Nicholas Walter
Posted inNews

Have spray paint, will tag

Graffiti in Santa Maria has more than tripled in the last year–what are we doing about it?
by Nicholas Walter

Santa Maria is getting more colorful—and not necessarily in a good way. If you think you’ve been seeing more graffiti than usual around town lately, you’re not imagining things. In January 2009, there were 33 logged incidences of graffiti, according to city records. Last month, there were 114. While the majority of tagging is gang […]

Posted inNews

Air Force blue is going green

A proposed wave energy pilot program off the coast of Vandenberg could be a step toward widespread commercial wave energy
by Nicholas Walter

Alternative energy is on everybody’s mind these days. California leaders have mandated that 33 percent of the state’s power come from renewable energy sources by 2020. Even the most ardent members of the “drill here, drill now!” crowd agree that diversifying our energy portfolio makes sense. When people start talking about the particulars of alternative […]

Posted inNews

Santa Maria’s weighty issue

Community education efforts focus on higher rates of obesity among Hispanics
by Nicholas Walter

Wallets may be feeling thinner lately, but what should be more worrying is that Santa Maria residents are getting wider. People hit hardest by the economy are having to loosen their belts instead of tightening them, setting the stage for a health crisis that could have much longer lasting effects than any economic one. According […]

Posted inNews

What’s up with our lieutenant governor?

Abel Maldonado was nominated last month, and we’re all still wondering what’s going to happen
by Nicholas Walter

Feb. 22 may not represent much to the average person, but for state senator and former Santa Maria mayor Abel Maldonado, the last Monday in February is the “drop dead” date. If that day rolls around and the state Legislature still hasn’t voted one way or the other on his appointment as lieutenant governor of […]

Posted inNews

Get your block grant on

by Nicholas Walter

Know a nonprofit that needs some cash? The city of Santa Maria is now requesting proposals for the use of 2010-2011 Community Development Block Grant Program and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds for public service activities, capital projects, and affordable housing projects. The city anticipates receiving approximately $1,256,000 in CDBG funds and $30,000 in program […]

Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture

Lady Knights are off and running

With a 4-0 season so far, the St. Joseph girls’ basketball team is doing just fine with its new coach
by Nicholas Walter

Winning the CIF Southern Section Division V-AA championship in March put a bit of pressure on the St. Joseph girls’ basketball team at the start of this season. Not that the tension has made a difference. With a 4-0 record already, coach Ed Torres and his girls must be doing something right. The early wins […]

Posted inNews

Geek gift giving gets good

Give that geek on your list something more than a gift card
by Nicholas Walter

It can sometimes be daunting, shopping for a geek. You’re pretty sure sweaters and socks aren’t going to cut it, but at the same time, you’re not sure what to get them other than a gift certificate to the big store with the yellow letters. Plus, we geeks can be maddeningly unhelpful when it comes […]

Posted inNews

If Abel goes, who will take his place?

The Central Coast gets a voice in statewide government, maybe
by Nicholas Walter

The Central Coast is on track to have one of its own in statewide office. On Nov. 23, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named state senator and former Santa Maria mayor Abel Maldonado as lieutenant governor. As of press time, his confirmation by the Legislature was still pending. “I’m honored to take on the position of lieutenant […]

Posted inNews

Quit cold turkey

What do you get when you take the bird out of Thanksgiving?
by Nicholas Walter

Ah, Thanksgiving. Mashed potatoes, yams, stuffing, and … tofu-based turkey substitute? Don’t look so surprised, you carnivores. There are plenty of people out there who will be giving thanks without the turkey. And while meat eaters may roll their eyes at the mere thought of a tofurky, that infamous veggie-friendly substitute isn’t necessarily as prevalent […]

Posted inNews

Where have all the foreclosures gone?

With banks foreclosing on homes left and right, there should be plenty of properties for sale, right? Wrong.
by Nicholas Walter

In the midst of the sub-prime mortgage mess, it shouldn’t be a problem finding foreclosed properties to buy—not necessarily on the cheap (this is California, after all) but at least readily available, right?   Not really.   There are plenty of foreclosed properties out there at the moment (the technical term is REO, or “real […]

Posted inNews

Unemployed locals get some breathing room

Congress recently extended unemployment insurance benefits, but what happens next?
by Nicholas Walter

On Nov. 6, Congress passed legislation extending unemployment benefits for 14 weeks. Those people living in states with unemployment higher than 8.5 percent (California’s rate as of September was 12.2 percent) will get an additional six weeks of benefits beyond that.   Adriana Barbara, customer manager and the sole local face for the Employment Development […]

Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture

Soft tip, dead aim

Play darts for fun and just maybe a bit of profit
by Nicholas Walter

Think you’ve got the chops to put plastic on target inside a space the size of a quarter from six feet away? There are some people at DJ’s Saloon in Lompoc who want to have a word with you.   DJ’s hosts an open soft-tip dart tournament every Sunday starting around 1 p.m. and running […]

Gift this article