Sonny Martinez is a soft-spoken guy with an easy smile, but don’t let that fool you—he’s one of the best wrestlers in the area. The Pioneer Valley junior is 37-1 this year. Martinez knew from early on that he wanted to get into sports. So early, in fact, that “wrestling was the only sport that […]
Sonny Martinez
Posted inOpinion
Just say no to leapfrog developments
Driving home from Irvine recently, I noticed how nice it was to leave the Ventura/Los Angeles county areas and head into Santa Barbara County and the open areas of the Central Coast. No wonder tourists like to come here! The squeeze of the shoulder-to-shoulder impact of homes, asphalt, and cars was lifted from my head […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Football and finger foods
Partisan supporters, die-hard fans, and even the gridiron action-impaired eagerly anticipate the big day that lies just ahead. Whether drawn to the spectacle of sport or merely tagging along for the lively social scene, Super Bowl Sunday revelers know they’ll be digging into bowls, baskets, and platters loaded with tasty food. In the United States, […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Arts Briefs
Students can dance Two students from the Everybody Can DANCE Vaganova Ballet Academy received scholarships awarded by the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance on Jan. 23. Sydney Burkert and Kaila Holford started with a recommendation from their teacher, Diane Zink, for scholarship competition. After excelling in October auditions, the young artists were among 14 students who […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hitting a high note
Gaetano Ferro has the accent of a Latin lover, a natural singing ability, and the voice of a man many years his junior. At 71, Ferro said he’s often told that he sounds much younger—a feat he chalks up to good living. “I don’t care what the calendar says, I just don’t feel that old,” […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
All gussied up
In a time before mass production, abundant materials, and cheap labor, garments were made one at a time, each piece fashioned by hand. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a family’s means were typically meager, and that often meant clothes were handed down from child to child and sometimes to grandchild. Some of those […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing with Helen
He did it again! Yes, the irrepressible Judy Hearn won the bid to lead the Santa Maria Philharmonic in the “Star Spangled Banner” at the first concert of the orchestra’s 2009-2010 season. Fans will recall that Clark-Center-Follies-tap-dancing star Judy also guest conducted at a previous season-starting concert. The bidding took place at the Philharmonic’s annual […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch
• Frustrated by his colleagues’ reactions to the State budget crisis, State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) recently introduced two constitutional amendments regulating legislators’ salaries. Maldonado’s “No Budget, No Pay or Per Diem” bill, SCA 7, would prohibit legislators from receiving their salaries or per diem if the budget has not been passed by the […]
Posted inNews
Need cash for college?
As high school seniors start to hear back from college admissions offices, determining the cost of a college education will soon become a reality for many families. Students and their parents can help ease the financial burden by filling out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) or applying for a Cal Grant. To […]
Posted inNews
National publication recognizes Santa Maria High School for stellar college
The College Board, a national nonprofit association of schools, colleges, and universities, recently listed Santa Maria High School as a school with “exemplary college counseling.” The high school was one of six schools listed in the publication Inspiration and Innovation: Ten Effective Counseling Practices from the College Board’s Inspiration Award Schools. Commissioned by the College […]
Posted inNews
Hook a green investor for your green enterprise
The California Coast Venture Forum recently announced the launch of its Clean Business Investment Summit, set for March 26 at UCSB’s Corwin Pavilion. “Clean tech,” green, socially responsible, and sustainable businesses will present their companies to investors at the event. The California Coast Venture Forum is looking for such enterprises—in renewable energy sources, agricultural technology, […]
Posted inNews
How did Community Bank of Santa Maria fare in 2008?
Jim Glines, president and chief executive officer of Community Bank of Santa Maria, recently released the bank’s year-end earnings report. “Our financial numbers are a direct reflection of the community we service,” he said in a release to the media. “We hope the new year will bring an economic upswing that will undoubtedly strengthen the […]