County 6-26

Record-breaking dry temperatures along the Central Coast have required the Santa Barbara County Fire Department to increase the number of firefighters on hand in order to ensure that all three of the Type III firefighting engines have extra staff through the remainder of the fire season. (/firepersonnel)

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UCSB’s third annual Central Coast study on residents’ quality of life was released last week. Of the more than 1,000 responding residents of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, 29 percent cited the cost of fuel as the factor most impeding their happiness and 19 percent cited the cost of living in the area. Also, 27 percent of those polled said they felt they were worse off than they were in the previous year. (/qualityoflife)

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Vandenberg Air Force Base announced on 6/24 a change of command for its 30th Space Wing. The outgoing commander, Colonel Stephen Tanous will now serve as commandant of the Squadron Officer College at Maxwell AFB in Alabama. Command of the 30th Space Wing-which conducts ballistic missile testing and rocket launches, among other things-will be assumed by Colonel David Buck. A ceremony for the switch is scheduled for 6/27.

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With a bevy of leftovers collected by various public agencies last week, the GIVE (Great Isla Vista Extravaganza) Sale at Isla Vista’s Embarcadero Hall last weekend netted some $12,000 for Isla Vista charities. Most of the unsold items were donated to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Some of the blankets and shoes were collected for charities in Africa.

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The U.S. Census Bureau announced that it is gearing up for the 2010 census and plans to hire 600 temporary employees in Santa Barbara County this summer. The Census Bureau is seeking an office manager, as well as staff for its clerical, administration, and quality assurance staff.