Brian Trapp, sales director for Barnett Cox and Associates, a San Luis Obispo-based marketing firm, has been chosen as the presenter for a series of business support workshops produced by the Business and Entrepreneurship Center at Cuesta College.

Israel Dominguez, executive director of the center, said the college is embarking on an aggressive schedule of presentations designed to reach into the local market and provide real world information for businesses.

Topics include sales development, social media, marketing and other subjects designed to help boost business bottom lines.

Bicycle Dreams, the award-winning feature-length documentary about the Race Across America, will premiere at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 at the Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo. 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 Race Across America (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.”

In this holiday season, when every dollar counts, we all want to find that elusive gift that is the perfect expression of appreciation for a friend.
We want to give a quality gift that has a wonderful memory attached to it. We watch "It’s a Wonderful Life" and hope that we, too, are making a difference in our community.

The Museum of Art’s Craft Art Market is a wonderful way to give, and then give again. Every one-of-a-kind gift item supports local artists and raises money for the youth art education scholarship fund.

The Museum of Art’s Nybak Wing is a cache of treasures created by local artisans. Find a dazzling array of artful gifts, including holiday ornaments, fine jewelry, textiles, home décor, ceramics and intricate pottery. The Craft Art Market draws visitors from all over the region who are searching for unique, distinctive gifts that are beautiful, whimsical and functional.
 
And if you don’t find the perfect gift to share, you can always give the gift of a Museum membership. When you buy one membership, you will get a second membership to keep or share.
 
The market is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Christmas Day. It closes at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden on Saturday, November 12 at 1 p.m. will teach gardeners about the basics of watering your landscape with graywater, rainwater and other alternative water sources.

Mladen Bandov is an environmental engineer who helped with the design of our own Glen Oak Pavilion Wastewater Treatment System. He has experience with water recycling for your home and business, such as reusing graywater for your landscape and harvesting rainwater for your garden. As long as the cost for water continues to rise, finding a way to capture and reuse water makes sense. He has lots of information to share about why and how to begin saving more water for your garden.

You don't have to be a jazz buff to enjoy Ain't Misbehavin'. Like Fats Waller himself, you just have to love a good time. This fast paced romp takes you where the high-steppers partied, from honky-tonk dives to the Cotton Club, from Tin Pan Alley to The Waldorf.
 
Ain't Misbehavin' is a musical that encompasses 30 show-stopping numbers that takes you on a journey not only through the Fats Waller song book, but through Harlem in its heyday. With snazzy period costumes, complete with bowlers and spats and ermine and pearls, the dynamic five-member cast turns Jazz Alley into a rollicking rent party.

The San Luis Obispo Garden blooms with an abundance of low-cost outdoor children’s activities this fall. On November 5, 1 – 3:30 p.m. the Family Fun Garden Cooking teams up with Cal Poly health and nutrition organization, STRIDE, for a family-style cooking class. Children and guardians will discover the joy of cooking fresh-from-the-garden meals using local organic produce. They will harvest some vegetables from the Children’s Garden, and then whip up a meal for the family to share.

Taste fun and creative recipes prepared by your kids and learn tricks and tips for creating an edible backyard garden. Class is age appropriate for second to sixth grade kids and guardians of all ages. Class is $25 per child and guardian, additional $5 per family member. Garden Members receive a $5 discount. RSVP ahead of time; space is limited (805) 541-1400 ext. 304 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The City of San Luis Obispo Public Works Department will begin street reconstruction for Foothill Boulevard on October 27, weather permitting.

Construction will take place on Foothill Boulevard, from Ferrini Street to Santa Rosa Street, and is scheduled to continue through the beginning of November, weather permitting.
 
Working hours for this project will be Monday through Friday, 7 PM to 7 AM. Businesses will remain open near the construction areas; however, construction will result in road closures and traffic detours. For the duration of this project, drivers should consider road closures and alternative routes to respective destinations; please expect delays during construction and slower traffic in construction zones.

On Saturday, October 22, individuals and groups in San Luis Obispo County are invited to come together in the spirit of community and volunteerism to lend a hand to local nonprofit agencies, as a part of Make a Difference Day.

As one of San Luis Obispo County’s largest single-day volunteer events, participants can choose from approximately 30 projects around the county, ranging from environmental clean-ups to helping seniors or children. Check-in and breakfast is at 9 a.m. in Chumash Auditorium at Cal Poly, and service projects last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants are provided with a free continental breakfast and lunch as well as an event t-shirt; parking is free in the Grand Avenue parking structure on campus. Volunteers are encouraged to dress comfortably, wear closed-toe shoes and bring a hat, sunscreen and gardening gloves.