Cleanup crews are still responding to the 1,344-gallon oil spill that hit the water on Dec. 7 at Platform A, six miles off the coast of Santa Barbara. Platform A is also the site of the infamous 1969 spill that sparked the modern anti-oil drilling movement. As of Dec. 9, nearly all recoverable oil had […]
AMY ASMAN
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From thriving to surviving
Central Coast contractors adapt to the slowing economy in a variety of ways
Caleb Lopez is one of the lucky ones. With several big development projects on his plate and a steady flow of smaller, private jobs coming in, Lopez might be considered a rarity when it comes to being a contractor in today’s economy. Following the overall downturn of the nation’s economy and the collapse of […]
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Fesler Junior High to honor first school principal with a special dedication
Students, teachers, and community members will gather on Dec. 11 at 9:15 a.m. at the Fesler Junior High School gymnasium to dedicate the basketball court to the school’s first principal, Quentin Sims. Sims’s name has also been stenciled in large letters on the gym floor near two of the entrances. Fesler Junior High School faculty […]
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Allan Hancock College’s MESA program demonstrates ‘Excelencia in Education’
Allan Hancock College’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program was recently recognized for its efforts to help Latino students succeed.Allan Hancock College’s MESA program demonstrates ‘Excelencia in Education’ Excelencia in Education—a national organization that identifies programs and departments that boost Latino enrollment, performance, and graduation rates—recently named MESA as a semifinalist winner for its ¡Examples […]
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Where have all the avocados gone?
The avocado industry is expected to endure its largest slump in 20 years
Guacamole—and all things avocado—could soon be in high demand but hard to get, according to findings from the California Farm Bureau Federation and the California Avocado Commission. The groups reported that the 2009 avocado crop could be the industry’s lightest in 20 years. “You’d have to go back to the 1990s to see crop yields […]
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Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce honors women veterans
Each year on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce unveils a new plaque honoring a different group of veterans. This year, the chamber will honor all women veterans who have served in the armed forces. The plaque will be dedicated during a special ceremony at the Freedom Monument Veterans […]
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It’s time to talk about traffic
The Santa Maria Transit Division will hold a public workshop on unmet transit needs on Dec. 10 at Shepard Hall in the Santa Maria Public Library, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Community members are invited to make suggestions on expanding transit services in the area. For more information, visit the city’s website at ci.santa-maria.ca.gov.
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Santa Maria residents are ready to deck the town
Bust out the tinsel and seasonal lawn ornaments-the city of Santa Maria is inviting locals to spread a little holiday cheer by participating in the 2008 Lights, Sights, and Holiday Nights Decoration Celebration. The nomination period for this year’s event began Nov. 24 and will last until Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. Judging will take […]
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Santa Maria’s Christmas Parade of Lights will be a ‘Winter Wonderland’
Sparkling, seasonal lights and other decorations will be on display on Dec. 6 during the annual Santa Maria Christmas Parade of Lights. The parade is scheduled to begin at 5:20 p.m. on Broadway between Stowell Road and the Santa Maria Town Center. Presented by the Santa Maria and Nipomo Rotary clubs, the parade will feature […]
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Santa Maria Police Department corporal shared his wisdom and skills with everyone
On Dec. 1, the Santa Maria Police Department announced the Nov. 27 passing of retired police corporal Mark Riddering. He was 53 years old. Riddering worked for the Santa Maria Police Department from 1989 to 1998. He retired after being diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, often referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, but continued to […]
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‘Stuff the Bus’ with Ralph Dunlap K-Kids
‘Stuff the Bus’ with Ralph Dunlap K-Kids Students in the K-Kids program at Ralph Dunlap School in Orcutt are asking members of the public to help them “Stuff the Bus” with new and slightly used donations on Dec. 17. Donations will be accepted from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and then the “stuffed bus” will […]
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Olive Grove Charter School accepts applications for spring semester
Newly relocated Olive Grove Charter School is accepting applications for the spring 2009 semester through the month of December. Olive Grove is run by the Los Olivos School District but is located in Santa Maria at 2880 Santa Maria Way. The school offers a no-cost, independent home study curriculum, and designates parents as the primary […]
