Whoever said educational accreditation was only for college programs? The Santa Maria Valley YMCA’s Stepping Stones Center recently earned its accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), one of the nation’s leading organizations of early childhood professionals. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program […]
YMCA provides ‘Stepping Stones’ to a good education
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What do shoes and books have in common?
Footwear and reading material don’t share a lot of common bonds—unless you consider a child’s typical reaction when he or she first gets a new book or pair of shoes. The Shoes for Students charity organization recently donated $12,000 to the Santa Maria-Bonita School District to help purchase books for all 13,200 students three times […]
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Murray & Murray Insurance is on the move
After 30 years at the same location on east Main Street, Murray & Murray Insurance Agency is packing up and moving to the new College Square complex at 550-D E. Betteravia in Santa Maria. The move is effective immediately and marks a big change for the company that’s met locals’ insurance needs since it opened […]
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California Women for Agriculture host casino night
The Santa Maria chapter of California Women for Agriculture (CWA) is hosting a casino night at the Santa Maria Country Club on Sept. 20 from 6 to 10 p.m. to raise money for scholarships and activities. According to event chairwoman Lalena Cooper, casino night will be full of fun, spent playing blackjack, craps, bingo, and […]
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Legal Resource Center opens in Lompoc
The city of Lompoc now has its own Legal Resource Center, located inside the courthouse. The new self-help center will assist self-represented litigants in better understanding their legal rights, according to a press release from the Legal Aid Foundation of Santa Barbara County. Legal Resource Centers in the county provide information on civil matters, such […]
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Commission for Senior Citizens elects new board members
Four new board members were elected at the most recent meeting of the Central Coast Commission for Senior Citizens. The new members are Judith Dunn, Santa Maria; Janelle Parsons, Santa Barbara; Cheryl Kippen, Arroyo Grande; and John Alongi, San Luis Obispo. “Needs of senior citizens are increasing due to numerous factors, such as increasing numbers […]
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Political Watch
• U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) joined the Democratic Club of Santa Maria Valley for its Election 2008 campaign kickoff on Sept. 13 at the club’s headquarters in Santa Maria. At the meeting, Capps spoke of the significance of the fall election and the club’s involvement in promoting the Democratic ticket. “The Santa Maria […]
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Teens get a thorough view of Santa Maria Valley
Since the program started in 1995, hundreds of men and women have graduated from Leadership Santa Maria Valley. Now, local teenagers get their chance. The first class of Teen Leadership Santa Maria Valley—33 teens total—has been chosen. With no GPA requirement and no tuition costs for the students, the leadership program could accept every teen […]
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College, bar association to co-host forum on judgeship candidates
Get your calendars out: On Sept. 30, Allan Hancock College and the Northern Santa Barbara County Bar Association will co-host a Judicial Candidate Forum featuring the two run-off candidates competing for a spot on the Santa Barbara Superior Court bench. Candidates Jed Beebe and John MacKinnon have agreed to participate in the forum, which will […]
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Supes appoint members to spay/neuter task force
Santa Barbara County has gone to the dogs. And cats. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors recently established an 11-member Spay/Neuter Ordinance Task Force, whose job is to develop recommended language for a county spay and neuter ordinance. The first task force meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, […]
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SLO County supervisors vote: Suey Ranch will stay
When a majority of SLO County supervisors tentatively approved the transfer of 5,070 acres of prime SLO County agricultural land to Santa Barbara County, the decision puzzled many people. The buzz phrase by the opposition was that there was “no compelling reason” to allow it. Santa Maria City Manager Tim Ness said that the city […]
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Charting new waters
Look out Orcutt Academy—there’s another charter school in the area. Similar to Orcutt Union School District’s Orcutt Academy, Camino Real Community Partnership Academy is Lompoc’s newest district-sponsored charter high school. Both schools offer a science-heavy curriculum. The teaching process at the two charters, however, couldn’t be more different, according to Camino Real co-founder Andrea Lawrence. […]