Know a nonprofit that needs some cash? The city of Santa Maria is now requesting proposals for the use of 2010-2011 Community Development Block Grant Program and HOME Investment Partnerships Program funds for public service activities, capital projects, and affordable housing projects. The city anticipates receiving approximately $1,256,000 in CDBG funds and $30,000 in program […]
Get your block grant on
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City of Santa Maria employees prepare to take some mandatory time off
Beginning Jan. 15, the majority of Santa Maria city employees will be taking off the third Friday of every month—as well as Veterans Day—for a total of 13 mandatory furlough days. City employees voluntarily agreed in November 2009 to the 4- to 5-percent reductions in wages and benefits for the 2010 calendar year. The mandatory […]
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Pedro Nava’s attorney general run creates buzz
To help stimulate his campaign to be California’s next attorney general, Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) wants to chat over coffee. As part of “Cup of Java with Nava,” contributors to Nava’s campaign are being entered into a random drawing to win a chance to “sit down and talk about issues” with the candidate. The […]
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Local contractor begins early phases of construction on Santa Maria River Levee Improvement Project
Rodney Williams Construction of Lompoc—a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-selected contractor—is clearing brush along the Santa Maria River Levee in preparation for the stimulus package-funded levee improvement project. The company is removing brush, shrubs, and garbage from an approximately 3.2-mile section of the levee channel so it can begin “phase 1” repair work by April […]
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The Indian experience
The Santa Maria Branch of AAUW’s Jan. 17 meeting will feature a program on “The Indian Immigration Experience: A Conversation with Indian Newcomers to Santa Maria.” Indian food will be served, and a small panel of men and women from India will share stories about their lives in India, the modern-day experience, their reasons for […]
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The library gets busy
The Santa Maria Library has several events lined up to kick off the new year. Experience a Chinese New Year Celebration with Shiu-Ching McSparron, who brings songs, dances, and fun as she helps celebrate the new year with children ages 5 and older on Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. A free ticket is required for […]
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Long days
Creative types have long been drawn to Sedona, Ariz., for inspiration. Perhaps it’s the beautiful red rock formations glowing orange in the sun that set the backdrop for creative thought. Or maybe it’s the spiritual aspect that some claim surrounds the area. Or maybe it’s a little more vague than that. Brandon Decker headed to […]
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The best medicine
When he first experienced Laughter Yoga, Bill Alarid couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He wasn’t surprised at the concept itself, but rather the effect it had on the participants and the way it seemed to be so infectious. Once someone started, the laughter literally spread to everyone in the room. “I was just amazed […]
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The Cheapskate
My son has a personality disorder. It’s not the usual stuff that all kids seem to have these days: ADD, ADHD, or HUA (head up anus). It’s far worse than that. To describe it simply, he’s cheap. If he had a dollar in his pocket, and you needed 10 more cents to pay for the […]
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Green businesses to be recognized
County businesses that achieved “green” certification in 2009 will be honored during the Green Business Program of Santa Barbara County breakfast on Feb. 5. Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce President Bob Hatch will provide the event’s opening remarks, followed by a keynote address given by Wes Hagen, winemaker and vineyard manager of Clos Pepe […]
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Free workshop offers foreclosure advice
Want to learn more about alternatives to foreclosure? You’re invited to the Peoples’ Self-Help Housing Corporation’s free foreclosure prevention workshop on Jan. 13 in Santa Maria. Attendees will learn strategies to preserve homeownership and avoid foreclosure at the workshop, which will be facilitated by Brian Kerrigan, housing counselor for the nonprofit group. Kerrigan is a […]
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Valley tourism group debuts 2010 guide
The Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association is holding its annual networking meeting to debut the new tourism guide for the valley on Jan. 12. The 2010 Visitors Guide to Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley is a joint publication of the SYVVA and the Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau to promote the area’s recreational activities, […]