Coastal Commission seeks artistic students Got a talent for drawing? The heart of a poet? The California Coastal Commission invites all students in the state—kindergarten through 12th grade—to enter the 2009 California Coastal Art and Poetry Contest. Entries must be postmarked by Saturday, Jan. 31. Winners will be selected in each of four grade-level categories […]
Arts Briefs
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A Cactus among us
Santa Maria Civic Theatre’s latest production is titled A Christmas Cactus, which sounds like it could be a holiday-themed western revue, or a western-themed holiday revue, but it’s neither. The “cactus” of the title refers to a big-city private investigator named Katie “Cactus” O’ Riley. Cactus (Sydney Asencio) and her assistant, Fred Booker (Iain Freckleton), […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Get stuffed with art
So the pie is gone, shopping is done, and all that’s left of the Thanksgiving turkey is a few ribbons of dark meat. What do you do with the relatives now? Walk off that turkey while viewing fine art and shopping for Christmas treasures. Two shows are a must see for art lovers in the […]
Posted inFood & Drink
It’s not over after Thanksgiving dinner
Once again, the time has come for Central Coast hosts to plan weekday meals and festive feasts in the name of seasonal fun. With the arrival of Thanksgiving Day—the official launch of the holidays—they dust off family recipes and break out their favorite cookbooks in a bid to create both traditional dishes and foods with […]
Posted inNews
Allan Hancock College gears up for its spring semester
Allan Hancock College’s spring 2009 classes don’t start until the week of Jan. 26, but online registration (WebReg) starts Dec. 1 and continues through Dec. 23. WebReg will also be available after the holiday season, Jan. 2 to 14, and in-person registration is scheduled for Jan. 20 and 21. Registration fees for qualified low-income students […]
Posted inNews
Get an alternative education at Lompoc’s Mission Valley School
Located behind the Lompoc Unified School District offices, Mission Valley School offers alternative education opportunities to students in kindergarten through 12th grade, including hands-on field trips and workshops in math, science, and the arts. Formerly known as The Learning Center, Mission Valley School is a home- and independent-study program run through the Lompoc Unified School […]
Posted inNews
See the trees at Santa Maria Town Center
While nothing may compare with crunching through a field of fresh snow to choose your own Douglas fir, winning an already decorated tree and some gifts to go with it comes mighty close. Altrusa International of the Central Coast is descending on Santa Maria Town Center for its sixth annual Festival of Trees, the group’s […]
Posted inNews
Kids get more to spend at Nipomo Swapmeet
It’s not money, but it’s close. The Nipomo Swapmeet will be handing out Santa Swapmeet Bucks to kids at noon on Sundays until Dec. 21. Recipients can use the bucks just like cash at participating vendors throughout the meet. The Nipomo Swapmeet is located at 263 N. Frontage Road in Nipomo. The bucks will be […]
Posted inNews
Looking for work? Or the perfect employee?
In a season of perceived economic uncertainty, there are people seeking to bring hope and stability through the staffing industry. Kim Mundell opened an Express Employment Professionals office at 222 W. Carmen Lane, suite 102, in Santa Maria on Nov. 3, and business is already brisk. “I have no doubts,” Mundell said. “This is a […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch
State Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) is in the process of forming legislation to negate the hefty pay raises recently awarded to a handful of California State University administrators. In an interview with the Sun, Maldonado said CSU Chancellor Charles Reed’s decision to approve salary increases of up to 19 percent—placing some salaries in the […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County raises awareness of HIV/AIDS
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has a number of events planned for Dec. 1 to inform locals about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in conjunction with World Aids Day. The county is emphasizing the presence of HIV and AIDS in the local community, according to Dan Reed, program administrator for HIV/AIDS programs in Santa Barbara […]
Posted inNews
Correction
The licensed marriage therapist interviewed for the Holiday Guide’s kissing story, “Only connect,” was misidentified. Her name is Jill Denton.