Home to mild weather and moderating ocean breezes, Santa Maria enjoys a fairly even climate all year round. But with temperatures on the rise across the globe, local wine collectors may want to take another look at the storage conditions that will best protect their precious galleries of liquid art. Unlike spirits, such as bourbon […]
Liquid investments
Posted inOpinion
Kick smoking out of city parks
I would like to express my views on smoking in our public parks. This refers to all types of tobacco use in all of our parks. It has been proven that secondhand smoke is as damaging or more so than smoking itself. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the fourth largest killer in the USA! This, […]
Posted inOpinion
Property owners should be able to build what they want
Just who appointed Mr. McCalip as czar of development in Santa Barbara County (“Just say no to leapfrog developments,” Jan. 29)? His comments on the proposed La Purisima Resort project at the La Purisima Golf Course in Lompoc are inflammatory and misleading. We don’t mind that he has a personal opinion, but when the Santa […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch
• On Jan. 28, more than 50 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara), sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton requesting the United States take immediate action to address the situation in Gaza. “The violence in Israel and Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis calls for […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook
MONDAY, FEB. 9 • The Santa Maria City Block Grants Advisory Committee has its regular meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room, 110 E. Cook St., Santa Maria. TUESDAY, FEB. 10 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board […]
Posted inNews
A wired wish comes true
Kyle Shea knew there was some sort of surprise coming—he just had no idea how big it would be. The 15-year-old Pioneer Valley freshman who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease saw his wish come true, thanks to the Make-a-Wish foundation. “It was very shocking,” Kyle said. “I had an idea [there was something planned], but […]
Posted inNews
The wheels on the bus need someone in control
Through Feb. 22, Student Transportation of America is holding an online job fair to fill school bus driver positions throughout the United States and Canada. The company is providing what officials in a press release called “recession-proof jobs” in these tough economic times. “Kids have to go to school despite the ups and downs of […]
Posted inNews
Santa Maria-Bonita is cooking up something new
The Santa Maria-Bonita School District Food Service Department recently received a $25,000 grant, which will be used to install new double convection ovens in the cafeteria kitchens at two local schools. Adam and Robert Bruce elementary schools are expected to receive the new ovens sometime in February. The grant came from the Orfalea Foundation’s “Cool […]
Posted inNews
Get on the cutting edge of local business news
The short of it: Marian Medical Center is building a new hospital. The long of it: Ann Foxworthy Lewellen, co-chair of the Cornerstone Campaign for Marian Medical Center, will speak about the project at the Committee to Improve North County and the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Development Committee’s upcoming monthly luncheon. A […]
Posted inNews
‘Foreclosure’ doesn’t have to be a dirty word
It’s not an ideal situation, but foreclosure doesn’t have to be an overwhelming, mysterious experience for homeowners. Just ask Brian Kerrigan, housing counselor for Peoples’ Self-Help Housing. On Feb. 11, Kerrigan will lead a free Peoples’ Self-Help Housing seminar to warn attendees about predatory lending and present options when it comes to dealing with a […]
Posted inNews
Get a gem of a deal with Kevin Main
Capture the moment. Kevin Main Jewelry Design and Studio and Tom Meinhold Photography are offering a complimentary photo sitting with every purchase for the Valentine’s Day season. Until Feb. 14, customers who buy a Valentine’s Day gift will get an opportunity to return to the studio for a complimentary photo sitting with Tom Meinhold and […]
Posted inNews
Hotel plans worry local agriculturists
Santa Barbara County planning commissioners will be talking about resort living at their weekly meeting on Feb. 11. They’ll also discuss dining and relaxing spa visits, though all through the lens of potential upcoming construction in Lompoc. First proposed in August 2007, the Hunter/La Purisima Resort project calls for the construction of an 80-room resort, […]