Sun, June 8, 2023

In 2019, the State Water Resources Control Board order 30 airports across the state to investigate their soil and water for contaminants known as PFAS, which were commonly used decades ago in things like firefighting foam. The Santa Maria Public Airport was one of those airports. Although the investigation isn’t yet finalized, the regional water board is trying to figure out who should pay for the cost of cleaning up the low levels of PFAS found in the soil and water around the airport’s runway. Staff Writer Taylor O’Connor talks to the water board, county environmental officials, and the airport about it [6].

This week, you can also read about what Lompoc is doing to reduce overdose deaths [4]; an Allan Hancock professor’s book about enchanting trails on the West Coast [18]; and where Liquid Gravity Brewing is opening its second spot [21]

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• Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced $16 million in grants to increase home ownership for farmworkers in California. The grants will support five programs statewide to build or purchase homes for lowerincome farmworkers and advance programs that help farmworkers become or remain homeowners through mortgage assistance. “California isn’t California without our farmworkers—not only are they our state’s economic backbone, but they help us produce over a third of our country’s vegetables and three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts. Our farmworkers have our backs—now it’s time we have theirs,” Newsom said in a statement. “These grants will help make the California Dream a reality for dozens of farmworkers by helping them become homeowners—and help them lay a foundation for future generations to build upon.” In Santa Maria, People’s Self-Help Housing will receive a little more than $4 million to fund a home ownership development project and technical assistance for self-help housing. The development project will have 49 total homes with 40 of those being affordable for people at 40 to 80 percent of area median income. Of these, 16 homes will be reserved for farmworker families.

• The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States applauded the California state Senate’s recent passage of SB 495: legislation that extends cocktails-to-go privileges to bars and creates a new delivery service permit to allow third-party delivery of alcoholic beverages. “Cocktails to-go continue to be a stable and important source of revenue for California businesses and provide increased convenience for consumers,” Andy Deloney, senior vice president and head of state public policy at the organization, said in a statement. “Allowing bars in addition to restaurants to sell cocktails to-go just makes sense. Adding delivery of these popular beverages provides further opportunities for local businesses to generate revenue and allows adult consumers to easily enjoy their favorite cocktails at home. We urge the California Assembly to pass this measure and send it to the governor’s desk for signature.” Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws to permanently allow cocktails to-go, and 14 others have enacted laws that allow cocktails to-go on a temporary basis. Numerous states are still considering cocktails-to-go legislation. Currently, restaurants in California may sell cocktails to-go for takeout through Dec. 31, 2026.

• U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla along with several other senators and U.S. representatives, introduced the Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act: legislation to address the severe mental health care provider shortage and improve access to affordable services at community health care centers. The bill establishes a new program that would provide federal grants to community health centers to help them recruit, hire, and employ qualified mental health professionals who are fluent in a language other than English. Community Health Centers are critical safety net providers in areas where economic, geographic, or cultural barriers limit access to affordable health care. About 5.2 million Californians are served by a community health center, at least 36 percent of whom are best served in a language other than English. “We must tackle our country’s mental health crisis head on,” Padilla said in a statement. “The Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act will help us remove a critical barrier to care by empowering community health centers to recruit, hire, and retain mental health professionals in non-English speaking communities.” m

Lompoc adds overdose rescue kits at all public facilities

With the highest fatal opioid overdose rates in Santa Barbara County, Lompoc city officials installed opioid rescue kits throughout public facilities to potentially help save lives, Mayor Jenelle Osborne said.

“Deaths were slightly higher than the rest of the county; that’s a sign to me that we have an issue and we’re not talking about something that’s happening [somewhere] else,” Osborne said. “It really is about what our preventative tools are, and it starts with preventing overdose deaths and educating people on what that looks like.”

The opioid rescue kits have been placed at Lompoc City Hall, the Lompoc Public Library, the Village Library, the Dick DeWees Community and Senior Center, the Anderson Recreation Center, the Lompoc Aquatic Center, and the Lompoc Landfill.

Each kit contains two doses of Narcan—a life-saving medication that reverses an opiod overdose’s effects—a set of instructions, a set of gloves, and CPR assistance equipment, she said. The Lompoc Fire Department will restock kits if they are used and they helped train staff at each site in Narcan’s administration—including Osborne.

“Staff in each location have been trained so we are prepared. I will say it is unfortunate, but as we finished our training Fire Department personnel were loading the engine because they got a call that was unfortunately an overdose,” she said.

The Lompoc Fire Department has used Narcan on patients at least 50 times so far this calendar year, Osborne added.

According to a 2021 county needs assessment, Lompoc has the highest overdose death rate in the region at approximately 63 individuals per 100,000 following Santa Barbara city’s 41.7 per 100,000. In the 12-month period ending December 2021, 28 people overdosed and died in Lompoc. As a result, Lompoc joined Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown’s Project Opioid to meet with local officials, educators, and nonprofits on a monthly basis in order to create new partnerships and find ways to manage the crisis.

“It was really important for us to be at the table to understand all of the moving parts and advocate for the support we needed to combat it,” Osborne said.

At the most recent Project Opioid meeting in May, Osborne said that there was some good news: Based on the county’s proactivity with education programs and Narcan distribution, the Sheriff’s Office is seeing a path toward reducing the number of overdose deaths.

“Because we are presenting so many opportunities to get Narcan into the hands of the public, to [people who use drugs], and in public for free, we are seeing less deaths,” Osborne said. “It’s not necessarily seeing the overdoses decrease, but we are seeing the deaths decrease. I know that doesn’t always seem like a win, but it is when you reduce a loss of life.”

Sheriff’s Lt. Jarrett Morris told the Sun that the Sheriff’s Office originally projected roughly 192 overdose deaths, with 162 related to fentanyl for 2023. As of June 6, those estimates decreased to about 144 total overdoses, with 96 related to fentanyl.

“We’re looking at what we’ve had for the year, what we had each month and drew equations finding that out. It’s not super official, but it gives Project Opioid an idea of where we are sitting,” he said.

Education campaigns, partnerships and new projects, and Narcan’s increased availability were discussed as potential reasons for the projected decrease, Morris said, but he stressed that it’s still early in the year, several cases are still pending toxicology, and these numbers don’t solidify low overdose death rates for the year.

“This past week we had five overdose deaths and four of them were likely fentanyl related.

That’s a really big week for us in the county, so if we see those trends continue, we could go into some of those numbers we were seeing earlier this year,” he said on June 6.

To continue its efforts against the opioid crisis, the Sheriff’s Office started distributing free doses of Narcan at all of its stations in March— no questions asked—Morris said. Since the beginning of the program, the Sheriff’s Office has distributed 1,278 doses of Narcan.

“We don’t know if our Narcan has saved any lives; I assume that it has and we are getting it into the hands of people—which could play a role in this potential decreased number,” he said. “All of us working together under the umbrella of Project Opioid makes a difference, and we are doing it one saved life at a time.”

Pacific Pride Foundation, the Santa Barbara Opioid Safety Coalition, UC Santa Barbara Student Health Services Alcohol and Drug Program, and Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness’s Fentanyl is Forever program also have Narcan distribution programs. Visit opioidsafetysb.org or the organizations’ websites to learn more.

—Taylor O’Connor

County Planning Commission approves new wildfire mitigation policies

Just before the Santa Barbara County Fire Department declared June 5 as the start of this year’s high fire season, it proposed changes to county wildfire policy.

County Fire Marshal Rob Hazard presented those amendments to wildfire protocols during the county Planning Commission’s May 31 meeting. Hazard described the amendment drafting process as a collaboration between all fire departments throughout the county.

One of the recommended actions is for the county to develop a “like-for-like” ordinance, which would allow people to rebuild structures that burned down in high wildfire risk areas in less riskier locations, “without the need for a discretionary entitlement,” as long as the rebuild complies with other zoning and environmental regulations, according to the county staff report.

“This is all about literally saving lives, and what could be a higher purpose for us,” county Planning Commissioner John Parke said in support of the policy update, shortly before it

was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission.

With the Planning Commission’s recommendation for adoption, the proposal will be brought before the county Board of Supervisors on July 11 for final approval. County staff has been working with the county Fire Department, Cal Fire, and other agencies on the proposed policy amendments since the spring of 2022.

“As a longtime inhabitant of what could be referred to as a hazard zone with respect to fire, this effort that staff has undertaken, in cooperation with fire agencies … couldn’t come at a better time,” Planning Commissioner C. Michael Cooney said. “This collaboration is never more important than it is right now.”

During the policy update presentation, county planner Whitney Wilkinson outlined some new wildfire information resources available to the public, including an interactive map of Santa Barbara County that identifies residential developments in fire hazard areas that have only one emergency evacuation route.

“The state will eventually provide guidance on what qualifies as a residential development, but their unofficial guidance is to have each jurisdiction determine how they want to define these areas,” Wilkinson said. “For instance, we defined a neighborhood as containing at least 30 lots.”

Users of the interactive map, available on the county Planning and Development Department’s website, can customize the map to show how different neighborhoods throughout the county fit into other types of hazard zones as well.

“We mapped these neighborhoods in various hazard zones, including tsunami and dam inundation zones, and FEMA flood hazard zones in addition to the fire hazard severity zones,” Wilkinson said.

Additional info on local wildfire mitigation practices is available at sbcfire.com/wildfire.

—Caleb Wiseblood

State grant supports Santa Maria Hi-Way Drive-In housing development

The California Department of Housing and Community Development awarded more than $4 million in grant funding to People’s Self Help Housing to support farmworker homeownership at its Hi-Way Drive-In housing project.

LIFE-SAVING TRAINING: Lompoc Mayor Jenelle Osborne trains in Narcan administration as part of the city’s efforts to expand the life-saving medication’s availability and combat opioid overdose deaths.

“What this award will translate into is essentially down payment assistance that will make their first mortgage smaller, and the size will become the right size for farmworkers’ income,” said Ken Trigueiro, the founder and CEO of the SLO-based nonprofit.

People’s Self-Help Housing was one of five programs statewide selected, with the awards totaling $16 million from the state’s Joe Serna Jr. Housing Grant program to advance homeownership development projects, technical assistance projects, mortgage assistance programs, and programs for the acquisition of manufactured housing for agriculture workers, according to a statement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

“Serving farmworkers has always been a priority for us; we have a lot of rental units and some are set aside specifically for farmworkers, and we have long waitlists. We know there’s really high demand; farmworkers can’t find affordable housing in Santa Maria,” Trigueiro said.

The People’s Self-Help Housing project will develop 49 single-family homes at Santa Maria’s Hi-Way Drive-In—with each home featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, he said. Sixteen of the 49 homes will be allotted to farmworker families, and the state award will help bridge the gap between farmworker income and housing costs.

“It’s set up as a kind of loan, but there’s not going to be a payment due on it. That’s really the only way we can make sure the first mortgage will be affordable for them,” Trigueiro said. “Since this won’t add any more monthly payments, they can focus on meeting the payment on the first mortgage.”

Farmworkers in Santa Maria earn an average of $35,080—while the average household income in Santa Barbara County is $78,925—according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Trigueiro added that there are almost no opportunities for homeownership unless people make a substantial amount.

“Sometimes farmworkers don’t make enough to make that mortgage affordable, and there’s a pretty substantial gap between income and cost,” he said.

The remaining 33 are geared toward lowincome families who make no more than 80 percent of the median income. The project will also serve to help Santa Maria meet the staterequired Regional Housing Needs Allocation numbers to develop 536 low-income units, he said.

Santa Maria received People’s Self-Help Housing’s application to redevelop the drive-in in March 2021 and went before the City Council and Planning Commission in the fall to get a zoning approval from commercial to residential. After some back-and-forth, the City Council unanimously approved the project in November 2021, and the project is set to begin construction in spring or summer of 2024.

“It got attention because it was kind of a defunct thing. People remember it [the drivein] from way back when and there was some nostalgia around that,” Trigueiro said. “It was hard for people to accept change there, but we had some pretty good support after people started to realize and hear about the needs people have for housing and how dire it is— especially for people not earning over the median income.” m

—Taylor O’Connor

North County Rape Crisis and Child Protection Center

Forever chemicals

California water board investigates contaminated water, soil at the Santa Maria Public Airport

BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR

Cleaning chemicals used decades ago seeped into the soil and groundwater at airports across the state, including Santa Maria’s, Santa Barbara County 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson told the Sun.

“We know more than we did 40 years ago. I don’t think anyone intentionally polluted our groundwater, but there is a chemical down in the wells. This is a 50- to 60-year-old pollution,” Nelson said.

Known as “forever chemicals,” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been used since the 1940s as components in industrial cleaners, firefighting foams, nonstick surfaces, fabric softeners, and for water resistance, according to officials with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board Long-term human exposure to these chemicals can cause changes in thyroid function, decreased vaccine response in children, and an increased risk for cancer.

“There are thousands of individual PFAS, each with unique chemical and physical properties,” water board officials wrote in an emailed statement to the Sun. “Big picture: The U.S. EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] developed and released a roadmap that sets timelines by which EPA plans to take specific actions and commits to bolder new policies to safeguard public health, protect the environment, and hold polluters accountable.”

In 2012, the U.S. EPA began enforcing an amendment to the 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act that requires the EPA to issue a new list of no more than 30 unregulated contaminants to be monitored by public water systems, according to a California State Water Resources Control Board PFAS Timeline. As part of that, in 2019, the Santa Maria Regional Airport was one of 30 California airports issued an order to investigate aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)—a firefighting foam with active PFAS ingredients. It was often used at the airport for firefighter or military training between the 1950s and 1970s, water board officials said.

While preliminary soil and groundwater sampling do show low levels of PFAS, the Santa Maria site investigation is still pending, and regulatory agencies are trying to figure out who is responsible for the contamination and should pay for the cleanup. The airport has changed hands several times over the decades, from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the county to

the city before becoming its own entity.

“We don’t know at the end who pays for what, and what the cost will look like,” county Supervisor Nelson said. “We all share some responsibility; frankly I think the city and the county have the least amount of responsibility. The only reason we’re in the loop is because we owned the property. Never did the city or county pollute, I can say that with certainty, but because of the way the law is set up, we’re a party.”

Martin Pehl, the Santa Maria Public Airport’s general manager, told the Sun in a voicemail that the airport shouldn’t be included as a discharger, and cleanup costs should fall onto the county’s or city’s shoulders.

“We haven’t owned the property, we only owned the property for four years and that was from ’64 to ’68. We had no knowledge of any discharge having occurred, the water board didn’t even exist, laws governing those kinds of discharges didn’t exist,” Pehl said.

According to the Santa Maria Public Airport District’s website, in March 1964, ownership transferred from city/county dual ownership/ management to the district, which still runs it to this day.

Regional Water Quality Control Board officials told the Sun that the Santa Maria Public Airport submitted a report that said the airport was built by the U.S. Army for military operations during World War II, and in 1947 the city acquired the land for commercial flight operations.

“The Santa Maria Airport District is unable to provide accurate documentation of when AFFF was originally stored at the site, but the first military specification that set out requirements for AFFF was put in place in 1969,” water board officials said. “Based on the provided information, the exact date in which AFFF, a source of PFAS, was released to the environment is uncertain.”

Lars Seifert, the Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services director, said that the airport district conducted extraction and groundwater sampling between 2021 and 2023 following the investigative order focusing on the runway—the area where the foam was used.

“It’s pretty isolated to the runway areas in Santa Maria. Through the testing in the public drinking water wells, we have a good handle that PFAS is not getting into the groundwater and getting to a point where it’s a risk to

humans,” Seifert said. “PFAS is not harmful if they are just sitting there. There has to be a pathway or exposure risk; if they get into the groundwater or drinking water that’s an exposure risk to humans.”

Most water samples for chemical exposure are in parts per million, and PFAS is measured in parts per trillion—a conservative measure from the EPA because the understanding of the substances is relatively new. Seifert added that at this point, there haven’t been detections that would require notifications for people receiving water from wells near the airport.

“If they are in shallow soils, oftentimes [the water board would] recommend removal of the soils and properly dispose of them. If they get into shallow, perched water that’s there, sometimes there’s filtration technology that can pump and filter the chemicals out, but that’s part of the assessment when they do the testing and notification,” Seifert said.

The airport is still in its assessment phase and the investigation is still ongoing; the water board will have to get a better handle on PFAS locations, if they are safe in place, or if they need to plan for soil removal, he said.

“Other sites that we oversee, the cleanup and assessment of PFAS take several years because you have to go in to install monitoring wells, take soil samples, evaluate other areas—it’s a process,” Seifert said.

While PFAS have been present for years, the technology that could detect the chemicals at lower concentrations needed to be developed and more research needed to take place in order to understand their impact on humans, said Jason Johnston, supervising environmental health specialist at the Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services Department.

“The U.S. EPA has been doing a lot of evaluation of PFAS chemicals and trying to establish at what level they might be harmful,” Johnston said. “Obviously, they are still concerned about setting limits … and obviously, evaluating our exposure to them sooner rather than later is going to be beneficial for long-term human health.”

Even if it’s not a risk for Santa Marians at the moment, these investigations give people “confidence in the safety of the drinking water” Seifert added.

“We live in an environment in which we are surrounded by products and chemicals. It’s good for people to be aware of what they are eating, drinking, and what they are exposed to,” Seifert said. “I think it gives people the power to make choices and reduce their risk if they are concerned.” m

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

ONGOING INVESTIGATION: The California State Water Resources Control Board discovered low levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—harmful chemicals that can cause cancer in high concentrations—at the Santa Maria Public Airport. The state agency is still investigating who is responsible for the substances and figuring out how to clean it up.

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Commemorating history

The Santa Maria-Lompoc branch of the NAACP hosts its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration

BY TAYLOR O’CONNOR

June 19, 1865, marked the end of slavery in the United States, with Texas ending slavery two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

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“[Former slaves] celebrated the end of a very brutal and horrific time in their lives where they were treated less than,”said Lawanda LyonsPruitt, the Santa Maria-Lompoc NAACP branch president. “We continue the celebration because it’s our history. The story needs to be told, and it’s important the story continues to be told because it’s our history.”

The Santa Maria-Lompoc branch of the NAACP will be hosting its fifth annual Juneteenth celebration on June 17 on the 100th block of South H Street in Old Town Lompoc. The event will feature live music and dance performances, spoken poetry, food and drinks, and Masson Blow as the keynote speaker, Lyons-Pruitt said.

Blow grew up in Lompoc and was a “star athlete” in football and wrestling. He excelled academically and received a partial scholarship to Cal Poly, she said.

“His first year at Cal Poly, I believe, he was driving above the speed limit and resulted in a car accident. Two people were killed and an infant was injured. He is here coming to tell his story of redemption,” Lyons-Pruitt said.

He was sentenced to a year and served six months in the SLO County Jail, was placed on probation for six years, and worked 500 hours of community service. During this time, he faced a lot of adversity and suffered from depression as he worked to rebuild his life, she said. He went back to school and earned his doctorate in veterinary medicine from Oregon State University— becoming one of the first Black men to earn that degree at the school.

“He’s [coming] to share his story with young people about turning that negative into positive and having his Christian faith as a foundation and [using] that to overcome,” Lyons-Pruitt said.

Along with Blow’s speech, there will be a free health and wellness area that will provide COVID-19 vaccines, other immunizations, and blood pressure and glucose level tests offered by Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness, Community Health Centers of the Central Coast, Planned Parenthood, and Savie Health, she said.

“I think that health should always be included in the events that we do. The reason for that is if you look at the statistics for Black, Indigenous, People of Color—BIPOC—you see in almost every category: cancer,

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There needs to be more education offered for BIPOC communities surrounding their vitals and health care, she added, and the NAACP can help overcome a hurdle for many individuals by providing free health care at its events.

“We need to go to the community rather than the community to come to us. We need to go into the heart of the community and make us available any time we have programming,” LyonsPruitt said.

The Santa Maria Joint Union High, Santa Maria-Bonita, and Lompoc Unified school districts will also participate in an education section with a book mobile to check out books, plus face painting and parents can sign their kids up for the new transitional-kindergarten programs at Santa Maria-Bonita and Lompoc Unified.

The League of Women Voters and the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party will be helping people register to vote. The NAACP is a nonpartisan organization and is open to the Republican Party coming out as well, she added.

“We just want to celebrate. It’s a sad history, but it’s a good history, and it’s a day to celebrate, to reflect, and to remember,” Lyons-Pruitt said.

The NAACP’s portion will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and its community partner—PCH Wine Salon and Lounge—will take over to provide live music until 8 p.m. Visit santamarialompocnaacp.org for more information.

Highlight

• The Boys and Girls Club of Mid Central Coast announced its Campaign for Kids Fundraising Drive, which aims to raise funds to support the organization’s programs and services. This year, the campaign has a goal of raising $300,000 between June and August. The organization provides a safe and positive environment where children and teenagers can develop confidence, build new skills, and form meaningful relationships with their peers and adult mentors. The Campaign for Kids Fundraising Drive will provide critical support for the Boys and Girls Club of Mid Central Coast’s ongoing operations, including after-school programs, summer camps, and tutoring and academic support.

For more information, visit centralcoastkids.org/donate. m

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

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REMEMBERING HISTORY: Live music, educational opportunities, health care screenings, face painting, spoken word poetry, and a guest speaker were at the 2022 Juneteenth event in Lompoc and will return this year on June 17.

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How a bill should not become a law

BY ANDREW CHRISTIE

In mid-May, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he was submitting a package of bills to the Legislature and declaring an executive order establishing an “Infrastructure Strike Team,” both with the same goal: to “streamline” permitting and judicial review for infrastructure projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

CEQA is a vital process that provides information about projects to decision-makers and the public so they can ensure communities receive benefits promised and avoid unintended impacts. Above all, CEQA is about transparency. It gives all Californians the opportunity to know what is planned in their communities and then weigh in to help reduce health and environmental impacts. It holds government agencies and developers accountable and ensures that they comply with air and water standards.

A few examples of the Legislature’s troubled relationship with CEQA from recent history:

In 2009, when billionaire developer Ed Roski wanted to get an exemption from CEQA to smooth the path to construction for a football stadium in the City of Industry, the California Legislature had his back, because jobs.

The exemption, legislators promised, would be a special case; a one-off, never to be repeated and in no way a precedent for future exemptions— until two years later, when the Legislature granted another one-time-only environmental exemption to Anschutz Entertainment Group for its proposed downtown LA football stadium.

And then, as LA Times columnist Michael Hitzik noted, “the Legislature promptly passed yet another environmental exemption, this time a gift so open-ended that no one has any idea how many big construction projects will be shaded beneath its capacious

boughs. ... ‘You didn’t have to wait very long to see the domino effect’ of the AEG bill, Bruce Reznik, executive director of the Sacramento-based Planning and Conservation League, told me. ‘It happened in 24 hours.’”

Both bills were rammed through in the final hours of the legislative session, assuring them minimum review and debate.

It was unfortunate that Gov. Newsom summoned that history when he announced his plans to speed up big infrastructure projects by ramming a CEQA-reforming package of “budget trailer bills” through at the end of the legislative session.

permitting, imperiled species protections, water law, and community engagement among other important laws and policies. This abuse of the budget process eliminates an open and transparent discussion of massive policy.”

We asked legislators to decline the governor’s invitation to move important policy measures as part of the budget process and instead move these proposals through the regular legislative process.

On May 25, a Senate budget committee halted the progress of the bill package, citing the inappropriateness of asking the Legislature to make a last-minute decision on a lot of major policy bills.

But, as CalMatters put it, that committee vote “doesn’t mean Newsom’s infrastructure proposal is dead. His bills could return to Senate or Assembly committees in budget negotiations over the next few weeks.”

Brandon Dawson, director of Sierra Club California, said of Newsom’s effort: “There’s no doubt that California needs more clean energy, clean transportation, and water resiliency projects to protect communities from the impacts of the climate crisis. However, that infrastructure can’t be built without the input of the communities it will exist in.”

“I love sports. I take a backseat to nobody on sports, but I also love roads; I love transit; I love bridges; I love clean energy projects,” the governor said. “It’s not just about stadiums, and we’ve proven we can get it done for stadiums, so why the hell can’t we translate that to all of these other projects?”

The Sierra Club and 70 other environmental groups wrote a letter in opposition to legislative leaders pointing out that the trailer bill package “will significantly change judicial review, environmental

In 2011, Michael Hiltzik asked how it was that, if CEQA procedures could benefit from streamlining, “why achieve the streamlining by steamrollering an unread bill through the Legislature minutes before adjournment?”

The Legislature’s deadline for approving the budget is June 15. Keep your eyes peeled. m

Andrew Christie is the executive director of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Respond with a letter to the editor by emailing it to letters@santamariasun.com.

My memories of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area

This month the court will decide if the California Coastal Commission has the right to ban driving on the Oceano beach and dunes.

I raised my son in Oceano, and I have no memories of us on the Oceano beach because we never went there: I didn’t want to risk our lives dodging cars, trucks, motorhomes, vans, and buses. We always had to drive to Pismo or Avila, although we lived a mile away from the Oceano beach.

But I remember the front yard’s fence of my Pier Avenue property knocked down and a few missing boards. The sheriff said it was probably beach campers collecting wood for their fires.

I remember dozens of Christmas trees and old furniture burned on our beachfront, the fire reaching illegal proportions, and at least 150 square feet of stinky, dangerous debris left behind.

I remember a beach driver shouting at me while walking on the Oceano beach: “Get off the road!”

I remember off-roaders saying that I need to be screwed … in a wooden box 6 feet under. The sheriff explained that it was not a threat until they pointed a gun at me and said they were going to kill me.

I remember when smokers could smoke on airplanes, in restaurants, movie theaters, and people died from secondhand smoke. Aren’t you grateful we outlawed that harmful behavior?

Lucia Casalinuovo Oceano

The legislative process exists for a reason, and the governor shouldn’t introduce exceptions at the eleventh hour

‘There’s no doubt that California needs more clean energy, clean transportation, and water resiliency projects to protect communities from the impacts of the climate crisis. However, that infrastructure can’t be built without the input of the communities it will exist in.’

—Brandon Dawson, Sierra Club California director

Eat dirt Opinion Get Involved

Is it better to know or is ignorance bliss?

According to Lars Seifert with Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services: “It’s good for people to be aware of what they are eating, drinking, and what they’re exposed to. … It gives people the power to make choices and reduce their risk if they are concerned.”

According to Ron Fink, who went on a tirade about the Environmental Protection Agency’s per- and polyflouroalkyl (PFAS) requirements for drinking water in his April 6 Sun column: “You have to eat a pound of dirt before you die … and not worry about this latest government concern.”

The forever chemicals known as PFAS are hanging out in soil and groundwater throughout the state—including at both the SLO County and Santa Maria airports—due to decades of mandated firefighting trainings in which a substance with an extremely odd name was used: aqueous film forming foam. That fluffy stuff contained lots of different PFAS chemicals, and now we’re all stuck with them.

Long-term human exposure to PFAS can impact thyroid function, increase cancer risk, and decrease vaccine response in children.

But as Fink put it: Don’t worry about it! The government is still in the process of figuring out just how dangerous these chemicals are. Plus he spent 20 years as a military firefighter.

“I was frequently covered in [firefighting foam] during firefighting operations,” he said. “I drank the water, and once again, I have suffered no health issues.”

You know what they say about single-person case studies of yourself! That’s the stuff that science depends on—not.

Finky, baby, you might want to get checked for cancer. A number of firefighters who worked with the same fluffy stuff in places like Georgia are concerned that their cases of thyroid and prostate cancer might be tied to it.

But, like Seifert said, you can make that decision for yourself. There is a small plume of low-level PFAS in the groundwater beneath the Santa Maria Public Airport, as well as low levels in the soil around its runway. So, you can, in fact, eat a pound of that dirt before you die, if you wish—although you might have to check with the airport first.

Seifert and others seem unconcerned about the levels that exist there, but so far, the investigation is still ongoing and without conclusion. Unsurprisingly, there’s already a fight brewing over just who is going to have to pay for cleanup if it’s needed.

The chemicals started being used decades ago, that firefighting foam training was a military standard, and the airport was initially a military facility. But Santa Barbara County and the city of Santa Maria both owned and operated it in the 1960s before the Santa Maria Public Airport District formed and took over in 1964.

Strangely, the airport’s current general manager, Martin Pehl, left a voicemail for the Sun saying the district only owned the property for four years from 1964 to 1968. I’m so confused.

“We had no knowledge of any discharge having occurred, the water board didn’t even exist, laws governing those kinds of discharges didn’t exist,” he said.

We did a lot of stupid things before we knew they were bad for us, including eating dirt as toddlers. m

The Canary is more into eating worms. Send chemical-free, organic worms to canary@ santamariasun.com.

Join us in making a difference in the life of a young person. Visit sbcasa.org or email volunteer@sbcasa.org to become a CASA volunteer today. Together, let’s empower and uplift our youth, ensuring they have the support they deserve as they strive for a brighter tomorrow.

Once a happy, curious little boy, Michael was 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 foster care. It was at this time that a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) was appointed to his case. The CASA volunteer, Lucinda, developed a strong relationship with the child, who came to call her “grandma.” She consistently visited every week, gaining Michael’s trust.

As Michael began preschool, the CASA volunteer 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. CASA Lucinda continued to work closely with Michael, his foster parents, and his therapists to ensure that he was receiving the support he needed to thrive.

In September of 2022, Michael was adopted by a loving couple who had committed their lives to him. CASA Lucinda 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.

CASA Lucinda had played a crucial role in the Michael’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.

Hot Stuff

LEGENDARY LENS

The Elverhoj Museum of History and Art in Solvang is currently showcasing an exhibition of photos by prolific photographer Henry Diltz, widely known for photographing more than 250 album covers—including this Crosby, Stills & Nash first album in 1969. The exhibit, titled Music is Love, premiered in late May and is scheduled to remain on display through mid-August. Visit elverhoj.org for more info. The museum is located at 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang.

—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. 805-9287799. Kleindancesarts.com. KleinDance

Arts, 3558 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria.

DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN

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

FIND YOUR MAGIC WITH SEAN

MCMASTER Join Shawn McMaster as he presents a comedy magic show and teaches amazing magic tricks that can be done at home. For families of all ages. This program was supported in whole or in part by the Santa Maria Friends of the Library. June 16, 11 a.m. Free. 805-9250994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

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. Free intro from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Beyond the Basics ($10) is 7 to 7:45

p.m. $10 entry includes social dance (7:45 to 8:15 p.m.). Tuesdays, 6:30-8:15 p.m. 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. ongoing 805-925-0464. coelhomusic. com/Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria.

SATURDAY CRAFTERNOON: TISSUE

PAPER FLOWERS Learn how to make flowers from tissue paper. All materials will be supplied at the workshop. Registration required. For patrons 18 and older. June 17, 2:30-4 p.m. Free. cityofsantamaria.org. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805-925-0994.

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. June 16 4 p.m. Free. 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 mediums in an inspiring environment with other teen artists. All skillsets are welcome. June 8 4 p.m. Free. 805-9250994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

VALLEY READS BOOK CLUB Group covers a different book each month. Registration required. Second Saturday of every month, 2 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/city-government/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

YOUTH ARTS ALIVE FREE SUMMER

ARTS CLASSES Free classes for children

8-18 years of age in singing, drumming, guitar, ukulele, ballet folklorico, hip hop and modern dance, theatre games, pottery, painting, and drawing at Minami Community Center, Newlove Center, and Robert Grogan Park Center. MondaysThursdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. through July 27 Free. 805-930-9029. youthartsalive.org. Minami Community Center, 600 W. Enos Drive, Santa Maria.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE An installation by Northridge-based artist Elizabeth Criss. Through Feb. 1, 2024 wildlingmuseum.org. Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang, 805-688-1082.

MUSIC IS LOVE: PHOTOGRAPHS BY HENRY DILTZ Highlights a collection of the prolific music industry photographer’s work. Through Aug. 13 elverhoj.org. Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang, 805-686-1211. PRIDE PAINT AND SIP Using paints, glitters, sequins and more, glamorize the night away–in honor of Pride Month. June 16, 6-8:30 p.m. $85. 805-245-2381. artspotonwheels.com/events/pride-paintsip/. Art Spot on Wheels, 320 Alisal Road, unit 306B, Solvang.

SEDGWICK RESERVE: A

CONSERVATION STORY Through Oct.

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

SHADES OF LIGHT Gallery Los Olivos exhibits Vicki Anderson and Neil Andersson during the month of June, in “a stunning show of color and light. MondaysSundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through June. 805688-7517. GalleryLosOlivos.com. Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos.

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.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

OOH LA LA: A NIGHT OF BURLESQUE HEELS STYLE A classy evening of burlesque. For ages 18 and over. This show does not contain nudity. June 10, 7 p.m. my805tix.com. Flower City Ballroom, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

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 Free. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach, 805-773-4832.

LATE NITE CATECHISM Presented by Entertainment Events, Inc., this comedy is an uproarious piece of theater that takes audience members back — sometimes nostalgically, sometimes fearfully— to the children they once were. The irrepressible Sister teaches an adult catechism class to a roomful of “students” (the audience).

June 10, 7-9:30 p.m. $45-$65. 805-4899444. clarkcenter.org/shows/late-nitecatechism/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SOLDERING 101 Learn how to make a set of stacking rings using tools and techniques of the bench jeweler. Time will be spent on bench safety in the studio, metalsmith tools and terms, cutting, sawing, filing, forming, and soldering skills. June 10 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $150. 805-7521188. theavilagallery.com/classes/. Studio Avila, 66 Landing Passage, Avila Beach. UNDER THE BOARDWALK Visit site for tickets and more info on the show. Through July 15 americanmelodrama. com/. Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

INDEX

ACTOR’S EDGE: ACTING CLASSES

Actor’s Edge offers film and television acting training in San Luis Obispo, plus exposure to Los Angeles talent agents. All ages and skill levels welcome. Classes available in SLO, LA, and on zoom. ongoing $210 per month. actorsedge.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

ALL LEVELS POTTERY CLASSES Anam Cre is a pottery studio in SLO that offers a variety of classes. This class is open to any level. Teachers are present for questions, but the class feels more like an open studio time for potters. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. $40. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

ART CLASS FOR TEENS After-school art class specifically for teens ages 13-18. Drawing and painting skills, color theory, composition, perspective, expressing emotion through images, negative space, bookmaking, collages, mixed media, paper mache, etc. Sign up week-by-week. Tuesdays. through June 27 $25. 702335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo.

ART EXHIBIT: LUMINOUS EXPRESSIONS

An exhibit of pastel paintings by members of the California Central Coast Pastel Society (3CPS). Meet the artists during a reception on May 6 at 3 p.m. Through July 3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/gallery/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

ART EXPLORATIONS FOR TEENS WITH SPENCER COLLINS In this class series, students learn about drawing and acrylic painting. Each class students will recreate a famous piece of art from history. Topics include: Joan Miro, Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, and Piet Mondrian. Ages 11-17. Every other Thursday, 3:30-4:30 p.m. through June 22 4 classes for $100 or 1 class for $30. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. 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.

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. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshops-events/. 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. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

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

KIDS ART CLASS: PORTRAITS FOR

KIDS Learn to love drawing faces. Each class, we will look at a famous artist, a new style of art, and practice drawing different expressions using simple proportions. Learn new techniques and build confidence. For kids ages 7 and older. Tuesdays, 3:30-5 p.m. through June 13 $300 for 10 Classes. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo. com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

KIDS POTTERY CLASSES Enjoy making animal sculptures, bowls, plates, etc. Please arrive on time, not early, as venue uses the transition time between classes to sanitize. Designed to sign up on a weekly basis. Thursdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m. $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

COURTESY PHOTO BY HENRY DILTZ

LISA SOLOMON Solomon’s mixed media works revolve thematically around discovering her heritage, the notion of domesticity, craft, feminism, and the pursuit of art as science/research.

Through Aug. 28, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/exhibition/lisasolomon/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., 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/.

ONCE, THE MUSICAL Presented by the San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre. June 9 -July 2 SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, 805-786-2440, slorep.org/.

PARENT-CHILD POTTERY CLASS Make lasting memories with clay together as a family. For ages 6 and over. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon $70. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

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

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL

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

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

POTTERY: BEGINNING WHEEL CLASS

This series is a great intro to the pottery wheel. Students learn to throw various shapes, surface decorate, and glaze. Clay and firing included with admission.

Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $180. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., 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.

SECOND SATURDAYS AT SLOMA

Intergenerational learning and creative expression for children of all ages. Families are invited to SLOMA’s lawn to learn about the visual arts together using our unique activity kits and create an art project inspired by our exhibitions. Second Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma. org/events/second-saturdays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad 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. 805747-4200. instagram.com/slodrawz/. Art

Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. 805-703-3132. slonightwriters.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SLOFUNNY COMEDY JAMBOREE

(SLO) Hosted by SLOFest Best Of The Fest Comedian David DeVito, with local

comedian Fabian Acuna, and special guests Amir Kabiri and Yashar Kafi. Featuring Melissa Shoshahi and nationally touring headliner Nick Hoff. June 8 , 8-9:30 p.m. $30. 805-534-3129. facebook.com/ slofunny. Benny’s Pizza Palace and Social Club, 1601 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SUMMER 2023 THEATRE CAMPS SLO

REP’s Academy of Creative Theatre presents fun theatre camps for all ages and levels of experience, taught by professional teaching artists. Check site or call for camp dates. Through Aug. 1 slorep. org. San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, 3533 Empleo St., San Luis Obispo.

TINY POTTERS: WISE ONES AND WEE

ONES PAINT For ages 4 to 6. Kids have the option to paint animals and other subjects. Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $30. anamcre. com/booking. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

TOM HANKS MOVIES YOU MAY HAVE

MISSED Visit the SLO Library Community Room to enjoy a Tom Hanks movie that you may have missed. June 13 , 5:30-7:30 p.m. Free. 805-781-5994. slolibrary.org. San Luis Obispo Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, 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 via email: vbmack@charter.net Wednesdays, 1:303:30 p.m. $35. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo. com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

WALT WHITMAN GAY MEN’S BOOK CLUB

This club reads, studies and discusses books chosen by the group which relate to their lives as gay men. All are welcome. Second Monday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

TICKET TO TASTE

Allan Hancock College

Winery in Santa Maria hosts the inaugural West Coast College and University Wine Festival on Saturday, June 10, from 1 to 4 p.m. Wine tastings will be provided by representatives from multiple colleges and wineries at the event. Tickets are $20 if purchased before Friday, June 9, or $30 at the door. Visit hancockcollege.edu/ winery to find out more about the festival. —C.W.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

CENTRAL COAST ARTISTS COLLECTIVE

Art Center Morro Bay is pleased to host this very special juried exhibit. Through June 26 Free. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

COSTA GALLERY SHOWCASES Features works by Ellen Jewett as well as 20 other local artists, and artists from southern and northern California. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. 559799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.

FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY BY CATHY

RUSS The visual artistry of Russ’s work is born of a keen eye for the unusual and a life-long passion for the outdoors. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through June 29 Free. 805-7721068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a

creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No artistic experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. 805-772-9095. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

FREE OIL PAINTING DEMONSTRATION

WITH MYLES HERMAN Art Center

Morro Bay is happy to present a free demonstration by classical artist Myles Herman. June 12 , 3-5 p.m. Free. 805-7722504. artcentermorrobay.org/. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE

PRESENTS AN OPENING RECEPTION FOR CATHY RUSS, DEBBIE GEDAYLOO, AND STEVIE CHUN Come meet the artists, have a snack, and bring some beautiful art home. June 10, 3-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE

PRESENTS SMALL WORKS BY STEVIE CHUN Stevie Chun is a self-taught modern watercolor artist who also enjoys working

in pen and ink. She currently is focused on the different cultural and social meanings behind the shape of a circle. These forms repeat in all sizes. Mondays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through June 29 Free. 805-7721068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

LET’S MAKE MOSAICS Learn mosaic basics to create a one-of-a-kind project. June 11 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Various. 805-2865993. CreativeMeTime.com. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

METAL ART BY TRUDI GILLIAM Gilliam creates her sculptures using copper, brass, nickel/silver, and found objects. This new series of whales and birds uses copper and sea glass. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.

MOSAIC TRIVET WORKSHOP During this workshop, you will learn how to

ARTS continued page 15

design and create a mosaic trivet. You will learn how to select materials, lay out a pleasing pattern, and adhere the tiles to the trivet base. You will learn how to properly grout and seal your project. ongoing, 1-4 p.m. $60. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org/ index.php/workshops/. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

PAPER, FELT, AND FIBER ART BY DEBBIE

GEDAYLOO “Most of my artistic inspiration comes from nature and my desire to create joy and happiness.

MARINA SQUAWK

As part of its featured exhibits during the month of June, Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay presents a showcase of paper, felt, and fiber artworks by Debbie Gedayloo. Many of Gedayloo’s pieces are inspired by nature, the artist stated in press materials. The solo exhibition will run through Thursday, June 29. Admission to the show is free. Call (805) 772-1068 or visit galleryatmarinasquare.com for more info.

My art is based on a foundation of respect for nature and the necessity of our being good stewards of the planet,” the artist stated. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through June 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

THE PLEIN AIR TEAM Acrylic artist, Nancy Lynn, and husband, watercolorist, Robert Fleming, have an ongoing show of originals and giclee prints of Morro Bay and local birds. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.

SECOND SATURDAYS Come by and see the Featured Artists Shows, find gifts for your loved ones, surprises for yourself, and meet the artists featured in the incredible gallery. Second Saturday of every month, 5-7 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

—C.W.

VISITING MR. GREEN: READER’S THEATER Presented by By The Sea Productions. June 16 -18 my805tix.com. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.

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. ongoing partnersincaring.org. Santa Maria, Citywide, Santa Maria.

BOUNCING BABY STORY TIME Explore pre-literacy skills through music, movement, and visual stimulation, and promote a healthy bond between baby and caregiver. Learn, connect, and grow with other babies and caregivers. For

ages 0-12 months. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. through July 26 Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

FEEL GOOD YOGA Tuesdays, Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. 805-937-9750. oasisorcutt. org. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt. GROUP WALKS AND HIKES Check website for the remainder of this year’s group hike dates and private hike offerings. ongoing 805-343-2455. dunescenter.org. Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, 1065 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe.

IOP OPEN HOUSE Curious about the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)? Attend to learn how this structured treatment program can help youth with behavioral health challenges on their healing journey. Registration is free. June 9, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. 805-455-5067. caminoacasa.org. Camino a Casa, 2615 S. Miller St., suite 106, Santa Maria.

LEGO CLUB Stop by the library for an afternoon of Lego madness. Meet with other Lego fans, build together, or build your own creation. June 14 3 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

LET’S BLOW OFF SOME STEAM Curious preschoolers, come to a special story time filled with exploration and discovery. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math themes will be explored through stories and discovered through hands-on activities. Come dressed for mess. For ages 3-5. June 9 11 a.m. Free. 805-9250994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

ORCUTT MINERAL SOCIETY Second Tuesday of every month Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt, 805-937-9750.

POKÉMON CLUB Join other Pokémon trainers at the popular Pokémon Club. Learn how to play the Pokémon Trading Card game, watch Pokémon, and participate in other fun activities. Bring a deck from home to battle or use one from the library. June 17 11 a.m. Free. 805-9250994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME Story time is designed to build literacy skills and school readiness, all while having a great time. This fun story time will feature songs, fingerplays, and stories. For ages 3-6. Mondays, 10 a.m. through July 24 Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SANTA MARIA PRIDE 2023 Hosted by the House of Pride and Equality. June 10 11 a.m.-5 p.m. facebook.com/ houseofprideandequality. Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg St., 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. Second Saturday of every month, 12-4 p.m. smvrhm.com. Santa Maria Transit Center, Miller and Boone Streets, 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.

STUFFED ANIMAL KARAOKE NIGHT

Find Your Voice Karaoke night for stuffed animals. Choose one buddy to stay over for one night of music, fun, and making new friends. Dress your buddy in their best party outfit or create one at the library. Pick up the following day. June 1617, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SUMMER READING KICK OFF EVENT:

FIND YOUR VOICE Kick off the annual Summer Reading Program with stories, books, authors, animals, and more. Sign up for summer reading, read with a therapy dog, complete a scavenger hunt, and participate in fun crafts. All ages are welcome. June 10 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org.

Shepard Hall Art Gallery - Santa Maria Public Library, 421 South McClelland St., Santa Maria.

TEEN BOLT Teens, have a chance to help shape the future of your library. Discussions during BOLT will help determine teen program themes, and BOLT members will have the opportunity to help plan and run teen programs. Light snacks will be provided. June 16, 4 p.m. Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

TISSUE PAPER FLOWER TO-GO KITS: ORCUTT, LOS ALAMOS, CUYAMA

BRANCHES Learn the art of tissue paper flower folding. Instructions for several methods will be given to create a beautiful bouquet that will never wilt. All materials will be provided. Pick up begins June 12, while supplies last. For patrons ages 18 and older. June 12 Free. cityofsantamaria. org/city-government/departments/ library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, 805-925-0994.

TODDLER TIME High-energy learning experience just for toddlers. Toddlers learn and grow through stories, movement, and music. For ages 1-3. Registration is required. Tuesdays, 10 a.m. through July 25 Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons. org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

TODDLER TIME (BILINGUAL) Highenergy learning experience just for toddlers. Toddlers learn and grow through stories, movement, and music. For ages 1-3. Registration is required. Thursdays, 10 a.m. through July 27 Free. 805-925-0994. engagedpatrons.org. Santa Maria Public Library (Altrusa Theater), 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

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. 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. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52 Come join a friendly meeting of watch CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 16

and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. 805-547-1715. new.nawcc.org/index.php/chapter-52los-padres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano.

SEA EXPLORERS SUMMER CAMP

New sessions start each week for Sea Explorers ages 5 to 12. Deep dive into a unique marine science subject exploring marine habitats, interacting with live animals, and conducting experiments each day to learn more about the wonders of our oceans. Mondays, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. through July 31 Varies. 805-457-5357. centralcoastaquarium.com. Central Coast Aquarium, 50 San Juan St., Avila Beach.

SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. 805-9046615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.

SUMMER CAMP 2023 Are you looking for a fun and educational way to keep your children busy this summer? Look no further than DANA Adobe and Cultural Center’s Summer Day Camp. June 12 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $300. 805-929-5679. danaadobe.org. DANA Adobe Cultural Center, 671 S. Oakglen Ave., Nipomo.

WEEKLY WATER SAFETY LESSONS

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

SAN LUIS OBISPO

AGILITY (PARKOUR) CLINIC In a world where the “cool” kids seem to rule, Agility (aka parkour) offers a path to social confidence. No experience is necessary, so come transform from timid to triumphant and flip with flair. For ages 5-17. June 10 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.

DM PRO TENNIS ACADEMY Classes

offered for all ages. Training and assistance are provided to support any goal, from the development of basic skills to top competition. Consultation with instructors is available. Multilingual instruction in English, Spanish, and Italian are available. Mondays, Wednesdays, 9-10, 10-11 & 11 a.m.-noon through June 28

Ranges from $55–$105. slocity.org.

Islay Hill Park, 1151 Tank Farm Rd., San Luis Obispo.

FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND CLIMATE CHANGE SPEAKER SERIES Hear from local experts on the relationship between agriculture, food access, and climate change. June 14 6-7:30 p.m. civicspark. civicwell.org. City Farm SLO, 1221 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, 805-769-8344.

PLUG-IN TO LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION

Get inspired by local action, connect with

others, and discover more ways to get involved with the SLO Climate Coalition. Attend virtually or in-person. Sustainable snacks and childcare will be provided. Third Thursday of every month, 6-8 p.m. sloclimatecoalition.org/events/. Ludwick Community Center, 864 Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo.

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

SLO BLUES BASEBALL: JUNE SCHEDULE

Visit site for tickets and full lineup of games. Through June 28 my805tix.com. Sinsheimer Park, 900 Southwood Dr., San Luis Obispo, 805-781-7222.

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. Free. sloqueer.groups.io /g/lezbfriends. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SUMMER SPORTS CAMP Community

youth are invited to start and end their summer participating in a full day sports camp with Parks and Recreation. Participants will learn and play a variety of different traditional and non–traditional sports throughout the three–week camp. Limited registration available. June 12-16, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. $120 (Week 1 and 2), $70 (Week 3). slocity.org. Meadow Park, 2251 Meadow St., San Luis Obispo.

SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+

AA GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM)

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

TECH BREW MEETUP Tech Brew is a free networking event where people interested in technology can hang out in an informal environment with a small TEDtalk-like presentation from an interesting speaker. Learn more online. Second Monday of every month, 5-7 p.m. 805-323-6706. meetup.com/softec/. StoryLabs, 102 Cross St, Suite 220, San Luis Obispo.

TOUR THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BARN

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

CELLAR CRAFTING

Local macramé artist Lindsey Altman, of Tied + True Goods, will lead a Knot and Sip workshop at Stilson Cellars in Paso Robles on Sunday, June 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. Participants of the class will create their own driftwood plant hangers. Admission to the event includes a glass of wine. Visit my805tix.com for tickets and more info. Stilson Cellars is located at 1005 Railroad St., suite 2, Paso Robles.

—C.W.

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

TRANS* YOUTH PEER SUPPORT

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

FOOD & DRINK

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

CHUCK WAGON BARBECUE Celebrate

Father’s Day with music, food, drink, vendors, and more. Live music will be provided by Fist Full of Nickles. June 18 , 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $30. 661-766-2825. cuyamabuckhorn.com/chuck-wagon-bbq.

Cuyama Buckhorn, 4923 Primero St., New Cuyama.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT COSTA DE

ORO Featured vendors in the series include Cali Coast Tacos, Cubanissimo, Danny’s Pizza Co., Chef Ricks, and more. Call venue for monthly schedules. Fridays 805-922-1468. costadeorowines.com.

Costa De Oro Winery, 1331 S. Nicholson Ave., Santa Maria.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT WINE STONE INN Fridays, 5-8 p.m. Wine Stone Inn, 255 W. Clark Ave., Orcutt, 805-332-3532, winestoneinn.com/.

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.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

LOS OLIVOS JAZZ AND OLIVE FESTIVAL

Los Olivos Rotary invites public to enjoy tastings from 30 of Santa Barbara County’s top wineries, along with delicious bites from local chefs and gourmet producers, and an afternoon of live jazz. June 10 1-4 p.m. $100. 805-245-7142. jazzandolivefestival.org/. Downtown Los Olivos, Grand Ave., Los Olivos.

SECOND SATURDAY OPEN AIR MARKET:

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

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO

TUESDAYS CLASH Don’t miss Head

Games Trivia at COLD Coast Brewing Company every Tuesday night. Teams can be up to 6 members. Earn prizes and bragging rights. Kekas will be serving their delicious local fare. For all ages. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. 805-819-0723. coldcoastbrewing. com. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave, Lompoc.

MUSIC

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

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

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

GAS STATION SUSHI AND FRIENDS LIVE

June 9 7 p.m. my805tix.com. Flower City Ballroom, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. TREMENDOS DEL 805 AND BANDA REAL

12-21 For ages 21 and over. Beer and more available for purchase. June 16 6:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Flower City Ballroom, 110 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

FRIDAY NIGHT HAPPY HOURS: LIVE

MUSIC Enjoy Friday Night Happy Hour at Avila Bay Athletic Club. June 16, 6-8 p.m. Free. avilabayclub.com. Avila Bay Athletic Club and Spa, 6699 Bay Laurel Place, Avila Beach, 805-595-7600.

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.

SANTA MARIA CONCERTS IN THE PARK: FATHERS DAY WITH THE THE SKYLITES A live outdoor concert. June 18 1-3 p.m. Rotary Centennial Park, 2625 South College Dr., Santa Maria.

THE SKYLITES AT NAUGHTY OAK

BREWING Enjoy beer and more on the outdoor patio with music from The SkyLites. June 17, 6-9 p.m. Naughty Oak Brewing Co., 165 S Broadway St. suite 102, Orcutt, 805-287-9663, naughtyoak.com.

SPOTLIGHT ON VOCALISTS The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens Club presents this dance with Riptide Big Band, and vocalists Bob Nations, Mitch Latting, and guests. Free thanks to a grant funded by Community Foundation of SLO County. June 11 , 1:30-4 p.m. Free. 775-813-5186. RiptideBB.com. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

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.

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.

KARAOKE SINGING CONTEST If you want to throw your vocals out there against other singers, this contest is for you. June 10 4-7 p.m. $25 entry fee (winner gets $250 plus trophy). 805-266-8628. Oceano Elks Lodge, 410 Air Park Drive, Oceano.

PACIFIC BREEZE CONCERT SERIES

FEATURING THE MOTHER CORN

SHUCKERS City of Pismo Beach presents the Pacific Breeze Concert Series with the Mother Corn Shuckers. Live Music, activities for kids, and food available for purchase. June 11 1-4 p.m. Free. 805-7737063. pismobeach.org/recreation. Dinosaur Caves Park, 2701 Price St, Pismo Beach.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

38TH ANNUAL JAZZ PIANO SHOWCASE

Presented by the SLO County Jazz Federation. The concert will feature pianists Jim Barnett, Mark Bocchicchio, George Garcia, Bob Harway, Marshall Otwell, and Paul Rinzler accompanied by Dylan Johnson on bass and Darrell Voss on drums. June 10, 7:30-9:45 p.m. my805tix.com. Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Fredericks St., San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY CLARINET FESTIVAL

The program will include a variety of ensembles from both on and off campus, including solos, duos, trios and quintets showcasing a variety of styles and genres of music from classical to chamber to jazz. Keith Waibel directs the Cal Poly Clarinet Ensemble. June 10, 7:30 p.m. Free. 805756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

KT TUNSTALL LIVE June 9 8 p.m. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-546-8600, fremontslo.com.

WARD DAVIS Davis has had songs recorded by Trace Adkins, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Wade Hayes, Sammy Kershaw, Bucky Covington, Jimmie Van Zant, Buddy Jewel, Carolina Rain, The Roys, and more. June 10 7-10 p.m. $20-$100. slobrew.com. SLO Brew Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, 805543-1843. m

Songwriters at Play: Matt Axton and Badmoon

THURSDAY, JUNE 8 SLO Wine & Beer Co., San Luis Obispo

Rainbow Macrame Plant Hanger Class

THURSDAY, JUNE 8 The Bunker SLO, San Luis Obispo

38th Annual Jazz Piano Showcase

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, SLO

SLOFunny Comedy Jamboree – Los Osos

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 Central Coast Pizza, Los Osos

Knot and Sip: Macrame and Driftwood Plant Hanger SUNDAY, JUNE 11 Stilson Vineyards, Paso Robles

SLOFunny Comedy Jamboree – Morro Bay

SUNDAY, JUNE 11 Morro Bay Eagles Club, Morro Bay

Sunset Yoga in Morro Bay WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

Aurora Meditations & Rituals, Morro Bay

SATURDAY, JUNE 10 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Tremendos del 805 and Banda Real 12-21 FRIDAY, JUNE 16 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Coffee, Atascadero

CONCERT SERIES

Live at the Lighthouse: Upside Ska

SATURDAY, JUNE 24 Point San Luis Lighthouse, Avila

By the Sea Productions: Visiting Mr. Green FRI, SAT, SUN, JUNE 16, 17, 18 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay

Yoga /Kayak to the Lighthouse SUNDAY, JUNE 18 Point San Luis Lighthouse, Avila Beach

Laugh Therapy Stand-Up Comedy WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21 Maverick Saloon, Santa Ynez

Live Oak Music Festival FRI, SAT, SUN, JUNE 23, 24 & 25 El Chorro Regional Park, San Luis Obispo 2023

SLOFunny Comedy Show TWO SHOWS! 6:30pm & 9pm SATURDAY, JUNE 24 The Savory Palette, Morro Bay

Barrel Room Concert: The Rockin’ B’s

SUNDAY, JUNE 25 Cass Winery, Paso Robles

SLOFunny Comedy Gym Monthly Showcase

SUNDAY, JUNE 25 Central Coast Pizza, Los Osos

Chakra Meditation on the Beach

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28

Aurora Meditations & Rituals, Morro Bay

JD Hardy and Friends SATURDAY, JUNE 24 The Stockyard / Blast 825 Brewery, Orcutt

Green Jello Punk Rock Puppet Show

SATURDAY, JULY 1 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

ARTS BRIEFS

Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company presents annual showcase

Performances of An Invitation to Dance—the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company’s 34th annual recital—will be held at the Santa Ynez High School Little Theater on June 22, 23, and 24 at 7 p.m. each evening. Local dance instructor Christine Fossemalle directed the program, with assistance from Sonia Ibarra Corona.

Dancers of various ages will participate in the showcase, which will include performances of ballet, lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, and tap choreographies. The recital’s special guest artist will be Camryn Kemp, a 2022 graduate of the Fossemalle Dance Studio’s dance program for youth. Lily Barnes and Amelie Loya, two graduates of the 2023 program, will also be honored during the recital.

For more info on this year’s iteration of An Invitation to Dance, call (805) 688-8494 or visit the Fossemalle Dance Studio’s Facebook page. The Santa Ynez High School Little Theater is located at 2975 Highway 246, Santa Ynez.

Trilogy Art Group holds new multi-artist exhibit at Nipomo Library

COURTESY IMAGE BY FRED VENTURA

Trail tales

Central Coast author highlights local hiking destinations in new book

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

As a local educator, Jill Thayer teaches many of her college courses online, which allows her the flexibility to work after sunset and dedicate some daylight hours to a sacred, daily hobby.

“Normally I’m a night person. In the evening, I work, I’m a professor,” said Thayer, a Cambria resident who teaches art history classes for a handful of schools, including Allan Hancock College.

Each morning, Thayer approaches the upcoming day with a wanderlust-driven mindset, she explained.

“I will have this feeling when I wake up, usually when I’m getting ready to have breakfast, of where I want to be. Do I want to be by the ocean? Do I want to be in a forest? Do I want to be in a

meadow?” Thayer said she will often ask herself. “Then in my mind, I go through the scenario of all of the trails that I’ve been on in the last few years.”

Revisiting these trails or discovering new paths to walk or hike along is part of Thayer’s daily ritual. Rather than think of the hobby as a strict exercise routine, Thayer approaches each day’s journey as a grand, reinvigorating adventure.

At one point, over the course of exploring dozens of coastal trails spread out across the coast of California, Thayer decided to document her various treks in a new book—Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast, which was released in April.

“It took about two years to write it. It was a very long, arduous process,” said Thayer, whose first book signing since its release is scheduled for June 17 at Terracotta Home and Garden in Cambria. “I’ve been able to drive up and down the coast and go into retailers and local merchants and see if they want to carry it.”

The book is currently available at the Los Olivos General Store, the Hearst Castle gift shop, Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay, Ron’s Nursery in Arroyo Grande, and several other local outlets, as well as online through Amazon and similar sellers.

Book it

For more info on Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast, and its author, Jill Thayer, visit jillthayer.com. The book is available through various sellers and at an upcoming book signing on Saturday, June 17, at 2 p.m., at Terracotta Home and Garden, located at 4070 Burton Drive, Cambria.

Thayer described the book as an examination of her favorite hiking destinations—which include the Oceano Dunes, Big Sur, and other scenic sources of serenity—with resources on each site and personal, narrative-driven musings on what makes these areas the author’s personal go-tos for “balance, reflection, and bit of exercise.”

The book is also full of Thayer’s own photos, which she was able to capture with her phone during each walk or hike.

“All of my photographs were taken with my iPhone. Luckily I didn’t have to haul my Nikon anywhere,” Thayer said with a laugh.

The final component of each journalesque, destination-centric entry in Thayer’s book is a quote from a notable figure she chose to accompany each trail.

“The quotes, I feel, bring context to the imagery,” said Thayer, who chose to include quotes from Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Soren Kierkegaard, and E.B. White, among several other iconic voices.

In one excerpt from her book, Thayer wrote that “throughout my life and transdisciplinary career, I gained inspiration from the words of artists, naturalists, theorists, and writers, many of whom are featured in these pages.”

“The process of compiling the photographs, quotations, and narrative was cathartic, introspective, and fulfilling,” Thayer explained in her book, which also includes a thoughtful forward written by Kaila Dettman, executive director of the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County.

Thayer said she hopes the book will help promote advocacy for land conservation and environmental sustainability and inspire others to explore for themselves the trails she included.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to be able to share the beauty of our region,” Thayer said. m

Catch Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood sledding down the Oceano Dunes, or send comments to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

The Nipomo Library is currently showcasing a collection of paintings and other media by various members of the Trilogy Art Group. The exhibition debuted in early June and is scheduled to remain on display through the end of the month.

On Saturday, June 10, the library will celebrate the new exhibit with a special reception, which will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet some of the show’s featured artists and “gain insights into their artistic process,” according to press materials.

Digital painter Fred Ventura is one of the artists who participated in the exhibit. Four of Ventura’s digital artworks are featured in the show, including Evening Crow (pictured)—a digital painting of a crow perched on a tree stump against a starry background.

In press materials, Ventura described the project as his attempt to capture “the essence of a crow” and exude “an otherworldly presence” with an eerie quality.

“My goal was to captivate viewers with the crow’s mysterious aura,” Ventura said in press materials. “I tried to invoke a sense of wonder and curiosity. The scene is set at dusk, and the stars are just beginning to appear.”

To find out more about the Nipomo Library’s latest group art exhibit and other programs organized by the Trilogy Art Group, contact Maryse Bergeron by emailing mbergeron50@ msn.com. The Nipomo Library is located at 918 W. Tefft St., Nipomo. m

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

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINE FOSSEMALLE

DAILY TREAD: Part of Cambria resident Jill Thayer’s usual daily routine is taking an hour or two during the morning or afternoon to walk or hike somewhere outdoors.

ENLIGHTENING EXPLORATIONS: The Boucher Trail in San Simeon is one of several scenic destinations featured in local author Jill Thayer’s new book, Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast

COME TRAIL AWAY WITH ME: Allan Hancock College professor Jill Thayer’s new book, Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast, highlights dozens of trails scattered across the West Coast, including the Garrapata Trail in Monterey County.

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

COURTESY PHOTOS BY JILL THAYER

Caught in the system

Tina Satter co-writes and directs this based-on-a-true story drama about Reality Winner (Sydney Sweeney), a former American intelligence worker who leaked information about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and was given the longest sentence for releasing government documents in history. Based on a play by Satter that was in turn based on the recorded interrogation of Winner by FBI Agents Garrick (Josh Hamilton) and Taylor (Marchánt Davis), the screenplay was co-written by James Paul Dallas. (83 min.)

Glen: This is yet another maddening story about a miscarriage of justice concerning a whistleblower who should be lauded as a hero rather than imprisoned. Yes, what Winner did was illegal, but she revealed information the American public should have been made aware of, and hence she did us a service by proving that Russia did indeed meddle in a presidential election. It’s a very quiet film.

After Winner watches Fox News coverage in her office of Trump firing James Comey, we jump ahead 25 days to her returning home from the grocery story to find FBI Agents with a search warrant waiting for her. The story unfolds as they question her, and it’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game as they slowly get her to reveal the truth. All the performances are measured, but it’s a gripping, albeit quiet, story.

Anna: The FBI agents are there to figure Winner out and to see if what they know she leaked is part of a bigger scheme. Reality isn’t a mastermind, instead she’s just frustrated and overwhelmed by what she has learned at her workplace and the secrecy around the interference. She’s a translator, skilled in three languages other than English, and a valuable asset. However, her worth is quickly dismissed and thrown away by the American government, and she’s branded a traitor. It’s infuriating to watch unfold. Sweeney is reserved and overwhelmed as Winner, concerned at first with her wilting produce and the fact that the FBI agents can’t seem to keep the door closed so her cat won’t escape. Like you said, this is a pretty quiet piece, and it makes sense to me that it was a play first. It may be quiet, but it’s also completely compelling, and the filmmakers have some pretty interesting methods of weaving in audio from Winner’s actual interrogation as well as blipping out redacted content.

Glen: Considering this is Satter’s first film, it’s impressive. The tension is palpable, made more so by Sweeney’s reserved performance. It almost all takes place in Winner’s home in an empty, unused bedroom, and you’re right: She’s hardly a mastermind, and she certainly didn’t have a sinister agenda. I was also impressed with Hamilton as Agent Garrick—all fixed smile and geniality but also menacing. They tell her that her cooperation is completely voluntary, but it’s clear she has no real agency

in the exchange. What’s really confounding is after spending four years in prison and being under continued supervision until 2024, the very documents she leaked were later made public.

Anna: That room definitely lends to the eerie vibe of the interrogation. There’s no furniture, Reality’s dog is heard barking from his kennel in the backyard, Agent Garrick is surface-level friendly but sinister right underneath, and Joe (Benny Elledge) has a bad habit of bursting through doors unannounced. I found the way that this film was shot and the general mood it conveyed to be very compelling, helped most by

FUBAR

What’s it rated? TV-MA

When? 2023

CHIMP EMPIRE

What’s it rated? TV-PG

When? 2023

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Set in the Ngogo rainforest in Uganda, this intricately shot docuseries narrated by Mahershala Ali follows rival groups of chimps as they navigate a complex world of social hierarchy, family dynamics, love, loss, and adaptation.

We are first introduced to the largest group headed by Jackson. This powerful group outnumbers all others around them, but with that population comes a cost. The males are all vying for power, and the group is somewhat splintered in many ways, especially in comparison to the smaller but more united Western group lead by Hutcherson.

Using two camera teams, this unbelievably beautiful series grabs your heart immediately. I can’t help but cheer their wins, mourn their losses, and try to understand the vastly complicated world they live in. Whether it’s watching outcasts like Gus and Pork Pie try to make their way into the group or watching the adorable little baby chimps swinging all over their mothers, this is an absolutely

TEAMWORK: The new Netflix series Chimp Empire follows two groups of Central and Western Ngogo chimpanzees as they navigate the complex ranking systems within their own troop as well as protect their territory from the rival chimp troop.

charming series. (four approximately 45-min. episodes)

—Anna

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Arnold is back in this new action comedy about Luke Brunner (Arnold Schwarzenegger), a storied CIA operative on the cusp of retirement. He simply wants to work on winning his ex-wife, Tally (Fabiana Udenio), back and spending more time with his beloved daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro). Instead, he’s tasked with one final mission to take down Boro Polonia (Gabriel Luna), who’s hell-bent on making and selling a dirty bomb.

Spoiler alert! We discover in the very first episode that Emma is also a CIA operative, and now distrustful of one another for all the lies, they’re forced to team up and go after Boro before it’s too late. Thankfully, with the help of psychologist Dr. Pfeffer (Scott Thompson) and his puppet therapy, he might just get them to successfully work together.

It’s all very spoofy, and part of the comedy comes from CIA sidekicks Roo (Fortune Feimster), Barry (Milan Carter), and Aldon (Travis Van Winkle). Oh, and let’s not forget Emma’s sad-sack boyfriend, Carter (Jay Baruchel), and Tally’s paramour, Donnie (Andy

Sweeney’s quiet but panicked performance. The film starts with Winner pulling up to her house and the first scene is dubbed over by actual audio of Reality Winner on the day her world started crumbling, a very effective choice by the filmmaker. What a tragedy it is that instead of the government putting Winner’s linguistic skills to good use, they instead imprisoned her for their secrecy. It’s absolutely maddening. m

WORK/LIFE IMBALANCE: CIA operative Luke Brunner (Arnold Schwarzenegger) discovers his daughter, Emma (Monica Barbaro), also works for the agency, and now they’re forced to work together to take down a madman, in the Netflix comedy action series FUBAR

Buckley), the bane of Luke’s existence. Lots of action and quippy dialogue keep things moving fast, and every episode ends in a cliffhanger. (eight 45- to 59-min. episodes) m —Glen

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

HERO OR VILLAIN? Sydney Sweeney (right) stars as Reality Winner, a former intelligence specialist who leaked evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, landing her in prison, in the true-life story Reality, screening on HBO Max.

Eats

Space odyssey

Liquid Gravity launches new taproom in Old Town Orcutt

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Chaotic. Frantic. Nerve-racking. Local brewer Brendan Gough compared his mindset while opening his first bar, Liquid Gravity in San Luis Obispo, during 2020 to “jumping out of an airplane without a parachute.”

His experience opening the brewery’s new sister location in Old Town Orcutt, however, couldn’t have been more different, Gough said.

“In six weeks, we turned that building [in SLO] and got it open. This one was sort of a year in the making,” said Gough, who opened the brewery’s Orcutt taproom with his wife in May. “Once it was go time for this one, it didn’t have the same—pardon the pun here—the same gravity to it. It felt like life or death when we were opening the brewery [in SLO].”

Gough said it felt especially risky the first time around

Go with the flow

For more info on Liquid Gravity’s new taproom in Old Town Orcutt, visit liquidgravitybrewing.com or follow the brewery on Instagram, @liquidgravitybrewingco. The taproom is located at 156 Broadway St., suite F, Orcutt. The venue is open Tuesday through Thursday, from noon to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, from noon to 10 p.m., and Sundays, from noon to 9 p.m.

The original brewery is located at 675 Clarion Court, San Luis Obispo. Call (805) 457-4677

because he had just left a position at another brewery and had never opened a bar of his own. Opening the Orcutt taproom seemed like a breeze in comparison.

“We’ve worked hard to establish the brand, people like the beer, and we’ve got a few awards and accolades under our belt,” he explained.

SLO is Gough’s hometown and where he still lives, which helped seal his decision to open his first brewery there when the right space opened up, just a five-minute drive from his home. As an Allan Hancock College alumnus, he has nostalgia for the Santa Maria Valley and was excited when some property owners in Orcutt contacted him with a unique opportunity.

“We were actually approached by the people who own Patricio’s Pizza to see if we wanted to go into that space,” said Gough, who transformed an adjoining dining room at the popular pizzeria into the new Liquid Gravity taproom. “This was being used essentially as a banquet room for Patricio’s.”

Since the space is fairly small, Gough said he and his wife completed the necessary renovations themselves without hiring a contractor. Over the course of about a year, they’d set aside free time after a full day of working in SLO “or even sometimes late at night just to squeeze a couple hours in” at the Orcutt taproom while it was in development.

Gough said that a rumor mill seemed to emerge once passersby noticed something new was happening next door to Patricio’s.

“We had people walking by pretty regularly when we were building it, when we were inside working, and I’d see cars slow down to check it out,” Gough said. “There were a lot of things that kind of contributed to it taking a little longer than we had hoped, but we got such an amazing response when we finally opened. It felt like it was all worth it.”

PERFECT LANDING: San Luis Obispo-based brewery Liquid Gravity unveiled its first sister location taproom in Old Town Orcutt earlier this spring.

PINTS AND PIZZA: The new Liquid Gravity taproom in Orcutt is located next door to Patricio’s Pizza, in the pizzeria’s former banquet room. The brewery’s owner described Liquid Gravity’s relationship to Patricio’s as symbiotic, as the two venues often get spillover business from each other.

MAY THE POURS BE WITH YOU: In May, Liquid Gravity held a festive grand opening celebration at the brewery’s new taproom in Old Town Orcutt, following a weeklong soft opening.

During the taproom’s weeklong soft opening in May, Gough wanted to take things slow without publicizing anything before holding a formal grand opening soon after.

“I was very careful not to announce that, because when you announce a soft opening, then it becomes a grand opening,” Gough said with a laugh.

With Patricio’s Pizza right next door, Gough said he doesn’t feel the need to start offering food at the taproom—with locally produced ales, stouts, sours, IPAs, and double IPAs among its drink selections.

“I have friends who have opened breweries that have food components, and that’s just not what I do. I’m a brewer, I’m not a restaurateur,” said Gough, who described the new taproom’s relationship with Patricio’s Pizza as symbiotic.

“We get the benefit of having people stay longer and get an extra pint or two if they know that food is a really easy option,” the brewer said. “And they [Patricio’s] certainly get spillover business.” m

Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood could use some fizzy lifting drinks. Send bubbles and an astronaut helmet to cwiseblood@ santamariasun.com.