Cover Story
Busy is an understatement
January 2012 was a foreboding month: KCOY/KKFX cut its staff of reporters, producers, and videographers to the bone; two local homeless shelters abruptly closed their doors; and a Santa Maria police officer shot and killed one of his brothers in blue. It’s no wonder, then, that the year that followed included some of the biggest…
Kicking it to the curb
While I was growing up, my mom insisted each Christmas on having a fake tree. She gave the same reason she did for not letting us have a puppy: She was afraid it would give us allergies. In reality, I think she didn’t see the point in spending the money to buy a tree only…
Grapes galore
Another vintage has been “put to bed” in barrels and tanks in Central Coast wineries. The winter months give winemakers, vineyard managers, and workers time to catch up on rest after the grueling harvest months during the fall. Expectations for the ’12 wines are high as the weather cooperated better this year than in years…
Hobnobbing with Helen
Let’s hear it for Cindy Ransick, new executive director of the Santa Maria Historical Society. Since she took the job, she’s been working with Jim Zemaitis, president of the Historical Society, and volunteers to organize the storage room, which is packed and overflowing with local memorabilia. She’s also rearranged some exhibits and thought up some…
How are you ringing in 2013?
The start of anything new is often a great time to celebrate and to take some time to acknowledge that change is about to happen. Since starting a whole new year is one of the biggest “new” things we do, it’s no wonder there are so many ways to celebrate and mark this annual change.…
Bears that care
Nothing lifts children’s spirits quite like stuffed animals. And for children who have to be in the hospital around the holidays, the cheer brought by these toys is especially welcome. Scentsy, the wickless, smokeless candle company, knows this, too. The company donated stuffed animals to every pediatric patient in Marian Regional Medical Center on Dec.…
Spotlight on: Evolving Photography
If you’ve ever been impressed with the level of virtual exploration now possible on the Internet with tools like Google Maps, Google Earth, and Google Street View, prepare to be even more amazed. Evolving Photography is a new business that’s sprouted in a new industry taking advantage of Google’s new venture, creatively called Google Business…
Santa Barbara County will receive millions from a settlement with Walgreens
A $16.57 million settlement to Santa Barbara and other California counties was reached on Dec. 13 in an investigation of Walgreens, the nation’s largest drug store chain, for environmental violations, according to a report from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office. The 2011 crackdown from inspectors led by the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office,…
Sonic boom rattles Central Coast residents on the eve of the rumored ‘End of Days’
That wasn’t an earthquake that shook your windows on Dec. 20—it was sonic booms from military aircraft flying over the Central Coast. According to a press release, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department received several reports of what appeared to be seismic activity in the county the morning of Dec. 20. “[The department] confirmed…
State issues first fracking rules
Long-awaited draft regulations on fracking were recently issued by state oil regulators, following a series of public workshops, including one in Santa Maria last summer. California’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) said the draft rules are “a starting point for discussion” by the industry, the environmental community, other regulators, and the public.…
Santa Maria City Council meeting: four swearings in–and no appointment made
Santa Maria celebrated a big milestone at its City Council meeting on Dec. 18: the swearing-in of its first woman mayor, Alice Patino. According to a letter to the council from Sister Janet Corcoran that was read aloud during the meeting, the first woman elected to the council was Sadie West in 1930. The second…
Do you think the world will end on Dec. 21?
Marianne Bartels campground manager “No. I think we interpreted the [Mayan] calendar incorrectly.” Adriana Ortiz bike mechanic “No. I like to live my life in a forward-thinking state of mind.” Jeni Englander marketeer “I don’t. I believe we have a longer cycle to go.” Tim Thompson retired “No. I think the Mayan calendar ended because…
