Cover Story
A dirty not-so-little secret
Last month, federal authorities successfully wrapped up an eight-month-long sting operation that resulted in the arrests of 55 people accused of using peer-to-peer computer software to trade and view child pornography. Led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the sting marked the first time law enforcement agencies have…
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, 7 p.m., in the downstairs conference room at United…
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 Sept. 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the clinic. Cost is $8. The 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 the…
ART
ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE presents the art show Terra Tectonica, featuring ceramic works by fine arts instructor Bob Nichols, Sept. 18 through Oct. 25 at the gallery, Academic Resource Center, Allan Hancock College, 800 S College Ave., Santa Maria. An opening reception is Sept. 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. A closing reception is Oct.…
LEARNING
A HOLISTIC COACHING WEEKEND with Dr. Phillip Mountrose and Dr. Jane Mountrose is Sept. 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Nipomo. Registration required. Info: 931-0129 or www.gettingthru.org. THE LIGIA DANTES FOUNDATION presents “The Nature of Reality” with Ligia Dantes on Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Nipomo. Info:…
RECREATION
SANTA MARIA RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT holds a football punt, pass, and kick skills competition on Sept. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hagerman Sports Complex, 3300 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 925-0951, Ext. 260. LA PURISIMA MISSION presents a “Mission Life Day,” featuring presentations of life from an earlier time, Sept. 20…
KIDS & FAMILY
A CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL and Family Health Fair is Sept. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at 4681 11th St., Guadalupe. Info: 343-1194. THE SANTA MARIA RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT invites boys and girls ages 6 to 12 to the second annual “Take Me Fishing” event on Sept. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at…
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 Sugar! Oh, Sugar! through Oct. 4 at the Santa Maria Civic Theatre, 1600 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria. Info: 922-4442 or www.smct.org. PCPA THEATERFEST presents its production of The Weir by Conor McPherson showing through Oct. 5 in the Severson Theatre, Allan Hancock College, 800 S.…
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
BRIGITTE HOUGH performs “A Special Concert” featuring classical and Broadway hits Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Unity Chapel of Light, 1165 Stubblefield Road, Orcutt. Info: 937-3025. THE DANA ADOBE NIPOMO AMIGOS presents “Concerts at the Adobe,” featuring Nu Monet in concert on Sept. 21 at 4:30 p.m. A reception is at 3 p.m., at…
SPECIAL EVENTS
THE LOMPOC VALLEY REPUBLICAN CLUB holds a social meeting featuring speaker Steve Pappas, dinner, and a drawing on Sept. 18 starting at 6 p.m. at Embassy Suites, 1117 North H St., Lompoc. Info: 733-0109 or jshockency@verizon.net. THE CENTRAL COAST SQUARE DANCE ASSOCIATION presents its 45th annual “Square Affair” square dancing event Sept. 19 from 7…
Eat up the past
Here in the no-longer-so-wild West, we like to celebrate our lifestyle and civic longevity with parades, parties, and lots of hearty food. The friendly folks of Los Alamos, that scenic burg located just off Highway 101 about 18 miles south of Santa Maria, are no different, having annually rolled out the red carpet and cast…
What’s your morning coffee routine?
Bobbi Gilman Santa Maria Valley Humane Society operations manager “I get up in the morning and then I have to feed the cat because he won’t shut up. Then I make my coffee—six cups of water, three scoops of coffee. Then I add a little touch of my cinnamon bun creamer and a little touch…
YMCA provides ‘Stepping Stones’ to a good education
Whoever said educational accreditation was only for college programs? The Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s Stepping Stones Center recently earned its accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the nation’s leading organizations of early childhood professionals. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program…
What do shoes and books have in common?
Footwear and reading material don’t share a lot of common bonds—unless you consider a child’s typical reaction when he or she first gets a new book or pair of shoes. The Shoes for Students charity organization recently donated $12,000 to the Santa Maria-Bonita School District to help purchase books for all 13,200 students three times…
Murray & Murray Insurance is on the move
After 30 years at the same location on east Main Street, Murray & Murray Insurance Agency is packing up and moving to the new College Square complex at 550-D E. Betteravia in Santa Maria. The move is effective immediately and marks a big change for the company that’s met locals’ insurance needs since it opened…
California Women for Agriculture host casino night
The Santa Maria chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA) is hosting a casino night at the Santa Maria Country Club on Sept. 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. to raise money for scholarships and activities. According to event chairwoman Lalena Cooper, casino night will be full of fun, spent playing blackjack, craps, bingo, and…
Legal Resource Center opens in Lompoc
The city of Lompoc now has its own Legal Resource Center, located inside the courthouse. The new self-help center will assist self-represented litigants in better understanding their legal rights, according to a press release from the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. Legal Resource Centers in the county provide information on civil matters, such…
Commission for Senior Citizens elects new board members
Four new board members were elected at the most recent meeting of the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens. The new members are Judith Dunn, Santa Maria; Janelle Parsons, Santa Barbara; Cheryl Kippen, Arroyo Grande; and John Alongi, San Luis Obispo. “Needs of senior citizens are increasing due to numerous factors, such as increasing numbers…
Political Watch
• U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) joined the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley for its Election 2008 campaign kickoff on Sept. 13 at the club’s headquarters in Santa Maria. At the meeting, Capps spoke of the significance of the fall election and the club’s involvement in promoting the Democratic ticket. “The Santa Maria…
Teens get a thorough view of Santa Maria Valley
Since the program started in 1995, hundreds of men and women have graduated from Leadership Santa Maria Valley. Now, local teenagers get their chance. The first class of Teen Leadership Santa Maria Valley—33 teens total—has been chosen. With no GPA requirement and no tuition costs for the students, the leadership program could accept every teen…
College, bar association to co-host forum on judgeship candidates
Get your calendars out: On Sept. 30, Allan Hancock College and the Northern Santa Barbara County Bar Association will co-host a Judicial Candidate Forum featuring the two run-off candidates competing for a spot on the Santa Barbara Superior Court bench. Candidates Jed Beebe and John MacKinnon have agreed to participate in the forum, which will…
Supes appoint members to spay/neuter task force
Santa Barbara County has gone to the dogs. And cats. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors recently established an 11-member Spay/Neuter Ordinance Task Force, whose job is to develop recommended language for a county spay and neuter ordinance. The first task force meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 24,…
SLO County supervisors vote: Suey Ranch will stay
When a majority of SLO County supervisors tentatively approved the transfer of 5,070 acres of prime SLO County agricultural land to Santa Barbara County, the decision puzzled many people. The buzz phrase by the opposition was that there was “no compelling reason” to allow it. Santa Maria City Manager Tim Ness said that the city…
Charting new waters
Look out Orcutt Academy—there’s another charter school in the area. Similar to Orcutt Union School District’s Orcutt Academy, Camino Real Community Partnership Academy is Lompoc’s newest district-sponsored charter high school. Both schools offer a science-heavy curriculum. The teaching process at the two charters, however, couldn’t be more different, according to Camino Real co-founder Andrea Lawrence.…
Senior living center waits and waits for budget to materialize
After 77 days in limbo, lawmakers in Sacramento stayed up until 2 a.m. the morning of Sept. 16 to complete and sign a proposed budget. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger threatened to veto it, and as of press time, a decision had not been made—though a veto seemed likely . This precarious state of events, however, was…
Out of the office, into the ocean
There’s only one thing to do when you find yourself submerged in the Santa Barbara Bay: Try not to lose your $70 sunglasses. Then yell at the person who got you submerged in the first place. “Shelly Cone!” I gurgled, trying to get the water out of my nose. “What did you do?” Shelly, our…
Sunset hike at the Dunes Center focuses on family recreation
The Dunes Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are co-hosting a one-mile round trip hike into the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge on Sept. 27, starting at 5:30 p.m. Hikers will be taken into the refuge and up to a high vantage point to watch the sunset. They’ll return to the parking lot…
Soccer season has been canceled for Hancock women’s team
It wasn’t for a lack of trying, but according to Allan Hancock College, there just wasn’t enough time for recruitment. The women’s soccer season has been canceled due to lack of participation. The announcement was made on Sept. 12, just a month after Rod Garcia was officially named head coach of the women’s team. Garcia…
Athlete of the Week
Summer is over, and 9-year-old Austin Kranz is taking a break from golf. After six junior golf tournaments this summer, and five tournament wins, he’s been forced to slow down—“Because my teacher gives me homework every day and I have to do it,” he explained. That doesn’t mean he’s stopping for good. No, this golfer…
Armageddon it
The idyllic city of Geneva, Switzerland, is about 5,700 miles from California’s Central Coast, an entire world away. But something in that European town may affect us all in upcoming months: It may cause the end of days. To explain, scientists at the Large Hadron Collider—the world’s largest particle accelerator at CERN, the research organization…
Tech support or a bullet in your brain
The other night, I was happily surfing the Internet, checking for good deals on Elvis PEZ dispensers from Austria, when my computer suddenly turned off. At first I thought it was a power outage, until I realized that every light in my house was still on (and I mean every single light; my kids are…
Arts Briefs
CafeFX nabs an Emmy Santa Maria-based CafeFX received a Creative Arts Emmy Award for outstanding special visual effects for its work on John Adams, an HBO Films miniseries that took eight Creative Arts Emmy Awards total, out of 23 Emmy nominations. Under visual effects supervisor Jeff Goldman, visual effects producer David Van Dyke, and compositing…
Sweet theater
Autumn is on its way, but Santa Maria Civic Theatre is presenting one more taste of good old-fashioned summertime musical comedy to kick off its 50th season: the world-premiere of Sugar! Oh, Sugar! Sugar! is a melodrama that invites you to “boo” and “hiss” the villain, cheer the hero, and “awww” the heroine. Fans of…
Ghostly tales
It’s said that everyone has a story, and in PCPA’s version of The Weir, everyone does—each one filled with sadness, laughter, torment, and a bit of the supernatural. To summarize this play is to do it an injustice. It’s simple in concept—set in the fictional rural Irish town of Carrick, four local men are having…
