On Aug. 5, Santa Maria-Bonita School District employee and Santa Maria native Phillip L. Alvarado (left) was named superintendent-elect to replace current Santa Maria-Bonita School District Superintendent David Francis (right) upon his retirement in January 2009. A longtime educator and child advocate, Alvarado said a “child should never stop learning” and stressed the importance of […]
Passing the torch
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Capital Pacific homes are on sale now in Vandenberg Village
A new phase of homes has been released at Providence Landing in the Vandenberg Village area. Capital Pacific homes has sold all but two of the new houses so far, according to a press release from the company. Patrice Weston, sales manager at Providence Landing, said in the release that homes are selling well. “We […]
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Odds are better than ever in St. Jude’s Dream Home raffle
Organizers of the Central Coast St. Jude Dream Home raffle report that fewer than 2,000 of the 10,000 available tickets have been sold, making the odds of winning better for everyone. They’ve even added another incentive. Now, a $100 raffle ticket buys a chance to win a $350,000 house being built by Flatley Homes at […]
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In-Shape Health takes over Club 24 in Santa Maria
Are you a Club 24 member? Not anymore. In-Shape Health Clubs has bought the Club 24 gym at 1318 S. Broadway in Santa Maria and will be converting it into an In-Shape gym instead. “We’re thrilled to come to Santa Maria and welcome this great club to the In-Shape family,” In-shape CEO Paul Rothbard said […]
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Ride in economical style
Driving long distances alone can be tedious—not to mention expensive. In August and September, commuters will have the chance to save hundreds of dollars, experience new transportation options, meet new people, and win prizes. How? By competing in the Traffic Solutions Commute Challenge. Commuters participating in the challenge form teams of five people. The more […]
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Santa Maria Council appoints committee members, opposes governor
The Santa Maria City Council had a busy evening at its Aug. 5 meeting. Council members voted on several key items, including the appointment of new members to the city’s block grant advisory committee and a resolution opposing Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s recent budget proposal. The Santa Maria Block Grant Advisory Committee is responsible for assessing […]
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Lt. Mike Cordero makes a bid for City Council
After 36 years with the Santa Maria Police Department, Lt. Mike Cordero wants a change, and he definitely doesn’t want to retire. Instead, he’s throwing his hat in the ring for one of the two open spots on the Santa Maria City Council. “People have approached me for years about running for City Council,” Cordero […]
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Gone to pot
While searching for a lost hiker on July 27, a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department helicopter crew spotted almost 4,000 marijuana plants growing in the hills above Highway 41 in San Luis Obispo County. Sheriff’s Narcotics detectives immediately began surveying the grow, where they observed four males in the act of tending and harvesting the […]
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Will Santa Maria smokers have to butt out of parks?
Smoking and the use of other tobacco products could be banned in local parks, pending decisions from the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Commission and the Santa Maria City Council. On Aug. 12, the commission will hold a public hearing on the ban during its regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers […]
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Exploring Panama
You know the world is a small place when you can make a connection between the tropical rainforests of Panama and the dunes of the Central Coast, between the Panamanian golden frog and the California red-legged frog. How the two places relate is what Nipomo student Joshua Sanchez had the opportunity to discover recently. He […]
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New device is a real ‘lifesaver’
During December of last year, the Pismo Beach Police Department needed help locating a missing 73-year-old man suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. Officers contacted the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department, which, after reviewing some background information about the man and his lifestyle, recruited the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. Luckily, the man’s family had recently […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Let’s hear it for the boys
Most of the summer I have been a good boy, and I’ve spent a lot of time with my kids and my wife, whom I love. We frequented the beach, the lake, amusement parks, museums, and even the La Brea Tar Pits. Essentially, most of my summer was spent driving around looking for the cleanest […]