BCA FYI

Groundbreaking news – literally. It’s been 13 years since San Luis Obispo has seen a new housing development take shape. So when MD2 broke ground for its new 177 home development (ably assisted by the SLO Chamber), the excitement was tough to contain. “Serra Meadows” (love the logo created by BCA‘s Christine Marin and the MD2team) will offer quintessential SLO-style homes, including craftsman, mission and Spanish styles. The MD2 team pictured left to right: MD2 Randy Tasch, Scott Dinovitz, Shawn Reed, David Alpern and Michael Badner … There’s even more fun ahead at this weekend’s Sunset Magazine Savor the Central Coast event: Aarti Sequeira, host of the Food Network’s “Aarti Paarti,” will be on site at the event Sunday for a noon seminar and a special photo opportunity from 1-3 p.m. Aarti-specifc tickets are available online while supplies last … Also this weekend: Morro Bay’s extravaganza 30th anniversary Harbor Festival. Food, entertainment, fishing demos, craft sales and more … ConocoPhillips’ Nipomo Mesa Refinery exec Kristen Kopp is an accomplished athlete, having snagged honors in women’s basketball and cycling. Turns out there’s talent in the Kopp genes: Kristen, her sister and Dad recently applauded with pride as her brother Kyle, a veteran of two Olympic teams, was inducted into the U.S. Water Polo Hall of Fame … Galaxy Theatres in Atascadero has done it again: made a one-of-its-kind local arrangement to showcase live-via-satellite feeds of the LA Philharmonic (from LA and Venezuela), the 25th Anniversary Celebration of Phantom of the Opera and the NY Met. Programs begin Oct. 2.

Cuesta College founding president and one of our most beloved local pals, Dr. Frank Martinez, was honored along with his late wife Lois at Symphony Pops on Labor Day weekend. When word went out that Frank’s family was scheming to raise funds to buy Frank the conductor’s baton (and with it the fun of conducting the orchestra in Stars and Stripes Forever), contributions to music education poured in to the tune of (pun intended) $11,000. Sneaky co-conspirator/auctioneer/current Cuesta Prez Gil Stork (who Frank originally hired), and the Cuesta Foundation’s Barbara George were all in on the fun. And but of course, the Divine Dr. M earned a standing ovation … Longcrier & Associates is on the move. In addition to recently launching a fresh new logo and firm identity, they have now added an all-new website that highlights their many services … SOFTEC’s Oct. 24th event offers a roster of great success stories and elbow rubbing with some of the community’s most valuable “people to know.”

When Achievement House decided it needed a couple of videos to showcase its amazing longtime community work, it tapped BCA to help tell its story. Led by BCA’s Brian Trapp, filming included Firestone Walker Brewery as one of the businesses who employ Achievement House clients. Videographer Todd Peterson of Red Canary and Mike Metcalf of Achievement House are seen here grabbing a shot (not a beer) for use in the video … Sunset Magazine‘s Katie Tamony is the special guest of the SLO County Visitors and Conference Bureau next Wednesday. The group is hosting a reception for local tourism industry leaders at Atascadero’s Galaxy Theatres. Wine and food samplings in the VIP lounge; on screen entertainment, updates on SAVOR and more are on the program … Twenty-eight Cal Poly MBA students have returned from a “learn by doing” tour of China led by Orfalea College of Business Professor Chris Carr. Trip highlights included meetings with top business leaders from prominent Chinese companies and socializing with Chinese MBA students from the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and Tsinghua University … Christine and Lee Johnson lead busy – and productive – lives. Lee is the new president and CEO of Mainstream Energy, a SLO-based renewable energy company whose business units include REC Solar and AEE Solar. Christine is one of the organizers of the wildly popular Morro Bay 4th of July bike parade and a new board member for the SLO County United Way. And on top of that, the couple and their young son are members of the North Morro Bay team competing with seven other West Coast families in Sunset Magazine’s “One Block Feast” contest. Read more about it at the Sunset blog.

New research portrays the UK as a smartphone-addicted country. In the study, 23% of adults and 34% of teens have used their smartphones during mealtimes, and 23% of teenagers claim to watch less TV and 15% admit they read fewer books as a result of their smartphone use. We imagine the U.S. not being far behind. What did researchers find? Check these stats out. (And if you see yourself in them, don’t fret. Ours are sitting on our desks too.)