When he first experienced Laughter Yoga, Bill Alarid couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He wasn’t surprised at the concept itself, but rather the effect it had on the participants and the way it seemed to be so infectious. Once someone started, the laughter literally spread to everyone in the room. “I was just amazed […]
The best medicine
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The Cheapskate
My son has a personality disorder. It’s not the usual stuff that all kids seem to have these days: ADD, ADHD, or HUA (head up anus). It’s far worse than that. To describe it simply, he’s cheap. If he had a dollar in his pocket, and you needed 10 more cents to pay for the […]
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Green businesses to be recognized
County businesses that achieved “green” certification in 2009 will be honored during the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County breakfast on Feb. 5. Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bob Hatch will provide the event’s opening remarks, followed by a keynote address given by Wes Hagen, winemaker and vineyard manager of Clos Pepe […]
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Free workshop offers foreclosure advice
Want to learn more about alternatives to foreclosure? You’re invited to the Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Corporation’s free foreclosure prevention workshop on Jan. 13 in Santa Maria. Attendees will learn strategies to preserve homeownership and avoid foreclosure at the workshop, which will be facilitated by Brian Kerrigan, housing counselor for the nonprofit group. Kerrigan is a […]
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Valley tourism group debuts 2010 guide
The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association is holding its annual networking meeting to debut the new tourism guide for the valley on Jan. 12. The 2010 Visitors Guide to Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley is a joint publication of the SYVVA and the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau to promote the area’s recreational activities, […]
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There’s a new charter school in town
On Jan. 9, the Santa Maria Valley Charter School will hold its first informational meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Santa Maria Sewing Superstore, 127 E. Main St., in Santa Maria. School officials recently sent a copy of their charter petition to the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. A decision has yet to be […]
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Host a foreign exchange student for a semester
A local branch of the nonprofit STS Foundation is looking for some Santa Maria residences to serve as homes away from home for international high school students during the spring 2010 semester. “These students would like to integrate themselves into a loving and caring family with the goal of experiencing American culture as an American […]
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Celebrate the new year with the Luis Oasis Senior Center
Want to take up a new hobby in 2010? The Luis Oasis Senior Center is now offering copies of its activities schedule for the month of January. The schedule includes dozens of classes, events, and groups that focus on everything from ukulele and bridge playing, to experiencing the Wii Fit, to reflexology classes. Most of […]
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Stay in shape with winter sports
Athletes of all skill levels are encouraged to sign up for the Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s Rookie Sports Floor Hockey program and Youth and Adult Arena Soccer classes. The YMCA’s Rookie Sports program is designed for children ages 3 to 6 and focuses on social and physical skills and fun. The deadline to register is […]
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Dominique & Natalie Garcia
Basketball skills run in the family for 10-year-old Dominique Garcia and her 8-year-old sister, Natalie. On Dec. 19 in Los Angeles, the girls participated in the regional finals of the National Basketball Association’s youth skills competitions. Dominique won the NBA Fit Challenge—a series of six basketball-related exercises—while Natalie placed second in her age group in […]
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Not your father’s Boy Scouts
Since its inception in 1910, Boy Scouts of America has taught millions of young men the finer points of orienteering, tracking, and map reading. Now, with the emergence of affordable consumer Global Positioning Satellite receivers, the Scouts are going high-tech, adopting the hobby of geocaching as part of a national push to celebrate the organization’s […]
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Clubs and 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 […]