ConocoPhillips’ Santa Maria facility recently donated $30,000 to the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center. The center provides in-class and after-school environmental science education focused on the delicate Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes ecosystem, which stretches from Pismo Beach to Point Sal. The center also offers after-school and summer programs to local youth through the Boys and Girls Club. […]
There will be dunes
Congresswoman Lois Capps co-hosted town hall meetings
Central Coast residents joined the rest of the country on Sept. 2 and 3 in attending town hall meetings to discuss a public health insurance option. On Sept. 2, U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) met with her fellow Santa Barbarans at First Methodist Church on Anapamu Street. The next day, Capps traveled to […]
Quilt while you’re ahead
See more than 130 quilts on display at the 2009 Garden Party Quilt show, set for Sept. 26 and 27 at the Anderson Recreation Center, 125 W. Walnut Ave., in Lompoc from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission costs $5 per person. There will […]
Meet artists at Town Center Gallery
The Town Center Gallery will host its next artist reception on Sept. 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This month’s reception will include a silent auction. In addition, all of the contributing artists will introduce themselves and briefly speak about their background in the world of art, their medium, and other tidbits. Some of the […]
Mural towns
How did a mural on the side of Santa Maria’s Chamber of Commerce building end up in a book? It was all the doing of author Kevin Bruce, inspired by his admiration of muralist John Pugh and his fascination with small-town murals. Not that Pugh created the Santa Maria mural depicting Broadway circa the […]
On the other side
It can be a shadow-casting ray of light or an interesting accessory that catches her eye. It could be a combination of objects. Whatever it is that inspires Minnie Anderson, she strives to perfectly recreate that moment of inspiration in her paintings. Her realism, especially in portraits of people, is a practice in discipline. […]
Partner up your business
Nonprofit organizations and businesses alike can learn how to connect, network, and benefit from local partnerships and philanthropy at the Nonprofit Support Center’s Community Outreach Roundtable on Sept. 29. The event’s special guest will be Laura Webster, project coordinator for Driscoll’s Philanthropy. Webster has been with Driscoll’s for three years, generating programs and support for […]
Beat the heat at DQ
In time for summer’s swan song, the Santa Maria Town Center got a whole lot sweeter, welcoming Dairy Queen to its renovated food court. The confectionery chain is teaming up with Orange Julius in a new joint store, bringing along its menu of signature Blizzards and cakes, complete with layers of chocolate and vanilla […]
Mall welcomes a kid-friendly salon
Getting a child into a barbershop can be a chore, but that’s not the case with Whipper Snippers, the newest addition to the Santa Maria Town Center. The full-service salon specializes in children’s trend-setting styles, and comes equipped with fun styling chairs. Each station is outfitted with video games and movies, and kids can […]
County exhibit claims top awards
A California State Fair exhibit promoting Santa Barbara County’s agriculture and tourism industries—the first all-county exhibit to do so in more than 10 years—won the fair’s Gold award and Best Marketing award. This year, 35 of 58 counties entered exhibits, and judges selected the county as a blue ribbon recipient and winner of one […]
The customer is always right at Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc Valley Center
This fall, Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc Valley Center, in conjunction with the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce, is offering a new business-friendly Customer Service Academy. Beginning Sept. 12, the six-part series of classes will meet two Saturdays each in September, October, and November. Upon completion of the academy, students will be awarded a customer […]
Marian Medical Center’s got your back(pack)
Marian Medical Center employees marked the beginning of the school year by donating more than 165 backpacks to local schools through the hospital’s third annual Pack to School Backpack program. On Aug. 25, representatives from the local school districts delivered the donated backpacks and supplies from Marian to local schools. Partnering with Marian […]

