Lompoc’s Juan Campos is proof that some things get better with age. The 49-year-old turned heads in the Aug. 8 debut of the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department’s Tri-the-Bull Triathlon, an event consisting of a quarter-mile swim at Pioneer Valley High School, a 10-mile bike ride, and a 3-mile run along Bull Canyon […]
Juan Campos
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
It’s not all academic
Heading into its second year of operation, Orcutt Academy is a small organization with big expectations. Along with adding four more fall sports, school administrators tapped Chad McKenzie to help propel the school’s sports program to new heights as its athletic director. “Everything’s fresh and exciting,” McKenzie said. “The athletes here are happy […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Warriors get wet
Righetti High School is celebrating its new swimming pool and P.E. facility with a grand opening at the school, 941 E. Foster Road in Santa Maria, at 3:15 p.m. on Sept. 9. For more information, call 937-2051, Ext. 2702. Sports Shorts is compiled by Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas. Information should be sent to the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Take me fishing
Boys and girls ages 6 to 12 years old can learn the basics of fishing for free at the third annual “Take Me Fishing” event on Sept. 20. Kids can also take part in a casting contest, fish printing activities, and a GPS treasure hunt, and learn about lake life. Fishing poles and tackle […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Punt, pass, and kick
Young football fans will have the opportunity to test their football skills against their peers at the NFL Punt, Pass, and Kick Competition. The free event will be held Sept. 17 at Hagerman Sports Complex from 5 to 7 p.m. The competition is open to ages 8 to 15. Registration takes place on site […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Los Flores Ranch Park is open
The City of Santa Maria and the Department of Recreation and Parks announced the hours of operation for Los Flores Ranch Park. The park will be open Thursday for equestrians only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. with last entry at 5 p.m. The park will be open to everyone Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays […]
Posted inNews
Meet your mayor
Sitting in a Starbucks on North H Street, a steaming cup of coffee nestled between his fingers, Lompoc’s new mayor, Mike Siminski, was still in a bit of a daze. Within 15 minutes of sitting down, two fellow Lompocans came to congratulate the longtime city councilman on his new position. “I just wanted to […]
Posted inOpinion
Why not expand Medicare?
Let’s have real health-care reform, and let’s use a popular, efficient, and successful program that has a track record: Medicare. Medicare is not padded, like private insurers, with profit, exorbitant executive salaries and perks, cost of advertising, and the payroll of staffs of actuaries, agents, salespeople, and lobbyists. Here’s the proposal: Expand Medicare in […]
Posted inNews
There’s no issue like Best Of!
Click your heels and look inside for our ninth annual tribute to top local business, services, people, and more. CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR VIRTUAL PUBLICATION!
Posted inOpinion
If you were writing an autobiography, what would be the title?
John Allen engineer “I never really thought of it. I guess, Too Much Work.” Robert Blotzer rock-n-roller “Wiggle It. It would be about when I was pulled over by the police, and when they gave me the ticket, I wiggled it in front of them.” Ashley Saint’Onge receptionist “AshleyLand, Inc. It was an idea that […]
Posted inSpecial Issues
Best of Santa Maria Valley 2009 – Virtual Publication
Click here to view the Best of Santa Maria Valley 2009 Virtual Publication
Posted inOpinion
Don’t listen to the blood-sucking leeches
In writing this letter, I would hope to clear the minds of skeptics who fear a government-run, single-payer health-care system. I’ve used both private and government-run health care programs. In evaluating the two, I can only conclude that the private sector leaves much to be desired. While I was enrolled and covered under the […]
