Know a local restaurant with really tasty chili? Well, Legal Aid of Santa Barbara County is now accepting applications for the Seventh Annual Taste for Justice chili cook-off. The event will be held March 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Santa Maria Airport, inside a World War II hanger. And because of the […]
HENRY HOUSTON
Posted inNews
Catholic schools come together
In the midst of National Catholic School Week, four Catholic schools have gathered together to have joint-mass at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria. The mass marks the first time that these schools have celebrated together. “I came from the Diocese of Colorado Springs and they had a mass with all of […]
Posted inNews
The state debates who pays cities after fender benders
State Sen. Tony Strickland introduces a ‘Crash Tax’ ban
If getting into a car accident weren’t enough of a headache already, cities all over California have been adding fuel to the fire by adopting a “crash tax,” legislation that requires the at-fault driver’s insurance to pay for any clean-up fees. “Over 70 cities in California have adopted [the ‘crash tax’],” State Sen. Tony Strickland […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Isidro Venegas
Isidro Venegas, 17 years old, is planning on setting a Guinness World Record in the prone leg press. Although the record hasn’t been set yet, Bill Goodrich—Venegas’ coach—believes that once the Guinness team sees that professionals won’t be able to match the feat, it’ll be in the record books. Venegas, a student at Santa Maria […]
Posted inNews
Lunching with the law
On Feb. 9, at the Santa Maria Elk’s Lodge, the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce will hold its 16th annual Police Awards Luncheon. The event is to be held at noon. For $17, one can purchase a lunch and attend the event, but there is also the choice of sponsoring an officer, which will pay […]
Posted inNews
Hancock teaches about getting free cash
With only a few months left in the school year, there will soon be many high school graduates wondering what to do. So Allan Hancock College, partnering with Cuesta College, is going to hold workshops to inform high school students, and their parents, about the opportunities available for “free cash for college.” The workshops will […]
Posted inNews
Arellanes celebrates MLK Day with yard work
Instead of spending the day sleeping in, students, teachers, school faculty members, and even Santa Maria-Bonita School District superintendent Phil Alvarado spent Martin Luther King Jr. Day planting 80 trees at Arellanes Junior High School. When George Jimenez’s daughter started attending Arellanes, he noticed that there weren’t any trees at the school. That’s when the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Edgar Espinosa
If David fought Goliath today, David would’ve used judo instead of a slingshot; it’s a form of fighting that doesn’t put importance on size between opponents. That’s why it attracted Edgar Espinosa. At the time of his first fight, he was 5-foot-4, weighing 120 pounds when he squared off against a 6-foot opponent weighing more […]
Posted inNews
For whom the bell tolled
Orcutt Union School District allows Orcutt Academy to move into May Grisham to gain a financial upper hand, despite parental outcry
May Grisham sits in Old Orcutt, surrounded by rustic foliage and a neighborhood that calls to mind an episode of Leave it to Beaver. You half expect to see Wally tossing around a football in the street. It also sits next to the Orcutt Union School District (OUSD) office, Orcutt Junior High School, and a […]
Posted inNews
Cash crops
Transitions-Mental Health Association (T-MHA) recently received a $20,000 grant from the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation. The grant will be used to finance the Growing Grounds Farm in Santa Maria and pay wages for workers, grow crops, and distribute seeds and herb plants to low-income neighborhoods. “We are doing this to teach people how to grow […]
Posted inNews
May Grisham’s fate still up in the air?
Orcutt Union School District (OUSD) board member Rob Buchanan made a motion that caused an angry walkout at the Dec. 8 school board meeting: He suggested tabling the decision whether to redistribute May Grisham School students to other schools so Orcutt Academy can take over the facility. Buchanan said the matter was being moved to […]
Posted inNews
Names for Santa’s ‘Good List’
The Santa Barbara County Fire Department named its employee and firefighter of the year at the Fire Department’s Annual Holiday Party on Dec. 14. Sandra Viola was surprised by her employee of the year award. “I was helping check people in [to the party],” Viola said. “I didn’t expect it all.” She has been a […]