Sandbox Kids and Wildflower Women celebrated a grand re-opening on March 15. The retail shop recently switched locations within the Santa Maria Town Center to a new venue next to Macy’s. According to the shop’s owner, Amber Lease, the new site is helping Sandbox Kids and Wildflower Women capture the image they’ve been looking for. […]
COLIN PATRICK HODGES
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Athlete of the Week: Jamie Miller
Cabrillo High School soccer player Jamie Miller (pictured here in white) played an integral role in the Conquistadores’ success this season. The center midfielder scored seven goals and had 12 assists, leading her team to its first ever CIF Final. It wasn’t just Miller’s athletic ability that made her stand out, however; it was also […]
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Spotlight on: The Berry Stop
Kathy McPike, owner
When fruit industry leaders California Giant first approached Kathy McPike about opening a fruit stand on its property, she was nervous about accepting. For seven years, McPike had managed a fruit stand on the very same land, but this was the first time she’d ever contemplated leasing a stand of her own. “The community’s been […]
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Tourist draws get help
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) recently announced the recipients of the annual Special Projects Grant sponsorship program. Every year, the bureau awards money to local organizations in an effort to support events and projects that generate tourism in the surrounding communities. Nearly $14,000 was awarded to six […]
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A new skate park comes to the mall
Skateboard enthusiasts gathered at the Santa Maria Town Center on March 2 to celebrate the grand opening of One Way Skate Park. Kids of all ages, their boards in hand, anxiously traveled up the escalators toward the park, ready to grind some new rail. The arena, which opened in December, features some state-of-the-art equipment built […]
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Athlete of the Week: Itzy Pinon
Itzy Pinon (No. 8, pictured above) just wrapped up her senior season of soccer at Righetti High School with an impressive 14 goals on the year and helped lead her team to a second-place finish in the Pac 7 conference. The talented forward started playing soccer when she was 5 years old; she said that […]
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Spotlight on: Parallel Edit
Michael and Silvia Sun, Owners
Going out on a Friday or Saturday evening is something we all enjoy doing. But sometimes it gets a little hectic deciding what to wear. We all want to look our best. And for many of us, that implies some last-minute shopping for an outfit. But where does one go? In March, Parallel Edit is […]
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Athlete of the Week: Case Bruton
For senior Case Bruton, the secret to success is hard work. The shooting guard from St. Joseph is the team’s leading scorer and a ball-hawk on defense. According to Knights head coach Tom Mott, the reason for Bruton’s success is attributed to his work ethic. “Case is a good player because of the work he […]
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Return of the books
Reading is essential to almost every aspect of society. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, approximately 50 percent of the nation’s unemployed youth, age 16 to 21, are functionally illiterate. The department also estimates that more than $2 billion is spent each year on students who repeat a grade because they […]
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Athlete of the Week: Simone Swain
Simone Swain does it all on the basketball court. A forward from Valley Christian Academy, Swain is playing at a level her opponents can’t seem to match. Only a sophomore, she’s shattered the career record for blocked shots at her school, registering more than 60 this season. “Simone is a well-rounded player—she rebounds, plays defense, […]
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Athlete of the Week: Stephanie Ramos
Stephanie Ramos has a reputation for being a relentless defender on the soccer field. The junior from Pioneer Valley High School is strong, fast, and constantly attacking the ball, skills that recently earned her accolades at the area’s Athletic Roundtable. Varsity head coach Gabriel Velasco said Ramos possesses all the natural abilities needed to dominate […]