When asked what sets him apart from the other Republican candidates running for the 23rd District Congressional seat, Tom Watson said: “I live in the district, for one. I think that’s going to be problematic for [rival Republican] John Davidson.” Davidson, for the record, lives in Thousand Oaks. “I think that’s something [incumbent Democrat Lois] […]
Republican Tom Watson aims to bump Congresswoman Lois Capps out of her 23rd District seat
Posted inOpinion
What do you hate more than taxes?
Hector Ramirez student “Hypocrites, because at least taxes do something, but hypocrites just stab you in the back.” Mike Schmidt medical assistant “Long lines. I just hate waiting in lines.” Leah Payne barista “I can’t think of anything that I hate more than taxes since I’m poor, and they still take my money.” John Breidenstein […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 4.8
U.S. Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) is encouraging her constituents to take full advantage of tax cuts created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Here are some of the new tax credits available: The Making Work Pay tax credit, a tax credit of $400 for an individual or $800 for married couples filing jointly […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 4.8
MONDAY, APRIL 12 • 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, APRIL 13 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s […]
Posted inNews
Hobnobbing with Helen
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Off they went … one after the other … a convoy of electric golf carts at the Santa Maria Country Club, sailing by onlookers on the green and heading for the gorgeous golf course. The carts carried 124 golfers, from up and down the coast, who paid $225 each to play in […]
Posted inNews
Give up your blood
United Blood Services is calling for all rare blood types to donate in an effort to overcome the organization’s low surplus. The group needs primarily Type O-Negative and Type A-Negative, due to high demand. Type O-Negative is considered to be “universal” blood, but only about seven percent of the population pumps it through their veins. […]
Posted inNews
Let’s talk about sex(ting)
Across the nation, thousands of individuals and organizations are dedicated to teaching teens about the importance of safe and healthy sexual habits. There are also plenty of people and groups who advocate for abstinence only. And now, thanks to the increasingly wired world in which we live, those educators are adding another topic to their […]
Posted inNews
Our own fault
The devastating earthquake in Haiti, the massive rocker in Chile, small offshore quakes in Northern California, and the 7.2 temblor that hit Mexicali in recent months have heightened concerns about local geologic faults, especially the potential for damage to the nuclear reactors at the Diablo Canyon power station and the storage casks for spent fuel […]
Posted inNews
Republican candidates for 23rd Congressional District will face off in a public debate
A quartet of Republicans is campaigning for the chance to knock longtime Congressional representative Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) out of her 23rd District seat. The candidates—John Davidson, Dave Stockdale, Clark Vandeventer, and Tom Watson—will match political wits at a public debate on April 25 at the Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall, 1745 Mission Dr., in Solvang. […]
Posted inNews
Talks between Southern California Gas Company and SLO County are at an impasse
Talks between Southern California Gas Company and SLO County are at an impasse A lot’s changed since 1955. Presidents have come and gone. Wars have been fought. Physicists have reshaped our view of space and time. Then there’s the franchise agreement between SLO County and Southern California Gas Company, which has remained virtually unchanged for […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The sound of music
The Central Coast Music Teachers Association hosted a recital recently for music students preparing for spring evaluations. Twenty students offered the celebration of keyboard music, organized by association member teachers Alan Boehmer of Los Osos, Lynne Garrett of Santa Maria, Betty Hansen of Santa Maria, Nell Kauffman of Arroyo Grande, Debbie Lagomarsino of Paso Robles, […]