New Times, Aug. 7, 2025

Growing minds

Local students learn empathy [6], county ed offices look beyond numbers [8], and nonprofits help kids grow veggies [12]

BY NEW TIMES STAFF

Editor’s note

For our annual Education Today issue, we delve into various aspects of student growth. In Paso Robles, the community wants its kids to be more empathetic, so the district held inclusion and excellence training. Staff Writer Libbey Hanson spoke with the district and Diversity Coalition of SLO about the results [6] Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal gets behind the stats for local county education office-run schools, which help the most at-risk students [8], and Sun Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood digs into the soil with Explore Ecology and One Cool Earth, local nonprofits that enable students to grow and enjoy their own vegetables [12] Also in this issue, read about what SLO County is doing with a Homeland Security grant [4]; the theater that’s kept melodrama alive for 50 years [26]; and the local woman honored for importing stellar German wine [34]. Andrea Rooks associate editor

photo courtesy of One Cool Earth cover design by Alex Zuniga

Locals concerned Homeland Security funding for SLO County Sheriff could aid ICE

Some San Luis Obispo County residents are worried that the Board of Supervisors’ approval of a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant for the Sheriff’s Office could encourage local law enforcement to bolster Immigration and Custom Enforcement’s (ICE) crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

“I think it’s a naïve amount of optimism to believe that what the sheriff is getting is not going to be used for immigration enforcement to some degree,” resident Rita Casaverde told New Times. “I think there is a difference in commentary from the Democrat and Republican supervisors, but today they voted the same.”

Worth $316,482, the unanimously approved funding comes from the $373.5 million State Homeland Security program for fiscal year 2024. The program is part of the larger $1 billion Homeland Security grant program that aims to prevent, mitigate, and respond to terrorist acts and other threats, according to the Department of Homeland Security website.

SLO County, through the Office of Emergency Services, plans to use the money for equipment like helmet-mounted night vision binoculars, drones, and door-breaching tools for the Sheriff’s Office and regional SWAT teams; mercury vapor monitoring equipment, a methane gas leak detector, and an ultrasonic leak detector for county fire; and plexiglass security barriers and electronic door access control locks for the county elections office.

The county slotted the grant approval as a consent agenda item for the Aug. 5 Board of Supervisors meeting. But the topic drew attention from people like Casaverde who spoke out against

the green light during public comment and through letters to the supervisors.

“It also directly conflicts with California SB 56 law, which prohibits our local law enforcement from using resources to assist federal agencies like ICE,” county resident Debbie Appelbaum told supervisors. “Given that peaceful protesters have been labeled as ‘domestic violent extremists,’ accepting this grant could lead to surveillance of First Amendment activities in our community.”

Central Coast farmworkers and unauthorized immigrants are on high alert because of immigration enforcement activity across the country under the Trump administration. Reportedly, ICE agents are increasingly wearing masks during raids and arrests—a practice that’s caused controversy because of the anonymity granted to agents.

According to a U.S. deportation tracker created by NBC News, 56,579 migrants are in ICE detention facilities as of Aug. 1. The Tribune reported in June that ICE made 40 arrests of suspected undocumented immigrants at farms in Oxnard and Santa Maria. In July, the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors criticized the lack of information surrounding the ICE raids at Glass House Farms sites in Carpinteria and Camarillo.

SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson told the Board of Supervisors that misinformation about local law enforcement’s interaction with ICE is rampant.

“The money is passed through the state, passed through to us,” he said. “If there was suspicion of something being given specifically for immigration enforcement, I don’t think it would get approved through the state.”

Parkinson added that law enforcement’s contact with ICE changed with the passage of the Trust Act, which prohibits a law enforcement official from detaining someone beyond the point they become eligible for release from custody if ICE requests an immigration hold for them.

ALL QUIET ON THE NORTHERN FRONT While 1st District Supervisor John Peschong (pictured) and 5th District Supervisor Heather Moreno didn’t address immigration enforcement methods, Peschong said he trusts District Attorney Dan Dow. Dow appeared on a Fox News segment in July, stating the Department of Homeland Security is doing “everything they can to do their job.”

Gifford Fire scorches more than 83,000 acres east of Santa Maria

Less than a week after the Madre Fire was declared 100 percent contained, it was dethroned by the Gifford Fire as California’s largest wildfire of the year.

Both wildfires impacted several areas along Highway 166, prompting evacuation warnings and orders across different parts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.

While the Madre Fire encompassed about 80,700 acres before it was deemed contained on July 26, the Gifford Fire has burned more than 83,000 acres since it began on Aug. 1.

The crossover between areas impacted by both

Last year, the Sheriff’s Office received eight such requests from ICE. One person signed off on the release form to speak with the federal agency, according to Parkinson.

“The only contact that I can have with ICE about an arrestee in jail is if that person has committed and convicted of one of the given

fires resulted in a silver lining for firefighters at one border of the Gifford Fire, according to Don Fregulia, California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 operations section chief.

“Fortunately, the Madre Fire’s helping us out quite a bit with containment here on the northeast side of the [Gifford] fire,” Fregulia said during an Aug. 5 virtual update from the incident management team.

Fregulia was referring to the eastern flank of the Gifford Fire, which the U.S. Forest Service described as “mostly stabilized, largely into the recent Madre Fire” in an Aug. 5 press release.

The northwest border of the Gifford Fire is a different story, Fregulia explained.

“As we move around to the northwest end of this fire, we’re having some challenges out there. The terrain’s extremely rugged. And access is a problem

violent felonies,” he said. “There is a federal warrant ... signed by a federal judge ... saying this person must be detained. ... Those are the only exceptions.”

Office of Emergency Services Director Scotty Jalbert told New Times that the Homeland Security grant has been around since 2001, back when it was called the State Domestic Preparedness Equipment program. SLO County applied for the grant in 2024.

“Please remember that DHS is bigger than ICE,” Jalbert said. “It also includes Customs and Border Protection, Citizenship and Immigration Services, Coast Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, then Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, Cybersecurity, and the Secret Service.”

The supervisors stressed that the grant doesn’t come with “strings attached” to aid ICE.

While 2nd District Supervisor Bruce Gibson and 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its efforts, they objected to the way in which ICE detained people.

“What we’ve seen from ICE is inhumane, it’s illegal, it’s immoral, and frankly, it’s un-American,” Gibson said. “In these chambers, we typically have the sycophants of the Trump administration coming to tell us how wonderful things are ... and they were notably silent this day.”

Third District Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg said that the board supports the immigrant community “completely,” and issued advice to the public.

“Let’s try really hard to avoid hyperbolic approaches to things, and when it comes to this grant in particular, understanding that DHS and the pictures that we see today is different from the DHS [that] was there to help in terrorist attacks,” she said.

First District Supervisor John Peschong and 5th District Supervisor Heather Moreno didn’t comment on immigration enforcement. Moreno recommended the public attend National Night Out to mingle with local law enforcement.

“I do not believe that [by] accepting this money that I’m losing the trust of the community I was elected to represent,” Peschong said. “I do trust our District Attorney Dan Dow, I do trust our Sheriff Ian Parkinson, and I do trust our Emergency Services Director Mr. Jalbert.”

Casaverde, who is the former SLO County Democratic Party chair, said she is dissatisfied with the board’s response.

“It’s disappointing that they said that the sheriff is doing a good job,” she said. “[The Sheriff’s Office] is not communicating information about ICE properly. Only people in the know are aware. Supervisor Peschong mentioned the District Attorney when we know the District Attorney went on Fox News recently applauding the DHS.” ∆

—Bulbul Rajagopal

for us,” Fregulia said during the Aug. 5 update. “We know that there’s ranches. We know that there’s quite a bit of structures to the northwest end of this fire.”

The cause of the Gifford Fire—threatening more than 1,200 structures and 9 percent contained as of Aug. 6—remains under investigation. Ongoing firefighting efforts have included 2,300 personnel, more than 100 fire engines, and dozens of dozers and aircrafts.

Since Aug. 2, volunteers from the American Red Cross have manned temporary evacuation points at Benjamin Foxen Elementary School, at 4949 Foxen Canyon Road near Sisquoc, and the Cuyama Valley Family Resource Center, at 4689 Highway 166, New Cuyama.

FILE PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM

“It’s 11-hour shifts for us as long as we’re here,” volunteer Ray Houser said in front of his outdoor work station—a portable table lined with water bottles, cookies, and N95 masks on the blacktop of Benjamin Foxen Elementary’s basketball court.

“We’re here primarily to provide information, … snacks, and drinks,” said Houser, who described the temporary evacuation point as a respite for evacuees and others impacted by Gifford Fire. The location hadn’t become an overnight shelter yet, as of Aug. 6.

County officials and the Red Cross would likely identify an alternative spot where “we’d set up cots, … and get blankets and pillows,” if the need for a shelter comes up, Houser explained.

The elementary school is located on the southern cusp of one area of unincorporated Santa Barbara County that was issued an evacuation warning but not an evacuation order, as of Aug. 6. The warning advises area residents to be prepared to leave at any time, without mandating an evacuation.

Residents of Sisquoc and other parts of the Santa Maria Valley facing anxiety about the potential for a sudden shift between warning and order have been among the evacuation point’s visitors seeking clarity about the Gifford Fire. For real-time alerts, Houser recommends installing the Watch Duty app.

“We’re basically able to give information that we have or might be able to pass along to people if they have concerns about the fire or where it’s going, or how far it’s advanced,” said Houser, a nine-year volunteer with the Red Cross.

“After I retired, I was looking for an opportunity to give back and this was an opportunity to give back,” the Arroyo Grande resident said. “I stuck with it.”

—Caleb Wiseblood

Survivor of alleged sexual assault files suit against former Hancock instructor, Mason Bar

Former Allan Hancock College instructor Kevin Daily, who’s facing a case of alleged sexual assault stemming from charges filed by the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office, is now being sued by the survivor of the reported abuse.

Jacqueline Doe—the woman identified in the DA’s Office complaint from 2022—sued Daily on May 9 for sexual battery, gender violence, and fraudulent transfer of assets.

A case management hearing is set for Doe’s case against Daily in October. The DA’s Office case against him experienced several delays, with the jury trial being delayed three times—most recently, the Aug. 4 trial date was postponed to Sept. 15.

Doe further alleged in her complaint that video footage captured Daily carrying her out of the bar. She reportedly regained consciousness in Daily’s car, with him on top, assaulting her by nonconsensual penetration, the complaint said.

Following the discovery of bruising on different parts of her body, the lawsuit states, a forensic examination conducted a few days after the alleged assault confirmed DNA matching Daily’s. The complaint added that Daily admitted to performing nonconsensual intercourse in a recorded pretext call arranged by law enforcement on May 10, 2022.

“Plaintiff informs and believes, based on statements from multiple acquaintances, that Daily exhibited obsessive behavior toward plaintiff for over a decade, targeting her as a woman, which motivated his assault,” the complaint said.

Doe claimed in her lawsuit that she suffered severe PTSD, panic attacks, and insomnia that prevented her from leaving her home— ultimately blocking her from taking legal

in Nipomo to a living trust controlled by his mother, Doe’s complaint said.

“The transfer, made without consideration, was intended to hinder, delay, or defraud plaintiff,” the lawsuit said.

In a previous New Times report, Doe said that Daily worked at Hancock for six or seven months after his arrest. Hancock confirmed to New Times in May 2023 that he no longer worked for the college.

Guy Galambos, Daily’s attorney in the DA’s Office felony case, didn’t respond to New Times’ request for comment by press time. Daily isn’t the sole defendant in Doe’s lawsuit. She’s also suing Mason Bar for negligence, for failing to implement security measures, and for negligent hiring, supervision, and retention.

“Mason Bar staff observed plaintiff’s collapse and Daily’s predatory behavior but failed to intervene, monitor her safety, or prevent Daily from removing her, breaching their duty to protect patrons,” the complaint said.

Mason Bar spokesperson Mercedes Meier New Times that they are committed to upholding the highest standards for the health and welfare of their staff and guests.

“We are saddened by what happened to Ms. Doe, but we wholly deny any wrongdoing,” Meier said. “In 2022, we fully cooperated with the police investigation and willingly provided all available surveillance of the incident. Ms. Doe’s accusations do not accurately reflect the events that occurred at

—Bulbul Rajagopal

Teaching empathy

SLO County nonprofits and school districts promote empathy amid disconnected students

Today’s educators don’t just feel the pressure to teach students to read, write, add, and subtract—they also feel the responsibility of ensuring their pupils leave the K-12 school system as more empathetic human beings.

EDUCATION TODAY

At least that’s what Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) and the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo are working toward for the county’s youngest students.

Last October, PRJUSD implemented its first Academic Inclusion and Excellence Training to help its staff address a district-wide issue of students using racial slurs in the classroom.

District Superintendent Jennifer Loftus said the district noticed students increasingly using the “N-word” starting as early as the second grade, a behavior that would progress into high school.

“Our students and our parent community have expressed over the last couple of years a great deal of distress about how casually that word is used in our school environment, and so we took a stance in the last school year that that kind of language is not appropriate at school,” Loftus said.

At a November 2024 PRJUSD school board meeting, district staff specified that the diversity training would not only better equip district educators to address the use of harmful language but help the district to identify how it may be setting its own marginalized students back systematically.

Loftus said both of these areas of work are continuing into the 2025-26 school year.

“We have groups of students who are very successful in school, and we have groups of students who are not having success in school. We want to ask ourselves, what can we do during the school day to maximize the number of students who are achieving success, right?” she said. “Sometimes we find that we have things happening in our system that are unintentional—that have created barriers for groups of students.

“So how can we take those barriers away so that we’re not unintentionally creating barriers for students, even with the best of intentions.”

Loftus said, for example, if an English-

learning student is focused on taking language-learning courses, they are missing out on other courses that could help them beyond high school, she said.

“Are there ways to manipulate that schedule, or to allow them options so that they can also take the classes that they need to take for dual enrollment or for post-high school success? And if there is, why not open that up for them?” she said. “We find that often there are things like that that we can do that don’t take away from anyone else.”

When it comes to racial slurs, Loftus said that district staff have already reported feeling more confident addressing the issue right in the classroom since the diversity training started.

“If you’ve not had that conversation before, it’s hard to know how to navigate it because you don’t know how your students are going to respond. … You have to be able to pivot based on the feelings and the emotions in the room of the students that you have,” Loftus said. “When we left that training last year, many staff expressed, through their feedback, that they felt as though they had some tools in their back pocket that they could use. They felt as though they had strategies that they didn’t have when they walked in.”

And students are also noticing the difference, expressing that they now have an opportunity to amplify their own voice at school.

“I think that in talking with students myself, they shared with me specifically that they felt that … with regard to the use of the N-word, they appreciated the conversation, and they felt that it got better in some ways,” Loftus said. “One of the things the conversation did was that many of their teachers had the conversation in their classroom, and they allowed a safe space for

students to talk about how that impacted them when that language was used around them, and why that wasn’t OK.”

She added that she thinks the most important thing is that the students who were uncomfortable feel heard, “and that somebody is trying to help them have a voice in this place where they didn’t feel as though they had a voice before.”

Nonprofit Diversity Coalition of SLO provides perspective in another way for the county’s K-12 students by offering the opportunity to connect face-to-face with those who survived historically significant events like the Holocaust and genocide.

Kathleen Minck, a retired Lucia Mar teacher, is the director of the Diversity Coalition that’s been organizing school speakers for the past 10 years or so.

The local nonprofit organization provides about 16 free assemblies per year to schools across the county, featuring speakers including Holocaust survivors, Ukrainian refugees, and Native American elders.

“It exposes them to stories and lived experiences that they haven’t heard of before,” Minck said. “This past year, we have focused more on the immigrant community, the refugee community, because of what’s going on in the news, and we want to make sure that the children see these people who have experienced such an upheaval in their

‘A key indicator of empathy is you understand that how you act, how you treat others, has an impact on them. That you can empathize with how they’re feeling.”

Jennifer Loftus, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District superintendent

MASSAGE SCHOOL in

lives firsthand, and we want to humanize them for the students.”

The school speakers program provides three primary benefits to students, Minck said. First, the students get to learn about history. Second, students are exposed to people who don’t look like them. And the third is that some marginalized students get to identify with the speaker, and this enhances their sense of self.

“We went to Paso Robles High School with our Cambodian refugees, and a young boy in the back—there were like 200 people in this big auditorium that they have—and a young boy in the back, during the Q-and-A, he raised his hand, and he said, ‘I’m Cambodian.’ He said, ‘I’ve been embarrassed to say that to anybody, but now I’m proud of it,’ and that just really touched me,” Minck said, her voice shaking. By providing more education and dialogue around diversity, PRJUSD Superintendent Loftus said, the district hopes it will help create more understanding students, especially after it had heard from the community last spring that it wanted its graduating students to have more empathy.

“A key indicator of empathy is you understand that how you act, how you treat others, has an impact on them. That you can empathize with how they’re feeling,” she said. “We just have to remind ourselves and remind our students that our words have power, right?

“Our actions have power, and we need to have empathy for one another and just be considerate.” ∆

Reach Staff Writer Libbey Hanson at lhanson@newtimesslo.com.

K-12 CONNECTION Students stay late after a Diversity Coalition of SLO assembly to speak more with a Chumash elder, part of the nonprofit’s efforts to connect students with perspectives different than their own.

Unequal footing

Ten years ago, a new computerbased test for California students replaced the paperreliant standardizing testing and reporting program.

Called the Smarter Balanced assessments, the tests measure third through eighth graders’ and 11th graders’ knowledge of the state’s English language arts and math standards.

But only 13 percent and 0.8 percent of students served by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education—those who can’t be served by their home district—met or exceeded the state standard for English language arts and math, respectively, according to the 2024 results.

The county education office serves students enrolled in the SLO Juvenile Court School who are incarcerated or are awaiting court dates and not considered supervisable. The office also teaches seventh through 12th graders in Loma Vista Community School who have been expelled from and referred there by the 10 local school districts because of excessive truancy.

“Our students come from situations of high levels of trauma, high rates of poverty, multiple years of school failure and not attending school,” county Director of Alternative Education Chris Balogh said. “We enroll students throughout the year because life happens and they end up in juvenile hall. That’s beyond our control but any time a student shows up there, we provide an education for them year-round.”

At Loma Vista, students complete the rehabilitation terms of their expulsion or truant remediation, recover credits, and learn social skills, behavioral therapy, and workplace readiness. They do so with the help of five teachers who specialize in different subjects. Depending on their capacity and life situation, students can opt for independent study, too. They’re supervised on campus, and the county also offers transportation.

According to a 2024 self-study visiting committee report by the accrediting body Western Association of Schools and Colleges,

attendance at the juvenile court school “remains highly consistent.”

While actual percentage numbers vary because of low enrollment, the report said, most years showed that students attended school more than 90 percent of the time.

Attendance at Loma Vista has also been climbing since the pandemic, with more students coming to school more frequently than in the past.

“This improvement at both schools can be linked to a number of factors, including the social nature of school, the successful attainment of learning and school credits, positive behavior intervention and support, access to mental health and physical health providers, and the trauma-informed practices that are employed at each site,” the report said.

Still, in the eyes of the Smarter Balanced assessment, standards at the Juvenile Court School and Loma Vista are slipping. English and math literacy rates dropped by 3.6 percent and 2 percent, respectively, compared to 2023 results.

The number of enrolled students also reflects the fluctuations in scores.

At the Juvenile Court School, there were no seventh graders enrolled between 2022 and 2024. A single student was enrolled in eighth grade in the 2023-24 school year. Three students were enrolled in the 11th grade during the 2024-25 school year.

Enrollment dropped over the last three school years for seventh and eighth grades at Loma Vista, resulting in one seventh grader and six eighth graders in the 2024-25 school year. There were also 19 11th graders that year.

“With numbers this small, the metrics don’t work,” Balogh said. “We’re focused

‘With

on getting them to school daily, providing therapeutic services, and getting them to understand that they can learn.”

He added that the assessment isn’t an appropriate measure of success.

“Sometimes, we get a student who has been working and then they’ve committed a crime and end up in juvenile hall. They haven’t been to school in years,” he said. “We’ve had no experience with this student. We may have had a week to spend with the student, and a week is not enough to get them up to 11th grade standards. It’s similar with our community school. … The test isn’t really a measure of their progress or our progress because they’ve been at multiple different schools.”

The Smarter Balanced assessment is only one component of the larger yearly California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) test. There are also state science tests, a Spanish language assessment, and a set of alternate tests for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Compared to the county Office of Education, SLO County’s school districts fared much better last year in the Smarter Balanced tests.

Lucia Mar school district’s Central Coast New Tech High in Nipomo placed ninth overall in the state, with 98.3 percent and 43 percent of students meeting or exceeding standards in English and math, respectively.

San Luis Coastal Unified School District saw 66.5 percent of students hitting the mark in English and 57.6 percent in math. Fifty-four percent of Templeton Unified School District students met or exceeded the English language standard and 41.8 percent of them did so in math.

Not performing well in these tests has funding consequences for the county Office of Education.

“Parents and media and everybody look at these scores to gauge how a school or a school district is doing,” Balogh said. “If we don’t get the right amount of participation, or we don’t do well enough, we can fall into an assistance mode where we have less control over what we’re doing.”

Balogh told New Times that the state hasn’t stepped in to assist the county office yet. He added that federal government denied the California Department of Education’s request to modify the requirements for alternative schools.

“We’re allowed to use other information, but we have to still report on the CAASPP,” he said. “In my work with the state and I work with people who have similar jobs as me in different county offices of education, we try to have a message that says why CAASPP isn’t relevant for our kids.”

—Chris

Balogh, SLO County Office of Education director of alternative education

Schools!

•Liberty High School

•Allan Hancock College

•Arroyo Grande High School*

•Cal

•Paso Robles High School*

•Lewis Flamson Jr. High*

•Paulding Middle School

•Nipomo High School

•New Tech High School See

NEW SCHOOL SHOES!

In response to New Times’ question about why schools must adhere to CAASPP reporting, a California Department of Education representative stated that federal and state laws “require all local educational agencies to assess all of their students in English language arts, mathematics, and science in the required grades. This applies to all student subgroups, which include racial/ ethnic groups, English language learners/ multilingual learners, low-income students, and students with disabilities.”

The representative added that federal law requires states to allow results to be separated within each state, local education agency, and school.

Students served by the Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) tested 0 percent in both English and math standards for the 2023-24 assessments. Fifty-four students sat for the English language arts test and 55 sat for the math test, the SBCEO told New Times

The county office serves students in the Juvenile Court and Community Schools and special education programs. On average, students are enrolled for only 38 days and 78 days in the court school and in the community school, respectively. Nonstability rates can soar above 94 percent.

“For SBCEO’s Juvenile Court and Community Schools, student transiency is a primary challenge for measuring success,” the county office said. “Many students face additional barriers, including homelessness, socioeconomic hardship, and high rates

of therapeutic needs. For students in special education programs, medical needs can lead to extended periods of absences impacting instructional time.”

According to the office, the state recognizes that students in alternative schools often face a unique set of challenges, which impact standardized test performance. The Santa Barbara County office pads its funding with the Student Support and Enrichment Block Grant and the Learning Recovery Block Grant.

“For [the Juvenile Court and Community Schools], a primary measure of success is helping students earn their high school diploma,” the office said. “For [the] community school, … an additional metric of success is a student successfully returning and transitioning to their referring school.”

Alternative schools report a one-year graduation rate. The juvenile court school achieved a 100 percent one-year graduation rate in the 2024-25 school year. That same year, 13 out of 15 students who attended the community school cleared their expulsion and returned to their home school district.

Students in the special education programs also receive an individualized education program with goals tailored to their needs.

“Within SBCEO programs,” the office said, “we recognize that success looks different for every student and the critical role SBCEO plays in our students’ academic growth.”

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

Empowering

Critical

Screen-Free,

Located

Green thumbs up

One Cool Earth and Explore Ecology show Central Coast students the value of a garden-to-table lifestyle

Reading. Writing. Arithmetic. Cauliflower.

Alongside the three Rs, growing minds are learning the ins and outs of growing food at local schools with gardening programs like Explore Ecology.

EDUCATION

“Our goal is to make school gardens as common as computer labs, libraries, and sports fields,” Ellis said. “Our gardens also make healthy eating fun and engaging as students grow, harvest, and taste their own food.”

“I think one of my favorite things to grow with kids is cauliflower, which may sound like one of those vegetables that a lot of times they’ve only been exposed to as something that’s boiled and white and bland mush,” Explore Ecology Garden Program Director Genevieve Schwanbeck said with a laugh.

“But getting to grow it in the garden, it’s like this little baby that they get to check on every so often, because it has its leaves that curl up and cover it,” Schwanbeck told New Times. “Then by the time it’s ready to cut this big, huge thing—because they have huge leaves—cut those all back and taste this sweet, crunchy cauliflower, they’re like, ‘Oh, … it’s a whole different vegetable.’”

Educators from Explore Ecology lead outdoor gardening sessions at more than 30 elementary and middle schools in Santa Barbara County, including campuses with their own garden spaces in Lompoc, Santa Ynez, and Buellton. While treating each garden as an “outdoor classroom,” Explore Ecology aims to teach children about topics related to planting, cultivating, harvesting, composting, and nutrition.

Schwanbeck originally joined the nonprofit as a garden educator, a role she held for six years. At one point she worked with hundreds of kids a week, she said. On average, Explore Ecology serves more than 14,000 students per year through the schools it contracts with.

San Luis Obispo County-based One Cool Earth also facilitates gardening programs at schools similar to Explore Ecology’s and serves nearly the same number of campuses: 32. While most of those schools are elementary, One Cool Earth also hosts programs at a handful of middle and high schools as well, with an overall presence at “more than half of all schools in San Luis Obispo County,” One Cool Earth Grant Manager Greg Ellis told New Times

The southern end of One Cool Earth’s coverage area includes Oceano Elementary School, Nipomo Elementary School, and Mary Buren Elementary School in Guadalupe. The latter is One Cool Earth’s sole site in Santa Barbara County, but its organizers “would eventually like to expand to Santa Maria,” Ellis said.

Ellis has worked with One Cool Earth in various capacities—including program manager and executive director—since 2008. While overseeing One Cool Earth’s grant funding initiatives, Ellis said the nonprofit has seen “a lot of funding come through federal, state, and county sources to support education,” over the past five years.

“However, most of this funding [has] expired or will by the end of next year, specifically an American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grant,” Ellis explained. “We will have to make up an additional $80,000 in funding per year when this grant expires, and we’re not sure where that funding will come from.”

While One Cool Earth charges about 40 percent of its programming costs directly to the schools it works with, “we have to fundraise the remaining 60 percent from grants and donations,” Ellis said.

“As a small organization, it takes a lot of staff time to run donation campaigns. We’ve focused on grants because they take relatively little time and return a lot of funding, allowing us to focus our resources in the gardens,” Ellis said. “Because grants are becoming more scarce and competitive, we’re refocusing on our community and asking for support.

“We believe there are many people locally willing to give to support childhood health and learning.”

The monetary donation route isn’t the only way community residents can lend One Cool Earth a helping hand, he added.

“We do need garden materials and

‘Our goal is to make school gardens as common as computer labs, libraries, and sports fields. Our gardens also make healthy eating fun and engaging as students grow, harvest, and taste their own food.’

—Greg

Ellis, One Cool Earth grant manager

supplies, especially tools in good working order, plants, seeds, etc.,” Ellis said. Gift cards to local hardware stores like Miner’s Ace and Farm Supply, where One Cool Earth organizers shop for most of the nonprofit’s essential program supplies, are also welcome donations.

“We have many volunteer opportunities as well,” Ellis continued, “and are especially looking for consistent volunteers who can assist with maintaining and teaching in school gardens.” ∆

Reach Sun Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood, from New Times’ sister paper, at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.

GROWING IN LIFE’S GARDEN One Cool Earth Grant Manager Greg Ellis said that one of the local nonprofit’s goals is to make schoolyard garden programs “as common as computer labs, libraries, and sports fields.” The organization currently serves 32 schools on the Central Coast.

Changing color

When San Luis Obispo’s Fresh Paint Co. owner Jim Ringley found out that the United States is experiencing a shortage of workers in trades, he turned to people not immediately thought of for such jobs: women.

“Big corporations like Sherwin-Williams are reaching out to Spanish-speaking people and to women in order to bring more people into the painting industry,” Ringley said. “I’ve always wanted to bring women into the trades … and there’s no reason they can’t do the work.”

According to a 2024 report by McKinsey & Company, labor force participation rates for people 55 and older have declined by about 2 percent since the pandemic. Meanwhile, both participation rates and employment population ratios remain below preCOVID-19 levels for 16-to-24-year-olds.

Those Gen Z workers also reported persistent cultural barriers to vocational training, with many saying they perceived a stigma associated with choosing the latter over a traditional four-year university.

The entire Fresh Paint Co. team, barring Ringley, comprises women. One of them is Mava Izzo, who swapped her food truck in Montana for a paint brush in sunny SLO County.

“I really enjoy working and doing interiors because that’s where the finer finish is and more attention to details that I think us women pay more attention to,” Izzo said.

After years of doing electrical, plumbing, and handyman work, Izzo added that she finds painting interiors rewarding because she gets to witness a project from beginning to end.

That’s a specialty of Fresh Paint Co.—it focuses only on residential interior and cabinet painting.

“With previous work and jobs that I’ve worked in in the trades, you start working on a project and then you’re done with whatever portion you’re working on and then you go to the next thing,” Izzo said. “Working with Jim, I’ve been able to learn so much about every fine little detail and what goes into making a beautiful, finished product.”

While Fresh Paint Co. has been serving SLO, Edna Valley, Avila Beach, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, and everywhere

in between since 2018, Rigley made the switch to hiring more women and painting solely interiors in February.

“I found that I had good male painters who were strong and very diligent, and didn’t mind working out in the heat,” he said.

“But I couldn’t bring them inside a house comfortably because they simply didn’t have the kind of polish or really an understanding of what the homeowner was looking for in the way of customer service.”

Having women inside to paint while men applied fresh coats to the exterior of houses was hard to sustain, Rigley added—almost like he was running two different companies.

Fresh Paint Co. handles around 50 projects a year, roughly one project a week. Contact the company through its website, freshpaintslo.com.

“Some people have told us that they hired us simply because we had women, and I don’t know, that seems a little unfair to the guys out there,” Rigley said with a laugh. “On the other hand, I totally understand because I’m a consumer too. … The difference to me is that guys will look at their shoes halfway across the carpet and realize they’ve got mud on their feet. But women will check their feet before they step on the carpet.”

For Izzo, she enjoys getting to know the other women on her team.

“I think it’s really important to bring women into the trades, it’s very uncommon,” she said. “We can do just as much work, and we’re not scared to get our hands dirty. I think the communication is a lot easier.”

Fresh Paint Co. is also spreading awareness about women in the trades in SLO County. Recently, Rigley and his team attended a job fair at Cuesta College, and said they received interest from women enrolled in classes. Fresh Paint Co. hopes to attend high school job fairs in the future, too.

The business also strives to engage with the larger community. It sponsors the Central Coast Roller Derby—a skating nonprofit dedicated to the empowerment of at-risk women and children.

“Those are the kind of people that seem to work out best at our company because we’re looking for people who don’t mind physical activity,” Rigley said. “I always tell people that I want to train my employees so well that they could start their own companies, and to treat them so well they don’t want to.”

Fast fact

• The PG&E Corporation Foundation and the California Restaurant Foundation gave $5,000 each to 15 restaurants across SLO County. The grant is meant for equipment upgrades, workforce training, and other improvements. Some of the restaurants include SLO’s Black Sheep Bar & Grill, PiWhole Pizza in Nipomo, and the Alchemists’ Garden in Paso Robles. ∆

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

PAINT POWER From left to right, Blue Phoenix, Melanie Rodriguez, and Mava Izzo make up Fresh Paint Co.’s painting team that brings home interiors and cabinets to life with a new color palette.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRESH PAINT CO.

Let’s build

The Central Coast desperately needs to build its way out of the housing crisis

We are pro-housing. Period. At Generation Build, housing is our core mission. We advocate for it all: for all types, at all levels. Unlike some organizations, we aren’t afraid to engage in the tough political conversations that others shy away from. That’s because we know real progress requires bold action, not empty platitudes. To solve our housing and affordability crisis, we need leaders who will make change happen, not leaders who just talk about it.

So let’s be blunt: San Luis Obispo County needs more homes. A lot more.

We need apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes. RHNA (regional housing needs assessment) numbers offer one perspective on need, but we can’t afford to dismiss market-rate housing just because it isn’t exclusively affordable. Pitting market-rate housing against deed-restricted affordable housing has worsened our crisis. We need both.

Housing Authorities, People’s Self-Help Housing, and market-rate developers are all a part of the solution. We need projects like Dove Creek in Atascadero; like HASLO’s new affordable homes in Arroyo Grande; like CCB’s projects in Grover Beach; like Solomon Hills in Orcutt.

We need robust housing options at all levels.

The opposition to housing is loud, but that doesn’t mean it’s right.

Some people don’t want change. They like our county as it is and will fight to

Newsom’s

mid-decade redistricting is dangerous

gerrymandering

Gov. Newsom has proposed middecade redistricting to redraw California’s congressional lines—not to serve the people, but to play political revenge games with Texas. This is gerrymandering, plain and simple. And a dangerous step backward. Californians fought hard to end the days of shady, backroom map deals. In 2008, we passed Proposition 11 to create the Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent body that puts people over politics when drawing district lines. That system works. It’s considered the national gold standard. Redistricting belongs to the voters—not to the governor or any political party. Now, all that progress is under threat. Mid-

keep it that way. They often live near new developments, have time to organize against them, and ironically sometimes even claim to support housing—just not this housing. These folks push for delays and reductions that make projects less viable.

Meanwhile, those who do want new homes—young families, professionals, and longtime residents—often don’t have the time or resources to fight for them. They’re busy working, raising kids, and contributing to our community. And yet, they’re the ones who struggle the most to find a place to live.

It’s the haves versus the have nots.

Housing approvals shouldn’t require a fight.

It shouldn’t take exhaustive advocacy to approve housing. New construction is a societal necessity, and it should be a given, not a battle. Young people shouldn’t have to beg elected officials for the chance to pursue living in their own community.

A large portion of our county land is protected open space. We have hundreds of thousands of acres protected in various forms of conservation. Infill and greenfield spaces that have been identified for development need to be allowed to be developed. Prior height limits and parking restrictions should be reconsidered; and we all need to embrace that change is a part of living.

Yes, new housing often has environmental impacts. But the assumption that no impact is the only acceptable impact is unrealistic.

Projects subject to CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) review are

LETTERS

decade redistricting will destabilize elections, confuse voters, and undermine public trust in democracy.

The League of Women Voters was a proponent of Proposition 11 and continues to advocate for fair redistricting throughout California.

San Luis Obispo County fought its own hard-won battle and established an independent citizens redistricting commission to draw county electoral maps in 2024.

Tell the governor California is not Texas. We cannot go backward. Tell him to abandon this shortsighted, undemocratic effort. Email him at www.gov. ca.gov/contact or call (916) 445-2841.

Janice Langley

Joanne Schultz

Wendy Brown leadership team League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County

conditioned with rigorous environmental mitigation; to pretend otherwise is dishonest. Worse, CEQA’s broad scope allows for frequent lawsuits that drive up costs and delay housing for years, often at little expense to those filing them. We’ve seen this with almost all of the large housing projects approved in our county in recent years. This process isn’t just inefficient, it’s immoral and costly for those of us who would like to live there. If a housing project meets the requirements and gets approved, it should be built.

Supply and demand is real.

When demand is high and supply is low, prices rise. That’s not an opinion, that’s basic economics. Yet new market-rate housing is often vilified, even by people who live in it. Government- or grant-funded affordable

To quote a favorite YIMBY phrase: Abundant housing is affordable housing.

housing is important, but it alone won’t fix our crisis. Blocking market-rate housing while claiming to advocate for affordability is textbook NIMBYism and is ultimately antihousing.

To quote a favorite YIMBY phrase: Abundant housing is affordable housing. The housing crisis is not just a policy failure, it’s a refusal to accept how markets work. Until we allow more housing of all types, affordability will remain out of reach.

So what’s the solution?

Elect leaders who will fight for housing. We need officials who prioritize the future, not

those who cling to the past. At Generation Build, we call it as it is and are not afraid to call out a politician’s anti-housing actions even when they claim to be “pro-housing.” Housing needs to be a bipartisan issue, and we see politicians on both sides of the aisle help and hurt this cause. We need Republicans and Democrats to hold their own parties accountable to increasing our housing supply.

Move beyond endless discussions. Roundtables that don’t lead to action waste time and create the illusion of progress. We know what we need: the ability to build more housing. Discussions of “unique” housing solutions like down payment assistance are nice to have, but those programs will never address the real solution: We just need more homes. Supply and demand is the root of the issue, and we need to quite literally build our way out of this crisis. Make our county a place where developers want to build. That means streamlining approvals, making the approval process predictable, reducing counterproductive fees, and working with developers, not against them. Politicians who approach housing with arrogance and obstructionism aren’t helping. They are hurting the young families and working class of this area.

We hope you will join us in building a future where we all can live and thrive. Please email generationbuildcc@gmail.com to connect with us. Let’s build! ∆

Generation Build is a 70-plus member prohousing group in SLO County. Send a letter for publication to letters@newtimesslo.com.

BY JOHN B. ASHBAUGH

Is democracy burning?

In case you missed it, the Texas State Legislature is embroiled in yet another intense debate over voting rights, this one about a blatant attempt to “gerrymander” congressional districts to create five more GOP seats to rig the 2026 election.

Except this debate is not actually happening right now, because more than 50 Democratic legislators in the Texas House have done a “Texas two-step” to seek sanctuary in other states. By doing so, these brave legislators have denied the GOP leadership the 2/3 quorum required by the state’s Constitution to do business. Until they return, there’s no “business as usual” in Austin—and they’ve vowed not to return, despite increasing threats of arrest, prosecution, and even loss of their seats.

Why did Texas’ Gov. Greg Abbott even call this special session—especially in the middle of the decade? Redistricting is usually done only every 10 years. In 2021, the GOP Legislature adopted a clearly “gerrymandered” map of congressional districts engineered to favor Republicans. Only 12 of the 38 Texas House seats are now held by Democrats.

Why bother pressing their ill-gotten advantage even further? Because Donald Trump demanded it. Fearful of his cratering popularity, Trump is taking Machiavellian steps to maintain his death-grip on Congress. Without gerrymandering, it’s almost impossible for the GOP/MAGA crowd to hold on: Only twice since 1934 has the

president’s party gained mid-term seats in both houses: FDR in 1934 and George W. Bush in 2002. In 24 mid-term elections, voters have usually thumped the sitting president by flipping an average of 28 Congressional seats.

So, we’re now engaged in a full-scale showdown over mid-decade gerrymandering. What’s happening in Texas ain’t stayin’ in Texas:

• In Sacramento, Gov. Gavin Newsom has vowed to “fight fire with fire,” asking the Legislature—and ultimately, California voters—to remove congressional districts from the nonpartisan Citizens Redistricting Commission, the body created in 2010 with the Voters First Act. Instead, the Legislature would craft new districts to potentially add five Democratic seats to counter Trump’s moves in Texas.

• New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared war, calling for new congressional maps that would bypass that state’s nonpartisan Independent Redistricting Commission, created 10 years ago; it drew New York’s districts that resulted in Democrats losing four seats in 2022.

• Illinois took the redistricting spotlight when Gov. JB Pritzker hosted the Texas Democrats fleeing their state to thwart the GOP quorum call. He’s leading a new redistricting campaign in Illinois, saying “we’re fighting for democracy.”

This redistricting crisis is boiling over just as we observe the 60th anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. LBJ signed that

landmark measure into law at the height of the civil rights movement, guaranteeing the right of all American citizens to vote. Recent Supreme Court rulings have eviscerated the Voting Rights Act, crippling the ability of minority voters to challenge states’ gerrymandering, with only one area remaining, at least for now, where redistricting still draws scrutiny: When it’s clearly motivated by racism, blatantly diluting the votes of racial minorities.

The security of our democracy now rests in the hands of state legislators, as Trump threatens to rig the 2026 elections in every “red” state where the GOP can pull it off. The “blue” states intend to un-rig the election, out-maneuvering Trump’s desperate attempt to hold onto power.

Sadly, early indications are that Democrats face an uphill battle: Too many states are held in a GOP headlock.

Amid this uproar comes a lonely call for peace from California GOP Congressman Kevin Kiley of Rocklin. He’s introduced a bill to prohibit mid-decade redistricting nationwide, hoping to “stop a damaging redistricting war from breaking out across the country.”

Kiley’s bill won’t get any action in the House, though: Last week, Speaker Mike Johnson abruptly adjourned the House for the summer.

Here in SLO, a redistricting rumble is nothing new. In 2021, a conservative majority of the Board of Supervisors adopted the bizarre “Patten” map, clearly intended to give an edge to Republican candidates in four of the five districts in the county. The

2022 election produced a surprise when incumbent Bruce Gibson heroically won reelection in his gerrymandered district by 13 votes.

Gibson then collaborated with his colleagues on the board and state Sen. John Laird to create an independent redistricting commission for this county.

None of our local county or state legislative districts’ boundaries are at risk from this scorched-earth battle to redraw congressional lines in Austin, Sacramento, Albany, and in Washington. It’s truly an existential crisis that will determine whether we can sustain our 250-year commitment to government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” ∆

Reach John Ashbaugh through the editor or send a letter to letters@newtimesslo.com.

Should PG&E pay customers back for costs related to the 2021 outage?

40% Diablo Canyon should be decommissioned as planned.

24% Yes—and it should pay for the other outages in 2020-2021.

21% No. It’s only like $10 per person.

15% Yes! It should not have used our money to buy electricity to cover the gaps!

Schooled

In honor of our Education Today issue, behold the things I learned in public school: how to get in a straight line; how to shut my mouth; how to sort-of-learn in 50-minute increments then switch to another topic; how to raise my hand; how to retain and regurgitate information on a short-term basis. Ta-da! Conformed and assimilated. Is it any wonder that so many think so poorly of public education? Public education is an enormous undertaking and requires various sprawling and overlapping bureaucracies, not to mention a lot of money to teach and test students. Systems this large naturally fall into one-size-fits-all-isms. We can talk all day about how we understand different kids learn in different ways and require different teaching methods, but when the eraser meets the white board, most teachers must teach 30 kids the same way. So when you hear about school programs that are working hard to be the caulk in the cracks that some students fall through, it warms the heart. Teachers really do care despite their workload and shitty pay. But when you also hear about how the system these programs operate in doesn’t know how to effectively assess their efficacy, the heart grows cold again. Wah.

Such is the case for students enrolled in SLO Juvenile Court School and Loma Vista Community School who are required to take the same Smarter Balanced assessment test required of all California students. It’s

simply not fair to assess the kids in these kinds of programs with this standardized test. These aren’t standard kids.

“Our students come from situations of high levels of trauma, high rates of poverty, multiple years of school failure and not attending school,” county Director of Alternative Education Chris Balogh said.

Of course they’re going to test poorly, and poor performance has funding consequences for the county Office of Education. Talk about counterintuitive! If a program is struggling to educate its students, stripping it of funding isn’t going to improve the situation.

Money always seems to be a point of contention in public education, especially for programs like One Cool Earth, a SLO County nonprofit that builds and sustains outdoor learning environments in more than half of our schools to teach kids about agriculture, nutrition, and nature-focused education. This important and inspiring programing is at risk as federal funding from an American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 grant is set to expire, leaving an $80,000 a year shortfall.

Don’t hold your breath that the federal government is going to step up to help this program: tRump signed an Executive Order to close the Department of Education

Anyway, learning to grow your own food and eat healthy is way too woke, amirite?

Speaking of woke, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) and the Diversity Coalition of San Luis Obispo are really asking for it from tRump. They’re trying to teach kids empathy. Empathy! So. Not. MAGA.

According to Paso’s District Superintendent Jennifer Loftus, kids as young as second graders were increasingly using the “N-word.”

“Our students and our parent community have expressed over the last couple of years a great deal of distress about how casually that word is used in our school environment, and so we took a stance in the last school year that that kind of language is not appropriate at school,” Loftus said.

Is it appropriate anywhere?

“A key indicator of empathy is you understand that how you act, how you treat others, has an impact on them. That you can empathize with how they’re feeling,” Loftus added. “We just have to remind ourselves and remind our students that our words have power, right?”

This type of diversity training is exactly what tRump is trying to get rid of in his quest to Make America Hate Again, so be careful, Paso. You wouldn’t want to want to raise the Orange Fascist’s ire.

Speaking of standing up to fascism, Bidenappointed Federal Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong ruled in lieu of a pending lawsuit that ICE must stop “indiscriminate arrests

based on race alone” because she believes the plaintiffs will prevail in proving ICE is acting “without reasonable suspicion and denying access to lawyers.”

But don’t worry, SLO County District Attorney Dan Dow knows better. He cemented his reputation as a right-wing partisan when he spoke to Martha MacCallum on the Fox show The Story.

Know-it-all Dow told MacCallum, “I think the plaintiffs in this lawsuit have an uphill battle. They have to prove that the decision of the law enforcement officer was based solely on race, and I think that there’s no way that can be proven unless an officer would admit that.”

It’s almost like Dow doesn’t care if ICE agents base arrest and detention on race alone, as long as they don’t admit it.

And unlike education, the federal government is all too happy to fund law enforcement.

The SLO County Board of Supervisors just unanimously approved accepting a $316,482 grant for the Sheriff’s Office, which some local residents argued might open the door to local law enforcement aiding ICE.

Don’t fret! Conservative 1st District Supervisor John Peschong says there’s nothing to worry about:

“I do trust our District Attorney Dan Dow; I do trust our Sheriff Ian Parkinson.” See? Everything’s going to be fine. Just fine. ∆

The Shredder is not fine. Assuage its fears at shredder@newtimesslo.com.

Hot Dates

ARTS

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

ANTI CLASTIC FORMING

In this exciting two-day workshop, you will learn the basic techniques for anticlastic forming. We’ll work on several projects in copper & pewter. Silver optional. Aug. 9 1-5 p.m. $365. (805) 237-8632. randystromsoe.com. Randy Stromsoe Metalsmith, Highway 46 West, SLO County.

COASTAL WINE AND PAINT PARTY

Listen to music while enjoying an afternoon of creativity, sipping, and mingling. 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.

COOL CHARACTERS CHILDRENS’

WORKSHOP — 3-WEEK SERIES This fun and engaging art class series focuses on creating characters and animals, while introducing and developing fundamental drawing techniques in a playful manner. Wednesdays, Thursdays. through Aug. 7 $150. (805) 772-2504. artcentermorrobay.org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

COSTA GALLERY SHOWCASES

Features works by Ellen Jewett as well as 20 other local artists, and artists from southern and northern California. Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. (559) 799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.

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. (805) 772-9095. foreverstoked. com. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE HOSTS AN ARTISTS RECEPTION AND ATRIUM PARTY FOR VIRGINIA MACK, GAY MCNEAL AND MICHAEL JOHNSTON

Everyone is invited to the Gallery at Marina Square August Artist’s Reception and Atrium Party! Meet the artists, discover new art, and be amazed. Aug. 9 3-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

HOUSE DANCE WORKSHOP AT THE LUVHUB Dive into the soul of House Dance at this 90-minute workshop that blends energizing warm-ups, foundational drills, groove-packed choreography, and live cyphers to unlock your freestyle flow. Aug. 10 11 a.m. $30. my805tix.com. The Luv Hub, 550 Morro Bay Boulevard, Morro Bay.

MICHAEL JOHNSTON SHOWS HER FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY IN GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE Michael Johnston loves horses, traveling, exploring, and nature itself. Her camera captures what she sees, and brings them home for you. Through Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare. com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, 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.

PROOF See the production, Proof , at By The Sea Productions until August 24. Get more information at the link. Fridays-Sundays. through Aug. 24 $28. my805tix.com. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

3 ARTISTS RETROSPECTIVE REVEAL Susan Lyon, Maryanne Nucci, and Kathy Madonna invite you to visit their Retrospective Show including original photographs, charcoals, watercolors, etchings, linocuts, and mono prints. Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. (805) 440-7152. cottontailcreek.com/susanart. Pocket Gallery on Pine, 8491/2 13th Street, Paso Robles.

DAILY POTTERY Walk in, pick your pottery project, and paint away. Something for all ages. Prices vary depending on what you choose and includes; paint, glaze, firing, and studio time. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Varies. (805) 400-9107. artsocial805. com. ArtSocial 805 Creative Campus, 631 Spring St., Paso Robles.

DEPRISE BRESCIA ART GALLERY: ONGOING DISPLAYS Features a large selection 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.

CALM WITH DAWN

Join the Beach Chakra Meditation Class with Dawn Feuerberg, a certified classical ashtanga yoga and mindfulness life coach on Sunday, Aug. 17, from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Feuerberg, founder of Aurora Sacred Events in Cayucos, will guide the class in restoring their energy and calming their minds. Visit my805tix.com for additional details about the class.

—Angie Stevens

FIELDWORK WORKSHOP - OPEN STUDIO Join us every Tuesday for our community workshop! Bring your creative projects, meet fellow makers, and get inspired. No pressure, just creativity, good vibes, and snacks. Tuesdays, 6-9 p.m. $15. fieldworkart. org. Fieldwork, 4307 El Camino Real, Atascadero, (971) 645-2481.

HART MOVIE NIGHT Cambria’s no-kill, non-profit cat shelter The Homeless Animal Rescue Team (HART) will host the fundraiser during the film showing of FLOW, The Academy Award winning film. Wines will be discounted 20%. Aug. 15 , 7:30-9:45 p.m. $13. my805tix. com. Parr Collective Winery at Stolo Vineyards, 3776 Santa Rosa Creek Road, Cambria, (805) 924-3131.

JILL GARMAN’S “PALM FOOLERY ART” OPENING See artist Jill Garman’s unique, fun, beautiful, and quirky palm paintings at Pocket Gallery on Pine! Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. through Oct. 4 (805) 440-7152. Pocket Gallery on Pine, 8491/2 13th Street, Paso Robles.

LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS Based on the Roger Corman film, Little Shop of Horrors will be performed for 10 days at the Templeton PAC. The tale is imbued with love, ambition, and touches on “the lengths we go to for success, no matter how monstrous.” Get more info at the link. Through Aug. 10, 7:30 p.m. $24. my805tix. com. Templeton Performing Arts Center, 1200 S. Main St., Templeton, (805) 225-7087.

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.

TAKE A SPIN: TWO-HOUR WHEEL

CLASS

These two hour blocks provide an opportunity to learn the basics of wheel throwing. Instructors will center your clay for you, so you will have the opportunity to make two items. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon $72. (805) 203-0335. thepotteryatascadero.com/ wheelclasses. The Pottery, 5800 El Camino Real, Atascadero.

WRITERS WANTED Novelists, screenwriters, poets and short story writers welcome. This group meets in Atascadero twice a month, on Thursday nights (email jeffisretired@yahoo.com for specifics). Hone your skills for publication and/or personal development. First Thursday of every month, 7-9 p.m. Unnamed Atascadero location, Contact host for details, Atascadero.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

6-WEEK BEGINNING WHEEL SERIES

A great intro to the pottery wheel! Students learn to throw various shapes, surface decorate and glaze. Book on our website to save spot. Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. through Aug. 19 $275. app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule. php?owner=22676824&appointmentTy pe=77943567. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

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.

BIRD ON A BRANCH COLLAGE CLASS

In this workshop, you’ll receive step-bystep instruction from Linda Cunningham to create a beautiful detailed whimsical collage. Beginners are welcome and no experience is necessary! Aug. 16 12-4 p.m. $45 per person. (805) 478-2158. i0.wp.com/artcentralslo. com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/ Bird-on-a-Branch-Collage-Cunningham. jpg?fit=1275%2C1650&ssl=1. Art Central,

1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo. CENTRAL COAST COMEDY THEATER IMPROV COMEDY SHOW An ongoing improv comedy program featuring the CCCT’s Ensemble. Grab some food at the public market’s wonderful eateries and enjoy the show upstairs. Second Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. $10. centralcoastcomedytheater.com/ shows/. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo. CENTRAL COAST SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Enjoy The Merry Wives of Windsor, Shakespeare’s tale of trickery, and revenge on an overconfident swindler. Through Aug. 10 centralcoastshakespeare. org/themerrywivesofwindsor. Filipponi Ranch, 1850 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo. DEANNA BARAHONA California artist Deanna Barahona’s work centers her lived experiences, identity, and personal objects in intimate and domestic spaces through the creation of sculpture, and installation. Through Aug. 31, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma.org/ exhibition/deanna-barahona/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

FILM SCREENING: ISRAELISM Watch this balanced and powerful documentary about two Jewish young adults who go to Palestine and “unlearn” everything they have been taught about Israel. Aug. 8 6-8 p.m. Free. (520) 249-5043. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2201 Lawton Ave., San Luis Obispo.

IMPROV EXTRAVAGANZA AT THE BUNKER Cheer on your favorite teams, or discover new ones, in this show of back-to-back sets of spontaneous storytelling, wild characters, and big laughs. Aug. 14 6:15-8 p.m. $13. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo. MOBILE CLAY CLASSES Offering handbuilding, throwing, and ceramic decorative arts. All ages and abilities are welcome. Call for more info. ongoing (805) 835-5893. hmcruceceramics. com/book-online. SLO County, Various

PHOTO COURTESY OF MY805TIX

locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.

NORTH COUNTY CAMERA CLUB:

REGULAR MEETING Zoom meeting for The North County Camera Club, where photographers of all levels can participate, share photos, exchange information, and learn from each other. Second Tuesday of every month, 7-9 p.m. No fee. facebook.com/groups/ PRAAphotoguild. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

PAINTING PRE-MADE POTTERY Variety of pieces to choose from including mugs, bowls, jars, animals, and wall hangings. Priced by size. Paint and pick up once fired in kiln. Mondays, Sundays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. through Aug. 31 app. acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?o wner=22676824&appointmentType=c ategory:Paint%20a%20Pre-Made%20 Pottery%20Piece%21. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

PICKET PAINTING PARTY Decorative picket purchasing opportunities are available to show your support and help fund maintenance and educational programs in the Children’s Garden. Second Saturday of every month, 1-4 p.m. $75 per picket or 2 for $100. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

PLEIN AIR PAINTERS OF THE CENTRAL

COAST A self-directed fun group of dynamic artists who enjoy painting and sketching outdoors. Artists meet on site at various locations. Weekly plein air destinations are provided by Kirsti Wothe via email (mrswothe@yahoo. com). Wednesdays, 9 a.m.-noon SLO County, Various locations countywide, 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) 5482337, libertinebrewing.com.

SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY

OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. slonightwriters.org.

United Church of Christ (Congregational) of San Luis Obispo, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.

SLODRAWZ (FIGURE SESSION)

Reoccurring Figure drawing group session the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. We will provide a live model(s). Second Monday of every month, 5-7 p.m. through Aug. 11 $20 (suggested $3-$5 tip for model). (805) 747-4200. i0.wp.com/artcentralslo.com/wpcontent/uploads/2025/04/slo-drawz-2. jpg?fit=1275%2C1650&ssl=1. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

STEPPIN’ UP TO THE MIC: CONTRA DANCE CALLING WORKSHOP SERIES

Learn to lead contra dances from the best callers across California. Year-long workshop series for new and aspiring contra dance callers, with opportunities to call. Feb. 8 $120. cccds.org/stepup. Odd Fellows Hall, 520 Dana St., San Luis Obispo. TRISH ANDERSEN Combining fibers gathered from field, sheep, and those developed in a factory, Andersen proves that there is always room for both the vibrant and muted. Through Sept. 14, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma. org/exhibition/trish-andersen/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

WALT WHITMAN GAY MEN’S BOOK CLUB This club reads, studies and discusses books chosen by the group which relate to their lives as gay men. All are welcome. Second Monday of every month, 7-9:30 p.m. Free. galacc. org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

WHITNEY PINTELLO: SOLO SHOW On display now through mid-April. ongoing slogallery.com/. SLO Gallery, 1023 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

YOUTH POTTERY CLASS Teens love this class. Learn handbuilding techniques and throwing on the potter’s wheel. Held every Friday after school. Fridays, 3:30-5 p.m. $40. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY COMEDY FOR CASA Enjoy comedy with great food and drinks at this improv show to raise funds for San Luis Obispo County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Aug. 16 , 7 p.m. $10 suggested donation. (805) 556-8495.

GARDEN CARE

Join the free Lompoc Botanic Garden Care Day on Saturday, Aug. 16, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden, to help Lompoc Valley Botanical and Horticultural Society beautify Lompoc’s botanic garden. Trim along the paths and pull out invasive species. For more information, visit lvbhs.org.

improvforgood.fun/. La Casita, 1572 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

DANCE FITNESS ART AND CULTURE

FOR ADULTS Discover dance as a form of artistic expression and exercise, using a wide range of styles and genres of music (including modern, jazz, Broadway, ethnic). Tuesdays, 4-5 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

GREAT AMERICAN MELODRAMA: 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECTACULAR Full of songs, dance, and comedy to celebrate the milestone, with loads of opportunities to boo and cheer. Aug. 8-Sept. 20 americanmelodrama.com. Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

HOW THE WEST WAS REALLY WON Complete with a saloon setting, card games, duels, and more. Through Aug. 12 Great American Melodrama, 1863 Front St., Oceano.

IMPROV YOUR LIFE This fun applied improvisation class helps participants tap into their creativity through interactive exercises that build confidence, reduce stress, and ease social anxiety. Second Sunday of every month, 6-7:30 p.m. through Aug. 24 $15.

(805) 556-8495. improvforgood.fun/. Women’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon St., Arroyo Grande.

OCEANO SEABREEZE MARKET Join for an afternoon of fun, featuring locally made artisan goods, food, drinks, treats, music, and more. Visit the website for all the details. Aug. 9 12-4 p.m. Free. DiscoverOceanoCa.com. Oceano Train Depot, 1650 Front St., Oceano, (805) 489-5446.

SECOND SATURDAY IMPROV MEETUP

Have you ever wanted to try improv? Or are you an experienced player looking for opportunities to practice? Join to play short-form games and share smiles in the supportive environment of improv. Second Saturday of every month, 2-4 p.m. through Dec. 13 improvforgood.fun/. Flex Performing Arts Studio (Studio D), 1820 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

WORKSHOPS AND MORE AT THE LAVRA Check the venue’s calendar for storytelling workshops, lectures, movie nights, and discussions held on a periodic basis. ongoing thelavra.org/ home. The Lavra, 2070 E. Deer Canyon Road, Arroyo Grande.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS THE CEMETERY CLUB This comedy

follows a group of widows who visit their husbands’ graves monthly until one day they meet a handsome widower at the cemetery. Fridays, Saturdays, 7-9:15 p.m. and Sundays, 4-6:15 p.m. through Aug. 31 $20. (805) 268-5969. orcuttcommunitytheater.com. Oasis Center, 420 Soares Ave., Orcutt.

SONGS FOR NOBODIES This musical will feature songs by Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Edith Piaf, Billie Holiday, and Maria Callas. Aug. 14 7-9:30 p.m., Aug. 15 7-9:30 p.m., Aug. 16 , 7-9:30 p.m. and Aug. 17 1:30-4 p.m. $25. (805) 922-8313. pcpa.org. PCPA: The Pacific Conservatory Theatre, 800 S. College, Santa Maria.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

SOMETHING ROTTEN Blends sixteenthcentury wit with twenty-first-century Broadway flair to prove that stardom requires kicking up your heels and staying true to yourself. WednesdaysSundays, 8-10:45 p.m. through Aug. 23 Starting at $25. (805) 922-8313. pcpa.org.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

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 UECHI-RYU KARATEDO Uechi-Ryu Karate-do is a traditional form of karate originating from Okinawa, Japan. Focus is on fitness, flexibility, and self-defense with emphasis on self -growth, humility, and respect. Open to ages 13 to adult. Beginners and experienced welcome. Instructor with 50 years experience. For info, call 805215-8806. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, 772-6278, morro-bay.ca.us.

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 805900-5237. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. thecambriaconnection.org/. Cambria Connection, 1069 Main St., Cambria, (805) 927-1654.

HIKE-IN OPEN HOUSE Hike, then wander the site at your own pace. More details are available at the link. Aug. 13 , 10 a.m.-2 p.m. piedrasblancas.org/hikein-open-house.html. Piedras Blancas Light Station, 15950 Cabrillo Highway, San Simeon.

MEDITATE WITH DAWN Join this semiprivate class to restore your energy and calm the mind, guided by Dawn Feuerberg, a certified classical ashtanga yoga and mindfulness life coach. Aug. 17, 10-11:15 a.m. (805) 540-1762. my805tix. com. Aurora Sacred Events, 21 24th St, Cayucos.

MORRO BAY METAPHYSICIANS

DISCUSSION GROUP A group of metaphysically minded individuals that have been meeting for many years now in the Coalesce Chapel. Club offers a supportive metaphysical based community. Members discuss a different topic each week. All are welcome to join. Fridays, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Suggested donation of $10-$15. Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay, coalescebookstore.com/.

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.

OPEN FLOW: DANCE AND MOVEMENT

A community of movers and shakers who come together to express themselves through dance and movement. Inspired by a variety of conscious movement modalities, Open Flow is led by Silvia Suarez and Matt Garrity, embodiment teachers who CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 22

—A.S.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOMPOC VALLEY BOTANICAL AND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

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share a passion for integration through movement exploration. Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. $10 (general), $5 (ages 55 and older). SilviaAthaSomatics.org. Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, 772-6278.

SHAMANIC MORNING RITUALS FOR VITALITY Meet at a local beach that has an incredible view of the majestic Morro Bay Rock and be guided by Dawn into intentional movemant to awaken vital energy that rejuvenates and transforms. The class will help you to connect with your energy centers (chakras) in the body by doing earthing practices to clear the mind and the somatic body of any holding patterns. Aug. 8 , 8:30-9:45 a.m. $48.98. my805tix.com. Aurora Sacred Events, 21 24th St, Cayucos.

SKATE CAMBRIA FUNDRAISER - BBQ

& MOVIES AT CAMP OCEAN PINES! The Cambria Film Festival Presents “Virgin Blacktop: a New York Skate Odyssey”. Enjoy the outdoor Screening and BBQ at Camp Ocean Pines, and be part of the journey of bringing a skate park to Cambria! Aug. 10, 6:30-9:30 p.m. $45. my805tix.com. Camp Ocean Pines, 1473 Randall Dr., Cambria, (805) 927-0254.

SOCRATES DISCUSSION GROUP Have a topic, book, or article you wish to discuss with interested and interesting people? Join this weekly meeting to discuss it, or simply contribute your experiences and knowledge. Contact Mark Plater for instructions on entering the Chapel area. Wednesdays, 10 a.m.noon (805) 528-7111. Coalesce Garden Chapel, 845 Main St., Morro Bay.

WATERFRONT MARKET MORRO BAY

CA END OF SUMMER EVENT We hope you enjoyed your summer. Come check out our Waterfront Market Event going on this weekend, with over 30 local vendors. Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Aug. 10 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (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 PLUS A hybrid of yoga and “stretching” techniques that yield a body that moves and feels amazing. Mondays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $10 per session. (415) 516-5214. Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., 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 BALANCE FLOW Suitable for all levels. This class is meant to benefit the mindbody connection while emphasizing safe and effective alignment as well as breath awareness and relaxation. Please call to register in advance. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. $16-$22; $50 membership. (805) 434-9605. ttrtennis.com/fitness/yoga/. Templeton Tennis Ranch, 345 Championship Lane, Templeton.

CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS MEETING Co-Dependents Anonymous is a 12-step fellowship of men and women. The only requirement for membership is a desire for healthy and loving relationships. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. (805) 221-5755. North County Connection, 8600 Atascadero Ave., Atascadero.

HAMBLY LAVENDER FARM GUIDED

EXPERIENCE This one-hour walk about the farm immerses you in the processes of growing, harvesting, and drying this fragrant herb. Saturdays, Sundays, 10 a.m. my805tix.com. Hambly Farms, 1390 Grana Place, San Miguel.

TOPS SUPPORT GROUP: WEIGHT LOSS AND MAINTENANCE A self-help support group focusing on weight loss and maintenance. Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. (805) 242-2421. tops.org. Santa Margarita Senior Center, 2210 H St., Santa Margarita.

TOPS TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY Join for affordable and effective weightloss support. Sundays, 10-11 a.m. through Oct. 31 First visit is free. (805) 234-1026. Rancho Del Bordo Clubhouse, 10025 El Camino Real, Atascadero, tops.org.

VETS IN THE VINEYARD Join in the effort to raise money for Central Coast Veterans Helping Veterans at Volatus Winery. Aug. 9, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $17. my805tix.com. Volatus, 3230 Oakdale Road, Paso Robles.

VINE TO TABLE WINE TOUR + DINNER IN THE VINEYARD Just before the harvest, Rajat Parr will give us a lovely tour of the vineyard, followed by a five-course curated dinner amongst the vines. Aug. 9 4:30-7:30 p.m. $250. (805) 927-3624. my805tix.com/e/vine-to-tabledinner. Parr Collective Winery at Stolo Vineyards, 3776 Santa Rosa Creek Road, Cambria.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

AUTHOR/PHOTOGRAPHER CHUCK GRAHAM Hear celebrated author and photographer Chuck Graham speak. Chuck’s work has appeared in Backpacker, Men’s Journal, National Geographic, Westways, and more. Aug.

METAL MAGIC

Learn anticlastic basics—the technique required to elegantly create metal curvatures—during the two-day intro to anticlastic forming class on Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. both days at Randy Stromsoe Metalsmith in San Luis Obispo. Participants will make a sculptural bangle and learn foundational skills. The class is $295, and a spot can be reserved at randystromsoe.com.

15 7-8:30 p.m. Free. (805) 471-5913. ecologistics.org/. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL EXTRAVAGANZA Touch-a-truck, Taiko drumming, dance performance, food trucks, Mad Science, storybook characters, carnival games and more! Schedule at slolibrary. org. Aug. 9 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. sanluisobispo.librarycalendar.com/ event/back-school-extravaganza-18401. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

BOOK TALK WITH LOCAL AUTHOR

CATE TOURYAN Local author Ann C. Hanna, writing as Cate Touryan, will discuss her new novel set in a fictional 1970s Avila Beach - Turning Toward Eden . Aug. 16 , 3-4 p.m. Free. (805) 781-5991. sanluisobispo.librarycalendar. com/event/author-discussion-catetouryan-21039. San Luis Obispo Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & IMPROV Join us on Linnaea’s Cafe garden patio for an improv show benefiting GALA Pride &

FAMILY FREE DAY: THE SCALY SAFARI

Join “A Scaly Safari” with local snake expert and author Emily Taylor and representatives from the Central Coast Cactus and Succulent Society for crafts and exploration. Aug. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org/event/ family-free-day-the-scaly-safari/. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo.

FELINE NETWORK ADOPT A KITTEN EVENT! Join the Adopt a Kitten Event at PetsMart in SLO. Come see our beautiful kittens for adoption; all are fixed, vaccinated, and microchipped. Aug. 16 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (805) 540-0006. felinenetwork.org. PetSmart, 1530 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo.

FREE PET VACCINE CLINICS With the support of Petco Love, Woods is providing free vaccines for cats and dogs during vaccine clinics in August and September! Aug. 16 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org/spay-neuter/. Woods Humane Society, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo.

FREE TOURS OF THE MISSION Tour

San Luis Obispo’s Spanish Mission, founded in 1772. Come learn its history and about the development of this area. Tours, led by docents, are free at 1:15 p.m Monday through Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Sundays, 2-2:30 p.m., MondaysSaturdays, 1:15-2:15 p.m. and ThursdaysSaturdays, 11 a.m. through Sept. 1 Free. (657) 465-9182. missionsanluisobispo. org. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

QI GONG AT SPIRIT WINDS PHYSICAL THERAPY This class will lay a foundation for health and vitality by integrating joint mobility, flowing movement, energizing breathwork, and mindfulness practices. Join now! Wednesdays. through Dec. 31 $23. my805tix.com. Spirit Winds Physical Therapy, 1422 Monterey Street, Suite C-102, San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-5100. SUPER REC SATURDAYS! Dive into fun with the whole family! Enjoy a day of activities, diving boards, obstacle course, food, music, and more. Aug. 9 12-6 p.m. $4.75 for youth/seniors, $5.25 for adults. sloswimcenter.org. SLO Swim Center, 900 Southwood Dr., San Luis Obispo.

TECH BREW MEETUP Tech Brew is a free networking event where people interested in technology can hang out in an informal environment with a small TEDtalk-like presentation from an interesting speaker. Learn more online. Second Monday of every month, 5-7 p.m. (805) 323-6706. meetup.com/softec/. StoryLabs, 102 Cross St, Suite 220, 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. Second Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-4252.

Diversity Center! Food and drinks will be available. Aug. 17, 6 p.m. $10 suggested donation. improvforgood.fun/. Linnaea’s Cafe, 1110 Garden St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-5888.

AN EVENING AT THE SYCAMORE SPA The spa will opens its doors to this special free event, where guests can enjoy light bites, along with hand treatments, chair massages, and skincare consultations. Get more info at the link. Aug. 17, 5-7 p.m. my805tix. com/e/eveningatsycamorespa. Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort and Spa, 1215 Avila Beach Drive, San Luis Obispo.

AN EVENING WITH PHIL ROSENTHAL OF “SOMEBODY FEED PHIL” Join Phil Rosenthal, award-winning creator and executive producer of “SOMEBODY FEED PHIL” and “EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND”, in a moderated conversation followed by an audience Q&A. Phil will be telling all the funny and true stories of his life, his television career, food, travel, friends, and family. Aug. 9 6 p.m. $50.96. fremontslo. com. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.

FREE VIRTUAL QPR SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING For participants to learn about community resources in Santa Barbara County and be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide for parents and adults (ages 18 and over) who work or live with youth between ages of 12-18. Offered in partnership with Family Services Agency of Santa Barbara and thanks to a grant from SAMHSA. Aug. 8 , 10 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 770-1593. youthwell.org/mentalhealth-first-aid. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.

FRIDAY NIGHT IMPROV AT SLO PUBLIC MARKET No script. No context. No real plan. Get ready for another Friday night Improv Show with Central Coast Comedy Theater’s Ensemble team! Our quickwitted crew will weave your suggestions into moments of comedic gold. Fast, funny, and different every single time. Aug. 8 6:15-8 p.m. $13. my805tix.com. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.

LET’S DANCE Our favorite DJ will return for our summer dance party! Shannon Babcock will create a perfect playlist to dance the night away. Get more info at the link. Aug. 8 7-9 p.m. $10.66. congregationhouse.online. CongregationHouse, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BEGINNING BALLET FOR ADULTS Enjoy the grace and flow of ballet. No previous experience needed. Wednesdays, 5:15-6:15 p.m. $12 drop-in; $40 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

BODY FUSION/EXERCISE AND FITNESS CLASS Do something good for yourself and stay fit for outdoor sports, while enhancing flexibility, strengthening your core to prevent lower back issues, improving your posture through yoga, and more. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 9-10:30 a.m. Free. (970) 710-1412. Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St., Avila Beach, avilabeachcc.com.

CAMP TACANNEKO Camp Fire Central Coast Council is hosting its 59th annual Camp Tacanneko. It is week-long traditional day camp for kids K-11th grade, who can participate in music, arts-n-crafts, swimming, and more. To get more info and register now, visit the link. Through Aug. 8 $260. (805) 2350819. campfirecentralcoast.org. Camp Arroyo Grande, 250 Wesley St., Arroyo Grande.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 25

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEAN STROMSOE

SUNDAY, AUGUST 10

FAMILYTOOLS+ SUPPORT GROUP –

YOUTHWELL This event is for parents and caregivers of youth, ages 5 to 18, with ADHD, dyslexia, autism, Tourette’s, and uniquely-wired brains. Thursdays, 12-1:30 p.m. through Aug. 29 Free. (805) 770-1930. youthwell.org/groups/. SBCC Wake Center, 300 N Turnpike, Santa Barbara.

FIVE CITIES REPAIR CAFÉ Get free repairs of household appliances, bikes, clothing, outdoor gear and apparel, computers, tablets, phones, toys, jewelry, and more. Bring your garden abundance to share. Aug. 9 1-4:30 p.m. Free. (650) 367-6780. repaircafe5cities. org. Get free repairs of household appliances, clothing, phones, laptops, toys, bikes, game consoles, outdoor gear, and apparel. Bring your garden abundance to share. Aug. 9 1-4:30 p.m. Free. (650) 367-6780. repaircafe5cities. org. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.

LIBRARY BOOK SALE Browse tons of books for sale at great prices — .50 cents per inch for paperback, $1 per inch hardback. Cash only; bag sale at 1 p.m. Aug. 9 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. (805) 481-4131. Grover Beach Community Library, 240 N 9th St., Grover Beach.

MULTICULTURAL DANCE CLASS FOR ADULTS Experience dance from continents around the earth, including from Africa, Europe, and more. Described as “a wonderful in-depth look at the context and history of cultures of the world.” Tuesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $10 drop-in; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52

Come join a friendly meeting of watch and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. (805) 547-1715. new.nawcc.org/ index.php/chapter-52-los-padres.

Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano.

NIPOMO SENIOR CENTER

FUNDRAISER 2025 Indoors, you will find arts, crafts, business vendors, along with a huge bake sale and raffle! Outdoors, there will be 23 rummage sale vendors. Gift certificate sponsors needed. Aug. 9, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (805) 9310841. Nipomo Senior Center, 200 E. Dana St, Nipomo.

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS

A docent-led tour of the buildings and grounds of the historic Point San Luis Light Station. Check website for more details. Wednesdays, Saturdays pointsanluislighthouse.org/. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. (805) 904-6615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.

UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN: A FASHION SHOW & EVENING OF GIVING Sip fine wine, enjoy a chic Wildflower Women runway show, and support mental health at Talley Vineyards. This will be an unforgettable evening of style, flavor, and community. Aug. 16 6:30-8:30 p.m. $71.21. (805) 543-3200. Talley Vineyards, 3031 Lopez Dr., Arroyo Grande.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

LOMPOC BOTANIC GARDEN CARE DAY Help LVBHS beautify Lompoc’s botanic garden. We will trim along the paths and also pull out invasive species. Wear sunscreen, gloves, and closed-toe shoes. Aug. 16 , 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. (805) 450-3668. lvbhs.org/activities. Burton Mesa Chaparral Garden, 1 Hancock Drive, Lompoc.

FOOD & DRINK

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BRUNCH IS BACK Celebrate the second Sunday of the month with brunch. Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the waterfront. Features fresh coffee, pastries, and more. Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $50. (805) 772-2128. chabliscruises.com. Chablis Cruises, 1205 Embarcadero, Morro Bay.

MORRO BAY MAIN STREET FARMERS

MARKET Get fresh and veggies, fruit, baked goods, sweets, and handmade artisan crafts. Come have some fun with your local farmers and artisans and enjoy delicious eats while enjoying the fresh breeze of Morro Bay. Saturdays, 2:30-5:30 p.m. Varies. (805) 824-7383. morrobayfarmersmarket.com. Morro Bay Main Street Farmers Market, Main Street and Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

BRUNCH IS BACK Celebrate the second Sunday of the month with brunch. Enjoy a two-hour cruise on the waterfront. Features fresh coffee, pastries, and more. Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $50. (805) 772-2128. chabliscruises.com. Chablis Cruises, 1205 Embarcadero, Morro Bay.

CLUB CAR BAR TRIVIA WITH DR. RICKY Teams of one to six people welcome. Visit site for more info. Wednesdays, 7-10 p.m. my805tix.com. Club Car Bar, 508 S. Main St., Templeton. THE MANY PATHS OF THE CULINARY ARTS Exploring the culinary arts in our community. Three experts in their field will be discussing the different

pathways they are using to inspire the community. Aug. 17 2:30-3:30 p.m. Free. (805) 238-9800. studiosonthepark.org/ events/the-many-paths-of-the-culinaryarts/. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles.

TACO TUESDAYS La Parilla Taqueria will be in the courtyard serving up their delicious tacos and tostadas. Menu typically includes barbacoa, chicken, and pastor tacos, as well as shrimp ceviche tostadas. Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. (805) 460-6042. ancientowlbeergarden. com. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

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

NAME THAT NOISE: MUSIC TRIVIA

A monthly special music-only trivia at Oak and Otter Brewing Co. Call ahead to reserve a table. Second Thursday of every month, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo, (805) 439-2529.

SLO FARMERS MARKET Hosts more than 60 vendors. Saturdays, 8-10:45 a.m. World Market Parking Lot, 325 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.

SLO GRANGE PANCAKE BREAKFAST

Join the SLO Grange Hall for a good oldfashioned pancake breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, juice, and coffee will be served, and proceeds will benefit local non-profits. Second Sunday of every month, 8-11 a.m. through April 13 $10. (805) 543-0639. slogrange.org. San Luis Obispo Grange Hall, 2880 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY MONTHLY FERMENTATION CLASSES

Join to expand your knowledge of the fermentation process and get started fermenting at home. We alternate between demonstration and hands-on classes. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30-$50. (805) 801-6627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. New topics each month with a thorough demo and explanation of the process that creates non-alcoholic, probiotic, and nutrient-dense fermentations. Leave the class confident and prepared with recipes to make your own at home. Limited seating; reserve spot prior to class by phone/email. Second Sunday of every month, 3:30-5 p.m. $30. (805) 8016627. kulturhausbrewing.com/classes/. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach. ∆

law focuses on advocating Employee rights in claims involving:

This land is your land

By any measure, SLO County is beautiful, from rolling farmlands to rocky peaks to coastal waters. This month, the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County and SLOPE (San Luis Outdoor Painters for the Environment) will highlight Central Coast beauty at their annual Colors of Conservation fundraising art show on Friday, Aug. 8 (5 to 8 p.m.), and Saturday, Aug. 9 (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.), in the Octagon Barn Center (4400 Octagon Way, SLO).

More than 10 SLOPE artists will display original landscape art of open spaces, ranches, and preserves under land management agreements with the Land Conservancy of SLO County. A portion of the art sales benefits The Land Conservancy.

Last year’s show raised more than $10,000 for the nonprofit. Participating artists include Dennis Curry, Jan French, Hilda Freyre, Dotty Hawthorne, Sandi Heller, Daniel Jones, Joe McFadden, Laurel Sherrie, Gisele Thompson, and Jim Tyler. Enjoy live painting demonstrations on Saturday by Jim Tyler at 10:30 a.m. (pastels) and by Hilda Freyre at 1 p.m. (oils).

“The event is a unique opportunity to meet local artists as well as support local conservancy efforts through art sales,” organizers announced. Visit slope-painters.com or call (805) 544-9096 for more info.

Back to school for kids of all ages

SLO County Libraries are inviting Central Coast families to a free back-to-school extravaganza on the Cuesta College campus on Saturday, Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event promises to be four hours of nonstop fun, and maybe a little learning too.

Touch-a-Truck lets you interact with squad cars, big trucks, and engines from various county of San Luis Obispo departments.

“Kids and grownups love our touch-a-truck events. We see all ages climbing into the vehicles and honking horns, flipping sirens, and giggling,” Communications and Marketing Coordinator Erica Thatcher said.

You can attend several scheduled performances in the Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center: Local Taiko drumming group

Ichimi Daiko performs at 10:30 a.m.; local dance group SLO Movement Arts begins at 11:45 a.m.; and Mad Science LA closes the day with a show from 1 to 2 p.m.

You can take photos with storybook characters Pete the Cat and Clifford the Big Red Dog, who’ll be roaming the event to meet fans.

See a curiosities sideshow, play carnival games, enjoy fare from food trucks Big Wave Sushi and Wandering Eats, and join a treasure hunt.

Visit slolibrary.org for more info.

∆

BY GLEN STARKEY

Back to their roots, into the future

The Great American Melodrama revives FourLegged Fortune for its 50th anniversary show

Melodrama may have enjoyed its theatrical heyday more than two centuries ago, but the artform is alive and well in Oceano, where for the past 50 years e Great American Melodrama has been presenting classic melodramas and vaudeville shows to enthusiastic audiences. Over the years, the theater company has morphed into spoo ng classic melodrama and contemporizing its vaudeville shows, but to celebrate its golden anniversary, the cast and crew are returning to their roots.

“For the 50th anniversary, I feel like we should really honor where the Melodrama started but also show the variety of what we’ve done over the 50 years, because we haven’t done classic melodrama in probably 10 years,” Eric Hoit explained.

Hoit’s been a part of the Melodrama for 45 of its 50 years as an actor, director, and in administrative roles, and for this show, he’s going to direct the rst two segments. e show begins with A FourLegged Fortune, written by Dion Boucicault. It premiered in London in 1866.

“I wanted to do a real classic melodrama, so we took one that we’ve done a few times, and I condensed it into one act, which was challenging, but I feel really happy with what we’ve got,” Hoit continued. “ en I’m directing the rst vaudeville, which is material that could have been in vaudeville from the ’20s and ’30s when vaudeville was at its height. It’s not all necessarily written then, but stylistically it would not be anachronistic to that period.”

e show’s nal segment is a contemporary vaudeville, with lots of “references to pop music,” veteran actor Billy Breed explained. “It’s kind of what a lot of our vaudevilles have morphed into over the years. We’re giving the perspective of what potential vaudevilles of the future will be. ey’re parodies of popular music right now, lots of rap music, some from Hamilton.”

“ e third act’s really cool because it is—as imagined by [writer-director] Eric Stein—snippets of shows that could be done in the next 50 years,” actor Toby Tropper added.

“Eric Stein’s doing an amazing job,” Hoit said. “What he wrote is hysterical. Anybody who’s ever been to the Melodrama and enjoyed it will not be disappointed. And if people have not been to the Melodrama, they should de nitely come check this one out, because they’ll have a great evening and see what we’re all about.”

Since most of the recent Melodrama fare has been spoofs on classic melodrama, this return to its

Get your tickets for the 50th

The Great American Melodrama presents its 50th Anniversary show that will mix traditional melodrama, vintage vaudeville, and contemporary vaudeville at its Oceano theater (1863 Front St.) from Friday, Aug. 8, through Saturday, Sept. 20.

Purchase tickets online at americanmelodrama.com or call (805) 489-2499.

roots promises to be good oldfashioned villain booing and hissing fun.

“I play a horse trainer in it, and it’s about horseracing and shenanigans behind the scenes with the villains wanting to sabotage one of the horses. Drama ensues,” Breed explained.

Suzy Newman, a fellow longtime Melodrama actor, explained that she gets to play another of the villains in the melodrama.

“I’m Mrs. Mulligan. In the original script, it was Colonel Mulligan, and it was a man. I think the only women in there were housemaids or ingenues.”

“I’m playing the [other] villain in A Four-Legged Fortune, [Captain] Grindley Goodge, which is a great name,” Tropper said. “I’m also emceeing the show, which is always a lot of fun. And then I’m in the vaudeville portion and, well, all three acts. I’m playing everything from a sea otter to a pirate. I’m running the gamut.”

In addition to a lot of longtime Melodrama performers, the show features some newcomers too, such as Annaliese Chambers, originally of Birmingham, Alabama. She’s a semi-recent musical theater graduate of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

“Since graduating college, I’ve kind of just been bouncing around from gig to gig all over the country, so I’ve worked in Washington State, Indiana, New York—you know, I go where the gig is.”

fun. It just whizzes by, and [the audience will] get to yell at the villains. ere’s a horse in it, but not a real one. In the original one, they did have horses.

“It’s going to be beautiful. ey’re just putting all kinds of costumes on us, lots of fun sets. I think when people leave, they’ll feel like they just saw a jam-packed show.”

Send gallery, stage,

She also did an international tour in Asia, but then she got in contact with Melodrama Artistic Director Johnny Keating.

“I did my rst show in April of last year, and I just fell in love with it, so I’ve just kept coming back,” Chambers explained. “I play the ingenue archetype in the rst act. I’m the young lover, you know? ‘Woe is me.’ at kind of vibe. e second act, my big number is a tap dance that I think the audience is really going to enjoy. And then the third act, I’m playing a monarch butter y who’s not very good at ying, and she’s a parody of Alanis Morissette and Avril Lavigne, so I’m singing a couple songs. I’m really excited for the third act; I think it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Newman is excited about the variety of the show: “It’s going to go by fast. e melodrama is really

“You’ll get a really good taste of what the Melodrama does, a really broad spectrum,” Breed explained. “ e rst act melodrama is not a parody of a melodrama. It’s a serious melodrama with some comedy in it. So, you’ll get a taste of what a traditional melodrama is like, which we don’t see that much at the Melodrama eatre anymore.

“Whether you’re a repeat customer or a new person, I think it’s going to t everyone’s appetite for what they want to see on the stage of the Melodrama.”

“We’re aiming to present the best of what the Melodrama is,” Hoit added. “We have a dynamite cast. I mean an all-star cast. We’re showing some of the favorite things people have seen but a lot of new stu as well, and we’re showing the variety that the audiences have come to love over the last 50 years.”

“It’s celebrating the magic of the Melodrama,” Tropper agreed. “I would say if you’re a big fan of the Meloverse at large, this is the show for you because we’re pulling out all the stops.” ∆

Arts Editor Glen Starkey loves melodrama in all forms. Send cheers and claps to gstarkey@ newtimesslo.com.

Glen Starkey

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS The Great American Melodrama mounts its 50th anniversary show in its Oceano theater Aug. 8 through Sept. 20.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE GREAT AMERICAN MELODRAMA

BOO! HISS! Hayley Galbraith and Andrew Pollock starred as two villains in the 2013 production of How the West Was Really Won.

YAY! CLAP-CLAP! Jeff Salsbury starred as The Prince and Katie Worley-Beck as Snow White in the 2016 production of Fractured Fairytale Operetta— Snow White

DJ STEPH WEST ENTERTAINMENT

Lt. Punny Jr.

ATHE NAKED GUN

What’s it rated? PG-13

kiva Scha er (Chip ’n Dale: Rescue Rangers) directs and co-writes this fourth installment of the Naked Gun franchise. Following in the footsteps of his father, Lt. Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson) must solve a murder to prevent Police Squad from shutting down. (85 min.)

What’s it worth, Anna? Stream it

What’s it worth, Glen? Matinee

Where’s it showing? Bay, Colony, Downtown Centre, Park, Stadium 10

Glen Sight gags, slapstick, puns, double entendre, equivocation— e Naked Gun throws it all at the wall, and a lot of it sticks. I laughed out loud on several occasions. Other moments fell at. If you’ve seen the trailer, you’ve seen a lot of the lm’s jokes already. ese kinds of spoof movies had their heyday in the ’80s and ’90s with lms like Airplane! (1980), Loaded Weapon (1993), Hot Shots! (1991), Top Secret! (1984), and Dragnet (1987). is one’s pretty good, and it’s a nice deviation from summer’s relentless superhero fare, but whether or not you’ll like it depends entirely on your personality and mood. It’s pretty ridiculous. Neeson is leaning all the way on his tough-guy persona, and he’s willing for the joke to be on him. Anna Admittedly, I don’t remember ever seeing the 1988 version of this lm, but I have seen enough of it in clips to know it probably isn’t for me. While I don’t have the original to compare it to, watching this updated version did nothing but solidify that hunch. Sure, there are chuckles. It’s so wildly silly I couldn’t help but let out a giggle here or there—but it always was accompanied by some serious groaning. Don’t get me wrong—I’ll watch Neeson in anything, and Pam Anderson is an absolute vision. In fact, if you haven’t watched Pamela: A Love Story, go do that; it’s fabulous. When my favorite thing about a lm is that it’s mercifully short, that doesn’t bode well for my review, and with e Naked Gun, I glanced at my watch

WINNER

What’s it rated? PG-13

When? 2024

Where’s it showing? Hulu

This black comedy may be based on a true story, but it was new to me despite only happening eight years ago in 2017. Emilia Jones plays Reality, a young woman whose big brain and big dreams want more than her little hometown life in Texas.

Growing up, Reality’s views were shaped by discussions with her father, especially around geopolitical topics and Islam. She enlisted in

PHOTO COURTESY OF VERTICAL

after an hour and thought, “ ere’s another third of this left?” It just isn’t the movie for me, but if slapstick and pun play is what tickles you, go forth and enjoy.

Glen You’ve got to admit the cast is stellar. Anderson is amazing as Beth, a devoted sister willing to put herself in harm’s way to nd her brother’s killer. Danny Huston stars as tech mastermind Richard Cane, a sort of Elon Musk and Je Bezos hybrid. He makes Cane truly despicable. Paul Walter Hauser plays Ed Hocken Jr., the son of Capt. Ed Hocken from the original. Cane has a devilish plan to reset the world and become its master and only Frank Drebin Jr. can stop him. ere are some running sight gags. Drebin and Hocken are perpetually drinking co ee out of paper cups and perpetually being handed new ones. Some of it gets repetitive. But the lm’s got a 90 percent critics score, and a 79 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, so it’s clearly

the U.S. Air Force in 2010, working as a linguist. I’m not sure how close Jones’ character is to the real-life Winner, but the on-screen Winner is a feisty misfit who “wasn’t trying to be Snowden or anything” but also can’t sit by and watch as higher-ups hide things in dark corners and under rugs.

Winner’s parents are played by Connie Britton and Zach Galifianakis, Galifianakis playing her father, Ron, with his usual offbeat vibe. Written by Susanna Fogel, who also penned films such as Booksmart and The Spy Who Dumped Me Winner follows the same indie film, campy vibe. It’s one of those movies that feels like it could easily be overlooked, but it shouldn’t be. This cast puts their heart into this film, and it shows. (103 min.)

—Anna

SHARK WHISPERER

What’s it rated? PG-13

When? 2025

connecting with viewers. Matinee-worthy in my book.

Anna Some of the running gags hit better than others, and you’re right—this cast is pretty hard to beat. Obviously with scores like that I can acknowledge that I may be the outsider here, and I’m sure my lack of connection to the rst lm doesn’t help either. I do like lms like Airplane! to a certain point, so maybe this new version just isn’t hitting the nostalgia button in me like it is in others. If you like your laughs to involve eye rolls and groans, sure, see it as a matinee. For my money, I’d wait for this to hit a streaming service. Either way, Anderson and Neeson are fun to watch, and there’s nothing wrong with a lm that aims for just plain silliness. ∆

Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Split Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Depending on who you ask, Ocean Ramsey is either a serious marine conservationist with an unorthodox approach or a crazy woman and self-aggrandizer who risks her life for online clicks and likes. Netflix’s new documentary—co-directed by Harrison Macks, James Reed (My Octopus Teacher), and JT Stiles—lets you decide for yourself.

Whether you’re ultimately for or against what Ramsey’s doing, there’s no denying this is a remarkably beautiful film with incredible underwater camera

work. Ramsey trained herself to hold her breath for more than six minutes so she could swim with sharks without disturbing them with bulky, noisy, scuba gear. Much of the controversy surrounding her activism centers on photos she posts of swimming with sharks in revealing swimsuits, but she argues that the photos draw attention to her activism to protect dwindling shark populations.

The documentary explores horrors like the practice of shark finning, but it also explores

Based on a true story, idealistic NSA translator Reality Winner (Emilia Jones) leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 election, in Winner, now streaming on Hulu.

Netflix’s Shark Whisperer chronicles the dangerous exploits of Ocean Ramsey, a marine conservationist and social media activist who raises awareness about shark endangerment by swimming with them and posting photos. PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX HERO OR VILLAIN?

ROCK OUT WITH YOUR GLOCK OUT Frank Drebin Jr. (Liam Neeson, right) must

the murder of Beth Davenport’s (Pamela Anderson, left) brother, in The Naked Gun, screening in local theaters.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

Music

BY GLEN STARKEY

Soulshine united

Michael Franti spreads positivity at Vina Robles

“Thistour isn’t just about the music— it’s about celebrating what really matters: connection, resilience, and finding light even in tough times,” Spearhead frontman Michael Franti explained in press materials regarding his current Welcome to the Family Tour, coming to Vina Robles Amphitheatre on Friday, Aug. 15 (doors at 6, show at 7:30 p.m.; all ages; $65.25 to $172 at ticketmaster.com).

Franti’s career has always been about more than music. Politics have been front and center in both his earlier bands, the spokenword and industrial act The Beatnigs (19861990) and hip-hop group The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (1991-93) and their songs about social justice. He’s leaned more into his humanism since forming Michael Franti & Spearhead in 1994 and moved more toward funk and soul sounds, but anti-war and human dignity remain reliable topics. On his newest album, Welcome to the Family released in May, songs like “Be Who You Are” drive home the idea of self-acceptance and rejecting soul-killing comparison: “Be who you are/ Nothing more

and nothing less/ Be who you are/ Don’t try to second guess/ You ain’t gotta be the best/ All you gotta do is/ Be who you are/ And you will find the very best in you.”

Franti’s become something of a cottage industry spreading messages of unity, connection, and positivity. His goal, simply put, is to spread joy, and he’s made a business of it. For instance, he’s embarking on his third Soulshine at Sea music and wellness cruise that sets sail in November.

The cruise features HIIT and yoga classes, wellness seminars, guest speakers, and music from guest artists like Dispatch, Allen Stone, Hirie, and Tropidelic. It sold out last year.

Franti also owns a 40-room, five-star boutique retreat in Ubud, Indonesia, called Soulshine Bali, “dedicated to wellness, creativity, and human connection,” according to press materials. “He and his wife also founded Do It For The Love, a nonprofit that grants live music experiences to individuals facing life-threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges. Since its inception, the foundation has granted over 3,500 wishes, touching more than 15,000 lives worldwide.”

If you got famous, how would you use your notoriety and wealth? Franti has

Live Music

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BLUES AGENDA JAM AND SHOWCASE

A rockin’ blues dance party at Niffy’s Merrimaker every first, third, and now fifth Wednesdays. The Blues Asylum house band welcomes local, visiting, and newcomers to the blues groove. Spirits, beer, and wine, with outside food welcome. Every other Wednesday, 7-10 p.m. Free. (805) 235-5223. The Merrimaker Tavern, 1301 2nd Street, Los Osos.

LISTENING AS RITUAL Group listening sessions with musician/musicologist Ben Gerstein. Explore remarkable recordings of world music, nature field recording, western classical and contemporary, and jazz, sharing and discussing inspiration and perspectives on the expressive power of peoples, cultures, animals and habitats through sonic experience.

Every other Monday, 7-8:15 p.m. $10-$15 donation. (805) 305-1229. leftcoastartstudio.com/. Left Coast Art Studio, 1188 Los Osos Valley Rd., Los Osos.

MELODIES FOR MOONSTONERS WITH SUNNY WRIGHT, PAUL CIERLEY, AND OZ BARRON Enjoy this fun venue with great people, while listening to jazz, blues, and soul with vocalist Sunny Wright, guitarist Paul Cierley, and bassist Oz Barron! Aug. 10 2-4 p.m. Free. (805) 927-9466. moonstonecellars. com/eventslist/2025/08/10. Moonstone Cellars, 812 Cornwall St, Cambria. OPEN MIC NIGHT Each Wednesday, enjoy this Open Mic Night in the downstairs dining area. Grab some friends and show off your talents. Food and drink service will be available. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Free. (805) 995-3883. schoonerscayucos.

used his for philanthropy, activism, and to build community.

Members of opening act Tank and the Bangas met at an open mic show in the Algiers section of New Orleans and formed the group in 2011. Mixing funk, hip-hop, soul, rock, gospel, and spoken word, they won NPR’s 2017 Tiny Desk Contest, and in 2019, they were nominated as Best New artist for the 2020 Grammy Awards. They won the Best Spoken Word Poetry Album Grammy for their 2024 album, The Heart, The Mind, The Soul—their fourth studio recording. Backup singer Anjelika “Jelly” Jospeh coined the term “Soulful Disney” to describe their sound, which is apt.

Sounds like it’s going to be a killer show.

Peripatetic upbringing

Good Vibez presents two acclaimed acoustic guitarists this Sunday, Aug. 10, when Leo Kottke and Julian Lage play the Fremont Theater (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $43.23 to $74.13 at prekindle.com).

Kottke, who’ll turn 80 on Sept. 11, was born in Athens, Georgia, but his family moved a lot. He was raised in 12 different

com. Schooners, 171 North Ocean Ave, Cayucos.

ROOTS REGGAE LEGENDS THE WAILING SOULS Hear Jamaican reggae vocal group The Wailing Souls live. Tickets and additional details are available at the link. Aug. 15 7:30-10:30 p.m. $36.25. thesirenmorrobay.com. The Siren, 900 Main St., Morro Bay, (805) 225-1312.

TRIBUTE TO DAVID CROSBY & GRAHAM NASH Performers will include Jonathan Firey, Shawn Thies, Adrian Bourgeois, Emily Laliotis, Mary Scholz, Kielo Smith, Donna Phillips, and The Wine Country Troubadours Duo. Hosted by Steve Key. Aug. 17 2-5 p.m. $25, $20 CCA members. (805) 204-6821. songwritersatplay.com/events. Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre, 1350 Main St., Cambria.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

BURLEY THISTLES Alternative rock band Burley Thistles is known for their guitar-driven sound and memorable songs. Hear them live at J Dusi Wines. Aug. 7, 4:30-7 p.m. J Dusi Wines, 1401 Hwy. 46 West, Paso Robles, (805) 2262034, jdusiwines.com. Burley Thistles is an alternative rock band known for their guitar-driven sound and memorable songs. Hear them live at Sun Outdoors. Aug. 8 5-7 p.m. Sun Outdoors Central Coast Wine Country, 2500 Airport Rd, Paso Robles, (805) 238-4560. Burley Thistles is an alternative rock band known for their guitar-driven sound and memorable songs. Hear them live at Barrelhouse Brewing Co. Aug. 9, 5-8 p.m. Barrelhouse Brewing Co. Brewery and Gardens, 3055 Limestone Way, Paso Robles, barrelhousebrewing.com/.

FRIDAY NIGHT DJ Weekly DJ series, with

a different DJ every Friday. Presented by friends at Traffic Record store in Atascadero. Come listen, dance, drink, and unwind every Friday. All ages event; no cover charge. Fridays, 7-10 p.m. (805) 460-6042. ancientowlbeergarden. com. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero.

HUBBA WINES 2025 SUMMER CONCERT SERIES Head to Hubba Wines in Tin City for live music featuring local bands every Friday evening. Wine and food available for purchase. Fridays, 5-9 p.m. through Aug. 29 $5 donation. (805) 550-8190. hubbawines. com/Events. Hubba Wines, 2929 Limestone Way, Paso Robles.

INDIGO GIRLS AND MELISSA

ETHERIDGE LIVE Grammy Awardwinning folk-rock duo Indigo Girls and rock icon Melissa Etheridge are set to grace the stage of Paso Robles as part of their national tour. Visit the site for

tickets and more info. Aug. 7, 7 p.m. $80. vinaroblesamphitheatre.com. Vina Robles Amphitheatre, 3800 Mill Rd., Paso Robles, (805) 286-3670.

LACERATION AT DARK NECTAR Hear death metal bands Laceration, Repterra, and Lysurgicide live at Dark Nectar! Aug. 9 8 p.m. my805tix.com. Dark Nectar Coffee Lounge, 5915 Entrada, Atascadero, (805) 835-1988.

LIVE JAZZ, BLUES, AND SOUL WITH SUNNY WRIGHT AND PAUL CIERLEY Have some fun in Paso at a gorgeous venue. Sunny Wright and Paul Cierley will bring beautiful vibes to the patio at The Pony Club Bar and Lounge. Aug. 9, 6-9 p.m. Free. (805) 226-9995. hotelcheval. com/pony-club-bar-lounge. Pony Club Bar and Lounge at The Hotel Cheval, 1021 Pine St, Paso Robles.

LIVE MUSIC continued page 30

ALL IN THE FAMILY Michael Franti & Spearhead plays Vina Robles Amphitheatre on Aug. 15

PHOTO COURTESY OF NEDERLANDER CONCERTS

OPENER New Orleans-based Tank and the Bangas opens for Michael Franti & Spearhead at Vina Robles on Aug. 15

COURTESY PHOTO BY JEREMY TAURIAC

STARKEY continued page 30

MASTER Acclaimed acoustic guitarist Leo Kottke returns to SLO Town to play the Fremont Theater on Aug. 10 .

COURTESY PHOTO BY CEDRIC PILARD

states. Along the way, he tried his hand at both violin and trombone before turning to the guitar at age 11. His debut album, 1969’s 6- and 12-String Guitar (often called the “armadillo record” due to the animal on its cover), is iconic and remains his best-known album, though over the years he’s recorded 20 more. Tendon damage has changed the way he’s played over the years, but he remains a master of the fingerpicked guitar.

Kottke is also a two-time Grammy nominee and holds a Doctorate in Music Performance by the Peck School of Music at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He also has a “Certificate of Significant Achievement in Not Playing the Trombone from the University of Texas at Brownsville with Texas Southmost College,” his bio quips. New Yorker magazine called Julian Lage “highest category of improvising musicians,” and he’s lauded for his impeccable technique.

Also this week at the Fremont, enjoy an evening with Phil Rosenthal, creator of Everybody Loves Raymond and star of Somebody Feed Phil, on Saturday, Aug. 9 (doors at 6, show at 7 p.m.; all ages; $50.96 to $206.07 at prekindle.com). He’s also a New York Times bestselling author who’ll be telling all the funny and true stories of his life, his television career, food, travel, friends, and family.

Tribute fever

Back Down,’ the dreamlike escape of ‘Free Fallin’,’ or the reflective beauty of ‘Wildflowers,’ each note, each lyric, takes us back to the simpler days when the radio was loud, the windows were down, and anything seemed possible.”

Tribute, ska, and reggae

The Siren is hosting what they’re calling “a double dose of ’80s femme fatale” when vocalist Mindy Milburn channels Debbie Harry of Blondie and Madonna as she fronts tribute acts Heart of Blonde and Like a Material Girl on Friday, Aug. 8 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $29.59 at tixr. com). You can also expect a few other hits from ’80s divas.

Third wave ska band Let’s Go Bowling plays on Saturday, Aug. 9 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $24.30 at tixr.com). Formed in Fresno in 1986, they’re known for their high-energy horn-driven sound and albums such as Music to Bowl By and Mr. Twist. They don’t tour out of Fresno as often as they used to, so this is a rare chance to catch this hard skanking act.

Sound out!

Send music and club information to gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

Numbskull and Good Medicine have a slate of tribute acts lined up this weekend at Club Car Bar. Get a dose of metal when Maiden California and Metalifornia deliver homages to Iron Maiden and Metallica on Saturday, Aug. 9 (8 p.m.; all ages; $24.41 at goodmedicinepresents. com). Both bands strive to emulate their heroes through musicianship, persona, attire, and instrumentation. Maiden California even has the Eddie mascot to complete the experience.

Tom Petty tribute act Pettybreakers plays the next evening on Sunday, Aug. 10 (3 p.m.; all ages; $26.99 at goodmedicinepresents.com).

“Ours is more than just a performance,” the band announced. “It’s a celebration of those unforgettable moments those songs have etched into our hearts. Whether it’s the rebellious anthem of ‘I Won’t

LIVE MUSIC WITH KATIE CHAPPELL

Join for a lively afternoon of live music, wine specials by the glass and bottle, or dive into a full tasting experience!

Aug. 14 , 4-7 a.m. $25 tasting fee waived with $75 purchase. (805) 237-1245. mcpricemyers.com/events/music080725. McPrice Myers Wine Company, 3525 Adelaida Rd., Paso Robles.

LOST TO THE VOID LIVE Hear deathcore band Lost to The Void live at Dark Nectar. Get tickets and more info at the link. Aug. 17, 6 p.m. $14. my805tix.com. Dark Nectar Coffee Lounge, 5915 Entrada, Atascadero, (805) 835-1988.

MISS LEO AND THE HANDSOME

FELLERS LIVE Head to Hubba Wines to hear Miss Leo and The Handsome Fellers. Aug. 15 , 5-9 p.m. $5.00 Donation. (805) 550-8190. hubbawines.com/Events.

Hubba Wines, 2929 Limestone Way, Paso Robles.

The Siren hosts a reggae tripleheader with True Zion, Rise Up, and Eureka Sound on Sunday, Aug. 10 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $16.36 at tixr.com). According to their bio, “Eureka Sound was founded by close friends Ryan Kordich and David Yun. Based out of Southern California, the group’s sound consists of luscious harmonic compositions combined with the syncopated, heavy rhythms of roots reggae. The band’s name, Eureka Sound, takes on the meaning of finding spiritual enlightenment and epiphany through conscious music.”

Experimental music for alt.earholes

The Frequent Weaver (aka Abe Gibson) and A Satellite of Love (1335 Walker St., SLO) have teamed up to bring two Los Angeles-based acts to town on Friday, Aug. 8 (8 p.m.; all ages; $10 at the door).

Headliner Jack Name “creates genre blurring music that is often atmospheric and enigmatic, with evocative, ethereal lyrics,” Gibson explained. “His songs have been covered by White Fence, Cate Le Bon, and U.S. Girls, and his experimental music has been performed at the Museum

OPEN MIC NIGHT Hosted by The Journals 805 (John and Dylan Krause). Mondays, 9 p.m. Pine Street Saloon, 1234 Pine St., Paso Robles. SINGING HANDS CHILDREN’S CHOIR

A unique performing arts group that performs across the state for deaf festivals, service organizations, churches, fairs, and other outlets. New members always welcome. Registration open weekly. Mondays, 5-6:30 p.m. $45 tuition per month. singinghandschildrenschoir. com/. Singing Hands Children’s Choir and Performing Arts, 1413 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles.

SIPS & SOUNDS WEDNESDAY Doors to our tasting room will open at 5 p.m., with music beginning at 6. There will be no cover charge, but a drink purchase is required. This is a 21+ event. Aug. 13 6-8 p.m. (805) 591-7003. stilsoncellars.com/ events/. Stilson Cellars, 1005 Railroad Street, Suite 2, Paso Robles.

SUMMER CONCERT SERIES AT HUBBA WINES WITH FUNK JUNKET Head to Hubba Wines in Tin City for live music featuring local bands every Friday evening! Wine and food will be available for purchase. Aug. 8 , 5-9 p.m. $ Donation. hubbawines.com/Events. Hubba Wines, 2929 Limestone Way, Paso Robles.

TUESDAYS IN THE PARK: FREE ATASCADERO COMMUNITY BAND

CONCERTS Enjoy these fabulous free community band concerts with different music and conductors weekly! Bring your lawn chair and snacks. Tuesdays, 7-8 p.m. through Aug. 19 Free. atascaderoband. org. Atascadero Lake Park, 9305 Pismo Ave., Atascadero.

VOICES UNITE! INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL - FREE PERFORMANCE ON THE LAWN Grab your hat, sunscreen, and a folding chair and enjoy our guest choirs in a beautiful outdoor setting on the vineyard lawn! Aug. 17, 1 p.m. Free. ravawines.com/

events/voices-unite-internationalchoral-festival-free-performance-onthe-lawn/. Rava Wines + Events, 6785 Creston Rd., Paso Robles, (805) 238-7282.

VOICES UNITE! FESTIVAL CHORUS CONCERT AT SCULPTERRA Sunday afternoons are popular at Sculpterra, featuring live music beginning at noon. Come early and enjoy a stroll through the beautiful sculpture garden. Aug. 17, 3:30 p.m. Free. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd., Paso Robles, (805) 226-8881, sculpterra.com/.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

BEE GEES FEVER See the 7-piece Vegas band Bee Gees Fever live at the Fremont. Tickets and more details are available at the link. Aug. 16 , 7 p.m. $33.96. fremontslo.com. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.

THE BUNKER SLO PRESENTS:

NIFEGUN & SATURN DEATH DIVE

Hear 5-piece indie rock band from LA, Nifegun, will perform live at The Bunker. Get tickets and more info at the link. Aug. 16 6:30-9:45 p.m. $13. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

CCMP PRESENTS “THE DEATH EXPERIENCE TOUR” The Central Coast Music Productions presents “The Death Experience Tour”. Hear live sets from TITVN, DARK WATCH, ISOLATE// DIVIDE, BOILERMAN, and RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Aug. 12 , 6 p.m. $13. my805tix. com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-9974.

CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA: AFTER PARTY SERIES Enjoy free live music in downtown SLO every Friday, immediately following the Concerts in the Plaza. The concerts are 21+. Aug. 15 8:30 p.m. Free. my805tix.com. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337. THE CUESTA CONCORD CHORUS PRESENTS “CARMINA BURANA” The Cuesta Concord Chorus presents Voices Unite!, a four-day international choral festival featuring in a performance of “Carmina Burana,” conducted by Cassandra Tarantino. Aug. 16 , 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-4849. Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. DAMON CASTILLO BAND AND COLLEEN RHATIGAN AT CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA Colleen Rhatigan and Damon Castillo Band will be performing at the Mission Plaza. Aug. 15 5 p.m. Mission Plaza, Downtown, San Luis Obispo. LEO KOTTKE AND JULIAN LAGE Hear guitarists Leo Kottke and Julian Lage live. Get tickets and more info at the link. Aug. 10 7 p.m. $43. fremontslo.com. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.

FREE FALLIN’ Numbskull and Good Medicine present Tom Petty tribute act Pettybreakers in Club Car Bar on Aug. 10

EUREKA! The Siren hosts a reggae tripleheader with Eureka Sound opening the show on Aug. 10.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE SIREN

STARKEY continued page 32

LAST WEEK!

Attention local singers, songwriters, musicians, & bands...

Become a legendary New Times Music Award (NTMA) recipient!

Enter to win amazing prizes including a custom NTMA Newtie, your name/band name on all NTMA merch, and a performing spot at the New Times Music Awards and Showcase at SLO Brew Rock on Friday, November 21, 2025.

GENERAL RULES

Entries must be received between Thursday, July 24, 2025 and Monday, August 11, 2025 by 5 p.m. to be considered for the 2025 New Times Music Awards (NTMA).

• $20 entry fee for each song, songwriter, and album entry.

Enter 2 songs and get the 3rd FREE.

Participants may enter a maximum of 13 songs (10 genre category, 3 songwriting category) and 1 album.

ONLINE ENTRIES ARE PREFERRED FOR SONGS Fill out the entry form, upload songs, and pay for your entries with a credit card at NewTimesSLO.com. Best Album entries must be entered in person or by mail.

If you wish to pay with cash or check, you may drop off your entries at either the New Times or Sun offices. Bring your music entries on a CD or USB drive along with your completed entry form. Checks should be made payable to “New Times.”

All entrants must reside primarily in San Luis Obispo County or Northern Santa Barbara County.

All entrants must be able to play at the showcase event at SLO Brew Rock in San Luis Obispo on Friday, Nov. 21, 2024.

All entrants under 18 years of age must select the Youth category and must have a parent or guardian sign the entry form. By entering the contest, all entrants give permission to New Times Media Group to reproduce submissions on compact disc and on the web. All entries remain the property of performers.

New Times Music Awards is not responsible for lost, damaged, incomplete, or late entries.

The top 3 songs in each category need to provide high-quality versions of their songs (16 Bit, 44.1 Sample Rate).

Songs may have multiple co-writers, but please designate one contact name only on entry form.

• Winners will be chosen by a select panel of judges.

• Songs will be judged on overall performance.

• Live performers will share the ‘Back Line.’ Check NewTimesSLO.com or contact NTMA@NewTimesSLO.com for more information.

The New Times Music Awards Showcase and Competition is an all-ages show. Performers agree to eliminate explicit lyrics during their performance.

GENRE CATEGORIES

The Youth category is for musicians entering music who are under the age of 21 as of July 24, 2025.

The Open genre includes reggae, world beat, jazz, classical, new age, electronic, etc. Each song submission must have a genre selected. If nothing is selected, the song will go into the Open genre.

If judges determine a song to be a better fit with a different genre category than what was originally submitted, they reserve the right to recategorize it.

SONGWRITER CATEGORY

You may enter up to 3 songs in the Songwriting genre, which is being judged separately.

• Upload a .txt or .doc file or include a printout of lyrics with your entry.

ALBUM CATEGORY

• Albums must have been released between November 21, 2024 and July 24, 2025 to be eligible. Please deliver a hard copy to either the New Times or Sun office along with a completed entry form by 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 for consideration.

The entire presentation will be judged, including quality of songs, sound, and packaging.

• Only 1 album per entrant total.

Monday, August 11, 2025 @ 5 pm

ARTIST NAME

NAME OF PERFORMING ARTIST(S) EXACTLY AS IT SHOULD APPEAR ON CD (BAND NAME, STAGE NAME, ETC.)

SONG ENTRY BY GENRE

ENTER UP TO 10 SONGS • FILL OUT THE INFO BELOW FOR EACH SONG ENTERED

SONG TITLE

PLEASE CHECK ONE BOX PER SONG TITLE TO INDICATE SONG GENRE: Rock/Alternative County/Americana/Folk R&B/Blues Hip-Hop/Rap  Youth  Jazz Cover*

Enter online or use additional entry forms if entering more than one song

SONGWRITER ENTRY

ENTER UP TO 3 SONGS • FILL OUT THE INFO BELOW FOR EACH SONG ENTERED

Upload a .txt or .doc file or include a printout of lyrics with your entry

SONG TITLE

Enter online or use additional entry forms if entering more than one song

BEST ALBUM

ENTRY

ONLY 1 ALBUM MAY BE ENTERED

ALBUM TITLE

Enter Best Album by mail or drop off at New Times or Sun office

LOCAL LEGEND AWARD NOMINEE

The Local Legend Award recognizes an individual or group who has contributed to help enrich, support, and further music’s reach in our community; someone whose ideas, inspiration, and dedication to this art scene have helped nurture and grow the music scene—whether it’s bringing new sounds to the area or giving people the tools they need to create their own. We would love your input! Please use this space to nominate an individual, group, or organization you feel should be considered for this award:

I certify that I am the writer or co-writer of the song(s) or lyrics submitted. *Except for Cover Genre. I also certify that I have read, understood, and accept the rules and regulations of the New Times Music Awards. If entrant is under 18 years old, the signature of a parent or guardian is required.

Name:

Phone:

Signature: _____________________________________Date: ___________________

Email:

TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES (14 MAX POSSIBLE) _____________ x $20 = $ PAYMENT ENCLOSED

ONLINE ENTRIES ARE PREFERRED FOR SONGS, BUT YOU MAY ALSO MAIL OR DROP OFF SUBMISSIONS AT EITHER OF OUR OFFICES BEST

of Contemporary Art. He’s currently working on a new full-length LP of pieces for 12-string guitar and playing solo shows in the U.S. and European Union supporting his 2024 release FABULOUS SOUNDTRACKS

ESCAPE-ISM features “former frontman of e Make Up, Nation of Ulysses, and e Scene Creamers Ian F. Svenonius and his partner in crimewave rock, Sandi Denton (bass),” Gibson continued. eir most recent album, e Charge of the Love Brigade, has been called “a no-nonsense beatmachinefuzzosophocal rocker.”

“ eir last SLO performance in August 2024 left audience members shattered and bewildered,” Gibson said, “and this one promises to deliver more of the same. Local garage punkers, Net Worth, get the evening started with songs that expose the seedy underbelly, and upon occasion the soft white underbelly, of our fair town.” ∆

Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.

MSPAINT AT HUMDINGER SLO

American rock band MSPAINT is set to hit the Humdinger stage. Purchase tickets at the link to hear them live. Aug. 9, 6 p.m. $22. my805tix.com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-9974.

RED LEATHER LIVE Alternative-rock artist Red Leather is based out of Reno, Nevada, and will be playing in town. His music tells an honest story of addiction, his journey to sobriety, and his pursuit of his dreams. Get tickets now. Aug. 10 7 p.m. $27. slobrew.com. Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-1843.

RESINATION & GHOST\MONSTER DUO AT CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA Ghost\Monster duo will perform a set, followed by two hours of live music from Resination. The Soda Crackers will play during the after party at Libertine Brewing Co. Aug. 8 5 p.m. Mission Plaza, Downtown, San Luis Obispo.

STEVE EARLE LIVE Steve Earle is one of the most acclaimed singer-songwriters of his generation. A protege of legendary songwriters Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark, he quickly became a master storyteller in his own right, with his songs being recorded by Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, The Pretenders, and countless others. Hear him live at the Fremont Theater! Aug. 7 $46.32. fremontslo.com. The Fremont Theater, 1035 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-8600.

STRANGE DAYS - A TRIBUTE TO THE DOORS LA-based group Strange Days is a worldwide touring Doors concert experience, capturing the magic and the mystery of The Doors in their prime. Aug. 17 7 p.m. $27.21. slobrew.com. Rod & Hammer Rock, 855 Aerovista Pl., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-1843.

VOICES UNITE! FESTIVAL CONCERT

The Cuesta Concord Chorus presents Voices Unite!, a four-day international choral festival. Voices Unite! honors the memory and the legacy gift of Ann Coppenbarger. Aug. 15 8 p.m. Free. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, missionsanluisobispo.org/.

VOICES UNITE! FESTIVAL: CARL ORFF’S “CARMINA BURANA” The Cuesta Concord Chorus presents Voices Unite!, a four-day international choral festival featuring in a performance of “Carmina Burana,” conducted by Cassandra Tarantino. Aug. 16 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-4849. Cal Poly Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo.

WHAT’S IN A NAME Experimental singersongwriter Jack Name plays A Satellite of Love show on Aug. 8

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

2025 LIVE AT THE LIGHTHOUSE CONCERT SERIES Head to the Point San Luis Lighthouse in Avila Beach for Saturday afternoon concerts. Get tickets and more info at the link. Through Oct. 11 $28. my805tix.com. Point San Luis Lighthouse, 1 Lighthouse Rd., Avila Beach.

ARROYO GRANDE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES These free concerts will begin on July 4 and run every Sunday until September 21. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. through Sept. 21 Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande.org/events. Heritage Square Park, 201 Nelson St., Arroyo Grande.

KARAOKE AT SLO COUNTY’S ONLY

FILIPINO CAFE Join for all day, all ages karaoke hosted at SLO County’s only brick and mortar Filipino cafe, Lumpia Bros Cafe. Enjoy karaoke, filipino dishes, acai, and co ee. Tuesdays-Saturdays-6 p.m. through Dec. 31 Free. (805) 2028473. Lumpia Bros Cafe, 1187 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

KARAOKE EVERY WEDNESDAY A weekly event with barbecue o erings and more. Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m. Rancho Nipomo BBQ, 108 Cuyama Ln., Nipomo, (805) 925-3500.

THE LOUNGE AT BESO An upscale afterhours nightclub experience. With limited capacity and a dress code. For ages 21 and over. Fridays, 10 p.m. my805tix.com. Beso Cocina, 1050 Willow Road, Nipomo.

MEREDITH WILLSON’S THE MUSIC MAN Players West presents The Music Man — a heartwarming tale of charm, music, and unexpected love in smalltown Iowa. Aug. 7 7 p.m., Aug. 8 7 p.m., Aug. 9 2 & 7 p.m. and Aug. 10 2 p.m. $28.50. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SLO COUNTY BAND THURSDAY NIGHT SUMMER CONCERTS Join in on the fun at these free Thursday night concerts with the Slo County Band. Bring your lawn chairs! Second Thursday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. through Sept. 11 Free. (805) 473-5472. arroyogrande.org/ events. Rancho Grande Park, 500 James Way, Arroyo Grande.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy live music at the winery most Friday evenings. Check site for concert schedule. Fridays presquilewine.com. Presqu’ile Winery, 5391 Presqu’ile Dr., Santa Maria, (805) 937-8110.

LADIES NIGHT OUT Music by DJ Van Gloryious and DJ Panda. Features

delicious daiquiri specials. Thursdays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

LIVE MUSIC AND FOOD BY LOBO BUTCHER SHOP Check out live music every Friday night from a variety of artists at Steller’s Cellar in Old Orcutt. Dinner served by Lobo Butcher Shop between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 5-9 p.m. Varies according to food options. (805) 623-5129. stellerscellar.com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt. LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR Various local musicians rotate each Friday. Fridays, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 623-5129, stellerscellar.com.

MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN Live DJ and karaoke every Friday and Saturday night. Featured acts include Soul Fyah Band, DJ Nasty, DJ Jovas, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO

ACADEMY Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. ongoing (805) 925-0464. coelhomusic.com/Lessons/lessons. html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria.

SUMMER DANCE PARTY Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizen Club presents “Summer Fun Dance” with Riptide Big Band and vocalists at the Elwin Mussell Sr. Center. Aug. 10, 1:30-4 p.m. Free. (775)813-5186. RiptideBB.com. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.

SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

KARAOKE AT COLD COAST BREWING CO. Pick out a song, bring your friends, and get ready to perform. Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m. COLD Coast Brewing Company, 118 W Ocean Ave., Lompoc, (805) 8190723, coldcoastbrewing.com.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

LIVE MUSIC SUNDAYS Sundays, 2-6 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com.

WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com. ∆

LIVE MUSIC from page 30

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Gems from Germany

Lisa Tupetz of Pismo Beach wins Importer of the Year at Sommeliers Choice Awards

Back in 2008, at age 19, Lisa Tupetz left her hometown of Cologne, Germany, to live and work with her mother’s best friend in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The friend, Lisa Scholz, co-founder and former owner of renowned restaurant and wine bar Saggio di Vino, said Tupetz had just finished high school and had no idea what to do with her life until “the lightbulb moment.”

“We were at a barrel tasting at my friend Daniel Schuster’s winery,” Scholz reflected. “Daniel poured us a sample of his upcoming vintage premium pinot noir—Omihi Hills Waipara Selection. I will never forget the expression on her face when she tasted it. She returned the glass to him and said, ‘I want to become a winemaker,’ and that is what she did.

“She continued working at my vinothéque [wine bar] under the guidance of a French sommelier at night and drove every day back to the vineyard to learn more about the process.”

After a year in New Zealand, Tupetz returned home to pursue her dream.

Following a decade of study and work experience throughout Germany, she landed an internship at Chamisal Vineyards in San Luis Obispo in 2018; founded her self-named German wine import business in 2022; and co-crafted her first wine, Kuss Kuss, with Mary Bradley of Grá Wine in Santa Maria in 2023.

In 2024, Scholz visited her protégée in California and “was able to see for myself what a star she has become” in the challenging niche of promoting German wines in the state’s wine meccas of Napa Valley and the Central Coast.

Scholz teased that she may be a little biased, but she was hardly off base.

Tupetz’s hard work and passion reached a new plateau in June 2025, when her company, Tupetz Wine Connection, was named both Importer of the Year for Germany as well as the overall top importer at the international Sommeliers Choice Awards (SCA), besting esteemed competitors from Italy, France, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, and Romania.

Willkommen

Contact German wine specialist Lisa Tupetz of Tupetz Wine Connection at tupetzwine.com and follow her company on Instagram and Facebook @tupetzwine.

Options for exploring her portfolio include online purchases and club membership—with shipping offered to most U.S. states—as well as wholesale accounts for retailers and restaurateurs throughout California.

Learn more about the Small Poppies Wine Collective at smallpoppieswine.com.

SCA judges, consisting of master sommeliers and other food-and-beverageindustry heavyweights, noted her stellar lineup of low-intervention, German-made wines.

“With eight (SCA) gold medal-winning bottles in her portfolio, from crisp elbling to structured, dry riesling, she’s helping reshape the way German wine is understood and enjoyed in the United States, prioritizing transparency, sustainability, and a strong sense of place,” according to Malvika Patel, editor and vice president of Delaware-based Beverage Trade Network, organizer of the annual competition.

Tupetz said she was surprised and beyond excited to win the awards.

“I didn’t expect this to happen at all, mainly because I only submitted 11 wines to the blind tasting,” she stated. “But, apparently, they all scored so well that I won [overall] importer of the year and importer of the year for German wines. … This creates great recognition for me as a new business.”

Tupetz has worked relentlessly to cement her reputation as a world-class wine professional.

Her résumé boasts bachelor’s and master’s degrees in enology and viticulture from Hochschule Geisenheim University and Justus Liebig University Giessen as well as Wine & Spirit Education Trust level 3 certification from International Wine School Nadja Roeloffs in Wyk auf Föhr.

During and after college, she founded her first company, Lisa Tupetz Wein Erlebnisse

(wine experiences), offering personalized tastings, events, seminars, and sommelier consulting services for restaurants, and also worked as an area sales manager at Deuna GmbH, a fine wine importer and distributor based in Augsburg.

When America beckoned, in the form of an opportunity to gain production experience alongside New Zealand native Fintan du Fresne, Chamisal’s former winemaker, she packed her bags.

“I had the best time, learned so much, and decided to stay longer,” said Tupetz, whose internship led to a full-time cellar position.

Ultimately, when she missed the taste of home—and struggled to find authentic German wine locally—Tupetz Wine Connection was born.

Tupetz specializes in directly sourced, high-end wines—including award-winning riesling, elbling, pinot noir, pinot gris, and bubbly sekt—from German winemakers who espouse traditional and environmentally sound practices.

“I [personally] distribute my wines … across California, which also naturally limits the amount of clients I can work with without neglecting any,” Tupetz said.

Her current client list boasts threeMichelin-star restaurant

The French Laundry in Yountville and two-star Enclos in Sonoma.

Recognition from the SCA competition could prove useful in finding a distributor or partner to help expand her client base to other esteemed restaurants and retailers throughout California and potentially to other states as well, Tupetz said.

Another useful promotional tool is the Small Poppies Collective, which Tupetz co-founded with three other California importers in 2025.

The collective’s goal is to spotlight rare,

interesting, and ethical producers from their respective portfolios. In September, the quartet will sponsor a month-long series of tastings, pop-ups, and collaborative dinners at locations throughout Northern California.

A final component of Tupetz’s import business is her wine club and online store. “I would love to have more local club members and meet more wine lovers and enthusiasts on the Central Coast,” she said.

“I want to bring my wine club to its next level, which is not a classic wine club. First of all, I don’t have a winery where you could come and get free tastings as a member perk. Furthermore, it’s a multi-winery club, with rotating wines.”

So she plans to add travel perks to the package.

“I have members who already travel to Germany, and I set them up with tastings with my producers,” she explains, “but I [want to organize] a tour to Germany and my wineries in 2027 with my club members and wine buyers I work with across California.” Tupetz also hopes to continue crafting wine.

“I love making wine and I would love to do another project with my great friend Mary Bradley,” she said.

The pair’s Kuss Kuss collaboration, a cabernet franc sourced from the Santa Ynez Valley, is available via Tupetz’s online store and for wholesale purchase.

“Kuss kuss [is] the ancient Roman custom of greeting with kisses on the cheeks to show respect, affection, and familiarity,” Tupetz said. “This is what we reflect in the wine—respect toward each other, nature, and the tradition of making wine.” Δ

Flavor Writer Cherish Whyte salutes Lisa’s passion and award-winning portfolio. She’ll be sipping sekt at cwhyte@newtimesslo.com.

ODE TO AYL Nicolas Weber, right, owner and winemaker at Weingut Margarethenhof in Ayl, Germany, won gold for his 2023 Elbling der Spritzige at the Sommeliers Choice Awards. Weber’s elbling is one of importer Lisa Tupetz’s bestsellers.

SENSATIONAL SEKT Lisa Tupetz of Tupetz Wine Connection celebrates her Sommeliers Choice Awards (SCA) recognition with sekt, including SCA gold-medal winning Heinz Wagner, center. Sekt is Germany’s version of sparkling wine.

COURTESY PHOTO BY ELISABETH SWEET

2012 HYUNDAI GENESIS 5.0

#162288

$10,988

2014 HONDA ACCORD LX SEDAN

4cyl, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, pseat, pearl white, alloys. #085852

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2013 BMW X3 AWD

3.0 8spd at, cc, 4WD, AWD, keyless entry, alloys, power sunroof, lthr, 97k. #983054

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2014 FORD MUSTANG PREMIUM CP

3.7 V6, at, ac, ps, pw, pdl, cc, tw, am/fm/cd, pseat, charcoal, 123k, local trade, alloys. #288835

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4cyl Ecoturbo, at, ac, ps pw, pdl, cc, am/fm/Sirius, pseat, white, 63k. #570730 $12,988 2018 BUICK ENCORE PREFERRED SUV

2013 JEEP WRANGLER UNLIMITED

Cano, County Clerk, lmaceri, Deputy. Exp. 07/23/2030. July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2025-1572

(N/A) New Filing The following person is doing business as CALI COASTAL POOL & SPA SERVICES 2136 Verde Canyon Rd, Arroyo Grande CA 93420. Paul Barton (179 Granada Dr #3, San Luis Obispo CA 93401) Sarah Barton (179 Granada Dr #3, San Luis Obispo CA 93401). San Luis Obispo County. This business is conducted by A Married Couple /s/ Sarah Barton. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 07/25/2025. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, lmaceri, Deputy. Exp. 07/25/2030.

July 29, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2025-1467 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CALIFORNIA INSECT SCIENCE, CALIFORNIA WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, DH DESIGNS 1550 Higuera St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Head Down Enterprise, LLC (1241 Johnson Ave Num 195 San Luis Obispo CA 93401). State of California. This Business Is Conducted By A Limited Liability Company, Head Down Enterprise, LLC, Maria Elena Murrietta, Managing Member. This Statement Was Filed With The County Clerk Of San Luis Obispo On 07/11/2025. Hereby Certify That This Copy Is A Correct Copy Of The Statement On File In My Office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, lmaceri, Deputy. Exp. 07/11/2030. July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2025-1226 (6/6/2025) New Filing

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: Justin Choate Gardening/Maintenance 5525 Farousse Way, Paso Robles, CA 93446. San Luis Obispo County. Justin Choate (5525 Farousse Way, Paso Robles, CA 93446). State of California. This Business Is Conducted By An Individual Justin Choate. This Statement Was Filed With The County Clerk Of San Luis Obispo On 06/06/2025. Hereby Certify That This Copy Is A Correct Copy Of The Statement On File In My Office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, mmaltby, Deputy. Exp. 06/06/2030. July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2025-1231

(05/01/2025) New Filing

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: EXACTLEE ENGINEERING SERVICES 3576 Empleo Street Unit 3, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Lee Beckman Wilkerson (3576 Empleo

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2025-1546

(07/01/2025)

New Filing The following person(s) is (are) doing business as:

STREAMLINE CONSULTING 611

Misty Glen Place, Nipomo, CA 93444. San Luis Obispo County. Rebecca Criswell Mcneil (611 Misty Glen Place, Nipomo, CA 93444). State of California. This Business Is Conducted By An Individual Rebecca Criswell Mcneil.

This Statement Was Filed With The County Clerk Of San Luis Obispo On 07/22/2025. I Hereby Certify That This Copy Is A Correct Copy Of The Statement On File In My Office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, lmaceri, Deputy. Exp. 07/22/2030.

July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2025-1551 (03/20/1995)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as MR. ROOTER PLUMBING OF THE CENTRAL COAST 1742 Manhattan Ave #B, Grover Beach CA 93433. NFS Services (1742 Manhattan Ave #B, Grover Beach CA 93433). San Luis Obispo County. This business is conducted by A Corporation, NFS Services, Norman Frank Solis, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 07/23/2025. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, mmalby, Deputy. Exp.

07/23/2030.

July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2025-1567 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CRISTIE OS GIFTS, 1497 24th St, Oceano, CA 93445. San Luis Obispo County. Cristie Lyn Odle (1497 24th St, Oceano, CA 93445). State of California. This Business Is Conducted By An Individual. Cristie Lyn Odle. This Statement Was Filed With The County Clerk Of San Luis Obispo On 07/25/2025. I Hereby Certify

That This Copy Is A Correct Copy Of The Statement On File In My Office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, atrujillo, Deputy. Exp.

07/25/2030.

July 31, August 7, 14, 21 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2025-1573 (N/A) New Filing

The following person is doing business as CAYUCOS COFFEE SHOP 155 N Ocean Ave, Cayucos CA 93430. Cayucos Coffee Shop LLC (155 N Ocean Ave, Cayucos CA 93430). San Luis Obispo County.

This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company, Cayucos Coffee Shop LLC, Fabola Berenice Tinoco Gonzalez, Manager.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 07/25/2025. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, atrujillo, Deputy. Exp.

07/25/2030.

July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT

FILE NO. 2025-1576 (01/01/2025) New Filing

The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: CENTRAL COAST TRACTOR WORK

4349 Jardine Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446. San Luis Obispo County.

Steven Richard Rees (330 Crum Rd, Templeton, CA 93465). State of California.

This Business Is Conducted By An Individual Steven Richard Rees. This Statement Was Filed With The County Clerk Of San Luis Obispo On 07/25/2025. I Hereby Certify That This Copy Is A Correct Copy Of The Statement On File In My Office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, atrujillo, Deputy. Exp. 07/25/2030.

NOTICE OF INTENT TO DEMOLISH STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 1220 MILL STREET, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the owner of the property located at 1220 Mill Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 intends to demolish the existing structures on the site, including a residence and workshop.

A Historic Resource Evaluation prepared by Dr. James Papp, Historian and Architectural Historian for the City and County of San Luis Obispo, concluded that the residence or workshop on the property qualify for the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Resources, or the City of San Luis Obispo’s Master List or Contributing List. The evaluation determined that the structures do not possess historical or architectural significance and are not associated with any notable historical events or persons. Additionally, no evidence suggests the property has yielded or is likely to yield important archaeological information.

NEW LISTING: 3886 Crestmont, Santa Maria, Beautifully updated home has so much to offer including newer stucco and interior the front door to the inviting living room with a stone fireplace and large windows, allowing in all the natural light, immediately you feel warmth and coziness. Features mostly hard surface flooring including real hardwood and tile. There are 3 bedrooms and a hall bathroom that is tastefully updated with tile shower/tub and an amazing vanity. The main bedroom has a stunning bathroom with a spacious walk-in shower and double sink vanity. The kitchen has granite counter tops, and stainless steel cook top and sink. As if that wasn’t enough–the family room allows for emphasis on entertaining guests, offering a wet bar, wood burning stove, and a bathroom with a shower. Exiting through slider to the sizable backyard, you will be impressed– from the concrete patio to the fruit trees and raised garden beds, the opportunities are endless. Also walking distance to schools! (388CR) $687,990

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 25CVP-0192

Demolition of the structures is proposed in accordance with the City of San Luis Obispo’s Historic Preservation Ordinance. For more information or to submit comments, please contact the City of San Luis Obispo Community Development Department at (805) 781-7170 or visit www.slocity.org.

Salvage or Relocation Opportunity: Prior to demolition, the property owner is open to inquiries from individuals or organizations interested in relocating any of the structures, or salvaging building materials. If you are interested, please contact the owner directly at (805) 441-4050 to discuss access and logistics.

Dated: July 17, August 7, & 28, 2025 PJ Designs (805) 550-7436

Notice of Self Storage Sale

Please take notice Meathead

Mini Storage located at 3600 S Higuera St San Luis Obispo CA 93401 intends to hold a public sale to the highest bidder of the property stored by the following tenants at the storage facility. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storagetreasures. com on 8/22/2025 at 10:00 AM. Lauren Parker; Ashlee Sylvester; Ryan Delgado. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

August 7 & 14, 2025

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 25CV-0478

To all interested persons:

Petitioner: Destiney Dawn Nickole

Stiles-Robles and Frank James Robles filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

a. Destiney Dawn Nickole StilesRobles

b. Malakai Jackson Stiles-Robles

c. Savannah Fayelind Stiles-Robles

PROPOSED NAME:

a. Destiney Dawn Nickole Robles

b. Malakai Jackson Robles

c. Savannah Fayelind Robles

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. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: September 10, 2025 9:00 am, Dept: 4 in person or by Zoom at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220 San Luis Obispo CA 93408. Civil Court Operations. 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: July 22, 2025.

/s/: Tana L. Coates, Judge of the Superior Court. July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

July 31, August 7, 14, 21, 2025

To all interested persons: Petitioner: Deanna Bollman filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Brayden Dunton Perry PROPOSED NAME: Brayden Burch Dunton. 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 IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 5:30 p.m., the Pismo Beach City Council will hold a regular meeting in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, during which it will consider the following: Address: Citywide

CLASSIES

NEW LISTING:

Description: Introduction of an ordinance amending Chapter 5.11 Article 1: Massage Establishments, of the City of Pismo Beach Municipal Code, relating to schools of massage and other administrative provisions.

HELP WANTED

Listing Agent - Regina Cosma, Lic. 01703042, 805-310-8180

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: July 23, 2025, 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 93446. Civil Court Operations. 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: May 27, 2025. /s/: Michael Kelley, Judge of the Superior Court. July 17, 24, 31, August 7, 2025. ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER: 24CV-0525

To all interested persons: Petitioner: Daniel Childress aka Danny Gonzalez filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Danny Gonzalez PROPOSED NAME: Daniel Childress 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.

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: August 20, 2025 9:00 am, Dept: 4 in person or by Zoom at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, 1035 Palm Street Room 385 San Luis Obispo CA 93408. Civil Court Operations. 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: September 4, 2024. /s/: Tana L. Coates, Judge of the Superior Court. July 17, 24, 31, August 7, 2025 ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER:

Details about ways to participate in this meeting will be provided on the agenda posted for the meeting online at pismobeach.org/agenda, and on the bulletin board at City Hall. The agenda will be posted in the afternoon of August 14, 2025. You have a right to comment on these projects and their effect on our community. Interested persons are invited to participate in the meeting or otherwise express their views and opinions regarding the proposed projects. Emailed comments may be submitted to citycouncil@pismobeach.org; staff cannot guarantee that emailed comments submitted after the start of the meeting will be given full consideration before action is taken. Written comments may be delivered or mailed to the City Clerk’s Office at 760 Mattie Road, Pismo Beach, CA 93449, prior to the meeting, or hand-delivered during the meeting no later than the comment period for this item. Oral comment may be provided prior to the meeting by calling 805-773-7005 and leaving a voice message. Please state and spell your name, and identify your item of interest. Oral comment may also be made during the meeting by attending the meeting in person in the Council Chamber at City Hall. Please refer to the agenda for this meeting for specific instructions for participation.

3886 Crestmont, Santa Maria, Beautifully updated home has so much to offer including the front door to the inviting living room with a stone the natural light, immediately you feel warmth and coziness. including real hardwood and tile. There are 3 bedrooms with tile shower/tub and an amazing vanity. The main spacious walk-in shower and double sink vanity. The steel cook top and sink. As if that wasn’t enough–the guests, offering a wet bar, wood burning stove, and a to the sizable backyard, you will be impressed– from garden beds, the opportunities are endless. Also walking Listing Agent - Regina Cosma, Lic. 01703042, 805-310-8180

Staff reports, plans and other information related to these projects are available for public review from the City Clerk’s Office, by emailing City Clerk Erica Inderlied at einderlied@ pismobeach.org. The meeting agenda and staff report will be available no later than the Thursday before the meeting and may be obtained upon request by mail or by visiting www. pismobeach.org/agenda. The Council meeting will be televised live on Charter Cable Channel 20 and streamed on the City’s website.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you challenge the action taken on this item in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Pismo Beach at, or prior to, the Council’s consideration of the item.

HELP WANTED

For further information, please contact Erica Inderlied, City Clerk, at einderlied@pismobeach.org or 805-773-7003.

Advertising Sales Pro Wanted

Erica Inderlied City Clerk August 7, 2025

The Sun, Santa Maria’s premier community newspaper is expanding its sales department. The Sun is owned by the New Times Media Group which includes its sister paper New Times in SLO. The Sun is a proud, active member of the Santa Maria community contributing comprehensive local news, and entertainment coverage for northern Santa Barbara County. We are seeking energetic and self-motivated individuals looking for a career in advertising sales. As part of The Sun team, you can build a career in an exciting industry, enjoy a small office atmosphere, a wonderful work environment and be a part of a company that makes a difference in our community. These are full time positions. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and reliable automobile. Sales experience preferred. Competitive compensation base on your sales experience and health benefits included. Please send cover letter and resume to crucker@newtimesslo.com

To all interested persons: Petitioner: Wendi Realene Stearman filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Wendi Realene Stearman. PROPOSED NAME: Wendi Realene Wells. 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.

The San Luis Obispo Architectural Review Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on August 18, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. Public comment, prior to the start of the meeting, may be submitted in writing via U.S. Mail to the City Clerk’s Office at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 or by email to advisorybodies@ slocity.org.

PUBLIC HEARING ITEMS:

JOBS WANTED

Reyes Gardening is looking for more work! 30 years experience. Call Julio (805)369-4308

NOTICE OF HEARING: Date: August 21, 2025 9:00 am, Dept: 2 in person or by Zoom at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220 San Luis Obispo CA 93408. Civil Court Operations. 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: June 9, 2025.

/s/: Judge van Rooyen, Craig B., Judge of the Superior Court. July 24, 31, August 7, 14, 2025

• Review of a new, 3-story multi-family residential development with 28 units; 2 ADUs; 14 parking spaces; removal of 27 trees with a re-planting plan; and a fence height exception to allow a fence and wall combo of approximately 7.5 feet and 11.5 feet in height where 6 feet and 9 feet are allowed. The project includes a 20% density bonus with concessions / waivers for reduced parking and a 2-foot height increase. The project is categorically exempt from environmental review (CEQA). Project Address: 2932 Augusta Street; Case #: ARCH-04642023 & TREE-0561-2025; Zone: R-4; Frankie and Frank Ciano, owner/applicant.

Contact: Mallory Patino – (805) 783-7704 –mpatino@slocity.org

The Architectural Review Commission may also discuss other hearing or business items before or after the item(s) listed above. An action of the Architectural Review Commission is typically a recommendation to the City’s Community Development Director, Planning Commission or City Council, and therefore is not final. Please note that any court challenge related to the recommendation on this item may be limited to considering only those issues raised at the public hearing described in this notice or in written correspondence received prior to the public hearing. Report(s) are typically available one week in advance of the meeting and can be viewed on the City’s website, under the Public Meeting Agendas web page: https:// www.slocity.org/government/mayor-and-city-council/ agendas-and-minutes. Please call The Community Development Department at (805) 781-7170 for more information, or to request an agenda report. August 7, 2025

Advertising Sales Pro Wanted

The Sun, Santa Maria’s premier community newspaper is expanding its sales department. The Sun is owned by the New Times Media Group which includes its sister paper New Times in SLO. The Sun is a proud, active member of the Santa Maria community contributing comprehensive local news, and entertainment coverage for northern Santa Barbara

and

These are full time positions. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and reliable automobile. Sales experience preferred. Competitive compensation base on your sales experience and health benefits included. Please send cover letter and resume to crucker@newtimesslo.com

a

a

(805) 922-0660 5400 Telephone Road,

JOBS

(805)610-0903 or

HELP WANTED

Advertising Sales Pro Wanted

The Sun, Santa Maria’s premier community newspaper is expanding its sales department. The Sun is owned by the New Times Media Group which includes its sister paper New Times in SLO. The Sun a proud, active member of the Santa Maria community contributing comprehensive local news, and entertainment coverage for northern Santa Barbara County. We are seeking energetic and self-motivated individuals looking for a career in advertising sales. As part of Sun team, you can build a career in an exciting industry, enjoy a small office atmosphere, a wonderful work environment and be a part company that makes a difference in our community. These are time positions. Applicants must have a valid driver’s license and able automobile. Sales experience preferred. Competitive compensation base on your sales experience and health benefits included. Please send cover letter and resume to crucker@newtimesslo.com JOBS WANTED Reyes Gardening is looking for more work! 30 years experience. Call Julio (805)369-4308

ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING

PROJECT NO. 23-02

SEALED BIDS will be received by the Public Works Administration, or designee, of the City of El Paso de Robles until August 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. for the Panorama and Fairview Neighborhood Road Repairs, DPW Project No. 23-02. Please be certain that any bid submitted is sealed and addressed and noted as follows:

City of El Paso de Robles Public Works Administration 4305 Second Wind Way Paso Robles, CA 93446 Sealed Bid for Panorama and Fairview Neighborhood Road Repairs, DPW Project No. 23-02

Following the closure of the bid submittal period, bids will be publicly opened and read for performing work as follows: Furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and performing all work necessary and incidental to the construction of the project known as Panorama and Fairview Neighborhood Road Repairs, DPW Project No. 23-02 according to drawings and specifications prepared by the City of El Paso de Robles and according to the Contract Documents. The work shall include, but is not limited to, pavement rehabilitation, concrete improvements, and striping improvements. Contractor to provide all necessary work plans, permits, and inspections necessary, all as shown on the plans and/ or as specified herein.

Project is to be completed within Eighty (80) WORKING days from the date specified in the Notice to Proceed. The Contractor shall pay to the City of El Paso de Robles the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each and every calendar day’s delay in finishing the work in excess of the calendar day completion time.

The California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) implemented amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulations (“Regulation”) which went into effect on January 1, 2024, and apply broadly to all self-propelled off road diesel vehicles 25 horsepower or greater and other forms of equipment used in California. A copy of the Regulation is available at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/barcu/regact/2022/offroaddiesel/appa-1.pdf Bidders are required to comply with all CARB and Regulation requirements, including, without limitation, all applicable sections of the Regulation, as codified in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations section 2449 et seq. throughout the duration of the Project. Bidders must provide, with their Bid, copies of Bidder’s and all listed subcontractors’ most recent, valid Certificate of Reported Compliance (“CRC”) issued by CARB. Failure to provide valid CRCs as required herein may render the Bid non-responsive.

Copies of the Bid Documents are now on file and available for public inspection at Public Works Department at 4305 Second Wind Way, El Paso de Robles, California. Interested bidders must obtain copies of the documents electronically.

The Contract Documents will be available electronically, at no cost, at DemandStar Paso Robles, CA. Use the link DemandStar Paso Robles, CA to navigate to the website for out to bid projects. To download the Bid Documents, the user must register as a user on the site. It is the responsibility of each prospective bidder to download and print all Bid Documents for review and to verify the completeness of Bid Documents before submitting a bid. Any Addenda will be posted at DemandStar Paso Robles, CA. It is the responsibility of each prospective bidder to check DemandStar Paso Robles, CA on a daily basis through the close of bids for any applicable addenda or updates. DemandStar Paso Robles, CA sends email notifications to ONLY those registered on their website. The City does not assume any liability or responsibility based on any defective or incomplete copying, excerpting, scanning, faxing, downloading or printing of the Bid Documents. Information on DemandStar Paso Robles, CA may change without notice to prospective bidders. The Contract Documents shall supersede any information posted or transmitted by any other vendor besides the City.

Bidding procedures are prescribed in the Contract Documents. Each bidder must submit bid security in one of the following forms: cash, cashier’s check payable to City, a certified check payable to City, or a bid bond in the form included with the bid documents, executed by an admitted surety insurer, made payable to City in an amount equal to at least 10% of the total amount of the bid or proposal.

Pursuant to Section 1770, et seq. of the California Labor Code, the successful bidder 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.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5, for bids due on or after March 1, 2015, all contractors and subcontractors that wish to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal for, or enter into a contract to perform work on the Project must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code sections 1725.5 and 1771.1. No bid will be accepted, nor any contract entered into if the bidder is not registered as required by law.

Pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22300, for monies earned by the Contractor and withheld by City of El Paso de Robles to ensure the performance of the Contract, the Contractor may, at its option, choose to substitute securities meeting the requirements of Public Contract Code Section 22300.

All bidders shall be licensed under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code to do the type of work contemplated in the project. In accordance with provisions of California Public Contract Code Section 3300, City has determined that the Contractor shall possess a valid Class A (General Engineering) License at the time that the bid is submitted. Failure to possess the specified license shall render the bid non-responsive.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish a payment bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, as well as a faithful performance bond, in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price. The bonds shall be on the forms included in the Contract Documents.

City reserves the right to reject any or all bids; to make any awards or any rejections in what it alone considers to be in the best interest of City and waive any informalities or irregularities in the bids. The contract will be awarded, if at all, to the responsible bidder that submits the lowest responsive bid. City will determine the low bid.

Date: July 10, 2025 By: Ditas Esperanza P.E.

PROJECT NO. 24-24

SEALED BIDS will be received by the Public Works Administration, or designee, of the City of El Paso de Robles until August 21, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. for the West Side Fiberized Slurry, DPW Project No. 24-24. Please be certain that any bid submitted is sealed and addressed and noted as follows:

City of El Paso de Robles Public Works Administration 4305 Second Wind Way Paso Robles, CA 93446

Sealed Bid for West Side Fiberized Slurry, DPW Project No. 24-24

Following the closure of the bid submittal period, bids will be publicly opened and read for performing work as follows: Furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and performing all work necessary and incidental to the construction of the project known as West Side Fiberized Slurry, DPW Project No. 24-24, according to drawings and specifications prepared by the City of El Paso de Robles and according to the Contract Documents. The work shall include, but is not limited to, pavement rehabilitation, concrete surface improvements, striping improvements, and placement of fiberized slurry seal material. Contractor to provide all necessary work plans, permits, and inspections necessary, all as shown on the plans and/or as specified herein.

Project is to be completed within Seventy (70) WORKING days from the date specified in the Notice to Proceed. The Contractor shall pay to the City of El Paso de Robles the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), for each and every calendar day’s delay in finishing the work in excess of the calendar day completion time.

The California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) implemented amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulations (“Regulation”) which went into effect on January 1, 2024, and apply broadly to all self-propelled off road diesel vehicles 25 horsepower or greater and other forms of equipment used in California. A copy of the Regulation is available at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/barcu/regact/2022/offroaddiesel/appa-1.pdf Bidders are required to comply with all CARB and Regulation requirements, including, without limitation, all applicable sections of the Regulation, as codified in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations section 2449 et seq. throughout the duration of the Project. Bidders must provide, with their Bid, copies of Bidder’s and all listed subcontractors’ most recent, valid Certificate of Reported Compliance (“CRC”) issued by CARB. Failure to provide valid CRCs as required herein may render the Bid non-responsive.

Copies of the Bid Documents are now on file and available for public inspection at Public Works Department at 4305 Second Wind Way, El Paso de Robles, California. Interested bidders must obtain copies of the documents electronically.

The Contract Documents will be available electronically, at no cost, at DemandStar Paso Robles, CA. Use the link DemandStar Paso Robles, CA to navigate to the website for out to bid projects. To download the Bid Documents, the user must register as a user on the site. It is the responsibility of each prospective bidder to download and print all Bid Documents for review and to verify the completeness of Bid Documents before submitting a bid. Any Addenda will be posted at DemandStar Paso Robles, CA.

It is the responsibility of each prospective bidder to check DemandStar Paso Robles, CA on a daily basis through the close of bids for any applicable addenda or updates. DemandStar Paso Robles, CA sends email notifications to ONLY those registered on their website. The City does not assume any liability or responsibility based on any defective or incomplete copying, excerpting, scanning, faxing, downloading or printing of the Bid Documents. Information on DemandStar Paso Robles, CA may change without notice to prospective bidders. The Contract Documents shall supersede any information posted or transmitted by any other vendor besides the City.

Bidding procedures are prescribed in the Contract Documents. Each bidder must submit bid security in one of the following forms: cash, cashier’s check payable to City, a certified check payable to City, or a bid bond in the form included with the bid documents, executed by an admitted surety insurer, made payable to City in an amount equal to at least 10% of the total amount of the bid or proposal.

Pursuant to Section 1770, et seq. of the California Labor Code, the successful bidder 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.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5, for bids due on or after March 1, 2015, all contractors and subcontractors that wish to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal for, or enter into a contract to perform work on the Project must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code sections 1725.5 and 1771.1. No bid will be accepted, nor any contract entered into if the bidder is not registered as required by law.

Pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22300, for monies earned by the Contractor and withheld by City of El Paso de Robles to ensure the performance of the Contract, the Contractor may, at its option, choose to substitute securities meeting the requirements of Public Contract Code Section 22300.

All bidders shall be licensed under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code to do the type of work contemplated in the project. In accordance with provisions of California Public Contract Code Section 3300, City has determined that the Contractor shall possess a valid Class A (General Engineering) License at the time that the bid is submitted. Failure to possess the specified license shall render the bid non-responsive.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish a payment bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, as well as a faithful performance bond, in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price. The bonds shall be on the forms included in the Contract Documents.

City reserves the right to reject any or all bids; to make any awards or any rejections in what it alone considers to be in the best interest of City and waive any informalities or irregularities in the bids. The contract will be awarded, if at all, to the responsible bidder that submits the lowest responsive bid. City will determine the low bid.

Date: July 10, 2025 By: Ditas Esperanza P.E. Capital Projects Engineer Publication Dates: - July 10, 2025 - July 24, 2025 - August 7, 2025

PUBLISHED NOTICE INVITING BIDS

SATELLITE DRAINAGE RESTORATION

PROJECT NO. 25-05

SEALED BIDS will be received by the Public Works Administration, or designee, of the City of El Paso de Robles until August 28, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. for the SATELLITE DRAINAGE RESTORATION, DPW Project No. 25-05. Please be certain that any bid submitted is sealed and addressed and noted as follows: City of El Paso de Robles Public Works Administration 4305 Second Wind Way Paso Robles, CA 93446 Sealed Bid for SATELLITE DRAINAGE RESTORATION, DPW Project No. 25-05

Following the closure of the bid submittal period, bids will be publicly opened and read for performing work as follows: Furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and performing all work necessary and incidental to the construction of the project known as SATELLITE DRAINAGE RESTORATION, DPW Project No. 25-05, according to drawings and specifications prepared by the City of El Paso de Robles and according to the Contract Documents. The work shall include, but is not limited to, recontouring of the existing drainage channel, and adding rock slope protection. Contractor to provide all necessary work plans, permits, and inspections necessary, all as shown on the plans and/or as specified herein.

Project is to be completed within Sixty (60) WORKING days from the date specified in the Notice to Proceed. The Contractor shall pay to the City of El Paso de Robles the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), for each and every calendar day’s delay in finishing the work in excess of the calendar day completion time.

The California Air Resources Board (“CARB”) implemented amendments to the In-Use Off-Road Diesel-Fueled Fleets Regulations (“Regulation”) which went into effect on January 1, 2024, and apply broadly to all self-propelled off road diesel vehicles 25 horsepower or greater and other forms of equipment used in California. A copy of the Regulation is available at https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/sites/default/files/barcu/regact/2022/ off-roaddiesel/appa-1.pdf Bidders are required to comply with all CARB and Regulation requirements, including, without limitation, all applicable sections of the Regulation, as codified in Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations section 2449 et seq. throughout the duration of the Project. Bidders must provide, with their Bid, copies of Bidder’s and all listed subcontractors’ most recent, valid Certificate of Reported Compliance (“CRC”) issued by CARB. Failure to provide valid CRCs as required herein may render the Bid non-responsive.

Copies of the Bid Documents are now on file and available for public inspection at Public Works Department at 4305 Second Wind Way, El Paso de Robles, California. Interested bidders must obtain copies of the documents electronically.

The Contract Documents will be available electronically, at no cost, at DemandStar Paso Robles, CA. Use the link DemandStar Paso Robles, CA to navigate to the website for out to bid projects. To download the Bid Documents, the user must register as a user on the site. It is the responsibility of each prospective bidder to download and print all Bid Documents for review and to verify the completeness of Bid Documents before submitting a bid. Any Addenda will be posted at DemandStar Paso Robles, CA.

It is the responsibility of each prospective bidder to check DemandStar Paso Robles, CA on a daily basis through the close of bids for any applicable addenda or updates. DemandStar Paso Robles, CA sends email notifications to ONLY those registered on their website. The City does not assume any liability or responsibility based on any defective or incomplete copying, excerpting, scanning, faxing, downloading or printing of the Bid Documents. Information on DemandStar Paso Robles, CA may change without notice to prospective bidders. The Contract Documents shall supersede any information posted or transmitted by any other vendor besides the City.

Bidding procedures are prescribed in the Contract Documents.

Each bidder must submit bid security in one of the following forms: cash, cashier’s check payable to City, a certified check payable to City, or a bid bond in the form included with the bid documents, executed by an admitted surety insurer, made payable to City in an amount equal to at least 10% of the total amount of the bid or proposal.

Pursuant to Section 1770, et seq. of the California Labor Code, the successful bidder 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.

Pursuant to Labor Code Section 1725.5, for bids due on or after March 1, 2015, all contractors and subcontractors that wish to bid on, be listed in a bid proposal for, or enter into a contract to perform work on the Project must be registered with the Department of Industrial Relations pursuant to Labor Code sections 1725.5 and 1771.1. No bid will be accepted, nor any contract entered into if the bidder is not registered as required by law.

Pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22300, for monies earned by the Contractor and withheld by City of El Paso de Robles to ensure the performance of the Contract, the Contractor may, at its option, choose to substitute securities meeting the requirements of Public Contract Code Section 22300.

All bidders shall be licensed under the provisions of the Business and Professions Code to do the type of work contemplated in the project. In accordance with provisions of California Public Contract Code Section 3300, City has determined that the Contractor shall possess a valid Class A (General Engineering) License at the time that the bid is submitted. Failure to possess the specified license shall render the bid non-responsive.

The successful bidder will be required to furnish a payment bond in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price, as well as a faithful performance bond, in the amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the Contract Price. The bonds shall be on the forms included in the Contract Documents.

City reserves the right to reject any or all bids; to make any awards or any rejections in what it alone considers to be in the best interest of City and waive any informalities or irregularities in the bids. The contract will be awarded, if at all, to the responsible bidder that submits the lowest responsive bid. City will determine the low bid.

Date: July 24, 2025 By: Kevin Wells, PMP. Assistant Capital Projects Manager

Publication Dates: - July 24, 2025 - August 7, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

WHO: San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors

WHEN: Tuesday, August 19, 2025, 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 County of San Luis Obispo to amend the Land Use and Circulation Element of the County General Plan, Land Use Ordinances for the inland areas and Coastal Zone, and Local Coastal Program to update policies and regulations relating to multi-family dwelling development and authorize the use of alternative publication procedures. Exempt from CEQA. Hearing date for final action set for September 23, 2025. County File Number: LRP2024-00015

Assessor Parcel Numbers: Countywide Supervisorial District: All Districts Date Accepted: N/A

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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: You may contact Schani Siong, Supervising Planner, in the San Luis Obispo County Department of Planning and Building, 976 Osos Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, ssiong@co.slo.ca.us, (805) 781-4374. The staff report will be available for review the Wednesday before the scheduled hearing date on the County’s website at http://www.slocounty.ca.gov.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION: This project qualifies for the General Rule Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because the recommended land use regulation updates would better allow builders of multi-family dwellings to more likely achieve the number of dwelling units per acre as envisioned in the General Plan, while still protecting the use and enjoyment of neighboring properties. The General Plan amendment to increase the maximum allowable number of dwelling units per acre by 10% and to allow multi-family dwellings in the Commercial Service land use category are minor changes that would not result in greater impact than that is allowable in the current regulatory framework and would be consistent with the County’s vision for efficient use of land, which promotes concentrating residential development within urban reserve lines to protect environmental and agricultural resources in rural areas. Individual development projects would still be subject to environmental determinations under CEQA, as needed. A Notice of Exemption has been prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15062 (ED24-194).

COASTAL APPEALABLE: Yes

**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: August 5, 2025

MATTHEW P. PONTES, EX-OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS By: /s/ Niki Martin

Deputy Clerk August 7, 2025

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSPORTATION

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Notice is given that sealed bids will be received at the office of the County Clerk-Recorder, 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93408 before 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 28, 2025 (“Bid Deadline”), for the following public works project:

CECCHETTI ROAD TEMPORARY BRIDGE

CONTRACT NO. 310014

Bids will be opened and declared by the County Clerk-Recorder 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-Recorder 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 County’s Purchasing website: https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/central-services/ purchasing-services/services/bid-rfp-opportunities

Any changes, additions, or deletions to these Contract Documents will be in the form of written addenda issued by the County. 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 County 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 County reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of comments / questions that will be posted on the website.

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 section 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 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.

The County of San Luis Obispo, 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 the Regulations, hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises 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. There is no project-specific DBE goal requirement.

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 County 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 County to ensure performance under the Contract or, in the alternative, request the County to make payment of retention to an escrow agent.

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

Pursuant to 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 DIR website, http://www.dir. ca.gov/DLSR/PWD

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 County 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 County 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 County.

By order of the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo in their action on the 5th day of August 2025.

END OF NOTICE TO BIDDERS

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS

On, July 10, 2025, the San Luis Obispo County Assessor delivered the 2025-26 secured assessment roll and unsecured assessment roll to the County Auditor - Controller - Treasurer - Tax Collector - Public Administrator. Interested parties are welcome to review the assessment roll during regular office hours at the County Auditor - Controller - TreasurerTax Collector - Public Administrator \’s Office.

An assessment appeal application is available online at the County’s website https://www.slocounty. ca.gov/Departments/Administrative-Office/ Clerk-of-the-Board/Clerk-of-the-Board-Services/ Assessment-Appeals.aspx. Applications for the regular roll year shall be filed within the time period from Wednesday, July 2, 2025 to Monday, September 15, 2025, with the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board. Said application must be filed in the office of the Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board by 5:00 PM on Monday, September 15, 2025, or postmarked on or before Monday, September 15, 2025 to the following address:

County Administrative Office

Attention: Clerk of the Board 1055 Monterey Street, Suite D430 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408

The Assessment Appeals Board holds monthly meetings, excluding April, May, and June, at the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers at 9 am. Agendas for these meetings are posted on the County’s website.

MATTHEW P. PONTES, Ex-Officio Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board

By: Sandy Currens, Deputy Clerk of the Assessment Appeals Board August 7, 2025

NOTICE: SEIZURE OF PROPERTY AND INITIATION OF JUDICIAL FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS PER HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 11488.4(j)

TO: ALL PERSONS CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST IN PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

$47,863.00 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY

San Luis Obispo Superior Court, Case No. 25CVP-0237

Notice is hereby given that on May 8, 2025, the above-described property was seized at or near 7270 Sombrilla Avenue, Atascadero, CA, 93422 by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, in connection with violations of section 11351 of the California Health and Safety Code. The estimated/appraised value of the property is $47,863.00.

Pursuant to section 11488.4(j) of the California Health and Safety Code, you must file a verified claim stating your interest in the property with the Superior Court’s Civil Division, Room 385, County Courthouse Annex, 1035 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93408. Claim forms are available from the Clerk of the above court and also online at https://www.courts.ca.gov/ documents/mc200.pdf

Furthermore, an endorsed copy of the verified claim must also be served on the District Attorney, Asset Forfeiture Unit, County Courthouse Annex, 1035 Palm Street, 4th Floor, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, within 30 days of filing the claim with the Superior Court’s Civil Division.

Both the District Attorney’s Office and the Interested Party filing the claim are entitled to conduct reciprocal requests for discovery in preparation for a hearing. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply to the proceedings unless inconsistent with the provisions or procedures set forth in the Health and Safety Code (Section 11488.5(c)(3)). The Interested Party in entitled to legal representation at a hearing, although not one appointed at public expense, and has the right to present evidence and witnesses, and to cross-examine plaintiff’s witnesses, but there is no right to avoid testifying at a civil hearing.

The failure to timely file and secure a verified claim stating an interest in the property in the Superior Court will result in the property being declared or ordered forfeited to the State of California and distributed pursuant to the provisions of Health and Safety Code section 11489 without further notice or hearing.

DATED: May 19, 2025

DAN DOW

District Attorney

Kenneth Jorgensen

Deputy District Attorney

May 22, 29, & June 5, 2025

NOTICE: SEIZURE OF PROPERTY AND INITIATION OF NONJUDICIAL FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS PER HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 11488.4(j)

TO: ALL PERSONS CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST IN PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:

$6,094 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY

Notice is hereby given that on May 8, 2025, the above-described property was seized at or near 8410 El Camino Real, Space Q and W, Atascadero, CA 93422, by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, in connection with violations, to wit, section(s) 11351 and 11378 of the California Health and Safety Code. The estimated/ appraised value of the property is $6,094.00.

Pursuant to section 11488.4(j) of the California Health and Safety Code, you must file a verified claim stating your interest in the property with the Superior Court’s Civil Division, Room 385, County Courthouse Annex, 1035 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93408. Claim forms are available from the Clerk of the above court and also online at https://www.courts.ca.gov/ documents/mc200.pdf

Furthermore, an endorsed copy of the verified claim must also be served on the District Attorney, Asset Forfeiture Unit, County Courthouse Annex, 1035 Palm Street, 4th Floor, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, within 30 days of filing the claim with the Superior Court’s Civil Division.

Both the District Attorney’s Office and the Interested Party filing the claim are entitled to conduct reciprocal requests for discovery in preparation for a hearing. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply to the proceedings unless inconsistent with the provisions or procedures set forth in the Health and Safety Code (Section 11488.5(c)(3)). The Interested Party in entitled to legal representation at a hearing, although not one appointed at public expense, and has the right to present evidence and witnesses, and to cross-examine plaintiff’s witnesses, but there is no right to avoid testifying at a civil hearing.

The failure to timely file and secure a verified claim stating an interest in the property in the Superior Court will result in the property being declared or ordered forfeited to the State of California and distributed pursuant to the provisions of Health and Safety Code section 11489 without further notice or hearing.

DATED: July 22, 2025

DAN DOW

District Attorney

Kenneth Jorgensen

Deputy District Attorney

July 24, 31, & August 7, 2025

NOTICE OF UNSCHEDULED

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Atascadero is currently accepting applications from interested residents to fill one (1) unscheduled vacancy on the Planning Commission for a term ending December 31, 2026.

The Planning Commission meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The Planning Commission is a body of 7 citizens appointed by the City Council who review matters related to land use planning and development. Interested candidates must be a resident of the City of Atascadero and a registered voter in order to qualify.

Applications are available for download on the City’s website at www.atascadero.org or by calling the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 470-3400 and by visiting City Hall, 6500 Palma Avenue. Completed application forms must be filed with the City Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 29, 2025 in order to be considered for appointment.

August 7, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING ON THE STATUS OF THE CDBG-CV2 FUNDED ACTIVITY AND PROJECT CLOSEOUT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on August 19, 2025, the County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors at its regulatory schedule meeting at 9:00 A.M., at the Katcho Achadjian Government Center, 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. The purpose of the meeting will be to update residents on the progress of the Paso Robles Homekey Project- Rehabilitation, provide at least a 10-day comment period to receive public comments and to acknowledge the project’s completion.

The project was funded through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG-CV2) funds via the Coronavirus id, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided by the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD).

The meeting is an opportunity to accept public comments and for the County to acknowledge the completion of the Paso Robles Homekey Project - Rehabilitation, as required by HCD.

The following information related to the project is available from the County Department of Social Services at https://www.slocounty. ca.gov/departments/social-services/homeless-services-division, or by emailing the contact listed below:

NOTICE: SEIZURE OF PROPERTY AND INITIATION OF JUDICIAL FORFEITURE PROCEEDINGS PER HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTION 11488.4(j)

TO: ALL PERSONS CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST IN PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: $21,495.00 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY San Luis Obispo Superior Court, Case No. 25CV-0370

Notice is hereby given that on May 9, 2025, the abovedescribed property was seized at or near 506 Navajo Avenue, Paso Robles, California, by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, in connection with violations of section(s) 11351, 11351.5, and 11352, of the California Health and Safety Code. The estimated/appraised value of the property is $21,495.00.

Pursuant to section 11488.4(j) of the California Health and Safety Code, you must file a verified claim stating your interest in the property with the Superior Court’s Civil Division, Room 385, County Courthouse Annex, 1035 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93408. Claim forms are available from the Clerk of the above court and also online at https://www. courts.ca.gov/documents/mc200.pdf.

Furthermore, an endorsed copy of the verified claim must also be served on the District Attorney, Asset Forfeiture Unit, County Courthouse Annex, 1035 Palm Street, 4th Floor, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, within 30 days of filing the claim with the Superior Court’s Civil Division.

Both the District Attorney’s Office and the Interested Party filing the claim are entitled to conduct reciprocal requests for discovery in preparation for a hearing. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply to the proceedings unless inconsistent with the provisions or procedures set forth in the Health and Safety Code (Section 11488.5(c)(3)). The Interested Party is entitled to legal representation at a hearing, although not one appointed at public expense, and has the right to present evidence and witnesses, and to cross-examine plaintiff’s witnesses, but there is no right to avoid testifying at a civil hearing.

The failure to timely file and secure a verified claim stating an interest in the property in the Superior Court will result in the property being declared or ordered forfeited to the State of California and distributed pursuant to the provisions of Health and Safety Code section 11489 without further notice or hearing.

DATED: July 22, 2025

DAN DOW

District Attorney

Kenneth Jorgensen

Deputy District Attorney

July 24, 31, & August 7, 2025

• The Paso Robles Homekey Project – Rehabilitation was completed and is operational producing a benefit to the community.

• The rehabilitation of the permanent housing resulted in 60 beneficiaries at any one time through the rehabilitation of 60 units. The interim housing resulted in up to 80 beneficiaries at one time with the creation of 42 interim housing units.

• Total CDBG-CV2 funds expended for both permanent and interim housing total $4,371,851.50, with an unspent balance of $259,302.50.

All person interested in the Project’s completion are welcome to attend this meeting, Written comments can be directed to SS_ HSDinfo@co.slo.ca.us or to Tony Navarro, Program Manager II, at tnavarro@co.slo.ca.us or at (805) 788-9464, at the Department of Social Service. The last day to submit a public comment by email is Sunday, August 17, 2025, to ensure placement in the official record of the meeting. Public comments may be presented at the Board of Supervisor hearing on August 19, 2025.

The County of San Luis Obispo does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, age, religion or disability. If you require specific accommodation to participate in the public meeting, the Board of Supervisors’ meeting room is equipped to accommodate persons with visual, audio or mobility impairments. Person(s) requiring accommodation should notify the Clerk of the Boards’ Office 72 hours prior to the meeting at (805) 781-5011. August 7, 2025

August 7, 2025

Free Will Astrology by

Rob Brezsny

Homework: What brave breakthrough could you make simply by being your authentic self? Newsletter.freewillastrology.com

ARIES

(March 21-April 19): The Tagalog word gigil refers to the urge to squeeze or pinch something adorable. It’s an ecstatic tension that verges on overflowing the container of decorum. In the coming weeks, you Aries could feel gigil for the whole world. Everything may seem almost too vivid, too raw, too marvelous, and altogether too much. I advise you to welcome these surges and allow them to enhance your perceptions. Laugh hard. Cry freely. Invite goosebumps. Please note: But don’t actually squeeze anyone without their permission.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20): In Japan’s Snow Country, artisans practice yuki-sarashi. It involves laying woven cloth on snow under sunlight to bleach, brighten, purify, and soften the fibers through the effects of snow, sunlight, cold, and ozone. Because this process doesn’t require harsh chemicals, it helps maintain the fabric’s strength and prevents it from yellowing over time. I propose you make yuki-sarashi a useful metaphor, Taurus. Something fragile and fine is ready to emerge, but it needs your gentle touch and natural methods. You are often grounded in the adept manipulation of raw material—what works, what holds, what can be relied on. But this burgeoning treasure needs maximum nuance and the blessings of sensitive care.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20): When African American dancer Josephine Baker arrived in Paris in 1925 at age 19, she was seeking refuge from her home country’s racism. Her electrifying performances soon made her a celebrity. Author Ernest Hemingway said she was “the most sensational woman anyone ever saw.” As she grew wealthy, she donated generously to French charities, hospitals, and schools. Her compassionate works evolved further, too. During World War II, she worked as a spy for the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation. Later, she became a civil rights activist in the U.S. Can you guess the astrological sign of this multi-faceted star? Gemini! I hope you will be inspired by her in the coming weeks. May you, too, use your natural gifts and stylish flair to serve the greater good. Look for opportunities to mentor, encourage, and advocate for those lacking your advantages.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): When a glacier moves, it doesn’t rush. It presses forward incrementally, reshaping mountains, carving valleys, and transporting boulders. In a metaphorical sense, Cancerian, you are now in glacier time. A slow, relentless, and ultimately magnificent process is afoot in your life. Others may not yet see the forward momentum. Even you may doubt it. But the shift is real and permanent. Trust the deep, inexorable push. Your soul is hauling whole landscapes into new configurations.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): In the Arctic, the sun shines for 24 hours a day during midsummer. There is no night, only the surreal glow of prolonged gold. The human body, confused by the unending day, may be confused about when to sleep. For some, this creates disorientation, and for others, a strange euphoria. In my astrological opinion, Leo, you have entered a metaphorical version of this solar dreamscape. Your creative powers are beaming like a relentless sun. There may be little darkness in sight. So how will you rest? How will you replenish under the glow of fervent possibility? Be wisely discerning with your energy. Don’t mistake illumination for invincibility. Bask in the light, yes, but protect your rhythms.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Now is an excellent time for you to swear sacred oaths. I suggest you get less comfortable with transitory arrangements and short-term promises. The near future will also be a ripe phase to make brave commitments that require you to go farther and deeper than you’ve dared to before. I recommend you forgo the cheap thrills of skipping along from one random moment to the next. Embrace a game plan. Finally, I urge you to cast magic spells on yourself that will release your unconscious mind from old fixations that subtly drain your

power to fulfill your dreams. Please please please surrender trivial obsessions that distract you from your life’s key goals.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In West African traditions, griots are key figures in their communities. They serve as storytellers, oral historians, poets, genealogists, and advisors. Their presence is often central to events like weddings, funerals, and ceremonies. In the coming weeks, Libra, I hope that you will embrace a role that resembles the griot. Your ability to enhance and nurture your network is at a peak. You have extra power to weave together threads that have become frayed or unraveled. Given your potential potency as a social glue, I advise you to avoid gossip and instead favor wise, kind words that foster connection.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The phrase “elegant sufficiency” is an old English expression meaning “just enough” or “a sufficient amount in a refined or tasteful way.” I am expanding it to also mean “the simplest solution that solves a problem completely without unnecessary complexity.” It’s your power phrase, Scorpio. What you need is not intricate perfection, but elegant sufficiency: enoughness. I suggest you welcome this gift with enthusiasm—not in a resigned way, but with a quiet triumph. Maybe your plan doesn’t need more bullet points. Maybe the relationship doesn’t require further analysis. Maybe your offering is already thorough. Allow yourself the sweet satisfaction of having just the right amount. What you have created may be more organically whole than you realize.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): How do you become a maestro of desire? What must you do to honor your beautiful yearnings and cull your mediocre ones? What’s the magic that will help you fulfill your life’s purpose by trusting your deepest cravings? Here are some tips. First, jettison your inessential desires and cherish the precious yearnings that are crucial. Second, dispose of outmoded goals so you can make expansive space for robust goals that steer you away from the past and guide you toward the future. These are challenging tasks! The very good news is that the coming weeks can be a turning point in your quest to claim this birthright.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): I’m writing a fairy tale about an ancient land whose queen regards poetry as essential to the public good. She often invites poets to perform for her and her court. When they finish a stirring passage, they bow—not to the queen or other observers, but to the silence they mined to access their inspiration; to the pregnant chaos from which the poem was born. The pause is a gesture of gratitude and acknowledgment. I invite you to partake in similar acts of appreciation, Capricorn. Bow toward the mysteries from which your blessings flow. Honor the quiet sources that keep you fertile. Praise the treasures in the dark that fuel your intense activities.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): When I advise you to get naked I’m not necessarily suggesting that you doff your clothes. What I primarily mean is the following: Shed the armor around your heart; strip off your defense mechanisms; discard knee pads you wear while kissing butt or paying excessive homage; recycle shoes, jackets, pants, and opinions that don’t fit you; and discard pride-spawned obstacles that impede your communions with those you love.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20): The Finnish word sisu describes a radical, unglamorous persistence. Those who possess sisu can summon extraordinary determination, tenacity, and resilience in the face of confusion or difficulty. It’s not about bravado or flair, but about soulful gutsiness. I suspect it’s time for you to draw on your sisu Pisces. It will empower you to tap into reserves of strength that have previously been unavailable. You will activate potentials that have been half-dormant. ∆