Spotlight

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 […]

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 […]

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.  […]

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 […]

Community Partners in Caring, an organization committed to helping seniors and those with mobility issues, is on a mission to help the roughly 10,000 seniors in Santa Barbara County who haven’t gotten their COVID-19 shots yet.  The organization has already driven more than 800 miles taking seniors to and from vaccination sites as part of […]

In 2020, individuals all over the state took a leap of faith and adopted furry companions to help them endure the ebb and flow pandemic life.  Colorado State University researchers released a report in November 2020 that found bonding with a pet during the stay-at-home orders reduced feelings of anxiety and depression.  Survey participants were […]

Raising awareness for mental health during May is an annual occurrence for CenCal Health, but this year’s Mental Health Awareness Month holds particular pertinence. After the past pandemic year, more people are struggling with their mental well-being than before. “COVID-19 has certainly had an effect on everyone: National, state, and local agencies have all documented […]

The smell of wood is first to hit my senses upon entering Walk Into Wildfire, an immersive multimedia exhibit on display at the Buellton Recreation Center.  As I walk toward the centerpiece of the exhibit—careful not to trip, as it’s the only light source in the otherwise pitch-black room—I can feel the crunch of mulch […]

It’s been nearly two years since the last Santa Maria Strawberry Festival, a beloved and emblematic annual tradition in the valley. Last year’s event was canceled on March 21, less than a week after the county reported its first case of COVID-19.  While the festival in its usual form can’t return just yet, the Santa […]

Casa of Hope is a nonprofit in Santa Maria that’s dedicated to providing safe housing for survivors of sex trafficking, and Executive Director Ellen Torres understands the importance of this resource from personal experience. She survived sex trafficking in Santa Maria when she was a teenager. “When I was 16 my family moved here from […]

Morro Bay resident Willow Kawamoto, describes the Equality Act as a powder keg. “The result is just an explosion of its own, encompassing so many different aspects of what it means to be a part of the LGBTQ community,” Kawamoto said. “And it’s now obviously affecting children.” The Equality Act, passed by the House of […]

Local residents will be able to access a new mobile observatory and have the opportunity to purchase a Santa Maria-themed children’s bedtime story, thanks to a collaborative project between Leadership Santa Maria Valley class of 2020 and the city Recreation and Parks Department. The mobile observatory, which was unveiled March 20, is part of the […]