Fundamentalist, hate-filled Christians are rabble-rousing Americans against all Muslims. I hope no one will fall for this abominable un-American garbage against free choice of religion. Although no records were kept on what religions the victims of 9/11 were, it is estimated between 200 and 300 innocent Muslims were victims of that horrendous attack. To not […]
Don’t infringe on Muslim American rights
Posted inOpinion
Wake up, people, to these GOP drunken pirates
Sam Blakeslee, the local boy, wants to cut services to the needy in California. Sam and the rest of his republican ilk across the country represent the Greedy Old Party, and the only constituents they care about are the insurance companies, mega-corporations, and the top three percent of income recipients in the nation who don’t […]
Posted inOpinion
Where there is smoke, there may be freedom
If safety is the biggest community concern in Nipomo, then the eradication of Mexican cartel marijuana should be on the top of the list. Regulating a cooperative of local growers defies organized crime and puts the money back in the pockets of our community. It takes forward-thinking vision, the ability to see through narrow-minded anti-marijuana […]
Posted inNews
Experience ‘The Spirit of the Mission’
Charity, responsibility, caring—the values of the Boy Scouts of America will be on display on Sept. 25 at the “Spirit of the Mission,” a fundraising event benefiting Santa Barbara County Boy Scouts at La Purisima Mission in Lompoc. The evening will begin at 4:30 p.m. with docent-led tours of the mission, followed by wine tasting, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Jack Avrit
Becoming a golfer is almost like becoming a Jedi Knight: Start early, for you must be enthralled with the discipline. Today, Jack Avrit may be 11, but he’s already been golfing for nine years. His passion began at home. Literally. “My dad bought plastic clubs and balls that we could play with out in the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Coaches weigh in on bat standards
High school baseball players who recently bought pricey, high-performance bats might want to consider getting refunds, as tougher safety regulations approved by the California Interscholastic Federation could make the bats obsolete next season. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, CIF will require all aluminum and composite baseball bats used in high schools to conform to new Batted […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Calling all Fords!
Own a Ford automobile manufactured between 1903 and 1986? The Santa Maria A’s want you to show it off at their eighth annual All Ford Car Show and Swap Meet on Sept. 11 in Old Town Orcutt. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the swap meet opening to the public at […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Sign up for Boys and Girls club basketball
Youngsters in first through sixth grades are invited to register for the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria Valley’s 2010-11 Youth Basketball League. Sign-ups will take place at the Boys & Girls Club, 901 N. Railroad, on Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon; Sept. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m.; Sept. 18 from […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Toss a new festival on the table
The fertile land in and around the Santa Maria Valley supports an incredible variety of fruits, vegetables, and row crops. Although wine grapes seem to receive the lion’s share of the attention and glory, it’s the less glamorous bounty—the radishes, cabbage, celery, carrots, and lettuce—that first put the region on the culinary map. A seaside […]
Posted inNews
The rest of the field
The economy, increasing crime, illegal immigration, and growing pains—the city of Santa Maria faces a host of challenges for the balance of 2010 and beyond, and a crowded field of candidates will be looking for the chance to make the tough decisions as city councilmembers come November. Two seats on the council are up for […]
Posted inNews
Council contenders
They say seven is a lucky number. When it comes to the Santa Maria City Council race, however, only two of the seven candidates vying for council positions will end up winners come November. The two seats opening up this fall currently belong to council members Hilda Zacarias and Alice Patino. Zacarias announced earlier this […]
Posted inOpinion
What’s your least favorite back-to-school memory?
Chris Avila salesman “Eating on campus. When I was in school, the food wasn’t good at all.” Chris Cavazos plumber “Every first day of school, all of the fights with my mom about laundry, shoes, food, and so on.” Garrett Rice youth minister “It was the first day of school at Pioneer Valley High School. […]