Sun, January 22, 2026

Bone Temple: good but gory [17]

Eviction notice

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Plenty on Bell in Los Alamos is on shaky ground thanks to an eviction lawsuit filed against the popular restaurant by the building’s new owner. A disagreement about what the term “rent” includes as well as what was lined out in Plenty on Bell’s lease agreement turned the squabble into a court case and brought out community support for the local hot spot. Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood writes about the disagreement and the lawsuit [5].

Also, read about who’s running for 5th District county supervisor [3]; a novel adventure along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail [15]; and winemaking in the Easy Street Wine Collective [18]

Camillia Lanham editor

• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) was among the 12 senators who co-signed a recent letter to scrutinize the National Park Service’s (NPS) decision to remove Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list of fee-free days at national parks, while adding President Donald Trump’s birthday to the list. “Not only does this send the deeply troubling message that these days of profound historical importance in the struggle for civil rights are not worth honoring, but it also further promotes the president’s agenda of self-celebration,” the Jan. 16 letter stated. The senators behind the letter also criticized the redesign of the 2026 America the Beautiful annual national park pass, replacing photographs of nature or historic buildings taken at national parks with an image of Trump. “National parks are national treasures and exist as spaces where people, regardless of background and political affiliation, can come together and enjoy the outdoors. These changes do nothing to modernize how people visit national parks and are instead a thinly veiled attempt to use our nation’s most iconic landscapes to further the self-promotion of President Trump and disparage our shared history,” the senators stated. The letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Padilla, Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon), Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Andy Kim (D-New Jersey), Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts), Patty Murray (D-Washington), Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), and Ron Wyden (D-Oregon). The 12 senators requested answers to several questions related to NPS rationale and plans for the fee-free day changes, the agency’s process for determining the 2026 recreation pass designs, and whether U.S. residents will have the option to purchase America the Beautiful passes that do not depict Trump. “While the images on these passes are typically replaced every year, … the selection process is required by law to occur through a public competition, not a unilateral administrative decision,” the letter noted.

•U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) joined U.S. Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Delaware) and six of their colleagues in sending a letter to some of America’s largest tech and social media companies— including Meta, X , and Reddit—addressing the rise of non-consensual, sexualized, AI-generated images appearing on their platforms. In the Jan. 16 letter, the eight senators asked questions about the platforms’ policies around sexualized images, including those targeting minors, and sought clarity on their efforts to remove images, prevent distribution, and notify victims. “We are particularly alarmed by reports of users exploiting generative AI tools to produce sexualized ‘bikini’ or ‘non-nude’ images of individuals without their consent and distributing them on platforms including X and others,” the letter states. “These fake yet hyper-realistic images are often generated without the knowledge or consent of the individuals depicted, raising serious concerns about harassment, privacy violations, and user safety.” In addition to Schiff and Blunt Rochester, the letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York), Mark Kelly (D-Arizona), Ben Ray Luján (D-New Mexico), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii). “Recent reporting has identified large volumes of AI-generated content depicting what appear to be underage girls in sexualized outfits or suggestive poses circulating on social platforms, sometimes attracting substantial engagement despite stated platform prohibitions,” the letter states. “Protecting the privacy, dignity, and safety of individuals, especially women and minors who are frequent targets, is a responsibility shared by platforms, policymakers, and the broader ecosystem. … As policymakers, we are working to address this issue for our constituents.” m

Three candidates vie for Santa Barbara County’s 5th District seat

The race to fill the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors’ 5th District seat in 2027 is on, as 2026 marks the end of longtime Supervisor Steve Lavagnino’s time on the dais.

Lavagnino’s Chief of Staff Cory Bantilan is among the three candidates who have formally commenced their campaigns so far, along with Santa Maria-Bonita School District board member Ricardo Valencia and Santa Maria City Councilmember Maribel Aguilera.

Before beginning her first Santa Maria City Council term in 2022, Aguilera served on the city’s Planning Commission for eight years. She hosted her first public engagement event to announce her run for 5th District Supervisor at Santa Maria’s Veterans’ Memorial Center on Jan. 18.

During the event, Aguilera spoke about a handful of her campaign platforms, including her intent to fight for improving residents’ access to county-provided social services.

In October 2025, the Board of Supervisors considered eliminating more than 125 positions across the county’s Public Health and Social Services departments. While the board ultimately voted to delay the decision and layoffs were paused, Aguilera told the Sun that those positions shouldn’t have been on the chopping block in the first place.

“The first place they want to cut is the service providers—the people who provide the services to the most needy—instead of cutting the services … to beautify a street in Santa Barbara,” she said. “You’re going to do landscape work in a backroad of Montecito, but your first response was, ‘Well, let’s lay off the social workers.’”

Aguilera also told the Sun that she’s lived in Santa Maria’s 5th District for most of her life and that she’s not affiliated with a political party. She was endorsed by Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino and fellow Councilmember Gloria Flores, among others.

“I’m not about parties. I’m about my community. Getting people who need the services, those services,” Aguilera said.

According to fellow 5th District candidate Valencia’s website, Valencia became a Santa Maria-Bonita School Board member in 2020 and was reelected in 2024.

His platforms include taking action on “the issues that matter most, including delivering a living wage, expanding affordable housing, and protecting residents, neighborhoods, local

businesses, and the environment.”

The Santa Barbara County Democratic Party endorsed Valencia and 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps, who’s being challenged by Elijah Mack. The 21-year-old Republican ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2024.

The Sun reached out to Valencia via email but did not receive a response before press time. For more info on his campaign, visit valenciaforsupervisor.com.

For more details on Aguilera and Bantilan’s campaigns and platforms, visit maribelforsupervisor.org or coryforsupervisor.com, respectively.

—Caleb Wiseblood

Guadalupe is one step closer to finalizing its urban forest management plan

Despite a current decline in Guadalupe’s tree cover, residents can expect to see an increase in trees over the next 40 years.

With grant money from Cal Fire, Guadalupe committed to adopting an urban forest management plan and increasing canopy cover by 10 percent. It’s an ambitious goal, Engineering Technician Dayanira Cruz told the Sun, but one that’ll provide environmental benefits, community well-being, and economic value.

“A lot of times it’s really easy to see trees as a nuisance, or as a cost, and so we’re trying to figure out ways to flip the narrative on why trees

are actually really beneficial,” Cruz said.

At the Jan. 13 City Council meeting, environmental consulting firm Dudek presented an updated draft of the plan with results from a citywide tree inventory and community surveys that Guadalupe conducted last fall. The draft— and a brief summary—remain open for public comment until Feb. 16, and then it’ll appear before the City Council for approval, Cruz said.

While Guadalupe started developing its management plan, Cruz took the step to become a certified arborist. The engineering technician passed the exam in late 2025, bringing formal expertise to the city about the plants on a cellular level, harmful diseases, and the ways trees interact with the urban environment.

“We have a certified arborist on staff now, which I know was a big thing that Cal Fire was really wanting,” Cruz said about the city’s grant from the agency.

The plan will help the city’s canopy recover after a recent reduction. Between 2018 and 2022, Guadalupe lost 12 acres of canopy cover from a bird’s eye view, Kevin Cullinen, an urban forest planner at Dudek, explained at the City Council meeting. There were approximately 500 trees lost in that time, and 92 percent occurred on private property.

“We found the city does have declining urban canopy cover right now,” Cullinen said.

Results from the 2025 public tree inventory identified 735 living public trees and 74 unique species, Cullinen added. However, the majority are young plants and aren’t providing significant canopies yet. The management plan will help the new trees grow and remain healthy, an investment that’ll pay off in the future.

While the city has already hosted virtual focus groups, administered a community survey, and organized a tabling event, staff is considering ways to further educate the public. Residents seem enthusiastic about urban forestry, and there are 38 public vacant sites in Guadalupe that are ready for planting, Cruz said.

“If we create a tree planting community event and try to get people to see the benefit of having trees and educating them when they’re out there, that could also help out,” Cruz said.

Community members can contact Cruz with questions by emailing dcruz@ci.guadalupe.ca.us and submit comments on the draft urban forest management to Dudek at ufmp@dudek.com.

—Madison White

Guadalupe officials postpone Brown Act board appointment to oversee Royal Theater project

Guadalupe City Councilmember Whitney Furness expressed a feeling of déjà vu for the second time in less than two months about the council’s decision to enact a new oversight committee dedicated to monitoring the Royal Theater project.

“I’m just not sure why we’re getting asked to revote on something that we did already,” Furness said at the council’s Jan. 13 meeting.

Furness made the comment after city staff asked the council to reconsider its September 2025 decision to appoint a five-member Brown Act board dedicated to overseeing the shuttered historic Royal Theater’s revival project.

Staff first asked the council to revisit the Brown Act route

HIGHER OFFICE: Current Santa Maria City Council member Maribel Aguilera announced on Jan. 18 that she’s running to fill Steve Lavagnino’s seat on the Board of Supervisors in 2027. Current 5th District Chief of Staff Cory Bantilan and Santa Maria-Bonita School District board member Ricardo Valencia are also in the race.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RUTH NAREZ

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF GUADALUPE

LOOKING UP: Guadalupe is working toward finalizing an urban tree management plan, which would regulate the city’s tree canopy after its decline in recent years.

at its Dec. 9, 2025, meeting. Interim City Administrator David Trujillo suggested postponing appointing a new board because it would “cause an influx in staff reports, and we’re already falling behind on things,” he said at the hearing.

The discussion concluded with City Attorney Philip Sinco’s assurance that the council could proceed with an appointment process if the council desired.

“So we’re going to move forward with what we already decided in a previous meeting, is that correct? Sounds great,” Furness said. “Thank you.”

At the council’s Jan. 13 meeting, Sinco and Trujillo asked the council once again to reconsider taking the Brown Act route and suggested enacting a two-member ad hoc committee instead that would operate outside of Brown Act rules.

“Didn’t we already vote on this?” Furness said.

“Yes, you did vote to move forward, but obviously staff is not happy with that decision and is proposing an alternative,” Sinco told Furness. “It’s a little awkward. Staff is essentially asking you to reconsider that decision by offering the alternative.”

Interim City Administrator Trujillo said that he’s not against enacting a Brown Act board but added that he is “against multiple people calling or hindering staff from their daily duties.”

“The departments that get hammered with these kinds of questions the most are the ones that are struggling the most currently. So as a management person, I’m just trying to protect my staff because emotions are

very involved in this project,” Trujillo said. “I don’t want those emotions being taken out on my staff. If they want to come out on me or whoever the city manager/administrator is at the time, whatever the case might be, that’s fine. That’s what that person is for.”

Trujillo added that the Royal Theater project’s manager Tom Brandeberry will present an update related to the project’s finances, including a cost summary Furness scrutinized in May 2025, at a council meeting in February.

The council ultimately agreed to table appointing the future five members to the new Brown Act board, based on a handful of interest letters from board applicants submitted so far, until after Brandeberry’s presentation.

“I don’t want to make any other decision than what we’ve already decided. … I think we need to just stick to our guns. The project has needed this, and we all decided that,” Furness said. “I found out about asbestos being a problem from an article in the Santa Maria Sun. … Those should be things not necessarily written about before the city knows about them. … There were no emails on it, it was reported in a newspaper.”

In late December of 2025, Brandeberry told the Sun about the project’s temporary delay due to a postponed asbestos cleanup and paperwork issues.

“It should be coming to us first instead of the news in my opinion,” Furness said at the hearing. “We’re dragging our feet on this committee.”

“To go off of a report that’s coming from the Sun is like, to me, reading the National Enquirer about aliens,” Councilmember Eugene Costa Jr. said. m —Caleb Wiseblood

Act now!

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

Bell tolls

Tensions mount between Plenty on Bell operators and landlord amid an eviction lawsuit

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

On average, about a dozen or more newlywed couples kick off their happily-ever-afters at Los Alamos’ Plenty on Bell a year, restaurant co-owner Christine Gallagher told the Sun

Compared to previous years where wedding receptions and rehearsal dinners got booked far in advance, the small-town eatery’s 2026 roster is less plentiful than usual, in light of recent circumstances, she explained.

“We have a couple in March but nothing much beyond that,” Gallagher said. “We’re hardly getting any calls. And I understand that. I wouldn’t book a wedding here for next summer, because who knows where we’ll be.”

Last October, the owner of the Bell Street property where Plenty on Bell has stood since 2015 sued Gallagher and her business partner— restaurateur and chef Jesper Johansson—for eviction. The complaint alleges that the business’ two co-owners are $85,000 behind in overdue rent.

“I think the main issue stems from whether these non-base rent amounts are considered rent or not. That’s the big disagreement between the parties,” said attorney Robert Forouzandeh, who represents the property’s landlord, Noah Rowles.

The $85,000 sum is made up of site inspection fees, estimated maintenance costs, and other line items that fall under the umbrella of rent as it’s described in Plenty on Bell’s lease agreement, according to the plaintiff, who bought the property in 2025.

“We believe the prior owner wasn’t on top of it. A lot of the building has not been kept up the way it was supposed to be kept up,” Forouzandeh told the Sun. “It falls upon the tenant’s responsibility to maintain this stuff. It’s a commercial lease.”

More than half of the $85,000 Plenty on Bell allegedly owes amounts to a projected $45,000 price tag on upgrading the restaurant’s roof.

Estimates for future plumbing, painting, and electrical work at the restaurant that total about $33,000, based on a contractor’s proposal, were also included in the eviction complaint.

“Any monetary obligation owed to the landlord under the lease is considered rent, …

not just rent itself,” Forouzandeh said. “The tenant’s position is all these things, like paying for repairs, … if they don’t pay that, that doesn’t count as rent. So you can’t then go and kick them out. You have to go do something else, like sue them for breach of contract. That’s not our position.”

In late November of last year, Plenty on Bell’s attorney, David Browne, countered the October lawsuit with a demurrer that challenged the plaintiff’s interpretation of the lease agreement.

While the eviction complaint cites one part of the restaurant’s lease, which defines monetary obligations outside of base rent as rent, Browne pointed to a separate clause while arguing that cost estimates for work not yet completed don’t fall into the general rent category.

“This provision expressly requires that the lessor actually perform the work in question. It does not authorize the lessor to charge the lessee for the estimated cost to perform a maintenance or repair item and collect the estimated expenses as rent,” Browne’s demurrer states. “The lessee’s obligation to pay arises only after the lessor in fact spends the money to perform the repair, and can then claim reimbursement.”

Browne also noted that the eviction complaint refers to multiple warning notices that weren’t included as attachments in the lawsuit, warnings the plaintiff issued Plenty on Bell from as early as July 2025.

His client, plaintiff Rowles, also owns Dovecote Estate Winery on Alisos Canyon Road near Los Alamos. When news of Rowles’ lawsuit against Plenty on Bell spread in late 2025, so did a rumor about his intentions for the property.

“The false statement being circulated is that he wants to kick this tenant out so that he can bring in his own winery. We don’t know where that came from,” Forouzandeh said. “This isn’t some play to get rid of the tenant so that he can bring his own winery in there. … If you have a vacant commercial property, you obviously find the best possible tenant to fill it. Now, whether that ends up being [another] restaurant or something else, I don’t know, it just depends on what potential tenants come along after.”

On Dec. 16, 2025, Rowles filed a lawsuit in Santa Barbara Superior Court against Facebook users Anonymous Member 401 and Anonymous Member 562 for posting “false and defamatory statements about plaintiff on a local community Facebook group and related online community pages” regarding to the Plenty on Bell property. The suit seeks more than $35,000 in damages.

‘We have no exit strategy at this point except to fight this to the bitter end.’

—Christine Gallagher, co-owner of Plenty on Bell

“The sufficiency of the notices cannot be established by reference to documents that are not attached as exhibits,” Browne stated. “The notices that form the basis for the action are a required part of the complaint, and only that which is attached can establish the validity of the notices. … This proceeding represents an improper effort to coerce defendants from the premises based on legally invalid paperwork.”

Attorney for the plaintiff Forouzandeh told the Sun that those notices will “obviously be pieces of evidence at trial if that becomes necessary.”

After the Sun’s press time on Jan. 20, Santa Barbara County Superior Court Judge James Rigali was set to weigh in on the lawsuit and decide whether or not to grant Plenty on Bell’s demurrer. If the case goes to trial, a hearing is scheduled for Jan. 27.

“We either go to trial or, if cooler heads prevail, we settle it beforehand,” Forouzandeh said. “They were given so many chances to remedy and rectify this a long time ago and they chose not to. … They chose to take this path instead.”

On Dec. 18, the court granted Rowles’ attorneys, Travis C. Logue and Lawrence J. Conlan, the expedited discovery order request, which seeks to “unmask” the anonymous Facebook users so they can be provided with notice of the lawsuit. A case management conference for the lawsuit is scheduled for April 17.

Plenty on Bell co-owner Gallagher said she believes Rowles’ efforts to evict the restaurant were part of a plan to open a new Dovecote tasting room from the get-go.

“We have no exit strategy at this point except to fight this to the bitter end,” Gallagher said.

“[But] we’ve had some really low points, … times of, ‘Let’s just shut the doors and run for the hills’ kind of thing. We’ve had some tough times.”

To help cover Plenty on Bell’s legal expenses amid the lawsuit, the restaurant hosted a dinner fundraiser in November. Local winemakers, who donated libations served at the event, were among the community members who turned up to show their support for the popular eatery.

“People came that were sentimentally attached to the place,” Gallagher said. “If we continue with horrible legal fees, we’ll have another event in the spring.” m

Reach Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

DETAILS DISPUTE: Plenty on Bell in Los Alamos is fighting an eviction lawsuit that claims the restaurant owners are responsible for $85,000 in costs the new landlord says the lease defines as rent.

PHOTO BY PIETER SAAYMAN

Training like ninjas

BY MADISON WHITE

At USA Ninja Challenge

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Call to schedule your child’s well exam today.

Santa Maria, the equation for playful fun is a little bit of jumping and swinging plus cargo nets, ropes, and rings. Add in lots of safety padding, and it equals the perfect space for emerging ninjas to train.

The Santa Maria gym is a locally owned and operated franchise of USA Ninja Challenge, a growing business that has dozens of locations nationwide. It provides curriculum and training for locals to run their own gyms, like Djibril and RaShawna Coulibaly. The couple opened their doors at the Town Center mall in December 2025.

Open to ninjas from 4 to 17 years old, the hour-long classes have a ratio of eight students to one instructor, and six students to one instructor for the younger groups. Djibril and RaShawna were trained by USA Ninja Challenge, and they recruit athletes from the community to become instructors, too.

“The one thing we look for is absolutely a passion for working with children,” Djibril said.

He’s been a soccer coach for 20 years and enjoys watching students develop their skills and confidence. Years ago, he noticed young players were lacking a fundamental physicality. Djibril wanted to bring back the multidimensional movements he experienced while climbing trees and horsing around as a kid.

Watching American Ninja Warrior led him and his wife to discover USA Ninja Challenge.

RaShawna has a background in teaching music, but now as a gym owner, her passion has expanded to seeing kids grow athletically and build greater self-esteem.

“It’s just a joy to see them conquer something and figure things out on their own,” RaShawna said.

USA Ninja Challenge categorizes different types of movement that students practice in class, which can all be modified to meet the needs of individuals. As ninjas progress through the obstacles in each level, they move up and receive a T-shirt to celebrate their achievement. They graduate when they’ve completed all the levels.

Ninjas improve mentally just as much as physically, the owners said. Obstacles increase self-confidence, help kids focus, and develop problem-solving mindsets.

“This is open to absolutely everybody,” Djibril said. “What we are trained to do, and what we train our instructors to do, is to really meet the kids wherever they are and try to help them progress from there.”

Closer to summertime, the couple plans to start classes for ninjas as young as 2 1/2 years old with accompaniment by an adult. Learn more about camps, parties, and membership registration by visiting ninjasantamaria.com.

Highlights

• The city of Santa Maria updated its online platform for community members to report nonemergency issues. Users can notify city departments about graffiti, abandoned vehicles, streetlight issues, and more. The city improved the service’s Spanish translation and location mapping. Neighborhood Connect is available at cityofsantamaria.org/connect.

• Lompoc Parks and Recreation’s annual father-daughter dances will be held in the evenings on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1. Dancers will enjoy refreshments and games at the Anderson Recreation Center (125 W. Walnut Ave.) from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Doors will open each night at 5 p.m. for photos. Tickets cost $30 per couple and $15 for an additional child. Visit cityoflompoc.com/ recreation to purchase tickets.

• The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County reminds Central Coast residents that they have until Jan. 23 at 2 p.m. to submit comments on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) draft proposed program for offshore oil and gas leasing. Under the proposal, BOEM would permit up to 34 offshore lease sales across 1.27 billion acres of federal waters, including six new potential sales off Northern, Central, and Southern California. According to the League of Women Voters, these areas haven’t seen any newly executed offshore leases since the Reagan administration. Submit comments via regulations.gov for Docket ID: BOEM-2025-0483. Find more information at boem.gov/oil-gas-energy/ national-program/nationalocs-oil-and-gas-leasingprogram. m

Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@ santamariasun.com.

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. Geronna Leonards, N.P.

Should Lompoc put a special tax on the ballot to fund road repairs?

33% No. Government needs to better spend what it already has.

33% It should ask for more than a half-cent increase.

17% Special tax, schmecial tax! Place a general tax instead.

17% Yes! Get that annual $3.75 million. 6 Votes

Vote online at www.santamariasun.com.

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Eyes on the prize

Will Lompoc miss the brass ring once again when it comes to capitalizing on Vandenberg’s potential?

BY RON FINK

Vandenberg Space Force Base (VSFB) has issued a request for information for a major new launch complex on South Vandenberg near Point Arguello Coast Guard Station, about 2 miles south of Space Launch Complex (SLC) 6.

Dubbed SLC-14, according to the Space Force solicitation, Vandenberg “seeks to establish operational heavy or super-heavy launch capabilities at VSFB. A heavy/super-heavy launch capability at VSFB offers a strategic advantage to the USSF, enabling the deployment of larger, more capable military satellites and facilitating rapid response missions during national security emergencies.”

This isn’t your typical government contract. First, according to the request for information, they would have to “be capable of having private capital at risk with plans to invest private capital in space launch infrastructure for purposes of conducting its space launch activities.”

And they would be leasing government property and paying for any launch-related support provided by Vandenberg.

Judging by the time it took to modify SLC-6 for the space shuttle project, it will take hundreds of millions of dollars and a couple of years to complete. Unlike the shuttle project, though, my guess is that the commercial space companies won’t make multiple time-consuming and expensive design changes during the construction phase.

This is the very early stages of acquiring a new launch site; it will take a couple of years until a prospective launch provider will have all the safety and environmental studies completed and construction plans approved by the Space Force. The request for information requires the launch site to “begin operations within approximately five years of a real property outgrant (lease) being issued.”

One thing is certain in Santa Barbara County,

special interest

“not in my back yard” groups will do everything in their power to delay, obstruct, and eventually try and stop this vital defense project. They will use every tool in their grasp to file legal motions, demand endless studies, create endless what-if scenarios, and finally, if these measures don’t work, just hold their breath as they try to get their way.

And there is another certainty: Those same people aren’t dealing with a sympathetic state or county government. There will be numerous opportunities for public input, and the military will carefully consider their concerns, but this project is on federal property, and the Space Force is the approval authority.

This can be an economic opportunity for Lompoc and Santa Maria, but who will capture the lion’s share of the prize is open to debate. Unlike scores of federal launch programs that have come and gone over the decades, this is a commercial project, and it is unlikely that a private company would make a muti-milliondollar investment like this and then walk away.

A project of this size will generate hundreds of construction-phase jobs, and when operations begin, scores of other well-paying engineering and technician specialist positions will be needed. Will Lompoc be ready to house these people or will they seek housing and other services in Santa Maria?

Sadly, Lompoc has proven in the past to fall short when it comes to long-term planning. Neither the political nor business leadership in this community has been able to fully capitalize on the business potential that Vandenberg provides.

Instead, the movers and shakers have placed their bets on the wine and cannabis industries, both of which are subject to large swings in popularity and thus produce unstable tax revenue.

Maybe this time will be different, but if history is any indicator, Lompoc will likely miss the brass ring once again. m

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

Talk to your elected officials about ICE

The time has come for all of us to take a step back and look at what is happening here in our country. Innocent people are being killed, people with no criminal history or background. They are being rounded up like cattle and sent to holding facilities without an arrest warrant or due process for doing nothing more than expressing an opinion.

The Constitution says that every person has a right to due process, the freedom of speech and the freedom to express their opinions. But lately this freedom has been taken from us—whether you’re an American citizen, an immigrant who’s here legally, or someone who is here illegally doesn’t seem to make a difference. You can be picked up on the street for no reason, with no probable cause, and taken to a detention facility and shipped out of this country without a hearing or any due process.

Many Americans supported the Trump administration when he said he was going to remove illegal aliens who are dangerous criminals and felons, but this has gone far beyond those goals. People who are here legally or illegally—if they look different or have an accent or have a foreign background—can be detained with no due process or no probable cause. This has to stop! Innocent people are being killed by ICE and their excessive use of force.

We cannot tolerate this any longer. Please let your elected representatives, and other officials know that you do not support this. We must stop Donald Trump and his minions from desecrating our Constitution. Only then can we have a free and tolerant America!

John Hadley Lompoc

Oceano deserves a vehicle-free beach

First of all, I largely agree with all of the major points made by the commentary column authors (“Make a better plan,” Jan. 15). Rather than a habitat conservation plan, it is an expanded off-highway vehicle conservation plan. As pointed out, the environmental basis of the 2021 California Coastal Commission decision to phase out vehicles on the beach and dunes to protect public health, flora, and fauna has not yet had its day in court.

The authors missed the mark in equating Oceano with Guadalupe in terms of a southern entrance to the State Vehicular Recreation Area (SVRA). Oceano is a beach community that had its beach seized in 1982 by local and state governments and put in service to off-road vehicles. Guadalupe is 5 miles from the beach, and its beach is vehicle free. The promise was that once a southern entrance to the SVRA was developed, vehicles would no longer use Oceano Beach.

A March 18, 2021, Coastal Commission staff report stated that “the base [coastal development permit] only temporarily authorized such uses so that State Parks would have time to explore modifications to park operations. … It was anticipated that conclusions … would be finalized within a couple of years.” The report adds that the Coastal Commission “has never analyzed or authorized permanent use of these entrances, as is required in the original [coastal development permit]. Thus, under the Coastal Act, they remain only temporarily authorized some 40 years later.”

The economic repression and environmental injustice suffered by the community of Oceano for more than four decades cries for a just resolution. I ask for the Sierra Club to demonstrate more creativity and compassion for the plight of Oceano. If the SVRA continues, Oceano still deserves a vehicle-free beach, which means a new southern entrance. The two can coexist. If the SVRA is phased out, then Oceano will have a vehicle-free beach.

Time for locals to step up!

Charles Varni Oceano

Roy Rosales

Roy Rosales passed away at his home on the morning of January 1, 2026, comforted by love, leaving behind a legacy of service, dedication, and deep connection to family, friends, and community.

Roy was shaped by his years growing up in Santa Barbara. He attended Franklin Elementary School, Santa Barbara Junior High and High School. He told stories of those younger days, time spent at Laguna Ball Park, fishing off the pier, car cruising with his buddies, hunting with his uncles, working at Johnson’s Packing House where he met his future wife, Donna, and enjoying the simple freedom of youth in Santa Barbara.

He served in the Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963. Returning from the Corps after being stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, he was an electronics technician for the Santa Barbara Unified School District. He attended Allan Hancock College and graduated from the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Academy in 1970. He served 25+ years in law enforcement with the Sheriff’s Department. His professional journey also included training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. In retirement, he volunteered with the Solvang Visitor Center and as a safety and security volunteer with the American Red Cross following Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005.

Home and family meant everything to him. With the help of many of his friends, he and his wife designed and built a house on More Mesa in 1972 where they raised two children. He eventually retired to a beautiful property in Los Alamos in 1995. He enjoyed working out at the gym, as well as running and participating in 5-10k races and marathons. He found peace and adventure in nature, especially while visiting several National Parks. Zion and hiking Angel’s Landing held a special place in his heart. He also loved weeklong camping trips throughout the western United States and Canada with his family every summer, boating on Cachuma Lake, riding his motorcycle, driving his red Ford truck and spending time at his homes in Mesquite, Nevada, and Los Alamos.

Roy was a 15-year member of the American Legion Orcutt Post 534. As a member of the Bent Axles Car Club of Santa Maria, he had a lifelong passion for cars, restoring them with precision and being awarded many times for his talent. He created replicas of his 1955 Pontiac Starchief and his Mother’s car, a 1955 Ford Crown Victoria. He enjoyed watching professional baseball and football games and going to Las Vegas for NASCAR races. Time spent barbecuing, reading, watching classic movies, listening to country music, trying out golf, lunches with friends and sharing stories with loved ones were among his greatest joys.

He held a special devotion to his Mother, Amalia (Molly Munoz) Silva, and Sister, Margaret Rosales. He is survived by his children Robert Rosales (his partner Carrie Van Beurden), Charlene Rosales (her partner Kevin Dye), their Mother Donna Rosales, his Aunt Josephine Lopez, Cousin Georgetta Lucero, and many other cousins and relatives. He joins family members in heaven including his Mother’s siblings, Teresa Boardman, Ramona Lopez, Antonia Munoz, Buena Ventura Munoz, Raymond Munoz, and Stepfather Antonio Silva. His faith guided him throughout his life, grounding him in gratitude, compassion, and love.

Roy will be deeply missed and remembered for his humor, strength, and generous heart. A service will be held at Noon on Saturday, January 24, at The Chapel of San Ramon, Forest Route 10N06 (on Foxen Canyon Road), Santa Maria, California, followed by a gathering nearby at Rancho Sisquoc Winery. Guests are encouraged to take US 101 to Route 154, and to follow Foxen Canyon Road to the Chapel and Winery.

Aliens and asbestos Opinion

It’s not every day that the paper you tweet (as in chirp, chirp not type, type) for gets compared to the National Enquirer! I don’t know whether to be offended, confused, or proud.

Guadalupe City Councilmember Eugene Costa Jr. apparently doesn’t really think too highly of the little paper that could: “To go off a report that’s coming from the Sun is like, to me, reading the National Enquirer about aliens,” he said during the council’s Jan. 13 meeting.

I’m offended!

For full context—I know that you can’t get that in the Enquirer Costa was referring to a comment Councilmember Whitney Furness made about getting more information out of the Sun than she got out of city staff when it comes to the Royal Theater project and the asbestos holdup. I’m proud!

“Those should be things not necessarily written about before the city knows about them,” Furness said.

For the record, that information did come from the city, not an alien and certainly not some random person from the Midwest who had a life-changing experience in the middle of a crop circle.

Costa also added that, of course the theater would have asbestos, duh! Why would you need to read a paper to get that information?

Wait, does that mean that Costa thinks, of course there are aliens, duh? I’m confused!

I’m also confused about what’s happening in Los Alamos. There’s a lot of hubbub surrounding Plenty on Bell and the eviction notice it got from the new owner of the building the restaurant rents. The community has

landed firmly on Plenty on Bell’s side in all of this, sending letters to the Sun and rallying local residents to support the restaurant that’s in the middle of a court battle over its lease and who’s supposed to pay for what and what constitutes “rent.”

In the middle of that, rumors swirl about what exactly these new owners— who happen to own Dovecote Estate Winery—want to do with the space if Plenty on Bell vacates the premises. Such as potentially turn it into a wine tasting room. But they’re just rumors, you know?

That owner, Noah Rowles, is saying that Plenty on Bell owes $85,000 for repairs that need to be completed but weren’t and has been sending notices to that effect for the last six months. My question to Plenty on Bell is why would you want to stay somewhere that’s so toxic and tense?

“We have no exit strategy at this point except to fight it until the bitter end,” restaurant coowner Christine Gallagher said. And the community seems intent on helping them with that fight, by supporting the restaurant in person and online. But Rowles is trying to sniff out some anonymous Facebook accounts that he accuses of spreading misinformation about him online. He’s trying to compel Facebook to release information about who might be behind those accounts, so he can sue the keyboard warriors directly for libel. Interesting. A case like that could have broader implications if it makes it far enough through the legal system—and I’ll be watching. m

The canary isn’t a legal beagle but wants to be. Send advice to canary@santamariasun.com.

Hot Stuff

SLO SURF

The SLO CAL Open is back for its eighth year, bringing more than 160 of North America’s top competitive surfing athletes to Pismo Beach. The competition runs through Monday, Jan. 26. More details can be found at worldsurfleague.com. —Angie Stevens

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.

DANCE CLASSES There are weekly dance classes, from ages 2 to adult, at KleinDance Arts Mondays-Saturdays, 4-8 p.m. (805) 268-2530. kleindancearts.com. KleinDance Arts, 1954 S Broadway, Suite J, Santa Maria.

DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN

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

FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES 0-17

Visit the Youth Services Desk on the first Sunday of each month to receive a coupon for a free book of your choice from the Library Bookstore. For ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. (805) 925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

VALLEY ART GALLERY: ROTATING

DISPLAYS Artists of Santa Maria’s Valley Art Gallery display their works at the airport. Check website for details on exhibits and full list of the gallery’s artists. ongoing valleygallery.org. Santa Maria Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

6-WEEK KIDS ART CLASS (AGES 7-12)

This class will explore new mediums each week with guidance so that each artist is

free to create, express, and explore in their own, unique way. Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m. through Feb. 25 $285. (805) 325-8092. artspotonwheels.com. Art Spot on Wheels, 320 Alisal Road, unit 306B, Solvang.

ADULT ART WORKSHOP - ANIMAL PORTRAIT PAPER MOSAICS Plan and arrange your very own animal portrait with a variety of colorful and patterned paper options. Jan. 29 9-11:30 a.m. $30. calnatureartmuseum.org. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang.

BETWEEN EARTH & SKY EXHIBIT

Featuring 20 dazzling photos of bright and beautiful birds amidst the backdrop of California wildflowers, Between Earth & Sky showcases some of local photographer Deborah Kalas’ most spirited work. Mondays, Thursdays-Sundays. through April 20 calnatureartmuseum.org. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang.

WILD IN CALIFORNIA SOLO EXHIBITION

See the exhibition Wild in California, a solo exhibition by Museum Founder, conservation advocate, and artist Patti Jacquemain. A array of woodcut prints and mosaics will be showcased, highlighting the bioregions and species that make up California’s rich biodiversity. Through Feb. 23 calnatureartmuseum.org/news/wildin-california-2025. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

SIMPLE PLEASURES: JANUARY SHOW

As we step into a new year, Simple Pleasures invites visitors to pause and honor the small, everyday joys that bring comfort and balance. Think of the moments that make you feel cozy at home, the objects or actions that spark quiet delight for no reason other than it feels good to feel good - morning light on the

kitchen table, the rhythm of a familiar walk, the texture of well-loved tools. ThursdaysSundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through Jan. 25

Free. lompocart.org. Cypress Gallery, 119 E Cypress Ave., Lompoc, (805) 705-5328.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BEHIND BARBED WIRE REDUX:

A GLIMPSE AT CENTRAL COAST

JAPANESE AMERICAN LIFE DURING

WWII The Opera San Luis Obispo Presents: Behind Barbed Wire Redux

- A Glimpse at Central Coast Japanese American Life During WWII. Jan. 23 7:30-8:45 p.m. $28. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

CLARK CENTER PRESENTS: I’M NOT A COMEDIAN... I’M LENNY BRUCE Critically acclaimed and emotionally charged, I’m Not A Comedian... I’m Lenny Bruce brings the legendary performer’s story to life in a powerful one-man show. Jan. 24, 7:309:30 p.m. $45-$65, Platinum $75; Senior Discounts. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter. org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

COMMUNITY CRAFT AND PLANT

SALE Local artisans and plant vendors invite you to this Grover Beach event, sponsored by The Planted Parlour. Shop houseplants, indoor trees, and more. Jan. 25 12-3 p.m. Free. (805) 270-4083. theplantedparlour.com/. The Planted Parlour, 592 W Grand Ave., Grover Beach. WILLY WONKA JR. Bellevue Santa Fe

Charter School presents Willy Wonka JR. Jan. 31 2-3 & 7-8 p.m. $20. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

WORKSHOPS AND MORE AT THE LAVRA

Check the venue’s calendar for storytelling

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

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

“ONE VISIT” POTTERY CLASS This is a great class if you are looking to try out pottery! Throw on the wheel or paint pre-made pottery. Get a student discount with a valid school ID. Fridays, 6-7:30 p.m. $75. (805) 896-6197. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

ALL AGES SCULPTING WITH JOHN ROULLARD John a retired school teacher who patiently guides potters of all ages to sculpt and work on details and design. Saturdays, 1:30-3 p.m. $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

BANFF CENTRE MOUNTAIN FILM

FESTIVAL Join for the exhilarating return of the Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour — a thrilling celebration of the world’s best mountain and adventure films. Jan. 23 , 7 p.m. and Jan. 24 7 p.m. $29.84-$36.02. fremontslo.com/. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.

CERAMIC LESSONS AND MORE Now offering private one-on-one and group lessons in the ceramic arts. Both hand building and wheel throwing options. Beginners welcomed. ongoing (805) 8355893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

CLAY BABY HANDPRINTS Offers a unique experience of pressing your baby’s hand/ foot into clay so parents can cherish this time forever. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays $55. anamcre.com/babyhandprints. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

COMPAGNIE HERVÉ KOUBI: SOL INVICTUS This French-Algerian dance company fuses contemporary dance, capoeira, and martial arts in a powerful, poetic exploration of identity, unity, love, and human connection. Jan. 27, 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org/20252026season/compagnie-herv-koubi-solinvictus. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

DATE NIGHT POTTERY Bring your date and throw a cup on the pottery wheel. Next, texture a clay slab and press into a form creating a personalized piece. Guest are welcome to bring drinks; venue provides aprons. Pieces are fired, glazed, and ready in two weeks. Saturdays, 6-7:30 p.m. $140. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

DON’T TELL: A SECRET COMEDY SHOW Jan. 24 8-10 p.m. $74. libertinebrewing. com. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337.

FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKSHOP:

LARGE PLATTER CLASS Fun for all ages. Instructors will guide you in creating large platters and decorating them. Create pieces together for your home. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $50. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

FREE DOCENT TOURS Gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view with SLOMA’s new docent tours. Every Saturday, join guides for interactive and engaging tours of current exhibitions. Saturdays, 1111:30 a.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma.org/ visit/tours/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

GELLI PLATE PRINTING WITH CAROLINA

LUNA Experience this beginner friendly method of printmaking as Carolina guides you through different ways you can use gel plates and mixed media to create masterpieces. Jan. 24 1-3:30 p.m. $35. (541) 480-5068. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

LEARN TO WEAVE MONDAYS An opportunity to learn how a four-shaft loom works. You will get acquainted as a new weaver or as a refresher with lots of tips and tricks. This class includes getting to know a loom, how to prepare/dress a

loom, and much much more. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. $75 monthly. (805) 441-8257. Patricia Martin: Whispering Vista Studios, 224 Squire Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, patriciamartinartist.com.

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET This highenergy jukebox musical is a celebration of music history, packed with heart, humor, and pure rock ‘n’ roll magic. Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Saturdays, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. and Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through March 8 $43$63. (805) 786-2440. slorep.org/shows/ million-dollar-quartet-2026/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo.

PLAYING WITH FIRE: AN ECOSEXUAL EMERGENCY WITH ANNIE SPRINKLE AND BETH STEPHENS There will be an artist talk with Guggenheim Fellows Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, along with a screening of their latest film and preview of Samantha Nye’s video installation. Jan. 28 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 546-3201. cuesta.edu. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo. SATURDAY FAMILY POTTERY CLASS This family-friendly open studio time is a wonderful window for any level or age. Saturdays, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. $40. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

SMANTHA NYE: WEB OF LOVE OPENING RECEPTION AND ARTIST TALK Join for the opening reception of Samantha Nye’s immersive video installation Web of Love, followed by an artist talk. Jan. 29 4:15-7:30 p.m. (805) 546-3201. cuesta.edu. Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo. SURF DREAMS: A MULTIMEDIA EXHIBIT OF SURF-INSPIRED ART AND MUSIC

Each image in this exhibit will have three surf-inspired songs which can be played on a smart phone by scanning the QR codes. Bring earbuds. MondaysSaturdays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through Feb. 14 Free. (805) 543-4025. The Photo Shop, 1027 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo. UBU’S OTHER SHOE STAGED READING: ANTHROPOLOGY In Lauren Gunderson’s Anthropology, a brilliant tech-savvy sister refuses to accept her younger sibling’s mysterious disappearance as a closed case and launches her own investigation.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WSL/NICHOLS

DEFYING GRAVITY

See Compagnie Hervé Koubi: Sol Invictus, a high-energy performance combining breathtaking choreography, contemporary dance, and powerful martial arts. The production, led by Hervé Koubi, the French-Algerian choreographer, is on Tuesday, Jan. 27, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo. Admission is $47 to $71. Visit calpolyarts.org for tickets and more details.

Jan. 23 7-9 p.m. and Jan. 24, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. $18-$23. (805) 786-2440. slorep.org/shows/ staged-reading-fortinbras/slorep.org/ shows/staged-reading-anthropology/.

SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo. WATERCOLOR AND INK GREETING

CARDS Learn some watercolor basics while making greeting cards for your loved ones. Just in time to make your own personalized Valentine’s Day Cards! Jan. 28, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $30. (541) 480-5068. i0.wp.com/artcentralslo.com/ wp-content/uploads/2026/01/WCGreeting-Cards-Jan.jpg. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

CHASING AND EMBOSSING A PEWTER

DRINKING CUP Create a chased, embossed, and textured pewter drinking vessel; cup, beaker, loving cup, kiddish cup, lowball, or wine cup. Bring your imagination

and enthusiasm! Jan. 24 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and Jan. 25, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $320. (805) 704-6298. randystromsoe.com. Randy Stromsoe Metalsmith, Highway 46 West, SLO County.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS ARDELLA SWANBERG: SMALL WORKS View paintings, books, assemblage and more, all inspired by life on the Central Coast, from Cayucos ranches to the Morro Bay harbor. Through Jan. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

JANUARY 2026 GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE FEATURED ARTISTS January is Bird Festival month in Morro Bay and Gallery at Marina Square is featuring two group shows in celebration of birds. In the Upper Gallery, “Wingborne” features group photography, and in the Lower Gallery, a selection of paintings are featured. Through Jan. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (805) 772-

1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com/. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (805) 937-9750. oasisorcutt. org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt. FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES 0-17

Visit the Youth Services Desk on the first Sunday of each month to receive a coupon for a free book of your choice from the Library Bookstore. For ages 0-17. First Sunday of every month Free. (805) 925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

GIAFUNNI’S COMEDY IN JANUARY

Giafunni’s is in full swing with comedian Larry from Queens, fresh off his East Coast Tour. Jan. 24 8 p.m. $23.27. my805tix.com. Giavanni’s Pizza, 1108 E Clark Ave, Orcutt, (805) 934-8555.

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.

SANTA MARIA TOASTMASTERS Develop your public speaking skills at this club meeting. Fourth Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. (805) 570-0620. Santa Maria Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BEGINNING BALLET FOR ADULTS Enjoy the grace and flow of ballet. No previous experience needed. Wednesdays, 5:15-6:15 p.m. $12 drop-in; $40 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

BODY FUSION/EXERCISE AND FITNESS

CLASS Do something good for yourself and stay fit for outdoor sports, while enhancing flexibility, strengthening your core to prevent lower back issues, improving your posture through yoga, and more. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. (970) 710-1412. Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St., Avila Beach, avilabeachcc.com.

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.

DONATION-BASED YOGA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMTS, AND CARETAKERS Class schedule varies. Contact empoweryoga805@gmail for details and reservations. ongoing (805) 619-0989. empoweryoga805.com.

Empower Yoga Studio and Community Boutique, 775 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach. MULTICULTURAL DANCE CLASS FOR ADULTS Experience dance from continents around the earth, including from Africa, Europe, and more. Described as “a wonderful in-depth look at the context and history of cultures of the world.” Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10 dropin; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS

A docent-led tour of the buildings and grounds of the historic Point San Luis Light Station. Check website for more details. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

QI GONG FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE ENERGY Experience the energy of Qi Gong through simple standing movements promoting flexibility, strength, relaxation, and increased energy. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, Qi Gong revitalizes and enriches your life. An outdoor class overlooking the ocean. Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. $14 per class or $55 for 5-class card with no expiration. (805) 440-4561. pismobeach.org. Margo Dodd Gazebo, Ocean Park Blvd., Shell Beach.

QI GONG: MINDFUL MOVEMENTS FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE ENERGY

Balance your mind, body, and spirit with Qi Gong — gentle stretching and strengthening movements that promotes physical wellbeing and inner peace. This is geared towards all fitness levels and ages. Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $14 per class or $55 for 5-class card. (805) 440-4561. balancedlivingayurveda.com. Shell Beach Veterans Memorial Building, 230 Leeward Ave., Pismo Beach.

SCIENCE AFTER DARK JANUARY Science

After Dark is a lecture series at the Central Coast Aquarium. Coffee, tea, and desserts follow with our guest speaker Riccardo Magni the PVHS Head of Science Department beginning at 7pm. Jan. 27

5:30-8 p.m. $23.27-$33.98. my805tix.com.

Central Coast Aquarium, 50 San Juan St., Avila Beach, (805) 595-7280.

THE SLO CAL OPEN PISMO BEACH The SLO CAL Open Pismo Beach is back for an eighth edition, bringing over 160 of North America’s top competitive surfing athletes to Pismo Beach. Through Jan. 26 worldsurfleague.com/. Pismo Beach, Contact for details, Pismo.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

30-DAY BREATH AND RESET JOURNEY FOR WOMEN Wired at night, drained all day? Reset your body in 30 days. Focus on breath practices to calm stress, sleep deeply, and restore lasting energy. Registration is required. Tuesdays, 6:307:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. (805) 235-7978. charvetgratefulbody.com. Live Webinar, online, SLO County.

ASTRONOMY NIGHT AND STARGAZING AT SLO BOTANICAL GARDENS WITH CENTRAL COAST ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Join Central Coast Astronomical Society (CCAS) for an evening of stargazing at the SLO Botanical Garden. Explore the night sky with telescopes and guided viewing. Jan. 24 5:30-8:30 p.m. Free. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd, San Luis Obispo.

“WOOD WIDE WEBS” – INVISIBLE FOREST NETWORKS: MUSHROOM DISCOVERY FRIDAY LECTURE Christian Schwarz, mushroom expert and author, will discuss “Wood Wide Webs” the invisible forest networks which trees, fungi ,and other organisms communicate and exchange resources. Jan. 30, 6:308:30 p.m. $25. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

BASS & BLISS: CONSCIOUS DANCE & WELLNESS MICRO-FESTIVAL Bass and Bliss is a conscious, alcohol-free dance and wellness micro-festival on California’s Central Coast. Jan. 31 3-8 p.m. $25. eventbrite.com. Flying Caballos Ranch, 1150 Farmhouse Lane, San Luis Obispo, (805) 704-9634.

BEYOND MINDFULNESS Realize your potential through individualized meditation instruction with an experienced teacher via Zoom. This class is for those who wish to begin a practice or seek to deepen an existing one. Flexible days and times. Certified with IMTA. Email or text for information. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sliding scale. (559) 9059274. theartofsilence.net. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

BOOK AND DVD SIGNING WITH IMMEDIATE FAMILY DIRECTOR, DENNY TEDESCO, AND LEGENDARY BASSIST LELAND SKLAR Boo Boo Records will host a book and DVD signing by Immediate Family film director Denny Tedesco and legendary bassist and musician Leland Sklar, on behalf of nonprofit Infinite Music. Jan. 25 4-6 p.m. Free. (805) 225-1899. infinitemusic.org/. Boo Boo Records, 978 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

BOOK BUDDIES Bookworms, assemble! Woods Humane Society is welcoming animal lovers age 7 to 17 to join us in reading to our furry friends. Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $5. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org/youthprograms. Woods Humane Society, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo. CAL HOPE SLO GROUPS AT TMHA Visit website for full list of weekly Zoom groups available. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays calhopeconnect.org. Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 270-3346.

CARE CREW Calling all crafty, caring, petloving kids! Care Crew members will join us in filling Kongs for our canines, crafting pet toys, and creating art. Sundays, 2-3:30 p.m. $5. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety. org/youth-programs. Calling all crafty, caring, pet-loving kids! Care Crew members will have the opportunity to join us in filling Kongs, making pet toys, and creating artwork. Sundays, 2-3:30 p.m. $5. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org. Woods Humane Society, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo.

COMMUNITY LAUNCH EVENT- MAWTINI: ARAB AMERICAN NARRATIVES OF HOME AND BELONGING Connect with our local Arab American community through oral histories, an interactive installation, food, theatre, and roundtable discussion. Jan. 24, 3-6 p.m. Free. (805) 459-2055. my805tix.com. Cal Poly Kennedy Library First Floor Gallery, 1 Grand Ave. Building 35, 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.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

Hot Stuff

DANCE PARTY This is a Thursday event for

classic rock and roll. Please put on your party

shoes and “Let’s Dance”. Jan. 29 8-11:59 p.m.

$15. my805tix.com. San Luis Obispo Grange Hall, 2880 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-7300.

FREE TOURS OF THE MISSION Tour San Luis Obispo’s Spanish Mission, founded in 1772. Come learn its history and importance to the development of this area. Tours are led by docents and meet in front of the church Sundays, 2:30 p.m. and Mondays-Saturdays, 1:15 p.m. Free. (805) 550-7713. missionslodocents. org. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

FRIENDS OF THE ARROYO GRANDE LIBRARY

ART AUCTION The first ever art auction fundraiser for Friends of the AG Library is now live. Includes work by local artist Ellen November. Every 30 days, 9 a.m. Various. (310) 384-6912. app.galabid.com/aglibrary/items. Online, See website, 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.

MELLOW YOGA FOR EVERYONE Stretch into yourself under the beautiful oaks and fresh air of this idyllic country setting. Suitable for all levels, these classes emphasize the gentler side of yoga and adapt to participants’ needs. Tuesdays, 5-6 p.m. $14 per class or $55 for fiveclass card with no expiration. (805) 440-4561. balancedlivingayurveda.com. Tiber Canyon Ranch, 280 W Ormonde Rd, 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.

MONTHLY MEETING FOR CARDIOVASCULAR

PATIENTS Join Mended Hearts of San Luis Obispo for Empowering Monthly Meetings for Cardiovascular Patients. Fourth Wednesday of every month, 2-3:30 p.m. Free.

mendedhearts.org. French Hospital Copeland Health Education Pavilion, 3rd Floor, 1911 Johnson Ave, San Luis Obispo.

MUSHROOM DISCOVERY WORKSHOP Enjoy this two-day, hands-on mushroom workshop with expert Christian Schwarz featuring field exploration, sensory identification, small-group practice, and optional tastings, offering an immersive introduction to local fungi. Jan. 31, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Feb. 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $285. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd, San Luis Obispo.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: WILD CATS

REVEALED! WITH SANDESH KADUR National Geographic Explorer Sandesh Kadur will spotlight India’s lesser-known wild cats—like fishing cats and clouded leopards—in a live event celebrating conservation and biodiversity. Jan. 28, 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org/20252026season/national-geographic-live-wild-catsrevealed. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

PUPPY SOCIAL HOUR Puppies (10 weeks to 5 months old) will learn appropriate play style with other pups, acceptable manners with people, tolerance for gentle restraints, confidence with the approach of friendly strangers, and more. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. $25. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org/ training/. Woods Humane Society, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo.

Q YOUTH GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM)

This is a social support group for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth between the ages of 11-18. Each week the group explores personal, cultural, and social identity. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SLO NOONTIME TOASTMASTERS CLUB

MEETINGS Want to improve speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and positive environment? Contact us to get a meeting link for info. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. slonoontime.toastmastersclubs.org. Zoom, Online, Inquire for Zoom ID.

SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN: WEEKLY COFFEE

MEETING SLO RAMs is a group or retirees that get together just for the fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. $10 coffee meeting. retiredactivemen.org. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.

JANUARY 22 - FEBRUARY 1, 2026

GREENSPACE’S ANNUAL 1,000 TREE

PLANTING Help plant Monterey Pines for a reforestation project with Greenspace and California State Parks. All ages are welcome. Lunch is provided. Jan. 24 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. (805) 927-2866. Hearst San Simeon State Park, 500 San Simeon Creek Road, San Simeon, greenspacecambria.org.

MOONSTRUCK: JOIN BEAUTIFY CAMBRIA FOR SIDEWALK STARGAZING Sit with lunar scientist Dave Majors and view the brilliant moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Enjoy hot chocolate and celestial cookies. Jan. 31 6-8 p.m. Free. (805) 927-1934. beautifycambria.org. Cambria Historical Museum, 2251 Center St., Cambria.

MORRO BAY METAPHYSICIANS DISCUSSION GROUP A group of metaphysically minded individuals that have been meeting for many years now in the Coalesce Chapel. Club offers a supportive metaphysical based community. Members discuss a different topic each week. All are welcome to join. Fridays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Suggested donation of $10-$15. Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay, coalescebookstore.com/.

PALE KAI OUTRIGGER CANOE CLUB Pale Kai Outrigger Canoe Club is recruiting for the 2026 racing season. Make new friends, stay in shape, and get on the water. Join, train, and race! Saturdays, 9:30-11 a.m., Jan. 24 , 9:30-11 a.m. and Jan. 31 , 9:30-11 a.m. through Feb. 7 Free. palekai.org/joinus. Coleman Park (Morro Bay), 101 Coleman Drive, Morro Bay, (805) 772-6278.

SHAMANIC JOURNEY CIRCLE Join the fourth Sunday of every month with Charlotte Eléa, temple founder and shamanic guide, as you embark upon a a journey into the realms of spirit. Jan. 25 6-7:30 p.m. $37.19. my805tix.com.

Goddess Temple Central Coast, 550 Morro Bay Boulevard, Morro Bay.

Below are the details for this week’s ad. (For both the NT’s and 2026 is the 50th Anniversary for BSR and I want to change up the look of our ads to promote the celebrations! The basic layout can be the same but I would like to use a rich gold color in place And - that might require that the font colors change Or might require a thin black line (Although that might be a problem unless the printing registration is perfect!). Let’s see what your folks come up with!

PAPER MOSAICS

Join artist Katherine Taylor for a paper mosaics workshop on Thursday, Jan. 29, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the California Nature Art Museum in Solvang. Plan and arrange your personal animal portrait with a blend of colors and patterned paper. Tickets are $35 for members and $40 for non-members. For more information, visit calnatureartmuseum.org.

An updated BSR logo is attached. Please use that one!

SOCRATES DISCUSSION GROUP Have a topic, book, or article you wish to discuss with interested and interesting people? Join this weekly meeting to discuss it, or simply contribute your experiences and knowledge. Contact Mark Plater for instructions on entering the Chapel area. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.-noon (805) 528-7111. Coalesce Garden Chapel, 845 Main St., Morro Bay.

(I want to retain the four dancing Jazzper characters, although their location could be shifted according to the overall composition of the ad. - maybe even sprinkled around in several locations in the ad…..)

—A.S.

STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi Gong boosts energy and vitality, reduces stress, improves balance and flexibility, and, best of all, is fun.

Join instructor Devin Wallace for this outdoor class which is held in a beautiful setting. Call or email before attending. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. $12. Crows End Retreat, 6430 Squire Ct., San Luis Obispo.

CELEBRATE BSR’s 50 YEARS OF PRESENTING HOT JAZZ

free; donations are appreciated. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096, octagonbarn.org.

DANCE PARTIES

STILL GOT IT This is a two-hour, music-driven movement experience. We’ll use hip hop, bass, and dancehall-inspired music along with simple movement to explore the therapeutic power of shaking and moving energy through our bodies to release stress, wake up joy, and reconnect to your inner world. Jan. 25 2-4 p.m. $48.98. my805tix.com. Nexus Ballroom D.C., 3845 S. Higuera St. (Lower Level), San Luis Obispo, (805) 904-7428.

FOOD & DRINK

TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peer-to-peer support for trans, gender nonconforming, non-binary, and questioning people. In-person and Zoom meetings held. Contact tranzcentralcoast@gmail.com for more details. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-4252.

SUNDAY, JAN 25TH 12:00 to 4:00PM

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.

Western Swing with Monte Mills & The Lucky Horseshoe Band

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. Clark Ave., Orcutt, winestoneinn.com/.

Monte’s 7 piece All-Star Band is also celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2026!

SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+ AA GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of folks from all walks of life who together, attain and maintain sobriety. Requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Email aarapgroup@gmail.com for password access. Sundays, 7-8 p.m. No fee. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT COSTA DE ORO

Insert Monte pic (attached) somehow. - doesn’t have to be big….)

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.

Celebrate BSR’s 50 Years of Presenting

Western Swing with Monte Mills & The Lucky Horseshoe Band Sunday, January 25, 12:00-4:00pm

TRANS* YOUTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP This group is a safe place for trans* and gender non-conforming people, as well as those questioning, from ages of 11 to 18. A facilitated emotional support group to be heard, share your story, and hear stories that may sound surprisingly like your own. Fourth Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-4252.

Also celebrating their 50th Anniversary in 2026!

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/.

Opener: The San Luis Obispo High School Honors Jazz Band

The County’s Best High School Big Band Jazz Group!

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

Join the Party! Join the Club! Pismo Beach Veterans Hall

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

UPCOMING SHOW:

CENTRAL COAST WOOD CARVERS Learn the art of wood carving or wood burning. Join Central Coast Wood Carvers in Morro Bay at St. Timothy’s. Open for beginners, intermediate, or advance. Learn a wide range of techniques and skills. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, 962 Piney Way, Morro Bay, (805) 772-2840, sttimothymorrobay.org.

CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS MEETING

MAR 1st: BSR Sponsors

TOUR THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BARN CENTER The Octagon Barn, built in 1906, has a rich history that The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County looks forward to sharing with visitors. Please RSVP. Fourth Sunday of every month, 2-2:45 & 3-3:45 p.m. Tours are

The Count Basie Orchestra At the Clark Center in AG

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.

FRIDAY NIGHT FUN Karaoke with DJ Nasty. With Beer Bucket specials. Kitchen stays open late. Come out and sing your favorite song. Fridays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

PRESQU’ILE WINERY: WINE CLUB Call or go online to make a reservation to taste at the winery or find more info on the winery’s Wine Club offerings. ongoing presquilewine.com/ club/. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.

SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS 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.

URL and logos as usual at the bottom…. Please use the updated (50th Anniversar

UPCOMING SHOW: March 1: BSR Sponsors

The Count

David Johns - trumpet,  Jim Barnett - piano

Karl Welz - sax, Jim Stromberg - drums Michael Diaz - bass,  Mitch Latting - vocals

Listeners!

Basie Orchestra at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande

PHOTO

Hot Stuff

TRIVIA TUESDAY

Spend the evening sipping on drinks and testing your mind at Templeton Mercantile’s Trivia Night on Tuesday, Jan. 27. All ages are welcome, and prizes will be awarded to top teams. Visit templetonmercantile.com for more information.

FOOD & DRINK from page 11

TACO TUESDAY Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.

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 Varies. wineanddesign.com/ orcutt. Wine and Design, 3420 Orcutt Road, suite 105, Orcutt.

WINE BINGO WEDNESDAYS Join Wine 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/.

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. For all ages. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. (805) 819-0723. coldcoastbrewing.com.

COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET

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

PIÑATAS ON THE PATIO What is more festive than a piñata? Join for some brunch drinks and a couple of good hits to a piñata (or two). Good times and goofy prices promised. Turns will be determined on a first come, first served basis. First Sunday of every month Free. SLO Public Market, South Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo.

SLO CLIMATE KICKOFF PARTY Join for an evening of celebration, community, and climate action at SLO Climate Coalition’s Climate Kickoff Party! Jan. 28 , 6-8 p.m. $35. Region Event Center, 858 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, (805) 225-3116.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PUB TRIVIA Bring your thinking cap as questions vary from pop culture, geography, to sports. There is a little for everyone. Prizes for the winning teams. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. (805) 439-2529. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo.

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.

3564 Skyway Dr., S.M. (805) 361-0802 The That’s Fetch Pet Bowtique Grooming Department: Bella, Colette, Z, Cody, Maddie & Janae. Front Desk Reception: Linda, Addy, Analisa & MaryJane. To the Best Clients & Fur Babies, Thank you! ThatsFETCH805.com

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 vocal lessons. (805) 925-0464. coelhomusic.com/ Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria.

OLD TIME GOSPEL SINGALONG All are welcome. Call for more details. Last Saturday of every month, 5-6 p.m. (805) 478-6198. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, 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, and get ready to perform. Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc, (805) 819-0723, coldcoastbrewing.com.

YOUTH OPEN MIC NIGHT A fun, welcoming environment for first time performers and an opportunity for kids and teens to showcase their talent. Prizes awarded every month for Outstanding Performer. Last Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. certainsparks.com/. Certain Sparks Music, 107 S. H St., Lompoc.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY BASIN STREET REGULARS SUNDAY JAZZ CONCERT | MONTE MILLS AND THE LUCKY HORSESHOE BAND Start your year with the swing of a lifetime, listening to Monte Mills & The Lucky Horseshoe Band live at Pismo Beach Veteran’s Memorial Hall. Jan. 25 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10$15. my805tix.com. Pismo Beach Veteran’s Memorial Building, 780 Bello Street, San Luis Obispo.

MUSIC continued page 14

“Matteo is the evolution of fusion guitar; his breathtaking technique is a marvel to behold. He’s the evidence that the evolving spirit of guitar players is firmly intact.” – Steve Vai

MATTEO MANCUSO PONCHO SANCHEZ

GRAMMY® winning bandleader, conguero, and percussionist Poncho Sanchez is among the most influential percussionists in jazz. For more than four decades, he’s stirred up a fiery stew of straightahead jazz, gritty soul music, and infectious melodies and rhythms from a variety of Latin American and South American sources.

BSR PRESENTS: THE GOLDEN KICKOFF FEATURING MONTE MILLS & THE LUCKY HORSESHOE BAND This special kickoff show at the Pismo Vet’s Hall is your first chance to celebrate Basin Street Regular’s 50th year Anniversary. Jan. 25 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10 for members, $15 for non-members. my805tix.com. Pismo Beach Veterans Memorial Hall, 780 Bello St., Pismo Beach.

CLARK CENTER PRESENTS: HEART BY HEART WITH STEVE FOSSEN & MICHAEL DEROSIER OF HEART Relive the glory days of classic rock with Heart By Heart, featuring original Heart members Steve Fossen (bass) and Michael Derosier (drums). Feb. 1 7-9 p.m. $45-$65, Platinum $75; Senior Discounts. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

EASTON EVERETT Easton Everett is a writer and performer of guitar-woven music in distinctive stylistic shapes. Hear him live at Mulligans Bar and Grill. Jan. 22 5-7 p.m. Mulligans Bar and Grill, 6460 Ana Bay Road, Avila Beach, (805) 595-4000.

KARAOKE EVERY WEDNESDAY A weekly event with barbecue offerings and more. Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m. Rancho Nipomo BBQ, 108 Cuyama Ln., Nipomo, (805) 925-3500.

THE 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.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

THE BUNKER SLO PRESENTS: JAGG Jan. 31 , 6-10 p.m. $12.56. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY BACH WEEK CHAMBER CONCERT Period ensemble Tesserae Baroque will present the West Coast premiere of “Meera Kahe,” a new cantata by Reena Esmail, plus music of the French Baroque. Jan. 23 , 7:30 p.m. $22 general, $12 students. (805) 756-4849. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/special/#bw. First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo, 981 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY BACH WEEK FINALE CONCERT: ORATORIO Members of Cal Poly’s Chamber Choir, Symphony, and faculty will join with guest artists to perform works in the oratorio tradition. Jan. 24 , 2 p.m. $22 general, $12 students. (805) 756-4849. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/special/#bw. First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo, 981 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY BACH WEEK LECTURE — OPERA’S VIRTUOUS COUSIN: THE RISE OF THE ORATORIO Cal Poly Music Professor Alyson McLamore will examine how Baroque composers seized features from opera and repurposed them as a way to tell sacred stories. Jan. 22 , 7:30 p.m. Free, parking permit required. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/ special/#bw. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY BACH WEEK VOCAL MASTER CLASS Bach Week guest artist Rebecca Myers will coach several Cal Poly voice students in repertoire from the Baroque era. Jan. 22 3:10 p.m. Free, parking permit required. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/special/#bw. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. CAL POLY INSTRUMENTAL MASTER CLASS AND CONTINUO WORKSHOP Guest artists will coach Cal Poly students in instrumental repertoire from the Baroque era. Jan. 22 11:10 a.m.-noon Free, parking permit required. (805) 756-2406. music. calpoly.edu/calendar/special/#bw. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. THE FREDDIE RAVEL TRIO The SLO County Jazz Federation will present the Freddie Ravel Trio. Central Coast native Freddie Ravel has built an impressive and varied musical career as an accomplished jazz pianist. Jan. 25, 4-6:30 p.m. $39.34. my805tix.com. Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Fredericks Street, San Luis Obispo.

HONOR JAZZ BAND CONCERT Enjoy an exciting night of jazz with the SLO County High School Honor Jazz Band and The Cuesta Jazz Ensemble! Jan. 31 7:30 p.m. $20. (805) 546-3198. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

LIBERTINE PRESENTS: BABES AGAINST THE MACHINE Hear Babes Against The Machine (BATM), is the only all-female tribute to Rage Against The Machine. Jan. 23 7 p.m. $14.70. my805tix.com. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

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

LISTENING AS RITUAL Group listening sessions with musician/musicologist Ben Gerstein. Explore remarkable recordings of world music, nature field recording, western classical and contemporary, and jazz, sharing and discussing inspiration and perspectives on the expressive power of peoples, cultures, animals and habitats through sonic experience. Every other Monday, 7-8:15 p.m. $10-$15

ARTS BRIEFS

Bruce Springsteen tribute band comes to the Chumash Casino

Hank Azaria and The EZ Street Band are performing Bruce Springsteen’s classics on Jan. 30 at the Chumash Casino Resort. The show starts at 8 p.m. and tickets range from $20 to $55 plus fees.

Frontrunner Hank Azaria is known for his acting and voice work, including in the television show, The Simpsons For the role of Springsteen, Azaria dedicated months to perfecting his impression of the singer’s cadence and singing voice.

“Azaria’s show is truly a Springsteen celebration: a joyful, reverential evening of incredible music, storytelling, audience interaction, and hero worship,” according to press materials.

“Azaria has delivered a one-of-a-kind show we want to root for—invigorating, upbeat, and ambitious.”

The band first performed publicly in August 2024 and has since toured across the country. Net proceeds are donated to The Four Through Nine Foundation, an organization Azaria founded to benefit issues like social justice, mental wellness, and the environment.

Buy tickets (21 and older) for the concert by visiting chumashcasino.com/entertainment. The show will be held in the resort’s Samala Showroom, located at 3400 East Highway 246 in Santa Ynez.

The Santa Maria Philharmonic puts on a free orchestra performance

Bring the whole family to a free concert called Fly Me to The Moon on Jan. 31 for an hour of classical music combined with the story of the history of flight. The show begins at 11 a.m. at the First Christian Church of Santa Maria, and registration is required to reserve seats.

The orchestra, conducted by maestro Michael Nowak, will perform works by legends like Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Ludwig van Beethoven. Multimedia images will be projected above the musicians to illustrate the history of flight.

“Fly Me to The Moon is truly a spectacular show that will delight all ages,” according to the orchestra’s website.

Before the music starts, the audience will also get an introduction to each family of instruments in the orchestra.

To register for free tickets, visit smphilharmonic.org. Call (805) 925-0412 for assistance. First Christian Church is located at 1550 S. College Drive in Santa Maria.

The Santa Maria Philharmonic Society is celebrating 100 years of sharing live music with the community. Its mission is to preserve classical music, enrich the experiences of people in the community, and strengthen cultural values. The group’s next performance is scheduled for Feb. 28. m

Staff Writer Madison White compiles Arts Briefs. Send information to mwhite@santamariasun.com.

A lifechanging night

A new novel takes readers on an adventure along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail

BY MADISON WHITE

hen anyone tells Patricia Mahon she can’t do something, she’ll prove them wrong. It’s happened with sexist professors and stodgy editors, becoming part of the reason she took up fiction writing.

“You can’t tell people they can’t do something, especially when they’re creative because creative people can do whatever they want,” Mahon said. “That’s what I feel.”

A lifelong student of literature, Mahon was writing poetry at a young age. Her mother saved the pages filled with the 6-year-old’s poems and coloring. Mahon stood out from the rest of the family—a steady line of doctors, lawyers, and businessmen—but her mother was also a writer.

From the time she started college at age 16 until she finished graduate school and started her career, Mahon was tested by the times. More than one professor cast doubt on the young writer’s abilities, even in front of the whole class. She remembered a professor saying she’d never be a screenwriter or a fiction writer, but both are true today.

“It was tough for a woman, to be honest,” the LA-based author said about her early career.

Writing remained Mahon’s focus, following her through jobs in the financial and pharmaceutical industries. She wrote short stories, poems, and a screenplay, but her mother kept encouraging her to write a book.

Her first novel, The Island, was released in 2016 about Morgan and Percy and their creation of an international storytelling app that allows people to build narratives together. Mahon takes readers all around the world, to places she’s never even been, using details she gathered from reviews on travel websites.

“I’d actually write people. I read people’s reviews, and I would just pull out really local streets and local color,” the writer said.

“That book was written from other people’s imaginations. That’s the best way I can put it.”

Immediately after finishing The Island,

WORDSMITH: Throughout an accomplished writing career, Patricia Mahon has worked on plays, video scripts, novels, and works of nonfiction.

Grape whisperer

A Night in the Vine is available on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble. Learn more about Patricia Mahon’s other works by visiting patriciamahon.com.

Mahon started what would become A Night in the Vine, her second novel, bringing Morgan and Percy along for the ride. In October last year, it was published in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.

While Mahon was building the narrative for A Night in the Vine, the pandemic hit. In that time the author dealt with heavy losses in her family. As she started to heal, she picked up the manuscript again with a clear direction.

“I call it a post-pandemic narrative because the book’s about, above all, human communication,” Mahon explained. “I think we’re only beginning to realize how important connections are.”

A Night in the Vine finds Morgan and Percy searching for the “Grape Whisperer” in Santa Barbara County wine country, more specifically the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail. A rainstorm strands them at a vineyard estate overnight with four strangers. They meet a French woman with a cancer diagnosis, a local widower, and an uptight New Yorker and his fiancée.

The plot is based on an experience Mahon had with some friends at the Demetria Estate winery in Los Olivos. Rather than overnight, the group was only stuck for a few hours. Without cell service, there was really only one thing to do.

“We were with these strangers, and we started talking to them. Everybody became friends,” Mahon remembered. “They threw out cheese and crackers, and it was one of the best afternoons of my life, of my wine life.”

When it was all over, Mahon knew it would make a great book, and her friends agreed.

With permission from each establishment, Mahon chose some of her most frequented wineries to use as scenes in A Night in the Vine. Readers travel with the characters to the likes of Blackjack Ranch, Andrew Murray Vineyards, and Demetria Estate. Mahon lived in Los Olivos for many years and would often bike through Ballard Canyon and down Alamo Pintado Road, stopping to sit in the quiet of the vineyards.

Mahon also likes to incorporate world literature into her books, which was a struggle with the United Kingdom publisher. The public domain laws aren’t the same as in the U.S., so Mahon needed to get permission. She spent months contacting estates—including Ray Bradbury’s, for instance—but the effort paid off in the end.

The writer said she’s committed to two more books and wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to make one of them into a movie. The setting of A Night in the Vine would make a picturesque film. “You’ll think about wine in a different way, but it’s really a story about the Earth,” Mahon said. “The soil is the skin of the Earth. It’s a lot to think about.” m

Staff Writer Madison White often has her nose

in a book. Reach her at mwhite@ santamariasun.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUMASH CASINO RESORT

buried

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Award-winning author Patricia Mahon released A Night in the Vine in October 2025. The story examines human connections when a diverse group of wine tasters gets stuck overnight at a Santa Ynez Valley estate during a storm.

IMAGE COURTESY OF PATRICIA MAHON

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SANTA MARIA PHILHARMONIC

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICIA MAHON

THE EXPERIENCE OF WINE: In 2016, Patricia Mahon started writing A Night in the Vine at Demetria Estate in Los Olivos. Without a title at the time, she dubbed it “The Vineyard.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICIA MAHON

Good vs. evil

Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) directs this fourth installment of the 28 Days Later franchise, the second film in what’s being billed as the 28 Years Later trilogy. Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Ex Machina, Civil War) returns as screenwriter. Taking up where 28 Years Later (2025) left off, the story follows young Spike (Alfie Williams) being inducted into Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal’s (Jack O’Connell) gang of blondwigged killers as Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) continues to hope for a treatment against the Rage Virus. (109 min.)

Glen: Who are you going to be when the zombie apocalypse happens? That’s the question at the heart of this entire franchise. Will you be able to retain your humanity and morality, or will the need to survive—or worse, the desire for power and control—supersede your humanity and turn you into something terrible? The story begins as Spike, after being rescued by the Fingers gang, is forced to fight to the death for a place in the gang. Spike has witnessed so much horror, but he—unlike the members of the Fingers gang—still has a moral compass. The Fingers are Satanists who revel in cruelty, and things get very gory when they run into survivors only to torture and kill them. This film won’t be for everyone.

PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION

What’s it rated? PG-13

When? 2026

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Quite literally pulled from the storyline of one of the greatest rom coms ever made, this very When Harry Met Sally flick presents us with two opposites who end up being magnets. Both Boston College students, both from Nowheresville, Ohio—that seems to be about where their similarities end. Poppy is messy and addicted to travel, and practically allergic to their small hometown. Alex still has his high school girlfriend and wants nothing more than to head back to home after college. In a very whimsical happenstance, the two end up spending more time than either would like together on that long road home, but soon they’re best friends who vow to take a trip together each summer.

Anna: I had a hard time with Jimmy and his Fingers. Jack O’Connell as their leader is certifiably unlikeable and takes on cruelty with joy, reveling at watching even those closest to him suffer. Seeing young Spike in his grasp is even more disquieting, and all I could hope for is that the good doctor somehow finds Spike and saves him, or at the very least that Spike gets the chance to save himself. When Jimmy and his gang invade a small farm, Spike pleads with the lone pregnant survivor to take him with her as she flees, but charity is hard to come by in the post apocalypse, and Spike is left to make his penance with Jimmy, who deems it Old Nick’s (Satan) judgement call on the young boy’s fate. Covered in iodine to stave off the Rage virus, Kelson is a vision in red to the troupe of evildoers, and his communion with an Alpha lends even more to him being the supernatural Lord of the Underworld. I’ve enjoyed all of the 28 Days/28 Weeks films, but Fiennes has been an especially appealing addition for the 28 Years films. I’ll be ready when the third film makes its appearance on-screen.

Glen: Danny Boyle is scheduled to direct the yet-to-be-announced final film in this trilogy, and Garland is back as screenwriter, and they’ve certainly teed up the next one with this film’s epilogue that sees the return of Jim (an

Cue the flashbacks to prior trips, then to present day where they’re awkwardly reunited in Barcelona for Alex’s brother’s wedding. Poppy just wants things to go back to the way they were, Alex knows it can never be. These two leads did a great job of making these characters adorable. Will it ever take the place of When Harry Met Sally?

uncredited Cillian Murphy), the protagonist of the 2002 original, 28 Days Later. I too look forward to it but no release date so far. Credit to DaCosta for retaining the visceral spirit of the franchise. These films are dark, and the characters must battle not only zombies, but their own dehumanization.

Anna: Kudos to the filmmakers for making the zombies less frightening than the humans.

PLAYING WITH FIRE: AN ECOSEXUAL EMERGENCY

What’s it rated? Unrated When? 2025

Where’s it showing? Cuesta College Performing Arts Center, Wednesday, Jan. 28 (5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; reserve your free spot at eventbrite.com)

Directed by Bay Area queer icons Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, this 2025 documentary is their artistic response to the devastating 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fires in Northern California, the latest in a trilogy of queer environmental films after Goodbye Gauley Mountain: An Ecosexual Love Story (2014) and Water Makes Us Wet: An Ecosexual Adventure (2019).

Sprinkle and Stephens, both romantic partners and artist collaborators for more than two decades, are self-described ecosexuals. In 2008, the couple married the Earth in an elaborate ceremony. Their playful approach to this documentary—that includes talking goats that text each other, among other whimsies—is rooted in a deep love of nature and proves you don’t have to be overly serious to explore a serious topic.

Kelson’s aching desire is to find the human that is left in Sampson. Their bond proves to be quite sweet—the beast is tamed in many ways. Hopefully the franchise stays strong with the next film. m

New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

No way, but it can sit right alongside it on my list of go-to rom coms. I’ll take a vacation with these two lovebirds any time. (117 min.)

—Anna

They interview their Boulder Creek neighbors, many of whom lost everything in the fires, as well as artists, indigenous elders, witches, formerly incarcerated firefighters, and educators to explore ways humans can support the health of the Earth. It’s engaging, informative, and entertaining, and Sprinkle and

MEMENTO MORI: In this second installment of the 28 Years Later trilogy, Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) continues to add to his bone temple as he hopes for a Rage Virus cure, in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, screening in local theaters.

Stephens will offer an artists’ talk before the screening and a sneak peek of Samantha Nye’s installation at the Cuest Art Gallery called Web of Love after. (71 min.) m —Glen

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

WHEN ALEX MET POPPY: Mismatched Alex (Tom Blyth) and Poppy (Emily Bader) meet on a college ride message board but become friends—just friends—in People You Meet on Vacation, streaming on Netflix.

ON FIRE: Filmmaker Annie Sprinkle (center) appears with Monica Canilao (left) and Azul Water Witch (right), in Playing with Fire: An Ecosexual Emergency, screening at Cuesta’s Cultural and Performing Arts Center on Jan. 28.

Eats Take it easy

Small-production winemakers gather at their crush facility for an open house tasting event

BY MADISON WHITE

Two presses. One destemmer. Countless barrels of grape juice.

At a 15,000-square-foot warehouse on Easy Street in Buellton, seven small-production winemakers share a custom crush facility. Many don’t have official tasting rooms, relying on wine club memberships and online sales for distribution. Altogether, the vintners who work at the facility have accumulated more than 50 years of experience. It’s not a glamorous site, but it gets the job done. “It’s functional, and that’s what we need,” Karen Steinwachs said.

The 2025 harvest marked her entry into the Easy Street Wine Collective, the group that calls the warehouse their winemaking home. Steinwachs bottled her 2025 vintage at the facility in early December, yielding around 500 cases for her Seagrape Wine Company.

On Jan. 31 the collective is hosting its third annual open house at the crush facility, an event that features food, music, and wine tasting. The community will have a chance to get behind the scenes of their favorite wines and try new ones. At the open house, Steinwachs will pour Seagrape’s sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, orange wine, and one lesser-known variety.

“Everybody looks at me like I’m a crazy woman, and I might be,” the winemaker said. “I hop a sauvignon blanc, so it’s a hopped wine.”

Her family’s history is lined with brewers, and there’s a saying in the wine industry that takes a lot of beer to make good wine. Picture a winemaker quenching their thirst with a cold beer after a hot, sticky harvest day, Steinwachs described.

The hoppy wine tastes like sauvignon blanc but with a different texture and the aroma of an IPA.

“It’s a weird, wonderful thing, and people either love it or they hate it,” she said.

It was 2001 when Steinwachs started in the wine industry, craving a break from her job in tech. While she was working for labels like Foley Estates and Buttonwood Farm Winery, she and her husband made their own wine on the side.

Readers’ discount

Buy tickets for the Easy Street Wine Collective open house on Jan. 31 by visiting eventbrite.com. Use code santamariasun for 20 percent off. The event will run from noon to 3 p.m. inside the winemaking facility located at 90 Easy St. in Buellton.

Ahead of her first open house with the collective, Steinwachs is looking forward to seeing all the winemakers there at once, which rarely happens.

“It’s going to be wonderful to have an afternoon to just enjoy each other’s company, eat some great food, and drink each other’s wine,” Steinwachs said.

Jason Scrymgeour, a winemaker and organizer of the open house, jumps at any opportunity to introduce wine tasters to labels they haven’t heard of before. Hosting the events at the crush facility showcases their “blue collar winemaking,” he added.

His wife, Melissa, the chef at their Clean Slate Wine Bar in Solvang, will make several types of flautas, which she created to pair with each winemaker’s samplings at the open house.

Scrymgeour has made his Bocce Ball Wine at the Buellton facility since 2018. He views it as an important space for independent winemakers because there aren’t many spots like it in the county.

“It was really Etienne’s vision to turn it into a custom crush facility,” Scrymgeour said of the building’s owner.

Etienne Terlinden acquired the space in 2010. It’s where he makes his label, Cordon of Santa Barbara, and wines for other clients. He uses grapes from all seven of the county’s appellations, specializing in French varieties. At the open house he’ll pour Cordon’s pinot noir and red blends.

“I started the collective to allow small, artisan winemakers to work on their craft and their passion, lowering the barrier to entry in the wine business,” Terlinden said.

Cordon started with just 60 cases of wine in 2001, and it now sits at around 1,000 cases. Terlinden likes being able to show open house guests what it takes to produce a nice wine and bottle it, from the perspective of local small wineries.

To Terlinden, wine is art for the palate, similar to paintings for the eyes or music for the ears, and it’s “pure joy” to drink.

“It’s basically artwork in a bottle,” Terlinden said. “That’s what really strikes me.” m

Staff Writer Madison White is looking forward to trying Seagrape’s hopped wine. Ask her about it at mwhite@ santamariasun.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN STEINWACHS

INAUGURAL HARVEST: This is Karen Steinwachs’ first year in the Easy Street Wine Collective. Her label, Seagrape, uses fruit from Los Olivos and the Santa Rita Hills.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ETIENNE TERLINDEN

BARRELS ON BARRELS: Winemakers in the Easy Street Wine Collective use a facility in Buellton for production.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN STEINWACHS

GOT HOPS? Winemaker Karen Steinwachs makes a hopped sauvignon blanc, which people either love or hate, she said. It smells like an IPA but tastes like a sauvignon blanc.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLEAN SLATE WINE BAR

CUSTOM PAIRINGS: Chef Melissa Scrymgeour of Solvang’s Clean Slate Wine Bar will be making flautas for the Easy Street Wine Collective open house. Her husband, Jason, is a winemaker in the group, producing Bocce Ball Wine.

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