Travelers sit in the summer sun leisurely sipping wine and enjoying the view of rolling hills behind them. A scene straight out of Under the Tuscan Sun? Perhaps, but it will also soon be a reality for the people of Lompoc, who will be able to enjoy a Tuscan-style escape in their own backyard. On […]
AMY ASMAN
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Study at the speed of life
Students attending Allan Hancock College will have a super-speedy option this fall in the form of Fast Track short-term courses. Students can choose from a variety of classes, including some that only last a few days or even one day. All are options designed to fit into busy schedules filled with the demands of work […]
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It’s never too late to celebrate
The graduating Santa Maria Saints of 1968 will be celebrating a belated 40th high school reunion—“The 41st Reunion”—July 31 through Aug. 2. The walk down memory lane will begin on July 31 at the Santa Maria Inn, where former classmates will meet at 5 p.m. for “appetizers, drinks, and merriment,” according a link on the […]
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Looking for a few good leaders
In June, the Teen Leadership Program graduated its first class of 33 local teens committed to affecting positive change in their community. Now, the program is looking for members of the class of 2010. Organized by United Way of Northern Santa Barbara County and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Teen Leadership Program […]
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Avoid the 12 cracks down on drunk drivers in Lompoc
It wasn’t quite the Michael Jackson fanfest they expected, but law enforcement officials still saw an eventful Fourth of July weekend, according to a press release from the Avoid the 12 Campaign. After canceling patrols in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez for what officials thought would be a memorial service at the late King of […]
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Got underwear?
Want to help your local community but don’t have much to give? Until July 31, store merchants in the Food Maxx shopping center in Santa Maria are collecting donations of new underwear and socks for United Way’s Neighbor to Neighbor program. The much-needed undergarments will be distributed to low-income people living in Santa Maria and […]
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Everything you wanted to know about Santa Maria and more
The city of Santa Maria is inviting locals to learn more about the All-America City at four community meetings scheduled to take place over the next few months. The meetings are designed to provide information and guidance to residents regarding general, city-related questions. Multiple city departments—including police, fire, and recreation and parks—will be present at […]
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Santa Maria is now accepting bids for the levee project
Residents living close to the Santa Maria River Levee should plan on hearing the buzz and din of construction equipment this fall. The Army Corps of Engineers recently took the first step in the building process by soliciting bid proposals from contractors to repair 3.25 miles of the south levee from Blosser Road to Suey […]
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Legal Aid needs your help
Obtaining legal assistance is going to get much more difficult for low-income individuals and families living in the north part of the county, according to Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. Faced with a funding shortfall, staff members at the Legal Aid’s Santa Maria office have been forced to go on furlough every Friday. […]
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Former Hancock student named automotive technician of the year
Scott Stephen has come a long way since his first days as an auto mechanic, when—as a 14-year-old—he took apart a car and rebuilt it from scratch. The Allan Hancock College graduate was recently named a national Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Master Automotive Technician of the Year. According to a biography from the college, Stephen […]
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Marian exceeds patients’ expectations
In a surprise win, Marian Medical Center was recently named an Exceeding Patient Expectations Award winner by Avatar International Inc., a leading healthcare research and consulting company. “We weren’t really expecting to win,” Marian Medical Center communication’s specialist Jessa Squellati said. “So that makes it even more exciting.” Avatar International’s Exceeding Patient Expectations Award is […]
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Helping hand
A $20,000 grant will allow a local nonprofit to expand its homelessness services
Mirroring a parable straight out of the Good Book, the Santa Barbara Foundation has awarded a $20,000 grant to Santa Maria’s Good Samaritan Services Inc. The money, Good Samaritan Executive Director Sylvia Barnard said, could not have come at a more crucial time. For more than two decades, Good Samaritan has helped shelter, feed, and […]
