The Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office recently filed charges against Buellton resident Juan Carlos Diaz for allegedly recording women using the restroom at an assisted living residence in the Santa Ynez Valley. Diaz faces 15 misdemeanor counts, including one count of inflicting unjustifiable mental suffering on an elder; one count of electronic peeping for […]
AMY ASMAN
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Jewish teens who strive ‘to repair the world’ can apply for a $36,000 scholarship
Do you know a Jewish teenager with fantastic leadership skills? The Helen Diller Family Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards, which recognize up to 10 Jewish teens for their visionary leadership and volunteerism, awards organizers announced in a national press release. Winners of the award receive $36,000 each. […]
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Jump on in!
The Nipomo FFA recently kicked off the new school year with its first chapter meeting of the 2013-14 school year, followed by a pool part in the Nipomo High School pool. Prior to swimming, FFA members wrote letters to several chapter alumni who are currently serving in the U.S. Army. “It was a great way […]
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Two local high school seniors win annual Fabric of Society essay writing contest
Pioneer Valley High School seniors Andrew Cronin and Nathan Lainez recently won $2,000 scholarships from De La Rosa & Co. by penning two of the winning entries in the investment bank’s Fabric of Society essay contest. Students wrote about quotations on the meaning of citizenship from four famous thinkers, including Greek philosopher Socrates, President Dwight […]
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Community Corner: Join local mayors in Oz for a good cause
Guests of 7th annual Mayors’ Ball will follow the yellow brick road Oct. 12 to the Land of Oz as part of “An Emerald Evening.” On this enchanting evening, United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County will join the mayors of Santa Maria, Lompoc, Buellton, Solvang, and Guadalupe in support of the nonprofit’s Power Reading […]
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Santa Maria school districts grapple with an apparent substitute teacher shortage
On a recent Friday morning in the Sun office, Staff Writer Kristina Sewell’s phone was blowing up—not with calls from sports sources but with calls from two local school districts looking for substitute teachers. “That was my mom’s school [on the phone],” Sewell told me. “They’re desperate.” In addition to being a sports writer, Sewell […]
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The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum is back in business
After a year plagued by leadership changes and uncertainty, the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum has an interim executive director and a new board president. Executive Director Chris Slaughter and President Diane Adam are both trustees of the Santa Barbara Foundation and longtime museum supporters, having served as Capital Campaign co-chairs for the 13,000-square-foot interactive […]
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Stand Down Santa Barbara County is back for a second year of serving veterans in need
A stand-down, in military terms, is a brief stop in offensive action to give soldiers time to rest and regroup during a mission. Stand Down Santa Barbara County takes that concept and applies it to life after the military. The community collaboration’s mission is to provide veterans who are homeless or struggling a safe place […]
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Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department hires a record 17 custody deputies
On Sept. 30, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department officials swore in and handed badges to 17 new custody deputies. It was the largest custody deputy hiring ceremony in the agency’s history. The new hires are Christopher Norling, Brandon Hansen, Jim Myers, Jeremy Barnett, Erich Winter, Gino Cecchetto, Justin Haney, Paul Otero, Christopher Markham, Andrew Long, […]
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First-ever SpaceX rocket takes flight from Vandenberg Air Force Base
A Falcon-9 rocket took to the sky Sept. 29 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc. It was the first launch of a rocket belonging to Space Exploration Technologies, better known as SpaceX. The 30th Space Wing’s 1st Air and Space Test Squadron oversaw the mission, evaluating SpaceX’s flight and ground systems and processes and […]
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Spotlight on: Clinical Training Institute
Kevin Tharrington, Northern and Central Coast regional director
Kevin Tharrington loves helping little kids. The longtime medical professional prides himself on his bedside manner, which the North Carolinian calls “just simple Southern hospitality.” He recalled a special instance when he and a little boy bonded over his Southern accent. A woman came into Clinical Training Institute, of which Tharrington is the regional director, […]
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A Santa Maria couple talks about living with Alzheimer’s disease
Joe Cohan enjoys many of the same activities most retired men his age do: He plays tennis and bridge. He works in the yard and volunteers for Dignity Health Hospice at Marian Regional Medical Center. This fall, he wants to start walking dogs around his neighborhood. Joe also has Alzheimer’s. “The condition came on about […]
