Spotlight

Before COVID-19 orders forced the Santa Maria Valley YMCA to temporarily close its doors, it was more than just a gym. “The Y,” as it’s often dubbed, was a place for people of all fitness levels to gather and get to know one another. “It’s a community at the Y,” said Julie Cruse, fitness director […]

To stay connected amid the physical distance we’re all supposed to be keeping, Lompoc residents Jeremy and Michelle Ball started a morning show to celebrate the city they live in and its residents. “We just thought it was too easy for people collectively to go to a dark place full of fear and panic, but […]

Grocery stores across Santa Maria are rising to the coronavirus challenge by designating specific morning hours for people most affected by product shortages. It’s just one way that local businesses are stepping up to make sure that the most vulnerable populations are getting what they need in times of empty shelves and uncertainty. “Monday through […]

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce’s mission to help local businesses hasn’t changed since the spread of COVID-19, but closures related to the pandemic have prompted a new sense of urgency.  As new local, state, and federal orders roll out aimed at stopping the spread of the virus, most businesses have had to close […]

The Cabrillo High School Aquarium is swimming with exciting new updates that aim to increase accessibility and authenticity for its visitors. The aquarium’s recently completed $250,000 project—funded entirely by grants and community donations—includes upgrades to its aquatic life support system as well as a brand new exhibit called the Interactive Tide Pool. The aquarium plans […]

Drivers traveling on Highway 166, or people looking to purchase some locally made products, can check out what vendors in the Cuyama Valley have to offer at a swap meet on March 15. This is a follow-up to the valley’s first swap meet last fall, which came about after the Blue Sky Center hosted a […]

After earning her Ph.D. in nutritional biology from UC Davis and completing a few years of research—including some time in West Africa—Lacey Baldiviez knew she wanted to return to Santa Barbara County to share her expertise with the community. Baldiviez worked as the executive director of Fairview Gardens Center for Urban Agriculture in Goleta before […]

The federal census is around the corner. It’s slated to begin on April 1.  The U.S. Census Bureau’s mission is to ensure everyone is accounted for, everyone is counted once and in the right place.  To reach that goal, the bureau is recruiting to fill hundreds of thousands of temporary positions across the country, including […]

Amid financial challenges, and a week after its executive director stepped down, the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society announced it’s merging with the Santa Barbara Humane Society.  The organizations announced this change on Feb. 4. This move comes after 18 months of discussions among various animal welfare groups throughout the county about how to work […]

Since the very start of Nancy Puder’s successful 40-plus-year career in real estate, she’s had a special relationship with senior clients. “They’re attracted to me, and I’m attracted to them,” Puder said. “I’m not sure why. I’ve always connected with older people.” Over the course of those years working with the older clientele, Puder said […]

Since 2015, the Audacious Foundation has provided funding to schools throughout Santa Barbara County to pay for learning experiences that can’t be found in textbooks. The foundation started by partnering with five schools in South County, but it has since expanded to 12 schools countywide, including campuses in Lompoc, Santa Maria, and Guadalupe. Foundation Executive […]

Santa Maria will host its second annual Open Streets festival on March 29, marking the return of an event that reportedly drew 20,000 attendees last year. The event is organized by the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), which has sought to bring Open Streets to cities all over the county. The Open Streets […]