The first phase of a multi-million dollar pipeline project will be delivering water to thirsty Nipomo residents by mid-summer. Michael LeBrun, general manager of the Nipomo Community Services District, said the initial Nipomo Supplemental Water Project pipeline will be finished in June, and operational testing will begin later that month. “Physically, it will be done […]
Nipomo will be getting its supplemental water this summer
Posted inNews
Santa Maria company dissolves after paying $1 million in fines
A Santa Maria landscaping company paid $1 million to the federal government to settle an allegation that it fraudulently obtained federal contracts by claiming ownership by a disabled veteran. Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Stephanie Yonekura announced on May 15 that Veterans of the Land shelled out the hefty civil penalty […]
Posted inNews
Berry boycott: Labor disputes in Baja California spill onto the Central Coast
Rows of green-topped fields are a staple on the Central Coast, and as soon as red starts showing up between the forest-colored leaves, those acres flood with workers running empty boxes to spots where they hover with hands that deftly seek out tart, sweet berries the color of blood. It’s part of the landscape, commonplace, […]
Posted inNews
Is Santa Barbara County’s largest city getting serious about water conservation?
More than a month has passed since Gov. Jerry Brown ordered a mandatory 25 percent water reduction for the state’s urban areas, and Santa Marians are about to get hit with the surging wave of conservation efforts it created. At the May 5 Santa Maria City Council meeting, councilmembers proclaimed May as Water Awareness Month. […]
Posted inOpinion
Do you think that Santa Maria is growing at a rate that’s unsustainable for our water resources?
Ron Stivers landscape painter “Water has gone beyond serious. There has to be something done. But not raising the rates, it has to be managed better. There’s no room to be expanding where water’s needed and there’s no water here.” Pierson Christensen student “I would say so. I think our growth in general is faster […]
Posted inNews
Political Watch 5/14/15
• U.S. Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) reintroduced legislation on May 7 to strengthen protections for victims of domestic violence. A release from her office said the legislation will close loopholes that allow abusers and stalkers access to guns. “Existing federal laws designed to protect victims of domestic violence are important, but gaps remain,” Capps […]
Posted inNews
Community Notebook 5/14/15 – 5/21/15
TUESDAY, MAY 19 • The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has its regular meeting at 9 a.m. in the Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 105 E. Anapamu St., Santa Barbara. Agendas are available at http://santabarbara.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx#current. • The Santa Maria City Council has its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City […]
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Bulldog sluggers: Locally bred softball players take Allan Hancock College on a 34-game winning streak
See a slideshow of how the Bulldogs do what they do. Allan Hancock College is a softball powerhouse—with two straight conference titles tucked firmly into its softball cleats, the team marauded the world of community college ball with a 34-game winning streak. That streak ended the weekend of May 8 in the Super Regionals tournament, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Vanessa loves food: What’s cookin’ with Food Network TV show finalist and Solvang native, Vanessa Craig
Four days after the finale of the home cook competition All-Star Academy aired on the Food Network, first runner-up Vanessa Craig was back in the kitchen cooking up a storm in her native Santa Barbara County. Larner Vineyards and Winery invited Craig, who grew up in Solvang, to prepare a multi-course dinner for 20 guests […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Spring fever
Spring fever has hit our house something fierce. It’s like a sexy rainbow squatted over my house and peed spring pheromones. It seems like in every crevice and eave of our house, birds have set up nests. Right on my front patio, inches from my front door, a hummingbird built her itty, bitty nest in […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
The Cliffnotes perform swampy blues rock in Nipomo and Santa Maria
No other genre of music elicits the kind of creative nicknames given to blues artists. According to Cliff Stepp, known as “Crawdaddy” among band members and fans of his band The Cliffnotes, a blues artist is given a nickname, they are never self-imposed. “They usually come from other musicians,” Stepp said. “I came by mine […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Live Oak Festival announces closing night opener
The Live Oak Music Festival, organized by and benefiting KCBX Public Radio, announced Suzy Bogguss as the opening act performing before Steve Earle & The Dukes on the closing evening of the festival on June 21. Bogguss is a platinum and gold-album country artist who released the album Lucky in early 2015, providing her take […]
