Celebrating 60 Years of Morro Bay’s Heritage
This past month, the City of Morro Bay celebrated a monumental milestone—its 60th anniversary of incorporation. From September 5 to 7, our beautiful city was alive with festivities, bringing together longtime residents, friends and enthusiastic visitors alike to honor Morro Bay’s rich history, natural beauty, and vibrant community spirit. It was a celebration that reminded us all why we are proud to call this coastal gem home.
One of the highlights of the weekend was Saturday’s parade, which wound its way down Morro Bay Boulevard to The Embarcadero. The streets were lined with cheers as dozens of parade entries made their way past. Past and present elected officials, local businesses, and service clubs waved to the crowd from vintage cars, while the Morro Bay High School Football Team and cheerleaders, along with the Fusion Dance Team, added an energy and excitement that was contagious. The parade not only honored the history of our city but also showcased the heart of our community—the people who have built it, nurtured it, and continue to help it thrive.
Following the parade, families gathered at Tidelands Park for a day filled with fun and laughter. Children’s activities, food vendors, and live music filled the air, creating a perfect backdrop for the community to come together and celebrate. It was a day that highlighted what makes Morro Bay such a special place—the deep connections between neighbors and the sense of pride we all share in this coastal town.
Morro Bay’s history stretches far beyond these past 60 years, of course. Our city’s origins date back to 1870, and even further still to the Chumash and Salinian Native Americans who first called this land home. Since its incorporation in 1964, Morro Bay has grown into a thriving community, known for its volunteer spirit, picturesque Embarcadero, and historic Morro Rock—a landmark that has guided mariners for centuries and today remains a symbol of our enduring connection to the sea.
As we reflect on this anniversary, it’s important to remember the stories of those who came before us, whose dedication helped shape the Morro Bay we know today. From Reverend Alden B. Spooner, one of the town’s
founding fathers, to the colorful figures who formed literary societies and brought culture to this once remote fishing village, Morro Bay’s history is filled with stories of resilience, innovation, and community spirit.
Today, as we look toward the future, this anniversary serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving our past while embracing the opportunities ahead. The celebration not only honored our history but also brought into focus the incredible possibilities for Morro Bay’s next 60 years. From continued efforts in sustainability to fostering local businesses and cultural growth, the future of Morro Bay is as bright as its stunning sunsets.
On behalf of everyone here at Morro May Life, we want to thank the city, the community groups, and each individual who came together to make this 60th anniversary celebration so special. It was a weekend that truly captured the essence of what makes Morro Bay such a remarkable place to live, work, and visit.
Here’s to many more years of shared success, cherished memories, and continued growth.
Hayley and Nic Mattson
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.
Please help us CONGRATULATE these businesses on their spotlight award by visiting their establishments, purchasing their products or services, and leaving good reviews online
Environmental review ends for marine sanctuary
The agency can now turn its attention to officially designating the sanctuary
By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life
Amajor milestone has been reached in efforts to establish a marine sanctuary off the Central Coast, and it looks like Point Buchon will be cut out of the protections along with Cayucos and Morro Bay due to the offshore wind (OSW) energy projects.
According to a news release dated Sept. 6 from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the umbrella agency that oversees the National Marine Sanctuary program, it is now done with the exhaustive environmental review of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary (CHNMS), and the agency can now turn its attention to officially designating the sanctuary and putting into place the management plan, advisory board and all the rest of the bureaucracy needed.
“Under NOAA’s preferred alternative,” reads the release, “the sanctuary would include 4,543 square miles of coastal and offshore waters along 116 miles of California’s Central Coast.” The sanctuary boundary spans from the beach out 60 miles and has maximum depths of 11,580 feet, over 2 miles deep.
At 4,543 square miles, it’s almost as large as Connecticut, which has a landmass of 4,842 square miles and is larger than Puerto Rico at 3,434.
According to NOAA’s official description, the new sanctuary’s northern boundary begins some 2 miles southeast of Diablo Canyon’s manmade marina and follows the shoreline to Gaviota Creek, which is south of Point Conception.
The sanctuary will stretch far offshore: “From Gaviota Creek,” NOAA said, “the boundary continues offshore to the southwest, and around Rodriguez Seamount and Arguello Canyon. From there, the boundary transits north consistent with Alternative 1 along the edge of Santa Lucia Bank to roughly the southern boundary of the Diablo Canyon Call Area.” That call area was another sizable patch of ocean offshore from Point Buchon and Diablo Canyon that had initially been proposed for an OSW project, but was dropped over concerns from the Navy’s Lemoore NAS, which uses the offshore areas for flight training.
“Upon designation, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would become the third largest national marine sanctuary in the National Marine Sanctuary System,” NOAA said.
It’s taken nearly a decade to reach this point in NOAA’s complicated process, and from the start, it’s focus has been to work with the many interested organizations each with their own interests, including tribes, indigenous peoples, community leaders, organizations, businesses, state and local officials, and even members of Congress.
The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) “provides an evaluation of the expected environmental, social and economic effects of the proposed sanctuary, and reflects public input from multiple rounds of stakeholder engagement,” according to NOAA.
When the sanctuary is officially established, it would become the 17th in the National Marine Sanctuary System, NOAA said. Native Americans, some of whom initially
opposed the sanctuary, got this whole ball rolling, as it was Northern Chumash Tribal Council Chief Fred Collins, who along with local environmental groups, first petitioned NOAA to establish the sanctuary here and pay tribute to the Chumash.
“The sanctuary,” NOAA’s press release said, “would recognize and celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ connections to the region, and be managed with the active involvement of Tribes and Indigenous communities, inclusive of Indigenous values, knowledge and traditions.
“The sanctuary is anticipated to bring comprehensive community, and ecosystem-based management to nationally significant natural, historical, archeological and cultural resources — including kelp forests, rocky reefs, sandy beaches, underwater mountains and more than 200 shipwrecks.”
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, which is the federally recognized Chumash Tribe and who owns the big casino resort in Santa Ynez, “will serve as a co-steward of the sanctuary.”
Chumash Chairman Kenneth Kahn said, “Every tribal nation across the country maintains a significant cultural tie to its aboriginal lands and waters. Sadly, for many, those connections have been difficult to reach. But today, with this announcement, the Chumash people take great strides in restoring our connection to our maritime history.”
Collins’ daughter, Violet Sage Walker, now Chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, was ecstatic. “This is a huge moment for the Chumash People and all who have tirelessly supported our campaign over the years,” she said.
“My father, the late Chief Fred Collins, began the journey to protect these sacred waters 40 years ago, and we have been so proud to continue his work.
I am delighted to celebrate his vision, today’s success, and the future of our people who will always be connected to past, present and future by this special stretch of coastline and the true magic its waters hold.”
The CHNMS will have another distinction — it will be the only sanctuary in the U.S. named after a people. All 16 others are named after the dominant geological feature of the area, hence Channel Islands, Farallon Islands, Monterey Bay and Olympic Coast NMS covering a large swath of Pacific Ocean on the West Coast.
The FEIS was published in two volumes and is available on the Marine Sanctuary program pages on NOAA’s website. See sanctuaries.noaa. gov/chumash-heritage to find the links to both volumes for download.
The document has a new surprise — expanded exclusion of a large chunk of SLO County coastline stretching from Cambria at the southern edge of the Monterey Bay NMS, south to below the Diablo Canyon Marina. That’s considerably farther south than the previous proposal that would have set the north boundary at Hazard’s Reef.
The CHNMS then spans all the way down to the Gaviota Coast in Santa Barbara County. It has some exclusion zones drawn in, in particular at Diablo Canyon and Port San Luis, as the Harbor District has interests in becoming a supply and maintenance port for the offshore wind companies.
And for the first time, NOAA fully admits that it cut that swath of coastline out at the request of the offshore wind energy companies who argued that their projects might not be economically feasible if they also had to go through a permitting process under the sanctuary act, on top of the exhaustive process already underway under the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management or BOEM.
“The reasons for further reducing the final sanctuary boundary at this time,” NOAA’s FEIS said, “center around clarifying information provided by
“They also expressed,” NOAA continued, “concerns that existing sanctuary permitting procedures could jeopardize their ability to obtain financing for their development, and they sought to avoid the introduction of any permitting risk that NOAA might be unable in the future to approve one, several or all permit requests for cables in the sanctuary.”
Information on the OSW companies’ plans for the Morro Bay Call Area, a nearly 400-squaremile patch of ocean 20-30 miles off San Simeon, has been scarce but NOAA apparently has been better looped in at this point.
“In public comments, the leaseholders identified a need to develop between 15–24 subsea electrical transmission cables between offshore leases and two landing sites at Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) grid connections. Presently they estimate landing roughly half of the cables at each grid connection.”
Those high-energy cables are expected to be buried in the seafloor and would run roughly 56 miles to Morro Bay and an additional 25 or so down to Diablo. As it is, any cables going to Diablo Canyon would have to avoid a Marine Protected Area off Montaña de Oro that was established over a decade ago under a state program.
The wind farms are also probably going to need a substation somewhere along that route and it remains to be seen where and how that would be done but a giant floating building wouldn’t mesh with the idea and the regulations of a protected sanctuary.
“The three leaseholders’ current design requirements,” NOAA’s FEIS said, “may mean they will seek access to a portion of the seabed between
San Luis Obispo County News Briefs
MORRO BAY
A Murder Mystery with Real Cops
Want a firsthand look at how the Sheriff’s detectives go about their business, investigating crimes, collecting evidence, piecing together clues and solving crimes? Then an upcoming fundraiser might be just what you’re looking for.
For the first time, the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation is opening its annual fundraiser to the public, with tickets only available through the Foundation’s website.
With a theme of “Speakeasy,” the Advisory Foundation’s fundraiser is set for 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at The White Barn, 217 Green Gate Road, San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $100 a person and available online at safslo.org/product/annual-fundraiser
Foundation Executive Director Renee Osbornesaid, “This year, we’re embracing a captivating ‘Speakeasy’ theme, complete with a mysterious, murder mystery twist that promises an evening of intrigue and excitement.”
The “Murder Mystery” evening offers a unique opportunity to see the “exceptional skills and investigative prowess of our dedicated team,” Osborne said. “Throughout the evening, the Sheriff’s Office will showcase their talents and demonstrate the real-life techniques they employ when faced with the challenge of unraveling a complex crime. From analyzing clues to piecing together evidence, you’ll see how our officers work meticulously to bring justice to our community.”
Seating is limited, so get tickets early if you’d like to attend.
The Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit organization that “provides sustained charitable public funding for select projects, training, and equipment to San Luis Obispo County Law Enforcement organizations,” according to the website.
The Foundation’s donations augment an agency’s regular budget. “Our funding augments the purchase of needed equipment, training sessions, K9s, and many other projects. The most immediate goal is to increase our members and sponsors so we can expand what is provided,” reads the website. See: safslo.org for more on the Foundation.
The evening’s dress code is “Dress to the Nines” in Roaring ’20s attire.
Morro Bay Maritime Festival, Oct. 9-13
Come celebrate Morro Bay’s awesome marine heritage when the Maritime Museum hosts the “Morro Bay Maritime Festival” Thursday-Sunday, Oct. 9-13, in conjunction
with the Chamber of Commerce.
The festival features a variety of events and fun things to do including a special showing of the classic 1934 pirate swashbuckler, “Treasure Island.”
The party starts Wednesday, Oct. 9 with a Chamber of Commerce business mixer and open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the recently completed Harborwalk Inn, 833 Embarcadero. Come check out the newest waterfront inn and mix and mingle with Chamber members and regular folks, too. All are invited.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, Rock the Waterfront with a benefit dinner/dance for the Maritime Museum at the Morro Bay Yacht Club, featuring the Spanky Paul Band.
Tickets are $125 (members discount available), visit morrobaymaritime.org.
On Friday is a live outdoor concert at Tidelands Park featuring the Zongo All Stars. The “Zongo Yachting Cup Launch Party” is is from 4 to 8 p.m. and is a warm up for Saturday’s Zongo Cup Yacht Race to Avila Beach.
The harbor cruise boat, Chablis, will be docked at Tidelands with its indoor bar open for business and La Katrina Mexican Cocina will have food for sale. Free admission to the concert; bring a folding chair or a blanket to sit on the grass.
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the Third Annual Family Fun Day, at the Maritime Museum. Located at the north end of Front Street (look for the huge submarine). There will be lots of games to play and goodies to eat, tours of the museum and its various exhibits, live music, a Salinan Tribe story time, and more. Free admission.
Saturday is also a special screening of the classic swashbuckler film, Treasure Island, starring Wallace Beery as Long John Silver and Jackie Cooper as Jim Hawkins. Show starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Bay Theater. Tickets are $20 a person and available online from the Chamber of Commerce, visit morrobaychamber.com/events or at the door. Wear pirate (or British Royal Navy) outfits and earn tickets to a spectacular drawing for treasures donated by local businesses (or buy tickets for $1 each).
All day Saturday and Sunday, the Yacht Club will be holding Day Sailor races in the bay.
Morro Bay Art Association hosts lecture and book signing with John Seed
On Nov. 11, the Morro Bay Art Association will present a special lecture and book signing featuring renowned art writer John Seed. Seed will discuss his latest book, More Disruption: Representational Art in Flux, which explores how 43 contemporary painters are challenging and reshaping the tradition of Realism in response to today’s fast-paced, social-
media-driven world. This free event will include a visual presentation of the featured artworks and commentary on the artists and their themes. Signed copies of Seed’s book will be available for $60.
The event will take place on Nov. 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Art Center Morro Bay, located at 835 Main Street, Morro Bay. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call visit artcentermorrobay.org.
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
Santa Maria man arrested for lewd acts; Santa Barbara Sheriff’s looking for more possible victims
Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives have arrested a 20-year-old Santa Maria man for lewd acts that occurred at the Orcutt Dollar Tree. According to deputies, the investigation began on Wednesday, Aug. 21, when they responded to the Dollar Tree store located at 4869 S. Bradley Road in Orcutt for a report of a suspect who grabbed the buttocks of a 6-year-old girl. When deputies arrived, the suspect had already left the area.
A press release from Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s says that on Friday, Sept. 13, deputies received a second and third report of a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old girl who were also grabbed at the Dollar Tree. Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and identified the suspect as 20-year-old Angel Gabriel Lopez Rojas from Santa Maria.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, Sheriff’s Deputies arrested Lopez Rojas on a warrant for these crimes in the 1200 block of Bauer Avenue in Orcutt. Lopez Rojas was booked without incident at the Northern Branch Jail, where he is being held without bail for felonies including lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14 and child annoying.
The Sheriff’s Office is sharing a photo of Lopez Rojas and would like to encourage anyone with knowledge of additional crimes associated with him to please contact Detective Brownlee at (805) 681-4150. If you would like to remain anonymous you can submit information at sbsheriff.org/home/ anonymous-tip/ or by calling (805) 681-4171.
The first-ever Downtown Summer Spending Promotion deemed a success
Throughout July and August, there were nearly 1,800 entries from people that supported local businesses and shopped in downtown San Luis Obispo, participating in the first-ever Downtown Summer Spending promotion. The City of SLO partnered with Downtown SLO to bring this Support Local program to the community.
Every time shoppers made a purchase at a participating business in downtown San Luis Obispo, they scanned a QR code and were entered to win prize packages from the participating businesses. Each purchase also entered them into a drawing for an incredible grand prize, valued at more than $2,500.
When picking up her grand prize, the winner, Jill, stated, “I am beyond grateful that our local downtown businesses have been so generous and donated to a great cause. I’m excited to be able to come downtown and use the gifts and continue buying local.”
Downtown Summer Spending ran from July 8 through Aug. 31 and ended with 1,778 qualified entries from shoppers at 102 participating downtown businesses, with an average of 1.9 entries per shopper. The highest amount of entries came in the final week with the most frequent amount
spent between $25-50. Shoppers from the city of San Luis Obispo made up 61 percent of qualified entries, showing that locals came out in droves to support downtown this summer. Scout Coffee was the business that received the most entries, followed by JunkGirls and Novo Restaurant, respectively.
“We were excited to be a part of something that promotes our wonderful downtown,” said Sara Peterson, owner of Scout Coffee. “Our customers were happy to be able to use their Scout purchases for a chance to win some of the great prizes offered. These incentives to drive traffic to downtown core businesses are always a good investment.”
There are more exciting opportunities to continue supporting local coming this fall and winter. ARTober will return for the second year in a row, celebrating October as Arts and Humanities Month in San Luis Obispo. Local arts and humanities nonprofits will be highlighted weekly and Piano in the Plaza will return, bringing a piano into Mission Plaza for community members to enjoy from October 1–31. Learn more about ARTtober at slocity.org/ARTober. Additionally, the holiday season will bring the return of the popular Buy Local Bonus promotion, where shoppers are rewarded for supporting local businesses with gift cards. Learn more about Buy Local Bonus at slocity.org/buylocalbonus.
Sheriff’s deputies respond to threat made against Nipomo High School
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a threat made against Nipomo High School in Nipomo. The threat was general in nature and was not directed at any one person at the school.
Deputies arrived on scene and began searching the school as well as the nearby New Tech High School.
The high school made the decision to lock down the school and have the students shelter in place while the search was being conducted.
Deputies were assisted in the search by Sheriff’s detectives and K-9s from the Sheriff’s Office, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office.
Following an exhaustive search by law enforcement, the threat was deemed not credible. The investigation into this incident is continuing. No further information is available at this time.
'American Pickers' to film in California and are looking for leads
The "American Pickers" are returning to California this November to film new episodes of the hit History Channel series. The show, which follows skilled pickers searching for valuable antiques, will explore the area’s back roads in search of rare finds and fascinating stories.
"American Pickers" is a documentary series that highlights the journey of discovering historically significant items and giving them a new lease on life. The team is eager to meet local collectors with unique treasures and compelling stories.
The "American Pickers" TV show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a unique item or story to tell and is ready to sell, they want to hear from you. Please note that the Pickers do not pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums, or anything open to the public. If interested, please send them your name, phone number, location, and description of the collection with photos to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call (646) 493-2184
MBHS's Taylor takes second at the Morro Bay
Annual event is among the largest cross country meets in the early season
By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life
Local athletes had great showings at the Sept. 14 Morro Bay Invitational Cross Country Meet.
Paso Robles High School senior harrier Tyler Daillak ran away from the field and won the Large School Boys race at the meet, held at Morro Bay High School and using a route traversing a variety of surfaces — from grass to asphalt and beach sand — making this race one of the more challenging the prep athletes will see all year.
With some 123 runners in the race, Daillak timed 14 minutes, 19 seconds over the 2.61mile course for the win. He was followed by Noel Huato, a junior from Del Oro High, who clocked 14:50.3, and Paso's Brian Arndt,
a junior, who was third in 14:51.9.
Del Oro won the team competition with 81 total points from its Top-5 runners. Bullard was second with 90 and Paso Robles was third with 96 (the lower the score the better the finish).
In the Small Schools Boys race, San Luis Obispo High senior Conor Mason won by nearly 100 yards, timing 15:06.9, well ahead of second-place finisher, teammate, and fellow senior Jacob Schuetze (15:23.9). Isaac Saravia, a sophomore from Porterville, was third in 15:27.6.
Morro Bay's top runner was senior Eli Waldman, who finished 14th and took the last of the medals.
MBHS sophomore Abe Gabe was 16th in 16:16.4, with sophomore Lucas McAlpine 20th in 16:31.5. The Pirates' other two runners were sophomore Cameron C'Aunoy (47th, 17:18) and junior Dominic Holst (53rd, 17:30.8).
Also of note, Templeton's William Wallace, a junior, finished seventh in 15:49.8 in a race that had 142 runners.
4-H parades for Morro Bay
By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life
Morro Bay 4-H kicked off its new year participating in Morro Bay’s 60th Anniversary Parade on Sept. 14, with a great turnout of kids, parents, and a couple of goats.
4-H’s first meeting of the new program year was held Sept. 3 and had a great turnout of some 30 kids signing up for different projects, with the club adding a few new projects that the kids showed interest in.
SLOHS took the team trophy scoring 37 points, with Porterville second with 79, and McFarland third with 97.
In the Small Schools Girls race, SLO High's Phoebe Drazsnzak, a senior, won the race in 18:10.3, with Morro Bay's sophomore phenom, Shelby Taylor, taking second in 18:19.1. Third went to SLO senior Leila Johnson in 18:51.2.
Morro Bay's other strong sophomore, Wendy Wilson, finished fifth in 18:58.7, and junior Phaedra FernFlores was 13th in 19:33.1.
The Lady Pirates' other scoring runners were Astrid Barnett-Davis (34th, 21:42.7), and senior, Rheanna Dunton (92nd, 24:47.4). The Lady Pirates look to be starting off where they left off last year when the girls' varsity squad qualified for the State Meet.
SLOHS won the team trophy with 50 points, Highland was second with 74, and Morro Bay took third with 127 in a race that had 123 runners. Also, Naomi Julian of Templeton was ninth in 19:22.8.
In the Small Schools Boys JV race, SLO High grabbed the top two spots as senior Jacob
Invitational
McClure won in 17:01.6; and Ryan Bolivar, another senior, was second in 17:30.5.
Morro Bay's top finisher was Gabriel Pascual, a junior, in 22nd place and 18:25.3.
In the Small Schools Girls JV race, SLO High pulled off the exceedingly rare perfect race, taking the top five spots and scoring a perfect 15 points to win the team trophy.
Junior Carly Meeks led the way (first, 19:22.9), followed by Kasey Abercromby (soph., 19:23), Charlotte Petit (soph., 19:51.4), Leah Siciliano (soph., 20:21.2), and Molly Berkeland (Jr., 20:35.6) all writing their names into the meet's storied history.
Second in the team scoring was McFarland with 64, and third was Highland with 65.
The annual event, which is among the largest cross country meets in the early season with over 1,400 runners, also has Novice races (runners in their first meet ever) and a Middle School Division for kids in seventh-eighth grades.
To see all the race results, go online to Racefoxresults.com and download the pdf file.
The club holds meetings at Morro Grange Hall, No. 27, 1340 Atascadero Rd. (Highway 41) at 6:30 p.m. If your children are interested in 4-H, feel free to come out and join the fun and see what it’s all about.
Competing on a challenging course, Tyler Daillak clocked in at 14:19 over 2.61 miles. Morro Bay sophomore Shelby Taylor finished second in the Small Schools Girls race, helping to elevate local talent in the competitive event. Photos by Neil Farrell
Photo courtesy Morro Bay 4-H
Business Spotlight: Morro Rock Insurance
Local agency helps its clients find the best insurance company and plan to suit their needs
By BLAKE ASHLEY FRINO-GERL for Morro Bay Life
Nathan Hedges started his insurance career in 1999 selling accident policies door to door. He soon realized that no one needs an accident policy, but they do need health insurance.
“The writing was on the wall,” Nathan explained. He knew he had to work for his family’s health insurance business, Hedges Health Insurance, in Atascadero. In 2000, while working with
Cambria
his dad, Michael Hedges, he learned a vast amount. They made the Blue Cross Top Producer list several times.
In 2010, Nathan started Morro Rock Insurance, specializing in health and life insurance. During that time, he married Allison King, a Morro Bay High School graduate and hairstylist at Rio Salon. Nathan started doing public speaking engagements on health plans available to senior citizens. To provide extra support as the business was growing, Allison earned her insurance license.
Serving mainly the coast, from San Simeon to San Luis Obispo, Nathan and Allison offer a variety of information that benefits clients, in terms of choosing an insurance company, changing plans, and knowing who to contact in times of variable insurance needs. “We gather the client’s info and prepare options with all
the local carriers.” Their clients then pick which insurance company is most suitable to them — such as meeting their budget and medical criteria.
“Medicare is changing so much these days, it’s hard to keep up,” Nathan explains. “It is more important than ever to have someone local working for you when it comes to you and your Medicare.” As a local Medicare insurance agency, Morro Rock Insurance has helped thousands of Central Coast residents successfully work through the ever-changing insurance program.
Nathan explains that there is no extra cost for the consumer when purchasing through an insurance broker. “Whether you go directly through an insurance company or use an agency like ours, the price is exactly the same,” Nathan says. Insurance agents typically carry one
product, while MRI offers over 30 plans to choose from. Morro Rock Insurance offers over 30 plans. They also provide assistance when clients need to make claims. Nathan doesn’t recollect a time where he couldn’t solve a claim issue.
He or Allison usually meet new and current clients in town — often at Dorn’s — or at their residence. “Morro Rock Insurance makes life easy by being mobile,” Nathan adds. They provide overthe-phone appointments, as well.
As a local business, they also have volunteered within the community. When their two daughters, now in junior high, were younger, the couple delivered Meals on Wheels from North Morro Bay to Cayucos for 10 years. “It was a blast,” Nathan remembers. “I recommend that community service to anyone looking to find some volunteer work.”
From Oct. 1 through 31, over 200 creative and animated scarecrows will take over the coastal towns of Cambria and San Simeon for the yearly Cambria Scarecrow Festival. These handcrafted and whimsical figures will be found along the streets and in vacant areas, offering a delightful sight for both residents and tourists to enjoy at their own pace during the entire month.
While many newly created scarecrows will be out in 2024, past year’s creations and displays will also be reimagined and repurposed to keep it new and exciting.
“This year’s festival will feature a new 'Fun and Games' display, showcasing scarecrows playing popular games in an environment perfect for fun and photo ops. Additionally, attendees can look forward to a large area in town devoted to more traditional scarecrows,” said Patty Wallace Rixman, Cambria Scarecrow Festival president. “But they won’t just be standing there in a field ... these scarecrows will be lively and full of personality.”
“Watch for a lot of new scarecrows,” she added. But she assures that “favorites like the CambrAliens, El Encanto and the Cambria Scarecrow Academy — with a new twist — will be coming back. So if you missed them last year, make sure to check them out this October.”
All of these unique works of art are made by a group of talented and dedicated community members.
In 2009, the scarecrow festival made its
debut with 30 scarecrows and has since grown from a weekend event at the Cambria Historical Museum to a month-long celebration.
“The festival was created in response to a slow October for businesses in Cambria,”
Festival Vice President Stephanie Vassigh explained. “Now, they are enjoying a nice increase in tourists during this time.”
Rixman, also in charge of the Friends of the Cambria Scarecrow Festival program, added, “Last year, we almost doubled our business participation. Donations of $100 or more include a free scarecrow for your business. Give over $300 and business donors will get a special shoutout during the festival on our social media pages. This presents a great opportunity for increased foot traffic during the festival.”
The grand finale of the Cambria Scarecrow Festival is a culinary extravaganza at Cambria Nursery and Florist on Oct. 26. Known as “The Salute to Scarecrows! A Starlit Celebration of Cambria,” this event will showcase delicious dishes and wines from a select group of Cambria’s restaurants and wineries.
“Not only does this celebration support the Cambria Scarecrow Festival, a charitable organization, but it is also a highly popular event that sells out quickly,” stated Vassigh.
The Festival has garnered attention from various media outlets including Woman’s Day, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, ABCNews.com, and Huffington Post.
The Travel Channel even recognized it as one of the top 10 scarecrow festivals in the U.S. and Canada and USAToday proclaimed it to be one of the top fall festivals in the U.S. worth traveling to.
“We are thrilled about this year’s festival in scarecrow-land,” exclaimed Rixman. “It truly embodies the artistic spirit of our community.”
For more information, go to CambriaScarecrows.com
Throughout October, artistic scarecrows can be found around Cambria and San Simeon for the annual Cambria Scare crow Festival. Photos provided by Cambria Scarecrow Festival
Nathan Hedges and his wife Allison are the owners and team behind Morro Rock Insurance. Photo provided by Morro Rock Insurance
SLO County Office of Education: We are all one community
JAMES BRESCIA, ED.D. COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SLOCOEDU
While organizing our annual safety preparedness meeting, I was reminded of Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s insightful comments that “We can address our issues proactively, one
relationship at a time.” The sheriff’s words underscored the importance of community and the virtues of patience, flexibility, and kindness.
The Great Kindness Challenge, a shining example of this, began as a “backyard club of caring kids” and has blossomed into a global movement.
With over 19 million youth in 121 countries actively fostering a culture of peace and kindness, The Great Kindness Challenge is a testament to the power of community and the potential for positive change.
A sense of belonging, purpose, and support grows when we foster relationships, build community, and practice kindness. Belonging, purpose, and support are vital for our psychological well-being and help us feel connected to others. Social media
and even what was once considered traditional media are often consumed with quantity over quality, splash over detail, and rumor consistently outshines fact. As I age, I value my authentic and genuine relationships with people who love, respect, and accept me. Today’s schools face multiple linguistic, cultural, religious, ethnic, and racial issues that are best approached through a caring community that practices patience, flexibility, and kindness.
Our school and community leaders meet regularly to discuss the needs, perspectives, and challenges of the individuals we serve. The role of public agencies in addressing these needs and building up our entire community is crucial. School and community violence prevention
continues to be a topic of my monthly Superintendent’s Council meetings. The council, which includes school leadership, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and social services, is a testament to the importance of local community-building efforts.
Our meetings aim to facilitate multi-agency communication and collaboration, present positive strategies for community engagement, and build up the county. Because of the Sheriff’s efforts along with the Office of Emergency Services, San Luis Obispo County is one of the first in the state to map every school campus and better connect the community digitally. Because research indicates that violence prevention programs structured in
ways to build community capacity are the most successful, our ongoing meetings commit to providing at least one proactive suggestion that might mitigate personal or agency disconnect. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, along with school districts, charter schools, the District Attorney, the Sheriff’s Office, the Chief of Probation, and local police chiefs, meet regularly to build community, strengthen communication pathways, and address safety issues. I believe that together, we can invest in our future by facilitating multi-agency communications, working collectively, and acknowledging that each of us, in our unique roles, is a vital part of our shared community. It is an honor to serve as your County Superintendent of Schools.
Behind the Badge: Just when you thought you’ve seen everything
In my 40 years of law enforcement experience, it’s fair to say I’ve seen my share of routine crimes, from burglaries to shoplifting to trespassing. But every now and then, something happens that causes you to pause for a minute and wonder what exactly just happened. Such was the case recently when what started out as a suspicious vehicle call turned into something much more than any of us could have imagined. So, under the heading of “just when you thought you’ve seen everything,” comes this story.
It all started when the Sheriff’s Office got a report about a suspicious vehicle parked off Los Osos Valley
Road in Los Osos. The vehicle wasn’t your average car — it was actually the front portion of a military-style tractor-trailer. When deputies arrived to check it out, things took an unexpected turn. When deputies approached the driver regarding the lack of registration for the vehicle, the driver sped off into Montana de Oro State Park, even breaking through a gate. The vehicle finally ended up on Sandspit Beach, getting stuck in the sand. That’s when things got more bizarre. Deputies, Harbor Patrol, the Coast Guard, and State Park Rangers quickly set up a perimeter around the truck, hoping
to resolve the situation peacefully.
But the driver wasn’t budging. The Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SED) was called in, and after more unsuccessful attempts to get the suspect to surrender, they had to eventually use tear gas. Finally, the driver gave up and was taken into custody.
At first, no one knew who the driver was, but he’s since been identified as 63-year-old Patrick Kevin VanNess from Los Angeles. And here’s where it gets really wild. Sheriff’s detectives discovered the vehicle was a stolen M1070 Heavy Equipment
Transport, the kind that’s used to haul around M1 Abrams tanks for the U.S. military. This high-tech rig, worth over $500,000, was taken before it could be delivered from the manufacturer in Wisconsin to its military destination in Southern California. VanNess is facing charges for stealing this massive military vehicle.
The recovery of the vehicle was a challenge. The M1070 got stuck several times in the sand, but with help from California State Parks and the California Army National Guard, the vehicle was successfully removed from the beach the next day.
The Sheriff’s Office wants to extend a big thank you to everyone involved in the recovery effort. The investigation is still ongoing, and we’ll keep you posted if there are any new developments. In the meantime, we are still trying to figure out the motivations of the suspect.
This is an incident that started off as bizarre and got even more so as it unfolded. But it also shows you how things can quickly escalate to the point where it can endanger the safety of the public. That’s why I want to thank the deputies, SED team and everyone else who were involved in this incident for staying cool, calm, and collected, which resulted in a peaceful ending to this ordeal. That’s our goal for every incident we respond to, no matter how routine or just plain weird.
SLO County unveils new ‘I Voted’ sticker designs by local students
The SLO County Elections Office has announced the winners of ‘I Voted’ sticker design competition
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The votes are in, and the SLO County Elections Office has two new official “I Voted” sticker designs. The winning designs, by Old Mission School third-grader Melanie Rathbun and San Luis Obispo High School senior Joanna Rawlings, were selected from among 20 entries, with votes cast by mayors of the seven SLO County cities.
“The entries were so fun and creative,” said Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano. “It made us very proud to present the mayors with such a great group of designs, and we appreciated their help in determining which entries rose to the top.” The new stickers will be available at both the
San Luis Obispo and Atascadero elections offices beginning Oct. 7, and they will be at all polling locations throughout the county on Election Day, Nov. 5.
There were two age divisions, grades 3-6 and grades 7-12. As it turned out, competition was stiff, and the Cano decided to award an additional honorable mention to Rudd Larson, a fifth-grader at Georgia Brown Elementary School, who happened to have submitted the very first entry in the inaugural contest. A smaller number of his sticker design will also be printed and available to voters as well.
The American Bald Eagle featured prominently in both of the winning designs. Rathbun’s design also included the words “Liberty,” “Freedom,” “Justice,” and the Liberty Bell, while Rawlings’s design featured the green hills of the San Luis Obispo County landscape.
An initial print run of the stickers has already been completed, and the clerk-recorder plans to present copies to the winners in person ahead of public distribution. Cano is also sending a personal thank you to each student who entered the contest.
A suspicious vehicle found in Los Osos earlier this year turned out to be a a stolen M1070 Heavy Equipment Transport, the kind that’s used to haul around M1 Abrams tanks for the U.S. military. Photo provided by the SLO County Sheriff's Office
The winning designs of the "I Voted" sticker design contest, by Old Mission School third-grader Melanie Rathbun (top left) and San Luis Obispo High School senior Joanna Rawlings (top right), were selected from among 20 entries, with votes cast by mayors of the seven SLO County cities. The bottom design, submitted by Georgia Brown Elementary fifth-grader Rudd Larson, won honorable mention. Photo provided by SLO County Elections Office
Former council and mayors celebrate Morro Bay's 60th
Current and former city leaders come together in a nostalgic tribute to decades of service and community spirit
By NEIL FARRELL and HAYLEY MATTSON
In a vibrant celebration of community and history, past and present members of the Morro Bay City Council joined together in the city's 60th Anniversary Parade, offering a rare glimpse of leadership spanning generations. The parade, which drew a lively crowd, saw most of the Council riding in the town's iconic Trolley, while others cruised in classic cars
and convertibles, bringing a nostalgic touch to the celebration.
While the heavily tinted windows of the Trolley obscured photo opportunities during the procession, former Councilman Paul Donnelly came to the rescue by sharing a group photo taken at the Community Center following the event. The photo captured a memorable reunion of former and current city leaders, many of whom hadn’t gathered together in years, making the event all the more special for participants and onlookers alike.
The photo includes Brent McCleod, the City's Trolley driver, alongside current Councilwomen Laurel Barton and Jen Ford, as well as former Councilman Colby Crotzer and his wife Shoosh. Former Council Members Susan Mullen, Jeff Odell, and Marlys McPherson joined in, along with current Councilwoman Cyndee Edwards. Seated in the center is former Councilwoman Betty Winholtz, next to former Mayor Janice Peters, Paul Donnelly
and his wife Linda, Kerry Heller and former Councilman Jeff Heller, Mayor Carla Wixom, and Stevie Anderson with her husband, former Mayor Rodger Anderson.
Donnelly noted that not all pictured had ridden on the Trolley. Edwards and Ford rode in a convertible, while other former elected officials, including former Mayor Jamie Irons and former Council Members Nancy Johnson and Matt Makowetski, also joined the parade but were not present in the post-event photo.
The reunion was a testament to Morro Bay’s enduring sense of community and its leaders' shared dedication to the town's growth and well-being. As the 60th Anniversary celebrations continue, the legacy of these council members remains a vital part of the city’s history, reminding residents of the collaborative spirit that has shaped Morro Bay’s progress through the decades.
Photo courtesy Paul Donnelly
Morro Bay Celebrates 60 years of community spirit and history
Parade, live music, and family fun highlight Morro Bay’s milestone celebration
By HAYLEY MATTSON
The City of Morro Bay marked its 60th anniversary with a three-day celebration from Sept. 5 to 7, bringing together residents and visitors alike to honor the city’s history, culture, and community. The festivities culminated on Saturday with a vibrant parade
down Morro Bay Boulevard to The Embarcadero, followed by a family fun day at Tidelands Park.
The parade, which took place on Saturday morning, featured dozens of entries, drawing cheers from the community as they lined the streets. Past and present elected officials, classic cars, local businesses, and service clubs were proudly represented. The Morro Bay High School (MBHS) Football Team and cheerleaders, along with the Fusion Dance Team, added youthful energy to the event. Del Mar Elementary School kids and their parents marched while City departments, including the police, fire, sewer, and harbor teams, showcased their dedication to
serving the community. Local rock bands The Wavehogs and The Murder Hornets, featuring Morro Bay Living Treasure Ed Frawley, provided tunes that had the crowd dancing.
As the parade wrapped up, the celebration continued at Tidelands Park, where families enjoyed an afternoon of games, music, and activities. The waterfront location provided views of Morro Rock as attendees explored vendor booths, participated in city and community group exhibits, and soaked in the beauty of Morro Bay. The park buzzed with excitement as people of all ages joined in the fun, making memories that will last long beyond the anniversary weekend.
Morro Bay, founded in 1870 and incorporated in 1964, has long been a beloved destination for its stunning coastline, natural estuary, and rich maritime history. Over the past 60 years, it has grown into a thriving community renowned for its volunteer spirit, vibrant downtown, and picturesque Embarcadero. As the city looks to the future, this milestone celebration served as a reminder of the deep-rooted connections between its residents and the enduring beauty that makes Morro Bay a special place to live, work, and visit.
Here’s to 60 years of Morro Bay—and many more to come!
Parade participants from across the community, including local schools, city departments, and classic car enthusiasts, made their way down Morro Bay Boulevard during the 60th Anniversary celebration, creating a lively and colorful procession that honored the city's rich history and vibrant spirit. Photos by Neil Farrell
For me, October means pumpkins. I am fascinated with them. I collect pumpkin recipes (along with potato salad recipes), and I decorate with pumpkins. One cookbook author called her passion for pumpkins a "love affair," and that might be right for me, too.
When I was growing up in the '40s and '50s, pumpkins were orange, and they all looked alike, except for their size. Now, we have wonderful choices of shape, color, and texture. Who can resist visiting one of our county's many pumpkin patches to select just the right ones for our recipes and our home decorations?
The recipes for this month are from
Taste of Americana: A pumpkin love affair
my collection. Remember that you can be creative with most recipes and make them your own. If you don't have a pan that the recipe calls for, don't hesitate to substitute; just try to "come close."
When it comes to pie crust, my mother was the "queen of pie" crust, but I am not! So, when Pillsbury came out with a commercial crust, I was elated. I know, I know, there's nothing like homemade, but at least I can bake a pie!
The Ultimate Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients:
• 1 unbaked pie crust for 11-inch pie pan (homemade or commercial)
• Dried beans for pre-baking crust
Filling:
• 1 (15-ounce) can pumpkin purée (not pie filling) (I use Libby's)
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
• 3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons dark rum
• Rum Whipped Cream (recipe follows)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line an 11-inch pie pan with unbaked pie crust and place it on a sheet pan. Line the crust with parchment paper. Fill the paper three-quarters full with beans and bake the crust for 15 minutes, until the edges start to brown. Remove the beans and paper (save beans for another time), prick the crust all over with the tines of a fork, and bake for another 5 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. In a large bowl whisk together pumpkin, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, salt, orange zest, eggs, cream, milk, and rum. Pour filling into baked pie shell. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, until the filling is just set in the middle and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool completely. Serve with rum whipped cream. Serves 8 to 10
Note: Commercial pie crust pack-
ages usually contain 2 crusts, so you will have enough dough to make an 11-inch crust. Use the leftovers to make some little tarts for the kids by cutting circles with a biscuit cutter, adding a little butter, sugar, and cinnamon, and fold in half.
Seal edges with the tines of a fork and bake until golden.
Rum Whipped Cream
Ingredients:
• 1 cup cold heavy cream
3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon mascarpone or créme fraiche
• 1 tablespoon dark rum
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:
Place cream in bowl of electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and beat on medium speed for 1 minute. Add sugar, mascarpone, rum, and vanilla and beat on medium-high until soft peaks form. Serve with the pumpkin pie.
This next recipe for a dip will surprise your guest when they find out you used canned pumpkin.
Pumpkin Dip
Ingredients:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup canned unsweetened pumpkins1 clove garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons minced onion
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/3 cup minced dried beef
• 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped red bell pepper
• 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
• 1 long, skinny baguette, thinly sliced on the diagonal
Directions:
Beat together cream cheese, pumpkin, garlic, onion, cumin, and chili powder until smooth and creamy. Stir in beef, green and red bell peppers, and lime juice. Spoon into small serving bowl, sprinkle with cilantro, and chill. Serve with sliced baguette. Makes 2 cups
Note: Dried beef can be found in jars on supermarket shelves or packaged in the deli section.
Happy Pumpkin Days. Cheers!
SabesWings fight against Medical Financial Toxicity
Nonprofit will be hosting its biggest fundraiser of the year in October with the 4th Annual Strike Out MFT event
By CAMILLE DEVAUL
When someone comes face to face with a battle against cancer, the journey is one met not only with the highs and lows of hopeful treatments but also stress from the amount of bills from everyday life and treatment. These costly challenges were experienced firsthand by Bret and Kandace Saberhagen, leading them to found their nonprofit, SabesWings.
During Kandace’s treatment for breast cancer, while there were many therapies available with promising results, they all came at a high cost that insurance didn’t cover. This realization spurred the Saberhagens to look into the damaging effects of medical debt, known in the medical community as Medical Financial Toxicity (MFT). As a result, the Saberhagens founded SabesWings and ever since, they have been dedicated to providing financial support to cancer patients.
SabesWings Executive Director Candace Oestreich shared with us that “since 2021, we have seen an increase in individuals and families requesting grant assistance. We have helped make their journey less worrisome by providing finan cial assistance during their greatest time of need.”
For 18 years, Bret was a Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher playing primarily for the Kansas City Royals, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, and Boston Red Sox in the 1980s and ’90s. In
1985, he was named World Series Most Valuable Player. Since wrapping up his MLB career, Bret has built a life in Paso Robles, the home base for SabesWings.
Over 48 percent of SabesWings funding goes towards housing costs, and another 40 percent goes towards medical expenses for families facing cancer on the Central Coast. Since 2021, they have helped over 100 families on the Central Coast and now have been able to grow and help
“We help keep our local families in their homes, their lights on, and help maintain the treatment they need by paying the bill source
To determine who they are able to help financially, SabesWings works closely with social workers and patient navigators throughout our county to help identify the needs of families facing medical financial toxicity. If an applicant qualifies for funding, SabesWings will help lift the need. This is determined through an application process, review of bills, income verification and applicant interviews.
This October, SabesWings will be hosting their biggest fundraiser of the year, their 4th Annual Strike Out MFT event. The Strike Out event has consistently raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to support cancer patients.
The weekend will include a Gala on October 5
at Rava Wines, followed by a golf tournament on October 6 at the Hunter Ranch Golf Course.
Each year during the Gala, SabesWings recognizes individuals whose contributions have impacted the lives of cancer patients. Past recipients include NFL Pro-Bowler and Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, Toby Keith, and West Coast President of Republic National Distributing Company Jay Johnson.
This year, Mark will be presenting Paso Robles’s own Chad Rava with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Chad is the owner of Rava Wines, a farmer, a winemaker, a former pro-rodeo calf roper, and a two-time cancer survivor of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
“Chad Rava embodies the true spirit of the SabesWings Lifetime Achievement Award,” says Oestreich. “His unwavering commitment to our community, tireless efforts to assist those in need, and personal resilience in the face of cancer inspire us all. Beyond his public contributions, Chad’s roles as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend highlight his exceptional character.”
SabesWings was developed with the patient in mind, striving to make treatment available to anyone who needs it.
Oestreich says, “No organization can do it all, but with the support of our leading partners and attendees, we can make a significant impact. SabesWings allows these donations to make a real difference in the lives of cancer patients in financial need. Donations go directly to the need, not the research. Moreover, these donations allow all to provide hope during a time of crisis.”
Learn more about SabesWings at sabeswings.org
BARBIE BUTZ Commentary
The Saberhagen family stands with a check that will help local families combat Medical Financial Toxicity through their nonprofit SabesWings. Photo provided by SabesWings
Calendar of Events
OCTOBER 1- 31
16TH ANNUAL
SCARECROW FESTIVAL
THROUGHOUT CAMBRIA AND MORE
Set out to see more than 80 imaginative and lively scarecrows lining the streets of Cambria’s East and West Villages, Moonstone Beach, Harmony and San Simeon. The scarecrows are the perfect manifestation of Cambria’s incredibly artistic community.
OCTOBER 3
WOMAN OF INFLUENCE NORTH COUNTY LUNCHEON
SPRINGHILL SUITES BY MARRIOTT
900 EL CAMINO REAL, ATASCADERO
11:30am-1:30pm
Celebrate three extraordinary women nominated from our North County community for the Women Of Influence North County (wINC) program. Visit atascaderochamber. org/women-of-influence-northcounty/#Program-Speakers
OCTOBER 4
FALL FIRST FRIDAYS CONCERT
DOWNTOWN ATASCADERO
6-7pm
Enjoy an evening of music while lounging on a blanket or chairs under the fall sky. Vendors will be present for food and drink purchases.
OCTOBER 5
THE ANNUAL COLONY DAYS
DOWNTOWN ATASCADERO
10am-3pm
Enjoy the parade and activities throughout downtown and Sunken Gardens with tours of City Hall and the Colony House in celebration of the early days of Atascadero. For
information, visit colonydays.org.
OCTOBER 11 AND 12
MORRO BAY MARITIME FESTIVAL
TIDELANDS PARK AND MARITIME
MUSEUM, MORRO BAY
Oct. 11 4-8pm, Oct. 12, 10am-4pm
In celebration of Maritime Festival, two free events will be offered to enjoy: a concert featuring Zongo All-Stars at Tidelands Park with food and beverage vendors. People can go to carnivalstyle Morro Bay Free Family Fun Day at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum, where there will be many activities, including a blind-tasting blueberry muffin and chowder competition, as well as live music.
OCTOBER 12
94TH ANNUAL PASO ROBLES PIONEER DAY
DOWNTOWN PASO ROBLES
10 a.m.
Bring the entire family and enjoy viewing running antique tractors, horse-drawn wagons, marching bands, mounted equestrian groups, dancers, floats, fire engines, vintage cars, and more. And the best part? It's free!
WAYNE COOPER MEMORIAL GOLF TOURNAMENT
CHALK MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE, ATASCADERO
7am
Support LIGHTHOUSE Atascadero while enjoying a fantastic day on the greens. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a beginner, this event promises friendly competition, great prizes, and the chance to make a meaningful impact in our community.
SANTA CRUZ ANIMAL HEALTH OPEN HOUSE
3600 DRY CREEK ROAD, PASO ROBLES
11am-3pm
Stop by Santa Cruz Animal Health for their annual Customer Appreciation BBQ Luncheon and Open House. There will be donuts and coffee in the morning, a BBQ lunch served from 11am-3pm, raffles and in store discounts all day! Visit scahealth.com for more information.
OCTOBER 19
ANNUAL GOLDEN OAK HONEY AND PUMPKIN FESTIVAL AND KIDS’ FLEA MARKET
DOWNTOWN CITY PARK, PASO ROBLES
10am-5 pm
Bask in a fun day of honey, demonstrations, antiques, arts, crafts, pie-eating contest and a variety of merchandise to purchase, including at the Kids’ Flea Market.
OCTOBER 21
MORRO COAST AUDUBON
SOCIETY (MCAS) OCTOBER
ZOOM COMMUNITY PROGRAM
VIRTUAL
7pm
Building Resilience in a Climate Changing World, by Laura Albers, SLO Climate Coalition. Climate change is happening, and there is evidence all around us. Learn how to create resilience in our community. You can also find the link on the MCAS events calendar link on our website morrocoastaudubon.org/.
OCTOBER 25-26
ZOO BOO
CHARLES PADDOCK ZOO, ATASCADERO
5-8:30pm
The event promises Halloweenthemed adornments all around the Zoo, along with a medley of carnival games, a costume competition,
Halloween-themed undertakings, a haunted house, and a collection of tricks and treats to relish. With over 200 residents the Charles Paddock Zoo is the backdrop for this engaging and unforgettable Halloween celebration.
OCTOBER 25
CORPORATE CUP TEAM BUILDING
PASO ROBLES SPORTS CLUB
2975 UNION RD, PASO ROBLES 9am
Compete, eat, and drink your way through the day while you connect, collaborate, and contend with your fellow team members and business community. Go head-to-head with fellow businesses in a series of exciting games such as pickleball, cornhole, basketball, obstacle courses, and more, designed to boost colleague morale, spark creativity, and supercharge your team spirit.
OCTOBER 26
PASO ROBLES DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL
DOWNTOWN CITY PARK, PASO ROBLES 10am-4pm
Join in the cultural celebration that will include educational and children’s activities, food, dance, music, vendors of cultural wares, and more.
PASO AUTO WRECKING
BENEFIT BBQ
ESTRELLA WARBIRD MUSEUM
4251 DRY CREEK RD, PASO ROBLES 1am-4pm
805 Community Car Care Centers is hosting a car show fundraiser to support rebuilding Paso Robles Auto Wrecking after a devastating fire.
3RD ANNUAL BOVINE CLASSIC
SUNKEN GARDENS, ATASCADERO
8:30am
Get ready for a weekend of worldclass cycling and a taste of the SLO Life. The event has limited space and multiple routes, so if you want to be part of this year's herd be sure to visit thebovineclassic.com for full event information and registration.
34TH ANNUAL ALMOND COUNTRY CHARITY QUILT AUCTION & CRAFT BOUTIQUE
QUAIL RUN ESTATES CLUBHOUSE
1400 QUAIL RUN AVE, PASO ROBLES 1-5 Craft Boutique Open / 3-5 Live Quilt Auction
Among the items being auctioned are bed-sized quilts, throws and wall hangings in a wide variety of styles and colors. In the craft boutique you will find a huge selection of holiday and other handmade/crafted items as well as smaller quilted projects. The charities chosen to receive auction proceeds this year are Operation Surf, and New Life K9s. Both charities offer support, hope and healing to service men and women suffering from the effects of PTSD.
OCTOBER 31
TRICK OR TREAT DOWNTON
DOWNTOWN ATASCADERO 5-8pm
People and pets of all ages are welcome to come and enjoy family, children, and pet costume contests, games, and of course, Trick or Treating!
SAFE & FUN HALLOWEEN DOWNTOWN
DOWNTOWN PASO ROBLES
3-6pm
Have a costume-fun-time while trick or treating at downtown merchants, trunk or treating around City Park, and taking pictures with witches!
‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Halloween screening
Bay Theater hosts Halloween fundraiser for The Rock
By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life
Morro Bay is set to get funky and freaky for Halloween with a special showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28, at the Bay Theater.
The show is a fundraiser for 97.3 FM The Rock community radio station and comes on the heels of a really fun showing of “The Big Lebowski,” which played to a sold-out crowd. Bay Theater owner Cameron Wilson said, “This is a perfect movie for us to partner up and support the Rock, a unique, freeform, non-commercial local radio station; it’s kind of like the rug that ties the Community together.”
Released in 1975, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is a rock musical, sci-fi comedy, and horror film that has gained cult status in the ensuing decades since it first hit the big screen and then became a staple of Saturday night creature features at movie houses throughout the world.
Starring Tim Curry as the evil scientist and extraterrestrial, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and a spooky house filled with oddball characters and handsome monsters, the movie rates 85 percent in Rotten Tomato’s viewer scoring and 80 percent by reviewers.
Tickets are $15 a person and available online in advance by visting TheRockCommunityRadio.org. Tickets will also be available on the night of the show.
Wine and Beer will be available for purchase and attendees are encouraged to dress like their favorite characters in the show (or your best Halloween garb).
The Bay Theater is located at 464 Morro Bay Blvd., in Downtown Morro Bay.
The Rock (also at 107.9 FM The Rock in Paso Robles) is an all-volunteer, non-profit, community radio station playing an eclectic mix of music genres and featuring citizen DJs spinning their favorite tunes.
The Rock connects the Central Coast “with hyper-local, engaging, creative community-based FM radio and online programming.” They also “provide public safety programming, emergency preparedness education, and emergency alert announcements for Paso Robles, Templeton, Atascadero, Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Cayucos.”
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