Throughout human history, man has sought to predict future events. The practice of IFA, with a long history of use as a divination tool in Africa and modified in the United States as Santeria, intends to bring seekers in alignment with their highest destiny. IFA priest Mario Gasca has brought his knowledge of the practice […]
African spirituality comes to Lompoc
Discovery Museum expands hours
Children and their families will be able to spend more time enjoying hands-on learning about marine life, agriculture, exotic animals, and creative arts at the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum in 2010. The museum, located at 705 S. McClelland, will be open on the last Sunday of every month between noon and 4 p.m. beginning […]
Learn more about the census
The 2010 Census is fast approaching, and the County of Santa Barbara Office of Long Range Planning is holding an open house in Santa Maria on Jan. 27 to inform the public of the importance of participating in the count. Anyone interested in learning more about the census or helping to encourage community members to […]
Get admitted at Crossroads
Admissions Day for Crossroads Junior High School starts at 2 p.m. on Jan. 17 in room 206. For more information, call 922-0237, e-mail office@ccjh.org, or visit ccjh.org.
Study at the ‘speed of life’ with Allan Hancock College
Students keeping a busy schedule can earn the credit of a full semester course in eight weeks through Allan Hancock College’s Fast Track/Term classes. Hancock is offering more than 80 eight-week term classes during the spring 2010 semester at its Santa Maria area campuses, with 16 classes beginning Feb. 1 and the remainder beginning April […]
Cal Poly, SLO announces theme for 2010 Open House weekend
Students, parents, alumni, and community members are welcome to head “To Cal Poly and Beyond” at the college’s 2010 Open House, set for April 15 through 17. This year’s weekend-long event will have a futuristic theme—a la Buzz Lightyear—and other explorers of new frontiers. The Open House gives admitted students and their families and friends—along […]
Zippos Infatuation
Hold on to your legacy, Seabiscuit, because here’s a horse that’s turning heads: a paint horse named Zippos Infatuation. Zippos recently snagged a world championship title at the 2009 Fall World Championship Paint Horse Show, held Nov. 5 through 14 in Fort Worth, Texas. The horse is a local, hailing from the farmland community of […]
Spring has sprung in Lompoc
The Lompoc Parks and Recreation Department has issued the schedule for its spring sports offerings. Registration for the Adult Softball League runs until Feb. 5. Men’s, women’s, church, and co-ed divisions—open to players 16 and older—are available, and all ability levels are welcome. The season begins Feb. 21. For the first time ever, the department […]
Girls’ softball league is taking names
Registration is currently open for the 2010 season of Santa Maria Girls Softball, a league created for players aged 5 to 16. Sign-ups will take place Jan. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m., Jan. 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Jan. 21 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Minami Community Center, located […]
Labor of love
It’s nearing sunset, and at Ralph Dunlap Elementary School in Orcutt, a team of 12-year-olds is gathered to practice headers and kicks at the school’s soccer field. The boys’ coach, Christina Vogel, demonstrates proper footing techniques and shouts instructions, prodding the players to move the ball around quickly and accurately. A 19-year-old student at Allan […]
We deserve better
If, in the end, we find out that the Health Bill the Democrats are trying to pass requires all Americans to buy insurance from private insurance run by fat cat CEOs, they can expect to face the voters’ wrath. From what I know, it was written by them for them. We deserve better. The private […]
Others need to step up for schools
There is again political outcry to make teachers responsible. But how can teachers be held accountable when parents, taxpayers, and administrators aren’t? We lived in a middle class white neighborhood in Sacramento County when I volunteered to help in a third grade classroom. There were 32 children in the class, a third of which were […]

