THE SANTA MARIA PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA presents a concert featuring the pieces by Thomas, Beethoven, and Brahms on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, McCoy Lane and College Drive, Santa Maria. Cost is $27, $22 for seniors, $12 for students. Info: 925-0412. THE ALLAN HANCOCK SINGERS directed by Ann Lucas, performs a concert […]
Concerts
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Special Events
THE PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP OF SANTA MARIA holds a meeting featuring a performance by the Oasis Ukulele Band on April 23 at 1 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church, 605 E. McCoy Lane, Santa Maria. Info: 937-7776. THE SANTA MARIA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL features carnival rides, games, food booths, live entertainment, and a farmers’ market April 24 […]
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This one won’t be a sleeper
The Sleeping Beauty—with former assistant director of the Bolshoi Ballet, Alexi Badrak, as guest director—will be staged by the Santa Maria Civic Ballet and Everybody Can DANCE on June 6 at 7 p.m. and June 7 at 3 p.m. at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks, Arroyo Grande. The role of […]
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Reach out for literacy
“Reaching Out … An Evening of Celebration” will be held May 2 at the Santa Maria Country Club at 505 W. Waller Lane. This fundraiser benefit for literacy on the Central Coast is the second annual and is named for the books and philosophy of Dr. Francisco Jimenez, who centered his autobiographical works on Santa […]
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The spirit of progress
Even though his career reaches back into the mid ’80s, no one has ever accused local singer songwriter Glen Phillips of sitting still. Ever since he first took to the stage out front of Toad the Wet Sprocket at the tender age of 16, Phillips’ musical life has been in constant motion. Having released five […]
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Exotic escape
About two years ago, I took up kickboxing. Muay Thai to be exact. The national sport of Thailand, Muay Thai is like cardio kickboxing on crack. It combines traditional punch combinations with several kinds of kicks, and—if you want to get really fancy—flying elbows and knees. Practicing Muay Thai has taught me a lot of […]
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Community Notebook 4-23
MONDAY, APRIL 27 • The Nipomo Community Advisory Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Nipomo Community Services District Headquarters, 148 S. Wilson St., Nipomo. TUESDAY, APRIL 28 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing […]
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Hobnobbing With Helen
Are they or are they not they closing their doors? That’s the question on everyone’s lips. After the recent media blitz proclaiming dire financial circumstances at PCPA, the locals aren’t sure whether—despite 45 years in this community—PCPA is on the verge of going under. The Sun’s readers want to know, I told PCPA Artistic Director […]
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Wasting no time in changing the world
The Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County will be honoring people who’ve given outstanding service to the community at its fourth annual Champions dinner. The commission is a private, nonprofit social service agency committed to helping low-income residents achieve and maintain self-sufficiency. It currently serves about 10,000 members whose needs outweigh their ability to […]
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Army Corps of Engineers will soon begin levee repairs
Long-awaited repairs on the Santa Maria River Levee could begin as early as this summer, project engineers announced on April 17, during a meeting along the Santa Maria riverbed. Col. Tom Magness of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers informed a group of local officials—including U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and Santa Maria Mayor […]
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Santa Barbara County officials, environmental groups tell federal government to stop offshore oil drilling
Delegates from Santa Barbara County recently attended a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar in San Francisco to talk about the natural resources of the Outer Continental Shelf and, more specifically, the future of offshore drilling. The meeting was one of four regional meetings around the country held by the Department of […]
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Orcutt citizen group sues over Union Valley Parkway project
The city of Santa Maria, Santa Maria City Council members, and Santa Barbara County could be heading to court over the Union Valley Parkway project after being sued on April 17 by local environmental group Orcutt Citizens for Better Environment (OCBE) and two local residents. On April 15, OCBE and Frank and Pat Culley filed […]