Halloween night promises to be a ghoulish time at the Santa Maria Town Center mall, where participating merchants, during “Safe Trick-or-Treating,” will treat costumed kids from 5 p.m. until all the candy is gone. The mall is also home to a super scary Haunted House, open Oct. 22 to 24 and Oct. 28 to 31, […]
Mall scares up a haunted Halloween
Posted inNews
Growing Grounds receives donation
Four members of the California Agricultural Leadership Program, a two-year fellowship affiliated with Cal Poly-SLO, recently donated $2,000 to Growing Grounds Farm in Santa Maria. Lisa Bodrogi, Cara Crye, Ivor VanWingerden, and Erin Huston participated in service projects in Washington, D.C., and South America. In Peru, they fundraised and repaired 30 homes damaged in an […]
Posted inNews
Have a spooky, spectacular, and safe Halloween!
Just in time for All Hallows’ Eve, the Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering tips to ensure all vampires, witches, and goblins—and their parents—have a fun and safe Halloween. According to a press release, the Red Cross suggests: • Walk on sidewalks, not in the street. • Cross the street […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Collian McHaney
The McHaneys’ garage is filled with trophies that belong to both of their sons, who earned the awards at motocross races. But the youngest son, Collian—12, but nearing 13—has earned most of them. Although he’s amassed quite the collection, which has extended itself into the house, it was his brother who brought him into the […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The family that lifts together …
In competitive weightlifting, rarely do three world champions hail from the same hometown, much less the same home. But that’s exactly what makes Los Alamos’s Tawzer family so unique. Between dad Kenny, mom Mary, and son Clay, the “First Family of Powerlifting” holds more than 20 national, state, and world records in the bench press […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Hancock to honor troops at home game
For the eighth year in a row, Allan Hancock College will salute the U.S. Armed Forces during a home football game—the Bulldogs’ contest against College of the Canyons on Oct. 23. The first 200 military members, veterans, and their families who pick up advance tickets will be admitted at no charge, and served a free […]
Posted inNews
Money, money, money, money
Time is money, and political candidates want to maximize both. In the limited window they have to make an impression on voters, between their announcement of their intention to run for office and the day the last ballot is counted, they have to squeeze in as much name recognition, platform pushing, and issue raising as […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Share the dream
Deep in the fiber of Santa Barbara County’s winemaking community courses a strong current of selfless service. When asked, local vintners don’t hesitate to lend a helping hand and are ever willing to share technical advice, the tools of their trade, or their wares for a worthy cause. Since 2008, a group of winemakers has […]
Posted inOpinion
If you could, what instrument would you play?
Eva Bachman receptionist “I’ve always wanted to know how to play the acoustic guitar.” Stephen Ramm sheet metal worker “Piano, because it’s a very expressive instrument.” Brittany Talbot waitress “Piano, because it’s pretty and I like its sound.” Lance Heather division manager “The drums. I used to play them in high school, and it was […]
Posted inNews
School board bout
Whitman vs. Brown. Maldonado vs. Newsom. Capps vs. Watson. When these candidates face off in their respective political races on Nov. 2, voters will probably know enough about their platforms to make a decision. In contrast, many people might not know enough about who’s running for the local school board. With this in mind, the […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 10.14
FRIDAY, OCT. 15 • The Lompoc City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Conference Room, 401 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc. TUESDAY, OCT. 19 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of […]
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Political Watch 10.14
Santa Maria Mayor Larry Lavagnino announced earlier this month that he’s endorsed Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) in her bid for re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. At a press conference on Oct. 5 at the Santa Maria River Levee, Lavagnino mentioned Capps’s work in helping ensure the city received $40 million in Recovery […]