Guess who came to dinner: lots of power couples from all over town, as well as the Orcutt Children’s Art Foundation (OCAF) regulars—parents, school administrators, teachers, and supporters of the arts. And then there was the very sociable president of the Santa Barbara Foundation, Ron Gallo, and wife Andrea, who hosted a table. Included in […]
Hobnobbing With Helen
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Artists needed
The Shepard Hall Gallery is calling for artist submissions for its Small Works Juried Exhibition. The call is open for artists who live in Santa Barbara County as far south as Santa Ynez, up to the Five Cities area in San Luis Obispo County. The exhibition will run from March 5 through April 16. Entries […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA wants you to ACT NOW
PCPA is seeking donors for its annual ACT NOW! Scholarship Appeal campaign. The campaign needs $125,000 to continue its support of the actors and technicians who support the work onstage, backstage, and in the classrooms and labs. PCPA Theaterfest awards more than $500,000 in scholarships each year. The funds allow interns, guest artists, and students […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Making it happen
Santa Maria musician and artist Joe Chavira has a philosophy he likes to lay on beginning musicians: “The best way in life is just teach yourself everything.” And he has. After learning guitar from his father at the age of 7, Chavira went on to teach himself piano, drums, and just about every other instrument. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
On display
Art theory is great, but art in practice is even better. This month, Allan Hancock College art students get to bring their art lessons out of the classroom to put their creativity on display for the public. The annual Fine Arts Student Art Show is now up in Allan Hancock College’s Ann Foxworthy Gallery. […]
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The Spartatroniks are gearing up for nationals
The Orcutt Academy Robotics Club has spent the last six weeks building a robot to enter into the prestigious F.I.R.S.T (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics competition. The “Spartatroniks” will be one of 2,000 teams in the contest. On Feb. 18, the team showcased its robot in front of a very crowded […]
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Aim for the crown!
On March 4, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce will begin accepting applications for 2011 Strawberry Queen contestants, open to girls ages 5 to 18. The honor of queen will be awarded to the girl who sells the most prize drawing tickets through April 15. Tickets cost $1 each, and prizes of $500, $300, […]
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Out of work?
Beginning in March, unemployed Santa Barbara County residents will have an opportunity to take free classes in Lompoc and Santa Maria to gain new skills in high-demand occupations. Courses in “Computer Applications with Social Media Marketing for Business” will cover Microsoft Office, word processing, spreadsheets, and Internet and e-mail applications, as well as social networking. […]
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Vandenberg hosts a small-business conference
Contractors are invited to attend the fifth annual Vandenberg Air Force Base Small Business Conference, held March 16 and 17 at the Pacific Coast Club. The conference will highlight the latest updates on Air Force contracting opportunities, marketing to the government, and teaming strategies with large businesses. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. […]
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Plot your own garden
Gardening is a popular hobby. It’s a passion for some and therapy for others. Sadly, however, not everyone has the resources to take up the activity. Got a green thumb but no place to stick it? Fret no more. For $27, you can reserve your very own garden plot in the city of Santa Maria’s […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Frankie Eszes
Frankie Eszes, a senior at St. Joseph, is finally raking in the benefits of not having a life during high school: She was offered a “big” scholarship, for both academia and tennis, to attend Northwestern College in Iowa. Eszes began playing tennis at age 4, when her mom went to work in the summer and […]
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Train for triathlons at the YMCA
It’s not too late to make 2011 your fittest year yet and challenge your spirit, mind, and body by joining the Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s triathlon training teams. Last year, according to the YMCA, the teams helped more than 100 people accomplish their goals of finishing their first triathlons. The Tri-Training teams are open for […]