NORTHERN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY’S NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY > MAY 27 - JUNE 3, 2021 > VOL. 22 NO. 13 > WWW.SANTAMARIASUN.COM VISIT US ONLINE @santamariasun.com. AT THE MOVIES SIGN UP for E-Newsletter(s) LIKE US on Facebook FOLLOW US on Instagram FOLLOW US on Twitter 1 Army of the Dead: typical zombie flick [29] With pandemic limitations easing, this summer’s alive with events and activities [13] BY CALEB WISEBLOOD The county’s vaccine Dancing canvases Nipomo’s Monkey NEWS rate imbalance [8] ARTS at the airport [28] EATS Spit Hot Sauce [30] MAY 27 - JUNE 3, 2021 VOL. 22 NO. 13 t’s been a long year already, and it’s only May. But things are looking up because the world is starting to reopen just in time for summer. And if you’re trying to figure out what’s Iup, then you’ve come to the right place. In our annual Summer Guide, Arts Editor Caleb Wiseblood gathered all of the upcoming events, shows, festivities, and activities together in one place just for you to peruse [13]. SHOWSTOPPER: Circus Vargas presents 2 its 2021 production, Mr. V’s Big Top Dream, You can also read about the vaccination rate disparity at the Madonna Inn in SLO from June 17 between areas of North and South Santa Barbara County and through July 5. Visit circusvargas.com to what Public Health is trying to do about it [8]; Denise Gimbel’s find out more. abstract art coming to the Santa Maria Airport [28]; and a local Where is our company that doesn’t monkey around when it comes to hot sauce [30]. Camillia Lanham water going? editor Cover courtesy photo by Wednesday Aja > Cover design by Alex Zuniga NEWS ARTS News Briefs ........................................................4 Arts Briefs ........................................................28 Political Watch ...................................................4 Spotlight .............................................................9 MOVIES Reviews ............................................................29 OPINION Web Poll ...........................................................10 Mayfield ...........................................................10 CLASSIFIEDS, HOME, AND Canary ..............................................................11 REAL ESTATE .......................................32 Growing marijuana requires a lot of water, regardless of whether EVENTS CALENDAR it is grown inside or outdoors. In Hot Stuff ..........................................................25 California, where growers have decades of experience cultivating, plants still require about six gallons of SINCE 2000 water per plant each day. That adds up to almost 300 million gallons of water HELP SUPPORT OUR MISSION for each square mile of marijuana grow each growing season.1 That is almost double the amount of Informative, accurate, and independent journalism water wine grapes use annually, and takes time and costs money. Help us keep our about the same water consumed by community aware and connected by donating today. almond orchards – which is recognized www.santamariasun.com as contributing to aggravated water shortages here in California.2 Support common sense cannabis regulation today: Spring is in the air! sbcountycoalition.com Planning that special moment. 1. High Time for Conservation: Adding the Environment to the Debate on Marijuana Liberalization. BioScience 2015; 65 (8): 822-829. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biv083. Place your order online or call 2. “Forget Almonds: Look at How Much Water California’s Pot Growers Use.” Washington Post. 26 June 2015. 805.922.0578 2255 S Broadway, Santa Maria www.fl owercarriage.net 2 • Sun • May 27 - June 3, 2021 • www.santamariasun.com Cottage quality. 3 Urgent care. Now Open in Santa Maria Skyway Drive, Orcutt Hills Plaza and N. Broadway Carside COVID Assessment/Testing Now Open (Select Locations) SANTA MARIA Skyway Drive Open 8 a.m.–8 p.m., 365 days a year 3596 Skyway Drive, Suite A Goal of complete care in 45 minutes Orcutt Hills Plaza Walk-ins and online appointments 1606 E Clark Ave, Suite 102 X-ray and lab services N. Broadway 1846 N. Broadway, Suite A Cottage clinical providers cottagehealth.org/urgentcare www.santamariasun.com • May 27 - June 3, 2021 • Sun • 3 SPOTLIGHT 9 BRIEFS FILE PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM Political Watch • On May 20, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a new online tool to help employers get their workers vaccinated. The Employer Vaccination Toolkit makes it easier for employers 4 to request a workplace clinic and increases vaccine accessibility. “Anyone who wants to should be able to get vaccinated,” Newsom said in a statement announcing the toolkit. “Getting more people vaccinated will bring us closer to ending this pandemic. That’s why we’re working with employers to make it easier to access COVID-19 vaccines—so no one misses their shot at protecting themselves and [their] communities.” The toolkit includes “vaccine education materials, information on COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave and other guidance for employees, and an online form to request vaccination support,” the statement added. California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás J. Aragón said these resources mirror those the state has used in the past with employee flu shot programs. “Now, we’re repeating those same best practices to make it easier for people to access COVID-19 vaccines, including by promoting programs like supplemental paid sick leave so workers can [take] time off if they need it,” Aragón said in the statement. Employers interested in setting up STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY: Among the top concerns for the Lompoc Fire Department is Fire Station 51’s ability to withstand an earthquake. The department is asking for an inspection as part of its a clinic at their workplace can complete an online form funding requests for the city’s new budget. at surveymonkey.com/r/mobilevaccination, and then a representative will follow up with them. “If approved after truck was sent to the salvage yard,” Federmann cannabis industry, that role will only become more completing the survey, the California Department of Public Lompoc Fire Department needs said at the meeting. “It was completely unsafe impacted, Federmann explained. Health will provide the employer a list of local vaccination funding to mitigate safety and unrepairable. We are also hopeful to get “When I see an opportunity to add an partners able to support their request,” the statement another type 1 engine to make up for some of the inspector, I see that as a help to the fire marshal for explained. Further information on the vaccine can be concerns, staffing gaps deficiencies in that area.” the business side, to make sure that we’re moving found at vaccinateall58.com or by calling the CA COVID-19 Federmann said that having an insufficient fleet with plan checks and reviews and inspections,” The earthquake resistance of Fire Station 51 Hotline at (833) 422-4255. compromises the department’s ability to respond Federmann said, “but also to get out to our and dangerous diesel exhaust are among the top not only locally, but also to provide mutual current businesses and make sure that they are issues for the Lompoc Fire Department, which • Vandenberg Air Force Base officially changed its name assistance throughout the state of California. being as safe as possible, and help educate them presented its budgetary needs alongside other city to Vandenberg Space Force Base, as it is now under the Another key safety concern is the structural where needed.” departments at a recent special meeting. command of the U.S. Space Force. Assemblymember integrity of Fire Station 51. The department is —Malea Martin Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) commended Lompoc City Council reviewed and discussed asking for funding to get a structural evaluation of the transition in a May 19 Facebook post after attending the city’s 2021-23 biennial budget during the May the building. the renaming ceremony. “Congratulations to the men and 20 meeting. City Manager Jim Throop said it was Councilmember Jeremy Ball asked Chief Guadalupe considers allowance women at Vandenberg Space Force Base on their major balanced without any staff reductions, furlows, or Federmann to speak candidly about the condition name change!” he wrote. “Vandenberg SFB will continue to operational cuts for the first time in more than a of the building. of commercial cannabis decade. be a major launch location for military and private launches, “If we did happen to suffer a horrific California Guadalupe could be the next Santa Barbara and we are excited to see more aerospace industry leaders “Looking out over the next few years, it does earthquake, how confident are you that that County city to allow the sale of recreational and appear the city is finally turning a proverbial set up shop right here on the Central Coast!” building doesn’t come down?” Ball asked. medicinal cannabis, a move city staff say could help corner, and is now on track to continue to … a Federmann responded with urgency in his the city overcome its long-standing financial woes. • U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) reintroduced financially secure future,” Throop said. voice: “It needs to be assessed.” At a meeting on May 18, the Guadalupe the Small Transit Communities Modernization Act on May Interim Fire Chief Brian Federmann was the He told the Sun that the building had a City Council considered a draft ordinance that 19, a bill that would preserve federal funding for small first to present departmental needs to the council, preliminary evaluation in 2014, which first would repeal the city’s current prohibitions of all urban transit providers like the Santa Barbara Metropolitan and he brought up long-standing concerns about revealed structural integrity issues, and the cannabis use in the city and add a new chapter the health and safety of his staff that he hopes the Transit District (SBMTD). “Currently, the federal Small department has been trying to secure city and to its municipal code outlining regulations for new budget can address. Transit Intensive Cities (STIC) program provides funds to grant funding ever since to address it.