Local wines are on the menu for the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce’s “A Taste of Summer” luncheon on July 21 at Riverbench Winery. The event’s guest speaker will be Kathy Fleckenstein, executive director of Santa Maria Valley Wine Country. Fleckenstein is also the former director of special events for the Santa Ynez Inn […]
Chamber luncheon highlights wine
Posted inNews
Help-U-Sell will Help-U-Buy
Though the federal government’s program is over, Help-U-Sell is assisting new homebuyers with its Homebuyer Stimulus Program. From now through Sept. 30, buyers can get 3 percent—up to $8,000—paid at closing by the seller of an eligible property and applied to non-recurring costs. Help-U-Sell is a full-service set-fee organization whose brokers are fully licensed by […]
Posted inNews
BofA awards housing grant
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation recently awarded the Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County a $5,000 grant to further affordable housing options in the county. The grant money will go toward funding the Trust Fund’s First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Program and its Revolving Loan Fund, which provides below-market interest rate loans to start […]
Posted inNews
Energy Watch talks efficiency
Retrofitting businesses to become more energy efficient will be the topic of an upcoming joint meeting of the Business Development Committee and Hispanic Business Committee on July 20. The Santa Barbara County Energy Watch Partnership will present information on programs offered by PG&E, So Cal Gas, and other companies to help businesses lower their energy […]
Posted inNews
Got what it takes to be a leader?
Santa Maria Valley has some new leaders in the community. On June 21, a total of 27 local high school students graduated from the second Teen Leadership Santa Maria Valley class, which is run by several local organizations and teaches participants about important valley issues, as well as leadership skills. Graduating class members came from […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Tri-the-Bull is back
It’s not too early to start preparing for the second annual Tri-the-Bull Triathlon, an event organized by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department. The triathlon takes place Aug. 7 at Pioneer Valley High School, and consists of a half-mile swim, 7-mile bike ride, and 3-mile run. Cost is $40 per person or $105 for […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
… and more golf!
Big Brothers Big Sisters and the San Luis Obispo Exchange Club will be host to the Golf for Youth Charities Summer Classic, a 21-hole tournament at the Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo on July 23. Golfers will be treated to lunch, on-course contests, and a post-tournament awards social. Cost is $125 per golfer, and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Golf, golf, …
The Boys & Girls Club of Santa Maria promises a fun-filled day on the links at its 11th annual AG for Youth Golf Tournament on July 26. The tournament is a four-player scramble and will be held at Santa Maria Country Club, 505 W. Waller Lane. Registration opens at 10:30 a.m. A barbecue lunch will […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Alfred Plaza
Alfred “Alfie” Plaza began skateboarding not because of the hit video game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, but because his uncle influenced him. “I started skateboarding when I was 9,” Plaza said amid loud bangs and thumps from nearby skateboarders. “He got boards for me, and he showed me everything.” Once inspired, Plaza knew there would […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
An excuse to horse around
Sure, I played my fair share of video games as a child (R2, R2, L1, R2, left, down, right, up, two times, and it accesses all of the weapons in Grand Theft Auto III). Despite my love for video games, though, I always had fun playing a game of horseshoes. It all began during a […]
Posted inOpinion
Create a path to local jobs
As a mayor and a businessman who cares deeply about his city and county, I am concerned about our economic situation. On a state and national level it is bad, but on the local level, where we can really feel and see it, it is even worse. I gauge my opinion on the fact that […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Buy from the farmers
As the summer season ripens, so do the fruits and vegetables that thrive in Central Coast soil. Growers work year round to put fresh food on our tables, and now’s the perfect time to take advantage of the region’s many farmers markets. With alfresco markets held in Nipomo, Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Lompoc, shoppers can […]