Santa Barbara County received praise for taking a proactive approach to energy conservation at the 2010 Green Business Recognition Program on Feb. 5. Officials for the Southern California Gas Company handed the 2009 Energy Smart Award to 5th District Supervisor Joe Centeno and 2nd District Supervisor Janet Wolf during a presentation at the Santa Maria […]
JEREMY THOMAS
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Anthony and Josh Rodriguez
Brothers Anthony (right) and Josh Rodriguez (left) of Righetti High brought the results of their homework to the school’s gym for the Pac-7 league wrestling finals on Feb. 6. Anthony, a junior, captured the league title in the 125-pound weight class while sophomore Josh won the 103-pound crown and was named the league’s Lower Weight […]
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Bleacher Bum Chronicles Vol. V
Ohhhh Canada! (Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Winter Olympics)
Can’t you smell it? Love is in the air. No, I’m not talking about a certain holiday that makes single people like myself wretch at the mere thought of it. I’m referring of course to the 21st time the countries of the world drop their nuclear saber-rattling, join hands, and sing “Kumbaya” for two weeks […]
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Arrested development
Water issues and the housing downturn transformed a high-end Nipomo subdivision into a wasteland
Nipomo’s Aaron Adams thought he’d found his dream home when he moved into Maria Vista Estates, an 84-acre hilltop development complete with dazzling views of the valley’s lush rolling hills. That was in July of 2007. Today, as he walks through his neighborhood of vacant million-dollar homes—the sidewalks cracked and yards overgrown with weeds—he wonders […]
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Betteravia Center expansion gets county OK
Despite a worse-than-expected budget forecast, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Feb. 2 to move forward with a planned expansion of the Betteravia Administration Building. According to 5th District Supervisor Joe Centeno, “the climate is right” for the project because interest rates and bids for construction projects have never been lower. […]
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Purple reign
Righetti soccer keeps an epic winning streak alive and Pac-7 opponents gunning for No. 1
They’re at it again. A year removed from an appearance in the California Interscholastic Federation’s Southern Section semifinals, Righetti High’s boys’ soccer team is keeping the ball rolling right into another playoff berth. Head coach John Pranjic, now in his second year, has yet to lose a Pac-7 league contest in his coaching career, a […]
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Hancock employees wait for the ax to fall
Up to 10 non-teaching staffers are threatened by the possibility of the college’s first-ever group layoffs
Bruce Gourley has worn many hats in his nearly 30 years at Allan Hancock College, both as an associate faculty member and in his current role as coordinator of the school’s multimedia services. Now, Gourley is one of 10 non-teaching staff members at the college hoping to hold onto their jobs as the school struggles […]
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Merger group certifies Hardy CFO
The Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors announced the certification of Nathaniel Graessle, chief financial officer of Santa Maria-based Hardy Diagnostics, as a certified merger and acquisition advisor. Graessle joins a group of more than 300 experienced corporate financial advisors and corporate development executives to earn the CM&AA certification nationwide. Hardy Diagnostics is an FDA-licensed […]
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Dog days come to Toy Zoo
Spend a day with everybody’s favorite Big Red Dog as Santa Maria’s Toy Zoo gets a visit from Clifford on Feb. 6. Clifford will be signing books, and children will have the opportunity to make a Clifford puppet, enter a coloring contest, and create Valentines for their friends. Clifford is scheduled to appear at 11 […]
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Lompoc’s Hughes dives into AmEx ad
The owner of Lompoc’s Skydive Santa Barbara is one of several small business owners being featured in American Express OPEN’s new TV ads: “How Can I Get Paid Faster?” David Hughes, a 22-year skydiving veteran and former British skydiving champion, has operated Skydive Santa Barbara for 15 years. The center offers an 18,000-foot tandem jump […]
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VITA program offers free tax preparation
If you or your family earned less than $49,000 last year and you’re puzzled by the tax law, the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program can help with free tax preparation beginning Jan. 30. Sponsored by Northern Santa Barbara County United Way, VITA assists low- to moderate-income families and individuals in claiming special credits like the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Sara Epps
Much like Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, the St. Joseph girls’ soccer team prides itself on the motto, “All for one and one for all.” However, as the Knights look to stay perfect in league play, one prolific scorer stands head and shoulders above the rest of her teammates: junior forward Sara Epps. Epps leads the […]
