Students attending schools in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District will have to wait one more year to attend some of the district’s annual events, including the Multicultural Fair, Track Meet, and Geography Bee. The announcement came from district officials earlier this month. District spokeswoman Maggie White said the decision was based on “a combination of […]
AMY ASMAN
Posted inNews
An oasis for seniors
Luis Oasis Center is looking for help to pay for a new facility
About a dozen men and women sit together in a semi-circle, plucking at their ukuleles and singing. The music flows through the room like a soft Hawaiian breeze. “Oh, we’re going to a hukilau / A huki, huki, huki, huki, hukilau / Everybody loves a hukilau / Where the laulau is the kau kau at […]
Posted inNews
Santa Marian named Woman of the Year for district
Etta Waterfield, a local leader in business, government, and the nonprofit sector, was recently honored as the 33rd Assembly District’s 2009 Woman of the Year during a ceremony at the State Capitol. Nominated Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo), Waterfield has played an active role in the community ever since […]
Posted inNews
Union Valley Parkway prompts complaint
An Orcutt-based activist group is one step closer to possibly filing a lawsuit against the city of Santa Maria over the Union Valley Parkway project. On March 11, a law firm representing Orcutt Citizens for Better Environment submitted a written legal complaint to the Santa Maria City Council, alleging documents related to the proposed project […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc memorial building gets a facelift
The Lompoc Veterans Memorial Building is now home to 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray’s Lompoc offices. On March 20, Gray and her staff were host to a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house during which about 200 Lompocans got to see the newly restored offices. “For years, I’ve been concerned, as have local residents, about […]
Posted inNews
Parvovirus reported in Santa Maria
Multiple cases of parvovirus—a virus that attacks the lining of dogs’ digestive systems and prevents nutrients from being absorbed—have been reported in Northern Santa Barbara County, according to an announcement from Santa Barbara County Animal Services. Parvovirus is an often-deadly disease that affects mainly puppies and other dogs that haven’t been vaccinated. Initial symptoms typically […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria Police Department alerts locals against bank fraud
Earlier this month, the Santa Maria Police Department reported two instances of apparent bank fraud committed against elderly residents. According to a press release from the police, an individual contacted the residents claiming to be a representative from their respective banks. During the call, the suspect was able to correctly identify each of the victims’ […]
Posted inNews
Local ConocoPhillips refinery to undergo routine ‘turnaround’
From mid-March to mid-April, ConocoPhillips is shutting down sections of its Santa Maria energy facility to perform maintenance work—also known as a “turnaround,” the company announced in a recent release to the media. ConocoPhillips routinely inspects and performs maintenance procedures at the refinery. The shutdown and turnaround will allow company staffers to complete work that […]
Posted inNews
Lompoc’s Celite Corporation gets federal notice
On March 16, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) put 15 mine operators around the country, including Celite Corporation in Lompoc, on notice for “potential patterns” of health or safety standards violations under the Mine Act of 1977. According to a press release from the Department of Labor, the […]
Posted inNews
VITA offers free income tax services
To help alleviate the stresses of tax season, multiple local agencies have partnered to provide Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) services to low-income people living in the Santa Maria area. Offered by Allan Hancock College and United Way of Santa Barbara County for the second year in a row, VITA is an IRS-sanctioned, free-of-charge program […]
Posted inNews
Let’s get ready to garden
Got a green thumb? It’s not too late to sign up for Allan Hancock College’s Green Gardener class, co-sponsored by the college and the Santa Barbara County Water Agency. It runs in Santa Maria for nine weeks. Green Gardener is a bilingual class offered through the college’s Adult Education Program. It’s open to anyone, but […]
Posted inNews
It’s Bandarama time!
On March 14, more than 400 student musicians will gather in the Santa Maria High School gymnasium for Bandarama!. The annual event features music played by bands from every junior high and high school in Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Guadalupe, as well as the Allan Hancock College band. Each band will perform one piece, and […]
