New Times, Oct. 30, 2025

Pushing partisanship

STAFF

Editor’s note

On Nov. 4, California voters will decide whether to move forward with a gerrymandering plan via Proposition 50, which aims to temporarily suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission until 2031 and replace the current congressional district map with a more partisan one. The ballot measure hits back against Texas, which redrew its congressional district lines in August to give Republicans more of an advantage in next year’s midterm elections. We took to the streets to hear from residents in San Luis Obispo County and North Santa Barbara County about what they thought and how they were planning to vote [8] Also in this issue, read about how SLO County is preparing for federal food benefits to run out [4]; a Los Osos gallery celebrating one year in business [22]; and a veteran-owned winery spreading the word about mental health [30]

Camillia Lanham editor

cover photo by Jayson Mellom

design by Alex Zuniga

SLO County braces for delayed CalFresh benefits in November

San Luis Obispo County is about to lose out on $5.7 million in CalFresh benefits because of the federal government shutdown that the Trump administration is blaming on Democrat lawmakers.

“Due to Congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution, approximately 42 million individuals will not receive their SNAP benefits come Nov. 1,” an Oct. 24 U.S. Department of Agriculture memo said. “This jeopardizes all SNAP recipients in November, including those that have applied for benefits in the last half of October, and furloughed federal employees who will not receive their combined October/ November benefits.”

Food stamps or SNAP—the national Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known in California as CalFresh—served nearly 29,000 people with low incomes and those battling food insecurity in SLO County as of September.

CalFresh benefits don’t pass through the state or county but are transmitted directly from the federal government to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) vendors like major grocery stores, convenience stores, and select farmers’ markets and online retailers like Amazon. People enrolled with CalFresh can use EBT cards like a debit card to buy eligible food and other approved items from these authorized vendors.

According to SLO County Department of Social Services Division Manager Jenny Hart, it’s expected that the federal government will issue delayed CalFresh benefits onto EBT cards once the shutdown is over. But that date remains uncertain.

The county also directed people to the United Way of SLO County’s 211 help line to connect with food resources. Residents can also text their ZIP code to 898-211 or visit 211slo.org. Another option is to use the SLO Food Bank’s Food Resources Map at findfoodslo.org or by calling (805) 238-4664.

SLO Food Bank CEO Molly Kern told New Times that calls started coming in on Oct. 23 as more people became aware of the anticipated CalFresh benefits delay.

obesity prevention program, which once connected families to nutrition resources and services, and took away CalFresh food assistance for many lawfully present immigrants like asylees, refugees, parolees, and trafficking victims.

On Oct. 28, Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that California and 20 other states are suing the Trump administration over its refusal to fund SNAP benefits because of the federal government shutdown.

“There has not been an instance when CalFresh benefits were delayed due to a federal government shutdown,” Hart said via email. “However, during the federal government shutdown in 2018-19, benefits for February 2019 were issued early, in January, to ensure recipients received them despite the lapse in funding. This early issuance caused confusion and hardship for many households, as they had to stretch those benefits over a longer period.”

CalFresh and CalWORKs recipients can check their EBT balance using the ebtEDGE mobile app or by calling the number on the back of their EBT card.

Hart added that although November benefits are delayed by the shutdown, people should still submit applications for CalFresh, and that the county will process all applications.

From January through September, CalFresh received a monthly average of 1,889 applications from SLO County residents.

New manager selected for SLO shooting range

Nearly a year after the San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area Public Shooting Range shut down, the first step toward reopening is underway.

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) issued an Intent to Award Range Operations on Oct. 27 to San Luis Obispo Firearms and Safety Training (SLOFAST), a nonprofit preparing to assume management, SLOFAST board member Robert Brennan told New Times via email.

“This biggest challenge is that people don’t know; no one knows at this point how long this will go on,” Kern said. “We know that of those 30,000 people who are impacted, about 12,000 of them don’t regularly come to the food bank. … We really want to help build confidence that when you come to the food bank, there are friendly, smiling people; we have wonderful fresh food that you can access; and you don’t need to fill out a bunch of paperwork in order to be able to get the nutritious food that you need.”

The delay to benefits arrives on top of historic cuts to SNAP through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which slashed 20 percent of the entire program’s budget.

The funding reduction eliminated the SNAP-Ed

“We are deeply honored by this opportunity and grateful to CDFW for their confidence in our team,” SLOFAST said on its website. “Together, we look forward to ensuring the San Luis Obispo Wildlife Area Shooting Range continues to serve as a model for safe, environmentally responsible, and community-focused recreation.”

Under the proposed contract, SLOFAST would assume management of the 488-acre site off of Highway 1 between San Luis Obispo and Morro Bay. The award is not yet final, as Fish and Wildlife

He alleged that the administration possesses the funds to support SNAP in November, and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is selectively choosing which programs to keep open during the shutdown.

“The federal government is legally required to make payments to SNAP,” a statement from Newsom’s office said. “Congress appropriated $6 billion to the USDA in SNAP-related contingency funds through September 2026 to continue funding SNAP benefits in instances like the current government shutdown. Instead of helping, the Trump administration chose to suspend November SNAP benefits despite contingency funding in place to help feed American families.”

—Bulbul Rajagopal

must complete its formal contracting process before SLOFAST can take over. Only then, Brennan said, will SLOFAST have a reliable sense of when public access can resume.

For now, SLOFAST lists February 2026 as its target reopening date on its website.

The organization was founded shortly after the range’s closure in 2024 by local shooting sports enthusiasts to “save” the shooting range for future generations.

NUTRITION FOR ALL According to SLO Food Bank, nearly half of almost 30,000 CalFresh enrollees don’t regularly visit the food bank, and CEO Molly Kern welcomed them to walk in and get fresh food.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SLO FOOD BANK

“I’d love my children or my grandchildren to be able to go out there and shoot,” Brennan said. “We want to make sure this land stays open to the public, you know, for the foreseeable future.”

After an audit found the previous management organization, San Luis Obispo Sportsmen’s Association, to have violated multiple terms of its contract, the range closed in December 2024. SLOFAST formed specifically to step into that void and return the range to the public as a nonprofit that reinvests in safety, maintenance, and environmental compliance, Brennan said.

“This land is owned by the people of the state of California, not by any organization or any individual,” he said. “We are simply given a contract to manage that land for the public. And so we want to do our best to manage it as a shooting range.”

Before reopening, SLOFAST must complete state-required repairs, including fixing a damaged bridge, deteriorated concrete, and dry-rotted decks—along with any additional issues once Fish and Wildlife grants SLOFAST full site access.

“There are some safety issues that have to be addressed, and once [we] address the safety issue, then the government has to say it’s safe,” Brennan said.

Only the front range will reopen, including rifle and pistol lanes, archery, skeet and competition bays. The back range will remain closed due to the potential presence of unexploded World War II munitions, Brennan said.

He said volunteer labor will be essential once the state grants full access.

“The more volunteers we have, the faster we can reopen,” Brennan said.

SLOFAST plans to post updates and volunteer opportunities at savetherange.com.

—Chloë Hodge

Grover Beach reduces notice period for removing homeless encampments

Starting Nov. 28, Grover Beach will give homeless people 48 hours before removing their encampments in a bid to curb camping in the city.

The City Council unanimously approved the change—a reduction from the current 72-hour notice—on Oct. 27.

“Homelessness has been a long-standing issue in the city of Grover Beach,” Grover Beach Police Chief Jim Munro said. “Over the past few years, we’ve done quite a bit to address it.”

In 2023, the City Council adopted an ordinance that regulated camping on public property. That ordinance required the city to provide a 72-hour notice to people camped out longer than 24 hours on permitted public property. If they didn’t clean up the encampment within that time, the city Public Works crew would remove the tagged camp. The city stores property other than trash or junk for later pickup if necessary.

The Grover Beach Police Department wanted to reduce the noticing period thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of a lower court’s ruling.

In June 2024, the Supreme Court released its opinion in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson—the Ninth Circuit Court held that a municipality couldn’t criminalize a homeless person for sleeping outside if there’s a lack in adequate housing alternatives.

But the Supreme Court ruled that enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping or sleeping on public property doesn’t constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” under the Eighth Amendment.

At the Oct. 27 City Council meeting, Police Chief Munro said that the Supreme Court’s ruling gives the city “more latitude.”

“Prior to the Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, we relied [on] ‘best practice’ and other court decisions (Martin v. City of Boise) to guide our ordinance and removal times,” he told New Times via email. “This [Supreme Court] ruling allowed a little more flexibility for cities to enforce and strengthen their ordinances.”

Munro added that on average, police tag between one and three camps every week. The cleanups are minor.

“The quicker we can identify and tag the camp, the better it is, hence part of the reason for the new 48-hour removal time,” he said. “The 48-hour removal period brings us into alignment with the California Interagency Council on Homelessness who recommends a minimum of 48 hours for removal. Additionally, no minimum removal time period was recommended/required by the Supreme Court.”

Switching to the 48-hour notice period will also save money, he told the council. Public Works Director Greg Ray told New Times the exact amount in savings isn’t known yet.

“What we do know is that the longer an encampment stays in place, the more extensive and difficult the cleanup effort gets as materials are spread wider around the camp and more materials are collected in and around the encampment,” he said. “Our

experience has shown that if we can get a cleanup done earlier, the materials are more concentrated around the camp area, which reduces our cleanup costs.”

5Cities Homeless Coalition Associate Director Devon McQuade said that while the noticing period reduction doesn’t make a big difference for them, the same problems persist.

“We’ve had people coming into our office now for services who have been out for a significant period of time and haven’t really wanted to connect with us,” she said. “But the challenge obviously is that we may not have a shelter bed for them. Even if they do get into shelter, our folks who are low-income or disabled, we don’t have enough housing options.”

At the City Council meeting, two residents pushed back on the effort. Resident Cathryn Sells said 48 hours is “cutting it too short.” Another community member, Randall Myrick, agreed.

“I don’t have a choice; I interact with some of these homeless people because my office is down there,” Myrick told the City Council. “Why don’t you put a dumpster there, see if they make the effort to clean it up themselves, and give them a break maybe if you see they’re taking care of things?”

Alumnus sues

—Bulbul Rajagopal

Atascadero school district over Carrisa Plains middle school

The Atascadero Unified School District (AUSD) suspended its plans to discuss solutions for California Valley middle school students commuting 50-plus miles to school, thanks to a recent lawsuit filed by a Carrisa Plains Elementary School graduate.

“The district recommends the board consider pausing discussion regarding Carrisa Plains’ ACE program,” AUSD Superintendent Tom Bennett said during the Sept. 16 school board meeting. “As a result of uncertainty surrounding this litigation, it is prudent to pause next steps on a new program so that the court process may play out.”

During the school board’s Aug. 19 meeting, it approved looking at a pilot program that could offer students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade the ability to access Atascadero Choices in Education (ACE) at Carrisa Plains Elementary School. Students participating in the independent study

program would use ACE’s online curriculum and be able to complete schoolwork on campus with the support of Carrisa Plains teachers and staff.

Bennett asked the board to pull a study session on the issue from the Sept. 16 meeting agenda due to Gregory Nelson’s lawsuit against the district, which was filed on Aug. 26.

Nelson, who graduated from Carrisa Plains in 1988 and Atascadero High School in 1992, is requesting (among other things) an injunction that would force Atascadero Unified to reopen Carrisa Plains school to junior high students. In his 444-page petition, Nelson accuses the school board of violating the Brown Act and lists alleged issues dating back to 2008, when the district first discussed removing seventh and eighth grade from Carrisa Plains, calling the district’s “characterization of ‘community engagement’” “misleading.”

Carissa Plains now serves K-5 students, with rural students in sixth grade and up bused to Atascadero middle and high schools. Parents raised the issue at school board meetings in April and May, asking the district to hire a new teacher for Carrisa Plains who could support students until high school. In May, the district said there weren’t enough students to justify the expense of a new teacher.

Without an attorney, Nelson filed the lawsuit on his own. He told New Times that he wasn’t able to comment on the legal proceedings just yet.

The school district’s attorneys have asked the court to throw out several documents Nelson submitted as part of his case against the district, stating that they weren’t filed in accordance with the court’s legal standards. Superintendent Bennett didn’t respond New Times questions before press time. In a recent ruling denying Nelson’s request for a judicial determination that the school district board never took “lawful action” to reconfigure Carrisa Plains’ grade span and to bar the district from saying so in official records, communications, and litigation filings, SLO County Superior Court Judge Michael Kelley said that Nelson had “filed a plethora of confusing pleadings.”

“In light of the potential serious defects in petitioner’s claim on the merits, … the court is denying the request,” Kelley wrote.

The next hearing is scheduled for Dec. 16. ∆ —Camillia Lanham

COMPLETE TESTING & REPAIR

Tues,

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Honoring

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Each

Districts debate

Central Coast residents weigh in on California’s attempt to redraw congressional districts via Proposition 50

Come Nov. 4, all eyes will be on California when eligible voters cast their ballots containing only one item—Proposition 50.

The measure would authorize temporary use of new state congressional district maps through 2030, directing the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission to resume enacting district maps in 2031.

Spearheaded by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Proposition 50 is the state Legislature’s response in the race between Democrats and Republicans to redraw congressional maps and alter the balance of power at the national level.

Proponents of the measure say the Election Rigging Response Act levels the playing field after state leaders in Texas redrew congressional district lines to gain five Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives before the 2026 midterm elections.

Proposition 50 proposes new lines for many of California’s 52 congressional districts to favor Democrats, aiming to neutralize the five Republican seats added by Texas.

Opponents claim the measure dismantles safeguards that keep elections fair, changes the Constitution to replace the voterapproved Citizens Redistricting Commission, and costs taxpayers nearly $300 million to pay for the special election.

“It’s not a comforting vote because you’re voting to suspend one of the best redistricting commissions in the United States,” Cal Poly political science professor Michael Latner said. “It’s not a simple argument, but the argument I equate it to is the hypothetical argument of, ‘Would you kill baby Hitler?’ Most people would say no, that’s a horrible idea, but if you talk about killing baby Hitler and avoiding the consequences that would follow, then it makes it much more appealing.”

Latner, the Union of Concerned Scientists’ latest Voting Rights Kendall Fellow, added that it’s a misconception that voting “yes” on Proposition 50 is a vote in favor of gerrymandering. He pointed to vocal opposition to the measure by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and multimillionaire physicist Charles Munger Jr.

“That’s half of an argument because if your goal is free and fair representation, then you should want that for everyone,” Latner said. Voting on Proposition 50, according to Latner, is a “horrible position” for the United States to be in.

“Congress should have long ago passed the laws that prohibit partisan gerrymandering,” he said. “We are the only democracy in the world that only seats two parties in its national legislature. It’s ridiculous, and it’s time that we move on past this arcane machinery that just incentivizes this sort of manipulation.”

For San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties, the congressional district maps would remain virtually unchanged.

SLO County Democratic Party Chair Tom Fulks still thinks it’s important for local citizens to vote.

“Historically, midterm elections are at the time when the American people passed

Vote

The Proposition 50 election has 45 polling locations in SLO County. Confirm your polling location if you intend to vote in person by checking the stub at the top of your mail-in ballot or by looking it up at sos.ca.gov/ elections/polling-place The U.S. Postal Service stated that residents more than 50 miles from a postal hub can’t count on their return envelope getting postmarked the day they mail it. Since all SLO County voters are more than 50 miles from the Goleta USPS hub, those intending to mail their ballot should do it at least a week before Nov. 4. If voters wait longer than that, they should take their ballots to a post office to be hand-canceled or use an official ballot drop box instead.

judgment on the incumbent president, and historically, the incumbent president has for the most part, lost seats in the House,” he said. “What’s happening now with these midterm readjustments, Republican states are trying to prevent the American people from having an influence on national policy.”

With chatter about redistricting gaining steam in Missouri, Kansas, Utah, Indiana, Louisiana, and Ohio, among other conservative states, Fulks thinks Proposition 50’s success won’t do enough for Democrats.

“This is a signal to other states led by Democrats to start moving on this. I know Maryland is moving on it. … Virginia, right now, is looking at three congressional seats,” he said. “California provides the permission structure for other Democrat-led states, … as the biggest state in the union, as the tentpole of the American economy.”

‘Power of democracy’

“Yes on 50” signs floated among the sea of people gathered along Monterey and Osos streets in front of the San Luis Obispo Superior Court on Oct. 18.

The Downtown SLO rally was one of the 2,700 No Kings demonstrations that took place that day across the nation protesting President Donald Trump’s policies, including

the administration’s ICE raids and cuts to federal programs like health care, underscored by the federal government shutdown.

“No order can silence your voice,” 4th District Supervisor Jimmy Paulding told the cheering crowd from a small stage. “Journalists are not meant to serve power, they’re meant to challenge power.”

Other local speakers included La Cultura del Mundo founder Cesar Vasquez, Cal Poly Democrats President Talie Krantz, SLO City Councilmember Emily Francis who spoke as a private citizen, and Arroyo Grande High School Young Progressives Club President Bibi Shah.

Shah can’t vote yet and neither can her peers, but she said that they’ve still spoken about Proposition 50.

“I did a lesson on it at Young Progressives, so maybe they can tell their parents about it even though we can’t vote on it,” the 16-year-old told New Times during the rally.

“It can be scary to get involved in politics when you’re really young, but it’s really important. A lot of people think it’s really just gerrymandering, but it’s really just a gerrymandering response act.”

SLO resident Jack Lamb listened to the speakers, holding one of the few “Yes on 50” signs. He said he’s voting “yes” on the proposition “because Trump’s trying to steal the next election.”

The 68-year-old is no stranger to protests. Lamb, an X-ray technician at the California Men’s Colony, said he took part in the blockade against Diablo Canyon Power Plant in the 1980s when it was granted a license to operate.

“Prop. 50 is the way we demonstrate the power of democracy while we fight autocracy,” he said.

Across from Lamb, on the other side of the street, Pismo Beach resident and retired graphic designer Susan Aldridge held up a “Yes on 50” sign, too.

She agreed that the proposition is a way of gerrymandering, adding that the Democrats are going ahead with it because “we’re in a fight.”

“To take the higher road now does nothing,” she said. “There’s a lot of money going into advertisements against it, like with Arnold Schwarzenegger, but they’re misinformed.”

Rusty Peters, a 39-year-old SLO resident, shared Aldridge’s views.

“We have to get dirty,” said Peters, a registered nurse. “I’m not advocating for violence because right-wing violence is a huge problem.”

Dressed in a silver space suit and a helmet made to look like a hollowed-out disco ball, he said he’s voted in every election since he turned 18 when he cast his ballot for 2004 presidential hopeful John Kerry, adding that he wanted to bring whimsy and levity to this time.

“I’m doing this in solidarity with the Portland protesters who are highlighting the ridiculousness of it,” he said, referring to the Portland Frog Brigade—a group of people who gathered outside the city’s ICE facility wearing inflatable frog costumes to protest recent raids and deportations.

‘Representational balance’

Retired school counselor Sandi Pardini, 79, filled and mailed out her ballot on the same day it arrived in her mailbox.

Even though she thinks redistricting should be left to an independent redistricting commission, the Arroyo Grande resident said she voted “yes” because Republican lawmakers in Texas redrew the state’s congressional map.

“What I love is they’re [California lawmakers] putting it on the ballot,” Pardini, an independent voter, said. “The others didn’t do that; their legislatures did it without asking people.”

Pardini, who said the only Republican candidate she’s ever voted for was Schwarzenegger when he ran for state governor, told New Times she’d be critical of the Democrats too if they tried to redistrict California proactively.

“I love what Newsom is doing. Politicians have always been off and on a little sideways but never like this,” she said. “I just hope it passes.”

For 30-year-old Nipomo resident Madeleine, who declined to provide her last name, there’s no other option but voting yes. After living in Montana, the former Republican said she planned to register to vote in California a few days before Halloween.

“Trump being president made me ask more questions and get more involved,” said Madeleine, who works in media management.

She added that she’s heard people say that Proposition 50 is unfair, “but it’s exactly what Texas did.”

“I don’t think it’s the most efficient, but it’s fighting fire with fire,” she said.

Santa Maria resident April Carr, 47, told New Times on the Pismo Beach pier that she’s a “news junkie” who’s been learning about Proposition 50 from a variety of platforms, including twitch.tv.

ONE IN THOUSANDS Downtown SLO’s No Kings rally was one of the 2,700 demonstrations protesting President Donald Trump’s policies that took place around the country on Oct. 18.

PHOTO

TWO IN ONE The No Kings rally also folded in another message—voting “yes” on Proposition 50 on Nov. 4, which the measure’s supporters are touting as a response to redistricting by Republican Texas lawmakers.

PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM

With no party preference, Carr—who has mostly voted for Democrats and independent candidates—said she would be voting yes on the proposition.

“California’s laws and process for redistricting is fair in a way that is unfair nationally,” she said. “California, in order to create a representational balance within Congress as a whole, needs to compensate.”

Some voters are less certain—like Tyler Nies, a manager at a Pismo Beach restaurant, who’s now a moderate voter after leaning liberal in the past.

“I’m not for it, and I’m not against it,” the 34-year-old said. “California is a Democratic state anyway, so I’m not worried about it because the people who voted Republican will still be Republicans.”

Nies said he needed to study up on Proposition 50 more before casting his ballot. According to him, he’s always been a proponent of redistricting but dislikes that California lawmakers devised the proposition to be “retaliatory.”

“But I don’t think Texas redistricting to give Republicans more seats is a good thing. They’re trying to cheat the system. I’d feel the same if California were to do it first,” the Pennsylvania native said. “But 90 percent of California is rural, and I feel like those people don’t get much of a voice.”

Christopher Ledezma, who lives in Fresno County’s Reedley, told New Times during a visit to Pismo Beach that he can’t afford to stay away from politics any longer.

“I didn’t feel the need to have an interest until now,” he said. “This is affecting the people around me, my family, my friends. Even in Reedley, which is small, you see the cultural shift, and I don’t like it.”

The 30-year-old security guard said he’s stayed away from social media for almost eight years. The little he sees about the state of the world on his girlfriend’s phone overwhelms him.

“My own conscience says I want to do everything right, but I don’t know what to believe in,” he said.

Ledezma said he hadn’t decided on how he would vote yet, but that he would definitely vote by Nov. 4.

“At this point, you have to [vote] now, otherwise people are going to speak for you,” he said.

‘Absolutely absurd’

In Paso Robles, retired social services worker Sandy, who declined to provide her last name, said she voted no on Proposition 50, even though she identifies as a lifelong Democrat.

“Per se, I don’t really have a problem with it,” she said. “But the reason we were doing it kind of bothered me. It was like we were trying to be just like Texas and all the other states. And I thought, ‘Ain’t we better than that?’”

Sandy said she dropped her completed ballot at the Paso Robles Library within a week of receiving it. Although she believes redistricting reform could be useful, she disagrees with how lawmakers are approaching it.

“They need to go back through the Legislature and change the law. Even if it’s just temporary,” Sandy said. “Don’t put it back on the people that already voted to have a nonpartisan redistricting panel.”

Her skepticism echoes concerns from local Republican leaders. Republican Party of SLO County Chair Randall Jordan called the measure “a terrible, terrible bill” that allows legislators to

pick their districts instead of voters.

“If Prop. 50 passes, … we’re basically going to be completely neutered in the state of California,” Jordan said.

The Republican Party of SLO County has been working to rally opposition to the measure in the final weeks before the election, according to Jordan. On Oct. 19, party members volunteered at a No on 50 rally hosted by Reform California and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) at Life Community Church in Paso Robles.

“It was actually part of DeMaio’s statewide bus tour—they’d just come from Salinas,” Jordan explained. “The energy was there. People were very, very excited to hear what he had to say.”

He added that most attendees had already decided to vote against Proposition 50 but came to show support and learn more about its potential impact.

“I think most people understood that carving up the lines of the districts was not a good thing,” he said. “It would keep the fairness out of our elections and make it harder for any Republican to get elected in this state.”

Santa Barbara County Republican Party spokesperson Jim Byrne described California’s Citizens Redistricting Commission as “a gold standard for the nation to follow,” which is partly why he’s voting no on Proposition 50.

“We don’t want politicians to create these maps. We want to leave it in the hands of voters—Democrat, independent, decline to state, and Republican,” Byrne said. “The new redistricting map was created, … to basically disenfranchise Republican voters in the state, which is highly unfair. [Proposition 50] would disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters, if not hundreds of thousands of voters.”

Sterling Hayden, a 38-year-old tire salesman and father of four, agrees: Proposition 50 represents government overreach that he can’t support.

“I think it’s absolutely absurd. I can’t believe we’re even voting on this,” he said.

“I think absolutely no, and I’m appalled that this is even coming up to vote.”

Hayden said he recently changed his registration to Republican—just last week—after years of being nonpartisan. His political shift, he said, came after the death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.

and the Town Center Mall during the afternoon of Oct. 18, when Indivisible Santa Maria hosted its version of the nationwide No Kings rally.

“We estimate we had 1,100 people show up,” Cliff Solomon, one of the local protest’s organizers, told New Times via email.

A registered Democrat and retired educator, Solomon said he will vote yes on Proposition 50, which he described as an aim to restore the democratic process across the country.

“We must fight the political gerrymandering that has happened in Texas and other states,” the 77-yearold Santa Maria resident said.

Arroyo Grande resident Charlton Miller said he’s voting no on Proposition 50, which he described as solidifying Democrats’ power base.

“I’m adamantly opposed to Prop. 50,” the 67-year-old retiree said at the Santa Maria Town Center on Oct. 23—a few days after No Kings participants rallied outside of the mall’s walls.

“The people of California already voted on this,” the registered Republican added, referring to the independent redistricting commission formed in 2008.

“Watching what happened and having children of my own and knowing that he’ll never go home to his kids because of opinions and words, really changed the way I look at things,” he said.

He said he’s been signing petitions opposing Proposition 50 and urging others to get involved.

Others in North County see the special election differently. Frank Walker, 73, a retired art teacher and therapist from Cambria, said he voted “yes.”

“I’m in favor of it simply because of what’s happening with other states, Texas and I guess North Carolina now,” he said. “They’re redistricting just to give a majority to the Republicans. We need to level the playing field.”

Although he said he preferred when redistricting was handled by a citizens commission, he sees the measure as a necessary counterbalance.

“I don’t like the idea that this is happening at a state level,” Walker said. “But I can understand why California is doing that again, to level the playing field.”

In Santa Margarita, John Beckia, a Green Party voter, also said he plans to vote yes on Proposition 50 but for strategic reasons.

“I’m worried about the election being rigged from gerrymandering,” he said. “I think that the way it’s written is very shrewd in that it has a clause in it that says if the Texas gerrymandering thing is found illegal in the courts, then this throws Prop. 50 out—and I think that’s a very sharp way of doing it.”

While the language of the measure doesn’t include a clause like that, the amendment does specifically state that it’s “in response to the congressional redistricting in Texas in 2025.” Beckia said he typically supports independent redistricting commissions but sees this as an urgent response to national politics.

“It’s kind of an emergency that we respond to the Texas gerrymandering,” he said.

‘It’s

all corrupt’

The corner of South Broadway and Cook streets in Santa Maria bustled with hundreds of protesters near both City Hall

Miller said that “trying to reverse what Texas did” in August is not a justifiable reason for California to bypass its voterapproved commission to redraw district lines. He also called the Nov. 4 special election a huge waste of taxpayer money.

Lompoc resident Deb—who declined to give New Times her last name—said she hopes the redistricting debate turns out to be “a bad movie we’re all moving away from.”

The 74-year-old homemaker said she’s not voting on Proposition 50 because she doesn’t believe either outcome will have a positive impact.

Deb described herself as a former Democrat who’s gradually become disenchanted with the party over the past 20 years.

“What they’re saying is not really what they’re doing,” she said. “But Republicans aren’t any better. … It’s all corrupt.”

Cal Poly student Elena Carissimi said that if Texas can play with the government on the Republican side, it gives Democrats the excuse to do it as well. The 18-year-old environmental management and protection major added that she agrees with the proposition’s mission and goal, and she voted yes.

“I wish I didn’t have to register,” the registered Democrat said. “I hate the twoparty system, but you can’t leave the party, you have to fight with it.”

Fellow student, registered Dem, and environmental protection and management major Ryan Graul said that the proposition and Newsom aim to stop Trump from “a lot of these policies that he’s putting in place that are taking away some of our freedoms.”

“I think it is the appropriate response, and I think that we are at a point where you need to take that level of action in order to counter some of the actions on the other side,” Graul said. ∆

New Times Staff Writer Bulbul Rajagopal, intern Bella Cox, and contributor Chloë Hodge and Sun Senior Staff Writer Caleb Wiseblood all contributed to this story. Reach Editor Camillia Lanham at clanham@newtimesslo.com.

HORSEPLAY Several protestors attended the Downtown SLO No Kings rally dressed as a unicorn, a dinosaur, a chicken, and even one man in a silver space suit who called it a show of solidarity for Portland protestors who demonstrated in front of an ICE facility wearing inflatable frog costumes.

PHOTO BY JAYSON MELLOM

OPPOSITION On Oct. 19, the day after nationwide No Kings protests, members of the Republican Party of SLO County gathered at Life Community Church in Paso Robles for a No on 50 rally hosted by Reform California and Assemblymember Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego).

PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDALL JORDAN

BELLA COX

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Trial by fire

The Morro Bay Fire Department will begin using cameras with automated AI-technology and long-range thermal detection systems to help catch fires sooner.

The idea to install thermal imaging cameras in Morro Bay was born during a social event where Fire Chief Daniel McCrain was speaking with SYTIS representatives about its new fire detection technology. The San Luis Obispo company manufactures and develops thermal imagers and thermal systems appealing to utility companies and fire departments, particularly in California, in hopes of recognizing fire-related emergencies before they can cause excessive damage.

“The idea was intriguing, as adding something that could, you know, give us a leg up on detecting fires while they’re still small and getting that emergency response initiated quickly,” McCrain said.

Morro Bay is likely the first fire department in the nation to implement a system that uses AI-powered, automated, long-range thermal detection for early wildfire and marine fire detection, according to McCrain. He added that the cameras can also detect individuals stuck on Morro Rock or even in unsafe areas in the water.

SYTIS donated three cameras to the city. Two will be in fixed locations on opposite ends of Morro Bay—one at the water reclamation facility and the other at the water tank off Nutmeg Avenue—and the third will be mounted to the wildland fire engine, McCrain said.

“We determined what would give the best view of the city for our needs, and then just collaborated with SYTIS on what their technology was capable of, what it needed as a way of an installation site, and then we designed the systems to go for each location,” McCrain said.

surroundings have to reach a certain threshold for the model to send out an alert.

Firefighters routinely use small, handheld thermal imaging cameras as part of their personal protective equipment while searching for victims inside a fire, detecting heat to see if a fire is fully extinguished, and more, Chief McCrain said. However, this is their first time using cameras from SYTIS.

Since this is new technology for the Morro Bay department and they’re not sure how sensitive the cameras’ detection system will be, McCrain and Deputy Fire Chief Matthew Vierra will be the only ones with access to the camera systems.

“I think it’s very exciting to be included in this new technology and just see where it goes,” McCrain said. “It’s just really exciting to be a part of that and curious to see what benefits our community can see from that.”

Fast facts

• San Luis Obispo County’s new Public Safety Communications Center held a ribbon cutting on Oct. 27 in Templeton. Jointly operated by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and Cal Fire/ SLO County Fire, the center replaces two outdated and overcrowded dispatch facilities with a modern, co-located center to enhance coordination, efficiency, and emergency response across the region.

• The SLO Film Center - Palm Theatre is one of 41 organizations receiving Science on Screen grants worth up to $9,000 through the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and Coolidge Corner Theatre. Science on Screen grant recipients are chosen based on the need for science-related programming in their community, according to the film center. The funding supports events that feature classic, cult, and documentary films matched with presentations by experts who discuss scientific, technological, or medical issues raised by the films.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

WalktoEndAlzheimer’s–SanLuis

Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025 Mission Plaza 989 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo

Registration at 9:00 a.m.

Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. Walk at 10:30 a.m.

Troy Goss, SYTIS project manager and lead thermographer, is helping the Morro Bay Fire Department with installation and setup. He said the cameras are being incrementally deployed as the department works out the parameters of the cameras’ settings, like who to send alerts and images to.

AI is used as part of the automated detection system, according to Goss. The temperatures detected in the camera’s

“We have three exciting screenings planned featuring local professors and scientists ranging from dunes to carnivorous plants,” Film Center Executive Director Skye McLennan said in a statement. Those details and dates will be shared “soon,” she said. ∆

Reach Intern Bella Cox at ntintern@ newtimesslo.com.

PHOTO BY SYTIS COURTESY OF JESSICA FRANTZIDES

Vote yes on Proposition 50

If California were a country, it would be the fourth-largest economy in the world; it would exert immense global influence in the fields of agriculture, technology, education, entertainment, and individual rights. However, California is but one of our 50 states; as such, we cannot pretend that we live in a vacuum, unaffected by what other states do.

President Trump worries that the upcoming midterm elections will remove his iron grip on the well-being of all U.S. citizens, including California’s 39 million people. Earlier this year, he stated that “we [the Republican Party, not the people of the country] are entitled to five more seats” in Texas, and the Texas Legislature groveled to his demand.

If we all agree that an impartial, independent process of periodic realignment of congressional districts is best for the nation, we must negate the extreme gerrymandering process that Trump has set in motion. If we are to

Trump’s brand of ‘election integrity’

I received a new majority (Trump Republican) mailer on Oct. 23. It provided a very brief background on Proposition 50. Then, it refers the reader to the Protect Your Vote 2025 website, which is a Trojan Horse funded by many wealthy, ultra-conservative billionaires. Protect Your Vote 2025 states:

“Stand up for election integrity

“Republicans must keep winning for the great American people, and we will use every appropriate tool to beat the Democrats who tried so desperately to destroy our country. Along with the 100-plus lawsuits filed to protect your vote, no political party in American history has taken such bold and decisive action to ensure that each and every legal vote is counted. We’re already getting to work in key states to make sure every Republican vote is safe and secure. If you want to be part of this critical mission to ensure Republicans win in 2025 and beyond, sign up to be an election integrity volunteer in your state.”

Two reminders.

First: Trump and his Trump Republican Party started this 2025 redistricting issue to protect an unpopular and unscrupulous leader, Donald J. Trump, possibly from a third impeachment.

Second: The September 2021 California gubernatorial recall election, initiated by Republicans (it failed) cost Californian taxpayers $276 million. So why is the new majority bringing attention to Proposition 50 election’s estimated cost of $282 million, which, in actuality, was brought on by Trump and his Republicans’ Texas redistricting, now adding more Republican controlled states?

For many thinking Americans it is a challenge to ignore the Trump brand of “election integrity.” It is easy for critical thinkers to identify Trump’s chaos, retribution, dishonesty, and lack of knowledge.

Ken Kalkowski San Luis Obispo

have any hope at all of a rational national election system, we must have a House of Representatives that has the will to counterbalance his strong-arm tactics. Only then can we have at least a chance to ensure an impartial and fair electoral process. If you have ever cringed about what the president has done to undermine the average citizen while enriching the richest of the rich or have ever worried that he is trying to turn the U.S. into a glitzy dictatorship (e.g., his single-handed, nonational-discussion transformation of our White House into a gaudy, gilded ballroom) or have ever had even an ounce of concern about his actions to turn our military into a national police force more involved in suppressing its own citizenry than in providing true national security, then you must vote yes on Proposition 50. Give us a chance to save our country!

Dug Chisholm Atascadero

Creating water security in the Five Cities

In May 2017, the California Coastal Commission mandated that the SLO South County Waste Water Treatment plant in Oceano begin planning for a possible relocation by May 2047 due to legitimate concerns that the treatment plant could be compromised by climate change-induced sea level rise and creek flooding.

It also required a progress report every 10 years and that studies be completed on: new locations that are safe from sea level rise and watershed flooding; the detailed life expectancy of the current plant; a detailed hazard response plan and risk assessment related to flooding and earthquakes; estimated costs to build a new treatment and drinking water standard purification plant for all municipal waste water from Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Oceano; estimated costs to demolish the existing plant and restore the property to a natural state; and estimated costs to build new distribution structures for treated water. The first 10-year progress report is due in 19 months. Most of the above required information has been created and shared with the Coastal Commission.

The commission provided a huge gift to South County in laying out the groundwork for a comprehensive plan to secure a new treatment plant while at the same time creating a state-of-the-art municipal wastewater reclamation and purification operation. It would create millions of gallons of “new water” on a daily basis for South County and create water security for decades to come. Water insecurity is perhaps the most acute environmental issue we face in our communities, and this legacy project will protect us and our great-great grandchildren. The existing treatment plant is old and vulnerable. Studies estimate it would need more than $100 million over the next 22 years in maintenance and repairs. Its replacement is inevitable and now is the time for our communities to come together in this effort to protect our water resources into the future.

We can use the commission’s “gift” of this planning mandate as a regional water management blueprint. There are billions of dollars in planning and construction grants available from state and federal sources. Now is the time to embrace and mobilize as communities working together to create a modern water recycling facility and be a model for doing it right.

We need elected leaders who have the vision and understanding necessary to seize this opportunity and push the process forward on behalf of all who live in Arroyo Grande, Grover Beach, and Oceano. We need citizens who are educated and engaged in the process. We need to be ready and at the front of the line when it is time to seek funding.

Charles Varni Oceano

Newsom’s Great Grift

During a press conference, on Oct. 22, Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that the media, people, and organizations that wield power and influence and do absolutely nothing when they know something is wrong, need to be held accountable. He calls it the “great grift.” Gov. Newsom states that he is sending out kneepads to the CEOs of organizations, media companies, universities, and law firms for “bending their knees.” He asks: “What the hell is going on in this country? … None of this is normal. ... Wake up everybody.”

Gov. Newsom talks about how the federal administration ignores the national priorities while it tears down the East Wing of the White House to build a “big, beautiful ballroom,” assess higher tariffs, and reduce health benefits for the American people.

Let’s use this for an analogy of what is going on in the state of California to empower foreign oil and gas corporations to decimate our oceans and coastal communities—Newsom’s Great Grift.

Newsom—and the agencies, boards, and commissions that his administration oversees—continues to allocate hundreds of millions of dollars to fund a sweeping plan to develop a massive floating offshore wind project off California’s coast. This is an experimental project that has an unknown impact on global climate change. There are few other floating offshore wind projects in the world. The uncertainty of benefits created by this experimental ocean industrialization project is compounded by the fact that California has no grid capacity to transmit any energy that may be generated.

Current non-floating offshore wind projects located in Europe and on the east coast of the United States have a lifespan of 15 to 25 years. The retired turbines from offshore and land-based wind projects are not usually recycled and are a burden.

It’s not too late, not yet

We Californians can vote yes on Proposition 50 in order to temporarily override the redistricting commission, giving Congress the power to oppose Trump. It is clear now that Trump will betray us and the Constitution to stay in power.

The Supreme Court has granted Trump absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for any crimes he might commit in violation of the Constitution or the laws of the United States. Trump is immune. His cronies and secret police can all be pardoned.

Pick the crime: murder, torture, kidnapping, bribery.

Add in unbound corruption, military occupations, and disdain for elections, for basic civil rights, and for due process. No Kings. Vote yes on 50.

Tricia Boaz San Luis Obispo

Maria Lorca Paso Robles

BY JOHN B. ASHBAUGH

The Kiwis are alright

Oct. 18 was No Kings Day, and a chant reverberated throughout America as 7 million protesters marched in 2,700 cities and towns all across the country— including San Luis Obispo: “Tell me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!”

After a two-week tour of New Zealand, here’s what one version of democracy looks like: This small island nation of fewer than 6 million “Kiwis” have built a flourishing model of democracy.

In addition to their unique geography and inspiring landscapes, New Zealand’s people are a fascinating conglomerate with a unique political culture—one that offers inspiration and maybe even a small candle of hope to our polarized nation.

New Zealand operates with a singlechamber national Parliament in their capital, Wellington, that is a unique product of their diverse population: It has been heralded with a world record in representation from the LGBTQ-plus community, and in 2022, female members of Parliament briefly outnumbered the men 60 to 59.

In 2023, however, Kiwis elected a rightwing coalition in a stinging rebuke of their once-popular Labour leader, Jacinda Ardern. The Labour Party had won a nearly unpredicted majority in 2020, but only three years later they took only 27 percent of the seats. They lost for a variety of reasons, including a stumbling response to the COVID pandemic, rising inflation,

and a scorching disinformation campaign orchestrated by Moscow.

One-sixth of Kiwis identify with the indigenous Māori culture that first settled in New Zealand in the 13th century—half a millennium before the English arrived to colonize the country in the 19th century. In 2023, the proportion of Parliament members who identified as Māori rose, and now comprises 27 percent of the Parliament—10 points higher than their share of New Zealand’s overall population (17.4 percent).

Kiwis vote on a regular three-year election cycle, and what is unusual is their 30-year-old method of apportioning seats according to a formula they call “mixed member proportion” (MMP). Voters get to cast two ballots: The first for the individual they want to represent them in Parliament, and the second for one of 14 political parties. The party that wins the most votes will form the next government, based on the composition of the Parliament, which holds a mix of “constituency MPs” (member of Parliament) as well as “list MPs” who are drawn from lists of party leaders who are seated in order of their respective party lists, in proportion to that party’s share of the national vote.

When all the results are in, Kiwis usually know which individual will become their new prime minister: It’s the leader of the party with the largest representation in Parliament. With so many parties competing for their votes, however, it’s almost always a coalition government, hammered together through painstaking negotiations among party leaders.

The result is a Parliament that truly represents the will of the voters by the magic of building coalitions

Kiwis are rightfully proud of their democracy. They defeated an effort to repeal the MMP system in a 2011 referendum. Contrast that with the hugely unpopular two-party system that evolved in the U.S.: A patchwork of precedent and political opportunism, hemorrhaging its integrity by its dependence on PAC campaign funds that almost guarantees government-by-oligarchy.

Next year’s election in New Zealand is expected to produce another pendulum swing, returning a progressive coalition to power with new vision supplied by energetic, left-leaning party leaders both within and outside of the Labour Party.

The people of New Zealand appear to be happy with the pluralism, the dynamism, and the overall direction of their national government. When the mood of the voters changes, the government changes with it.

And I cannot leave New Zealand without mentioning one other unique virtue of their politics: The home of their prime minister is called “Premier House,” a relatively modest 19th century dwelling in Wellington last renovated in 1990. It requires some serious attention to deferred maintenance—and yet their prime minister is only permitted to occupy it if they do not already reside in and represent Wellington!

Premiere House is a valued part of “Heritage New Zealand,” and the government has pledged significant money to restore it to its former elegance, but it would be unthinkable for a prime minister to order any part of it to be renovated or expanded—

let alone demolished—without extensive consultation and public consensus.

Another contrast, then, with the U.S. where the White House has just suffered a devastating blow: A wrecking crew demolished the entire East Wing of this iconic building in complete disregard of the laws and regulations governing such work. The No Kings march earlier this month has shown a way for the people to seize control of our democracy and reject a narcissistic, self-serving tyrant determined to reshape our institutions in his personal megalomaniacal image. As we look ahead to the 2024 midterm elections—now just one year away—we should look for inspiration to that small island nation lying 6,700ish miles away. ∆

John Ashbaugh wrote to New Times from New Zealand. Send a response to letters@ newtimesslo.com.

What’s your favorite type of pet?

42% Canines or felines are my best friends.

29% Fish or reptiles—quiet, contained, beautiful creatures.

18% Exotics all the way!

11% Small fur babies—rabbits, chinchillas, hamsters, etc.—are the best! 55 Votes

Slippery slope

What brought us to the state we’re in? A tit-for-tat escalation of actions that we all agree are bad— and yet we’re doing it anyway.

It started in the Texas Legislature, which—after a show of resistance from state Democrats (who ran away so there wouldn’t be enough legislators to vote)—voted in August to redistrict its congressional districts mid-decade to add more Republican seats to the U.S. House so the Trumptater’s agenda could hang around like a bad hangover. Outright gerrymandering. We’re cool with that?

Before Texas even voted, the California Legislature led by Gov. Gavin Newsom passed a response in the form of the Proposition 50 ballot measure. It would suspend the state’s independent redistricting commission until the end of the decade and replace the map created by the commission with a gerrymandered one favoring even more Democratic districts in the state— currently, of the state’s 52 representatives, 43 of them are Dems. If the special ballot measure passes on Nov. 4, expect to see at least 47 districts with Democrats at the helm. So, we’re not cool with it, but it’s OK if we do it?

Now, Missouri has a new map, Utah has a new map, and Indiana just called a redistricting session. Kansas is trying to call one. Ohio is redrawing its maps, Louisiana wants to (but it hinges on a Supreme Court case), and Maryland, Florida, New York,

and Illinois are getting nudged.

What is happening?

The slippery slope argument disappeared, apparently, and we’re all continuing to slide down it into oblivion.

Cal Poly professor Michael Latner blames Congress for our conundrum.

“Congress should have long ago passed the laws that prohibit partisan gerrymandering,” he said. “We are the only democracy in the world that only seats two parties in its national legislature. It’s ridiculous, and it’s time that we move on past this arcane machinery that just incentivizes this sort of manipulation.”

Manipulation indeed.

It is ridiculous. Even independent and decline-to-state voters only have two options— and usually, no one likes either candidate because they both suck. And Congress can’t even finalize a budget, which is its main job, without shutting the federal government down. Hello, week four of the shutdown!

And now, the nation’s lowest-income, most vulnerable 42 million residents— including 29,000 in SLO County—won’t be getting the benefits they need to help feed themselves and their families this November thanks to Congress’ inability to do anything constructive and the Trump administration’s quest to punish “Democrats” for disliking him. That’s literally half the country: roughly 156 million people.

Grow up!

Drunk on power and fueled by revenge and the need to spread inappropriate and illegal political propaganda through taxpayerfunded government agencies, an arm of the Trump administration also known as the U.S. Department of Agriculture sent out a notice that SNAP benefits wouldn’t be funded starting Nov. 1 thanks to “congressional Democrats.”

“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the USDA said, parroting a favorite Republican stereotype about those who rely on government benefits.

Good to know that our federal agencies are still nonpartisan.

The political games that upend American lives are never-ending with Trump, which is why even anti-gerrymandering Cal Poly professor Latner is advocating for the state’s residents to vote yes on Proposition 50 and describes it as a “horrible position” for the United States to be in.

“It’s not a comforting vote because you’re voting to suspend one of the best redistricting commissions in the United States,” he said. “It’s not a simple argument, but the argument I equate it to is the hypothetical argument of, ‘Would you kill baby Hitler?’ Most people would say no, that’s a horrible idea, but if you talk about killing baby Hitler and avoiding the consequences that would follow, then it makes it much more appealing.”

Way to bring the Nazis into the discussion! That’s what it always comes down to, doesn’t it? I won’t even ask about baby Trump.

So, Trump asked Texas to gerrymander more Republican seats

into being so he wouldn’t have to face the consequences that most presidents face in the midterms: that the sitting president’s agenda is dogshit and America’s moderate voters are over it. Trump’s agenda is absolutely ripping the U.S. apart (On that we should all be able to agree, amirite?), and he doesn’t want to pay the consequences—not surprisingly, as he seems to believe those don’t exist for him—of being beholden to a House of Representatives with a Democratic majority.

So now, Americans are cool with gerrymandering whenever it pleases the president. They did it, so we can do it. Is this the wave of the future? Sounds like a slog where even less gets done and our crumbling semblance of a governance structure continues to erode into oblivion, oligarchy, and a presidential monarchy. But if you pay for a presidential ballroom, that will keep you out of the Trumptater’s crosshairs! Great. Go Amazon! Go Meta! You rich traitors who have no need for food stamps— although some of your employees might. Things are definitely going to get worse— not better.

Deb from Lompoc said it all feels like a “bad movie.” Democrats aren’t any better than Republicans, and neither party is doing what they should.

“It’s all corrupt,” she said. No kidding. ∆

The Shredder wants a 15-party system. Send new political party names to shredder@ newtimesslo.com.

Hot Dates

ARTS

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BOXES Step into a liminal world where stories wait inside sealed boxes and a soul stands at the threshold between lives. Oct. 31 7 p.m., Nov. 1 7 p.m. and Nov. 2 3 p.m. $28.62. my805tix.com. By The Sea Productions, 545 Shasta Ave., Morro Bay.

COASTAL WINE AND PAINT PARTY

Listen to music while enjoying an afternoon of creativity, sipping, and mingling. The party includes a complimentary glass of wine and canvas with materials. Saturdays, 12-2 p.m. $55. (805) 394-5560. coastalwineandpaint. com. Harmony Cafe at the Pewter Plough, 824 Main St., Cambria.

COSTA GALLERY SHOWCASES

Features works by Ellen Jewett as well as 20 other local artists, and artists from southern and northern California.

Thursdays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sundays, 12-4 p.m. (559) 799-9632. costagallery.com. Costa Gallery, 2087 10th St., Los Osos.

FOREVER STOKED PAINT PARTY

Join us at the gallery, for a few hours to travel on a creative paint journey. You will receive as much or as little instruction as you prefer. No artistic experience is necessary. Saturdays, 7-9 p.m. $45. (805) 772-9095. foreverstoked.com. Forever Stoked, 1164 Quintana Rd., Morro Bay.

FREE OIL PAINTING DEMONSTRATION

Join this Oil Painting Demonstration with Elizabeth Tolley at Art Center Morro Bay. All are welcome. Nov. 1 3-5 p.m. (805) 772-2504. ArtCenterMorroBay.

org. Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE ART PARTY & OPENING RECEPTION FOR JIM TYLER, NANCY DAVID & DEBBIE

GEDAYLOO Join for an art-filled afternoon in Morro Bay! Meet the artists, invest in art, and enrich your life. All are invited. Nov. 8 3-5 p.m. Free. (805) 7721068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS FIBER ART BY DEBBIE

GEDAYLOO Debbie Gedayloo creates playful, sculptural works in wool using needle and wet felting techniques. Join the reception on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 30 - Nov. 29 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE PRESENTS FINE ART OIL PAINTINGS BY NANCY DAVID Nancy David’s oil paintings celebrate Central Coast landscapes with vibrant seasonal colors and natural beauty. See her work on display in the gallery, open daily. Oct. 30 - Nov. 29 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 7721068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

GALLERY AT MARINA SQUARE

PRESENTS PASTELS BY JIM TYLER

Award-winning pastel artist Jim Tyler captures bold light and shadow in stunning coastal scenes. See his work in the gallery, open daily. Oct. 30 - Nov. 29, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 772-1068. galleryatmarinasquare.com. Gallery at Marina Square, 601 Embarcadero suite 10, Morro Bay.

THE MAN FROM EARTH Smart, suspenseful, and deeply philosophical, The Man From Earth is a gripping theatrical experience that will stay with you long after the final line. Nov. 7-16 $20-$28. cambriaarts.org/. Cambria Center for the Arts Theatre, 1350 Main St., Cambria.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

3 ARTISTS RETROSPECTIVE REVEAL

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

UFO FUSED GLASS CLASS The Aliens have landed in their funky fused glass space ships! Create your unique UFO using a variety of colorful bits of glass. Nov. 5 , 5-7 p.m. $60. (805) 464-2633. glassheadstudio.com. Glasshead Studio, 8793 Plata Lane, Suite H, Atascadero.

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

SAN LUIS OBISPO

15TH ANNUAL SLOPOKE ART OF THE AMERICAN WEST EXHIBITION AND SALE Dust off your hat, lace up those boots, and get ready to step into a weekend where fine Western art meets

country fun. SLOPOKE celebrates its 15th anniversary with three days of world-class art, live music, and Western hospitality — all in the beautifully restored Octagon Barn Center. Oct. 31Nov. 2 $28.62. the-slopoke.com. Octagon Barn Center, 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, (805) 544-9096.

ART AFTER DARK Art After Dark features an art opening of world-class artists. Refreshments will be served. First Friday of every month, 5-8 p.m. through March 7 Free. slocountyarts.org/art-afterdark. SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.

BUILDING A BETTER SLO HOST

SECOND ANNUAL BETTER CITIES

FILM NIGHT Join Building A Better SLO for a curated selection of short films that celebrate innovative urban design, vibrant public spaces, and the power of community to shape better cities. Enjoy complimentary beer, wine, non-alcoholic beverages, and of course, popcorn! Nov. 5 5:30-9 p.m. $17.91. my805tix.com. Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St, San Luis Obispo.

CHICAGO THE MUSICAL Broadway’s longest-running musical, CHICAGO has dazzled audiences for over 28 years with 6 Tonys®, 2 Oliviers, and a Grammy®. Nov. 5 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts. org/20252026-season/chicago. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

CHRISTIAN ELLIOTT PLAYS THE MARK OF ZORRO (1920) Renowned organist

Christian Elliott accompanies The Mark of Zorro on the Forbes Pipe Organ, enriching Douglas Fairbanks Sr.’s swashbuckling classic with thrilling, dramatic live music. Oct. 30 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org/20252026-season/ christian-elliott-plays-the-mark-ofzorro-1920. Performing Arts Center, 1

Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

Artist Elizabeth Tolley will guide participants during a free oil painting demonstration scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 1, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Art Center Morro Bay. To get more information, visit artcentermorrobay.org.

—Angie

LITTLE TREASURES CALL FOR ART This is our annual holiday exhibit featuring pieces priced $100 or less from our talented local artists! Nov. 5 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Nov. 7 5-7 p.m. $5. (805) 7474200. artcentralslo.com/portfolio/littletreasures-4/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

MOBILE CLAY CLASSES Offering handbuilding, throwing, and ceramic decorative arts. All ages and abilities are welcome. Call for more info. ongoing (805) 835-5893. hmcruceceramics. com/book-online. SLO County, Various locations countywide, San Luis Obispo.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC LIVE: RISE OF T. REX WITH DR. LINDSAY ZANNO

Paleontologist Dr. Lindsay Zanno will uncover T. rex’s evolution and the vibrant ecosystem it ruled 66 million years ago in the western United States. Nov. 2 , 2 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts. org/20252026-season/nationalgeographic-live-rise-of-t-rex. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., 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& appointmentType=35974477. Anam Cre Pottery Studio, 1243 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

PAINTING AN ITALIAN FARMHOUSE WITH PASTELS WITH JIM TYLER In this full day workshop, you will paint an abandoned farmhouse from the Tuscany region of Italy. All experience levels are welcome. Nov. 1 , 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $90. (805) 747-4200. artcentralslo.com/. Art Central, 1329 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo.

UNNECESSARY FARCE Get ready for a fast-paced, door-slamming, laughout-loud comedy! Two cops. Three crooks. Eight doors. This outrageous, award-winning farce delivers a night of side-splitting fun. Fridays, 7-9 p.m., Saturdays, 2-4 & 7-9 p.m., Sundays, 2-4

p.m. and Thursdays, 7-9 p.m. through Nov. 6 $28-$47. (805) 786-2440. slorep.org/ shows/unnecessary-farce/. SLO Rep, 888 Morro St., San Luis Obispo. WHITNEY PINTELLO: SOLO SHOW On display now through mid-April. ongoing slogallery.com/. SLO Gallery, 1023 Broad St., San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY COASTAL YOUTH THEATER PRESENTS: ELF THE MUSICAL JR. Coastal Youth Theater presents Elf the Musical Jr. Oct. 30 7-8:30 p.m., Nov. 1 , 2-3:30 & 7-8:30 p.m., Nov. 2 2-3:30 p.m., Nov. 7 7-8:30 p.m., Nov. 8 2-3:30 & 7-8:30 p.m. and Nov. 9 2-3:30 p.m. $28.50. (805) 4899444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE St. Joseph High School Community Theatre Presents: Pride and Prejudice. Nov. 7 7-9 p.m., Nov. 8 7-9 p.m. and Nov. 9 2-4 p.m. $23.50. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW SHADOW CAST Don’t miss the 50 year anniversary of this wild movie and the 15th year anniversary of The Studio Players shadow cast. Join in this intimate setting of rock and roll fantasy! Oct. 31 midnight and Nov. 1 10 p.m. $20. my805tix.com. The Studio of Performing Arts, 835 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach. WICKED FUN IMPROV SHOW Enjoy comedy for a cause with a side of great food at this improv show to raise funds for 5Cities Homeless Coalition. Nov. 1 7-8:30 p.m. $10 suggested donation. improvforgood.fun. La Casita Cantina and Restaurant, 1572 West Grand Avenue, Grover Beach.

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

ART DEMO

Stevens

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH TOLLEY

CULTURE & LIFESTYLE

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

CENTRAL COAST UECHI-RYU KARATE-

DO Uechi-Ryu Karate-do is a traditional form of karate originating from Okinawa, Japan. Focus is on fitness, flexibility, and self-defense with emphasis on self -growth, humility, and respect. Open to ages 13 to adult. Beginners and experienced welcome. Instructor with 50 years experience. For info, call 805-215-8806. Tuesdays, Thursdays, 6-7:30 p.m. Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay, 772-6278, morro-bay.ca.us.

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 FUTURE OF NIGHT Beautify Cambria Association’s Dark Sky Initiative will host The Future of Night event. The goal of the event is to inform the community and others as to the importance of https:// beautifycambria.org/donate/protecting the night skies in Cambria and the Central Coast from ever-increasing light pollution and its detrimental impact on both humans and wildlife. Nov. 1 6-8:30 p.m. (805) 927-1934. beautifycambria.org/ donate/. Santa Rosa Catholic Church, 1174 Main St., Cambria.

HALLOWEEN PARTY IN THE FIRESIDE

LOUNGE Don’t miss the Halloween Party at Cambria Pines Lodge! Join for live music, a fun atmosphere, and a costume contest for a chance to win great prizes. Oct. 31 , 8 p.m.-midnight Free. (805) 9274200. cambriapineslodge.com/events/ onsite. Cambria Pines Lodge, 2905 Burton Dr., Cambria.

MAIDEN TO CRONE SISTER CIRCLE

Connect deeply with other women. Sharing the things that are close to our hearts creates a space of shared vulnerability that leads to deep connection. First Sunday of every month,

9-11 a.m. my805tix.com. From the Roots Up Healing Studio, 2055 9th St., Los Osos.

PUMPKIN PATCH Our Pumpkin Patch is officially open for the season! All of our pumpkins are thoughtfully grown by 46 Ranch and come in various sizes. Mondays-Sundays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. (805) 927-4747. cambrianursery.com/ events/. Cambria Nursery and Florist, 2801 Eton Rd., Cambria.

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.

WHIMSICAL WINTER WONDERLAND

Step into the Whimsical Winter Wonderland at Cambria Nursery—where the magic of the season comes to life through light, design, and imagination. Through Jan. 15, 2026 (805) 927-4747. cambrianursery.com/events/. Cambria Nursery and Florist, 2801 Eton Rd., Cambria.

NORTH SLO COUNTY

A-TOWN HALLOWEEN BLOCK PARTY

Get ready for a spooktacular night in Downtown Atascadero. Join local shops and businesses for an evening of trickor-treating and party on after. Oct. 31 5-8 p.m. Free. (805) 464-2564. Downtown Atascadero, Entrada, ECR, and Traffic Way, Atascadero.

ALMOND COUNTRY QUILT GUILD LIVE AUCTION AND BOUTIQUE Head to the Almond Country Quilt Guild’s 35th annual Live Auction and Boutique in Paso. The event benefits Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Honor Flight of the Central Coast. Nov. 1 , 1 p.m. Free. acqguild.com/. Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Road, Paso Robles, 805238-3702.

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. THE CENTRAL COAST WEAVERS

GUILD’S 18TH ANNUAL SALE AND GUILD SHOWCASE Don’t miss this opportunity to shop for the county’s finest handwoven and handcrafted itemsfiber artists reside in San Luis Obispo County, Santa Maria, Solvang, and Santa Ynez. Nov. 7 1-6 p.m., Nov. 8 , 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Nov. 9 10 a.m.-3 p.m. (805) 610-5798, Kay and Rosemary Thorne. centralcoastweavers.org. Strawbale Barn Weaving Studio, 9156 Santa Margarita Rd, Atascadero.

FLEA/MAKER’S MARKET Flea/Maker’s Market on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. New this month: comics, Western tack, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, lamps, clothing! First Saturday of every month, 8-1 a.m. through Nov. 1 Free to the public. (805) 221-5372. Templeton Library, 1173 S. Main St., Templeton, templetonlibrary.org.

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.

PLANTS AND PECULIARS POP-UP

SHOW There will be living stones (lithops), succulents, handcrafted giant

roses, ceramic pots for succulents, and even pirate rubber duckies. Vendor spaces are $10. Nov. 1 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free. (805) 703-4661. facebook.com/ groups/1432866804429090. Atascadero Lake Park, 9305 Pismo Ave., Atascadero.

THIS IS HALLOWEEN! A ticket will get you a complimentary welcome punch, access to the DJ set and dance floor, and a Halloween party that will “linger in your memories long after the moon sets.” Dress up and show out! Oct. 31 - Nov. 1 9 p.m.-1 a.m. (805) 369-2444. alchemistsgarden.com. The Alchemists’ Garden & The Remedy, 1144 Pine Street, Paso Robles.

SAN LUIS OBISPO

30-DAY BREATH AND RESET JOURNEY FOR WOMEN Wired at night, drained all day? Reset your body in 30 days. Focus on breath practices to calm stress, sleep deeply, and restore lasting energy. Registration is required. Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (805) 235-7978. charvetgratefulbody.com. Live Webinar, online, SLO County.

BILL GAINES AUDIO BIG ANNUAL SWAP

MEET Don’t miss your chance for the year’s best deals on all the equipment you’ve been needing! Buy, sell, or trade

WITCHING HOUR

Spend Halloween night at The Alchemists’ Garden and The Remedy in Paso Robles during their lively costume celebration. From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., guests can enjoy a live DJ and dance floor and take part in a costume competition. Tickets are $21 each and can be purchased at alchemistsgarden.com.

—A.S.

your way or reserve a booth to make some extra cash from the extra gear you’re planning on upgrading. Nov. 1 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $28.62. my805tix.com. Bill Gaines Audio, 840 Capitolio, A, San Luis Obispo.

BRAVER ANGELS WORKSHOP:

DEPOLARIZING WITHIN Worn down with our deeply polarized world right now? Join us to learn how to turn down the heat and get skills to disagree better. Oct. 30, 3-6 p.m. Free. (805) 595-2211. uuslo.org/. Unitarian Universalist Church, 2201 Lawton Ave., San Luis Obispo. Join this workshop to become aware of your “inner polarizer” and learn how to disagree more effectively. Learn ways to depolarize among friends. Oct. 30 3-6 p.m. Free. (805) 595-2211. uuslo.org/. Unitarian Universalist, 2201 Lawton Ave., San Luis Obispo.

CENTRAL COAST DIALYSIS ORGAN

TRANSPLANT SUPPORT GROUP Not faith based. All are welcome. Please wear a mask. First Saturday of every month, 9:30-11:30 a.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church SLO, 650 Pismo St., San Luis Obispo.

DEATH CAFE (EVERY 1ST TUESDAY ON THE MONTH) At Death Café, curiosity and community converge for open, thoughtful conversations about mortality, loss, and our shared human experience. Donations to Hospice SLO County are always appreciated. First Tuesday of every month, 11 a.m.-noon Free. (805) 544-2266. hospiceslo.org/services/ death-caf%C3%A9. Hospice SLO County, 1304 Pacific St., San Luis Obispo.

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL

| MISSION PLAZA SLO Participate in this celebration of life, culture, and community. Join in on the costume contest, parade, and more. Nov. 1 12-4 p.m. facebook.com/ events/1226738485931491. Mission Plaza, Downtown, San Luis Obispo.

FLANNEL 101 PRE-HALLOWEEN

PARTY Live at Libertine! Oct. 30, 7 p.m. Free. my805tix.com. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337.

FREE TOURS OF THE MISSION Tour San Luis Obispo’s Spanish Mission, founded in 1772. Come learn its history and importance to the development of this area. Tours are led by docents and meet in front of the church Sundays, 2:30 p.m. and Mondays-Saturdays, 1:15 p.m. Free. (805) 550-7713. missionslodocents.org. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, 751

Palm Street, San Luis Obispo. FREE YOUTHWELL PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS: GRUPO DE PADRES Grupo de apoyo para padres de jóvenes hispanohablantes, de 10 a 18 años, que se lleva a cabo semanalmente en persona en Santa Bárbara. Nov. 4 6-7:30 p.m. Free. (805) 770-1930. youthwell.org/ groups/. Live Webinar, online, SLO County. FREE YOUTHWELL YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING Join this training that teaches adults to recognize, understand, and respond to someone who may be developing or coping with a mental health challenge. Nov. 1 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Free. (805) 770-1930. youthwell.org/mental-health-first-aid/. Live Webinar, online, SLO County. HALLOWEEN AT THE DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS’ MARKET Join us for the spookiest night of fun in downtown San Luis Obispo! There will be a trick-or-treat trail at dozens of downtown businesses. Oct. 30, 6-9 p.m. Free. downtownslo.com/ events/halloween-at-the-farmers-market. Downtown SLO Events, Downtown SLO Farmers Market, Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, (805) 541-0286. MUSEO BY MUSE MARKETS MUSEO by @themusemarkets will kick off their inaugural celebration of local art, community, and culture. Nov. 9 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 540-1768. themusemarkets.com/. Mission Plaza, Downtown, San Luis Obispo. SAN LUIS OBISPO FALL WEDDING EXPO The San Luis Obispo Wedding and Event Expo is a must-attend event for brides, grooms, and event planners alike. With tons of vendors, this expo offers a unique opportunity to connect with the best professionals in the industry and gather inspiration for your special day. Nov. 2 12-4 p.m. $12. my805tix.com. Madonna Expo Center, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

BEGINNING BALLET FOR ADULTS Enjoy the grace and flow of ballet. No previous experience needed. Wednesdays, 5:156:15 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 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE continued page 21

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ALCHEMISTS’ GARDEN

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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.

CRAFTY CREATIONS BOUTIQUE

Crafters and vendors from all over the county will be bringing that one of a kind unique gift and treasure. Free parking and free admission. Nov. 7 4-8 p.m. and Nov. 8 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Portuguese Hall, 707 Huasna Road, Arroyo Grande.

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.

GIVING PAWS FOR HOPE WITH NEW LIFE K9S We’re excited to celebrate the third year of our cherished Giving Paws for Hope Fundraising Dinner—a special evening dedicated to raising vital funds. Nov. 1 , 4-8 p.m. $85. newlifek9s. org/givingpawsforhope. Thousand Hills Ranch, 550 Thousand Hills Rd., Pismo Beach, (805) 574-0739.

MULTICULTURAL DANCE CLASS

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

MURDER MYSTERY WEEKEND IN ARROYO GRANDE Interview suspects, hunt for clues, and solve the Curious Case of J.J. Branch! Local shops will transform into characters and clue stops in the Village. Participants should pick up a “1911 Newspaper” at Monarch Books, which will provide the background story, character bios, event rules, and space to log clues. Participants should submit their final guesses before 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, to Monarch Books. Nov. 1 , 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Nov. 2 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. (805) 668-6300. monarchbooks805. com/events. Monarch Books, 201 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande.

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTHOUSE TOURS

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

SOCIAL GROUP FOR WIDOWS AND WIDOWERS Call for more details. Second Saturday of every month, 10 a.m. (805)

904-6615. Oak Park Christian Church, 386 N Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach.

TRUNK-R-TREAT Don’t miss Trunk or Treat in Oceano, on the corner of 17th Street & Beach. Oct. 31 4-8 p.m. Free. Kim M Rose, Corner or 17th and Beach Street, OCEANO, 916798680, vaco805. org/events.

FOOD & DRINK

NORTH COAST SLO COUNTY

CAMBRIA SCARECROW FESTIVAL

Scarecrows take over October again. The festival favorite returns to Cambria and San Simeon with fall fun for all. Oct. 31 , noon-midnight Free. (805) 203-0743. cambriascarecrows.com. Cambria Scarecrow Fest, Citywide, Cambria. MORRO BAY MAIN STREET FARMERS

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

NORTH SLO COUNTY

15TH ANNIVERSARY PASO ROBLES

GARAGISTE WINE FESTIVAL Taste over 200 ultra-premium wines from over 50 hard-to-find micro-wineries from the Paso Robles region during Garagiste Festival Weekend in Paso Robles. Nov. 7 6:30-9 p.m. and Nov. 8 , 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. my805tix.com. Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles.

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.

FALL WINE WALK Stroll around Downtown Paso on a Fall afternoon, and taste one special wine at each place, expertly paired with a delicious morsel. A ticket gets you food and wine at 20 Downtown Wineries. Nov. 1 , 2-5 p.m. $60. my805tix.com. Paso Robles Downtown Wine District, 809 13th Street, Paso Robles, (805) 591-7003.

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.

Send event information to events@newtimesslo.com or submit

SAN LUIS OBISPO

DOWNTOWN SLO FARMERS MARKET

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

FALL WINE DINNER AT LA LOMITA

RANCH Gather for an evening of warmth, community, and La Lomita Wines paired with a five-course menu that celebrates the rich, vibrant traditions of Mexican cuisine. Nov. 1 5:30-9 p.m. $180. (805) 706-8034. exploretock.com. La Lomita Ranch, 1985 La Lomita Way, San Luis Obispo.

GOOD THINGS: A CONVERSATION WITH SAMIN NOSRAT Chef and author shares stories, recipes, and rituals from her newest cookbook, in a heartwarming celebration of creativity, connection, and the joy of cooking. Nov. 9, 2 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org/20252026season/samin-nosrat-good-things. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

PIÑATAS ON THE PATIO What is more festive than a piñata? Join for some brunch drinks and a couple of good hits to a piñata (or two). Good times and goofy prices promised. Turns will be determined on a first come, first served basis. First Sunday of every month Free. SLO Public Market, South Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo.

SAN LUIS OBISPO VEGAN CHEF

CHALLENGE Businesses across the region will showcase exciting special vegan menu items. This event is open to everyone, not just vegans! Through Oct. 31 veganchefchallenge.org/slo/. At participating businesses, All over the region, San Luis Obispo, (480) 954-1257.

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

THAT’S SO DRAG BRUNCH: NIGHT OF THE LIVING QUEENS (BRUNCH EDITION) Text your crew, grab your tickets, and don’t miss the best brunch party in town! Nov. 2 , 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $21.13. my805tix.com. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY

HALLOWEEN BASH AT MARISOL BAR

Sip, laugh, and raise a glass to a fangtastic Halloween! Food and beverages will not be included with entry. Valet parking can be validated with purchase. Oct. 31 7-10 p.m. Free. (805) 773-5000. cliffshotelandspa.com. The Cliffs Hotel and Spa, 2757 Shell Beach Rd, Pismo Beach. ∆

Arts

Remembering Sam

It’s been 15 years since Arroyo Grande dancer Samantha Michelle Ford passed away after her third battle with cancer, yet she continues to inspire new generations of performers with her dedication to dance and her indomitable spirit. Every year, SamFest takes place to raise money for dance scholarships at the Studio for the Performing Arts. This year’s event is on Sunday, Nov. 2, at Heritage Park (201 Nelson St.; 1 to 4 p.m.; all ages; free).

“SamFest 2025 will be an afternoon of friends and community members enjoying live entertainment outdoors and honoring the legacy of Samantha Ford, all while raising funds for a good cause,” organizers announced. Expect vendors, food and drinks, balloon animals, face painting, and raffle drawings.

Sam’s leg was amputated at age 13 to lessen the risk of bone cancer reoccurring, yet she continued to dance with a prosthetic leg. In a 2006 interview, she said, “God has made me strong in order to help others who are weak. I hope that I inspire people to live their lives to the fullest because you never know what will happen to you.”

She was just 24 when she died. A portion of the proceeds will go to Mission Hope Cancer Center at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital. Learn more at rememberingsamford.com.

Howdy, cowboy

The mystique of the Old West will be on full display this weekend with the return of SLOPOKE, an art exhibition celebrating the American West in the Octagon Barn Event Center from Friday, Oct. 31, at 2 p.m. until Sunday, Nov. 2, at 6 p.m.

“More than 25 artists will exhibit paintings, sculpture, jewelry, drawings, scratchboard, and photography depicting what they believe makes the American West unique,” organizers explained.

“Not only cowboy and Indian images, but art that takes many forms and genres, from realism to impressionism to abstract. And the media varies widely from paint on canvas, linen, or birch panel to bronze, stone, precious metals, and ink on glass.”

Organizers Tom and Sherie Burgher have come up with a unique approach to an art show. They charge $25 to attend, but the admission price is good for all three days as well as an opening reception with refreshments by California Tacos and live music from local act The Rockin’ Bs Trio (5:30 to 7:30 p.m. opening day).

If you purchase artwork for $500 or more, your $25 is refunded.

Ticket holders will also receive a keepsake SLOPOKE Art Book of the art and artists in the show, and if you wear a costume, enter the costume contest and win a prize.

Saturday hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday are from noon to 6 p.m. Learn more at theslopoke.com. Δ

—Glen Starkey

BY GLEN STARKEY

Wish you were here

Casa Ramos Art Gallery presents a Nov. 8 retrospective of John Ramos’ 45-year career

Art can do a lot—inspire, provoke, entertain, communicate. In the case of John Ramos, it transports. Highway One Woody is a behind-the-steering-wheel view out of an old woody station wagon driving up the coastline. The Bath places the viewer in a bathtub with their feet under running water as a rubber duckie looks on. Todos Santos sets the viewer on a Baja beach next to a palapa at sunset.

John is the namesake of Casa Ramos Art Gallery, owned and operated by his daughter, Elena RamosPeffly, and her husband, Brian Peffly. The Los Osos gallery will celebrate its first anniversary on Saturday, Nov. 8.

John was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, in 1942, and turned 84 this year. He’s been painting professionally since the ’70s and selling fine arts prints since the ’80s. Elena recorded his responses to emailed questions about his life and career, like his first art memory.

“I was 12 years old. I liked to draw,” John told Elena. “A friend had paints. That was really a new thing for us as a family living in Paramount, California. Then it was a dairy and farming community with a lot of Mexicans and poor white families. Not many people would do art. It wasn’t really talked about. I started to pinstripe cholos’ sunglasses to make money.”

When John came of age, he took art classes at Cal State Long Beach.

“Eventually, I became a professor and met Dick Oden, a well-known artist and professor who also taught corporate identity and graphic design,” John recalled. “We started an advertising firm in Orange called Sunshine Studios. Quit the college job and went on to do logo work, and work on TV sets for Ed Sullivan and CBS Studios.”

His gift for graphic design and knack for putting the viewer in an idyllic place made his work hugely popular. He’s sold more than 6,000 paintings and limited edition prints over his career.

“My work in advertising, I see things differently than the more classically trained artists,” John reasoned. “My work makes people feel good; it

STILL PAINTING AT 84 John Ramos’ most recent painting, Western Flyer, depicts John Steinbeck’s fishing charter. The painting was purchased by Paul Tate, the boat’s captain on its post-restoration maiden voyage.

Celebra la Casa Ramos

Casa Ramos (1034 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos) celebrates its one-year anniversary and its namesake John Ramos’ 45 years in the fine arts world with a retrospective of Ramos’ work, on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 2 to 7 p.m. Expect food, drink, and acoustic live music. You can also meet the gallery’s other artists, Mike Golling, Jon Miller, George Jercich, Philip Lopez, and Adrianne Jenkins. Visit losososart.com for more info.

takes you away. And if it makes you feel good, then great, what more could I want?”

He did a commemorative painting called Pura Vida for Jose Cuervo’s 200-year anniversary that put the viewer in a hammock looking out to Matanchen Bay, San Blas, Mexico, with a frosty margarita in hand.

“That one really made people feel like they were on vacation,” he laughed.

He also wisely jumped early on the printmaking bandwagon of the 1980s that made huge names of Patrick Nagel, Keith Haring, and Andy Warhol.

“In the 1970s, I lived in Laguna Beach and opened a studio above a place called the Jolly Roger in downtown,” John noted. “Laguna Beach was starting to get popular for artists and the Sawdust Festival. Printing wasn’t very popular because it was expensive. I did a series of paintings that I wanted to sell as a set.”

The details are fuzzy, but John secured a $10,000 loan from “a man named Bob” who owned a concrete company and “built all the freeways in Los Angeles.”

“That was a hell of a lot of money back then, and for a Mexican artist. I printed four prints in Los Angeles and took them to the Sawdust Festival, and, no shit, I was able to pay Bob back all the money in one month.”

a 110-year-old adobe and restored it on the town square. Donna [his wife] and I made a wonderful life in Loreto. It was a fun time.”

They stayed for six and a half years before returning to Los Osos.

“There’s no place like home. I’ve lived a wonderful life. I have a beautiful home with my studio, [with] Donna and my paintings around me. I live on a property with all my family around me. I’m blessed. What more could I ask for?” he laughed. “Some people work their entire lives and never get to be happy. I’ve always been happy with my art as a Mexican immigrant. Who else has done what I’ve done?”

Addressing daughter, Elena, he continued, “You know my art; you lived in these places. It feels good to see another gallery doing really well. The world is scary right now. We don’t know what will happen in the USA politically, but all through wars and recessions, I’ve continued to sell my art. I love to come to your gallery, close to home, in my favorite place. I feel so fortunate. You’re doing an amazing job, Elle.”

John continues to paint, but it’s harder now, yet his most recent is beautiful, colorful, and deftly rendered.

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

Then he created his highly popular lithograph Hussong’s Cantina, which led to work with the LA Olympics, Juanita’s Foods, Pico Pica Hot Sauce, and more.

In the early ’90s, he transitioned from watercolors to oil paints and opened his first art gallery in Los Osos around that time. Later he moved his gallery to San Luis Obispo.

“After the [2003] San Simeon earthquake, the building was damaged, and they said we’d have to move out, so I drove to Mexico to find a new spot,” he explained. “When I got to Loreto, Baja, I found

“At 84 years old, it feels really good to still be painting. My newest painting of the Western Flyer, John Steinbeck’s boat, you know, Elle, I’m so glad I finished it. And you sold the painting to the captain. Wow! In one month! Can you believe that? That was incredible. I just feel so blessed at this time in my life. I thank my wife, Donna, for being by my side. She’s the reason my work has done what it’s done. I’m so damn blessed.

“This will be a really great show. I think it will be a big one for me.”

Elena is opening John’s archives of paintings, “many of which the general public has never seen, including watercolor originals of his most iconic paintings,” Elena explained. “This large of a retrospective hasn’t been done in John’s career, and at 84 years old, it deserves to happen while he’s still here to experience it and see his work find new homes.” ∆

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

FAMILIA RAMOS The Ramos family (left to right) Donna Ramos, Brian Peffly, John Ramos, and Elena Ramos-Peffly present a retrospective of John’s work in their Los Osos gallery Casa Ramos on Nov. 8.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN This 1976 lithograph by John Ramos, Hussong’s Cantina, inspired by the long-running Ensenada cantina, kicked off his career in the fine arts.

A classic resurrected

riter-director Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth, The Shape of Water, Nightmare Alley) adapts Mary Shelley’s 1818 gothic horror novel for the big screen. Oscar Isaac stars as brilliant but egotistical scientist Victor Frankenstein, who creates a monstrous creature (Jacob Elordi) constructed from cadaver parts, leading to tragedy for both. (149 min.)

Glen This is a deeply melancholic tale, a tragedy, and a travesty of unbridled ego. Del Toro begins his story on the ice floes near the North Pole, where we find an expedition ship led by Captain Anderson (Lars Mikkelsen) trapped in the ice. A huge explosion in the distance leads the crew to discover severely injured Baron Victor Frankenstein, who’s brought aboard the vessel to be cared for and where, in flashback, we learn of his difficult childhood, the impetus for his need to overcome death, and his ultimate achievement to reanimate dead flesh. Later, when the creature comes to claim Frankenstein, we hear his soulful backstory. The plot construction is effective and gripping, but the film’s real achievement is the story’s thoughtful exploration of what makes us moral, and hence human. The message is clear: How we treat each other is the ultimate judgment of character. Anna Victor’s childhood trauma has certainly stayed with him, and though he despised his father (Charles Dance), his adult self is becoming more and more like the man he detests. He has a younger brother, William (Felix Kammemer), who went to live with relatives at a young age following the death of their parents. The two brothers seem worlds apart, but when William is set to marry Elizabeth (Mia Goth), they come calling on Victor along with Elizabeth’s uncle, Harlander (Christoph Waltz), whose motives and money are what ultimately feed Victor’s project. Issac is wonderfully

FRANKENSTEIN

What’s it rated? R

What’s it worth, Anna? Full price

What’s it worth, Glen? Full price

Where’s it showing? Colony, Downtown Centre, Park

dimensional in his role as Victor, but even more layered is the tale of the creature he created. I love that the film follows the nested narrative style of the novel and, though giving it a long run time, we hear from the creature himself. His is a truly heartbreaking tale, and that he’s left on the earth to wander alone feels like a gut punch. In terms of atmosphere, this movie is rich in it. The costuming alone makes my sewist heart sing. It’s beautiful.

Glen Those early scenes on the Frankenstein estate with the flowing clothing worn by the servants and young Victor’s (Christian Vonvey) mother (also Mia Goth) reminded me of the visual feast that is Tarsem Singh’s body horror film The Cell (2000). Later in the film, Victor’s lab is atmospheric and fascinating, and depending on whether or not you can stomach something like Bodies: The Exhibition that showcases actual human bodies and their various systems through a process called plastination, you’ll find the special effects of dead bodies and body parts either beautiful, as Elizabeth does, or grotesque. When these lifeless partial

THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10

What’s it rated? R When? 2025

Where’s it showing? Netflix

Iremember Ruth Ware’s novel of the same name being a real page turner. She has a knack for twisty mystery. This on-screen version of the story wasn’t going to have the same wow factor for me given that I knew the twists and turns already, but I do think that filmmakers were smart to stick to the story as Ware constructed it. Keira Knightly is our lead as Laura, who thinks her assignment of covering a high-end yacht trip should be simple enough, but when she witnesses what she

thinks was a murder, Laura raises the alarms. But with all passengers accounted for, the other guests start to question her sanity and motives, while Laura tries to track down who the mystery victim could be. The closed quarters of the boat contrast with the vast ocean in every direction, and plenty of dodgy characters leave little wonder as to why Laura can’t shake the feeling that something sinister is going on. Even if you’ve read the book, this is another fun way to indulge in the story. If you aren’t familiar with the story, buckle up. I’m betting you won’t see this ending coming. (92 min.)

—Anna

UNRAVELING

Keira Knightley stars as journalist Laura Blacklock, who’s invited to cover a luxury yacht fundraising cruise but stumbles on a secret, in The Woman in Cabin 10, streaming on Netflix.

HEREDITARY

What’s it rated? R When? 2018

carcasses reanimate, it’s shocking. I found the animal CGI a little distracting because its artifice doesn’t hold up to the rest of the film, but it’s a small distraction in an overall monumental achievement. It’s an incredible film.

Anna Those partial carcasses were very visceral—bundles of raw nerves and muscle, and when they came to life they seemed to be “living” in misery. Victor’s ego and ambition propel him into further depths of his own mind, and he can’t stop himself from thinking about what can be done instead of thinking about what should be done. His infatuation with Elizabeth is undeniable, and while she at first enjoys their shared interest, she soon wholly rejects him when she sees the true darkness of his mind. It’s a tortured tale but in ways a beautiful one. Del Toro weaves the story seductively. If you have any interest, it’s certainly a film worth seeing on the big screen. It will captivate you. ∆

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

Where’s it showing? HBO Max

Since it’s Halloween season, streaming services are packed with horror films, and one of the best is Hereditary, writer-director Ari Aster’s (Beau is Afraid, Eddington) featurelength debut. Toni Collette stars as Annie Graham, a miniature artist who constructs highly detailed and weirdly unsettling dioramas of houses. She lives with her psychiatrist husband, Steve (Gabriel Byrne), and their son and daughter, troubled 16-year-old Peter (Alex Wolff) and just plain weird 13-year-old Charlie (Milly Shapiro).

Aster’s film nods to horror classics like Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Exorcist (1973), and The Shining (1980), but Hereditary is really its own beast—a psychological thriller tied up with Annie’s recently dead mother, Ellen.

Collette is intense as a mother dealing with grief, worried about her

BL AST BL AST FROM THE FROM THE

increasingly disturbed children, and generally barely containing her trauma at her unspooling domestic life. Annie’s truly coming undone before our eyes. It’s a gut-wrenching performance. There are also many deeply disturbing scenes, and I mean some batshit-crazy, didn’t-see-thatcoming moments. Maybe the most unsettling horror film I’ve seen … until Aster released the equally disturbing Midsommar the following year in 2019. It’s also streaming on HBO Max, so make it a horror double feature. (127 min.)

in a

MONSTER OR MONSTER MAKER? Oscar Isaac stars as Victor Frankenstein, a scientist who constructs a creature from dead body parts, in Frankenstein, screening in local theaters.

COURTESY PHOTO BY KEN WORONER/NETFLIX

THE HORROR!

Toni Collette stars as a mother whose domestic life is unspooling

sinister way, in the unsettling occult film

Hereditary, streaming on HBO Max.

PHOTO COURTESY OF A24

COURTESY PHOTO BY PARISA TAGHIZADEH/NETFLIX

CalFresh

Learn

CalFresh

Saturday Nov 8th 10am - 8pm

Music

BY GLEN STARKEY

Surf’s up

Southern Culture on the Skids will rock your socks off

The first time I saw Southern Culture on the Skids (SCOTS) was when SLO Brew was on Garden Street upstairs. It must have been the early ’90s, probably around when SCOTS released their third album, For Lovers Only (1992). The record that really cemented that band as one of my favorite live shows was when they were touring for Dirt Track Date (1995).

The band’s mix of Southern rock, swamp rock, rockabilly, and surf rock is a hoot, and their lyrics are hilarious as they poke fun at Southern stereotypes, like in “Doublewide” off their Mojo Box (2004) album: “Quittin’ my job, gonna grow myself a beard/ Sit in the La-Z-Boy and drink some beer/ Cause the dog needs a yard and the cat needs a tree/ I’m staring at the garbage sittin’ in the street// Hey baby, why don’t we try/ To make a break to the country side/ Where the stars at night still shine/ Wake up to a clear blue sky and the smell of those pines/ We’re going doublewide.”

Other memorable songs include “Fried Chicken and Gasoline,” “Liquored Up and Lacquered Down,” and “My House Has Wheels.” You get the idea.

The band formed in North Carolina in 1983, and after some personnel changes settled on the current trio that’s remained the same since around 1990. Founding member Rick Miller is on guitar and lead vocals, with Mary Huff on bass and vocals (and awesome wigs!), and Dave Hartman on drums. Leaning into their campy and raucous show, their rider requests a bucket of fried chicken, pieces of which they throw to the audience. Eat at your own risk.

The band’s most recent record, their 18th, is At Home with Southern Culture on the Skids (2021), a pandemic recording.

Numbskull and Good Medicine present Southern Culture on the Skids at The Siren on Tuesday, Nov. 4 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $29,56 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Also from Numbskull and

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.

Good Medicine, see Celtic rockers Young Dubliners in The Siren on Thursday, Nov. 6 (7 p.m.; 21-and-older; $24.41 at goodmedicinepresents.com). Fronted by Keith Roberts (vocals and guitar), who moved to SLO County several years ago, the band continues to tour the world.

“We want to be the band who reminds the world how important a good gig can be to our sanity after what we’ve all been through,” Roberts said in press materials.

Also this week at The Siren, see Shane Hall’s Coup D’vlle Show Fuzz Funk Voodoo Blues on Wednesday, Nov. 5 (6:30 to 9:30 p.m.; 21-and-older; $8.45 at tixr.com). Hall is an award-winning singer-songwriter based in Oceanside, whose sound mixes blues, soul, funk, Americana, rock, and alternative.

“Music isn’t just something I do; it’s who I am,” Hall said in press materials. “I refuse to be confined to a single sound. Even if I create the box, I won’t stay in it.”

Booty breaks and raps

Meanwhile over at the Fremont Theater, Good Vibez has a couple of shows teed up for you starting with Boiler Bang featuring

LISTENING AS RITUAL Group listening sessions with musician/ musicologist Ben Gerstein. Explore remarkable recordings of world music, nature field recording, western classical and contemporary, and jazz, sharing and discussing inspiration and perspectives on the expressive power of peoples, cultures, animals and habitats through sonic experience. Every other Monday, 7-8:15 p.m. $10-$15 donation. (805) 305-1229. leftcoastartstudio.com/. Left Coast Art Studio, 1188 Los Osos Valley Rd., Los Osos.

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

DUELING PIANOS HALLOWEEN

Grammy nominated producer and DJ Wuki (aka Kris Barman), on Saturday, Nov. 1 (doors at 7, show at 7:30 p.m.; 18-and-older; $40.14 general or $71.04 VIP at prekindle.com). He’s known for tracks such as “Sunshine (My Girl)” and “Edge of Seventeen.”

Texas rapper That Mexican OT plays on Wednesday, Nov. 5 (doors at 7, show at 8 p.m.; all ages; $18.53 to $233.01 at prekindle.com). Born Virgil René Gazca, That Mexican OT mixes contemporary trap, Texas blues, and country with hints of ’90s New York boom bap, mariachi, and chopped and screwed rap. His songs are raunchy, often misogynistic, but also about life’s challenges.

“Being a rapper is damn near impossible,” Gazca said in his bio. “With the luck that I got, I know I’m not making. What am I going to do in life? I couldn’t see myself doing anything else, so it just had to happen.”

He’s touring in support of his new record, Chicken & Sauce, that was released last April.

DRODi and Mg Lil Bubba open.

Ripping blues rock

Argentina-born guitarist and singer David M’ore has had quite a life. He came to Hollywood to make it, became the director of a program helping families affected by domestic violence, and even served at a law

BASH - BLAST & BREW A-TOWN!

Hear this comedic duo of talented pianists perform a wide range of hits, from Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley to Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. Be prepared to clap, sing, and laugh along with the show. Oct. 31 6-10 p.m. $21.13. my805tix.com. Blast and Brew, 7935 San Luis Ave., Atascadero.

EASTON EVERETT Easton Everett is a singer-songwriter who blends indie folk, neo-folk, and world beat with intricate fingerstyle guitar. Oct. 31 6-8 p.m. Wines on Main, 624 Main Street, suite 101, Templeton.

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) 4606042. ancientowlbeergarden.com. Ancient Owl Beer Garden, 6090 El Camino Real, suite C, Atascadero.

LIVE MUSIC WITH JANE AND SHANE AT MCPRICE MYERS WINES Jane & Shane bring country, rock, and dance vibes. Enjoy McPrice Myers wines, Alba Provisions snack boxes, and a laid-back Paso evening. Nov. 1 4-7 p.m. $25 tasting fee waived with $75 purchase. (805) 237-1245. mcpricemyers.com/ events/110125music. McPrice Myers Wine Company, 3525 Adelaida Rd., Paso Robles.

SINGING HANDS CHILDREN’S CHOIR A unique performing arts group that performs across the

enforcement agency for a while. These days he plays a shredding blues-rock guitar and sings with the grit and conviction of Tom Waits with a sore throat. This is raw, emotive music, and you can hear it when The David M’ore Band brings their high-octane blues-rock to Frog and Peach on Thursday, Nov. 6 (9:30 p.m.; 21-and-older). They’re touring in support of M’ore’s new album, Holy Sinners & Sinful Saints, that’s been riding Roots Music Report’s Top 50 Blues Rock Albums chart for weeks.

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

CAL POLY MUSTANG FAMILY

WEEKEND FACULTY SHOWCASE

This show will feature Cal Poly’s applied music faculty, who are recognized across the region for their expertise in solo and chamber ensemble performance. Aural treats, no tricks! Oct. 31 , 6:30 p.m. $10. (805) 756-2406. music.calpoly.edu/

calendar/special/. Cal Poly Davidson Music Center, Room 218, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ Rising star violinist Vladyslava Luchenko is set to perform Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D with the SLO Symphony. Nov. 8 7:30-9 p.m. $12$92. (805) 543-3533. slosymphony. org/calendar-2025-2026/californiadreamin/. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo. CERAMIK, LOT IN LIFE, DISCOURAGE, AND SPECIAL FORCES LIVE Nov. 9 Free. my805tix. com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-9974.

MUSIC

FINGER LICKIN’ GOOD Numbskull and Good Medicine present swamp rockers Southern Culture on the Skids at The Siren on Nov. 4

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTHERN CULTURE

TEXAS TRAP Good Vibez presents That Mexican OT (aka Virgil René Gazca) at the Fremont Theater on Nov. 5

PHOTO

TRUE GRIT The David M’ore Band brings their highoctane blues-rock to Frog and Peach on Nov. 6

COURTESY PHOTO BY NEFTALY SONTAY

STARKEY continued page 28

Tripleheader

Rod & Hammer’s got a trio of shows coming to the club near the airport starting when SLO Brew Live and (((folkYEAH!))) present The Brian Jonestown Massacre on Tuesday, Nov. 4 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-andolder; $41.11 at ticketweb.com). The eclectic rock band led by Anton Newcombe spans multiple genres including psychedelic, electronic, folk, and more. Alex Nicol opens. Gitkin brings—according to their bio—their “intoxicating gumbo of global soul, surf noir, and psychedelic funk, all filtered through a vintage, analog haze” on

Wednesday, Nov. 5 (doors at 7 p.m.; 18-andolder; $27.21 at ticketweb.com). “Listening to Gitkin feels like stumbling across a forgotten reel-to-reel in a dusty Havana pawn shop or a smoky Marseilles speakeasy. There’s a deep sense of wanderlust baked into every groove—part spaghetti Western, part funk exotica, with twangy guitars that slither like snakes through a desert bazaar.”

Finally, Willis plays on Thursday, Nov. 6 (doors at 7 p.m.; all ages; $32.36 at ticketweb. com). Formed in Alabama by five childhood friends, the indie rock band has garnered more than 350 million streams thanks in part to their 2023 breakout track, “I Think I Like When It Rains.” Winyah opens.

A sonic trip to Spain

Cal Poly Arts presents Spanish Night with Pablo Sainz-Villegas & Friends at the Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 1 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $39 to $65 at calpolyarts.org). Sainz-Villegas, an internationally renowned Spanish guitarist, takes listeners on “a musical journey through Spain to explore its incredibly rich and diverse culture,” organizers announced. “Along with fellow musicians, Pablo and friends will perform iconic, evocative, and romantic pieces from his homeland in a program of the most fiery pieces ever written for guitar.”

Get ready for the “Cell Block Tango” when Cal Poly Arts presents Chicago the Musical at the PAC on Wednesday, Nov. 5 (7:30 p.m.; all ages; $75 to $129 at pacslo.org). The Jazz Age story follows the rise and fall of Cook County Jail’s most notorious murderesses— vaudeville star Velma Kelly and chorus girl Roxie Hart.

What’s that sound?

If you’re near SLO High School on Saturday, Nov. 1, between 6 and 9 p.m., and you’re wondering, “What’s that sound?” It’s the fourth annual The ROAR, the Marching Band Field Show Competition.

Sound out!

A panel of judges will decide who’s the best among the Righetti Warrior Band, Arroyo Grande High School Band and Color Guard, Paso Robles High School Band and Color Guard, Orcutt Academy Marching Band, and the Templeton Talon Marching Band. The San Luis Obispo High School Tiger Band will perform an exhibition show. Gates open to spectators at 5:15 p.m. Tickets are $10 general and $5 for children 5 to 12. Children under 5 are free. ∆

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

HEART STRINGS: TIES THAT BIND

Canzona’s fall concert, Heart Strings: Ties That Bind, is an exploration of belonging, family, and community, while shining a spotlight on the vital work of CASA of San Luis Obispo in supporting local foster youth. Nov. 2 , 3 p.m. $30. my805tix.com. SLO United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 543-7580.

KCPR PRESENTS: FEEBLE LITTLE

HORSE WITH SWORD II This is your chance to catch one of the most exciting bands in indie rock—one night only—don’t miss it. Nov. 5 , 7 p.m. $25.41. my805tix.com. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337.

KLAVE - HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

EVENT See a special, spooky Halloween edition of San Luis Obispo’s hottest Latin dance social! Oct. 31 10 p.m.-1 a.m. nexusslo. com. Nexus SLO, 3845 S Higuera St.( Lower Level), San Luis Obispo, (805) 904-7428.

MEMORIES OF THE FAR SHORE

Memories of the Far Shore is a new immersive art and performance project based on the Central Coast which began in 2020 when local artist and naturalist Derek Schultz (Murk Rider) and sound designer Bryant Keith Bayhan (.paperman) started sending each other audio recordings. This will be the second performance of Memories of the Far Shore after the successful

collaboration at the beginning of the summer with Shiny Object Art Gallery in Morro Bay, and will feature approximately thirty minutes of sound demonstrations followed by an hour-long music performance. Oct. 30 6-8 p.m. Free. my805tix.com. The Bunker SLO, 810 Orcutt Road, San Luis Obispo.

THE ROAR FIELD SHOW COMPETITION Seven regional high school marching bands will perform their competition field shows in front of a panel of judges. Special performance by SLO Trumpet Alliance. Nov. 1 5:30-9 p.m. $10. Holt Field, San Luis Obispo High School, 1499 San Luis Drive, San Luis Obispo, (805) 549-4040.

SPANISH NIGHT WITH PABLO SAINZ-VILLEGAS & FRIENDS This internationally acclaimed guitarist leads a passionate journey through Spain, performing fiery masterpieces that celebrate Spanish culture’s heart and soul with storytelling, emotion, and spirit. Nov. 1 7:30 p.m. (805) 756-4849. calpolyarts.org/20252026season/spanish-night-with-pablosainz-villegas-friends. Performing Arts Center, 1 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo.

VITRIOL, UNMERCIFUL, AND WEEPING LIVE Hear sets from various metal bands at Humdinger. Nov. 7, 6 p.m. $20. my805tix.com. Humdinger Brewing (SLO), 855 Capitolio Way, suite 1, San Luis Obispo, (805) 781-9974.

THE WIDE EYED KIDS, DUNE BLOOM, AND BLACK POOL Catch

The Wide Eyed Kids on tour with Dune Bloom and Black Pool at Libertine. Nov. 6 8 p.m. libertinebrewing.com/ publiceventsatlibertine/2025/11/6/ the-wide-eyed-kids-dune-bloomand-black-pool. Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo, (805) 548-2337.

SOUTH COAST SLO COUNTY CELEBRANDO NUESTROS ANTEPASADOS (HONORING OUR ANCESTORS) DIA DE LOS MUERTOS (A DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION) Promotores Collaborative of San Luis Obispo presents: Celebrando Nuestros Antepasados (Honoring Our Ancestors) Dia de Los Muertos (A Day of the Dead Celebration) Nov. 2 2-4:15 p.m. $30-$40; Student/Child $15-$20. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter. org/. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

CENTRAL COAST HARMONY

CHORUS INVITES SINGERS TO JOIN FOR HOLIDAY PERFORMANCES Men and women are invited! No prior experience is necessary - just a love of music. Call or email for more information. Thursdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m. through Dec. 18 $20. (805) 7367572. ccharmony.org. Nipomo Senior Center, 200 E. Dana St., Nipomo. EASTON EVERETT Easton Everett is a singer-songwriter who blends indie folk, neo-folk, and world beat

with intricate fingerstyle guitar. Hear him live at Mulligans Bar and Grill. Oct. 30 5-7 p.m. Mulligans Bar and Grill, 6460 Ana Bay Road, Avila Beach, (805) 595-4000.

KARAOKE AT SLO COUNTY’S ONLY FILIPINO CAFE Join for all day, all ages karaoke hosted at SLO County’s only brick and mortar Filipino cafe, Lumpia Bros Cafe. Enjoy karaoke, filipino dishes, acai, and coffee.

Tuesdays-Saturdays-6 p.m. through Dec. 31 Free. (805) 202-8473. Lumpia Bros Cafe, 1187 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach.

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

THE LOUNGE AT BESO An upscale after-hours 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.

TICKET TO RIDE: A TRIBUTE

TO THE BEATLES Ticket to Ride delivers a thrilling, authentic Beatles experience—costumes, hits, and all the magic of a live Fab Four concert, from the Sixties to Sgt. Nov. 1 7:309:30 p.m. $45-$60, Premium $65. (805) 489-9444. clarkcenter.org. Clark Center for the Performing Arts, 487 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande.

SANTA MARIA VALLEY/LOS ALAMOS HAPPY HOUR MUSIC SERIES Enjoy

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

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

LIVE MUSIC AND FOOD BY LOBO

BUTCHER SHOP Check out live music every Friday night from a variety of artists at Steller’s Cellar in Old Orcutt. Dinner served by Lobo Butcher Shop between 5 and 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 5-9 p.m. Varies according to food options. (805) 623-5129. stellerscellar. com. Steller’s Cellar, 405 E. Clark Ave., Orcutt.

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

MUSIC AT ROSCOE’S KITCHEN

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

MUSIC LESSONS AT COELHO

ACADEMY Learn to play piano, drums, guitar, base, ukulele, or violin, or take vocal lessons. ongoing

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

(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) 819-0723, coldcoastbrewing.com.

YOUTH OPEN MIC NIGHT A fun, welcoming environment for first time performers and an opportunity for kids and teens to showcase their talent. Prizes awarded every month for Outstanding Performer. Last Friday of every month, 6-8 p.m. certainsparks.com/. Certain Sparks Music, 107 S. H St., Lompoc.

SANTA YNEZ VALLEY

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

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

LIVE MUSIC from page 26

PSYCHE SLO Brew Live and (((folkYEAH!))) present The Brian Jonestown Massacre at Rod & Hammer’s on Nov. 4 .

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE

SPANISH NIGHT Cal Poly Arts presents Pablo SainzVillegas & Friends in the Performing Arts Center on Nov. 1

Flavor

BY MADISON WHITE

A sparkling message

A veteran uses his voice as a winemaker to spread awareness about mental health

JasonMergenov first got the “California bug” at 22 years old when the military sent him for training to become a nuclear missile launch officer. He served in the military for 22 years, including time in Iraq. Using the G.I. Bill, Mergenov started studying winemaking at Allan Hancock College in 2012, which turned into his second career.

He founded Rockets Red Wines in 2018 with his wife, who also served in the military, making their winery 100 percent veteran owned.

Sparkling pinot noir is Mergenov’s favorite wine to make and his favorite to drink—but he only makes wine that he and his wife enjoy. While making the first vintage in 2020, Mergenov had an experience that changed his life.

“I suffered a terrible flashback actually

Direct to consumer

Buy Rockets Red Wines through the wine club or purchase online at rocketsredwines.com. Check out The Good Life in Solvang, Pico Los Alamos, and Plenty on Bell in Los Alamos for bottles and by-the-glass pours. Follow the winery on Instagram @rockets_red_wines.

making sparkling wine,” he said. “All of a sudden, the room was 50 degrees, and it just went to 95 degrees. I felt like I was back in Iraq. I almost fell over, and it was just the most surreal thing ever.”

He remembered going into a deep depression during the pandemic, which killed his resiliency, he said. At the end of 2021 he sought help from a therapist who recommended a two-week clinical program in Boston called the Home Base Program.

“It’s so painful at first, and then the point is you get so used to it that it stops being trauma,” Mergenov said.

JUICES AND PULP Jason Mergenov rents space from a friend’s winery in Santa Ynez to make wine. As a handson winemaker, he’s stomped and shoveled grapes into the press for juice extraction.

QUITE

CHILLY This year Rockets Red Wines is in the process of making around 60 cases of sparkling pinot noir, on the smaller side of its typical production. It was chilled down to 36 degrees in the tank before being pumped out to remove sediment.

“That’s why I can actually talk about some of that now, which I couldn’t for the longest time.”

The program helped Mergenov realize he wanted to raise awareness about the stigma surrounding mental health.

Though he had been “suffering with PTSD silently” since 2003, his own stigma held him back from therapy because his work in Iraq was technical, not combative.

“I felt this tremendous guilt that I didn’t have the right to have PTSD because I wasn’t, you know, a ‘warrior,’” he said. “Too many people are losing their lives because the stigma doesn’t allow them to get the help they need.”

While going through therapy, Mergenov decided to share his story with the world. He posts videos on Instagram about

normalizing the pursuit of mental health help. Though his flashback came as he was making wine, he said he’s come to terms with it and hasn’t let it impact his job.

“It’s not just about making wine anymore,” he said. “I’m making wine with a message.”

The art and science of winemaking is therapy to him now. He said it feels like a fullcircle moment when he gets to share his wine with others and watch them enjoy it.

Rockets Red is known for rosé and red wines, but this year Mergenov chose to only make around 60 cases of sparkling pinot noir, called Rockets Red Fizzion. The grapes were grown in Los Alamos, and Mergenov rents space at Sandoval Ranch and Vineyard in Santa Ynez to make his wines.

As a child growing up in Florida, he

‘Too many people are losing their lives because the stigma doesn’t allow them to get the help they need.’

—Jason Mergenov, Rockets Red Wine

A SMALL, MIGHTY PRODUCTION

Winemaker

Jason Mergenov bottles his product with friends and family before labeling the bottles by hand and storing the cases in a warehouse until their release. He said he can label three cases in an hour.

watched the first space shuttle launch in middle school, an event that influenced the imagery on his label.

“The front label is all very shuttle specific,” Mergenov explained. “The back is kind of made like a little passport because … I traveled the world and saw different things, and [it] really helped kind of open my worldview.” Mergenov also uses winemaking to give back to veterans. He donates proceeds to the Home Base Program he attended a few years ago.

“I am fortunate enough to be in a position to be able to do that,” he said. “That two weeks literally saved and changed my life, so I owe them so much.”

As a small producer, he likes that he’s in control of everything. He said winemaking doesn’t feel like work because he loves it.

“When I’m here, when I’m in my element, I’m not thinking about all the other shit that’s gone wrong in my life,” Mergenov said. “It’s kind of a zen moment for me.” ∆

Sun Staff Writer Madison White, from New Times’ sister paper, is always searching for the rockets’ red glare. Send sparks to mwhite@ santamariasun.com.

PHOTOS BY MADISON WHITE

COURTESY PHOTO BY JASON MERGENOV

THE JOB’S NOT DONE After serving for 22 years in the military, Jason Mergenov found a second career as a winemaker. He’s also become an advocate for eliminating the stigma around mental health.

PHOTO BY MADISON WHITE

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OCTOBER 21, 2025

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING BRIEF

Items 1-27: Consent Agenda & Ordinance (Ord) Nos. 3549 thru 3552 & Resolution (Res) Nos. 2025-217 & 2025-218 –Approved as amended.

Item 28: Public Comment Period – Items not on the agenda: G. Kirkland spoke - No action taken.

Item 29: Report outlining potential revenue enhancement options to maintain & strengthen investments in public safety - Rec’d w/ direction to staff.

- - Introduction of the 2025 Cattleman of the Year Jill Twisselman Heely – No action taken.

Item 30: Update on the progress of the implementation of KPMG Overarching recommendations – Rec’d & Filed.

Item 31: Ord. 3553, an ordinance amending the County Fee Schedule “B” for Public Health Environmental Health Services - Adopted.

Item 32: Res. 2025-219, denying the appeal by M. Haupt, on behalf of G. Freedman, upholding the Planning Department Hearing Officer decision to approve a Minor Use Permit (MUP)/ Coastal Development Permit to allow for the construction of a single-family residence; affirms this project qualifies for a Class 3 Exemption (New Construction) from environmental review under CEQA, on Studio Dr. in Cayucos (APN: 064-422-004) – Adopted.

Item 33: Res. 2025-220, upholding the appeal by G. Reitinger, reversing the Planning Department Hearing Officer’s decision, denying the MUP to allow a vacation rental in the Adelaida/Willow Creek Area at 1745 Adelaida Road –Adopted.

Item 34: Board Member comments and reports on meetings. Announcements: CA Coastal Commission meeting on Nov. 6 in Sacramento to consider the proposed extension of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant’s operation until 2030. A motion [3-2 vote] to direct staff to return w/ funding options for the $406,000 Cecchetti Temporary Bridge project, which exceeds the $250,000 already allocated, for consideration at the Nov. 4 or 18 meeting. Options include using existing balances from local infrastructure or road funds, or reallocating unspent funds from current road projectsApproved.

Item 35: Closed Session, cancelled – No action taken. Meeting adjourned.

For more details, view meeting videos at: https://www. slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Administrative-Office/ Clerk-of-the-Board/Clerk-of-the-Board-Services/Board-ofSupervisors-Meetings-and-Agendas.aspx

Matthew P. Pontes, County Administrative Officer & ExOfficio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: Annette Ramirez, Deputy Clerk of the Board of SupervisorsOctober 30, 2025

CITY OF

PISMO BEACH

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

SEALED BIDS will be received electronically by the City of Pismo Beach via the City’s e-Procurement Portal PlanetBids, until 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 20, 2025 for performing work as follows:

VENTANA SPORTS COURTS PROJECT

A mandatory Pre-Bid Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Please meet promptly at the project site on Ventana Drive, across from Chumash Park, Pismo Beach, CA 93449. Bidders that do not attend this mandatory pre-bid meeting shall be disqualified from bidding on this Project.

Before submitting bids, Contractors shall be licensed in accordance with the Laws of the State of California. Accordingly, the successful Bidder shall possess a Class A, General Engineering, Contractor’s License at the time this contract is awarded.

All questions must be submitted in writing through the PlanetBids Procurement Question/Answer Tab via the City’s e-Procurement portal, on or before the Question & Answer Submission Date and Time. All questions submitted and answers provided shall be electronically distributed to all proposers who have selected to “follow” this RFP on the City’s e-Procurement Portal.

Bids must be submitted online using the City’s electronic bidding platform which can be accessed at www.pismobeach.org/bids

ERICA INDERLIED

CITY CLERK

October 23 & 30, 2025

CITY OF PISMO BEACH STATE OF CALIFORNIA

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

PROPOSALS will be received electronically by the City of Pismo Beach via the City’s e-Procurement Portal PlanetBids, until 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 20, 2025 for performing work as follows:

ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE 2026 ROADWAY MAINTENANCE & SLURRY SEAL PROJECT

The City of Pismo Beach is interested in acquiring the services of a qualified firm to provide design services for the 2026 Roadway Maintenance & Slurry Seal Project.

The project scope includes design services for crack fill, localized digouts, slurry seal, survey monument research, and preparation of striping plans. The design will be based on recommendations from the City’s Pavement Management Plan Update. Deliverables will consist of construction drawings, specifications, an engineer’s estimate, and bid documents, along with support during the bidding process.

All questions must be submitted in writing through the PlanetBids Procurement Question/Answer Tab via the City’s e-Procurement portal, on or before the Question & Answer Submission Date and Time. All questions submitted and answers provided shall be electronically distributed to all proposers who have selected to “follow” this RFP on the City’s e-Procurement Portal.

Proposals must be submitted online using the City’s electronic bidding platform which can be accessed at www.pismobeach.org/bids

ERICA INDERLIED

CITY CLERK

October 23 & 30, 2025

CITY OF PISMO BEACH STATE OF CALIFORNIA

NOTICE TO PROPOSERS

PROPOSALS will be received electronically by the City of Pismo Beach via the City’s e-Procurement Portal PlanetBids, until 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, November 20, 2025 for performing work as follows: CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT, INSPECTION, AND ADMINISTRATION SERVICES FOR THE VENTANA SPORTS COURTS PROJECT

The City of Pismo Beach is interested in acquiring the services of a qualified firm to provide Construction Management, Inspection and Administration Services for the Ventana Sports Courts Project.

The project scope includes improving an undeveloped lot on Ventana Drive into a public recreational space with one tennis court, two pickleball courts, and a paved parking area. Work includes grading, landscaping, lighting, stormwater, and related street and utility work.

All questions must be submitted in writing through the PlanetBids Procurement Question/Answer Tab via the City’s e-Procurement portal, on or before the Question & Answer Submission Date and Time.

All questions submitted and answers provided shall be electronically distributed to all proposers who have selected to “follow” this RFP on the City’s e-Procurement Portal.

Proposals must be submitted online using the City’s electronic bidding platform which can be accessed at www.pismobeach.org/bids

ERICA INDERLIED CITY CLERK

October 23 & 30, 2025

CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION

ACCOUNT INFORMATION RELATED TO LOCAL AGENCY DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES

Notice Issue Date: October 30, 2025

Notice is hereby given that, as of the date noted above, the City of San Luis Obispo has made available to the public a draft report entitled:

FISCAL YEAR 2024-25 AB 1600 DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE ANNUAL REPORT

The notice is provided in accordance with Section 66001 and 66006 (b)(2) of the California Government Code. The final report shall be considered by the City Council at the following public meeting:

When: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Where: City Hall, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California

The draft report is available online at https://www.slocity. org/government/department-directory/finance/finance/ infrastructure-financing. If you are unable to view the document online, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at cityclerk@ slocity.org or 805-781-7114 and one will be mailed to you. The Council encourages public participation. 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

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/mayor-and-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

This notice was posted on October 30, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. on the City’s bulletin board, located in front of City Hall, published in The New Times newspaper, and on the City’s website https:// www.slocity.org/services/how-do-i/view/public-notices

For further information, interested persons may contact Brent Taylor, Financial Analyst, at (805) 781-7091 or btaylor@slocity.org

Teresa Purrington City Clerk

October 30, 2025

SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 25-08

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, October 27, 2025 the City Council of the City of Grover Beach adopted an Ordinance entitled: ORDINANCE NO. 25-08

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA AMENDING ARTICLE XV OF THE GROVER BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE ADOPTING BY REFERENCE THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING STANDARDS ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA MECHANICAL CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA ENERGY CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL BUILDING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING STANDARDS CODE, 2025 CALIFORNIA REFERENCE STANDARDS CODE; THE 2024 INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE WITH LOCAL AMENDMENTS

This Ordinance will amend Grover Beach Municipal Code Article XV – Building Regulations, Chapter 150 – California Building Code to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Codes (California Code of Regulations, Title 24) with local amendments, and the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code with local amendments

The full text of the Ordinance is on file in the City Clerk’s Office, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, California, or a copy may be obtained from the office for a nominal charge and is available on the City’s website at www.groverbeach. org.

The City Council conducted first reading at the Regular City Council meeting on October 14, 2025. Second reading and adoption of the Ordinance was conducted at the Regular City Council meeting on October 27, 2025.Tthis Ordinance shall become effective January 1, 2026. Within fifteen (15) days after its adoption, the second summary shall be published, together with the names of the Council Members voting in favor, in a newspaper of general circulation within the City. This Ordianance passed on the following roll call vote:

AYES: Council Members – McCorry-Driscoll, Tuggle, Weirick, Mayor Pro Tem Robert & Mayor Dee

NOES: Council Members – None

ABSENT: Council Members – None

ABSTAIN: Council Members – None

/s/ KASSI DEE, MAYOR

Attest: /s/ WENDI SIMS, CITY CLERK

APPROVED AS TO FORM: /s/ Jennifer Thompson, City Attorney

/s/ Wendi B. Sims, City Clerk

Dated: Thursday, October 30, 2025

SUMMARY OF ORDINANCE NO. 25-07

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, October 27, 2025, the City Council of the City of Grover Beach adopted an Ordinance entitled:

ORDINANCE NO. 25-07

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA AMENDING SECTIONS 93.35, 93.52, AND 93.54 OF CHAPTER 93 (PARKS AND RECREATION) OF TITLE IX (GENERAL REGULATIONS) OF THE GROVER BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO NOTICING REQUIREMENTS FOR CAMPING, RECREATION; HOMELESSNESS AND USE OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY OR CITY PROPERTY FOR CAMPING

This Ordinance will amend Chapter 93 (Parks and Recreation) of Title IX (General Regulations) of the Grover Beach Municipal Code (GBMC) regarding regulation pertaining to noticing requirements of Camping, Recreation; Homelessness and Use of Public Rights-ofWay or City Property for Camping.

The full text of the Ordinance is on file in the City Clerk’s Office, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, California, or a copy may be obtained from the office for a nominal charge.

The City Council conducted first reading at the Regular City Council meeting on October 14, 2025. Second reading and adoption of the Ordinance was conducted at the Regular City Council meeting on October 27, 2025 on the following roll call vote:

AYES: Council Members – McCorry-Driscoll, Tuggle, Weirick, Mayor Pro Tem Robert and Mayor Dee

NOES: Council Members – None

ABSENT: Council Members – None

ABSTAIN: Council Members – None /s/ KASSI DEE, MAYOR Attest: /s/ WENDI SIMS, CITY CLERK

APPROVED AS TO FORM: /s/ Jennifer Thompson, City Attorney

/s/ Wendi B. Sims, City Clerk

Dated: Thursday, October 30, 2025

CITY OF GROVER BEACH NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the CITY COUNCIL of the City of Grover Beach will conduct a Public Hearing on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., or soon thereafter in the Council Chamber at City Hall, 154 South 8th Street, Grover Beach for the following:

Project No.: APPL-25-0001

Address: 261 Rockaway Avenue

Appellant: Debbie Peterson, Jose Navarro

Description: An appeal by Debbie Peterson and Jose Navarro of the Planning Commission’s decision to approve Development Application 24-54, a request by Empire Development for a Vesting Tentative Map (TR 3244), Coastal Development Permit, and Use Permit for a five-story mixed-use development.

Environmental Determination: In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), it has been determined that the project is Categorically Exempt (Class 32 Section 15332: Infill Project) 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.), because the project consists of the development on an infill lot of a five-story mixed-use development that is consistent with policies and standards applicable to development within the CVS zone. The site is less than five acres in size, with no value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species. The site is within City limits and is served by City utilities and public services. Based on the location, size, and quantity of commercial and residential components of the development, approval of the project will not result in any significant effects related to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.

Where You Come In: Any member of the public may appear at the meeting and be heard on the item described in this notice or submit written comments to the City Clerk prior to the meeting by personal delivery or by mail to: City Clerk’s Office, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, CA 93433 or by email to gbadmin@groverbeach.org. If you require special accommodations to participate in the public hearing, please contact the City Clerk’s office at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting by calling (805) 473-4567.

For More Information: If you have questions or would like more information regarding the item(s) described in this notice, please contact the Community Development Department by telephone at (805) 473-4520 or send an e-mail to comdev@groverbeach.org

The City Council may also discuss other hearings or items of business at this meeting. The complete meeting agenda and copy of the staff report on the above item will be posted on the city website at www. groverbeach.org. Live broadcasts of City Council meetings may be seen on cable television Channel 20, as well as over the Internet at www. groverbeach.org (click on the icon “Government Access Local Channel 20” and then “Channel 20”).

If you challenge the nature of the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing(s) described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at, or prior to, the Public Hearing (Govt. Code Sec 65009).

/s/ Wendi Sims, City Clerk Dated: October 30, 2025

RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ATASCADERO, CAIFORNIA, DECLARING ITS INTENTION TO ORDER THE VACATION OF A PORTION OF PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY AT 11285 SAN MARCOS ROAD

WHEREAS, the subdivision map recorded in San Luis Obispo County Book of Maps 3AC, Page 86 dedicated San Marcos Road as a 40-foot-wide public right-ofway, which right-of-way was assumed by the City of Atascadero upon incorporation; and

WHEREAS, since the dedication of San Marcos Road, geologic conditions have necessitated a realignment of a portion of the roadway; and

WHEREAS, to complete the realignment, the City will obtain an easement for public right-of-way from a private property owner comprising approximately 1,190 square feet in exchange for the City’s vacation of a portion of its right-of-way comprising approximately 1,265 square feet; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Streets and Highways Code Sections 8320 et sq., the City of Atascadero may initiate proceedings to vacate excess right-of-way; and WHEREAS, the proposed vacated area is legally described in Exhibit A and is shown on Exhibit B, attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference, and is on file in the Department of Public Works; and

WHEREAS, City staff have confirmed no City utility facilities currently exist within the portion of San Marcos Road to be vacated; and

WHEREAS, the vacation proceeding for said proposed vacated area is and will be conducted pursuant to the requirements of Streets and Highways Code Sections 8320, et seq.; and

WHEREAS, the proposed vacation is categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines as it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Government Code Section 65402(a), the vacation of the proposed vacated area is required to facilitate a realignment of San Marcos Road that is minor in nature, and as such, referral of the vacation to the City’s planning commission pursuant to Section 65402(a) shall not be required, as the proposed vacation is consistent with the City’s general plan; and WHEREAS, the area proposed for vacation is no longer needed for public right-of-way purposes, and the vacation is in the public interest.

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Atascadero:

SECTION 1. The above recitals are true and correct.

SECTION 2. The City Council hereby declares its intention to vacate the above proposed area.

SECTION 3. The City Council sets November 12, 2025 as the date of the public hearing on the proposed street vacation. The public hearing will be held at 6:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as practicable, in the City of Atascadero Council Chambers, 6500 Palma Ave., Atascadero, California 93422. All persons interested in the vacation are invited to attend and give testimony if desired. After the close of the public hearing, the Council will consider the adoption of a resolution that declares the portion of San Marcos Road to be unnecessary for present or prospective public street purposes and orders the vacation. Said resolution shall provide that the vacation is subject to recordation of a right-of-way easement in favor of the City for the approximate 1,190 square foot area shown on Exhibit B.

SECTION 4. The City Clerk is directed to give notice of the public hearing as required by Streets and Highways Code Section 8322.

SECTION 5. The Director of Public Works is directed to conspicuously post not less than three notices of vacation along San Marcos Road at the location proposed to be vacated pursuant to Streets and Highways Code Section 8323. The notices shall be posted not more than 300 feet apart.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 14th day of October, 2025.

On motion by Council Member Funk and seconded by Council Member Peek, the foregoing Resolution is hereby adopted in its entirety on the following roll call vote:

AYES: Council Member Funk, Newsom, Peek, Mayor Pro Tem Dariz, Mayor Bourbeau

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAIN: None

CITY OF ATASCADERO

By: S/ Charles Bourbeau, Mayor

ATTEST:S/ Lara K. Christensen, City Clerk

DATED: October 21,2025

PUBLISH: Oct. 30/ Nov. 6, 2025

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Grover Beach will conduct a Public Hearing at 6:00 p.m., or soon thereafter, on MONDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2025 in City Hall, Council Chamber, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, CA to consider the following item:

SUBJECT:

CLOSEOUT OF STATE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK

GRANT (CDBG) AGREEMENT – The City Council will review the accomplishments under State CDBG Agreement 22-CDBGNH-00015 and will solicit citizen input regarding expenditures and accomplishments of the funding received under the contract. A brief overview of the contract will be presented, along with key accomplishments that will be reported to the State.

Where You Come In:

The purpose of this public hearing is to give citizens an opportunity to make their comments known regarding the activities and funds that were utilized in the contract listed above. Any member of the public may appear at the meeting and be heard on the item described in this notice or submit written comments to the City Clerk prior to the meeting by personal delivery or by mail to: City Clerk’s Office, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, CA 93433. If you require special accommodations to participate in the public hearing, please contact the City Clerk’s office at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting by calling (805) 473-4567.

The City promotes fair housing and makes all its programs available to low- and moderate-income families regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual preference, marital status or handicap.

For More Information:

If you have any questions or would like more information regarding the item described in this notice, please contact Janet Reese, CDBG Program, 154 South 8th Street, Grover Beach, CA 93433, via email at HCDfunding@groverbeach.org, or by phone at (805) 473-4524.

The City Council may also discuss other hearings or items of business at this meeting. The complete meeting agenda and copies of the staff report on the above item will be available at the customer service counter at Grover Beach City Hall, as well as posted on the City website at www.groverbeach.org at least 72 hours before the meeting. Live broadcasts of City Council meetings may be seen on cable television Channel 20, as well as over the Internet at www.groverbeach.org (Click on the icon “Government Access Local Channel 20” and then “Channel 20”.)

If you challenge the nature of the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the Public Hearing(s) described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City at, or prior to, the Public Hearing (Govt. Code Sec. 65009).

Wendi Sims, City Clerk

Dated: October 30, 2025

CIUDAD DE GROVER BEACH AVISO DE AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA

SE NOTIFICA POR EL PRESENTE que el Consejo Municipal de la Ciudad de Grover Beach llevará a cabo una Audiencia Pública a las 6:00 p.m., o poco después, el LUNES 10 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 2025 en el Ayuntamiento, Sala del Consejo, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, CA para considerar el siguiente asunto:

ASUNTO:

CIERRE DE ACUERDO DE SUBVENCIÓN BLOQUE DE DESARROLLO COMUNITARIO DEL ESTADO (CDBG) – El Consejo Municipal revisará los logros bajo el Acuerdo CDBG del Estado 22-CDBG-NH-00015 y solicitará la opinión de los ciudadanos con respecto a los gastos y logros de los fondos recibidos bajo el contrato. Se presentará un breve resumen del contrato, junto con los logros que se informarán al Estado.

Su Participación: El propósito de esta audiencia pública es dar a los ciudadanos la oportunidad de proporcionar comentarios con respecto a las actividades y fondos que se utilizaron en el contrato mencionado anteriormente. Cualquier miembro del público puede aparecer en la reunión y proporcionar comentatios sobre el tema descrito en este aviso o enviar comentarios por escrito al Secretario de la Ciudad antes de la reunión por entrega personal o por correo a: City Clerk’s Office, 154 South Eighth Street, Grover Beach, CA 93433. Si necesita adaptaciones especiales para participar en la audiencia pública, comuníquese con la oficina del Secretario de la Ciudad al menos 48 horas antes de la reunión llamando al (805) 473-4567.

La Ciudad promueve la vivienda justa y hace todos sus programas disponibles para familias de ingresos bajos y moderados, independientemente de la edad, raza, color, religión, sexo, origen nacional, preferencia sexual, estado civil o discapacidad.

Para Más Información: Si tiene alguna pregunta o desea más información sobre el tema descrito en este aviso, comuníquese con Janet Reese, Programa CDBG, 154 South 8th Street, Grover Beach, CA 93433, por correo electrónico a HCDfunding@groverbeach.org o por teléfono al (805) 473-4524.

El Consejo Municipal también puede discutir otras audiencias o asuntos de negocios en esta reunión. La agenda completa de la reunión y copias del informe del personal sobre el asunto anterior estarán disponibles en el mostrador de servicio al cliente en el Ayuntamiento de Grover Beach, así como publicadas en el sitio web de la Ciudad en www.groverbeach. org al menos 72 horas antes de la reunión. Las transmisiones en vivo de las reuniones del Consejo Municipal se pueden ver en el canal de televisión por cable 20, así como en Internet en www. groverbeach.org. (Haga clic en el icono “ Government Access Local Channel 20” y luego en “Channel 20”.)

Si impugna la naturaleza de la acción propuesta en el tribunal, puede estar limitado a plantear solo aquellos problemas que usted o alguien más haya planteado en la(s) Audiencia(s)

Pública(s) descrita(s) en este aviso, o en correspondencia escrita entregada a la Ciudad en, o antes de, la Audiencia

Pública (Código de Gobierno Sección 65009). Wendi Sims, secretaria de la ciudad Fecha: 30 de octobre de 2025

INVITATION TO BID (SUB BIDS ONLY)

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: MAINO CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INCORPORATED

PROJECT NAME: MORRO BAY HIGH SCHOOL BLEACHERS – SPORTS LIGHTING & ARTIFICIAL TURF, AND SAN LUIS OBISPO HIGH SCHOOL ARTIFICIAL TURF PROJECT

PROJECT LOCATION: MORRO BAY HIGH SCHOOL – 235 ATASCADERO RD., MORRO BAY, CA SAN LUIS OBISPO HIGH SCHOOL – 1499 SAN LUIS DR., SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

PROJECT OWNER: SAN LUIS COASTAL UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

ARCHITECT: GARY J. GERY ARCHITECT (MBHS BLEACHERS AND SPORTS LIGHTING) HARRIS ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN (ARTIFICAL TURF)

BID DATE & TIME: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025 AT 12:00 PM

MANDATORY SITE REVIEW: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2025 MORRO BAY HIGH SCHOOL AT 9:00 AM (MEET AT SCHOOL ENTRANCE) SAN LUIS OBISPO HIGH SCHOOL AT 10:30 AM (MEET AT TRACK ENTRY)

ESTIMATE/BUDGET: $4,900,000

ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE: 7 MONTHS

START DATE: DECEMBER 1, 2025

COMPLETION: END OF JUNE 2026 (CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERTIME AND WEEKEND WORK ANTICIPATED TO MEET PROJECT SCHEDULE)

SCOPE OF WORK:

All artificial turf plans prepared by Harris Architecture and Design shall be coordinated with and supplement the bleacher and sports light DSA approved plans for Morro Bay High School.

Work consists of demolition, earthwork, site utilities, cement and/or lime soils treatment, foundation drilling for sports lighting, structural and site concrete, fencing, asphalt and striping, reinforcing steel, miscellaneous metals, landscape and irrigation.

The following scopes of work shall be completed by designassist subcontractors: Supply and Installation of all Bleachers and Pressbox, Supply and Installation of Artificial Turf at MBHS and SLOHS, All Electrical and Communications.

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.asapplanroom.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.

October 30, 2025

CITY OF ATASCADERO

NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING

DATE: Wednesday, November 12, 2025

TIME: 6:00 p.m.

PLACE: City of Atascadero Council Chambers 6500 Palma Avenue Atascadero, CA 93422

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Atascadero will hold a PUBLIC HEARING in conjunction with its regular in-person meeting at the time and place above for the purpose of receiving public comment regarding draft resolution summarily vacating a portion of right-of-way on San Marcos Road, approximately 0.25 miles south of the intersection with Los Altos Road, based on findings consistent with the State of California Streets and Highways Code.

More information can be viewed by appointment in the offices of City Hall, 6500 Palma Avenue, Atascadero, or by contacting the Department of Public Works at (805) 4703456 or publicworks@atascadero.org.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that if a challenge to the above action is made in court, persons may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS are invited to attend inperson and will be given an opportunity to speak in favor of, or opposition to, the above-proposed item. 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 Public Works Department. If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department 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 item will be available for review on the City’s website 72 hours prior to the public hearing at www.atascadero.org/ agendas.

DATED: October 20, 2025 S/ D Price, Administrative Assistant PUBLISH: 10/23/25 and 10/30/25

CITY OF ATASCADERO NOTICE OF CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING

DATE: Wednesday, November 12, 2025 TIME: 6:00 p.m.

PLACE: City of Atascadero Council Chambers 6500 Palma Avenue Atascadero, CA 93422

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Atascadero will hold a PUBLIC HEARING in- person at the time and place indicated above to consider draft recommendations for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. CDBG funds can be used for public facilities, qualifying public services and economic development activities that benefit low-income persons.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that if a challenge to the above action is made in court, persons may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the public hearing described in the notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Council at, or prior to, the public hearing.

ALL INTERESTED PERSONS are invited to attend inperson and will be given an opportunity to speak in favor of, or opposition to, the above-proposed project. Written comments are also accepted by the City Clerk, prior to the hearing at 6500 Palma Ave., Atascadero, CA 93422 or cityclerk@atascadero.org and will be distributed to the City Council. Written public comments must be received by 12:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Email comments must identify the Agenda Item Number in the subject line of the email. Written comments will not be read into the record.

Information regarding the hearing is filed in the Public Works Department. If you have any questions, please contact Public Works at (805) 470-3456 or publicworks@ atascadero.org 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: October 24, 2025

S/ N DeBar, Director, Public Works

PUBLISH: October 30, 2025 & November 6, 2025

NOTICE OF ADOPTION AND SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY CODE TO ESTABLISH REGIONAL HOUSING INCENTIVES IN THE LAND USE ORDINANCE FOR THE INLAND AREAS, ESTABLISH THE REGIONAL HOUSING FUND UNDER COUNTY CODE TITLE 31, AND UPDATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STANDARDS IN THE LAND USE ORDINANCES FOR THE INLAND AREAS AND COASTAL ZONE TO SUPPORT GUARANTEED AFFORDABLE HOUSING PRODUCTION

(COUNTY FILE NUMBERS: LRP2024-00016 AND -00017)

On October 21, 2025, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors adopted the following ordinances to support guaranteed affordable housing production:

1. Ordinance No. 3549 amending the Inland Land Use Ordinances to establish a Regional Housing Incentive Program;

2. Ordinance No. 3550 establishing the Regional Housing Fund; and

3. Ordinances No. 3551 and 3552 amending the Inland and Coastal Zone Land Use Ordinances and Local Coastal Program, respectively, to update regulations relating to affordable housing agreements and annual monitoring procedures.

This project qualifies for the General Rule Exemption under CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because the recommended land use regulation updates will allow limited development incentives for builders of multi-family dwellings within inland urban areas that significantly contribute to affordable housing production in a manner consistent with current State Density Bonus Program allowance. The recommended amendment is consistent with [A] the County’s vision for efficient use of land, which promotes concentrating residential development within urban areas to protect environmental and agricultural resources in rural areas and [B] the County priority to establish a regional approach to support guaranteed affordable housing production in areas closer to job and service hubs. Individual development projects would still be subject to project-specific CEQA review through applicable discretionary land use permit application processes. A Notice of Exemption has been prepared pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15062 (ED24-195).

Ordinances No. 3549 and 3551 amending the Inland Land Use Ordinance take effect November 21, 2025. Ordinance No. 3550 establishing the Regional Housing Fund takes effect December 21, 2025. Ordinance No. 3552 amending the Coastal Zone Land Use Ordinance and Local Coastal Program will be submitted to the California Coastal Commission for approval and certification. If the Coastal Commission approves and certifies the ordinance, it would take effect immediately. If the Coastal Commission approves the ordinance with suggested modifications, the Board would need to consider and adopt the Coastal Commission’s suggested modifications.

The ordinances were adopted by the following roll call to wit:

AYES: Supervisors Jimmy Paulding, Heather Moreno, John Peschong, Bruce S. Gibson and Chairperson Dawn Ortiz-Legg NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAINING: None

Certified copies of the full text of the ordinance may be purchased at reproduction cost or reviewed without charge in the San Luis Obispo County Administrative Office, 1055 Monterey St., Room #D430, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, or on the County’s website at slocounty.ca.gov

DATED: October 23, 2025

Matthew P. Pontes, Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors

By: /s/ Niki Martin

Deputy Clerk

October 30, 2025

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY BOARD OF

SUPERVISORS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND SUMMARY OF ORDINANCES

ADOPTING AND AMENDING CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on November 4, 2025 the County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing at 9:00 A.M. in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1055 Monterey St., Room #D170, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, CA to consider the following item:

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS

16.04,16.08 and 16.10 OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CODE BY ADOPTING AND AMENDING THE 2025 EDITION OF THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE, INCLUDING ANNUAL SUPPLEMENTS AND STATE AMENDMENTS AND ERRATA

On November 4, 2025, the Board of Supervisors will conduct a public hearing prior to considering adoption of the Ordinance. If adopted, the Ordinances will amend Chapters 16, 16.04, and 16.10 and adopt and amend the 2025 California Fire Code. At its November 4, 2025, meeting, the Board will also consider adopting a Resolution which identified the special topographical, climatic and geographical facts and circumstances needed per Health and Safety Sections 17958.7 and 18941.5 to establish more stringent fire safety and related standards than set forth in the 2025 California Fire Code.

The Board of Supervisors may also discuss other hearings or business items before or after the items listed above. If you challenge the proposed action in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the Board of Supervisors 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.

Summary of Ordinance

This ordinance updates Chapter 16 of the San Luis Obispo County Code to adopt by reference the 2025 California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9, California Code of Regulations) with local amendments that establish more stringent requirements. In addition to administrative updates, the amendments include adoption of the 2025 California WildlandUrban Interface Code (Title 24, Part 7, California Code of Regulations), clarification of Section 503.1.2.1.1 (Dwelling Units) to apply specifically to new developments, removal of the previous Section 503.1.2.1 related to Dead-End Roads, and correction of a typographical error in Section 503.2.9.5, changing “turnout” to “turnaround.”

Documents Available for Review

The complete text of the proposed Ordinance can be found on-line at: https://agenda.slocounty. ca.gov/iip/sanluisobispo/file/getfile/173139

The complete text of the 2025 California Fire Code can be found on-line at: http://www.bsc.ca.gov/ Codes.aspx

Copies of the proposed Ordinances and of the 2025 California Fire Codes are also available for inspection at the CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo County Fire office between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. Persons wishing to inspect the proposed Ordinance and/or any of the codes incorporated therein by reference should ask for the Fire Marshal’s Office, and state that they wish to review the proposed Ordinance and/ or the codes incorporated therein by reference. The CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo County Fire office is located at 100 Cross street, Suite 101, CA, 93401 and open Monday – Friday 8:00 A.M.- 5:00 P.M. or can be reached at 805-503- 5715.

Kevin McLean, San Luis Obispo County Fire Marshal Date: 10-21-2025

DATED: October 23, 2025

MATTHEW P. PONTES

EX-OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

By: /s/ Niki Martin Deputy Clerk October 30, 2025

HEALTH FEES

WHEREAS, the County of San Luis Obispo Health Agency’s Environmental Health Services Division to has a need to amend the County Fee Schedule for FY 2025-26 to align with the Division’s forecasted, FY 2025-26 salaries expenses; and

WHEREAS, the amended Fee Schedule will allocate forecasted Emergency Response Activities costs that are not recoverable through hourly billing, primarily to the Division’s Hazardous Waste Program’s permit fees; and

WHEREAS, County Staff has reviewed the fee recommendations and concurs with the recommended changes.

NOW THEREFORE, 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 66016 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 was adopted establishing or reaffirming all county fees. Said ordinances, 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 2025-26 as set forth in Schedule “B” of this ordinance have been subject to review by the County Administrator and the County Auditor-Controller. 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 Circular A-87.

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 Page 1 of 3 ATTACHMENT 2 Budget Circular A- 87; provided, however, that fees for zoning and planning matters, including municipal and district organizational and reorganizational 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, 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 Section 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” as “Revisions” are hereby approved, and shall be effective November 20, 2025.

b. That the changes to footnotes * and incorporated by reference herein shown on Schedule “B” are hereby approved, and shall be effective November 20, 2025.

SECTION 3: All departmental managers and divisional managers whose services are listed in Schedule “B” are hereby directed to, upon the dates specified in Section 2 above, amend their fees for services to reflect the fees shown in Schedule “B” as “Revised”, 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 October 7, 2025 and PASSED and ADOPTED by the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Luis Obispo, State of California, on the 21st of October, 2025, by the following roll call vote, to wit

AYES: Supervisors Bruce S. Gibson, John Peschong, Jimmy Paulding, Heather Moreno and Chairperson Dawn Ortiz-Legg

NOES: None

ABSENT: None

ABSTAINING: None

Certified copies of the full text of the ordinance may be purchased at reproduction cost or reviewed without charge in the San Luis Obispo County Administrative Office, 1055 Monterey St., Room #D430, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, or on the County’s website at slocounty.ca.gov.

* Schedule “B” is not attached hereto and are available in the Executive Office and online at https://agenda.slocounty.ca.gov/iip/ sanluisobispo/file/getfile/173060, Meeting Date: October 21, 2025, Agenda Item No. 31.

DATED: October 23, 2025

Matthew P. Pontes, Ex-Officio Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: /s/ Niki Martin Deputy Clerk October 30, 2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

WHO: San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors

WHEN: Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. All items are advertised for 9:00 a.m. To find out placement of this item or any temporary meeting procedures on the Board of Supervisors Agenda, go to the County’s website at www.slocounty.ca.gov on the Wednesday before the scheduled hearing date.

WHAT: Hearing to consider adoption of an ordinance extending the County’s local standards and procedures for the design, site development, and operation of emergency homeless shelters at public facilities.

County File Number: N/A

Supervisorial District: All Districts

Assessor Parcel Number: Countywide Date Accepted: N/A

WHERE: The hearing will be held in the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1055 Monterey St., Room #D170, County Government Center, San Luis Obispo, CA. The Board of Supervisors Chambers are located on the corner of Santa Rosa and Monterey Streets. At the hearing all interested persons may express their views for or against, or to change the proposal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: You may contact Katlynn Beatty, Homeless Services Program Manager , in the San Luis Obispo County Administrative Office, 1055 Monterey Street, Room 460, San Luis Obispo, California 93408, (805) 781-5080. The staff report will be available for review the Wednesday before the scheduled hearing date on the County’s website at www.slocounty.ca.gov.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION: Adoption of the proposed ordinance is exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), in that it can be seen with certainty that the adoption of the proposed ordinance is not a project that may have a significant effect on the environment.

**If you challenge this matter in court, you may be limited to raising only those issues you or someone else raised at the public hearing described in this public notice or in written correspondence delivered to the appropriate authority at or before the public hearing**

DATED: October 27, 2025

MATT PONTES

EX-OFFICIO CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

By: /s/ Niki Martin

Deputy Clerk

October 30, 2025

SUBJECT: NOTIFICATION OF A VACANCY ON THE CITIZENS TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CTAC)

SLOCOG announces that there is one (1) At-Large vacancy on the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC). This committee is advisory to the San Luis Obispo Council of Governments (SLOCOG), the Regional Transportation Planning Agency for the Cities and County of San Luis Obispo. Its membership is comprised of an appointment from each supervisorial district, each incorporated city in the county, as well as three “at-large” appointments made by SLOCOG. Presently, one at-large vacancy exists to be appointed by SLOCOG. Added consideration will be given to applicants representing constituencies with special needs.

CTAC reviews and prepares recommendations to the SLOCOG Board on all phases of their transportation planning program, including public transit, airports, streets and roads, bicycle pedestrian funding issues and plan preparation. The committee is an active, effective committee, which normally reviews and submits recommendations on transportation-related staff reports and plans.

The committee normally meets on a Wednesday of alternative months from 4:30 p.m. until approximately 6:30 p.m., in San Luis Obispo.

For application/more information, please contact James Worthley, Planning Director, at 805-788-2002, or email at: JWorthley@slocog.org For more information on SLOCOG, visit www.slocog.org

Deadline: Applications are accepted and Positions will remain OPEN until filled. The CTAC application form is available online at this link: https://slocog.org/ about/opportunities

October 30, 2025

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & BUILDING PLANNING COMMISSION

WHO County of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission

WHEN Thursday, November 13, 2025 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 HR Holdings, LLC for a vesting tentative tract map and Conditional Use Permit to subdivide an existing 13.59 acre parcel into fifty-seven parcels for the purpose of sale and/ or development. The project will conform with the requirements of the Planned Development Standards Section 22.22.145. The tract will consist of fifty-two residentials lots, two open space lots, and three drainage basin lots for a total of 57 lots. The proposed residential lots will range in size from 6,000 square feet to 7,759 square feet each and be developed with residential dwellings. The proposed density after the subdivision component is approximately 3.82 units per acre based on the existing 13.59 acre parcel. All proposed residential parcels will include a designated building envelope unique to the respective parcel’s size and characteristics. The project includes a request for reduced front setbacks from 25 feet to 10 feet as a part of the planned development design. There are two proposed access points off of Equestrian Road. The project will include construction of residential streets which will serve as access to all residential parcels within the tract. The project will include the addition of an emergency access road connecting to Ibis Lane from the south of the project site. Additionally, the project includes requests for a reduced right of way width to 42-feet instead of the standard 50-feet, a waiver to the curb, gutter, and sidewalk requirements and a request to increase the drainage basin depth to approximately 6 feet. The project will result in the disturbance of approximately 11 acres of the 13.59 acre parcel. The project will be served by the Heritage Ranch Community Services District (HRCSD). The proposed project is within the residential single family land use category and is located within the Heritage Ranch Village Reserve Line approximately 13 miles west of the city of Paso Robles. The site is in the Nacimiento sub area of the North County planning area.

Also to be considered is the determination that this project is statutorily exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).

County File Number: SUB2020-00026

Supervisorial District: District 1

Assessor Parcel Number(s): 012-181-071

Date Accepted: 4/1/2025

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 Lane Sutherland, Project Manager in the Department of Planning and Building at the address below or by telephone at 805-788-9470. Ysabel Eighmy

PUBLIC NOTICE

TAXPAYERS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

CURRENT PROPERTY TAXES DUE

(Revenue and Taxation Code Section 2609)

James W. Hamilton, County Auditor – Controller –Treasurer – Tax Collector, announces that the regular secured property tax bills have been mailed to all property owners at the addresses shown on the tax roll. If you own property in San Luis Obispo County and do not receive a bill by November 15, 2025, contact the Tax Collector’s Office, 1055 Monterey Street, Room D-290, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408, or call (805) 781-5831.

Tax amounts and payment information can be found on the Tax Collector’s website (www.slocountytax.org). Please note, electronic check and savings transfer payments are accepted without a processing fee. Payments by credit or debit card require a processing fee.

The first installment of the 2025/26 fiscal year tax bill is due on November 1, 2025 and will become delinquent if not paid by 5 P.M. on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. A 10% penalty will be added if the first installment is not paid by that date.

The second installment of the 2025/26 fiscal year tax bill is due on February 1, 2026 and will become delinquent if not paid by 5 P.M. on Friday, April 10, 2026. A 10% penalty and a $20.00 cost will be added if the second installment is not paid by that date. Both installments may be paid when the first installment is due. The second installment cannot be paid before the first installment.

Payments may be made on the Tax Collector’s website (www.slocountytax.org), by telephone at (805) 781-5831, by mail, or in person at the Tax Collector’s Office, 1055 Monterey Street, Room D-290, San Luis Obispo, CA 93408, which is open for business between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, except on legal holidays.

I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed in San Luis Obispo County, California, on October 23, 2025.

/S/ James W. Hamilton, CPA

San Luis Obispo County Auditor – Controller – Treasurer – Tax Collector

Published in The New Times on October 23 and October 30, 2025.

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & BUILDING PLANNING COMMISSION

WHO County of San Luis Obispo Planning Commission

WHEN

Thursday, November 13, 2025 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 Monarch Dunes Golf Resort, LLC for a Conditional Use Permit (N-DRC2024-00052) to allow a 2,675 square foot indoor driving range building to be located near the existing outdoor Driving Range and practice green at the Monarch Dunes Golf Course. The project site is within the Recreation land use category and within the Monarch Dunes Specific Plan area. The site is located on the Nipomo Mesa, approximately two miles west of the community of Nipomo, east of State Route 1, and approximately half a mile south of Willow Road. The site is also located within the South County Inland Sub Area and South County Planning Area.

Also to be considered is the determination that this project is categorically exempt from environmental review under CEQA.

County File Number: N-DRC2024-00052

Supervisorial District: District 4

Assessor Parcel Number(s): 091-500-008, -603-003

Date Accepted: 10/13/2025

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 Elizabeth Moreno, 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 October 30, 2025

Free Will Astrology by Rob Brezsny

Homework: This Halloween, maybe pretend to be your secret self. Newsletter.freewillastrology.com

ARIES

(March 21-April 19): On the outskirts of a village in Ghana, a healer gathers plants only when the moon says yes. She speaks the names of each leaf aloud, as if to ask permission, and never picks more than needed. She trusts that each herb has its own wisdom that she can learn from. I invite you to emulate her approach, Aries. Now is a good time to search for resources you need to heal and thrive. The best approach is to be receptive to what life brings you, and approach with reverence and gratitude. Halloween costume suggestion: herbalist, traditional healer, sacred botanist.

TAURUS

(April 20-May 20): A well-cut ship’s sail is not a flat sheet. It has a gentle curve that the sailmaker crafts stitch by stitch so the wind will catch and convert invisible pressure into forward motion. Too taut, and the cloth flaps, wasting energy; too loose, and power dissipates. The miracle lies in geometry tuned to an unseen current. I invite you to be inspired by this approach, Taurus. Build curvature into your plans so that optimism isn’t an afterthought but a structural feature. Calibrate your approaches to natural processes so movement arises from alignment rather than brute effort. Make sure your progress is fueled by what you love and trust. Halloween costume suggestion: Wear a sail.

GEMINI

(May 21-June 20): All of us can benefit from regular phases of purification: periods when we dedicate ourselves to cleansing, shedding, and simplifying. During these intense times of self-healing, we might check our integrity levels to see if they remain high. We can atone for mistakes, scrub away messy karma, and dismantle wasteful habits. Here’s another essential practice: disconnecting ourselves from influences that lower our energy and demean our soul. The coming weeks will be a perfect time to engage in these therapeutic pleasures, Gemini. Halloween costume suggestion: purifier, rejuvenator, cleanser, refiner.

CANCER

(June 21-July 22): Deep in the Pacific Ocean, male humpback whales sing the longest, slowest, most intricate love songs ever. Their bass tones are loud and strong, sometimes traveling for miles before reaching their intended recipients. The coming weeks will be an excellent time to compose and unleash your own ultimate love songs, Cancerian. Your emotional intelligence is peaking, and your passionate intensity is extra refined and attractive. Meditate on the specific nature of the gifts you want to offer and receive in return. Halloween costume suggestion: singer of love songs.

LEO

(July 23-Aug. 22): Between 1680 and 1725, Italy’s Antonio Stradivari and his family made legendary violins that are highly valued today. They selected alpine spruce trees and Balkan maple, seasoned the wood for years, and laid varnish in painstaking layers that produced sublime resonance. Their genius craftsmanship can be summed up as the cumulative magic of meticulousness over time. I recommend their approach to you, Leo. Be in service to the long game. Commune with people, tools, and commitments that age well. Act on the theory that beautiful tone is perfected in layers. Halloween costume suggestion: a fine craftsperson.

VIRGO

(Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Trained women dancers in Rajasthan, India, perform the ancient art of bhavai. As folk music plays, they balance on the dull edge of a sword and hold up to 20 clay pots on their head. They sway with elegance and artistry, demonstrating an ultimate embodiment of “grace under pressure.” I don’t foresee challenges as demanding as that for you, Virgo. But I suspect you will have the poise and focus to accomplish the metaphorical equivalents of such a feat. Halloween costume suggestion: regal acrobat or nimble dancer.

LIBRA

(Sept. 23-Oct. 22): In 1968, researchers at Stanford conducted the “marshmallow test.” Children were offered a single sweet treat immediately. But if they didn’t quickly gobble down the marshmallow, thus postponing their gratification, they were awarded with two candies later. The kids who held out for the double reward didn’t do so by sheer willpower alone. Rather, they found clever ways to distract themselves to make the wait more bearable: making up games, focusing their attention elsewhere, and adjusting their surroundings. I advise you to learn from their approach, Libra. Cultivate forbearance and poise without dimming your passion. Harness small triumphs of willpower into generating big, long-term gains. Diligent, focused effort invested now will almost certainly lead to satisfying outcomes. So please prioritize incremental, systematic grunt work over stunts and adrenaline. Halloween costume trick: carry two marshmallows.

SCORPIO

(Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In the late 18th century, Balloonomania came to Paris. Large crowds gathered to watch inventors and impresarios send hot air balloons into the sky. Spectators were astonished, fearful, and filled with wonder. Some wept, and some fainted. I suspect you’re due for your own exhilarating lift-off, Scorpio—a surge of inspiration that may bewilder a few witnesses but will delight those with open minds. Halloween costume prop: wings.

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Don’t be too shocked by my unusual list of raw materials that might soon turn out to be valuable: grime, muck, scuzz, scum, slop, bilge, slime, and glop. Amazingly, this stuff may conceal treasures or could be converted into unexpected building materials. So I dare you to dive in and explore the disguised bounty. Proceed on the assumption that you will find things you can use when you distrust first impressions and probe beneath surfaces. Halloween costume suggestions: sacred janitor, recycling wizard, garbage genius.

CAPRICORN

(Dec. 22-Jan. 19): In the tidepools of America’s Pacific Northwest lives the ochre starfish, a keystone species that keeps mussel populations in check. Remove the starfish, and the ecosystem collapses into imbalance. Let’s make this creature your power symbol, Capricorn. The visible effect of your presence may not be flashy or vivid, but you will hold a stabilizing role in a group, project, or relationship. Your quiet influence can keep things harmonious. Your gift is not to dominate the scene, but to keep the whole system alive and diverse. Halloween costume suggestion: ochre starfish (More info: tinyurl.com/ochrestarfish).

AQUARIUS

(Jan. 20-Feb. 18): For hundreds of years, the Blackfoot people of North America built buffalo jumps. These were steep cliffs where herds of bison could be guided and driven over the edge during a hunt. It required elaborate cooperation. Scouts tracked the herd, decoys lured them toward the drop, and prep teams waited below to process the meat, hides, and bones for the whole community’s sustenance. I hope you will engage in smaller versions of this project. Now is an excellent time to initiate, inspire, and foster shared efforts. Make it a high priority to work with allies you trust. Halloween costume suggestions: shepherd, sheep dog, cowboy, vaquero.

PISCES

(Feb. 19-March 20): In the ancient Greek world, oracles spoke in riddles. This was not because they were coy, but because they understood that truth must often arrive obliquely. Directness is overrated when the soul is in motion. Mythic modes of perception don’t obey the laws of logic. In this spirit, Pisces, I invite you to make riddles and ambiguities be your allies. A dream, an overheard conversation, or a misheard lyric may contain an enigmatic but pithy code. You should be alert for messages that arrive sideways and upside down. Tilt your head. Read between the flames. You will understand when your heart recognizes what your mind can’t name. Halloween costume suggestion: oracle or fortune-teller. ∆