Morro Bay Life • September 2023

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Embracing the In-Between

As we say goodbye to the last echoes of summer and the days grow shorter, there is a subtle magic in the air that can only mean one thing: Autumn is descending upon us. September serves as a gentle transition between the laid-back allure of summer and the cozy hibernation of winter, creating an atmosphere of in-between that is ripe with possibility.

September in Morro Bay has always had a dual personality. On one hand, you have the sun still generously sharing its warmth, a nod to the summer days we are leaving behind. On the other hand, the cool breezes from the Pacific start to whisper secrets of the approaching winter, tickling the leaves of the eucalyptus trees and the sails of boats bobbing in the harbor.

This transitional season offers the best of both worlds. The crowds from the summer months have dissipated, allowing for quieter moments on the sandy shores and hiking trails. The sunsets, always breathtaking, seem to linger a bit longer as if even the sun is reluctant to say goodbye to this magical time of year. It’s also a period of inward trans-

“September is like a gentle hug from nature, wrapping us in a golden pause between summer’s laughter and winter’s whisper. It’s a month where each sunset promises a cozy tomorrow.”

formation, mirroring the changing colors of our surroundings. A time to adapt, much like the fall foliage preparing to hibernate through winter.

And then there are the little pleasures that accompany the cooler temperatures— those rituals that herald the onset of a season of warmth in a different sense. The cafes along Morro Bay Boulevard transition from iced teas to pumpkin-spiced lattes. Sweaters, previously tucked away in the depths of our wardrobes, make their grand re-entrance. The idea of a cozy evening cuddled up with a good book or a loved one becomes increasingly appealing. So here’s to autumn in Morro Bay, to this

exquisite time of in-between that offers us the chance to recalibrate, reevaluate, and, most importantly, relish the beauty of our community and the natural world that surrounds it.

As we wrap ourselves in knit fabrics and sip on warm, comforting drinks, let’s also wrap ourselves in the beauty and tranquility of this exceptional season.

Happy autumn!

We hope you enjoy this issue of Morro Bay Life.

Print making communities better

Correction | Updated Sept. 11, 2023

In our August 2023 issue, in the article “Morro Bay Recovery: Rodeway Inn closes and Recovery Center takes over,” we stated that “Rich Donald, former general manager of Rodeway Inn for the past two years, will now work as the clinical supervisor and program director as he is already a licensed substance abuse therapist.” In actuality, it should be “Rich Donald, former general manager of Rodeway Inn for the past two years, will now work as the Facility Manager and Outreach Coordinator.” Correction will be published in the October issue of Morro Bay Life.

~

SANDY CARINO Broker Associate Realtor® | Lic#02007590 (805)714 - 8223 scarino@pbnassoc.com homesbysandycarino.com

Medical Massage Therapy (818) 625-7490 Peace o f Mind Every Body Kneads Peace of Mind www.peaceofmind-massage-morrobay 26+ plus years of experience in Treating Structural & Pain Disorders Peace of Mind is a Place for healing and resting the mind, body & spirit 742 Morro Bay Blvd, Morro Bay, CA 93442 8260 Morro Road, Atascadero, CA 93422 Locations 2 • September 2023 • Morro Bay Life Making Communities Better Through Print™

If you know of a business or non-profit that deserves a spotlight, please send your nomination to our Ambassador’s Committee for review by emailing Lynsey Hansen at lynsey@morrochamber.org.

congratulations

Putting a Spotlight on Businesses

The Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce is putting a spotlight on local businesses! Spotlight Businesses are nominated and selected by fellow business owners in Morro Bay as a standout business with exceptional ownership.

Business spotlights recognize Chamber member businesses that provide a consistent, positive customer experience, are actively engaged in the community and demonstrate resilience during challenging times.

Please help us CONGRATULATE these businesses on their spotlight award by visiting their establishments, purchasing their products or services, and leaving good reviews online.

Find your shopping ideas by following us on Facebook, Instagram or morrochamber.org

For more information contact Lynsey Hansen, Membership Director at lynsey@morrochamber.org

Cayucos Vet’s Hall back on foundation

By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life

Work is progressing quickly in the rebuilding of the Cayucos Veteran’s Memorial Hall, as foundation work has been completed and the frameworks of the main building moved back where it will sit for about another 100 years.

Built in the 1870s, the Vet’s Hall started out as a warehouse for the shipping operations of Capt. James Cass, who built the hall and pier, plus the historic Cass House across the street, as part of a shipping operations that sent locally produced agricultural goods on ocean-going steamers.

The Vet’s Hall, as it is now known, was closed in 2016 after an inspection discovered severe structural problems, including a rotted-out western side (under the stage), and walls that were no longer connected to the roof.

Over the years it has become the heart of the community as a meeting place and events venue hosting such things as the Annual Seaglass Festival, 4th of July events, the Portuguese Festival, weddings and parties, concerts, and local advisory board meetings, as well as being the home of Cayucos Art Association Gallery.

The building was actually condemned by the State Architect’s Office and completely closed until it could be rebuilt.

As a historic structure, the Vet’s Hall had a tough row to hoe to preserve the historic nature of the

structure, and yet come into modern building code compliance, including raising it 2.5 feet in anticipation of sea level rise, while sticking to the historic look.

San Luis Obispo County hired Studio Design Group, Inc., in 2017 “to develop the construction documents according to the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for the rehabilitation of historic properties.”

As the county worked to cull together the funding for the project, the price tag rose until it topped $11 million by the time the project went out to bids.

The county had $5.95 million in hand for the project when the bids came in May 2022, including $471,600 from the general fund, $1.93 million of state aid, and $3.55 million of “internal bridge loans from the Tax Reduction Reserve Fund,” according to a county report. The total project cost was estimated at more than $11 million.

The winning bidder was JG Contracting of Nipomo which originally bid $9.5 million, but that amount was adjusted a couple of times through amendments to the scope of work, dropping the contract down to $8.5 million.

The new Vet’s Hall, which is slated to be completed sometime next year, will have a wraparound deck on the beach side and the Pier Plaza will now be on piles, instead of solid ground.

The iconic dolphin sculpture, created by famed sculptor and Cayucos native, Dale Evers, will remain, though it stands out like a sentinel while the Vet’s Hall is being rebuilt

Anti-Battery Energy Storage System petition drive over

By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life

Opponents of the proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Morro Bay have turned in far more petition signatures than needed to see their initiative placed on the ballot.

Barry Branin of Citizens For Estero Bay Preservation announced on Aug. 10 that they had finished a petition drive to put an initiative on the next ballot that would require the city to get voter approval to change the zoning on the power plant property to allow for Vistra’s BESS project.

“The committee members in just over two months collected 1,486 signatures in support of our initiative,” Branin said in a news release. “We are proud that the 2021 General Plan land use designation of North Embarcadero Road as Visitor Serving Commercial and Coleman Drive as Commercial/Recreational Fishing will be reaffirmed.”

The petitioners need 815 valid signatures to

qualify for the ballot.

City Clerk Dana Swanson will go through a verification process, and if enough signatures check out, she will present it to the City Council at either the Aug. 22 or Sept. 12 meetings.

The council will then decide whether to place the initiative on the March 2024 Primary Election (the next scheduled election), or vote to accept the initiative and codify it into law, as a previous council did with a petition drive that would have asked voters to ban overnight RV camping along the waterfront.

While not addressing the BESS Project by name, and extending its reach to include the so-called Measure D area — from Beach Street north on the Embarcadero — the petition’s general consensus is that if it passes, it will be at least a strong signal to the City Council about how voters feel about the project.

Mayor Carla Wixom was asked if she had a comment about the initiative’s milestone, and she declined, stating that it wouldn’t be right for her

to speak on a project that hasn’t been presented to the City Council yet.

She also declined comment when a reporter clarified that he wondered how she felt about the initiative and not the project itself. Also, she believes commenting could violate a Memorandum of Understanding the city signed with Vistra that promised to give the BESS Project a fair hearing.

In exchange, Vistra promised to tear down the old power station building and three smokestacks by 2028 or pay the city $3 million. Mayor Wixom said she predicted the City Council would vote to place the initiative on the ballot, most likely the March 2024 Primary Election.

Should it pass in March, it might get its trial balloon launched the following November, if the project is at a stage where a zoning change would be needed.

But, a new state law could derail everything:

Assembly Bill 205 gives the California Energy Commission the authority to take over permitting of so-called green energy projects if they hit a wall

on the local level.

The law gives companies/applicants the option of applying to the CEC for an AB 205 process and take over.

The law states that the CEC will honor the requirements and reviews of other state agencies, such as the Coastal Commission and State Fish & Wildlife, among others; however, it can override the local authority, too.

Already the issue is blowing up in the media, as a group of business people and former councilmembers recently published a letter in the New Times decrying the initiative as deceptive and warning that it could lead to losing local control and having the desires of the residents and the city ignored.

In response, the Citizens For Estero Bay Preservation point out that all the initiative does is put power into the hands of the voters and takes it away from a simple council majority (three of five members) making the decision on what promises to be the next big political dogfight in this sleepy little fishing village.

A look at the Cayucos Veteran’s Memorial Hall looking eastward from the Cayucos Pier, and the dozens of piles that have been driven into the ground to support the new deck structure. Photos by Neil Farrell

Here’s a look at the Cayucos Veteran’s Memorial Hall from the intersection of Ocean Avenue and Cayucos Drive.

The rear of the Cayucos Veteran’s Memorial Hall is still open after the historic building was moved off its rotted foundation, a new one built, and then moved back onto the foundation

Keeping the Bay Theatre reeling

For decades, the Jannopoulos family has maintained the Morro Bay theater for movie goers

By BLAKE ASHLEY FRINO-GERL for Morro Bay Life

Tin various states of wear and tear, but the single movie theater has been a mainstay in Morro Bay for others to enjoy and is now for sale again.

Marylou Jannopoulos and her late husband Jim have been running the Bay Theatre for the last 38 years, as mentioned in a KSBY article from June 2023. When they bought the theater on Morro Bay Boulevard from Ruth and Ted Morris, it was in bad shape, Marylou said. Acquiring what was originally constructed in 1942 as a single-screen motion picture theater by the Army Corps of Engineers when Morro Bay was an amphibious training base for World War II, the Jannopoulos family cleaned and renovated what was needed. While other obstacles have occasionally presented themselves, whether it be pipes bursting, debt, and even a pandemic, the family-run establishment always prevailed. They never

lost site of Morro Bay’s need for a movie theater, as well as kind customer service.

When the building was put up for sale two years ago, Marylou was determined to have a buyer that would keep it as a movie theater. The listing, initiated after COVID, was eventually removed. Being forced to shut down the theater for a year made it hard to maintain, especially having to run the facility’s digital aspects so they didn’t die out, like a car engine, Mary-

lou explained. Once the pandemic turned around, she was able to keep the theater going as usual, and decided to put the it up for sale again.

Still desiring a buyer to maintain the theater, Marylou says there is a solid potential buyer who will do just that.

However, there are also shoes to fill when it comes to customer service. While speaking with Marylou, a guest wanted to purchase a ticket 15 minutes into

“Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One,” and then came out five minutes later to briefly take a phone call. Marylou immediately asked if they would like to be reimbursed, which they kindly declined. When pointing out such hospitality, Marylou mentioned that she was appreciative of them taking the phone call outside. A few minutes later, a couple walked in asking where a public restroom was and she said the woman could use the theater’s. Marylou’s

overt kindness is a result of her customers’ respect. To run the business, Marylou has maintained the theater with integrity, intelligence, and understanding, all the while demonstrating a sense of hospitality to guests. Keeping the Bay Theatre running is hopeful due to the potential buyer continuing on what the Jannopoulos family has instilled within the bones of the historical building. Marylou said, “It is like one life ends and another one begins.”

Road Safety Workshop scheduled for Sept. 6 CITY

By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life

The City of Morro Bay wants to tap into a state grant program that would identify local roads to improve safety and citizens are invited to an upcoming workshop to discuss their concerns.

The city said in a news release that it is developing a so-called Local Roadway Safety Plan (LRSP) that will identify areas for roadway and safety improvements on local roads. The city has received grant funding from Caltrans to conduct this plan, which will develop potential safety improvement projects for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists and in turn, make the city eligible for future state roadway safety funding.”

The LRSP will:

• Identify high-risk crash areas with community input

• Analyze crash data, maintenance logs, and safety audits to develop a locally focused safety plan

• Proactively improve safety along local roads by proposing a list of prioritized safety projects

• Provide an implementation timeline for the prioritized list of improvement projects

Host events for communities to provide input and ask questions with the project team present.

The workshop is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Morro Bay Veterans Memorial Building, 209 Surf St. Visit tinyurl.com/morrobayroadsafetyplanworkshop to pre-register for the workshop, which is free to attend. Questions can be emailed to LRSP@morrobayca.gov.

Marylou Jannopoulos mans the register at the Bay Theatre in Morro Bay. Jannopoulos and here late husband Jim have operated the one-screen theater for the last 38 years.

Photo by Blake Ashley Frino-Gerl

Mayor deems new city manager ‘the perfect fit’

By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life

Anew era in Morro Bay’s city management began on Monday, Aug. 14, when Mayor Carla Wixom swore in a new city manager before a gathering of citizens and City staffers at the Community Center.

With hot coffee and doughnuts on hand for a snack, the city rolled out a welcome mat to new City Manager Yvonne Kimball.

Kimball is the permanent replacement for former City Manager Scott Collins, who left the city earlier this year to become the executive director for the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo. Collins was temporarily replaced by Interim CM Greg Carpenter, who oversaw the day-to-day operations of the city during the search that resulted in Kimball’s hiring.

Among the events at Kimball’s welcoming party was a beautiful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Morro Bay High School Choir President Jocelyn Ocampo Mateo.

Wixom said this was “a momentous day in Morro Bay,” adding that Kimball “brings a wealth of experience” to their leadership team.

The mayor praised Kimball as “the perfect fit for our vibrant community.” She said Kimball acknowledges the challenges that lie ahead for the City as they try to find a balance between “sustainable development and economic growth. We are thrilled to have you join our team.”

Kimball was also congratulated by a couple of state legislators, or at least their representatives, who presented her with certificates and resolutions on official documents (suitable for framing). Clint Weirick presented her with a certificate from State Senator John Laird’s Office; and Andrea Chmelik, a representative of Assemblywoman Dawn Addis, who is from Morro Bay, presented a certificate from the State Assembly.

Kimball was formerly the city manager in Jackson, California, a small town in the northern foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Kimball led Jackson, a town of some 5,000 residents, since 2017 and has over 15 years of city management experience. Before Jackson, Kimball was the town manager for Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona, from 2012-17, and was the city manager at Bowling Green, Florida, from 2008-11.

Kimball earned a Master’s of Public Administration degree with a focus on urban and regional planning from the University of Central Florida. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business english from the Tianjin Institute of Technology in China.

Kimball is just the second female city manager in town history after Andrea Lueker held the position for about eight years in the mid-2000s. She joins a city that has an all-woman City Council for the first time ever. The assistant city manager, Sarah Johnson-Rios, is also female, as are the chief of police, the city clerk, and harbor patrol chief, among others in the city leadership hierarchy.

For her part, Kimball was brief in her remarks at the swearing-in ceremony. “I really appreciate you and the staff and mayor for all you have done for me,” she said to the crowd of well-wishers. “Now, it’s time to roll up my sleeves and get to work. That’s all I have to say.”

And there will be plenty to work on, as the city heads for a showdown over a controversial proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, planned for the old power plant property.

A citizen’s petition drive to put an initiative on the March 2024 ballot has ended after just two months, as the petitioners recently turned in over 1,400 signatures in support of the initiative, far more than the 815 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot.

It now falls on the City Clerk’s Office to verify the signatures and present the initiative to the City Council, which is expected to vote to place it on the ballot.

The initiative would require the city to get voter approval to change the zoning at the power plant property to accommodate the BESS. The zoning currently is “commercial-visitor serving (C/V-S) and will have to be changed to allow the battery facility to be built.

Morro Bay Life asked Wixom if she had a stance on the initiative and she declined, saying it would be improper to take a side when the council has yet

EVENT

to have the project submitted for their perusal let alone approval.

Taking a side early on might also violate a memorandum of understanding that the city (under former Mayor John Headding) signed with Vistra Energy promising to give the BESS project a fair hearing.

Also, in that MOU is a provision that Vistra will tear down the three smokestacks and 16-story power station building by 2028 or pay the city $3 million. The city is currently in the environmental review stage of the massive 600-megawatt project that if built as proposed, would be the largest battery facility in the world.

The initiative, which is opposed by many business people and the Chamber of Commerce, promises to be the next political battleground in a town that seems to have no dearth of controversial issues to contend with.

Sheriff’s Family Day returns: Join San Luis Obispo County Sheriff for a fun-filled community event

By IAN PARKINSON San Luis Obispo County Sheriff

Remember those scenes in the movie “Toy Story” when Sheriff Woody lets loose with one of his catchphrases like “There’s a snake in my boots” or “Reach for the sky!” Well, the one I like the most is, “You’re my favorite deputy.” That’s because, on September 9, everybody gets to be my favorite deputy. That’s right, Sheriff’s Family Day is back for another year.

The Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation has sponsored Sheriff’s Family Day at the Madonna Inn Meadows in San Luis Obispo every year since 1996. After being canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of COVID, the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation brought it back last year. And the reception was wonderful. Big crowds showed up. I feel like people were ready to be outside, enjoy each other’s company, and just get back to our normal Central Coast way of life.

If you’ve never been to Sheriff’s Family Day, let me give you some background. It began in 1996 under then-Sheriff Ed Williams. It was a collaboration between Sheriff Williams

and members of the nonprofit public benefit organization Sheriff’s Advisory Council (now called the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation). At that time, it was called Sheriff’s Family Day at the Ranch. And while the name has been shortened, there is still plenty for the whole family to enjoy. And best of all, it’s free. We like free.

There’s something for everyone at Sheriff’s Family Day. There are all kinds of displays and demonstrations like the Sheriff’s Posse, Search and Rescue, and the Sheriff’s SWAT vehicle. You can check out emergency response helicopters, along with demonstrations featuring the Jaws of Life, Bomb Task Force, and of course, everyone’s favorite, the Sheriff’s K9s. And we have a special emcee this year, newly retired Sheriff’s Sgt. Jeff Nichols.

In addition, there are free T-shirts, hot dogs, junior sheriff badge stickers, coloring books, and bike raffle tickets for all children up to age 12. And as I like to remind people, we will have two sheriffs there that day, yours truly, along with my famous movie pardner Sheriff Woody from “Toy Story.” And have I mentioned it’s all free?

This is a great opportunity to meet the men

and women who are sworn to protect and serve. It allows the public to see we are your neighbors and friends, and we all want the same thing: a safe and secure community. It’s an opportunity to get a sneak peek behind the badge to see how we do what we do.

As always, this event is hosted by the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation. Let me tell you about the good work this worthwhile organization does for the community. Quite simply, it is a local nonprofit that provides additional funding and support to the Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies in San Luis Obispo County. They do great work by providing additional funding for programs like our K9 Unit and buying much needed equipment for law enforcement.

You may be asking yourself, this sounds like a great event, when is it happening? Well, mark your calendar. This year’s Sheriff’s Family Day is Saturday, September 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Madonna Inn Meadows in San Luis Obispo. Another question you may have, is there a cost to attend? Nope. As I may have mentioned, the whole thing is free. Hope to see you there.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson poses with Woody at a previous Sheriff’s Family Day. Contributed Photo

Morro Bay High Choir President Jocelyn Ocampo Mateo belts out “The Star-Spangled Banner” during City Manager Yvonne Kimball’s swearing-in ceremony. (Right photo) From left are City Councilmembers Laurel Barton, Jen Ford, Cyndee Edwards, Zara Landrum, Mayor Carla Wixom and City Manager Yvonne Kimball. Photos by Neil Farrell

New Morro Bay City Manager Yvonne Kimball (center) poses with the fire department crew and Fire Chief Dan McCrain (far left) at Kimball’s swearing-in ceremony Aug. 14. (Right photo) City Manager Yvonne Kimball, left, accepts a certificate/resolution passed by the State Assembly from Andrea Chmelik, who represented Assemblywoman Dawn Addis.

Savoring the Last of Summer’s Bounty

By BEEWENCH FARM

With fall around the corner, it’s time to get your favorite summer fruits and veggies before they are gone. Now is also a great time to get some tasty and healthy snacks to pack for you and your kids’ lunches. Most of our farmers offer taste tests of their produce, so bring the kids to the market and have them pick out their favorites. Personally, my kids are more likely to eat what is in their lunch box if they helped pick it out, so they love coming to the market.

If you are looking for more in-season produce, here is what to look for:

We all love the summer fruit, but the veggies

Fruits:

Strawberries

Blackberries

Raspberries

Peaches

Nectarines

Plums

Figs

Melons

Grapes

Apples

Pears

Vegetables:

Sweet Onions

Green Beans

Cucumbers

Summer Squash

Corn

Bell Peppers

Tomatoes

Eggplant

Hot Peppers

Artichokes

Sweet Potatoes

Parsnips

available now are so flavorful. I love just mixing up a bunch and tossing them in the skillet with my favorite seasonings and local olive oil. I usually cook up some sausage in the skillet first and that makes the veggies even tastier after they have cooked in a little bit of juices from those. We have great local butchers and Ben’s Meats always has a variety of delicious flavors of sausages to choose from at the Morro Bay Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning.

The best sweet onions I have ever had were grown by Becky at Jack Creek Farms. If you love to add onions to your skillets and meals, you must stop by and check out the farm off 46 West. We got a bunch from them last year and I still have some because I chopped them and froze them to

use throughout the year. Not only do they grow some of the best produce, but they have a great area to keep the kids entertained and an amazing pumpkin patch in October.

This veggie and sausage skillet dinner makes an easy and delicious weeknight dinner. I can easily add some of the sausage to mac & cheese for the kids and mix the rest in with the veggies for the veggie lovers. I usually just eat the sausage and veggies, but they are also great served over some rice, noodles, with potatoes, or with some fresh sourdough bread.

Summer Veggie and Sausage Skillet Dinner

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil (pick a favorite from the Groves on 41 samples)

• 4 sausages. Cook and then slice into 1/4” circles

• 2 medium zucchinis, cubed

1 onion, cut into 3/4-inch pieces (close to same size as zucchini)

• 1 bell pepper, any color, cut into 3/4-inch pieces (close to same size as zucchini)

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1/2 tsp dried oregano

• 1/2 tsp dried basil

• 1/4 tsp garlic powder

• 1/4 tsp onion powder

• 1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp garlic, minced Cherry tomatoes (optional)

• Fresh basil (optional)

• Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions:

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add sliced sausage. Sauté, flipping sausage frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes or until sausage have some browning. Remove from pan, let cool, and slice into smaller rounds.

Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons of oil to skillet with the zucchini, onion, bell pepper, and cherry tomatoes (optional). Sprinkle with salt, oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Stir. Let cook until the onion is translucent and peppers and zucchini are close to tender, about 5 to 10 minutes. If adding in the cherry tomatoes, I like to cook them until

they burst a little and get that roasted flavor. I’m the only one in my family that likes tomatoes, so I usually just add them in to my own dish at the end. Add sausage back to the skillet along with

minced garlic. Stir. Cover so everything heats through for 1 to 2 minutes. Taste. Add extra salt if desired. Garnish with chopped fresh basil and parmesan cheese (optional).

SEPTEMBER Calendar of Events

SEPTEMBER 1

FIRST FRIDAYS IN

DOWNTOWN ATASCADERO

THE PLAZA ON EL CAMINO, ATASCADERO

6pm

Enjoy a music featuring classic rock, country, and R&B from Deja-Vu Band. While listening to the music, you can purchase items from the available food trucks.

SEPTEMBER 2-4

ART IN THE PARK

MORRO BAY TRIANGLE PARK, MORRO BAY

10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday; 10am-4pm

Monday

The 67th annual art show offers artists and crafts people an outdoor setting to display and sell their creations. There will be a wide variety of food and drink available at the festival. For more information, visit morrobayartinthepark. com

SEPTEMBER 2-4 AND 9-10

WATERFRONT MARKET

1001 FRONT STREET, EMBARCADERO IN MORRO BAY

10am-4pm

SLO Vendors Association brings the an all-encompassing water market of vendors to sell and trade water related activities gear.

SEPTEMBER 7, 14, 21, AND 28

TUNES AT TIDELANDS

TIDELANDS PARK

339 EMBARCADERO, MORRO BAY

5-7pm

Tunes at Tidelands is a free concert series being hosted by the Morro Bay Active Adults (55+) and the City of Morro Bay. The 4-week concert package starts on Thursday, September 7, and runs every Thursday night through the month of September. This year we are presenting Unfinished Business, Shameless, Riff Tide and Back Pages

Band, which represent the best “oldies” music in the County.

SEPTEMBER 9

10TH ANNUAL BREW AT THE ZOO — TAKE TWO!

CHARLES PADDOCK ZOO

5:30-8:30 pm

Join us at Charles Paddock Zoo for Brew at the Zoo — celebrating its 10th Annual event. Sample craft beers, spirits, ciders, seltzers, and wine. Enjoy contests, entertainment, and delicious food. Tickets available online. Dress like a Party Animal for a chance to win prizes. All proceeds support the zoo.

SEPTEMBER 16

INTERNATIONAL RED PANDA DAY

PADDOCK ZOO

Enjoy Zookeeper talks, interactive games, coloring, and fun drawing activities. Learn about red panda conservation efforts with the Red Panda Network. Free activities with Zoo admission. Informative and fun for all ages. General admission prices apply. Visit charlespaddockzoo.org or call (805) 461-5080 for more informatio

SEPTEMBER 20

CALIFORNIA SURFING DAY

MORRO BAY, VARIOUS LOCATIONS

All Day

The state now has an official ‘California Surfing Day’ for people to ‘stop, drop and surf.’ On September 20, join us in Morro Bay as we celebrate. With miles of pristine beach you can’t help but find a great place to spend the day surfing. Bring your own board and wet suit or rent equipment

SEPTEMBER 23

SLO COUNTY CREEKS TO COAST CLEANUP VARIOUS LOCATIONS

9am-12pm