Posted on Wed, Feb. 10, 2010

Atascadero’s Kitty Arosteguy has opened Haven Wine Bar at 6155 El Camino Real, a first-of-its kind business in the city’s historic Colony District.

The 1,200-square-foot space, next to her Spa Central Coast and David Weyrich’s The Carlton Hotel, can accommodate up to 50 people for food and wine, Arosteguy said. Arosteguy opened Haven about a month ago because she felt it was something the city has needed.

“I love Atascadero and always want to go places where I can get a good glass of wine,” Arosteguy said. “It’s also a way I can keep my guests at the spa to stay longer.”

The wine bar specializes in Central Coast wines, many of them from boutique wineries that don’t have tasting rooms of their own. The bistro, with a chef from Atlanta, offers lunch and light dinners with a Southern flair, Arosteguy added.

Arosteguy also hopes to open the back patio of her spa to join with the wine bar to add to the ambience, she said.

Arosteguy also said many people believe the wine bar and spa are part of The Carlton, since the spa shares one of the hotel’s walls and is similar in design and feel to the hotel.

“People are coming in here wanting to cash their Carlton gift certificates because they think we’re going out of business,” she said. “We’re not. We’re doing fine. In fact we’re better than fine.”

— Melanie Cleveland

New leaders at SARP, shelter

The Sexual Assault Recovery and Prevention Center of San Luis Obispo County and the North County Women’s Shelter and Resource center have changed leadership.

North County Women’s Shelter Executive Director Eileen Allan retired recently after 17 years with the organization.

Jenny Adams, who led the SARP center for six years as executive director, will replace Allan.

Adams said that the focus of her position is developing volunteer programs to fill jobs lost at the shelter because of state budget cuts.

At the SARP Center, Kristi McCray will replace Adams. McCray has volunteered with the Center since 2008, has worked as an academic adviser for Cal Poly athletics, and has a master’s degree in education from the University of Southern California.

— Julia Hickey

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Jeremiah Hickey of Grover Beach, president of On the Spot Cleaning Services Inc., recently won his fourth national title as Fastest Window Cleaner in America at the International Window Cleaner’s Association’s window-cleaning competition in Reno, Nev.

Hickey also took fourth place in an international competition aiming to break the world record for fastest window cleaning.

— Staff report