A sold-out event, this year’s barbecue fundraiser for special needs children brought in generous donations from attendees.

More than $130,000 was raised at an Evening with Jack’s Helping Hand (JHH), which was held at the Santa Margarita Ranch on Saturday, July 10th.

This year’s turnout was the largest the event has seen with more than 650 guests.

Guests were treated to a delicious barbecue buffet, live music from a mariachi band and the Bangin’ 58s, a lively auction with the talented auctioneer, Jim Settle and the good company of others who share the passion for assisting special needs children in San Luis Obispo County.

From wine and art to vacation give-aways, a long list of local individuals and businesses generously donated high value items to make the live auction a success. $91,000 was raised from the live auction alone.

Studio Design Group Architects, Inc., (SDG) project managers Ellen Goodwin and Will Drake recently completed all the required architectural board exams and are now licensed architects in the State of California.

This follows the launch of SDG’s new website and their relocation to new, larger offices in the historic Warden Building at 762 Higuera Street overlooking Mission Plaza.

SDG Architects has grown to ten full-time employees with a design portfolio of significant health care, commercial and hospitality projects. 

Responding to the increasing need to conserve resources and energy, four of SDG's designers have earned the prestigious designation as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED-AP) from the United States Green Building Council.

Formed in 1993, the Council promotes the design, construction and operation of buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work.

For more information visit www.sdgarchitects.com.

The San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund has received approval for a $1.5 million grant from the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). 

The grant is being made under the Local Housing Trust Fund Matching Grant Program (LHTF). LHTF funds come from Proposition 1C, which the voters approved in 2006. Proposition 1C authorized the sale of $2.85 million in state bonds for affordable housing.

“The LHTF award is by far the largest grant that the Housing Trust Fund has received to date,” noted Jerry Rioux, the Housing Trust Fund’s executive director. “All of the LHTF funds will be added to our revolving loan funds and be used to finance affordable housing in San Luis Obispo County.”

United Airlines recently announced that passengers have even more affordable options when traveling to Los Angeles on United Express flights, operated by SkyWest Airlines.

Customers traveling using San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport will also enjoy the convenience of six daily non-stop flights to Los Angeles International Airport. 

“Community support of the airport is tremendous. We are excited to make flying locally even more affordable,” said Greg Kaldahl, United’s vice president of network planning.

For the second year in a row, Heritage Oaks Bank is officially the presenting sponsor of the San Luis Obispo Triathlon, taking place this Sunday.

"Our goal is to involve Heritage Oaks Bank and its staff in events that represent the spirit of our community,” says Mitch Massey, Senior Vice President / Marketing. Heritage Oaks Bank. “The SLO Triathlon represents this spirit and we could not be more excited to partner with the City of San Luis Obispo."

The triathlon is recognized as one of San Luis Obispo's marquee community events. It is also known as the "world’s largest pool triathlon" with more than 1,000 competitors each year.

While there is no shortage of fine jewelry and furniture retailers on the Central Coast, Ian Saudē’s new lifestyle gallery is positioned to stand out in the crowd.

The IS Gallery opened its doors on June 28 at the corner of Osos and Monterey streets in San Luis Obispo’s award-winning Court Street Centre.

Timelessly sophisticated yet ahead of the curve, Ian Saudē’s jewelry, cashmere and home décor items are irresistible even to individuals with the most discriminating taste.

While visitors to his store will find that product quality is uncompromising, they also will enjoy service that is down to earth and custom-tailored to their individual needs, combined with a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Heritage Oaks Bank embarks on its 12th year of its Family Fun Day and Fun Run, a fundraising event that showcases eight different running/walking events to include all ages.

"We have raised over $300,000 for our local non-profit community," said Mitch Massey, Senior Vice President Marketing for Heritage Oaks Bank and also Race Director. "Each year we select four different non-profits in our community to support, and the participants are able to choose where they want their entry fee to be donated and 100 percent of all race entry proceeds go to our non profits."

This year’s Heritage Oaks Bank Family Fun Day and Fun Run will take place on Sept. 26, but registration is open now. The day will be highlighted by the Central Coast Classic 10K Championship. This event will award prize money to the top 10 places in an “age graded” format. Total prize purse is $2,000.

Kevin Main Jewelry, a fine jewelry store located in downtown San Luis Obispo, has opened a second store – online.

Leaping into the 21st century, this local gem now offers shoppers the convenience of shopping online.

All of the collections seen in its store at 720 Higuera St. in downtown San Luis Obispo are now available to view at Kevin Main Jewelry’s newly designed website, www.kevinmain.com.

Kevin Main Jewelry is a fine jewelry store specializing in quality lines that are "off the beaten track.” It is a fantastic place to shop for and buy bridal, with several bridal lines to choose from including Hearts On Fire, Art Carved, Precision Set, Master Craft and Benchmark.

In a historic move, the San Luis Obispo Historical Society and Historical Museum has officially changed its name.

The 50-plus-year-old organization has changed its name to the History Center of San Luis Obispo County.

The History Center name fully encompasses what the organization is: a center devoted to history in every aspect.

The center continues to bring county history to the public through educational exhibits and programming but we are also a learning and research center where classes and events can help stoke an interest and understanding of history.