“Catching Air” encourages young kids to experience air in a fun, colorful way. Children (and adults!) will enjoy placing objects like scarves and balls — available in a variety of hues — in the exhibit’s clear pneumatic tubes, which move the objects around in several directions before flying out into the air.

“We’re so happy to partner with the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum to bring this fun exhibit to our community. It’s a colorful, creative way for young kids to start learning about air,” said District Director Aeron Arlin Genet.

Arlin Genet, along with other District and Museum representatives, will attend the launch. There will be a brief program with speakers at 11 a.m.

“‘Catching Air’ is one of our main attractions on the museum floor. Everyone from toddlers to grandparents loves pushing balls and scarves into the tubes and watching them fly through the air,” Discovery Museum Program Director Amy Blasco said. “We’re so grateful for the District’s generosity and continued support of science and technology-based education through the exhibit and events like this one.”

Families who visit the museum during the launch party can not only play with the “Catching Air” exhibit but also can visit stations set up by the District and the Museum to further learn about air. There will be opportunities to learn more about handheld air sensors, design paper helicopters or airplanes, and decorate coloring books.

The Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum is located at 705 S. McClelland St. in Santa Maria. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Visit www.smvdiscoverymuseum.org or Facebook to get up-to-date information on special events like this one, weekly programs, and daily tips on fun things to do with your kids! 

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“Advances in care at the hospital include new state-of-the- art defibrillators for adult and pediatric patients, a new digital portable ultrasound and new digital, portable x-ray machine for the Emergency Department. We are proud to be able to continue to provide services with current technology thanks to the strong support of our auxiliary, foundation and community,” said Wende Cappetta, SYVCH Vice President.

The hospital became affiliated with Cottage Health in April 1995 and today, continues to provide high quality inpatient and outpatient services including outpatient surgical services,  comprehensive imaging (including MRI, CT, digital mammography, ultrasound, X-ray), outpatient infusion suite, on-site laboratory, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, physicians’ specialty clinic and 24-hour emergency services to the residents and visitors of the Santa Ynez Valley.

Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital has received many awards over its 52 years of service, and was ranked by the National Rural Health Association as one of the top 20 critical access hospitals in the nation for best practices in patient satisfaction in 2014 and 2015.

Founded in 1964, the not-for-profit Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital (SYVCH) located at 2050 Viborg Road in Solvang, provides high quality outpatient surgical services, inpatient care, comprehensive imaging (including MRI, CT, digital mammography, ultrasound, X-ray), on-site laboratory, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, physicians’ specialty clinic and 24-hour emergency services to the community. SYVCH is part of not-for-profit Cottage Health, the leader in providing advanced medical care to the Central Coast region.  Specialties include the Cottage Children’s Medical Center, Level 2 Trauma Center, Neuroscience Institute, Heart & Vascular Center, Center for Orthopedics and Rehabilitation Hospital. The Cottage Health medical staff includes more than 700 physicians, many with subspecialties typically found only at university medical centers. In 2015, the Cottage Health hospitals in Goleta, Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley provided inpatient care for 19,000 people, treated 76,000 patients through their 24-hour emergency departments and helped deliver 2,200 newborns. For more information, call 805-688-6431 or visit www.cottagehealth.org/syvch

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The Wildling Museum of Art and Nature will be hosting a trunk show for artist Marianne Hofmann on October 22. Join the Wildling’s current Featured Local Artist in the gift store where she will be displaying and selling her original artworks and painted furniture. Learn about Marianne’s techniques and even purchase a one of a kind piece to decorate your home.

Marianne has always been inspired by the Old Masters, especially the detailed floral still-lifes of Dutch painters Jan and Jacob van Huysum and the botanical paintings of Pierre-Joseph Redoute. Using these detailed paintings as references, Marianne taught herself how to create a version of botanical art based on traditional still-lifes, but with a more contemporary color palette and design.

Whether painting furniture and accessories with a tromp l’oeil (trick of the eye) effect or still life paintings, all have an exquisite realism to them.

The Wildling Museum, where art and nature meet, offers visitors a unique perspective on the importance of preserving our natural heritage. Through the eyes of artists, education and field experiences, guests can renew their relationship with the wilderness and understand its fragile nature – hopefully leaving more committed toward ensuring those spaces remain for future generations. For more information, to volunteer and/or join as a member to support this important local arts and nature institution please visit www.wildlingmuseum.org.

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Museum gates will open at 5 p .m. and patrons can enjoy popcorn, peanuts and a no-host wine and beer bar followed at 6 p.m. by a buffet dinner of spaghetti and meatballs, green salad, buttery garlic bread and tasty dessert. “Territorial Law” will keep the party going with their Western and oldies dance music beginning at 6:30 pm.

The hearty spaghetti and meatball dinner is being prepared by popular Trattoria Grappolo Restaurant.  After dinner there will be plenty of time for dancing with your favorite guy or gal.  This popular dinner and dance keeps Santa Ynez Day rockin’ into the evening!

The annual dinner and dance is a benefit for the community’s Historical Museum but it is also held in support of Old Santa Ynez Day by providing an early evening activity where folks can enjoy an inexpensive meal and great entertainment while relaxing with family and friends, “ said Randy Jones, Museum Board President.

Tickets for the “Spaghetti Western Dinner& Dance” are $15 for members of the Historical Museum and $20 for non-members.  Children 5-12 years are $5 and under 5 years is free.  No-host beer and wine bar will be available.

**Tickets for the event are available at the SY Historical Museum, 3596 Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez, or you can purchase tickets online at www.santaynezmuseum.org  TICKETS WILL ALSO BE SOLD AT THE GATE.  Call the Museum for more information at 688-7889.

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