SLO County Roundup

The Superior Court of San Luis Obispo County is reminding the public that court will be closed today as well as future third Wednesdays of each month through June 16.

The California Judicial Council this year approved the unprecedented one-day-a-month closure for all state courts because of California’s fiscal crisis and the Legislature’s reduced state funding to the courts. The one-day closures began in September.

The court will reschedule hearings set for the following dates:

• Today

• Jan. 20

• Feb. 17

• March 17

• April 21

• May 19

• June 16

— Nick Wilson

Atascadero

The Atascadero Parks and Recreation Commission has tabled a discussion to rename the Charles Paddock Zoo until March.

A preliminary discussion on the possible renaming of the city-run zoo to better suit Atascadero’s budding regional tourism campaign was launched recently by Commissioner Tom Zirk.

The zoo is named after Charles Paddock, a beloved park ranger who founded the zoo in 1955.

If the zoo’s name is changed, Paddock would be recognized by a permanent tribute such as a statue, plaque or walkway in the zoo, city officials said.

— AnnMarie Cornejo

Oceano

Community services director Barbara Mann has verbally announced that she intends to resign Dec. 31.

But district General Manager Raffaele Montemurro said Monday afternoon the he hadn’t yet received a written notice of resignation from Mann —which would make it official.

Mann, the current board president, made the announcement Monday, the most recent meeting of the district’s Board of Directors.

Mann, a long-serving member of the board, at the meeting cited “personal attacks and rude behavior” during her announcement of her intent to resign, Montemurro said.

She’s serving her fourth term as a director of the district and is also the representative to the Local Area Formation Commission on behalf of special districts in southern San Luis Obispo County.

Mann also has been involved locally and regionally in the Kiwanis Club of Oceano.

— Nick Wilson

SLO County

The Women’s Community Center and the San Luis Obispo County Bar Association Family Law Section will host a clinic Dec. 22 to provide one-on-one legal and document preparation advice to persons filing their own divorces.

Only individuals who do not have an attorney may participate. Sessions are held at 5:30 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the San Luis Obispo Women’s Community Center, now inside the San Luis Business Center at 4251 South Higuera St.

A minimum $40 donation is requested. Participants must register in advance at 544-9313.

Educational seminars for people thinking about getting divorces are also held every third Wednesday of the month at the Women’s Community Center.

— Julia Hickey