Career technical education courses give students the opportunity to learn from professionals in fields like engineering; business and finance; agriculture; and media, arts, and entertainment, said Noelle Barthel, director of curriculum and instruction for the Santa Barbara County Education Office. “Many students participate in career technical education classes; there are different academies and stand-alone courses […]
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Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm celebrates the flowers’ peak bloom and grand opening with July events
The lavender at Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm is coming into full bloom just in time for the farm’s grand opening, Lucas Neumann said. Neumann works as the vice president of the Lompoc-based farm alongside his mother, Denise. The pair held a soft-launch for their farm in 2022 with property tours and private events because […]
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Central Coast cities host panel discussions and screenings of new film, American Hospitals, Healing a Broken System
See for yourself To request a showing of American Hospitals, Fixing a Broken System, visit fixithealthcare.com/host-a-screening to sign up to host a free screening of the film in your community. While he doesn’t believe the current hospital industry is wholeheartedly corrupt—and in fact, he’s proud to see the innovations the industry has made over the […]
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Rescue shelter holds Pony Parties for children to spend quality time with farm animals
As someone who’s worked with animals and as an agriculture teacher her whole life, Julie Hilton wanted to share this lifestyle with others. In 2021, Hilton and her two daughters opened up Hoofprints—a farm animal rescue center that teaches children and youth how to work with the animals. “Ideally, it’s just basic animal care: how […]
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The Rainbow House Inc. celebrates Pride Month with a drag brunch fundraiser for education, health kits, and nonprofit general funds
Support with a show The Rainbow House’s Drag Brunch on June 24 serves food at 10:30 a.m. and then the show runs from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Craft House at Corque—420 Alisal Road, Solvang. General admission tickets are $125 and VIP are $225 and are available at therainbowhouseinc.com. Pride-themed banners will hang […]
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The Santa Maria-Lompoc branch of the NAACP hosts its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration
June 19, 1865, marked the end of slavery in the United States, with Texas ending slavery two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. “[Former slaves] celebrated the end of a very brutal and horrific time in their lives where they were treated less than,”said Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP branch president. “We continue the celebration […]
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Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley hosts educational opportunities for parents, students about substance use
Educational opportunies Visit fbsmv.com, like Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley’s Facebook page, or follow them on Instagram @fbsmv to stay up to date with the nonprofit’s parent and youth education and substance use prevention programs. Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley formed in 2003 as the Drug and Alcohol Coalition to educate the community’s youth on […]
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Central Coast Pride brings Pride Prom to students across the coast as part of month-long celebration
There’s a new prom in town for high school students from North Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, one that’s helps celebrate the LGBTQ-plus community on the Central Coast. “It’s all about gathering together with your community and dancing, or putting art together, or just making new friends,” Art and Soul founder Faith LeGrande […]
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Sunshine Poker League brings the community together while supporting charities
About five years ago, a man who goes by Donnie Sunshine moved to Santa Maria from Philadelphia and started a free local poker league called Sunshine Poker. Sunshine fell in love with the game while playing in a Philadelphia bar league called River Chasers. He decided to start one of his own on the Central […]
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Social justice organizations invite community members to apply for six-month leadership development program
To get more members from historically marginalized communities serving in public leadership, the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) launched a program to better equip Santa Barbara and Ventura county residents. “There can be so many personal and societal [influences] that prevent well intentioned people from serving in public leadership,” said Hazel […]
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Junior high school teacher-hosted spin class fundraiser benefits Cottage Children’s Hospital
When Amanda James’ mother passed away last Christmas, it made her want to do something to give back to her community. As someone who’s always been into health and fitness and as a special education teacher at Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s Tommie Kunst Junior High School, she said wanted to do something that would benefit […]
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A Bridge of Hope aspires to keep local seniors in their homes through care coordination, subsidies
Nipomo resident Janice LaMere found her life’s calling through an all-too-relatable personal ordeal. When her father was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia in 2011, he moved into her house for long-term care. There was no better option—at least not one they could afford. “My parents lived in Paso Robles and I lived in Nipomo,” LaMere […]
