As of press time on Jan. 24, hundreds of cities, redevelopment agencies, and labor groups across California were still waiting to hear the outcome of S.B. 659, emergency legislation aimed at postponing the dissolution of more than 400 redevelopment agencies. The bill is the most recent Band-Aid slapped on the festering wound that is the […]
Money wars
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The saga continues
The curious case involving a pair of San Luis Obispo County men accused of filing false documents against a Santa Barbara County judge continues to drag on, trying the patience of prosecutors and judges. For more than six months, San Luis Obispo marketing executive Jeff Lind and co-defendant Tom Murphy of Los Osos, have been […]
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PG&E admits it ‘lost track’ of 300 miles of gas pipelines
Two years ago, on the night of Sept. 9, 2010, the city of San Bruno, Calif., looked like a battle zone. With a deafening roar and a geyser of flames that could be seen for miles, a natural gas line explosion decimated a residential neighborhood near Skyline Boulevard and Interstate 280 in San Bruno. The […]
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Santa Maria City Council puts proposed sales tax in voters’ hands
Much to no one’s surprise, the Santa Maria City Council on Jan. 17 voted to adopt a series of resolutions setting up an emergency election to decide on a proposed quarter-cent citywide sales tax. With a unanimous vote, council members agreed the “crisis state” of the city’s finances necessitated the special election, to be held […]
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National agencies rally for the steelhead trout
Some local fish are about to get a big hand from the government. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a press release on Jan. 10 that unveiled the agency’s plan to restore the steelhead trout population from the Santa Maria River in Santa Barbara County south to the United States/Mexico border. Steelhead trout […]
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Una Hertzog
There seems to be significance with the No. 1 in Una Hertzog’s life. Besides her name, she started playing basketball in the first grade and, according to the Valley Christian Academy (VCA) girls’ basketball team’s statistics, she ranks at the top in almost every category. But as Hertzog’s stats continue to rise this season, she […]
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Common goals
The old saying goes, “familiarity breeds contempt,” but it certainly doesn’t apply to the Santa Ynez Valley Union boys’ soccer squad. In fact, it’s quite the opposite for the Pirates; the team is in the driver’s seat to win the Los Padres League with a roster of 12 seniors, many of whom have played together […]
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A man and his guitar
The decision to become a professional musician is wrought with overtones of uncertainty. It means depending solely on one’s own talents, skill, endurance, and love for the art. One local blue-collar musician, Patrick Montgomery, made the decision early in life. “I learned guitar as a kid and started building up a repertoire in high school […]
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Learn Japanese with your child
Spaces are still available for the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center’s language program. The infant and toddler playgroup meets Tuesdays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Preschoolers ages 2 to 5 years old meet on Fridays from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., and adults and children ages 6 and older meet on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to […]
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Know someone with a bright mind?
PG&E recently established the Bright Minds Scholarship program as a way to help people pursue a higher education. Approximately 10 scholarships of up to $30,000 each will be awarded, and any remaining awards will be $2,500 each. In order to apply, students must be at least 16 years old, a high school senior or graduate, […]
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Explore Las Flores Ranch Park
Beginning in February, Santa Maria residents will be able to experience the beauty of Los Flores Ranch Park for free with guided nature walks held the second Saturday of each month. The walks start promptly at 9 a.m. and are approximately two hours in length. Participants will learn about oak trees, plant life, birds, and […]
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City holds Madden 2012 tournament
Think you’re a Madden All-Pro? Prove it at the city of Santa Maria’s Madden NFL tournament for seventh to 12th graders on Feb. 4. Entrants will go head-to-head, tournament style, on the Playstation 3 version of the football video game, with a minimum of two games per player. Prizes will be given to the top […]