Santa Maria Sun / Community

Citizen's Alert

Political Watch - 5.23.13

• Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) honored five people and one organization for outstanding contributions to the community during the North County “Looking Forward” Awards Dinner on May 19 at the Santa Maria Inn. Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Rogelio Flores, Boys and Girls Club Executive Director Bill Libbon, Mary Ellen Brooks, Jan Martinez, Dan Mally, and the Lompoc Co-op Development Project received special recognition for their philanthropic endeavors. Flores received the Social Justice Award for his work with the Substance Abuse Treatment Court, the high-risk DUI calendar, the Veterans Treatment Court, Mental Health Court, and the domestic violence review calendar. According to information from SBCAN, Flores spent 12 years presiding over the drug court, a program he helped create. “He offered hope to offenders with drug, alcohol, and mental health problems by giving them a chance to get clean through an 18-month program as an alternative to serving jail time. More than 1,000 people have graduated from the drug court,” SBCAN officials said in a press release. Libbon received the Working Families Award. For 39 years, he’s helped improve the lives of more than 40,000 children through the Boys and Girls Club in Santa Maria and Guadalupe. Brooks received the Giving Back to the Community Award for serving on numerous boards and committees, including the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission, and organizing an annual American Association of University Women one-day conference for middle school girls. Martinez and Mally both received the Environmental Protection and Sustainability Award for single-handedly turning four weed-filled empty lots into pocket parks in downtown Lompoc. They’re currently working on a fifth. The Lompoc Co-op Development Project received the “Looking Forward” Award for giving the Lompoc community a vision and hope for the future. Members of a local church brought together community leaders and professionals of different faiths who share the same values and desires for economic renewal to help their economically depressed community. Their first goal has just been realized—launching the Green Broom Brigade, a worker-owned green cleaning firm. A second co-op business enterprise will be studied later this year.

Community Notebook 5.23.13

MONDAY, MAY 27

• Happy Memorial Day!

TUESDAY, MAY 28

• The Guadalupe City Council has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 918 Obispo St., Guadalupe.

• The Lompoc Unified School District has its board meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the Education Center Board Room, 1301 N. A St., Lompoc.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29

• The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Planning Commission Hearing Room, 123 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. The agenda is available at co.santa-barbara.ca.us.

• The City of Santa Maria Families for the First Decade Project, a group of individuals and agencies who organize programs for the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, has its regular meeting from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Minami Center, 600 W. Enos St., Santa Maria.