The 9^th Annual Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 18 at 5:30pm.  The Gala is at a new location, The Old Dominion Barn at U-Pick Blueberries on Dominion Road outside of Santa Maria. A buffet dinner of tri-tip, chicken and ribs will be catered by Cool Hand Luke's.
 
The Fundraising Gala will feature both a Live Auction and a Silent Auction.  The G.A. Hancock History Preservation Award and the Santa Maria Valley Railroad Public Safety Awards will be presented.  Also, the winner of the Betty Himoto Memorial Scholarship will be announced.
 
Funds will be raised for the Historic Santa Maria Railroad Corridor and the ongoing preservation projects.  Plans call for the installation of monuments along the current Santa Maria Valley Railroad’s north south railroad track educating the public about the history of the line and its importance to the growth of the city of Santa Maria and the Santa Maria Valley. 
 
Tickets are $125.00 each. A reserved table of 8 for $1000.00 or a VIP table of 8 for $1,800.00.  The Friends are also seeking sponsorships for the event.
 
To purchase tickets go to www.friends-smvrr.org/gala.html or mail check to Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, P.O. Box 1031, Santa Maria, CA 93456.
 
The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad’s mission is to preserve, improve, and interpret the historical aspects of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and its economic and cultural impact on the Santa Maria Valley and Central Coast of California.