Central Coast Obstetrics and Gynecology celebrated it's new membership with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce on July 22 with a special ribbon cutting ceremony presented by the Chamber.

Central Coast Obstetrics and Gynecology is the only full-service obstetrics and gynecology practice on the Central Coast that has four locations with eight physicians and six nurse practitioners to serve women's health medical needs at all times.

The practice offers "strength in numbers with a personal touch." Each physician is dedicated to treating women's health and wellness needs. 

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce welcomed new member e-Legal Services, Inc. to its membership with a special ribbon ceremony on July 18.

e-Legal Services provides local, statewide and nationwide litigation services to the legal community and the general public. Its services include court filings, court research, messenger/courier, skip-tracing, services of process, and photocopy.

Allow e-Legal Services to pick up your documents from your office, duplicate them to your specifications, and return them to you in a timely manner. 

Submit and track all of your assignments through the e-Legal Services website and never again have to wonder the status of your work.  

California’s Association of REALTORS®’ First Time Buyer Housing Affordability Index shows that San Luis Obispo County has an index number of 63. This means that 63 percent of the area can afford to buy an entry-level home. This is significantly lower than most of California, with index numbers in the eighties.

It is no secret that housing and rent prices are not cheap in San Luis Obispo. For a first-time buyer, this can be a struggle, yet housing prices are significantly lower today than they were even three years ago.  Interest rates on loans are also significantly lower, but they are also more difficult to qualify for.

When you compare prices to what the average income is,  and considering the unemployment rate, are homes really that affordable?

The San Luis Obispo County Housing Trust Fund (HTF) has been awarded a $600,000 grant by the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund of the US Treasury. The new funds will be used exclusively to finance affordable housing projects in San Luis Obispo County.  

“We are overjoyed by our new CDFI Fund award,” states Jerry Rioux, the HTF’s Executive Director. “This is our third US Treasury grant in as many years and it is also our largest.”

The CDFI Fund provides capital for underserved communities throughout the nation to stimulate local economic development.  The CDFI Fund received 393 applications requesting nearly $466 million in funding under the FY 2011 round of the CDFI Program.  The Housing Trust Fund’s award was one of 155 grants totaling $142 million that were announced on July 18.

Local automotive service shop Rizzoli’s Automotive is one of the first in the area to offer EcoLube, a “green” oil change and also recently received a “Green Station” certificate from the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) and Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR), in their effort to help environmentally conscious customers be as eco-friendly as possible. 

The EcoLube oil change is the same as a regular oil change only it uses “greener,” re-refined oil. The re-refined oil is made from existing motor oil by industry leader Valvoline; the petroleum molecules never break down so they can be refined over and over again.

Using re-refined oil conserves non-renewable resources, results in 99.5 percent fewer heavy metal emissions, takes 85 percent less energy to produce and saves over 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equal to taking 20,000 cars off the road each year. EcoLube oil meets or exceeds most manufacturer specifications and is certified by the American Petroleum Institute.

Reanne Arcangel, of the American Heart Association, presented Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center with the AHA’s Get With the Guidelines Gold Performance Achievement Award for Heart Failure to Ron Williams, cath lab manager; Nicki Edwards, director of clinical wuality improvement; Kirsten Featherstone, clinical nurse specialist; and, Christie Gonder, chief nursing officer. 

The Get With The GuidelinesSM–Heart Failure (GWTG–Heart Failure) Gold Performance Achievement Award signifies that Sierra Vista has reached an aggressive goal of treating heart failure patients with 85 percent compliance for at least 24 months to core standard levels of care as outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology secondary prevention guidelines for heart failure patients.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce welcomed a unique new business to its membership with a special ribbon cutting ceremony on July 14.

Vino & Therapy Studio, the first and only wine spa on the Central Coast, takes the byproducts of winemaking and infuses them into day spa products and treatments.

This unique spa also has a wine tasting bar that showcases a local winery once a month.

Vino & Therapy Studio provides a total skin and body wine experience, with facials, deep tissue massages, pedicures and more. Guests can embark on a personal journey that begins the moment they enter Vino & Therapy Studio.