New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau on Sept. 23 reflected the dramatic toll of the recession and foreclosures on Santa Maria, and showed the city bucking a national trend on immigration. According to the Bureau’s American Community Survey for 2008, the foreign-born population of Santa Maria rose from 32 percent in 2007 […]
Census report paints a revealing portrait of growing city
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October: It’s not just for the pumpkins
The new mayor of Lompoc, Michael Siminski, will sign a proclamation to declare October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month at the Lompoc City Council Meeting on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. Domestic Violence Solutions Executive Director Richard Kravetz will be there. The month will honor people who have fallen to domestic violence, as well […]
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Celebrate autumn and mental health at Growing Grounds Farm’s Harvest Festival
On Oct. 8, locals can bid farewell to summer and say hello to fall at the Transitions-Mental Health Association’s second annual Harvest Festival at Growing Grounds Farm in Santa Maria. Held in conjunction with Mental Illness Awareness Week, the festival will focus on celebrating the new season and good mental health. Harvest-goers will be […]
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Good news for state parks?
On Sept. 24, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger unveiled a plan designed to keep all state parks open without increasing cuts to the California Department of Parks and Recreation budget. According to a press release from the governor’s office, Schwarzenegger, in July, assigned the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Finance to develop […]
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Lompoc officials eye a potential electricityrate increase
Electricity prices could go up in the city of Lompoc pending a decision by the Lompoc City Council. A proposed rate increase is tentatively scheduled to go before the council on Oct. 6, according to city staffers. In an interview with the Sun, Lompoc Mayor Mike Siminski said there are currently two sets of […]
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Santa Maria councilwoman to run for supervisor
Steve Lavagnino has some competition for the 5th District Santa Barbara Supervisor seat now that Santa Maria City Council member Alice Patino has announced her intention to run for the position being vacated by Supervisor Joe Centeno. In a release to the media dated Sept. 29, Patino said the focus of her campaign will […]
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Pacific Pride Foundation walks for life
Put on some tennis shoes and walk for a cause on Oct. 3 at the Pacific Pride Foundation’s 19th annual AIDS Walk at Leadbetter Beach in Santa Barbara. Proceeds from the walk will go toward paying for HIV/AIDS services all over Santa Barbara County. The event—traditionally the foundation’s biggest fundraiser—is especially important this year […]
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The future’s in plastics
Businesses in Northern Santa Barbara County will benefit from local plastic manufacturer Lindamar Industries receipt of a certification allowing the company to produce and distribute high-quality packaging. The International Organization for Standardization certification the company received took more than a year to accomplish. Lindamar, headquartered in Paso Robles, will now manufacture FDA-approved polyethylene bags […]
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Community Partners appoints board member
The Board of Directors of Community Partners in Caring announced that Karen O’Neil has been appointed as its newest board member. O’Neil is a partner in the firm Twitchell and Rice, LLP, and serves as president of the Kiwanis Club of Orcutt. She’s also a member of the Altrusa International Foundation of Santa Maria, […]
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Worry-free advocacy
Nonprofit managers, staffers, and volunteers are invited to learn ways to create a public policy that responds to clients and community needs at a workshop presented by the Alliance for Justice on Oct. 7. Attorney-trainers from the organization will teach the difference between lobbying and advocacy, how to maximize 501(c)(3) lobbying, how to invite […]
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Bank VP to address luncheon
The public is invited to the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Business Committee’s luncheon on Oct. 5 to hear its featured speaker, Gonzalo Fernandez. Now boasting 46 years in the banking industry, Fernandez first immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1962 and worked his way up from a bank messenger […]
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Read aloud in the library for a cause
For its Santa Maria debut, Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic will hold a Record-a-Thon at the Santa Maria Public Library from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 3. In addition to upping the number of audio books on file, the program should increase awareness of what services Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic […]
