The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors had a full agenda slated for its April 7 meeting. The board attracted national attention for reconsidering its August 2008 3-2 decision to allow expanded oil drilling off the county’s coastline. However, now that the board’s ideological majority has shifted—with the more environmentally friendly Doreen Farr replacing Brooks […]
Santa Barbara County supervisors go back to the drawing board on oil drilling moratorium
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Goodbye, Gottschalks
After more than a century of business on the West Coast, retailer Gottschalks will be closing its doors. On March 31, Gottschalks officials announced that, after holding a court-supervised auction, the company had been purchased by a liquidation group. “Despite all our efforts at earnest negotiations, we were unable to reach an agreement with our […]
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Wells Fargo adds new financial consultant
Wells Fargo Private Client Services announced that it’s added a new financial advisor to handle investment clients in Nipomo and Grover Beach. Jay Hutchcraft, who has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Hawaii and more than three years of experience in financial services, joins Chris Corona, Jeff Oetman, and Scott Holmes on […]
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Goleta councilmember named to Housing Trust Fund
The Housing Trust Fund of Santa Barbara County welcomed city of Goleta councilmember Michael T. Bennett to its board of directors. Bennett has served on the Goleta City Council since 2006 and represents the city in the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments. He’s president of the League of California Cities Channel Counties Division and […]
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Find joy, work at Allan Hancock College
Most people have heard of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club. On April 24, Allan Hancock College will take a page from Tan’s book—so to speak—by hosting the Joy Work Club Women’s Conference from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria campus Student Center. The club is a network of businesswomen meeting to […]
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Local students crochet blankets for babies in need
Newborns at Marian Medical Center’s pediatrics center are sleeping a little more snugly thanks to a donation from the Tommie Kunst Junior High School Crocheting Club. Club members recently donated 21 hand-crocheted blankets to the hospital, distributed to ailing infants through a program called Project Linus. The project is a nonprofit organization made up of […]
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For the love of libraries
Libraries and the literary treasures they bring to communities nationwide will be the focal point of National Library Week, set for April 12 through 18. To celebrate, the Santa Maria Public Library is hosting a series of events, culminating with the 19th annual Night of a Thousand Stars on April 16 at 7 p.m. in […]
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Chris Blystone
For the first time in his young golfing career, St. Joseph High School junior Chris Blystone can enjoy making a splash. On March 29, Blystone beat out 71 other American Junior Golf Association hopefuls from all over the western United States and Canada, taking the Boys’ Division crown in the Golf World Preseason Junior at […]
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Raise money, run, and grant wishes
Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Tri-Counties is counting on donations from entrants in the Camarillo Half-Marathon, which will take place April 19. For each registration in the 10k and 5k runs, $5 will be donated to the organization. The group’s board of directors will be participating and fundraising as Team Make-A-Wish. The Make-A Wish Foundation of […]
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Catch some trout at Cachuma Lake
Fishing fanatic? Register for a chance at cash and prizes in Cachuma Lake’s 14th Annual Trout Derby, scheduled for April 18 and 19. About $5,000 worth of prizes will go to anglers of all ages during the weekend, and free arts and crafts activities will be available to children on April 18. Registration forms are […]
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Blacklake Golf Resort tees up an expo
A day of free golfing demonstrations and instruction from Professional Golf Association players is on tap at Nipomo’s Blacklake Golf Course on April 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The expo kicks off with a series of half-hour clinics, beginning at 9:30 a.m. with LPGA pro Dixie Eckes teaching pitching. At 10:30, world-renowned instructor […]
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And they’re out?
Santa Maria Packers pitching coach Bryn Smith didn’t want it to turn out this way. When he and the rest of the Santa Maria Indians’ coaching staff left the team to form the second incarnation of Packers baseball in December 2007, their intention was simple: to continue the legacy of the Indians’ longtime manager Clarence […]