Sports and Wellness Physical Therapy (SWPT) invites the community to attend the grand opening of their San Luis Obispo location on Saturday, February 4 from noon to 3:00 p.m. Formerly located in Santa Maria, SWPT is owned by Doug Johnson, a licensed physical therapist with a sports and fitness background who has practiced for over 25 years. SWPT provides a wide range of physical therapy services including post-surgical and injury rehabilitation, back and neck care, balance and strengthening programs and therapy for joint, neurological and orthopedic issues. Johnson is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and is also a certified strength conditioning specialist (CSCS) certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

“All of us at Sports and Wellness Physical Therapy are excited about the opportunity to serve the San Luis Obispo community. We look forward to meeting everyone at the grand opening and showing folks what we offer,” Johnson said. “Our mission is to provide excellence in physical therapy services and to foster a lifestyle of wellness and health. We work with each patient as a unique individual, giving them personalized attention and designing a therapeutic program that is tailored to their needs and goals.”  

The Avila Beach Civic Association is hosting a spaghetti dinner and bingo night on Friday, February 10, from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel Street, Avila Beach. The spaghetti dinner will be delicious and the bingo will be lots of fun with a variety of prizes. Tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child 10-years-old and under. The ticket price includes one bingo card.

Wine provided by the Avila Wine Trail will also be available for $5 a glass. This event is being held to raise funds to support the programs and operations of the Avila Beach Community Center.

To purchase your tickets, please call 805-627-1997 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Also, please check out our website www.avilabeachcc.com or visit our facebook page www.facebook.com/avilabeachcommunitycenter. Hope you will join your neighbors and friends for a great way to end the work week.

Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the Race Across America (RAAM), will premiere in San Luis Obispo at the Palm Theatre on Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m. The screening is sponsored as a benefit for the SLO County Bicycle Coalition.

The film, which has won numerous awards at film festivals all over the world, “is an up-close look at what RAAM riders go through,” says Stephen Auerbach, the director and producer of Bicycle Dreams. “They deal with searing desert heat, agonizing mountain climbs and endless stretches of open road. And they do it all while battling extreme exhaustion and sleep deprivation. It’s a great subject for a film.”

Nothing says sinful like luscious chocolate! Make a date with Chef Brenda Hock at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden’s Oak Glen Pavilion on Thursday, February 9 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. as we immerse ourselves in delicious Valentines treats including chocolate soup, chocolate whipped cream meringue baskets, triple chocolate chip espresso cookies, and "have it your way chocolate truffles". It's a promise that these will become mainstays in your recipe repertoire.

Classes are $25 for Garden members and $30 for non-members; bring three friends and your admission is half-off! And of course, come prepared to sample lots of chocolate! Limited to 30 participants, register early. For more information, visit www.slobg.org or call (805) 541-1400 ext 300.

The First Presbyterian Church (FPCSLO) on the corner of Marsh and Morro streets in San Luis Obispo is installing a Veritas Organ. Veritas is a digital organ voiced to the cathedrals in Europe and manufactured in England.

On January 29 there will be a free dedication concert open to the public and to welcome the new organ. At 2:30 p.m. the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to reopen the Sanctuary. The concert is at 3 p.m. followed by a reception in Wilson Fellowship Hall. The concert will feature FPCSLO’s organist Dr. Katya Gotsdiner McMahan and Graham Blyth, an English Concert organist, along with the Chancel Choir, Bell Choir and a brass ensemble. It will also feature a grand processional escorted by bagpiper Catherine Erno.

We encourage the community to join in the celebration. First Presbyterian Church is a connectional church of the Presbyterian Church USA and has been at the corner of Marsh and Morro streets for over 100 years. The current pastor is James R. Blades. For further information contact Bob Gordon at 541-1532 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Central California Coast Chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) will host a presentation Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 by Diane Auten, MA. Auten will present an overview and discussion on gender issues in the area of communication and everyday interactions with members of the opposite sex. The engaging, research-based presentation will reveal subtle gender differences and teach the listener how to be more effective when dealing with the opposite sex.

The San Luis Obispo Jewish Community Center is presenting a two‐day film festival the weekend of January 21 and 22, 2012. In partnership with the Palm Theater and with the support of a grant from the City of San Luis Obispo, the festival will highlight six films and the filmmakers.

Filmmakers and actors will be on hand to share their experiences and answer questions after the movie showings.

The festival kicks off on Saturday night with a special opening reception at Mama’s Meatballs featuring local wine and live music in honor of the late Rabbi Scott Corngold. Following the opening reception, the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to filmmaker Peter
Rosen along with a screening of his film, "God's Fiddler: Jascha Heifetz", a documentary feature.

Join Michael Nowak and the musicians of, Beethoven’s Buddies, on Saturday, January 28th at 5 p.m. for a lovely evening of chamber music at Vina Robles Winery in Paso Robles. The early evening concert will be complemented by light hors d’oeuvres, created by Chef Maegen Loring, and fine Vina Robles wine (purchased separately). The musical program will include Mozart’s ,“Dissonance” String Quartet (No.19) and Beethoven’s String Quintet in C Major performed by some of the symphony’s finest musicians including: violinists Paul Severtson and Grace Seng, cellist Nancy Nagano and violists Karen Loewi Jones and Michael Nowak. For more information, visit www.slosymphony.com.

Tickets are $40 per person and include the concert and hors d’oeuvres. Wine may be purchased separately in the Vina Robles tasting room. Reservations may be made at www.slosymphony.com or by calling (805) 543-3533.