Patience paid off for local quilter Joan McBain. She spent six months making a jacket that she then entered into the “jacket, vest, and coat” section of the Pacific International Quilting Show in Santa Clara. McBain won $300 and took first place for the jacket, which represented her first time trying hand quilting and quilting […]
Quilting while she’s ahead
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Creating a new War
Allan Hancock College recently staged a series of events to honor the anniversary of the Great Depression. Several departments, students, groups, and staffers got involved. There was a soup line for soup and bread, a slideshow, and photographic and author presentations. In the science department, Mick Bondello could only think of Orson Welles’ radio […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Come to the table
There are three things an adult attending a holiday show on the Central Coast should know. The first of these is that the intended audience is likely families, meaning it’s child-friendly fare. Secondly, there is a reasonable chance the performance will have some religious display, reference, or overtone. The third point ties back to the […]
Posted inOpinion
What do you think of this hubbub over Obama’s health-care reform?
David Rude pianist “I think they’re rippin’ it up. They’re making it all politics, but it shouldn’t be.” Tim Favorite food service employee “I do not like how they will make it mandatory to have health care. They’ve made it too socialistic; it should be someone’s choice whether or not they want health care.” Rick […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 11-12
TUESDAY, NOV. 17 • The Guadalupe Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 918 Obispo St., Guadalupe. • The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. Agendas are available […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 11-12
The Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley welcomes Marta Jorgensen to its monthly meeting, set for Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. at the International House of Pancakes, 202 Nicholson Ave., in Santa Maria. Jorgensen is a Democratic candidate for Congress in the California 24th District, which includes parts of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Jorgensen, […]
Posted inNews
Strike out teen crime
It’s not every day that you can bowl and support a worthwhile cause simultaneously. However, on Nov. 21, from 1 to 3 p.m., Teen Court will offer a chance for bowling aficionados and community supporters to play a game to raise funds for North County Teen Court. The bowling extravaganza will be held in […]
Posted inNews
Locals decry the affordable housing shortage
As the Santa Maria City Council prepares to consider an updated housing plan, local advocates and officials are concerned the city isn’t doing enough to provide its sizable low-income population with places to live. While city housing projections exceed state requirements in Santa Maria’s newly revised Draft Housing Element, the goals won’t make up […]
Posted inNews
Unemployed locals get some breathing room
On Nov. 6, Congress passed legislation extending unemployment benefits for 14 weeks. Those people living in states with unemployment higher than 8.5 percent (California’s rate as of September was 12.2 percent) will get an additional six weeks of benefits beyond that. Adriana Barbara, customer manager and the sole local face for the Employment Development […]
Posted inNews
Give the gift of life this holiday season
Want to help save a life? The city of Santa Maria will host its last 2009 blood drive on Nov. 12 from noon to 5 p.m. in the parking lot next to the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center along South McClelland. The city is asking members of the public to sign up and join city and […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria buys new buses for SMAT
Santa Marians riding public transit will soon notice some new buses rolling around town. Earlier this month, Santa Maria city officials announced that the city has purchased three 2009 diesel buses for Santa Maria Area Transit. The 40-foot-long Gillig diesel buses will replace three older vehicles in the fleet. “This helps us keep […]
Posted inNews
PG&E conductor sparks fire outside Santa Maria
On Nov. 8, Pacific Gas & Electric equipment sparked a highway fire that scorched almost 85 acres of grass where Highway 166 and Twitchell Dam Road meet. A spliced connector on a conductor sparked, and wind was a factor, but no cost has been calculated, according to a release from CAL FIRE. Calls began […]