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 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.

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center recently added two experienced professionals to its leadership team. Earlier this month, Sierra Vista welcomed Darlene O’Connor as director of Medical Staff Services, and Lisa Vinson as director of Case Management.

O’Connor, who relocated to the Central Coast from Saints Medical Center in Lowell, Mass., will be responsible for working closely with medical staff leadership on all medical staff standards, credentialing of new and renewing physicians to the Sierra Vista medical staff, medical staff policies and procedures, and medical staff bylaws.

The Economic Vitality Corporation of San Luis Obispo County is pleased to welcome two new board members and an officer. The 31-member economic development board is made up of leading representatives from the business community, an elected official from each city and the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors. 

The newly appointed members are Darren Smith, chief operating officer of Compass Health; and Tim Williams, founder and chief executive officer of Digital West Networks. Michael Silacci, a current board member, has been appointed an officer. Silacci, who now serves as vice-chairman, is regional vice president of external affairs at AT&T.

The EVC board recently recognized out-going member Charlie Richardson, president of Richardson Properties, for his many years of outstanding service on the board.

“The board is comprised of extraordinary leaders throughout the region from both the business community and elected officials across San Luis Obispo County,” said Kris Vardas, EVC chairman. “These members represent all sectors of our economy. The newest board members provide even greater depth of two key sectors of our economy: healthcare and technology. Compass health is one of the largest and most respected private employers in the region, and Digital West Networks provides vital technology infrastructure to help our businesses thrive.”

The board provides leadership and solutions for difficult issues concerning long-term economic prosperity that face our region.  Since the EVC’s founding in 1994, the organization has been an effective bridge between the business community and local government by providing solutions and resources.

Anyone who loves toys – kids, parents and grandparents - is invited to stop by Whiz Kids Toys in San Luis Obispo to play with this year's Best Toys for Kids award winners.

The annual Best Toys for Kids list represents the year's top picks from America's play experts: retailers who are members of the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA).

In celebration of October as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, French Hospital Medical Center, in collaboration with Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo, is holding a free mammogram clinic this Saturday.

The clinic will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at CAPSLO’s clinic located at 705 Grand Ave. in San Luis Obispo.