Santiago Florez farmer “I think it would affect everyone. The farming would take the biggest impact. There’s no way you can tell your plants how much water they can have, otherwise they’re not going to produce. People at home can control their water, but farmers cannot.” Reynaldo Cruz GTE office worker “That would be easy […]
If the city of Santa Maria put out an emergency water restriction, how would that affect you?
Posted inOpinion
Life is passing us by
There’s this movie about all these animated cars that act like people—people with wheels, anyway—and how this quirky tribe of vehicle-men (and -women) lives on Route 66, watching their livelihoods slowly dry up for want of tourist dollars. Here’s the plot: The town operated for years as a waypoint for weary travelers, offering fuel, a […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
I Spy: Olympians on the Central Coast
We’ve seen them battle it out in the sand to become four-time Olympians with three gold medals, and we’ve seen them splash it out in the pool to become some of the best players their sport has ever known. So what happens when the queen of beach volleyball and three masters of water polo come […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Lamont Brown
Airmen are talking explosives now more than ever—not the ammunition some would expect, but rather explosive hip combustion. CrossFit is a constantly varied, high-intensity workout sport that’s catching on like wildfire, and experts say it’s all in the hips. “I have had a life-changing experience due to CrossFit,” said Senior Airman Lamont Brown, a 30th […]
Posted inNews
Salvation Army sponsors school supply shopping spree
Santa Maria’s Target store was bombarded with 30 boys and girls on Aug. 6. They picked out clothing, backpacks, and the school supplies to fill them with as beneficiaries of the Salvation Army in Santa Maria. The organization provides families in need with social services that include youth programs, utilities assistance, food assistance, and more. […]
Posted inNews
Getting orientated to some new digs
Incoming Pioneer Valley High School freshmen had a chance to preview student life at the fifth annual Link Crew orientation event on Aug. 9. More than 600 freshmen were expected to attend. “It’s about making them comfortable,” Pioneer Valley adviser and business teacher Marcie Guerra said in a press release. “We want to establish a […]
Posted inNews
Young golfers tee up to raise funds
The inaugural Santa Maria Saints Golf Classic will help high school students pay for a season of swings. The golf classic will benefit the Santa Maria High School boys’ and girls’ golf teams. The fundraiser will start at noon on Aug. 24 at the Marshallia Ranch Golf Course near Vandenberg Air Force Base. Santa Maria […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 8/15/13
• Looking for something to do on Labor Day? The San Luis Obispo County Democrats will be host to its 56th annual Labor Day picnic Sept. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Santa Rosa Park in San Luis Obispo. U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara), State Board of Equalization candidate Fiona Ma, and […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 8/15-8/22
TUESDAY, AUG. 20 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Agendas are available at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Guadalupe Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, […]
Posted inNews
Furlough ends at Vandenberg–for now
Civilians working at Vandenberg Air Force Base received some good news earlier this month when U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced furlough days would be eliminated as of Aug. 11. The furlough, which began in July, was originally expected to last for 11 weeks. “The Sequestration induced fiscal year 2013 budget has created a […]
Posted inNews
Fallas gets the green light from the Santa Maria City Council
The Santa Maria City Council achieved what some people may have thought was impossible: After nearly three months of discussion, the council will allow Fallas to set up shop in the old Mervyn’s building downtown. On Aug. 6, City Council members voted 4 to 1, with Mayor Alice Patino voicing opposition, to grant the discount […]
Posted inNews
County re-circulates emissions portion of Santa Maria Energy oil project
Santa Barbara County planning staffers haven’t changed their original recommendation for the Santa Maria Energy’s proposed oil well expansion project in the Orcutt Hills, but they have released the latest changes to the project’s draft documents. The original recommendation to the Planning Commission was to approve the project—which sets out to increase the energy company’s […]