Volume 13 •
Issue 31 •
YOUR COMMUNITY IN YOUR HANDS
May 4 - 17, 2017
AVILA BEACH • SHELL BEACH • PISMO BEACH • GROVER BEACH • ARROYO GRANDE • HALCYON • OCEANO Five Cities Fire Authority Board Members Oceano Community Services Director Karen White, Grover Beach Mayor John Shoals, and Arroyo Grande City Councilwoman Barbara Harmon participate in a ceremonial changing of the fleet. See story below. Photo by Camas Frank.
Spirit Wednesday for Homeless at AG McLintocks
Five Cities Fire Celebrates and Commemorates
By Camas Frank
T
o set the scene: a small town saloon, 4 o’clock on a Wednesday afternoon empty except for five regular patrons at the bar and a reporter, who’s arrived a little too decidedly gung-ho. It takes his eyes moment to adjust, camera bag slung over shoulder and sunglasses still on from the bright afternoon. “It’s okay Buddy, you’re here already,” the bartender quips – a slow transition into a fundraising event to be sure, but an instructive one. The “Spirit Wednesdays” at F. McLintocks Saloon and Grill – 133 Bridge St. in Arroyo Grande, if you’re in the neighborhood – can be unpredictable. But then, says management, that’s why they host the near-weekly charity event. They don’t hold them in the summer or around major holidays, and the rest of the time there actually has to be a charity interested in coming or the event doesn’t happen. If the cards line up just right, the regulars, locals who stop by every once in awhile, and tourists alike, can come by and meet members of a charitable organization that are doing something in the community.
See McLintocks, page 34
Story and Photos by Camas Frank
T
he Five Cities Fire Authority had a lot going on April 27, hosting over a hundred people inside the hanger-like garage that normally houses their engines at the agency’s headquarters at 140 Traffic Way. There was much to celebrate, the welcoming of a shiny new addition to the fleet, with promotions of three firefighters to a crew. Yet there was some somberness with the retiring of the long serving Engine #4 and a moment of recognition for the end of the Chaplain Program which brought solace to so many over the years. Chaplains Randy Ouimette and George Lepper were honored for the three decades of service between them. Fire Chief Stephen (Steve) Lieberman alluded to the cause of the program’s end during the ceremony, citing geography as one of the issues in keeping it running. Afterwards, he said, “We were one of the few station’s lucky enough to have these guys but with Pastor Randy [Ouimette] retiring and George [Lepper] in Nipomo, you know that’s out side our service area,” said Lieberman. “I think they talked about it a long time ago that if ever one of them had to stop that would be it.” See Five Cities Fire, page 35
Small Business Spotlight Bee Wench Farm at North County Farmer’s Market
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