Away from home and in need of some barbecue? Not a problem. The Hitching Post recently launched a mail-order service that can deliver its famous steak, lobster, ribs, and artichokes anywhere in the United States. The products are flash frozen and then shipped, meaning that the food is prepared exactly as it would be at […]
Hitching Post products are now available by mail
Santa Maria Community Television and Hancock College team up to provide programming
Starting in October, Santa Maria Community Television will be airing University of California Television programming on Comcast Cable channel 24. The new programming is provided under an agreement with Allan Hancock College, which will sponsor a daily block of educational programming from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nationally distributed and commercial free, UCTV features educational […]
Drew Sugars steps in as public information officer for Sheriff’s Department
The new spokesperson for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department is someone with whom a lot of people on the Central Coast are already familiar: former KCOY anchor Drew Sugars. Sheriff Bill Brown has appointed Sugars as the public information officer for the department, effective Oct. 6. Sugars has been with the department since March […]
Yes, it’s a party; no, there won’t be alcohol
Seventh and eighth graders from Santa Maria, Orcutt, and Guadalupe will be partying in a drug- and alcohol-free environment on Oct. 18 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Santa Maria Saturn dealership thanks to Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley. “This is a chance for kids to have a good time without the pressures of […]
Caltrans to fund local school safety programs
Traveling to school is about to get safer for Santa Barbara County, following Caltrans’ Oct. 9 awarding of $46 million to cities and counties throughout the state—including Lompoc and Santa Barbara County—for projects funded through the federal Safe Routes to School program. The program is designed to help students in Kindergarten through eighth grade travel […]
County drops felony charges in Zaca Fire case
Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge Zel Canter recently dismissed five felony counts and additional charges filed against a local ranch and two of its employees for allegedly starting the Zaca Fire last summer. On July 4, 2007, Rancho La Laguna LLC employees Santiago Iniquez Cervantes of Santa Maria and Jose Jesus Cabrera of Santa […]
Santa Barbara County supervisors reject PXP project appeals
On Oct. 7, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 4-1, with 4th District Supervisor Joni Gray dissenting, to deny appeals against an offshore oil-drilling project that would give Plains Exploration & Production Co. (PXP) sole drilling access to the county’s Tranquillon Ridge. The board voted in favor of a previous decision made by […]
Santa Maria Public Airport hires new general manager
After a nine-month search, the Santa Maria Public Airport finally hired a new general manager. Chris Hastert, the former deputy director of two Ventura County airports, began on Oct. 14. As general manager, Hastert is responsible for managing hundreds of commercial leases, private and county hangar license agreements, and the future development of several airport […]
Peace by peace
Community members from all walks of life came together to enjoy food, music, and religious reflection in honor of Santa Maria’s 12th annual Peace Week, Oct. 13 through 18. Hosted by the People for Nonviolence Committee of Marian Medical Center, Peace Week offers a series of free public events aimed at bringing the communities of […]
What’s the worst bicycle accident you’ve been in?
Brenda Lee mother “Ran into the back of a car and hit my ‘personal area.’ What’s worse, I hit the same car in the same spot two weeks later.” Lewis Height retired from Shell Oil “Never had a bike. I grew up during the Depression.” Mary Height retiree “I fell off my granddaughter’s bike and […]
County Public Works prepares for an emergency
There’s no such thing as being too prepared, and county officials have taken that sentiment to heart recently. Officials launched a mutual aid agreement between county public works departments, while at the same time treating land scorched by the Gap Fire to prevent flooding and mudslides. The two projects are happening simultaneously, and both are […]
Roll with it
Who was the first in your circle to take the plunge and buy a computer? Or a cell phone or an iPod or ; (drumroll) ; who was first to park the car and bicycle to work? Was it goofy Uncle Jimmy, who used to ramble on about health and flax seed tea? Or was […]

