• Santa Maria Valley Republicans Inc. invites members of the public to its monthly membership meeting on Oct. 25 at 5 p.m. at Ambrosia Restaurant, 122 E. Boone St., in Santa Maria. The guest speaker will be Billie Jo Cravello, owner of Cravello Insurance Services, who will be sharing her views and insights on the federal health insurance reform debate. The event costs $25 and includes buffet with stuffed pork and/or cheese ravioli and other dishes. Wine and beer will be available for an additional fee. Seating is limited. Call 937-0043 to make a reservation.
• The Coalition of Labor, Agriculture and Business (COLAB) will host a dinner conference titled “California: State in Emergency—Taxes, Regulations, and Junk Science” on Oct. 29 at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Featured speakers will include Steve Milloy from JunkScience.com; Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association; and Damien Schiff, an attorney representing the Pacific Legal Foundation. The cost to attend is $35 and includes a barbecue steak dinner prepared by Testa Catering. Advance reservations are required. Tickets are available online at colabsbc.org. For more information, call Andy Caldwell at 929-3148, or e-mail him at andy@colabsbc.org.
This article appears in Oct 15-22, 2009.