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NOR T HERN S A N TA BA RBA R A COUN T Y ’ S NE WS A ND EN T ER TA INMEN T WEEK LY > JA NUA RY 4 - JA NUA RY 11, 2024 > VOL . 24 NO. 4 5 > W W W. S A N TA M A RIA SUN .COM

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Poor Things: Black comedy gold [17]

Hearst heist history A new novel explores the drama, unexpected twists of Patty Hearst’s kidnapping [16] BY ADRIAN VINCENT ROSAS

NEWS

Cuyama groundwater adjudication update [4]

NEWS

Oceano CSD gets new leaders for 2024 [6]

EATS

Mexican fusion in Arroyo Grande [18]

Contents

JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 11, 2024 VOL . 24 NO. 45

elling a tale he followed for the bulk of his career, author and journalist Roger Rapoport’s new novel covers the 1974 Patty Hearst kidnapping and the events that unfolded in its aftermath. His book, Searching for Patty Hearst, relies on a diversity of perspectives about the kidnapping, search, criminal trial, and eventual pardoning of Hearst. The heiress to William Randolph Hearst’s media empire and her ordeal are part of Central Coast history. New Times Staff Writer Adrian Vincent Rosas, from our sister paper, speaks with Rapoport about the work of fiction and its upcoming release [16]. This week, you can also read about what’s happening with the groundwater lawsuit in the Cuyama Valley [4], the troubled Oceano CSD’s change in leadership [6], and a popular taco truck that just opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Arroyo Grande [18]. Camillia Lanham editor

DreamHome

YOUR

Cover image courtesy of Lexographic Press, James Sparling > Cover design by Alex Zuniga

NEWS

AWA I TS

Carpet & Floor

WESTERN VILL AGE SHOPPING CENTER

805-347-1121

News Briefs ...............................................................................4 Political Watch.........................................................................4 Spotlight...................................................................................... 7

LIC. 668152

ARTS

Arts Briefs ................................................................................16

MOVIES

Reviews ......................................................................................17

OPINION

S A N T A M A R I A . A B B E Y C A R P E T.C O M

2 0 5 1 S . B R O A D WAY • S A N T A M A R I A

BOOK COVER: Author Roger Rapoport tells the story of Patty Hearst’s 1974 kidnapping and the drama that followed in his new book, Searching for Patty Hearst. This is the illustrated cover of that novel.

Commentary .............................................................................8 Web Poll ......................................................................................8 Modern World ..........................................................................8 Canary ..........................................................................................9

CLASSIFIEDS, HOME, AND REAL ESTATE .....................................................19

EVENTS CALENDAR

Hot Stuff ....................................................................................10

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www.santamariasun.com • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • Sun • 3

News POLITICAL WATCH • U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), along with several colleagues, advocated for a new law to strengthen the cybersecurity practices for the United States’ nuclear weapons system, which was signed by President Joe Biden. Reports from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published in September 2022 and June 2023 found that the National Nuclear System Administration was delinquent in fully implementing federally recommended cybersecurity practices. The legislation first proposed in 2023 and approved Dec. 22, 2023, will set up a Cybersecurity Risk Inventory, Assessment, and Mitigation Working Group within the Department of Defense, requiring them to inventory nuclear systems at risk and develop and implement a strategy for meeting the recommendations of the GAO report. “There are some causes that may not seem worth Congress’ time at first glance. Closing gaps in the cybersecurity practices of our nation’s nuclear systems is not one of them,” Carbajal said in a statement. “I am glad that this bipartisan proposal received bipartisan support throughout our push for its inclusion this year, and that President Biden has also recognized that our proposal is a straightforward pathway to ensuring we have no reason to doubt the security of our most dangerous weapon systems.” The working group would be required to brief Congress within 120 days of the enactment of the proposed language, and submit a completed strategy to the armed services committees by April 1, 2025. • Gov. Gavin Newsom announced more than $214.9 million in funding for community-led climate resilience and agricultural land acquisition projects, including nearly $17 million for Santa Barbara County, according to a statement from Assemblymember Gregg Hart’s (D-Santa Barbara) office. Of the $17 million, about $7.5 million will go to fund an easement on a 2,549-acre rangeland property in Santa Barbara County; about $5.8 million will help purchase a 310-acre ranch in Santa Barbara County and return the land to the Northern Chumash Tribe; $1.6 million to fund an easement on a 587-acre cattle ranch in Orcutt; and $250,000 for the Northern Chumash Tribal Council to develop a tribal land trust and management program. “These significant state investments will help local work in our region achieve California’s ambitious goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030,” Hart said in a statement. “I congratulate the inspiring work of the Land Trust of Santa Barbara County, the California Rangeland Trust, and the Northern Chumash Council for their diligent work to preserve nearly 3,500 acres of open space for future generations. I applaud the community of Cuyama and the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians for their commitment to environmental conservation programs that foster sustainability along the Central Coast.” • As part of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Master Plan for Kids’ Mental Health, the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) awarded $150 million in grants to 262 organizations to support the mental health and wellness of children, youth, and young adults. California also introduced the Certified Wellness Coach program and website to support overall physical, emotional, and mental well-being, and build a more diverse behavioral health workforce to help children and youth. “As children across California struggle with mental health challenges, we are building the supports they need—in their schools and communities—to improve their health and well-being,” Newsom said in a statement. “These investments are becoming reality through a diverse workforce that is reaching every community. That’s why we are launching a new program to hire coaches in this space and support wellness for all children and young adults.” Within the grants, $100 million will be dedicated to traumainformed practices and programs and $50 million will be for youth-driven programs. m

➤ What’s old is new [6]

January 4 - January 11, 2024

➤ Spotlight [7] FILE PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM

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Send any news or story tips to news@santamariasun.com.

ADJUDICATION CONTINUES: Even though Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms pulled out of the Cuyama Valley Groundwater adjudication, the groundwater rights lawsuit will continue forward with its first hearing scheduled for Jan. 8.

Cuyama water lawsuit moves forward as Bolthouse, Grimmway drop out

The Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin adjudication is scheduled to begin on Jan. 8 in Los Angeles County Superior Court, but Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway Farms are no longer plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Originally filed in 2021, the adjudication calls for a judge to rule on how much water everyone can pump from the basin, which is one of California’s 21 critically overdrafted basins that has a state-required groundwater sustainability plan. The sustainability plan calls for a 60 percent reduction in water use in 20 years. The suit sparked frustration for Cuyama residents, who later launched a boycott against the carrotgrowing companies and a petition calling for the corporations to drop the lawsuit. Bolthouse Farms and Grimmway, which left the lawsuit in August and November, respectively, said in separate statements that companies remaining as lawsuit plaintiffs are landowners in the valley and aren’t affiliated with either ag corporation. Those are Lapis Land Company LLC, Ruby Land Company LLC, Diamond Farming Company, and Bolthouse Land Company LLC. According to California secretary of state business filings, Lapis Land Company and Ruby Land Company are both managed by Legacy Farm Management LLC—which is managed by Barbara Grimm-Marshall, William Barrett, Brandon Grimm, and Jeffrey Meger. Diamond Farming Company’s officers and directors are GrimmMarshall, Meger, Barrett, and Grimm. Grimm-Marshall was the co-owner of Grimmway Enterprises; Brandon Grimm is the general manager of grower relations for Grimmway Farms; and Meger was a president for Grimmway Farms until 2016. The Grimm family sold Grimmway Farms in 2020 to an Indiana-based private equity firm. Lapis Land Company, Ruby Land Company, and Diamond Farming Company own land in Cuyama and Grimmway Farms is the tenant, said Dana Brennan, Grimmway’s vice president of external affairs and corporate responsibility. “Following the sale in 2020, Grimmway Enterprises is no longer owned by the Grimm families. None of the individuals on the list provided by the Santa Maria Sun are current officers or directors of Grimmway Enterprises, Inc.,” Brennan said in an email. “The entities listed by the Sun are not subsidiaries or affiliates of Grimmway. Grimmway has a landlord-tenant relationship with the entities, where we lease a portion of their farm ground.” Grimmway Enterprises Inc. secretary of state filings show that Jeff Huckaby, Jeremy Ladle, and Steven Antongiovanni are the company’s officers. Brandon Grimm was also named as a director of Grimmway Enterprises in a Nov. 20, 2020, statement of information.

4 • Sun • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • www.santamariasun.com

In a statement shared by the LA Times, Grimmway Farms said it decided to pull out of the adjudication because “many do not support the adjudication” and that it has compromised the strong relationships with fellow farmers in the valley. “Our relationships with the residents of Cuyama are more important and valuable to us than this court case,” Grimmway Farms said in a statement. “We hope all parties can work cooperatively going forward to achieve fairness, balance, and alignment as we address these critical water issues for all who live, work, and farm in this region.” Bolthouse Land Company LLC’s president is Anthony Leggio, according to California secretary of state business filings. Leggio is also president of Bolthouse Properties, which is a “legacy of the Bolthouse family’s involvement since 1915 in WM. Bolthouse Farms,” according to the Bolthouse Properties website. Leggio worked with the Bolthouse family for more than 40 years and served as legal counsel for Bolthouse Farms until Bolthouse was sold in 2006 to Madison Dearborn, a Chicago-based venture capitalist company, Bolthouse Properties officials told the Sun. Following the sale, Leggio became president of Bolthouse Properties, according to the Bolthouse Properties website. In a statement shared by the LA Times, Bolthouse Farms officials said that Bolthouse Farms leases the land from “Bolthouse Land Company (aka Bolthouse Properties)” and that Bolthouse Properties is “an unrelated third party company” under different ownership. Bolthouse Farms said that it had reevaluated its involvement and is committed to following the groundwater sustainability plan. “Together, with our neighbors and fellow farmers of Cuyama, we look forward to making a positive impact on the land, people, and future of food,” Bolthouse Farms said in the statement. “We take pride in our membership within the Cuyama Valley community and express gratitude for the dedicated efforts of our long-standing team members who have diligently contributed to our farms.” Cuyama resident Jacob Furstenfeld told the Sun that the companies’ departure was a move to “get out of the public eye” after the lawsuit garnered national attention. Even though the corporations pulled out of the adjudication, Furstenfeld said that landowners will continue to boycott carrots and circulate its petition, which had more than 9,000 signatures as of Jan. 2. “If they were really wanting to patch things up in the community, they would put pressure on these landowners [to] follow the groundwater sustainability plan and that would be a step in the right direction,” Furstenfeld said. “We’re not going to quit until this thing is solved and we can come up with common ground and get this out of the courts and into the public’s hands.” —Taylor O’Connor

Lompoc extends deadline on space center negotiations

The fate of a proposed space education center in Lompoc remains up in the air, as the city recently granted its developer an extension rather than opting to abort the project. Pale Blue Dot Ventures has been in an exclusive negotiation period with the city since 2019 with the hope of purchasing 82 acres of cityowned land—including parcels of and adjacent to Ken Adam Park—to develop a venue for space camps and space exploration attractions. The Lompoc City Council was asked to reassess the final frontier-themed project’s feasibility during its last meeting of 2023. “I wish all our council meetings were this packed,” Mayor Jenelle Osborne said at the Dec. 19 meeting, referring to several speakers who voiced their support for the space center proposal during public comment. Bradley Wilkinson, the founder of a popular rocket launch enthusiast group on Facebook, was one of those speakers. Wilkinson’s online forum, known as Vandenberg Rocket Launches, has more than 40,000 followers, some of whom also attended the Dec. 19 meeting to bolster the space center. Members of the group regularly post photos of their personal views of Vandenberg Space Force Base rocket launches from various pockets of the Central Coast. One of the amenities outlined in the space center proposal is to offer a new designated spot for locals and tourists to watch the launches near Ken Adam Park, but that’s not why Wilkinson wants to see the project move forward. “My favorite spot [to view launches] is anywhere along Central [Avenue],” Wilkinson told the Sun. “My main thing is … Lompoc doesn’t have much. We have no claim to fame. I’m looking forward to the growth that it’ll bring to the city.” One of the unique contingencies of the space center project is an upcoming ballot measure in the November 2024 election for city residents to vote on whether the project site should be used for anything other than a public park, since the site encompasses parts of Ken Adam Park. “In order to discontinue the use of a city park and turn it into some other use, there has to be an election,” City Attorney Jeff Malawy explained at the Dec. 19 hearing. Although the project’s final approval is contingent on the November election, “the next step in the process at this point is to finish our negotiations on the disposition development agreement [DDA],” said Malawy, who added that both staff and Pale Blue Dot believe they can finish negotiations by May. According to the staff report, the costs of extending the negotiation period are covered by Pale Blue Dot. While Wilkinson is pleased that the Lompoc City Council ultimately voted to grant the extension, with a 5-0 vote, he hopes city officials will host more public outreach events to gauge the community’s stance on using Ken Adam Park for the space center ahead of the November election. “If you’re so concerned about what people want, go ask them,” Wilkinson told the Sun. “You need to get out and pound the pavement and ask the public what they want.” The Lompoc City Council will revisit the space center proposal at its May 21 meeting with an update from staff on the project’s DDA. “I think it’s really important as we move toward a November election that our community does have as much information as possible so that each one of you can vote and tell us that you want it,” Osborne said near the end of the Dec. 19 meeting. “We come to this with a very critical eye because we take this very, very seriously.” —Caleb Wiseblood

NEWS continued page 5

News NEWS from page 4

Inmate death highlights ongoing need for mental health care

A 61-year-old inmate jumped from the second floor of a housing unit at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail Intake and Release Center and later died at Cottage Hospital, where he was being treated for his injuries, according to a Dec. 31 statement from the Sheriff’s Office. “Although this appears to be an apparent suicide, the Sheriff’s Office is conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident,” sheriff’s officials said in the statement. “Investigators from Criminal Investigations, Coroner’s Bureau, and Administrative Investigations responded to conduct multiple investigations. The Coroner’s Office will conduct further investigation to determine the cause and manner of this death.” The Sheriff’s Office couldn’t provide an additional comment because this is an ongoing investigation. “The harmful conditions and lack of available mental health treatment in the Main Jail units remain areas of enormous concern. We continue to see people decompensating and suffering in those units,” said Aaron Fischer, a civil rights attorney and lead class counsel in the Murray v. County of Santa Barbara case. The inmate death comes after a 2022-23 Santa Barbara County grand jury report found that the Sheriff’s Office needs to improve the delivery of jail mental health services, and as Santa Barbara County works to comply with the Murray settlement—a lawsuit that addressed the conditions at the county’s Main Jail and required significant expansion of mental health services.

“The county deserves credit for the progress it made with these mental health units in 2023. But there is no question that, here in 2024, there are far more people with significant mental health treatment needs than there are … slots, and there is a large number of people who are not getting urgently needed care,” Fischer said. After filing for an extension to implement needed changes at the jail, Santa Barbara County met the court’s December deadline for an expansion of the Behavioral Health Unit— adding 24 units to the Northern Branch Jail to create 56 units total that will provide higher levels of care for people facing serious mental illness, he said. Fischer added that the county started programs but wasn’t meeting treatment program requirements because of the health care staffing shortages. The county is also continuing its efforts to complete a plan for providing timely and adequate inpatient treatment—which will work with people who are unable to take care of themselves due to mental illness, he said. Historically, there’s been one psychiatric health facility bed designated for people at the jail, but it’s often filled by a patient from the community and leaves nowhere for the Sheriff’s Office to send the inmate. “Jail staff too often wait for someone to attempt suicide before sending them to the hospital. These have been major obstacles to providing necessary care for a long time, and they haven’t cut much ice at all,” Fischer said. Originally the county needed a plan in place for inpatient care by November 2023 and implemented by July 2024. The county informed the court that the plan will not be ready until March 1, 2024, Fischer said. m —Taylor O’Connor

CITY OF SANTA MARIA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT

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n Beginning January 2nd, 2024, the City of Santa Maria Utilities Department has complimentary low�flow rated showerheads available for City residents, in exchange for turning in their old showerheads.

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

Special Education Child Find

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) seeks to identify, locate, and evaluate high school age students suspected of having a disability who may be eligible for special education services designed to meet their educational needs at no cost to families. This includes students that are highly mobile, migrant, experiencing homelessness, students that are wards of the state, and students attending private schools located within SMJUHSD boundaries. If you suspect your child has a disability, contact the school special education department or district office Special Education Department. Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)

El Distrito Escolar de las Escuelas Preparatorias de Santa Maria

Educación Especial Búsqueda de Estudiantes

El Distrito Unificado de Escuelas Preparatorias de Santa Maria (SMJUHSD) busca identificar, localizar y evaluar a los estudiantes en edad de escuela preparatoria sospechosos de tener una discapacidad que puede ser elegible para servicios de educación especial diseñados para satisfacer sus necesidades educativas sin costo alguno para las familias. Esto incluye a los estudiantes que son altamente móviles, migrantes, sin hogar, estudiantes que están bajo la tutela del estado, y los estudiantes que asisten a escuelas privadas ubicadas dentro los limites de SMJUHSD. Si sospecha que su hijo tiene una discapacidad, comuníquese con el departamento de educación especial de la escuela u oficina de Educación Especial del distrito SMJUHSD.Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)

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www.santamariasun.com • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • Sun • 5

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BACK AGAIN: Paavo Ogren returned to the OCSD as its interim general manager on Jan. 1 and will help find a permanent replacement for General Manager Will Clemens, who retired on Dec. 31.

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What’s old is new Previous Oceano Community Services District general manager Paavo Ogren takes the reins again WIN TWO TICKETS TO FIRST LADIES OF DISCO Thursday, January 25 • 7:30pm Clark Center, Arroyo Grande

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NewTimesSLO.com

BY SAMANTHA HERRERA

familiar face is returning to the Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) in 2024. On Jan. 1, OCSD’s previous general manager, Paavo Ogren, took over as interim general manager from General Manager Will Clemens, who retired on Dec. 31. Clemens told the Sun that Ogren was the perfect candidate to take over for him and he feels confident in Ogren’s ability and experience to lead the district through its projects next year. “He’s going to be a great interim general manager because he has a history with the district,” Clemens said. “He should allow the district to keep moving forward without a hitch.” Ogren, who served in Oceano as general manager from July 2014 until December 2019, told the Sun that he was previously general manager during a period of reshaping and transforming the district. “Oceano had seven general managers in seven years, and it was really bad, so my five and a half years was really spent doing a lot of cleaning up on stuff like capital project planning,” Ogren said. “You know, I have a good history with Oceano that goes before 2014, back to when I was the [SLO County] Public Works director and in other positions at the county. I used to do a lot of good work with Oceano.” Clemens announced his sudden retirement at an October board meeting where he said “the dysfunction of the board came to a head” at its previous meeting, which “culminated” when the district’s legal counsel quit. “This new board direction lacks clarity,” he said at the Oct. 25 meeting. The board’s infighting and increasing state of disarray made its way to SLO County 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding through a series of complaints from local residents. Paulding responded by submitting a letter to the OCSD board encouraging it to start promoting an environment of respect and professionalism. “As a fellow elected representative of the unincorporated community of Oceano, I am reaching out to offer guidance and my support to the Oceano Community Services District. Following your board meetings of Oct. 11 and Oct. 25, 2023, several Oceano residents

6 • Sun • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • www.santamariasun.com

have reached out to me and expressed their concern over the current state of the district and its board of directors,” Paulding wrote in the letter. “Having watched these meetings, I too have concerns about board incivility and dysfunction.” Residents again expressed concern during a Dec. 13 OCSD meeting where board member Charles Varni—who some local residents have said is the cause of the district’s current state of disarray—was appointed the board’s president for 2024 on a 3-2 vote. Varni told the Sun that he’s going to ensure everyone is held to a basic code of civility in 2024 and that those who don’t wish to follow it will face consequences in accordance with the Brown Act. “If someone is disrupting the meeting, such that the government body cannot do its work, then they can be removed from that meeting,” Varni said. “It’s either going to be a two or three strike sort of thing. ... Attacking an individual is not going to be allowed. You need to stop and get to the point, and if they do it a second time, then they’ll be asked to leave the meeting.” He added that law enforcement will be present at board meetings moving forward. While Ogren didn’t comment directly on the board’s current state, he said that his time with the district will be limited, so he plans to focus on finding the best future general manager for the OCSD while also overseeing district projects. “The district has one project going on right now in the school district, where they’re doing a recharge project, and they were also just awarded the contract for a storage tank rehabilitation project,” he said. “But what Oceano really has coming forward is a significant capital improvement plan where they will be doing a lot of replacement of old water lines. So, in addition to helping the board with the recruitment of a permanent general manager, we’re also going to have to look at what are going to be the staffing needs for this big capital project coming up.” Although he’s technically already retired, Ogren did fill in as interim general manager of the Los Osos, Cambria, and San Miguel community services districts, and the California Public Employees’ Retirement system will only

allow him to work for one more year at half time. Clemens said this will help the district save a bit of money while the search for a permanent replacement continues. “He’ll be a full-time contract employee because he worked for the district prior but there’s certain laws that limit how many hours he can charge in a fiscal year,” Clemens said. “He also won’t get any other benefits other than his salary.” While it could seem counterintuitive for the district to hire an interim manager while looking to save money, Clemens said it was necessary because he only gave a two-month notice of his retirement, which isn’t enough time to find a proper, permanent replacement. “Sometimes this process can take months because you’ll run a recruitment and you won’t find a suitable candidate, so you’ll have to run another one, and that’s what happened here,” he said. “They ran a recruitment and didn’t get too many qualified candidates, so the board conducted interviews but decided to run another one, so I don’t think they want to rush the process here. Getting an interim in temporarily will keep things going.” While the district is working on new capital projects and creating new committees, Ogren said he’s excited to get to work. “The OCSD has a lot of good things going for it, and the key is to help with an orderly transition of a new permanent general manager who can meet the historic needs of the board, which includes traditional services of water, wastewater, and trash while also some of the new things that the board wants to work on like the Parks and Rec Committee,” he said. “Next, it’s just reviewing applications and matching up the best applicant for the needs of the district. We’ll be putting together job postings and setting deadlines for people to submit applications and whatnot pretty soon.” Ogren said this will be his last rodeo, and it’s almost a full-circle moment to have it be in Oceano. “This is my last opportunity to do something good, something before I retire, and it’s really satisfying to work with a small group of people,” he said. “I do think Oceano has a lot of good things going forward, and it’s nice to work with the board to pick a good general manager because we’re here to ensure the stability of the district, and a general manager is important to keep things from crumbling.” m Reach New Times Staff Writer Samantha Herrera, from the Sun’s sister paper, at sherrera@newtimesslo.com.

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SPOTLIGHT FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF CASA SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

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BENEFITING LIVES: CASA Santa Barbara County is offering more volunteer training opportunities in hopes of recruiting more individuals to work with children going through the court process.

A helping hand

she said. “We are considered part of the case, but they let CASA volunteers observe so they understand what CASA Santa Barbara County wants to the children go through recruit more volunteers so it can help more and how the work can be transformative for the child.” children in the foster care system CASA volunteers are not only advocates for children BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR in the courtroom, but a he Court Appointed Special Advocates consistent adult supporting the child, Colby (CASA) of Santa Barbara County served an Davis said. estimated 509 children going through the “They’re connected to one individual who’s court system in 2023, Executive Director Kim going to make sure they’re OK. That’s where our Colby Davis said. volunteers are special and unique,” she said. CASA becomes involved in a child’s life after Oftentimes, Colby Davis said, those who are the court and county social workers have decided interested say that they’ll become a volunteer that they need to intervene for the child’s safety when they retire or that they wished they had the and well-being. The nonprofit’s volunteers work time or skills to become a volunteer—however, with social workers, biological parents, teachers, most of CASA’s volunteers work full time and and foster parents to gather information and come from a variety of backgrounds. create a report for a judge so they can make the “All walks of life fit into the role of a CASA best legal choice for the child’s outcome. volunteer. I’d love to see more people bring that While CASA has seen around 500 children talent they don’t even know they have; they annually over the last couple of years, the team have lived experience. They don’t need to fear, helped the same number of children in 2023 we’re here to support our volunteers and we are despite the fact that volunteer recruitment has excited to do so,” she said. ”There’s room for been “really down considerably,” Colby Davis said. everyone in the role of a CASA volunteer, and “I think that as we came through the COVID they are all appreciated.” era, we have felt a shift [in] how people prioritize Visit sbcasa.org/volunteer to fill out the their time. More people want to help with a volunteer interest form and learn more about one-time, quick project,” she said. “That’s our what’s needed to work with CASA. biggest challenge; being a CASA volunteer is a commitment of 12 to 18 months to see Highlight through their first case to completion where • People’s Self-Help Housing recently unveiled the child gets through the process of being in its new Leadership in Energy and Environmental foster care and closes their case into some type Design (LEED) Silver award at its San Luis Obispo of permanent home—whether it’s with their headquarters. LEED certification recognizes parents or an adoption.” developments built with “exceptional sustainable As of Dec. 27, CASA had about 159 construction practices,” according to People’s Selfvolunteers, when they would normally have about 225. In the 2023 calendar year, CASA had Help Housing. The organization’s headquarters building in SLO features bike racks and lockers, 232 active volunteers and normally it would see refillable water MUSIC bottle stations, solar panels, 275 or 290, Colby Davis said. As of the same and drought-resistant landscaping that returns date, 46 children were on the waiting list. rainwater to the ecosystem. Ken Trigueiro, “At one time we had over 200 children on the People’s Self-Help Housing CEO and president, FLAVOR/EATS wait-list, so we have been working really hard said in a statement that the organization is to serve all the children and we feel like we’re “committed to creating sustainable communities, getting there, but it’s an urgent need,” she said. INFO both for the residents at our properties and the In order to close the gap between children and staff members who live and work throughout services, CASA is launching monthly in-person our footprint. We ... will continue to implement training sessions, starting in January, in hopes CALENDAR these same standards in our building practices that more people will apply to become a CASA throughout the Central Coast.” People’s Self-Help volunteer, Colby Davis said. After filling out an Housing servesOPINION low-income households, working initial application and going through a screening families, seniors, veterans, farmworkers, those interview, people can begin their 10-hour living with disabilities, and the formerly homeless online training at their own leisure. Once that’s throughout SanNEWS Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, completed, they go to in-person sessions for four Ventura, and Monterey nights (10 hours total). counties. For more information, “There’s also a component STROKES visit pshhc.org. m when they get far into it where we have them do courtroom Send business and Reach Staff Writer Taylor observation, which is unique nonprofit information to ARTS O’Connor at toconnor@ because … it’s only open to spotlight@santamariasun.com. santamariasun.com. people involved with the case,”

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www.santamariasun.com • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • Sun • 7

Opinion ONLINE POLL

What do you think was the most interesting thing to read about this year?

29% The Cuyama Valley groundwater adjudication. 29% The county ambulance services contracts and AMR lawsuit. 29% There’s too many to choose from, every article is so interesting! 13% The LGBTQ-plus discrimination in the Santa Ynez Valley.

COMMENTARY

➤ Canary [9]

Open letter to Gov. Newsom In response to his recent signing of the Orphan Well Prevention Act, AB 1167 BY JEAN’NE BLACKWELL

of life that invites peace and harmony and encourages cooperation and abundance for all. y question is how do we enforce that law? We do not need more laws regulating What good are laws, rules, regulations, industry, we need just one good law that codes if there is no enforcement would hold our elected officials responsible for mechanism? Without consequences for enforcement of the laws. noncompliance, laws are ignored. CalGEM (California Geologic Energy We don’t need new laws. We need the old Management Division) reneged on its threat to ones enforced. If the old ones failed because of close all uncertified waste disposal wells and to noncompliance, what can we expect from the impose a fine of $25,000 per day, per well on all new ones? Same thing. uncapped wells. The warning was issued in 2017. Enforcing laws shouldn’t take forever or cost I contacted the attorney general about a community a small fortune to hire lawyers CalGEM’s failure to make good on its threats to sue. It also makes no sense to sue the oil industry for doing what our elected officials gave to shut down operators who refused to get UIC certified and was told every time that it is not them permission to do by turning a blind eye their job to act on behalf of private citizens. to enforcing codes and laws for our protection. The governor had the power to order CalGEM The officials who gave them permission need to to enforce the shutdown be held responsible for not doing their job. We but didn’t. Former Gov. trusted and relied on them to ensure our safety Jerry Brown failed to and well-being. keep his promise to The Arroyo Grande Oil Field (AGOF) has keep us safe. He had the been operating unlawfully for more than 15 power and authority years. The state of California cited the AGOF to order his regulatory to be in violation of Environmental Protection agencies to enforce the Agency (EPA) UIC [underground injection UIC and abandoned well control] Class I certification for the safe disposal regulations. He chose, of waste by-products into our backyard and the as if it was an option, to capping and sealing of 44 abandoned wells. ignore the violations. You have the same power, The San Luis Obispo County Board of Gov. Newsom.MUSIC What are you going to do with it? Supervisors has permitted Sentinel to dump CalGEM said it did not have enough money unlicensed, untested, undisclosed, unidentified or resources toFLAVOR/EATS enforce the law. I filed three foreign man-made chemicals into undisclosed, complaints with our grand jury about the unidentified sites in our backyard for years. noncompliance of local state and federal laws This practice defies, violates local, state, and by the Board ofINFO Supervisors in violation of the federal codes and regulations that stipulate conditional use permit for Sentinel LLC at the unequivocally that every injection well’s content AGOF. The complaints were routinely dismissed must be certified and verified safe before one not for lack of sufficient proof drop is injected into subterranean soil or fugitive and disregarded, CALENDAR and evidence, but rather emissions released into the dismissed because it was air. No exceptions. OPINION inconvenient and a political We have come to trust and rely on the practice of hot potato that no one wanted Send us your licensing for our protection to deal with. views and opinion to NEWS and well-being. Trust is a Please tell me what a letters@santamariasun.com. major component to a quality law-abiding, peace-loving

M 7 Votes

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citizen and resident in love with my community and hell-bent on keeping it safe and sound for future generations can do when our elected officials, sworn officers of the state, and leaders we trust and rely on for our safety and well-being disregard, ignore, and dismiss as unimportant our deep-seated safety and health concerns? Does our Board of Supervisors or the EPA or CalGEM or anyone in our governmental regulatory agencies have a record of what Sentinel is disposing of in our backyard? Underground aquifers and groundwater reservoirs are fair game without an official record. Out of sight out of mind. And no, not one of the above has a record because our elected officials refused on at least five separate occasions to provide this community with an affirmation and verification per a conditional use permit that underground injection control Class I permits were secured by the board. We delivered more than 80,000 signatures on a petition, had five local municipalities petition our Board of Supervisors to simply enforce the local and state health and safety regulations that would affirm and officially certify that the injection wells were safe. That is all we wanted, the affirmation that the disposal and drilling process would not endanger our lives or livelihood. It was not our job, responsibility, or duty to prove Sentinel, PXP, Freeport was dumping toxic waste in our backyard and contaminating our air and water. It was in fact the operator’s responsibility to prove they were acting in good faith and the process was safe by complying with certification mandated by rules, regulations and codes, and safety laws. We have a right to know what is going on in our backyard. That is why we have the EPA, CalGEM, state Water Resources Control Board, elected officials, and state agencies to enforce our right to know. Please, Gov. Newsom, tell me what we can do to ensure the enforcement of these laws. We want to believe you. We want to trust you. Please show us you care by just enforcing the UIC Class I Code of the 12 injection wells and the capping and sealing of the 44 wells at the AGOF. It only takes one successful action to send the message of intent that instills the trust that cements the loyalty and oneness that binds us together for all the right reasons. Silence is consent. Please listen. Please hear us. We want to see the proof from Sentinel that it has been certified safe according to the UIC Class I permit and the 44 abandoned wells officially capped and sealed. And we want our elected officials held responsible for getting the official verification and proof as a matter of the public record, that Sentinel’s waste disposal injection wells have been approved and certified safe. We have a right to know, and the Board of Supervisors has a duty and responsibility to prove it. m

We do not need more laws regulating industry, we need just one good law that would hold our elected officials responsible for enforcement of the laws.

Speak up!

STROKES

ARTS

Jean’ne Blackwell writes to the Sun from San Luis Obispo. Send a letter for publication to letters@ santamariasun.com. 8 • Sun • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • www.santamariasun.com

Opinion

Sleight of hand

ceano is hoping for a brand new 2024. The little town in southern San Luis Obispo County is hoping that its Community Services District will finally pull itself together, that the governing board will do more than bicker, and that its new leaders will move forward into a more civil era of policymaking. I wouldn’t bet money on it, though. In the last three to four months, the CSD’s board meetings have erupted into shouting, name-calling, and accusations both from the dais and the public; the district general manager and legal counsel both quit; and south SLO County 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding wrote the board a letter asking it to pull itself together. Paulding noted that several residents had reached out to him with their concerns. “Having watched these meetings, I too have concerns about board incivility and dysfunction,” he wrote. The board will still have the same people sitting on it, so the “dysfunction” likely won’t change. There is small hope that the experienced new/ old interim general manager will help the CSD get its house in order. Paavo Ogren has been around these parts before (he was the general manager a few years ago) and he’s helped a handful of other CSDs attempt to reorder themselves. But with a new president at the board’s helm, I’m not so sure things will make an about-face in a more positive direction. Charles Varni is either Oceano’s favorite elected official to rag on or he’s part of the problem, not the solution. Depends on who you ask. Varni’s going to lay down the law, so Oceano residents better watch out! He’s planning to kick folks out who he deems disruptive, and law enforcement will be present at future meetings!

Wow. Oceano is so extreme! You know what else is extreme? The lengths some companies will go to combat bad public relations. Grimmway Farms and Bolthouse Farms got hammered for the adjudication lawsuit they started over the Cuyama Valley Groundwater Basin. The David vs. Goliath story was picked up by the LA Times and beyond. Big Carrot was picking on little family farmers without the money to defend themselves over a water basin that the corporations were sucking a ton of water out of. They pulled out of the lawsuit late last year, according to the companies, because relationships with Cuyama residents were more important than water. Funny thing is, though, the lawsuit in question is still moving forward and more than 500 landowners will still need to defend themselves against it. A handful of landowning companies that rent Cuyama dirt to Grimmway and Bolthouse for carrot-growing purposes are still listed as plaintiffs. So the growers will benefit no matter what. Grimmway and Bolthouse swear up and down that the companies left in the lawsuit are “unaffiliated,” but looking at California secretary of state filings leads me to believe otherwise. Can Bolthouse Properties and Bolthouse Farms really be so separate that one hand doesn’t feed the other? Can a landowning company managed by Grimm family members, at least one of whom might still work for Grimmway Enterprises even though the family sold it in 2020, really be completely separate from Grimmway Farms? Seems suspicious. m The Canary is sniffing out suspect behavior. Send word to canary@santamariasun.com.

Christmas Tree Collection CITY OF SANTA MARIA RESIDENTS n Discarded Christmas trees will be collected at no charge from the curb on your scheduled trash collection day during the week of JANUARY 9, 2023–JANUARY 13, 2023, on residential trash collection routes. (Charges apply after January 13.) n Place your Christmas tree on the curb, at least three feet away from your trash container, on your scheduled collection day. Trees must be free of all stands, tinsel, and ornaments. Flocked trees or artificial trees are not accepted. n Cut�up trees can also be placed in organics containers.

ATTENTION all former SMJUHSD Special Education Students born 1997 and 1998! All records for any Special Education student that was born within 1997-1998 and attended a Santa Maria Joint Union High School District school, your physical special education records are available for pick up at no charge from the District Office. All 1997 Records not picked up by June 1, 2023 and 1998 Records not picked up by June 1, 2024 will be destroyed. If you have any questions, or to arrange a pickup date/time, contact: Sandra Hernandez/ Dept. of Special Education Santa Maria Joint Union High School District 2560 Skyway Dr., Santa Maria, CA 93455 805-922-4573 ext. 4311

ATENCION estudiantes anteriores de SMJUHSD nacidos en 1997 y 1998! Todos los registros de cualquier estudiante de Educación Especial que haya nacido dentro de 1997 -1998 y asistió a una escuela del Distrito Escolar de las escuelas preparatorias de Santa Maria, sus registros físicos de educación especial están disponibles para recoger sin cargo en la Oficina del Distrito. Todos los registros del 1997 que no hayan sido recogidos para el 1 de junio de 2023 y registros del 1998 que no hayan sido recogidos para el 1 de junio de 2024 serán destruidos. Si tiene alguna pregunta, o para programar una fecha/hora de recogida, comuníquense con: Sandra Hernandez/ Dept. de Educacion Especial Santa Maria Joint Union High School District 2560 Skyway Dr., Santa Maria, CA 93455 805-922-4573 ext. 4311

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www.santamariasun.com • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • Sun • 9

Hot Stuff

10-DAY CALENDAR: JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 14, 2024

CALIFORNIA DREAMING

In conjunction with its current exhibition of art by Eyvind Earle (1916-2000), the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art is hosting a free screening of Sleeping Beauty at the Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang on Saturday, Jan. 6, at 3 p.m. Earle was the 1959 film’s principal background painter. Visit elverhoj.org for more info on the exhibit, on display through mid-January, and the upcoming Sleeping Beauty screening. The Bethania Lutheran Church is located at 603 Atterdag Road, Solvang. —Caleb Wiseblood

FILE COURTESY IMAGE BY EYVIND EARLE

ARTS SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS

BALLROOM, LATIN, AND SWING DANCE CLASSES Social ballroom, Latin, and swing lessons for all ages. Beginner and advance classes. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. $45-$55. 805-928-7799. Kleindancesarts.com. KleinDance Arts, 3558 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria. CHARLOTTE’S WEB Presented by Santa Maria Civic Theatre (SMCT). Jan. 12-28 my805tix.com. Santa Maria Civic Theatre, 1660 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria. DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN DANCE Classes available for all skill levels. Class sizes limited. Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/. FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES 0-17 Visit the Youth Services Desk on the first Sunday of each month to receive a coupon for a free book of your choice from the Library Bookstore. For ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. LEARN CALIFORNIA’S OFFICIAL DANCE: WEST COAST SWING Learn west coast swing in a casual, friendly environment, taught by Texas state swing champion, Gina Sigman. Free intro from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Beyond the Basics ($10) is 7 to 7:45 p.m. $10 entry includes social dance (7:45 to 8:15 p.m.). Tuesdays, 6:30-8:15 p.m. 832-884-8114. Cubanissimo Cuban Coffee House, 4869 S. Bradley Rd., #118, Orcutt. SANTA YNEZ VALLE Y

CALIFORNIA’S CHANGING LANDSCAPE: THE WAY OF WATER Featuring more than 20 large-format documentary inkjet

photographs of the Golden State, this timely exhibition showcases George Rose’s recent expansive documentation of California’s dramatic water story. Through July 8 Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-688-1082, wildlingmuseum.org. THE MAGICAL WORLD OF EYVIND EARLE Eyvind Earle (1916-2000), an internationally acclaimed artist who helped revolutionize film animation with his work on Disney classics, is being honored with this exhibition. Through Jan. 15 Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang, 805-686-1211, elverhoj.org. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE An installation by Northridge-based artist Elizabeth Criss. Through Feb. 1 wildlingmuseum.org. Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-688-1082. LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

CRITTERS: REAL AND IMAGINED Photographer Rick Skillin and glass artist Joellen Chrones, will showcase wildlife photos and fused glass critters. A reception will be on Nov. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 805 -737 -1129. lompocart.org. Cypress Gallery, 119 E Cypress Ave., Lompoc. FIRST THURSDAY ART WALK Mark your calendars for December 7 for Art Walk. Cypress Gallery will be open, and its Holiday Show will be up for shopping. Features a “Holiday Make and Take.” Visitors will create their own work of art and take it home. First Thursday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Free. Lompoc Valley Art Association (Cypress Gallery), 119 E. Cypress, Lompoc, CA, 805-737-1129, lompocart.org. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y

LEE HERRICK: A READING BY CALIFORNIA’S POET LAUREATE Hosted by the Coastal Dunes branch of the California Writers’ Club. Jan. 13, 10:30 a.m. 805-929-3994. coastaldunescwc.com. Nipomo Library, 918 W. Tefft, Nipomo. SAN LUIS OBISPO

ALISA SIKELIANOS-CARTER The Alisa Sikelianos-Carter exhibition at SLOMA will promote an emerging female artist of color whose works are inspired by the stories of her Black ancestors and traditionally Black hairstyles, centered on ancestral power and mythology. Through March 10, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma. org/exhibition/alisa-sikelianos-carter/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. ALL LEVELS POTTERY CLASSES Anam Cre is a pottery studio in SLO that offers a variety of classes. This specific class is open to any level. Teachers are present for questions, but the class feels more like an open studio time for potters. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. $40. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com. ARTIST RIKI SCHUMACHER AT ART CENTRAL GALLERY Schumacher’s work is pensive and introspective, inspiring one to take a solitary walk on a cloudy day. Wander in to reflect on her “delicious, wistful landscapes.” Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Free. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/galleryartists/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. CERAMIC LESSONS AND MORE Now offering private one-on-one and group lessons in the ceramic arts. Both hand building and wheel throwing options. Beginners welcomed. ongoing 805-8355893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See

New Times and the Sun now share their community listings for a complete Central Coast calendar running from SLO County through northern Santa Barbara County. Submit events online by logging in with your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account at newtimesslo.com. You may also email calendar@newtimesslo.com. Deadline is one week before the issue date on Thursdays. Submissions are subject to editing and approval. Contact Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood directly at cwiseblood@newtimesslo.com. 10 • Sun • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • www.santamariasun.com

website, San Luis Obispo. CLAY BABY HANDPRINTS Offers a unique experience of pressing your baby’s hand/ foot into clay so parents can cherish this time forever. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays $55. anamcre.com/babyhandprints. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. COMEDY NIGHT Professional comedy show featuring local and touring comics. Hosted by Aidan Candelario. First Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m. $5. 805540-8300. Bang the Drum Brewery, 1150 Laurel Lane, suite 130, San Luis Obispo, bangthedrumbrewery.com. FIRST FRIDAYS Visit SLOMA on the first Friday of each month for exhibition openings, music, and wines provided by regional winery partners. Admission is free and open to the public. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/events/first-fridays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. FREE DOCENT TOURS Gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view with SLOMA’s new docent tours. Every Saturday, join trained guides for interactive and engaging tours of SLOMA’s current exhibitions. Saturdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/visit/ tours/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. INTERMEDIATE OIL PAINTING: ADULT ART CLASS This class is for students who may have tried oil painting in the past but are looking to advance their skill levels. Color theory and proportion study will be a focus in the class. Mondays, 2-5 p.m. $30 per student or $75 for 3 classes. 805747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshopsevents/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. INTRO TO OIL PAINTING WITH SPENCER

INDEX Arts...................................... 10 Culture & Lifestyle ...........12 Food & Drink ......................13 Music ...................................15

COLLINS The perfect class for those wanting to try oil painting for the first time. Guests discuss color theory, layering paint, and how to use various media. For ages 16 and over. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $30 per class or $100 for 4 classes. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY AND ART Owen and Kyoko Hunt from Kyoto, Japan offer classes for Japanese calligraphy (Fridays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.), a Japanese art called “haiga” (Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m.) and more at Nesting Hawk Ranch. Fridays $45. 702-3350730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo. LEAH ROSENBERG Rosenberg works across artistic media to spark new experiences of color. Using painting, installation, printmaking, sculpture, performance, and video, she invites viewers to consider how color can be perceived both multi-sensorially and multi-dimensionally. Through April 1 Free. 805-543-8562. sloma. org. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. LEARN TO WEAVE MONDAYS An opportunity to learn how a four-shaft loom works. You will get acquainted as a new weaver or as a refresher with lots of tips and tricks. This class includes getting to know a loom, how to prepare/dress a loom, and much much more. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. $75 monthly. 805-441-8257. Patricia Martin: Whispering Vista Studios, 224 Squire Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, patriciamartinartist.com. LESLIE SUTCLIFFE This installation consists of 96 panels, any number of which can be assembled and reassembled in a multitude of ways. Initially, the individual panels were inspired by the rich visual imagery in Italo Calvino’s Six Memos for the Next Millennium. Through Jan. 29 Free. 805543-8562. sloma.org/exhibition/mementosof-six-millennia/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. PAINTING A LIGHTHOUSE WITH PASTELS WITH JIM TYLER This workshop covers the basics for applying pastels with the side, edge, and ends of the stick; how to layer and blend; the different kinds of pastels and paper; and how to frame a pastel painting. All

experience levels welcome. For ages 16 and over. Jan. 13, 12:30-4:30 p.m. and Jan. 14, 12:30-3:30 p.m. $55-$65. 805-7482220. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. PAINTING MISSION SLO WITH DREW DAVIS Visit site for tickets and more info on this painting workshop. Jan. 14, 1-3 p.m. my805tix.com. Drew Davis Fine Art, 393 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo. PARENT-CHILD POTTERY CLASS Make lasting memories with clay together as a family. For ages 6 and over. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon $70. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com. PICKET PAINTING PARTY Decorative picket purchasing opportunities are available to show your support and help fund maintenance and educational programs in the Children’s Garden. Second Saturday of every month, 1-4 p.m. $75 per picket or 2 for $100. 805-541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo. PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL COAST A self-directed fun group of dynamic artists who enjoy painting and sketching outdoors. Artists meet on site at various locations. Weekly plein air destinations are provided by Kirsti Wothe via email (mrswothe@yahoo.com). Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo. POTTERY: BEGINNING WHEEL CLASS This series is a great intro to the pottery wheel. Students learn to throw various shapes, surface decorate, and glaze. Clay and firing included with admission. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $180. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. RICE PAPER COLLAGE WITH LINDA CUNNINGHAM Receive step-by-step instruction for creating a beautiful Purple Iris-themed rice paper collage with hand painted rice papers, acrylic paints, and gel plates. Beginners are welcome and no experience is necessary. Jan. 6, 1-4:30 p.m. $40. 805-478-2158. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

ARTS continued page 12

“Camera” - A Charity Film Screening for MBHS Arts Dept.

Danny Grasseschi presents: Calum Graham in Concert

10th Annual Southern Exposure Garagiste Wine Festival

SLO Botanical Garden, El Chorro Park

Bay Theatre, Morro Bay

Banner Coffee Company, Arroyo Grande

Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall

FRI & SAT, JANUARY 5 & 6

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20

Shamanic Morning Rituals for Vitality

CC Comedy Theater: New Year Comedy Kick Off Spectacular!

CC Comedy Theater: Improv 101: Intro to Improv Comedy Class 6 MONDAYS STARTING JANUARY 8 The Benedict, Morro Bay

SMCT Presents: Charlotte’s Web

By the Sea Productions Presents: On A First Name Basis

CC Comedy Theater: Jet Eveleth One Woman Show

CC Comedy Theater: Clown Meets Improv Workshop SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 The Benedict, Morro Bay

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 Drew Davis Fine Art, SLO

Bootleg Comedy: Headliner Jessie Jetski Johnson

Bootleg Standup: Brewd Humor! With Jessie Jetski Johnson!

Salty Cinema Series: Citizen Kane

FRIDAY, JANUARY 5 Aurora Meditations & Rituals, Morro Bay

FRI, SAT, SUN, JANUARY 12–28 Santa Maria Civic Theatre

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 The Benedict, Morro Bay

SATURDAY, JANUARY 6 The Benedict, Morro Bay

FRI, SAT, SUN, JANUARY 12, 13, 14 545 Shasta Avenue, Morro Bay

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17 Libertine Brewing Company, SLO

THURSDAY, JANUARY 25

CC Comedy Theater: Beginners Stand-Up Class

FRI & SAT, FEBRUARY 9 & 10

6 TUESDAYS STARTING JANUARY 9 CC Comedy Theater Studio, SLO

Chakra Meditation on the Beach

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10 Aurora Meditations & Rituals, Morro Bay

CC Comedy Theater: Improv 101: Intro to Improv Comedy Class

CC Comedy Theater: Improv Made Easy Workshop

Songwriters at Play: Tribute to Smokey Robinson & Aretha Franklin SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 High Roller Tiki Lounge, Solvang

SLO Blues Society: Chicago Blues Revue

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 Odd Fellows Hall, SLO

Saturday Night Dead: Hexenghül, Rival Cults, Mechanical Ghost

Painting Mission SLO with Drew Davis

Symphony of the Vines: Timeless Classics

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 Mission San Miguel Arcángel

New Years Rituals & Vision Board Party

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 Aurora Meditations & Rituals, Morro Bay

Trapt: The Fall Tour with Silvertongues & Soundhouse

Sgt. Pepper Beatles Tribute

SLO County Jazz Federation: The Idiomatiques

SLO Tease: Still Hungry A Tantalizing Night of Burlesque

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 The Benedict, Morro Bay

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19 Bay Theatre, Morro Bay

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19 Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, SLO

It’s free! Contact us for more info: Be Hoppy Tours:

Friday Hoppy Hour FRIDAYS Sip of SLO SATURDAYS Tours begin & end at The Hub, SLO

Point San Luis Lighthouse Tours IN-PERSON TOURS: WEDS & SAT VIRTUAL TOURS: ON DEMAND Point San Luis Lighthouse, Avila Beach

SLOFunny Comedy Show

2024 SEASON PASS 10 SHOWS MARCH–DECEMBER Various Venues, SLO County

Tiny Porch Concerts

2024 VIP SEASON TICKETS 4 SHOWS MAY–AUGUST Peter Strauss Ranch, Agoura Hills

805-546-8208 info@My805Tix.com

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 Humdinger Brewing SLO

SUNDAY, JANUARY 14 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

FRI & SAT, JANUARY 19 & 20 South Bay Community Center, Los Osos

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ONGOING EVENTS

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6 WEDNESDAYS STARTING JAN. 10 CC Comedy Theater Studio, SLO

UPCOMING EVENTS ON MY805TIX.COM

Nature Nights: Season 2 Newly Imagined

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16 Club Car Bar, Templeton Mercantile

ONGOING EVENTS

FEATURED EVENTS

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT MY805TIX.COM

www.santamariasun.com • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • Sun • 11

Hot Stuff ARTS from page 10 SCULPTURE CLASS WITH ROD PEREZ This weekly sculpture drop-in class gives an opportunity for potters to take on new projects and learn new techniques relating to sculptural work. Additionally, every first Friday of the month, a new project will be taught by Rod Perez for beginners. Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. 805-703-3132. slonightwriters.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. SUITE SURRENDER It’s 1942, and two of Hollywood’s biggest divas have descended upon the luxurious Palm Beach Royale Hotel — assistants, luggage, and legendary feud with one another in tow. Everything seems to be in order, until they are somehow assigned to the same suite. Wednesdays-Sundays, 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through Jan. 21 $15-$25. 805-786-2440. slorep.org/ shows/suite-surrender/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo. VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING WATERCOLOR This is a watercolor class designed to let you jump in and try out this engaging medium through experimentation. It’s designed for beginners and those with watercolor experience who wish to expand their knowledge of painting in watercolors. To enroll, contact Mack via email: vbmack@ charter.net Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $35. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/ workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. WALT WHITMAN GAY MEN’S BOOK CLUB This club reads, studies and discusses books chosen by the group which relate to their lives as gay men. All are welcome. Second Monday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. NORTH COAST SLO COUNT Y

ARTISTS RECEPTION AND ATRIUM PARTY Gallery at Marina Square hosts its Atrium Party and Artists Reception for Ron Dieb, George Asdel, and the Feathers in Flight Photo Show. Come meet the artists, be inspired, enjoy food, refreshments, a tree filled atrium, and all the businesses in Marina Square Mall. Jan. 13, 3-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare. com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. COSTA GALLERY SHOWCASES Features works by Ellen Jewett as well as 20 other local artists, and artists from southern and northern California. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. 559799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos. DEBRA PIAZZA: ACRYLIC, MIXED MEDIA ARTIST Piazza began her painting career during the pandemic, and uses handmade

JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 14, 2024 collage papers, and/or anything she can find to enhance the texture of a flat canvas. Exhibiting at Morro Made, Rustic Diamond, Morro Bay Art Association, Cayucos Makers, and Mea Winery. ongoing 650888-2168. artbypiazza.com. Morro Made, 490 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay. DYE YOUR OWN SILK PILLOW CASE WITH PLANTS AND HERBS WORKSHOP Learn the art of dying naturally with flowers, veggies, and other natural materials. Dye one luxurious silk pillow case, and create a small sage and dried flower bundle to take home. Jan. 13, 3-5 p.m. $75. 805-935-9046. sea-n-green. com. Sea + Green, 2380 Main St., unit F, Cambria. FEATHERS IN FLIGHT: A GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW This exhibit showcases the Morro Bay Bird Festival month with photographs of birds, and bird habitats in countrysides and oceansides (all the places where our wildlife friends live and thrive; hunt and sing). Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through Jan. 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. 805-772-9095. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay. FREE DEMO WITH JULIE DUNN Come discover Dunn’s Tempera Batik painting technique and learn something fun during this free demonstration. Her unique style is characterized by a vivid use of color, an appealing textural surface, and compelling imagery. Dunn will demonstrate stepby-step how she creates her singular paintings. Jan. 8, 3-5 p.m. Free. 805-7722504. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay, artcentermorrobay.org. METAL ART BY TRUDI GILLIAM Gilliam creates her sculptures using copper, brass, nickel/silver, and found objects. This new series of whales and birds uses copper and sea glass. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com. OIL PAINTINGS BY RON DIEB “My oil paintings explore possibilities through thickly applied, vibrant color utilized freely with both knives and brushes. Hopefully, my art will attract and engage others to appreciate the glimpses of beauty that surrounds us all,” the artist stated. Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through Jan. 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. THE PLEIN AIR TEAM Acrylic artist, Nancy Lynn, and husband, watercolorist, Robert Fleming, have an ongoing show of originals and giclee prints of Morro Bay and local birds. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF DOT WINSLOW

PATHS OF POETRY

Local poet Dot Winslow will host her next poetry facilitation session at the OASIS Center in Orcutt on Thursday, Jan. 11, at 8 a.m. The event is open to ages 60 and older. Winslow will host a similar session, open to ages 18 and older, at the Santa Maria Public Library on Sunday, Jan. 21, at 2 p.m. Visit dotwinslow.com for more details on Winslow’s workshops. —C.W. SMALL WORKS AND BOOKS BY GEORGE ASDEL George Asdel is an accomplished painter, poet, and craftsman. Over his long career as an artist, he has won awards for his acrylic paintings, pen and ink drawings, illustrated books, greeting cards, and poetry. Reception on Jan. 13, from 3 to 5 p.m. Through Jan. 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS

30 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN SANTA MARIA/ORCUTT Community Partners in Caring is seeking volunteers to help support dependent older adults and seniors. ongoing partnersincaring.org. Santa Maria, Citywide, Santa Maria. ANDROID PHONE CLASS First Thursday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, 805-937-9750.

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BOUNCING BABY STORY TIME Explore pre-literacy skills through music, movement, and visual stimulation, and promote a healthy bond between baby and caregiver. Learn, connect, and grow with other babies and their caregivers. For ages 0-12 months. This program runs approximately 30 minutes. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. through Feb. 14 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. CENTRAL COAST CORVETTE CLUB Open to Corvette owners and enthusiasts. First Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. Free. 805-934-3948. Home Motors, 1313 E. Main St., Santa Maria. FAMILY YOGA STORY TIME Families, relax together at this yoga story time. Children and caregivers will be introduced to mindfulness and learn exercises to help regulate emotions. Space and supplies are limited. Borrow a yoga mat or bring one from home. Jan. 14, 2 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. 805-937-9750. oasisorcutt.org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt. FIRST FRIDAY First Friday of every month facebook.com/firstfridayoldtownorcutt/. Historic Old Town Orcutt, S. Broadway and Union Ave., Orcutt. GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing 805-343-2455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. LET’S BLOW OFF SOME STEAM A special story time that encourages curiosity and exploration. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math themes will be explored through stories and discovered through hands-on activities. Come dressed for mess. Ideal for ages 3-9, but all ages are welcome. Jan. 11, 4 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. LIBRARY 101: REFERENCE SOLUTIONS This workshop is for anyone who wants to learn about the wealth of knowledge which can be accessed with a library card. Follow along and explore a new Library Resource each session. For patrons ages 18 and older. Jan. 8, 5-6 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. ORCUTT MINERAL SOCIETY Second Tuesday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, 805-937-9750. READING WITH MY SNOWMIES Adult Winter Reading Program 2024: Reading with my Snowmies. Visit the Information Desk at the Main Library to sign up for the Winter Reading Program and pick up a reading log. Complete the program and win a prize. Through Jan. 13 Free. 805925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. VALLEY READS BOOK CLUB The Valley Reads is a monthly book club for adults featuring coffee, snacks, and lively discussion. Jan. 13, 2 p.m. Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. SANTA YNEZ VALLE Y

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

NEW YEAR’S KRIYA YOGA Through the ancient practice of Kriya Yoga meditation, “experience your true Self and become a true caretaker of this world.” Learn to heal and re-energize yourself using scientific meditation practices. Jan. 4-7 $300. 805-736-6528. sunburst.org/newyear/. Sunburst Retreat Center, 7200 CA-1, Lompoc. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y

DONATION-BASED YOGA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMTS, AND CARETAKERS Class schedule varies. Contact empoweryoga805@gmail for details and reservations. ongoing 805-619-0989. empoweryoga805.com. Empower Yoga Studio and Community Boutique, 775 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH & CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52 Come join a friendly meeting of watch and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. 805-547-1715. new.nawcc.org/index.php/chapter-52-lospadres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano. POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS A docent-led tour of the buildings and grounds of the historic Point San Luis Light Station. Check website for more details. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach. SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. 805-9046615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach. WMW HIKE Hosted by Women Making Waves. An opportunity to connect with like-minded, passionate women who are here to lift one another up as we navigate life, work, family, or ‘fill in the blank.’ Jan. 13, 9-11 a.m. my805tix.com. Pismo Preserve, Mattie Road, Pismo Beach. SAN LUIS OBISPO

AGING GRACEFULLY ONLINE WORKSHOP Discover how to adjust your lifestyle so you can become healthier, live longer, and not look for “pills and surgery” solutions. These online classes focus on the major areas that have shown positive results. Two six-week session options to choose from. Mondays, 6-7:30 p.m. through Feb. 12 Free. 805-489-7359. unity5cities. org. See website, San Luis Obispo. CAL HOPE SLO GROUPS AT TMHA Visit website for full list of weekly Zoom groups available. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays calhopeconnect.org. Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346. HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP A safe place for anyone suffering from the pain of depression. We do not criticize but do share our journey, feelings, and what works for us. We can meet in person or use Zoom if needed. Mondays,

SOLVANG JULEFEST 2023 Solvang’s Danish-style holiday celebration features some new facets and fun-filled events, and runs throughout the festive season. Through Jan. 6 solvangusa.com. Downtown Solvang, Citywide, Solvang. SOLVANG TREE BURN A powerful fire safety demonstration at the start of the New Year, heralding the end of the Solvang Julefest celebration. Supervised by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. With live entertainment, plus refreshments for purchase. Jan. 5, 5-7 p.m. visitsyv.com. Old Mission Santa Ines, 1760 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 13 Mission Drive, Solvang.

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Hot Stuff

JANUARY 4 - JANUARY 14, 2024 PHOTO COURTESY OF DREW DAVIS FINE ART

WE ARE HIRING! AT CAL POLY CAMPUS DINING

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Artist and art instructor Drew Davis will lead an acrylic painting workshop at Drew Davis Fine Art in San Luis Obispo on Sunday, Jan. 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. Participants of the class will complete a painting of Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. General admission is $80, which includes brushes and other materials. Tickets are available in advance at my805tix.com. Drew Davis Fine Art is located at 393 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo. —C.W.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE from page 12 6-7 p.m. Free. 805-528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo. MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE MEETING) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346. Q YOUTH GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) This is a social support group for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth between the ages of 11-18. Each week the group explores personal, cultural, and social identity. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. SLO NOONTIME TOASTMASTERS CLUB MEETINGS Want to improve speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and positive environment? During COVID, we are meeting virtually. Contact us to get a meeting link for info. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. slonoontime.toastmastersclubs.org. Zoom, Online, Inquire for Zoom ID. SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN: WEEKLY COFFEE MEETING SLO RAMs is a group or retirees that get together just for the fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. $10 coffee meeting. retiredactivemen.org. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo. SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+ AA GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of folks from all walks of life who together, attain and maintain sobriety. Requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Email aarapgroup@gmail.com for password access. Sundays, 7-8 p.m. No fee. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. TECH BREW MEETUP Tech Brew is a free networking event where people interested in technology can hang out in an informal environment with a small TEDtalk-like presentation from an interesting speaker. Learn more online. Second Monday of every month, 5-7 p.m. 805-323-6706. meetup.com/softec/. StoryLabs, 102 Cross St, Suite 220, San Luis Obispo. TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP Learn more about mental health and coping skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. 805-5406576. t-mha.org. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo. TOUR THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BARN CENTER The Octagon Barn, built in 1906, has a rich history that The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County looks forward to sharing with visitors. Please RSVP. Second Sunday of every month, 2-2:45 & 3-3:45 p.m. Tours are

free; donations are appreciated. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096, octagonbarn.org. TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peer-to-peer support for trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and questioning people. In-person and Zoom meetings held. Contact tranzcentralcoast@gmail.com for more details. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-541-4252. TRANS* YOUTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP This group is a safe place for trans* and gender non-conforming people, as well as those questioning, from ages of 11 to 18. A facilitated emotional support group to be heard, share your story, and hear stories that may sound surprisingly like your own. Second Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-541-4252. NORTH COAST SLO COUNT Y

CENTRAL COAST SLIM DOWN Take control of food without suffering. Learn a step-by-step process to take control of overeating, cravings, and feel peace with food. Build the habits, mindset, and your unique path with results that stick. Hosted byTami Cruz (Certified Health/Life Coach) and Dana Charvet (Coach/Fitness Trainer). ongoing Call for pricing info. 805-2357978. gratefulbodyhealthcoaching.com. Grateful Body, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay. CENTRAL COAST WOOD CARVERS Learn the art of wood carving or wood burning. Join Central Coast Wood Carvers in Morro Bay at St. Timothy’s. Open for beginners, intermediate, or advance. Learn a wide range of techniques and skills. Mask Required. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, 962 Piney Way, Morro Bay, 805-772-2840, sttimothymorrobay.org/index.html. CHAKRA MEDITATION ON THE BEACH Hosted by Aurora Meditations & Rituals. Jan. 10, 10-11 a.m. my805tix.com. Beach Access Parking Lot, 102 Atascadero Road, Morro Bay. CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS MEETING Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a Twelve Step recovery program for anyone who desires to have healthy and loving relationships with themselves and others. Meeting is hybrid (in person or on Zoom). For information, call 805900-5237. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. thecambriaconnection.org/. Cambria Connection, (805) 927-1654. ENJOY AXE THROWING Enjoy the art of axe throwing in a safe and fun environment. Kids ages 10 and older are welcome with an adult. No personal axes please. Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. $20. 805-528-4880. baysidemartialarts.com. Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., Los Osos.

NEW YEARS RITUALS AND VISION BOARD PARTY An evening of connection, meditation, and soulful creation in the New Year to manifest your most heartfelt desires for yourself, your community, and the world. Jan. 14, 4-6 p.m. my805tix.com. 9th Limb Yoga, 845 Napa Ave., Morro Bay, 415-852-1787. SOCRATES: DISCUSSION GROUP Group members present interesting and thought provoking topics of all sorts. Topics are selected in advance and moderated by volunteers. Vaccinations are necessary. Enter through wooden gate to garden area. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. 805-528-7111. Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay, coalescebookstore.com/.

PART-TIME AND FULL-TIME POSITIONS AVAILABLE Chick-Fil-A • Picos • Pom & Honey • Poly Deli • Julian’s • Red Radish

Benefits: • Free meal during shift • Cell phone stipend • Insta Pay • Flexible schedule and hours

FOOD & DRINK

SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT COSTA DE ORO Featured vendors in the series include Cali Coast Tacos, Cubanissimo, Danny’s Pizza Co., Chef Ricks, and more. Call venue for monthly schedules. Fridays 805-922-1468. costadeorowines.com. Costa De Oro Winery, 1331 S. Nicholson Ave., Santa Maria. FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT WINE STONE INN Fridays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, 805-332-3532, winestoneinn.com/. FRIDAY NIGHT FUN Karaoke with DJ Nasty. With Beer Bucket specials. Kitchen stays open late. Come out and sing your favorite song. Fridays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, 805-623-8866. PRESQU’ILE WINERY: WINE CLUB Call or go online to make a reservation to taste at the winery or find more info on the winery’s Wine Club offerings. ongoing presquilewine.com/club/. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, 805-937-8110. SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS: HOLIDAY STYLE WITH CLASSIC HOLIDAY MOVIES Every Sunday, come cozy up inside the tasting room and listen to great artists. Every December Sunday, classic Christmas movies will be shown as well. Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Free. 805-937-8463. cottonwoodcanyon.com. Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard And Winery, 3940 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria. TACO TUESDAY Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, 805332-3532, winestoneinn.com/. THURSDAY EVENING BAR TAKEOVER Call venue or visit website to find out about featured vintners. Thursdays stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.

Fresh! Tasty! Affordable! 2407 S. Broadway Santa Maria, CA 93454 www.thenaturalcafe.com

FOOD & DRINK continued page 14 www.santamariasun.com • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • Sun • 13

Hot Stuff

ALWAYS AMAZING.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AURORA MEDITATIONS AND RITUALS

NEVER ROUTINE. SHORE DE FORCE

KENNY METCALF AS ELTON JANUARY 26 | FRIDAY | 8PM

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK

FEBRUARY 9 | FRIDAY | 8PM

Aurora Meditations and Rituals will host its next Chakra Meditation on the Beach session in Morro Bay on Wednesday, Jan. 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. Attendees are asked to park in the beach access lot at 102 Atascadero Road, Morro Bay. Admission to the session, open to ages 18 and over and guided by instructor Dawn Feuerberg, is $34 and tickets are available in advance at my805tix.com. Visit auroraadventures.us for more details. —C.W.

FOOD & DRINK from page 13 WINE AND DESIGN CLASSES Check Wine and Design’s Orcutt website for the complete list of classes, for various ages. ongoing Varies. wineanddesign.com/orcutt. Wine and Design, 3420 Orcutt Road, suite 105, Orcutt. SANTA YNEZ VALLE Y

JUANES

FEBRUARY 16 | FRIDAY | 8PM

HOLLYWOOD FIGHT NIGHTS

FEBRUARY 23 | FRIDAY | 7PM

SECOND SATURDAY OPEN AIR MARKET: LOS ALAMOS A carefully curated open air artisan and farm market. Features great vintage finds, handwoven and hand dyed textiles, hand-spun yarn, organic body care products, and locally grown organic eats. Second Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 805-722-4338. Sisters Gifts and Home, 349 Bell Street, Los Alamos. LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO TUESDAYS CLASH Don’t miss Head Games Trivia at COLD Coast Brewing Company every Tuesday night. Teams can be up to 6 members. Earn prizes and bragging rights. Kekas will be serving their delicious local fare. Fun for all ages. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. 805-819-0723. coldcoastbrewing.com. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave, Lompoc. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y

Management reserves the right to change or cancel promotions and events at any time without notice. Must be 21 or older. Gambling problem? Call 1.800.GAMBLER.

Welcome to Freedom

ON SALE NOW

ONE FREE

JANUARY 26 - MARCH 16

SMALL POPCORN! Expires 3/16/24

Great Snacks · Cold Beer · Hwy 1 Oceano · 805-489-2499 · americanmelodrama.com 14 • Sun • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • www.santamariasun.com

TRIVIA NIGHT Join BrainStew Trivia for a hilariously witty evening of trivia in Pismo. Teams of 1 to 4 people. Prizes awarded to the first and second place teams. Kitchen is open until 7:30 p.m. for brain fuel. Beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options available. First Thursday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free to play. 805-295-6171. kulturhausbrewing.com. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach. SAN LUIS OBISPO

DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Downtown SLO, Multiple locations, San Luis Obispo. HEAD GAMES TRIVIA NIGHT Live multi-media trivia every Wednesday. Free to play. Win prizes. Teams up to six players. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. headgamestrivia.com. Antigua Brewing, 1009 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-242-1167. HOPPY HOUR (SELECT FRIDAYS) Visit some of the best craft beverage locations in San Luis Obispo. Tours start at The Hub on selected Fridays. Check site for full schedule and tickets. Fridays, 3-7 p.m. through Jan. 26 behoppytours.com/. The Hub, 1701 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. PIÑATAS ON THE PATIO What is more festive than a piñata? Join for some brunch drinks and a couple of good hits to a piñata (or two). Good times and goofy prices promised. Turns will be determined on a first come, first served basis. First Sunday of every month Free. Rambling Spirits, 3845 S. Higuera St. (inside SLO Public Market), San Luis Obispo, drinkramblingspirits.com. SLO FARMERS MARKET Hosts more than 60 vendors. Saturdays, 8-10:45 a.m. World Market Parking Lot, 325 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo. WEDNESDAY NIGHT PUB TRIVIA Bring your thinking cap as questions vary from pop culture, geography, to sports. There is a little for everyone. Prizes for the winning teams. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. 805-439-2529. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo.

HOT STUFF continued page 15

Hot Stuff HOT STUFF from page 14

MUSIC

SANTA MARIA VALLE Y/LOS ALAMOS

LADIES NIGHT OUT Music by DJ Van Gloryious and DJ Panda. Features delicious daiquiri specials. Thursdays, 8 p.m.midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, 805-623-8866. LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR Enjoy live music most Fridays and Saturdays. Call venue or check website to find out who’s performing. Fridays, Saturdays stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. MUSIC AND MOVEMENT Sing, dance, play instruments, and move to the beat. Develop motor and listening skills while having fun. Ideal for younger children, but all ages welcome. Jan. 14, 2 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN Live DJ and karaoke every Friday and Saturday night. Featured acts include Soul Fyah Band, DJ Nasty, DJ Jovas, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, 805623-8866. MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. 805-925-0464. coelhomusic.com/Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria. THE SANTA MARIA PHILHARMONIC’S 10TH ANNUAL YOUTH SHOWCASE A recital by audition for classical musicians ages 8 to 18, at Shepard Hall in the Santa Maria Public Library. Jan. 7, 3-4 p.m. Free. 805-925 0412. smphilharmonic.org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, 805-623-8866. SANTA YNEZ VALLE Y

LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com. SOLVANG PARK LIGHT AND MUSIC SHOW Every evening during Solvang Julefest, Solvang Park will come alive with all that sparkles and shines. Enjoy a 10-minute light and music display on the hour each night. Through Jan. 6 solvangusa.com. Solvang Park, Mission Dr. and First St., Solvang. SONGWRITERS AT PLAY TRIBUTE TO SMOKEY AND ARETHA IN SOLVANG Lineup includes Bay Area balladeers Zoe FitzGerald Carter, Aireene Espiritu, Azere Wilson, and Jesse Loren Strickman; SoCal singers Pi Jacobs, Jason Luckett, and Jeanne Newhall; Santa Barbara’s Will Breman; and California Valley’s Holly Ann Lewis. Jan. 13, 2-5 p.m. $20. 805-204-6821. songwritersatplay.com/events. High Roller Tiki Lounge, 433 Alisal Road, Solvang. WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNT Y

EASTON EVERETT LIVE Everett plays guitar-woven music with an indie attitude. Jan. 7, 12-3 p.m. Free. eastoneverett.com/. Cape Cod Eatery and Taphouse, 1127 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, 805-295-6919. KARAOKE EVERY FRIDAY Enjoy some good food and karaoke. Fridays, 5-8 p.m. 805-723-5550. The Central Grill, 545 Orchard Road, Nipomo. KARAOKE EVERY WEDNESDAY A weekly event with barbecue offerings and more. Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m. Rancho Nipomo BBQ, 108 Cuyama Ln., Nipomo, 805-925-3500. SAN LUIS OBISPO

CONTRA DANCE Get ready to dance in SLO. Enjoy this special dance with live music by the Syncopaths and calling by Portland’s William Watson. Donations accepted at the door. No partner or experience needed (come solo or with friends). Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m. $10 recommended donation. cccds.org. Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo. LIVE MUSIC AT LIQUID GRAVITY Check social media and calendar for weekly updates. Fridays, 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. Liquid Gravity, 675 Clarion Court, San Luis Obispo. LIVE MUSIC FROM GUITAR WIZ BILLY FOPPIANO AND MAD DOG Join “Guitar Wiz” Billy Foppiano and his trusty side kick Mad Dog for a mix of blues, R&B, and more. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 805-544-2100. Bon Temps Creole Cafe, 1819 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, bontempscreolecafe.com/index.htm. PETTY THEFT: SAN FRANCISCO TRIBUTE TO TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS Doors open at 8 p.m. All ages welcome. Jan. 6, 9 p.m. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-546-8600, fremontslo.com. SEVEN SISTERS FOLKLORE SOCIETY PRESENTS THE FOGHORN STRINGBAND The Foghorn Stringband is the present day gold standard for genuine old-time American string band music, with eight albums, thousands of shows, and more than 15 years of touring under their belts, and a new generation of roots musicians following their lead. Jan. 5, 7-9 p.m. $20 advance; $25 at the door. 805-235-2874. eventbrite.com. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo. m

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Arts ARTS BRIEFS Songwriters at Play pays tribute to Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF STILETTO MARKETING

A lineup of multiple musicians will perform covers of songs by Aretha Franklin and Smokey Robinson during two upcoming concerts. The first will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, at the High Roller Tiki Lounge in Solvang, and the second will take place on Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre (CCAT). Presented by Songwriters at Play, this special tribute to the music of Franklin and Robinson will feature performances from Jason Luckett, Pi Jacobs, Jeanne Newhall, Zoe FitzGerald Carter, Aireene Espiritu, Jesse Loren Strickman, Will Breman, and Holly Ann Lewis. The CCAT concert—which features one additional act, The Taproots—marks both Luckett’s and Lewis’ first time performing at the venue. Tickets to the High Roller Tiki Lounge show, which is slated for 2 to 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 13, are $20 and available in advance at my805tix.com. Admission to the CCAT iteration, scheduled for 2 to 5 p.m. on Jan. 14, is $25. Visit cambriaarts. org for reservations. Guests of both concerts can look forward to hearing a variety of familiar hits from both Franklin and Robinson, including “Respect,” “You Really Got a Hold on Me,” “Natural Woman,” “Track of My Tears,” and other hits. To find out more about the two upcoming performances and other programs hosted by Songwriters at Play, visit songwritersatplay.com. Organized by husband-and-wife team Steve Key and Bonnie Nelson-Key, Songwriters at Play hosts several local concerts throughout the year, as well as monthly song contests in Cayucos and Solvang. Past tribute concerts produced by the organization have celebrated the music of several iconic artists, including Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Carole King, and other notable musicians. Visit highrollertiki.com for more info on the High Roller Tiki Lounge, located at 433 Alisal Road, Solvang. Visit cambriaarts.org for more info on CCAT, located at 1350 Main St., Cambria.

Flower City Ballroom presents Sgt. Pepper, live in concert

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF FLOWER CITY BALLROOM

A local venue is bringing a prolific Beatles tribute band to Lompoc for a one-night concert. On Thursday, Jan. 19, Sgt. Pepper will perform at the Flower City Ballroom from 8 to 11 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. All ages are welcome to attend the upcoming show. Tickets are $15 in advance at my805tix.com or $20 at the door. Call (805) 819-0174 for more info. The Flower City Ballroom is located at 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. m Arts Briefs is compiled by Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood. Send information to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

Hearst heist

BOOKS IMAGE COURTESY OF LEXOGRAPHIC PRESS

Novel brings new perspectives, drama to old Central Coast tale

BY ADRIAN VINCENT ROSAS

The history of how Searching for Patty Hearst came about might be as interesting as the event itself, Rapoport said, because it wasn’t his first attempt at writing about the subject. “I originally wrote a nonfiction book on this whole ordeal with Patty Hearst’s then fiancé, Steve Weed,” he said, noting that the book was eventually shelved after the partnership fell through and Weed sued to block publication of the novel. Nevertheless, Rapoport continued to interview and dig for other perspectives, landing an interview with her kidnapper, Bill Harris, and eventually Hearst herself. “Being able to talk to both the kidnapper and Patty gave me two completely different ANSWERS WANTED: Searching for Patty Hearst explores the wild perspectives that painted twists and turns of Patty Hearst’s kidnapping nearly 50 years later. the whole incident in a PHOTO COURTESY OF LEXOGRAPHIC PRESS much wider view,” he said. “It changed how I had originally planned on structuring the novel because you ended up with these two different views that both held a little truth in each of them.” Those perspectives influenced his choice to make the novel fiction rather than going straight Hear all about it to nonfiction as he had attempted in the past. Meet author Roger Rapoport and catch a talk about his “A lot of people ask, well, why didn’t I just go new book—Searching for Patty Hearst, which will be released and do another different nonfiction, and the on Jan. 16—at the San Luis Obispo public library on Jan. 31. For first answer I give is, well, I did, it just never more information, visit pattyhearst.com. came out, but the other answer is I wanted to try PHOTO COURTESY OF LEXOGRAPHIC PRESS something different,” he said. He feels that catering to the historical facts that he observed and the various perspectives years later of the people who experienced those facts will appeal to both fans of the case and newcomers. “There are two distinct audiences I am going for here,” he said. “I think if it TOUR AND TALK: Roger Rapoport’s historical were just pure nonfiction, fiction novel, Searching for Patty Hearst, will it wouldn’t be nearly as gives readers a glimpse into the Hearst family’s interesting because I wouldn’t story beyond the newspaper empire of William Randolph Hearst (pictured). be able to include some of these perspectives since they outright contradict each building up narratives from cases like this.” other and the reader would Whether readers are searching for answers or end up discounting them.” looking for new perspectives surrounding the Rapoport said the case case, Rapoport said he hopes the novel will bring is an interesting look into a new audience to what he considers to be one of the impact Hearst’s greatthe most interesting local news stories. grandfather William Rudolph “It shines a light on one of the most influential Hearst’s newspaper empire families on the Central Coast and the chaos that had on the sensationalism followed the kidnapping of one of their family that surrounded the members,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for kidnapping. younger readers to learn the history of one of the “It’s ironic that years after he had passed, his descendent most captivating events that happened in a place they can go and visit right now.” m would be involved in a case his papers would have spread Reach Staff Writer Adrian Vincent Rosas from like wildfire,” he said. “A lot ON THE CASE: Roger Rapoport’s new true-crime novel shines a of what he did when he first the Sun’s sister paper, New Times, at arosas@ spotlight on a piece of Central Coast history. started in the early 1900s was newtimesslo.com.

lmost 50 years ago, Patty Hearst’s kidnapping captivated viewers across the country. Roger Rapoport covered it all. “It was a worldwide story; everywhere you looked people were talking about it and writing about it,” Rapoport said. “I was one of those people writing about it from the moment it happened.” From the search to the botched ransom requests and even Hearst herself turning to a life of crime alongside her kidnappers—he followed it closely. With the benefit of that coverage and a lifetime of interviews with multiple parties involved, Rapoport is ready to relay the tale. “I’ve had connections to people in this case for a long time, and my interest throughout all of this was the wildly differing points of view I was getting from people involved,” he said. “So I decided that I wanted to take those views and blend them into this sort of historical fiction that was very much based on true events.” His book, Searching for Patty Hearst, takes the real-world events surrounding the diversity of perspectives about the kidnapping, search, criminal trial, and Hearst’s pardoning. “Giving each of them equal time in the story was a very rigorous task,” Rapoport said with a laugh. “It relied a lot on having done interviews with all of the sources and then doing a story of cross-reflection on them.” The book will be released on Jan. 16, 2024, accompanied by author talks across California, including one at the San Luis Obispo Library on Jan. 31.

16 • Sun • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • www.santamariasun.com

Film

SUN SCREEN

Being human

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

irector Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Favourite) helms this wacky Frankenstein-inspired black comedy about brilliant but unorthodox scientist Dr. Godwin “God” Baxter (Willem Dafoe) who resurrects a suicide victim naming her Bella Baxter (Emma Stone). At first, she has the mind of an infant, but as her intellect develops, she runs off with debauched lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) on a journey of self-discovery and sexual liberation, only to eventually return to face new challenges. (114 min.)

suicide husband Alfie Blessington (Christopher Abbott), and the dozens of men she beds in between. Is this a feminist or anti-feminist film? I’m guessing opinion will vary. Anna: Stone’s brilliant as Bella, and we watch as she gains awareness and ability. With the gait and instability of a toddler learning to walk, Bella is first confined to the house when McCandles meets her, but the world is opened up once she’s allowed to head outside. Godwin is nervous to let his creation “grow up,” but just like with real children, there’s no stopping them. Bella is curious and doesn’t know why she should put up Glen: Lanthimos’ films often with illogical things, and when POOR THINGS drift into surrealism, and given the chance to venture What’s it rated? R Poor Things is on par, set in a out, she does. Unfortunately, What’s it worth, Glen? Full price steampunk version of Victorian it’s with Duncan Wedderburn, What’s it worth, Anna? Full price England before venturing played by an equally brilliant Where’s it showing? The Palm off to period-era Lisbon, Mark Ruffalo. He isn’t exactly Theatre of San Luis Obispo Paris, and other European a stand-up guy, and soon locales—all pastel fantasy Bella is left to her own devices versions of themselves. If you’re into steampunk for survival. I enjoyed every minute of it, and aesthetics, you’re going to love the ship that turns from the laughs from the audience at The Palm up midway through. So visually, the film is a Theatre, it seems I’m not the only one. wonder, but what’s it really about? In short, Bella Glen: I’ve never seen Stone more committed is learning what it means to be human—our to a role, and she bares all in service to Bella, desires, sexual appetites, empathy, impatience: all a wide-eyed sponge soaking up experiences the messy shit we deal with internally. It’s laughand working to process the contradictions and out-loud funny in an unconventional way, and hypocrisies of humankind. An odd collection of though it’s essentially a bildungsroman—Bella’s characters imparts their own brand of wisdom coming of age as she develops into a woman—it’s to Bella, who must decide what to adopt as also about how men shape her, from her “creator” her personal philosophy. I especially liked Godwin to his assistant and her first paramour mismatched ship couple Martha Von Kurtzroc Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef), to her pre(Hanna Schygulla) and Harry Astley (Jerrod

LEARNING CURVE: Bella Baxter (Emma Stone, left), a resurrected suicide victim, learns what it means to be human through a series of experiences, including with debauched lawyer Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo), in Poor Things, screening exclusively at The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo.

Carmichael), she a free-spirited and aged white woman and he a bespoke cynical young black man. And when we get to Paris and she meets diminutive Madame Swiney (Kathryn Hunter), she realizes how complicated and confounding life can be. Definitely a 2023 highlight. Anna: It’s certainly an original take on Frankenstein, and the casting was spot on. Dafoe’s face is a scarred mess. I read he spent hours in the makeup chair to achieve the effect. While his exterior is harsh, he has a tender softness for Bella. It’s almost sweet, as long as you don’t think too hard about what

Godwin had to do in order to create her. I loved the imaginative quality of the film as well as the beautiful and strange world. From a motorized carriage with a horse head to various combinations of animals (think a duck body with a dog head) and the steampunk ship, the film is nothing short of a visual treat. Catch this one in theaters. m New Times Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey from the Sun’s sister paper and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Glen compiles listings. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FX NETWORKS AND HULU

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON PRIME

DEADLOCH

Television Reviews MURDER AT THE END OF THE WORLD

What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Hulu Created by Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling, this cyberpunk murder mystery stars Emma Corrin as Darby Hart, an amateur sleuth who gained notoriety uncovering a serial killer and writing a book about it. She’s subsequently invited—along with eight other notable guests—to billionaire Andy Ronson’s isolated arctic compound in Iceland. After she arrives, she discovers her old lover and detective partner Bill Farrah (Harris Dickinson) is another guest, and that Ronson lives with his partner Lee Anderson (Brit Marling) and their young son, Zoomer (Kellan Tetlow). The high-tech bunkerlike facility is highly secure and features a holographic AI assistant named Ray (Edoardo Ballerini). Hanging over it all is the sense of a dysfunctional and uncertain future. It’s a fun, claustrophobic whodunit as Darby must use all her intuitive and detecting prowess to discover who’s killing off guests and whether or not she’ll be next. Meanwhile, there’s a subplot concerning Zoomer’s paternity, Andy’s

ON THE CASE: Cyberpunk and amateur detective Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) must solve a murder at a remote Icelandic compound, in the FX series Murder at the End of the World, streaming on Hulu.

paranoia, and the end of the world as we know it. If you like a good murder mystery with offbeat storytelling and nonlinear structure, with compelling acting and plenty of subtext about the value of technology, don’t miss it. (seven 56- to 71-min. episodes) —Glen

FEATURING 40 YEARS AWARD-WINNING PATRICIO’S PIZZA

What’s it rated? Not rated When? 2023 Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime In a sea of police procedurals, a show like Deadloch is a welcome blend of familiar and funny. Placed in Tasmania, Deadloch features Kate Box as Dulcie Collins, a policewoman who gets pulled into a murder investigation when people start showing up dead all over her small town. Her paramour, Cath (Alicia Gardener), is a veterinarian with a codependency problem; her new investigator, Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) is a bossy mess who comes into town like a hurricane, and Dulcie is left to try and keep the town together. There’s also Kevin, the town seal that terrorizes everyone and quickly becomes an unlikely suspect. (Kevin is based on real-life seal scoundrel Neil the Seal—check him out on TikTok.) If you’re a fan of irreverent comedy and like a show that’s not afraid to poke fun at itself, Deadloch is an absolute joy. Box plays the straight man (woman?) well, and the cast of kooky characters around her are both exasperating and endearing. The series

FUNNY BUSINESS: Deadloch, an Australian Amazon Prime series that spoofs popular female-centric British police dramas such as Broadchurch, The Bridge, and Top of the Lake, stars (left to right) Madeleine Sami, Kate Box, and Nina Oyama.

also gets extra points for being filled to the brim with those delightful Tasmanian accents. This series is a bingeable treat! (eight approximately one-hour episodes) m —Anna

Giavanni’s Pizza

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1108 E Clark Ave #130 • Orcutt • 805-934-8555 Sunday–Thursday, 11am–9pm • Friday–Saturday, 11am–10pm www.santamariasun.com • January 4 - January 11, 2024 • Sun • 17

Eats

FOOD PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNA’S MEXICAN FUSION RESTAURANT

EAT WHAT YOU SEA: The taco selection at Hanna’s Mexican Fusion Restaurant, which opened in Arroyo Grande in December, includes fresh salmon tacos.

Sear in the new year Hanna’s dishes out Mexican fusion in Arroyo Grande BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNA’S MEXICAN FUSION RESTAURANT

FAJITA HEAT: Beef fajitas are one of the three fajita options available at Hanna’s Mexican Fusion Restaurant. A fajita plate comes with rice, pinto beans, sour cream, and Hanna’s salad, made with the restaurant’s unique cilantro and vinegar dressing.

A grand addition to Grand Avenue

Call (805) 904-6876 for more info on Hanna’s Mexican Fusion Restaurant, located at 1412 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande. Follow the eatery’s Instagram page for updates on both its new brick-and-mortar and its food truck, @hannas.street._.tacos.

is frequently parked in a lot at 989 Los effort, said Cortes, whose brother menu, along with Hanna’s Dressing. Hanna’s also offers mahi-mahi in “We like to add little twists to our Osos Valley Road, where it’s open for its street taco selection. It’s one of a and sister-in-law helped install the hen SLO local Cesar Cortes dressings, and our meals, and our business multiple times a week, the handful of seafood options available, venue’s tile flooring. Other family and his family embarked on sides,” said Cortes, whose family chose mobile eatery is also available to book along with salmon, snapper, and members pitched in on filling running a taco truck in 2020, the Mexican fusion route to help make to cater private parties. shrimp. Each is served with cabbage they decided to name the mobile various duties to bring the restaurant Hanna’s stand apart from traditional Four years after starting the and Hanna’s Dressing, a house-made venture after Cortes’ daughter, to life. Mexican food trucks and restaurants business, Cortes remembers day cilantro and vinegar sauce—while Hanna. The grand opening ceremony was in the area. one of Hanna’s like it was yesterday, asada, pastor, carnitas, and chicken Cortes also had his daughter in held on Dec. 8. The relief Cortes felt As a tribute to its street taco truck’s partially due to an unfortunate tacos come with onion and cilantro. mind when developing the menu for when the restaurant was finally able home base in Los Osos, Hanna’s offers mishap. In addition, Hanna’s brick-andhis brand’s first brick-and-mortar to open its doors was like an early a juicy cheeseburger known as the oso “On the first day, I dropped all mortar has plenty of shareable location. Christmas present, he said. burger, served with french fries and the salsas,” recalled Cortes, who appetizers available, including asada “I wanted to add a kids menu “We got a little rushed that composed of lettuce, tomato, grilled was discouraged by the accident, garlic fries, ahi poke, and shrimp because sometimes when we go out, afternoon,” said Cortes, recalling the onions, cheese, bacon, and a beef but his brother and business partner cocktail. we struggle to find something for Arroyo Grande eatery’s busy opening patty. It’s designed to sate a bear-sized convinced him to get over it and finish “I recommend the nachos because kids. Some places don’t have kids day. “Everyone was nervous, but appetite. the day on a strong note. it’s a big plate, fit for a family. It’s menus,” said Cortes, who opened excited at the same time.” m Cortes has bear-sized ambitions “He was like, ‘If you want to go, easy to share,” said Cortes, whose Hanna’s Mexican Fusion Restaurant for Hanna’s if its new Arroyo Grande just go, but we’re staying here,’” said nacho plates, priced at $12.50, are in Arroyo Grande near the end of Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood might location garners success, as he’d Cortes, whose family had spent the layered with pinto beans, jack cheese, 2023. devour those nachos without sharing. love the chance to open multiple last two years preparing to open tomato, black olives, onions, cilantro, The eatery offers fan-favorite locations—in Santa Barbara County, Send comments to cwiseblood@ Hanna’s brick-and-mortar. sour cream, and—last, but definitely staples from Cortes’ food truck, Southern California, and beyond—in The project was a big group santamariasun.com. not least—a generous helping of based in Los Osos, and several new PHOTO BY CALEB WISEBLOOD the future. guacamole. MUSIC offerings, which marked their debut While the Guac is also available for sale by the during the family-friendly venue’s cup, via the sides section of the eatery’s Hanna’s taco truck grand opening in December. FLAVOR/EA Share PHOTO COURTESY OF HANNA’S MEXICAN FUSION RESTAURANT Burritos, quesadillas, tasty tips! tacos, and chicken Send tidbits on everything INFO nuggets are among food and drink to the kids options at the cwiseblood@santamariasun.com. CALENDAR restaurant. Cortes said that his daughter’s personal favorite combo OPINION is numero uno, which includes an asada taco, NEWS rice, beans, and a choice between apple or orange STROKES juice, all for $8.75. Cortes’ favorite menu ARTS item, available to young and old, happens to be one of the eatery’s most popular orders, he said. The local restaurateur recommends the mahimahi burrito—fresh mahi-mahi, pinto beans, TRUCKIN’: Open multiple days a week, Hanna’s food truck is parked rice, cheese, cabbage, and ROOM TO GROW: Hanna’s started as a Los Osos-based food truck in 2020 and opened its first in a lot on Los Osos Valley Road to satisfy its patrons’ street taco and more, wrapped up in a brick-and-mortar location in Arroyo Grande nearly four years later. burrito cravings. The truck is also available to cater large events. flour tortilla.

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