More than $43,000 was raised for patients and hospital services during the fifth annual Golf and Tennis Tournament, The French Cup, where more than 145 members of the community participated in the tournament that was held in June at the San Luis Obispo Country Club.   

The event featured a golf tournament, a women’s doubles tennis tournament and an awards reception. Since its inception in 2007, The French Cup has generated more than $240,000 for French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) programs and services.

The winning foursome of Leonard Cohen, Ann Paredes, Al Carlin and Bryce Wagner took home the highly acclaimed French Cup trophy, created by Malcolm Demille, who designed the PGA Tour trophy. In a captivating match-up, Carol Hall and Jennifer Sansone won the tennis tournament. 

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 very popular Saturday morning SLO Farmers’ Market at the Promenade just got better with the introduction of prepared gourmet meals provided by chefs from some the area’s finest restaurants including Buona Tavola, Luna Red and Neon Carrot.

Others include Full of Life Flatbread, Pure & Simple Bakery, Crushed Grape, Meze Wine Café and Market, Saffron, BABA Foods, Rinconada Dairy, Dairy Goodness, PC Cattle and Mon Ami.

Market visitors can purchase freshly prepared, take-home, pre-packaged meals during Farmers’ Market at the SLO Promenade off Madonna Road at 8 to 10:30 a.m. every Saturday. Market visitors can also serve them, at home for lunch or dinner along with, fresh greens, vegetables and tree ripened fruits.

Another sold-out event, the fifth annual BBQ fundraiser for special needs children brought in the highest amount of donations ever received.

Over $187,000 was raised at an Evening with Jack’s Helping Hand (JHH), which was held at the Santa Margarita Ranch on July 9. 

“The funds that we raise at this wonderful annual event continue to support our programs that help meet the unmet physical, mental and medical needs of special children, and their families in our community including our Assistance Program, Teen Yoga, Little Swimmers, and our Adaptive Toy Lending Libraries,” said Mary Illingworth, charitable administrator. 

Tickets sold out over a month before the event with close to 650 guests in attendance. The event included a traditional barbecue buffet, live music from a mariachi band and the Bangin’ 58’s, a live auction with seasoned auctioneer Jim Settle and the good company of others who share the passion for assisting special needs children in San Luis Obispo County. 

Residents at the Danish Care Center in Atascadero owned by Compass Health now have enhanced security in an already safe environment with the implementation of the Senior Crimestoppers Program funded by American Perspective Bank (APB).

APB made a commitment to sponsor the program for the next seven years through the Senior Housing Crime Prevention Foundation, Inc. (SHCPF), an organization devoted to reducing crime in the nation’s senior housing facilities. 

Since its establishment in 1995, the SHCPF has cut crime such as abuse, neglect, fraud, theft and vandalism by more than 92.5 percent at sponsored senior housing facilities across the country.

Debra Larson, a civil engineering professor and Academic Affairs administrator with Northern Arizona University, has been named the new dean of Cal Poly Engineering, university President Jeffrey D. Armstrong announced today.

Larson, 54, will join Cal Poly Aug. 22, taking the reins of the university’s largest college with about 5,000 students, 13 degree programs and more than 80 laboratories.

“Debra understands Cal Poly thoroughly and brings an excellent blend of experience as an administrator and faculty member,’’ Armstrong said. “She knows that our primary mission is undergraduate education, that our highest priority is student success, and that Learn by Doing is an integral part of the Cal Poly experience.’’