Our fault? Whose fault? It (“Our own fault,” April 8) became PG&E’s fault when their initial substandard geological survey allowed the placement of their facility in an area of bedrock riddled with a chaotic network of interconnected seismic faults. One question today is who should be monetarily responsible for PG&E’s faulted initial assertion of seismic […]
Shake out some honest investigation
Posted inOpinion
Don’t let civil servants reward civil servants
The problem with county civil service benefits (“Mind the gap,” April 8) is that they are way beyond what the private sector gets and can afford, yet it is the private sector that pays the taxes for the county benefits. The basic problem is due to two factors: the civil service unions who support and […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 4.15
On April 25, local political organization Santa Maria Valley Republicans Inc. will host a Republican candidates forum at the Santa Maria Terraces senior living community, 1405 E. Main St., in Santa Maria. According to a press release from Santa Maria Valley Republicans Inc., Republican candidates for the following offices have been invited: Santa Barbara County […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 4.15
THURSDAY, APRIL 15 • The Santa Maria Planning Commission has a study session at 10 a.m. in the Community Development Office, 110 S. Pine St., Santa Maria. • The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Measure C 2004 Bond Oversight Committee has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the district board room, […]
Posted inNews
New ‘kidz’ website logs local activities available to families
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 […]
Posted inNews
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. […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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. […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]
Posted inNews
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 […]