A group of approximately 40 law enforcement officials recently conducted a gang sweep in response to reports of increased criminal activity in the northern Santa Maria area. On Oct. 23, officers from a handful of city, county, and state agencies worked together to target 49 suspected West Park gang members. According to a press release […]
Anti-gang effort sweeps north Santa Maria
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara supervisors approve Union Valley Parkway project
After decades of deliberating and planning, the Union Valley Parkway project—a freeway interchange and extension running through Orcutt and Santa Maria—is finally becoming a reality. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved at its Oct. 27 meeting the portion of the project under county jurisdiction, giving the OK for phase one of development […]
Posted inNews
Army compound dedicated in honor of fallen Vandenberg engineer
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers compound on Camp Victory, Iraq, has a new name. On Oct. 22, the compound was officially designated Camp Wolfe in honor of Navy Cmdr. Duane Wolfe. An activated Navy reservist and civilian employee with Vandenberg Air Force Base, Wolfe was killed on May 25 when an improvised explosive device […]
Posted inNews
Program provides Stepping Stones to a good education
Need licensed childcare for your preschooler? YMCA Stepping Stones Childcare, located in the Betteravia Government Center, and the YMCA Young Children’s Preschool, located at 3400 Skyway Drive in Santa Maria, are now enrolling children ages 2 to 5 years old. The prerequisite is potty training. The Stepping Stones center is a licensed and fully […]
Posted inNews
It’s transfer time
Students interested in transferring to a four-year university—and their parents—are invited to attend Allan Hancock College’s University Transfer Day on Nov. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Santa Maria campus student center (building G). Attendees will get a chance to talk to representatives from approximately 40 colleges and universities in California […]
Posted inNews
Take a future business leader to lunch
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is looking for business people to sponsor students at its Future Business Leaders of America luncheon on Nov. 10 at the Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center in Santa Maria. For a $30 donation, sponsors can “take a future business leader to lunch,” and have the opportunity to […]
Posted inNews
Students get down to business
The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is looking for business owners to sponsor students for their Take a Future Business Leader to Lunch event, to be held on Nov. 10. During the event, members of the Future Business Leaders of America from the Santa Maria and Orcutt Union High School districts will have […]
Posted inNews
Certifiably solar
North County residents interested in converting their homes to solar have a newly certified installer available locally to serve their energy needs. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners recently certified Gary Gordon, owner of Santa Ynez Valley Solar, into its program. Certification holders must meet experience and educational prerequisites, pass a comprehensive […]
Posted inNews
Take a taste test
Tastefully Simple, an award-winning direct sales company specializing in easy-to-prepare foods, recently welcomed Santa Maria resident Jessica Elledge as an independent consultant. Elledge will offer the company’s gourmet foods at home taste-testing parties, where guests get product samples, recipes, and serving suggestions. Tastefully Simple is based in Alexandria, Minn., and was inducted into […]
Posted inNews
Talk about carriers
Cell phone and service store Total Wireless is now under new ownership—and adding more carriers to its lineup. Joining the T-Mobile service already offered, Sprint and Boost mobile services will now be available to Total Wireless customers. Owner Maggie Stukas, who took over on Oct. 1, invites the public to visit the store and […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Trespassers will be shot
Technically, I am not allowed in my own kitchen—or “my wife’s kitchen,” I should say. I am occasionally granted permission to enter the air space around “her” kitchen, but only to do menial tasks like take out the stinking trash or kill a life-threatening evil spider. Any other kitchen access (like getting some cheese and […]
Posted inOpinion
Halloweens, past and future
Halloween is my favorite holiday, even more than Hanukkah and Christmas. There’s no stressful gift buying, card writing, or party-planning. Halloween is even better than Thanksgiving. No visitors, putting up guests, putting up with family quirks, meal planning, bird thawing, pie baking. But those holidays are another story. Let’s focus on All Hallow’s Eve! You […]
