The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation (SLOCCF), an organization established in 1998 and dedicated to the quality of life in the community, has recently purchased and moved into the historic Barneberg House at 550 Dana Street in downtown San Luis Obispo. The new offices bring to life the theme of the SLOCCF’s most recent annual report, “Inspired by the Past, Creating the Future.”

“When this opportunity became available to us, we knew it was a perfect fit,” explained Executive Director Barry VanderKelen. “This historic home has deep, strong roots in the same community we are committed to supporting and enhancing.” VanderKelen adds, “Owning our building will enable us to put more resources towards supporting the nonprofit community. It was with the help of the Hind Foundation and the Duenow Family that we were able to secure the building, and many others have also contributed to this effort, knowing that the Community Foundation will be here – for good and forever.”

 The SLOCCF is the third owner of the Barneberg House and plans to preserve this cultural treasure. The 4,350 square feet gives the Community Foundation plenty of room to grow, and also enables them to make meeting space available for nonprofits and community groups to use. 

For more information about SLOCCF, log onto www.sloccf.org or call (805) 543-2323.

An event maturing like a well-crafted vintage, the fourth annual SLO Wine and Grill Affair drew over 300 guests to Filipponi Ranch to enjoy a rare treat: winemakers competing to create the best grill and wine pairings.

Local celebrity judges Teri Bayus, Christine Burkett, Kathy Hardesty and Lynn Diehl awarded Filipponi Ranch Cellars top honors. Salisbury Vineyards won the People’s Choice Award. The field also included Per Bacco Cellars, Clesi Wines and Chamisal Vineyards.

$32.00/bottle

An exciting follow-up to the inaugural 2007 release, the 2008 vintage delivers with massive dark fruit and spicy characteristics.  Less than two acres of Syrah are planted on the steep slopes of our Estate Rincon Vineyard, where rich soils and a cool, moderate climate produce red wines of great intensity and complexity. The wine was hand harvested, fermented in open top oak barrels with native yeasts, and aged for 29 months in French and American oak casks. This classic Syrah will gain a lot of complexity with several years in the cellar, but would be a great accompaniment to an end of summer barbeque!
Only 125 cases of this wine were produced, so please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested!

For more information, contact Andy at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo (BT-SLO) announced it will host “Ballet in The Vineyards,” a reverse drawing fundraiser benefiting BT-SLO to be held September 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The event is set at a private estate with breathtaking views overlooking Edna Valley. Admission is $150 per couple which includes wine and light dinner, a reverse drawing entry ticket ($2000 grand prize), silent and live auctions, and ballet performances choreographed by Theresa Slobodnik. Only a limited number of tickets will be available for this magical event so act quickly.

Established in spring 2006, BT-SLO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for ballet dancers of all ages and abilities to perform meaningful work in real theaters and inspiring the next generation of artists and performers through youth outreach.

Tickets for “Ballet in The Vineyards” are available by contacting BT-SLO's Assistant Director Blair London 805-440-1439, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; through BT-SLO’s website www.bt-slo.org; or the studio home Dance Obispo on 672 Higuera Street.

For further information regarding Dance Obispo, call 805-439-2100; www.danceobispo.com.

Talley Vineyards, located in the Arroyo Grande Valley, celebrates 25 years of passion, persistence, and of course, wine.  Oliver Talley started Talley Farms in 1948, exclusively growing vegetables.  He made a commitment to excellence that would be carried out through generations. The first Talley vines were planted in 1982 by Oliver’s son, Don, with a vision to grow grapes that were one of the best in California.

“I have to hand it to my Dad’s persistence,” said Brian Talley, president of Talley Vineyards and son of Don and Rosemary Talley. “I think he knew that we could grow some of the best grapes in California—he just wasn’t sure which varieties.  Over time, with careful experimentation, he learned that the cool, coastal influence of the Arroyo Grande Valley could produce world class chardonnay and pinot noir, so that became our focus.”

Healing Gowns provide a solution for patients seeking to conserve privacy and personal dignity. Traditional hospital gowns are ugly, impersonal, uncomfortable and immodest; they have long been the subject of jokes and embarrassing stories. And you never know who has worn that same gown before you, what their symptoms were or what kind of procedure they were undergoing. These ingredients all contribute to mostly the cold impersonalization of patient processing, and certainly makes it more difficult to keep a positive attitude.

French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) invites the community to its free class series, Diabetes Conversations. This series is designed for the newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetic or those that need a refresher course. The goal of these classes is to empower you to better manage your diabetes. The classes will be held September 1, 8, 15, and 22  from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Ludwick Community Center (864 Santa Rosa St.).

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.