Last week to enter your songs [11]
Food for thought
Local nonprofits expand students’ garden-to-table education [5], county ed offices look at more than state assessments [6]
BY SUN STAFF
Naked Gun: Heavy on the silliness [20]
Gifford Fire grows east of Santa Maria [3] Farmers markets seek presence in Guadalupe [21]
Explore Ecology and One Cool Earth want students to take another look at vegetables, especially the bland yet divisive cauliflower. “Getting to grow it in the garden, it’s like this little baby that they get to check on every so often,” Explore Ecology Garden Program Director Genevieve Schwanbeck said. For our Education Today issue, Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood talks veggies and funding with the nonprofits that help run school gardens [5]. Also in our annual issue, New Times Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal gets behind the stats for local county education office-run schools, which help the most at-risk students [6]. Also, read about the growing Gifford Fire in North County [3]; the theater that keeps melodrama alive on the Central Coast [18]; and the organizations working to bring a farmers market to Guadalupe [21]
We’ve only begun spreading the word over the past year, but Sun’s membership program has enabled readers like you to support our journalism since 2020. It’s about time we raised our voices: We want to grow our member base—and we’d love for you to join!
•On Aug. 4, U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-California) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) announced the adoption of a bipartisan resolution to celebrate National Farmers Market Week (Aug. 3 through 9). The resolution recognizes the vital role that farmers markets play in bringing communities together, supporting livelihoods, and enriching the lives of millions of Americans, from farmers and food producers to consumers. U.S. Reps. David Valadao (R-Hanford) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) introduced a companion resolution in the House of Representatives. “We should all take time to celebrate National Farmers Market Week and support our local farmers, who feed our families and bring us together every week at farmers market stalls,” Padilla said. “Our farmers markets nourish our neighborhoods, strengthen our local economies, and bring consumers closer to the farmers who feed them. California and our more than 700 farmers markets will continue to cherish these spaces as a source of nutrition and community.” In 2020, farmers markets accounted for $1.7 billion in income for American farmers, according to Padilla’s office. Farm groups across the country have celebrated National Farmers Market Week for more than 25 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially recognized National Farmers Market Week since 2021.
• On July 31, U.S. Sens. Adam Schiff (D-California) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado) introduced the Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act, which would grant homeowners in areas that have received disaster declarations from the president, governors, or tribal leaders 180 days of mortgage forbearance to support household recovery, along with an option of a 180-day extension without accumulation of interest or penalties. The act would provide mortgage relief for disaster survivors across the country, helping alleviate financial hardships. Anyone residing in an area that has received a disaster declaration from any of the aforementioned authorities from Jan. 1, 2025, would be eligible to request forbearance.
“Earlier this year, we watched as families in Los Angeles were devastated by wildfires, and to date, many homeowners are still struggling to rebuild from this disaster,” Schiff said in a statement. “I am proud to introduce this bill so that those who have been affected by natural disasters receive the assistance they need when they need it the most. As natural disasters become more frequent due to climate change, it is critical that we pave a path to stability for homeowners in times of crisis. This is an issue that impacts both red and blue states alike, and I’ll push hard to ensure Congress passes this legislation.” Sen. Bennet stated that “when mounting financial and emotional costs of recovery” weigh on families impacted by catastrophic disasters, “they should be able to take time to put their lives back together and rebuild their homes.” The Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act is endorsed by the National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Low Income Housing Center, National Housing Law Project, Consumer Watchdog, Consumer Federation of America, and Neighborhood Housing Services LA, according to Schiff’s office. U.S. Reps. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) have introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Disasters don’t just destroy homes—they deepen the financial hardship for the lowest income families who were already struggling to make ends meet,” Renee Willis president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition, said in a statement. “By enacting the Mortgage Relief for Disaster Survivors Act, Congress can ensure that impacted low-income homeowners can pause their payments while they recover, preventing displacement and ensuring families can stay in their communities after disasters strike.” m
Gifford Fire scorches more than 82,000 acres east of Santa Maria
Less than a week after the Madre Fire was declared 100 percent contained, it was dethroned by the Gifford Fire as California’s largest wildfire of the year.
Both wildfires impacted several areas along Highway 166, prompting evacuation warnings and orders across different parts of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties.
While the Madre Fire encompassed about 80,700 acres before it was deemed contained on July 26, the Gifford Fire has burned more than 82,000 acres since it began on Aug. 1.
The crossover between areas impacted by both fires resulted in a silver lining for firefighters at one border of the Gifford Fire, according to Don Fregulia, California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 operations section chief.
“Fortunately the Madre Fire’s helping us out quite a bit with containment here on the northeast side of the [Gifford] fire,” Fregulia said during an Aug. 5 virtual update from the incident management team.
Fregulia was referring to the eastern flank of the Gifford Fire, which the U.S. Forest Service described as “mostly stabilized, largely into the recent Madre Fire” in an Aug. 5 press release.
The northwest border of the Gifford Fire is a different story, Fregulia explained.
“As we move around to the northwest end of this fire, we’re having some challenges out there. The terrain’s extremely rugged. And access is a problem for us,” Fregulia said at the virtual update. “We know that there’s ranches. We know that there’s quite a bit of structures to the northwest end of this fire.”
The cause of the Gifford Fire—threatening more than 800 structures and 7 percent contained as of Aug. 5—remains under investigation. Ongoing firefighting efforts have included nearly 2,000 personnel, more than 100 fire engines, and dozens of dozers and aircrafts.
Since Aug. 2, volunteers from the Red Cross have manned a temporary evacuation point for anyone impacted by the Gifford Fire at Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, at 4949 Foxen Canyon Road near Sisquoc.
Jacqueline Doe—the woman identified in the DA’s Office complaint from 2022—sued Daily on May 9 for sexual battery, gender violence, and fraudulent transfer of assets.
A case management hearing is set for Doe’s case against Daily in October. The DA’s Office case against him experienced several delays, with the jury trial being delayed three times—most recently, the Aug. 4 trial date was postponed to Sept. 15.
Doe’s complaint centers on interactions she had with Daily on May 6, 2022, when the pair had a couple of drinks in Arroyo Grande’s Mason Bar after a wedding.
“Plaintiff [Doe] consumed two drinks provided by the defendant [Daily], then suddenly felt disoriented, vomited, and passed out,” her complaint read. “Plaintiff informs and believes, based on her sudden incapacitation and lack of direct knowledge due to unconsciousness, that Daily tampered with her drink.”
Doe further alleged in her complaint that video footage captured Daily carrying her out of the bar. She reportedly regained consciousness in Daily’s car, with him on top, assaulting her, the complaint said.
Following the discovery of bruising on different parts of her body, a forensic examination conducted a few days after the alleged assault confirmed DNA matching Daily’s. The complaint added that Daily admitted to performing nonconsensual intercourse in a recorded pretext call arranged by law enforcement on May 10, 2022.
“It’s 11-hour shifts for us as long as we’re here,” volunteer Ray Houser said in front of his outdoor work station—a portable table lined with water bottles, cookies, and N95 masks in the middle of Foxen Elementary’s basketball court.
“We’re here primarily to provide information, … snacks, and drinks,” said Houser, who described the temporary evacuation point as a respite for evacuees and others impacted by Gifford Fire. The location hadn’t become an overnight shelter as of Aug. 5.
County officials and the Red Cross would likely identify an alternative spot where “we’d set up cots, … and get blankets and pillows,” if the need for a shelter comes up, Houser explained.
The elementary school is located on the southern cusp of one area of unincorporated Santa Barbara County that’s been issued an evacuation warning but not an evacuation order, as of Aug. 5. The warning advises residents of the area to be prepared to leave at any time, without mandating an evacuation.
Residents of Sisquoc and other parts of the Santa Maria Valley facing anxiety about the potential for a sudden shift between warning and order have been among the evacuation point’s visitors seeking clarity about the Gifford Fire. For real-time alerts, Houser recommends installing the Watch Duty app.
“We’re basically able to give information that we have, or might be able to pass along to people if they have concerns about the fire or where it’s going, or how far it’s advanced,” said Houser, a nine-year volunteer with the Red Cross.
“After I retired, I was looking for an opportunity to give back and this was an opportunity to give back,” the Arroyo Grande resident said. “I stuck with it.”
—Caleb Wiseblood
Survivor of alleged sexual assault files suit against former Hancock instructor
Former Allan Hancock College instructor Kevin Daily, who’s facing trial for alleged sexual assault stemming from charges filed by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, is now being sued by the survivor of the reported abuse.
“Plaintiff informs and believes, based on statements from multiple acquaintances, that Daily exhibited obsessive behavior toward plaintiff for over a decade, targeting her as a woman, which motivated his assault,” the complaint said.
Doe claimed in her lawsuit that she suffered severe PTSD, panic attacks, and insomnia that prevented her from leaving her home— ultimately blocking her from taking legal action until September 2024. The two-year statute of limitations was temporarily stopped because of Doe’s PTSD and incapacity.
She also allegedly lost her pharmacy technician job and her license. Doe’s complaint said she paused her Cal Poly master’s degree because of the reported assault and incurred a $3,000 bill from Marian Regional Medical Center and ongoing therapy costs.
In September 2024, after the DA’s Office charged Daily with rape by use of drugs, he reportedly transferred his rental property in Nipomo to a living trust controlled by his mother, Doe’s complaint said.
“The transfer, made without consideration, was intended to hinder, delay, or defraud plaintiff,” the lawsuit said.
In a previous New Times report, Doe said that Daily worked at Hancock for six or seven months after his arrest. Hancock confirmed to New Times in May 2023 that he no longer worked for the college.
Daily isn’t the sole defendant in Doe’s lawsuit. She’s also suing Mason Bar for negligence, for failing to implement security measures, and for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention.
“Mason Bar staff observed plaintiff’s collapse and Daily’s predatory behavior but failed to intervene, monitor her safety, or prevent Daily from removing her, breaching their duty to protect patrons,” the complaint said.
Mason Bar spokesperson Mercedes Meier told New Times that they are committed to upholding the highest standards for the health and welfare of their staff and guests.
“We are saddened by what happened to Ms. Doe, but we wholly deny any wrongdoing,” Meier said. “In 2022, we fully cooperated with the police investigation and willingly provided all available surveillance of the incident. Ms. Doe’s accusations do not accurately reflect the events that occurred at Mason Bar.”
—Bulbul Rajagopal
BATTLING THE BLAZE: As of Aug. 5, the Gifford Fire—east of the Santa Maria Valley and west of the Los Padres Forest’s Gifford Trailhead—was 7 percent contained and had consumed more than 82,000 acres.
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County Planning Commission green-lights Lompoc Valley apartment project for moderate income levels
To make way for 60 apartments and 87 hotel rooms proposed for the Vandenberg Village area, Santa Barbara County needs to approve the removal of about 3 acres of chaparral—or chaparral in name only, 3rd District Planning Commissioner John Parke explained.
“I guess you could call it Burton Mesa Chaparral, but it really isn’t,” Parke said during the county Planning Commission’s July 30 meeting. “It’s a weed lot.”
County staff concluded that the site’s chaparral in question fits the definition of degraded chaparral. If things go according to plan for Constellation Land Development, the Lompoc-based developer will undertake certain habitat restoration efforts at the site as part of its project, split between long-term residential and hotel units.
That facet of the proposal—which includes new habitat creation and the removal of invasive plant species—was a big plus for Parke, who also expressed support for the project’s aim to house people with moderate incomes.
“For our low-income and very low-income, we have funding sources. We don’t have them at all in any way, shape, or form for moderate housing. … It has to come from private developers,” Parke said. “We really don’t have housing in this county for all the teachers, nurses, policemen, firemen, county planners.”
During the project applicant’s presentation, one slide noted the different employment areas within a 5-mile radius of the Vandenberg Village site, including Vandenberg Space Force
Base, the Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Lompoc Penitentiary, and Allan Hancock College’s Lompoc campus.
Dennis Curran, Hancock’s vice president of finance and administration, spoke during public comment in support of the proposed development.
“One of the most pressing challenges we face—and I know this is not unique to us—is the ongoing shortage of affordable and accessible housing in our area,” Curran said. “It impacts our ability to recruit and retain talented educators and staff, many of whom are forced to look outside the region for housing. It also places a significant burden on our students who struggle to find stable housing, which in turn affects their academic performance and overall well-being.”
Curran called the project “a meaningful and much needed step in the right direction.”
Some public speakers opposed the proposal and its contemporary architectural design, including Vandenberg Village resident Meg Mersereau, who described the project as “a terrible eyesore [that] does not match the rest of the community.”
“It’s incompatible with the neighborhood,” Mersereau said. “It looks like outhouses and shanties, … piled up on each other.”
Commissioner Parke commented on the incompatibility concern shortly before the Planning Commission voted 4-0 (5th District Commissioner Vincent Martinez was absent) to move the project forward to the Board of Supervisors with its recommendation.
“Compatibility, … that can be a two-edged sword,” Parke said. “The location of this in the middle of so many things. … Sometimes it’s good to have a refreshing look, and I think the architecture here will be refreshing for the area.” m
—Caleb Wiseblood
Joseph Nunez, M.D.
Shane Rostermundt, D.O.
Michele Kielty, D.O.
Ryan Leachman, D.O.
Lynn Peltier, C.P.N.P.
Jessica Prather, C.N.P.
EDUCATION TODAY
Green thumbs up
Explore Ecology and One Cool Earth show Central Coast students the value of a garden-to-table lifestyle
BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
Reading. Writing. Arithmetic. Cauliflower. Alongside the three Rs, growing minds are learning the ins and outs of growing food at local schools with gardening programs like Explore Ecology.
“I think one of my favorite things to grow with kids is cauliflower, which may sound like one of those vegetables that a lot of times they’ve only been exposed to as something that’s boiled and white and bland mush,” Explore Ecology Garden Program Director Genevieve Schwanbeck said with a laugh.
“But getting to grow it in the garden, it’s like this little baby that they get to check on every so often, because it has its leaves that curl up and cover it,” Schwanbeck told the Sun. “Then by the time it’s ready to cut this big, huge thing— because they have huge leaves—cut those all back and taste this sweet, crunchy cauliflower, they’re like, ‘Oh, … it’s a whole different vegetable.’”
Educators from Explore Ecology lead outdoor gardening sessions at more than 30 elementary and middle schools in Santa Barbara County, including campuses with their own garden spaces in Lompoc, Santa Ynez, and Buellton. While treating each garden as an “outdoor classroom,” Explore Ecology aims to teach children about topics related to planting, cultivating, harvesting, composting, and nutrition.
Schwanbeck originally joined the nonprofit as a garden educator, a role she held for six years. At one point she worked with hundreds of kids a week, she said.
“We are spread over a fair distance,” the Carpinteria resident said, “and we work across several different school districts.”
On average, Explore Ecology serves more than 14,000 students per year through the schools it contracts with. One-year contracts are the most common, Schwanbeck said. When funding gets tight for schools that become unable to renew each year, Explore Ecology doesn’t rule out the possibility of picking things back up in the future.
“Some might have to cut how many hours they have us coming or drop off for a few years altogether,” said Schwanbeck, who named Santa Ynez Valley Charter School as a recent example.
“They had dropped off, I want to say before
expand to Santa Maria,” Ellis said.
Ellis has worked with One Cool Earth in various capacities—including program manager and executive director—since 2008. While overseeing One Cool Earth’s grant funding initiatives, Ellis said the nonprofit has seen “a lot of funding come through federal, state, and county sources to support education,” over the past five years.
“However, most of this funding [has] expired or will by the end of next year, specifically an American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grant,” Ellis explained. “We will have to make up an additional $80,000 in funding per year when this grant expires, and we’re not sure where that funding will come from.”
While One Cool Earth charges about 40 percent of its programming costs directly to the schools it works with, “we have to fundraise the remaining 60 percent from grants and donations,” Ellis said.
“As a small organization, it takes a lot of staff time to run donation campaigns. We’ve focused on grants because they take relatively little time and return a lot of funding, allowing us to focus our resources in the gardens,” Ellis said. “Because grants are becoming more scarce and competitive, we’re refocusing on our community and asking for support.
“We believe there are many people locally willing to give to support childhood health and learning.”
The monetary donation route isn’t the only way community residents can lend One Cool Earth a helping hand, he added.
“We do need garden materials and supplies, especially tools in good working order, plants, seeds, etc.,” Ellis said.
COVID hit, but they’re wanting us to come back this year,” she said. “Funding things, … in the nonprofit world, we live with uncertainty. But I think as a whole, our program is a bit more stable than perhaps some programs that are built more on grant funding, state or federal, because we have contracts with school districts or individual schools.”
Based in San Luis Obispo County, One Cool Earth also facilitates gardening programs at schools similar to Explore Ecology’s and serves nearly the same number of campuses: 32.
While most of those schools are elementary, One Cool Earth also hosts programs at a handful of middle and high schools as well, with an overall presence at “more than half of all schools in San Luis Obispo County,” One Cool Earth Grant Manager Greg Ellis told the Sun
“Our goal is to make school gardens as common as computer labs, libraries, and sports fields,” Ellis said.
“Our gardens also make healthy eating fun and engaging as students grow, harvest, and taste their own food.”
The southern end of One Cool Earth’s coverage area includes Oceano Elementary School, Nipomo Elementary School, and Mary Buren Elementary School in Guadalupe.
The latter is One Cool Earth’s sole site in Santa Barbara County, but its organizers “would eventually like to
Gift cards to local hardware stores like Miner’s Ace and Farm Supply, where One Cool Earth organizers shop for most of the nonprofit’s essential program supplies, are also welcome donations.
“We have many volunteer opportunities as well,” Ellis continued, “and are especially looking for consistent volunteers who can assist with maintaining and teaching in school gardens.” m
Reach Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
LET IT BEAN: Half of the fun for young participants of Explore Ecology’s school gardening programs in Santa Barbara County— including campuses with their own garden spaces in Lompoc, Santa Ynez, and Buellton—is getting to eat the foods they grow, something many students eagerly await, in Garden Program Director Genevieve Schwanbeck’s experience.
PHOTO COURTESY OF EXPLORE ECOLOGY
GROWING MINDS: Outdoor school gardens like the ones One Cool Earth facilitates at dozens of local campuses “have been proven as preventative tool” to address statistics that show “up to 40 percent of today’s youth are predicted to have diet and exercise-related disease by the time they are adults,” One Cool Earth Grant Manager Greg Ellis told the Sun
EDUCATION TODAY
Unequal footing
Central Coast county education offices look at metrics beyond the California Smarter Balanced assessment for student success
BY BULBUL RAJAGOPAL
Ten years ago, a new computer-based test for California students replaced the paper-reliant standardizing testing and reporting program. Called the Smarter Balanced assessments, the tests measure third through eighth graders’ and 11th graders’ knowledge of the state’s English language arts and math standards.
Students served by the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO)—those who can’t be served by their home district—tested 0 percent in both English and math standards for the 202324 assessments. Fifty-four students sat for the English language arts test and 55 sat for the math test, the SBCEO told the Sun
The county office serves students in the Juvenile Court and Community Schools—namely Peter B. FitzGerald Community School in Santa Maria—and special education programs. On average, students are enrolled for only 38 days and 78 days in the court school and in the community school, respectively. Non-stability rates can soar above 94 percent.
“For SBCEO’s Juvenile Court and Community Schools, student transiency is a primary challenge for measuring success,” the county office said. “Many students face additional barriers, including homelessness, socioeconomic hardship, and high rates of therapeutic needs. For students in special education programs, medical needs can lead to extended periods of absences impacting instructional time.”
According to the office, the state recognizes that students in alternative schools often face a unique set of challenges, which impact standardized test performance. The Santa Barbara County office pads its funding with the Student Support and Enrichment Block Grant and the Learning Recovery Block Grant.
“For [the Juvenile Court and Community Schools], a primary measure of success is helping students earn their high school diploma,” the office said. “For [the] community school, … an additional metric of success is a student successfully returning and transitioning to their referring school.”
Alternative schools report a one-year graduation rate. The juvenile court school achieved a 100 percent one-year graduation rate in the 2024-25 school year. That same year, 13 out of 15 students who attended the community school cleared their expulsion and returned to their home school district.
Students in the special education programs also receive an individualized education program with goals tailored to their needs.
“Within SBCEO programs,” the office said, “we recognize that success looks different for every student and the critical role SBCEO plays in our students’ academic growth.”
In neighboring San Luis Obispo County, only 13 percent and 0.8 percent of students served by the County Office of Education met or exceeded the state standard for English language arts and math, respectively, according to the 2024 results.
The County Education Office serves students enrolled in the SLO Juvenile Court School who are incarcerated or are awaiting court dates and not considered supervisable. The office also teaches seventh through 12th graders in Loma Visa Community School who have been expelled from and referred there by the county’s 10 local school districts because of excessive truancy.
“Our students come from situations of high levels of trauma, high rates of poverty, multiple years of school failure and not attending school,” county Director of Alternative Education Chris Balogh said. “We enroll students throughout the year because life happens and they end up in juvenile hall. That’s beyond our control but any time a student shows up there, we provide an education for them year-round.”
At Loma Vista, students complete the rehabilitation terms of their expulsion or truant remediation, recover credits, and learn social skills, behavioral therapy, and workplace readiness. They do so with the help of five teachers who specialize in different subjects. Depending on their capacity and life situation, students can opt for independent study, too. They’re supervised on campus, and the county also offers transportation.
According to a 2024 self-study visiting committee report by the accrediting body Western Association of Schools and Colleges, attendance at the juvenile court school “remains highly consistent.”
“We have a little bit different metrics,” Balogh said. “For sure we look at attendance, because if a student hasn’t gone to school at all and now they’re coming to school four out of five days, it’s a huge increase.”
Still, in the eyes of the Smarter Balanced assessment, standards at the Juvenile Court School and Loma Vista are slipping. English and math literacy rates dropped by 3.6 percent and 2 percent, respectively, compared to 2023 results.
The number of enrolled students also reflects the fluctuations in scores.
At the Juvenile Court School, there were no seventh graders enrolled between 2022 and 2024. A single student was enrolled in eighth grade in the 2023-24 school year. Three students were
enrolled in the 11th grade during the 2024-25 school year.
Enrollment dropped over the last three school years for seventh and eighth grades at Loma Vista, resulting in one seventh grader and six eighth graders in the 2024-25 school year. There were also 19 11th graders that year.
“With numbers this small, the metrics don’t work,” Balogh said. “We’re focused on getting them to school daily, providing therapeutic services, and getting them to understand that they can learn.”
He added that the assessment isn’t an appropriate measure of success.
“Sometimes, we get a student who has been working and then they’ve committed a crime and end up in juvenile hall. They haven’t been to school in years,” he said. “We’ve had no experience with this student. We may have had a week to spend with the student, and a week is not enough to get them up to 11th grade standards. It’s similar with our community school. … The test isn’t really a measure of their progress or our progress because they’ve been at multiple different schools.”
The Smarter Balanced assessment is only one component of the larger yearly California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test. There are also state science tests, a Spanish language assessment, and a set of alternate tests for students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Compared to the county Office of Education, SLO County’s school districts fared much better last year in the Smarter Balanced tests.
Lucia Mar school district’s Central Coast New Tech High in Nipomo placed ninth overall in the state, with 98.3 percent and 43 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards in English and math, respectively.
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San Luis Coastal Unified School District saw 66.5 percent of students hitting the mark in English and 57.6 percent in math.
In response to the Sun’s question about why schools must adhere to CAASPP reporting, a California Department of Education representative stated that federal and state laws “require all local educational agencies to assess all of their students in English language arts, mathematics, and science in the required grades. This applies to all student subgroups, which include racial/ethnic groups, English language learners/multilingual learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities.”
The representative added that federal law requires states to allow results to be separated within each state, local education agency, and school. Not performing well in these tests has funding consequences for the county Office of Education.
“Parents and media and everybody look at these scores to gauge how a school or a school district is doing,” Balogh said. “If we don’t get the right amount of participation, or we don’t do well enough, we can fall into an assistance mode where we have less control over what we’re doing.”
Balogh told the Sun that the state hasn’t stepped in to assist the county office yet. He added that federal government denied the California Department of Education’s request modify the requirements for alternative schools.
“We’re allowed to use other information, but we have to still report on the CAASPP,” he said. “In my work with the state and I work with people who have similar jobs as me in different county offices of education, we try to have a message that says why CAASPP isn’t relevant for our kids.” m
Reach New Times Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal, from the Sun’s sister paper, at brajagopal@ newtimesslo.com.
DIFFERENT PLANS: Serving students from the local school districts who were expelled for excessive truancy, SLO County Office of Education’s Loma Vista Community School aims to provide a safe, structured, and challenging educational environment that’s buttressed with resources like behavioral therapy and truant remediation. The Santa Barbara County Education Office serves students in the Juvenile Court School and Peter B. FitzGerald Community School in Sant Maria.
Dr. Kirk Specht of Central Coast Orthodontics is inviting the community to ring in his business’ 30th anniversary with an upcoming office party on Friday, Aug. 22, from 5 to 8
Fine-tooth home
Santa Maria’s Central Coast Orthodontics celebrates 30th anniversary
BY CALEB WISEBLOOD
Sunsets and cups of coffee are among the units the musical Rent suggests measuring a year in the life with. For local orthodontist Dr. Kirk Specht, the amount of patients he’s seen since opening his first office in Santa Maria helps sum up the past three decades.
“It could be 6- to 8,000 maybe,” he told the Sun “I should probably come up with some kind of calculation on that.”
Specht joked about enforcing a capacity limit on his office’s upcoming 30th anniversary celebration on Aug. 22, since the event is open to both past and present patients.
“Our building is pretty big, but not big enough,” he said with a laugh. “It’s hard to even know who all will come—over a lot of years and everything, but a lot of people still live in Santa Maria of course. It’d just be fun to see some people after all these years and what they’re doing in their lives.”
One potential outcome of the Aug. 22 event (from 5 to 8 p.m.) will be gaining new or future patients for Specht’s practice, Central Coast Orthodontics, as the party welcomes pretty much anyone who’s “interested in seeing who we are and what we’re doing,” he said.
Before putting down roots in Santa Maria in 1995, Specht was familiar with the Central Coast via one of his beloved pastimes, he explained.
“I used to windsurf a lot, so I’d come down here for windsurfing at Lake Lopez, and also out in the ocean,” said Specht, who grew up in the Napa Valley and received both his Doctorate Of Dental Surgery and Master Of Science In Orthodontics at Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. Specht said he considered a lot of different areas before choosing Santa Maria—where a friend of Specht’s, working as a dentist at the time, told Specht about an office vacancy in town, just across the hall from his own office.
“He said, ‘There’s an open space, and we’ll refer our patients to you. You should come down here,’” Specht recalled. “There’s no place like
the Central Coast. … We knew it was a cool place, and we had friends that were here. So, I thought, well that’s a good idea. Let’s do that.”
Specht spent about the first 20 years of running Central Coast Orthodontics in that original space before moving into his current office on South Miller Street. Outside of work hours, Specht can be spotted periodically partnering or volunteering with groups like Central Coast Rescue Mission Alliance, especially during the holiday season for meal services and gift drives.
While oodles of locals in need of braces or other alignment services at one time or another have called Specht their orthodontist, he has also treasured his staffers over the years.
“I’ve been really blessed with great team members,” Specht said.
For many of Specht’s longtime employees and longtime patients alike, the upcoming 30th anniversary celebration won’t be their first rodeo when it comes to office parties.
“We used to do a Halloween party every year, and we had an older couple I treated that never missed a party,” Specht said. “They had a lot of energy and a lot of fun. It’d be fun to see them. … We’ve had some really fun patients.”
Highlights
• St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Santa Maria will host its Divine Mercy Retreat on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Focused on topics of prayer and reflection, the event will feature guest speakers, refreshments, door prizes, and more. Call (805) 922-5826 for more details. The church is located at 414 E. Church St., Santa Maria.
• The Best Western Plus Big America in Santa Maria hosts weekly cribbage, every Monday, starting at 12:30 p.m. The group plays nine games per meeting. Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 12:15 p.m. or earlier. The cost to play is $10 per person. The hotel is located at 1725 N. Broadway, Santa Maria. m
Reach Senior Staff
Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@ santamariasun.com.
RTA Routes Include 11 Schools!
• Cuesta College: SLO & North County - fare free for students with ID!
• Cal Poly
• Paso Robles High School*
• Lewis Flamson Jr. High*
• Liberty High School
• Allan Hancock College
• Arroyo Grande High School*
• Paulding Middle School
• Nipomo High School
• New Tech High School
See if RTA can work for you and check out the bus schedules on our website. K-12 pay half price on RTA (does not apply to South County Transit)
* These schools also have custom tripper service to meet bell times
For your personal travel plan visit our How to Ride webpage and complete the online form: https://www.slorta.org/ride-guide/how-to-ride/
Team: Colette Florey, Dzi, Janae Amador, Isabella Moreno & Yuritzi Grooming Externs: Cody Dugan & Holly Prewitt Groomers Assistants: Brandi Janke & Ryleigh MacLean
BRACE YOURSELVES:
p.m., at 1311 S. Miller St., suite 201, Santa Maria.
What’s the best way to increase safety for Caltrans workers?
60% Increase CHP presence and raise fines for speeders in cone zones.
20% Install more durable paving that requires less maintenance.
10% Remind drivers to slow down through billboards and ad campaigns.
10% Use more unmanned vehicles for road work.
A good start
Congressman Salud Carbajal and two colleagues are trying to initiate immigration reform
BY RON FINK
B10 Votes
Vote online at www.santamariasun.com.
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ack in July I said, “the immigration laws need to be updated, but simply resisting enforcement of existing law with endless conversations, waving signs, yelling and screaming, harassing enforcement officers, burning public property, and stopping traffic isn’t helpful and produces no meaningful results,” (Start assisting in immigration issues,” July 10).
And “legislators could start with guest worker programs that are structured to support the ebb and flow agricultural labor needs. Once vetted for the guest worker program, these workers could enter the ‘fast lane’ when they return next season; new workers would still require proper vetting prior to entry. Once on the job for a couple of seasons or those employed in yeararound operations could be assisted to become naturalized citizens with educational programs provided by the employer.”
Considering the time it takes to prepare new legislation, I doubt that my suggestion prompted Congressman Salud Carbajal and two of his colleagues to initiate an immigration reform package in Congress. Their proposal, The Dignity Act of 2025, is a good start and hopefully Congress will take this effort seriously.
The positive parts of this proposal include improved border security, asylum reform, mandatory E-Verify to establish legal status,
Newsom’s mid-decade redistricting is dangerous gerrymandering and political revenge
Gov. Newsom has proposed middecade redistricting to redraw California’s congressional lines—not to serve the people, but to play political revenge games with Texas. This is gerrymandering, plain and simple. And a dangerous step backward.
Californians fought hard to end the days of shady, backroom map deals. In 2008, we passed Proposition 11 to create the Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent body that puts people over politics when drawing district lines. That system works. It’s considered the national gold standard. Redistricting belongs to the voters—not to the governor or any political party.
Now, all that progress is under threat. Middecade redistricting will destabilize elections, confuse voters, and undermine public trust in democracy.
The League of Women Voters was a proponent of Proposition 11 and continues to advocate for fair redistricting throughout California.
San Luis Obispo County fought its own hard-won battle and established an independent citizens redistricting commission to draw county electoral maps in 2024.
Tell the governor California is not Texas. We cannot go backward. Tell him to abandon this shortsighted, undemocratic effort.
Email him at gov.ca.gov/contact or call (916) 445-2841.
Janice Langley
Joanne Schultz
increases in criminal penalties for unlawfully reentering the country, allowing children of undocumented aliens to become citizens, allowing undocumented immigrants in the U.S. to earn legal status if they pass a criminal background check, paying back any taxes owed, and completing the naturalization process.
However, there are some controversial provisions, such as establishing “a presumption that family separation constitutes hardship, and international students would no longer be required to demonstrate their intention to go back to their home countries after completing their studies.”
Since
This new proposal is only a start; some in Congress may agree with these ideas, others will likely oppose it. Since this is being proposed jointly by Democrat and Republican Congress members, hopefully the debate won’t result in lengthy partisan bickering. Making public policy is a lot like making sausage; you throw in a lot of parts, grind it up with endless discussion, and even though you wanted sausage you may get liver and onions instead. And even if the new law passes and is signed by the current president, a future administration, like the Biden administration, could simply not enforce parts of the law it doesn’t like.
The news of the new proposal was published in Noozhawk (July 26) the same day that Congressman Carbajal authored a scathing letter, signed by many
Democrat politicians, demanding that Sheriff Bill Brown, who is the president of the Major County Sheriffs of America, “do everything within his power as the leader of this national law enforcement advocacy organization to publicly stand up against the Trump administration’s dangerous immigration enforcement campaign that is putting our constituents in harm’s way.”
Public officials took an oath of office when they were elected to serve. That oath states in part that “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Current laws, enacted by Congress, regulate entry into the United States and deportation therefrom.
Asking the sheriff to ignore federal law seems to conflict with the oath he and his fellow law enforcement officials took when elected.
And, if we truly want to deport “the worst first,” opening the jails for ICE agents would help satisfy that goal. Why? Because that’s where the worst are; charged with crimes, tried by jury, and convicted. Instead of protecting criminals, why not remove them so they can no longer prey on innocent people.
Congressman Carbajal had a good idea; he should have stayed in his lane initiating immigration reform instead of demanding that Sheriff Brown “publicly stand up against the Trump administration’s dangerous immigration enforcement campaign.” m
Ron Fink writes to the Sun from Lompoc. Send a letter for publication to letters@ santamariasun.com.
Wendy Brown leadership team League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County
Gold stars Opinion
It’s almost back-to-school time, and I’m jumping the gun by handing out gold stars this week. It’s rare that I get to give so many accolades!
First up, North County schools are growing their own gardens thanks in large part to Explore Ecology and One Cool Earth These nonprofits help establish and run the gardens where students plant seeds, care for the plants, and harvest and enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of their labors.
“Getting to grow it in the garden, it’s like this little baby that they get to check on every so often,” Explore Ecology Garden Program Director Genevieve Schwanbeck said. “Then by the time it’s ready to … taste this sweet, crunchy cauliflower, they’re like, ‘Oh, … it’s a whole different vegetable.’”
Kids are now enjoying their daily greens thanks to these groups—that’s a win for everyone involved. Gold stars for each nonprofit and the schools. Heck, I’m going to make it rain gold stars on all the participants too!
Next, we’ve got the local county offices of education, which are holding their own against the state and federal governments that want to only look at the numbers from standardized testing. But those standards don’t apply to everyone, especially not the students who are in juvenile hall, who’ve dropped out or been expelled, or those who were chronically truant.
Yet the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) serves these kids through its Juvenile Court and Community Schools, which are designed specifically to help students become students again. They recover credits, learn life skills, and can either graduate or
return to their home district. But in the eyes of the state, the students don’t measure up because they don’t pass the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
“For [the Juvenile Court and Community Schools], a primary measure of success is helping students earn their high school diploma,” the office said. “Within SBCEO programs, we recognize that success looks different for every student and the critical role SBCEO plays in our students’ academic growth.”
Gold stars for these programs, without which, at-risk kids would fall through the cracks in the state’s metrics.
In Vandenberg Village, I’m handing out gold stars to Constellation Land Development, the county Planning Commission, and 3rd District Planning Commissioner John Parke for their roles in a project that will bring more homes.
“We don’t have them [funding sources] at all in any way, shape, or form for moderate housing. … It has to come from private developers,” Parke said. “We really don’t have housing in this county for all the teachers, nurses, policemen, firemen, county planners.”
This Constellation Road development aims to provide 60 apartments and 87 hotel rooms toward that much needed housing—and I’m providing 147 gold stars!
Finally, I’m not forgetting the 2,000 men and women fighting the Gifford Fire. Those firefighters are battling night and day against the 82,000-acre (and growing) fire, protecting life and property. Infinite gold stars—and if I could literally make it rain, I would. m
The Canary wants to learn how to grow birdseed. Send land to canary@ santamariasun.com.
Bring this coupon to the Landfill Administration Office (2065 E. Main St., Santa Maria) or the Recreation and Parks Office (615 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria) to receive your free kitchen pail!
Hot Stuff
ARTS
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
BALLROOM, LATIN, AND SWING
DANCE CLASSES Social ballroom, Latin, and swing lessons for all ages. Beginner and advance classes. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. $45$55. (805) 928-7799. Kleindancesarts. com. Klein Dance Arts, 3558 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria.
THE CEMETERY CLUB This comedy follows a group of widows who visit their husbands’ graves monthly until one day they meet a handsome widower at the cemetery. Fridays, Saturdays, 7-9:15 p.m. and Sundays, 4-6:15 p.m. through Aug. 31 $20. (805) 268-5969. orcuttcommunitytheater.com. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt.
DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN
DANCE Classes available for all skill levels. Class sizes limited. Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, (805) 937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/.
SONGS FOR NOBODIES An unforgettable one-woman tour-de-force that celebrates the universal truth that everybody has a story—and a song—worth hearing. This musical will feature songs by Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, and Maria Callas. Aug. 14, 7-9:30 p.m., Aug. 15
7-9:30 p.m., Aug. 16, 7-9:30 p.m. and Aug. 17 1:30-4 p.m. Starting at $25. (805)9228313. pcpa.org/events/songs-for-nobodies.
PCPA: The Pacific Conservatory Theatre, 800 S. College, Santa Maria.
VALLEY ART GALLERY: ROTATING
DISPLAYS Featured artists of Santa Maria’s Valley Art Gallery displays their works at the airport. Check website for monthly
exhibits and full list of the gallery’s artists. valleygallery.org. Santa Maria Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
RHAPSODY IN HUE ARTISTS NEIL ANDERSSON AND VICKI ANDERSEN
Vicki Andersen and Neil Andersson are set to return for a duo show at Gallery Los Olivos. See their display, “Rhapsody in Hue” until August 31. Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through Aug. 31 (805) 688-7517. GalleryLosOlivos. Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.
SOMETHING ROTTEN Blends sixteenthcentury wit with twenty-first-century Broadway flair to prove that stardom requires kicking up your heels and staying true to yourself. WednesdaysSundays, 8-10:45 p.m. through Aug. 23 Starting at $25. (805) 922-8313. pcpa. org. Blends sixteenth-century wit with twenty-first-century Broadway flair to prove that stardom requires kicking up your heels and staying true to yourself. Thursdays-Sundays, 8-10 p.m. through Aug. 23 Starting at $25. (805)922-8313. pcpa.org/events/something-rottensolvang. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang.
YOSEMITE: SANCTUARY IN STONE A solo exhibition by award-winning nature and landscape photographer William Neill. Through Sept. 1 California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang, calnatureartmuseum.org.
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.
GREAT AMERICAN MELODRAMA: 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR Full of songs, dance, and comedy to celebrate the milestone, with loads of opportunities to boo and cheer. Aug. 8 - Sept. 20 americanmelodrama.com. Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.
HOW THE WEST WAS REALLY WON
Complete with a saloon setting, card games, duels, and more. Through Aug. 12 Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.
IMPROV YOUR LIFE This fun improvisation class helps participants tap into their creativity through interactive exercises that build confidence, reduce stress, and ease social anxiety. Second Sunday of every month, 6-7:30 p.m. through Aug. 24 $15. (805) 556-8495. improvforgood.fun/. Women’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon St., Arroyo Grande.
OCEANO SEABREEZE MARKET Join for an afternoon of fun, featuring locally made artisan goods, food, drinks, treats, music, and more. Visit the website for all the details. Aug. 9 12-4 p.m. Free. DiscoverOceanoCa.com. Oceano Train Depot, 1650 Front St., Oceano, (805) 489-5446.
SECOND SATURDAY IMPROV MEETUP
Have you ever wanted to try improv? Or are you an experienced player looking for opportunities to practice? Join to play short-form games and share smiles in the supportive environment of improv. Second Saturday of every month, 2-4 p.m. through Dec. 13 improvforgood.fun/. Flex Performing Arts Studio (Studio D), 1820 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.
WORKSHOPS AND MORE AT THE LAVRA
Check the venue’s calendar for storytelling
GARDEN CARE
Join the free Lompoc Botanic Garden Care Day on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden, to help Lompoc Valley Botanical and Horticultural Society beautify Lompoc’s botanic garden. Trim along the paths and pull out invasive species. For more information, visit lvbhs.org.
workshops, lectures, movie nights, and discussions held on a periodic basis. ongoing thelavra.org/home. The Lavra, 2070 E. Deer Canyon Road, Arroyo Grande.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
CENTRAL COAST COMEDY THEATER
IMPROV COMEDY SHOW An ongoing improv comedy program featuring the CCCT’s Ensemble. Grab some food at the public market’s wonderful eateries and enjoy the show upstairs. Second Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. $10. centralcoastcomedytheater.com/shows/. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.
CENTRAL COAST SHAKESPEARE
FESTIVAL Enjoy The Merry Wives of Windsor Shakespeare’s tale of trickery, and revenge on an overconfident swindler. Through Aug. 10 centralcoastshakespeare.org/ themerrywivesofwindsor. Filipponi Ranch, 1850 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo.
FILM SCREENING: ISRAELISM Watch this balanced and powerful documentary about two Jewish young adults who go to Palestine and “unlearn” everything they have been taught about Israel. Aug. 8, 6-8 p.m. Free. (520) 249-5043. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2201 Lawton Ave., San Luis Obispo.
FREE DOCENT TOURS Gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view with SLOMA’s new docent tours. Every Saturday, join trained guides for interactive and engaging tours of SLOMA’s current exhibitions. Saturdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma.org/visit/tours/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
HIGH TIDE A group exhibition of all your favorite local artists celebrating the spirit of community and mutual recognition along the Central Coast. Mondays-Fridays,
11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Aug. 22 Free. (805) 546-3201. Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, cuesta.edu/student/ campuslife/artgallery/.
NORTH COUNTY CAMERA CLUB: REGULAR MEETING Zoom meeting for The North County Camera Club, where photographers can participate, share photos, exchange information, and learn from each other. Second Tuesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Free. facebook.com/ groups/PRAAphotoguild. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
PAINTING PRE-MADE POTTERY
Choose from including mugs, bowls, jars, animals, and wall hangings. Priced by size. Paint and pick up once fired in kiln. Mondays, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Aug. app.acuityscheduling.com/ schedule.php?owner=22676824&appo intmentType=category:Paint%20a%20
Pre-Made%20Pottery%20Piece%21.
Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. slonightwriters.org.
United Church of Christ (Congregational) of San Luis Obispo, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.
STEPPIN’ UP TO THE MIC: CONTRA DANCE CALLING WORKSHOP SERIES
Learn to lead contra dances from the best callers across California. Year-long workshop series for new and aspiring contra dance callers, with opportunities to call. Feb. 8 $120. cccds.org/stepup. Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo.
STORYTELLING USING MARKER AND INK PENS WITH JASON KNOX Come with your ideas and Jason will guide you as you bring your characters and story to life in an illustrated book! Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. through Aug. 27 $25. (805) 471-8189. i0.wp. com/artcentralslo.com/wp-content/ uploads/2025/04/Storytelling-wMarkers-and-Ink-Knox-Wednesdays-1. jpg?fit=1275%2C1650&ssl=1. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
WALT WHITMAN GAY MEN’S BOOK CLUB
This club reads, studies and discusses books chosen by the group which relate to their lives as gay men. All are welcome. Second Monday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY ANTI CLASTIC FORMING In this exciting two-day workshop, you will learn the basic techniques for anti-clastic forming. We’ll work on several projects in copper & pewter. Silver optional. Aug. 9 1-5 p.m. $365. (805) 237-8632. randystromsoe.com. Randy Stromsoe Metalsmith, Highway 46 West, SLO County.
GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE HOSTS AN ARTISTS RECEPTION AND ATRIUM PARTY FOR VIRGINIA MACK, GAY MCNEAL AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON
Everyone is invited to the Gallery at Marina Square August Artist’s Reception and Atrium Party! Meet the artists, discover new art, and be amazed. Aug. 9 3-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
HOUSE DANCE WORKSHOP AT THE LUVHUB Dive into the soul of House Dance at this 90-minute workshop that blends energizing warm-ups, foundational drills, groove-packed choreography, and live cyphers to unlock your freestyle flow. Aug. 10, 11 a.m. $30. my805tix.com. The Luv Hub, 550 Morro Bay Boulevard, Morro Bay.
MICHAEL JOHNSTON SHOWS HER FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY IN GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE Michael Johnston loves horses, traveling, exploring, and nature itself. Her camera captures what she sees, and brings them home for you. Through Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
VIRGINIA MACK EXHIBITS HER FINE ART WATERCOLORS IN GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE Virginia Mack is a teacher, artist, and birder. Her paintings reveal the colors of the winter and summer light, and nature. Through Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805)
—Angie Stevens
PHOTO COURTESY OF LOMPOC VALLEY BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
LAST WEEK!
Attention local singers, songwriters, musicians, & bands... Become a legendary New Times Music Award (NTMA) recipient!
Enter to win amazing prizes including a custom NTMA Newtie, your name/band name on all NTMA merch, and a performing spot at the New Times Music Awards and Showcase at SLO Brew Rock on Friday, November 21, 2025.
GENERAL RULES
Entries must be received between Thursday, July 24, 2025 and Monday, August 11, 2025 by 5 p.m. to be considered for the 2025 New Times Music Awards (NTMA).
• $20 entry fee for each song, songwriter, and album entry.
Enter 2 songs and get the 3rd FREE.
Participants may enter a maximum of 13 songs (10 genre category, 3 songwriting category) and 1 album.
ONLINE ENTRIES ARE PREFERRED FOR SONGS Fill out the entry form, upload songs, and pay for your entries with a credit card at NewTimesSLO.com. Best Album entries must be entered in person or by mail.
If you wish to pay with cash or check, you may drop off your entries at either the New Times or Sun offices. Bring your music entries on a CD or USB drive along with your completed entry form. Checks should be made payable to “New Times.”
All entrants must reside primarily in San Luis Obispo County or Northern Santa Barbara County.
All entrants must be able to play at the showcase event at SLO Brew Rock in San Luis Obispo on Friday, Nov. 21, 2024.
All entrants under 18 years of age must select the Youth category and must have a parent or guardian sign the entry form.
By entering the contest, all entrants give permission to New Times Media Group to reproduce submissions on compact disc and on the web. All entries remain the property of performers.
New Times Music Awards is not responsible for lost, damaged, incomplete, or late entries.
The top 3 songs in each category need to provide high-quality versions of their songs (16 Bit, 44.1 Sample Rate).
Songs may have multiple co-writers, but please designate one contact name only on entry form.
Winners will be chosen by a select panel of judges.
Songs will be judged on overall performance.
Live performers will share the ‘Back Line.’
Check NewTimesSLO.com or contact NTMA@NewTimesSLO.com for more information.
The New Times Music Awards Showcase and Competition is an all-ages show. Performers agree to eliminate explicit lyrics during their performance.
GENRE CATEGORIES
The Youth category is for musicians entering music who are under the age of 21 as of July 24, 2025.
The Open genre includes reggae, world beat, jazz, classical, new age, electronic, etc.
Each song submission must have a genre selected. If nothing is selected, the song will go into the Open genre.
If judges determine a song to be a better fit with a different genre category than what was originally submitted, they reserve the right to recategorize it.
SONGWRITER CATEGORY
You may enter up to 3 songs in the Songwriting genre, which is being judged separately.
Upload a .txt or .doc file or include a printout of lyrics with your entry.
ALBUM CATEGORY
Albums must have been released between November 21, 2024 and July 24, 2025 to be eligible. Please deliver a hard copy to either the New Times or Sun office along with a completed entry form by 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 for consideration.
The entire presentation will be judged, including quality of songs, sound, and packaging. Only 1 album per entrant total.
until Monday, August 11, 2025 @ 5 pm
SCAN TO ENTER
ARTIST NAME
NAME OF PERFORMING ARTIST(S) EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD APPEAR ON CD (BAND NAME, STAGE NAME, ETC.)
SONG ENTRY BY GENRE
ENTER UP TO 10 SONGS • FILL OUT THE INFO BELOW FOR EACH SONG ENTERED
SONG TITLE
PLEASE CHECK ONE BOX PER SONG TITLE TO INDICATE SONG GENRE: Rock/Alternative County/Americana/Folk R&B/Blues Hip-Hop/Rap
Enter online or use additional entry forms if entering more than one song
SONGWRITER ENTRY
ENTER UP TO 3 SONGS • FILL OUT THE INFO BELOW FOR EACH SONG ENTERED
Upload a .txt or .doc file or include a printout of lyrics with your entry SONG TITLE
Enter online or use additional entry forms if entering more than one song
BEST ALBUM ENTRY ONLY 1 ALBUM MAY BE ENTERED
ALBUM TITLE
Enter Best Album by mail or drop off at New Times or Sun office
LOCAL LEGEND AWARD NOMINEE
The Local Legend Award recognizes an individual or group who has contributed to help enrich, support, and further music’s reach in our community; someone whose ideas, inspiration, and dedication to this art scene have helped nurture and grow the music scene—whether it’s bringing new sounds to the area or giving people the tools they need to create their own. We would love your input! Please use this space to nominate an individual, group, or organization you feel should be considered for this award:
I certify that I am the writer or co-writer of the song(s) or lyrics submitted. *Except for Cover Genre. I also certify that I have read, understood, and accept the rules and regulations of the New Times Music Awards. If entrant is under 18 years old, the signature of a parent or guardian is required.
Name: Phone:
Signature:
Email:
Date:
NUMBER OF ENTRIES (14 MAX POSSIBLE) _____________ x $20 = $
ONLINE ENTRIES ARE PREFERRED FOR SONGS, BUT YOU MAY ALSO MAIL OR DROP OFF SUBMISSIONS AT EITHER OF OUR OFFICES BEST
772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com.
Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
54TH NORTH-SOUTH RUN Ford F-100
Elite of NorCal and Pickups Limited of SoCal invite you to the 54th annual NorthSouth Run, celebrating the legacy of Ford trucks. Aug. 15 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and Aug. 16 8 a.m.-9 p.m. $30-$130. (951) 237-1570. facebook.com/northsouthrun/. Santa Maria Inn, 801 S. Broadway, Santa Maria.
ANDROID PHONE CLASS First Thursday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, (805) 937-9750.
BULLDOG EXPRESS WORKSHOPS Bulldog
Express workshops will be available to assist Allan Hancock College students with free enrollment support and financial aid information starting June 23 at both the Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center. Workshops will be held at the Student Services Building A on the Santa Maria campus, on Mondays and Tuesdays, from June 23 to August 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. At Lompoc Valley Center, they will be held in Building 1 on June 30, July 15, July 21, and August 5, from 3 to 6 p.m. More information can be found at the link. Through Aug. 12, 3-6 p.m. Free. hancockcollege.edu/. Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Drive, 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.
D&D AND BOARD GAMES AT THE LIBRARY Come play board games, Dungeons & Dragons, and other tabletop games, presented by the Santa Maria
Head to Naughty Oak Brewing Company in Orcutt for Trivia Night on Aug. 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. Get a team of friends together of any size and enjoy a night of fun, laughter, and drinks. Prizes for first, second, and third place teams will be given. Visit naughtyoak.com for more information about the event.
Valley Adventurers League. Tutorials and game materials are provided. Aug. 10, 1-4:30 p.m. Free. (805) 925-0994 ext.8562. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (805) 937-9750. oasisorcutt.org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt.
GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing (805) 343-2455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe.
HANCOCK HELLO ORIENTATION (SANTA MARIA) Join Allan Hancock College for Hancock Hello, an in-person orientation for new students and their families. Aug. 12 4-6:30 p.m. Free. (805) 922-6966. hancockcollege.edu/hello/index.php. Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria.
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.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
CITIZEN SCIENCE FIELD DAY: LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST Join the CalNAM and Adventure Scientists for a citizen science field day in Los Padres National Forest. Aug. 17 7 a.m.-3 p.m. calnatureartmuseum.org/news/los-padrescitizen-science-2025. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang. FAMILY COOKING CLASSES WITH A-Z COOKING SCHOOL Bring the family together to learn side-by-side how to prepare delicious meals. Classes are tailored for children and teens with a family adult. Second Monday of every month, 5:30-7 p.m. through Nov. 10
Adults $33; Children 5-16 $23. (805) 214-1213. santaynezvalleygrange.org/ calendar/?month=7&yr=2025. Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado, Los Olivos.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
AFTERNOON BINGO Bingo with potluck. Parking in rear. Buy one of everything for $20. Guests can participate without bringing food. Look forward to a fun afternoon. Second Tuesday of every month, 12-4 p.m. All games are $1 each. (805) 736-6669. Valley of Flowers HalfCentury Club, 341 No. N St., Lompoc. LOMPOC ART WALK Lompoc transforms into a celebration and showcase of local artists during this monthly event, which features live music, art, exciting exhibitions, performances, and a variety of unique vendors. First Thursday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Old Town Lompoc, H and I St., Lompoc.
LOMPOC BOTANIC GARDEN CARE DAY
Help LVBHS beautify Lompoc’s botanic garden. We will trim along the paths and also pull out invasive species. Wear sunscreen, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. (805) 450-3668. lvbhs.org/activities. Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden, 1 Hancock Drive, Lompoc.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
CAMP TACANNEKO Camp Fire Central
Coast Council is hosting its 59th annual Camp Tacanneko. It is week-long traditional day camp for kids K-11th grade, who can participate in music, arts-n-crafts, swimming, and more. To get more info and register now, visit the link. Through Aug. 8 $260. (805) 235-0819. campfirecentralcoast.org. Camp Arroyo Grande, 250 Wesley St., Arroyo Grande.
FAMILYTOOLS+ SUPPORT GROUP –
YOUTHWELL This event is for parents and caregivers of youth, ages 5 to 18, with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, Tourette’s, and uniquely-wired brains. Thursdays, 12-1:30
p.m. through Aug. 29 Free. (805) 770-1930. youthwell.org/groups/. SBCC Wake Center, 300 N Turnpike, Santa Barbara. FIVE CITIES REPAIR CAFÉ Get free repairs of household appliances, bikes, clothing, outdoor gear and apparel, computers, tablets, phones, toys, jewelry, and more. Bring your garden abundance to share. Aug. 9 1-4:30 p.m. Free. (650) 367-6780. repaircafe5cities.org. Get free repairs of household appliances, clothing, phones, laptops, toys, bikes, game consoles, outdoor gear, and apparel. Bring your garden abundance to share. Aug. 9, 1-4:30 p.m. (650) 367-6780. repaircafe5cities.org. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.
LIBRARY BOOK SALE Browse tons of books for sale at great prices — .50 cents per inch for paperback, $1 per inch hardback. Cash only; bag sale at 1 p.m. Aug. 9, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. (805) 481-4131. Grover Beach Community Library, 240 N 9th St., 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. NIPOMO SENIOR CENTER FUNDRAISER 2025 Indoors, you will find arts, crafts, business vendors, along with a huge bake sale and raffle! Outdoors, there will be 23 rummage sale vendors. Gift certificate sponsors needed. Aug. 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (805) 931-0841. Nipomo Senior Center, 200 E. Dana St, Nipomo. SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. (805) 904-6615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 14
TRIVIA TIME
The Santa Maria Joint Union
High School District
Special Education - Child Find
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) seeks to identify, locate, and evaluate high school age students suspected of having a disability who may be eligible for special education services designed to meet their educational needs at no cost to families. This includes students that are highly mobile, migrant, experiencing homelessness, students that are wards of the state, and students attending private schools located within SMJUHSD boundaries. If you suspect your child has a disability, contact the school special education department or district office Special Education Department.
Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)
El Distrito Escolar de las Escuelas Preparatorias de Santa Maria
Educación Especial - Búsqueda de Estudiantes
El Distrito Unificado de Escuelas Preparatorias de Santa Maria (SMJUHSD) busca identificar, localizar y evaluar a los estudiantes en edad de escuela preparatoria sospechosos de tener una discapacidad que puede ser elegible para servicios de educación especial diseñados para satisfacer sus necesidades educativas sin costo alguno para las familias. Esto incluye a los estudiantes que son altamente móviles, migrantes, sin hogar, estudiantes que están bajo la tutela del estado, y los estudiantes que asisten a escuelas privadas ubicadas dentro los limites de SMJUHSD. Si sospecha que su hijo tiene una discapacidad, comuníquese con el departamento de educación especial de la escuela u oficina de Educación Especial del distrito SMJUHSD.
Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)
WELCOME TO THE SOUNDTRACK OF FREEDOM
FRIDAY, AUGUST 15 / 6PM TICKETS START AT
FRIDAY,
SHEILA E.
FRIDAY,
SAN LUIS OBISPO
BACK-TO-SCHOOL EXTRAVAGANZA Touch-a-truck, Taiko drumming, dance performance, food trucks, Mad Science, storybook characters, carnival games and more! Schedule at slolibrary.org. Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. sanluisobispo.librarycalendar.com/event/back-schoolextravaganza-18401. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.
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) 905-9274. theartofsilence.net. 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) 280-5800. margotschaal.com/ qigong. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo. AN EVENING WITH PHIL ROSENTHAL OF “SOMEBODY FEED PHIL” Join Phil Rosenthal, award-winning creator and executive producer of “SOMEBODY FEED PHIL” and “EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND”, in a moderated conversation followed by an audience Q&A. Phil will be telling all the funny and true stories of his life, his television career, food, travel, friends, and family. Aug. 9, 6 p.m. $50.96. fremontslo.com. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.
FAMILY FREE DAY: THE SCALY SAFARI Join “A Scaly Safari” with local snake expert and author Emily Taylor and representatives from the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society for crafts and exploration. Aug. 10 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org/event/family-free-day-the-scalysafari/. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.
FREE VIRTUAL QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING For participants to learn about community resources in Santa Barbara County and be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide for parents and adults (ages 18 and over) who work or live with youth between ages of 12-18. Offered in partnership with Family Services Agency of Santa Barbara and thanks to a grant from SAMHSA. Aug. 8 , 10 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 770-1593. youthwell.org/mental-health-first-aid. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
FRIDAY NIGHT IMPROV AT SLO PUBLIC MARKET No script. No context. No real plan. Get ready for another Friday night Improv Show with Central Coast Comedy Theater’s Ensemble team! Our quick-witted crew will weave your suggestions into moments of comedic gold. Fast, funny, and different every single time. Aug. 8 6:15-8 p.m. $13. my805tix.com. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.
HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP A safe place to share feelings of depression with those who suffer and those who have recovered to a full, healthy outlook on life. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Free. (805) 528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.
LET’S DANCE Our favorite DJ will return for our summer dance party! Shannon Babcock will create a perfect playlist to dance the night away. Get more info at the link. Aug. 8 , 7-9 p.m. $10.66. congregationhouse.online. CongregationHouse, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.
MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE MEETING) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 270-3346.
Q YOUTH GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) This is a social support group for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth between the ages of 11-18. Each week the group explores personal, cultural, and social identity. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
QI GONG AT SPIRIT WINDS PHYSICAL THERAPY This class will lay a foundation for health and vitality by integrating joint mobility, flowing movement, energizing breathwork, and mindfulness practices. Join now! Wednesdays. through Dec. 31 $23. my805tix.com. Spirit Winds Physical Therapy, 1422 Monterey Street, Suite C-102, San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-5100. SUPER REC SATURDAYS! Dive into fun with the whole family! Enjoy a day of activities, diving boards, obstacle course, food, music, and more. Aug. 9 12-6 p.m. $4.75 for youth/seniors, $5.25 for adults. sloswimcenter.org. SLO Swim Center, 900 Southwood Dr., San Luis Obispo.
TECH BREW MEETUP Tech Brew is a free networking event where people interested in technology can hang out in an informal environment with a small TEDtalk-like presentation from an interesting speaker. Learn more online. Second Monday of every month, 5-7 p.m. (805) 323-6706. meetup.com/softec/. StoryLabs, 102 Cross St, Suite 220, San Luis Obispo. TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP Learn more about mental health and coping skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. (805) 540-6576.
NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY
CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS
MEETING Co-Dependents Anonymous
(CoDA) is a Twelve Step recovery program for anyone who desires to have healthy and loving relationships with themselves and others. Meeting is hybrid (both in person and on Zoom). For information, call 805-900-5237. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. thecambriaconnection.org/. Cambria Connection, 1069 Main St., Cambria, (805) 927-1654.
MEDITATE WITH DAWN Join this semi-private class to restore your energy and calm the mind, guided by Dawn Feuerberg, a certified classical ashtanga yoga and mindfulness life coach. Aug. 17 10-11:15 a.m. (805) 540-1762. my805tix.com. Aurora Sacred Events, 21 24th St, Cayucos.
SHAMANIC MORNING RITUALS FOR
VITALITY Meet at a local beach that has an incredible view of the majestic Morro Bay Rock and be guided by Dawn into intentional movemant to awaken vital energy that rejuvenates and transforms. The class will help you to connect with your energy centers (chakras) in the body by doing earthing practices to clear the mind and the somatic body of any holding patterns. Aug. 8 , 8:30-9:45 a.m. $48.98. my805tix.com. Aurora Sacred Events, 21 24th St, Cayucos.
SKATE CAMBRIA FUNDRAISER - BBQ & MOVIES AT CAMP OCEAN PINES! The Cambria Film Festival Presents “Virgin Blacktop: a New York Skate Odyssey”. Enjoy the outdoor Screening and BBQ at Camp Ocean Pines, and be part of the journey of bringing a skate park to Cambria! Aug. 10 6:30-9:30 p.m. $45. my805tix.com. Camp Ocean Pines, 1473 Randall Dr., Cambria, (805) 927-0254.
WATERFRONT MARKET MORRO BAY
CA END OF SUMMER EVENT We hope you enjoyed your summer. Come check out our Waterfront Market Event going on this weekend, with over 30 local vendors.
Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Aug. 10 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (805) 402-9437. Giovanni’s Fish Market, 1001 Front St., Morro Bay.
FOOD & DRINK
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
BAR TAKEOVER THURSDAYS Join us
Thursdays to meet and chat with the winemaker of the flight we’re featuring that week. Thursdays, 4-7:30 p.m. $15-$30. (805) 623-5129. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, stellerscellar.com.
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY Head to Food Truck Friday, with wine bottle specials and local food trucks every Friday at the Wine Stone Inn. Fridays, 4-9 p.m. through April 24 Free. (805) 332-3532. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W.
Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.
PRESQU’ILE WINERY: WINE CLUB Call or go online to make a reservation to taste at the winery or find more info on the winery’s Wine Club offerings. ongoing presquilewine.com/club/. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.
SECOND SATURDAY OPEN AIR MARKET: LOS ALAMOS A carefully curated open air artisan and farm market. Features great vintage finds, handwoven and hand dyed textiles, hand-spun yarn, organic body care products, and locally grown organic eats. Second Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 722-4338. Sisters Gifts and Home, 349 Bell Street, Los Alamos.
SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS Every Sunday, come cozy up inside the tasting room and listen to great artists. Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Free. (805) 937-8463. cottonwoodcanyon.com. Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard And Winery, 3940 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria.
TACO TUESDAY Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.
Clark Ave., Orcutt, winestoneinn.com/. 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.
TAP THURSDAY Head to Tap Thursdays at the Wine Stone Inn every week, featuring $5 draft beers and $5 Cava’s. Thursdays, 3-9 p.m. through April 16 Free. (805) 3323532. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, winestoneinn.com/.
THURSDAY EVENING BAR TAKEOVER
Call venue or visit website to find out about featured vintners. Thursdays stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
WINE AND DESIGN CLASSES Check Wine and Design’s Orcutt website for the complete list of classes, for various ages. ongoing. wineanddesign.com/orcutt. Wine and Design, 3420 Orcutt Road, suite 105, Orcutt.
WINE BINGO WEDNESDAYS Join Wine
DISCOVER OUT SIDE
FULL MOON NIGHT HIKE
NATURE APPS 101
COASTAL BLUFFS WALK
FAMILY FEST
with Isla Vista Compost Collective (Goleta)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 10
Bingo Wednesday at the Wine Stone Inn –– the original bingo night in Old Orcutt. The event will occur weekly with the purchase of an adult beverage. Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. through April 29 (805) 332-3532. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, winestoneinn.com/.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
BATCH COOKING CLASS WITH
A-Z COOKING SCHOOL
Work with seasonally available local produce, and learn a variety of techniques and recipes. Take home what you cook after this class, geared towards adults and teens, 14 years and older. Second Sunday of every month, 2-3:30 p.m. through Nov. 9 $55. (805) 214-1213. santaynezvalleygrange.org/mcevents/adult-and-teen-cookingclasses-with-a-z-cookingschool/?mc_id=222. Santa Ynez Valley Grange Hall, 2374 Alamo Pintado, Los Olivos.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO TUESDAYS CLASH Don’t miss Head Games Trivia at COLD Coast Brewing Company every Tuesday night. Teams can be up to 6 members. Earn prizes and bragging rights. Kekas will be serving their delicious local fare. Fun for all ages. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. (805) 819-0723. coldcoastbrewing.com. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
MONTHLY FERMENTATION
METAL MAGIC
Learn anticlastic basics—the technique required to elegantly create metal curvatures—during the two-day intro to anticlastic forming class on Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. both days at Randy Stromsoe Metalsmith in San Luis Obispo. Participants will make a sculptural bangle and learn foundational skills. The class is $295, and a spot can be reserved at randystromsoe.com.
CLASSES Join to expand your knowledge of the fermentation process and get started fermenting at home. We alternate between demonstration and hands-on classes. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30-$50. (805) 801-6627. kulturhausbrewing.com/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 non-alcoholic options available. First Thursday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free to play. (805) 295-6171. kulturhausbrewing.com. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET
Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Downtown SLO, Multiple locations, San Luis Obispo.
MUSIC
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy live music at the winery most Friday evenings. Check site for concert schedule. Fridays presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.
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 AND FOOD BY LOBO
BUTCHER SHOP Check out live music every Friday night from a variety of artists at Steller’s Cellar in Old Orcutt. Dinner
and get ready to perform. Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc, (805) 8190723, coldcoastbrewing.com.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
2025 LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CONCERT
SERIES Head to the Point San Luis Lighthouse in Avila Beach for Saturday afternoon concerts. Get tickets and more info at the link. Through Oct. 11 $28. my805tix.com. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.
ARROYO GRANDE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES These free concerts will begin on July 4 and run every Sunday until September 21. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. through Sept. 21 Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande.org/ events. Heritage Square Park, 201 Nelson St., Arroyo Grande.
THE LOUNGE AT BESO An upscale after-hours nightclub experience. With limited capacity and a dress code. For ages 21 and over. Fridays, 10 p.m. my805tix.com. Beso Cocina, 1050 Willow Road, Nipomo.
—A.S.
served by Lobo Butcher Shop between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 5-9 p.m. Varies according to food options. (805) 623-5129. stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.
LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR
Various local musicians rotate each Friday. Fridays, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 623-5129, stellerscellar.com.
MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN Live DJ and karaoke every Friday and Saturday night. Featured acts include Soul Fyah Band, DJ Nasty, DJ Jovas, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.
MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY
Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. ongoing (805) 925-0464. coelhomusic. com/Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria.
SUMMER DANCE PARTY Santa Maria
Valley Senior Citizen Club presents “Summer Fun Dance” with Riptide Big Band and vocalists at the Elwin Mussell Sr. Center. Aug. 10 1:30-4 p.m. Free. (775)813-5186. RiptideBB.com. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.
SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
LIVE MUSIC
SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.
WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.
LOMPOC/VANDENBERG
KARAOKE AT COLD COAST BREWING
CO. Pick out a song, bring your friends,
MEREDITH WILLSON’S THE MUSIC MAN Players West presents The Music Man — a heartwarming tale of charm, music, and unexpected love in small-town Iowa. Aug. 7 7 p.m., Aug. 8 7 p.m., Aug. 9, 2 & 7 p.m. and Aug. 10 2 p.m. $28.50. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande. SLO COUNTY BAND THURSDAY NIGHT SUMMER CONCERTS
Join in on the fun at these free Thursday night concerts with the Slo County Band. Bring your lawn chairs! Second Thursday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. through Sept. 11 Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande. org/events. Rancho Grande Park, 500 James Way, Arroyo Grande.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
LEO KOTTKE AND JULIAN LAGE Hear guitarists Leo Kottke and Julian Lage live. Get tickets and more info at the link. Aug. 10, 7 p.m. $43. fremontslo.com.
The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.
MSPAINT AT HUMDINGER SLO American rock band MSPAINT is set to hit the Humdinger stage. Purchase tickets at the link to hear them live. Aug. 9 6 p.m. $22. my805tix.com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-9974.
RED LEATHER LIVE Alternative-rock artist Red Leather is based out of Reno, Nevada, and will be playing in town. His music tells an honest story of addiction, his journey to sobriety, and his pursuit of his dreams. Get tickets now. Aug. 10 7 p.m. $27. slobrew. com. Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-1843.
RESINATION & GHOST\MONSTER DUO AT CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA
Ghost\Monster duo will perform a set, followed by two hours of live music from Resination. The Soda Crackers will play during the after party at Libertine Brewing Co. Aug. 8 5 p.m. Mission Plaza, Downtown, San Luis Obispo.
STEVE EARLE LIVE Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation. A protege of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others. Hear him live at the Fremont Theater! Aug. 7 $46.32. fremontslo.com.
The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600. m
ARTS BRIEFS
CalNAM celebrates 25 years with exhibit from its permanent collection
The California Nature Art Museum pulled 25 works of art from its permanent collection of 150 to celebrate its 25th anniversary.
Curated by former board chair Peter Adams and his wife, Becky, the show features work from local artists such as John Iwerks, Nell Campbell, and museum founder Patti Jacquemain, as well as artists from all over the nation “drawn to the unique beauty of California,” according to the museum’s website.
The museum’s newest acquisition, an oil-on-canvas painting by California artist John Marshall Gamble, is also on display. The piece donated by museum supporter Mel Sayhun, Rincon Point and Wildflowers features Santa Barbara County.
“It is diverse, eclectic, and a beautiful montage of California as seen through the eyes of outstanding painters, photographers, and sculptors,” the Adams said of the museum’s permanent collection.
The exhibition’s curators also said founding the formerly named Wildling Art Museum 25 years ago was a “brave act which has survived and thrived to this day.”
Visit the Nature Art Museum at 1511-B Mission Drive in Solvang.
Celebrating 25 Years: Selections From the CalNAM Permanent Collection will be up through January. Visit calnatureartmuseum.org for more information.
See Merry Wives of Windsor at the Central Coast Shakespeare Festival
on its
at
Ranch
San Luis Obispo to present The Merry Wives of Windsor every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night through Aug. 10.
Sir John Falstaff (played by Mark Kassen), Shakespeare’s rotund, vain, often drunk knight, is reduced to a buffoonish, good-natured suitor who plans to reverse his misfortune by courting two wealthy married women. The husbands learn of his plot and set about on a quest for revenge, embarrassing and pranking their wives’ would-be lover. Of course, there are other characters with suitors of their own and plenty of meddling going on.
Shakespeare explores love, marriage, jealously and revenge, and wealth and social class with humor, a duel, and an accidental gay marriage. Sexual innuendo? But of course. Double entendre? Would it be Shakespeare without it?
Purchase tickets at centralcoastshakespeare.org and find your way to the grassy knoll fronted by a two-story stage.
Patrons are invited to bring a picnic, a standard-sized lawn chair, and dress in layers. Wine is available for purchase, and the ranch is located at 1850 Calle Joaquin, SLO. No outside alcohol is allowed. m
Back to their roots, into the future
The Great American Melodrama revives Four-Legged Fortune for its 50th anniversary show
BY GLEN STARKEY
Melodrama may have enjoyed its theatrical heyday more than two centuries ago, but the artform is alive and well in Oceano, where for the past 50 years The Great American Melodrama has been presenting classic melodramas and vaudeville shows to enthusiastic audiences. Over the years, the theater company has morphed into spoofing classic melodrama and contemporizing its vaudeville shows, but to celebrate its golden anniversary, the cast and crew are returning to their roots.
“For the 50th anniversary, I feel like we should really honor where the Melodrama started but also show the variety of what we’ve done over the 50 years, because we haven’t done classic melodrama in probably 10 years,” Eric Hoit explained.
Hoit’s been a part of the Melodrama for 45 of its 50 years as an actor, director, and in administrative roles, and for this show, he’s going to direct the first two segments. The show begins with A FourLegged Fortune, written by Dion Boucicault. It premiered in London in 1866.
“I wanted to do a real classic melodrama, so we took one that we’ve done a few times, and I condensed it into one act, which was challenging, but I feel really happy with what we’ve got,” Hoit continued. “Then I’m directing the first vaudeville, which is material that could have been in vaudeville from the ’20s and ’30s when vaudeville was at its height. It’s not all necessarily written then, but stylistically it would not be anachronistic to that period.”
The show’s final segment is a contemporary vaudeville, with lots of “references to pop music,” veteran actor Billy Breed explained. “It’s kind of what a lot of our vaudevilles have morphed into over the years. We’re giving the perspective of what potential vaudevilles of the future will be. They’re parodies of popular music right now, lots of rap music, some from Hamilton.”
“The third act’s really cool because it is—as imagined by [writer-director] Eric Stein—snippets of shows that could be done in the next 50 years,” actor Toby Tropper added.
“Eric Stein’s doing an amazing job,” Hoit said. “What he wrote is hysterical. Anybody who’s ever been to the Melodrama and enjoyed it will not be disappointed. And if people have not been to the Melodrama, they should definitely come check this one out, because they’ll have a great evening and see what we’re all about.”
Since most of the recent Melodrama fare has been spoofs on classic melodrama, this return to its roots promises to be good old-fashioned villain booing and hissing fun.
“I play a horse trainer in it, and it’s about horseracing and shenanigans behind the scenes with the villains wanting to sabotage one of the horses. Drama ensues,” Breed explained.
Suzy Newman, a fellow longtime Melodrama actor, explained that she gets to play another of the villains in the melodrama. “I’m Mrs. Mulligan. In the original script, it was Colonel Mulligan, and it was a man. I think the only women in there were housemaids or ingenues.”
“I’m playing the [other] villain in A Four-Legged Fortune, [Captain] Grindley Goodge, which is a great name,” Tropper said. “I’m also emceeing the show, which is always a lot of fun. And then I’m in the vaudeville portion and, well, all three acts. I’m playing everything from a sea otter to a pirate. I’m running the gamut.”
In addition to a lot of longtime Melodrama performers, the show features some newcomers too, such as Annaliese Chambers, originally of Birmingham, Alabama. She’s a semi-recent musical theater graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
“Since graduating college, I’ve kind of just been bouncing around from gig to gig all over the country, so I’ve worked in Washington State, Indiana, New York— you know, I go where the gig is.”
She also did an international tour in Asia, but then she got in contact with Melodrama Artistic Director Johnny Keating.
“I did my first show in April of last year, and I just fell in love with it, so I’ve just kept coming back,” Chambers explained. “I play the ingenue archetype in the first act. I’m the young lover, you know? ‘Woe is me.’ That kind of vibe. The second act, my big number is a tap dance that I think the audience is really going to enjoy. And then the third act, I’m playing a monarch butterfly who’s not very good at flying, and she’s a parody of Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne, so I’m singing a couple songs. I’m really excited for the third act; I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Newman is excited about the variety of the show: “It’s going to go by fast. The melodrama is really fun. It just
Get your tickets for the 50th
The Great American Melodrama presents its 50th Anniversary show that will mix traditional melodrama, vintage vaudeville, and contemporary vaudeville at its Oceano theater (1863 Front St.) from Friday, Aug. 8, through Saturday, Sept. 20. Purchase tickets online at americanmelodrama.com or call (805) 489-2499.
whizzes by, and [the audience will] get to yell at the villains. There’s a horse in it, but not a real one. In the original one, they did have horses.
“It’s going to be beautiful. They’re just putting all kinds of costumes on us, lots of fun sets. I think when people leave, they’ll feel like they just saw a jam-packed show.”
“You’ll get a really good taste of what the Melodrama does, a really broad spectrum,” Breed explained. “The first act melodrama is not a parody of a melodrama. It’s a serious melodrama with some comedy in it. So, you’ll get a taste of what a traditional melodrama is like, which we don’t see that much at the Melodrama Theatre anymore.
“Whether you’re a repeat customer or a new person, I think it’s going to fit everyone’s appetite for what they want to see on the stage of the Melodrama.”
“We’re aiming to present the best of what the Melodrama is,” Hoit added. “We have a dynamite cast. I mean an all-star cast. We’re showing some of the favorite things people have seen but a lot of new stuff as well, and we’re showing the variety that the audiences have come to love over the last 50 years.”
“It’s celebrating the magic of the Melodrama,” Tropper agreed. “I would say if you’re a big fan of the Meloverse at large, this is the show for you because we’re pulling out all the stops.” m
New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey, from the Sun’s sister paper, loves melodrama in all forms. Send cheers and claps to gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
The Central Coast Shakespeare Festival is back
stunning outdoor stage
Filipponi
in
IMAGE BY PATTI JACQUEMAIN COURTESY OF CALNAM
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS: The Great American Melodrama mounts its 50th anniversary show in its Oceano theater Aug. 8 through Sept. 20.
FILE COURTESY PHOTO BY STEVE E. MILLER
BOO! HISS! Hayley Galbraith and Andrew Pollock starred as two villains in the 2013 production of How the West Was Really Won
YAY! CLAP-CLAP! Jeff Salsbury starred as The Prince and Katie Worley-Beck as Snow White in the 2016 production of Fractured Fairytale Operetta—Snow White
PHOTOS COURTESY
Lt. Punny Jr.
Akiva Schaffer (Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers) directs and co-writes this fourth installment of the Naked Gun franchise. Following in the footsteps of his father, Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) must solve a murder to prevent Police Squad from shutting down. (85 min.)
Glen: Sight gags, slapstick, puns, double entendre, equivocation—The Naked Gun throws it all at the wall, and a lot of it sticks. I laughed out loud on several occasions. Other moments fell flat. If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen a lot of the film’s jokes already.
These kinds of spoof movies had their heyday in the ’80s and ’90s with films like Airplane! (1980), Loaded Weapon (1993), Hot Shots! (1991), Top Secret! (1984), and Dragnet (1987).
THE NAKED GUN
What’s it rated? PG-13
What’s it worth, Anna? Stream it
What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee
Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande
This one’s pretty good, and it’s a nice deviation from summer’s relentless superhero fare, but whether or not you’ll like it depends entirely on your personality and mood. It’s pretty ridiculous. Neeson is leaning all the way on his tough-guy persona, and he’s willing for the joke to be on him.
Anna: Admittedly, I don’t remember ever seeing the 1988 version of this film, but I have seen enough of it in clips to know it probably isn’t for me. While I don’t have the original to compare it to, watching this updated version did nothing but solidify that hunch. Sure, there are chuckles. It’s so wildly silly I couldn’t help but
SHARK WHISPERER
What’s it rated? PG-13
When? 2025
Where’s it showing? Netflix
Depending on who you ask, Ocean Ramsey is either a serious marine conservationist with an unorthodox approach or a crazy woman and self-aggrandizer who risks her life for online clicks and likes. Netflix’s new documentary—co-directed by Harrison Macks, James Reed (My Octopus Teacher), and JT Stiles—lets you decide for yourself.
Whether you’re ultimately for or against what Ramsey’s doing, there’s no denying this is a remarkably beautiful film with incredible underwater camera work. Ramsey trained herself to hold her breath for more than six minutes so she could swim with sharks without disturbing them with bulky, noisy, scuba gear. Much of the controversy surrounding her activism centers on photos she posts of swimming with sharks in revealing swimsuits, but she argues that the photos draw attention to her activism to protect dwindling shark populations.
let out a giggle here or there—but it always was accompanied by some serious groaning. Don’t get me wrong—I’ll watch Neeson in anything, and Pam Anderson is an absolute vision. In fact, if you haven’t watched Pamela: A Love Story, go do that; it’s fabulous. When my favorite thing about a film is that it’s mercifully short, that doesn’t bode well for my review, and with The Naked Gun, I glanced at my watch after an hour and thought, “There’s another third of this left?” It just isn’t the movie for me, but if slapstick and pun play is what tickles you, go forth and enjoy. Glen: You’ve got to admit the cast is stellar. Anderson is amazing as Beth, a devoted sister willing to put herself in harm’s way to find her brother’s killer. Danny Huston stars as tech mastermind Richard Cane, a sort of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos hybrid. He makes Cane truly despicable. Paul Walter Hauser plays Ed Hocken Jr., the son of Capt. Ed Hocken from the original. Cane has a devilish plan to reset the world and become its master and only Frank Drebin Jr. can stop him. There are some running sight gags. Drebin and Hocken are perpetually drinking coffee out of paper cups and perpetually being handed new ones. Some of it gets repetitive. But the film’s got a 90 percent critics score, and a 79 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, so it’s clearly connecting with viewers. Matinee-worthy in my book.
about shark endangerment by swimming with them and posting photos.
The documentary explores horrors like the practice of shark finning, but it also explores Ramsey’s long fight to get Hawaii House Bill 553 passed to protect sharks. I was worried this film might go in the direction of Grizzly Man —the 2005 documentary about grizzly bear activist Timothy Treadwell, killed by grizzlies in 2003—but Ramsey seems to have a deep understanding of shark behavior. (90 min.) —Glen
Anna: Some of the running gags hit better than others, and you’re right—this cast is pretty hard to beat. Obviously with scores like that I can acknowledge that I may be the outsider here, and I’m sure my lack of connection to the first film doesn’t help either. I do like films like Airplane! to a certain point, so maybe this new version just isn’t hitting the nostalgia button in me like it is in others. If you like your laughs to involve eye
WINNER
What’s it rated? PG-13
When? 2024
Where’s it showing? Hulu
This black comedy may be based on a true story, but it was new to me despite only happening eight years ago in 2017. Emilia Jones plays Reality, a young woman whose big brain and big dreams want more than her little hometown life in Texas.
Growing up, Reality’s views were shaped by discussions with her father, especially around geopolitical topics and Islam. She enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 2010, working as a linguist. I’m not sure how close Jones’ character is to the real-life Winner, but the on-screen Winner is a feisty misfit who “wasn’t trying to be Snowden or anything” but also can’t sit by and watch as higher-ups hide things in dark corners and under rugs.
Winner’s parents are played by Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis, Galifianakis playing her father, Ron, with his usual offbeat vibe. Written by Susanna Fogel, who also penned films such as Booksmart and The Spy Who Dumped Me , Winner follows the same indie film, campy vibe. It’s one of those movies that feels like it could easily be overlooked, but it shouldn’t be.
rolls and groans, sure, see it as a matinee. For my money, I’d wait for this to hit a streaming service. Either way, Anderson and Neeson are fun to watch, and there’s nothing wrong with a film that aims for just plain silliness. m
New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
ROCK OUT WITH YOUR GLOCK OUT: Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson, right) must solve the murder of Beth Davenport’s (Pamela Anderson, left) brother, in The Naked Gun, screening in local theaters.
cast puts their heart into this film, and it shows. (103 min.) m
DEATH DEFYING: Netflix’s Shark Whisperer chronicles the dangerous exploits of Ocean Ramsey, a marine conservationist and social media activist who raises awareness
HERO OR VILLAIN? Based on a true story, idealistic NSA translator Reality Winner (Emilia Jones) leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 election, in Winner, now streaming on Hulu.
PHOTO COURTESY OF VERTICAL
BY CAMILLIA LANHAM
Although Guadalupe is surrounded by agricultural fields, what they produce doesn’t often make its way into local households.
“We find ourselves in this position in North Santa Barbara County and Lompoc where food is grown all around us,” said Shelby Wild with Route One. “There’s very few, if any, opportunities in those communities where people can purchase that food and take it home. The vast majority of the food that is grown here is shipped out of our county.”
Because of that, she said, there’s a “last-mile” distribution issue: “There’s no system where you can purchase that food locally.”
That’s where farmers markets like Route One’s come into play. Since
2019, Route One has run a farmers market in Vandenberg Village. In 2022, Route One started a mobile market—a giant produce truck—that sets up in Lompoc. The organization connects local growers with local residents and accepts CalFresh benefits, which is California’s name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Now, Wild is helping to get a farmers market started in Guadalupe.
“Our mission is equally local-food access, both in the community’s ability to access the food and in our farmers’ ability to sell the food to the community and make a living,” Wild said. “Markets don’t happen very often. … It’s been great to use our learning to benefit other communities, so they don’t have to start from scratch like we did.”
Stephanie Krouse, who’s spearheading the Cosecha Guadalupe Farmers Market effort, said she’s leaned on Wild’s experience starting Route One to lay the path to follow, including applying with the state to become a certified farmers market, which is currently in the works.
Both became involved in the project through FRESA (Food Resilience, Sustainability, and Action), a coalition founded by Alhan Diaz-Correa, Mireya Piña, and others before the pandemic to talk about rising food insecurity issues in North County. Diaz-Correa said FRESA held community meetings to both relay information and learn about what residents needed.
“At these first meetings, we invited anyone who wanted to talk about food
Find fresh food
issues, distribution. It was kind of an open agenda,” Diaz-Correa said. “It was just kind of a space to talk about … food generally in North Santa Barbara County.”
FRESA included the Community Environmental Council, Family Services Agency, Santa Barbara County Food Action Network, and other nonprofits dedicated to tackling the issue. After attending a CalFresh presentation highlighting farmers markets around the county, DiazCorrea said there was an obvious difference between the northern and southern parts of the county and the number of farmers markets that accepted CalFresh benefits.
“It just seemed crazy to me that you had six to eight options if you lived
in South County, and one for North County, and it had just started,” he said of Route One. “It was really obvious that there was a discrepancy, and I wasn’t the only one who thought this.”
FRESA conducted a survey of 500 Guadalupe residents who picked up food at distribution sites to find out where and when they get food, what kind of food they buy, how far they have to drive, how much they spend, whether they attend farmers markets, etc. The push to have a farmers market in Guadalupe that accepted CalFresh benefits grew from the results of that survey.
Piña, who oversees the Family Service Agency’s Little House by the
National Farmers Market Week runs from Aug. 3 through 9. For more information on the Food Resilience, Sustainability, and Action (FRESA) organization, visit dtivey.wixsite.com/fresa. Route One Farmers Market sells local fruit and vegetables weekly in Lompoc (10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays in Vandenberg Village
LOCAL GROWER: Bautista Farms out of Arroyo Grande offers beets and more at farmers markets up and down the Central Coast, including Route One in Vandenberg Village.
FRESH AND FABULOUS: Blackberries are one of the locally grown food options at Route One farmers markets in the Lompoc area.
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Park-Cedillo Community Center in Guadalupe, said that 34 percent of the children in Guadalupe have parents who qualify as being at the poverty level. Little House operates one of the food distribution sites in Guadalupe, handing out a mix of food at the end of every month to about 90 families.
That distribution includes canned food such as vegetables, tomato sauces, and tuna; dry goods such as pasta, rice, and beans; and fresh produce such as carrots and cabbage or pears, apples, and oranges.
“It’s very unpredictable what we’ll get,” Piña said. “For those of us who work in the community and see all levels of hardships and complexities and challenges that families face, it’s like, we need to provide additional avenues for people to access fresh food.”
About 58,000 individuals in Santa Barbara County were enrolled in CalFresh as of May 2025, according to the CalFresh Data Dashboard. A little less than half of those individuals were under the age of 18. Access to those benefits will change with the recent federal legislation that was passed, Piña said, and some of the new criteria will likely make it more difficult for some people to renew benefits.
In Guadalupe, Masatani and La Esperanza markets do offer groceries, but they’re limited and can be a little pricey, Piña said. Most households have to travel to Santa Maria to shop for groceries
with their CalFresh benefits. The Cosecha Guadalupe farmers market, Wild said, could change that. A certified farmers market authorized to accept CalFresh Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) means that instead of families spending those federal dollars at Walmart, the money can stay local and go to local farmers, Wild said. Once markets have had EBT for a year, they can apply for something called Market Match, a healthy food initiative led by the Ecology Center that matches up to $15 in CalFresh benefits at farmers markets and other farm-direct sites. In addition to creating community and giving residents another food option, being able to provide Market Match to residents on CalFresh is one of Cosecha Guadalupe’s big goals, Krouse said. While the farmers market that will eventually take up a Sunday residency at LeRoy Park is still a ways off, Piña said the group of advocates is determined to make it happen.
“Momentum has been up and down due to the fact that most of us who serve on this committee are volunteers,” Piña said. “We really want to meet the finish line on this project.” m
Editor Camillia Lanham is willing to wait for local produce. Send some to clanham@ santamariasun.com.
Barbara County.
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