C.A.R.E.4Paws helps unhoused residents with their animals as Santa Maria Riverbed encampments gets cleared out [6]
BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
C.A.R.E.4Paws helps unhoused residents with their animals as Santa Maria Riverbed encampments gets cleared out [6]
BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
As local agencies continue clearing out the Santa Maria Riverbed, C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers help houseless residents care for and feed their pets and prepare for the day when their encampments are targeted for cleanup. More cleanups are expected in the coming weeks, and residents are worried about being separated from their animals—a source a companionship. Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor headed out into the riverbed with volunteers for the story [6] . This week, you can also read about the county’s decision to delay its cannabis odor ordinance discussion [4] ; a studio opening in Nipomo that coincides with SLO County’s Open Studios Art Tour [22] ; and the Chumash Casino’s new sports bar and all its eateries [25] .
• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1866 into law during a signing ceremony in Inglewood, according to a Sept. 24 statement from Assemblymember Gregg Hart ’s (D-Santa Barbara) office. The bill, written by Hart, mandates that oil companies meet targets to plug the estimated 40,000 idle oil wells in California.
“The health of our communities always comes first. These new laws allow local leaders to limit dangerous oil and gas activities near homes, schools, and other areas as they see fit for their communities, and give the state more tools to make sure that idle and lowproducing wells get plugged sooner,” Newsom said in the statement. “This builds off of our all-of-the-above efforts to protect communities from pollution and hold Big Oil accountable.” Specifically, AB 1866 would have the most impact on larger operators, requiring them to plug 15 percent of their idle wells in the first year, rising to 20 percent annually by 2030. The bill also mandates operators to prioritize plugging wells within 3,200 feet of where communities live, work, and play. “This is a landmark victory for taxpayers and communities most affected by the harmful health impacts of neighborhood oil drilling,” Hart said in the statement. “I am proud of this decisive action we are taking today to hold the oil industry responsible for plugging over 40,000 idle oil wells across California.”
• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) introduced the Protecting Investments in Our Ports Act, legislation to ensure that ports across the U.S. take the proper steps to protect against potential cybersecurity threats when buying products with funding provided by the federal port infrastructure grant program, according to a Sept. 26 statement from Carbajal’s office. “As we’ve seen over the past few years, our ports are vital to maintaining an operational and fluid supply chain,” Carbajal said in the statement. “Unfortunately, cyberattacks at our ports are ever increasing and putting our supply chain at risk. I’m happy to support this bill which would strengthen port cybersecurity and ensure federal funds are going to recipients that safeguard our supply chain and goods.” The Port Infrastructure Development Program is administered by the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation. The legislation would add a requirement that applicants ensure their existing facility security plans protect against any cybersecurity threats presented by software or digital infrastructure purchased with grant funding. The legislation also allows applicants to include plans in their applications to protect against cybersecurity threats posed by these items and then subsequently update their facility security plans based on requirements in current law.
• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) introduced bicameral legislation to prevent the federal government from contracting with federally licensed firearms dealers (FFLs) that have a documented history of selling a disproportionate number of guns that end up being used to commit violent crimes, according to a Sept. 26 statement from Padilla’s office. Existing federal law requires FFLs that have sold 25 or more guns over the course of a single year that are subsequently traced to violent crimes within three years to submit a report to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) providing additional information on their sales practices under the Bureau’s Demand 2 program. The Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act would require ATF to identify the small number of FFLs that are consistently overrepresented in criminal activity and render them ineligible for federal contracts. “Far too often, lucrative federal contracts are inexplicably awarded to firearm dealers who have been linked to dangerous crime,” Padilla said in the statement. “Our common-sense legislation aims to combat senseless, preventable gun violence by ensuring that gun dealers follow responsible business practices to keep guns from falling into the wrong hands.” m
Act now! Send any news or story tips to news@santamariasun.com.
STOP THE STINK: Residents complain about cannabis odor, but not much can be done to enforce change because the county’s current system makes it difficult to pinpoint who is responsible for the
The Santa Barbara County Planning Commission pushed back its discussion on a cannabis odor ordinance until November to give more residents the time to understand and form their own opinions on the county’s proposed plans to improve mitigating the plant’s skunky smell.
“I feel like where we are is we just got inside the ballpark, but we haven’t had a chance to play the game so I’m counting on those who have been so attentive to the ordinance in the past and learning about the changes and implementation will be ready to go on or before the 4th of November,” 1st District Commissioner C. Michael Cooney said during the Sept. 25 meeting. “We can be ready, prepared, but we need the public’s input to do a good job.”
Because of an outpouring of residential concern and the Planning Commission running low on time after a near seven-hour discussion about an appeal of increased enrollment at Montecito’s Laguna Blanca School, commissioners unanimously agreed to postpone the date until Nov. 6.
“We had a very significant number of people, particularly in the 1st District, who felt they could use more time to study and develop an opinion— not only cannabis growers but neighbors of growers themselves,” 2nd District Commissioner Laura Bridley said during the meeting.
Santa Barbara County established odor abatement plan requirements in 2019 that call for certain operators to use the best available technology, like carbon scrubbers, to prevent odor from being smelled in residential zones.
Cooney’s district, which includes Carpinteria, had lot of odor complaints from neighbors as the indoor cannabis industry grew. Neighbors in Santa Barbara County’s 3rd District, which includes the Santa Ynez Valley and Buellton, have also complained about the area’s outdoor cannabis grows’ scent wafting onto their properties.
It’s difficult for the county to take action once complaints are filed, Cannabis Permitting and Enforcement Division Supervisor Gwendolyn Beyeler told commissioners. Weather, topography, and limited descriptions in the complaints hinder the county’s ability to identify “exact odor emission source” and take corrective action.
To improve the county’s odor enforcement capabilities, the Board of Supervisors approved a contract with Geosyntec Consultants in November 2022 to monitor cannabis odors from
2022 until 2025; conduct odor abatement plan inspections to document odor presence both on and off cannabis operation sites; and develop new odor thresholds and mitigation measures that would follow a complaint.
“It provides clarity for [Planning and Development], facility operators, and the public to enforce nuisances and prevent cannabis odors from being experienced in residential zones,” Beyeler said.
The initial study focused on the Carpinteria area, but the Planning and Development Department is evaluating possible measures for outdoor grows in the inland area, which supervisors requested in April.
No odor abatement plan is required for cannabis sites in the inland area within the Agriculture II zone unless cultivation exceeds 51 percent of the lot area, according to the staff report. Ag II allows for certain commercial agricultural operations on a single-family residential lot.
The Santa Ynez Valley Community Plan also requires odor abatement plans for certain uses. Five sites in the inland area have odor abatement plans—including using aromatic landscaping in cultivation areas and carbon filtration in processing areas—but residents still say they feel the impacts.
Buellton resident Theresa Reilly wrote in a public comment letter that she’s been voicing her concerns about cannabis odor for years, but her complaints were always considered “unverified.”
“It is not realistic to expect a resident to prove where odor is coming from when there are multiple farms upwind of Buellton and irritants vary depending on weather, temperature, wind, and time of day,” Reilly said. “While the odors this summer have been milder in Buellton than in the past, I have no assurance that this is not a fluke or temporary reprieve as the current harvest is approaching.”
—Taylor O’Connor
A recent sludge buildup at Guadalupe’s sewage treatment plant put the city in deep water with a regional authority, which prompted a plan for course correction.
During its Sept. 24 meeting, the Guadalupe City Council reviewed two interrelated proposals to dredge the plant’s filtering system ponds and improve the site’s maintenance procedures.
Approved unanimously by the council, the two projects also correct permit violations cited by the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, according to the staff report.
“The existing system has not been maintained like it should be, so it’s worn out quicker than it should have,” City Engineer Jeff van den Eikhof said at the meeting.
Guadalupe uses a Biolac filtering system, which it relies on to comply with the water board’s permit conditions. The sludge excess has forced the city’s wastewater treatment plant “to work around the Biolac system, and that’s kind of put us in a bind with the water board,” van den Eikhof told the City Council.
“We’re not meeting all of our permit requirements because of that,” van den Eikhof said. “Grit built up around this Biolac system, and it’s worn out the bottom of the system, so it has to be repaired. … It’s not hard as rock, but it’s thick, so it’s clogged up the system.”
To deter a buildup of this kind in the future, Councilmember Gilbert Robles asked staff: “Do we know where the lapse in maintenance was at?”
“I do not,” van den Eikhof said.
Guadalupe’s wastewater treatment plant supervisor Dave Miklas later spoke at the meeting and shed some light on the maintenance issue.
“There’s a grit removal system that we’re working on putting back online,” said Miklas, who told the City Council that it was “taken offline” after a Biolac equipment update in 2019. Miklas said the removal system at that time led to separate clogging issues but never got the repairs it needed.
“They just stopped using it and never started using it again,” Miklas said. “We’re getting that thing fixed. … This should take care of the problem for the future.”
To address the current grit buildup and reboot the city’s filtering system, staff recommended that the City Council approve one contract with MidCal Dredging to handle the sludge removal and another with the Coombs Service Group to reinstall the Biolac system after the dredging.
The two contracts combined amount to about $400,000, which leaves about $1.4 million left for further sewage system repairs in the city’s capital improvements budget, van den Eikhof said.
Before the City Council greenlit both contracts (with a 5-0 vote for each), Councilmember Whitney Furness asked staff if either project would “take anything offline that’s going to affect the citizens?”
“Citizens won’t know anything will be happening,” van den Eikhof replied.
Some laughs erupted in the room after City Administrator Todd Bodem added: “You can still flush your toilet.”
—Caleb Wiseblood
The Center for Biological Diversity intends to sue the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to force the agency to update its plan for the Santa Ynez Unit’s offshore oil platforms—the latest in a series of increased efforts to prevent resumed operations.
“The platforms and pipelines have outlived their expected lifespans; and oil production at the SYU (Santa Ynez Unit) has already caused enough damage. It’s high time to decommission this zombie infrastructure,” Center for Biological Diversity Oceans Program Senior Counsel Julie Teel Simmonds told the Sun in an email.
The unit’s offshore platforms, pipelines, and inland processing facilities haven’t operated since the 2015 Refugio oil spill, which dumped 142,000 gallons of crude oil into the ocean when the pipe burst. Sable Offshore Corp.— the unit’s new owner after its purchase from ExxonMobil—wants to resume operations by the end of the fourth quarter in the 2024 fiscal year, according to SEC (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) filings.
With projected resumed operations on the horizon, the Center for Biological Diversity and other environmental groups have ramped up efforts to keep this from happening by reaching out to state, local, and federal regulatory agencies with their concerns for the offshore platforms’ and pipeline’s condition.
In a letter to BOEM, the Center for Biological Diversity states that California’s offshore platforms are required to submit and operate under development and production plans—with the Santa Ynez Unit’s plans originally approved in the 1970s and 1980s. BOEM is required to periodically review plans and make needed updates to improve safety based on changes that impact production.
Teel Simmonds argues that the unit’s conditions and a future jump from zero production activity to full operations should spark a review.
“Allowing the company to [restart] based on plans originally approved in the 1970s and ’80s would be far too big a gamble with our oceans and climate, and a gross neglect of the agency’s legal obligations to ensure offshore drilling doesn’t cause undue harm,” she said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if a meaningful review of drilling plans written decades ago reveals that the platforms need to stay shut down.”
BOEM agreed to review offshore oil production plans in Huntington Beach after the Center for Biological Diversity filed a similar lawsuit in September 2022.
“It’s frustrating we have to keep suing the agency to force it to do its job,” Teel Simmonds said.
BOEM and Sable did not respond for comment before the Sun’s deadline.
The Center for Biological Diversity also recently sent a letter to Cal Fire, the State
Lands Commission, and Santa Barbara County with environmental review and transparency concerns as part of its efforts.
“There are many steps Sable has to go through to restart with many agencies involved, but it is unclear how many have been completed to date or have to be completed before restart,” she said.
In August, the local environmental law firm Environmental Defense Center and fellow environmental groups approached the State Lands Commission during a meeting in Goleta to protest restarting operations since the commission oversees the pipeline’s lease agreements and permitting.
In September, the Environmental Defense Center and the Center for Biological Diversity approached the Board of Supervisors with similar transparency concerns after the county settled a lawsuit with Sable without a public hearing—which allows Sable to move forward with installing 16 safety valves.
“We didn’t learn about it until it was a done deal. We are pretty upset about the lack of transparency,” Environmental Defense Center Chief Counsel Linda Krop said in a previous interview. “I’ve never seen the county settle without a public hearing because that’s the only way you hear from anyone else.”
Teel Simmonds said that she wants to see the agencies involved have better coordination and connection when it comes to overseeing Sable’s activities.
“What is clear is that both federal and state agencies are falling down on the job when it comes to transparency, public participation, and environmental review,” she said. “They have a legal obligation to protect our coastal environment, wildlife, and communities from the numerous dangers oil drilling and transportation entails.” m
—Taylor O’Connor
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Santa Barbara County animal nonprofit delivers services to unhoused residents in the Santa Maria Riverbed during cleanups
BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
black-and-white kitten emerged from a makeshift fence made of blue tarp and wooden posts as Chris LaBossiere announced her arrival.
“Hi … it’s Chris and Claire from C.A.R.E.4Paws,” LaBossiere said as she walked toward the encampment. Fellow volunteer Claire Sheehy stayed a few steps back.
The resident pushed the tarp back as she came out to greet the two C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers with an orange-and-white cat trailing behind her.
“Do you need cat food?” Sheehy asked.
“Yeah, yeah, I do,” she replied.
“Super! I brought some, and I think Chris has some, too,” Sheehy said as the two unclipped and set down their backpacks to retrieve canned food.
“So, are you going to have to be moving soon?”
The resident Sheehy and LaBossiere are visiting lives in the Santa Maria Riverbed, which held more encampments earlier in the summer, before cleanups began to clear out the estimated 110 to 150 people living there. Caltrans spearheaded the most recent cleanup under the Highway 101 bridge.
So far, the coordinated effort has cleared more than 50 encampments, Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson estimated, but he said it’s difficult to pin down an exact number.
“We’ve been after it. We are going to continue to provide services out there as we help people move beyond the riverbed,” Nelson said. “We’re in it for the long haul. This is not a half measure.”
The county has spent $2.3 million so far out of its $6 million allocation of state grant funding to address encampments.
“Pets is a complicated one because, you know, pets come in many shapes and sizes and species, and that’s a challenge in housing,” Nelson said. “One of the challenges is working with our outreach workers to help in the cases the pet can’t be moved to the housing option.”
After completing the portion under the bridge, the county and its partners are shifting to the west, toward this encampment. The resident said she’s scared to enter Good Samaritan or other shelter options because she doesn’t want
to be separated from her five cats; she plans to move elsewhere in the riverbed instead.
“When you’re in a situation like this, and all you really have is your animal for your love, companionship, and support, you know it’s in our best nature to take care of them, to keep them together,” volunteer Sheehy said.
The resident told Sheehy and LaBossiere that she hasn’t received notice for when a cleanup in the area will happen yet, but she’s getting ready just in case. A shopping cart stacked high with her belongings sat nearby, and the black-andwhite kitten played with a dangling piece of shredded tarp.
Sheehy and LaBossiere promised to check in with her in a few days—with an extra carrier in hand to help her move her cats. The three exchanged phone numbers to stay in contact, but she wasn’t sure how long her phone would stay charged. She’s sharing a car battery with a few other folks in the riverbed, but she doesn’t know if they’ll be able to keep it when they move.
The volunteers strapped their backpacks and carriers in place and departed from the encampment, falling into an easy rhythm with one another.
“I’m new to it. I’m about a year into it, volunteering. Claire’s been involved a lot longer than me,” LaBossiere said. “We’ve just formed a really good working relationship and friendship and trust each other.”
“You’re my best sidearm I could have,” LaBossiere told Sheehy. “She’s my partner.”
The longtime Santa Maria residents and retirees followed their passion for animals by volunteering for C.A.R.E.4Paws. They help families in the Santa Maria Riverbed every Tuesday alongside other organizations that have set up services since the cleanups began.
They’ve now been in the riverbed five or six times together, distributing food, flea treatments, and working to build trust with the folks who have been living there—some as long as 12 years.
“I think we’re still relationship-building. … It’s going to take time with this particular population to gain that trust,” Sheehy said. “That’s why we need to be down here on a
consistent basis, and I think it’s important for them to see two people they recognize, and they may know we’re here for animals. We’re not trying to get them out. We’re not threatening them. We just want to help their animals.”
The C.A.R.E.4Paws mobile veterinary clinic has spayed/ neutered about 20 cats and two dogs in its two visits to the riverbed, Executive Director and Co-founder Isabelle Gullo said. She estimates that there might be more than 100 animals in the riverbed.
“I am glad that we’re able to provide boots-on-the-ground support to pet families in the riverbed because it goes beyond the pets,” Gullo said.
“We are able to be there to provide support to families living in the riverbed and building relationships we didn’t have before, getting to know new people, and just seeing how much people love their pets, and we want to help as much as we can.”
The mobile clinics have one full-time veterinarian and a veterinarian who works on a contract basis with an eightperson veterinary team of vet technicians and assistants. It costs about $5,000 to roll out the clinic each time.
The nonprofit has hosted two mobile pet health care clinics to provide veterinary and licensing services to residents in the riverbed, with an upcoming clinic on Oct. 11, but they hadn’t yet found a place to park the vans as of Sept. 26. The clinics provide spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, food, water, flea treatment, and licensing and chipping services. The work in the riverbed has added at least $15,000 of unbudgeted expenses, Gullo said.
Volunteers or clinicians will often start working with a pet family and suddenly lose connection with that person after a cleanup because they’ve moved, Gullo said.
Moving through the riverbed after visiting the first resident, C.A.R.E.4Paws volunteers Sheehy and LaBossiere searched for another resident they’ve come to know and his dog, a sweet black-and-white cattle dog mix they’ve cared for in the past. But they couldn’t find the right encampment.
“See, things change,” Sheehy said. “It’s also another interesting thing. These people are constantly changing along with the riverbed itself— you know, the sand, the soil, the seasons, all of that. So, each time we come down here, it’s different.” The two finally found the encampment and learned that the dog recently cut her paw on a piece of glass. The resident said he tried to clean it out as much as possible and cover her foot with a bandage, but the dog shook the covering off.
LaBossiere asked if they could bring his pet to a vet to look at her paw, but he said no, fearing that she would be taken away from him. LaBossiere promised that he would be with his dog the whole time, but he still declined the offer because he was scared that his stuff would be gone if he left the riverbed.
In the meantime, LaBossiere helped him clean the wound with hydrogen peroxide and left him with the bottle—instructing him to reapply it every few days.
When the volunteers and the resident parted ways, the dog followed close to him, limping with her injured paw in the air as she walked.
“It will probably be never-ending,” Sheehy said about their work. “But we do what we can.” m
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@santamariasun.com.
Join Us for the 23rd Annual Santa Maria Empty Bowls!
Fill your bowl with delicious soup and make a difference in the community. Each handcrafted bowl represents our shared mission to end food insecurity, and you’ll take yours home as a reminder of those facing hunger daily. All proceeds support the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County—help us nourish those in need!
Seatings: 11:30am & 12:30pm Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Our team at Pediatric Medical Group is dedicated to the health and well-being of your child. Whether you have an infant, preschooler, or teenager, we work closely with parents to make sure that our care meets their children’s personal needs.
Call to schedule your child’s well exam today.
Buellton children’s thrift store moves, celebrates first anniversary
BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR
Neat racks of colorful onesies, kids T-shirts, shorts, and baby shoes line the 350 square feet of retail space Kayla Perez purchased a year ago.
“I think if you came in and didn’t know it was a thrift shop, you wouldn’t know it was secondhand,” said Perez, the owner of Kayla’s Kidz—a secondhand store for children’s clothes, books, and shoes.
The longtime Santa Ynez Valley resident recently retired after working in gardening and landscaping for her entire career. Her small company with 10 employees grew to the point where she was able to sell it to a large company in Sacramento.
“I didn’t know what to do with myself because plants, gardening, and landscaping were my whole life,” she said after selling the company. “I’m not a very religious person, but this whole thing was a shot from God.”
One morning she was watching Good Morning America—something she usually never watches—and there was a special about children’s thrift shops in big cities, she said.
“I thought, ‘We don’t have anything like that in the valley,’” she said.
The Santa Ynez Valley saw an influx of young families move to the rural area during COVID—people who like to repurpose and be environmentally conscious, Perez said.
The next day during her hair appointment, the woman next to her said there was a small retail unit available in Buellton. Two months later Perez opened Kayla’s Kidz on Sept. 21, 2023.
“I bought everything used. I went to LA and bought used racks and hangers. I tried not to buy anything new, and stayed with repurposing and environmentally conscious
things,” she said. “I bought bundles of clothes off Facebook in Santa Maria, Lompoc, Orcutt, and started collecting a bunch of clothes.”
Now, the shop owner is celebrating her one-year anniversary by moving into a bigger, 750-square-foot storefront where she will continue to sell gently used clothes, books, and shoes, and hopefully expand into select toys, cribs, playpens, and high chairs. She will be celebrating her grand opening on Oct. 25 and 26.
“We’ll have snacks and face painting and a photo booth, and there might be some discounts on some of our inventory,” she said. Inventory arrives from customers bringing in bags of clothes, which Perez combs through— looking for popular brands and quality items, weeding out ones with stains and tears—and hand-selects every single item for the store.
“I’m really picky about what I put out. I take it home, I wash it and iron it. When people go to thrift shops they like to look through everything, so it’s not so packed where you can’t get through the whole rack,” she said.
After Perez selects what she likes, she will give the customer an amount of store credit. The discarded items can either be returned to the customer or Perez will put them in her free bin.
“The free bin in my store is a big hit; people absolutely love it. Some people come and they don’t buy things but they get stuff from the free bin, or they buy things and they find more in the free bin,” she said. “It’s a nice extra thing we do. … It’s a good way to recycle the things we don’t need or were donated and they still need to find their way to a home.”
Perez will donate items that don’t make it out of the free bin to a local church to make sure they still get repurposed “in a charitable way.”
“I’m really enjoying the joy people get out of the shop. The flip side of doing something environmentally good, repurposing something, it’s just kind of a feel-good environment, and I’m really enjoying that,” Perez said.
Kayla’s Kidz will be moving to 65-B W. Highway 246 in Buellton. It’s currently at 90 W. Highway 246. Call (805) 245-0633 with questions about the move-in date and grand opening.
• The Lompoc Public Library is offering a new free program for teens ages 13 to 18 who are interested in learning about babysitting. Babysitting 101 courses will take place on Oct. 8, 15, and 22 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. One class was planned to be held on Oct. 1. The course will go over the basics of starting a babysitting business, tips on interacting with clients, activity ideas, and more. Battalion Chief Kevin Shay from the Lompoc City Fire Department will also be coordinating basic first-aid training for participants. Call (805) 875-8775 to register. m
Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@ santamariasun.com.
All records for any Special Education student that was born within the year 2000 and attended a Santa Maria Joint Union High School District school, your physical special education records are available for pick up at no charge from the District Office. All 2000 not picked up by June 1, 2025 will be destroyed.
If you have any questions, or to arrange a pickup date/time, contact:
Sandra Hernandez/ Dept. of Special Education
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District
2560 Skyway Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455
805-922-4573 ext. 4311
Todos los registros de cualquier estudiante de Educación Especial que haya nacido dentro del año 2000 y asistió a una escuela del Distrito Escolar de las escuelas preparatorias de Santa Maria, sus registros físicos de educación especial están disponibles para recoger sin cargo en la Oficina del Distrito. Todos los registros del 2000 que no hayan sido recogidos para el 1 de junio de 2025 serán destruidos. Si tiene alguna pregunta, o para programar una fecha/hora de recogida, comuníquense con:
Sandra Hernandez/ Dept. of Special Education
Santa Maria Joint Union High School District
2560 Skyway Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455
805-922-4573 ext. 4311
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) seeks to identify, locate, and evaluate high school age students suspected of having a disability who may be eligible for special education services designed to meet their educational needs at no cost to families. This includes students that are highly mobile, migrant, experiencing homelessness, students that are wards of the state, and students attending private schools located within SMJUHSD boundaries. If you suspect your child has a disability, contact the school special education department or district office Special Education Department.
Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)
El Distrito Unificado de Escuelas Preparatorias de Santa Maria (SMJUHSD) busca identificar, localizar y evaluar a los estudiantes en edad de escuela preparatoria sospechosos de tener una discapacidad que puede ser elegible para servicios de educación especial diseñados para satisfacer sus necesidades educativas sin costo alguno para las familias. Esto incluye a los estudiantes que son altamente móviles, migrantes, sin hogar, estudiantes que están bajo la tutela del estado, y los estudiantes que asisten a escuelas privadas ubicadas dentro los limites de SMJUHSD. Si sospecha que su hijo tiene una discapacidad, comuníquese con el departamento de educación especial de la escuela u oficina de Educación Especial del distrito SMJUHSD.
Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)
Will Santa Maria’s downtown benefit from new planned development?
56% Yes! It’s a big step toward finally realizing the city’s downtown vision.
37% Only if the city revives MotionZ laser tag!
7% Well, downtown business owners will benefit from more residents.
0% No. More people means more calls for services, which the city can’t handle. 16 Votes Vote online at www.santamariasun.com.
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Patrick Wiemiller is the best candidate for Lompoc’s 1st District City Council seat
BY RON FINK
There are two City Council seats in Lompoc being contested in the upcoming election; one is for mayor and the other for the 1st District, on the north end of the city.
The only qualification to run for a City Council seat is to be at least 18 years old and a registered voter. The mayor’s seat is an at-large election, meaning that the majority of all registered voters in the city limits will select the winner, but the 1st District seat will only be chosen by registered voters within the district boundaries.
There are other factors to consider when you make your choice. First, does the candidate have
Sable Offshore seeks to reopen the same failed oil pipeline that caused the catastrophic spill of May 2015. Almost 150,000 gallons of toxic and cancer-causing crude flooded our water and beaches, contaminating one of the most biologically diverse areas of the West Coast and leaving taxpayers with the economic consequences.
The U.S. remains, by far, the world’s biggest oil producer. And job growth in clean energy fields continues to far outpace employment in fossil fuel industries.
Now Sable wants to start up the same old corroded pipeline, after what they say will be “repairs.” Against all common sense and with a dangerous level of arrogance, they are asking for a special waiver to allow them to avoid employing a protection system that prevents corrosion. This is the definition of irresponsibility.
The Board of Supervisors, Gov. Newsom, and the state fire marshal can and must stop this corruption of our system of regulatory control of
any experience in government either as an elected or appointed representative. Second, does that candidate have any issues that may cause you to question their ethical standards.
In the 1st District race, Patrick Wiemiller has a lengthy history of public service in all levels of municipal government.
Wiemiller originally came to Lompoc from the city of Fresno where he was the Public Works director and managed several hundred employees and a multimillion-dollar budget. While city manager in Lompoc, he managed both the general fund (public safety, streets, and parks) and the enterprise fund (solid waste, drinking water, wastewater, and electric service).
He was, and still is, well respected as an evenhanded manager by all the employees of the city and present and former members of the City Council. Following that, he was assistant city
public health and safety hazards. And we are not powerless to tilt the balance. Sit-ins, boycotts, protest marches, and civil disobedience can help save the county from the next inevitable toxic catastrophe.
Seth Steiner Los Alamos
Donald Trump likes to portray the U.S. economy as being on life support as he attempts to claim only he can save us from economic, social, and political calamity. He does the same regarding immigration. He convinced his Republican faithful in Congress to not pass a bipartisan bill, which would have significantly reduced the flow of illegal immigrants and provided additional needed resources for border patrol, all so he could step in as the next president and appear like the antiimmigration savior, rescuing us from what he perceives as the wrongdoings of the BidenHarris administration. He cared more about taking the credit himself later than doing
manager in Santa Maria and currently works as a consultant to assist and evaluate municipalities all over the state.
The first order of business for the City Council following the swearing in of the new council in January will be the next two-year city budget. When elected, Wiemiller, with years of experience in public budget preparation, will be ready to engage in the debate. His understanding of the very lengthy list of funding sources, costs of running general and enterprise fund projects, and mandates from Sacramento would enable him to quickly and effectively analyze staff recommendations.
In this election there is one clear choice— Patrick Wiemiller, in view of his public record, is by far the most qualified candidate that has ever sought a seat on the council dais. m
Ron Fink writes to the Sun from Lompoc. Send a letter for publication to letters@santamariasun.com.
what would have been right for our country then. However, in spite of the failure of that legislation to pass, illegal immigration is still at the lowest level since 2020.
According to numerous reliable news sources, our economy is steadily improving, although not as much as some people would like. The unemployment rate is 3.5 percent, a 50-year low. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate is almost 6 percent. Since before the pandemic wages are up, disposable income is up, and personal wealth is up. Inflation has reduced from a high of 8 percent to the present rate of 2.9 percent. People, when asked about how they are doing economically, claim “pretty good.” But when asked about the economy, they state “terrible,” maybe suggesting they were responding more to the propaganda than the reality. Personal spending has increased, stock values are up, new business starts have increased, and, subsequent to the global COVID pandemic, the U.S. economy is recovering and inflation is declining faster than most other countries.
Experts also acknowledge the price of groceries remains relatively high. However, Kamala Harris vows to take grocers on as, out of greed, they artificially keep prices high while unnecessarily burdening consumers.
Forty-million borrowers have benefited by having their student debt eliminated or drastically reduced. We have all benefited by the federal government pouring billions of dollars into improving roads, bridges, seaports, airports, public transit systems, railways, expanding highspeed internet networks, and improving public water systems by removing lead pipes, providing more clean drinking water, and ensuring better health for millions of our citizens, all by virtue of the Biden-Harris administration.
These are only a sample of the gains made during the Biden-Harris administration, and I invite readers to explore other gains made and vows by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to advocate for and introduce legislation to implement responsible gun ownership, reproductive rights, combat climate change, implement criminal justice and health care reform, and more.
Donald Trump will promise anything to obtain votes but rarely follows up on promises made. For example, where are his tax returns he promised to provide during his first campaign for president? He tells one lie after another and accuses his challengers of the same character flaws, which he himself displays. In psychological circles this is termed “projection,” of which he is a master. If he is reelected, we will all lose personally and nationally, and maybe his supporters will realize they have been hoodwinked, but unfortunately it will be too late.
Please vote responsibly!
So far, Santa Barbara County’s spent about $2.3 million cleaning out the Santa Maria Riverbed. It’s only one of the partners involved in the cleanup efforts, and those efforts have only tackled a third to half of what’s there. There was still a lot of work left to do, last I checked, and at least one encampment resident planned to escape by simply moving deeper into the riverbed corridor. I’m pretty sure that person isn’t the only one.
How did we get here? Hopefully the partner agencies spending millions on this cleanup of encamped residents who have lived in the riverbed for years—one said they’d been there for 12!—have also discussed how to not get back to this same place a few years down the line.
Fences, mattresses, tarps, and more fill truck after truck. Houseless residents who were allowed to put roots someplace they shouldn’t have for a variety of reasons—the biggest being it’s a riverbed that flows most often during the winter, collecting trash, human excrement, and whatever else is loose, and diverting it down through farmland and wetlands and into the Pacific Ocean (Nice!)—are being uprooted and their main option is Good Samaritan
Good Sam, which doesn’t always take pets and likely has certain sobriety and behavior requirements. So, what are the other options?
We’re obviously not getting rid of homelessness, no matter what Gov. Gavin Newsom promised with his Proposition 1 initiative to move money around to build housing for the most vulnerable. What’s the post-cleanup plan?
You know who didn’t have a plan and is trying to have a plan and is running into problems with said plan? Santa Barbara County and its skunky cannabis conundrum. The county is almost ready to put a cannabis odor ordinance into action! Kiss those pesky odors goodbye!
Well, actually, the county Planning Commission pushed a decision on the odor issue to get more feedback from community members and the cannabis industry. I think, no matter what, residents who don’t want to smell that floral harvest are going to be pissed. Can we really scrub smells out of the open air?
Meanwhile the biggest issue seems to be enforcement. If an area has more than one cannabis grow, where’s the smell coming from? One resident’s been complaining about her odoriferous neighbors for years, but her complaints were always considered “unverified.”
“It is not realistic to expect a resident to prove where odor is coming from when there are multiple farms upwind of Buellton,” Theresa Reilly of Buellton wrote in a public comment letter.
What is cannabis code enforcement supposed to do? Go sniff out the culprit?
I supposed I could make a noise complaint and just point to downtown Santa Barbara. See if they can figure out which bar is playing the music I’m upset about.
Might be difficult.
At least Guadalupe can pinpoint its problems. They’re self-inflicted, caused a big clog, and will cost $400,000 to fix. One sewer treatment plant clog led to another, the local water board got involved, and now the gritty situation needs to be dredged and a filter system reinstalled, according to the city.
But don’t worry, Guadalupe, “You can still flush your toilet,” according to City Administrator Todd Bodem m
This guitar features an HSS pickup configuration with 5-way switching, vintage style tremolo, and an oversized 4+2 headstock.
Guitar donated by:
The guitar will be raffled at the New Times Music Awards Friday, November 22 SLO Brew Rock Need not be present to win Buy one raffle ticket for $10, 3 for $25, or 15 for $100, and support the local music scene!
22 TO NOVEMBER 4
Thursday, October 17 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Rooftop Patio at Toyota of Santa Maria 1643 South Bradley, Santa Maria
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. Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/.
FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES 0-17
Visit the Youth Services Desk on the first Sunday of each month to receive a coupon for a free book of your choice from the Library Bookstore. For ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
LEARN CALIFORNIA’S OFFICIAL DANCE:
WEST COAST SWING
Learn west coast swing in a casual, friendly environment, taught by Texas state swing champion, Gina Sigman. Free intro from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Beyond the Basics ($10) is 7 to 7:45 p.m. $10 entry includes social dance (7:45 to 8:15 p.m.). Tuesdays, 6:30-8:15 p.m. 832-884-8114. Cubanissimo Cuban Coffee House, 4869 S. Bradley Rd., #118, Orcutt. MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
Santa Maria will join communities across the globe to screen the finalists in the 27th annual Manhattan Short Film Festival. Audience members will enjoy 10 outstanding international short films and then vote for their favorite film and actor. The worldwide audience determines the
ultimate victor. Oct. 3, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/ services/departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
SAVANNAH SIPPING SOCIETY A hilarious journey of friendship, laughter, and sweet tea sipping Oct. 11-27 my805tix. com/. Santa Maria Civic Theatre, 1660 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
VALLEY ART GALLERY: ROTATING
DISPLAYS Featured artists of Santa Maria’s Valley Art Gallery frequently display their works at the airport. Check website for details on monthly exhibits and full list of the gallery’s artists. ongoing valleygallery.org. Santa Maria Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
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. Through Feb. 1,. calnatureartmuseum.org. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., 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. WOODLANDS II AT GALLERY LOS
OLIVOS Deborah Breedon, Kris Buck, and Chuck Klein are the featured artists for the month of October at Gallery Los Olivos. Titled Woodlands II, this exhibit is a blend of pastels including landscapes, abstracts, florals, and fine woodworking. Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Oct. 31 805-688-7517.
GalleryLosOlivos.com. Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
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.
FASHIONS FOR A PURPOSE Upon arrival, you will be seated along the runway, with a complimentary glass of Opolo Sparkling Wine, during this fundraiser that showcases high-end fashions and swagger. Oct. 5 9:30 a.m. my805tix.com/.
DANA Adobe Cultural Center, 671 S. Oakglen Ave., Nipomo, 805-929-5679.
FINAL BOOK SALE OF 2024 The sale offers a wide selection of current fiction, non-fiction, research, children’s books, and a selection of coffee table books. Cash only. Rain cancels. Oct. 12 , 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 805-4814131. GroverBeachLibrary.org. Grover Beach Community Library, 240 N 9th St., Grover Beach.
GARY GULMAN: MISFIT STAND UP TOUR
Boston native Gary Gulman’s diverse background includes being a college football scholarship athlete, an accountant, and a high school teacher. Today, Gulman is a leading touring comic, selling out venues like Carnegie Hall in New York City. His Misfit: Stand Up Tour showcases new material. Oct. 3, 7:30-10:30 p.m. $45.50-$59.50. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/shows/garygulman/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande. 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.
RM ART STUDIOS WELCOMES THE
PUBLIC Local artists Rosemary and Mike Bauer welcome you to their home studio/ gallery during the Open Studios Art Tour. More than 50 paintings will be on display. The artists paint both outdoors and in the studio to capture expressive interpretations of Central Coast scenes. Open year-round by appointment. Oct. 12 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct. 13 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free event. 805390-2497. slocountyarts.org/osat. RM Art Studios, 831 Robin Circle, Arroyo Grande. WEREWOLF OF ARROYO GRANDE Enjoy the Melodrama’s Halloween-spirited show. Through Nov. 9 Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
”WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG?” ART SHOW Just in time for possibly the most crucial Presidential election of our lifetime, the Bunker will present a group art exhibit, “What Could Possibly Go Wrong?” curated by political artist Robbie Conal. Oct. 4 , 5-8 p.m. 805-203-6301. thebunkerslo.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, 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.
Arrowsmith’s Wine Bar in Solvang will host The Loves of the Beatles, a talk by Dennis Mitchell, on Sunday, Oct. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m. Mitchell’s presentation will center on each Beatles’ respective dating history with rare audio clips and other resources. Admission to attend the talk is free. Visit arrowsmithwine. com to find out more about the event.
artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
ALL AGES SCULPTING WITH JOHN ROULLARD John a retired school teacher who patiently guides potters of all ages to sculpt and work on details and design. Saturdays, 1:30-3 p.m. $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
ALL LEVELS POTTERY CLASSES Anam Cre is a pottery studio in SLO that offers a variety of classes. This specific class is open to any level. Teachers are present for questions, but the class feels more like an open studio time for potters. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. $40. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.
ART AFTER DARK: CENTURY 21
HOMETOWN REALTY Century 21
Hometown Realty is pleased to host amazing local artists, rotating their art work each month for the ‘Art After Dark’ calendar year. Reception of food and wine. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. through Nov. 1 Century 21 Hometown Realty, 1103 Toro St., San Luis Obispo, 805-235-4877.
THE ARTIST’S WAY: UNBLOCKING CREATIVITY 12 week program (13 meetings) for creatives and anyone who is seeking to “unblock” their creativity, following Julia Cameron’s famous workbook “The Artist’s Way.” Weekly group discussions and check-ins. Opportunities to share creativity and create community. Email for more info. Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. through Nov. 26 $195. cuesta.edu. Cuesta College Community Programs, Building 4100 Cuesta College Road, San luis obispo, 805-540-8282.
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. CENTRAL COAST WRITERS’ CONFERENCE The premier event for creatives of all types. This is your time to connect with your other creatives, learn new skills, and get inspired to take your craft to the next level. Oct. 5 8:30 a.m.5:30 p.m. $299. 805-546-3132. cuesta.edu/ communityprograms/writers-conference/. Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo. CERAMIC LESSONS AND MORE Now offering private one-on-one and group lessons in the ceramic arts. Both hand building and wheel throwing options. Beginners welcomed. ongoing 805-8355893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. CHARM BOTTLE MAGIC Learn how to make a charm bottle to focus your intentions or manifest your desires. Identify ingredients that work for you, and create a charm bottle that can be made into earrings, a necklace, or decor item. Oct. 4 6-7 p.m. $30. 805-439-1022. slolifestudio.com/collections/classesand-worksops/products/charm-bottlemagic. SLOLife Studio & Mercantile, 1337 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. COLLAGING THE COAST: LIGHTHOUSE WITH LINDA CUNNINGHAM In this workshop, you’ll receive step-by-step instructions for creating a beautiful lighthouse collage using a variety of handpainted papers. Oct. 5 12-4 p.m. $40. 805478-2158. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. COLLEEN GNOS’ OCEAN SCENES AND MORE Colleen Gnos invites you to go behind the scenes in her SLO studio as part of the Open Studios Art Tour. Explore her various works, including painted surfboards, hula dancers, tiki art, landscapes, ocean scenes, mermaids, murals, and more. Saturdays, Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Oct. 20 Free admission. 805-441-8277. colleengnos.com. Gnos Art Studio, 141 Suburban Road, Unit C4, San Luis Obsipo.
COMIC MAKING FOR TEENS WITH KANE LYNCH All skill levels are welcome in
collaborative class that will
of
The Elwin Mussell Senior Center in Santa Maria will host a 1960s-themed dance on Sunday, Oct. 13, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The event will feature live music from the Riptide Big Band and vocalists Bob Nations and Mitch Latting. Admission to the dance is free thanks to grant funding from the Community Foundation of SLO County. Visit riptidebb.com for more info.
ARTS from page 12
finished comic story. Learn about plot structure, thumbnailing, penciling, inking, as well as the subtler skills to make your comic work shine. Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. through Oct. 30 $25 per session; $175 for all 8 sessions. 805-801-6188. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
CUESTA DRAMA PRESENTS A MIDSEMESTER NIGHT’S MASHUP (A WORLD PREMIERE) An exciting, limited run of A Midsemester Night’s Mashup a world premiere written and directed by Ben Abbott, produced by award-winning and internationally recognized Cuesta Drama. Limited seats available. Oct. 3 , 7:30 p.m., Oct. 4 7:30 p.m., Oct. 5 7:30 p.m., Oct. 6, 2 p.m., Oct. 10 7:30 p.m., Oct. 11 7:30 p.m., Oct. 12 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 13 2 p.m. $15. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.
MAKE A PAMPHLET STITCH JOURNAL
Learn the most basic sewn bookbinding technique: the pamphlet stitch. Make your own journals, field notes, sketchbooks, and more out of different papers.
Personalize your writing experience and make a journal that’s right for you. Oct. 6, 1-2 p.m. $30. 805-439-1022. slolifestudio. com/collections/classes-and-worksops/ products/pamphlet-stitch-journals.
SLOLife Studio & Mercantile, 1337 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
MARIA MOLTENI: CELESTIAL
site at various locations. Weekly plein air destinations are provided by Kirsti Wothe via email (mrswothe@yahoo.com). Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.
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.
FIRST FRIDAYS Visit SLOMA on the first Friday of each month for exhibition openings, music, and wines provided by regional winery partners. Admission is free and open to the public. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/events/first-fridays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
GINI GRIFFIN: SOLO SHOW OF POTS AND PAINTINGS Showing during the month of October at SLO Provisions. Opening reception: Oct 4, from 5 to 8 p.m. Email ginizart@aol.com for more info. Oct. 4-31 SLO Provisions, 1255 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 439-4298.
GRAND OPENING WEEKEND: SLOLIFE STUDIO & MERCANTILE Welcome to SLO’s newest creative spot. Creative hands-on classes available for all skill levels taught by local artists and makers, plus DIY kits and craft supplies. With free pumpkin painting for kids on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon, while supplies last. Oct. 4 3-8 p.m., Oct. 5 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Oct. 6 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 805-439-1022. slolifestudio.com/. SLOLife Studio & Mercantile, 1337 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY AND ART
Owen and Kyoko Hunt from Kyoto, Japan offer classes for Japanese calligraphy (Fridays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.), a Japanese art called “haiga” (Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m.) and more at Nesting Hawk Ranch. Fridays $45. 702-335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo.
LEARN TO WEAVE MONDAYS An opportunity to learn how a four-shaft loom works. You will get acquainted as a new weaver or as a refresher with lots of tips and tricks. This class includes getting to know a loom, how to prepare/dress a loom, and much much more. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. $75 monthly. 805-441-8257.
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.
MISERY This Stephen King adaptation follows successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon, who is rescued from a car crash by his “number one fan,” Annie Wilkes, and wakes up captive in her secluded home. Thursdays-Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through Oct. 27 $20-$34. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, 805-786-2440, slorep.org/.
MOMIX: ALICE Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic, presented by Cal Poly Arts. Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. $47-$79. 805-756-4849. calpolyarts.org/20242025-season/momixalice. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
THE OUTSIDERS FROM THE OTHER SIDE
Featuring “outsider” artists from Tijuana, Mexico. Offering a glimpse into Tijuana’s rich artistic landscape and focusing on the cross-border experiences that shape the artists’ life and work. Discover unique perspectives on identity, culture, and belonging. Sculpture, painting, collage, photography, stencil murals, and graffiti are among the featured media. MondaysFridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Oct. 11 Free. 805-546-3202. cuesta.edu/student/ campuslife/artgallery/2024-2025-exhibits/ the-outsiders.html. Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, 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.
SEA GLASS HAMMERED METAL JEWELRY CLASS You’ll learn techniques to hammer metal, then add sea glass and beads to create a beautiful necklace and pierced earrings. Class includes use of tools and a take-home instruction sheet. Perfect for all skill levels. Oct. 13 10 a.m.noon $45. 805-541-1400. creativemetime. com. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., 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.
SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. 805-703-3132. slonightwriters.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING WATERCOLOR This is a watercolor class designed to let you jump in and try out this engaging medium through experimentation. It’s designed for beginners and those with watercolor experience who wish to expand their knowledge of painting in watercolors. To enroll please contact Mack via email: vbmack@charter.net Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $35. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
m
Patricia Martin: Whispering Vista Studios, 224 Squire Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, patriciamartinartist.com.
PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL COAST A self-directed fun group of dynamic artists who enjoy painting and sketching outdoors. Artists meet on
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.
Haunted Manor: Presented by The Benedict
FRI-WED, OCTOBER 11-30 The Benedict, Morro Bay
Tribute to John Prine at Humdinger in SLO
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 Humdinger Brewing, SLO
The Killer Dueling Pianos
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13 Libertine Brewing Company, SLO
THURSDAY, OCTOBER
y Mimosas Drag Brunch
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
Mi Manera Mexican Cuisine, Santa Maria
Ball: Dancing, Silent Auction, Dinner, & Art Showcase
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19
to Nirvana & Pearl Jam Starring The Faithfull & Nearvana
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 The Stockyard, Orcutt
The Surface Walkers: A Science Fiction Rock Musical
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc
Full Moon & Day of the Dead Ceremony
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17 9th Limb Yoga, Morro Bay
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18
Feast: A Bramble Pie Co. & MCV Wines Event
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Bramble Pie Company, Atascadero
SAMO Fund Presents: Katelyn Tarver
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 Peter Strauss Ranch, Agoura Hills
The Relative Minimum, Death of the Party, Bandwidth, & Throw Away
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12 Linnaea’s Cafe, SLO
DI, Cigar, Mad Tab, Bunker 805
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17
A Pre Halloween Ball w/Elysian Moon & Jungle Haus
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Kreuzberg California, SLO
Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cambria
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc
NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY
ATUL PANDE, CAROL ROULLARD, AND CAROLE MCDONALD: ARTISTS RECEPTION AND ATRIUM PARTY Come meet the artists, be inspired, and enjoy food, refreshments, a tree-filled atrium and all the businesses in Marina Square. Featuring Atul Pande, Carol Roullard, and Carole McDonald. Oct. 12 , 3-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare. com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
COASTAL WINE AND PAINT PARTY
Listen to music while enjoying an afternoon of creativity, sipping, and mingling. The party includes a complimentary glass of wine and canvas with materials. Saturdays, 12-2 p.m. $55. 805-394-5560. coastalwineandpaint.com. Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, 824 Main St., Cambria.
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.
FINE ART PAINTINGS BY ATUL PANDE
Gallery at Marina Square presents Atul Pande featuring his acrylic paintings, both representational and nonrepresentational. A marvelous exhibition of his talents as a painter. Through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
FINE ART PAINTINGS BY CAROL
ROULLARD Showcases both her abstract acrylic paintings and her micro-crystalline photography. Through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No artistic experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. 805-772-9095. foreverstoked.com. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.
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. MANHATTAN SHORT FILM FESTIVAL
(MORRO BAY) Film lovers will unite in more than 500 venues worldwide to view and judge the work of the next generation of filmmakers from around the world. The final selections screen simultaneously around the world during a one-week period. Oct. 5, 1:30-4 p.m. Free. 805-7726394. slolibrary.org. Morro Bay Library, 625 Harbor St., Morro Bay.
THE OUTSIDER A timely and hilarious comedy that skewers politics and celebrates democracy. Oct. 11-27 my805tix.com/. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.
THE PLEIN AIR TEAM Acrylic artist, Nancy Lynn, and husband, watercolorist, Robert Fleming, have an ongoing show of originals and giclee prints of Morro Bay and local birds. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.
ROD BAKER’S GLASS ART Visit Baker’s fascinating glass studio as part of the Open Studios Art Tour, at Central Coast Glass Blowing and Fusing. See new glass masterpieces, home-garden décor, and glass jewelry. Saturdays, Sundays, 10 a.m.5 p.m. through Oct. 20 Free admission. 805-551-6836. Central Coast Glass Blowing and Fusing, 1279 2nd Street, Los Osos, RodBakerGlass.com.
ROSEY AND BARBARA ROSENTHAL’S BAYSIDE STUDIO AND GARDEN GALLERY Printmakers Rosey and Barbara Rosenthal invite you to their
bayside studio and outdoor gallery as part of the Open Studios Art Tour. Explore their inspiring comic book art, original paintings, prints, jewelry, art books, and cards. Oct. 12 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Oct. 13 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free admission. 805-5284946. rosenthalart.com. Rosenthal Art Studio, 743 Santa Lucia Ave., Los Osos.
SMALL WORKS BY CAROLE MCDONALD
Features her small acrylic paintings as well as her knitted and wool scarves and bags. Through Oct. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare. com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay. SUCCULENT PUMPKIN WORKSHOP
Spend a delightful afternoon at the nursery, where you can tap into your creativity to design the perfect centerpiece for your autumn celebrations. The workshop fee covers one pumpkin and a wide selection of succulents. Oct. 12 , 2 p.m. $35. 805-927-4747. cambrianursery.com/events/. Cambria Nursery and Florist, 2801 Eton Rd., Cambria.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
ANDROID PHONE CLASS First Thursday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, 805-937-9750.
BUNCO NIGHT Enjoy this fast-paced, easy-to-learn game. Free to play, with prizes for winners. All ages welcome. Register to reserve your spot. Oct. 3 7 p.m. Free. my805tix.com. Naughty Oak Brewing Co., 165 S Broadway St. suite 102, Orcutt, 805-287-9663.
BUNCO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC Come on out for a afternoon of fun. This will be held at the American Legion Post 534 in Old Orcutt Oct. 6, 2-5 p.m. $25. American Legion Post 534, 145 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY:
GARDENING WITH NATIVE PLANTS The SLO Chapter of the California Native Plant Society will be hosting a presentation in both English and Spanish, discussing California native plants that are best suited to Santa Maria and neighboring areas. There will also be a Q-and-A portion at the end. Oct. 5 10:30 a.m.-noon Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/ services/departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
CASUAL CRAFTERNOON: BOOK
DECOUPAGE MINI PUMPKINS Upcycle pages from a discarded book to create a sophisticated decoration. This workshop is free and all materials are provided. Registration is required; for patrons 18 and older. Oct. 9, 12-1:30 p.m. Free. 805925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
CENTRAL COAST CORVETTE CLUB Open to Corvette owners and enthusiasts. First Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. Free. 805-934-3948. Home Motors, 1313 E. Main St., Santa Maria.
FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. 805-937-9750. oasisorcutt. org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt. FIRST FRIDAY First Friday of every month facebook.com/firstfridayoldtownorcutt/. Historic Old Town Orcutt, S. Broadway and Union Ave., Orcutt.
FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES 0-17
Visit the Youth Services Desk on the first Sunday of each month to receive a coupon for a free book of your choice from the Library Bookstore. For ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. 805-9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.
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.
ORCUTT MINERAL SOCIETY Second Tuesday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, 805-937-9750. SANTA MARIA TOASTMASTERS Develop your public speaking skills at this club meeting. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. 805-570-0620. Santa Maria Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.
TABLETOP GAMING WITH SANTA MARIA ADVENTURER’S LEAGUE Be prepared for epic excitement with tabletop gaming presented by the Santa Maria Adventurer’s League. Everyone is welcome regardless of previous experience. All children under the ages of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Space is limited and registration is required. Oct. 6 1-4:30 p.m. Free. 805925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONKS: CREATING A MANDALA Hancock College is honored to host the Tibetan Monks on campus daily from Sept. 30 through Oct. 4, creating a sand mandala over the week time, culminating in a closing ceremony on Oct. 4. All are welcome to drop in during the week to visit. Through Oct. 4 Free. 805-694-8894. hancockcollege.edu/ gallery/index.php. Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY CREEPY CREATURES ON THE LAWN Attendees can look forward to close-up encounters with snakes, spiders, bats, and scorpions. Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Donations accepted; $10 to park. clnaturecenter.org. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Hwy 154, Cachuma Lake, 805-693-0691. THE LOVES OF THE BEATLES: TALK BY DENNIS MITCHELL Breakfast With The Beatles radio host Dennis Mitchell will explore the romances of the members of the biggest band ever, from their early days in Liverpool and Hamburg to the present day. A presentation of interesting discoveries including rare audio and unreleased music and soundbites. Oct. 6, 5-7 p.m. Free. 805-686-9126. arrowsmithwine.com. Arrowsmith’s, 1539 Mission Drive, Solvang.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG AUTUMN HARVEST GARDEN TOUR Come experience the seasonal changes happening in the center’s bountiful vegetable garden. Meet new friends over a garden-fresh meal in Sunburst’s pine lodge. Go home with tips for planning your own regenerative cool weather garden, seedlings, freshly harvested vegetables, and more. Registration is required to attend Oct. 5 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $35. 805-736-6528. sunburst.org/garden/. Sunburst Retreat Center, 7200 CA-1, Lompoc.
THE VILLAGE TREASURE CHEST This event is for the whole family. There will be vendors selling their wears, music, facepainting, and some kind of food booth. Come out and spend part of your Saturday supporting local vendors. First Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. Vandenberg Village Community Services District Office, 3745 Constellation Road, Lompoc, 805-291-6370.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY ADVENTURES WITH NATURE:
OCEANO’S BEAVERS Join State Park Docent Dan to learn about the beaver. Enjoy an easy-paced walk around the Oceano Lagoon as we search for evidence and signs of beaver activity. Meet at the Oceano Dunes Visitor Center. Moderate walk (five miles; two hours). RSVP by calling. Oct. 12 , 10 a.m.-noon Free. 805474-2664. 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
A Goth and Horror Variety Extravaganza
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 Humdinger Brewing, SLO Pumpkin Succulent Centerpiece Class
SAT-THURS, OCTOBER 5-10 Golden State Goods, Atascadero
Chakra Balancing & Craft Workshop
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10
Craft Crop Create Studios, Atascadero
Cancerslug and Plot
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 Dark Nectar Coffee, Atascadero
Oktoberfest
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 Alex Madonna Expo Center, SLO
Wealth, Women, & Woo
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6 Jill Doherty Portrait Studio, Oceano
Libertine Presents: The Vibe Setters
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11
Libertine Brewing Company, SLO
The Mayors’ Bash featuring The Molly Wingwald Project
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5 The Stockyard, Orcutt Harry Miller Ranch Revival Featuring The Eagle Rock Gospel Singers
October 2024 Central Coast Cooking Show
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8 Idlers Home, Paso Robles
Zongo Yachting Cup 2024 FRI & SAT, OCTOBER 11 & 12
Morro Bay Yacht Club, Point San Luis Lighthouse
SATURDAY,
Peter Strauss Ranch, Agoura Hills Comedy Nightwith Michael
Trivia Wednesday Nigh with Brain Stew Trivia
WEDNESDAYS, OCTOBER 9 & 16 Bang The Drum Brewery, SLO Empty Bowls 2024
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10 St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Arroyo Grande
OCTOBER 11-27
5th, 2024 • 9am–4pm Elwin Mussell Senior Center 510 E. Park Avenue, Santa Maria
by: Santa Maria Coin Club
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.
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.
BODY FUSION/EXERCISE AND FITNESS
CLASS Do something good for yourself and stay fit for outdoor sports, while enhancing flexibility, strengthening your core to prevent lower back issues, improving your posture through yoga, and more. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. 970-710-1412. Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St., Avila Beach, avilabeachcc.com.
COMMUNITY NATIVE GARDEN MONTHLY VOLUNTEER WORKDAY
Volunteers accomplish a variety of tasks including pathways maintenance, litter patrol of the garden perimeter, weeding, irrigation system expansion/repairs, pruning, and plantings. Volunteers should bring work gloves, a hat, drinking water, and tools related to the above activities. First Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.-noon Free. 805-710-3073. Nipomo Native Garden, Camino Caballo at Osage, Nipomo.
DONATION-BASED YOGA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMTS, AND CARETAKERS
Class schedule varies. Contact empoweryoga805@gmail for details and reservations. ongoing 805-619-0989. empoweryoga805.com. Empower Yoga Studio and Community Boutique, 775 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.
FALL FEST: A LATINX AND HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION A free festival open to the public. Enjoy beautiful cultural performances, delicious food, a vendor maker market, games, and activities. The event’s organizers encourage local Latinx and Hispanic businesses to participate in this vibrant festival. Oct. 13, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. 805-481-7339. bgcslo.org/ events. Boys and Girls Clubs of South San Luis Obispo County Clubhouse, 1830 19th St., Oceano.
FREEDOM FESTIVAL FUNDRAISER AND SILENT AUCTION Freedom Calling is a non-profit organization, dedicated to fighting human trafficking. The upcoming fundraiser Freedom Festival promises an evening of live music by Critical Mass, gourmet food, fine wine and beer, delectable desserts, inspiring guest speakers, a silent auction, and dancing. Oct. 12 , 4-8 p.m. $75. freedomcalling.org. The Bower Barn, 1095 Meadowood Place, Nipomo.
MODEL RAIL DAYS AT THE OCEANO
Breaking news, insightful opinions, and local event updates sent directly to your inbox every Thursday morning. SCAN TO
Five Cities Free Repair Café volunteers will be fixing broken items for the public at the historic Octagon Barn’s Milking Parlor in San Luis Obispo on Saturday, Oct. 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The group repairs small appliances, clothing, outdoor gear, laptops, phones, bikes, and more. For more info on the local nonprofit, visit repaircafe5cities.org.
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.
TECH SAVVY SENIOR Unlock the power of technology and stay connected in today’s digital world. Whether you’re curious about smartphones, social media, online safety, or simply want to learn how to video chat with family and friends, this seminar is for you.
Oct. 9 10-11:30 a.m. my805tix.com. Hilton Garden Inn, 601 James Way, Pismo Beach. WEALTH, WOMEN, AND WOO Release your money fears and blocks to achieve a prosperous mindset and live an abundant life with ease and flow. With Beth McGill, speaker, teacher, author, hypnotherapist, and energy healer. Oct. 6 4-6 p.m. my805tix.com. Jill Doherty Portrait Studio, 1877 Front St., Oceano.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
DEPOT Marvel at the amazing and detailed operating model railroads and displays of all sizes. Fun for the whole family. Free admission, and lots of free parking. Oct. 4-6 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Oct. 12-13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. slomra.org. Oceano Train Depot, 1650 Front St., Oceano, 805-489-5446. 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. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52
Come join a friendly meeting of watch and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. 805-547-1715. new.nawcc.org/index. php/chapter-52-los-padres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano. POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS A docent-led tour of the buildings and grounds of the historic Point San Luis Light Station. Check website for more details. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.
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 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.
CALIFORNIA RETIRED TEACHERS ASSOC. DIVISION 23 LUNCHEON AND GENERAL MEETING CalRTA bimonthly luncheon will feature guest speaker Ed Cabrera from the League of Women Voters. Cabrera will present facts, and pros and cons on each of the propositions on the fall ballot, along with a Q-and-A. RSVP required. Oct. 10 9:45 a.m.-1 p.m. $25. 805-748-6853. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo. CENTRAL COAST BIONEERS CONFERENCE Conference highlights include topics like Climate Change from Space, Empowering Latino Voices, Harnessing the Power of Regenerative Business to Heal the World, and Rematriation with a panel of Indigenous speakers. Oct. 4-5 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $33.68$71.17 (student/general). ecologistics.org. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096. CENTRAL COAST DIALYSIS ORGAN TRANSPLANT SUPPORT GROUP Not faith based. All are welcome. Please wear a mask. First Saturday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church SLO, 650 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo.
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. Oct. 9 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. FELINE NETWORK ADOPT A KITTEN EVENT Come see some beautiful kittens for adoption and bring home a forever pet. All are fixed, vaccinated, and microchipped. $100 for one, or $150 for a pair. Oct. 5 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 805-540-0006. felinenetwork.org. PetSmart, 1530 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 19
FIVE CITIES REPAIR CAFÉ Five Cities
Free Repair Café volunteers will be fixing broken stuff at the Octagon Barn Milking Parlor. They repair small appliances, clothing, outdoor gear and apparel, laptops, phones, and bikes for free. Bring your garden abundance to share. Oct. 5, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 650-367-6780. repaircafe5cities.org. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo.
FREE TOURS OF THE MISSION Tour
San Luis Obispo’s Spanish Mission, founded in 1772. Come learn its history and about the development of this area. Tours, led by docents, are free at 1:15 p.m Monday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Sundays, 2-3 p.m. and MondaysSaturdays, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. 657-4659182. missionsanluisobispo.org. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.
GREEN BUILDING TOUR (CC BIONEERS
CONFERENCE) Get an inside look at all-electric green buildings that are energy efficient and powered completely or in part with renewable energy, reducing their carbon footprints. The tour will cover one commercial building and three residential projects in San Luis Obispo. Oct. 3 2-4:30 p.m. $35. 805-548-0597. ecologistics.org.
People’s Self-Help Housing, 1060 Kendall Road, San Luis Obispo.
GUIDED ENERGETIC MEDITATION
Are you energetically sensitive? This reoccurring weekly class will be a guided Introduction to Energetic Meditation 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.
GYM-N-LEARN Play your way into school readiness at Gym-N-Learn. Gymnastics and classroom-style activities are thoughtfully designed to build physical and social skills for school success. For ages 3.5-5, able to care for their own bathroom needs, and emotionally ready to be dropped off for 2.5 hours. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-noon through Oct. 19 $130 for four classes. 805-547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com/contact-us. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., 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.
HISTORY PODCAST: DOOR KEY’S 2024
SPOOKTACULAR To celebrate Halloween, all episodes of the history podcast Door Key will have a spooky theme to the history. You can find Door Key anywhere you stream podcasts. Through Oct. 31 Free. doorkey.buzzsprout.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
LA LOMA ADOBE OPEN HOUSE Includes tours inside the unrestored home, some of which was built in 1782. Enjoy light refreshments, displays of history, hearing historians discussing people who lived there and culture of the times, all in the beautiful La Loma Adobe garden. Oct. 6, 2-4 p.m. Free. 805-528-1066. La Loma Adobe, 1590 Lizzie St., San Luis Obispo, LaLomaAdobe.org.
LIFESAVERS GET HALLOWEEN READY BY DONATING BLOOD Blood donors who participate in Vitalant’s upcoming blood drives through Oct. 5 will be rewarded with a free Halloween-themed T-shirt. The shirts can be redeemed by registering in advance for a blood drive through the Vitalant app. Through Oct. 5 Vitalant, 4119 Broad St., 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 MEETING) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346.
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.
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.
TRANS*
YOUTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP
This group is a safe place for trans* and gender non-conforming people, as well as those questioning, from ages of 11 to 18. A facilitated emotional support group to be heard, share your story, and hear stories that may sound surprisingly like your own. Second Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-541-4252.
VOLUNTEER SOLAR INSTALLER TRAINING WEBINAR WITH SUNWORK
Learn about solar energy and water heater electrification by volunteering with SunWork. This webinar teaches the basics of installing solar PV systems. Once you’ve completed this training, you’re eligible to join the group’s solar installations locally. Signup online. Oct. 5 9 a.m.-noon Free. 805-229-1250. sunwork.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY
ANNUAL CAMBRIA SCARECROW
FESTIVAL 200 scarecrows will line the streets of Cambria and San Simeon. The festival is full of photo opportunities and happy discoveries at every turn. Perfect for all ages. Through Oct. 31 Free. cambriascarecrows.com. Cambria (various venues), Citywide, Cambria.
WATERFRONT MARKET MORRO BAY
Come show your favorite local vendor some love one last time with two full days of shopping. Features crocheted items, andles, clothing and accessories, jewelry, and much more. Oct. 5 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 805-402-9437. slovendorsassociation.com. Giovanni’s Fish Market, 1001 Front St., Morro Bay.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
SLO NOONTIME TOASTMASTERS CLUB MEETINGS Want to improve speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and positive environment? During COVID, we are meeting virtually. Contact us to get a meeting link for info. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. slonoontime.toastmastersclubs.org. Zoom, Online, Inquire for Zoom ID.
SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN: WEEKLY COFFEE MEETING SLO RAMs is a group or retirees that get together just for the fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. $10 coffee meeting. retiredactivemen.org. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.
SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+
AA GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of folks from all walks of life who together, attain and maintain sobriety. Requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Email aarapgroup@gmail.com for password access. Sundays, 7-8 p.m. No fee. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
GROUP Learn more about mental health and coping skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. 805-5406576. t-mha.org. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.
TOUR THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BARN
CENTER The Octagon Barn, built in 1906, has a rich history that The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County looks forward to sharing with visitors. Please RSVP. Second Sunday of every month, 2-2:45 & 3-3:45 p.m. Tours are free; donations are appreciated. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096, octagonbarn.org.
TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peer-to-peer support for trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and questioning people. In-person and Zoom meetings held. Contact tranzcentralcoast@gmail.com for more details. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-541-4252.
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.
THE MAYORS’ BASH NSBC United Way hosts this gala. aAspecial occasion to honor the region’s five mayors and celebrate the incredible communities of Santa Maria, Guadalupe, Lompoc, Buellton, and Solvang. Oct. 5, 4-9:30 p.m. my805tix. com/. Blast 825 Brewery, 241 S Broadway St., Ste. 101, Orcutt, 805-934-3777.
PRESQU’ILE WINERY TRI-TIP COOK
OFF This all-you-can-eat event features local food trucks serving Santa Maria style barbecue, live music, and a friendly competition for a people’s choice award. Presqu’ile will offer its fine wines by the glass and bottle and savory sides. Oct. 6, 12-5 p.m. $40; $35 for wine club members. 805-937-8110. presquilewine. com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria.
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
& DRINK continued page 20
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, 805-3323532, 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. Varies. wineanddesign.com/ orcutt. Wine and Design, 3420 Orcutt Road, suite 105, Orcutt.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
PAINTING IN THE VINEYARD AT KAENA Spend the afternoon sipping delicious wine and capturing the beauty of the landscape on canvas. Oct. 12 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $89. 805-3258092. artspotonwheels.com. Kaena at the Ranch, 800 E. Hwy 246, Solvang.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO TUESDAYS CLASH
Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay will host its opening reception for the venue’s three featured October artists on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. Featured artworks by Carole McDonald (whose work is pictured), Carol Roullard, and Atul Pande will remain on display through Wednesday, Oct. 30. For more info, visit galleryatmarinasquare.com. —C.W.
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
AVILA BEACH SPAGHETTI DINNER/ BINGO NIGHT Enjoy a spaghetti dinner with salad, garlic bread, and dessert, followed by Bingo. Oct. 4 6-8 p.m. my805tix.com/. Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St., Avila Beach.
EMPTY BOWLS 2024 When you purchase a ticket to this fundraiser, you receive a hand-crafted bowl generously donated by a local artists, and as much soup as you can eat donated by local restaurants. Oct. 10 11 a.m.-1 p.m. my805tix.com/. St. Patrick’s Church, 501 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
HOUSE OF PRAYER’S Q-TEAM
MONTHLY BARBECUE Come enjoy finger lickin’ barbecue with all the fixings. First Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. through Nov. 2 805-732-5111. House of Prayer Church, 640 S. Frontage Road, Nipomo.
MONTHLY FERMENTATION CLASSES
New topics each month with a thorough demo and explanation of the process that creates non-alcoholic, probiotic, and nutrient-dense fermentations. Leave the class confident and prepared with recipes to make your own at home. Limited seating; reserve spot prior to class by phone/email. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30. 805-8016627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach.
TRIVIA NIGHT Join BrainStew Trivia for a hilariously witty evening of trivia in Pismo. Teams of 1 to 4 people. Prizes awarded to the first and second place teams. Kitchen is open until 7:30 p.m. for brain fuel. Beer, cider, wine, and nonalcoholic options available. First Thursday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free to play. 805-295-6171. kulturhausbrewing.com. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach.
5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, 805-937-8110.
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. 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. ongoing 805-925-0464. coelhomusic.com/Lessons/ lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria.
SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, 805-623-8866.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
SAN LUIS OBISPO
DRIVE-THRU BARBECUE Open to the public. Includes a whole Tri-Tip, beans, bread, and salad. Bring your online receipt to the San Luis Obispo Lodge #322 to pick up your meal. All proceeds benefit the Elks National Foundation. Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 60. 805-543-0322. shop.elks322.org/ Drive-Thru-BBQ. SLO Elks Lodge, 222 Elks Lane, San Luis Obispo.
SLO OKTOBERFEST A variety of food and beer vendors will be here for your Oktoberfesting pleasure. Featuring German beer, food, music, contests, games, and more. Oct. 5, 1-6 p.m. my805tix.com. Madonna Expo Center, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo.
SLO PICKLE FESTIVAL This dill-ightful event will celebrate all things pickles with a variety of pickle vendors, pickle-inspired bites, beer, wine, and live music. Oct. 5, 1-4 p.m. $45. 805-541-3312. slopicklefestival. org. Laguna Lake Park, 504 Madonna Rd., 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 Municipal Winemakers in Santa Barbara. Oct. 5, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. my805tix.com/. San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, 1940 Santa Barbara Ave., San Luis Obispo, 805-548-1894.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS CELEBRATE THE 60S PLUS DANCE With Riptide Big Band and vocalists Bob Nations and Mitch Latting. Free admission thanks to the Community Foundation, SLO County. Oct. 13 1:30-4 p.m. Free. 775-8135186. RiptideBB.com. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria. THE FAITHFULL AND NEARVANA Enjoy these tributes to Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Oct. 12 , 4 p.m. my805tix.com/. Blast 825 Brewery, 241 S Broadway St., Ste. 101, Orcutt, 805-934-3777.
HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy live music at the winery most Friday evenings. Check site for concert schedule. Fridays presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery,
LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG THE SURFACE WALKERS A psychedelic rock audio-visual theatrical experience. Oct. 12 , 7-11 p.m. my805tix.com/. FCB, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc, 805-810-0714. 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.
LIVE ON THE ROCKS FT. BRASS MASH Live on the Rocks is a highly anticipated outdoor concert series with breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean. Dance to a fabulous live band, enjoy fantastic food, grab a drink at the oceanside bar, and more. Oct. 6 1-5 p.m. Free. 805-773-5000. cliffshotelandspa.com. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach. SAN LUIS OBISPO
2024 FALL FOLK-N-SOAK MUSIC, HOT SPRINGS, YOGA, AND CAMPING REUNION Enjoy music from Christopher Hawley each day, as well as many other artists, while you soak in hot springs. Oct. 4-6 my805tix.com/. Franklin Hot Springs, 3015 Creston Rd., Paso Robles.
MECHANICAL GHOST’S HAUNTED FLOOR SHOW Described as a goth and horror variety extravaganza. Oct. 5, 8 p.m. my805tix.com/. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, 805-781-9974.
ORGAN SPECTACULAR Walk the red carpet with the SLO Symphony on opening night. The 2024-25 Classics season kicks off with a celebration of the mighty Forbes Organ at the PAC, with guest soloist Felix Hell. Oct. 5 7:30 p.m. 805-543-3533. slosymphony.org/calendar/. Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. m
Hancock College hosts music lecture with Cal Poly professor ahead of recital
Festival Mozaic’s 2024 Artist in Residence John Novacek will present a solo piano recital at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria on Saturday, Oct. 19, at 2 p.m. The performance will follow a free pre-concert lecture with Cal Poly music professor Alyson McLamore at 1 p.m.
Both events will take place at Hancock’s Patty Boyd Concert Hall, located at 800 S. College Drive, building F, Santa Maria. While tickets to Novacek’s concert start at $5 for students and $40 for adults, there is no entry fee to attend McLamore’s lecture.
A specialist in the music of the early classic period, McLamore is a professor of music history and music education at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. McLamore’s past printed publications include a musical theater textbook and program notes for both Festival Mozaic and the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale.
After McLamore’s upcoming lecture at Hancock, Novacek will play selections by Bach, Liszt, Schumann, and Bartok on Hancock’s Steinway D concert piano, a recent addition to the Patty Boyd Concert Hall. The college acquired the piano, valued at $175,000, during the summer with funds from the estate of late piano instructor Patricia “Patty” Boyd.
In July, Festival Mozaic collaborated with Hancock on a special recital to celebrate the piano’s debut at the school, where it remains accessible to students, faculty, and others in conjunction with the college’s music programs and classes.
For more info on Festival Mozaic’s Oct. 19 recital and lecture, visit festivalmozaic.org.
Oceano Train Depot offers free exhibits with October’s Model Rail Days
The SLO Model Railroad Association will host its next Model Rail Days program at the Oceano Train Depot with about two weekends’ worth of activities (Oct. 4 through 6, and Oct. 12 and 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day).
The free series will include exhibits of working model railroads of various scales and sizes, kid-friendly activities, a swap meet with deals on model railroad equipment, and more. There’s no admission fee to attend the program’s events.
To find out more about Model Rail Days, visit slomra. org. The SLO Model Railroad Association celebrates model railroading in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. The collective holds public meetings at the Oceano Depot on every third Monday, at 7 p.m. The Oceano Depot is located at 1650 Front St., Oceano. m
Locals can visit sculptor Dan Rider’s new space in Nipomo during SLO County’s 2024 Open Studios Art Tour
BY SAMANTHA HERRERA
California native Dan Rider recently fulfilled his dream of constructing and opening an art studio in Nipomo to showcase his distinctive work made from one of the strongest materials: concrete.
Rider’s 1,000-square-foot studio, located on Country Hill Road, sits in his backyard on a 1-acre property. His new space will be open for visitors during SLO County’s 2024 Open Studios Art Tour, alongside 150 other artists, their studios, and galleries, including Art Center Morro Bay, Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, EDNA Contemporary in SLO, and DANA Adobe in Nipomo.
Residents can visit Rider’s studio on Oct. 12, 13, 19, and 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and check out his 150-pound New Wave Totems made of concrete.
“My interest went from bronze mixed-media pieces, then I moved into concrete because it’s just a little bit cheaper to buy and cheaper to make,” he said with a laugh. “But it’s been fun for all these years working with that.”
To get the wave effect, Rider said he starts by making his own concrete from scratch by mixing sand with other “secret additives.” He then creates specific rubber molds for each shape that he needs and gives the rubber a few days to stiffen up before pouring his concrete in and letting it harden.
“Painters have a special way of mixing certain things to work for themselves, and arts have the same way. Sculptures have the same way; everybody makes this plaster a different way. We have our own formulas for that,” he said. “So, all my totems are usually a mix of mixed-media pieces.”
After molding the concrete into geometric shapes, Rider usually adds in elements of steel, wood, or stone and runs a wire through the shapes to hold them together in just the right curvy position.
The full process tends to take him a few weeks to a couple of months to complete depending on how tall the totem is.
Rider’s studio open house and the Open Studios Art Tour, Rider plans to display the new fountain he created.
Sculptor Dan Rider will be showing his work on Oct. 12, 13, 19, and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at his new studio in Nipomo, 1430 Country Hill Road, as part of the 2024 Open Studios Art Tour. For more information, visit danridersculpture.com.
About 150 SLO County artists are participating in Open Studios this year. For more information, visit slocountyarts.org/osat.
“Sometimes I only have to mold for one of those shapes ... so that takes maybe a week to do, but if I need three or four concrete pieces of the same size then I have to wait three almost four weeks to be able to make sure I have enough pieces for that totem,” he said.
He said his New Wave Totems are ideal pieces to keep in either the front or backyard, as concrete, wood, steel, and stone don’t weather away easily and can blend into already existing decor.
Large totems aren’t Rider’s only creations. He also crafts whimsical garden statuary, wall
sculptures such as fractals, and bronze sculptures that have been featured in television shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, Castle, The Mentalist, and more.
“I’m really pleased with the fractals that we have—that’s one of the walling pieces, and they’re cool. They can be a bunch of pieces together, and they just go together in different ways on the walls,” he said. “A lot of those have been featured on a lot of sets. There’s one set that the directors of Grey’s Anatomy kept renting … and putting in their sets.”
Residents who visit the studio during its opening will get to view a newly constructed fountain made with a mix of materials. It’s slim, tall, and appears balanced on a mediumsized cylinder.
“It’s a stackable kind of fountain, and I’m going to put it on the patio between the studio and the house,” he said. “It looks really cool.” m
Find all of our recent Northern Santa Barabara County election coverage; how to locate ballot measures and candidates, reader’s survey about issues that matter to you, and more.
New Times Nov. 5, so we put all of the important information in one place for you. Find all of our recent SLO County election coverage, how to locate local ballot measures and candidates, a reader’s survey about issues that matter to you, and more.
Director Philippe Lacôte expands upon a short story by crime novelist Jo Nesbø in Killer Heat, which follows a troubled private detective (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is flown in to Greece from the U.S. to investigate a potential murder. He quickly targets the victim’s twin brother (Richard Madden) as the primary suspect. (97 min.)
Caleb: Dismissed as an accident by local police, a rock climber’s death in a small coastal village prompts the arrival of an outsider private eye in Killer Heat, a new noir mystery that quickly nosedives into snooze-button territory despite its strong opening and promising premise. After her brother-in-law’s body is found at the bottom of a rock face in Greece, Penelope Vardakis (Shailene Woodley) senses foul play with one suspect in mind: her own husband, Elias Vardakis (Richard Madden). He and the deceased, Leo (also Madden), were identical twins who’d been entangled in a love triangle years prior, Penelope reveals to Nick Bali (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), an American private detective she dispatches from New York in secret. Bali is known as “The Jealousy Man” (the title of Jo Nesbø’s short story that Killer Heat is adapted from) because of his penchant for getting into the heads of murderers who kill out of envy. Often sporting sunglasses and a Chinatown fedora, Gordon-Levitt seems to have a lot of fun with the role, and I can easily imagine being won over by a future film centered on Bali’s seedy
What’s it rated? TV-14
When? 2024
Where’s it showing? Netflix
exploits, as long as it’s got more oomph than Killer Heat. It’s a mostly bland mixed bag. Even its luxurious island setting and yacht core appeal can’t save it from missing the boat.
Bulbul: I’m still recovering from the hourand-a-half-long eye-roll fest that was Killer Heat. You’re relentlessly hit on the head with ham-fisted dialogue of a ton of Icarus references, warnings not to mess with Greek gods, and stray Greek phrases to underscore Bali’s Greek heritage. Did I mention the movie takes place on a remote Greek island? Well, it does, and Killer Heat never lets you forget it. Bali’s jaded persona tries to be humorous, but his punchlines don’t hit. The movie doesn’t dedicate enough time to his background to make me want to care about or root for him.
KILLER HEAT
What’s it rated? R
What’s it worth, Bulbul? Skip it
What’s it worth, Caleb? Stream it
Where’s it showing? Prime
The New York private eye isn’t eyecatching enough, as Daniel Craig’s enigmatic detective is in Knives Out, nor is his dark past as captivating as butt-kicking Brad Pitt’s role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood If I were to watch more of Bali on the big screen through more short story adaptations, I’m hoping for an exposition do-over. But my hopes might be flying too close to the sun. Caleb: I just wish he got to do more, other than mope around the island and meditate on some harsh memories that filled him with the same kind of jealousy he now detects for a living. I never tire of a hardy, brooding protagonist, but I ended up gravitating toward Killer Heat ’s playful moments of humor far more than its angsty bits. I enjoyed watching Bali take on a
couple of different guises, including that of an insurance claim official, in order to get some info on Leo’s death. During his investigation, Bali eventually butts heads with a rival detective, Georges Mensah, played by Babou Ceesay, who has an adorable canine sidekick. There’s a scene where the three of them (including the dog) collaborate on a late-night stakeout, and it made me wish Killer Heat was a lighthearted buddy comedy instead.
Bulbul: Killer Heat is a good choice for a weeknight stream when you don’t know what to watch with dinner. If you must watch it with friends, I think it would be fun to guess
how the killer did it even though it’s pretty predictable. It’s an extremely straightforward plot that the filmmakers try to unnecessarily complicate by interspersing flashbacks of Bali’s past with the present. It’s a light and easy watch for a movie that aims to be dark. It’s shorter than two hours, which means Killer Heat fizzles out before you know it. m
New Times Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal and Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood filled in for regular reviewers Glen and Anna Starkey this week. Email your thoughts to gstarkey@ newtimesslo.com.
Harry Connick Jr. stars as John Allman, a grumpy, failing rock star looking for solace on the beautiful island of Cyprus, in this witty and charming second-chance romance.
Allman escapes to a quaint house at the top of a cliff after a disappointing comeback album. Little does he know, the cliff his house sits on has become a suicide hotspot in recent years. Frustrated by the inconvenience this revelation poses, he starts building a fence around his property.
The fence seems to serve as a symbol of his emotionally barricaded self. Slowly, the barriers start coming down after he unexpectedly reunites with the muse of one of his greatest hits, “Girl on the Beach.” The muse, Sia (Agni Scott), seems a bit guarded at first herself, but the reason for this is revealed quickly after their reunion.
GUITAR HERO: Find Me Falling, now streaming on Netflix, follows a washedup musician (Harry Connick Jr.) with some emotional baggage that needs sorting.
The film offers exactly what’s expected of a Netflix original rom-com. For lovers
of cheesy, lighthearted, and somewhat predictable films, this is one to add to your watchlist. (94 min)
—Emma Montalbano
Lompoc Unified SchooL TrUSTee
September 26
City Hall Chambers,100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, 6:30PM
Lompoc ciTy coUnciL & mayor
October 3
City Hall Chambers, 100 Civic Center Plaza, Lompoc, 6:30PM
SanTa maria ciTy mayor
October 4
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 402 S. Lincoln St, Santa Maria, 5:30-7:00PM
SanTa maria BoniTa SchooL diSTricT TrUSTeeS
October 7
Santa Barbara County Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, Correction 6:45-8:00PM
SanTa maria JoinT Union high SchooL TrUSTeeS
October 7
Santa Barbara County Supervisors Hearing Room, 511 Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria, Correction 5:30-6:30PM
SoLvang mayor
October 23
Solvang City Council Chambers, 1644 Oak St. Solvang, 6:00-7:00PM Refreshments will be provided Interpretation provided at all locations and forums.
KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE
What’s it rated? G
When? 1989
Where’s it showing? Max
Everyone knows October is the start of the spooky season, so why not start the month off with a bang and watch a movie about a young witch, her mother’s broomstick, and her black cat that happens to also be her best friend.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is directed by Hayao Miyazaki, a Japanese animator and filmmaker most notably known for his movies Spirited Away and Ponyo The story follows a 13-year-old witch named Kiki from the countryside. As tradition has it, when witches turn 13, they leave home and travel to a new city to enhance their skills, and Kiki’s excited to follow suit. Finding herself alone in the big city, Kiki decides her most prominent skill is flying on her broomstick, and she opens a delivery service. Dealing with insecurity, Kiki loses her ability to fly and must learn how to reconnect with her spirit.
While I’m not usually an anime fan, this movie was too cute not to watch and would be a great movie to see with the little ones. It was a tad slow at times but that tends to happen with any movie that’s an hour and 42 minutes like this one. (102 min) m
—Samantha Herrera
BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
An escalator ride to the Chumash Casino Resort’s third floor used to lead to the venue’s all-you-can-eat buffet. But 2020 marked the restaurant’s closure, and its managers decided not to hold their breath for a reopening.
Executive Chef Peter Sherlock, who oversees all of the resort’s food and beverage operations, remembers “tossing some ideas around” about a future reboot for the space rather than a revival not too long into the pandemic.
The casino’s culinary team landed on a new concept— which officially opened its doors in late June—that isn’t a buffet, yet it offers a similarly diverse selection of cuisine options you’d expect to find at one.
Simply known as The Sports Bar, its title is just the tip of the iceberg.
“We didn’t want to go with just the mainstream sports bar food,” Sherlock said, but clarified that it isn’t without sports bar staples, such as hot wings and nachos.
The reason there’s so much to choose from at The Sports Bar is because its industrial marketplace-style setting is broken up into six distinct eateries. Lucky Buns, for example, dishes out beef burgers, turkey burgers, Impossible burgers, and basically anything under the sun you can “put between a bun,” Sherlock said, while Let’s Noodle is all about ramen and pho.
Other offerings for bar guests to pair with their brews include sushi from Cali Rolls; chicken wings, bites, and sandwiches from Bok Bok’s; tacos, ceviche, and pozole from Lovin’ Tacos; and banana cream pie, carrot cake, and other house-made desserts from The Sweet Spot.
With so much grub to choose from, it’s fitting for The Sports Bar’s expansive beer, wine, and cocktail list to read like a novel. Among the imported and domestic brews for guests to choose from is the Valley Fog, a new original blonde ale produced by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in conjunction with The Sports Bar’s grand opening.
“It’s a light, hazy, pale ale, … [with] a touch of citrus. … It’s just beautiful,” Sherlock said. “[After] one sip, you’re like, ‘Oh, I can drink this all day long.’”
Not long after the Valley Fog idea came about, the Chumash Casino Resort took on another bold beverage initiative.
“We took it to the next level,” Sherlock said while recalling a business trip that led to the creation of the resort’s first official house bourbon, thanks to a partnership between the casino and a distillery nestled a few states away.
“A bunch of us and one of our owners went down to Woodford Reserve in Kentucky. We did a barrel tasting on three different barrels,” Sherlock said. “We blended our own bourbon, and then got it into California. … We have it now in The Sports Bar.”
Before joining the resort’s culinary team in 2017, Sherlock held various chef duties at venues in New York and Nevada during the span of his 42-year career. One of the reasons Sherlock decided to take on his current role in Santa Ynez was because it’s a nostalgic area for his wife, whose family often enjoyed road trips to Santa Barbara and Solvang during her childhood in LA.
Some of Sherlock’s food recommendations among The Sports Bar’s six eateries include the Bullionaire (a burger with a beef and chorizo patty between a black charcoal bun) at Lucky Buns, the “Not Chick’N Bites” (fried cauliflower bites served with a choice of dip, carrots, and celery) at Bok Bok’s, and any of the taco selections at Lovin’ Tacos, assembled with
house-made blue corn tortillas.
“We created a masa blend that we make every day. It’s a purple masa, with blue corn meal,” Sherlock said, “and there’s also a little bit of white masa in there for texture.”
Along with curating The Sports Bar’s food and drink offerings, Sherlock enjoyed being involved with the design phase of the new venue as well.
With a distinct atmosphere in mind, Sherlock said he and his peers decided early on to tweak the original space’s ceilings, to “make it really industrial, so you see the pipes, … and air vents.”
The new venue’s 30-foot wraparound bar is surrounded by more than 20 television sets with various sports
playing, and 22 slot machines so guests can enjoy gambling without having to descend to the casino’s main gaming floor below.
During its first few months in business, The Sports Bar has often brought in a lively crowd reminiscent of one you’d find at the broadcast sports events themselves, Sherlock said.
“[It’s] like a stadium,” he said. “You hear that roar, … that excitement from the guests as they’re cheering for their favorite game.” m
Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood will watch whichever channel plays bowling or dodgeball. Send comments to cwiseblood@ santamariasun.com.
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