Now that this area’s string of special elections has ended, it’s time to start thinking about November. When local voters went to the polls in mid-August, they sent Sam Blakeslee to the senate, and now his 33rd Assembly District seat is vacant. There are three candidates vying for it: Republican Katcho Achadjian—who beat out Matt […]
SARAH SCHWAB
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Helping the next generation
Raising children is tough. It’s even more difficult if you’re a grandparent raising children. However, people in this increasingly common situation aren’t alone. The Area Agency on Aging has begun to offer resources to grandparents who need help raising their grandchildren. According to Aaron Pankratz, manager of the Senior Connection Program run by the Area […]
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Chris Mallory
Baseball coaches on the Central Coast see many good players; however, few leave as strong an impression as Chris Mallory has. Mallory, a second baseman for the Santa Maria Packers, was recently given the California Collegiate League Player of the Year Award, beating out three other candidates in a close vote by league coaches. Mallory, […]
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Two years of achievement
It’s hard to find a job these days. Add a disability to that challenge, and the search for work can be even more difficult. The Achievement House of Santa Maria is celebrating its two-year anniversary of providing training and employment opportunities to disabled locals. Over the past two years, the Achievement House has grown substantially. […]
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Rotary Club gets a new beginning
On June 19, the Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary Club honored its retired president Ted Ortega, who led the club through almost 50 service projects, such as its work in the annual Christmas Parade of Lights, support of the Los Prietos Boys Camp, and Haitian relief efforts. Ortega said in an e-mail that during his time […]
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Money to make the county greener
The Santa Barbara County energy conservation program, emPowerSBC, recently received a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The program aims to provide low-interest loans to homeowners trying to make their homes more environmentally friendly and finances related projects—think installing solar panels or new insulation. It also encourages people to make their homes […]
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Women’s Fund distributes dollars
The Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County has awarded $120,000 to four local organizations committed to ensuring underprivileged women and children get a helping hand. “We are so pleased to be able to award grants to these amazing organizations doing important work serving the critical needs of women, children, and families in the North […]