Sun, April 4, 2024

Leftover legacy

As the state works to plug and abandon orphaned oil wells in Santa Barbara County, environmental groups are concerned about thousands more across California [6]

BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR

Santa Maria struggles with ADUs [4]

Plein air pastel pastures [20]

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Contents

Last year, the state set off to plug and abandon 171 oil wells in Santa Barbara County’s Cat Canyon with the help of $34 million in state and federal funding. As of the end of March, 16 of those wells had work on them fully completed. There are more than 5,300 similar wells across the state that will likely need taxpayer-funded intervention because oil companies left them behind in the wake of financial insolvency. Environmental advocates are concerned the state isn’t doing enough to hold companies accountable and there are thousands more wells that will fall on taxpayers to cleanup.

Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor talks to environmental advocates, state officials, and the county about the issue [6]

You can also read about Santa Maria’s discussion about accessory dwelling units [4], a pastel painter with plein air tendencies [20], and the benefits of microgreens brought to you from Lompoc [24]

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• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) led 17 Senate Democrats in requesting administrative relief for undocumented immigrants, according to a March 26 statement from Padilla’s office. As the Biden administration considers executive actions on the border, the letter outlines recommendations to make immigration relief more efficient for the undocumented population and DACA holders in the United States.

“We urge your administration to take all available actions to streamline pathways to lawful status for undocumented immigrants, providing certainty to the American businesses, communities, and families who rely on them,” the senators wrote in their letter.

“Deporting all such individuals—as former President Donald Trump has threatened to do if reelected— would devastate the American economy and destroy American families.” Alternatively, the senators continued, streamlining pathways for undocumented immigrants with no criminal history and “deep ties to the United States” to obtain parole or lawful immigration status would provide stability for their families and require them to pay taxes and check in with the government regularly. The letter recommends that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security create a process to protect and unify American families; an executive action to permit spouses of Americans to work while their green card cases are pending; action to streamline the process for DACA holders to change to a nonimmigrant status; and that the administration modernize cancellation of removal rules to keep family caregivers together.

• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) is urging President Joe Biden to approve California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s request for a major disaster declaration, which would unlock additional federal storm aid for Central Coast communities impacted by recent winter storms, flooding, and other extreme weather, according to a March 25 statement from Carbajal’s office. The federal disaster declaration requested by Newsom would provide Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to help repair damages from storms, flooding, landslides, mudslides, and tornadoes that occurred between Jan. 31 and Feb. 9 in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, and other California counties. “I am grateful for the swift support your administration has afforded to our region in the wake of the severe winter storms. However, public assistance is necessary to help the region recover,” Carbajal wrote to Biden. “In the city of San Luis Obispo, the storm caused severe damage to eight steel firehouse rollup bay doors. In Santa Barbara County, the county experienced severe cold temperatures, snow in higher elevations, flooding, among other extreme weather. At the San Marcos Pass, Santa Barbara County rainfall gauges measured 9 inches of rain and 4 inches of rain in the city of Santa Barbara within a 24-hour period.”

• As California’s Naloxone Distribution Project (NDP) delivers millions of naloxone kits that have resulted in more than 247,000 reported opioid overdose reversals, the state recently announced that the project will also offer fentanyl test strips to eligible organizations, according to a March 28 statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office. The test strips detect the presence of fentanyl, offering another tool to prevent overdoses. “Harm reduction programs like this one are a huge part of how we better protect people, how we get them into treatment. This work is time tested. Shame isn’t a solution; support and science-driven policy is,” Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly said in the statement. The addition of test strips to the toolkits will help to prevent overdoses in the first place—and add another opportunity to connect people with recovery support and treatment. As part of ongoing statewide efforts, California released the Master Plan for Tackling the Fentanyl and Opioid Crisis to support overdose prevention efforts like those announced today. Recently, the state launched opioids.ca.gov, a one-stop shop for Californians seeking resources around prevention and treatment, as well as information on how California is working to hold Big Pharma and drug traffickers accountable. m

Santa Maria amends ADU ordinance amid lingering frustrations

Since 2018, Santa Maria’s approved 1,526 accessory dwelling units (ADUs), equivalent to eight apartment complexes, leaving residents frustrated with overflowing trash bins, increased traffic, and less parking.

“It’s not uncommon for us to see a singlefamily property with one or multiple ADUs and so it begins to take on a neighborhood characteristic of something that’s multifamily where you have duplexes and triplexes,” Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Chuen Wu told the Sun. “I think the frustration comes from the increased parking congestion, the added impact to local infrastructure, the added impact to demand for public services.”

During the March 19 Santa Maria City Council meeting, several council members expressed their frustration with the state’s ADU requirements and shared constituents’ concerns during a discussion to amend the city’s ADU ordinance.

“The impact it’s had to the city I think has been very negative because you don’t have neighborhoods anymore, and I think that’s really sort of sad,” Mayor Alice Patino said during the meeting. “The state has come down—and I’m on the housing committee for the state; I go to meetings—and people from all walks of life that are coming together, they really just don’t like it and they’re complaining about it, but it’s pretty much a done deal.”

ADUs are residential units that provide independent living facilities on a lot that contains an existing primary residence, which can be attached or detached to the residence, Dana Eady, city planning division manager, told the Santa Maria City Council.

State law requires a streamlined permitting process for ADUs in order to develop more affordable housing in local jurisdictions. Recent changes, effective January 2023, adjust the height requirements, allow greater flexibility in the number of ADUs and their placement on a property, and require a 60-day turnaround timeline for obtaining an ADU permit, according to the staff report.

“The city of Santa Maria is required to comply with state laws regarding ADUs and permitting ADUs. … Our jurisdiction has the ability to adopt our own ordinance; that does give us some local control, some parameters,” Eady said. “There are frequent changes to the law, and we try to bring these updates to the city regularly so we can include those with our municipal code.”

The City Council voted 4-1 (with Patino dissenting) to approve the city’s ADU ordinance changes.

New legislation allows jurisdictions to adopt a lower height limit and adopt smaller size requirements. The current ordinance allows detached ADUs to have a 1,200-square-foot maximum, and they can be constructed at the height of the zone, which is 25 to 30 feet, Eady said.

City staff recommended reducing detached ADU sizes to 850 square feet for a studio or one-bedroom, and 1,000 square feet for two or more bedrooms, with a maximum height of 18 feet. Attached ADUs will have the same size limitations: 50 percent of the primary residence’s floor area and may continue to be up to 25 feet in height and may not exceed two stories, she said.

In single-family zoning, the city can allow one attached ADU and one junior ADU (no larger than 500 square feet) on a property, but they must be located in the home; and single-family dwellings can build one detached ADU that doesn’t exceed 800 square feet or 16 feet in height.

“On lots with multifamily units, ADUs can be located within portions of those structures that are not used as liveable space and a maximum of two ADUs that are detached,” Eady said.

The city added new standards that require all ADUs to have the same material, color, and roof pitch as the primary residence. Windows and doors can’t have direct line of sight to any adjoining property, but fencing, landscaping, and privacy glass can be used for screening.

While the architecture requirements and size limitations are a benefit, the city still feels the impacts of an additional 5,000 to 6,000 residents using public services, and state requirements limit the city’s ability to collect development impact fees if the ADU is under 750 square feet, Wu told the Sun. Development impact fees charge developers for the added impact to public services in order to mitigate any challenges from increased use.

“From the state’s perspective, you can call Santa Maria a success story by achieving additional housing from ADU law, but it overlooks the neighborhood impacts that community residents have to live with,” Wu said.

—Taylor O’Connor

Buellton amends zoning laws on emergency shelters

While a dedicated emergency shelter doesn’t currently exist in Buellton, the option to build one was on the table for property owners in the city’s commercial districts before a recent ruling. During its March 28 meeting, the Buellton

City Council enacted an urgency ordinance to temporarily ban the development of emergency shelters in areas zoned general commercial and service commercial, while shortening the clearance procedure for potential builders at sites zoned industrial.

Prior to the decision, Planning Director Andrea Keefer told the City Council that keeping emergency shelters as an allowable land use for commercial zones doesn’t align with Buellton’s general plan goal of “harmonizing the city’s commitment to the unhoused with its need to thoughtfully develop the city’s commercial corridors.”

“It has become increasingly apparent that the preservation and enhancement of the existing commercial corridors in Buellton is vital for maintaining a healthy economic base and increasing the quality of life for residents,” Keefer said at the March 28 meeting. “Commercial corridors throughout the city, including the Avenue of the Flags specific plan area, require thoughtful and careful development.”

Keefer added that although “there does not appear to be an immediate need for an emergency shelter in Buellton, the trend in terms of the need for these types of facilities continues to go up throughout the state in general.”

Buellton’s 2023-31 housing element identified emergency shelters as “a permitted use without discretionary review” in the general commercial zone to comply with state law. The city is required to name at least one zone where shelters are allowed “by right,” City Attorney Greg Murphy explained at the March 28 meeting.

“The best way to think about ‘without discretionary review’ is like a single-family home in your general residential zone. … It’s just allowed, so they go right to the building permit,” Murphy said. “There’s a very quick zoning clearance to make sure where you plan to put it isn’t in a setback, you’re not on an easement where there’s a storm drain underneath—very quick.”

Buellton’s service commercial zone and industrial zone are among the zones where emergency shelters were described as allowable land uses with a conditional use permit (CUP) in the housing element, according to the staff report.

In its proposed urgency ordinance, staff recommended for the City Council to temporarily remove the CUP requirement in the industrial zone and designate it for emergency shelter developments unbeholden to discretionary review, while eliminating the possibility for shelters being developed in Buellton’s commercial zones with or without a CUP.

Murphy described this ordinance as a shortterm solution while staff researches alternatives for a permanent fix.

“Right now, the point is to move the potential for shelters out of the [general commercial] zone, but there has to be a place where they’re allowed by right,” Murphy said before the ordinance passed 5-0. “This is the best thing we can do in the interim, from a legal standpoint.”

—Caleb Wiseblood

Board of Supervisors holds off on new sales tax measures

Recent Santa Barbara County survey results showed that cost of living and financial security concerns would hold many voters back from voting in favor of any additional sales tax this election.

“There’s a level of trust we need to build before we ask [voters] for more money,” 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson said during the April 4 Board of Supervisors meeting. “It’s going to be a challenge to be successful here; the only way you get successful is you really go out there and do an education on what you are providing and what controls [you would] put in place.”

GROWING FRUSTRATIONS: As the state required local jurisdictions to approve accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to make way for more affordable housing development, several Santa Maria City Council members expressed frustration with the impacts that more than 1,500 ADUs have had on neighborhoods and city services.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUEN WU

With the most recent five-year forecast identifying potential budgetary shortfalls, Santa Barbara County wanted to explore a new tax measure that would benefit the county’s general fund and an additional special tax dedicated to county libraries. However, the Board of Supervisors unanimously rejected adding tax measures to the November ballot after seeing minimal voter support in survey results.

“Ordinarily, I would be all for using public resources this way, but there’s a time and a place,” 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps said. “I believe if we moved forward on these, we would actually be moving backwards with the public and trust.”

In 2023, Santa Barbara County hired Fairbank, Maslin, Maulin, Metz, and Associates Research (FM3 Research)—an opinion, research, and strategy firm—to conduct surveys to examine voter attitudes toward three potential tax measures: a 1 cent general sales tax in the unincorporated county area that would be used for general county purposes; a quarter-cent countywide library special tax; and a countywide library $60 special parcel tax.

“While those finances are stable, our existing revenue sources are not likely to be sufficient to cover all our unmet needs in particular and maybe even keep fully pace with our labor and cost increases,” County Deputy Executive Officer Britanny Odermann said. “A new sales tax revenue could provide the county with the opportunity to address potential shortfalls and constraints and other infrastructure.”

General tax measures require four out of five supervisors to approve the measure for the ballot and a simple majority vote, Odermann said. Special taxes require three out of

five supervisors’ approval and two-thirds voter approval.

The 1 cent general tax measure could generate more than $15 million in county general revenue, a quarter-cent library special tax would also generate $15 million for the county’s public library systems, and a $60 per parcel tax would generate about $8 million, Odermann said.

While 6 in 10 surveyed voters reported that the county had “great” or “some” need for additional funds, high costs of living and rising food, gas, and housing prices dropped voter support to less than 50 percent—similar to what FM3 has seen in other surveys it’s conducted statewide, FM3 Project Manager Rick Sklarz told supervisors.

“Initially, people like the idea of investing in their community, be it a city, a county, a special district … but as they are confronted with the reality of, ‘OK, money for services is great,’ but then also here’s the rub: You have to pay higher taxes and you have these other concerns going on,” Sklarz said. “What’s interesting in some of our research, the people who are normally the most supportive of these kinds of measures—younger voters under 45—are also the ones feeling more economically stressed and uncertain right now.”

Survey results show that 45 percent of voters would vote no on the 1 cent sales tax and 44 percent would vote no on the library special tax—making it challenging for the county to gain the support it needs for a simple majority and unlikely to achieve a two-thirds majority.

Act now! Send any news or story tips to news@santamariasun.com.

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Clean up and abandon

While the state undertakes its largest orphan oil well project in California history, environmental groups worry about lack of accountability for oil operators

BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR

About a year ago, the California Department of Conservation embarked on the largest oil well plugging and abandonment project in state history, starting in Santa Barbara County.

The department’s Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) set off to plug and abandon 171 orphaned wells in the Santa Maria Valley’s Cat Canyon with $34 million in state and federal funding.

As of March 29, 160 orphaned wells have been plugged to the surface, but more work needs to be done, California Department of Conservation Assistant Director for Communications Jacob Roper told the Sun in a statement.

“A total of 16 wells have had all well work completed, including plugging, surface cutoff, methane testing, and well histories documented,” Roper said, leaving 155 wells that still need testing and documentation.

Orphaned wells no longer produce oil and have no responsible, fiscally solvent operator to maintain, repair, or plug and abandon the wells and facilities, according to CalGEM. Idle wells also no longer produce oil, but they have an operator who oversees needed maintenance or repairs to prevent leaks or other physical hazards.

“Oil production’s decline for the past several decades has led to an increasing number of idle wells. While many operators are managing these idle wells in accordance with state regulations, many wells have become ‘orphans,’” according to CalGEM’s state abandonment draft expenditure plan.

Heavy lift

The state-identified 171 orphaned wells in Cat Canyon were formerly owned by HVI Cat Canyon Inc. (Greka Oil Company). CalGEM considered them to be a potential danger to public health, safety, and natural resources. HVI spilled approximately 26,584 barrels of crude oil (about 1.1 million gallons) with more than 180 spills during its 15 to 20 years as an operator in the county, according to previous Sun reporting.

The company filed for bankruptcy in 2019, leaving the state with roughly 210 orphaned wells as a liability, according to CalGEM. The remaining 39 wells will be addressed separately as “they require more complex remedial work.”

Properly plugging orphaned wells prevents methane, hydrogen sulfide, benzene, and arsenic from leaking into the soil, air, or groundwater— which can cause health and environmental issues if they are not addressed, according to the California Department of Conservation.

Oil wells are plugged by placing cement and other approved materials into the former well. Operators remove the well’s piping and fill the space with alternating layers of mud and cement mixture, which is placed at the groundwater level and across layers of rock that contain oil and gas deposits.

“This protects the air, soil, and groundwater by preventing any oil and gas from moving up or down,” according to the Department of Conservation.

Wells are then monitored for methane leaks and contamination issues, the report added. Each abandonment timeline depends on how long the contracting process takes and if there are any complications on-site, which can lead to further unexpected delays, said Jasmine Vazin, Sierra Club field organizing strategist.

“Just from what I’ve heard from folks at CalGEM, you’d be surprised at some of the complications that come up. It really is a case-bycase basis,” Vazin said. “Some of these wells have tree stumps, random machinery, and furniture down the well bore—it depends on the state the well is in when it comes to a plugging process.”

California Department of Conservation Assistant Director for Communications Roper told the Sun that the rest of the orphaned wells included in CalGEM’s abandonment project are in the contracting process in the various districts CalGEM operates.

“We’re eager to get this moving,” he said. “We’re just finalizing those contracts at this point.”

Playing catch-up

Addressing the orphaned wells is an important step, but Vazin said the Sierra Club worries about the remaining idle wells. CalGEM estimates there are more than 37,000 statewide.

“I think orphaned and inactive wells in general are a threat to communities. We know they constantly leak inorganic compounds and methane into the ground,” she said. “What CalGEM is doing is necessary, but I’m concerned about idle wells—these 37,000 idle wells that could become orphaned—becoming a socialized cost … that the taxpayers have to overcome.”

In Cat Canyon, the Sierra Club reported seeing abandonment price tags of $200,000 or more per well, she said. While cleanup is needed, “we don’t want to set the precedent that taxpayers have to pay for the messes oil operators are leaving behind.”

State Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) has proposed two bills to address some of the issues: AB 1866 would require oil operators to develop a comprehensive plan to plug their idle wells, and it’s going through the legislative process. AB 631, which went into effect this year, gives CalGEM more authority to hold operators accountable when they violate the law.

Existing California state law requires operators to submit an idle well management plan and plug 4 to 6 percent of their oldest idle wells per year, according to a statement from Hart’s office. Operators also have the option to pay $150 in order to avoid submitting a plan.

“The state regulatory penalty system isn’t modern; it’s an artifact,” Hart told the Sun in a previous interview. “There are other regulatory agencies that have much more consequential penalties. The idea was to model those other structures and bring those up to date.”

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The state division estimates that there are currently more than 5,300 orphan or “likely orphan” wells across the state. With limited funding to tackle “such a large inventory,” the state and federal governments allocated $125 million for CalGEM to address nearly 700 wells statewide, alongside the 171 in Santa Barbara County, as part of a multiphase project to plug and abandon orphaned wells throughout the state.

While environmental groups like the Sierra Club praised the investment to plug orphaned wells, they would like to see further policy change to better hold oil operators accountable rather than letting cleanup costs fall to taxpayers—a policy local representatives are now advocating for at the state level.

CalGEM is also required to decommission any production facilities by removing the infrastructure used for processing and oil extraction, and restoring the impacted, surrounding environment, according to CalGEM’s draft expenditure plan. State law considers plugging and abandonment, site decommissioning, and other remediation efforts as public works projects and requires CalGEM to enter into contract labor agreements.

“CalGEM’s action to plug and abandon orphan well(s) is a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),” according to the expenditure plan. “As such, each time CalGEM contracts to undertake plugging and abandonment of wells and associated facilities, … CalGEM must conduct a CEQA review to determine if the project will have significant impact on the environment.”

Texas state law requires operators to plug and abandon inactive wells within a year after drilling or operations cease, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office. Vazin with the Sierra Club added that Colorado, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota have similar state requirements for oil operators.

AB 1866 would require operators to address idle wells in about 10 years and takes away the option to pay idle well management fees, mandating an “aggressive” percentage of plugging per year, Vazin said

“I think bringing California to the same level of other states when it comes to regulation, idle wells being plugged after becoming idle, and taking away the option to pay management fees is important,” Vazin said. “California doesn’t have anything on the books mandating the cleanup of oil wells. We are definitely falling behind when it comes to cleanup regulation.” m

Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.

the room, students can work at the breathing station, a coloring station, and a hands-on station with clay and kinetic sand. They can also relax in a recently donated meditation dome.

BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lompoc Unified School District has been expanding its social-emotional learning program to help students navigate heightened anxiety and other mental health-related issues as they returned to in-person learning.

“We saw that the needs were really big; the district was awesome in supporting us by giving us more roles to expand the team,” said Emily Stone, a Lompoc Valley Middle School socialemotional learning counselor.

Lompoc Valley Middle School increased its mental health services after the pandemic and now has four counselors on campus; a Family Services Agency campus liaison for family needs; a school-based social worker; and a recently designated wellness room, all with the goal of giving students the long-term tools they need to help with mental health, Stone said.

“I think there’s really nothing more that any counselor in this field wants—our entire purpose, goal, even why we wake up in the morning is to make sure their needs are met,” she said. “I think we want to continue to build it out … and can address bigger issues. We’re working on addressing it not just five days a week.”

To address student career aspirations, the social-emotional learning counselors are introducing the first career week at Lompoc Valley Middle School from April 8 to 11 where counselors will bring in professionals from various fields to speak to students and host two keynote speakers to inspire students during their learning, Stone said.

“We felt we were hitting those needs too late,” Stone said. “[Many students] were not feeling they have a future, not feeling that they can get there. So if they can talk to people who have the same experiences and got to the places they wanted to go, that might keep them going.”

To help prepare for the career week, she said, students participated in career exploration during their English classes where the counselors gave a presentation about jobs versus careers and conducted surveys on their top three choices. The English department followed this with a unit about career goal-setting, finding colleges, and degrees that would help students achieve their career ambitions.

The wellness room on campus provides a designated space for students to work on their mental health, with couches and beanbag chairs to create a more casual and comfortable atmosphere. In

Students regularly meet for academies—groups meant to give students the tools they need to address mental health-related needs. Based on student surveys, the academies are designed to directly address what students are reporting they are experiencing, Stone said.

“I ran four on managing stress and anxiety and three on anger management, self-esteem for boys and girls, communication and college and career readiness, and one on grief targeted on student need,” she said, adding that she hopes these groups will plant seeds for lifelong help with these needs.

With the new social worker and family liaison in place, Lompoc Valley’s social-emotional learning counselors hope to provide more parent programming and connect families to additional community resources, Stone said.

“If you’re just helping the students, that might not address the bigger picture or issue,” she said. “I hope to plant the seed and make generational change, but if we address this with our families now, then hopefully we don’t have to wait as long.”

Highlights

• The Santa Maria Public Library announced a succulent exchange on April 6 from 11 a.m. to noon in the Lavagnino Plaza, 421 South McClelland St. Participants are asked to bring pest-free clippings of their favorite succulents to trade and share with other succulent lovers. Succulents come in a variety of shapes and sizes, are eco-friendly, easy to grow, and require minimal watering and maintenance. Direct questions to (805) 925-0994, Ext. 8562.

• The California Department of Education and the California Continuation Education Association (CCEA) Plus named Delta High School a 2024 Model Continuation High School for its comprehensive services to at-risk youth through use of exemplary instructional strategies, flexible scheduling, and guidance and counseling services. Continuation schools provide a high school diploma program for students who have not graduated from high school, are required to attend school, and are at risk of not completing their education. More than 430 continuation high schools serve close to 51,000 students throughout the state. Model Continuation High Schools excel and provide exceptional opportunities for their students to pursue academic and social success. The 31 schools selected as Model Continuation High Schools retain their designation for three years and will be recognized at the CCEA Plus 2024 state conference. m

Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@ santamariasun.com.

WELLNESS ROOM: As part of continued efforts to address student mental health, Lompoc Valley Middle School recently added a wellness room to its campus where students can go to

What should Santa Barbara County do for its cannabis tax model?

47% I don’t want cannabis in our communities at all!

23% Learn more about a hybrid of gross receipts and square footage tax.

15% Don’t change anything—stick with a gross receipts model.

15% A square footage tax is the way to go. 13 Votes

Vote online at www.santamariasun.com.

| Kristen LaGrange

Lompoc’s street and

conditions are measurably bad

BY RON FINK

Anyone who lives in the city of Lompoc knows that many streets and alleys in our city are in poor shape. But when subjected to a professional review using a nationally accepted roadway standards, how bad are they?

During a City Council meeting on March 19 to discuss a public hearing to consider Measure A, a five-year local program of projects for fiscal years 2025-29, the staff report stated, “The condition of the city’s pavement is measured using the industry standard pavement condition index (PCI) system. New pavement starts with a PCI rating of 100. An overall systemwide PCI average of 70 is considered ‘good’ and is the accepted industry standard goal. The city’s current systemwide PCI average of 51 is considered ‘at risk.’

To maintain the overall PCI average at its current value of 51 using industry standard methods, the city would need to identify funding and expend over $9 million for pavement rehabilitation projects each year.

“To raise the city’s overall system-wide PCI average to ‘good’ using industry standard methods, the city would need to identify funding and expend approximately $85 million for pavement rehabilitation projects during 2024. That one-time expenditure of approximately $85 million to raise the city’s overall systemwide PCI average to 70 is in addition to an annual expenditure of over $9 million each year thereafter, to maintain the PCI of 70, using industry standard methods.”

Measure A is a countywide bond issue passed several years ago to help improve our roads.

Mayor Jenelle Osborne said she and other council members are often asked why the city can’t fix the roads. One reason is carefully explained in the staff report: “The city anticipates having sufficient road revenues to spend an average of over $2 million per year on street and alley rehabilitation projects during the biennial budget [fiscal years] 2024-25 period, in addition to funding the city’s Street Maintenance, Urban Forestry, and Engineering Division operations.” This is far short of the $9 million needed.

This all sounds wonky, but to summarize, the city streets are in lousy condition and the general fund can’t afford to bring them to a “good” condition any time soon. But even somewhat minor repairs like filling potholes could improve.

Recently a crew of four showed up to fill some potholes at an intersection near my home; there are only a total of seven employees currently on the street maintenance crew. While one person was filling the holes, two others were consulting their cellphones, and one was pointing out where to toss the fill material. When they finished, these few potholes were professionally done; however, they ignored other potholes on the same street that were less than 200 feet from where they were working.

To be fair, there are a lot of pavement divots in the more than 150 miles of roadway to fill in the city, and there seems to be more when it rains a lot, but wouldn’t it be a more efficient use of their time to assign them to spend a day filling all the holes on one block rather than fill a few one day and then come back a week or two later to fill a couple more?

Or just simply look around and fill all the potholes they see while at one location.

The staff said that they have consistently expressed that

the “needs exceeded the available revenues” during the last several years when road conditions were discussed.

To put this in context, the city spent $4 million on roads in 2022, nothing in 2021, and less than an average of $2.5 million each year between 2013 and 2021. And if they continue at the current rate for the next 10 years, the pavement won’t get any better and most likely will deteriorate further.

Councilman Jeremy Ball suggested that the council needed to “think outside the box” about ways to solve the revenue issue.

Well, there are a couple of ways for a government to increase revenue, and that’s either a tax increase or a bond issue.

Considering that most people in this community are just trying to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families in an era when the cost of day-to-day goods is on an upward spiral, the idea of any tax increase is going to be a hard sell, and even the price of a bond (which we all pay for in property taxes and/or rent increases) would be equally hard.

So for all of us who use the streets, I guess we’ll have to slow down, keep dodging all those potholes, get our cars realigned, and get tires repaired or replaced more frequently, or simply bounce up and down as we make our way around town. m

Ron Fink writes to the Sun from Lompoc. Send a letter for publication to letters@ santamariasun.com.

‘Do the right thing’ should extend beyond liberals

Having read John Donegan’s recent epic “Do the right thing” (March 28), I do have to admit that I agree with a lot of what he has to say, which, as a recovering progressive, is a bit painful for me. It does seem that it takes American liberals, especially progressives, an inordinate amount of time to face up to inevitable realities. This, along with their inability to even consider compromise (a bond shared with their right-wing counterparts) has made our road considerably rockier than it needs to be.

It is interesting to note that the author’s focus was on social issues, which is not the traditional bailiwick of conservatives, whose traditional attitude toward them is to not give a shit except, of course, to expend any and all efforts to avoid paying for them. For this reason, one can only view the author’s effort as a “told ya so” moment. Nevertheless, progressives would do well to learn from this experience, but past experience has shown that they are not any better at learning than they are at compromising.

So, what about the conservatives? Take income inequality for example. Is it not at the root of many pressing social problems and much of the ongoing conflict in the world? And market deregulation, which has given us the savings and loan debacle, the dot-com bust, Enron, the sub-prime mortgage collapse, and the fairly recent banking ballyhoo, along with disgustingly overpaid and psychotic corporate executives, recidivist felonious corporations like Chase and Wells Fargo, and a blathering, suppurating media embodied in the likes of Fox News and MSNBC. Who knows what ill winds are trailing Bitcoin and AI. When is somebody going to do the right thing about all that?

Mark Henry San Luis Obispo

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)

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

Welcoming Dr. Ryan Leachman DO, MBA

A Central Coast Native, Dr. Ryan Leachman DO, MBA, Graduated from Arroyo Grande High School in 2004. Dr. Leachman attended California Polytechnic State University where he earned dual degrees in Biology and Psychology and graduated Cum Lade. Dr. Leachman continued his education at Cal Poly where he earned a Masters in Business Administration. Dr. Leachman further continued his education at Midwestern University school of Medicine where he earned his medical degree. Dr. Leachman attended residency at OSU Pediatrics. He is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics.

What would Texas do?

For everyone who’s yammering on about how California is such a strict state to do business in, we sure are lax when it comes to holding oil companies accountable for their messes.

Texas has stronger laws than California does. Texas. The state all the RINO’s are leaving us for. Texas state law requires oil field operators to plug and abandon inactive wells within a year after drilling or operations cease, according to the Texas Secretary of State’s Office

What do we do? Oh, we’ll just do it for them. We’ll just walk right into that abandoned oil field that was left behind and take care of it with taxpayer money.

Awesome!

Existing California state law requires operators to submit an idle well management plan and plug 4 to 6 percent of their oldest idle wells per year, according to a statement from Assemblymember Gregg Hart’s office. Operators also have the option to pay $150 in order to avoid submitting a plan.

Hey! Even I could afford that, and I live on birdseed.

One of Hart’s bills would take that $150 avoidance fee out of the picture and requires operators to address their idle wells within 10 years. That still seems a little lax. Can’t we just do what Texas did? WWTD?

Meanwhile, we’re paying out of pocket to clean up the mess of one of the most notorious polluters in Santa Barbara County oil industry history: HVI Cat Canyon, formerly known as Greka—aka, the poster child for gross negligence of environmental regulations, so negligent that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finally sued it.

Then the company filed for bankruptcy. So here we are.

We’re a year into the California Department of Conservation, Geologic Energy Management Division’s (CalGEM) largest project to plug and abandon orphaned oil wells (that’s a cute name for them, right?). The project aimed to tackle 171 oil wells that once belonged to HVI Cat Canyon, 160 of them are plugged with more work to do, and 16 have work fully completed on them.

At a cool $200,000 or so a pop, according to the Sierra Club, we had $34 million in state and federal funds to get ’er done. I guess we’re on our way!

Only 5,100 more wells to go in the state! Well, actually, the state received $125 million more to address nearly 700 wells statewide—so, after that, only 4,400 wells to go. I hope they don’t raise my cage taxes to pay for any of it.

Santa Barbara County isn’t going to raise your property taxes this year, so we’ve got that going for us! While the county was thinking about three different tax measures—including a 1 cent sales tax for the general fund and a special quarter-cent sales tax and $60 per parcel tax increase to pay for libraries—survey responses from county residents weren’t very supportive.

Cost of living and financial insecurity are driving folks to keep their wallets shut.

“What’s interesting in some of our research, the people who are normally the most supportive of these kinds of measures—younger voters under 45—are also the ones feeling more economically stressed and uncertain right now,” a project manager from FM3 Research told supervisors.

Duh! You can’t find a studio apartment for under $1,400 in Santa Maria! m

The Canary believes in taxing the rich. Send ZIP codes to canary@santamariasun.com.

David Ikola,

Hot Stuff

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT

The scenic and spacious Vega Vineyard and Farm in Buellton is hosting its Flower Crown Class on Sunday, April 14, at 11 a.m. Participants of this workshop will create their own floral headpieces with different types of flowers. General admission includes all materials needed to complete the project and one glass of wine. Tickets are available in advance at my805tix.com. Vega Vineyard and Farm is located at 9496 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton. —Caleb Wiseblood

ARTS

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/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.

CASUAL CRAFTERNOON: PAPER BEAD

BRACELETS Customize a beautiful bracelet by upcycling scrap paper. This workshop is free, and all materials will be provided. Registration is required, for ages 18 and older. April 9 12-1:30 p.m. 805925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

COTTONWOOD Follows the lives of multiple residents of a quaint town that’s been eyed by a real estate firm for gentrification. Presented by the Los Alamos Theatre Group. Through April 7 Los Alamos Depot Bar, 515 Bell St., Los Alamos, 805-344-1883, thedepotmall.com/.

DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN

DANCE Classes available for all skill levels. Class sizes limited. ongoing Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805-937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/.

FLIRTY FICTION BOOK CLUB A book club for readers of contemporary romance fiction. The book for April is The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams. For ages 18 and over. Registration is required. Light refreshments will be served. April 9, 5:15-6:15 p.m. Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

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.

HEAR OUR VOICES WITH AAUW

The Santa Maria Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) will host a poetry jam session in recognition of National Poetry Month at the Library. Read poems by Amanda Gorman and other poet activists or self-penned poems for up to five minutes. First-come, first-served. April 13 2-4 p.m. Free. 805925-0994. 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.

LOT’S WIFE An episodic play told in the original voice of its main character. With wry humor and rare honesty, she relives the sometimes harrowing, sometimes hilarious, but always pivotal events of her life. April 12-28 my805tix.com/. Orcutt Community Theater (Klein Dance Arts), 3546 Skyway Drive, Bldg. 1, suite A, Orcutt.

MURDER THEY READ: COZY MYSTERY

BOOK CLUB Every month, group selects a different cozy mystery author and explores their collection. The author for April is L.B. Hathaway. You can choose any book in the

series. For ages 18 and older. Registration is required. April 4, 5-6 p.m. 805-9250994. 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. April 13 2 p.m. Free. 805925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

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. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang, calnatureartmuseum.org.

FLOWER CROWN CLASS AT VEGA

VINEYARD A fun and creative workshop where participants learn how to make their own floral headpieces. Class includes all materials for the class and one glass of wine. April 14 11 a.m. my805tix.com. Vega Vineyard and Farm, 9496 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton, 805-688-2415.

POETRY IN PAPER Karen Bit Vejle’s gallery show. Make sure to experience this unique gallery exhibit during the museum’s regular hours before the show ends. Through May 7 Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang, 805-686-1211, elverhoj.org.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

WATERCOLOR IN THE VINEYARD AT MELVILLE WINERY Visit the picturesque Melville Winery and grab a glass of wine and a paintbrush. April 14 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

805-325-8092.

Melville

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

THE FISH WHISPERER A mysterious outsider plots to fix a small fishing town’s sudden bad luck when it comes to fishing. Through May 11 Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

LOCAL AUTHOR FAIRE AT MONARCH

BOOKS This event promises to be an exciting opportunity for book lovers to engage with talented local authors. Admission is free, and attendees will have the chance to purchase signed books directly from authors. April 14 2-4 p.m. 805668-6300. monarchbooks805.com. Monarch Books, 201 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande.

MAKING STYROFOAM/CONCRETE

FORMS FOR MOSAIC This three-day workshop will focus on using hot wire foam carving tools to creating light weight, weather resistant, mosaic-ready forms out of styrofoam (polystyrene), fiber mesh, and concrete. Guests will leave with a mosaicready sculpture along with informative handouts. April 12 10 a.m.-4 p.m., April 13, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and April 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $495. 805-440-3054. passifloramosaics.com. Passiflora Mosaics, 330 N. 10th St., Grover Beach.

SILENT SKY Prepare to be deeply moved, enlightened, and entertained as AGHS Theatre Company brings poignant stories to life on stage. With powerful performances, compelling narratives, and themes that resonate, this fundraiser performance promises “an unforgettable theatrical experience.” April 10 7-9:30 p.m. $10-$35. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/ shows/aghs-silent-sky-fundraiser/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

ADAM PARKER SMITH: FOR THE TIME

BEING This exhibition will feature several works made throughout the artist’s career as sort of a mid-career retrospective. Adam Parker Smith has a unique ability to address complex themes in a whimsical, light-hearted way that makes his work incredibly accessible. Through July 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/ exhibition/adam-parker-smith/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

ALEX HISCHIER: ART AFTER DARK Join The Bunker SLO for Art After Dark featuring original artwork by Alex Hischier. April 5, 5-8 p.m. my805tix.com/. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

ALL AGES SCULPTING WITH JOHN ROULLARD John a retired school teacher who patiently guides potters of all ages to sculpt and work on details and design. Saturdays, 1:30-3 p.m. $40. anamcre.com.

Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

APRIL BANKS: OUTLANDISH Los Angeles-based artist April Banks is a creative strategist working across visual art, social engagement, and exhibition design. Her practice sits intentionally between image, space, and experience. April 5 -July 29 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/exhibition/aprilbanks/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

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.

BARRY GOYETTE: MULBERRY For his exhibition at SLOMA, San Luis Obispobased artist Barry Goyette shows a series of portraits taken by a very specific mulberry tree as a site for portrait photography guided by the models, of varying stages of life. Through June 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/

exhibition/barry-goyette-mulberry/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

FOUR-WEEK ADULT HANDBUILDING AND WHEEL SERIES Learning both handbuilding and wheel throwing techniques. Students will get a taste of all things clay in this four-week series. Clay/ firing included; beginner friendly. Please sign up online in advance. This series is offered each month (check website for availability). First Saturday of every month, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $180. anamcre.com/ booking. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

GISELLE Grand Kyiv Ballet presents an unforgettable journey filled with passion, betrayal, and forgiveness with this French ballet. April 13 7-9 p.m. $47-$67. 805-7564849. pacslo.org/events/detail/giselle24. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

GO FISH! BEGINNER ACRYLIC WITH LINDA CUNNINGHAM In this workshop, you’ll receive step-by-step instruction for creating a beautiful koi fish acrylic painting. Beginners are welcome and no experience is necessary. Relax and have fun. April 7 12:30-3:30 p.m. $40 per person. 805-478-2158. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

IN CONVERSATION WITH DEANNE

STILLMAN Meet the author during this book signing. Books will be available for purchase thanks to Volumes of Pleasure Bookshoppe. April 9 6:30 p.m. Free. slonightwriters.org. United Church of Christ (Congregational) of San Luis Obispo, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.

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

$75.

artspotonwheels.com.

Estate Winery, 5185 E. Hwy 246, Lompoc.

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF VEGA VINEYARD AND FARM

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.

UPCYCLING COMPETITION Sign up for this Upcycling Competition open to all ages. April 7, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. San Luis Obispo Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-781-5991.

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 please 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.

VOLAR: FLAMENCO EN VIVO

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Allan Hancock College’s dance program presents its 2024 Dance Spectrum with performances on April 11, 12, and 13, at 7 p.m. each evening. The show features a wide range of music and dance styles. General admission is $15. Hancock students can attend for free with a valid student ID. Visit hancockcollege.edu for more info. The performances will be held in Boyd Concert Hall, building F, at Hancock’s Santa Maria campus.

2024 Born in Seattle to parents of Puerto Rican and Irish ancestry, Savannah discovered Flamenco in her late teens and has never looked back. April 12 , 6-9 p.m. my805tix.com/. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

WALT WHITMAN GAY MEN’S BOOK CLUB

TICKETS

Lucy

Age: 5 years, 3

Breed: German Shepherd

Sex: Female

Weight: 76

Campus: Santa Maria

Theo

Age: 6 years

Breed: Siamese

Sex: Male

Weight: 15 lbs.

Campus: Santa Barbara

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.

WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME

Fifteen-year-old Heidi earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States. In this hilarious, hopeful play she resurrects her teenage self in order to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives.

Thursdays-Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through April 14 $20-$40. 805-786-2440. slorep.org/shows/what-theconstitution-means-to-me/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

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. 559-799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS

PHOTOGRAPHER MICHAEL JOHNSTON

Johnston’s photography features horses, landscapes, birds, and more, captured locally and abroad, including in Portugal.

Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through April 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

JEWELRY, SMALL WORKS, AND ART BY HOPE MYERS Myers is an award-winning watercolorist, collage artist, and jewelry crafts person. She has been creating her artwork on the Central Coast for more than 30 years. Hope’s jewelry features vintage beads and crystals and is assembled in Los Osos. Gallery open daily. Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through April 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

OIL PAINTINGS BY JEFF ODELL Odell’s paintings of Morro Bay span across more than 40 years. They are a historical archive of the changes through those years. Odell’s frequently seen with his plein air easel and paints. His original oils are on canvas and wood. Gallery open daily.

Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through April 29 Free. 805-772-1068.

galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

WHERE THERE’S A WILL A romantic comedy about Shakespeare being transported to the present to help a struggling playwright with love and life. April 12-14 By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay, bytheseaproductions.org.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS ANDROID PHONE CLASS First Thursday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, 805-937-9750.

BOARD GAME AFTERNOON Visit the Youth Services Desk to borrow a board game to play while at the library. Play a favorite or try something new. April 7 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

BOUNCING BABY STORY TIME Explore preliteracy skills through music, movement, and visual stimulation, and promote a healthy bond between baby and caregiver. Learn, connect, and grow with other babies and caregivers. For ages 0-12 months. This program runs approximately 30 min. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. through April 10 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons. org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

BREAKFAST WITH THE PRESIDENT AT

MARIAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER Join Marian’s President and CEO Sue Andersen and fellow hospital leaders to learn how the medical center is fulfilling its promise to the community by remaining at the forefront of health care innovation. April 11 , 8-9:30 a.m. Free. 805-739-3595. supportmarianmedical.org. Marian Regional Medical Center, 1400 E. Church St., Santa Maria.

CENTRAL COAST CORVETTE CLUB Open to Corvette owners and enthusiasts. First Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. 805-934-3948. Home Motors, 1313 E. Main St., Santa Maria.

CRAFTWORKS:

DECOUPAGE GARDENING POTS Looking for a new hobby? Come to CraftWorks and learn the art of decoupage and create a beautiful gardening pot. This workshop is free, and all materials will be provided. Registration is required, for patrons 18 and older. April 13 , 10:30-midnight Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:309:30 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.

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

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 AND 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-los-padres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano.

SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. 805-904-6615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

CAL HOPE SLO GROUPS AT

—C.W.

ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing 805-3432455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe.

LET’S BLOW OFF SOME STEAM Come to 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 younger children, but all ages welcome. April 11 4 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

ORCUTT MINERAL SOCIETY Second Tuesday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, 805-937-9750.

PRESCHOOL PLAY TIME Preschoolers and their caregivers are welcome to play and socialize with kids similar in age. Children will have the opportunity to engage in imaginative play, sharing, and making friends. For ages 3-5. April 8 , 11 a.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.

org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SUCCULENT EXCHANGE Please bring “pest free” clippings of your favorite succulents to trade and share with other succulent lovers. Pick up new succulent cuttings to plant at home. April 6 11 a.m.-noon Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/departments/ library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

TECH MADE EASY: E-BOOKS AND E-AUDIO

Learn how to access the library’s electronic catalogs and download electronic resources onto your mobile devices or tablets. Please bring any mobile device, tablet, or laptop you wish to use to access these resources.

Registration is required.

April 6, 10:30 a.m.-noon Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/ services/departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

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. This program runs approximately 30 minutes. April 14 2 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

DONATION-BASED YOGA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMTS, AND CARETAKERS Class schedule varies. Contact

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.

CENTRAL COAST DIALYSIS ORGAN

TRANSPLANT SUPPORT GROUP Not faith based. All are welcome. Please wear a mask. First Saturday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church SLO, 650 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/CEO ROUNDTABLE

“Serving as Executive Director or CEO is hard work. At times, it can be lonely work.” In this roundtable, you’ll gather with other Executive Directors and CEOs to share challenges, brainstorm solutions, gain facilitation skills, and build connection with each other. April 4 12-1 p.m. Free for Spokes members; $10 for non members. spokesfornonprofits.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

FAMILY DAY AT THE DALLIDET Visit site for more info on this family event. April 7, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. my805tix.com/. Dallidet Adobe and Gardens, 1185 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-0638.

HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP

A safe place to share life experiences with those who have depression or have had and recovered from the devastating effects of depression. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. through Dec. 30 Free. 805-528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

LEARN TO SOLDER WORKSHOP Learn how to use a soldering iron and the materials used in soldering, including types of solder, flux, and soldering iron tips. You will put together and take home two small refrigerator magnet kits with LEDs that blink. Adults only. April 6 10 a.m.-noon $5-$20. alpenglowindustries. com/pages/workshops. Alpenglow Industries, 3485 Sacramento Drive, Ste. F, San Luis Obispo, 805-242-8158.

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.

QI GONG FITNESS ONLINE Qi Gong is a gentle but powerful way to strengthen body, mind, and spirit. Great for balance. Instructor: Gary West, through Adult School, San Luis Coastal Unified School District. An online class. Wednesdays, 9:35-10:35 a.m. through May 22 $90. 805-5491222. ae.slcusd.org/. Online, See website, 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.

TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP

Learn more about mental health and coping

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 16

If you enjoy getting outside on the Central Coast, you’ll want to pick up a copy!

Can I crash on your couch for awhile?

Ask us about our Foster Program

FOSTER

Cinder Flint

Cinder and brother Flint are 8 months old and unbelievably sweet. They are housetrained, neutered, fully vaccinated and microchipped, and are ready for their new homes! They are very social with other dogs and great with cats, and are only 10-12 lbs. They love to play and romp, and are loving lap dogs too. Please contact us if interested in meeting them!

PO Box 2952, Orcutt, CA 93457

Email: centralcoastSPCA@yahoo.com

centralcoastspca.org

(805) 937-1766

This ad provided by

skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m.

Free. 805-540-6576. t-mha.org. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peer-to-peer support for trans, gender nonconforming, 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.

WOMEN VISIONARIES SYMPOSIUM Join accomplished women visionaries for a powerful evening of spiritual and business alignment, with inspiring speeches and soulful connection. April 7 4 p.m. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY CLIMATE SOLUTIONS COMMUNITY FORUM

Learn from community members how to be part of the solution for climate change. See first-hand report from Antarctica. Learn about low-impact, low-cost housing opportunities. Discover regenerative agriculture that’s good for the planet. Gain free resources to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions and save money. April 6 2-4 p.m. Free. 805-772-4667. stbenslososos.org/events. St. Benedict’s Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln., Los Osos.

ELECTRIFY YOUR LIFE: AT HOME AND ON

THE ROAD A free, informative and electrifying event. Learn how to save money while converting your home and car to be safer, more affordable and eco-friendly. Learn about local, state, and national rebates and credits starting this year. April 6 10 a.m.-noon Free. eventbrite. com. Morro Bay Library, 625 Harbor St., Morro Bay, 1-805-772-6394.

LOS OSOS VALLEY GARDEN CLUB SPRING

PLANT SALE Tomato, landscape, and flowering plants will be for sale, along with mosaic, driftwood, and teacup gardens. Tomato plants can be preordered online through March 30 at 10 a.m. Pickup at the plant sale, which is a fundraiser to benefit the club. April 6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free entry. lovgardenclub.com. First Baptist Church of Los Osos, 1900 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos, 805-528-3066.

FOOD & DRINK

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/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.

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.

WILD FLOUR CELEBRATION AT CUYAMA

BUCKHORN Celebrate the stunning superbloom of wildflowers that graces the Cuyama Valley. Enjoy a weekend of culinary delights, education, and reveling in splendor. April 5 3-9 p.m., April 6, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and April 7, 9-11 a.m. Check site or call for details. 661-766-2825. cuyamabuckhorn.com. Cuyama Buckhorn, 4923 Primero St., New Cuyama.

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 VALLEY

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.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET

Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Downtown SLO, Multiple locations, San Luis Obispo.

HANDS-ON BREAD MAKING CLASS: FOCACCIA BREAD AND PIZZA DOUGH If you love focaccia bread and you’d like to be guided through making it, this is the class for you. You’ll take your own hand-kneaded dough home baked to enjoy. San Luis Obispo County Friends of Italy hosts the event. April 6 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $70. 619-537-9082. House of Bread, 1025 Farmhouse Lane, San Luis Obispo, houseofbread.com.

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.

MUSIC

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/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, 805623-8866.

MARK MACKAY AND FULL BAND Enjoy live music, outdoor games, food, drinks, and more. April 7 noon my805tix.com/. Blast 825 Brewery, 241 S Broadway St., Ste. 101, Orcutt, 805-934-3777.

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, 805-623-8866.

SOLID AS A ROCK

Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay is hosting an atrium party on Saturday, April 13, from 3 to 5 p.m., to celebrate the debut of three new art exhibitions, showcasing works by oil painter Jeff Odell (whose work is pictured), jewelry designer Hope Myers, and photographer Michael Johnston. Each show will remain on display through Monday, April 29. Call (805) 772-1068 or visit galleryatmarinasquare.com for more info. Gallery at Marina Square is located at 601 Embarcadero, suite 10, Morro Bay.

—C.W.

Band with vocalists Bob Nations and Mitch Latting. Dancing encouraged. Grant funding by the Community Foundation of SLO County. April 14, 1:30-4 p.m. 775-813-5186. RiptideBB.com. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

THE FINALE OF THE SONGWRITERS AT PLAY

SONG CONTEST The finale contestants have already won awards at the monthly contests held at High Roller Tiki Lounge, which started last May. April 13 2 p.m. my805tix.com/. High Roller Tiki Lounge, 433 Alisal Road, Solvang.

LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

BANDA TORO A legend of Latin music. April 5 8 p.m. my805tix.com/. FCB, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc, 805-810-0714.

GREEN JELLY LIVE An American comedy heavy metal musical group from Kenmore, New York. April 6, 7 p.m. my805tix.com/. FCB, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc, 805-810-0714.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BRASS MASH AT RIBLINE BY THE BEACH A special night of brass, dancing, and singing mayhem. April 13 7:30-10:30 p.m. my805tix. com/. Ribline by the Beach, 395 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD BIG BAND

CONCERT Big band music made famous by Frank Sinatra. A mostly instrumental concert with a few vocals sung by Mitch Latting. This is a free concert, but donations for the church will be accepted (the church lets the band rehearse there). April 11 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free (donations accepted). Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church, 1235 N Thompson Rd., Arroyo Grande, 805-219-0133, nipomopresbyterian.org.

KARAOKE EVERY FRIDAY Enjoy some good food and karaoke. Fridays, 5-8 p.m. 805-7235550. The Central Grill, 545 Orchard Road, Nipomo.

(805)

SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS Every Sunday, come cozy up inside the tasting room and listen to great artists. 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, 805-332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.

MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. ongoing 805-9250464. coelhomusic.com/Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., 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.

WHERE OR WHEN DANCE The Santa Maria Mussell Senior Club presents the Riptide Big

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.

THE KINGSTON TRIO In 1957, they emerged from San Francisco’s North Beach club scene to take the country by storm, bringing the rich tradition of American folk music into the mainstream. April 12 7:30-10 p.m. $29-$59. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/shows/thekingston-trio/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

THE LONG RUN: EXPERIENCE THE EAGLES Marked by lush vocal harmonies and exceptional musical accuracy, every TLR

performance delivers a reverence for the Eagles’ recordings. April 13 7:30-9:45 p.m. $40$50. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/shows/ the-long-run/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

ALL AGES OPEN MIC NIGHT Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m. Liquid Gravity, 675 Clarion Court, San Luis Obispo.

BEN ROSENBLUM NEBULA PROJECT SEXTET

Presented by the San Luis Obispo County Jazz Federation. April 6 7:30 p.m. my805tix.com/. Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Fredericks St., San Luis Obispo.

BLUES WEDNESDAYS Spinning blues records all night. Chicago, Memphis, Delta, Detroit, and more. Visit this new vinyl bar in the Railroad District. Acoustically treated room, old-school sound system, big speakers, but always at a polite volume. Plenty of free parking. Wednesdays, 2-8 p.m. Free. 313-316-7097. Jan’s Place, 1817 Osos St., San Luis Obispo, jansplaceslo.com.

BRASS MASH: PROM-ISH (FIRST FRIDAY)

Enjoy live rock and pop during this adult prom. Dress up as you please.:1998, 1978, 2016, or “remake that duct tape dress that your mom refused you wear.” April 5 6-10 p.m. my805tix.com/. Liquid Gravity, 675 Clarion Court, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY OPEN HOUSE RECITAL The Cal Poly Music Department will present an Open House Recital for Cal Poly’s 31st annual Open House. The recital will feature both instrumentalist and vocalists. The student performers are from a variety of majors. April 13 2 p.m. Free. 805-7562406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/free/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY STUDENT OPERA THEATRE’S SPRING OPERA SCENES Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre will present an evening of opera scenes. Students from a variety of majors will come together to produce a delightful array of duets, trios and ensemble numbers. April 13 7:30 p.m. $20 general; $10 students. 805-7564849. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/. Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT BY EKATERINA

PORITZKO Internationally known cembalist and pianist Ekaterina Porizko will present a concert including compositions by J.S. Bach and Felix Mendelssohn, together with her own improvisations. April 5 6 p.m. Free will offering. 805- 543-8327. zionslo.com. Zion Lutheran Church, 1010 E Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo.

DJ WILLIAMS BAND LIVE An acclaimed guitarist, singer-songwriter, and producer whose illustrious career has seen him traverse the globe, igniting stages ranging from intimate clubs to renowned festivals with his fiery performances. April 9, 7 p.m. my805tix.com. Liquid Gravity, 675 Clarion Court, San Luis Obispo.

MUSIC continued page 18

APRIL 26-MAY 5

Chakra

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

Musical Improv Comedy Show

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

Brass Mash First Friday in April 2024

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 Liquid Gravity Brewing Company, SLO

The Bunker SLO Green Jelly: Greatest Hit Tour

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Banda

FRIDAY, APRIL 5 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

The Ragged Jubilee, Nightjacket, & Watashi Wa SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Templeton Mercantile

Eleemosynary: A Reader’s Theatre Event

FRI-SUN, APRIL 5-7 Private Residence, Atascadero

Comedy Night headlinging “Chicago” Steve Barkley

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Paso Lounge, Paso Robles

Shamanic Morning Rituals for Vitality

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Aurora Meditations & Rituals, Morro Bay

A 35th Anniversary Tribute Honoring Roy Orbison

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

Clark Center, Arroyo Grande

Coastal Wine & Paint Party

SATURDAY, APRIL 6 Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, Cambria

Ben Rosenblum Nebula Project Sextet

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, SLO

Family Day at the Dallidet

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 Dallidet Adobe & Gardens, SLO

April 2024 Central Coast Cooking Show

TUESDAY, APRIL 9

Idler’s Home Paso Robles

Mark Mackay & Full Band

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 Blast 825 Brewery, Orcutt

Stand-Up Comedy Class, Taught by Danielle Durbin

TUESDAY, APRIL 9 Central Coast Comedy Theater, SLO

Painting Shell Creek Wildflowers with Drew Davis

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 Drew Davis Fine Art, SLO

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10 Dark Nectar Coffee,

MCV Wines

SUNDAY,

Shakti: Embodying the Goddesses of Yoga

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 Dharma Yoga Loft,

Women Visionaries Symposium: Hosted by Shawna Mox & Sabrina Pratt SUNDAY, APRIL 7 The Bunker SLO

FRIDAY, APRIL 12 SLO Public Market The Kingston Trio FRIDAY, APRIL 12 Clark Center, Arroyo Grande By The Sea Productions Presents: Where There’s A Will FRI-SUN, APRIL 12-14 545 Shasta Ave, Morro Bay

Pairs with Italian Street Foods

APRIL 7 MCV Wines, Paso Robles

Paso Robles

Nixil with Gruel & Impalement

Atascadero

Improv Comedy Show: House Team & TEEBEEDEE

DOGS IN A PILE LIVE With Strange Cake. For ages 18 and over. April 12 , 7 p.m. SLO Brew Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-1843, slobrew.com.

AN EVENING OF TRADITIONAL MUSIC WITH BRUCE

MOLSKY In the Milking Parlor at Octagon Barn Center, with an old-time jam at 6 p.m. before the show. Grammy-nominated and described as “an absolute master,” Bruce Molsky transports audiences to another time and place. April 5 , 7-9 p.m. $25 advance; $30 door. 805-235-2874. eventbrite.com. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo.

JAZZ VESPERS CONCERTS The Jazz Vespers Concert Series returns to the historic sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of SLO with the Pat Kelley Trio. Guitarist Pat Kelley has enjoyed a successful career in Los Angeles as a studio and touring musician. April 14 4-5:30 p.m. Free; donations appreciated. 805 543-5451. fpcslo.org. First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo, 981 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo.

JEWEL: LIVE AT THE PAC Four-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, actress, author, and mental health pioneer Jewel is coming to the PAC for a concert benefitting the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center. Any net proceeds from the concert will go to support the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center. April 6 7:30-9:30 p.m. $77-$297. 805756-4849. pacslo.org. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

LIVE MUSIC AT KROBAR Enjoy live music at Krobar, which showcases local, talented artists of all music genres. Kick-off your weekend right, grab your favorite seasonal craft cocktail, and vibe to the sounds of the night. Follow on Instagram to find out who is playing. Every other Friday, 6-9 p.m. and Saturdays, 6-9 p.m. through Aug. 31 Free entry. 833-5762271. krobardistillery.com/events. Krobar Craft Distillery, 1701 Monterey 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.

SHABANG BATTLE OF THE BANDS LIVE AT THE FREMONT THEATER All ages welcome. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. April 4 $15. fremontslo.com/events/shabang-battle-of-the-bandstour-san-luis-obispo/. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-546-8600.

SLO COUNTY TRUMPET ALLIANCE: ALL THAT JAZZ The San Luis Obispo County Trumpet Alliance presents this concert, featuring Cuesta College Jazz Faculty, including Dave Becker, Bob Bennett, Ken Hustad, George Stone, and Darrell Voss. April 14 , 2 p.m. General $15; student with ID $10. tickets.cuesta.edu. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

THE WEST ORIGIN JAZZ TRIO FEAT. SARAH PILLOW SLO native and vocalist Sarah Pillow will be performing some of your favorite jazz standards in the relaxed atmosphere of Linnaea’s Café. Also featuring Marc Wagnon, vibraphone, and Tony Green, bass. April 12 , 6-8 p.m. Free; tips appreciated. 805-541-5888. linnaeascafe.com/events.html. Linnaea’s Cafe, 1110 Garden St., San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BACK PAGES BAND April 13 , 2-5 p.m. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, 805-225-1312, thesirenmorrobay.com/.

BLUES AGENDA JAM AND SHOWCASE A rockin’ blues dance party at Niffy’s Merrimaker every first, third, and now fifth Wednesdays. The Blues Asylum house band welcomes local, visiting, and newcomers to the blues groove. Spirits, beer, and wine, with outside food welcome. Every other Wednesday, 7-10 p.m. Free. 805-235-5223. The Merrimaker Tavern, 1301 2nd Street, Los Osos.

CIRCLES AROUND THE SUN April 11 , 7-10 p.m. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, 805-225-1312, thesirenmorrobay.com/.

THE FINALE OF THE SONGWRITERS AT PLAY SONG CONTEST

Enjoy “the best of the best.” Ten contestants play two original songs each, and three judges award prizes, including a grand prize of $1,000. The contestants are Karyn Ann, Jean Mann, Chris Mariscal, Ted Nunes, Wildflower, Paddy Marsh, Cate Armstrong, Bev Praver, Miss Leo, and Jayden Secor. April 14 , 2-5 p.m. $28. 805-204-6821. songwritersatplay.com/events. Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre, 1350 Main St., Cambria.

LISTENING AS RITUAL Group listening sessions with musician/musicologist Ben Gerstein. Explore remarkable recordings of world music, nature field recording, western classical and contemporary, and jazz, sharing and discussing inspiration and perspectives on the expressive power of peoples, cultures, animals and habitats through sonic experience. Every other Monday, 7-8:15 p.m. $10-$15 donation. 805-305-1229. leftcoastartstudio.com/. Left Coast Art Studio, 1188 Los Osos Valley Rd., Los Osos.

LITTLE DOLLZ (THE RHOADS ERA OF OZZY TRIBUTE) April 12 , 7:30 p.m. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, 805-225-1312, thesirenmorrobay.com/.

MOLLY RINGWALD PROJECT ‘80S PARTY April 13 , 8 p.m. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, 805-225-1312, thesirenmorrobay.com/. m

ARTS BRIEFS

Friendly Neighborhood Big Band pays tribute to Frank Sinatra at benefit concert

The Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church presents the Friendly Neighborhood Big Band live in concert on Thursday, April 11, at 7:30 p.m. The local ensemble will perform covers of popular songs made famous by Frank Sinatra during the program, titled Sinatra: The Music of Frank Sinatra.

According to the 16-piece band’s Facebook page, the featured members of the Friendly Neighborhood Big Band reside in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. The group specializes in jazz standards and has access to more than 2,000 songs from various composers and arrangers.

Over the years since its formation in 2019, the jazz ensemble has performed at venues in various cities across the Central Coast, including Santa Margarita, Grover Beach, Nipomo, Lompoc, and Solvang. For more info on the Friendly Neighborhood Big Band, visit facebook.com/groups/ fnbigband or email fnbbmusic@gmail.com.

While admission to the Friendly Neighborhood Big Band’s upcoming concert in Nipomo is free, donations will be collected to benefit the Nipomo Community Presbyterian Church. The church is located at 1235 N. Thompson Road, Nipomo.

Cuyama Buckhorn’s Wild Flour Celebration features workshops, live music, food, wine

The Cuyama Buckhorn’s upcoming three-day Wild Flour Celebration runs Friday, April 5, through Sunday, April 7. The multi-layered event includes a wide range of culinary offerings, education programs, and other festivities to celebrate the Cuyama Valley’s super bloom of wildflowers.

The program kicks off with a Welcome Wildflower Cocktail reception on April 5 (check-in begins at 3 p.m.). The reception is followed by Music in the Garden with Californiabased musician Victoria Bailey (pictured), best known for performing country, bluegrass, folk, and other genres. Wood-fired pizza will be available for purchase during the outdoor performance.

The event’s April 6 lineup includes an edible flower cookie workshop with Loria Stern of Eat Your Flowers, an afternoon tea and cookies reception, and a multi-course Flour and Flower dinner. On April 7, Condor’s Hope Ranch in New Cuyama will host the celebration’s Wine Tasting and Wildflower Tour.

For more info on the Wild Flour Celebration, call (661) 7662825 or visit cuyamabuckhorn.com. The Cuyama Buckhorn is located at 4923 Primero St., New Cuyama. m

Arts Briefs is compiled by Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood. Send information to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

Showtime!

Pastures in pastel

Gallery Los Olivos’ April show transports viewers to a historic cattle ranch

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Despite his longtime love of Westerns, local pastelist Jim Tyler kept his boots on the ground while photographing the key players behind a cattle drive in Santa Margarita, rather than saddle up alongside them during the shoot.

Tyler said the owners of the scenic Camatta Ranch “had the good sense to not put me on a horse” during his recent visit, an experience the artist immortalized through the reference photos and some of his latest pastel paintings—currently on display at Gallery Los Olivos through the end of April.

The artist became well-acquainted with Camatta Ranch through his membership with the San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment (SLOPE), which often partners with organizations to raise funds and awareness for land and wildlife preservation projects.

“One of our long-term partners is the Land Conservancy of SLO,” Tyler told the Sun, “and one of their high-priority projects is helping to preserve the Camatta Ranch, one of the most spectacular and historic ranches in the county.”

Known locally as an avid plein air painter, Tyler is also an award-winning photographer and was invited by the Morrison family, who owns and operates Camatta Ranch, to photograph a cattle drive and branding on the property. Tyler used several of the photos taken during the two occasions as references for new pastel pieces.

“Two things that surprised me at both events was that there were more women than men working the cattle, and there weren’t modern machines like ATVs [all-terrain vehicles],” said Tyler, who observed lots of ranchers on horseback that day without a motorized transport in sight.

“These families love the Western traditions, and they are keeping them alive.”

Tyler said there were multiple families and individuals from separate ranches at the event to assist the Morrisons during

the cattle drive and branding. Some families’ children helped out too, with adult supervision.

“The kids were participating under the guidance of the adults, learning to rope and wrestle the calves,” Tyler said. “At both events, there was a strong sense of community. … Everyone knew each other and had clearly been working together before, either at Camatta Ranch or their own ranches.”

Some of Tyler’s new pastel pieces were based on photos he took during a preparation period before the cattle drive, “when the cowgirls and cowboys were saddling the horses at dawn and warming them up,” and later trailing the horseback riders as they moved the herd.

Tyler added that he’d purposefully take some of his reference photos from an angle very close to the ground, looking up to his rider and horse subjects from below, which helps celebrate their majestic appearance.

During the branding event at the ranch, Tyler

Home on the ranch

Voices and Vistas 2024 runs through April 30 at Gallery Los Olivos, located at 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. Visit gallerylosolivos.com for more info on this new solo exhibit of Jim Tyler’s pastel paintings.

On Sunday, April 28, Tyler will host a special plein air pastel workshop at the Camatta Ranch in Santa Margarita. Slated for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the event will include an outdoor painting session and a two-hour safari tour of the property to showcase the ranch’s animals, fossil hills, scenery, and cattle operation.

Call (805) 748-2220 for additional details. The ranch is located at 9330 Camatta Creek Road, Santa Margarita.

photographed a single horseback cowboy “alertly keeping an eye on everything,” and later based his pastel piece Mindful Eyes on that photo.

“The branding itself was incredibly efficient. There were dozens of cowgirls and cowboys with specific roles; separating the calves, moving them into the pen, roping, wrestling the calves down, branding, and inoculating,” Tyler said. “Teams rotated in and out to keep everyone fresh. Those who weren’t actively working were leaning against the fences and talking like it was a family reunion.”

Among his featured pastels in the new Gallery Los Olivos exhibition, Tyler said one of his personal favorites is The Land is My Child, a wide landscape based on one of his sunset plein air studies at Camatta Ranch rather than a photograph. The piece’s title was inspired by a conversation Tyler had with one of the Camatta Ranch’s coowners, he explained.

“I was talking to Felicia Morrison about land conservancy and California land values and whether there was a temptation to sell the ranch. She said, ‘The land is my child. I’d never sell it. It’s mine to protect,’” Tyler recalled. “There was a determination in how she said this that affected me. “We’ve all heard of the nurturing aspects of Mother Earth, but Felicia rightly pointed out that we need to protect our land as relentlessly as a mother bear protects her cub.” m

Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood has mindful eyes on his inbox. Send comments to cwiseblood@ santamariasun.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRIENDLY NEIGHBORHOOD BIG BAND

PLAYFUL PALETTE: Local pastelist Jim Tyler said he used “a loose and colorful palette” to capture cowgirl Johanna’s fun personality in the piece Jo and Sturgill The painting was based on a photo Tyler took during a cattle drive at the Camatta Ranch in Santa Margarita.

HERD IS THE WORD: Abby Moving the Herd is one of Jim Tyler’s pastel pieces featured in the artist’s latest solo exhibition, Voices and Vistas, at Gallery Los Olivos.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CUYAMA BUCKHORN

Send gallery, stage, and cultural festivities to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

ARTS

GOLDEN HOUR: Jim Tyler’s The Land is My Child is a wide sunset vista of hills, trees, and cattle at the historic Camatta Ranch in Santa Margarita.

EYES ON THE PRIZE: During a branding event at Camatta Ranch, artist Jim Tyler photographed a lone cowboy keeping watch. The reference photo became the basis for Tyler’s pastel piece, Mindful Eyes

Schrödinger’s TV series

Created by Peter Harness (Wallander, Doctor Who) based on a concept by Sean Jablonski (Nip/Tuck), this sci-fi psychological thriller/ mystery follows astronaut Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace) who after a deadly accident on the International Space Station returns home to discover her life seems … different. She doesn’t remember the marital trouble she supposedly had with her husband, Magnus (James D’Arcy). Her daughter, Alice (Davina Coleman), is suddenly unable to speak Swedish. She even remembers the family car as a different color. Is she losing her mind? (eight 50- to 58-min. episodes)

Glen: Science nerds, this one’s for you. The general concept is that when astronauts travel to space, their experience causes some sort of rift in the spacetime continuum, an anomaly former NASA astronaut Henry Caldera (the great character actor Jonathan Banks) was trying to measure in an onboard experiment called the CAL that was attempting to record a new form of matter. It may very well be possible that his experiment is responsible for Jo’s quantum mechanics conundrum—did she return to an alternative reality? It helps to know Erwin Schrödinger’s thought experiment about a cat in a box with a mechanism that can kill it, which sought to prove that in quantum physics, tiny particles can exist in two states simultaneously. The cat can theoretically be both alive and dead until it’s observed. Did Jo die in the accident or live, or do both possibilities exist in separate realities?

ROAD HOUSE

What’s it rated? R

When? 2024

Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime

Doug Limon (The Bourne Identity Edge of Tomorrow) directs this “not quite a remake” about a bouncer hired to clean up a fight-prone bar who ends up saving an entire community. It’s basically a Western, as this version selfreflexively acknowledges through future imperiled child and bookstore clerk, Charlie (Hannah Love Lanier), but instead of the new sheriff being dreamy Patrick Swayze, it’s dreamy Jake Gyllenhaal, a former UFC fighter capable of explosive violence.

If you take the film on its own terms, it’s not bad, but because of its source material, expectations run high, which is why the film has been panned by critics and audiences alike. Here’s why it’s not as bad as they think.

This Dalton is a lot more complicated than Swayze’s Dalton because he knows he’s corrupted. His scam is to go to winner-take-all underground fights and beat the local champ … unless the local champ (in this case tattooed rapper Post Malone) recognizes Dalton and refuses to fight. Gyllenhaal’s Dalton is the kind of guy who’ll pummel five

Anna: At first, I felt a bit lost with Constellation. It takes a minute to adjust to watching and tracking seemingly different realities. But once it sinks its teeth into you, this series is nothing short of compelling. Jo doesn’t think she’s losing her mind, but everyone around her seems to. She suspects that Alice also feels a change in their realities as well, but she doesn’t know the solution for either of them. It seems she’s battling with the “her” that may have been—or perhaps is—just somewhere else? It all gets a bit weedy to explain, especially without stealing the fun away from the show and its reveals. What I can say for the series is that its cast and writers know what they’re doing, and now that all episodes have been released, I have no doubt a lot of people will be binging this start to finish in a short amount of time.

Glen: I’m not educated enough to know if the story holds up scientifically, but I know enough about Einstein’s theory of general relativity and quantum mechanics to understand where the writers are going with it all, and it’s certainly interesting and entertaining. What really makes the series for me are the performances. Rapace is always engaging, and her Jo is being torn apart psychologically. The scenes on the space station when she’s forced to remain behind and find a way to enable another escape pod are gripping. I’ve already mentioned Banks, but good grief, he turns in another incredibly intense performance as Henry, whose alternatereality character goes by Bud. If you’re like me

and the science is something of a mystery, go with it. At its heart, it’s the story about a person desperately trying to get back to her family, and we can all relate to that.

Anna: Luckily, I’m not too concerned with the reality of it all, so its accuracy doesn’t matter much to me. I felt at first like I might get lost in trying to understand it, but the series soon strays into the human stories much more than the science behind the different dimensions. Instead, we watch as everyone involved goes on

SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

What’s it rated? G

When? 1952

Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo on April 6 (1:30, 4:15, 7, and 9:30 p.m.), April 7 (1:30, 4:15, and 7 p.m.), and April 8 (7 p.m.)

Ah, Hollywood! This classic rom-com musical stars Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor, and Debbie Reynolds as performers— and perform they do! The talkies are in, and silent film is out, and the transition isn’t going particularly well for Don Lockwood (Kelly).

Besides his pest of a costar Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) being convinced he is in love with her, Don can’t find the girl he actually wants to hang around with, Kathy (Reynolds). When Don and Lina learn their next flick is going to be a talkie, the antics continue as we soon realize that Lina’s voice may be better left silent. A scheme is soon hatched to use Kathy’s voice instead of Lina’s, but in true farce fashion, they must keep it secret from the starlet.

their own journey to piece together what they can about the lives they know or think they know. I’m with you as far as the performances go—both Rapace and Banks knock it out of the park with their work here. If you’re looking for a new series to get absorbed in, give Constellation a shot at captivating you. m

New Times Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

thugs and drive them to the hospital. He has something to atone for—beating his friend to death in the ring. It gives the story teeth. (121 min.)

—Glen

Gene Kelly can’t be beat when it comes to chillingly good song and dance numbers, and as the director of this particular film, he shines once again. Hailed as an American

classic and certainly a film to watch not just for the first time but over and over again, Singin’ in the Rain should be nothing short of wonderful on the big screen. (103 min.) m —Anna

LOST IN SPACE AND TIME: After a disaster aboard the International Space Station, astronaut Jo Ericsson (Noomi Rapace) returns to Earth to discover everything is not as she remembers it, in Constellation, streaming on Apple TV Plus.

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON MGM STUDIOS

TOUGH GUYS: Knox (Conor McGregor, left) and Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal, right) square off in director Doug Liman’s Road House, streaming on Amazon Prime.

SILENCE IS GOLDEN: Starlet Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) may not have the voice for talkies as silent film star Don Lockwood (Gene Kelly, right, dancing with Cyd Charisse) makes the transition in the classic 1952 musical, Singin’ in the Rain, screening this week at The Palm Theatre.

PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS

America member, tapped YouTube for research, and flexed her natural gift of having a green thumb to create her microgreens-exclusive business Good Witch Farm. Since 2019—first out of a hoop house in her mom’s backyard and eventually out of one on her own property in Lompoc—she’s grown more than 20 varieties of microgreens like broccoli, kale, sunflower, radish, pea, basil, dill, parsley, nasturtium, arugula, and onion. Her 40-foot-long and 12-foot-wide hoop house hosts a cornucopia of edible flowers, too, like fennel flowers, mustard flowers, pansies, violas, hollyhocks, calendula, borage, yarrow, carnations, and dianthus.

Darrah likens the growing process to babysitting because microgreens are, essentially, baby vegetable and herb plants.

To be considered microgreens, these plants must be collected before they reach the cotyledon stage, which is typically between zero and 12 days or up to 17 days with some varieties. Once harvested at such a young age, they— with the exception of pea plants and sometimes nasturtium—immediately die, prompting replacement.

BY BULBUL RAJAGOPAL

Often forgotten about until it’s time to make a plate of food look pretty, microgreens and edible garnishes are at the forefront of Lompoc cultivator Jane Darrah’s mind.

“I found microgreens because I was looking for longevity foods. So, this was five-plus years ago before microgreens were cool and a thing … on the mainstream level, anyway,” Darrah

told the Sun on March 22. “I started growing them for myself, and then I was growing other vegetables that had produced some flowers.”

The founder of Good Witch Farm—a cheeky reference to her Halloween birthday—Darrah dug into the world of high-quality microgreens and flowers to boost her failing immune system. She had burned herself out after spending years as a social worker

Keep up with Good Witch Farm’s organic microgreens and edible flowers on Instagram @good_witch_farm. For queries, contact owner Jane Darrah at (805) 757-4120.

on an assertive community treatment team and as a Court Appointed Special Advocates volunteer.

“I saw basically how food impacted these people directly on the front line, that they didn’t have proper nutrition,” she said. “I really came to understand how important healthy fruits and vegetables and just a connection with actual ground became in one’s healing and one’s recovery journey.”

Darrah eventually dusted off her skill set as a former Future Farmers of

Growing microgreens is a delicate, labor-intensive process. They must be grown inside the hoop house, protected from outdoor exposure, and constantly touched up to deal with fluctuating weather patterns. Darrah grows her microgreens and flowers without the help of fluorescent lighting for the most part and makes sure to use nutrient-rich soils and top-grade seeds.

She doesn’t depend on herbicides and pesticides either, which means she fights off pests like aphids, moths, and snails by herself. How does she do that? Darrah just picks them up and moves them.

“They’re my worst enemy!” she joked. “I never thought I’d hate an animal ever, but I do not enjoy snails.”

“True microgreens do not have a center leaf, they just have two of the first baby leaves,” Darrah said. “The reason you want to eat microgreens at this stage is because … the science is telling us right now … that one of those tiny little baby stems has anywhere between four and 40 times the nutritional value of the plant at maturity.”

She credited the nutrient-dense food as helping to improving her immune system, and now Darrah delivers her microgreens and flowers to restaurants throughout San Luis Obispo County. The bulk of her clients are in Paso Robles, and she’s hoping to gain more clients in Santa Barbara County too. A couple of times a week, she loops through the Santa Ynez Valley, all the way to Paso Robles and back, making stops at caterers and restaurants like

EATS continued page 26

FLOWER WHEEL: Good Witch Farm grows a plethora of edible flowers like pansies, violas, hollyhocks, calendula, borage, yarrow, carnations, and dianthus.

WHOLE FOOD: Good Witch Farm’s founder Jane Darrah encourages microgreens to be used as more than just scant garnish—just like these radish microgreens paired with mashed sweet potatoes on sourdough.

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In Bloom, Pair with Chef Rachel, Les Petite Canailles, Parrish Family Vineyard, First & Oak, and Pony Espresso.

“One of the things I love about that the most is they utilize their microgreens as food instead of just a garnish. That’s kind of what I was always about,” Darrah said. “So, now it’s really cool to see how the market has shifted … and Pony Espresso’s always been on that page.”

Good Witch Farm is coming out of the usual sluggish demand period from November to March. Spring orders are climbing while harvest season is around the corner. During peak busy seasons, Darrah said she’s dropped between 16 and 25 deliveries a day, and 90 ounces of microgreens twice a week to some clients.

“Borage is always a hit, and all the chefs love cilantro microgreens, I swear to God,” she said with a laugh. “The onion microgreens are really a favorite.”

Currently, Good Witch Farm’s products are only available to purchase wholesale, which is why restaurants are its major buyers. Darrah originally had plans to connect with a distributor to get her microgreens out in stores.

“But the truth is that you’re seeing the quality of food programs because the way that they are packaged, you have to meet certain weight marks, and because of the logistics of distribution, they just

sit and they go through different temperature fluctuations,” she said. “It’s really not a product, in my opinion, that handles that super, super well and for that extended period of time.”

That distribution reality made her change her goal, compelling her to stick with restaurants and pursue direct-toconsumer avenues like working with the Community Supported Agriculture network and local farm stands.

Though Good Witch Farm’s client base includes Michelin-rated restaurants, accessibility across the socio-economic scale is important to Darrah. She sells her microgreens to a Lompocbased mobile farmers market truck called Route One. The truck then sells it to customers at fair prices and also accepts electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards issued by programs like CalFresh, formerly known as Food Stamps.

“My goal is to work with other organizations that get food to people that struggle with food insecurity and people that are on food stamps,” Darrah said. “I really think that impacts people’s recovery and wellness, and of course, that just changes the whole dynamic of our community as a whole.” m

New Times Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal, from the Sun’s sister paper, is enjoying edible flowers in Lompoc. Send more mileage to brajagopal@ newtimesslo.com.

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