Through the Grapevine

This year’s festival will feature local and out-of-county olive oil, olive, and lavender vendors showcasing their products, along with free olive oil tastings and unique olive oil ice cream from We Olive. There will also be lavender specialties to enjoy.

Paso Robles Olive & Lavender Festival Returns May 19

The Olive & Lavender Festival is returning for its 19th and 17th year, respectively, to Downtown Paso Robles this May. The popular event, which has grown over the years, showcases the healthy properties and culinary uses of olives, olive oil, and lavender, all of which are proudly grown in Paso Robles.

The Olive and Lavender Festival has successfully combined the two events for the last three years, creating one grand event to kick off the summer season. Gary and DeeDee Brown, owners of We Olive, introduced the idea of an olive festival to the Main Street Association 19 years ago. Shortly after, Lila Fuson of the Central Coast Lavender Farm had a similar idea for a lavender festival.

New to the festival is a partnership with the Paso Robles Distillery Trail and the California Coast Beer Company. The distillery trail members will be pouring spirits, featuring their Paso Robles Mule Bar using Root Elixirs and local ginger beer. The Paso Robles Distillery Trail, the only distillery trail in California, features 13 distilleries throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Guests can expect a distillery machine display for lavender oil, an olive oil distillery trailer, and cooking demonstrations using olive oil and culinary lavender. Additionally, seminars on the health benefits of both products will be available.

The Paso Robles Main Street Association event will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Paso Robles Downtown City Park. The event offers free admission, with a fee for the Distillery Trail and Cal Coast Beer

Co. beverages.

For more information, visit the Paso Robles Downtown Main Street Association’s website at pasoroblesdowntown.org.

CSCC Fryers Club Roast Sunday, May 7, at Terra Mia Cancer Support Community — California Central Coast (CSC), a local nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting cancer patients and their families, is hosting the 7th Annual Fryers Club Roast, a fundraising event to raise funds and awareness for their programs and services.

This year’s Fryers Club Roast will take place on Sunday, May 7, at Terra Mia and will feature Ali Rush of 15 Degrees C and a vibrant roasting panel of her friends, local celebrities, and industry colleagues. Plus, the afternoon will include both a live and silent auction full of exciting lots from trips and wine to dinners and more.

According to Candice Sanders, Executive Director of Cancer Support Community — CA Central Coast, “Our organization relies on the generosity of our donors and supporters for funding to provide critical mental, social, and emotional support to local families impacted by a cancer diagnosis. We are thrilled to host our 7th Annual Fryers Club Roast, which promises to be a fun and memorable evening for all involved. This event sells out every year, so rush to get your tickets while you can.”

Tickets for the event are available for purchase on the Cancer Support Community’s website at cscslo.org. Your ticket will include a live and silent auction, scrumptious tapas and small bites by local restauranteurs and caterers, delightful local wine and beer, and music by Dante Marsh and The Vibesetters.

“We still have a range of sponsorship opportunities available that include tickets, and prominent recognition at the event and in all promotional materials and proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships help us achieve our commitment to provide social, emotional, health and wellness support to local cancer patients and their families, within San Luis Obispo County, at no cost to them,” noted Sanders. accepted a check for $2,500 from the SLO County Garbagemens’ Association at the San Miguel Library’s grand reopening Touch-aTruck community event Wednesday.

If you would like to explore sponsorship opportunities, volunteer, or become involved with Cancer Support Community — CA Central Coast, please contact the organization at development@cscslo.org or call (805) 238-4411. For additional information about Cancer Support Community — CA Central Coast or the 7th Annual Fryers Club Roast, please visit cscslo.org.

Speaking over air horns and laughter from visitors exploring more than a dozen community and county vehicles on display at the Touch-a-Truck event, SLO County Garbagemens’ Association president Jeffrey Clarin said the group is always looking for ways to donate.

“Supervisor Gibson told us about the library in San Miguel, and we voted for this,” Clarin said. “We definitely want to support and give back to this community.”

The San Miguel Library closed temporarily last fall due to a retirement and the need to refresh the library’s interior. The library reopened in March with new bilingual manager Grant Thompson, who is bringing families back to the library for storytimes and other programs in English and Spanish.

San Miguel Library will offer additional spring break events for families through April 15. For more information about library events and County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries, visit SLOLibrary.org.