On Dec. 6., the cats and dogs at the Santa Maria Valley Humane Society will be wishing the community a happy “paw-liday” season during a free open house from noon to 4 p.m. at the Humane Society shelter, 751 Black Road, in Santa Maria. Guests at the “paw-liday” party will have the opportunity to visit […]
Happy ‘paw-lidays,’ Santa Maria!
Posted inNews
CHP: Drive safely this holiday season
The California Highway Patrol is asking motorists to help make the state’s roads safer by planning ahead for all holiday travel. The Thanksgiving holiday driving period runs Nov. 26 to 30. During that time, the CHP will employ maximum enforcement, putting every available officer on the road, according to a press release from CHP officials. […]
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Lompoc businesses successfully prohibit sale of alcohol to minors
On Nov. 20, the Lompoc Police Department conducted a “Shoulder Tap” decoy operation at numerous liquor and convenience stores in Lompoc. During the four-hour operation, about 25 adults were asked by two minor decoys (16 and 18 years old) to buy beer for them. Only one of the adults purchased and provided alcohol to the […]
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Flash food watch issued for Tea Fire area
On Nov. 24, the National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the Santa Barbara area, including the Tea Fire Burn Area and the Sycamore Creek area below. Santa Barbara County officials are closely monitoring the incoming storms and activating initial response plans in anticipation of the potential flooding or debris flows that might […]
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Santa Barbara County residents line up for federal aid
On Nov. 19, President George W. Bush made a major disaster declaration and ordered federal aid to be channeled to California communities struck by the wildfires. Since then, about 170 Santa Barbara County homeowners affected by the Tea Fire have applied for aid, said Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) spokesman Don Daniel. Currently, federal funding […]
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Mmmm … pie
Dale Schumacher, regional manager of the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County, served pumpkin pie at Rancho Gardens Senior Community in Santa Maria at the end of the commission’s free annual holiday meal for seniors. Along with residents at Rancho Gardens, Schumacher, program director Matt Dwyer, and other Community Action Commission employees served seniors […]
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Proposition 8 is still making waves
On Nov. 4, Proposition 8 passed with a four-percent margin, amending the California Constitution to define marriage as a union “between a man and a woman.” The longevity of that controversial clause, however, remains in question. On Nov. 19, the California Supreme Court announced it would review three petitions challenging the legality of Proposition 8. […]
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King of the toys
The holiday season is fast approaching, and with it comes cheesy piped-in Christmas music and hordes of frazzled parents on the hunt for the perfect children’s toy. At the top of the list, according to the Canadian Toy Testing Council, should be Prince Lionheart’s Wheely Bug. The Wheely Bug generated considerable international buzz for the […]
Posted inOpinion
Let nurturing prevail
Political wonks like to talk about transformative elections, ones in which more than the faces change, ones in which the temper of American politics shifts from the dominance of one party or ideology to another. This election may well have been truly transformative. George Lakoff, professor of linguistics at U.C. Berkeley, has based a model […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Bulldogs finish an impressive football season
The team was psyched. It was the Allan Hancock College football team’s first season in a new, tougher conference, and here they were in the playoffs. All across the practice field, there were looks of determination, easy confidence, and blue Mohawks. It was the eve of the Bulldogs’ playoff game against third-ranked Mt. San Antonio […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
A local cycling team helps the shelter
Each year, Team Tailwinds—a local community cycling team—contributes to different charities and nonprofits. Members try to think of donations that most fit the cause. This year, the team planned to present Santa Maria’s Good Samaritan Shelter with four new bicycles and accompanying locks and helmets at Spencer’s Fresh Market, at the shop’s monthly customer appreciate […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Flag football wraps up
In early November, under the lights of the Santa Maria High School football field, the Ontiveros Elementary Condor Flag Football Team beat the May Grisham Elementary team 12-6 to win the championship title in a Boys and Girls Club-sponsored program. Volunteers Ben Castro, Gabriel Delgadillo, Joshua Liendo, and Nathan Delgadillo coached the 15-member Condors team […]