Federal repatriation laws prioritize federally recognized tribes when it comes to returning the remains and artifacts taken from their resting places long ago. But facilitating those returns requires relationship building, according to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. In the second half of a two-part series, Staff Writer Chloë Hodge from the Sun’s sister paper speaks with the museum about the process of returning those artifacts and ancestors and with a non-federally recognized local tribe about the issues that still exist with the laws [6]
Also, find stories about Santa Maria’s protection for senior mobile homes [4]; a Guadalupe muralist who’s starting a local arts academy for kids [20]; and spots to sip and savor tiki vibes [23]
Camillia Lanham editor
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•Authored by State Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), Senate Bill 963 passed the California Legislature on July 2, which advanced the proposed legislation to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his consideration. If signed, SB 963 will require the California Coastal Commission to provide permit applicants with a complete list of any additional information needed within 30 days of determining that an appeal raises a “substantial issue,” among other mandates. Laird described the legislation as aiming to bring greater clarity and predictability to the coastal development permitting process by establishing consistent timelines for the commission to act on appeals of Coastal Development Permits. Under current law, the commission must act quickly to determine whether an appeal raises a substantial issue, but there are no deadlines for the steps that follow. SB 963 fills that gap by establishing standardized timelines for review and final decisions on appealed projects. “Good government depends on clear and consistent processes,” Laird said in a July 2 statement.
•Following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld birthright citizenship as a fundamental constitutional right, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) issued a statement on June 30. “The Constitution could not be clearer: If you are born in the United States, you are a citizen of the United States. Period. No ambiguity,” Padilla said. “While there is nothing surprising about Donald Trump’s efforts to erode birthright citizenship and disregard laws he doesn’t like, [the court’s] decision reaffirms over a century of legal precedent protecting this fundamental constitutional right.” While celebrating the verdict, he added, “we cannot rest, because this is certainly not the end of Trump’s attacks on our Constitution, our democracy, and the notion of what it means to be American.”
Also on June 30, U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) stated: “Birthright citizenship has never been up for debate. The Constitution is clear that anyone born in the United States is an American citizen. Striking that down was a bridge too far for even this partisan Supreme Court.”
•On July 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that California will be the first state to implement a new tool one nonprofit hopes will help families across the nation discover and claim early investment accounts available to children through public and philanthropic support programs. Because billions in allocated resources go unclaimed, Newsom’s office stated, nonprofit Early Wealth Partnership developed its Early Investment Accounts Navigator to connect “the fragmented landscape of children’s savings and wealth-building accounts.” The goal is to enable families to more easily find and claim benefits their children are already eligible for. “Too many families are missing out on resources that can help build a stronger financial future—not because those opportunities don’t exist, but because they can be difficult to find and navigate,” Newsom said in a July 1 statement. “This partnership will make it easier for Californians to connect with CalKIDS accounts and other proven wealth-building tools, helping more children and families get on a path toward long-term financial security.” After launching the new navigation tool in California, Early Wealth Partnership plans to expand the program’s reach to other states by the end of the year. With pro bono technical support from Google engineers, the mobile, bilingual navigation tool currently aims to help California families connect with various child savings programs including HOPE Trust Accounts and 530A Trump Accounts “Bringing together the tools and technology to help residents connect and navigate these programs marks a huge leap forward as California continues to lead the nation in building financial security at every stage of life,” state Treasurer Fiona Ma said in a July 1 statement. m
Santa Maria drafts zone mandate for senior mobile home parks
Many public speakers who appealed to the Santa Maria Planning Commission to greenlight new protections for senior mobile home parks identified themselves as tenants of the facilities that would be impacted.
But jurisdictional lines didn’t stop one Orcutt resident from voicing her support for the zoning overlay, during the commission’s first meeting of July.
“I live in the Sunny Hills mobile home community, which is under the county overlay, but I have many friends that live in the others that fall into this category,” Denise Regal said at the July 1 hearing.
“I’m kind of speaking on their behalf,” she continued. “The residents of Santa Maria’s senior mobile home parks made their decisions to move into these parks based on the reliance that these places, for many, would be their final home, populated by neighbors of their same age.”
Regal and several other speakers vouched for a proposed overlay, which adds a new zoning distinction to Santa Maria’s municipal code. If approved by the Santa Maria City Council, the city’s existing senior mobile home parks would retroactively be zoned under the senior mobile home category.
This rule would ensure that at least 80 percent of any applicable park’s units are occupied by at least one individual who’s 55 or older. The ordinance would require city staff to check in with each park at least once every two years to ensure the rule is being followed, according to the staff report.
“Specifically, this overlay aims to maintain affordable home ownership opportunities for residents aged 55 and older [and] prevent the displacement of vulnerable senior households on fixed incomes,” Associate City Planner Greg Vine told the Planning Commission.
During public comment, a representative from the North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team described the proposed ordinance as a tool to tackle a statewide trend.
“This is an ongoing theme. They want to buy a senior park, change the senior park from senior to all-age, scaring out some seniors. A 10 percent increase [for the next renters], right off the bat,”
manufactured homeowners team Legislative Action Team Coordinator Steve Wagner said.
“Look into what happened at Del Cielo in the county. You’ll see a formula that’s going on throughout the state of California: the targeting of senior parks to change them for mere profit.”
After Del Cielo Mobile Estates in Orcutt was purchased by new owners and came under new management, residents received notice in 2024
about the park’s intent to convert to an all-ages park. Residents reached out to Santa Barbara County for help, prompting the county to create similar protections for senior mobile home parks.
A 5-0 Planning Commission vote, followed by some applause, moved Santa Maria’s proposed zoning ordinance forward to the City Council for final consideration.
One question Planning Commissioner Robert Dickerson had for staff before the vote was whether future senior mobile home parks proposed for development in Santa Maria would automatically fall under the new zone, if established. Planning Manager Dana Eady confirmed with a yes.
Dickerson also asked about consequences for parks that attempt to convert to all-ages under the new policy, if adopted.
“So, if they aren’t qualifying as a senior mobile home park anymore, just like any other use, that is in violation of zoning—just like you can’t run a retail store out of a residential zone, or you can’t run a manufacturing business out of a small retail zone,” Assistant City Attorney Heather Whitham said. “They would be out of compliance with the zoning. And anytime anyone’s out of compliance with zoning we do have tools to address that. We have court actions that can be taken, … criminal avenues, civil avenues.”
—Caleb Wiseblood
California gives $5 million to CenCal for behavioral wellness services
With funding from California’s recently adopted budget, health care providers in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties will see increased training to better support mental health patients.
Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness Department Director Toni Navarro told the Sun the $5 million given to CenCal Health will strengthen services in non-specialty care areas. Her department is accustomed to training employees to manage severe cases, but now the focus is shifting to providers who work in lower levels of care.
“Where [training] hasn’t happened is in the non-specialty system, so we’re talking CenCal mental health. Mild to moderate mental health providers,” Navarro explained. “We’re talking primary care providers who are responsible to provide medication. With psychiatry being a disappearing specialty, many primary care physicians are the ones that provide just that once a month, once every couple of months medication stability. We need to train them in this understanding of these symptoms and how to keep people engaged.”
The symptom at the heart of these efforts is
called anosognosia. It appears when a patient isn’t aware of their psychotic or neurological disorder because of the underlying medical condition.
Anosognosia is common in cases of schizophrenia, for example, when forced treatment isn’t sustainable.
“The whole goal of engagement and building trust … that will help people feel comfortable to seek care and maintain treatment is really about hearing them and listening where they’re at, not being argumentative,” Navarro said. “It’s not that they’re resistant or defiant. It’s that they really don’t see that they’re sick. And so, how do you partner with someone so that they accept care?”
Funds will be spent on community education to teach an approach known as Listen Empathize Agree Partner (LEAP). It’s a method of communicating specifically with anosognosia patients. Navarro said there’ll be more in-person opportunities for loved ones to learn about building trust.
“Oftentimes it’s really difficult to sustain that training in real life with loved ones without the coaching, without the help there,” Navarro said.
She calls it training the trainers. The idea translates outside of family life, too, like when staff members retire from the county, and new employees need to learn the system.
The director added that part of the investment will go toward programs that may not be covered by Medi-Cal or toward patients who may not be enrolled in Medi-Cal.
California’s investment in CenCal comes at a time when the state’s mental health care landscape is changing. In July, a law replaced the Mental Health Services Act of 2004. The new Behavioral Health Services Act prioritizes services for those with the most severe needs and strengthening the industry’s workforce.
“There’s more money going toward maintaining housing, establishing and helping folks to try and maintain housing,” Navarro said. “But that means less money for some of the services that we were doing, especially the revocation of prevention.”
Once patients are stable, Navarro’s department is required to step them down to a lower level of care with CenCal, a system that isn’t prepared in the same way to work with those who have severe disorders and anosognosia. Patients in that transition may not feel understood and drop out of treatment, but as the Behavioral Wellness Department and CenCal Health continue to work together, Navarro hopes fewer patients slip through the gap.
—Madison White
County Planning Commission cleans up ‘discrepancy’ in oil well ban
Members of the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission recently revisited some language tied to the proposed ban on drilling new oil and gas wells due to a staff oversight.
“In April, we should have identified this amendment,” County Long Range Planning Division Manager Alex Tuttle said at the commission’s July 1 meeting.
While the commission moved a package full of zoning code changes forward to the Board of Supervisors in April, staff later identified those revisions as inconsistent with some elements of the county’s Coastal Land Use Plan.
“This is really a cleanup item to ensure that the prohibition language in the zoning code has similar prohibition language in our Coastal Land Use planning document,” Tuttle said. “So there’s no confusion as to what is or what isn’t allowed within the coastal zone … no discrepancy or inconsistency between the ordinances and the coastal plan.”
While the current Coastal Land Use Plan allows oil and gas wells “dedicated to exploration or production of offshore oil and gas fields”
CALL TO ACTION: North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Legislative Action Team Coordinator Steve Wagner vouched for establishing a citywide senior mobile home park overlay zone during the Santa Maria Planning Commission’s July 1 meeting.
in a few agricultural designations, the amendment before the commission on July 1 added the word “existing” in a few sentences to clarify that new oil and gas wells “are prohibited in all zones,” the staff report states.
Since the original zoning package from April is still awaiting review from the Board of Supervisors, 5th District Planning Commissioner Vincent Martinez said he feared passing the July amendment was “putting the cart before the horse.”
“I’m a bit confused by this,” Martinez said. “We are projecting that the board is going to accept Phase 1.”
He was referring to the first part of a long-term proposal, where Phase 1 bans new development of gas and oil wells and Phase 2 gradually phases out existing oil and gas wells throughout Santa Barbara County.
In response to Martinez’s comment, Tuttle said because staff didn’t identify the Coastal Land Use Plan amendment ahead of the commission’s April hearing, “we’re a little behind the timeline here and what would normally be the sequence in terms of taking a package that would constitute both amendments to the zoning code and to any
comprehensive plan element.”
“As you put it,” Tuttle said to Martinez, “it’s to complement the zoning amendments that are already in process.”
Martinez was the sole dissenter in a 3-1 vote to move the Coastal Land Use Plan amendment forward to the Board of Supervisors.
In April, Martinez and former 4th District Commissioner Roy Reed dissented in the 3-2 vote to support the original zoning amendments.
Reed left the Planning Commission in May.
On July 7, the Board of Supervisors appointed Orcutt resident Tony Guy to fill the vacancy. m
—Caleb Wiseblood
IN A DRILL PICKLE: On July 1, Santa Barbara County staff asked the Planning Commission to consider an amendment to the county’s Coastal Land Use Plan, in order to “harmonize or clean up language” that’s inconsistent with the gas and oil well zoning amendments the commission supported in April.
Going home
New rules attempt to facilitate the return of ancestors, artifacts taken from Native American graves
BY CHLOË HODGE
Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series. The first, “Native return,” ran June 25.
Whiteboards crowded with titles and case numbers loom behind Jonathan Malindine’s desk at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. The museum’s Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) officer has underlined some in red and circled others in blue.
“We’ve got, I’d say, 40 cases that are ongoing,” he said. “It’s a lot of keeping plates in the air.”
Each case holds a different history to untangle: decades-old records, fragmented documentation, and questions about where ancestors and cultural belongings should return.
“The process is, we reach out to the tribes, we have these materials, we think they’re eligible,” he said. “We talk to every tribe, make an agreement on who’s going to take the lead, write up the paperwork, send it to the feds. They publish it online.”
“Consultation, consultation is the key to all NAGPRA work,” he said.
Repatriation—returning a person or item to its place of origin—succeeds only when institutions build relationships with tribes, he explained, as opposed to treating returns as paperwork or a legal obligation. Instead of waiting for tribes to reach out, Malindine often initiates those conversations.
He did that with the case of beads recovered from a cave in Indian Wells near Palm Springs. The museum wasn’t quite sure how the objects were used by the tribe in question, so he reached out.
The tribe told Malindine that there was a cremation site roughly 1,000 feet away suggesting the cave had been used in burial practices.
“We think they were using that cave to prepare the ancestors, and those beads have been found in graves. So we repatriated it,” Malindine explained. “They now have ownership and control, and they requested that we curate it on their behalf until they’re ready to pick it up. So it still hasn’t left the building, but ownership has been transferred.”
At the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural
and prioritize federally recognized tribes when human remains and cultural items are identified in collections. That requirement effectively excludes more than 50 non-federally recognized tribes in California from direct repatriation authority, even when they maintain cultural and ancestral ties to specific regions.
For instance, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is a federally recognized tribe, while the Salinan and yak tityu tityu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash tribes aren’t.
California’s parallel law—CalNAGPRA— was created to expand and strengthen repatriation within the state. Passed in 2001, CalNAGPRA requires state agencies, museums, and universities to work more broadly with California tribes and, in theory, offer more inclusive pathways for consultation and return.
But Piatti said federal funding rules often override that flexibility.
“If there’s any federal money tied in anywhere, they have to default to the federal NAGPRA law,” he said. “So every university … has to follow the federal standard because of the money involved.”
That hierarchy, he explained, shapes everything from who gets notified to who ultimately receives the ancestral remains.
“Federal recognized tribes first and foremost, they get priority,” Piatti said. “Because of the money involved.”
The result is a repatriation landscape where legal recognition can matter as much as geography or cultural continuity. Across the Central Coast, multiple tribal groups often assert connection to the same sites—places like Morro Bay and Cuesta Ridge—where archaeological and oral histories overlap.
History, he said, this sort of approach has shaped the pace and scope of repatriation efforts.
“Our museum collections were primarily Chumash—have always been,” he explained. “So we had about 2,000 ancestors here, probably 98 percent of those were Chumash. Those are already returned. We’re 100 percent in compliance now with the feds and with ProPublica. We still have a few ancestors … that I’m working to repatriate.”
In 2023, ProPublica created a database tracking the number of ancestors that institutions around the country hold in their possession. The data highlighted institutions out of compliance and put public pressure on them to get up to date.
Malindine puts a lot of time and care into repatriation, making sure it’s done the “right way.” When preparing ancestors for return, for instance, Malindine uses all natural materials.
“Most tribes want the ancestors to be prepared using all natural materials,” he said. “No plastic. None of this foam stuff.”
He hand sews pillows from unbleached cotton muslin, uses cotton string and paper tags, crumpled-up paper, wood, and cardboard.
“It just shows respect,” he said. “We don’t want [to use] anything that wasn’t around when they were [alive].”
The approach reflects a philosophy Malindine returns to repeatedly. It’s not simply about complying with regulations or closing cases.
“We’re trying to do these repatriations in a good way,” he said. “Not just do a repatriation— do a repatriation in a good way.”
Access barriers
Robert Piatti, a tribal council member of the Salinan Tribe of San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties, thinks NAGPRA is a good concept, but he also believes that the reality of its inner workings is complicated.
“It’s a great idea,” he said. “Things should be returned to the people and put back the rest. That’s really what we’re striving for.”
In practice, Piatti said, the system determining who those people are is more constrained than the law’s intent suggests.
Under federal NAGPRA law, institutions receiving federal funding must consult with
“Who belongs where? And whose remains are you looking at?” Piatti said. “Who do they belong to?”
Those questions determine whether a tribe is included in decision-making.
In many cases, Piatti said, institutions provide tribes with massive digital inventories of remains and artifacts—sometimes tens of thousands of entries—without clear provenance.
“You get to go in and play with the record that is your record and yours alone,” he said. “Everybody else puts you into a big collective comprehensive pot and lets you choose and pick and fight and argue amongst yourselves.”
In addition, origin stories for the items or remains are often incomplete.
“It just showed up at their university one day,” he said. “Nobody knows where it came from.”
For non-federally recognized tribes like the Salinan, the barriers extend beyond access to records. Capacity also becomes a limiting factor. Without museums, dedicated funding, or storage facilities, even successful claims can raise the question of what happens next.
“We’re a landless tribe,” Piatti said. “We have no real funds to put forth to the effort to not only collect the stuff, but to curate and house it.”
In practice, that often means different outcomes for different materials. Cultural objects may be divided among tribes or retained for education. Human remains, Piatti said, are ultimately returned to the earth.
“Human remains go in the ground. They just do,” he said. “We have dedicated spots … where we can put people back in the ground.”
But even reburial is shaped by legal and institutional determinations, including “most likely descendant” designations and disputes between tribal entities.
“It really is a troubling issue,” he said. “Who has the right to it, who’s going to pay for it, what’s going to happen to it.”
At its core, Piatti said, the issue is about belonging, authority, and whose histories are treated as actionable.
“It’s a great concept,” he said. “There is something here that needs to be done, and they’re trying to do right. But it’s way more convoluted than they’re thinking.” m
Reach Staff Writer Chloë Hodge at chodge@ newtimesslo.com.
RECKONING: Salinan Tribal councilmember Robert Piatti stands in front of the historic RiosCaledonia Adobe just south of Mission San Miguel.
PHOTO BY PIETER SAAYMAN
Delicate colors
A Lompoc floral shop celebrates one year since moving into a new location
BY MADISON WHITE
When Blake Lane was studying psychology and anthropology in college, he didn’t anticipate a future cutting stems or delivering bouquets. His mom opened Bella Florist and Gifts during the early 2000s, but Lane took the lead on business operations in 2012.
“Creativity has always been in my life, and the arts have always been in my life,” Lane told the Sun. “I play the cello and the violin and the piano, so I’ve always had some kind of artistic something in my life.”
Late July will mark the first anniversary of Bella Florist moving into its new spot on I Street in Lompoc. The storefront now offers easier parking access for shoppers and is located near two restaurants, drawing attention from diners waiting for their takeout orders.
The gift shop sells candles, reed diffusers, jewelry, cards, and baby accessories, but its main business is flowers.
“They have full trust in my abilities, so that’s definitely been nice,” Lane said.
Just like his clients have faith in him, Lane places his trust in the growers. He said he feels blessed to have local family farms that supply the shop and offer their best blooms each season. Lane rotates through cuts from The Starter Farm in Santa Ynez, Ballard Canyon Farms in Solvang, Lopez Flower Farms in Lompoc, and Campesina Flowers in Arroyo Grande.
“They just always deliver beautiful blooms. They know the flowers that I like to use, like dahlias and snapdragons and zinnias,” Lane said. “We have a really good working relationship.”
Running a small operation himself, Lane wants to order from other family-run businesses. When they thrive, he thrives. Plus, living in Lompoc for most of his life means that supporting a tight community is second nature.
In the city of arts and flowers
Everyone knows everyone, Lane explained, and he recognizes his customers all around town. He feels wonderful when they take time to compliment one of his deliveries.
Bella Florist and Gifts is located at 133 N. I St. in Lompoc. It’s open Tuesday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call (805) 740-2900 any day of the week to place an order. See arrangements on Instagram @bellafloristlompoc.
After learning the basics of floral arrangement from his mom, Lane has grown his own style over the years. He’s inspired by Dutch still life paintings and sometimes works with traditional techniques. But when styling modern bouquets, the curator likes to add texture and flair. Lane wants his work to have movement and to feel organic.
“You’re never going to get something from me that’s going to look exactly the same. It’s going to be a little bit different all the time,” Lane said.
Consultations with customers give Lane an idea of the occasion and color palette that he’s working with. Clients familiar with his work often set him free to create whatever he thinks will look best. Lane creates for a wide spectrum of events, from funerals to elopements to baby showers.
With only him and his mom on staff, Lane assumes the responsibility of driving orders to their destinations.
“It’s nice to see the look on the recipient’s face whenever they get flowers and they weren’t expecting it,” he said. “It’s like that good feeling.”
Lane’s come to understand that because they don’t last too long, flowers are a reminder to embrace the present.
“They are perishable, and they’re not going to last,” Lane said. “They grab your attention, and they bring you into the moment, so that’s how I look at it.”
After celebrating one year in the new storefront, the curator is already planning goals for the next 12 months to help the business grow, including getting a walk-in cooler built.
“That’s one of my biggest goals,” Lane said. “But for right now we only have a small cooler, so everything that I get is all fresh all the time.”
Highlights
• The Santa Maria Public Library is hosting multiple events for teenagers this summer in the Altrusa Theater. On July 15 community
members are invited to a cooking experience to learn about food preparation and canning techniques. The program starts at 1:30 p.m. and registration begins July 8. Gamers and interested viewers are welcome to an evening of video gaming on July 17 at 4 p.m. A teen anime club meeting will be held on July 24 at 4 p.m. with activities and Japanese snacks. Call the front desk with questions: (805) 925-0994.
• Interested individuals are invited to apply to the Lompoc Valley Chamber of Commerce board of directors. “Serving on the board is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful impact, collaborate with fellow community leaders, and help guide the chamber’s mission and initiatives,” the chamber announced. To request an application or more information, email chamber@lompoc.com. m
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@santamariasun.com.
BRIGHTEN THE DAY: Blake Lane, curator at Bella Florist and Gifts, creates floral arrangements for all occasions using locally grown flowers from small farmers.
Should the waters off Point Sal become a marine conservation area?
44% Yes, but some allowances should be made for fishermen.
44% Yes! We need protection for such a pristine area.
12% No—it’s already protected by a national marine sanctuary!
0% I don’t think any of our land should be protected.
The nature of change
BY RON FINK
There may be a political renaissance in the making in Lompoc. Sometimes change is good, and other times it may bring only chaos to a community. For the last couple of City Council meetings, there seems to have been an organized effort to undermine the traditional way our City Council, current and past, has been operating.
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Sometimes change is good, but seemingly arbitrary changes to city government bring chaos Northern Santa Barbara County’s News & Entertainment
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What I can gather from public complaints is that some feel that the members of the council are “too old,” sometimes appear disinterested in the topic of discussion, or are ignoring the needs of some in the city.
On each meeting agenda, this statement is included at the top of the agenda, “The general oral communications periods are reserved for persons desiring to address the Lompoc City Council on any subject within the jurisdiction of the City Council. Closed session and consent calendar oral communications periods are limited to the subjects of the closed session/consent calendar agenda items.”
Most of the public comment has been used to advance the political agenda of the speaker, rather than addressing specific “subject(s) within the jurisdiction of the City Council.”
One such group is CAUSE (Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy), which according to its website is a grassroots organization in Ventura and Santa Barbara County dedicated to “social, economic, and environmental justice for working-class and immigrant communities.”
It has somehow become interested in Lompoc. “CAUSE organizes renters to advocate for policies that prevent unjust evictions, stabilize housing costs, and protect the safety and well-being of tenants.” In other words, they want rent control without considering the cost that responsible property owners must bear to maintain their properties.
Another claim is that “this legacy of environmental racism has continued for far too long, with working-class immigrant neighborhoods in our region being impacted by the worst air pollution from industrial facilities and heavy-duty trucking, the heaviest use of dangerous
agricultural pesticides, and the most toxic chemical runoff into our drinking water.”
Of course, none of these claims have been verified, and many would argue that Lompoc has the cleanest air in the county primarily because there is no heavy industry in our city. The California Office of Health Hazard Assessment investigated claims of pesticide contamination in the late 1990s and found that “there was no difference between seasonal variation of Lompoc and seasonal variation of the comparison counties when bronchitis or asthma discharges were compared by admission quarter.”
The upcoming general election in November will determine if these folks are able to gain any traction.
But there could be several changes to the makeup of the dais. The mayor has a challenger, who happens to be a council member with two years left in his term. If the challenger prevails, it would leave an open seat in his district. Another council member is retiring, and a new person will be elected to fill his seat.
Yet another council member has a challenger; if the challenger is successful, a new person will serve his district. And lastly, the trial of a council member accused of multiple felonies will begin in September. If found guilty, this will immediately create another open seat.
The result could be that only one member of the council would have any experience of governing our city. The new members would have to appoint two new council members to fill empty seats and shortly after they are sworn in begin budget hearings for the next two-year budget.
Each of the new members would bring their personal agendas to the public arena. Most are relatively new to the political scene and, based on statements made during public comment periods, are woefully misinformed.
Sometimes change is good, and at other times it may bring only chaos to a community. m
Ron Fink writes to the Sun from Lompoc. Send a letter for publication to letters@santamariasun.com.
MAYFIELD
County is poised to make good energy decisions
It will be a consequential summer for energy policy in Santa Barbara County. Currently, you can drill for oil, but you can’t put a solar farm in the same industrial site. That is set to reverse with an oil ordinance to prohibit new oil drilling to be considered in September and a solar ordinance to allow solar in industrial and agricultural zones to be considered by the Board of Supervisors on July 14.
For too long in Santa Barbara County, where we have 300 days of sunshine annually, capturing the most abundant and cost-effective form of energy has been prohibited and constrained in much of the county.
More than a decade ago, the county restricted utility-scale solar to the Cuyama Valley, where it is now largely built out. Seven years ago, the county adopted a Strategic Energy Plan to stimulate local renewable energy and expand where it is allowed. But enacting that plan has been slow going. The solar ordinance finally went to the county Planning Commission on May 5, where it passed unanimously. It now goes to the Board of Supervisors for adoption.
The solar ordinance facilitates solar and battery storage on buildings and parking lots. Batteries have rapidly fallen in cost and allow us to store and benefit from solar power in the evening hours after the sun sets but when cost and demand for energy are still high. Sufficient solar and batteries will help safely retire the aging and polluting gas power plants that powered south Santa Barbara County in the past and help us meet our local 100 percent renewable energy goals.
The solar ordinance will also allow solar in industrial and agricultural zones, allowing ranches and farms a potential new source of income. A new ag-friendly solar asset class, called “agrivoltaics,” enables ranching or farming alongside solar. Solar panels can be set 7 to 10 feet above the ground and spaced apart to create a mix of sun and shade for crops; shield plants from excessive heat, cold, and ultraviolet radiation; and increase the yield of many crops. Solar can also shade farmworkers or livestock and reduce water evaporation on pasture and forage crops.
The oil ordinance comes as a result of the Santa Barbara County Climate Action Plan that was adopted in 2024. At the time, the Board of Supervisors asked staff to come back with ways to reduce emissions from the oil and gas sector, which is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the county. The remaining oil in the county is particularly expensive and polluting to produce, and further production risks contaminating critical drinking water sources. County staff came back with a plan to prohibit new oil drilling and phase out existing drilling, which the board approved in 2025.
The first phase, which is a prohibition on new oil drilling projects, was approved by the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission on April 8, 2026. Planning Commissioner Michael Cooney said that it was the most consequential vote of his long career. He was a planning commissioner for 21 years and stepped down not long after this vote. Commissioner John Parke said that the volume of public comments might be a record. He praised the speakers and the hundreds of written comments for being unique and thoughtful. Public comments were overwhelmingly supportive, including a signon letter from dozens of environmental and community groups that documents the health harms and costs to county residents caused by the oil industry.
This year, July 14 will be independence from fossil fuels day in Santa Barbara County. You can email your comment on more solar or no new oil drilling to: sbcob@countyofsb.org.
Katie Davis energy chair, Sierra Club, Santa Barbara-Ventura chapter
Not too much!
of its “expenses” to residents in the form of rent increases, and the county denied it.
Santa Maria’s mobile home park dwellers have been asking the city for rent control for years now, and recently, they again didn’t get what they asked for.
But senior mobile home park residents may breathe a little easier if the Santa Maria City Council does what the Planning Commission recommended: pass an ordinance that would prevent 55-and-older parks from becoming allages parks.
At their July 1 meeting, commissioners discussed the “senior mobile home park overlay,” which is a fancy way of saying that the city is trying to ensure that existing senior mobile home parks stay that way. This includes a rule that at least 80 percent of the homes in those parks are occupied by someone who’s 55-plus.
“This is an ongoing theme. They want to buy a senior park, change the senior park from senior to all-age, scaring out some seniors. A 10 percent increase [for the next renters], right off the bat,” Steve Wagner said. “Look into what happened at Del Cielo in the county.”
As you read last week, what happened to Del Cielo was the “management” company that tried to do all the bad things got spanked by the county—and also inspired a similar overlay ordinance at the county level (which it sued the county over; stay tuned as the lawsuit is scheduled for trial this September).
Wagner, the North Santa Barbara County Manufactured Homeowners Team Legislative Action Team coordinator, was part of that effort as well.
Most recently, Del Cielo tried to pass on some
I’m not sure the same would happen in Santa Maria, which has refused to do anything that remotely resembles rent control in the city. In fact, the proposed overlay ordinance specifically states that it’s not trying to control any rent.
“This overlay would not impose new rent control or management restrictions,” the language states.
“Specifically, this overlay aims to maintain affordable home ownership opportunities for residents aged 55 and older; prevent the displacement of vulnerable seniors’ households on fixed incomes,” city Associate Planner Greg Vine told the commission.
So, affordability for seniors based on the market and a tiny bit of regulation that prevents the park from being marketed to any other age bracket. The city is trying to give a little, but not too much, you know?
From 2018 to 2019, the North County Manufactured Homeowners Team advocated for some form of rent control at City Council meetings. The argument went that many of the seniors who live in these mobile home parks have a fixed income and have a hard time keeping up with the annual rent increases built into many of the land leases.
You know what months and months of conversation yielded? An “enforceable” document known as a “model lease,” which caps yearly rent increases at 6 percent and mobile home parks can voluntarily sign on to use. The city doesn’t require mobile home park owners to use the lease. A little, but not too much, amirite? m
The Canary has a lot to say about Santa Maria. Send more to canary@santamariasun.com.
880 Chalk Hill Rd. Solvang, CA 93463
Open Tues.-Sat. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.manzanitanursery.com (805) 688-9692
30+ Manzanita species!
More than 500 Native plant species! Wholesale & Retail Nursery
Hot Stuff
CARDINALS LIVE AT CRUMBLES CAFE
ARTS
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
“ALONG THE HIGH EMBANKMENTS” AT PRESQU’ILE Los Angeles Nomadic Division and Presqu’ile present Cole Sternberg’s work along the high embankments, a free, self-guided installation. Saturdays, Sundays, 12-5 p.m. Free. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presquile Dr, Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.
BALLROOM, LATIN, AND SWING DANCE
CLASSES Social ballroom, Latin, and swing lessons for all ages. Beginner and advance classes. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. $45-$55. (805) 928-7799.
Kleindancesarts.com. Klein Dance Arts, 3558 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria.
DANCE CLASSES There are weekly dance classes, from ages 2 to adult, at KleinDance Arts Mondays-Saturdays, 4-8 p.m. (805) 268-2530. kleindancearts.com. KleinDance Arts, 1954 S Broadway, Suite J, Santa Maria.
DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN
DANCE Classes available for all skill levels. Class sizes limited. Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, (805) 937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/.
GIAFUNNI’S STAND UP COMEDY
SATURDAYS Enjoy live stand-up comedy at Giavanni’s Pizza in Orcutt, featuring touring comedians and our famous buffet! Come out for a night of entertainment that won’t have you out all night yet telling your friends about it throughout the week! July 11 8 p.m. $23.27. my805tix.com.
Giavanni’s Pizza, 1108 E Clark Ave, Orcutt, (805) 934-8555.
“POST-WILD: NATURE IN THE 21ST
CENTURY” The Santa Barbara County Office of Arts and Culture is proud to present Post-Wild: Nature in the 21st
Century, a juried exhibition featuring artworks by 34 emerging and established Santa Barbara County artists. Co-curated by Allan Hancock College Professor of Fine Arts Laura-Susan Thomas and the Office of Arts and Culture, the exhibition highlights artists working across painting, ceramics, photography, digital media, and mixed media. Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Nov. 1 Free. sbac.ca.gov/post-wildnature-in-the-21st-century/. Betteravia Art Gallery, 511 Lakeside Pkwy, Santa Maria. VALLEY ART GALLERY: ROTATING
DISPLAYS Featured artists of Santa Maria’s Valley Art Gallery frequently display their works at the airport. Check website for details on monthly exhibits and full list of the gallery’s artists. ongoing valleygallery.org. Santa Maria Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
DISNEY’S FROZEN With magnificent music, heart, and a flurry of fun, Frozen is an unforgettable celebration of love and letting go. Tuesdays-Sundays, 8-10:15 p.m. through Aug. 2 $25. (805) 922-8313. pcpa.org. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang.
GO WEST THREE-ARTIST EXHIBIT AT GALLERY LOS OLIVOS JUL1 -31 Three Artists will share artwork inspired by icons of the American west, including Robin Deshayes, Deborah Kalas, and Linda Lewis, at Gallery Los Olivos. The gallery is open daily. Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through July 31 Free. (805) 688-7517. .GalleryLosOlivos.com. Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.
PAINTING IN THE VINEYARD AT VEGA VINEYARD AND FARM Join at Vega Vineyard and Farm in Buellton to spend the afternoon sipping delicious wine and capturing the beauty of the landscape on
canvas! July 19 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $89. (805) 325-8092. artspotonwheels.com. Vega Vineyard and Farm, 9496 Santa Rosa Road, Buellton.
SUMMER CAMP 1, JULY 6-10: JUNGLE
ADVENTURES Join us for a week of fun, creativity, and artistic expression! This summer, we will be creating paintings, drawings, sculptures, weavings, clay, and more! July 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and July 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $425. (805) 325-8092. artspotonwheels.com. Art Spot on Wheels, 320 Alisal Road, unit 306B, Solvang.
SUMMER CAMP 2, JULY 13-17:
UNDERWATER Join for a week of fun, creativity, and artistic expression! This summer, we will be creating paintings, drawings, sculptures, weavings, clay, and more! July 13 10 a.m.-2 p.m., July 14 10 a.m.-2 p.m., July 15 10 a.m.-2 p.m., July 16, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and July 17 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $425. (805) 325-8092. artspotonwheels. com. Art Spot on Wheels, 320 Alisal Road, unit 306B, Solvang.
“WHEN THE EARTH WHISPERS BACK: NATURE’S HOPE” Woman Painters West, an organization of juried professional woman artists (100 + years old) were invited to exhibit at this museum creating paintings that answered their theme. See 48 paintings juried from 100 entries on view at the museum. Through Sept. 16 Canatureartmuseum.org. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
ACTOR’S EDGE: ACTING CLASSES
Actor’s Edge offers film and television acting training in San Luis Obispo, plus exposure to Los Angeles talent agents. All ages and skill levels welcome. Classes available in SLO, LA, and on zoom. ongoing $210 per month. actorsedge.com. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
CERAMIC LESSONS AND MORE Now offering private one-on-one and group lessons in the ceramic arts. Both hand building and wheel throwing options. Beginners welcomed. (805) 835-5893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
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. Free. facebook.com /groups/PRAAphotoguild. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
WALT WHITMAN GAY MEN’S BOOK CLUB
This club reads, studies and discusses books chosen by the group which relate to their lives as gay men. All are welcome. Second Monday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
“ONE VISIT” POTTERY CLASS This is a great class if you are looking to try out pottery! Throw on the wheel or paint pre-made pottery. Get a student discount with a valid school ID. Fridays, 6-7:30 p.m. $75. (805) 896-6197. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.
FINDING NEMO Explore the big blue world with this lively new stage musical based on the beloved film! Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Saturdays, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., Sundays, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., July 15, 7-9 p.m. and July 16, 7-9 p.m. through July 19 $23-$30. (805) 7862440. slorep.org/shows/finding-nemo/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo.
OLIVER! THE MUSICAL Consider yourself at home with Lionel Bart’s Oliver!, the beloved award-winning musical based
on Oliver Twist and a perfect theatrical adventure for the whole family. July 10, 7-9 p.m., July 11 7-9 p.m. and July 12 1-3 p.m. $35-$65. (805) 756-4849. pacslo.org/. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
ALL AGES SCULPTING WITH JOHN ROULLARD John a retired school teacher who patiently guides potters of all ages to sculpt and work on details and design.
Saturdays, 1:30-3 p.m. $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
AMERICAN AGITATORS: SCREENING AND Q&A Watch the inspiring story of Fred Ross Sr. and organizing for social change. Enjoy a Q&A with people who worked on the film that will follow the screening. July 11 1-3 p.m. (805) 471-5913. Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, thepalmtheatre.com.
BODYTRAFFIC: SAN LUIS OBISPO
MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL 2026
Presented by Cal Poly Arts and Festival Mozaic, Bodytraffic has taken the contemporary dance world by storm with powerhouse performers, technical brilliance, and bold repertoire. July 16, 7:30 p.m. (805) 781-3009. calpolyarts.org /20262027-season/bodytraffic.
Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
CALL FOR ARTISTS SLO Gallery is now organizing small group exhibits for our central viewing area. One of the displayed artists will be a co-op member. The others can be local or visiting artists.
Drop by the SLO Gallery to sign up and see which of our artists on display you may be interested in doing a group show with. Fridays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. SLO Gallery, 1023 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, SLOgallery.com.
CENTRAL COAST COMEDY THEATER
IMPROV COMEDY SHOW An ongoing improv comedy program featuring the CCCT’s Ensemble. Grab some food at the public market’s wonderful eateries and enjoy the show upstairs. Second Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. $10. centralcoastcomedytheater.com/shows/. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.
CLAY BABY HANDPRINTS Offers a unique experience of pressing your baby’s hand/foot into clay so parents can cherish this time forever. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays $55. anamcre.com/baby-handprints. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
DATE NIGHT POTTERY Bring your date and throw a cup on the pottery wheel. Next, texture a clay slab and press into a form creating a personalized piece. Guest are welcome to bring drinks; venue provides aprons. Pieces are fired, glazed, and ready in two weeks. Saturdays, 6-7:30 p.m. $140. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
DRAWING FOR REAL! WITH LURY NORRIS In this workshop ,you will start to develop your ability to see and draw more accurately and with more structure. July 10, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and July 17, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $20. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. ELEMENTS OF ART FOR TWEENS AND TEENS WITH CAROLINA LUNA Join Carolina as she guides your young artists through the fundamentals of art. Each week will focus on a different element. All materials are provided. Wednesdays, 1:30-3 p.m. through Aug. 5 $200. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKSHOP: LARGE PLATTER CLASS Fun for all ages. Instructors will guide you in creating large platters and decorating them. Create pieces together for your home. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $50. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. FIVE-DAY FIBER ARTS SAMPLER CAMP From embroidery to crochet, hand sewing, weaving, macrame, needle felting, if it’s got fiber, we’re probably going to try it! Two weeks to choose from. July 13 $325-$425. (805) 439-1022. slolifestudio.com. SLOLife Studio and Mercantile, 12340 Los
Road,
—Angie Stevens
FREE
DOCENT TOURS Gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view with SLOMA’s new docent tours. Every Saturday, join trained guides for interactive and engaging tours of SLOMA’s current exhibitions. Saturdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma.org/visit/ tours/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
FRIDAY NIGHT IMPROV AT SLO
PUBLIC MARKET It’s another night of spontaneous comedy as the Central Coast Comedy Theater Ensemble goes on another kooky, made-up adventure! We’re hitting the stage with a wild mix of short form games (think “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” but with less network oversight) and long form improv (like a play, if no one had memorized anything or made a plan). July 10, 6:15-8 p.m. $12.56. my805tix.com. SLO Public Market, South Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo.
IMPROV PLAYGROUND Join Improv for Good at the Improv Playground! Enjoy quick games, silly scenarios, and genuine connection. All are welcome to play short fun games. Second Thursday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. through Aug. 14 Free. (805) 556-8495. improvforgood.fun/ improv-playground. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2201 Lawton Ave., San Luis Obispo.
LEARN TO WEAVE MONDAYS An opportunity to learn how a four-shaft loom works. You will get acquainted as a new weaver or as a refresher with lots of tips and tricks. This class includes getting to know a loom, how to prepare/dress a loom, and much much more. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. $75 monthly. (805) 441-8257. Patricia Martin: Whispering Vista Studios, 224 Squire Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, patriciamartinartist.com.
MOBILE CLAY CLASSES Offering handbuilding, throwing, and ceramic decorative arts. All ages and abilities are welcome. Call for more info. ongoing (805) 835-5893. hmcruceceramics.com/ book-online. SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.
OEA THEATRICAL PRESENTS LIONEL
OIL PAINTING: IMPRESSIONISTIC REALISM WITH FRANK EBER Learn how to paint lively, expressive paintings with alla prima style techniques. This class is great for the intermediate or advanced. Inquire via email. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.1:30 p.m. through Aug. 11 $295. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshopsevents/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
PAINT A PREMADE POTTERY PIECE!
Drop into the studio to pick out and paint a premade piece! There is fun for all ages, and prices are based upon size. Mondays, Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2-7:30 p.m. $30-$75. app.acuityscheduling.com/ schedule.php?owner=22676824 &appointmentType=35974477. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
ROYAL PAIN PRESENTS: CENTRAL COAST FOLLIES Enjoy your first complimentary glass of wine or preferred non-alcoholic beverage pre-show and get ready to be dazzled by the fabulous Central Coast Follies! July 11 , 3:30 p.m. and July 12 3:30 p.m. $40. my805tix.com. Studio de Myriam, 3563 Sueldo St., suite N, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-7433.
SATURDAY FAMILY POTTERY CLASS
This family-friendly open studio time is a wonderful window for any level or age. Saturdays, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. $40. Familyfriendly open studio welcomes all ages and skill levels. Book online in advance. Bring an idea; we assist with wheel or handbuilding! Saturdays, 1:30-3 p.m. $40. anamcre.com/. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
SLO COMEDY UNDERGROUND OPEN MIC NIGHT Enjoy a night of laughs provided by the local SLO Comedy Community. It’s open mic night, so anyone can perform and “you never know what you’ll see.” Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Free. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337, libertinebrewing.com.
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,
ON VIEW
A three-artist exhibit titled Go West is on view through Friday, July 31, at Gallery Los Olivos. See the contemporary painting work of Robin Deshayes, including her piece Town Square, Megeve. The gallery is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit gallerylosolivos.com and Robin’s personal website, robindeshayes.com, to get more details.
present paintings and sculptures with an awards reception on June 28. First Monday-Sunday of every month, 12-4 p.m. through Aug. 3 Free. (805) 772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.
works by Ellen Jewett as well as 20 other local artists, and artists from southern and northern California. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. (559) 799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.
FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No artistic experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. (805) 772-9095. foreverstoked.com. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.
GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE HOSTS AN ARTISTS RECEPTION FOR PATRICIA NEWTON, GREGORY SIRAGUSA AND HOPE MYERS See paintings, photography and mixed media paper works, and meet artists Patricia Newton, Greg Siragusa, and Hope Myers. Free and open to all. July 11 , 3-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS FINE ART OIL PAINTINGS BY PATRICIA NEWTON Enjoy representational oil paintings of California’s waves, coastline and rolling hills, built up in translucent glazed layers that glow from within. 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.
THE REBOOT SPEAKEASY LIVE STORYTELLING SHOW The Reboot, now in its 9th season, features a stellar line-up of tellers sharing wildly true, personal stories about regrets and second chances. July 17 7-9:15 p.m. Free. facebook.com/ the.reboot4u. Red Barn at Los Osos Community Park, 2180 Palisades Ave., Los Osos.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (805) 937-9750. oasisorcutt. org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt. GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing (805) 343-2455.
invited. Bring coins for free appraisals. Third Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m. Yearly membership: $20-$25. (805) 937-3158. Cornerstone Church, 1026 E. Sierra Madre Ave., 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. SMKA 2026 KART RACING SEASON Participate in this local kart racing series, featuring kid karts, LO206, and two-cycle classes, delivering competitive sprint racing, driver development, and familyfriendly events for all skill levels. July 19 9 a.m.-4 p.m. $10. smka.org. Santa Maria Karting Association, 3951 S Blosser Rd, Santa Maria, (805) 464-6114.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
GOING BATTY AT THE NATURE CENTER
Going Batty consists of weekly talks and observation of hundreds of native California Myotis bats. Fridays, Saturdays. through Sept. 6 Free. (805) 693-0691. clnaturecenter.org. Neal Taylor Nature Center, 2265 Highway 154, Santa Barbara. 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. LAVENDER WREATH MAKING CLASS
Celebrate the Santa Rita Hills Lavender Festival with a hands-on experience in the fields! In this interactive workshop, you’ll craft your own custom lavender wreath using fresh blooms harvested right from our farm. Your ticket includes one wreath frame and all necessary materials. July 11 12-1:30 & 1:30-3 p.m. $55. santaritahillslavender.com. Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm, 1900 Tularosa Road, Lompoc, (805) 325-8092.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY ANNUAL CACTUS AND SUCCULENT
July
July
July 17
July 20
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, 5:156:15 p.m. $12 drop-in; $40 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.
BEYOND MINDFULNESS Realize your potential through individualized meditation instruction with an experienced teacher via Zoom. This class is for those who wish to begin a practice or seek to deepen an existing one. Flexible days and times. Certified with IMTA. Email or text for information. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sliding scale. (559) 905-9274. theartofsilence.net. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
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.
CENTRAL COAST POLYAMORY Hosting
a discussion group featuring different topics relating to ethical non-monogamy every month. Third Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/ events/. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
CHAKRA FLOW SOUND JOURNEY:
NIPOMO In these times that can feel fast, full, and untethering, this is an invitation to slow down, to reconnect, to come back into rhythm with yourself and the natural world. July 17 6-7:30 p.m. $25.41-$37.19. my805tix.com. Mystic Nature, 330 W. Tefft, Unit E, Nipomo.
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, Arroyo Grande.
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.
EPIC DJ TRIVIA Don’t miss DJ Trivia.
It’s free to play, and prizes for the top three teams will be awarded. Bring your
family and friends! Thursdays, 6-8 p.m.
Free. Grover Station Grill, 170 W Grand Ave #101, Grover Beach, (805) 489-3030, EpicDJTrivia.com.
FELINE NETWORK ADOPT-A-PET EVENT
Head to this Adopt-A-Kitten event, hosted by the Feline Network of the Central Coast Lemos Feed and Pet Supply. July 11 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $125. (805) 458-3978. felinenetwork.org. Lemos Feed & Pet Supply, 120 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande.
FRIENDS OF THE NIPOMO LIBRARY
USED BOOK SALE Arrive at 10 a.m. for best selection of adult fiction and nonfiction, along with children’s books, jigsaw puzzles, and CDs and DVDs! Members get tickets for two free books. Cash only. July 11 , 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (805) 929-3994. friendsofnipomolibrary.org/. Nipomo Library, 918 W. Tefft, Nipomo. LA CONVERSACIÓN Join La Conversación, a group for practicing spoken Spanish. There is no homework or lessons, just conversation. Thursdays, 9-11:30 a.m. Free. Greenhouse Coffee Company, 1064 E Grand Av, Arroyo Grande, (805) 825-1345. La Conversación is a Spanish Conversation group. There’s no homework, no lessons, just conversation. All levels of speakers are welcome. Todos son bienvenidos! Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. (805) 748-9123. Coffee Bean, 354 Five Cities Dr., Pismo Beach.
QI GONG FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE ENERGY Experience the energy of Qi Gong through simple standing movements promoting flexibility, strength, relaxation, and increased energy. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, Qi Gong revitalizes and enriches your life. An outdoor class overlooking the ocean. Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. and Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $15 per class or $60 for five-class card. (805) 440-4561. pismobeach.org. Margo Dodd Gazebo, Ocean Park Blvd., Shell Beach.
QI GONG: MINDFUL MOVEMENTS FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE ENERGY
Balance your mind, body, and spirit with Qi Gong — gentle stretching and strengthening movements that promotes physical wellbeing and inner peace. This is geared towards all fitness levels and ages. Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $14 per class or $55 for 5-class card. (805) 440-4561. balancedlivingayurveda.com. Shell Beach Veterans Memorial Building, 230 Leeward Ave., Pismo Beach.
SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. (805) 904-6615. 819 Tempus Circle, 819 Tempus Circle, Arroyo Grande.
STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi Gong boosts energy and vitality, reduces stress, improves balance and flexibility, and, best of all, is fun. Join instructor Devin Wallace for this Crows End Retreat outdoor class, which is held in a beautiful setting. Call or email for location and to reserve a spot. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. $12. (805) 709-2227. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.
MULTICULTURAL DANCE CLASS FOR ADULTS Experience dance from continents around the earth, including from Africa, Europe, and more. Described as “a wonderful in-depth look at the context and history of cultures of the world.” Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. (510) 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 discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. (805) 547-1715. new.nawcc.org /index.php/chapter-52-los-padres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano.
NIPOMO SENIOR CENTER MEMBERSHIP SIGN-UP & POTLUCK Bring a dish to share and join for a potluck, along with general meeting updates and local informative guest speakers. Third Wednesday of every month, 12:30-2 p.m. (805) 929-1615. nipomoseniorcenter.org. Nipomo Senior Center, 200 E. Dana St, Nipomo.
SUMMER BLAST CAMP 2026 Join us for our full week of Camp which includes tennis lessons, pickleball lessons, swimming, arts and crafts, marital arts class, and much more! Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through Aug. 7 $395-$445. (805) 595-7600 ex 113. Avila Bay Athletic Club and Spa, 6699 Bay Laurel Place, Avila Beach, avilabayclub.com.
ZOO TO YOU Grover Beach Discovery Center is having the Zoo come to us. Come check out the animals up close. July 18 , 10-11 a.m. Free. (805) 698-7351. Exploration Discovery Center, 867 Ramona Ave., Grover Beach.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
30-DAY BREATH AND RESET JOURNEY FOR WOMEN Wired at night, drained all day? Reset your body in 30 days. Focus on breath practices to calm stress, sleep deeply, and restore lasting energy. Registration is required. Tuesdays, 6:307:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. (805) 235-7978. charvetgratefulbody.com. Live Webinar, online, SLO County.
40TH ANNUAL CENTRAL COAST
RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL Immerse yourself in the most authentic festival, where an Elizabethan village comes to life with vibrant characters dressed in period attire. July 18 -19 $44.69. my805tix.com. Laguna Lake Park, 504 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.
Fluttering back
MAY 23 –
Experience a dazzling array of tropical species in a nationally acclaimed butterfly garden.
Hot Stuff
TIDAL ZONE
The Morro Bay National Estuary Program is hosting a free guided tidepool exploration family field trip on Monday, July 20, from 9 to 11 a.m., in Morro Bay. The exact location will be provided to registrants before the event. Visit mbnep.org/events for more information.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE from page 15
CIRCUS VARGAS PRESENTS
“MASQUERADE!” Circus Vargas proudly unveils its dynamic, new and highly anticipated 2026 edition… “Masquerade!” in San Luis Obispo at Madonna Inn now through July 20! Mondays, WednesdaysSundays. through July 20 $25 - $90. circusvargas.com. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.
FROM PAGE TO SCREEN: MY JOURNEY TO BECOMING AN AWARD-WINNING
SCREENWRITER Carole Wagener will deliver a humorous and enlightening account of her journey to becoming an award-winning screenwriter. July 14 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.
PLUG-IN TO LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION
Get inspired by local action, connect with others, and discover more ways to get involved with the SLO Climate Coalition. Attend virtually or in-person. Sustainable snacks and childcare will be provided. Third Thursday of every month, 6-8 p.m. sloclimatecoalition.org/events/. Ludwick Community Center, 864 Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM FRAUD AND SCAMS VOL 2 PRESENTED BY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE This presentation is back by popular demand! SLO residents are beset every day by fraud and scams on the phone, on the web, and in the mail. This course, offered by the SLO District Attorney’s office, is a primer on how to recognize fraudsters, how to protect yourself against them, and how to minimize damage in case you fall for one. July 14 1-3 p.m. $12. my805tix.com. Oddfellows Hall, 520 Dana Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-0876.
SOUND BATH, SOCIAL, AND TIPICA
Enjoy a relaxing 40-minute sound healing session led by sound healer and energy practitioner Aleya Dao. July 11 9 a.m.11:30 p.m. $25. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2201 Lawton Avenue, San Luis Obispo, (805) 439-0188, ext.3.
FOOD & DRINK
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
BAR TAKEOVER THURSDAYS Join us Thursdays to meet and chat with the winemaker of the flight we’re featuring that week. Thursdays, 4-7:30 p.m. $15-$30. (805) 623-5129. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, stellerscellar.com. DEL CUMBIA AL PERREO BRUNCH July 19 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $23.27. my805tix.com. The Stockyard, 241 S Broadway St, Orcutt. FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT COSTA DE ORO Featured vendors in the series include Cali Coast Tacos, Cubanissimo,
Danny’s Pizza Co., Chef Ricks, and more. Call venue for monthly schedules. Fridays (805) 922-1468. costadeorowines.com.
Costa De Oro Winery, 1331 S. Nicholson Ave., Santa Maria.
FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT WINE STONE
INN Fridays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.
FRIDAY NIGHT FUN Karaoke with DJ
Nasty. With Beer Bucket specials. Kitchen stays open late. Come out and sing your favorite song. Fridays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.
PRESQU’ILE WINERY: WINE CLUB Call or go online to make a reservation to taste at the winery or find more info on the winery’s Wine Club offerings. ongoing presquilewine.com/club/. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.
SECOND SATURDAY OPEN AIR MARKET:
LOS ALAMOS A carefully curated open air artisan and farm market. Features great vintage finds, handwoven and hand dyed textiles, hand-spun yarn, organic body care products, and locally grown organic eats. Second Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 722-4338. Sisters Gifts and Home, 349 Bell Street, Los Alamos.
SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS Every Sunday, come cozy up inside the tasting room and listen to great artists. Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Free. (805) 937-8463. cottonwoodcanyon.com. Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard And Winery, 3940 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria.
SOURDOUGH AT GROWING GROUNDS
FARM Urban Homesteadings, your local female veteran owned sourdough specialty shop is at Growing Grounds Farm. Veterans and first responders get a free cookie! Thursdays, 12-3 p.m. through June 30 Free. (805) 865-6318. UrbanHomesteadings.com. Growing Grounds Farm, 820 W. Foster 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
MONTHLY FERMENTATION CLASSES
New topics each month with a thorough demo and explanation of the process that creates non-alcoholic, probiotic, and nutrient-dense fermentations. Leave the class confident and prepared with recipes to make your own at home. Limited seating; reserve spot prior to class by phone/email. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30. (805) 801-6627. kulturhausbrewing.com/ classes/. Join to expand your knowledge of the fermentation process and get started fermenting at home. We alternate between demonstration and hands-on classes. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30-$50. (805) 801-6627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
SLO GRANGE PANCAKE BREAKFAST
Join the SLO Grange Hall for a good oldfashioned pancake breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, juice, and coffee will be served, and proceeds will benefit local non-profits. Second Sunday of every month, 8-11 a.m. $10. (805) 543-0639. slogrange.org. San Luis Obispo Grange Hall, 2880 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. VETS IN THE VINEYARD Enjoy a delightful afternoon hosted by Biddle Ranch Vineyards to benefit a local nonprofit, Central Coast Veterans Helping Veterans. Each $20 donation is eligible to win the Door Prize, a Vissani Wine Cooler with 50 bottles of Central Coast wines. July 12 , 11 a.m. $20. my805tix.com. Biddle Ranch Vineyard, 2050 Biddle Ranch Rd., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-2399.
MUSIC
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS CONCERTS IN THE PARK SERIES Enjoy Concerts in the Park 2026, with live music, summer nights, and community fun. July 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 9250951. anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ santamaria/activity/search?onlineSiteId =0&activity_select_param=2&activity_ category_ids=35&viewMode=list. Pioneer Park, 1150 W. Foster Rd., Orcutt. FAULTLINE BAND LIVE Faultline Band will be rockin’ away the afternoon. Bring your lawn chairs and your dancing shoes. July 11 1-4 p.m. Free. theblaststockyard. com. The Stockyard Blast & Brew, 241 S. Broadway Street, Orcutt. HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy live music at the winery most Friday evenings.
Check site for concert schedule. Fridays presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.
LADIES NIGHT OUT Music by DJ Van Gloryious and DJ Panda. Features delicious daiquiri specials. Thursdays, 8 p.m.midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.
LIVE JAZZ SATURDAYS Enjoy live jazz featuring The Cardinal Jazz Duo. July 11 2-4 p.m. Free. (805) 925-0860. instagram.com/ Crumblescafeandbakeshop. Crumbles Cafe & Bake Shop, 1635 S. Broadway, Santa Maria.
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.
STOCKYARD SUMMER AND FALL CONCERT SERIES
FEATURING FAULTLINE July 11 1 p.m. Free. my805tix.com.
The Stockyard, 241 S Broadway St, Orcutt. 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
THE AMANDA CASTRO BAND The Amanda Castro Band blends vintage jazz, swing, and timeless classics with style and sophistication. July 19, 3-5 p.m. $35. (805) 686-1789. solvangtheaterfest.org. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang.
LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.
SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT REFUGIO RANCH VINEYARDS TASTING The Refugio Ranch Tasting Room features live music every weekend this summer. Join us to enjoy the atmosphere and our seasonal summer menu. Through Aug. 30 (805) 6975289. refugioranch.com/events. Refugio Ranch Tasting Room, 2990 Grand Ave., Los Olivos. 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.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
MAN OF LA MANCHA Man of La Mancha is a classic musicalwithin-a-play about Miguel de Cervantes, who entertains his fellow prisoners in the Spanish Inquisition by acting out the story of the idealistic, “mad” knight Don Quixote. July 10, 7 p.m., July 11 7 p.m., July 17 7 p.m., July 18 7 p.m. and July 19 2 p.m. $20. my805tix.com. The Studio Black Box Theater, 835 W. Grand Ave, Grover Beach, (805) 473-0377. NIPOMO CONCERTS IN THE PARK Celebrate summer at Nipomo’s free Concerts in the Park series, with live bands, local food, dancing, and unforgettable evenings with friends, family, and neighbors every week. Wednesdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. through Aug. 26 Free. (805) 929-5437. nipomorecreation.com/. Nipomo Regional Park, 255 Pomeroy Road, Nipomo. PACIFIC BREEZE CONCERTS IN PISMO BEACH This concert series is a three-show summer event featuring exceptional regional musical groups and special family-friendly activities in one of Pismo Beach’s most scenic settings. Second Sunday of every month, 1-4 p.m. through July 12 Free. (805) 773-7063. pismobeach.org/73/Recreation. Dinosaur Caves Park, 2701 Price St, Pismo Beach.
THURSDAY NIGHT MUSIC IN THE PARK Free concerts with SLO County Band at Rancho Grande Park. July 9 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 473-5472. https:/arroyogrande.org/rec. Rancho Grande Park, 500 James Way, Arroyo Grande. SAN LUIS OBISPO CYBORG OCTOPUS, FERVENCE, AND NOTT LIVE July 10 6 p.m. $10-$15. my805tix.com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-9974. RACHEL BAIMAN AND SPECIAL GUEST NATALIE DEL CARMEN After appearing on the Festival Mozaic and SLO Brew Rock Late Night Series in 2022 and the See Canyon Fruit Ranch in 2023, Americana singer, songwriter, and multiinstrumentalist Rachel Baiman returns to Festival Mozaic to headline this don’t-miss show at SLO Brew Rock. July 10 7 p.m. $26.36. my805tix.com. Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-1843. ROCKIN’ THE RANCH: PAT PEARSON PROJECT July 12 1-4 p.m. $7.20. my805tix.com.
ARTS BRIEFS
Chris Jeszeck’s paintings are featured at the Cypress in July
After watercolorist Claudette Carlton’s June show at the Cypress Gallery, Chris Jeszeck recently took over as the featured artist. Her Pouring My Art Out exhibit will be up through July 26.
Jeszeck—a longtime member of the gallery’s operating body, the Lompoc Valley Art Association—paints using fluid art techniques to blend realism and abstraction. Flowing color, texture, and movement prompt viewers to stop and discover their own stories within the paintings.
“For me, creating art is both an exploration and a conversation,” Jeszeck said in press materials. “Each painting begins with an element of surprise, and I enjoy seeing where it leads. Sharing that journey with others is one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist.”
The artist is also known in the community for solo shows at the Cypress Gallery and her tenure at the Lompoc Civic Theatre. To learn more about Jeszeck’s work, YouTube channel, and more, visit chrissypaints.com.
Visiting hours at the Cypress Gallery are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday to Sunday and by appointments. The gallery is located at 119 E. Cypress Ave. in Lompoc. Find further details at lompocart.org or by following @cypressgallerylompoc.
Watch a movie in the vineyard at Demetria Estate
Enjoy summer evenings with the family by catching a movie at Demetria Estate in Los Olivos. Pretty Woman is screening on July 18, A Fish Called Wanda on Aug. 22, and Fast Times at Ridgemont High on Sept. 19.
Each of the three available dates offers a sunset dinner buffet on the patio beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a glass of wine. Then guests settle into their seats on the lower lawn with unlimited popcorn and candy to watch the film.
“Summer at Demetria Estate is particularly special,” owner and general manager Alexis Zahoudanis said in press materials. “The patio offers a beautiful setting for an afternoon of wine and live music, and we’re thrilled to bring back Movie Nights in the Vineyard. This year’s lineup features a few classics our team is especially looking forward to, and costumes are highly encouraged.”
Tickets cost $90 for adults and $75 for kids. They can be purchased online by visiting demetriaestate.orderport.net/ wines/event-tickets.
Demetria Estate is situated along the region’s wine trail, located at 6701 Foxen Canyon Road in Los Olivos. The tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment. Head to demetriaestate.com to reserve. m
At the yellow house
A Guadalupe muralist moves one step closer to opening an arts academy in town
BY MADISON WHITE
Stephanie Krouse was trained as a scientist. In her early career, she worked for seed companies, studying different treatments that impact plant growth. But a Chicago company’s acquisition of the business left Krouse and many others out of a job.
As cliché as it may sound, another door opened for her.
“Once that happened, I was like, ‘OK. Well, now I’m just going to do what I really want to do,’” Krouse told the Sun one morning at Guadalupe Café.
She navigated a path that eventually led her to create murals, teach art to kids, and now open her own business, The Yellow House Arts Academy.
Krouse recently received her license from the city to operate out of the charming abode on Guadalupe Street that she and her husband purchased in January. Her full attention is focused on getting classes started and filling the building with supplies.
“My goal is to be able to have dance classes and art classes and music classes here in Guadalupe because we really don’t have that right now,” Krouse said. “We’ve had different things at different times, but right now it’s not happening.”
Krouse’s dream is for local artists to teach individual and small group lessons in dance, music, and visual arts.
Locals of all ages can take the classes, with the bulk of instruction happening after school hours.
Krouse wants the arts academy to be accessible so as many people can use the space as possible.
“It’s been in my brain for a while,” Krouse said.
“It’s just now kind of coming to fruition.”
Many years before the banana-colored home became the site for the academy, Krouse’s great aunt grew up in that house, she said. The artist’s grandparents were longtime residents of Guadalupe, and Krouse also feels deep ties to the area, which
she visited many times when she was young. She grew up not far away in Los Osos and has lived in Guadalupe for almost 30 years.
Krouse also heard from people who are part of the Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society that previous owners had used the building for art classes. The muralist is excited to reinvigorate that part of the building’s history.
Six rooms divide the newly renovated Yellow House situated between the Historical Society and the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center. An office sits in the back, and a front room will be converted into a gift shop where local artists can sell their creations.
Supporting other small-town creatives is important to Krouse. She invited many such artists to become guest teachers when she was working at Mary Buren Elementary School to demonstrate what Guadalupe artists can do. Representation helped drive home the message that art is available, and anyone can choose to be an artist.
As of late, Krouse’s personal choice of creative expression is through murals. It’s hard to walk through town without noticing one of the giant public art pieces, and odds are, Krouse had a hand in making it.
Across from the Ninth Street Barber Shop is
Stay tuned
Though not officially open yet, The
the fence where Krouse painted her first mural in 2021. Students and community members came out for the day to help, too—a “real community paint,” as Krouse put it.
“At that point, I kind of realized that it’s really nice to have helpers, especially since the space is big,” she added. “It’s very good to have people that want to put paint down.”
Passersby could fill in a blank block from the scaled outline Krouse drew on the large surface. It’s like a coloring page.
Difficulties set in for mural painters when the Guadalupe wind rolls around. Dust and leaves blow by, bringing a chill to the air. In those cases, Krouse pauses and returns another time, sometimes weeks later depending on the weather. Until the project is done, she can’t relax. Unfinished work will keep pulling her back.
Krouse’s most recent commissioned mural was also on a fence, which she completed this year. It’s located at 908 Olivera St. in Guadalupe featuring imagery of people at a park. They’re all of different ages, abilities, and races.
Former students and other residents connect with one notable scene from the mural. It depicts children riding scooters down the street.
“They’ll ride their scooters by or their bicycles by, and be like, ‘Oh, that’s me. That’s me,’” Krouse said. “I just love to hear that because everybody finds something familiar in that about them. So, I feel like the value of public art is huge because it just makes our community more colorful, and it connects to people.”
Another project she worked on with students was creating small, colorful panels with sayings in English and Spanish that are displayed around town. For example, ‘Keep the city beautiful’ and ‘Mantenga la ciudad hermosa.’
Some of the pieces are seen in front of businesses. Others are secured in planter barrels on the street.
Multiple students worked together, and each took a different role. Similar to Krouse’s murals, it was a group effort.
“It was like trying to get them to realize that public art is not really yours or mine, it’s everybody’s,” Krouse said.
Though she’s taking a step back from her position as a teacher this year, she’s looking forward to what’s next at the arts academy. m
Reach Staff Writer Madison White at mwhite@ santamariasun.com.
COURTESY IMAGE BY CHRIS JESZECK
SUNNY PASTELS: The house at 1045 Guadalupe St. in Guadalupe will soon be transformed into Stephanie Krouse’s The Yellow House Arts Academy.
PHOTO BY MADISON WHITE
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEMETRIA ESTATE
PHOTO BY MADISON WHITE
EN LA CIUDAD: Stephanie Krouse’s art projects that she made with Guadalupe elementary students can be seen around town, like this one at a parking lot on Guadalupe Street.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STEPHANIE KROUSE
PASSION PROJECTS: Longtime Guadalupe resident Stephanie Krouse is known for creating murals around town, volunteering with local organizations, and teaching art classes at elementary schools.
Yellow House Arts Academy is located at 1045 Guadalupe St. in Guadalupe. For the latest updates, visit stephaniekrouse.com.
Hooray for Hollyweird
Co-directed by Pierre Coffin and Patrick Delage, and co-written by Coffin and Brian Lynch, this is the third Minions prequel and seventh film in the Despicable Me franchise. It’s mostly set in 1927 Hollywood, but it begins at a film history museum as Olivia (voiced by Allison Janney), is giving a tour and relates the story of two minions, James and Henry (both voiced by Coffin), who made an indelible mark on old Hollywood and the motion picture industry. (90 min.)
Glen: If you’re looking for some eye candy and movie mayhem to distract the little ones, this will do it. The silly story starts with the history of the Minions, who travel the planet looking for the evilest villain to serve. Long story short, the hapless tribe of yellow capsule-shaped creatures manages to creatively kill all of their masters through their utter ineptitude. When they witness a villain fleeing from a posse of cowboys, they pursue in hopes of serving, but instead, they discover they’ve interrupted a film being shot by Hollywood director Max (Christoph Waltz) and thus begins a lucrative film career … until talkies come along and their gibberish language renders them unemployable. But James and Henry still believe in themselves and set out to make their own film—a monster movie with real monsters conjured from a former master’s spellbook. Cinephiles will find
WIDOW’S BAY
What’s it rated? TV-MA
When? 2026
Where’s it showing? Apple TV
copious nods to vintage Hollywood, but if you’re looking for depth, it must have ended up on the cutting room floor.
MINIONS & MONSTERS
What’s it rated? PG
What’s it worth, Anna? Streaming
What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee
Where’s it showing? Regal
Edwards RPX Santa Maria, Movies Lompoc, Regal Edwards Arroyo Grande
Anna: If you’re a parent of a Minion-loving kiddo, I’m sure another installment will be welcome news. These little yellow dudes are charming, with their overalls and variations of one eye or two and a few different strands of hair. They’re bumbling troublemakers, too much trouble for most villains to handle. James and Henry are especially naughty, outcasts in their gang of Minions, but fast friends and joyful confidants. Frankly, this time of year can be tough at the theater, and we picked this movie mostly because it’s short. At just under 90 minutes, it still felt like a stretch. Maybe Minions are better off in shorts or as sidekicks to bigger storylines—carrying a full film felt like a big lift. The cast list did not disappoint, though. Plenty of familiar voices took part, and the Despicable Me franchise is well known for its ability to pull a great cast. If you’re looking to get out of the house with the kids, this may be your answer—but you’ll be just as happy watching from home where the adults can distract themselves with dinner prep or another task. Glen: Not so fast, toots. We saw this in the Downtown Centre’s Dolby Vision and Atmos theater, and you’re not going to have the same experience at home no matter how great your
TV is. It’s an eyepopper! I agree that the film felt long, and there’s not much to the storyline other than a series of cartoonish gags, but I laughed a couple of times. Trey Parker voices Goomi, an adorable Cthulhu whose full name is Gary Orcam Oliver Magma Ichabod the Deceiver. Jesse Eisenberg is Dort, and alien robot—an homage to Gort from the 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still. Jeff Bridges voices the studio head brothers Frank and Elwood Bright. If you’ve enjoyed the franchise, I think it’s worth a matinee.
Anna: True, I forget how often I’m at the actual theater compared to most people. It’s great to make movies an event, but my point is that this isn’t a film weighted evenly for child and parent enjoyment alike. This one is for the kids. Still, I had a chuckle, and the kids in the theater seemed to love it. m
New Times Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Comment at gstarkey@ newtimesslo.com.
I saw a post on Instagram this morning that had clips from Widow’s Bay and the caption read, “I love my spooky Parks and Rec ,” and that’s a perfect description of this series.
Mayor Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys, who’s having quite the career year) is somewhat reminiscent of Mayor Vaughn in Jaws —much too eager for tourism dollars and willing to dismiss the red flags waving all over town. Widow’s Bay is a cursed town, but the mayor, who’s a transplant, doesn’t believe it.
Mayoral office workers Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) and Rosemary (the great Dale Dickey) are absolutely key to this series’ greatness, proving to be the thorns in Tom’s side just as often as they’re helpful. I’ll definitely be giving another watch before season 2 comes out. That’s the great news—this series has been renewed for another spooky season.
island town the next Martha’s Vineyard but instead discovers an ancient curse, streaming on Apple TV.
Campy and reminiscent of Twin Peaks this has an eerie feel, kooky characters, and enough mystery to hook you. I am totally sold on this series and the season to come—I hope
they stick to the feel of the first season. (10 31-to-48-min. episodes).
—Anna
GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE
What’s it rated? R When? 2025
Where’s it showing? Hulu
Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Rango , A Cure for Wellness) directs this relentlessly inventive script by Matthew Robinson (The Invention of Lying Love and Monsters) about The Man from the Future (Sam Rockwell) who travels back in time to a Los Angeles diner to recruit a group of disgruntled patrons to help him in a one-night quest to stop the creation of a rogue artificial intelligence that will destroy humanity.
The film has a lot to say about our relationship to technology. Two of his recruits—Mark (Michael Peña) and Janet (Zazie Beetz)—are teachers who were attacked by students hypnotized by their phones. Another, Susan (Juno Temple), had her son cloned after he was killed in a school shooting, but something’s wrong with the kid. Ingrid (Haley Lu Richardson) loses her partner to virtual reality after he refuses to remove his headset.
This is absurdist comedy at its best, and Rockwell is perfect in the lead role as a man who keeps coming back from the future to find the right combination of people to help him complete his mission. It’s wacky fun on
THESPIANS: The Minions are discovered by Hollywood, but as the industry transitions to talkies, they discover their gibber language puts their new careers in jeopardy, in Minions & Monsters, screening in local theaters.
the surface but explores our cultural decline. (134 min.) m —Glen
DREAMER: In the TV series Widow’s Bay, Matthew Rhys stars as Mayor Tom Loftis, who hopes to make his
WE’RE DOOMED: Sam Rockwell stars as The Man from the Future, who recruits diner patrons for his mission to stop AI from destroying humanity, in Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die, streaming on Hulu.
Eats Straws optional
Two bars turn up the tikithemed heat in the Santa Ynez Valley this summer
BY MADISON WHITE
Most descriptions of northern Santa Barbara County include grapes and vines, but that’s not all you’ll find in this slice of paradise. Joining breweries, distilleries, cafés, and juice bars are a couple of tropical havens serving a different kind of escapism to beat the heat.
Solvang’s High Roller Tiki Lounge is no stranger to blending pineapple and coconut with rum. During the pandemic, Michael Cobb moved his wine tasting room to Alisal Road and rebranded, becoming a fully fledged island-inspired gem. He’s now focused on turning High Roller into a critical part of the Solvang nightlife scene. Customers order liquor-alternative cocktails, craft beers, and micheladas.
“It’s really the coolest place in town, in my opinion—my humble opinion,” Cobb told the Sun. “We do tropical drinks. We have probably the cheapest beer in town, … and live music every Friday and Saturday.”
Cobb’s house special, This Drink Will Get You Lei’d, fills a glass with white wine, passion fruit, ginger syrup, and lemon juice. The Painkilla mixes white wine, rum, pineapple and orange juices, cream of coconut, and nutmeg.
Guests have long been able to sip such libations in one of the special tiki mugs that High Roller sells, but the bar’s latest souvenir cup has a special backstory.
The ceramic California Bob tiki mug was designed by artist Bobby Doran, a customer who’s frequented High Roller since the era of patio dining and social distancing.
“He did some artist renderings of our building, which was really cool. And he sent them to me,” Cobb remembered. “I didn’t even know he had done those while he was sitting there, but he’s a very giving person, just a warm, genuine human being. I love to be working with him. … He’s the embodiment of what ohana is.”
Last year at a weekend event for tiki enthusiasts, the artist showed Cobb a sketch of what would become the California Bob mug. The idea borrowed the face of a statue at a well-known San Francisco bar called Tiki Bob’s. That Bay Area bar was open from 1955 to 1983, Cobb explained, but the tiki mascot still stands outside. Many people have made their own versions, and High Roller’s take highlights the Danish town.
On the back of the brown mug, which is shaped like the Golden State, there’s a tribute to High Roller and a “Welcome to California” message. Cobb had 500 mugs produced, and there are around 125 left for purchase online or at the lounge. The community celebrated with a release party in June.
Unlike Cobb’s year-round tiki concept, Alberto Battaglini introduced tiki Thursdays to Pony Cocktails + Kitchen in June. The Santa Ynez coffee shop started selling lunch and dinner in late 2024, and Battaglini’s been searching for ways to keep locals engaged.
Pony is now open seven days a week for all three meals. The owner and his team offer a fine dining experience without tacking on that label. Battaglini wants to be approachable, so he’s been searching for ways to draw guests in during the week.
“For the longest time, I wanted to have the restaurant create a series of events where I was able to connect with the community more,” Battaglini said. “It all started with a locals’ night.”
Pony’s current lineup is paloma Mondays (with a signature tagline, ‘Trading wine for lime”), locals’ night on Tuesdays, and fried chicken and
Take a tiki break
High Roller Tiki Lounge (433 Alisal Road in Solvang) is open Sundays from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday to Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. Reserve a table at highrollertiki.com.
Pony Cocktails + Kitchen is open daily. Breakfast and lunch hours are from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Find the restaurant at 3558 Sagunto St. in Santa Ynez. Visit ponycocktailskitchen.com for more.
waffle Wednesdays. Thursday night was always the thorn in Battaglini’s side because no themes stuck. Then, he thought of a tiki tribute.
On Thursday nights guests are encouraged to wear Hawaiian shirts and enjoy $12 happy hour tiki cocktails all night. Drinks are named with Central Coast nods, like the Mai Tai 101, equipped with “funky” rum, lime, orange liqueur and syrup, and guava.
“The piña colada became the Pony Colada,” Battaglini said. “That one is fantastic. People are literally losing their mind over it.”
With coconut-washed rum, coconut crema, pineapple, and walnut bitters, it’s not hard to imagine why. Pony’s tiki drink menu rounds out with a painkiller and a zombie, but neither are too sweet.
With three kinds of rum, the Channel Islands Zombie has a higher alcohol content that shines through the pineapple and guava juices. The cocktail also has a combination of cinnamon, Falernum (a spiced liqueur out of Barbados), and absinthe, which is what Battaglini believes prevents it from tasting too sugary.
“I’m having fun creating all of this, to be honest, and just adjusting them to the modern palate,” the owner said.
On top of regular dinner items, Thursday
nights also come with options of a pork sandwich, fried fish, lumpia-style crab rangoons, and tostones, or fried plantain chips.
Pony staff members join the fun too by dressing for the occasion. Battaglini said everyone wants to work Thursday nights now.
“It’s really fun, and I think it gives the valley a different point of view because everybody’s so serious around here,” Battaglini said. “Everybody’s tasting wines all day.”
Battaglini knows he’s got a good thing going and is excited to see it evolve. On the tiki Thursday menu, Pony leaves an invitation-slash-challenge to everyone: Hawaiian shirts encouraged. Dignity optional. m
Staff Writer Madison White will be rushing to the valley for tropical beverages as soon as she gets the chance. In the meantime, reach her at mwhite@ santamariasun.com.
PHOTO COURTESY OF PONY COCKTAILS + KITCHEN
LOCALS, COME ON DOWN: Alberto Battaglini, the owner of Pony Cocktails + Kitchen, started tiki Thursdays as part of his special weeknight programming to better connect with the community.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HIGH ROLLER TIKI LOUNGE
IN THE DANISH TOWN: High Roller Tiki Lounge mixes tropical drinks all year long alongside a kitschy atmosphere on Alisal Road in Solvang.
PHOTO COURTESY OF HIGH ROLLER
SPOT THE SOLVANG MAP DOT: A new custom mug debuted in June at the High Roller Tiki Lounge in Solvang. The smiley face is inspired by a statue outside a famous San Francisco tiki bar combined with California imagery.
