Community, Cultural, Political, Activist, and General Interest

Most of the items listed here are posted exactly as received from the organization presenting the event. We at the Journal are not responsible for content accuracy.

North Embarcadero/Atascadero Road Visioning Plan, May 1, 2014

Cal Poly City and Regional Planning graduate students, under the direction of Hemalata C. Dandekar Ph.D. and Vicente del Rio, Ph.D., have joined with members of the Morro Bay Planning Commission and staff to develop visioning plans for North Embarcadero/Atascadero Road rezoning and the Community is invited to participate in the seminal event for the future of Morro Bay.

The graduate student teams will present their preliminary findings, ideas and also take public input prior to and at the next Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. in the Veteran's Memorial Building, located at 209 Surf Street in the City of Morro Bay. No action will be taken by the Planning Commission

The presentation will be part of the visioning process for the Council directed rezone of the west Atascadero Road area – Embarcadero to Main Street. Students will present site analysis findings as a basis for a future concept plan for the area bounded by Atascadero Road, the Morro Bay High School, the ocean and Highway One. Contact Rob Livick, PE/PLS, Public Services Director/City Engineer, 805-772-6261

SLO Wind Orchestra and Cuesta Master Chorale Join Forces for the Queen Symphony

Save Saturday, May 17 at 8pm, or Sunday, May 18 at 3pm, for a grand concert by the San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra and the Cuesta Master Chorale. Some 200 musicians will perform the Queen Symphony, a 6-movement work by Tolga Kashif incorporating a dozen or so songs made famous by the British rock group Queen, led by the charismatic singer Freddie Mercury.

Shannon McNeely of the SLO Wind Orchestra says “Fans of Queen’s diverse and extravagant style of rock-n-roll will recognize songs such as “Another One Bites the Dust”, “We will rock you” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”. Admirers of classical music will appreciate the six movements of coherent orchestral composition with layered and stirring melodies, or hearing a song such as “Bicycle Race”, evoke the big-city bustle of Gershwin’s An American in Paris.”

Kashif has omitted the distinctive rock elements of the themes, and the songs are woven into a richly lyrical and sometimes dense symphonic fabric. SLO Wind Orchestra conductor William V. Johnson describes the overall sound as “totally classical” and in a Romantic tonal style.

The performance of the Queen Symphony will combine the forces of the SLO Wind Orchestra, the Master Chorale and members of the Cal Poly choirs under the direction of Maestro Johnson. In order to include the vast resources of Forbes Pipe Organ, Johnson has added a new part for that instrument.

The Master Chorale will open the evening with an anniversary tribute honoring Thomas and Susan Davies for their 30 years as conductor and accompanist, respectively. The choral music will consist of movements from Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Mozart’s Requiem, Vivaldi’s Gloria, JS Bach’s B-minor Mass and Orff’s Carmina Burana.

According to McNeely, “A significant portion of the net proceeds, matched two for one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and combined with contributions from local Rotarians, will benefit Rotary International’s PolioPlus campaign to eradicate polio worldwide.

This extraordinary event of music and generosity has the potential to raise $45,000 and vaccinate 75,000 children.”

The performances will be held at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. Tickets for the concert are available at www.pacslo.org/calendar/event/from_bach-to-rock.”

---Register for This Year's Hike-A-Thon / Protect and Preserve our Public Open Spaces!!---

ECOSLO will hold its 2nd Annual Hike-A-Thon during the month of May. This pledge-based fundraiser will raise money to support our trail programs. Last year, we had 47 hikers and raised over $4,000. As a member, we are reaching out to you to join in the fun as a Hiker, Volunteer or Donor.

The Hike-A-Thon was created with the intent to inspire, rejuvenate, and cultivate energy around community efforts to preserve and enjoy our treasured open spaces and environment. Similar to other pledged-based events, once registered participants are to gather financial pledges from family, friends, and supporters of the environment based on each mile they track, per trail or as one donation for their efforts. Hikers who collect $100 in pledges will be eligible for prizes!

Registration is taking place now! Registration is open to all ages, $10 per Individual or $25 per Family/Team. Register online, at the office or at the ECOSLO booth at the Earth Day Festival on Sunday April 27th. Get participant information at the Hiker's Base Camp or come into our office for a complete participant package!

The Hike-A-Thon officially kicks off on May 3rd at Laguna Lake Park from 9AM-12PM. Hikers can track their first miles with a docent led hike. From May 3rd until May 30th track your hiking, biking, or horseback riding miles. To qualify for prizes, tracking sheets must be turned in by noon on May 30th.

Why we support trails. The presence of public trails increases a community's quality of life, and strengthens its economy and its desirability as a place to live and work. Trails increase public access to open space and improve connections between neighborhoods, transit and shopping areas. Trails provide a safe place for recreation, such as walking, jogging, cycling, and horseback riding. The development of a trail network helps reduce traffic congestion, air pollution, and energy consumption by reducing the need for a car. With continual usage, trails need to be frequently cleared or made safe for those who use them. Park Rangers can only do so much to maintain the trails in our community. Rangers rely heavily, on dedicated volunteers to help out. As a coordinator of these volunteers, ECOSLO organizes weekly trail workdays throughout the year.

To volunteer, ask questions or make comments, e-mail hike@ecoslo.org or visit our office at 75 Higuera St. Suite 100, San luis Obispo.

Morro Bay 50th Celebration Helps Fund ‘Those Who Wait’ Statue

The Morro Bay 50th Celebration Committee recently contributed $2,500 toward completion of a public art sculpture to be installed at Target Rock near the entrance of Morro Bay Harbor. Central Coast Women for Fisheries has been working to raise funds for the larger-than-life-size bronze sculpture of a woman and two children looking out to sea. Titled “Those Who Wait,” it is dedicated to the families of fishermen who wait on shore.

The Morro Bay 50th Celebration Committee hopes to make additional donations to the project as fundraising activities continue. The goal is to have the legacy art project fully funded before the end of Morro Bay’s 50th Anniversary year, along with the completion of several other community projects, including the burial of a time capsule and the planting of 50 cypress trees at key locations in the city. For the latest on all 50th Anniversary activities, go to Morro Bay 50th.

 Information about the sculpture project and how to donate is available at Central Coast Women for Fisheries.

Splashes of Light

"Pelicans" from a Student's Painting

The Morro Bay Art Association, in celebration of Morro Bays’ National Estuary Program, is featuring Kathy Millers watercolor students in our April show entitled “Splashes of Light.” The show opens on April 10th and closes May 19th hours are Noon to 4pm. Opening Reception will be held Sunday April 13th from 2-4pm. Free and open to the public. Art Center Gallery 835 Main Street, or visit Morro Bay Art Center Interested in renting our activity room, call the Gallery: 772-2504

Sponsors Sought for Bands on the Run

MORRO BAY, Calif. – Bands on the Run will return May 31 with a music-driven half marathon, 10K and 5K along the sand to raise funds for the Morro Bay High School music department.

After a successful inaugural year in 2013, run organizers say this year’s event will be bigger and better, with numerous live bands playing at key points along the course, including a rock band at majestic Morro Rock, the turn-around point for the 5K walk/run.

All courses begin at Morro Bay High School and head through the Cypress Tunnel, a tree-lined path that leads directly to the Estero Bay coastline. Upon reaching the beach, 10K and Half Marathon participants will head north toward Cayucos while 5K entrants head south.

The MBHS Music Boosters is a volunteer group of parents and community members committed to providing for the needs of the school’s music program that are not met by current school funding. Much of the money raised comes from race registration and participation fees, but sponsors are needed now to help with organizing expenses and promotion of the upcoming event.

Several groups have already signed on to assist with this year’s run, including: Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce; Morro Bay Tourism Bureau; James N. Clark, D.D.S.; Rio Salon & Spa; Embarcadero Inn; and WTP Tech Support. Those interested in learning more about the benefits of sponsorship can contact Debbie Clark, president of the MBHS Music Boosters, at (805) 225-6040 or go to www.MorroBayBOTR.com.

Registration information is also available at the Bands on the Run website or by emailing musicboostersmbhs@gmail.com

Read About More Events on Page 2

Visit various local city sites for their upcoming events listings: Los Osos, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria.