The Santa Maria Public Library Foundation is spearheading a fundraising campaign to develop after-school homework help centers in the Santa Maria Library system to assist children in grades K through 6 with tutors and technology that may not otherwise be available to them. City Librarian Mary Housel said organizers are hoping to launch the program […]
SHELLY CONE
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Katie Barbarick
Sometimes dreams seem to come true rather quickly, and other times it takes a lot of hard work to make them happen. Righetti High School senior Katie Barbarick, dreamed of playing college softball since she was a young girl. She dedicated years to making her dream a reality, and recently it came true when Barbarick […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
On a path to victory: Santa Maria boxer Karlos Balderas qualifies for Olympic team
As a kid, Karlos Balderas liked to get in trouble. His uncle, Emiliano Balderas, a pastor, took him to a gym to help him work out energy in a more focused way. What nobody knew at the time was that with that one simple action—redirecting a troubled 7-year-old child’s energies—a fateful path was set in […]
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Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board votes to refinance bonds
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board of Education voted to refinance outstanding general obligation bonds at its Nov. 10 meeting, a move that will save property owners more than $600,000 in future tax bills. The refunding bonds, which total about $12 million, were authorized by voters in November of 2000 and used […]
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Care for our Earth grants available
What do implementing a youth bicycle program, planting a drought-tolerant garden, and using solar kits to measure energy have in common? Envisioned by Santa Barbara County teachers and funded by Care for Our Earth grants, those environmental service projects were among dozens last year that showed local students the importance of saving energy, cutting traffic […]
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Migrant Education Program’s event at Santa Maria Fairpark to celebrate farmworkers
Day of the Farm Worker, a free event sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Education Office’s Migrant Education Program and its community partners, will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Santa Maria Fairpark. This family event will provide attendees access to free medical, dental, and vision exams; physical […]
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Students collect socks for those in need
Students at Oakley School collected more than 400 pairs of new socks for children and adults in need in Santa Maria. The students in Cathy Cooley and Sharon Kuhbander’s fifth grade classes at Oakley were recently working on a unit called “Where Do I Belong?” about how people can make a difference in their community. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Jaxon Mosqueda
It’s difficult being 8 years old. There’s school and homework, and of course, practice. For Jaxon Mosqueda that means nearly three hours of weekly gymnastics practice. Jaxon has been involved in gymnastics at KT’s All-Star Gymnastics in the Santa Maria Town Center mall for nearly two years. And though he admits it’s a lot of […]
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Santa Maria plays host to the CCYFL Super Bowl
Football fans still have a few months until the season culminates in the Super Bowl, but for fans of youth football the wait is over. Hundreds of youth football players will meet in Santa Maria for the Central Coast Youth Football Super Bowl Saturday, Nov. 21, at Santa Maria High School. The event is a […]
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Sanchez School celebrates veterans
On Friday, Nov. 6, Sanchez School held its annual Veterans Day celebration. The school invited local veterans to be their honored guests that morning. The veterans were introduced at an assembly and then students honored the vets through songs, poems, and essays. The keynote speaker was Veronica West, the veterans’ counselor at Allan Hancock College. […]
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Santa Maria High School FFA dairy team wins big at national convention
Santa Maria High School FFA dairy team members are now national champions, marking a first time since the start of the school’s FFA Chapter in 1931. The team earned the first place honor after competing against state champions from 39 other states during the two-day national contest at the FFA National Convention in Louisville, Ky., […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Caesar Hernandez
Two years ago Caesar Hernandez decided to find purpose in life. He wanted to make a difference in the lives of others—like he had in his own life—through health and fitness. In his living room with one client, he started Life Purpose Boot Camp and now he helps dozens of Central Coast residents change their […]
