TUESDAY, AUG. 10 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, suite 141, Santa Maria. Agendas are available at santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Guadalupe City Council has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in […]
Community Notebook 08.05
Posted inNews
Society’s underdogs
Pit bulls have worked very hard to build a positive image. They were the loyal servants of great historical figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Helen Keller, and members of their breed looked after the Little Rascals. These days, however, that reputation has been decimated by trainers who encourage violent behavior through negligence and cruelty. As […]
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Dive chic
The August issue of Playboy listed the top 15 dive bars in the country. No. 6 on that list? Jasper’s in Lompoc. The little town best known for its historic flower industry is now standing proudly with the likes of New Orleans, Boston, New York, and San Francisco. The first time owner Mickey Sarkin heard […]
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The tanner’s dilemma
The price of beauty just went up: On July 1, lawmakers started turning up the heat on tanning salons throughout the United States by requiring them to charge customers an extra 10 percent tax to climb into their UV-powered booths. Congress slid the tax into the healthcare reform act at the 11th hour after surgeon-funded […]
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Supervisors to consider increased funding for county agricultural program
Recently kindled concern over Santa Barbara County’s agricultural future is expected to die down soon. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled at its Aug. 10 meeting to decide whether or not to grant the additional funding needed to maintain the University of California Cooperative Extension program (UCCE). During its June budget hearings, the board voted […]
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Tax lien? What tax lien?
As quickly as it popped up on the political radar, Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado’s tax problem has disappeared. The Maldonado family’s Santa Maria-based farming business, Agro-Jal Farming Enterprises, was recently saddled with an $111,146 tax lien after the Internal Revenue Service claimed company officials used a fleet of trucks for personal purposes. Maldonado, who is […]
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Local business owners file letter in opposition to Measure S
“We’re taxed enough already! Vote ‘NO’ on Measure S 2010.” That’s the opening line of a letter filed on July 28 by Gregory Gandrud, chairman of the Santa Barbara County Republican Party, and a handful of local business owners opposing the addition of a half-cent sales tax on to the November ballot. The Board of […]
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The public clamors over access to dunes committees
When it comes to the often contentious battle over off-roading at the Oceano Dunes, residents of the Nipomo Mesa and recreational riders rarely find common ground. On July 28, however, the two sides were able to agree on something: They want to be involved. At its July 28 meeting, the San Luis Obispo County Air […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
New to the board
PCPA Theaterfest recently welcomed Robert Dickerson to its board of directors. Dickerson is president and CEO of Applied Imaginations, Inc., and has spent the last 25 years in business as an entrepreneur, having successfully founded, grown, and sold several businesses. An active community volunteer, Dickerson has been a member of the Santa Maria’s Community Development […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Help the theater
The Lompoc Civic Theatre needs adults and teens interested in volunteering. There are openings in acting, set building, costuming, props, stage managing, producing, directing, hospitality, publicity, ticket sales, and more, all awaiting volunteers. If you don’t have the time but still want to help, the theater is continuing its Summer Membership Drive. Meetings are held […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
PCPA student gets a scholarship
The Santa Maria Women’s Network recently presented its community scholarships, including the first-ever award to a PCPA Conservatory student. Clare Lopez was among 26 applicants for the scholarship and was selected based on her hard work and enthusiasm in the conservatory, as well as having received her BA in music and theater arts from St. […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Gourd Diva tries something new
Lisa Toth is out of her gourd—at least for the moment. The artist otherwise known as the Gourd Diva has been dabbling with canvas for her latest show at Cypress Gallery in Lompoc. Her gourds will be on display as well, but at the moment, Toth is finding happiness spreading her brightly colored abstracts on […]
