Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce

LO/BP Retail Passport – Shop Local

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We are proud to present the second series of our Local Passport with 12 promotions from our local businesses offering goods and/or services. What better way to support our local businesses as they begin to re-open? For only $20 you can help support the Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber and unlock some great deals in our community! 

We are selling a limited amount of these so make sure to get yours before they sell out! This is a perfect gift for a friend or yourself. 

  • Beelieve Honey – Buy One Get one FREE, Super Lunch Combo #1-10, NO substitutions
  • Estero Essentials –  Receive a complimentary signature facial or treatment with every $150 tool or product purchase.
  • JoJo’s Candles Co. – Buy 2 candles get $6 off.
  • Cal Coast Orchids –  Large Orchids 2 for $20/Small Orchids 5 for $25
  • QuickTech – Buy one/Get one device diagnosis or tuneup- IN SHOP
  • Mindful Kindful YOUniversity – Mindful Explorers virtual program- 50% off July Membership
  • Babylonian Soap Co. – 15% off all BSC products
  • Estero Essentials –  Receive a complimentary signature facial or treatment with every $150 tool or product purchase.
  • Bowser Boutique – $5 off a Dog Groom
  • Central Coast Appliance –  Get second onsite diagnosis FREE with presentation of card.
  • Gypsy Boutique – 25% off entire purchase.
  • Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore – 20% off purchase of $20 or more
  • Goin Coastal – 25% off any purchase

The Local Retail Passport will be valid until August 31, 2020 and each coupon is one-time use only.

Steps to Adapt and Reopen Together (START)

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START GUIDE

Make sure you take a look specifically at pages…

  • Pg. 6 – All Phases
  • Pg. 18 – 23 – Recommendations / Guidelines DRAFT Standards and Guidelines
  • Pg. 38 – All Employers
  • Pg. 42 – Beverage Industry Facility
  • Pg. 43 – Restaurants
  • Pg. 45 – Lodging
  • Pg. 47 – Retail Stores
  • Pg. 51 – Agriculture
  • Pg. 59 – Events, Venues, and Attractions

STEPS TO ADAPT & REOPEN TOGETHER (START) Guide – DRAFT

LO/BP Food Passport – An adventure in local food

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We are proud to present our Local Food Passport that features specials from some of our Los Osos Favorites! We’ve teamed up with the following food vendors to offer some great deals to our community:

Our Local Food Passport is valued at over $100! Support your local community and purchase yours today for ONLY $20.

  • Martin’s Restaurant – Buy One Get one FREE, Super Lunch Combo #1-10, NO substitutions
  • Blue Heron –  $10 off an order of $50 or more
  • The Greasy Weiner Food Truck – FREE drink or fries with the purchase of a hotdog, burger, or sausage.
  • Valley Liquor –  Buy any burger or chicken strip meal and get second one 50% off 
  • Carlock’s Bakery – Bakers Dozen – Buy 12 get 1 donut FREE 
  • Lotus Thai – Spend $29.95 get a FREE order of dumplings 
  • Vintage Cheese Company – $1 off each block of cheese
  • La Palapa – Buy 1 combo, get the 2nd one 50% off, NO substitutions 
  • Baker & Brain – Buy 4 or more bottles of red wine and get 30% OFF the retail pricing of your whole order
  • Nardonne’s Pizzeria – FREE mixed green salad with a purchase over $20 
  • Noi & Doi’s 2nd Street Cafe – FREE Thai tea when purchasing $20 or more
  • The Clubhouse Grill at Sea Pines – 10% off any order

We are selling a limited amount of these so make sure to get yours before they sell out! This is perfect for your food-loving friend (or self), an appreciation gift for our essential workers, or for Mother’s Day that is right around the corner.

The Local Food Passport will be valid until July 31, 2020 and each coupon is one-time use only. If you redeem all squares on the passport, turn it into the Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber you will have a chance to win a $50 gift certificate to one of our local restaurants of your choice! We will announce our lucky winner on August 1, 2020!

Chamber Videos – Meet Our Members

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Learn about Steve Auslender and his history in Los Osos and what Bear Valley Realty offers to our community. Steve has been a member of the chamber since 1978!
Local business and Chamber member, Crizer Construction, Inc.
Learn about Chamber Member Martin’s Los Osos restaurant
Local businesses, organization and Chamber members, Pandora Contemporary Ceramic Arts, Green Cottage on Morro Bay and Celebrate Los Osos
Learn about local business and Chamber Members, Los Osos Rexall
Learn about local business and Chamber Member, Central Coast Orchids
Learn about local business and Chamber Member, Central Coast Polo
Learn about local business and Chamber Member, Quick Tech

Support Los Osos/Baywood Park and County restaurants

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Food is the ingredient that binds us together. Support these local restaurants during these trying times –

Click here for – Info on restaurants in Los Osos and SLO County.

New Baywood Dual Language Immersion Program

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San Luis Coastal Unified School District is excited to transition Baywood Elementary School into a Spanish-English dual language immersion program starting with the Kindergarten class of 2020-2021. With the addition of Baywood, San Luis Coastal will be offering two of the three SLO County bilingual elementary schools. Please see the attached English and Spanish flyer for information on Open Enrollment.

Please like, follow, and share @BaywoodBears on Facebook and email babilingual@slcusd.org with questions.

Invasive Species Threatens Los Osos

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The rains are here and weeds are thriving, including the dreaded Sahara mustard, Brassica tournefortii.When the wastewater construction disturbed the soil all over Los Osos it engendered a huge crop of this highly invasive plant. It is beginning to flower now, so NOW is the time to pull it, before it goes to seed.

Numerous Old World mustards have invaded North America. Of these Sahara mustard is the newest and by far the worst. It really is a monster! It is a robust, fast-growing, drought-tolerant winter annual that prefers sandy soils. The basal rosette of divided hairy leaves can span three feet in wet years. The nearly leafless flowering stems branch profusely and grow to a height of about two feet, creating the appearance of a shrub from a distance.

These highly invasive plants especially thrive in disturbed soil.  And they self-pollinate, so one large plant can produce 16,000 seeds.  Here’s the important part: Sahara Mustard easily and quickly outcompetes native plants that nourish our wildlife.  Without native flora, we lose our native fauna.

The plants have rough, hairy leaves that get smaller as they move up the stem.  They can be as short as 4 inches or as tall as 40 inches.  The flower is tiny, pale yellow, composed of four symmetrical petals.

We are asking all Los Osos residents to take at least one hour in the next several weeks to track down and remove these nasty plants wherever you can find them in our community.  Pull them up by the root and place in a green waste bin or the garbage.  Don’t assume the county can handle this.  Our county deputy agricultural commissioner says, “If Sahara mustard gets a foothold the way veldt grass has, widespread control will simply be impractical.”

When Sahara mustard is pulled out early, before it goes to seed, it does not seem to return. Three years ago, a huge batch of the week was from the corner of Don and Mitchell. It has not returned. We can get ahead of it.

You can find Sahara mustard in almost any vacant lot in the sewer-construction zone.  Local resident Bonnie Thompson, whose articles have appeared in the Tribune about this weed said, “Places where I’ve seen burgeoning growth recently include the north side of Santa Ysabel between 10th and 11th Streets, and the corner of 18th and the El Moro bike path; and across the street, on the edge of the open land.  And all along Pismo Street, starting at the Middle School and continuing on to the bay.”  If you look for it, you will find it.  Don’t worry if you accidentally pull another species of mustard; they are all non-native introduced plants.

Here’s how you can help:

1.) Spend at least one hour in your yard and neighborhood pulling up these dangerously invasive weeds.  

2.) Tell as many people as you can.

3.) Plant natives

3.) If you use Facebook, LIKE us at www.facebook.com/CelebrateLosOsos and check the page out occasionally for updates, information, and pretty photos too.

And we’d love to hear back from you regarding your efforts to rid Los Osos/Baywood of this noxious interloper. Tell us about your experience on our Facebook page or post a note on Nextdoor, the neighborhood on-line network. 

Celebrate Los Osos is a 501(c)( 3) non-profit organization, dedicated to making a difference, one project at a time, with highly visible projects, engaging volunteers who want to get their hands dirty “doing good work” for the benefit of our unique community. See our (antique) website for a list of our past projects: www.CelebrateLosOsos.org.

Central Coast residents deeply anxious about their economic situation, Hourglass poll finds

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — Under pressure from high housing costs and relatively low-paying wages, a significant percentage of Central Coast residents are struggling to get by, and they are deeply anxious about their financial future, according to a poll commissioned by the Hourglass Project.

“Despite what feels like good economic times right now, the fact is our local economy has consistently performed below state and national averages for at least the past two decades,” said Hourglass CEO Melissa James. “To expand opportunity for all Central Coast residents, we knew we needed to better understand their day-to-day experiences and challenges, at home, work and beyond.”

“What we found is a workforce that is losing hope, struggling to get by and considering leaving the area,” James said.

Ty Safreno, CEO of Trust Automation and Hourglass Board Chair, said: “These results are distressing. People are hurting far worse than we realized, and this deep anxiety is not just a problem for those families and a weakness in our social fabric; it also signals problems for the entire regional economy, which already is constrained by many of these issues.”

Sacramento-based SJR Opinion Research designed and conducted the 28-question survey of 540 registered voters ages 18-54 across San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties.

Among the key findings:

  • Just one in 529 respondents believes housing is affordable.
  • 1 in every 2 members of the middle class are considering leaving the region, as are 63 percent of Latinx respondents and 83 percent of African Americans.
  • 1 in 3 respondents say they would need to borrow money or run up credit card debt to cover a $500 emergency.
  • 56 percent believe the standard of living for middle-class workers is getting worse.
  • 1 in 10 workforce households worry simply about having enough money for food each month; 1 in 5 among Latinx households.
  • 86 percent do not expect today’s young people to be able to afford to live and work on the Central Coast as adults.

Tim Rosales, President of SJR Opinion Research said: “These survey results are clear. A large number of the workers on the Central Coast are quite worried about their standing in the local economy and are considering leaving the area. This survey paints an informative picture about what’s happening in the hearts and minds of Central Coast residents and the underlying economic challenges that policymakers in this region need to address.”

The findings indicate that labor shortages across the Central Coast could easily worsen in next few years, further constraining local economy.

“The survey results confirm the notions that sparked and drove the work of the Hourglass Project over the last year – that the Central Coast economy is not working as well as we would like for many Central Coast residents,” Safreno said. “These findings underscore the need for bold action to accelerate growth of higher-paying jobs, with the ultimate goal of creating an economy that works better for everyone. That’s exactly what the Hourglass Project is taking on.”

“Toward that better economy,” James said, “Hourglass is putting the finishing touches on a 10-year jobs-action plan to forge a more resilient, inclusive, regional economy. Hourglass was established to find solutions, not merely identify problems.”

The jobs action plan will be released in mid-March, James said.

The survey paints a picture of a population living on the edge, scraping from paycheck to paycheck with little cushion for emergencies or retirement across all socio-economic levels. Not only do most households worry about covering basic expenses such as rent, utilities and medical bills, a majority are also under the pressure of significant debt.

“The overwhelming sentiment,” James said, “is that making a life on the Central Coast is difficult and likely to become untenable for the next generation without a significant course correction.”

The finding are part of a larger survey of 1001 residents in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara County, conducted via phone and online. This analysis is based on the workforce demographic, ages 18-54, with 540 respondents and a sampling error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Find the full survey report at https://hourglassproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/A-Portrait-of-the-Central-Coast-Workforce-copy.pdf

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About The Hourglass Project

The Hourglass Project launched in November 2018 with the support of a broad-based coalition of regional business and civic leaders determined to unify the Central Coast region to forge a stronger, more resilient regional economy. The region includes nearly half a million residents in 10 cities, teo counties and dozens of community service districts, stretching from Vandenberg Air Force Base in northern Santa Barbara County through San Luis Obispo County to Camp Roberts in southern Monterey County. 

About SJR Opinion Research

SJR Opinion Research is a Latino-owned, California-based polling and research company that has measured public opinion throughout the United States and the world. The company conducts strategic research for leading companies, organizations, non-profits, political candidates and ballot initiatives and has conducted several opinion research studies on the Central Coast.

2020 Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber Membership Directory & Visitors Guide

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We have begun working on our 2020 Membership Directory. This is the member voice of our Chamber and we are again publishing a magazine format booklet that draws in readers, visitors and potential new business to our wonderful community. We have big pictures, lots of great content and more opportunities to network.

Don’t delay securing your placement! Contact chamber member Tammie Easson to make an ad space reservation. She has special sections in our publication and it is important you contact her early to
get the right placement and page. Email teasson@metromediapublishers.com
or call 417-629-7935

MORE INFORMATION & AD RATES

Looking for Chamber Office & Visitor Center Volunteers

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The Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center is looking for volunteers who can commit to 3 hours per week. We have Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons available. The Chamber Office & Visitors Center assists travelers upon their arrival to Los Osos/Baywood Park and is open 5 days a week from 10 am to 4 pm to answer questions, give maps and directions, tourism information and Chamber Member materials. Knowledge of local businesses and area is highly desirable. You will also provide assistance to the Executive Director to help with:

  • Events
  • Membership support
  • General office work

If you are interested in helping us out please contact Dawn Rodden, Executive Director at (805) 528-4884 or email us at info@lobpchamber.org. We have a fun team and would love to have you on the team that makes Los Osos/Baywood Park a great place to live, work and play!

Water Conservation In Los Osos/Baywood Park

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“Water Dude” made an appearence at Sage ecological Landscapes to remind the community the importance of water conservation in Los Osos/Baywood Park

We want to thank Sage ecological Landscapes for sponsoring this summer’s Water Conservation Fair and for their continued efforts in supporting water conservation in the Los Osos/Baywood Park community.

Open Studios Art Tour 2019

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Please join us for new art, yummy treats and fabulous bay views!

Our waterfront home will be transformed into an art gallery by Laguna Beach designer Jayne Cosh, and we will be showcasing my new ceramic art and the fabulous eclectic jewelry of Anita Marie Schwebel. Everything is one-of-a-kind!

Imagine standing quietly, gazing out at peaceful Morro Bay, shore birds hunting for food nearby, the sand dunes at a distance, AND being surrounded by new artwork and fun people at the same time. My ceramic work ranges from clean lines to heavy texture. From gesturally organic marks colored with oxides, to layers of highly refined color and rich finishes. Anita’s jewelry incorporates an eclectic combination of high-quality beautiful semi-precious stones, local beach finds, mixed metals and glass seed beads resulting in unique one-of-a-kind pieces for everyday wear and special occasions.

CATALOG

You can see a preview at: 
https://www.facebook.com/artist.pandora/
https://www.instagram.com/nashkarner/
https://www.facebook.com/AnitaMarieJewelry/
https://www.instagram.com/anitamariejewelry/

Open Studios will be open for 2 weekends only,
Sat. and Sun., Oct. 12 & 13 and 19 & 20, 10 AM – 5 PM.
The tour is FREE to the public and is one of the largest studio 
tours in the US.

We are easy to find at 350 Mitchell Drive,          
Los Osos ~ 1-805-528-7014    

August 2019 Business of the Month – Lyrics & Melodies Studio

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Pictured left to right: Tim Carstairs, Carstairs Energy, Inc.; Rita Flores, Sage Ecological Landscapes; Danielle and Lacey McNamara, owners; Dee DiGioia, Mindful Kindful YOUniversity; Tony Lindstrom, Golden State Water and Jim Stanfill.

Lyrics and Melodies Studio came from humble beginnings. In 2010, Lacey and Danielle McNamara began teaching private voice and piano lessons in the living room of a tiny San Luis apartment while parents waited at the kitchen table. In 2017, they moved into their beautiful studio home in Los Osos, right next to the Asian Market.

In 2014, they began Mini Melodies, offering parent participation-based music classes using the international Music Together® curriculum. Working with students from birth is an amazing experience. It has allowed attendees to help make the world a more musical place and encourages families to become music makers rather than simply music consumers. As their venue and programs grow, so do their dreams. They hope that Lyrics and Melodies Studio will be a place where you can come to effectively learn your instrument (voice, piano, ukulele, or guitar) and be a place with a sense of community, a second home, and a musical family.

“When we were literally inviting people into our home for lessons, the sense of family came with the nature of the location. Now that we have a dedicated studio space, we want to continue that feeling by offering opportunities to create that bond outside of your lesson time. We now have group classes, camps, workshops, and events where our students of all ages and their families can continue their musical education and continue to grow the musical connection we foster.”

July 2019 Business of the Month – Grocery Outlet

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Pictured left to right: Duane and Malia Cross; Jim Stanfill; Tim Carstairs, Carstairs Energy, Inc. and Lynette Tornatzky.

We are excited that our local neighbors are blissfully enjoying the variety, the values and the fun we have been providing you since November 2016. We love to meet our neighbors, share the WOW experience and help our community. The whole month of July is our Independence from Hunger campaign. If you give $5, your get $5 off….ask for details! Thank you again Los Osos and Baywood Park. We appreciate the recognition and strive to make it a wonderful visit, when you come to see what we have in store for you today.

May 2019 Business of the Month – Rabobank

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L. to R. Tim Carstairs, Carstairs Energy, Inc.; Jim Stanfill, Rotary of Los Osos;
Melissa Tucker, Rabobank; Dee DiGioia, Mindful Kindful YOUniversity;
Tony Lindstrom, Golden State Water; Lynette Tornatzky, Celebrate Los Osos

Rabobank, N.A. (National Association) is an award-winning, nationally chartered bank serving California communities grounded in agriculture. Headquartered in Roseville, Calif., and with more than $13 billion in assets, Rabobank provides a wide range of financial products and services for individual, business, and food-and-agribusiness customers. Its 100 branches, multi-function ATMs, and online and mobile banking resources empower Californians to bank when, where and how they want. Committed to service, Rabobank’s more than 1,500 employees take pride in improving their communities personally and professionally. Rabobank, N.A. is a Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender. Visit www.rabobankamerica.com.

County Allocates Economic Development Funds to Jobs Development

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The County of San Luis Obispo has granted $300,000 in economic development funds for a project that will set the foundation to develop future jobs on the Central Coast. On Tuesday, April 23, the County Board of Supervisors approved a $300,000 grant agreement with the Hourglass Project to be used for the development of a Central Coast Jobs Roadmap and Action Plan. The grant funding provided by the County will make up about 35 percent of the total funding required for the project. Non-governmental agencies and organizations in the private sector will provide most of the remaining funding needed for the project. “The economic health and vibrancy of our community is critical to this place we all love to call home and our region needs a path forward with the coming closure of Diablo Canyon,” said Guy Savage, Assistant County Administrative Officer. “This project is a public-private partnership that will provide an actionable approach to helping us all work together to restructure and build a stable local economy.” The funding was made possible through Senate Bill (SB) 1090, which was authored by Senator Monning and signed into law by Governor Brown in September 2018 to, in part, ease the local impact of the closure of Diablo Canyon Power Plant. SB 1090 ensured that the community would receive $85 million in Community Impact Mitigation Funds, which are broken into two components: The Economic Development Fund ($10 million) and the Essential Services Mitigation Fund ($75 million). Roughly half of the Essential Services Mitigation Funds will go to local schools to support and maintain critical programs. To date, the County has received $400,000 of this funding. The remaining $100,000 will be held for other grant purposes or for use to further assess the local impacts of the closure of the power plant. For more information, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov

March 2019 Business of the Month – Cheri Grimm Bookkeeping

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(Pictured l. to r.) Lynette Tornatzky, LOBPCC Secretary; Rita Flores, Sage Landscapes and Board Director; Christina Grimm and Cheri Grimm owners of CG Bookkeeping; Jim Stanfill, LOBPCC Treasurer and Marshall Ochylski, LOBPCC President

Cheri Grimm Bookkeeping has been in business here in Los Osos since 1996. Cheri is a “Julie Orr trained” bookkeeper both in technique and in community involvement. Anyone who met Julie knew that she believed owning a business in Los Osos came with it a responsibility to contribute to the wellbeing of Los Osos. As Julie was, Cheri is very involved in many different community projects – including the LOBP Chamber, Kiwanis Club of Bay Osos, the Finance Advisory Committee of the LOCSD, among others. As a small, home-based business, Cheri Grimm Bookkeeping has provided jobs and training for several local people over the years. She says one of the joys and privileges of being an employer is working with people who start with little experience to the job, mentoring them for a time, and then helping them move on to another job with more “career” opportunity. She loves sharing in their success. Another real joy for Cheri is having clients who have been with her for 20 years. She says, “I have the best clients in the world. They are wonderful people, running great businesses, and I’m honored to be their bookkeeper.” She works with several different kinds of businesses and loves the variety. Cheri is also excited to announce that Cheri Grimm Bookkeeping is becoming CG Bookkeeping – her daughter, Christina Grimm, has come on board as her partner. Cheri says, “I love my job, and will continue to work as long as I’m physically and mentally able – and now I get to turn over the daily running of the office to Christina. This is the best of both worlds!”

Coastal Discovery Celebration

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Over 30 Celebration Activities & Events – Jan 12 thru Feb 28

Central Coast Aquarium Shark Feeding and Tour
Tuesdays-Sundays
Elephant Seal Docent Educational Walks
Daily
Montana de Oro Trail Restoration Days
February 3
Monarch Butterfly Migration
Daily
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Natural History Center
Daily
Point San Luis Lighthouse Kayak Back in Time
Daily
Huell Howser Memorial Nature Walk at Oso Flaco
February 9

Visit https://highway1discoveryroute.com/cdc to see a list of all activities and learn more about the award winning Stewardship Travel Program.

December 2018 Business of the Month – Los Osos Valley Memorial Park

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Pictured left to right: Debbie Fisher, Romany Waters, Olivia Martinez, Anastasia Maytorena and Matthew Mitchell

We here at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park and Mortuary are grateful servants of our community. Originally began as a simple cemetery intended to honor veterans we have grown over the years, but have never forgotten our founding spirit. We honorably care for those who have been lost in a historical plane crash as well as the many dear honored loved ones entrusted into our care. We seek to be a place of refuge, comfort, and honor as we celebrate the significance of lives that have been lived. We continue to strive to enrich our community through action and partnership, and by hosting out beloved Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. Please join us in our commitment to our community.

Community Awards Dinner & Installation – January 18th

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Join us for a Celebration of Accomplishments, Installation of Board Officers and Directors on Friday, January 18th at 6pm. We will be honoring our 2018 Citizen of the Year, Linda Quesenberry; Volunteer of the Year, Ed Gelb and Business of the Year, Crizer Construction.

Reception starts at 6 pm with a no host bar followed by a buffet dinner catered by Martin’s Restaurant. Presentation of awards begins at 7:30 pm.

BUFFET MENU
• Salad
• Chips & Salsa
• Rice
• Black Beans
• Cheese Enchiladas with sauce*
• Fajitas – Chicken, Beef & Shrimp w/tortillas
• Taquitos – Chicken, Beef & Potatoe w/sour cream and guacamole

Dinner Reservations & Sponsor Tables

MERGER CREATES NEW GLOBAL LEADER IN BIOSPECIMEN SOLUTIONS

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FOUR COMPANIES UNITE TO FORM DISCOVERY LIFE SCIENCES – Conversant Bio, Folio Bio, Discovery Life Sciences and Phylogeny announced today that they have merged under the name Discovery Life Sciences™ (Discovery) to create a global market leader in biospecimen analysis and procurement for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostics industries.

The new company will leverage deep scientific expertise and consultative services, combined with the largest repository of more than 10 million research-quality biospecimens—all available and processed for analysis—to accelerate the discovery, research, and development of novel biomarkers, drug candidates, and diagnostics.

Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic investor focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, facilitated the merger and invested in the company.

Glenn Bilawsky, a longtime executive in the pharmaceutical and contract research industries, is Discovery’s CEO. “We’ve created an organization to provide researchers with significant added value through our consultative ‘SmartSourcing™’ model, which creates intelligent partnerships to overcome research problems and accelerate progress, saving both time and money,” he said. “We retain the world’s most diverse base of high-quality biospecimens and the global logistical systems to acquire, process, biostore, and ship them most efficiently, with adherence to all local and international laws.”

With a particular emphasis in oncology; cardiology; neurology; and infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases, the newly combined company’s catalog includes normal, suspect, and disease-state specimens comprising rare diseases and racially and ethnically diverse exemplars. Discovery obtains these biosamples through its Discovery Partners™, a global, integrated network of more than 165 clinical sources, in 25 countries on six continents. Due to these clinical partners, Discovery is unmatched in its ability to recruit the most diverse patient populations and obtain the highest quality of ethically obtained clinical research specimens.

Discovery can study specimens on all research and diagnostic platforms. It is committed to quality and integrity as an ISO 9001-certified company with CLIA-certified labs, stringent IRB and Ethics Committee compliance, and all required EU approvals and certifications. Navigating the new personal data protection regulations (both US and internationally) is a core competency.

 

About Discovery Life Sciences

Discovery Life Sciences is a global market leader in biospecimen analysis and procurement for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and diagnostics industries. Driven by science, the Discovery team engages with customers in an innovative, consultative approach to overcoming obstacles and reaching a faster end result. We are Science at your Service™! For more information, visit dls.com.

Festival de Osos – Here Are Our Bears

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Thank you to the local businesses and organizations that participated in this years Bear Festival. The community voted for their favorite bear(s) during the Family Fun Fair on September 9th. Winners were Farmers Insurance “Bear in Bee Hive” and Los Osos Valley Memorial Park “Día de los Muertos Bear”. Other participants included: Los Osos CSD, Rotary Club of Los Osos, Lyrics & Melodies Music Studio, Volumes of Pleasure Bookshoppe,  and Treasures by Local Artists.

 

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SAVE ON PROPERTY TAXES

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TAX EXEMPTION DEADLINE APPROACHES

The Assessor would like to remind all homeowners, disabled veterans and eligible non-profit organizations that they may file claims for exemptions.

The Homeowner’s Exemption exempts up to $7,000 in taxable value of a property if the claim is timely filed or postmarked by February 15, 2018, and up to $5,600 if filed late (postmarked by December 10, 2018).  If you received your Homeowner’s Exemption last year, and you still own and occupy the same property this year, you do not need to file again.  Your exemption automatically remains in place.

The Disabled Veteran’s Exemption is available to exempt taxable value of a property owned by a veteran who is 100% disabled due to service related illness or injury.  The exemption may be up to $202,060 if timely filed (postmarked by February 15, 2018) and up to $181,854 if filed late (postmarked by December 10, 2018).

To be eligible for either of the above exemptions this year, claimants must have owned and occupied the property as their principal place of residence as of 12:01 a.m. January 1, 2018.  Please call the Assessor’s office or visit the website for eligibility requirements and claim forms.

Certain non-profit organizations may be eligible for an exemption from property tax if they were using the property for exempt purposes on January 1, 2018.  For the full exemption, the organization must have filed or postmarked their claim for Church, Religious or Welfare Exemption by February 15, 2018.  Claimants may be eligible for 90% of the exemption if the claim is postmarked by December 31, 2018.

The Assessor’s main office is located in Room D-360 of the County Government Center, 1055 Monterey Street, in San Luis Obispo.  The telephone number is (805) 781-5643.  There is a satellite office in Atascadero at 5955 Capistrano Avenue, Suite B.  Information is available on the website at www.slocounty.ca.gov/Assessor.

August 2018 Business of the Month – Bear Valley Realty

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Steve “Bromeliad” Auslender has been active in and committed to the beautiful central coast community and to the people who live here. He owned and operated his own business, “Steve’s Bromeliads” exotic plant shop, in Baywood Park for over 12 years. Steve was an associate with Prudential Hunter Realty for 12 years and moved to RE/MAX Ocean West over 5 years ago. Steve has been a Platinum producing agent for RE/MAX for 5 years. As a platinum agent for his first 5 years in a row he has been recognized in the RE/MAX Hall of Fame as one of the top professionals in the real estate industry.

Named LOBP Chamber 2005 Business of the Year, Steve continuously strives to be a top producing agent for his clients. Whether you are a seller or buyer, Bear Valley Realty is committed to a high level of professionalism and integrity to achieve the quality results you deserve.

For Steve Auslender, real estate is his passion. It’s what gets him up and going every morning. This is evident from the enthusiasm with which he approaches the business, working hard for his clients to provide the finest real estate service possible.

Bear Valley Realty staff includes realtor Tyler Fechner who is a Central Coast native from Morro Bay. He has been a part of the local community as a Sports Coordinator on and off for the past 10 years. Dianne Blanchard, office manager and realtor, began working for Steve in the Fall of 2010. Customer service is her specialty. She was previously a leasing agent in a Chicago suburb, and worked in Las Vegas before moving to the Central Coast with her family.

SEE’S CANDY SALES by the Kiwanis Club of Bay-Osos

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The Kiwanis Club of Bay-Osos is again selling See’s Candies as a fundraiser to support the children in Los Osos and Morro Bay. See’s Candy is a much-appreciated gift for your friends and clients.  If you would like to purchase case quantities…and receive a $0.50 discount per box…please place your order NOW.   We will deliver your order to you in Los Osos or Morro Bay before Thanksgiving.

To place an order, or if you have questions, please call George Janeway at (805) 801-8793. The deadline for placing your order is October 25.

Please make checks payable to: Bay-Osos Kiwanis Foundation

Assorted Chocolates 1 lb. boxes 24 boxes/case $480.00
Dark Chocolates 1 lb. boxes 24 boxes/case $480.00
Milk Chocolates 1 lb. boxes 24 boxes/case $480.00
Soft Centers 1 lb. boxes 24 boxes/case $480.00
Nuts & Chews 1 lb. boxes 18 boxes/case $360.00
Peanut Brittle 1 ½ lb. boxes 12 boxes/case $240.00
Bridge Mix 1 lb. boxes 21 boxes/case $420.00

July 2018 Business of the Month – Domino’s Pizza

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The Domino’s Pizza in Los Osos has been locally owned and operated since it was bought by my wife (Brenda) in 1989.  Brenda started working at the Lompoc Domino’s in 1983 and was offered to work in the Los Osos Domino’s in 1988.  In 1989, the Los Osos location was up for sale and was purchased by Brenda.

While I was attending Cal Poly in 1990, I met Brenda and was immediately attracted to the owner of a pizza restaurant ……. I mean my future wife.  In 1994, we were married and I moved to live with her in Los Osos.  In 1995, we had our first child Brandon and in 1998, our second child Kyle.  Domino’s became a true family operation with the kids growing up around the store and eventually working with us and running the store.

We have enjoyed running the day to day operations of this business over the last 29 years and look forward to many more years to come in this beautiful community.

Chris Saletta, Domino’s Pizza

 

3rd Annual Festival de Osos

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Are you ready to participate in this years’ 3rd Annual Bear Festival?

We are looking for Bears that represent Community Spirit. Big, small, friendly, silly or serious, we invite local businesses, community artists, creative professionals, organizations and students to create something special for locals and visitors to enjoy. All Los Osos BEAR! must be in place by August 8th and displayed until September 8th.

BEARS will be moved to the South Bay Community Center on September 9th for Grandparents Day where they will be judged by a panel and the community.
There will be categories; Chamber Business, Residential/Organization, Youth (under 18).

 

June 2018 Business of the Month – Crizer Construction

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(Left to right) Bob Crizer, owner; Jim Stanfill; Gabe Quiroz, Farmers Insurance; Matthew Davis, Project Expediter; Dahlan Richenburg, Project Manager; Steve Vinson; Emily McLongstreet, Bookkeeper; Kameron White-Holmes, Manager; Nic Huston, Designer and Lynette Tornatzky including Katy – Surf Dog Extraordinaire

Bob came to the area to go to Cal Poly for architecture in Dec. of 1979 with his girlfriend Beth after learning to draw for an architecture firm in San Diego. Beth started Cal Poly while Bob went to Cuesta because the Architecture Program at Poly was impacted. After living here for 6 months, Bob went to word for a contractor and never went to Cal Poly. Bob married his beautiful wife Beth in 1980.

In Jan. 1983 Bob got his contractor’s license and went into business building residential and small commercial buildings. Beth assisted in the business when it first started while going to school and working at a hospital in nutrition.

In 1986 Bob was awarded the contract to manage the construction of the South Bay Community Center. The contract was awarded against the recommendation of the architect

due to young guy with not enough experience. The project was brought in on time and under budget and the architect wrote Bob a letter of recommendation. Adaptability has been Crizer Construction’s means of survival. In 1991 during a down turn in the housing market Crizer Construction went to work in the cellular industry building cell sites and did that work for approximately 6 years. The loss of a brother happened on one of those sites in 1996 devastating to Bob and family.

In 1993 Crizer took approximately 35 builders to LA to rebuild a home for a woman that lost her home in an equity fraud scam. Crizer and the Central Coast team built the home in 7 days and gave her home back to her for Christmas in 1993.

In 1994 Crizer built a cell site on Santa Cruz Island and then continued work on the Island doing restoration work on buildings built by Italian stone masons in the mid to late 1800s. The work on the Island lasted for 10 years. Following cellular work Crizer Construction moved into work on the local schools doing “measure A” work for San Luis Coastal Unified. Housing returned and back in housing we went.

Crizer Construction Inc. has been the general contractor on more than 60 new homes and commercial buildings in his career as well as over 300 remodels. Our offices are located in a building built by Crizer in 1984 and purchased in 2004. We operate in a small town where community service has always been part of our existence.

Crizer Construction now carries approximately 30 staff members including 2 sons Jake andSam, that have grown up around the business and are presently part of the staff. Crizer Construction continues a commitment to community service and often has pizza or coffee with those they have built homes for.

2nd Year of Promise Scholarship Provides Fee-Free Two-Years at Cuesta

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Cuesta College is further expanding access to higher education with the expansion of the Cuesta College Promise Scholarship to include a second year of fee-free education. San Luis Obispo County high school seniors graduating this year will be the first class eligible to obtain two full years of fee-free education at Cuesta College.

“We are very pleased to be able to welcome the class of 2018 and beyond to two years of fee-free college,” said Cuesta College Superintendent/President Dr. Gil Stork.

Launched in 2013, the Cuesta Promise has provided financial aid to nearly 3,000 San Luis Obispo County students. Initially, the purpose was to provide access to Cuesta College and included no restrictions. “Five years ago, the goal was to support those who never dreamed of being able to attend college because of the cost,” said Dr. Stork. “We wanted to make college accessible to everyone.”

Year two of the Cuesta Promise will include academic performance measures. To earn a second fee-free year, students must complete more than 50 percent of the units attempted, and earn a grade point average of 2.00 or higher during their first year on the Promise.

“Our goal is to both remove financial barriers and increase the number of local high school graduates attending and staying at Cuesta College,” said Dr. Stork.

The second year of the Promise is made possible by various funding sources. First, by the California College Promise Grant, formerly known as the Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOG). The California College Promise Grant provides eligible students enrolled at CA community college campuses with free tuition.

A second source of funding has been made possible by local donors. “Year two of the Cuesta College Promise is largely in part due to the members of our local community, who have stepped forward with private donations,” said Cuesta College Executive Director of Foundation and Advancement Shannon Hill. “In 2016, the effort to fundraise for a second year of the Promise was announced by Dr. Stork. Funding a second-year costs almost $10 million. The bar was set very high, but with Dr. Stork’s leadership, donations of almost $3 million have been received by the Foundation to date.”

Major campaign donors include the Harold J. Miossi Charitable Trust, the Estate of Mary Schwartz, the Estate of Laura Coats, Rick and Jill Stollmeyer, PG&E, and Dr. Grace Crittenden.

The third funding component is the recent passage of Assembly Bill 19, which has full funding included in CA Governor Jerry Brown’s 2018-2019 proposed budget. AB 19 pays for the tuition of first-time, full-time students. “AB 19 provides enough funding to allow the Foundation’s fundraising efforts to support year two,” said Hill.

Since 2013, Cuesta’s local high school graduate attendance rate went from 25 percent to more than 36 percent. Today, 90 percent of local graduates who attend Cuesta College immediately after graduating, come as Promise students. The class of 2017 saw 876 students attend Cuesta on the Promise, including 180 from Paso Robles High School, 130 from Atascadero High School, 123 from Arroyo Grande High School, 101 from San Luis Obispo High School, 80 from Morro Bay High School, 74 from Templeton High School, and 25 from Coast Union High School.

“Since the college launched the Cuesta Promise Scholarship, we have been monitoring the success of our Promise students in several categories, including units attempted, units completed, GPA, persistence from Fall to Spring, and persistence from Spring to the following Fall,” said Dr. Stork. “In almost all categories, Promise students outperform first time students who are not on the Promise Scholarship. The one area that remains unchanged is persistence from Spring to the following Fall. This is when the Promise Scholarship is no longer supporting a student’s education.”

Due to a private donation of $20,000, the Cambria Promise Scholarship was launched in the fall of 2016, allowing all graduates of Coast Union High School and Leffingwell High School to receive a fee-free second year at Cuesta College.

“What we have learned from the Cambria Promise is that students’ persistence from Spring to the following Fall is much higher than that of our Cuesta Promise students,” said Dr. Stork. “We find that many students on the Cuesta Promise can’t continue on without gaining employment or reducing their unit load, thus putting greater strain on their academic performance. Being able to support all local high school graduates with the opportunity to attend Cuesta College for two fee-free years – without financial burden – is our gift to the community.”

In order to obtain the Cuesta Promise Scholarship, students graduating this year must enroll in courses for the Fall 2018 semester and complete the steps for the Promise Scholarship by August 1st. Upon completion of the application process, fees will be waived for Fall 2018 and Spring 2019. If a student meets the academic expectations in year one, their fees will be waived again for year two.

The Cuesta Promise is the result of a donation of more than $8 million to the Cuesta College Foundation from the Charles and Leeta Dovica Family Trust, who requested the funds be used for scholarships. The scholarship endowment, created in the fall of 2013, currently saves students an average of $1,400 each year by paying for the per-unit cost of classes, health fees, Associated Students of Cuesta College fees, materials fees, Student Center fees, and the Student Rep fee. For questions about the Cuesta Promise Scholarship, call (805) 546-3153 or email promise@cuesta.edu or visit www.cuesta.edu/admissionsaid/cuestapromise/.

Founded in 1973, the Cuesta College Foundation connects private and corporate philanthropy with opportunities to support Cuesta College and its students. By doing so, Cuesta College can fulfill its promise to educate the community’s future business leaders, health care workers, teachers, engineers, scientists and first responders. For questions about the Foundation, call (805) 546-3279.

What’s New at the County Assessor’s Office

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The Assessor, in collaboration with County IT, initiated the “Open Text Upgrade and Assessor Records Transformation” project. The project will continue throughout FY 2018-19. The project includes the scanning of over 2,200,000 paper documents in over 168,000 parcel files, the creation of a digital parcel file library within the OpenText document management environment, and developing many workflows combined with business process re-engineering to handle most of the Department’s work activities. Packing files in preparation for Shipment HAS BEGUN!!!

Packing files in preparation for Shipment HAS BEGUN!!!

How might this affect you?

  • May be a short delay in retrieving your file if it is off site being digitized.

How will it benefit you?

  • Access to all files for staff and property owners from either office location.
  • Better efficiencies for Staff.
  • Better service for you!
Note: Digital parcel file documents will not be available to property owners or the general public on the website.
When will the project be complete? June – July 2019
County Government Center, 1055 Monterey St., Ste. D360, SLO, CA 93408 (805) 781-5643 Fax: (805) 781-5641 Web Site: slocounty.ca.gov/assessor

County Reports Good Financial Status in Second Quarter

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SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA – The County of San Luis Obispo was in good financial shape at the end of the second quarter of this fiscal year, according to a recent report.

The County Administrative Office presented the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Second Quarter Financial Report to the Board of Supervisors at yesterday’s public meeting. The report provides an overview of the County’s financial position in the second quarter of the current fiscal year, which took place between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2017.

According to the report, the County’s spending levels and revenue streams were on par, for the most part, with last year. By the end of the second quarter, the County had received
$226.4 million or 37 percent of estimated revenue, which includes property and sales tax, collected license and permit fees, fines, forfeitures, penalties, and other financing sources. The County had only spent about 40 percent of the amount budgeted for expenses for the year at the end of the second quarter.

The County also received more than $75,000 in donations, which were designated to appropriate programs and services. Most County departments reported that their budgets were on track at the end of the second quarter. However, there were some areas of concern reported.

Some items of note for the second quarter included:

  • The County Behavioral Health Department expects a revenue shortfall at year-end.
  • The County’s actions to implement the State’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) has had a minimal impact on this year’s finances.
  • Airports reported a 30 percent increase in passenger boarding numbers.
  • Dairy Creek Golf Course’s lack of sufficient revenue will require a large subsidy from the General Fund, as authorized by the Board of Supervisors.
  • The County’s Department of Social Services reported more than $285,000 in unbudgeted expenses related to In-Home Support Services, due to shifts at the State level. But these will be offset by unexpected growth in various revenue sources.

The County is continuing to closely monitor expenses of the current fiscal year, as it expects a budget deficit next fiscal year. For more information, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Chamber Trip to Pompeii and Amalfi Coast

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CI Destinations along with Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce will be offering a fully escorted tour of the beautiful Amalfi Coast, October 24, 2018.

$3099 based on double occupancy

BROCHURE

The Amalfi Coast is a captivating combination of great beauty and gripping drama: coastal mountains dotted with picturesque towns and lush forests plunge into the sea. UNESCO had the entire area declared a World Heritage Site in 1997 for its unarguable beauty and uniqueness of its natural landscape. Mountains erupt from the waters of the Mediterranean and pastel-painted buildings cascade down cliffs. This is the Amalfi Coast – a handful of villages that will be the backdrop for your journey. Travel the amazing Amafli coast, taking in the view that inspired countless artists and gain historical perspectives. From your home hotel in Maioriare, visit Positano and Ravello, cross the Gulf of Naples to visit the enchanting Isle of Capri. Take in the archaeological sites of Herculaneum and Pompeii, and the Greek ruins of Paestum. End this amazing experience in Rome as all roads in Italy lead to Rome.

HIGHLIGHTS:

  • Maiori/Amalfi Coast
  • Ravello
  • Naples
  • Capri (optional)
  • Solerno & Pasteum
  • Pompeii
  • Rome

INCLUSIONS:

  • Round Trip Airfare and Airport Transportation
  • Airline Fuel Surcharges, Taxes and Fees
  • 7 Nights First Class Hotel
  • 10 Meals (7B, 3D)
  • Sightseeing Per Itinerary
  • Admissions Per Itinerary
  • Professional Tour Manager
  • Baggage Handling
  • Hotel Transfers

$599 – Optional 2 night Rome Post Tour Extension – Includes deluxe motor coach, 2 breakfasts, Rome city tour, and professional tour director.

November 2017 Business of the Month – Los Osos Rexall

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L. to R.: Cheri Grimm, Cheri Grimm Bookkeeping; Debra Garcia, Golden Anchor Financial Services; Jim Stanfill; Megan and Jason Tewell, Los Osos Rexall; Richard Joseph; Chad Carroll, Baywood Ale House; Gabe Quiroz, Farmers Insurance.

Los Osos Rexall has proudly served the community of Los Osos for over 35 years. Working side by side, Gary and Judi Tewell turned Rexall into an independent pharmacy and top rated gift shop focused on bringing the best customer service possible to their customers. Their son, Jason, began working as pharmacist in charge in 2010 and took over operations when Gary and Judi retired in 2015. Jason has continued his parents’ legacy by providing quality pharmacy care to patients and gifts for every recipient and occasion. Rexall has a friendly and knowledgeable staff, offers complimentary gift wrapping, delivers prescriptions to Los Osos, Morro Bay, and SLO, hosts fun seasonal events like the Holiday Open House and Pajama Party, and constantly brings in new gift merchandise for your shopping pleasure.

 

 

Festival de Osos – Bear Festival 2017

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The second annual Festival de Osos (Bear Festival) will celebrate the history of our community’s origins as La Canada de Osos. A community wide event  that celebrates the arts, community and local business. Community artists, creative professionals, students, organizations and local businesses will be invited to create custom bears to be displayed throughout Los Osos/Baywood Park from October 20th through November 25th.

PARTICIPATION APPLICATION DEADLINE OCT. 2nd.

CALL FOR ENTRIES FORM

County Adopts $592.3 Million Balanced Budget for FY 2017-18

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The County of San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisors adopted a $592.3 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2017-18 on Tuesday.

The $592.3 million budget is about a 3 percent growth over the current fiscal year. The budget prioritizes funding that allows the County to meet legal mandates and debt service requirements, strengthen public safety, and improve roads. It also includes funding to manage groundwater basins, continue the 50Now program to house and serve chronically homeless individuals, regulate medical and recreational cannabis, and fund parks projects in the south county.

The budget also incorporates funds distributed to local nonprofits as well as funds related to groundwater management, commercial cannabis cultivation regulations and enforcement, and affordable housing programs.

“The budget is the most important document we produce, as it outlines the County’s financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year and is intended to communicate and implement Board policy related to County operations,” said County Budget Director Emily Jackson.

The people of San Luis Obispo County had an opportunity to weigh in on the budget recommendations during public budget hearings on June 12 and 14.

The County government publishes its award-winning budget document every year, attempting to strike an appropriate balance between financial detail and discussion of bigger picture issues, Jackson said. Each year, the document is intended to inform meaningful discussion about resource allocation decisions among the public, the Board of Supervisors, and staff.

For more information, visit www.slocounty.ca.gov.

Travel to Tuscany in Fall of 2017

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Tuscany/One Hotel Holiday Presented by CI Destinations

The Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce will once again be offering a fully escorted tour of the awe inspiring region of Tuscany. Tuscany is the place where movies are filmed and fantasies run wild. Perhaps it’s the cities of Florence, Pisa, or Sienna that invoke feelings of culture, art, or arouse the senses as do the smells and taste of the Chianti region. The fact is that Tuscany is home to some of the most famous tourist attractions in all of Italy.

This is truly an amazing opportunity to discover all that Tuscany has to offer. Tuscany is what many people around the world envision as a true representation of Italy.

DEPARTING OCTOBER 24, 2017. For more information contact the Chamber office at 805.528.4884.

CONTINUING TO TAKE RESERVATIONS/DEPOSITS – 9 days $2899/all inclusive

FLYER

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO TOUR

TESTIMONIALS

November 11, 2017
Dear Oliver:
On behalf of the Danville Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce, I want to thank you and CI Destinations for an amazing trip to Tuscany earlier this month. We had a group of 23 travelers who went to Tuscany as part of a CI Destinations trip through our Chamber. Every person complimented the outstanding customer service and attention to detail that your company provided.

[Read more…]

County of SLO Publishes 2016 Annual Report

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Residents of San Luis Obispo County can now access the County’s 2016 Annual Report online to find information about activities, accomplishments and challenges the County faced last year.

“The annual report provides residents of San Luis Obispo County with a summary of the public services offered in 2016,” said County Administrative Officer Dan Buckshi. “The report for 2016 shines a light on some of the ways the County met the needs and desires of the community. It identifies the challenges we faced this past year and highlights important outcomes associated with the programs and services we provided.”

The 2016 Annual Report gives people a glimpse at some of the hundreds of public services provided by the County last year. From a behind-the-scenes look at FEMA drills and the Phillips 66 hearings to details about the three elections the County managed last year, the report is full of important information that the public can use and refer back to for years to come.

The report can only be found online at www.slocountyannualreport.com. The report this year is broken out into five main sections: water, community, economy, upgrades, and safety. It also includes a video message from District 4 Supervisor Lynn Compton, who served as the 2016 Chair of the Board of Supervisors, and a written message from Buckshi.

Existing staff prepared the report in-house, which included coordination between departments, content development, graphic design, website development and video production.

Festival de Osos 2016 Winner

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winning-bear-meditating-bliss-bear

The winner of the first annual Festival de Osos (Bear Festival) was Meditating Bliss Bear created by Susan Nazionale, 2180 Del Norte Street.

With the help of Baywood Elementary Bearcrows, local businesses and the community there were 22 bears on display throughout Los Osos/Baywood Park.

Thank you to American Threadwork/Linda Settevendemie for the cute embroidered bear prize.

Looking forward to more bears next year.

 

 

 

bear-fest-prize

 

Festival of Flavor Raises Money for Food Bank of SLO

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LOBP Chamber donation to Food BankThe Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce presented Aracely Aceves Lozano of the Food Bank Coalition with a donation of $400 raised at the Annual Festival of Flavor Food Showcase held on June 25, 2016. This community friendly event was held at the South Bay Community Center and chaired by Chamber board members Chad Carroll of Baywood Ale House and Gene Heyer of Thoma Engineering.

This donation was made possible by the participation of our food and beverage sponsors Beach Hut Deli, ‪Nichols Pizza N Grill, Baywood Ale House, Kuma Bowls Sushi, Sylvester’s Burgers, Nardonne’s Pizzeria, ‪Sweet Alexis Bakery, ‪Blue Sky Bistro on the Bay and Baker & Brain Wine. The donation will provide $4,000 worth of nutritious food to individuals and families who face hunger.

July 2016 Business of the Month – The Medicine Shoppe

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Medicinne shoppe-webLos Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce Business of the Month for July is The Medicine Shoppe at 1199 Los Osos Valley Road. The owners are pharmacist Keith Hanan and his wife Elizabeth, supported by a long term employee, DeDe Pauze and Compounding Technician, Alex Aspernelson. They have been in business in Los Osos since 1989. In addition to running his shop Keith has been a member of the Los Osos Rotary Club, was president in 2013-14 and continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors. He is also a contributing member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church.

In nominating The Medicine Shoppe Board member Chad Carroll had this to say. “I was referred to The Medicine Shoppe after experiencing difficulties with several different pharmacies. What no one else could accomplish in a month’s time, Keith was able to handle in a few hours. He took the time to swim through the red tape of insurance companies and get me my much-needed prescription, even though it was a trial and
he wasn’t going to make money on it. I have since transferred all of my other prescriptions to him and I have been very happy with the service of Keith and his staff”.

DO YOU HAVE A BUSINESS YOU WOULD LIKE TO NOMINATE? Recommendation for future monthly awards will be open to all. Nominators must apply the criteria adopted by the Board and the final decision will be made by the Board. The person making the nomination should offer sufficient detail as to why the business is being nominated to help the Board make the decision. All nominees will be considered and a winner will be chosen at the Board’s monthly meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. To be considered the nomination should be received on the Friday prior to the board meeting. Entries can be emailed to info@lobpchamber.org, or mailed to Business of the Month, PO Box 6282, Los Osos, CA 93412 and should include the contact information of the person making the nomination.
Criteria for the “Business of the Year”: The Business of the Year Award recognizes a business in our community for noteworthy accomplishments, long-standing contribution to the community, and significant community service efforts. The nominees business activities illustrate a commitment to the community and have made a visible contribution in the past year that reflects business growth and achievement, innovation, creativity or community involvement. Must be a member of the Los Osos/Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce in good standing. Gives generously of themselves and/or staff in time and resources to the Chamber.

Let’s nominate one of the many wonderful businesses that make our community such a great place to live, work and do business.

Los Osos Ranked 6th Among Top Beach Town Housing Markets

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Los Osos and Morro Bay both ranked in a listing of the top 20 beach town housing markets in the nation compiled by RealtyTrac.
The rankings were based on home values, weather, air quality and crime rates. The two were the highest-ranked California communities in the tally.
Los Osos ranked sixth with a public safety grade of A, a median home price of $418,403, an average temperature of 60 with sunny days 78 percent of the time, and good air quality days 100 percent of the time.
Morro Bay ranked 11th, with identical weather, crime and air quality numbers but a higher median home price of $537,479.
The median is the midpoint at which half of the houses sold for more and half for less. Figures are compared year-over-year because of the seasonal nature of home sales.
The top-20 U.S. beach communities ranked by RealtyTrac, a resource for comprehensive housing data, were all from California, Florida or Hawaii.
Hobe Sound, Fla., was ranked highest in the report published in May. The other California communities to make the list were Dana Point at No. 16, Seal Beach at No. 17, and San Clemente at No. 19. Each of the top-20 beach towns had median home prices below $1 million and average daily temperatures either in the 60s or 70s.

Los Osos Bear Signs Restored

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FinalSBBUpAfter a long and complicated restoration process, the iconic Los Osos Bear Signs have been completed and reinstalled on Los Osos Valley Road and South Bay Boulevard, and they are beautiful!

We are sure you’ve seen them by now because they went up three weeks ago.  Unfortunately, both Pandora and I were in the process of leaving town on the day of the reinstallation, but Pandora managed to take some pictures and send them to the Bay News.

A heartfelt thanks to all of you who helped in the restoration process, and kudos to muralist Rebecca McFarland, who recreated the artwork beautifully, and professional signmaker Sean Beauchamp, who completed the process and reinstalled the signs.  Gary Dove, with support from his Rotary cohorts, will reinstall the solar lights on LOVR.

Here are a few of Pandora’s pictures of Sean and his crew during the installation process.  Go to our website to see more pictures:  wwwcelebratelososos.org.