Sun, July 3, 2025 by New Times Media Group, San Luis Obispo

Cutting

CALEB WISEBLOOD

Santa Barbara County supervisors unanimously decided to cut the Sheriff’s Office Cannabis Compliance Team and reallocate the $3 million in cannabis tax revenue that funded it. The need for illegal cannabis enforcement has declined since 2018, when the team was established, according to 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino. In June, county staff and the county’s grand jury came to that same conclusion, separately. Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood talks about the money, cannabis, and one program that will benefit from the new source of revenue [8]

Also, read about Guadalupe’s safety concerns for students of its newest school [4]; a Lompoc coffee shop that highlights local artists [26]; and Drover’s Doughnuts’ new location in Solvang [29]

We’ve only begun spreading the word over the past year, but Sun’s membership program has enabled readers like you to support our journalism since 2020. It’s about time we raised our voices: We want to grow our member base—and we’d love for you to join!

The

Santa Maria Joint Union

High School District

Special Education - Child Find

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) seeks to identify, locate, and evaluate high school age students suspected of having a disability who may be eligible for special education services designed to meet their educational needs at no cost to families. This includes students that are highly mobile, migrant, experiencing homelessness, students that are wards of the state, and students attending private schools located within SMJUHSD boundaries. If you suspect your child has a disability, contact the school special education department or district office Special Education Department.

Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)

El Distrito Escolar de las Escuelas

Preparatorias de Santa Maria

Educación Especial - Búsqueda de Estudiantes

El Distrito Unificado de Escuelas Preparatorias de Santa Maria (SMJUHSD) busca identificar, localizar y evaluar a los estudiantes en edad de escuela preparatoria sospechosos de tener una discapacidad que puede ser elegible para servicios de educación especial diseñados para satisfacer sus necesidades educativas sin costo alguno para las familias. Esto incluye a los estudiantes que son altamente móviles, migrantes, sin hogar, estudiantes que están bajo la tutela del estado, y los estudiantes que asisten a escuelas privadas ubicadas dentro los limites de SMJUHSD. Si sospecha que su hijo tiene una discapacidad, comuníquese con el departamento de educación especial de la escuela u oficina de Educación Especial del distrito SMJUHSD.

Staff | Special Education | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (smjuhsd.k12.ca.us)

• On June 30, U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) introduced the Extreme Risk Protection Order Expansion Act—legislation to prevent people who are in crisis from accessing deadly weapons, according to Carbajal’s office. The bill would establish grants to support the implementation of extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws, also known as “red flag” laws, at the state and local levels. It would also extend federal firearms restrictions to people subject to ERPOs, giving law enforcement the tools to remove access to firearms from people who are considered a danger to themselves or others. “Too often, shootings are preceded by unmistakable warning signs, but communities have lacked the tools to step in before it’s too late,” Carbajal said in a June 30 statement. “This legislation recognizes the value of [ERPOs], and gives law enforcement a clear path to intervene before tragedy strikes.” U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) is currently leading companion legislation in the U.S. Senate, according to Carbajal’s office. The legislation is supported by a number of organizations including Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund and Everytown for Gun Safety.

• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced a bicameral bill on June 26 to prevent the federal government from contracting with federally licensed firearms dealers that have a documented history of selling guns that are frequently used to commit violent crimes. Existing federal law requires licensed dealers that have sold 25 or more guns over the course of a single year that are subsequently traced to violent crimes within three years of their sale to report additional information on their sales practices to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Padilla and Raskin’s Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act would leverage this data to identify the number of licensed dealers that are consistently and dramatically overrepresented in criminal activity and render them ineligible for federal contracts. “Far too often, lucrative federal contracts are inexplicably awarded to firearm dealers who have been linked to dangerous crime,” Padilla said in a June 26 statement. “The federal government should not be doing business with repeat offenders who are fueling our national gun violence epidemic. Our common-sense legislation aims to combat senseless and preventable gun violence by ensuring that gun dealers keep guns from falling into the wrong hands.” In a release from Padilla’s office, U.S. Rep. Raskin said that the federal government “should not be rewarding gun dealers whose inventory keeps ending up at crime scenes,” and described the Clean Hands Firearm Procurement Act as a “bicameral, commonsense bill to ensure taxpayer dollars aren’t supporting bad-apple gun dealers.”

• On June 24, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) released a statement to comment on the third anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade “Three years ago today, a runaway Supreme Court, with appointees handpicked by President Donald Trump, made the dangerous decision to strip away the constitutional right to an abortion. Since then, Republicans across the country have doubled down on their attacks on reproductive freedom by implementing near-total bans on abortions and endangering the lives of millions of women by making it harder to receive lifesaving care,” Schiff stated. “That’s why the work ahead of us has never been more important. The freedom to receive reproductive health care must be restored as a constitutional right. Congress needs to act and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to codify Roe and protect the rights of all.” m

Guadalupe officials raise foot traffic concerns tied to Highway 166 and a new middle school

In mid-August, the newly built Guadalupe Junior High School’s doors will open for the first time to incoming seventh and eighth graders.

The school on Arroyo Seco Road is near the Pasadera housing community. While most of Guadalupe—including its downtown area and the majority of housing within city limits—lies on the north side of Highway 166, Pasadera and the new junior high are on the south side.

“There’s going to be 300 kids coming from the main side of Guadalupe to that development,” Guadalupe Mayor Ariston Julian said at the Santa Barbara County Association of Governments’ (SBCAG) June 26 meeting. “It’s going to be a huge concern for us.”

Julian, an SBCAG board member, spoke about his safety concerns during a status report on recent Caltrans projects from Veronica Lezama, District 5’s branch chief for regional planning and local development review.

“Our administrator is reaching out to your office to see how Caltrans can help us with this process, … in terms of putting lights up, but that has to come from you all,” Julian told Lezama. “We’d like to sit and chat, … to see what we can do to protect these kids.”

Lezama said that a future discussion between Caltrans and Guadalupe could be arranged.

During the Guadalupe City Council’s June 24 meeting, Guadalupe Police Chief and Public Safety Director Michael Cash discussed some temporary solutions for the council to consider while it waits for something more permanent.

“[I’m] trying to gather as much information as I possibly can to see how we can, … try to at least to keep our head above water until we get some kind of hold on this thing,” he told the council.

Cash outlined some conversations he and other city staffers have had with representatives of the Guadalupe Union School District about funding future traffic measures.

“As far as I know, there’s no [city] funds,” Cash said. “We talked about grants, but now we got to be realistic. Grants will not be here by the time that school opens. So, this is really going to fall on us.”

Councilmember Whitney Furness proposed that the city post a call for volunteer crossing guards to help in the meantime or ask for

parents of Guadalupe Junior High School students to volunteer their time.

“It doesn’t hurt to try,” Cash said. “I’ll ask the superintendent to work on that and see where we can get with parents, and [the Guadalupe Police Department] would train them to at least stand on the corners to help get our kids across. It’s better than nothing.”

—Caleb Wiseblood

Man found dead in his Northern Branch Jail cell

A 54-year-old Santa Maria man was found dead in his cell at the Northern Branch Jail on June 28.

A custody deputy conducting a routine security and welfare check found Juan Lara unresponsive in his cell in the B Unit around 10:45 p.m., according to a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office press release. Deputies and Wellpath staff tried to resuscitate Lara using Narcan and an automated external defibrillator, the release said, before county fire and AMR emergency medical services took over medical care and declared that Lara was deceased.

Lara was booked on June 26 in connection with possessing methamphetamine while having two prior convictions and being under the influence of a controlled substance, according to the press materials.

“Detectives from the Sheriff’s Office are conducting multiple investigations into the incustody death, including a coroner investigation,” the release states.

The Sheriff’s Office didn’t return a request for comment.

In March, custody deputies found an unresponsive 57-year-old female in her Northern Branch Jail cell; she was later pronounced deceased. According to a recently released Santa Barbara County grand jury report, her in-custody death was preventable.

The grand jury found that she complained persistently about intense abdominal pain during the two days before her death on March 24, saying her guts were “all twisted up” and asking to be sent to an emergency room. Instead, jail staff put her in a mental health observation cell, the grand jury found.

On March 27, the Sheriff’s Office issued a public update saying the woman’s death was unavoidable and ruled her manner of death to be natural causes. The grand jury report disputed the Sheriff’s Office’s conclusion, saying that “there were opportunities to prevent this death.” It found that the woman died of an infection from a ruptured gastric ulcer, which it said has a survival rate of about 90 percent when properly diagnosed and treated.

“While the jail had established tools and forms to evaluate inmate’s pain, these were never utilized, though their use was expected,” the report states. “Nursing staff at the Northern Branch Jail did not follow an evidence-based process to evaluate or treat [the inmate] for her abdominal pain, though such pain assessment forms were available and their use expected.”

OUT FOR SUMMER: Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School is one of three schools in the Guadalupe Union School District. The 2025-26 school year will mark the first term for the district’s third and newest school, Guadalupe Junior High School.

CAUSE FOR CONCERN: Juan Lara, 54, was found dead in his cell at the Northern Branch Jail in June, making him the second person to die in a Santa Barbara County jail this year.

continued page 5

The Sheriff’s Office has 60 days to respond to the grand jury’s report, which was released on June 24 alongside two others detailing investigations into in-custody deaths in 2024— one suicide and one traumatic head injury caused by an apparent seizure.

—Reece Coren

Buellton City Council scrutinizes proposed $500 hourly fee for library meeting areas

Bounce houses. Cocktail hours. Knitting clubs. Members of the Buellton City Council were recently torn on which types of uses it should allow during temporary rentals of the Buellton Library’s meeting rooms and spacious front lawn.

However, all four council members came to a quick consensus on one crucial aspect of city staff’s proposed rental rates for the property’s amenities.

“Five hundred dollars is steep,” Councilmember Hudson Hornick said at the council’s June 26 meeting.

Apart from nonprofits and hosts of city functions, Buellton residents who request to reserve either of the library’s two community rooms or its lawn space would be charged $500 an hour and need to put down a $1,000 deposit, based on staff’s initial rate structure outline.

“I think [our] intention, … was this was a community meeting space. I don’t know if we ever intended or thought about it being an event space,”

Mayor David Silva told staff.

“I envisioned, … something intimate, smaller in scale [than] a full-blown party. I hadn’t thought of the lawn

to be a rental space. … I don’t know how you can throw an event on the lawn that doesn’t negatively impact the experience of the library.”

During the meeting, Councilmembers Hornick and John Sanchez said they believed that the community rooms and lawn would eventually serve event rental purposes to recoup some of the city’s costs to fund the library’s $1 million-plus construction costs.

Both Hornick and Sanchez also agreed that charging $500 as a flat hourly fee wasn’t going to work, regardless of whether the renter is a birthday party host or a local business or committee seeking a meeting space.

“We’re not renting the Hilton ballroom. It’s just a community room,” Sanchez said at the meeting.

Sanchez also described the proposed $1,000 deposit as excessive.

“I don’t know what they could do to cause that much damage, unless they have a campfire on the floor,” he said.

Buellton Public Works Director Rose Hess told the council that staff researched rates from other publicly owned rental facilities in the area while drafting the proposal.

Mayor Silva said he’d like to see if decreasing the proposed permitted uses—parties with live music or a DJ and food truck-catered events for example—on the library lawn would help make a lower rate and deposit feasible, since liabilities related to cleanup or property damage would be lower.

“Let’s tighten the amenities allowed,” Silva said. “If we tighten it, it’d be great to see the price move down.”

The council ultimately directed staff to look into alternative rental rate options and agendize revisiting the topic at a future hearing. m

—Caleb Wiseblood

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Munching the numbers

County cannabis program cuts make room for more warrant pursuits, new therapy services for immigrant families

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Deemed overdue for a trim, Santa Barbara County’s budget to enforce against illegal weed is too big, the Board of Supervisors recently concluded.

Fifth District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino described the board’s unanimous June 17 decision to disband the Sheriff’s Office cannabis compliance team as “redistributing the manpower where it’s most needed.”

“Having that strong of an enforcement team at this point really didn’t make a lot of sense,” Lavagnino told the Sun. “It’s not that the sheriff’s department was doing anything wrong. They did what we asked them to do. The landscape has just changed over seven years, and we need to put resources where they’re most required.”

Established in 2018, the compliance team was set to cost the county $3 million-plus in the 2025-26 fiscal year. Reallocating that cannabis tax revenue to support new initiatives and reassigning some of the unit’s members to different roles

within the Sheriff’s Office were tied to the board’s 5-0 vote.

On June 20, the Santa Barbara County grand jury released a report on cannabis taxation and expenditure findings that were consistent with county staff’s research. The timing was coincidental, according to Lavagnino.

“I think that’s the first time I ever looked at a grand jury report and thought, ‘Oh, we just checked off that,’ … It was so weird,” Lavagnino said. “It’s just intelligent people all looking at the same thing and kind of coming up with the same conclusion.”

The grand jury report noted that the county’s cannabis tax revenue has “steadily declined from its high of $15.7 million in 2020-2021 to less than $6 million in 2023-2024.”

Unlawful grows in the area have also declined, the jury determined, based on state-filed law enforcement reports, which “indicate that there has been negligible illicit cannabis cultivation activity in Santa Barbara County for the past three years.”

Lavagnino said that illegal marijuana cultivation operations in Tepusquet, the Lompoc Valley, and other areas in the county were “a real problem” when the compliance team formed in 2018.

“People were growing hundreds of acres of illegal cannabis,” Lavagnino said. “So yeah, we did need to have a real robust team to go out and eradicate these grows.”

Some members of the defunct compliance team are set to transfer to work for the Sheriff’s Office narcotics unit as cannabis experts, while one deputy will fill the shoes of a felony warrant detective, a newly created position Lavagnino lobbied often for over the past year and half, he said.

“If you’re persistent and you believe in something, just keep hammering at it. Eventually, I think everybody finally saw the writing on the wall that I wasn’t going to go away on this issue,” Lavagnino said. “I’m just glad we’re finally going to address what I think was a glaring hole in our justice system.”

At an April Board of Supervisors meeting, Lavagnino noted that there were more than 1,800 people wanted on active felony warrants throughout Santa Barbara County, according to Sheriff’s Office data at the time. The new warrant detective will help decrease that number, Lavagnino explained.

Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told the Sun in a statement that the compliance team’s disbanding won’t stop the Sheriff’s Office from investigating, citing, or arresting “those who break the law by illicitly growing, manufacturing, possessing for sale, or trafficking marijuana.”

“We will also continue to ensure that licensed cannabis growers and distributors are compliant with state and local law,” Brown added.

The Board of Supervisors’ June 17 decision also diverted some cannabis tax revenue to help nurture mental health services at a local nonprofit. Second District Supervisor Laura Capps proposed the $240,000 allocation to help the Immigrant Legal Defense Center hire two new therapists. The firm has offices in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria.

“When I learned that there was only one therapist who was dealing directly with the families of those who have been deported, and there was a backlog of 65 people right now, today, wanting help, it just spoke to my heart,” Capps said. “In my view, and in the view of many, we are in a crisis right now when it comes to these deportations and the fear that’s coming from ICE. … So, I wanted to see if we could do something very meaningful with the cannabis funds to help address the crisis.”

Capps led a brief presentation at the board’s June 17 hearing that outlined what she learned from Immigrant Legal Defense Center Executive Director Julissa Peña about some of the nonprofit’s current clients.

One of Capps’ examples was about a 5-yearold Santa Maria resident who’s struggling with separation anxiety but “benefiting from [the center’s] one existing counselor right now,” she told the Sun

“He’s a citizen and his mother’s awaiting a deportation hearing, and it likely won’t go well. So, she’s making this excruciating choice to potentially leave him in the states. … Many of the people needing these mental health services are children and they’re citizens,” Capps said. “I hope that no matter how you feel about what the Trump administration is doing, … you would still see that there’s ramifications that need to be addressed.

“Therapists can’t wave magic wands, but they can really help, … with coping skills, at least to help soften the devastation,” Capps continued. “Beyond the money and beyond the therapists, I’m proud of the signal this sends that this county stands with this community, the immigrant community.”

Supervisor Lavagnino said he got a negative email about the decision a few days later.

“The person was saying, ‘Hey, this isn’t our responsibility. I’m a taxpayer, and I don’t support this.’ And I was like, ‘Well, first off, that’s why it didn’t come out of property tax, sales tax, or TOT [transient occupancy tax], so the average taxpayer did not pay for this,’” Lavagnino told the Sun. “It came out of the cannabis funds that’s paid for by the cannabis growers.”

Lavagnino called Capps’ route an “ingenious” way to show support for local immigrant families “while still staying in our lane, … [and] not getting involved in the political theater of it.”

“These kids are caught up in a situation they didn’t create,” Lavagnino said. m

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

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CHRONIC CONSENSUS: During a June 17 budget hearing, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed to disband the Sheriff’s Office cannabis compliance team and divert certain cannabis program funds to support new priorities.

Circle of life

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Hundreds of animals that have trotted across the Santa Maria Fairpark’s auction grounds over the past three years were raised by young participants of a local charity initiative.

Elementary, middle, and high school students who take part in the annual Santa Barbara County Fair’s livestock exhibitions for 4-H, FFA, and Grange programs are eligible for support from the 37th District Buyers Coalition, the organization’s president, Renli Pope, told the Sun.

“For some of these kids, it’s their first year participating in an ag project,” Pope said. “It’s hard raising an animal for slaughter. But it’s real life, and this teaches them discipline.”

The more funds the small nonprofit raises each year, the more animals it’s able to purchase during the Santa Barbara County Fair—and the more processed meat it can donate to Santa Maria’s Good Samaritan Shelter, Lompoc’s Micah Mission, and other local organizations that provide meals for the food insecure.

The group also encourages others to attend the youth auction and place bids to help ag students get the best price for their animals, Pope explained.

“The beauty of what we’re doing is if somebody comes and is bidding on their animal, we step back and we let that bidder take front and center,” Pope said.

Part of the application process students must complete for benefits from the 37th District Buyers Coalition was designed to increase in-person community participation at the auction. The program requires participants to send at least five letters out to local individuals and businesses, inviting them to bid at the fair.

“If nobody’s bidding on their animals and we have the funds, we will go ahead and step in and bid on the animal, purchase it, and then we process the animal and donate the meat to local

charities,” Pope said. “We really want these kids to succeed, with all the hard work they have to put in. …

We all want the best for our kids.

“It’s very humbling as a parent to see people come up to support your kids,” added Pope, whose two sons, ages 10 and 17, are fifth generation exhibitors at the fair.

Outside of working full-time as a dental hygienist, Pope manages the 37th District Buyers Coalition with two colleagues. All three are volunteers.

“We all have full-time jobs that we work at elsewhere. But all of us grew up in ag,” said Pope, who was born and raised in Nipomo. “All [three] of us were involved in 4-H and FFA, and it’s very important for us to see these programs continue.”

Since the coalition’s start in 2022, the nonprofit has successfully bid on and purchased nearly 200 steers, pigs, and lambs from ag students during the Santa Barbara County Fair’s yearly auctions. With those animals, the group was able to donate about 57,000 pounds of meat to the meal providers it supports.

In order to raise the funds it needs for animal purchases, the coalition accepts donations and constantly seeks sponsorship opportunities with businesses. This year, Pope said that she and her colleagues were thrilled to secure a partnership with the Harris Ranch Beef Company.

Thanks to Harris Ranch’s support, all meat processing for steers purchased by the coalition at this year’s county fair—July 9 through 13—will be free of charge for the coalition. The youth livestock auction will be held on Saturday, July 12, starting at 8 a.m.

“We’ll be there all day,” Pope said with a laugh. “It’s like 15 hours long.”

For anyone who can’t attend the auction in person but would still like to support the coalition’s efforts, there’s a donate button on its website (37thbuyerscoalition.com) with mail-in info and a link to the group’s Venmo. Every dollar counts, Pope said. Formal donations to the nonprofit are tax-deductible as well.

“We’ve had donations ranging from $25 to $10,000,” Pope said. “We take all of it with a grateful heart because times are tough.”

Highlight

• The Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department invites youth ages 8 to 17 to participate in a friendly and competitive Youth Cornhole Tournament on Sunday, July 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Hagerman Sports Complex, located at 3300 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. Registration ranges between $15 and $20, and the topperforming teams will receive prizes, according to the department. m

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

LAMB LOVE: At last year’s Santa Barbara County Fair, local student Madeline Hageman (pictured here with her lamb) was among the youth livestock auction’s participants whose animal was bought by the 37th District Buyers Coalition. The nonprofit donates the processed meat of its purchases to food charities across the Central Coast.

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They’re coming for the coast

This administration threatens our land, sea, and air

BY GIANA PATCHEN AND ANDREW CHRISTIE

It is all too clear that California’s communities and environment are not immune to the Trump administration—and that state and local leaders’ pushback is powerful and necessary. Having already moved to open public lands to mining and drilling, the Trump administration is now making its presence known off the Central Coast.

On April 30, the Trump administration announced that the entire U.S. coast is open to consideration for future oil and gas exploration and production, including protected areas like marine sanctuaries.

The announcement codified Trump’s January executive order illegally revoking the coastal protections issued by Biden, triggering a lawsuit by the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, Oceana, Center for Biological Diversity, Surfrider Foundation, Greenpeace, Healthy Gulf, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, Alaska Wilderness League, and Turtle Island Restoration Network.

“We have seen the impact of offshore drilling on our vulnerable ocean waters, and what it does to the surrounding communities, marine life, and the health of the ecosystem,” said Sierra Club Senior Attorney Devorah Ancel. “When nearly 40 percent of Americans live in coastal counties that rely on a healthy ocean to thrive, removing critical protections shows how little care Trump has for these communities.”

But all is not lost. Local and state governments have power to oppose offshore oil infrastructure. The present federal and state threats demonstrate the ever-growing importance of reinforcing state and local environmental laws.

Locally, it’s safe to say the administration picked the worst possible time to attempt offshore oil expansion. The Central Coast is actively fighting against the restart of the offshore oil pipeline that caused the 2015 Refugio oil spill. The

Speak

company attempting this, Sable Offshore Corp., announced it restarted oil production at Platform Harmony on May 15—just days before the 10-year anniversary of the spill.

In an added ironic twist: Sable’s announcement turned out to be false. They haven’t restarted production, just their mandatory well testing activities. All of this came one month after the California Coastal Commission ordered them to stop work on the ruptured pipeline and imposed an $18 million fine for ignoring a cease-and-desist order. On June 3, a judge finally made Sable stop, issuing a temporary restraining order against Cal Fire and the Office of the State Fire Marshal. The Center for Biological Diversity and the Environmental Defense Center had filed separate lawsuits charging that the state agencies issued waivers without proper environmental review, essentially authorizing the pipeline to restart without effective protection against corrosion, which is what caused the 2015 spill that shut down the pipeline in the first place.

Linda Krop, chief counsel of the Environmental Defense Center, representing Get Oil Out!, the Santa Barbara County Action Network, the Sierra Club, and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, said, “Restarting this defective pipeline with no review and no way for the public to weigh in is a danger to our coast, our climate, and people on the Central Coast. At the very least, Gov. Newsom should demand that his agencies follow the law and do everything possible to prevent another ecological and economic disaster in our state.” Coastal concerns are coming by sea and air. Elon Musk is still interested in launching ever-growing numbers of SpaceX rockets from Vandenberg Space Force Base, and environmental groups are still interested in requiring Musk to follow existing environmental laws. Public comment is open now through July 7 for SpaceX’s most recent proposed

increase in Falcon launches, from 50 to 100 per year at Vandenberg. This would be the third increase in SpaceX launches at Vandenberg in less than three years (jumping from 12 to 36 launches per year in 2023 and then 36 to 50 launches per year in 2024).

Targeted efforts against the state’s foundational environmental laws are not just coming from the federal level, but also from within. A bill introduced in the state Legislature, which would override the California Coastal Act and nullify the Coastal Commission’s objection to increased SpaceX launches at Vandenberg, has been held as a two-year bill. This means it’s dead in the water for now, but backers can try again in 2026. The bill was authored in 2024 by an Assembly member who Trump subsequently appointed as a federal prosecutor. Presumably, with Trump and Musk on the outs, even Republicans in the state Legislature may not be inclined to help Musk’s efforts to avoid “inconvenient” laws.

But good news also comes from Sacramento: Assembly Bill 1448 would strengthen environmental safeguards by closing loopholes that allow new or reactivated oil and gas development, which would hinder both Sable and Trump’s drill-and-spill agenda.

And, as Sierra Club attorney Ancel notes, “Trump tried this illegal move to undo protections during his first administration, and he failed. We will keep working to ensure he won’t be any more successful this time around.” m

Gianna Patchen is chapter coordinator for the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Andrew Christie served as chapter director from 2004 to 2023. Send comments in response to letters@ santamariasun.com.

WRITE NOW! We want to know what you think about everything. Send your 250-word letter to Sun Letters, 801 S Broadway Suite 3, Santa Maria, CA 93454. You can also fax it (1-805-546-8641) or e-mail it (letters@santamariasun.com). All letters must include a name, address, and phone number for verification purposes; may be edited for space or clarity; and will be posted to santamariasun.com.

Letter-writer’s

LETTERS

assumption went a bit too far

I am writing in response to Steve Pepe’s letter in the June 26 issue of the Sun (“Some protest signs have gone too far”) wherein he claims that “86 47” is calling for the assassination of the current president. He is obviously misinformed or unfamiliar with the term “86.” To “86” someone from a bar or restaurant does not mean you kill them, you just eject them from the premises. To “86” anything else is to “reject, discard, or cancel” it. In 47’s case, this could be done with an impeachment, it does not mean you have to kill him. Someone is watching way too much Fox News.

Stephen Siemsen Orcutt

Trump’s all about instilling fear

so he can gain

power

“Los Angeles is under siege,” the president exclaimed. Don’t be fooled. The demonstrations are a microcosm of Trump’s strategy to usurp more power. His divisive demagoguery is not about law and order. It’s about instilling fear in the minds of Americans so he could wield more power.

Jim Huchthausen Nipomo

Swapping dollars

Santa Barbara County is losing its cannabis enforcement team.

That’s one way to save $3 million!

Apparently illegal cannabis activities in the county have declined significantly since 2018, when the Sheriff’s Office Cannabis Compliance Team first started ripping through illegal grows, weed whacking, bagging, and confiscating all things pot.

I remember the images that the county law enforcement agency used to send out to all the news outlets when bragging about the biggest illegal cannabis busts in county history! Those days are over.

And so are the days of county tax rolls flush with legal cannabis tax revenue, according to both county staff and a recent grand jury report.

Since the 2020-21 fiscal year’s high of $15.7 million in weed taxes, the amount of dough pulled into county coffers from cannabis has steadily declined. Fiscal year 2025-26 is expected to generate roughly $5.5 million as costs for compliance and enforcement slowly increase. In 2020-21 that cost was $2.7 million, and in 202526, it was expected to be $3.3 million, according to the grand jury.

But that’s changing thanks to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors, which opted to defund the police! Well, not all the police. Just the law enforcement that targeted illicit marijuana grows and sales in the county. There isn’t enough black market activity to warrant paying for a special enforcement team anymore, according to 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino.

“It’s not that the sheriff’s department was doing anything wrong,” he said. “The landscape has just changed over seven years, and we need to put resources where they’re most required.”

But don’t worry, all you scofflaws out there, the Sheriff’s Office will continue its due diligence in rooting out the bad guys. Sheriff Bill Brown said his department will continue investigating, citing, and arresting “those who break the law by illicitly growing manufacturing, possessing for sale, or trafficking marijuana.”

Instead of funding law enforcement, some of that saved cannabis money will be funding therapists at the Immigrant Legal Defense Center to help those dealing with deportation threats or deported family members.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps proposed the quarter of a million dollar allocation because she learned there was a backlog of people who wanted help and couldn’t get it. One of her examples is a 5-year-old citizen whose mom is in deportation proceedings right now.

Some of North County’s staunchest MAGA conservatives are positively enraged. Defunding police and helping immigrants! How dare we do such a thing?

Lavagnino said he got at least one negative comment from a constituent who said they were a taxpayer and didn’t support the decision. The money isn’t coming from the county’s property, sales, or transient occupancy tax, Lavagnino said. It’s coming from growers. It’s an “ingenious” way to support local immigrant families “while staying in our lane,” he added.

“Theses kids are caught up in a situation they didn’t create,” he said.

That’s for sure. If you’re upset about kids getting help, then maybe you need help. I don’t think there’s a compliance team for that yet, but maybe it’s time to create one. m

The Canary is dreaming of more cannabis revenue. Send funding ideas to canary@ santamariasun.com.

WELCOME TO THE SOUNDTRACK OF FREEDOM

HOT VALLEY NIGHTS

FREE CONCERT SERIES NEXT SHOW JULY 12 / KNEE DEEP

LUPILLO RIVERA AND LA CHUPITOS

FRIDAY, AUGUST 1 / 8PM

TICKETS START AT $49

MORRIS DAY AND THE TIME

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 / 8PM TICKETS START AT $49

SHEILA E.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 / 8PM

TICKETS START AT $49

Hot Stuff

ARTS

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

BALLROOM, LATIN, AND SWING DANCE

CLASSES Social ballroom, Latin, and swing lessons for all ages. Beginner and advance classes. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. $45-$55. (805) 928-7799. Kleindancesarts.com. Klein Dance Arts, 3558 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria.

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.

GIAFUNNI’S COMEDY Giafunni’s presents a Double Headliner Comedy Extravaganza with Daniel Eachus (Dry Bar) and Patrick Riley. Also appearing are Vic Pulido and Sarah Samaniego. July 12 8-10 p.m. $20. (805) 621-4334. Giavanni’s Pizza, 1108 E Clark Ave, Orcutt, beachboardwalkers.org.

VALLEY ART GALLERY: ROTATING

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

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

HOLMES AND WATSON (SOLVANG) A twisty, tantalizing mystery that keeps its

characters and audience alike guessing until the final moments. WednesdaysSundays, 8-9:30 p.m. through July 26

Starting at $25. (805) 922-8313. pcpa.org/ events/holmes-and-watson-solvang. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang.

SUMMER CAMP 3: AROUND THE GLOBE

Young children can embrace the summer during this week of fun, creativity, and artistic expression. Throughout the camp, kids will be creating paintings, drawings, sculptures, weavings, and more. Get tickets and more info at the link. July 7 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $405. (805) 325-8092. artspotonwheels.com. Art Spot on Wheels, 320 Alisal Road, unit 306B, Solvang.

WAITRESS Indulge in Sara Bareilles’s delectable musical, Waitress, which serves up a heartfelt tale of love, liberation, and the pursuit of dreams. July 3 8-10:30 p.m., July 5, 8-10:30 p.m. and July 6 8-10:30 p.m. $25. (805)922-8313. pcpa.org. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. YOSEMITE: SANCTUARY IN STONE A solo exhibition by award-winning nature and landscape photographer William Neill. Through Sept. 1 California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang, calnatureartmuseum.org.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

DANCE FITNESS ART AND CULTURE FOR ADULTS Discover dance as a form of artistic expression and exercise, using a wide range of styles and genres of music (including modern, jazz, Broadway, ethnic). Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach. HOW THE WEST WAS REALLY WON Complete with a saloon setting, card games, duels, and more. Through Aug. 12

Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

SECOND SATURDAY IMPROV MEETUP

Have you ever wanted to try improv? Or are you an experienced player looking for opportunities to practice? Join to play short-form games and share smiles in the supportive environment of improv. Second Saturday of every month, 2-4 p.m. through Dec. 13 improvforgood.fun/. Flex Performing Arts Studio (Studio D), 1820 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

SHREK THE MUSICAL Join for Shrek the Musical — a hilarious, heartwarming adventure with catchy songs, lively choreography, and a talented cast. Fun, friendship, and fairy tale magic await! July 10, 7-9 p.m., July 11 7-9 p.m. and July 12 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. $17-$28.50. (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 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

ART AFTER DARK Art After Dark features an art opening of world-class artists. Refreshments will be served. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. through March 7 Free. slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark. SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.

ARTIST RIKI SCHUMACHER AT ART

CENTRAL GALLERY Schumacher’s work is pensive and introspective, inspiring one to take a solitary walk on a cloudy day. Wander in to reflect on her “delicious, wistful landscapes.” Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Free.

KILLER KEYS

The Killer Dueling Pianos are set to perform at The Stockyard in Orcutt, on Saturday, July 12, from 6 to 9 p.m. The comedic duo of talented pianists plays classic tunes from Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley to Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. Tickets are $13, and can be purchased at my805tix.com.

—Angie Stevens

(805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com/galleryartists/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

BEGINNING WATERCOLOR WITH JAN FRENCH Come be introduced to the personality and potential of this tricky but dynamic medium. Geared for beginners or watercolor artists who would like to freshen up. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. through July 31 $130. (805) 747-4200. i0.wp.com/artcentralslo.com/wp-content/ uploads/2025/06/Beginner-WC-FrenchJuly25.jpg?fit=1275%2C1650&ssl=1. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

BEYOND THE BASICS OF WATERCOLOR WITH VIRGINIA MACK This is a class for those who love imagining ways to further their visual expressions. A watercolorbased course, but one that branches out into other media. Mondays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $35 per class. (805) 7474200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

DEANNA BARAHONA California artist Deanna Barahona’s work centers her lived experiences, identity, and personal objects in intimate and domestic spaces through the creation of sculpture, and installation. Through Aug. 31, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma.org/ exhibition/deanna-barahona/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY AND ART Owen and Kyoko Hunt from Kyoto, Japan offer classes for Japanese calligraphy (Fridays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.), a Japanese art called “haiga” (Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m.) and more at Nesting Hawk Ranch. Fridays $45. (702) 335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COUNTY CAMERA CLUB: REGULAR MEETING Zoom meeting for The North County Camera Club, where

photographers of all levels can participate, share photos, exchange information, and learn from each other. Second Tuesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. facebook.com/ groups/PRAAphotoguild. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

PICKET PAINTING PARTY Decorative picket purchasing opportunities are available to show your support and help fund maintenance and educational programs in the Children’s Garden. Second Saturday of every month, 1-4 p.m. $75 per picket or 2 for $100. (805) 541-1400. slobg. org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL COAST A self-directed fun group of dynamic artists who enjoy painting and sketching outdoors. Artists meet on site at various locations. Weekly plein air destinations are provided by Kirsti Wothe via email (mrswothe@yahoo.com). Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon SLO County, Locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.

SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. slonightwriters.org.

United Church of Christ (Congregational) of San Luis Obispo, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.

SLO REP’S ACADEMY OF CREATIVE THEATRE SUMMER CAMPS Registration is open for the summer theatre camps at SLO REP. They are week-long camps for ages five to 18. Scholarships are available. Mondays. through Aug. 4 $230. (805) 781-3889. slorep.org/education/acttheatre-camps/. San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, 3533 Empleo St., San Luis Obispo.

TURNSTILE: NEVER ENOUGH FILM

SCREENING Experience this 14-song visual album, directed by Brendan Yates and Pat McCrory. Tickets and more info can be found via the link. July 3 8 p.m. $20. fremontslo.com. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.

VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING

WATERCOLOR This is a watercolor class designed to let you jump in and

try out this engaging medium through experimentation. It’s designed for beginners and those with watercolor experience who wish to expand their knowledge of painting in watercolors. To enroll contact Mack via email: vbmack@ charter.net Mondays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $35. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com/ workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY ANYONE CAN LEARN TO OIL PAINT Art Center Morro Bay every Thursday for the “Anyone Can Learn to Oil Paint” oil painting series. More information can be found at the link. First Thursday of every month, 6-8:30 p.m. through July 17 $145. (805) 772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay. ART LIFE COACHING:CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS: ART JOURNALING Blending expressive art with gentle life coaching principles, this class invites seniors to explore their stories, values, and dreams through mixed media art journaling. Get tickets and more info at the link. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-noon through July 15 $20. my805tix.com. Lor Coaching Studios, 525 Harbor St., Morro Bay. DRAWING ABSTRACT AND PATTERN PLAY: FOCUS ON ZENTANGLE® AND CREATIVE FLOW Unleash your creativity and experience the joy of drawing in this 6-week course designed especially for seniors. Drawing for Joy and Discovery invites participants into a world of abstract art, expressive mark-making, and meditative pattern play rooted in the Zentangle® method. Each week, you’ll explore drawing techniques that promote relaxation, focus, and personal expression. No prior drawing experience is needed. Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m. through July 15 $20. my805tix.com. Lor Coaching Studios, 525 Harbor St., Morro Bay. GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS JEWELRY & ART BY HOPE MYERS Award-winning artist Hope Myers blends her love of watercolor and jewelry. Her work recently has been focused on more elegant, refined pieces. See it

SPONSORED

Join us for summer concert fun!

The GAMBLE is a Southern California based band, staffed by seasoned professional musicians. They are an exciting and electric fusion of rock, pop, soul and country built on decades of musical experience and the belief that music tells our collective story. Each member’s unique background - from classic Americana to soulful pop and old school rock perfectly complements their unique approach to the music of our times.

Soul Kool (Not Just Another Band) Plays the Finest in Old School on the Central Coast. Members of Soul Kool in their early years traveled the US, have opened for Grammy Award Winners their musical achievements are numerous. On July 9th join Soul Kool on the Center Stage and… Don’t Forget Your Dancing Shoes !! … for more information about Soul Kool, you can check them out on their website at SoulKool.net

Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe are a Grupo Norteño from Guadalupe California, they formed in July of 2023. They have also appeared on television on the program “Tengo Talento Mucho Talento” and were able to get 4th place in the competition! They strive to serve their people and community with music they can connect to! They play styles like Ramon Ayala, Los tucanes de Tijuana and many other original norteño grupos. Loz Rayoz also has their own original music and will continue to push their music globally!

Loz Rayoz de Guadalupe es un grupo norteño de Guadalupe, California, formado en julio de 2023. También han participado en el programa de televisión “Tengo Talento Mucho Talento” y obtuvieron el cuarto lugar en la competencia. Se esfuerzan por servir a su gente y comunidad con música con la que se conectan. Tocan estilos como Ramón Ayala, Los Tucanes de Tijuana y muchos otros grupos norteños originales. Loz Rayoz también tiene su propia música original y seguirá promoviéndola a nivel mundial.

Manny Mestas

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.

Brad’s World

JD Platt and K9 Kings

Reptiles was established in 1982 by Brad Tylman and it continues to thrive t oday, driven by education and . Brad graduated from Oregon State University in 1987 with a Degree in Zoology. He has since traveled the knowledge about the information that he shares with others in educational shows that thrill and entertain educating them about some of the most beautiful and exotic animals on our planet. The World shares his enthusiasm and passion for education; and provides quality memorable the public. These where visitors embark on an enhanced through interactions with amazing live reptiles, amphibians, and other

7/9/25- Wednesday 4:00pm-4:30pm 5:30pm-6:00pm 7:00pm-7:30pm

7/10/25-Thursday 4:00pm-4:30pm 5:30pm-6:00pm 7:00pm-7:30pm

7/11/25- Friday 3:30pm-4:00pm 5:30pm-6:00pm 7:00pm-7:30pm 7/12/25- Saturday 3:30pm-4:00pm 5:30pm-6:00pm 7:00pm-7:30pm 7/13/25- Sunday 3:30pm-4:00pm 5:30pm-6:00pm 7:00pm-7:30pm

FLO RIDA

JULY 16

CODY JOHNSON

JULY 19

DAVID LEE ROTH

JULY 22

DON FELDER

JULY 25

JON PARDI

JULY 17 311 W/IRATION

JULY 18

JUNTOS

JULY 20 RED CLAY STRAYS

JULY 21

BAILEY ZIMMERMAN

JULY 23

COUNTRY RODEO FINALS

JULY 26

KEITH URBAN

JULY 24

JULY 27

July 16 @ 6PM

July 19

July 22

July 17

July 20

July 25

DOCKSIDERS

July 23

HERMAN’S HERMITS W/PETER NOONE

July 18

July 21

July 24

July 26

July 27

BLACK VIOLIN

REGULO CARO

WAYLON WYATT

JORDAN FELIZ

MARIACHI LOS CAMPEROS

KYLIE MORGAN

MASON RAMSEY

STEPHEN PEARCY

MISS CMSF PAGEANT

TAYLOR SHINES LASER

2ND ANNUAL WARRIOR GOLF CLASSIC

JULY 9 - 13, 2025

Red Oak Stage

7/9/25 Wednesday

• Kirk Basquez 3:00pm – 3:45pm • Kirk Basquez 4:30pm – 5:15pm • Kirk Basquez 6:00pm – 6:45pm

• American Mile 8:30pm – 10:00pm

7/10/25 Thursday

• Kirk Basquez 3:00pm – 4:00pm

• Kirk Basquez 4:30pm – 5:30pm

• American Mile 6:00pm – 7:00pm

• American Mile 8:30pm – 10:00pm

7/11/25 Friday

• Kirk Basquez 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Kirk Basquez 2:30pm – 3:30pm

• Kirk Basquez 4:00pm – 5:00pm

• American Mile 6:00pm – 7:00pm

• American Mile 8:30pm – 10:00pm

7/12/25 Saturday

• Kirk Basquez 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Kirk Basquez 2:30pm – 3:30pm

• Kirk Basquez 4:00pm – 5:00pm

• American Mile 6:00pm – 7:00pm

• American Mile 8:30pm – 10:00pm

7/13/25 Sunday

• Kirk Basquez 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• Kirk Basquez 2:30pm – 3:30pm

• Kirk Basquez 4:00pm – 5:00pm

• American Mile 6:00pm – 7:00pm

• American Mile 8:30pm – 10:00pm

Elevate Your Excitement

There was a time when families from all over the Santa Maria Valley came to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Santa Barbara County Fair. Today, it’s still one of the biggest events on the central coast. From carnival

rides, cotton candy and corn dogs to live entertainment, livestock auctions and a variety of exhibits and food vendors, the fair has something for everyone. Join in a tradition of family fun that dates back 130 years.

Staff

This person will become part of a team of reporters who contribute to the award-winning New Times Media Group publications with a focus on Northern Santa Barbara County.

We’re looking for someone who can keep tabs on the pulse of the community, delve into the stories behind the people and events we cover, has the passion to give a voice to the voiceless, and who has the talent to write compelling articles and features.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Tell us how you would contribute to our work, send us links to three published writing samples, and include a resume. Email

Cindy Rucker at crucker@newtimesslo.com.

Janet Silveria, President / CEO

LA PLACITA STAGE

Minetti Arena Concerts

Separate ticket purchase required

• Wednesday, July 9 / 6:30pm

Queen Nation with special guest American Mile

• Thursday, July 10 / 6:30pm

Los Lonely Boys with special guest Billy Williams

• Friday, July 11 / 6:30pm

Larry Fleet with special guest Cripple Creek

• Saturday, July 12 / 6:30pm

Russell Dickerson with special guest Ariel Jean

• Sunday, July 13 / 6:30pm

Fiesta Concert

Fair Admission

PRESALE TICKET PRICES 5/16 - 7/6

• Adult (12-61) $15

• Youth (6-11) $13

• Senior (62+) $13

• Season Pass (all ages) $55

TICKET PRICES 7/7 - 7/13

• Adult (12-61) $17

• Youth (6-11) $15

• Senior (62+) $15

• Season Pass (all ages) $55

SPECIALTY DAYS/DISCOUNTS

• Wednesday - “6 before 6”

$6 Admission for ALL tickets purchased at gates. Good until 6 pm

• Thursday - “6 before 6”

$6 Admission for Senior (62+) tickets purchased at gates. Good until 6 pm

• Friday - FREE Admission for Youth (6-11)

GOOD ALL DAY ...Kids (5 & under) FREE EVERYDAY

• Saturday - FREE Admission for Military & Law Enforcement (must show valid ID) GOOD ALL DAY

Our Central Coast roots are as strong as they come. We know this land and will set you up with the best John Deere Compact Utility Tractor to get any job done.

Santa Maria, CA (805) 925-0931

Paso Robles, CA (805) 434-5566

Oxnard, CA (805) 981-2866

Monterey County, CA (805) 434-5566

in the gallery, open daily. Through July 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE

PRESENTS OIL PAINTINGS BY PATRICIA

NEWTON Oil Painter Patricia Newton’s current body of work has been inspired by the powerful movement of the sea and its magnificent coastline. See Newton’s work at the gallery, which is open daily. Through July 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Patricia Newton loves the Central Coast; its green rolling hills and endlessly crashing waves always provide inspiration for her oil paintings. Her work will be displayed daily at the Gallery at Marina Square. Through July 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE

PRESENTS PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREGORY SIRAGUSA Photographer

Greg Siragusa captures scenes from around Morro Bay and beyond. Discover his photography of otters, birds, landscapes, and seascapes at the gallery, which is open daily. Through July 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

JEWELRY, SMALL WORKS, AND ART

BY HOPE MYERS

Hope Myers has been creating art, jewelry ,and more on the Central Coast for a long time. Rediscover her great many artworks at the Gallery Gallery at Marina Square. Through July 30, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREGORY SIRAGUSA

Greg Siragusa is eternally searching for the sublime, and his photography represents life as he sees it –– colorful, dynamic, interesting, and mindful. See his work at Gallery at Marina Square. Through July 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

WATERCOLOR PAINTING: EXPRESSIVE TECHNIQUES FOR ALL ABILITIES

Discover the beauty and versatility of watercolor in this 6-week class designed for all experience levels—from beginners picking up a brush for the first time to seasoned artists looking to expand their expressive range. Each 3-hour session will blend guided instruction, hands-on exercises, and open studio time to help you build skills and confidence. Get tickets and more info at the link. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. through July 14 $20. my805tix.com. Lor Coaching Studios, 525 Harbor St., Morro Bay.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

ANDROID PHONE CLASS First Thursday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, (805) 937-9750.

BULLDOG EXPRESS WORKSHOPS

Bulldog Express workshops will be available to assist Allan Hancock College students with free enrollment support and financial aid information starting June 23 at both the Santa Maria campus and Lompoc Valley Center. Workshops will be held at the Student Services Building A on the Santa Maria campus, on Mondays and Tuesdays, from June 23 to August 12, from 3 to 6 p.m. At Lompoc Valley Center, they will be held in Building 1 on June 30, July 15, July 21, and August 5, from 3 to 6 p.m. More information can be found at the link. Through Aug. 12, 3-6 p.m. Free. hancockcollege.edu/. Allan Hancock College, 800 S. College Drive, Santa Maria. CENTRAL COAST CORVETTE CLUB Open to Corvette owners and enthusiasts. First Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. Free.

(805) 934-3948. Home Motors, 1313 E. Main St., Santa Maria.

FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (805) 9379750. oasisorcutt.org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt.

FIRST FRIDAY First Friday of every month facebook.com/ firstfridayoldtownorcutt/. Historic Old Town Orcutt, S. Broadway and Union Ave., Orcutt.

FREE BOOK SUNDAYS FOR AGES

0-17

Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

GROUP WALKS AND HIKES

Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing (805) 343-2455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. ORCUTT MINERAL SOCIETY Second Tuesday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, (805) 937-9750.

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY FAIR

An annual summer tradition in Santa Maria that features live entertainment, carnival rides, games, and more. July 9 -13 santamariafairpark.com/events.

Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg St., Santa Maria.

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

STARS, STRIPES, AND SIPS

Celebrate the Fourth with Alisal Ranch in Solvang during its Fourth of July festivities. From 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 4, enjoy a dinner buffet with live music, views of the sweeping golf course, and a fireworks show to round out the night. Tickets are $65 for adults and $45 for children. Head to alisalranch.com for additional information.

—A.S.

discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:303 p.m. (805) 547-1715. new.nawcc. org/index.php/chapter-52-lospadres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano. POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS A docent-led tour of the buildings and grounds of the historic Point San Luis Light Station. Check website for more details. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

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.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

ALISAL RANCH 4TH OF JULY

CELEBRATION Celebrate July 4th at Alisal Ranch with BBQ, live music, golf course views, and fireworks. Open to the public. July 4 4-8 p.m. $45-$65. (805) 688-7784. Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort, 1054 Alisal Rd., Solvang.

NATURE JOURNALING AT GAVIOTA

STATE BEACH A short introduction to nature-journaling, a group warm-up activity, and an invitation to either walk the beach or examine findings at the CalNAM nature-artifacts table. July 6, 2-4 p.m. calnatureartmuseum.org/news/ nature-journaling-july-2025. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang.

SOLVANG JULY 4TH PARADE AND FIREWORKS Solvang Rotary’s annual July 4th Parade returns to downtown Solvang, followed by Santa Ynez Valley Rotary’s Festival and Fireworks at Old Mission Santa Ines. July 4 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Parade is free to spectate; festival is ticketed. (805) 465-7298. solvangusa.com/solvangevents-calendar. Old Mission Santa Ines, 1760 Mission Drive, Solvang.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

AFTERNOON BINGO Bingo with potluck. Parking in rear. Buy one of everything for $20. Guests can participate without bringing food. Look forward to a fun afternoon. Second Tuesday of every month, 12-4 p.m. All games are $1 each. (805) 736-6669. Valley of Flowers HalfCentury Club, 341 No. N St., Lompoc. LOMPOC ART WALK Lompoc transforms into a celebration and showcase of local artists during this monthly event, which features live music, art, exciting exhibitions, performances, and a variety of unique vendors. First Thursday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Old Town Lompoc, H and I St., Lompoc.

SUMMER “MOVIES IN THE PARK”

SERIES The city of Lompoc’s Parks and Recreation Division will host three free movies for community members throughout the summer at Ryon Memorial Park. The first will be Moana 2 and screened in June, followed by Dog Man in July and Minecraft in August. July 12

8 p.m. (805) 736-1261. cityoflompoc.com. Ryon Memorial Park, Lompoc, CA, Lompoc. THE VILLAGE TREASURE CHEST This event is for the whole family. There will be vendors selling their wears, music, facepainting, and some kind of food booth. Come out and spend part of your Saturday supporting local vendors. First Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free.

Vandenberg Village Community Services District Office, 3745 Constellation Road, Lompoc, (805) 291-6370.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

AVILA BEACH 4TH OF JULY DOGGIE

PARADE Spend your 4th of July afternoon at the doggie parade and costume contest. Visit the site to register your dog into the parade and get more info. July 4 , 11 a.m.-noon $8. (805) 6271997. avilabeachcc.com. Avila Beach Promenade, 404 Front St., Avila Beach.

BEGINNER GROUP SURF LESSONS AND SURF CAMPS Lessons and camp packages available daily. All equipment included. ongoing Starts at $70. (805) 835-7873. sandbarsurf.com/. Sandbar Surf School Meetup Spot, 110 Park Ave., Pismo Beach.

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

BODY FUSION/EXERCISE AND FITNESS

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

COMMUNITY NATIVE GARDEN

MONTHLY VOLUNTEER WORKDAY

Volunteers accomplish a variety of tasks including pathways maintenance, litter patrol of the garden perimeter, weeding, irrigation system expansion/repairs, pruning, and plantings. Volunteers should bring work gloves, a hat, drinking water,

and tools related to the above activities. First Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 710-3073. Nipomo Native Garden, Camino Caballo at Osage, Nipomo. DONATION-BASED YOGA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMTS, AND CARETAKERS Class schedule varies. Contact empoweryoga805@gmail for details and reservations. ongoing (805) 619-0989. empoweryoga805.com. Empower Yoga Studio and Community Boutique, 775 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach. FIND WALDO LOCAL IN ARROYO GRANDE Staring July 1, join the hunt to find Waldo in local businesses in Arroyo Grande. To participate, pick up a stamp card from Monarch Books. The first 125 seekers who get 10 stamps can return to Monarch Books for a Waldo sticker and a coupon. Seekers who collect 20 or more stamps will have the opportunity to enter a grand-prize drawing. Through July 31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. (805) 668-6300. monarchbooks805.com. Monarch Books, 201 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande. FRIENDS OF THE NIPOMO LIBRARY BOOK SALE Arrive early in the morning for the best selection of adult fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books, along with jigsaw puzzles and CDs/DVDs. Cash only. July 12 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (805) 929-3994. friendsofnipomolibrary.org/. Nipomo Library, 918 W. Tefft, Nipomo. JULY 4TH CELEBRATION AND FIREWORKS DISPLAY The fireworks will be launched off the Pismo Pier for all to enjoy. July 4 , 9 p.m. pismobeach.org/1013/ Fourth-of-July. Pismo Beach Pier, West end of Pomeroy, Pismo 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. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52 Come join a friendly meeting of watch and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are

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.

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

SURF LESSONS ALL SUMMER LONG Learn to surf with Sandbar Surf School. All equipment is provided, including a surfboard, wetsuit, and leash. You must pre-register. Through Aug. 31, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $60. (805) 835-7873. sandbarsurf.com. Addie Street Surfer Parking Lot, Addie Street, Pismo Beach. WEEKLY WATER SAFETY LESSONS Facility advertised as open and safe. Give the office a call to register over the phone. Mondays-Fridays $160-$190. (805) 481-6399. 5 Cities Swim School, 425 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, 5citiesswimschool.com.

WILD ABOUT WEATHER: LITTLE RANGER PROGRAM Join us to learn sun, trail, ocean, and camping safety, as well as how to get help, so you can explore like a real Ranger. This is geared towards ages 3 to 6 years old. RSVP over the phone. July 5 3-4 p.m. Free. (805) 474-2664. Oceano Dunes Visitor Center, 555 Pier Ave., Oceano.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

BEGINNERS HOUSE DANCE CLASS Learn the foundations of House Dance in a fun, beginner-friendly vibe—groove to soulful beats, unlock dynamic footwork, and flow with freedom. No experience is needed. Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. through July 30 $20. 805- 457-2848. christianamarie. com. Studio de Myriam, 3563 Sueldo St., suite N, San Luis Obispo.

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

CAL HOPE SLO GROUPS AT TMHA Visit website for full list of weekly Zoom groups available. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays calhopeconnect.org. Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 270-3346.

CENTRAL COAST DIALYSIS ORGAN TRANSPLANT SUPPORT GROUP Not faith based. All welcome. Please wear a mask. First Saturday of every month, 9:3011:30 a.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church SLO, 650 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo. CIRCUS VARGAS PRESENTS “HOLLYWOOD DREAMS” AN HOMAGE TO TINSELTOWN’S GOLDEN AGE! See Circus Vargas’ “Hollywood Dreams!” an homage to Tinseltown’s Golden Age! This circus celebration is inspired by the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s hay day. Experience the magic and get tickets and more info at the link. Mondays, Wednesdays-Sundays. through July 14 $25 - $85. circusvargas.com. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., 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. HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP A safe place to share feelings of depression with those who suffer and those who have recovered to a full, healthy outlook on life. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Free. (805) 528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

LET THERE BE LESBIANS PRESENTS: THE GAY AWAKENING Gay Awakening is about “honoring the moments that helped us realize who we are, the movie scenes, music videos, late-night confessions, and quiet truths that shaped our queer identities.” You can expect a cocktail hour, queer DJs, drinks, and a sea of queers. Get additional details at the link. July 5 7 p.m.-midnight $30. slobrew.com. Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-1843. MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 270-3346. NATURE CONNECTION SUMMER CAMPS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS These weeklong nature camps held on SLO Wild Lands are filled with memorable hikes, epic games, earth arts, skills, stories, song, new friends, and more. Get more info at the link. Mondays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Aug. 4 (805) 541-9900. outsidenow.org/ summer. State Parks and Wild Lands, P.O. Box 15918, San Luis Obispo.

PARKOUR CLINIC Parkour offers a path to social confidence. Come flip with flair in a safe, nurturing environment at our Parkour Clinic. The clinic is geared towards children 7 to 17 years, and all levels are welcome. July 12 1-3 p.m. $25/ 1st child, +$10 per additional sibling.. (805) 547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com/ saturday-event-clinics. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., 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? During COVID, we are meeting virtually. Contact us to get a meeting link for info. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. slonoontime.toastmastersclubs.org. Zoom, Online, Inquire for Zoom ID. SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN: WEEKLY COFFEE MEETING SLO RAMs is a group or retirees that get together just for the fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. $10 coffee meeting. retiredactivemen.org. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.

SLO WILD CAMP - CREEK LANDS

CONSERVATION Creek Lands

Conservation’s SLO Wild Camp program welcomes Central Coast youth to get outside and connect with our home watersheds. Kids will learn through lenses of nature connection, western science, traditional ecological knowledge, holistic land stewardship, and our own curiosities. This camp is open to children ages 12 to 14. July 7-18 $550. my805tix.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SLOCA ADVENTURE CAMP AND FUN IN

THE SUN Join these off-site adventures to explore nature and the various geographical landscapes. This is for 1st-6th graders. July 7 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $475. (805) 458-8700. sloclassical.org. SLO Classical Academy, 165 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

SLOCA PRESCHOOL AND KINDER

SUMMER CAMPS This is a six-week summer camp for those going into preschool and kindergarten. Get tickets and more info at the link. July 7 9 a.m.-1 p.m. $270-450. (805) 548-8700. sloclassical.org. SLO Classical Academy, 165 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+

AA GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM)

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

TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

GROUP Learn more about mental health and coping skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. (805) 5406576. t-mha.org. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

TOUR THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BARN

CENTER The Octagon Barn, built in 1906, has a rich history that The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County looks forward to sharing with visitors. Please RSVP. Second Sunday of every month, 2-2:45 & 3-3:45 p.m. Tours are free; donations are appreciated. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096, octagonbarn.org.

TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space

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

TRANS* YOUTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP

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

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

JULY 4TH IN CAYUCOS From the town parade featuring festive floats to the Front Street Faire and sand sculpture contest, to the spectacular fireworks show from the pier, this Independence Day celebration shouldn’t be missed. July 4 cayucoschamber.com/july4th. Cayucos Pier, Ocean Front Ave., Cayucos.

LEARN TO SAIL AT MORRO BAY YACHT

CLUB Learn to sail at the Morro Bay’s only sailing school, with the goal of getting comfortable commanding your own sailboat. There will be a focus on teamwork, developing leadership skills, and having fun. Register at the link. Through Aug. 3 $450. my805tix.com. Morro Bay Yacht Club, 541 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, (805) 772-3981.

POST 4TH OF JULY CLEANUP Join the Estuary Program for our annual post-4th of July cleanup in Morro Bay! For more information, visit the link. July 5 10

a.m.-noon Free. eventbrite.com/e/july5th-cleanup-tickets-1393082109089?aff= oddtdtcreator. Centennial Parkway, Front Street, Morro Bay, N/A.

SPECIAL MOVIE SCREENING: THELMA & LOUISE South Bay Women’s Network is presenting a special screening of Thelma & Louise at the Bay Theater in Morro Bay. The film, a 1991 American crime drama, follows two friends, Thelma Dickinson and Louise Sawyer, as they set out on a weekend trip to a fishing cabin in the mountains to escape their dull routines. Ticket sales will support the SBWN Cuesta College Female Re-entry Student Scholarship Fund. Get more info at the link. July 7 5 p.m. $18. my805tix.com. Bay Theatre, 464 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay.

WATERFRONT MARKET MORRO BAY 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND EVENT Enjoy the three-day holiday weekend and show your favorite Central Coast local vendor some love. There will be over 30 vendors throughout the market. July 4 10 a.m.-5 p.m., July 5 , 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and July 6 , 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (805) 402-9437. Giovanni’s Fish Market, 1001 Front St., Morro Bay.

FOOD & DRINK

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT COSTA DE

ORO Featured vendors in the series include Cali Coast Tacos, Cubanissimo, Danny’s Pizza Co., Chef Ricks, and more. Call venue for monthly schedules. Fridays (805) 922-1468. costadeorowines.com. Costa De Oro Winery, 1331 S. Nicholson Ave., Santa Maria.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT WINE STONE

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

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

GIAVANNI’S COMEDY NIGHT Experience this feature-length comedy show, hosted by Ezra’s Rockin’ Entertainment, at Giavanni’s Pizza in Orcutt. Featuring co-headliners Daniel Eachus and Patrick Riley, with support by Vic Pulido and Sarah Samaniego. July 12 8 p.m. $24. my805tix.com. Giavanni’s Pizza, 1108 E Clark Ave, Orcutt, (805) 934-8555.

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

SECOND SATURDAY OPEN AIR MARKET: LOS ALAMOS A carefully curated open air artisan and farm market. Features great vintage finds, handwoven and hand dyed textiles, hand-spun yarn, organic body care products, and locally grown organic eats. Second Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 722-4338. Sisters Gifts and Home, 349 Bell Street, Los Alamos.

SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS Every Sunday, come cozy up inside the tasting room and listen to great artists. Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Free. (805) 937-8463. cottonwoodcanyon.com. Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard And Winery, 3940 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria.

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

THURSDAY EVENING BAR TAKEOVER

Call venue or visit website to find out about featured vintners. Thursdays stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.

WINE AND DESIGN CLASSES Check Wine and Design’s Orcutt website for the complete list of classes, for various ages. ongoing Varies. wineanddesign.com/ orcutt. Wine and Design, 3420 Orcutt Road, suite 105, Orcutt.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO

TUESDAYS CLASH Don’t miss Head Games Trivia at COLD Coast Brewing Company every Tuesday night. Teams can be up to 6 members. Earn prizes and bragging rights. Kekas will be serving their delicious local fare. Fun for all ages. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. (805) 819-0723. coldcoastbrewing.com. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

AVILA BEACH 4TH OF JULY PANCAKE

BREAKFAST Enjoy a pancake breakfast prepared by members of the Board of Directors of the Avila Beach Civic Association and volunteers. Get tickets and more info to this morning celebration at the link. July 4 , 8:30-10 a.m. $13. my805tix.com. Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St., Avila Beach. MONTHLY FERMENTATION CLASSES Join to expand your knowledge of the fermentation process and get started fermenting at home. We alternate between demonstration and hands-on classes. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30-$50. (805) 801-6627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. New topics each month with a thorough demo and explanation of the process that creates non-alcoholic, probiotic, and nutrient-dense fermentations. Leave the class confident and prepared with recipes to make your own at home. Limited seating; reserve spot prior to class by phone/email. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30. (805) 8016627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach.

TRIVIA NIGHT Join BrainStew Trivia for a hilariously witty evening of trivia in Pismo. Teams of 1 to 4 people. Prizes awarded to the first and second place teams. Kitchen is open until 7:30 p.m. for brain fuel. Beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options available. First Thursday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free to play. (805) 295-6171. kulturhausbrewing.com. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET

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

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.

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.

HAPPY HOUR WITH PI JACOBS Enjoy house-made pizzas, wines, and live music by Pi Jacobs. There will be Americana grit, bluesy soul, and laid-back vibes all evening at Presqu’ile. July 11 5-7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 937-8110. presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria.

THE KILLER DUELING PIANOS See The Killer Dueling Pianos, the comedic duo of talented pianists who are set to perform a wide range of hits, from Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, to Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. Get tickets and more info to this all-ages show at the link. July 12 , 6-9 p.m. $13. my805tix.com. The Stockyard, 241 S Broadway St, Orcutt.

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.

CENTRAL COAST CIRCUS

This year’s Circus Vargas theme is Hollywood Dreams! An homage to Tinseltown’s Golden Age! The production featuring world-renowned artists—a California tradition since 1969— will be in town from Friday, June 27, to Monday, July 14, at San Luis Obispo’s Madonna Inn meadows. The celebration takes its inspiration from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood’s heyday, and has a range of engaging acts for the whole family. Showtimes vary and ticket prices range from $25 to $85. For more information, visit circusvargas.com.

—A.S.

LIVE MUSIC AND FOOD BY LOBO BUTCHER SHOP Check out live music every Friday night from a variety of artists at Steller’s Cellar in Old Orcutt. Dinner served by Lobo Butcher Shop between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 5-9 p.m. Varies according to food options. (805) 623-5129. stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.

LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR

Various local musicians rotate each Friday. Fridays, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 623-5129, stellerscellar.com.

MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN Live DJ and karaoke every Friday and Saturday night. Featured acts include Soul Fyah Band, DJ Nasty, DJ Jovas, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY

Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. ongoing (805) 925-0464. coelhomusic. com/Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria.

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.

THE STORYTELLERS The Storytellers is a prominent progressive bluegrass band that has established itself as a creative force in the Southern California Roots Music scene. Hear them live at the

ARROYO GRANDE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES These free concerts will begin on July 4 and run every Sunday until September 21. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. through Sept. 21 Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande.org/events. Heritage Square Park, 201 Nelson St., Arroyo Grande. CARBON CITY LIGHTS - LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE July 12 2:30-5 p.m. my805tix.com. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

KARAOKE AT SLO COUNTY’S ONLY FILIPINO CAFE Join for all day, all ages karaoke hosted at SLO County’s only brick and mortar Filipino cafe, Lumpia Bros Cafe. Enjoy karaoke, filipino dishes, acai, and coffee. Tuesdays-Saturdays-6 p.m. through Dec. 31 Free. (805) 202-8473. Lumpia Bros Cafe, 1187 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

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 afterhours 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. THE MAGICAL MUSIC OF MOTOWN Experience the ultimate Motown tribute. This band brings the legendary hits of The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, and more to the stage. July 5, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $58.50$68.50. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/ shows/magical-music-of-motown/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

PACIFIC BREEZE CONCERTS The City of Pismo Beach Recreation Division proudly presents the Pacific Breeze Concerts at Dinosaur Caves Park. Family activities and food will be for purchase. July 13 1-4 p.m. Free. (805) 773-7063. pismobeach.org/73/ Recreation. Dinosaur Caves Park, 2701 Price St, Pismo Beach.

SLO COUNTY BAND THURSDAY NIGHT SUMMER CONCERTS Join in on the fun at these free Thursday night concerts with the Slo County Band. Bring your lawn chairs! Second Thursday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. through Sept. 11 Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande.org/events. Rancho Grande Park, 500 James Way, Arroyo Grande.

Solvang Festival Theater. July 13 3-5 p.m. $37. (805) 686-1789. solvangtheaterfest. org/show-listing. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang.

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.

LIVERPOOL LEGENDS “THE COMPLETE BEATLES EXPERIENCE” Grammynominated and internationally-acclaimed Liverpool Legends will be at Lobero Theatre. Hear them live and get tickets at the link. July 12 7:30-9:30 p.m. $44.50$74.50. (805) 963-0761. lobero.org/events/ liverpool-legends/. Lobero Theater, 33 E Canon Perdido St,, Santa Babara.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

2025 LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CONCERT SERIES Head to the Point San Luis Lighthouse in Avila Beach for Saturday afternoon concerts. Get tickets and more info at the link. Through Oct. 11 $28. my805tix.com. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach. 4TH OF JULY SUMMER CONCERT CELEBRATION Come celebrate the 4th of July at the free Arroyo Grande Summer Concert Series! There will be a flag presentation, along with a performance of the National Anthem, two live bands, food, drinks, and more! July 4 , 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande. org. Heritage Square Park, 201 Nelson St., Arroyo Grande.

SAN LUIS OBISPO BRASS MASH FIRST THURSDAY JULY 2025 Hear the iconic Brass Mash band live at Liquid Gravity. Tickets and more information is available at the link. July 3 6-10 p.m. $24. my805tix.com. Liquid Gravity Brewing Company, 675 Clarion Ct., San Luis Obispo, (805) 457-4677.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY CLUB DV8: ‘80S PARTY 4TH OF JULY EVE BASH! Club DV8, the SLO County ‘80s-era dance music group is set to cover select hits from the ‘80s combining guitars and synths with a solid rhythm section. Audience members can expect tracks from David Bowie, The Cars, INXS, The Cure, MJ, and many more. July 3 7:30-10:30 p.m. $5. thesirenmorrobay.com. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312.

KIKIMORA (FREE 4TH OF JULY PARTY) Kikimora, the 5-piece collective hailing from El Paso, Texas, is celebrated for their genre-defying fusion of funk, jazz, neosoul, and R&B. Kikimora draws inspiration from artists like Sade, Jamiroquai, and Hiatus Kaiyote, and are set to take the stage at The Siren. July 4 , 7:30-10:30 p.m. Free. thesirenmorrobay.com. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312. ROCK ODYSSEY (FREE ROCKIN’ DANCE BAND!) Arroyo Grande based band Rock Odyssey, formed in 2016, emerged from a shared love for rock music and a desire to recreate the sounds that defined a generation. Hear the group cover iconic artists from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s. Their mission: “to transport audiences back to a time when rock music was not just a genre, but a lifestyle.” July 5, 7:30-10:30 p.m. Free. thesirenmorrobay.com. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312. m

ARTS BRIEFS

Santa Barbara County grants more than $50K to arts and culture organizations

Santa Barbara County awarded arts grants to 12 nonprofits on June 16, providing more than $50,000 to support community development through arts and culture.

For the 2025-26 Arts Making Impact (AMI) program, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors selected a dozen organizations to receive grants of up to $5,000 funded by the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation. The money will support free art classes for kids in Carpinteria and Santa Maria, storytelling workshops in Lompoc, and dance programs for seniors in Santa Barbara.

The Alcazar Theatre, the Boxtales Theatre Company, the Carpinteria Skate Foundation, the Grace Fisher Foundation, the Lompoc Theatre Project, Move with Purpose, Pianos on State Masq(p)arade!, the Santa Barbara Black Culture House, the Santa Barbara Dance Institute, the Santa Maria Philharmonic Society, Youth Arts Alive, and the Solvang Danish Days Foundation will all receive grants.

The Lompoc Theatre Project will use the money to present Telling Our Stories, a free, six-week storytelling workshop for adults emphasizing inclusion and cultural representation. Professional storytellers will guide participants through creating and performing personal narratives.

“The AMI Grant program highlights the creativity and dedication of local artists and organizations in Santa Barbara County,” County Arts Commission Chair Robert Dickerson said in press materials. “Each year, while reviewing applications, the commission is inspired by the transformative ways they bring arts and culture to our communities.”

Local artist’s metal sculpture exhibit now on display at Elverhoj Museum in Solvang

The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art is now displaying Suzi Trubitz: Through the Years.

The exhibit focuses on how the Santa Ynez sculptor transforms raw metal into art. Each piece demonstrates Trubitz’s conversation between fragility and force as a physical testament to her approach to making steel art with flames, according to the museum.

The exhibit will run through Sept. 1 and can be viewed Thursday through Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

On July 12, the museum will host Trubitz for an artist talk from noon to 2 p.m. The free event will include light refreshments in addition to Trubitz’s discussion about the exciting world that working with metal entails. For more information about Trubitz, visit colpodifortuna.org.

The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art is located at 1624 Elverhoy Way in Solvang. Find the venue on Facebook or on Instagram @elverhojmuseum. Visit elverhoj.org for more information. For questions, call (805) 686-1211 or email info@ elverhoj.org. m

‘Everything is local’

South Side Coffee Company showcases Lompoc’s artistic spirit with gallery highlighting local creators

BY REECE COREN

The divided storefront along the South H Street strip of West Ocean Avenue is meant to catch the eyes of more than just the observant stroller.

Designed by a man named Terry, one window is decorated with rainbow flags, cats, doves, flamingoes, and flowers: pink, white, orange, yellow, purple, and magenta. The other window display presents a scene so white, it looks like a blizzard. Beside a floating plastic bag cloud and a Kool-Aid Man-style plover bursting from the wall, signs reading “There’s nothing to do in Lompoc” surround a QR code that takes visitors to a website listing local activities and entertainment.

Welcome to Lompoc’s South Side Coffee Company, which serves more as a community art gallery than a typical cafe.

Customers who walk through the glass door are greeted by a refreshing burst of creative air.

Below two Lulu’s Surfboards, next to a gumball machine of $1 stickers, rows of white shelves showcase tiny exhibits of local artists’ work.

Starting from the end closest to the front door, Terri Cecchine’s Teresa the Tenacious children’s book collection sits in front of a mini rack of rose, mushroom, evil eye, pink butterfly, and yin and yang earrings. Above, a wicker basket of Marlena Mendoza’s ribbons and clip bows is situated beside CaliCreations805’s San Francisco Giants tumbler and PJ Masks sippy cup. On top of that, a shelf of Julia Esparza Campos Mendez’s succulent arrangements displays miniature flower pots in the shapes of a bumble bee, owl, pig, cowboy boots, and more.

“Everything is local,” owner/operator Halle Bedford said. “The food, the drinks, and the artists.”

Instead of seeking rent from the artists she hosts, Bedford said South Side’s gallery is simply a venue for them to shown off their work to the community. She said art purchases at South Side are on the honor system.

“I don’t take a percentage from any of the artists,” she said. “Nothing goes through my system.”

She said most of the artists she hosts are friends she’s made at the coffee shop or at local community gatherings.

Holly Dyer’s $2.50 mugs are positioned underneath Santa Luz Studio’s devil-themed “dump him” stickers, pairs of mushroom earrings, and black and white “no scrubs allowed” keychains.

The Lompoc Company shows off its all-natural Dyre Dirt barbecue rub flavors—Sparkle, Dust, 42, Savor, Splash, Cluck, Baa, Oink, and Moo— atop vinegars including jalapeño lime, pear and cranberry, strawberry, raspberry, pomegranate, fig, rosemary, orange, lemon, chili, and garlic.

At the very top, the company’s rainbow array of buckets contains 100 percent pure, non-GMO, and neonicotinoid-free seeds: sweet peas from the San Julian Meadows, poppies from the Santa Rita Hills, cornflower from Vandenberg, and wildflowers from Jamala Ridge and the La Purisima Valley.

You can also find Debra Watson’s CBD bath salts, Iris Sharp’s cartoonish portraits of women with accentuated features, Amalgam Wares’ artisan ceramic earrings, Cindy’s 805 postcards, and High Buddy Novelties’ rainbow cluster of Pokémon character trinkets. These 3D-printed

Fill your cup with art

Located at 105 S. H St., South Side Coffee Company is more of a community art center that serves coffee and food than a cafe decorated with art. Owner/operator Halle Bedford hosts exhibits by local artists with pieces for sale all throughout the shop. South Side Coffee Company is open Mondays through Fridays from 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. For questions, call (805) 737-3730.

figurines include a yellow Pikachu, an orange Charmander, a blue Squirtle, a green Bulbasaur, a red Eevee, and a purple Gengar. A dragon with pastel blue, pink, and white stripes lies to their right.

Along with the white “There’s nothing to do in Lompoc” storefront display and sticker gumball machine, Manic Creative’s Jasmine Gonzalez also sells postcards. One with halos floating above teeth reads, “I was never wise.”

Inspired by Thomas Dambo’s troll exhibit in Solvang and his use of recycled materials, Gonzalez said she made her display out of cardboard and trash.

“Right now, I’m focused on large-scale, weird, public art,” Gonzalez said. “Seeing something on such a large scale made me think, ‘Why am I not making bigger art?’”

After moving to Lompoc in 2017, Gonzalez, who also runs the Pot Mama’s Social Club with Anna Look, started Manic Creative in 2020.

“Because somebody misspoke years ago and called it an armpit instead of an elbow, there’s this love of self-hatred in Lompoc, rather than owning our narrative and embracing our quirks and absurdities that make us unique,” Gonzalez said, referring to a comment made by U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) in 2016. “Lompoc is an underdog town, and the arts are an underdog scene. You have to immerse yourself in that scene to find it’s full of incredible artists. It’s empowering, the more you dedicate time and energy to being a part of your community.”

She said South Side’s community-led gallery is simply “artists supporting artists.”

“Everyone needs a good, safe third place, and South Side prides itself on that,” Gonzalez said. “It gives opportunities to artists who want to make weird installations in their windows. It’s a hub for small groups and local organizations to host meetings.

“Halle and South Side have provided an iconic spot for local artists to sample the uniqueness Lompoc has to offer. There’s so much talent in this town,” she added. “I’m honored to know I can put my quirky self out there and be accepted. Everyone’s unique, and it’s cool to see how that’s embraced in this community.” m

Reach Staff Writer Reece Coren at rcoren@ santamariasun.com.

COME ON IN: The South Side Coffee Company’s storefront is divided in half: Jasmine Gonzalez’s all-white “There’s nothing to do in Lompoc” window display contrasts with the rainbow exhibit across from it.

PHOTOS

FILE PHOTO BY SHELLY CONE

DINE AND RECLINE: The tan and red couches and pink metal rocking chair in the back lounge area match the avant-garde design of the interior.

Redemption road

Joseph Kosinski (Tron: Legacy, Oblivion, Only the Brave, Maverick: Top Gun) directs this story he co-wrote with Ehren Kruger (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Ghost in the Shell, Dumbo, Top Gun: Maverick) about former Formula One driver Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt), who teams up with promising younger driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris). (155 min.)

Glen: I’m disinterested in car racing, but I love a race movie because they’re always about big personalities—dreamers, extremists, rebels. Pitt is in full movie star mode as Sonny Hayes. Think Paul Newman, Robert Redford, and Steve McQueen rolled into one swaggering but deeply flawed badass. Sonny’s an itinerant driver, sort of a hired gun living out of his van and going from one race to the next. Three decades earlier, he raced Formula One and was a promising upstart whose career ended with a crash and serious injury. Now his old racing partner, Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), who has a stake in the APXGP F1 team that’s currently in last place and short a driver, convinces him to give F1 another shot. Under Kosinski’s kinetic direction, Sonny’s story is riveting. I loved it.

F1 THE MOVIE

What’s it rated? PG-13

What’s it worth, Anna? Full price

What’s it worth, Glen? Full price

Where’s it showing? Regal Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Arroyo Grande, Fair Oaks Theatre

human drama to carry a storyline can really pull me in. Sonny is a no-nonsense guy, not out for money but just trying to get by doing what he’s always done—win races. But even he can’t resist the call from his past and one last chance at winning that F1 title. Unfortunately for Sonny, the sport is inextricably tied to sponsorships and press conferences and far too many egos in every corner. One of those egos is the other driver for his team, Joshua Pearse (aka JP), whose hunger to come up in the sport and retain his sponsorship has him seeing red once Sonny arrives. What we soon learn is that Sonny is just as much about strategy as he is about winning, and sometimes that means sacrificing for the team overall. Pitt has been wanting to make a race movie for years, and his devotion to it is evident onscreen. Sure, this movie may be about racing, but it’s also about the people behind it, the ones who spend their lives chasing a tenth of a second.

Anna: I’m always surprised at how captivating race movies can be. The premise never grips me, but the right filmmaker and enough

THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND

What’s it rated? PG-13

When? 2025

Where’s it showing? Peacock

This film is charming from start to finish and full of fun, earnest, and quirky characters. Charles (Tim Key) can think of no better way to spend some of his lottery winnings than to have his favorite musicians brought to the island for a reunion show. Herb (Tom Badsen) is an overly serious and melancholy musician who’s transitioned from folk to commercial pop, and he’s surprised to learn that Charles has also invited Nell (Carey Mulligan), his ex and the other half of their past folk duo, McGwyer Mortimer. Nell has moved on with her life after Herb, bringing along her partner, Michael (Akemnji Ndifornyen), to the gig. When we learn that Charles may have exaggerated the expected audience size and will be the only one attending, we start to understand the story behind this seemingly wild stunt he’s put into play.

Glen: One of those people is Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon), a female design engineer in a male-dominated sport. Like Sonny, she’s got something to prove. Sonny wants her to upgrade the car so he and JP can “battle in the turns” with cars that are faster on the straightaway. Kate at first doesn’t respect Sonny and points out that he’s not a “has been,” he’s a “never was.”

Charles’ wife has been dead for five years, and this concert may just be his way of reaching out to the universe to say, “I’m still with you, and you’re still with me” to his lost love. Funny and darling, this will leave you with a case of the warm fuzzies. It’s definitely worth a watch. (99 min.)

—Anna

Ouch! Sonny gets berated a lot, by JP’s mother Bernadette (Sarah Niles), by the press, even by Jodie (Callie Cooke), a pit crew tire gunner he stands up for after she makes a costly error. Sonny doesn’t defend himself, doesn’t deflect, and doesn’t argue. He takes criticism stoically because he follows a code. He’s a quiet hero who lives by his rules, and that makes him irresistible.

DEEP

COVER

What’s it rated? R

When? 2025

Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime

Tom Kingsley (Black Pond, The Darkest Universe) directs this British comedy about unsuccessful improv comedy actors Kat (Bryce Dallas Howard), Marlon (Orlando Bloom), and Hugh (Nick Mohammed), who’re recruited by Det. Sgt. Graham Billings (Sean Bean) to buy counterfeit cigarettes from a nearby vendor, but their assignment grows after they improvise their way up the criminal enterprise with a drug deal, quickly putting them in real danger.

The three leads are terrific. Bloom is especially funny as a wannabe method actor who always takes his character a step too far. Howard is the improv teacher who wonders why her career failed to launch. Mohammed is endearing as an IT worker who’s trying to gain confidence and be more liked and accepted at work.

Anna: Pitt perfectly embodies the no-nonsense nature of the character that he built. You can’t help but like Sonny, even when he’s being a jerk. This is a big screen delight, so buckle up—it’s a long journey but well worth it. m

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

There’s also a lot of terrific co-stars in this ensemble cast, including Paddy Considine as Fly, a mid-level criminal who’s impressed with Kat’s quick thinking; Ian McShane as a ruthless criminal kingpin; and Sonoya Mizuno as Shosh, a

seasoned killer who takes a shine to Hugh. If you’ve ever done improv, the rule is to agree with your improv partner and add on, “Yes, and,” and in this freewheeling comedy, that leads straight to funny town. (99 min.) m —Glen

REUNION: Long estranged music duo Nell Mortimer (Carey Mulligan) and Herb McGwyer (Tom Basden) are reunited when an eccentric lottery winner living on a remote island hires them to play together again, in The Ballad of Wallis Island, streaming on Peacock.

YES, AND … Three struggling improv comics— Marlon (Orlando Bloom), Kat (Bryce Dallas Howard), and Hugh (Nick Mohammed)—are recruited by police to buy contraband but quickly find themselves in over their heads, in Deep Cover, streaming on Amazon Prime.

FAST COMPANY: Former Formula One driver Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt, right) comes out of retirement to mentor and team up with cocky younger driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), in F1 The Movie, screening in local theaters.

Saddle up

Drover’s Doughnuts treats Solvang to new standard of dessert

BY REECE COREN

Egg topped with cheddar cheese rests comfortably on a bed of sausage. A hint of salt from the everything seasoning greets a kick of chipotle aioli.

But this breakfast sandwich doesn’t include a bagel. Instead, Drover’s Doughnuts Harvest Moon comes on a plain doughnut.

The doughnut shop opened its Solvang location on May 30, and the out-of-the box sandwich is just one of the ways Drover’s is changing what a doughnut can be.

“This is our first opportunity to have an expanded menu,” said Loren Ollenburger, who owns and runs Drover’s, along with his wife, Sarah. “In Buellton, we have the traditional doughnut and coffee bar. Here, in addition to those, we’re more meal-oriented with savory

Taking the bull by the horns

breakfast and lunch sandwiches.”

Along with doughnuts and sandwiches, the menu also includes cheese and pepperoni do-pizzas.

“We do the whole classic doughnut menu—glazed, chocolate, maple, old fashioned, fritters, that sort of thing—and we have a monthly rotation of seasonal flavors,” Ollenburger said. “We try to infuse as many local flavors as we can. We have a lavender honeycomb and a blueberry lemon. This month, we’re doing a strawberry rosé.”

They also have Fruity Pebbles, horchata churro, and s’mores doughnuts on the menu.

Lunch sandwiches come with your choice of kettle chips or mixed greens. The Bulldogger is an essential. Succulent shredded pork, cheddar cheese, and slaw with a house spice dressing are topped

Located at 484 First St. in Solvang, Drover’s Doughnuts is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Its 252 E. Highway 246 location in Buellton is open Wednesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. to noon. Visit Drover’s Doughnuts on Facebook and Instagram under its name @droversdoughnuts or on the web at droversdoughnuts.com. For more information, email info@droversdoughnuts.com or call (805) 691-9222.

with crispy onion strings and served on a savory plain doughnut.

Thirsty? Wash it down with one of Drover’s signature dirty sodas.

Choose from Sprite, Coke, Diet Coke, and Dr. Pepper and add vanilla or coconut creamer and a splash of strawberry, cherry, peach, vanilla, caramel, lavender, or white chocolate. Ollenburger said it’s up to customers to create the flavor combination they want.

Drover’s shakes are also a little different: They include cake doughnuts.

The Cookies and Cream Cake Shake is best described as a milkshake that meets a birthday cake that meets a doughnut that meets an Oreo.

After running their Buellton location for about six years, Ollenburger said the Solvang location has provided him and Sarah their first opportunity to design a colorful space reflective of their rainbow array of doughnuts.

The pastel chandelier matches the cerulean, turquoise, fuchsia,

EATS continued page 30

DO-NUT MISS OUT: The soft colors of Solvang’s newest sweet treat shop are designed to catch families’ eyes as they turn the corner off Park Way. Drover’s signature pink strawberry doughnut is just one color of the rainbow assortment it offers inside.

SATURDAY, JULY 26

and salmon rolling pins and cooking spoons attached to the wall. The servers’ black uniforms complement the hues of the Whistle Pig Barrel-Aged Vermont Organic Maple Syrup bottles for sale. Even the drinks are served with a vibrant magenta straw that echoes the carnation-colored sprinkles on the chocolate and strawberry doughnuts.

Leaning into the drover identity, the back seating area includes a brown and white fuzzy faux fur cow ottoman and gold bull light fixtures.

“I often get the question, ‘Is drover your last name,’” Ollenburger said. “No, drover is

another name for cattleman [or] rancher. It celebrates the Santa Ynez Valley and Western heritage of California.”

The idea for the Solvang location took two years to become a tangible building open for business, he said, adding that he’s had some of the menu ideas in his head for up to five years.

“The one thing we’ve learned from being in the business is that every single person has their own, personal doughnut memory,” Ollenburger said. “This is a chance to create new memories in new ways that still involve doughnuts.” m

Reach Staff Writer Reece Coren at rcoren@ santamariasun.com.

Bunker SLO

Drowsy Chaperone

PIG OUT: The Bulldogger lunch sandwich consists of barbecue shredded pork, cheddar cheese, slaw, and crispy onion strings and pairs perfectly with one of Drover’s dirty sodas, like the vanilla Dr. Pepper.

THE BIG CHEESE: The Harvest Moon breakfast sandwich comes with egg, sausage, cheddar cheese, chipotle aioli, and arugula on a plain, baked donut with everything seasoning. Chase it with a cookies and cream cake shake that includes vanilla ice cream, a chocolate cake doughnut, Oreo cookies, chocolate drizzle, and whipped cream.

EATS from page 29

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