Spotlight

Mother-and-son duo Denise and Lucas Neumann traded Los Angeles city living for more open spaces to pursue Denise’s dreams of running a farm. During her time in the city, she became a master gardener and taught people how to make edible gardens in their backyards, but she wanted something more, Lucas said.  “We were always […]

For years, students at Orcutt Academy High School didn’t get to experience the echoing creaks of people clambering up and down the bleachers of their own gym for home games or rallies. Instead, they’d go to neighboring schools in the Orcutt Union School District for sports games, pep rallies, and gym class, said Superintendent Holly […]

Colleen Grant was driving through Lompoc one day when she heard a voice say on the radio, “No child deserves to sleep on the floor.” Although she doesn’t remember the ad’s original intent, she said the message resonated with her.  “I taught preschool for 30 years and worked firsthand with a lot of families in […]

Amanda Sillars worked in nursing homes, home health, and hospice care before finding an alternative path for senior care that she fell in love with, she said.  “Adult day health care is set up to support people so they can remain living in the community happily and as healthily as possible. The entire goal of […]

Lynne Castellanos, a Solvang math teacher, wasn’t super athletic until her daughter went to college and started boxing. Now, the 65-year-old holds several world records in powerlifting, won female athlete of the year in 2017, and runs a nonprofit gym with her daughter as a way to give back to the community.  “We work with […]

Backpacks are a source of pride for students. It’s something they take with them to school and see every day, said Genevieve Flores-Haro, the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project associate director.  “We are currently fundraising dollars to purchase backpacks and backpack supplies—but we’ll also take new school supplies. Pens, paper, notebooks, coloring pencils, markers crayons. It’s […]

The Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved COVID-19 vaccines for the youngest group thus far—children from 6 months old to 5 years old.  Santa Barbara County Health Officer Henning Ansorg said he was really excited that the vaccines were finally approved for little kids.  “It may be a […]

Outdoor space became more important for Santa Marians when COVID-19 hit and social distancing took over, said Dennis Smitherman, the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department manager. “If you drove by a park [in Santa Maria] and it wasn’t full, it was a bad weather day,” Smitherman said. “I think people got used to being […]

Whether kids are the picky eaters who sniff at vegetables on their forks, or if they’re always on the go and need something quick, it can be difficult for parents to get kids all the nutrients they need for their growing bodies.  That’s why the Lompoc Library partnered with the CalFresh Healthy Living UC Cooperative […]

School’s out and summer’s calling all the kids to go outside with friends and get a much needed break from classrooms and academics. For parents, it means it’s time to pick summer programs to ensure a fun-filled three months, and keep their children safe while they have to work.  The Boys and Girls Club of […]

When Shannon Mako moved to Nipomo from San Clemente four years ago, she knew no one and found it really hard to make new friends, she said.  “The nature of the Central Coast is that it’s very small town. Properties are spread out, people have their houses sit further back in their land. You don’t […]

California’s in an ongoing drought, and individuals can do their own part to conserve water with easy solutions, city of Santa Maria Water Conservation Specialist Myra Ritchie said. “We have an ongoing water conservation campaign, the message is, ‘Don’t waste a drop. Let’s save together.’ We tell the community how they can get involved, [and] […]