A Santa Maria native will soon fill one of the top positions in California government. In a recent second go-around, both the Assembly and the Senate voted to confirm Republican Sen. Abel Maldonado as the state’s lieutenant governor. “I thank my colleagues in the Assembly for confirming me to the office of the Lieutenant Governor […]
Maldonado confirmed as lieutenant governor
Posted inNews
County remembers former District Attorney Christie Stanley
Retired Santa Barbara County District Attorney Christie Stanley died April 25 at her North County home after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 61 years old. A memorial service honoring Stanley’s life will be held on April 30 at 10:30 a.m. at Pacific Christian Center, 3435 Santa Maria Way, in Santa Maria. In […]
Posted inNews
Minotaur launches … and fails
On April 22, Vandenberg Air Force Base launched the Minotaur IV Lite into its maiden voyage at 4 p.m. from Space Launch Complex 8. The Minotaur carried the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) Falcon Hypersonic Technology Vehicle 2 (HTV). However, nine minutes after the Minotaur dropped the Falcon, officials lost contact with the unmanned […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Mural unveiled
Hancock College student Michael Vaughn challenges onlookers to “Face the Machine” with his mural to be dedicated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on May 7 at the northwest corner of North H Street and West Chestnut Avenue in Lompoc. Vaughn will be on hand for the dedication and to discuss his painting with […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Wildling photographers shine
The Wildling Museum announced the winners of its April Showers Bring May Flowers photography competition. The 23 winning entries were chosen from 112 submitted and will be on display May 2 through June 6 in the Goodall Education Center. The five overall winners include Jane Kametani’s first-place “Spinning Orange,” Stuart Wilson’s second-place “Western Thimbleberry, Rubus […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA students showcase training
PCPA students will present the culmination of two years of intensive actor and technical theater training in two productions this May. PCPA’s Conservatory Showcase will include The Musical of Musicals, The Musical! and The Penelopiad. When one musical isn’t enough, there’s The Musical of Musicals, The Musical!, co-directed by Peter S. Hadres and Karin Hendricks […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A tale of two artists
It’s something we know even as children as we flip through storybooks: Stories are just better with visuals. At Gallery Los Olivos during May the story is all about the visual. The gallery will present An Eclectic Storybook featuring multimedia artist Margie Bowker and jeweler Eddie Aurand. For Bowker, a rich and colorful story begins […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Snow day
Our trip started out like many other classic day trips of ours, with the chaotic excitement and danger that lets us know we are away from home. This time it was an out-of-control truck on an icy mountain climb. However, out-of-control seems a little misleading because it appeared to be very much in control of […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Get a fresh idea
Navigating the grocery store can prove challenging, especially when the aisles and checkout lines teem with shoppers. Finding crisp apples, firm zucchini, and flavorful tomatoes among the often mass-produced selection stymies many a veggie buyer, but thanks to Babé Farms Local Farmer’s Garden, there’s a convenient, delicious solution. With the arrival of April comes the […]
Posted inOpinion
Answer this
Again this morning on a television news program, I watched a segment about how obese our nation is, the problems surrounding obesity, and the need to exercise and eat healthy to combat this growing (no pun intended) problem. In fact, childhood obesity is one of the issues of interest to Michelle Obama. At the time, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A hairy situation
The other morning, my fifth grade daughter woke up and realized she didn’t like the length of her bangs. She decided to go ahead and give them a “little” trim. Then she didn’t like that her bangs were crooked, so she trimmed them some more. Then she thought they were a bit too short, so […]
Posted inNews
Strawberry Festival is a success!
The numbers are in for the 23rd annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival, and according to event organizers, business was good. The three-day event, held this year from April 23 to 25 at the Santa Maria Fairpark, saw an overall attendance of 60,140, an eight-percent increase from 2009. In a press release, Fairpark CEO Dennis […]
