As the weather turns cold and people begin avoiding the beach, Katie Draeger’s surf season is just getting started. For the last several years, from September through December, Draeger has competed in Western Surfing Association competitions. The Nipomo resident is already sponsored by Esteem Surf Company, and ranks in the top 10 for the Western […]
Athlete of the Week
Banquet honors the best Bulldogs
The annual Allan Hancock College football awards banquet saw six players named to the 2008 All-Northern National Conference team. First-team honors went to freshman Brennen Locker, sophomore Clayton Cullen, sophomore Dion Bryant, and sophomore Dorson Boyce. Freshmen Riley Gauld and Marquelo Suel were named second team all-conference at the Dec. 3 event at the Santa […]
Hancock basketball partners with Toys-for-tots
The Allan Hancock College Bulldogs are teaming up with the Toys for Tots Foundation of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties to celebrate the holiday season, which coincides with basketball season. At the annual Bulldog Classic women’s basketball tournament, set for Dec. 11 through 13, guests can get a three-day tournament pass by bringing […]
Basketballers: Get to the clinic
Sure, you’ve got skills, but you could have mad skills. Dribble and shoot at the West Coast Xtreme Basketball Academy’s clinics, open to boys and girls in grades 3 through 8. The girls’ basketball clinic was held Dec. 6. The boys’ clinic starts at 2 p.m. on Dec. 13. Both clinics run for two hours, […]
Cycle like you’re a pro
Can’t afford a trip to France? Never dated Sheryl Crow or Kate Hudson? Haven’t overcome a personal testicular cancer setback to become a successful professional athlete? There’s at least one way you can share something in common with cycling god Lance Armstrong: You can ride the Solvang route he’ll soon be pedaling as part of […]
Fesler Junior High to honor first school principal with a special dedication
Students, teachers, and community members will gather on Dec. 11 at 9:15 a.m. at the Fesler Junior High School gymnasium to dedicate the basketball court to the school’s first principal, Quentin Sims. Sims’s name has also been stenciled in large letters on the gym floor near two of the entrances. Fesler Junior High School faculty […]
Allan Hancock College’s MESA program demonstrates ‘Excelencia in Education’
Allan Hancock College’s Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) program was recently recognized for its efforts to help Latino students succeed.Allan Hancock College’s MESA program demonstrates ‘Excelencia in Education’ Excelencia in Education—a national organization that identifies programs and departments that boost Latino enrollment, performance, and graduation rates—recently named MESA as a semifinalist winner for its ¡Examples […]
Political Watch
• State Assemblyman Sam Blakeslee (R-San Luis Obispo) recently filed a statement of intent to run in the 2012 race for State Senate District 15. The seat is currently held by state Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria), whose term will end that year. Blakeslee was first elected to the State Assembly in 2004, a position […]
Community Notebook
TUESDAY, DEC. 16 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Betteravia Government Center’s Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, suite 141, Santa Maria. Agendas are available at bos-agenda.sbcgov.net. • The Guadalupe Planning Commission has its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in […]
Community Corner
The United Way held its inaugural drive-through Beans and Rice Food Drive on Dec. 9 and 10 to benefit the Salvation Army. With demand for food assistance rising faster than donated food supplies, the Food Drive helped bolster the Salvation Army’s depleted food supplies. Why rice and beans? According to the United Way, both rice […]
Women for Agriculture gets new leaders
The Santa Maria Chapter of California Women for Agriculture recently announced its 2009 officers: Kristy Farmer, president; Kari Campbell-Bohard, first vice president; Kerri Aller, second vice president; Donna France, third vice president; Joyce Chrisman, secretary; Nancy Machut, treasurer; and Patty Vasquez, vice treasurer. Lisa Bodrogi is the immediate past president. The officers will be installed […]
Community Bank of Santa Maria opts out of ‘bail out’
Jim Glines, CEO of Community Bank of Santa Maria, announced in late November the bank’s decision to pass on Treasury’s TARP Capital Purchase Plan—a.k.a. the “Bail Out” Plan—designed to encourage U.S. financial institutions to build capital. According to a press release, however, Community Bank of Santa Maria is well capitalized and hasn’t seen a need […]

