Children’s books make great gifts, and during the month of December the Allan Hancock College Bookstore is making gift giving even more appealing by matching every children’s book sold with the donation of a book to Hancock’s Children’s Center Lab School. The books were purchased by the bookstore, but handpicked by the Children’s Center staff. […]
AMY ASMAN
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Local schools donate food to charity
Schools throughout Northern Santa Barbara County are getting into the holiday spirit this year by collecting donations for local nonprofits. In Santa Maria, the students at Rice Elementary School recently collected two shopping carts’ worth of food to donate to the Santa Barbara County Foodbank and the People of Greatness Community Center. Located at 1503 […]
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Celebrate Christmas with the Rescue Mission
Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for people and families who are out of a job, out of money, struggling with addictions, or living on the streets. To help make the season brighter, the Central Coast Rescue Mission in Santa Maria is holding its annual Christmas Celebration for the needy on Dec. […]
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Univision isn’t closing
After hearing widespread reports that Univision—Santa Maria’s only Spanish-speaking TV news affiliate—would be going off air within the week, station management released this statement: “KPMR-DT Channel 21 is not closing. As the Spanish-language leader in the Santa Barbara market, we remain dedicated to serving our loyal audience. We currently expect the last broadcast of KPMR’s […]
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Lompoc City Council sifts through the mess that is LHCDC
The city of Lompoc is deeply entrenched in a financial quagmire now that affordable-housing nonprofit Lompoc Housing and Community Development Corporation (LHCDC) has gone under. Last month, the City Council asked staff members to provide a report on the potential liability for repayment of outstanding federal loans made to the now-defunct nonprofit. The city started […]
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Peter Adam is running for county supervisor
Longtime Santa Maria farmer Peter Adam has announced he’s running for 4th District Santa Barbara County Supervisor in the June 2012 election. Adam is vice president of Adam Brothers Farming, a company known for its vegetables and for its well-publicized legal squabble with the county in the early 2000s. In the suit, Adam Brothers claimed […]
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Neighbors helping neighbors
One of the best parts about the holidays is being able to share a delicious meal with loved ones. Unfortunately for some Santa Barbara County residents, purchasing and preparing meals can be a big challenge. According to 2010 U.S. Census data, 18 percent of the county’s residents—nearly 74,000 people—now live below the poverty line. Children […]
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Nicholas Bendle is sentenced to life in a state mental hospital
The Santa Maria resident convicted of murdering an elderly man with a hatchet two years ago has been sentenced to life in a state mental health institution. On Nov. 28, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Edward Bullard sentenced Nicholas Bendle, 22, to Patton State Hospital, where he could remain for the rest of his […]
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City officials mull a quarter-cent tax to pay for public safety improvements
Over the next few weeks, Santa Maria city staff members—including Police Chief Dan Macagni and Fire Chief Jeff Jones—are expected to hold a series of community presentations to discuss potential funding options for the city’s public safety departments. Officials want to hear more from residents before recommending the City Council vote to place a quarter-cent […]
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Want some cheese with that innovation?
The Lucia Mar Foundation for Innovation is holding its first special fundraiser, a wine and cheese pairing, on Dec. 4 from 3 to 5 p.m. at La Perla del Mar Church in Shell Beach to benefit district schools. At the event, the foundation will recognize inaugural members of its Founders Club—contributors of $2,500 or more. […]
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Let it shine
It may be hard for the living to accept, but death is a part of life. To help family members deal with their grief and to honor loved ones who have died, Marian Hospice is holding two special community memorials. Light Up a Life ceremonies will be held Dec. 1 at First Methodist Church, 311 […]
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It’s time to talk about water
Santa Barbara County officials will hold the first in a series of meetings on Dec. 6 in Buellton to discuss the county’s Integrated Regional Water Management Plan and the disbursal of $3.6 million worth of grants from the California Department of Water Resources. This new funding will augment the $25 million already awarded to the […]
