County Roundup

Morro Bay

Casting agents are seeking a local girl to play the daughter of characters to be portrayed by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams in a movie called “Blue Valentine,” set to film in the area this spring.

The casting team will hold an open casting call Feb. 3 at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Morro Bay.

The team is looking for a girl age 4-7 to play Frankie, who is outgoing and curious.

The role is described as a lead. No previous acting experience is required. Casting agents say they are looking for “real” rather than “cute.”

Auditioners don’t need to bring or prepare anything. The casting call is set to run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The church is at 962 Piney Way.

In the film, Frankie is the daughter of David and Cindy, played respectively by Gosling and Williams—both Oscar-nominated actors.

Gosling starred in “The Notebook,” “Fracture” and “Remember the Titans.” In 2001, he filmed “Murder by Numbers” in San Luis Obispo County with Sandra Bullock.

Williams appeared in “Brokeback Mountain” and starred on the television show “Dawson’s Creek.”

—Matt Lazier

SLO County

The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will begin operating under new meeting procedures, which include an 8:30 a.m. start, no special weekly time set aside for Los Osos residents, and two public comment periods — in the morning and at 2 p.m.

Supervisors approved the changes at their last meeting in an effort by new Chairman Jim Patterson to shorten meetings and give those in the audience more opportunities to speak.

Last year, meetings routinely ran past the scheduled 5 p.m. adjournment. Radio station KCBX stops broadcasting the meeting at 5 p.m.

Patterson said he would try to keep public comment on nonagenda items to 15 minutes, although he added he could be flexible when necessary.

The new schedule is an experiment and will last three months. If supervisors decide it works, they can extend it; if not, they can go back to the old format or try a new one.

—Bob Cuddy

Grover Beach

The City Council unanimously approved a two-year budget this week.

City staff recommended the change from a one-year cycle for several reasons, including facilitation of long-range planning and better coordination with the city’s Capital Improvement Plan, which sets timelines and expenditures for infrastructure projects and is structured on a multiyear basis.

The council also approved a timeline for the new budget that includes three goal-setting sessions in February and input from city commissions and staff March 3.

The public hearing and selection of goals are set for March 17. The budget is typically approved by the end of June, city officials said.

—Nick Wilson

SLO County

The preliminary hearing set for Friday in the case of six Los Angeles-area men accused of conspiring to rob Los Padres Bank in San Luis Obispo on Dec. 13 was continued to Wednesday.

That hearing is set for 9 a.m. in San Luis Obispo Superior Court.

One of seven men arrested in the case—Paul Goins—is expected to testify Wednesday. Goins, 28, of Los Angeles pleaded no contest to attempted robbery, resulting in a conviction without admission of guilt.

The six other men have pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit a bank robbery and criminal street gang activity. They are Leonard Jones, Lionel Woods, Ronald Simpson, Shawn Quinney, Rodney Mitchell and Damorial Lovely.

Several of the defendants told Judge John Trice that they wanted to proceed with the testimony Friday. But Trice ruled for the continuance, noting Simpson’s lawyer was ill and he wouldn’t have legal counsel for the hearing.

Simpson’s lawyer, Jere Sullivan, previously questioned the credibility of a confidential informant who worked with the FBI to help authorities detain the suspects and develop evidence for the case.

—Nick Wilson

Paso Robles

The San Luis Obispo County Foundation for Agriculture Awareness and the California Mid-State Fair Heritage Foundation will hold their eighth annual crab feed Feb. 10 at the Paso Robles Event Center.

There are 500 tickets available for the event, priced at $45 each.

Dinner includes marinated Dungeness crab, crab pasta and fresh sourdough bread.

Proceeds benefit the Agriculture Awareness and Heritage Foundation scholarships fund, which goes to county residents who have participated in fair activities.

For tickets, call Hugh Pitts at 591-5226.

—Leah Etling