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Fake outbreak

Santa Barbara County agencies weather a mock flu pandemic to prepare for any emergency

Hospital staffers pace up and down the hall, whispering urgently about some kind of outbreak. A woman dressed in scrubs and a red emergency vest enters the control room to talk to someone about the barrage of patients crowding the emergency room. No, this isn’t a cliffhanger scene out of the popular medical dramedy Grey’s […]

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Local heroes recognized for excellence in education

On June 7, the California School Employees Association (CSEA) honored 39 southern California “unsung heroes” at a banquet and awards presentation in Granada Hills.   The honorees were selected from among more than 26,000 school employees represented by CSEA in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties. Award recipients were selected by their co-workers for […]

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Hobnobbing with Helen

Luscious, local strawberries were the theme of Santa Maria Rotary Club South’s Seventh Annual Strawberry Ball on the night of June 14. The berries were everywhere—in the salads and centerpieces, on the desserts, and in baskets on the auction table. This party was as sweet and yummy as the fruit. More than 200 Rotary supporters […]

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Local students help in fight against Alzheimer’s

Children of all ages clapped and cheered during an outdoor assembly on June 11 at St. Louis de Montfort School in Orcutt, as students from Mrs. Cindy Hubbard’s fifth grade class announced that they raised a grand total of $1,047.45 for the Central Coast chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. The organization provides resources and support […]

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June is Adopt-A-Cat Month

In honor of national Adopt-A-Cat Month, the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society, in accordance with the American Humane Society, is encouraging local residents to adopt or a cat or kitten. Also during the month of June, the Humane Society is hosting the “Seniors Helping Seniors” cat adoption program, which waives the adoption fee for people […]

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Community West Bank adds new senior vice president

Sharon Brown is the new senior vice president, director of human resources, for Community West Bank, based in Goleta. She will oversee all human resource functions for the bank’s 150 employees at multiple locations. “Sharon brings over 20 years of human resources experience to Community West Bank,” Lynda Nahra, CEO and president of Community West […]

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Local businessman completes professional development series

Timothy Holt, president of Preservation Capital Group LLC, successfully completed level II of the Professional Development Series at the Grubb and Ellis 2008 Real Estate Symposium. The two-day event was held in Newport Beach, and sponsored by the Tenant-In-Common Association. The topics covered were recent developments in commercial real estate, specifically relating to 1031 tax […]

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Rice Ranch celebrates grand opening in Orcutt

The 580-acre development with a sports field, walking trails, bike paths, and, of course, houses, is now open for business in Orcutt. Western Pacific Land Group, the developer behind Rice Ranch, held a grand opening on June 7 and, according to a news release, about 2,000 people turned out to tour the new housing development. […]

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Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approves new Firestone event center

On June 11, the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission approved plans to use land and facilities, owned by outgoing 3rd District Supervisor Brooks Firestone, for a special events center. The commission voted 4-0-1, with Firestone-appointed 3rd District Planning Commissioner C.J. Jackson abstaining, to send the proposed rezoning and events center permit on to the Board […]

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Santa Maria Restorative Justice Task Force pushes for North County jail, crime prevention

In an effort to create a safer, crime-free community, the Santa Maria Restorative Justice Task Force welcomed members of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department to its June 12 meeting, where they presented the final report and the Blue Ribbon Commission on Jail Overcrowding’s recommendations. According to the report, the Santa Barbara County jail system […]

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Suicide ‘destination’ may soon be no more

Caltrans moves forward with plans to build a Cold Springs Canyon Bridge barrier

On June 13, a passerby who saw a man walking along the Cold Spring Canyon Bridge called for help. When California Highway Patrol officers got there, the man claimed to be out for a walk, but after further questioning, he made a break for the edge of the bridge, said Commander Dominick Palera with the […]

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