The city of Santa Maria, Santa Maria City Council members, and Santa Barbara County could be heading to court over the Union Valley Parkway project after being sued on April 17 by local environmental group Orcutt Citizens for Better Environment (OCBE) and two local residents. On April 15, OCBE and Frank and Pat Culley filed […]
AMY ASMAN
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Association nixes federal stimulus funding for Santa Maria River bridge project
Federal stimulus money originally intended for widening the Santa Maria River bridge will now go into local government coffers, following an overwhelming decision from the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG). On April 16, SBCAG voted 11-0, with county Supervisor Joni Gray and Carpinteria City Councilmember Joe Armendariz absent, to allocate the money to […]
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Students wrote the show
The PCPA in the Schools project began as a series of writing workshops last winter. A second phase in the spring transformed students’ words into a script for PCPA’s conservatory students. The end result is a full, free performance of the student-written This Is My Story. Complimentary seating for the 7 p.m. show on April […]
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Each one teach one
Learn what it takes to become a teacher at the 2009 “Becoming a Teacher” seminar at Allan Hancock College on May 6. Attendees will find information on steps to becoming a teacher, along with credential information, preparation for the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), and local options for earning a degree. Future educators will […]
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Comcast cares about Bonita Elementary School
On April 25, dozens of teachers, students, and parents at Bonita Elementary School in Santa Maria will roll up their sleeves for some spring cleaning and campus beautification as part of Comcast Cares Day. Accompanied by more than 20 Comcast Cable employees, volunteers will lay down new bark in the main playground area and refurbish […]
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Help put a stop to child abuse
In recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, several Northern Santa Barbara County organizations are hosting the North County Child Abuse Prevention Summit on April 30 at the Santa Maria Inn from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local residents are invited to learn about child abuse and neglect in the […]
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Look up, up, and away
Keep your eyes on the skies on April 23 and 24 when Orcutt Academy and Endeavour Academy hold their first joint Balloon Festival. Students from the academies’ science classes will be conducting atmospheric research by releasing weather balloons carrying testing instruments 300 feet above the Orcutt Academy campus. The balloons will be used to collect […]
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And the Crystal Apple Award goes to …
The Teachers Network of Santa Barbara County recently announced winners of the county’s 2009 Crystal Apple Educator Awards. Nominated by their peers, Crystal Apple winners are recognized for outstanding teaching and leadership skills in the classroom and community. Each year, school employees, parents, and students are invited to nominate outstanding educators. Award winners receive a […]
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Santa Maria to hold homelessness workshop
On April 20, homelessness prevention will take center stage during a public workshop held by the city of Santa Maria, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St. During the workshop, the City Block Grants Advisory Committee will provide information—in English and Spanish—about the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing […]
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Agriculture is going strong in Santa Barbara County
For the third year in a row, Santa Barbara County’s agriculture industry has generated more than $1 billion, Agricultural Commissioner Bill Gillette announced on April 13. Agriculture continued to be the county’s major producing industry in 2008, grossing approximately $1.14 billion, according to a press release from the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. This is an increase […]
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Santa Maria high school district board of trustees names new superintendent
There’s a new superintendent in town. On April 8, the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board of trustees announced during its weekly meeting that Doug Kimberly will replace Jeff Hearn as superintendent. Hearn is set to retire in June. Kimberly is currently assistant superintendent of human resources for the Fullerton Joint Union High […]
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Reading between the lines
A recent consumer product safety law has people across the nation
Once upon a time, there was a well-meaning group of politicians—the 110th Congress—that approved a law requiring lead and phthalate testing for children’s products. The politicians penned the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) after thousands of children’s toys, clothes, and other items were recalled because of unsafe lead levels. Not long after, […]