A slice of SLO County.

Post updated September 19, 2008 (added photos)

It doesn’t seem like seven years have gone by since the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. That piece of history impacted every American, some more significantly than others, and will continue to be felt across the nation and in our own community. To honor those lost in the attacks as well as the men and women currently serving in the armed forces, there will be a memorial event held today at Ramona Garden Park. This is the sixth year that the event will be held, with the first ceremony held in 2002, and will begin at 5:30pm.

You can visit our community calendar for times and details, or visit the Grover Beach Parks and Recreation website.

Remembering 9/11

With the national election less than two months away, much attention is upon the presidential race for the White House. And while it may be unlikely to meet the national candidates in person, it is absolutely possible to meet the candidates in your own town. On September 17 and 22, the candidates for Pismo Beach Mayor and City Council will hold a forum discussion on local issues.

Residents are welcome and encouraged to attend to meet the candidates and discuss local issue with them first-hand in a forum style environment. Are there things you would like to be addressed? Would you like to hear about the plans for Pismo Beach? Do you have questions about how things are decided or why certain things happen? This is a great way to get informed so you can cast an educated vote on Election Day.

The forum events are sponsored by the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Shell Beach Improvement Group. In this historic time for our nation, each person’s decision to vote is more important than ever, both on a national and local level.

Get more information

With the summer sun beating down on Grover Beach, locals and visitors filled the streets for this year’s Stone Soup Music Faire. With this being my first visit to the annual festival, I was curious about the food, entertainment, and people that the event would draw out. My answer came within the first few minutes of browsing around; everyone seemed to be there to relax, have a good time, talk amongst each other, and enjoy the day. Soon I too found myself unwinding, wandering along the streets and sidewalks as I browsed the boutiques, crafts, and local vendors. One such vendor, Chic Ztudio from Los Angeles, caught my eye with his beautifully hand-crafted jewelry, and I couldn’t resist buying a turquoise and red stoned necklace.

The most challenging part of the day came when it was time to decide what to eat,since the aroma of BBQ, roasted corn, jambalaya, and tacos were all competing for my attention since my arrival. I decided on an Asada Torta and fresh watermelon juice and sat down under the sun listening to the fun sound of String Planet on the main stage. As the day wandered into night, more and more people began to arrive until the main stage seating was full and the streets were alive with visitors walking up and down along the faire.

If you missed the opening day of the festival, you still have a chance to experince the fun, food, and entertainment on Sunday. Dr. Magic and String Planet are back, along with Salsa dance lessons and more.

Visit the Grover Beach Chamber of Commerce website for full details, and enjoy the pictures below!

The summer Sunday morning in Avila Beach was covered in a coastal haze, which had no dissapointing affect since that was perfectly normal for summer days on the Central Coast that turn out to be picture perfect by noon. This day was no different, and after pitching the shade tent for the babies in the family (which consist of infants and adults) and firing up the bar-be-cue, a great day of relaxing on the grass by the waves was well on it’s way. Before long, the over-cooked burgers had been devoured and the over-cooked shoulders covered up, with even a few non-babies taking refuge from the sun under the shade tent.

On the way back home, a stop at the Avila Valley Barn for frozen ollalieberries and ice cream made for a sweet cap to the beach day. The freshest in-season fruits and vegetables around, along with homemade sweets and treats, filled the bins and baskets as we walked through the barn trying to demonstrate restraint as the sweet aromas swirled through the air.

Avila is a great place to spend a weekend in the summer, but there are lots of other places in SLO County that are worthy of “Sunday Status”… where’s your favorite?

Most cities on the Central Coast hold a Farmer’s market of some sort, with a few hosting more than one per week. Residents of Grover Beach have long asked for one to call their own, to no avail until this Monday at a city council meeting. According to an MSNBC report, the council voted in favor of the Farmer’s Market, met with celebratory cheers from the residents.

No word yet on exactly which vendors will turn out for the event, but according to Grover Beach Parks and Recreation Department Director Kathy Petker, between 12 and 15 vendors will be participating. To encourage more businesses to become a part of the weekly event, the $40 booth fee will be waived until further notice.

Starting on August 17, the event will be held Sunday afternoons at the Ramona Garden Park, the public transit hub for the city nestled between a residential and mixed-use commercial area. Some residents living nearby have initial concerns about noise and traffic in their neighborhood, wondering why the Farmer’s Market isn’t being held in the empty lot at the end of Grand Avenue, away from the residential area of the city.

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What are your thoughts? Do you think the Farmer’s Market location is appropriate? What types of vendors would you like to see come out to sell their wares?