New Times, May 18, 2023

When the levee breaks

BULBUL RAJAGOPAL

Editor’s note

Arroyo Grande Creek is managed by more than a handful of local, state, and federal agencies. That bureaucracy and a quagmire of environmental regulations hamstring local efforts to prevent flooding, according to some Oceano residents, including Linda Austin, whose family has lived along the creek for multiple generations. Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal speaks with Austin, the county, and the state about efforts to manage debris, runoff, and endangered species in the creek, as well as the aftermath of a winter in which the levee overtopped and failed [10].

This week, you can also read about the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District’s latest hang-up [4], SLO Rep’s production of A Doll’s House, Part 2 [24], and the tasty, mighty avocado [29]

Camillia

Lanham editor

cover photo by Jayson Mellom cover image and design by Alex Zuniga

A brief story, fifty-five words or less, with a headline no longer than seven words.

We accept entries to our annual 55 Fiction writing contest all year long. Entries submitted by 5pm Monday, June 19, 2023 will be considered for this year’s publications which will be published on July 27, 2023

For more details: bit.ly/55Fiction

calendar@newtimesslo.com

ADVERTISING advertising@newtimesslo.com classifieds@newtimesslo.com

WWW.NEWTIMESSLO.COM

Website powered by Foundation www.publishwithfoundation.com

FOUNDER

Steve Moss 1948-2005

PUBLISHERS

Bob Rucker, Alex Zuniga

EDITOR

Camillia Lanham

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Peter Johnson

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Andrea Rooks

CALENDAR EDITOR

Caleb Wiseblood

SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Glen Starkey

STAFF WRITER

Bulbul Rajagopal

EDITORIAL INTERN

Thomas Rodda

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jayson Mellom

EDITORIAL DESIGNERS

Leni Litonjua, Taylor Saugstad

ASSISTANT

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Eva Lipson

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

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

SALES MANAGER

Katy Gray

ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES

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

BUSINESS DEPARTMENT

Cindy Rucker

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

Michael Antonette

OFFICE MANAGER

Patricia Horton

OFFICE ASSISTANT

Michael Gould

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

New Times is published every Thursday for your enjoyment and distributed to more than 100,000 readers in San Luis Obispo County. New Times is available free of charge, limited to one copy per reader. The contents of New Times are copyrighted by New Times, and may not be reproduced without specific written permission from the publishers.

We welcome contributions and suggestions. Accompany any submissions with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

We cannot assume responsibility for unsolicited submissions. All letters received become the property of the publishers. Opinions expressed in byline material are not necessarily those of New Times

New Times is available on microfilm at the SLO City-County Library, and through Proquest Company, 789 E Eisenhower Pkwy., Ann Arbor, MI 48106, as part of the Alternative Press Project. Subscriptions to New Times are $156 per year.

Because a product or service is advertised in New Times does not necessarily mean we endorse its use.

We hope readers will use their own good judgment in choosing products most beneficial to their well-being.

Our purpose: to present news and issues of importance to our readers; to reflect honestly the unique spirit of the region; and to be a complete, current, and accurate guide to arts and entertainment on the Central Coast, leading the community in a positive direction consistent with its past.

‘Anomalous feature’ sends Georgia Brown Elementary renovation into limbo

Paso Robles school board trustee Jim Cogan’s first reaction was, “Are you kidding me?”

After finally deciding the fate of Georgia Brown Elementary School last year, the Paso Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) recently discovered an “anomalous feature” under the school that’s put its planned renovation in jeopardy.

The geologic feature could be seismic—there’s

about a 50 percent chance of it, the school district said. The state will require a deeper investigation to find out for sure before any shovels can hit the ground.

“It’s definitely not the news we were hoping to get,” Cogan told New Times. “My heart goes out to all the parents and students and teachers who just want to know what’s going to happen.”

The discovery occurred as part of pre-construction activities, and it will delay the district’s plan to renovate Georgia Brown and turn it into a smaller neighborhood school to later house Glen Speck Elementary.

In the short term, it means Georgia Brown students and staff will likely stay on their campus for the next school year. Georgia Brown had been preparing to relocate to a temporary campus near Flamson Middle School while the renovations took place.

A larger decision also looms for the school district about whether to change course on its overall elementary school plan, given the potential ramifications of the anomaly and the effect on the future of both Georgia Brown and Glen Speck.

Cogan and his colleagues will discuss the district’s path forward at a May 23 board of trustees meeting.

“I don’t think anyone has determined what the best solution is right now,” Cogan said. “I think going forward the biggest responsibility on the school district is to make sure we’re having a very transparent conversation about our options.”

School district officials emphasized that the Georgia Brown campus remains a safe place to go to school.

According to the district, the Division of the State Architect—which oversees

Morro Bay group wants to block Vistra battery energy storage plant

A group of Morro Bay citizens is collecting signatures for an initiative that could potentially bring the controversial proposal to build a battery storage plant to voters.

“The initial concern arose when we found out that they were possibly going to build a lithium battery storage a quarter mile away from our local high school,” Barry Branin told New Times. “The overall environmental concerns that this facility would bring are too big to not oppose having it built right next to our community.”

Over the past three months, Branin and several Morro Bay residents formed Citizens for Estero Bay Preservation and have worked on a way to formally oppose building on what they consider to be an undisturbed and unindustrialized part of the city.

“We gathered up some money together, hired a land use attorney, wrote an initiative, and submitted it to the city on May 1,” he said. “We got it back Tuesday, May 23, from the city with the name and title of the initiative and can now begin the process of collecting signatures to potentially bring this issue to the voters at the ballot.”

Morro Bay Interim City Manager Greg Carpenter told New Times that the city holds no official position on either side of the issue because the initiative is still

in its early stages of gathering signatures. “The process occurs in stages, and we are basically still in the first phase,” Carpenter said. “The city will not formally take a position until much later in the process.”

According to Vistra, the company proposing to build on the 107-acre former power plant property adjacent to downtown Morro Bay, the battery plant would be a 600-megawatt battery energy storage system constructed on 24 acres of land. The project, Vistra said, is still contingent on the company providing the public with a report of the potential environmental impacts the facility could have.

Those potential environmental impacts are exactly what have citizens like Branin so concerned.

Branin told New Times that two fires broke out in 2022 at a partially Vistra-run battery energy storage facility in Moss Landing, leading a nearby high school to shelter in place. On Vistra’s website, the company states that the fires at the Moss Landing facility were the result of faulty water cooling systems and that it had already taken company-wide corrective actions to reduce future instances of battery combustion.

Citizens for Estero Bay Preservation is not antirenewable energy, Branin said, and they understand that a facility like this would serve the city well as they head into a greener energy future. He added that his group just doesn’t think that the facility needs to be built so close to such a major area of commerce and ecology.

“Our group is all-in on green energy. I mean we are

K through 12 public school construction projects— confirmed that the soil anomaly doesn’t pose a safety threat to the school.

PRJUSD Superintendent Curt Dubost added that he is having a structural engineer inspect the campus facilities to add another layer of oversight and reassurance.

“People are little freaked. Is it safe to go there now? There is absolutely no indication there’s any immediate danger,” Dubost told New Times Dubost called the soil discovery “a huge curveball for us.” He said city seismic maps showed a potential for a fault line under the school, which caused the Division of the State Architect to require the district to investigate it further. That’s what led to the recent confirmation of a geologic anomaly.

If the feature is ultimately determined to be a fault line—and “the only way to know is to dig a trench,” Dubost said—that would dramatically change how the PRJUSD would be allowed to renovate and configure the campus.

Dubost is recommending that Georgia Brown remain on its 36th Street campus for the next school year while the PRJUSD gathers information and deliberates its next steps.

In 2021, district officials recommended that Georgia Brown close to reduce PRJUSD’s elementary school count from six to five, citing declining student enrollment.

But community outcry to keep the school—which offers a popular dual-immersion program in a predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood— caused the board of trustees to compromise with its current renovation plan.

“Now we’re back to square one,” Dubost said. “The smart decision financially is to close it. But there was pushback against that. This isn’t Starbucks. These are neighborhood schools, and they have cultures that go with them, especially Georgia Brown, which has been there for 80 years. It isn’t an easy decision, and it’s going to be controversial no matter what we do.” ∆

—Peter Johnson

teachers and engineers, so we believe renewable energy facilities like this are the key to the future,” he said. “Perhaps this unit would be better placed somewhere else, away from the residents and our bay.”

—Adrian Rosas

OCSD skeptical of proposed fire services contract

The Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) is worried that a fire services contract proposed by the cities of Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach will drain the unincorporated town’s coffers.

“They’re basing their proposal on what they think Oceano should have paid were we to remain in the Five Cities Fire Authority,” OCSD General Manager Will Clemens said at the May 10 community services district meeting.

Come June 30, the OCSD will officially exit the Five Cities Fire Authority, leaving itself and the remaining members, Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach, to grapple with the future of emergency fire and medical services. Limited funding sources for Oceano followed by two failed attempts to pass a special parcel tax to pay for those services prompted the Oceano to pull out of the joint powers agreement for the agency.

In January, the OCSD applied to the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) to relieve itself of providing fire and medical assistance to

REHASHING DEBATES The Paso Robles school district will once again discuss the future of Georgia Brown Elementary School after inspectors found a soil anomaly under it that will delay a renovation project. Community activists spoke out against a 2021 proposal to close the school.

FILE PHOTO COURTESY OF YESSENIA ECHEVARRIA

the community effective July 1. The OCSD requested that San Luis Obispo County provide emergency services to Oceano after LAFCO makes its decision.

However, the LAFCO process is expected to take 12 to 18 months to conclude. Until then, the OCSD needs to figure out an interim plan to provide services.

The proposed solution is a nine-monthlong contract with the Five Cities Fire Authority (FCFA) that spans from July 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024. During that period, Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande would pay a combined total of almost $5 million for fire services, while Oceano pays $1.2 million to receive fire services from the agency.

Clemens said that the main issues with the proposed contract are that the nine-month length is too short and that the OCSD is required to pay more than the cities.

He added that a comparatively lower cost for the OCSD is justified because the proposed contract mentions that the district will receive fewer services because its local fire station will not be used. Instead, the FCFA will provide for the region using the two stations in Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach. Plus, the OCSD will have no say in operational decisions.

Clemens recommended that the OCSD try to negotiate the contract with the two cities. He suggested increasing its length to one year and keeping Oceano’s contribution the same, while increasing Arroyo Grande and Grover Beach’s share by an additional $1.6 million total.

Grover Beach City Manager Matt Bronson told New Times that the cities set nine months as a preference with the LAFCO process in mind.

Both Bronson and Arroyo Grande City Manager Whitney McDonald added that the costs for fire services are not allocated solely based on service calls. The funding formula also depends on population and station staffing. McDonald told New Times that the cities made the contract decision based on the assessment done by Baker Tilly—the consulting agency that assessed the Fire Authority’s finances.

“[Baker Tilly] concluded that Oceano should have $1,211,000 of property tax revenue available to pay for service in fiscal year 2023-24, which at $131,750 per month would equate to approximately nine months of service,” McDonald said.

Clemens announced at the May 10 meeting that the OCSD’s expected property tax revenue cannot be committed to fire services alone. It also has to pay for other

services like lighting and the California Public Employees Retirement System. The board unanimously voted for him to negotiate on a flexible term that costs the district no more than $1.15 million total. Clemens said that he plans to send the OCSD’s proposal to the city managers on May 18, but reaching an agreement could be tough.

“During the discussion held with the Arroyo Grande City Council on April 25, 2023, direction was provided to offer a nine-month service contract at a cost of $1,211,000, so it is unlikely that the terms mentioned above [OCSD’s proposal] would be successful,” McDonald said.

—Bulbul Rajagopal

SLO city unveils new Righetti Hill open space

Once a private quarry and cattle ranch, Righetti Hill in San Luis Obispo will soon become the latest “morro” that locals can hike. The 51-acre Righetti Hill open space is joining the city’s 4,300 acres of public lands thanks to a 2018 property acquisition and the City Council’s adoption of a final conservation plan on May 16.

“It’s very exciting,” City Councilmember Jan Marx said at a May 16 meeting. “After all these years of the Orcutt specific plan and the Righetti specific plan, and now we finally have the conservation plan.”

Marx is referring to the hundreds of new homes that were planned for and built on the city’s south side—in the area between Orcutt Road, Broad Street, and Tank Farm Road. As a condition of approval for subdividing the land around Righetti Hill into 124 lots for homes, the city acquired the hill itself.

Standing at 563 feet tall, Righetti Hill lies just north of Islay Hill and is one of the “Nine Sisters,” ancient volcanic plugs that extend northwest to Morro Rock.

A Righetti Hill summit trail—a 1-mile out-and-back path—is already constructed. It begins on Hillside Drive and wraps around to the peak. Due to its narrowness and challenges with visibility, the trail will be designated for hikers only. The city plans to add a wider “perimeter” trail around the base of the hill that will be open to both hikers and mountain bikers.

Several locals wrote to the council ahead of the meeting to ask that they reconsider the prohibition on biking the summit trail.

“I would like to voice my support in maintaining the Righetti Hill trail open to biking and hiking,” resident Garrett Otto wrote. “The current set of trails we have in town are quite technical, especially for beginner and younger riders. My 4-year-old

is gaining confidence on his bike … and Righetti would be a great place for him to build his skills.”

SLO Natural Resource Manager Bob Hill said at the meeting that the city plans to monitor the activity on the trail and would remain open to reassessing the rules down the line. He added that an open space community roundtable that met throughout 2016 expressed a desire to keep a mix of hiking-only and multi-use trails in the city’s greenbelt.

“This [Righetti Hill trail] was, in part, our way of having fidelity to that vision and those conversations that occurred at that time,” Hill said.

City officials noted that SLO is building a new 11-acre community park adjacent to Righetti Hill, which will likely include a dirt bike park. That park is about two years away from completion, and the city said it will have a better idea of what the needs are then in the Righetti Hill open space.

While Councilmembers Michelle Shoresman and Emily Francis voiced interest in revising it to allow bikers on the summit trail, the council ultimately voted 5-0 to approve the conservation plan as drafted.

Councilmember Marx voiced the strongest support for the hiking-only summit trail.

“I think it’d be a real mistake to allow the mountain bike community to set the policy on the use of trails,” Marx said. “I think we need to approve the plan as presented. And as staff has said, let’s see down the road if there needs to be an addendum. We don’t need to contravene long-standing polices that have worked well.”

—Peter Johnson

Paso High to allow grad cap decorations after students lobby the district

Attendees of the 2023 Paso Robles High School graduation ceremony might spot some new colors sparkling amid the sea of red caps and gowns.

Thanks to a petition pushed by a group of students that garnered more than 1,000 signatures, students will be able to decorate the top of their caps—and only their caps— for the graduation ceremony after the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District board voted 5-2 in favor of the policy change at the May 9 meeting.

“From the beginning of freshman year, I have always wondered what it would be like to walk across the stage with a decorated cap to honor my mother and her struggles as a single mom raising me,” Ne’jai Bryant said at the meeting. “I feel expressing that thanks I have

for her at my graduation through my cap is one of the best ways to show that.”

Bryant is one of five students—the others being Vanessa Pinedo, Israel Perez, Jordan Armer, and Paula Uribe—who gave a presentation on the policy change and cited the expression they felt the revision should allow for.

The group highlighted four themes students might incorporate into cap decor: honoring one’s family accomplishment, remembering loved ones who may have passed, future aspirations, and most controversially—at least to some members of the board—activism.

“Graduation is not the time for activism,” board trustee Dorian Baker said at the meeting. “I would be willing to approve it if we left out the activism part and focused on the first three points the students made.”

Other members of the board also found an issue with the loose definition of the term, with trustee Kenney Enney highlighting just how hard it would be to enforce a term that may not have a universal definition.

“Everyone has a different definition of what these things mean,” Enney said. “I am inclined to vote no because it is not well defined and that means that it is left to interpretation.”

Despite this, a majority of the board determined that defining activism would entail an entire process that could lead to the board facing challenges regarding students’ First Amendment rights.

“The way that it is written right now is fine and passes legal means,” board member Jim Cogan said. “If we start defining what is and isn’t activism to prohibit what is allowed on a cap, that’s where the issue begins.”

Cogan stressed that the era of formal graduations, while important, had passed as the district and California enter a new era of personal freedoms.

“I am struck by the irony of this situation where we are talking about the definition of activism when the entire reason we are here is that these students showed up and were activists about a cause they believed in,” Cogan said. “If we are going to be a school board that supports personal freedom, activism is part of it.”

According to Paso Robles High School Principal Anthony Overton, who finalized the new policy in a statement to parents, students will have to fill out a form with their proposed cap design and have it signed by their parents or guardian by June 2. Seniors will then provide the approved form with its matching cap design during the actual

ceremony on June 9.

“We believe this policy will help ensure that this new tradition can live into future generations of Bearcat graduates,” Overton said in a statement. “It will help ensure that any issues that arise can be resolved long before the graduation ceremony.”

During the entire discussion and after passing the policy change, school board members praised the students for their passion and dedication to voicing their desires. However, board President Nathan Williams made it clear that now that the policy change had been made, students need to use their cap decorating privileges responsibly.

“Whatever you choose to do, it will set precedents for every year that comes after you,” Williams said. “Hold onto that as you are designing your caps and show that same maturity you did tonight in presenting this.”

—Adrian Rosas

Pismo Beach Planning Commission rejects Spyglass Park dog park

Pismo Beach’s long quest to install a local dog park in the city has been stalled yet again.

On May 17, the City Council withdrew its appeal of the local Planning Commission’s rejection of a proposed dog park in a large grassy area of Spyglass Park. The City Council identified developing a dog park at the site during its annual goal-setting meeting in February.

But the Planning Commission rejected

the city’s request for a coastal development permit to build the dog park, saying that the project would shrink parking availability and that it wasn’t consistent with the Spyglass Park neighborhood.

As a result, the City Council appealed the commission’s decision on May 5. But frequent stumbling blocks and concerns from neighborhood residents prompted the council to rescind the appeal.

“Mayor Pro Tem [Mary-Ann Reiss] and I have been on the council a long time. We have struggled to find a location for the dog park,” Mayor Ed Waage said at the May 17 meeting. “Generally, we don’t have a lot of space for dog parks. We’ve been looking for options and every time we propose something, it’s been very hard to make it work.”

A resident who lives near Spyglass Park brought up the issue of space during public comment and supported withdrawing the City Council appeal.

“I, myself, have a small dog and, unfortunately, a small backyard. So, I’m aware of the need to have large areas that dogs can cover,” the resident said. “Ten thousand square feet for a dog park is simply not enough. If you were to build this, it would immediately become the region’s smallest dog park.”

The City Council also discussed bringing the proposed project to the Parks, Recreation, and Beautification Commission (PRBC) to identify other locations for a dog park. But fatigue from the city’s history of

zeroing in on different potential places and still having the project not work out deterred most of the council from doing so.

However, Councilmember Marcia Guthrie stepped in to advocate for PRBC intervention. She referenced her time on the PRBC in 2010 when the commission was faced with another failed dog park project.

“We went to every single park; we found a location on Shell Beach Road; we had the local vet working on it; we had his contacts with Cal Poly testing the soil to make sure it would be an appropriate place for a dog park,” Guthrie said.

After the then PRBC recommended the Shell Beach Road location, the City Council at the time tried to discuss it at a meeting but received no input from members of the public. Guthrie said no one attended the meeting or wrote in letters. The City Council then postponed the discussion to give the public a chance to weigh in.

“After a month or so … there was one letter, and that was it.” Guthrie recollected. “So, there was a location found and it was ideal, and I was a part of that. There are areas in Pismo, and I think the PRBC should be able to look at it again.” She added that in spite of the city issuing costly violation tickets to people for letting their dogs off leashes, the council refuses to study places where those dogs could legally run. The result was a unanimous vote approving the appeal withdrawal and a consensus to schedule a discussion about whether the

PRBC should review project locations or table it altogether. The City Council will confer on the latter at its next meeting on June 6.

—Bulbul Rajagopal

Corrections

• In the May 11 story “Atascadero City Council appoints Jim Lewis as new city manager,” New Times incorrectly reported why Jim Lewis resigned from his position as Pismo Beach city manger. Lewis resigned to be closer to his family and serve his hometown of Atascadero. He is in excellent health. We regret the error.

• In a May 11 story about about how much money the Federal Emergency Management Agency provided local residents to cover storm damages, New Times miscalculated the data that FEMA provided in response to a Freedom and Information Act request for the number of people in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties who received flood damage assistance during the major disaster declaration spanning Dec. 27, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2023. The SLO County Office of Emergency Services helped clarify the totals. As of April 28, SLO County residents had received close to $6 million through the agency’s Individual and Households Program. FEMA gave almost $5.2 million and roughly $380,000 in Housing Assistance awards to 634 homeowners and 100 renters, respectively. Santa Barbara County residents received a little more than $2.6 million from FEMA. The Housing Assistance award is a subcategory of the Individuals and Households Program. New Times regrets the error. ∆

BY BULBUL RAJAGOPAL PHOTOS BY JAYSON MELLOM

Call of the creek

Residents and county officials struggle to balance flood control efforts in the Arroyo Grande Creek with the state’s environmental regulations

Oceano native Linda Austin scanned the rapidly flowing Arroyo Grande Creek as it met the Pacific Ocean after a fresh set of rainstorms on March 25.

The silty water powered through, taking out large chunks of sand from the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area beach, impervious to the raised clusters of knotted wood, rock, and other debris.

“The creek hasn’t flowed this fast and steady in the last 25 years,” Austin said. “On Feb. 28, 2001, my dad passed away. March 5, 2001, was my dad’s funeral. The creek levee broke then and flooded everything.”

Austin’s great-grandfather moved to Oceano in 1918. Her father, Harold Guiton, was one of the few locals who actively managed the debris in the creek and influenced others to help out as well. As a little girl, Austin joined him to clear the floating scraps from the water.

“The more you clean a creek, the more you keep it flowing,” Austin explained. “It’s much better for the wildlife, for everything. If you’re not allowed to clean it, the sediment builds up, then nothing survives, and you have a disaster like this.”

The disaster she’s referring to occurred when the Arroyo Grande Creek flooded into Oceano as an atmospheric river battered San Luis Obispo County in January. The storm broke on Jan. 9, dropping several inches of rain by the end of the following day. It resulted in landslides, flooded roads and homes, and two fatalities.

That big storm was the first of several in an unprecedented winter that repeatedly threatened Oceano with extreme flooding and near-constant evacuation orders. Ultimately, floodwaters not only overtopped the Arroyo Grande Creek levee on Jan. 9, but they also broke the structure that was already weakened by gopher holes and cracks.

Austin and some fellow residents believe debris that’s been allowed to accumulate in the creekbed contributed to the rapid flooding, which eventually weakened the levee. The county’s Public Works Department doesn’t know yet why the embankment ruptured, but both local government and individuals say that a labyrinth of state regulations makes managing the creek harder.

“People like to say, ‘The county doesn’t do anything.’ But it’s not their fault,” Austin said. “They’re doing the best they can with the regulations that are strapped on them.”

Regulated residents

Austin started clearing debris out of the Arroyo Grande Creek when she was 8 years old. At 70, she hasn’t stopped.

“We were always on the tractor doing stuff,” she said. “We have a hook like an anchor. I would throw it out and pull the debris out.”

When she was younger, she’d use a little boat. Austin would ride to a nearby clump of debris, throw the chained hook to snag trapped logs, and back the boat out.

Age reduced her responsibilities. Austin’s parents have passed away, and both her brothers have moved out of Oceano. She maintains the trees lining her section of private property along the creek and does

light debris clearing while coordinating with her nephew, who does the majority of the physical labor.

According to Austin, the biggest change to how her family managed debris buildup sprung from statewide environmental regulations that banned individuals from using heavy machinery in the creek. For the Austin family, that meant retiring her father’s tractor. Instead, the family would have to get into the water wearing waders and use hand tools to catch debris and pull it out.

“They called him the ‘legend of Arroyo Grande Creek’ because before it would rain, he’d drive his tractor down and clean it up, make sure the flood gates were open,” Austin said of her father. “I think it stopped in the ’80s when the regulations said no more mechanical equipment in the creek. We had to do everything by hand, and we did.”

Austin is a member of the Zone 1/1A Advisory Committee—a group comprising county representatives and private landowners who live along the creek. The special district is responsible for maintaining and operating the Arroyo Grande and Los Berros creek channels for flood protection in the areas near Oceano and Arroyo Grande. Along with doing individual creek maintenance work, landowners like Austin pay an annual tax to support flood control efforts.

After January’s levee breach and ensuing flood, some committee members said that although the county worked hard to get state permits to manage the levee better, it was still “under handcuffs” because state agencies didn’t allow the county to thoroughly clean the debris out.

Austin said that the main issue is a clash with environmental concerns. She compared the creek and the regulations around it to the Oceano Lagoon, which old-timers like herself call “the lake.” They used to hold fishing derbies there when Austin was a kid—but it’s since become a cesspool, she said.

“You can’t touch it; it’s a quagmire of old garbage. When we were kids, they’d plant this lagoon with trout, it was alive,” she said.

“We need to dredge it, and you’ll have the wildlife. But to just make it sit because you don’t want to harm anything doesn’t make sense to me.”

Navigating bureaucracy

The flood control committee has roots dating back to the 1950s. During that decade, Arroyo Grande Creek experienced severe flooding that damaged the farmland in a region near Oceano Beach and Halcyon called Cienega Valley.

The damage prompted the creation of the community-led Arroyo Grande Creek Flood Control Project, which was completed in 1961. The project installed the 3.5-mile levee system that confined the creek from its confluence with Los Berros Creek downstream to the Pacific Ocean.

But the flood control channel wasn’t designed to withstand significant amounts of heavy rain. The areas surrounding the creek have historically experienced flooding, and the levee previously failed in 2001. When the flood control channel was built, it was expected to be able to handle

10,120 cubic feet per second (CFS) of water. According to the creek channel’s waterway management program, that’s considered a once-every-100-years event. In 1999, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study found that changes to the levee geometry due to settlement and erosion put the channel’s capacity at 6,500 CFS.

“Maintenance activities in recent years were restricted by a combination of lack of funding (Zone 1/1A maintenance funds had not risen appreciably since the creation of the special district) and environmental concerns about the impacts of vegetation and sediment removal on aquatic and riparian habitat in the flood control reach,” according to the Army Corps report.

Habitat protection concerns started in the 1990s with a confluence of interest from the California Coastal Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These state and federal agencies wanted to create flood control strategies that also preserved the aquatic environments for the endangered California red-legged frog and steelhead trout.

Sarah Paulson, the environmental program manager of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), said that the permitting process for creek maintenance projects used to be “a little less formal” than it is now. Agencies tightened regulations as public interest in environmental resources increased.

CDFW has jurisdiction over activities

that could substantially divert water bodies through the use or change of any material found in them.

“Stream clearing, vegetation and sediment management, and levee maintenance, all of these can happen under these [construction] permits,” she said. “There are often avoidance and minimization measures associated with those permits to help reduce the impacts on some of these species.”

Paulson said that while the red-legged frog is of interest to the state, the creature is on the federal list of endangered species. That means that concerns about the frog’s habitat are directly handled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, the state still does its part by helping conserve habitat.

One of the ways the CDFW meets conservation goals is by placing an “avoidance window” on approved permits. Steelhead trout, for example, have benefited from it.

“It’s timing the work when the stream is dry or when the species isn’t present,” Paulson explained. “We’ll put a requirement in the permit that they do the work at a certain time of the year.”

Through the state Fish and Game Code and the Lake and Streambed Alteration Program, CDFW issues both standard and emergency permits for construction or reconstruction work.

Under the Arroyo Grande Creek’s waterway management program, that work would include vegetation and sediment management, building flood control walls to protect residences north of the flood channel,

WASHED AWAY Arroyo Grande Creek steadily flows into the Pacific Ocean after a series of winter storms, taking out large chunks of sand as it meets the saltwater in Oceano.

reinforcing the southside of the levee for erosion control, and raising the levee system itself to prevent future overtopping.

CDFW issues standard permits that can last up to five years. Emergency permits pertain specifically to any work that needs to be done to address an unforeseen incident or even in preparation for a disaster, such as the flooding in Oceano. Those permits, according to Paulson, don’t have an expiration date, and applicants don’t need to notify CDFW ahead of time. They can do so 14 days after beginning emergency work.

Paulson added that there is a public misconception that Fish and Wildlife doesn’t allow people to conduct work in streams and creeks.

“It is also important to note that there is no ‘denial’ process in lake or streambed permitting with CDFW—proposed projects that are otherwise lawful can be permitted,” she said.

Currently, there are two existing routine maintenance agreements that cover portions of Arroyo Grande, Los Berros, and Tally Ho creeks. The latter creek runs along the Tally Ho neighborhood of Arroyo Grande that has historically faced flooding.

Fish and Wildlife isn’t the only agency that has its eye on the Arroyo Grande Creek. It’s only one thread of a complex network of state and national groups that include the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, California Conservation Corps, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service under NOAA.

Bridging the future

For Steph Wald, Creek Lands Conservation’s watershed program manager, the dilemma of the Arroyo Grande Creek levee traces back to human settlement.

“It’s not the levee breaking; it’s that people developed their homes and put things in the floodplain,” she said. “Floodplain is an area surrounding the creek that has high flow and becomes part of the creek, and that’s what we saw happen when the levee broke: The water went everywhere, including into somebody’s living room.

“These infrastructure projects have to be there now that people have built there, and that’s the problem.”

Creek Lands Conservation’s role is to work with the community to improve conditions for both people and nature in coastal watersheds, Wald said. The nonprofit is working on a slew of watershed management plans across the Central Coast. One of them is the Arroyo Grande Creek Watershed Management Plan. Produced by Central Coast Salmon Enhancement and funded by CDFW’s Fisheries Restoration Grant Program, the plan specifically looks at critical issues affecting steelhead trout.

Wald added that the flood control channel sits at the very bottom of the Arroyo Grande Creek watershed, so the volume and velocity of the water coming down the creek from the upper regions further weakened the channel that was already struggling with decades of urbanization and climate change.

“It was built for a purpose that now is needing to be reexamined because of climate change and the fact that our rainfall patterns

rebuilt levee, which stayed that way until it failed again this year.

But any sort of work that impacts the creek could run into hiccups during the permitting process. In 2017, the National Marine Fisheries Service held up the Arroyo Grande Waterway Management Program, stating that the project could possibly contribute to the extinction of steelhead, which were federally listed as an endangered species in 1997.

The federal agency weighed in with what’s known as a “jeopardy opinion,” meaning it believed that the program would reduce steelhead’s likelihood of surviving in the creek. During project consultations, National Marine Fisheries Service can also issue a biological opinion, which will conclude whether the federal agency has ensured that the project is unlikely to jeopardize the existence of an endangered species and sometimes includes recommendations to further the recovery of said species.

“I talked to county Public Works people … and said, ‘How can we do a project elsewhere that would benefit steelhead and hope that the federal agency would change from a jeopardy opinion to a normal biological opinion?’” Wald said. “Every suggestion that we made, the federal agency said, ‘No, that’s not good enough.’”

appropriations bill for the 2024 fiscal year.

“We’re happy that he’s included us in his project list and hope that as it moves forward, we remain on it and can get that funding … to get ready to implement flood easements in the best way possible,” she said.

Ballantyne added that Public Works hasn’t pinned down the exact reason that the levee failed in January but noted that excess stormwater runoff was a factor. She said that runoff streamed in from an urbanized upper watershed compared to the rural one that existed in 1955 when the waterway management plan was first designed.

While the levee’s breach has temporarily been plugged, Public Works is now working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to strengthen it for the future. But reinforcing existing infrastructure and building new projects are still challenges for Public Works.

Fourth District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding said that the department struggles with limited funding and staffing—something Ballantyne acknowledged too, but she added that the county is working hard to identify more grant funding and other revenue streams.

“When we know that there is another agency involved, a lot of times we’ll do our best to reach out to them and try to coordinate to make sure none of our conditions contradict or make a project infeasible to do,” Paulson said.

She added that balancing private creek management and state rules is a hot-button issue this year, especially after coming out of years of drought into one of the wettest winters in California’s history.

“A lot of times stream maintenance and management is not always on the forefront of our minds,” Paulson said. “But certainly this year was a big reminder that it’s something we all need to work together on and ensure we can both manage the needs of the stream and fish and wildlife resources and the needs of the community to prevent unnecessary flooding.”

are changing,” she said. “The amounts of water that come down into the watershed are different, and our infrastructure is not up for it, as we saw this year.”

When the levee last gave way in 2001, Wald said, local authorities including the county attempted to relinquish control over it to the state Department of Water Resources.

“The state was not interested to take this project over primarily because they would have had to essentially return it to its original condition, which you can’t do anymore because of regulations,” Wald said. “It would be very, very, very expensive to put it back in its original form, ‘as-built’ in the 1960s.”

That’s why the flood control committee of private landowners voted in 2006 to raise their own taxes and pay to reconstruct the levee. The increased taxes resulted in a

Wald believes that flood easements in the Oceano-Arroyo Grande area that was impacted by the recent levee break could help mitigate some of the adverse effects of future big rain events. Flood easements are agreements between county officials and landowners to release water from the levee and flood farm fields during emergencies to relax the stress on the levee and prevent residential areas from being flooded.

The easement negotiation process is challenging, Wald said, because of the impacts that controlled flooding can have on prime agricultural land.

“That’s expensive. If the water does go out onto a farm field, it has to then eventually drain,” she said. “What’s left behind on the farm field may or may not be good for farming. In other words: There’s a lot of stuff in the water that isn’t great.”

SLO County Public Works Deputy Director Kate Ballantyne told New Times that on March 30, U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-California) requested $2 million for SLO County flood easements as part of the

“Our county doesn’t really have staff that is dedicated to pursuing state and federal grants that are intended to help our region plan for climate resilience,” Paulding said. “There’s a lot of money at the federal level in particular right now for those things through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal and the Inflation Reduction Act.”

The SLO County Board of Supervisors recently directed Public Works to come up with a plan on how to build up its staffing capacity and pursue such grant opportunities. In the meantime, Arroyo Grande and Oceano residents rolled up their sleeves to help.

In late April, Paulding led a team of 10 volunteers to partially clear some of the debris in the Arroyo Grande Creek by hand. He said that the task was long overdue. “We need sustained management and maintenance of our creeks with a vision of how to maintain them from a public safety standpoint and from an environmental protection standpoint,” Paulding said. ∆

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

LOCAL CLEANUP Oceano native Linda Austin believes that regularly clearing debris from the Arroyo Grande Creek will improve wildlife habitat and effectively prevent unnecessary flooding.

OVERTOPPED The levee that’s supposed to protect Oceano and its surrounding ag lands from the rising waters of Arroyo Grande Creek wasn’t designed to withstand the amount of runoff that came coursing through during this past winter’s storms.

BY ADRIAN VINCENT ROSAS

Pride prom

Anew prom’s coming to town for high school students, one that’s set to be both a night of dancing and a celebration of the LGBTQ-plus community.

“It’s all about gathering together with your community and dancing, or putting art together, or just making new friends,” Art and Soul founder Faith LaGrande said. “We want it to be a safe space for all students— whether they are LGBTQ-plus or not—to be together and happy.”

LaGrande worked with Gala Pride and Diversity Center volunteer Val Jones (they/ them) to coordinate the Pride Prom, taking place on May 20 in the San Luis Obispo High School gym from 7 to 10 p.m.

“It’s going to be fun—we are going to have things like a photo booth, craft tables, and even a makeshift bar making mocktails to give the event that extra style,” LeGrande said. “Art and Soul SLO is going to have this 15-foot rainbow arch that glows in the dark for people to take photos under as well.”

She said she feels that it’s important to have spaces where students can step away from the dancing if they feel overwhelmed.

Promote!

“It’s all for the students to enjoy, so if they aren’t feeling well or want to take a break from the lights and dancing, there will be things around the corner for them to decompress,” LaGrande said.

“Every student who wants to come and celebrate, dance, or even do both at the same time is more than welcome to,” Jones said with a laugh. “This prom is meant to be a safe space for everyone.”

Jones and LaGrande told New Times that they received immense support for the event throughout the county with companies like Jamba Juice and SloDoCo offering smoothies and doughnuts as snacks for the event.

“Sephora is offering limited slots for students to come in and get their makeup done for free before the prom,” Jones said. “It’s one of the ways of making this prom feel as much like an actual prom as it can be.”

They said that the high schoolers’ response thus far has been positive, and students from across the Central Coast have reached out to get involved.

“It’s incredible to see how involved the students have been with the whole planning and promotional process,” Jones said. “We are working the GSA [Gay Straight Alliance] and other clubs around the county with students from different schools putting up posters and helping sell tickets.”

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

Several of those students told New Times that an event like this has been in the works for a long time, and with the help of Jones and LaGrande, they’re finally able to bring the prom to life for students across two counties.

Jones emphasized how important it is for students to feel relaxed and open to just being themselves while at the event.

“It’s supposed to be more relaxed and fun, less expensive than your standard prom, and featuring a dress code that allows for students to dress however they want—whether that’s formally or super casual,” they said.

While the event does have an LGBTQ-plus focus, LaGrande and Jones told New Times that it’s open to all students who want to attend—regardless of whether they’re allies or they just want to hang out with their friends.

“It’s really been awesome to see this idea our club has had for years become a reality,” said SLO High School GSA Club Vice President Kyle, who requested only his first name be used. “It’s definitely not something we would have been able to do without their help.”

Jones said that students have gone above and beyond to help, citing students Lani and Bug who set up a carpool to get band students from northern Santa Barbara County up to the event. Jones and LaGrande hope that the prom will be a night to remember for those who matter the most—the students.

“We really wanted to integrate all the activities we have been organizing throughout the month into one night as one big celebration,” Jones said. “The response has been good, the schools are excited. Most importantly, the students are excited, and that’s what really matters at the end of the day.”

Fast fact

• The San Luis Obispo Health Agency announced that free COVID-19 tests will be available for at various spots throughout the county. “San Luis Obispo County residents who need COVID-19 tests may now pick up tests at no cost outside Public Health clinics,” officials said in a press release. For more information visit slopublichealth.org/ COVID19. ∆

Reach Staff Writer Adrian Vincent Rosas at arosas@ newtimesslo.com.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER This rainbow art piece will be set up for students to commemorate the night with by taking photos with it—like Art and Soul founder Faith LaGrande and vendor Ali Miller-Bean did recently.

COURTESY PHOTO BY ERIC MATTSON

BY TOM BORDONARO

Protect accountability

Keep the Board of Equalization in California

Accountability is an ideal that is severely missing in our country today. People need to be accountable for their actions, especially when it’s about the responsibility of government to serve the people. If you believe that government owes a higher duty of accountability to taxpayers, then you will share my opposition to a recently proposed amendment to the California Constitution.

There is a proposal moving through Sacramento right now that will destroy accountability and take away your right to vote for or against the people elected to oversee California’s property tax system. Getting rid of your elected members of the state Board of Equalization (BOE) is a bad idea and a big deal.

If voters pass Assembly Constitutional Amendment 11 (ACA 11), it would eliminate the elected members of the

I hope the city of San Luis Obispo is listening

Wow, am I impressed with the commentary and analysis of David Brodie and Allan Cooper (“Be better problem solvers,” May 4). This entire article just speaks to my heart and so many of the concerns I have about recent decisions by the city. I think every agency and organization the world over have this same problem of not analyzing the entire problem or the possible solutions.

I intend to make copies and send them to the council members, along with my comments. These two men echo my thoughts exactly. I hope the right people listen and take appropriate actions. Great job.

Sharon Roberts San Luis Obispo

Our elected leaders need to do more for the nation

Where is our FDR? With exception to the 22nd Amendment, where is a president so popular he or she will be reelected to the office of the president three times for a total of four terms?

Where is public employment for the masses? Is the contempt for the average American by our elected leaders so complete that the wealth of experience that the history of the 20th century has left us is beyond their grasp?

Having barely survived the COVID-19 era only to be met with bank collapses so large they surpass the balance of the very insurance program designed to save depositors (FDIC), the best our leaders can do is roll back SNAP food assistance, roll back child labor laws, roll back direct assistance, slavishly expand a preposterously large defense budget, assault Social Security (a Depression-era program designed to prevent seniors from surviving on tins of Alpo), force

Board of Equalization. This means that the constitutional protections of taxpayers for 144 years would be wiped away and replaced by another unelected, unaccountable, and untouchable state government bureaucracy. We are dealing with a significant matter here. The total assessed value of all California

reelected, the BOE has four elected members plus the state controller, an elected statewide constitutional officer.

Those who seek to eliminate accountability provided by elected BOE members, say that California is the only state with an elected tax board. Good for us and those who wrote the California State Constitution in 1879. Those early Californians understood that holding elected representatives accountable is much better than power in the hands of unaccountable state bureaucrats.

to positions of trust, assessors provide a valuable service to the public. In the same way, the elected representatives on the BOE report to you and they are held to a high standard of accountability for their decisions and actions.

properties is $7.1 trillion, resulting in nearly $80 billion in local property tax revenues for 2022. Assessing the value of most properties is done by locally elected county assessors, with the Board of Equalization providing the rules and oversight of those elected officials. In the same way that county assessors are

When you or other taxpayers have a property assessment question or a property tax problem, you deserve the best, most courteous, and timely help. Elected county assessors are often the first contact for taxpayers. Because of the checks and balances that come with being elected

Nearly all of us have experienced a government department that doesn’t work well—the Employment Development Department and Department of Motor Vehicles come to mind as examples of inefficient, costly, bureaucratic, and unaccountable government agencies. It is impossible to believe a bunch of career, civil service, untouchable bureaucrats are going to do a better job than the small and efficient group of five elected board members at the BOE. Besides, if you don’t like the way a BOE member is doing their job, you can vote them out in the next election. To me, that is accountability. ∆

SLO County Assessor Tom Bordonaro was first elected to his position in 2002. Send a response for publication to letters@ newtimesslo.com.

active duty soldiers to rely on SNAP benefits, and look away while subsidizing behemoth corporations such as Walmart by setting up internal offices to assist the working poor who stock their shelves to enroll in this country’s shrinking welfare programs. Is this the best they can do? A huge portion of our politicians are lawyers. Are we to say they are unaware of the period in which America’s alphabet agencies were created? Many of these agencies are they ones they migrate to immediately after serving in office. The only difference between the Great Depression and now is that we have no future. It is not “morning in America,” rather, it is well past sunset.

America has no more factories to provide the finished goods to sell around the world. Perhaps we shouldn’t. Perhaps we should walk away from all that we have known in the last 125 years and quit trying to resurrect it. Perhaps we should stop worshipping at the feet of capital and tax it instead. Perhaps we should use those proceeds to build the dwellings Americans need; perhaps we should use the proceeds to provide public dining facilities for both the rich and poor; perhaps we should use the proceeds to fund a public health care system that actually works; perhaps we should stop funding a war machine so lethal it could wipe out humanity at the touch of a button.

I believe this is what the adherents of what was at one time a cult describe as “beating swords into plowshares.” We have to do this if we are to survive as a nation. If not, we can’t say we weren’t warned.

Shanti Harris San Luis Obispo

Hold the Supreme Court to higher standards

Americans are losing faith in our Supreme Court, and it’s easy to see why.

The nine justices on the Supreme Court

are the only federal judges not bound by a code of ethics. It’s up to the justices to selfpolice on ethical issues, and they want to keep it that way.

That’s why nothing happened when Clarence Thomas didn’t recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases that could have directly implicated his wife. That’s why nothing happened when America found out Samuel Alito more than likely leaked a decision about reproductive health care to anti-abortion activists. And that’s why nothing happened when it was revealed that Chief Justice Roberts’ wife has earned millions of dollars recruiting for law firms with business before the Supreme Court.

There may be times when they or family members are permitted to do something, but it should be reviewed by an impartial committee to protect the rights of our country and our citizens.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Congress has a duty to act as a check on the Supreme Court and restore faith in our judicial system. It can do that by creating a code of ethics for the Supreme Court.

The highest court in the land should be held to the highest standard. It’s time to demand that Congress hold the Supreme Court accountable.

Eileen Lussier Nipomo

Those early Californians understood that holding elected representatives accountable is much better than power in the hands of unaccountable state bureaucrats.

A time to cast away

Ijust returned from Spain, where we spent four amazing nights in Barcelona. That city is renowned for its architecture, its Catalonian heritage, its cuisine, and its fantastic Mediterranean beach—but it was the Ciutat Vella (Old Town) that intrigued me most. We walked through its narrow, winding streets—largely unchanged since the Middle Ages—and it was easy to imagine the scene some seven centuries ago as these same cobblestone streets greeted the feet of our city’s namesake, San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, aka Saint Louis d’Anjou.

Louis had spent his entire adolescence in Barcelona, from 1289 to 1296—nearly a third of his short life. Not by choice: He was a captive of the King of Aragon, held there with his two brothers as ransom for the life of his father, Charles II, King of Naples, after his defeat and capture in Sicily by the Aragonese.

I often lead tours of Old Mission SLO, where I relate some of the stories embodied in our most famous local landmark. I always pause at the altar where an 18th century statue of Saint Louis holds an exalted position on the left, wearing his bishop’s mitre and extending his black-gloved hands as if he himself were conducting Mass.

Within the gaze of that life-like statue, at the opposite end of the Old Mission Annex, a portrait of the same Saint Louis hangs on the wall, staring back almost as a mirror image.

aside by Louis.

The painting includes one important detail that is easily overlooked: At the feet of the bishop is a barely visible crown, cast aside by Louis. By the time Louis was released from Barcelona in 1296, his elder brother had died of the plague. Upon his return to Naples, Louis could have been the Crown Prince of Naples and heir to all his father’s realms.

Instead, Louis took the choice offered by Ecclesiastes and “cast away” his crown, preferring to take the Franciscan vows of “poverty, obedience, and chastity” on Christmas Day 1296 in Rome. Only a few days later, Boniface VII consecrated him as Bishop of Toulouse.

Sadly, Louis died of a fever only a few months later. In that short time, he had devoted himself to feeding the hungry, serving the poor, and treating the sick. His Franciscan colleagues venerated their impoverished, suffering bishop for his dedicated service, and only two short decades later, Pope John XXII canonized Louis, and Junipero Serra conferred his name on the nascent Mission here in 1772.

How is any of this story from 700 years ago relevant to us today? Most of us are ambitious to some degree. We pursue a goal, whether it’s aspiring to greater wealth, power, or position—or, in the case of our former President Donald Trump, another four years in the White House.

fully committed to putting him there, too. Recent polls have Trump with twice the support of his nearest GOP competitor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Incredible as it may seem, a second Trump inauguration in January 2025 is well within the realm of possibility.

of American voters (and, even more importantly, the Electoral College) will deny him a second inauguration. I’m alarmed, however, at the prospect of another Jan. 6 insurrection, or worse, a wave of domestic terrorism on a scale never imagined before. Well-armed forces of white supremacists, “Christian” nationalists, and violent right-wing extremists could wreak havoc with another coordinated assault on our democratic institutions.

Surely it’s too much to ask that a narcissist like Donald Trump would cast away his delusional image as the nation’s savior, deserving of his ill-gotten wealth and celebrity—let alone lead a life of poverty. Nor would I expect any of us to disengage from this world, giving up all ambition, all aspiration, all determination to improve our own position in life merely to serve the poor, the hungry, and the sick.

As the ancient biblical writer advises, however, there is a time to keep and a time to cast away. On several occasions in my life, I’ve walked away from a position where I could have chosen instead to stay, to fight for my continued “right” to pursue some exalted objective that eluded me—but the better choice was to cast off and find a better way to resonate with the universe.

Let’s hope that our Republican friends and fellow Americans of all political persuasions find a way to cast away the spell and spectacle that surrounds our former president. But should the worst happen in November 2024, I may find a way back to Barcelona and take up permanent residence there, where I can once again listen for the echoes of that longago Franciscan saint whose remarkable reputation deserves to be better known in the city and county that bear his name. ∆

John Ashbaugh has already squandered any chance at an early canonization—but who knows? If only he were actually Catholic. Respond with a commentary for publication emailed to letters@newtimesslo.com.

The painting includes one important detail that is easily overlooked: At the feet of the bishop is a barely visible crown, cast

The most confusing plan for school renovation I’ve ever heard suddenly got more convoluted with a recent announcement about an anomaly.

What is an anomaly? Here’s the thing: Nobody really knows.

Ooh, mysterious.

It could be that there’s an earthquake fault running underneath Georgia Brown Elementary School in Paso Robles. Or it could be that the “anomalous feature” beneath the school is some geological formation that just looks a little strange. The rather vague descriptor is halting all forward movement to renovate the little school that could.

Could it be a body? How about an unexploded ordinance? Mastodon? Buried treasure? Time capsule? Most importantly though, is it dangerous?

According to Paso Robles Joint Unified School District Superintendent Curt Dubost: No? “There’s absolutely no indication that there’s any immediate danger,” he said.

What about non-immediate danger?

Like, in a couple of days or in the event of an earthquake. I guess we’ll have to wait for the Division of the State Architect to investigate this little mystery to get answers to our questions.

One thing’s for certain though: This throws “a huge curveball for us,” Dubost said. This little soil anomaly shoved all the students, teachers, and families at the school back into a limbo they thought they might be done with.

In 2021, the school district announced that it might close the beloved 80-year-old school for financial reasons and declining enrollment— which Dubost did not fail to mention in his recent interview with New Times.

“The smart decision financially is to close it,” he said. But, he acknowledged that Georgia Brown “isn’t Starbucks.” Whew! I’m glad he took note of that. However, in the aftermath of the recommendation, activists, families, students, and teachers pushed back, and some accused the district of being racist. The school houses a dual-immersion program in a predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood (and the district was starting to have discussions about an elective ethnic studies class at the high school and critical race theory … and you know how that ended … with ongoing talks about LGBTQ-plus issues and the occasional outburst about parent rights). So amid outcry, the school board came up with a new plan. And it was stellar. Are you ready?

I’m not. It’s so confusing. But here I go! One of the district’s elementary schools— Glen Speck—was already under construction. Its students were attending class at a temporary school site in portable classrooms. Georgia Brown is in dire need of renovation. One proposal involved moving Georgia Brown students into Glen Speck’s renovated campus

permanently while Glen Speck students continued waiting out construction on a second campus that they would then move to. Another proposal involved moving Glen Speck students back to Glen Speck, Georgia Brown students into the temporary campus, and then once Georgia Brown construction was finished, move Georgia Brown students to Glen Speck and Glen Speck students to Georgia Brown. And yet a third proposed moving Glen Speck back to Glen Speck permanently, while Georgia Brown moved into the temporary campus while their school was renovated.

Whew! I can’t really remember where I was at the beginning of that paragraph, but now, throw the whole mess out the window. Forget about it! As Dubost put it, Georgia Brown’s fate is back at “square one.”

And I’m sure everyone’s thinking what school board member Jim Cogan said: “Are you kidding me?”

That was my reaction to the ridiculous dog park debate in Pismo Beach, where the Pismo Beach Planning Commission rejected its own city’s proposal to put a dog park in Spyglass Park. In fact, the Pismo Beach City Council appealed the decision. But then got so much pushback that it dropped the appeal.

What?

Dog Parkgate has been thriving in Pismo Beach for a long time.

“We’ve been looking for options and every time we propose something, it’s been very hard to make it work,” Mayor Ed Waage said.

Current Councilmember Marcia Guthrie recalled her time on the Parks, Recreation,

and Beautification Commission in 2010 while facing a different failed dog park proposal. They did all the right things, she said, and recommended a location along Shell Beach Road to the city, which determined that it didn’t get enough public input to make moves on the project. Great. So, too much public input—no park. Too little public input—no park. Sounds a little Golidlocksy.

Meanwhile, the city continues to ticket dog owners with off-leash pets running around local parks, Guthrie said, while refusing to give those canines a spot to run free.

It’s hard to make something work when two governing bodies in the same city can’t agree on the definition of what works.

But definitions are hard, you know? Let’s take the work “activism,” for example. What is an activist? If you asked Paso school board member Dorian Baker—no activism is good activism!

She was all set to ban seniors from sporting activism decorations on their grad caps at the upcoming Paso Robles High School graduation. After a couple of years of studentled activism and 1,000 student signatures, the district finally allowed them to express themselves on those caps.

And the irony of Baker’s push wasn’t lost on Cogan: “The entire reason we are here is that these students showed up and were activists about a cause they believed in.” ∆

The Shredder is an activist against everything. No one is safe. Send targets to shredder@ newtimesslo.com.

LOSE 2-4 INCHES OF STUBBORN FAT IN AS LITTLE AS 3 WEEKS

LIPO LASER CAN SAFELY SHRINK FAT CELLS IN:

• Stomach

• Thighs

• Hips

• Buttocks

HOW

• Arms

• Chin

• Back

• Love Handles

DOES IT WORK?

Laser energy safely penetrates and targets excess skin and fat cells. After a few minutes, pores form on the fat cell surface releasing water, sugar, and free fatty acids into the circulatory system to diminish fat cells.

WHO CAN USE IT?

Lipo Laser is perfect for ALL body types when combined with appropriate levels of exercise and a healthy balanced diet and lifestyle.

Hot Dates

SPRING SHOWCASE

The Cal Poly Music Department will hold its Arab Music Ensemble Spring Concert at the Spanos Theatre in San Luis Obispo on Saturday, May 27, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to the performance are available in advance at pacslo.org and range between $10 to $20. The concert is described as appropriate for attendees ages 5 and older. Spanos Theatre is located at 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

—Caleb Wiseblood

ARTS

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

THE CEMETERY CLUB Presented by By The Sea Productions. Visit site for tickets and more info. Through May 28 my805tix. com. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.

CENTRAL COAST ARTISTS COLLECTIVE

Art Center Morro Bay is pleased to host this very special juried exhibit. May 20 -June 26 Free. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

COASTAL WINE AND PAINT PARTY Listen to music while enjoying an afternoon of creativity, sipping, and mingling. Event lasts up to 2 hours. The party includes a complimentary glass of wine and canvas with materials. Saturdays, 12-2 p.m. $55. 805-394-5560. coastalwineandpaint.com. Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, 824 Main St., Cambria.

COSTA GALLERY SHOWCASES Features works by Ellen Jewett as well as 20 other local artists, and artists from southern and northern California. Jewett’s work is also on display at Nautical Bean in Laguna shopping center during February. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. 559-7999632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.

FINE ART ACRYLIC PAINTINGS BY HEMA

SUKUMAR California’s colorful landscapes from the water’s edge to mountaintops are a constant source of Sukumar’s artistic inspirations. Mondays, Tuesdays, ThursdaysSundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through May 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

FINE ART WATERCOLORS BY ARDELLA

SWANBERG Ardella Swanberg has painted

her entire life. Her first awards for her art were received during high school in Garden Grove, and her travels and adventures are reflected in her paintings of various locales.

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through May 29 Free. 805-7721068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No artistic experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. 805772-9095. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

HAND MADE LEATHER AND FIBER ART BY KRISTINA ALBION Kristina Albion has been inspired to create art, bags, wearable art, and home decor using cloth, fiber, stone, leather, paint, and more. Her pieces showcase her talents in many media. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. through May 29 Free. 805-772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare. com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

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

MORRO BAY ART IN THE PARK: MAY This event was established in 1955 and is in its 68th annual year. 100 fine artists from all over California attend this event. May 27 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and May 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Morro Bay City Park, Corner of Morro Bay Blvd. and Harbor St., Morro Bay.

MOSAIC TRIVET WORKSHOP During this workshop, you will learn how to design and create a mosaic trivet. You will learn how to select materials, lay out a pleasing

pattern, and adhere the tiles to the trivet base. You will learn how to properly grout and seal your project. ongoing, 1-4 p.m. $60. 805-772-2504. artcentermorrobay. org/index.php/workshops/. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

THE PLEIN AIR TEAM Acrylic artist, Nancy Lynn, and husband, watercolorist, Robert Fleming, have an ongoing show of originals and giclee prints of Morro Bay and local birds. ongoing 805-772-9955. Seven Sisters Gallery, 601 Embarcadero Ste. 8, Morro Bay, sevensistersgalleryca.com.

SILK DYED SCARVES WORKSHOP

Discover how to create hand-marbled silk scarves with Sharon Gellerman. Learn to create intricate patterns and vibrant colors by layering colorful dyes onto a solution of water and cellulose. May 20 1-4 p.m. $75. 805-772-2504. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay, artcentermorrobay.org.

SLOFUNNY COMEDY GYM The SLOFunny Comedy Gym is a monthly showcase for local, SLO County-based comedians. There is always a professional touring host and headliner, in addition to 8 to 10 local comedians. May 28, 7-9 p.m. $15. 805-5343129. facebook.com/slofunny. Central Coast Pizza, 1050 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos.

SLOFUNNY COMEDY SHOW Hosted by comedian and sportscaster Jonny Loquasto. Featuring Ellen Doyle, Cari Kabinoff, Leo Flowers, and headliner Michael Malone. May 27 6:30-8:10 p.m. $30. 805-534-3129. facebook.com/slofunny. Morro Bay Vet’s Hall, 209 Surf St., Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

CITY AND COUNTRY

An exciting collection of watercolor and oil paintings by Frank Eber and Ken Christensen. Through June 3 Free. 805-238-9800. studiosonthepark.org/ events/city-and-country/. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles.

DEPRISE BRESCIA ART GALLERY:

OPEN DAILY Features a large selection

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

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

INTRO TO CERAMIC HAND BUILDING In this class, students will learn how to create functional and sculptural pottery using traditional hand-building techniques such as pinching, coiling, slab construction, and surface decoration. This class is open to adults of all ages and abilities. Tuesdays, 6-8 p.m. through June 6 $260. 805-4606803. thepotteryatascadero.com. The Pottery, 5983 Entrada Ave., Atascadero.

INTRO TO POTTERY WHEEL THROWING

This six-class series is a beginner-level class designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of pottery on the wheel. In this class, students will learn the basic techniques of centering, pulling, shaping, trimming, and glazing clay. Clay, glaze, and firing included Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. through June 8 $260. 805-460-6803. thepotteryatascadero.com. The Pottery, 5983 Entrada Ave., Atascadero.

LET’S MAKE LEAVES Create your own leaf using one layer of fused glass overlapping to add dimension. Learn how to cut glass to a pattern or design with free form shapes. Pick-up within the week. May 20, 10 a.m.-noon $100. 805-464-2633. glassheadstudio.com. Glasshead Studio, 8793 Plata Lane, Suite H, Atascadero.

MOSAIC SEAHORSE WORKSHOP Evoke the magic of the ocean with this beautiful wooden seahorse mosaic project. This is a two-day workshop. The first day we will design and glue, the second day we will grout. All materials included. May 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and May 28, 12-1 p.m. $125. 805464-2633. glassheadstudio.com. Glasshead Studio, 8793 Plata Lane, Suite H, Atascadero.

PAINT AND SIP With a ticket purchase

you will receive all your painting materials, plus a wine flight with a charcuterie plate. May 20 10 a.m.-noon $68. 805-226-2600. artsocial805.com.

Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery, 2610 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles.

STUDIOS ON THE PARK: CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS Check site for a variety of classes and workshops offered. ongoing studiosonthepark.org. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles, 805-238-9800.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

artcentralslo.com/gallery/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

THE BOOK OF MORMON

The New York Times called it “the best musical of this century.” The Washington Post wrote, “It is the kind of evening that restores your faith in musicals.” And Entertainment Weekly wrote, “Grade A: the funniest musical of all time.” May 18 7:30-10 p.m. and May 19 7:30-10 p.m. $75-$125. 805-756-6556. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, pacslo.org.

ACTOR’S EDGE: ACTING CLASSES

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

ALL LEVELS POTTERY CLASSES Anam

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

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

ART CLASS FOR TEENS After-school art class specifically for teens ages 13-18. Drawing and painting skills, color theory, composition, perspective, expressing emotion through images, negative space, bookmaking, collages, mixed media, paper mache, etc. Sign up week-byweek. Tuesdays. through June 27 $25. 702-335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo.

ART EXHIBIT: LUMINOUS EXPRESSIONS

An exhibit of pastel paintings by members of the California Central Coast Pastel Society (3CPS). Meet the artists during a reception on May 6 at 3 p.m. Through July 3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 805-747-4200.

ART EXPLORATIONS FOR TEENS WITH SPENCER COLLINS In this class series, students learn about drawing and acrylic painting. Each class students will recreate a famous piece of art from history. Topics include: Joan Miro, Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo, and Piet Mondrian. Ages 11-17. Every other Thursday, 3:304:30 p.m. through June 22 4 classes for $100 or 1 class for $30. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

ARTIST RIKI SCHUMACHER AT ART

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

CAL POLY STUDENT VOCAL RECITAL A free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student vocalists. May 25, 7:30 p.m. Free. 805-756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/ calendar/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, 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 805-8355893. hmcruceceramics.com/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

COMEDY NIGHT Professional comedy show featuring local and touring comics. Hosted by Aidan Candelario. Third Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m. $5. 805-540-8300. Bang the Drum Brewery, 1150 Laurel Lane, suite 130, San Luis Obispo, bangthedrumbrewery.com.

CUESTA COLLEGE STUDENT ANNUAL ART

EXHIBITION A juried exhibition celebrating the talent and creativity of Cuesta students featuring ceramics, drawing, graphic design, digital art, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture. Juror was Dane Goodman. Mondays-Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through May 18 Free. 805-546-3202. cuesta. edu. Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

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

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

IMPROV COMEDY SHOW Enjoy live, improvised comedy shows that utilize audience suggestions, wine and beer, and food from Wicked Garden in a casual setting. Thursdays, noon through May 26 $10. 805-858-8255. centralcoastcomedytheater.com/shows.

SLO Wine and Beer Company, 3536 S. Higuera St., suite 250, San Luis Obispo.

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.

INTRO TO OIL PAINTING WITH SPENCER COLLINS The perfect class for those wanting to try oil painting for the first time. Guests discuss color theory, layering paint, and how to use various media. For ages 16 and over. Thursdays, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $30 per class or $100 for 4 classes. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY AND ART

Owen and Kyoko Hunt from Kyoto, Japan offer classes for Japanese calligraphy (Fridays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.), a Japanese art called “haiga” (Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m.) and more at Nesting Hawk Ranch. Fridays $45. 702-335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo.

KIDS ART CLASS: PORTRAITS FOR KIDS

WITH ZOE WILLIAMSON Learn to love drawing faces. Each class, we will look at a famous artist, a new style of art, and practice drawing different expressions using simple proportions. Learn new techniques and build confidence. For kids ages 7 and older. Tuesdays, 3:30-5 p.m. through June 13 $300 for 10 Classes. 805747-4200. artcentralslo.com/workshopsevents/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

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.

MARELA ZACARÍAS: STORYTELLING

Through July 7 San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, 543-8562, sloma.org/.

ODDFELLOWS OPEN MIC Bring your music, improv, standup, magic, and dance talents. Each act gets five minutes. Audience votes for favorite. Third Saturday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Free. 805-234-0456. Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo.

OPEN MIC COMEDY Sign-ups at 6:30 p.m.

Hosted by Aidan Candelario. Mondays, 7-9 p.m. Free. 805-540-8300. saintsbarrel. com/event-calendar. Saints Barrel Wine Bar, 1021 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.

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

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 CLASS MONDAYS Nesting

Hawk Ranch offers three separate pottery classes every Monday, for ages 5-7 (9-10 a.m.), ages 8 and older (10:30 a.m.-noon), and throwing classes ages for ages 14 and older (1-2:30 p.m.). Mondays. through June 26 $40-$50. 702-335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, 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 SECOND CITY SWIPES RIGHT: AN

INCOMPLETE GUIDE TO THE ULTIMATE

COFFEE SHOP CURATION

Ascendo Coffee in San Luis Obispo presents Wild Art, an art showcase and auction to benefit Outside Now, on Saturday, May 20, from 6 to 9 p.m. The showcase includes several artworks inspired by the natural world, created by artists of all ages, which will be auctioned off, including this piece by Kolie Swavely. Admission to attend the event is free. Call (805) 345-2155 for more details. Ascendo Coffee is located at 311 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo. —C.W.

$20. Fridays, 10 a.m.-noon $40. anamcre. com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SLO COMEDY UNDERGROUND OPEN MIC NIGHT Enjoy a night of laughs provided by the local SLO Comedy Community. It’s open mic night, so anyone can perform and “you never know what you’ll see.” Tuesdays, 8 p.m. Free. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, 805-548-2337, libertinebrewing.com.

SLO DRAWZ: OPEN FIGURE DRAWING

GROUP Improve your drawing skills while also building a community of supportive creatives with live models. This is not a guided class, please bring your own materials. To sign up, email chantellegoldthwaite@gmail.com. Every other Thursday, 5-7 p.m. through Dec. 31 $20 per session; or $60 for a month pass. 805-747-4200. instagram.com/slodrawz/. Art

Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. SPRING ART AND CRAFT FAIR Arts, crafts, and food vendors wanted. May 19 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and May 20 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $80 per booth space. 805-441-1405. facebook.com/ post66slo. Veteran’s Memorial Building, 801 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

vbmack@charter.net Wednesdays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $35. 805-747-4200. artcentralslo. com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. WILD ART! OPENING AND SILENT ONLINE AUCTION A benefit for Outside Now. Event features art pieces inspired by the natural world and created by artists of all ages. May 20 6-9 p.m. Free event. 805-541-9900. outsidenow.org. Ascendo Coffee, 311 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo. SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BENCH BASICS: RIVET RING

WORKSHOP Learn how to bend, form, texture and rivet metal to create a stunning sterling silver or brass rivet-ring. May 19 10 a.m.-noon $75. 805-752-1188. theavilagallery.com/classes/. Studio Avila, 66 Landing Passage, Avila Beach.

EMBROIDERERS GUILD OF AMERICA The Bishop’s Peak Chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America invites you to attend its monthly meeting. For more information, follow on Facebook or visit the EGA website. Third Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Nov. 18 Free. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach, 805-773-4832.

put to the test when he goes head-tohead with his intellectual equal, criminal mastermind Professor Moriarty. After repeated attempts on his life, Holmes is rejoined by his recently married friend Dr. Watson and the two attempt to thwart the Professor’s plans Saturdays, 2-4 p.m. and Wednesdays-Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. through May 20 $30-$36. 805-489-2499. americanmelodrama.com. Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

STRAWBERRIES THROUGH GROVER

BEACH CELEBRATION Features music, food, drink (including beer garden), local vendors, dance performances, giveaways, and free yoga. May 20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Grover Beach Amtrak Station Parking Lot, 120 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach, 800-872-8745.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

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

Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., Los Osos.

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

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/.

they can breathe Him in.” May 19 4 p.m. and May 21 , 4-10 a.m. $125-$225 based on accommodation style. 805-238-3582. facebook.com/OutsiderCamp. Granite Ridge Christian Camp, 4850 Coyote Creek Lane, Creston.

MORRO BAY MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

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

Includes teachings, silent sitting, walking meditation, time in nature, vegetarian meals, restorative yoga, and more. May 19 6-7:30 p.m. and May 20 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Offered on a donation basis. 805-4407438. awakeningmeditationcenter.org/. Awakening Meditation and Yoga Center, 1310 Van Beurden Dr. Ste. 102, Los Osos.

SHAMANIC MORNING RITUALS FOR

VITALITY Guests are guided into intentional movement, laughter, earthing practices, and gratitude rituals while connecting with nature and the sacred Morro Bay rock. May 19, 8:30-9:30 a.m. my805tix.com. Beach Access Parking Lot, 102 Atascadero Road, Morro Bay.

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

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

TAI CHI AND QI GONG: ZEN IN MOTION

Small group classes with 2019 Tai Chi Instructor of the Year. Call for time and days. Learn the Shaolin Water Style and 5 Animals Qi Gong. Beginners welcomed. Mondays, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call for price details. 805-7017397. charvetmartialarts.com. Morro Bay Martial Arts, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

TAI CHI CHUN CERTIFICATION

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

DATE NIGHT It’s love at first laugh with The Second City. Spend a naughty 90 minutes with a cast of comedians as they (consensually) annihilate everything that turns us on—and off—about love, dating, relationships, and everything else in-between the sheets. May 25 7:30-9 p.m. $32-$55. 805-756-6556. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, pacslo.org.

SENIOR CLAY CLASS Offered to the senior community as an outlet to explore the beauty of clay. For ages 60 and over. Caretakers welcome for an additional

TINY POTTERS: WISE ONES AND WEE ONES PAINT For ages 4 to 6. Kids have the option to paint animals and other subjects. Tuesdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. $30. anamcre. com/booking. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING WATERCOLOR This is a watercolor class designed to let you jump in and try out this engaging medium through experimentation. It’s designed for beginners and those with watercolor experience who wish to expand their knowledge of painting in watercolors. To enroll please contact Mack via email:

THE PROM Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. Captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever. May 25 7-9 p.m., May 26 , 7-9 p.m. and May 27 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. $10-$15. 805-489-9444. clarkcenter. org/shows/aghs-theater-company-theprom/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande. SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE FINAL PROBLEM Sherlock Holmes’ skills are

Cambria Connection, 1069 Main St., Cambria, (805) 927-1654.

GENTLE YOGA AT ST. BEN’S Instructor: Seanna. Must RSVP to Maureen by phone or emailing naseema6@sbcglobal.net to determine space available. Must bring a yoga mat, water, blanket, or any other props you may need. Fridays, 9-10 a.m. through May 26 $10-$15 donation per person. 805441-7262. stbenslososos.org. St. Benedict’s Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln., Los Osos.

JUST BREATHE: WOMEN’S RETREAT Mission is: “to give women a place to feel the presence of God, in a space where

With the 2019 Tai Chi Instructor of the year. Ongoing courses. ongoing Call for price. 805-701-7397. charvetmartialarts.com. Grateful Body, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

TAI CHI CHUN/ QI GONG BASICS Learn the foundation of Qi Gong, the rooting of breathing, and Shaolin Tai Chi. TuesdaysThursdays Call for details. 805-701-7397. charvetmartialarts.com. Grateful Body, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

WATERFRONT MARKET 2023

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND EVENT The wait is finally over. The Waterfront Market is back in Morro Bay for its sixth year. May 27 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and May 28, 10 a.m.-5

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 20

FILE COURTESY IMAGE BY KOLIE SWAVELY

The Mighty Cash Cats (Johnny Cash Tribute)

SATURDAY, MAY 20 Flower City Ballroom, Lompoc

SLOFunny Comedy Show

SATURDAY, MAY 27

Veteran’s Building, Morro Bay

SUNDAY, MAY 28 Pismo Beach Veterans’ Hall

Yoga /Hike to the Lighthouse

SUNDAY, MAY 21 Point San Luis Lighthouse, Avila Beach

Symphony of the Vines: Baroque Jubilation

SUNDAY, MAY 28 Mission San Miguel Arcángel

Community Chorale: Fascinatin’ Rhythms

SUNDAY, MAY 21 Community Presbyterian Church Cambria

SLOFunny Comedy Gym Monthly Showcase

SUNDAY, MAY 28 Central Coast Pizza, Los Osos

Women Making Waves: Breaking Waves of Wellness

SATURDAY, MAY 27 Magee Park, Carlsbad

UnPaquito Mas Productions: Laugh Therapy Stand-Up Comedy

WEDNESDAY, MAY 31 Maverick Saloon, Santa Ynez

Viva La Cerveza: SLO Beer & Taco Festival

SATURDAY, MAY 27 Madonna Meadows, SLO

Vocal Arts Ensemble: Welcome to Summer Concert Trilogy, Nipomo: THURSDAY, JUNE 1 CPAC, Cuesta: SATURDAY, JUNE 3

Kathryn Loomis & Co. and SLO High School Honor Jazz Band

Hot Dates

p.m. Free. 805-402-9437. Giovanni’s Fish Market, 1001 Front St., Morro Bay.

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

YOGA IN LOS OSOS Feel better in body, mind, and spirit. Attendees gather in a small group and move through asana and breathing practices that enhance focus of the mind, calm their hearts, and relax their bodies. Mondays, 5:30-6:45 p.m. through May 29 $20 drop in or discount for the full series.. 707-266-8945. AthaSomatics.org. Los Osos, Townwide, Los Osos.

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

LAKE FEST AND CHILDREN’S DAY AT THE PARK Friends of Atascadero Lake and The Link Family Resource Center work together to combine the 2023 Atascadero Lakefest and Children’s Day in the Park. The event provides a day of fun, food, and entertainment offering family resource information and many free activities. May 20 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free admission. Atascadero Lake Park, 9305 Pismo Ave., Atascadero.

NAR-ANON: FRIDAY MEETINGS A meeting for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction of a loved one. Fridays, 12-1 p.m. Free. 805441-2164. North County Connection, 8600 Atascadero Ave., Atascadero.

SMALL GROUP HEALING BREATHWORK

SESSION If you are looking to make a shift or seeking insight on the path ahead, Breathwork is a powerful tool.

May 18 6-7 p.m. $36. monicagalli.org/ breathwork/. Dharma Yoga Loft, 1329 Spring Street, Paso Robles, 805-434-1924.

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

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

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

Mondays, Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. $62. 805-470-3360. Colony Park Community Center, 5599 Traffic Way, Atascadero.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

BARS AND BOUNCE CLINIC Build whole-body strength swinging on bars and bouncing on trampolines. May 20, 1-3 p.m. $25 for first child; $10 per additional sibling. 805-547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com/events.

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

BATS OF CALIFORNIA’S CENTRAL

COAST WITH BILL HAAS Bill Haas will present a lecture on Bats of California’s Central Coast. The lecture will be followed by a bat walk, entailing less than two miles of walking (1 mile out and back to our starting point). Be advised the terrain will be flat/gently sloped. May 27, 7-8 & 8:30-10 p.m. $5-$20. 805-541-1400. slobg. org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., 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 or older. 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, 5:30-6:30 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.

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 MICROCHIP CLINICS In honor of National Chip Your Pet Month, Woods Humane Society is offering free Microchip Clinics at Woods SLO. Fridays, 2-4 p.m. through May 26 Free. 805-543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org. Woods Humane Society, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo.

GARDEN PARTY One Cool Earth will be hosting this Garden Party, which will include children’s activities, live music, food, drinks, and a raffle to highlight local businesses. May 20 4-7 p.m. Free. 805-242-6301. onecoolearth.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

MESSAGES FROM HEAVEN WITH MEDIUM LEANNE THOMAS Leanne delivers Messages From Heaven to audience members in a gallery-style group reading. All proceeds benefit local nonprofit Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary. Leanne is known as Silicon Valley’s Medium and has recently moved to the Central Coast where she’s received rave reviews. May 21 , 2-4 p.m. $50. 805704-7327. eventbrite.com. San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St., 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.

Q YOUTH GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) This is a social support group for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth between the ages of 11-18. Each week the group explores personal, cultural, and social identity. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

SCIENCE EXPLORATIONS AT SLO

BOTANICAL GARDENS Join the Morro Bay National Estuary Program to learn about estuary and watershed research. This free event is open to the public and will highlight talks given by various scientists in California and the Estuary Program. Register online. May 25, 5-7:30 p.m. Free. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, 8055411400.

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.

TRANS* YOUTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP

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

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

TUTOR TRAINING Literacy for Life needs community members in SLO County

to become volunteer tutors. Make a difference in someone’s life by helping them learn or improve their basic English language skills. Every other Saturday, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through May 20 Free. 805541-4219. literacyforlifeslo.org. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

UNLOCK YOUR SUCCESS CODE: AN

INTRO TO HUMAN DESIGN Paden Hughes is an author, speaker, and coach who is obsessed (in a good way) with supporting all humans, but mainly entrepreneurs and CEO’s to find their zone of genius and unlock their unique and very specific codes for success. May 19, 4 p.m. my805tix.com. Gymnazo, 720 Aerovista Plaza, suite C, San Luis Obispo. YOGA ON THE TERRACE Resident yogi, Cheryl of Waking Fields Yoga, channels the natural healing energy of the garden into her weekly class on the terrace of SLOBG. Please bring a mat, towel, water, and any supports you may need. May 20, 9-10 a.m. and May 27 9-10 a.m. $10-$12. 805-541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY AVILA BEACH PARTY Features games, music, food, drinks, and more. May 27 1-7 p.m. and May 28 1-7 p.m. Free. 805-5954000. Avila Beach Golf Resort, 6464 Ana Bay Rd., Avila Beach.

CELEBRATION FOR BETH CURRIER: 40 YEARS OF SERVICE

A petting zoo and horseback riding will be offered. Young children must bring bike helmets and wear hard sole shoes if planning to ride a horse. Call for more information. May 20 1-3 p.m. 820-899-1847. Rancho De Los Animales, 2756 Green Place, Arroyo Grande, ranchodelosanimales.org.

CENTRAL COAST CACTUS AND SUCCULENT SOCIETY ANNUAL SHOW

AND SALE

The show features hundreds of cacti/succulents. On Sunday afternoon, there will be an auction of show-quality plants that encourages lively bidding. May 27 10 a.m. and May 28 , 10 p.m. Free. centralcoastcactus.org/home/showand-sale/. Nipomo High School, 525 N Thompson Ave, Nipomo.

DANA’S SUNDAY SPEAKER: GOV.

PACHEO’S 1875 MEMORIAL DAY SPEECH

Live reenactment by Jaime Avila of Gov. Pacheo’s 1875 Memorial Day Speech. May 28 1 p.m. Free to $8. 805-929-5679. DANA Adobe Cultural Center, 671 S. Oakglen Ave., Nipomo, danaadobe.org.

HOW TO ADU WORKSHOPS FOR ARROYO GRANDE HOMEOWNERS Join the nonprofit Smart Share Housing Solutions and AG Planning staff and learn about design, permitting, finance, and construction of ADUs at these free workshops. RSVP not required. May 18, 4:30-6 & 6:30-7:30 p.m. and May 24 10:30-11:30 a.m. Free. 805-2155474. smartsharehousingsolutions.org/agadu-thow. Arroyo Grande Council Chamber, 215 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande.

SCLERODERMA SUPPORT GROUP Welcoming to all who live with scleroderma: patients, family, caregivers, etc. Learn and share in a safe, caring space. For more info, call. May 20 11:30-1 a.m. Free. 805-4592362. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 959 Valley Rd., Arroyo Grande.

YOGA / HIKE TO THE LIGHTHOUSE Hike to the Point San Luis Lighthouse for a one-of-a-kind outdoor yoga session led by certified yoga instructor Jennifer Anderson (Intent with Jen). May 21 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

FOOD & DRINK

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY MORRO BAY MAIN STREET FARMERS MARKET Get fresh and veggies, fruit, baked goods, sweets, and handmade

FOOD & DRINK continued page 22

Hot Dates

6-9 p.m. California Coast Beer Company, 1346 Railroad St., Paso Robles, 805-369-2347, calcoastbeer.com/.

SŌLEFFECT AT THE POUR HOUSE A six-piece band from the Central Coast. Enjoy upbeat originals and covers. May 19 7-10 p.m. 805-296-3712. The Pour House, 525 Pine St., Paso Robles, pasobrewing.com.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

2023 SPRING FOLK-N-SOAK MUSIC/HOT SPRINGS/YOGA/ CAMPING FESTIVAL Festivalgoers will be able to soak in 100 degree mineral water and camp out under the stars, enjoying the music from the pool at the hot springs. May 19 -21 my805tix. com. Franklin Hot Springs, 3015 Creston Rd., Paso Robles.

CAL POLY ARAB MUSIC ENSEMBLE SPRING CONCERT Art, folk, and popular music from Arab society, as well as selected seminal pieces from the historically interconnected areas of Southwest Asia and North Africa. Dancers and critically acclaimed, and guest artists will be featured. May 27 7:30 p.m. $20 general, $10 students. 805-756-4849. pacslo.org. Spanos Theatre, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY SPRING JAZZ COMBOS HANG Come hang with the Cal Poly Jazz Combos in the UU Plaza for its final concert of the 2022-23 season. Performances by groups from the Cal Poly Jazz Studies program. May 19, 7:30 p.m. Free. 805-756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/. CalPoly University Union, 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY SPRING JAZZ CONCERT The Cal Poly Jazz Program’s season finale. The concert will feature Cal Poly’s Jazz Ensemble and Vocal Jazz Ensemble (MOSAIC). MOSAIC will perform works from its soon-to-be released album. May 26, 7:30 p.m. $15 and $20 general, $10 students and Jazz Federation members. 805756-4849. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/jazz/. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY STUDENT PIANO RECITAL A free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student pianists. May 23 7:30 p.m. Free. 805-756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CAL POLY WIND BANDS’ SPRING CONCERT: ‘PINES’ Composers featured on the Cal Poly Wind Ensemble and Wind Orchestra’s program include Viet Cuong and Karel Husa. May 20, 7:30 p.m. $15 and $20 general; $10 students. 805-756-4849. pacslo.org. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

EASTON EVERETT Easton Everett plays guitar-woven indie music that has an authentic feel and is easy to listen to, but also surprises. May 27, 5-8 p.m. Free. eastoneverett.com/. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, 805-548-2337.

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

LIVE MUSIC AT RAGTAG WINE CO. Visit Ragtag Wine Co.’s downtown tasting room to enjoy tunes from favorite local musicians. Wine available by the tasting flight, glass, or bottle. Thursdays-Saturdays, 6-9 p.m. Free. 805-439-0774. ragtagwineco.com/visit. Enjoy live music by local favorites. Wine available by the flight, glass, or bottle. ThursdaysSaturdays, 6-9 p.m. Ragtag Wine Co., 779 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, 805-439-0774, ragtagwineco.com.

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. 805-544-2100. Bon Temps Creole Cafe, 1819 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, bontempscreolecafe.com/index.htm.

MAPACHE May 19 7-10 p.m. $23. slobrew.com. SLO Brew Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, 805-543-1843.

OPEN MIC NIGHT IN THE TASTING ROOM Kelsey Rae hosts this open mic event for music and comedy in the tasting room. Fourth Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Free show. 805-721-6878. SLO

Cider, 3419 Roberto Ct., Suite C, San Luis Obispo.

SPRING CONCERT SERIES Bring the family, friends, or come by yourself to enjoy an afternoon in the historical and beautiful Jack House Gardens. Bring a chair, a picnic, and enjoy games, dancing, and live music by local bands. Please no pets or alcoholic beverages. Every other Saturday, 2-4 p.m. and Every other Saturday, 2-4 p.m. through May 20 Free. slocity.org/ jackhouse. The Jack House, 536 Marsh St., 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

KARAOKE SATURDAYS Take advantage of karaoke every Saturday. Saturdays, 3-7 p.m. 805-723-5550. The Central Grill, 545 Orchard Road, Nipomo.

KARAOKE WEDNESDAYS Take advantage of karaoke every Wednesday evening. Wednesdays, 5-8 p.m. Rancho Nipomo BBQ, 108 Cuyama Ln., Nipomo, 805-925-3500.

KATHRYN LOOMIS & CO. AND SLO HIGH SCHOOL HONOR

JAZZ BAND Calling all jazz lovers. Don’t miss the stunning vocals of Kathryn Loomis & Co. at Pismo Vets Hall. Her classic approach and experience with the Great American Songbook will transport you to a bygone era of jazz. May 28 , 1-4 p.m.

$10 for members; $15 for non-members. 805-937-8402. Pismo Beach Veterans Memorial Hall, 780 Bello St., Pismo Beach.

LET’S HANG ON! America’s preeminent Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons tribute group. May 20 7:30-10 p.m. $48-$58. 805489-9444. clarkcenter.org/shows/lets-hang-on/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SEVENTH ANNUAL CENTRAL COAST UKULELE FESTIVAL

Bring your ukulele and play along. Local groups performing. Food and beverage available. May 20, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission. 805-345-5579. Heritage Square Park, 205 Nelson St., Arroyo Grande. ∆

Arts

Local author Jill Thayer’s new book celebrates Central Coast hiking trails

The Oceano dunes, Big Sur, and other locales along the Central Coast are highlighted in a new book, Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment Inspired by the California Central Coast, by local author and photographer Jill Thayer. The book was released by Archway Publishing in late April.

In press materials, the book is described as a visual narrative in which Thayer examines her favorite trails through her own photography and explains why these particular settings are her “go-to for balance, reflection, and a bit of exercise.”

“The beauty of our region is the result of care and advocacy in land conservation and sustainability of the environment,” Thayer said in press materials. “These sacred spaces bring peace and clarity. They resonate in the mind and speak to the soul.”

In an excerpt from the book, Thayer described her trail adventures as sojourns that “quiet my mind, inspire my spirit, and broaden my understanding of the world and my relationship to it.”

Thayer described her process of developing the book as “cathartic, introspective, and fulfilling.”

“The role of photography throughout my journey allowed me to capture the beauty of the region, reflect on my experiences, and observe the healing power of nature and its enlightenment,” Thayer stated in her book. “These treks helped me realize the majestic wonder of our environment, appreciate the stewardship of the land, and awaken my presence in the moment.”

Sojourns: 100 Trails of Enlightenment

Inspired by the California Central Coast is currently available in hardcover and softcover editions through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers. Visit archwaypublishing.com for more details on the book.

To find out more about Thayer and her work as a writer, historian, educator, artist, curator, and podcaster, visit jillthayer.com.

Studio Avila covers jewelry basics in upcoming rivet ring workshop

On Friday, May 19, Studio Avila in Avila Beach will hold a rivet ring-making workshop, from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants will create their own silver or brass rivet ring during the class, which will cover some basic techniques and approaches to jewelry design.

Admission to attend the workshop is $75, which includes the cost of materials. Call (805) 752-1188 or visit theavilagallery. com/classes to find out more about the upcoming workshop, additional classes, and other programs held at the venue.

Studio Avila is located at 66 Landing Passage, Avila Beach. ∆ —Caleb Wiseblood

BY ADRIAN VINCENT ROSAS

Subversive story

SLO Rep showcases a simple set and intriguing dialogue in A Doll’s House, Part 2

Aslammed door signals the end of a dramatic confrontation, but according to Karin Hendricks, it also signals the beginning of a new experience.

“ e premise of this play is based on the writer just laughing at there even being a second part to such an iconic play,” Hendricks said. “You have this very de nitive ending of the story that we get to explore in this ‘what if?’ scenario.”

Hendricks is directing a A Doll’s House, Part 2—a sequel of sorts to A Doll’s House—which features a cast including Suzy Newman, Josh Machamer, Katy Dore, and Madison Shaheen and is running at the San Luis Obispo Repertory eatre until May 21.

“I probably spent more time researching Ibsen’s original play than I did researching the play we put on,” Hendricks said with a laugh. “ ere is no way you can direct these characters properly without understanding why they are the way they are.”

Written by Lucas Hnath in 2017, Part 2 serves as a somewhat uno cial follow-up to the original A Doll’s House written by Henrik Ibsen in 1879. It focuses on subverting what many in the audience thought would happen to main character Nora Helmer after she leaves a toxic family situation.

“ e big consensus at the time Ibsen wrote the play was that Nora would su er a lot after leaving her family in such a manner—which is the same response Hnath got from those around him when he explored the idea of writing a sequel almost 100 years later,” Hendricks said.

Part 2 takes place in a single room of a small Victorian-era house—the same room the original takes place in—designed by for the SLO Rep stage by Hendricks’ husband, Jason Bolen.

“Of course, I might be a little biased about how great his work on the stage ended up being, but I do think he highlighted how important having that small space was to making the characters more impactful,” she said laughing. “It was a lot of building up, not what was there physically on the stage, but wasn’t there and how we wanted to communicate that with lighting and other xtures.”

Hendricks said Ibsen’s original piece was

Play house

A Doll’s House, Part 2 runs until May 21 at the SLO Rep Theatre (888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo) at 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To purchase tickets visit slorep.org/tickets. For more information on this production and future shows, follow SLO Rep on Instagram @sloreptheatre.

highly controversial for its time, featuring a headstrong female lead who shattered the traditional gender norms of a complacent stay-at-home wife. Her struggles for independence in the face of accusations of forgery and the subsequent e ect it had on her marriage and children left viewers at the time—and even in the present day—appalled that a female character would even engage with such topics.

However, A Doll’s House eventually became praised as one of the rst contemporary theater productions, especially with its use of a single room in which to tell the entire story, and for its positive portrayal of a Victorian-era woman’s struggle for independence.

Newman, who plays the main character, Nora Helmer, said the simple single-room set immerses her in the experience as much as it does the viewer.

Showtime!

“I have had people come up to me after the show and say, ‘It felt like I was peeking through the window of someone’s house,’ and that is the perfect way to describe it,” she said. “I love that feeling of having the audience feel physically close to the actors. We are looking outward and they are looking in, but it just adds something special.”

While the play would be an enhanced experience if the viewer was aware of the events of the previous rst “part,” Part 2 can stand alone and adds aspects to characters that Ibsen didn’t explore fully in the original.

“It makes sense that Nora would come back and face those issues if she thrived,” Hendricks said.

“I’d hope viewers see a version of what could have been, and there is this sense of growth for all of the characters that doesn’t feel like too much of a jump from Ibsen’s original work.”

Hendricks feels the play’s dialogue is a big part of what makes the characters familiar to their Ibsen counterparts, something that Newman agrees helped her bring Nora to life.

“ e writing is just so precise, and it’s a joy to just say the words,” Newman said. “You get

to be eloquent and ery, but still experience that immersion of being in that period of the late 1800s.”

Newman said she also spent a lot of time with Ibsen’s original play to learn the mannerisms and habits of Nora, who is onstage for the entire play.

“It’s like living in a book. I’m taking this ride and I just keep going and going, then all of a sudden you are at the end,” Newman said with a laugh.

She said that it was intimidating to take on the role of a character that was tied to such a heralded play, but Newman came to treat her portrayal of Nora as unique.

“I had to remind myself that despite Nora being this iconic character from Ibsen’s original, this production is meant to stand alone,” Newman said. “In a lot of ways the Nora in Part 2 is meant to be a di erent person because she has experienced so much away from her family after the ending of the rst play.”

Both Newman and Hendricks hope that whether the viewer is new to the original piece or familiar, everyone who sees the show has a moment where they relate to the characters. She hopes that everything the production shows the audience— whether that’s witty one-liners from Nora or a dramatic tension- lled argument between other characters—will be relatable to the audience.

“Will you understand everything we put out there? Maybe,” she said laughing. “But that’s part of making an experience like this special.”

Sta Writer Adrian Vincent Rosas is still immersed. Reach him at arosas@newtimesslo.com.

DAZZLING DIALOGUE While based on Henrick Ibsen’s original A Doll’s House characters, actors Suzy Newman (Nora) and Josh Machamer (Torvald) were given the freedom to add flourishes to the characters they played in A Doll’s House, Part 2

IMMERSIVE IMPACT Director Karin Hendricks worked alongside her husband, Jason Bolan, to design a stage that would represent a Victorian-era house and enhance character dialogue for the viewers.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN SLO Rep actors Suzy Newman (Nora, front right), Josh Machamer (Torvald, back right), Katy Dore (Anne Marie, back left), and Madison Shaheen (Emmy, front left) all bring Henrick Ibsen’s characters together for a subversive sequel to A Doll’s House

Quasi-funny

Co-writer-director Kevin He ernan with co-writers Jay Chandrasekhar, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske—all part of Broken Lizard Industries (Super Troopers, Beerfest, Club Dread)— present Quasi, loosely based on Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel e Hunchback of Notre-Dame. Lemme stars as the hapless and lovelorn hunchback Quasi, who’s drawn into a feud between the pope (Soter) and the king of France (Chandrasekhar). (99 min.)

QUASI

What’s it rated? R

What’s it worth, Glen? Get a little buzzed first

What’s it worth, Anna? Not my time

Where’s it showing? Hulu

Glen I think Broken Lizard peaked with Super Troopers, but if you’re in the mood for an amusing stoner comedy, this might t the bill. Quasi goes about his days getting pelted with cabbages from the townsfolk and working as a torturer in the king’s dungeon. His claim to fame? He invented the Rack. His closest friend and fellow torturer is Duchamp (Kevin He ernan, who also plays the king’s right-hand man, Henri-Francoise). Duchamp is a loser, but at least he’s not a hunchback. When Queen Catherine (Adrianne Palicki) visits the torture chamber, she and Quasi make a connection, and the story plays out with Quasi pining for Catherine as the pope and king each urge Quasi to murder the other. It’s pretty silly, but I noticed that a few pu s o of a joint make it exponentially funnier.

Anna It’s hard to beat Super Troopers when it comes to stoner comedy, but the folks at Broken Lizard are trying their best with Quasi. It’s groan-inducingly dumb, but like you said, a more, let’s say, relaxed state of mind brings the giggles out. I like that we have so many people playing several di erent roles. Even Lemme, who plays Quasi, doubles up his role, also playing the Jester. I will say, I bet these productions are a lot of fun to work on. It may be dumb comedy, but at least no

SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE

What’s it rated? TV-MA

When? 2022-present

Where’s it showing? HBO Max

Somebody Somewhere is back for season 2, and I’m over the moon! It hasn’t lost any of its joy, and we dive further into these characters in this slice-of-life show. Sam is struggling to deal with her mother who’s in rehab and refuses to see her, her dad who has left her to clean up the farm, and her sister who is going through a divorce and isn’t the easiest person to have around.

Life is complicated and Sam struggles with her own difficulties, one of which is her relationship with her sister. The two continue to work through

one here is taking themselves too seriously. Silly quips, physical comedy, whimsical wordplay—all the things these guys know how to do in their sleep is brought on-screen. Will I ever watch it again? at’s a pretty safe “no,” but then again, a lady in her late 30s may not be the target audience. Glen ey may be trying to channel a Monty Python vibe, another comedy troupe that plays it silly. Brian Cox is the narrator, and he opens the lm by announcing the 13th century “sucked.” Indeed, it’s a brutal, backwards time, but part of the lm’s shtick is to have Quasi and Duchamp talk like contemporary dudes. One of the ongoing tensions between them is that Duchamp refuses to call their relationship a friendship. Instead, he refers to Quasi as a colleague. Apparently, it’s not cool to have a hunchback as your best friend. It’s one of many subplots designed to give the thin story a little

their lifelong problems with each other and navigate life following the death of their sister. She has Joel though, and the two make such a lovable pair. While Bridget Everett is wonderful, the true star for me is Jeff Hiller, whose Joel is so endearingly awkward. It’s a relatively slowpaced show, and honestly, there really isn’t a whole lot that goes on—instead this all about the relationships between these people. It’s got a lot of heart, and watching these misfits create their own support systems is a joy. (season 2; seven 24- to 30-min. episodes)

—Anna

DEAD RINGERS

What’s it rated? TV-MA

When? 2023

emotional heft, but the lm still feels as light as a feather. You can expect to get a few laughs out of it, especially if you surrender to its inanity, but this is a pretty forgettable e ort by the Broken Lizard boys. Anna I did laugh a bit, and you de nitely have to surrender to the silliness to nd joy in it. Quasi being told to kill both the king and pope helps lead to some hijinks and moves things along. I’m not sure who exactly I would recommend this to. Maybe stoner college dudes? I genuinely enjoyed Super Troopers, but maybe that is the exception to the rule for me. Maybe it’s all just a little too silly for me to enjoy. Next time a Broken Lizard ick comes out, I may just skip it. ∆

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

Where’s it showing? Amazon Prime

Based on David Cronenberg’s 1988 horrorthriller of the same name about identical twin gynecologists who take advantage of the fact that no one can tell them apart, this new TV series replaces Cronenberg’s male leads with Rachel Weisz in the twin roles of Beverly and Elliot Mantle, who are determined to change birthing. Despite their identical appearance, they’re two very different people—Elliot is brash, reckless, and unhinged; Beverly is circumspect, measured, and thoughtful. Yet, they have been

inseparable and share everything from drugs to lovers to a desire for evolved reproductive health care.

Their tight relationship begins to unravel, however, when Beverly begins a relationship with Genevieve (Britne Oldford), an actress, leading Elliot into fits of jealousy and moments of madness. There’s an especially potent scene when Beverly and Genevieve have left town, leaving Elliot alone. She gets into an altercation with a woman named Agnes (a mesmerizing Susan Blommaert), and suddenly reality shifts and viewers no longer know what’s real. It’s brilliantly executed.

This is a bloody series filled with graphic birth and C-section scenes, so for squeamish viewers, it might be too much. It’s weird and wild and sexy and morally messy. Prepare to be unsettled. (six 52- to 64-min. episodes) ∆

Starring: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen, Don Johnson, Andy Garcia

BREATHE, HOPE Steve Lemme stars as a hunchback caught in the middle of a feud between the pope and the king of France, in the Broken Lizard production Quasi, inspired by Victor Hugo’s classic novel The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, streaming on Hulu.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEARCHLIGHT

KINDRED SPIRITS Sam (Bridget Everett, left) and Joel (Jeff Hiller) are two misfits who through a love of singing create a rich friendship that sees them through tough times, in Somebody Somewhere, now in season 2 on HBO Max.

DOUBLE TROUBLE Rachel Weisz takes on the roles of Beverly and Elliot Mantle, twin gynecologists who are determined to change reproductive health care, in Dead Ringers streaming on Amazon Prime.

COURTESY PHOTO BY SANDY MORRIS/HBO

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON PRIME

Hot on the heels of their new album, Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) and the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, international touring rockstar Yves Tumor brings their theatrical show to the Fremont Theater next Thursday, May 25 (8 p.m.; all ages; $29.50 at seetickets.us). This one’s guaranteed to be a spectacle.

To call Yves Tumor “original” is a massive understatement. This one-of-a-kind performer is as unique and individualistic as David Bowie or Frank Zappa or Alice Cooper or Elton John or Tom Waits. Born Sean Lee Bowie, who uses they/them pronouns, in Miami and raised in Knoxville, they found their surrounding stifling, so they taught themselves how to play drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards to stave off the boredom, and at 20 moved to San Diego and later Los Angeles.

Now based in Turin, Italy, they continue to create experimental electronica, psychedelia, R&B, and what’s perhaps best described as art rock. They have a lot of online videos that will give you a taste of what to expect.

One foot in the past, the other in the present

Folk punk artist Sunny War pulls off a neat trick—she creates rootsy music that concerns itself with contemporary woes. Take “Orange Man,” for instance, which mixes recordings of some of you-know-who’s most ignorant and insidious archival audio clips: “I think I’ve done more for the Black community than any other president, and let’s take a pass on Abraham Lincoln because he did good but it’s always questionable,” and, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re bringing drugs. They’re rapists,” and, “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,” etc.; over which she sings, “You hate the blacks/ and the browns and the Jews/ and the Ls and the Gs/ and the Bs and the Ts and the Qs// I’d watch my back/ and I’d run if I we’re you/ I’d run for my life, not for president/ ’cause the residents/ need a leader and that is not you// orange man/ orange man/ you’re going down.”

“I feel like there are two sides of me,” Nashville-based singer-songwriter and guitar virtuoso Sunny War said in press materials. “One of them is very self-destructive, and the other is trying to work with that other half to keep things balanced.”

On Anarchist Gospel, her fourth album, the struggle is on full display.

“Everybody is a beast just trying their

hardest to be good,” she added. “That’s what it is to be human. You’re not really good or bad. You’re just trying to stay in the middle of those two things all the time, and you’re probably doing a shitty job of it. That’s OK, because we’re all just monsters.”

KCBX presents Sunny War on Wednesday, May 24, at Bristols Cider House (7 p.m.; all ages; $17.50 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Nor-Cal’s Americana/folk collective, ISMAY, led by singer-songwriter Avery Hellman, opens the show. ISMAY was one of a select group of artists from around the world that participated in the Apple TV Plus reality show My Kind of Country, produced by Kacey Musgraves and Reese Witherspoon.

Roots rock coming at you

Deke Dickerson & the Whippersnappers with opener The Bonneville Phantoms bring a heapin’ helpin’ of rockabilly, roots rock, vintage country, surf rock, and blues to The Siren this Thursday, May 18 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $15.50 at eventbrite.com).

Dickerson is a thrilling guitarist and true scholar of music. He’s devoted his “career to keeping America’s roots music alive while interjecting new creativity into genres of music that flourished in decades previous,” as his bio notes.

Also this week at The Siren, see the Rudy Parris Blues Experience with special guests The Cliffnotes on Friday, May 19

(7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $17.50 at eventbrite. com). Superstar Steven Tyler said, “Rudy has a soulful, native spirit and voice.” Local superstar Cliff Stepp, bandleader of opening act The Cliffnotes, said, “Man, Rudy opened for Indigenous at Rancho Nipomo and blew everyone away. He came back as a headliner a couple of months later and, evidently, everyone who saw him brought all their friends; sold out, standing room only, with enough people outside that they could of sold out a second show! He’s such a showman and such a cool, kind guy.”

The James River Band plays a free matinee show on Saturday, May 20 (2 to 5 p.m.; 21-and-older) followed by an evening show with Allman Brothers tribute act Midnight Rider (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $22.50 at eventbrite.com). Son of singer-songwriter Johnny Rivers, expect blues, rock, and Americana in the afternoon and a night of classic Allman Brothers covers in the evening.

Kick off your Memorial Day weekend a day early when Fox Medicine plays a free show (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older) on Thursday, May 25. The duo plays “heavy, raw, fuzz in a hypnotic fashion, and calls it bubblegum doom,” according to their bio. “If it were a color, it would be pastel metal with sprinkles and spikes. Neezy Dynamite plays guitars and sings. Vanny plays drums. Super hard. Two-piece synergy on point. Their shows are grounding and chaotic with major healing

properties.”

MAD MUSIC SCIENTIST Yves Tumor brings their experimental art rock to the Fremont Theater, on May 25

COURTESY PHOTO BY ALEC NICOLAS

REV IT UP The Siren presents rockabilly, roots rock, vintage country, surf rock, and blues act Deke Dickerson & the Whippersnappers on May 18 .

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS KCBX presents folk punk act Sunny War on May 24 , at Bristols Cider House.

COURTESY PHOTO BY JOSHUA BLACK WILKINS

continued page 28

LIVE!

Summer Concert Series

More music …

SLO Brew Rock hosts Mapache this Thursday, May 18 (7 p.m.; 18-and-older; $23 at ticketweb.com). They’re known for their cosmic West Coast Americana sounds and rich vocal harmonies. Formed by four Glendale-born dudes—Sam Blasucci, Clay Finch, Cam Wehrle, and Steve Didelot—this is music to chill out to.

Portland’s Sweet N’ Juicy returns to Frog and Peach this Thursday, May 18 (10 p.m. to 1 a.m.), delivering their patented brand of party music while dressed as various fruits … because … why not? There’s a banana, a pineapple, and a strawberry, and they just want you to have as much fun as they’re having. It’s cheap beer night, so prepare yourselves.

FREE Concerts at the Beach!

For the Folks is bringing Bay Area theatrical rock act Whiskerman to Bang the Drum this Friday, May 19 (7 p.m.; $15 presale at forthefolksmusic.com, $17 day of show). I haven’t heard of them, so I went online and watched the video for their song “Be Real,” and I’m still wondering what my eyeballs witnessed. Then I watched the video for “Belly of the Beast.” So. Damn. Amazing. Not sure how these guys escaped my notice. This is art rock at its finest. Local player Max MacLaury opens with his full band.

As part of “Strawberries through Grover Beach,” the Amtrack parking lot will turn into a music venue this Saturday, May 20, with music from keyboardist Cheyenne Goossen (11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.), Folktet (12:30 to 2 p.m.), boogie blues band The Cliffnotes (2:30 to 4 p.m.), and ending with The Shantastics (4:30 to 6 p.m.). The Phantom Stranger will spin DJ sets in between.

The Clark Center hosts Let’s Hang On, a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons tribute show, this Saturday, May 20 (7:30 p.m.; $48 to $58 at clarkcenter.org). “Its performers respectfully pay tribute to these classic ‘Seasons’ details while performing all of the Frankie Valli mega hits, including ‘Sherry,’ ‘Big Girls Don’t Cry,’ ‘Walk Like A Man,’ ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You,’ ‘December of 1963,’ ‘Who Loves You,’ and more!” organizers announced. “If you liked Jersey Boys, you’ll love this show as well.” Numbskull and Good Medicine bring Johnny Cash tribute act Cash’d Out to Blast 805 Brewery Stockyard in Orcutt this Sunday, May 21 (3 p.m.; 21-and-older; $20 at goodmedicinepresents.com). The San Diego band focuses mostly on Cash’s Sun Records and early Columbia era sound. ∆

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

All about avocados

The Central Coast is abloom with California’s favorite superfood

The estimated 257 million pounds of avocados California will produce this season are hitting store shelves and restaurant menus now through early fall, and they’re bigger, greener, and tastier than ever.

“Winter and early spring rains contributed to delaying the usual start of harvesting but were excellent for California avocado tree health,” according to Terry Splane, vice president of marketing for the California Avocado Commission, based in Irvine.

Avocado grower Ivor Van Wingerden of Ocean Breeze Farms in Arroyo Grande added that the deluge “helped the avocados gain size more quickly, so California fruit is likely to be on average larger this year.”

Ocean Breeze, a major flower producer that also farms an 80-acre Hass orchard, sells the majority of its fruit to packing houses

Get your green gems

Support Central Coast growers at local farmers’ markets and shops, and learn more about California avocados—including history, storage tips, nutrition facts, and recipes—at californiaavocado.com. Try Hass avocados from oceanbreezefarms.com and avocado-inspired dishes at hotelslo.com.

such as Index Fresh and Del Rey. The Arroyo Grande grower also sells its avocados to the public every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, along with its flowers, at 1810 Willow Road.

“Avocados from San Luis Obispo County have a longer season than most of the rest of California due to our mild climate,” Van Wingerden said. “Their flavor really starts to shine in May and will continue to improve. … Most avocados will be harvested by August or September to fill the needs of the packing houses, but we always save some on the trees for our own sales as well as for Hotel SLO.”

The downtown San Luis Obispo hotel’s chef, Ryan Fancher, “is a close friend of mine and is the only restaurant we deal with directly,” he added.

Fancher said he’s excited about this year’s crop and plans to work them into a number of dishes at the property’s three eateries— Michelin-mentioned Ox+Anchor, Piadina, and High Bar.

One of his seasonal favorites is lobsterstuffed avocado, which is currently on the tasting menu at Ox+Anchor and also available at the rooftop bar. Sometimes, you can catch it on the menu with Dungeness crab.

Chef Ryan Fancher’s Lobster-Stuffed Avocado

Servings: 4 halves

2 ripe avocados

1 pound chilled lobster meat (or substitute crab)

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1 Roma tomato diced with seeds removed potato chips salt and pepper

2 tablespoons crème fraîche (or substitute sour cream)

1 bunch chives, chopped

“I love this dish,” he said. “The inspiration came from a project we were working on in Sonoma County. We were opening the rooftop bar at the Harmon House in Healdsburg and the chef at that time really wanted to serve a shrimp Louie salad. It wasn’t my favorite dish so we worked really hard to elevate the presentation. Of course, the avocados need to be perfect for this dish.”

Fancher said avocados are probably Hotel SLO’s favorite ingredient because of their beautiful color, flavor, and texture. He looks for large, firm Hass avocados.

“We especially love the Hass that the Van Windergen family are growing on the Mesa at Ocean Breeze Farms,” he added.

According to Splane, there are nine varieties of avocados grown commercially in California by about 3,000 growers on approximately 50,000 acres from Monterey to San Diego.

Varieties include Bacon, Fuerte, GEM, Gwen, Lamb Hass, Pinkerton, Reed, Zutano, and the legendary Hass, which accounts for 95 percent of the crop value.

“The original Hass tree, the mother of all Hass avocados, is a California native,” Splane said. “Grower Rudolph Hass planted an avocado seed (in La Habra Heights nearly 100 years ago). From that seed grew a tree that yielded fruit with a unique rich and nutty taste loved by many.

“Today, every Hass avocado eaten worldwide can trace their lineage to the mother Hass tree.”

In a small mixing bowl, combine the lobster, mayonnaise, tarragon, diced tomato, and lemon zest. Season to taste with salt and pepper. In a separate small bowl, combine the crème fraîche and chives. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Cut avocados in half, removing the seed and skin. Even out the bottom by slicing off a small portion of the avocado making the bottom side flat so it rests level on a plate. Pack the lobster mixture into the center of the avocado, overflowing above the cavity of the avocado core. Place a large dollop of the chive crème fraîche in the middle of the plate. Place the stuffed avocado on the crème fraîche and top with a couple of your favorite potato chips.

Do you or someone you know suffer from eczema?

Our rich skincare lotions and lip balms naturally nourish and support sensitive skin and can aid in relieving conditions like eczema or psoriasis.

· Lotions · Lip Balms

· Candles · Gift Sets Scan here for better skin

Splane offers the following advice for selecting “mouthwatering, velvety, creamy avocados” at local farmers’ markets or the grocery store: Firstly, make sure California is on the label, ensuring your fruit is “meticulously cared for … and responsibly grown.” Then, gently squeeze the fruit in the palm of your hand. Ripe, ready-to-eat fruit will yield to gentle pressure.

WORTH THE WAIT California is home to 90 percent of the nation’s avocado crop. The state’s terroir and coastal climate provide ideal growing conditions for the fruit, which take from 12 to 18 months to grow, then several days to ripen once cut from the tree.

FROM TREE TO TABLE Chef Ryan Fancher goes through about eight cases of avocados per week. He selects a healthy percentage from Ocean Breeze Farms for use in Hotel SLO’s three restaurants. Current standout dishes include lobster-stuffed avocado, yellowfin tuna sashimi, Dungeness crab salad, and an elevated guacamole.

To ripen avocados, place the fruit in a paper bag and store at room temperature until ready to eat—usually two to five days.

“Adding an apple, banana, or a kiwi fruit in the bag accelerates the process, because these fruits give off ethylene, a natural hormone that promotes ripening,” Splane continued. “The more apples or kiwi fruit

Share tasty tips!

you add, the quicker your avocados will ripen.”

Conversely, to slow down the ripening process, store uncut avocados in the refrigerator for two or three days.

He cautions that color alone does not tell the whole story.

“For example, the Hass avocado will turn dark green to purplish-black as it ripens, but other avocado varieties retain their light-green skin even when ripe,” he said.

Avocados are “a hearthealthy superfood and are naturally sodium-, cholesterol-, and trans fat-free,” Splane said. “They are also a good source of … fiber, potassium, folate, vitamin K, pantothenic acid (B5), and copper, an essential mineral that helps keep the blood vessels, nerves, immune system, and bones healthy.” ∆

Flavor Writer Cherish Whyte is stocking up on her favorite fruit, which can even be frozen! Reach her at cwhyte@newtimesslo.com.

FLAVOR from page 29

TART TRICK To store cut avocado, the California Avocado Commission recommends sprinkling it with lemon juice, lime juice, or white vinegar, wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or placing it in an airtight container, then refrigerating it to prevent discoloration.

TOPNAILS FOR SALE

Downtown Morro Bay

Newly renovated, in upscale area, close to beach, established clientele, low rent and good profits. 1000 sq ft inc. 6 massage/pedicure chairs, two manicure tables, W/D, bathroom and private room for waxing and eyelash services. New owner, new decor OPEN DAILY 9am-9pm Call 805.772.1870

$48,000 Call (760)567-3471

ATTENTION: AREA WINERIES

Prime Certified Sustainable Lodi Old Vine Zin and Zinfandel Wine Grapes Available for the 2023 Season.

Excellent Quality with “Hands on Care” from Vineyard blocks producing 100, 140 and 170 tons. Contact Rick

2015 BUICK REGAL SEDAN

2.0 4cyl turbo, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, prem snd, dk blue, tan lthr, pseat, mnrf, alloys. #164148

$11,988

2007 LEXUS ES 350 SEDAN

3.5 V6, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, silver, gray lthr, mnrf, 113k low miles. #122458

$11,988

2007 GMC YUKON DENALI 4WD

6.2 V8, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, nav, alloys, leather, pseat, 3rd row. #257823

$13,988

2018 NISSAN SENTRA SV SEDAN

1.8 4cyl, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, 63k low miles, alloys. #338573 $14,988

2018 HYUNDAI TUCSON SEL SUV

2.0 4cyl, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, seat, alloys, 125k miles. #677464

2009 FORD F550 SD S/CAB DUALLY

6.4 powerstroke diesel, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, am/fm, cc, tw, power liftgate, white, tan vinyl, 126k low miles. #01726

2015 MERCEDES ML350 SUV 4WD

3.5 V6, 7spd, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, pearl white, lthr, mnrf, new tires, prem whls, 101k low miles. #520300

2012 FORD F150 SUPERCREW XLT 4WD

3.5 Twin Turbo V6, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, dk blue, gray cloth, 82k, prem whls, SRW, pseat, tow pkg. #A94865

2006 CHEVY CORVETTE Z-51

6.0 V8, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/ fm/cd, silver, gray, new tires, 60k low miles. #129769

2016 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER LWB 4WD

5.0 Supercharged V8, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, pan roof, pearl white, lthr, am/ fm/cd, tow, 20” prem whls, 59k, local purchase. #259162

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1029 (04/24/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as ENCHANTE BODY CARE SPA, 560 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Charles Kalin, Chloe C Kayser (2945 Ironwood Ave., Morro Bay, CA 93442). This business is conducted by A Joint Venture /s/ Chloe C Kayser, Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-2423. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 04-24-28.

May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1031 (01/30/2020)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as JRS Built, Inc., 6086 Gary Pl., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. JRS Built, Inc. (6086 Gary Pl., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation /s/ JRS Built, Inc., James Robert Stitt, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-24-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 04-24-28.

May 18, 25, June 1, & 8, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1032 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as CITRUS GUY, 951 Bello St., Pismo Beach, CA 93449. San Luis Obispo County. David Wayne Daguerre (951 Bello St., Pismo Beach, CA 93449). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ David Wayne Daguerre. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-2523. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 04-25-28. May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1038 (04/22/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as SELLING PASO, 580 Villa Lots Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446. San Luis Obispo County. Selling Paso (580 Villa Lots Rd., Paso Robles, CA 93446). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation /s/ Selling Paso, Miranda Battenburg, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-25-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 04-25-28.

May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1039 (04/25/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as SUZY BEE CLEANING, 1630 Tonini Dr., Apt. 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405. San Luis Obispo County. Suzzana Alyssa Alcantar, Yvonne Alcantar (1630 Tonini Dr., Apt. 1, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405). This business is conducted by A General Partnership /s/ Suzzana Alyssa Alcantar. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-25-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal)

Elaina Cano, County Clerk G. Ugalde, Deputy. Exp. 04-25-28.

May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1040 (04/25/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as ROCK SOLID HORSEMANSHIP, 14060 Morningside Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422. San Luis Obispo County. Austin Craig Cook, Micaela Ann Cook (14060 Morningside Rd., Atascadero, CA 93422). This business is conducted by A Married Couple /s/ Micaela Ann Cook. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-2523. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk a. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 04-25-28.

May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FLOOD CONTROL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1047 (07/14/2022)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as SLO BROKER & ASSOCIATES, 641 Higuera Street, Suite 230, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Modern Kathy Inc (641 Higuera Street, Suite 230, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation /s/ Modern Kathy Inc., Katherine T. Chen Hudson, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-2523. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk N. Balseiro, Deputy. Exp. 04-25-28.

May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1049

(N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as THE COAST COLLECTIVE, 564 Mesa View Drive, Suite B, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Donna Marie Crupi (1194 Spring Azure Way, Nipomo, CA 93444). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Donna Marie Crupi, Owner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-25-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 04-25-28. May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

Notice is given that sealed bids will be received at the office of the County Clerk, 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93408 before 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 8, 2023 (“Bid Deadline”), for the following public works project:

SALINAS DAM ACCESS ROAD REPAIRS, SANTA MARGARITA TRUCK TRAIL AND V-NOTCH WEIR ACCESS ROAD SANTA MARGARITA, CA

CONTRACT NO. 535R155747

Bids will be opened and declared by the County Clerk at 3:15 p.m. on the bid opening date at a public meeting at 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93408.

Any bid received at the Office of the County Clerk of the County of San Luis Obispo at or after 3:00 p.m. on the date specified above will not be accepted and will be returned to the bidder unopened. A bid received one second after 3:00 p.m. (i.e., after 3:00:00 p.m.) shall not be considered.

Bids are required for the entire work described in the Contract Documents.

The Bid package (also referred to herein as the “Contract Documents”) are posted on the District’s Purchasing website: http://www.slocounty.ca.gov/GS/Purchasing/Current_Formal_Bids_and_Proposals.htm

Any changes, additions, or deletions to these Contract Documents will be in the form of written addenda issued by the District. Any addenda will be posted on the website.

Prospective bidders must check the website for addenda or other relevant new information at up to 5:00 p.m. the day before the prescribed date/time for submittal of bids. The District is not responsible for the failure of any prospective bidder to receive such addenda. All addenda so issued shall become a part of this Bid.

All bidders are required to acknowledge and confirm receipt of every addendum in their bid proposal.

All bidder Requests for Information must be submitted no later than 3:00 p.m., 5 business days prior to the bid opening date. Requests submitted after said date may not be considered. All questions pertaining to the content of this invitation to Bid must be made in writing through the Purchasing website. Questions and responses will be posted on the Purchasing website and can be viewed by accessing the Invitation to Bid located at the Purchasing website. The identity of the entity submitting the question will not be posted.

The District reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of comments / questions that will be posted on the website.

Bidders are notified that financing for this project is provided in part by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Assistance Grant Program and that compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, executive orders, and FEMA policies, procedures, and directives is required.

The bidder must have either a Class A license or a combination of Class C licenses that make up a majority of the work at the time the Contract is awarded (Public Contract Code § 3300). When the bidder holds a combination of Class C licenses, all work to be performed outside of the bidder’s license specialties, except work that is incidental or supplemental to the licenses of the bidder, shall be performed by licensed Subcontractors in compliance with the Subletting and Subcontracting Fair Practices Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with section 4100) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code)

Pursuant to Labor Code section 1771.1:

• A Contractor or Subcontractor shall not be qualified to bid on, be listed in the Bid Proposal, subject to the requirements of the Public Contract Code section 4104, or engage in the performance of this public works project, unless currently registered with the Department of Industrial Relations and qualified to perform work pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5. It is not a violation of this section for an unregistered Contractor to submit a bid that is authorized by Business and Professions Code section 7029.1, Public Contract Code section 10164, or Public Contract Code section 20103.5, provided the Contractor is registered to perform public work pursuant to Labor Code section 1725.5 at the time the contract is awarded.

• This Project is subject to compliance monitoring and enforcement by the Department of Industrial Relations.

Bids must be submitted under sealed cover plainly marked as a bid and identified with the project number, the date and time for receipt of sealed bids, and the name of the bidder.

Bids must be accompanied by cash, a certified or cashier’s check, or a bidder’s bond in favor of the District in an amount not less than ten percent (10%) of the submitted total Bid.

Pursuant to Public Contract Code section 22300, the successful bidder may substitute certain securities for funds withheld by District to ensure performance under the Contract or, in the alternative, request the District to make payment of retention to an escrow agent.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish the District with payment and performance bonds, with each issued by a California admitted surety insurer equal to 100% of the Contract Price.

Bidders must take all necessary affirmative steps to assure that minority businesses, women’s business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms are used when possible (2 CFR 200.321).

Pursuant to section Labor Code section 1770 et seq., the Contractor and all Subcontractors shall pay not less than the prevailing rate of per diem wages as determined by the Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations and comply with all applicable Labor Code provisions, which include, but are not limited to the employment of apprentices, the hours of labor, and the debarment of Contractors and Subcontractors. The Director of the California Department of Industrial Relations determines the general prevailing wage rates. Copies are available at the at the DIR website, http://www.dir.ca.gov/DLSR/PWD.

Title VI Solicitation Notice

The District, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 USC §§ 2000d to 2000d-4) and related regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, all bidders will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity

1. The offeror or bidder’s attention is directed to the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Construction Contract Specifications” set forth herein.

2. The goals and timetables for minority and female participation, expressed in percentage terms for the Contractor’s aggregate workforce in each trade on all construction work in the covered area, are as follows:

A Goals for minority participation for each trade: 24.6%

B. Goals for female participation in each trade: 6.9%

These goals are applicable to all the Contractor’s construction work (whether or not it is Federal or federally assisted) performed in the covered area. If the contractor performs construction work in a geographical area located outside of the covered area, it shall apply the goals established for such geographical area where the work is actually performed. With regard to this second area, the contractor also is subject to the goals for both its federally involved and non-federally involved construction.

The Contractor’s compliance with the Executive Order and the regulations in 41 CFR 60-4 shall be based on its implementation of the Equal Opportunity Clause, specific affirmative action obligations required by the specifications set forth in 41 CFR 60-4.3(a), and its efforts to meet the goals. The hours of minority and female employment and training must be substantially uniform throughout the length of the contract, and in each trade, and the contractor shall make a good faith effort to employ minorities and women evenly on each of its projects. The transfer of minority or female employees or trainees from Contractor to Contractor or from project to project for the sole purpose of meeting the Contractor’s goals shall be a violation of the contract, the Executive Order and the regulations in 41 CFR 60-4. Compliance with the goals will be measured against the total work hours performed.

3. The Contractor shall provide written notification to the Director of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs within 10 working days of award of any construction subcontract in excess of $10,000 at any tier for construction work under the contract resulting from this solicitation. The notification shall list the name, address, and telephone number of the Subcontractor; employer identification number of the Subcontractor; estimated dollar amount of the Subcontract; estimated starting and completion dates of the Subcontract; and the geographical area in which the Subcontract is to be performed.

4. As used in this Notice, and in the contract resulting from this solicitation, the “covered area” is San Luis Obispo District, California.

Executive Order N-6-22 – Russia Sanctions

On March 4, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-6-22 (the EO) regarding Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russian entities and individuals. “Economic Sanctions” refers to sanctions imposed by the U.S. government in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as any sanctions imposed under state law. Should the State or District determine Contractor is a target of Economic Sanctions or is conducting prohibited transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities, that shall be grounds for termination of this agreement. The District shall provide Contractor advance written notice of such termination, allowing Contractor at least 30 calendar days to provide a written response. Termination shall be at the sole discretion of the District.

By order of the Board of Supervisors of the San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District in their action on the 16th day of May, 2023.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1052 (03/18/2023) New Filing

The following person is doing business as NUDGE, 215 Cimarron Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Kyler webster Newell (215 Cimarron Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Kyler Webster Newell. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-26-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 04-26-28. May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1059 (04/20/2023) New Filing

The following person is doing business as PRESTIGE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT, 479 Uranus Ct., Nipomo, CA 93444. San Luis Obispo County. Ashley N Marsh (479 Uranus Ct., Nipomo, CA 93444). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Ashley N Marsh. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-27-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 04-27-28. May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1061 (04/27/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as THE ULTIMATE BACH, 530 East Branch Street, Suite 101, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Sara T Torres (3618 Angeles Road, Santa Maria, CA 93455). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Sara

T Torres. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-27-23. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 04-27-28. May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1062 (04/27/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as CAMBRIA PICKLEBALL, 9540 Avonne Ave. #15, San Simeon, CA 93452. San Luis Obispo County. Patrick Jonathon Crouch (9540 Avonne Ave. #15, San Simeon, CA 93452). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Patrick Jonathon Crouch. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-27-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk A. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 04-27-28.

May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1068 (11/01/2012)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as AMPHORA GALLERY, AMPHORA CLAY GALLERY, 4070 Burton Drive, Suite 1, Cambria, CA 93428. San Luis Obispo County. Peggy Vrana (4070 Burton Drive, Suite 1, Cambria, CA 93428).

This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Peggy Vrana. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-2723. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 04-27-28.

May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2023-1072 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as YSLASH CAROCHA’S GALLERY AND ART STUDIOS, 780 Monterey Ave., Suite 103, Morro Bay, CA 93442. San Luis Obispo County. Carol I Suarez (475 Little Morro Creek, Morro Bay, CA 93442).

This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Carol I Suarez. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-2723. 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. 04-27-28.

May 11, 18, 25, & June 1, 2023

LRP2023-00005

ORDINANCE NO. 3489

FICTITIOUS

FILE NO. 2023-1074 (04/28/2023)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as PAPIKIAN ENTERPRISES, LLC, 4640 Windsor Blvd., Cambria, CA 93428. San Luis Obispo County. Papikian Enterprises, LLC (4640 Windsor Blvd., Cambria, CA 93428). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company /s/ Papikian Enterprises, LLC, Hovanes Papikian, Managing Member. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-28-23. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office.

(Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk M. Stiletto, Deputy. Exp. 04-28-28. May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 26 OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CODE, THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ORDINANCE, TO REMOVE FISCAL YEAR REFERENCES FOR THE NIPOMO MESA AND CAMBRIA GROWTH RATE LIMITS

The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo ordains as follows:

SECTION 1: Section 26.01.070.(8). of the Growth Management Ordinance, Title 26 of the San Luis Obispo County Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(8) Maximum Number of New Dwelling Units Allowed in the Nipomo Mesa Area. The maximum number of new dwelling units allowed in the Nipomo Mesa area (see Figure 1) shall not exceed a 1.8 percent increase in the number of existing dwelling units from the previous fiscal year.

SECTION 2: Section 26.01.070.(10). of the Growth Management Ordinance, Title 26 of the San Luis Obispo County Code, is hereby amended as follows:

(10) Communities with Existing Waiting Lists. The following communities have waiting lists for development. Those waiting lists are administered by the specified community service provider(s) and the issuance of allocations by the county shall be in accordance with the provisions of the local waiting lists, as specified below.

a. Cambria. The Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) has an existing waiting list for water service permits. The CCSD is allocating resources in compliance with its own resource management policies and ordinances, so as to be compatible with the resource management system of the county general plan and to carry out the county’s purposes, goals and objectives. In recognition of the management policies in place, the allocation of dwelling units in Cambria shall be conducted as follows:

1. Allocation Limit. The annual number of new dwelling units to be allocated shall not exceed 2.3 percent of the total number of dwelling units within the community services district boundary within the urban reserve line as designated in the county general plan. The dwelling units to be allocated shall be taken from those applicants next in line on the community waiting list. The number of allocated units may be reduced if the resources are not available to support the maximum number of potential allocations, as described below. Any dwelling unit allocations not utilized by Cambria shall become available for countywide allocation in accordance with the provisions of this title.

i. The maximum annual allocation shall be set at zero percent per fiscal year, resulting in no new allocation requests other than those accompanied by an intent-to-serve letter from the Cambria Community Services District for transferred meters and eight grandfathered allocations for new residences in Cambria each fiscal year.

ii. “Grandfathered” Units in Cambria. Of the total number of dwelling units to be allowed in Cambria each year, the Cambria Community Services District shall reserve eight allocations for parcels certified by the district as having “grandfathered” right to water service and “will serve” letters will be issued to such applicants on a first-come-first- served basis. These grandfathered units shall be allocated as follows: four units for Tract 1804 and four for the remaining units on the grandfather list. This increase shall be re-evaluated once the Cambria Community Services District has lifted the current moratorium on development that is not considered as grandfathered or active meter status.

iii. Transfer of Allocations in Cambria. Residential allocations may be transferred within the CCSD as long as any such transfer conforms with District Ordinance 1-93, as may be amended from time to time by the district relating to retirement of development rights.

2. Freezing of Existing Waiting Lists. In order to eventually eliminate the need for an individual community waiting list for services, the CCSD list that exists as of December 31, 1990, shall be frozen for purposes of administering this title. The county shall obtain a certified copy of the waiting list and all future allocations within the community shall come from the certified list. Any applicant wishing to apply for a dwelling unit allocation that is not on the certified list shall apply to the county for placement on the county’s waiting list for requests for allocation. However, per section (a)(i) above, no new allocation requests other than those accompanied by an intent-to-serve letter from the Cambria Community Services District for transferred meters and eight grandfathered allocations for new residences in Cambria each fiscal year. At the point in the future when the existing community waiting list is exhausted, all future requests for new dwelling units shall be added to the county’s waiting list on a first- come-first-served basis and all allocations for new dwelling units in the unincorporated county shall be made from the county waiting list.

SECTION 3 That the activity is covered by a general rule exemption (State CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)) from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.

SECTION 4: If any section, subsection, clause, phrase, or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portion of this ordinance. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each section, subsection, clause, phrase, or portion thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

SECTION 5 This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force on and after 30 days from the date of its passage hereof. Within 15 days after adoption of this amendment, a summary shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, together with the names of the members of the Board of Supervisors voting for and against the ordinance.

INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors held on the 18th day of April, 2023, and PASSED and ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, on the 16th day of May, 2023, by the following roll call vote, to wit:

AYES: Supervisors Bruce S. Gibson, Dawn Ortiz-Legg, Jimmy Paulding, Debbie Arnold and Chairperson John Peschong

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAINING: None

/s/ John Peschong Chair of the Board of Supervisors

ATTEST: JOHN NILON Interim Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: /s/ Niki

May 18, 2023

Martin

Deputy

Clerk

RESOLUTION NO. 30-23

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA,APPROVING THE ENGINEER’S REPORT AND DECLARING THE CITY’S INTENTION TO LEVY THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE NORTH POINT NATURAL AREA LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT PURSUANT TO THE “LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972” (STREETS AND HIGHWAYS SECTIONS 22500 ET SEQ.) FOR THE 2023/24 FISCAL YEAR

City of Morro Bay, California

WHEREAS, all property owners of the original North Point subdivision requested the City of Morro Bay form a maintenance assessment district to fund the maintenance of the North Point Natural Area; and

WHEREAS, the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972, commencing with Streets and Highways Code section 22500 (the “Act”) enables the City to form assessment districts for the purpose of maintaining public improvements; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 22623 of the Act, the City Engineer has filed in the Office of the City Clerk, and submitted for review to the City Council, a report entitled “Engineers Report North Point Natural Area Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment,” dated April 28, 2023, prepared in accordance with Article 4 of the Act, commencing with Section 22565 (the “Engineer’s Report”); and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 22608.2 of the Act, the subdivider was required by City ordinance to install improvements for which an assessment district was required to assure continued and uninterrupted maintenance of the North Point Natural Area; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the intent of Article XIII, Section 4, of the California Constitution, the property owners have elected to form the North Point Natural Area Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay,

Section 1. The City Council approves the Engineer’s Report.

Section 2. It is the intent of the Council to order the annual levy and collection of assessments for the North Point Natural Area Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District generally located as shown in Exhibit “A” attached hereto at a public hearing to be held at the Regular City Council meeting on June 27, 2023 at or about 5:30 p.m., at the Morro Bay Veterans Hall.

Section 3. The improvements to be maintained at the North Point Natural Area are specified in the Engineer’s Report dated A pril 28, 2023 which is hereby approved.

Section 4. The assessment upon assessable lots within the district is proposed to total $5,645 or $564.50 per assessable parcel for fiscal year 2023/24.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay at a regular meeting thereof held this 9th of May 2023 by the following vote:

AYES: Wixom, Barton, Edwards, Ford, Landrum

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

RECUSED: None /s/ Carla Wixom Mayor, City of Morro Bay

ATTEST:

/s/ Dana Swanson City Clerk, City of Morro Bay

Dated: May 11, 2023

Publish One Time – May 18, 2023

EXHIBIT A

DISTRICT BOUNDARY DIAGRAM

The boundary diagram, tract map for the District have previously been submitted to the City Clerk in the format required under the Act and, by reference are hereby made part of this Report. The boundary diagram is available for inspection at the office of the City Clerk or the City Engineer during normal business hours. The following diagram provides an overview of the District.

WHO: San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors

WHEN: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. All items are advertised for 9:00 a.m. To find out placement of this item on the Board of Supervisors Agenda, go to the County’s website at www.slocounty. ca.gov on the Wednesday before the scheduled hearing date.

WHAT: Hearing to consider a request by the Monarch Dunes LLC to: 1) amend the Monarch Dunes Specific Plan (LRP2021-00003) to modify the allowable land uses of four sites within the Monarch Dunes Specific Plan area; 2) consider the attached resolution to amend the Growth Management Ordinance, Title 26 of the County Code, to amend the Woodlands Specific Plan Area standards (LRP2022-00010) to be consistent with the phasing plan for the proposed Specific Plan amendments; and 3) approve the Addendum to the previously certified Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Supplemental EIR for the Woodlands Specific Plan in accordance with State CEQA Guidelines Section 15164. The Monarch Dunes Specific Plan area is located on the Nipomo Mesa, approximately two miles west of the community of Nipomo, east of Highway 1, and approximately half a mile south of Willow Road. District 4.

CONSUMER INDEX

County File No: LRP2021-00003

Date Authorized: August 10, 2021

Supervisorial District(s): 4

Assessor Parcel Numbers: Various

ORDINANCE NO. 3490

ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2.48 OF TITLE 2 OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CODE

The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo County, State of California ordains as follows:

SECTION 1: Section 2.48.095 of the County Code is amended to read as follows:

2.48.095 Board of Supervisors’ compensation.

(a) It is intended that the annual salary for members of the Board of Supervisors shall be fifty percent of the bottom of the salary range of California Superior Court Judges by fiscal year 2025-2026 and subsequent years. Therefore, the annual salary of the Board of Supervisors shall be adjusted as follows:

(1) Effective July 23, 2023, the annual salary paid to each member of the Board of Supervisors shall be increased from ninety thousand four hundred seventeen dollars and sixty cents ($90,417.60) to ninety-seven thousand six hundred ninety-seven dollars and sixty cents ($97,697.60).

(2) Effective June 23, 2024, the annual salary paid to each member of the Board of Supervisors shall be increased from ninety-seven thousand six hundred ninety-seven dollars and sixty cents ($97,697.60) to one hundred five thousand five hundred sixty dollars ($105,560.00).

(3) Effective June 22, 2025, the annual salary paid to each member of the Board of Supervisors shall be increased from one hundred five thousand five hundred sixty dollars ($105,560.00) to one hundred fourteen thousand sixty-seven dollars and twenty cents ($114,067.20).

The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Chapter 5.44 entitled “Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization” requires that the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage (%) be published as a basis for establishing rent increases. The monthly space rent in mobile home parks may not be increased more than once each year based on the CPI % change, or 9%, whichever is less.

CITY OF PISMO BEACH STATE OF CALIFORNIA  NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

PROPOSALS will be received at the office of the City Clerk, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, California, until 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, June 1, 2023 as determined by www.time.gov for performing work as follows:

CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INSPECTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THE PALISADES AND CHUMASH PARKS PLAYGROUND PROJECT

Each The project includes a Base Bid for removal of existing play equipment, installation of new play equipment and related site improvements at two locations – Palisades Park and Chumash Park. Proposal packages are available at the Engineering Division office located at 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, CA, 93449. Printed versions of this request for proposals are available for a nonrefundable fee of $400.00 and PDF versions may be emailed at no charge. Questions will be accepted in writing up to 96 hours before bid closing by emailing Eric Eldridge at eeldridge@pismobeach.org. Questions regarding bid procedure or other non-technical questions can be asked by emailing Erin Olsen at eolsen@pismobeach.org or by calling (805) 773-4656.

ERICA INDERLIED CITY CLERK

May 18 & 25, 2023

CITY OF PISMO BEACH STATE OF CALIFORNIA

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

May 18, 2023

WHERE: The hearing will be held in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1055 Monterey St., Room #D170, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. The Board of Supervisors Chambers are located on the corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets. At the hearing all interested persons may express their views for or against, or to change the proposal.

The CPI monthly data for Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim is used for San Luis Obispo.

March 2023

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: You may contact Shawn Monk, Senior Planner, in the San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building, 976 Osos Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, (805) 781-5600. The staff report will be available for review the Wednesday before the scheduled hearing date on the County’s website at www.slocounty.ca.gov

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION:

4) Following the June 22, 2025, increase, members of the Board of Supervisors shall receive annual increases as necessary to remain at fifty percent of the bottom of the salary range of California Superior Court Judges. The increases shall be approved by the Board of Supervisors annually on consent agenda in the same fiscal year the salary increase is applied to the Superior Court Judges. However, members of the Board of Supervisors shall not receive an annual salary increase in any fiscal year when County staff do not receive an annual salary increase due to budgetary constraints.

PROPOSALS will be received at the office of the City Clerk, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, California, until 2:00 p.m., on June 15, 2023 as determined by www.time.gov for performing work as follows:

PLAN REVIEW AND INSPECTION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY

The project includes consulting services to provide plan review and inspection services for construction of a new public safety facility housing police and fire services for the City of Pismo Beach. Proposal packages may be obtained from the Community Development Department, Building Division, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, CA 93449 or by calling (805) 773-7040. Printed versions are available for a non-refundable fee of $400 and PDF versions may be downloaded at no charge. Specific questions will be accepted in writing up to 72 hours before the proposal due date and time by emailing Ian Livingston, at ilivingston@pismobeach.org. For non-technical questions contact Stephanie Wilson at swilson@ pismobeach.org.

ERICA INDERLIED CITY CLERK

May 18 & June 1, 2023

For further information regarding the CPI %, please contact the CPI Hotline at (415) 625-2270.

Teresa Purrington City Clerk City of San Luis Obispo

May 18, 2023

The previously certified 1998 Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) and previously certified 2001 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (FSEIR) are adequate for the purpose of compliance with CEQA. Pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15164, an Addendum to the FEIR and FSEIR was prepared, as none of the following conditions have occurred: (1) Substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revisions of the previous EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects;

(2) Substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstances under which the project is undertaken which will require major revisions of the previous EIR due to the involvement of new significant environmental effects or a substantial increase in the severity of previously identified significant effects; or

(3) New information of substantial importance, which was not known and could not have been known with the exercise of reasonable diligence at the time the previous EIR was certified as complete, shows that (a) the project will have one or more significant effects not discussed in the previous EIR, (b) significant effects previously examined will be substantially more severe than shown in the previous EIR, (c) mitigation measures or alternatives previously found not to be feasible would in fact be feasible, and would substantially reduce one or more significant effects of the project, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative, or (d) mitigation measures or alternatives which are considerably different from those analyzed in the previous EIR would substantially reduce one or more significant effects on the environment, but the project proponents decline to adopt the mitigation measure or alternative.

**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**

DATED: May 17, 2023

JOHN NILON, Interim County Administrative Officer and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: /s/ Niki Martin Deputy Clerk

May 18, 2023

(b) Individual members of the Board of Supervisors may elect to forego the salary change specified in 2.48.095(a), provided that they are a member of the Board of Supervisors on July 23, 2023, and state their intent to forego the salary change in writing to the county Human Resources Director prior to July 23, 2023. Any member of the Board of Supervisors who elected to forego the salary changes that were effective July 11, 2021, and foregoes these additional increases shall continue to receive an annual salary of eighty-six thousand one hundred fifteen dollars and twelve cents ($86,115.12). Any member of the Board of Supervisors who received the July 11, 2021 increase, and elects to forego the increases specified in 2.48.095(a) by July 23, 2023, shall continue to be paid an annual salary of ninety thousand four hundred seventeen dollars and sixty cents ($90,417.60). These annual salaries shall remain in place until the first day of the new term of each applicable district, at which point the member of the Board of Supervisors shall receive the salary specified in 2.48.095(a), or until a new salary change is adopted by the Board of Supervisors.

(c) All employee benefits available to department head employees shall be available to the Board of Supervisors.

SECTION 2: If any section, subsection, clause, or phrase of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity or the constitutionality of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The Board of Supervisors hereby declares that it would have passed this ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any other of more sections, subsection, sentences, clause, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

SECTION 3: This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and effect sixty (60) days after its passage, and before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after passage of this ordinance, it shall be published once with the names of the members of the Board of Supervisors voting for and against the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California.

INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors held on the 2nd day of May, 2023, and PASSED and ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, on the 16th day of May, 2023, by the following roll call vote, to wit:

AYES: Supervisors Bruce S. Gibson, Dawn Ortiz-Legg and Jimmy Paulding

NOES: Supervisor Debbie Arnold and Chairperson John Peschong

ABSENT: None

ABSTAINING: None

/s/ John Peschong Chair of the Board of Supervisors

ATTEST:

JOHN NILON Interim Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By:

CONSUMER INDEX

The San Luis Obispo Municipal Code Chapter 5.44 entitled “Mobile Home Park Rent Stabilization” requires that the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) percentage (%) be published as a basis for establishing rent increases. The monthly space rent in mobile home parks may not be increased more than once each year based on the CPI % change, or 9%, whichever is less. The CPI monthly data for Los Angeles, Long Beach and Anaheim is used for San Luis Obispo.

March 2023 PERCENT CHANGE

Year Ending 1-Month Ending February March March 2023 2023 2023

5.1 3.7 0.1

For further information regarding the CPI %, please contact the CPI Hotline at (415) 625-2270.

Teresa Purrington, City Clerk City of San Luis Obispo

May 18, 2023

CDBG CURB RAMPS 2022 SPEC. NO. 2000576

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the City of San Luis Obispo will receive bids by mail for the “CDBG CURB RAMPS 2022, Spec. No. 2000576” at the Public Works Administration Office located at 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 until, THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2023, at 11:00 A.M., when they will be publicly opened. Bids received after said time will not be considered. Bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked with the project title, contractor name, address, and specification number.

The Contractor must possess a valid Class A or C-8 Contractor’s License at the time of the bid opening. Every bid must be accompanied by a certified check/cashier’s check or bidder’s bond for 10% of the bid amount, payable to the City of San Luis Obispo.

/s/

Niki Martin Deputy Clerk May 18, 2023

Download FREE at the City’s website: www.SloCity.orgBid packages under Bids & Proposals. Questions may be addressed to Shelsie Moore, Project Manager, at 805-783-7735 or smoore@slocity.org.

May 18, 2023

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

WHO County of San Luis Obispo Subdivision Review Board

WHEN Monday, June 5, 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 for a sixth time extension by Cross Canyon Vineyard LLC for a vesting tentative parcel map, CO 09-0023, to subdivide two existing parcels of 152.20 acres and 169.75 acres (totaling 321.95 acres) into six parcels of 46.92 acres, 49.54 acres, 60.41 acres, 59.31 acres, 54.86 acres, and 50.91 acres for the purpose of sale and/or development. The subdivision will not require roadway frontage improvements and will not create any on-site roads. The proposed project is within the Agriculture land use category and is located on the southwest portion of the intersection of Ranchita Canyon Road and Cross Canyon Road, approximately 4 miles east of the community of San Miguel. The site is in the El Pomar-Estrella Sub-area in the North County Planning Area.

A Negative Declaration (pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq., and CA Code of Regulations Section 15000 et seq.) was issued on November 18, 2010 for this project. The Negative Declaration was approved by the Subdivision Review Board on January 10, 2011.

County File Number: N-EXT2023-00023

Supervisorial District: District 1 Assessor Parcel Number(s): 019-051-045, -046

Date Accepted: 04/27/2023

WHERE

The hearing will be held in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1055 Monterey Street, Room #D170, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. The Board of Supervisors Chambers are located on the corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets. At the meeting all interested persons may express their views for or against, or to change the proposal.

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 Lane Sutherland, Project Manager, in the Department of Planning and Building at the address below or by telephone at 805-788-9470.

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.

Ysabel Eighmy, Secretary Subdivision Review Board

May 18, 2023

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

The San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG) will hold a Public Hearing on June 7, 2023, to receive public testimony on Amendment No. 5 to the 2023 Federal Transportation Improvement Program (FTIP). The 2023 FTIP Amendment No. 5 consists of the following:

1) Incorporate Federal Community Project Funding requests supported, not yet funded, by Congressmembers Carbajal and Panetta, and US Senator Padilla (SR 227 Seg. 6 & 7 Edna Valley Trail PE/CON, El Camino Real Streetscape, Hwy 1 Chorro Valley Trail – CalPoly to Cuesta College, PE only.)

2) Deprogramming State funding FY25 ($6.6M) from Brisco Road Interchange

3) Deprogramming state Active Transportation Program (ATP) funding STIP FY23 ($2M) and ATP FY23 ($3.2M) from Templeton to Atascadero Connector. Total ($5.2M) deprogramming

4) Consolidate projects along SR 227 between City of SLO and Edna Valley including I/C at: Los Ranchos Rd, Buckley Rd, Biddle Rd and Crestmont Drive into one new Grouped category (~562 Grouped Projects for Intersection Channelization)

5) Deprogramming Highway Improvement Program FY21 funds, $250k from US 101/SR 46 E NB off ramp.

6) Grouped Projects for Purchase of new buses, including City of SLO new Electric Buses & Grouped Projects for Purchase of Operating Equipment for Buses

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/federaltransportation-improvement-program-ftip

Individuals wishing accessibility accommodations at this meeting, under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), may request such accommodations to aid hearing, visual, or mobility impairment (including Limited English Proficiency [LEP]) by contacting SLOCOG offices at (805) 781-4219. Please note that 48 hours advance notice is needed to honor your request. Please refer to www.slocog.org for the meeting agenda and further information. The public hearing will be held during the SLOCOG Board meeting that begins at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, in the County Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, County Government Center, 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, California. 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. May 18, 2023

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & BUILDING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

WHO County of San Luis Obispo Subdivision Review Board

WHEN Monday, June 5, 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 hearing to request a by Blue Rock Ventures for a Vesting Tentative Parcel Map (CO 21-0039 / N-SUB2021-00028) to subdivide a 6.35 acre Remainder Parcel (from Tract 3025) into three (3) 10,000-square foot parcels, one (1) 2.34-acre open space parcel that will include a 6,000-square-foot building envelope and one (1) 3.5 acre remainder parcel. The project will result in approximately 1.6 acres of site disturbance that will include approximately 2,700 cubic yards of cut and 2,700 cubic yards of fill. The proposed project is within the Residential Suburban land use category and is located on the east of Jordan Lane within the Urban Reserve Line of the unincorporated community of Templeton, in the Salinas River Sub Area of the North County Planning Area.

Also to be considered is the environmental determination. The Environmental Coordinator finds that the previously adopted Mitigated Negative Declaration is adequate for the purposes of compliance with CEQA because no substantial changes are proposed in the project which will require major revision of the previous Negative Declaration, no substantial changes occur with respect to the circumstance under which the project is undertaken which will require major revision of the previous Negative Declaration, and no new information of substantial importance has been identified which was not known at the time that the previous Negative Declaration was adopted.

County File Number: N-SUB2023-00024

Supervisorial District: District 1

Assessor Parcel Number(s): 040-313-023

Date Accepted: 01/27/2022

WHERE

The hearing will be held in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1055 Monterey Street, Room #D170, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. The Board of Supervisors Chambers are located on the corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets. At the meeting all interested persons may express their views for or against, or to change the proposal.

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 Holly Phipps, Project Manager, in the Department of Planning and Building at the address below or by telephone at 805-781-5600. 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.

Ysabel Eighmy, Secretary Subdivision Review Board May 18, 2023

NOTICE OF PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO. 657 OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, at the regular meeting of the City Council held on May 9, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. held in the Veterans Memorial Hall located at 209 Surf Street, Morro Bay, California, the City Council of the City of Morro Bay, introduced for first reading by title only with further reading waived, Ordinance No. 657, amending Section 10.56.010 of the Morro Bay Municipal Code to update speed limits and add new speed zones in the City of Morro Bay.

A certified copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance is available for public review on the City’s website at www.morrobayca.gov, and upon request by contacting the City Clerk’s office at (805) 772-6205.

The City Council will consider adoption of Ordinance No. 657 at the regularly scheduled meeting of May 23, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Hall located at 209 Surf Street, Morro Bay, California and via teleconference.

/s/ Dana Swanson City Clerk

Dated: May 11, 2023

Publish: May 18, 2023

SAN LUIS

OBISPO

Contact us today! 805-546-8208 classifieds@ NewTimesSLO.com

Bids received after said time will not be considered. Bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked with the project title, contractor name, address, and specification number.

The Contractor must possess a valid Class A Contractor’s License at the time of the bid opening. Every bid must be accompanied by a certified check/cashier’s check or bidder’s bond for 10% of the bid amount, payable to the City of San Luis Obispo.

Download FREE at the City’s website: www.SloCity.orgBid packages under Bids & Proposals. Questions may be addressed to Wyatt Banker-Hix, Project Manager, at 805-295-1609 or wbanker@slocity.org.

May 18, 2023

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of a Resolution Withdrawing from Serving as the Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) within the Estrella-El Pomar-Creston Water District (EPCWD) Service Area through Modification of the Boundaries of the “Paso Basin – County of San Luis Obispo Groundwater Sustainability Agency” (Paso Basin –County GSA) and Acceptance and Approval of the Addition of Party to the Memorandum of Agreement Regarding Preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin signed by the EPCWD; Authorizing the Director of Groundwater Sustainability to take Actions to Effectuate the GSA Boundary Modification; and Finding that the Project is Exempt from Section 21000 et seq. of the California Public Resources Code (CEQA) (Resolution).

Background

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (California Water Code Section 10720 et seq.) (SGMA) requires the formation of new groundwater management entities, namely GSAs, and the development and implementation of groundwater sustainability plans (GSPs) over all high and medium priority basins, as designated by the State.

On May 16, 2017, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing and adopted a resolution forming the Paso Basin – County GSA over all areas of the Paso Robles Area Groundwater Subbasin (Paso Basin) within the County not otherwise represented by a GSA. The adopted resolution includes reference to the County’s SGMA Strategy which acknowledges the possibility that a new eligible local agency may form within the boundaries of the Paso Basin – County GSA shortly after the GSA formation deadline under SGMA and contemplates that the Board of Supervisors may decide to take action to withdraw from serving as the GSA within that agency’s service area.

RESOLUTION NO. 29-23

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY, CALIFORNIA, DECLARING THE CITY’S INTENTION TO LEVY THE ANNUAL ASSESSMENT FOR CLOISTERS LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT PURSUANT TO THE “LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING ACT OF 1972” (STREETS AND HIGHWAYS SECTIONS 22500 ET.SEQ.) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023/24

T H E C I T Y C O U N C I L City of Morro Bay, California

WHEREAS, all property owners of the original Cloisters subdivision requested the City of Morro Bay form a maintenance assessment district to fund the maintenance of the Cloisters Park and Open Space; and

WHEREAS, the Landscaping and Lighting Act of 1972 (Streets and Highways Code sections 22500 et. seq.) (the “Act”) enables the City to form assessment districts for the purpose of maintaining public improvements; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 22623 of the Act, the City Engineer has filed in the Office of the City Clerk, and submitted for review to the City Council, a report entitled “CLOISTERS LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING MAINTENANCE ASSESSMENT DISTRICT 2023/24 ENGINEER’S ANNUAL LEVY REPORT,” dated April 28, 2023, prepared in accordance with Article 4 of the Act, commencing with Section 22565; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 22608.2 of the Act, the subdivider was required by City Ordinance to install improvements for which an assessment district was required to assure continued and uninterrupted maintenance of the Cloisters Park and Open Space; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to the intent of Article XIII, Section 4, of the California Constitution, the property owners have elected to form the Cloisters Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, at the regular meeting of the City Council held on May 9, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. held in the Veterans Memorial Hall located at 209 Surf Street, Morro Bay, California, the City Council of the City of Morro Bay adopted Urgency Ordinance No. 656, amending Section 10.56.010 of the Morro Bay Municipal Code to update speed limits and add new speed zones in the City of Morro Bay.

A certified copy of the full text of the proposed ordinance is available on the City’s website at www.morrobayca.gov, and upon request by contacting the City Clerk’s office at (805) 772-6205.

Ayes: Wixom, Barton, Edwards, Ford, Landrum

None

On December 8, 2017, the San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission filed a certificate of completion for the formation of the EPCWD—the EPCWD service area is located within the boundaries of the Paso Basin – County GSA. On January 4, 2018, the EPCWD Board of Directors held a public hearing during which it decided to become the GSA over portions of the Paso Basin within its service area, accepting and approving the Addition and requesting that the County withdraw from serving as the GSA within said service area. Although the initial request was rejected by the Board of Supervisors on March 6, 2016, the EPCWD Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to request again that the County withdraw from serving as the GSA within the EPCWD service area. In response, the Board of Supervisors directed staff to agendize the matter during its March 21, 2023 meeting; and the EPCWD Board of Directors subsequently held another public hearing to formalize its renewed request on May 10, 2023. Should the Board of Supervisors decide to adopt the Resolution such action would allow the EPCWD to join the County and other Paso Basin GSAs in the collaborative implementation of the single GSP that was developed for the Paso Basin.

Hearing Information

Date and Time: Tuesday, June 6, 2023, 9:00 A.M.

Location: San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors Chambers 1055 Monterey Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

Members of the public will be allowed to make oral and written comments during the hearing. Oral comments will be limited to 3 minutes per individual.

DATED: May 5, 2023

JOHN NILON, Interim County Administrative Officer and Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: /s/ Niki Martin, Deputy Clerk May

11 & 18, 2023

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay,

Section 1. The City Council approves the Engineer’s Report.

Section 2. It is the intent of the Council to order the annual levy and collection of assessments for the Cloisters Landscaping and Lighting Maintenance Assessment District at a public hearing to be held at the Regular City Council Meeting on June 27, 2023, at or about 5:30 p.m., at the Veterans Hall in Morro Bay.

Section 3. The improvements to be maintained at the Cloisters Park and Open Space are specified in the Engineer’s Report dated April 28, 2023, which is hereby approved.

Section 4. The assessment upon assessable lots within the district is proposed to total $148,944 or $1,241.20 per assessable parcel for Fiscal Year 2023/24.

Section 5. Staff is directed to continue the Major Maintenance/Capital Improvement Program that will address items requiring significant expenditures in future budget cycles with available capital fund balance until it is exhausted. Any projects identified with input from the community shall utilize surplus fund balance and shall be approved through the budget or budget amendment process by the City Council prior to implementation.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Morro Bay at a regular meeting held on this 9th day of May 2023 by the following roll call vote:

AYES: Wixom, Barton, Edwards, Ford, Landrum

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

RECUSED: None

/s/ Carla Wixom

Mayor, City of Morro Bay

ATTEST:

/s/ Dana Swanson City Clerk, City of Morro Bay

Dated: May 11, 2023

Publish One Time – May 18, 2023

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

TS No: CA07001552-22-1

APN: 060-241-022

TO No: 220670232-CA-VOI

(The above statement is made pursuant to CA Civil Code Section 2923.3(d)(1). The Summary will be provided to Trustor(s) and/or vested owner(s) only, pursuant to CA Civil Code Section 2923.3(d)

(2).) YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED July 21, 2015. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE.

IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDINGS AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER. On June 6, 2023 at 11:00 AM, In the breezeway adjacent to the County General Services Building, 1087 Santa Rosa Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408, MTC Financial Inc. dba Trustee Corps, as the duly Appointed Trustee, under and pursuant to the power of sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust recorded on July 29, 2015 as Instrument No. 2015038344, of official records in the Office of the Recorder of San Luis Obispo County, California, executed by YANCEY SUE VAN BAVEL, A SINGLE WOMAN, as Trustor(s), in favor of MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., as Beneficiary, as nominee for AMERICAN ADVISORS GROUP as Beneficiary, WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, in lawful money of the United States, all payable at the time of sale, that certain property situated in said County, California describing the land therein as: AS MORE FULLY DESCRIBED IN SAID DEED OF TRUST The property heretofore described is being sold “as is”. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 186 N 12TH STREET, GROVER BEACH, CA 93433 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be made without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the Note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust, with interest thereon, as provided in said Note(s), advances if any, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, estimated fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligations secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of this Notice of Trustee’s Sale is estimated to be $309,019.75 (Estimated).

However, prepayment premiums, accrued interest and advances will increase this figure prior to sale. Beneficiary’s bid at said sale may include all or part of said amount. In addition to cash, the Trustee will accept a cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, a check drawn by a state or federal credit union or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, savings association or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the California Financial Code and authorized to do business in California, or other such funds as may be acceptable to the Trustee. In the event tender other than cash is accepted, the Trustee may withhold the issuance of the Trustee’s

Deed Upon Sale until funds become available to the payee or endorsee as a matter of right. The property offered for sale excludes all funds held on account by the property receiver, if applicable. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. Notice to

Potential Bidders If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a Trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a Trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this

information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same Lender may hold more than one mortgage or Deed of Trust on the property. Notice to Property Owner The sale date shown on this Notice of Sale may be postponed one or more times by the Mortgagee, Beneficiary, Trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about Trustee Sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call Nationwide Posting & Publication at 916.939.0772 for information regarding the Trustee’s Sale or visit the Internet Website www.nationwideposting. com for information regarding the sale of this property, using the file number assigned to this case, CA07001552-22-1. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Website. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. Notice to Tenant NOTICE TO TENANT FOR FORECLOSURES AFTER JANUARY 1, 2021

You may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code.

If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call 916.939.0772, or visit this internet website www.nationwideposting.com, using the file number assigned to this case CA0700155222-1 to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase.

Date: April 19, 2023 MTC Financial Inc. dba Trustee Corps TS No. CA07001552-22-1 17100 Gillette Ave Irvine, CA 92614 Phone: 949-252-8300 TDD: 711

NPP0434043 To: NEW TIMES 05/11/2023, 05/18/2023, 05/25/2023 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 23CV-0199

To all interested persons: Petitioner: Cherri Elaine Neal filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Cherri Elaine Neal to PROPOSED NAME: Elaine Cherri Brielle

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: June 7, 2023, Time: 9:00 am, Dept. 4, in person or by zoom 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: April 13, 2023

/s/: Tana L. Coates, Judge of the Superior Court May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

NOTICE

TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE AND

INTEN

OF

TION

TO TRANSFER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE (UCC Sec. 6101 et seq. and B&P 24074 et seq.)

Exempt from fee per GC27388.1(a)

(1); Not related to real property (personal property only)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a bulk sale is about to be made. The name(s) and business address(es) of the Seller/Licensee is/are: Alberto Garcia Cansino, Garcia’s Pizza II, Inc., 539 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach, CA 93449

The business is known as: Gino’s Pizza.

All other business name(s) and address(es) used by the seller(s) within the past three years, as stated by the seller(s) is/are: Gino’s Pizza, 1761 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

The location in California of the chief executive office of the seller(s) (if same as above, so state): Same as above

The names and address(es) of the Buyer/Transferee is/are: Gino’s Pizza, LLC, 145 Tally Ho, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

The assets being sold are generally described as the furniture, fixtures, equipment, goodwill, tradename of that certain business known as Gino’s Pizza, 539 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach, CA 93449.

The kind of license to be transferred is: 412580-41 On-Sale Beer and Wine for Bona Fide Public Eating Place, now issued for the premises located at 539 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach, CA 93449.

The anticipated date of the sale/ transfer is June 5, 2023 at the office of Central Coast Business Brokers, 1405 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401.

The amount of the purchase price or consideration in connection with the transfer of the license and business, including the estimated inventory, is the sum of $350,000.00 designated as cash/checks ($350,000.00), promissory notes ($0), tangible and/ or intangible property ($0).

The parties to the transfer agree that the consideration for the transfer of the business and license, if any there be, is to be paid only after the transfer is approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Dated: May 5, 2023

Seller(s): Garcia’s Pizza II,Inc.

By: Alberto Garcia Cansino, President

Buyer(s):

By: Ronald C. Freeman, Managing Member Gino’s Pizza, LLC May 18, 2023

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 23CV-0210

To all interested persons:

Petitioner: Dain Andrew Sokolowski filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Dain Andrew Sokolowski to PROPOSED NAME: Dain Andrew Saba

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: June 8, 2023, Time: 9:00 am, Dept. 4, in person or by zoom 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: April 21, 2023

/s/: Rita C. Federman, Judge of the Superior Court May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF BULK SALE AND OF INTENTION TO TRANSFER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE

(UCC Sec. 6101 et seq. and B&P 24074 et seq.)

Exempt from fee per GC27388.1(a) (1); Not related to real property (personal property only)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a bulk sale is about to be made. The name(s) and business address(es) of the Seller/Licensee is/are: Alberto Garcia Cansino and Maria Consuelo Diaz, 1761 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

The business is known as: Gino’s Pizza.

All other business name(s) and address(es) used by the seller(s) within the past three years, as stated by the seller(s) is/are: Gino’s Pizza, 1761 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

The location in California of the chief executive office of the seller(s) (if same as above, so state): Same as above.

The names and address(es) of the Buyer/Transferee is/are: Gino’s Pizza, LLC, Managing Member), 145 Tally Ho, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

The assets being sold are generally described as the furniture, fixtures, equipment, goodwill, tradename of that certain business known as Gino’s Pizza, 1761 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

The kind of license to be transferred is: 561270-41 On-Sale Beer and Wine for Bona Fide Public Eating Place, now issued for the premises located at 1761 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

The anticipated date of the sale/ transfer is June 5, 2023 at the office of Central Coast Business Brokers, 1405 Garden Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401.

The amount of the purchase price or consideration in connection with the transfer of the license and business, including the estimated inventory, is the sum of $500,000.00 designated as cash/checks ($500,000.00), promissory notes ($0), tangible and/or intangible property ($0).

The parties to the transfer agree that the consideration for the transfer of the business and license, if any there be, is to be paid only after the transfer is approved by the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Dated: May 5, 2023

Seller(s):Alberto Garcia Cansino and Maria Consuelo Diaz

Buyer(s): Ronald C. Freeman, Managing Member Gino’s Pizza, LLC May 18, 2023 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 23CVP-0125

To all interested persons:

Petitioner: Kaiden Tyler Jackson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Kaiden Tyler Jackson to PROPOSED NAME: Kaiden Tyler Maloy

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: June 7, 2023, Time: 9:30 am, Dept. P2, in person or by zoom 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: April 14, 2023

/s/: Tana L. Coates, Judge of the Superior Court May 4, 11, 18, & 25, 2023

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL)

CASE NUMBER (Número del Caso):

22CVP-0314

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): JUAN J VALDEZ, YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A.

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 días, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DÍAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica 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 pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretario de la corte que le dé un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podrá quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin más advertencia. Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión 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 poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 ó más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y dirección de la corte es): PASO ROBLES BRANCH, SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, 901 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446

The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is (El nombre, la dirección y el número de teléfono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): CLAUDIA GAVRILESCU, ESQ. (CA BAR NO.: 333030), REESE LAW GROUP, 3168 Lionshead Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92010; 760/842-5850 (File No. 567824)

DATE (Fecha): 11/7/2022

MICHAEL POWELL, Clerk (Secretario), by C.M. KASTNER, Deputy (Adjunto) (SEAL) 5/18, 5/25, 6/1, 6/8/23

CNS-3697999# NEW TIMES

ORDER TO SHOW

CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE

NUMBER: 23CVP-0126

To all interested persons:

Petitioner: Fausto Angeles Gonzalez and Rubicela Hernandez Renteria filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: David Hernandez Angeles to PROPOSED

NAME: David Angeles Hernandez

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

Free Will Astrology

by Rob Brezsny

Homework: Make a pledge to the person you’ll be two years from now: a beautiful promise. Newsletterfreewillastrology.com

ARIES

(March 21-April 19): Aries dramatist Samuel Beckett, winner of the prestigious Nobel Prize for Literature, wrote 22 plays. The shortest was Breath It has no dialogue or actors and lasts less than a minute. It begins and ends with a recording of the cry of a newborn baby. In between there are the sounds of someone breathing and variations in the lighting. I recommend you draw inspiration from Breath in the coming weeks, Aries. Be succinct and pithy. Call on the powers of graceful efficiency and no-nonsense effectiveness. Relish the joys of shrewd simplicity.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20): In the coming weeks, you Bulls must brook no bullies or bullying. Likewise, you should tolerate no bullshit from people trying to manipulate or fool you. Be a bulwark of integrity as you refuse to lower your standards. Bulk up the self-protective part of your psyche so you will be invincibly immune to careless and insensitive spoilers. Your word of power is build You will align yourself with cosmic rhythms as you work to create situations that will keep you strong and stable during the next 12 months.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20): How much do you believe in your power to become the person you want to be? Ninety percent? Fifty-five? Twenty? Whatever it is, you can increase it in the coming weeks. Life will conspire with you to raise your confidence as you seek new ways to fulfill your soul’s purpose. Surges of grace will come your way as you strive with intense focus to live your most meaningful destiny. To take maximum advantage of this opportunity, I suggest you enjoy extra amounts of quiet, meditative time. Request help from the deepest core of your intelligence.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): Early in the 19th century, cultural researchers Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm gathered an array of old folk stories and published a collection of what we now call fairy tales. Because the two brothers wanted to earn money, they edited out some graphic elements of the original narratives. For example, in the Grimms’ revised version, we don’t get the juicy details of the princess fornicating with the frog prince once he has reverted to his handsome human form. In the earlier but not published stories of Rumpelstiltskin, the imp gets so frustrated when he’s tricked by the queen that he rips himself apart. I hope you will do the opposite of the Brothers Grimm in the coming weeks, Cancerian. It’s crucial that you reveal and expose and celebrate raw, unvarnished truths.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): Is there a job you would love to have as your primary passion, but it’s different from the job you’re doing? Is there a calling you would delight in embracing, but you’re too consumed by the daily routine? Do you have a hobby you’d like to turn into a professional pursuit? If you said even a partial yes to my questions, Leo, here’s good news: In the coming months, you will have an enhanced ability to make these things happen. And now is an excellent time to get underway.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Virgo-born Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a versatile virtuoso. He excelled as an essayist, biographer, playwright, editor, poet, and lexicographer. How did he get so much done? Here’s one clue. He took his own advice, summed up in the following quote: “It is common to overlook what is near by keeping the eye fixed on something remote. Present opportunities are neglected and attainable good is slighted by minds busied in extensive ranges and intent upon future advantages.” Johnson’s counsel is perfect for you right now, Virgo. Forget about the future and be focused on the present. Dive into the interesting work and play that’s right in front of you.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): I would love you to go searching for treasure, and I hope you launch your quest soon. As you gather clues, I

will be cheering you on. Before you embark, though, I want to make sure you are clear about the nature of the treasure you will be looking for. Please envision it in glorious detail. Write down a description of it and keep it with you for the next seven weeks. I also suggest you carry out a fun ritual to formally mark your entry into the treasure-hunting chapter of your life.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the coming weeks, you’ll be guided by your deep intelligence as you explore and converse with the darkness. You will derive key revelations and helpful signs as you wander around inside the mysteries. Be poised and lucid, dear Scorpio. Trust your ability to sense what’s important and what’s not. Be confident that you can thrive amid uncertainty as you remain loyal to your core truths. No matter how murky this challenge may seem, it will ultimately be a blessing. You will emerge both smarter and wiser.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): If you take the Bible’s teachings seriously, you give generously to the poor and you welcome immigrants. You regard the suffering of others as being worthy of your compassionate attention, and you express love not just for people who agree with you and share your cultural traditions, but for everyone. Numerous biblical verses, including many attributed to Jesus Christ, make it clear that living according to these principles is essential to being a good human. Even if you are not Jewish or Christian, Sagittarius, I recommend this approach to you. Now is an excellent time to hone your generosity of spirit and expand your urge to care for others.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In 1982, Capricorn actor Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role in the film Gandhi Then his career declined. In an animated movie in 1992, he voiced the role of an immortal frog named F.R.O.7. who worked as a James Bond-like secret agent. It was a critical and financial disaster. But Kingsley’s fortunes rebounded, and he was nominated for Academy Awards in 2002 and 2003. Then his trajectory dipped again. He was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor for four separate films between 2005 and 2008. Now, at age 79, he’s rich and famous and mostly remembered for the great things he has done. I suggest we make him your role model for the coming months. May he inspire you to emphasize your hits and downplay your misses.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): I’m devoted to cultivating the art of relaxation. But I live in a world dominated by stress addicts and frenzied overachievers. Here’s another problem: I aspire to be curious, innocent, and open-minded, but the civilization I’m embedded in highly values know-it-all experts who are very sure they are in command of life’s secrets. One further snag: I’m an ultra-sensitive creator who is nourished by original thinking and original feeling. And yet I constantly encounter formulaic literalists who thrive on clichés. Now here’s the good news: I am a successful person! I do what I love and enjoy an interesting life. Here’s even more good news, Aquarius: In the next 12 months, you will have a knack for creating rhythms that bring you closer than ever to doing what you love and enjoying an interesting life.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20): Most of us suffer from at least one absurd, irrational fear. I have a daft fear of heights, even when I’m perfectly safe, and a manic fear of mosquitoes dive-bombing me as I sleep, an event that has only happened four times in my life. My anxiety about running out of money is more rational, though, as is my dread of getting sick. Those worries help motivate me to work hard to earn a living and take superb care of my health. What about you, Pisces? Do you know which of your fears are preposterous and which make at least some sense? The coming weeks will be a favorable time to get a good handle on this question. Ask yourself: “Which of my fears are misdirected or exaggerated, and which are realistic and worthy of my attention?” ∆