On June 12, the El Puente Community School in Lompoc will bid a fond farewell to graduating students from the class of 2012 at Lompoc Four Square Church. According to El Puente teaching assistant Naomi Sanchez, some of the students will be joining the workforce, while others will be enrolling for college in the fall. […]
Local students get ready for the ‘real world’
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Going the distance for education
On May 25, Pioneer Valley High School received a $5,000 grant as part of State Farm California’s Good Neighbor Citizenship Program. The school, which is being recognized for its environmental science program, will use the grant money to support student-led programs that focus on environmental awareness and community projects. The funds will also be used […]
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Hobnobbing With Helen
Bravo, Nancy Johnson! A long career of community activism, volunteering, and support of the arts has yielded you yet another tribute. The Santa Maria Arts Council each year honors a community member for his or her contribution to the arts. This year, just after she wound up a demanding two-year term as chairman of the […]
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Spotlight on: Be Right There
Your pet’s next doctor’s appointment could be in your own living room. Be Right There is a veterinary clinic on wheels. The mobile clinic is based in Nipomo but travels all the way to Los Alamos. It’s equipped with diagnostic and surgical equipment, such as blood analyzers, heart and blood pressure monitors, and surgical tables. […]
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Scream for ice cream
Students from Family Partnership Charter schools were able to enjoy a night of friends, fun, and their teachers serving them ice cream at a fundraising event held at Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab in Orcutt. Mark Palmerston, assistant director for Family Partnership Charter; Nancy White, Santa Maria Montessori Instructional Aide; and Mindy Lambert, Orcutt Learning […]
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In hot water?
The husband and wife owners of a Santa Barbara environmental firm are facing felony charges after the California Attorney General’s Office accused them of overcharging and defrauding the state’s water quality agency. On May 10, the Attorney General’s Office filed a criminal complaint in Santa Barbara County Superior Court against Kurt and Julie Hayden, co-owners […]
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An incumbent’s perspective
It seems like just the other day San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian was running for California State Assembly. Now he’s running again—this time for re-election. The Republican Assemblyman said he’s proud of the work he’s done in state government over the last two years, and he’d like to continue representing the recently redistricted […]
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Correction
The May 24 cover story Washington or Bust—a question-and-answer session with candidates for the 24th U.S. Congressional District—incorrectly listed the date of the upcoming primary election. The correct date is June 5.
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Part-time faculty association files a labor complaint against Allan Hancock College
The state agency responsible for overseeing collective bargaining rights for public school employees is investigating a complaint of unfair labor practices against Allan Hancock College. The college’s part-time faculty association filed the complaint last September, alleging Hancock arbitrarily reduced the hours of several part-time counselors. The state’s Public Employee Relations Board (PERB) issued an official […]
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Santa Maria high school superintendent leaving?
The superintendent of the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District could be vacating his post for another job at the end of the school year. Doug Kimberly told the Sun he was on a short list of candidates for a superintendent position at an unspecified district in Southern California, though the decision hadn’t been […]
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Firefighters rescue a swimmer at Red Rock
Members of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department made a dramatic Memorial Day rescue on May 28 at the Red Rock recreational area along the Santa Ynez River. Two engines, a battalion chief, and a helicopter to responded a medical emergency at the popular hangout, as did members of the U.S. Forest Service and American […]
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Nipomo’s big gulp
According to Greg Nester, a builder and developer in Nipomo, the next 30 days are going to be very interesting. All eyes remain fixed on the Nipomo Community Services District (NCSD) and how it plans to address its ongoing groundwater problems. In short, the latest plan is to stop providing new water connections. On May […]