Natural floral arrangements [10], hot air balloon proposals [12], officiants [14], and trolleys for the big day [16]
BY NEW TIMES STAFF
Editor’s note
What is a wedding, really, other than a giant celebration—a party from beginning to end, from the engagement through the goodbye song at the end of the big night. In our annual Weddings issue, we’re including things that can help you put that party together. A florist with an eye for natural designs, hot air balloons in which to pop the question and tie the knot, the officiants that can bring two people together in matrimony, and transportation options beyond the quintessential stretch limo. Read them all this week [10]
In addition, read about what SLO decided to do about the Libertine’s music permit [3]; a Los Osos-based “foamfabber” who helps create movie magic [29]; and a Central Coast bakery that delivers the fun [35]. Camillia
Lanham editor
cover courtesy photo by Nadine Wendorff cover design by Alex Zuniga
Libertine holds onto permit and live music shows
Neighbors, musicians, and well-wishers came out in scores to urge San Luis Obispo’s zoning hearing officer to maintain the local Libertine Brewing Company’s existing minor use permit.
The Feb. 23 hearing took a second look at the bar’s permit after the SLO Police Department received eight calls for service related to noise issues between December 2024 and November 2025.
Worries that a revoked permit could result in the loss of live music at the venue drove many Libertine supporters to City Hall.
“I’d like to see a show of hands of who here has never come to a City [Hall] meeting before,” a Pismo Street resident asked during public comment, prompting most hands in the full room to go up. “I think that’s pretty representative of the culture and the community that Libertine provides for us.”
Until recently, Libertine faced a $350 citation from the Police Department and a notice of violation from the city’s Code Enforcement Division.
The city issued the notice of violation—a courtesy warning, not a fine—after an investigation found that Libertine flouted multiple conditions of its permit.
According to the city, when the code enforcement violation happened, the bar abided by a building permit related to new floor plans that had been issued but not yet finalized; didn’t close all doors and windows after 10 p.m. to contain the live music sounds one night; and didn’t have its updated
security plan on record. The building permit has since been finalized.
The city told New Times that it dismissed the $350 police citation on Feb. 18 after the city attorney reviewed it. Assistant Planner Mallory Patino confirmed the paperwork error.
“The citation was for violation of the noise ordinance for the business,” she said. “But when the citation was issued, they didn’t write it to the business, they wrote it to the individual, to the employee that was on staff coordinating with the police at the time.”
Libertine’s permit allows live entertainment to run until 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until 1 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.
The permit limits live entertainment up to three days a week that’s compliant with the “city’s definition of ambient entertainment.”
According to the city’s municipal code, “ambient noise level” is the combined noise from all sources near and far that make up the usual volume at a given location.
Libertine Event and Marketing Manager John Pranjic previously told New Times he believed all the noise complaints came from one household. Patino said she couldn’t confirm who the callers were because the police don’t track those records.
Two people who have complained—husbands Chris Baisa and Thomas Barnard—spoke at the permit review hearing. They’ve owned a home close to the Broad Street bar since 2024 and said the noise
makes it hard for one of them to get up early for work.
“Run your business appropriately,” Baisa said. “Take care of your neighbors. Be responsible and insulate your building.”
The couple allegedly spent $70,000 to cushion their home from the noise. They added during public comment that Pranjic has harassed and tried to intimidate them, sometimes even confronting them near the house and asking them to sell and move away.
Baisa told New Times their lawyer advised the couple not to speak with the press. He added they don’t feel safe in SLO and fear reprisal.
Pranjic disagreed with allegations of harassment.
“It is concerning that these inconsistent claims are being made,” he told New Times. “The logistics simply don’t align: They claim to be 50 feet away, yet simultaneously allege that our staff was close enough to interfere with them. In reality, these individuals frequently stand within arm’s length of our patio, our patron queue, and our front entrance and photograph our guests and staff.”
Libertine’s other neighbors told the hearing officer they had no issues with the sound.
“I’m a musician and I’ve played at Libertine for three years,” a Broad Street resident said. “It’s a really special place, and I’d love to be able to see it continue to provide for the next generation of bands.”
and a mix of residents, visitors, and students
recent permit hearing.
Luis Obispo Shooting Range reopens after more than a year of closure
The San Luis Obispo Shooting Range is ready to fire back to life under a new name and management.
The nonprofit San Luis Obispo Firearms and Safety Training (SLOFAST) will officially reopen
the range on Friday, Feb. 27, at 9 a.m., marking the first time the range has been operational since it closed in December 2024.
“In the eight years that my family has lived one block from Libertine, concert noise or other disruptions have never been a problem,” another neighbor said.
The city heeded calls to preserve Libertine’s permit, with Zoning Hearing Officer Brian Levielle approving to maintain the existing permit.
Pranjic told New Times that Libertine is committed to being a good neighbor. Over the years, the bar has changed the orientation of the stage and speakers to contain live music sounds, moved show times to start and end earlier, and most recently received an “acoustic treatment” through the installation of sound barriers.
He added that he’s open to discussing solutions with dissatisfied residents like Baisa and Barnard if they’re eager to communicate.
“We have repeatedly said that we are willing to talk with anybody that’s willing to sit at the table with us and come up with solutions for these things,” Pranjic said. “It’s really hard for us to fix a problem when we don’t know exactly what the problem is.” ∆
—Bulbul Rajagopal
“We, the board members of San Luis Obispo Firearms and Safety Training, are proud and honored to have been chosen by the state and [California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)] to operate the San Luis Obispo Shooting Range,” SLOFAST board member Robert Brennan told New Times via email. “We look forward to working with the public and CDFW to ensure the lands of the San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area are protected and San Luis Obispo Shooting Range continues to be available for our children and grandchildren.”
TUNED IN Libertine caters to up-and-coming musicians
who kick back at the bar—many of whom showed up to City Hall in support at its
According to Brennan, three ranges will be reopening: the rifle and pistol range, the shotgun range, and the action pistol range.
“The archery range will remain closed as we work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife to rebuild a bridge allowing us to safely cross the creek that is necessary to access this range,” he said.
The reopening comes after a lengthy bidding process to secure management of the 488-acre facility, which sits between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay off Highway 1. Following the closure of the range under previous management, the state issued a request for proposal in September 2025.
SLOFAST was awarded the contract later that fall and officially signed the management agreement on Dec. 9, 2025.
A single individual or entity can contribute a maximum of $5,900 to one election campaign, according to the FPPC’s limit for 2025-26.
According to Paulding’s reading of campaign documents, Verdin accepted double the legal limit of money for the June election. But Verdin’s campaign earmarked half of the total $11,800 for the “primary” election in June—despite the absence of a third candidate running—and the remaining $5,900 for the general election in November.
Verdin told New Times that although Paulding received the FPPC response on Feb. 18, Paulding allegedly didn’t inform him of the decision until the next day.
“What we see every day is that the arts do more than just teaching skills,” Youth Center Executive Director Barby Wunsch told commissioners during the meeting. “They build confidence. They create connection. They help young people find their voice and their sense of purpose. Students who walk in shy and uncertain leave with the courage to perform on stage, share their artwork, or take on leadership roles.”
The center serves children and teens ages 5 to 18 through programs in visual arts, music, dance, theater, media arts, and culinary arts. But Wunsch emphasized that the organization functions as much as a youth development resource as an arts education center.
“Once we received the contract, the real work began,” Brennan said. “The range had been vacant for almost a year and there was a great deal of maintenance and repairs that were needed to be made.”
According to the CDFW, the property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1984 specifically for public shooting.
While the back range will remain closed due the potential presence of unexploded World War II munitions, the reopened ranges will allow local shooters to safely resume shooting activities.
Brennan previously told New Times that volunteers will play a crucial role in completing repairs and keeping the facility well-maintained. Anyone interested in helping can sign up through SLOFAST’s volunteer form online.
Action Pistol competitions are already underway at the range, with the first one taking place on March 14 at 8:30 a.m. Registration is available at practiscore.com under “SLOACTION.” Ammunition will not be sold on-site, and visitors must bring their own.
The nonprofit also confirmed it will not offer memberships or honor the previous owner’s, San Luis Obispo Sportsmen’s Association, memberships, in compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 14. Rules and information are available at slosr.org.
—Chloë Hodge
FPPC dismisses Paulding’s complaint against opponent Verdin
The California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) won’t investigate 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding’s complaint against opponent Adam Verdin, but the tension over improper campaign contribution allegations hasn’t died down.
“After review of the complaint, the enforcement division will not pursue an enforcement action in this matter,”
Enforcement Division Chief Kendall L.D. Bonebrake wrote to Paulding on Feb. 18.
“Under the Political Reform Act, primary and general elections are considered separate elections and contribution limits are applicable per election.”
Paulding and Verdin are set to go head-tohead in June when South County voters will select their next 4th District supervisor in the primary election.
The incumbent announced on Feb. 15 that he filed an FPPC complaint against Verdin based on two sets of $5,900 campaign contributions the Oceano businessman received from development firm Covelop Inc.
“I understand he wants to keep his job but weaponizing a state ethics complaint to manufacture a headline, then failing to immediately disclose that both the FPPC and the district attorney dismissed it, is politics at its worst,” Verdin said. “The fact that it was reviewed and rejected in just 48 hours tells you how unserious it was.”
Verdin previously told New Times that state law requires him to return the money allocated for the general election if it doesn’t take place. The filing deadline for new candidates is March 6.
“Only after this complaint was filed did Mr. Verdin tell KSBY that he would return the second developer contribution if a general election does not occur,” Paulding said in a statement published after the FPPC’s decision. “With the filing period just two weeks from now, I look forward to him keeping his commitment to return that developer contribution at that time.”
Paulding also urged voters to look at the “bigger picture”—that some of Verdin’s top donors are developers. He’s criticized the funding support Verdin’s received from the leaders of NKT Commercial, the group behind the controversial Dana Reserve project.
In his statement, Paulding also pointed to Generation Build founder Michael Massey’s Feb. 17 letter to New Times where he proposed to file a complaint against the supervisor for “political ethics violations and the improper use of taxpayer resources.”
“This group previously claimed it was formed to support housing projects like the Dana Reserve project,” Paulding said. “This race isn’t about whether we need housing. We do. It’s about whether growth is responsible, sustainable, and supported by infrastructure, and whether elected officials answer to residents or to the interests financing their campaigns.”
—Bulbul Rajagopal
Paso Robles Planning Commission approves Youth Arts Center expansion
For more than 25 years, the Paso Robles Youth Arts Center has filled its classrooms with music, movement, and paint-stained hands. On Feb. 24, the city gave that space room to grow.
The Paso Robles Planning Commission unanimously approved a multi-phase renovation and expansion of the center, allowing the nonprofit to better serve its more than 600 students. The expansion will add roughly 4,800 square feet on an adjacent parcel already owned by the organization, creating new classrooms, outdoor activity areas, and upgraded safety features.
“Every afternoon, our building becomes a safe, structured place where young people can go after school,” Wunsch said. “A place where they are mentored by caring adults, surrounded by peers, and encouraged to explore who they are through their creativity.”
City Associate Planner Darcy Delgado explained that the expansion will allow the center to add classrooms for dance, music, digital media, and visual arts, as well as outdoor spaces for ceramics, gardening, and performance.
Safety and accessibility improvements will include updated exterior lighting, a fully fenced perimeter, paved walkways connecting buildings, and expanded parking to accommodate staff, families, and community events.
Crystal Langan, a parent and board member, told commissioners that program demand has long exceeded the available space.
“I feel that the demand for this space is undeniable,” Langan said. “Just this weekend, a class was filled in six minutes upon open registration. So, we’re just bursting at the seams over there. The project is thoughtfully expanding something that’s already deeply woven into the community.”
The expansion follows the center’s 2018 acquisition of the property adjacent to its 10,000-square-foot building, with the goal of serving more local youth.
According to the center’s website, a steering committee of volunteers helped clear the lot, and the design team at Gabriel Architects created a conceptual plan to engage young artists and invite community participation in the space. The new structures will feature large windows to bring in natural light, flexible classroom layouts, and open-air courtyards designed to host both classes and community gatherings. So far, $1.5 million has been raised from 144 donors, and an additional $2 million is needed to complete the project, according to the center’s fundraiser. A $250,000 matching gift is currently helping to amplify contributions through April 30, 2026.
“The cutting-edge new wing will add another 5,000 square feet, making the Paso Robles Youth Arts Center one of the largest community-supported arts campuses in the state,” the center says on its website.
The first phase of the expansion was completed in 2025 with the addition of a culinary arts teaching kitchen, providing hands-on instruction in cooking, nutrition, and food preparation. Phase 2 is expected to break ground in May 2026.
—Chloë Hodge
San Luis Obispo County residents making $70,000 or less in gross income can skip filing taxes online and make use of free tax return preparation at Cal Poly.
SLO county’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is offering the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)-certified service through the Orfalea College of Business where trained student volunteers are stepping up to help community members maximize their refunds.
“We’re providing these low-income residents with a lot of credits and refunds that they wouldn’t know they were eligible for,” business administration major and practicing tax preparer Grace O’Connor said.
VITA has partnered with Cal Poly since 1992, 31 years after CSU Northridge professor Gary Iskowitz founded the program. He envisioned it to be symbiotic— providing local taxpayers with free tax return preparation while students gain a hands-on learning experience. Eventually, the IRS started sponsoring VITA.
The program grew from a small group of accounting students to a nationwide program with more than 92,000 volunteers preparing 3.2 million returns every year, according to IRS research.
With a little more than 100 student volunteers, Cal Poly is one of the 9,500 sites across the United States that works with VITA.
“I have a concentration in accounting, so it aligns with VITA perfectly because in VITA we are preparing taxes,” O’Connor said. “VITA is our senior project. It’s a four-unit course we are taking, and it’s one of the grad requirements.”
Tax return preparation takes place every Saturday until March 14 on the third floor of the Business Building next to the football stadium on Cal Poly’s campus.
People wanting to file their tax returns with VITA need to bring a valid photo ID like their driver’s license; original Social Security cards and birth dates for themselves, their spouses, and dependents; earning statements like W-2s; interest and dividend statements from banks, like the Form 1099; bank routing and account numbers for direct deposits; a copy of last year’s federal and state returns if available; health insurance coverage information, Covered California Form 1095-A; and all other current tax
documents including relevant income and expense information.
Residents without Social Security cards can bring their Individual Taxpayer Identification numbers, or VITA could obtain one for them if they haven’t previously applied for it.
Renters must also provide the name, address, and phone number of their landlord. Day care users must detail their provider’s identifying number, phone number, and the amount paid for the service.
“It’s definitely dependent on the individual taxpayer situation but the taxpayer would arrive, the greeter would show them to where they need to go, check in, and be met with a preparer like myself,” O’Connor said. “It could range from 30 minutes to an hour and a half.”
Not all kinds of returns are accepted at VITA. The program can’t help if a person has more than five capital gains transactions or stock sales, rental income, income from a partnership or trust, depreciation related to business income, multi-state tax forms, and Form 1040 NR. VITA also doesn’t handle returns for taxpayers checking off the “married filing separate” box.
Tax filers who can’t make it to Cal Poly have other options. They can get help at 1551 17th St. in Oceano at the Adult Education Center downhill from the elementary school. Santa Maria’s Allan Hancock College will also host VITA in Building S-103 at 800 S. College Drive. Both services will take place every Saturday until March 14.
All locations are by appointment only. Sign up at myfreetaxes.org, call (805) 756-2667, or email vita@calpoly.edu.
Fast fact
• 805 Games—a sports event for children and adults with developmental disabilities— received a $3,000 donation from United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) SLO. Accepted by Jody Watty of UCP SLO on Feb. 11, the contribution originally came from the Central Coast Funds for Children. The funding will help more than 600 athletes scheduled to compete in 805 Games happening at Cuesta College South County on May 1 at 9 a.m. ∆
Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.
BY CHARLES VARNI
Environmental injustice
A vehicle-free beach in Oceano can coexist with continued off-road vehicle use in the Dunes
As the coordinator for Surfrider’s Oceano Vehicle Free Beach (OVFB) campaign I was interested in Mr. Donegan’s New Times opinion piece (“Sharing the Dunes is caring,” Feb. 12). His analysis of the social class and political dimensions of rival beach users (beach pedestrians vs. motor vehicles) is interesting sociologically. However, what struck me most was what was missing from his analysis. First would be the lack of any critical analysis of the largely bogus economic impact studies of off-roading tourists. Second would be the absence of any mention of the more than four decades of historic environmental and economic injustice suffered by the community of Oceano. The original plan in 1982, when the State Vehicle Recreation Area (SVRA) was established, was that an Oceano vehicle-free beach could possibly co-exist with the SVRA. Pier Avenue was designated as a temporary entrance to a temporary beach route. The Coastal Commission’s coastal development permit required that, within three years of the local coastal plan being established, California State Parks would complete an alternative entrance study. This initial study was completed in 1991 and asserted that Grand and Pier avenues were the preferred entrances compared to other alternatives. An additional study completed in 2006 concluded the same thing. Despite these studies, the Coastal Commission has never designated them as permanent, and they continue operating as “temporary entrances.”
As a consequence, Oceano has never been able to develop as a California beach town like Avila, Pismo, Cambria, Morro Bay, or Cayucos. Oceano has the lowest median household income of any coastal community, and its economy is depressed relative to other coastal communities. Oceano became a “sacrifice zone” for access to the SVRA. It was
defined as a beach for vehicles, not persons. The Coastal Commission staff has referred to Oceano as “the poster child of environmental injustice on the California coast.”
Surfrider’s OVFB campaign is not suggesting specific solutions to the problem at this time. Instead, we are asking the relevant government agencies to put their heads together and come up with a fix. Our petition reads simply:
“We propose that the California Coastal Commission, the SLO County Board of Supervisors, the California State Parks, and the state Legislature come together and create a plan for a vehicle-free beach for Oceano by December 2030. These four entities bear a burden of responsibility to find a solution for the problem they created. Over 44 years ago Pier and Grand avenues were designated as temporary access routes for vehicles to the beach and State Vehicle Recreation Area. Oceano requires a vehiclefree beach to correct the environmental and economic injustice it has suffered for more than four decades. We propose a 2.2-mile VFB starting 3/10th of a mile north of Pier Avenue and ending 1.9 miles south of Pier Avenue at Pole 4, boundary of the Oceano Dunes Preserve.”
This option would still allow vehicles to access Grover Beach via grand Avenue and the SVRA from a new southern entrance. The SVRA and OVFB could co-exist.
Mr. Donegan and others justify the continued practice of vehicles on Oceano Beach with reference to all the tourist money they generate. The numbers are inflated by flawed economic impact studies. For example, a 2007 study concluded the SVRA generated a total of $70 million from spending by users. The 2017 study raised that to $158 million. The 2019 study by Visit SLO CAL estimated $500 million. Unfortunately, a great many people believe these numbers to be accurate. Critical
analyses of these studies by professional experts have rendered them to be largely irrelevant. These totals simply serve a propaganda function for the public and private SVRA lobby.
These reports assert that all the money generated by out-of-county tourists to the Five Cities area are attributed to the ODSVRA. For example, a family of four who stayed in a Shell Beach hotel for three nights, ate three meals a day, and visited the Pismo butterfly grove or walked out on the pier—all of their expenditures count as generated from the SVRA.
The Oceano Dunes Stewardship report’s executive summary opens with: “The Oceano Dunes SVRA is the second most visited destination in San Luis Obispo County with 3.4 million annual visitors in 2019.” This is an average of 9,315 persons every day—all in the SVRA! It is another example of manipulating data to create an exaggerated impression of the SVRA’s “positive impact.” This 3.4 million number is an estimate of every visitor to every state park, county park, and beach in the South County.
In 2024, out-of-county tourists spent an estimated $2.4 billion in the entire county and $1.35 billion of that in South County beach towns. According to the above report, “More specifically, total spending by visitors originating from outside San Luis Obispo County, who only visited Oceano Dunes as part of their trip, represented $50.5 million.” These would primarily be the off-roading tourists. As an unincorporated community, the county takes all of Oceano’s property, tourist, and sale taxes.
Speak up!
was in 1974? With vehicles off the beach, Pismo shifted toward a “classic beach town” model that encouraged foot traffic, family recreation, sunbathing, beach walking, clamming, swimming, surfing, and other beach activities that aren’t compatible with motor vehicles. Being vehicle free played a major role in its economic revitalization. Pismo stopped being what Oceano continues to be.
None of these surveys asked the question, “If there were no longer vehicles on the beach in Oceano, would that increase or decrease your likelihood of visiting?” Since the majority of individuals and families prefer going to beaches without vehicles, motorcycles, quads, and dune buggies zipping around, we would expect a very large proportion to respond that it would increase their likelihood of visiting— as happened to Pismo Beach. This is a clear example of what economists call opportunity costs. How much money are we losing by doing this instead of that? How much tourism money is a community losing by having motor vehicles on its beach compared to having none? Ask Pismo Beach.
Send us your views and opinion to
A large flaw in this scenario is that every study assumes if off-roading tourists no longer come to South County, then the hotel rooms, campgrounds, and restaurants they sometimes use would remain empty. But they would be filled by a “new” type of beach tourist who wants a vehicle-free beach and dunes. Obviously, this change would be most relevant to Oceano.
For example, what would happen to Pismo if the beach reopened to motor vehicles like it
The point of an OVFB is not massive economic growth, but rather on overall increase in the quality of life economically, socially, and recreationally and increased community esteem. The economic revitalization of Oceano will never happen as long as it is a sacrifice zone for the SVRA. A vehicle-free Oceano Beach can coexist with an SVRA. It takes political will, cooperative will, and recognition that everyone can win some by compromising some. Oceano has been compromised for more than four decades. We want a 2.2-mile vehicle-free beach for our community.
Please go to slo.surfrider.org to learn more and sign the petition. ∆
Charles Varni the coordinator for Surfrider’s Oceano Vehicle Free Beach campaign. Send a response for publication to letters@ newtimesslo.com.
HODIN
Russell Hodin
Opinion DOWN TO EARTH
Diablo needs guardrails
The Diablo Canyon Power Plant was supposed to close last year. Now the five-year extension that kept the plant open may become a 20-year extension. Over the past few months, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and several local city councils with an eye on tax revenues have been urging state legislators to extend Diablo’s life all the way to 2045. Now would be a good time to revisit the serious questions about Diablo Canyon’s continued operation.
Specifically: How much will extending Diablo’s life cost California taxpayers and ratepayers? Is Diablo safe? Is Diablo a needed power source?
When the Legislature voted to extend Diablo’s operations to 2030, it required the state to double check if Diablo is safe, affordable, and necessary before the extension is finalized—essentially guardrails to ensure sufficient consideration of the public good. These assessments must be completed before any further extension is even considered, let alone supported.
Is Diablo’s true cost even affordable?
PG&E is required to prove that Diablo is cost-effective, but the costs of Diablo are growing. As it stands, the state of California gave a $1.4 billion forgivable, interest-free state loan to PG&E to keep the plant open. It hoped PG&E would receive a federal grant to pay back the state, but now PG&E’s repayment will have a shortfall of at least $300 million, which now may reach over $650 million. Meanwhile, Diablo’s operating and maintenance costs continue to accrue. PG&E’s 2026 cost recovery forecast for Diablo estimates an annual average loss of $90 million a year. The state of California still has yet to do a full cost-benefit analysis of Diablo’s operations. Right now, it looks like the bulk of Diablo’s costs will be borne by the state budget, PG&E customers, and also by ratepayers across California.
Is Diablo safe?
Diablo’s earthquake safety was a local hot topic this week. PG&E’s updated seismic assessment must be reviewed by the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) Independent Peer Review Panel (IPRP) before the assessment can be deemed complete. Publication of the IPRP’s most recent critique of PG&E’s seismic assessment was delayed for six months, and the reason why was not good news.
As IPRP member and county Supervisor Bruce Gibson put it in a Jan. 14 memo, “The IPRP has not accepted PG&E’s [updated seismic assessment] responses, …[and] believes that [PG&E’s] update excluded or downplayed information from various studies conducted post-2015 that should be included in calculating the revised seismic hazard.” The IPRP has now requested additional documentation from PG&E. Then, at a meeting in Avila Beach, Gibson dropped the other shoe: “On Jan. 22, senior staff of the CPUC and the California Natural Resources Agency issued back to the IPRP edits that they wanted to see put into Report 16a. That is deeply concerning. It was a deeply concerning action because we
are after all the Independent Peer Review Panel, and … the technical experts whose opinions are to be heard. We saw no authority, no justification, for any senior agency staff to be editing it. And, in fact, some of these edits did substantively modify the technical conclusions the IPRP had made in the draft of Report 16a.”
The IPRP refused the edits, and the agencies backed down. Now the waiting begins for PG&E’s response, which will hopefully include a statement of its willingness to use “the best quality data” in its seismic assessment, as urged by the IPRP.
Do we still need Diablo’s energy?
Just as Diablo’s financial burden on the state treasury, ratepayers, and taxpayers has grown substantially, so has California’s renewable energy production. COVID-era supply chain constraints turned out to be less than projected, resulting in a betterthan-expected buildout of renewable energy resources. There has been a “2,100 percent surge in storage capacity since Gov. Newsom took office in 2019,” according to the governor’s office. California Energy Commission officials have expressed confidence in California’s grid stability in a future without Diablo.
Even PG&E affirmed this reality in the 2016 joint proposal to close the plant, saying, “Given California’s energy goals that require increasing reliance on renewables—at least 50 percent by 2030—the California electric system will need more flexible resources to integrate renewable energy and has less need for baseload electricity resources. PG&E’s need for baseload power from Diablo Canyon will decrease after 2025.”
On the issues of Diablo’s cost, safety, and necessity, new questions are arising for which old answers and stale data do not suffice. Whether the question is about seismic studies or operating costs, the state should not allow updated information to be “excluded or downplayed” any longer. Our local government officials must check the guardrails before they hit the gas and speed down the highway toward extending Diablo to 2045. ∆
Gianna Patchen is chapter coordinator for the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Andrew Christie served as chapter director from 2004 to 2023. Send a letter for publication to letters@newtimesslo.com.
Your right to party!
Downtown SLO used to be hopping with live music. The Dark Room, Brubeck’s, Club 781, SLO Brew, DK’s West Indies Bar, Mother’s Tavern, Tortilla Flats, The Dwelling—live music was everywhere. Now, not so much.
Sure, Frog and Peach still has some live shows. The Fremont Theater has events, but it’s a concert hall, not a night club.
And then there’s The Libertine Brewing Company, located at the corner of Broad and Pacific Streets right on the edge of downtown. The club is a shining light in an otherwise dim downtown live music scene, and it was at risk of being snuffed out by two new neighbors whose home is nearby.
Husbands Tom Barnard and Chris Baisa moved into their home less than two years ago and started complaining. They said the club did nothing to assuage the noise issue, and after spending approximately $70,000 soundproofing their home (new windows, doors, insulation), they can still hear music. The club changed the position of its stage, so speakers pointed back into the club and away from the complaining parties, and completed other soundproofing, but the complaints continued. Police issued a $350 noise violation, later retracted. Then, the city scheduled an administrative hearing to review Libertine’s use permit. These two squeaky wheels were getting grease, but Libertine’s patrons were not too happy about potentially losing their special spot and
came out in droves to support the venue.
Honestly, I feel Barnard and Baisa’s pain. It sucks to have loud neighbors, and it’s unfortunate they’ve invested so much money in their home, because now they’ve decided their only recourse is to sell and move elsewhere.
Baisa told New Times their lawyer advised them not to speak with the press but added that they don’t feel safe in SLO and won’t be talking to the press for fear of reprisal.
That’s truly unfortunate. Still, caveat emptor, gentlemen. The Libertine has been there since 2012 and hosting live music for a decade. The city did modify the venue’s permit in June 2025 to extend operating and event hours, which allow live music to 10 p.m. on Sunday through Wednesday and 1 a.m. on Thursday through Saturday, but it limits the number of live events to just three days a week. You should have been around in the ’90s! You would have hated it!
“We’ve never gone until 1 a.m., I can tell you that right now,” Libertine event manager John Pranjic told New Times for an earlier story. “The latest that we would normally go is 11:30 [p.m.] and sometimes we go until midnight. But we don’t push it beyond that because we do want to be good neighbors.”
I think many SLObispians sympathize with Barnard and Baisa, except maybe for
the public commenter who suggested they “invest in some earplugs.” Ouch. But to her credit, she may have been responding to Baisa’s self-entitled attack on the Libertine to “run your business appropriately. Take care of your neighbors. Be responsible and insulate your building.”
Huh? You bought a house in a downtown near an established nightclub, guys. You should have known there’d be noise.
Barnard and Baisa seemed very alone in their condemnation of Libertine: “In the eight years that my family has lived one block from Libertine, concert noise or other disruptions have never been a problem,” another neighbor said.
The complainers also claimed that Pranjic told them to move and harassed and intimidated them, while Pranjic claimed the couple would “stand within arm’s length of our patio, our patron queue, and our front entrance and photograph our guests and staff.”
Pranjic said he never told them to move. It’s a classic case of “he and he said, he said.” I hope you two guys find a suitably quiet home. Now party on, Wayne and Garth.
Speaking of parties, Jimmy Paulding is throwing himself a pity party because his California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) complaint against his opponent, Adam Verdin, for the 4th District county supervisor’s seat has been dismissed.
Paulding accused Verdin of accepting twice the legal political donation from development company Covelop Inc., which gave Verdin $11,800 though the legal limit is $5,900 per race. On its face, sure, sounds like double dipping, but Covelop and Verdin said half was for the primary and half for the general—two separate races, see?
Verdin said that if the race is decided in the June primary—and it will be barring a new candidate joining before the March 6 deadline—he’ll return the money.
A very loud shot and an even louder miss, Paulding. Ouch! I bet it hurts.
But he’s doubling down on his complaints about Verdin’s donations from developers. In a Feb. 19 statement Paulding said, “ … voters should look at the bigger picture. This election is about who you want influencing the decisions being made for our community: developers or the people who live and work here?
“This race isn’t about whether we need housing. We do. It’s about whether growth is responsible, sustainable, and supported by infrastructure, and whether elected officials answer to residents or to the interests financing their campaigns,” Paulding added.
I guess “playing nice” isn’t in the cards for this race.
BY CHLOË HODGE
Natural elegance
Sun Canyon Florals brings whimsy and nature to wedding design
For Victoria Duncan, flowers are a language spoken through texture, scent, color, and imperfection—and a way of inviting people into the present on one of the most meaningful days of their lives.
“I feel like flowers provide a state of presence that is sometimes really hard in the modern world,” Duncan said. “And when I’m designing, I’m thinking about offering that gift of presence to my clients.”
As the founder of Sun Canyon Florals, Duncan is known across the Central Coast for wedding designs that feel as though they were discovered rather than arranged: meadow-like installations, curling stems, lichen tucked among blooms, and color palettes that feel alive rather than curated.
“The natural world inspires me a lot,” she said. “I take a lot of time to just … be in the natural world and just be present and take a look around and look at all the little details. So that’s where a lot of my design comes from. It’s kind of just like an interpretation of nature. I try to keep my designs feeling like you would find them in a meadow.”
That instinct to let flowers feel found rather than placed sits at the heart of Duncan’s work. Her arrangements resist rigidity. They lean, spill, and move. Ceremony arches drift instead of frame. Centerpieces stretch outward, softening tables and inviting guests closer. Nothing feels frozen in time, and that’s by design.
Before color palettes or layouts come into focus, Duncan’s thinking about how a day should feel and how that emotion can be translated through blooms. Flowers, for her, are not a finishing touch. They are the foundation.
“They tell you everything,” she said. “How soft something should feel. How bold. How much space it needs.”
Her artistry is rooted in observation; she studies how flowers exist in nature—how wild blooms cluster unevenly, how stems bend toward light, how beauty rarely arrives perfectly balanced. She brings that same sensibility into her wedding work, where imperfection isn’t something to be corrected but something to be honored.
“Perfection is a very interesting word
PERFECTLY IMPERFECT Inspired by the
Say, ‘I do’
To learn more about Sun Canyon Florals and book your wedding, visit suncanyonflorals.com.
in the wedding industry,” she said. “And I think in my design, I like to highlight the imperfection because the natural world is rarely perfect. If you look at flowers, sometimes you’ll notice like, oh, half the petals are red, half the petals are white.”
That philosophy shows up in her material choices. Alongside traditional blooms, Duncan often incorporates unexpected elements: branches, grasses, seed pods, dried textures, even bits of lichen or vine. The result is floral work that feels layered and tactile, grounded in the natural world.
“I love finding little pieces that make people look twice,” she said. “A branch that bends in a funny way, curly stems. I love those little weirdos.”
Each wedding she designs for begins with a conversation where Duncan listens for emotional cues.
“Obviously, aesthetics are important to me, but I think what’s really important to me is the act of love and just noticing the ritual and
arrangements
wonderful love ceremony that I get to create a space for,” she said. “Every time I’m creating a ceremony, I feel like those are my favorites because I’m really usually just framing a space to make sure it’s a safe and present space for people to make a really important commitment in their life.”
Duncan’s designs are also responsive to place. She draws inspiration from the surrounding landscape, allowing the environment to guide her choices.
“If it’s a coastal wedding, it might feel airy and windswept,” she said. “Inland weddings might lean richer, more grounded, pulling from the tones and textures of vineyards or canyons.”
The flowers in her arrangements don’t compete with their setting—they converse with it. That sensitivity has made Duncan’s work resonate with couples seeking something more experiential than performative.
“I want people to feel the flowers, not just
see them,” she said. “It’s about the experience, not just the look.”
Flowers are living things, and Duncan treats them as such. Installation is not just execution but creation—an ongoing dialogue between space, light, weather, and material.
“We’re always working with Mother Nature,” she said. “She’s in charge one hundred percent, I’m just trying my best to dance with her.”
On wedding days, that adaptability becomes essential. Duncan moves through spaces, shaping and reshaping until the florals feel at home. Her presence is steady, attentive, and grounded, mirroring the values that guide her work.
“I want people to feel like they can breathe when they’re with the flowers,” she said.
“That’s really important to me.”
In the end, Duncan’s florals are an invitation. To slow down. To notice. To experience beauty not as something staged, but as something alive. ∆
Reach Staff Writer Chloë Hodge at chodge@ newtimesslo.com.
ETHEREAL BEAUTY Meadow-like installations and curling stems define Duncan’s approach to design where
feel discovered and natural.
natural world, Victoria Duncan embraces imperfection—letting blooms lean, spill, and move as they would in the wild.
JOYFUL DESIGN For Victoria Duncan, flowers are designed to be felt as much as seen, inviting presence, softness, and connection into wedding spaces.
COURTESY PHOTO BY KELLY BROWN
COURTESY PHOTO BY BETHANY AND MACKENZIE JOY
COURTESY PHOTO BY E. NOELLE MERRIHEW
I N T E N T I O N A L L Y D E S I G N E D
B R I D A L B E A U T Y
P E R S O N A L I Z E D A E S T H E T I C R O A D M A P
A t A e s t h e r a , w e d o n ’ t b e l i e v e i n o n e - s i z e - f i t s - a l l
s o l u t i o n s . W e b e l i e v e i n t h o u g h t f u l a e s t h e t i c
p l a n n i n g .
Y o u r p r o v i d e r c r e a t e s a f u l l y i n d i v i d u a l i z e d
a e s t h e t i c r o a d m a p b a s e d o n y o u r g o a l s , y o u r
t i m e l i n e , a n d y o u r c o m f o r t l e v e l , e n s u r i n g e v e r y
t r e a t m e n t i s i n t e n t i o n a l , r e f i n e d , a n d b e a u t i f u l l y
t i m e d .
W h e
Rare air
Get hitched in the sky with Central Coast hot air balloon adventures
For a couple thousand dollars, you can climb into a hot air balloon with your partner, soar in the Central Coast skies, and return to land united in holy or legal matrimony.
Santa Ynez’s Sky’s The Limit Ballooning Adventures founder James Lawson has seen it all over his 30 years manning both business and balloon.
“It’s always been a thing,” he said. “We’ve gone as big as allowing ministers to bring doves on balloons.”
Lawson has officiated 50 weddings in hot air balloons over 35 years. Most people who get married on one of his hot air balloons are eloping, and they’ve come from across California—including SLO, the LA area, the Central Valley, and Silicon Valley—and from around the world, including China, Japan, Germany, Switzerland, England, India, and the United Kingdom. Lately, residents from Ventura to Paso Robles have been flying more frequently.
“The one thing about ballooning is it’s weather permitting,” Lawson said. “Depending on what the weather is, people need to have a backup plan or be open to rescheduling. Generally, people who are eloping have flexible schedules.”
Lawson added that February, March, and April are the windiest months for hot air balloon flying, but as of Jan. 30, Sky’s The Limit had flown almost every day in 2026 thanks to the beginning of the year being “unusually warm.” In January alone, two couples got married in the company’s hot air balloons.
Proposals, elopements, and wedding anniversary celebrations can happen in one of Sky’s The Limit’s 12 hot air balloons, depending on the number of guests who are up for it. They meet up at Los Olivos Grocery before following the Sky’s The Limit team to a secondary location for balloon liftoff.
Early morning flights for private groups as small as one to five people and as large as 12 to 14 people cost between $2,000 to $4,500.
“Two years ago, we had a pretty large wedding of 14 people dressed up like cowboys,” Lawson said.
For couples not fussy about strangers joining their celebrations, the same flight can be enjoyed as a more affordable shared group experience—costing each passenger $250.
Both groups will receive in-flight mimosas and non-alcoholic drinks, along with a complimentary banner for special occasions.
The two-hour experience, with one hour of flying, takes the party over Santa Ynez Valley vineyards while they take in sun-soaked views of the San Rafael mountain range.
“Keep your eyes peeled as you try to spot wild boar, foxes, deer, and more,” Sky’s The Limit’s website says. “As we float over wine country, your FAA certified pilot will show you the many ranches situated among the
Take flight
Learn more about Sky’s The Limit Ballooning Adventures in Santa Ynez at skysthelimitballooning.com. For details on Paso Robles’ Balloons over Paso, visit balloonsoverpaso.com. For a hot air balloon proposal or wedding, use the code, SLOWEDDING, until Jan. 1, 2027, for a 10 percent discount.
luscious valley, including Michael Jackson’s famous Neverland Ranch.”
The business also offers evening versions of the same hot-air balloon tour, with shared group flights costing $300 per person, and private group flights falling between $2,100 and $4,700.
“The younger generation doesn’t want to spend money on weddings,” Lawson said. “They’d rather spend it on a vacation or a home instead of spending $300,000.”
For SLO County residents wanting to tie the knot in air closer to home, Balloons Over Paso offers sunrise balloon flights at $325 per person, with an hour of flying over Paso Robles’ vineyards and countryside followed by complimentary wine and light bites.
Passengers meet at the Paso Robles Municipal Airport around 6:15 a.m. and the whole process—setting up the balloon, flying, and the celebratory sips and bites after—lasts three hours.
“We can hold up to four passengers in our basket, and typically when people choose to do a proposal, they either do it when we’re setting up our balloon just because it’s an incredible backdrop, or they propose while in the air with the vineyards in the background,” Balloons Over Paso founder and commercial pilot Phoebe Brown said. Brown’s passion for hot air ballooning ignited in Australia after her landlord took her on her first flight. She followed that thrill to Montana where she flew a hot air balloon outside of Glacier National Park, finally landing in Paso Robles after loving the wine country.
Though an officiant who’s gotten several of her friends married on land, Brown is yet to oversee a wedding in her “eight-storyhigh” hot air balloon. But her business is all the rage when it comes to popping the question.
“One year, I had 18 proposals,” she said. “In Paso, we have anywhere from six to 10 proposals a year easily.”
A private flight for two costs roughly $1,380 and comes with the complimentary drinks and fare.
Balloons Over Paso also partners with ranchers and wineries around the area. Those relationships come in handy when it’s time to land the balloon on ranchland or near a vineyard. The company also has a partnership with Le Vigne Winery and serves its sparkling wine to celebrating couples.
An FAA commercially licensed pilot handles all flights, which Brown called a safe activity, especially with the flame propelling the balloon well above passengers’ heads.
“You can feel a little bit of heat; I would describe it as a really nice warmth,” she said.
“It’s also such a peaceful experience. It’s incredibly quiet when you’re actually flying.”
Sometimes, however, entering a new chapter of life in the sky calls for some noise.
“The most memorable proposal was a woman who was so surprised, that when he proposed to her in the air, we could hear her yell so loud that from the ground, I was able to hear the excitement,” Brown said. “They were coming in to land but they were still hundreds of feet in the air.” ∆
Reach Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal at brajagopal@newtimesslo.com.
PERKS ON LAND Balloons Over Paso keeps the engagement celebrations going after touchdown with complimentary sparkling wine from Le Vigne Winery, light bites, and even a post-proposal sign.
PHOTO READY Couples choosing to pop the question on a balloon ride with Balloons Over Paso either propose while the balloon is being set up behind them or wait until lift-off.
RINGING IT IN Getting engaged during a Balloons Over Paso ride means marking the milestone with your loved one over the vineyards and countryside of Paso Robles.
By the power vested in … you?
Marry me!
Do your friends or family find you entertaining? Do they think you truly love and care about them and have special insight into their relationships? If so, prepare yourself, because they may ask you to marry them … to each other, I mean. Not to you, silly!
Estimates vary, but somewhere between 41 and 50 percent of marriages are performed by the couple’s friend or family member, who pay a small fee to become ordained online.
The OG of the ordination game is Modesto-based Universal Life Church (themonastery.org), but another Universal Life Church (getordained.org) split off and became its own organization when the OG got in hot water with the IRS. It’s since been resolved.
There’s also American Marriage Ministries (amm.org) or the entertainingly named Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (spaghettimonster.org).
“These credentials are suitable for presiding over social ceremonies such as weddings and baptisms, performing last rites, casting out false prophets, performing exorcisms, and so on,” the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster explains on its website.
Hm. That “false prophets” thing could come in handy these days.
Local singer-songwriter and commercial real estate agent Derek Senn performed his first and (so far) only wedding ceremony in 2025.
“I officiated my sister’s wedding on a boat in Lake George, New York, last summer. I am ordained as a card-carrying member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It’s like 60 bucks, and you get your little card. Suddenly I was off to officiate a wedding.” Often couples have a lot of input into what they want in their service, but not Senn’s sister, Allison.
“She told me nothing,” he laughed. “She said, ‘Will you officiate the ceremony?’ And I said, ‘Yes,’ and I asked, ‘Are you gonna write vows?’ And she said, ‘No.’ She never asked me to say or do anything, so I felt I had carte blanche to do whatever the hell I wanted to do, but obviously, because she’s my sister and I knew her and Michael, I felt I was able to personalize it.”
Senn’s ceremony was witty, heartfelt, and a wee bit irreverent—exactly the kind of thing
a clergyperson’s service wouldn’t be—and attendees loved it.
“There are always traditionalists at ceremonies like that and are probably a little bit put off and taken aback when you get a little bit cheeky with things,” Senn admitted. “But, you know, I wanted to put my own stamp on it.”
Senn and his wife, Melanie, a novelist, had recently attended another wedding that inspired his two goals for his service.
“My goals were to try to enunciate and speak up so everybody could hear what I was saying, and No. 2—try to make it very quick and lighthearted so we could get on because, you know, nobody’s there for the freaking ceremony. They want to move on to everything else.”
If you’re asked to officiate and you’re completely adrift, the newer version of Universal Life Church has an online wedding script generator.
“Are you officiating an upcoming wedding? Struggling to come up with the right words for the big day?” its website asked. “Don’t beat yourself up—creating a ceremony script from scratch is no easy task. That’s why we devised our very own wedding ceremony script generator for you to use! With this tool, crafting a professional, high-quality wedding script takes just minutes. Just input a few basic details, and we’ll take care of the rest!”
Online sites for ordination include: themonastery.org, getordained.org, amm.org, and spaghettimonster.org.
Oh AI, what can’t you do?
FYI, this probably isn’t what your couple is looking for.
Former SLO radio personality and current Ohio advertising creative director Fred Boettger got his start doing weddings in SLO in “2007 or 2008.” Must have been a helluva reception if you can’t remember what year.
“It was my youngest stepson, and I thought, ‘Ooh, my first one, a little pressure,’ because the whole family was there,” he recalled. “But it went well because I had done radio and had spoken in front of people a lot, so it wasn’t too scary.”
Boettger, ordained through Universal Life Church, has continued performing weddings over the years.
“San Luis was my very first one of many,” he noted. “I’ve had the fortunate privilege to perform a ceremony for both my nieces, my great niece, friends, people that I know well, family friends. The picture I sent you was some people that I’ve known for 20 years, and it was their kid, so I knew this kid since he was young.
“I think it’s a big advantage because if you have some sort of personal connection, you can tell a story about the couple to everybody—because that’s really what the
ceremony is,” he continued. “Everyone’s there to witness some sort of personal connection. I always judge that, if there’s a little bit of laughing and a little bit of crying, then I feel like, ‘OK, things went well.’ If you can get some tears in there, it’s always nice.”
Oceano resident, 95.3FM The Beach radio DJ, and voice-over artist Jennifer Grant’s very first marriage ceremony was for her friends “the Andrews.”
“I call them ‘the Andrews’ because they’re both named Andrew,” she explained. “Andrew Cannon was my boss at another radio station, and he and his now husband, Andrew Tucker, ended up becoming my really good friends, so when they decided to get married—and it was finally legal to do so in the state of California—they messaged.”
Grant opened the message in the Vons parking lot in Grover Beach and screamed out loud she was so thrilled.
“I was super excited and happy for them,” she recalled. “I scared the crap out of the guy in the car next to me by screaming so loudly, and I’m not a screamer.”
She was also ordained by the Universal Life Church and married the Andrews in 2014, shortly after the passage of Proposition 8. They thankfully had a lot of ideas for their service, as did the couple of Grant’s second marriage ceremony, her father and stepmom, which she officiated at their home in front of 60 guests.
“I’m not a religious person, and neither was anybody involved,” Grant noted of both weddings.
Lack of religious affiliation can be another reason to go with a friend or family member as officiant.
“I was honored on both occasions to be asked,” she said. “I think it’s very sweet. If I ever get married … well, I got kicked out of Catholic school in the third grade, so thanks for playing. True. Wheaton, Illinois. But not being a super religious person, I still like the idea of there being some kind of ceremony and having somebody that you genuinely love and care about perform it. I think it’s kind of almost an extra blessing.” ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
FIRST-TIMER Local singer-songwriter and commercial real estate agent Derek Senn married his sister and her husband last summer in New York.
COURTESY PHOTO BY DIEGO SENN
Cambria Vacation Rentals
Heels on wheels
Solvang-based SB Limo shuttles wedding parties across the Central Coast
Cueing up tunes worth cutting a rug to was always integral to Solvang business owner James Hooshman’s transportation company, long before bridesand grooms-to-be became some of his most frequent clients.
“He’s been in business for 20-ish years and it all started with one cab,” SB Limo Operations Manager Stephanie Chase explained. “This was back before Pandora and all that good stuff, and he was the only cab in town that had an iPod with like a million songs, where you could pick your own music and play it as loud as you wanted in his car, … before Uber, before rideshares.”
Originally known as Rock Star Transportation, Hooshman’s company gradually evolved into SB Limo, with several kinds of vehicles—specifically luxury vehicles—at its disposal to rent out.
“He got a whole fleet going and hired like 10 drivers, and it’s just expanded from that cab service to luxury transportation,” Chase said. “And to go with the times, once Uber and Lyft took over, we got rid of the cabs and started doing more luxury wine tours, weddings, and events like that.”
Sprinter limousines (available to rent for $110 to $125 per hour), minicoaches ($225 to $250 per hour), and trolleys ($150 to $225 per
hour) are among the rides customers book most often for weddings, wedding receptions, bridal showers, and bachelor/bachelorette parties, Chase said.
However, requests to rent a traditional stretch limousine—like SB Limo’s Lincoln stretch 8-to-10-passenger limo (offered for $100 per hour on weekdays; $115 per hour on weekends)—have gone the way of the dodo in recent years, she added.
“Stretch limos are kind of obsolete now. Nobody really wants them because you have
Roadside assistance
To find out more about SB Limo, call (805) 965-4900 or visit sblimos.com. The company’s headquarters is located at 803 Kolding Ave., Solvang.
to crouch down and get into them,” said Chase, who’s worked for SB Limo for about 15 years. “Now we have limo Sprinters where you can walk right into them. … It just kind of evolved into Sprinters where there’s room for you to stand up but still have that limo wrap-around seating. And it’s higher off the ground, you can see out the windows. That’s kind of the preference right now.”
On occasion, Chase added, “one out of 100 people” will ask to rent a classic stretch limo, which SB Limo is happy to facilitate.
Based in Solvang, the company offers its services throughout Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties.
“We do all over. A lot in SLO. A lot in Ojai,” Chase said. “Occasionally, we go pretty far out. I would say we’re mostly in Santa Barbara County, all the way down to Camarillo, and all the way up to San Luis Obispo.”
Of the various rides SB Limo can provide, Chase said one of her personal favorites is the town-style trolley.
“I think the trolleys are super cute. We have a white and gold wedding trolley with wooden bench seating,” she said. “Then we have this 13-passenger limo bus that I really like. It’s really big. It’s got the limo wraparound seating, ice buckets, TVs.”
There’s one trolley trait that can be a deal breaker for some wedding parties, Chase added.
“It’s kind of limiting because they’re openair, and people dressed up with their hair done might not want wind blowing through and messing up the vibe,” she said.
Outside of being booked for wedding services, SB Limo often serves clients who organize winery and vineyard tours across
the Santa Ynez Valley and other parts of Santa Barbara County, including venues in Santa Maria and Sisquoc along the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, the Santa Rita Hills area, and Los Alamos.
Wine tour packages include several amenities for riders, ranging from chilled sparkling wine on board to complimentary cheese, crackers, and chocolates to snack on between wine tasting destinations.
The company also has bus and vehicle rental packages designed for organizers in need of airport transportation, school field trip transportation, and other purposes.
As far as SB Limo has stretched away from its origins as a taxi company, its current services have a nod to its beginnings, Chase explained.
“All of our vehicles are Bluetooth accessible. You can play your own music on board, and that’s definitely a selling point for us because everyone wants to have their own music,” she said. “Most of our vehicles also have TVs, so you can play videos or whatever else you would want on the screens.” ∆
Reach Sun Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood, from New Times’ sister paper, at cwiseblood@santamariasun.com.
HERE COMES THE BRIDE Based in Solvang, SB Limo specializes in getting brides, grooms, and wedding parties in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties from point A to point B and anywhere in between.
Hot Dates
ARTS
NORTH COAST 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.
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
MARCH 2026 FEATURED ARTISTS
See the seven new featured artists on display until the end of March. March 1-29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com/. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.
MOSAIC POT WORKSHOP Join us at Cambria Nursery for a hands-on Mosaic Pot workshop. March 7, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. $60. (805) 927-4747. cambrianursery.com. Cambria Nursery and Florist, 2801 Eton Rd., Cambria.
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.
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.
ARTFUL HOLIDAYS AND 2026 DECOR
Everything you need to give the gift of art to those you love, decorate for the Holidays, and enhance your home for years to come! Through Feb. 28, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. (805) 286-4430. parkstreetgallery.com. Park Street Gallery, 1320 Park St., Paso Robles. CLAY HEADS WITH MICHELLE SOLORAZNO Create a life-sized ceramic head in this two-day slab-building workshop. Learn to use reference images, build a hollow form, and sculpt facial features. Feb. 28 - March 1 , 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $600. (805) 203-0335. The Pottery Atascadero, 5800 El Camino Real, Atascadero, thepotteryatascadero.com.
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.
DATE NIGHT Couples or friends, bring a bottle of wine and enjoy a creative night out. Have fun and get messy as the venue walks you through the basics of throwing on the potter’s wheel. Fridays, 6-8 p.m. $144. (805) 203-0335. thepotteryatascadero.com/datenight. The Pottery, 5800 El Camino Real, Atascadero.
EXQUISITE CORPSE: COLLABORATIVE
CLASS This experimental class echos the days of the Surrealists as they created this parlor game to bypass conscious control and access subconscious creativity through chance March 7 10 a.m.-noon $125. (805) 464-2633. glassheadstudio.com. Glasshead Studio, 8793 Plata Lane, Suite H, Atascadero.
FIGURE DRAWING - SATURDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS AT FIELDWORK Join us for figure drawing every Saturday and Wednesday for ages 18 and over. All skill levels are welcome. Bring your own materials. Saturdays, 10 a.m.-noon and Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m. $20 + model’s tip. fieldworkart.org. Fieldwork, 4307 El Camino Real, Atascadero, (971) 645-2481.
MONTHLY BIRTHDAY PLATE PAINTING AT ARTSOCIAL 805 Please join ArtSocial805 on the first Saturday of each month to paint a personalized “Birthday Plate,” for someone special or for yourself. The workshop is $35, which covers the plate, glaze, and firing. First Saturday of every month, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. $35. (805) 400-9107. artsocial805. com. ArtSocial 805 Creative Campus, 631 Spring St., Paso Robles.
PASO DE LA LUZ BY JUAN FUENTES
Meet the artist Juan Fuentes when he
ON DISPLAY
Patricia Newton’s paintings will be on display along with the rest of March’s seven featured artists at Gallery at Marina Square in Morro Bay from Sunday, March 1, to Sunday, March 29. The gallery is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, head to galleryatmarinasquare.com.
—Angie Stevens
comes to Paso February and March with his masterfully-created and world relevant works of art. Saturdays, 2-5 p.m. through March 28 (805) 440-7152. Pocket Gallery on Pine, 8491/2 13th Street, Paso Robles.
SILVER SAND CASTING WORKSHOP
WITH BRAD GOLDEN Experience the thrill of transforming molten silver into wearable art and leave with a finished sterling silver piece of your own creation! Feb. 28 , 12-3:30 p.m. $175. (805) 423-5906. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles, studiosonthepark.org.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
“ONE VISIT” POTTERY CLASS This is a great class if you are looking to try out pottery! Throw on the wheel or paint pre-made pottery. Get a student discount with a valid school ID. Fridays, 6-7:30 p.m. $75. (805) 896-6197. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo, anamcre.com.
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.
ART AFTER DARK Art After Dark features an art opening of world-class artists. Refreshments will be served. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. through March 7 Free. slocountyarts.org/art-afterdark. SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.
BEYOND THE BASICS OF WATERCOLOR WITH VIRGINIA MACK This is a class for
those who love imagining ways to further their visual expressions. A watercolorbased course, but one that branches out into other media. Mondays, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $35 per class. (805) 7474200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
THE BOOK OF MORMON - NATIONAL BROADWAY TOUR The New York Times calls it “the best musical of this century.” It’s The Book of Mormon the nine-time Tony Award® winning Best Musical. March 3 7:30 p.m. and March 4 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts. org/20252026-season/the-book-ofmormon. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
FIRST FRIDAYS Visit SLOMA on the first Friday of each month for exhibition openings, music, and wines provided by regional winery partners. Admission is free and open to the public. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. Free. (805) 5438562. sloma.org/events/first-fridays/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
FREE DOCENT TOURS Gain a deeper understanding of the artwork on view with SLOMA’s new docent tours. Every Saturday, join trained guides for interactive and engaging tours of SLOMA’s current exhibitions. Saturdays, 11-11:30 a.m. Free. (805) 543-8562. sloma. org/visit/tours/. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
JAPANESE CALLIGRAPHY AND ART Owen and Kyoko Hunt from Kyoto, Japan offer classes for Japanese calligraphy (Fridays, 5:30-6:30 p.m.), a Japanese art called “haiga” (Fridays, 10-11:30 a.m.) and more at Nesting Hawk Ranch. Fridays $45. (702) 335-0730. Nesting Hawk Ranch, Call for address, San Luis Obispo.
LEARN TO WEAVE MONDAYS An opportunity to learn how a four-shaft loom works. You will get acquainted as a new weaver or as a refresher with lots of tips and tricks. This class includes getting to know a loom, how to prepare/ dress a loom, and much much more. Mondays, 1-4 p.m. $75 monthly. (805) 4418257. Patricia Martin: Whispering Vista
Studios, 224 Squire Canyon Rd, San Luis Obispo, patriciamartinartist.com.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET This highenergy jukebox musical is a celebration of music history, packed with heart, humor, and pure rock ‘n’ roll magic. Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Saturdays, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., Sundays, 2-4 p.m., Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m. and Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. through March 5 $43-$63. (805) 786-2440. slorep. org/shows/million-dollar-quartet-2026/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., 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 locations countywide, San Luis Obispo. PAINT & SIP ON LA LOMITA RANCH Sip, swirl, and paint your pet into a one-of-akind canvas. No experience is required! Art supplies, instruction, ranch views, and first glass of wine are included. March 1 1-3 p.m. $60-$65. (805) 7068034. La Lomita Ranch, 1985 La Lomita Way, San Luis Obispo, lalomitaranch.com.
POISONED See 15 comedians perform, while a little buzzed on stage. Feb. 27, 11 p.m. $18.43. my805tix.com. Woodstock’s Pizza, 1000 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-4420.
SAMANTHA NYE: WEB OF LOVE See Guggenheim Fellow Samantha Nye’s immersive video installation starring Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens filmed on location in SLO. Mondays, Fridays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through March 13 Free. cuesta.edu/community/cuesta-arts/ artgallery/2025-2026-Exhibitions/ WebofLove.html. Harold J. Miossi Gallery, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 546-3202.
SATURDAY NIGHT IMPROV AT THE BUNKER This head-to-head short form improv showdown pits quick-thinking performers against each other in a high-energy battle of wit, creativity, and laughs. Teams will face off in fast-paced games, taking bold risks and big swings
IMAGE COURTESY OF PATRICIA NEWTON
as they compete for audience favor and bragging rights. March 7, 6:15-8 p.m. $10. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.
TEEN NIGHT POTTERY IS LIVE Join Teen Night Pottery, for ages 14 and over. Teens will be taught to throw on the potters wheel, sculpt, or paint a pot. Snacks will be provided. Fridays, 6-7:30 p.m. $35. (805) 896-6197. anamcre.com. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.
VIRGINIA MACK: BEGINNING WATERCOLOR This is a watercolor class designed to let you jump in and try out this engaging medium through experimentation. It’s designed for beginners and those with watercolor experience who wish to expand their knowledge of painting in watercolors. To enroll please contact Mack via email: vbmack@charter.net Mondays, 1:30-3:30 p.m. $35. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo. com/workshops-events/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., 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
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 PCPA PRESENTS ‘MEASURE FOR MEASURE’ The PCPA presents Shakespeare’s most provocative and morally complex play, Measure for Measure Get show times and tickets at the link. Feb. 26 - March 15 $25-$41. pcpa.org. PCPA: The Pacific Conservatory Theatre, 800 S. College, Santa Maria, (805) 922-8313.
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY
ALL SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Curious about Waldorf education? Join us for a welcoming morning at Central Coast Waldorf School and experience our school in action! Feb. 28 Free. (805) 235-4401. centralcoastwaldorf.org. Central Coast Waldorf School, 880 Manzanita Dr, Los Osos.
BREATHE AND STRETCH One must be able to get down onto the floor and back up again, with ease, in order to participate in this 55-minute session. It’s specifically designed to enhance mobility and strength. Please bring a mat and some water. Mondays, 9-10 a.m. $10 per session. (415) 516-5214. Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., Los Osos.
CENTRAL COAST UECHI-RYU KARATE-DO 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 805-215-8806. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, 772-6278, morro-bay.ca.us.
CENTRAL COAST WOOD CARVERS Learn the art of wood carving or wood burning. Join Central Coast Wood Carvers in Morro Bay at St. Timothy’s. Open for beginners, intermediate, or advance. Learn a wide range of techniques and skills. Tuesdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, 962 Piney Way, Morro Bay, (805) 772-2840, sttimothymorrobay.org/index.html.
CO-DEPENDENTS ANONYMOUS MEETING Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a Twelve Step recovery program for anyone who desires to have healthy and loving relationships with themselves and others. Meeting is hybrid (both in person and on Zoom). For information, call 805-900-5237. Saturdays, 1-2:15 p.m. Free. thecambriaconnection.org/. Cambria Connection, 1069 Main St., Cambria, (805) 927-1654.
ENJOY AXE THROWING Enjoy the art of axe throwing in a safe and fun environment. Kids ages 10 and older are welcome with an adult. No personal axes please. Fridays, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and Saturdays, 12-6 p.m. $20. (805) 528-4880. baysidemartialarts.com. Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., Los Osos.
LOS OSOS SUNDAY MEDITATION CLASS Sitting with a supportive group strengthens one’s meditation practice. Join us for a weekly talk on topics related to meditation and consciousness plus silent and guided meditation. Facilitated by Devin Wallace. Beginners welcome. Email devinwalla@ gmail.com for more information. Sundays, 10:15 a.m.-11:15 p.m. By donation. (805) 709-2227. inner-workings.com. Central
CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 25
/ $40+
Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa Presents
Saturday, March 28, 7:30 PM
Performing Arts Center, San Luis Obispo
Acclaimed comedian Demetri Martin, celebrated for “The Overthinker,” “Important Things,” and the film “Taking Woodstock,” brings his smart, original, laugh-out-loud comedy to the PAC for a one-night-only performance.
Sponsored by:
pacslo.org (805) 756-4849 Proceeds
Coast Body Therapy Center, 2005 9th St., Los Osos.
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/.
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.
STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi gong offers great anti-aging benefits, providing a comprehensive system for improving physical, mental and emotional health. Its roots date back thousands of years in China. Learn with certified instructor Devin Wallace. Call first. Thursdays, 10-11 a.m. $10. (805) 709-2227. Hardie Park, Ash Ave. and B St., Cayucos. Qi gong offers great anti-aging benefits, providing a comprehensive system for improving physical and mental health. Its roots date back thousands of years in China. Learn with certified instructor Devin Wallace. Call first for info and exact location. Fridays, 9-10 a.m. $12. (805) 709-2227. inner-workings.com. Los Osos, Townwide, Los Osos.
TAI CHI AND QI GONG: ZEN IN MOTION
Small group classes with 2019 Tai Chi Instructor of the Year. Call for time and days. Learn the Shaolin Water Style and 5 Animals Qi Gong. Beginners welcomed. Mondays, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Call for price details. (805) 701-7397. charvetmartialarts. com. Morro Bay Martial Arts, 850 Shasta, 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.
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) 7017397. 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. Co-Dependents Anonymous (CoDA) is a Twelve Step recovery program for anyone who desires to have healthy and loving relationships with themselves and others. Tuesdays, noon-1 a.m. Free. (760) 846-1443. North County Connection, 8600 Atascadero Ave., Atascadero.
GODDESS GROUP Please join Oracle Owner/Intuitive Medium, Tiffany Klemz, for this twice monthly, Goddess Group. The intention of this group is to curate connection, inspiration, unity, and empowerment. Every other Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. $11. (805) 464-2838. oracleatascaderoca.com. Oracle, 6280 Palma 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.
NAR-ANON: FRIDAY MEETINGS
A meeting for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction of a loved
SILVER AND SAND
Transform molten silver into wearable art at the Silver Sand Casting Workshop with Brad Golden at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 12 to 3:30 p.m. Learn how to sculpt an original design, pack a two-part sand mold, melt and pour sterling silver, and finish a cast piece. All materials are provided. The workshop is $175. Get tickets and additional information at bradgolden.com.
one. Fridays, 12-1 p.m. Free. (805) 4412164. North County Connection, 8600 Atascadero Ave., Atascadero.
TAI CHI This course’s instructor has won many Tai Chi and other internal martial arts tournaments. Both experienced martial artists and new learners are welcome to the class. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. $65. (805) 237-3988. Centennial Park, 600 Nickerson Dr., Paso Robles.
TOPS SUPPORT GROUP: WEIGHT LOSS AND MAINTENANCE A self-help support group focusing on weight loss and maintenance. Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. (805) 242-2421. tops.org. Santa Margarita Senior Center, 2210 H St., Santa Margarita.
TOPS TAKE OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY Join for affordable and effective weight-loss 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.
TRIVIA NIGHT AT TEMPLETON
MERCANTILE Join every Tuesday night for all-ages trivia. Prizes are awarded
to top teams. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. Templeton Mercantile, 508 S Main St, Templeton.
YANG STYLE TAI CHI The course’s instructor won many Tai Chi and other internal martial arts tournaments. Both experienced martial artists and new learners are welcome to the class. Mondays, Wednesdays, 5-6 p.m. $62. (805) 470-3360. Colony Park Community Center, 5599 Traffic Way, Atascadero.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
2026 STATE OF DOWNTOWN SLO
Join for an engaging evening focused on progress, economic vitality, and partnership in downtown San Luis Obispo. We will share highlights from our 2025 Annual Report, showcasing the impact of our organization over the past year, along with upcoming downtown activations and our vision for the months ahead. Connect with fellow business and civic leaders, community stakeholders, and neighbors as we explore growth opportunities and collaborate on solutions to support a thriving downtown
San Luis Obispo. March 2 5:30 p.m.
$76.83-$92.90. my805tix.com. La Esquina Taqueria, 1051 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo.
ANNUAL SCION EXCHANGE AND GRAFTING DEMONSTRATIONS Free
Scions, free grafting demos, a store, rootstock sales, and free snacks. Meet at the Cal Poly Crops Science classroom, on the corner of Highland Dr. and Mt Bishop Dr. Feb. 28 , 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. (805) 5404426. crfg-central.org/scion-exchange.
Cal Poly, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
ASTRONOMY NIGHT & STARGAZING
Explore the night sky with real astronomers using telescopes at SLO Botanical Garden. View planets, stars, and deep-sky objects. All ages are welcome. Feb. 27 noon Free. (805) 541-1400. slobg. org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd, San Luis Obispo.
BUILDING A BETTER SLO PRESENTS COMMUNITY LAND TRUST: PLACEKEEPING FOR THE LOCAL PLACEKEEPERS Join in welcoming Ofelia Bello to San Luis Obispo to talk Community Land Trusts and their growth throughout the US. March 5 , 5:45-7:30 p.m. $17.91. my805tix.com. The Penny, 664 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo.
CAL HOPE SLO GROUPS AT TMHA Visit website for full list of weekly Zoom groups available. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays calhopeconnect.org. Transitions
Mental Health Warehouse, 784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 270-3346.
CENTRAL COAST DIALYSIS ORGAN TRANSPLANT SUPPORT GROUP Not faith based. All are welcome. Please wear a mask. First Saturday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church SLO, 650 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo.
COMPLIMENTARY SHOWERS WITH SHOWER THE PEOPLE After a short hiatus, the San Luis Obispo Library will once again be partnering with local non-profit organization, Shower the People. The shower trailer will be located between the library and parking structure. Toiletries provided. Sundays, 1-3 p.m. Free. San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo.
DAILY QIGONG PRACTICE For the early riser or commuter, every weekday morning. Maintain or improve concentration, balance, and flexibility. Includes weekly Friday 3 p.m. class with more practices. Led by certified
Awareness Through Movement teacher. Mondays-Saturdays, 6:10 a.m. and Fridays, 3 p.m. $35/week or $125/month. (646) 280-5800. margotschaal.com/ qigong. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
DEATH CAFE (EVERY 1ST TUESDAY ON THE MONTH) At Death Café, curiosity and community converge for open, thoughtful conversations about mortality, loss, and our shared human experience. Donations to Hospice SLO County are always appreciated. First Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 544-2266. hospiceslo.org/services/ death-caf%C3%A9. Hospice SLO County, 1304 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo. FREE TOURS OF THE MISSION Tour San Luis Obispo’s Spanish Mission, founded in 1772. Come learn its history and importance to the development of this area. Tours are led by docents and meet in front of the church Sundays, 2:30 p.m. and Mondays-Saturdays, 1:15 p.m. Free. (805) 550-7713. missionslodocents.org. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. FRIDAY NIGHT MAGIC THE GATHERING Friday Night Magic is where legends rise! Bring your deck, meet fellow Planeswalkers, and battle it out in epic MTG duels. Fun, prizes, glory! Fridays. through May 2 Free. (805) 544-6366. facebook.com/even ts/592253119822089/592256636488404. Captain Nemo Games, 565 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo.
GARDEN FOUNDER WALK AND TALK Walk and talk with Eve Vigil in the Botanical Garden each month on the first Wednesday. Free garden tour with paid admission to the Garden. Free for members. No need to RSVP, just show up and enjoy. First Wednesday of every month, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Free with $5 Garden Entry. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo. HEALING DEPRESSION SUPPORT GROUP A safe place to share feelings of depression with those who suffer and those who have recovered to a full, healthy outlook on life. Mondays, 6-7 p.m. Free. (805) 528-3194. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.
KAL PENN: FROM WHITE CASTLE TO THE WHITE HOUSE An evening with CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 27
Monday & Tuesday
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAD GOLDEN
Emmy-nominated actor and former White House official, blending acclaimed screen roles with public service and storytelling to inspire dialogue, engagement, and change. Feb. 26 7:30 p.m. (805) 7564849. calpolyarts.org/20252026-season/ kal-penn-from-white-castle-to-thewhite-house. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
LGBTQ+ FED THERAPIST LEAD
SUPPORT GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) A pro-recovery group offering space to those seeking peer support, all stages of ED recovery. We understand recovery isn’t linear and judgment-free support is crucial. Share, listen, and be part of a community building up each other. First Wednesday of every month, 7-8 p.m. Free. galacc.org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
PUPPY SOCIAL HOUR Puppies (10 weeks to 5 months old) will learn appropriate play style with other pups, acceptable manners with people, tolerance for gentle restraints, confidence with the approach of friendly strangers, and more. Wednesdays, 10 a.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. $25. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org/training/. Woods Humane Society, 875 Oklahoma Ave., San Luis Obispo.
Q YOUTH GROUP (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) This is a social support group for LGBTQ+ and questioning youth between the ages of 11-18. Each week the group explores personal, cultural, and social identity. Thursdays, 6-8 p.m. Free. galacc. org/events/. Online, See website, San Luis Obispo.
SLO FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOK
SALE Browse 7,500 books, on sale for all ages. SLO FOL Members will receive early access from 9 a.m. to noon, before the sale opens to the general public. Feb. 26-28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. slofol.org. San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St., San Luis Obispo.
SLO PHILATELIC SOCIETY The SLO Philatelic Society (SLOPS) meets at the SLO Senior Center on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Visitors are welcome. First Tuesday of every month, 1-3 p.m. SLO Senior Center, 1445 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 5409484, slocity.org/seniors.
TEEN MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT GROUP Learn more about mental health and coping skills to help you through your journey towards wellness and recovery. Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m. Free. (805) 540-6576. t-mha.org. Hope House Wellness Center, 1306 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.
TOUR THE HISTORIC OCTAGON BARN CENTER The Octagon Barn, built in 1906, has a rich history that The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County looks forward to sharing with visitors. Please RSVP. Second Sunday of every month, 2-2:45 & 3-3:45 p.m. Tours are free; donations are appreciated. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096, octagonbarn.org.
TRANS* TUESDAY A safe space providing peer-to-peer support for trans, gender non-conforming, non-binary, and questioning people. In-person and Zoom meetings held. Contact tranzcentralcoast@gmail.com for more details. Tuesdays, 7-9 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-4252.
TRICKZONE PARKOUR AND TUMBLING CLINIC Join this two-hour combo of tumbling and parkour takes kids from timid to triumphant! All levels welcome. For children 5 to 17 years old. March 7, 1-3 p.m. $25. (805) 5471496. performanceathleticsslo.com. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
BEGINNER GROUP SURF LESSONS AND SURF CAMPS Lessons and camp packages available daily. All equipment included. ongoing Starts at $70. (805) 835-7873. sandbarsurf.com/. Sandbar Surf School Meetup Spot, 110 Park Ave., Pismo Beach.
BEGINNING BALLET FOR ADULTS Enjoy the grace and flow of ballet. No previous experience needed. Wednesdays, 5:156:15 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.
BYE BYE BIRDIE See this musical satire about teen idol Conrad Birdie, inspired by Elvis Presley’s draft. Get tickets at the link. Feb. 27 7 p.m., Feb. 28 7 p.m., March 6 7 p.m., March 7 7 p.m. and March 8 2 p.m. $15. my805tix.com. The Studio Black Box Theater, 835 W. Grand Ave, Grover Beach, (805) 473-0377.
COMMUNITY NATIVE GARDEN MONTHLY VOLUNTEER WORKDAY
Volunteers accomplish a variety of tasks including pathways maintenance, litter patrol of the garden perimeter, weeding, irrigation system expansion/repairs, pruning, and plantings. Volunteers should bring work gloves, a hat, drinking water, and tools related to the above activities. First Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 710-3073. Nipomo Native Garden, Camino Caballo at Osage, Nipomo.
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.
MORE EVERYDAY IMPROV: SKILLS FOR LIFE Interactive applied improvisation classes build empathy, emotional intelligence, resilience, and creativity through accessible, laughter-filled exercises. No experience is required; attend individual sessions or the full series. Every other Sunday, 6-7:30 p.m. through March 29 $15 each or $75 all. theagilemind.co/. Women’s Club of Arroyo Grande, 211 Vernon St., Arroyo Grande, (805) 270-5523.
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.
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.
WEEKLY WATER SAFETY LESSONS
Facility advertised as open and safe. Give the office a call to register over the phone. Mondays-Fridays $160-$190. (805) 4816399. 5 Cities Swim School, 425 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, 5citiesswimschool.com.
SANTA YNEZ VALLEY
SYV PRIDE 3RD ANNUAL LOVE ABOVE
ALL BALL Santa Ynez Valley Pride’s biggest fundraising event of the year, the elegant and elevated Love Above All Ball, supports SYV Pride events in 2026. Feb. 28 7-10 p.m. $100-$175. (805) 252-5794. syvpride.org. Craft House at Corque, 420 Alisal Road, Solvang.
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.
WINEMAKER’S DINNER FEATURING HOPE FAMILY WINES Join in welcoming Hope Family Wines to Cambria Pines Lodge for an intimate five-course wine dinner in our outdoor Pavilion Garden. March 1 5:30-8 p.m. $130. (805) 927-4200. cambriapineslodge.com. Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria.
NORTH SLO COUNTY
A-TOWN POP-UP MARKET On the 2nd Sunday of every month, come find tasty treats and treasures at the Atascadero Pop-Up Market, never the same and always fun. Second Sunday of every month, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. through Dec. 20 Free. (805) 703-4661. facebook.com/groups/1432866804429090/. Atascadero Lake Park, 9305 Pismo Ave., Atascadero. 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.
DOWNTOWN VIBE FOOD & WINE PAIRING DINNER Enjoy this thoughtfully curated multi-course menu by Chef Rachel Ponce, each dish paired with delicious Paso Downtown wines. Prepare to be amazed! Feb. 27, 7-9 p.m. $100. (949) 295-4502. downtownwinedistrictpaso.com/events/. Paso Bottle Shop, 1102 Railroad St., Paso Robles.
DOWNTOWN VIBE GRAND TASTING & BUBBLE LOUNGE
Paso’s Downtown Vibe is back! First, a Bubbles Lounge, then the Grand Tasting, with 24 downtown Paso Robles wineries pouring their very best. Feb. 28 , 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. $65. (949) 295-4502. downtownwinedistrictpaso.com/events/. Paso Robles Inn, 1103 Spring Street, Paso Robles.
MARCH 2026 CENTRAL COAST COOKING SHOW Join for the March Cooking Show with special guest chefs to be announced! March 3 , 4:30-6:30 p.m. $93.77. my805tix.com. Idler’s Home Paso Robles, 2361 Theatre Drive, Paso Robles. SIP AND SLAY Feb. 28 12-5 p.m. $25-$50. my805tix.com. MCV Wines, 3773 Ruth Way, suite A, Paso Robles, (805) 712-4647. 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.
PIÑATAS ON THE PATIO What is more festive than a piñata? Join for some brunch drinks and a couple of good hits to a piñata (or two). Good times and goofy prices promised. Turns will be determined on a first come, first served basis. First Sunday of every month Free. SLO Public Market, South Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo.
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 old-fashioned 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. $10. (805) 543-0639. slogrange.org. San Luis Obispo Grange Hall, 2880 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY
MONTHLY FERMENTATION 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) 801-6627. kulturhausbrewing. com/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/. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach. TRIVIA NIGHT Join BrainStew Trivia for a hilariously witty evening of trivia in Pismo. Teams of 1 to 4 people. Prizes awarded to the first and second place teams. Kitchen is open until 7:30 p.m. for brain fuel. Beer, cider, wine, and non-alcoholic options available. First Thursday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free to play. (805) 295-6171. kulturhausbrewing.com. Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach. ∆
Arts
Kids’
opera camp
Do you have a budding Maria Callas or Luciano Pavarotti on your hands? If so, now’s the time to sign them up for OperaSLO’s Summer Opera Camp running Mondays through Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the two weeks between July 20 and 31, in SLO’s Mount Carmel Lutheran Church.
Summer seems a long way off, but with only 30 spots for kids 9 to 17, the day camp may fill up quickly. The program culminates with a Mikado, Junior performance on Friday, July 31, at 6 p.m. Tuition costs $545 for two weeks.
Facilitated by Marcy Irving (Central Coast Gilbert & Sullivan director), the camp includes voice and acting instruction, operatic singing with costumes and sets, movement and choreography instruction, and ensemble collaboration with live music.
Students will train daily with professional OperaSLO resident artists, “receiving focused mentorship in music, acting, and dance,” organizers announced.
“All participants will be invited to join OperaSLO’s full professional production of The Mikado this October at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo.”
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado is a two-act comic opera satirizing late 19th-century British institutions. It opened on March 14, 1885, in London, and has enjoyed enduring popularity. Visit operaslo.org for details.
Let’s dance
Have you always wished you were a better social dancer? Or are you already a competent dancer and looking for opportunities to practice your steps? Either way, the Central Coast Dance Community invites you to “Come Dance with Us” on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Morro Bay Vets Hall (5:30 to 8 p.m.; all ages; $10 at the door).
Start with a dance lesson from popular instructor Linda Drake from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m., followed by dancing to live music from the Dylan Johnson Quartet.
“Johnson is a member of the Cuesta College faculty and the director of the Cuesta Jazz Combos,” organizers noted. “He is a renowned local bassist whose new quartet specializes in music for the ballroom dance community. In honor of February, attendees are encouraged to wear red.”
Social dance has several benefits, including improved physical health, overcoming shyness, boosting mood, and developing a more diverse social circle—so lace up those shoes and dance.
The nonprofit Central Coast Dance Community is dedicated to providing live music and dance opportunities in Morro Bay. In addition to their monthly Saturday evening dances, the group meets every third Wednesday at the Morro Bay Community Center for a noon potluck followed by dancing until 3 p.m.
For more information, visit morrobaydances.com.
Δ Glen Starkey
BY GLEN STARKEY
What’s he building in there?
A peek inside fabricator Ted Haines’ Los Osos workshop
You’d never guess from the exterior that a world of magic exists behind a Los Osos garage door. Inside, an array of tools, 3D printers, and the ingenious creativity of selfdescribed “foamfabber” Ted Haines constitute a workplace where common upholstery foam, latex, and fiber combine to make incredible movie props, costumes, and creature effects. Haines shares the space with his wife, Ilona, who’s also in the biz.
They met at Legacy Effects, and after COVID, they moved to Ilona’s childhood home in Los Osos when it became clear they didn’t need to live in Hollywood to work in the industry.
“I was at Legacy Effects for 16 years. She was there for about five,” Haines explained. “I worked on all the Iron Man movies, all the Marvel stuff, Captain America—that kind of stuff. I was in the fabrication department doing specialty costumes, a lot of sewing, a lot of fabrication, doing muscle suits for Captain America to wear.”
These were big collaborative efforts on blockbuster films.
“All these different people are putting together Iron Man suits that are all tethered. That’s not just me. That’s a group of 30 fabricators doing multiple suits, and then you’ve got another 30 mold makers that are in the mold shops. You’ve got artists and digital artists.
“I worked doing muscle suits and fat suits and all that kind of stuff. If you see films with gorillas or creatures or monsters—big hairy stuff—but they’ve got all these muscles and mass underneath. That’s what I do.”
Today Haines is an independent running his own shop, but getting to that level was a journey. His creativity started early, drawing and making stuff in the basement of his parents’ Wisconsin Rapids home.
“I was always an illustrator,” he explained. “First it was crayons, then it was pencils—like any kid. And then Star Wars came out in ’77 when I was 9. It was like a light bulb. ‘I know what I want to do!’ I knew I wanted to do something that had to do with making something like that, whether it was model building, set building, creature effects, special effects.”
Soon he was making his own masks and building miniatures and models. He got a Super 8 camera, and he and two buddies who also had Super 8s began making movies.
“All throughout our teens, through junior high and high school, we were making horror films and sci-fi films,” Haines recalled.
Follow him on Instagram
Ted Haines regularly posts images of his ongoing work on his Instagram page, revealing the process and progress of fabrications that will make it into movies, be sold to collectors, or turned into 3D printed models he sells to people who want to paint their own versions of his designs. Find him at instagram.com/thefoamfabber. He also explains his process on YouTube, @monstermaker40.
He developed skills on his own, essentially in a vacuum and largely through trial and error, recreating things he’d seen in the sci-fi magazine Starlog and the horror magazine Fangoria “That was it. Those two magazines, that’s all there was,” he said. “I was just looking at pictures or reading the articles. I had to make it up, you know? Like, ‘I wonder if this paint will work? I wonder if this foam will work?’ I didn’t know specifically what they were using, so it was all trial and error. I had nobody showing me how.”
“My parents were both schoolteachers, so of course I couldn’t drop out. I got two job offers while I was going to school there, but the guy wouldn’t let me out [of the course]. I can’t quit, so I just kept doing it. Finally got out, and I got a job the first day out.”
He was in!
“It was a company called MMI, Magical Media Industries,” Haines recalled. “A guy named John Buechler owned it, and I knew he worked on Land of the Lost and Jason of Star Command—Saturday morning type stuff.”
The company also made horror props, and Haines was soon fabricating pieces for films being produced by a small company called Full Moon.
Send gallery, stage, and cultrual festivities to arts@newtimesslo.com.
He also developed his foam fabrication techniques in his youth.
“I would go to our local upholstery place in my town in Wisconsin and beg them for scraps, chunks, 1-inch sheets—stuff like that. And I would cut it and snip it because that’s the way they did monsters on Lost in Space, Star Trek, Voyage to Bottom of the Sea—all that stuff was fabricated. And so, I just kind of picked up doing that. Plus, it’s a really cheap way of doing things.”
He eventually found himself in Hollywood trying to figure out the next step.
“I was just so green, and I thought, ‘I’ve got to learn more. I need to know more before I get in.’ There was a school down in LA, right across the street from Universal Studios on Cahuenga. A fellow there taught glamour makeup, theater makeup, and prosthetic film makeup. I had done all of that.”
Still, he decided to take the five-and-ahalf-month course but quickly realized he wasn’t learning anything new.
“It was all super low-budget—a $300,000 budget and we’d shoot one movie in two or three weeks. Then we started going to Romania and shooting films there, and we’d be there for a month and a half or two months. You could make $300,000 look like $2 million because it was right after the revolution, so they just opened their country and let us in.”
In addition to special effects, he’s also done puppetry, costuming, and makeup on films like The Faculty, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk to Dawn, Scream, A Simple Plan, and many more.
Though he’s worked on big-budget films, Haines credits low-budget pictures for really improving his artistry.
“Low-budget shops don’t do it the way the bigbudget shops do. Big-budget shops have a fiberglass mannequin of the actor. They sculpt it in clay. They do fiberglass molds, inject foam latex. It’s a big thing. ‘Oh no, we can’t afford that. We’re making out of foam.’ It was like, ‘OK, so I hone my skills even more doing low-budget stuff.’”
Though now independent these days, Haines stays busy. If he’s not building something for a film, he’s making something for himself or to sell. He’s also gearing up for the annual Monsterpalooza (May 29 to 31 in the Pasadena Convention Cener), where he sets up a booth to exhibit his skills. If you stop by, he’ll tell you all about his latest creature, and you can bet it will be something weird. ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@ newtimesslo.com.
MOVIE MAGIC FROM LOS OSOS Visual effects creator Ted Haines has made props for films like Blade II, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Village, Cowboys & Aliens, The Bourne Legacy, The Hunger Games, and the Avatar franchise.
PHOTOS BY PIETER SAAYMAN
THE DRAWING BOARD Initially an illustrator, Ted Haines’ creature ideas start with drawings, often rendered in a computer program, which he then uses as reference as he constructs his creations by hand.
On the verge
Writer-director Mary Bronstein (Yeast) helms this story about Linda (Rose Byrne), a psychotherapist whose personal and professional responsibilities leave her on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
IF I HAD LEGS I’D KICK YOU
What’s it rated? R
What’s it worth, Anna? Full Price
What’s it worth, Glen? Full price
Where’s it showing? HBO Max
In between work, she cares for her daughter (Delaney Quinn) who’s got a pediatric eating disorder requiring a feeding tube and daily hospital visits. Her ship captain husband, Charles (Christian Slater), is at sea and dismissive and unsupportive. Their apartment floods and becomes unlivable, forcing Linda and her daughter into a shabby motel run by snotty clerk Diana (Ivy Wolk) and James (A$AP Rocky), the motel superintendent. Linda’s own therapist (Conan O’Brien) is unhelpful and judgy. And Linda’s got a challenging client, Caroline (Danielle Macdonald), a new mother suffering from paranoia and postpartum anxiety. She’s overwhelmed. (113 min.)
Glen Since this time of year is a bit of dumping ground for mediocre films in theaters, and because we missed some of the Oscar contenders like this one, we decided to look back at this October 2025 release since it’s now streaming, and it’s weird and wonderful. Lead actress Rose Byrne is nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award for it, and she’s in a very competitive field that includes Emma Stone from Bugonia, Jessie Buckley from Hamnet, Kate Hudson from Song Sung Blue, and Renate Reinsve in the Norwegian film Sentimental Value. Byrne is incredible here. You can feel her fraying and becoming increasingly brittle. The entire cast is good, but this is the Rose Byrne show, and she never lets up. It’s riveting. This also marks her very first Oscar nomination. She already took home the Golden Globe for this performance, but her fiercest Oscar competition may be
THE INVESTIGATION
OF LUCY LETBY
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026
Where’s it showing? Netflix
Lucy Letby was a young neonatal nurse when she began at Countess of Chester Hospital in 2012. Her whole career focused on the care of the youngest and most vulnerable patients. However, in subsequent years, the hospital saw an unexplained rise in infant mortalities and collapses, and all the cases had one thing in common: Lucy.
This documentary shows footage of Lucy on the day that she is first taken in for questioning, the police coming to her home and rousing
Stone, who won for La La Land (2016) and Poor Things (2023) but also turned in an emotionally complex performance last year. We still need to watch the other films.
Anna The film is shot in a very interesting way. While we hear and see slivers of Linda’s daughter, the focus is all on Byrne. Her angry husband is heard over the phone but never seen. She’s adrift and alone, staying in a crappy motel close to the children’s hospital where her daughter is getting treatment. The machines that keep her daughter alive whir and buzz all night long, and Linda turns to finding the bottom of a bottle of wine as her nightly escape. This isn’t a fun watch, but it certainly is a powerful one. Her mental state is about two shades darker than fried, and she can’t help but break down. Topped off with a daughter who is shrill and demanding, Linda’s maternal instincts have met their match. It is certainly a must-see, but come prepared.
Glen This is also a film that refuses to offer a tidy resolution, yet the non-ending is potent and visually arresting and does offer an unsettled kind of closure. Linda may
her from bed to come with them. We see her interviews with the police, her reluctant words of denial at what she is accused of. We also see interviews with parents of the children she murdered while they were in her care—through insulin poisoning or by introducing air into their bloodstream causing embolisms.
It’s a reminder that looking innocent and being young can be a deadly cover for vile acts. Lucy was sentenced in 2020 and will spend her life in prison. Unsettling and infuriating, this is just the type of watch to make you wary of those who are supposed to care for us. Just remember that most caregivers are in the field to do no harm, despite cases like Lucy’s. (92 min.)
—Anna
BABY KILLER? British neonatal nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of murdering seven infants, but did she do it? The Investigation of Lucy Letby, streaming on Netflix, looks deeper.
IUNFAMILIAR
What’s it rated? TV-MA When? 2026
be beat down, but she’s a fighter. As much as I admired and was wowed by Stone’s performance in Bugonia, I hope Byrne takes an Oscar home. The prolific Australian actor has done a lot of amazing work in her long career, and I think she’s due. Plus, Stone’s got two Oscars already. We’ll see what the Academy decides. With four nominations, there’s more buzz around Bugonia than this film, but If I Had Legs is worth the watch for Byrne’s incredible performance. Anna Both films are difficult to watch in their own way, and both actresses deserve every accolade they’re getting. I find Byrne’s Linda to be relatable in the most heartbreaking of ways, whereas Stone’s character in Bugonia is an icy better-than. Messy, unsure, overtaxed, Linda’s an unwilling participant in a marathon. I’ll also be rooting for Byrne to take home that gold statue. ∆
Arts Editor Glen Starkey and freelancer Anna Starkey write Split Screen. Comment at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
Where’s it showing? Netflix
’m generally not a fan of dubbed films or shows, so even though I was a little put off at first, this German series sucked me in.
Created by Paul Coates, the story follows former intelligence agents Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon Schäfer (Felix Krammer) who now run a secret safe house in Berlin. They’re celebrating their daughter Nina’s (Maja Bons) 16th birthday when they get a call from an injured man needing their assistance. They decide to take him in, but not all is as it seems. Soon, their cover is blown, they’re being pursued by Russian agents, secrets from their
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
daughter’s past return, their marriage is under strain, and their entire world is imploding.
Intelligently written, the series’ first episode gives us just enough of the couple’s story to set the hook while keeping us in the dark about their complicated past and the decisions that have defined them. The reveals from one episode to the next keep us engaged.
They’re both very capable operatives, and the action sequences and spycraft feel authentic. They’re also complicated, no-nonsense characters who harbor regrets but also swallow their emotions. Spy thriller fans, this one’s for you. (six approximately 50-min. episodes) ∆ —Glen
PAST IS PROLOGUE
Married ex-spies
Meret (Susanne Wolff) and Simon Schäfer (Felix Krammer) find their past returned to haunt them, in Unfamiliar, streaming on Netflix.
TAILSPIN Rose Byrne stars as Linda, a mother, wife, and psychotherapist on the verge of a nervous breakdown, in If I Had Legs I’d Kick You, streaming on HBO Max.
COURTESY PHOTO BY LOGAN WHITE/A24
PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX
WHAT’SNEXT
Music
BY GLEN STARKEY
Long and winding road
311 plays Madonna Inn before their annual Vegas show
As a warm-up for their upcoming twonight Vegas run at Dolby Live at Park MGM in collaboration with Blue Man Group on March 7 and 8, venerated rock act 311 will play a Numbskull and Good Medicine show at the Alex Madonna Expo Center on Tuesday, March 3 (doors at 6 p.m.; all ages; $60.25 general, $189 “Down” superfan package, or $498 “Hive” meet-and-greet experience at goodmedicinepresents.com).
311 has been a functioning professional rock band since 1990, but the musicians have deeper roots than that, not to mention a very circuitous route to success.
“All five members of 311 grew up in the 1970s in Omaha, Nebraska,” press materials explain. “Nick Hexum, Tim Mahoney, and Chad Sexton lived on the west side of town and went to Westside High School together. P-Nut and SA Martinez lived on the south side of town and went to Bryan High School together.
“During high school, Nick and Tim played in a rock band together called The Ed’s. Nick was also in the high school concert jazz band with Chad.
“At 17, Nick graduated early from high
school and moved to downtown Los Angeles in pursuit of a music career,” their bio continues. “When Nick returned to Omaha for Chad and Tim’s high school graduation, the three of them jammed and realized they had a special musical chemistry. They soon added a keyboardist named Ward Bones and called themselves Unity. In late ’88, Nick, Chad, and Ward moved to LA and made an unsuccessful stab at getting a recording contract.
“Disillusioned with the LA scene, Chad soon moved back to Omaha and began jamming with P-Nut and a guitarist named Jim Watson. Months later, Chad persuaded Nick to move back to Omaha and join them. They played their first gig opening for Fugazi on June 10, 1990.”
First gig opening for Fugazi! Now they’re returning to Vegas for an annual event called 311 Day celebration, which includes two concerts with entirely different set lists, and a 311 pop-up museum showcasing rare artifacts, artwork, instruments, and posters from across their history.
The band’s currently on fire. Their newest album, Full Bloom (2024), yielded “You’re Gonna Get It,” the band’s highest charting single in 13 years that’s been streamed more than 1 million times, and their 311 Caribbean Cruise sold out in 24 hours.
Tunnel Vision opens.
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.
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.com. Schooners, 171 North Ocean Ave, Cayucos.
NORTH SLO COUNTY 4TH
EMILY SMITH Enjoy live music at Dracaena Wines every 4th Thursday. This month is Emily Smith. Feb. 26 5-7 p.m. (805) 270-3327. dracaenawines.com. Dracaena Wines, 1244 Pine Street, suite 101 B, Paso Robles.
CRYING UNCLE BLUEGRASS BAND Join us for an incredible evening of top-shelf Bluegrass music with Grammy-quality Crying Uncle Bluegrass Band! Feb. 27 6-10 p.m. $33.98. my805tix.com. Pavilion on the Lake, 9315 Pismo Ave., Atascadero.
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.
THE I’S HAVE IT? A FREE CONCERT
Also this week from Numbskull and Good Medicine, singer-songwriter and comic book artist Jeffrey Lewis brings his quirky and charming indie-rock-folk-art vibe and hit songs like “Sad Screaming Old Man,” “The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane,” and “Exactly What Nobody Wanted.” See Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage at Club Car Bar on Wednesday, March 4 (7 p.m.; all ages; $18.23 at goodmedicinepresents.com).
Folk artist Willy Tea Taylor and country
artist Cotton Clifton share the bill at Club Car Bar on Thursday, March 5 (7 p.m.; all ages; $16.17 at goodmedicinepresents.com). These are both magnificently bearded singersongwriters you’ll want to pay attention to.
Jangly slacker blues from Philly
I remember well when G. Love and Special Sauce (1994) was released. G. Love and his band didn’t sound like anyone else. They played a weird and infectious hybrid of garage rock, hip-hop, blues, and soul. Between 10 Special Sauce albums and four solo records, he’s got a deep catalog and has scored a number of hits like “Cold Beverage,” “SoulBQue,” “Baby’s Got Sauce,” “Rodeo Clowns,” and “Rainbow.”
This week, G. Love & Special Sauce on their Lemonade 20th anniversary tour play Rod and Hammer Rock on Friday, Feb. 27 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $44.20 at ticketweb. com). Lemonade, released in 2006 on Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records, rose to No. 39 on the Billboard 200 and 13 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums. It included guest appearance by Ben Harper, Blackalicious, Jack Johnson, Lateef the Truthspeaker, Marc Broussard, Jasper, and Tristan Prettyman Super cool performer!
Also, The SLO Comedy Festival plays at Rod
BY THE ATASCADERO COMMUNITY
BAND Join the Atascadero Community Band for a free, family-friendly concert at Atascadero Bible Church. Donations support 805MPA! March 1 3-5 p.m. Free. atascaderoband.org. Atascadero Bible Church, 6225 Atascadero Ave., Atascadero, 805) 466-2051.
KARAOKE NIGHT Food and drink available for purchase. Last Saturday of every month, 8 p.m. Free admission. my805tix.com. Club Car Bar, 508 S. Main St., Templeton.
LIVE MUSIC WITH LYNDA TYMCHECK
Lynda Tymcheck is a Paso Roblan who performs with two talented guitarists, either Marty Townsend or Shane Perry. Get a glass and kick back! March 8 2-5 p.m. Free. (805) 237-1245. mcpricemyers. com. McPrice Myers Wine Company, 3525 Adelaida Rd., 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.
SOLEFFECT AT DECADES HIFI LOUNGE
Join Sōleffect for a night of soulful, high-energy live music at Decades HiFi Lounge! March 6 7-10 p.m. Decades Hifi Lounge, 5840 Traffic Way, Atascadero, (805) 460-6415, decadeslounge.com.
SAN LUIS OBISPO
ANNUAL MUSIC FACULTY CONCERT:
A FUNDRAISER FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS Experience the artistry, energy, and improvisation of live jazz
and classical music as the Cuesta Music Faculty take the stage to benefit music student scholarships! March 8 3 p.m.
$10-$30. (805) 546-3198. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.
CAL POLY INSTRUMENTAL STUDENT
RECITAL A free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student instrumentalists. March 3 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/ calendar/free. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
CAL POLY JAZZ COMBOS SHOWCASE
Cal Poly’s jazz combos will perform classic jazz repertoire as well as original student compositions. Dylan Johnson will be the director. March 5 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/ calendar/jazz/. PAC Pavilion, Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo.
CAL POLY WINTER JAZZ CONCERT:
SOUNDS OF GROOVE The concert will feature performances by various jazz ensembles, including the University Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Combos. Feb. 27 7:30 p.m. $17 and $22 general, $12 students and Jazz Federation members. (805) 756-4849. music.calpoly. edu/calendar/jazz/. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo. CANZONA PRESENTS “RENAISSANCE, BAROQUE, AND BEYOND” Take a journey through centuries of sacred music with Canzona. We’ll delight our audience with Italian trios, Baroque duets, and spirited a cappella madrigals! March 1 , 3-5 p.m. $10-$35. (805) 242-6065. my805tix. com. SLO United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks St., San Luis Obispo. CHRIS THILE Grammy-winning mandolinist and MacArthur “Genius” Chris Thile, of Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek, LIVE MUSIC continued page 34
PRE-VEGAS, BABY Numbskull and Good Medicine present 311 at the Alex Madonna Expo Center on March 3
HIP-HOP BLUES G. Love & Special Sauce on their Lemonade 20th anniversary tour play Rod and Hammer Rock on Feb. 27
COURTESY PHOTO BY JOE NAVAS
ELECTRIFYING Good Medicine and Numbskull present Jeffrey Lewis & The Voltage at Club Car Bar on March 4 .
COURTESY PHOTO BY TYLER MCLEOD
STARKEY continued page 34
and Hammer Rock on Saturday, Feb. 28 (8:30 p.m.; all ages; $29 at ticketweb.com). The fest is running through March 1 at various locations. Laugh, cry, and get down
Good Vibez presents Carlos Mencia: The Liberated Tour at the Fremont Theater on Friday, Feb. 27 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; 18-and-older; $37.05 to $69.50 at prekindle. com). He’s known for his raw and unfiltered style and insightful and funny explorations of race relations, criminal justice, Latin culture, and societal hierarchies. His current standup special, Here I Am, is streaming digitally, and he’s set to reprise his role as Felix Boulevardez in Disney-Plus’ The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. Also from Good Vibez at the Fremont, The Emo Night Tour returns on Saturday, Feb. 28 (show at 8 p.m.; 18-and-older; $27.78 at prekindle. com). “The Emo Night Tour Band will play some of the biggest emo songs in existence with the ENT DJs spinning all the angst your teenage dirtbag heart desires all night long that will make you feel like you’re at Warped Tour ’08 minus all the dust and melting in the sun,” organizers announced.
at 8 p.m.; all ages; $42.72 general, $99.62 early entry VIP, to $139.28 meet-and-greet VIP at prekindle.com). Two Feet is Zachary William “Bill” Dess, a NYC singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. His music has been called “mesmerizing” with “silky vocals, low-key beat.” Sub Urban and Brothel open
Thriller
Sound out!
Send music and club information to gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
The Clark Center has two tribute shows scheduled this week starting with Iconic: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson on Saturday, Feb. 28 (two shows at 3 and 8 p.m.; all ages; $49 to $79 at clarkcenter.org). The show’s apparently endorsed by Michael’s father, Joe Jackson, and it’s noteworthy for its precision to Michael’s sound and dance moves. Expect to hear all your favorites.
Latter-day Saints come marching in Cal Poly Arts presents hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon at the Performing Arts Center in San Luis Obispo on Tuesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 4 (7:30 p.m.; contains explicit language; $84 to $129 at calpolyarts. org). This hilarious show follows two missionaries as they preach their faith to residents of a remote Ugandan village. Written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone with Robert Lopez, the show received broad critical praise and continues to tour. It’s a nine-time Tony Award-winning Best Musical!
Step back in time
Finally, Two Feet: The Next Steps Tour plays on Thursday, March 5 (doors at 7, show
blends Bach, folk, and improvisation in a wide-ranging, genre-defying solo tour. Hear him live! Feb. 28 , 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org/20252026season/chris-thile. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
PEACE, BEAUTY, HARP Unwind into the weekend with the peace and beauty of the harp in the peace and beauty of SLO’s historic church. Fridays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. through March 20 Free. (805) 543-7212. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, 1344 Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo.
PUNK ROCK DRAG SHOW Enjoy band performances by Martirio, Lot in Life, and Bone Maggot, and drag performances by The Shimmer, Marceline Powerchord, Vicky Jean, Carbon Bard, and Estrella Electrica. March 8 6 p.m. $15. my805tix. com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-9974.
RENAISSANCE, BAROQUE AND BEYOND: SACRED AND PROFANE Take a journey through centuries of sacred music with Canzona Women’s Ensemble. From Isabella Leonarda’s Renaissance
“Magnificat” to Poulenc’s 20th-century “Litanies à la Vierge Noire” for women’s voices and organ, we’ll delight our audience with Italian trios, Baroque duets, and spirited a cappella madrigals in English and French! March 1 3 p.m. $10-$35. my805tix.com. San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 242-6065. SLO SYMPHONY PRESENTS CLASSICAL HITS Celebrate the brilliance of musical genius with three timeless works from history’s greatest composers, Bach Brandenburg Concerto, Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”. March 7 7:30 p.m. $12-$92. (805) 543-3533. slosymphony.org/ calendar-2025-2026. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.
SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY BSR SPONSORED EVENT: THE LEGENDARY COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA DIRECTED BY SCOTTY BARNHART WITH JAZZ VOCALIST NNENNA FREELON Winner of 18 Grammy Awards, the Basie Orchestra has performed at every major jazz festival and concert hall, swinging with unmatched energy,
style, and soul. March 1 , 3 p.m. $45-$75. clarkcenter.org. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande, (805) 489-9444.
CLARK CENTER PRESENTS ICONIC: A GLORIOUS TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON Embark on a mesmerizing journey through the unparalleled legacy of the King of Pop with ICONIC, the world’s top Michael Jackson tribute show. Feb. 28 , 3-5 & 8-10 p.m. $49-$69, Platinum $79; Senior & Student Discounts. (805) 4899444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
CLARK CENTER PRESENTS THE LEGENDARY COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA, DIRECTED BY SCOTTY BARNHART WITH JAZZ VOCALIST
NNENNA FREELON Winner of 18 Grammy Awards, the Basie Orchestra has performed at every major jazz festival and concert hall, swinging with unmatched energy, style, and soul. March 1 3-5 p.m. $45-$65, Platinum $75; Senior & Student Discounts. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter. org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
CLARK CENTER PRESENTS: STEEP
The Clark Center also presents The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra directed by Scotty Barnhart and featuring vocalist Nneena Freelon on Sunday, March 1 (3 p.m.; all ages; $45 to $75 at clarkcenter.org). This 18-time Grammywinning orchestra has performed at every major jazz festival and concert hall. For this 90th anniversary tour, jazz royalty Freelon (a seven-time Grammy Award nominee) is featured.
Canzona Women’s Ensemble presents Renaissance, Baroque, and Beyond at SLO’s United Methodist Church on Sunday, March 1 (3 p.m.; all ages; $30 to $35, $10 student at my805tix.com). Journey through centuries of sacred music from a Renaissance “Magnificat” by Isabella Leonarda to Poulenc’s 19th century “Litanies à la Vierge Noire” for women’s voices and organ. Also hear Italian trios, Baroque duets, and lively a cappella madrigals in English and French. ∆
Contact Arts Editor Glen Starkey at gstarkey@newtimesslo.com.
CANYON RANGERS Steep Canyon Rangers are set to return with their signature blend of bluegrass, Americana, and rich Carolina storytelling. Hear them live at Clark Center for the Performing Arts. March 7 7:30-9:30 p.m. $45$59, Platinum $65; Senior & Student Discounts. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter. org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
FREE BEGINNER LINE DANCING Join the line 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month. No registration required. Not able to dance, take a seat, cheer on the dancers. March 3 , 1-2 p.m. Free. (805) 929-1615. nipomoseniorcenter.org/. Nipomo Senior Center, 200 E. Dana St, Nipomo.
KARAOKE EVERY WEDNESDAY A weekly event with barbecue offerings 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. ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH EXPERIENCE®:
A JOHN DENVER TRIBUTE STARRING RICK SCHULER A Rocky Mountain High Experience® offers more than nostalgia— it’s an authentic celebration of the music that defined a generation. March 6 7:30 p.m. $69.50-$86.25. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.
SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS
ANNUAL ST. PADDY’S DANCE The Santa Maria Valley Senior Citizens presents the Annual St. Paddy’s Dance with Riptide Big Band and vocalists. March 8 1:30-4 p.m. Free. (775) 813-5186. RiptideBB.com. Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., Santa Maria.
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.
OLD TIME GOSPEL SING-ALONG All are welcome. Call for more details. Last Saturday of every month, 5-6 p.m. (805)
478-6198. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria.
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.
YOUTH OPEN MIC NIGHT Enjoy food, prizes, and community! Open to all performers ages 18 and under. Instruments will be provided. Feb. 27 6-8 p.m. csmusicfoundation.org/. A fun, welcoming environment for first time performers and an opportunity for kids and teens to showcase their talent. Prizes awarded every month for Outstanding Performer. Last Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. certainsparks.com/. Certain Sparks Music, 107 S. H St., Lompoc.
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. ∆
MOONWALKER Iconic: A Glorious Tribute to Michael Jackson is at the Clark Center on Feb. 28
PHOTO COURTESY OF ARTS MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES
CLIP-ON TIE? Cal Poly Arts presents hit Broadway musical The Book of Mormon at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo on March 3 and 4
COURTESY PHOTO BY JULIETA CERVANTES
COMEDIA STAND-UP Good Vibes presents Carlos Mencia: The Liberated Tour at the Fremont Theater on Feb. 27
BY MADISON WHITE
Frosted fun
Orcutt Bakery calls dibs on the dessert table
After Danielle and Shawn Gerber spend hours baking and decorating a cake, they must safely transport it to its destination. For Central Coast parties from Santa Ynez to San Luis Obispo, that often means a scenic barn or vineyard, creating their biggest delivery challenge—the road less traveled.
“We don’t love delivering off paved roads,” Danielle said with a laugh.
She stood behind the counter of her and her husband’s business, Orcutt Bakery, one February afternoon while Shawn was busy in the kitchen making cheesecake. In addition to an array of cheesecakes, their dessert counter also held cupcakes, cookies, lemon bars, and cake pops.
For the past 11 years, the couple has owned and operated Orcutt Bakery, but this is the first time in Danielle’s recent memory that life is back to normal after a battle with breast cancer. The baker wants her community to know that even though she never stopped working, she’s feeling like herself again.
For any occasion
The Gerbers deliver from San Luis Obispo to the Santa Ynez Valley.
Place online orders for Orcutt Bakery goods by visiting orcuttbakery.com. Call (805) 938-9140 with questions, and see the treats for yourself at 4869 S. Bradley Road, suite 112, in Orcutt.
Danielle took the leap to go back to school and study food science at Allan Hancock College. She and her classmates put their skills to the test during labs held in a kitchen that looked like the set of Top Chef, the baker remembered.
Shawn took culinary classes at Hancock too, and he has always specialized in cooking. His wife said he learned how to bake specifically for their business, having grown tired of working for other people. The art of cooking is different than the science of baking, but Shawn quickly caught on.
and drink to bites@newtimesslo.com.
“The last couple of years, we’ve just been surviving,” Danielle said. “We’re ready to get back to what we do best.”
Orcutt Bakery is known to create custom cakes for parties and weddings. Shawn is the baker and Danielle decorates. Though cakes now make up a large portion of their business, making cookies was Danielle’s introduction to the industry.
She has early memories baking at her grandmother’s house in Orcutt, a short drive from where she was raised in Nipomo. Danielle baked a lot for her family, too, even bringing cookies to her friends at school. Eventually, the business owner began baking wedding cakes for her friends.
“My grandmother really loved to bake, and so we would have baking days,” Danielle said. “I’d go over and hang out with her, and we’d bake something new. She got to pass on her love of baking to me.”
Now, her grandmother is the one asking for advice.
“The first wedding cake that he was helping me with, he put powdered sugar instead of flour, so he learned real quick that you have to pay attention,” Danielle said.
The team works together, sometimes spending eight hours on a custom cake. During wedding season, they take as many orders as Shawn and his oven can manage.
“It gets kind of crazy,” Danielle said. While taste is always the top priority, Danielle has fun decorating the designs by hand. Recently, her more elaborate cake creations have featured themes of Hello Kitty and KPop Demon Hunters, after the hit movie.
The baker also admires the simplicity of “naked” cakes, with the layers exposed, held together ever so slightly with frosting. The aesthetic is fitting for a lot of weddings.
Ahead of the big day, Danielle’s main piece of advice to couples for their cake is that less is more. She sends them home with a tasting flight, suggesting they choose two or three flavors.
The most popular cakes she and Shawn offer are red velvet, chocolate, and, to their surprise, coconut.
FLAVOR continued page 36
A SWEET CAREER Danielle Gerber has owned Orcutt Bakery with her husband, Shawn, for more than 10 years.
PHOTO BY PIETER SAAYMAN
March
-
Flavor
•
•
Danielle style wedding dessert tables with mini versions of their cookies, cheesecakes, and lemon bars. Sometimes they throw cake pops in the mix, too. Custom cakes require four or five days’ notice, and wedding cakes are best ordered a few months in advance. Shawn bakes every day, though, constantly stocking the storefront with triple chocolate, carrot, and chocolate strawberry cakes.
“One of my friends from high school was adamant, like, ‘Don’t even put coconut. We’re not doing it,’” Danielle remembered about his tasting. “Then he ordered the whole cake in coconut. He loved it.”
Along with frosted slices, Shawn and
Orcutt Bakery’s goods aim to bring joy to everyone—and the bakers literally deliver that joy, preferably on paved roads—whether it’s a wedding day, birthday, or a regular weekday. ∆
Sun Staff Writer Madison White, from New Times’ sister paper, enjoys the bakery’s raspberry cheesecake. Send another slice to mwhite@santamariasun.com.
FLAVOR from page 35
ICING ON TOP Find sweet treats like cookies, cupcakes, cheesecakes, and lemon bars all made in-house at Orcutt Bakery.
The following person is doing business as LEGENDS SALON AND DAY SPA, 4855 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422. San Luis Obispo County. Katherine Ann McNamara, Joel Martin Dunbar (4855 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93422). This business is conducted by A Married Couple /s/ Joel Martin Dunbar. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 12-22-2025. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 12-22-2030. February 5, 12, 19, & 26, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0031 (07/01/2020)
New Filing
The following person is doing business as RISING PHOENIX LANDSCAPES, 2140 Ocean Street, Oceano, CA 93445. San Luis Obispo County. Reo Curtis Cordes (2140 Ocean Street, Oceano, CA 93445). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Reo Curtis Cordes. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-06-2026. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, A. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 01-06-2031. February 5, 12, 19, & 26, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0072 (N/A)
New Filing
The following person is doing business as KT AVILA RENTALS, 756 Brighton Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433. San Luis Obispo County. Kristin Avila, Anthony Avila (756 Brighton Ave., Grover Beach, CA 93433). This business is conducted by A Married Couple /s/ Anthony Avila, Kristin Avila. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-09-2026. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, A. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 01-092031. February 19, 26, March 5, & 12, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS N AME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0088 (10/01/2025)
New Filing
The following person is doing business as CAMBRIA CLEANING SERVICES, 2575 Wilcombe Road, Cambria, CA 93428. San Luis Obispo County. Natalie M Crosby (2575 Wilcombe Road, Cambria, CA 93428). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Natalie M. Crosby. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-13-2026. hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, M. Katz, Deputy. Exp. 0113-2031. February 5, 12, 19, & 26, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0096 (01/01/2011)
New Filing
The following person is doing business as THE FRENCH CORNER BAKERY, 2214 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428. San Luis Obispo County. MLV, Inc. (2214 Main Street, Cambria, CA 93428). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation /s/ MLV, Inc., Miguel Viveros, President. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 01-14-2026. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, M. Maltby, Deputy. Exp. 01-14-2031. February 5, 12, 19, & 26, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0097 (01/01/2011)
New Filing
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO. 2026-0400
(01/01/2013)
New Filing
The following person is doing business as GONATURAL, 2030 Hutton St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Michele Miller (2030 Hutton St., San Luis Obispo, CA 93401).
This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Michele Miller. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 02-20-2026. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, L. Maceri, Deputy. Exp. 02-202031. February 26, March 5, 12, & 19, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO. 2026-0403
(01/02/2026)
New Filing
The following person is doing business as GA INVESTMENTS, 365 San Vincenzo Drive, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. George L. Aiello (365 San Vincenzo Drive, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ George L. Aiello. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 02-20-2026. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, MA Nelson, Deputy. Exp. 02-20-2031. February 26, March 5, 12, & 19, 2026
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT
FILE NO. 2026-0405
(N/A)
New Filing
The following person is doing business as MUD MOJO, 330 Acero Pl., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Johanna Madjedi (330 Acero Pl., Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Johanna Madjedi. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 02-23-2026. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, A. Trujillo, Deputy. Exp. 02-232031. February 26, March 5, 12, & 19, 2026
ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME
CASE NUMBER: 26CVP0056
To all interested persons: Petitioner: Carrie Jane Winters filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: PRESENT NAME: Carrie Jane Winters to PROPOSED NAME: Carrie Jane Fusco
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 court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE OF HEARING:
Date: April 8, 2026, Time: 9:30 am, Dept. P2, in person or via zoom at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, 901 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. A copy of this Order to Show Cause must be published at least once each week for four successive weeks before the date set for hearing on the petition in a newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county: New Times Date: February 6, 2026 /s/: Michael C. Kelley, Judge of the Superior Court February 26, March 5, 12, & 19, 2026.
Public Notice
Lien Sale Saturday, February 28th, at 9:00 a.m. Contents of Unit 612 - Abraham Finn-Howell, and Unit 626 - Douglas Nix. Cash only, by sealed bid. Beach Area Storage, 464 Leoni Drive, Grover Beach.
February 19 & 26, 2026
SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL)
NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO)
CHRISTOPHER DAN WISE, an individual;
YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE):
LENDMARK FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC, a limited liability company
CASE NUMBER (Número del caso): 25LC-0219
Notice! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.
You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money and property may be taken without further warning from the court.
There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), the California Courts online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo. ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.
¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion.
Tiene 30 DIAS DE CALENDARIO despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted puede usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formulerios de la corte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www..sucorte.ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte la podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requistos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www.sucorte.ca.gov) o poniendose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados
locales. AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una consesion de arbitraje en un caso dce derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.
CASE NUMBER: (Número del caso): 25LC-0219
The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte es)
SUPERIROR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
1035 PALM STREET SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93408
The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la dirección y número de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): THE DUNNING LAW FIRM APC California DFPI Debt Collector License # 10059-99
James MacLeod (249145) Christina C. MacLeod (283945) 9619 Chesapeake Dr. Suite 210 San Diego, CA 92123 8585-974-7600
Date: (Fecha) 02/26/2025 By: /s/ Michael Powell, Clerk (Secretario); Matthew Zepeda Money, Deputy (Adjunto)
February 12, 19, 26, & March 5, 2026
T.S. No. 141478-CA APN: 053-263-067
NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNER: YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST, DATED 3/1/2017. UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY, IT MAY BE SOLD AT A PUBLIC SALE. IF YOU NEED AN EXPLANATION OF THE NATURE OF THE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU, YOU SHOULD CONTACT A LAWYER On 3/24/2026 at 9:00 AM, CLEAR RECON CORP, as duly appointed trustee under and pursuant to Deed of Trust recorded 3/23/2017 as Instrument No. 2017012785 of Official Records in the office of the County Recorder of San Luis Obispo County, State of CALIFORNIA executed by: MERLE A. MORIARTY- RODERS, AN UNMARRIED WOMAN WILL SELL AT PUBLIC AUCTION TO HIGHEST BIDDER FOR CASH, CASHIER’S CHECK DRAWN ON A STATE OR NATIONAL BANK, A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, OR A CHECK DRAWN BY A STATE OR FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, SAVINGS ASSOCIATION, OR SAVINGS BANK SPECIFIED IN SECTION 5102 OF THE FINANCIAL CODE AND AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSINESS IN THIS STATE; IN THE BREEZWAY FACING SANTA ROSA STREET, COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO GENERAL SERVICES BUILDING, 1087 SANTA ROSA ST, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93408 all right, title and interest conveyed to and now held by it under said Deed of Trust in the property situated in said County and State described as: MORE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED IN SAID DEED OF TRUST. The street address and other common designation, if any, of the real property described above is purported to be: 67 CONTENTA CT, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address and other common designation, if any, shown herein. Said sale will be held, but without covenant or warranty, express or implied, regarding title, possession, condition, or encumbrances, including fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee and of the trusts created by said Deed of Trust, to pay the remaining principal sums of the note(s) secured by said Deed of Trust. The total amount of the unpaid balance of the obligation secured by the property to be sold and reasonable estimated costs, expenses and advances at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale is: $238,615.08 If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any rea-
son, the successful bidder’s sole and exclusive remedy shall be the return of monies paid to the Trustee, and the successful bidder shall have no further recourse. The beneficiary under said Deed of Trust heretofore executed and delivered to the undersigned a written Declaration of Default and Demand for Sale, and a written Notice of Default and Election to Sell. The undersigned or its predecessor caused said Notice of Default and Election to Sell to be recorded in the county where the real property is located. NOTICE TO POTENTIAL BIDDERS: If you are considering bidding on this property lien, you should understand that there are risks involved in bidding at a trustee auction. You will be bidding on a lien, not on the property itself. Placing the highest bid at a trustee auction does not automatically entitle you to free and clear ownership of the property. You should also be aware that the lien being auctioned off may be a junior lien. If you are the highest bidder at the auction, you are or may be responsible for paying off all liens senior to the lien being auctioned off, before you can receive clear title to the property. You are encouraged to investigate the existence, priority, and size of outstanding liens that may exist on this property by contacting the county recorder’s office or a title insurance company, either of which may charge you a fee for this information. If you consult either of these resources, you should be aware that the same lender may hold more than one mortgage or deed of trust on the property. NOTICE TO PROPERTY
OWNER: The sale date shown on this notice of sale may be postponed one or more times by the mortgagee, beneficiary, trustee, or a court, pursuant to Section 2924g of the California Civil Code. The law requires that information about trustee sale postponements be made available to you and to the public, as a courtesy to those not present at the sale. If you wish to learn whether your sale date has been postponed, and, if applicable, the rescheduled time and date for the sale of this property, you may call (855) 313-3319 or visit this Internet website www.clearreconcorp.com, using the file number assigned to this case 141478CA. Information about postponements that are very short in duration or that occur close in time to the scheduled sale may not immediately be reflected in the telephone information or on the Internet Web site. The best way to verify postponement information is to attend the scheduled sale. NOTICE TO TENANT: Effective January 1, 2021, you may have a right to purchase this property after the trustee auction pursuant to Section 2924m of the California Civil Code. If you are an “eligible tenant buyer,” you can purchase the property if you match the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. If you are an “eligible bidder,” you may be able to purchase the property if you exceed the last and highest bid placed at the trustee auction. There are three steps to exercising this right of purchase. First, 48 hours after the date of the trustee sale, you can call (855) 313-3319, or visit this internet website www.clearreconcorp. com, using the file number assigned to this case 141478-CA to find the date on which the trustee’s sale was held, the amount of the last and highest bid, and the address of the trustee. Second, you must send a written notice of intent to place a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 15 days after the trustee’s sale. Third, you must submit a bid so that the trustee receives it no more than 45 days after the trustee’s sale. If you think you may qualify as an “eligible tenant buyer” or “eligible bidder,” you should consider contacting an attorney or appropriate real estate professional immediately for advice regarding this potential right to purchase. FOR SALES INFORMATION: (855) 313-3319 CLEAR RECON CORP 3333 Camino Del Rio South, Suite 225 San Diego, California 92108
February 19, 26, & March 5, 2026
NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Paso Robles Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following project:
Project Description:
Amendment to Chapter 21.52 of the Paso Robles Municipal Code to update standards related to “Temporary Signs”, “Prohibited Signs”, “Nonconforming Signs”, and other minor text modifications (RZN25-07, P25-0117).
Applicant: City of Paso Robles
Location: Citywide
CEQA Determination:
The proposed ordinance is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not qualify as a “project” under CEQA. State CEQA Guidelines §15060(c) provides that “[a]n activity is not subject to CEQA if … the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378.” Even if the proposed ordinance is considered a “project” subject to CEQA, it is categorically exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15320 (Class 20).
Hearing Date:
The Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on March 10, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Norris Room, Centennial Park, 600 Nickerson Drive, Paso Robles, CA 93446.
The public has the option to attend the meeting in person or to participate remotely. To participate remotely, residents can livestream the meeting at www.prcity.com/youtube, and call (805)865-7276 to provide live public comment via telephone.
The phone line will open just prior to the start of the meeting.
Written public comments can be submitted via email to planning@prcity.com or US Mail (submit early) to the City Clerk, 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446 provided that the comments are received prior to the time of the public hearing. Comments received prior to 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting will be posted as an addendum to the agenda. If submitting written comments, please note the agenda item by number or name. Comments on the proposed application must be received prior to the time of the hearing to be considered by the Planning Commission.
Challenge to the application in court will be limited to issues raised at the public hearings or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Copies of the project staff report will be available for review on the City’s website (www.prcity.com/meetings) on the Friday preceding the hearing. If you have any questions, please contact the Community Development Department at (805) 237-3970.
February 26, 2026
NOTICE OF PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Paso Robles Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing to consider the following project:
Project Description:
Request for approval of a time extension of the entitlements associated with Planned Development 22-20, Vesting Tentative Parcel Map 22-0054, Conditional Use Permit 23-14, and Oak Tree Removal 23-11, to allow the construction of six (6) commercial/light industrial buildings on a 14-acre property, with a total building floor plan of 240,327 ft2. The project also includes removal of six (6) oak trees. (PD22-20, PR22-0054, OTR23-11, CUP23-14).
Applicant: Covelop, Inc.
Location:
2930 Union Road (APN: 025-362-043)
CEQA Determination: The project is consistent with the approved environmental document.
Hearing Date:
The Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing on March 10, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. in the Norris Room at Centennial Park (600 Nickerson Drive, Paso Robles, CA, 93446).
The public has the option to attend the meeting in person or to participate remotely. To participate remotely, residents can livestream the meeting at www.prcity.com/youtube, and call (805)865-7276 to provide live public comment via telephone. The phone line will open just prior to the start of the meeting.
Written public comments can be submitted via email to planning@prcity.com or US Mail (submit early) to the Community Development Department, 1000 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446 provided that the comments are received prior to the time of the public hearing. Comments received prior to 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting will be posted as an addendum to the agenda. If submitting written comments, please note the agenda item by number or name. Comments on the proposed application must be received prior to the time of the hearing to be considered by the Planning Commission.
Challenge to the application in court will be limited to issues raised at the public hearings or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Copies of the project staff report will be available for review on the City’s website (www.prcity.com/meetings) on the Friday preceding the hearing. If you have any questions, please contact the Community Development Department at (805) 237-3970.
February 26, 2026
3.21.120
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 693
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Atascadero City Council has adopted Ordinance No. 693 The primary provisions of the Ordinance are as follows:
This Ordinance repeals Title 8 (Building Regulations) and replaces Title 8 to adopt and amend the latest editions of The Construction and Fire Codes, and adopt findings of facts to support the imposition of requirements greater than the requirements established by or pursuant to the California Building Standards Code.
The Ordinance was passed and adopted by the City Council on February 24, 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members, Funk, Newsom, Peek, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz and Mayor Bourbeau. NOES: None.
Council Members, Funk, Newsom, Peek, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz and Mayor Bourbeau. None.
ABSENT: None
None
A complete copy of the Ordinance is on file in the City Clerk’s Office, 6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, California
DATED: February 24, 2026
S/ Alyssa Slater, Deputy City Clerk
PUBLISH: February 26, 2026
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 692
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Atascadero City Council has adopted Ordinance No. 692 The primary provisions of the Ordinance are as follows:
This Ordinance repeals and replaces Chapter 7 (Fire Code) of Title 4 Public Safety Code of the Atascadero Municipal Code. The Ordinance was passed and adopted by the City Council on February 24, 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members, Funk, Newsom, Peek, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz and Mayor Bourbeau. NOES: None.
Council Members, Funk, Newsom, Peek, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz and Mayor Bourbeau. None.
ABSENT: None
None
A complete copy of the Ordinance is on file in the City Clerk’s Office, 6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, California
DATED: February 24, 2026
S/ Alyssa Slater, Deputy City Clerk PUBLISH: February 26, 2026
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, March 19, 2026 (“Bid Deadline”), for the following public works project:
KATCHO ACHADJIAN GOVERNMENT CENTER (KAGC)
2ND LEVEL T.I. & REMODEL
CONTRACT NO. 350176
Bids will be opened and declared by the County ClerkRecorder 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/centralservices/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 B 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.
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 3rd day of February 2026.
END OF NOTICE TO BIDDERS February 26, 2026
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, March 26, 2026 (“Bid Deadline”), for the following public works project:
METAL BEAM GUARDRAIL UPGRADES FY 2023-24
CONTRACT NO. 300689
Bids will be opened and declared by the County ClerkRecorder 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/centralservices/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.
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
February 26, 2026
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIONS
Applications to make minor changes to the properties at the addresses listed below have been received by the City.
1. 1630 El Caserio Ct. DIR-0041-2026; Review of a Homestay Rental application to allow short-term rental (such as Airbnb) of one bedroom within an owner-occupied residence. This project is categorically exempt from environmental review (CEQA); R-1 Zone; Shawn Greenelsh, applicant. (Mallory Patino)
2. 480 Pismo St. DIR-0083-2026; Request for a minor addition to a nonconforming residence, a portion of which will continue an existing nonconforming setback of two feet from the northeast side property line.
The project is categorically exempt from environmental review (CEQA); R-3 Zone; Bill Schons, applicant. (Eva Wynn)
3. San Luis Dr., Johnson Ave., Ella St., and Emily St. DIR-0098-2026; Review of a request to perform work at night for a maximum of twentyfive (25) nights between June 1 – August 31, 2026 from the hours of 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. to drill through asphalt to reach top of soil. This project is categorically exempt from environmental review (CEQA); PF, O, O-S, R-1, R-2, R-2-S, R-3, C-R-SF Zone; SoCal Gas, applicant. (Mallory Patino)
The Community Development Director will either approve or deny these applications no sooner than March 9, 2026.
The Director’s decision may be appealed, and must be filed with the appropriate appeal fee within 10 days of the Director’s action. For more information, contact the City of San Luis Obispo Community Development Department, 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, stop by Monday and Wednesday between 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., or call (805) 781-7170, weekdays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. February 26, 2026
PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
The San Luis Obispo Planning Commission will hold a Regular Meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. Meetings may be viewed on Government Access Channel 20 or streamed live from the City’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/CityofSanLuisObispo. Public comment, prior to the start of the meeting, may be submitted in writing via U.S. Mail delivered 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:
• Re-review of an existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a fraternity. The CUP was previously reviewed and approved by the City Council in 2024. Due to recent citations, the CUP is being referred to the Planning Commission for a re-review. Re-review of the CUP is exempt from environmental review (CEQA); Project Address: 1264 and 1264 ½ East Foothill Blvd. and 1241, 1243, 1249, and 1251 Monte Vista Place; Case #: USE-0331-2023, APPL0365-2024, MOD-0029-2026; Zone: R-4; Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity, applicant.
• Re-review of an existing Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a fraternity. The CUP was previously reviewed and approved by the City Council in 1983 and re-reviewed and approved by Planning Commission in 2024. Due to recent citations, the CUP is being referred to the Planning Commission for a re-review. Re-review of the CUP is exempt from environmental review (CEQA); Project Address: 280 California; Case #: U1099, USE-0625-2024, MOD-0036-2026; Zone: R-4; Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity, applicant.
• Review of an appeal of the Community Development Director’s decision to approve a Minor Development Review application with an exception to a Hillside Development Standard for a multifamily residential project at 920 & 930 Rachel Court (ARCH-0529-2024, APPL-0027-2026). The project is exempt from environmental review under Section 15332 (In-Fill Development) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); Project Address: 920 & 930 Rachel Court; Case #: APPL-0027-2026, ARCH-0529-2024; Zone: R-2; Mike McCormick, appellant; Brian Rolph, applicant.
The Planning Commission may also discuss other hearing or business items before or after the item(s) listed above. If you challenge the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Planning Commission at, or prior to, the public hearing.
Report(s) are typically available six days 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/agendasand-minutes. Please call The Community Development Department at (805) 781-7170 for more information, or to request an agenda report. The Planning Commission meeting will be televised live on Charter Cable Channel 20 and live streaming on the City’s YouTube channel www. youtube.com/CityofSanLuisObispo. February 26, 2026
WHO County of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission
WHEN Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM: All items are advertised for 9:00 AM. To verify agenda placement, please call the Department of Planning & Building at (805) 781-5600.
WHAT
Hearing to consider a request by APC Towers for a Conditional Use Permit (N-DRC2024-00019) to allow the construction of telecommunications and public utility facility, consisting of (1) 132’ high faux eucalyptus tree, with (9) single panel antennas, (6) Remote Radio Units (RRUS), (1) three-foot microwave antenna, (2) utility trenches, (1) metering utility on new 4 inch concrete pad, (1) community fiber vault, (1) eight inch high concrete masonry block wall with steel topper, (1) equipment cabinet, (1) battery cabinet. The proposed project is within the Residential Rural Land Use category and is located at 1389 Dawn Rd. The subject property is within the South County sub-area of the South County planning area.
Also to be considered is the environmental determination. This project is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. It can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that this project may have a significant effect on the environment; therefore, the activity is not subject to CEQA.
County File Number: N-DRC2024-00019
Supervisorial District: District 4
Assessor Parcel Number(s): 091-232-076, -077
Date Accepted: 12/17/2025
WHERE
The hearing will be held in the Katcho Achadjian Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers 1055 Monterey Street, Room #D170, San Luis Obispo, CA. The Board of Supervisors Chambers are located on the corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets. At the meeting all interested persons may express their views for or against, or to change the proposal.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A copy of the staff report will be made available on the Planning Department website at www.sloplanning.org. You may also contact Samantha Kinney, Project Manager, in the Department of Planning and Building at the address below or by telephone at 805-781- 5600.
Ysabel Eighmy
Secretary Planning Commission February 26, 2026
COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & BUILDING PLANNING COMMISSION WHO County of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission WHEN Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 9:00 AM: All items are advertised for 9:00 AM. To verify agenda placement, please call the Department of Planning & Building at (805) 781-5600.
WHAT (Continued from January 22, 2026) Hearing to consider a request by Bonaire Investments for a Minor Use Permit/Coastal Development Permit (C-DRC2023-00032) and Vesting Tentative Parcel Map CO 23-0024 (C-SUB2024-00002) to construct and operate a 12-unit hotel project. The project includes construction of two, two-story hotel buildings consisting of six (6) extended-stay units per building. The project includes a total of eight (8) two-bedroom hotel units and four (4) single-bedroom hotel units. The project proposes 16 dedicated parking spaces, a trash enclosure, roof mounted solar panels for each unit, walkways, and landscaping. The project proposes a parking modification request. The proposed project is located at 1319 Van Beurden Drive in the community of Los Osos and is in the Commercial Retail land use categories within the Estero Planning Area of the Coastal Zone. Also to be considered is the environmental determination. The Environmental Coordinator finds that the previously certified Final Environmental Impact Reports (FEIRs) (SCH # 2015031090 and SCH # 2013091071) are adequate for the purposes of compliance with CEQA. County File Number: C-DRC2023-00032
WHERE The hearing will be held in the Katcho Achadjian Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers 1055 Monterey Street, Room #D170, San Luis Obispo, CA. The Board of Supervisors Chambers are located on the corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets. At the meeting all interested persons may express their views for or against, or to change the proposal.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
A copy of the staff report will be made available on the Planning Department website at www.sloplanning.org. You may also contact Jeremy Freund, Project Manager, in the Department of Planning and Building at the address below or by telephone at 805-781-5621.
COASTAL APPEALABLE
If the County approves this project, that action may be eligible for appeal to the California Coastal
DATE: Tuesday, March 24, 2026
TIME: 6:00 p.m.
PLACE: City of Atascadero Council Chambers 6500 Palma Avenue Atascadero, CA 93422
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Atascadero will hold a PUBLIC HEARING in-person at the time and place indicated above to consider a Zone Change amending PD09 to allow a carwash use, a Lot Line Adjustment, and a Conditional Use Permit amending the Home Depot Center Master Plan of Development (200014) to allow a drive-through restaurant, carwash, and commercial building at 805, 910, 920, and 940 El Camino Real (APNs 049-045-036, 049-045-034, 049-045-033, and 049-045-035). Zoning code modifications are requested to allow reduced driveway spacing and a parking reduction. The proposed project qualifies for a Class 32 categorical exemption from the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (California Public Resources Code §§ 21000, et seq., “CEQA”) and CEQA Guidelines (Title 14 California Code of Regulations §§ 15000, et seq.) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, which exempts infill development projects. (USE25-0069).
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that if a challenge to the above action is made in court, persons may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.
ALL INTERESTED PERSONS are invited to attend inperson and will be given an opportunity to speak in favor of, or opposition to, the above-proposed project. Written comments are also accepted by the City Clerk, prior to the hearing at 6500 Palma Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422 or cityclerk@atascadero.org and will be distributed to the City Council. Written public comments must be received by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Email comments must identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of the email. Written comments will not be read into the record. Information regarding the hearing is filed in the Community Development Department. If you have any questions, please call Planning Services or visit the office at 6500 Palma Ave., by appointment only, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. All documents related to the project will be available for review on the City’s website 72 hours prior to the public hearing at www.atascadero.org/ agendas.
DATED: February 20, 2026
S/ K Gleason, Planning Manager
PUBLISH: February 26, 2026
SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 26-01
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, February 23, 2026, the City Council of the City of Grover Beach adopted an Ordinance entitled:
ORDINANCE NO. 26-01
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA AMENDING CHAPTER 50 (WATER) OF TITLE V (PUBLIC WORKS) OF THE GROVER BEACH MUNICPAL CODE TO ADD SECTIONS 50.030 THROUGH 50.039 PERTAINING TO CROSSCONNECTIONS CONTROL AND INSPECTIONS
This Ordinance will Amend Chapter 50 (Water) of Title V (Public Works) of the Grover Beach Municipal Code (GBMC) to add sections 50.030 through 50.039 pertaining to Cross Connection Controls and inspections.
The full text of the Ordinance is on file in the City Clerk’s Office, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, California, or a copy may be obtained from the office for a nominal charge.
The City Council conducted first reading at the Regular City Council meeting on February 10, 2026. Second reading and adoption of the Ordinance was conducted at the Regular City Council meeting on February 23, 2026 on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members – McCorry-Driscoll, Tuggle, Weirick, Mayor Pro Tem Robert and Mayor Dee
NOES: Council Members – None
ABSENT: Council Members – None
ABSTAIN: Council Members – None
/s/ KASSI DEE, MAYOR
Attest: /s/ WENDI SIMS, CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO FORM: /s/ Jennifer Thompson, City Attorney
/s/ Wendi B. Sims, City Clerk
Dated: Thursday, February 26, 2026
San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission
1042 Pacific Street, Suite A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Telephone: (805)781-5795
Notice of Public Hearing –March 19, 2026 at 9:00 AM Board of Supervisors Chambers County Government Center 1055 Monterey Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93408
Hearing Item: Intent to Adopt a Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Study for the Independence Ranch Community Services District | LAFCO File No. 2-S-25
Hearing Notice: Notice is hereby given that the San Luis Obispo Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) will consider adopting the Municipal Service Review (MSR) and Sphere of Influence (SOI) Study for the Independence Ranch Community Services District. The MSR evaluates the District’s capability to service existing and future residents and is the basis for SOI decisions. A SOI is defined by Government Code Section 56425 as a plan for the probable physical boundary and service area of a local agency or municipality. The existing SOI is approximately 776 acres beyond the service area boundary and is proposed to be reaffirmed. It has been determined that the MSR and SOI Study is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Categorical Exemption Section 15306 and CEQA General Rule Exemption Section 15061(b) (3). MSR and SOI factors listed in Government Code Sections 56430(a) and 56425(e) have been analyzed, and determinations have been provided within the Public Review Draft.
Hearing Item: Intent to Adopt a Municipal Service Review and Sphere of Influence Study for the Port San Luis Harbor District | LAFCO File No. 8-S-25
Notice was previously given on February 19, 2026, stating that this item would be considered at the March 19, 2026, hearing. This notice was provided 30 days in advance of the hearing date to allow additional time for public review due to proposed SOI changes.
The notice and the Public Review Drafts for all of the above are currently available on the LAFCO website https://slo.lafco. ca.gov/. The Staff Reports will be available on the LAFCO website by Thursday, March 12, 2026. You may submit comments via email to mmorris@slo.lafco.ca.gov, mail written comments to 1042 Pacific St, Ste. A, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, or provide public comment in person during the public hearing.
If you have questions, please contact: LAFCO 805-781-5795 or mmorris@slo.lafco.ca.gov
February 26, 2026
CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE CITY COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Arroyo Grande City Council will conduct a public hearing in the Arroyo Grande City Council Chambers located at 215 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 on TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., or soon thereafter, to consider the following item:
Consideration of Development Code Amendments Regarding the Implementation of Housing Element Programs. The City Council will consider introducing the proposed amendments to the Arroyo Grande Municipal Code (AGMC) which would expand the allowed used in the Traffic Way Mixed Use district and increase the maximum density in the Gateway, Fair Oaks, and Office Mixed-Use districts.
In compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the Community Development Department has determined that the proposed AGMC amendments are exempt from CEQA pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.085, which exempts rezoning actions that implement programs contained in an approved housing element
This City Council meeting is being conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format. During the public hearing, public comment will be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker, pursuant to current meeting procedure. The City Council may also discuss other hearings or business items before or after the item listed above. If you challenge the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City Council at, or prior to, the public hearing. Failure of any person to receive the notice shall not constitute grounds for any court to invalidate the action of the legislative body for which the notice was given.
Documents related to the project are available in the Community Development Department located at 300 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande. The Agenda and reports are posted online at www.arroyogrande.org 72 hours prior to the meeting. Please call (805) 473-5420 for more information. The City Council meeting will be televised live on Charter Cable Channel 20 and streamed live on the City’s Website
/s/ Jessica Matson, City Clerk February 26, 2026
Free Will Astrology by Rob Brezsny
Homework: What’s the most taboo thing you want? Can you make it any less taboo? Newsletter.freewillastrology.com
ARIES
(March 21-April 19): In woodworking, “spalting” occurs when fungi colonize wood, creating dark lines and patterns that make the wood more valuable, not less. The decay creates beauty as long as it isn’t allowed to progress too far. Here’s the metaphorical moral of the story for you, Aries: What feels like a deteriorating situation might actually be spalting, Aries. Are you experiencing the breakdown of a routine, a certainty, or a plan? It could be creating a pattern that makes your story even more interesting and heroic. So keep in mind that an apparent decomposition may be transforming ordinary into extraordinary beauty. My advice is to play along with the spalting.
TAURUS
(April 20-May 20): I suspect you will soon be invited to explore novel feelings and unfamiliar states of awareness. As you wander in the psychological frontiers, you might experience mysterious phenomena like the following. 1. An overflow of reverence and awe. 2. Blissful surprise in the face of the sublime. 3. Sudden glimmers of eternity in fleeting moments. 4. A soft, golden resonance that arises when you hear arousing truths. 5. Amazingly useful questions that could tantalize and feed your imagination for months and even years to come.
GEMINI
(May 21-June 20): If I were your mentor, I’d lead you up an ascending trail to a high peak where your vision is clear and vast. If I were your leader, I’d give you a medal for all the ways you’ve been brave when no one was looking, then send you on an all-expenses-paid sabbatical to a beautiful sanctuary to rest and remember yourself. If I were your therapist, I’d guide you through a 90-minute meditation on your entire life story up until now. But since I’m just your companion for this brief oracle, I will instead advise you to slip out of any silken snares of comfort that dull your spirit, cast off perks and privileges that keep you small, and commune with influences that remind you of how deeply you treasure being alive.
CANCER
(June 21-July 22): Biologist Barbara McClintock won the Nobel Prize by developing what she called “a feeling for the organism.” She cultivated an intimate, almost empathic relationship with the corn plants she studied. She didn’t impose theories on her subjects. She listened to them until she could sense their hidden patterns from the inside. When you’re not lost in self-protection, you Cancerians excel at this quality of attention. Here’s what I see as your task in the coming weeks: Transfer your empathic genius away from people who drain you and toward projects, places, or problems that deserve your devotion and give you blessings in return.
LEO
(July 23-Aug. 22): Sufi writers describe heartbreak, grief, and longing as portals through which divine love enters. They say that a highly defended ego and a hardened heart can’t engage with such profound and potent love. In this view, suffering that makes the heart ache strips away illusions and fixations, allowing greater receptivity, humility, and tenderness toward all beings. I’m not expecting you to get blasted by an influx of poignancy in the near future, Leo, but I’m very sure you have experienced such blasts in the past. And now is an excellent time to process those old breakthroughs disguised as breakdowns. You are likely to finally be able to harvest the full power they offered you.
VIRGO
(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): In traditional Balinese culture, Tri Hita Karana is a concept that means there are three causes of well-being: harmony with God, harmony with people, and harmony with nature. When one is out of balance, all suffer. I’m wondering if you would benefit from meditating on this theme now, Virgo. Have you been focused on one dimension at the expense of the others? Are you, perhaps, spiritually nourished but socially isolated? Or maybe you’re maintaining relationships but ignoring your body’s connection to the earth? Here’s your assignment: Do a Tri Hita Karana audit. Which
harmony is most neglected? Add to your altar, call a friend, or go walk in the great outdoors—whichever one you’ve been shortchanging.
LIBRA
(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): You are a diplomat in the struggle between beauty and inelegance. Your aptitude for creating harmony is a great asset that others might underestimate or miss completely. I hope you will always trust your hunger for classiness even if others dismiss it as superficial. One of your key reasons for being here on earth is to keep insisting on loveliness in a world too quick to settle for ugliness. These qualities of yours are especially needed right now. Please be gracefully insistent on expressing them wherever you go.
SCORPIO
(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The bad news: You underestimate how much joy and pleasure you deserve—and how much you’re capable of experiencing. This artificially low expectation has sometimes cheated you out of your rightful share of bliss and fulfillment. The good news: Life is now ready to conspire with you to raise your happiness levels. I hope you will cooperate eagerly. The more intensely you insist on feeling good, the more cosmic assistance you will garner. Here’s a smart way to launch this holy campaign: Renounce a certain lackluster thrill that diverts you from more lavish excitements.
SAGITTARIUS
(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In classical music, a “rest” isn’t the absence of music. It’s a specific notation that creates space, tension, and meaning. The silence is as much a part of the composition as the sound. I suggest you think of your current pause this way, Sagittarius. You’re not waiting for your real life to resume. You’re in a rest, and the rest is an essential part of the process you’re following. It’s creating the conditions for what comes next. So instead of anxiously filling every moment with productivity or distraction, try honoring the pause. Be deliberately quiet. Let the silence accumulate. When the next movement begins, you’ll understand exactly why the rest was necessary.
CAPRICORN
(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Interesting temptations are wandering into your orbit. You may be surprised to find yourself drawn toward entertaining gambles and tricky adventures. How should you respond? Should you say “Yes! Now! I’m ready!”? Or is openminded caution a wiser approach? Conditions are too slippery for me to arrive at definitive conclusions. What I can tell you is this: Merely considering and ruminating on these invitations will awaken uplifting and inspiring lessons. PS: To get the fullness of the blessings you want from other people, you must first give them to yourself.
AQUARIUS
(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): The engineer Nikola Tesla (1856-1943) said he envisioned his inventions in intricate detail before building them. He didn’t need literal prototypes because his mental pictures were so vivid. I suspect you Aquarians now have extra access to this power. What scenarios are you dreaming of? What are you incubating in your imagination? I urge you to boldly trust your thought experiments. Your mental prototypes may be unusually accurate. The visions you’re testing internally are reconnaissance missions to futures that you have the power to build. Regard your imagination as a laboratory.
PISCES
(Feb. 19-March 20): Sufi mystics tell us that the heart has “seven levels of depth,” each one bearing progressively more profound wisdom. You access these depths by feeling deeper, not thinking harder. Let’s apply this perspective to you, Pisces. Right now, you’re being called to descend past surface emotions (irritation, worry, mild contentment) into the layers beneath: primal wonder, the wild joy you’re sometimes too cautious to express, and the sacred longing that can lead you to glory. This dive might feel risky. That’s good! It means you’re going deep enough. What you discover down there will reorganize everything above it for the better. ∆
