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Age-restricted: Santa Maria follows the county’s lead by passing protections for senior mobile home parks

 A goal to preserve affordable housing for more than 1,000 senior residents—specifically tenants of five mobile home parks in Santa Maria—prompted the city to recently refresh its zoning standards. Ahead of the new rules tailored to limit these parks’ eligibility to convert from 55-and-older to welcoming all ages, none of the five parks’ owners expressed interest in converting, Santa Maria Community Development Director Chenin Dow told the City Council at its Aug. 4 meeting. “It’s seeking to kind of…


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A Lompoc painter beautifies city streets one window at a time

A leprechaun sipping beer. Pets piloting an airplane. A slice of pizza riding waves. Jessica Manzanares’ painting résumé is eclectic. Her work isn’t confined to canvas or a sketch pad. It’s been displayed for all to see on the windows of businesses in places like Lompoc, Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Maria. “I like to think that it brings a little bit of joy and life, especially during Christmas and holidays,” Manzanares told the Sun. “It reminds people that the…

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