New human resources concerns and labor laws for employers will be the topic of a Santa Maria Manufacturers Association meeting on March 22. The “Ask the Experts” format will allow attendees to ask questions of forum presenters Sandra Dickerson of Your People Professionals and Michael Sloan of Kirk & Simas. The presentation will take place […]
Meeting discusses HR concerns
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Let them eat cupcakes!
Need to satisfy your sweet tooth? Valley Sweets, a new cupcake, candy, and party shop, recently opened its doors in Solvang. Valley Sweets specializes in cupcakes (two flavors per day on weekdays and four on weekends) with full-size cupcakes priced at $2.50. It also offers homemade marshmallows and old-fashioned Whoopie Pies, as well as vintage […]
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Jewelry store opens in Santa Maria
Locally owned and operated, F&M Jewelry is holding its grand opening in Santa Maria. The store buys, sells, and trades gold, platinum, silver, and diamonds and offers a clothing boutique on the premises. Owner Francisco Arreola Sr. and son, store manager Francisco Jr., say if they can’t match or beat their competitor’s prices, lunch is […]
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Hobnobbing With Helen
Wow! What a place to hold a fundraiser!” exclaimed Susan Rees. “This is unusual,” James Murr observed with a contented grin. “It’s great.” About 200 of us were in a WWII airplane hangar that began life at Allan Hancock College, where it was used in the pilot training program. The historic structure was moved to […]
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Grads learn about community service
Family members and friends filled every seat and the aisle in the Ethel Pope Auditorium in Santa Maria on March 4 to watch their loved ones turn the tassel at Santa Barbara Business College’s North County graduation. During the graduation, Santa Maria City Council member Alice Patino addressed the grads, asking them to delve into […]
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Sunny Country cares for St. Jude Kids
The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the world’s premier center for the research and treatment of catastrophic childhood diseases. In support of the hospital’s important work, Sunny Country 102.5 will be holding the 12th annual Sunny Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon on March 10 and 11. Over the past 11 years, the […]
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North Santa Barbara County jail blues
Though November’s voters refused to fund the construction and operation of a new North Santa Barbara County jail, the concept isn’t dead. In fact, some Santa Maria city leaders are saying it’s a question of when—not if—the jail will be up and running to house the county’s burgeoning prison population. Undeterred by the public rejection […]
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An international air star is coming to Santa Maria
“Anybody that knows any kind of history in aviation will know the name Clay Lacey,” said Patricia Lynn, FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) member and event organizer. “He is an amazing fellow. He’s Mr. Learjet. He’s known internationally, all over the world. It’s an honor to have him in our Santa Maria community.” Lacy has logged […]
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Hancock pushes an early retirement plan
Facing a potential $6 million cut in state funding for the 2011-12 academic year, Allan Hancock College will implement an incentive program to encourage early staff retirement. Administrative officials expect the program to save the college up to $600,000. At a special meeting on March 1, the Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees voted unanimously […]
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Santa Maria-Bonita School Board drama continues
Tension among members of the Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board of Education has reached an all-time high. On the evening of March 2, during the board’s closed session portion, Superintendent Phil Alvarado asked a district staff member to call the Santa Maria Police Department. According to a statement from the district, Alvarado “requested the presence […]
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Common Ground Santa Barbara puts a face on homelessness
Results are slowly trickling in from the far-reaching survey of Santa Barbara County’s homeless population earlier this month. The nonprofit organization Common Ground Santa Barbara recruited volunteers in all parts of the county to gather information about the area’s most vulnerable residents Feb. 28 through March 4. The volunteers approached people living on the streets […]
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Going coastal
When former SLO County Supervisor Katcho Achadjian stepped away from his long-held position with the board after being elected to the State Assembly, he not only left a vacancy with the county, he also resigned from his regional post on the California Coastal Commission, the powerful state regulatory agency tasked with preserving the aesthetically exquisite […]