Though he didn’t notice it at first, U.S. Marine Corps veteran Bruce Bennett came home from Vietnam a changed man. Wounded, but having survived combat, Bennett returned feeling “bulletproof” and ready to take on the world. Over time, however, problems surfaced. He found himself becoming quick to anger, anxious, and fearful of crowds. The older […]
Waging the invisible war
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Community Notebook – 11.04
MONDAY, NOV. 8 • The Santa Maria City Block Grants Advisory Committee has its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. TUESDAY, NOV. 9 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s […]
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Hobnobbing with Helen
More than 800 tickets were sold for the Foodbank’s annual “Empty Bowls” event held on Wed., Oct. 27, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., at the Fairpark. Freelance event coordinator Shana Medrano was the in-charge lady for the day. This whirlwind of energy told me 900 bowls had been produced for and donated to the […]
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If you could have anyone get rid of a bully for you, who would it be?
Jan Bloom housewife “My husband. He has experience with bullies and has a way with people that is just amazing.” Manuel Aguilar letter carrier “Police officer. That’s what they’re there for: to serve the pubic and protect our interests.” Kory Cox grocery store supervisor “Chuck Norris. The only person who could be a bully to […]
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Falling in love with fall
Did you feel it? That chill in the air, dense with the mist of morning fog? Did you smell it? The scent of burning leaves, cinnamon and vanilla, and pumpkins lit on a Halloween night? Did you taste it? The heat of spiced cider taking the chill off your innards and the rich warmth of […]
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District Attorney mulls over charges for SMPD officer
A Santa Maria police officer is on paid administrative leave and awaiting word whether he’ll be charged after his domestic violence-related arrest in early October. Israel Diaz, 25, a sworn officer with the Santa Maria Police Department, was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence by sheriff’s deputies at his Santa Maria Valley residence shortly after […]
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Santa Maria DMV office closes indefinitely
If you thought lines at the DMV were long before, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Coming as a surprise to city officials, the state Department of Motor Vehicles on Oct. 29 announced the indefinite closure of the Santa Maria field office due to “insufficient staffing resources.” According to DMV spokeswoman Jan Mendoza, the closure, which […]
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State propositions get ratified and rejected
On top of the assortment of political candidates California voters had to choose from on Nov. 2, there were also plenty of ballot measures to consider. Here’s what voters had to say: Proposition 19—perhaps the most dubious of the measures—ended up failing by a margin of approximately eight percentage points, thus dashing some Californians’ hopes […]
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The people have spoken
At long last, election season is over. Here are the results: • Former Democratic governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown beat Republican businesswoman Meg Whitman for the governorship 53 percent to 41 percent. Santa Barbara County voters selected Brown over Whitman by a thin 48 to 46 percent. • For the U.S. Senate, incumbent […]
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A rally beyond the Valley
Members of the Colbert Nation and rabid Daily Show groupies rallied together at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 30 to “Restore Sanity and/or Fear.” The celebrity-studded spectacle was the faux liberal media’s response to Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor rally held in late August. However, there’s been plenty of media speculation over whether […]
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Angels seeking angels
Angels Foster Care of Santa Barbara recently opened a new office in downtown Orcutt. The agency is a nonprofit that recruits, screens, and trains foster parents from Santa Barbara County to care for infants and toddlers who have been detained by Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Services due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The new […]
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Luncheon discusses elections’ impact
The 2010 elections have come and gone, and the impact of the results on local businesses will be discussed at a combined meeting of Santa Maria Valley business organizations on Nov. 9. During the luncheon, Trent Benedetti, certified public accountant with Benedetti and Associates Inc., will present his analysis of the election and its effects […]