Although 40 percent of all foster children are between the ages of 13 and 21, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it can be more difficult for older children to find foster homes. The Central Coast office of Aspiranet, a social services agency headquartered in San Francisco, will hold a Community […]
SARAH PARR
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New Guadalupe Union School District superintendent appointed
Ed Cora, principal of Tommie Kunst Junior High School in Santa Maria, was appointed superintendent of Guadalupe Union School District at a special board meeting at Mary Buren Elementary School on May 25. The school board unanimously approved his appointment, as a packed room of spectators looked on. People from the Guadalupe district and the […]
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Athlete of the Week: Austin Kaiser
For freshman Austin Kaiser, playing golf in college was a rude awakening. He realized other golfers could perform just as well as he did, and balancing a love life, academics, a job, and golfing is anything but easy. Kaiser, however, was one of two golfers at Allan Hancock College who finished in the top 10 […]
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‘Brotherhood’ celebrated at AHC’s Fire Academy commencement
After almost 600 hours of classroom and manipulative skills training, class 122 and class 124 of the Allan Hancock College Fire Academy had reason to celebrate at their graduation ceremony on May 20. Forty-eight men and women gathered at the Calvary Chapel of Santa Maria on Santa Maria Way before a packed audience of family […]
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Know a teenager who wants to make a difference?
The Fund for Santa Barbara is now accepting applications for its grant-making program, Youth Making Change. Launched in 2008, Youth Making Change gives teenagers the chance to oversee the dispersal of grants to various nonprofit organizations. Each Youth Making Change board—there’s one in Santa Maria and one in Santa Barbara—gives out a total of $10,000 […]
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Local high schoolers have painting pride
After a brief hiatus, the Santa Maria Rodeo Window Painting and High School Art Competition is back in action. Once an annual custom in town, businesses will now allow art students from every local high school to publicly display their artistry on the businesses’ windows through the end of Rodeo Weekend, June 5. The designs—which […]
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Blending technology and agriculture
After years of planning, a hydroponics company finally comes to Santa Maria
When the words “hydroponics” and “growing” are mentioned together, the first thing that might come to mind is the cultivation of marijuana, whether for legal medicinal use or illegal recreational purposes. Hydroponics cultivation allows the grower to control the environment in which the crop is grown as well as when the plant flowers, and it’s […]
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Austin Ruskauff
Austin Ruskauff may not have his driver’s license yet, but he knows a thing or two about sitting behind the wheel and going fast. Since 2005, the 16-year-old has regularly raced at the Santa Maria Speedway. He began driving go-karts on asphalt, but this year, he’s graduated to the adult hobby stock class. It’s a […]
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Pink slips issued for Santa Barbara County employees
At the beginning of this month, approximately 130 Santa Barbara County positions were cut to help close a $72 million budget deficit. Jeri Muth, interim human resources director for the county, said in addition to the pink slips for some current employees, some unfilled positions were also eliminated. However, the total number of employee reductions […]
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Lending a hand
More than 100 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints tossed on bright yellow vests and got their hands dirty on April 30—“Helping Hands Service Day.” The people—under the banner of Mormon Helping Hands—were part of a volunteer effort to serve local communities. The mission of Mormon Helping Hands is to provide […]
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Guadalupe gears up for a utility-fee increase meeting
A water and sewer rate increase has been proposed for the city of Guadalupe. Leaders cite current rates as insufficient to meet the costs of operating the system, debt obligations, and financing for needed upgrades for the present and future of an aging system. The city’s water and wastewater systems run the risk of deterioration […]
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Death of 19 turkeys is consistent with a predatory attack
Nineteen turkeys were killed at Nipomo High School during the evening of April 26. The manner of their slaughter appears to be consistent with a predatory attack, according to a press release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department. Although human involvement hasn’t been ruled out, visible puncture wounds paired with necropsies conducted on […]