N O R T H E R N S A N TA B A R B A R A C O U N T Y ’ S N E W S A N D E N T E R TA I N M E N T > F E B R U A R Y 12 – F E B R U A R Y 19 , 2 0 15 > V O L . 15 , N O. 4 9 | W W W. S A N TA M A R I A S U N .C O M
SUN SCREEN
Skip Seventh Son [35]
Get me to the Costco on time Meet a couple who tied the knot in a Santa Maria big-box store [12] BY DAVID MINSKY
FASHION
Do your hair yourself with these style tips [7]
VENUES
Take to the local vineyards for your vows [8]
PHOTOS
Get a drone’s eye view of your ceremony [24]
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A hairy situation One easy DIY style from a top SLO salon
Next Classes: Days – February 9 Nights – February 9 Weekend – TBa
PHOTOS BY KAORI FUNAHASHI
Days: Mon-Fri 9am-2pm, 3 weeks
A
ccording to a very thorough Google search, the average American wedding costs an estimated $30,000. Those must be some mighty hors d’oeuvres and fancy place settings, because that’s a hefty chunk of change. Luckily, there are some arenas in which you can save. Hair is definitely one of them. That’s why I asked a hairstylist from one of SLO’s top salons to offer her take on a quick, easy, do-it-yourself style to suit the occasion.
1. Prep the hair, spray heat protectant, and curl your hair to make it easier to put up. 2. Section your hair three ways and leave all hair from the ear forward out. 3. Grab your hair up in half, creating volume at the top, and pin. 4. Now pin the hair up in small curls and pin curls. 5. When you get to the front, curl that hair away from your face, leaving some bangs out to frame your face (if needed). 6. Pin that hair back into the style. 7. Spray it with a shine spray 8. Voila!
PHLEBOTOMY STaTE & NaTiONaL CERTiFiCaTiONS
BY JESSICA PEÑA
The Bladerunner Salon & Day Spa Stylist: Yessie Ovalle Style: Traditional
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CLASSES ARE FILLING NOW! CURLY CUE: For this more traditional updo, begin by using to a curling iron to make soft curls.
PINPOINT: The next step includes some serious bobby pin work. Stylist Yessie Ovalle used 25 for our model Giselle!
Jessica Peña is arts editor for New Times, the Sun’s sister paper to the north. Contact her through the managing editor at clanham@santamariasun.com. UPDO-IT-YOURSELF: To quote the great Stevie Wonder, “Isn’t she lovely?” Answer: Yes.
SAY IT, DO SPRAY IT: Finish up the style with a coat of hairspray for extra sheen and stability.
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Vineyard vows
PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY MIKE LARSON COURTESY OF RANI HOOVER
click well with, that you like. … And let them help you through the process,” she said. “It can make the whole process fun, versus tedious.” When she sits down with a couple, she figures out what they’re looking for: design, style, experience, budget, dates, and a guest count, among other things. Then, she can come up with a place. If they want the feel of Tuscany, Italy, the Sunstone Villa at Sunstone Winery is the place to book. If the couple wants to be tucked into a small winery, then Lincourt is perfect. If they want to get married underneath an iconic old oak tree, Firestone’s got it. And what makes a wedding special, according to Korrey with Foley, are the personal touches, the things a couple brings to a wedding to make it unique to them. Both Korrey and Hoover mentioned the same wedding at Lincourt as one of their favorites from last year. It was the joining of Edgar and Eric, who had been together for 17 years and were finally, legally, able to get married. Hoover said there were 150 guests from California and Colorado in attendance: Two families that were already joined, that had known each other and celebrated big events and holidays together for 17 years. “It was sweet,” Korrey said. “It was just so incredibly beautiful being able to celebrate the two being able to marry,” Hoover said. “It was just really nice.” m
If you want to say ‘I do’ among the vines, look no further than Santa Barbara County wine country BY CAMILLIA LANHAM
L
incourt Winery’s old windmill creaks through a lonely existence in February, spinning sporadically above the brown, spindly winter vines that line up below it. In a couple of months, the vineyard’s front acreage of sauvignon blanc vines will green up, playing off the yellow of the cottage-like tasting room that sits on the hill overlooking its acreage, and it will be ready for the “hot dates” that bring destination weddings to Santa Barbara wine country. In May through October of any given year, brides and grooms from Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Texas, and beyond travel to the northern edge of Southern California for that long walk down the aisle with a vineyard backdrop. Between Foley Family Wine group’s three vineyards/wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley and Santa Rita Hills—Lincourt, Foley, and Firestone—Rachel Korrey, the special events manager, helps plan around 60 weddings a year. Most of those happen during the “hot” period when the vines are green, have fruit, or are changing color. “What I love about this property,” Korrey said about Lincourt, “is you’ll see people wandering everywhere. There’s nowhere you can’t be.” The hillside behind the tasting room switchbacks into oak trees and the lawn is lined with white rose bushes. The covered, white veranda overlooks the property’s grapevines and next to it is a concrete dance floor that leads to a big red barn with a small indoor space. There are, of course, several wineries in Santa Barbara County wine country at which to tie
the knot, but each one is unique and choosing a vineyard venue depends on what the couple is looking for. As far as the Foley Family Wine group’s local trio of wineries go, if you want to have a farm-like feel at a boutique winery in an outdoor setting, Lincourt’s the way to go, Korrey said. If you want to have an indoor/ outdoor wedding at an active winery with an estate-like feel, Firestone’s the ticket. Korrey’s personal favorite is Foley Vineyard and Estates in the Santa Rita Hills. “It’s got one of my favorite views,” she said, adding that it’s plunked down in the middle of vineyard country with 365 degree-views of grape vines. Prices also vary, with Firestone and Lincourt starting at around $6,000 and Foley starting at around $3,000. Korrey said one of the pluses of booking with a Foley Family winery is the portfolio of wines the bride and groom have to pick from—any one of the 16 wineries in the Foley portfolio, which also includes wines from Paso Robles, Oregon, and Sonoma. Most wineries, or wine groups, have a set list of caterers and wedding planners they work with. Korrey said she gives that list to couples after they’ve signed on for a wedding. The bride and groom select off those lists and move forward with one of the vendors. Rani Hoover, Inspired Weddings and Events,
We’ll Keep Your Whole Family Healthy!
is one of the planners on Foley’s preferred vendor’s list. This upcoming season will be Hoover’s ninth as an event planner, and she works with at least 15 wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley, as well as a host of private estates, vacation rental properties, and ranches. She plans a little more than 20 weddings each season, and the wineries she works with range from $3,500 on the low end to $25,000 on the high end for event rental. But before a future bride and groom choose the setting where they will exchange rings, Hoover said, first and foremost, the most important thing is to find the right planner. “Reach out to and find the planner that you
Contact Managing Editor Camillia Lanham at clanham@santamariasun.com.
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GRAPES AND OAKS: Rani Hoover, Inspired Weddings and Events, recently did a style shoot of a wedding—with the recently married Vicky and Brett—at Lincourt Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley.
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SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS PHOTO BY JAMIE GUISTA
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10 • Sun • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • www.santamariasun.com
STYLE AND POSE: Yoga Shine owner Jesselle Peña opened the doors to her Nipomo yoga studio in January.
BY JAMIE GUISTA
I
f you have been looking for a way to stay active and connect with yourself on a more spiritual level, Yoga Shine could be your new favorite place. Nestled in central Nipomo, the yoga studio greets customers with an inviting ambiance: pleasant aromas, bright colors, and smiling faces. More importantly, it plays host to a variety of classes for people of all ages taught by a wide range of instructors and a cute boutique that features stylish yoga clothes and spa essentials. Jesselle Peña, the owner, has an extensive history with yoga and a great desire to help others. Once she realized she could combine the two, she began her journey toward becoming a yoga instructor. “I got into yoga when I was 12 because I had really bad scoliosis, and my doctor wanted to put me in a back brace. My mom’s solution? To try any activity that could help me get better, and along came yoga. I began doing a rigid yoga regime, and I didn’t need the back brace anymore. For years, I would come and go from yoga but whenever I felt back pain I would do yoga and feel instantly relieved. Realizing how powerful yoga can be, I finally decided to get certified,” Peña said. She was trained at the Yoga Shack in Nipomo, and then, a few years back, she began working as an instructor at the local Snap Fitness under owner Mike Puhek. In early November 2014, Peña received a call from Puhek asking her if she would be interested in opening up her own studio in Nipomo. Convinced by the great location and the kindness of local residents, two months later, Yoga Shine was open and ready for business. Peña held the opening night on Jan. 10. Although she recognizes that Yoga Shine is a new business, she makes sure her studio is as comfortable and accessible to clients as possible. The studio is surprisingly large (easily fitting 45 to 50 people) and there are more than 10 different classes to choose from, ranging from gentle to rigorous. Clients of all ages and levels are welcome, and supplies such as mats, eye pillows, blocks, and blankets, are all included with the classes. In addition, all of the instructors are close friends of Peña’s— many from San Luis Obispo—whom she has worked with previously. “They are some of the best yoga instructors in the county, and I am super blessed,” Peña said.
For Peña, yoga has been a saving grace, and she lives to enact the same sort of change in her customers. She firmly believes that yoga has the ability to change people from the inside out, and has the ability to help people heal spiritually, emotionally, and physically. “I have seen people who can hardly walk in here, and they walk out 5 inches taller. It is very empowering, and that is something that everyone needs,” Peña said. On Feb. 15, Peña is holding an event called Yoga of 12-Step Recovery. This event integrates yoga with 12step principles, and its purpose is to try to help anyone who faces addiction, no matter the form (substances, food, people, etc.). It will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. and is $20 per person. Yoga Shine provides early morning and late night classes to appeal to a diverse range of schedules. The studio is open Monday through Friday from 6:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and 4 to 9:30 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 8 to 11 a.m. For new members, the studio is offering the first class free and a month of unlimited classes for $30. Individual classes are $12 ($6 for kids 12 and under) and there are various packages available—such as 10 classes over a three-month period for $100. The studio is located at 781 W. Tefft Street, Suite 1, in Nipomo. For more information, call the studio at 619-7381, or check out their website at yogashinenipomo.com.
Spotlight on: Yoga Shine Jesselle Peña, owner
Biz Highlights • Allan Hancock College Community Education is offering a class titled How to Start Your Own Business on Feb. 21 and 28, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The course is $60 and serves as an introduction to running a successful online business. For more information, call 922-6966, Ext. 3209. • The Hearst Cancer Research Center (HCRC) at French Hospital in SLO recently received a visit and generous donation of $11,000 from the Central Coast PUMA Aquatic Team. The HCRC provides support and education for cancer patients. For more information about the center or to make a donation, call the French Hospital Foundation at 542-6496 or visit supportfrenchhospital.org. m Intern Jamie Guista wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
MEDIA SENSATION: Robert said that he was contacted by several media TV shows, including Good Morning America and The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, to talk about his unique wedding.
The freezer section Robert and Meredith Bonilla tied the knot during a unique supermarket wedding in Santa Maria’s Costco
BY DAVID MINSKY
R
obert Bonilla was walking down the frozen food section at the Costco in Santa Maria. It was Dec. 21, 2013, days before Christmas and the aisles were crowded with shoppers eagerly stacking their carts full of those gigantic Costco-sized containers of food for their big holiday meals. He was prepping for a different sort of big meal, gathering all the fixings for a company barbecue. Trekking through the warehouse-like aisles, Robert passed a woman he’d noticed on three separate occasions. He rounded the corner to the seafood section, and there she was again. That time, they locked eyes. It was love at the first sight of frozen shrimp. Her name was Meredith. One year later, the couple who met in one of Costco’s frozen food aisles would tie the knot in the very same spot. Their wedding made international headlines because, as it turns out, getting married in Costco, according to Robert, isn’t a common thing. But then again, neither is meeting the love of your life next to freezers full of bagged seafood. As Robert recalled it, he saw that Meredith was wearing a slick pair of cowboy boots with six-shooters imprinted onto the back of them. He said that glass-doored aisle was where he finally mustered up the courage to give her a compliment. “And from around the corner I say, ‘Oh, nice boots!’ I seen her from behind. I didn’t know who she was,” Robert said. Meredith thanked him for the compliment. Then, Meredith said, the two started comparing their groceries. “He looked at my cart and goes, ‘What are you doing, feeding a horse?’ And I had a huge bag of carrots and apples I was going to juice. I said, ‘No I’m juicing.’ And so I just said something to him and noticed after passing three times that he had a bunch of food and foil.”
She asked him if he owned a restaurant. He said he was only volunteering for a barbecue and asked if she wanted to help. She tried to avoid the question, but Robert just got straight to it. “Oh, well, what about your husband?” he said. “I have no husband,” Meredith replied. And that fateful door opened. Meredith remembered telling Robert she had just moved to Santa Maria from Colorado. The conversation progressed from “Where are you from?” to “What are you doing for Christmas?” to where they would meet again. According to Robert, that next meeting was in San Luis Obispo for some more shopping. They met for breakfast at the Madonna Inn not too long after. A date to Jocko’s in Nipomo soon followed. Then, they visited each other’s churches, and, of course, they also made several trips to Costco as the couple’s relationship blossomed beyond the aisles of a chance supermarket romance.
The moment A little less than a year after first sight, just before Robert left on a hunting trip with a friend to Colorado, he asked the Santa Maria Costco manager about the possibility of getting married there. That was on Sept. 21, 2014. “I was like, ‘Hey I’m thinking about asking the girl you’ve been seeing me [with] at Costco … I’ve been thinking about asking her to marry me,” Robert said. The manager flat out told him that it was not very likely. But after Robert returned from the mountains of Colorado, he checked his phone messages and heard one from the Costco manager, who announced himself as their “wedding coordinator” in the voice message. After hearing that, Robert said he knew he was in and made plans to propose to Meredith on a Sunday.
12 • Sun • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • www.santamariasun.com
COSTCO continued page 14
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PATRICK ANG PHOTOGRAPHY
NOT YOUR AVERAGE WEDDING: More than 150 friends and family were invited to the Bonillas’ Costco wedding, which was held while employees were busy stocking the shelves for the holiday rush.
LOVE, PART DEUX: Neither Robert nor Meredith thought they’d ever be getting married again.
ONLINE EXTRA: View a slideshow of photos from the Santa Maria Costco wedding at www.santamariasun.com.
www.santamariasun.com • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • Sun • 13
Green, Gullible and Guilty We now know that 350.org is a chapter of an organization that is a member of an international cartel of green groups funded in part by oil and gas interests in Russia! That means the local leaders of 350. org have a lot of explaining to do! 350. org, by the way, was the group behind Measure P which they presented as part of their ongoing anti-fracking campaign. Recent congressional and financial investigations have confirmed that Putin’s cronies, as well as, other billionaires with ties to oil, are funding the movement. Why would Russia be doing this? The overall purpose is to stymie US and Canadian oil projects which are viewed as the competition to Russian oil interests. So the Russians invested tens of millions of dollars into a Bermuda shell corporation that in turn “donates” to a foundation called Sea Change. Sea Change then funds efforts with the sole purpose to sabotage North American oil and gas exploration! Most unfortunate for Putin, the Saudis took a different tact to hurt our domestic oil industry, as they flooded the market with oil resulting in lower prices. While proving popular and beneficial to consumers, this move threatens to cripple the Russian economy which is overly dependent on the money they make from the oil industry. Meanwhile, Hollywood also proved complicit in their willingness to sell out America in several instances serving as accomplices of Middle East oil interests. For example, James O’Keefe, of Project Veritas fame, set up a video sting with an actor posing as an agent for Middle East oil interests. The agent met with stars Ed Begley Jr and Muriel Hemingway and producers Josh and Rebecca Tickell to discuss the creation of an anti-fracking movie for the express purpose of preventing America from becoming energy independent! No qualms were expressed about accepting the money, $9 million, and the agenda, as long as they could keep it all quiet!
as it is tainted, controlled and swayed by billions of dollars used to manipulate green but gullible pawns to further global machinations. The fact is, the green movement itself has become big business! The obvious lesson? When things don’t add up, follow the money! Only useful idiots would claim they are saving the planet from fossil fuels while relying on Russian and Middle East oil money to fund their movement. Knowingly taking funneled money from the likes of Putin cronies makes these people nothing less than fiscal traitors to American interests. The question is, what does Katie Davis, the local ring leader of 350.org, know about all this? Will she now do the right thing and repudiate the movement for being the willing stooge of the likes of Putin? If she refuses to do so, should we start referring to her as Comrade Katie from now on? The real world reality is that there is no viable substitute on this planet to fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. Reasonable people know that. The gullible people involved in the radical environmental movement believe otherwise which makes them useful patsies in an international plot to rob North America of its wealth and opportunity to become energy independent thus alleviating the need to tanker oil here from the Middle East. First published in the Santa Barbara News Press Andy Caldwell is the executive director of COLAB and the host of the Andy Caldwell Radio show daily from 3-5 p.m. on AM1440.
COSTCO from page 12 On the appointed day, they went into Costco in need of items for a barbecue. The two separated, and Robert went to go pick out the meat, but he and Meredith agreed to rendezvous near the salad aisle. He tried to intercept her path near the frozen shrimp. “I figured I could get to the shrimp area and put in the shrimp the note, ‘I love you, will you marry me?’” he said. But she was too quick. She had already passed that part of the aisle, and Robert noticed that she didn’t grab the bag of shrimp he’d attached his note to. Meredith said she remembers Robert telling her to go back and get the right shrimp. “So I get back over there, and I’m, like, in this cooler, and I look down, and there’s a note that says, ‘Will you marry me?’ Meredith said. “And I turned around, and I said, ‘Yes!’” But, the question every engaged couple struggles with soon followed: Where were they going to get married? Meredith said Robert told her they could tie the knot right there in Costco if that’s what she wanted. They already had management’s blessing, and she was all for it. She said she’d heard stories about people getting married in warehouse stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot, but she never expected that she and Robert would be one of those couples. “I read those stories before where people have gotten married in different department stores or warehouses,” Meredith said, but Robert said he remembers that Meredith expressed that she always wanted to get married on the beach. “Everybody can get married on the beach,” he said. “But not everybody can get married in a Costco.”
The wedding After the engagement, the couple turned the wedding planning around pretty quickly. Between the end of September and Dec. 21, 2014, that was all they did. They kept everything simple. Meredith ordered her dress online through Amazon.com. “I didn’t have time to go into a dress shop, and I didn’t want to go through the process,” Meredith said. “I thought if I didn’t like it, I would just return it.” But she never had to. The dress was a nearperfect fit and only needed a few alterations. Meredith picked out a ring custom-made from a horseshoe nail, took the ring to a jeweler in town, and had them inlay diamonds into white gold that looked like that horseshoe nail ring. The ring looks as if a blacksmith wrapped a heated nail around a rod, forming it into a circle. The point of the nail comes back around through the head of the nail, and that’s where the diamonds are. But she found out later that she could have gotten her dress and ring from Costco, too. “You can pretty much plan a whole wedding from Costco,” Meredith said. It was hard to plan the ceremony around the hustle and bustle of the holidays. It just so happened that Meredith and Robert got married on one of the busiest shopping days of the year—right before Christmas. The ceremony took place after hours, and
there were still customers in the store shopping. Employees were busy restocking the shelves. The aisle where Robert and Meredith met was cluttered with employees driving forklifts, so they held the ceremony in the next aisle over, which turned out to be wider and was still in the frozen section. Meredith was even wearing that same pair of boots with the guns stitched on the back of them. Because they couldn’t hold the wedding until after the store closed, the Bonillas did things backward, holding the reception and dinner before the ceremony. The reception was held at the Foxenwood Tennis and Swim Club’s clubhouse in Santa Maria starting at 3 p.m. It was a big Filipino dinner with large hams, sweet breads, pork adobo, lumpias, and several dozen tamales. The multitude of wedding cakes were made at the Madonna Inn. Everybody feasted, and the crowd eventually made its way to Costco later that evening. Almost 200 well-dressed guests, including curious employees watching from the nearby bakery, saw the couple exchange vows. In true warehouse box-store fashion, Costco supplied wooden pallets, which were stacked on top of each other to create the altar. The store also supplied poinsettias to line the aisle. As the wedding started, everybody closed in on the poinsettias. Both Robert and Meredith were a little nervous at first. “The whole day was leading up to something,” Meredith said. The couple exchanged their vows swiftly and promptly left the warehouse. The entire ceremony took less than an hour, according to the Bonillas, who said that the whole thing cost around $3,000. “It was unique,” Meredith said. “We never thought it would go as far as it did,” Robert said. “We just wanted to get married.” The honeymoons—yup, more than one— soon followed. The Bonillas initially went to Disneyland in Anaheim, spending that first honeymoon with family. Then, earlier this year, they took a second honeymoon for themselves and went to Hawaii for a week.
Love, part deux Having been single for years after getting married earlier in their lives, neither Robert nor Meredith ever thought they’d be getting hitched again. Over the years following his divorce, Robert was always going to Hawaii by himself, and his cousin constantly tried to hook him up with nice, Filipino girls or ask him if he’d brought a girl fishing with him lately. Meredith turned out to be that girl Robert was searching for. She just seemed to fit in with everybody, Robert said. Three months into dating, Robert said that even his friends seemed to know that she was the one. Robert’s friend Jorge Chavez offered to do the marriage rites, which he eventually did at the Bonillas’ Costco wedding. “She’s fun, a great companion, and we really haven’t had any arguments,” Robert said. “It almost makes me cry, I’m so happy.” m Contact Staff Writer David Minsky at dminsky@santamariasun.com.
SUPERMARKET SWEEP: Robert and Meredith said they paid around $3,000 for their wedding at Costco.
With the green movement in America funded in part by billionaires and oligarchies who have no interest in saving the planet from greenhouse gasses, we need to come to terms with the implications. The people at the top of these organizations certainly know where this dark money is coming from! The modern day environmental movement can thus no longer be considered grass roots
This Op/Ad is paid for by the Andy Caldwell Radio Show 14 • Sun • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • www.santamariasun.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF PATRICK ANG PHOTOGRAPHY
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Santa Maria Philharmonic Society Saturday, February 28, 2015 7:30 pm
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www.santamariaphilharmonic.org www.santamariasun.com • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • Sun • 15
SCHOOL SCENE
NEWS
New bill would extend community college discipline to off-campus actions State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson recently introduced a bill that would permit community colleges to extend their jurisdiction beyond campus borders for sexual assault and other serious student conduct violations. Senate Bill 186 would allow community college districts to use their disciplinary process to expel or suspend students for off-campus behavior determined to be “egregious,” such as sexual assault, physical abuse, threats of violence, arson-related offences, sexual harassment, stalking, and hazing. According to a press release from Jackson’s office, UC and CSU campuses already have extended jurisdictions in place. “I have heard from community college leaders that this is a tool they would like to have in place so they can keep their students and communities safe. This is particularly important in a place such as Isla Vista, where we have UC students and community college students living next to each other, but being held to different standards,” Jackson said. “This will level the playing field for all students—regardless of where they are enrolled—so that they know that whether they are in the classroom or a few miles from it, they must behave appropriately.” Both Allan Hancock College President Kevin Walthers and the campus’s police chief were unavailable for comment before the Sun went to press. The bill would limit the ability of community college districts to expel or suspend students for
“egregious” acts only. In 2014, Jackson was the joint author of Senate Bill 967, known as the “yes means yes” bill. Passage of the bill made California the first state in the nation to define affirmative consent and require higher education institutes to educate students about consent and sexual assault.
Altrusa books arrive at Santa Maria-Bonita From Feb. 11 through 13, Ontiveros Elementary School and Tommie Kunst Junior High are having special displays of books purchased with funds donated by Altrusa International of Golden Valley. The organization granted the money to the Santa Maria-Bonita School District in September 2014, and the books have finally arrived. Altrusa members are visiting the libraries at both schools during the three-day period while the recently purchased books are on display. “Our mission in Altrusa of Golden Valley is to promote literacy,” said president Linda Cordero in a press release. “What better way to do that then to put new, exciting books in the hands of children? These library books will be read by hundreds of students and enjoyed for many years.” All 19 of the district’s schools were able to supplement their libraries with books bought using the Altrusa money. Approximately 1,240 books were purchased, and the books were selected with the input from each school’s library technician. The techs know what’s most
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popular to check out at their schools and what each library’s needs are. “Our students love investigating new books that are added to our library,” Ontiveros Principal Rebecca Herrick said in the release. “They get excited about new titles and subjects and that fosters a love of reading.”
OFF TO COLLEGE: Three Ernest Righetti High School soccer players are heading to four-year schools on scholarships in the fall. Michaela Olney will play for Cal Poly SLO, Leann Wolf is heading for Massachusetts to join Wheaton College, and Megan Stevens is off to CSU East Bay. The signing ceremony for the athletes was on Feb. 5.
Santa Maria offers Adventure Days for kids The city of Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department will be playing host to supervised recreational Adventure Days for children aged 6 to 12 that coincide with upcoming school holidays. Adventure Days will take place at the Newlove Community Center, 1619 S. Thornburg St. in Santa Maria, on Feb. 16, April 3, and May 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Attendees will be able to participate in a variety of arts and crafts, science, and cooking activities as well as play indoor and outdoor games. “These activities will give participants a true recreational experience while developing teambuilding skills and healthy peer relationships,” a press release from the department stated. The cost is $20 per day, and advanced registration and payment is required. Participants can register at the department’s admin offices at 615 S. McClelland St. Questions? Call Recreation and Parks at 925-0951, Ext. 260. m School Scene was compiled by Managing Editor Camillia Lanham. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, email, or mail.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SANTA MARIA JOINT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT
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www.santamariasun.com • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • Sun • 17
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Would you ever get married in a store? Why?
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“I’m pretty open to it, but I am married and had my wedding in a limousine at a drive-thru chapel.”
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www.santamariasun.com • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • Sun • 19
STAGE 26 | LOCAL NOTES 28 | HUMOR 30
ART SCENE
Arts Briefs Pioneer Valley senior takes first place in county’s Poetry Out Loud competition The Santa Barbara County Arts Commission hosted the county’s Poetry Out Loud competition at the Santa Barbara County Administration Building on Feb. 4, ultimately awarding Pioneer Valley High School senior Aldrin Allen Ysip first place. Students from 18 of the county’s schools recited poems, and Ysip earned the distinction that qualifies the teen to head for the state finals in Sacramento on March 15 and 16. Ysip recited “A Display of Mackerel” by Mark Doty, and was closely followed by fellow PVHS student Axelina Hallstrom, who earned second place for her recitation of “The Death of Allegory” by Billy Collins. Orcutt Academy High School student Aaron Garcia received an honorable mention for his performance of “Onions” by William Matthews. The Poetry Out Loud program is designed to foster the next generation of literary readers with an emphasis on language skills and public speaking. More information is available through the Santa Barbara County Arts Commission at 568-3990 or sbartscommission.org.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION
Santa Ynez Valley artist guild calls for artists The Artists Guild of the Santa Ynez Valley is currently accepting applications from artists for the 2015 Art in the Park events, which are held the second Saturday of the months of April, May, June, July, and September. The events are fine arts and artisan affairs open to all original and handmade objects and their creators. No mass-produced items, imports, or kits will be considered. Art in the Park will be held in the center of Los Olivos at Lavinia Campbell Park and inside the Grange Hall. Artists must be guild members and pay a $30 fee per event. Spaces are limited, so artists are encouraged to apply early. More information is available at santaynezvalleyarts.org or info@santaynezvalleyarts.org.
Ceremony from the sky Local aerial photography company AeroOptix offers photos and videos of weddings and receptions aided by drones BY JOE PAYNE
T
here are some angles even the most skilled photographer just can’t get. For those moments when a striking angle is desired, any variety of crane, ladder, or precarious perch might do the trick, but for a sweeping, panoramic shot of a special event, like a wedding ceremony or reception, sometimes it pays to call in some tech-savvy help to get the desired effect. AeroOptix is a Santa Ynez-based aerial photography company that uses the sometimes-controversial technology of drones. The state-ofthe-art equipment used by Chris Kunkle, president and drone pilot for AeroOptix, allows for panoramic vistas captured by Max Werk, director of photography for the company, who uses a remote-control-operated Canon 5D Mark III. The two-man team focuses specifically on aerial photography and advises couples to employ their services as a supplement to photographers on the ground, Kunkle said, as their drone photography can capture images above and beyond anyone earthbound. “If you have a videographer on the ground, you are limited to where you can walk and as high as 6 feet and as low as the ground,” Kunkle said. “With equipment like a crane, you’re limited to how high it can go. With a drone, it is super smooth, and the technology is so new, that people’s minds are blown by what you can get with it.” The aerial perspective is one that Kunkle knows well. He has 15 years of experience as a professional pilot, including helicopter piloting, and has always been an avid fan of RC helicopters. Spending a lot of time in the air inspires a different view and outlook, he said, especially when considering a subject to photograph “I’ve always been able to see that different perspective, the above, being able to see over the top of something,” he said. “The biggest thing that people like is that it is something different, a different perspective, the bigger picture.” Kunkle’s years of piloting have instilled a sense of safety, which definitely extends to remote-operated aircrafts such as drones. The drone he uses for AeroOptix productions is no rinky-dink toy for hobbyists, but a state-of-the-art OctoCopter that boasts eight rotor blades, which necessarily requires a proper amount of caution when operating. Kunkle and his team employ the larger drone in order to safely fly with the heavy, high-quality cameras that capture stunning aerial images and video.
Santa Maria Public Library Foundation forms Santa Maria’s city librarian Mary Housel announced the formation of the Santa Maria Public Library Foundation, a new nonprofit organization, in a statement issued by the city of Santa Maria on Feb. 5. The launch follows public support of the nonprofit organization by the Library Board of Trustees and Friends of the Library board members representing Santa Maria, Orcutt, Los Alamos, and Guadalupe. “The primary function of the foundation will be to secure financial and in-kind donations to develop an endowment,” Housel said in the statement. “The endowment will support library programs, services, collections, and capital projects benefiting libraries in all of the geographic areas served by the Santa Maria Public Library system.” The formation of the foundation serves as the first big push in line with the proclamation made by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the Santa Maria City Council, dubbing 2015 as the Year of the Library, which includes initiatives to bring new awareness to county residents about the importance of and services offered by the library system. More information is available at 925-0951, Ext. 322, or cityofsantamaria.org. m Arts Briefs is compiled by Arts Editor Joe Payne. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHRIS KUNKLE
LENS IN THE SKY: AeroOptix owner and drone pilot Chris Kunkle calls on his 15 years of piloting experience to offer unique angles and images with an intent focus on safety.
CAPTURED BY COPTER: AeroOptix utilizes state-of-the-art OctoCopter drones equipped with a Canon D5 Mark III camera to capture images and video impossible for earth-bound photographers to get.
24 • Sun • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • www.santamariasun.com
Book a drone
AreoOptix Aerial Photography provides drone photography and
Especially when weddings are concerned, videography for weddings, special Kunkle tries to keep the craft’s flight events, and commercial projects. pattern unobtrusive. The walk down the More information is available aisle or an important speech is not the at areooptix.com, 350-0499, time for a buzzing, blinking aircraft to or info@aerooptix.com. intrude. AeroOptix productions focus on a sense of scope and gravitas that only aerial photography can elicit, he explained. “Where we use it that makes it super special is obviously a big, open area, a special place, and pull in some local features,” he said. “Santa Ynez is super huge because there are so many vineyards, so you can do some shots coming up from the vineyards, or those big huge estates, and reveal the wedding, it gives it more of that production-quality feeling.” m Arts Editor Joe Payne is keeping his eyes on the sky. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
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ARTS
LOCAL NOTES
United in Harmony
PHOTOS BY JOE PAYNE
The tiny town of Harmony, located on Highway 1 between Cayucos and Cambria, offers a musician’s dream wedding location BY JOE PAYNE
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28 • Sun • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • www.santamariasun.com
rom the moment my wife and I first wandered through the red brick courtyard of Harmony, Calif., and entered the quaint chapel there, we knew that it was the place we would one day have our wedding. We eloped last year, enjoying a courtroom marriage in San Diego, and this year, we will be reserving the date for our wedding, celebrated with family and friends, in the charmingly tiny town, enjoying a small and untraditional ceremony in the chapel followed by a reception in the rustic courtyard and chapel grounds. The little town, which boasts the population of a whopping 18 people, including the surrounding cattle ranches, has become a favorite destination for those seeking small weddings. The unconventional beauty of the chapel and surrounding courtyard is particularly picturesque, but it’s the name of the town that attracted my wife and me. As musicians, we find the name to be a powerful metaphor for the life we are building together, one part at a time, whether we are making music or not. “People just love the idea of a wedding in Harmony, there’s something special or magical about the name itself,” said Harmony Chapel manager Aarika Wells. “People often times just see the sign and wonder what’s here; they come in just to explore, so I think the people who end up getting married here are those who are meant to get married here.” The Harmony Chapel itself is a standing relic of the small town’s history as the location of the Harmony Valley Creamery Association founded in the early 20th century. The chapel was once a cooling house for the milk, butter, and cheese stored before the advent of modern refrigeration. The cool house was artfully refurbished into a chapel in the early 1980s. Complete with a hardwood floor, stained glass windows, and four long pews, the chapel can seat 40 and has standing room for more, providing an intimate ceremony space. Right next door to the chapel’s carved wine cask doors is a small bridal suite decorated in a fancy Swiss style akin to the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. Two beautiful murals deck the walls of the hallway leading to the small space where brides prepare for the ceremony next door.
UNMISTAKABLE CHARM: The Harmony Chapel’s bridal suite includes a classic, Victorian-style place for brides to prepare for the intimate ceremonies conducted in the Harmony Chapel.
“The thing about Harmony is people have been creative here, craftsmen and artisans have left their thumbprint,” Wells said. “It’s small enough that it doesn’t take an act of Congress to get things done.” The entire plot of Harmony, which includes the more than 2 acres that encompass the small unincorporated town, was recently purchased by Alan Vander Horst, who is investing in restoration of the main building across from the chapel as well as raising the uneven and often precarious red brick paths in the courtyard and chapel grounds, Wells explained. The restoration is slated to be complete in Learn more May, so those who More information about book their weddings booking a wedding in Harmony is can enjoy Harmony available at harmonychapel.net or after it gets a long27-1028. More information needed facelift. about the history of Harmony is Those who would available at harmonyca.com. welcome elderly or disabled guests, as my wife and I will, definitely look forward to the update of the bumpy paths and retrofitted buildings. The courtyard space will include a few other cosmetic changes, Wells explained, including a slight move of the gazebo and an updated stage area for live bands or outside ceremonies. The efforts are to provide a more complete celebration space, Wells said, with the interior reception hall, chapel, and chapel grounds becoming a more unified location. “We use imagination here,” she said. “It’s that sort of old-time, funky, sort of vintage look that is kind of sweet and that couples just fall in love with.” m Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
MUSICAL METAPHOR: The wood carved door of the Harmony Chapel illustrates the special character of the tiny town’s namesake and why so many couples wed there each year.
SANTA MARIA CIVIC THEATRE PRESENTS
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The Fountain Pavilion is a beautifully remodeled facility at the Santa Maria Fairpark
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www.santamariasun.com • February 12 - February 19, 2015 • Sun • 31
EATS@SANTAMARIASUN.COM
Wine that salutes
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JARHEAD WINES
WINE
Jarhead Wine Co. makes robust reds that honor vets, young and old BY HAYLEY THOMAS
L
ike the very best wines, some homecomings are meant to be savored. When U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Nick Firestone returned home to the Santa Ynez Valley after a 10-month deployment in Afghanistan last November, his parents, Adam and Kate Firestone, were overwhelmed with elation. “When his mother gets to hug him, safe and sound, we all exhale,” Adam said of the warm reunion. Homecomings in the Firestone household include laughter, family dinners, and the celebratory popping of a few corks. Everyone knows that wine can bring people together for a moment of shared joy. Adam, a former Marine Corps captain, believes wine can change the world. As owner of Jarhead Wine Company, he’s already touched the lives of dozens of veterans across the Central Coast and beyond. Jarhead Wine Company’s mission is beautifully simple: to craft robust, approachable red wines in support of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, which provides educational assistance to the children of U.S. Marines. All net proceeds go toward this cause, with particular attention given to children of fallen and injured servicemen and women— more than half a million dollars in direct cash since Adam’s first unveiling of the wine at the annual Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation’s Birthday Ball in 1999. Aside from a whole lot of financial support, the wine project has also given the foundation something truly invaluable: a way to capture people’s imagination. “Jarhead Wines has really given the foundation a talking point, bringing depth and interest to the cause,” Adam said. “Having the wine has helped them have a tangible focal point that draws donors in.” It’s also a pretty darn good wine, to boot. The most recent vintage, 2011, is overflowing with grapes sourced from Central Coast vineyards—specifically merlot from Paso Robles and petit verdot from the Santa Ynez Valley. Adam believes the wine should bring “everyday enjoyment,” and he suggests pairing the friendly bottle with such downhome standbys as grilled steak, barbecued chicken, or a beefy, cheese-laden burger. With aromas of plum, cherry, and spice— and a broad, juicy finish—the offering is a crowd-pleaser, to be sure. Note: A chardonnay was also added to the lineup in 2010, and yes— Marines do like to eat fish, according to Adam. The third-generation winegrower and former captain in the Marine Corps (he served from 1984 to 1991) currently oversees his family’s winemaking endeavors in the Santa Ynez Valley as well as Firestone Walker Brewing Company, which he famously founded with his brotherin-law, David Walker. Together with his old Marine buddy Ruben Dominguez, a former sergeant in his own right, the pair works hard to do good. Last September, Jarhead Wine Company funded flights for 10 Central Coast World War II veterans who were flown to Washington, D.C., through the Honor Flight Network. The veterans, many in their 90s and up, are given the opportunity to visit memorials erected in their honor.
Wines of character “For many of them, it is their first time seeing these memorials,” Adam said. “It’s amazing the impact it has. People in the airport terminals are touched by what they are seeing as these veterans come through. For our generation, it’s hard to appreciate what the these veterans went through.” Another flight honoring the Central Coast chapter is slated for May. Although the flights require a massive logistical effort—EMTs must be present during the trips, and many of the veterans can become easily stressed by the rollercoaster that is airline travel—Adam said nothing can repay what these older vets have sacrificed. In many ways, Jarhead Wines and its mission harkens back to the kinds of public service that so many Americans once engaged in. World War II spurred Americans from all walks of life to band together to ration goods, purchase war bonds, and take care of the home front. “Many Americans didn’t go to Germany or Japan; they did get involved,” Adam said. “The act of ‘pulling together’ was an allencompassing experience for our country. That chapter in our history has fallen away, but the honor flights and what we’re trying to do with Jarhead Red really bring awareness and respect to these proud veterans.” m Hayley Thomas is feeling waves of gratitude at hthomas@newtimesslo.com.
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Order your own bottle of Jarhead Red Wine, view a list of local retailers, or “enlist” in the wine club by clicking over to jarheadred.com/purchase. Not sure how to enjoy Jarhead Red? Do like Firestone does: Raise the first glass to toast those who have fallen. Then, toast to the United States and the Commander in Chief. Finally, toast to the health of the Marine Corps. Enjoy with your family, fellow Marines, and civilians of every ilk.
AN HONORABLE TOAST: The net proceeds from Jarhead Red Wines, owned by winegrower and former Marine Corps Capt. Adam Firestone, are donated to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Valentines’ Day
VALENTINE’S DINNER February 13th - February 15th
2015
Thursday through Saturday
Chef’s Menu
choose one of each of the following courses
CALAMARI STRIPS over Chipotle Sriracha Marinara
MUSHROOMS ROCKEFELLER
SMOKED SALMON POTATO BISQUE
CITRUS AVACADO SALAD tossed with Pico de Gallo
NORI WRAPPED SALMON ROASTED CHICKEN BREAST with wasabi over eggplant, tomatoes mashed potatoes & & rice with asparagus asparagus vegetarian available*
GREEK RIBEYE STEAK with olive tapenade & feta mashed potatoes & asparagus RASPBERRY WHITE CHOCOLATE CRÈME BRULEE APPLE TART
RESERVATIONS
(805)928-8000
*Regular dinner menu still available upon request
person $50 per + tax & gratuities
Radisson Hotel Santa Maria 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria vintnersgrillsantamaria.com
Come In & Try Our Delicious Homemade Quiche or Freshly Made Chicken Salad on a Croissant. Don’t forget to have a bowl of our Gluten Free Soup! (805) 347-1112 122 E. Boone St, Santa Maria (across the street from the DMV)
Sunday 8am-3pm · Monday 11am-3pm Tuesday-Saturday Lunch & Dinner 11am-8pm
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CONCERT & CD RELEASE PARTY FEBRUARY 15 – The Monday Club / SLO 2:30 pm - Doors open 3 pm - Show starts! $27.50 general admission ticket includes a copy of the band’s new BREAKING OUT CD and a post-show Meet & Greet
Limited Seating! Phone orders: 545-0777 In person: Boo Boo Records at 978 Monterey St./SLO
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Home of the Knights Applications now being accepted Student Tuition Assistance is available
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