Whether you have an antique chair you’re willing to part with for charity or you just want to clean out the garage, your chairs are welcome at the Los Alamos Chair Faire. “People ask me, ‘Should I bring out one or all six?’” said Chair Faire organizer Connie Rohde of C Gallery. “I say bring […]
Have a seat
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The sky and everything in it
There was once a day—when I was much, much younger and Lasik eye surgery hadn’t yet been invented—that I was nearly legally blind. But since I was a teen and looking good was way more important than, well, looking clearly at anything, I refused to wear glasses or contacts. Walking around in this constant state […]
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‘Flight of the Valkyries,’ Santa Maria style
Members of a U.S. Marines squadron staged a mock air assault at the Santa Maria Public Airport on July 27 to simulate the combat tactics that have earned them multiple awards, including the Presidential Unit Citation. Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 hails from Camp Pendleton and is being deployed soon on its eighth tour […]
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Congress moves to restore unemployment benefits
After more than a month without federal assistance, the almost 20,000 unemployed residents in Santa Barbara County and 13,700 unemployed residents of San Luis Obispo County can expect to qualify for extended unemployment insurance payments. On July 20, U.S. Senate Democrats mustered the 60 votes they needed to end debate on the bill, which includes […]
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Vandenberg welcomes a new squadron
Officials at Vandenberg Air Force Base will hold a July 30 dedication ceremony in Lompoc for the new Ellison Onizuka Satellite Operations Facility—now home of the 21st Space Operations Squadron. The squadron, along with base operations for Onizuka Air Force Station, was recently transferred to Vandenberg, following the Sunnyvale-based station’s closure. According to a press […]
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Laetitia project’s road to development gets even longer
A proposal to transform land currently occupied by Laetitia Vineyard and Winery into an agricultural cluster subdivision project has hit another snag in the development process. The most recent problem: Is there enough water for the facilities? If approved, the Laetitia project would include 102 residential lots, a sewage treatment plant, and a dude ranch, […]
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Future Bulldogs: Get to know Hancock College
All students going to Allan Hancock College for the first time this fall are required to attend an orientation, college officials announced earlier this month. Hancock’s “Mega” orientations will be held Aug. 10 at the Santa Maria campus and Aug. 11 at the Lompoc Valley Center. Smaller one-hour events are scheduled several times through Sept. […]
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Be a P.A.L. to local teens
The Police Activities League (P.A.L.) is looking for adults to make a difference in the lives of Santa Maria’s teens. P.A.L. is in the recruitment phase of its new mentoring program, which provides recreation and leisure programs taught by local law enforcement officers and volunteers to the community’s youth. Program mentors are required to spend […]
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Rape crisis center seeks volunteers
The North County Rape Crisis & Child Protection Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing sexual assault and child abuse, is looking for volunteers to begin hotline training at its Santa Maria and Lompoc locations. Training consists of a wide spectrum of information, from legal prosecution and child abuse, to helping clients deal with depression […]
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Summit addresses clean business
Business owners throughout Santa Barbara County are invited to attend the California Coast Venture Forum’s 12th annual Clean Business Investment Summit on Aug. 13, focusing on the expanding field of entrepreneurship. The summit’s purpose is to allow clean tech, green, socially responsible, and sustainable enterprises to present their companies to investors looking for viable, ethical […]
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Fair draws fewer, sells more
The 2010 Santa Barbara County Fair saw fewer people come through the turnstiles, posting a five percent decrease in attendance from last year’s record numbers, Santa Maria Fairpark officials said. During its five-day run, 126,173 fairgoers experienced “Summertime Fun” at the fair, slightly down from the all-time high of 133,190 attendees in 2009. In a […]
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Abigail Salazar
As the leadoff batter and first baseman for the Orcutt Youth Softball Association’s 8U All-Stars, Abigail Salazar lit the spark under the Sparks. With her bat and hustle, Salazar helped lead her team to a 9-8-1 record. The Sparks won the Nipomo tournament in June, going 3-0, and followed it up two weeks later by […]