Of Local Interest

A few things of note around here over the last few days:

--The Good: Some people might think it's about food, but owner Deena Mitchell insists that Dream Dinners is about families.

As a new business that celebrated its grand opening Aug. 10, Dream Dinners is also about the community, manager Patty Robasciotti said.

“Dream Dinners is about sitting down around the family dinner table and enjoying great food and good conversation,” Mitchell said.

--The Bad: A twin-engine plane slammed into a rural Orcutt hillside Friday afternoon minutes after lifting off from the Santa Maria Airport, killing the pilot, who is believed to be from Nipomo.

It appeared the pilot was the only person on board the aircraft, according to Sgt. Erik Raney of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department. The victim’s name was not released Friday pending notification of relatives.

--And the extremely Ugly: Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies come across a bizarre encounter at La Purisima Mission in Lompoc.

Around midnight they found a 69-year-old Huntington beach man naked and covered in oats.
Deputies say the man had covered himself in olive oil, rolled around in oats and allowed the horses at the mission to lick him clean.

He apparently told deputies this has always been a fantasy of his and drove up from the Los Angeles area to play it out.

Alfred Thomas Steven was cited and released for trespassing, animal cruelty and sexually assaulting an animal.