Medical study shows pregnant women benefit from COVID-19 vaccine
Expectant mothers are encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine after data from the Journal of the American Medical Association Network (JAMA) released a study showing the vaccine’s safety for mothers-to-be and the dangers of the disease. The data from thousands of women enrolled in this study showed that those who got COVID-19 were 15 times…
COVID-19 quarantine protocol causes high student, teacher absence rates
Teacher shortages and student absences within the Santa Maria-Bonita School District have been increasing due to COVID-19 exposures and quarantine guidelines. From Aug. 5 to 31, the district saw 100 positive cases within the 16,800 student population, and 26 teachers tested positive and had to be off-site for the 10-day quarantine protocol set in place,…
Santa Maria awaits state grant to move forward with proposed sports complex
Santa Maria needs a new sports complex to keep youth occupied and off the streets, and with recent county support, the city is one step closer to making it happen. The city’s Recreation and Parks Commission already approved the concept for a 19-acre sports complex located in the Blosser-Southwest Specific Plan, a project that includes…
The Sisquoc Baking Company offers wide assortment of freshly baked breads, bagels, scones, and pretzel bites
Alan Vecente’s prolific culinary career has taken him to professional opportunities in Nevada, Colorado, New York, and Spain, but his latest venture is based in the small Central Coast town he grew up in. In more ways than one, the Sisquoc Baking Company’s origin is a story of coming full circle. The bakery was founded…
Local painter Taffy French-Gray captures colorful, coastal scenes in new solo exhibit, Life’s a Beach: Avila to Venice
Although she was born in New York City, Taffy French-Gray attributes many of her favorite childhood memories to San Luis Obispo, where her family moved when she was 5 years old. “Growing up in SLO was altogether a wonderful experience,” the local artist said. “My family lived near Cal Poly, so we used their tennis…
Community members pay tribute to Solvang Festival Theater’s 47-year history
Local supporters of the Solvang Festival Theater, including board members and community volunteers, have been decorating the theater’s main wall with commemorative words and photos. Construction crews are scheduled to arrive at the theater on Monday, Sept. 13, to start the demolition and rebuilding process of the 47-year-old venue. Reconstruction is expected to be completed…
Local author and retired librarian Nancy Meddings releases new mystery novel
Central Coast local Nancy Meddings (pictured below) is donating a portion of her new book’s proceeds to benefit the Friends of the Santa Maria Public Library. A retired librarian and community college academic dean, Meddings based her novel, Melted Into Thin Air: A Matilyn Rose Mystery, on a manuscript she wrote in 1984. Meddings originally…
Lompoc police and the people they serve are victims of incompetent state-level politicians
There have been more than 50 incidents this year in Lompoc involving misguided people shooting a gun who have no regard for the safety of others. Both their targets and innocent bystanders have been hit and either injured or killed in these incidents. Some were gang related, others were committed by thoughtless people with no…
Sanity shortage
We’ve got a teacher shortage, a nurse shortage, and a student shortage—as in fewer students in school. And if you can guess why, I’ll give you a gold star for effort. Yes! You’ve got it! You’ve been paying attention to the news! It’s because we aren’t having a shortage of COVID-19 cases. In fact, that…
Going it alone is anti-vaxxers’ selfish ‘right’
When COVID-19 first blanketed our country in early 2020, we were indeed “all in this together.” But, after the development and wide dissemination of three effective vaccines against COVID, we all saw that cases declined. Well, that was until the rapid spread of the Delta variant among the unvaccinated. We now find ourselves in a…
California MENTOR Family Home Agency offers housing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Tri-Counties
Central Coast residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the opportunity to find new spots to call home as the California MENTOR Family Home Agency opens its doors. The organization hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sept. 2 for its new location in Santa Maria, which will serve those in Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San…
Political Watch: September 9, 2021
• The Latino Caucus of California Counties (LCCC), along with Santa Barbara County elected officials and community leaders, urged county residents to vote no on the upcoming recall election against Gov. Gavin Newsom at an Aug. 27 press conference. “A successful recall would roll back progress on key issues for the Latino community, such as…
Central Coast hospitals struggle with nurse shortages amid COVID surge
Central Coast hospital officials and state legislators alike are concerned about nursing shortages amid the current surge in COVID-19 cases. Assemblymember Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) and a group of fellow California state legislators signed a letter to Health and Human Services Agency Secretary Mark Ghaly asking the state to let up on its nurse-to-patient…
The city of Lompoc proposes a new cannabis tax measure in order to generate revenue for the city
Seaweed Dispensary owner Todd Mitchell seized on Lompoc’s laissez-faire attitude toward the cannabis industry as an opportunity to open the first and only cannabis lounge on the Central Coast. “Lompoc is a great place [for cannabis businesses]. There are very few municipalities that went for the free market where as long as you meet zoning…
