Lompoc celebrating 135th anniversary of founding

By MARILYN MCMAHON NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The city of Lompoc is kicking off its 135th birthday celebration this year with the unveiling of a special birthday logo inspired by designs from local high school students.

Themed “Honoring Our Legacy, Launching into our Future,” Lompoc is celebrating its long history since its founding in 1888. The centerpiece of the year-long recognition will be the city’s 135th birthday logo, created by using elements of two winning design pieces selected from the 14 logo designs submitted by local high school students.

Makaylah June and Alyssa Lazos tied for first place in the design contest, and Diane Custodio came in second and Guillermo Olguin, third.

Elizabeth Alvarez, visual arts teacher at Lompoc High School, encouraged a number of the student artists to participate in the logo contest.

The student submissions, which inspired the logo, will be posted soon at www. cityoflompoc.com/community/ city-of-lompoc-135th-birthdaylogo-design-contest.

Details will be forthcoming about the city’s 135th birthday celebration. In addition, the Lompoc Electric Division is holding its centennial celebration this year.

The city of Lompoc was founded as a town in 1874 and incorporated as a city on Aug. 13, 1888. Before the city’s establishment, the building of

La Purisima Mission in 1787 marked the earliest European settlement in the Lompoc Valley.

Growth in the Lompoc Valley was sparked by the 1901 completion of the coastal railroad between San Francisco and Los Angeles, which included the extension of a spur into Lompoc.

The Lompoc Valley is home to Vandenberg Space Force Base, the first missile base of the U.S. Air Force. Today, Lompoc is a travel destination known for its downtown mural program, local wines and acclaimed cuisine, historic landmarks, parks and nearby beaches. For more information, visit www.cityoflompoc.com. email: mmcmahon@newspress. com

10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “The Search for the Modern West,” an exhibit, continues through Feb. 20 at Sullivan Goss: An American Gallery, 11 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The gallery is open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. For more information, see sullivangoss.com or call the gallery at 805-730-1460.

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit “Parliament of Owls” runs through Feb. 5 at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, 2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. For more information, go to www.sbnature.org.

FEB. 8

8 p.m. The Santa Barbara International Film Festival opens with “Miranda’s Victim” at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St. See sbiff.org.

8 p.m. Transform Through Arts will present 10 dance companies in “Colors of Love” at the Center Stage Theater, upstairs at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara. General admission costs $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Tickets are $25 for students. To purchase, go to www. centerstagetheater.org.

FEB. 10

8 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, The play is about an Afghan man hiding from the Taliban in his sister’s home in Kabul. Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805965-5400.

FEB. 11

8 p.m. Ensemble Theatre Company will perform “Selling Kabul” at the New Vic Theatre, 33 W. Victoria St., Santa Barbara, The play is about an Afghan man hiding from the Taliban in his sister’s home in Kabul. Tickets cost $40 to $84. To purchase, go to etcsb.org or call 805965-5400.

FEB. 12

Noon. Participants in Ted Nash’s workshop will go on stage at the Mary Craig Auditorium, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 1130 State St. The free program is called “Transformation: Personal Stories of Change, Acceptance and Evolution” and will feature student composers, performers and writers from Mr. Nash’s workshop.

FEB. 14

6 to 7:30 p.m. Nicole Lvoff and Joe Woodard will perform on Valentine’s Day at the Crush Bar & Tap, 1129 A State St., Santa Barbara. Their music varies from Beatles songs to jazz standards. For more information, go to crushbarsb.com.

FEB. 16

7 p.m. “The River Bride,” the story of folklore, love, regret and two sisters who struggle to be true to each other and their hearts will be presented by PCPA (Pacific Conservatory Theatre) from Feb. 16 through March 5 in Santa Maria.