New Times, Feb. 9, 2023

Paging all vets

BY BULBUL RAJAGOPAL

Editor’s note

Woods Humane Society is on the lookout for some veterinarians to join their staff. But it’s not the only pet care organization experiencing a staffing shortage. It’s a nationwide issue that’s touched down in SLO County, leaving pet owners in the lurch when it comes to routine health care, emergencies, and spay and neuter surgeries. Staff Writer

Bulbul Rajagopal speaks with pet owners, nonprofit pet organizations, and county Animal Services about the issue [8].

This week, you can also read about what past policy the new SLO County Board of Supervisors majority overturned [4], why Los Osos mudslide victims are in limbo [9], a Ukrainian-born painter who wants her art to spark joy [20], and what At Her Table has in store for March [26]

Camillia Lanham editor

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SLO County supervisors repeal new Paso Robles planting ordinance

In yet another twist in the seesawing debate over the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors rescinded the county’s newly adopted Paso basin planting ordinance on Feb. 7—preempting it from taking effect.

The board’s new governing majority voted 3-2 to gut the ordinance before its March 1 effective date, arguing that its new water allowances and accompanying environmental regulations would both exacerbate the basin overdraft and hamper agriculture.

“I hope I don’t need to remind anybody in this room that agriculture is our No. 1 industry,” 3rd District Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, who supported the repeal, said at the Feb. 7 meeting. “All of this [the repeal] is to really make sure that we continue to thrive … to have the output that requires us to be an agricultural community.”

In its place, county supervisors voted—also 3-2— to extend the existing “water offset” policy for the basin another five years. That policy, first adopted in 2013, requires any new irrigated agriculture to be offset by an equal reduction in pumping except for water use totaling less than 5 acre-feet per year. One acre-foot of water is equal to about 326,000 gallons.

“This is kind of a sad day for me,” said 5th District Supervisor Debbie Arnold, who dissented in the repeal.

The rescinded planting ordinance championed by Arnold and the past board majority, which was adopted in December, aimed to solve equity issues in the basin by raising the ceiling on the exempted water allowance for landowners from 5 acre-feet per year, to 25 acre-feet per year.

Arnold and 1st District Supervisor John Peschong said that they believe the decade-old offset policy has favored large, corporate agricultural entities while disadvantaging smaller farms. The increased exemption was designed to remedy that.

“What we saw back then [in 2013], and what bothered me, is folks who weren’t allowed to resume [irrigating] after the drought,” Arnold said. “What we saw at the same time was a lot of agricultural investment coming into the county.”

While acknowledging the equity challenges, 2nd District Supervisor Bruce Gibson said the planting ordinance was “not an acceptable solution for what we have before us.”

“For one thing, it further threatens a basin that’s in critical overdraft, and at the same time it poses unreasonable burdens on the rest of agriculture in that basin,” Gibson said.

SLO County’s farming organizations agreed. The SLO County Farm Bureau, which threatened to sue the county when the new planting ordinance passed, objected to the environmental mitigation requirements it introduced for farmers.

“What we would’ve had is the first in the nation greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration mitigation mandate,” SLO County Farm Bureau

Grover Beach sues former short-term rental owner for tax evasion

Grover Beach proved that the price of skipping bed tax payments may be higher than remitting a cut of the rent

to

the city itself.

Former local short-term rental owner, Allen Thompson, felt the financial pinch when the city

Executive Director Brent Burchett said. “That’s not something that SLO County wants to do for agriculture.”

Several North County residents and landowners of smaller parcels expressed support for the ordinance and opposed its repeal—with some calling attention to Gibson’s campaign donations. In the 2022 election cycle, Gibson received more than

agriculture. We put that ahead of politics. That’s one thing that bonds us together as a community.”

Gibson, Ortiz-Legg, and 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding all expressed concern about the county’s lack of progress bringing the Paso basin into sustainability. According to the state, the basin is in critical overdraft. The county and other local agencies are required by state law to implement a groundwater sustainability plan to correct it.

“We’ve got to balance the basin, and we need to ensure that we do that by not increasing groundwater pumping,” Paulding said. “I get the concerns around fairness. But if everyone pumped up to 25 acre-feet, we would be going in the opposite direction of what we’re required to do by state law.”

Arnold, Peschong, and several residents who commented on Feb. 7 challenged the assertion that

$15,000 in contributions from J. Lohr and vineyard investment manager Matt Turrentine, both major players in the Paso basin management.

“He’s beholden to big money donors,” said Linda Becker, a local resident and 1st District chair of the SLO County Republican Party. “Large growers and water pirates must not be allowed to pump without limits while thousands of small properties are losing their water rights.”

Burchett, though, countered that the SLO Cattlemen’s Association, which gave $25,000 to Gibson’s election opponent in 2022, also opposed the planting ordinance.

“This notion that you all got this figured out based on campaign contributions is really funny to me,” Burchett said. “I’m trying to acclimate to SLO County politics, but where I come from, we care about

sued him on Jan. 20 for failing to pay transient occupancy taxes (TOT) from 2019 to 2022. According to the Grover Beach municipal code, all hotel or motel operators must pay the city a 12 percent share of the rent charged.

“Every owner or operator is to hold all TOT taxes in trust for the city until payment is made to the city,” the complaint read.

After a heated debate with the City Council

the Paso basin is in overdraft, questioning that conclusion’s scientific and legal basis. While the basin’s official 20-year sustainability plan pegs the overdraft at more than 12,000 acre-feet per year, the North County supervisors begged to differ.

“I don’t believe the basin is in overdraft,” Peschong said. “I believe that these are property rights questions and water rights questions and they are guaranteed by the Constitution. I brought a copy of the Constitution. It does guarantee water under your property for beneficial purposes.

“I’d like to once again reiterate that you cannot balance the basin on the backs of family farms,” he added. “That’s what’s occurring if you rescind this today. On Feb. 7, 2023, we did not stand with the family farms.” ∆

—Peter Johnson

at its Aug. 22, 2022, meeting, Thompson said he decided he didn’t have to pay the tax based on his interpretation of the definition of a hotel and a comment made by then Mayor Jeff Lee during a private conversation. That hearing ended with the city revoking Thompson’s rental operation license. At that meeting, the city estimated that his missed payments totaled up to a little more than

PLANTING ROLLER COASTER SLO County supervisors changed policies yet again for the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin on Feb. 7.

$16,000—an number that City Attorney David Hale called “woefully deficient.” The city was unable to zero in on the exact taxes owed because Thompson had refused to get his accounting books audited. According to the city’s lawsuit, the initial number jumped to almost $30,000 based on an updated tally.

Grover Beach sued Thompson for nine causes of action, including statutory liability for unremitted TOT, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation. The lawsuit stated that not only does Thompson have to pay the amount of missed taxes owed, but he has to do so with an interest rate of 1.5 percent per month.

Thompson didn’t respond to New Times’ request for comment by press time.

Hale told New Times that a solution is in the works after meeting with Thompson and his attorney on Feb. 7 at City Hall.

“We had a solemn negotiation this morning and came to a settlement amount. I can’t disclose that amount because it’s only a verbal agreement so far,” Hale said. “We are waiting for the City Council and the defendant to sign the paperwork.”

Once signed, Hale said that the city will pull the lawsuit. He added that he will present details of the settlement, including the agreed upon amount of money owed to Grover Beach, at the next City Council meeting on Feb. 14.

—Bulbul Rajagopal

Atascadero sets out to repair storm-damaged creek bed

The storm systems that hit SLO County on Jan. 9 and 10 altered the course of Atascadero Creek, shifting it 30 to 40 feet in some places, according to Atascadero Public Works Director Nick DeBar.

City officials held a special emergency meeting on Feb. 1, authorizing more than $260,000 to repair a portion of the creek behind Colony Park. DeBar said that the storms eroded 20 feet of the creek bank there.

“With the loss of the creek bank section and the new alignment of this portion of Atascadero Creek, it was expected that if slope stabilization measures were not undertaken immediately, wastewater facilities were likely to be damaged during the next significant rain event,” DeBar told New Times via email after the meeting.

While construction began on Jan. 30, DeBar explained that the state requires any emergency action to be approved by the City Council within 14 days. Following the meeting, Atascadero entered a contract with Michael Frederick Paving Company, Earth Systems Pacific, and Terra Verde Environmental Consulting to stabilize the area.

“Work is still ongoing,” DeBar wrote. “Rock slope protection (RSP) in Atascadero Creek is complete, but the contractor is continuing to rebuild the embankment behind and above the RSP and reinstall facilities required to be moved during construction.”

For residents who live in the vicinity of the creek, work in the creek bed is long overdue.

Resident Brian Broome told New Times that he hoped the city would do more to clear out the garbage left by homeless encampments in the creek bed.

“I hope they decide to make an effort to manage the land better,” Broome said. “Yes there is plenty of garbage in the creek due to the storm and homeless living there, but

the creek is full of dead trees and lacks root structures that would curb erosion. The city could do more to make the creek a healthy ecosystem.”

DeBar explained that the city is allowed to perform limited maintenance of the creek, but regular cleanup efforts are difficult.

“Removal of vegetation, including fallen trees, within the creek is only allowable under permits granted by state and federal regulatory agencies,” DeBar said.

“Additionally, this section in particular is very difficult to access, being bordered by private residential properties and heavily vegetated.”

But that doesn’t mean that trash will stay in the creek. DeBar explained that the city is assessing what it would take to clean up the creek and is planning to consult with a biologist to determine how to proceed with cleanup efforts.

Dana Holland, a lifelong resident of Atascadero, told New Times that the city shouldn’t approach cleanup and erosion mitigation in a piecemeal way.

“As the banks erode, you need to come through and do it all at once,” Holland said. “And then make it a clean waterway and the people upstream wouldn’t get flooded as much, … but the whole thing is just cluttered up with debris, trees, bushes.”

—Shwetha Sundarrajan

Pismo Beach sets new limit on water rebate program

A Pismo Beach resident discovered a loophole in the local water rebate program, compelling the city to close it.

On Feb. 7, Pismo Beach leaders unanimously set a new limit on the reimbursement amount for an incentive scheme called Cash for Grass, which rewards residents for replacing their lawns with drought-resistant landscaping or artificial grass.

Cash for Grass initially gave residents 50 cents for every square foot of lawn replaced, but the Pismo Beach City Council increased that rebate amount to $2 per square foot in October 2022.

That increased rebate rate ate into the city’s water budget at an unexpected level. By Jan. 20, the remaining money left in the city’s water incentive programs budget was $6,470. At the Feb. 7 meeting, the city greenlit one resident’s Cash for Grass application totaling $10,000, which is the program’s maximum rebate limit. City staff were concerned that the resident was using the rebate program to foot the bill for a landscaping project.

“We don’t have a total project cost yet but it’s estimated that the rebate is going to be a substantial portion of the project cost,” Public Works Director Ben Fine said at the meeting. “Staff’s understanding when council raised the rebate … is that it’s meant to offset the high cost of the turf and not fund the majority of the conversion.”

Fine added that the city had previously approved 38 rebates, paying out a total $44,809.97.

The City Council changed the rebate ceiling to either $10,000 or 50 percent of the total project cost, whichever is less. The council also voted to transfer $50,000 from the Water Enterprise Fund to the budget for incentive programs, bringing the new total to $56,470. The Water Enterprise Fund is fed by water utility payments.

In September 2022, Councilmember Scott Newton said that raising the city’s rebate incentive to $2 would put Pismo

Beach’s rebate higher than the $1 rate set by neighboring cities, and make the city competitive with those outside San Luis Obispo County.

“If we want the residents to be partnered with us, it’s going to take money on our end,” Newton said at a meeting last September. “Sometimes it won’t all make sense financially for everything … but I don’t want to see us at the eleventh hour saying, ‘We’re going to 50 percent [water cutbacks].’”

The city believes that the new limit will make the Cash for Grass program more sustainable in terms of budgeting, according to Pismo Beach spokesperson Jorge Garcia.

“It is one of the highest rebate amounts but it’s also the area that has the highest return on water savings,” Garcia said. “We want the money to go into the community to incentivize these changes.”

He added that Pismo Beach residents had reacted favorably to the rebate increase because the cost of installing artificial grass can be as high as $11 to $18 per square foot. The city anticipates more Cash for Grass applications in the spring.

Residents can learn more about Cash for Grass online at thinkh2onow.com. It’s not the only water conservation incentive program for the beach city. Pismo Beach also offers a high-efficiency toilet rebate and a new reimbursement plan for hot water recirculation pumps, among other schemes.

“Individuals will see a savings in their water bill, but we will see a savings in our water portfolio because we will no longer have to produce as much water for the community as a whole,” Garcia said.

—Bulbul Rajagopal

Some Paso residents call for school board member’s resignation

Paso Robles residents are alleging that one member of the local school board was illegally appointed to his seat.

Sande Adkins, who spoke during public comment at the Jan. 24 Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board meeting, said that trustee Joel Peterson shouldn’t be sitting on the dais.

“Joel Peterson did not receive one vote,” Adkins said during the meeting. “[County Clerk-Recorder Elaina] Caino was allowed to appoint him by one obscure election code that in itself fails to fill the requirements of the Constitution of the United States as well as the Constitution of the state of California, which all of you and she was sworn to uphold.”

The “obscure election code” she’s referencing is actually part of the state’s education code. It states that a person can be appointed to a school board seat if there aren’t enough candidates running in that district.

“If no person has been nominated or if an insufficient number is nominated, the governing board shall appoint a qualified person or persons,” the code reads.

The county clerk-recorder appointed Peterson in lieu of putting him on the ballot because the education code superseded election code, according to the district. Peterson took his seat in December.

Peterson told New Times that he conferred with both the county superintendent of schools and the district’s legal counsel to determine whether he was legally serving on the board. During the Jan. 10 meeting, Paso Superintendent Curt DuBost addressed the claims made by community members.

“Every member of the board seated up here is sitting here having been legally

selected to the board,” Dubost said. “We have legal opinions that have been provided to the audience on numerous occasions that everyone who is here is here legally.”

Moms for Liberty Chapter Chair Trisha Murray told New Times that while the group isn’t necessarily pursuing the removal of Peterson, the district should’ve provided more transparency.

“I think it would have been fair to put him on the ballot and allow residents of Paso to put in a write-in,” Murray said. “Though we do understand California law, a lot of residents were upset about that.”

Michael Rivera, who lost his bid for Paso mayor in 2022, created a petition to remove Peterson from the board. During the Jan. 10 meeting, Rivera said that the petition had gained 130 signatures from Peterson’s district. Hunter Breese, who also spoke at the Jan. 10 meeting, chalked up some of the district’s past controversies and misfortunes to Peterson’s “lack of ability to run an efficient board.” Peterson previously served on the board from 2012 to 2020.

Breese pointed out instances of Peterson’s alleged malfeasance, including his “support” of former superintendent Chris Williams, and blamed Peterson for a 2020 county grand jury report that attributed the district’s financial crisis to “poor leadership and management.”

“If anyone out there is wondering why Paso High doesn’t have a swimming pool, it’s because of Joel Peterson,” Breese said. “As I close tonight, ask yourself: Can we really afford Joel Peterson’s incompetence? Can the Paso Robles school district afford Joel Peterson’s incompetence? Can our community afford Joel Peterson’s incompetence?”

Soquel Goodin, a resident of Peterson’s trustee area, said that she worked with community members to try to find candidates to run in the election.

“Although abundant, our efforts fell short, and we were all very grateful to hear that in the final hours, Mr. Peterson stepped up to represent area 2,” Goodin said at the Jan. 24 meeting. “The fact that Mr. Peterson’s name didn’t appear on the ballot is consistent with California election practices, due to the fact that he ran unopposed. Mr. Peterson filed his papers on time and was the only applicant.”

Peterson said he wasn’t planning on running for another term but was encouraged to after receiving multiple phone calls asking him to run.

“When someone follows the rules and they’re seated, you don’t have to like it, but it’s kind of the way it is,” Peterson said. “When they keep telling me to resign, I’m like, ‘You should have run if you wanted to run against me or have a candidate run against me.’ They should have filed paperwork.”

—Shwetha Sundarrajan

SLO County transportation plan identifies $2 billion funding shortfall

A San Luis Obispo County transportation plan looking to 2045 highlights a more than $2 billion funding shortfall for future road, highway, multi-modal, and public transit projects—and suggests a local revenue measure to help bridge the gap.

Updated every four years, the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan compiles all planned state, county, and city transportation projects in SLO County; factors in population, housing, and economic growth;

and identifies priority projects and strategies for funding them.

The 2023 draft report—which anticipates 18,000 new homes, 17,000 new jobs, and 42,000 new residents by 2045—is currently out for public comment.

“We want to make a coordinated transportation system that works for current [residents], as well as future [residents],” said James Worthley, planning director for SLO Council of Governments (SLOCOG), the agency responsible for the region’s transportation planning.

Underscored in SLOCOG’s draft plan is the expected regionwide funding shortfall for transportation projects. While the county has more than $5 billion in anticipated project costs, it is estimating only about $3 billion in available funding.

“What we find is there’s over $2 billion of needs requests that we just can’t afford in the 23-year plan,” Worthley said. “It crosses all modes, all investment types, public transit, and active transportation. Each one of those categories asks for more money than there’s available money to spend. There are delays in projects … by decades because there’s not enough money.”

Worthley said that the first projects that go on the backburner due to a lack of funds are usually longer-range projects that haven’t already received some amount of funding already. He said the county is forgoing millions of dollars in transportation funds each year by not having a local revenue

measure to support transportation, as state and federal grants often require localities to put up matching funds.

“What we’re missing out on is we don’t have that regional sales tax,” he said. “If we had that, easily we could see $1 billion in this timeframe coming back to the region. That probably is underestimating the amount because some of the dollars it could leverage further from state and federal funds.”

In 2016, SLO County voters narrowly rejected Measure J, a half-percent sales tax measure for transportation revenue. SLOCOG plans to conduct polling later this year to determine the electorate’s appetite for a possible half-percent sales tax measure in 2024.

“It really is putting us behind the eight ball,” Worthley said of the lack of local revenue, pointing to Santa Cruz, Monterey, and Santa Barbara counties’ success securing more transportation funds with their sales tax measures.

A steering committee for the 2045 Regional Transportation Plan also echoed that standpoint in a forward written for the draft report.

“Local governments must … either generate revenues to expand our system and maintain our investments or watch the system degrade and endanger the health, economy, welfare and safety of all San Luis Obispo County residents,” the committee wrote. “A new funding stream for transportation is needed that is not controlled by the state or federal government and is not tied to the antiquated gas tax.” ∆

—Peter Johnson

San Luis Obispo County’s animal care system is feeling the burden of a national problem: a shortage of veterinarians.

Animal shelters are struggling to keep up with an escalating demand for spay and neuter surgeries, and pet owners are feeling the sting.

Carol Moore, who lives in Prefumo Canyon, tried to get her new puppy spayed in January. What could have been a $75 surgery at Woods Humane Society became a bigger financial strain at a for-profit veterinary office.

“I called Woods but they were too busy,” Moore said. “I emailed them, and they said they’re not accepting any appointments even into the spring of 2023 and to seek out my local vet.”

Living on a ranch surrounded by neighbors’ dogs, Moore was worried that her 9-month-old mixed breed puppy would get pregnant if she didn’t get spayed quickly.

After getting placed on Woods’ waitlist, she called her vet and found out that a spay service cost $300.

“I took her in, the doctor did a less than fiveminute wellness check. They took her back for a blood draw,” she said. “Then the assistant came in and said that day’s visit was $217.”

The vet’s office also provided Moore with an estimate for the spay service—roughly $470.

“All the medications are extra. They nickeled-and-dimed me for all the medications afterwards. The total was $695,” she said. Woods is running on fumes trying to care for the animals that did get a surgery slot. With clinics in SLO and Atascadero, Woods performed 5,456 spay and neuter surgeries in 2022, according to its Communications Manager Jamie Relth.

Relth added that for-profit private veterinary practices are tough competition for nonprofits like Woods.

“As a nonprofit, it is hard for us to compete with the salaries and signing bonuses offered by private practices,” Relth said. “Recent veterinary graduates looking to pay off school debts are also likely to look to the private sector before the nonprofit sector.”

Woods Chief Executive Officer Neil Trent said that it’s difficult to single out one reason for the veterinary shortage. But the root of the problem can start as early as veterinary school. According to the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges,

there are only 32 accredited veterinary medicine colleges across the country.

“There is the question of whether there are still veterinary universities or colleges that are adequately accounting for the expansion for veterinary medicine in the small-animal area,” Trent said. “Some were built quite a few years ago and have limited capacity.”

Veterinary schools are expensive too. The cost for the 2022-23 four-year program at UC Davis is estimated at almost $265,000 for California residents.

“In many cases, vets are coming out as new graduates, and they have quite high student loans,” Trent said. “They go into the workforce quite quickly to pay it off. Once they get in and are established, at some point, very often they decide they don’t want to be a full-time veterinarian and want to do parttime because they want to raise a family.”

Trent added that the gender dynamic in veterinary medicine over the past 15 years has changed too. According to him, the industry was male-dominated but with the growth of small animal veterinary clinics, two-thirds of industry experts now are women. That shift could contribute to the dwindling number of veterinarians available for work.

“We are desperately short; many shelters and many private practitioners are in the same situation,” Trent said. “If you want to make a routine appointment at this time, have an annual checkup or wellness exam for your pet at a private veterinarian, I’ve been told sometimes you have to wait two or three weeks out unless there’s an emergency. That’s very similar to human medicine at the moment.”

The lack of consistent full-time surgeons most impacts Woods’ affordable spay and neuter program. Along with its own shelter population and the animals at the county Animal Services Department that need alteration, Woods offers discounted sterilization for dogs starting at $200 and for cats at $75. Earlier, the wait time would be a few days from making the appointment. Now, procedures are being pushed to as late as March.

The nonprofit is advertising nationally and looking for as many veterinarians as possible—even if they’re retired professionals who have the time to help whenever they can.

“It would take the pressure off the four folks who are helping us out at the moment,” Trent said.

The need for spaying and neutering is so high in SLO County that residents requested help from Santa Barbara County. Nonprofit C.A.R.E.4Paws answered that call through its Snip & Chip program. Operating through

mobile clinics, C.A.R.E.4Paws partnered with the Animals in Need Fund and Animal Shelter Adoption Partners to provide low-cost vaccines and medical care and free spays and neuters to primarily southern SLO County.

But it’s facing similar hiring issues.

“It can be tough for us who provide low-cost services to pet families in need to find skilled veterinarians to be able to do high-volume spay and neuter surgeries and at the same time handle medical cases,” said Isabelle Gullo, C.A.R.E.4Paws’ executive director.

As a nonprofit, C.A.R.E.4Paws hustles to

Both Woods and C.A.R.E.4Paws are community partners of SLO County Animal Services. The county department doesn’t offer spays and neuters to publicly owned pets but contracts with the two nonprofits for the surgeries before those animals are put up for adoption.

Animal Services Manager and lone veterinarian Eric Anderson told New Times that the department doesn’t have the facilities to perform surgeries, which is why it works with Woods. He mentioned that the problem of low veterinary staffing is far-reaching.

access grants and donations. The ongoing search for revenue sources makes hiring a second full-time veterinarian a tough decision, Gullo said. Before the pandemic, the nonprofit’s budget goal was approximately $700,000. It’s since jumped to $1.5 million.

SLO County and C.A.R.E.4Paws are collaborating on Feb. 19 to host a vaccine clinic and free spay and neuter procedures at the county Animal Services building on Oklahoma Avenue in SLO. Gullo told New Times that the event would mainly help pet owners from the nearby safe parking site.

“Our main mission is to help pets owned by our community members so that these pets don’t end up in our shelters due to lack of resources in the home,” she said.

“This is not just a San Luis Obispo issue or even a California issue, but something that’s a nationwide problem right now,” Anderson said. He added that the issue is not one of funding.

“There are salaries that are being offered that are generous and competitive,” Anderson said. “That bottleneck goes back to increasing the availability of slots in veterinary schools and increasing the number of veterinary schools. That’s not a short-term solution though, unfortunately, so I think this is a bigger challenge we’re going to be seeing into the future.” ∆

Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.

STRETCHED THIN Woods Humane Society is struggling to find a full-time veterinarian while being unable to meet the public service demand—the organization performed more than 5,400 spay and neuter surgeries in 2022.

In limbo

Los

Why exactly the retention basin failed and who is ultimately responsible for covering the damages it caused are paramount questions that currently hinge on the results of an investigation underway by the district’s liability insurance carrier.

When Ron Munds, general manager of the Los Osos Community Services District (CSD), rst saw the mudslide that devastated a local neighborhood on Jan. 9, he couldn’t believe what he was looking at.

“I jumped in the car and drove up there, and it was just beyond belief,” Munds recalled. “I walked up to where the breach happened, and it was an absolute shock. We had no awareness that something like this could happen.”

What happened was relatively simple: After a day of historic rainfall, a retention basin owned and managed by the CSD for

e Special District Risk Management Authority—a public agency tapped by local governments around the state for liability insurance, including the Los Osos CSD—is investigating the cause of the breach to determine whether the district is eligible for coverage, or if was negligent in the incident. As long as that review is unresolved, disaster victims and district leaders are stuck in limbo.

“We’re waiting for that report, and we’re really pushing for a timeline,” Munds said. “ at’s the hard part for impacted residents. Until [insurance] makes a determination, we are kind of out here in a space where we don’t know what to say.”

As they wait on the results, the CSD appears to be preparing for worst-case scenarios. At its Feb. 2 meeting, the CSD board of directors announced that it had

When asked for an estimate of the total damage that the levee break caused on Vista Court and elsewhere, Munds said he had not been given a rm number from adjusters, but he noted that “you can ballpark it at $15 to $20 million.” Repair work at the retention basin is expected to cost the district upward of $1 million.

As the CSD crosses its ngers for good news on its insurance, most of the a ected residents on Vista Court already saw that ship sail. Private homeowners’ insurance has denied the claims of most mudslide victims, according to Munds.

Vista Court resident Julie Quillin is one of the lucky few who got an adjuster to come out to her ooded house. Quillin was taking a nap on Jan. 9 when she woke up to mud and water coming into her home. She and her husband are currently living in their RV with their two dogs, as they line up repairs and apply for any assistance they can get.

While she’s still waiting on a nal word on her insurance claim, she doesn’t have high hopes and is gearing up for a slow recovery.

“We did get a little assistance money from FEMA that allows me to at least order cabinets, but it’s not enough to order ooring,” Quillin said. “It all just takes a long time. It took until last Saturday to even get my home insurance adjuster out here. And some people couldn’t even get their insurance to come out at all.”

With FEMA set to close its disaster recovery center in SLO on Feb. 14, three weeks after it opened, the window of opportunity to apply for federal aid is closing (victims can apply online through March 16).

According to a FEMA spokesperson, individual relief grants given to residents like Quillin typically ranged from $3,000 to $5,000. Only four individuals statewide received FEMA’s maximum grant of $40,000. Countywide, the agency has doled out $2.2 million in relief to about 1,500 individuals.

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the Cabrillo Estates busted a hole in its side, sending a torrent of mud and water into a cul-de-sac of homes down the hill on Vista Court.

Munds is still abbergasted that the failure happened at all. e basin, though about 50 years old, has held up ne in past storms—performing as designed in a major downpour last winter. At least once a year, before the rainy season, CSD crews do basic maintenance and visual inspections of the basin, which have not raised red ags.

“ ere was no evidence of an issue,” he said. “You’d think you’d see something.”

A month has passed since the Jan. 9 mudslide destroyed or damaged more than a dozen homes in Los Osos, and CSD o cials and impacted residents are still wading through the layers of complex bureaucracy that will determine their next steps.

authorized legal counsel to retain two attorneys with expertise in insurance claims and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) matters. It also hired a geotechnical rm to interpret the investigative report that the Special District Risk Management Authority ultimately releases, Munds said.

“Not knowing the insurance industry or how this is handled, we felt this would be the best way we could be armed with information, not only for ourselves internally, but for the public as well,” Munds told New Times. “We need to understand better how to approach this whole dynamic and to position ourselves to understand what we have in terms of coverage.”

For Los Osos mudslide victims, the best source of assistance has come from the community itself. From GoFundMe donations, to food deliveries, to neighborhood meetings, transportation assistance, and physical labor, everyday residents are helping ll the gaps.

“From day one, we have had an amazing turnout from our community,” Quillin said. “Everyone has been nothing but helpful so far, and I just think the community should be commended for that.”

e help continues.

On Sunday, Feb. 26, the Los Osos Rotary Club, South Bay Seniors People Helping People, and Big Big SLO are partnering to host a disaster relief concert at the South Bay Community Center. All proceeds from the event will go to help the Los Osos households impacted by the disaster. Δ

Assistant Editor Peter Johnson can be reached at pjohnson@newtimesslo.com.

Osos CSD braces for results of mudslide investigation, as impacted residents wait for answers

MUDDY AFTERMATH A month after a Jan. 9 mudslide destroyed and damaged more than a dozen homes in Los Osos, impacted residents and local officials are waiting on an insurance investigation into its cause.

PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM

SHWETHA SUNDARRAJAN

Helping the overlooked

The flooding that hit SLO County in early January impacted everyone, but one group is ineligible for most federal aid programs—undocumented families.

“They don’t qualify for federal assistance programs because of that requirement that they need to be legally here,” said Mariana Gutierrez with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo (CAPSLO).

CAPSLO recently received a $3,000 grant from SLO County UndocuSupport to help some of those families with no strings attached.

“This allows us to really connect with those individuals that have also been impacted in an immediate response,” Gutierrez said. “Getting the necessary information and then providing that check directly to them.”

UndocuSupport donated a total of $21,000 to local organizations to bridge the gap for undocumented families impacted by the disaster. Rita Casaverde, chair of the organization’s executive committee, explained that UndocuSupport started raising funds to help families during the pandemic.

“In January, we were able to look at the funds that we had in the bank account and decide to do another round of grant giving specifically for storm or disaster support,” Casaverde said. “We distribute them through ... organizations that we had already established contact with in the past and that had received funds from us in the past.”

During the storms, Gutierrez said, CAPSLO received around 30 to 40 phone calls requesting aid.

“If there was a need identified, then our staff members would submit the formal request and fiscal will go ahead and send out that check,” Gutierrez said. “It ranged from family to family, so some families received $300 in financial support, [with a] maximum of $500.”

For undocumented families or individuals, there are several barriers when it comes to accessing aid, especially from government or state agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Chelsea Ruiz, UndocuSupport’s program manager, said that in addition to transportation barriers, and a lack of technological literacy

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and child care, many undocumented field workers have a unique language barrier even though FEMA offers Spanish translation services.

Many speak Mixteco, a indigenous language that’s only spoken, not written, which adds another hurdle for undocumented individuals.

“People have [fear], you know, for good reason, right? Maybe they don’t know— like, ‘Does this government agency share information with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement]? I don’t know, I can’t risk it,’” Ruiz said. “So they’ll just kind of opt out, or just kind of do what the landlord says or what their boss says because they don’t know what their rights are. And they can’t afford to stand up for themselves.”

In addition to coordinating efforts and resources with other local organizations, UndocuSupport has been working with the county’s Office of Emergency Services to accommodate undocumented individuals. Ruiz said the county has tried to alleviate barriers to access with the temporary disaster recovery center it set up to help victims of the storms. That center, located in the Veterans Memorial Building in San Luis Obispo, is slated to close on Feb. 14. It’s open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

“I feel like they’re doing their very best to, you know, bring all the agencies together— like the hours of operation are till 7 p.m., which is really helpful. And having a good time and providing transportation,” Ruiz said. “I mean, obviously, there’s always room for improvement, right? But my experience has been that the county is trying very hard and doing everything in their power that they know of to make this accessible to as many people as possible.”

Fast fact

• The 2023 California Mid-State Fair, taking place from July 19 to 30 at the Paso Robles Event Center, is now accepting applications for singers and bands that want to perform during the event. Apply by March 31 for a shot at the spotlight this summer at midstatefair. com. ∆

Send business and nonprofit information to strokes@newtimesslo.com.

Contact Staff Writer Shwetha Sundarrajan at shwetha@newtimesslo.com.

STRONGER TOGETHER The funding provided by UndocuSupport aims to help undocumented individuals affected by the storms in early January, such as the flooding that happened in the Laguna Lake neighborhood.

FILE PHOTO BY SHWETHA SUNDARRAJAN

DEATH NOTICES

BATARA, FLORENTINO, 82, of Los Osos passed away 2/02/2023 arrangements with Los Osos Valley Mortuary & Memorial Park

BEAN, SPENCER GERROLD, 19, of Los Osos passed away 1/06/2023 arrangements with Los Osos Valley Mortuary & Memorial Park

BIGGS, KEVIN JOHN, 58, of Lompoc, passed away 1/22/2023 arrangements with StarbuckLind Mortuary

BLAKE, NELDA BEATRICE, 88, of Morro Bay passed away 1/03/2023 arrangements with Los Osos Valley Mortuary & Memorial Park

CANABA, OBDULIA “JULIE”, 74, of Lompoc passed away 1/27/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

CASTILLO, VICTORIA, 95, of Santa Maria passed away 2/03/2023 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

COPELAND, ZAKARY, 48, of Paso Robles passed away 1/16/2023 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

CUMMINGS, JAMES ROBERT, 100, of Atascadero passed away 1/31/2023 arrangements with Chapel of the Roses

CUSSINS, DOROTHY, 89, of Paso Robles passed away 1/30/2023 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

DEBOW, MARGARET ANN, 89, of Lompoc passed away 1/30/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

DELGADO, ALEJANDRO, 50, of Lompoc, passed away 1/26/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

DOOLEY, STEPHEN, 62, of Atascadero passed away 1/25/2023 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

ELAM, CATHERINE, 96, of Lompoc, passed away 1/18/2023 arrangements with StarbuckLind Mortuary

GARCIA, MARIA AUGUSTA, 97, of Santa Maria passed away 1/31/2023 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

GAUDIN, STEPHEN P., 63, of Lompoc, passed away 1/15/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

HOLMDAHL, B. DEWAYNE, 84, of Lompoc passed away 1/22/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

KEIR, DAVID, 94, of Cambria passed away 1/29/2023 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

KIRKPATRICK, MICHELLE RENEE, 63, of Los Osos passed away 1/05/2023 arrangements with Los Osos Valley Mortuary & Memorial Park

LEVITAN, HANNAH ALEXANDRA, 31, of Nipomo passed away 1/07/2023 arrangements with Los Osos Valley Mortuary & Memorial Park

MANESS, PAUL M., 71, of Santa Maria passed away 2/05/2023 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

MAYSEY, MICHAEL, 74, of Grover Beach passed away 1/29/2023 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

MILLER, RITA B., 86, of Lompoc, passed away 1/22/2023 arrangements with StarbuckLind Mortuary

MILLER, GARY LEON, 76, of Santa Maria passed away 2/04/2023 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

MONSON, ARLENE, 92, of Arroyo Grande passed away 1/29/2023 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

OCHS, WILLIAM CARL, 89, of Lompoc passed away 1/23/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

OLSEN, ERIC JONLEY, 74, of Morro Bay passed away 1/19/2023 arrangements with Los Osos Valley Mortuary & Memorial Park

PORTER, TIFFANY ANN, 40, of Lompoc passed away 1/09/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

RICHARDSON, RONALD, 67, of Paso Robles passed away 1/31/2023 arrangements with Chapel of the Roses

SEDERHOLM, CHARLES, 85, of Orcutt passed away 2/05/2023 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

SEYMOUR, ROBERT FRANKLYN, 85, of Guadalupe, passed away 1/13/2023 arrangements with Chapel of the Roses

SHARP, JASON CHRISTOPHER, 44, of Atascadero passed away 12/23/2022 arrangements with Chapel of the Roses

SLOAN, JAMES ALBERT, 97, of Lompoc passed away 1/23/2023 arrangements with Starbuck-Lind Mortuary

STOODLEY, PHD., ROLAND VAN, 91, of Santa Maria passed away 2/03/2023 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

VERNON, KENNY, 75, of Santa Maria passed away 1/27/2023 arrangements with DudleyHoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

WILKERSON, CURTIS, 68, of Grover Beach passed away 1/27/2023 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

XU, YINGTI, 78, of Santa Maria passed away 1/31/2023 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

BORN JUNE 7, 1939 · DECEASED NOVEMBER 25, 2022

Elizabeth “Liz” C. Thyne

Liz Thyne was born and raised in Arlington, Massachusetts. After graduating from business school she worked for many years at Polaroid Corp. She studied singing and loved Opera. She started to volunteer at the Harvard Semetic Museum and eventually went to work full time there. She led many tours for them to the Middle East. When she retired she moved to San Luis Obispo, California and often said it was the best move in her life. While living there she volunteered with the SLO Transportation Board and

Diablo Canyon

INDEPENDENT SAFETY COMMITTEE (DCISC) Public Meeting:

When: Wednesday, Morning, February 15th 9:00 A.M. Opening comments and remarks; public comments and communications to the Committee; discussion of administrative matters, including Committee funding and activities during 2023, review of the Open Items List; and a presentation by the Manager of the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services.

Wednesday, Afternoon, February 15th 1:30 P.M. Committee comments; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; reports on the September 29 and November 9-10, 2022 fact findings; discussion by the Committee Members concerning their review, assessment and reports on matters affected by extended operations under Senate Bill 846 and concerning their review of plans for decommissioning; and a report on the December 6-7, 2022 fact finding.

Wednesday Evening, February 15th 5:15 P.M. Committee member comments; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; receive informational presentation related to plant safety and operations from PG&E, including an update on planning for both decommissioning and extended operations including plans for license renewal, plans for reviewing, approving and implementing capital projects and changes to maintenance programs needed to support extended operations, and concerning the status of employee retention programs, attrition and an update on efforts to retain qualified staff in support of extended operations.

Thursday Morning, February 16th 9:00 A.M. Comments by Committee members; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; review of the Minutes of the September 28-29, 2022 public meeting, a report on administrative, regulatory and legal matters; receive informational presentations from PG&E, including on the “State of the Plant” regarding key events, outages, highlights, organizational changes, results of refueling outage 2R23, Unit 2 Reactor Coolant System piping leak, an update on NRC Performance Indicators, recent Licensee Event Reports issued, NRC Inspection Reports and Notices of Violation received, issues raised by NRC Resident Inspectors, open compliance issues, current and future license amendment requests, and other significant regulatory issues, and a presentation on the results of the 2022 Operating Plan and key elements of the 2023 Operating Plan.

Thursday Afternoon, February 16th 1:15 P.M. Comments by Committee members; receive public comments and communications to the Committee; report on the January 31February 1, 2023, fact finding; and a update from PG&E on spent fuel management; followed by wrap-up discussion by the Committee members.

Where:

Avila SuitesLighthouse

Point San Luis Conference Center

First & San Francisco Streets Avila Beach, California

You may also participate in this public meeting in real-time by accessing a Zoom webinar meeting via a weblink or a meeting ID or by calling telephone numbers provided for that purpose. Instructions on how to access, view and participate in remote meetings are provided on the meeting agenda, available by visiting the Committee’s home page at http://www.dcisc.org

Please plan to attend!

For further information call 1-800-439-4688 or visit the Committee’s website at www.dcisc.org

A copy of the meeting agenda packet may be reviewed at the Cal Poly Library’s Government Document Department and the agenda packet is available on the DCISC’s website. Each session of a public meeting of the DCISC is livestreamed and on the internet during the meeting by visiting www.slo-span.org.

WATCH THE SESSIONS LIVE, OR SUBSEQUENTLY IN ARCHIVE, INDEXED TO THE MEETING’S AGENDA, BY FOLLOWING THE LINK ON THE COMMITTEE’S WEBSITE TO WWW.SLO-SPAN. ORG, OR AFTER THE MEETING ON GOVERNMENT ACCESS TELEVISION, CHANNEL 21.

CAL POLY WINTER JAZZ CONCERT

featuring cuesta college’s VOCE!

the Save our Downtown Group. Liz never owned a car and was a committed believer in public transportation and always used it.

Liz will be missed and fondly remembered by many relatives and friends. •

(MOSAIC)

Cal Poly’s Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Ensemble

Arthur White, director

Cal Poly’s Jazz Ensemble, Vocal Jazz Ensemble (MOSAIC) and Voce will perform works by Thad Jones, Duke Ellington, John Beasley, KNOWER and others. Voce, led by John Knutson, has performed at the American Choral Directors Association National Convention, the Montreux Jazz

Cuesta college’s voce

John Knutson, director

Festival and the International Association for Jazz Education Convention. Three big band charts from the Cal Poly jazz program will have world premieres. The groups will combine for the final number, Arthur White’s arrangement of the New York Voices’ “Do You Wanna Know What I Want.”

7:30 p.m. Friday, feb. 24, 2023 performing arts center $15 and $20 general, $10 students and Jazz Fed members pacslo.org, 805-756-4849 More information: music.calpoly.edu/calendar

BY JANET BRIDGERS

Celebrate protection

February 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the California Coastal Commission (CCC). The governing body’s role as planning commission for the 1,100 miles of California coastline was authorized by California voters in November 1972 with passage of Proposition 20. The initiative was launched after efforts to pass coastal protection legislation had been approved in the Assembly three times, only to fail each time in the state Senate.

Proposition 20, later codified by the state Legislature in 1976 as the Coastal Act, is the country’s strongest land use policy and has been used as a model in other countries including Chile and Australia. It gives the commission the power to approve or deny development projects within the narrow Coastal Zone with the goal of protecting views, wildlife, coastal water quality, and public access to California beaches for the benefit of all of the people of California—not just the billionaire class.

Coastal protection has been controversial since it was conceived amid furious public outcry following the 1969 Santa Barbara

Development in SLO could bring more issues than answers

Oh my, to develop or not? Allowing more dense development in downtown San Luis Obispo could bring increased vitality to a community, but without increased infrastructure supports, it can bring blight. Is there sufficient acreage in the landfill to address the increased garbage that will result if San Luis Obispo builds more housing? Is there sufficient potable water for the proposed increased numbers? It is obvious that parking will be an issue, and with parking and an increased number of cars, there will likely be an impact on air quality. With more people needing food and hard goods, more trucks will be headed this way—what is the condition of our roads?

Tank Farm Road and parts of Buckley can be a slalom ride to avoid potholes already. How about sanitation services? Are there enough beds in our local hospitals to accommodate an increased population? Do we have the classroom space and the teachers? Will we be uprooting the elderly to areas with fewer services?

And of course, our unhoused folks? Shall we address sanitation, health, and well-being for them first? Some folks will want to live rough/off the grid, but they still merit decent health care, and protection from bodily harm.

I ask the community “elders”—shall we fall into the pit of a desperate Band-Aid society looking for solutions, or shall we enter the future with eyes wide open and prepared?

L. Goldman San Luis Obispo

oil blowout, at a time when, in addition to offshore oil drilling, proposals for four-lane highways, high rise hotels, and nuclear power plants were being presented to local planning commissions throughout the state. Proposition 20’s vision was to establish consistent statewide policies to prevent overdevelopment of the coast. Its detractors term it an overreach of government on private property rights. Its supporters are often dismayed that it does not do more to prevent development.

The commission was designed to maintain a degree of independence through its appointing process. Four of the 12 commissioners are appointed respectively by the governor, the Senate pro tem, and the speaker of the Assembly. But the agency’s effectiveness has been hampered at times by deliberate underfunding of its operating budget, and its executive director has several times been targeted for removal by appointees representing development agendas.

Finally, in 2014 the commission increased its effectiveness when the Legislature granted it

Speak out against Diablo Canyon Power Plant operations

As a SLO county resident, I strongly oppose that Diablo Canyon Power Plant continue operation past the end of the plant’s federal licenses. The plant has violated environmental laws and plant safety rules numerous times. Using taxpayer money to buy the utility company a pass on safety and enormous fines that PG&E could have avoided is outrageous. Those of us who live here and could be victims of an extinction event for the entire county must prevail. Speak up, folks. Now.

Alan Thomas SLO

Tiny homes in SLO County can make housing affordable

Kudos to the SLO County Board of Supervisors for its work with tiny homes. Small homes can be located on large parcels or infill lots countywide. Infill lots can simplify commuting. I see a lot of businesses advertising for young workers. Allowing contractors to build tiny homes would be in the county’s best interest. Homes under 1,000 square feet, with reduced permit costs and red tape for the builders, will lower the cost of homes. Deed restrictions can enforce keeping the houses tiny; ideas like these can help our young people and seniors have affordable housing as their inventory increases.

Lee Engdahl Pismo Beach

the power to levy administrative penalties. The muscle this provides means the commission no longer has to rely on other state and federal agencies for enforcement of violations. In more recent years, the longoverdue perspective of environmental justice has gained traction and guided coastal policy. But climate change is bringing major challenges to coastal protection that the authors of Proposition 20 and the Coastal Act could not have foreseen and therefore included in its protective efforts. One such area is armoring the coast to stave off erosion of coastal bluffs where expensive

SLO developed over parking lots without mitigating loss

I was dismayed when the city of SLO sold to developers two downtown surface parking lots— one on Broad Street across from Big Sky and the other between Monterey and Palm—without having timely plans to replace those lost spaces. Around six weeks ago I contacted several

homes have been built. The act allows such armoring but is ambiguous as to its financing and when such efforts should be abandoned.

Still, the Coastal Act and Coastal Commission have had many successes. Shortly before he retired, in an interview with Earth Alert, the late longtime Coastal Commission Executive Director Peter Douglas stated, “Most of the things that have been achieved under the Coastal Act are the things you don’t see. It’s the access that hasn’t been lost, the wetlands that haven’t been filled, the views that haven’t been destroyed, the second home subdivisions that haven’t been allowed, and the agricultural lands that haven’t been destroyed.”

If the coast, what Douglas termed “the geographic soul” of California, is to remain the place where the many, rather than the few, can enjoy recreation and restoration, it continues to need the involvement of the public. For as Douglas often said, “The coast is never saved. It’s always being saved.” ∆

Janet Bridgers is the co-founder and president of Earth Alert. Send a response for publication via letters@newtimesslo.com.

LETTERS

City Council members with two questions:

1. How much in compensation did the city receive for those two lots?

2. How much in hotel taxes did the city receive last year from the two new hotels that are on the lots?

I’ve yet to receive a response.

Mike Botwin SLO

As the Coastal Commission turns 50, it needs public engagement to continue doing its job

COASTAL CLIMATE The Coastal Act that created the California Coastal Commission didn’t prepare the body to battle climate change issues, such as whether to protect private properties from sea level rise.

Oil vs. health

On Feb. 3, California’s secretary of state certified that oil companies got enough petition signatures to cancel the state’s oil well health and safety setbacks law until a referendum vote on the Nov. 5, 2024, ballot.

Or, as state Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach), author of the bill that was going to become a law on Jan. 1 until the oil companies decided otherwise, tweeted: “Health protection zones for oil drilling overturned today! Why? Because … Big Oil.” She tweeted that the industry “paid people $20/signature to lie,” lied about protecting people, and “continues to pollute our communities.”

The industry-backed petition will put a measure on the 2024 ballot calling to repeal the law prohibiting new oil operations within 3,200 feet of human habitation (“Big oil can only get you to reverse state law by lying,” Dec. 15). The law also established strict engineering controls for existing operations.

Senate Bill 1137 was voted into law by the state Legislature last year, based on numerous studies linking oil well operations within 3,200 feet of homes, schools, parks, etc., with an increased risk of respiratory illnesses, highrisk pregnancies, and cancer. This is also an issue of long-standing environmental racism, as people of color are at the highest risk.

That law is now suspended pending the outcome of the 2024 elections, thanks to the $18 million the oil industry spent on the effort to get signatures on those petitions. In

other words, look for a whole lot of drilling permit applications to come down the pike over the next two years that will be close to homes, hospitals, and schools.

Feb. 3 was the day the will of the people, as expressed by their elected officials with the passage of SB 1137, was overturned by oil money to buy the industry two more years of maximum profits at maximum cost to our health.

That day should serve as the last straw.

Remember the Refugio Beach oil spill, courtesy of the corroded Plains All American Pipeline? Remember Exxon’s proposed solution to the ruptured pipeline? Just load the stuff into oil tankers and run it up the coast to Santa Maria, make a right, and bomb across Highway 166, past the Twitchell Reservoir and all the way through the Cuyama River watershed. The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors gave a welldeserved thumbs down to that plan.

Exxon sued to overturn that decision and is seeking approval of the addition of safety valves to the pipeline—i.e., the safety shutoff measure that it should have had in the first place—to reactivate the moribund pipeline. In the words of Katie Davis, chair of the Sierra Club’s Santa Barbara-Ventura chapter:

“The pipeline is unsafe to operate due to the way it is constructed and Plains’ failure to maintain it. For instance, it was badly corroded. At the criminal sentencing hearing after Plains was convicted for negligence, the prosecutor tried to prohibit Plains from

restarting or even threatening to restart this particular pipeline. Exxon and Plains agreed that the pipeline is unsafe and impossible to fix, which is why they proposed trucking the oil and building a new pipeline instead. Now Exxon is transferring ownership to avoid liability, and that company says they want to restart the damaged pipeline this year. The application to add valves does not consider the impacts of restarting the pipeline, oil production from their offshore platforms, oil processing plants, etc.”

And if that’s not enough for you, here’s just one example from the oil industry’s long history of creative engagement with our state Legislature: In 2014, legislators tried to pass Senate Bill 1096, which would have closed a loophole that allowed offshore rigs in federal waters to stick their straws into state waters off Santa Barbara. SB 1096 was killed in the state Assembly by oil industry lobbyists. After the vote, the LA Times reported “Lawmakers who spoke in opposition said they saw no need to change current procedures.” Nine months later, the Refugio oil spill dumped 20,000 gallons off Santa Barbara and Ventura. Three months later, Senate Bill 788, attempting to close the same loophole, died in committee.

Whether it’s human health, environmental degradation, or larger and more frequent wildfires, all fingers point to the ongoing extraction of California’s notoriously dirty, high-carbon oil and the oil industry’s long history of stamping out measures designed to curb the damage done by its product.

That’s why the Sierra Club has joined with the good folks at the Last Chance

Alliance, a network of environmental, health, justice, faith, labor, community, parent, and consumer organizations formed to address the ongoing climate, health, and environmental justice emergency caused by the oil and gas industry in California.

If you can get behind that sentiment, feel free to commemorate Feb. 3 by going to fuelingtheflames.org and signing on.

And even though that referendum has qualified for the ballot, it is still within the state’s regulatory authority to make a rule that would implement the setbacks buffer zone. Paging Gov. Gavin Newsom … . ∆ Andrew Christie is the director of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Respond with a letter to the editor emailed to letters@ newtimesslo.com.

This Week’s Online Poll

Would you like to see smaller, denser housing in downtown San Luis Obispo?

30% No, the parking there is already terrible!

28% Definitely, downtown SLO needs more life!

26% Only if regular people can actually afford them.

16% We need this type of housing in other areas than just downtown.

93 Votes

Pictured: Copeland Mansfield bedroom in Walnut

Now that there’s a new liberal majority on the SLO County Board of Supervisors, the perpetually dysfunctional governing body is flip-flopping like a suffocating fish on a dried out ag pond.

Two months ago, on Dec. 6, 2022, the then conservative majority adopted a new planting ordinance for the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin that increased groundwater pumping exemptions from 5 acre-feet per year to 25 acre-feet per year, but it came with a bevy of onerous new requirements for agriculture that had farmers fuming (“SLO County supervisors adopt controversial new Paso Robles basin ordinance,” Dec. 9, 2022). It was due to take effect March 1, 2023.

Now the newly seated majority preemptively voted “No way, Jose” to the yet-tobe-implemented new ordnance in favor of

“I don’t believe the basin is in overdraft,” 1st District Supe John Peschong said.

“It’s never been declared in overdraft,” 5th District Supe Debbie Arnold said. Well kids, sounds like you’re in denial. The state declared that 12,600 more acrefeet of water comes out of the basin every year than can be replenished. And that is the definition of “overdraft.” Maybe you’re using the wrong dictionary?

“The physical situation of the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin has been thoroughly technically studied,” 2nd District Supe Bruce Gibson said. “It is in overdraft, as evidence by a determination by the Department of Water Resources that it’s, in fact, in critical overdraft. It’s in crisis.”

the status quo too, and it donated $25,000 to Gibson’s opponent. So let’s put a limit on those donations, amirite?

And the drought? Arnold apparently thinks it’s over, as do a lot of the small farmers desperate to get back to growing crops.

“Small farmers must not be penalized because they stopped planting during the drought,” resident Linda Becker said. “It’s important to protect and represent all farmers fairly.”

Seriously, Linda! You think the drought is over because we had one storm?

Dear John and Debbie, the drought continues, and the Paso basin is endangered. Face reality.

Dear Bruce, Dawn, and Jimmy, Small ag is suffering, and reverting to the 2013 ordinance does not relieve that suffering.

Can you five please work together and govern in a way that makes sense for compromise will keep all interested parties

assured the Grover Beach City Council that his city-licensed rental was not subject to the transient occupancy tax (TOT) and that he wasn’t going to pay his tax bill (“The taxman cometh,” Aug. 25, 2022)—turns out he does have to pay and will pay because the wheels of justice (or injustice, depending on your view) turn slowly but never stop.

Grover Beach sued Thompson on Jan. 20 for nine causes of action, including statutory liability for unremitted TOT, fraud, and negligent misrepresentation. Yikes! Worse still, his initial $16K tax bill ballooned to almost $30,000, according to the complaint. Thompson didn’t respond to New Times’ request for comment, maybe because I called him “a special, one-of-a-kind snowflake.”

Grover Beach City Attorney David Hale told New Times that on the morning of Feb. 7, Thompson and the city came to a settlement agreement after meeting at City Hall: “We had a solemn negotiation this morning and came to a settlement amount.” Whew, glad it was a solemn discussion. I was worried. But everyone is waiting on the official paperwork before disclosing anything. That settlement still needs signatures.

famously quipped, “Nothing is certain except death and taxes.” If you were wondering what story of Grover Beach short-term rental (STR) —who adamantly

Once signed, the city will toss the lawsuit. Hale will disclose details including the settlement amount at the Feb. 14 council meeting. Happy future Valentine’s Day, Allen! ∆

The Shredder won’t compromise. Whine about it at shredder@newtimesslo.com.

Hot Dates

DODGE, DUCK, DIP, DIVE, AND …

Every ursday in February, from 5 to 7 p.m., the public is invited to join community dodgeball at the Ludwick Community Center in San Luis Obispo. Drop-ins are welcome, and admission to join the games is free. To nd out more about the ongoing event and its schedule throughout the year, visit facebook.com/slododgeball. e Ludwick Community Center is located at 864 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo.

—Caleb Wiseblood

ARTS

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

The sixth annual festival celebrates stories of romance, romantic comedy, and the complexities of love. Screening 60 or more independent films from around the world, the festival includes films, filmmaker talks, parties and more. Through Feb. 12 Varies. 805-927-8190. cambriafilmfestival.com.

CAMBRIA FILM FESTIVAL

Cambria Center for the Arts, 1350 Main St., Cambria.

COLLAGES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF

LOS OSOS Collages and photographs featuring Sweet Springs Nature Preserve and the Elfin Forest by Los Osos photographer Kelly Hayes are for sale online and on display at Los Osos Pop-up Gallery (1056 Los Osos Valley Road). Photo prints on metal, paper, acrylic, and greeting cards. ongoing Free. centralcoasty.com. Los Osos, Townwide, Los Osos.

COSTA GALLERY: ELLEN JEWETT

Gallery hours are expected to be extended beginning in October or November for the holidays. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos, 559-799-9632.

DEMO: TELLING YOUR STORY AND BRINGING VIBRANCY AND ENERGY

INTO YOUR WORK MBAA is proud to present a free demo by Toni Danchik who will talk about her story and the context for her “Africa” inspired paintings and her demo will feature her Plein Air process and procedures to bring vibrancy and energy into her work. Feb. 13, 3-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

FOR THE BIRDS Art Center Morro Bay presents its annual For the Birds exhibit. This exciting exhibition celebrates Morro Bay’s vast array of indigenous species of birds and all things bird-related. Through Feb. 20, 12-4 p.m. Free. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No artistic experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. 805-772-9095. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

METAL ART BY TRUDI GILLIAM Gilliam creates her sculptures using copper, brass, nickel/silver, and found objects. This new series of whales and birds uses copper and sea glass. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.

MOSAIC TRIVET WORKSHOP During this workshop, you will learn how to design and create a mosaic trivet. You will learn how to select materials, lay out a pleasing pattern, and adhere the tiles to the trivet base. You will learn how to properly grout and seal your project. ongoing, 1-4 p.m. $60. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay. org/index.php/workshops/. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

NEW BEGINNINGS MEMBER’S ONLY

SHOW Fine arts and crafts for sale at Cambria Center for the Arts Gallery.

Fridays-Sundays, 12-4 p.m. through Feb. 26 Free. cambriaarts.org. Cambria Center for the Arts, 1350 Main St., Cambria.

THE PLEIN AIR TEAM Acrylic artist, Nancy Lynn, and husband, watercolorist, Robert Fleming, have an ongoing show of originals and giclee prints of Morro Bay and local birds. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters

Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.

SECOND SATURDAYS Come by and see the Featured Artists Shows, find gifts for your loved ones, surprises for yourself, and meet the artists featured in the incredible gallery. Second Saturday of every month, 5-7 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

DEPRISE BRESCIA ART GALLERY:

OPEN DAILY Features a large selection of encaustic art, sculpted paintings, art installations, acrylic palette knife paintings, digital art, glass, jewelry, stones, fossils, and a butterfly sculpture garden. ongoing DepriseBrescia.com. Deprise Brescia Art Gallery, 829 10th St., Paso Robles, 310-621-7543.

GALENTINE’S RITUAL RING MAKING

Gather together as women to celebrate “our own love story with who we are and what we have learned this lifetime.” Use the artistry of metal stamping, shaping, and bending to create a ritualized ring as a symbol of our own self-love. Feb. 11 6-8 p.m. $85. 805-464-2838. oracleatascaderoca.com. Oracle, 6280 Palma Ave., Atascadero.

MOTIF An exhibition of a variety of local artists’ works that feature a repeated motif, pattern, or rhythmic elements. Through Feb. 26 Free. 805-238-9800. studiosonthepark.org/events/motif/. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles.

SALSA SERIES AT SERIAL WINES WITH SABRINA Hosts provide multiple levels of lessons teaching salsa and more. Included in ticket price is a glass of rosé or

New Times and the Sun now share their community listings for a complete Central Coast calendar running from SLO County through northern Santa Barbara County. Submit events online by logging in with your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account at newtimesslo.com. You may also email calendar@newtimesslo. com. Deadline is one week before the issue date on Thursdays. Submissions are subject to editing and approval. Contact Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood directly at cwiseblood@newtimesslo.com.

sauvignon. Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. through March 29 $30. 805-296-3377. serialwines. com. Serial Wines, 1226 Park St., Paso Robles.

STUDIOS ON THE PARK: CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS Check site for a variety of classes and workshops o ered. ongoing studiosonthepark.org. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles, 805-238-9800. SWEET ART SILENT AUCTION This auction features 50 original artworks that have been donated by local artists. All of the money raised by this fundraiser is given right back to the community though the Kids Art Smart Program and Community Arts Access Programs. Through Feb. 19 805-238-9800. studiosonthepark.org. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

A.I.M BY KYLE ABRAHAM: AN UNTITLED LOVE Kyle Abraham is one of the most sought after choreographers and dancers of our generation. The bold creator has choreographed for New York City Ballet, NYCB dancer Wendy Whelan, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and more. An Untitled Love is Abraham’s new evening-length work. Feb. 9 7:30-9 p.m. $30-$60. 805-756-6556. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, pacslo.org.

ACTOR’S EDGE: ACTING CLASSES

Actor’s Edge o ers film and television acting training in San Luis Obispo, plus exposure to Los Angeles talent agents. All ages and skill levels welcome. Classes available in SLO, LA, and on zoom. ongoing $210 per month. actorsedge.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

ALL LEVELS POTTERY CLASSES Anam Cre is a pottery studio in SLO that o ers

a variety of classes. This specific class is open to any level. Teachers are present for questions, but the class feels more like an open studio time for potters.

Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. $40. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

ART EXHIBIT: NEEDLING Featuring the Cutting Edge Fiber Art Group. Reception on March 4. Through April 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/ gallery/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

ART EXPLORATION FOR KIDS For ages 5-11. Students learn about drawing and acrylic painting. In each class, students will recreate a famous piece of art from history. Every other Sunday, 2-3 p.m. through Feb. 26 $100 for four classes; $30 for one class. 559-250-3081. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, artcentralslo.wordpress.com.

ART WORKSHOP: LOVE LETTER BOOK WITH LYNDEE SING Join Lyndee Sing in a half-day workshop at Art Central and create a customized love letter valentine accordion book. Bring your own photos, letters, and memorabilia. Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. $75 per person. 805-747-4200. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, artcentralslo.wordpress.com.

ARTIST RIKI SCHUMACHER AT ART

CENTRAL GALLERY Schumacher’s work is pensive and introspective, inspiring one to take a solitary walk on a cloudy day. Wander in to reflect on her “delicious, wistful landscapes.” Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Free. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/galleryartists/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

CERAMIC LESSONS AND MORE Now

o ering private one-on-one and group lessons in the ceramic arts. Both hand building and wheel throwing options. Beginners welcomed. ongoing 805-8355893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

COMEDY NIGHT Professional comedy show featuring local and touring comics. Hosted by Aidan Candelario. Third Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m. $5. 805-

540-8300. Bang the Drum Brewery, 1150 Laurel Lane, suite 130, San Luis Obispo, bangthedrumbrewery.com.

CRITICAL ENCOUNTERS Beginning with monoprints and photography from the 1980s, this exhibition follows the lineage of Nixson Borah’s practice towards his recent digital composites. Through April 3, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/ exhibits/current/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

DATE NIGHT POTTERY Looking for a fun date night? Head to Anam Cre Pottery Studio and play with clay. Couples will learn how to throw a pot on the wheel and make a cheeseboard. Fridays, Saturdays, 6-8 p.m. $140. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

FREE DOCENT TOURS Gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view with SLOMA’s new docent tours. Every Saturday, join trained guides for interactive and engaging tours of SLOMA’s current exhibitions. ongoing, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/visit/tours/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

HILDA KILPATRICK-FREYRE: ART SHOW Hilda is influenced by California paintings, as well as impressionists. Her work is vibrant and she paints local nature scenes. Through Feb. 14 805-545-5401. bigskycafe.com. Big Sky Cafe, 1121 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo.

HOME/WORK Features the work of 14 contemporary artists whose work questions our collective experiences of home: Brandy Eve Allen, Zalika Azim, Kate Barbee, Phoebe Boswell, Andrea Bowers, Allana Clarke, Geo rey Chadsey, Judy Chicago, Mary Kelly, Emmett Moore, Sophia Narrett, Woody de Othello, Greg Scott, and Chi on Thomas. Through March 5, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/ exhibition/home-work/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

INTERMEDIATE OIL PAINTING: ADULT

ART CLASS This class is for students who may have tried oil painting in the past but

FILE PHOTO BY PETER JOHNSON

are looking to advance their skill levels. Color theory and proportion study will be a focus in the class. Mondays, 2-5 p.m. $30 per student or $75 for 3 classes. 805747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshopsevents/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

INTRO TO OIL PAINTING WITH SPENCER COLLINS The perfect class for those wanting to try oil painting for the first time. Discuss color theory, layering paint, and how to use various media. Each student will create a dynamic landscape using a reference image provided by the teacher. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. through March 30 $35 per class. 559-2503081. The perfect class for those wanting to try oil painting for the first time. Guests discuss color theory, layering paint, and how to use various media. For ages 16 and over. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $30 per class or $100 for 4 classes. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

KIDS POTTERY CLASSES Enjoy making animal sculptures, bowls, plates, etc. Please arrive on time, not early, as venue uses the transition time between classes to sanitize. Designed to sign up on a weekly basis. Thursdays, 1:30-2:30 p.m. $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

LEARN TO WEAVE MONDAYS An opportunity to learn how a four-shaft loom works. You will get acquainted as a new weaver or as a refresher with lots of tips and tricks. This class includes getting to know a loom, how to prepare/dress a loom, and much much more. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. $75 monthly. 805-441-8257.

Patricia Martin: Whispering Vista Studios, 224 Squire Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, patriciamartinartist.com.

OPEN MIC COMEDY Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Aidan Candelario. Mondays, 7-9 p.m. Free. 805-540-8300. saintsbarrel.com/ event-calendar. Saints Barrel Wine Bar, 1021 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.

PARENT-CHILD POTTERY CLASS Make lasting memories with clay together as a family. For ages 6 and over. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon $70. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

PICKET PAINTING PARTY Decorative picket purchasing opportunities are available to show your support and help fund maintenance and educational programs in the Children’s Garden. Second Saturday of every month, 1-4 p.m. $75 per picket or 2 for $100. 805-541-1400. slobg. org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL COAST A self-directed fun group of dynamic artists who enjoy painting and sketching outdoors. Artists meet on site at various locations. Weekly plein air destinations are provided by Kirsti Wothe via email (mrswothe@yahoo.com).

Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon SLO County, Various locations, San Luis Obispo.

THE POSSIBILITIES OF MUSHROOMS

Features a conversation between researcher Danielle Stevenson and Dirty Laundry artist Minga Opazo as they discuss the possibilities of mushrooms as organisms, decomposers, and alternative materials to address some of the world’s most pressing issues. Feb. 13, 6-7 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/thepossibilities-of-mushrooms/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

POTTERY: BEGINNING WHEEL CLASS

This series is a great intro to the pottery wheel. Students learn to throw various shapes, surface decorate, and glaze. Clay and firing included with admission. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $180. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY

CASH From the songbook of Johnny Cash comes this unique, original musical about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, and the healing power of home and family. Feb. 10 -March 12 slorep.org. San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo, 805-786-2440.

ROCK SCISSORS PAPER, SLUG FROG

SNAKE: ARTWORK BY JOOLEE KANG

Pen and ink drawings, paper sculptures, and digital animations by Korean artist JooLee Kang focus on the complicated interactions between humans and nature, and the symbiotic relationship between the two. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through March 10 Free. 805-546-3201. cuesta.edu. Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

SCULPTURE CLASS WITH ROD PEREZ

This weekly sculpture drop-in class gives an opportunity for potters to take on new projects and learn new techniques relating to sculptural work. Additionally, every first Friday of the month, a new project will be taught by Rod Perez for beginners. Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SECOND SATURDAYS AT SLOMA

Intergenerational learning and creative expression for children of all ages. Families are invited to SLOMA’s lawn to learn about the visual arts together using our unique activity kits and create an art project inspired by our exhibitions. Second Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. 805-543-8562. sloma.org/events/secondsaturdays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

SENIOR CLAY CLASS Offered to the senior community as an outlet to explore the beauty of clay. For ages 60 and over. Caretakers welcome for an additional $20. Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon $40. anamcre.com.

Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SLO COMEDY UNDERGROUND OPEN MIC NIGHT Enjoy a night of laughs provided by the local SLO Comedy Community. It’s open mic night, so anyone can perform and “you never know what you’ll see.” Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Free. Libertine

Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, 805-548-2337, libertinebrewing.com.

SLO NIGHTWRITERS:

A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. 805-7033132. slonightwriters.org.

Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

TINY POTTERS: WISE ONES AND WEE ONES

PAINT For ages 4 to 6. Kids have the option to paint animals and other subjects.

Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $30. anamcre.com/booking.

Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING

WATERCOLOR This is a watercolor class designed to let you jump in and try out this engaging medium through experimentation.

It’s designed for beginners and those with watercolor experience who wish to expand their knowledge of painting in watercolors.

To enroll please contact Mack via email: vbmack@ charter.net Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $35. 805-7474200. artcentralslo.com/ workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

WINE AND DINE

Harmony Cellars hosts its Evening of Chardonnay event on Saturday, Feb. 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Guests can look forward to trying multiple varieties of chardonnay, complemented by French-inspired hors d’oeuvres from Baguette About It. Admission is $45 for club members and $52 for nonmembers. Call (805) 927-1625 or visit harmonycellars.com for more info. The venue is located at 3255 Harmony Valley Road, Harmony. —C.W.

WALT WHITMAN GAY MEN’S BOOK CLUB This club reads, studies and discusses books chosen by the group which relate to their lives as gay men. All are welcome. Second Monday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/.

Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

MIXED MEDIA (ADULTS) Each week, attendees will combine two or more media in several pieces, while working with watercolor, acrylic, ink, pastels, charcoal as well as various printmaking techniques in the course of a month. Enjoy discovering new ways to work with traditional and nontraditional materials. Mondays, 1-3 p.m. $35. 805-668-2125. lila.community. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

MIXED MEDIA FOR AGES 5-6 AND 7-12 For ages 5-6 (Mondays) and 7-12 (Tuesdays). Mondays, Tuesdays, 3:15-4:15 p.m. 805-668-2125. lila.community. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

MIXED MEDIA FOR AGES 5-7 Each week students will have the opportunity

to explore and combine various mediums like pastels with tempera, watercolors and collage, or clay and wood and so much more. Mondays, 3:30-4:45 p.m. $25. 805-668-2125. lila.community. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

MIXED MEDIA WORKSHOP (AGES 7-12) Come explore mixed media with an emphasis on the Elements of Art and the Principles of Design. Each week, students will have the opportunity to use various media. Tuesdays, 3:30-4:45 p.m. $25. 805-668-2125. lila.community. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

OPEN STUDIO (AGES 7-12) Guests can explore a variety of media and techniques while focusing on their own subject matter. Whether they come with a project in mind, or find their way as they play, this class offers a chance for independent learning in a supportive environment. Thursdays, 3:45-4:45 p.m. $25. 805-668-2125. lila. community/all-workshops/open-studio. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

OPEN STUDIO FOR ADULTS Guests can come in and decide what materials they would like to work with and create

freely. Share your creative process with others and see how your work will flourish. Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m. and Wednesdays, 12:30-3:30 p.m. $40. 805-668-2125. Lila. community. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

PLAY, EXPLORE, CREATE (AGES 5-7) Young artists will play at various stations, exploring games, and mixed media. There will be a new activity each week. Wonderful opportunities for drawing, painting, and sculpture. Tuesdays, 9-10 a.m. $25. 805-668-2125. lila.community. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

PLAY, EXPLORE, CREATE 1 (AGES 3 AND 4) Enjoy the opportunity to explore drawing, painting, collage, sculpture, and mixed media. Each week a new adventure awaits. Thursdays, 2-3 p.m. and Fridays, 9-10 a.m. $25. 805-668-2125. lila. community. LilA Creative Community, 1147 East Grand Ave. suite 101, Arroyo Grande.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

AXE THROWING Enjoy the art of axe throwing in a safe and fun environment. Kids ages 10 and older are welcome with an adult. No personal axes please. Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. $20. 805-528-4880. baysidemartialarts. com. Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., Los Osos.

CENTRAL COAST SLIM DOWN Take control of food without suffering. Learn a step-by-step process to take control of overeating, cravings, and feel peace with food. Build the habits, mindset, and your unique path with results that stick. Hosted byTami Cruz (Certified Health/Life Coach) and Dana Charvet (Coach/Fitness Trainer). ongoing Call for pricing info. 805-235-7978. gratefulbodyhealthcoaching.com. Grateful Body, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

MORRO BAY MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Disciplines include advanced athletic performance fitness training, Thai kickboxing, and more. Beginners to advanced students welcome. Day and evening classes offered. MondaysSaturdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Call for more info. 805-701-7397. charvetmartialarts. com. Morro Bay Martial Arts, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

PALE KAI OUTRIGGER CANOE DEMO

DAYS Join Pale Kai for a fun intro to outrigger canoe paddling. Feb. 11 8-10 & 10 a.m.-noon Free. palekai.org/recruitmentprogram/. Coleman Park, Morro Bay, 101 Coleman Drive, Morro Bay, (805) 772-6278.

SHAKTI: EMBODYING THE GODDESS

This four-class series will explore the iconography, mythology, and devotional practices of 4 goddesses: Durga, Kali, Saraswati, and Laksmi. Guided by Dawn Feuerberg, certified classical ashtanga yoga teacher and tantra meditation instructor. Feb. 9, 5:15-6:45 p.m. $44; $148

for series. 805-540-1762. my805tix.com. 9th Limb Yoga, 845 Napa Ave., Morro Bay.

SOCRATES: DISCUSSION GROUP Group members present interesting and thought provoking topics of all sorts. Topics are selected in advance and moderated by volunteers. Vaccinations are necessary. Enter through wooden gate to garden area. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. 805-528-7111. Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay, coalescebookstore.com/.

STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi gong offers great anti-aging benefits, providing a comprehensive system for improving physical, mental and emotional health. Its roots date back thousands of years in China. Learn with certified instructor Devin Wallace. Call first. Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. $10. 805-709-2227. Hardie Park, Ash Ave. and B St., Cayucos.

TAI CHI AND QI GONG: ZEN IN MOTION

Small group classes with 2019 Tai Chi Instructor of the Year. Call for time and days. Learn the Shaolin Water Style and 5 Animals Qi Gong. Beginners welcomed. Mondays, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call for price details. 805-701-7397. charvetmartialarts. com. Morro Bay Martial Arts, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

WEEKLY QIGONG PRACTICE AT FITNESSWORKS MORRO BAY Calm your mind and nourish your joints with a weekly Qigong practice led by Mike Raynor of Tai Chi Rejuvenation. The practice is rooted in Qigong fundamentals, and standing/ moving meditations. Forms include: Eight Brocades, Five Elements, Shibashi 18, and Tai chi 24. Saturdays, 10:45-11:45 a.m. Members free; non-members $8-$10. 805-772-7466. fitnessworksmb.com. FitnessWorks, 500 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

ASTROLOGY 101: 5-PART SERIES Have you always been curious about astrology and your horoscope but don’t know where to start? If yes, than this is the offering for you. Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m. through Feb. 17 $125. 805-464-2838. oracleatascaderoca. com. Oracle, 6280 Palma Ave., Atascadero. CAREGIVER RETREAT Caring for a loved one at home can be tiring. During this free caregiver retreat, guests will experience: chair yoga, respite care, transitions discussion, lunch, and dessert. Feb. 11, 10 a.m.-noon No cost. 805-342-0956. alz.org. St. James Episcopal Church, 514-14th St., Paso Robles.

CRONE COVEN Welcoming all elder women identifying with the Crone archetype and phase of life. Begins with a short quiet meditation and then opens into discussion of a variety of topics age aligned. Every other Tuesday, 10-11:30 a.m. $11. 805-464-2838. oracleatascaderoca. com. Oracle, 6280 Palma Ave., Atascadero. EARTH SHINE AT THE RIVER WALK Join the Earth Shine Volunteers every third Saturday of the month at the River Walk in Paso Robles. Grabbers, bags, safety vests, and gloves provided. Free pizza after the event. All ages welcome. Third Saturday of CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 18

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARMONY CELLARS

Shakti: Embodying the Goddess THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

9th Limb Yoga, Morro Bay

9th Annual Southern Exposure

Wine Festival

& SAT, FEBRUARY 10 & 11 Solvang Veterans Memorial Hall

Be Hoppy Tours: Sip of SLO Brewery/Cidery Tours

THURSDAYS & SUNDAYS THRU JUNE 29

Begin and end at CC Brewing, SLO

Nature Nights: Immersive Outdoor Holiday Light & Art Exhibition FRI, SAT, SUN THRU MARCH 19

Be Hoppy Tours: Friday Hoppy Hour Tours

FRIDAYS THRU JUNE 30

Begin and end at CC Brewing, SLO

Stand-Up Comedy Hosted by Jason Bournonville FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Mo Betta Jazz: An Afternoon of Jazz and Brunch

Point San Luis Lighthouse Tours SATURDAYS & WEDNESDAYS

SELL TICKETS WITH

US!

By the Sea Productions: The Psychic

FRI, SAT, SUN, FEB. 17–MARCH 12

545 Shasta Ave, Morro Bay

Rival Cults with guest bands Closer to Death & New Clementine

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

It’s free! Contact us for more info: 805-546-8208

info@My805Tix.com

Yoga/Shuttle to the Lighthouse

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Point San Luis Lighthouse, Avila Beach

FEBRUARY 12

The Only Ocean with guests Goodgrief and Radiation Invasion

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

SLO County Jazz:

Ernie Watts - Bill Cunliffe Duo

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, SLO

Barrel Room Concert: Monterey County Line

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Cass Winery, Paso Robles

Michael Nowak and Friends present Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19

Trinity United Methodist, Los Osos

Treat Yo’ Self with Breda SLO: A Decadent Chocolate Experience

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 20

Mistura, SLO

Anomaly House presents: Mindscape, An Evening of Trance

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Laugh Therapy

Stand-Up Comedy

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22

Maverick Saloon, Santa Ynez

SLO Comedy Festival (17 Events)

THURS, FRI, SAT, FEB. 23–25

Multiple venues: SLO, Avila, Paso

Musica Latina en Vivo: La Marcha Sound

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Freedom Heartsong, Catok, The Band Carter, Petunia Swoon

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

Orcutt Children’s Arts Foundation Gala

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

Radisson Hotel, Santa Maria

every month, 10 a.m.-noon through March 18 Free. 805-591-4691. EarthShineOrg.com. Paso Robles River Walk, 141 Niblick Road, #417, Paso Robles.

EARTH SHINE IN ATASCADERO (2023)

Join the Earth Shine volunteers as we work to pick up litter in communities across the Central Coast. Grabbers, bags, safety vests, and gloves provided. Feb. 11 10 a.m.noon Free. 805-591-4691. EarthShineOrg. com. Sunken Gardens, 6500 Palma Ave., Atascadero.

NAR-ANON: FRIDAY MEETINGS A meeting for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction of a loved one. Fridays, 12-1 p.m. Free. 805-441-2164. North County Connection, 8600 Atascadero Ave., Atascadero.

TAI CHI This course’s instructor has won many Tai Chi and other internal martial arts tournaments. Both experienced martial artists and new learners are welcome to the class. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $65. 805-237-3988. Centennial Park, 600 Nickerson Dr., Paso Robles.

TOPS SUPPORT GROUP: WEIGHT

LOSS AND MAINTENANCE A self-help support group focusing on weight loss and maintenance. Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. 805242-2421. tops.org. Santa Margarita Senior Center, 2210 H St., Santa Margarita.

YANG STYLE TAI CHI The course’s instructor won many Tai Chi and other internal martial arts tournaments. Both experienced martial artists and new learners are welcome to the class.

Mondays, Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. $62. 805470-3360. Colony Park Community Center, 5599 Traffic Way, Atascadero.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

ACORN ADVENTURES: FAMILY FREE DAY Part of Free Family Day, the day of the month when admission to the garden is waived all day for all guests. Feb. 12 9

a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 805-541-1400. slobg.org/.

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

BARS AND BOUNCE CLINIC Build whole-body strength swinging on bars and bouncing on trampolines. No experience is necessary. For ages 5 to 17.

Feb. 11, 1:15-3:15 p.m. $25 for first child; $10 per additional child. 805-547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com/events.

Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

BEYOND MINDFULNESS Realize your potential through individualized meditation instruction with an experienced teacher via Zoom. This class is for those who wish to begin a practice or seek to deepen an existing one. Flexible days and times. Certified with IMTA. Email or text for information. Mondays-Sundays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Sliding scale. 559-905-9274. theartofsilence.net. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

COMPLIMENTARY SHOWERS WITH SHOWER THE PEOPLE After a short hiatus, the San Luis Obispo Library will once again be partnering with local nonprofit organization, Shower the People. The shower trailer will be located between the library and parking structure. Toiletries provided. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Free. San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo.

ELECTRIFY YOUR LIFE: TOP WAYS TO DITCH FOSSIL FUELS Join the Community Environmental Council’s webinar to learn how one family kicked their daily fossil fuel

habit, and how you and your family can too. Feb. 16, 12-1:15 p.m. Free. cecsb.org/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

EVER IMAGING PARENT RETREAT This parent retreat is all about creating space to imagine and connect together. Guided by three dynamic, leading educators: John Matteson, Angel Adams Parham, and Heidi White. Feb. 11, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $75. 805548-8700. sloclassical.org/everimagining/.

SLOCA High School, 1111 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.

FAMILY FREE DAY: STEAM FAIR

Admission to the garden is waived all day for all guests. This month, enjoy the STEAM Fair, with fun activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math throughout the Children’s Garden. Feb. 12 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. 805-541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

THE GRIEF RECOVERY METHOD (ZOOM)

Part of the Cuesta College Community Educational Series. Call or go online for more details. Tuesdays, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. through March 21 $150 includes book. 714-273-9014. griefrecoverymethod.com.

Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT

GROUP A safe place for anyone suffering from the pain of depression. We do not criticize but do share our journey, feelings, and what works for us. We can meet in person or use Zoom if needed. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Free. 805-528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.

INTRODUCTION TO BASIC PLUMBING

Introduces the students to basic water supply plumbing for home or farm. The class covers water supply distribution, pipe sizing, materials, types of stock watering tanks, and PVC pipe and fittings. Bring your own lunch on Saturday. Construction Technology Instructor Eric Finlayson hosts. Feb. 9 6:30-8 p.m. and Feb. 11 9 a.m.-3 p.m. $75. 628-888-4012. cuesta. edu/communityprograms/communityeducation/home-garden/plumbing.html.

Cuesta College Ranch Education Program, 3535 Education Drive, San Luis Obispo.

website, San Luis Obispo.

MINDFULNESS AND MEDITATION (ONLINE MEETING) Zoom series hosted by TMHA. Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346.

NATURE NIGHTS: VALENTINE’S DAY

An immersive light and art exhibition for the entire family featuring Bryn Forbes’ large format projections, Michael Reddell’s wire sculpture, and Kody Cava’s colorfully creative illumination of garden areas. Wine, beer, and food available for purchase. Feb. 14, 6-8 p.m. $14.75-$24.75. 805-541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

QI GONG FOR MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT

Learn and practice qi gong, a Chinese system for physical, mental and spiritual development. This class is conducted outdoors in a beautiful setting, which is the best place to do qi gong, as its inspiration is drawn from nature. Certified instructor: Devin Wallace. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. $10. 805-709-2227. Crows End Retreat Center, 6340 Squire Ct., San Luis Obispo.

QUEER SPEED DATING Friends in the queer community are invited to come out for fun “speed dating” event. Romantic or platonic, this is to meant to build community; come by to meet new friends, and maybe a lover (or two). Limited seating; free ticket required to attend. Feb. 10, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Free. 805-2921500. twobroadscider.com. Two Broads Ciderworks, 3427 Roberto Ct., suite 130, San Luis Obispo.

SLO CHESS CLUB All skill levels welcome. Feel free to come by and check it out.

Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m. through Feb. 28 Free. 805-540-0470. Whole Foods Market, 1531 Froom, San Luis Obispo.

students to meet teachers and staff. Feb. 16, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Free. 805-548-8700. sloclassical.org. SLO Classical Academy, 165 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

SUNDAY EVENING RAP LGBTQ+

AA GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM)

Alcoholics Anonymous is a voluntary, worldwide fellowship of folks from all walks of life who together, attain and maintain sobriety. Requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. Email aarapgroup@ gmail.com for password access. Sundays, 7-8 p.m. No fee. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

TAICHI AND QIGONG ONLINE With Gary West through SLO Adult School. Held Wednesdays, at 8:25 a.m. (TaiChi) and 9:35 a.m. (QiGong). Wednesdays. through May 25 $77 for semester. 805-549-1222. ae.slcusd.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

TRANS* YOUTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP

This group is a safe place for trans* and gender non-conforming people, as well as those questioning, from ages of 11 to 18. A facilitated emotional support group to be heard, share your story, and hear stories that may sound surprisingly like your own.

Second Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-541-4252.

VERTEBRATE AND INSECT PESTS OF THE HOME GARDEN The Los Osos Valley Garden Club hosts guest speaker Kim Wilson, Master Gardener. Kim will explain the basics of identifying vertebrate pests and how to control them safely, as well as the most common insect pests and how to control them safely. Zoom event. Feb. 16, 6:45-7:45 p.m. Free. lovgardenclub.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

FOOD & DRINK

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BREAKFAST ON THE BAY A monthly occasion that brings together the passionate citizens and business owners of the greater Estero Bay region in one place to deepen connections and share information. Breakfast is included with ticket price. Third Wednesday of every month, 7:30-9 a.m. $20 per member; $25 per non-member. 805-772-4467. morrochamber.org. Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay.

COASTAL WINE AND PAINT PARTY Local artists inspire and instruct customers step-by-step to create their masterpieces. Saturdays, 12-2 p.m. $50. 805-394-5560. coastalwineandpaint.com. Madeline’s Wine Tasting Room, 788 Main St., Cambria.

MORRO BAY MAIN STREET FARMERS

MARKET Get fresh and veggies, fruit, baked goods, sweets, and handmade artisan crafts. Come have some fun with your local farmers and artisans and enjoy delicious eats while enjoying the fresh breeze of Morro Bay. Saturdays, 2:30-5:30 p.m. through May 31 Varies. 805-824-7383. morrobayfarmersmarket.com. Morro Bay Main Street Farmers Market, Main Street and Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay.

VALENTINE’S DAY AT CAMBRIA PINES

LODGE Celebrate your special someone with a romantic dinner from our Valentine’s Day menu. Feb. 14 5-8:45 p.m. Please see event menu for pricing. 805-927-4200. cambriapineslodge.com/events/onsite. Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria.

LOVE IS IN THE FLAIR

On Tuesday, Feb. 14, the Tavern at Zaca Creek in Buellton will host Speed Dating, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees must be single and at least 21 years old to participate in this Valentine’s Day event. Admission is $20 (not including the required one drink minimum for entry). Complimentary tapas will be served. To RSVP for the event, call (805) 688-2412 or email info@zaca-creek.com. The Tavern at Zaca Creek is located at 1297 Jonata Park Road, Buellton. —C.W.

JUSTICE SUNDAY: THE ROLE OF LIBRARIES IN SOCIETY In light of increasing book bans nationwide, librarians are being singled out with threats against their livelihoods and safety. The history of libraries, their contributions to a free society and how libraries’ collections are chosen are some topics to be presented. Free refreshments served. Feb. 12 11 a.m.noon Free. 805-544-2133. mtcarmelslo. org/. Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Fredericks St., San Luis Obispo.

LGBTQ+ FED THERAPIST LEAD SUPPORT GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) A pro-recovery group offering space to those seeking peer support, all stages of ED recovery. We understand recovery isn’t linear and judgment-free support is crucial. Share, listen, and be part of a community building up each other. Third Wednesday of every month, 7-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See

SLO LEZ B FRIENDS (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) A good core group of friends who gather to discuss topics we love/ care about from movies, outings, music, or being new to the area. We come from all walks of life and most importantly support each other. Transgender and Nonbinary folks welcome. Third Friday of every month, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. sloqueer.groups.io/g/ lezbfriends. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SLO NOONTIME TOASTMASTERS CLUB

MEETINGS Want to improve speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and positive environment? During COVID, we are meeting virtually. Contact us to get a meeting link for info. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. slonoontime.toastmastersclubs.org. Zoom, Online, Inquire for Zoom ID.

SLO RAM RETIRED ACTIVE MEN

COFFEE CABINET Weekly Coffee Cabinet meeting of the SLO RAM Active Retired Men, a local men’s social club. Click ‘Contact’ on website for invite. Thursdays, 8-9:30 a.m. $10. retiredactivemen.org. Madonna Inn Garden Room, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo.

SNEAK PEEK Interested in what goes on at SLOCA? SLOCA welcomes curious prospective parents and their pre-8th

HOMESHARESLO COFFEE CHAT Join representatives of HomeShareSLO for information about our programs. Potential home providers, seekers, or volunteers are welcome to this free chat.

Third Wednesday of every month, 3-4 p.m. through Feb. 18 Free. 805-215-5474. smartsharehousingsolutions.org. Panera

Bread, 1390 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande.

HUELL HOWSER MEMORIAL NATURE

WALK View first-hand the first blushes of spring as the native flora and fauna emerge from winter’s rest. Feb. 11 9 a.m.-noon my805tix.com. Oso Flaco Lake Natural Area, Oso Flaco Lake Rd., Nipomo, 805-343-2455.

PILATES AND SHUTTLE TO THE LIGHTHOUSE Shuttle and enjoy the world class views on your way to the Point San Luis Lighthouse for a one of a kind Pilates session led by Vanessa Dominguez of Tabula Rasa Pilates. Check website link for dates and times. Through Feb. 18 my805tix.com. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. 805-9046615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

BRUNCH IS BACK Celebrate the second Sunday of the month with brunch. Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the waterfront. Features fresh coffee, pastries, and more. Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $50. 805-772-2128. chabliscruises. com. Chablis Cruises, 1205 Embarcadero, Morro Bay.

PAINT AND PINTS Paint the event’s featured image while enjoying your favorite brew. Entry fee includes your first pint of liquid courage and painting materials. Feb. 15, 6-8 p.m. $50. 805-296-1128. Barrelhouse Brewing Co. Brewery and Gardens, 3055 Limestone Way, Paso Robles, barrelhousebrewing.com/.

PAINT AND SIP Paint a Valentines-themed image. Entry fee includes your first glass of liquid courage. For charcuterie service, there is an additional fee of $20. Feb. 10, 7-9 p.m. $55-$75. 805-239-1730. casswines. com. Cass Winery and Vineyard, 7350 Linne Rd., Paso Robles. The entry fee includes your first glass of liquid courage and all painting materials. Feb. 11 4-6 p.m., Feb. 14, 2-4 p.m. and Feb. 19 1-3 p.m. $50. Allegretto Vineyard Resort, 2700 Buena

FOOD & DRINK continued page 19

Vista Drive, Paso Robles, (805) 369-2500.

PAINT YOUR PET Please join Art Social 805 at the Derby Wine Estates for a “paint your Pet “ painting experience. Feb. 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m. $60. 805-238-6300. derbywineestates.com. Derby Wine Estates, 525 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles.

PET YOUR PET Turn a picture of your pet into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The entry fee includes your first glass of liquid courage and painting materials. Feb. 10 6-8 p.m. $50. 805-369-2347. calcoastbeer. com. California Coast Beer Company, 1346 Railroad St., Paso Robles.

PIZZA FOR A PURPOSE: BENEFITING

ATASCADERO COOPERATIVE

PRESCHOOL Help Atascadero Cooperative Preschool raise some “dough” by dining out at Mountain Mike’s Pizza during this week-long fundraiser. Mention ACP when making an in-person or phone order and the school will receive a portion of the sales. Through Feb. 11, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. 805-466-2427. atascooppreschool.com. Mountain Mikes Pizza, 9006 West Front St., Atascadero.

TACO TUESDAYS La Parilla Taqueria will be in the courtyard serving up their delicious tacos and tostadas. Menu typically includes barbacoa, chicken, and pastor tacos, as well as shrimp ceviche tostadas. Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. 805-4606042. ancientowlbeergarden.com. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero.

VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER Lone Madrone and Kitchen 46 are pairing up to create a romantic evening at the tasting room for Valentines Day. Chef Jeff has created a grand menu and winemaker Jordan has chosen the perfect wine to compliment each course. Feb. 14 6:30-10 p.m. $190. 805-238-0845. lonemadrone. com/events/. Lone Madrone Tasting Room, 3750 West Hwy 46, Templeton.

VALENTINE’S PICNIC Each private picnic spot includes a bottle of wine of your choosing, a cheese and charcuterie board, French macaroons, blankets to keep you warm, and flowers to take home. Feb. 11 and Feb. 12 $70 per person. 805-434-5607. onxwine.com. ONX Estate Vineyard, 1200 Paseo Excelsus, Templeton.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET

Thursdays, 6-9 p.m. Downtown SLO, Multiple locations, San Luis Obispo.

KIDS’ PARTY PARADISE: BUDDY

BANQUET Drop your kiddos off at Kids’ Party Paradise for a night of pizza, dessert, a movie, and gymnastics fun. For ages 4 to 13. Feb. 11 5-9:30 p.m. $50-$70. 805-5471496. performanceathleticsslo.com/events.

Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CHICKEN

BARBECUE Super Bowl Sunday feast funds Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarships. Barbecued chicken, baked beans, potato salad, garlic bread. Eat in or take out. Since 1968, this event has provided 600 scholarships to collegebound teens graduating from SLO area high schools. Feb. 12 , 12-3 p.m. $15. mlkfund.org. SLO Elks Lodge, 222 Elks Lane, San Luis Obispo.

SLO FARMERS MARKET Hosts more than 60 vendors. Saturdays, 8-10:45 a.m. World Market Parking Lot, 325 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT PUB TRIVIA Bring your thinking cap as questions vary from pop culture, geography, to sports. There is a little for everyone. Prizes for the winning teams. Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. 805-439-2529. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo.

MUSIC

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BLUES AGENDA JAM AND SHOWCASE

Held at the renovated Niffy’s Merrimaker every first and third Wednesday. Local,

visiting, and newcomers are welcome to the blues jam, which showcases musicians from the vibrant Central Coast blues jam scene. Liquid refreshments only. Outside food welcome. Third Wednesday of every month, 7-10 p.m. Free. 805-235-5223. The Merrimaker Tavern, 1301 2nd Street, Los Osos.

LISTENING AS RITUAL Group listening sessions with musician/musicologist Ben Gerstein. Explore remarkable recordings of world music, nature field recording, western classical and contemporary, and jazz, sharing and discussing inspiration and perspectives on the expressive power of peoples, cultures, animals and habitats through sonic experience. Every other Monday, 7-8:15 p.m. $10-$15 donation. 805-305-1229. leftcoastartstudio.com/. Left Coast Art Studio, 1188 Los Osos Valley Rd., Los Osos.

LIVE MUSIC WITH GUITAR WIZ AT LUNADA GARDEN BISTRO “Guitar

Wizard” Billy Foppiano plays a wide range of music, including blues, R&B, classic rock, and more. Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 805-900-5444. Lunada Garden Bistro, 78 N. Ocean Ave., Cayucos.

MICHAEL NOWAK AND FRIENDS

PRESENT SCHUBERT’S “TROUT”

QUINTET Feb. 19, 3 p.m. Trinity United Methodist Church, 490 Los Osos Valley Rd., Los Osos, 805-528-1649, trinitylososos.org.

SONGWRITERS AT PLAY FEATURES

AZERE WILSON Azere’s original songs emanate jazzy folk blues vibes, influenced by artists like Nina Simone, Bessie Smith, and Ma Rainey. Special guests include Cynthia Ford, Jovi Espina, and Leslie

com. SLO Brew Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-1843.

CUESTA MUSIC FACULTY SPRING

CONCERT Help the dedicated Performing Arts Music Faculty raise essential scholarship funds for Cuesta College music students. Feb. 10 7:30-9:30 p.m. $10-$25. tickets.cuesta.edu. Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

DJ B.TRU An evening DJ set featuring Mushroom Jazz and Roots Reggae and delicious ciders on tap. Held in the tasting room and patio. Saturdays, 5-8 p.m. 805721-6878. SLO Cider, 3419 Roberto Ct., Suite C, San Luis Obispo.

ERNIE WATTS AND BILL CUNLIFFE The SLO County Jazz Federation is excited to present Grammy-winning saxophonist Ernie Watts in a rare duo outing with pianist Bill Cunliffe. Feb. 18 7:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Mount Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Fredericks St., San Luis Obispo.

FORBES ORGAN SERIES: FELIX HELL (TO HELL AND BACH) A native of Germany, Felix Hell is one of the most respected concert organists in the world. He has been featured as a recitalist and concerto soloist in more than 1,000 concerts throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Feb. 18, 7:30-9 p.m. $32. 805-756-6556. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, pacslo.org.

JAZZ AT THE MINT: AN AFTERNOON OF JAZZ AND BRUNCH Enjoy live jazz and R&B with brunch. Feb. 11 $28 donation. my805tix.com. Mint + Craft, 848 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-632-9191.

Thompson. Feb. 14, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. 805204-6821. songwritersatplay.com/events.

Schooners, 171 North Ocean Ave, Cayucos.

VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL

PERFORMANCE BY EMILY FRANKLIN

Bring your favorite person for an amazing dinner and Valentine’s evening Jazz performance by Emily Franklin. Feb. 14, 5-8 p.m. Free show. 805-721-6878. Lunada Garden Bistro, 78 N. Ocean Ave., Cayucos.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

BARREL ROOM CONCERT: MONTEREY COUNTY LINE

Enjoy the views of the hilltop vineyard while we rock out with Monterey County Line. Feb. 19 4-6 p.m. my805tix.com. Cass Winery, 7350 Linne Road, Paso Robles.

EASTON EVERETT LIVE AT PEAR VALLEY

WINERY Easton Everett plays guitar-woven music that generates curiosity and has a distinctive sound and a sweeping groove. Feb. 11 1-3 p.m. Free. eastoneverett.com/. Pear Valley Winery, 4900 Union Road, Paso Robles, 805-475-3389.

FRIDAY NIGHT DJ Weekly DJ series, with a different DJ every Friday. Presented by friends at Traffic Record store in Atascadero. Come listen, dance, drink, and unwind every Friday. All ages event; no cover charge. Fridays, 7-10 p.m. 805-4606042. ancientowlbeergarden.com. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero.

WHIMSICAL WOODWINDS Special guest woodwind quintet from L.A. brings a lively and varied program to the chamber music series. Feb. 12 , 5:30 p.m. my805tix. com. Cass Winery, 7350 Linne Road, Paso Robles.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

CASS MCCOMBS AND BAND LIVE

Since 2002, McCombs has released ten albums, an EP, and a B-sides compilation under his own name. McCombs’ music blends elements of many styles including American roots music, underground music, and country. Feb. 18, 7 p.m. $26. slobrew.

JAZZ VESPERS CONCERT Event returns to the historic sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of SLO with Grammywinning pianist Bill Cunliffe in a special afternoon of solo piano artistry. Feb. 19 4-5:15 p.m. Free; donations appreciated with a reception to follow. 805-543-3070. FPCSLO.org. First Presbyterian Church of San Luis Obispo, 981 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo.

LIVE MUSIC AT RAGTAG WINE CO. Enjoy live music by local favorites. Wine available by the flight, glass, or bottle. ThursdaysSaturdays, 6-9 p.m. Ragtag Wine Co., 779 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, 805-439-0774, ragtagwineco.com.

THE LONE BELLOW Their music embraces the dynamics of bluegrass and gospel, the fire of rock and roll, and the passion of the blues, while sharing tales of folks trying to make something of their lives, sometimes against long odds. Feb. 15 7:30-9 p.m. $35-$55. 805-756-6556. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, pacslo.org.

OPEN MIC NIGHT IN THE TASTING

ROOM Kelsey Rae hosts this open mic event for music and comedy in the tasting room. Second Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Free show. 805-721-6878. SLO Cider, 3419 Roberto Ct., Suite C, San Luis Obispo.

SLO BREW LIVE AND NUMBSKULL

PRESENTS: THE FRIGHTS The Frights are an American surf punk band formed in Poway, California, in 2012. Since 2017, the band has consisted of Mikey Carnevale (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Richard Dotson (bass guitar, backing vocals), Marc Finn (drums), and Jordan Clark (lead guitar, backing vocals). Feb. 16 7 p.m. $25. slobrew.com. SLO Brew Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-1843.

THE STONE FOXES After 2 years, the San Francisco rock and roll band is back on the road, bringing their fans a first listen to some of the songs from their latest album. Feb. 17, 7 p.m. $17. slobrew.com. SLO Brew Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-1843.

THEE SACRED SOULS LIVE The band’s first club dates led to a record deal with the revered Daptone label; their first singles racked up more than ten million streams in a year and garnered attention from Billboard, according to press materials.

Feb. 14 7 p.m. and Feb. 15, 7 p.m. $35. slobrew.com. SLO Brew Rock, 855

Pl., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-1843.

Arts

ARTIFACTS

Miossi Charitable Trust donates $1 million to support new SLO REP building

In late January, the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust announced it would contribute $1 million to support the San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre’s (SLO REP) capital campaign to build a new theater venue in downtown San Luis Obispo. SLO REP’s goal is to raise $15.3 million. So far, $11 million has been raised, including the Miossi Charitable Trust’s recent donation, according to SLO REP.

In appreciation of the Miossi contribution, the new SLO REP grand lobby will be named after the late Harold J. Miossi, a SLO rancher, environmentalist, and supporter of the arts.

“Harold Miossi was a genuine philanthropic visionary,” Howard Carroll, trustee for the Miossi Charitable Trust, said in press materials. “In setting up this trust before his death in 2006, it was Harold’s intention to support a variety of causes and organizations that enrich our region’s quality of life.

Carroll added that Miossi “would be delighted to support SLO REP’s ambitious vision to become not only a destination regional theater, but also an important educational and cultural institution.”

According to press materials, the new venue will be a singlestory building of nearly 12,000 square feet, with two theater spaces—a 215-seat theater for fully staged productions and a 99-seat theater for staged readings and other live programs. The building is scheduled to open in 2027. Visit slorep.org for more info.

Minnesota-based exhibit showcases Los Osos artist Neal Breton

Pool scenes by Los Ososbased painter Neal Breton will be featured in an upcoming group show at Gamut Gallery in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The show, titled AstroTurf, marks the gallery’s first exhibition of 2023 and is scheduled to premiere on Feb. 17 and remain on display through March 18.

Originally from New Hampshire, Breton has worked as a professional artist for more than two decades, according to the Gamut Gallery. During the ’90s, Breton studied painting at Pasadena City College. Since then, he has curated and shown his own artwork at venues across the U.S. Before moving to Los Osos, where he currently resides, Breton lived in the suburbs of Los Angeles.

Other featured artists in AstroTurf include Santa Cruz-based artist Rachel Barnes, aka Human Shaped Animal; and Minneapolisbased artists Genie Castro and Nicole Mueller. To find out more about the group show, call Gamut Gallery at (612) 367-4327 or visit gamutgallerympls.com. ∆

—Caleb Wiseblood

BY ADRIAN VINCENT ROSAS

Spontaneous joy

Ukrainian-born artist Irene Pomirchy wants to spread the joy of life and hope through her paintings

As birds serenade commuters on Higuera Street, artist Irene Pomirchy takes in the natural beauty of a winter afternoon in downtown SLO.

From the vibrant green and red leaves on the California sycamore hanging over the rushing creek to the clay tiles lining the roofs of local businesses, Irene nds inspiration in myriad places, painting images lled with the joy and celebration of everyday life.

“ e location doesn’t matter,” Irene said. “When I paint, my ideal sounds are the ones in nature: things like a light breeze, birds chirping, and the ocean breathing.”

For her entire life, the Ukrainian-born painter has maintained a dedication to this mindset. Some of her work is featured at SLO Gallery, where she hangs paintings from her studio, Joyful Art.

Her art often results from spontaneous inspiration, starting as quick sketches before Irene brings them to life with oil or watercolor focusing on the balance, ow, and texture of colors and subjects.

“Each painting has a soul, and I think that’s what attracts people,” said Irene’s husband, Gennady Pomirchy. “ ere’s just so much expression, you can really feel the human touch.”

Irene’s journey into the world of art has been lifelong, starting at her birth in Kiev, Ukraine, where she feels the love of her country inspired her to get into art.

“I had a passion for painting and drawing since my early childhood,” she said with a chuckle. “I guess you could say I was born with it.”

Irene attended Kiev Art Academy, earning her art degree alongside a civil engineering degree from Kiev Industrial College and Brynask University of Technology before moving to the East Coast in 1991, settling down in Marlboro, New Jersey, to focus on raising three sons with her husband.

“I come from a di erent world than her; I’m an IT guy,” Gennady said. “I can’t draw much of anything, but that’s really allowed me to appreciate the humanity and passion present in all of the work she

See for yourself

You can find Irene Pomirchy’s recent paintings on display at Old SLO BBQ, 670 Higuera St. in San Luis Obispo, or visit SLO Gallery, 1019 Broad St., to see her main featured work as part of the gallery. Follow her on Instagram @irenejoyfulart or visit her website, joyfulart.net.

has painted in the 30 years we have lived together.”

During her time on the East Coast, Irene sporadically painted, contributing art to places like the Manhattan-based Agora Gallery and Brooklynbased Monmouth Museum, CVA Gallery, and Art Alliance, alongside personal art shows and exhibitions at Monmouth County buildings.

“My art is always evolving and shifting,” Irene said. “I was trained to emulate and utilize classical art techniques, but I found my travels enhanced my style in a way that makes it stand out more.”

As the years passed and her sons grew up, Irene found the time to pursue art full time. With a move to Nipomo in 2021, she began to incorporate her years of travel with the natural beauty present in her new home.

work has been featured at the SLO Botanical Garden, Santa Barbara’s Faulkner Gallery, and Old SLO BBQ, where her paintings currently decorate the walls as part of the restaurant’s community program to raise money for nonpro t art organizations.

“ e paintings are meant to bring peace and calmness into the house or place where they hang,” Irene said. “I want it to be that when people look at my art they feel joy and it brings them comfort.”

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“Outside of my studio, my ideal place to paint was always a garden surrounded by blooming owers and trees, but when we moved to California I found the ever-changing vineyards and lavender elds,” she said. “ e moment I pick up a brush, I am transported to another dimension.”

In addition to her SLO Gallery exhibits, her

Whether that be by raising money for arts nonpro ts or to support those in Ukraine, Irene wants her art to bring joy to those in its proximity.

“If they are having a bad day, I want it to brighten up their day,” she said. “It’s why I chose the name Joyful Art, to remind people of the joy in the world around them, and how through that they can spread that joy through their passions, much as I do in my art.” ∆

Freelancer Adrian Vincent Rosas is getting lost in the joy of nature. Reach him at arosas@ newtimesslo.com.

VIBRANT RESILANCE Irene displays her pieces (oil on linen) For Ukraine (right) and Freedom (left) which represent the resilience of her home country in the face of their current crisis combined with the beautiful nature found across SLO county.

SPREAD THE JOY From left to right: Sakura in Bloom, Pink Peonies , and Red Sea (oil on linen) are featured along the walls as part of Irene’s contributions to Old SLO BBQ’s community art efforts.

SIMPLE SERENITY Blue Barn epitomizes Irene’s goal of bringing joy out of the simple surroundings found throughout SLO county.

PHOTOS BY ADRIAN ROSAS

Faith or fantasy?

M.Night Shyamalan (Signs, Lady in the Water, Old) co-writes and directs this apocalyptic psychological horror thriller about a family— husbands Eric (Jonathan Gro ) and Andrew (Ben Aldridge) and their adopted daughter Wen (Kristen Cui)— who are vacationing at a remote cabin when four strangers— Leonard (Dave Bautista), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Redmond (Rupert Grint), and Adriane (Abby Quinn)—arrive, hold them hostage, and tell them they must sacri ce one family member to avert the apocalypse. (100 min.)

KNOCK AT THE CABIN

What’s it rated? R

What’s it worth, Glen? Full price

What’s it worth, Anna? Full price

Where’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Park, Stadium 10

CHOOSE

Glen I still think Shyamalan peaked at his third lm, e Sixth Sense (1999), which established him as the king of the thirdact twist, but that hasn’t stopped me from watching every new lm to see if he’s nally able to top himself. Even though his movies tend to be gimmicky, he’s an undeniably good director and spins some fascinating tales, and in Knock at the Cabin, he’s showing us a much more subtle version of his formula. e story, based on Paul Tremblay’s novel e Cabin at the End of the World (2018), diverges greatly from the novel, but the setup is the same. Eric and Je believe the event is driven by homophobia, and that one of the assailants may be a man who attacked Andrew in a bar 13 years earlier. However, the kidnappers are so earnest in their belief that the end is near that Eric—raised in a Christian home—begins to question the truth, especially after devastating events unfold on the news.

Anna e four captors seem to have met on a message board and all share strange, apocalyptic visions about the end of the

THE RECRUIT

What’s it rated? TV-MA

When? 2022

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Think of protagonist Owen Hendrick (Noah Centineo) as a cheekier and less capable version of Jack Ryan. Owens is not former military or a fancy “analyst” for the CIA. He’s a fresh-out-of-law-school hire who’s immediately taken advantage of by the more experienced people in his branch, who send him unprepared to question former CIA asset Max Meladze (Laura Haddock), who’s in prison and is trying to extort the CIA by threatening to release classified information unless they get her out.

He’s soon in over his head, trying to track down

world and what must be done to prevent it. Eric and Andrew don’t believe them—after all, who would? It sounds like group delusion and hysteria. But the rst time the young family is asked if they will make a sacri ce and they refuse, it becomes immediately clear that the four strangers have no intention of abandoning their mission. News reports soon show that chaos is happening all around the world outside of that small cabin. Did they somehow create fake news reports, maybe change the time stamp at the bottom of the screen? Eric is concussed; it is blurring his perception of reality? We also learn about the couple earlier in their relationship and the process of adopting Wen as an infant overseas. It truly was a compelling movie. I give Shyamalan props with this one. His movies can be hit or miss for me, but this one had me invested from start to nish.

Glen It’s an interesting premise, and being cut o from phone service at a remote cabin and seeing TV reports of worldwide devastation would be disorienting. Would

information on Max and her former handler, and finds he’s sandwiched between international politics and people from his own agency. There are some fun moments as the inexperienced wiseass fumbles his way through the assignment. Centineo brings the right amount of charm and cocky stupidity to Noah, who seems to have a need to prove himself and also manages to display some guts when needed. Haddock is dark as sort of a low-rent version of Angelina Jolie—angular good looks with an angry tinge. The series flags when it spends too much time in CIA cubicles, but it has its moments. (eight 55-min. episodes)

—Glen

Christian believers even believe it? I mean, would a true believer think God would make such a demand? It’s not unprecedented in the Bible. After all, God asked Abraham to sacri ce his son, Isaac. In that story, however, before Abraham killed his son, God stepped in with a ram to replace the sacri ce. Faith might be a form of madness. Anna is plays into the idea of where faith can drive us, and what we choose to believe in pressure-cooker situations. Andrew and Eric love each other, and even more so Wen, but they do have some fundamental di erences. How those play out in this heightened situation is pretty interesting to watch. I can’t say this movie blew me away, but I was impressed with Bautista— his performance carries a lot of emotional weight. ∆

Senior Sta Writer Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Split Screen. Glen compiles listings. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

What’s it rated? R

When? 2022

Where’s it showing? The Palm Theatre, Netflix

Edward Berger ( Jack, Deurshland 83 ) directs this film based on Erich Maria Remarque’s celebrated 1928 novel about a young German soldier in World War I, who experiences terror and distress while stationed on the front lines of the Western Front. It’s currently nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, Best Cinematography, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Felix Kammerer stars as protagonist Paul Bäumer, who lies about his age and fakes his

father’s signature to enlist in the German army, swept up by the youthful exuberance of his peers and the jingoism of his culture. It all seems like a grand adventure until the horrible reality of war hits, and Paul realizes he and his friends are cannon fodder. This is antiwar filmmaking at its finest. Though available with your Netflix account, this film deserves a viewing on the big screen (though its last day at the Palm is Feb. 9). The work by cinematographer James Friend is spectacular and Oscar-worthy. Kammerer, in his feature film debut, is fantastic. The trained theater actor turns in a potent performance in this harrowing and deeply affecting film. fully expect it to haul in a few golden statues come Academy Awards night. (In German and French; 148 min.) —Glen

Cast: Jane Fonda, Tom Brady, Sally Field, Rita Moreno, Gast Duprat, Lily Tomlin

A family—including father, Eric (Jonathan Groff), and daughter, Wen (Kristen Cui)—is held hostage by a group of strangers, who tell them they must sacrifice one member to avert the apocalypse, in M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin, screening in local theaters.

PHOTO

FISH OUT OF WATER Fledgling CIA lawyer Owen Hendrick (Noah Centineo, right) finds himself thrust into the world of international espionage when he’s sent to investigate former CIA asset Max Meladze (Laura Haddock), in The Recruit, streaming on Netflix.

BROKEN Felix Kammerer stars as German soldier Paul Bäumer, in All Quiet on the Western Front, a multiple Academy Award nominee including for Best Picture and Cinematography, playing on the big screen at The Palm Theatre and streaming on Netflix.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Music

BY GLEN STARKEY

Love songs for losers

The Lone Bellow plays the Performing Arts Center

The Lone Bellow, a trio of Southerners who converged in Brooklyn and are now based in Nashville, have grown into a dazzling indie/folk/rock/Americana act whose songs can lift your spirits and break your heart, sometimes simultaneously. They’re currently touring in support of their fifth studio album, Love Songs for Losers, and there are still great seats available when Cal Poly Arts brings the band to the Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, Feb. 15, (7:30 p.m.; $35 to $55 at calpolyarts.org).

“One of the reasons we went with Love Songs for Losers as the album title is that I’ve always seen myself as a loser in love—I’ve never been able to get it completely right, so this is my way of standing on top of the mountain and telling everyone, ‘It’s OK,’” lead vocalist Zach Williams said in press materials. “The songs are looking at bad relationships and wonderful relationships and all the in-between, sometimes with a good deal of levity. It’s us just trying to encapsulate the whole gamut of experience that we all go through as human beings.”

The trio includes guitarist Brian Elmquist and multi-instrumentalist Kanene Donehey Pipkin, and on this new album, they were joined by longtime bassist Jason Pipkin and drummer Julian Dorio. Their previous record, 2020’s chart-topping Half Moon Light, spawned the Triple A radio hits “Count On Me” and “Dried Up River.”

The band sketched out their new record’s 11 tracks in a Hendersonville, Tenn., church before holing up for eight weeks at “possibly haunted” Roy Orbison’s house on Old Hickory Lake, where they recorded the album. These are beautiful songs from an amazing band at the peak of its power. Tall Heights, a Boston duo, will open the show.

Twist and crawl!

Even though I’ve seen them a dozen or more times, it’s always fun to pogo and skank myself into a frenzy with The English Beat, who play the Fremont Theater this Saturday,

Feb. 11 (9 p.m.; all ages; $34.61 with fees at seetickets.us).

Still led by founding member Dave Wakeling, the band plays all the hits. During a January concert, they performed “Rough Rider,” “Hands Off … She’s Mine,” “Twist and Crawl,” “Tenderness,” “Save It For Later,” “Can’t Get Used to Losing You,” “Doors of Your Heart,” “Ranking Full Stop,” “Mirror in the Bathroom,” and more. Wakeling still sounds amazing, and his band kills it!

Also this week at the Fremont Theater, The Emo Night Tour returns Friday, Feb. 10 (8 p.m.; 18-and-older; $26.41 with fees at seetickets.com) to spin classics by Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, My Chemical Romance, and many more.

Numbskull and Good Medicine hat trick

Your favorite booking agents and promoters have three shows coming your way this week at The Siren, starting with high energy dance cover act The Cheeseballs on Friday, Feb. 10 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Where else can you hear Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” and ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” in the same show?

Get romantic with a Valentine’s Day show with Ballyhoo! on their Sleepin’ on the Couch tour with special guests Mike Pinto and Joint Operation on Tuesday, Feb. 14 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $20 at

goodmedicinepresents.com). Hailing from Baltimore, Balloyhoo! is “a rock band with punk energy and pop reggae grooves.”

They also bring reggae rockers The Elovaters on their Sharks with Frik’n Lasers Tour with Surfer Girl and Claire Wright on Wednesday, Feb. 15 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $18 at goodmedicinepresents.com). The Elovaters’ newest is Castles, which according to drummer Nicholas Asta “definitely catered to us being the most creative that we’ve ever been in the studio.”

Also this week at The Siren, settle in for an evening of bluegrass and Americana with Stillhouse Junkies and Head for the Hills this Thursday, Feb. 9 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15 plus fees presale at eventbrite.com).

Stillhouse Junkies formed in a Colorado distillery and “play a delirious, head-spinning mixture of original roots, blues, funk, swing, and bluegrass music,” according to their bio.

Also see Bluegrass, Americana, and “cosmic rock” act Boot Juice during a free show on Saturday, Feb. 11 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older).

From stand-up to EDM to punk

Get your ha-ha on when Comedy Central Roast Battle Champion Frank Castillo stands up at SLO Brew Rock for Comedy Night this Friday, Feb. 10 (7 p.m.; 18-andolder; $25 at ticketweb.com). Colin Casados

hosts and Jake Rizzly, Rick Storer, and Kazeem Rahman will do sets

EDM/rave fans get ready: SLO Brew Live and Luvlab present the Surreal Series with Life on Planets, Tropo, and Nozu this Saturday, Feb. 11 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15 presale at ticketweb.com). “Dance on down to SLO Brew Rock and join us for our first gathering of 2023!” Luvlab announced. “In unconfined honor of Valentine’s weekend, we invite anyone and everyone to join our evergrowing Luvlab community to celebrate the new year and all that we luv. Together, for a night of unique and original music, live art, and performance!”

Finally, SLO Brew Live and Numbskull present Poway-formed surf punk act The Frights next Thursday, Feb. 16 (7 p.m.; all ages; $25 at ticketweb.com). Get your tickets before they’re gone!

More music …

Cal Poly presents “A Night of Chamber Music” this Friday, Feb. 10 (7:30 p.m.; free). Featuring student performers from a variety of majors, all of whom have been involved in at least one of the department’s large, premier ensembles (Cal Poly’s Arab Music Ensemble, Choirs, Symphony, University Jazz Bands, Wind Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble), they will perform traditional and contemporary chamber music in the Spanos Theatre

‘WONDER’ Brooklyn indie Americana act The Lone Bellow plays Cal Poly’s Performing Arts Center on Feb. 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC RYAN ANDERSON

‘MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM’ The English Beat with Dave Wakeling plays the Fremont Theater on Feb. 11

COURTESY PHOTO BY JAY GILBERT

SHARKS WITH FRIK’N LASERS Numbskull and Good Medicine present Boston-based reggae rockers The Elovaters at The Siren on Feb. 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ELOVATERS

AMERICAN ROOTS On Feb. 9 , enjoy an evening of bluegrass and Americana with Stillhouse Junkies at The Siren.

COURTESY PHOTO BY RENEE CORNUE

STARKEY continued page 24

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Music

the groundbreaking rock duo known for their steel string guitar playing and tight vocal harmonies. The Everlys had more than 30 Billboard top 100 hits and sold 60 million records in their heyday.

Singer-songwriter Emily Franklin will play a special Valentine’s Day concert this Tuesday, Feb. 14 (5 to 8 p.m.), at Lunada Garden Bistro in Cayucos. The food’s terrific, the garden’s lovely, and Franklin’s a gifted performer. Should be very romantic!

Cool Notes plays a reunion concert at Harmony Café this Sunday, Feb. 12 (5 to 7 p.m.; $25 cover; call (805) 924-1219 for reservations; there’s also a $10 minimum food and beverage charge). Expect contemporary bebop, blues, and Latin jazz favorites with Thomas Brown on drums and vibraphone.

The Clark Center brings The Everly Brothers Experience to Arroyo Grande this Sunday, Feb. 12 (7:30 p.m.; $38 to $53 at clarkcenter. org). Brothers Zachary and Dylan Zmed stand in for Don and Phil Everly,

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American Association of University Women (AAUW) Atascadero is hosting a Mardi Gras FUNdraiser on Tuesday, Feb. 21, and I’m telling you about it now because tickets will go from $85 each to $100 after Feb. 14, so get ’em while they’re hot (online at zeffy.com). Expect music by Burning James and the Funky Flames, food from Cahoots Catering, great local wines, a silent auction, and beads … all included! Laissez les bons temps rouler! ∆

Contact Senior Staff Writer Glen Starkey at gstarkey@ newtimesslo.com.

STARKEY from page 23

‘CATHY’S CLOWN’ The Everly Brothers Experience with brothers Zachary and Dylan Zmed standing in for Don and Phil Everly comes to the Clark Center on Feb. 12

BY CHERISH WHYTE

Celebrating women

At Her Table spotlights the Central Coast’s growing ranks of female entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry

Michelle Barrera founded At Her Table in 2021 with only 36 registered businesses. This March, as she gears up for her third annual weeklong celebration of San Luis Obispo County’s female proprietors in the food, beverage, and lodging industry, the participant list has exploded.

Barrera’s current roster boasts more than 250 female-owned or co-owned restaurants, wineries, hotels, vacation rentals, and associated companies, with women business leaders from neighboring counties clamoring to get in on the action as well.

While At Her Table supports women yearround through various initiatives—including an emergency fund for restaurants impacted by medical crises—the organization’s Women’s Week celebration is its raison d’être.

Slated for March 6 to 12—in honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day on March 8—more than 40 events run the gamut from dinners, tastings, tours, and classes to a fair and street festival.

All activities are independently hosted, with proprietors collecting 100 percent of sales, though some pay it forward by generously donating a percentage back to At Her Table.

Barrera, who also owns the online community calendar EnjoySLO, with its thousands of subscribers—nearly 25,000 on Instagram alone—is uniquely positioned to generate buzz and funnel traffic to fellow female entrepreneurs, and they are beyond appreciative.

“Being a small business owner and establishing my business in the middle of the pandemic brought many challenges,” according to Paso Robles winemaker Nancy Ulloa of Ulloa Cellars. “When I learned about At Her Table, it was a no-brainer to join. I am extremely excited and humbled to be working with a group of badass change-

principle of “celebrating

100 percent supported by donations and sponsorships.

Pull up a chair

For the full slate of At Her Table events March 6 to 12, visit athertable.com. Follow the organization on Instagram and Facebook @athertableslo. Stay tuned for the grand opening of chef Rachel Ponce’s new Paso Robles restaurant on Instagram @the_frunchroom.

makers and pioneers in this community. Collaborating with women whose values and missions align with my own is the most powerful combination for success and empowerment of the community as a whole.”

Ulloa added that she’s received more from being part of the organization than she could have ever expected. Her wine has been featured at restaurants, she’s done event collaborations, had professional headshots taken, and built many new relationships.

During Women’s Week, Ulloa’s limited, small-batch wines will be featured at two events—Wine and Dine Around and Beyond Basic: Breaking Doors and Ceilings.

At Wine and Dine Around on March 6, Ulloa and four other boutique winemakers will join chef Rachel Ponce and Edible San Luis Obispo magazine for a paired gourmet spread at Ponce’s new venture Frunchroom, opening this summer in Paso Robles.

The unique name is a Chicago colloquialism for “front room,” the first room guests see when they enter a home, said Ponce, a native of the city: “It’s just what happens when ‘front room’ gets mashed up with a Chicago accent.”

The ambitious project—co-owned by Ponce; her husband, veteran brewmaster Eric Ponce; and fourthgeneration butchers

Alyssa Leal and Bud Cole of

Primal Meat

THE BIG

Chef Rachel Ponce’s gourmet cuisine will be showcased at her new venture Frunchroom, opening this summer in Paso Robles. Ponce will host a “hard hat sneak peek” of the venue complete with food and wine pairings, music, and more on March 6 to kick off Women’s Week.

Company—will feature a restaurant, lunchtime tapas bar, brewery, in-house butcher, deli, and general store.

Proceeds from the evening’s festivities will be donated to At Her Table.

The following night, March 7, Ulloa will partner with Glenna Thompson of Symbiosis Wines and Arianna Spoto of Arianna Wines for a tasting workshop and roundtable discussion at Thompson’s Paso facility. The trio will share their unique stories of breaking through industry barriers.

Dozens of other events throughout the week include a mezcal tasting experience on March 9 at Rambling Spirits, a recently opened distillery at SLO Public Market, and Boozy High Tea Party on March 12 at Saints Barrel Wine Bar in downtown SLO. The Saints Barrel spread will also feature Secret Garden Organic Herb Shop, Bramble Pie Company, and Breda SLO’s gourmet chocolates.

Fans of private chef Alma Ayón can catch her at three separate dining experiences—the Untamed Dinner at Barton Family Estate on March 8, Afternoon Tea at Thomas Hill Haven on March 11, and Three Babes Brunch at Stay on the Vineyard estate and suites on March 12. All three venues are located in Paso Robles.

Share tasty tips!

county are invited to host festivities or run food and beverage specials, and even male proprietors can join in on the action by donating a percentage of sales to At Her Table.

“[Men] also volunteer,” added Barrera. “Adam Montiel has been a huge support for us, and Mike Adams of Paso Robles Wine Fanatics as well. They have large outlets that allow us to reach a wide demographic.”

Next up for At Her Table is expanding membership to the Santa Ynez Valley, another mecca for female entrepreneurs in hospitality.

“We are thrilled to receive so many requests for expansion to various locations throughout California and beyond,” Barrera said. “With this in mind, we have decided to prioritize the incorporation of Santa Ynez Valley into our operations. The community culture and values of Santa Ynez Valley align closely with our own, and we look forward to fostering a mutually beneficial partnership.”

At Her Table, she said, embraces the Central Coast lifestyle of slowing down, honing in on craft, and actively making the community a better place.

In Pismo Beach, a Sunset Dinner and Wine Pairing will be held on March 10 at the pier, courtesy of Sunsets at Pismo and Arianna Wines, while Arroyo Grande will host an Exploration of Vermouth on March 12 in partnership with Hubba Wines, The Spoon Trade, and luxury rental property the Haven.

Female business owners throughout the

“While we are excited about the potential expansion, we recognize the importance of solidifying our presence in our current location before moving forward,” Barrera said.

“Our goal is to make this move in one to two years with a strong foundation in place.” ∆

Flavor Writer Cherish Whyte toasts At Her Table and the Central Coast’s hotbed of female entrepreneurial spirit. Reach her at cwhyte@newtimesslo.com.

TRAILBLAZING TRIO From left, SLO County winemakers Glenna Thompson of Symbiosis Wines, Nancy Ulloa of Ulloa Cellars, and Arianna Spoto of Arianna Wines will uncork hidden gems and share their inspirational stories at multiple events throughout At Her Table’s Women’s Week in March.

COURTESY PHOTO BY JENNIFER ROZA

REVEAL

A-TOWN’S OWN Michelle Barrera of Atascadero helms At Her Table with a guiding

and uplifting women.” The organization and its flagship Women’s Week festival are

COURTESY PHOTO BY CAILI WILK

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If you answered “yes,” please contact Cindy Rucker! crucker@new timesslo.com or (805) 546-8208 ext 218

HEALING

Aloe Care Health, medical alert system. The most advanced medical alert product on the market. Voice-activated! No wi-fi needed! Special offer call and mention offer code CARE20 to get $20 off Mobile Companion. Call today 1-844-790-1673. (SCAN)

BUSINESS FOR SALE

Central Coast Harmony chorus is offering Singing Valentines this year. Please email us at cchchorus@gmail.com or call us at 805-4481990 for details.

ELECTRONICS

Sony Bravia 32 in. flat screen TV. Older model in excellent condition, great picture. $50. 805-539-0459.

HOUSEHOLD

Carpenter, Door&window installer over 40 years experience.Call Bruce at (310) 863-0241 or brucebergren4@gmail.com

KIDS STUFF

Old wood crib/playpen. Adjustable. Excellent condition. $125. (805) 709-1181.

WANTED TO BUY

Moped salvaged parts, Tomos and others. Day time # 805-4416684.

FINANCIAL SERVICES

Is a reverse mortgage right for you? Free guidance and answers to your questions. Visit rrevloan.com or call Greg at 805-238-2019 MLS #318060 CRE #00702057

HOME SERVICES

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-424-7581 (cal-SCAN)

2013 FORD ESCAPE SE SPORT UTILITY

1.6 4 cyl EcoBoost, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/CD, alloys, red, 92k low miles 92K LOW MILES #C46678

$9,988

2012 VW BEETLE 20T HB

cc, tw, am/fm/cd, prem whls, red, black cloth, 1-owners, local trade #647568

2013 JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE OVERLAND 4WD

5.7 Hemi V8, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, nav, prem snd, 2pseats, white, tan lthr, pan roof, 20” prem whls, 108k low miles #524318

$16,988

2015 AUDI A4 PREMIUM SEDAN

2.0 4cyl turbo, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, nav, 2pseeats, white, leather, mnrf, prem wheels, 97k miles #25317

$17,988

2008 TOYOTA TUNDRA CREW MAX

5.7 V8, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, alloys, white, gray cloth, low miles #64933

$19,988

2006 CHEVY 2500 SILVERADO LT

6.0 V8, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/ fm, CD, prem whls, gray, charcoal cloth, running boards, off road tires, 139k low miles, local truck #159968

$19,988

2015 CHEVY TAHOE LT 4WD

5.3 Ecotec3 V8, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm, CD, white, black lthr, nav, 3rd row, tow #223576

$25,988

2008 FORD F450 SUPER DUTY CREW CAB LARIAT

6.4l V8 Turbo Diesel 2WD, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, nav, leather, white, mnrf, bedliner, alloys, tow pkg, 98k miles #A73034

$31,988

LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

2022-2201

New Filing

The following person is doing business as, FRANCES DANIELLE PHOTOGRAPHY, 655 Cayucos, Templeton, CA 93465. San Luis Obispo County. Frances Danielle Johnson, (655 Cayucos, Templeton, CA 93465). This business is conducted by An Individual/s/ Frances Danielle Johnson, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 09-22-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk

A. Bautista, Deputy. Exp. 09-22-27.

October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2248

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (09/28/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as, HOOPER VERSE, 173 Cross Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Meta Verse Basketball Association LLC, (30 N Gould Street Ste R, Sheridan, WY 82801). This business is conducted by A WY Limited Liability Company, Meta Verse Basketball Association LLC, /s/ Jeremy Koven, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 09-2822. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 09-28-27.

October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2313

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (10/03/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as PACIFIC EDGE PAINTING, 1191 Fair Oaks Avenue #E, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Juan Sanchez Hernandez, (1191 Fair Oaks Avenue #E, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Juan Sanchez Hernandez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-03-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk G. Ugalde, Deputy. Exp. 1003-27.

November 3, 10, 17, & 24, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2316

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (04/01/2020)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as, CELLULAR SALES, CELLULAR SALES OF CALIFORNIA, VERIZON WIRELESS-CELLULAR SALES/AUTHORIZED RETAILER, 913 Rancho Pkwy, Suite J, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Cellular Sales of California, LLC, (9040 Executive Park Dr., 3rd Floor, Room 329, Knoxville, TN 37923). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company, Cellular Sales of California, LLC, /s/ Pamela White, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-04-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Webster, Deputy. Exp. 10-04-27.

October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 2022 &

LEGAL NOTICES

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2022-2319

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (07/01/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as TWO OLIVES CREATIVE, 1957 Santa Barbara Ave, St. 202, San Luis Obispo, California 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Savannah L Flatgard, (1957 Santa Barbara Ave, St. 202, San Luis Obispo, California 93401).

This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Savannah Flatgard. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-04-22. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk S. King, Deputy. Exp. 10-04-27. October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2022-2381

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (10/06/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as NESTING HAWK, 2334 Carpenter Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Reika Elizabeth-Hunt Cully, (2334 Carpenter Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Reika Elizabeth-Hunt Cully. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-1122. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 10-11-27. October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2382

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (10/11/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as CORE MANAGEMENT, 1725 Nacimiento Lake Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446. San Luis Obispo County. Res Rentals Management LLC, (1725 Nacimiento Lake Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company, Res Rentals Management LLC, /s/ Riley Laughton, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-11-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 10-11-27.

October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2022-2414

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as BELLA VISTA INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES, 525 S. Oakglen Ave, Nipomo, CA 93444. San Luis Obispo County. Alfredo Ruiz, (525 S. Oakglen Ave, Nipomo, CA 93444). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Alfredo Ruiz. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-17-22. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 1017-27.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2929 (N/A)

New Filing

October 20, 27, November 3, 10, 2022 & February 9, 2023

The following person is doing business as ANTONIA’S PIZZA, 891 Higuera, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. H. Elhajnasr, Inc, (428 28th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, H. Elhajnasr, Inc /s/ Hitham Elhajnasr, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-20-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 10-2027.

October 27, November 3, 10, 17, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2494

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (N/A) New Filing

The following person is doing business as NEVERMORE, 1867 San Luis Ranch Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. San Luis Obispo County. Beatrice A Jansen, (1867 San Luis Ranch Road, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Beatrice A Jansen. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-26-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk

A. Webster, Deputy. Exp. 10-2627.

November 3, 10, 17, & 24, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2022-2495

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as QUIET MINDS HYPNOTHERAPY, 530 Camino Mercado #554-A, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Tan Del Dobson, (501 Ide St #D, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Tan Del Dobson. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-26-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk

M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 10-2627.

November 3, 10, 17, & 24, 2022 & February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2510

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (10/27/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as CAPTURING LIFE, 1655 Dalido Dr Ste. 3052, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403. San Luis Obispo County. Michele D Chavez-Michel, (1572 Madonna Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Michele D ChavezMichel. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 10-28-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk S. King, Deputy. Exp. 1028-27.

November 3, 10, 17, & 24, 2022 &

February 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2928 (11/03/2017)

New Filing

The following person is doing business BE PRESENT, 141 Leeward Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449. San Luis Obispo County.

Lisa Marie Dietz, (141 Leeward Ave, Pismo Beach, CA 93449).

This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Lisa Marie Dietz. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-23-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk S. King, Deputy. Exp. 12-23-27.

January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

The following person is doing business OPEN AIR FLOWERS, 1055 Osos St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Open Air Flowers LLC, (2575 Helena St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company, Open Air Flowers LLC, /s/ Lisa Marie Dietz, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-23-22. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk S. King, Deputy. Exp. 1223-27.

January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023-0005

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (06/01/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as, PERISCOPE WEALTH ADVISORS, 1250 Peach Street Ste C, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Campbell Financial Inc., (1250 Peach Street Ste C, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, Campbell Financial Inc., /s/ Kevin Campbell, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-03-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 0103-28.

January 26, February 2, 9, & 16, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-0010 (01/03/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business FISHER REAL ESTATE BROKERS, 1758 Grand Ave, Grover Beach, CA 93433. San Luis Obispo County. Robert Lee Fisher Jr., (332 Sandpiper Lane, Oceano, CA 93445). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Robert Lee Fisher Jr. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-03-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 0103-28.

January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023-0014 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business D.LEA JEWELRY DESIGN, 6175 Kestrel Lane, Avila Beach, CA 93424. San Luis Obispo County. Dara Lea Rosenwasser, (6175 Kestrel Lane, Avila Beach, CA 93424). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Dara Lea Rosenwasser. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-03-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Webster, Deputy. Exp. 01-03-28.

January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023-0024 (09/17/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business CALI BLAZE, 1492 Railroad St, Oceano, CA 93445. San Luis Obispo County. 420 Strains Inc, (1492 Railroad St, Oceano, CA 93445). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, 420 Strains Inc, /s/ Wilhemus Cramer, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-04-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 01-04-28. January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2023-0037

TRANSACTION BUSINESS DATE (12/01/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as, PROJECT ROSE & CO., 1080 Robin Cr., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Molly Rose Wren-Holmes, (1080 Robin Cr., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Molly Rose Wren-Holmes. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-05-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 01-05-28.

January 26, February 2, 9, & 16, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

New Filing

The following person is doing business as, LINGER, 1289 4th Street Unit A, Los Osos, CA 93402. San Luis Obispo County. Dawdle & Jingle LLC, (1289 4th Street Unit A, Los Osos, CA 93402). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company, Dawdle & Jingle LLC, /s/ Tyson Koch, Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-06-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Webster, Deputy. Exp. 01-06-28.

January 26, February 2, 9, & 16, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-0044 (01/06/2023) New Filing

The following person is doing business DANDELION WISHES, 1270 Poplar Street #A, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Lisa Nesbeth Ham, (1270 Poplar Street #A, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by an individual, /s/ Lisa Nesbeth Ham. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-0623. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk N. Balseiro, Deputy. Exp. 01-06-28.

February 2, 9, 16, 23, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-0046 (01/01/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business MD ENTERPRISES, 1140 Fair Oaks Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Anup Chhetri, (1140 Fair Oaks Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420).

This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Anup Chhetri. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-0623. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 01-06-28.

January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-0047

(12/02/2003) New Filing

The following person is doing business SLO YARD & LAWN MAINTENANCE, 138 Del Norte Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. San Luis Obispo County. Michael Van Doren, (138 Del Norte Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Michael Van Doren. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-06-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Trujilo, Deputy. Exp. 01-06-28.

January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-0051 (01/01/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business KW CURTIS ENTERPRISES, INC., 1449 Eureka Lane, Templeton, CA 93465. San Luis Obispo County. KW Curtis Enterprises, Inc., (1449 Eureka Lane, Templeton, CA 93465). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, KW Curtis Enterprises, Inc., /s/ Whitney Curtis, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-06-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Trujilo, Deputy. Exp. 01-06-28.

January 19, 26, February 2, & 9, 2023

The San Luis Obispo Planning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. Meetings can be viewed on Government Access Channel 20 or streamed live from the City’s YouTube channel at http://youtube.slo. city. Public comment, prior to the start of the meeting, may be submitted in writing via U.S. Mail delivered to the City Clerk’s Office at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 or by email to advisorybodies@ slocity.org.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEM:

• The Planning Commission will consider adopting a Resolution, which will recommend that the City Council adopt an Ordinance amending Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning Regulations), to incorporate the Downtown Flexible Density Program for qualifying residential projects within the Downtown Core, including an addendum to the Negative Declaration of Environmental Review (GENP -0327-2017); Project Address: Citywide; Case #: CODE-0017-2023; Zoning: C-D & C-R within the Downtown Core; City of San Luis Obispo, owner/applicant

Contact Information: Kyle Bell – (805) 781-7524 –kbell@slocity.org

The Planning Commission may also discuss other hearing or business items before or after the item(s) listed above. If you challenge the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Report(s) are typically available six days in advance of the meeting and can be viewed on the City’s website, under the Public Meeting Agendas web page: https:// www.slocity.org/government/mayor-and-city-council/ agendas-and-minutes. Please call The Community Development Department at (805) 781-7170 for more information, or to request an agenda report. The Planning Commission meeting will be televised live on Charter Cable Channel 20 and live streaming on the City’s YouTube channel http://youtube.slo.city.

February 9 , 2023

DATE: February 9, 2023

TO: Interested Persons

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & BUILDING

NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY AND INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION

FROM: Nicole Ellis, Project Manager Department of Planning and Building 976 Osos St., Room 300 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408-2040

Email: nellis@co.slo.ca.us

WHO: County of San Luis Obispo (Lead Agency)

WHAT: An Initial Study and Draft Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Morro Shores Mobile Home Park Development Plan / Coastal Development Permit (DRC2020-00203; ED21-091) is complete and available for public review and comment. The document addresses the environmental impacts that may be associated with activities related to the implementation of the project. The Environmental Coordinator, after completion of the Initial Study, finds that there is no substantial evidence that the project may have a significant effect on the environment, and the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report is not necessary. Therefore, a Mitigated Negative Declaration (pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq., and CA Code of Regulations Section 15000 et seq.) has been issued on Friday, February 3, 2023. Mitigation measures are proposed to address Air Quality, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, and Noise and will be included as conditions of approval.

PROJECT: The project is a request by Morro Shores Mobile Home Park (MHP) LLC for a Development Plan/Coastal Development Permit to allow for the expansion of the existing Morro Shores MHP containing 164 mobile home units to locate 10 new prefabricated manufactured homes (mobile homes) with driveways and designated carports in the southern portion of the approximately 30-acre parcel and construction of additional site improvements. Site improvements would include construction of additional walkways, steps to new units, roadway extensions, fire access improvements, and neighborhood amenities. The project would result in a total of 14,931 square feet (sf) of new residential floor area and an additional 5,614 sf of site improvements. The project would result in the disturbance of approximately 1.7 acres on the approximately 30-acre parcel. The applicant has volunteered to offset the water demand of the new mobile homes and landscaping at a 2:1 ratio by retrofitting existing washing machines within the park, consistent with the County’s Los Osos Groundwater Basin Plumbing Retrofit-to-Build Program (Title 19) offset value in place at the time of land use permit approval or the revised value resulting from the forthcoming Los Osos Water Offset Study, whichever is less. The project is located at 633 Ramona Avenue in the Residential Single-Family (RSF) land use category, in the community of Los Osos (south of Ramona Avenue, approximately 0.4 miles north of Los Osos Valley Road). The site is in the Estero Planning Area and the Coastal Zone.

WHERE: Copies of the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration and all the associated documents referenced in the Mitigated Negative Declaration are available for review at the Office of Planning and Research CEQAnet Web Portal https://ceqanet.opr.ca.gov/Search/Advanced (Find by SCH Number: 2023020077) and at the Department of Planning and Building website at www.slocounty.ca.gov/CourtesyNotice.aspx.

HOW TO COMMENT OR GET MORE INFORMATION:

Anyone interested in commenting on the proposed Mitigated Negative Declaration should email your comments or questions to brandi.cummings@swca.com or submit a written statement directed to Nicole Ellis of the San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building at 976 Osos St., Rm 300, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. The 30-day public review period for this Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration begins Thursday, February 9, 2023, and ends Monday, March 13, 2023. Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the review period. The County of San Luis Obispo will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration.

Free Will Astrology

FOR

SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The San Luis Obispo City Council invites all interested persons to attend a public hearing on Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. held in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. Meetings can be viewed remotely on Government Access Channel 20 or streamed live from the City’s YouTube channel at http://youtube.slo.city. Public comment, prior to the start of the meeting, may be submitted in writing via U.S. Mail delivered to the City Clerk’s office at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 or by email to emailcouncil@slocity.org.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEM:

• The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution to approve the 2023 Access and Parking Management Plan and authorize the Public Works Director, or their designee, to approve the implementation details for a “locals” parking program and make future administrative revisions, as necessary, consistent with the policy framework of the document.

For more information, you are invited to contact Gaven Hussey of the City’s Public Works Department at (805) 781-7234 or ghussey@slocity.org

The City Council may also discuss other hearings or business items before or after the items listed above. If you challenge the proposed project in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.

Council Agenda Reports for this meeting will be available for review one week in advance of the meeting date on the City’s website, under the Public Meeting Agendas web page: https://www.slocity. org/government/mayor-and-city-council/agendasand-minutes. Please call the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7114 for more information. The City Council meeting will be televised live on Charter Cable Channel 20 and live streaming on the City’s YouTube channel http://youtube.slo.city.

February 9, 2023

ARIES

(March 21-April 19): During my quest for advice that might be helpful to your love life, I plucked these words of wisdom from author Sam Kean: “Books about relationships talk about how to ‘get’ the love you need, how to ‘keep’ love, and so on. But the right question to ask is, ‘How do I become a more loving human being?’” In other words, Aries, here’s a prime way to enhance your love life: Be less focused on what others can give you and more focused on what you can give to others. Amazingly, that’s likely to bring you all the love you want.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20): You have the potential to become even more skilled at the arts of kissing and cuddling and boinking than you already are. How? Here are some possibilities. 1. Explore fun experiments that will transcend your reliable old approaches to kissing and cuddling and boinking. 2. Read books to open your mind. I like Margot Anand’s The New Art of Sexual Ecstasy 3. Ask your partner(s) to teach you everything about what turns them on. 4. Invite your subconscious mind to give you dreams at night that involve kissing and cuddling and boinking. 5. Ask your lover(s) to laugh and play and joke as you kiss and cuddle and boink.

GEMINI

WATER TREATMENT PLANT FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL STRATEGY FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT SPEC. NO. 1000542-02

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the City of San Luis Obispo will receive proposals for the “WATER TREATMENT PLANT FACILITY INFRASTRUCTURE RENEWAL STRATEGY FOR THE PUBLIC UTILITIES DEPARTMENT, SPEC. NO. 1000542-02” until April 6, 2023, by 3:00 PM. Proposal documents shall be submitted electronically via BidSync. However, if proposal documents cannot be submitted electronically, proposals shall be submitted in a sealed envelope to the Department of Finance, City of San Luis Obispo, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401. Proposals that cannot be submitted electronically shall be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked with the project title, contractor name, address, and specification number. All proposals must be received at or before April 6, 2023, by 3:00 PM. Proposals received after said time will not be considered.

An optional pre-proposal conference and Water Treatment Plant facility tour will be held at the following location, date, and time to answer any questions that the prospective proposers may have regarding the City’s request for proposals:

Meet at the following location:

City of San Luis Obispo Public Utilities Department

879 Morro Street, San Luis Obispo

February 27, 2023 at 1:00 PM

Please RSVP by Thursday February 23, 2023

Contact Shawna Scott at 805-781-7176 or sscott@slocity.org

The Contractor must have a valid City of San Luis Obispo business license & tax certificate before execution of the contract.

Download FREE at the City’s website:  www.SloCity.orgBid packages under Bids & Proposals.  Project packages and additional information may be obtained at the City’s BidSync website at www.BidSync.com. Questions may be addressed to Shawna Scott, Project Manager, at 805-781-7176 or email through BidSync (https://www. bidsync.com/bidsync-cas/).

February 9, 2023

(May 21-June 20): You are an Italian wolf searching for food in the Apennine Mountains. You’re a red-crowned crane nesting in a wetland in the Eastern Hokkaido region of Japan. You’re an olive tree thriving in a salt marsh in southern France, and you’re a painted turtle basking in a pool of sunlight on a beach adjoining Lake Michigan. And much, much more. What I’m trying to tell you, Gemini, is that your capacity to empathize is extra strong right now. Your smart heart should be so curious and open that you will naturally feel an instinctual bond with many life forms, including a wide array of interesting humans. If you’re brave, you will allow your mind to expand to experience telepathic powers. You will have an unprecedented knack for connecting with simpatico souls.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): My Cancerian friend Juma says, “We have two choices at all times: creation or destruction. Love creates and everything else destroys.” Do you agree? She’s not just talking about romantic love, but rather love in all forms, from the urge to help a friend, to the longing to seek justice for the dispossessed, to the compassion we feel for our descendants. During the next three weeks, your assignment is to explore every nuance of love as you experiment with the following hypothesis: To create the most interesting and creative life for yourself, put love at the heart of everything you do.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): I hope you get ample chances to enjoy deep soul kisses in the coming weeks. Not just perfunctory lip-to-lip smooches and pecks on the cheeks, but full-on intimate sensual exchanges. Why do I recommend this? How could the planetary positions be interpreted to encourage a specific expression of romantic feeling? I’ll tell you, Leo: The heavenly omens suggest you will benefit from exploring the frontiers of wild affection. You need the extra sweet, intensely personal communion that comes best from the uninhibited mouth-to-mouth form of tender sharing. Here’s what Leo poet Diane di Prima said: “There are as many kinds of kisses as there are people on earth, as there are permutations and combinations of those people. No two people kiss alike—no two people fuck alike—but somehow the kiss is more personal, more individualized than the fuck.”

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Borrowing the words of poet Oriah from her book The Dance: Moving to the Deep Rhythms of Your Life I’ve prepared a love note for you to use as your own this Valentine season. Feel free to give these words to the person whose destiny needs to be woven more closely together with yours. Oriah writes, “Don’t tell me how wonderful things will be someday. Show me you can risk being at peace with the way things are right now.

Show me how you follow your deepest desires, spiraling down into the ache within the ache. Take me to the places on the earth that teach you how to dance, the places where you can risk letting the world break your heart.”

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Libran author Walter Lippman wrote, “The emotion of love is not self-sustaining; it endures only when lovers love many things together, and not merely each other.” That’s great advice for you during the coming months. I suggest that you and your allies—not just your romantic partners, but also your close companions—come up with collaborative projects that inspire you to love many things together. Have fun exploring and researching subjects that excite and awaken and enrich both of you.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio writer Paul Valéry wrote, “It would be impossible to love anyone or anything one knew completely. Love is directed towards what lies hidden in its object.” My challenge to you, Scorpio, is to test this hypothesis. Do what you can to gain more in-depth knowledge of the people and animals and things you love. Uncover at least some of what’s hidden. All the while, monitor yourself to determine how your research affects your affection and care. Contrary to what Valéry said, I’m guessing this will enhance and exalt your love.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In his book Unapologetically You, motivational speaker Steve Maraboli writes, “I find the best way to love someone is not to change them, but instead, help them reveal the greatest version of themselves.” That’s always good advice, but I believe it should be your inspirational axiom in the coming weeks. More than ever, you now have the potential to forever transform your approach to relationships. You can shift away from wanting your allies to be different from what they are and make a strong push to love them just as they are.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I analyzed the astrological omens. Then I scoured the internet, browsed through 22 books of love poetry, and summoned memories of my best experiences of intimacy. These exhaustive efforts inspired me to find the words of wisdom that are most important for you to hear right now. They are from poet Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Stephen Mitchell): “For one human being to love another human being: that is perhaps the most difficult task that has been entrusted to us, the ultimate task, the final test and proof, the work for which all other work is merely preparation.”

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): To get the most out of upcoming opportunities for intimacy, intensify your attunement to and reverence for your emotions. Why? As quick and clever as your mind can be, sometimes it neglects to thoroughly check in with your heart. And I want your heart to be wildly available when you get ripe chances to open up and deepen your alliances. Study these words from psychologist Carl Jung: “We should not pretend to understand the world only by the intellect; we apprehend it just as much by feeling. Therefore, the judgment of the intellect is, at best, only the half of truth, and must, if it be honest, also come to an understanding of its inadequacy.”

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20): “In love there are no vacations. Love has to be lived fully with its boredom and all that.” Author and filmmaker Marguerite Duras made that observation, and now I convey it to you—just in time for a phase of your astrological cycle when boredom and apathy could and should evolve into renewed interest and revitalized passion. But there is a caveat: If you want the interest and passion to rise and surge, you will have to face the boredom and apathy; you must accept them as genuine aspects of your relationship; you will have to cultivate an amused tolerance of them. Only then will they burst in full glory into renewed interest and revitalized passion. ∆

Go to RealAstrology.com to check out Rob Brezsny's expanded weekly horoscopes and daily text message horoscopes The audio horoscopes are also available by phone at 1-877-873-4888 (fees apply). ©Copyright 2023 Rob Brezsny

www.newtimesslo.com • February 9 - February 16, 2023 • New Times • 35