Straight Down’s Fall Classic is currently accepting requests for volunteer caddies to work the 13th annual golf tournament, set for Nov. 14 and 15 at the San Luis Obispo Country Club. For this year’s tourney, Straight Down, a golf apparel and accessory company, is teaming with the ALS Association to help provide assistance to […]
Dates set for ALS golf benefit
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
It’s not too late to get your kicks
There’s still time for children aged 3 to 12 to register for the Central Coast’s only arena soccer league. The Santa Maria Valley YMCA has extended the deadline to register for its Youth Soccer program to Sept. 21. The cost for registration is $60 for YMCA members and $80 for participants. Financial assistance is […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Participation now has its price
For high schools in the Lompoc Unified School District dealing with the reality of 30-percent cuts to their athletic budgets, it’s come to this: Student-athletes at Lompoc and Cabrillo high schools are now being asked to contribute $100 to their schools in order to participate in sports, regardless of the type or number of sports […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Brandon Pita
It’s not just spinning wheels to call Brandon Pita the star of Santa Maria BMX—the 12-year-old has the hardware to prove it. On Aug. 31, Pita took home the 2009 12 Novice division championship from BMX’s premier event: the National Bicycle League Grand Nationals in Louisville, Kent. For Pita, who just started racing bicycle motocross […]
Posted inNews
Tutoring now offered at Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center
Need homework help? Local college students will be offering tutoring in several subjects for students in grades 7 through 12 at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center. Tutors are available Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 3 to 7 p.m., and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Individual or study […]
Posted inNews
First 5 starting radio campaign on pregnancy health
Starting this month, expectant and new mothers can get some important information about pre- and postnatal health on local radio waves. First 5 Santa Barbara County, in partnership with Emerald Wave Media and local OBGYN Dr. Robert McGhie, is producing a series of radio spots educating mothers on subjects such as breastfeeding and postpartum […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Barbecue, California style
I first heard about the excellent food at Rancho Nipomo from winemaker Ardison Phillips of McKeon-Phillips winery. Sometime later, I was reminded of it by winemaker Ariki “Rick” Hill of Labyrinth, who spoke highly of it. Then I read a glowing review by Teri Bayus in Grover Beach, and I thought, “I’ve got to try […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
School rules
My kids went back to school recently, which means we can finally clean the living room. There was really no point cleaning it during the three months of summer. As soon as we picked up the 75 DVD cases (each with the wrong DVD in it) and pushed aside the Wii accessories to clear a […]
Posted inOpinion
Please consider this
Let’s get it straight: When it comes to health insurance, the United States has the most misinformed, fearful, gullible, short-sighted, and short-changed population among developed nations. The private insurance industry has made fools of us. Please consider this: If you view your life and health as above all means for private profit and […]
Posted inOpinion
Parents have more influence over their children
To the parents who were concerned about President Obama’s speech addressed to their school-age children: I would like to address all of the parents of this county who didn’t want their children to hear Obama’s speech because of its possible political content. First: From what I have read and observed, parents have a […]
Posted inOpinion
Make the parents pay
Public school districts across the United States are disbursed funds from the state governments for children attending school, and funds are withheld for those who are absent. The hundreds or thousands of paranoid extremist parents who kept their children home from school on right-wing hysteria surrounding President Barack Obama’s speech urging kids to “stay in […]
Posted inOpinion
I have a question for the protesters
The Tea Party Conservatives are attempting to rip a page from the ’60s protest movement. The question is: Where were they when millions of their fellow Americans were protesting a multi-trillion-dollar war?
