THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA AND CALTRANS hold a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Highway 101 six-lane widening project on Jan. 30 at 11 a.m., featuring Sen. Abel Maldonado, Mayor Larry Lavagnino, and Jim Kemp at River Oaks Park, 809 Stanford Drive, Santa Maria. Info: 549-3318. LOMPOC VALLEY IN BLOOM presents a benefit afternoon for […]
Special Events
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
It’s official: 17 teams will race in Tour of California
The recently announced complete roster for Amgen Tour of California boasts 17 professional cycling teams from around the world: Ag2r-La Mondiale, Astana, Bissell Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing Team, Cervelo Test Team, Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team, Garmin-Chipotle, Jelly Belly Cycling Team, Liquigas, Ouch presented […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Water polo everywhere
Coach Charlie Bell walks around the Olympic-sized pool, doing three things at once and loving every minute of it. Normally he has twice as many players and coaches, but today they’re in Bakersfield defending the honor of the One Way Water Polo club. “In fact, I’m kind of bummed I’m not playing with them today,” […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Sonny Martinez
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 […]
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 […]
