The supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the Cold Spring Canyon Bridge Suicide Barrier Project on State Route 154 is available for public viewing, Caltrans announced earlier this month. Caltrans completed the supplemental report after a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge ruled that the organization violated the California Environmental Quality Act by not […]
Political Watch – 12.16
Posted inNews
Community Notebook – 12.16
TUESDAY, DEC. 21 • The Guadalupe Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 918 Obispo St., Guadalupe. • The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. Agendas are […]
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Hobnobbing with Helen
The logistics involved in pulling this off were amazing,” Lynn Fernbaugh said with a warm and gracious laugh. “We have detailed plans and schedules, telling each of us what to do at exactly what time.” The “we” she was talking about? Herself and husband Richard, Robert and Sandra Dickerson, and Jim and Kelly O’Neill. The […]
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Doing their part
The holidays, while fun and festive, can be a very tough time of year, especially in a sluggish economy. Money might be tight, but that only increases need in the community. Despite the economic hardships, however, Santa Maria city employees were able to raise more than $23,000 for the Northern Santa Barbara County United Way—a […]
Posted inOpinion
Where’s the word from local workers?
I was disappointed to see the lack of balance in Dec. 9’s “Chemical warfare” story regarding the approval of methyl iodide. I had hoped the article would quote actual workers or farmers here in Santa Maria Valley rather than known opponents of pesticides as a whole, whose opinions are nothing if not predictable. These comments […]
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Bonita gets ugly
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District Board of Education has experienced a leadership shakeup—or at least a reshuffle. District Superintendent Phil Alvarado started the Dec. 8 school board meeting by swearing in incumbent Bruno Brunello and newcomer Will Smith, who beat out longtime board member Jody Oliver in the November election. That victory, however, is receiving […]
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County supervisors tighten laws for tobacco retailers
Watch your pack, Santa Barbara County. New restrictions on where tobacco-selling stores can be located, and the stiffening of penalties against stores that sell to minors, went into effect on Dec. 9. The new ordinance comes after the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted on Nov. 9 to amend tobacco control sections of […]
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He’s baaaack!
Thought you’d seen the last of former Santa Barbara County Executive Officer Mike Brown? Well, think again. Brown, who served as the county’s top employee for 14 years—until retiring in October—will now be on the payroll of the Agriculture, Business, and Labor Educational Coalition of San Luis Obispo County (COLAB of SLO). In a recent […]
Posted inOpinion
Thanks, Orcutt, for the successful parade!
Yesterday, Dec. 11, the 49th annual Old Town Orcutt Christmas Parade went off (almost) flawlessly. The weather certainly cooperated, but more than anything else our town showed once again how very much it embraces the principles of community. We had wonderful support from the citizens who attended the event in droves and from the merchants […]
Posted inOpinion
Let’s tackle the taboo
Thank you for having the courage to talk openly about child abuse and neglect in our community “(Talk about what’s too terrible to talk about,” Dec. 2). The circumstances surrounding the death of this young boy are certainly heartbreaking, and as a community, we need to respond—not only by scrutinizing the court proceedings and asking […]
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Comcast expands digital offerings
Cable television provider Comcast is switching over more channels to digital signals in Northern Santa Barbara County, requiring some customers to add new equipment. Expanded-basic cable subscribers in Santa Maria, Orcutt, Lompoc, and the Santa Ynez Valley who don’t have set-top cable boxes will need to add digital boxes by mid-February. Comcast will provide those […]
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Insurance broker joins HUB
Santa Maria and Paso Robles-based insurance brokerage firm Byars Thompson Buchanan Insurance and Financial Services recently joined the HUB International Team of insurance agencies. HUB International is the 10th-largest insurance broker in North America. Byars Thompson Buchanan formed in 2001 and brokers employee benefit and insurance programs for people and businesses throughout the Central Coast. […]