The holiday season can be a difficult time for people who have lost a loved one.

As this year’s holiday season approaches, Catholic Healthcare West hospitals of the Central Coast – Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, French Hospital Medical Center and Marian Medical Center - are offering two free community seminars. The seminars, “Managing Loss and Grief During the Holidays,” will be presented from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the Marian Hancock Building, 116 S. Palisade Drive in Santa Maria, and from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 at the French Hospital Medical Center’s Auditorium, 1911 Johnson Ave. in San Luis Obispo.

The Cuesta College Board of Trustees has appointed Gilbert H. Stork as the district’s new superintendent and president. The action, taken on Nov. 2 in closed session, is pending final negotiations and approval of an employment contract, which is expected to occur at the board’s December meeting.

Final contract negotiations will begin immediately, said Patrick Mullen, board president. The board is optimistic that an agreement will be reached, with a contract coming to the board for approval in December. The selection was announced at the November meeting following several rounds of interviews and a forum introducing the three finalists to the public.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce celebrated Grid Alternative's 2011 Solarthon with a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, October 22.

Solarthon is an annual solar installation block party and fundraiser for GRID Alternatives and our first ever Solarthon in the Central Coast. This event brings together hundreds of individual, team, and corporate participants from their communities to install multiple solar energy systems alongside the homeowners.

GRID Alternatives is a local non-profit organization and solar contractor. We install solar electric systems exclusively for low-income homeowners who otherwise would not be able to afford this technology. We do this with the help of community volunteers and job trainees who work alongside the homeowners to do the installations.  These systems can last over 30 years and add up to substantial savings for these families.

For more information, visit www.gridalternatives.org.

The Central Coast Clean Cities Coalition (C5) has launched its fall membership drive for San Luis Obispo County.

The San Luis Obispo-based nonprofit organization is actively seeking new members to share in the mission of bringing alternative fuel vehicles and infrastructure to the Central Coast.

San Luis Obispo County residents and businesses interested in partnering with the coalition and embracing its vision are encouraged to sign up as members.
The coalition's headquarters is located at the San Luis Obispo Air Pollution Control District.

For more information on becoming an active member, contact Melissa Guise at (805) 305-5491 or visit www.C-5.org.

A group of seven Korean Rotarian ambassadors, guests of the Atascadero Rotary, recently visited the Community Action Partnership Adult Day Center in Templeton.

Mara Whitten, program manager of the center, greeted the ambassadors on Oct. 27, and shared with them the story of the mission and work of the Adult Day Center.  The ambassadors played bingo with the center's clients, and toured the center and garden, which was created by the Rotary Club of Templeton.

The nonprofit Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County focuses on helping people and changing lives through serving 43,000 persons across Central and Southern California. It is committed to eliminating poverty by empowering individuals and families to achieve economic self-sufficiency and self­ determination through a comprehensive array of community-based programs.

Wallace Group, a multi-discipline consulting firm, has hired Dacé Morgan to be its director of civil engineering and transportation, and interim director for construction management.

Morgan has worked on transportation projects in the private and public arena for 19 years. She joins the firm after serving the Central Coast community for the past nine years in the Public Works Department of the county of Santa Barbara. She served the last four of those years as the deputy director of transportation.

Madeline Palaszewski has joined the Central Coast Solstice Green Directory.

The long-time Central Coast resident will manage community relations and assist new members in marketing development. She will also handle sponsorships with Solstice and local non-profit organizations.

The quarterly green and healthy living publication is in its fifth year and serves San Luis Obispo County. Palaszewski earned a journalism degree from Cal Poly and has more than 25 years experience in marketing and community relations. She previously worked for KSBY-TV in Santa Barbara County.

Four Chamber members reach their 5-year mark in October 2011. The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce would like to thank and honor the loyalty of for their dedication and commitment to making the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce the largest Chamber on the Central Coast. The following businesses are:

• Rick Engineering Company
• Food Bank Coalition of SLO Co. - Oceano Warehouse
• City of Pismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau
• Boys & Girls Club of South SLO County

Four Chamber members reach their 10-year mark in October 2011. The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce would like to thank and honor the loyalty of for their dedication and commitment to making the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce the largest Chamber on the Central Coast. The following businesses are:

• RJ McConnell Insurance Services
• Central Coast Wines