It’s great news to hear former Cambrian Christopher Krich has been named head football coach at University of La Verne in SoCal. And two of the happiest fans are Bob and Susan McDonald, who won’t have to trek to Illinois any more to watch their talented son in action on the field at Milliken University … Medal to the pedal: San Luis Obispo-based Kish Fabrication took the prize for top titanium bike for a second year in a row at the 2011 North American Handmade Bicycle Show in Austin.
The Target store in SLO is shaping up quickly with the help of pour-on-site tilt up wall construction. Voila, a building emerges! And future next door neighbor Mac Superstore has installed webcams on its project site that shares new images of the moving-quickly ahead project, updated every two minutes … Gotta give a shout out to the SLO Chamber for serving up another terrific Annual Dinner on January 22. This one had something new: the 
announcement that longtime Chamber president and CEO Dave Garth will retire later this year. Mighty big shoes to fill…more on that to come. Meanwhile, kudos to incoming chair Michael Gunther of Collaboration LLC and his terrific board; “great job” thanks to outgoing chair John Ewan of Pacific Energy Company and super kudos to organizer extraordinaire Lindsey Miller. BCA’s Dave and Maggie Cox had the honor of serving as MC’s, an assignment made more fun by the good sportsmanship of Jeanne Potter, Gil Stork, Beth Marino, Anita Robinson, Ken Hampian and Dave Romero along with Gunther, Garth and Ewan who helped with a little free-license photo display. The evening was topped off by the announcement of Greg Hind as Citizen of the Year. (Pictured left to right in the lineup above: County Supervisor Bruce Gibson, SLO Chamber CEO Dave Garth, Award Sponsor Bill Thoma of Thoma Electric, Senator Sam Blakeslee, Citizen of the Year Greg Hind and Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian) … More fun – by now the famous “Oprah Showcases SLO” episode has aired, but we offer a residual bite of fame: a picture of some of our SLO-cal folks who helped spread the news of our happy 
town. Renoda Campbell-Moza, Michael Gunther and Beth Marino were interviewed at Novo by Jenny McCarthy (second from right) … It’s been quite a 25-year run for the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, and local jeweler Kevin Main is helping herald the group’s 25th anniversary with a custom-designed piece capturing the PAC’s logo studded with diamonds. The piece is being raffled: check it out . Forgive us, but we just have to mention that BCA team proudly designed the PAC’s distinctive logo all those years ago and still proudly works with both PAC and FPAC. We love long-term relationships.
The Andre, Morris & Buttery law firm is fresh off the successful representation of the Justin family in the sale of the JUSTIN Winery, and has more good news to share: new associate Denise McGimsey, a Harvard Law grad, has joined the firm, bringing another bright mind to the business and real estate transactions division … and in another happy development, longtime local architect Leonard Grant (LGA) has merged with the team at RRM Design Group, bringing his 13-year background to the firm to serve as Director of RRM’s local architectural practice … Cal Poly’s Entrepreneurship Center is also moving forward at an energized pace, thanks in large part to the energetic direction of Jonathan York. Check out the Entrepreneurship Forum at Cal Poly on Feb. 3 and watch students compete for cash prizes in an “Elevator Pitch” contest and hear a panel of successful entrepreneurs offer tips on finding start-up funds. 5 p.m. at the Tech Center … Cuesta College hosts an athletics fundraiser each year that brings in a big name athlete, and this year is no exception: Olympic Superstar Softball Sensation Jennie Finch is on deck at the dinner/auction/presentation event Friday, March 11. 546-3207 … Achievement House is always on the move helping our community’s disabled adults, and now the move includes a new location: the group’s E-Waste facility has moved to 70 Prado Road, across from JB Dewar. Drop off used electronics, including TV’s, computers, monitors, coffee makers, printers and more and help a most worthy local cause … The very-creative Deb Spatafore’s art show, “Love Stories” opens at Ian Saude Gallery in downtown SLO on Friday, February 5th. Deb’s whimsical plays on words using the Valentine’s Day candy, Conversation Hearts, unfolds in a series of 36 mini canvasses … 
More art in beautiful spaces: Inga Swearingen and friends will sings among the trees and flowers of the SLO Botanical Gardens in a very-limited seating concert on Sunday February 13. Tickets: 541-1400, Ext. 304 … Nice results at the intersection of art and nutrition: Jano Graphics’ Larry Embley worked with Mary LaPorte’s Cal Poly Art & Design students to produce a 2011 calendar showcasing Central Coast farmers markets. The full-color piece is spectacular and has added marketing oomph with its promotion of s’Cool Food Initiative, a group working to get fresh produce into our local schools. . Calendars are free on request: e-mail calendar@janographics.com.
The SLO Bar Association honored CASA Executive Director Teresa Tardiff with the 2010 John L. Seitz Community Service Award for her efforts to improve foster care in the community … There’s still time to sign up to help the Food Bank Coalition of SLO County with its annual Martin Luther King Jr. food drive this weekend. Bags need to be distributed door-to-door in neighborhoods and then picked up on Monday … More food news: congrats to Transitions-Mental Health Association, recipient of a $20,000 grant from the Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation that will help fund the Growing Grounds Farm in Santa Maria.
