The new officers of the Lompoc Valley Iris Society recently met to plan activities for 2011, which will include the annual flower show, a rhizome sale, and five regular meetings. The officers for 2011 are President Ben Schleuning, Vice President Marie Jacobsen, Secretary Larry Huyck, and Treasurer Leonard Todd. The society is well known for […]
New Iris Society members take root
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Bring back the big bands
The Dick Clark Big Band Orchestra Winter Jazz Festival will run from 7 to 10 p.m. on Jan. 29 at Anderson Recreation Center, 125 W. Walnut and I streets in Lompoc. The night will feature a dance, and the band will play jazz swing music and familiar ballads of yesteryear. Admission is $5 at the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Are you listening?
The production studio for New Normal Music, one of the top Internet radio stations playing indie pop in the United States, sits atop a hill overlooking sprawling Santa Ynez Valley ranches and luscious vineyards. More specifically, it’s in a room in one of those 5,000-square-foot ranches. Even more specifically, the studio exists on a laptop, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Rocket fan
It was supposed to be the biggest launch off the West Coast. Ever. Officials predicted it might break some windows. News reports cautioned: “This one will be loud.” Locals prepared to be rattled. Ultimately, the National Reconnaissance Office Delta-IV Heavy L-49 launch didn’t live up to the hype. Or, in the whispered words of my […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Love is in the bottle
Cupid’s arrows will soon fly, especially at Santa Barbara County’s winery tasting rooms, where hearts and flowers rule the season. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, local producers aim to create beautiful magic by pairing their fine wines with the wonder of romance. To get Central Coasters in the mood for love, the members […]
Posted inNews
Healing with food
Common wisdom says when you’re sick, go to the doctor, but modern wisdom says go to your refrigerator—or more appropriately, your fruit and vegetable drawer. Just as the four food groups have given way to the food pyramid, which is now often criticized as well, so has the idea of relying on medication to fix […]
Posted inOpinion
What celebrity would you like to see enter politics?
Kevin Willis clerk “They should stay out of politics and stick to whatever their business is—unless they have a background in economics.” Martin Johnsen picture framer “Bill Maher. He seems to be honest and straightforward.” Bill Psomls retired “Bill Maher. He’s knowledgeable and knows more about politics than politicians.” Stephanie Palomarez artist “Oprah, although she […]
Posted inNews
Don’t feed the writer
I lost three pounds in a week, and it’s all thanks to not eating. By Day 5 on the Master Cleanse—a diet that encourages its victims not only to not eat, but also to jet-blast the digestive tract with turbo-charged laxatives—I was passing out at work, having nightmares about food, and worried that I was […]
Posted inNews
On a rescue mission
The new year is here, and everyone seems to be in the spirit of newness: new resolutions, new goals, new beginnings. The idea of a fresh start is a welcome one for those struggling through hard times in a hard land. The need for food, clothing, and shelter seems to be ever increasing. Sitting at […]
Posted inNews
The tough questions
By now, it’s a story we all know, but wished we didn’t: On Jan. 8, 22-year-old Jared Lee Laughner walked into a Tucson, Ariz., grocery store and opened fire on people attending a political meet-and-greet with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Loughner managed to kill six people, and injure several others including Giffords, before some bystanders […]
Posted inNews
Luncheon lauds Santa Maria’s finest
It’s time once again for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce to honor the city’s men and women behind the badge at the 16th annual Police Awards Luncheon on Feb. 9. The Chamber will name the Santa Maria Police Department’s Officer of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, Distinguished Citizen, and Distinguished Team Award […]
Posted inNews
Game on at Leisure Time
Gamers, dust off those decks, because Leisure Time Games in the Town Center mall is slated to host a series of special events through February. The store will hold a Magic the Gathering: Mirrodin Besieged prerelease tournament on Jan. 29, starting at 11 a.m., and a Mirrodin Besieged Release Party on Feb. 5 at 11 […]
