The Special Olympics Torch Run, which passed through Northern Santa Barbara County in early June, is a partnership with law enforcement agencies to raise money for the Special Olympics. More than 3,000 personnel participate. In 2014, they raised more than $1.4 million. Santa Maria Detective Nate Totorica has been running the torch for the past […]
SEAN MCNULTY
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Santa Maria’s looking for a new allocation of state water
Santa Maria is looking to obtain an allocation of state water that has been suspended since 1981. The Santa Maria City Council passed a resolution calling for as much during its meeting on June 2 and authorized Mayor Alice Patino to seek such a deal with the Central Coast Water Authority. “We would be remiss […]
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County confirms hepatitis C transmissions at Santa Barbara medical office
The Santa Barbara County Public Health Department confirmed June 5 that hepatitis C was transmitted to five patients treated at the office of Dr. Allen Thomashefsky. The department is continuing to investigate Dr. Thomashefsky to determine if anyone was infected because of unsafe medical practices at his clinic. Working with the Centers for Disease Control […]
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Breakfast of champions: Penny’s All American Pancakes raises money for Hospice SLO County through pancake eating contest
What is it about eating contests that has people so intrigued? “There’s no rules,” Tommy Healy told the Sun. “You can use utensils. You can use feet. Whatever works for you.” Healy is the emertius champion of Penny’s All American Pancake Eating Contest. It goes down in Pismo Beach at Penny’s All American Café each […]
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Pure Natural Juices
Pure Natural Juices is a cool, quiet juice bar at the intersection of Lakeview and the Orcutt Expressway. Stop by for juices, paninis, wraps, waffles, salads, or smoothies. The juice bar is the brainchild of local chef Erik Lachino. “I really like to eat healthy, especially at this time when there’s many diseases,” Lachino said. […]
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Two central Santa Barbara County libraries could fold into one
The Buellton library is facing an administrative shake-up to save costs and cut operating hours by combining it with Solvang’s library. “It’s been talked about for quite a while. It doesn’t make sense that they’re up there in the Santa Ynez Valley quite close to one another but they belong to two different [library] systems,” […]
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DPR detects pesticide above screening levels in Santa Maria
While a recently released report from the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) shows that most of the state has pesticide levels well below those that indicate a health concern, one spot in the Santa Maria Valley gave the agency pause. “The major takeaway of this report is that even though growers in communities like […]
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Madison McNamee
Madison McNamee, senior pitcher for the Cabrillo High School softball team, has not one but three league titles to her name. She’s been honored with League MVP multiple times and throws a mean stinkball. Just after the Sun goes to press on June 2, her teammates and she will play for the chance to enter […]
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Hooked on a feeling: The best on the Central Coast go toe-to-toe with an elite British university on the rugby pitch
Rugby players from Durham University in the UK will play an exhibition game in Santa Maria on June 10. They’ll match up against a team of all-stars pulled from the rugby clubs at UCSB and Cal Poly. The kickoff will be at 5:30 p.m. in Rotary Centennial Park. Julie Villalobos, who with her husband is […]
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Oil and water: Crude hit Refugio Beach on May 19, seeping into the Pacific Ocean from a ruptured pipeline
Refugio state beach stank like gasoline just before sunset on May 21. The sand looked clean, the waves were clear and blue, but above the waterline, the rocks were dark, splattered with oil. Santa Cruz Island, vividly clear in the twilight, stood watch with the derricks as the light of the channel faded into the […]
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Santa Maria forms Code Compliance Volunteer Patrol
The city of Santa Maria is forming a Code Compliance Volunteer Patrol to promote “neighborhood preservation.” The volunteer program, created at the behest of the City Council, aims to proactively educate residents who have potential violations on their property. Volunteers will work in pairs and go door-to-door. They won’t have the power to issue tickets […]
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Raymond Navis
Nipomo High School freshman Raymond Navis is one of two local golfers who made CIF playoffs this year. He’ll golf May 24 at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena and said he wants to golf in the final at Pebble Beach. Navis told the Sun that he enjoys the sense of concentration he gets when he […]
