Parents searching for an all-inclusive extracurricular activity guide for their kids, look no further: Kidzmet.com—a new website archiving local activities and events—recently launched in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Kidzmet.com gives busy parents the ability to search and compare classes by several categories, including driving distance, age, interest, day, time, rating, and price […]
New ‘kidz’ website logs local activities available to families
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Help send Nipomo High’s robotics team to Dallas
If you fund it, they will go: The Nipomo High School robotics team is scrambling to raise $10,000 in two weeks to compete in the 2010 VEX World Robotics Clean Sweep Championships, to be held April 22 through 24 in Dallas, Texas. And the donations definitely won’t be wasted, according to team advisor Greg Gracia. […]
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Get energy efficient
Learn how to access programs that will help make your business or home energy efficient at the next Manufacturers Association meeting on April 27. PG&E and Santa Barbara County are putting on an Energy Information Workshop at the event, beginning at 7:30 a.m. VTC Enterprises, located at 2445 A St. in Santa Maria, will be […]
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Celebrate Earth Day with green cleaning
Millions of people around the world will celebrate Earth Day on April 22, and Rod Chilcoat, owner of Kleanerette Dry Cleaners and Laundry, is asking people to think bigger than the one-day observance. Chilcoat’s business switched to environmentally friendly dry cleaning in 2002, using a GreenEarth Cleaning process without air-polluting volatile organic compounds. Dry cleaners […]
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Teens, meet jobs
Students in junior high and high school are encouraged to attend a free job fair hosted by the City of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department on May 6. The event will give attendees the opportunity to meet with employers and recruiters who will provide information about summer jobs, volunteer work experiences, and educational opportunities. […]
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Chamber issues cards with benefits
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce announced the upcoming release of its new ChamberCard program, providing member businesses with more free advertising and benefits at no extra cost. Cards will be appearing in an upcoming issue of the Chamber Challenge newsletter, along with a list of participants in the program. This initial run of […]
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No butts about it
The sights and smells of smokers lighting up on state coastlines will soon be a thing of the past if a long-awaited ban wins final approval from state senators and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Senate Bill 4, also known as the No Smoking at State Parks and Beaches Act, is the latest in a slew of […]
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BofA donates bucks to Rescue Mission
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation, sticking with the philanthropic character it’s known for, recently donated $2,500 to the Central Coast Rescue Mission. The grant will help fund the group’s efforts to provide food, shelter, hygiene, and clothing—which includes the bare necessities, such as socks, underwear, and T-shirts. “Every grant helps and is appreciated,” said […]
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Taxi company sues SLO County
Beach Cities Taxi is suing San Luis Obispo County for $500,000 in damages for canceling a permit that allows it to take customers to the San Luis Obispo County regional airport. The company alleges their permit was improperly terminated. The taxi company’s permit was pulled a year ago when, according to Richard Howell, general manager […]
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Government officials and environmentalists unveil an updated PXP plan
After months of stalled planning, the three environmental groups made infamous for penning a semi-private deal with a Texas-based oil company have revealed a newly revised agreement aimed at ending drilling off the Santa Barbara coastline. On April 7, Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) and 1st District County Supervisor Salud Carbajal joined representatives for the […]
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Republican Tom Watson aims to bump Congresswoman Lois Capps out of her 23rd District seat
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] […]