Serving the Community of Orcutt, California • July 22, 2009 • www.OrcuttPioneer.com • Circulation 17,000 + State Finalist in Doodle 4 Google Bent Axles Car Show Brings Contest is Pine Grove 4th Grader Rolling History to Old Orcutt “At Google we believe in thinking big What she heard was a phone message and dreaming big, and we can’t think of regarding her achievement. Once the anything more important than encourag- relief at not being in trouble subsided, ing students to do the same.” the excitement set it. This simple statement is the philoso- “It was shocking!” she says, “And also phy behind the annual Doodle 4 Google important. It made me feel known.” contest in which the company invites When asked why she chose to enter the students from all over the country to re- contest, Madison says, “It’s a chance for invent their homepage logo. This year’s children to show their imagination. Last theme was entitled “What I Wish For The year I wasn’t able to enter and I never World”. thought of myself Pine Grove El- as a good draw- ementary School er, but I thought teacher Kelly Va- it would be fun. nAllen thought And I didn’t think this contest was I’d win!” the prefect com- Mrs. VanAllen is plement to what quick to point out s h e i s a l w a y s Madison’s won- trying to instill derful creative in her students side and is clear- – that the world ly proud of her is something not students’ global Bent Axles members display their rolling works of art. to watch, but to awareness. participate in. “We talk about For nearly three decades the Bent Ax- hotel parking lots around town. Though The response current events all les Street Rod Club has hosted an annual opening night was held at the Radis- to the contest at Fourth Grader Madison Santana with the time,” VanA- Cruise & BBQ event for car enthusiasts son Hotel (complete with cruise to JR’s Pine Grove was her Doodle 4 Google entry. llen says, “And from far and wide. This year the Car Drive-In downtown), the main event outstanding, with they got it. All of Show and festivities came right to Old ran right down Broadway in Old Orcutt. sixty total designs being narrowed the entries were so relevant.” Orcutt. Here the Los Padres Artist Guild set up down to a mere six to send off to Google. Madison chose “Go Green” as the The Bent Axles are made up of ap- a tent, Steve’s Kettle Corn was on hand, Among these were Olivia Reyes’ peace theme for her Google redesign and il- proximately 160 members, all of whom and local restaurants and shops opened themed logo, Rachel Tims’ adopt-a-pet lustrated fresh water being made from share an interest in classic cars, street their doors. Old Town Market hosted logo, Amber Asai’s endangered species salt water, a water powered car, solar rods, and various automobile activi- the first (and hopefully annual) antique logo, Max Rhur’s desalination logo, and panels, and wind vanes. ties. The non-profit organization makes show in its parking lot. Crowds enjoyed Romina Antonio’s agricultural logo. Although she didn’t win the whole community involvement a priority and oldies music, a poker walk, a raffle, and 28,000 entries came in from across the competition, Madison was a winner at promotes fellowship and sportsmanship sample some shortcake. Entrants re- US and Google managed to choose 400 school and at home where she got to among its members. They regularly par- ceived a map of Old Town so they didn’t finalists from the crop of budding artists. partake in a special family tradition. ticipate in the Cruise for Life Car Show, miss a thing. When the state finalists were announced, “If you score a goal or get an A on a the Special Olympics Car Show, and the “Every other car show goes on in Mrs. VanAllen got a very important test, you get to eat off of the blue plate Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Com- little villages like Arroyo Grande and phone call - sixth grader Madison San- at dinner,” she says, smiling, “I got to eat merce Business Trade Show and they Solvang,” says Bent Axles president tana had been chosen as one of the state off the blue plate.” donate to the Wounded Warrior Fund, Larry Eskew, “And we wanted to bring finalists from California! To see Madison’s Google logo, visit send packages to troops overseas, and ours to Old Orcutt. The local businesses “I thought I was in trouble!” Madison www.google.com/doodle4google/in- conduct food and toy drives throughout benefit from the extra traffic and it gives admits about being called to the class- dex.html and check out the 4th-6th grade the year. people who are coming in from out of room by her teacher, “She said ‘Madison state finalists from California. Until now the Bent Axles Cruise & town, especially the wives, something there’s something you have to listen to’.” Rebecca Ross Klosinski reporting BBQ had always been held in various continued on page 3 Need Extra Money? RAINBOWS DIAMONDS ANXIETY AND PANIC YOUR OLD CASH FOR PL IS JEWELR SIL COINS Worry • Fear • Phobias GOL AT PAY END VER GET HELP NOW INUM READING • STUDY SKILLS • S.A.T. PREP Permanent • Medication Free • Affordable ING D MATH • ALGEBRA • SPANISH Y WRITING • GEOMETRY • AND MORE Nell Stilwell 1130 E. Clark Ave #130, Orcutt 805 264 7753 Robert 928-9944 (805) 938-5160 www.missnell.com OP Orcutt Pioneer ~ July 22, 2009 2 Orcutt Pioneer Maureen Withers Remembered Spears Celebrates Your Community When Mau- “She was very busy,” said Anita, 25 Years an Agent Newspaper reen With- “We hardly ever saw her!” Mike Spears recently completed 25 years ers entered When Maureen and her family serving the Santa Maria Valley as a State Orcutt News for Orcutt Folks the world on moved to Los Angeles she worked Farm Insurance Agent. Published on or about the last June 6, 1937 for a senior center there. When they Since 1983, Mike and his team have pro- Wednesday of each month in London, came to Santa Maria in 1979 she set vides the ‘Good Neighbor Service’ offering Distribution 17,000+ : England she right to work in the field so dear to auto, homeowners, fife, health and com- 15,091 in mail m u s t h a v e her heart and would become the di- mercial lines of insurance, and State Farm has added the Financial Services of State 1,998 delivered to businesses in b e e n b o r n rector of both the Guadalupe Senior Farm Bank and State Farm Mutual Funds the Orcutt area with an enor- Center and the Luis Oasis Senior to its list of products. Publishers: mous heart. Center. Although she eventually did Mike came to Santa Maria 30 years ago Steve Southwick and Over the next “retire”, most people who knew her as a Captain in the USAF. He worked in Maureen Withers Stephanie Southwick Hull seven decades agree that this was a loose term as far Missile Maintenance for the Minuteman Program for 8 eight years before starting Reporters & Photographers: of her life she as Maureen was concerned. w o u l d n o t In her free time Maureen enjoyed his career with State Farm. He and his wife, Steve Southwick, only develop a reputation for being painting, sewing, knitting, and craft- Lanna, raised three daughters in Santa Ma- Stephanie Southwick Hull, ria. Lanna has supported Mike in the office a wonderful person to know, but she ing. She was a hat-wearing member James Jepsen, Rebecca Ross for all these years and has been a major part also helped more people than she of the Red Hat Society and a presence Contact Phone: of the agency’s success. The Spears’ daugh- probably ever realized. throughout Orcutt. ters attended Orcutt elementary schools and Business & Advertising: (805) 714-6584 “She always took on people who “Sometimes you just don’t realize Righetti High School. Mike and Lanna are E-Mail address: didn’t have anyone,” said her daugh- all of the things a person has done proud grandparents of four grandsons and [email protected] ter in law, Anita Withers, “She would until they’re gone,” says Anita, “Or four granddaughters. Graphic Art Department take care of them. And you could all of the lives they’ve touched.” Mike has served the community as a James Jepsen, Art Director always call her if you needed any- Friends will remember Maureen’s Scoutmaster, PTA Board Member and Sun- day School teacher. However, the event that thing.” cheerful voice, her generous spirit, [email protected] Mike is most proud of is being involved with Art Dept. Fax (805) 980-4889 Maureen adopted both of her chil- and her quick wit. She passed away the Annual Community Celebration of the Webmaster: Archie Miller dren, raised one of her grandchildren, peacefully on June 15, 2009 with her Nativity presented by the Church of Jesus [email protected] was a Big Sister in the Big Brother, family at her side. Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been a www.OrcuttPioneer.com Big Sister program, and volunteered Rebecca Ross Klosinski reporting part of this event for nearly two decades. T:5.049"for countless organizations. To contact Mike, please visit [email protected]. ������������������������ ������������������������ Join us for our grand opening celebration, where we’ll be making a donation to a local organization.