The San Luis Obispo County intercommunity transit system, which stretches into Northern Santa Barbara County, has selected a new head administrator following the departure of the previous director in August. On Dec. 22, 2011, the San Luis Obispo County Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board of Directors announced its selection of Geoff Straw as new executive […]
SLORTA selects a new executive director
Posted inNews
Out of Iraq
On Dec. 18, 2011, the last convoy of U.S. troops left Iraq, ending a war that spanned almost nine years and two presidencies. President George W. Bush, with the approval of U.S. Congress, ordered troops to invade Iraq in 2003 to search for weapons of mass destruction and free the Iraq people from the oppressive […]
Posted inOpinion
What are your hopes for 2012?
Skip Gibson Skip Gibson’s BBQ owner “I want to have a kid.” Sang Ko UPS Store owner “Less hope, more change.” Steve Orozco UPS Store associate “More jobs for a better life.” Michelle Baylon Coffee Time barista “To go to Disneyland every month, because I have a year pass.”
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
2011: The Year In Sports
It’s hard to believe another year has fallen off the calendar. Though it’s next to impossible to condense 365 days of thrills, chills, and spills into one page, here were some of the highlights of 2011: In February, behind the play of star forward Ali Langford, the Allan Hancock College men’s basketball team enjoyed its […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Spreading the creativity
This year was a year of firsts, finallys, and last-minute-saves in the local art world. Art aficionados were invited into the art world to take a closer look at how things are made. Some artists found the success they’ve been working toward, while others tapped into the creative process they didn’t know they possessed. Art […]
Posted inOpinion
Which do you like more, hot chocolate or hot cider?
Francesca Ardizzone teacher “Definitely hot chocolate, because who wouldn’t want to drink chocolate?” Jean Shinn retired “I like both. They both give you energy.” Beverly Irwin retired “I like hot cider, because I don’t like milk.” Victor Oneschuck alcohol and drug counselor “Hot chocolate, because it’s richer and more fattening.”
Posted inFood & Drink
Festive fizz
If you usually just grab any bottle of mass-produced sparkling wine at the grocery store for your New Year’s Eve celebration, ring in 2012 by popping open a bottle of “bubbly” made closer to home instead. A surprising number of Central Coast wineries produce sparkling wine; all are available in nearby wine tasting rooms, and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Oh what fun!
Every year during the holidays I start to cringe when I check the mailbox. I know at some point I will open the mailbox and that first Christmas card of the season will be sitting there all gold and sparkly and smarmy. Smarmy because it’s the very first Christmas card and it brings tidings of […]
Posted inNews
Another school year over
Let’s look back on what happened at schools in Northern Santa Barbara County in 2011. There were some highs—schools and organizations received some much-needed grants and supplies—and some lows, like budget cuts and layoffs. Still, teachers, parents, and administrators continued to fight the good fight of teaching children to be good future citizens […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing With Helen
Hodgepodge hobnobbing is the theme of this last column of the year: a little bit of this and a little bit of that—stuff that was overlooked in the year’s regular gad-about reports. First off, if there is one thing Santa Maria doesn’t lack, it’s Christmas tree raffles. The three Altrusa groups in town have all […]
Posted inNews
Little church, big heart
Every Thursday morning, members of St. Peter’s come to their little gingerbread house-style Episcopal church on Lincoln and Cook streets in Santa Maria to set up a people’s food market. Hungry people line up in front of the multi-use room to get food, clothes, and other goods. On Dec. 22, in celebration of Christmas, people […]
Posted inNews
Spotlight on: Lucia’s Wine Company
Though their own tasting room is just a few weeks old, Ben Gonzalez and wife Lucy Laurel-Gonzales are no strangers to the wine business. Gonzales, a third-generation grape grower from Fresno, got his start at Mondavi Properties, moving on to run Sierra Madre, Gary Ranch, and Byron vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley. His wife […]
