Morro Bay Life • January 2025

JANUARY 2025 • MORROBAYLIFENEWS.COM

S e r v i n g t h e C o m m u n i t i e s o f M o r r o B ay a n d C ay u c o s

20 25 y p p a

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New Year

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

NEWS BRIEFS

WATER TREATMENT SCAM | PAGE 6

REFLECTION

SHERIFF'S OFFICE | PAGE 8

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SWEARING IN BOARD | PAGE 4

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2 • January 2025 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

A New Year of

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H

appy New Year! We hope you all had a wonderful Holiday season, filled with moments of warmth and joy as you celebrated with friends and family. This is the time of year when we often find ourselves reflecting on the past, setting new intentions, and looking ahead to the year to come. As we dive into the fresh pages of our new calendars, many of us are busy reading up on the latest laws, planning vacations, and reviewing the exciting events and activities we want to experience in the months ahead.

Living on the Central Coast, we certainly have a lot to be grateful for. Our close-knit community continues to thrive, with a spirit of camaraderie and care for one another that remains stronger than ever. The beauty of our coastal town, with its majestic views, stunning landscapes, and vibrant local culture, serves as a daily reminder of how fortunate we are to live in such a special place. From the scenic vistas of iconic Morro Rock to the bustling harbor and lively local businesses, our town offers so much to be proud of. We’ve seen tremendous growth and positive change over the past year, and as we look forward, we can all take pride in the achievements we’ve collectively made.

As we embrace the new year, it’s also a time to start fresh—to set new goals, revisit old ones, and reflect on the things that matter most.

It’s a moment for personal growth and for recommitting ourselves to the things that make our community so special. One of those things is the ongoing support of local businesses and community organizations that help make Morro Bay a welcoming and thriving place. Our local events and activities continue to provide opportunities to come together, celebrate, and create lasting memories. Whether it’s a community clean-up day, a visit to the farmers' market, or a family-friendly event in one of our parks, there’s always something to look forward to right here in our own backyard.

On a personal note, the holidays brought a little extra joy to our family this year. We were thrilled to surprise our boys with a new member of the family—Odin, an American Bulldog and Labrador mix. Odin joined us through Woods Humane Society, and we are incredibly grateful for the patience and care the team showed as they helped us find the perfect fit for our family. Odin has quickly settled into his forever home, and we are all overjoyed to have him as part of

our lives. The love and companionship of a new puppy is truly a gift, and it made this holiday season even more special.

As we look forward to 2025, we are filled with excitement about the opportunities ahead. It’s a chance to deepen our connections with our neighbors, strengthen our community ties, and continue making Morro Bay an even better place to live, work, and raise a family. The new year brings with it the promise of new experiences and moments to cherish, and we are eager to take part in it all. Together, we can make 2025 a year to remember—one filled with laughter, love, and community spirit.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our publication.

It’s an honor to serve such a wonderful community, and we look forward to bringing you even more local news, stories, and events in the months to come. We wish you all health, happiness, and success in everything you do. May this year be filled with new beginnings, new connections, and many cherished moments with those who matter most.

Here’s to a wonderful 2025—let’s make it a year filled with gratitude, community, and joy!

Hayley and Nic Mattson

Through Print

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Morro Bay Life • January 2025 • 3

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congratulations Putting a Spotlight on Businesses The Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce is putting a spotlight on local businesses! Spotlight Businesses are nominated and selected by fellow business owners in Morro Bay as a standout business with exceptional ownership.

Business spotlights recognize Chamber member businesses that provide a consistent, positive customer experience, are actively engaged in the community and demonstrate resilience during challenging times.

If you know of a business or non-profit that deserves a spotlight, please send your nomination to our Ambassador’s Committee for review by emailing Lynsey Hansen at lynsey@morrochamber.org.

Please help us CONGRATULATE these businesses on their spotlight award by visiting their establishments, purchasing their products or services, and leaving good reviews online.

Find your shopping ideas by following us on Facebook, Instagram or morrochamber.org For more information contact Lynsey Hansen, Membership Director at lynsey@morrochamber.org

Happy N eewar Y

4 • January 2025 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

New City Council seated, ending all-female board tenure

The installation of a new Morro Bay City Council saw the swearings-in of new Councilmembers Jeff Eckles and Bill Luffee, and reelected Mayor Carla Wixom; the departure of outgoing Councilmembers Laura Barton and Jen Ford; and a farewell to the city's first all-woman council, shown at top in this 2022 photo. Photos by Neil Farrell

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Both Luffee and Eckles are former members and chairmen of the Harbor Advisory Board, which oversees the Harbor Department and advises the City Council on harbor projects and issues.

Neither has been elected to public office before; however, Eckles ran for the District 2 SLO County Supervisor seat in 2018, losing to incumbent Bruce Gibson, in a three-way race at the June primary.

The Harbor Board veterans take office just as the city manager hired a new harbor vitality director, whose focus will be on economic development on the waterfront.

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zens love Morro Bay." Eckles said he doesn't want to see the character of the city change "into something we don’t recognize."

He pledged to use his experience in the finance world to help put the city back on sound financial footing. Indeed, budget forecasts are sounding a dire warning that the current rate of spending and revenues, isn’t sustainable for much longer.

Eckles said he would be proposing initiatives in 2025 to help the financial health of the city.

Luffee said this was "the next step in my journey of public service."

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M

orro Bay's all-woman City Council was short-lived, as it passed the torch Dec. 10 to a new set of elected officials, two of whom are men.

Outgoing Councilmembers Laurel Barton and Jen Ford bid adieu to their posts and welcomed new members Jeff Eckles and Bill Luffee (pronounced Lou-Fey) who joined reelected Mayor Carla Wixom and mid-term Councilmembers Zara Landrum and Cyndee Edwards on the dais.

But 2024 won't pass history as a footnote, an end to a grand experiment, but saw another historic milestone — the November election was the first time in town history that none of the council seats were contested.

No one stepped up to run against Wixom for mayor, nor Eckles and Luffee for the council seats, marking the first time that's occurred in the 60 years since Morro Bay's incorporation in July 1964.

In her farewell, Barton said it had been a pleasure to serve on the City Council, and was thankful for the interest the citizens have in their town government, evidenced by the many comments from the public that have been submitted on nearly every topic that arises.

Ford's remarks took her back to the beginning, when her neighbor and friend, the late Councilmember Red Davis, asked her to take his place as he was dying.

"I did so with a heavy heart and a deep sense of responsibility," she said. "This has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life."

Ford recalled that she was appointed during the COVID pandemic, and had to deal with all the challenges the virus response created.

Now, as a member of Assemblywoman Dawn Addis's staff, Ford said her service to the community would continue. "This is far from the end of my service," she said. "I believe in Morro Bay's future.

I believe in its people."

Ever the businesswoman, Wixom said it would be good to have Ford as a direct line to the State Assembly.

City Manager Yvonne Kimball awarded both Ford and Barton certificates of service and large, crystal engraved bowls as souvenirs of their time in office.

City Clerk Dana Swanson administered the oath of office to Luffee, Eckles, and Wixom, who then took seats on stage, officially starting their tenures.

Eckles said that despite the election being a walkover, it wouldn’t lessen his dedication to the city.

He's been serving the community for 20 years in one role or another, Eckles said, and in the audience sees "the faces of my neighbors, friends, and loved ones. I am truly inspired."

He noted the passage of Measure A-24 in November, which gives voters a say on zoning changes on the north end of the Embarcadero, as indicative of "how much the citi-

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Luffee also said he's concerned about the town's economy, and the lackluster revenue projections coming from the finance department. In 2022, Luffee and two other men led support for Measure B, a $10 per month parcel tax on all private property in Morro Bay. B-22 would have raised over $600,000 a year for the Harbor Department to work on its extensive list of unmet maintenance needs, but the measure was sunk at the polls, as 60 percent voted against it.

Wixom thanked the four generations of her family that attended the swearing-in ceremonies.

"It's about community," she said. "That's why we're sitting here and why you're sitting there."

The new City Council will face some tough issues in the coming year. The city continues to deal with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Project proposed by the power plant property owner, Vistra, that has now been taken away from them.

In October, Vistra notified the city that it was pulling its application and would apply to the California Energy Commission for a permit, under a work-around passed by the Legislature in 2022.

Assembly Bill 205 (AB 205) gives applicants for sustainable energy projects — battery plants and other storage types, solar and wind farms — a way to get past local opposition and ask the state agencies to review and approve their projects.

Vistra is believed to be one of the, if not the first, company to take an unpopular project to the state for approval. But with such strong support for Measure A-22, state regulators would have to basically ignore the will of voters and poo-poo their wishes should the Energy Commission simply approve the project without a local vote as mandated with Measure A-22.

The city has lost its lead agency status on the BESS Project; however, the Coastal Commission is also involved in the AB 205 process and the commission staff has already cast serious doubt on whether the proposed BESS Project can be allowed in the Coastal Zone.

Last August, a staff member sent two letters to the City Planning Department critical of the BESS Project's Draft Environmental Impact Report and commenting on the city's work to write a Power Plant Master Plan specifically covering the 117-acre power plant property — minus the 22-acre BESS Project site.

Also, the next City Council could have to deal with another proposed project — offshore floating wind energy farms being worked on by the federal government.

The city and SLO County are partners on a study to gauge the feasibility of having Morro Bay Harbor serve as a work port for the wind farms. Upgrades and extensive improvements to harbor facilities are expected to be required if the harbor is to play a role in this brand-new industry.

The wind farms present a golden opportunity to tax these giant companies, as they will probably need to lease certain state tidelands properties or facilities, which the city controls.

However, the future of that project was cast into serious doubt when Donald Trump was elected president in November, as he stated during the campaign that he would stop offshore wind energy development.

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Morro Bay Life • January 2025 • 5

6 • January 2025 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

San Luis Obispo County News Briefs MORRO BAY City warns of suspicious door-to-door water treatment device sales

The City of Morro Bay has been made aware of a concerning situation involving individuals knocking on doors and claiming to sell water treatment devices “from the state.” The city received multiple reports of one or more individuals claiming to be state employees in order to gain entry into residents’ homes to test the water.

These individuals are advising people not to use the water without treating it first. They may then scare or pressure residents to install expensive water treatment equipment, even claiming they are free.

If someone visits your home claiming they need to test your water, the city urges residents not to let them in.

Residents are advised to be cautious and take the following precautions: • Do not provide personal or financial information to unverified individuals or companies.

• Request identification from anyone claiming to represent a company, agency, or the government.

• Verify claims by contacting the appropriate state or local agency before making any decisions.

• Report suspicious activity to the Morro Bay Police Department.

The Morro Bay Police Department encourages residents to please report any similar encounters or suspicious activity.

The City of Morro Bay is committed to providing all customers with safe and reliable water. Water is regularly monitored and tested throughout our service area to ensure that our water supply meets or exceeds all state and federal guidelines for safe drinking water. Read more about your water in our current Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).

Please call City of Morro Bay Utility Division (805) 772-6272 with any questions.

If you encounter door-to-door solicitors with suspicious claims, please contact the Morro Bay Police Department’s non-emergency line at (805) 772-6225. In case of an emergency, dial 911.

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY Driver arrested for felony hit-and-run

On Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, at approximately 1:02 p.m., the San Luis Obispo Police Department received a 911 call reporting a pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle near the 50 block of Chorro Street. Patrol officers and San Luis Obispo Fire Department responded to the location and found a 24-year-old female lying near some parked vehicles with major, non-life threatening injuries. The

victim said she was struck by a passing vehicle, and the driver did not stop. The victim was taken to a local hospital for care for her injuries.

Investigating officers were able to determine the make and model of the suspect vehicle. Through continued investigation, and with help from the San Luis Obispo Sheriff ’s Office, officers were able to locate the vehicle in rural Arroyo Grande on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024.

An officer on the Severe Collision Investigation Detail (SCID) responded to Arroyo Grande and with San Luis Obispo Sheriff ’s deputies, conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Todd Nelson, was arrested for the following charges and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail: • CVC 20001(a) - Felony hit and run causing great bodily injury • CVC 14601.4(a) - Driving with a suspended license • CVC 20002(a) - Misdemeanor hit and run (parked car) This investigation is ongoing. If you witnessed and can provide additional information, please contact Officer Walsh at (805) 594-8052.

County releases 2025 Community Development Needs Assessment Report

During a public hearing on Dec. 10, 2024, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors reviewed the findings of the 2025 Community Development Needs Assessment Report.

The report highlights the most pressing housing and public service needs across the county and represents a significant step in the county’s ongoing efforts to purposefully allocate federal funding to address key community development needs. The assessment was conducted by the County of San Luis Obispo’s Homeless Services Division within the Department of Social Services.

The Community Development Needs Assessment received 918 survey responses — a 264 percent increase from last year’s assessment — showing a high level of community engagement and participation.

The survey included questions on a respondent’s demographics, work status, and housing experiences, and then requested each person to rate the community’s need for 59 different activities based on their own knowledge and perceptions. In addition to the online survey, the county hosted five in-person workshops across the region and one virtual workshop.

The feedback from participants will guide funding recommendations for housing and service needs, helping to allocate federal grant monies received from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by the County of San Luis Obispo from 2025 through 2029.

Key findings from the report include the following: • Affordable rental housing ranked as the most needed community activity, with over 78 percent of respondents citing it as a high community need for San Luis Obispo County. Health care services, mental health services, homeless prevention, and homeless services were the next four highest ranked community needs.

• Of 738 respondents, 38 percent were identified as having a low, very low, or extremely low incomes based on household size and income bracket.

• Of 918 respondents, 66 percent reported owning their primary residence, and 9.6 percent relied on support from friends, family, or assistance programs to own or rent their residence.

• Single family houses were the most common type of residence (70 percent of respondents), followed by apartments/lofts (8.5 percent), condos/townhomes (7.8 percent), and manufactured or mobile homes (5.0 percent).

• Of 453 respondents who sought housing since January 2020, 77 percent experienced difficulties securing housing. Over 90 percent of those facing challenges cited that available housing options were outside of their budget.

• More than half of respondents reported spending 30 percent or more of their gross monthly income on housing costs, classifying them as cost-burdened under HUD guidelines.

The findings of the Community Development Needs Assessment will inform the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan, a HUD-mandated document that outlines funding priorities for federal community grant programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME).

Guided by the funding priorities identified in the Community Development Needs Assessment and established by the Board of Supervisors, the county’s Homeless Services Division will invite proposals from qualified applicant agencies for review and funding consideration. Public input will continue to play a key role as the county finalizes the 2025 Action Plan, which will summarize the funding recommendations in the months ahead. The selected proposals will be announced in spring 2025, with the community beginning to see the impacts of these awards by the end of next year.

The public can access and review the full Community Development Needs Assessment Report and other related documents at slocounty. gov/CommunityDevelopment For information on the city's approach to addressing homelessness, visit slocity.org/Homelessness

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The 2025 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update is in progress and public input and participation in the plan development process is being requested. A public workshop and stakeholder meeting will be held on Jan. 14, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Katcho Achadjian Government Center, located at 1055 Monterey St., 1st floor, Room 161, San Luis Obispo. This is an opportunity to learn about hazard mitigation and provide input into how to best mitigate the natural hazard events that can impact our county.

Community members needed for Atascadero’s Citizens’ Sales Tax Oversight Committee

The City of Atascadero Citizens’ Sales Tax Oversight Committee (CSTOC) was formed in 2015, after the passage of the 2014 local sales tax measure, Measure F-14. The committee also participates in the review of annual expenditures from tax revenue collected from Measure D-20, the Essential Services Transactions and Use Tax Measure.

CSTOC has a total of nine members, seven of which are appointed by local Atascadero community groups, and two “at-large” members who are appointed to the committee by the City Council.

The city is currently seeking to fill three community group-appointed positions on CSTOC. Members of local nonprofit community groups interested in serving should contact their community group leaders. Representatives of all Atascadero community groups who are interested in appointing members to CSTOC are encouraged to submit an Interest Form no later than Friday, Jan. 10, at 5 p.m.

Only those community groups whose member term is expiring or who do not have a current member on the committee may submit an Interest Form.

The Interest Form is available on the city’s website homepage at atascadero.org under the “News” section, or by calling (805) 470-3400 to arrange for a hard copy of the form.

Members of CSTOC are not required to be professional engineers, accountants, or finance managers. The only qualifications necessary are to be a resident of Atascadero and to have an interest in serving the community in which they live.

Interested parties should be individuals who are willing to invest a little of their time as a representative. The city will assist members of CSTOC by providing them with all relevant information regarding the sales tax programs, Atascadero’s roads program, pavement engineering, and other related information and materials.

Cal Poly partners announces agreement with USGS to support collaboration at new Technology Park Building

Cal Poly Partners and the U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center are partnering to foster innovation and research at the newly completed Phase Two of the Cal Poly Technology Park in such key fields as hydrology, water resources, geology, biology, chemistry, geography, oceanography, geophysics and geochemistry.

The 16,200-square-foot Phase Two of the Technology Park, located on Mount Bishop Road on the western edge of the Cal Poly campus, will serve as the hub for this collaboration, offering state-ofthe-art facilities to support research, technology development and knowledge exchange.

Cal Poly Partners, the university’s nonprofit auxiliary, is also seeking additional collaborators to join this vibrant innovation ecosystem, with more than 5,000 square feet of available space for groundbreaking projects and partnerships.

Under this collaborative framework, the USGS California Water Science Center and Cal Poly Partners will: • Establish infrastructure to pursue funding opportunities to support joint research and educational programs.

• Develop and secure funding for future student internship programs in fields such as hydrology, geology, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, engineering and related disciplines, in partnership with Cal Poly.

• Organize joint technical seminars, workshops and symposia to share innovative research ideas and advancements in hydrology.

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8 • January 2025 • Morro Bay Life

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Reflections and Resilience: The state of the Sheriff’s Office in 2025

IAN PARKINSON

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF

B

efore I begin this column, I want to first wish everyone a very happy, safe, and prosperous 2025! That’s how I typically start my first column of the new year. And I see no reason to change that now. Especially since I feel like, over the past few years, we’ve seen nothing but change at the Sheriff ’s Office.

And while I’m not generally superstitious, I’m going to knock on wood and maybe even throw a pinch of salt over my shoulder, and say I feel like things are finally getting back to normal.

And I mean that in the best possible way. And so, with that in mind, I present to you my seventh annual State of the Sheriff ’s Office.

I feel like it really started to go sideways for our county and country in 2020 with the dramatic rise of Covid cases. That really altered the way we did business here at the Sheriff ’s Office and in fact, in the way we lived our lives.

We had to adapt not only for the safety of our people but for the safety of the community at large.

In February of 2020, we served search warrants at the home of Paul Flores, as well as his sister, mother, and father. Physical evidence recovered during these searches led to the

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson addresses the public at a press conference in April 2021 after arresting Paul and Ruben Flores. Photo by Camille DeVaul/MBL

service of an additional search warrant at Flores’ residence in April of that year. This news made national and international headlines.

Then in June of that same year, it seemed chaos came to our county. We had three shootings in a four-month span. It started with an active shooter situation which began in Paso Robles and lasted for a day and a half. During that time, the suspect killed a man and shot one of our Deputies in the face, seriously wounding him. It ended when the suspect was located and shot and killed by law enforcement officers. Then in August, another active shooter situation, this time in Nipomo, when a suspect began firing indiscriminately in the parking lot of a shopping center. Amazingly, no one was hurt. The suspect was shot and killed by law enforcement officers. And finally, in September, we had an officer involved shooting which took place in Templeton. The wanted suspect in this case was fleeing from law enforcement

when he shot and wounded one of our Deputies. Minutes later, the gunman was shot and killed by Deputies.

In 2021, there was no bigger story than our arrest of Paul Flores for the murder of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. This investigation had really gained steam in March of 2021, when Detectives served a search warrant at the Arroyo Grande home of Ruben Flores, the father of Paul Flores. That’s when we discovered a spot under Ruben’s deck of disturbed dirt about the size of a human body. Digging down, we were able to unearth a “decomposition stain” which contained human blood. We believe Paul buried Kristin underneath the deck after he killed her.

As a result, Paul was arrested on April 13, 2021.

This was a 25-year-old murder mystery that was finally solved by a lot of good people at the Sheriff ’s Office. Once again, this case made news all over the world.

2022 saw the conviction of Paul Flores for

the murder of Kristin Smart. After a threemonth trial in Monterey County, Flores was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder. I don’t think of this as a “win” for the Sheriff ’s Office. Rather, I see it as a just verdict. It is my hope that we were able to bring some closure to the Smart family. Peace to our community. And justice, once and for all, for Kristin. This conviction again made headlines around the globe.

And now we come to 2023. It began in January when our area was hit by a torrential downpour of rain in a short amount of time.

A 5-year-old boy was swept away by floodwaters near San Miguel, making national news.

The Sheriff ’s Office, along with first responder agencies from all over the state, conducted many searches for him over the course of several months, but sadly to no avail.

And then on March 10, 2023, a judge in Monterey County sentenced Paul Flores to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of Kristin Smart. During the sentencing, the judge called Flores “a cancer to society.” Thus, ending the long saga of finding justice for Kristin.

All of these things I just mentioned were major events. We don’t typically get this type of headline grabbing attention in 10, 20 or even 30 years. Instead, we got it all in four years. That’s why I feel 2024 was nothing in comparison to those previous years. Sure, we had our share of “typical” crimes like scams and thefts, but none of the headline-grabbing drama of past years.

And that’s just fine by me.

So let me just finish by giving thanks to the men and women of the Sheriff ’s Office who day in and day out, provide safety and security to all who live here. And I am grateful to you, the community, for making the place we call home a better place to live. So, here’s to a new year. Be good. And be good to one another.

Career and technical education participation growing

JAMES BRESCIA, ED.D. SLOCOE SUPERINTENDENT

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — Nelson Mandela

A

s we begin the new year, the question we should ask is, “How do we best prepare students for life after high school graduation? Nearly ten years ago, I was invited to present some of my research at symposiums hosted by Cambridge and Oxford Universities in the United Kingdom (U.K.).

Recently, I was reminded of how the workforce challenges of both our nations have not changed much since those conference presentations. Two positive results of my attendance at those symposiums are the creation of our

SLO Partners program and the founding of the SLO County Career and Technical Education (CTE) Foundation. At the symposiums, it was apparent that the European, African, and Asian countries were already implementing aggressive CTE in secondary schools that included teacher education. My attendance at the Cambridge and Oxford symposiums served to further strengthen my commitment to our county-wide efforts in securing CTE funding for local schools. Ten years later, I can report that San Luis Obispo County has the highest percentage of secondary school students with dual enrollment (college credit while in high school) in the state; we have provided over 500 pre-apprenticeships and continue to promote highly successful skilled employment training programs at the secondary and post-secondary levels.

Education in the United States, and across the globe, continues to experience a changing landscape. We should remember that according to current data one out of three Americans (33 percent) report attaining a bachelor’s degree, and 12 percent reported an advanced degree such as a master’s, professional, or doctorate. Almost 9 out of 10 Americans (88 percent) attained a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Educational attainment continues to vary by age, sex,

race, nativity, and disability status. While we here in America continue to navigate our way through federal and state mandates that impact our classrooms, our schools must include CTE as a piece of the educational puzzle.

Puzzle masters advise that instead of taking a wild stab at the puzzle, see if you can identify a good strategy that will lead to an acceptable solution. Similar to a puzzle master’s advice, I believe that CTE is a key piece of the educational quest for student success. As we face an ever-changing world, it is important to explore avenues that present multiple paths for student success. CTE curriculum strives to pair academics and high-level workplace skills necessary for success in today’s workplace. Students, administrators, teachers, business members, community leaders, and even politicians have endorsed CTE programs.

Shortly after I attended those symposiums, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education and SLO Partners established a training center at the main campus in San Luis Obispo to provide short-term employment training opportunities.

SLO Partners’ mission is to engage business partners and educators in aligning workforce needs. We facilitate training and work experience opportunities to ensure that students have the skills and knowledge necessary for

CTE programs are available at its San Luis Obispo facility.

Contributed Photo

success in the workplace. Our business partners hire program completers as employees who contribute to a sound, growing economy. We continue to work on industry certifications and are expanding to a second training center in Paso Robles this year to better serve North San Luis Obispo County. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.

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Morro Bay Life • January 2025 • 9

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Soup Season Bliss Rustic recipes and healthy habits for the New Year

J

By BEEWENCH FARM

anuary is a popular time to start new habits, especially around eating. Healthier eating and losing weight are way harder than putting your phone down. A great way to get more veggies in your diet is with soups. I love having soup weekly and adding in as many veggies as I can. I always use chicken broth or stock for the extra nutrients, especially this time of year, but you can use any kind you prefer. With the chilly weather, hearty soups really hit the spot.

Below are the seasonal fruits and vegetables you can find at the farmer’s markets: Fruits: • Kiwi • Kumquats • Lemons • Oranges Vegetables: • Beets • Broccoli • Cabbage • Celery • Kale • Sweet Potato • Brussel Sprouts • Parsnips • Mushrooms • Winter Squash

Farmer’s Market Rustic Winter Soup Ingredients: • 1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed • 3 medium parsnips peeled and cubed (sub with celery if needed) • 1 medium sweet potato peeled and cubed • 2 medium carrots peeled and cubed • 1/2 fennel bulb quartered & sliced thin • 1 tsp coarse salt • 5 tablespoons olive oil divided • 1 medium onion diced • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (sub arrowroot or ½ cup sourdough starter) • 4 cups vegetable broth or chicken broth • 2 medium yellow potatoes peeled and diced • 4-5 fresh thyme sprigs • 2 Rosemary sprigs (optional) • 2-3 sage leaves (optional) • 1 cup milk (sub almond milk or just omit) • Additional salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste • More pepper and herbs for garnish about 40 minutes, turning a couple rich, and creamy. great way to use some discard.

• Optional- Bacon, chicken, and of times while roasting.

5. Stir in the broth. Add the pota- 7. Stir in the milk. Place the pot back 3. While the veggies are roasting, parmesan cheese toes and herbs. Bring to a boil over on the burner, and, with the heat prepare the base of the soup. To a medium heat then reduce heat on medium-low, return to a simmer, Instructions: to low. Simmer uncovered for 15 large saucepan over low heat, add stirring often to prevent burning for 1. Heat oven to 400 degrees Fahren3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the minutes or until potatoes are soft. about 5 more minutes. heit. onion along with a pinch of salt Remove from heat. Skim out the 8. Taste and add additional seasonings, 2. In a large bowl, toss the butternut and pepper, then cook, stirring herbs and discard. salt, and pepper if desired. occasionally, until soft, about 10 6. Stir in the roasted vegetables. Care- 9. Serve garnished with an additional squash, parsnips, sweet potatoes, cracked pepper and herbs. carrots, and fennel with 2 tableminutes. fully transfer about 3 cups (half ) of 4. spoons olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon Stir in the flour and cook for 3 the soup to the pitcher of a blender. coarse salt. Spread in a single layer minutes, stirring constantly. I started Puree until smooth. Return the Optional: Add in some cooked and on a large baking sheet and roast using my sourdough starter instead pureed mixture to the pot and stir to chopped bacon or chicken or both. Top until tender and browned in places, of flour to make the roux and it is a combine. The soup should be thick, with some grated parmesan cheese.

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10 • January 2025 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

Calendar of Events JANUARY 1

POLAR BEAR PLUNGE AVILA BEACH PIER 12 p.m.

The 12th annual Avila Beach Polar Bear Plunge is a celebration of fitness, nature, a New Year, camaraderie, and still having dessert.

POLAR BEAR DIP CAYUCOS PIER 12 p.m.

Take the plunge at their 44th Annual Carlin Soule Memorial Polar Bear Dip. Join them late morning for festivities that include

music, dancing, prizes, and participant certificates.

JANUARY 20

MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION PASO ROBLES CITY PARK 12 p.m.

Join us for a community walk/march at Robbins Field at noon, followed by a program in City Park from 1 to 3 p.m. Heavy rain cancels the march.

JANUARY 31

MOTHER SON DANCE! PAVILION ON THE LAKE

7-9 pm

Sons are special and this is a fun event to enjoy with Moms, aunts, grandmothers or anyone with a special lad is invited to spend a semiformal evening!

FEBRUARY 7

FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE! (AGES 11 AND UNDER) PAVILION ON THE LAKE 6:30-9:30pm

Show her how special she really is ... Fathers, uncles, grandfathers, or anyone with a special girl is invited to spend a semiformal evening!

FEBRUARY 8

FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE! (12 & UP) PAVILION ON THE LAKE 7-10pm

Show her how special she really is ... Fathers, uncles, grandfathers, or anyone with a special girl is invited to spend a semiformal evening!

FEBRUARY 14

SWEETHEART SIP & SHOP! 5-8 pm.

Tickets include a wine glass and over 15 different tasting spots at merchant locations downtown. Brought to you by the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce. For more info: atascaderochamber.org

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Morro Bay Life • January 2025 • 11

12 • January 2025 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

Happy New Year

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