Former Santa Maria-Bonita School District board member Will Smith is running for his third time against longtime incumbent Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino. The two will be joined in this general election by former Santa Maria Joint Union High School board member Diana Perez and first-time candidate Andrew Foster. The Sun featured Patino and Perez […]
Taylor O'Connor
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Supervisors highlight planning, traffic concerns during Arctic Cold discussion
Despite planning challenges, traffic concerns, and additional needed regulations, the Arctic Cold Processor and Freezer facility can move forward with its operations after the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors approved project revisions. “This literally can help bring products of Santa Maria, our berry markets, that can go worldwide because of the nature of this […]
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Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation gets a new executive director
A personal connection ultimately led Brittany Avila Wazny to work at the Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. “My brother was diagnosed with cancer as a teenager in 2008, and that had a pretty big impact on my and my family’s life,” Avila Wazny said. “I understand what families are going through. I realized how fortunate my […]
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Orcutt’s Old Town Quilt Shop offers a space for quilters to learn, practice, and celebrate the craft
Quilts. Table runners. Bags. Shoes. Old Town Quilt Shop teaches and provides the tools, fabrics, and classes for people to quilt a variety of wares. “We prefer bright happy colors, so when you walk into the door it’s bright, happy, warm colors. We do classes at the shop; every single month we have at least […]
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Dance avenues
Allan Hancock College’s dance program gives students a chance to pursue the art
Jolene Moreno rediscovered her love for dance at Allan Hancock College. The dancer and Lompoc native had been practicing the art since she was 3 years old, but her former dance studio became a toxic environment for Moreno, she said as she sat outside of one of Hancock’s dance studios. “It was a competition in […]
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Environmental groups rally against Santa Barbara County oil pipeline settlement
Santa Barbara County, Sable Offshore Corporation, and Pacific Pipeline Company reached a conditional settlement agreement that allows the two oil companies to proceed with installing 16 safety valves on the Las Flores Pipeline, despite the Board of Supervisors’ inaction nearly a year ago. Pacific Pipeline Company—a former subsidiary of ExxonMobil now under the purview of […]
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Santa Barbara County Behavioral Health offers two $2,500 scholarships to those with mental illness or substance use disorder
Going back to school. Rental assistance. Buying professional clothing. These are some of the many ways people can use the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness John Kovacs Scholarship: $2,500 awarded to individuals with lived experience of mental illness or substance use disorder who want to expand their learning opportunities or advance in life, […]
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Park protection
Senior residents advocate for zoning protections after management group plans to convert a Santa Maria mobile home park to all-ages
Rhonda Anderson moved from Casa Del Rio to Del Cielo Mobile Estates after a corporate property management company took over and hiked her rent up by $300. Now, she’s scared it might happen again. Del Cielo, an Orcutt-based 55-and-older mobile home park, fell under new ownership just 10 days after Anderson purchased her home and […]
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Housing, homelessness highlighted in 2nd District City Council Race
First-time candidates Gloria Flores and Benjamin Ortiz are fighting long-time councilmember Mike Cordero for the Santa Maria City Council 2nd District seat. The 2nd District sits between N. Railroad Avenue and N. Suey Road, with the 1st and 4th districts hugging its west and east sides. The Santa Maria River acts as the district’s northern […]
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Farmworkers advocate wage increases at Board of Supervisors meeting
Instead of spending summers at camp when she was a child, Blanca Antonio Aquino—alongside other children of farmworkers—worked in the fields to help their families pay bills. “At age 8, I recall my mom telling me, ‘When you’re picking strawberries, think as if you’re picking up a single cent,” Antonio Aquino told the Santa Barbara […]
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AAUW Lompoc-Vandenberg branch receives Fund for Santa Barbara grant for local election forums
This election cycle, Lompoc has two City Council seats and the mayor’s seat up for grabs, and the Lompoc Unified School District has its second by-trustee area election this November. To help keep residents informed and involved during election season, the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Lompoc-Vandenberg branch received a $10,000 grant from the […]
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Oil tanker tussle
Environmental groups highlight trucking hazards as reason to deny Sentinel Peak Resources’ transport proposal
Three days after Ken Hough told county planning commissioners about “the dangers of crude oil tankers,” a semi-truck carrying 150 barrels of crude oil crashed into another vehicle a half mile from his home. The Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) co-executive director had filed an appeal on the county’s approval of Sentinel Peak Resources’ […]
