White jujube flowers shriveled up and fell off Alisha Taff’s trees during the summer, and all she could do was watch. “The type of fruit tree I have is really resilient,” Taff said. “It’s the perfect tree to grow out here but the extreme duration and heat temperatures in July were very impactful. … When […]
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Maximizing dollars: Allan Hancock and Cuesta College hope to receive needed infrastructure funding from Proposition 2
California’s community colleges, including Allan Hancock College and Cuesta College, rely on bond measures to help fund campus enhancements—anything from adding new buildings to renovating existing structures. In the Nov. 5 election, voters approved Proposition 2, a statewide $10 billion bond intended for public schools and community colleges. Public schools would receive $8.5 billion for […]
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Waiting for care: Lompoc only has child care space available for about 7 percent of its infants
Jacob Lindley and his wife got on child care waiting lists before their daughter was born. “We had heard horror stories about how hard it was to find child care and affordable child care at that,” the Vandenberg Village resident told the Sun. “We started looking early, and it took three to four months of […]
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Holiday Guide 2024
All the events, comfort food, traditions, and volunteering opportunities to get you through the season
Don’t blink or the year might be over. Before that happens, you’ve got to revel in the spirit of the holiday season! And I don’t just mean when the big man in red comes to deliver all those things you want. Our annual Holiday Guide is here to help you really celebrate this season, with […]
Posted inMusic, Arts & Culture
Reef protection: The Gallups paint underwater life to highlight its need for our help to stay alive
How deep is your love? Call (805) 688-1082 or visit calnatureartmuseum.org for more info on the California Nature Art Museum, located at 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang. The museum’s latest duo exhibition, A Deeper Love: Paintings Inspired by Coral Reefs, opened in mid-September and is scheduled to remain on display through Feb. 24, 2025. The California […]
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Waiting for playgrounds: Four Santa Maria-Bonita elementary schools have to get creative when it comes to recess
Instead of soaring on swings, racing down slides, and climbing on monkey bars, students at four Santa Maria elementary schools are playing on concrete slabs. The Santa Maria-Bonita School District allocated federal COVID-19 relief dollars to improve the playgrounds at Fairlawn, Tunnell, Alvin, and Ontiveros elementary schools. Over the summer, the district removed the outdated […]
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Home base: Local students could soon earn four-year degrees at Allan Hancock College—but the program awaits CSU approval
For the 12 years Kevin Walthers has been with Allan Hancock College, he has tried to work with the California State University System to make obtaining four-year degrees an opportunity for students on the Santa Maria campus. He’s so close to making that long-awaited dream a reality. Hancock recently received provisional approval from the California […]
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Aww factor: This issue features the Central Coast’s cutest pets and a little something extra
Brighten up your day by flipping through the winners of our second annual pet photo contest. Readers from across the Central Coast submitted more than 400 images of their cats, dogs, lizards, chickens, horses, bunnies, and even fish in this year’s competition. A panel of five judges narrowed them to the top three in each […]
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Local view: Santa Maria Camera Club fosters competition and camaraderie between local shutterbugs year round
This must be the place Visit santamariacameraclub.org to find out more about the Santa Maria Camera Club, which holds juried photography competitions over Zoom on the third Wednesday of each month. For info on how to participate or attend the club’s additional in-person programs, email santamariacameraclub@gmail.com. For budding photographers, gaining exposure is virtually synonymous with […]
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Human services: Local nonprofits provide health care, including STI treatments, to Santa Maria Riverbed residents
Syphilis. Hepatitis C. Wounds. Poor dental hygiene. Domestic violence. Substance use. These are some of the concerns Raye Fleming and her team at the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO) have noticed since beginning their services in the Santa Maria Riverbed. “We’ve also found a lot of primary care issues, and 5Cities Homeless […]
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Unhoused pet families
C.A.R.E.4Paws helps care for, feed pets as the Santa Maria riverbed gets cleaned up
A black-and-white kitten emerged from a makeshift fence made of blue tarp and wooden posts as Chris LaBossiere announced her arrival. “Hi … it’s Chris and Claire from C.A.R.E.4Paws,” LaBossiere said as she walked toward the encampment. Fellow volunteer Claire Sheehy stayed a few steps back. The resident pushed the tarp back as she came […]
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Dreams and dread
Santa Maria officials and residents share hopes, fears after City Council approves new agreement with The Vernon Group for downtown development
Maya Restaurant has seen every iteration of Santa Maria in its nearly 60 years of business. From its vibrant, charming early years to the vacant lots, Santa Maria has been home to the Paredes family. “The times are changing, and it’s time we keep up with those times to keep our home thriving,” said Tere […]
