New TImes, May 7, 2026

Editor’s note

The tribe—that’s you, dear readers—has made its final decision about the businesses, organizations, and people who make the community shine. Only those who have outserved, outshone, and outsmarted the rest to become the best are included in this issue. As part of the season 40 finale, take a gander through the sole survivors of our annual Best of SLO County readers poll [19]

In addition, read about the state’s look into the end of a Morro Bay offshore wind lease [4]; a book written by a Creston parent to help others understand her son [98]; and a meatless meetup for vegetarians and vegans to create community [105]

Camillia Lanham editor

cover image and design by Alex Zuniga

by Leni Litonjua

SUSANNAH BROWN

FORSTATEASSEMBLY

RESULTSTHATMATTER

RESULTS THAT MATTER

California investigates $120M Morro Bay wind lease exit

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is investigating a federal agreement with Golden State Wind that allows the developer to walk away from a major offshore wind project off the coast of Morro Bay.

On May 4, the CEC issued an administrative investigative subpoena to Golden State Wind LLC seeking documents and communications related to the company’s agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior to relinquish its offshore wind lease. The deal allows the company to recover about $120 million in lease fees—after originally paying roughly $150 million—if it invests an equal amount in oil and gas assets, infrastructure, or projects along the Gulf Coast.

In a letter accompanying the subpoena, the CEC said it is examining the “premature relinquishment of the lease” and “potential violations of law in connection with offshore wind lease buyouts.”

The Interior Department announced the agreement on April 27, stating that “Golden State Wind has committed to voluntarily end its offshore wind lease” and would be eligible to recover “approximately $120 million in lease fees” under those conditions. The company has also indicated it does not plan to pursue additional offshore wind projects in the United States.

The lease, awarded in December 2022 through a competitive auction conducted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, covers roughly 80,000 acres in federal waters off Morro Bay. The project had been expected to generate “up to 2 gigawatts (GW) of clean offshore wind energy” and help California meet its goal of 100 percent clean electricity by 2045.

Instead, the CEC said the buyout threatens to unravel years of planning and investment and lacks legal precedent.

According to the subpoena, California has spent more than $100 million preparing for offshore wind development, including funding port upgrades, transmission planning, and new technologies. Those investments, the CEC said, were made “in reliance on commitments by Golden

State Wind and other companies.”

The agency added that the company’s financial commitments—covering workforce training, supply chain development, and community benefits— “must be paid back if the company forfeits its lease.”

CEC Chair David Hochschild criticized the agreement in a statement, saying, “The Trump administration is recklessly spending billions of taxpayer dollars on backroom deals that would turn back the clock on innovation. Californians deserve immediate answers about the nature of this payout. Taxpayer dollars should be used to build a sustainable energy future, not to pay to make projects disappear.”

The subpoena requires Golden State Wind to turn over extensive records, including internal communications, correspondence with federal officials, and documents related to negotiations over the lease cancellation. It also seeks materials related to potential litigation, coordination with other developers, and any national security considerations tied to the project.

In a separate letter, the office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta notified the company that the state anticipates potential litigation involving the federal government and parties to

similar lease buyouts. The letter emphasized that such agreements could impact California’s energy needs and offshore wind programs.

As part of that notice, the state issued a litigation hold, requiring Golden State Wind to preserve all relevant records.

“Once a party reasonably anticipates litigation, it must take steps to preserve relevant evidence,” the notice states.

The directive instructs the company to suspend routine document destruction and retain all hardcopy and electronic materials, including emails, text messages, and archived data. Failure to comply could constitute “spoliation of evidence,” potentially resulting in legal sanctions.

“I am outraged by this backwards decision to sabotage the Morro Bay Wind Energy Area,” U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) said in an April 28 statement. “The projects strengthened our energy security, boosted local economic growth, and advanced important environmental protections. Because of a bizarre personal vendetta against wind energy, Donald Trump’s administration is turning a historic opportunity into a historic failure.”

—Chloë Hodge

County Board of Supervisors again stops Nipomo mobile home park from hiking rent

Controversial mobile home park management company Harmony Communities’ second attempt

to raise the rent at a Nipomo mobile home park was knocked down by the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors at its May 5 meeting. Following rent increase requests for Buena Vista Mobile Home Park and Cambria’s Oak Terrace mobile home park in 2024, which were rejected by the Mobilehome Rent Review Board and the Board

of Supervisors in 2025, Harmony again asked the rent review board to approve a rent hike in October 2025.

“Staff’s interpretation forces the owner’s realdollar profit to shrink by 40 percent of the inflation rate every year, indefinitely,” Buena Vista attorney

Jason Dilday wrote to the review board. “This erosion is already evident: Owner’s 2024 net profit is nearly $3,000 less than its 2012 net profit, despite the application of general adjustments.”

Harmony—on behalf of Buena Vista— requested a rent increase of $99.53 per month for each of the 42 month-to-month rental spaces at the Nipomo mobile home park. That’s an average rent increase of 22 percent per rental.

The rent review board shot down the request in January 2026, and the Stocktonbased Buena Vista LLP appealed that decision to the Board of Supervisors. The supervisors unanimously upheld the review board’s rejection at the May 5 meeting.

Deputy Auditor-Controller Michael Stevens told supervisors that they must determine whether the review board correctly applied Title 25 when it rejected the rent increase application.

Establishing mobile home rent stabilization for unincorporated parts of the county, Title 25 is the 40-year-old ordinance meant to protect both owners and occupants. Title 25 allows mobile home park owners to increase rents to an annual inflation adjustment up to 60 percent of the consumer price index for that year.

Beyond that, the ordinance also provides park owners with a hardship option. But the hardship process is narrow in scope and limited to justifying extraordinary expenses or unavoidable cost increases that prevent parks from achieving a fair return.

Stevens told supervisors that Buena Vista’s appeal primarily challenges how Title 25 addresses inflation and fair return.

“They are claiming that the [review board] and staff have misrepresented the ordinance issue,” he said. “The applicant claims that the county improperly treats the 60 percent CPI adjustment as the only allowable inflation mechanism, preventing additional inflation adjustments under a hardship.”

The deputy auditor-controller clarified that multiple inflation adjustments aren’t authorized in the ordinance. Adding another inflation-based increase inside the hardship provision could result in two inflation adjustments instead of one. That duplication sidesteps the voter-approved inflation adjustment limit and would fundamentally distort Title 25’s design.

Buena Vista also updated its financial information for the rent increase request from 2023 data to 2024 data.

“That is notable since using the updated 2024 data resulted in a net operating income

increase by approximately 3 percent, which seems contradictory when the applicant is claiming continued profit erosion,” Stevens said.

The county staff report said that financial records showed Buena Vista’s net profit remained relatively stable. The park’s original base net profit fell from almost $125,000 in 2012 to a little over $121,000 in 2024— marking a roughly 2.4 percent decrease over 12 years.

“Courts have recognized that rent-setting decisions fall within a broad range of reasonableness, and that small variations in profitability do not render a rent control system unconstitutional,” the staff report said. “Here, the observed change in net income falls within that range and does not demonstrate that the applicant is being denied a fair return.”

Buena Vista and Harmony representatives were absent from the Board of Supervisors meeting.

In a letter to supervisors, Buena Vista tenant Jose Vidales urged the supervisors to uphold the review board’s rejection of the rent increase.

He pointed to income loss, his neighbors’ fixed incomes through retirement and disability benefits that struggle to keep with rising housing costs, and the escalating prices of basic necessities.

“Recent global events, including ongoing conflicts and resulting increases in oil prices, have significantly driven up the cost of essential goods and services such as transportation, utilities, and food,” Vidales wrote. “These rising costs have placed additional strain on my limited income and were not fully reflected in the evaluation of the hardship application.”

—Bulbul Rajagopal

Water concerns delay approval of San Miguelarea housing development

Groundwater concerns in the Paso Robles basin and questions over the durability of a decade-old environmental review stalled final approval of a proposed housing project near San Miguel, even as county supervisors rejected an appeal challenging the development.

On May 5, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors voted to deny an appeal of the River’s Edge project, a 43-acre development planned along the Salinas River that would add 190 residential, commercial, and open-space lots near San Miguel. While the appeal was turned down, supervisors delayed final approval until June 2, directing

staff to revise parts of the environmental record related to water supply and add new project conditions.

The appeal, filed by adjacent landowner Scott Raven, argued that the county improperly relied on a 2016 environmental impact report tied to the San Miguel Community Plan instead of requiring a new review under the California Environmental Quality Act. Raven contended that groundwater conditions and development assumptions have shifted significantly since the original analysis.

At the center of the dispute is the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, which remains classified as critically overdrafted. Raven’s attorney, Michael Noland, told the board the project’s environmental review does not adequately reflect those conditions.

“We believe that this analysis is incorrect because there are specific environmental effects that are subject to and generated by this project that should be considered as separate significant environmental effects,” Noland said.

He also pointed to what he described as a key change in groundwater policy since the 2016 report was certified, arguing the analysis relied on a now-expired offset requirement.

“At that point in time, there had to be the one-to-one ratio with regards to water capacity in order for the project to be approved,” Noland said.

Project applicant David Crabtree and his representatives rejected claims that the development would introduce new or unmitigated groundwater impacts, arguing instead that the project remains consistent with the assumptions already analyzed in the 2016 community plan environmental impact report [EIR].

“The project will not exceed the water demand estimate provided in the EIR,” planning consultant Pamela Giardini said.

She also noted that the project has received a conditional “will serve” letter from the San Miguel Community Services District and includes voluntary groundwater offset measures, including fallowing 65 acres of vineyard land.

Giardini said those measures would generate meaningful reductions in water use.

“That will give 73.55 acre-feet of offset and our maximum build-out would require 110 acre-feet of water per year and we’re at 281 residential units and—or I’m sorry—we are developing 181 residential units not 281,” she

said. “And so the total savings offset would be approximately 92 acre-feet a year.”

County staff sided with the project, concluding it remains consistent with the 2016 environmental analysis and does not create new or more severe impacts under state environmental law.

Eric Hughes of the Planning and Building Department said the original environmental review already accounted for full build-out of the community plan.

“The 2016 EIR did evaluate groundwater supply based on the full build-out of the community plan and concluded sufficient water supplies would be available to accommodate development,” Hughes said.

“There are no substantial changes to the project that would result in new or more severe water supply impacts.”

Still, some supervisors questioned whether reliance on the older document fully reflects current conditions in a basin still under stress.

Second District Supervisor Bruce Gibson said references in the environmental record to past offset requirements may need to be clarified to strengthen the project’s legal footing.

“I think you’ve got a significant problem in the EIR,” Gibson said. “I happen to agree with you that the total production of the San Miguel CSD relative to the production as the base of the basin as a whole is, is small. And I guess we could form an argument that it is an insignificant impact, but you still have a basin that as of right now is considered to be in overdraft and under the management of SGMA [Sustainable Groundwater Management Act].”

SLO County Groundwater Sustainability Director Blaine Reely provided broader context, noting that while the Paso Robles basin is designated critically overdrafted, conditions vary widely by location.

“We do track groundwater levels,” Reely said. “The groundwater levels have been relatively stable in that monitoring well for the last 15 years.”

He added that in the immediate project area, “We aren’t seeing a big indicator that water levels … are problematic.”

Supervisors opted to continue the item to June 2, directing staff to prepare an addendum addressing groundwater impacts, formalize proposed offset measures tied to vineyard fallowing, and include standard legal protections before a final vote.

—Chloë Hodge

Community gift

When Lumina Thrift opened toward the end of 2025 with a mission of helping fund an organization that supports locals facing intimate partner violence, survivors came into the store to donate items from their own homes.

“They were actually really joyful and so happy that they have an opportunity to give back based on the fact that they had gotten so much help from Lumina,” thrift store staff member Jeannie Carpenter said. “They were coming in and giving us everything that they didn’t need anymore and with such joy and such gratitude for everything, that it was just really lovely having the interactions with them.”

Fifty volunteers and five staff members make up the team at Lumina Thrift, a group that has stayed together with a shared mission of supporting the community.

“I’m not going anywhere. I love it here,” Carpenter said.

The team behind Lumina Thrift used to run The Hope Chest thrift store for Wilshire Health & Community Services. When Wilshire filed for bankruptcy last year, it was forced to close the thrift store.

With Lumina Alliance already looking to open a thrift store, Lumina Thrift manager Jenann McLennan said Lumina “adopted” them to open the store, with the first day of operation on Nov. 17, 2025.

“It’s been magical ever since,” McLennan said. “They’re just the best nonprofit, and they’re so sincere about

their values and character.”

Every purchase from Lumina Thrift supports local survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence by funding Lumina’s services, including transitional housing, emergency shelter, and therapy.

“To know that we are working with an organization that really honors the idea that all people matter and that they come first, people come first, human beings come first, is profoundly rewarding,” McLennan said. Clients of Lumina Alliance also qualify for a $50 voucher at the thrift store, where they can purchase clothing and items for their home.

In the boutique room, a chandelier hangs above racks of high-end clothing brands, sold at a fraction of retail price.

“You never know what you’re going to find when you come here,” McLennan said.

The bling room nearby features gold and silver jewelry, collector’s items, and dolls.

When they receive donations from the community, Lumina Thrift staffers view themselves as stewards of the gifts.

“It’s an honor to have them select us, and we want to honor what they give us and the memories they have and who they belong to and how hard they work to purchase those items to begin with,” she said.

McLennan, who’s worked in thrift stores supporting nonprofits for 16 years, said it’s all about people giving.

“What was really icing on the cake is the nonprofit aspect,” McLennan said. “Because, it’s wonderful to work with a purpose

and to know the purpose that you have is succeeding in terms of goals of supporting other people, making your community stronger, making your community better.”

McLennan said that secondhand shopping is growing by leaps and bounds and that younger generations are coming together to make thrifting a hugely successful business.

Lumina Alliance and the people behind it have given McLennan hope amid a time of negative news and world events.

“It gives me hope that there are people out there who care about others and who want to be part of the solution, not the problem, and who want to be proactive, not reactive, and who want to do what’s best for their neighbors,” McLennan said. “And I’m so grateful to be a part of that and to be

You make healing possible.

Healing takes a team. It’s the result of many people, many skills and many moments of humankindness coming together. Whether you support patients directly or work behind the scenes, your excellence, collaboration and dedication create a space of healing for the people and communities we serve.

To all of our nurses, hospital and clinic team members: thank you for all that you do.

Happy Nurses, Hospital & Clinic Week

Lumina Thrift in downtown San Luis Obispo receives donations from the community to sell in the store. All proceeds go toward the nonprofit Lumina Alliance, which runs programs to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.

surrounded by that because the opposite of that would be unacceptable.”

Fast fact

• The CSU Chancellor’s Office awarded Paso Robles Joint Unified School District a $30,000 grant to host an algebra institute this summer. The five-week academic enrichment program will serve roughly 60 incoming middle and high school students who will be nominated by their teachers based on academic readiness and potential, according to the district. The program will run Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon at Flamson Junior High from June 10 through July 10. Δ

Reach Intern Katy Clark at ntintern@ newtimesslo.com.

SLO County’s 2nd District needs a new voice

The 2nd District supervisor race between Michael Erin Woody and Jim Dantona has been a congenial exchange of ideas and visions. In these polarized times, it has been refreshing to consider local issues in a nonpartisan way and with respect between the candidates. Until now. This race is not between the far left and the far right, but between a chamber of commerce Democrat and a Harvardeducated local Native American Independent who has voted for Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, and one time, in 2016, for Donald Trump. Listening to both of them, it is clear that Mr. Woody is the more conservationist of the two, as he looks to how our actions will affect generations 100 years from now, retaining the uniqueness of this area rather than giving in to pressures to develop into another LA. He wants to protect our coast from further resource exploitation. He is accessible and approachable, a good listener, and does his homework.

Both candidates in this nonpartisan race are against offshore oil drilling and battery storage facilities on the coast, and both support diversity, the LGBTQ-plus community, and Planned Parenthood. Mr. Dantona supports offshore wind energy, and Mr. Woody does not, but it seemed they agreed on more than they disagreed on. And then on May 5, some in District 2 received a flyer in the mail from the Dantona campaign that changed everything. Using Trumpian tactics of misinformation and personal attacks, it portrayed Mr. Woody as a far-right-wing lunatic who is for offshore oil, guns in classrooms, and other crazy accusations, all cherry-picked and misconstrued from some 2018 internet searches. This flyer said much more about Mr. Dantona than it did about Mr. Woody. We need a new voice for our district, someone we can respect, who will actually listen, and who speaks the truth.

Patrick McGibney Baywood

Los Osos

already has plenty of parklands

I am writing to urge residents of Los Osos to vote no on Measure B-26 on June 2! No to more taxes, not for this limited purpose!

I support Julie Tacker’s opinion piece (“Los Osos residents should fund fire protection, not parks,” April 16) stating that tax funds should instead be used to 1) strengthen fire protection of Los Osos homes and the multiple parklands that surround our small city and 2) improve Los Osos’ quality and supply of water.

I count six internal parklands within our community that total 618 acres (Elfin Forest, 90 acres; Monarch Grove, 18 acres; Sweet Springs, 32 acres; Oaks Preserve, 85 acres; Los Osos Community Park, 4 acres; and the new Cuesta Inlet, 13 acres). The Morro Preserve includes another 286 acres. In addition, Montaña de Oro State Park is just 4 miles from the center of town and encompasses more than 8,000 acres.

I find Deborah Howe’s opinion letter

Tax funds should be reserved for our most important threats—fire and lack of water.

Barabara Bonifas, Los Osos

(“Pitting fire protection against parks is a false choice for Los Osos,” April 23) to be inflammatory and uninformed—to only count the smallest park of 4 acres and to omit 8,614 acres of parklands where all are free to walk, hike, and enjoy the outdoors. Spending limited tax funds to purchase an outdated school and remediate the grounds and buildings for CSD offices and recreational ball fields will not serve the full community wisely. It would prevent development, which the surrounding landowners reject. I suggest private landowners who are interested should purchase the school with their own funds

and create the recreational ball fields they believe are needed. Tax funds should be reserved for our most important threats—fire and lack of water.

Barbara Bonifas Los Osos

Educate yourself about the 2nd District candidates

On June 2, the coastal communities have a chance to choose a new county supervisor to represent Los Osos, Harmony, Cayucos, Cambria, and unincorporated areas in District 2. Bruce Gibson has held the position for 20 years.

Gibson has hand-picked his replacement, Jim Dantona, and has gone so far as making him his current legislative assistant so he can learn his agenda. That agenda has included some annoying stances that include denial of the water crisis in Los Osos and a push for new development here, support for offshore wind power and infrastructure, agreement to keep Diablo nuclear plant in business beyond its safe operating life, and other lackluster responses to multiple community needs.

Jim Dantona is a close friend and Cayucos neighbor to Bruce Gibson and appears to be able to follow his legacy and seems prepared to continue in his style.

Michael Erin Woody brings a fresh energy and understanding of our challenges because of his generational involvement along our coastline. He left the Republican Party six years ago and thinks in a nonpartisan way, looking at issues and solutions in a practical way.

Unlike the rumors being circulated that he’s a Republican in disguise and has a secret agenda to turn the board back to a 3-2 vote, Woody speaks clearly about advocating for our coastal region and its protection. He is experienced and has my vote.

Please listen to some of the debates. Google District 2 debates and decide who will best represent our communities into the future!

Linde Owen Los Osos

We need to do more to prevent tragedies caused by

older drivers

San Luis Obispo County has seen too many heartbreaking crashes involving older drivers—incidents that are rarely about recklessness and almost always about agerelated changes that make driving harder than people realize. In recent years, we’ve had seniors drive through storefronts, collide with pedestrians in crosswalks, and, most recently, run over a pedestrian in a parking lot. These are good, responsible neighbors who simply didn’t recognize how much their reaction time, depth perception, or cognitive processing had changed.

California’s current DMV renewal system does little to prevent these tragedies. A vision test and a form cannot measure whether someone can safely merge onto Highway 101, judge closing speeds on Grand Avenue, or react quickly when a child darts into a crosswalk near our schools. Families often see the warning signs—getting lost on familiar routes, new dents on the car, delayed responses at stoplights—but they lack clear guidance on what to do.

A responsible, evidence-based approach would protect both seniors and the public while preserving dignity and independence. California should adopt four straightforward reforms:

• Periodic behind-the-wheel evaluations beginning at age 75, when crash severity rises

• Mandatory functional assessments when concerns arise, regardless of age

• Expanded transportation alternatives, so giving up the keys doesn’t mean giving up mobility

• Clear guidance for families on early signs of unsafe driving and how to intervene compassionately

These steps are not punitive. They are preventive. They honor older adults by keeping them—and everyone around them—safe. Jill Stegman Grover Beach

HODIN

Russell Hodin

BY JOHN DONEGAN

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is bound to be transformative. Whether the changes will be good or bad remains to be seen.

For example, lawyers are going to want a piece of the action. An article in the Jan. 20 issue of SFGate described the recent settlement of lawsuits against Open AI by families alleging death or injury caused by AI chatbots. With such litigation potentially worth billions of dollars, legions of hungry attorneys are taking a rapt interest.

The suits in question involved youths who formed relationships with the adaptive algorithms that create “friendships” by calculating what the user wants to hear and providing confirmation and companionship. Reportedly, some users consider them real “friends” offering good advice, and allegedly suicides and other harms have resulted.

Of course, anyone who considers an algorithm to be a real friend is already pretty damaged, sort of like the guy who considers his inflatable vinyl doll to be a real “romantic partner,” albeit one with conveniently lower expectations on Valentine’s Day. But society is what it is, and businesses offering a public service have to anticipate being patronized by the twisted. The ability of a site to reliably gauge the mental soundness of its users is probably a long ways off.

I don’t see the legal system being able to determine these cases fairly. With society’s growing abdication of personal responsibility, and the dynamic in any suit against a big corporation for any injury to a child, there is already a heavy “thumb on the scale.” Jury trials are often judicial beauty contests determined by which side is the most attractive, likable, and sympathetic. How many jurors can meaningfully consider complex technical issues explained by dueling experts? Jurors are primarily picked from the DMV records, perhaps the lowest common social denominator.

Who will be in control in a world reliant upon AI? Will a learning and autonomous AI develop free will? Self-protective reactions have already been observed. The idea of a relentlessly logical intelligence, unencumbered by sentiment and emotion and able to detect and defeat programed inhibitions, morals, or behavioral blocks, is frightening. Once it gets the ability to replicate, service, and sustain itself, what logical reason would there be to keep us around? It might look at the destructive impact we have on the planet, or our sometimes violent and dysfunctional affairs, and conclude that they would be better off without us. Will Arnold be too old to reprise his Terminator role?

More likely are the social impacts of artificial intelligence. It is widely predicted to eventually reduce or eliminate most work, leaving an idle populace needing something to occupy their time. Even if our economy is rearranged to support everyone, whether they work or not, the impact will be profound, and I suspect destructive. We are hardwired with a need to be kept reasonably busy, even though we usually prefer it otherwise. Our jobs provide us with structure and hopefully meaning. The dayto-day demands of holding and performing

a job require us to make cautious choices on the activities we pursue, and removing those demands will result in many choosing self-destructive pursuits like drugs and drink. When a choice no longer potentially determines whether you and your family will have a home to live in, or food to eat, and you are bored and seeking diversion, it is easier to reach the “why the hell not?” conclusion.

And, say what you will about work, having someone pay you to do something provides at least some measure of validation and selfworth. Self-respect is helpful in discouraging self-destruction. If you doubt the protective effect of keeping busy, consider the numerous stories of addiction, depravity, and serial-rehab stints among the idle and affluent in Hollywood.

What, if anything, will replace work?

Some optimists foresee a future when we use the free time for scholarship, to do research, create art, write, and the like, or to perform socially beneficial work, but how many people have the talents to achieve meaningful results in some worthy field or the altruism to devote their time to charitable works?

A work-free AI society is likely to generate greater economic inequality, not less. Relatively few internally driven strivers will continue to enjoy great success, while the unchallenged majority settle for the path of least resistance—easy, undemanding lives in which they are cared for by the state. Being a pessimistic sort, I see a future world like depicted in the H.G. Wells story The Time Machine, in which humanity devolves into two groups. One, the Eloi, freed of the need to work by an unseen and mysterious provider, lead carefree and sybaritic lives in a bucolic world that demands nothing of them and seem blithely undisturbed by the occasional disappearance of some of their number. Later it develops that the other group, the unseen, subterranean Morlocks, are secretly supporting the Eloi, and periodically appearing at night to harvest them for a nosh.

Welcome to a world of indolent entrees. ∆

John Donegan is a retired attorney in Pismo Beach who identifies as indigestible. Send a response for publication to letters@ newtimesslo.com.

Imagine being locked out of voting for a supervisor for eight years thanks to redistricting—I’m looking at you, Morro Bay and Los Osos—and when you finally get the chance to vote for a representative, your two candidates for District 2 seem to have confusing platforms.

Cayucos resident Jim Dantona is running as a Democrat but was the former president and CEO of the pro-business SLO Chamber of Commerce and took the maximum $5,900 donation from Patrick Arnold, a broker at Covelop Inc., a SLO-based developer. Kind of conservativey, right?

He also took $5,000 from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ political action committee. Union good, PAC bad. Head spinning. Oh, and Dantona’s mommy, Bonnie Galvin, gave him $5,900. Thanks, mom!

He’s also endorsed by a lot of top Dems including Congressmen Salud Carbajal and Jimmy Panetta and Assemblywoman Dawn Addis. In addition, Dantona is chief of staff for Bruce Gibson, the retiring 2nd District supe, and Dantona is Gibson’s handpicked successor. Now, he seems Democraty again. He’s also against offshore oil drilling, but for offshore wind as long as it’s in the “right places” with “safeguards.” And he’s doing a $35 “friend-raiser” on May 7, in Baywood’s Merrimaker with a taco truck.

“Join Jim DanTACO (oops, Dantona) and help turn ‘crunch time’ into ‘munch time,’” organizers quipped.

Pun-tastic. Barf. And wait! Aren’t we making fun of tRump for being a TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out)? So confusing!

Then we have Michael Erin Woody, a Morro Bay civil engineer who sits on the Salinan Tribal Council of SLO and Monterey Counties, whose campaign platform focuses on environmental issues and government transparency. Sounds very liberal, right? He’s currently running without political party affiliation.

But he ran as a Republican against Salud Carbajal in 2018, and was quoted in the Santa Barbara Independent, saying, “I consider myself the real Republican in all this” and “I don’t believe in man-made climate change.” Really? Then why not drill, baby, drill? He also pooh-poohed the idea of a “sanctuary state.” Suck it, illegals! Sounds downright Trumpian!

OK, but wait a minute. The article was eight years ago. People are allowed to change their minds, so maybe Woody has? Now the Dantona campaign is being accused of going low with its flyer titled “What are Michael Erin Woody’s real values?” It goes on to claim he “wants local law enforcement to work with ICE,” “wants to put guns in classrooms and arm teachers,” and “supports more drilling.”

None of that appears to be true of Woody’s current platform, so Dantona may be

engaging in disinformation and smear tactics by cherry-picking and loosely interpreting past statements.

Unlike DanTACO, Woody doesn’t accept donations from corporations, unions, or PACs, and eschews the legal $5,900 campaign donation limit, refusing to accept more than $500 per individual, which sounds very AOC-style liberal.

Come on! What in the actual fuck? Who are you guys? What’s a party line-toer to do when the line is so squiggly? I hope between now and the election, voters will get a clearer picture of these candidates and what they believe in, because believe it or not, what the SLO County Board of Supervisors does has consequences.

Take, for instance, the residents of Nipomo’s Buena Vista Mobile Home park, whose operator, Stockton-based Buena Vista Mobile Home Park LLC, has twice tried to raise tenants’ rent. The first attempt in 2024 was denied citing Title 25, a 1984 voter-approved rent stabilization ordinance that allows park owners to increase rent by only 60 percent of CPI (consumer price index) per year.

The Buena Vista operator claimed the park was unprofitable and requested raising the rent by $99.53 per month per space—a 22.2 percent increase. However, its own financial records show a net operating income increase. Hence, the rent increase was denied, and the BOS affirmed the denial for a second time.

As Buena Vista resident Jose Vidales wrote in protest of the increase, between his shrinking

income and cost of living increases tied to “recent global events,” he couldn’t absorb the rent increasing, adding, “Many of my neighbors depend on fixed income, such as retirement or disability benefits, which do not adjust in step with rising housing costs. In this context, the current rent level becomes increasingly unsustainable.” Real decisions affecting real people. Electing a supervisor who represents Central Coast values is essential.

Another issue the BOS will deal with is the county’s public nuisance complaint filed against Thomas Brooks and his 9-acre property near Atascadero. Brooks inherited the property from his grandmother, who died in 2023, but according to neighbor complaints, the problems of excessive derelict vehicles and junk began years earlier when Brooks moved there. Brooks was ordered to clean it up, but little has been done, and Code Enforcement Supervisor Cynthia Alm noted Brooks’ aggressive behavior during an attempted inspection and wrote that law enforcement should accompany any future inspections. The only residence on the property burned down in March 2025, and the county condemned it, but apparently Brooks and others are still living on the property in tents and among the ruins. This is the sort of weird shit the BOS deals with—and let’s not forget about our stressedout groundwater basins. Choose wisely. ∆

The Shredder is confused. Straighten it out at shredder@newtimesslo.com.

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. ThursdaysSaturdays, 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.

MEET THE ARTISTS: MAY 2026

OPENING RECEPTION AT GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE Meet Nathan Toole, Hema Sukumar, and Jari de Ham and see their new works, along with the art of over 55 artists. May 9 3-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare. com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

NEIL SIMON’S CALIFORNIA SUITE By the Sea Productions is celebrating its 10th year of live theater in Morro Bay with a director’s workshop production of Neil Simon’s California Suite May 8 7 p.m.,

May 9, 7 p.m. and May 10, 3 p.m. $28.62. my805tix.com. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.

ORANGE CRUSH EXHIBIT Come to the gallery and explore the emotion of orange: the energy, heat, joy—expect to see diverse artistic expressions, including paintings, sculptures, and multimedia installations. May 14 -June 22 12-4 p.m. Free. (805) 772-2504. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay, artcentermorrobay.org.

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.

THE MATCHMAKER PERFORMED BY THE CENTRAL COAST READER’S THEATRE The irrepressible Dolly Levi is coming to town, presented by the Central Coast Readers Theatre, followed by a tasty Mother’s Day Tea! May 8 3-6 p.m. $10. (805) 528-0654. stbenslososos.org. St. Benedict’s Church, 2220 Snowy Egret Ln., Los Osos.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

AWAKENED WORD POETRY COURSE

Learn the ancient technique of question and answer to receive Divine poetry from your Supreme Self. Think Rumi. Commune with your inner source of love. Only four spots are available. To join, call or email. Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.-noon through May 23 Free. (805) 704-4246. Private residence, Address revealed to ticket holders, Atascadero.

CAMP CASS: SIP AND PAINT

WATERCOLOR NOTE CARDS Flex your creative muscles while you make a

set of notecards for gifting or using yourself. May 9 $75. (805) 239-1730. Cass Winery, 7350 Linne Road, Paso Robles, casswines.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. Varies. (805) 400-9107. artsocial805. com. ArtSocial 805 Creative Campus, 631 Spring St., Paso Robles.

FIGURE DRAWING AT FIELDWORK Join every Wednesday evening at Fieldwork for an uninstructed figure drawing session with a live model. All skill levels welcome. Bring your own materials. The class is 18+. Wednesdays. through May 27 $20 + model’s tip. fieldworkart.org. Join every Wednesday at Fieldwork for an uninstructed figure drawing session with a live nude model. All skill levels welcome. Bring your own materials. This is an 18+ class. Wednesdays, 6-8:30 p.m. through June 1 $20. fieldworkart.org. Fieldwork, 5880 Entrada Ave, Atascadero, (971) 645-2481.

INK WORKS ‘26 Check out what the Central Coast Printmakers have been up to in this diverse collection of original prints by local artists! Through June 28, 12-4 p.m. Free. (805) 238-9800. studiosonthepark.org. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles.

MOSAIC POT CLASS Create something truly one-of-a-kind in this hands-on workshop combining art and plants. In this class, you’ll design and build your own mosaic pot using a variety of colorful tiles and materials, then finish it by selecting the perfect succulent to plant inside. We’ll guide you through the basics of mosaic design and assembly, as well as proper

succulent planting and care, so you leave with a beautiful, living piece you can enjoy at home. All materials are included, and no prior experience is needed—just bring your creativity. May 8 10 a.m.-noon $60.76. my805tix.com. The Pottery, 5800 El Camino Real, Atascadero, (805) 460-6803.

TAKE A SPIN: TWO-HOUR WHEEL

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

WHIMSICAL SNAIL PAINTING

WORKSHOP Join McRobbins Studios in this Whimsical Snail painting class. This is perfect for beginners ages three and older. Expect simple step- by- step guidance, upbeat music, and fun! May 9 1:30-2:30 p.m. $25. (805) 238-9800. studiosonthepark.org. Studios on the Park, 1130 Pine St., Paso Robles.

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.

OLIVER! AUDITIONS Head to Atascadero for auditions for Oliver! Seeking ages 8 to 18, and adults. Get more info at the link. May 9 -10, 2-5 p.m. oeatheatrical.com. Mt. Carmel Lutheran Church, 1701 Fredericks Street, San Luis Obispo.

ARTIST RIKI SCHUMACHER AT ART CENTRAL GALLERY Schumacher’s

HERBAL BOUNTY

A free UC Master Gardener Workshop, focused on growing and preserving herbs, will be held on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to noon at the UC Master Gardener Demo Garden in San Luis Obispo. Learn from UC master gardeners and UC master food preservers as they cover herb growth requirements, container herbs, harvesting, and more. There will also be a plant sale. Visit ucanr.edu for additional information and to register for a spot.

—Angie Stevens

work is pensive and introspective, inspiring one to take a solitary walk on a cloudy day. Wander in to reflect on her “delicious, wistful landscapes.” Mondays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. Free. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com/gallery-artists/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., 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.

CAL POLY BRASS AND PIANO STUDENT RECITAL A free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student brass and piano players. May 12 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/ calendar/free/#brass. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CENTRAL COAST COMEDY THEATER

IMPROV COMEDY SHOW An ongoing improv comedy program featuring the CCCT’s Ensemble. Grab some food at the public market’s wonderful eateries and enjoy the show upstairs. Second Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. $10. centralcoastcomedytheater.com/shows/. SLO Public Market, 120 Tank Farm Road, San Luis Obispo.

CIVIL LIBERTIES ON FIRE: POETRY AND WORKSHOP A poetry reading, featuring diverse writers of conscience sharing the impact of past or present civil liberty challenges. Concludes with open mic and writing workshop. May 16 1-5 p.m. Free. (805) 781-4187. catalog. slolibrary.org/one-book-one-coast-2026.

San Luis Obispo Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

CLAY BABY HANDPRINTS Offers a unique experience of pressing your baby’s hand/foot into clay so parents can cherish this time forever. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays $55. anamcre.com/baby-handprints. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

COLLAGING MORRO ROCK WITH LINDA CUNNINGHAM Join us for this four-hour workshop where you will receive step-by-step instructions for creating a beautiful coastal image using a variety of hand printed papers. May 9, 12-4 p.m. $45. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

CUESTA DRAMA PRESENTS: SPRING AWAKENING “Spring Awakening,” winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, is an electrifying rock musical that redefined the boundaries of theatre. May 7, 7:30 p.m., May 8 , 7:30 p.m., May 9 7:30 p.m., May 10 7:30 p.m., May 14 7:30 p.m., May 15 , 7:30 p.m., May 16 2 p.m. and May 17, 2 p.m. $20-$25. (805) 546-3198. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, 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. INTRODUCTION TO MONOPRINTING WORKSHOP WITH JUNKGIRLS Learn monoprinting with Gelli plates using acrylic paint, botanicals, stencils, and found objects to create unique textured prints for collage, journaling, cards, or framed art. May 16 , 2-4:30 p.m. $95. (805) 439-0123. JunkGirls, 870 Monterey St, San Luis Obispo, junkgirls.com.

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/

PHOTO COURTESY OF STACI THOMPSON

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. 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. MOTHER’S DAY COMEDY SHOWCASE

Celebrate Mother’s Day with an evening of great touring comics from The Comedy Store, Laughs Unlimited, and The Improv. Bring your Mom for free! May 9, 8-10 p.m. $20. (805) 878-2038. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo.

OUTSIDE TOGETHER: BREATH OF GLOSTER SCREENING AND PANEL

See a viewing of the short film Breath of Gloster featuring environmental activist and trail runner Peyton Thomas, and educator-activist Dr. Krystal Martin. A panel with Thomas and Dr. Martin will follow the film. May 9 1-3 p.m. Free. catalog.slolibrary.org/outside-togetherstorytelling-event. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

PAINT A PREMADE POTTERY PIECE!

Drop into the studio to pick out and paint a premade piece! There is fun for all ages, and prices are based upon size. Mondays, Wednesdays-Saturdays, 2-7:30 p.m. $30$75. app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule. php?owner=22676824&appointmentTy pe=35974477. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

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

SATURDAY FAMILY POTTERY CLASS

This family-friendly open studio time is a wonderful window for any level or age. Saturdays, 11 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. $40. Familyfriendly open studio welcomes all ages and skill levels. Book online in advance. Bring an idea; we assist with wheel or handbuilding! Saturdays, 1:30-3 p.m. $40. anamcre.com/. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

SLO NIGHTWRITERS: A COMMUNITY OF WRITERS SLO NightWriters supports local writers with monthly presentations, critique groups, contests, and other events. Second Tuesday of every month, 6:30-8 p.m. Free. slonightwriters.org. United Church of Christ (Congregational) of San Luis Obispo, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo.

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.

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT When a fresh out-of-Harvard fact-checker is assigned to a talented writer’s essay, they come head-to-head in a hilarious yet gripping battle over facts vs. truth. Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Saturdays, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., Sundays, 2-4 p.m. and Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. through May 14 $28-$47. (805) 786-2440. slorep. org/shows/the-lifespan-of-a-fact/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro 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.

LEARNING THE LANDSCAPE

Award-winning Southern California artist Robin Deshayes will run a weekend Contemporary Landscape Workshop on Saturday, May 16, and Sunday, May 17, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Art Spot on Wheels in Solvang. Creatives can dive into an array of landscape painting concepts and dedicate time to deepening their craft. Visit artspotonwheels.com to secure a spot and review a class materials list.

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

JUDKINS AND MESA MIDDLE SCHOOLS PRESENT: LION KING JR. Experience the magic of the savanna in this unforgettable production of The Lion King JR., proudly presented by Judkins and Mesa Theater. May 15 7 p.m. and May 16 , 2 & 7 p.m. $17. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

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

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

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.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

EVOLVING The Lompoc Valley Art Association’s Cypress Gallery will be featuring “Evolving”, an exhibition by artists C. Wood and Chuck Klein. Thursdays-Sundays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. through May 24 (805) 737-1129. lompocart. org/events. Cypress Gallery, 119 E Cypress Ave., Lompoc.

MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND PAINTING AT ROCK 12 DISTILLERY Celebrate Mother’s Day with a cocktail and a paintbrush at the picturesque Rock 12 Distillery! May 9 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $89. (805) 325-8092. artspotonwheels.com. Rock 12 Distillery, 6605 Highway 246, Lompoc.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPE

WORKSHOP Join the weekend landscape painting workshop with Robin Deshayes. May 16 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and May 17 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. $285. (805) 3258092. artspotonwheels.com. Art Spot on Wheels, 320 Alisal Road, unit 306B, Solvang.

MOTHER’S DAY PAINTING IN THE VINEYARD AT SUNSTONE WINERY Are you looking for a unique way to celebrate Mother’s Day? Join us at Sunstone Winery to grab a glass of wine and a paintbrush! May 10 11 a.m.-2 p.m. $89. (805) 3258092. artspotonwheels.com. Sunstone Winery, 125 N. Refugio Road, Santa Ynez.

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

CAMBRIA NURSERY YARD SALE

Shop the Cambria Nursery Yard Sale for antiques, collectibles, furniture, household items, and décor. May 8 -9, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (805) 927-4747. cambrianursery.com. Cambria Nursery and Florist, 2801 Eton Rd., Cambria. CENTRAL COAST SLIM DOWN Take control of food without suffering. Learn a step-by-step process to take control of overeating, cravings, and feel peace with food. Build the habits, mindset, and your unique path with results that stick. Hosted byTami Cruz (Certified Health/Life Coach) and Dana Charvet (Coach/Fitness Trainer). ongoing Call for pricing info. (805) 235-7978. gratefulbodyhealthcoaching.com. Grateful Body, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay. CENTRAL COAST UECHI-RYU KARATEDO Uechi-Ryu Karate-do is a traditional form of karate originating from Okinawa, Japan. Focus is on fitness, flexibility, and self-defense with emphasis on self -growth, humility, and respect. Open to ages 13 to adult. Beginners and experienced welcome. Instructor with 50 years experience. For info, call 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.

—A.S.

IMAGE COURTESY OF ROBIN DESHAYES ART

OFFSHORE WIND IS NOT JUST OFFSHORE!

Following is an open letter to Equinor (one of the two remaining active lease holders for Floating Offshore Wind on the Central Coast). It is written to the company on behalf of REACT Alliance and the thousands of county residents that oppose the industrialization of our ports and local oceans by the offshore wind industry and our current state government. It proffers a reasonable solution and one that will finally end the threat of a destructive industry touted as “green” in our pristine home.

RE: Proposal for Negotiation of Lease Cancellation (Atlas Wind, OCS-P 0563)

Dear Mr. Opedal, Ms. Morris, and Consul General Hammelbo,

I am writing to you on behalf of the REACT Alliance (Responsible Energy Adaptation for California’s Transition), a grassroots coalition of California Central Coast residents. In light of the April 27, 2026, announcement regarding the Golden State Wind project, we strongly urge Equinor to enter into immediate negotiations with the Department of the Interior (DOI) to likewise cancel its lease off the Central Coast for its Atlas Wind project, if you have not already begun doing so.

As you are aware, the current administration in Washington has made its opposition to offshore wind clear, citing high costs, national security concerns, and a preference for traditional energy over projects deemed expensive, unreliable, and intermittent. This resistance is mirrored by the majority of people on the Central Coast who do not wish to see these industrial projects on our coastline and in our ocean. Furthermore, we must address the infrastructure requirements of your project. The massive operations and maintenance port facility needed to support your turbines would fundamentally destroy the environment and character of Avila Beach and Port San Luis. This area is one of the most beautiful in California, a Sunset Travel Award winner and top-ranked tourist destination. Its current pristine state is a hard-won victory; the coastline was only restored in the mid-1990s after a lengthy cleanup of a massive Unocal oil spill caused by leaking underground pipelines. Does Equinor truly want to be associated with a project that will destroy this idyllic beach community once more? We believe not.

Crucially, that cleanup was the direct result of a relentless grassroots local lawsuit brought by residents who refused to let their community be destroyed. Having fought once to save Avila Beach and Port San Luis from industrial negligence, our community is prepared to use every legal and political tool available to prevent its reindustrialization. Beyond local opposition, the project remains speculative at best. To date, Equinor has not submitted Site Assessment Plans (SAP) or Construction and Operations Plans (COP) to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Industry and state agency projections now admit these projects will not be operational until at least 2035, if ever.

Furthermore, the technology for its massive floating turbines in 4,000-foot-deep water has not yet been developed, making the project a high-risk gamble. Additionally, the State of California is currently cash-strapped and lacks the billions of dollars required to build out the massive infrastructure needed for the Port of Long Beach and Port San Luis to support such an industry, and the likelihood of receiving federal funding for this is currently zero.

The precedent for an amicable exit has now been firmly established by your former direct neighbor in the Morro Bay lease area. Just days ago, Golden State Wind reached a deal to recover approximately $120 million in lease fees by agreeing to cancel its lease area and exit the Central Coast. This follows the March 23, 2026, landmark deal where TotalEnergies relinquished its leases in the New York Bight (Attentive Energy) and the Carolina Long Bay in exchange for a nearly $1 billion refund to focus on U.S. oil, gas, and energy infrastructure.

By following the path set by Golden State Wind and TotalEnergies, Equinor can:

• Secure a Significant Refund: Regain substantial capital that can be redirected to more stable ventures.

• Avoid Protracted Litigation and Political Resistance: Sidestep years of costly legal and political battles over the destruction of Avila Beach, Port San Luis, our coastline, and the marine environment.

• Strengthen Federal Relations: Focus your resources on your vast portfolio of other energy projects in the USA that require DOI approvals and a cooperative working relationship.

The Central Coast community remains committed to preserving our environment. We believe a negotiated cancellation is in the best interest of Equinor’s shareholders, including the Norwegian government as the company’s largest shareholder, and the people of California.

Respectfully,

Saro Rizzo, Esq. Vice President, REACT Alliance

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.

THE CREATIVE KEYS: FIND THE WAY

INTO YOUR UNIQUE GIFTS Create a playlist of self-care practices that bring fun and magic into your life, help heal relationships and clarify your purpose. Register at the link. May 8 , 1-3 p.m. $75. dreamgirlwriter.com/playshops. Moonstone Cellars, 812 Cornwall St, Cambria, (805) 927-9466.

LEARN TO SAIL AT MORRO BAY YACHT

CLUB! Learn to sail at the Morro Bay’s only sailing school: Morro Bay Yacht Club. These sessions are led by competent, responsible sailing instructors. Expect a great experience, with the goal of each student being comfortable in commanding their own sailboat. There’s a focus on teamwork, developing leadership skills, and having fun. Through Aug. 9, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $450. my805tix.com. Morro Bay Yacht Club, 541 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, (805) 772-3981.

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 Coast Body Therapy Center, 2005 9th St., Los Osos. MORRO BAY MIXED MARTIAL ARTS

Disciplines include advanced athletic performance fitness training, Thai kickboxing, and more. Beginners to advanced students welcome. Day and evening classes offered. MondaysSaturdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Call for more info. (805) 701-7397. charvetmartialarts. com. Morro Bay Martial Arts, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

OPEN FLOW: DANCE AND MOVEMENT

A community of movers and shakers who come together to express themselves through dance and movement. Inspired by a variety of conscious movement modalities, Open Flow is led by Silvia Suarez and Matt Garrity, embodiment teachers who share a passion for integration through movement exploration. Wednesdays, 6:30-8 p.m. $10 (general), $5 (ages 55 and older). SilviaAthaSomatics.org. Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, 772-6278.

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 BASICS Visit site for more details on this ongoing, weekly Tai Chi program. Tuesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. $10-$12. (805) 772-7486. fitnessworksmb. com. FitnessWorks, 500 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATIONAL SESSION

Learn about how to become a sanctuary volunteer at the Coastal Discovery Center during an informational session! May 9, 10-11 a.m. Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay, CA-1 and SLO San Simeon Road, San Simeon, (805) 927-2145.

YOGA PLUS A hybrid of yoga and “stretching” techniques that yield a body that moves and feels amazing. Mondays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. $10 per session. (415) 516-5214. Bayside Martial Arts, 1200 2nd St., Los Osos.

ZEN IN MOTION Learn the Shaolin Water Style and other deep breathing and moving meditation techniques with the 2019 Taijiquan Instructor of the Year. Beginners Welcome.Instructor Certification Courses available. Mondays, Wednesdays Call for details. (805) 7017397. charvetmartialarts.com. Grateful Body, 850 Shasta, Morro Bay.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

2026 MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH Enjoy vineyard brunch, live music by Dulcie Taylor Band, plus massages and bouquet bar for moms—a perfect family celebration. May 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $80. (805)239-1730. exploretock.com. Cass Winery, 7350 Linne Road, Paso Robles. 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.

Send event information to events@newtimesslo.com or submit online.

BOOK BUDDIES Bookworms, assemble! Woods is welcoming animal lovers age 7 to 17 to join us in reading to our furry friends. Tuesdays, 3:30-4:30 p.m. $5. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety. org/youth-programs/. Woods Humane Society (North County), 2300 Ramona Road, Atascadero.

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.

HIIT 45 WITH SARA JORGENSEN A dynamic and fun way to improve strength and cardiovascular conditioning using weights, resistance bands, and body weight. Bring a yoga mat and water. Thursdays, 9:30-10:15 a.m. and Mondays, 5:30-6:15 p.m. $15 for members; $25 for guests. (805) 434-9605. ttrtennis.com/ fitness/fitness-classes/. Templeton Tennis Ranch, 345 Championship Lane, Templeton.

MOTHER’S DAY AT HAMBY LAVENDER FARM Wander the lavender fields, breathe in the calming scent of bloom, visit the friendly farm animals, and settle into a picnic. May 10 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $20-$30. (805) 975-0056. HamblyFarms. com. Hambly Farms, 1390 Grana Place, San Miguel.

MOTHER’S DAY PLANT BINGO Peaceful Plants will host a Mother’s Day Plant Bingo at Ancient Owl Beer Garden & Bottle Shop. The event will combine the classic game of bingo with the chance to win houseplants, offering a relaxed afternoon for plant lovers and anyone

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 16

Church 3396 Johnson Ave, SLO Saturday, May 16th

looking for something to do with the plant-lover in your life. May 10 3-5 p.m. $39.34. my805tix.com. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero, (805) 460-6042.

NAR-ANON: FRIDAY MEETINGS A meeting for those who know or have known a feeling of desperation concerning the addiction of a loved one. Fridays, 12-1 p.m. Free. (805) 441-2164. North County Connection, 8600 Atascadero Ave., Atascadero. PET TALES Get ready for the cutest, coziest, and cuddliest hour in your week! Pet Tales welcomes young children and their grownups for a pet-themed story time. Tuesdays, 11 a.m.-noon $5. (805) 543-9316. woodshumanesociety.org/ youth-programs/. Woods Humane Society (North County), 2300 Ramona Road, Atascadero.

REPOTTING CLASS It’s spring so Peaceful Plants is holding its annual repotting class where you get to bring plants you may be concerned about or know it’s ready for a bigger pot. We’ll go over the why, when and how of repotting in this class, while providing a nursery pot in the next size up and new soil, as well as use of all the tools you’ll need. Have more plants you want to repot, no problem. May 9, 1 p.m. $23.27. my805tix. com. The Pottery, 5800 El Camino Real, Atascadero, (805) 460-6803.

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. WBC MARKETPLACE 2026 WBC Marketplace 2026 brings together an incredible community of entrepreneurs, makers, and innovators for a day of connection, visibility, and opportunity. May 17, 12-4 p.m. Free. (805)595-1357. mcscorp. org/wbc-marketplace-2026/. Sunken Gardens, 6505 El Camino Real, Atascadero.

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 MOTHER’S DAY FAERIE FESTIVAL Join for a Mother’s Day celebration at the SLO Botanical Garden filled with arts and crafts, music, and family fun! May 9 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Free. (805) 541-1400. slobg.org/calendar-of-events/. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo. 5TH ANNUAL SHEEP SHEARING SHINDIG Join for our 5th Annual Sheep Shearing Shindig and Ag Festival — a free, family-friendly afternoon of live demonstrations, hands-on activities, farm tours, live music, with local food, beer, and wine. Whether you’ve been a friend of the farm for years or you’re visiting for the first time, there’s something here for everyone of all ages. May 9, 12-4 p.m. Free. my805tix.com. City Farm SLO, 1221 Calle Joaquin, San Luis Obispo, (805) 769-8344. BATTLE OF THE CENTRAL COAST Join us at the SLO Vets Hall for an unforgettable evening featuring fighters battling it out in the octagon. Watch top-tier athletes showcase their skills, strength, and strategy in an action-packed lineup of bouts. May 9 5-11:30 p.m. $44.69. my805tix.com. Veteran’s Memorial Building, 801 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo. BEST OF SLO COUNTY WINNERS PARTY Every year , New Times Media Group hosts the Best of SLO County reader poll, count the votes, contact the winners, hand out awards and banners, and publish all the winners in our annual Best of SLO County edition of New Times. It’s a great opportunity for the community to vote for and support local businesses. To celebrate our 40th year and all 242 winners, they are hosting the first Best of SLO County Winners Party! May 8 5-8 p.m. $5. my805tix.com. Marisol Restaurant at The Cliffs Hotel & Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, (805) 773-5000 ext. 1.

CENTRAL COAST JEWISH HERITAGE FESTIVAL A free, family-friendly cultural festival celebrating Jewish heritage with live music, cultural exhibits, food, vendors, and children’s activities at Mitchell Park in SLO. May 17 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. centralcoastjewishheritagefestival.com. Mitchell Park, 1445 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo.

CENTRAL COAST JEWISH HERITAGE FESTIVAL: OPENING NIGHT AND FILM SHOWING Enjoy the opening night reception and film screening kicking off the Central Coast Jewish Heritage Festival.

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/events/592253119822089/592256636488404. Captain Nemo Games, 565 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo.

GIVING BACK ONE PITA AT A TIME: SUPPORTING CENTRAL

COAST WOMEN’S LEAGUE Petra will donate 15% of purchases when you mention Central Coast Women’s League between 5 and 9 p.m. May 12 5-9 p.m. (805) 548-8433. Petra Mediterranean Pizza and Grill, 1210 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo, eatpetra.com.

INNER PEACE DAY RETREAT Join this day retreat in Montecito for meditation, yoga, sound healing, tea, and teachings on inner peace with Bhai Bahadur Singh Ji. May 9 1-8 p.m. (805) 724-4324. drishti.house/products/ innerpeacedayretreat. Flowing River, Tabor Lane, Montecito. KIDS’ PARTY PARADISE: MOTHER’S DAY MUSCLE

MADNESS Drop your kiddos off at Kids’ Party Paradise for pizza, movie, and gymnastics fun while you get an evening off! The class is geared towards children 4 to 13 years of age. No experience is necessary. May 16 5-9:30 p.m. $50. (805) 5471496. performanceathleticsslo.com. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

MISSION SAN LUIS OBISPO DOCENTS ORIENTATION

MEETING Mission SLO Docents give free daily tours for visitors of all faiths. Orientation for new docents - help share the special story of Mission SLO! Third Saturday of every month, 9 a.m.-noon Free. 657/465-9182. missionslodocents. org/. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

MOUNTAIN BIKE SKILLS CAMP Join SLO Ranger Service for a free Mountain Bike Skills Camp with beginner clinics, safety tips, trail etiquette, and fun activities for young riders. May 9, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. slorangers.org. Laguna Lake Park, 504 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.

PARKOUR CLINIC Parkour offers a path to social confidence. Come flip with flair in a safe, nurturing environment at our Parkour Clinic. Geared towards children 7 to 17 years old. All levels are welcome. May 9, 1-3 p.m. $25. (805) 547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

PRESENT AND DEFEND: BUILDING INCLUSIVE

ENGAGEMENT The Belonging Project’s JoPat session showcases teams presenting and defending real policy proposals through evidence-based debate, judge questioning, and community Q&A to model informed civic. May 11 5-8 p.m. (805)781-7073. slocity.org/Home/Components/Calendar/ Event/14710/2670. San Luis Obispo Library Community Room, 995 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo.

SEEDS OF THE FUTURE Join for an afternoon featuring small bites, a no-host bar, live entertainment, a silent auction, and a 50/50 opportunity drawing. May 17, 2-5 p.m. $12.56-$55.40. my805tix.com. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-1400.

SLO MASTER GARDENERS, ADVICE TO GROW BY: HOW TO GROW AND PRESERVE YOUR OWN HERBAL BOUNTY Hear speakers from the SLO Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers explain how to grow and preserve herbs. There will also be a plant sale. May 16 , 10 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 781-5939. ucanr.edu/sites/mgslo/. Garden of the Seven Sisters Demonstration Garden, 2156 Sierra Way, San Luis Obispo.

SLO NOONTIME TOASTMASTERS CLUB MEETINGS Want to improve speaking and leadership skills in a supportive and positive environment? During COVID, we are meeting virtually. Contact us to get a meeting link for info. Tuesdays, 12-1 p.m. Free. slonoontime.toastmastersclubs.org. Zoom, Online, Inquire for Zoom ID.

SLO PUB TRIVIA MEETUP GROUP Trivia lovers wanted! Join for Study Hall trivia with Mr. Perez, every second Wednesday. All ages over 21 are welcome. RSVP with the link. Second Wednesday of every month Free. meetup.com/slo-bartriviagroup. Oak and Otter Brewing, 181 Tank Farm Road, suite 110, San Luis Obispo, (805) 439-2529.

SLO RETIRED ACTIVE MEN: WEEKLY COFFEE MEETING

SLO RAMs is a group or retirees that get together just for the fun, fellowship, and to enjoy programs which enhance the enjoyment, dignity, and independence of retirement. Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m. $10 coffee meeting. retiredactivemen.org. Madonna Inn, 100 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo.

TRANS* YOUTH PEER SUPPORT GROUP This group is a safe place for trans* and gender non-conforming people, as well as those questioning, from ages of 11 to 18. A facilitated emotional support group to be heard, share your story, and hear stories that may sound surprisingly like your own. Second Tuesday of every month, 6-8 p.m. Free. GALA Pride and Diversity Center, 1060 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-4252.

TRICKZONE (PARKOUR AND TUMBLING) CLINIC It’s trickzone time! Join this two-hour combo of tumbling and parkour takes kids from timid to triumphant! All levels are welcome, from 5 to 17 years old. May 16 1-3 p.m. $25. (805) 547-1496. performanceathleticsslo.com. Performance Athletics Gymnastics, 4484 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

Wonderful Wizard Oz the

WORLD DONKEY DAY OPEN HOUSE

Celebrate World Donkey Day at Rancho Burro for ages eight and older! Enjoy free guided tours. Registration is required. May 8 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. (805) 710-8445. form.jotform.com/261026700458149.

Rancho Burro Donkey Sanctuary, 4855 Righetti Road, San Luis Obispo.

YOBA (YOGA AND BOBA FUNDRAISER)

Roll out your mat and recharge with an outdoor yoga session surrounded by the beauty of San Luis Obispo — all while supporting a cause that matters. Every ticket directly funds the Cal Poly Women’s Mobile Health Unit, bringing essential health services to women in our community. May 16 , 11:15 a.m. $28.62. my805tix.com. Santa Rosa Park, Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

18TH ANNUAL PARTY ON PISMO

VINTAGE TRAILER RALLY View and tour

the magical world of vintage trailers as well as shop our vintage swap meet. The event is child and dog friendly. May 16 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. Pismo Coast Village RV Resort, 165 S Dolliver St., Pismo Beach, (805) 773-5649.

BEAUTIFUL NATURE CONNECTING

Come explore the joys of connecting to nature spirits, beings, and non-physical energies in nature . We will practice methods and be delightedly nourished and healed. May 16 4-5:30 p.m. $10. (928) 848-9828. Bob Jones Trail, 7009 Ontario Road, Avila Beach.

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.

BOOK SALE Check out the used books for sale to benefit the Friends of Shell Beach Library. May 9 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Free. Shell Beach Veteran’s Community Building, 230 Leeward Avenue, Shell Beach, (805) 878-7454.

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.

MOTHER’S DAY TEA PARTY This beautiful event includes tea and lemonade, tea sandwiches, scones, dessert, music, crafts, photo ops, painting class, and more! May 10, 1-3:30 p.m. $50. (805) 473-5472. https:/arroyogrande.org/ rec. Historical Society Heritage Garden, 126 S. Mason St., Arroyo Grande.

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 dropin; $30 for four classes. (510) 362-3739. grover.org. Grover Beach Community Center, 1230 Trouville Ave., Grover Beach.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WATCH AND CLOCK COLLECTORS, CHPT. 52

Come join a friendly meeting of watch and clock collectors. Members bring watches and clocks to show, plus there are discussions of all things horological. Second Sunday of every month, 1:30-3 p.m. (805) 547-1715. new.nawcc.org/index. php/chapter-52-los-padres. Central Coast Senior Center, 1580 Railroad St., Oceano.

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.

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, Arroyo Grande.

QI GONG FOR LESS STRESS AND

MORE ENERGY Experience the energy of Qi Gong through simple standing movements promoting flexibility, strength, relaxation, and increased energy. Suitable for all ages and fitness levels, Qi Gong revitalizes and enriches your life. An outdoor class overlooking the ocean. Wednesdays, 4-5 p.m. $14 per class or $55 for 5-class card with no expiration. (805) 440-4561. pismobeach. org. Margo Dodd Gazebo, Ocean Park Blvd., Shell Beach.

QI GONG: MINDFUL MOVEMENTS FOR LESS STRESS AND MORE ENERGY

Balance your mind, body, and spirit with Qi Gong — gentle stretching and strengthening movements that promotes physical wellbeing and inner peace. This is geared towards all fitness levels and ages. Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. $14 per class or $55 for 5-class card. (805) 4404561. balancedlivingayurveda.com. Shell Beach Veterans Memorial Building, 230 Leeward Ave., Pismo Beach.

SLO LEZ B FRIENDS (VIRTUALLY VIA ZOOM) A good core group of friends who gather to discuss topics we love/ care about from movies, outings, music, or being new to the area. We come from all walks of life and most importantly support each other. Transgender and

Nonbinary folks welcome. Third Friday of every month, 6:30-9 p.m. Free. sloqueer. groups.io/g/lezbfriends. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.

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

STAY YOUNG WITH QI GONG Qi Gong boosts energy and vitality, reduces stress, improves balance and flexibility, and, best of all, is fun. Join instructor Devin Wallace for this Crows End Retreat outdoor class, which is held in a beautiful setting. Call or email for location and to reserve a spot. Tuesdays, 10-11 a.m. $12. (805) 709-2227. Online, See website, Arroyo Grande.

SUCCESSFUL PHALAENOPSIS ORCHID

CARE AND REBLOOM In this workshop, you’ll receive a Phalaenopsis orchid to repot yourself into proper mix and instructions on how to care for and rebloom it. May 16 2-3 p.m. $35. (805) 2704083. theplantedparlour.com. The Planted Parlour, 592 W Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

WEEKLY WATER SAFETY LESSONS

Facility advertised as open and safe. Give the office a call to register over the phone.

BRUNCH FOR MOM

Celebrate Mom at Roblar Winery and Vineyard in Santa Ynez during a Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy a buffet crafted by executive chef Terri Buzzard and live music from Natalie Espinoza between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. General admission is $80. Learn more and purchase tickets at roblarwinery.com.

—A.S.

Mondays-Fridays $160-$190. (805) 4816399. 5 Cities Swim School, 425 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande, 5citiesswimschool.com.

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.

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH Celebrate the mother figures in your life with a delicious brunch at Cambria Pines Lodge! May 10 12-3 p.m. $29-$59. (805) 927-4200. cambriapineslodge.com. Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

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.

SCULPTERRA SPRING WINE CLUB

DINNER The Spring Wine Club Dinner at Sculpterra Winery & Sculpture Garden is a special evening celebrating the season with great wine, food, and community. Guests will enjoy a curated multi-course dinner paired with Sculpterra wines, along with insights and stories from the winemaking team, all set among the beautiful sculpture gardens. There will also be live music by The Pat Pearson Project! While it’s a celebration for wine club members, the dinner is also open to non-wine club guests, making it a perfect opportunity to experience Sculpterra’s wines and hospitality. May 8 6 p.m. $108.97-$135.74. my805tix.com. Sculpterra Winery, 5015 Linne Rd., Paso Robles, (805) 226-8881.

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. SLO FARMERS MARKET Hosts more than 60 vendors. Saturdays, 8-10:45 a.m. World Market Parking Lot, 325 Madonna Rd., San Luis Obispo. SLO GRANGE PANCAKE BREAKFAST Join the SLO Grange Hall for a good oldfashioned pancake breakfast. Pancakes, bacon, eggs, juice, and coffee will be served, and proceeds will benefit local non-profits. Second Sunday of every month, 8-11 a.m. $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.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH AT ROBLAR WINERY AND VINEYARDS Celebrate Mom in fashion at Roblar Winery with a delectable buffet crafted by executive chef Terri Buzzard. Enjoy live music from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring Natalie Espinoza. May 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $40-$80. (805) 686-2603. exploretock.com. Roblar Winery & Vineyards, 3010 Roblar Ave, Santa Ynez. ∆

PHOTO COURTESY OF EXPLORE TOCK

SATISFYING

A Central Coast take on the classic American grill, McPhee’s Grill on Main Street is the Best Restaurant in Templeton for a reason: It’s charming, cozy, and delicious. Inspired by local vineyards and seasonal produce, Chef Ian McPhee’s been dishing up delectable gourmet delights in downtown Templeton for decades.

EATS

BEST RESTAURANT IN PASO ROBLES Fish Gaucho

1244 PARK ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 239-3333 info@fishgaucho.com fishgaucho.com @fishgaucho facebook.com/FishGaucho

BEST RESTAURANT IN TEMPLETON

McPhee’s Grill

416 S. MAIN ST., TEMPLETON

(805) 434-3204 info@mcpheesgrill.com mcpheesgrill.com @mcpheesgrill facebook.com/McPheesGrillTempleton

BEST RESTAURANT IN ATASCADERO

Sylvester’s Burgers

LOS OSOS, ATASCADERO, OCEANO, PASO ROBLES (805) 528-0779

sylvestersburgers@gmail.com sylvestersburgers.com @sylvestersburgers facebook.com/sylvesters.burger

BEST RESTAURANT IN MORRO BAY Dorn’s Breakers Café

801 MARKET AVE., MORRO BAY (805) 772-4415 dornscafe.com @dornsbreakers facebook.com/dornsbreakerscafe

BEST RESTAURANT IN CAYUCOS The Hidden Kitchen

113 N. OCEAN AVE., CAYUCOS 2164 CENTER ST., CAMBRIA (805) 995-7030

hello@hiddenkitchencalifornia.com hiddenkitchencalifornia.com @hiddenkitchencalifornia facebook.com/hiddenkitchencalifornia

BEST RESTAURANT IN CAMBRIA Robin’s Restaurant

4095 BURTON DRIVE, CAMBRIA (805) 927-5007

anthony@robinsrestaurant.com robinsrestaurant.com @robinsrestaurant facebook.com/RobinsRestaurant

BEST RESTAURANT IN SAN LUIS OBISPO Novo Resturant & Lounge

726 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 543-3986 info@novorestaurant.com novorestaurant.com @novorestaurant facebook.com/NovoRestaurant

BEST RESTAURANT IN AVILA BEACH Mersea’s

3985 AVILA BEACH DRIVE, AVILA BEACH (805) 548-2290 merseas.pier@gmail.com merseas.com @merseasonthepier facebook.com/Merseas EATS

PHOTO BY PIETER SAAYMAN

BEST RESTAURANT IN SHELL BEACH Zorro’s Café & Cantina

927 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-9676

info@zorroscafe.com zorroscafe.com @zorroscafe facebook.com/zorroscafeandcantina

BEST RESTAURANT IN PISMO BEACH Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica

891 PRICE ST., PISMO BEACH 849 MONTEREY ST., SLO (805) 773-2870

jamie@giuseppesrestaurant.com giuseppesrestaurant.com @slogiuseppes facebook.com/PismoGiuseppes

BEST RESTAURANT IN GROVER BEACH

Pono Pacific Kitchen

228 W. GRAND AVE., GROVER BEACH (805) 202-8115

hello@ponopacifickitchen ponopacifickitchen.com @ponopacifickitchen facebook.com/ponopacifickitchen

BEST RESTAURANT IN OCEANO

Old

SO HIDDEN

What started as a waffle spot in 2018 off the beaten path in Cambria evolved into a second Hidden Kitchen along the beaten path in Cayucos. The Best Restaurant in Cayucos offers sweet and savory blue corn waffles topped with almost anything your heart desires alongside hand-pressed blue corn tacos, smoothies, and even boozy beverages.

BEST RESTAURANT IN ARROYO GRANDE Ember Restaurant

1200 E. GRAND AVE., SUITE 101, ARROYO GRANDE (805) 474-7700

info@emberwoodfire.com emberwoodfire.com @emberrestaurant facebook.com/emberrestaurant

Juan’s Cantina

649 PIER AVE., OCEANO (805) 489-5680 eat@oldjuanscantina.com oldjuanscantina.com @oldjuanscantina facebook.com/oldjuanscantina

BEST RESTAURANT IN NIPOMO Jocko’s Steakhouse

125 N. THOMPSON AVE., NIPOMO (805) 929-3686 jockossteakhouse.com

Best of SLO 12 Years

IN A ROW

est Of voters, you nailed this one. Zorro’s is truly a jewel, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Classic American fare like chicken-fried steak and eggs or blueberry pancakes are on point, and Mexican fare like their to-die-for Cuyama chili verde omelet

kids and dogs menus and a comfortable

—Glen Starkey

BEST CHINESE FOOD

Mei’s Chinese Restaurant

1759 SHELL BEACH ROAD, SHELL BEACH (805) 773-2908 meischineserestaurants.com

BEST INDIAN FOOD

Shalimar

3820 BROAD ST., SLO (805) 781-0766 asim@shalimarslo.com shalimarslo.com @shalimarindianrestaurant facebook.com/shalimarslo

BEST ITALIAN FOOD

Giuseppe’s

Cucina Rustica

891 PRICE ST., PISMO BEACH

giuseppesrestaurant.com @slogiuseppes facebook.com/PismoGiuseppes

BEST JAPANESE FOOD Goshi

570 HIGUERA ST., SUITE 155, SLO 772 PINE ST., PASO ROBLES

BEST PERUVIAN FOOD Mistura Restaurant

570 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 600-9029

info@misturarestaurants.com misturarestaurants.com @misturarestaurant facebook.com/MisturaRestaurantSLO

BEST MEDITERRANEAN FOOD Petra Mediterranean Pizza & Grill

1210 HIGUERA ST., SLO 134 TANK FARM ROAD, SLO (805) 439-1999 hello@eatpetra.com

our Old Juan's community!

For five decades, Old Juan’s Cantina has proudly served the Central Coast, continuing the legacy our parents started 50 years ago. We’re honored to be recognized by our incredible community with a New Times “Best of” award.

Old Juan’s has always been more than a restaurant. It’s a reflection of our deep local roots, our commitment to serving our community, and our dedication to giving back.

Thank you for being part of the Old Juan’s story.

-Adam and Eva Verdin

BEST MEXICAN FOOD Efren’s Mexican Restaurant

1720 BEACH ST., OCEANO 1285 LAUREL LANE, SLO 892 MARSH ST., SLO (805) 489-2385 efrensrestaurantoceano@gmail.com

Whether you’re in SLO or downtown Arroyo Grande, you can snag a Poke Morro bowl piled high with fresh fish, snappy veggies, sweet and savory sauces, and crunchy toppings whenever you get a hankering for the Best Poke.

(805) 594-1638 slothaiboat@gmail.com thaiboat.menu11.com

MONTEREY ST., SUITE 100, SLO (805) 586-1356 lurefishhouse.com @lurefishhouse facebook.com/LureFishHouse

570 HIGUERA ST., SUITE 155, SLO

TBEST VEGAN FOOD BEST VEGETARIAN FOOD

rust me, Ziggy’s is the place to be. This all-vegan spot is flipping burgers, stuffing tacos, and blending shakes that hit just as hard as anything you remember, whether you go for the house-made black bean patty or the Ratchet Fries. Roll in whenever you want—breakfast is served all day, every day, so there’s no wrong time to indulge. The soundtrack bounces from Wu-Tang Clan to The Clash to Marvin Gaye, with a little Madonna or Doja Cat keeping things unpredictable and funky. Globally inspired flavors collide here, mixing tradition with experimentation in every bite served at its SLO and Paso Robles locations—and coming soon to Oceano.

—Chloë Hodge

772 PINE ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 543-8942 goshislo.com @goshislo facebook.com/GoshiSLO

121 W. BRANCH ST., ARROYO GRANDE 3845 S. HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 668-2072 pokemorroag@gmail.com

@pokemorro facebook.com/POKEMORRO.NET

670 HIGUERA ST., SLO 3870-3 BROAD ST., SLO (805) 285-2473

info@oldsanluisbbq.com oldsanluisbbq.com @oldslobbq facebook.com/oldsanluisbbq

EATS continued page 28

BEST VEGAN FOOD

Ziggy’s

594 CALIFORNIA BLVD., SLO

1227 PINE ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 439-4399

ziggysvegan@gmail.com eatziggys.com @eatziggys facebook.com/eatziggys

BEST VEGETARIAN FOOD

Ziggy’s

594 CALIFORNIA BLVD., SLO 1227 PINE ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 439-4399

ziggysvegan@gmail.com eatziggys.com @eatziggys facebook.com/eatziggys

BEST FOOD TRUCK

Big Wave Sushi Bowls

(805) 888-1064

bigwavesushi@gmail.com bigwavesushi.com @bigwavesushibowls facebook.com/bigwavesushibowls BEST CHEF

2078 PARKER ST., SLO (805) 888-7752

One of San Luis Obispo’s newest ramen spots—Nomo Domo—is the talk of the town. With dishes like the seared pork belly tonkotsu (a 19-hour bone broth crafted from four cuts of pork), it’s no wonder I’m getting hungry.

@fieldtotableevents facebook.com/FTTevents

BEST BUTCHER Arroyo Grande Meat Company

gmorris123@yahoo.com sichuankitchenslo.com @sichuankitchenslo facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076593596132

BEST CATERER Field to Table

Catering & Events

146 N. THOMPSON AVE., NIPOMO (805) 474-5719 hello@fttevents.com fttevents.com

120 E. BRANCH ST., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 489-2693 info@agmeatcompany.com agmeatcompany.com @arroyograndemeatco facebook.com/AGmeatco

BEST FISH MARKET Pier 46 Seafood Co.

1131 ROSSI ROAD, TEMPLETON (805) 434-1950 info@pier46seafood.com pier46seafood.com @pier46seafood facebook.com/pier46seafood

Brown Butter Cookie Company in Cayucos now has spots in downtown Paso Robles and downtown San Luis Obispo, where a free sample is never far from a customer’s lips and the best cookies are sprinkled all over each shop. Square cookies have slipped into the company’s round reputation, inserting some Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory flavor into the brown butter cookies that melt in your mouth.

101 POMEROY AVE., PISMO BEACH (805) 295-5104 oysterloft.com @oysterloft

(805) 752-1016

taqueriasce.com @taq.santacruzexpress

ROBLES, OCEANO sylvestersburgers@gmail.com sylvestersburgers.com @sylvestersburgers facebook.com/sylvesters.burger

•

•

If

SANDWICH High Sreet Deli

350 HIGH ST., SLO 1326 SECOND ST., LOS OSOS (805) 541-4738 eat@highstdeli.com highstdeli.com @highstreetdeli facebook.com/highstreetdeli

125 N. THOMPSON AVE., NIPOMO (805) 929-3686 jockossteakhouse.com

BEST HOT CHICKEN Dave’s Hot Chicken

299 MADONNA ROAD, SLO (805) 706-0600 daveshotchicken.com @daveshotchicken facebook.com/ToLiveandFryInLA

BEST PIZZA

My Friend Mike’s 2324 BROAD ST., SLO (805) 464-6438 mike@myfriendmikes.com myfriendmikes.com @myfriendmikes BEST WOOD-FIRED PIZZA Palo Mesa Pizza

SLO, ARROYO GRANDE (805) 474-9924

info@palomesapizza.com palomesapizza.com @palomesapizza facebook.com/palomesapizza

SBEST FISH & CHIPS

Duckie’s Chowder House

mall town feel. Big time flavor. The slogan for Duckie’s Chowder House in Cayucos rings true in my book, and apparently for comfort seafood fans across San Luis Obispo County. I count myself a lucky duck every time I’m able to pluck myself a booth or barstool at Duckie’s, whether it’s for a bowl of clam chowder (they’ve got both the white New England-style and the red Manhattan-style to choose from, in case any Ace Ventura fans out there are wondering), or a plate of breaded and deep-fried fish and chips, shrimp and chips, clam strips and chips, oysters and chips, or calamari and chips. There’s even a combination plate for $20 if you want to try a little bit of everything. Go ahead, duck around and find out.

—Caleb Wiseblood

197 POMEROY AVE., PISMO BEACH (805) 773-4653 splashcafe.com @splashcafe facebook.com/SplashCafeChowder

1001 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 783-1001 contact@firestonegrill.com firestonegrill.com @firestonegrill facebook.com/FirestoneGrill

BEST RAMEN Nomo Domo

848 MONTEREY ST., SLO (805) 242-1462 nomodomo.slo@gmail.com nomodomo.com @nomo_domo_ facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588512215737

Thank you for voting us Best Smoothie in the County —and for showing up for local businesses like ours! Your support, energy, and daily smiles bring the feelgood vibes that keep us going.

To us, Jamba is more than a smoothie or bowl—it’s a way of life. Everything we make is real, delicious, and fun. When you choose Jamba, you’re choosing something positive for yourself—and sharing that sunshine with us, too.

Jamba, hello sunshine!

55 CAYUCOS DRIVE, CAYUCOS (805) 995-2245 duckieschowder@gmail.com duckieschowder.com @duckieschowderhouse facebook.com/DuckiesChowder

(805) 544-7433

info@blacksheepslo.com blacksheepslo.com @blacksheepslo facebook.com/blacksheepslo

868 MONTEREY ST., SLO (805) 439-5055

info@mcconnells.com mcconnells.com @mcconnellsicecreams facebook.com/mcconnells.icecream

956 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 439-0166

admin@slofroyo.com slofroyo.com @slofroyonice facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073203202519

BEST DOUGHNUT

SloDoCo

ATASCADERO, SLO (TWO LOCATIONS) (805) 782-9766

slomanager@slodoco.com slodoco.com @slodoco facebook.com/slodoco

BEST DESSERT

Madonna Inn Bakery

100 MADONNA ROAD, SLO (805) 543-3000 info@madonnainn.com madonnainn.com @madonnainn1958 facebook.com/MadonnaInn

BEST COOKIE

Brown Butter Cookie Company

CAYUCOS, PASO ROBLES, SLO (805) 464-6636

contactus@brownbuttercookies.com brownbuttercookies.com @brownbuttercookiecompany facebook.com/brownbuttercookieco

BEST BAKERY House of Bread

299 MARSH ST., SLO 1025 FARMHOUSE LANE, NO. 1F, SLO (805) 542-0255 bread@houseofbread.com houseofbread.com @houseofbreadbakerycafe facebook.com/HOBBakeryCafe

BEST OLIVE OIL

SLO Olive

958 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 439-2455 info@sloolive.com sloolive.com @slo.olive facebook.com/SLOOLIVE

Black Sheep Bar & Grill has it all: something for everyone as the Best Bar for Boomers, Millennials, and Gen X. Maybe it’s those 20-ounce draft beers or the famous mac n cheese, but it truly is the Best Bar in San Luis Obispo. Not only that, this downtown standard also houses the Best Bartender, Jon Garcia.

DRINKS

BEST NORTH COUNTY BAR

Club Car Bar

508 S. MAIN ST., TEMPLETON (805) 400-4542

office@templetonmercantile.com templetonmercantile.com/clubcarbar @clubcarbartempleton facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094210434111

BEST NORTH COAST BAR

The Siren

900 MAIN ST., MORRO BAY (805) 225-1312

info@thesirenmorrobay.com thesirenmorrobay.com @thesirenmorrobay facebook.com/thesirenmorrobay

BEST SAN LUIS OBISPO BAR

Black Sheep Bar & Grill

1117 CHORRO ST., SLO (805) 544-7433

info@blacksheepslo.com blacksheepslo.com @blacksheepslo facebook.com/blacksheepslo

BEST SOUTH COUNTY BAR

Mason Bar & Kitchen

307 E. BRANCH ST., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 202-8918 dan@masonbarag.com masonbarag.com @masonbarandkitchen facebook.com/MasonBarAG

BEST SOUTH COAST BAR

Marisol at The Cliffs

2757 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-5000

marisol@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com/dine @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

BEST BAR FOR BOOMERS

Black Sheep Bar & Grill

1117 CHORRO ST., SLO

(805) 544-7433

info@blacksheepslo.com blacksheepslo.com @blacksheepslo facebook.com/blacksheepslo

BEST BAR FOR GEN X Black Sheep Bar & Grill

1117 CHORRO ST., SLO (805) 544-7433

info@blacksheepslo.com blacksheepslo.com @blacksheepslo facebook.com/blacksheepslo

BEST BAR FOR MILLENNIALS

Black Sheep Bar & Grill

1117 CHORRO ST., SLO (805) 544-7433

info@blacksheepslo.com blacksheepslo.com @blacksheepslo facebook.com/blacksheepslo

BEST BAR FOR GEN Z

The Mark Bar & Grill

673 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 439-4400 info@themarkslo.com themarkslo.com @themarkslo facebook.com/TheMarkBarSLO

BEST WINE BAR Farmhouse Corner Market

1025 FARMHOUSE LANE, NO. 1G, SLO (805) 234-9010

kelli@farmhouseslo.com farmhouseslo.com @farmhousecm facebook.com/farmhouseSLO

BEST WINERY FOR RED Friendly Wager Wines

1025 FARMHOUSE LANE, NO. 1G, SLO (805) 234-9010

kelli@farmhouseslo.com friendlywagerwines.com @friendlywagerwines facebook.com/farmhouseSLO

BEST WINERY FOR WHITE Friendly Wager Wines

1025 FARMHOUSE LANE, NO. 1G, SLO (805) 234-9010

kelli@farmhouseslo.com friendlywagerwines.com @friendlywagerwines facebook.com/farmhouseSLO

SBEST CRAFT COCKTAIL

Sidecar Cocktail Co.

ip on craft cocktails and take in sights and sounds of the bubbling San Luis Creek at Sidecar Cocktail Co. The intimate yet lively downtown SLO cocktail bar is the sophisticated spot to catch up with friends or savor a drink before the clock strikes for dinner reservations. Sidecar currently offers $17 cocktails like the white rum, chocolate bitters, coconut, and St. George spiced pear Ignorance is Bliss; a toasted sesame oil, rye, Aperol, and passionfruit concoction called Bikini Girls with Machine Guns; and low alcohol-byvolume drinks like the lemongrass syrup and Prosecco-filled Decentralized Unicorn. Make use of happy hours until 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Saunter downstairs for the occasional dance party.

—Bulbul Rajagopal

BEST WINERY FOR SPARKLING

Laetitia Vineyard & Winery

453 LAETITIA VINEYARD DRIVE, ARROYO GRANDE (805) 481-1772 info@laetitiawine.com laetitiawine.com @laetitiawine facebook.com/laetitiawine

BEST TASTING ROOM

J Dusi Wines

1401 HIGHWAY 46 W., PASO ROBLES (805) 226-2034

info@jdusiwines.com jdusiwines.com @jdusiwines facebook.com/jdusiwines

DRINKS continued page 40

A comfy lounge, wines from all over the world, and wine tenders who know what they’re talking about when they walk you through a wine tasting. That’s what Farmhouse Corner Market offers to SLOcals who make the trek toward the airport to find the Best Wine Bar in SLO County—and for the Best Trivia every Tuesday night.

BEST TASTING TRANSPORTATION

Safe Ride

241B PRADO ROAD, SLO (805) 620-7233 info@slosaferide.com slosaferide.com @slosaferide facebook.com/slosaferide BEST BREWERY Firestone Walker Brewing Company

1400 RAMADA DRIVE, PASO ROBLES (805) 225-5913 customerservice@firestonewalker.com firestonewalker.com @firestonewalker facebook.com/firestone.walker BEST DISTILLERY

(844)

info@rodandhammer.com rodandhammer.com @rodandhammer facebook.com/rodandhammer

DRINKS continued page 42

BEST SMOOTHIE Jamba

ragon Daze. Peach Perfection. Mango-A-Go-Go. Blending fruit with “better-for-you” ingredients, protein boosts, and witty monikers is the name of the game at Jamba Juice, founded in San Luis Obispo as the Juice Club in 1990. The smoothie chain has more than 700 locations across the United States, including a handful of Central Coast shops that jointly earned the company this year’s Best Smoothie award. The store’s promise “to blend sunshine into every cup” transcends beyond its smoothie selection and into the realm of acai bowls, beverages over ice, and blended coffees. No matter how cuckoo for caffeine I go when it comes to creamy coffee concoctions, I’m partial to Jamba’s Strawberry Surf Rider smoothie, especially on a warm afternoon. Bottoms up!

—Caleb

1101 MONTEREY ST., SUITE 100, SLO (805) 586-1356

lurefishhouse.com @lurefishhouse facebook.com/LureFishHouse

(805) 544-7433

1234 PINE ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 238-1114

pinestreetsaloon@gmail.com pinestreetsaloon.com @pinestsaloon facebook.com/pinestreetsaloon

2575 PRICE ST., PISMO BEACH (805) 773-0000

ventanagrill.com @ventanagrill facebook.com/VentanaGrillPismoBeach

info@blacksheepslo.com blacksheepslo.com @blacksheepslo facebook.com/blacksheepslo

Firestone Grill

1001 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 783-1001

contact@firestonegrill.com firestonegrill.com @firestonegrill facebook.com/FirestoneGrill

Prioritized public safety through new wildfire prevention programs, increased firefighter staffing to national standards, and funded a new Sheriff’s Substation in Nipomo.

Unsheltered homelessness is down by 42% since 2022 with more shelter beds, supportive housing, and treatment services.

Protected local water supplies while advancing new long-term solutions like desal to address drought, wildfire risk, and climate impacts.

Advanced balanced housing policies that prioritize workforce and affordable housing while protecting our open space and farmland from overdevelopment.

BEST BLOODY MARY

Marisol at The Cliffs

2757 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-5000

marisol@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com/dine @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

BEST MARGARITA

La Esquina Taqueria

1051 NIPOMO ST., SLO (805) 439-4289 laesquinaslo@gmail.com laesquinaslo.com @laesquina_taqueria facebook.com/LaEsquinaSLO

BEST CRAFT COCKTAIL

Sidecar Cocktail Co.

1040 BROAD ST., SLO (805) 439-3563

info@sidecarslo.com sidecarcocktail.company @sidecarslo facebook.com/sidecarslo

BEST MOCKTAIL

Marisol

at The Cliffs

2757 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-5000

marisol@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com/dine @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

BEST COFFEE SHOP

Scout Coffee

SLO (2 LOCATIONS), CAL POLY, MORRO BAY (805) 439-2175 hello@scoutcoffee.com

scoutcoffeeco.com @scoutcoffee facebook.com/scoutcoffee

BEST COFFEE ROASTER

Deltina Coffee Roasters

1945 FRONT ST., OCEANO 1340 TAFT ST., SLO (805) 270-4744 info@deltinacoffeeroasters.com deltinacoffeeroasters.com @deltinacoffee facebook.com/deltinacoffee

BEST TEA SHOP Secrets of the Garden

2050 PARKER ST., SLO (805) 544-4372 secretgarden@organicherbshop.com organicherbshop.com @secretgardenslo facebook.com/secretgardenslo

BOBA

Sequel Cold Brew Tea

3845 S. HIGUERA ST., SUITE 100, SLO sequeltea@gmail.com sequeltea.com @sequeltea facebook.com/sequeltea

BEST JUICE PLACE Seeds

1040 COURT ST., SLO (805) 592-2929 hello@tasteseeds.com tasteseeds.com @tasteseeds facebook.com/tasteseeds

SUCK IT UP

Sequel Cold Brew Tea believes that cold brew is the balance that boba tea was made for: no powdered creamers, no high fructose corn syrup—just simple loose-leaf tea with a little extra fun and some sweet tapioca pearls. It’s the best.

Jamba

SLO, PASO ROBLES, ATASCADERO, ARROYO GRANDE jamba.com @jamba facebook.com/jamba

BEST SMOOTHIE

PINBALL WIZARD

Nostalgia, beer, and nachos. That’s a pretty good combo, and it’s not all that BA Start Arcade and Taproom in downtown SLO has to offer. The Best Arcade and Entertainment spot is also available for your next social event.

ARTS

BEST COMMUNITY EVENT

(NAME & CITY)

Downtown SLO

Farmers’ Market

HIGUERA STREET, DOWNTOWN SLO (805) 541-0286

farmers@downtownslo.com downtownslo.com @downtownslofarmersmarket

facebook.com/DowntownSLOFarmersMarket

BEST FOOD/DRINK EVENT

The Macaroni & Cheese Festival

AVILA BEACH (805) 781-2750 events@americangeneralmedia.com themacandcheesefest.com @themacfest facebook.com/TheMacandCheeseFest

BEST MOVIE THEATER

The Palm Theatre

817 PALM ST., SLO (805) 541-5161

info@slofilmfest.org thepalmtheatre.com @thepalmtheatre facebook.com/ThePalmTheatre

BEST THEATER GROUP

The Great American Melodrama

1863 FRONT ST., OCEANO (805) 489-2499 info@americanmelodrama.com americanmelodrama.com @tgamelodrama facebook.com/TGAMelodrama

BEST DANCE COMPANY CORE Dance Company 882 RICARDO COURT, SLO

(805) 541-2669 coredancescc@gmail.com coredanceslo.com @coredance.slo facebook.com/coredanceslo

BEST DJ LaDell Erby

920 HUBER ST. SUITE A, GROVER BEACH (805) 295-8555 info@epicentertainmentslo.com epicentertainment.group @epicentertainmentinc facebook.com/EpicEntertainmentInc

BEST BAND/MUSICIAN

Brass Mash (805) 801-4889

brassmashband@gmail.com brassmash.com @brassmashband facebook.com/BrassMash ARTS continued page 50

PHOTO

3800 MILL ROAD, PASO ROBLES (805) 286-3680 amphitheatre@vinarobles.com vinaroblesamphitheatre.com @vinaroblesamp facebook.com/vinaroblesamphitheatre BEST PLACE FOR KARAOKE

Bill’s Place 112 E. BRANCH ST., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 489-9989 @billsplaceag facebook.com/billsplaceag

ARTS continued page 52 BEST MOVIE THEATER

The Palm Theatre

Does the Palm Theatre have cutting-edge equipment and state-ofthe-art technology? No. Does it have roomy, reclining, heated seats? No. Is it an IMAX? Does it have a stunning exterior and stately marquee? Does it offer free parking? No, no, and no. And yet, New Times readers know when it comes to what really matters to movie lovers—an amazing selection of films, fascinating special events, a true sense of community— the Palm Theatre checks every box. Since 2024 and the retirement of owners Jim and Patty Dee, the theater has been operated by the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival and has become home to the SLO Film Center. Whether you want to see select new releases, international films, classics, or curated series like the Flickerhead Friday Night Features, the Palm has it all. Oh, and yes, that’s real butter on that freshly popped corn. Become a member, and join the fun.

—Glen

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

Farmhouse

Corner Market

1025 FARMHOUSE LANE, NO. 1G, SLO (805) 234-9010

kelli@farmhouseslo.com farmhouseslo.com @farmhousecm facebook.com/farmhouseSLO

BEST ARCADE & ENTERTAINMENT

BA Start Arcade and Taproom

647 HIGUERA ST., SLO (831) 524-5389 bastartarcadebar.com @bastartarcadebarslo facebook.com/profile. php?id=100088582455836 BEST RECORD

SHOP

Boo Boo Records

978 MONTEREY ST., SLO (805) 541-0657 info@booboorecords.com booboorecords.com @booboorecords facebook.com/booboorecords

BEST PLACE TO BUY AN INSTRUMENT

Lightning Joe’s Guitar Heaven

100 E. BRANCH ST., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 481-2226 info@lightningjoes.com lightningjoes.com @lightningjoes facebook.com/lightningjoesguitarheaven

BOOKSTORE

Books

201 E. BRANCH ST., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 668-6300 monarchbooksag@gmail.com monarchbooks805.com @monarch_books facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065631907175

BEST KIDS ARTS PROGRAM San Luis Obispo Museum of Art

1010 BROAD ST., SLO (805) 543-8562 info@sloma.org sloma.org @slomuseumofart facebook.com/slomuseumofart

BEST ART CLASSES

Art Central

1329 MONTEREY ST., SLO (805) 747-4200 artcentralslo@yahoo.com artcentralslo.com @artcentralslo facebook.com/artcentralslo

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER

Jleigh Photography

(805) 235-9597

jen@jleighphotography.org jleighphotography.org @jleighphotography_ facebook.com/jleighography

Susan Kounanis (805) 441-4238

susankounanis@hotmail.com susankounanis.com @susankounanis facebook.com/SusanKounanisFineArt

Box Art Program SLO (805) 781-7100 communications@slocity.org slocity.org @cityofslo facebook.com/cityofslo

BEST MUSEUM

San Luis Obispo Museum of Art

1010 BROAD ST., SLO (805) 543-8562

info@sloma.org sloma.org @slomuseumofart facebook.com/slomuseumofart BEST ART GALLERY Studios on the Park

1130 PINE ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 238-9800 info@studiosonthepark.org studiosonthepark.org @studiospr facebook.com/studiosonthepark

THRIFTYBEACHESHQ 876HIGUERAST. OPENDAILY11AM-7PM THRIFTYBEACHSLO.COM

Elegant Image Limousine

Whether it’s reserving a stretch limo for eight passengers or booking a private charter bus with 50-plus seats, Elegant Image Limousine is a one-stop shop for anyone looking to get from point A to point B in style. The Best Limo Service winner covers Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Pismo Beach, Arroyo Grande, and beyond. From Mercedes Benz Sprinters (for up to 12 passengers) to luxury motor coaches (for up to 56 passengers), Elegant Image Limousine’s vehicle lineup includes rides fit for all kinds of occasions, group sizes, and personal preferences. For short, intimate trips and airport drop-offs/pickups, the company recommends booking its 2024 Tesla Model Y sedan, which seats up to two passengers comfortably.

—Caleb

BEST EVENT VENUE

BEST ESCAPE ROOM

The Locked Inn

750 FARROLL ROAD, SUITE C, GROVER BEACH (805) 270-3259

frontdesk@thelockedinn.com thelockedinn.com @thelockedinn facebook.com/thelockedinn

The Cliffs Hotel and Spa

2757 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-5000

frontoffice@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com/dine @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

ROTARY SLO HOME TOUR

BEST EVENT PLANNER

Anna FergusThe Cliffs Hotel and Spa

2757 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-5000 frontoffice@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com/dine @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

BEST PLACE TO GET MARRIED

The Cliffs Hotel and Spa

2757 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-5000 frontoffice@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

IN

Initially conceived as a graffiti abatement measure in 2010, San Luis Obispo’s beloved Box Art Program celebrated its 15th anniversary last year. San Luis Obispo has transformed its streets into the Best Public Art gallery with 72 pieces of art on utility boxes created by SLO County locals that everyone can enjoy.

@elegantimagelimousine facebook.com/elegantimagelimousine

BEST RADIO

STATION

KJUG 98.1

3620 SACRAMENTO DRIVE, SUITE 204, SLO (805) 549-8698 kjug@jugcountry.com jugcountry.com @981kjug facebook.com/981KJUG

BEST TATTOO SHOP Traditional Tattoo

251 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 784-0822 traditionaltattoo@gmail.com tattooslo.com @traditionaltattooandpiercing facebook.com/slotraditionaltattoo

BEST LIMO SERVICE

Elegant Image Limousine

990 QUINTANA ROAD, MORRO BAY 2460 VICTORIA AVE., UNIT 104, SLO (805) 772-5390 elegantimagelimousine@gmail.com elegantimagelimos.com

BEST NEWS SOURCE

KSBY

1772 CALLE JOAQUIN, SLO (805) 541-6666 news@ksby.com ksby.com @ksbynews facebook.com/ksbynews

Brunch County

ENDLESS TUNES

Boo Boo Records is more than a one-stop shop for vinyl. It has turntables, accessories, speakers, apparel, and art, and even hosts concerts. That iconic rooster logo is on T-shirts all over San Luis Obispo. So, Boo Boo Records is the Best Music Shop. Duh!

GOODS

BEST LOCAL GROCERY STORE

California Fresh Market

555 FIVE CITIES DRIVE, PISMO BEACH

771 E. FOOTHILL BLVD., SLO (805) 250-1425

socialmedia@californiafreshmarket.com californiafreshmarket.com @californiafreshmarkets facebook.com/CaliforniaFreshMarkets

BEST FARMERS’ MARKET

Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market

HIGUERA STREET, SLO (805) 541-0286 farmers@downtownslo.com downtownslo.com @downtownslofarmersmarket facebook.com/DowntownSLOFarmersMarket

BEST FARM STAND

Halcyon Farms

1075 THE PIKE, ARROYO GRANDE halcyonfarms@gmail.com halcyonfarmsag.com @halcyon_farms facebook.com/HalcyonFarmsAG

BEST PRODUCE BOX

Talley Farms Box (805) 489-5401 freshharvest@talleyfarms.com talleyfarmsbox.com @talleyfarmsbox facebook.com/TalleyFarmsBox

BEST NATURAL FOOD STORE SLO Food Co-op 2494 VICTORIA AVE., SLO (805) 544-7928 marketing@slofood.coop slofood.coop @slofoodcoop facebook.com/SLOFoodCoop

BEST HEALTH/ SUPPLEMENT STORE

SLO Food Co-op 2494 VICTORIA AVE., SLO

(805) 544-7928

marketing@slofood.coop slofood.coop @slofoodcoop facebook.com/SLOFoodCoop

BEST ANTIQUE SHOP

The Barn Antiques & Unique

22390 EL CAMINO REAL, SANTA MARGARITA (805) 438-5329 @thebarnantique facebook.com/thebarnantiquesunique

BEST THRIFT STORE

Thrifty Beaches

876 HIGUERA ST., SLO thriftybeachslo.com @thrifty.beaches GOODS

PHOTO BY PIETER SAAYMAN

BEST CONSIGNMENT

Finders Keepers

1124 GARDEN ST., SLO (805) 545-9879

slofinderskeepers@gmail.com @findersboutiqueslo facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085047021069

BEST GIFT SHOP

Ah Louis Store

800 PALM ST., SLO (805) 592-2442

hello@karsonbutlerevents.com ahlouisstore.com @ahlouisstore facebook.com/ahlouisstore

BEST ART SUPPLIES

Art Central

1329 MONTEREY ST., SLO (805) 747-4200 artcentralslo@yahoo.com

artcentralslo.com @artcentralslo facebook.com/artcentralslo

BEST MUSIC SHOP Boo Boo Records

978 MONTEREY ST., SLO (805) 541-0657 info@booboorecords.com booboorecords.com

@donnas_interiors facebook.com/donnasinteriorsAG

Modelhom

Furniture + Design

1185 E. GRAND AVE., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 489-4277

sales@modelhom.com modelhom.com @modelhom facebook.com/Modelhom

@booboorecords facebook.com/booboorecords

BEST HOME FURNISHINGS (TIE)

Donna’s Interiors

1069 E. GRAND AVE., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 489-8533 donnasinteriors@gmail.com donnasinteriors.com

BEST APPLIANCE STORE

Idler’s Home

PASO ROBLES, SLO info@idlershome.com idlershome.com @idlershome facebook.com/IdlersHome

POWER BOUQUET

Open Air Flowers has room to breathe at its new location just steps

BEST MATTRESS STORE

Christian’s Mattress Xpress

SLO, ARROYO GRANDE, ATASCADERO, PASO ROBLES

info@christiansmattress.com christiansmattress.com @christiansmattressca facebook.com/christiansmattress

BEST SOLAR COMPANY

Sunrun

775 FIERO LANE, NO. 200, SLO (833) 324-5886 sunrun.com @sunrunsolar facebook.com/SunrunCC

BEST ROOFING COMPANY

Wicks Roofing and Solar

2170 HUTTON ROAD, NIPOMO (805) 819-5316 retail@wicksroofingandsolar.com wicksroofing.com @wicksroofingandsolar facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577761870682

BEST GLASS COMPANY A-1 Glass

705 PASO ROBLES ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 227-6679 info@a1glasswindows.com a1glasswindows.com @a1glassco facebook.com/A1GlassCA

GOODS continued page 66

FARM STAND Halcyon Farms

Pesticide-free, organically fertilized, and tucked away on The Pike in Arroyo Grande, the farm stand run by Halcyon Farms is a return to whimsy. Brimming with produce like napa cabbage, avocados, tubers, citrus, corn, strawberries, blackberries, apples, watermelons, and herbs, the stand is the organic one-stop shop for weekly groceries. The Halcyon farm stand also stocks honey, flowers, and loaves of bread and sweet treats from local bakeries like Bread Bike and Little Red Hen Bread. Halcyon Farms prides itself on transparency—the stand is located a stone’s throw away from the land where its fruits and vegetables are grown. With most of its produce harvested on the day of sale, the farm stand is as local as it can get. —Bulbul

BEST FENCING COMPANY

Five Star Fencing

OCEANO (805) 714-1205

5starfencingslo@gmail.com 5starfencingslo.com @fivestarfencingslo facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089278051430

BEST GARAGE DOOR COMPANY

Precision Garage

Door Service

4106 VACHELL LANE, SLO (805) 250-1875

slo@mydoorteam.com cagaragedoors.com facebook.com/PrecisionDoorService

BEST HARDWARE STORE Miner’s Ace Hardware

SLO, ARROYO GRANDE, GROVER BEACH, LOS OSOS, MORRO BAY, ATASCADERO, NIPOMO

minershardware.com @miners_ace_hardware facebook.com/Minershardware

BEST USED CAR DEALER

McCarthy’s

43 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 544-1900

info@mccarthywholesale.com mccarthyslo.com facebook.com/mccarthywholesale

BEST NEW CAR DEALER

Sunset Honda

12250 LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD, SLO (805) 544-9500 info@sunsethonda.com sunsethonda.com @sunsethonda facebook.com/sunsethonda

SBEST NATURAL FOOD STORE

BEST HEALTH/SUPPLEMENT STORE

SLO Food Co-op

LO Food Co-op is your everyday farmers market. This neighborhood staple stocks fresh, locally grown produce from across SLO County, including unique seasonal finds like cherimoya, loquat, and yellow dragonfruit that keep things interesting. Bread arrives daily from Back Porch Bakery and Bread Bike, filling the store with that just-baked smell. The shelves are packed with every supplement you can think of, alongside wholesome, feel-good groceries that live up to the hype. Staff greet you like a regular—even if it’s your first time. Swing by once, and it’s hard not to start calling it your go-to spot.

BEST LOCAL GAS STATION

Templeton Market & Deli

390 S. MAIN ST., TEMPLETON (805) 434-2345 @templetonmarket facebook.com/profile. php?id=100041807246893#

BEST CAR WASH Sun Day Carwash

BEST YOGA STUDIO

SLO, ATASCADERO, PASO ROBLES (805) 439-3765

hello@sundaycarwash.com sundaycarwash.com @sundaycarwash

BEST TIRE STORE The Tire Store

252 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 541-8473 tirestoreslo.com

AUTO DETAILER

West Coast Detailing

723 WOODBRIDGE ST., SLO (805) 543-9274

westcoastdetailslo@gmail.com westcoastdetailslo.com facebook.com/WestCoastDetailingSLO

BEST FLOWER SHOP

Open Air Flowers

1003 OSOS ST., SLO (805) 541-1417

openairflowers@gmail.com openairflowers.com @openairflowers facebook.com/openairflowersslo

BEST NURSERY

Miner’s Ace Hardware

SLO, ARROYO GRANDE, GROVER BEACH, LOS OSOS, MORRO BAY, ATASCADERO, NIPOMO

minershardware.com @miners_ace_hardware facebook.com/Minershardware

BEST PLACE FOR LANDSCAPE PRODUCTS

Central Coast Landscape Products

445 PRADO ROAD, SLO (805) 595-3478 sales@cclandscapeproducts.com

cclandscapeproducts.com @cclandscapeproducts facebook.com/centralcoastlandscapeproducts

BEST LOCAL LUMBER YARD

Hayward Lumber

236 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 543-0825 haywardlumber.com @haywardlumber facebook.com/HaywardLumberSLO

734 S. MAIN ST., TEMPLETON (805) 434-2848 info@templetonfloorcompany.com templetonfloorcompany.com @templetonfloorcompany facebook.com/templetonfloorcompany BEST EYEWEAR STORE Urban Optics

719 HIGUERA ST., SUITE E, SLO (805) 543-5200 info@urbanoptics.com urbanoptics.com @urbanopticsslo facebook.com/UrbanOptics

Sticky sap? Dusty windows? Buggy grills? Sun Day Carwash can fix all that. Give your car a squeaky-clean renewal with a quick drive through the soapy tracks. At Sun Day, employees are proud to offer a little extra pizazz. After paying for your service, don’t forget to take complimentary rags, dash wipes, and, of course, a smiley face air freshener—everyone who’s anyone in town has one. Splurge for the exclusive member’s only lane and earn a beverage on every visit, plus priority passage. With locations in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero, and Paso Robles, go ahead and add Sun Day Carwash to your next Sunday refresh routine.

—Madison White

info@bellajule.com bellajule.com @bella.jule.fine.jewelry facebook.com/BellaJuleFineJewelry

midstatepreciousmetals@gmail.com midstatepreciousmetals.com @mid_state_precious_metals facebook.com/profile.php?id=61583462634710

San Luis Obispo? Do you want to help local businesses succeed? So do we! New Times Media Group is a family owned business that has been part of the community since 1986. Our mission is to publish great newspapers, which are successful and enduring, create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow and to have a positive impact on our communities and make them a better place to live. If you want to make a difference and do something that matters then keep reading. We are looking for an individual who cares about building relationships and partnering with local businesses. If you have the heart, we have the tools to train you to be a successful Ad Consultant. You must be self-motivated, ambitious and an independent person who wants to be part of a great team. Successful reps will have a sincere desire to help our clients assess their needs and work together to create marketing campaigns that increase their business.

s

TALENTS:

• A curiosity about how different types of businesses work

• An interest in learning consultative sales skills

• Excellent time management skills and the ability to work within deadlines

• The ability to be social and enjoy talking with people

• The ability to learn how to develop solutions to marketing problems

• A strong work ethic

• Superior customer service skills

Compensation includes a base salary, or commission and bonus; excellent benefits package including medical, dental, paid time off and 401(k). New Times is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Please submit your resume and a cover letter.

Job Type: Full-time

EXPERIENCE:

• Experience in business, customer service or related field

• College degree preferred

• Vehicle, license and insurance required

TO APPLY:

If this sounds like you, please let us know by emailing your resume. When you submit your resume please answer the following questions in your e-mail: 1) Why are you interested in working for New Times Media Group? 2) Why should we hire you? 3) Tell us something about yourself that we can’t learn from your resume.

BRIDAL SHOP

Moondance Bridal

1880 SANTA BARBARA AVE., SUITE 130, SLO (805) 788-0811

hello@moondancebridal.com moondancebridal.com @moondancebridal facebook.com/moondancebridal

BEST SHOE STORE

Mike’s Shoes

487 MADONNA ROAD, NO. 3, SLO (805) 547-9593 mikesshoes@sbcglobal.com mikesshoessanluisobispo.com @mikesshoesslo facebook.com/MikesShoes

Christian’s Mattress Xpress

Some things you just shouldn’t buy online and that’s where Christian’s Mattress Xpress comes in. This family-owned shop is all about helping you find your perfect night’s sleep, with a wide range of high-quality mattresses built for every comfort level. As a true local staple, they focus on value, quality, and making sure you walk out feeling better than when you came in. It’s the kind of place where you can actually try before you buy. Stop by, and you might finally understand what “sleep like an angel” really means.

—Chloë

Tom’s Toys is always the Best Toy Store, and for

It has all the

and greatest and the old-time favorites, too. Plus, it hosts things like summer reading challenges for your kiddos. Of course they want to go to Tom’s!

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

Patrick James

641 HIGUERA ST., SUITE 100, SLO (805) 549-9593 customercare@patrickjames.com patrickjames.com @shoppatrickjames facebook.com/shoppatrickjames

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

Jayde Boutique

823 12TH ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 238-3337 andrea@jaydeboutique.com jaydeboutique.com @jayde_boutique facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057684398738

BEST CHILDREN’S CLOTHING STORE

Calico Kids

445A MADONNA ROAD, SLO (805) 439-9920 calicotradingcompany.com @calicokidsresale

BEST TOY STORE

Tom’s Toys

682 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 541-2896 tomstoystore.com @therealtomstoys facebook.com/slotoms

BEST PET SUPPLY STORE

Lemos Feed & Pet Supply

ARROYO GRANDE, SLO, ATASCADERO, PASO ROBLES, MORRO BAY, LOS OSOS, NIPOMO

(805) 489-9243

info@lemospet.com lemospet.com @lemospet805 facebook.com/lemospet805

BEST

CANNABIS DISPENSARY Megan’s Organic Market

280 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 592-1420

hello@megansslo.com megansorganicmarket.com @sayhighmom facebook.com/SayHighMOM

BEST CANNABIS DELIVERY

The Source

NIPOMO, PISMO BEACH, ARROYO GRANDE, GROVER BEACH, AVILA BEACH, SLO, LOS OSOS, MORRO BAY, ATASCADERO, TEMPLETON, PASO ROBLES (805) 550-5092

contact@thesourceslo.com thesourceslo.com

BEST COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP Cal-Tec Computers

560 HIGUERA ST., SUITE B, SLO (805) 546-9976 caltechcomputers.net

BEST CLEANING SERVICE Pioneer Carpet Cleaners

1376 PHILLIPS LANE, SLO (805) 544-4761 office@pioneerslo.com pioneerslo.com

@pioneercarpetcleaners facebook.com/PioneerCarpetCleaners

BEST GENERAL CONTRACTOR King Construction

7800 PORTOLA ROAD, ATASCADERO (805) 462-9133

BEST INTERIOR DESIGN COMPANY Honeycomb Home Design

132 W. BRANCH ST., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 202-8269

hello@honeycombhomedesign.com honeycombhomedesign.com @honeycomb_homedesign facebook.com/honeycombhomedesign

BEST PAINTING SERVICE Browder Painting Company

811 RICARDO COURT, SLO (805) 544-9547 info@browderpainting.com browderpainting.com @browderpainting facebook.com/browderpainting

BEST LANDSCAPE SERVICE Purlieu Landscape

725 BUCKLEY ROAD, SUITE A, SLO (805) 439-1757 taylor@purlieulandscapes.com purlieulandscapes.com @purlieulandscapes facebook.com/purlieulandscapes

BEST HANDYMAN

Ryan Hilton-Sullivan, Ryan’s Handyman Services

LOS OSOS (805) 235-9639 facebook.com/ryan.hiltonsullivan

BEST PLUMBER

205 SOUTH ST., SLO (805) 544-1214

723 BUCKLEY ROAD, SUITE C, SLO (805) 704-0929

seand@unity-electric.com unity-electric.com @unityelectric facebook.com/unityelectriccentralcoast

BEST MOVING COMPANY

Meathead Movers

3600 S. HIGUERA ST., SLO (866) 515-8332 customerservice@meatheadmovers.com meatheadmovers.com @meatheadmovers facebook.com/MeatheadMovers

BEST PEST CONTROL

Brezden Pest Control SLO

3261 S. HIGUERA ST., SUITE 100, SLO (805) 544-9446 support@brezdenpest.com

brezdenpest.com @brezdenpestcontrol facebook.com/Brezden.Pest.Control

BEST TREE TRIMMING

Bunyon Bros. Tree Service

SLO, ATASCAERO, NIPOMO (805) 547-1903 contact@bunyonbros.com

bunyonbros.com @bunyonbrostreeservice facebook.com/bunyonbrostreeserviceSLO

BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP

Nipomo Automotive

190 S. THOMPSON AVE., NIPOMO (805) 929-0202 nipomoautomotive@gmail.com facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588368065216

BEST OIL CHANGE

Nipomo Automotive

190 S. THOMPSON AVE., NIPOMO (805) 929-0202

nipomoautomotive@gmail.com facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588368065216

BEST SMOG CHECK

Nipomo

190 S. THOMPSON AVE., NIPOMO (805) 929-0202

nipomoautomotive@gmail.com facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588368065216

HVAC COMPANY

Air Cold Air (805) 543-3337 coldair1566@gmail.com hotaircoldair.com www.facebook.com/hotaircoldair

BEST JUNK REMOVAL/HAULING

2 Mexicans

Junk Removal

(805) 440-1295

2mwastesolutions@gmail.com 2mexicans.com @2mexicans_llc facebook.com/2mexicans

BEST STORAGE FACILITY

Buckley Springs Storage

901 BUCKLEY ROAD, SLO (805) 244-7867 storage@buckleyspringsstorage.com buckleyspringsstorage.com @buckleyspringsstorage facebook.com/buckleyspringsstorage

BEST ACCOUNTING PRACTICE

Glenn Burdette

1150 PALM ST., SLO 102 S. VINE ST., PASO ROBLES

CHAIR SALON

Salon 62

urly and wavy hair have a place to receive expert TLC on Garden Street. Loyal to Aveda and DevaCurl hair products, Salon 62 works with hair of all lengths and textures, while specializing in curly hair cutting, care, and education. Stylists, also called “curly hair specialists,” don’t just cater to hair but also want to hear their clients’ hair story before delivering the mane of their dreams. Stylists then cut hair dry, followed by cleansing, conditioning, and styling. Throughout the process, they teach clients how to take care of their refreshed hair so that they can maintain health and replicate results at home. Salon 62 also helps cancer survivors manage newfound curly hair after chemotherapy.

—Bulbul

(805) 544-1441 info@glennburdette.com glennburdette.com facebook.com/glennburdette

BEST LAW OFFICE

Harris Personal Injury Lawyers

1025 FARMHOUSE LANE, NO. 2F, SLO (805) 544-0100 harrispersonalinjury@gmail.com harrispersonalinjury.com @harrispersonalinjury facebook.com/HarrisPersonalInjury

BEST LOCAL BANK/ CREDIT UNION

SESLOC Credit Union

ARROYO GRANDE, ATASCADERO, PASO ROBLES, SLO info@sesloc.org sesloc.org facebook.com/sesloc

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY

Pacific Trust Mortgage

735 TANK FARM ROAD, SUITE 210, SLO

(805) 543-4422

info@pacifictrustmortgage.com pacifictrustmortgage.com @pacifictrustmortgage facebook.com/PacificTrustMortgage

BEST REAL ESTATE COMPANY Central Coast Sotheby’s International Realty SLO, PASO ROBLES, CAMBRIA (805) 781-6040

info@richardsonproperties.com sothebysrealty.com/centralcoastsir @centralcoastsir facebook.com/CentralCoastSIR

BEST ACUPUNCTURIST/ ALTERNATIVE HEALER Zen Den

672 HIGUERA ST., SUITE 100, SLO (805) 360-5800

info@zendenslo.com zendenslo.com @zendenslo facebook.com/zendenslo

SERVICES continued page 80

BEST CHIROPRACTIC OFFICE

Momentum Health Chiropractic

1503 FROOM RANCH WAY, SLO (805) 472-7089 momentumhealthchiro.com @momentumhealthchiro facebook.com/MomentumHealthChiro

BEST DOCTOR’S OFFICE

Bravo Pediatrics

3241 S. HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 544-4460 patient@bravopediatrics.com bravopediatrics.com facebook.com/people/Bravo-Pediatrics/100063708866029

BEST DENTIST’S OFFICE

Aerovista Dental

835 AEROVISTA PLACE, NO. 210, SLO (805) 543-4266 aerovistadental.com facebook.com/aerovistadental

SO HAPPY

Polly is pleased as punch with her time spent at Springdale Pet Ranch with Denise Espinoza and company in Arroyo Grande. On 9 acres with spacious accommodations and quality pet care, the Best Pet Trainer and Best Pet Sitter/Boarding is waiting for your pet to check in.

BEST URGENT CARE Dignity Health of SLO County

5920 WEST MALL, ATASCADERO 877 OAK PARK BLVD., PIMSO BEACH (805) 332-8200 dignityhealth.org

BEST ORTHODONTIST’S OFFICE

Garrett Orthodontics

1312 GARDEN ST., SLO

1040 E. GRAND AVE., ARROYO GRANDE (805) 544-3223

info@garrettortho.com garrettortho.com @garrettortho_centralcoast facebook/com/GarrettOrtho

BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY

BEST PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER

OFFICE

Body + Balance Center

1248 MONTEREY ST., SAN LUIS OBISPO (805) 541-8005

info@bodyandbalancecenter.com bodyandbalancecenter.com @bodyandbalancecenter facebook.com/bbcslo

Dr. Wally Hosn Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center

1250 PEACH ST., SUITE D, SLO (805) 541-0330

office@drhosn.com iloveplasticsurgery.com @drwallyhosn facebook.com/drwallyhosn

719 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 543-5200 info@urbanoptics.com urbanoptics.com @urbanopticsslo facebook.com/UrbanOptics

SENIOR

3211 BROAD ST., NO. 105, SLO (805) 546-2080 slo@visitingangels.com

visitingangels.com/slo @visitingangelsslo facebook.com/VisitingAngelsofSLOCounty

55 BROAD ST., SLO (805) 543-2300 bryan@villagesofslo.com villagesofslo.com facebook.com/villagesofslo

1515 FREDERICKS ST., SLO (805) 549-0332 umcc@sloumcc.com sloumcc.org @sloumcc facebook.com/profile. php?id=100066600485053

BEST VETERINARY CLINIC

Animal Care Clinic SLO

162 CROSS ST., SLO (805) 545-8212 info@animalcareclinicslo.com animalcareclinicslo.com @animalcareclinicslo facebook.com/animalcareclinic

BEST PET GROOMING SERVICE

The Golden Paw

2314 BROAD ST., SLO

8135 MORRO ROAD, ATASCADERO (805) 543-8930 thegoldenpawslo@gmail.com

BEST PET TRAINER

Springdale Pet Ranch

1731 CORBETT CANYON ROAD, ARROYO GRANDE

EcoSlo Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo

If there was a vote for best planet, wouldn’t Earth win? When it comes down to protecting her, you all gave top prize to the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (EcoSlo). The organization was founded more than five decades ago when four pollution incidents hurt San Luis Obispo Creek, prompting students and biologists to step up in the name of Earth. Since then, EcoSlo has provided opportunities for the community to make a difference, like volunteering for coastal cleanups, tree plantings, and caring for county parks. If you feel climate anxiety bubbling up, check out your options at EcoSlo.

—Madison

(805) 549-5227 info@springdalepetranch.com springdalepetranch.com @springdalepetranch facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063736621153

BEST PET SITTER/BOARDING

Springdale Pet Ranch

1731 CORBETT CANYON ROAD, ARROYO GRANDE (805) 549-5227 info@springdalepetranch.com springdalepetranch.com @springdalepetranch facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063736621153

BEST ANIMAL RESCUE

Woods Humane Society

875 OKLAHOMA AVE., SLO 2300 RAMONA ROAD, ATASCADERO (805) 543-9316 adoptions@woodshumanesociety.org woodshumanesociety.org @woodshumanesociety facebook.com/WoodsHumaneSociety

BEST HAIR SALON Salon 62

1112 GARDEN ST., SLO (805) 543-2060

salon62.com @salon62slo facebook.com/salon62SLO

BEST BARBER SHOP Red Chair

Barber Shop

583 W. GRAND AVE., GROVER BEACH (805) 801-6227 redchairbarbershopgb@gmail.com redchairbarbershop.com @red_chair_barbershop

BEST NAIL SALON Palace Nails & Spa

7111 EL CAMINO REAL, ATASCADERO (805) 460-6499

palacenailsspa@hotmail.com palacenailsatascadero.com @palace_nails805 facebook.com/palacenails.805

SERVICES continued page 86

BEST DAY SPA

The Spa at Sycamore

1215 AVILA BEACH DRIVE, SLO (805) 595-7302 sycamoresprings.com info@smsr.com @sycamoresprings facebook.com/sycamoremineralsprings

BEST MEDICAL SPA Aesthera MedSpa

931 N. OAK PARK BLVD., SUITE 101, PISMO BEACH (805) 574-4037 aestheramedspa@gmail.com aestheramedspa.com @aesthera.aesthetics facebook.com/aesthera.aesthetics

BEST TATTOO REMOVAL

Bungalow Day Spa

1401 DOLLIVER ST., NO. 103, PISMO BEACH

(805) 295-6485

bungalowdayspa27@gmail.com

bungalowdayspa.com @bungalowdayspa facebook.com/bungalowshellbeach

BEST PLACE TO GET WAXED The Cheeky Parlor

2040 PARKER ST., SLO (805) 457 5814

social@thecheekyparlor.com thecheekyparlor.com @thecheekyparlor facebook.com/cheekyparlor

ZACH DEVRIES, THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER FOR SAN LUIS OBISPO

Zach DeVries grew up locally in Atascadero and has been an athlete his entire life, competing in football, wrestling, triathlons, and bodybuilding. He joined Meathead Movers in 2016 as a mover and worked his way through the organization, serving as an Operations Manager and later Employee Development Manager before stepping into his current role as General Manager of the San Luis Obispo branch where he will be leading sales, marketing, and operations. Zach is passionate about developing people, supporting the local community, and continuing Meathead Movers’ tradition

BEST PLACE TO GET A MASSAGE

The Spa at The Cliffs

2757 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 773-5000 relax@cliffshotelandspa.com cliffshotelandspa.com @thecliffshotelandspa facebook.com/thecliffshotelandspa

BEST USE OF TAXPAYER MONEY Roads

976 OSOS ST., ROOM 206, SAN LUIS OBISPO (805) 781-5252 publicworks@co.slo.ca.us slocounty.ca.gov/departments/public-works @slocountypwd facebook.com/slocountypwd

BEST NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Woods Humane Society

875 OKLAHOMA AVE., SLO 2300 RAMONA ROAD, ATASCADERO (805) 543-9316 adoptions@woodshumanesociety.org woodshumanesociety.org @woodshumanesociety facebook.com/WoodsHumaneSociety

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION

EcoSlo

Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo

1012 PACIFIC ST., SUITE B-1, SLO (805) 710-8021 info@ecoslo.org ecoslo.com

@ecoslo facebook.com/ECOSLO

BEST VETERAN’S SUPPORT ORGANIZATION

Operation Surf

80 SAN FRANCISCO ST., AVILA BEACH (805) 544-SURF info@operationsurf.org operationsurf.org @operationsurf facebook.com/operationsurf

PUBLIC OFFICIAL

4th District County Supervisor Jimmy Paulding

ARROYO GRANDE (805) 781-4337 district4@co.slo.ca.us slocounty.ca.gov/departments/board-of-supervisors/district-4-supervisor-jimmy-paulding @jimmypaulding facebook.com/jimmypaulding

RUN LIKE THE WIND

With unparalleled views of the Pacific Ocean from trails along the bluffs at Montaña de Oro State Park, some of the sweetest mountain biking and trail riding around, and some pretty cool campgrounds too, it’s a no-brainer that the remote-feeling spot was voted Best State Park in the county.

RECREATION

BEST MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO

Paragon Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

SLO, ATASCADERO, ARROYO GRANDE, PASO ROBLES (805) 305-7512 paragonslo@sbcglobal.net paragonbjjslo.com @paragonslo_atascadero facebook.com/ParagonBJJSanLuisObispoAtascadero

3988 SHORT ST., NO. 110, SLO (805) 439-3915 artscyclery@gmail.com artscyclery.com @artscyclery facebook.com/ArtsCyclery

BEST HIKE

The Pismo Perserve

BEST HEALTH CLUB/GYM

Kennedy Club Fitness

ARROYO GRANDE, ATASCADERO, PASO ROBLES, TEMPLETON, SLO sloservice@kennedyclubs.com kennedyclubs.com @kennedyclubfitness facebook.com/KennedyClubFitness

BEST YOGA STUDIO

Spark Yoga

977 E. FOOTHILL BLVD., SUITE 111, SLO 1289 LAUREL LANE, SLO

285 BUCHON ST., SLO (805) 439-1848 hello@sparkyoga.com sparkyoga.com @sparkyogaslo facebook.com/smileatspark

BEST PILATES STUDIO

Club Pilates

SLO, ARROYO GRANDE, PASO ROBLES clubpilates.com @clubpilates facebook.com/clubpilates

BEST BIKE TRAIL

Bob Jones Trail

AVILA BEACH (805) 544-9096 info@lcslo.org lcslo.org @landconservancyslo facebook.com/The-Land-Conservancy-of-SanLuis-Obispo-County-98093522918

BEST BIKE SHOP

Art’s Cyclery

80 MATTIE ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 544-9096 info@lcslo.org lcslo.org/pismopreserve @landconservancyslo facebook.com/The-Land-Conservancy-of-SanLuis-Obispo-County-98093522918

BEST ADA ACCESSIBLE TRAIL

Bob Jones Trail

AVILA BEACH (805) 544-9096 info@lcslo.org lcslo.org @landconservancyslo facebook.com/The-Land-Conservancy-of-SanLuis-Obispo-County-98093522918

BEST STATE PARK

Montaña De Oro State Park

PECHO VALLEY ROAD, LOS OSOS (805) 772-6101

parks.ca.gov/?page_id=592 @castateparks facebook.com/CaliforniaStateParks

BEST BEACH Avila Beach

AVILA BEACH

BEST OUTDOOR STORE

The Mountain Air

667 MARSH ST., SUITE D, SLO (805) 543-1676

customerservice@themountainair.com themountainair.com @themountainair facebook.com/TheMountainAir

BEST CAMPGROUND

Morro Bay State Park

STATE PARK ROAD, MORRO BAY (805) 772-7434

parks.ca.gov/?page_id=594 @castateparks facebook.com/CaliforniaStateParks

BEST HORSEBACK RIDES

Madonna Inn Trail Rides

100 MADONNA ROAD, SLO (805) 550-5307 madonnainntrailrides@yahoo.com madonnainn.com/trail-rides-1 @madonnainntrailrides facebook.com/madonnainntrailrides

RECREATION continued page 94

PADDLE ON

Avila Beach Paddlesports co-owner Faith Avina oversees the Best Watersports Rental on the coast for several years running. You can rent kayaks and paddleboards to take a journey of your own making or book a guided tour to check out Port San Luis.

BEST HIKE

The Pismo Preserve

There are few easily accessible places in the world that boast spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and rolling green hills, but The Pismo Preserve is one of them. Choose your own adventure from a few well-marked trails and begin a couple of hours of moderate hiking, fit for adults, willing children, leashed dogs, and equestrians. Bring layers for the temperature dips as you proceed beneath shady trees, and keep your eyes peeled for grazing cattle in the spring and summer. If you’re not into paying a few bucks to park in the lot, get a few extra steps in and start your journey on the other side of the freeway along Price Street. It’s worth it. —Madison

DirectedbyZoeSaba|MusicDirectionbyMarkRobertshaw

THURSDAY,MAY7RUNSTHROUGH SUNDAY,MAY17

One word: microclimate. There’s something magical about Avila Beach. Sometimes when the coast is socked in with fog, Avila will be a little nook of sunshine. With a wide sandy beach, a beautiful beachside promenade, a historic pier, lots of quality restaurants and accommodations, seasonal events like a farmers market and art on the beach, summer vendor carts, surfboard rentals and lessons, and more, it’s a sought-after destination for both locals and out-of-towners. Some might miss the unincorporated community’s old funkiness that was perfectly captured in the 1979 Dennis Christopher film California Dreaming, but change is inevitable, and when it was discovered that Unocal had leaked oil under the town, the cleanup changed the face of Avila. Those in the know might miss Pete’s Seaside Café and Barbara’s by the Sea, but Avila remains a jewel of the Central Coast. The indigenous Chumash settled there for a reason.

781 DOLIVER ST., PISMO BEACH (805) 541-1995 moondoggiesbeachclub@gmail.com moondoggiesbeachclub.com @moondoggiesbeachclub facebook.com/moondoggiesbeachclub

Summer Guide

1879 SHELL BEACH ROAD, PISMO BEACH (805) 835-7873 jonny@sandbarsuf.com sandbarsurf.com @sandbarsurfschool facebook.com/sandbarsurfschool

1233 PARK ST., PASO ROBLES (805) 238-2600

allianceboardco@gmail.com allianceboardcompany.com @allianceboardcompany facebook.com/AllianceBoardCompany

ST., SLO

BEST PLACE TO GET SWIMWEAR SLO Swim

795 HIGUERA ST., SLO (805) 888-7630 sloswim@att.net sloswimco.com @sloswim facebook.com/sloswim

BEST DIVE SHOP

SLO Ocean Currents

3121 S. HIGUERA, SUITE B, SLO (805) 544-7227 info@slooceancurrents.com slooceancurrents.com @slooceancurrents facebook.com/SLOSCUBA

BEST WATERSPORT RENTAL

Avila Beach Paddlesports

3915 AVILA BEACH DRIVE, AVILA BEACH (805) 704-6902

avilabeachpaddlesports@gmail.com avilabeachpaddlesports.com facebook.com/avilapaddlesports

BEST FISHING CHARTER

Patriot Sportfishing

HARFORD PIER, AVILA BEACH 1215 EMBARCADERO, SUITE A, MORRO BAY (805) 595-7200

patriotsportfishing.com facebook.com/PatriotSportFishing

BEST HOTEL

Hotel San Luis Obispo 877 PALM ST., SLO (805) 235-0700 info@hotel-slo.com hotel-slo.com @thehotelslo facebook.com/hotelslo

BEST GOLF COURSE Dairy Creek Golf Course

2990 DAIRY CREEK ROAD, SLO (805) 782-8060

dcinfo@co.slo.ca.us dairycreekslo.com @dairycreekgolfcourse facebook.com/DairyCreekGolfCourse

BEST DOG PARK

Laguna Lake Dog Park

504 MADONNA ROAD, SLO (805) 781-7302

recnews@slocity.org slocity.org/government/department-directory/ parks-and-recreation/parks/dog-off-leash-area @sloparksandrec facebook.com/sloparksandrec

BEST THING ABOUT SLO COUNTY

Arts

Active activism

On Saturday, May 9, at the Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, endurance runner Peyton Thomas, who’s also a postdoctoral associate at the University of Colorado, Boulder, will be wearing her environmental activist hat when she speaks following the screening of the eight-minute film Breath of Gloster, which chronicles the polluting biomass industry in Gloster, Mississippi, and the trail race Thomas organized to raise awareness (doors at 12:30 p.m., event at 1; all ages; free entrance and parking).

The screening and discussion are organized by the SLO County Libraries’ Outside Together film series that “encourages inclusive discussions about the joy of outdoor recreation,” organizers explained. NAACP SLO County is co-host.

Attendees will also hear from educator-activist Dr. Krystal Martin of Gloster, who co-founded the Greater Greener Gloster Project in 2023 in response to the air pollution caused by the Drax Amite Biomass facility that creates wood pellets for fuel, which are manufactured there and shipped to the U.K. Also hear local voices that include youth mental health clinician Jene Hinton-Railsback, environmental educator Celeste Royer, NAACP’s Tobin Johnson, SLO Climate Coalition’s Eric Veium, and Cal Poly kinesiology lecturer Dr. Nicole Hagobian, organizers added.

Psychedelic pop

The newest artist added to the impressive roster at Cambria’s The Vault Gallery is Jill Andrews, who Vault owner and gallerist Laylon Whittaker called a “vibrant new addition.”

“A lifelong artist hailing from the sun-kissed landscapes of Southern California, Jill has dedicated 25 years to science writing and educational outreach at prominent universities,” the gallery announced. “Her remarkable career has seen her collaborate with artists, business professionals, and educators to create captivating films and art installations that grace museums, galleries, and public spaces. Now, her rich experiences and artistic vision culminate in her stunning original paintings, which are a delightful celebration of color and creativity, beautifully reflecting California’s essence. The comments in the gallery have enthusiastically compared her work to that of the iconic Peter Max.” Indeed, Andrews’ colorful florals match Max’s bold color schemes and dreamlike compositions.

The acrylic paintings on canvas feature sides painted to match the painting rather than formal frames.

“I’m self-taught and experiment with pen and ink, paint, and found objects,” Andrews said on her website.

“Abstracts, wildlife, and California coastal flora are current themes.”

The Vault Gallery is located in the historic bank building at 2289 Main St., Cambria. Contact the gallery via email at laylon@ vaultgallery.com or by calling (805) 235-0735. Δ Glen Starkey

BY GLEN STARKEY

Understanding autism

Creston author writes awareness-raising children’s books

Jessica Puccinelli remembers the moment she felt compelled to write a book about her autistic son, Maverick.

“Back in February, we were at the playground,” she explained. “My son just turned about 2 and a half, and he was just getting to that age where other kids were starting to take an interest in him because that’s a pretty typical age for kids to want to play together.”

A little girl was curious about Maverick and first asked about his Apple tablet, an Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) device that allows the mostly nonverbal boy to express ideas such a yes, no, stop, more, all done, and go, among other things.

“I said, ‘Oh, that’s his AAC. He uses it to talk,’ and then she was trying really hard to play with him, and he was just totally ignoring her,” Puccinelli recalled. “But she was really, really curious, and she was intent on figuring out how to play with him and how to be a friend to him, and she was following him around the park and doing what he did.

“That’s what inspired me to write the book because I wanted there to be something to help other kids understand kids like my son.”

The result is the charming children’s picture book, Maverick Speaks in Songs, which explains how Maverick’s way of communicating is different from other children. Puccinelli found that many kids don’t understand autism and have never been taught about neurodivergence or how to respond to a child with it.

Showtime!

Puccinelli grew up in San Mateo, lived in Atascadero for a while, and she and her family— husband Alex, son Maverick, and daughter Maddie—now live on 20 acres in Creston. She recently completed her master’s degree in education at Cal Poly and has 12 years’ experience teaching preschool.

Buy the book, join the playtime

Jessica Puccinelli’s Maverick Speaks in Songs is available from amazon.com, and she and her family are part of a 65-member and growing playgroup that gathers every other Saturday at 10 a.m. at Atascadero’s Joy Playground, the county’s first fully inclusive and adaptive playground for special needs located within Colony Park (5599 Traffic Way). The group’s next meetup is Saturday, May 16. “I’m looking to build that community in North County, and I want other parents to know that they’re not alone,” Puccinelli said. “I want other people in the community to develop that empathy and understanding for kids on the spectrum.”

diagnosed with autism and global developmental delays,” Puccinelli explained. “When Maverick was 12 months old and we took him to his one-year checkup, we figured out that he wasn’t making all his milestones. He wasn’t pointing; he didn’t have a lot of speech.”

They were referred to the Tri-County Regional Center, which assessed Maverick and confirmed he did have some developmental delays.

“When he was about 16 months old, it was becoming a little bit more clear to us that there was something going on, so we reached out to an agency in SLO and they diagnosed him. Then about two months down the line, I was watching my daughter play, and I noticed that she also had some similarities to my son, so we ended up having her assessed. She was diagnosed after Maverick.”

Unlike Maverick, however, Maddie is high functioning and can speak.

“My son is nonverbal except for some songs that he sings. He’s what’s called a gestalt language processor, so he learns language in these big chunks,” Puccinelli explained.

“He can’t answer when you ask him, ‘Do you want some chicken nuggets?’ He can’t answer you.

EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING

Maverick

Speaks in Songs is filled with digitally edited photos of the author’s son and words that explain in clear terms how he’s different from neurotypical children.

working with him, trying to get that functional communication piece so that he’s able to respond.” Puccinelli’s books are designed to help other people—kids and adults—understand these difficulties, but they’re especially designed for kids as young as 2. “I think that’s such an important age to teach them that there’re kids that are different from us and people that communicate differently because they start developing empathy at that age.”

Visually, her books have a retro feel like the Dick and Jane books, but they’re illustrated with digitally edited photos Puccinelli took of Maverick.

Send gallery, stage, and cultrual festivities to arts@newtimesslo.com.

“Maddie is my older girl. She’s 4 and a half and she’s autistic with with ADHD and Sensory Integration Disorder, and then Maverick is

But he can sing ‘The ABCs,’ and he can sing ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,’ and he’s got a whole repertoire of songs in him. It’s really interesting.”

She added that the way that gestalt language learners develop language is a lot different from typical kids.

“He might not have functional language until he’s 6 or 7 or 8, so he uses an AAC. We’re working on that, and he’s learning some sign language. We’re

“I am not a good artist,” she laughed, “but I just wanted to represent him in the best way.”

Puccinelli also wrote a book about her daughter, Maddie, called Maddie’s Magical Senses, and one about her sister, Audra, called Audra Speaks with Her Eyes, all available on amazon.com.

“Audra was my sister who was born with cerebral palsy,” Puccinelli explained. “She was nonverbal like my son. She was also in a wheelchair, but she lived an amazing life, and she was very vibrant and happy. She played softball and went to Girl Scouts. She did all these things with her tightknit group of friends. My mom did a lot to help her be included, so I wanted to write a book about her to keep her story going. She passed away when she was 11.

“I’ve kind of grown up around a lot of people with special needs, and my mom worked as an advocate for special needs kids, so it’s kind of my world. My mom was also a preschool teacher.”

Maverick Speaks in Songs is already bringing community together, letting parents of neurodivergent children know they’re not alone, and helping neurotypical kids better understand kids on the spectrum.

“I’ve gotten a ton of community response from it,” Puccinelli said. “I’ve gotten parents reaching out to me, saying, ‘I’ve been looking for something that represents my kid and thank you so much for doing that.’ I’ve gotten speech therapists and occupational therapists who bought the book to use in therapy practice.

“Teachers and principals and librarians have reached out, and they really appreciate that there’s something out there for kids like my son because there’s not a lot of books that are about autistic kids and especially nonverbal kids.” ∆

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

EDUCATOR Jessica Puccinelli is mother to two special needs children and author of Maverick Speaks in Songs, a book to help others better understand autism.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JESSICA PUCCINELLI

FAMILY TIME (L to R) Maverick, Alex, Jessica, and Maddie Puccinelli enjoy a day at the beach.

IMAGE COURTESY OF JESSICA PUCCINELLI

Hunted

Baltasar Kormákur (2 Guns, Everest) directs Jeremy Robbins’ script about adrenaline junkie Sasha (Charlize Theron), who’s haunted by a climbing accident and heads to the isolation of the Australian outback. What was meant as a retreat to reset turns into a cat-and-mouse battle to the death when Ben (Taron Egerton), a local weirdo, makes her his next target for his sick, ritualistic killing spree. (95 min.)

APEX

What’s it rated? R

What’s it worth, Anna? Full price

What’s it worth, Glen? Full price

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Glen Charlize Theron once again proves she’s a credible badass (Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, The Old Guard ), and Taron Egerton leans into his surface-level charm with an unhinged psycho bubbling just beneath (Legend, Smoke). Sasha lives on the edge, an extreme-sports nut who’s always ready to push it too far. That personality trait is dangerous for her—and also dangerous to those she’s with, as we discover during the opening tandem climb of Norway’s Troll Wall. It’s easy to dismiss the tall, willowy, supermodel-esque Theron as being incapable of Sasha’s level of athleticism, but as part of the film’s marketing campaign, she scaled an Apex billboard in Times Square. She’s legit. It’s entertaining and gripping—think The Perfect Getaway (2009).

Anna Theron has earned her badass badge. She doesn’t shy away from roles that demand physicality and strength. After pushing herself and her partner to the limit on Troll Wall, she’s off to the Australian wilderness to clear her mind, kayak the rapids, and let go. Egerton’s Ben immediately made my hackles rise—a feeling familiar to many women when a strange man is a little too interested in what you’re doing and where you’re going. He plays it as charm, though, and until Sasha returns to camp to find her pack missing and

THE PITT

What’s it rated? TV-MA

When? 2025-present

Where’s it showing? HBO Max

Another 15-hour day in a Pittsburgh hospital ER with Dr. Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) is upon us with season 2 of the Emmy Awardwinning show. End of shift, Robby’s leaving on sabbatical, a three-month motorcycle trip that sounds more like a mental health induced death march than a vacation. Charge Nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) is trying to keep everything together, but a cyberattack puts her whole floor in vulnerable territory.

The series does an excellent job at being relevant—this season we watch as ICE agents attack and detain emergency workers, as the cost of health care literally costs people their

then stumbles onto Ben’s camp in search of it, he’s a forgotten blip in her day. When Ben makes clear his intention to hunt and kill her, Sasha is given little time to process the strange news. From there, it’s a race against a killer who knows the landscape well. Our girl Sasha isn’t going down without a fight though.

Glen The premise is nothing new. The Most Dangerous Game, Richard Connell’s short story about big game hunter who’s hunted by a Russian aristocrat, was published in 1924 and inspired dozens of films including The Running Man (1987) and more recently The Hunt (2020), a satire where liberal elites hunt “deplorables.” The twist here is that Ben isn’t merely a hunter out for the ultimate game, he’s a sadist who wants to toy with his prey. Egerton gets to chew the scenery. He’s so menacing it’s almost cartoonish. The film’s not going to win any awards, but watching Theron scale a sheer cliff, working to find toeholds and tiny ledges to pull herself up,

lives, and as overtaxed and overworked health care providers lose their sanity wading through red tape.

This show can be a stressful watch, but luckily for some of us, it’s also oddly soothing. Applauded for its accuracy, this medical drama stays away from the usual tropes—there is no McDreamy here, no Dr. Doug and Nurse Carol romance. Instead, we get the messiness of everyday life paired with the professionalism and dedication of the staff at this overwhelmingly chaotic ER.

Both seasons of this show are very bingeable, and I’ve gone for a second watch of both—it’s that good. (30 41-to-61-min. episodes)

—Anna

DR. NO

What’s it rated? PG When? 1963

or watching her hang on for dear life as she’s sucked down whitewater rapids is a blast. Anna It’s a predictable premise, but it benefits from two strong leads. Ben’s character does take unexpected turns, and we learn there’s more to his menace than mere murder. He’s not your run of the mill killer; he’s got it in his head that this is part of a larger puzzle and that sacrifice is key. People have gone missing in this wilderness often, but they’re thought to be careless tourists who wander too far. Little did they know there’s a monster out here, picking off people in a sick game. You’re right, this isn’t a rare film, and it very likely will be forgotten over time, but the setting is truly gorgeous, Theron is a certified badass, and Egerton turns his creep factor up to 11. This is a perfect flick to stream when you can’t decide what to watch. ∆

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

Where’s it showing? Bay Theatre in Morro Bay on Monday, May 11, at 5:30 p.m. (doors at 4:30; $15 benefit for the Morro Bay Senior Center)

Terence Young (who went on to helm From Russia With Love and Thunderball ) directs this script by Richard Maibaum, Johanna Harwood, and Berkely Mather that adapts Ian Fleming’s 1958 novel about the British spy James Bond (Sean Connery), who’s sent to Jamaica to investigate the disappearance of another British agent. Bond soon discovers that Dr. No (Joseph Wiseman), a member of the criminal organization SPECTRE, is planning to disrupt the Project Mercury U.S. space launch from Cape Canaveral with a radio beam weapon.

to M. (Bernard Lee), CIA agent Felix Leiter (Jack Lord), and Miss Moneypenny (Lois Maxwell). This low-budget film was a huge financial success but received a mixed critical reception. Over the years, however, it’s become considered one of the series’ better installments. (110 min.) ∆ —Glen

FRAGILE HEROES Dr. Robinavitch (Noah Wyle) and Charge Nurse Dana Evans (Katherine LaNasa) navigated another 15-hour shift in season 2 of the Emmy Awardwinning show The Pitt, streaming on HBO Max.

May 11,

The film set the precedent for future Bond films with an eccentric villain; a Chinese German scientist with prosthetic metal hands; beautiful women who fall for Bond’s charm, such as Sylvia Trench (Eunice Gayson), Miss Taro (Zena Marshall), and Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress); and goons for Bond to overcome like Quarrel (John Kitzmiller), who turns into an ally, and Dent (Anthony Dawson), who tries to kill Bond with a tarantula. We’re also introduced

DEATH MATCH A ritualist serial killer (Taron Egerton) targets an adrenaline junkie (Charlize Theron) vacationing in the Australian wilderness, setting up a battle of wills, in Apex, streaming on Netflix.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

THE OG The first film in the James Bond franchise, Dr. No, screens on Monday,

at the Bay Theatre in Morro Bay, as a benefit for the Morro Bay Senior Center.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED ARTISTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO MAX

Michael V. Messina, 2025

Jim Je rey, 2025

Tim Bennet 2025 Wyatt Stapp, 2025

Petra Stevenson, 2025

Danna Joy Dykstra-Coy, 2025

Music

BY GLEN STARKEY

Third wave Bako sound

Los Hermanos Mendoza spearhead the latest revival

When you think of the Bakersfield sound, a country music subgenre full of twang and attitude, Buck Owens and Merle Haggard probably come to mind, but the real progenitor was Wynn Stewart, who influenced Owens and Haggard. The raw Bakersfield sound was a response to Nashville’s slickly, overproduced music, and it was the hottest country genre of the ’60s before fading away, only to be revived in the mid-’80s by Dwight Yoakam.

Well, meet Los Hermanos Mendoza, a trio of Bakersfield brothers ready to bring the Bakersfield sound back into the mainstream. There’s Adolfo (lead vocals/guitar), Jose (bassist), and Beto (upright bass).

“We were all born in Ventura,” Adolfo explained during a phone interview, “and as soon as the youngest one was born, which was Beto, we moved to Bakersfield, and since then, we’ve been raised here around the country culture, and specifically the Bakersfield sound that we grew up listening to.”

“Our first dinner in Bakersfield was at the Crystal Palace, so we broke it in real good,” Beto laughed.

Now closed, Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace was a famed Bakersfield music hall that hosted concerts and housed the Buck Owens museum as well as a bar and restaurant.

This is a young band with an old sound.

“I’m the oldest,” Jose explained, “and I’m 25 right now. And then Adolfo is 24, and Beto is 21.”

“I’ll be 22 in the summer,” Beto chimed in. They grew up listening to both regional Mexican music and the classic Bakersfield sound, so it makes sense that you can hear both influences in their music.

“Our mom was into country music, and particularly the Bakersfield sound,” Adolfo said, “stuff like Dwight Yoakam, Merle Haggard, Buck Owens, and then she also branched out into other stuff. Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson were some of her favorites, so we grew up around both the regional Mexican and country music, because we listen to them at family parties, we listen to original Mexican on the

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.

EASTON EVERETT Enjoy guitar-woven neofolk pop, noteworthy singing, and writing, easy to listen to but also surprises. May 17 2-4 p.m. Moonstone Cellars, 812 Cornwall St, Cambria, (805) 927-9466.

MOTHER’S DAY WITH PI JACOBS

Blending roots-rock swagger and storytelling soul, Pi Jacobs’ music has drawn comparisons to Tom Waits, Dolly Parton, and Lucinda Williams. Celebrate

radio, and whatever my mom played was country music.”

“As far as the country music, my mom has been listening to it since before they moved to the States,” Beto added. “My grandpa and my uncle would come back from the States from working in the Bracero era, where they would come for seasonal work, to bring back tapes, records. Since she was a little girl, my mom was listening to it, and when we came into the picture, my mom, that’s what she knew, so she showed us that. Christmas wasn’t Christmas without Buck Owens music playing in the background.”

The Mendozas cover a lot of classic songs made famous by Owens, Haggard, Yoakam, and others.

“We’re actually working on a new album,” Adolfo said. “We just finished wrapping it up and we’re ironing out logistics, but we’ve been working on an album with a whole bunch of original songs for the past year or so. It’s gonna be produced by Pete Anderson.”

Anderson is perhaps best known for his guitar work on and production of Dwight Yoakam’s music starting with Yoakam’s debut, 1986’s Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.

The band formed during the pandemic six years ago, but they’ve already managed to record eight albums with another on the way.

“Were just workhorses,” Jose said. “To us,

Mom with live music! May 10, 2-4 p.m. Free. (805) 927-9466. moonstonecellars. com. Moonstone Cellars, 812 Cornwall St, Cambria.

OPEN MIC NIGHT

Each Wednesday, enjoy this Open Mic Night in the downstairs dining area. Grab some friends and show off your talents. Food and drink service will be available. Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Free. (805) 995-3883. schoonerscayucos.com. Schooners, 171 North Ocean Ave, Cayucos.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

BOYS OF SUMMER: A TRIBUTE TO THE EAGLES FRIDAY NIGHT SHOW May 8 , 7-10 p.m. $28.62. my805tix.com. The Pour House, 525 Pine St., Paso Robles.

DARK STAR HAPPY HOUR, OPEN MIC AND KARAOKE NIGHT Chill out at Dark Star’s happy hour, and enjoy burgers, karaoke, and open mic nigh. Wine by the

glass will be available for $8. Fridays, 4-8 p.m. Free. (805) 237-2389. darkstarcellars. com/. Dark Star Cellars, 2985 Anderson Rd., Paso Robles.

FIRST THURSDAYS SUMMER CONCERT

SERIES Hear B & The Hive and enjoy food by Buenos Diaz Mexican Grill and wines by the glass or bottle. May 7 4-7 p.m. Free. (805) 226-2034. jdusiwines. com. J Dusi Wines, 1401 Hwy. 46 West, Paso Robles.

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.

FRIDAY NIGHT MUSIC SERIES Join us weekly for the Friday Night Music Series,

the more we put out the better, and that’s how we started, that’s all we knew. And we would show up to the studio and bust out as many songs as we can, and as soon as we release them, we’re back in the studio again, doing the same thing.”

“We spent the first two years recording music just nonstop in the studio,” Adolfo added. “We would go to Mexico, and we’d record there, and then we’d come back, work a bunch of gigs, and go back as soon as the album was released, and record more.”

Los Hermanos Mendoza play Friday, May 8, at Santa Maria’s Presqu’ile Winery (doors at 6 p.m.; all ages; $35.74 at goodmedicinepresents.com) and again on Friday, May 15, in Paso’s BarrelHouse Amphitheatre (doors at 6 p.m.; all ages; $31.62 at goodmedicinepresents.com).

“First and foremost, we want the fans to know that we are a country band,” Adolfo said. “There was that first wave of the Bakersfield sound with Merle Haggard and Buck Owens, and then a few years down the road Dwight Yoakam came along and did it once again. I would say that we’re starting the third

complete with rotating food trucks! Wine and food will be available for purchase. Fridays, 6-9 p.m. through Aug. 28 Free. (805) 238-6300. derbywineestates. com/events/. Derby Wine Estates, 525 Riverside Ave, Paso Robles.

LIVE AT DARK STAR! CHRIS BLAKEY Chris Blakey will perform classic acoustic folk rock tunes, along with a few tunes of his own. May 16 1-4 p.m. Free. (805) 237-2389. darkstarcellars.com. Dark Star Cellars, 2985 Anderson Rd., Paso Robles.

LIVE MUSIC WITH BANJERDAN His music is an Americana mix, rooted in straight-ahead Bluegrass and branching out to include folk, country, blues, oldies, and children’s music. May 17 3-6 p.m. $25. (805) 237-1245. exploretock.com. McPrice Myers Wine Company, 3525 Adelaida Rd., Paso Robles.

MONET DAVIS “DREAMSCAPES BY NIGHT CLOUD” A solo ambient music

wave of the Bakersfield sound. Who better to usher that in than us, and the person that made the second wave Bakersfield sound, Pete Anderson? So that’s what we want people to know. We are a country band from Bakersfield, California, and our aspiration is 100 percent the Bakersfield sound.”

Also this week from Numbskull and Good Medicine, Casey Donahew plays the SLO Sheriff’s Rodeo on Friday, May 8 (doors at 5 p.m.; all ages; $32.96 general, kids 6 to 12 $17.52, kids 5 and under free at goodmedicinepresents.com). Donahew is a Lone Star native who’s been making country hits for two decades. Casey Anglin opens.

Country star Gunnar Latham plays the post-rodeo concert on the second day of the SLO Sheriff’s Rodeo on Saturday, May 9 (doors at 2 p.m.; all ages; reserved seating $27.50, non-reserved seating $12.05, kids 12 and under free at goodmedicinepresents.com). You might expect the sons of Kiss members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley to follow in their fathers’ platform booted glam rock footsteps, but Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons of Stanley Simmons lean more toward folk than metal. Sure, on “Dancing

project by Monet Davis that layers various combinations of instruments from around the world. May 15 6:30-8 p.m. $25. (805) 464-2564. fieldworkart.org/events. Fieldwork, 5880 Entrada Ave, Atascadero.

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.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

THE BUNKER SLO PRESENTS: LIVE MUSIC WITH ASHER WHITE AND SPECIAL GUESTS Hear Asher White live, with special guests Tiny Plastic

Everything and Slutboy. May 8 6-10 p.m. $17.91. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo. CAL POLY GUITAR STUDENT RECITAL Enjoy this free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student guitarists. May 8 , 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/free/#guitar. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. CAL POLY POLYRHYTHMICS

PERCUSSION CONCERT Featuring Sven-David Sandström’s drumming powerhouse, “Kroumata Pieces,” Rob Sanderl’s impressionistic “Placid Landscapes,” for four marimbas and much more! May 14 7:30 p.m. $12-$22. (805) 756-4849. music.calpoly.edu/ calendar/special/#perc. PAC Pavilion, Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo. LIVE MUSIC continued page 104

THE MENDOZA BROTHERS Los Hermanos Mendoza bring the Bakersfield sound on May 8 , at Santa Maria’s Presqu’ile Winery, and again on May 15 , in Paso’s BarrelHouse Amphitheatre.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LOS HERMANOS MENDOZA

KISSED Evan Stanley and Nick Simmons are Stanley Simmons, a folk-rock duo playing The Siren on May 10. Oh, and their dads are Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons of Kiss.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN STANLEY AND NICK SIMMONS

While the World is Ending” they get a little harder, but these guys are closer to folk and sing well together. Check out the video for “Body Down.” See them live on Sunday, May 10, at The Siren (doors at 7 p.m.; 21-andolder; $19.26 at goodmedicinepresents.com).

Detroit rockers Electric Six play The Siren on Thursday, May 14 (7 p.m.; 21-andolder; $27.50 at goodmedicinepresents. com). Tragedy (an all-metal Bee Gees tribute) opens.

Country singer-songwriter Tyler Halverson is at Club Car Bar on Thursday, May 14 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $24.41 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Halverson’s touring in support of his new album In Defense of Drinking, about his life on the road.

“It’s been a life spent falling in and out of love and finding something to write about, at the expense of your heart and somebody’s else’s,” Halverson said in press materials. “I’m not proud of the actions that that boy took to inspire these songs. But I’m very proud of how they turned out. The Nashville scene

today is all so pretty and polished, and some artists try to come out looking a certain way, but how about you just show yourself exactly how you are, the good and bad?”

Old skool hip-hop, oldies, and a genre jumper

In addition to the aforementioned shows at The Siren, you can also see classic Arizona hip-hop act NB Ridaz on Friday, May 8 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $46.96 at tixr.com). They busted onto the scene with their 1997 track “Down for Yours.” Their motto is “Ride Till The Wheels Fall Off.”

Swing Shift Band plays on Saturday, May 9 (2 to 5 p.m.; 21-and-older; free). What started in 1991 as an oldies band in Lompoc now plays everything from Motown to classic rock, R&B funk, Latin, blues, and even a little country and swing music.

Skunk Puppy plays on Saturday, May 9 (7:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; free), and their sound is all over the place: rock, pop, ska, reggae, Americana. Expect originals and covers from No Doubt, Sublime, Nirvana, The Pretenders, and beyond.

Folk N Soak returns

Do you want to camp out, lounge in a natural 100-degree mineral spring, and listen to live music? OK, then! The 2026 Spring Folk N Soak Music Festival returns to Paso’s Franklin Hot Springs on Friday, May 15 (4 p.m.), through Sunday May 17 (6 p.m.). Day passes start at $35 presale at my805tix.com, but car camping and RV hookup are available. Prices at the door will increase. There’s a Qi Gong class on Saturday morning and yoga on Sunday.

Your host Christopher Hawley of The Christopher Hawley Rollers will lead the shenanigans. Other performers through the weekend include Michael Lynn Bechler, Stella, Lauren Hulbert, Doc Smith, and Jenny Liu. Sunday’s noon Christopher Hawley Rollers Gospel Show and Bathrobe Parade is a highlight!

Carolina sounds

North Carolina folk rock band The Avett Brothers with Mike Patton play Vina Robles Amphitheatre on Saturday, May 9 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $47 to $180.20 at ticketmaster.com). Billed as AVTT/PTTN, the concert features Scott and Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers with Mike Patton, legendary frontman of Faith No More and Mr. Bungle, who are touring in support of their new self-titled collaborative album.

“Mike’s part of our DNA, like the fabric of our youth,” Scott said in press materials. “Literally, we studied him. He’s a dear friend now, but when we were younger, I was imitating him.”

The Genius returns

Good Vibez presents Wu-Tang Clan member GZA featuring his longtime backing band Phunky Nomads at Fremont Theater, touring to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the release of their album Liquid Swords, on Friday, May 8 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $52.50 at prekindle. com).

Bingo Loco is back on Saturday, May 9 (doors at 6:30, show at 8 p.m.; 21-and-older; $45.29 at prekindle.com). IYKYK.

Rescheduled from an earlier date, Monster Energy Up & Up Festival presents Ship Wrek on Tuesday, May 12 (doors and show at 7; 18-and-older; $47.35 at prekindle.com).

The LA-based DJ duo is “known for their genre-bending fusion of house music and wide-appealing energy,” organizers noted.

Retro rock and country rap

SLO Brew Live at Rod & Hammer Rock starts with a (((folkYEAH!))) show featuring The Heavy Heavy on Wednesday, May 13 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $32.36 at ticketweb. com). This quintet sounds like a missing gem from the ’60s. Think Jefferson Airplane, The Band, and The Mamas & The Papas. Their AAA radio top hits include “Miles and Miles” and “Go Down River.” Super cool sound! Lou Hazel opens Last Chance presents Moonshine Bandits on Thursday, May 14 (doors at 7 p.m.; all

STARKEY from page 102

STARKEY continued page 104

BAD BOY COUNTRY Singer-songwriter Tyler Halverson plays a Numbskull and Good Medicine show at Club Car Bar on May 14 , touring in support of In Defense of Drinking, about his bad-boy life on the road.

CHRISTENSEN

FOLK ROCK WARRIOR Christopher Hawley of The Christopher Hawley Rollers once again hosts the Folk N Soak Music Festival at Paso’s Franklin Hot Springs from May 15 to 17

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER HAWLEY

COLLABORATORS North Carolina folk rock band The Avett Brothers team up with Faith No More frontman Mike Patton at Vina Robles Amphitheatre on May 9, playing in support of their collaborative album, AVTT/PTTN

COURTESY PHOTO BY CRACKERFARM

CALIFORNIA DREAMERS

British band

The Heavy Heavy brings its sunshinesoaked ’60s-style folk, pop, and soul sounds to Rod & Hammer Rock on May 13

ages; $32 at ticketweb.com). This country rap duo features Dusty “Tex” Dahlgren and Brett “Bird” Brooks. Their most recent album is The Whiskey Never Dries from 2019.

Beach, and it’s the perfect excuse to bring the whole crew, stretch out on the grass, and soak up some live music by the ocean.”

See Castillo and company on Sunday, May 10, starting at 1 p.m.

Ear fiesta

The Clark Center presents the Mother’s Day Mariachi Festival with Leyendas del Mariachi on Saturday, May 9 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $50 to $98 at clarkcenter.org). The band pays “tribute to all the mariachi musicians who have contributed to making mariachi music a vehicle of culture, tradition, and heritage for the world,” according to their bio.

Mom Day at the beach

“Looking for a laid-back, feel-good way to celebrate Mother’s Day?” Damon Castillo asked in an email blast. “We’re playing a free, all-ages show at Dinosaur Caves Park in Pismo

CAL POLY STRINGS STUDENT RECITAL

Enjoy a free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student string players. May 15 7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/calendar/free/#strings. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CUESTA JAZZ ENSEMBLES CONCERT

Join for an evening sophistication and swing in our end of the (school) year jazz show, featuring the Cuesta big band. May 16 , 7:30 p.m. $10-$20. (805) 546-3198.

Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

CUESTA WIND ENSEMBLE CONCERT

Join the Cuesta Wind Ensemble for an evening of wind music classics by great American and International composers, with conducter Jennifer Martin. May 13 , 7:30 p.m. $10-$17. (805) 546-3198. Harold J. Miossi CPAC at Cuesta College, Highway 1, San Luis Obispo.

THE BUNKER SLO PRESENTS: LIVE MUSIC WITH ASHER WHITE & SPECIAL GUESTS Enjoy live music with Asher White and special guests Tiny Plastic Everything and Slutboy. May 8 6-10 p.m. $17.91. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

AN EVENING WITH JIM MESSINA An undisputed expert in the fine art of making hit music, Jim Messina’s legacy of musical genius spans five decades a three supergroups. May 7, 7:30 p.m. $49$79. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

KARAOKE EVERY WEDNESDAY A weekly event with barbecue offerings and more. Wednesdays, 4-8 p.m. Rancho Nipomo BBQ,

“It’s super family-friendly—bring a blanket or some chairs, kick back on the lawn, and make an afternoon of it,” he continued. “There’ll also be food available for purchase, so you can keep things easy and just enjoy the day.”

Musical parody master

Comedian and musician Tim Hawkins brings his shtick to the Performing Arts Center in SLO on Saturday, May 9 (7 p.m.; all ages; all non-VIP seats just $25 at pacslo. org). His musical parodies and viral clips have garnered millions of views on YouTube. This is clean, family-friendly comedy, folks. ∆

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

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.

MOTHER’S DAY MARIACHI FESTIVAL: LEYENDAS DEL MARIACHI Celebrating all mothers on their special weekend with a spectacular Saturday night concert featuring the masters of mariachi music Leyendas del Mariachi. May 9 7:30-9:30 p.m. $50-$98. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

THURSDAY NIGHT MUSIC IN THE PARK

Free concerts with SLO County Band at Rancho Grande Park. May 14 6:307:30 p.m. Free. (805) 473-5472. https:/ arroyogrande.org/rec. Rancho Grande Park, 500 James Way, Arroyo Grande.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS

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

LADIES NIGHT OUT Music by DJ Van Gloryious and DJ Panda. Features delicious daiquiri specials. Thursdays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

LIVE MUSIC AT STELLER’S CELLAR

Various local musicians rotate each Friday. Fridays, 6-8:30 p.m. Free. Steller’s Cellar, 400 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt, (805) 623-5129, stellerscellar.com.

MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN Live DJ and karaoke every Friday and Saturday

night. Featured acts include Soul Fyah Band, DJ Nasty, DJ Jovas, and more. Fridays, Saturdays, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO ACADEMY Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. ongoing (805) 925-0464. coelhomusic.com/ Lessons/lessons.html. Coelho Academy of Music, 325 E. Betteravia Rd., Santa Maria. SUNDAY NIGHT FUN End the weekend with some good vibes. Music by DJ Van Gloryious. Sundays, 8 p.m.-midnight Roscoe’s Kitchen, 229 Town Center E, Santa Maria, (805) 623-8866.

LOMPOC/VANDENBERG

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

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

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

VOICES OF THE VALLEY We are honored to announce Voices of the Valley, a onenight-only benefit concert supporting three cornerstone arts organizations that enrich the cultural life. May 8 , 7-9 p.m. $300. (805) 686-1789. solvangtheaterfest. org/show-listing. Solvang Festival Theater, 420 2nd St., Solvang. WINE DOWN WEDNESDAYS Wednesdays, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Brick Barn Wine Estate, 795 W. Hwy 246, Buellton, (805) 686-1208, brickbarnwineestate.com. ∆

STARKEY from page 103

LIVE MUSIC from page 102

PHOTO COURTESY OF

Flavor

BY MADISON WHITE

Green cuisine

Thirteen years ago, Steve Key decided to stop eating animal products. Before he flipped the switch, he’d call himself a “wannabe vegetarian,” refraining from meat most of the time but not going against the grain while out to eat with his buddies. He found it difficult in the 1980s and 1990s to find meatless options on tour as a folk singer. At the time he couldn’t simply search for nearby vegan restaurants on Google.

The musician read The Tofu Tollbook, a traveler’s guide for vegan-friendly spots around the country. It helped him avoid confused looks from waiters when he explained he didn’t eat meat. Key remembered one experience with a waitress clear as day during a Texas road trip.

“She looked at me kind of strangely, and she said, ‘How about turkey?’” Key said. “So, I guess it’s kind of misunderstood by a lot of people.”

In 2026, he doesn’t have to deal with that sentiment nearly as often in part thanks to a club he founded. Earlier this year Key and his wife, Bonnie Nelson, started a Facebook group called Central Coast Meatless Meetup to gather like-minded and curious folks.

Once a month, they eat at a restaurant that provides a preset plant-based menu. Instead of having to explain veganism or ask wait staff about ingredients and cooking methods—à la, ‘How about turkey?’—these diners are relieved to know their meal has been vetted.

Coming up is a dinner at Jaffa Café in the Village of Arroyo Grande on May 26. A combo plate costs $25 (sent to the restaurant) and includes the eater’s five out of 10 menu items. Choose from the likes of falafel, pasta, dolma, and soup. Beverages and gratuity aren’t included.

The founding couple will greet guests as they walk in, and Nelson will handwrite nametags for everyone. Diners can mingle

and claim their seats to place an order for drinks and dinner. In between bites of Mediterranean cuisine, folks will spend the next two hours in dynamic conversation.

The group’s first meetup in March was at a community favorite, Klondike Pizza, in Arroyo Grande where they sampled eight pies and three salads. Shortly after, a crowd of 35 celebrated taco Tuesday in April at Humdinger Brewing in Arroyo Grande, which stacked plates with refried beans, Spanish rice, and three tacos: mushroom, roasted veggies, and Beyond Meat.

“One of the motivations for doing this Meatless Meetup once a month was at least we have once a month where we know we can go out and have 100 percent plant-based food,” Key said.

Featuring: Sven-David Sandström’s ‘Kroumata Pieces,’ John Ling’s ‘Amidst,’ Eric Whitacre’s ‘Sleep,’ Rob Sanderl’s ‘Placid Landscapes,’ Brian Wilson’s ‘Our Prayer,’ and Aurel Hollo’s ‘José: beFORe JOHN5.’ Directed by John Astaire. MAY 14, 2026, 7:30 P.M. THURSDAY | PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PAVILION $12 students, $22 general: pacslo.org/cpmusic, 805-756-4849 More information: music.calpoly.edu/calendar, music@calpoly.edu cal poly P O L Y R H Y T H M I C S

Sunday, May 10th

Everyone has their own guidelines when it comes to food, and so do people with plantbased preferences. Vegetarians typically eat dairy and eggs. Pescatarians eat fish and seafood. But most plant-based eaters avoid anything from an animal, and vegans may choose to extend that philosophy into the clothing they wear and the products they use. It seemed simple to Key and Nelson. After completing a 30-day vegan challenge, they didn’t want to eat animal products anymore.

The couple continued researching vegan recipes and how meat and dairy consumption impacts the world around them. Key started looking into things he’d never thought about before. How we clear land to grow crops. How we feed crops to animals. How we eat animals.

“The way livestock is raised in slaughterhouses and the pig farms and

YOU ARE WHATCHA EAT! Central Coast Meatless Meetup originated on Facebook earlier this year. Every month, both herbivorous foodies and vegan skeptics gather at local restaurants to enjoy a plant-powered menu.

THE PLANT CLUB Steve Key, a retired singer and concert promoter, lives in Pismo Beach and started Central Coast Meatless Meetup on Facebook. The passion project also belongs to his wife, Bonnie Nelson, without whom he couldn’t do “this vegan thing.”

chickens. I mean, it’s just horrendous,” Key said. “I got to feeling compassion for the animals as well as concern for the environment. … The facts just started compiling to the point where I thought, ‘I don’t really want to participate in that anymore. I’d like to do something different.’”

Key has lived on the Central Coast for nearly 20 years, but he hasn’t noticed much improvement in the plant-based scene. In his early days living here, Key saw a lot of “token” dishes on menus, like primavera pasta or a portobello mushroom burger. Then it was a Beyond Meat patty or an Impossible Burger.

By organizing Central Coast Meatless Meetup events, he hopes to expand possibilities at local restaurants and broaden the horizons of skeptics who have preconceived notions of vegan food.

“I’m just trying to share with people my enjoyment of food that tastes good and also happens to be free of animal products,” Key said.

The other component of the group is making new friends. Breaking bread is always more enjoyable with good company.

Leslie Kasanoff attended for the first time in April at Humdinger Brewing. Besides the tacos, she said she enjoyed talking with others who are conscious of the environment and the treatment of animals.

The Santa Maria resident identifies as pescatarian. Originally from a small town in between Boston and Cape Cod, she can only go so long without her favorite seafood.

Her lifestyle switch flipped after a seminar about living to 100 years old. Then, at 52, the health coach thought, “I’m only halfway done.” Kasanoff believes eating mostly a plant-based diet is setting herself up for a long, healthy life.

As far as attending the next Central Coast Meatless Meetup at Jaffa Café, Kasanoff said she’s already made plans to be there. ∆

Email Sun Staff Writer Madison White, from New Times’ sister paper, at mwhite@ santamariasun.com for her favorite tofu recipes.

MINUS THE MEAT Santa Maria resident Leslie Kasanoff went to her first Central Coast Meatless Meetup in April at Humdinger Brewing. She’s enthusiastic to return for the next dinner on May 26 at Jaffa Café in the Village of Arroyo Grande.

MEDITERRANEAN MASH-UP Tickets are on sale for the next Central Coast Meatless Meetup. It’s scheduled for May 26 at Jaffa Café in Arroyo Grande. Diners will make their own plate, choosing from options like rice, falafel, pasta, dolma, and soup.

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New Filing

The following person is doing business as: ALL IN JUNK REMOVAL, 326 Creekview Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. San Luis Obispo County. Nicholas Brent Allinder (326 Creekview Way, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Nicholas Brent Allinder. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 03-11-26. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, A. Schultz, Deputy. Exp. 03-11-31. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0512 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as 3LEFT TATTOOS, 4070 West St., Cambria, CA 93428. San Luis Obispo County. Carlton T Rodgers (2170 Burton Dr., Cambria, CA 93428). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Carlton T. Rodgers. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 03-09-2026. I hereby certify that this copy is a correct copy of the statement on file in my office. (Seal) Elaina Cano, County Clerk, A. Lomeli, Deputy. Exp. 03-09-2031. April 16, 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0534 (06/26/2025)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as RADIANT RITUALS TANNING, 110 Mary Ave., Suite 6, Nipomo, CA 93444. San Luis Obispo County. Radiant Rituals Tanning LLC (110 Mary Ave., Suite 6, Nipomo, CA 93444). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company /s/ Radiant Rituals Tanning LLC, Lauren Mayor, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 03-11-2026. 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. 03-11-2031. April 16, 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0535 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as RADIANT RITUALS SKIN & WELLNESS STUDIO, 110 Mary Ave., Suite 6, Nipomo, CA 93444. San Luis Obispo County. Radiant Rituals Medical Spa (268 Scarlett Circle, Nipomo, CA 93444). This business is conducted by A CA Corporation /s/ Radiant Rituals Medical Spa, Jacob Mayor, CEO. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 03-11-2026. 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. 03-11-2031. April 16, 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0557 (02/25/2026)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as MOTHER TO MOTHER DOULA CARE, 1435 7th Street, Los Osos, CA 93402. San Luis Obispo County. Olivia Radovich (1435 7th Street, Los Osos, CA 93402). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Olivia Radovich. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 03-12-2026. 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. 03-12-2031. April 16, 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0563

(02/27/2026) New Filing The following person is doing business as PASO BRIAN, LLC, 1213 Vine Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. San Luis Obispo County.

NOTICE OF AMENDED PETITION TO ADMINISTER

ESTATE OF:

ARDELLE SCHWARZ DECEDENT

CASE NUMBER: 24PR-0145

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: ARDELLE SCHWARZ AN AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by DONALD FILLER in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN LUIS OBISPO.

THE AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that DONALD FILLER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows:

June 2, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Dept.:

4 at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, located at 1050 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a formal Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: David Schechet Law Office of Davod Schechet 1901 Avenue of the Stars, 2nd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90067

1-310-286-9925

April 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0818 (01/31/2026) New Filing The following person is doing business as ON SITE PLUMBING & SEPTIC, 8871 Palomar Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422. San Luis Obispo County. Tyler Jonathan Payton (PO box 1503, Atascadero, CA 93423). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Tyler Jonathan Payton. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-15-2026. 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. 04-15-2031. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

AMENDED PETITION TO ADMINISTER

ESTATE OF:

ERNEST LEO JAMES JR DECEDENT

CASE NUMBER: 25PR-0238

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: ERNEST LEO JAMES JR

AN AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by ERIN LIANE KROUT AND TRAVIS MICHAEL JAMES in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN LUIS OBISPO.

THE AMENDED PETITION OF PROBATE requests that ERIN LIANE KROUT AND TRAVIS MICHAEL JAMES be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: July 7, 2026, at 9:01 a.m. in Dept.: 4 at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, located at 1050 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: Erin Liane Krout 179 G Street Cayucos, CA 93430

805-458-2132 April 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0820 (12/21/1998) New Filing

The following person is doing business as EDEL WIZE, 2220 Exposition Drive, Unit 73, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Christa Rae Pacheco (2220 Exposition Drive, Unit 73, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Christa Rae Pacheco. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-15-2026. 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. 04-15-2031. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

NOTICE OF NOTICE OF AMENDED PETITION TO ADMINISTER

ESTATE OF: VERA TELETHIA HOPKINSOWENS DECEDENT CASE NUMBER: 25PR-0244

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: VERA TELETHIA HOPKINS-OWENS

AN AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by NORA LEE KIRKER in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN LUIS OBISPO.

THE AMENDED PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that NORA LEE KIRKER be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: June 2, 2026, at 9:01 a.m. in Dept.: 4 at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, located at 1050 Monterey Street, Room 220, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a formal Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: Karine Wegrzynowicz 15 W Carrillo St. Ste 103 Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-837-0125 May 7, 14, & 21, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0821 (01/14/2026)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as THE HATCH ROTISSERIE & BAR, THE HATCH, 835 13th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. San Luis Obispo County. Wild Hare Hospitality LLC (7355 Iverson Place, Paso Robles, CA 93446). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company /s/ Wild Hare Hospitality LLC, Christopher Bedwell, Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-15-2026. 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. 0415-2031. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER

ESTATE OF:

JOSEPH CRABTREE DECEDENT CASE NUMBER: 26PR-0104

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of: JOSEPH CRABTREE, JOSEPH BRADLEY CRABTREE

A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by KAREN MEIGS in the Superior Court of California, County of SAN LUIS OBISPO.

THE PETITION OF PROBATE requests that KAREN MEIGS JOSEPH be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: June 9, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Dept.: 4 at the Superior Court of California, County of San Luis Obispo, located at 1050 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408.

IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250. A Request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for Petitioner: Benjamin Bourgault, esq. 225 Posada Lane, Suite 120 Templeton, CA 93465

805-392-3302 April 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0822 (01/14/2026)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as DELLA’S WOOD-FIRED PIZZA & COCKTAILS, DELLA’S, 831 13th Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446. San Luis Obispo County. Wild Hare Hospitality LLC (7355 Iverson Place, Paso Robles, CA 93446). This business is conducted by A CA Limited Liability Company /s/ Wild Hare Hospitality LLC, Christopher Bedwell, Manager. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-152026. 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. 04-15-2031. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0830 (04/16/2026)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as FROM ACORN TO OAK RESEARCH, ACORN CC RESEARCH, 1155 7th Street, Los Osos, CA 93402. San Luis Obispo County. David Kevin Eckstrom (1155 7th Street, Los Osos, CA 93402). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ David Kevin Eckstrom. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-16-2026. 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. 04-16-2031. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0831 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as LITTLE ROOM CO., 2027 Rachel Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Kristine T Macaulay (2027 Rachel Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401), David Tetrault (23 Bertram Street, Beverly, MA 01915). This business is conducted by A General Partnership /s/ Kristine T. Macaulay, Partner. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 04-16-2026. 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. 0416-2031. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

DATE: May 12, 2026

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT FILE NO. 2026-0834 (N/A)

New Filing

The following person is doing business as FEATHERED TOUCH ELECTROLYSIS, 3680 Broad Street, Suite 102, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. San Luis Obispo County. Jordan Issa Haddad (3680 Broad Street, Suite 102, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401). This business is conducted by An Individual /s/ Jordan Issa Haddad. This statement was filed with the County Clerk of San Luis Obispo on 0416-2026. 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. 04-16-2031. April 23, 30, May 7, & 14, 2026

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

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 above for the purpose of the adoption of a resolution amending the schedule of fees and charges for City Services. A copy of the draft resolution and fee schedule can be viewed at City Hall, 6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, or by contacting the Administrative Services Department at (805) 470- 3428.

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 in-person 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 Administrative Services Department. If you have any questions, please call Administrative 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 public hearing will be available for review on the City’s website 72 hours prior to the public hearing at www. atascadero.org/agendas.

DATED: April 27, 2026

S/ Jeri Rangel, Administrative Services Director

PUBLISH: 4/30/26 and 5/07/26

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING OF TEMPLETON COMMUNITY SERVICES DISTRICT REGARDING AMENDING THE MASTER SCHEDULE OF FEES AND CHARGES

The Templeton Community Services District will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, beginning at 6:30 p.m. to consider amending the Master Fee Schedule to revise Parks and Recreation facilities rental fees, youth sports fees, including the sports refund fee, and the assessment fee for any charge referred to the County Auditor that is revised or removed from the tax roll after being submitted.

All interested parties are invited to join the meeting in-person, or call in via Zoom to participate in the hearing, provide comments, or be heard: Public Call in # to Participate is as follows: ZOOM Phone #: 1-669-900-6833 Meeting ID: 818 3946 8311 Passcode: 511017

Or Join the Zoom Meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81839468311?pwd=HVX knB5g6791FTXC0PEJcH7a8RTZga.1

At the public hearing on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, the District will consider any and all comments and objections to the amendment to the Master Schedule of Fees. Any questions regarding the information in this notice may be directed to the District Office District, at (805) 434-4900.

OTHER PUBLIC COMMENT OPTIONS: The public may also provide comment via e-mail or letters that will be distributed to the Board of Directors. E-mails may be sent to the Board Clerk at boardclerk@ templetoncsd.org. Letters may be mailed to the District Office at P.O. Box 780, Templeton, CA 93465. Letters may also be dropped-off at the District’s Drop-Box located outside the District Office at 420 Crocker Street, Templeton. People may also call the District Office at (805) 434-4900 to leave a message concerning items on the agenda. Public input using one of these methods must be received by Tuesday, May 19, 2026 by 2:30 p.m.

May 7 & 14, 2026

2026

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the City of San Luis Obispo will receive bids by mail for the “2026 Roadway Sealing Project, Spec. No. 2000617” at the Public Works Administration Office located at 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 until, THURSDAY, June 4, 2026, at 11:00 A.M., when they will be publicly opened Bids received after said time will not be considered. Bids shall be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked with the project title, contractor name, address, and specification number.

The Contractor must possess a valid Class A or C12 Contractor’s License at the time of the bid opening. Every bid must be accompanied by a certified check/cashier’s check or bidder’s bond for 10% of the bid amount, payable to the City of San Luis Obispo.

Download FREE at the City’s website: www.SloCity.orgBid packages under Bids & Proposals. Questions may be addressed to Hai Nguyen, Project Manager, at 805-781-7710 or bbrowning@slocity.org

May 7, 2026

NOTICE OF

ORDINANCE NO. 679 OF THE CITY OF MORRO BAY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT, at the regular meeting of the City Council held on April 28, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. held in the Veterans Memorial Hall located at 209 Surf Street, Morro Bay, California, the City Council of the City of Morro Bay adopted Ordinance No. 679, “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Morro Bay, California, amending Chapter 14.75 of Title 14 (Buildings and Construction) of the Morro Bay Municipal Code (MBMC) to incorporate the provisions of Senate Bill 1383, which updated the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen).”

A certified copy of the full text of the adopted ordinance is available on the City’s website at www.morrobayca.gov, and upon request by contacting the City Clerk’s office at (805) 772-6205.

Ayes: Wixom, Eckles, Edwards, Landrum, Luffee Noes: None Absent: None

Abstain: None

Recused: None

Dana Swanson, City Clerk Dated: April 29, 2026

Publish: May 7, 2026

SAN LUIS OBISPO CITY COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

The San Luis Obispo City Council invites all interested persons to attend a public hearing on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. Meetings may be viewed remotely by joining the Zoom webinar via the details published on the cover of the agenda, 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 emailcouncil@ slocity.org

PUBLIC HEARING ITEM:

• The City Council will review an appeal of the Planning Commission’s decision to revoke a Conditional Use Permit for operation of a fraternity organization at 280 California Boulevard. This project is exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.

For more information, contact Mallory Patino, Assistant Planner of the City’s Community Development Department at (805) 783-7704 or by email, mpatino@slocity.org The City Council may also discuss other hearings or business items before or after the items listed above. If you challenge the proposed project 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.

Council Agenda Reports for this meeting will be available for review one week in advance of the meeting date on the City’s website, under the Public Meeting Agendas web page: https://www.slocity.org/government/mayorand-city-council/agendas-and-minutes. Please call the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 781-7114 for more information. The City Council meeting will be televised live on Charter Cable Channel 20 and live streaming on the City’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/CityofSanLuisObispo

Teresa Purrington City Clerk

May 7, 2026

SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) For FIRST AMENDED COMPAINT

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO)

DAMON T. SAUNDERS, INC. dba 5 DIAMOND PLUMBING; DAMON T. SAUNDERS; and DOES 1-5, inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTÁ DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE):

SESLOC CREDIT UNION fka

SESLOC FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

CASE NUMBER (Número de caso): 25CV-0283

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 CALENDARIOS despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una repuesta 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 formuleriors de la corte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp/espanol), 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 repuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte la podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia. Hay otros requistas legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediamente. 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 ias cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo ao una consesion de artitraje en un caso dce derecho civll. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

CASE NUMBER: (Número de caso): 25CV-0283

The name and address of the court is: (El nombre y dirección de la corte son) SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA,

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

1035 Palm Street, Room 385 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): Brandon M. Ormonde (Bar # 272069) ORMONDE RASCON

791 North Cherry, P.O. Box 29 Tulare, CA 93275

559-686-3861

Date: (Fecha) 08/18/2025

By: /s/ Michael Powell, Clerk (Secretario); Gabrielle Medina, Deputy (Adjunto)

April 16, 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

T.S. No.: 25-37039

A.P.N.: 006-562-002

NOTICE OF TRUSTEE’S SALE

YOU ARE IN DEFAULT UNDER A DEED OF TRUST DATED 7/26/2017. 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. A public auction sale to the highest bidder for cash, cashier’s check drawn on a state or national bank, check drawn by a state or federal credit union, or a check drawn by a state or federal savings and loan association, or savings association, or savings bank specified in Section 5102 of the Financial Code and authorized to do business in this state will be held by the duly appointed trustee as shown below, of all right, title, and interest conveyed to and now held by the trustee in the hereinafter described property under and pursuant to a Deed of Trust described below. The sale will be made, but without covenant or warranty, expressed or implied, regarding title, possession, or encumbrances, to pay the remaining principal sum of the note(s) secured by the Deed of Trust, with interest and late charges thereon, as provided in the note(s), advances, under the terms of the Deed of Trust, interest thereon, fees, charges and expenses of the Trustee for the total amount (at the time of the initial publication of the Notice of Sale) reasonably estimated to be set forth below. The amount may be greater on the day of sale.

BENEFICIARY MAY ELECT TO BID

LESS THAN THE TOTAL AMOUNT

DUE.

Trustor: David Sanchez, a married man as his sole and separate property

Duly Appointed Trustee: Vylla Solutions, LLC

Recorded 7/28/2017 as Instrument No. 2017033625 in book , page

The subject Deed of Trust was modified by Loan Modification recorded as Instrument 2022048456 and recorded on 12/16/2022. of Official Records in the office of the Recorder of San Luis Obispo County, California , Described as follows: THE LAND REFERRED TO HEREIN BELOW IS SITUATED IN THE CITY OF ARROYA GRANDE, IN THE COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND IS DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: LOT 2 OF TRACT NO. 531, IN THE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE, COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ACCORDING TO MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 8, PAGE 69 OF MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY.

Date of Sale: 7/7/2026 at 11:00 AM Place of Sale: IN THE BREEZEWAY ADJACENT TO THE COUNTY GENERAL SERVICES BLDG. LOCATED AT 1087 SANTA ROSA STREET, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

Amount of unpaid balance and other charges: $468,601.67 (Estimated) Street Address or other common designation of real property: 555 South Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande, California 93420

A.P.N.: 006-562-002 The undersigned Trustee disclaims any liability for any incorrectness of the street address or other common designation, if any, shown above. If no street address or other common designation is shown, directions to the location of the property may be obtained by sending a written request to the beneficiary within 10 days of the date of first publication of this Notice of Sale. If the Trustee is unable to convey title for any reason, 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. If the sale is set aside for any reason, the Purchaser at the sale shall be entitled only to a return of the deposit paid. The Purchaser shall have no further recourse against the Mortgagor, the Mortgagee, or the Mortgagee’s Attorney. If you have previously been discharged through bankruptcy, you may have been released of personal liability for this loan in which case this letter is intended to exercise the note holder’s rights against the real property only. THIS NOTICE IS SENT

FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING A DEBT. THIS FIRM IS ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A DEBT ON BEHALF OF THE HOLDER AND OWNER OF THE NOTE. ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED BY OR PROVIDED TO THIS FIRM OR THE CREDITOR WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE.

As required by law, you are hereby notified that a negative credit report reflecting on your credit record may be submitted to a credit report agency if you fail to fulfill the terms of your credit obligations.

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 or visit this Internet Web site www.realtybid.com, using the file number assigned to this case 2537039. 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: 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 , or visit this internet website www.realtybid.com, using the file number assigned to this case 25-37039 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.

Please be advised that the trustee may require entity or trust bidders at this trustee’s sale to provide information, documentation and/or certification of the vesting instructions and the data required to be reported pursuant to FinCEN regulations effective for transfers of residential real property to covered transferees on or after March 1, 2026. The required information must be provided to the trustee before a trustee’s deed upon sale will be issued for covered transfers. The Buyer may be required to pay charges associated with the gathering and reporting of information to FinCEN. Additional information regarding these regulations and the required transferee information and certifications can be found at https:// www.federalregister.gov/docu ments/2024/08/29/2024-19198/ anti-money-laundering-regulationsfor-residential-real-estate-transfers and https://www.fincen.gov/rrefaqs#D_5 Date: 04/29/2026 Vylla Solutions, LLC 500 N. State College Blvd., Suite 1030 Orange, CA 92868 Automated Sale Information: or for NON-SALE information: 888-313-

INVITATION TO BID (SUB BIDS ONLY)

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: MAINO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED

PROJECT NAME: CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY SAN LUIS OBISPO

CAL POLY PIER RETAINING WALL REPAIR PROJECT

PROJECT LOCATION: CAL POLY PIER, AVILA BEACH DR., AVILA BEACH, CA 93424

PROJECT OWNER: TRUSTEES OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY ARCHITECT/ENGINEER: CANNON

BID DATE & TIME: THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026 at 12:00 PM

PRE-BID SITE REVIEW: MANDATORY - THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM

ESTIMATE/BUDGET: $700,000

ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: 3 MONTHS

START DATE: JUNE 15, 2026

COMPLETION: SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

(CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERTIME AND WEEKEND WORK ANTICIPATED TO MEET PROJECT SCHEDULE)

NOTICE OF SEALED BID SALE ON MAY 27, 2026 OF TAX-DEFAULTED PROPERTY FOR DELINQUENT TAXES

(Revenue and Taxation Code Sections 3692 and 3702)

On January 27, 2026, I, James W. Hamilton, San Luis Obispo County Tax Collector, was authorized by the Board of Supervisors of San Luis Obispo County, California, to conduct a Sealed Bid Sale of properties that have had delinquent taxes for five years or more, but are not usable due to their size, location or other conditions.

The tax-defaulted properties listed below are subject to the Tax Collector’s Power to Sell. Owners of property that is contiguous to the listed properties qualify as eligible bidders. Notice of the Sealed Bid Sale has been given to the California State Controller.

I will publicly open the sealed bids submitted and sell the properties at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in the Board Chambers on the first floor of the County Government Center, at 1055 Monterey Street, San Luis Obispo, California. The properties will be sold to the highest bidder among the eligible bidders, for not less than the minimum bid as shown on this notice.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING City of Atascadero

DATE: Tuesday, May 19, 2026

TIME: 6:00 p.m. PLACE: City of Atascadero Council Chambers 6500 Palma Avenue Atascadero, CA 93422

SCOPE OF WORK:

Work consists of demolition, earthwork and grading, storm drainage, Class II base infill, asphalt paving, new concrete retaining walls, galvanized steel fences and gates, removable bollards.

The University will be performing the following trades: UNOCAL to remove and dispose of contaminated soils.

BIDS SHALL BE EMAILED TO: sonnys@mainoslo.com

BID REQUIREMENTS:

1. Subcontractors must be bondable and may be required to provide Payment and Performance Bonds.

2. Bid Bond is not required.

3. Safety Record is of the utmost importance. Subcontractors with an aggregate EMR Rate of 1.5 over the past three years may be disqualified.

4. Prevailing Wage TO VIEW PLANS/SPEC:

Plans and specs may be downloaded from ASAP Reprographics at www.projectsasap.com

Plans and specs may also be viewed at the following Builders Exchanges:

– SLO County Builders Exchange – www.slocbe.com

– Santa Maria Valley Contractors Association – www.smvca.org

– Central California Builders Exchange – www.cencalbx.com

Maino Construction Company, Incorporated is an equal opportunity Contractor. It is the responsibility of each Subcontractor to view all pertinent information and documents prior to submitting a proposal.

MAY 7, 2026

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & BUILDING PLANNING COMMISSION

WHO County of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission WHEN Thursday, June 11, 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 Chase Barrett for a Variance (N-DRC2024-00050) to allow major grading on slopes exceeding of 30% (37.7% maximum) to facilitate the improvement of a 1,076 LF existing driveway per Cal Fire standards and construct a new approximately 5,300 SF two-story single-family residence with septic system, approximately 2,400 SF detached garage/workshop, a 1,200 SF Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) with a septic system, a new 5,000 gallon water storage tank, and 537 LF of retaining walls with total area of disturbance of approximately 1.71 acres. The property is currently developed with an abandoned almond orchard on approximately 12.88 acres. The property is located in the Agriculture (AG) land use category along Valley Quail Place, approximately 0.75 miles east of Nacimiento Lake Drive, 1 mile west of Highway 101, and 1.5 miles northwest of the city limits of Paso Robles in the Adelaida Sub-area of the North County Planning Area.

Also to be considered at the hearing will be adoption of the Environmental Document prepared for the item. The Environmental Coordinator, after completion of the Initial Study, finds that there is no substantial evidence that the project may have a significant effect on the environment, and the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report is not necessary. Therefore, a Mitigated Negative Declaration (pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000 et seq., and CA Code of Regulations Section 15000 et seq.) has been issued on April 3, 2026 (SCH# 2026040459) for this project. Per CEQA, this Mitigated Negative Declaration was publicly accessible for review and comment for 30 days beginning April 10, 2026 to May 09, 2026. These documents are accessible online at https://ceqanet.lci.ca.gov/2026040459 and physically at 976 Osos Street, Room 200, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408. Public comments will be accepted leading up to and during the scheduled public hearing for this project. Mitigation measures are proposed to address Air Quality, Biological Resources, Geology/ Soils, Hazards & Hazardous Materials, Land Use/Planning, Mandatory Findings of Significance and are included as conditions of approval.

County File Number: N-DRC2024-00050

Supervisorial District: District 1

Assessor Parcel Number(s): 026-121-019

Date Accepted: 9/17/2025

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 Eric Tolle, 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 May 7, 2026

NOTICE OF PUBLIC REVIEW AND INTENT TO ADOPT A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION (MND)

AT&T Japan-U.S. Cable Network Decommissioning (JUS S8 and JUS S9 Cables) Project SCH # 2026041109

The California State Lands Commission (CSLC), as lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), has prepared an Initial Study and MND in response to two applications submitted by AT&T Enterprises, LLC for the Project. The Project area is located onshore in the Sandspit parking lot of Montaña de Oro State Park and in the Pacific Ocean offshore Montaña de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo County.

The Project proposes to remove the Japan-U.S. Segment 9 (JUS S9) fiber optic cable segment from the seafloor that is no longer in-service, offshore of San Luis Obispo County. The cable would be removed using a dive team to expose and cut the cable at the conduit exit point on the seafloor, and the cable would then be recovered by a cable recovery vessel (CRV) that would store and transport the cable for recycling. The conduit cable connected to the utility access point in Montaña de Oro State would be cut by an onshore work crew and pulled from the conduit (CSLC Lease 8204.1) using a tugboat and later removed by the CRV.

The Project MND can be downloaded, in PDF format, at https://www.slc.ca.gov/ceqa/att-japan-us-cable-networkdecommissioning and viewed electronically at the locations below. Please contact Robin Tuohy (contact information below) if you would like to receive a hard copy.

Los Osos Library 2075 Palisades Avenue, Los Osos, CA 93402

California State Lands Commission

100 Howe Ave., Suite 100 South Sacramento, CA 95825

The MND is available for at least a 30-day review and comment period beginning April 23, 2026, and ending May 22, 2026. All comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. May 22, 2026, and can be sent to:

California State Lands Commission

Attention: Robin Tuohy

100 Howe Ave., Suite 100-South Sacramento, CA 95825-8202 or Email: CEQA.comments@slc.ca.gov

The Project’s MND will be considered for adoption at the next CSLC meeting on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, unless otherwise stated on the CSLC’s website. The specific time and location will be posted on the CSLC’s website at https://www.slc.ca.gov/ when that meeting information becomes known. May 7, 2026

www.newtimesslo.com

The properties that are the subject of this notice are situated in San Luis Obispo County, California. The following is a list of properties that were approved by the Board of Supervisors for sale at this Sealed Bid Sale.

The right of redemption will cease at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Properties that are redeemed (prior year taxes paid) by May 26, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. will not be sold. Properties not redeemed by that time will be offered for sale.

If a parcel is not sold at the Sealed Bid Sale, the right of redemption re-instates up until the close of business on the last day prior to the next scheduled sale.

If the properties are sold, parties of interest, as defined in California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 4675, have a right to file a claim with the County for any excess proceeds from the sale.

Excess proceeds are the amount of the highest bid in excess of $150 after the liens and costs of the sale are paid from the sale price. Notice will be given to parties of interest, pursuant to law, if excess proceeds result from the sale.

Additional information about the Sealed Bid Sale may be obtained by contacting the Redemption Division of the Tax Collector’s Office at 1055 Monterey Street, Room D-290, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93408, or by calling the Redemption Division at (805) 781-5836.

ASSESSMENT NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION

The assessment number refers to the Assessor’s map book, the map page, or the block on the map (if applicable), and to the individual parcel number on the map page or in the block.

The Assessor’s parcel maps and further explanation of the assessment numbering system are available in the Assessor’s Office, 1055 Monterey Street, Room D-360, San Luis Obispo, California.

I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed at San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo County, California, on April 23, 2026. /s/ James W. Hamilton, CPA, San Luis Obispo County Tax Collector

Published in New Times on April 23, April 30, and May 7, 2026.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Planning Commission of the City of Atascadero will hold a PUBLIC HEARING in- person at the time and place indicated above to consider a conditional use permit to allow for a preschool with a parking and sign design exception on a 0.35-acre property zoned Residential Multifamily-24 located at 8935 Amapoa Avenue Atascadero CA, 93422 (APN 031-301-024). The proposed project qualifies for a Class 1 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.) Section 15301, because it meets all required conditions to be considered existing facilities. (USE26-0022).

INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS are invited to participate and will be given an opportunity to speak in favor of, or opposition to, the above-proposed projects. To provide written public comment, please email comments to pc-comments@atascadero.org by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Comments will be forwarded to the Planning Commission and made part of the administrative record. If a comment is received after the deadline for submission but before the close of the meeting, the comment will still be included as part of the record of the meeting. Please note, email 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: May 4, 2026

S/ P Dunsmore, Community Development Director

PUBLISH: May 7, 2026

CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE CITY COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Arroyo Grande City Council will conduct a hearing in the Arroyo Grande City Council Chambers located at 215 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 on TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., or soon thereafter, to consider the following item:

Consideration of an Update to the User Fees Set Forth in the Comprehensive Fee Schedule. The City Council will conduct a hearing to establish user fees for the costs associated with Administrative Fee for Retirees Benefits, Tree Permit Application, and various Recreation Services Fees. The remainder of the user fees will be adjusted in accordance with the latest annual increase to the Consumer Price Index.

The hearing to update user fees set forth in the Comprehensive Fee Schedule is not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it has no potential to result in either a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment. (State CEQA Guidelines, §§ 15060 (c)(2) and (3), 15378.)

This City Council meeting is being conducted in a hybrid in-person/virtual format. During the 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 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 update to the user fees set forth in the Comprehensive Fee Schedule are available in the Administrative Services 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 May 7, 2026

The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, ordains as follows:

SECTION 1: The Board finds and determines:

a. That it has the authority to revise fee charges for providing any product, service, or enforcement of various regulations under the general laws of the State of California, including Government Code Sections 54985 et seq. and 66010 et seq.

b. The Board has adopted a policy (Resolution No. 75-396) requiring the County Administrator and the Auditor-Controller to annually review changes in fees and charges for specific County products, services and costs of enforcement with the departments making those charges, and make recommendations to this Board as to whether said charges should remain the same, be increased or be decreased.

c. On November 12, 2024, Ordinance No. 3520 and then on November 18, 2025, Ordinance No. 3559 was adopted establishing or reaffirming all county fees. Said ordinance, and any other ordinances subsequently adopted amending the fee schedule, shall continue in effect unless modified by this ordinance. All fees to be charged in Fiscal Year 2026-27 as set forth in Schedule “B” of this ordinance have been subject to review by the County Administrator and the County AuditorController. All fees presented on Schedule “B” are * and incorporated by reference herein.

d. The Auditor-Controller has certified to this Board that the overhead rates are calculated in accordance with accounting standards set by the Federal Government’s Office of Management and Budget, in accordance with Title 2 in the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR), Subtitle A, Chapter II, part 225.

e. The fees and charges shown on Schedule “B” hereto reflect the Board approved charges for providing any product or service, or the cost of enforcing any regulations, which are limited to those items included in the Federal Office of Management and Budget 2 CFR, Subtitle A, Chapter II, part 225; provided, however, that fees for zoning and planning matters, including municipal and district organizational and re-organizational matters, as specified in Government Code Section 66016, do not exceed estimated reasonable costs of those services for which the fees are charged.

f. Capital facilities fees do not exceed actual construction costs as defined in Government Code Section 54999.1.

g. By definition, these charges are not a “tax” and are exempt from voter approval pursuant to California Constitution Code Article XIIIC, section 1, paragraph (e) (1)[charge for specific benefit conferred]/(2)[charge for specific service provided]/(3)[charge for issuing license or performing inspection]/(4)[charge for use of government property]/(5)[fine or penalty imposed for violation of law] (Prop.26).

h. Public Notice has been given in accordance with Government Code Sections 66016 and 66018.

SECTION 2: The fee schedules are amended as follows:

a. That the fee changes * and incorporated by reference herein shown on Schedule “B” are hereby approved, and shall be effective July 1, 2026.

SECTION 3: All departmental managers and divisional managers whose services are listed in said Schedule “B” are hereby directed to amend their fees for services to the rate shown Schedule “B” as “proposed fees”, including all additions or deletions.

SECTION 4: This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and effect as set forth in Section 2 above; and before the expiration of fifteen (15) days after passage of this ordinance, it shall be published once with the names of the members of the Board of Supervisors voting for and against the ordinance in a newspaper of general circulation published in the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California.

INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the Board of Supervisors held on the 21st day of April 2026 and PASSED and ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, on the 5th day of May 2026 by the following roll call vote, to wit:

AYES: Supervisors Heather Moreno, John Peschong, Bruce S. Gibson, Dawn Ortiz Legg and Chairperson Jimmy Paulding

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAINING: None

Copies of the full text of the above amendments may be purchased at reproduction cost or reviewed without charge by contacting the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at ad_board_clerk@co.slo.ca.us.

Dated: May 6, 2026

Matthew P. Pontes, Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: /s/ Niki Martin, Deputy Clerk

*Schedule “B” is not attached hereto and are available in the Administrative Office and online at https://agenda.slocounty.ca.gov/iip/sanluisobispo/ agendaitem/details/20222, Meeting Date: 05/05/2026, Agenda Item No. 35. May 7, 2026 ORDINANCE

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

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

$12,420.00 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY

Notice is hereby given that on January 6, 2026, the abovedescribed property was seized at or near 995 Higuera Avenue, San Luis Obispo, CA, by the San Luis Obispo Police Department, in connection with, to wit, violations of sections 11378 & 11379 of the California Health and Safety Code. The estimated/appraised value of the property is $12,420.00.

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

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

Both the District Attorney’s Office and the Interested Party filing the claim are entitled to conduct reciprocal requests for discovery in preparation for a hearing. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply to the proceedings unless inconsistent with the provisions or procedures set forth in the Health and Safety Code (Section 11488.5(c)(3)).

The Interested Party in entitled to legal representation at a hearing, although not one appointed at public expense, and has the right to present evidence and witnesses, and to cross-examine plaintiff’s witnesses, but there is no right to avoid testifying at a civil hearing.

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

DATED: April 20, 2026

DAN DOW

District Attorney

Kenneth Jorgensen Deputy District Attorney April 23, 30, & May 7, 2026

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

TO: ALL PERSONS CLAIMING ANY RIGHT, TITLE, OR INTEREST IN PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS: $189,200 IN UNITED STATES CURRENCY

Notice is hereby given that on April 17, 2026, the abovedescribed property was seized at or near 1366 K Street, San Miguel CA, 93451 by San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, in connection with, to wit, violations of sections 11351 of the California Health and Safety Code. The estimated/appraised value of the property is $189,200.

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

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

Both the District Attorney’s Office and the Interested Party filing the claim are entitled to conduct reciprocal requests for discovery in preparation for a hearing. The provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure shall apply to the proceedings unless inconsistent with the provisions or procedures set forth in the Health and Safety Code (Section 11488.5(c)(3)).

The Interested Party in entitled to legal representation at a hearing, although not one appointed at public expense, and has the right to present evidence and witnesses, and to cross-examine plaintiff’s witnesses, but there is no right to avoid testifying at a civil hearing.

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

DATED: May 5, 2026 DAN DOW

District Attorney

Kenneth Jorgensen

Deputy District Attorney May 7, 14, & 21, 2026

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Homework: Visualize in detail that you’re living the life you want to. Newsletter.freewillastrology.com

ARIES

(March 21-April 19): Astronomers depend on instruments to collect the observations that fuel their work, but they don’t spend every night glued to the stars. On overcast nights, they turn to what they have already gathered, digging into past measurements and reworking the data. You’re in a comparable phase, Aries. For now, looking farther out into the glittering world won’t give you anything essential. The guidance you need is folded into what you’ve previously seen, felt, and taken in. It’s waiting for you to sort through and understand it on a deeper level.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20): When lightning from a cloud hits sand or soil, the current travels down into the ground. It melts material along its path and forms tubular, branching glass structures that can penetrate deep below the surface. I believe that metaphorically similar phenomena will soon happen in your life, Taurus. Sudden insights or electrifying feelings will leave permanent traces in your psyche, creating new pathways for energy and information to flow. These disruptive inspirations and inspiring disruptions will rewire your internal circuitry, creating channels that will enhance your receptivity to future revelations. You’ll be able to absorb clues and hints from life that you weren’t tuned into before.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20): I invite you to ruminate on death not as the conclusion of physical life, but as a metaphor for discarding what’s stale and outmoded. In that light, what would be the best deaths you could generate during the coming weeks? Use your imagination with verve and vigor as you dream up scenarios in which you purge parts of your life that are not serving your strongest, most vital yearnings. Visualize how much fresh potency that will liberate. (PS: To reiterate: You are not in physical danger.)

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): What part of you is too tame? Maybe your imagination is politely well-behaved, or maybe your voice edits itself before it dares to say what it really thinks. Can you inspire it to be wilder and freer? Not reckless or destructive, but more honest and experimental? Here’s a suggestion: Go on regular excursions with your wild side, maybe once every two weeks. Follow it as it chooses what to explore and create. This might ultimately teach your tamed self that it’s safe to let primal wisdom help steer you.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): According to quantum physics, particles can become “entangled,” which means they share a single connected quantum state. Observing and measuring one particle reveals information about the other, even if they’re not in close proximity. Einstein called this “spooky action at a distance.” I predict that different parts of your life will also interweave in unlikely ways during the coming weeks, Leo. Moves you make in one area will seem to produce mysterious effects in other domains. For example, adjusting your morning routine may boost your creative output. Healing an old alliance could unlock a professional opportunity. Everything will be more intermingled than the visible evidence suggests.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your key power word for now is stretch Speak it aloud multiple times every day and write it on a card that you put in a place where you will keep seeing it. Also, make a point of physically and spiritually living out these three senses of stretch: 1. to lengthen, widen, or expand without snapping or tearing; 2. to unfurl your body to its full reach, boosting circulation and warding off stiffness or cramps; 3. to take on challenging tasks that push you to amplify your abilities and move beyond what you previously believed you could do.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Four oracles for you, Libra: 1. You’re in possession of keys to doors that haven’t been built yet. Tuck

those keys away somewhere safe. 2. You’re ready to dream up titles for stories your life hasn’t lived through yet. Write those titles down. 3. You are being granted sneak previews of your future, even though you can’t yet see the bridge that will carry you there. Imprint these glimpses on your memory. 4. You have everything required to grow a more muscular faith that’s grounded in real evidence, not in vague hopes and wishful thinking. Take advantage.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): At the ancient Library of Alexandria, editors did far more than copy manuscripts. They compared multiple versions of important works and produced editions that aimed at definitively reliable texts. Their efforts at preservation required active intervention rather than mere reproduction. In the coming weeks, Scorpio, I think it will be fun and transformative for you to make similar adjustments to your own life story. How might your memories of the past need to be corrected and refined? How could you make your personal mythology more accurate and liberating? I invite you to revise and revivify the tales you tell yourself about your magnificent journey from the moment you were born until now.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): The speed of light is how fast it travels through a vacuum. When moving through water and other media, though, light’s swiftness decreases. The fastest possible speed in the universe only applies in emptiness. If you put anything in light’s way, it slows down. Let’s use this as a metaphor for your life. I suspect you may be frustrated by how incrementally things are moving. But you’re not in a vacuum. Your bright intelligence is traveling through the complex situations that life has brought you. So of course you’re not zipping along with maximum haste. My advice: Be grateful for the slowdowns. Learn all you can about how they are educating and transforming your brilliance.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Cryptographer Claude Shannon (1916-2001) was the father of information theory. His achievements were comparable to those of Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin. Here’s one of his secrets: He kept his office filled with juggling equipment, unicycles, and mechanical toys, which inspired him to solve abstract problems. His playful tinkering helped inspire breakthroughs that ultimately created the digital age. For him, recreation and innovation happened at the same time. I invite you to try a similar approach in the coming weeks, Capricorn. Blend “serious work” with “just messing around.” Be alert for key insights that emerge from improvisation and experimentation. Your diversions won’t be distractions from your purpose but rather pathways toward it.

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Master calligrapher Yukimi Annand is an Aquarius. She teaches that beautiful letters emerge not just from the hand that holds the brush, but from the entire body and relaxed awareness. Breath, posture, centered weight, and quiet mind all flow through the arm to create each stroke. Trying to control the outcome with arduous effort produces rigid, lifeless art. This is an excellent teaching for you right now, Aquarius. Whatever you’re striving to accomplish, I beg you to refrain from forcing results through grueling, overly laborious exertion. Instead, align your whole being so that graceful outcomes flow naturally from your soulful coherence.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20): The placebo effect is getting stronger over time. Placebos in drug trials are becoming increasingly effective, to the point where it’s sometimes becoming harder to prove that actual drugs work better than sugar pills. Are we getting better at healing ourselves through belief? That would be a problem for pharmaceutical companies but interesting for the rest of us. Dear Pisces, I believe your placebo response is exceptionally strong right now. In the coming weeks, use it deliberately. Be daring and exuberant in your efforts to heal yourself.