The Nipomo Chamber of Commerce is getting into the spirit of the season with its annual Holiday Craft and Gift Boutique, taking place on Nov. 21. The boutique brings together more than 40 vendors in the home-based arts and crafts communities of Nipomo, Santa Maria, and the Five Cities. The big jolly man […]
JEREMY THOMAS
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Celebrate 60 years of Diani
This year, the Santa Maria-based Diani family of companies is celebrating its 60th anniversary in the commercial, industrial, military, and public works construction business. The company is a full-service, fully integrated construction, maintenance, and service contractor, specializing in general building, pre-engineered metal buildings, design services, and environmental restoration. Founded by the late A.J. […]
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Get your pets prim and proper
Want your dog or cat to look its best for those holiday family photos? Michael’s Big Dog Pet Grooming is now open in Arroyo Grande. Owners Michael Menzie and Jainine Anderson welcome all pets to their salon, located next to J.J.’s Market at 2790 Halcyon Road, suite F. For more information, call 474-4401. […]
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Monica Maldonado
Allan Hancock College runner Monica Maldonado surprised herself at the Southern California Community College Cross-Country Championships on Nov. 6. The freshman became the school’s only individual qualifier for the state cross-country meet, finishing in 51st place with a time of 20.04. “Every time we had workouts, I simply did my best,” Maldonado said. […]
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Memory on the move
Thousands of participants turned running into remembering America’s casualties of war
On Memorial Day of 2005, in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala, a surveillance plane on a classified training mission crashed near the Iranian border. The crash killed Air Force captain Derek Argel of Lompoc, along with three other American troops and the Iraqi pilot. Argel, who had just been promoted that morning, was […]
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Bulldogs taste postseason again
After their best season record-wise in a decade, the Allan Hancock College football team is heading to the Southern California Football Association playoffs for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs finished out the regular campaign with a 9-1 record, the same mark they had in 1999 when they played in the state […]
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Locals decry the affordable housing shortage
An updated city plan projects construction of 1,280 lower-income homes by 2014
As the Santa Maria City Council prepares to consider an updated housing plan, local advocates and officials are concerned the city isn’t doing enough to provide its sizable low-income population with places to live. While city housing projections exceed state requirements in Santa Maria’s newly revised Draft Housing Element, the goals won’t make up […]
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Locals weigh in on a spay-and-neuter ordinance draft
During an emotionally charged hearing in Santa Maria on Nov. 10, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors listened to recommendations from the public and a county task force on a draft ordinance that would require pet owners to have their pets spayed or neutered. A crowd of about 40 people, split roughly in […]
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Stop, collaborate, and listen
Nonprofit leaders will learn how to better navigate rough financial waters during the Nonprofit Support Center’s seventh annual Lompoc Collaboration Faire on Nov. 19. The theme of the event is “taking care during challenging times” and features networking sessions and guest speakers. Ron Gallo, CEO of the Santa Barbara Foundation, will discuss new approaches […]
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Join Beauty Connection’s first-year festivities
To celebrate its one-year anniversary, staffers at Beauty Connection are holding a series of events to show their appreciation to the community and clients. The salon will hold a Ladies Night on Nov. 12 from 4 to 8 p.m. with Bare Escentuals’ representatives and wine tasting from Kenneth Volk Winery. On Nov. 13, from […]
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Grab a cup o’ Joe
Santa Maria’s longest-standing locally owned coffee shop, Coffee and Company, has changed ownership, just in time for its 24th birthday. First-time business owner Candice Merás took over from the shop’s previous owner, Veronica Castenallos, in October. Merás, a 24-year-old master barista, perfected her craft working coffee in Santa Maria since she was 20. […]
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Net results
St. Joseph girls’ volleyball shines in its Los Padres league swan song
Winning isn’t everything in the Hartman household, but it sure doesn’t hurt. Home life has been downright harmonious lately for St. Joseph girls’ volleyball coach Tammy Hartman, with her squad capping off another successful season, and husband Mike leading the Knights’ football team to the top of the league standings. “When we’re not […]
