“This investment by the Cloverlane Foundation will make a real difference in how we prepare students for the field,” said Fire Academy Coordinator Leonard Champion. “Access to professional-grade equipment like this elevates the quality of our program and gives our students a meaningful advantage when they enter the workforce.”
SANTA MARIA — A community-led action brought together grassroots organizers, rapid response volunteers, youth leaders, and musicians to stand in solidarity against ongoing immigration enforcement violence across the Central Coast during the ICE OUT 805 Solidarity Concert/March on Jan. 15, 2025 in Santa Maria, representatives of the 805UNDOCFUND reported on their Facebook page.
Led by those carrying a banner that read “ICE OUT OF CALIFORNIA” the protesters marched down the residential streets in Santa Maria calling for the end of ICE activities in the region.
SANTA MARIA — Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is now accepting applications for two bachelor’s degree programs offered on Allan Hancock College’s Santa Maria campus. Applications for both programs — Business Administration and Sociology — are open through Dec. 1, with classes beginning in fall 2026.
The degree pathways are part of a broader Cal Poly at Hancock initiative, announced earlier this year, which allows Central Coast students to earn a Cal Poly degree without commuting to San Luis Obispo. The programs bring Cal Poly faculty and coursework directly to Hancock’s Santa Maria campus, providing students with a flexible, affordable, and high-quality educational experience close to home.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College is still accepting registrations for the upcoming fall semester, which begins Aug. 18.
“Fall is a great time for students to take that next step,” said Hancock Superintendent/President Kevin G. Walthers, Ph.D. “Whether they are pursuing a degree, a certificate, or just exploring something new, our faculty and staff are here to support their success.”
With hundreds of classes available in-person and online, there’s never been a better time for students to pursue their educational goals.
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College’s Rodeo Team finished its 2025 season with an impressive list of awards and accomplishments.
The team’s final competition took place at the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association’s (NIRA) West Coast Regional Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 2-4. Hancock freshman breakaway roper Molly Pole had a 3.4-second run and placed fifth out of 88 breakaway ropers. Hancock sophomore Cody French and his team roping partner Haleigh Grant went 8.0 seconds to win the team roping category.
SANTA MARIA — On Sunday, March 30, the Santa Maria community peacefully rallied alongside farmworkers and allies, standing firm to demand dignity—not just for their labor but for their humanity. Everyone, no matter where they were born, deserves respect, fair wages, and the opportunity to live without fear.
“We are all here today united to use our voices to fight back against the deportations. We are fighting for our kids; we are fighting for ourselves because we are all essential and deserve the right to live safely, without fear,” said Gabriela Vivar, Farmworker Leader with Alianza Campesina.
SANTA MARIA — Community Partners in Caring will present the Santa Maria Valley Senior Expo from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, March 14 at Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria, in the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.
This event will connect the Santa Maria Valley residents to resources, products and services that will benefit those who are aging, are living with a disability or families caring for a loved one is in need of assistance. This is an opportunity to introduce the community to a variety of services all in one location, which may otherwise take them days to find.
Both for profit and non profit businesses are able to register as exhibitors and will be from a variety of industries including: health, legal, insurance, caregiving, medical devices, health checks, prosthetics, therapy, pet care, assisted and independent living facilities and so much more.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE EXHIBITOR REGISTRATON INFORMATION
Editor’s note: Amigos805 welcomes guest columns, letters to the editor and other submissions from our readers. All opinions expressed in submitted material are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of Amigos805. By Armando Vazquez , M.Ed. / Guest…
Klein will visit the college’s Santa Maria campus on Wednesday, Sept. 18 to discuss her latest book, Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree. The event will be held at the Boyd Concert Hall in the Fine Arts Complex (building F) at the college’s Santa Maria campus. The evening will begin with a community discussion at 5 p.m., followed by a book signing from 6-6:30 p.m.?
SANTA MARIA — The Rotary Foundation and the Rotary Clubs of California are being honored by the Network of California Community College Foundations (NCCCF) with the organization’s prestigious Bernard Osher Philanthropist of the Year Award. According to the NCCCF, the organizations have provided $6.2 million in philanthropic support to benefit California community colleges across the state in recent years.
The honor includes the efforts of local Rotary clubs who support students at Allan Hancock College, thanks to hundreds of thousands of dollars of donations to the college’s nonprofit foundation as well as directly to students through scholarships.
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY — Santa Maria’s Asa Jacobo-Anaya has always had the desire to help others. At only 8-years old, he is constantly trying to give away his allowance money, food, snacks and anything he can think of to the local unhoused individuals he sees around town.
Aware of her son’s passion for helping people experiencing homelessness, Ana Jacobo-Anaya proposed Asa’s 4-H program participate in the Hope Village Adopt-A-Room campaign by local nonprofit DignityMoves, an organization that provides interim housing and supportive services for Santa Barbara County’s unhoused population with the goal of transitioning them to more permanent housing.
SANTA MARIA — The Central Coast Small Farmer, Rancher, and Fisherfolk Forum is set to take place on October 25th and 26th at Allan Hancock College. This dynamic gathering aims to empower local producers and foster community and economic resilience through innovative practices and collaborative networking.
October 25th is the kickoff ticketed evening reception from 6pm to 9pm. This curated farm to table meal will feature several of our region’s farmers, ranchers, and fisherfolk.
SANTA MARIA — The Allan Hancock College Board of Trustees voiced their support for the college’s ongoing efforts to offer four-year degrees under the state’s Community College baccalaureate program. The trustees unanimously passed a resolution in favor of the district’s application to create a four-year degree in applied professional studies at their Dec. 19 regular meeting.
“This degree program would expand educational access and opportunity for our students and meet regional workforce needs,” said AHC Board President Greg Pensa. “This is exactly what we mean when we talk about changing the odds for our students.”
Delta High School was recently designated a Model Continuation High School (MCHS) for 2021, making it one of 27 in the state.
The school retains the designation for three years and will be virtually recognized for creating various opportunities for their students to pursue academic and social success at the California Continuation Education Association (CCEA) State Conference in San Diego, April 15-18.
Three ERHS students have been selected as the 2021 Boys and Girls State California Delegates and will participate in summer leadership and citizenship programs that focus on exploring the mechanics of American government and politics.
The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Junior Marissa Cuellar (Girls). The American Legion Orcutt Post 534 sponsors Zachary Monighetti (Boys) and Neev Vinchhi (Boys).
Delta High School will be teaming up with non-profits and others for a holiday drive-through event that will provide food and other necessities to needy students and their families today.
The outreach starts at 4 p.m. in front of the Ocrutt campus. Families will pick up a basket filled with a blanket, towel, hygiene products and groceries.
“Delta has been great this year,’’ said senior Amando Arozla. “They are doing so much for us and we are very lucky.”
More than 400 RHS students picked up materials for their Ag courses during a recent drive-through event thanks to FFA leadership students.
The supplies, distributed by FFA leadership members in face masks and uniforms, were for Floral Design, Woodshop Construction, and plant materials for their Agriscience research projects. Freshman also received activity booklets for this week’s virtual Greenhand Bootcamp (freshman are known as “Greenhands” attend the camp to learn about opportunities in the FFA) that will take place live on Zoom every day this week.
Dr. Himat Tank, pediatric physician in Santa Maria, is being recognized as a Champion in Health Care. This week, Pacific Coast Business Times published its annual list of front line medical workers, first responders, and volunteers who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to providing quality care. Nominated by local Medi-Cal managed care plan CenCal Health, Tank is honored in the Treating the Underserved category, as he has been the doctor of choice for parents of many CenCal Health members since the agency was founded in 1983.
SANTA MARIA — An atmosphere of mutual respect was created between Righetti and St. Joseph High Schools during a sportsmanship summit on Thursday. The summit stemmed from unacceptable remarks made from the stands during a recent heated rivalry. The teachable moments…
SANTA BARBARA — Preparations are underway for the first “Flavors of Santa Barbara County” wine and culinary event featuring a farm-to-table chef competition set for Sunday, August 2 at Presqu’ile Winery in Santa Maria. The cook-off will feature chefs who…
Santa Barbara County Farm Day will kick off at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 19 with an online tour of Babé Farms.
Offered by Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG), Santa Barbara County Farm Day is now in its second year. Farm Day is an opportunity for the public to visit local growers to see how crops are grown, harvested and sent to market. This year, tours will be virtual.
SANTA MARIA — About 11 PVHS students in the Mechanical Drawing A & B class recently earned the CAD Mechanical Design 1 Certificate that is offered through Precision Exams. The curriculum is the first of two exams that will prepare them…
SANTA MARIA — Music students from Santa Maria, Righetti and Pioneer High Schools are making sure the beat goes on and on and on. They recently participated in a masterclass/concert that featured Cuban musician and composer Dayramir Gonzalez accompanied by his…
SANTA MARIA — On the day Emma Zubia-Perales marked 40 years of service to SMHS, she was right where she wanted to be, in the classroom. Zubia-Perales was hired as a SMJUHSD Special Ed Instructional Assistant on November 19, 1979. On…
SANTA MARIA — A record-setting 54 Santa Maria FFA students were awarded their State FFA Degree at the annual awards banquet held inside the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande last weekend. The State FFA Degree is the highest degree a member…
SANTA MARIA — Students at PVHS will bring a touch of home to the Good Samaritan Shelter on Thursday, March 7th. Carrying 75 hand-made pillows and containers of chicken tortilla soup, the students from PV’s Culinary Arts and Apparel Construction and…
SANTA MARIA — Thirteen representatives of the Pioneer Valley FFA will move on to the Regional Speaking Finals on March 22, 2019 to compete and qualify for the State Finals competition after another dominant and successful showing at the Sectional Public…
SANTA MARIA — Delta High School students are getting help meeting their post-secondary educational goals during “College Thursdays”. The workshops, held afterschool and in the evening, feature instruction on how to complete college financial aid forms, scholarships and applications, according to…
SANTA MARIA — Delta High School students learned about multiple certificate programs that could help them get a job in the Santa Maria Valley during a tour of the Center for Employment Training this week. They also took a close look…
SANTA MARIA — Ballet Folklorico students from three high schools and a junior college are teaming up and will use traditional music and dance performances to keep Mexican and Latino culture alive throughout the Santa Maria Valley. The “Celebration of Mexican…
SANTA MARIA — Pioneer Valley High School Drama Department in Santa Maria will present the comedy ‘The Play that Goes Wrong’ Nov. 10. A dead guy who has trouble staying dead, steps that break, props falling down and a rotating bookcase are…
SANTA MARIA — Last Saturday, United Way and members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce were invited to join Xfinity in the opening of one of their stores in Santa Maria at the Enos Ranch development. United Way had a…
SANTA MARIA — A night of Holiday and Winter music by the Jazz, Concert and Marching bands of Santa Maria High School. Tickets are only $5 per person and concessions will be sold. All proceeds go towards the band attending the National…
Students graduate from Santa Maria-based Advanced Spanish Self-Employment Training Course. Next session begins Aug. 18. Next orientation is Aug. 4 in Santa Maria Amigos805 staff reports Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) celebrated the accomplishments of 18 women and men graduating from…
By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 You can almost feel it. That special time of year when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest. Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead is upon us with a number of…
Workshops already in progress to prepare items for Day of the Dead celebrations throughout the region By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805 Soon the aroma of marigolds and copal incense will waft through the air, beckoning spirits to cross over…
SANTA MARIA — Rep. Lois Capps (D-Santa Barbara) will host a forum where people can receive an update and review from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials on their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) renewal application and information on…
VENTURA COUNTY — Low- to moderate-income workers who had a household income of $52,000 or less in 2013 can receive free tax preparation and income tax filing at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site located throughout Ventura County, the…
SANTA MARIA — Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria will present guest speaker Raúl Lomelí, co-founder and executive chairman of Saber es Poder (Knowledge is Power), a Spanish-language media and empowerment network, on Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.…
