Biz Buzz: The Tribune's Top 20 Under 40 winners announced

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• Tribune announces Top 20 Under 40 award winners

  Tribune announces Top 20 Under 40 award winners

  A group of San Luis Obispo County’s best and brightest leaders have been selected as this year’s Top 20 Under 40 award winners.

  Now in its seventh year, The Tribune’s competition honors the accomplishments and achievements of young women and men under the age of 40 who have demonstrated excellence in their professions and commitment to community service. To be eligible, nominees must have lived and worked in San Luis Obispo County year-round.

  More than 100 entries were submitted online at www.sanluisobispo.com, and a review panel from the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation selected the winners at The Tribune’s request.

• Viewpoint: An extraordinary year

  Viewpoint: An extraordinary year

  As 2011 comes to a close, I appreciate the opportunity to extend my gratitude to those who have made my first year as the mayor of Pismo Beach extraordinary.

  To: The mayors of the other six cities in San Luis Obispo County who have made my transition to this position much easier by being welcoming, supportive, and always available for questions.

  To: My fellow council members for continuing to work diligently on behalf of the city and who remain dedicated to achieving our agreed upon goals and also for their professionalism and pride in Pismo Beach.

• Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees. Meets Tuesday. 462-4200. Vote on union contracts with Atascadero District Teachers Association and California School Employees Association; program for developmentally disabled students ages 18 to 22; curriculum for transitional kindergarten program.

  Lucia Mar Unified School District Board of Education. Meets Tuesday. 474-3000. Consider whether to submit ballots in favor, in opposition or not at all on the Nipomo Community Services District’s proposed tax increase to fund construction of a pipeline that would bring water to the community from Santa Maria (six district properties would be subject to the tax).

  Paso Robles City Council. Meets Tuesday. 237-3888. Plan on how to manage water use from the Paso Robles Groundwater Basin, the city’s main water source; Paso Robles Main Street Association’s request to restore the City Park fountain for special events; response to the San Luis Obispo County grand jury’s findings on the city’s vacation accrual

• South County Beat: AARP is there to help at tax time

  South County Beat: AARP is there to help at tax time

  Last March I was trying to do my income taxes. Some new laws were hard to grasp. As I grappled with trying to understand them, it came to me that the American Association for Retired Persons has a free tax-aid program.

  They must be a bunch of elderly guys who have little training and only do the simplest tax returns, I surmised. Enter a student in my exercise class, Dee Gore. She said her husband, Don Gore, of Shell Beach, has been volunteering as a tax aid for many years, and he is a retired corporate attorney and engineer.

  I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, Don was able to solve my tax issues and complete my taxes electronically in record time, saving me hours of filling out forms and anguish.

• Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Government Watch: A roundup of this week’s agendas

  Arroyo Grande Planning Commission. Meets Tuesday. 473-5420. Discuss whether to recommend that the City Council approve an ordinance to establish a mandatory waiting period between sequential lot-line adjustments.

  Atascadero Planning Commission. Meets Tuesday. 461-5000. Oak tree removal request for shopping center at 7600 El Camino Real.

  Atascadero Unified School District Board of Trustees. Meets Tuesday. 462-4200. Annual financial audit; Citizens Advisory Committee presentation; update on bond-funded projects.