Sun, April 13, 2023

Since October 2022, Pioneer Valley High has had nine drug-related incidents on campus. Two of those required the use of Narcan, a drug that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. More young people are dying from overdoses, prompting Narcan training and availability on campuses. As Santa Maria schools deal with such incidents, parents are asking for more communication and more prevention education programs for students. For this story, Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor speaks with parents, school officials, law enforcement officers, and nonprofits to find out why more data isn’t being shared with families and what can be done to raise awareness [7]

You can also read about why Lompoc can’t develop on certain ag land [4]; two North County writers featured in a Central Coast author event [22]; and where to get a taste of Tuscany in the Santa Ynez Valley [25]

BAD CHEMISTRY: Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin, is increasingly showing up in other drugs, unbeknownst to those ingesting it. Local schools are prepared to deal with overdoses, and parents want more info.

Andrea Rooks associate editor

TEAM’S

• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) sent a letter to the CEOs of 27 major companies accused of exploiting migrant children for labor, urging them to take immediate steps to stop any unlawful exploitation or ill treatment of children, according to an April 5 statement from Padilla’s office. Some of the specific companies include General Mills, PepsiCo, Frito Lay, Fruit of the Loom, Walmart , and Target

In their letter, the senators explain that migrant children have reportedly been working at their facilities, or in support of their facilities, in unsafe occupations, in hazardous conditions, and in other unlawful circumstances. The senators demanded the companies carefully examine hiring procedures, workplace safety requirements, and compliance with wage and hour laws as they apply to minors. They also question the companies’ actions since the allegations were made public. “According to the Department of Labor, NBC News and The New York Times, migrant children have been working at your facilities in hazardous conditions, engaged in work that is not suitable for their age group, and working hours well beyond what is permitted by law,” the lawmakers wrote. “Your staff must be trained, and retrained if necessary, on federal and state child labor laws to ensure that children are not being placed in harm’s way, and employees must have the opportunity to report unfair labor practices without risk or fear of retaliation.”

• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) issued a statement following the arrest of former President Donald Trump following a federal indictment on more than 30 counts of falsifying business records. “While Mr. Trump deserves the same rights as any in our justice system—due process, presumption of innocence, and a speedy trial—I have been deeply troubled by the former president’s dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric that cannot be interpreted any other way than him trying to intimidate the judge, jury, and witnesses that will be part of his eventual case. Any incitements of violence by or on behalf of Mr. Trump must be condemned,” Carbajal said. “Some have suggested that the powers of Congress might be wielded to interfere in a local district attorney’s prosecution. This would be an extremely partisan and gross abuse of power. I implore my colleagues in the House to not stoop to Mr. Trump’s misguided antics, and to not embark on the very thing they claimed they wanted to root out with their newly gained legislative power: ‘weaponization of the federal government.’ The justice system must be allowed to proceed without interference.”

• Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office issued a progress report on actions over the past year to build climate resilience across the state, following the state’s Climate Adaptation Strategy that aimed to protect vulnerable communities from climate threats and new ways to adapt to climate extremes, according to an April 5 statement from Newsom’s office. The released report showed nearly three-quarters of the strategy’s 350 metrics across 150 actions that are in progress or completed, with remaining metrics in the early stages. “Climate change is happening all around us. In just the last year, California experienced a record heat wave and communities suffering from years of drought are now facing historic flooding. We are acting now with an all-of-the-above approach to help all Californians prepare and adapt,” Newsom said in the statement. “California’s Climate Adaptation Strategy recognizes that extreme weather and other climate impacts threaten communities in every part of our state and accelerates actions to protect the most vulnerable. While we have made great progress over the last year, the climate crisis demands we move further and faster to reduce risks to our people.” m

Lompoc’s proposal to annex farmland for housing development gets rejected

Environmental advocates and farmers called a recent local agency decision a victory for preserving agricultural land, while Lompoc city officials called it a loss for housing opportunities.

Lompoc submitted a proposal to annex 148 acres of farmland—in the county’s jurisdiction along Bailey Avenue—for residential development to the Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), a group of county and city officials that establishes policies and makes decisions that encourage “efficient urban development” while considering open space preservation and rules on annexation decisions, according to its website.

LAFCO denied the proposal 6-1 (with Commissioner and Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne dissenting) during its April 6 meeting, to preserve prime agricultural land and recommend that the city look at potential infill development opportunities instead as opposed to urban sprawl, Environmental Defense Center Attorney Maggie Hall told the Sun.

“Basically the staff at LAFCO determined … the city’s proposal failed to promote infill development, jobs-housing balance, and it would convert prime farmland that would not achieve orderly growth,” Hall said. “This has been going on for a long time; the city of Lompoc has been trying to expand in this direction and annex, bring these properties within the city’s jurisdiction, with the goal to provide residential development and convert ag land.”

The Environmental Defense Center advocated on behalf of the Santa Barbara County Action Network to preserve these lands in order “to have a strong source of local agricultural production,” she said.

“It’s important to reduce sprawl and promote development within the city’s existing boundaries,” Hall said.

Lompoc City Manager Dean Albro said that infill development is not the type of housing that’s needed in Lompoc; rather, it needs medium- to low-density housing, and Lompoc has been trying to annex the Bailey Avenue property to do so since the ’90s.

“The only reason we’re keying in on that farmland is because we can’t produce the housing we need anymore. [A large] percentile is traveling to Santa Maria and Orcutt. We’re losing dollars to these areas while we’re trying to maintain our municipality,” Albro said.

Albro conducted a recent study of city employees who make more than $75,000 and found that only 42 percent of them live within Lompoc’s limits, and 58 percent live elsewhere and commute into the city for work, he said.

“As a city manager, I’m trying to develop a stronger community, and having my workforce

leave means they take their tax dollars but also their mentorship. I want to see them mentor the young people in our community,” Albro said.

On top of this, the state allocated 2,248 housing units to Lompoc to be developed in its 2023-2035 Housing Element update—a staterequired process that looks at housing needs every eight years—a significant jump from the previous cycle’s 525 units.

“We do have a couple of projects in the pipe, but once we’re done we’re really concerned because these housing numbers take years and in order to meet those … numbers, we have to start now,” Albro said.

Currently, Lompoc only develops about 11 houses a year, and it only had eight infill projects go through last year; at this pace, it would take the city 200 years to meet its Housing Element requirements, he said.

“We’re going to take the cards that are dealt to us to do our best to do infill work, work with [Vandenberg Space Force Base] to get housing,” he said. “We’re going to try and be a solution and work on infill.”

—Taylor O’Connor

Solvang considers disbanding Tourism Advisory Committee

To keep its marketing arm from being in limbo, Solvang is temporarily halting meetings of its Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC), while city officials consider restructuring the group.

During the Solvang City Council’s April 10 meeting, Councilmember Robert Clarke initially argued to disband the committee, following the departure of the city’s marketing agency, The Abbi Agency—which resigned in mid-March.

“We don’t have a marketing agency, we don’t have a marketing manager, and I think we should stop and disband the TAC and start this whole thing from scratch,” Clarke said at the April 10 meeting. “I think there’s enough qualified people in this town to get together, that care enough about this town to really make the TAC something a step, two steps, three steps above where it has been. I want to wipe the entire slate clean.”

The week before, at its April 6 meeting, the TAC was working on preparing advice for the City Council on how to move forward marketing-wise, with recommendations for potential future marketing consultants to consider, a report the City Council had requested. By the end of that

meeting, the group had one less committee member.

After accusing committee member Kim Jensen of “combative, aggressive behavior” during a discussion on potential hires, which escalated into an argument, TAC Chair Vashti Wilson left the dais.

“I’m going to leave you guys exactly as I found you. I know what I bring to the table, and I don’t have to stay in a place in which I’m experiencing this,” Wilson said. “I wish you well.”

Other committee members were quiet while Wilson packed up and left the room. Interim City Manager Brad Vidro broke the silence with a comment to committee member Alexander Grenier.

“So, Alex is the vice chair,” Vidro said. “He will now take over the meeting.”

“I just ask that through the course of the rest of this meeting that, while we can all disagree with each other on specific issues, we try to remain united—especially in regards to all the press going on,” Grenier said. “If we don’t have a civil discourse here, or if we don’t have some level of a united front, people are going to take this and construe this as a further abdication of our responsibilities.

“We need to work together on this, and I don’t want a further twisted media narrative.”

Before the end of its April 10 meeting, the Solvang City Council unanimously agreed to postpone future TAC meetings until staff can coordinate a special joint meeting between the City Council and the TAC to discuss the group’s future in a public forum setting.

—Caleb Wiseblood

Pismo Beach debars

Santa Maria construction company for second time

A five-year-long battle between a Santa Mariabased construction company and Pismo Beach government ended in the company’s debarment, but legal unrest between the two is ongoing.

“We agree with city of Pismo Beach Councilmember Stacy Inman. Based upon the applicable legal standards and facts at issue in this matter, debarment is not applicable and not warranted,” attorney Patricia Wolfe wrote in a statement to the Sun. “We intend to address this matter in the applicable court order.”

Wolfe works for Hunt Ortmann, a law firm that specializes in construction and labor issues. The firm represents Santa Maria’s V. Lopez Jr. & Sons Inc.

Pismo Beach hired Lopez in 2017 to replace the Five Cities Lift Station, perform maintenance on six lift stations, and repair elements of the wastewater collection system. Lopez worked on the project in conjunction with Water

PRESERVING LAND: The Santa Barbara Local Agency Formation Commission voted to preserve farmland rather than allowing the city to annex the property for housing development.

SCREENSHOT FROM PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEETING

HATCHING PLANS: During a past Pismo Beach City Council meeting, attorney John Darling, representing V. Lopez & Sons construction company, said that Pismo Beach Public Works Director Ben Fine and engineer Chad Stoehr devised a plan to punish the company unfairly for delays.

Systems Consulting (WSC), a project designer appointed by the city. But the city alleged that Lopez caused delays to the project due to poor planning and a lack of understanding about municipal systems and public works.

In a 4-1 vote on March 21, the Pismo Beach City Council declared Lopez “non-responsible” and debarred the company from working on city projects for the next five years.

Councilmember Inman was the sole dissenter.

“I don’t think there was any evidence of untrustworthiness, but there were definitely problems with quality at the Spyglass Park … at the Five Cities Lift Station,” Inman said at the meeting. “Those are my concerns, but I’m not sure they rise to the level of debarment.”

This is the second time that Pismo Beach has debarred Lopez for the same set of issues dating back to 2018. In 2020, the City Council unanimously voted to debar the company—a move that City Manager Jim Lewis called “very rare.”

Scott Baker, the attorney who represented Lopez at the time, filed a petition contesting the city’s decision.

Wolfe told the Sun that the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court “ruled there were due process violations” and threw out the debarment. Hunt Ortmann attorney John Darling, who also represents Lopez, called the first debarment “unconstitutional” during the defense hearing at Pismo Beach City Hall on March 7.

With the help of a 130-slide presentation, Darling alleged that city staff unfairly placed the blame on Lopez while refusing to study the actions and responsibilities of project designer WSC. He further stated that city Public Works Director Ben Fine and city engineer Chad

Stoehr “concocted” a debarment story with WSC and colluded with Fine’s Grover Beach counterpart Greg Ray to punish Lopez.

Grover Beach hired Lopez in 2017 for a $6.3 million city project that also faced delays.

“Lopez, as any other public works contractor would do, alerts Grover Beach that the project is going to cost more and take longer because of the problems with their plans and specifications,” Darling’s presentation read.

Despite background check conversations with Ray in 2017, Fine hired Lopez. Darling told City Council that Fine was predisposed to dislike the construction company based on Ray’s experience with them. He presented excerpts from a 2017 deposition transcript detailing Fine’s recollection of his conversation with Ray.

“I was told the end product you will get will be satisfactory; the road to getting there will be miserable; if you can find a way out of the contract, I highly recommend you do so,” the transcript read.

At the March 21 meeting, council members flexed their discretion about the debarment decision, as previously suggested by Pismo Beach City Attorney David Fleishman.

“What kept coming back to me is the definition of ‘satisfactorily perform,’” Councilmember Scott Newton said. “To me, that doesn’t mean, ‘What does the finished project look like?’ It’s the path to getting there. To me, that path to completion was where all the issues rose.”

Newton added that the “path” wasn’t satisfactory, prompting agreement from Mayor Ed Waage.

Pismo Beach spokesperson Jorge Garcia told the Sun that the city has no comments on the issue. m

—Bulbul Rajagopal

In the dark

BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR

Pioneer Valley High School parent Vanessa Valadez first heard about possible drug overdoses on campus from her daughter, a freshman, rather than getting notified by administration.

“For me, it wasn’t that it was very surprising, but it was very concerning because we had no information,” Valadez said. “If we had more information, it would be a clearer situation. I see a lot of parents online who are angry and confused.”

Valadez and her husband called the school following an incident on March 6 to ask why parents hadn’t been immediately notified and to see if there was more information available. She said that the dean of students told the couple that the school was working on getting a statement but wanted to get the “wording right.”

“She was very helpful, but she didn’t know how to address us just yet,” Valadez said. “There’s also no information if the kids recovered; there’s a lot of rumors that one of the [students] died, but I don’t know because the school is not communicating with the parents.”

Santa Maria Police Sgt. Felix Diaz told the Sun that there have been nine total incidents at Pioneer Valley since October 2022 and all students survived.

“Of the nine, four were related to pills, two Narcan was used, and then three were unknown drugs the kid[s] had ingested,” Diaz said. “They weren’t all necessarily overdoses. The two that were more than likely overdoses were the ones where Narcan was administered.”

He explained that on March 6, Pioneer Valley High School officials called Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for an unconscious student. EMS arrived at the school and administered Narcan—an opioid antagonist that reverses an overdose’s effects—and transported the student to the hospital, he said

Two weeks later, on March 20, another Pioneer Valley student went unconscious during class; the school went on lockdown and called EMS—which arrived, administered Narcan, and transported the student to the hospital, Valadez said, citing an automated call she got from the school on March 23.

“I understand the school has no control—if the kids [want] to take drugs, they are going to take drugs—but what they can control is the information they let parents know,” Valadez said. “It’s not the school’s fault, but a call would be nice.”

Now, community nonprofits and city officials are working with the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) to provide more educational opportunities to high schoolers and the community about opioids—specifically fentanyl, a synthetic opiate 50 times more potent than heroin that’s often mixed with other drugs.

The total number of overdoses SMJUHSD sites have experienced this school year remains unclear. On March 30, Valadez said that she hadn’t yet heard from the district regarding any educational opportunities or how they will ensure student safety.

“Kids do need more information, but parents would like to know that the school is providing this type of information,” she said. “Our kids are in school for eight hours or more; it’s just one of those situations [where] we want to know that our kids are safe at Pioneer.”

Data unavailable

At Santa Maria High School, two drug-related incidents occurred in late January and early to mid-February, with one involving fentanyl and the other possibly involving methamphetamine, Santa Maria Police Sgt. Diaz said.

The district’s remaining high schools—Delta and Ernest Righetti—fall in the unincorporated areas of Santa Barbara County, so the Santa Maria Police Department doesn’t respond to those calls or track the corresponding data, he said.

Raquel Zick, the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office public information officer, told the Sun that the Sheriff’s Office doesn’t have the data because overdoses are medical emergencies that

deputies respond to as an “outside agency assist.”

“The primary agency is medics, so EMSA [Emergency Medical Services Agency] would have the information you are looking for,” Zick said in an email

The Sun sent a data request to EMSA—which is overseen by the county Public Health Department—for the total number of calls EMSA received from all SMJUHSD schools during the 2022-23 school year, and if those numbers could be broken down by individual high schools.

Rynn Schumacher, the county Public Health Department’s public information officer, said in an email that both entities abide by Safe Harbor Provision laws, which are in place to protect patient privacy and limits the ways patient data can be shared.

“Patient data [is] considered PHI (Protected Health Information), is required to be kept secure including identifying information such as names, birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers,” Schumacher said in an email. “While you are not directly asking for this information, the numbers of your request is relatively small enough to deduce and connect back to the patients.”

Pioneer Valley Principal Shanda Herrera did not respond to the Sun’s multiple inquiries for comment.

Kenny Klein, the high school district’s public information officer, told the Sun in an email that confidentiality prohibits him from commenting on personal student matters.

“In general, if a student exhibits symptoms of what may appear to be an opioid exposure, there are trained staff at every site, and Narcan is available to administer before medical personnel arrive,” Klein said. “The data you are requesting is not available as it would come from a physician’s diagnosis.”

Countywide, the number of opioid-related hospital visits for 15- to 19-year-olds more than tripled from nine visits in 2019 to 30 visits in 2021. Overdose deaths more than doubled between 2020 and 2021 with 18 deaths for the same age group, according to previous Sun reporting.

According to a January 2023 Naloxone Usage Report from the county Public Health Department, EMSA reported 374 unduplicated suspected opioid overdoses in 2022. The information wasn’t broken down by age or specific demographics.

A community effort

Santa Maria Police officers will normally approach patients, depending on their medical condition, following an overdose and conduct an interview to get more information on where the drugs came from and backtrack from there, Sgt. Diaz said.

“We’ve been working on finding ways to curtail things of that nature and with Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley for

more presentations on the dangers of drugs,” he said.

Diaz added that there have been more discussions surrounding school security and safety, but said that he couldn’t go into detail.

Santa Maria Police Sgt. Daniel Rios, who runs the detective bureau, said that the Police Department assigned detectives to some of the cases and are working collaboratively with Pioneer Valley to investigate the overdoses.

“If any crimes are established, we will seek prosecution against those supplying drugs to minors and things like that,” Rios said.

Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley Executive Director Edwin Weaver said that his organization will continue to work with the district to provide presentations that inform students about the opioid crisis, he said.

“I can’t comment specifically about anyone’s medical issues, but I can say we do have a fentanyl problem in the Santa Maria Valley. It seems to mostly be in the high schools, and from what we can tell, it’s mostly a fentanyl poisoning issue,” Weaver said.

The presentations are designed to inform students about fentanyl’s lethal impacts, he said.

“We’re not trying to scare anybody straight or tell them to just say ‘no.’ It’s literally a poison that will kill them and that’s it. There’s nothing else to add,” he said.

Now, in partnership with Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, Fighting Back will host opioid informational presentations at town hall meetings. No meetings had been scheduled as of April 6.

The presentations will include the Police Department’s perspective on the law enforcement side; a physician will come in to discuss fentanyl and the high risks associated with adolescents; and county Behavioral Wellness will discuss addiction, how to look for signs of untreated mental health conditions, and county mental health resources to combat these issues, Weaver said.

“We want to make sure parents understand what they can do to protect their children,” he said.

Mayor Patino added that these meetings will take place in the four different quadrants of the city to make them more accessible for all neighborhoods. She said that it’s important for everyone, including those who don’t have students in the district, to be informed.

“We have to be a part of that education process with these kids,” Patino said. “The lack of education as far as fentanyl goes inhibits our ability to attack the problem, and we need to attack it together.” m

Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@ santamariasun.com.

Parents wait for information from Santa Maria high school district about student overdoses, city officials work to inform community about opioids

NEEDING INFORMATION: Pioneer Valley High School recently experienced two overdoses within 12 days that required the use of Narcan. While the high school has trained staff and has doses of the opioid antagonist on-site, an increasing number of parents want more information to ensure student safety.

‘For me, it wasn’t that it was very surprising, but it was very concerning because we had no information. … If we had more information, it would be a clearer situation. I see a lot of parents online who are angry and confused.’

—Vanessa Valadez, Pioneer Valley High parent

SÁBADO, 15 DE ABRIL / SATURDAY, APRIL 15th

7 PM | GUADALUPE CITY HALL | 918 OBISPO STREET

Las puertas se abrirán a las 6:30 pm. Habrá recepción después del espectáculo. Doors open 6:30 pm. Reception follows the performance.

@vivaelartesantabarbara @vivaelartesb

Bring life downtown

BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR

Ed Carcarey and his partner wanted to create a community event that allowed Santa Maria residents to gather downtown eight years ago, but Carcarey said he didn’t think it would ever be possible.

“At the time, the economy wasn’t doing great, and I [knew] enough about the city’s finances so I didn’t think it would happen,” Carcarey said. “[But] the city planners changed and revised their downtown specific plan. … Part of the plan to revitalize downtown was to start bringing events downtown.”

After approaching a city planner to see if it would be possible to do a seasonal, Friday night event with live music, Carcarey launched Downtown Fridays: a free, family-friendly event that runs every Friday from the last week of March to the last week in September. It now attracts more than 2,500 people each week with its live music, food trucks, beer garden, kids zone, a new bingo tent, and a wide variety of local shops.

This year’s Downtown Fridays kicked off March 31 and will run until Sept. 29 at the Town Center West parking lot near Broadway and Cook Street.

“It’s hard to beat. It’s a free event, free parking, and it’s something to do on a Friday night in Santa Maria. If you’re in Santa Maria, you know there’s not a lot of options to come out and do something that’s family friendly,” Carcarey said.

Through a partnership with the city and several sponsorships, Downtown Fridays are able to remain free and have all of the costs covered, he added.

“That’s huge for an event like this because if we don’t have a gate or parking revenue, it’s really hard to pull it off or find revenue for all of that,” Carcarey said.

The COVID-19 pandemic shut down Downtown Fridays, causing it to go digital with Facebook Live concerts and have five food trucks in the parking lot for people to pick up food orders to-go every Friday.

As restrictions were lifted, he said he noticed a significant bounce back in attendance, and more mom-and-pop shops opened and wanted to participate in Downtown Fridays.

“We found after we opened back up [that] we had all these booths opening up because people wanted to do something as a side-hustle. We ended up with about a 25 percent growth in booths,” Carcarey said.

There were new clothing booths, toy and game booths, and boots and shoes booths that Downtown Fridays never saw before, he said.

“They were filling niches that they felt other people in the community weren’t. We even had a barber staff [that] cuts hair really inexpensively as part of training for their barbers,” he said.

Carcarey added that he anticipates more attendance as the downtown continues developing, including the recent approval to convert the old Fallas building, which is in Town Center West, to a new apartment complex.

“Because of the revitalization, one of the unintended consequences will be we will have to find a new home in the future,” he said.

One of Carcarey’s goals is to take Downtown Fridays and host them on the street, similar to the SLO city Farmers’ Market every Thursday to create that type of experience for Santa Maria residents, he said.

“Our ultimate plan—and this is a Hail Mary, and I think one day it will happen—we want to be out on Broadway, which is a state highway. It’s hard to get Broadway shut down; it does for two parades and car shows,” Carcarey said. “But at some point the city will have to take ownership of Broadway, and that’s where a true Downtown Friday should be.”

Email edcarcarey@yahoo.com to participate at Downtown Fridays.

Highlight:

• More than 30 Santa Ynez Valley women winemakers and more than a dozen female food counterparts gathered for the sixth annual Santa Barbara County Women Winemakers Celebration on March 8 to bring together women in the industry and show support for one another. The Women Winemakers Celebration, held each year on or near International Women’s Day (March 8), has for the past six celebrations donated event proceeds to a variety of Santa Barbara County nonprofits, all aimed at aiding underserved groups within the region’s communities.

The 2023 event raised $15,000 in charitable event proceeds for The Rainbow House Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to serving the LGBTQ-plus community in the Santa Ynez Valley. m

Send

Reach Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor at toconnor@ santamariasun.com.

Co-presented by The Marjorie Luke Theatre, the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center and UCSB Arts and Lectures, in partnership with the Isla Vista School After School Grant.

A COMMUNITY GATHERING: Downtown Fridays is a free, family-friendly event that highlights local food vendors, businesses, and bands at the Town Center West parking lot every Friday from the end of March until the end of September.

Santa Maria’s Downtown Fridays return and expect continued growth as the city continues to approve revitalization projects

Should HVI Cat Canyon Inc. have to pay for the state abandonment and plugging project at its sites in Santa Barbara County?

56% HVI is the company that caused all of the oil spills and problems. They should be the ones to fix it.

22% The company is bankrupt, I don’t know how it would be expected to pay for anything.

16% Who’s HVI?

6% HVI should pay for part of the project, but not for all of it.

18 Votes

Vote online at www.santamariasun.com.

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Fix your leaks

This spring, conserve water and save money by repairing leaky pipes, fixtures, and appliances

BY MARK ZIMMER

It’s springtime, the time of year when Californians work on repairing their lawns and restoring their gardens with bright and colorful plants before the hot days of summer set in.

The first day of spring marks when communities throughout America observe the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Fix a Leak Week (which was March 20 through 26). The annual observance promotes water conservation and helps consumers save money by identifying and repairing leaky irrigation systems, pipes, fixtures, and appliances.

Even though California has experienced significant snow and severe rainstorms in recent months, this springtime observance is as important as ever.

LETTERS

Support the Dana Reserve development

As a local business owner in our community, I am deeply concerned about the lack of affordable housing options for our workforce. Many of my employees struggle to find affordable housing near our business, which not only affects their quality of life but also impacts our business’s ability to attract and retain talent. There is a critical shortage of available and affordable housing across the Central Coast. SLO County has just “earned” second place on the list of least affordable small metro areas in the United States, coming in just behind Napa.

Providing affordable housing options for our workforce isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also good for our local economy. When employees can live near their workplace, they spend less

As drought conditions evolve, our community must continue to use water responsibly and take advantage of conservation rebates and programs that help improve wateruse efficiency. Ongoing drought conditions have made conservation a way of life in California, and fixing leaks is a great place to start.

According to the EPA, average household leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, and 10 percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day. When you consider the average pool takes 18,000 gallons to fill, this is a massive waste of a precious resource.

To help our customers identify leaks, our employees are providing free water audits. Participating customers will receive a free Flume Smart Home Water Monitor, a device that helps monitor water use, identify leaks, and control water costs directly from a smartphone app. Flume typically retails for $199.

Customers are also encouraged to visit gswater.com/fix-leak-week for tips to identify and repair indoor and outdoor leaks. By following these simple and efficient solutions, customers can conserve water and effectively manage their water bills.

time commuting and more time participating in the local economy. It also allows our business to attract and retain talented employees, which is critical for our growth and success.

I recently attended an informational session about the Dana Reserve, a housing development located in Nipomo at Willow Road and Highway 101. This is a new development of over 1,200 homes across the affordability spectrum. More than two-thirds of the housing will be accessible to people living and working on the Central Coast, through both deed restriction and smaller homes that are more affordable by design. The local developer of the project is donating land to People’s Self-Help Housing as well as additional fees to SLO County, in order to help meet our region’s need to house our workforce.

Dana Reserve will also include commercial spaces,

WRITE NOW!

We want to know what you think about everything. Send your 250-word letter to Sun Letters, 2450 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria, CA 93455. You can also fax it (1-805-546-8641) or e-mail it (letters@santamariasun.com). All letters must include a name, address, and phone number for verification purposes; may be edited for space or clarity; and will be posted to santamariasun.com.

At Golden State Water, we are also obligated to maintain our water system by properly maintaining and investing in the infrastructure that protects local water supplies. The capital investments we are making today and in the future ensure that your community never has to think twice about the quality and reliability of their drinking water.

A shared commitment to saving water will have a profound impact on protecting our state’s most precious resource, water.

This spring, join us in fixing a leak. m

Mark Zimmer is the general manager of Golden State Water Company, serving Santa Maria, Los Osos, and the Simi Valley. Send a letter in response to letters@santamariasun.com.

parks, land for a future Cuesta College campus, a fire station location, fiber-optic internet, a nonprofit daycare center, improved circulation, infrastructure, transit stops, and equestrian trails. Water is a top concern for everyone. The Dana Reserve not only preserves Nipomo’s water basin but provides direct relief to ratepayers who would otherwise be responsible for the enormous cost of purchasing water from Santa Maria (the result of a 2011 court ruling to solve the Nipomo basin’s overdraft). While no single project can meet all of our community’s needs, the Dana Reserve will be a big step in the right direction for our workforce, commerce, housing, education, and water sustainability.

Adam Verdin Nipomo Mesa

Stop playing chicken with the debt ceiling

Since Republicans took over House leadership, they’ve focused on settling political scores but made no serious effort to do the job. Instead, they are taking us to the brink— refusing to pay the nation’s bills, playing chicken with the debt ceiling, risking a default that threatens the American economy. And for what? More tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and cuts to the services millions of Americans depend on, like Medicare, Social Security, and even food programs benefiting hungry children. Each day, the threat of a default crisis grows. And even the threat itself causes problems.

We cannot allow the GOP to let us default. The consequences to working folks are too high. Default would threaten the earned benefits of seniors, veterans, and families relying on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. It would compromise doctors’ ability to provide services to Medicare and Medicaid patients. It would delay pay to the National Guard and increase rates on credit cards, student loans, and mortgages while gutting 401(k)s and retirement investments.

Make no mistake: This is a forced crisis, and the extreme wing of the GOP needs to stop playing this game now. Congress has a long history of working across the aisle to raise the debt limit with no strings attached—in fact, it did it three times when Trump was in the White House. It’s time to raise the debt ceiling and keep our economy on track.

Carlos Arnold Santa Maria

YOUR STORY MATTERS

Parents hear about things. They hear about many alarming things like overdoses during the school day from their kids, from other parents, from teachers, from social media, etc. And when scary things happen in the environment their children are in eightplus hours a day, parents should be getting the truth directly from the administration.

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District is reacting poorly to recent situations by refusing to release information to the public or parents about the overdoses that have been happening on campuses.

Hiding behind patient privacy rules in order to not release numbers or causes to parents, the media, and the public is contributing to the lack of information that’s out there. This makes it harder for parents and community members to be vigilant and come together.

Plus, this is a common school district tact: If officials don’t like the way the district might be perceived due to an incident, they completely clam up. This move does nothing to protect the students or community, and the end result is that the district looks worse.

had played a crucial role in the child’s life, advocating for his needs and providing him with love and support. She had watched him grow and thrive, and now, as he began a new life with his adoptive family, she knew that she had made a significant difference in his life.

Once a happy, curious little boy, the child had been taken into foster care due to his mother’s drug addiction. She had overdosed while he was present, and was only saved by the timely intervention of paramedics. The child was just three years old at the time, and his mother’s addiction had left him with severe neglect and developmental delays.

After a year of family reunification services, which ultimately failed, the child was

placed into care. It was at this time that a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) was appointed to his case. She developed a close relationship with the child, who came to call her “grandma.”

As the child began preschool, the CASA realized that he had significant delays and advocated for him to be assessed. He was found to have developmental delays and was provided with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP),

Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy. The CASA continued to work closely with the child, his foster parents, and his therapists to ensure that he was receiving the support he needed to thrive.

In September of 2022, the child was adopted by a loving couple who had committed their lives to him. The CASA was proud of how well he was doing before his adoption. He had made remarkable progress in his speech and

behavior. His outbursts had stopped, and he was now living in a stable, safe home with a family that adored him.

Drugs are not the district’s fault, overdoses are not the district’s fault, but becoming an informational void is their fault. The result is rumors and circulated misinformation about what’s happening—including rumors that one overdose was fatal, according to Pioneer Valley High parent Vanessa Valadez

“There’s also no information if the kids recovered; there’s a lot of rumors that one of the [students] died, but I don’t know because the school is not communicating with the parents,” Valadez said. “I understand the school has no control—if the kids [want] to take drugs, they are going to take drugs—but what they can control is the information they let parents know.

“It’s not the school’s fault, but a phone call would be nice.”

We at the Sun had to get our initial tip from the Central Coast Chisme Facebook page— which isn’t exactly a truth factory. Naturally, we then went to credible sources for the facts. Thank God for the Santa Maria Police Department—without it, this community newspaper wouldn’t know anything, and neither would anyone else.

sbcasa.org

volunteer@sbcasa.org

Speaking of law enforcement, it seems unbelievable that the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office is claiming to not have any information about what’s going on with youth in the high schools that they provide resource officers to. Isn’t the Sheriff’s Office leading Project Opioid? A program claiming to try to take a bite out of the opioid issue? But it claims ignorance about the number of ODs that have occurred at high schools in its jurisdiction.

Kids these days have a lot working against them, from deadly fentanyl-laced drugs to destructive TikTok trends that encourage destructive and dumb behavior on campus, so school districts need to keep up. It’s not that difficult to use apps or automated phone calls (which Pioneer Valley did use after the March 20 on-campus drug incident) to directly address the issues, take control of the messaging, and get everyone the facts they need to work together to, in the words of Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, attack the problem.

Otherwise, this whole lack of communication will remain detrimental to the overall health of the students that everyone is claiming to protect and serve. m

The canary needs to be protected and served. Send oaths to canary@santamariasun.com.

The CASA

Hot Stuff

STAGING STEINBECK

The Theatre Group of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School presents its production of The Grapes of Wrath, at the school’s Little Theater starting on Friday, April 21, and through Saturday, April 29. Tickets to this stage adaptation of John Steinbeck’s classic novel are $5 for students and $10 for adults. Call (805) 688-6487 for additional details. The Little Theater is located at 2975 Highway 246, Santa Ynez. —Caleb Wiseblood

ARTS

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

ARTISTIC SELF ART STUDIO For adults ages 50 and over. Bring your art projects and supplies and work on them in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere with other artists. This is a drop-in program. Wednesdays, 9-10 a.m. through Dec. 27 Free. 805-925-0951. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

BALLROOM, LATIN, AND SWING DANCE

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

CRAFTWORKS: ROLLED PAPER

PICTURE FRAMES Create a one-of-a kind picture frame by adorning a wooden frame with recycled rolled paper creations. All materials will be provided at the workshop. For ages 18 and older. April 22 10:30 a.m.noon Free. cityofsantamaria.org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805-925-0994.

DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN

DANCE Classes available for all skill levels. Class sizes limited. Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/.

LEARN CALIFORNIA’S OFFICIAL DANCE:

WEST COAST SWING Learn west coast swing in a casual, friendly environment, taught by Texas state swing champion, Gina Sigman. No partner needed. Tuesdays, 6:30-8:15 p.m. Beginning class is free; $10 for advanced. 805-344-1630.

Cubanissimo Cuban Coffee House, 4869 S. Bradley Rd., #118, Orcutt.

MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY

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

SPRING READING PROGRAM IN-N-OUT COVER TO COVER The popular In-N-Out Reading Program returns. Sign up at any SMPL location, track books, read, and receive rewards for every five books completed. Final date to redeem is April 29, while supplies last. For ages 4-12. Sponsored and provided by In-NOut. Through April 15 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

THE STUDIO PRESENTS: E(ART)H

For ages 12 to18 in grades 7 to 12. Free environmental and sustainability-themed art projects for teens. Wednesdays, 5-6:30 p.m. through April 26 Free. 805-925-0951.

Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center, 600 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

TEEN ANIME CLUB Teens who are interested in anime or manga, come to Anime Club. Hang out with other fans, eat Japanese snacks, and do fun activities. New members are always welcome. April 21 4:30 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Shepard Hall Art Gallery - Santa Maria Public Library, 421 South McClelland St., Santa Maria.

TEEN ART TIME Teens, create artwork, learn about artists, and experiment with new media in an inspiring environment with other teen artists. All skillsets are welcome. April 13 4 p.m. 805-925-0994. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

TEEN HENNA Henna is an ancient, temporary body art that spans the globe

and centuries. In this two-hour class, teens will learn henna history, and gain the confidence needed to create their own henna designs. Program funded in part or whole by California State Library. April 14, 1 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons. org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. YOUTH NEXT CHAPTER BOOK CLUB Talk about last season’s book and read the first chapter of the new book together. Copies will be provided on a first come, first served basis. For ages 8-13. Supported in whole or in part by the Central Coast Literacy Council. April 19 4 p.m. 805-9250994. engagedpatrons.org. Guadalupe Library, 4719 W. Main St., Ste D, Guadalupe.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

BOOK SIGNING WITH BETSY CRAMER Betsy Cramer will sign copies of her delightful children’s book, Letters From My Tooth Fairy April 15, 1-3 p.m. 805-688-6010. The Book Loft, 1680 Mission Dr., Solvang.

THE GRAPES OF WRATH The Theatre Group of Santa Ynez High School is preparing a staged version of John Steinbeck’s classic novel. Directed by Jeff McKinnon, this production includes a cast, crew, and musicians composed of 30. Mondays-Sundays, 7-9 p.m., April 21 , 7-9 p.m. and April 22 7-9 p.m. $10 adults; $5 students at the door. 805-688-6487. Santa Ynez High School Little Theater, 2975 CA246, Santa Ynez.

LEARN CALIFORNIA’S OFFICIAL DANCE:

WEST COAST SWING Learn to dance west coast swing in a casual, friendly environment. No partner needed. Taught by Gina Sigman. Thursdays, 6:30-8:15 p.m. Beginning class is free; $10 for advanced. 805-344-1630. High Roller Tiki Lounge, 433 Alisal Road, Solvang.

New Times and the Sun now share their community listings for a complete Central Coast calendar running from SLO County through northern Santa Barbara County. Submit events online by logging in with your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account at newtimesslo.com. You may also email calendar@newtimesslo.com.

Deadline is one week before the issue date on Thursdays. Submissions are subject to editing and approval. Contact Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood directly at cwiseblood@newtimesslo.com.

SEDGWICK RESERVE: A CONSERVATION

STORY Through Oct. 16 Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-688-1082, wildlingmuseum. org.

RACE FAVORITES AND MORE

VOICES AND VISTAS

Award-winning artist Jim Tyler will exhibit a collection of landscape, figurative, and portrait pastel paintings at Gallery Los Olivos during the month of April. Mondays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through April 30 805-688-7517. GalleryLosOlivos.com. Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

STAND-UP COMEDY SHOW A night of hilarious stand-up comedy, hosted by local comic Justin Bournonville. This show will feature professional touring comedians Bee Gutierrz, Pancho Moler, Trent Babb, and Rick Martinelli. For ages 18 and over. April 14 , 6:30 p.m. $15. my805tix. com. Flower City Ballroom, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

WATER AND WOOD Featured artists: Neal Andersson and Chuck Klein. Opening reception held on Apr. 2, from 1 to 3 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through April 23 Free admission. 805-737-1129. Cypress Gallery, 119 E Cypress Ave., Lompoc, lompocart.org.

WIRE-WRAPPING; A PENDANT OF CRYSTAL OR SEA GLASS Talented jewelry, mosaics, and stained-glass artist Paula Gregoire-Jones offers a creative event at Sunburst Retreat Center for anyone who would like to experience this beautiful technique for making nature’s creations wearable. April 23 1-2:30 p.m. $45. 805-736-6528. sunburst.org/ upcoming/. Sunburst Retreat Center, 7200 CA-1, Lompoc.

INDEX

Arts....................................... 14

Culture & Lifestyle 16

Food & Drink ......................18

Music 20

Enjoy a night of Queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race. American Idol and Queen of the Universe finalist Ada Vox headlines and evening of stellar talent. April 22 , 7:30-10 p.m. $48-$58. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/shows/drag-racefavorites/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

EMBROIDERERS GUILD OF AMERICA The Bishop’s Peak Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America invites you to attend its monthly meeting. For more information, follow on Facebook or visit the EGA website. Third Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Nov. 18. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach, 805-773-4832.

SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE FINAL PROBLEM Sherlock Holmes’ skills are put to the test when he goes head-tohead with his intellectual equal, criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty. After repeated attempts on his life, Holmes is rejoined by his recently married friend Dr. Watson and the two attempt to thwart the Professor’s plans Saturdays, 2-4 p.m., Wednesdays-Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. and Sundays, 6-8 a.m. through May 14 $30$36. 805-489-2499. americanmelodrama. com. Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

SLOFUNNY COMEDY JAMBOREE:

RIBLINE BY THE BEACH Hosted by fan favorite Cat Alvarado, with special guest Sean Grant. Featuring Camilla Cleese and internationally touring Headliner Dave Burleigh (Cal Poly alumnus). April 15 9-10:30 p.m. $25. 805-534-3129. facebook. com/slofunny. Ribline by the Beach, 395 W Grand Ave., suite B, Grover Beach.

TRUSTING CHLOE: FILM SCREENING

Includes an introduction by the director and a screening of the film, followed by interviews with cast/crew and an audience Q-and-A session. April 15 11 a.m.-1 p.m. my805tix.com. Fair Oaks Theatre, 1007 Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SAN LUIS OBISPO 40TH

with the San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival, with featured readers Ginger Hendrix, George Burns, and Meliza Banales. Open reading follows. Hosted by Kevin Patrick Sullivan. April 15, 1-3 p.m. Free. 805-9033595. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

ART EXHIBIT: FLOWERS AND FLUTTERBYS Art Central presents a spring exhibit featuring local artist of all media. Meet the artists during the artist reception on Apr. 8, from 2 to 4 p.m. Through May 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. 805-7474200. artcentralslo.com/gallery/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

ARTIST RIKI SCHUMACHER AT ART

CENTRAL GALLERY Schumacher’s work is pensive and introspective, inspiring one to take a solitary walk on a cloudy day. Wander in to reflect on her “delicious, wistful landscapes.” Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Free. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/galleryartists/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

BALLET UNBOUND Enter the world of Ballet Unbound; where classicism meets modern convention, where dance becomes emotion, and where movement speaks. 17 of the area’s most talented dancers present two works of contemporary styling dance. April 22 7:30 p.m. and April 23 2 p.m. $34-$45. Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, cuesta.edu.

CALL FOR PHOTOGRAPHY Seeking photography for the Spring Juried Photography Exhibit: Coastal Perspectives. Juror: nationally recognized photographer and author; Kerry Drager. Register/submit art online between April 17 and 21. April 17-21 cambriaarts.org.

Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

CENTRAL COAST SHAKESPEARE

FESTIVAL: AUDITIONS For this summer’s production and future productions. Visit site for audition appointment and prep details. April 15, 2:30-6 p.m. centralcoastshakespeare.org. San Luis Obispo Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-781-5991.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

DRAG

Three Speckled Hens: Antiques & Old Stuff Show

FRI, SAT, SUN, APRIL 28, 29, 30

Paso Robles Event Center

Be Hoppy Tours: Brewery, Winery, & Cidery Tours

THURSDAY THRU SUNDAY

Begin/end at CC Brewing Co., SLO

Paso Pinot & Paella Festival

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 Templeton Park, Templeton

Live Oak Music Festival

FRI, SAT, SUN, JUNE 23, 24, 25 El Chorro Regional Park, San Luis Obispo

2023 CONCERT SERIES

37th Annual Central Coast Renaissance Faire

SAT & SUN, JULY 15 & 16 Laguna Lake Park, SLO

“Live at the Lighthouse”

2023 Concert Series Season Pass

8 CONCERTS: JUNE 24–OCT 14 Point San Luis Lighthouse, Avila Beach

“Trusting Chloe” Film Screening

SATURDAY, APRIL 15

Fair Oaks Theatre, Arroyo Grande

SLOFunny Comedy Jamboree - SLO

THURSDAY, APRIL 13

Highwater SLO, San Luis Obispo

Point San Luis Lighthouse Tours

SATURDAYS & WEDNESDAYS

Virtual Tours Available On Demand Avila Beach

Spaghetti Dinner/Bingo Night FRIDAY, APRIL 14

Avila Beach Community Center, Avila Beach

Stand Up Comedy Show

Hosted by Justin Bournonville

FRIDAY, APRIL 14 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Luncheon

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Saints Barrel, San Luis Obispo

Coastal Wine & Paint Party

SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 22, 29

Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, Cambria

Wine4Paws Woods Fundraiser Kick-Off Party

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Hayseed & Housdon, Paso Robles

info@My805Tix.com

SLOFunny Comedy

Jamboree - Grover Beach

SATURDAY, APRIL 15 Ribline by the Beach, Grover Beach

SLOFunny Comedy

Jamboree - Morro Bay

SUNDAY, APRIL 16 Morro Bay Eagles Club, Morro Bay

That’s What She Said Live in Concert

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Hot Stuff

ARTS from page 14

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

DATE NIGHT POTTERY Looking for a fun date night? Head to Anam Cre Pottery Studio and play with clay. Couples will learn how to throw a pot on the wheel and make a cheeseboard. Fridays, Saturdays, 6-8 p.m. $140. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

FANNY MENDELSSOHN HENSEL AND THE PROBLEM OF A WOMAN IN MUSIC Composer Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel was restricted from having a professional career due to her gender and upper-class status. In spite of this, she became an important musical figure in the nineteenth century and a symbol of women’s struggle for equality. April 22 , 7-8 p.m. Free. 805538-3311. slomasterchorale.org. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS EMBROIDERY

CLASS Learn the basics of hand embroidery, and create an embroidered Festival of Lights wall hanging for Hanukkah. Complete embroidery kit included in the class cost. April 16, 1-4 p.m. $25. 805-544-0760. bethdavidslo.org. Congregation Beth David, 10180 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.

INTERMEDIATE OIL PAINTING: ADULT

ART CLASS This class is for students who may have tried oil painting in the past but are looking to advance their skill levels. Color theory and proportion study will be a focus in the class. Mondays, 2-5 p.m. $30 per student or $75 for 3 classes. 805747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshopsevents/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

INTRO TO OIL PAINTING WITH SPENCER

COLLINS The perfect class for those wanting to try oil painting for the first time. Guests discuss color theory, layering paint, and how to use various media. For ages 16 and over. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $30 per class or $100 for 4 classes. 805747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshopsevents/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

MACRAME WORKSHOPS AT SLO PUBLIC MARKET’S ‘MAKERS AT THE MARKET’

Tied + True Goods has teamed up with SLO Public Market to offer macrame workshops during their ‘Makers at the Market’ event. Join at noon to make a driftwood air plant hanger, and at 2 p.m. for a ceiling plant hanger. April 22 12-1 & 2-3 p.m. $30. slopublicmarket.com/events/makers-atthe-market-earth-day. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.

MARELA ZACARÍAS: STORYTELLING

Through July 7 San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, 543-8562, sloma.org/.

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL COAST A self-directed fun group of dynamic artists who enjoy painting and sketching outdoors. Artists meet on site at various locations. Weekly plein air destinations are provided by Kirsti Wothe via email (mrswothe@yahoo.com).

Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon SLO County, Various locations, San Luis Obispo.

SCULPTURE CLASS WITH ROD PEREZ

This weekly sculpture drop-in class gives an opportunity for potters to take on new projects and learn new techniques relating to sculptural work. Additionally, every first Friday of the month, a new project will be taught by Rod Perez for beginners. Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SLO DRAWZ: OPEN FIGURE DRAWING

GROUP Improve your drawing skills while also building a community of supportive creatives with live models. This is not a guided class, please bring your own materials. To sign up, email chantellegoldthwaite@gmail.com. Every other Monday, 5-7 p.m. and Every other Thursday, 5-7 p.m. through Dec. 31 $20 per session; or $60 for a month pass. 805-

747-4200. instagram.com/slodrawz/. Art

Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SLOFUNNY COMEDY JAMBOREE:

HIGHWATER SLO Features international headliner and Cal Poly alumnus Dave Burleigh at HighwaterSLO. Hosted by Cat

Alvarado, with special guest Sean Grant. Featuring Camilla Cleese and local CalPoly student comedians David Uhlfelder and Mat Salud. April 13 8-9:30 p.m. $25. 805-5343129. facebook.com/slofunny. Highwater

SLO, 1127 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING

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

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

30 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN SANTA MARIA/ORCUTT Community Partners in Caring is seeking volunteers to help support dependent older adults and seniors. partnersincaring.org. Santa Maria, Citywide, Santa Maria.

AAUW AUTHOR TALK: GIVE A WOMAN A

SHAWL, SHE IS FOREVER YOUR SISTER

Author Jacqueline St. Joan will discuss her experiences traveling in Pakistan, the enduring friendships she made, and her resulting advocacy for women’s rights in that region. She will share and read from her two novels related to this work. Cosponsored by AAUW. April 13 5 p.m. Free. cityofsantamaria.org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805-925-0994.

DIY TALAVERA INSPIRED POTTERY

KITS: ALL LOCATIONS Includes everything needed to paint a Talaverastyle terracotta pot. Kits are for all ages and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Program funded in part or whole by California State Library. April 22 Free. cityofsantamaria.org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805-925-0994.

EARTH DAY FAMILY TIME An Earth Daythemed family story time. Enjoy stories, rhymes, and movement for the whole family and create an eco-friendly craft together after story time. April 17 4 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

EARTH EGGS-PLORERS Free, supervised arts/crafts programs for youth ages 6 to 12. Registration required. Tuesdays, 4-6:30 p.m. through April. 805-925-0951. Minami Community Center, 600 W. Enos Drive, Santa Maria.

FAMILY STEAM NIGHT Bring the family for a night of science, technology, engineering, art, and math fun. Activities are designed for elementary school aged children to complete with other family members. Program funded in part or whole by California State Library. April 20, 4-5:30 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons. org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

FAMILY, CULTURE, AND LITERACY ACTIVITY PACKS: ALL LOCATIONS Pack pick-up begins on start day. Learn and participate in activities which celebrate cultures from around the world, and the power of literacy while encouraging time for family connections. Program funded in part or whole by California State Library. April 22 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons. org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. 805-937-9750. oasisorcutt. org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt.

FINANCIAL LITERACY WORKSHOP The Santa Maria Public Library will be hosting

outreach staff from SESLOC Federal Credit Union for a free presentation on the basics of personal finances. Afterwards, patrons will have an opportunity to ask questions in a Q-and-A session. Registration is required. Ages 18 and up welcome. April 14 4 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing 805-343-2455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe.

HOMEWORK HELP: SANTA MARIA

PUBLIC LIBRARY Volunteer tutors are available to help with assignments and work on skills. For children in grades K-6. First come, first served; no sign-ups are required. No events scheduled between April 10 and 13. Mondays-Thursdays. through May 25 Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

MINDFULNESS AROUND THE WORLD

PACK FOR YOUTH: ALL SM BRANCH

LOCATIONS Pack pick-up begins April 15. Learn about different mindfulness practices around the world. Packs will include supplies that aid in relaxation and being more present. Program funded in part or whole by California State Library. April 15 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons. org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

PAWS TO READ Reading to dogs is a wonderful way for children to gain confidence while reading aloud. These dogs absolutely love all kinds of books and are excellent listeners. Call or visit Youth services to register child for a 15-minute time slot. April 18 3:30 p.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

POKÉMON CLUB Join other Pokémon trainers at the popular Pokémon Club. Learn how to play the Pokémon Trading Card game, watch the show, and participate in other fun activities. Bring a deck from home to battle or use one from the library. April 15 11 a.m. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SANTA MARIA COIN CLUB: MONTHLY

MEETING

Coin collectors of all ages invited. Bring coins for free appraisals. Third Wednesday of every month, 7 p.m. Yearly membership: $20-$25. 805-9373158. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY RAILWAY

HISTORICAL MUSEUM TOURS The collection includes late 1800’s-early 1900’s Engine used by the Betteravia Union Sugar Company, a 1930’s Sacramento Northern box car, and more. Fourth Saturday of every month, 12-4 p.m. smvrhm.com. Santa Maria Transit Center, Miller and Boone Streets, Santa Maria.

SEEAG’S EARTH DAY PLANTOPIA U

PICK TRANSPLANT FUNDRAISER

Participants can pick a combination of 12 small plants to fill two six-pack containers with tomatoes, zucchini, squash, basil, and peppers. The organic seedlings are from Plantel Nurseries. In addition, the first 100 donors will receive a free bag of compost from Engel and Gray. April 22 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $35. 805-892-8155. SEEAG.org/ plantopia. Farm Supply, 1920 N. Broadway, Santa Maria.

SMVGS MEETING Visitors welcome. Contact smvgs.org for program and location info. Third Thursday of every month, 2:15-4 p.m. smvgs.org. Santa Maria Valley Genealogical Society, 908 Sierra Madre, Santa Maria.

TEEN SPRING BREAK HORROR

MARATHON: INSIDIOUS: THE LAST

KEY Teens, join each afternoon for some serious chills with screenings of PG-13 films in the Insidious series. Light snacks will be provided. April 13, 2 p.m. 805-9250994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

APRIL 28 - 30, 2023

Requirements:

Paper size must be 8 ½” x 11” with a strawberry image brought to life by design and creativity, recommended pattern attached. Entry must include – Student’s name, phone number, address and grade, teacher’s name, phone number, school name, and address on the backside of entry

Artists may use any colorful medium that includes, but is not limited to markers, paint, colored pencils or crayons. No computer-generated or enhanced artwork will be accepted.

Criteria of Judging:

Entries will be judged according to grade category. Grade categories are as follows: Grades 1st – 3rd 4th – 6th, 7th – 8th, Entries will be judged on the following three criteria:

1. Originality

2. Artistic composition

3. Relevant content

Restrictions on entry:

The artwork must depict images appropriate for children to view. The design must be the contestant’s own original creation and may not be copied, traced, or duplicated from previously published art, including photographs. Submissions must have been completed between March 1, 2023, through April 14, 2023.

Selection and ownership of contest entries: All entries become the property of the Santa Maria Fairpark and artwork will not be returned to the artist.

Prizes:

The 1st place winners, in each grade category will receive a $25 gift card and Four (4) Admissions to the 2023 Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival. The 1st place winner’s classroom will also receive a $150 gift card for classroom supplies.

Contest Deadlines:

All entries must be delivered to or received by the Santa Maria Fairpark at 937 S. Thornburg St., Santa Maria, California 93458 by no later than 5pm on Friday, April 14, 2023. Post marked entries do not meet the deadline.

For questions, please call (805) 925-8824 or visit us at www.santamariafairpark.com

Kid’s Art Contest

Open to 1st-8th Graders, Must Attend School In Northern Santa Barbara County To Be Eligible

Sponsored by

SIGN UP TO WIN FREE TICKETS!

TODDLER TIME High-energy learning experience just for toddlers. Toddlers learn and grow through stories, movement, and music. For ages 1-3. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 10 a.m. through April 13 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org.

Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

VIRTUAL WORKSHOPS OVER ZOOM Visit site or call to learn about the virtual workshops. Unwind Studio, 130 N. Broadway, suite B, Santa Maria, 805-748-2539, unwindsantamaria.com.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

LOMPOC DROUGHT TOLERANT GARDEN

CARE DAY On Earth Day, help care for the city’s demonstration garden. Bring your gloves, tools, wheelbarrow, and water. Wear comfortable clothes and closed-toe shoes. First-time volunteers welcome. April 22 , 9 a.m.-noon

805-450-3668. City of Lompoc Drought Tolerant Garden, 1801 W. Central Ave., Lompoc.

SLO

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

Performing Arts Center, SLO

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

10TH ANNUAL EVERYTHING EDIBLE: SPRING

PLANT SALE Find a huge selection of heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties, peppers, eggplant, basils, herbs, veggies, berries, fruit trees, flowers, and more. April 21 12-5 p.m. and April 22 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. 805-934-2182. t-mha.org.

Halcyon Farm, 1075 The Pike, Arroyo Grande.

BEGINNER GROUP SURF LESSONS AND SURF

CAMPS Lessons and camp packages available daily. All equipment included. Starts at $70. 805-835-7873. sandbarsurf.com/. Sandbar Surf

School Meetup Spot, 110 Park Ave., Pismo Beach.

PCPA: Bright Star

APRIL 27 – MAY 14

Marian Theatre, Santa Maria

LETTERS AT THE LOFT

COFFEE CHAT AG HomeShareSLO, a program of non-profit Smart Share Housing, facilitates matches between home providers (those with extra rooms) and home seekers (those looking for affordable housing). Join for a chat to see if this is right for you. Third Wednesday of every month, 3-4 p.m. Free and open to the public; no RSVP required. 805-215-5474. smartsharehousingsolutions.org. Panera Bread, 1390 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande.

DONATION-BASED YOGA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMTS, AND CARETAKERS Class schedule varies. Contact empoweryoga805@ gmail for details and reservations. ongoing 805-619-0989. empoweryoga805.com. Empower Yoga Studio and Community Boutique, 775 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

Cal Poly Baseball

SELECT DAYS/TIMES

Robin Baggett Stadium Cal Poly, SLO

Cal Poly Arts: Isabella Rossellini: Darwin’s Smile

SATURDAY, APRIL 29

Performing Arts Center, SLO

MORRO COAST AUDUBON APRIL

COMMUNITY EVENT Program title: Living and Working in a Penguin Colony in Antarctica. Presented by Jean Pennycook. April 17, 7 a.m.-8 p.m. 805-772-1991. morrocoastaudubon.org.

Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

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

REDUCE, REUSE, AND RUMMAGE SALE Kick off Earth Week and come shop to support the school. Features a wide variety of gently used treasures. April 15, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Bellevue-Santa Fe Charter School, 1401 San Luis Bay Dr., San Luis Obispo, 595-7169, bsfcs.org.

SLO LEZ B FRIENDS (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM)

A good core group of friends who gather to discuss topics we love/ care about from movies, outings, music, or being new to the area. We come from all walks of life and most importantly support each other. Transgender and Nonbinary folks welcome. Third Friday of every month, 6:30-9 p.m. sloqueer.groups.io/g/lezbfriends.

Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

The Book Loft in Solvang will host a book signing with local author Betsy Cramer on Saturday, April 15, from 1 to 3 p.m. Cramer will be signing copies of her children’s book, Letters From My Tooth Fairy. To find out more about the event, visit bookloftsolvang.com or call the Book Loft at (805) 688-6010. The store is located at 1680 Mission Drive, Solvang. —C.W.

farmer’s market-style event. Free parking. Cash, check, and debit cards accepted. April 16 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. 805-801-3917. centralcoastdahlias.org. Dr. Rene Bravo’s parking lot, 3241 South Higuera, San Luis Obispo.

NATUREFEST AT DANA

All ages can connect with nature at the Dana Adobe’s NatureFest. April 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $10 for adults; $3 for youth. 805929-5679. danaadobe.org. DANA Adobe Cultural Center, 671 S. Oakglen Ave., Nipomo.

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS

Tours will give you a glimpse into the lives of Lighthouse Keepers and their families, while helping keep our jewel of the Central Coast preserved and protected. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

RESTORATIVE YOGA WITH DR. NEEL

KULKARNI Restorative Yoga is all about supporting your body and allowing it to relax and heal. It is suitable for practitioners of all levels. By definition, restorative yoga is a restful practice that holds yoga poses for a longer duration. It is a practice of deep relaxation. April 22 2-3:30 p.m. $20 or love offering. 805-788-4777. adhiyoga. com/. Peaceful Point, 2850 Peaceful Point Lane, Arroyo Grande.

WE HEART AG We Heart AG holds its third annual volunteering event. Meet at Heritage Square Park in the Village of Arroyo Grande, then you will meet your team leaders and head off to your volunteer jobs. April 23, 8 a.m.-noon Free. weheartag.com/. Heritage Square Park, 201 Nelson St., Arroyo Grande.

WEEKLY WATER SAFETY LESSONS Facility advertised as open and safe. Give the office a call to register over the phone. MondaysFridays $160-$190. 805-481-6399. 5 Cities Swim School, 425 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, 5citiesswimschool.com.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

2023 SLO COUNTY EARTH DAY Highlights of the fair include a Kid’s Zone, Electric Vehicle Show, and an array of exhibitors (businesses, nonprofits, students, and families) sharing earth friendly tips, tools, and giveaways. Live music will be featured. Food and beverages will be sold. Bring a blanket or chair. April 22 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 805-544-8529. earthdayslo.com. Laguna Lake Park, 504 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.

AERIAL SILKS CLINIC Learn aerial skills that

build memory, strength, coordination, confidence, and endurance. Plus, silks is a great way to learn flipping safely. Wrapped up in the fabric, it’s like having your own personal spotter. For ages 7-17; no gymnastics experience necessary. April 22 , 1-3 p.m. $25 for first child; $10 per additional sibling. 805-547-1496. performanceathleticsslo. com/events. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo. BARS AND BOUNCE CLINIC Bars and Bounce is “a sneaky way to get fit.” Build whole-body strength swinging on bars and bouncing on trampolines. No experience is necessary, so come fly away. April 15, 1:15-3:15 p.m. $25 for first child; $10 per additional child. 805-5471496. performanceathleticsslo.com/events.

Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

BEYOND MINDFULNESS Realize your potential through individualized meditation instruction with an experienced teacher via Zoom. This class is for those who wish to begin a practice or seek to deepen an existing one. Flexible days and times. Certified with IMTA. Email or text for information. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sliding scale. 559-905-9274. theartofsilence.net.

Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

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

CELEBRATE 40 YEARS: CREEK LANDS

CONSERVATION A celebration of Creek Lands Conservation’s 40th anniversary of saving our creeks for fish, wildlife and people from Monterey to Ventura. April 21 , 4:30-7:30 p.m. my805tix.com. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, 543-8562.

CENTRAL COAST POLYAMORY (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) Hosting a discussion group featuring different topics relating to ethical non-monogamy every month. Virtually meet via Zoom. Third Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

COLLECTIVE TRAUMA: WINTER STORM

HEALING TEA CEREMONY AND YOGA An afternoon that includes a meditative, silent tea ceremony, circle of connection and sharing, and mindful trauma and grief informed somatic movement and meditation to reset our nervous systems and heal from the collective trauma the winter storms left in their wake. April 22 3:305:30 p.m. Free. 619-807-7006. inariteaart.com. Meadow Park, 2251 Meadow St., San Luis Obispo.

FIFTH ANNUAL DAHLIA TUBER SALE

Features items for sale, growing discussions, and demonstrations, as well as a special presentation at 11 a.m. Sale is an outdoor

FROM JUNKIE TO JUDGE: RECOVERY WITHOUT GOD Former federal judge Mary Beth O’Connor will discuss her history of methamphetamine addiction, how she responded when Alcoholics Anonymous ordered her to comply with its God-based approach, and how she built a secular recovery program. O’Connor is a director for LifeRing Secular Recovery. April 23 3-4 p.m. Free. auslo. org. San Luis Obispo Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-781-5991.

GALA PRIDE AND DIVERSITY CENTER BOARD MEETING (VIA ZOOM) Monthly meeting of the Gala Pride and Diversity Center Board of Directors. Meets virtually via Zoom and is open to members of the public. Visit galacc.org/ events to fill out the form to request meeting access. Third Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. No admission fee. galacc.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

GYM JAM CLINIC Enjoy two hours of progressive gymnastics skill training on bars, beam, floor, trampoline, plus obstacle courses and more. All levels welcome, no experience necessary. For ages 5-17. April 22 1:15-3:15 p.m. $25 for first child; $10 per additional sibling. 805547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com/events.

Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP A safe place for anyone suffering from the pain of depression. We do not criticize but do share our journey, feelings, and what works for us. We can meet in person or use Zoom if needed. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. 805-528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

MAKERS AT THE MARKET: EARTH DAY Co-hosted with SLO General Store. A day of learning, live music, workshops, local makers, and food and drinks. April 22 , 11 a.m.-5 p.m. 805-215-3669. slopublicmarket.com. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.

MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE MEETING) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346.

MORNING ALTARS WITH DAY SCHILDKRET

Join author, artist, and teacher, Day Schildkret, who returns to the SLOBG to teach the transformative tools of nature, creativity, and ritual. For more information about registering, email millie@slobg.org. April 22 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $120; or $100 for Garden Members. 805541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN MONTHLY LUNCHEON San Luis Obispo Retired Active Men (SLO RAM) is a group of retirees that get together just for fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Third Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $28. retiredactivemen.org/. Madonna Inn Garden Room, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo. SPRING GYMNASTICS CAMP 2 Take some personal time while your kids enjoy hours of bouncing, flying, flipping gymnastics fun without wearing out your furniture. Ages 4-13; no experience is necessary. Extended care and customizable schedule available. April 13 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and April 14 , 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $40-$355 depending on options you choose. 805-547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com/ camps. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

SUCCESSFUL LANDSCAPE DESIGN FOR NATIVE BEES Kim Chacon, Instructor at Cal Poly Landscape Architecture Dept., is focused on solving geographical bee habitat issues to protect pollination ecosystem services. Learn about habitat design strategies to improve bee habitat. April 20 6:45 p.m. Free. lovgardenclub.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

TOMATO FANDANGO Growing Grounds

Farm’s edible plants meet artisan vendors in a beautiful location. Find heirloom and hybrid tomato varieties, peppers, eggplant, basils, veggies, berries, and more. April 15, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and April 16 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. 805-934-2182. Tiber Canyon Ranch, 280 W Ormonde Rd, San Luis Obispo.

FOOD & DRINK

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.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

Let the good times roll at this bunco party and bake sale. $40 buy-in includes lunch. Wine, beer, and mimosas are available for purchase. Features games, prizes, and more. April 23 12-3 p.m. $40. smkiwanis. givesmart.com. Minami Community Center, 600 W. Enos Drive, Santa Maria.

BUNCO PARTY

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 & DRINK continued page 20

Master Chorale: The Theatrical Mendelssohn Elijah

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

BOOK ADS BY: April 13

PUBLICATION DATE: April 20

WINNING IMAGES

ENTRY PERIOD: April 27–May 15

BOOK ADS BY: June 8

PUBLICATION DATE: June 15

Hot Stuff

FOOD & DRINK from page 18

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/.

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.

TACO TUESDAY Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, 805332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.

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.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

Reach thousands of attendees in the festival’s program printed in the Sun

AVILA BEACH SPAGHETTI DINNER AND BINGO NIGHT Enjoy a delicious spaghetti dinner with salad, garlic bread, and dessert followed by Bingo. Dinner tickets include first bingo card. Additional bingo cards are $1 each. Local wine and beer available for purchase. Prizes awarded to Bingo winners. April 14 6-8 p.m. $10 per person; $5 for children ages 6 and under. 805-627-1997. Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St., Avila Beach, avilabeachcc.com.

BRUSHES AND BUBBLES Please join Art Social 805 at Laetitia Vineyard where you will paint the featured image, while enjoying a glass of bubbles. Tickets include paint materials and your first glass of liquid courage. April 16 10 a.m.-noon $60. 805-481-1772. artsocial805.com. Laetitia Vineyard & Winery, 453 Laetitia Vineyard Drive, Arroyo Grande.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

15TH ANNUAL WINE 4 PAWS WEEKEND

Join forces with SLO County wineries to raise funds for Woods Humane Society. Support any of the participating Wine 4 Paws businesses. No advance tickets needed. April 22 and April 23 wine4paws.com/. Participating wineries, County-wide, SLO County.

DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET

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

Enter the annual photography contest!

SUMMER GUIDE

BOOK ADS BY: May 18

PUBLICATION DATE: May 25

PRIDE DEADLINE: May 25 · PUBLISHED: June 1

Your guide to all the summer fun on the Central Coast

GET OUTSIDE DEADLINE: June 15 · PUBLISHED: July

55 FICTION ENTER BY: June 23 · PUBLISHED: July 27

HEAD GAMES TRIVIA NIGHT Live multi-media trivia every Wednesday. Free to play. Win prizes. Teams up to six players. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. headgamestrivia.com. Antigua Brewing, 1009 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-242-1167.

A NIGHT A LA FERME, TAKE DUEX An evening of local food and wine pairings al fresco on the farm. This fundraising and outreach event will support the youth education programs run by City Farm SLO, a nonprofit urban farm. April 23 4:30-7 p.m. $60.01. cityfarmslo.org. City Farm SLO, 1221 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, 805-769-8344.

PAINT AND SIP AT THE PIERFRONT

Please join Art Social 805 at the PierFront wine and beer bar in Avila Beach, for an introductory painting event, where you will paint the featured wave image. April 21 6-8 p.m. $50. 805-439-3400. artsocial805.com. PierFront Wine & Brew, 480 Front Street, Avila Beach.

MUSIC

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, 805-686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.

LIVE MUSIC WITH JEFF PINE Come and see “the man with 700 songs in his head.” April 22 7-10 p.m. Free. 805-686-9126. arrowsmithwine.com. Arrowsmith’s, 1539 Mission Drive, Solvang.

MUFFIN MUSIC IN CONCERT Join Muffin Music’s co-founders Davis Reinhart and Sylvia Jiang in an evening of a fun variety music. This concert is free and open to all. April 14 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free. 805-967-

4411. muffinmusic.org/concerts. Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 3550 Baseline Ave., Santa Ynez. MUSIC WITH BRADY HARRIS A new talent at Arrowsmith’s. April 15 , 6-9 p.m. Free. 805-686-9126. arrowsmithwine.com. Arrowsmith’s, 1539 Mission Drive, Solvang.

PABLO CRUISE LIVE IN CONCERT

Classic ‘70s rock and roll band Pablo Cruise brings their nostalgic vibe to the stage at the newly renovated Solvang Festival Theater. April 15 , 7-10 p.m. Starting at $65. 805-686-1789. solvangtheaterfest.org. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY CONCERT SERIES: 42ND SEASON The SYV Concert Series’ 2022-23 season includes five upcoming concerts, between October and May. Through May 13 smitv.org/syv-concertseries.html. St. Mark’s in the Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui 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

METALACHI LIVE Described as the world’s first and only heavy metal mariachi band. April 22 7 p.m. my805tix. com. Flower City Ballroom, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

THAT’S WHAT SHE SAID: LIVE IN CONCERT A night of classic and modern rock that you can dance to. All ages welcome. April 21 8 p.m. my805tix.com. Flower City Ballroom, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

CELEBRATING SPRING WITH NATHALIA MUSIC Sing and dance along during a bilingual family musical experience in English and Spanish.

Nathalia’s South American heritage and bilingual education influences the music she makes. April 22 3 p.m. 805-9250994. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

FOLK DANCE CLASS For adults ages 50 and up. Learn folk dances from around the world. No experience is necessary. Every third Thursday, 2-3 p.m. through Dec. 28 Free. 805-925-0951. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

THE HOMESTEAD: LIVE MUSIC ON THE PATIO Check the Homestead’s Facebook page for details on live music events.

Fridays, Saturdays The Homestead, 105 W. Clark Ave, Old Orcutt, 805-287-9891, thehomesteadoldorcutt.com.

LINE DANCING FUN For adults ages 50 and older. Learn basic patterns and steps to some of your favorite music. This beginner-friendly class is for anyone that enjoys dancing. Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m. through Dec. 27 Free. 805-925-0951. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

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.

UKULELE JAM SESSIONS This is a drop-in program. Play melodies and many songs with other musicians. Baritone ukuleles are available to use or bring your own. Music and music strands provided. Mondays, Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. through Dec. 27 Free. 805-925-0951. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

ALWAYS ... PATSY CLINE A musical play, complete with down home country humor, true emotion, audience participation, and more than 20 Cline hits including “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams,” and “Walking After Midnight.” April 15 7:30-10 p.m. $48-$58. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter.org/shows/ always-patsy-cline/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

BIG VARIETY NIGHT AT BROAD STREET

PUB

Hosted by Ted Waterhouse, Big Variety Night features the best local musical acts in a series of short, sweet sets. Check website for the list of performers. April 21 , 6-9:30 p.m. No cover. 805-704-5116. tedwaterhouse.com. Broad Street Public House, 3590 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo.

HOME CONCERT IN GROVER BEACH

Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan traverse a wide Americana landscape, stopping at musical landmarks along the way, tipping their hat to bluegrass bands, blues divas, jazz cats, and others. April 21 , 7:30-9:30 p.m. Suggested donation $20. 805-441-5868. Tunes On Mentone, 1901 Mentone Ave., Grover Beach.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

CAL POLY MUSIC DEPARTMENT OPEN

HOUSE RECITAL A recital for Cal Poly’s 30th annual Open House. It will feature both instrumentalists and vocalists. The student performers are from a variety of majors, and all are involved in at least one of the department’s large, premier ensembles. April 15 , 2 p.m. Free. 805756-2406. music.calpoly.edu. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY STUDENT OPERA THEATRE

PRESENTS SPRING OPERA SCENES Cal Poly Student Opera Theatre will present an evening of opera scenes. April 15 7:30 p.m. $20 general; $10 students. 805-7564849. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/opera/. Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. CAL POLY’S POLYRHYTHMICS

PERCUSSION RECITAL Polyrhythmics will present a program of fun and exciting percussion music. April 18 7:30 p.m. Free. 805-756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/ calendar/free/. PAC Pavilion, Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. EASTON EVERETT SOLO Enjoy some indie-acoustic, live music. Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. eastoneverett.com. Big Sky Cafe, 1121 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, (805)545-5401.

FOREVER GREEN: LIVE AT BARRELHOUSE TAPROOM AND SPEAKEASY Twin sister duo Forever Green performs indie/pop/folk rock music with an Americana edge, a medieval twist, and influences of jazz and blues. April 14 , 7-9 p.m. Barrelhouse Brewing Co. Speakeasy, 1033 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo, 805-296-1128, barrelhousebrewing.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT RAGTAG WINE CO. Enjoy live music by local favorites. Wine available by the flight, glass, or bottle. Thursdays-Saturdays, 6-9 p.m. Ragtag Wine Co., 779 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, 805-439-0774, ragtagwineco.com.

LIVE MUSIC FROM GUITAR WIZ BILLY FOPPIANO AND MAD DOG Join “Guitar Wiz” Billy Foppiano and his trusty side kick Mad Dog for a mix of blues, R&B, and more. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 805-544-2100. Bon Temps Creole Cafe, 1819 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, bontempscreolecafe.com/index.htm.

OPEN MIC NIGHT IN THE TASTING ROOM Kelsey Rae hosts this open mic event for music and comedy in the tasting room. Second Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Free show. 805-721-6878. SLO Cider, 3419 Roberto Ct., Suite C, San Luis Obispo.

SUNDAY MUSIC AT RAGTAG WINE CO.

Enjoy live music by local favorites. Wine available by the flight, glass, or bottle. Sundays, 4-7 p.m. Ragtag Wine Co., 779 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, 805-4390774, ragtagwineco.com.

SUZANNE BONA WITH CRAIG RUSSELL AND FRIENDS Presented in partnership with KCBX Public Radio. Flutist and host of the nationally distributed public radio program “Sunday Baroque,” Suzanne Bona, joins guitarist and Cal Poly music professor Craig Russell and friends for an afternoon of Baroque and contemporary chamber music. April 15 2-4 p.m. Tickets start at $35. 805-781-3009. festivalmozaic. org. Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo. m

ARTS BRIEFS Cypress Gallery holds new duo show, Water and Wood

The Lompoc Valley Art Association presents Water and Wood, a duo exhibition, which premiered at Cypress Gallery at the end of March. The exhibit highlights art from woodworking artist Chuck Klein and painter Neil Andersson and is scheduled to remain on display through Sunday, April 23.

Klein is an avid outdoorsman who uses natural dead wood that he finds while exploring local areas for his woodworking projects. Andersson is a prolific plein air painter who often paints pond and lakeside settings in oil and pastel.

To find out more about Water and Wood and upcoming exhibits and programs slated next for Cypress Gallery, visit lompocart.org. The gallery is located at 119 E. Cypress Ave., Lompoc.

Actor’s Edge Studio launches second annual Central Coast Performing Arts Scholarships

Local and vocal Central Coast-based novelists unite for radio drama-style readings

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

As soon as he moved to Santa Maria, former actor Tony Piazza enjoyed a surprising reprise.

“It was interesting that when we first moved here, they did put a callout for Sideways,” said Piazza, who relocated to Santa Maria during the early 2000s, thinking he’d left his former life as a prolific stand-in actor and stunt double for film and television behind him in San Francisco.

“I ended up getting a couple of days work on that,” added Piazza, who Sideways viewers can briefly spot as a background character in one of the 2004 film’s first winery scenes.

Nowadays, Piazza—who’s penned multiple detective novels in his popular Tom Logan series—is best known for his writing work.

Book it

Coalesce Bookstore will host its book signing and dramatic reading event on Sunday, April 16, at 1 p.m. Admission to the event, held in the venue’s garden chapel, is free. The bookstore is located at 845 Main St., Morro Bay. Call (805) 772-2880 for more details.

your eyes and picture what’s going on.”

“It’s a shame that we don’t have as much of that today,” Piazza added. “Too much is up-front now and doesn’t challenge your mind anymore.”

During Piazza’s turn at the event, he’ll read the part of protagonist Tom Logan in an excerpt from one of the novels in his ongoing mystery series, which follows the investigator’s countless cases. Throughout the event, all four authors will help each other out here and there by reading as different characters in each of the program’s 10-minute excerpts, along with additional performers—C.S. Perryess and Ilona Stone— brought in to lend their own acting chops for certain scenes.

Sideris, a Santa Ynez Valley-based author, said she’s excited to read as Corrie Locke—the star sleuth of her series of mystery novels—for the first time in a live, theatrical setting.

Performers throughout the Central Coast are invited to apply for this year’s Central Coast Performing Arts Scholarships program, hosted by Actor’s Edge Studio.

Local actors and other performing artists of all ages and skill levels are eligible to apply for cash and tuition scholarships offered as part of the program. A total of more than $4,000 in funds will be distributed among recipients, according to press materials. The deadline to apply is Sunday, April 16.

One grand prize winner will receive a full tuition scholarship to enroll in Actor’s Edge Studio’s 16-week film and television training program.

Actor’s Edge Studio, based in San Luis Obispo, was founded by Aaron Metchik, whose own film credits include roles in The Baby-Sitters Club and Disney’s Hercules Metchik was also a longtime private acting coach to Zac Efron and works as the head instructor at Actor’s Edge Studio.

“We are thrilled to be offering these scholarships to local performers. We know there are such incredibly talented and passionate performers here in the Central Coast,” Metchik said in press materials. “We also know that sometimes finding the funds to support creative passions isn’t easy. These scholarships are our small way of helping people do that.”

Actor’s Edge Studio offers performing arts classes for youth and adults. Kenlee Townsend, one of the program’s youth students, recently landed a lead role in a new Hulu series, Saint X which will premiere on Wednesday, April 26.

To find out more about Actor’s Edge Studio and its Central Coast Performing Arts Scholarships, visit actorsedge.com. Application materials are available at actorsedge.com/ scholarships. m

Arts Briefs is compiled by Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood. Send information to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

On April 16, the local mystery author will be one of four writers participating in a unique book signing that will offer him a brief return to the

world of acting.

“We just put our heads together and thought it’d be great to do a radio drama,” said Piazza, who will join longtime acquaintances and fellow authors Mara Purl, Anne R. Allen, and Lida Sideris for the upcoming program, which will include live dramatic, radio play-style readings of excerpts from their books.

The free event, spearheaded and organized by Purl, is scheduled to be held at Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay—in the venue’s outdoor garden chapel area.

“The chapel in the back is great for events because you’re not really crowded in, or amongst people shopping and stuff,” said Piazza, who added that the group hopes to host similar radio dramaesque readings in the future at additional venues along the Central Coast, if this first event has a successful turnout.

“We just have to see how popular this is and if it takes off,” Piazza said. “I grew up in the late ’50s, when radio dramas were sort of fading out, but I loved them. What’s great about them is you can use your imagination; you can lay back and close

“I’ve read one of my short stories on Facebook Live before, but I’ve never actually played my character before, which is what I’ll be doing here,” said Sideris. “It looks like we’re going to have a lot of fun, and I don’t know how the audience won’t have fun with us. When you’re watching something where the people performing it are enjoying it, you’re bound to enjoy it yourself as well.”

When it came to picking an excerpt from her latest novel, Gambling with Murder, Sideris sought a scene with “just the right amount of intrigue, action, and dialogue,” and one in which all of the event’s performers could participate.

“I wanted everyone involved,” Sideris said. “I was looking for something where I could do that because I thought that would be the most fun.”

While Sideris’ reading is mostly dialoguebased without many visual flourishes, she initially pondered putting together a covert costume based on her descriptions of Locke’s “black ops attire,” she said.

“She has to blend into the night because most of her activity takes place after hours,” Sideris said of the fictional investigator. “As much as I’d love to dress as my character, I don’t know if I’ll be able to have a changing room nearby where I could do that.” m

Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood is a night owl too. Give him a hoot at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHUCK KLEIN

COURTESY PHOTO BY DENNIS YOUNG

ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET: Santa Maria novelist Tony Piazza (left) and Santa Ynez novelist Lida Sideris (right) are two of the four authors featured at Coalesce Bookstore’s upcoming group book signing.

IMAGE COURTESY

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY PIAZZA

DYNAMIC DUO: During the 1970s, author and former actor Tony Piazza (right) worked as a stand-in for Michael Douglas (left), among other actors. Piazza says he’s excited to perform again, albeit radio drama-style, at an upcoming book reading in Morro Bay.

BOOKS BY THE BAY: Local authors hailing from Santa Maria, Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara, and Los Osos will gather at Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay on April 16 for a unique book signing and dramatic readings event.

PHOTO BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Send gallery, stage, and cultural festivities to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

Taking the shot

Ben Affleck directs this story about shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon) and his pursuit on behalf of Nike to land promising rookie basketball player Michael Jordan (Damian Young) for an endorsement deal. Affleck stars as Nike CEO Phil Knight. (112 min.)

Glen: Even if you’re not a sports fan, Air makes for compelling entertainment. In many ways, it’s really Deloris Jordan’s story. Viola Davis plays the basketball star’s mother with conviction.

Deloris understood how deep her son’s talent ran, and as his fierce advocate, she wasn’t going to let shoe manufacturers exploit him for their gain. Converse and Adidas are also competing for Michael Jordan’s endorsement, but Vaccaro—tenacious, clever, and inspirational—knew exactly what Deloris needed to hear.

Deloris wasn’t going to make the decision for her son, but she clearly held a lot of sway over him. Damian Delano Young plays 18-year-old Michael, but he gets little screen time, and Affleck wisely made the decision to never show his face. Instead, the story concludes with archival footage of Michael and the other principal participants in the groundbreaking endorsement deal. It’s not giving anything away to say Nike won; the Air Jordan shoe is iconic. Watching how the

Film Reviews

YOUR PLACE OR MINE

What’s it rated? PG-13

When? 2023

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Romantic comedy fans, strap in—we’ve got some heavy hitters in the house! Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon play Peter and Debbie, two old friends who had a fling a million years ago but managed to move onwards and upwards, becoming best friends. Think a less snarky When Harry Met Sally kind of thing.

Peter is super successful and lives in New York in a gorgeous, albeit sterile, apartment. Debbie lives with her son, Jack (Wesley Kimmel), in LA and spends most of her time worrying about his various allergies and ailments— most of which seem to be overblown by Mamma Bear. Circumstance has the two switch places. Peter comes to LA to watch Jack while Debbie attends a course in NYC. Tig Notaro plays mom-friend Alicia, and as usual, her dry and deadpan humor is always a welcome treat onscreen for me. Throw in Steve Zahn as Debbie’s wacky neighbor and you’ve got all the elements of a possibly but not quite effective rom-com.

deal got done is where the entertainment lies.

Anna: Luckily this story isn’t just for fans of sports, or basketball, or Michael Jordan, or shoes. Seeing lines outside of Shoe Palace when a new Air Jordan shoe is released is proof enough that these iconic shoes still are raking in billions for Nike. Damon is great as Sonny, who is told “no” almost constantly and has decided not to hear it anymore. Nike had $250,000 that year to spend on athletes to gain endorsements, and Vaccaro wanted to spend it all on Jordan. What seemed to the execs as a crazy move wound up being brilliant and built an empire. I believe this is the first time that Affleck has directed Damon, though the two famously have worked together since they were kids. His role as Phil Knight portrays the CEO as quite a character—barefooted and driving a purple Porsche with a deep need to be taken seriously.

I’m not a sports person, and these aren’t the kind of shoes I care at all about, but this movie made us root for Sonny’s win—and he won big.

Glen: It’s a true character-driven story. Bateman is terrific as marketing guru Ron Strasser, who worries Vaccaro’s cavalier style will get them both fired. Chris Tucker as Nike executive Howard White also brings a certain manic energy to the role, but Chris

Messina as Jordan’s sports manager wins the scenery-chewing award. His angry, friendless, tenacious David Falk is a real killer. However, other than Davis’ Deloris, my favorite character was shoe designer Peter Moore, who Matthew Maher plays as a mad and obsessive genius. I don’t care much about sports, but I love a good sports movie, and this one is feel-good gold.

Anna: I’m with you on loving both Davis in her role as well as Maher in his. I didn’t know that the NBA fines people who wear shoes that are less than 51 percent white, and I loved watching Maher as Moore when

SR.

What’s it rated? R

When? 2022

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Chris Smith (The Yes Men, The Pool, 100 Foot Wave) directs this intimate, poignant documentary about iconoclastic filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., who died in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of subversive filmmaking (Sweet Smell of Sex, Chafed Elbows, Putney Swope) as well as a fiercely talented son named Robert Downey Jr., who’s prominently featured in the documentary.

he’s given the freedom to create something that breaks the rules. It was so smart to build the shoe, and the brand essentially, around Jordan—but at the time it was also a huge risk. Sometimes you just have to take the shot, and Vaccaro did so brilliantly. You have to love the story of a big win, and that’s certainly what this was. I’ll watch these actors any time; this cast was awesome. m

New Times Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Sun Screen. Glen compiles listings. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

WHEN PETER MET DEBBIE: Single mom Debbie (Reese Witherspoon) and her son, Jack (Wesley Kimmel), live in LA, but a new father figure might be found in Debbie’s long ago one-night stand, in Your Place or Mine, screening on Netflix.

Of course, this film is genuinely predictable and more than a little groan inducing, but these two leads know how to sell a sweet romance. Fans of the genre will find it charming but overall forgettable. (109 min.)

—Anna

Not only does the film cover Sr.’s long and strange career, it also displays the deep affection between father and son. In essence, the film gives Jr. a chance to interrogate Sr. in service to a documentary about his father’s artistry. In some ways, it’s constructed similarly to Sr.’s own often disjointed and unorthodox approach to filmmaking, so if you demand order and coherence, this may not be the doc for you. This filmmaking family has a trove of archival footage and film clips from which to construct its narrative, which in part is about Jr. processing his own grief over the death of his father.

I found the film fascinating, emotionally resonant, and heartfelt. Both Sr. and Jr. are

FATHERS AND SONS: Robert Downey Sr. and Jr. appear in the Netflix documentary Sr., which chronicles Sr.’s career and celebrates Sr. and Jr.’s warm relationship until Sr.’s death in 2021.

characters, and though Jr.’s career has arguably eclipsed Sr.’s in scope and importance, this film cements Sr.’s reputation as an important and unforgettable filmmaker. (89 min.) m

MAKING HISTORY: Air Jordan designer Peter Moore (Matthew Maher, left), endorsement dealmaker Sonny Vaccaro (Matt Damon, center), and marketing guru Rob Strasser (Jason Bateman, right) work together to land basketball icon Michael Jordan in a historic deal.

COURTESY PHOTO BY ERIN SIMLIM/NETFLIX

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Parallel to the beaches off Italy’s Tuscan coast, Bolgheri is home to two out of the three culinary personalities set to host an upcoming one-night-only affair in Santa Ynez.

Guest winemaker Massimo Piccin and guest chef Omar Barsacchi hail from the Italian village, and together they co-organized a unique menu for S.Y. Kitchen’s April 26 dinner event, alongside additional guest winemaker Roberto Giannelli—whose winery is based in Montalcino, about 80 miles southeast of Bolgheri.

Piccin, Barsacchi, and Giannelli have been friends for many years, but this occasion marks the first time they’ve collaborated on a wine-paired dinner in a professional capacity.

A taste of Tuscany

From Tuscany with love

CAREFULLY CURATED: S.Y. Kitchen’s upcoming guest winemaker Roberto Giannelli is the owner of San Filippo, an acclaimed Italian winery frequently praised by Wine Spectator and other publications.

“We have known each other for a long time, and a sincere friendship binds us,” Piccin wrote in an email to the Sun. “I look forward to being all together in California, and I am sure we will have a lot of fun.”

Piccin—who founded his organiccertified winery, Podere Sapaio, in 1999—said he was previously familiar with the Santa Ynez Valley and other parts of Santa Barbara County, as he’s visited California in the past, but less frequently over the years since 2020.

“Pre-COVID, I would travel to California at least two times per year,” Piccin said. “I have slowly started to travel again, and I am excited to return to California.

“California has always been a very dynamic market for Sapaio wines,” the

Call (805) 691-9794 or visit sykitchen.com for more info on S.Y. Kitchen’s upcoming Tuscan wine paired-dinner, scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, at 6 p.m. Dinner reservations are required, as seating is limited. Admission to the event is $250 per person (not including tax or gratuity). S.Y. Kitchen is located at 1110 Faraday St., Santa Ynez. For info on future events hosted by the Toscana Restaurant Group, which also includes Nella Kitchen and Bar in Los Olivos, visit toscanarestaurantgroup.com.

winemaker added, “and, of course, an amazing place to visit.”

A selection of wines from Piccin and Giannelli—owner of San Filippo in Montalcino—was specifically curated to pair with Barsacchi’s various courses featured at the upcoming S.Y. Kitchen dinner.

“I would say I am excited about all the courses, from antipasto to dolce. I mean, we are talking about authentic Tuscan dishes, an authentic Tuscan chef,” said Piccin, who described the wines chosen for the event as “deeply rooted in the Tuscan terroir.”

In an email to the Sun, Giannelli said that he considers each course in the multi-course dinner to be equally important.

“For me, every single course paired with a different wine has the same importance,” said Giannelli, whose wines featured at the event include the San Filippo Brunello di Montalcino.

“Every wine is different. Brunello is of course our rock star, but I love every

EATS continued page 26

PHOTO

GRAB A GLASS: Bolgheribased winemaker Massimo Piccin is one of the guest winemakers set to co-host a special wine-paired multicourse dinner event at S.Y. Kitchen in Santa Ynez.

PHOTO COURTESY

PROLIFIC PAIR: Omar Barsacchi (left), the guest chef at S.Y. Kitchen’s upcoming Tuscan food and wine event, is widely known in Bolgheri, Italy, for his beef-centric cuisine. Butcher Dario Cecchini (right) often sources the meat for Barsacchi’s award-winning restaurant, Osteria Magona.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL PROGRAM

BOOK YOUR AD BY: April 13, 2023

PUBLICATION DATE: April 20, 2023

The annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival is scheduled to be held at the Santa Maria Fairpark from Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30, 2023.

Reach thousands of festivalgoers in the event’s program, printed in the Sun! The program will include the schedule of events and info about things to see and do at the festival.

Eats

single one,” Giannelli said.

Barsacchi’s Michelin Bib Gourmand-winning eatery, Osteria Magona in Bolgheri, is a farmhouse restaurant widely known for its beefcentric menu. Some of the acclaimed chef’s meaty dishes at the S.Y. Kitchen dinner will include pappardelle al cinghiale—pasta with wild boar sauce— and Fiorentina di manzo alla brace—a Florentine-style steak.

“Osteria Magona— Omar’s restaurant—is literally 2 miles from my winery,” Piccin said. “My wines and Omar’s dishes smell each other every day.”

During their upcoming stay in California, Piccin, Giannelli, and Barsacchi will collaborate on an additional wine-paired dinner in Los Angeles, at Toscana Brentwood—a trattoria-style Italian restaurant co-owned by Santa Ynez Valley residents and S.Y. Kitchen co-owners Mike and Kathie Gordon.

Share tasty tips!

The husband-andwife duo also own Nella Kitchen and Bar in Los Olivos, among other venues in the Toscana Restaurant Group.

Giannelli said he’s excited for both upcoming dinner events, as he has admired both S.Y. Kitchen and Toscana from afar for quite some time.

“I have known of both venues for a few years now, and I have been impressed by their level of quality, attention to detail, and great atmospheres,” said the vintner, who’s also excited for the trip as a means to visit Santa Barbara County’s wine country, which he has enjoyed exploring in the past.

“I wish that I could travel over here more frequently,” Giannelli said. “I always love to return to this beautiful region of California.” m

Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood is a lifelong Central Coast resident. Send comments to cwiseblood@ santamariasun.com.

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Kathie (left) and Mike Gordon (right) are the co-owners of S.Y. Kitchen, Nella Kitchen and Bar, and other restaurants in the Toscana Restaurant Group.

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