It’s official: Off-road recreational vehicles are messing with the air quality of the Nipomo Mesa. That’s according to a scientific study by the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution District, released Feb. 22. High levels of coarse airborne particles—small enough to breathe in—are the root cause of the problem, and they’re not necessarily vehicle exhaust […]
Poor air quality in Nipomo Mesa linked to off-road vehicles
Delta High School gets top honors from United Blood Services
United Blood Services has given its first-ever school club award to a group of students from Delta High School for organizing a blood drive earlier this year. The high school’s community service club was randomly selected to receive the $250 award based on nominations submitted by schools in San Luis Obispo, Monterey, and Santa Barbara […]
Community members will serve as principals for a day
Ever wonder as a child what it would be like to be principal for a day? On March 10, 40 local business and community leaders will make that daydream a reality at public and private school campuses throughout the Santa Maria Valley. The Principal For a Day event allows community members to spend the morning […]
Publisher to address conference
The publisher of a prominent weekly business journal will discuss the future of industry and manufacture on the Central Coast at an upcoming Manufacturers Association meeting on March 23. Henry Dubroff, publisher of the Pacific Coast Business Times, will be the event’s keynote speaker. The meeting will be held at Hardy Diagnostics, located at 1430 […]
WEV receives $10,000 gift
Women’s Economic Ventures announced Rabobank North America has awarded the group a $10,000 gift to support its new Thrive-in-Five program. Rabobank North America Executive Vice President Donald Toussaint, Senior Vice President Fred Mendez, and Vice President Ida Pointer-Gomez presented the check to WEV’s founder, Marsha Bailey, at the group’s Santa Barbara offices. WEV offers business […]
Red Cross names development director
The Santa Barbara County chapter of the American Red Cross recently welcomed Brad Vartan to the organization as the group’s new director of development. Vartan has previously held several fundraising and development positions, including associate vice president of development for the Museum of Latin American Art, major gifts account manager for United Way of Orange […]
Conference talks cap and trade
The cap and trade bill, and the legislation’s demands on small businesses and industry, will be the topics of a conference hosted by the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce on March 16. Roy Perez, vice chairman of the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and a small business advocate, will be the event’s featured speaker. […]
How to make NASCAR interesting
Some people don’t see the attraction of watching a NASCAR race on television. I think the most common mistake people make the first time they tune into a NASCAR event is that they’re not drunk. You’re not supposed to drink and drive, but it’s a requirement to drink and watch other people drive on TV. […]
Search for the Stars wants you
Auditions for the Clark Center Search for the Stars Competition will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on March 13 at the Clark Center for the Performing Arts in Arroyo Grande. Twenty-five acts will be selected to compete in the semi-finals of the competition on April 18. Five local theater and music professionals—including Erik […]
Drawing classes resume
Friday Nite Figure Drawing will resume at the C Gallery on March 5, running from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 466 Bell St. in Los Alamos. MFA artist Ken Doud will provide individual, personalized instruction where needed or requested. Settle in with some wine and get drawing. Enrollment is month by month and costs $200. […]
Get your strings by candlelight
The Santa Maria Town Center mall will be host to the Candlelight Strings on March 7 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Macy’s Court Stage. Bette Byers founded the group, which offers a wide variety of music. Strolling musicians perform Gypsy music—with Iranian Jewish weddings as one of their specialties—and chamber ensembles present soloists, […]
Colorful Sun
The Santa Maria Sun is a little more colorful these days thanks to artists at the Town Center Gallery, who have given three Sun newspaper racks the artistic touch. The freshly decorated racks join several that were painted last year by art students from Allan Hancock College and placed throughout the city. Hattie Stoddard, of […]

