After losing a battle over a proposed expansion to its Lompoc store, Walmart is fighting back, arguing the project won’t negatively impact local businesses or cause downtown blight as city planners fear. An update to the project’s Urban Decay Study, submitted to the Lompoc Planning Commission on Dec. 16, contends downtown Lompoc shows no signs […]
JEREMY THOMAS
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She’s the boss
New county CEO Wallar tackles a more-than-$60-million budget deficit with an eye on transparency
A month and a half into her job as Santa Barbara County’s CEO, Chandra Wallar already has her work cut out for her in managing the county’s massive budget gap. However, the financial distress hasn’t put a damper on the enthusiasm she’s brought to the office since taking over for the retired Mike Brown on […]
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WEV recognizes new graduates
After 14 weeks of training, Women’s Economic Ventures graduated 20 Northern Santa Barbara County residents from its flagship Self-Employment Training Course (SET) at a Dec. 15 ceremony in Santa Barbara. Of the 114 total graduates, 11 hailed from the Santa Maria Spanish SET course. Startup businesses from the course included “Grandma’s Tamales,” owned by Susana […]
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Communicate effectively with a free course
As any successful business owner knows, communication and presentation skills are essential tools to making a business productive. The Barnes Institute of Management Productivity and Research Center for Strategic Management would like to help managers, employees, community leaders, and job seekers improve those important skills with a free introductory Speech Communication and Skills Course in […]
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Give Santa Claus a call
To make sure good boys and girls get what they want for the holidays, Santa Claus has partnered with the elves at Advantage Answering Plus in providing a direct telephone number to the North Pole. All children are invited to leave Good Old Saint Nick a personal voicemail message by calling 546-1121 until Dec. 26. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Ice, ice baby
Thrills, chills, and spills abound at Santa Maria’s first ever ‘Winter Wonderland’
Excitedly lacing up her skates on a warm December afternoon, Jasmine Morales paused to reflect on the novelty of ice skating in the heart of her hometown. “It’s rare,” she said. “It doesn’t happen often for people in California. They can’t just go in their backyard and go ice skating.” The 40-by-85-foot rink she was […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
City tee-ball league takes signups
For those not-ready-for-primetime baseball players, the city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department is offering a recreational tee-ball league for boys and girls ages 5 to 7. The program focuses on the fundamentals of baseball, sportsmanship, and teamwork concepts. Parents are also encouraged to get involved as volunteer coaches. Registration will be accepted at […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Spend winter at the Y
So the kids are on winter break and they can’t stay home? Bring them to the Santa Maria Valley YMCA, where they can play the Nintendo Wii, bake holiday cookies, watch movies, make holiday crafts, and more. The camp runs until Jan. 14. Financial assistance is available. To sign up or find out more, call […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hockey kids hit the floor
Parents of children aged 3 to 6 are encouraged to register their kids for Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s Rookie Sports Floor Hockey program. The class is intended to help children develop and practice social, physical, and gross motor skills, with a focus on fun. The cost is $48 for YMCA members and $63 for participants. […]
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Comcast expands digital offerings
Cable television provider Comcast is switching over more channels to digital signals in Northern Santa Barbara County, requiring some customers to add new equipment. Expanded-basic cable subscribers in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Lompoc, and the Santa Ynez Valley who don’t have set-top cable boxes will need to add digital boxes by mid-February. Comcast will provide those […]
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Insurance broker joins HUB
Santa Maria and Paso Robles-based insurance brokerage firm Byars Thompson Buchanan Insurance and Financial Services recently joined the HUB International Team of insurance agencies. HUB International is the 10th-largest insurance broker in North America. Byars Thompson Buchanan formed in 2001 and brokers employee benefit and insurance programs for people and businesses throughout the Central Coast. […]
