Allan Hancock College is enjoying a great track and field season. Even with the track team pushed to practice at Santa Maria High School because of the Hancock track’s poor condition, nine Hancock athletes were ranked in the top 10 in the Western State Conference in 13 different events. So why does track and field […]
How to track success
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Josh Prenot
When it comes to swimming fast, Josh Prenot is without peer in the local pool—or most anywhere else, for that matter. At the National Club Swimming Association’s Junior Nationals, held March 17 to 21 in Orlando, Prenot finished 11th in the 1,500-meter freestyle, making him one of the nation’s best swimmers in the event for […]
Posted inOpinion
Here’s how a health plan could make us great
President Obama’s public health insurance option is a good way to lower privatized health insurance. Why is this? One: If the federal government starts taking over health insurance for all (the poor, who cannot afford private health insurance; small businesses; up to the mega corporations and even the wealthy), the privatized health corporation would fail. […]
Posted inOpinion
Drop socialism, get affordable housing
Regarding the commentary, “Eureka! We’ve been selected for a rezone!” by Ken McCalip in the April 2 edition: The idea of affordable housing or low-income housing are another example of government-sponsored socialism at work. The recent example of the federal-level programs is the “subprime loan” national financial crisis that has resulted from the government insisting […]
Posted inOpinion
Illegal immigrants cause hit-and-runs and more
I would like to commend our local police for taking steps to make our streets safer by setting up checkpoints for drunk drivers and unlicensed drivers. Santa Maria is currently the hit-and-run capital for a city its size in our state. I know that this is just one problem of many that plague our city, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Dine out, Santa Maria style
Most imbibers have learned that wine can transform a meal into a delicious whole bursting with flavors beyond the sum of its ingredients. In a bid to showcase the fine dining scene on the Central Coast, as well as the merits of pairing wine with food, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and five […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Dad, uninterrupted
My wife took some much-needed R&R from the kids—or maybe it was the kids and me she was taking a vacation from. Regardless of whom she was sick of picking up after/feeding/taking care of, she was gone, and “coincidently” her cell phone battery died. This meant the kids and I were on our own. We […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Make your lawn water-smart
The Nipomo Community Services District will present one last chance to learn about water-smart gardening with its free spring 2009 gardening workshop from 9 a.m. to noon on April 18 at the district office at 148 S. Wilson in Nipomo. According to the district, manicured landscapes seen in most neighborhoods account for as much as […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Shinn shares his expertise
Studio potter, painter, and sculptor Bill Shinn will share some of his secrets to success when he presents a program about painting and ceramics at 2 p.m. on May 18 in the Grange Hall at 2374 Alamo Pintado Ave. in Los Olivos. The presentation will consist of a slide show of his techniques as well […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The flap about spring
There’s a cul-de-sac in downtown Lompoc that stands out for its little ornate houses all in a row. The residents are quite transient, but welcomed nonetheless—so welcome, in fact, that one man has built these homes for 20 years. They aren’t for people, though. They’re for the birds. Jim Manweiler builds intricate birdhouses and feeders. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Masters of the stage
Perhaps my favorite thing about PCPA (besides eavesdropping on the conversations of fellow audience members that precede each play) is the fact that once you’re somewhat familiar with the company, you begin to compare the actors’ roles in various productions—often with comedic or surprising results. Erik Stein, for example, assumes the role of Javert in […]
Posted inNews
Look up, up, and away
Keep your eyes on the skies on April 23 and 24 when Orcutt Academy and Endeavour Academy hold their first joint Balloon Festival. Students from the academies’ science classes will be conducting atmospheric research by releasing weather balloons carrying testing instruments 300 feet above the Orcutt Academy campus. The balloons will be used to collect […]