🌱 Why activists packed Santa Maria’s TRUTH Act forum this week
Santa Maria, California Patch AM: a 5 min readCheers Santa Maria! We’re back, helping you stay up to date with what’s happening. Let's take on the day together! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Why activists packed Santa Maria’s TRUTH Act forum this week
- Santa Maria DUI crash driver faces 15 years to life
- How Santa Maria’s fields helped push farm values past $2.2 billion
Today's riddle: What did the mommy tomato say to the baby tomato? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 71 and low of 55 degrees.
- Friday: Breezy in the afternoon, temps: high: 69, low: 58.
- Saturday: Windy in the afternoon, with a high of 68 and low of 51 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Activists Demand Sheriff's Office End ICE Collaboration at Annual TRUTH Act Forum (noozhawk.com) — Santa Maria’s Betteravia Government Center drew activists and county leaders as the Sheriff’s Office detailed how often local jail inmates are transferred to federal immigration custody under the TRUTH Act. Supervisors pressed Sheriff Bill Brown about ICE arrests on or near county jail property, while immigrant advocates urged an end to voluntary cooperation with ICE and called for better tracking of enforcement activity. 
2. Kendra Cordova Pleads Guilty to Murder in Fatal Highway 101 Crash (independent.com) — In Santa Maria, prosecutors say 34‑year‑old Kendra Cordova has pleaded guilty to murder for a 2024 DUI crash on Highway 101 that killed Alma Alcorta Lazaro. She’s set for sentencing on August 4, 2026, in Santa Maria Superior Court, where she faces 15 years to life as investigators and victim advocates continue supporting the family.
3. Strawberries Remain Santa Barbara County's Top Crop in Annual Agriculture Report (keyt.com) — From Santa Maria, county officials report strawberries again leading Santa Barbara County agriculture with nearly $1 billion in 2025 crop value. Overall farm production rose more than 11%, with big gains in broccoli and steady growth in wine grapes, underscoring how regional farming continues to drive jobs and the local economy for North County residents.
4. Climate Action Plan Overview (ucsb.edu) — UCSB’s new climate action update directly affects Santa Maria residents who commute to Goleta on the Clean Air Express or in university vanpools. The plan calls for boosting long-distance bus subsidies, expanding vanpool capacity from Santa Maria and nearby towns, and encouraging remote work and online classes to cut greenhouse gas emissions. It also weighs higher parking fees and better local bus subsidies.
5. Exploring purpose beyond work: Compass 183 (umc.org) — A new spirituality podcast episode features writer and former pastor Damon Garcia reflecting on growing up in Santa Maria and how that shaped his views on purpose, work, and community. He argues that worth isn’t defined by jobs or productivity and urges listeners to find meaning in present-day relationships and local community life. Santa Maria’s “small-town mindset” becomes a springboard for rethinking capitalism and calling.
📸 Around Santa Maria
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🗓
Upcoming Events in
Santa Maria
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
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Wine Wednesday BINGO!-Wine Stone Inn
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau Wine Stone Inn 255 W. Clark Ave. Old Orcutt
5:00 pm
Wednesday July 1
📣 Santa Maria Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
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6/26: Reminitions +4 @ Deltina's Coffee Oceano. →
Deltina Coffee Roasters, 1945 Front St, Oceano
6:00 pm -
Becoming an 80 Percent Grower by Fred Clarke of... →
Nipomo High School, 525 N Thompson Ave bldg 300, Nipomo
11:00 am -
Becoming an 80 Percent Grower by Fred Clarke of Sunset Valley Orchids — FCOS.Org →
Nipomo High School, 525 N Thompson Ave bldg 300, Nipomo
11:00 am -
Pismo Beach, California, Surf Lessons →
Pismo Shore Estates Association, 100 Pismo Ave, Pismo Beach
10:30 am -
Wine Down Wednesday | DANA Adobe →
Dana Adobe at Historic Rancho Nipomo, 671 S Oakglen Ave, Nipomo
4:30 pm -
Wine Wednesday BINGO!-Wine Stone Inn
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau Wine Stone Inn 255 W. Clark Ave. Old Orcutt
5:00 pm -
Americana Concert with Violinist Mischa Lefkowitz... →
Dana Adobe at Historic Rancho Nipomo, 671 S Oakglen Ave, Nipomo
5:30 pm -
Americana Concert with Violinist Mischa Lefkowitz accompanied by Susan Davies →
Dana Adobe at Historic Rancho Nipomo, 671 S Oakglen Ave, Nipomo
5:30 pm -
Live Music & Food at El Viñero | July 3rd, 2026 →
El Vinero, 130 N Broadway St, Orcutt
5:30 pm -
Thursday Night Music In the Park →
Rancho Grande Park, Arroyo Grande
6:30 pm -
Chakra Flow Sound Journey / Nipomo →
Mystic Nature, 330 W Tefft St E, Nipomo
6:00 pm
Friday June 26
Sunday June 28
Tuesday June 30
Wednesday July 1
Friday July 3
Thursday July 9
Friday July 17
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Santa Maria PatchAM possible:
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- It's the middle of the week again and that means it's time for a new Mid-Week Moment of Calm!
Bite-sized videos to bring the beauty of nature into your busy week! https://youtu.be/Lm72pfnM_dE (Nextdoor Foothill Estates) - Looking for a young person interested in making some extra cash this summer (and possibly beyond).
I have 2 dogs and need someone to come by weekly to pick up dog poop in my small backyard. Flexible on the day of the week. Paying $20 cash each week… (Nextdoor Carmen/Betteravia)
- Boot Barn Holdings, Inc. posted a job opening for Inventory Control Associate (Full Time) in Santa Maria. Apply here.
- Chuck E. Cheese - CEC Entertainment, Inc. posted a job opening for Game Room Attendant - Cast Member in Santa Maria. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Santa Maria here.
Ok Santa Maria! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Ketchup! (Thank you Gregory S. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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