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We have soooo many great photos from the AirFest we thought we would share a great photo of something other than the planes or pilots. Robert Keeney, of Santa Maria tries his hand at the bucking bull ride during the second annual Central Coast AirFest Sunday at Santa Maria Airport. Photo by Frank Cowan. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, to see more photos from the weekend's AirFest.⠀
Protesters march outside the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks office on Monday, complaining about the department’s plan to convert one area baseball field and one area softball field to all-grass soccer facilities. Nearly 100 young baseball and softball players, along with parents, coaches and youth league organizers, marched in front of the Recreation and Parks Department building in Santa Maria on Monday, protesting the changes to the area fields. Photo by Len Wood. ⠀
See more photos and read more about the situation on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio. ⠀
Santa Maria High School student Gerardo Florentino practices on the keyboard with the help of music teacher Joe Payne during the free music program at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center on Tuesday. Florentino is a participant in the Santa Maria Recreation and Park's after-school drop-in lessons for junior high and high school students at the youth center, located at 600 S. McClelland St. The program kicked off in August and continues to run from 3 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. Read more about the program and see more photos from Len Wood on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio⠀
Eighteen years after nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Santa Maria firefighters on Wednesday honored the victims with ceremonies at each of the city’s fire stations. Capt. Seth Wells, left, and Engineer Andy Dowhower, of Station 5, stand at attention after raising, then lowering the flag to half staff during commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. Photo by Frank Cowan.⠀
#9/11
Eighty-five tables and booths filled the outside lawn and the inside walkway of the Rabobank Student Center at Allan Hancock College on Wednesday for the annual Bulldog Bow-WOW. The booths and tables were open from 10 a.m to 1 p.m to help students find a suitable future career as well as attract new members to student organizations. Natalie Rucobo, right, of the Hancock College Foundation, talks to students during the Bulldog Bow-WOW on Wednesday at the Santa Maria campus. Photo by Len Wood. Read the full story and see more photos on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio. ⠀
Santa Maria residents and businesses could see their water and sewer service costs go up starting next year due to rate increases city officials say are needed to cover ongoing operations and infrastructure maintenance. In this photo from Len Wood, Santa Maria Utilities Director Shad Springer listens to a question about proposed water and sewer rate increases during the Wednesday workshop at City Hall. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, to read more about the meeting and the potential rate increase. ⠀
World War II veteran and D-Day paratrooper Bindo Grasso of Guadalupe salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance at the County Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. Grasso was honored for his service during World War II by being named the veteran of the month. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, to see more photos from the ceremony and to learn more about Bindo Grasso and his experience as a 'Pathfinder' in World War II. Photo by Frank Cowan.⠀
World War II veteran John Ferenz, 101, stands for applause during Santa Maria’s Celebration of Life Luncheon for those over 90 years old Photo by Len Wood, on Twitter. See more photos and read the full story from today's event online this evening, or in print tomorrow morning.
Rep. Salud Carbajal speaks to a full house during his congressional town hall in Santa Maria on Thursday evening at the Veterans Memorial Center. Santa Barbara County's 24th Congressional District Rep. Salud Carbajal called on Thursday night for passing new legislation to prevent mass shootings and criticized Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for refusing to advance gun safety bills to the Senate floor during a packed town hall meeting in Santa Maria. Photo by Len Wood. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com to see more photos and to read the full story from the event.⠀
Ground was officially broken Thursday morning for the newest addition to the Guadalupe Cultural Center complex. Sitting behind the Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center and The Yellow House at 1045 Guadalupe St., this third building will complete the complex and expand the capabilities of both the Cultural Arts Center and the Guadalupe Sports Hall of Fame, which is located in The Yellow House. From left, Claudia Geist, S. Richard Cota and Maria Munoz, designers from Adames Design, of Santa Maria, look at a model for the new community meeting building during a groundbreaking Thursday. Read the story and see more photos on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio. Photo by Len Wood.⠀
Firefighter Matt Stevens, left, helps Daniel Camacho, 13, rappel out the window of a training facility during a teen firefighter camp at Santa Maria Fire Station 2 on Wednesday afternoon. Forty Santa Maria-area kids got an up close look at life as a firefighter during the city’s annual junior and teen firefighter camps on Wednesday. The annual camps are four days long and cycle participants through various scenarios firefighters face on a day-to-day basis, like climbing an aerial ladder, rappelling down a wall, handling ropes and knots and search and rescue skills. Read the story and see more photos on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio. Photo by Len Wood.⠀
A heat advisory issued Tuesday for the Cuyama Valley may be a portent of things to come this week for all of Santa Barbara County, where forecasters say temperatures should be above normal at least through Sunday. The National Weather Service’s Cuyama Valley heat advisory called for Tuesday temperatures ranging from 95 to 106 degrees, and those are forecast to continue Wednesday. In this photo from Len Wood, farmworkers harvest gladiolas flowers in a field off Telephone Road in Orcutt on Tuesday afternoon.⠀
The gates to the Santa Barbara County Fair, being held at the Santa Maria Fairpark, opened today and patrons flooded the event center to enjoy all of the rides, food, and ... a pig races? Yep, pig races. Fans cheer on their favorite in the pig races held near the main gate during the opening day of the 128th Santa Barbara County Fair at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, to see more photos and to read a story on opening day at the Santa Barbara County Fair. Photo by Frank Cowan.⠀
Fireworks explode over the heads of hundreds of Santa Maria locals during Thursday night's Fireworks Show at Sierra Vista Park next to Pioneer Valley High School. The event was sponsored by the city's Recreation and Parks Department and People for Leisure and Youth (PLAY). It featured live music, food trucks, and games for all ages. To see more photos, and to read a story on another Fourth of July event, the Brian Street block party, go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
The Nation of Patriots motorcycle group plans to carry an American flag from Santa Maria Harley-Davidson to Ventura County, as part of a 110-day, 14,500 mile journey, through all 48 continental states in a city-to-city relay that raises funds to support disabled veterans. In this photo from Len Wood, Steve Moeller, of Santa Maria, attaches the flag to his motorcycle at Santa Maria Harley-Davidson before the Nation of Patriots started their ride to Ventura County. See more photos on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, and read the full story online this evening or tomorrow in our print edition. ⠀
Project Superintendent Rudy Jimenez watches a crane moving steel beams at the construction site for Santa Maria-Bonita's new school. The first steel column of what soon will become Santa Maria's newest public elementary school was erected Monday, nearly four months after construction officials and administrators from the Santa Maria-Bonita School District broke ground on the project. Over the next 13 months, crews will transform the largely undeveloped parcel in the 113-acre Enos Ranch development into a 60,000-square-foot campus with 26 classrooms for as many as 900 students in transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. Read more on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
Mariana Valdovinos walks her daughter Mila Perez, 3, along a path during the unveiling of the Legacy Community Trail on Carmen Lane between Western Avenue and Pergola Street in Santa Maria. Constructing the walking path and infrastructure on the 4.6-acre parcel represented 2019 Leadership Santa Maria Valley’s final project. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com to see more photos and to read the full story from the event.⠀
Preparing for third open-heart surgery, Stevie Wisz throws out first pitch at All-Star softball game -⠀
The game of softball has always given Stevie Wisz purpose. ⠀
Over the last month, though, it has given her even more. ⠀
As her softball career ends, Wisz, the former Righetti High standout who walked on to the team at UCLA, has found a new way to channel what the game has given her. In this photo Righetti/UCLA grad Stevie Wisz signs a supporter's shirt before the All-Star game at Hancock College on Wednesday. Read the full story from Joe Bailey on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
Bindo Grasso is one of the last of his kind.⠀
A Pathfinder with the 101st Airborne Division during World War II, he parachuted into France the night before D-Day to light the way for fellow paratroopers.⠀
Nearly 75 years later, sitting in his Guadalupe home with granddaughter Stacey Moody, herself a Desert Storm veteran, Grasso, 96, recalled the flight over France into enemy territory on the night of June 5, 1944, and shared memories of events that shaped the course of world history. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, to read more about his experience and to watch a video of Grasso sharing his thoughts and memories of the D-Day invasion.⠀
Northside Royals baserunner Julius Medina slides safely into third as Southside Braves third baseman Capone Nicholas applies the tag. The two teams faced off during Wednesday's Little League Valley playoff game in Santa Maria. The Royals will play the Westside Red Sox Saturday at 2 p.m. at Oakley Park, Westside's home site. The winner of that game will play for the Elks Valley championship on Monday. Orcutt American and Orcutt National will play in another valley playoff game Saturday morning at 10 at Joe Nightengale. Read the story and see more photos from the game on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
Dressed in green robes symbolizing the school's color, members of Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School's 2019 promoting class hold placeholder certificates during Monday evening's promotion ceremony. See more photos and read the story about the ceremony from Mathew Burciaga on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
Fesler Junior High students cover up as a Santa Maria firefighter drops eggs in protective structures from the ladder of a Santa Maria Fire Department aerial truck during Wednesday's 'Egg Drop' experiment. Read more about the event, and see more photos from Len Wood on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
Pioneer Valley Boys and Girls soccer coaches Allan, left, and Bilena Brafman, right, celebrate with Christian Basulto, center, after he scored against rival Santa Maria. A sort of area soccer dominance continued Thursday night. For the fifth consecutive time, a Pioneer Valley side got the best of its Santa Maria counterparts, this time 4-2 at Pioneer Valley in the sixth annual Santa Maria-Pioneer Valley staff soccer game. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, to see more photos from the match and to read more about the game. ⠀
Scholarship winners pose for a picture after the 2019 awards ceremony for northern Santa Barbara County hosted by the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Santa Barbara Foundation. Read about the event that celebrated more than 600 students and their efforts to move on to undergraduate, graduate or vocational study, and see more photos from Len Wood, on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
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Twenty-seven U.S. veterans who served in almost all branches of the military, in war and peace, were honored by their neighbors at a ceremony Saturday to dedicate a Veterans Memorial Garden. Quail Meadows East honored the veterans living in the community of manufactured homes off South College Drive in Santa Maria with the dedication of a plaque in the garden and a barbecued chicken dinner. Read more about the Veterans Memorial Garden and see more photos on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
Racers in the Amgen Tour of California climb E. Clark Avenue on Thursday morning, on their way to the finish line in Ventura. Photo by Len Wood. We will have more photos and information on the race on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, later this afternoon. ⠀
Swimmers practice in the Paul Nelson pool in Santa Maria on Monday. The City Council allocated around $1.4 million of federal community development block grant funds to different projects and community organizations, including $715,980 for a reconstruction of the municipal pool. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com to read more about the CDBG fund allocations in Santa Maria, link in bio.⠀
Can Santa Barbara County become cannabis king? Economist says growing pot offers opportunities ⠀
North County Economic Summit panelists, seated from left, Peter Rupert, executive director of the UCSB Economic Forecast Project; Shad Springer, director of utilities for the city of Santa Maria; A.J. Cisney, general manager of Rancho Guadalupe and managing partner at Blair Crop Services; and Bob Braitman, founder of Braitman & Associates consulting firm; answer questions from moderator Steve McCarty, standing, on Tuesday in the Marian Theatre at Hancock College. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, to read more about yesterday's Economic Summit and to get a glimpse of Santa Barbara County's potential economic future. ⠀
What if you ran for president and nobody came?⠀
That was the dilemma Santa Maria resident Mark A. Pierce faced Tuesday evening at the Gospel Church on West Fesler Street, where he was prepared to explain his platform, his goals and his plans for achieving them in the Oval Office. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com to read the full story and to learn more about Mark Pierce, link in bio.⠀
#2020
Cliff swallows nest under the Highway 1 bridge over Highway 135, south of Orcutt, on Tuesday. See more photos and learn more about the nesting site on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio, later this afternoon.⠀
Donald Walters, 7, hopes to catch a prize-winning fish Saturday as he casts his line from the shore of Cachuma Lake during the Neal Taylor Nature Center Fishing Derby. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com to see more photos and to see more information from the event, link in bio.⠀
🍓🎢🎠🍓 The 32nd annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is set to open Friday, promising to bring festivalgoers a weekend full of music, cooking demonstrations, extreme motorsports and tons of the little red berries that have become the region’s largest cash crop. In this photo by Len Wood, Anna Cardenas sells strawberries at her Little Pete's Farm, on Highway 1 near Rancho Maria Golf Course. Little Pete's Farm is one of many local growers that will sell berries during the 2019 Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival. Read more about the Strawberry festival and see a schedule of events on SantaMariaTimes,com, link in bio.⠀
Residents participate in a walk/workshop Monday in Guadalupe to generate ideas for its downtown streets. The goal is to develop a plan to improve bike safety, and beautify the downtown in the hopes of encouraging economic development.⠀
During the workshop, Paul Zykofsky, of the Sacramento-based Local Government Commission, gave a presentation offering options that could assist in the development of multi-modal streets, including reduced lane widths to encourage slower driving, bulb-outs to improve pedestrian safety, roundabouts to ease traffic circulation and the utilization of unneeded lane space to make room for bike lanes. Read more on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
Ontiveros School students play under a parachute during the school's annual Kinder County Fair, on Thursday. Read the story, and see more photos from the event by Len Wood, later this afternoon.⠀
PCPA actor Jesse Baxter reads "The Sneetches and Other Stories" to fourth-graders at Joe Nightingale Elementary School in Orcutt during the PCPA Reads program on Thursday. Read more about the program on SantaMariaTimes.com, link in bio.⠀
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Know how to play a string or rhythm musical instrument but don't have one? Need a sewing machine or digital camera for the short term? The new "Library of Things" collection, which debuted Monday, lets anyone with a valid Santa Maria Public Library card check out items for free for up to three weeks. Items can be placed on hold at branch locations, but must be picked up at — and returned to — the main library, at 421 S. McClelland St. Above, Silvia Athie, catalog librarian, shows off a GoPro digital camera, sewing machine and electric guitar.⠀
Poppies bloom on Grass Mountain, near Figueroa Mountain near Los Olivos on Monday afternoon.
Do you have any photos of the Southern California super bloom? Share them with us on our page and we will add them to our collection.
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A deer plays through the third hole at the Mission Club during the Lompoc vs Cabrillo boys golf match. Photo by Len Wood.⠀
To help protect the nesting habitats of the Western snowy plover along its beaches, as well as other conversation efforts, Vandenberg Air Force Base is home to a patrol unit unlike any other within the U.S. Department of Defense. An equine team consisting of four registered quarter horses and six patrolmen helps protect the nearly 99,600 acres that make up VAFB, which is the third-largest Air Force base in the U.S. and is home to a wide variety of plants, wildlife and terrain. Read all about the program and see more photos from Len Wood on LompocRecord.com, link in bio.⠀⠀
Some students and teachers held their first session inside the newly completed $22 million Righetti High School 38-room classroom complex Monday. More teachers and students will be moving in during the next several weeks. C-2004 Bond funds paid for the project. Go to SantaMariaTimes.com to see more photos by Len Wood, link in bio.⠀
CA
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