The western-style restaurants, shops, and art galleries that pepper Old Town Orcutt aren’t there by accident. While strollers wander among the planter troughs and glance at the decorative signs and historic murals, they can easy get swept away with the homey feel of the town. The Old Town Orcutt Revitalization Association is doing its best to make sure this feeling never goes away by dedicating three new welcome monuments to individuals who have long histories of community service.
This group started its mission of revitalization in 2001. Early meetings produced a mission statement, which indicates that “the group would strive to improve the economic, social, educational, cultural, and environmental vitality of Old Town Orcutt, interpreting and preserving the past while insuring quality design for the future.”
“We are a civic improvement group that was formed six years ago,” said Danny George, president of the Old Town Orcutt Revitalization Association. “It was put together by a group of business owners and residents. The county had designated Orcutt as being a cultural center, but there wasn’t much movement in that direction. That’s where the group came in.”
OTORA, as the group is known, visualizes Old Town Orcutt as having a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. The group has paid for many improvements, including murals, planter troughs, designer benches, trash receptacles, and signs on all roads leading to the Old Town area.
The group will hold its sixth annual barbecue dinner on Sept. 20, from noon to 5 p.m. This is the main fundraising event for the nonprofit group. Call 937-5849 for tickets.
“The group is open membership,” George said. “It meets monthly on Clark Avenue. One of the best ways to join would be to come to our sixth annual fundraiser.”
This fundraiser helps preserve a community reminiscent and proud of its late 19th- and 20th-century origins.
Contributing to culture isn’t an easy task, but it’s one that the association views as vital to preserving the town’s vibrant past. The monuments that OTORA seeks to install at the major entrances leading into Orcutt’s cultural center represent important community figures. The group hopes that they’ll stand for present and future generations to admire.
“These are people that have been dedicated to the community as volunteers and fostering the idea of community service,” George said.
One of the citizens being honored in monument form is Eddie Capitani, who served for many years as Orcutt’s fire chief. He had been retired for many years before he passed away, but his service to the community made a significant impression.
Ron Bennett, who died recently at age 39 while serving as the Orcutt Fire Department chief, is another person the association deems worthy of a monument. Bennett was well known for his community service. In particular, the department put on two major community events each year: a haunted house and a Christmas parade.
Rudy Molina, who served many years on the three-member board that ran the Orcutt Fire Department, is also set to receive a monument. He was a member of the local Orcutt Board of Architectural Review, and now lives in San Luis Obispo County.
OTORA will dedicate the monuments on Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. after a lunch at Orcutt Brew (formerly The Loading Dock). Joni Gray, the county’s 4th District supervisor, is scheduled to make the dedications.
Intern Kathryn Leedom compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send items for consideration to mail@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 4, 2008.