Carolyn Kleinsmith lost her nephew to fentanyl poisoning when he was 29 years old. “The effects of that affect our entire family all the time. He was like a brother to my son, and he struggles deeply,” Kleinsmith told the Sun on Feb. 1. “This epidemic is like nothing we’ve ever faced, and it will […]
Taylor O'Connor
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Good Samaritan Shelter receives the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara’s 2022 Outstanding Partnership Award
Starting as a temporary evening shelter for the homeless in Santa Maria churches in 1987, Good Samaritan has since expanded in to multiple shelter programs, sobering centers, detox centers, mental health services, and more throughout Santa Barbara County. “It’s really exciting; we’ve had to grow at a quick pace but it’s exciting to have new […]
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The state wants Santa Barbara County to develop more than 5,000 new units in eight years to combat the housing crisis
Half of the country’s unsheltered population resides in California, according to a U.S. Housing and Urban Development report. In December 2022, the state had 171,521 people experiencing homelessness. “This is more than nine times the number of unsheltered people in the state with the next highest number, Washington,” the December 2022 report stated. “In the […]
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Guadalupe Union will build new TK learning facility, preschool
The Guadalupe Union School District received an $8 million state facilities grant and $2 million in federal appropriations to build an eight-classroom early learning center for the city’s 3- and 4-year-olds, Superintendent Emilio Handall said. “Right now the state is in the process of expanding its transitional-kinder program and thus we need more facilities to […]
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Santa Maria sticks with the county for animal services
After issuing a request for proposal from other agencies to provide future animal services to the city, Santa Maria decided to stick with Santa Barbara County Animal Services in January, Director of Community Development Cheun Ng told the Sun. Santa Maria asked for proposals in June 2022 because it was interested in exploring the possibility […]
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Los Padres ForestWatch launches a web app that shows trail closures throughout the Central Coast
When the Los Padres National Forest announced a 60-day closure in four of its five ranger districts—encompassing a majority of its trails—after January’s storms, nonprofit Los Padres ForestWatch saw the need for a new informational service. Any time there’s a large closure, storm- or fire-related, many members of the public who like to recreate outdoors […]
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Storm disaster assistance centers open in Santa Barbara County
Santa Barbara County residents can visit a Disaster Assistance Center as a one-stop shop to get all of the resources they need while recovering from the storms that drenched the Central Coast in January, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses. These centers are a partnership between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Governor’s Office […]
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New state legislation could require Narcan at schools
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District got ahead of a new state legislation by taking the steps to have naloxone hydrochloride, a medication that reverses an overdose’s effects, at all of its middle school sites, Health Program Specialist Carolyn Kleinsmith said. “I think it’s really important we have Narcan available in schools. Unfortunately, post pandemic, we […]
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Santa Maria residents express concerns about new housing proposal from Santa Barbara County supervisors, nonprofit leaders
Neighborhood safety, home value, drug use, and density concerns met local leaders on Jan. 25 as they introduced Santa Maria residents to a new proposal to put an interim housing facility near the Betteravia Government Center. At the community meeting, one neighbor shared worries about loitering in nearby parks, neighborhoods, and shopping centers. “The people […]
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The Boys and Girls Club can serve more kids through its new, third location in Guadalupe
Through a partnership between the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast and the city of Guadalupe, the newly renovated community center at LeRoy Park will now serve as the Ron Estabillo Clubhouse—continuing child care services for Guadalupe residents. “There’s a real crisis in child care, and what we do for after school programming […]
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Lompoc still uncertain about continuing county Animal Services contract
Although the Lompoc City Council was thrilled to see an Animal Services facility reopened in the city, it still wanted more research into whether contracting with Santa Barbara County was the best option for service. “I was really disheartened and disappointed when the shelter closed. There was no notification, and I do feel like the […]
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Residents want better outreach for Santa Maria annexation project
Mooncrest Lane resident Susan Bryant left a project hearing about a proposed development in her neighborhood unsettled and confused. “Overall I think it’s fair to say that people were frustrated and angry,” the Orcutt resident said. “I think the frustration was not knowing about [the hearing]. The anger was there were questions that didn’t get […]
