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS, Santa Barbara County Chapter presents a “Mass Care Overview and Shelter Operations/Simulation” Oct. 23 from 6 to 10 p.m. Info: www.sbredcross.org or 687-1331, Ext. 119. PROJECT CLEAN WATER holds a stakeholder meeting, featuring information about local waterways, on Oct. 23 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Board of Supervisors Hearing…
RECREATION
CABRILLO HIGH SCHOOL opens its aquarium to public viewing on Oct. 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the school, 4350 Constellation Road, Lompoc. Info: 742-2888 or www.cabrilloaquarium.org. WORTH THE DRIVE ONE WAY BOARDSHOP SLO presents the 2008 Butter Battle Snowboard Contest, featuring a cash prize to the winner, giveaways, and discounts on Oct.…
KIDS & FAMILY
THE SANTA MARIA PUBLIC LIBRARY presents its Totally Terrifying story time for ages 7 and older is Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the library, located at 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 925-0994 or 925-4354. ONGOING BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS is looking for volunteers to meet one or two hours a week…
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 LOMPOC CIVIC THEATRE presents a haunted house—not recommended for kids 14 and younger—on Oct. 24, 25, 30, and 31 from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Old Lompoc Theater, 100 block of North H St., Lompoc. Cost is $5, $2.50 for all visits after the first that night. Info: 735-2281. IMPROVISATIONAL HUMOR CLASS meets…
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 LOMPOC VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HISPANIC BUSINESS COMMITTEE presents its second annual Mariachi Concert, featuring Mariachi Lobo and Mariachi Mexicanissimo, as well as Paquito Herrera and Ballet Folkloric Cachanilla on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at the Lompoc Civic Auditorium, Lompoc. Cost is $25. Info: 736-4567 or www.Lompoc.com. THE LOMPOC POPS ORCHESTRA presents its…
SPECIAL EVENTS
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOLUTIONS presents a “Girls Night Out,” featuring Executive Director Beverly Engel signing copies of her book, The Nice Girl Syndrome, Oct. 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Santa Maria Country Club, Santa Maria. Cost is $25. THE SANTA MARIA VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY holds a microchipping clinic on Oct. 25 from 10…
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.…
What’s your favorite workout?
Coral Armor artist “Smoking. That hand-to-mouth motion really works the muscle groups.” Misty Wollemhaup dental hygienist “Cardio kickboxing.” Brenda Perez student “Cardio.” Randy Kestner construction “Lifting.”
Arts Briefs
MotionZ hosts Haunted Circus Get your spook on at the MotionZ Haunted Circus. Tours will be offered Oct. 29 through 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. The event promises to be a truly frightful one, so it’s not suitable for small children or the faint of heart. However, all bearded ladies, acrobats, and cannibals— as…
Dress like a sleuth
Sammy Keyes has encountered singing nuns, costumed wrestlers, cranky seniors, busy girl scouts, and flashy artists—and that’s just in a few of her books. The teen sleuth’s adventures seem tailor-made to be a jumping off point for a costume party—they’re packed with colorful characters who tend to wear crazy outfits—so it’s not surprising that Santa…
Pop goes the art
The very nature of contemporary art is interpretative and unexpected. So when Connie Rohde of the C Gallery in Los Alamos put out a call for artist submissions for the current Common Object Show, she knew she’d get some interesting responses. The show is about each artist’s individual interpretation of the word “pop.” Submissions ranged…
Caution: Disaster drill is fast approaching
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District will hold its fall disaster drill on Oct. 29 at 9 a.m. Students and staffers at every school and district building will practice the duck-and-cover, fire evacuation, and search and rescue procedures. The district will also test its emergency radio communication process. According to a press release from the district,…
Literacy and Multicultural Fest comes to town again
On Oct. 25, Santa Maria residents are invited to “Unlock the Mystery with Literacy” at the Central Coast Literacy Council’s 25th Anniversary Celebration. The event will take place at 6:25 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., and will feature a Mexican buffet, a no-host bar, and a mystery theater performance.…
Political Watch
On Oct. 14, the Santa Barbara County Firefighters Association (Local 2046) publicly endorsed Senior Deputy District Attorney John MacKinnon in his campaign for Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge. In a press release, association president Rob Heckman said, “… Local firefighters know first hand the need for a strong and competent Judge to serve on…
Hobnobbing with Helen
PCPA Foundation’s Puttin’ on the Ritz annual gala Despite the iffy economy, the PCPA Foundation raised a bunch of big bucks to help support the acting conservatory at its annual gala, Puttin’ on the Ritz. The Radisson Hotel was the scene of all the theatrical fun on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 11. More than…
YELL message, loud and clear: Educate yourself
The second annual Young Educated Latino Leaders (YELL) conference came to Allan Hancock’s Marian Theater on Oct. 18. The all-day event, which drew several hundred Latino students from the area, featured workshops on getting into college, skits showcasing life experiences, and motivational speakers. The message was simple: You can get ahead in life with an…
Lavigna offers its ‘best deal’ to potential homebuyers
According to Lavigna homebuilders, it’s a buyer’s market out there, and the company wants to make a deal. Courtney Seeble, vice president in project management at the Towbes Group, Inc., said in a release that the group is offering to buy down a buyer’s interest rate, pay for homeowner association dues for up to two…
H.O.T. Heroes make sustainability a priority
A H.O.T. Hero is a person or organization that’s made a difference through efforts in the area of housing, open space, and transportation. On Oct. 26, these heroes will be honored at the Fall Harvest Picnic at El Capitan Ranch. The event is hosted by the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SB CAN) and the…
Get your pet chipped!
On Oct. 25, the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society will host its monthly microchipping clinic from 10 a.m. to noon. The clinic is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, and both cats and dogs are welcome. The fee is $32 per microchip, per pet, and $27 if the owner is a Humane…
Los Padres National Forest participates in a national visitor survey
Officials at Los Padres National Forest recently signed up to participate in a one-year visitor survey called the National Visitor Use Monitoring program. Done in partnership with California State University, San Marcos, the survey will be conducted by interviewers stationed at pre-selected points in the forest. The survey began earlier this month and will last…
Santa Barbara County completes hydromulching ahead of schedule
Aerial hydromulching for most of the foothill areas burned during the Gap Fire has been completed—ahead of schedule and on budget, Santa Barbara County Public Works Department officials announced on Oct. 17. On Oct. 7, the county began its portion of aerial hydromulching work for approximately 1,000 acres of land burned by the Gap Fire…
Lompoc residents question bringing ‘God’ to city hall
It’s been three weeks since the Lompoc City Council voted in favor of displaying the words “In God We Trust” in City Council chambers and the city hall lobby. Approved by a 4-1 vote, with councilmember Ann Ruhge dissenting, the decision sparked some controversy when it was announced on Oct. 7. And the decision is…
Three men race for a Santa Maria City Council seat
Two longtime members of the Santa Maria City Council —Leo Trujillo and Bob Orach—are up for election in November. They’ll be joined on the ballot by a newcomer, not to the city of Santa Maria, but to elected office: Santa Maria Police Lt. Mike Cordero. With two spots open and three men in the…
Lompoc faces a lot of choices for City Council
Come Nov. 4, Lompoc residents will have a long list of candidates to choose from to fill three spots on the Lompoc City Council. This year, longtime Mayor Dick DeWees is up for reelection and is being challenged by Dulcie Sinn and John Linn. Sinn worked for seven years as the city’s former Family Resource…
A dream come true
Community spirit runs deep among Santa Barbara County winemakers, a convivial bunch of science-minded artists who universally appreciate their lucky lifestyle. When asked, they rarely hesitate to lend a helping hand, whether the request involves equipment loans, technical advice, or donations to a worthy cause. This year, seven area winemakers have joined People Helping People,…
Garbage in is garbage out
Shame on you! I cannot believe you actually printed that vulgar response in your question of the week about your favorite drink (“Streetwise” Oct. 2). A local paper, about local events, and local people. That is a poor representation of an “All America City.” I am too proud of our town to read that garbage.…
Thank you, Dick DeWees
During the last 10 years, I have had the privilege of working closely with Lompoc Mayor Dick DeWees. In my position as 4th District Supervisor, I serve on numerous committees with Mayor DeWees. He brings a great sense of presence to any table or boardroom. He uses his considerable leadership skills to generate support and…
This is not a time for leadership change in Lompoc
There seems to be a lot of misinformation, half-truths, and negativity floating around in this election season. I’ve lived in the Lompoc Valley for the last 30 years, and it seems to me that we have fared pretty well over the last 10 years. We have much-needed new recreation facilities for our young people, such…
Jed Beebe is the only qualified choice
After reading some of the recent letters to the editor in support of John MacKinnon, I’ve realized some people are under the misconception that since he is a D.A., he will extend his prosecuting of cases, if elected, by “making people accountable from the bench.” You could not be further from the truth. The positions…
Give us Jed Beebe
I have been a court stenographer (court reporter) for the past 32 years, 14 of them as an employee of the County of Santa Barbara. I was the official court reporter on the Michael Jackson criminal trial presided over by the Honorable Rodney S. Melville in Santa Maria in 2005. I say that not to…
Join the Committee to Elect Jed Beebe
I am one of the 16 members of the “Committee to Elect Jed Beebe.” In recent weeks, we have all worked extremely hard to get Jed elected to be the next Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge. If you see all of Jed’s red signs out, it’s this committee that has accomplished this. One usually…
MacKinnon deserves your vote for judge
Retired Justice Sandra Day O’Connor speaks about the important characteristics of a good judge: wisdom, humility, conscientiousness, competence, and high ethics. Attorneys like me have a responsibility to speak out and support the elevation of members of the bar to the bench who demonstrate these important characteristics. We have an opportunity in November to place…
Maybe Abel should support the independent candidate
I recently received a six-page color ad in the mail touting Abel Maldonado as independent leadership. Three of the pages start with independent leadership in large type. Is Abel ashamed of being a Republican? The word Republican is used only once, in small type on the last page. If Abel is so proud of his…
Leave my signs alone!
When people run for office, or citizens put measures or propositions on the ballot, it is their right, and guaranteed by law, to advertise. The cheapest and most common form is to erect yard signs. My complaint, and it’s directed to those individuals who oppose my views, is to leave my signs alone! It is…
Throw ’em all out this election
What a mess. Blame it on Republican deregulation if it makes you feel better. Who was in charge? All indicators point to Democrats. However, both parties are to blame, mostly “liberal” Democrats. The finger has rightfully been pointed to Wall Street by both irresponsible parties, Fannie May and Freddie Mac included, for making careless loans.…
In the future, go absentee
If you are as sick as I am of listening to the constant political rhetoric as election time nears, here is the solution: We all should register absentee ballots, pass a federal law that says “as soon as all the absentee ballots are in, the election is over.” Then we will no longer have to…
Never bring a gun to a swordfight
My companion leaned over and murmured, “The only sports faster are those involving bullets.” “Sure,” I thought to myself. “I bet he says that to all the newbies.” You ever hear the expression “Blink and you’ll miss it?” Yeah, I blinked and missed it. “It” was a fencing match, and bullet-guy was Scott Chapman, a…
Check out Allan Hancock College’s scholar athletes
The Western State Conference has named the scholar athletes for the spring 2008 season. Thirty-one athletes at Hancock made the list. They all were successful in completing at least 12 units with a minimum 3.0 GPA. The students are, for women’s basketball, Nicole Crisosto and Hollyanne Deparini; for men’s basketball, Wolfgang Geiler; for baseball, Dave…
Santa Barbara student earns golf/academic honor
Golfer Shane Lebow has been named an HP Scholastic Junior All-American by the American Junior Golf Association. The 2008 Scholastic All-American team is sponsored by Hewlett Packard and consists of 12 boys and 12 girls from throughout the United States, all of whom are great golfers and have high grades. To be eligible, golfers must…
Athlete of the Week
If you’ve ever driven down Main or Donovan streets and seen the Pioneer Valley cross-country squad out running, chances are you caught a glimpse of Steven Youngblood, one of those guys who makes the rest of us look bad. Youngblood started running cross-country his freshman year as a way to get ready to play soccer,…
