After opening an office in Santa Maria in 2019, the Mixteco Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP) quickly became a fixture in North County communities, particularly known for its translation and outreach services that helped get critical information to local residents during the pandemic. But locals might not know that the organization has actually been around […]
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Camino Scholars program at People’s Self-Help Housing sites helps kids succeed at school, even after the pandemic year
The Camino Scholars program, quite literally, meets kids where they’re at. People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH), the biggest affordable housing organization on the Central Coast, offers a variety of free, site-based services to its residents. One of those services is Camino Scholars, an after-school education program offered on-site at PSHH properties. “We have 11 learning centers […]
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Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project opens program to help build charging stations
San Barbara County has close to $5 million available as part of a $12 million effort to get roughly 1,000 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers installed in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and SLO counties. On Aug. 5, the California Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Project (CALeVIP) will start accepting applications on a first-come, first-served basis. And the money […]
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Allan Hancock College resumes in-person teaching of the winemakers of tomorrow
Allan Hancock College’s Viticulture and Enology Program is the epitome of hands-on learning. Students not only learn the science behind grape growing and winemaking, but also how to operate a winery and actually harvest the crop. Walking into the college’s winery, one is met with wine-stained barrels stacked on top of one another. Against the […]
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Child Abuse Listening Mediation (CALM) helps prevent childhood trauma and supports those who have gone through it in Santa Barbara County
Like many child abuse and domestic violence prevention organizations, Child Abuse Listening Mediation (CALM) saw a sudden drop in calls at the very start of the pandemic. But the abuse that was being reported was worse. “Our referrals went down, but acuity was higher,” CALM North County Regional Manager Yvonne Nelson said. “Of the calls […]
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In lieu of the typical county fair, locals can still find rides, food, and fun at the Santa Maria Fairpark this year
Although the traditional Santa Barbara County Fair isn’t happening this year, those seeking this quintessential summer fun can still get their carnival fix at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Helm and Sons Amusements will continue its Greatest Portable Theme Park at the fairgrounds from July 8 to 11. Helm and Sons is the same company that […]
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The Luffa Farm in Nipomo will teach you something new about nature’s sponge
What comes to mind when you hear the word “luffa”? Is it the brightly colored, meshy plastic bath sponge? The rough, dense exfoliator, often tacked to the end of a wooden stick, that you might find at the drugstore? If you haven’t yet visited The Luffa Farm in Nipomo, chances are these are the only […]
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One woman is bringing paletas to the catering scene with her new pushcart
Brittany Gonsalves was looking to get her creative juices flowing last year after the pandemic halted her business operations. “I was trying to find something to keep occupied, be creative, and have an outlet to stay hopeful and keep going,” she said. She and her husband, Rigoberto Guzman, had started the Central Coast Tacos Catering […]
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Area Agency on Aging runs senior meal delivery while seeking local organizations to take on the service
With CommUnify’s Senior Nutrition Program set to end on June 30 because it’s not financially sustainable, the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens, Area Agency on Aging will be taking over senior meal delivery starting July 1—at least for now. “The Area Agency on Aging is a local entity that’s responsible for bringing in federal […]
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Kid’s Work Therapy uses yoga and other interventions to help kids with developmental challenges to find their balance
The goal of Kid’s Work Therapy, founded by occupational therapist Dr. Stephanie Foster, is simple: to help kids have fun, learn, and live to the best of their abilities. “I’ve been doing private, small, pediatric practice out of my home since 2002,” Foster said of Kid’s Work Therapy, located in Santa Maria. “I started to […]
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The Vaccination Equity Project funded more than a dozen local organizations in their efforts to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine
United Way of Santa Barbara County recently joined forces with the Bower Foundation, Cottage Health, and others to fund 13 local nonprofits that are each working to promote vaccine access and equity. Dubbed the Vaccination Equity Project, the United Way and its partner funders pooled $340,000 into one fund for local organizations to apply for. […]
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Cancer screenings, a key part of preventing and curing the disease, saw a huge drop at the beginning of the pandemic
Between March and May of 2020, Sansum Clinic experienced more than a 90 percent drop in its colon cancer and breast cancer screenings. Dr. Fred Kass, medical oncologist and director at Sansum’s Ridley-Tree Cancer Center, said it was unlike anything he’d seen before. “I think this is really unique,” Kass said of the sudden drop […]
