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 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!

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?