New Times, Dec. 15, 2022

BY BULBUL RAJAGOPAL

With more than half of the Five Cities Fire Authority’s firefighters union members looking for work elsewhere due to pay disparity and an increase in the number of on-the-job injuries, the firefighting agency is facing an uncertain future. Oceano, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande formed the authority more than a decade ago, but Oceano voters decided against funding the agency’s needs, leaving the other two members to grapple with how to maintain their fire service into the future. This week, Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal speaks with firefighters and both cities [8] . Also this week, read about a the recount request filed in SLO County’s 2nd District supervisor race [4] ; a riveting collection of tales about the Point San Luis lighthouse [22] , and a new partnership pop-up at Park 1039 in SLO [28]

Camillia Lanham editor

REALITY CHECK Firefighter Jeff Lane said that all-time high call valumes exacerbated by low staffing and funding struck the Five Cities Fire Authority with increased injuries and stress.

Eva Lipson, Ellen Fukumoto, Ikey Ipekjian, Mary Grace Flaus

SALES MANAGER

Katy Gray

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

Kimberly Rosa, Jennifer Herbaugh, Lee Ann Vermeulen, Drew Gilmore, Eva Ryan

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT

Cindy Rucker

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Michael Antonette

OFFICE MANAGER

Patricia Horton

OFFICE ASSISTANTS

Michael Gould, Taylor Gonzales

CONTRIBUTORS

Russell Hodin, Rob Brezsny, Anna Starkey, Andrew Christie, John Donegan, Cherish Whyte, John Ashbaugh, Adrian Vincent Rosas

CIRCULATION

Jim Chaney

DISTRIBUTION

Tom Falconer, Dennis Flately, Edward Barnett, John Jiminenz, Bernadette Miller

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Hand recount requested in 2nd District supervisor race

San Luis Obispo County is gearing up for another hand recount of a county supervisor race.

Paso Robles resident Darcia Stebbens filed her second request for a recount in as many elections, asking the county clerk-recorder to manually retally the 2nd District supervisor contest between Bruce Gibson and Bruce Jones.

Stebbens submitted the paperwork to the clerk-recorder on Dec. 12—five days after a final election count showed Gibson, the incumbent, ahead by 13 votes, or 0.06 percent.

In the June primary election, Stebbens called for a hand recount of the 4th District supervisor contest between Jimmy Paulding and Lynn Compton. That did not change a vote and cost roughly $53,000, but Stebbens said that she remains committed to scrutinizing the vote-bymail model and Dominion voting machines.

“We are being asked time and time again to trust the machines,” Stebbens said during public comment at a Dec. 13 SLO County Board of Supervisors meeting. “I happen to have faith and trust in the human brain to be able to look at a ballot and know what that vote is for. I think if some of you have seen what I have seen in the primary recount, you would also agree that we need many, many changes to our system currently in process.”

When reached by phone, Jones declined to comment or take questions from New Times. At its Dec. 13 meeting, the Board of Supervisors voted 4-1 to “declare” the election results—a ministerial action required by state law.

Fifth District Supervisor Debbie Arnold dissented in the vote for the second time this year (she also voted against declaring the results of the June primary election).

“Right now, there’s a recount in process, and I’m just going to say I’m not comfortable declaring the results of this election at this time,” said Arnold, who endorsed Jones and donated to his campaign.

Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano told New Times that she’s currently working with elections staff and county counsel to review the recount request and make preparations. She is required to start the process no later than Monday, Dec.

Residents question new coffee shop’s ties to alleged sexual assaulter

A new name on the window of what was once Kin Coffee in Downtown San Luis Obispo has several community members wondering if the spot is still tied to its previous owner, who was repeatedly accused of sexual assault.

“Whether or not it [Kin] exists is not the question; it’s whether the previous owner is still involved/profiting,” Instagram user @ whereiskait commented on the new business’s Instagram page.

In April 2022, Kin proprietor Julian Contreras and his friend Nate Abate, who owns Nate’s Barbershop in Atascadero, faced sexual assault allegations from more than 40 women. He had opened the coffee shop on Higuera Street with his brother, Christian, in 2019.

Now called Glo Coffee Co., the café maintains

19, contingent on Stebbens paying a deposit and then continuing to fund the recount.

County officials are first reviewing an extensive list of election materials that Stebbens requested to examine ahead of the recount. They range from the election’s uncounted and unvoted ballots, to the full names of all precinct inspectors and workers, to documentation on a “spreadsheet error” that added 327 provisional ballots to count, among other items.

During the canvass, Jones’ supporters raised concerns about alleged instances of poll workers giving incorrect instructions to voters who wanted to surrender their mail-in ballots and vote in person. That confusion reportedly caused some voters to submit voteby-mail ballots without envelopes or signatures, which then wouldn’t be counted.

Cano said that in the 2nd District, two mailin ballots were submitted without envelopes.

“I wasn’t there [at the polls] in all fairness … but in total, countywide, we only received 10 vote-by-mail ballots with no envelope,” she said. “I don’t know how those 10 came to be. But 10 out of our total is not as significant of a number than what the rumor has it.”

Cano added that the elections code dictates the election materials that are considered “relevant” to a recount and said that some of Stebbens’ requests go beyond that and will not be shared.

“There are certain requests she has here that are not considered relevant materials,” Cano said. “That’s why I’m still working with county counsel to develop a response to some of this.”

The Jones campaign has 30 days after the date of election certification, Dec. 7, to file some sort of challenge to the results in court. Nothing had been filed as of New Times’ press time.

If the recount moves forward, Cano said that it will be conducted in an outside facility—not the SLO County Government Center. The main county building lacks adequate space to conduct an expeditious manual recount, Cano said,

the décor and ambiance of its predecessor. A fictitious business name statement filed with the SLO County Clerk-Recorder’s Office on Nov. 23 shows that Glo Coffee is registered under Maria Antonia Meyers. The document stated that the shop opened on Dec. 1.

Previous New Times reporting found that Meyers is Contreras’ mother, who registered a limited liability corporation with the California Secretary of State’s Office called California Coalition LLC, that also registered Taft St. Coffee. Kin Coffee’s second location near Cal Poly changed its name to Taft St. Coffee after the allegations surfaced.

Meyers told New Times that Glo Coffee is not involved with Taft St. Coffee or Contreras.

“The company is brand new,” she said. “If the community wants us, everyone that wants to be here is welcome here.”

Meyers, whom the business calls the “Shop

which was why the 4th District recount in June lasted about five weeks.

“In June, we had two recount boards consistently,” Cano said. “If we did four boards with four people each, then the time is going to be cut in half. We still have to find a facility we can put everybody. The biggest room we have in the [county] building can only fit three recount boards.”

Cano said it’s important that the recount be done quickly with the holidays approaching and a special election for a Paso Robles school board seat now looming in March 2023. But the effort will be expensive.

“If we have to rent a facility, hire security, do the transportation, and add more people, it will certainly cost more than $20,000 or $30,000, I’d imagine,” she said.

Meanwhile, Stebbens emphasized to the Board of Supervisors that she is as concerned about election fraud as she is about accurate ballot counting.

“A recount is counting a cashdrawer: If you have $1,000 in the cash drawer and $300 of it is monopoly money or counterfeit money, it still counts as $1,000,” Stebbens said. ∆

—Peter Johnson

Mama” and “Toni,” told New Times that she purchased the store from the “old owner” after her culinary stints at Kin Coffee.

She invited a New Times reporter to the coffee shop for a conversation, where she requested that the paper not write negatively about the business after being asked about her relationship to Contreras—she did confirm that Contreras is her son.

Glo Coffee Manager Anicah accused the reporter of “twisting” Meyers’ words while transcribing the conversation onto a notepad.

Meyers then asked to read her quote. When shown the notebook, she grabbed it, tore off the page, and demanded that New Times not report on Glo Coffee.

Anicah and Meyers both later apologized to the reporter via separate phone calls and returned the ripped page to New Times.

THIRTEEN VOTES A recount in the tight race for 2nd District supervisor between Bruce Jones (left) and Bruce Gibson could start on Dec. 19.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRUCE JONES AND BRUCE GIBSON

After the interview, Glo Coffee issued a statement via an Instagram story.

“The previous owners of our shop location are not involved with Glo Coffee in any way. Toni is the sole owner who’s [sic] only goal is to run her own café and give a home to the incredible staff at Glo Coffee Co,” it read. “This is a NEW business. All that we ask is that you give these kind people a chance to survive and not hold them accountable for the past that they had no control of or part in.”

The company repeated the statement as a comment under one of its posts. Community members deliberated under that comment, and one person questioned Glo Coffee’s social media practices.

“Why do you keep deleting simple questions if there’s nothing to hide?”

Instagram user @lophie asked after some of their posts were deleted from the comment thread.

A comment left by another community member was also deleted.

“Oh the lengths loving mothers will go to in order to protect and harbor their criminal sons … ,” @gracelandproject wrote.

As of Dec. 14, Glo Coffee disabled the comments feature on its Instagram page.

SLO County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Tony Cipolla told New Times that the office investigated the allegations against Contreras and turned its findings over to the District Attorney’s Office. The DA’s Office said it’s looking over the documents.

“The DA’s Office did receive reports from the SLO Sheriff’s Office in early December of 2022 with regards to an investigation of suspects Carlos Julian Garcia Contreras and Nathan Daniel Abate,” Chief Deputy DA Lisa Muscari said. “We are presently reviewing the voluminous supplements and will make a filing decision soon.”

—Bulbul Rajagopal

Georgia Brown parents request to delay transfer of schools

Paso Robles’ parents and community members made yet another plea to halt the transfer of Glen Speck Elementary School students and staff from the 24th Street campus to the 17th Street campus at the Dec. 13 meeting.

Citing safety and financial concerns, 17 parents signed a formal request that new board members reevaluate the “double move” plan that was outlined and discussed in early 2022.

“It is our opinion that the election results clearly indicate the public’s displeasure

with the board’s conduct on this and other matters,” the request said. “Sadly many of those directly affected with this decision were left with little to no recourse until now.”

A decision made during the Feb. 8 board meeting has Georgia Brown Elementary School students move twice— once to a temporary campus while the 36th Street school site is remodeled, and again to the 17th Street school site once construction on the 36th Street campus is finished. Once renovation at the 36th Street school site is complete, Glen Speck and Georgia Brown will switch schools, where Glen Speck will move from 17th Street to the smaller, renovated 36th Street campus and Georgia Brown will take over the new 17th Street campus.

Georgia Brown parents contested the decision at the March 22 meeting with a petition that garnered 300 signatures. According to previous New Times reporting, many Georgia Brown parents felt that the temporary site would not have enough space to accommodate Georgia Brown’s larger student population, and wanted Georgia Brown students to immediately occupy the 17th Street campus as opposed to going to the temporary campus. But the board stuck with their original decision, voting 5-2 to allow Glen Speck students to leave portable classrooms behind for good.

Eight months later, Georgia Brown parents petitioned the board again—one week before Glen Speck students and staff were set to move into the new 17th Street campus for the upcoming semester.

Glen Speck teacher Terri Pearl spoke at the Dec. 13 meeting, expressing frustration over a decision that has been fiercely contested over the past year.

“We’ve packed boxes; we’ve decorated our room. [Another teacher] and I have already spent $2,000 on our classroom, because we want to make this something these kids are proud to go to after four years on a temporary campus, with no water, with conditions we took on and we took the challenge and we made it better. We paved the way,” Pearl said. “This was the original plan, with Measure M, that we would go first and our campus would be rebuilt, Georgia Brown would go there next, their campus would be rebuilt. The temporary campus was built to accommodate both populations. Are there safety concerns? Yes. I’m confident in staff at Georgia Brown, I know they’re going to embrace it just like we did. We took the challenge and we faced it, and I know that Georgia Brown staff and parents and families can embrace it too.”

Due to time constraints, the board

Fired SLO sheriff deputy indicted on jail abuse charges

A former San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s deputy faces up to 30 years in prison after a federal grand jury indicted him on charges related to a 2018 incident in which he allegedly dragged a SLO County jail inmate by her hair and then lied about it in official reports.

Josh Fischer, 40, of Grover Beach, was indicted on one count of deprivation of rights and one count of falsification of records and will be arraigned in federal court in downtown Los Angeles in the coming weeks, according to a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press release issued on Dec. 14.

Fischer, a senior correctional deputy in SLO County between 2017 and 2018, is accused of using unreasonable force against a jail inmate who had “removed her shirt, exited her cell, and then returned to her cell” on Nov. 18, 2018.

When she was back in her cell, Fischer allegedly “grabbed the victim from behind by her hair while she was still topless and dragged her on the ground into another cell,” according to the DOJ.

“Fischer then falsified a SLO County sheriff’s incident report,” the DOJ continued, “by including false statements that the victim had thrown her shirt on the ground after removing it outside her cell, that she yelled and flailed her arms while reentering her cell, and that Fischer ‘was in fear for the safety of the other female arrestee in the cell.’”

In actuality, per the DOJ, the inmate was not flailing her arms or throwing her shirt, but had them “by her side and then near her bare chest when Fischer assaulted her.”

Fischer, who was investigated by the FBI ahead of the grand jury indictment, faces a maximum sentence of 10 years for the deprivation of rights charge and 20 years for the falsification of records charge, if convicted.

Tony Cipolla, a spokesperson for the SLO County Sheriff’s Office, told New Times that the department “immediately” launched an investigation into Fischer’s misconduct after the November 2018 incident.

“As a result of that investigation, Senior Correctional Deputy Fischer was terminated from the Sheriff’s Office in March 2019,” Cipolla said. “The Sheriff’s Office cannot comment any further on the

matter because it’s an ongoing criminal investigation.”

Fischer’s alleged abuse came after the high-profile death of schizophrenic jail inmate Andrew Holland, who died in custody after spending 46 hours strapped to a restraint chair in 2017. That incident led to a $5 million settlement with the Holland family and sparked a federal investigation into the SLO County jail.

According to Cipolla, the Sheriff’s Office is still negotiating with the DOJ’s civil rights division on a resolution to the DOJ’s allegations that the jail had systematic civil rights abuses between 2016 and 2019.

—Peter Johnson

County approves budget for tiny-house village

A tiny house village on the horizon could help San Luis Obispo County deflate its ballooning rate of homelessness.

“The intent is to serve 30 people at a minimum, a max of 60, and ideally 45 individuals,” said Joe Dzvonik, the division manager of the Department of Social Services’ homeless services wing.

At its Dec. 13 meeting, the SLO County Board of Supervisors authorized a $585,786 budget to set up the village. The county contracted with the Los Angelesbased BOSS Cubez to set up roughly 15 tiny homes at Oklahoma Avenue, which also houses a controversial safe parking site.

However, its proposed proximity to the parking area—which has faced issues like drug overdoses, duplicated services, a fatal fire, and discontentment from some of its homeless participants—caused 5th District Supervisor Debbie Arnold to hesitate.

“This is a premature vote,” she said at the meeting. “I don’t believe we’ve studied the site, knowing that there are issues at the Oklahoma site, or evaluated other sites.”

She added that she was worried about the lack of details on the tiny-village model presented to the board, possible liabilities, rules on how the operations would be run, and who would provide services to village residents. Arnold was the sole dissenter in the 4-1 vote that approved the budget.

Dzvonik told New Times that Arnold’s concerns were valid but added that Social Services was also working against a time crunch. He fielded questions from supervisors at the board meeting. There,

chose to table the discussion until the next meeting, which will take place on Jan. 10.

—Shwetha Sundarrajan

Dzvonik said that the project plans aligned with the county’s five-year plan to reduce homelessness. He told them that even if his department purchased tiny homes, BOSS Cubez will not manufacture or deliver them until a location is cemented.

He added that the money committed to the tiny-village project came from a reallocated grant that was initially awarded to the Salvation Army for rapid rehousing. The nonprofit couldn’t spend it by the Jan. 31, 2023, deadline because of staffing issues, and any unused funds go back to the state of California.

“We have to spend a big percentage of [the reallocated funds] by the end of January. Dec. 13 is the last supervisors meeting, and it’s the last opportunity to get approval to buy those homes,” Dzvonik told New Times

Supervisors Dawn Ortiz-Legg and John Peschong expressed their support for the project, with the latter calling for heightened attention toward mental health services for the homeless.

Ortiz-Legg said that supply chain issues delayed housing projects like Grover Beach’s pallet shelters, which will open the week of Christmas.

“There were supply chain issues, and if they had known that, they would have ordered things like the electrical piece they needed a year ago,” Dzvonik said. “I’m doing that now as well.”

Environmental issues arising out of a constraints analysis at Oklahoma Avenue paused further work on the tiny-village

project. Dzvonik said that the county will be held accountable for the timeline on Jan. 12 by a sanctioned citizens oversight committee. —Bulbul Rajagopal

Appointed Paso school board member ousted with voter petition

A petition to remove Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board trustee Kenneth Enney gained enough valid signatures to merit a special election and kick him off the dais.

The petition was organized by several Paso Robles parents including Tracy Dauterman, who felt that Enney’s antitransgender social media posts on the PRotect Paso Facebook group were inappropriate. In those posts, he claimed that transgenderism was “an attempt to recruit and convert children.”

“I’d like a school board candidate that will represent all students, and it was clear from the post that Mr. Enney made on social media that there’s a specific group of people who just do not accept and that he would not make decisions in their best interest,” Dauterman said.

Within a couple of weeks, the petition garnered nearly 800 signatures, more than the 455 necessary. The County Clerk-Recorder’s Office validated the signatures, and a special election will take place on March 7, 2023, to determine Enney’s replacement. Until then, the board will only have six board members.

Enney, who was forced to step down and said he will run in the special election, said he was likely targeted

because he’s a conservative.

“That doesn’t mean I don’t like talking to people with different views and that’s the world I grew up with. ... I believe in differing opinions. But that is what I think they don’t want to have,” Enney said. “I think, really, if you want to scratch the surface, I’m certainly not a threat to any any transgendered child. They have a right to go to school. I think the only area where I would differ with those teachers is making sure that there’s parental involvement.”

The controversial Facebook posts stem from an incident at the Oct. 11 board meeting, when a parent pointed out that the district webpage had a link to the Trevor Project’s website. According to Enney, the website featured a chat room where adults could masquerade as minors. The news spurred an online debate, where Enney’s comments would eventually lead to his removal from the board of trustees.

Many community members spoke in support of Enney at the Dec. 13 school board meeting, such as Jennifer Grinager, the former local Moms for Liberty chapter chair who recently won a seat on the Templeton Unified School District board.

“I’m also here to talk about how much money this is costing for a two-year appointment—money that [Superintendent Curt] Dubost spoke about on KSBY as either will take away from student services or from possible

teacher salaries,” Grinager said. “I would hope that the board ... [would] not put that against the students and them losing services.”

Dubost told New Times that he wished there was an alternative solution.

“I’m very disappointed and frustrated that any district money is being committed to something which we have no control over,” he said. “We have no say in it.”

The special election would cost the school district $493,000, a cost that Dauterman called the “price of democracy.” She said petitioners didn’t take the financial costs of an election lightly.

“Those of us who are in support of this think that there is a larger cost to leave Mr. Enney in the position, than there would be to pay for the special election to put somebody else in his place,” Dauterman said.

“Some of the things that he supports are going to cost the district more money in the long run.”

A discrimination complaint against the outgoing school board caused a civil rights investigation against the district, Dauterman said, and those are the same people who appointed Enney to complete the remainder of Chris Bausch’s term.

Baush resigned from his school board seat in August 2022 to serve on the Paso Robles City Council.

“We think that legal issues like that will continue with [the] actions Mr. Enney supports,” she said. ∆

—Shwetha Sundarrajan

Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) union President Jeff Lane has enjoyed teamwork and being physically active since he was in high school. It informed his career path to skip college, get his fire technology certification, and eventually join the FCFA as a reserve firefighter more than a decade ago.

“A big part of why I got into it is it’s an amazing job to get paid to help people. Most of the time, people are very appreciative and happy to see you,” Lane said. “All of us individuals have sacrificed something, especially money, to be able to figure out how to live here and continue to stay in the community.”

But now, Lane—a third-year full-time firefighter—is one of 11 union members (there are 20 total) who are looking for firefighting opportunities at outside agencies. Frozen funding contributions from Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and the Oceano Community Services District have left the South County fire department asking for more money to hire more employees and, in turn, expand fire services.

These three communities formed a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) in 2010 to combine their fire service resources and form one fire department. A 2020 amendment locked in the contributions from each member community until it expires in July 2023.

“The funding shortage is because the cities haven’t allocated the funding that’s necessary to progress or keep up the fire department to the standard that they keep the rest of the city up to,” Lane said. “They encourage growth and development, but with growth and development comes call volume increase.”

Call volume levels are currently at an all-time high, according to FCFA statistics. Previous New Times reporting found that as of Nov. 30, the fire department received 6.7 percent more calls in 2022 than it did in 2021. FCFA data shows a continued average increase of 4.8 percent annually.

Lane added that the FCFA is a “catchall” for the 911 system. He said that unless it’s a call for a domestic dispute or a police officer is near the service location, the FCFA arrives on scene to fix those issues.

“A lot of the times, it’s when someone’s sprinkler is broken,” he said. “Legally, we’re not allowed to do things like [that], or shut your water off to stop a leak, that would be a water department’s job. I think the fire department, to a fault, says, ‘This isn’t what we’re here for but we’re going to do it anyway because we’re public servants.’”

Before trying for the job, firefighting hopefuls can enroll in a state-accredited fire academy like the one offered at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria. The FCFA also hosts an in-house, six-week fire academy that’s tailored to how their firefighters handle tasks.

“Part of being a small department that hasn’t been funded is we don’t have a training facility,” Lane said. “San Luis city has a training tower behind their

Station 1 headquarters. It’s a mid-rise concrete building that they’re able to put smoke in and have pseudo-live fire. They can get that experience of pulling a hose into a dangerous environment where you have to wear your pack. We don’t have anything like that.”

Lane told New Times that the out-ofpocket cost of receiving certification is still high compared to how much FCFA staff ultimately earn. A step below the top level of the firefighter rank, Lane makes $23 an hour over a 56-hour work week. He said once firefighters reach the highest level, pay increases stagnate unless there’s an opportunity to be promoted to the rank of a fire engineer. A salary study found that they get paid 18 to 30 percent below average across all municipal departments in SLO County and Santa Maria.

“The starting hourly pay for our firstyear firefighters is $19 an hour to work a 56-hour work week,” he said. “Our overtime rate is the same time-and-ahalf rate which exists by California law. There is no hazard pay, or double time pay for any reason. My certifications and training hours, that are well above the minimum for our department, is in the excess of 2,000 hours.”

According to FCFA Fire Chief Steve Lieberman, the department is asking cities for an additional $1.9 million. The fire department, which operates a fire station in each member city, hopes that amount would increase staffing numbers from 27 to the 39 that are immediately needed for the FCFA to run efficiently.

The future of fire services is further complicated by the repeated failure of Oceano to pass a special fire tax. Grover Beach City Manager Matthew Bronson said that while his city and Arroyo Grande were able to fund significant investments transitioning FCFA’s reserve firefighters to permanent positions,

Oceano couldn’t pull its financial weight without asking its voters for a supplemental tax measure. To buy Oceano more time to pass the tax and to account for pandemic uncertainties, the FCFA member communities designed and adopted the JPA amendment in 2020 that locked in each area’s funding contributions.

It’s a point of frustration for the fire union. Lane said that the while cities inject more funding into their respective police departments, the FCFA’s funding is inconsistent. Both Bronson and Arroyo Grande City Manager Whitney McDonald said that police departments and the FCFA are governed differently.

“The Fire Authority is a joint powers authority that has a different governance model and two different types of communities—two incorporated cities and an unincorporated community services district,” Bronson said. “That’s not the case with police. They are city departments that are part of city operations.”

Now, because Oceano failed to pass the tax for a second time in November and is likely leaving the FCFA, the cities are figuring out what fire services will look like over the wind-down period that will end on June 30, 2023. The city managers hired an outside consulting agency to assess service and funding needs, and the report will be ready in February. Two of three members of the fire board—Arroyo Grande City Councilmember Keith Storton and Oceano Community Services District Director Karen White—are leaving their political posts, so appointing their replacements will be one of the first priorities in 2023. But Bronson acknowledged that the FCFA needs more funding.

“We are determined to figure out how we can best meet our community service needs, fire and emergency medical needs, and determine how we can fund those needs,” Bronson said. “Our current situation is not for a lack of financial support from the cities. It’s really tied into the complex governance arrangement that we have currently with the authority.” ∆

FILE PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM

BY PETER JOHNSON

Trip of a lifetime

Two Paso Robles middle school teachers are hoping to jumpstart an annual East Coast trip for local eighth graders—complete with stops at the U.S. Capitol and Broadway in New York City—but they need the community’s help to do it.

Mallory Spann, an English teacher at Flamson Middle School, recently issued a call-out to the local business community asking for sponsorships to support the 33 prospective students on the trip.

“Students from Paso Robles have been given the opportunity to take a lifechanging trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City in June of 2023,” Spann said in a press release. “This program will build strong community membership and a connection to our values as American citizens. The community is advocating for these students to receive scholarships from businesses within Paso Robles.”

Planned through EF Explore America, a private educational tour agency, the trip itinerary includes visits to museums, monuments, and memorials throughout the two cities, as well as stops at other iconic landmarks, like Mount Vernon.

“It’s so cool because it’s completely inclusive—all of the transportation, travel guides, our entrance fees to museums, as well as a Broadway play in New York City,” Spann told New Times. “For a lot of these kids, this is absolutely the trip of a lifetime. We have English learners on this trip, so this is a really big deal for them to be able to assimilate to American values.”

The East Coast trip will cost $2,822 per student. Sponsorships are tax deductible as a donation through a local education nonprofit that’s aiding Spann and her Flamson colleague, Alexandria Huggins, with fundraising. Interested businesses can reach out to the teachers at scribblesbymallory@gmail.com or (805) 610-9953 for more information.

In exchange for a sponsorship, Spann said businesses will be given shout-outs of appreciation in press releases to local media outlets thanking them for their donation, as well as framed photos of the students on the trip recognizing their contribution.

“We’re really trying to make it a big deal for businesses to be recognized. We’ll be publicly thanking businesses with as much press as we can get,” Spann said.

She added that they are also looking for

individual community members to sponsor students for an upcoming cleanup day in downtown Paso, which will help students be able to earn some of the funds for their trip.

Longer term, the teachers said they are interested in making the East Coast tour an annual June tradition for Paso Robles’ eighth graders. The entire eighth grade class at Flamson was invited on this inaugural trip, with the head count currently at 33 students.

Considering the challenges for youth these past few years with the COVID-19 pandemic, Spann believes that this type of group travel experience is an incredible opportunity for the eighth graders to get out in the world and visit America’s civic and cultural landmarks.

“This age group specifically—with the learning loss and the social-emotional issues they’ve had to deal with—they’ve lost a lot that kids their age have normally gained at this point,” Spann said. “Having an opportunity to get out and experience culture and community on a larger level, not just here in our small town, but reaching all the way to the Capitol, I think is going to be life changing for a lot of them.”

Fast facts

• Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) announced that it has $2.15 million available for customers interested in participating in its Ag Electrification Program. Farmers looking to switch to all-electric equipment—like irrigation systems, tractors, and utility vehicles—will be eligible for rebates supported by the local power entity. 3CE has distributed more than $1.22 million thus far in its Ag Electrification Program history, according to an agency press release. Visit 3ce.org for more details.

• The city of San Luis Obispo received a $6.95 million grant from the California Transportation Commission to make safety improvements along South Higuera Street. Called the Higuera Complete Streets Project, the city plans to add protected bike lanes, pedestrian crossing enhancements, traffic signal upgrades, and measures to reduce illegal speeding along the 2.5-mile stretch of road between Marsh Street and Los Osos Valley Road. ∆

Assistant Editor Peter Johnson wrote this week’s Strokes. Email him at pjohnson@ newtimesslo.com.

EAST COAST EXPERIENCE Eighth graders at Flamson Middle School in Paso Robles are looking for local businesses to sponsor them on an educational trip this June to Washington, D.C., and New York City.

PHOTO

DEATH NOTICES

ALLEN, THOMAS EDWARD, 71, of Santa Maria passed away 11/30/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

BARRIOS , MICHAEL, 69, of the Central Coast passed away 11/30/2022 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

BILODEAU, GORDON, 83, of Santa Maria passed away 11/30/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

CARLSON-STANHOPE, JULIE, 65, of Templeton, passed away 11/16/2022 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

CARROLL, JOANNE, 73, of Pismo Beach passed away 11/30/2022 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

CHILDRESS, GISELA MARGARET, 92, of Santa Maria passed away 11/18/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

COX, WALLACE “WALLY”, 93, of Arroyo Grande passed away 11/27/2022 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

CUDLIP, ELIZABETH, 35, of Arroyo Grande passed away 11/19/2022 arrangements with Lady Family Mortuary

DELGADILLO, HENRIETTA FLORES, 88, of Santa Maria passed away 11/28/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

DOMINGUEZ, LUCILLE ANN, 71, of Santa Maria passed away 11/30/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

FELIX, NANCY, 73, of Arroyo Grande passed away 11/29/2022 arrangements with MarshallSpoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

FERRER, YUVIARLETTE “YUVIS”, 33, of Santa Maria passed away 11/24/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

FORRESTER, ELOISE “GENIE”, 94, of Grover Beach passed away 11/22/2022 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

GALSIM, ROSE, 52, of Paso Robles passed away 12/2/2022 arrangements with MarshallSpoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

GOMEZ, CARLOS FLAVIANO, 48, of Santa Maria passed away 11/22/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

GOULD, JESSE LEE, 33, of Santa Maria passed away 11/29/2022 arrangements with Magner-Maloney Funeral Home & Crematory KISER, FRANK, 70, of Santa Maria passed away 12/3/2022 arrangements with DudleyHoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

KRALLMAN, GENE, 62, of Paso Robles passed away 11/24/2022 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

LAMBERT, AMANDA, 94, of Arroyo Grande passed away 11/29/2022 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

LEICH, J. SUSAN, 82, of El Sobrante, Ca passed away 11/27/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

LILLY, LINDA, 79, of Nipomo passed away 12/1/2022 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

MAFFIOLO, CAROLYN “CARY”, 65, of Los Osos passed away 11/21/2022 arrangements with Reis Family Mortuary

MANCHESTER, BETTY RAE, 95, of Santa Maria passed away 12/6/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

MILLER, ARLOA, 83, of Arroyo Grande passed away 12/3/2022 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

NAILOR, EDWIN S. JR, 97, of Santa Maria passed away 11/26/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

ORTIZ, EILEEN, 53, of Guadalupe passed away 12/1/2022 arrangements with DudleyHoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

PORTER, BRUCE A., 81, of Santa Maria passed away 12/6/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

SIMAS, JOHNNY MARVIN, 91, of Orcutt passed away 11/28/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

SOHN, JACQUELINE, 90, of Morro Bay passed away 11/23/2022 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

SOUZA, VIRGINIA ELIZABETH, 98, of Santa Maria passed away 11/23/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

STABLEIN, FREDERICK, 86, of Paso Robles passed away 11/21/2022 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

STRONG, OLGA, 84, of Paso Robles passed away 11/27/2022 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

WATKINS, ROBERT EARL, 89, of Orcutt passed away 12/2/2022 arrangements with Magner-Maloney Funeral Home & Crematory

WILSON, ZACHARY J., 34, of Arroyo Grande passed away 11/20/2022 arrangements with Marshall-Spoo Sunset Funeral Chapel

WOODS, TOMMY, 80, of Paso Robles passed away 12/5/2022 arrangements with Blue Sky Cremation Service

WRIGHT, DORIS JEAN, 91, of Santa Maria passed away 12/5/2022 arrangements with Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary, Crematory & Memory Gardens

BY BARRY PRICE

SLO Dems denounce threats

As we watch the news of heavily armed MAGA militants invading drag performances to shut them down, domestic terrorists attacking the electrical infrastructure in North Carolina for the same purpose, and the recent anti-gay murder spree at Club Q in Colorado Springs, our first reaction might be to say it can’t happen here in blue California—certainly not in San Luis Obispo.

Yet it is happening right here in California, and in our county. As reported in New Times, the SFGate, and other news outlets, credible threats of violence have now been leveled at several local businesses because they scheduled drag events and performances in their venues.

This summer the Proud Boys terrorized

a drag event at a public library in Northern California, and early in December California State Sen. Scott Weiner received multiple death threats as a result of his activism in support of the queer community. Now a right-wing reactionary wants to bring all that to SLO to terrorize the queer community and their supporters here.

At least three business owners in SLO have been threatened by a local individual who promises to invite the reactionary hate group “Gays Against Groomers” to intimidate these businesses and threaten the performers. Gays Against Groomers is a national organization founded in Florida that is identified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League. They are linked

to militia groups like the Proud Boys, Patriot Prayer, and Band of Brothers and have been banned by Google, Venmo, and PayPal for spreading hate online. They specialize in opposition to LGBTQ rights and use demonizing rhetoric to portray LGBTQ people as threats to children, society, and public health.

Let’s be clear. This is not just a threat to one marginalized community, or one business owner. It is a life-threatening attack on the safety and security of everyone who lives in SLO County. We know who they are, and we know what this guy threatening to bring them to our community is really bringing—armed right-wing militias that use threats of violence to sow fear and division in the community so they can resist change and cling to power. Now, once again, they are threatening our freedoms.

This isn’t just the latest right-wing sex panic we’ve become accustomed to, and we need to take seriously this threat

against our community. We are outraged that someone would invite a violent organization like Gays Against Groomers here into San Luis Obispo County! Who does he think he is?

We know who the real groomers are out there—they’re the people who teach their children to hate anyone who’s different and that violence is the way to solve their disagreements. They are grooming their children to be bullies and insurrectionists. The San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party stands strongly in support of our local LGBTQ community and our local businesses. These threats of violence must be exposed, and those making the threats must face consequences. ∆

Barry Price is a spokesman for the SLO County Democratic Party. Respond with a letter to the editor by emailing it to letters@newtimesslo.com.

I support former SLO County ClerkRecorder Tommy Gong

Thank you for the wonderful article on Tommy Gong (“Former SLO County Clerk-Recorder Tommy Gong testifies to Congress about a lack of resources and combatting local Republicans’ voter fraud claims,” Dec. 1). It was a great pleasure to read your article about him! I was sad when he left the County ClerkRecorder position and thrilled with how he has made a wonderful beginning in Contra Costa County. He was an amazing manager, personable, knowledgeable, and willing to take time to answer my questions.

I was able to know him via my volunteer work recording death records for the SLO County Genealogical Society. We frequently had out-of-town/state inquiries about dates of death from members of the public, many of whom were tracing their family history.

I was horrified at the rude and ignorant people who challenged his actions at the Board of Supervisors in May of 2021. How insulting and demeaning to ask questions about auditing elections and his political affiliations.

The photo of him in New Times shows the happy person I came to know and enjoy talking with. I’m excited that he’s found a positive experience in his new position. SLO County will miss him.

Susan Crosson Arroyo Grande

I want to thank Charles Varni for an excellent open letter to the SLO Board of Supervisors (“Lynn Compton is taking out her revenge on the Oceano Advisory Council,” Dec. 1). Oceano has been long overlooked. Mr. Varni is a much needed, much appreciated voice for this town. Congratulations, Charles, and thank you for your time and devotion in a crazy, money- and power-driven world.

Dena Neill Oceano

Neglected community gardens neglect community hunger

I was fortunate enough to have recently been awarded a plot in the community garden on Nipomo Street in SLO. As as militant gardener and one who has noticed what appears to me to be a community garden in a bit of disarray in terms of security, billing, appearance, and general role in the SLO community, is there any way SLO can put food security first? There is growing (pardon the pun) food insecurity for everyone now. Seniors, students, families, and individuals face an economy in growing (another unintentional pun) ruin. While SLO has been awarded millions of dollars to improve its tiny downtown business corridor on Higuera Street, I have yet to find any news on a corresponding improvement in expanding community gardens. We are blessed with mild weather, great soil, and plenty of open space. For the sake of maintaining a healthy, cohesive, and thriving community, we need more community gardens. This is of vital importance. For conservative detractors that abhor

any public expense that doesn’t support private interests, an argument could be made that with the provision of fresh, free food grown through the use public gardens, there would be less need for food stamps, Medicaid, and other (meager) forms of our traditional social safety net. Doing so supports their supreme goal of reducing public expenditures. Additionally, during WWII “Victory Gardens” were actively encouraged by the government.

We are facing pronounced hunger in America and it is our (municipal) government’s duty to “ … promote the general welfare,” (preamble to the U.S. Constitution). This is not happening, as evidenced by neglected community gardens. Let’s lead by example.

S.Harris Plot No. 19

community garden on Nipomo Street, SLO

Charles Varni is a much-needed voice for Ocenao

Ten years ago, Loyola Law School professor Jennifer Levinson suggested that “ballot initiatives have harmed California.” While admitting that some initiatives “support worthwhile ideas or causes,” she couldn’t help noticing that “the process designed to guard against special interests, and specifically their influence over legislators, has now been turned on its head and is all but controlled by those interests. In order to qualify an initiative for the ballot one needs money, not a good idea.”

For Exhibit A in support of this argument, look no further than the currently circulating petition to get a referendum on the 2024 ballot that would, courtesy of the oil lobby and $17.9 million, repeal a state law requiring buffer zones around new oil drilling operations in or adjacent to neighborhoods.

As the oil lobbyists put it, “The petition seeks to put a repeal of Senate Bill 1137 before the voters, which instituted a statewide 3,200-foot oil well setback without any scientific basis.”

The last four words of that statement are one of many lies spreading outward from this initiative like ripples on a pond. When Senate Bill 1137 was signed into law last September, it promised to protect California communities by requiring a science-based, health-protective 3,200-foot buffer zone between new oil and gas operations and homes, hospitals, schools, parks, and other sensitive areas. It will protect communities

from the adverse health effects that come with living near oil extraction operations in your neighborhood, including respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular disease, developmental abnormalities, poor pregnancy outcomes, and cancer. The front-line communities most impacted by oil extraction have been fighting for that protection for more than a decade.

On Nov. 18, the California Geologic Energy Management Division issued a permit for the drilling of a new oil well in the Arroyo Grande Oil Field that would likely be within the area of the 3,200-foot buffer if the setbacks law were in effect.

The law should take effect on Jan. 1, 2023—emphasis on “should.” Even if the measure is defeated, just getting it onto the 2024 ballot will delay implementation of the law for two more years of oil wells going in next to homes, schools, parks, community centers, hospitals, and other sensitive areas. Two more years spreading chronic disease while raking in maximum profit, the reason for the ballot measure and the $18 million backing it.

Let’s get back to the lies spreading out from this initiative. Signature gatherers are nearing the deadline for the 623,000 valid signatures they need on their petitions to repeal oil well health and safety buffer zones, and they’ll say anything to make that happen.

You may have heard several deceptive come-ons while attempting to enter a

grocery store or farmers’ market. One of the more popular: “Wanna sign a petition to put a measure on the ballot banning new oil wells near homes, schools, and hospitals?”— i.e. the opposite of what the ballot measure would do. Also popular: Claiming that the measure would “lower gas prices.” (By a show of hands, how many of you believe Big Oil wants to put a measure on the ballot that’s designed to cut into their profits?)

And no, California’s setback law is not an “energy shutdown.” SB 1137 was a major win for public health, and the oil industry is lying profusely while trying to override the state Legislature so it can continue to poison our communities.

Feel free to tell those signature gatherers all of the above. Or just walk away. You just helped stop Big Oil from padding its bottom line at the expense of public health. Tell your family and friends to do the same.

But here’s the urgently important part: If you were told any of the above misrepresentations by a petition signature gatherer, do these two things right now, today:

1. File a formal complaint with the Secretary of State’s Office using its webform. Under “Organization Against Whom Complaint Is Brought,” write: “Stop the energy shutdown, a coalition of small business owners, concerned taxpayers, local energy producers and the California Independent Petroleum Association.”

2. Email a description of your interaction with a misleading or fraudulent petition gatherer, including date and approximate time of the interaction and any photo or

video you might have of the signature gatherers, to Aimee Dewing at aimee@ lastchancealliance.

And if that deceptive come-on unfortunately worked and you signed the petition, no problem: You can un-sign it. Send an email to the county Elections Office saying you want your name removed from the petition, state the petition title (“Referendum Challenging 2022 Law Prohibiting New Oil and Gas Wells Near Homes, Schools, and Hospitals”), the date you signed, your name, address and signature. Send ASAP to SLO County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano via fax, (805) 781-1111, or email, elections@co.slo.ca.us. ∆

Andrew Christie is the director of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Send a repsonse for publication to letters@ newtimesslo.com.

Friendships have been forged at the bridge table for centuries, in an environment of comradery, cooperation and conundrums.

togethers at friends’

There are many forms of the game, ranging from social get-togethers at friends’ homes, to online games with others from around the world, to local competitions, where you can compete for Life Master status.

, 2023, at the Woman’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon Street.

We’ll have you at the tables playing on the first day with hands

So, whether you want to learn bridge from scratch or refresh your skills in a casual setting, come join Tom Snow, expert and Gold Life Master, for his free Beginner Classes every Wednesday afternoon for 10 weeks, from 1 to 4pm, beginning January 18th, 2023, at the Woman’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon Street.

you at the tables playing on the first day with hands

We’ll have you at the tables playing on the first day with hands-on supervised play.

togethers at friends’ , 2023, at the Woman’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon Street. We’ll have you at the tables playing on the first day with hands

To book, contact Tom on 805-305-5035 or coinerbop@gmail.com

Sponsored by: American Contract Bridge League and Arroyo Grande Recreation Services

If you thought you finally knew the results of the SLO County’s 2nd District supervisor race, think again!

I mean, it’s going to be Bruce—and actually the recently certified election results do show Bruce beating Bruce by 13 votes, so it’s definitely a Bruce!

However, one Bruce wants a recount. And it’s the losing Bruce. No surprises there.

Candidate Bruce Jones —who should have easily won the recently gerrymandered 2nd District by hundreds of votes, according to voter registration data—didn’t sail to the Republican-imagined victory like they thought he would. Maybe it was the Republican Party of SLO County’s manic Trumpian/Tea Party push over the last half-decade. Maybe it was the tact to rely on conservatives’ irrational fear that socialism and tax-hungry politicians are taking over the county. Maybe it was the constant refrain of irate and convoluted voter fraud allegations. Or maybe it was simply that their candidate sucked.

Either way, here we are. Incumbent 2nd District Supervisor Bruce Gibson beat the odds by 13 votes. See, your vote absolutely counts. Or at least 13 of your votes count.

And, as predicted by folks who pay attention to SLO County politics, a recount was requested on behalf of Mr. Jones. It’s such a tight race, a recount request was inevitable.

But this recount request was filed by the now infamous local election denier Darcia

“Monopoly Money Counts as Real Money” Stebbens, who wields her analogies like square pegs meant for round holes. It demands access to things that are inaccessible—things like names, signatures, and addresses. You know, privacy-type things.

Stebbens is on her second recount request, because the first one went so well. Remember that? It was only in June. Not a single vote in the contest between then 4th District Supervisor Lynn Compton and challenger Jimmy Paulding changed. The SLO County Clerk-Recorder’s Office did its job well, accurately, and above board!

Compton is out. Paulding is in.

Back slaps all around, right?

Not if you’re Stebbens. She continued to attend Board of Supervisors meetings, railing about computers, loose ballots (they’ll let anyone fill them out, amirite?), and monopoly money for three minutes at a time. The vote count is accurate, she said, but that doesn’t mean something else didn’t go awry.

And that’s what they’re looking for.

“We’re being asked time and time again to trust the machines,” Stebbens said during Fraud Hour (aka, public comment) at the Dec. 13 board meeting. “I happen to have faith and trust in the human brain to be able to look at a ballot and know what that vote is for.”

It’s funny, then, that the “rumors”

floating around about what went wrong in the 2nd District race have everything to do with humans and nothing to do with machines. Erik Gorham, de facto Jones spokesperson (Jones refused to comment on the recount. Who does that? It’s your race, buddy. Own it.), told Hometown Radio host Dave Congalton (who for some reason likes to entertain these allegations as if they have merit) that they could “find” 20 votes to beat Gibson because voters were supposedly misled by poorly trained pollworkers about what to do with their voteby-mail ballots at the polls.

Stebbens recount request demands information about poll worker trainings, their names, addresses, etc. Creepy!

So it’s the machines, right? No wait, it’s also humans? And it’s ballots? So, trust nobody and nothing?

If the 13 votes swung the other way, would Stebbens have filed a recount request on behalf of Gibson? Would sitting elected official 5th District Debbie “My Election Was Fair But I Have Questions About Yours” Arnold have voted against declaring the election results again?

I doubt it. This is about partisanship, plain and simple. It has nothing to do with the truth. And it certainly has nothing to do with ensuring democracy works as it should. It has to do with ensuring conservatives stay in power. Nothing more, nothing less.

Allegations of voter fraud are the ultimate form of denial. That denial of reality and some twisted belief that reality

can be twisted to meet your fantasy of what should be leads people to do outrageous things—Jan. 6, 2021, is a great example.

During a difficult interview with a coffee shop owner that really hadn’t gotten to the hard stuff yet, the owner ripped a page of notes out of a New Times’ reporter’s notebook, demanding that the paper not write anything negative about their business. Later that day, they apologized.

However, that sort of behavior—driven by denial and the belief that we can create our own reality—is unacceptable. Acting like something didn’t happen or that New Times or The Tribune (pick the media outlet of your choice) made up the reality you’re living in doesn’t change reality. A physical, forceful action doesn’t erase the years and months that led up to that moment. Taking your frustration out on reporters, journalists, and media organizations that are just doing their job will not amend a thing.

Rallying supporters around conspiracy theories, talking points that manipulate facts, accusations without merit, yelling into the social media bubble, anger that manifests into verbal and physical outbursts against people who don’t see the world as we do, secluding ourselves from “the other.” None of it makes your world or mine any better. In fact, it makes it worse. ∆ The Shredder is appalled. Send ointment

ELF OFF THE SHELF

ARTS

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

ANNUAL WINTER FAIRE AND CRAFT EXHIBIT

This special holiday event offers a collection of exceptional paintings, photography, and fi ne crafts, spanning a variety of artistic media from traditional to contemporary. Crafts include fi ber, wood, glass, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, and more. Through Jan. 1, 2023, 12-4 p.m. Free. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org/. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER CCAT presents a staged reading of the charming book by Barbara Robinson. Tickets available online and at the door. Dec. 16, 7-9 p.m. and Dec. 17, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. $10. 805-927-8190. cambriaarts.org/theatre-season/. Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre, 1350 Main St., Cambria.

COLLAGES AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF LOS OSOS

Collages and photographs featuring Sweet Springs Nature Preserve and the Elfi n 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 HOLIDAY SEASON: GIFTY

UNDER FIFTY Costa Gallery will feature Holiday gifts $50 and under by more than 20 regional artists. Explore affordable original art cards, fi ber art, glass, jewelry, paintings, photography, prints, and sculpture. Mondays, Thursdays-Sundays. through Dec. 30 Free admission. 559-799-9632. Browse and buy unique art, fi ne craft, and affordable gifts from more than 20 local artists. Through Dec. 31 559-799-9632. Costagallery. com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.

FOREVER STOKED HOLIDAY ART

SHOW A celebration of Central Coastinspired artworks. Featuring original paintings from Charlie Clingman, Chris Pedersen, Peter Pierce, Ken Christensen, and more. Dec. 17, 12-8 p.m. Free. 805772-9095. foreverstoked.com. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

MARCIE BEGLEITER: WHAT WILL REMAIN EXHIBIT This California-based artist is showing a dynamic solo exhibit of painting, drawing, ceramics, and tapestry, along with “Small Gems” at the CCA Gallery. Through Dec. 31 805-927-8190. cambriaarts.org/ gallery-exhibits/. Cambria Center for the Arts, 1350 Main St., Cambria.

Dec. 24, 12-4 p.m. Free. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay. org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

MORRO MORNING: WATERCOLOR SHOW OF PAINTINGS (PERFECT FOR GIFTS) Featuring paintings of landscapes and seascapes that fi ll the Lower Gallery show walls with wonderful scenes painted of Central coastal areas. Through Dec. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

SUITE SURRENDER Mistaken identities, overblown egos, double entendres, and a lap dog named Mr. Boodles round out this hilarious riot of a love note to the classic farces of the 30s and 40s. Through Dec. 18 my805tix.com. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.

WINTER SUNSET: A GROUP PHOTO SHOW OF ARTWORKS FOR GIFTING Showcases photographs of countrysides and seascapes with wonderful sunsets, golden hours, twilights, and more. Through Dec. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare. com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

CHRISTMAS CAROL HIGH SCHOOL Join the Atascadero High School Theater Department for a modern Mean Girls-style twist on the classic Christmas story. The campus “Scrooge”, Meredith Priestly — the prettiest, most popular, meanest girl in school — is taken on a life-changing journey. Dec. 16, 7-9 p.m. and Dec. 17, 2-4 p.m. $10. atasusd. org. Atascadero High School, One High School Hill, Atascadero, 805-462-4300.

MAJESTIC WINTER OWL SIP ‘N PAINT Join

Dec. 16, 6-7:30 p.m. $44. 805-464-2838. oracleatascaderoca.com. Oracle, 6280 Palma Ave., Atascadero.

NANCY HILL FABRIC ART EXHIBITION AT THE DOSTER GALLERY Doster Gift Gallery in Atascadero will be hosting an exciting exhibition of Nancy Hill’s extraordinary fabric sculptures. Opens on Dec. 16 and runs through the end of January. Dec. 16 - Jan. 31 Free. 805 462-9309. Doster Gift Gallery, 5970 Entrada Ave., Atascadero.

PAINT AND SIP CLASS Joining forces with the talents of Art Social, the winery will offer classes twice a month for you to sip and get creative on the vineyard. Friday classes held at 7 p.m. Sunday classes held at noon. Dec. 16 my805tix.com. Cass Winery and Vineyard, 7350 Linne Rd., Paso Robles.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

CERAMIC LESSONS AND MORE Now offering private one-on-one and group lessons in the ceramic arts. Both hand building and wheel throwing options. Beginners welcomed. ongoing 805-835-5893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

A CHRISTMAS STORY The holiday classic about young Ralphie Parker and his quest for a genuine Red Ryder BB Gun. Saturdays, Sundays, 2 p.m., Wednesdays-Saturdays, 7 p.m. and Dec. 18, 2 p.m. through Dec. 17 $20-$28. 805-786-2440. slorep. org/shows/a-christmas-story-2022/. San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre, 888 Morro St., 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. 805-5408300. Bang the Drum Brewery, 1150 Laurel Lane, suite 130, San Luis Obispo, bangthedrumbrewery.com.

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.

INTERMEDIATE OIL PAINTING: ADULT ART CLASS This class is for students who may have tried oil painting in the past but 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. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/ workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

KIDS IMPROV CLASS Do you have an active youngster who loves to act or perform, or just loves to play? In this class, students will develop improv and acting skills, learn fun improv games, and develop teamwork skills. Thursdays, 4-5:30 p.m. through Dec. 15 $225. 803-487-4401. centralcoastcomedytheater. com. Central Coast Comedy Theater Training Center, 2078 Parker Street, Suite 200, 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.

LITTLE TREASURES HOLIDAY EXHIBIT Artwork in this exhibit is priced $100 or less. Everything is handcrafted and made with love by local artists. Find that one-of-a-kind gift for that special someone. Artist reception is Dec. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. through Jan. 30 Free. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

THE MONDAY CLUBHOUSE CONSERVANCY FINE ARTS AWARDS APPLICATIONS Open to high school juniors and seniors. Categories: classical music, jazz music, and visual art. Submit online application. Finalists in all categories compete in a live competition at The Monday Club on Feb. 26. Through Jan. 30, 2023

MORRO BAY ART CENTER WINTER MARKET A special holiday shopping experience. Enjoy music and treats as you peruse a diverse collection of paintings, photography and fi ne crafts by local artists including ceramics, fi ber, wood, glass, jewelry, and more.

local lifelong artist and creative expressive facilitator, Sophia Johanna, as she guides a Majestic Winter Owl Spirit-inspired Sip N’ Paint.

Fridays, Saturdays, 6-8 p.m. $140. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.

Park Ballroom in Paso Robles hosts the 32nd annual Victorian Teddy Bear Tea on Saturday, Dec. 17, from 2 to 4 p.m. Special guests at the program will include Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, Santa’s elves, the Snow Queen, and other holiday characters. Tickets are $8 for children and $20 for adults, and are available in advance at my805tix.com. Visit pasoroblesdowntown.org for more details. Park Ballroom is located at 1232 Park St., unit 200, Paso Robles. —Caleb Wiseblood

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PASO ROBLES MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

Free. 805-242-1076. themondayclubslo.org. Online, See website, 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.

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.

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.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS Ballet Theatre SLO presents this heartwarming original ballet. Come see each of the 12 days come alive on stage through dance. Dec. 16, 7-9 p.m., Dec. 17, 7-9 p.m. and Dec. 18, 2-4 p.m. $28-$48. Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, 805-756-7113.

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. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshopsevents/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

ARTWORK BY STEVE ANDREWS On display throughout November and December. Through Dec. 31 Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande, 805-489-9444, clarkcenter.org.

HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA: A CHRISTMAS CAROL Visited by the ghosts of Past, Present, and Future, Ebenezer Scrooge must find it in his heart to change or face a bleak and lonely future. No show on Christmas day. Wednesdays-Saturdays, 7-10 p.m., Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. and Sundays, 6-9 p.m. through Dec. 18 $36$40. 805-489-2499. americanmelodrama.com. Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

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. 805668-2125. 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.

MOVIE NIGHT AT THE CLIFFS Enjoy a screening of the classic Christmas comedy, Elf, in the Cliffs ballroom. Dec. 22, 6 p.m. 805-773-5000. cliffshotelandspa.com/ cliffsmas/. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach.

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.

SANTA MARIA

528-4880. baysidemartialarts.com. Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., Los Osos.

BLUE CHRISTMAS If the holiday season brings up memories of the past, of loved ones lost, or if there are reasons why this year is not especially bright, please join this short simple service which acknowledges that Christmas can be a difficult time for many. Dec. 20, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Free. 805-528-0654. stbenslososos.org. St. Benedict’s Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln., Los Osos.

CAMBRIA CHRISTMAS MARKET Will feature more than 2 million twinkling Christmas lights, along with artisan vendors, visits from Santa, a fun train ride, cozy fire pits, live music, delicious food, drinks, and much more. Wednesdays-Sundays, 5-9 p.m. through Dec. 23 $15-$25. 800-966-6490. cambriachristmasmarket. com/. Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria.

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.

CENTRAL COAST WOOD CARVERS Learn the art of wood carving or wood burning. Join Central Coast Wood Carvers in Morro Bay at St. Timothy’s. Open for beginners, intermediate, or advance. Learn a wide range of techniques and skills. Mask Required. Tuesdays, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free. St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, 962 Piney Way, Morro Bay, 805-772-2840, sttimothymorrobay.org/index.html.

CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS MEETING

Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a Twelve Step recovery program for anyone who desires to have healthy and loving relationships with themselves and others. Meeting is hybrid (both in person and on Zoom). For information, call 805-900-5237. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. thecambriaconnection.org/. Cambria Connection, 1069 Main St., Cambria, (805) 927-1654.

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. Mondays-Saturdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Call for more info. 805-701-7397. charvetmartialarts.com. Morro Bay Martial Arts, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

QUIET CHRISTMAS SERVICE AT ST. BENEDICT’S

A quiet Communion service with carols. Followed by a light brunch. Dec. 25, 10:30-11:45 a.m. Free. 805-5280654. stbenslososos.org. St. Benedict’s Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln., Los Osos.

A SEASONAL CELEBRATION: SUCCULENT PLANTS AND POTTERY SALE (PLUS

HANDCRAFTED GIFT MARKET) Features four local plant vendors and a potter, plus a special handcrafted gift market with four artists. Dec. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Dec. 18, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Steve Super Gardens, 2016 9th St., Los Osos, 805-602-7817.

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. 805528-7111. Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay, coalescebookstore.com/.

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.

VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

CINDERELLA Last seen at PCPA in 2015 and back by popular demand for the whole family, the Broadway adaption of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical. This fresh, contemporary take on the classic tale is full of new surprises, familiar friends, and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s unforgettable music. Through Dec. 23 $25-$59. 805-922-8313. pcpa.org/events/cinderella. PCPA: The Pacific Conservatory Theatre, 800 S. College, Santa Maria.

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-

ZEN IN MOTION Learn the Shaolin Water Style and other deep breathing and moving meditation techniques with the 2019 Taijiquan Instructor of the Year. Beginners Welcome.Instructor Certification Courses available. Mondays, Wednesdays Call for details. 805-701-7397. charvetmartialarts.com. Grateful Body, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

32ND ANNUAL VICTORIAN TEDDY BEAR TEA Special guests at the event will include Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, the Snow Queen, and other holiday characters. Dec. 17, 2-4 p.m. $8-$20. my805tix.com. Park Ballroom, 1232 Park St., Paso Robles.

HANDCRAFTED FOR THE HOLIDAYS This show is a timely showcase of fine crafts people and their work. People can find unique handmade gifts for every taste and price point for that special someone and pick up something for themselves Through Dec. 30 Free. 805238-9800. studiosonthepark.org/events/handcraftedfor-the-hollidays/. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles.

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.

RAISE THE VIBRATION An afternoon of good cheer, connection, and gratitude, as we collectively raise the vibration and tap into the magic this time of year gifts us. Dec. 24, 12-5 p.m. Free. 805-464-2838. oracleatascaderoca.com. Oracle, 6280 Palma Ave., Atascadero.

SANTA LUCIA ROCKHOUNDS MEETING Bring your favorite rock, gem, crystal, fossil, etc., to show the rest of the club. Third Monday of every month, 7 p.m. slrockhounds.org/. Templeton Community Center, 601 S. Main St., Templeton.

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, 5:306:30 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.

WINTER SOLSTICE SOUND HEALING EXPERIENCE Join Jamie Nicole, of Harmonic Holistics, and Oracle Owner/Psychic Medium Tiffany Klemz for this Winter Solstice Sound Healing Experience. Celebrate the Winter Solstice, and tap into that eternal light within. Dec. 21, 6-8 p.m. $33. 805-464-2838. oracleatascaderoca. com. Oracle, 6280 Palma Ave., Atascadero.

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. 805-470-3360. Colony Park Community Center, 5599 Traffic Way, Atascadero.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

BDSM 101 This monthly class from the Central Coast Kink Community provides a basic overview of kink, consent, rules, and information to help practitioners be successful and safe. Attendees must be 18+ years of age. Virtually meets via Zoom. Fourth Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. No admission. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, 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, 5:306:30 p.m. Sliding scale. 559-905-9274. theartofsilence. net. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

BIRDS AND BOTANY MONTHLY WALK AT SLO BOTANICAL GARDEN The Garden is excited to present a monthly bird walk series on the fourth Thursday of every month which explores the intersection of birds and botany. Fourth Thursday of every month, 8-11 a.m. $10 for Garden Members; $40 for general public. 805-541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

CAL HOPE SLO GROUPS AT TMHA Visit website for full list of weekly Zoom groups available. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays calhopeconnect.org. Transitions Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-270-3346.

CENTRAL COAST POLYAMORY (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) Hosting a discussion group featuring different topics relating to ethical non-monogamy every month. Virtually meet via Zoom. Third Wednesday of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

CITY FARM SLO’S YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

PROGRAM Check site for more info on programming and summer camps. ongoing cityfarmslo.org. San Luis Obispo, Citywide, SLO.

COMPLIMENTARY SHOWERS WITH SHOWER

THE PEOPLE After a short hiatus, the San Luis Obispo Library will once again be partnering with local non-profit 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.

FREE GUIDED MEDITATION GROUP A free guided meditation group held every Friday morning. Call for more info. Fridays, 10-10:45 a.m. through Jan. 27 Free. 805-439-2757. RuthCherryPhD.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

GALA PRIDE AND DIVERSITY CENTER

LOVED AND LOST

St. Benedict’s Church in Los Osos hosts its Blue Christmas service on Tuesday, Dec. 20, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. This program is intended for those having a difficult time during the holiday season, including those mourning lost loved ones. Admission to the service is free. Call (805) 528-0654 or visit stbenslososos.org for more info. The church is located at 2220 Snowy Egret Lane, Los Osos.

—C.W.

equipment included. ongoing Starts at $70. 805-8357873. sandbarsurf.com/. Sandbar Surf School Meetup Spot, 110 Park Ave., Pismo Beach.

FREE YOGA FOR FIRST RESPONDERS, EMS, AND COMMUNITY CARETAKERS Join for some well-deserved self-care. Anyone including fire, EMS, police, hospital workers, medical staff, assisted living caretakers, etc. is welcome. All yoga abilities are encouraged to attend. Please email empoweryoga805@ gmail.com in advance to enroll. Thursdays, 6-7 p.m. 805-619-0989. Empower Yoga Studio and Community Boutique, 775 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach, empoweryoga805.com.

HOLIDAY STORIES AT THE CLIFFS Enjoy hearing some holiday stories by the fire in The Cliffs lobby. Dec. 16, 5:30 p.m. 805-773-5000. cliffshotelandspa.com/ cliffsmas/. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AT THE CLIFFS Join for Monday Night Football and an ugly sweater contest. Mondays, 5:15 p.m. through Dec. 26 Free. 805-7735000. cliffshotelandspa.com/cliffsmas/. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach.

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS Tours will give you a glimpse into the lives of Lighthouse Keepers and their families, while helping keep our jewel of the Central Coast preserved and protected. Check website for more details. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

SALT AND SUNDRY SPA OPEN HOUSE AT THE CLIFFS Explore spa offerings at The Cliffs and enjoy some complimentary treats. Dec. 15, 5-7 p.m. 805-7735000. cliffshotelandspa.com/cliffsmas/. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach.

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.

LEARN TO SQUARE DANCE: A NEW DANCER CLASS Have fun dancing to a wide variety of music. No experience necessary. No dress code. Partners welcome (no partner needed). 12 weeks of instruction begins Sept. 15. Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. through Dec. 15 $50 for the entire class. 805-221-5437. squaredancecentralcoast.com. SLO Guild Hall, 2880 Broad 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 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 An immersive outdoor holiday light and art exhibition. Features large format light projections, illuminated sculptures, and artistic lighting of garden areas throughout the garden. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thursdays-Sundays, 5, 6 & 7 p.m. through Jan. 8 my805tix.com. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, 8055411400.

SECOND ANNUAL SENIOR SANTA EVENT Community members are encouraged to adopt a wish list for a senior to help ensure they have a happy holiday. Hosted by the Senior Angels of the Central Coast. Through Jan. 1, 2023 seniorangelsofthecentralcoast.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SLO BOTANICAL GARDEN PRESENTS YOGA ON THE TERRACE WITH CHERYL WAKEFIELD An immersive yoga experience led by Cheryl Wakefield, a yoga instructor of 15 years. The event will take place on the terrace in a serene outdoor setting that promotes a relaxed and tranquil mind. Saturdays. through Jan. 29 San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, 8055411400.

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.

org or jccslo.com for event updates. Dec. 21, 5 p.m. Mission Plaza, Downtown, 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.

SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN MONTHLY LUNCHEON San Luis Obispo Retired Active Men (SLO RAM) is a group of retirees that get together just for fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Third Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $28. retiredactivemen.org/. Madonna Inn Garden Room, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo.

SLO TABLE TENNIS The club is open to all skill levels. There are many tables available to play casual and competitive games. Sundays, 4-7 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays, 7-10 p.m. through Jan. 31 Free. 805-5400470. Ludwick Community Center, 864 Santa Rosa, San Luis Obispo.

STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi Gong boosts energy and vitality, reduces stress, improves balance and flexibility, and, best of all, is fun. Join instructor Devin Wallace for this outdoor class which is held in a beautiful setting. Call or email before attending. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. $10. 805-709-2227. Crows End Retreat Center, 6340 Squire Ct., San Luis Obispo.

STORYTIME IN THE GARDEN Stop by the Garden on alternating Tuesdays for Storytime in the Garden. For questions and more information, or if you are interested in being a reader, contact Millie by calling 805-541-1400, ext. 302 or emailing millie@slobg.org. Dec. 20, 10-11 a.m. my805tix.com. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, 8055411400.

SUNDAY EVENING RAP

STORYTIME WITH SANTA Join for holiday stories and treats. Santa will read “The Night Before Christmas,” take photos, and visit with the kids. Bring your cameras and take candid photos your family will love. Dec. 19, 10:30-11 a.m. Free to attend. 805-481-4131. GroverBeachLibrary.org. Grover Beach Community Library, 240 N 9th St., Grover Beach.

THIRD ANNUAL HOLIDAY LIGHTS CRUISE AND GIFT DRIVE To support Nipomo families in need. Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m. $5 donation; or an Amazon registry purchase. Nipomo Costa Pacifica Estates, Vista del Rio and Hutton Road, Nipomo.

WEEKLY WATER SAFETY LESSONS Facility advertised as open and safe. Give the office a call to register over the phone. Mondays-Fridays $160-$190. 805-481-6399. 5 Cities Swim School, 425 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, 5citiesswimschool.com.

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 nonmember. 805-772-4467. morrochamber.org. Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay.

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.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

BURGERS AND BRATS LUNCH AT VFW 2814

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.

Enjoy a hot-off-the-grill hamburger, cheeseburger, or handmade bratwurst sandwich at VFW Post 2814 in Atascadero. Starting at only $5, each meal comes with choice of toppings and condiments, a bag of chips, and a bowl of chili. The public is welcome. Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. through Dec. 28 $5. 805-466-3305. vfwpost2814.org/canteen.html. Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) 2814, 9555 Morro Road, Atascadero.

BOARD

MEETING (VIA ZOOM) Monthly meeting of the Gala Pride and Diversity Center Board of Directors. Meets virtually via Zoom and is open to members of the public. Visit galacc.org/events to fill out the form to request meeting access. Third Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. No admission fee. galacc.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP A safe

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 MENORAH LIGHTING In celebration of Hanukkah, Dec. 19 through Dec. 26. Check bethdavidslo.

TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peerto-peer support for trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and questioning people. In-person and Zoom meetings held. Contact tranzcentralcoast@gmail.com for more details. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, 805-541-4252.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BEGINNER GROUP SURF LESSONS AND SURF CAMPS Lessons and camp packages available daily. All

PASO ROBLES TOY DRIVE WINE WALK Toy donations are encouraged and each location will have a toy box donation drop-off. Includes three pours at the following Downtown Paso Wineries: Hayseed & Housdon, Stilson Cellars, Timshel Vineyards, Kramer Estate Wines, and Derby Wine Estates Dec. 17, 2-5 p.m. my805tix. com. Paso Robles Downtown Wineries, Various locations, Paso Robles.

SIP N’ SKETCH Bring your own art supplies and sketch our live model while sipping wine selected from our library collection donated by generous wineries, all for $10. Professional artists will be there to help and draw with you. Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m. $10 for a glass of wine and the opportunity to draw the live model. 805-238-9800. studiosonthepark.org. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine

HEALING

SWINGING LOUD FOR ALL TO HEAR

Central City Swing will present its live Christmas Jazz Concert on Tuesday, Dec. 20, from 7:30 to 9 p.m., at the Maramonte Park Community Center in Santa Maria. This familyfriendly concert will include an assortment of jazz, swing, and holiday song selections. Guests are encouraged to make a $5 donation at the door. Call (805) 264-1023 for more details. The Maramonte Park Community Center is located at 620 E. Sunrise Drive, Santa Maria. —C.W.

St., Paso Robles.

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. 805-460-6042. ancientowlbeergarden. com. La Parilla Taqueria will be in courtyard serving up their delicious tacos and tostadas every Tuesday. Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero, 805-460-6042, ancientowlbeergarden.com.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

COOKIES WITH SANTA Get your tickets for a special holiday event at the Apple Farm Marketplace and Cellar, with cookies and Santa Claus. Dec. 17, 3-6 p.m. $50. 805-544-6100. applefarm.com. Apple Farm, 2015 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

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

HOLIDAY VIRTUAL COOKIE DECORATING WORKSHOP

A hands-on cookie decorating class from the comfort of your home. Arty McGoo will lead you in a step by step class on how to beautifully decorate 3 different holiday-themed cookies. Dec. 20, 6 p.m. $85 per person or $65 per Collective member. 805-4345607. onxwines.com. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SEASONS GREEKINGS: HOLIDAY POP CULTURE

signature holiday cocktail, available every Wednesday in December. Wednesdays, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. through Dec. 28 805-773-5000. cliffshotelandspa.com/cliffsmas/. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach.

PISMO BEACH FARMERS MARKET Features various vendors selling their goods. Wednesdays, 4-7 p.m. Pismo Beach Farmers Market, Pismo Pier, Pismo Beach, 805. 773.4382.

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. and Dec. 21, 7-10 p.m. Free. 805-235-5223. The Merrimaker Tavern, 1301 2nd Street, Los Osos.

CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT ST. BENEDICT’S A Los Osos tradition. Enjoy carols from the centuries and a lively sing-a-long of familiar carols with the St Benedict’s Singers, conducted by Scott Glysson and accompanied by Paul Woodring. Dec. 18, 3-4 p.m. Free. 805-528-0654. stbenslososos.org. St. Benedict’s Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln., Los Osos.

QUIZ

A special holiday trivia event that is sure to grow your brain and test your holiday pop culture knowledge. Prizes for the winning teams. Dec. 22, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Free. 805-439-2529. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, 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. 805439-2529. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

CLIFFSMAS: HOLIDAY BRUNCH AT MARISOL

Enjoy a holiday brunch at Marisol with specialties including lobster benedict, hot chocolate French toast, and much more. Saturdays, Sundays. through Dec. 31 805-773-5000. cliffshotelandspa.com/cliffsmas/. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach.

HOLIDAY

COCKTAILS

HARMONY HOLIDAY CONCERT Central Coast Harmony Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, presents this concert. Admission is free, donations appreciated. Dec. 18, 4-5:30 p.m. Free. 805-736-7572.

Trinity United Methodist Church, 490 Los Osos Valley Rd., Los Osos, trinitylososos.org.

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. Fourth Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 805-900-5444. Lunada Garden Bistro, 78 N. Ocean Ave., Cayucos.

OPEN MIC NIGHT Come join us each Wednesday for Open Mic Night in the downstairs dining area. Grab some friends and show off your talents. Food and drink service will be available. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Free. 805-995-

This weekly event features a

3883. schoonerscayucos.com. Schooners, 171 North Ocean Ave, Cayucos.

SING WE NOW OF CHRISTMAS A festive collection of holiday standards, familiar favorites, and some new selections performed by the Cambria Chorale. Dec. 18, 2 p.m. $20; free for students. cambriachorale. org. Community Presbyterian Church of Cambria, 2250 Yorkshire Dr., Cambria.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

BRILLIANT BRASS Celebrate the holiday season with the Symphony of the Vines Brass Quintet. Dec. 18, 5:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Cass Winery and Vineyard, 7350 Linne Rd., Paso Robles.

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. 805-460-6042. ancientowlbeergarden.com. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero.

HOLIDAY BRASS AT THE MISSION Symphony of the Vines brass quintet plays a delightful assortment of holiday and classical favorites. Proceeds support continuing restoration projects at Mission San Miguel. Dec. 16, 6 p.m. my805tix.com. Mission San Miguel Arcángel, 775 Mission St., San Miguel.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

CUESTA CHOIRS HOLIDAY CONCERT Celebrate the joy, the mysticism, and the spirit of the holidays through nostalgic carols, some holiday chestnuts, songs of solstice, and more. Dec. 16, 7:30 p.m. General admission $15; $10 for students with ID. Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, cuesta.edu.

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.

EASTON EVERETT SOLO Enjoy some indieacoustic, live music. Thursdays, 5:30-7:30 p.m. eastoneverett.com. Big Sky Cafe, 1121 Broad Street, San Luis Obispo, (805)545-5401.

JD MCPHERSON: A ROCK N’ ROLL CHRISTMAS TOUR Dec. 16, 7 p.m. SLO Brew, 736 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-1843, slobrew.com.

LIVE MUSIC AT RAGTAG WINE CO. Enjoy live music by local favorites. Wine available by the flight, glass, or bottle. Thursdays-Saturdays, 6-9 p.m. Ragtag Wine Co., 779 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, 805-4390774, ragtagwineco.com.

LIVE MUSIC FROM GUITAR WIZ BILLY FOPPIANO AND MAD DOG Join “Guitar Wiz” Billy Foppiano and his trusty side kick Mad Dog for a mix of blues, R&B, and more. Saturdays, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 805544-2100. Bon Temps Creole Cafe, 1819 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, bontempscreolecafe.com/index.htm.

NOCHE DE VERANO SIN TI (BAD BUNNY NIGHT) Dance party for ages 21 and over. Dec. 17 9 p.m. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, 805-546-8600, fremontslo.com.

SLO MASTER CHORALE: HOLIDAY FESTIVAL AND SING-ALONG Featuring soloist Paul Woodring on the Forbes Pipe Organ. Enjoy a sing along with the Master Chorale, plus traditional carols and holiday arrangements for chorus, organ, and orchestra. Dec. 17, 7:30-9:15 p.m. $10-$25. 805-756-4849. pacslo.org. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

SUNDAY MUSIC AT RAGTAG WINE CO. Enjoy live music by local favorites. Wine available by the flight, glass, or bottle. Sundays, 4-7 p.m. Ragtag Wine Co., 779 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, 805-439-0774, ragtagwineco.com.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BSR: HOLIDAY PARTY The Friendly Neighborhood Band will play for your listening and dancing pleasure. The opening band is Three Martini Lunch. Dec. 18, 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. my805tix.com. Pismo Beach Veterans Memorial Hall, 780 Bello St., Pismo Beach.

CHRISTMAS CHOIR Sing your way into the new year. Bring your choir binders (new members will have binders provided) Some new original tunes and some standard Christmas Songs will be included in this years program. Contact for end date. Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. through Dec. 20 Free. Richard Inman, Private Home TBA, Arroyo Grande, 805-937-4413.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

CCS BAND PERFORMS CHRISTMAS JAZZ

CONCERT A family-friendly Christmas concert of assorted holiday jazz/swing music featuring Central City Swing, a professional 17-piece big band. Seating limited. Donations accepted at the door. Dec. 20, 7:30-9 p.m. Suggested $5 donation. 805-264-1023. Maramonte Park Community Center, 620 E. Sunrise Drive, Santa Maria. ∆

Books

Artifacts

SLOFunny brings New Year’s Eve Comedy Show to Morro Bay

On Saturday, Dec. 31, SLOFunny will present its New Year’s Eve Comedy Show at the Veterans Memorial Building in Morro Bay, with performances held at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Prolific actor, writer, and comedian Thomas Connolly will host the event. Connolly has performed at comedy festivals around the world and on The Tonight Show and other programs.

The upcoming comedy show’s headliner is Adam Yesner, a comedy writer best known for his work with Ellen DeGeneres, Conan O’Brien, and others. Other featured comedians include SLO Comedy Festival regulars Jen Murphy, Ron Swallow, and LA-based comedian Jonas Garvin.

Admission to the show is $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Advance tickets are available for purchase at my805tix.com.

Tickets at the door are only available with cash or through Venmo. The show is intended for ages 21 and over; people under 21 may attend if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Visit facebook.com/slofunny for more info. The Veterans Memorial Building is located at 209 Surf St., Morro Bay.

Great American Melodrama holds annual holiday production

The Great American Melodrama’s 2022 iteration of The Holiday Extravaganza debuted in mid-November and is scheduled to run through Saturday, Dec. 31. The three-act show includes the venue’s traditional retelling of A Christmas Carol, a fairy-tale spoof segment, and a reindeer-themed vaudeville act.

During A Christmas Carol miser Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future on Christmas Eve. The Charles Dickens classic is followed by the Great American Melodrama’s fractured fairy-tale opera parody, which features various stories and songs.

Each performance of The Holiday Extravaganza concludes with a vaudeville-style variety show led by a group of rapping and dancing reindeer. The show’s cast includes Sydni Abenido, Natalie Mara, Antwon Mason, Toby Tropper, Meggie Siegrist, Michael Wells, Billy Breed, Mike Fiore, and Rachel Tietz.

The venue’s popular snack bar opens 30 minutes before each performance and reopens during the intermission breaks between each act. Tickets to The Holiday Extravaganza start at $36. Check americanmelodrama.com for availability and reservations.

Discounts for seniors, students, and children are available.

Performances of the show run Wednesday through Sunday, except on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

For more details, call the Great American Melodrama’s box office at (805) 489-2499. The Great American Melodrama is located at 1863 Front St., Oceano. ∆

—Caleb Wiseblood

BY GLEN STARKEY

Arts Into the past

Local

author Kathy

Mastako’s new book celebrates the Point San Luis Lighthouse

Unless you take a guided tour or happen to arrive at Avila Beach from the north by sea, you might never see the collection of structures that make up our local lighthouse. It’s a relic of the past, first becoming operational in 1890 and eventually becoming automated in the 1970s.

These days, modern electronic aids to navigation have made lighthouses generally obsolete, but at one time, the Point San Luis Lighthouse was essential. Now, the people who lived in the remote location are given their due in Kathy Mastako’s exhilarating and painstakingly researched new book The Lighthouse at Point San Luis.

“It has been my passion project for the last six years!” explained the author, who took on the project without any compensation.

“All the proceeds are split 50/50 between the United States Lighthouse Society and the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers—two nonprofit organizations dedicated to preserving lighthouse history.”

After retirement from Cal Poly’s Landscape Architecture Department as administrative support coordinator, Mastako began volunteering at the lighthouse and trained as a docent. Fascinated by the light station’s rich history, she soon began researching in earnest everything she could find about the lighthouse and its past inhabitants.

If you’re thinking, “Yawn, another boring history book,” think again. Mastako’s writing is lucid and lively, and the subject matter is deeply fascinating if you have even a passing interest in local history.

“I did a lot of research for this book, but the goal was to make it a readable book rather than something dry and scholarly,” Mastako said. “I wanted to contribute to local history, but also to tell stories about the people who made the lighthouse’s history come alive. One of the great joys of my research was connecting with the direct descendants of the lighthouse keepers, both civilian and military. One of the great frustrations was hitting brick walls—like not finding Henry Young’s three sons.”

A perfect Christmas gift for history buffs

The Lighthouse at Point San Luis is available at a variety of local booksellers, including Morro Bay’s Coalesce Bookstore and the Maritime Museum, SLO’s History Center of San Luis Obispo County, Arroyo Grande’s South County Historical Society, and Santa Barbara’s Maritime Museum. You can also find the book at the Point San Luis Lighthouse gift shop and online at amazon.com.

Henry Wilson Young was the station’s first principal keeper from 1890 to 1905, chronicled in Chapter 3. To get a little taste of Mastako’s writing style, this is how the chapter opens:

“On a cool, cloudless afternoon in late winter, I sit on the steps outside the keeper’s dwelling at the lighthouse at Point San Luis. The tours for the day are over, and I watch from a distance as the last visitors climb aboard the shuttle bus. The bus will wind its way along the one-lane lighthouse road down the bluff to the beach where the current year is in full swing. For a moment, I am content to remain behind in 1890. As I study the sky, the bay, and the lines of pelicans gliding by, there is nothing within my gaze to suggest it is not that year.”

You will absolutely feel transported to this earlier time. Mastako very clearly loves the old lighthouse and its history, and she poured a lot of herself into the book.

“I’m especially proud of these first few paragraphs mainly because it took so very long for me to write them, to try to set the mood,” she explained. “Also, Henry Young’s story was the first story I wrote about the lighthouse’s history.”

Her research was driven by the limited history docents were told about the lighthouse.

“When I went through docent training and starting leading tours at the Point San Luis Lighthouse in 2016, the stories we shared with guests about its history and the people who lived and worked there centered mostly around the Moorefield family,” Mastako explained. “Moorefield was a keeper there from 1926 until his 1947 retirement. In 1929, Moorefield married Elizabeth Studle, who was living in the city of San Luis Obispo with her parents and daughter. The daughter, Lucy, age 7 at the time, moved to the lighthouse after her mother’s wedding and took the Moorefield name. She came back to the lighthouse during the years when the light station was being restored and shared her memories of what it was like to live there in the 1930s. However, since the light station’s period of historic significance is 1890 to 1940, I thought it might be nice to have stories to tell our guests that dated from its earlier years of operation.”

That’s when she really dug into the past.

“In a nutshell, I try very hard not to leave a stone unturned. Of course, I am not always successful. Regarding sources, the National

Archives is an excellent source. Then, of course, there’s the internet and subscription sites like ancestry.com, the California Digital Newspaper Collection, newspapers.com, newsbank.com, genealogybank.com, fold3.com, etc.

“I spent tons of time in the research room at the SLO County History Center, and volunteer History Center researchers like Allan Ochs were of enormous help. Various state and county historical and genealogical societies were helpful, too. The endnotes in each chapter give more information on the various sources I used.

“And sometimes one just stumbles onto something, often when least expected.”

There are so many fascinating nuggets, like a documented argument between the keeper Henry Wilson Young and his assistant Antonio Souza that’s almost soap-operaesque. The entire last chapter on the Coast Guard assuming responsibility for the lighthouse was gripping.

“The most important part of the lighthouse’s history isn’t documented in the book,” Mastako admitted. “It’s the period after the lighthouse was abandoned. There are around 35 years, between 1975 and when restoration was complete, that the book doesn’t cover. And these are crucial years. Many, many people were involved in ensuring the preservation and restoration of this historic site. I cannot even begin to name them or describe their selfless contributions to ‘saving’ this site for the public’s enjoyment.

“As I write at the end of the last chapter, it’s thanks to the herculean efforts of a deeply dedicated corps of volunteers and visionaries that the Point San Luis Lighthouse sits as it is today—a precious gem of the Central Coast,” she said.

“The story of the restoration of Point San Luis is well worth a book of its own.” ∆

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

THE DEFINITIVE VOLUME The Lighthouse at Point San Luis by Kathy Mastako highlights the rich history of this local landmark from its construction, through its various operators, until its turnover to the U.S. Coast Guard and eventual automation.

BOOK COVER COURTESY OF THE UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY

BYGONE ERA The book is filled with historic photos such as this circa 1905 image of Christmas dinner inside the keeper’s dwelling at Point Sur. Although not taken at Point San Luis, the photo offers a rare glimpse of a keeper’s family celebrating Christmas at a West Coast light station.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WALLACE FAMILY

Arts Split Screen

Wreck the halls

note: Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal and Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood wrote Split Screen this week while Glen and Anna Starkey went on holiday.

Far from a saint, Santa Claus (David Harbour) finds himself in the thick of a hostage situation when an elite team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family’s compound on Christmas Eve. (112 min.)

Bulbul It’s obvious Violent Night director Tommy Wirkola (Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters) is a Die Hard fan. The parallels are immediate. David Harbour plays a cranky, alcohol-fueled, real-deal Santa Claus who drunkenly steers his flying reindeer and magical sleigh across the skies to deliver gifts and coal alike. His global assignment gets cut short when a group of murderous terrorists led by a man named “Mr. Scrooge” (John Leguizamo) breaks into the estate Santa’s arrived at to leave gifts. Santa is begrudgingly left to single-handedly John McClane his way through the Nakatomi Plaza of an East Coast mansion. It’s an original take on the St. Nick lore, what with the storyline deepening his past with hints of Santa once being a Nordic warrior. Violent Night also breathes fresh life into saccharine holiday movies. It appears to be Wirkola’s rubber stamp of approval for Die Hard as a Christmas flick, and it definitely delivers on its name. There’s plenty of stomachturning violence and lots of classic bare feet shots a la Die Hard. Just don’t watch it on a full stomach like we did.

Caleb I concur. Do yourself a favor and see this before dinner, lunch, breakfast, or Christmas cookies rather than after. The gore is grisly enough to leave a permanent blood stain on Santa Harbour’s grizzly beard for the majority of the film. I didn’t watch any trailers for Violent Night before seeing the movie and was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t about a serial killer in a Santa suit, along the lines of Silent Night, Deadly Night and similar slashers. Violent Night won me over almost immediately, as soon as I realized this was about the one true Santa—from the North Pole, married to Mrs. Claus, employer of elves, etc.—becoming an action hero to protect a wealthy family

VIOLENT NIGHT

What’s it rated? R

What’s it worth, Bulbul? Stream it

What’s it worth, Caleb? Matinee

Where’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Park, Fair

from a team of thugs pulling off a heist, like Bulbul said, Die Hard-style. And the Christmas movie references don’t stop there. The matriarch of the extravagant household under attack is Gertrude Lightstone, played by Beverly D’Angelo, who invites her son, daughter, in-laws, and grandchildren over for Christmas Eve festivities. D’Angelo’s casting has to be a nod to her role in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Once Mr. Scrooge and his crew take control of the mansion, one of Lightstone’s grandchildren, Trudy (Leah Brady), performs some heroics of her own to thwart the villains in Home Alone-esque fashion—but with R-rated gruesomeness. The consequences of Trudy’s homemade booby traps are more than enough to warrant Violent Night ’s rating, independent of Harbour’s bloodsoaked shenanigans.

Bulbul Yeah, as fun as this movie was to watch, the gore might have been too much for me to handle in a theater. I’d recommend streaming this at home with a group of friends. You can quickly skip over all the messy scenes that get gratuitously violent. I get it. It’s right there in the name, what did I expect? I love action movies, but Violent Night ’s action felt

like a lot. The four people in our theater (including Caleb and me) winced our way hard through most of it. But the overall story is creative, and I wish I got to know more about Santa’s past life. I liked that there wasn’t a ham-fisted holiday romance in Violent Night. But I heard there’s a sequel on the way with Mrs. Claus in it. So, maybe I’ll get both!

Caleb Another sequel rumor going around is that there’s an entire Violent Night cinematic universe in the works, akin to Marvel’s shared movie continuity, with other holiday mascots and magical entities set to make appearances in future fi lms. Harbour playfully suggested the casting of Pedro Pascal as the Easter Bunny and Oscar Isaac as the Tooth Fairy during a recent interview. If that’s the case, take my money now! I’d be on board for any sequel as long as Harbour is still the one fi lling Santa’s boots. What I really enjoyed about his performance is he’s defi nitely world-weary, but not in an overly grumpy way. He’s got a dark past and seems reluctant, even confused and mystified at times, about his dutiful role as St. Nick, as if it might have been a curse placed upon him. But he’s still the optimistic, greeting-card version of Santa when it comes to interacting with kids. He only goes full Gran Torino on the fi lm’s big baddies. I wouldn’t want to be on this Santa’s naughty list. Δ

baby, and teen stepdaughter to

But Gisele’s world turns upside down again when a magic wishing wand gives her more power than she can afford. Disenchanted is more musical than its predecessor, sometimes annoyingly so, but it’s still delightful enough to enjoy this holiday season. Watch out for cast members old—Idina Menzel and James Marsden—and new, like Maya Rudolph. (120 min.)

—Bulbul I

can’t be the only millennial whose introduction to It’s A Wonderful Life was through Batman: The Animated Series During the show’s special Christmas episode, Robin tries to convince Batman to take Christmas Eve off from crime fighting and stay in to enjoy a televised screening of the classic Frank Capra film.

For anyone who still uses cable, it’s nearly impossible to not land on at least one showing of the 1946 Christmas

SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL Jimmy Stewart (center) plays one of cinema’s most iconic family patriarchs, George Bailey, in the 1946 classic, It’s A Wonderful Life

masterpiece while channel surfing during the holiday season. To see the film on a big screen, however, is a rare opportunity. Forget the moon, Jimmy Stewart, I would prefer if you’d lasso up some tickets to the Downtown Centre’s one-night screening of It’s A Wonderful Life for me instead. The SLO theater will screen the film on Sunday, Dec. 18, at 7 p.m. (130 min.)

Editor’s

Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal and Calendar Editor Caleb Wiseblood wrote Split Screen this week. Send comments to gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

SLEIGHRIDING SLAYER Santa Claus (David Harbour) goes into combatready mode when a group of thieves infiltrate a mansion he’s delivering presents to, in Violent Night

Oaks

Set 15 years after the events of Enchanted , former princess-turnedNew Yorker Giselle (Amy Adams) returns to the screen with a full family in tow. She misses the easy, uncomplicated charm of her old life in fairy tale land and moves her husband (Patrick Dempsey),

suburbia.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RKO RADIO PICTURES

Music

BY GLEN STARKEY

Have a

By the time you read this, I’ll be in Mexico probably having my kidneys harvested by some illegal backalley organ theft ring after an afternoon of too much tequila. As this may be the last thing I ever write, let me admit that the one show I really feel bad about missing because of my vacation is JD McPherson playing his Socks: A Rock N’ Roll Christmas show on Friday, Dec. 16, at SLO Brew Rock, brought to you by SLO Brew Live and (((folkYEAH!))) (7 p.m.; all ages; $28 at ticketweb.com).

The show is based on his 2018 Christmas album, Socks, which includes 11 original tracks such as “Bad Kid,” “Ugly Sweater Blues,” and “Santa’s Got a Mean Machine.” It’s the kind of album that allows you to revel in the Christmas spirit or say, “Bah humbug”—an equal opportunity holiday collection! If you’re looking for an unusual, eclectic new holiday album to add to your collection, this is it!

McPherson is, of course, the University of Tulsa visual arts school Master of Fine Arts student who made an art project of his music career by adopting the vim and vigor of musical heroes such as Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino. He puts on a terrific live show. Have fun without me.

Latin at The Fremont

It’s going to be spicy this week at the Fremont starting on Friday, Dec. 16, when 18-year-old Daniel Balderrama Espinoza, better known as DannyLux, brings his Spanish language singersongwriter fare to downtown SLO. He started at age 6 when his dad brought an old guitar home. At 7, his mom forced him to sing in the church choir. It was a winning combination. Though the guitar had “seen better days,” DannyLux

Strictly Starkey

rockin’ X-mas!

developed a really interesting and unique playing style and writes hooky songs.

At 16, he signed with VPS Music. Last year, he released his debut album, Las Dos Caras Del Amor, and landed a hit with “El Dueño de Tu Amor.” His second album, Perdido En Ti, debuted at No. 1 of Apple Music Top 200 Latin Albums. In February 2022, he sold out The Roxy in LA. In April 2022, DannyLux was the official opener for Coldplay doing eight dates in Mexico. Not bad for a teenager (8 p.m.; all ages; $31.54 with fees at seetickets.us).

Noche de Verano Sin Ti (Bad Bunny Night) returns to the Fremont on Saturday, Dec. 17 (9 p.m.; 21-and-older; $26.41 with fees at seetickets.us), with another dance party for fans of Bad Bunny. ¡Vamos a bailar!

Country and funk at The Siren

Don’t forget Radio Ranch plays a free show this Thursday, Dec. 15 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older). Rhett Henry Baxter and Camille Elizabeth are inspired by the ’60s folk revival and traditional country music and write literate, narrative songs about life on the road.

Local country heroes The Mother Corn Shuckers and The Mark Adams Band play a doubleheader Christmas party at The Siren on Friday, Dec. 16 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $10 presale at eventbrite.com or $12 day of show). Adams—a poet, storyteller, winemaker, and terrific songwriter and singer— opens the show, followed by the raucous beergrass sounds of the Shuckers.

Local funk and hip-hop collective Wordsauce plays a Funky Holiday Sweater Party on Saturday, Dec. 17 (8 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15 presale at eventbrite.com or $20 day of show). The event features live music from Wordsauce, Trippin’ & G, sounds by DJ Sevens, and other to-be-announced special guests. Limited Wordsauce edition funky sweaters are available!

Hot swingin’ jazz at the Pismo Vets Hall

The Basin Street Regulars hosts an afternoon of jazz this Sunday, Dec. 18, starting with an 11 a.m. jam session followed by a concert from 1 to 4 p.m. with opening act Three Martini Lunch followed by headliner The Friendly Neighborhood Big Band. This month only, there’s also a holiday buffet and Champagne included with admission ($10 general; $5 for members; bring a dish to share or throw $5 into the pot. To reserve your spot, call (805)

STARKEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMANTHA FRANKLIN

PHOTO COURTESY OF DANNYLUX

D-LUX Daniel Balderrama Espinoza, better known as DannyLux, brings his Latin sounds to the Fremont Theater on Dec. 16

PHOTO COURTESY OF RADIO RANCH

AMERICANA DUO Radio Ranch plays a free show on at The Siren on Dec. 15 , bringing songs about life on the road.

Music Strictly Starkey

937-8402 or email jwcardinal@msn.com).

Three Martini Lunch has been bringing audiences music of the Great American Songbook since 2002, classic tracks made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Tony Bennett, as well as instrumental pop and film scores of the ’50s and ’60s.

The Friendly Neighborhood Big Band is a 16-member traveling big band formed in March 2019—the brain child of Mitch Latting, David Johns, and Danny Beher. Directed by Latting, members reside in SLO and Santa Barbara counties and play great jazz standards as well as original jazz tunes.

Get your holiday cheer on

Come on, ya grinch. It’s time to slip into your holidaze with some good old fashioned Christmas music. The Clark Center hosts Tis the Season presented by The Studio of Performing Arts on Saturday, Dec. 17 (2 and 7 p.m.; all ages; $20 at clarkcenter.org). It’s going to be a cheery, festive affair created by Shannon Lowrie, who’s written an original show with many of your favorite Christmas characters singing and dancing their hearts out—including that green grump with the two-sizes-too-small pumper.

Damon Castillo and friends return with their annual Holiday Show on the

Court Street Terrace this Saturday, Dec. 17 (5:30 p.m.; all ages; free). “I’m throwing a holiday party, and you are invited,” Castillo said. “I’ll be joined by my friends Inga Swearingen, Kahonukai Boro, and Gabriela Welch for a holiday show, and it’s brought to you free by the good people at The San Luis Obispo Collection. I can’t wait to celebrate with you!”

The SLO Master Chorale hosts the Holiday Festival & Sing-Along Messiah this Saturday, Dec. 17 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $25 general and $10 for students 5 and older at pacslo.org). Featuring soloist Paul Woodring on the Forbes Pipe Organ, you can sing along with the Master Chorale in the great choruses from Part I of Handel’s ever-popular masterpiece, Messiah. Plus, join in on the many traditional carols and holiday arrangements for chorus, organ, and orchestra conducted by Thomas Davies. It’s a family tradition!

Dellos Performing Arts Center’s What Christmas Means to Me comes to the Clark Center on Sunday, Dec. 18 (6 p.m.; all ages; $15 student or $25 general at clarkcenter.org). Celebrating their 17th season, DPAC is proud to present this show featuring your favorite DPAC dancers “as they take you on a joyful, heartfelt journey of what Christmas is all about … togetherness and family!” ∆

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

BY CHERISH WHYTE

Inspired by Italy

The prices are reasonable, the space is friendly and intimate, and the food and wine are exceptional at downtown San Luis Obispo’s rekindled Park 1039.

Opened in summer 2021, briefly closed in October of this year, then relaunched in November under a new partnership with Chef Antonio’s Italian Kitchen, Park 1039 currently hosts two weekly pop-up dinners with seatings at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Park 1039 owner Steven Goodale and chef Antonio Ramos III hope to ramp up to three nights per week in the new year, depending on customer demand.

Guests seated communally at a wraparound chef’s counter are treated to a multi-course exploration of chef Ramos’ extensive culinary repertoire, with wine pairings orchestrated by Goodale. That menu will change weekly.

“We are sharing authentic Italian cuisine inspired by our own travels in Italy and my cooking experience at the best Italian restaurants in San Francisco and New York City using seasonal produce and the finest Italian ingredients,” said Ramos, who was raised in Santa Maria but moved to SLO to raise his family and ramp up his career. “I get my produce from farmers’ markets, usually in SLO, Arroyo Grande, and Los Osos. I get my whole food products, like extra virgin olive oil, cheese, pistachios, flour, and nuts, from places like Jordano’s or Greco and Sons.”

The Le 5 Stagioni pasta fresca flour that he can order from Greco and Sons is the best flour he’s used at any restaurant “by a landslide,” he added.

Ramos, who established his pop-up business with his wife, Elise Raviv, in 2021 and also works at his brother’s Central Coast catering firm Danny’s Pizza Co., recently visited famed pasta institution La Salumeria di Bruno e Franco in Bologna as part of a month-long journey through Italy’s culinary hot spots.

“I could see how my old boss in San Francisco, Thomas McNaughton, tried to make a carbon copy [of La Salumeria] at Flour and Water, where I used to work,” Ramos said. “It was a very emotional moment for me.”

On Dec. 16 and 18, Park 1039 customers will get the opportunity to experience Ramos’ deep dive into Bologna cuisine with traditional recipes such as tortellini en brodo (in broth). Ramos rolls out his pasta just before guests arrive, so it’s extra fresh, then regales guests with the inspiration for each week’s lineup.

“[Ramos] lights up when talking about his regional Italian dinners, and I always feel inspired that he sources the best ingredients

Haute spot

To book a dinner at Park 1039—1039 Chorro St. in SLO—visit chefantonios.com. The multi-course fixed price menu starts at $55, with wine pairings from $40. To reserve the space for a private function, email chefantoniositaliankitchen@gmail.com.

and makes everything from scratch,” Goodale said. “His excitement is contagious, and you can taste the passion in his food.”

Goodale pairs each of Ramos’ dishes with carefully selected pours from Park’s vast collection of imported and local wines. “The season and each dish’s ingredients usually dictate the options,” Goodale explained. “I then try to select one of the predominant flavors of a dish and decide whether to have the wine harmonize with that flavor or perhaps a less pronounced ingredient to bring balance. I also try to use the wine’s acidity or lack thereof to complement the dish.”

A final consideration is capturing the inspiration for the menu—a joint tasting effort to “make sure we both agree that the [selected wines] elevate the experience for our guests,” Goodale added.

“I would love to continue as a partnership with Steve, as he has so much more wine and front-of-house knowledge than I do,” said Ramos, who had the short-lived pleasure of working alongside Park 1039’s prior executive chef Marlon Rambaran while watching Goodale finesse customer engagement.

“I’ve always admired that about [Goodale], and I also just love his sense of detail when it comes down to things like plates and glassware, or high-quality food products and wines,” he continued. “We mesh really well, and we actually make an awesome team. It feels like one of those special partnerships.”

At Park 1039, Ramos and Goodale aim to pool their respective talents—gleaned from

years of restaurant industry experience and associated travel—to escort guests on a short but sweet European epicurean vacation at a great price point.

“My cooking philosophy is to cook with love. Otherwise, no one’s going to want it, and it’s not going to taste good,” Ramos said. “I grew up helping my mom in the kitchen, and when people come work for me, I remember that spark I had as a little kid, learning techniques from my mom and the love I felt for her. I’m also reminded of all the great friends and chefs I have learned from over the years.”

After Ramos and Goodale present their Bologna-inspired pop-up dinner, the restaurant will close for Christmas, then reopen for New Year’s with a soon-to-bereleased menu.

The 1,100-squarefoot space seats 18 guests, with added capacity available for private buyouts.

The duo has high hopes for their new concept, as initial customer interest exceeded expectations. Guests are encouraged to book as soon as menus are released, usually the week prior.

Ramos is eternally grateful to Goodale, who “decided to give me a chance and roll the dice on this venture,” he said, “and I promised I wouldn’t fail.”

The first weekend of dinners at Park 1039 almost sold out, Ramos said, adding that it was intense, but his family helped out and the guests seemed happy with the service.

Goodale added that Ramos’ excitement is contagious.

“You can taste the passion in his food,” Goodale said. “I’m sure these qualities will continue to propel his success long into the future.” ∆

Flavor Writer Cherish Whyte thoroughly enjoyed her culinary trip to Northern Italy via Park 1039. Reach her at cwhyte@ newtimesslo.com.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Park 1039 owner Steven Goodale presents Europeaninspired wine pairings to complement weekly pop-up dinners at the intimate chef’s counter.

PASTA PAPARAZZI In Bologna, Italy, chef Antonio Ramos and his daughter, Ruth, visited the pasta laboratory at La Salumeria di Bruno e Franco—“the holy of holies for me,” he said. “The lady on the right is in the pages of the Flour and Water book, which I received a few days after I started my cooking career (at the San Francisco restaurant of the same name) in 2014.”

PHOTOS BY CHERISH WHYTE

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHEF ANTONIO’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

DOLCE VARESE The Lombardian town of Varese lays claim to its popular polenta and almond cake. Chef Antonio Ramos coupled the decadent dessert with stracciatella ice cream—traced to nearby Bergamo—as the final course at Park 1039 on Dec. 3.

BRAISED PORK SHOULDER On Dec. 3, chef Antonio Ramos presented specialties from Lombardy, Italy. “This wealthy region, located along the Switzerland border, is known for its fields of corn, delicious cheeses, roasted meat with polenta, and amazing desserts,” Ramos said.

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HELP WANTED

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For sale: Gently used Master Massage Table. Adjustable height, 28 1/2 inches wide, 6ft long. Includes carrying case, face craddle with two new covers. Located in Nipomo. (951) 218-3534

JEWELRY

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BOOKS

JFK vs. CIA: The Central Intelligence Agency’s Assassination of the President. Available at amazon.com www.jfkvscia.com

NOTICE

AND SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE AND GENERAL PLAN AMENDMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF FINAL PROGRAM ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT

PBLUMA PLANTING ORDINANCE (LRP2021-00001)

On December 6, 2022, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance No. 3483 and Resolution No. 2022-287, the Paso Basin Land Use Management Area (PBLUMA) Planting Ordinance (LRP2021-00001), amending Title 8 and Title 22 of the San Luis Obispo County Code to require “water neutral” ministerial planting permits for crop production irrigated from groundwater wells within the PBLUMA until 2045, with a 25-acre-feet per year exemption allowed per site and amending the Agriculture and Conservation and Open Space elements of the San Luis Obispo County General Plan for consistency with the amendments to the County Code. The Board of Supervisors also certified a Final Program Environmental Impact Report (FPEIR) (SCH 2021080222) (ED22-183-PL), CEQA findings, a statement of overriding considerations, and a Mitigation and Monitoring Program prepared for the project pursuant to CEQA. The ordinance becomes effective March 1, 2023. The ordinance and resolution were adopted and the FPEIR certified by the following roll call to wit:

AYES: Supervisors Debbie Arnold, John Peschong, and Lynn Compton

NOES: Supervisors Chairperson Bruce S. Gibson and Dawn Ortiz-Legg

ABSENT: None

ABSTAINING: None

Certified copies of the full text of the ordinance may be purchased at reproduction cost or reviewed without charge in the San Luis Obispo County Administrative Office, 1055 Monterey St., Room #D430, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, or on the County’s website at slocounty.ca.gov.

DATED: December 14, 2022

WADE HORTON, Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: /s/Sandy Currens Deputy Clerk

December 15, 2022

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING BRIEF TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2022 AT 9:00 AM

5 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT

01. Consent Agenda – Item Nos. 1 thru 42 & Resolution (Res) Nos. 2022-2266 thru 2022-286, approved. Item No. 25 pulled for separate action: direction to bring back on 2/28/23.

02. Public Comment Period – Items not on the agenda: M. Brown; Marlea; C. Smith; D. Stebbens; D. Greenaway; G. Kirkland; J. Grinager; S. Billon; K. Lambseth; B. McFarland; L. Owen & C. Mamakos: speak. No action taken.

03. Closed Session – Anticipated Litigation. (1) Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of subdivision (d) of section 54956.9. Number of potential cases: Two; and (2) Initiation of litigation pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (d) of section 54956.9. Number of potential cases: Three. Conference with Legal Counsel – Pending Litigation: Existing Litigation (Formally initiated.): SLO Co. Citizens for Good Government, Inc., Gomez, Maruska, Villa v. Co. of Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors, SLO Co. Superior Court, Case No. 22CVP0007; Application filed by PG&E in the 2021 Nuclear Cost Triennial Proceeding (U39E A.21-12-007). Conference with Labor Negotiator, concerning the following employee organizations: SLOPA; SLOCEA-T&C; DCCA; Sheriffs’ Mgmt; SLOCPPOA; DSA; DAIA; SLOCPMPOA; SLOCEA – PSSC; Unrepresented Mgmt & Confidential Employees; SDSA; UDWA. Conference w/ Real Property Negotiator re: 4 contiguous unimproved, real property parcels totaling approx.. 8.18 acres, identified as APN 053-412023, APN 053-412-024, APN 053-412-025, APN 053-412-026, on the North side of Farmhouse Lane, SLO. Parties negotiating:  Dynamic Real Estate Partners, LLC, D. Porter, parcel 023, .98 acres; Farmhouse Development LLC, Clint, Connie, Audrey, & D. Pearce, P. Madonna, & B. Frost, parcel 024, 2.55 acres; IDB Holdings, LLC, B. Pritt, Luis Sarmiento, J. Jordano, parcels 025 & 026, 4.65 acres. Instructions to County Negotiator: Price, Terms & Conditions. Report Out. Open Session.

04. Request to receive & file a report on Board-identified priority projects for the Planning & Building Dept., tabled to 12/13/22.

05. Ord. 3483 amending Title 8 & Title 22 of the SLO Co. Code, Health & Sanitation Ord. & Land Use Ord., to require “water neutral” planting permits & allow a 25-acre feet-per-year exemption per site for new or expanded crop production irrigated from groundwater wells w/in the Paso Basin Land Use Management Area (PBLUMA); Res. 2022-287, to adopt amendments to the Ag & Conservation & Open Space Elements of the SLO Co. General Plan; Res. 2022-288, amending the Position Allocation List (PAL) for Fund Center 142 – Planning & Building, deleting 1.00 FTE Planner – Limited Term & adding 1.00 FTE Planner, adopted & Final Program Env. Impact Report, certified.

06. Res. 2022-289, unrecognizing the Oceano Advisory Council as an advisory council to the Board of Supervisors, adopted.

MEETING ADJOURNED

For more details, view the meeting videos at: https://www. slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Administrative-Office/Clerk-ofthe-Board/Clerk-of-the-Board-Services/Board-of-SupervisorsMeetings-and-Agendas.aspx

Wade Horton, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: Annette Ramirez, Deputy Clerk

15, 2022

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) will hold a Public Hearing on January 11, 2023, to receive public testimony on Amendment No. 2 to the 2023 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). The 2023 FTIP Amendment No. 2 consists of the following:

1) Caltrans, Route 46/41 Wye, near Cholame, four-laning expressway conversion including a grade separation for eastbound SR46 to northbound SR41. Increase FY23 funding by $60,220,000 state ITIP funding.

2) SLO County Parks, Morro Bay to Cayucos Coastal Trail Connector, ATP Cycle 6 award for FY20 Construction funds $7,406,000.

3) City of Arroyo Grande, Halcyon Road Complete Streets Project, ATP Cycle 6 award for FY24 7 FY25 Environmental, Design and Construction funds $8,169,000.

4) City of Paso Robles, Niblick Road Complete Streets, ATP Cycle 6 award for FY24 & FY25 Environmental, Design and Construction funds $13, 806,000.

5) City of San Luis Obispo, South Higuera Complete Streets, ATP Cycle 6 award for FY24 Construction funds $6,951,000.

The FTIP is the region’s transportation programming document that contains a comprehensive listing of surface transportation projects that receive federal funds, are subject to a federally required action, or are regionally-significant. Highways, streets, and local roads; public transit; and bicycle and pedestrian projects are included in the FTIP based on expected federal, state, and local funding (programmed and committed) over the next four years.

The San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (RTA), City of San Luis Obispo's Transit Division (SLO Transit), and South County Transit (SoCo Transit) rely upon SLOCOG, as the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) for the region, to meet the public participation requirements for the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Program of Projects.

For additional information about the 2023 FTIP, go to: https://slocog. org/programs/funding-programming/federal-transportationimprovement-program-ftip SLOCOG, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, is committed to providing special accommodations and translation services to those interested in participating in public hearings. Please note that a 48-hour notice is needed to honor your request. Call (805) 781-4219 to make arrangements.

Visit www.slocog.org for the agenda and meeting details. The SLOCOG Board meeting and public hearing will be held in person and will take place at the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers, County Government Center, 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 9340. For more information, contact John DiNunzio at (805) 781-5764 or jdinunzio@slocog.org—or write to SLOCOG, 1114 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

December 15, 2022

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & BUILDING NOTICE OF TENTATIVE ACTION / PUBLIC HEARING

WHO: County of San Luis Obispo Planning Department Hearing WHEN: Friday, January 20, 2023 at 09:00 AM. All items are advertised for 09:00 AM. To verify agenda placement, please call the Department of Planning & Building at (805) 781-5600.

WHAT: A Request by Spanish Vineyards, LLC for a Minor Use Permit (DRC2019-00256) to allow site disturbance and grading for an approximately 1-mile long driveway to provide access for a single- family residence. The proposed access driveway would extend  west and southwest from the terminus of Vetter Lane (off of Old Park Road) for approximately 1-mile, ending at the location of the proposed single-family residence. The subject property consists of two parcels (APNs 079-251-005 and 044-561-004), totaling 188 acres and 253 acres respectively. The proposed project is within the Rural Lands land use category and is located at the north end of Highland Drive adjacent to the City of Pismo Beach. The project site is within the San Luis Bay sub-area of the South County Planning Area. Also to be considered at the hearing will be adoption of the Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for the item. 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 August 8, 2022 for this project. Mitigation measures are proposed to address air quality, geology, soils, and biological resources.

The Environmental Document is available for public review at the Department of Planning and Building, at the below address. A copy of the Environmental Document is also available on the Planning and Building Department website at www.sloplanning.org. Anyone interested in commenting on the proposed Environmental Document should submit a written statement and/or speak at the public hearing. Comments will be accepted up until completion of the public hearing(s).

County File Number: DRC2019-00256

Supervisorial District: District 3

Assessor Parcel Number(s): 044-561-004, 079-251-005

Date Accepted: 04/14/2021

WHERE: Virtual meeting via Zoom platform. Instructions on how to view and participate in the meeting remotely and provide public comment will be included in the published meeting Agenda and are posted on the Department’s webpage at: https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/ Planning-Building/Grid-Items/Meetings,-Hearings,-Agendas,-andMinutes/Planning-Department-Hearing-(PDH)-Virtual-Meeting-.aspx.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A copy of the staff report will be made available on the Planning Department website at www.sloplanning.org.

You may also contact Terry Wahler, Project Manager in the Department of Planning and Building at the address below or by  telephone  at  (805) 781-5600.

TO REQUEST A PUBLIC HEARING: This matter is tentatively scheduled to appear on the consent agenda, which means that it and any other items on the consent agenda can be acted upon by the hearing officer with a single motion. An applicant or interested party may request a public hearing on this matter. To do so, send a letter to this office at the address below or send an email  to pdh@co.slo.ca.us by Friday,  January  13, 2023 at 4:30

PM The letter or email must include the language “I would like to request a hearing on DRC2019-00256.”

If you challenge this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this public notice or in written correspondence delivered to the appropriate authority at or before the public  hearing.

Corla Wade, Secretary Planning Department Hearing December 15, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2022-2742 (06/01/2004)

New Filing

The following person is doing business ADAM’S HEATING AND COOLING, 1150 #4 The Pike Lane, Oceano, CA 93445. San Luis Obispo County. Adam Stephen Espinosa, (1446 Strawberry Ave, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Adam Stephen Espinosa. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-01-22. 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. 12-01-27. December 15, 22, 29, & January 5, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2022-2746 (04/09/2006)

New Filing

The following person is doing business FOOD 4 LESS, 3985 S. Higuera, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. PAQ, INC., (8014 Lower Sacramento, Suite 1, Stockton, CA 95210). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, PAQ, INC. /s/ Peter Tataryn, CFO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-01-22. 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. 12-01-27.

December 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2748 (04/09/2006)

New Filing

The following person is doing business FOOD 4 LESS, 8360 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422. San Luis Obispo County. PAQ, INC., (8014 Lower Sacramento, Suite 1, Stockton, CA 95210). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, PAQ, INC. /s/ Peter Tataryn, CFO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-01-22. 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. 12-01-27. December 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2022-2752

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) will hold a public hearing to receive public testimony on Unmet Transit Needs within the County of San Luis Obispo and its seven cities. The hearing will be held during the SLOCOG Board meeting on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.

Unmet Transit Needs can also be sent in online, by phone, fax, email, mail, or in person by February 10, 2023. Submissions can be made online at slocog.org/transitneeds; by phone at (805)776-8700; by fax at (805) 781-5703; by email at: unmet_needs@slocog.org; and by mail or in person to: Clerk of the Board, SLOCOG, 1114 Marsh St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Mailed written comments for the public hearing must be received by SLOCOG no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2023.

SLOCOG, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, is committed to providing special accommodations and translation services to those interested in participating in public hearings. Please note that a 48-hour notice is needed to honor your request. Call (805) 781-4219 to make arrangements.

Visit www.slocog.org for the agenda and meeting details. The SLOCOG Board meeting and public hearing will be held in person at the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers, County Government Center, 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. For more information, call (805) 781-4219 or write to SLOCOG, 1114 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

December 15, 2022 & January 5, 2023

(N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business FRENCH STUDIO ENTERPRISE, 621 Pershing Dr, Oceano, CA 93445. San Luis Obispo County. Teresa Ann Spafford, (621 Pershing Dr, Oceano, CA 93445), Jamie Lee Rocha, (601 Pershing Dr, Oceano, CA 93445). This business is conducted by A General Partnership, /s/ Teresa Ann Spafford, Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-02-22. 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. 12-02-27.

December 8, 15, 22, & 29 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2753

(N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business CENTRAL COAST TREE SPECIALIST, 2134 Latham, Cambria, CA 93428. San Luis Obispo County. Alam Lizandro Ramirez, (2134 Latham, Cambria, CA 93428). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Alam Lizandro Ramirez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-02-22. 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. 12-02-27. December 8, 15, 22, & 29 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2760 (07/12/2006)

New Filing

The following person is doing business CLEAR LIGHT CONSTRUCTION, 1370 Sawleaf Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Donald Howard Tyler III, (1370 Sawleaf Court, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Donald Howard Tyler III. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-05-22. 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. 12-05-27. December 15, 22, 29, & January 5, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2761 (12/05/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business ENVY ME, ENVY, 957 W Grand Ave, Grover Beach, CA 93433. San Luis Obispo County. Elvia Madrigal, (957 W Grand Ave, Grover Beach, CA 93433). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Elvia Madrigal. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-05-22. 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. 12-05-27. December 8, 15, 22, & 29 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2764 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business CENTRAL COAST HANDYMAN SERVICE, 1425-A 22nd Street, Oceano, CA 93445. San Luis Obispo County. John Andrew Mercier, (1425A 22nd Street, Oceano, CA 93445).

This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ John Andrew Mercier. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-05-22. 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. 12-05-27. December 15, 22, 29, & January 5, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2774 (02/10/1983)

New Filing

The following person is doing business HART, HART GA, 2638 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428. San Luis Obispo County. Homeless Animal Rescue Team, (2638 Main St, Cambria, CA 93428). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, Homeless Animal Rescue Team, /s/ Gary Swauger, Treasurer. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-06-22. 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. 12-06-27. December 15, 22, 29, & January 5, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2775 (12/01/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business BRACKET ARCHITECTURE OFFICE, 380 Pacific Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Bracket Architecture Office (1157 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation, Bracket Architecture Office /s/ Bryan Ridley, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-06-22. 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. 12-06-27.

December 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2783 (12/07/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business WAYNE’S HANDYMAN SERVICE, 2138 Callender, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Daniel Wayne Reinig, (2138 Callender, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual, /s/ Daniel Wayne Reinig. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-0722. 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. 12-07-27.

December 15, 22, 29, & January 5, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2787 (12/07/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business BAMBOO BAMBOO CHINESE RESTAURANT, 810 Morro Bay Blvd, Morro Bay, CA 93442. San Luis Obispo County. YYDS LLC, (810 Morro Bay Blvd, Morro Bay, CA 93442). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company, /s/ Xiaohan Ding, Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-07-22. 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. 12-07-27.

December 15, 22, 29, & January 5, 2022

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2022-2801 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business CWA INTERNATIONAL, 288 Miramar Ln, Pismo Beach, CA 934491540. San Luis Obispo County. California Wine Authority, LLC, (288 Miramar Ln, Pismo Beach, CA 934491540). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company, California Wine Authority, LLC, /s/ Guy Neils Wells, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-0922. 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. 12-09-27. December 15, 22, 29, & January 5, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE

NUMBER: 22CV-0650

To all interested persons: Petitioner: Karissa Kay Shaffer filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Karissa Kay Shaffer to PROPOSED NAME: Karissa Kay Smalley

THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: January 25, 2023 Time: 9:00 am, Dept. 4, at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, 1035 Palm St. Rm. 385, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: New Times

Date: December 5, 2022

/s/: Linda D. Hurst, Judge of the Superior Court December 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE

NUMBER: 22CVP-0332

To all interested persons: Petitioner: Ellery Dean Conover and Candice Marie Conover filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Aaron Robert Wyche Conover to PROPOSED NAME: Aaron Robert Conover

THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: January 18, 2023 Time: 9:30 am, Dept. P2, at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, 901 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: New Times

Date: November 15, 2022 /s/: Tana L. Coates, Judge of the Superior Court December 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022

SERVICE BY PUBLICATION OF RESTRAINING ORDER AFTER HEARING ISSUED AGAINST HENRY SMITH CURTIS CASE

NUMBER: 22FLP-0436

TO HENRY SMITH CURTIS OF CRESTON, CA:

A Restraining Order After Hearing was issued against you by the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, on November 2, 2022 protecting Petitioner, Laura Curtis.

THE COURT ORDERS: Respondent, Henry Smith Curtis, shall be subject to the following orders: 1) Respondent is ordered to not abuse Petitioner; 2) Respondent is ordered to have no contact with Petitioner; 3) Respondent is ordered to stay away from Petitioner’s person, home, job, vehicle, children, and the children’s school; 4) Respondent is ordered to move out of the marital residence; 5) Respondent shall have no visitation with his minor children; 6) Respondent must stay away from the dogs Piper, Remi, and Annie; 7) Respondent shall pay the monthly obligation to Kubota Credit Corp in the amount of $1,000 per month; and 8) Respondent shall attend and complete the Batterer intervention program.

THE COURT FURTHER ORDERS: The Court has found good cause to permit the service of this Restraining Order After Hearing by publication.

Date: /s/: Matthew Guerrero, Judge of the Superior Court, November 2, 2022 and December 2, 2022.

December 15, 22, 29, 2022, & January 5, 2023

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL)

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO) David Gould, an individual; and Does 1-100, inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): UHG I, LLC

CASE NUMBER (Número de caso): 21LC-0475 Notice! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case. ¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion.

Tiene 30 DIAS CALENDARIOS despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una repuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted puede usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formuleriors de la corte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/ espanol), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su repuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte la podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia.

Hay otros requistas legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniendose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar ias cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo ao una consesion de artitraje en un caso dce derecho civll. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

CASE NUMBER: (Número de caso):21LC-0475

The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte son)

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN LUIS 1035 Palm St., Room 385 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección y número de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Kevin W. Yeam/SBN 126519; Martin Weingarten/SBN 201906 Persolve Legal Group, LLP 9301 Corbin Ave ste 1600 Northridge, CA 91324 818-534-3100

Date: (Fecha) 06/06/2021

By: /s/ Michael Powell, Clerk (Secretario) /s/, D. Rincon, Deputy Clerk, (adjunto)

December 15, 22, 29, 2022 & January 5, 2023

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL)

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO) JENNIFER A. GOINS; and Does 1-50, inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): SESLOC FEDERAL CREDIT UNION CASE NUMBER (Número de caso): 22LC-0501

Notice! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion.

Tiene 30 DIAS CALENDARIOS despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una repuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted puede usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formuleriors de la corte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ selfhelp/espanol), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su repuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte la podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia.

Hay otros requistas legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniendose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales.

AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar ias cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo ao una consesion de artitraje en un caso dce derecho civll. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

CASE NUMBER: (Número de caso):22LC-0501

The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte son)

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN LUIS 1-35 Palm St., Room 385 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección y número de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es):

Brandon M. Ormonde (Bar #272069)

MEDEROS ORMONDE & RASCON 791 North cherry, P.O. Box 29 Tulare, CA 93275 559-686-3861

Date: (Fecha) 07/28/2022

By: /s/ Michael Powell, Clerk (Secretario) /s/, Priyanka Singh, Deputy Clerk, (adjunto)

December 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME

NEW FILE NO. 2022-2159 OLD FILE NO. 2020-1311

Branch Street Antiques, 126 E. Branch Street STE. B, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. The fictitious business name referred to above was filed in San Luis Obispo County on 06/30/2020. The following person(s) has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name: Andrea Scott, (391 Garden St., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420), David Scott (391 Garden St., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business was conducted by A Married Couple /s/ Dave Scott. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 09-19-2022. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk. By A. Bautista, Deputy Clerk. September 29, October 6, 13, 20, & November 3, 2022

STATEMENT OF ABANDONMENT OF USE OF FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME

NEW FILE NO. 2022-2776

OLD FILE NO. 2019-0228

Bracket Architecture Office, 1157 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. The fictitious business name referred to above was filed in San Luis Obispo County on 01/23/2019. The following person(s) has abandoned the use of the fictitious business name: Bryan Scott Ridley, (836 Murray Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business was conducted by An Individual, /s/ Bryan Scott Ridley. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-06-2022. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk. By M. Stiletto, Deputy Clerk. December 8, 15, 22, & 29, 2022

Rob Brezsny’s Free Will Astrology

Homework: Make a prediction about the best thing that will happen in your life during 2023. Newsletter.freewillastrology.com

ARIES

(March 21-April 19): Aries painter Vincent van Gogh was renowned for translating his sublime and unruly passions into colors and shapes on canvas. It was a demanding task. He careened between torment and ecstasy. “I put my heart and soul into my work,” he said, “and I have lost my mind in the process.” That’s sad! But I have good news for you, Aries. In the coming months, you will have the potential to reach unprecedented new depths of zest as you put your heart and soul into your work and play. And hallelujah, you won’t lose your mind in the process! In fact, I suspect you will become more mentally healthy than you’ve been in a long time.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20): “The soul is silent,” writes Taurus poet Louise Glück. “If it speaks at all, it speaks in dreams.” I don’t agree with her in general, and I especially don’t agree with her in regard to your life in the coming weeks. I believe your soul will be singing, telling jokes, whispering in the dark, and flinging out unexpected observations. Your soul will be extra alive and alert and awake, tempting you to dance in the grocery store and fling out random praise and fantasize about having your own podcast. Don’t underestimate how vivacious your soul might be, Taurus. Give it permission to be as fun and funny as it yearns to be.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20): The coming weeks will be an excellent time to expand your understanding about the nature of stress. Here are three study aids: 1. High stress levels are not healthy for your mind and body, but low to moderate stress can be good for you. 2. Low to moderate stress is even better for you if it involves dilemmas that you can ultimately solve. 3. There is a thing called “eustress,” which means beneficial stress. It arises from a challenge that evokes your vigor, resilience, and willpower. As you deal with it, you feel hopeful and hardy. It’s meaningful and interesting. I bring these ideas to your attention, dear Gemini, because you are primed to enjoy a rousing upgrade in your relationship with stress.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): Long before he launched his illustrious career, Cancerian inventor Buckminster Fuller was accepted to enroll at Harvard University. Studying at such a prestigious educational institution was a high honor and set him up for a bright future. Alas, he was expelled for partying too hard. Soon he was working at odd jobs. His fortunes dwindled, and he grew depressed. But at age 32, he had a pivotal mystical experience. He seemed to be immersed in a globe of white light hovering above the ground. A disembodied voice spoke, telling him he “belonged to the universe” and that he would fulfill his life purpose if he applied himself to serving “the highest advantage of others.” How would you like a Buckminster Fuller-style intervention, Cancerian? It’s available if you want it and ask for it.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): Leo-born Judith Love Cohen was an electrical engineer who worked on NASA’s Apollo Space Program. She was also the mother of the famous actor Jack Black. When she was nine months pregnant with Jack, on the day she went into labor, she performed a heroic service. On their way to the moon, the three astronauts aboard the Apollo 13 spacecraft had encountered a major systems failure. In the midst of her birth process, Judith Love Cohen carried out advanced troubleshooting that helped save their lives and bring their vehicle safely back to Earth. I don’t expect you to achieve such a monumental feat in the coming days, Leo. But I suspect you will be extra intrepid and even epic in your efforts. And your ability to magically multitask will be at a peak.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When you’re at the height of your powers, you provide the people in your life with high-quality help and support. And I believe you could perform this role even stronger in 2023. Here are some of the best benefits you can offer: 1. Assist your allies in extracting bright ideas from

confusing mishmashes. 2. Help them cull fertile seeds from decaying dross. 3. As they wander through messy abysses, aid them in finding where the redemption is. 4. Cheer on their successes with wit and charm.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): A blogger named Daydreamydyke explains the art of bestowing soulful gifts. Don’t give people you care for generic consumer goods, she tells us. Instead, say to them, “I picked up this cool rock I found on the ground that reminded me of you,” or, “I bought you this necklace for 50 cents at a yard sale because I thought you’d like it,” or, “I’ve had this odd little treasure since childhood, but I feel like it could be of use to you or give you comfort, so I want you to have it.” That’s the spirit I hope you will adopt during the holiday season, Libra—as well as for all of 2023, which will be the year you could become a virtuoso gift-giver.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In 1957, engineers Alfred Fielding and Marc Chavannes invented three-dimensional plastic wallpaper. No one bought the stuff, though. A few years later, they rebranded it as Bubble Wrap and marketed it as material to protect packages during shipment. Success! Its new use has been popular ever since. I suspect you are in a phase comparable to the time between when their plastic wallpaper flopped and before they dreamed up Bubble Wrap. Have faith in the possibility of there being a Second Act, Scorpio. Be alert for new applications of possibilities that didn’t quite make a splash the first time around.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I applaud your expansive curiosity. I admire your yearning to learn more and more about our mysterious world as you add to your understanding of how the game of life works. Your greed for interesting experiences is good greed! It is one of your most beautiful qualities. But now and then, there come times when you need to scale down your quest for fresh, raw truths and work on integrating what you have already absorbed. The coming weeks will be one of those times.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Better than most, you have a rich potential to attune yourself to the cyclical patterns of life. It’s your birthright to become skilled at discerning natural rhythms at work in the human comedy. Even more fortunately, Capricorn, you can be deeply comforted by this awareness. Educated by it. Motivated by it. I hope that in 2023, you will develop your capacity to the next level. The cosmic flow will be on your side as you strive to feel the cosmic flow—and place yourself in closer and closer alignment with it.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Anne, a character in a book by L. M. Montgomery, says she prefers the word “dusk” over “twilight” because it sounds so “velvety and shadowy.” She continues, “In daylight, I belong to the world ... in the night to sleep and eternity. But in the dusk, I’m free from both and belong only to myself.” According to my astrological assessment, you Aquarians will go through a dusk-like phase in the coming weeks: a time when you will belong solely to yourself and any other creature you choose to join you in your velvety, shadowy emancipation.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20): My Piscean friend Venus told me, “We Pisceans feel everything very intensely, but alas, we do not possess the survival skills of a Scorpio or the enoughis-enough, self-protective mechanism of the Cancerians. We are the water sign most susceptible to being engulfed and flooded and overwhelmed.” I think Venus is somewhat correct in her assessment. But I also believe you Fishes have a potent asset that you may not fully appreciate or call on enough. Your ability to tune into the very deepest levels of emotion potentially provides you with access to a divine power source beyond your personality. If you allow it to give you all of its gifts, it will keep you shielded and safe and supported. ∆