Curt Miller Owner of Sports Authority “I like playing baseball and basketball at Arroyo Grande High.” Eric Bouza lab technician “I like playing baseball at areas around Santa Maria, Simas Park.” Daniel Zepeda works at On Deck 2 Batting Cages “My favorite place to play baseball is at Pioneer Valley High School.” Ron Schram police […]
Where do you like to play sports on the Central Coast?
Posted inFood & Drink
Sake Sushi is the top spot for Japanese fare in Santa Maria
It’s almost become a cliche to declare a love for “underground” food spots. It’s sort of an absurdist statement, if you really think about it. What do you exactly love? That food is prepared for you in a highly suspect environment that isn’t entirely on the up-and-up? Should this really be a thing foodie culture […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Dawn of The Briteen
It has been a hell of a week. Our grandson, The Briteen, was trying out for soccer at his high school, participating in a week of scrimmages after school. But first, prospective candidates had to endure “Hell Week.” This involved a fitness endurance regimen every day at 6:30 in the morning, which meant that our […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
LOCAL NOTES: IndiePulse holds an instrument drive for local kids
The moment a young musician gets his or her first instrument is a transformative one. Joseph Timmons, publisher of the online music magazine IndiePulse and a lifelong drummer, remembers his first drum set clearly. Timmons has been the main writer and editor for IndiePulse for several years, and four years ago he decided to use […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Santa Maria unveils more painted utility boxes
The city of Santa Maria has five more colorful murals by local artists now that Phase Two of the Utility Box Art Project is complete. Phase Three of the project remains on hold until further funding is acquired. Last month, five local artists—Autumn Jennings, Angelina LaPointe, Frank Dominguez, Laura Lozano, and Ruben Espinoza—painted mini murals […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Local teen’s book adapted for new original musical
The Purple Marble is Pacific Conservatory Theatre’s (PCPA) upcoming Education and Outreach touring production for early 2018. The musical—available for a limited engagement—is based on local teen author Alyssa B. Antoci’s book (written when she was 8 years old) and features a story about facing bullies and starting over. The story revolves around Max, a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Ryheem Skinner
Allan Hancock College’s star running back, Ryheem Skinner, hails from the tiny town of Clinton, North Carolina, a rural community of 8,000 residents. He came a long way to lead his California junior college football team to its best season in nearly 20 years. The freshman ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns in a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hooping beyond borders: Pioneer Valley’s newest coach is fresh off of two pro basketball championships in Mexico
Aspiring freshmen basketball players at Pioneer Valley High School will have a coach this season who they can literally, and figuratively, look up to. Joining the Panthers’ coaching staff this year is 26-year-old Ross Rivera, a former Division 1 college basketball player and two-time champion of professional hoops leagues in Mexico. A Visalia native with […]
Posted inNews
Registration season coming for students at Allan Hancock College
Allan Hancock College’s winter and spring class schedules are now available for viewing on the school’s website, and open registration for all students begins on Nov. 18. Hancock will offer more than 30 classes running five weeks or less during winter session, which begins the week of Dec. 18. More than 1,200 classes will be […]
Posted inNews
Righetti High School mourns student’s suicide
A 14-year-old Ernest Righetti High School student killed herself on Nov. 1 at about 8 p.m., according to Lt. Kevin Huddle of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office. Huddle said the student, Kiya McBride, died in her Orcutt home that evening. The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District was informed of McBride’s death the […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Future Farmers of America team nationally recognized
A Santa Maria Future Farmers of America (FFA) team placed fourth at the recent National FFA Milk Quality and Dairy Products Contest. The Santa Maria Milk Quality and Dairy Products Team, coached by Mark Powell, consists of high school juniors Jennifer De Leon and Ariana Romero-Gutierrez, and seniors Rosalva Diaz and Monserrat Nolasco. Nolasco, in […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing with Helen: Great givers
The annual Celebrate Philanthropy luncheon, organized by the Santa Barbara Foundation and sponsored by the Santa Maria Times (they picked up the tab for lunch), is, to moi, a social phenomenon. Extremely well attended and about 10 years old, the event is one of the hottest tickets in town. “We always sell out,” reported the […]
