FunRide, a local car sharing service that features alternative fuel and hybrid vehicles, announced they are now able to serve college students age 18 years and older. FunRide has been providing car sharing services in San Luis Obispo County for the past two years for drivers 21 years and older.  College students need to provide proof of insurance and must have a clean driving record.  FunRide currently has nine vehicles available for their members.

Tom Jones, Regional Director of Government Relations for Pacific Gas & Electric and Patrick Vaughan, MD, a family practice physician in Morro Bay, have been elected to the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Governing Board.

Jones, well known in the community for his governmental and charitable work at PG&E, oversees the company’s governmental, community and philanthropic activities from Stockton to San Bernardino County and Santa Cruz to Vandenberg Air Force Base. He joined PG&E in 2001 during the height of the energy crisis. Prior to that he worked for former State Senator Jack O’Connell for seven years, ultimately serving as his District Director.

Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) is making its third investment in the San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund (HTF).  The San Francisco-based health system, which owns French Hospital, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital and Marian Medical Center, is providing an additional $500,000 for the HTF’s revolving loan fund.  The CHW investment will be used exclusively to finance affordable housing projects in San Luis Obispo County. 

“Catholic Healthcare West has a long history of providing capital resources to organizations and community programs that traditionally have a difficult time securing funding,” said French Hospital Medical Center President and CEO Alan Iftiniuk.  “Since 1992, CHW has invested more than $123 million in projects that have resulted in affordable housing, child care centers, community clinics, and other community resources.  This $500,000 investment in the Housing Trust Fund is an example of CHW’s commitment to San Luis Obispo County and the Central Coast.”

Last month, more than 100 community volunteers spent an early Sunday morning helping 202 children shop for new back-to-school kids. On July 24, the Kohl's stores in Paso Robles and San Luis Obispo opened their doors early for KidSpree, a United Way of San Luis Obispo program.

Several San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce employees volunteered their time that morning too, including Membership Services Director Kristin Mehiel, Visitor Services Director Grace Allen, Member Accounts Manager Lori Silva and President/CEO Ermina Karim. 

Through the generous support of the San Luis Obispo County community, K-12 grade students were given a $100 gift card to shop with. 

The SLO Wellness Center recently added another chiropractor to its team. Dr. Miro Bandalo received his doctorate of chiropractic from Life University in Atlanta, GA. He has done post-graduate work in active release technique and is pursuing a diplomate in functional neurology through the Carrick Institute.

He received his bachelor's degree in humanities and biblical studies, with a minor in philosophy from Atlanta Christian College. Prior to his chiropractic education, Miro worked as a manager and a personal training director at the Gym of Buckhead in Atlanta.

Miro is a member of International Chiropractic Association and American Chiropractic Association. As a recent addition to the San Luis Obispo community, he recognizes the importance of being active locally and is involved in multiple groups including San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and is looking forward to becoming a significant contributing member of the community through volunteer work. 

Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA) has received a $2,500 grant from the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation (SLOCCF). This grant will be used for Mental Health and Wellness Ally Trainings throughout San Luis Obispo County.

“In 2008, TMHA created the Ally Training for staff, designed to teach the agency’s clinicians and direct service providers the best practices and tools for serving the LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Ally) community," said Jill Bolster-White, executive director of TMHA.

"The training was designed in collaboration with Cal Poly’s Pride Center, and proved to be extremely effective. We will use this grant to expand this training and make it available to other health and human service providers in our community. By training a wide range of personnel from local service agencies, we can advance community education about LGBTQIA issues, while reducing the stigma and discrimination the LGBTQIA population regularly faces.”

San Luis Obispo police and firefighter union leaders have scuttled a Dave Congalton-sponsored debate on his KVEC radio show about the two ballot measures before the voters in the City of San Luis Obispo, according to Citizens for SLO, the grassroots group supporting the measures.

If passed, Measure A would pave the way for pension reform and Measure B would repeal binding arbitration.

Congalton has been trying to arrange a debate between the proponents and opponents of the measures, but when firefighter union president Erik Baskin and police union president Matt Blackstone learned that City Council Member Andrew Carter would be representing the "Yes" side, they decided not to participate.

Desert Regional Medical Center recently announced that Richard N. Phillips has been named chief financial officer (CFO) to oversee all financial and accounting management for the hospital.

Phillips was most recently CFO at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center in San Luis Obispo, where he has served in that position for six years. He will start at Desert Regional in Palm Springs, Calif. today.

Phillips brings more than 25 years of hospital experience to the Coachella Valley. He has held previous CFO posts for hospitals in California, Arizona and Utah.

“Richard has selflessly given himself to our hospital and this community,” said Candace L. Markwith, Sierra Vista chief executive officer. “His work ethic and personal value set are an example and inspiration to us all. We’ll miss him greatly.”