BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
Photo contest is now open [9]
DreamHome
SEPTEMBER 12 - SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 VOL. 25 NO. 29
ince the early 1970s, the Allan Hancock College dance program has offered students class and performance opportunities. Over the years the program grew into what it is today, an immersive experience with a new Fine Arts Complex in which to perform and take classes and work toward finishing degrees. Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor speaks with students and the program coordinator about the program, its importance, and the opportunities it helps students pursue [6]
This week, you can also read about Santa Barbara County’s settlement with Sable over oil pipeline valves [4]; the Oak Group’s latest show [22]; and a collaboration between Thatcher and Carhartt wineries [25].
Camillia Lanham editor
• U.S. Reps. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara), Juila Brownley (D-Ventura), and Jimmy Panetta (D-Monterey), along with U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) hailed the release of the Biden-Harris administration’s environmental impact study for the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, the final step that puts the federal designation on track to be finalized by the end of this year, according to a Sept. 6 statement from Carbajal’s office. “The Central Coast has pursued this sanctuary designation for decades, and as someone who’s been helping push for it in Washington since I first got to Congress, I am so pleased to see us passing the final checkpoint on our way to seeing the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary made official before the end of this year,” Carbajal said in the statement. “This historic designation will come not a moment too soon. Our oceans and our communities are facing unprecedented challenges from a changing marine environment, this new sanctuary comes at a critical time for our region. I look forward to working with our tribal and local stakeholders and federal partners to finalize these boundaries—which will nearly double the coastline protected along the Central Coast—and build on them to protect every coastal community and ecosystem in our region.” The boundary released in the environmental impact study will be 4,543 square miles off the Central Coast from Gaviota and Point Conception to Pismo Beach and southern San Luis Obispo County. The proposed sanctuary will cover 116 miles of coastline. The final proposed boundary will be the nation’s third largest marine sanctuary, and it would be the first ever to be nominated by a local tribe. The plan recently released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also lays the groundwork for a later expansion of the marine sanctuary boundaries to cover Avila Beach and Morro Bay, connecting the new sanctuary with the southernmost border of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
• State Assemblymembers Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara) and Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) announced that they will be introducing legislation to stabilize California’s oil market, according to a Sept. 3 statement from Hart’s office. The bill ensures that refineries have adequate fuel reserves to avoid the supply shortages that hike gas prices and penalize consumers. To stabilize California’s oil supply and prevent price spikes, the bill requires refineries to maintain adequate reserves and properly plan for refinery shutdowns. Specifically, the California Energy Commission would have the authority to require California’s petroleum refiners to implement resupply plans and arrangements that adequately offset production losses from refinery maintenance. The commission could only adopt these regulations if it determines that they will lead to lower average retail prices, increase the fuel supply, and reduce the price volatility at the pumps for consumers. “When gas prices spike because of supply constraints, everyday Californians suffer and the oil industry profits. This legislation will protect California consumers by ensuring refineries maintain a stable fuel supply,” Hart said in the statement. “This bill is a commonsense solution. By requiring oil companies to better plan for refinery shutdowns, we can save Californians a lot of money from reduced gas prices.”
• Gov. Gavin Newsom issued proposed emergency regulations to protect youth from the adverse health effects of hemp products, according to a Sept. 6 statement from Newsom’s office. The regulations, proposed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), require that industrial hemp food, beverage, and dietary products intended for human consumption have no detectable THC or other intoxicating cannabinoids per serving; make 21 the minimum age to purchase hemp products; and limit the number of servings of hemp products to five per package. The emergency regulations respond to increasing health incidents related to intoxicating hemp products, especially beverages and food products, which state regulators say have been sold across the state. Children are particularly at risk should they consume these products. Studies show that use of these products can negatively impact cognitive functions, memory, and decision-making abilities in developing brains. “We will not sit on our hands as drug peddlers target our children with dangerous and unregulated hemp products containing THC at our retail stores,” Newsom said in the statement. “We’re taking action to close loopholes and increase enforcement to prevent children from accessing these dangerous hemp and cannabis products.” m
OUT OF JURISDICTION: Santa Barbara County, Sable Offshore Corporation, and Pacific Pipeline company reached a settlement that allows the companies to install 16 safety valves on the 901 and 903 oil pipeline, from the Gaviota Coast to Santa Maria and Kern County processing facilities.
Local groups protest county pipeline settlement
Santa Barbara County, Sable Offshore Corporation, and Pacific Pipeline Company reached a conditional settlement agreement that allows the two oil companies to proceed with installing 16 safety valves on the Las Flores Pipeline, despite the Board of Supervisors’ inaction nearly a year ago.
Pacific Pipeline Company—a former subsidiary of ExxonMobil now under the purview of Sable Offshore Corporation after Exxon sold the Santa Ynez Unit and its assets—went through a yearslong application and appeals process with Santa Barbara County to install 16 safety valves on the pipeline that ruptured and caused the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill.
It ultimately landed before the Board of Supervisors, which voted 2-2 in August 2023, preventing the county or Pacific Pipeline Company from taking action.
“When that vote took place, it was our jurisdiction, but now Pacific Pipeline Company came to us and said, ‘We are proposing revisions; this pipeline is now going to be underground more than a foot. Because we are doing this, it’s not in your jurisdiction. We don’t need your permission,’” county Public Information Officer Kelsey Gerckens Buttitta told the Sun.
Following supervisors’ inaction, Sable and Pacific Pipeline sued the county for delaying the project and future actions. During litigation, the companies cited a 1988 settlement between the county and Celeron Pipeline Company (a predecessor to Plains All American, which owned the pipeline prior to Sable) that outlines federal and state laws that take away local control when changes (like putting the valves more than a foot underground) occur, she said. Now, it’s in Cal Fire’s Office of the State Fire Marshal’s jurisdiction.
“If we were to keep fighting this in court, it’s not our jurisdiction,” Gerckens Buttitta said. “Pacific Pipeline Company stated it would seek lost revenue, … coming after the county for something that could amount to millions of dollars if we were stalling them.”
Sable Offshore Corporation could not be reached before the Sun’s deadline. Lauren Knight, an ExxonMobil spokesperson, told the Sun that the company can’t comment because it no longer oversees Pacific Pipeline Company.
As part of the settlement, Pacific Pipeline agreed to create a county-based surveillance and response team, trained under the company’s Tactical Response Plan—which will be responsible for initial incident response and early containment. The company will also provide additional training and equipment to county first responders to assist in incident response efforts; install and operate a primary and secondary local operations center; and refurbish the Gaviota pump in its existing station.
“That way, they have local teams, infrastructure, and equipment here at the pipeline. If something happened in the past, they weren’t here to respond,” Gerckens Buttitta said. “While we don’t have jurisdiction, at least in the conditional settlement we have new safety enhancements as well.”
The Environmental Defense Center—on behalf of the Santa Barbara County Action Network and Get Oil Out!—sent a letter to the Planning and Development Department claiming that the county does have jurisdiction over this project and requesting that the county revoke its determination and hold a public hearing on the matter, Chief Counsel Linda Krop told the Sun.
“We didn’t learn about it until it was a done deal. We are pretty upset about the lack of transparency. We are asking the county to slow down, to hold a public hearing, to make it meaningful,” Krop said. “I’ve never seen the county settle without a public hearing because that’s the only way you hear from anyone else.”
Initially, the pipeline was regulated by the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration because it was built as an interstate pipeline, Krop said. During the 2015 spill, federal investigations revealed that oil stayed in the state, reclassifying the line as an intrastate pipeline.
The EDC claims that moving the valves underground is a federal regulation, which doesn’t apply to the pipeline at this time since it’s regulated by the state Office of the Fire Marshal, she said.
“Because lines 901 and 903 were reclassified from interstate to intrastate pipelines, Sable is incorrect that the county’s jurisdiction is preempted here, and thus [Planning and Development’s] acknowledgement was erroneous,” according to the letter from EDC.
In response, the county told the Sun in an email that whether the pipeline is considered interstate or intrastate, the county does not have permit authority or jurisdiction over the safety valves as proposed because they are safety valves required by state law, related to the operation of a pipeline transporting petroleum and/or petroleum products, and 1 foot or more underground.
“Any proposed changes to the pipeline in the future, would be evaluated separately against federal and state law, the Celeron agreement, and the existing permits,” according to the email.
—Taylor O’Connor
Lompoc diagnoses landfill with 10 years left to live
Barred from using the Lompoc Landfill, Vandenberg Space Force Base currently hauls its garbage to one of the dump’s competitors in Santa Maria. The city of Lompoc predicts it may be forced to do the same within the next decade, when the landfill has no space left to fill.
During the Lompoc City Council’s Sept. 3 meeting, Solid Waste Manager Keith Quinlan said the Lompoc Landfill “has an estimated life of
approximately 10 years remaining,” during a talk on the dump’s fee structure.
“We are in the stages now of starting to plan for what to do next and there are a couple different options,” Quinlan said. “We have the possibility of expansion of the current landfill. … Another option is a transfer station, … trash would come in there; it’d be dumped into a large trailer; taken out and transferred, likely to the Santa Maria Regional Landfill.”
Lompoc Utility Director Brad Wilkie told the City Council that staff “had talked about how we might be able to incrementally set aside funds to pay for a transfer station, so it’s not just one big, huge cost at the time that we have to change from delivering to our landfill to going elsewhere.”
“It is something we need to prepare for,” Wilkie said. “It’s going to be less expensive for us to set aside money to build a transfer station than it is to go out and borrow money at the time that we determine that we have to do this. … So, it’s better for us to prepare now than later.”
As for potential funding, Wilkie and staff recommended that the city avoid resorting to fee increases for non-resident users of the Lompoc Landfill partly to maintain competitive rates.
“I’m a little confused with staff’s position on the whole competition thing because I think as we’ve heard … we don’t necessarily want to compete with Santa Maria for this kind of business because of our landfill size,” Councilmember Gilda Aiello said. Wilkie compared the situation to walking a tightrope.
“It’s a balancing act between revenues and volume, because we don’t want to take so much in, and that’s one reason why we don’t take the volume from Vandenberg,” Wilkie said. “We want to … retain that 10 years or 15 years of life because it’s very valuable to us and our residents.”
The state mandates the city of Lompoc to keep track of the landfill’s waste volume each year partly “to calculate what we have to have set aside in that cash reserve to meet our obligations for the closure/ post-closure obligations,” Wilkie explained.
“That number right now is around $6 million, but the cash we’re holding is less than that because the expectation is we grow the cash that we have on hand up to that $6 million between now and the time that the closure happens,” said Wilkie, who added that landfill surcharges in the past led to revenue drops, and inspired some franchise haulers to dump their junk at the Santa Maria Regional Landfill instead.
If revenue from the Lompoc Landfill falls short of what the city needs to reach its $6 million closure target, Wilkie warned the council that the city may “just have to collect more on the [trash] collection side to make sure that we’re meeting our financial obligations.”
To avoid “inflating the cost to the consumers over time,” Councilmember Jeremy Ball agreed that staff needs to plan ahead on the landfill’s future, “because it’s going to cost us either way.”
Aiello motioned for the City Council to accept staff’s recommendation to keep the landfill’s fee structure for the time being, but also direct staff to return in September 2025 with an update. The motion passed 5-0.
—Caleb Wiseblood
New committee to study farmworker conditions
Farm owners are afraid of being put out of business, while farmworkers and their families are full hope.
These feelings illustrate the harm in discussing whether to set a $26 minimum wage for farmworkers in Santa Barbara County, according to 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson.
“You’ve kind of rolled out the grenade right there, and eventually it’s going to explode and somebody’s going to get hurt,” Nelson said during the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ Sept. 10 meeting. “I would prefer that we not have a living wage ad hoc committee.”
The discussion about whether to create a Farmworker Living Wage Temporary Ad Hoc Advisory Committee followed requests made by farmworkers and advocacy groups during public comment at the board’s Aug. 27 meeting. In the weeks that followed, Nelson said several farmers had reached out to him concerned for their future in the county.
“A formal ad hoc committee about a specific industry and a specific number, it lays down a policy pathway,” Nelson said. “Evaluation is usually a precursor to policy. These are people’s livelihoods at stake, not just the farmworkers—and especially the farmworkers.”
He questioned whether the board wanted to be in the business of setting minimum wage for a single industry and whether other industries would come to the county seeking similar treatment.
Third District Supervisor Joan Hartmann said she agreed that the “slippery slope” argument was something the board needed to think about, but she added that forming an ad hoc committee was a good way for the county to collect information and ideas in a public forum “so we can all share.”
“This is an opportunity for us to really delve into essential workers that are a part the biggest industry in our county to find out more information,” she said. “We’re eager to hear from all agricultural interests.”
Farmers and farm industry advocates spoke out during public comment against forming the committee and setting a $26 minimum wage.
Claire Wineman with the Grower-Shipper Association of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties said the county needed to think about what a minimum wage like that would mean for sustainability of farms, local jobs, cost of food and living, and other hourly workers.
“We received another call from a member yesterday. A member is ending operations this
year, citing the unsustainable costs of doing business in Santa Barbara County,” Wineman told supervisors.
Farmer Russell Doughty said that he has three full-time employees, a part-time employee, and a niece that works for him during the summer. If $26 an hour minimum wage started on Sept. 10, he’d have to get rid of one full-time employee, his part-time employee, and his niece, he said.
“If you really would like to help ag workers, make it an easier process for us to get ag housing,” he said. “If the family needs a three-bedroom house, that’s a $3,500 a month raise.”
CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy) Community Organizer
Daniel Segura said that farmworkers “are filled with hope,” at the thought that the county was listening to them and forming a committee to discuss the issue.
“What is not debatable is that wages for farmworkers are currently not enough,” he said.
Hartmann and 1st District Supervisor Das Williams said they would be open to broadening the scope of the ad hoc committee so they could learn more about the industry as a whole and better discuss the county’s cost-of-living issues. For example, farmworker housing would be important to include, Williams said.
“I would prefer to have a productive conversation,” he said. “I think that we should be examining this from multiple aspects.”
Ultimately, Nelson got his wish. Supervisors voted 5-0 to change the name and broaden the scope of the ad hoc committee to focus on agricultural worker conditions, which Williams and Hartmann will initially serve on.
“I have found this discussion, even to this point, very helpful,” Hartmann said. “I hadn’t realized how critical things are right now for agriculturalists.” m
—Camillia Lanham
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Most importantly, providing Personal Safety programming in north/mid county schools
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Futures in movement
Allan Hancock College Dance Program prepares students for the dance industry, keeps dance involved in their lives
BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
Jolene Moreno rediscovered her love for dance at Allan Hancock College.
The dancer and Lompoc native had been practicing the art since she was 3 years old, but her former dance studio became a toxic environment for Moreno, she said as she sat outside of one of Hancock’s dance studios.
on performing for a camera—a more common way for choreographers to document and visualize pieces in the age of social media.
“Students can become performers, they can choreograph, they can teach; a new career path is a dance therapist [that] incorporates the healing side of movement,” Sorenson added. “I’ve seen a lot of students go on and pursue other careers not related to dance, or become an arts administrator, or working with kids. We have a student working with elderly people to get them to move and reconnect with their bodies.”
Hancock’s dance program launched in the late ’60s with Agnes Grogan, “our fearless leader,” Sorenson said. Grogan hosted five sections of modern dance and choreography as physical education classes. The program had its first concert in 1969 and added other styles in the ’80s.
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“It was a competition in every class; if you didn’t fit the teacher’s standards, she would ignore you or put you down,” Moreno said. “I got body shamed for the first time at that studio. I had trust issues and body issues ever since, and at 14, I was in a really dark place and I stopped all together. I was very scared to go back to a traditional studio because of that.”
Moreno stayed away from ballet slippers, Marley floors, and pink tights her entire high school career, but something changed when she went to college. Dance counted as a physical education or general ed course. She isn’t sure what came over her, but she decided to take a dance class.
“I absolutely loved it. It was a completely different vibe,” she said with a laugh. “It was a happy accident. A happy split-second decision.”
Like a new connection with an old best friend, dance accompanied Moreno during her entire time at Hancock. She took jazz, modern, hip-hop, and ballet classes; auditioned for performances; rehearsed for hours nearly equivalent to a fulltime job; and performed alongside her peers in showcases Hancock hosts throughout the year.
Since the early ’70s, Hancock’s dance program has offered students class and performance opportunities. Over time, it evolved with more dance styles and classes designed to prepare students for the industry. After facing severe impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, the school bounced back with the new Fine Arts Complex coming to fruition and enrollment numbers increasing.
Students are now rehearsing for their annual November showcase, with Moreno among the dancers who’ll be performing.
Moreno is scheduled to complete her degree in liberal arts with a focus in social behavior this spring and hopes to become a therapist or work in another profession related to psychology. Dance, she said, will still be a part of her life beyond graduation.
“Even though I don’t have the confidence to do it as a career, I still want to do it more as a hobby,” she said. “I know there’s a few studios around here; I would love to do that—just find it more as an escape and hobby to keep going and stay consistent in my life.”
Other students came to the program to pursue a dance career—with some hoping to go to LA and join a company and others dreaming of becoming performers at Disneyland. Some students transfer to a four-year program to continue their education in dance or to complete a separate degree. Like Moreno, they all still want dance in their lives.
“There are many different pathways in dance,” said Sydney Sorensen, associate professor and coordinator of Hancock’s dance program. “I thought it was either you’re a teacher or performer, but there’s so many different avenues. We’re really trying to connect students to a path that is individualized and not just a blanket degree that is just … opening one avenue for them.”
Sorenson grew up training in Utah and worked with Disney, later performed in Germany with another dance company, and eventually went back to school to get a master’s of fine arts and dance at New York University. She taught at Texas Tech before coming to Hancock, where she’s starting her sixth year of teaching.
“I’ve always been employed by dance, whether it’s as a teacher or a performer. That was always a goal or an agreement I made with myself: that I would pursue dance as a path,” she said. “It was the only thing that I was really obsessed with, and I feel most like myself when I’m creative. I’ve wanted to advocate for that and be a support system for students just like my teachers were for me, specifically in college.”
All students in the Hancock program learn about the history of dance to better understand how it began and its place in culture. They can train in jazz, tap, contemporary, hip-hop, modern, ballet, and folkórico, and students can have the chance to choreograph their own pieces.
In 2022, fellow faculty member Jesus Solorio developed the commercial dance certificate, which focuses on preparing students for immediate entry into the dance entertainment industry—rather than for a university transfer. The program added classes that prepare students for auditions and another that focuses
“They used to rehearse in the gym on the wrestling mats. They didn’t have a theater, so they lined up their cars in the parking lot to light the dancers. They performed at churches, rented rooms at a mortuary,” Sorenson said, adding that this was before any performing arts buildings were constructed on campus.
Prior to the Fine Arts Complex, dancers had one studio—which made it challenging to find needed space, and rehearsals were stacked back-to-back. Moreno recalled waiting for classes outside in the rain while other dancers finished up and going back and forth between the former studio and the new center as it was being constructed.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the program adapt, with classes on Zoom, a virtual show, and an outdoor performance. Enrollment dropped to 201 students in the 2021-22 school year. But then, in the 2023-24 school year, it more than doubled to nearly 500 students.
After more than 30 years of effort, Hancock welcomed the Fine Arts Complex to campus, complete with a 400-seat concert hall, a film screening room, and lounge areas for students in the college’s dance, drama, film, graphics, music, photography, and multimedia arts and communications programs.
“The space is so inspiring because there’s so many different programs and art forms in here that can interact,” Sorenson said. “Let’s say I have an idea to collaborate with the choir, I can easily access students in the class.”
The fall showcase, Dimensions in Dance, will be Sorenson’s first time directing in the Boyd Concert Hall. This year’s theme is discovery, which students get to interpret in their own way. They auditioned at the start of the semester and are enrolled in the class, which meets regularly, and are assigned lab projects where they get to choreograph each other.
“It’s a great group. They’re supportive of each other. It feels like a community. I hope it feels like a place they can belong,” Sorenson said. “I’ll always be an advocate for the arts, whether it’s through personal passion, the healing side of things. Even if you don’t pursue it, I think it’s a valuable class to take, and the degree can be something that leads them through a career in dance or something that’s related.” m
Reach Staff Writer
PERFORMANCE READY: Allan Hancock College’s dance program is gearing up for its fall showcase, Dimensions in Dance, with performances scheduled Nov. 7 through 9 in Hancock’s Boyd Concert Hall, located in the Fine Arts Complex on the Santa Maria campus, 800 S. College Drive.
Art in fabrics
Orcutt’s Old Town Quilt Shop offers a space for quilters to learn, practice, and celebrate the craft
BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
Quilts. Table runners. Bags. Shoes. Old Town Quilt Shop teaches and provides the tools, fabrics, and classes for people to quilt a variety of wares.
“We prefer bright happy colors, so when you walk into the door it’s bright, happy, warm colors. We do classes at the shop; every single month we have at least one class. We rent out our classrooms for private sewing classes and retreats,” said Stacy Murray, the store’s manager.
The Old Town Orcutt storefront has been operating for 20 years, but Murray’s family came into the picture in 2015 and has been running the show ever since, she said.
“We used to live in San Diego, my mom retired up here. First she was a customer in the shop, then a partner in the shop. My mom ended up buying the business, but her background was not in retail and mine was,” Murray said. “My mom quilted as a hobby of hers. A quilt shop in the area was important to her and she just kept getting more and more into it.”
After her mom purchased the store in 2015, Murray joined a year later and the duo began expanding the store’s reach and efforts. They rent out the classroom space to local quilting guilds, which hold private sewing classes and retreats. Old Town Quilt Shop hosts beginning classes to help people learn about a new hobby, or people can stop by during Monday drop-in classes to get help on projects from employees.
“It’s a pretty close-knit community. There’s a lot of quilters out there, but quilting can be a solitary sport, I guess you could say. The quilting community likes to come together, sew together, and socialize, and a lot of people help each other out,” Murray said. “There used to be a show in SLO, but COVID shut down the show. We tried to think of a way for members to show their quilts.”
As a result, the Old Town Quilt Shop is hosting the Local Guild Quilt Show—sponsored by the All-America City and Santa Maria Valley guilds—on Sept. 28 and 29 where community members can put their quilts on display for patrons to view for free. It’s not designed to be a competition with judges; rather, it’s meant to highlight quilters’ hard work and creativity.
“It’s art, and we put art on our walls. I’m sitting on
my couch and staring at a quilt on my wall thinking it’s art. It doesn’t have to be a painting to be art. It’s amazing what people can do with fabric,” Murray said. Murray appreciates handsewn quilts because of all the time and effort they require and their beautiful intricacies, she said.
“I think people should come to see [how] talented people are in their community. A lot of people have no idea quilting is still a thing. It’s quite popular right now,” Murray said. “There are young people doing very modern quilts and it’s very cool. It’s not just quilts, it’s bags and shoes.”
She’d like to see more young people get into quilting or sewing in general. While it seems like quilting may be a dying craft, she said it’s important to maintain those skills.
“We definitely encourage people to come in and ask questions. Anyone who works in the shop can help,” she said, adding that the beginning classes “are a great way to dip your toe in and learn how to get into quilting.”
Murray had to take beginning classes when she first started helping her mom.
“I’ve baked, done scrapbooking, and worked in a paint store. I have the color and creativity to back it up, it’s just a good creative outlet. It’s a nice way to release that creativity and give it to people,” she said. “The shop is definitely appreciated in the community.
“The quilting community loves having the shop here and having a space to come and sew.” Visit oldtownquiltshoporcutt.com to learn more about the shop, its events, and the guild show.
Highlight
• The Lompoc Public Library is offering a privacy pod for virtual meetings and business requiring a quiet workplace. The pod, acquired through a grant from the California State Library, was installed in a remote area in the back of the main branch library on North Avenue and is ready for use by members of the public needing a private space to work, study, meet, or make telehealth calls. The pod is mostly, but not entirely, soundproof. The pod can be reserved by adults ages 18 and older for either one- or two-hour increments, twice a week, during open library hours. The pod accommodates up to two people at a time and is wheelchair accessible. Call (805) 875-8775 or visit in person at 501 E. North Ave. to reserve the privacy pod. m
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@ santamariasun.com.
BRIGHT AND WELCOMING: Old Town Quilt Shop, 165A W. Clark Ave., offers fabrics, tools, and classes for quilters and aspiring fabric crafters looking to try something new. It’s hosting a show on Sept. 28 and 29 to celebrate local quilters’ work and creativity.
PHOTO BY: JENNIFER LAWRENCE
PHOTO BY: ERICA RAMIREZ
PHOTO BY: GREGORY SMITH
PHOTO BY: KARINA BERNFELD
PHOTO BY: DANNA DYKSTRA-COY
PHOTO BY: ANGELA HENDERSON
PHOTO BY: JENNIFER TURNER
Should the county prevent senior mobile home parks from opening to all ages?
37% Yes! Folks 55-and-older need affordable housing.
27% Yes, and it should build more senior housing.
18% No. People of all ages need affordable homes.
18% Keep the county out of mobile home parks’ business! 11 Votes
Vote online at www.santamariasun.com.
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Reality vs. fantasy
The right and the left live in different realities
BY DAVID PURO
For a party so concerned with misinformation and disinformation (all on the right), I was surprised to see Charles Linquist’s op-ed of Aug. 29 (“We are united”) so brimming with both. If the premise that all is going swimmingly is a true belief and not a political ploy, then no counterargument will have any weight, as we live in two different realities (or rather one reality and one fantasy).
Let’s deal with Mr. Linquist’s points one by one: Trump won’t admit he lost a fair election. This one’s true. I concede that the courts did not judge enough votes were proven to be illicit to have swung the election. A discussion of voter fraud and the ridiculous policies supported on the left regarding state election laws are beyond the scope of this rebuttal. However, the election was definitely rigged. Polls show enough voters would have gone the other way to change the outcome had they known about the Hunter Biden laptop, something that was simultaneously hidden and mendaciously reported as a Russian disinformation ploy by the activist mainstream media.
The New York trial was so obviously a political maneuver by timing, the ignoring of statutes of limitation and jurisdiction (the feds had jurisdiction and refused to prosecute), and the absence of viable charges that even referencing it as a valid attack is disinformation in itself.
Mr. Linquist defines freedom as the right to have an abortion (a highly charged issue that Trump’s appointees correctly re-assigned back to the states). I define freedom as not weaponizing the DOJ to go after right-leaning organizations, not giving Black Lives Matter rioters a pass (Harris posted bail for them) while prosecuting Jan. 6 trespassers to the full extent of the law, threatening to pack the Supreme Court when constitutionalists make decisions the left dislikes, and using a never-ending stream of executive orders to circumvent the Legislature that somehow can’t be reversed if a Republican is in the White House.
Defending a DEI hire (by Biden’s own admission) with the argument that she may actually be qualified is not only weak, but immoral. Hiring anyone based on gender, gender preference, or skin color is racist, evil, and bad for the country.
Equating Harris’ nomination (without a single electorate vote) by Democrat leaders in some smoke-filled room is not equivalent to Trump’s nomination not being in question because he had the votes. And I say this as someone who’s voted Trump but favored one of the other candidates in this go-around.
Characterizing Trump as “a narcissistic old man that knows little more than how to hurl insults ... against anyone who would try to ... stop him,” in the absence of recognizing the even greater flaws of Biden and Harris, is one of the signs of Trump Derangement Syndrome. I’m capable of perceiving Trump as intermittently boorish and unpresidential in his tweets and pronouncements and simultaneously recognizing his solid policies, policies that led to a true pre-COVID booming economy, international stability, and secure borders. His background as a businessman and not a politician contributed to this.
Biden never ran a business and, by the admission of his own ex-secretary of defense, Robert Gates, “I think he has been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the past four decades.” His disastrous tail-tucked withdrawal from Afghanistan that set the stage for the current conflagrations in Ukraine and Gaza and the Russia-China alliance demonstrate that he remains with an unblemished record of failure. And Harris is reversing her stance on every major issue in a mad dash to the center that is unconvincing.
Harris’ view of the future, judging by her statements and actions in the past, will be a continuation of the Biden administration, with larger government, more wasteful government spending, more DEI, and continued disrespect in the international community resulting in more unrest and war. The effects of Biden’s open-border policy abetted by an ineffective “border czar” are yet to be fully realized.
Speak up! Send us your views and opinion to letters@santamariasun.com.
The “fictitious” contribution of these lax border policies to the rise in crime that can’t be
seen by progressives and the infusion of terrorist cells that will likely be problematic during the next administration will continue to be aided by conflating legal (which the right favors) and illegal immigration, a ploy so highly favored by the left. It’s the final piece of Mr. Linquist’s disinformation that is the most blasphemous: characterizing Trump as someone who thinks we’re a second-rate country. It’s Harris and company that wants fundamental transformation. Trump sees the need to turn away from far-left radicalism that favors open borders, characterizes keeping highly charged sexual materials away from children as “book banning,” surgery to transition children, and further expansion of the burgeoning welfare state in the setting of untenable debt, and a return to the values of our Founding Fathers that make this country unique, and great.
He’s got my vote. m
David Puro writes to the Sun from San Luis Obispo. Send a response for publication to letters@ santamariasun.com.
‘We the people’ are obligated to speak against genocide
A humanitarian crisis is underway. For months, residents of our county have appealed to the Board of Supervisors and local city councils to agendize and support a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza. They refused, saying that it is not a local issue. The bombs and bullets raining down on Gaza are stamped “Made in the USA.” Tens of thousands of innocent people are being maimed and murdered—a large percentage of them children. Their homes, schools, and hospitals have been turned into mountains of rubble. Access to health care, food, and clean water is denied. They face full-scale famine and disease brought on by the use of water contaminated with sewage. Places of refuge used by displaced people are bombed. There is no safe harbor for them. Their world is in chaos, an ugly genocide is in progress. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers are driving Palestinians off their land and killing hundreds— all with the support of the Israeli government. Our tax dollars and weapons keep the war going. We have the leverage to change that. Our silence implies support for the genocide. As a democracy, a government of “we the people,” we are obligated to speak up. We shape national policy and are shaped by it. The genocide of Palestinians is a local, national, and global matter. Shirley Schaffer Arroyo Grande
Dana
Reserve is all wrong
I am very upset that the huge Dana Reserve project has been approved. This is bad for Nipomo and the entire county of SLO. It is far too large Alyx Michell Nipomo
Return to the bright future
Hello voters.
Do you remember how much better the U.S. and the world were during the four years Donald Trump was president? Nationally and worldwide, they were much better than they are now. After only three years of Biden/Kamala Harris, things are out of control, and chaos breeds everywhere with their weak leadership.
Nov. 5, 2024, is your chance to return to the bright future by electing Donald Trump our next president. Not more Biden chaos by electing Kamala Harris. Can you see her leading the U.S. Army? Would the Chinese or Iranians take her serious? No!
Vote Trump-Vance for U.S. leadership and world respect.
Justin M. Ruhge Lompoc
Balancing act Opinion
I’m not sure what happened at the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting on Sept. 10. Maybe it’s just been so long since I’ve seen a productive policy discussion about a contentious issue end in compromise and unanimous agreement—but that’s what happened.
What started out as a tense conversation about whether to form an ad hoc committee to study a farmworker minimum wage ended in an agreeable discussion about a committee that would study a much broader topic, including issues such as farmworker housing.
Two weeks prior, farmworkers and advocacy organizations bombarded the board with requests for them to set a $26 minimum wage for farmworkers in Santa Barbara County, pointing to cost of living and poverty as reasons.
Supervisors decided to form an ad hoc committee to learn more about what it would mean—and apparently their email inboxes and cellphones were flooded with messages.
“There’s a lot of alarm out there, unnecessarily, at this point,” 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps said. “The nature of our emails here is that we’ve already completed this issue.”
But it sounds like they’ve only just begun and might not actually go anywhere. After hearing several speakers talk about the tenuousness of the industry and some who spoke about farmers who had closed up shop or were planning to close their operations down, the board took a different tack.
Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson was hoping to throw the ad hoc committee idea away, or at least broaden the topic that was being discussed. What the board achieved was balance.
“I would prefer to have a productive conversation, and if we can have a more productive conversation with a wider mandate … ,” 1st District Supervisor Das Williams said. “I think that we should be examining this thing from multiple aspects.”
And so they did. They unanimously decided to change the title of the committee to one that would look at agricultural worker conditions, and away they went.
Somehow, they managed to twist the lid back on the can of worms that was opened in August. Color me impressed.
What I’m not impressed with is the dumpster fire that the city of Lompoc is prepping for: Its landfill could be full in 10 years, and it needs to figure out the best way forward.
Vandenberg Space Force Base isn’t even allowed to haul its garbage to the Lompoc Landfill because it doesn’t have enough space. The Space Force has to drive its trash to Santa Maria!
But Lompoc is between a rock and a stinky place: It needs to raise money to pay for whatever it decides to do, but it doesn’t want to raise rates for out-of-towners to hit the dump because it’s also worried about competition. What?
“I’m a little confused with staff’s position on the whole competition thing,” Councilmember Gilda Aiello said. Me too.
To build a transfer station or expand the landfill is going to cost millions, and eventually it could cost Lompoc ratepayers. Better to not cost ratepayers, right? Charge the freeloaders!
“It’s a balancing act between revenues and volume,” Lompoc Utility Director Brad Wilkie said.
Sounds like Lompoc should have built a bigger landfill to begin with. I guess hindsight is 20/20. m
The Canary believes foresight is cheaper than hindsight. Send expansive ideas to canary@ santamariasun.com.
Hot Stuff
SEA FOR YOURSELF
The California Nature Art Museum in Solvang presents A Deeper Love: New Paintings Inspired by Coral Reefs, a vivid duo exhibition slated to open on Saturday, Sept. 14. The showcase highlights a collection of paintings by husband-and-wife team David Gallup and Nansi Bielanski Gallup. Visit calnatureartmuseum.org to find out more about the exhibit, which will remain up through February 2025.
—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.
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/.
EZRA’S ROCKING COMEDY SHOW
Lineup includes eight comedians. This event will be a fundraiser for the American Legion Post 534. Sept. 14 7 p.m. $25. 805-863-7967. American Legion Post 534, 145 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
FLIRTY FICTION BOOK CLUB Flirty Fiction is a book club for readers of contemporary romance fiction. The group meets each month to discuss a new title. The book for September is The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Sept. 16, 5:15-6:15 p.m. Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
LEARN CALIFORNIA’S OFFICIAL DANCE:
WEST COAST SWING Learn west coast swing in a casual, friendly environment, taught by Texas state swing champion, Gina Sigman. Free intro from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Beyond the Basics ($10) is 7 to 7:45 p.m. $10 entry includes social dance (7:45 to 8:15 p.m.). Tuesdays, 6:30-8:15 p.m. 832-884-8114. Cubanissimo Cuban Coffee House, 4869 S. Bradley Rd., #118, Orcutt.
RAINBOW READS BOOK CLUB Join every month as we read and discuss literature that focuses on LGBTQIA+ authors, characters, and themes. The book for September is The Secret Lives of Country Gentlemen by KJ Charles. See sm.blackgold.org for available titles. Registration is required. Sept. 20 4:30-5:30 p.m. Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. SATURDAY CRAFTERNOON: MINI TRINKET TIN Create a customized container to hold all the small things that get lost in your bag. This mini trinket tin will keep your bag organized. All materials will be provided. Registration is required, for ages 18 and older. Sept. 21 2-3:30 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/ services/departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY BRUSHES AND PIXELS WITH FEATURED ARTIST JAYNE BEHMAN A Journey through artist Jayne Behman’s dual artistic realms. You’re invited to delve into the world of artistic exploration at this solo exhibition of Behman who fearlessly experiments with a myriad of tools, including cutting-edge AI technology. Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Sept. 30 805-688-7517. GalleryLosOlivos.com. Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.
A DEEPER LOVE: NEW PAINTINGS INSPIRED BY CORAL REEFS A vivid duo exhibition that highlights a collection of paintings by husband and wife team David Gallup and Nansi Bielanski Gallup. Sept. 14 - Feb. 1 calnatureartmuseum. org. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang.
AN EVENING WITH KEVIN NEALON AND SPECIAL GUEST ANDY WOODHULL Nealon is best-known for his nine-year stint as a cast member of NBC’s SNL. This live comedy event is a benefit for Solvang Rotary and Solvang Theaterfest. Sept. 18 , 7:30-9:15 p.m. $60-$90. 805-686-1789. solvangtheaterfest.org. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. THE LION HAS TO BE HAPPY: CONTEMPORARY DANISH CERAMICS
A showcase of ceramic artworks by featured artisan Marianne Steenholdt Bork. Through Oct. 27 elverhoj.org. Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang, 805-686-1211.
PAINTING IN THE VINEYARD AT VEGA VINEYARD AND FARM Visit the picturesque Vega Vineyard and Farm in Buellton. You’ll spend the afternoon sipping delicious wine and capturing the beauty of the surrounding landscape on canvas. Sept. 22 , 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $89. 805-325-8092. artspotonwheels.com. Vega Vineyard and Farm, 9496 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
SACRED GEOMETRY WORKSHOP:
EXPLORE AND CREATE Sunburst’s Sacred Geometry teacher, Craig Hanson, will guide attendees on an exploration of the Golden Proportion in nature. Enjoy an interactive presentation, followed by guided stepby-step instruction on creating your own pentagon and dodecahedron, a natural 12-faced form found in minerals and life forms. Sept. 21 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $75. 805-736-6528. sunburst.org/geometry/. Sunburst Retreat Center, 7200 CA-1, Lompoc.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
CERAMIC AND DRIFTWOOD SPOONS: ALL LEVELS TWO-DAY WORKSHOP
Create your own ceramic spoons using hand building techniques. The first Saturday of the class will be spent making and decorating the spoons out of clay. The second Saturday of the class will be spent attaching the spoons to driftwood. Sept. 14 10 a.m.-noon $96. 805-2030335. thepotterygroverbeach.com/ potteryworkshops. The Pottery Grover Beach, 957 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach.
DANCE FITNESS ART AND CULTURE
FOR ADULTS Discover dance as a form of artistic expression and exercise, using a wide range of styles and genres of music (including modern, jazz, Broadway, ethnic). Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. 510-362-3739. grover. org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.
HAND BUILT BOWLS: EMPTY BOWLS
EVENT Learn how to roll slabs of clay, drape them over forms, and decorate them to create unique, hand built bowls. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon through Sept. 14 $72. 805-2030335. thepotterygroverbeach.com/ potteryworkshops. The Pottery Grover Beach, 957 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach.
IMPROV 101 This may be “the funnest class you ever take.” Improvisation is acting and reacting in the moment. Improv boosts creativity, self-confidence, and communication skills while reducing stress and social anxiety. This course will provide you with the fundamentals in a safe and supportive environment. Sundays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. through Oct. 27 $80. 805-556-8495. improvforgood.fun/. Women’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon St., Arroyo Grande.
OCEANO SEABREEZE MARKET Discover Oceano is proud to present the Oceano Seabreeze Market. Featuring handcrafted artisanal goods and exclusive collections
from local makers, artisans, and curators. Enjoy shopping, food, drinks, music, and an afternoon of fun at the historic Oceano Depot. Sept. 15 12-5 p.m. Free admission. 805-779-1414. DiscoverOceanoCa.com.
Oceano Train Depot, 1650 Front St., Oceano. WEREWOLF OF ARROYO GRANDE Sept. 13 - Nov. 9 Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
ADVENTURES IN MIXED MEDIA! WITH SPENCER COLLINS Students will learn about different mediums each week as well as learn about an artist from history. Take one class of the entire 10-week series for a discounted price. Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. through Nov. 7 $25 for one class; 10 classes for $180. 559-250-3081. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
ART WORKSHOP FOR KIDS: MAKE A FABRIC WALL HANGING An art workshop for kids ages 7 and up. Children under the age of 7 are welcome with parent supervision. Come make a driftwood and fabric hanging. RSVP by phone or email: sommerroman@live.com. Held in the upstairs event space. Sept. 14 2-3:15 p.m. $24. 949-683-6719. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.
CARTOONING WITH KIDS WITH KANE
LYNCH Whether you’re new to making comics or draw zillions of pages every week, this fun-filled class will take your ‘tooning to the next level. This program will help build your cartooning skillset with wacky interactive comics adventures and transform the ideas in your head into a finished product. Every other Sunday, 1-2:30 p.m. through Nov. 17 $25 per session. 805-801-6188. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
CREATIVITY DAYS WITH THE SILK ARTISTS OF CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST An opportunity to work on your own projects and materials while picking up new skills among friends. Note: this event is held mostly every third Monday (attendees are asked to call or email to confirm ahead of time). Third Monday of every month $5; first session free. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-747-4200.
DEYO DANCES PRESENTS WORLD PREMIERE OF JULIE MOMENTS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO Join Deyo Dances for a witty and nostalgic show that premieres Julie Moments, one of Deyo’s most uplifting creations. The dancers are a unique company of local and imported professionals of different ages. Open seating; register at Eventbrite to guarantee your spot. Sept. 14 7-9 p.m. and Sept. 15 2-4 p.m. Donations welcomed at the door. 805-540-1081. deyodances.com. Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKSHOP: LARGE PLATTER CLASS Fun for all ages. Instructors will guide you in creating large platters and decorating them. Create pieces together for your home. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $50. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
LEARN HOW TO PAINT IN OIL WITH FRANK EBER Learn value, color mixing, edges, underpainting, principles of design, and composition. Start painting immediately while learning the foundations of oil painting. Tuesdays, 2:30-5:30 p.m. through Sept. 17 $295 for six classes. 805747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
MARIA MOLTENI: CELESTIAL ANTIPHONY Celestial Antiphony creates a cycle of beats on the fingers and illustrates a childhood shortcut for praying the Rosary when beads have gone missing. The artist has returned to the modular, rhythmic orb-based practice of prayer, which transcends boundaries of faith and constructs of time. Through Nov. 11 Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/ exhibition/maria-molteni/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
MODIGLIANI: SCULPTURE 6-SESSION SERIES Beginners welcome. This sculpture class meets twice a week for a total of three weeks. Amedeo Modigliani was an Italian painter and sculptor. Modigliani is a modern style characterized by a surreal elongation of faces, necks, and figures. Book online. Mondays, Fridays, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through Sept. 23 $225.
COURTESY IMAGE BY NANSI BIELANSKI GALLUP
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Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.
THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS (THE MUSICAL!) Enjoy five hilarious musical satires in one. Thursdays-Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through Sept. 15 $20-$37. 805-786-2440. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, slorep.org/.
OIL PAINTING: IMPRESSIONISTIC REALISM WITH FRANK EBER Learn how to paint lively, expressive oil paintings with a focus on color accuracy, mark making, and the interconnection of each element. Learn techniques to bring your painting skills to the next level. This class is great for intermediate or advanced painters. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. through Sept. 17 $295 for six classes. 805-7474200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
PICKET PAINTING PARTY Decorative picket purchasing opportunities are available to show your support and help fund maintenance and educational programs in the Children’s Garden. Second Saturday of every month, 1-4 p.m. $75 per picket or 2 for $100. 805-541-1400. slobg. org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.
SATURDAY FAMILY POTTERY CLASS
This family-friendly open studio time is a wonderful window for any level or age. Saturdays, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. $40. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.
SATURDAY SQUISHMALLOW FUN
WITH MISS KESHET
Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon painting the cutest and cuddliest Squishmallow gang on a canvas with acrylic paints. Beginners are welcome and no experience is necessary. Sept. 21 1-2:30 p.m. $25. 805-610-1821. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
SECOND SATURDAYS SLOMA’s Second Saturdays program encourages intergenerational learning and creative expression for children of all ages. Families are invited to SLOMA’s lawn to learn about the visual arts together using unique activity kits and create an art project inspired by current exhibitions. Second Saturday of every month, 11-1 a.m. through Dec. 14 Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/events/second-saturdays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
UP CLOSE: BALLET THEATRE SLO OPEN
HOUSE The group is thrilled to open its doors and share its love and passion for ballet with the public. Visit site for more details. Sept. 15 2-5 p.m. my805tix.com. The School of Ballet Theater San Luis Obispo, 3566 S. Higuera Street, suite 207, San Luis Obispo, 805-440-1439.
WHOSE WATERS? This Gray Wing exhibition will build upon the photojournalistic work of Southern California artist Gabriella Angotti-Jones whose I Just Wanna Surf book highlights Black female and non-binary surfers and other unseen or outright ignored communities that ride the waves off the Golden State. Through Oct. 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/exhibition/ surf-show/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY
BRUSHSTROKES 2024 The Painters
Group SLO’s annual juried California-wide exhibition, Brushstrokes 2024, shows at Art Center Morro Bay daily. and features a great variety of paintings in all painting media. Frank Eber is the show’s Juror. Through Sept. 16, 12-4 p.m. Free. 805-7722504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay. COSTA GALLERY SHOWCASES Features works by Ellen Jewett as well as 20 other local artists, and artists from southern and northern California. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. 559799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.
GETTING HIGH ON NATURE: FEATURING
KARL DEMPWOLF The Cambria Center for the Arts Gallery presents “Getting High on
Nature,” featuring Karl Dempwolf. Opening night includes a reception with music by Tom Bethke, treats, and more. TuesdaysSundays, 12-4 p.m. through Oct. 27 805927-8190. cambriaarts.org. Cambria Center for the Arts, 1350 Main St., Cambria.
MOSAIC GARDEN POLE Create a stunning mosaic garden pole in this weekend long event. You’ll learn all the ins and outs of mosaics, so this workshop is open to all skill levels. Preregistration required. All supplies included to finish the pole. Sept. 13 4 p.m. $275. 805-286-5993. creativemetime.com. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.
THE PLEIN AIR TEAM Acrylic artist, Nancy Lynn, and husband, watercolorist, Robert Fleming, have a show of originals and giclee prints of Morro Bay and local birds. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.
A ROCK SAILS BY A brilliant astrophysicist faces a crisis when an unidentified object hurtles toward Earth. Through Sept. 15 my805tix.com. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
22ND ANNUAL ALL FORD CAR SHOW
Features vendors, music, raffle prizes, and lots of participating cars. Visit site for more info. Sept. 14 , 9 a.m.-3 p.m. santamariamodelaclub.com. Historic Old Town Orcutt, S. Broadway and Union Ave., Orcutt.
A CONVERSATION ON BROADENING CAREER PATHWAYS Are you thinking about your education and career pathways? Attend to engage in a thoughtprovoking discussion with award-winning journalist and author Karin Klein. Sept. 18 , 5-6:30 p.m. Free. hancockcollege.edu/ klein/. Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria.
D-AND-D AT THE LIBRARY Get ready to join an epic adventure with Dungeons and Dragons presented by Central Coast Games. This easy to learn game is the world’s most popular tabletop role playing game, and everyone is welcome regardless of previous experience. Sept. 22 , 1-4:30 p.m. Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. 805-937-9750. oasisorcutt.org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt.
GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing 805-343-2455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe.
POETRY FOR SELF CARE Discover a new form of self-expression. Poetry facilitation is the use of poetry to promote well-being. Workshop participants will be introduced to a poem and explore their reaction through writing or illustration with guest facilitator Dot Winslow. Registration is required. Sept. 15, 2-3:30 p.m. Free. 805925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
SANTA MARIA COIN CLUB: MONTHLY
MEETING Coin collectors of all ages invited. Bring coins for free appraisals. Third Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m. Yearly membership: $20-$25. 805-9373158. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY THERAPEUTIC RIDING PROGRAM’S 14TH ANNUAL
COWBOY BAL The Cowboy Ball fundraiser is back for its 14th year and will be held at the beautiful Foxen Canyon Ranch. Proceeds from the event benefit the lifechanging programs offered by SYVTRP to 60 weekly students. Sept. 21 5-10 p.m. $150. syvtherapeuticriding.org/events.
Foxen Canyon Ranch, 6205 Foxen Canyon Road, Los Olivos, 805-699-6190.
SOLVANG DANISH DAYS Entertainment options include three parades, plus folk dancers and Danish musicians performing in locations scattered around downtown Solvang. Enjoy Danish pastries, Danish-style beer, and more. Sept. 20-22 solvangdanishdays.org. Downtown Solvang, Citywide, Solvang.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG LOMPOC BOTANIC GARDEN GUIDED TOUR The Lompoc Valley Botanic and Horticultural Society invites the community to a free guided tour of this maritime chaparral garden for an opportunity to see a variety of species uniquely adapted to life on California’s Central Coast. Sept. 15, 2:30-4 p.m. 805-450-3668. lvbhs.org/ activities. Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden, 1 Hancock Drive, Lompoc.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY ADVENTURES WITH NATURE: OCEANO’S BEAVERS Join Docent Dan to learn about the beaver’s physical adaptations, their role in our country’s westward expansion, why they were hunted, and their local history. Moderate walk; 0.5 miles; 2 hours. All ages welcome. Please RSVP by calling 805-474-2664. Sept. 14 , 11 a.m.-noon Free. 805-556-2003. centralcoastparks.org/awn/. Oceano Dunes Visitor Center, 555 Pier Ave., Oceano.
ASTROLOGY 101 BEGINNER CLASSES
Have you always been curious about astrology and your horoscope but don’t know where to start? Local professional astrologer Lori Waters will be teaching a five-week Astrology 101 course that will lead you through the basics of astrology by covering western astrology’s history and more. Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m. through Oct. 18 $20. 805-270-3192. Shell Beach Veterans Memorial Building, 230 Leeward Ave., Pismo Beach, pismobeach.org.
ASTROLOGY STUDY GROUP The astrology study group is geared towards astrology enthusiasts with a preliminary understanding of the planets, signs, and houses of astrology. This class will begin an in depth study of aspects and how to read the current positions of the planets against your natal chart. Sept. 12 6-7:30 p.m. $20. 805-270-3192. Shell Beach Veterans Memorial Building, 230 Leeward Ave., Pismo Beach, pismobeach.org. BEGINNING BALLET FOR ADULTS Enjoy the grace and flow of ballet. No previous experience needed. Wednesdays, 5:15-6:15 p.m. $12 drop-in; $40 for four classes. 510-362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.
FULL MOON YOGA, MEDITATION, AND SOUND BATH An evening of celestial connection and soulful movement. Align your mind, body, and spirit with the luminous guidance of the moon. All yoga levels welcome and encouraged. Sept. 17 7:30-9 p.m. my805tix.com. Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, 1215 Avila Beach Dr., Avila Beach.
LATINO OUTDOORS CENTRAL COAST CELEBRATES LATINO CONSERVATION WEEK Latino Outdoors Central Coast is celebrating Latino Conservation Week in partnership with local environmental organizations. Come meet representatives from these organizations to learn more about local conservation efforts during this family-friendly event. Sept. 21 1-4 p.m. Free. 805-748-6404. latinooutdoors.org. Nipomo Regional Park, 255 Pomeroy Road, Nipomo.
LATINO OUTDOORS CENTRAL COAST: BEGINNING BILINGUAL BIRD WALK Join bilingual leaders from Latino Outdoors Central Coast and the Morro Coast Audubon Society for a casual morning walk to learn about birds and the Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area. All ages welcome. Binoculars provided. Register today on Eventbrite. Sept. 21 , 9-11 a.m. Free. 805-748-6404. latinooutdoors.org. Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area, Oso Flaco Lake Rd., Nipomo.
MESSAGES FROM HEAVEN WITH
Decades In, Bare King, & More!
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22 Fuego, Grover Beach
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER
Shakti Goddess Durga
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26 Aurora Adventures @ 9th Limb Yoga, Morro Bay
SLOFunny Comedy Show
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 JUSTIN Downtown Tasting Room, Paso
22
Amttrak, Seven Asterisk, Mindless Society
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27 The Bunker SLO
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Morro Bay Eagles Club
LEANNE THOMAS Leanne Thomas is known as Silicon Valley’s Medium. She gives messages that are direct, evidential, and healing. Recently relocating to the Central Coast, Thomas has a sincere love for connecting people with their crossed over loved ones. This event benefits the local nonprofit animal rescue Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary. Sept. 15 1-3 p.m. $70. 805-704-7327. eventbrite.com. Angelic Hope, 916 Trail View Place, Nipomo. MULTICULTURAL DANCE CLASS FOR ADULTS Experience dance from continents around the earth, including from Africa, Europe, and more. Described as “a wonderful in-depth look at the context and history of cultures of the world.” Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. 510-3623739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.
OTNA CRAFT FAIR/OPEN HOUSE
Discover the charm of Olde Towne Nipomo by participating in this exciting scavenger hunt. Visit all the businesses on the map and have fun shopping with the craft vendors lining the sidewalks. Grand Prize awarded to the lucky winner of a beach wagon full of donations. This event is a fundraiser for Olde Towne Nipomo Association, to help build and maintain a park that has been in the plans for years. Sept. 14 , 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 805-478-6398. oldetownenipomo.org. Olde Towne Nipomo, Downtown, Nipomo.
PISMO BEACH QIGONG Move energy, relieve stress, and expand awareness, strength, and flexibility. All levels welcome. At the end of Addie Street in Pismo Beach. Taught by local acupuncturist Lorne Johnson. Saturdays, 9-10 a.m. through Sept. 28 Sliding scale. Pismo Beach Pier, West end of Pomeroy, Pismo Beach.
QI GONG FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE ENERGY Experience the energy of Qi Gong through simple standing movements promoting flexibility, strength, relaxation, and increased energy. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, Qi Gong revitalizes and enriches your life. An outdoor class overlooking the ocean. Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. $14 per class or $55 for 5-class card with no expiration. 805-440-4561. pismobeach.org. Margo Dodd Gazebo, Ocean Park Blvd., Shell Beach.
SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. 805-9046615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Looking for a fun and educational opportunity this summer? Join the aquarium’s Volunteer Team. No marine science experience is necessary. There are lots of ways to get involved. Check out website for more details. Tuesdays. through Sept. 30 centralcoastaquarium.org. Central Coast Aquarium, 50 San Juan St., Avila Beach, 805-595-7280.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
AN AFTERNOON OF GREATNESS Host will guide the group through exercises, reflections, discussions, journal writing, and guided meditations. Limited to 12 attendees. Snacks provided. Sept. 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m. $111. my805tix.com. Lapis and Lotus Center, 1325 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo.
AGING GRACEFULLY WITH PREVENTATIVE CARE “We can’t stop getting older, but we can shift our thinking about it.” Moving from “I can’t do anything about it” to “I have some control over how my mind and body ages.” Series sponsored by Unity Five Cities. Details from chris@peacefulpoint.com. Over Zoom. Wednesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. through Nov. 20 Love offering. (805) 489-7359. unity5cities.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
ASTROLOGY BASICS: HOW TO READ YOUR BIRTH CHART This class will teach you how to use astrology for deeper self-understanding through learning how to read your natal chart. Event will go over archetypes, house systems, planetary rulers, how to synthesize all this information, and more. Email for
CHALLENGING CONVENTIONS
Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria will host a community discussion with award-winning journalist and author Karin Klein at Boyd Concert Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 5 p.m., followed by a book signing with Klein at 6 p.m. The author will discuss her latest book, Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving Without a Degree. The event is free and open to the public. Visit hancockcollege.edu/klein for more info.
more info. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. through Oct. 10 $150. cuesta.edu. Cuesta College Community Programs, Building 4100 Cuesta College Road, San luis obispo, 805-540-8282.
BEYOND MINDFULNESS Realize your potential through individualized meditation instruction with an experienced teacher via Zoom. This class is for those who wish to begin a practice or seek to deepen an existing one. Flexible days and times. Certified with IMTA. Email or text for information. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sliding scale. 559-9059274. theartofsilence.net. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
CAL HOPE SLO GROUPS AT TMHA Visit website for full list of weekly Zoom groups available. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays calhopeconnect.org. Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346.
CENTRAL COAST POLYAMORY Hosting a discussion group featuring different topics relating to ethical non-monogamy every month. Third Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
CREEKS TO COAST CLEANUP 2024
Register to participate in one of the SLO County locations for ECOSLO’s annual Creeks to Coast Cleanup. Let’s all work together to keep our waterways and parks clean and protect the beautiful natural environment of SLO County. Sign up for a SLO County location today. Sept. 21 9 a.m.-noon Free. 805-710-8017. ecoslo.org. SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.
CURIOUS ABOUT FLOATING OFFSHORE
WIND IN CALIFORNIA: THREE
EDUCATIONAL EVENTS SLO Climate
Coalition and California Sea Grant are sponsoring three on-line lunchtime webinars during September and October for the San Luis Obispo County public to learn more about floating offshore wind. The first event features national climate expert Dr. Michael Mann. Sept. 18 12-1
p.m. Free. sloclimatecoalition.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. DAILY QIGONG PRACTICE For the early riser or commuter, every weekday morning. Maintain or improve concentration, balance, and flexibility. Includes weekly Friday 3 p.m. class with more practices. Led by certified Awareness Through Movement teacher. Mondays-Saturdays, 6:10 a.m. and Fridays, 3 p.m. $35/week or $125/month. 646-2805800. margotschaal.com/qigong. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. DALLY ALL DAY AT THE DALLIDET Dally All Day at the Dallidet Garden marks the fall equinox with a day of self care and delicious food from the Prancing Chef. Sept. 22 8 a.m.-noon $100. 805- 3164380. Dallidet Adobe and Gardens, 1185 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo. ELEVATE YOUR BUSINESS EXIT STRATEGY: A COMPREHENSIVE 50-POINT ACTION PLAN WORKSHOP FOR BUSINESS OWNERS Business owners looking to maximize their company’s value in preparation for sale won’t want to miss this upcoming workshop, led by seasoned business expert Gary Bayus. Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your exit strategy—sign up today. Sept. 19, 6-8 p.m. $50. 805-773-5447. cuesta.edu/ communityprograms/index.html. Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo. GALA PRIDE AND DIVERSITY CENTER BOARD MEETING (VIA ZOOM) Monthly meeting of the Gala Pride and Diversity Center Board of Directors. Meets virtually via Zoom and is open to members of the public. Visit galacc.org/events to fill out the form to request meeting access. Third Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. No admission fee. galacc.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. GUIDED ENERGETIC MEDITATION Are you energetically sensitive? This reoccurring weekly class will be a guided Introduction to Energetic Meditation
Babes Against The Machine
27 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc
Robles
SLOFunny Comedy Show
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21 Naughty Oak Brewing Company, Orcutt
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
Adventures @ Barn at Fog’s End, Cambria
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Davis Fine Art, SLO
Aligned Movement Studio, SLO Full Moon Yoga, Meditation, and Sound Bath
SEPTEMBER 17
Roots and Roots Of Creation FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
Sirs of Swing Return
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cambria Tribute’s to: Deftones, Avenged Sevenfold, & Tool
Stockyard, Orcutt
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
Arroyo Grande
Stew Trivia
Brewery,
Saturdays from 9AM to 3PM
Located in Old Town Lompoc, at the Downtown Parking Lot on Ocean Ave. and I Street
Hot Stuff
Stay informed about Northern Santa Barbara County. Breaking news, insightful opinions, and local event updates sent directly to your inbox every Thursday morning.
Techniques that will assist you to: clear your energy field, improve energy flow and energy boundaries, quiet and focus your mind, and be clearer about “Who You Really Are.” Mondays, 6:30-8 p.m. through Nov. 30 $22. 503-929-6416. elohiacupuncture.com/classes/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
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.
LGBTQ+ FED THERAPIST LEAD
SUPPORT GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) A pro-recovery group offering space to those seeking peer support, all stages of ED recovery. We understand recovery isn’t linear and judgment-free support is crucial. Share, listen, and be part of a community building up each other. Third Wednesday of every month, 7-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
MELLOW YOGA FOR EVERYONE Stretch into yourself under the beautiful oaks and fresh air of this idyllic country setting. Suitable for all levels, these classes emphasize the gentler side of yoga and adapt to participants’ needs. Tuesdays, 5-6 p.m. $14 per class or $55 for five-class card with no expiration. 805-440-4561. balancedlivingayurveda.com. Tiber Canyon Ranch, 280 W Ormonde Rd, San Luis Obispo.
METAPHYSICAL/SPIRITUALITY BOOK
CLUB A weekly book discussion, on a wide variety of titles from the general subject of metaphysics, spirituality, and comparative religion. By invitation. For more information, contact David Higgins, email: davidhiggins67@gmail. com. Location revealed to those invited. Wednesdays Free. rationalmetaphysics.com. Private location TBA, Location not to be published.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346.
MOON GROOVE WOMEN’S CIRCLE Join for a sweet and sacred women’s circle where we will be dancing and howling at September’s harvest moon. Sept. 17 6:30-8:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Aligned Movement Studio, 672 Higuera Street, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, 806-471-8055.
MOONLIGHT HOURS AT THE SLO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Come to the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum for free every third Thursday of the month. Third Thursday of every month, 5-7 p.m. Free admission. 805-545-5874. slocm. org/moonlight-hours. San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum, 1010 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.
PLAY GROVE, AN OUTDOOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM A nature-based and place-based enrichment program. This means we use the environment as our guide as we play, grow, create art, garden, and learn together. Play Grove will allow young children to access this experience alongside enthusiastic playworkers. Through June 7, 2025, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Options: 2 day, 3 day, or 5 day. 805-242-6301. onecoolearth.org/playgrove.html. Jewish Community Center, 875 Laureate Lane, San Luis Obispo.
PLUG-IN TO LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION
Get inspired by local action, connect with others, and discover more ways to get involved with the SLO Climate Coalition. Attend virtually or in-person. Sustainable snacks and childcare will be provided. Third Thursday of every month, 6-8 p.m. sloclimatecoalition.org/events/. Ludwick Community Center, 864 Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo.
PUPPY SOCIAL HOUR Puppies (10 weeks to 5 months old) will learn appropriate play style with other pups, acceptable manners with people, tolerance for gentle restraints, confidence with the approach of friendly strangers, and more. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. and
Saturdays, 9 a.m. $25. 805-543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org/training/. Woods Humane Society, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo.
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.
QIGONG ONLINE Register now for QiGong Online with Gary West, of San Luis Coastal Adult School. Great practice for balance, wellness, mindfulness, and vitality. Wednesdays, 9:30-10:35 a.m. through Dec. 12 $115 per semester. 805-549-1222. ae.slcusd.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
A RED/BLUE DISCUSSION WITH SLO BRAVER ANGELS ALLIANCE
“What would it take for you to believe in American elections again? Across the country everyday, people ask this question.” With a major election in two months, take this opportunity talk about it. SLO Braver Angels Alliance is offering a two-hour Zoom to safely do that. Contact host for Zoom link or find the program’s Eventbrite page. Sept. 22 , 4-6 p.m. Free. 805-470-9009. eventbrite.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
SEA OTTER TRIVIA NIGHT Kick off Sea Otter Awareness Week by showing off your sea otter knowledge. It’s an all sea otter trivia event with the fluffiest questions, sea otter swag, menu specials, and delicious local brews. A portion of the proceeds support the Sea Otter Savvy organization. Sept. 19 6-8 p.m. $5 for each trivia player. seaottersavvy.org. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo, 805-439-2529.
SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN MONTHLY GET-TOGETHERS SLO RAMs is a group of retirees that get together just for the fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Third Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $31 luncheon. retiredactivemen.org/. Madonna Inn Garden Room, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo.
SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN: WEEKLY COFFEE MEETING SLO RAMs is a group or retirees that get together just for the fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. $10 coffee meeting. retiredactivemen.org. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo. STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi Gong boosts energy and vitality, reduces stress, improves balance and flexibility, and, best of all, is fun. Join instructor Devin Wallace for this outdoor class which is held in a beautiful setting. Call or email before attending. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. $12. Crows End Retreat, 6430 Squire Ct., San Luis Obispo.
SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+ AA GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM)
SECOND ANNUAL PET PHOTO CONTEST
Proceeds of the contest will benefit
C.A.R.E. 4 Paws. Visit site for more info on this year’s fundraiser. Entrants must reside in SLO County or northern Santa Barbara County to be eligible. Through Sept. 16 bit. ly/PickMyPet2024. New Times, 1010 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo, 805-546-8208.
SLO CLIMATE COALITION’S SEPTEMBER
SOCIAL SLO Climate Coalition’s September Social is a free, family-friendly event to celebrate our collective efforts towards climate action on the Central Coast. Enjoy great food and live music, and learn more about SLO Climate Coalition’s new program year and initiatives. All attendees must register. Sept. 13 , 5-8 p.m. Free. sloclimatecoalition.org/events/. Meadow Park, 2251 Meadow St., San Luis Obispo.
SLO LEZ B FRIENDS (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) A good core group of friends who gather to discuss topics we love/ care about from movies, outings, music, or being new to the area. We come from all walks of life and most importantly support each other. Transgender and Nonbinary folks welcome. Third Friday of every month, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. sloqueer.groups. io/g/lezbfriends. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
SLO NOONTIME TOASTMASTERS CLUB
MEETINGS Want to improve speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and positive environment? During COVID, we are meeting virtually. Contact us to get a meeting link for info. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. slonoontime.toastmastersclubs.org. Zoom, Online, Inquire for Zoom ID.
SLO PHILATELIC SOCIETY Stamp Collector? The SLO Philatelic Society (SLOPS) meets in the SLO UMC Conference Room on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Visitors welcome. For more info, contact SLOPS at slostampclub@ gmail.com. Third Tuesday of every month, 1-3 p.m. 805-801-9112. San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks Street, San Luis Obispo.
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 skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. 805-5406576. t-mha.org. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo. TOUR THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BARN CENTER The Octagon Barn, built in 1906, has a rich history that The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County looks forward to sharing with visitors. Please RSVP. Fourth Sunday of every month, 2-2:45 & 3-3:45 p.m. Tours are free; donations are appreciated. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096, octagonbarn.org. TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peer-to-peer support for trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and questioning people. In-person and Zoom meetings held. Contact tranzcentralcoast@gmail.com for more details. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-541-4252. TRICKZONE (PARKOUR AND TUMBLING) CLINIC Come flip with flair in a safe, nurturing environment at the TrickZone Clinic. Plus, Parkour and Tumbling training are great for safer backyard practice. For ages 5-17; all levels welcome. Sept. 21 1-3 p.m. $25 for first child; plus $10 per additional sibling. 805-547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com/saturdayevent-clinics. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY
2024 CALIFORNIA COAST CLASSIC BIKE TOUR AND ARTHRITIS CHALLENGE EXPERIENCE An eight-day, fully supported 525-mile ride that raises awareness and support for the nearly 60 million Americans living with arthritis. Sept. 21-28 213-634-3772. events.arthritis.org. Highway 1, Various locations, Morro Bay. CENTRAL COAST WOOD CARVERS Learn the art of wood carving or wood burning. Join Central Coast Wood Carvers in Morro Bay at St. Timothy’s. Open for beginners, intermediate, or advance. Learn a wide range of techniques and skills. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, 962 Piney Way, Morro Bay, 805772-2840, sttimothymorrobay.org/. CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS MEETING Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a Twelve Step recovery program
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 19
YOUR TABLE IS READY
ONX Estate Vineyard in Templeton hosts its annual Dine in the Vines Winemaker Dinner on Saturday, Sept. 21, from. 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees can look forward to enjoying a carefully orchestrated multi-course dinner arranged by chef Amy Robinson and the vineyard’s winemaking team. Admission ranges between $200 and $220. Visit onxwines.com to find out more.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE from page 18
for anyone who desires to have healthy and loving relationships with themselves and others. Meeting is hybrid (both in person and on Zoom). For information, call 805-900-5237. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. thecambriaconnection.org/. Cambria Connection, 1069 Main St., Cambria, 805-927-1654.
MORRO BAY METAPHYSICIANS
DISCUSSION GROUP A group of metaphysically minded individuals that have been meeting for many years now in the Coalesce Chapel. Club offers a supportive metaphysical based community. Members discuss a different topic each week. All are welcome to join. Fridays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Suggested donation of $10-$15. Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay, coalescebookstore.com/.
SOCRATES: DISCUSSION GROUP Group members present interesting and thought provoking topics of all sorts. Topics are selected in advance and moderated by volunteers. Vaccinations are necessary. Enter through wooden gate to garden area. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. 805-528-7111. Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay, coalescebookstore.com/.
WATERFRONT MARKET MORRO BAY
Come show your favorite local vendor some love this weekend. Enjoy browsing or shopping for crocheted items, candles, clothing and accessories, jewelry, and so much more. Sept. 14 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sept. 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 805402-9437. slovendorsassociation.com. Giovanni’s Fish Market, 1001 Front St., Morro Bay.
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.
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.
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, 805332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.
THURSDAY EVENING BAR TAKEOVER Call venue or visit website to find out about featured vintners. Thursdays stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
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.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO
TUESDAYS CLASH Don’t miss Head Games Trivia at COLD Coast Brewing Company every Tuesday night. Teams can be up to 6 members. Earn prizes and bragging rights. Kekas will be serving their delicious local fare. Fun for all ages. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. 805-819-0723. coldcoastbrewing.com. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave, Lompoc.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
GREEK BARBECUE FUNDRAISER AT ROCK AND ROLL DINER Join us for a special Greek barbecue fundraiser, benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of South SLO County. Indulge in Greek barbecue, enjoy live music from the Wavebreakers, and 50 percent of your meal is going to support local youth programs. Sept. 21 , 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 805-481-7339. bgcslo.org/ events. Rock and Roll Diner, 1300 Railroad St., Oceano.
VICTORY GARDEN WORKSHOPS Come learn the basics of how to grow your own food with SLO County UC Master
—C.W.
Gardeners; how to start your garden quickly and easily in a container, in the backyard, or in a community garden. Scholarships available. Sept. 15 and Sept. 22 $55 series; $82 couple; $15 class; $45, $75, $10 for OCSD residents. 805-7815939. Oceano Train Depot, 1650 Front St., Oceano.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
SUNSET WINE/RAIL EXCURSION:
SANTA BARBARA These fully-hosted, docent-led excursions will depart from the SLO Railroad Museum at 11 a.m. taking a motor coach to the Santa Barbara Wine Collective. Sept. 21 my805tix.com. San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, 1940 Santa Barbara Ave., San Luis Obispo, 805-548-1894.
MUSIC
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy live music at the winery most Friday evenings. Check site for concert schedule. Fridays presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, 805-937-8110.
HOLLYWOOD CRUE, HYSTERIA, AND FALLEN ANGEL Tributes to Motley Crew, Def Leppard, and Poison. Sept. 14 5-9 p.m. my805tix.com. Blast 825 Brewery, 241 S Broadway St., Ste. 101, Orcutt, 805-934-3777.
LADIES NIGHT OUT Music by DJ Van Gloryious and DJ Panda. Features delicious daiquiri specials. Thursdays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, 805-623-8866.
LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR
Enjoy live music most Fridays at the venue. Call venue or check website to find out who’s performing. Fridays stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
LIVE MUSIC WITH LOS TENIENTES
Hang out on the patio for live music with Los Tenientes. With Happy Hour Specials, $5 shots, and more. Sept. 15 2-5 p.m. Free. 805-928-6196. Cool Hand Lukes, 1321 Nicholson Ave, Santa Maria, coolhanlukes.com.
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.
MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY
Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons.
MUSIC continued page 20
SHED SOME LIGHT
Sensorio General Manager Ryan Hopple will discuss the origin of Sensorio and its evolution over the years during a free presentation at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles on Saturday, Sept. 14, from 5 to 6 p.m. The event is part of the venue’s The Arts Around Us program, which highlights speakers with insights on local art opportunities in the community. Visit studiosonthepark.org for more info.
MUSIC from page 19
805-925-0464. coelhomusic.com/ Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria.
PRESQU’ILE LIVE: J & THE CAUSEWAYS
Check out New Orleans-based band, J & The Causeways at the Presqu’ile Winery Amphitheatre. This juggernaut soul/R&B ensemble is filled with heavy backbeats and soaring horn sections that encompass the essence of their Louisiana home. Sept. 21 6-9:30 p.m. $25. 805-9378110. presquilewine.com/events/live-atpresquile-j-the-causeways/. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria. SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, 805-623-8866.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
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.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
2024 LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CONCERT SERIES These Saturday afternoon concerts are limited and will sell out, so make your purchase early to secure your spot. Saturdays, 2:30-5 p.m. through Oct. 12 my805tix.com. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.
JULIE KELLY QUARTET Vocalist/guitarist
Julie Kelly will be singing with the Tom Bethke Trio featuring Tom Bethke on guitar, David Kief on bass, and Darrell Voss on drums. With Bill Withers, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Mose Allison, and more. Enjoy music, great food, and great wine. Sept. 15 5-8 p.m. 805-773-6563. puffersofpismo.com. Puffers of Pismo, 781 Price St., Pismo Beach.
KARAOKE EVERY FRIDAY Enjoy some good food and karaoke. Fridays, 5-8 p.m. 805-723-5550. The Central Grill, 545 Orchard Road, Nipomo.
KARAOKE EVERY WEDNESDAY A weekly event with barbecue offerings and more. Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m. Rancho Nipomo BBQ, 108 Cuyama Ln., Nipomo, 805-925-3500.
PRINCE AGAIN: A TRIBUTE TO PRINCE This spot-on tribute delivers such unforgettable hits as “Purple Rain” and many more. Sept. 15 7-9:30 p.m. $49.50. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/shows/ prince-again/. Clark Center for the
Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
A TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY LINDA RONSTADT WITH RONSTADT REVIVAL FEAT. SHANNON RAE A tribute to Linda Ronstadt, with a full seven-piece band, including fiddle and pedal steel, “to bring you the true authentic sound of the Ronstadt catalog.” Sept. 14 7:30-10 p.m. $40-$60. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/ shows/ronstadt-revival/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
VIOLIN CONCERT: MISCHA LEFKOWITZ
A special violin concert, featuring Mischa Lefkowitz, virtuoso violinist, accompanied by pianist Susan Davies. Sept. 19 6:30 p.m. my805tix.com. The Monarch Club at Trilogy Monarch Dunes, 1645 Trilogy Parkway, Nipomo.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
ALL AGES OPEN MIC NIGHT Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m. Liquid Gravity, 675 Clarion Court, San Luis Obispo.
BHAJAN BHOY The musical project of Ajay Saggar. Sept. 19, 6-9 p.m. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.
BRACERO SOCIAL CLUB, FEATURING ANGIE & THE NIGHTMARES SLO county natives Bracero Social Club are heading to the Libertine Brewing Company in SLO. The evening will kick off with Americanafolk revivalists Angie & the Nightmares. Sept. 13 7-10 p.m. Free. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, 805-548-2337, libertinebrewing.com.
FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC: A CLASSICAL VOCAL PERFORMANCE Enjoy an hour of beautiful, sacred music, opera arias, and popular ballads, performed by accomplished opera singers and musicians. Performance is located inside the beautiful Mission San Luis Obispo in downtown SLO. Offerings encouraged to benefit the Mission San Luis Obispo Music Ministry. Sept. 15 3-4:30 p.m. Free. 805-550-3529. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, missionsanluisobispo.org/.
GUITARIST ADRIAN LEGG HOUSE
CONCERT Globally acclaimed by critics and fans alike for his unique acoustic and electric fingerstyle guitar playing, Adrian Legg masterfully blends diverse musical styles, influences, and inspirations to create a distinctive sound “all his own, with multiple awards and accolades spanning four decades.” Sept. 15 6:30 p.m. Adrian Legg (House Concert location), 462 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo, 805-4413815, adrianlegg.com/.
HEAVY METAL SATURDAYS Central Coast Music Productions (CCMP) presents Heavy Metal Saturdays, featuring: Suppressed Intentions, Disrupted
Euphoria, Pentacaustic, Hostile Takedown, and Mechanical Ghost. Sept. 14 , 6 p.m. my805tix.com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, 805-781-9974.
JAZZ WEDNESDAYS Spinning jazz records all night. Bebop, jazz funk, acid jazz, hard bop, nu jazz, jazz house, crossover, Latin jazz, and more. Featuring guest selectors. Music at a polite volume in an acoustically treated space. Vintage sound system, big warm speakers. Plenty of free parking. Wednesdays, 3-8 p.m. through Oct. 30 Free. 805-439-1544. jansplaceslo.com. Jan’s Place, 1817 Osos St., San Luis Obispo.
LIVE MUSIC AT KROBAR Enjoy live music at Krobar, which showcases local, talented artists of all music genres. Kickoff 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. Free entry. 833-576-2271. 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. RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Rodrigo y Gabriela performing live at the Fremont Theater. All ages. Doors open at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 8 p.m. $44.50-$224.50. fremontslo.com. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-546-8600. SEXY COSMIC FREAK DISCO SPACE PARTY Strap on your go go boots and your sparkle spanky shorts for this dance. DJ A Wizard and DJ Suz will be spinnin’ with fun treats, performers, and suprises all night long. Features vendors and tarot readings. Sept. 14 , 6-11 p.m. $15. 805858-8255. my805tix.com/e/sexy-cosmicfreak-disco-space-party. Bang the Drum Brewery, 1150 Laurel Lane, suite 130, San Luis Obispo.
SUMMER MUSIC SERIES AT OAK AND OTTER BREWING CO. Summer music series featuring local artists, including Jaxon Camaero, Spike and the Box, Ben and Danny, Graybill, and Devin Welsh. Check @oakandotterbrewing for up to date info. Sept. 14 2-5 p.m. Free. 805-439-2529. oakandotterbrewing. squarespace.com/events. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo. m
—C.W.
ARTS BRIEFS
Local maestro conducts autumn performances in Lompoc and SLO
Central Coast conductor Brian Asher Alhadeff will direct the Lompoc Pops Orchestra during its next concert at the First United Methodist Church in Lompoc on Sunday, Sept. 22, at 4 p.m.
Alhadeff is widely known for his longtime work with the local orchestra, as well as his full-time conductor role with Opera San Luis Obispo, which will present its production of French composer Georges Bizet’s Carmen at the Performing Arts Center (PAC), with performances of the iconic opera on Saturday, Oct. 19, and Sunday, Oct. 20. Both performances start at 2 p.m.
Geared toward families, the music selection Alhadeff chose for the upcoming Lompoc Pops Orchestra show will highlight various songs from Disney films, including Snow White Bambi Cinderella Peter Pan Frozen, and other animated musicals. Attendees of the performance, open to all ages, are encouraged to dress as their favorite Disney characters.
Admission to the Lompoc concert is free for children ages 12 and under, $5 for students with a student ID, and $25 for adults. Active military are eligible for a special discount. Call (805) 733-1796 for more details on the show. The First United Methodist Church is located at 925 N. F St., Lompoc.
Tickets to Opera San Luis Obispo’s production of Carmen, directed by Joshua Wentz and choreographed by Drew Silvaggio, range from $30 to $87. According to the PAC’s website, Carmen is “widely accepted as the most famous opera of all time,” and this local iteration features an internationally acclaimed cast of opera and ballet performers, spectacular sets and costumes, and more.
Conducted by Alhadeff, the Opera San Luis Obispo orchestra is collaborating with local performance arts groups, including Civic Ballet San Luis Obispo and Applause Children’s Theater, to bring Carmen to life.
Set in Spain during the 1820s, Carmen follows a soldier who is seduced by the show’s titular character, a woman with “an appetite for smuggling,” according to the PAC’s website. After abandoning his childhood sweetheart and ending his military career, the former soldier joins Carmen’s band of thugs but must eventually compete with a champion bullfighter for Carmen’s affection.
Fans of Carmen can find a past performance of the opera’s overture from Opera San Luis Obispo’s orchestra with Alhadeff at the helm on the ensemble’s YouTube Channel, as part of its Memorable Performances series. Visit operaslo.org for more details on the upcoming Carmen production. The PAC is located at 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. m
A call to arts
Oak Group holds October exhibition to support a local preserve
BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
Ahabitat restoration and trail improvement project will benefit from an upcoming art fundraiser, featuring local participants who hail from Santa Ynez and surrounding areas.
With an aim to support the UCSB North Campus Open Space, the Oak Group—a collective of more than a dozen artists dedicated to raising awareness for threatened open spaces and other causes—will hold its next show at Faulkner Gallery in downtown Santa Barbara from Oct. 2 to 31.
An Oak Group member since 1996, local artist Chris Chapman has six pieces in the show, including Bird’s Beak & Bumblebee Natives, which depicts a unique endangered plant found at the open space.
Chapman based the piece on some reference photographs, as she’s never seen the Bird’s Beak plant up close. The segment of the preserve where it grows is barred from the public.
RECALLING REFLECTIONS:
Oak Group member Rob Robinson based After the Rain on a photograph taken during an afternoon hike at the UCSB North Campus Open Space. One of Robinson’s goals was to capture “the evening sky’s reflection in the flooded plane,” the artist revealed in an email to the Sun
Downtown destination
Showtime!
Send gallery, stage, and cultural festivities to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
“It’s so protected right now that only staff can visit the spot,” Chapman told the Sun over email. “I was entranced by its complexity and the sparkles created by salt crystals on the flowers and leaves.”
The Santa Ynez Valley resident also submitted a vista titled Ellwood Mesa Morning For Chapman, the piece harkens back to “when I taught landscape painting” as part of a plein air program at the preserve through Santa Barbara Community College Adult Education.
Chapman’s husband, John Iwerks, is another of the show’s featured artists and one of the Oak Group’s seven original members. The collective was formed in 1986, and to date, the Oak Group’s art sales have raised about $3 million for open space preservation projects, according to the nonprofit’s website.
“Since many of our favorite painting locations were being developed or threatened to be developed, our first show was called ‘Endangered Landscapes,’” recalled Iwerks, who said the nonprofit
The Oak Group presents Art is Restoration, a new exhibition slated to open on Oct. 2 at the Santa Barbara Central Library’s newly renovated Faulkner Gallery, where the show will run through Oct. 31.
The exhibit highlights several Central Coast artists and will also be available online to view from Oct. 2 to Nov. 30 on oakgroup.org.
began as “a group of painter friends” whose mission took shape when they decided to donate sales proceeds to local environmental organizations.
“Those who purchased paintings became aware that they were making a positive difference toward preservation,” Iwerks said over email, “while obtaining a painting for their home and collection.”
Iwerks has three pieces in the October showcase, including Morning Calm, inspired by an early morning visit to the North Campus Open Space.
“I was there alone, watching the birds come and go,” Iwerks said.
Fellow artist Rob Robinson based one of the show’s featured oil paintings on a photograph taken during an afternoon hike at the preserve.
“It had just rained, was cold, and the preserve was lush, wild, and alive. It was thrilling as I hiked all the way out to the ocean and back, composing and taking photos as I went,” Robinson said over email about the hike that inspired After the Rain. “I’ve always loved being out in nature during extreme weather, always reminding us that it’s the boss.”
Robinson has been a member of the Oak Group for about seven years and believes the nonprofit’s approach in raising awareness and funding for threatened open spaces through art “has been an effective way for the public … to make a contribution to those efforts and take home a piece of art that reflects that shared value.” m
Send comments, whether they’re composed indoors or en plein air, to Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
change within SB County that isn’t
land, or wildlife, or to the public, ... if
my paintings the importance of how it looks
bring a bit of awareness to how it should be
the Sun over email.
FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIAN ASHER ALHADEFF
COURTESY IMAGE BY ROB ROBINSON
BEE THERE OR BEE SQUARE: Santa Ynez Valley resident Chris Chapman is one of more than a dozen featured Oak Group artists with works slated for display at an upcoming showcase to benefit preservation efforts at the UCSB North Campus Open Space.
COURTESY IMAGE BY CHRIS CHAPMAN
FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF THE LOMPOC POPS ORCHESTRA
COURTESY IMAGE BY CARRIE GIVENS
SOMEWHERE THAT’S GREEN: Local artist Carrie Givens entered four pastel paintings, including Restored Growth, into the Oak Group’s latest art showcase fundraiser. “I see so much
always to the benefit of the
I can at least capture with
now, maybe it will
saved,” Givens told
COURTESY IMAGE BY JOHN IWERKS
SERENITY NOW: Morning Calm is one of Santa Ynez artist John Iwerks’ featured paintings in the Oak Group’s upcoming exhibit in downtown Santa Barbara. Iwerks has been a member of the collective since its inception in 1986.
See LIVE performances from winning artists for each genre. Hear winning songs from Country/Americana/Folk , Rock/Alternative, R&B/Blues , Hip-Hop/Rap, and Open categories. The coveted Newtie award will be presented to the top spot along with awards for each genre.
We’ll also announce this years Local Legend Award that is presented to an individual who has dedicated their time, talent, and effort to benefit the local music scene.
Also, get your chance to win an Ernie Ball guitar by purchasing raffle tickets online or at the event.
SCAN
Fun, fun, fun
Editor’s note: Regular reviewers Glen and Anna are out of town, so New Times Editor Camillia Lanham and Staff Writer Samantha Herrera stepped into write Sun Screen.
Tim Burton directs this sequel to his 1988 dark comedy classic about a “bio-exorcist” named Betelgeuse, aka Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton), who in the new film is accidentally released from afterlife limbo by Astrid Deetz (Jenna Ortega), daughter of Lydia Deetz (Winona Ryder) and granddaughter of Delia Deetz (Catherine O’Hara)—both from the original film. (104 min.)
Camillia: This campy, madcap, somewhat gory sequel to the 1988 original was part manic fun and part head scratcher. It stayed true to Burton’s iconic ’80s film while expanding into a sequel worth watching. I think I liked Beetlejuice Beetlejuice better than Beetlejuice—but it’s not a movie I watched as a kid, so my lack of nostalgia may have something to do with less than cultlike enthusiasm for Keaton’s first frenetic foray as Betelgeuse. We enter the scene as a family tragedy overtakes the Deetzes. Lydia’s changed from a moody, gothic teen to a fragile, pillpopping mom with her own TV Show, Ghost House, where she uses the supernatural skill she learned about as a teen to help people with their own ghosts. Astrid’s taken the place of her moody mother. Delia’s the same chaotic, self-obsessed
BEETLEJUICE BEETLEJUICE
What’s it rated? PG-13
What’s it worth, Samantha? Full price
What’s it worth, Camillia? Full price
artist she was all those years ago. And they all come together on top of their hill in Connecticut for a funeral, some unexpected forays into the underworld, and a reluctant reunification with Beetlejuice (who still wants Lydia to be his bride). It was a delightful way to spend a hot afternoon. Samantha: As someone who has never seen the original Beetlejuice, I came into this sequel blind, and I loved it. The funeral was almost a joke as Lydia’s obnoxious, gold-digging boyfriend, Rory, played by Justin Theroux, made the moment of sadness his green light to propose. The overly dramatic and funny Delia, played by O’Hara, couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and the self-loathing Astrid was right there with her. Ortega has the emo teenager role down to a science, and she gets extra points for having the perfect look to play in a Burton film.
Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Fair Oaks, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande
After the funeral, Astrid finds herself stuck in the afterlife and Lydia needs Beetlejuice’s help to get her daughter back to the living world. The formerly estranged mother and daughter find themselves running through the different realms of the underworld before stopping at one of my personal favorite scenes in the movie—the “soul train,” a groovy spot that takes souls to the great beyond. Maybe it’s because I love funk and disco, but if I happened to switch places with the pair, I would be hanging out at the train station.
Camillia: I’m in! If you’re going to be dead, shouldn’t it be on a disco train that takes your
BEETLEJUICE
What’s it rated? PG
When? 1988
Where’s it showing? Max
Tim Burton directs this dark supernatural fantasy about newly dead married couple Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara Maitland (Geena Davis) who are navigating their new ghostly existence in their old home. When the house is sold to an obnoxious new family who begins to remodel the house into a garish postmodern monstrosity, the Maitlands are determined to scare them off, so they hire “bio-exorcist” Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton), who wreaks havoc on them and the offending family, The Deetzes—father Charles (Jeffrey Jones); his second wife, Delia (Catherine O’Hara); and daughter from his previous marriage, Lydia (Winona Ryder), plus their interior designer Otho Fenlock (Glenn Shadix).
Keaton is a force of nature—hilarious and offensive. The Maitlands quickly regret their decision to hire Betelgeuse, but by then it’s too late. Meanwhile, the ghosts discover that Lydia can see them. Can she become the liaison between the living and the dead so they can all live in peace?
The film is a blast from beginning to end, with amazing special effects and a brilliantly bizarre story. It took home the
called Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) is hired by two ghosts to scare off the Deetz family who moved into the ghosts’ old house, in Beetlejuice, available on Max.
Best Makeup Academy Award as well as Best Visual Effects and Makeup from the British Academy Film Awards. Classic! (92 min.) —Glen
soul into the afterlife? Burton’s underworld was full of otherworldly imaginative and funny characters that get sucked into Beetlejuice’s antics—Keaton is just as spazzy and brilliant as he was the first time around. He, O’Hara, and Ryder play off each other with ease. The costume and set designs were a 10. And we even have a sandworm reprisal that pays homage to the first film. My personal favorite character is Beetlejuice’s ex-wife, a soul-sucker, but I think it’s because we get to watch her staple her dismembered body back together again at the beginning of the film. I mean, come on! My only real issues with the film were a couple of random scenes that involved a baby Beetlejuice and the
THE BIKERIDERS
What’s it rated? R When? 2023
Where’s it showing? Peacock
Writer-director Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Mud Midnight Special, Loving) helms this film based on Danny Lyon’s 1968 book in which the college-educated photographer essentially embedded himself in the Midwestern motorcycle gang the Chicago Outlaws. Lyon’s photo-rich book was inspired by Hunter S. Thompson’s book Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga Nichols’ film uses verbatim quotes Lyon collected for about 70 percent of its dialog.
This was a film I missed in the theaters, in part because I thought it would be a dumb glorification and exploitation of outlaw motorcycle culture, and after watching it on Peacock with my subscription, it is all that … but more. It’s got a charismatic cast including Austin Butler, Tom Hardy, Michael Shannon, and Jodie Comer, who plays Kathy, a “nice girl” who falls for Butler’s Benny—a reckless free spirit. The story is mostly told from her perspective as she witnesses the motorcycle club (here called the Vandals) devolve into a criminal organization.
The film is filled with cool bikes, a cool ’50s vibe, some
stop-motion clay animation scene detailing Lydia’s father’s death—Jeffrey Jones didn’t reprise his role for some reason, although if you Google it, people have a few ideas as to why. Samantha: I agree. Baby Beetlejuice didn’t really fit in with the rest of the movie and gave the impression of trying way too hard to be funny but ended up being slightly annoying. If this movie taught me anything, it’s that Burton knows how to make a good movie, and I’m excited to see what’s next! m
Editor Camillia Lanham and New Times Staff Writer Samantha Herrera wrote this week’s Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
great action sequences, and a creative exploration of a
that both fascinated and frightened America. Definitely worth a watch. (116 min.) m
SAT IT THREE TIMES! Catherine O’Hara is Delia, Jenna Ortega is Astrid, Winona Ryder is Lydia, and Justin Theroux is Rory in director Tim Burton’s new sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, screening in local theaters.
subculture
PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
FREAK THE DEETZ! A “bio-exorcist”
BADASS: Austin Butler stars as Benny, a member of Chicago motorcycle gang the Vandals, who’s in the club as it slides toward criminality, in The Bikeriders, streaming on Peacock and other services.
Thacher Winery General Manager Tony Quealy described the upcoming dinner as “the perfect opportunity to showcase the collaborative aspect of the wine industry,” which isn’t as cutthroat as some outsiders might assume.
BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
Owls often perch near the high ceiling of a historic barn where two birds of a different feather—a pair of local winemakers from separate regions—are planning to host a unique collaboration.
Built during the 1800s, the Kentucky Ranch Barn is a treasured venue at Paso Robles’ Thacher Winery, which will host a collaborative dinner with limited seating on Oct. 5 that will
pair five food courses with 10 wines. Each dish in the lineup will include one wine tasting from vintner Sherman Thacher and one separate tasting from visiting winemaker Chase Carhartt, of Los Olivos’ Carhartt Family Wines.
One course, for example, will pair glasses of Thacher Winery’s 2021 graciano and Carhartt Family Wines’ 2020 chamise with charred octopus, Spanish chorizo, roasted potato, and olive tapenade.
Pairings galore For more info on Thacher Winery and Carhartt Family Wines, visit thacherwinery.com and carharttfamilywines.com, respectively.
“It’s not a competitive environment,” Quealy said. “Sherman will tell you. … He’s on the phone with other
winemakers, other vineyard managers all the time.”
The local wine scene is fueled by big family vibes and never short of people willing to lend a helping hand, Sherman concurred.
“There’s a winery down the road that has one of our tanks right now,” said the seasoned vintner, whose
scenic workstation lies on a long, rural stretch of several neighboring vineyards. “He called me up Wednesday and said, ‘Can I borrow a tank if you have one available?’ … He came by about 10 minutes later. He needed it pretty bad, I guess.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THACHER WINERY
DYNAMIC DUO: Chase Carhartt (left), of Los Olivos’ Carhartt Family Wines, will head to Paso Robles to co-host a collaborative winemaker dinner with Sherman Thacher (right) on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Thacher Winery’s historic Kentucky Ranch Barn.
CHASE THAT FEELING: In between the courses of an upcoming winemaker dinner, Los Olivos-based winemaker Chase Carhartt will discuss elements of each featured tasting. The wine lineup from Carhartt Family Wines will include the winery’s 2020 chamise, 2020 petite sirah, and three others.
LOS TENIENTES
“We’re all about helping each other out,” Sherman added. “We’re all partners. We’re all trying to do the same thing. We’re all in the same kind of situations.”
Sherman and his wife, Michelle, have known Carhartt for many years, but the October dinner event marks the first official collaboration between the two familyoperated wineries.
The idea to pair each food course with two separate wine tastings—each introduced with some background insights from their respective winemakers between courses—adds a freshness that helps this gathering stand out, Michelle said.
Prior to finalizing the menu, the event’s two featured winemakers met with Monson and Pflugradt for them to preview and taste the 10 selected wines and brainstorm what kinds of dishes would best suit each tasting duo.
“Chase and I talked about wines that we wanted to present, and we kind of came up with wines that would work together with a food pairing,” Sherman said. “Both the chefs would taste, and then you’d see their eyes light up, and then one would say one thing. They fed off each other, and then it just kind of went crazy from there.”
“A lot of people around here go to winemaker dinners, but the fact that they can get two perspectives on wines that complement each other will be unique,” Michelle said. “I think people will really find that different. … We’re also tasting the difference between north SLO and north Santa Barbara [counties] and the different AVAs.”
Another collaborative component of the dinner worth noting is how the food courses— arranged by local culinary pros Justin Monson and Colin Pflugradt of Templeton-based Oak & Vine—were carefully selected.
The food selections will include fried pickle and caviar, smoked salmon on brioche, grilled quail salad, oak-roasted lamb chop, and more. The evening will conclude with dessert: dark chocolate pave (Brazilian trifle) with toasted coconut, paired with glasses of Thacher Winery’s 2021 Triumvirate reserve zinfandel and Carhartt’s 2020 petite sirah.
“The chefs did a really good job coming up with what I envision will be an amazing pairing,” Sherman said. “I think we came up with a really fun menu.” m
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood is all about the fried pickle. Send comments to cwiseblood@ santamariasun.com.
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