Spotlight

Santa Maria and Paso Robles-based insurance brokerage firm Byars Thompson Buchanan Insurance and Financial Services recently joined the HUB International Team of insurance agencies. HUB International is the 10th-largest insurance broker in North America. Byars Thompson Buchanan formed in 2001 and brokers employee benefit and insurance programs for people and businesses throughout the Central Coast. […]

Santa Barbara Women Lawyers announced the group would award Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County’s Executive Director Ellen Goodstein with the 2010 Deborah Talmage Attorney of the Year Award on Dec. 11. The honor recognizes outstanding legal professionals who are dedicated to the success of women, mentor colleagues and other women, personify professional excellence, […]

After more than 50 years in Guadalupe, the Minetti family, owners of the award-winning Far Western Tavern, will be moving the restaurant to a new location in Old Town Orcutt in late 2011. The new location at 300 Clark Ave., like the current restaurant, will feature separate downstairs bar and dining areas, along with an […]

Celebrating nearly 40 years in business, Lassens Natural Foods and Vitamins is showing appreciation for its customers with a holiday fair at its Santa Maria location on Dec. 11. Lassens is inviting the public—frequent customer or not—to come for a day of free gift basket giveaways, raffles every hour on the hour, taste tests, and […]

The 2011 Santa Barbara County Fair is still months away, but the deadline to register as an independent livestock exhibitor is coming up on Jan. 31, 2011. Independent exhibitors include those not affiliated with the 4-H Club, Future Farmers of America (FFA), or the Grange Club. Exhibitors must be at least 9 years old, but […]

Coinciding with the busiest shopping time of the year, Santa Maria Electric, Inc. is installing brighter and whiter lighting at the Town Center mall’s city-owned parking structures, replacing the amber-colored sodium lights used previously. The contractor replaced lighting on the lower level of Parking Structure A with induction lights, resulting in better visibility for shoppers […]

The Santa Maria Town Center mall is getting into the Christmas spirit as part of its regular “Movies at the Mall” series, showing the animated children’s favorite The Polar Express on Dec. 11.   The movie will show for free near the Red Robin restaurant, with seating beginning at 4 p.m. and the showing starting […]

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is kicking off the holidays with festive music, a visit from Santa Claus, and more at its annual Christmas Luncheon, scheduled for Dec. 8 at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, beginning at noon.   The 81-student choir of Orcutt Academy’s K-8 campus will be returning for an encore […]

Angels Foster Care, a private, nonprofit foster family agency serving infants and toddlers entering foster care for the first time, recently opened a new office in Orcutt.   The Angels’ mission is to match each foster child with a local selected family who agrees to keep the child as long as he or she is […]

The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association (SYVVA), a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable tourism, will hold its annual Autumn Mixer and Silent Auction from 4 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Fresco Valley Café. Admission is free and open to the public. Complimentary refreshments and wine tasting will be provided. Guests can also participate in […]

The University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) and the Santa Barbara County Workforce Investment Board are offering free “Train the Trainer” courses in Guadalupe and Santa Maria. The hands-on training sessions aim to provide local organizations and agencies working with youths aged 14 to 24 the tools to build workforce readiness in their clients and […]

Flower Carriage and Gifts in Santa Maria is holding its annual Christmas Open House Nov. 18 through 20 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Shop owners Susana and Ricardo Naranjo will meet with customers, showcase top designers, and present one-of-a-kind gifts. Customers will also be able to sample holiday treats and drinks and sign up […]