‘Night at the Races’ unites teens, Lions Club

Members of the Special Needs Network Teen Club and Righetti High School band helped the Santa Maria Valley Lions Club put on members’ annual “Night at the Races” St. Patrick’s Day celebration March 15 at the Eagles clubhouse.

“They’ve both been a lot of help and we really appreciate it,” said Sharon Allen, who chaired the event. “We have a lot of prizes and everyone’s having a very good time putting their tickets in the prize boxes.”

Volunteers became “jockeys,” riding stick horses for the races. A spinning wheel determined which horse and rider would move ahead in the event that raises funds for community services, including sight screening and the Lions Sight Foundation.

Mary Louise Hoffman was appreciative of the funds the Lions will give to the Special Needs Network.

“It’s the first time a service group offered to help us with some fundraising,” Mary Louise said. The Lions will also serve tri-tip sandwiches at the Orcutt Lions Den rom 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 26 as a fundraiser for the Special Needs Network. For more information on that event, contact Becky at 878-6939.

Lion Ruth Christen got the jockeys and ran the races, while Madeline McEwan cooked the corned beef and cabbage, assisted by Ruthy Bisby and Theresa Aston. Lions District Governor Bill Dunlevy and wife Margaret attended the event.

For more information about helping or becoming a member of the Lions, contact Sharon at 934-1671.

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The Santa Maria Women’s Network honored four women for their contributions to the community during a dinner March 5 at the Santa Maria Inn. Pat Cuthbertson was given the “Women Helping Women” award. Connie McGuire received the “Women Taking Creative Risks” award. Zenovia Washington received the “Women of Spirit” award and Jean Steel was given the “Lifetime Achievement” award.

The Women’s Network has held this annual event since the 1980s to honor and celebrate the lives and achievements of women in the Santa Maria Valley.

“It was an honor to meet and learn about the lives of this year's wonderful nominees,” said event chairwoman Virginia Hall. “Each of these women has made a very real contribution locally, and some even nationally; each is truly a Woman of Excellence. They are inspiring role models and we're very pleased so many came to support and recognize them.”

Virginia was assisted in putting on the event by Trish O’Dell, Robin Gorley, Vanessa Stricklin, Leona Doige, Janet Davila, Joe Davila and myself.

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Traditional folk music of Veracruz, Mexico, and most of Latin America will be featured at a free concert 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the Royal Theatre in Guadalupe. Named the “Best Folk Group in Mexico” by the Union of music and Theater Critics, Tlen-Huicani makes the “harpa jarocha” (folk harp) the centerpiece of its music. Under the direction of maestro Alberto de la Rosa, considered one of the most outstanding folk harpists in the world, the group has mastered many types of Latin music.

The performance, one of six in the “ÁViva el Arte de Santa Barbara!” series, is sponsored by UCSB Arts & Lectures, along with its partners the Marjorie Luke Theater, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center and the Isla Vista Youth projects.

For information on performances in Guadalupe, contact the Guadalupe Cultural Arts & Education Center at 343-2939.

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Local artist Susan Buchanan joins friends and celebrities in showing her artwork at Cafe Quackenbush and Art Brut Gallery in Los Alamos. Susan is showing several pieces along with artist friends Syd

McCutcheon, Carol Kemp, Joel Helgesen and Suzanne Satler. Comedian Jonathan Winters has been a featured artist at the gallery.

Located at 458 Bell St., the gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Jeanne Sparks is a writer, photographer and graphic artist. For information, call 739-1836; e-mail Jeanne@JeanneSparks .com; visit www.JeanneSparks .com; or write to her at PO Box 6437, Santa Maria, CA 93456-6437.