Youth Impact Awards: nominations now being accepted

Every year, KIDS Network presents the Youth Impact Awards, celebrating young people who have given their time, talent and energy to make a positive impact for individuals in Santa Barbara County...often while overcoming adversity in their own lives.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Youth Impact Awards. Please help us distribute the nomination form and/or the event flyer by sharing them with others and posting as appropriate...and if you know of a youth who fits the criteria, please take the time to nominate them! Nominees may be individuals or groups of young people, between the ages of 10 and 18, who reside and/or attend school in Santa Barbara County. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 30, 2015.

Winners receive a small monetary award, and winners and nominees alike are honored at the Youth Impact Awards Ceremony. We invite you to attend this ceremony, to be held Friday May 13 from 4:00 to 5:30pm in Shepard Hall at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 South McClelland Street. The ceremony is free and open to the public, so we ask that you register online to ensure yourself a seat.

For more information about the Youth Impact Awards,please visit the event webpage at www.YouthImpactAwards.com.

Lompoc Senior Health Expo coming up May 15

People over 50 are invited to attend the Lompoc Senior Health & Fitness Expo on Friday May 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dick DeWees Community & Senior Center, 1120 W. Ocean Ave.

• For your enjoyment, there will be a healthy lunch, door prizes, entertainment, and a cooking demo. For your health, there will be checks available for cholesterol and blood sugar (fasting required), blood pressure, bone density, skin cancer, and vision.
• For your information, community organizations including the Department of Social Services will answer questions and present information on topics such as community resources, Medicare, fraud & scam prevention, fall prevention, Alzheimer’s & dementia, diabetes, and advance directives.
• Free transportation is available. For information, call 805-875-8098, or download the flyer.

Child Abuse Prevention Month Focuses on Spanking

In the past year, multiple sports figures have been in the media spotlight for acts of violence. Where spousal abuse and/or assault are concerned, there is little debate. Yet when it comes to children, there is disagreement about what is considered acceptable adult behavior.

This April, the local Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign focuses on spanking and alternatives to violence against children.