THE LOMPOC VALLEY REPUBLICAN CLUB holds a social meeting featuring speaker Steve Pappas, dinner, and a drawing on Sept. 18 starting at 6 p.m. at Embassy Suites, 1117 North H St., Lompoc. Info: 733-0109 or jshockency@verizon.net. THE CENTRAL COAST SQUARE DANCE ASSOCIATION presents its 45th annual “Square Affair” square dancing event Sept. 19 from 7 […]
SPECIAL EVENTS
Posted inFood & Drink
Eat up the past
Here in the no-longer-so-wild West, we like to celebrate our lifestyle and civic longevity with parades, parties, and lots of hearty food. The friendly folks of Los Alamos, that scenic burg located just off Highway 101 about 18 miles south of Santa Maria, are no different, having annually rolled out the red carpet and cast […]
Posted inOpinion
What’s your morning coffee routine?
Bobbi Gilman Santa Maria Valley Humane Society operations manager “I get up in the morning and then I have to feed the cat because he won’t shut up. Then I make my coffee—six cups of water, three scoops of coffee. Then I add a little touch of my cinnamon bun creamer and a little touch […]
Posted inNews
A dirty not-so-little secret
Last month, federal authorities successfully wrapped up an eight-month-long sting operation that resulted in the arrests of 55 people accused of using peer-to-peer computer software to trade and view child pornography. Led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the sting marked the first time law enforcement agencies have […]
Posted inNews
YMCA provides ‘Stepping Stones’ to a good education
Whoever said educational accreditation was only for college programs? The Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s Stepping Stones Center recently earned its accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the nation’s leading organizations of early childhood professionals. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program […]
Posted inNews
What do shoes and books have in common?
Footwear and reading material don’t share a lot of common bonds—unless you consider a child’s typical reaction when he or she first gets a new book or pair of shoes. The Shoes for Students charity organization recently donated $12,000 to the Santa Maria-Bonita School District to help purchase books for all 13,200 students three times […]
Posted inNews
Murray & Murray Insurance is on the move
After 30 years at the same location on east Main Street, Murray & Murray Insurance Agency is packing up and moving to the new College Square complex at 550-D E. Betteravia in Santa Maria. The move is effective immediately and marks a big change for the company that’s met locals’ insurance needs since it opened […]
Posted inNews
California Women for Agriculture host casino night
The Santa Maria chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA) is hosting a casino night at the Santa Maria Country Club on Sept. 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. to raise money for scholarships and activities. According to event chairwoman Lalena Cooper, casino night will be full of fun, spent playing blackjack, craps, bingo, and […]
Posted inNews
Legal Resource Center opens in Lompoc
The city of Lompoc now has its own Legal Resource Center, located inside the courthouse. The new self-help center will assist self-represented litigants in better understanding their legal rights, according to a press release from the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. Legal Resource Centers in the county provide information on civil matters, such […]
Posted inNews
Commission for Senior Citizens elects new board members
Four new board members were elected at the most recent meeting of the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens. The new members are Judith Dunn, Santa Maria; Janelle Parsons, Santa Barbara; Cheryl Kippen, Arroyo Grande; and John Alongi, San Luis Obispo. “Needs of senior citizens are increasing due to numerous factors, such as increasing numbers […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch
• U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) joined the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley for its Election 2008 campaign kickoff on Sept. 13 at the club’s headquarters in Santa Maria. At the meeting, Capps spoke of the significance of the fall election and the club’s involvement in promoting the Democratic ticket. “The Santa Maria […]
Posted inNews
Teens get a thorough view of Santa Maria Valley
Since the program started in 1995, hundreds of men and women have graduated from Leadership Santa Maria Valley. Now, local teenagers get their chance. The first class of Teen Leadership Santa Maria Valley—33 teens total—has been chosen. With no GPA requirement and no tuition costs for the students, the leadership program could accept every teen […]