Sun, March 6, 2025

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Santa Maria’s transit services manager, Gamaliel Anguiano, invites locals to catch a ride on a Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT) bus. Demand is up by 130 percent from 2020, the agency restructured its services and systems in 2022. SMRT is now poised to possibly expand its reach to San Luis Obispo and Guadalupe and meet its goal of having an all zero-emission fleet by the year’s end. “People like you are riding with you,” Anguiano said. Staff Writer Emma Montalbano gets more details from SMRT and a local rider for the story [7]

Also this week, read about the the outcry amid the county supervisors’ salary discussion [4] ; how to paint with wine [22] ; and the Central Coast’s newest wine bar [25]. Andrea Rooks

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Obispo,

• U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) joined congressmen from Washington state, Texas, and New Mexico in introducing the Aerial Firefighting Enhancement Act to improve the nation’s aerial firefighting capabilities through expanded use of excess military aircrafts and parts, according to a Feb. 20 press release from Carbajal’s office. The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize military aircraft to be sold for use in aerial firefighting operations. The Wildfire Suppression Aircraft Transfer Act of 1996 created the program, which Carbajal’s office said played a crucial role in modernizing the nation’s aerial firefighting fleet. It expired in 2005 and was reauthorized from 2012 to 2017. “As Southern California recovers from a devastating cluster of wildfires, I’m committed in Congress to implementing the policy solutions needed to improve our response to these devastating disasters on a bipartisan basis,” Carbajal said in the release. “I’m proud to join my colleagues on this common-sense bill to strengthen the fleet of aircraft we have available to battle these blazes and ensure our first responders have all the air support they can get when defending our communities.” The bill would authorize the secretary of defense to sell excess Department of Defense aircrafts and parts to individuals or entities contracted with the government for aerial delivery of fire retardants or water to fight wildfires.

• In February, State Sen. John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) joined Sen. John Becker (D-San Mateo) in introducing legislation to streamline how wildfire mitigation investments are evaluated and coordinated across California, according to an announcement from his office. The Wildfire Mitigation and Strategic Planning Act would establish a framework to align state, federal, industry, and wildfire prevention efforts to ensure that “every dollar spent delivers maximum protection for communities,” the announcement said. “The growing frequency and intensity of wildfires continue to pose a serious threat to communities along the Central Coast, from past devastation in Santa Cruz and Big Sur to the most recent fires in Los Angeles. SB 326 represents a crucial advancement in wildfire management by establishing a Wildfire Risk Mitigation Planning Framework through the Office of the State Fire Marshal, strengthening our ability to coordinate disaster response and enhance cost-effectiveness,” Laird said in the announcement. “A comprehensive approach across all levels of government is essential to accurately assess and forecast wildfire risks, allowing us to take proactive measures that safeguard lives, property, and California’s natural resources.” Cal Fire has spent $2.5 billion on wildfire resilience since 2020 with an additional $1.5 billion to be committed for proactive projects that protect communities from wildfires and promote natural landscapes, Laird’s office said. The bill would evaluate the effectiveness of that work and what’s been done by federal, utility, and private actors; improve coordination between the stakeholders; and use data to ensure wildfire mitigation dollars deliver “maximum protection.”

• On March 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency “to fast-track critical projects protecting communities from wildfire, ahead of peak season.” The emergency proclamation will suspend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Coastal Act, which Newsom’s office said is slowing down forest management projects. “This year has already seen some of the most destructive wildfires in California history, and we’re only in March. Building on unprecedented work cutting red tape and making historic investments—we’re taking action with a state of emergency to fast-track critical wildfire projects even more,” Newsom said in a press release. “These are the forest management projects we need to protect our communities most vulnerable to wildfire, and we’re going to get them done.” The proclamation suspends environmental regulations as needed to expedite vegetation and tree removal, add fuel breaks, and conduct prescribed burns. It also directs state agencies to submit recommendations to increase the pace and scale of prescribed fire. m

Supervisors increase salaries by 48 percent, push back on COLAB’s Caldwell

After reaching out to what he said was 70,000 to 80,000 Santa Barbara County residents about the Board of Supervisors’ proposed salary increase, Andy Caldwell told supervisors that they didn’t have the “consent of the governed.”

“Think of the people who are struggling with inflation right now. What you are doing is a slap in the face … to your constituents,” he said during the Feb. 25 meeting.

In the weeks between the supervisors’ Feb. 11 and 25 meetings, Caldwell—executive director of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business—questioned the proposed 48.8 percent pay raises in emailed newsletters, in Facebook posts, on the radio, and in published commentaries. He called the position of supervisor a part-time job where they could work as much or as little as they want and divert constituent calls to local city council members.

“I don’t know about you, but the way I figure, people should run for office because they want to serve the public’s interests not their own personal interest,” Caldwell wrote in the newsletter. “It is sad to say that too many people these days run for office for all the wrong reasons. Some people want power. Others want to be a career politician.”

The raises were part of a package of salary increases for the county’s elected department heads and set supervisors’ salaries at 70 percent of what superior court judges make, bringing their salary up from around $115,000 a year to a little more than $171,000. The moves were intended to ensure that the county’s pay scales were comparable to those in similar counties as well as commensurate with the private sector, County Human Resources Director Kristine Schmidt said.

“Supervisors have to step away from their careers, their career progressions, and their own businesses to be able to serve,” Schmidt said.

Reasonable salaries, she said, enable highly qualified individuals to come forward to serve and makes it so the position doesn’t rely on those who are independently wealthy.

Supervisors voted 3-1-1 on the raise—with 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson dissenting and 1st District Supervisor Roy Lee abstaining—but not before pushing back on Caldwell’s allegations and comments.

Supervisor Steve Lavagnino from the 5th District said he had received “a million emails” as a result of Caldwell’s push and possibly lost some longtime friends.

“You should be so happy, you’re relevant again,” Lavagnino said, adding that the people who emailed him were upset and misinformed by the information that Caldwell disseminated. “What was in there was misleading at best, I would say. …

I want my constituents to understand exactly what we do and what they’ve been told what we do.”

He wondered why, if the job was so easy, more people didn’t run for office. Often, supervisors run unopposed for their positions, including the last three times that Lavagnino ran for reelection.

He added that his colleagues put in way more than 40 hours a week. In addition to their monthly board meetings, they attend events, take constituent calls at all hours of the day, serve on a variety of commissions and committees, make site visits for proposed projects, pore over pages and pages of information before their meetings, and are on call for emergency events like natural disasters.

“I realize that 90 percent of the people yelling at me had no idea what my job position was,” Lavagnino said. “This job will eat you up and spit you out, and I don’t know what salary that equates to. … This wasn’t a great two-week period of my life.”

In 2015, Lavagnino voted against a similar proposal. An independent committee of six residents studied the issue and made a recommendation for how supervisors’ salaries should be set. Schmidt, the head of county Human Resources, said that the ad hoc committee recommended supervisors be paid at the market median, which at the time was about $124,000.

If the proposal had gone through, Schmidt said, supervisors would be approaching the salary that was proposed in February 2025. Because they didn’t approve it at the time, supervisors were making 32.8 percent below median and less than their chiefs of staff. Lavagnino said that if the 2015 proposal had been adopted, the board wouldn’t be in the position it was—voting on their own raises.

“I voted against it at the time because I didn’t think it was the right time. The truth is I found out 10 years later that the timing’s never the right time,” he said. “Now I only have a short time left to fix something so that the next person who sits in this job doesn’t go through what I had to go through for the last two weeks.”

Fourth District Supervisor Bob Nelson also said that it had been a difficult couple of weeks, especially for the North County supervisors, because they share “a base of constituents and residents who COLAB speaks to.”

“The well has been poisoned with my constituents, and that’s what has made this difficult to deal with,” Nelson said. “Even a 1 percent raise, I believe at this point, would makes us seem self-serving, especially with the information that’s out there.”

It’s important that future boards won’t have to go through this process, 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps said, adding that the misinformation campaign just means that supervisors are going to have to work even harder to strengthen the bond between the public and the government.

“But we’ll work harder. We’ll bring it back,” she said.

“People are hurting, so I don’t mean to dismiss all of this as disinformation. People are financially hurting and that’s why it strikes a chord,” Capps said. “When people get a sliver of information that isn’t the right information, it strikes a chord. … To kind of use that is really sad.”

—Camillia

Lanham

Solvang seeks input on design standards amid housing mandates

Maintaining the look and feel of a quaint fairy tale village without clashing with state housing directives is among the goals leading Solvang officials down a regulations rabbit hole.

The Solvang Planning Commission and Design Review Committee (DRC) are inviting the public to provide input or seek clarity on the topic at a joint workshop on objective design standards, scheduled for March 13, at 6 p.m., at Solvang City Hall.

During the Planning Commission’s March 3 meeting, Planning Commissioner Aaron Petersen summarized some aspects of the issue and the city’s housing element in general, partly to help newly appointed commissioners Brandon SparksGillis and William Zigler get up to speed.

While some housing projects proposed for areas outside of Solvang’s downtown area are awaiting environmental reviews and public hearings, city staff is currently looking into new policies for the City Council to consider that would encourage developers to pitch mixed-use projects downtown—to help the city meet its regional housing needs allocation requirements, but without altering downtown Solvang’s Danish village aesthetic.

“We do want mixed-use because it helps it with our [regional housing needs] numbers, and it really does help the town become a ‘village,’” Petersen said at the March 3 meeting. “[That’s] what we’re after. … That’s one of the things this workshop will look at.”

Under some circumstances, thanks to state mandates, housing projects in Solvang can bypass design rules set by the DRC. But when downtown housing is limited to mixed-use (half commercial, half housing) developments, those projects have a chance of staying within the DRC’s purview—one approach staff will discuss and present to the public at the March 13 workshop.

“We’re at a crossroads with how do we handle it. … We’ve been dealing with this for quite a while,” Petersen said. “There are a lot of things the state is basically foisting upon us. … Between DRC, planning, and staff, [we’re] trying to walk a line. … And it’s a fine line.”

Among current housing proposals in the environmental review stage, one project that came up during the Planning Commission’s March 3 meeting was the 100-unit Wildwood development at the intersection of Alamo Pintado and Old Mission Drive—a Builder’s Remedy Project, which falls under a state law that allows developers to bypass some local standards.

But it’s not exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), as some recent rumors have falsely suggested, Solvang’s Planning and Building Manager Rafael Castillo said at the March 3 meeting.

“While they can bypass a lot of our local zoning regs, which they have, and that is within their right, they cannot bypass the CEQA process. And that’s what we’re doing now,” said Castillo, who added that the Wildwood project’s first environmental review “kickoff” meeting occurred earlier that day.

“We are beginning to move forward. We’re going to solidify a schedule. Once the schedule is solidified, we’ll push that out to the public,” Castillo said. “This very much still is a public process.”

—Caleb Wiseblood

PUSHING BACK: Fifth District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Steve Lavagnino responds to Andy Caldwell’s claims about how little supervisors work during a Feb. 25 hearing about salary increases. Supervisor Bob Nelson from the 4th District zoomed in to the meeting.

Joseph Nunez, M.D.

Shane Rostermundt, D.O.

Michele Kielty, D.O.

Ryan Leachman, D.O. Lynn Peltier, C.P.N.P. Jessica Prather, C.N.P. Geronna Leonards, N.P.

LAS GUARACHERAS

County to form task force on illegal street vendors

Since January, Santa Barbara County Environmental Health Services has issued 137 citations to illegal food vendors who operate on sidewalks or the side of the road.

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But the citations don’t do much, according to Gina Fischer, 3rd District Supervisor Joan Hartmann’s chief of staff.

“They can legally refuse to sign civil citations,” Fischer told the county Board of Supervisors on March 4, adding that they also refuse to provide their names.

Two state bills aimed at empowering sidewalk vendors emerged from advocacy efforts in Los Angeles, where vendors were criminalized for operating without a permit, she said. However, the legislation has made it difficult for local jurisdictions to pass rules restricting, limiting, or denying vendors from operating. As a result, Fischer said there’s widespread noncompliance with food safety rules, and enforcement is difficult.

“Unsafe food vending continues to proliferate,” she said. “The primary reason for alarm over the issue is food safety and sanitation concerns.”

She pointed to vendors who set up along Highway 246 in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Environmental Health Services found food stored with no refrigeration, no ice, and no coolant, transported from Los Angeles in vans that also have no way of keeping the food cold. Storing raw or cooked food at temperatures between 41 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit can lead to bacterial growth that’s difficult to detect and unsafe to eat.

Vendors sometimes dump grease into storm drains and waterways, have open flames in areas with high fire risk, pop up in front of permitted brick-and-mortar businesses, and have servers who are likely working without proper compensation, Fischer said.

Environmental Health, the department with the least teeth, is left issuing citations. But, she added, other agencies such as Caltrans, which can regulate vending on highway rights of way, also have enforcement mechanisms.

If those agencies could come together on a task force, perhaps the county could devise a more effective way of addressing the issue, Supervisor Hartmann said.

Recently, the county started confiscating food from these vendors, which is allowed under state law. Since January, Environmental Services has seized 11 spindles of meat, 14 gallons of raw or sliced beef, and 415 pounds of uncooked meat. The problem, Fischer said, is that the county is required to store seized items for up to 30 days and doesn’t have the storage capacity it needs. The other issue is that vendors just pop right back up the following night.

While supervisors supported forming a task force to address the issue—voting 4-0 with 1st District Supervisor Roy Lee recusing himself because he owns a restaurant—they agreed that the task force should have a six-month shelf life and focus on coordinating between agencies and departments.

“The different agencies have authorities, and if they’re coordinated, we can get a lot of bang for our existing buck,” Hartmann said.

Supervisors also requested that departments come back to the board to ask for what they need for enforcement help, whether it’s sea-train containers to store confiscated equipment or overtime dollars so enforcement can happen at night and on weekends.

“More meetings don’t solve problems, actual enforcement does. … We need to enforce the actual rules,” 4th District Supervisor Bob Nelson said. “I’m not a big fan of having laws sit on the books, where we see people violate them and we don’t do anything about it.” m

—Camillia

Lanham

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

Driven by demand

Santa Maria Regional Transit explores adding routes to other cities to address growing community needs

BY EMMA MONTALBANO

Without a car of her own, lifetime Santa Maria resident Faith Collar relies on public transit nearly every day to get to and from Allan Hancock College. She’s been taking the bus around Santa Maria since she was a child, riding with her mom.

“It’s a good experience, and it gets me from point A to point B,” Collar said.

Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT) not only works to operate consistent bus service for locals, it’s expanding route options to meet a recent increase in demand, including looking at extending to Guadalupe and San Luis Obispo.

Following a major restructuring of its services and systems in 2022, SMRT ridership has grown more than 130 percent since its lowest point during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Transit Services Manager Gamaliel Anguiano attributes this change to good decision-making on behalf of SMRT as well as an ability to address gaps in services for a community with a growing need for reliable public transit options. In the last few years, SMRT has made several changes to many of its buses and routes to make them easier and more accessible for users, and more changes are in the works.

“Santa Maria is not immune to the cost of living that we see associated with the Central Coast,” Anguiano said. “Folks have to make a decision between buying a car or paying for rent or eating. If a bus can address those mobility needs, then perhaps we are helping address that gap for them.”

SMRT is looking to address this dilemma as part of its next short-range transit plan system modifications, he said, adding that transit planning is a science and an art.

“A lot of frequent stops in close proximity is great because you don’t have to walk very far for a bus stop, but once you’re on board, you’re doing a lot of stops before you get to where you’re going,” Anguiano said. “Infrequent stops are great because we travel long distance and get you really far fast, but it is not ideal for those who have to walk that long distance to get that stop.

“We work really hard to achieve an appropriate balance for our community.”

In January, SMRT added new transit services to two of its routes to create new access points that meet the community’s increasing demand, Anguiano said. Now, as part of its annual unmet needs process, SMRT wants to develop a new route from Santa Maria to San Luis Obispo.

Ride SMRT

For more information, including a ride guide, route maps and schedules, fare information, and other rider tools, visit www.cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/department-of-public-works/santa-mariaregional-transit-5008.

“The first step is to see if this even makes logistical sense,” he said. “Do we even have the resources? Do we even have the technical capability? Does it even work out as a business plan, right? And then, if we have an understanding that it can work operationally, then we go to the public and say, ‘Hey, how do you guys feel about this? What are your concerns? What are your thoughts?’”

With this potential consolidation, residents in Guadalupe could benefit from SMRT’s recent efforts to modernize its fleet, which included getting new buses with free public Wi-Fi, infotainment screens, medical-grade air purification, and personal USB charging stations. He also hopes that students in Guadalupe could gain access to SMRT’s Bulldog Go! program, which allows Hancock students to ride some routes for free.

“We hope to have something to bring to the public within a month or two, and a recommendation to our City Council shortly after that, and some definitive plan in place by this summer,” he said. “We are moving pretty aggressively toward this. There’s a lot of need and good that can come of this, and so there’s no reason to delay it anymore than is necessary.”

‘Folks have to make a decision between buying a car or paying for rent or eating. If a bus can address those mobility needs, then perhaps we are helping address that gap for them.’

—Gamaliel Anguiano,

Santa Maria Regional Transit

Anguiano explained that SMRT tries to operate a reliable public transit system every day of the week for residents like Collar but noted that “no two days are exactly alike.” Hurdles such as road construction, traffic, and more riders than usual can greatly impact a bus driver’s ability to make it to stops on time.

“The irony that we’re facing today, as we become much more popular with our community, [is] we are stopping more,” Anguiano said. “We are stopping more, and so that means we’re slowing down. The more people demand of us—and we’re happy to respond— the slower we progress through our route because there’s more pickup and drop-offs.”

“One need that’s come up a couple of times is more frequency to San Luis Obispo,” he explained. “Certainly, our communities are intertwined. In our industry, we talk about the job-housing imbalance that occurs, where there’s a concentration of jobs in one area, but that’s not necessarily where the homes are. Then, there’s a concentration of homes somewhere else, but that’s not necessarily where the jobs are.”

Additionally, SMRT is exploring a potential consolidation with the city of Guadalupe’s transit service to streamline operations and improve accessibility for residents in both communities. Anguiano said they are still very early on in this process, given that both city councils recently gave approval to begin exploring the options.

Another improvement that SMRT hopes to accomplish by the end of 2025 is a full transition to zero-emission buses. It’s beneficial for the environment, Anguiano said, and cuts down significantly on operational and fuel costs.

For those unfamiliar with public transportation or hesitant to use it, Anguiano suggests taking some test rides to quell any misconceptions about public transit and to get a good feel for how it works.

“The first thing to do is dispel all the ideas that Hollywood put into your mind about what bus service looks and feels like,” he encouraged. “Your local experience is going to be way different than how it’s portrayed in big-city action movies. You’re going to find that you’re traveling with like-minded individuals to like destinations.

“People like you are riding with you.” m

Staff Writer Emma Montalbano can be reached at emontalbano@newtimesslo.com.

GETTING AROUND: The Santa Maria Transit Center is a hub for all of Santa Maria Regional Transit’s bus routes, including in Santa Maria and to Orcutt, Tanglewood, New Cuyama, Lompoc, Vandenberg, Los Alamos, Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Ynez.

PHOTO BY EMMA MONTALBANO

From desks to dirt

Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture expands its education and outreach efforts with new office in Orcutt

BY EMMA MONTALBANO

It takes about nine months for a lemon to go from a flower to a harvestable fruit.

That’s one of Caitlin Paulus-Case’s favorite lessons to teach students, helping them put into perspective how much time and effort goes into the food they consume.

“By the time that it reaches your fridge, just the amount of love and labor and resources that went into it is pretty mind-blowing when you look at it,” said Paulus-Case, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) executive director.

SEEAG, a nonprofit founded in 2008 that provides free agriculture education to students and community members in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, recently opened a new office in Orcutt. The organization previously operated only out of Ventura County with educators who would travel north, but now, with the new office, Paulus-Case hopes that SEEAG will enhance its presence in Northern Santa Barbara County to hire locally and serve even more students.

“Having an office space will enable us to be able to hold meetings, to attend meetings, and to be a part of the community in a more significant way,” she said. “It’ll just really allow us to expand and deepen our impact so that we can have the same amount of growth and impact in Northern Santa Barbara County as we do in Ventura.”

Northern Santa Barbara County is a major agricultural hub, Paulus-Case said, but many local students lack access to educational programs focused on food production. She explained that SEEAG prioritizes reaching Title 1 schools, or ones with primarily lowincome students, offering free programs and even covering transportation costs to remove barriers to participation.

“Our organization is supported by a lot of the farmers and the growers, and so we like to work within the communities that those organizations exist,” Paulus-Case explained. “And then, we like to go where the greatest need is.”

SEEAG runs four core programs focused on youth and community education. These include the Farm to Food Lab, which introduces third graders to agriculture; the Youth Wellness Initiative, a program that combines nutrition education with produce distribution; the STEM Career Pathways in Agriculture, which exposes middle and high school students to career opportunities; and Farm Day Every Day, which connects the community to local agriculture through monthly tours.

“A lot of what SEEAG does, and what I’m so passionate about doing, is providing platforms for people to have hands-on experiential opportunities and be able to learn firsthand from people and gain knowledge and be a little bit more connected to food so that food becomes something that we make active choices toward,” she said.

According to Paulus-Case, when students learn more about where their food comes from, they gain a much deeper appreciation and respect for it. She hopes that with this expansion, SEEAG will be able to reach even more students, growing a new generation of people who are knowledgeable about food production and potentially inspired to contribute to the industry’s future.

“I think one of the most exciting things about the agricultural industry is that there’s so much room for innovation and for sustainability and for growth,” she said. “I’m really passionate about getting this next generation excited about creative problem solving and about looking at all of these different issues across a ton of different areas and saying, ‘I can solve that. I can be the person that can do this someday.’”

That passion for connecting students to agriculture is shared by Erin Krier, agricultural program coordinator and instructor at the Allan Hancock College Vineyard and Community Garden, who highlighted the college’s role as a host site for Santa Barbara County Farm Day tours and Farm to Food Lab.

“I really love that [SEEAG] brings the whole community together to sort of honor and learn about the value of our agricultural producers in this region,” Krier said. “Opening up farms and the farm experience and the critical importance of our farming community and being able to showcase that to the broader community is really important.”

Highlight

• The Santa Barbara County Fire Safe Council (SBCFSC) recently launched a Community Wildfire Protection Plan for the Lompoc Valley to enhance wildfire preparedness and resilience. The initiative brings together state, local, and tribal governments, fire departments, and community members to identify wildfire hazards and develop risk reduction strategies. The SBCFSC appointed Monica Mathews as the project manager, and she will oversee the planning process. She can be reached at mmatthews@ sbfiresafecouncil.org. m

Staff Writer Emma Montalbano can be reached at emontalbano@ newtimesslo.com.

SEEDS OF KNOWLEDGE: Through SEEAG’s Farm to Food Lab program, third grade students get an introduction to agriculture and participate in a four-hour field trip to a working farm featuring hands-on activities related to soil, water, and plant sciences.

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‘Adequate’

service

The county’s new ambulance contract doesn’t meet national standards for response times

BY RON FINK

Response times are very important when defining adequate emergency medical/ fire services; the National Fire Protection Association established nationwide consensus standards, NFPA Standard 1710, for those services.

For example, the standard specifies that a fire engine with four members is expected to arrive at a medical or fire emergency four minutes after dispatch 90 percent of the time. Staffing for basic life support responses is two members with basic (AED-qualified) first responder skills and for advance life support (e.g., cardiac arrest, major traumatic injury) two paramedic-qualified personnel on scene within eight minutes.

No fire engine in the county is staffed with four people. Lompoc currently has no paramedics; however, there are qualified AED emergency medical technicians on each crew.

In the Lompoc 2030 General Plan it says, “The first fire department response units capable of initiating effective incident intervention shall arrive at a priority emergency within six minutes 20 seconds from receipt of the call at the dispatch center, 90 percent of the time.”

Sometimes the standard can’t be met because there are several concurrent calls for service every week, and, according to the city manager’s report during the week of Feb. 8 to 14, there were 30

Questions about Nipomo battery storage

Upgrades better than Moss Landing is not good enough (“Nipomo residents express concerns about battery energy storage plant safety,” Feb. 27) If the Nipomo battery energy storage facility needed upgrades, it was not perfect, and safety is still an issue. Can we do better? Can we even trust that the safety measures and standards are absolutely fail-safe? If an abundance of caution was the guiding force, which it should be, then two accidents in our backyard should tell us and send a clear warning we really don’t know what the frick

such calls and the following week 24, meaning there were no units available to respond to other calls.

To put the response issue in perspective, the International Association of Firefighters says that during sudden cardiac arrest within “six to 10 minutes: brain damage [is] very likely in the absence of advanced life support intervention.” This type of care requires that a crew consisting of two paramedics and two basic life support arrive on location within seven minutes.

The new Santa Barbara County ambulance contract (beginning on page 23) stipulates that for Priority 1, “potentially life-threatening emergency responses” an ambulance with paramedic service will arrive within seven minutes and 59 seconds 90 percent of the time in “urban areas” like the city of Lompoc.

This response time begins “when the call is time stamped” by the county designated communications center. This refers to the countywide fire department communication center that will soon begin operations.

For Priority 2, “non-life threatening” emergencies the ambulance must arrive within 10 minutes and 59 seconds 90 percent of the time.

For rural areas, the arrival time standard is considerably longer.

The new contract allows the county Fire Department to provide ambulance services in the greater Lompoc, Cuyama, and Carpentaria/ Summerland/Montecito areas. The city of

we are doing. Is this good enough until next time? Really, what are we thinking?

Are we worried about all the money invested in this venture with the hope everything will be OK? Is that the decision-making criteria? Save money. People don’t count? Unless it can be absolutely guaranteed nothing is going wrong, this needs to get deep-sixed right now.

Who is making these decisions? Same people who say dumping PFAS chemicals into our groundwater is OK? Same brain trust that says putting a decrepit accident-prone, fault-infested nuke site on life support is fine, just fine? Same people who invite convicted felons with a history of

Lompoc approved construction of a station in the city Old Town area to house ambulances and staff, and the county has quarters for ambulances and staff in the Mesa Oaks area north of town.

Prior to the initial awarding of the contract to the county Fire Department, the Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of 35 new ambulances. In the new contract, a substantial number of these won’t be needed for this limitedservice area and so the excess will likely be sold at a considerable loss of taxpayer funds because technically they are “used.”

Will this new contract, including a 35 percent rate increase, provide adequate ambulance service? Politicians have a poor track record when it comes to making decisions like this. Only “response time” will tell if this one works.

One example of why it might be inadequate is crew size; this contract does not include a provision for two paramedics to arrive at Priority 1 calls within four minutes after dispatch 90 percent of the time.

Clearly the new contract approved by the Board of Supervisors doesn’t meet any of the national consensus standards of care, so it’s no wonder that fire chiefs of several jurisdictions are concerned, including Lompoc Fire Chief Brian Fallon who, according to Noozhawk, said, “Our disappointment on hearing about the AMR contract extension cannot be overstated.”

That’s an understatement if you are the one waiting for life-saving care. m

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

routinely depositing a thick blanket of suffocating greasy, grimy slime into our sacred precious ocean is OK? Well, you know what? I need proof beyond a reasonable doubt that this endeavor is babyproofed. Can they do that? Prove it.

Jean’ne Blackwell San Luis Obispo

Responses to

recent Sun articles

Regarding “Don’t Palestinians have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?” (Feb. 27):

Unfortunately, the short answer to your question is … no. At least, not until the so-called right-wing Christian Nationalists, who ignore the teachings of the Christ and follow the edicts of an Israelite war god, wake up and realize that they are destroying the oldest Christian community in the world. Palestinian Christians can trace their faith back to their conversion at the hands of Jesus and his apostles more than 2,000 years ago.

These Christians, along with their Muslim neighbors, were driven from their homes, farms, and churches by European immigrant survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. Now, Trump, Netanyahu, and their Zionist “Christian” allies are seeking to destroy the last vestige of Christianity in Palestine in order to build resorts on the Gaza coast. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for our Palestinian Christian brothers and sisters suffering under Hamas and the Trump-Netanyahu campaign of genocide.

Regarding “Santa Maria Valley students protest immigration enforcement tactics” (Feb. 27): Kudos to Cesar Vasquez for making “good trouble” (John Lewis). As an old man who marched with Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta in the 1970s, it does my heart good to see that the torch has been passed to a new young generation that will need all the torches they can get to illuminate the darkness of the storm that now confronts us.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1787 that “the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants; it is its natural manure.”

Let us all pray that Cesar, and others like him can turn Musk’s manure and Trump’s sh*t into compost to grow the Tree of Liberty!

Stephen Siemsen

Eyebrow raise Opinion

Raising your own salary is never a good look. But it’s something we task many elected decision-making bodies with, from city councils and community services districts to boards of supervisors and sometimes even the Legislature—although not in California. In California, our legislators’ salaries are determined by an independent commission.

I bet that the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors was wishing that an independent commission was making the decision about its members’ salaries on Feb. 25. Instead, they had to do it. And they did do it. They raised their own pay by 48 percent.

Not a good look. But there were many reasons for it, including that they make 35 percent less than their peers in other similar counties. I’m not defending the decision; I’m just offering some facts.

Which is more than I can say for the great North County screecher, Andy Caldwell of the Coalition of Labor, Agriculture, and Business (COLAB). I’m surprised he didn’t bring a pitchfork to the meeting!

In newsletters, on the radio, in social media posts, and in commentaries, Caldwell yelled his objections into the Santa Barbara County atmosphere to anyone who would listen: Supervisors work part time, do more campaigning than constituent work, and are serving their own personal interests.

“They can work as much or as little as they want,” he wrote.

His rhetoric struck a chord, as 2nd District Supervisor Laura Capps put it. Apparently, supervisors received a lot of emails about the raises: “Most of what they wrote were based on

things that were not true at all,” Capps said.

The people berating them had no idea what a supervisor’s job position was, 5th District Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said. That’s sad. And Caldwell decided it was time to pounce with some carefully chosen disinformation.

Raising salaries from $115,000 to $171,000 per year should raise eyebrows. It’s a lot of dollars. I don’t think you need to tell everyone that supervisors work “part time” to insist that residents oppose a $48,000 a year raise. All you really have to do is look at the number. It’s large. The conversation should be focused on whether it’s warranted—not on false statements intended to belittle and anger. Why tell tall tales? Why rile up a base around something that’s misleading at best, as Lavagnino put it? And outright lying at worst (I’m putting it that way).

Caldwell does love to scream into the void and pat himself on the back. So maybe that’s it: ego. Always a great way to lead, amirite?

What’s interesting about all of his screaming is that—as public commenter Scott Fina said— Caldwell makes more than the supervisors do. For a nonprofit that brings in an average of roughly $500,000 a year in revenue, according to Form 990s, it sure pays its executive (Caldwell) a lot. His compensation jumped from more than $150,000 per year to more than $200,000 a year in fiscal year 2023.

I’m not saying he only works part time or that he’s corrupt or does a lot of gripping and grinning. But it’s interesting. And again, focus on the important salary question: Is it warranted? m

The Canary is the great North County chirper. Send birdseed to canary@santamariasun.com.

Special Education Students born 2000!

All records for any Special Education student that was born within the year 2000 and attended a Santa Maria Joint Union High School District school, your physical special education records are available for pick up at no charge from the District Office. All 2000 not picked up by June 1, 2025 will be destroyed.

If you have any questions, or to arrange a pickup date/time, contact:

Sandra Hernandez/ Dept. of Special Education

Santa Maria Joint Union High School District 2560 Skyway Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455

805-922-4573 ext. 4311

ATENCION estudiantes anteriores de SMJUHSD nacidos en 2000!

Todos los registros de cualquier estudiante de Educación Especial que haya nacido dentro del año 2000 y asistió a una escuela del Distrito Escolar de las escuelas preparatorias de Santa Maria, sus registros físicos de educación especial están disponibles para recoger sin cargo en la Oficina del Distrito. Todos los registros del 2000 que no hayan sido recogidos para el 1 de junio de 2025 serán destruidos.

Si tiene alguna pregunta, o para programar una fecha/hora de recogida, comuníquense con:

Sandra Hernandez/ Dept. of Special Education

Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

2560 Skyway Dr. Santa Maria, CA 93455

805-922-4573 ext. 4311

The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

Special Education - Child Find

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

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

El Distrito Escolar de las Escuelas Preparatorias de Santa Maria Educación Especial - Búsqueda de Estudiantes

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

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

Recycle Food Scraps in Your Green Cart!

Residents of the Santa Maria Valley should add food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard waste to their green carts.

Everything in the green cart is composted locally and used to support agriculture in the region.

To make collecting food scraps easier, free kitchen pails are available for pick-up at the County’s Public Works Office at 620 W. Foster Road during regular business hours (M-F, 8AM-12PM and 1-5PM)

• Wrap wet food scraps in newspaper or use paper bags to deposit food scraps into your

• Store food scraps in your fridge/ freezer during the week and transfer to your green cart closer to collection day.

• Cover food scraps with yard waste inside your green cart.

• Clean your kitchen pail and green cart regularly. Kitchen pails are dishwasher safe!

Hot Stuff

MAKING SCENTS

The California Nature Art Museum in Solvang will host a natural perfume-making workshop for adults on Sunday, March 16, from 1 to 4 p.m. Attendees will craft natureinspired fragrances during this program, led by Susan Farber of Sol Aromatics. For registration details or more info about the class, visit solaromatics.com or calnatureartmuseum.org.

—Caleb Wiseblood

ARTS

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS BALLROOM, LATIN, AND SWING DANCE CLASSES Social ballroom, Latin, and swing lessons for all ages. Beginner and advance classes. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. $45-$55. (805) 928-7799. Kleindancesarts.com. Klein Dance Arts, 3558 Skyway Drive, suite A, Santa Maria. DANCE CLASSES: EVERYBODY CAN DANCE Classes available for all skill levels. Class sizes limited. ongoing Everybody Can Dance, 628 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria, (805) 937-6753, everybodycandance.webs.com/.

THE GAME’S AFOOT Step into the mystery of a lifetime with William Gillette, as the acclaimed actor, known for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, hosts a star-studded Christmas Eve at his eccentric Connecticut mansion. The plot thickens when one guest meets a tragic end. March 7-23 my805tix.com. Santa Maria Civic Theatre, 1660 N. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

SANCTUARY CITY In this powerful coming-of-age story, two teens forge a deep bond amid the complexities of immigration, identity, belonging, and love. Presented by PCPA. Through March 16 pcpa.org. Severson Theatre, 800 S. College Dr., Santa Maria.

SATURDAY CRAFTERNOON: CRAFT

BAZAAR Get creative and make something uniquely you. This workshop is free, and all materials are provided. Registration is required, for patrons 18 and older. March 8 10:30 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 925-0994. cityofsantamaria. org/services/departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

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

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

COLOR AND COMPOSITION The exhibit highlights paintings by featured artists Gerry Winant and Britt Friedman. Through March 31 gallerylosolivos.com/. Gallery Los Olivos, 2920 Grand Ave., Los Olivos, (805) 688-7517.

FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING Castle has long been interested in shamanic rituals and the masks associated with them. This exhibit provides a rare glimpse of the many sides of Castle that unfolded while creating this series. Through April 6 elverhoj.org/. Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, 1624 Elverhoy Way, Solvang, (805) 686-1211.

NATURAL PERFUME-MAKING WORKSHOP FLOREST AND FLORALS

Craft a unique, nature-inspired fragrance that honors the forests and florals of California. March 16, 1-4 p.m. $140. (805) 688-1082. calnatureartmuseum.org. California Nature Art Museum, 1511-B Mission Dr., Solvang.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE STUDIO

COMPANY Experience ballet’s future with ABT Studio Company—elite young dancers fusing classical mastery and innovation, launching tomorrow’s stars on stages worldwide. March 14 8 p.m. $45-$75; Platinum $85. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter. org/shows/abt-studio-company/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

CHARACTERS AND RELATIONSHIPS:

IMPROVISATIONAL THEATER CLASS

Learn to access emotion in the moment, build characters and relationships on emotional perspectives, and use patterns of emotional behaviors to drive scenes forward. Sundays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. through April 13 $80. (805) 556-8495. improvforgood. fun/. Women’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon St., Arroyo Grande.

DANCE FITNESS ART AND CULTURE

FOR ADULTS Discover dance as a form of artistic expression and exercise, using a wide range of styles and genres of music (including modern, jazz, Broadway, ethnic). Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

EMBROIDERER’S GUILD OF AMERICA

The Bishop’s Peak Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America invites you to attend its monthly meeting. Third Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Nov. 15 Free. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

SECOND SATURDAY IMPROV MEETUP

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

SAN LUIS OBISPO

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

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.

in SLO, LA, and on zoom. ongoing $210 per month. actorsedge.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

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

ALL LEVELS POTTERY CLASSES Anam Cre is a pottery studio in SLO that offers a variety of classes. This specific 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 AFTER DARK Art After Dark features an art opening of world-class artists. Refreshments will be served. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. through March 7 Free. slocountyarts.org/art-after-dark. EDNA Contemporary, 967 Osos St, San Luis Obispo, (805) 459-1711.

ART AT THE ODD Featured artists include Den Jay, Seth Callen, Maz Ghani, Joey Salazar, Judith G. Anderson, and Mad Monis of Oddities & Curations. Free parking available. March 7, 5:30-9 p.m. Free. (805) 550-8055. facebook.com/ Oddfellowschorro168. Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo.

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

CENTRAL COAST COMEDY THEATER IMPROV COMEDY SHOW An ongoing improv comedy program featuring the CCCT’s Ensemble. Grab some food at the public market’s wonderful eateries and enjoy the show upstairs. Second Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. $10. my805tix.com/e/ improv-comedy-1-10. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, 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.

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

CLUE: THE MUSICAL An interactive evening where every note could be your last clue, and every suspect has a secret to hide. Thursdays-Saturdays, 8-10 p.m. through March 8 $19 students; $30 general admission. (805) 756-1465. theatredance. calpoly.edu/clue-musical-winter-2025. Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

DAISY PATTON: BEFORE THESE WITNESSES Check out Massachusettsbased artist Daisy Patton and her work, which includes large scale, mixed media paintings with found photographs layered with vibrant colors and floral patterns. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through March 14 Free. (805) 546-3202. cuesta.edu. Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

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

ESTEBAN CABEZA DE BACA:

REMEMBERING THE FUTURE Ranging from 2015 to 2024, the eleven paintings

in the gallery explore issues of belonging and identity, activism, and joy and celebration. Through June 22, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma.org. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

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

FIRST FRIDAYS Visit SLOMA on the first Friday of each month for exhibition openings, music, and wines provided by regional winery partners. Admission is free and open to the public. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Free. (805) 5438562. sloma.org/events/first-fridays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

FREE DOCENT TOURS Gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view with SLOMA’s new docent tours. Every Saturday, join trained guides for interactive and engaging tours of SLOMA’s current exhibitions. Saturdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma.org/visit/ tours/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

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. LEARN TO WEAVE MONDAYS An opportunity to learn how a four-shaft loom works. You will get acquainted as a new weaver or as a refresher with lots of tips and tricks. This class includes getting to know a loom, how to prepare/dress a loom, and much much more. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. $75 monthly. (805) 441-8257. Patricia Martin: Whispering Vista Studios, 224 Squire Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, patriciamartinartist.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOL AROMATICS

MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET On a Tuesday night, shortly before Christmas 1956, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley gathered at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee. This was their only performance together, and a cultural flashpoint that caught rock ‘n’ roll at the moment of creation. WednesdaysSaturdays, 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays, Sundays, 2-4 p.m. through March 9 $30-$55. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 786-2440, slorep.org/.

NORTH COUNTY CAMERA CLUB: REGULAR MEETING Zoom meeting for The North County Camera Club, where photographers of all levels can participate, share photos, exchange information, and learn from each other. Second Tuesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. No fee. facebook.com/groups/ PRAAphotoguild. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

ODDFELLOWS OPEN MIC Bring your music, improv, standup, magic, and dance talents. Each act gets five minutes. Audience votes for favorite. Third Saturday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Free. (805) 2340456. Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo.

OPEN MIC COMEDY Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by Aidan Candelario. Mondays, 7-9 p.m. Free. (805) 540-8300. saintsbarrel. com/event-calendar. Saints Barrel Wine Bar, 1021 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.

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

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL

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

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

SATURDAY FAMILY POTTERY CLASS

This family-friendly open studio time is a wonderful window for any level or age. Saturdays, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. $40. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

SCULPTURE SERIES: SPIRIT ANIMAL

Beginners welcome. This six-visit sculpture class meets twice a week for a total of three weeks. Mondays, Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon through March 21 $250. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SECOND ANNUAL CHINGONAS SHOW: ART AFTER DARK RECEPTION A collection of portraits of women. Visit site for more info. March 7, 5-8 p.m. (805) 4393823. my805tix.com/e/chingonas. Corazón Café, 847 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.

SLO COMEDY UNDERGROUND OPEN

MIC NIGHT Enjoy a night of laughs provided by the local SLO Comedy Community. It’s open mic night, so anyone can perform and “you never know what you’ll see.” Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Free. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337, libertinebrewing.com.

SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY

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

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

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, 1:30-3:30 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.

YOUTH POTTERY CLASS Teens love this class. Learn handbuilding techniques and throwing on the potter’s wheel. Held every Friday after school. Fridays, 3:30-5 p.m. $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

AQUARIUS 2025 WATERMEDIA EXHIBIT

Central Coast Watercolor Society presents its annual juried exhibit at Art Center Morro Bay, featuring excellence in all forms of watermedia by California artists. See website for info and frequent updates. Through March 31 ccwsart.com/aquarius2025-prospectus. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 772-2504.

COASTAL WINE AND PAINT PARTY

Listen to music while enjoying an afternoon of creativity, sipping, and mingling. The party includes a complimentary glass of wine and canvas with materials. Saturdays, 12-2 p.m. $55. (805) 394-5560. coastalwineandpaint. com. Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, 824 Main St., Cambria.

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. (559) 799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

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

CASUAL CRAFTERNOON: FELT

SHAMROCK PINS Create an accessory for St. Patrick’s Day. This workshop is free; all supplies will be provided. Registration is required. For patrons 18 or older. March 11 4-5:30 p.m. Free. (805) 925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

CENTRAL COAST CORVETTE CLUB Open to Corvette owners and enthusiasts. First Thursday of every month, 7 p.m. Free. (805) 934-3948. Home Motors, 1313 E. Main St., Santa Maria.

D-AND-D AND BOARD GAMES AT THE LIBRARY Come play board games, Dungeons and Dragons, and other tabletop games, presented by the Santa Maria Valley Adventurers League. Tutorials and game materials are provided. March 9, 1-4:30 p.m. Free. (805) 9250994. cityofsantamaria.org/services/ departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria. EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION GALA

Includes a delectable sit-down catered dinner featuring appetizers, two entrées and dessert, along with live entertainment by the Central Coast-based dance band, Steppin’ Out. March 6 4:30-10 p.m. my805tix.com. Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg 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. FIRST FRIDAY First Friday of every month facebook.com/firstfridayoldtownorcutt/. Historic Old Town Orcutt, S. Broadway and Union Ave., Orcutt.

FIREFLIES Enjoy this By The Sea Production, written by Matthew Barber and directed by Anita Schwaber. Visit site to get your tickets and learn more about the show. Through March 9, 7 p.m. $29. St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay, (805) 772-2368, stpetersmorrobay.org/.

FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No artistic experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. (805) 772-9095. foreverstoked.com. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay. FREE PASTEL PAINTING DEMONSTRATIONS Art Center Morro Bay invites you to a free and informative pastel painting demonstration by artist Greg Trombly. March 10 6 p.m. Free. (805) 7722504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., 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.

UNCORK YOUR CREATIVITY: COASTAL WINE AND PAINT PARTY Offering a unique opportunity to sip wine while painting stunning ocean-inspired landscapes. All materials included. Saturdays, 12-2 p.m. $60. (805) 394-5560. coastalwineandpaint.com. Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, 824 Main St., Cambria.

WATERCOLOR GREETING CARDS AND GIFT TAGS Create personalized greeting cards and gift tags using fun and simple watercolor techniques. March 9 12:304:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Lor Coaching Studios, 525 Harbor St., Morro Bay.

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.

INTERNSHIP AND LEADERSHIP

OPPORTUNITIES IN SB COUNTY Panel of 15 plus county organizations who provide internship and leadership opportunities will share about their programs and how students can get involved. March 9 5-6:30 p.m. Free. (805) 770-1593. youthwell.org/ workshops. Online (Santa Barbara County), Visit website, Countywide.

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

RAINBOW READS BOOK CLUB Centered on books with LGBTQIA+ authors and themes. March’s book is The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon. Registration required. March 8 , 3-4 p.m. (805) 925-0994. cityofsantamaria.org/ services/departments/library. Santa Maria Public Library, 421 S. McClelland St., Santa Maria.

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

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CAR SHOW: 12TH ANNUAL FUNDRAISER This year’s special guest car is: Lightning McQueen from Pixar’s Cars . The show will feature various vehicles, including other filmcentric cars like a Jurassic Park jeep and much more. Presented by Knights of Columbus. March 8 , 10 a.m.-3 p.m. kofccarshow.com. St. Louis de Montfort Church, 1190 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

AFTERNOON BINGO Bingo with potluck. Parking in rear. Buy one of everything for $20. Guests can participate without bringing food. Look forward to a fun afternoon. Second Tuesday of every

BigFish with Monkey Flower and Blazed

MARCH 22 The Bunker SLO

ATown Beer Festival After Party Feat. 90’s Babiez SATURDAY, MARCH 22 Blast & Brew, Atascadero

Burgundy Blues Presented By Vinylistics

MARCH 22 Libertine Brewing Company, SLO

Jeff Livingstone Band with Katie Chappell

MARCH 22 Club Car Bar, Templeton

Mandala Rhythms Circle

Painting Workshop with Drew Davis

23

Davis Fine Art, SLO Metalachi, Pre-St. Patrick’s Day

Stockyard @Blast 825 Brewery, Orcutt

Blue Kaiju Spring Tour 2025

Brass Mash: St. Paddy’s Day Special

MARCH 15 The Olde Alehouse, Los Osos

Kiwanis Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner

MARCH 16 Mussell Senior Center, Santa Maria

Bob & Wendy with Paul Griffith and Damon Castillo

Bunker SLO

Cello and Piano

MARCH 16 Studios on the Park, Paso Robles

Coast Body Therapy Center, Los Osos

How You Can Make Sustainable Seafood Choices

19 IOOF Oddfellows Hall, SLO

Punk Rock Chaos!

MARCH 21 Humdinger Brewing, SLO

Spring Equinox Ceremony of Feminine Rebirth

MARCH 22

End Retreat Center, SLO

month, 12-4 p.m. All games are $1 each. (805) 736-6669. Valley of Flowers HalfCentury Club, 341 No. N St., Lompoc.

LOMPOC ART WALK Lompoc transforms into a celebration and showcase of local artists during this monthly event, which features live music, art, exciting exhibitions, performances, and a variety of unique vendors. First Thursday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Old Town Lompoc, H and I St., Lompoc.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

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

BIG LIBRARY BOOK SALE Books sold by the inch, 50 cents for paperback and $1 for hardback. The ever-popular bag sale starts at 1 p.m. Cash only. Rain cancels March 8 Free to attend. (805) 481-4131. GroverBeachLibrary.org. Grover Beach Community Library, 240 N 9th St., Grover Beach.

BODY FUSION/EXERCISE AND FITNESS

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

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.

FRIENDS OF THE NIPOMO LIBRARY

BOOK SALE Come find it all: adult fiction, nonfiction, mystery, romance, biography, gardening, travel, history, cookbooks, children’s books, CD’s, DVD’s, and jigsaw puzzles. March 8 , 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (805) 9293994. friendsofnipomolibrary.org/. Nipomo Library, 918 W. Tefft, Nipomo.

LEARN ABOUT PISMO BEACH FOUNDER

JOHN MICHAEL PRICE AND TOUR PRICE ANNIVERSARY HOUSE Come learn about John Michael Price and tour Price Anniversary House. RSVP by calling. Community members and prospective

volunteers are both welcome. March 8 , 10-11:30 a.m. Free. (805) 550-0439. pricepark.org. Price Historical Park, 100 Rancho Pismo Drive, Pismo Beach.

MULTICULTURAL DANCE CLASS

FOR ADULTS Experience dance from continents around the earth, including from Africa, Europe, and more. Described as “a wonderful in-depth look at the context and history of cultures of the world.” Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10 dropin; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52 Come join a friendly meeting of watch and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. (805) 547-1715. new.nawcc.org/index. php/chapter-52-los-padres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano. POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS

A docent-led tour of the buildings and grounds of the historic Point San Luis Light Station. Check website for more details. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach. QI GONG FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE ENERGY Experience the energy of Qi Gong through simple standing movements promoting flexibility, strength, relaxation, and increased energy. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, Qi Gong revitalizes and enriches your life. An outdoor class overlooking the ocean. Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. $14 per class or $55 for 5-class card with no expiration. (805) 440-4561. pismobeach.org. Margo Dodd Gazebo, Ocean Park Blvd., Shell Beach.

RESTORE YOUR WELL-BEING WITH JIN

SHIN JYUTSU Learn how to harmonize your energy and enjoy greater resilience and well-being. Register with Pismo Recreation. Tuesdays, 6-7:30 p.m. through March 18 $150 for 6; or $30 drop-in. (805) 773-7063. pismobeach/org/recreation.

Shell Beach Veterans Memorial Building, 230 Leeward Ave., Pismo Beach.

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

A SPLASH OF WINE AND WHALES:

A CELEBRATION OF STEWARDSHIP Guests of the event can look forward to enjoying wine, small bites, a raffle with

MOBY PIC

The Pismo Beach Stewardship and Educational Outreach Program will host A Splash of Wine and Whales: A Celebration of Stewardship at the Cliffs Hotel and Spa in Pismo Beach, on Saturday, March 15, at 6 p.m. Guests of the event can look forward to enjoying wine, small bites, a raffle with proceeds supporting whale conservation efforts, a panel with marine scientists and advocates, and a keynote talk with whale conservationist Adam Ernster (pictured). To find out more, visit the program’s Eventbrite page.

—C.W.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

proceeds supporting whale conservation efforts, a panel with marine scientists and advocates, and a keynote talk with whale conservationist Adam Ernster. March 15, 6 p.m. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach, (805) 773-5000, cliffshotelandpsa.com.

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.

WMW HIGH VIBE HIKE AT THE PISMO PRESERVE Presented by Women Making Waves (WMW). March 8 , 9-11 a.m. my805tix.com. Pismo Preserve, Mattie Road, Pismo Beach.

ASTROLOGY BASICS: HOW TO READ YOUR BIRTH CHART Build community during a six-week deep dive into personal astrology. Perfect for beginners and those looking to strengthen their foundation. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. through March 27 $150. (805) 242-1168. anc.apm. activecommunities.com. Cuesta College Community Programs, Building 4100 Cuesta College Road, San luis obispo. BEYOND MINDFULNESS Realize your potential through individualized meditation instruction with an experienced teacher via Zoom. This class is for those who wish to begin a practice or seek to deepen an existing one. Flexible days and times. Certified with IMTA. Text for information. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sliding

scale. (559) 905-9274. theartofsilence.net. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

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

DAILY QIGONG PRACTICE For the early riser or commuter, every weekday morning. Maintain or improve concentration, balance, and flexibility. Includes weekly Friday 3 p.m. class with more practices. Led by certified Awareness Through Movement teacher. Mondays-Saturdays, 6:10 a.m. and Fridays, 3 p.m. $35/week or $125/month. (646) 280-5800. margotschaal.com/qigong. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

DECORATE A BUG HOTEL FOR YOUR YARD Decorate your own bug hotel, and learn about how to support our insect friends. March 8 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $10 museum entry. (805) 544-KIDS. slocm.org/programs. San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum, 1010 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

ENERGY ALCHEMY HEALING REIKI CIRCLE Visit site for tickets and more info. March 9 6 p.m. my805tix.com. Aligned Acupuncture and Wellness Spa, 672 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.

FAMILY FREE DAY: ALL ABOUT THE LADYBUGS Come and celebrate ladybugs and their importance to the Garden. Learn some fun facts that you’re unlikely to forget and help release native ladybugs. March 9 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

FAMILY FREE DAY: LADYBUG FESTIVAL

Learn about the importance of ladybugs to the conservation of plants as well as some fun facts about these special bugs. March 9 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. (805)5411400. slobg.org/calendar-of-events/. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

FREE TOURS OF THE MISSION Tour San Luis Obispo’s Spanish Mission, founded in 1772. Come learn its history and about the development of this area. Tours, led by docents, are free at 1:15 p.m Monday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Sundays, 2-3 p.m. and MondaysSaturdays, 1:15-2:15 p.m. Free. (657) 4659182. missionsanluisobispo.org. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP A safe place to share feelings of depression with those who suffer and those who have recovered to a full, healthy outlook on life. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Free. (805) 528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

HOW BEST TO SUPPORT FRIENDS IN NEED This group discussion course will review recommended listening practices and practical crisis management techniques. Because we have to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others, it will also offer tips on how to avoid compassion fatigue and helper exhaustion. March 14 , 1-3 p.m. my805tix.com. Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo.

BOOK YOUR AD BY: MARCH 20

PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 2025

Strawberry Festival

BOOK YOUR AD BY: APRIL 11

PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 17

BOOK YOUR AD BY: MAY 16

PUBLICATION DATE: MAY 22

Hot Stuff

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE: RESILIENT AND CARBONSEQUESTERING CITIES Building

A Better SLO invites you to join an insightful conversation with Vincent Martinez, President and COO of Architecture 2030, “a leading organization dedicated to solving the climate crisis through the decarbonization of the built environment.” Get tickets and more info so you don’t miss the opportunity to hear from “one of the leading voices in climateresponsive design and policy.” March 13, 5:45-7:30 p.m. $18. my805tix.com. The Penny, 664 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo. LOVE IN A FLASH : SPEED

DATING (AGES 30S AND 40S)

You’ll encounter a diverse array of singles in one evening, each encounter lasting only a brief interval. You’ll enjoy a few minutes of conversation and exploration before transitioning to the next potential match. March 9 1:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Woodstock’s Pizza, 1000 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-4420.

MELLOW YOGA FOR EVERYONE

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

MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE MEETING)

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

PAPER BUOYANCY

The Pioneer Valley High School’s Center Stage Theatre Company presents its production of Newsies, with performances set to run at the school’s Performing Arts Center in Santa Maria between Thursday, March 6, and Saturday, March 15 (Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7 p.m. each evening). Tickets to the show are available in advance at the production’s On The Stage page. Enter Pioneer Valley High School in the search bar at onthestage.com for the ticketing link.

PLAY GROVE: AN OUTDOOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAM A nature-based and placebased enrichment program. Use the environment as your guide as you play, grow, create art, garden, and learn together. Play Grove will allow young children to access this experience alongside enthusiastic playworkers. Through June 7, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (805) 242-6301. onecoolearth.org/play-grove. html. Jewish Community Center, 875 Laureate Lane, San Luis Obispo.

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

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

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

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

TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP Learn more about mental health and coping skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. (805) 540-6576. t-mha.org. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

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) 5449096, octagonbarn.org.

TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peer-topeer 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

ST. PATRICK’S DAY CELEBRATION Doors will open at 6p.m. with music starting 7. Beverages, beer, wine, and food will be available for purchase, and dinner will be served. Visit site for tickets and more info. March 14 7-9 p.m. $16. my805tix.com. CongregationHouse, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.

STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi Gong boosts energy and vitality, reduces stress, improves balance and flexibility, and, best of all, is fun. Join instructor Devin Wallace for this outdoor class which is held in a beautiful setting. Call or email before attending. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. $12. Crows End Retreat, 6430 Squire Ct., San Luis Obispo.

—C.W.

This group is a safe place for trans* and gender nonconforming 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.

VITALANT BLOOD DRIVE AT KING DAVID’S MASONIC LODGE Giving blood is life-saving. Come to historic King David’s Masonic Lodge and make a difference. March 8 , 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. (805) 674-6381. King David’s Masonic Lodge, 859 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo.

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

CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS

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.

MEETING Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a Twelve Step recovery program for anyone who desires to have healthy and loving relationships with themselves and others. Meeting is hybrid (both in person and on Zoom). For information, call 805900-5237. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. thecambriaconnection.org/. Cambria Connection, 1069 Main St., Cambria, (805) 927-1654.

MORRO BAY METAPHYSICIANS

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

WATER WISDOM: HYDRATION, HEALTH, AND HIDDEN SECRETS Visit site for more info. March 8 11 a.m. my805tix.com. From the Roots Up Healing Studio, 2055 9th St., Los Osos.

FOOD & DRINK

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT COSTA DE

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

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

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS AT WINE STONE

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

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

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

SECOND SATURDAY OPEN AIR MARKET:

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

SIPPIN’ SUNDAYS Every Sunday, come cozy up inside the tasting room and listen to great artists. Sundays, 1-4 p.m. Free. (805) 937-8463. cottonwoodcanyon.com.

Cottonwood Canyon Vineyard And Winery, 3940 Dominion Rd, Santa Maria.

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

THURSDAY EVENING BAR TAKEOVER

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

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

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

HEAD GAMES TRIVIA AND TACO

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

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

ITALIAN CATHOLIC FEDERATION

LENTEN FISH FRY The St. Patrick’s Italian Catholic Federation (I.C.F.) is hosting a Lenten Fish Fry. There will be a cash bar and dessert table, and take outs are available. March 7, 4-7 p.m. $10-$20. St. Patrick’s Church, 501 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande, stpatsag.org.

MONTHLY FERMENTATION CLASSES

New topics each month with a thorough demo and explanation of the process that creates non-alcoholic, probiotic, and nutrient-dense fermentations. Leave

the class confident and prepared with recipes to make your own at home. Limited seating; reserve spot prior to class by phone/email. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30. (805) 8016627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach.

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

SAN LUIS OBISPO

AT HER TABLE

Celebrating Women’s History Month by supporting 300 plus women-owned or co-owned restaurants in San Luis Obispo County. Visit site for full lineup of events as well as tickets. Through March 9 my805tix.com/. SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.

LOVE IN A FLASH A night of mingling, fun, and maybe even finding that special someone, at this LGBTQ mixer/ speed dating event. March 8 , 2 p.m. my805tix. com. BA Start Arcade and Taproom, 647 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.

SLO GRANGE HALL PANCAKE

BREAKFAST Join the SLO Grange Hall for a good old-fashioned pancake breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, juice and coffee; all for a low suggested donation price of $10, with proceeds to benefit SLO Grange Hall 639. Second Sunday of every month, 8-11 a.m. $10. (805) 543-0639.

San Luis Obispo Grange Hall, 2880 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

MUSIC

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy live music at the winery most Friday evenings. Check site for concert schedule. Fridays presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.

LADIES NIGHT OUT Music by DJ Van Gloryious and DJ Panda. Features delicious daiquiri specials. Thursdays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR

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

METALACHI LIVE Visit site for tickets and more info on this genre-blending performance. March 15 my805tix.com. Blast 825 Brewery, 241 S. Broadway St., Orcutt, (805) 934-3777.

MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN Live DJ and karaoke every Friday and Saturday night. Featured acts include Soul Fyah Band, DJ Nasty, DJ Jovas, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s

Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY

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

SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

THE WEARING OF THE GREEN DANCE

Get groovy at this dance event. Visit site for more info. March 9 1:30-4 p.m. Free. (775) 813-5186. RiptideBB.com. Featuring Riptide Big Band. Free admission thanks to grant funding by the Community Foundation of San Luis Obispo County. March 9, 1:30-4 p.m. Free. (775) 813-5186. RiptideBB.com. 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.

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS

Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

KARAOKE AT COLD COAST BREWING

CO. Pick out a song, bring your friends, and get ready to perform. Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc, (805) 819-0723, coldcoastbrewing.com.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

ICONIC: A GLORIOUS TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON Immerse yourself in the world of Michael Jackson’s discography with a live performance from

tribute band ICONIC. March 9 3 & 7 p.m. $49. clarkcenter.org. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande, (805) 489-9444.

JOHN OATES: AN EVENING OF SONG AND STORIES Enjoy an evening with one half of the legendary duo, Hall & Oates, who is set to deliver an unforgettable performance for audience members. Hear him live by buying tickets at the link. March 11 , 7:30 p.m. $49. clarkcenter.org. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande, (805) 489-9444.

JOYFUL RHYTHMS: DRUM CIRCLE

Discover the transformative power of rhythm and connection through creative play in a fun-focused, dynamic drumming circle guided by Dee DiGioia, Mindful Kindful YOUniversity. March 8 5:30-7 p.m. my805tix.com. Mystic Nature, 330 W. Tefft, Unit E, Nipomo.

JULIE KELLY QUARTET Jazz vocalist/ guitarist Julie Kelly sings jazz, Brazilian, and pop. March 9 5-8 p.m. (805) 7736563. puffersofpismo.com. Puffers of Pismo, 781 Price St., Pismo Beach.

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

MANCINI CENTENNIAL WITH JUKEBOX SATURDAY NIGHT Celebrate Henry Mancini’s 100th with Mancini Centennial— experience timeless classics, Hollywood glamour, and unforgettable melodies in a tribute to his enduring musical genius. Reserve now. March 15 7 p.m. $34-$54; Platinum $59. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter. org/shows/mancini-centennial/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

BRASS MASH: FIRST FRIDAY First Fridays are magical nights filled with the

LADY IN RED

The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden will host a special ladybug program in conjunction with Family Free Day, on Sunday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The community is invited to join and celebrate ladybugs and their importance to the garden, while also learning some fun facts about them. Call (805) 541-1400 or visit slobg.org for more details.

—C.W.

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

NOVACEK PLAYS BRAHMS Pianist John Novacek will join the SLO Symphony as he performs Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.2 in B flat. March 8 7:30 p.m. Check website for ticket prices. (805) 543-3533. slosymphony.org. Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. PATRICIA CAICEDO: LATIN AMERICAN AND IBERIAN ART SONG MASTER CLASS Soprano and musicologist Patricia Caicedo will present a Latin American and Iberian Art Song Master Class with Cal Poly voice students. March 13 11:10 a.m.noon Free; parking permit required. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/ special/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. THE WAILIN’ JENNYS LIVE The Canada-based trio is known to blend folk, Americana, and bluegrass. Get tickets to hear them live at this all ages performance. March 7, 7:30 p.m. $40. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600, fremontslo.com.

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

MUSIC from page 19

vibrant energy of an all-horn band. Join the festivities at Liquid Gravity and immerse yourself in the unique fusion of your favorite rock and pop songs. First Friday of every month, 6-10 p.m. my805tix.com. Liquid Gravity, 675 Clarion Court, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY VOCAL STUDENT RECITAL A free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student vocalists. March 6 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-2406. music. calpoly.edu/calendar/free/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY WIND BANDS WINTER

CONCERT: VISIONS The Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra will perform works that engage the mind’s eye: Julie Giroux’s “One Life Beautiful” and much more! March 9 3 p.m. $17. (805) 756-4849. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/winds/. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

CANZONA PRESENTS: “EMBRACING THE EARTH” Head to the SLO United Methodist Church for a concert that will connect you to the beauty and power of nature. This is in collaboration with The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo. March 9 3-5 p.m. $10-$35. (805) 242-6065. canzonawomen.org. San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks Street, San Luis Obispo.

CUESTA JAZZ FESTIVAL CONCERT WITH WAYNE BERGERON AND ANDY MARTIN

Join for an unforgettable celebration of music, creativity, and community with live performances from Wayne Bergeron and

Andy Martin. March 7 8 p.m. $17 Adult, $10 Student w/ID. (805) 546-3198. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

DELFEAYO MARSALIS AND THE UPTOWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA: UPTOWN ON MARDI GRAS DAY. A member of

The First Family of Jazz and an NEA Jazz Master, Delfeayo Marsalis will lead the vibrant Uptown Jazz Orchestra in a performance that is “full of the joy and soul of NOLA.” March 6 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

THE EXPENDABLES LIVE Blending ska, surf rock, and reggae, The Expendables have an impressive discography. Join the band on their 25-year anniversary tour. This is an 18 and over show.

March 6, 8 p.m. $40. Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-1843, slobrew.com.

FOLK YEAH PRESENTS: FREAK SLUG

+ HURON JOHN Catch Xenya Genovese, also known as Freak Slug, as she makes her way to San Luis Obispo. Hailing from Manchester, UK, she will grace the stage of Libertine and give audience members a taste of her indie-pop sound. March 7 8-11 p.m. $28. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337, libertinebrewing.com.

FOREVER GREEN AT SLO PUBLIC MARKET SPRING FEST Forever Green will be playing at the SLO Public Market’s Spring Fest. March 8 , 2:30-4 p.m. Free. (805) 528-7296. San Luis Obispo Public Market, 3845 S. Higuera St, San Luis Obispo.

AJ LEE AND BLUE SUMMIT WITH WOLF JET Hailing from Santa Cruz, the awardwinning band AJ Lee and Blue Summit is set to deliver a live performance of bluegrass, Americana, and folk music. Get tickets at the link. March 9 7-10 p.m. $25. thesirenmorrobay.com. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312. BLUES AGENDA JAM AND SHOWCASE A rockin’ blues dance party at Niffy’s Merrimaker every first, third, and now fifth Wednesdays. The Blues Asylum house band welcomes local, visiting, and newcomers to the blues groove. Spirits, beer, and wine, with outside food welcome. Every other Wednesday, 7-10 p.m. Free. (805) 235-5223. The Merrimaker Tavern, 1301 2nd Street, Los Osos. HERWAY TO HELL: A TRIBUTE TO AC/DC AND BON SCOTT LA-based band, Herway to Hell, is known as the all-female AC/DC. They coin themselves as “Too punk for Rock, too Rock for Punk.” Get tickets and hear them live. March 8 , 8-10 p.m. $22. thesirenmorrobay.com. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312. THE LOVING MOSH: FREE AFTERNOON DANCE FUNK SHOW The Loving Mosh Band, the eclectic, seven-piece band from the Central Coast of California, will perform their soulful mix of R&B and funk. March 8 2-5 p.m. thesirenmorrobay.com. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312.

THREE4ALL Enjoy classic rock and other genres from this Central Coast-based band. March 8 7:30 p.m. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312, thesirenmorrobay.com/. m

Huckleberry Stuffed French Toast

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ARTS BRIEFS

California Nature Art Museum showcases Yosemite through the lens of William Neill

An upcoming art exhibition in downtown Solvang celebrates one California-based photographer’s singular views captured in Yosemite National Park.

The new solo show—titled Yosemite: Sanctuary in Stone, Photographs by William Neill—will open at Solvang’s California Nature Art Museum (Cal-NAM) on Saturday, March 8, with an artist meet-and-greet reception featuring Neill, from 3 to 5 p.m.

A private reception for members of Cal-NAM will be held on the following day.

Sanctuary in Stone showcases a variety of scenic photos Neill’s taken over the past four decades and is slated to remain open through early September.

“The thrill of discovering those magical moments in Yosemite hasn’t diminished for me over the decades since arriving in the park,” Neill stated. “In this new exhibit, there are 45 recently printed images that include intimate moments, abstractions, and seasonal changes. … I delight in finding purpose to my life in this ‘sanctuary in stone.’”

A nearby resident of Yosemite since 1977, Neill and his work have been the subjects of published pieces in various books and magazines over the years. His fine art prints have been featured in collections, museums, and galleries across the country. In 1995, Neill received the Sierra Club’s Ansel Adams Award for conservation photography.

“His work embodies the spirit of Ansel Adams, the iconic landscape photographer who has influenced generations of photographers over the years,” Cal-NAM Executive Director Stacey Otte-Demangate said in press materials. “Mr. Neill creates his distinctive Yosemite landscapes and places it into a color realm that Ansel Adams could have only imagined.”

Guests of the Cal-NAM exhibit’s March 8 reception will have the opportunity to purchase signed copies of Neill’s companion coffee-table book, Yosemite: Sanctuary in Stone Starting that day, the publication will also be available regularly for sale at the museum’s store.

The book emphasizes “the importance of preserving such natural wonders … [as] the park’s iconic rock formations, waterfalls, and forests,” and invites readers “to experience Yosemite’s timeless beauty” through evocative imagery, according to press materials.

For more info on Neill’s work, visit portfolios.williamneill. com. Cal-NAM is located at 1511-B Mission Drive, Solvang, and is open during the week (except Tuesday and Wednesday), from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekends, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (805) 688-1082 or visit calnatureartmuseum.org for details. m

Sips, sights, and sounds

Orchids After Dark shines a light on local wine-produced paintings and DJ sets

BY CALEB WISEBLOOD

Intricate floral arrangements at the 77th annual Santa Barbara International Orchid Show will take on a new glow, so to speak, during an exclusive nightclub-esque event held outside of the multi-day display’s daytime hours.

On March 8, shortly after organizers tuck the showcase in for its 5 o’clock bedtime, there’ll be a 6 p.m. wake-up call in the form of Orchids After Dark, open till 9 for visitors to tour the exotic orchid exhibits, enhanced with immersive lighting. Thanks to the bar, guests can also walk among the flowers with a drink in hand.

The bar will serve cocktails, beer, and wine, while local artist Danielle Renée Methmann will bring bottles of the latter to Orchids After Dark for a different purpose.

During a live demo, Methmann will treat guests to glimpses of the art practice she’s best known for: painting with wine.

“It is a very unusual medium. … I discovered it by accident,” Methmann said. “I’ve been an artist my whole life, and I’ve used almost every medium out there. So, one day, I was making a watercolor painting and drinking wine, and I spilled the wine. It was a little shocking and devastating in the moment.”

She then left her studio for the night, abandoning her unfinished winestained painting in the process.

“The aha moment was the next day. When it had dried, [the wine] was more vibrant than the watercolor pigments themselves. … It’s unexpected and that’s why it’s also so intriguing.”

Before specializing in wine painting, Methmann spent a

couple of years researching the historical medium and experimenting with different kinds of wines and approaches to capture certain colors.

“The wines can go anywhere from bright reds, blushes, purples, natural tones—I call them sandy tones, or adobe colors, even kind of like red tile roof colors,” Methmann said. “You have this short range of colors that they can turn into, and shift over time, depending on the varietal. … There’s so many variables in this process I had to discover.”

Within a single bottle of wine, Methmann said it’s possible to extract multiple colors and consistencies, she explained. Sometimes she’ll let wine age in different kinds of containers, such as glass jars and plasticware, to achieve that.

“From one specimen, I could age it in these different vessels, which allow oxygen in at different paces, which changes the wine,” she said. “This is a medium that is very sensitive, right? So just like the wine that we drink, [the wine] needs to be temperature controlled and all these things. And it’s the same with the painting. … Once it’s on paper, it will continue to oxidize and change color over time.”

One of her favorite wines she’s ever experimented with was a pinot noir from Dana V. Wines in Solvang.

“Once you age it, and sediment develops, it essentially turns black. It’s pretty wild. It’s just stunning,” Methmann said. “It’s almost charcoal-y looking, but that’s pinot noir.”

Methmann’s paintings occupied wall space at Dana V. Wines’ tasting room for about three years starting in 2019, rotating as pieces were gradually sold.

“[Owner/winemaker Dana Volk] sold a ton of stuff for me,” Methmann said. “So I’d just keep bringing her more paintings.”

During her live painting demonstration at Orchids After Dark, Methmann plans to use wines from Longoria Winery in Lompoc, Clementine Carter (formerly Casa Dumetz) in Los Alamos, and other local vintners.

While Methmann’s demo and the countless orchids on display at the event will be among the sights, Santa Barbara-based DJ Claire Zielinski will be providing the sounds.

Like Methmann, Zielinski was part of last year’s Orchids After Dark, and 2024 also marked her first appearance at the Shabang Music Festival in San Luis Obispo during the spring.

She described her upcoming set at Orchids After Dark as “chill, loungy, minimal house music.”

“Think poolside, fun, groovy vibes. … Background music that’s still pretty classy, loungy, and fun,” Zielinski said. “I just want to create a space where the music enhances the beauty of the flowers and makes people feel welcome and comfortable. I just want to set a good vibe.” m

Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood recommends the Nic Cage film Adaptation to orchid lovers. Send comments to cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

COURTESY PHOTOS BY WILLIAM NEILL

Orchid kindred

For more info on the Santa Barbara International Orchid Show and Orchids After Dark, held March 7 through 9, visit sborchidshow.com. Both events will be at Earl Warren Showgrounds, located at 3400 Calle Real, Santa Barbara.

TAKING NOTES AND TASTING NOTES: As part of this year’s Orchids After Dark event in Santa Barbara, local painter and sip and paint instructor Danielle Renée Methmann will offer a live demo of her wine painting work, while using wines from Lompoc’s Longoria Winery, Los Alamos’ Clementine Carter, Arroyo Grande’s Talley Vineyards, and other Central Coast vintners.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIELLE RENEE METHMANN

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLIAM NEILL

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLAIRE ZIELINSKI

DISCO IN FERN-O: Local DJ and Orchids After Dark featured act Claire Zielinski is no stranger to working while being surrounded by plants. Her workspace is lined with hanging plants and other greenery, she told the Sun

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANIELLE RENEE METHMANN

MAJESTIC MEDIUM: Santa Barbara-based artist Danielle Renée Methmann often leads group workshops, paint and sip classes, and live demonstrations centered on painting with wine.

Harrowing

Alex Parkinson directs this story he co-wrote with Mitchell LaFortune and David Brooks based on his 2019 documentary he co-directed with Richard da Costa about a serious 2012 diving accident when saturation diver Chris Lemons’ (Finn Cole) umbilical cable severed, trapping him 330 feet under the sea without heat or light, and only a small amount of breathing gas in his backup tank. The film also stars Woody Harrelson as Duncan Allock, Simu Liu as Dave Yuasa, Cliff Curtis as Captain Andre Jenson, and Bobby Rainsbury as Morag, Lemons’ fiancée. (93 min.)

Glen: This story is absolutely bonkers, and saturation divers are straight-up nuts to do that incredibly dangerous job. I wasn’t familiar with the “sat diver” job, but these guys spend days at sea in a compression chamber slowly getting their bodies used to being under multiple atmospheres of pressure so they can repair oil pipelines 300 feet underwater. They might stay under this pressure for days until their job is done, and then they spend days in a decompression chamber so they can safely return to Earth’s atmosphere without their organs exploding. I don’t know how well they’re paid, but it’s not enough. This job is a serious “hells no” from me. They’re also operating in a powerful

AMERICAN MURDER: GABBY PETITO

What’s it rated? TV-MA

When? 2025

Where’s it showing? Netflix

storm. This is an incredible survival story and a testament to the commitment these divers make. They’re a band of brothers.

LAST BREATH

What’s it rated? PG-13

What’s it worth, Anna? Full price

What’s it worth, Glen? Full price

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

Anna: There’s a certain kind of person that can do this type of work. It may be the same sort of instinct that tells Alex Honnold that he can free solo, but whatever the instinct or compulsion is, I don’t have it. This film was straight-up stressful for me, not only because Chris’ chances of survival ticked by without oxygen, but because of the engulfing claustrophobia of the seabed. Kudos to the filmmaker for bringing that darkness and inescapable vastness to the screen in such an impactful way. His dive partner, Dave (Simu Liu), is standoffish and serious, while his mentor and fellow diver, Duncan, is loveable and quick with a joke, played perfectly by Harrelson. I didn’t know the story of this dive before, but I do now, and I don’t think it’s a story I’ll ever forget.

Glen: The story cuts between the divers in trouble, the captain and crew trying to fix the ship’s computerized system that holds it in place over the dive job, and Chris’ fiancé, Morag, driving home the emotional connections between the people. Nobody wants to lose Chris, but as the ship drifts out of position with Chris at the bottom of the sea, untethered and with just 10 minutes of

backup oxygen, his chances grow slimmer by the minute. You’re right, Harrelson was terrific, but Rainsbury as Morag is devastating. Saturation diving is inherently dangerous. There’s some effective humor, too, for instance when Chris tries to assuage her fears by saying it’s just like going into space, except under the water. Not helpful, dude! The tightly directed 93 minutes fly by.

Anna: Spouses of first responders and highrisk job holders have a bravery that I can’t

fathom. While the seconds and minutes tick by, I kept getting farther and farther away from believing that there was any hope of Chris’ recovery. Watching the team’s efforts to give him even a whiff of a chance of survival was both heart-stopping and life-affirming. This one’s worth a watch. m

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

All of us true crime fans knew it was coming: the painful tale of Gabby Petito’s final days and the gruesome discovery of who was behind her death. However, Netflix storytelling shines here, focusing much of the three-part series on who Gabby was in life, her families’ memories of her vivacious nature, and her willingness to dream even when others tried to dim her light.

Unfortunately, the end of this sad story lies within the sordid details of an abusive relationship and a young woman who couldn’t speak against it with her full voice. The series also focuses on some of the blunders of law enforcement, as well as some of the accomplishments. While there wasn’t much more for me to learn here in terms of the case itself, this series certainly let me get to know the woman behind the missing-person poster.

A FATEFUL ENCOUNTER: During a police stop over alleged domestic violence, Gabby Petito, seen here on police-cam, soon goes missing, in the Netflix documentary miniseries American Murder: Gabby Petito

The series is also smart enough to acknowledge how the young white woman garnered so much attention, while the number of missing and murdered indigenous women are largely ignored by the public and law enforcement. The phone number for the domestic abuse hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE. (three approximately 40-minute episodes)

—Anna

THE SECRET OF ROAN INISH

What’s it rated? PG When? 1994

Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre of San Luis Obispo on March 9 and 10

Just in time to get you in a St. Paddy’s Day mood, the SLO Film Center at the Palm Theatre has an offering of Irishcentric films all month, including John Sayles’ 1994 fantasy adventure classic The Secret of Roan Inish based on Rosalie K. Fry’s 1957 novel Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry The story explores Irish folklore about selkies, seals that can shed their skin and become human, though the sea is always calling them back.

Set in 1946, after her father’s illness and the death of her mother, young Fiona (Jeni Courtney) is sent to live with her grandparents in a small Irish fishing village. She hears stories about her family’s history and connection to their ancestral home Rón Inis, the “Island of Seal,” as well as a story from her distant cousin, Tadhg (John Lynch), about a shared ancestor who married a selkie. Fiona’s own younger brother, Jamie, was lost to the sea, though legend suggests selkies may be caring for him.

INHERENT DANGER: A trio of deep-sea divers—(left to right) Chris Lemons (Finn Cole), Duncan Allock (Woody Harrelson), and Dave Yuasa (Simu Liu)—experience a freak accident and work to save a life, in Last Breath, playing in local theaters.

Sayles is a wonderful director at the top of his game, coming off Matewan Eight Men Out , City of Hope and Passion Fish He followed it up with Lone Star It’s a lovely family gem. (103 min.) m

ALL IN THE FAMILY: Young Fiona (Jeni Courtney) learns about her family’s connection to selkies, in The Secret of Roan Inish, screening March 9 and 10 at the Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo.

For après-beach and beauty

Brix Wine Bar & Bottle Shop, located next to Fringe by Jasi

BY CHERISH WHYTE

Fresh off a two-year streetscape project that transformed Pismo Beach’s oldest road, originally built in 1914, into an attractive pedestrianand bike-friendly thoroughfare, the surrounding community now boasts a wine bar.

Debuting in late 2024, Brix Wine Bar & Bottle Shop joins a dozen eateries and a handful of hotels lining the refreshed Shell Beach Road.

The bar is the brainchild of Jasi Sotello, longtime owner of hair salon Fringe by Jasi & Co., located next to Brix. “My husband, Gilbert, and I have been interested in the wine industry for many years,” said Jasi, who resides in the Avila Valley area of San Luis Obispo. “Our good friends Gary and Teresa Burk from Costa de Oro Winery (in Santa Maria) introduced us to the process of winemaking and appreciating the different types of wines.”

They thought a wine bar would be a great addition to Shell Beach’s vibe, she said. So when a space next to the salon opened up, they couldn’t resist the opportunity. Their eldest daughter, Mekynzi, and her boyfriend, Nicholas Carrade, had recently moved back to the area from Nashville.

“While there, Nick was a bar manager at a popular restaurant with an extensive wine list where his love and knowledge of natural wines grew,” Jasi said. “We knew Nick would be the perfect partner to manage and be the face of Brix because of his friendly personality, work ethic, positive energy, and love of wine.”

Carrade jumped at the opportunity to serve as general manager and coowner of the establishment along with the Sotellos.

“For the time being, I am the only one working full-time at the bar,” Carrade said.

“Jasi and Gilbert were active in the design and building of the space, but now their roles are more limited to consulting and brainstorming ideas for events and such.”

They participate in occasional wine tastings with distributors and use their network to connect Carrade with help for the website and accounting, he said.

“Mekynzi has been great with graphic design for events and social media,” Carrade added. “We really do work as a team, but I do take on a majority of the day-to-day responsibilities.”

Born in Santa Rosa and raised in the North Bay Area, Carrade boasts more than a decade of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry combined with a business administration degree from Sonoma State University.

“I took some elective wine-business courses during my time in college,” he said, “one being a summer course where we spent one day each week touring different wineries, learning their stories, and tasting from both the barrels and the bottles.

“Throughout high school and college, I worked part-time in various restaurants and food-service establishments, eventually working my way up to bartender, where I fell in love with craft cocktailing and the business of hospitality.”

Carrade’s industry skills were further refined after moving to Nashville, where he worked as a bartender and bar manager for several different bars and restaurants, “learning new skills and diving deeper

into the world of hospitality,” he said.

“My last year and a half was spent working at a new restaurant called Xiao Bao,” he continued, “which served elevated Asian comfort food and had a great natural wine list and cocktail program.”

As the bar manager, a big part of his job was figuring out what wines to serve

“This was probably my favorite part of the job. I got to taste so many cool wines from all over the world,” he said.

The couple moved back to California in 2023, and a short while later Brix fell into Carrade’s lap.

“The property management company wanted to offer it to Jasi first before putting it on the market,” Carrade said. “Jasi knew she wanted the space but was

A FAMILY AFFAIR: From left, Nicholas Carrade and Mekynzi, Jasi, and Gilbert Sotello of San Luis Obispo own Brix Wine Bar & Bottle Shop in Shell Beach.

BRILLIANT DESIGN: Brix owner Jasi Sotello and family transformed a compact 450-square-foot space on Shell Beach Road into an airy and sleek bar brightened up with whites, lights, and greenery from Leaves Me Love in San Luis Obispo.

Freelance Food Writer Wanted WE ARE HIRING

Are you a passionate food writer with a knack for storytelling? New Times is looking for a freelance food writer to contribute twice a year to our Menus publication.

We’re seeking someone who can craft engaging, insightful, and mouthwatering articles featuring our Menus clients. The ideal candidate will have:

• Experience in food writing

• A strong voice and the ability to bring food stories to life.

• Ability to meet deadlines and work independently.

This is a freelance position, with contributions expected twice a year. If you have a passion for food and the words to match, we’d love to hear from you!

Staff Writer WE

ARE HIRING

The Sun in Santa Maria is looking for its next staff writer, someone who dabbles in arts and culture but can also take on the news. We’re looking for an all-around journalist who can dig into the community for feature stories with an edge and hard news stories that need to be told.

This person will become part of a team of reporters who contribute to the awardwinning New Times Media Group publications on the Central Coast of California. With a focus on Northern Santa Barbara County, our next staff writer will search for food and wine stories that help tell the region’s culinary story, from its roots in agriculture to the end product that populates fine dining menus. They will hunt for arts stories that ensure the diverse expressive voices in the region have a place in the Sun And they will keep an eye on the elected officials and policy-makers whose decisions impact the communities we cover.

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

This job is 32 hours per week which includes benefits.

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

Email to: Cindy Rucker at crucker@newtimesslo.com.

New Times Media Group is an equal opportunity employer.

trying to figure out what to do with it. She played around with a few ideas before landing on a wine bar. When I heard that, my ears perked up and I told her I was interested in joining her in that adventure. The universe was giving me signs, and it seemed like it was meant to be. About a year later we opened our doors.”

Brix specializes in local wines stretching from Monterey to Santa Barbara.

“Our wine menu currently features around 40 selections, and we’re always rotating our offerings to showcase new and interesting finds. We prioritize wines that are low-production, low-intervention, or sourced from sustainable vineyards,” he said. “I do a good amount of research to find [these] winemakers, and when I find one I like, I reach out to them or see who they distribute with and then set a meeting to taste.”

Sometimes, he said, winemakers reach out to him to see if we would like to carry their product.

“Those are my favorite, because they are usually very small brands with little to no recognition, doing everything themselves, kind of like us,” he said. “What I love so much about SLO is that there are so many small businesses, and the community is so supportive. … We try to use Brix as a platform for these small businesses to get more recognition.”

For non-wine drinkers, Brix offers a selection of draft and bottled beer and cider, as well as mocktails. Customers can also purchase a variety of snacks, Brix swag, a selection of candles and

wine-related games and puzzles, and dried bouquets from Idlewild Floral Co. in SLO. Beyond beverages and a perk-heavy wine club, Brix hosts live music, winemaker takeovers, and food trucks, with wine-education classes and more to come.

“There are no other wine bars in Shell Beach that I am aware of,” Carrade said, so reception to Brix from area residents has been especially enthusiastic.

Jasi concurred: “We’ve only been open for a few months and already we have local regulars excited for us and to have a new spot in Shell Beach to enjoy.

“We look forward to getting to know more of our neighbors.” m

Contributor Writer Cherish Whyte thinks Brix is bound to liven up Shell Beach. Reach her at cwhyte@newtimesslo.com.

SIPS AND SWAG: Peruse Brix’s carefully curated selection of reds, whites, and bubbles priced from $37 a bottle as well as wine-centric gift items and logo merchandise.

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