Spotlight

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control has issued an alert to manufacturers and vendors supplying jewelry for fairs and festivals to watch for lead-tainted items. The Lead-Containing Jewelry Law went into effect on Sept. 1, 2007, and limits the amount of lead in children’s jewelry to either 220 parts per million (0.02 percent) or […]

Bringing Our Community Home, an organization dedicated to ending chronic homelessness in Santa Barbara County, recently announced John McInnes as its new governing board member. McInnes was recently appointed assistant county executive officer and interim housing and community development director for the county. He’s responsible for managing the county’s Tea Fire Recovery Services, economic stimulus […]

The Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross recognized the generosity of 11 businesses and foundations that have lent financial assistance to its efforts in responding to the Jesusita Fire. In addition to a $40,000 grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation, the chapter received $10,000 gifts from Blue Cross/BlueShield, the Hutton Foundation, Sempra […]

The Committee to Improve North County announced that former Santa Barbara County supervisor Harrell Fletcher will be honored with a lifetime achievement award at the group’s luncheon on July 15. Each month, Committee INC features speakers and subjects important to Northern Santa Barbara County. Fletcher, this month’s keynote speaker, is a longtime member of the […]

Orcutt’s first ever antique and collectibles show will take place July 18 in the Old Town Market parking lot from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free to attend and is being sponsored by a dozen local antique dealers who’ll be on hand to show off their furniture, linens, glassware, jewelry and fine […]

On June 10, Women’s Economic Ventures announced that the group has received a $25,000 grant from the Citi Foundation. The group said the funds would go toward supporting WEV’s Small Business Loan Fund, which provides loans to pre-bankable micro-enterprises. Citi and the Citi Foundation have supported Women’s Economic Ventures since 2002 through corporate sponsorship and […]

Burger lovers burnt out on Mickey D’s have a reason to visit the Santa Maria Town Center: Deckers Burgers, recently opened upstairs near Macy’s, is a throwback to pre-corporate restaurants. Its signature burger features fresh ground beef served on a crisp Kaiser bun with premium cheese and a special creamy “Deckers’ Sauce.” With the help […]

Business owners are invited to attend a July 14 meeting by the Human Resources Association of the Central Coast to learn more about how the Department of Fair Housing and Employment investigates complaints.   In honor of the Fair Employment and Housing Act’s 50th anniversary, Mary Bonilla will speak on the department’s complaint process, what […]

As part of a public service campaign, Great American Self Storage of Santa Maria is collecting electronics to keep them out of landfills. So far this year, the company has collected and forwarded for recycling more than 8,450 pounds of computers, monitors, printers, and television sets. Santa Maria and Orcutt residents can drop off their […]

Busy North County parents now have an online resource for planning activities and connecting with other parents, thanks to a new website launched by a local mother of seven.  Michele Daniels started northsbcounty parent.com to help parents research schools, camps, and classes quickly and easily. It features coupons and discounts from local businesses, monthly contests, […]

The Santa Barbara Foundation’s Katherine Harvey Fellows recently awarded grants to two groups in the Santa Maria area. Good Samaritan Shelter, which provides emergency services to the homeless and people in recovery in Santa Maria Valley, received a $20,000 grant. Growing Grounds Farm Santa Maria, which combines horticultural therapy with vocational training to provide mentally […]

Sunset Magazine named Guadalupe’s historic Far Western Tavern as one of the West’s “Top 10 Barbecue Joints” in its June 2009 issue. The restaurant is considered a landmark of the 150-year tradition of Santa Maria-style barbecue and has been owned by the Minetti-Righetti family since 1958. It specializes in dishes reflecting Swiss-Italian ranch heritage, including […]