A Santa Maria Chrysler dealership can heave a huge sigh of relief after being notified earlier this month that it will not be listed among the nearly 800 national dealers slated for closure in June. Bruce Porter, co-owner of Iverson Motors Chrysler Jeep and Dodge dealership in Santa Maria, said he is “very happy” to […]
AMY ASMAN
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Santa Maria man accused of running Ponzi scheme ordered to make retribution payments
A Santa Maria judge has ordered longtime Santa Maria businessman Michael Wilson to pay more than $100,000 to Central Coast residents Fern Borgsdorf and Gordon Henderson. The ruling comes in response to a lawsuit filed in March by Borgsdorf and Henderson accusing Wilson of “fraud, bad faith, and negligence,” according to court documents. The lawsuit […]
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VTC Enterprises unveils design for future facility
VTC Enterprises—a Santa Maria-based nonprofit offering programs and services to people living with disabilities—broke ground on a new life services facility May 14, despite strong, Santa Maria-style gusts of wind. A group of local officials, VTC employees and clients, and other community members met at the future site—a vacant parking lot on the nonprofit’s A […]
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Hard work
People entering today’s job market have to get aggressive when looking for employment
When Allan Hancock College student Stephanie Fredriks started looking for a job back in December 2008, she knew the endeavor would be a difficult one. The recent Righetti High School graduate needed a part-time job to help pay for school and other expenses. With the weight of a down economy on her shoulders, she started […]
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Vandenberg Air Force Base stalls Minuteman III launch
An unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile—scheduled for a May 20 launch—was grounded until further notice, according to a press release from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Second Lt. Raymond Geoffroy, a spokesman for 30th Space Wing Public Affairs, told the Sun that launch officials want to make sure the launch they’re simulating is as close […]
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Santa Barbara County releases death statistics
Full copies of the 2009 Santa Barbara County Community Health Status Report and its supplemental report are now available online at the county’s public health department website: sbcphd.org. The two documents investigate the leading causes of premature death and offer information about risk factors and preventative steps to improve public health. The Public Health Department […]
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Jesusita Fire turns up the heat on Santa Maria firebase debate
Controversy over the designation of the Santa Maria Public Airport’s air attack base from full-time to “call-when-needed” status has been fueled by the recent Jesusita Fire, which started burning on May 5. Some members of the public, including people displaced by the fire, have questioned whether or not the base’s downgraded status and an incomplete […]
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And the Academy Award goes to …
The California Department of Education and Los Angeles County Office of Education recently named Lompoc’s Cabrillo High School an “Academy Award” winner for its Support Personnel Accountability Report Card. Every year, the state and regional education office recognize a handful of exemplary school counseling and student support programs by presenting them with the accolades. The […]
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In a Sacramento state of mind
Santa Maria councilwoman Hilda Zacarías sets her sights on a State Assembly seat
If everything goes according to plan for Hilda Zacarías, there could be two Santa Marians in the California State Legislature. The Santa Maria City Council member recently announced her intention to run in 2010 for the 33rd District Assembly Seat being vacated by San Luis Obispo Republican Sam Blakeslee because of term limits. In a […]
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Local group protests millions in proposed cuts to state developmental services
Another group of concerned individuals has joined California educators, health-care specialists, and others in speaking out against state budget cuts. On April 30, more than 100 people gathered at Santa Maria City Hall to protest approximately $100 million in proposed cuts to the California Department of Developmental Services for the 2009-2010 fiscal year. The department […]
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Changes to Santa Maria tanker base prompt worries about fire safety
Recent changes in firebase operations at the Santa Maria Public Airport have some local fire officials worried about the U.S. Forest Service’s ability to fight fires on the Central Coast. Earlier this year, the Forest Service transferred two of the Santa Maria Air Attack Base’s full-time managerial employees to a nearby district office, and downgraded […]
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Santa Maria seeks input on disbursing $1.2 million in state funding
On May 11, the Santa Maria Block Grants Advisory Committee will hold a public hearing to discuss how the city should spend more than $1.2 million in state funding. The California state government has received approximately $145 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding from the federal government. The money is meant to help Santa Maria, […]