The decision to become a professional musician is wrought with overtones of uncertainty. It means depending solely on one’s own talents, skill, endurance, and love for the art. One local blue-collar musician, Patrick Montgomery, made the decision early in life. “I learned guitar as a kid and started building up a repertoire in high school […]
A man and his guitar
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Learn Japanese with your child
Spaces are still available for the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center’s language program. The infant and toddler playgroup meets Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Preschoolers ages 2 to 5 years old meet on Fridays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., and adults and children ages 6 and older meet on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to […]
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Know someone with a bright mind?
PG&E recently established the Bright Minds Scholarship program as a way to help people pursue a higher education. Approximately 10 scholarships of up to $30,000 each will be awarded, and any remaining awards will be $2,500 each. In order to apply, students must be at least 16 years old, a high school senior or graduate, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Explore Las Flores Ranch Park
Beginning in February, Santa Maria residents will be able to experience the beauty of Los Flores Ranch Park for free with guided nature walks held the second Saturday of each month. The walks start promptly at 9 a.m. and are approximately two hours in length. Participants will learn about oak trees, plant life, birds, and […]
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City holds Madden 2012 tournament
Think you’re a Madden All-Pro? Prove it at the city of Santa Maria’s Madden NFL tournament for seventh to 12th graders on Feb. 4. Entrants will go head-to-head, tournament style, on the Playstation 3 version of the football video game, with a minimum of two games per player. Prizes will be given to the top […]
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Tennis tournament to help ‘Smash out’ breast cancer
For his senior project, Cabrillo High School student Dylan Damschroder is organizing a charity tennis tournament at the school on Feb. 11 and 12, with all proceeds being donated to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research. The doubles tournament will have four age brackets: 11 years and younger, 12 to 14 years, 15 […]
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Braves reap rewards
Lompoc running back Lavon Coleman, who helped lead the Braves to a 14-0 record and their second consecutive CIF Southern Section divisional title, was named to the first team offense of the Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass Junior Team. Coleman rushed for 2,038 yards and scored 26 touchdowns during the 2011 season for the Braves. Teammate […]
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Battle of the sexes
I have this theory that the battle of the sexes really comes down to this: there are some people who like nighttime sex and others who like morning sex. I happen to like night nookie, much to the disappointment of my husband Ron who is a happy, whistle-a-song morning person. It’s not so much that […]
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Looking for teen stars
The Teen Star Santa Barbara competition will hold auditions on Feb. 2 from 3 to 7 p.m. at Righetti High School. Audition applications must be turned in by Feb. 1. Prizes include $1,000 in cash, recording in a world-class studio, radio and TV appearances, opening performances at major local events, and the prestigious title of […]
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Best Friends author to sign books
Elizabeth Fields, former Los Alamos resident and author of Best Friends Forever, will kick off her California book tour with a book signing event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bookworm, 230 E. Betteravia Road, suite K, on Feb. 11. Then she’ll be at the Bookstore, 1137 North H St., in Lompoc for […]
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PCPA for all
A new $31,200 grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation and PCPA Foundation is ensuring that students from low-income households aren’t barred from the arts. The grant will allow schools to apply for fully subsidized special PCPA Education and Outreach touring performances, which bring live theater to the school. Made possible through the Santa Barbara Foundation’s […]
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Fifteen years of discovery
It wasn’t very long ago that Santa Maria was a different place—a smaller place, and definitely a place with few venues devoted to appealing to children’s sense of curiosity about the world around them. These days, the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum fills that need. But it took a lot of brainstorming, planning, and, of […]