SanLuisObispo.com: North Coast

Sanctuary set to annex seamount

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 10:27 PST

By Kathe Tanner -- The Davidson Seamount about 80 miles west of Cambria, one of the largest known underwater mountains in U.S. coastal waters, officially becomes part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in mid-March.

The seamount’s inclusion adds 775 square miles to the 5,319-square-mile ocean preserve that stretches 276 miles from Cambria to north of San Francisco.

The addition is just one of many changes in an updated blueprint just released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a federal agency that oversees 13 sanctuaries.

Los Osos candidates focus on water issues, financial woes

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:33 PDT

By David Sneed -- Whoever among five candidates wins two seats on the Los Osos Community Services District board will face a number of daunting challenges.

Topping the list of problems facing the district are a severe shortage of water, bankruptcy and an undetermined sewer project to be built by the county.

Incumbents Julie Tacker and Lisa Shicker are not seeking new terms, so the two elected to the board will be newcomers.

Retired CMC guard and Osos resident killed by ex-con in Washington

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:20 PDT

By Kathe Tanner -- Former Los Osos resident Richard Ziegler, who had retired five months ago as a guard at California Men’s Colony and moved to the Olympic Peninsula, was one of two people gunned down by an ex-con Saturday in Washington state.

Shawn Roe, 36, who was killed by sheriff’s deputies later that day, had been wanted for failing to show up for a meeting with his probation officer Aug. 29.

Ziegler, 59, had moved to Sequim, about 50 miles west of Seattle, after his retirement. He had planned to build a home on 4 acres there and pursue his passion: fishing.

County Roundup

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:17 PDT

San Luis Obispo

The Morro Bay woman run over by a car early Monday in San Luis Obispo died of blood loss due to blunt-force trauma, according to autopsy results announced Thursday.

Toxicology results on Tanya Moore’s body are not expected for several weeks, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department.

Morro Audubon to restore eight acres with native vegetation

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:24 PDT

By David Sneed -- With the Morro Coast Audubon Society adding eight acres to its Sweet Springs Nature Preserve in Los Osos, efforts will now concentrate on restoring the property.

In the coming months, removing the many invasive species growing there and replacing them with native plants will be the priority, said Holly Sletteland, preserve manager.

Volunteers will also be welcome at monthly workdays that started on Sept. 7.

Some SLO County residents heading to areas of Gulf Coast affected by recent hurricanes

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 09:18 PDT

By Kathe Tanner -- Some county residents have followed their hearts into disaster areas in the wake of two recent Gulf Coast hurricanes.

Since early September, at least seven county Red Cross volunteers have waded into recovery efforts.

Plus, a local father and two sons drove 1,750 miles in 34 hours to help out a relative and other residents of a small town north of Galveston, Texas.

County Roundup

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:04 PDT

Morro Bay

City officials have appointed Joseph M. Woods as Morro Bay’s parks and recreation director.

Woods has served as the acting director for the past 11 months. Prior to that, he served as the department’s facilities superintendent.

Cambria's services district may put to rest eight-year water saga

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 07:25 PDT

By Kathe Tanner -- Cambria’s service district directors will consider adopting a water master plan that has been eight years in the making on Sept. 25.

The multi-part study, which considers the town’s water use and the need to find more water resources, has been in the works since 2000. Cambria has been under a virtual building moratorium since November 2001 because water supplies are so limited.

Cambria Community Services District directors approved a hefty environmental study of the master plan last month on a 4-0 vote (the fifth director, Greg Sanders, was absent).

Center Street at center of action in Cambria

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 23:33 PDT

By Kathe Tanner -- A short street in Cambria is making big strides. One project is done, another is near done, and a third is, finally, nearly in the works after more than a decade.

All the projects are on Center Street, between Bridge Street and Burton Drive, a block south of Main Street. All are part of a proposed “East Village Historic Park,” a concept designed to showcase the community’s heritage that has been drawn up and discussed but never formally adopted.

Most prominent is work on restoring the Guthrie-Bianchini House at Center and Burton, where the Cambria Historical Museum could open in about a month, said Jack Breglio, president of the Cambria Historical Society.

County Roundup

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 22:37 PDT

Oceano

Ajudge upheld his decision Friday to dismiss Oceano business owner Bill Bookout’s lawsuit against the county and other agencies over flooding at his nursery.

In August, San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Martin Tangeman found Bookout’s claims against the county, Caltrans, Oceano Community Services District and Union Pacific Railroad to be without merit.

Los Osos residents take water conservation into their own hands

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:14 PDT

By Sona Patel -- A group of Los Osos volunteers is working with water purveyors and businesses to inform residents of the benefits of saving water.

It’s the latest effort by residents to increase awareness about water issues facing the town of about 14,300.

While previous conservation events focused on individual topics such as exterior and interior water-saving measures, event co-organizer Maria Kelly said Saturday’s gathering will look at a broader range of topics in an expo-like setting.

County Roundup

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:33 PDT

Atascadero

uthorities have identified the man hit by a

car and killed while trying to run across Highway 101

County Roundup

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:35 PDT

San Luis Obispo

Three people reported respiratory irritation and headaches after three gallons of a chemical mixture spilled Thursday at Central Coast Pathology in San Luis Obispo.

The spill occurred about 4 a. m. inside the lab at 3701 S. Higuera St., according to the San Luis Obispo County Health Agency. It was confined to within the building.

Spend the night at Hearst Castle

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:17 PDT

By Kathe Tanner -- Imagine swimming and dining at Hearst Castle— and then spending the night.

Ten days of online bidding on a lavish red-carpet evening at the landmark castle, part of a weekend party for 10 people, starts at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 17 on eBay. The winning bid will go toward a drive to establish a $20 million to $30 million endowment to restore and preserve the art collection and San Simeon estate built by William Randolph Hearst.

Bidding ends during the Friends of Hearst Castle’s sold-out annual “Enchanted Evening” wine reception and dinner Sept. 27.

A life-changing trip: Volunteers from El Morro Nazarene Church in Los Osos help out in Rwanda

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:07 PDT

By Sona Patel -- For Cassie Mooneyhan of Los Osos, her nearly three-week trip to the African nation of Rwanda with a group of church volunteers came at the right stage of her life.

“I think I went at a good age because high school is the time that materialistic things are important,” the 14-year-old said. “And that’s not important to me anymore.”

Sitting on the plane on her way home, the Morro Bay High School freshman wasn’t thinking about getting rid of her iPod, stacks of clothes or cell phone to live a simple life like many of the Rwandan locals she met.

Shriver leads charity pack

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:33 PDT

Cyclists pedaled along Highway 1 on Saturday in state first lady Maria Shriver’s annual “Best Buddies Challenge” bike ride event. The 15-mile ride started at Ragged Point and proceeded north to San Simeon. The event, which attracted celebrities including actor David Hasselhoff, raises money and awareness for Best Buddies International, a nonprofit group providing friendship and jobs to people with intellectual disabilities.