After two successful summers offering theater classes in Santa Maria, Pismo Beach Youth Theater will continue to offer musical theater production classes for 4th-through 8th-graders this fall. The December production will be Annie and the May production is Into the Woods. Rehearsals will be on Wednesdays, 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Temple Beth El, […]
Youth act up
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
American nostalgia
When North Carolina artist Luke Haynes and the local C Gallery asked people “What image makes you think of American nostalgia?” they received 700 responses. The 10 most repeated answers were inspiration for 10 quilts Haynes sewed for his show, American Nostalgia, hanging at the C Gallery this month. Haynes is an architect—and now […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Get down tonight
Maybe the chemistry was right—a mix of musical and performing experience, age and youth—or maybe it was the rhythmic beat of the music gods, but when Soulamente formed, band members quickly found they hit the right chord with Santa Maria audiences. “There’s something about this band that connects with Santa Maria that I haven’t […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Girls, girls, girls
My son has discovered girls. Well, maybe I should say they have discovered him. It is an undisputed, proven, scientific fact that girls mature faster than boys. Female accelerated maturity renders similar-aged boys powerless and confused. One of these young, yet older girls got the attention of my son recently. He doesn’t stand a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Out and about
Take one freelance writer, give her an assignment that requires happy conversation, a look at local history, and (heaven be praised!) the thoughtful sipping of wine, and watch a smile sweep across her face. That writer was me, a year ago this month, when a soft-spoken editor from Sonoma offered me a job. I […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Get into fall sports with YMCA
The Santa Maria Valley YMCA is now registering for its Youth Arena Soccer program and progressive swim lessons. The YMCA is host to the only arena soccer league on the Central Coast and is designed for children ages 3 to 12. The registration deadline is Sept. 14. Fees are $65 for YMCA members and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Learn water polo at Paul Nelson
For swimmers interested in playing or learning water polo, One-Way Water Polo is holding scrimmages at the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center each Sunday throughout the fall. Masters scrimmages will be held from 9 to 10 a.m., followed by Youth Water Polo classes from 10 a.m. to noon. The youth program is open to all […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Joe White auction promises something for everyone
Sports fans and supporters of Allan Hancock College should be excited for the eighth annual Joe White Memorial Dinner and Auction, held on Aug. 29 by the Hancock Boosters, Inc. Sports memorabilia and one-of-a-kind auction items will be on hand. Basketball fan? You’ll want to be there. Among the items will be a basketball […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Amanda Taecker
On Aug. 16, Amanda Taecker left the Santa Maria Valley to attend CSU Fresno. She was a crucial component of Pioneer Valley’s State Champion lineup, and her move away from the area is a blow to local girls’ wrestling. Taecker’s wrestling career started three years ago when she competed alongside the Righetti High School […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hancock’s new coach wants to go soft
Just a week after getting word she’d landed the job of Allan Hancock College’s new head softball coach, Scia Maumausolo arrived in town with a fresh vision for rebuilding the program from the ground up. If what she learned from playing travel ball here still holds true, she won’t have to look far […]
Posted inOpinion
Santa Maria’s changing demographics
The city of Santa Maria is becoming known as a Hispanic community throughout the Central Coast, and with the negative profiling that is associated with the illegal immigrants, the social and racial tensions are unfortunately escalating. It is getting to be whenever any negative incident occurs, the fingers point to our Hispanic community. By […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The search for meaning
When Samuel Takembaiyee paints in his studio, he doesn’t use an easel. He sits on the floor, paint covering his hands, his clothes. It drips from a cloth nearby while he’s totally engrossed in the process of creation. “I sit on the ground, I want to be so connected to the painting,” Takembaiyee said. […]