Is it a sport? A discipline? A philosophy? According to its practitioners, parkour (or l’art du deplacement) is all of the above, incorporating running, jumping, climbing, vaulting, and balancing to discover efficient paths through any environment. Nipomo’s Craig Gibbons, a “traceur” (parkour practitioner) since 2009 and a student at Allan Hancock College, recently gave his […]
Parkour brothers
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Stuart Malm
Righetti High School’s Stuart Malm is humble, soft-spoken, and hesitant to admit any hint of his prowess as a wrestler. “I don’t think I’m that good,” he said of his wrestling abilities. However, a short video on Youtube that shows Malm in the heat of battle is confirmation of the old adage “actions speak louder […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A creative cadence
A music store is more than a simple retail outlet. It’s a nexus for a musical community where teachers, students, artists, and collectors converge and create a cultural hub. Jensen Guitar and Music Company in Santa Maria has been just such a neighborhood shop, but, due to the current economic climate, it must unfortunately close […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Get your motor runnin’
It was a fine moment. Everything was right. There I was, at the world famous Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, driving my racecar at ludicrous speeds around the racecourse while my pit crew timed my increasingly fast laps. The car was looking great, the team was prepared, and I was passing cars like a madman on […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Nonprofit grants are available to boost tourism
The Santa Ynez Valley Hotel Association announced that it’s streamlined its grant application process for 2012. The association will accept Community Grant Award applications from Santa Ynez Valley nonprofit organizations throughout the year and make awards five times per year for events that can attract overnight visitors mid-week. Grant amounts are in the $1,000 to […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Artist Salon highlights sculptor
Larry Rankin, a sculptor who works in bronze, wood, and stone, will be this month’s presenter for Artist Salon No. 10. The program will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 29 at Rankin’s studio at 433 Freear Drive, Buellton. Rankin’s expression through art is to create works not only varied, but emotionally evocative. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Money available for the arts
The Santa Maria Arts Council is preparing to give $10,000 in cash awards to emerging artists in music, drama, dance, and visual arts. Artists interested in entering the competition must first attend a workshop to obtain an application. Workshops will be held at 6 p.m. at Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc campus in the LVC Café; […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hancock students get showy
Every student deserves a chance to show his or her talent—especially when that talent is great. Each year, Allan Hancock College’s Fine Arts department does just that with its annual Fine Arts Student Art Show, showcasing juried items of exceptional quality created by students for display. This year, more than 120 works in various media, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
‘Let’s do this again’
Each year, Santa Maria Valley artists get together their best works and put them on display for the community to see at the Brush and Palette Art Show. The event has been a favorite of the community and artists for more than a decade because of the variety of styles it showcases and the chance […]
Posted inNews
‘A-p-i-o-l-o-g-y’
Scores of students from throughout Santa Barbara County will be buzzing with excitement on Feb. 23 when they compete in the annual county spelling bee in the auditorium of the Santa Barbara County Education Office at 4400 Cathedral Oaks Road. The elementary contest for fourth- through sixth-graders will begin at 9 a.m. The junior high […]
Posted inNews
California Lutheran offers local master’s degree program
Interested in earning a master’s degree in educational leadership? California Lutheran University is now offering a community partnership program with classes at the Orcutt Union School District administrative offices at 500 Dyer St. in Old Orcutt.The program gives aspiring educational leaders an opportunity to learn from faculty members who have worked as administrators. Graduates go […]
Posted inNews
Orcutt Academy thanks its leaders
Students, teachers, administrators, and local officials crowded in front of Orcutt Academy High School (formerly May Grisham Elementary School) the morning of Feb. 9 for a dedication ceremony at the charter school’s new campus and to thank the people who helped make it a reality. “This is a great day because this is a dream […]