Special Issues
Posted inSpecial Issues

Health & Wellness 2024

Music therapy as medicine and the benefits of being around horses
by Adrian Vincent Rosas and Taylor O'Connor

For this year’s issue of Health and Wellness, we decided to focus on therapy—not traditional therapy, though. We explored a couple of outside-the-box approaches. Staff Writer Adrian Vincent Rosas from the Sun’s sister paper, New Times, chatted with a certified music practitioner about how she uses her tunes to help individuals going through difficult medical […]

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Healing through horsemanship

Central Coast nonprofits offer equine therapy as a way to work through trauma and mental illness and to manage disabilities
by Taylor O'Connor

More than a ride Visit heroeshorses.org, call (805) 868-7634 or email info@heroeshorses.org for more information about Healing Horses Through Horsemanship. Visit syvtherapeuticriding.org, call (805) 350-2280, or email info@syvtherapeuticriding.org for more information about the Santa Ynez Therapeutic Riding Program. Keenan Hartig struggled with substance abuse and lost his employment a month and a half before finding […]

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Music as medicine

Local violinist Brynn Albanese brings healing, hope, and more as a certified music practitioner
by Adrian Vincent Rosas

Want to help? Visit ecologistics.org to help support the nonprofit that funds Brynn Albanese’s efforts to bring the healing power of music to the Central Coast. For more information on future events or to contact Albanese for her services, visit brynnalbanese.com. The calming sound of a violin string being played echoes in the room as […]

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Volunteers for a CAUSE

MICOP, CAUSE volunteers give back to historically underserved communities and rally for change
by Taylor O'Connor

Get involved For more information on volunteering with the Mixteco/Indígena Community Organizing Project (MICOP), reach out to ana.huynh@mixteco.org. To learn more about Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), visit causenow.org. CAUSE Santa Maria is located at 120 E. Jones St., No. 120. Email zulema@causenow.org or daniel@causenow.org to learn more about becoming a […]

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Central Coast pet stores offer gifts and treats for locals’ furry friends or scaly babies this holiday season

by Taylor O'Connor

Go pet shopping Tails has two locations: 317 Town Center East in Santa Maria and 745 Higuera St. in downtown San Luis Obispo. Get more info at tailsinslo.com. Find That’s FETCH! At 3564 Skyway Drive in Santa Maria, reach the store at (805) 361-0802, or visit online at thatsfetch805.com. Tropics Aquarium Professionals is located at […]

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Holiday Guide 2023

The season of celebration is here and so is our annual issue dedicated to all things holiday!
by Sun Staff

Holidays in shelters: Good Samaritan Shelter provides a variety of events this holiday season for individuals experiencing homelessness By Taylor O’Connor Off-centered cheer: Shake up your holiday table with showstopper dinners that aren’t just turkey or ham By Bulbul Rajagopal Check out the local holiday events, happenings, festivities, and more!

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Holidays in shelters

Good Samaritan Shelter provides a variety of events this holiday season for individuals experiencing homelessness
by Taylor O'Connor

Good Samaritan’s holiday events • Toy Drive: Dec. 19 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Stowasser Buick GMC, 600 Betteravia Road • Parade of Lights: Dec. 2 at the Santa Maria Elks Lodge, 1309 N. Bradley Road  • Christmas in the Country display, a drive through holiday experience: Nov. 24 to Dec. 25 at […]

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Off-centered cheer

Shake up your holiday table with showstopper dinners that aren’t just turkey or ham
Avatar photo by Bulbul Rajagopal

Family gatherings for Oceano resident Lisa Price and her folks rarely followed the traditional route. Her dad wanted a party for his celebration of life. When he passed away, Price did just that. The family scattered his ashes at Pirate’s Cove and welcomed 100 people at Price’s house afterward with a taco truck and a […]

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Reptile rave

The annual Reptile Expo slithers through San Luis Obispo with exotic creatures, education, and enthusiasm
Avatar photo by Bulbul Rajagopal

Weaving through the Madonna Expo Center demanded a level of caution over the weekend of Oct. 14, especially with a roughly 4-foot-long black-throated monitor lizard relaxing on the floor. I had to watch my step—that’s the effect of the annual San Luis Obispo Reptile Expo. Hatched in 2017 under the watchful eye and thorough networking […]

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Fostered friendship

Animal services providers highlight the benefits of fostering animals
by Taylor O'Connor

Learn more Visit sbhumane.org/foster to learn more about Santa Barbara Humane’s fostering opportunities, and countyofsb.org/1416/foster for Santa Barbara County’s fostering opportunities. Dori Villalon has fostered kittens, puppies, adult dogs, and other animals recovering from medical treatment or an injury to help get them ready for adoption while working with Santa Barbara Humane.  “For me I […]

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