Recent trends in donations have local United Blood Services officials concerned about the health of the local blood supply. Fallout from a down economy—such as layoffs and a cloudy business climate—have forced several businesses to cancel or postpone scheduling blood drives for the month of March. “Based on trends for scheduled drives in March and […]
Local blood banks need more donations
Posted inNews
Land lovers
At the headwaters of the Santa Maria River lies a vast oak-studded ranch, the quintessence of the Central Coast’s characteristic rural landscape. Here in the fresh air of the Avenales Ranch, the gentle mooing of cows and calves is likely to be punctuated by the otherworldly bugling of tule elk or the high-pitched yowl of […]
Posted inOpinion
What do you like to sing in the rain?
Brettly Beidinger YMCA events coordinator “It’s not a song, but I like to splish-splash. That’s all that goes through my head when I’m in my rain boots.” Eleanor Byars YMCA fitness instructor “‘I Think I Love You’ by the Partridge Family. I actually like to sing that all the time, even in the sunshine.” Angeli […]
Posted inNews
See the world with the Central Coast Study Abroad Consortium
Current Allan Hancock College students interested in studying in far-off destinations this summer or fall are encouraged to attend an orientation on Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the college’s Santa Maria Campus. Summer programs are open to a limited number of students through the Central Coast Study Abroad Consortium. Participants can go to Spain, […]
Posted inNews
Fesler Junior High gets ‘Heart’ smart
On Feb. 12 and Feb. 13, students from Fesler Junior High School’s physical education classes jumped rope to raise money for the American Heart Association. “Junior high students are not too young to make a difference in the lives of others. That’s what our emphasis has always been,” Fesler P.E. teacher Paul Cole said in […]
Posted inNews
Righetti High School welcomes Warriors
On Feb. 26, Righetti High School will host its annual 8th grade Warrior Welcome from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the high school gym. The Future Farmers of America will host a barbecue, to be followed by a welcome orientation and clubs and class sessions. Righetti staff members and students will give tours of the […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch
• Earlier this month, Congressman Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), chairman of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, announced that he had asked Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) to again serve as vice chair of the committee’s Health Subcommittee. Capps was also appointed to the position during the 110th Congress. The Health Subcommittee […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook
FRIDAY, FEB. 20 • The Santa Maria City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from 10 a.m. to noon at the Betteravia Government Center conference room, 511 East Lakeside Parkway. • The Lompoc City/County Coalition for the Homeless has its regular meeting from noon to 1 p.m. in the Board of Supervisors Conference […]
Posted inNews
Community clock comes to Old Orcutt
Shoppers and diners in Old Town Orcutt will soon be able to tell perfect time from a 17-foot-tall, 1,000-plus pound Orcutt community clock. On Feb. 24, at 5 p.m., locals and Santa Barbara County supervisors Joni Gray and Joe Centeno will watch the clock start to tick. The dedication and tree-planting celebration is at 120 […]
Posted inNews
Justice, judgeship, and Jean
Newly appointed Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Jean Dandona always knew she wanted to help people for a living. Unlike her father, Dandona didn’t want to serve in the Air Force, and she didn’t yet feel called to preside over a courtroom. “I actually wanted to be an FBI agent,” Dandona told the Sun […]
Posted inNews
Combat foreclosure with the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation
On Feb. 21, the Cabrillo Economic Development Corporation and the city of Santa Maria will host a free foreclosure solutions workshop at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., in Shepard Hall. The workshop will be held in English from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Spanish from 1 to 3 p.m. […]
Posted inNews
Santa Barbara County Supervisors will rethink their rejection of state-mandated housing project
Not long after voting to reject an affordable housing mandate from the state, Santa Barbara County Supervisor Janet Wolf (2nd District) sent a letter to her fellow board members requesting that they reconsider the matter at an upcoming meeting. Wolf’s suggestion seems to have been prompted by the threat of a lawsuit and the possible […]