North County residents interested in converting their homes to solar have a newly certified installer available locally to serve their energy needs. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners recently certified Gary Gordon, owner of Santa Ynez Valley Solar, into its program. Certification holders must meet experience and educational prerequisites, pass a comprehensive […]
Certifiably solar
Posted inNews
Take a taste test
Tastefully Simple, an award-winning direct sales company specializing in easy-to-prepare foods, recently welcomed Santa Maria resident Jessica Elledge as an independent consultant. Elledge will offer the company’s gourmet foods at home taste-testing parties, where guests get product samples, recipes, and serving suggestions. Tastefully Simple is based in Alexandria, Minn., and was inducted into […]
Posted inNews
Talk about carriers
Cell phone and service store Total Wireless is now under new ownership—and adding more carriers to its lineup. Joining the T-Mobile service already offered, Sprint and Boost mobile services will now be available to Total Wireless customers. Owner Maggie Stukas, who took over on Oct. 1, invites the public to visit the store and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Trespassers will be shot
Technically, I am not allowed in my own kitchen—or “my wife’s kitchen,” I should say. I am occasionally granted permission to enter the air space around “her” kitchen, but only to do menial tasks like take out the stinking trash or kill a life-threatening evil spider. Any other kitchen access (like getting some cheese and […]
Posted inOpinion
Halloweens, past and future
Halloween is my favorite holiday, even more than Hanukkah and Christmas. There’s no stressful gift buying, card writing, or party-planning. Halloween is even better than Thanksgiving. No visitors, putting up guests, putting up with family quirks, meal planning, bird thawing, pie baking. But those holidays are another story. Let’s focus on All Hallow’s Eve! You […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Pool party
Last year, the St. Joseph High School boys’ water polo team won a single game. This time around, the Knights are doing more than just keeping their heads above water—they’re challenging for the Los Padres League title. “This year has been amazing,” said head coach John Walker. “Last year, we were teaching them […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Kambria Sanders
Kambria Sanders may be a rookie, but she doesn’t perform like one. As a newbie to the local gymnastics center, Sanders has defied the odds by qualifying for sectionals and barely missing state by half a point. Sanders, 10 years old, has definitely dropped her audience’s jaws with her talent in the realm of […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Crab lovers unite!
Special Olympics Northern Santa Barbara County needs participants for its annual Crab-A-Licious Torch Run and crab feed on Nov. 6. All-you-can-eat snow crab, pasta, salad, and bread will be on the menu, as will live musical entertainment by Class Action and a silent auction complete with prizes donated by local businesses and organizations. […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Wine of dreams
Over the millennia, wine has fueled countless fancies and big adventures, some noble and others just plain crazy. Among the more recent and distinctly noble of these enterprises, Vino de Sueños (“wine of dreams”) aims to fulfill the needs of the region’s hardworking vineyard and farm laborers. Conceived under the auspices of People Helping […]
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 […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Spiritual
BAHA’I interfaith worship services are the second Sunday of each month. Info: 489-4172. Children’s classes are the first Saturday of each month. Info: 937-9451. Study circles about The Life of the Spirit are ongoing in Santa Maria. For questions, dates, and times: 614-0963. Info: 937-9451. BETHEL LUTHERAN CHURCH holds worship services Sundays with Holy […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Farmers Markets
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 […]
