******ECRWSSEDDM******CUSTOMERPOSTAL93442CABAY,MORRO STDPRSRTPAIDPOSTAGEU.S.19NO.PERMITCAROBLES,PASO SEPTEMBER 2022 • MORROBAYLIFENEWS.COM INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Serving the Communities of Morro Bay and Cayucos NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM GETS FUNDING INFUSION PAGE 7 MINI-MOTEL PROJECT CONTINUED BY PLANNING COMMISSION PAGE 6 FARMERS’ MARKETS WITH MARKET MANAGER ROBYN GABLE PAGE 10 The Iconic Three Stacks... Morro Rock will be standing alone in the near future pg.4
MORROBAYLIFENEWS.COMSupport Your Local Community. Get more eyes on your ad and promote your business when you advertise with
Life. * Online only ads available as well for $225/mo. (300px x 250px) Contracts Open | 3 Month | 6 Month | 12 Month Ad Sizes * EighthQuarterHalfFull | 10”x 15.5” (H) | 10”x 7.75” (H) / 4.9” x 15.5” (V) | 4.9”x 7.75” (H) | 4.9”x 3.75” (H) Each issue is direct mailed to every Morro Bay residence and business Startingaddress!as low as $49/mo. SCAN THE QR TO GET STARTED! Secure your ad spot today! Ad Consultants are waiting! P.O. Box 6068, Atascadero, CA 93422 • 805-466-2585 • office@13starsmedia.com 2 • September 2022 • Morro Bay Life Making Communities Better Through Print™
The North County Farmer’s Markets, Market Manager Robyn Gable takes us behind the scenes with our local farmers and the market. Gable explains that when you shop at the market, you are supporting the farmers, their families, and employees who make up our communities (page 10). When we look at the rising cost of all goods throughout our nation and the water drought we are currently facing in Califor nia, it is important to know what is available for you and your family locally. Supporting one another is how we get back in touch with what is truly important and leave behind all the chatter that is made to scare and divide us. In the month of September, we take time to honor and remember those who lost their lives twenty-one years ago, on September 11, 2001. In addition, we remember the 13 military service members who were killed last year at the end of August during the US military evacuation of Afghanistan, which ended the longest war in American History. As the younger generations lose touch with the significance of the tragic events that followed that day, may we take the time to educate them and remember how we all came together in unity for the love of our fellow countrymen and women and the pride we all had together as Americans. May we never forget all who were lost over the last 20 years. As we head into the Autumn season, we focus on what is the most important during the coldest time of the year…family, friends, and community. If that remains at the fore front of what we do, there is nothing we can not do together. We wish you a happy Autumn; please enjoy this issue of the Morro Bay Life Hayley & Nic autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird, I would fly about the Earth seeking the successive autumns.”
Autumn & Harvest “Delicious
morro bay life is published monthly. all rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. morro bay life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions. morro bay life is a publication of 13 stars media. Contact Us 805.466.2585 Visit our website! morrobaylifenews.com PubliSherS Hayley & Nicholas Mattson hayley@13starsmedia.com COPY EDITOR Michael Chaldu LAYOUT DESIGN Neil Schumaker Community Writer Camille ChristiannaDeVaulMarks AD DESIGN Jen Rodman Ad ConSultant Dana BrookeMcGrawBrinar AdminiStrator Cami Martin office@13starsmedia.com Barbie Butz Neil BlakeJamesFarrellBresciaAshleyFrino-Gerl CONTRIBUTORS Through Print making communities better W ith the end of summer comes cooler days, back to school, and harvest. Most of us, when we think of harvest, picture the rolling vineyards filled with plump grapes ready for the harvest festivals and grape stomping, which typically take place in Octo ber. Here in North County, we also follow the harvest season with our local farms; whether it is produce or getting ready for pumpkin season, we have it all right at our fingertips. We live in such a special place in the world that we have farmers who are our neighbors and friends. We have local farmer’s markets almost every day of the week throughout the county. As a result, we have the ability to have fresh eggs, milk, veggies, and meat, all locally grown.
– George Elliot Morro Bay
Making Communities Better Through Print™ Morro Bay Life • September 2022 • 3
By BLAKE R.
Many locals and even tourists have come to know the stacks as a symbol for the city.
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According to a New York Times article in June 2022, Collins estimates that our town of about 10,000 residents were split on whether they should go down or not. The stacks are seen as dangerous, though, in terms of an earthquake or other natural disas ter. In addition to that, there are feelings that unlike the rock, the stacks reside as an unnatu ral element taking away from the serene coast lineCollinsview. sees that “the stacks represent an important part of our local history, and we are supportive of Vistra’s efforts to honor them with a monument should the battery project and tear down of the old power plant facilities proceed.”Healso adds that “the proposed Vistra proj ect provides a unique opportunity to advance green energy investments in our region and bring additional long-term benefits to our community.”Still,they are deemed as a strong emblem, so much that businesses have included them in their trademark. Three Stacks and a Rock is the name of a brewery and surf shop Wavelengths also has gear imprinted with the stacks beside the Morro Rock. Often, the rock and the stacks go hand in hand. However, it seems that what some have admired for so long, will precisely change in some fashion. There is no doubt that either way, some will have sore eyes looking out upon our coastline in the future. Some may wince at the missing stacks, while some may smile at the sole Morro Rock sitting strong and stationary by the surf. Morro Rock will be standing alone in the near future.
The corporation says that the advantages of the site is that it would tie into “PG&E’s active transmission lines with three new project-level
substations connecting to PG&E’s existing substation built to take electricity away from the gas power plant which was there already,” according to its website (vistra.com).
The Iconic Three Stacks... MORRO BAY LANDMARK
While the facility would then offer a large amount of local jobs and would be deemed firesafe, as mentioned on morro-bay.ca.us, there are still concerns. There are issues of not trusting the facility to have the most efficient fire safety and protection for the ocean and its inhabitants.
In 2021, Morro Bay officials approved the plan to remove those stacks instead of spending millions to maintain and possibly renovate them. Photo by Nic Mattson
MORRO BAY — When travelers are driv ing up California’s Highway 1 and get to a point where they see not only the glorious Morro Rock, which beams 576 feet tall, but the three smokestacks standing nearby at 450 feet, at which they know where they are — Morro Bay. And yet, in 2021, Morro Bay offi cials approved the plan to remove those stacks instead of spending millions to maintain and possibly renovate them. The Morro Bay Power Plant started with a single smokestack in 1955 and then by the end of that decade, three stood along the water front before Morro Bay was even incorporated, according to MorroBay.org. Pacific Gas and Electric operated the plant to burn natural gas and generate electricity until 1998 and then sold it to Charlotte, North Carolina-based Duke Energy. Then Dingy took ownership of the plant in 2007 before permanently closing in 2014 because of environmental impacts. Vistra Corporation now owns the plant and the prop erty. Morro Bay City Manager Scott Collins says that the agreement the city has with Vistra is that by the end of 2027, if the stacks and its facilities are not torn down, the company owes the city $3 million. The decision has come with strain. Aside from losing what could be deemed as part of our little town’s skyline, the environmen tal hazards are what worries many with it all being torn down. Collins states, “Vistra has submitted a project proposal to build the battery storage facility on 22 acres on that power plant site, near the old tank farm site on the property (not where the generation building and stacks are currently located) and the project also includes tearing down the generation building and stacks.” Tearing down the facility and stacks would not be through implosion, but rather a slow process so as not to cause environmental damage.“Theproposed project is going through the city and environmental review process currently, and likely be reviewed by our Plan ning Commission, City Council, and Coastal Commission toward the middle of next year,” CollinsAccordingadds. to energy-storage.news, Vistra said that the facilities would house 180,000 lithium-ion batteries and “would be used to absorb excess renewable generation, mainly solar, and put it on to the grid at times when it was most needed.”
ASHLEY FRINO-GERL Atty. David
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onsite
But not so fast, this is Morro Bay, and the Planning Commission balked at voting on any approval at this first public airing.
MORRO BAY - Like a teenager who shoots up 6 inches over a summer, Morro Bay’s tour ism industry is undergoing a growth spurt of its own, with a trio of new motels under construction now, two already approved, and at least one more now starting the city’s lengthy planning process. A new tiny motel project was recently put before the Planning Commission. Its located at 2900 San Jacinto St., just a block up from the Highway 1/San Jacinto stoplight and a half-block from Main Street. The applicant is listed as “2900 Alder LLC/ Sanjay Khanna,” and the proposal consists of a two-story, six-room motel covering some 4,117 square feet on a 6,000-square-foot vacant parcel. The parcel’s size, under the current zoning for the land, would allow up to eight units, according to a July 19 staff report by Contract Planner Nancy Hubbard. Since there are no zoning issues to deal with, the Planning Commission was asked to approve a parking exception, just five covered spaces instead of the normal six. This was because two of the rooms are to be ADA accessible, and in order to have a hand icapped parking space under a canopy, the applicants lost one of the original six spaces. But they also put in parking for motorcy cles and a bike rack, which the city considers “alternate parking options.” There is also room on the street for more cars, presumably visitors to the motel, which is proposed to have no lobby, nor onsite staff accommodations, serving more like vacation rentals than a traditional motel with a room clerk on site. According to Hubbard’s report,
The applicant said in their experience people only bring one car per room, but “If guests require extra parking, they will arrange for that separately and it is to their discretion where they park and that they comply with any city regulations regarding street parking or use of public parking lots, etc. The park ing on the site will not be used by the staff that will be there daily to turn over rooms, etc. They will use street parking for the short time that they are on the site. The hotel will not have a full-time manager/staff and so all the parking onsite is available for the guests.”
Another six-unit vacation rental project has been approved at Harbor Street and Market Avenue, and another 34-unit motel also has been approved for the 2100 block of Main Street, but has yet to break ground. Morro Bay currently has about 930 motel rooms, plus 250 vacation rentals all collecting the full complement of transient occupancy taxes (bed taxes), which in Morro Bay are 14 percent of the cost of a room night — consist ing of 10 percent to the city, 3 percent to the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID, Visit Morro Bay) and 1 percent to the County Tourism Bureau (Visit SLO). There are also six private RV parks in Morro Bay that collect the city’s TOT but not the others. Plus there are two State Park campgrounds, which bring tourists to town but do not collect any bed taxes for the city. State Parks does, however, contribute a flat fee to the County Tourism Bureau. The TBID and Visit SLO monies are used for tourism promotions. The city’s bed taxes go into the general fund to pay for normal city services — police, fire, infrastructure maintenance, and City Hall, among numer ous others.
That last part is a familiar refrain in Morro Bay as residents — especially in North Morro Bay, where street parking is at a premium — complain that there’s hardly enough street parking for the people who live there full time, and any tourism developments should provide their own parking onsite and not rely on streets for overflow parking. However, the city has been consistent in stating that the street parking is first-come, first-served and has allowed space on the streets to count. The project is outside the appeal zone for the Coastal Commission but will likely have to be approved by City Council, whatever the Planning Commission recommends. And as for the mini-motel building boom, an 83-unit motel is being built on Atascadero Road in front of Morro Bay High, an eight-unit motel at Main and San Joaquin streets is also well into construction, and a new 11-unit motel on the Embarcadero is being framed in now.
“Each of the second-floor rooms will have an outdoor deck area,” Hubbard said. “The hotel rooms range in size from approximately 384 square feet to 562 square feet, and each has a full bath, sleeping area and closets. “Five of the rooms are designed as suites, with the sleeping area in a separate room from the living room area. The proposed project includes approximately 1,500 square feet of landscaped area.”
Lack of manager, parking raise concerns for proposed building on San Jacinto Street By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life Rendering is of a proposed six-unit motel project looking up San Jacinto Street. The Planning Commission continued its hearing of the proposal’s request for a parking exception until sometime in September.
In response to other issues, the applicants said the rooms would not have kitchens in them, and probably just a coffee maker, small fridge and a microwave. As for parking, MacDonald said, “If six fully able people rent, there will probably be at least two extra cars around. Where will they go?”
Community Development Director Scot Graham said, “They continued the hotel project with requests to address some archi tectural items, to provide a materials board and to provide a couple of additional visual simulations that show the hotel in relation to the adjacent “Planninghomes.Commission also asked for a lighting plan and sign plan. Applicant is working on the changes.”
Mini-Motel Project Continued by Planning Commission CITY
The applicant replied, “Contact informa tion will be readily available for the public, on the internet/Google and posted onsite for the public to reach out in case of unusual activity. We will have 24/7 monitoring via high definition surveillance systems for the entire site, and local resources that can be dispatched readily to address loud noises, trash, and nuisance. As well we will have air quality, noise and light sensors throughout the building to monitor for late night noise and other nuisances that may arise so they can be addressed promptly.”
It would have a “contemporary architectural style with a flat roof,” according to Hubbard. That roof is proposed at 21-feet high, and the zoning would allow 25 feet, so long as it doesn’t block views. The city said because of a 25-foot setback along San Jacinto Street, it would not block any views for someone at street level. The staff report concluded, “This is a modest project that meets all the development standards of the zoning with approval of this parking space. The project and the neighborhood will bene fit from more availability of street parking.”
“The second floor, accessible by an inte rior stairway, is 2,626 square feet with four hotel rooms. There is an ADA-equipped hotel room on each level, the ground floor room has access via a fully ADA-accessible pathway from the street or parking lot. The second level ADA-equipped room is accessible from the interior stairway.”
Contributed Photos 6 • September 2022 • Morro Bay Life Making Communities Better Through Print™
“The building will have 1,491 square feet on the lower level comprised of two hotel rooms, a staff supply/laundry area plus covered park ing (under the cantilevered second floor).
Graham said the project would likely come back to the planning commission sometime in September (Commission meets Sept. 6 andPublic20). comments ran skeptical, with Carl MacDonald and Mary Jo Rogers wanting to know who’s responsible for noise complaints if there will be no one onsite?
“We are so excited to have three official new voting members of the CAPSLO board. CAPSLO has a unique tripartite board with elected public officials, private individuals and representatives from the low-income community we serve, “said Biz Steinberg, CEO, CAPSLO. “I am very excited to be back on the CAPSLO Board and to have the opportunity to work with board members and staff that serve with great passion,” said Mary Ann Reiss. Kim Spiller says, “I am honored to serve on the Board of CAPSLO, which is an organization that has a tremendous positive impact on the community that I was raised in and am now raising my own family in. I believe in giving back and in the strength of community. By serving on the Board and using the accounting and financial skills that I have developed through my career, I hope to help contribute to the success of the organization’s mission of addressing the causes of poverty and empowering low-income people to achieve selfsufficiency.Markcomes from the City of Atascadero as a Public Representative, similar to Ms. Reiss. Mark states, “I have lived on the Central Coast since 1991 and have been involved in the community over the years. I am excited for the opportunity to serve on the Board.”
The new EPA money, which is on top of the annual allocation of around $750,000 for the staff of seven to eight employees, also gives them a chance to leverage that money in seeking more fund ing from other sources. And $4.5 million, she added, “is a lot of money and it will definitely help.”
Grubbs noted that the newest update to their CCMP has been approved locally by the agency’s advisory board, and is being reviewed now by EPA. When it’s approved, it will be the roadmap guiding their future efforts.
CAPSLO Announces New Board Members
Another concern in more recent years has been a big decline in eelgrass bends. When the MBNEP was first formed, through efforts of the nonprofit Bay Foundation, eelgrass was plentiful, covering large swaths of the back bay. Eelgrass has in the past two decades seen a steady decline in overall acreage in the bay.
COUNTY
Mark Dariz, Mary Ann Reiss, and Kim Spiller, join Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO)
MARY ANN REISS MARK DARIZ SPILLER
KIM
Making Communities Better Through Print™ Morro Bay Life • September 2022 • 7
“We do keep track of the sediment,” Grubbs said, “because it effects water quality and eelgrass, which are important fish nurs eries and habitat for shorebirds.” She termed that effort “longtermTheymonitoring.”alsocarry on several water-quality testing programs throughout the estuary’s watershed, which includes Chorro and Los Osos creeks, the two waterways that empty into the estuary, and play a huge role in the health of brackish water habitat (where freshwater and saltwater meet).
Of note, the EPA said its infusion of BIL infrastructure money would further the NEP’s efforts “addressing climate impacts and environmental justice disparities in their watersheds,” reads EPA’s announcement.“TheNational Estuary Program is part of President Biden’s ‘Justice40 Initiative,’ which aims to deliver at least 40% of the overall benefits from certain federal investments to underserved communities,” the statement said.
For more information about the Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, please visit capslo.org or contact Marci Sperlo at (805) 544-4355.
STAFF REPORT
Among the “action plans,” she said, is a focus on land protec tion, conservation easements, restoring habitat, and focusing on changes in the estuary from climate change. They also have a Mutt Mitt program, putting out plastic bags so people can pick up after theirTheypets.will now be able to accelerate these programs where before they just didn’t have the resources, Grubbs explained.
Grubbs will be able to hire some new staff and increase their work in several areas, notably storm drainage. For example, the NEP has assisted State Parks with a repaving and drainage proj ect being done now in the parking areas of the Morro Bay State ParkWhenMarina.the first flush of heavy rain hits in winter, whatever has been deposited on the streets washes into storm drains that empty into the bay. There are some 30 storm drains that empty directly into the bay along the Embarcadero.
By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY –Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County (CAPSLO) announces three new board members: Mark Dariz, member of the Atascadero City Council, Mary Ann Reiss, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Pismo Beach, and Kim Spiller, Partner at Caliber Audit & Attest, LLP based in San Luis Obispo.
In an interview in the NEP’s conference room, located upstairs at Marina Square on the Embarcadero, Grubbs talked about the estuary, and what they can now do to further along the Compre hensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP).
MORRO BAY - The nation’s smallest national estuary is getting a big infusion of money to further along efforts to manage and restore the health of the Morro Bay Estuary. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Aug. 1 that it would infuse the National Estuary Program with $132 million over the next five years “to protect and restore estuaries of nationalAmongsignificance.”therecipients is the Morro Bay NEP, which is getting $4.5 million of that total. “This influx,” the EPA said, “will fund projects to address climate resilience, prioritize equity, and manage other key water quality and habitat challenges across 28 estuaries along the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts and in Puerto Rico.” Three California NEPs — San Francisco-Bay Delta, Santa Monica, and Morro Bay — will each get $4.5 million. The money is coming out of the $1.9 trillion dollar “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” from 2021. “BIL funding will provide an invaluable resource for the Morro Bay National Estuary Program to implement projects that address local environmental issues and have long-lasting benefits to our coastal communities,” Morro Bay NEP Executive Director Melo die Grubbs said. “We look forward to leveraging strong partnerships, prioritizing multi-benefit projects that address climate threats, and building meaningful relationships with underserved communities.”
“Morro Bay is the smallest estuary program and it’s one of the most pristine, intact wetlands and estuary,” she said. “Others strive to be like Morro Bay.” Grubbs, who just took over the director’s job a few months ago, said she was here about seven years ago working for the Land Conservancy under a USC Sea Grant. Most recently she was working at the Santa Monica NEP on watershed programs. Grubbs said coming to Morro Bay “feels like coming home. Part of my work in Santa Monica was working with this [MBNEP] program.”TheCCMP, which was first drafted in the 1990s, and rewrit ten and updated a few times since then under several different MBNEP directors, originally was mainly concerned about rapid sedimentation of the bay.
One of the NEP’s more proactive efforts in this has been to hold transplanting events where divers harvest eelgrass, and volunteers on shore bundle the individual plants for replanting in grassless areas.
Several land conservation projects, best agriculture management practices, and habitat restoration projects have been done to slow sedimentation and it continues to be a concern.
And a lot of what they do is behind the scenes, she said. That includes developing partnerships with conservation agencies, prop erty owners, and stakeholders in general and bolstering a team effort to preserve the estuary through the CCMP’s many action plans, as well as educational and outreach efforts, one of the things the EPA’s funding is contingent on.
The EPA’s money comes with “guidance for NEP-funded programs across the U.S. on how EPA will administer program funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” the statement continued. “The guidance provides key information, including equity strategies, reporting requirements, and flexibility to the NEPs to address the priorities in their watersheds that are defined by local, city, state, federal, private and non-profit stakeholders.”
Grubbs wants to show residents that the estuary “is not just a place to recreate in. It’s a habitat teeming with species.”
ENVIORNMENTAL PROTECTION
National Estuary Program Gets Funding Infusion
Carrie, a local participant, recently provided our team with an inspiring email update. “I hope this email finds you well, and it has been a while since I gave an update. I’m still working locally, and I plan on staying here for the foreseeable future! My professional and personal growth from when I started with SLO Partners to now has made a world of difference to the quality of my life. As such, I’m looking into renting a small industrial building, where my boyfriend and I will be setting up 3D printers, a CNC mill, a car lift, and more to pursue our personal goals.”
San Luis Obispo County Superintendent
T his month’s article discusses the workforce shortage and local recruitment and retention. Previously I reported on how the educator shortage in California is worsening, with many school districts, charters, private schools, and parochial schools struggling to find enough high-quality employees to fill vacancies. A simple search of EDJOIN, the statewide online employment site for education, reflects 294,000 openings across the state of California and 357 in San Luis Obispo County. Our county is fortunate to have most of our positions staffed with highly qualified, dedicated, and service-minded employees. However, San Luis Obispo County struggles with more vacancies than applicants because of retirements, the low numbers of individuals entering the field, and high housing costs on the central coast. The shortage increases in specialty areas such as special education, medical services, fiscal services, trades, and administration. Additionally, the training pipeline for service professions such as education, public service, medicine, and the trades decreased over the last three decades while a large sector of the workforce (Baby Boomers) retired. During this year’s Mid-State Fair, local labor unions invited me to join a roundtable discussion involving our board of supervisors, local elected officials, state officials, and congressional representatives. The luncheon discussion focused on the need for the entire community to engage in solutions that provide employment pathways for young people to remain in our county. The shortages of service-oriented employees in the trades, education, and public safety are of particular concern. At the roundtable talk, I shared our recruitment and retention partnerships with the Board of Supervisors, local trade unions, the Workforce Development Board, the Childcare Planning Council, local employers, and Cuesta College. These partnerships are funded by grants from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), our Career and Technical Education (CTE) Foundation, private donations, SLO Partners, and my office. The goals of the partnerships are to provide pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, scholarships, and training that supports, upskills, and grows a local workforce.
8 • September 2022 • Morro Bay Life Making Communities Better Through Print™
EDUCATION
Testimonials from local participants speak to the power of providing our residents with opportunities to train, remain, and gain in the local economy. When we provide work experience opportunities to ensure that residents have the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the workplace, we promote a sound, growing economy. I am committed to joining with local labor, Cuesta College, local businesses, and education partners in facilitating pathways and opportunities to serve local talent. Collaborative training presents a prime opportunity to expand the knowledge base of potential employees without significant business or taxpayer expense. Current partnerships provide pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship grants that invest in professional development for our San Luis Obispo County residents. Education and business are joining forces to offer our local employees access to developing experiences and workforce preparation that leads to relevant employment in today’s COVID marketplace and beyond. Training includes technical skill sets and soft skills; providing a competitive edge for the employee and the employer.Nationwide apprenticeships represent over 150,000 employers in more than 1,000 occupations.Apprenticeships assist in developing the next generation of skilled labor to maintain our nation’s success in the 21st-century economy. These programs recruit and develop a highly-skilled workforce that helps grow local businesses, improve productivity, maintain business profitability, create flexible training platforms, minimize business liability, and increase local employment opportunities.
By JAMES BRESCIA
Recruitment and Retention
In partnership with the board of supervisors, Cuesta College, SLO Partners, and the Workforce Development Board, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education is making a significant investment to leverage state funding. Together we are providing scholarships, funding direct training programs, and sponsoring apprenticeships forThisresidents.summer marked the launch of direct support for local childcare agencies, early educator training scholarships, additional boot camps, youth workforce development, and multiple ongoing service sector training opportunities. Each of these endeavors creates a pathway to a median-income career allowing residents to remain and thrive in San Luis Obispo County. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education website, the SLO Partners website, the Childcare Planning Council website, and the Workforce Development Board website contains information about access to educator scholarships, apprenticeships, workforce programs, SLO Partners, and other supports. It is an honor to serve as your county superintendent of schools.
*Borrowers must maintain property as primary residence and remain current on property taxes, homeowners insurance and any fees such as homeowner association dues as applicable.
1 package (10 ounces) fresh spinach, torn 1 cup canned bean sprouts, drained well 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled 4 green onions, sliced 2 hard-cooked eggs, sliced 2 tablespoons sunflower kernels
1 egg 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1⁄4 cup sugar
1⁄4 cup cider vinegar
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
Directions: In small saucepan, whisk together the first six ingredients. Cook and stir over low heat until the mixture reaches 160 degrees. Remove from heat; cool. In serving bowl, toss spinach, bean sprouts, bacon and green onions. Drizzle with 1⁄2 cup salad dressing; toss to coat. Garnish with egg slices and sunflower kernels. Serve imme diately. Refrigerate remaining dressing for later use.
1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1 egg, lightly beaten 5 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled Pepper to taste
Serves 6-8 Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce Ingredients:
1⁄4 cup butter or margarine Dill Sauce Ingredients:
Directions: In a large skillet, saute leeks and onion in oil until tender, about 10 minutes. Add rice and salt; cook until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Quickly stir in egg until blended; cook and stir until egg is completely cooked. Sprinkle with bacon and pepper. Serves 6 Note: If you feel that this menu has too much bacon, with the salad and the rice, just crumble fewer strips. But then, who doesn’t like more bacon! Make dessert simple. Maybe lemon sherbet with a shortbread cookie to top of your Cheers!menu.
Spinach and Bean Sprout Salad Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce Fried Rice with Leeks and Bacon
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1/3 cup sour cream 1/3 cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon onion salt 1 small onion, sliced and separated into rings 6 lemon slices
Directions: Line a 15-inch x 1-inch baking pan with heavy-duty foil; grease lightly. Place salmon skin side down on foil. Sprinkle with lemon pepper and onion salt. Top with onion and lemon slices. Dot with butter. Fold foil around salmon; seal tightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. Open foil. Broil 4-6 inches from the heat for 8-12 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. Combine sauce ingredients until smooth. Serve with salmon. Serves 6 Fried Rice with Leeks and Bacon Ingredients:
1 teaspoon prepared horseradish 3⁄4 teaspoon dill weed 1⁄4 teaspoon garlic salt Pepper to taste
1 tablespoon finely chopped onion 1 teaspoon lemon juice
... Salmon! BARBIE BUTZ Commentary
1 cup olive oil
Spinach and Bean Sprout Salad Ingredients:
TASTE OF A Taste of
Iwas skimming through an old issue of Taste of Home magazine in the waiting room of my doctor’s office. (Isn’t that what we all do while waiting?) I seem to always come away with a recipe or two, which makes that waiting time worthwhile. The women behind the desk are always willing to make a copy for me. This time, these recipes go together nicely to make a complete meal, except for the dessert. You’re on your own for that. Start your menu with this version of Spinach salad that adds bean sprouts and sunflower kernels with the bacon and hard-boiled egg slices. It makes a nice complement to the salmon entrèe.
AMERICANA
1 to 11⁄2 teaspoons lemon-pepper seasoning
1 salmon fillet (about 2 pounds)
2 medium leeks (white portion only), chopped 1 medium onion, chopped 2 tblespoons olive oil 41⁄2 cups cooked rice
Bob 805/772-3658Gayle
WednesdaysFridays WED + SaturdaysSATThursdaysMONDAYS TuesdaysFridays ThursdaysSaturdaysAtascadero EAST MALL AVENUE, ATASCADERO SUNKEN GARDENS 3pm – 6pm Avila Beach AVILA BEACH PROMENADE, FRONT STREET 4 – 8pm open Mar 5 through Sep 27 Arroyo Grande WEDNESDAYS: SMART & FINAL PARKING LOT AT 1464 EAST GRAND AVENUE WED: 8:30am – 11am SATURDAYS: 214 E. BRANCH ST. BETWEEN SHORT ST. & MASON Sat: 12 – 2:30pm Templeton CROCKER ST & 6TH ST, TEMPLETON,
Farmers Markets with Market Manager Robyn Gable
Paso
T hey say know your farmer, know your food — and there’s no better place to fulfill that than to go to the farmers market.InSan Luis Obispo County alone, there’s almost 20 farmers markets throughout the week. There is at least one market Monday through Saturday filled to the brim with fresh and local produce.“Iencourage people if they haven’t been to a farmers market in a while or even if they have; come out and get in tune with life, be in the moment, enjoy the fresh air,” says North County Farmers Market Association Manager Robyn Gable.After Robyn and her husband purchased an apple orchard on the Central Coast, they fell in love with the farmers’ market life. Between the community and family built between farmers and their customers to have an abundance of fresh fruit at your fingertips, the farmers market became Robyn’s happy place. Eight years ago, Robyn took on the position of market manager for the North County Farmers Market Association.
SAN LUIS OBISPO 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. (5 p.m. winter) Cambria 1000 MAIN ST, VETERANS HALL PARKING 2:30LOT – 5:30pm Cayucos OCEAN AVE. & D ST. MARKET 10 a.m. – 12:30pm open Jun 7 through Aug 30 San Luis Obispo FIVE BLOCKS OF HIGUERA STREET BETWEEN OSOS STREET AND NIPOMO STREET IN DOWNTOWN SAN LUIS 6pmOBISPO–9pm Paso Robles: County Farm & Craft Market 11TH & SPRING ST., PASO ROBLES 9am – 1pm San Luis Obispo 325 MADONNA RD. WORLD MARKET PARKING LOT 8 – 10:45am SLO COUNTY FARMERS MARKETS By CAMILLE DeVAUL of Morro Bay Life The ONLY Bead & Garden Shop on the Central Coast! OPEN EVERY DAY! EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO BEAD as well as a huge selection of succulents, air plants and miniature garden accessories 333 Morro Bay Blvd., 333 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay, CA morrobaybeads.com805.772.3338 ONTheLY ShopdenGa&Beadr Coast!alCenttheonr EVEOPENRYDAY! BEADONEEDOUYTHINGREVEYT airsucculentsofselectionhugeaaswellas, accessoriesdenminiatuandplantsregar Blvd.BayMorro, CABaMorroy, 833.327 morrobaybeads.com North County Farmers’ Markets northcountyfarmersmarkets.com SLO County Farmers’ Markets slocountyfarmers.org Morro Bay Farmers’ Market morrobayfarmersmarket.com Avila Beach Farmers’ Market visitavilabeach.com Farm Supply SLO Market farmsupplyfarmersmarket.com 10 • September 2022 • Morro Bay Life Making Communities Better Through Print™
“Bring your smile, be happy, be blessed, be thankful and just enjoy the bounty that is at your fingertips,” Robyn says. CA 9am93465– 12:30pm Morro Bay 2650 MAIN ST & MORRO BAY BLVD. 2:30pm – 5:30pm
“Its a privilege for me to be able to do this to serve in this way I feel like,” says Robyn. “Just helping farmers and other vendors being able to get their produce out there and their cooked goods or processed goods out there for people to Everythingenjoy.” is fresh and usually grown no more than an hour’s drive from the market it is sold from. The markets make it easy for people to eat the colors of the rainbow, seasonally, and there are plenty of opportunities to try something new. The climate and diversity of San Luis Obispo County allows farmers to grow a wide variety of crops that you can’t find in most grocery stores. And Robyn says she has noticed more chefs shopping at the farmer’s market for local restaurants.Notonly can you find fresh produce at the markets, but you can also find homemade bread, coffee, honey, flowers, baked goods, cheese, and more.Shopping at a farmers’ market turns the mundane chore of grocery shopping into a family outing. Cruising around the market can be an added activity to a day of wine tasting or quality time with friends and family. Some of Robyn’s tips for farmers markets: Bring a list, but also take a lap around first to see what vendors are offering that day; bring small change, but also remember you can purchase tokens from the market manager in case a vendor doesn’t take a card; and bring plenty of bags.
2pm – 4:30pm Morro Bay 2650 MAIN ST, SPENCER’S PARKING LOT 2pm – 4:30pm Robles 11TH & SPRING, PASO ROBLES 9:30am – 12pm San Luis Obispo 224 TANK FARM RD,
Baywood / Los Osos BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD STREET, SANTA MARIA STREET
“I also am a farmer, so that’s part of my passion. I understand it from a farmer’s perspective, all of the challenges,” says Robyn. “Just the fruit of your labor and being able to share that with the community who really appreciates it and enjoys the freshness and the goodness is really almost a privilege and an honor.” Farmers markets give customers the opportu nity to meet their farmers and learn their farming practices. At the markets, there is no middleman and people can go straight to the source. Robyn suggests asking the farmers about their farm ing practices, what difficulties are they facing in agriculture, and start to develop a relationship withManythem.of the farmers selling at the markets are family-run farms. Robyn explains when shop ping at the markets, you end up supporting not just one person but families and sometimes their employees.Risingcosts of goods, gas, and constantly trying to find help are some of the biggest adver sities the farmers are facing. But with rising costs everywhere else, the farmers are constantly fight ing the need to raise their prices — it’s something they don’t want to do. “The heart of the farmer to bring good things, but also being able to make money [without going] crazy with their prices. I know that is an ongoing conversation,” Robyn explains. A typical farmer’s day on the morning of market includes waking up early enough to pick and wash their fruit, manage other chores, make it to market, then at the end of the selling day head back to the farm to continue their chores and sometimes even head to another market.
Hannah Lique Naitove, Founder of Project XO, has been contracted by the Chamber to coordinate the newly rebranded festival. “It’s our vision this year to upgrade the festival, creating one of the best Central Coast foodie experiences with top chefs and mixologists showcasing their custom creations all while having fun and enjoying live music,” Naitove said.
invite
DANCING WITH OUR STARS PAVILION ON THE LAKE, ATASCADERO
SUNKEN GARDENS 8 - 10pm Movies are FREE to the public and will begin at approximately 8:15pm Movie Line Up Includes: Sept 3: Eternals AVOCADO AND MARGARITA FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL TIDELANDS PARK, 339 EMBARCADERO Sept. 9: 3pm - 9pm Sept. 10: 8am - 6:30pm Sept. 11: 10am - 3pm Enjoy avocado dishes and margaritas, beer and wine, and a farmers market-style area with avocados for sale, foodie provisions, boutique retail & live music. For more info and to purchase tickets visit morrochamber.org office@13starsmedia.com
6TH ANNUAL SHOWDOWN CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT FRI: RAVINE WATERPARK, SAT: SUNKEN GARDENS Fri: 11am - 5pm, Sat: 8am - 5:30pm Join the Sixth Annual Atascadero SHOWDOWN Charity Cornhole Tournament. Sign up for either Friday or Saturday or both days! For more info and to purchase tickets visit visitatascadero.com
Truth About
Month of September Tue SEP 9 Thu SEP 4 Morro Bay Chamber Invites You Over forMargaritas, Avocados, Music COMMUNITY EVENT STAFF REPORT Food and Drink Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 9, through Sunday, Sept. 11 The 2022 Avocado Margarita Food and Drink Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 9, through Sunday, Sept. 11 hosted by the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce. Contributed photos PAJAMA MOVIE NIGHT PARK CINEMAS 7pm Paso Robles Main St. presents Hello, Dolly! Tickets are $10 and include popcorn & soda. To purchase tickets call 805-238-4103 Making Communities Better Through Print™ Morro Bay Life • September 2022 • 11
The Morro Bay Cham ber of Commerce is excited to announce that the reimagined and rebranded 2022 Avocado Margar ita Food and Drink Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Sept. 11,. This brand-new experience will feature some of the best chefs, bakers, mixologists, musicians, and retail vendors in the Central Coast and surround ing areas. The three-day festival will showcase unique margaritas and gourmet avocado dishes complimented by the picturesque backdrop of Morro Rock and stunning bay views from Tide lands“ThePark.Avocado Margarita Food and Drink Festival has completely transformed to embrace everything that makes the small, authentic coastal community of Morro Bay so vibrant,” says Morro Bay Chamber CEO, Erica Crawford, adding, “this includes the endless acres of avocados, the beautiful harbor, freshest seafood, eclectic shops, health, wellness, live music, and the iconic Morro Rock.”
to stroll the
THREE SPECKLED HENS ANTIQUE AND OLD STUFF SHOW PASO ROBLES EVENT CENTER Fri. Feathered Frenzy: 4pm - 7pm Sat. Early Birds: 8am - 10am Sat. General Admin: 10am - 4pm Sun: 9am - 3pm A biannual event that specializes in selling one-of-a-kind antique and vintage items. For more info and to purchase tickets visit threespeckledhens.com
MOVIE IN THE GARDENS
MORRO BAY —
Performances all weekend long include music from Devin Welsh, The Charities, Kenny Taylor, Cocktail Shorty, Silk Ocean, Hilary Watson and Band, Carbon City Lights, Dante Marsh, and the Vibe Setters, Damon Castillo, and Moonshiner Collective.Tidelands Park will anchor the reimagined Avocado Margarita Festival. Event organizers are also building a temporary stage at the iconic Morro Rock for satellite events happening on Saturday only. The stage will be brought to life by a threehour workout experience led by Boston-based fitness celebrity Kelly Brabants, founder of Booty by Brabants, on Saturday, Sept. 10 at 10:30 am. Brabants is an entrepreneur and fitness instructor who turned her viral, community-driven workout into a female-empowering, athleisure empire. She will be accompanied by nationally known iHeart Radio hip hop DJ Pup Dawg. Michael Wambolt, Executive Director of Visit Morro Bay, shares that “this event celebrates our agriculture and natural wonder of Morro Bay. Attracting this level of national talent to and exposure for Morro Bay is very exciting.” In true “detox-retox” fashion, this experience will be followed by a tequila happy hour out at the Rock venue exclusively for workout ticket holders. Details are forthcoming on a headliner concert in theInterestedevening. foodies, friends, families, fitness lovers, locals, and visitors are invited to follow @ avomargfest on Instagram and #avomargfest for evolving, up-to-the-moment information and to go to avomargfest.com for complete ticket infor mation.2022 attendance will be limited by the capacity of the new venues. Three-day and VIP passes are expected to sell out. Library you main - 8:30pm Band Line 3: 10: Seafood AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS
Sun Sep 14-17 tue Sep 16-17 Tue Sep 23-25 tue Sep 9-11 Tue Sep 9-25 Wed Sep 10 BAREFOOT CONCERTS ON THE GREEN SERIES SEA PINES GOLF RESORT, LOS OSOS 2 - 6pm Band Line Up Includes: Sept 3: Cuesta Ridge AN EVENING IN SANTA MARGARITA DOWNTOWN SANTA MARGARITA 5pm - 8pm The Friends of the Santa Margarita
888 MORRO ST, SAN LUIS OBISPO Thurs - Sat: 7pm Sat & Sun: 2pm San Luis Obispo Repertory Theater Presents Around the World in 80 days, a live theatre production. Cost $20 - $38. For more info visit slorep.org
SHERIFF’S FAMILY DAY MADONNA INN 10am - 3pm Sheriff’s Family day is a free event to entertain and educate the public on the positive role that our local law enforcement and safety personnel play in our community.
Up Includes: Sept
5pm - 10pm The Friends of the Library present the 11th Annual showcase of Atascadero’s community members showing off their dance moves all while supporting the library. For more info and to purchase tickets visit visitatascadero.com
street, visit shops and businesses, and enjoy wine, snacks and music. SUMMER CONCENT SERIES ATASCADERO LAKE PARK 6:30
ALL EVENTS AND DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CALL AHEAD OR CHECK ONLINE FOR MORE DETAILS. September SUBMIT UPCOMING EVENTS TO:
Event organizers add that there will be a family movie night on Friday evening exclusively for three-day pass holders. The chefs and mixolo gists at the Tidelands Park venue will be vying for coveted, crowd-sourced “Best of Festival” titles.
Stellar Sept
12 • September 2022 • Morro Bay Life Making Communities Better Through Print™
