A while back I announced to my husband, Peter, that I was going to plan a romantic weekend getaway. I wanted to spend a couple of days exploring Catalina Island, or head up to San Francisco to see a ballet. I had lots of pretty ideas floating around in my head … until I took […]
AMY ASMAN
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Spotlight on: Maria’s Cre-Asian Diner
Maria Mandziara, owner
Are you ready to embark on an epicurean adventure that will take you from North America, across the ocean to East Asia, and back again? Maria’s Cre-Asian Diner in Santa Maria is your ticket to sampling a cornucopia of culinary delights. Located on South Broadway between Betteravia Road and McCoy Lane, Maria’s Cre-Asian Diner offers […]
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Santa Barbara County’s unemployment rate creeps up
Santa Barbara County’s unemployment rate increased to 8.4 percent in January, according to data recently released by the State Employment Development Department (EDD). The number of people who are without jobs is more than it was in December 2012 (7.7 percent) and in November 2012 (7.3 percent), but well below the rate from January of […]
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Grover Heights teachers opt out of TAP
TAP, the Teacher and Student Advancement System, is no more at Grover Heights Elementary School. The school’s staff voted on March 21 to opt out of the incentive-based teaching program, which district officials have lauded as a way to enhance student performance. Grover Heights principal Susan Kesselring expressed her disappointment over losing TAP in a […]
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Keeping mom and baby safe
The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recently recognized a Central Coast doctor as one of the top caregivers in the nation. Dr. Laurence Shields—medical director of Marian Regional Medical Center’s perinatal center—won the Norman F. Gant Award for best research in maternal medicine. The award is given for the research paper most likely to reduce maternal […]
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Common Ground data reveals county’s most vulnerable
The bottom line is there are too many people who are homeless in our communities. That was the overall message from officials at a press conference held March 25 at Santa Maria City Hall to announce the results of the Common Ground vulnerability index survey conducted earlier this year. On Jan. 22 and 23, more […]
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Dudley and Achadjian will fight the release of predators
Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley and state Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian (R-San Luis Obispo) are teaming up again—this time in an attempt to change state law that allows sexually violent predators to be released into communities as transients. On March 26, the District Attorney’s Office announced in a press release that the California Supreme […]
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Trilogy Monarch Dunes takes over Rice Ranch
Construction has started again at the Rice Ranch community in Orcutt. Shea Homes, builder of Trilogy Monarch Dunes in Nipomo, announced earlier this month that it has acquired the Orcutt development and is in the process of building new homes with help from Western Pacific Land Group. Trilogy officials plan to unveil five new floor […]
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Rape-by-fraud bill is one step closer to being law
State Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian’s (R-San Luis Obispo) “rape-by-fraud” bill cleared an important hurdle on March 12 when the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to let it continue its journey to becoming law. A.B. 65 would extend legal protection to unmarried women and men who are raped by someone impersonating their significant other. State law […]
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Community meeting will focus on northeast neighborhoods
Following the success of its first town hall meeting last October, the city of Santa Maria is holding another meeting on March 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Christian Family Church of God. This meeting will focus on the city’s northeast neighborhoods. City spokesman Mark van de Kamp called the meeting a hybrid of presentations […]
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It takes a village
Santa Maria Valley’s Safe Schools, Healthy Students grant is set to expire this year, but educators are committed to continuing services as best they can
Like any parent and teenager, high school junior Caleb Coyle and his mom, Lisa, have had their share of fights. But sometimes the arguing can escalate into unhealthy territory. Caleb described one of those fights to the Sun on a recent school night as he was waiting for Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley employees to […]
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Empty bowls fills stomachs
Fight hunger in your community while enjoying some delicious soup at the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County’s ninth annual Empty Bowls fundraiser on March 27 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building, 100 E. Locust Ave., in Lompoc. For a donation of $25, attendees will get to select a uniquely handcrafted ceramic bowl, enjoy a simple meal […]
