For the second year in a row, an Allan Hancock College instructor has received the prestigious California Community College Association for Occupational Education Excellence in Teaching Award. This year, the honor went to Julie Kuras, the college’s nursing assistant programs coordinator and health sciences department chair. A nurse and educator for almost 30 years, Kuras […]
AMY ASMAN
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The man who whispers to teens
A world-renowned therapist and a Santa Maria schoolteacher team up to help troubled teens in a new reality TV show
Imagine a family in crisis: The teenage son has become increasingly defiant since his parents’ divorce. Once a straight-A student, he’s started sneaking out at night to party with friends. When his mother confronts him about it, the son becomes irate and threatens her physically. At the end of her rope, the mother pleads with […]
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Breakfast club helps VTC
Vocational Training Center (VTC) Enterprises of Santa Maria is planning to build a new facility on its property off of A Street. The effort recently got a big financial boost from the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club. Rotary members presented a check for $25,000 to VTC representatives at a special event on Feb. 26. The […]
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A minus for the Plus program?
A transitional housing program for former foster care youth is threatened by the governor’s budget proposal
Before entering foster care at age 17, Tamera Richardson spent a large portion of her life—about 10 years—taking care of her mother and two younger siblings. Richardson struggled to ensure her siblings were clothed and fed; she cleaned the house, cooked, and made sure everyone got to school on time. The children eventually found their […]
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Santa Maria Police Department investigates a bank fraud case
Locals be warned: The Santa Maria Police Department has received word of another bank scam. According to police reports, an elderly resident of the Santa Maria Valley recently got a phone call from a man claiming to be employed by the Bank of America security/fraud department. The caller is said to have sounded like an […]
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Armijo sentenced to 90 days in jail
An ongoing legal battle between Santa Barbara County and a former employee has finally come to an end—for now, at least. On March 1, former 5th District supervisorial aide Gilbert Armijo was sentenced to 90 days in county jail as part of a felony perjury case. The 58-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving under […]
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Community members will serve as principals for a day
Ever wonder as a child what it would be like to be principal for a day? On March 10, 40 local business and community leaders will make that daydream a reality at public and private school campuses throughout the Santa Maria Valley. The Principal For a Day event allows community members to spend the morning […]
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Rehabilitation stations
Santa Barbara County is setting the groundwork for two potential state parolee reporting centers
As in many counties in California, jail overcrowding has been a substantial public safety concern for several decades in Santa Barbara County. Since 1986, the county has been under court order to limit jail populations and the impacts of overcrowding. A major solution to this problem—a North County jail facility—is currently in the works. And […]
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The results are welcomed but not surprising, according to Santa Barbara County officials.
Scott McCann, the county’s director of health education, said he came to a similar conclusion while compiling a community health status report for the Public Health Department. That study focused more on premature death, risk factors, and prevention, but also considered disease prevalence, physical activity levels, poverty levels, and other important factors. McCann said Santa […]
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French Hospital tops the local list for patient satisfaction
From San Luis Obispo to Santa Maria, there’s one major hospital patients seem to like most, according to data from the California HealthCare Foundation. As of Feb. 25, the data—which can be found online at calhospitalcompare.org—indicates French Hospital in San Luis Obispo ranks the highest in “overall patient experience,” with an approval rating of 74 […]
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Earth First! activists descend on Santa Barbara to oppose Tranquillon Ridge Project
Another environmental group has added its name to the ever-growing list of organizations voicing disapproval of an oil-drilling agreement between Plains Exploration Production Co. (PXP) and a trio of Santa Barbara-based environmental groups. Activists belonging to the international organization Earth First! gathered in protest Feb. 15 at the PXP petroleum processing plant and the headquarters […]
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Community leaders and young people brainstorm ways to prevent youth violence in the Santa Maria Valley
It really does take a village to raise a happy, healthy child. That’s the message coming from leaders in local business, government, and law enforcement who attended a private conference Feb. 9 through 11 to discuss youth violence in the Santa Maria Valley area. “We want to share the message that you can’t solve this […]
