Representatives from Lucia Mar Unified School District’s administration and teachers union are scheduled to meet June 22 with a neutral third party mediator to discuss the System for Teacher and Student Advancement Program (TAP). Earlier this month, members of the Lucia Mar Unified Teachers Association approved some minor changes to their general contract, but failed […]
AMY ASMAN
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Local nonprofit presents plans for a new low-income senior community
Seniors living in Santa Barbara County will soon have a new, affordable option for retirement living. Local nonprofit The Rona Barrett Foundation has partnered with the Santa Barbara County Housing Authority and several other organizations to create The Golden Inn & Village, a low-income living facility for seniors. “This is about every one of us—baby […]
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Mini Rodeo packs the same fun punch for local students
The sound of thunderous applause and stomping feet reverberated from the Santa Maria Elks Unocal Event Center on May 31, as nearly 6,000 Central Coast children came together to watch the annual Santa Maria Elks/Minetti Mini Rodeo. Students from school districts from the Five Cities area to Gaviota filled the stands at the rodeo grounds […]
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Have goats, will travel
A Buellton couple is helping property owners fight fire with a horned herd
Standing beneath a woody canopy of oak and olive trees in northern Montecito, Ian Newsam surveys the progress of his brush-clearing crewmembers as they systematically demolish shrubs, tall grasses, and leaves. His crew works quickly and quietly, but they’ve still attracted the attention of some residents at the nearby retirement community and surrounding homes. “Look […]
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Measure U passes
Santa Maria voters overwhelmingly approved Measure U, the city’s quarter-cent sales tax to fund public safety in the June 5 primary. The measure needed 50 percent plus one to pass. The tax will go into effect Oct. 1, but the city won’t start receiving revenue until Jan. 1, 2013. The money will go toward construction […]
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Gray and Adam move to runoff for 4th District supervisor
The race between Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray and challenger Peter Adam was too close to call on June 5, so the candidates will head to a runoff in November. According to the Santa Barbara County registrar of voters, Gray and Adam came within less than two percentage points of each other, […]
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An incumbent’s perspective
State Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian tells the Sun why he’s running for re-election
It seems like just the other day San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian was running for California State Assembly. Now he’s running again—this time for re-election. The Republican Assemblyman said he’s proud of the work he’s done in state government over the last two years, and he’d like to continue representing the recently redistricted […]
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Part-time faculty association files a labor complaint against Allan Hancock College
The state agency responsible for overseeing collective bargaining rights for public school employees is investigating a complaint of unfair labor practices against Allan Hancock College. The college’s part-time faculty association filed the complaint last September, alleging Hancock arbitrarily reduced the hours of several part-time counselors. The state’s Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) issued an official […]
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Firefighters rescue a swimmer at Red Rock
Members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department made a dramatic Memorial Day rescue on May 28 at the Red Rock recreational area along the Santa Ynez River. Two engines, a battalion chief, and a helicopter to responded a medical emergency at the popular hangout, as did members of the U.S. Forest Service and American […]
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Jury finds Leeds legally sane
On May 23, a Santa Barbara County Superior Court jury determined Lee Leeds was legally sane when he shot and killed four people at a Santa Maria salvage yard in 2008. Leeds, now 35, opened fire at Black Road Auto in Santa Maria on March 18, 2008, killing his father Richard Leeds, who owned the […]
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Journey to otter space
People from Sausalito to Santa Barbara and beyond are doing their best to protect the California sea otter
A California sea otter rescued off the shores of Santa Barbara County will soon be one of the main attractions at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. In early June, 5-year-old Abby will leave her home at Sea World in San Diego to become a trial surrogate mother to otter pups rescued by aquarium staffers and […]
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Interview with the challenger
Democrat Gerry Manata is running against Katcho Achadjian for the state Assembly
On his website, manataforassembly.org, Paso Robles resident Gerry Manata has a special page dedicated to the question, “Why am I running?” “Why me? I ask myself this every few days when I wake up in the morning. I am almost sixty-six years old and have never held a public office, although I have been a […]
