Community Calendar: Jan. 28–Feb. 10, 2016

There will be a 3rd District Supervisor debate Jan. 28 from 7-9 p.m. at the Avila Beach Community Center, 191 San Miguel St. Seating is limited and doors open at 6:30. The debate will not be moderated and will have no time limits or pre-determined questions. Audience members will ask questions.
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St Peter’s by the Sea Episcopal Church will celebrate, “Shrove Tuesday” with a pancake supper with all the trimmings set for 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9. Donations accepted. Shrove Tuesday, known as the feast before the fast,” signals the beginning of Lent. St. Peter’s is located at 545 Shasta Ave.
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The Morro Bay Resource Connections Office, Estero Bay Alliance for Care and Morro Bay Seniors, Inc., will host a lunch and HomeShare Program presentation from noon-2 p.m. Saturday. Jan. 30 at the Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way. All are welcome to attend this free public event. Laura Fanucchi, associate executive director at HIP Housing in San Mateo, and a board member of the National Shared Housing Resource Center, will explain how the approximately 60 HomeShare programs in the U.S. typically work, including questions of matching and liability. Fanucchi, Miriam Hall, HomeShare Program manager at Affordable Living for the Aging Los Angeles, and Kimberly Sloan and Amber Fedosh from ElderHelp San Diego’s HomeShare will answer questions and explain how a local program may provide community benefit.
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Morro Bay Art Center will host a 3-day traditional, pastel painting techniques class for beginners to advanced Feb. 12-14. No prior experience needed. Margaret Dyer is an internationally known master painter from Atlanta, Ga. Cost is $395 a person, plus $40 model fee. Space is limited. Call Katherine Calwell at: (805) 5401470 or email to: [email protected] to sign up.
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International Fellowship is looking for volunteer host families willing to share their homes with international high school boys and girls, ages 15-18 for the next school year (2016-17). These exchange students promise to be conversant in English, bright, curious and anxious to learn about this country while living as part of a family, attending high school and sharing their own culture and languages. They arrive here just before school starts in summer and leave right after the end of school the following June. Each I.F. student is fully insured, brings his or her own personal spending money and expects to contribute to his or her share of household responsibilities, as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles. Call 1-800-641-8839 for information on how to participate in this program. See: www.internationalfellowship.org for more on the program.
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Art Central of SLO has put out a call for artists for its upcoming show, The Elements,” with the turn-in date for artwork is set for Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibit is open to all and seeks artworks “depicting the elements of our world. What is your interpretation? Accepting all mediums,” reads the call for artists. Send images of the artworks to: [email protected] for selections. An artist’s reception is set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5 during Art After Dark at the Gallery, 1329 Monterey St.
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Tickets are now on sale now for an eat-in or take-out benefit chicken barbecue that raises money for the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial High School Scholarship Fund and is set for Super Bowl Sunday. Tickets are $10 each for chicken, baked beans, potato salad and garlic bread, with desserts available for purchase too. Eat at the lodge or take it home for the game. The barbecue runs from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7 at the Elks Lodge, 222 Elks Ln. in SLO. “It’s a great way to feed everyone at your Super Bowl party without having to cook,” said Mary Matakovich, president of the scholarship fund board. “If you’re having friends over to watch the game, come by the Elks Lodge and get food for the whole group.” Call Matakovich at (805) 595-2526 for tickets. A limited number of tickets available at the door. See: www.mlkfund.org for information on the scholarship fund.
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The SLO Model Railroad Association is hosting, “Model Railroad Days, Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 30-31 at the Oceano RR Depot, 1650 Front St. The free event wil explore model railroading with layouts of different sized model railroads. There will be a model train yard sale and swap meet with great deals on model trains and cars. Hot dogs, soft drinks and more for sale. For more information see: https://www.slomra.org.
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The Gallery at the Network, 778 Higuera St., Ste. B will present “Jewelry Jubilee,” featuring 12 local jewelers with handmade, original works of art — earrings, necklaces and bracelets — from Feb. 1-March 31. An artists’ reception is set for 6-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5 during Art After Dark, with refreshments and music by Terry Sanville.
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The Cayucos Lions and Lioness Clubs will hold their annual Valentine’s Day Gala, a benefit for the clubs’ scholarship fund for local high school seniors, from 4-7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14 at the Cayucos Vet’s Hall. Tickets are $40 a person for adults and available from any Lion or Lioness member or call Shirley Lyon at (805) 235-8552. Or buy tickets or make a donation via mail to: Cayucos Lioness Club, P.O. Box 153, Cayucos CA 93440. The afternoon includes local fine wines and ales, unbelievable hors d’ oeuvres, and a cookie bar, plus a live auction for fabulous items.
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Morro Bay 4-H Club will be taking orders for its enchilada fundraiser from Feb. 1-19, the club announced. The enchilada choices are cheese, chicken, or seasoned ground beef. Packages of two are $6 and can be ordered through any 4-H member or call Tammy Haas at 772-3358. Delivery is set for Saturday, Feb. 27. Proceeds support the 4-H club’s numerous activities.
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Local journalist, Stephen H. Provost, editor of The Cambrian, will sign his new book, “Fresno Growing Up” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30 at Coalesce Bookstore, 845 Main St., Morro Bay. Provost, a former Fresno Bee reporter, will take former Fresnoids who’ve transplanted to the coast down memory lane, with an idiosyncratic history of its postwar period, when Fresno was transformed from a quiet ag town to one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.
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Join the SWAP Weed Warriors for its monthly battle against weeds and erosion in the Elfin Forest in Los Osos. Meet at 9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 at the end of 15th St., off Santa Ysabel Ave., Los Osos. Dress in layers for the weather and wear sturdy shoes, long pants and sleeves, bring gloves and a shovel. Don’t block driveways when you park and leave pets at home. Cookies and refreshments follow the work day at noon. For more information call 528-0392.
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Estero Bay United Methodist Church is holding its annual Spaghetti Dinner and Music Night fundraiser from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 9. Tickets are $10 adults, $5 ages 4-13 and under-4 free. To go boxes available, too. Dinner will be catered by Sandee Helow of Something’s Cooking with live music by Low Expectations Hillbilly Band. Dinner is spaghetti with meat or vegetarian sauce, salad, bread and dessert. Estero UMC is at 3000 Hemlock Ave., off Sequoia next to Del Mar Elementary. Proceeds benefit the UMC missions. Call 772-7644 for more information.
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Volumes of Pleasure Book Shoppe in Los Osos will have its annual celebration of Chinese New Year, at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 featuring a performance by the Cal Poly Lion Dancers. We are entering the year of the monkey in the Chinese Zodiac, which can be full of changes both intellectually and creatively. It is the ideal time to make big leaps and changes. Volumes of Pleasure is at 1016 Los Osos Valley Rd., next to Carlock’s Bakery. Free.
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The 5 Cities Swim School offers water exercise classes in an indoor 90-degree swimming pool with a wheelchair ramp. These classes are fun for your physical well being without the physical impact on your body from “dry-land” exercise. Water Exercise is great therapy, great for arthritis, and great for pre-natal or post-natal. Adults to senior citizens are all welcome. No swimming experience necessary and no wet hair. Classes are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays every hour from 6-10 a.m., and Mondays-Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. A Slow and Easy class is Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. Evening classes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. One free trial class for new customers. Call the 5 Cities Swim School at 481-6399 or online at: www.5citiesswimschool.com for more information.