A new program in the Santa Maria Public Library system will allow patrons to borrow seeds to plant for growing various vegetables, spices, and flowers. Community members may come to any of the five libraries (Cuyama, Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Orcutt, and Santa Maria) in the Santa Maria system to collect the seeds. “Hundreds of public […]
SPENCER COLE
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Rock Front Ranch avoids damage from Front Fire
Alisha Taff remembers the heat on Sunday afternoon and the horns from a U.S. Forest Service worker’s truck blaring her day into action as a wall of flames approached her home and property at Rock Front Ranch off Highway 166. “It was crispy,” she said of the moment the Front Fire sprang to life a […]
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Supervisors approve loan for Santa Maria affordable housing project
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved more than $3 million in federal, county, and city loans to help fund an affordable housing project in Santa Maria. “There’s been an increased sensitivity in the city of Santa Maria for folks that are homeless and there’s been a considerable push for outreach,” 5th District Supervisor […]
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Spotlight on: Pristine Physique – Gary Gorospe, owner
Pristine Physique‘s owner Gary Gorospe knows fitness. The amatuer body builder used to compete throughout California, and the certified personal trainer says that staying in shape isn’t just a business for him; it’s a way of life. “You have to live that lifestyle; it’s something you have to adhere to. … It’s your breakfast, lunch, […]
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Santa Barbara County cities, nonprofits, take on homelessness and poverty with varying results
There’s no silver bullet for solving homelessness and poverty, especially in Santa Barbara County, where roughly 1 in 5 residents live at or near the U.S. federal poverty level. But in a city like Santa Maria, with more than 100,000 residents and high concentration of at-risk populations, the solutions sometimes have to come in the […]
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Santa Barbara supervisors hear plan for Santa Maria affordable housing project
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors heard a proposal on Aug. 14 for an affordable housing project in Santa Maria. In total, the Housing Authority of Santa Barbara, the developer of the Residences at Depot Street, is seeking a little more than $3 million in federal loans to be approved by the county. The […]
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Solvang to allow medical marijuana, for now
In a race against the clock to pass cannabis regulations before the Aug. 14 deadline, the Solvang City Council passed the first reading of an ordinance that effectively allows medical marijuana operators to set up shop on the western side of the Santa Ynez Valley community. The 4-1 vote came about on Aug. 13 at […]
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Spotlight on: The Ultimate Escape Rooms – Alexis Crouse, co-owner
Central Coast residents and visitors have a new place where they can “escape” from the real world. The Ultimate Escape Rooms, a Ventura-based company, plans to open its doors at 485 Alisal, suite 120, in Solvang sometime this month. The business’s main attraction? Its name says it all. “Real-life room-escape games are a type of […]
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Lacking resources: Santa Barbara County and cities battle high poverty rate
Santa Barbara County has one of the highest poverty rates in California. A new report recently released by the nonprofit think tank Public Policy Institute of California shows the Central Coast municipality’s 23 percent poverty rate trailed only Los Angeles (24.3) and Santa Cruz (23.8) counties. Likewise, childhood poverty was found to be equally dismal […]
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Santa Maria responds to grand jury report on pensions
The Santa Maria City Council responded to a Santa Barbara Barbara County grand jury report on Aug. 7. The city’s answer included two recommendations, which Santa Maria officials say the city has already implemented, as well as several findings that the city partially disagreed with and noted in its letter, sent by Mayor Alice Patino. […]
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State Sen. Jackson’s bill targets wildfire prevention
As much of California burns in the middle of a particularly bad fire season, one bill penned by a Central Coast state senator is making its way through the Assembly. Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) Senate Bill 1260 aims to improve “forest management practices to reduce the risk of wildfires in light of our changing […]
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USDA grant program serves as reminder for needed work on Central Coast
On July 30, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a series of grants and loans it awarded to help upgrade and rebuild rural water infrastructure. “[The] USDA is committed to being a strong partner to rural communities in building their futures,” assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlet stated. “All people–regardless of […]
