By the time the summer Olympics roll into Los Angeles in 2028, California’s own Isaac Hill could be in attendance as a taekwondo competitor, and some say Hill even has enough potential to strike gold. Hill, 13, has been training with coaches Cort Newby and Steve Sanders for the past three years at Santa Maria […]
Kasey Bubnash
Posted inNews
High school superintendent announces plans to retire
Santa Maria’s high school district will lose its superintendent at the end of this school year, and another longtime administrator plans to apply for the soon-to-be opened position. After seven years leading the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District and 31 years in education, Superintendent Mark Richardson announced on April 12 that he plans […]
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Taking root: There’s a disconnect between food producers and the general public, and some locals are working to re-establish that relationship
It was only about 10 a.m. on April 5 and the air in Santa Maria was already feeling balmy. The warm morning sun poked through the clouds and shone heavily on portions of Allan Hancock College’s student garden. The lot smelled of freshly cut grass and echoed with the incessant chirps of busy birds and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Jayson Downey
Santa Maria High School student Jayson Downey is still young, but track and field coaches expect to see great things from the athlete in years to come. Downey, a sophomore, specializes in long, high, and triple jumps. He’s doing well enough in the league overall, but according to assistant coach Steven Youngblood, he’s close to […]
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Researchers need local moms for bottle-feeding study
New and expecting moms constantly hear about the positive nutritional and behavioral effects breastfeeding can have on babies, but no one really talks about how difficult and confusing breastfeeding can actually be. Nursing can be especially challenging for working moms, like Casey Heaney, who can’t stay home with their babies or bring them to work. […]
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Local schools prioritize financial aid applications
There wasn’t a big push for high school students to complete applications for federal financial aid when Chad Conrad graduated from Pioneer Valley High School in 2007. He went straight to Allan Hancock College after graduation, then took time off to work and save money. He moved away and tried college a few more times […]
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Most Santa Barbara County special needs staff will transfer to high school district despite remaining uncertainties
It’s been more than a year since Santa Maria’s high school district announced plans to retake control over its most severe special needs classes, leaving teachers and staff working in those classes with difficult choices to make and major changes to process. While most staff members have made their unofficial decisions and will continue working […]
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Chamber offers harassment trainings in compliance with new law
Businesses are now required to provide their employees with some form of sexual harassment prevention training, and to help in that effort, the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is launching two such programs, which will be offered at discounted prices to chamber members. In September 2018, former Gov. Jerry Brown approved a new state […]
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Olive Grove sues public school districts
Olive Grove Charter School is fighting another legal battle, and this time the charter is suing two Santa Barbara County public school districts for payments it claims are required by state law. In the lawsuits, which Los Angeles-based attorney Gregory Bordo filed on Olive Grove’s behalf on March 18, the charter school alleges that Lompoc […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Robert Madrigal
It’s been a rough season for the Santa Maria High School boys’ volleyball team, and a number of injuries have left many of the team’s players benched, forcing younger students to step up and take over. Sophomore Robert Madrigal is up for the challenge. The former right-side hitter is now setting for the team, a […]
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Local launches support group for moms in Santa Maria after difficulty finding services
Similar to many new parents, Samantha Curtis isn’t really sure what she’s doing. It’s a general uncertainty that presents itself in new forms nearly every day: When she’s dressing her 6-month-old baby, she wonders whether shoes are comfortable and if they’re safe. When she’s feeding him, she wonders when solids should be introduced. When her […]
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Santa Maria could bring animal control services in-house
The past three months have been busy ones for Santa Barbara County Animal Services. A new state law requiring pet stores to obtain all dogs, cats, and rabbits from animal shelters or rescue groups, and banning stores from sourcing directly from breeders, went into effect on Jan. 1, and Animal Services is tasked with enforcing […]
