If you want food or water—those necessities of life—you need something to carry them in. Typically, that something is a basket, even though examples these days tend to come in forms more modern than their woven counterparts from yesteryear. Kathy Badrak and Karen Osland of Lavenpine Consulting like those old forms. They like them so […]
Making baskets
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wretched, wretched word count
Here are 55 words for New Times’ and the Sun’s annual 55 Fiction contest: Rule one: 55 words or less. Two: Contractions count as a single word. So go to town with the shouldn’ts, wouldn’ts, won’ts, and can’ts. Trois: Hyphenated words don’t count as a single word. Star-studded-sky? Three words. Shi: Standard acronyms are a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wherefore art thou, rodeo?
As the old adage goes, the more things change, the more they stay the same. One needed only to view the fans braving the warm weather for the 67th installment of the Elks Rodeo as proof the sport is still alive and kicking in Santa Maria. Despite less media exposure and a grim economic climate, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Be better at baseball
Summer youth baseball is here, and players ages 8 to 13 will have a chance to improve their skills at one of two clinics hosted by Allan Hancock College. The first clinic will be held June 14 to 17 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Allan Hancock College’s John Osborne Field. The second clinic […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Soccer and crumpets
Serious about soccer? The Orcutt United Soccer League is bringing coaches from the United Kingdom to teach youth the finer points of the sport at its weeklong U.K. International Soccer Camp, June 14 to 18. The camps include professional coaching with an age-appropriate curriculum tailored to all skill levels, personal evaluations, and a free camp […]
Posted inNews
Free mediation workshop
Want to learn how to peacefully resolve conflicts? Conflict Solutions Center/Community Mediation is hosting a free hour-long mediation skills workshop in Santa Maria on June 11. With more than 24 years of mediation experience, workshop trainer Kimberly Rosa has facilitated communication workshops and provided training to businesses, government, prisons, schools, and community groups. She’ll teach […]
Posted inNews
All your base are belong to us
Vandenberg Air Force Base has a tremendous economic impact on the Central Coast and is required to do business with local vendors whenever possible. That’s the topic of an upcoming joint meeting of the Santa Maria Manufacturers Association and the city’s Chamber of Commerce Business Development Committee, set for June 22. The meeting’s featured speaker […]
Posted inNews
Manny’s happily returns
As the saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait.” Manny’s of Solvang, a family-run and family-friendly restaurant that recently closed down for remodeling, will reopen on the Fourth of July weekend. Owners Fernando and Jessie Tovalin are carrying on their father Manny’s vision of having a tasty, warm, and friendly restaurant in Solvang. […]
Posted inNews
Get your chi on
Need to improve your concentration and sense of personal peace? Allan Hancock College Community Education is offering a free summer tai chi and chi gung class that will meet every Wednesday, June 16 through Aug. 4, from 3 to 4:55 p.m. in the dance studio at the rear of the Lompoc Civic Auditorium, on Cypress […]
Posted inNews
Graduating from the workforce
On May 25, Allan Hancock College employees honored more than 20 of their peers who are set to retire this year at a special reception on the Santa Maria campus. According to college officials, this year’s retirees have contributed a total of 541 years of service to the college. The most senior retirees are electronics […]
Posted inOpinion
Pay attention to the breadwinners
The fundamental flaw in the Santa Barbara County budget crisis is that the Board of Supervisors has been in denial for the past three years. They ignore their money problems that, they, themselves, have caused by allowing out-of-control spending of the public money. The board will claim they have a balanced budget as they pop […]
Posted inOpinion
Environmentalists have oil on their hands, too
If you are an environmentalist, member of the Sierra Club, or liberal Democrat, you are partly responsible for the BP oil spill in the gulf. Had you allowed the oil companies to drill onshore in the lower 48 and offshore in shallow waters in California and Alaska, they would not have been forced to go […]
