The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department, Santa Maria Valley YMCA, and Santa Maria Boys and Girls Club are inviting area youngsters to participate in the iHoops Skills Challenge on March 3. Local youth ages 9 to 14 can showcase their basketball abilities in a time-based, half-court obstacle course. The free competition focuses on basketball […]
City holds basketball skills competition
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Running with the big dogs
The scent of freshly cut grass and the thwack of baseballs hitting mitts has returned to John Osborne Field, heralding spring’s imminent arrival. On a recent afternoon, Allan Hancock College head coach Chris Stevens watched his team practice. So far, though it’s still early, Stevens likes what he sees. “They play hard together. They’re a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Kianna Lujan
Typically, when athletes get injuries that cause them to stop their season prematurely, they usually lie about their houses and watch reruns of America’s Next Top Model. This, however, isn’t the case for gymnast Kianna Lujan, who recently broke her arm, an accident that prevented her from competing in the remainder of the season, and […]
Posted inOpinion
Federal library assistance should be increased
President Obama’s new budget proposal calls for a freeze on library funding. Freezing the level of federal funding to public libraries already suffering from budget cuts will severely hurt people in this difficult economy who increasingly depend on them for education, assistance searching for jobs, and for entertainment. It is vital that libraries are able […]
Posted inOpinion
Naysayers want America to fail
The Party of No and the Tea Partiers should be ashamed at how they are dishonoring American values and corrupting the system with their negative, childish behavior. It’s hard for many Americans to fathom why the Party of No and the thoughtless Tea Partiers would rather see America fail than work to create jobs, reform […]
Posted inOpinion
Service clubs do make a local difference
Although I appreciate the sentiment of writer Bill Rabenaldt (“What if we took an interest in our own communities?” Feb.11) concerning how and where we expend our charitable resources, I feel that it is important to point out some very pertinent facts regarding those efforts. With little fanfare, charitable organizations and service clubs raise and […]
Posted inOpinion
I order you to stop listening to Rush
I happened to be passing by Santa Maria recently, and I picked up the Sun along with some real estate brochures. I read the letter by Gary Raine (“Decent people will change the station some day,” Feb. 4) lambasting my hero Rush Limbaugh. Methinks ol’ Gary speaks with a forked tongue! I listen to “Rushbo” […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Turn the bottle on frozen food
When the cupboards are bare, the stores are closed, and hunger strikes, creative cooks turn to that magic box with the subzero interior. And whether dinner means combining ingredients or simply heating up a pre-packaged entrée, they know that a glass of wine adds a touch of elegance to all manner of frozen food. A […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Clubs & Meetings
4-H welcomes anyone interested in the group to sign up now. Find a nearby club by contacting the Santa Barbara County 4-H Office at 692-1730 or zmhughes@ucdavis.edu. ALTRUSA INTERNATIONAL, INC. of SANTA MARIA, a nonprofit business and professional organization, meets the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., in the Altrusa Theatre of the Santa […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Farmers Market
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Farmers Market
SANTA MARIA 100 S. Broadway at Main, Wednesdays, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Features local beekeepers’ honey and bee pollen, breads and pastries, plants and flower bouquets, fresh fruits and vegetables. ORCUTT Corner of Clark and Bradley, Tuesdays, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Fresh honey, flowers, and eggs, along with fresh fruits and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Barbecues
ONGOING FILIPINO COMMUNITY OF SANTA MARIA VALLEY barbecues Filipino food at the Smart and Final parking lot, N. Broadway on Saturdays and Sundays. Menu items include tri-tip, chicken, beef kabobs, chicken adobo, salad, rice, and bread. Meals cost $6. Info: 922-3422 or 922-3799. FILIPINO CATHOLIC SOCIETY, under the direction of St. Mary’s Church and St. […]