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Have
you thought about opening your own business or expanding an existing
one? Come find out why San Miguel is the place to successfully operate
your business at the San Miguel Business Forum. The inaugural event will
be Thursday, April 24th from 9 am to 1 pm at The Ranch, the
upcoming hotspot of the north county. Ranch owners, Marty and Sheila
Elisararras will give an exclusive preview of their plans to open a live
country western music band venue, mircro brewery and steak house.
A special program is lined up to give business owners
resources and information regarding projects in and around San Miguel: District One Supervisor Harry Ovitt will open with county process and projects; John Fowler from Mission San Miguel will give an update on the Mission restoration project; Brent Grizzle will present plans for the San Miguel Ranch development, LT Colonel Trutanich will present plans for military housing at Camp Roberts and the Economic Vitality Corporation will introduce the many resources they offer to small businesses.
San Miguel businesses will be showcased and numerous
information tables with various resources will be on display. San Miguel
businesses can get registration details at *this link.
A business card is required for admission. The
business cards will be entered into a drawing for some great prizes
including dinner and show tickets to the grand opening of The Ranch.
For more information contact Charlie Fruit at 805-547-6107. Sponsored by the San Miguel Resource Connection with grant funds from PG&E and FHL Bank's AHEAD program.
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20 years for
San Miguel Parade! |
Poster artwork by Mary Kalvans |
Friends of the San Miguel Library
working with the San Miguel Native Sons, the San Miguel Fire Dept. and
the San Miguel Resource Connection are organizing a parade, book sale,
craft fair and BBQ for the 20th Annual Sagebrush Days Parade! Parade
entries include fire engines, military vehicles, classic cars, horses
and antique equipment. Help make this parade the best ever by strutting
your stuff as a parade entry or coming to cheer for those in the parade!
*Click here for a flyer. *Click here
for an entry form or pick one up at the Country Mountain Ranch Floral
and Gifts at 1277 Mission Street in San Miguel or call Mary at
805-610-6747. Deadline for parade entry is April 21st. No late entries.
The San Miguel Volunteer Firefighters will be hosting a
tri-tip BBQ in front of the firestation after the parade. Tickets are
$10 per person.
The parade was at risk to be held this year as for
the first time a significant fee was to be imposed for a CHP officer to
be on duty. Historically, San Miguel parade organizers have had very
little money to work with and have relied heavily on volunteers; with
the Native Sons of the Golden West handling road closure duties.
The new costs threatened the continuation of both the Sagebrush and
Christmas Parades in San Miguel.
The problem was presented to Supervisor Harry Ovitt's office
and they were able to identify a different section of the Vehicle Code
that spoke more directly to parades. In that section of the code, the
use of volunteers is an available option if the County adopted an
appropriate enabling resolution. Negotiations on that basis allowed the
CHP to reconsider their original position and to agree to San Miguel's
continued use of volunteers.
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Local Accounts Mean
Funds for Students |
Pictured
from L to R; Dean Smith, Sara Celedon, George Nunez, Sheila Lopez and
Mitch Massey with check for Lillian Larsen School. |
The new branch of Heritage Oaks Bank
in San Miguel celebrated their grand opening with a Week Of Welcome.
For the first 50 new checking accounts opened during that time the bank
donated $10 per account to an education program at Lillian Larsen
School.
School Superintendent, Dean Smith, accepted a $500 check at the San Miguel bank branch on Friday, March 14th. Funds will go to the LEAP and Masters At Their Trade after school programs.
Funds are especially appreciated at a time when deep
budget cuts by the state mean deleting programs, teachers and staff for
the upcoming school term. |
"If
proposed budget cuts become reality it could mean a reduction of six
teachers in SMJUSD. We only employ 27 teachers currently! The music
program and reading program are subject to being cut completely. Class
sizes will be dramatically increased. The District will also have to
look at its classified staffing and services, too. Cuts in SMJUSD do
not involve carving into some sort of "fat" laden beast, but in fact,
mean cutting into the very bone of an already eviscerated animal.
Pending cuts will impact and limit our children's educational
experiences. California is 46th out of 50 for educational funding in
the USA. Our challenges are greater than most all the other states. Parents and stakeholders need to advocate on behalf of fully funding Proposition 98 and our schools.
Abel Maldonado and Sam Blakeslee are representing education well in
Sacramento, but too often, they are standing alone. Other districts and
regions need to get involved and let their political representatives
know how their constituency values education". - submitted by Dean
Smith, School Superintendent |
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Drainage and Sidewalks
in Downtown |
Newly poured cement and landscaping along Mission St. |
SLO County workers are hard at work under the direction of Steve Frank
to install a new drainage system along Mission St. in San Miguel.
Flooding has been a problem for the town since Cal Trans built Highway
101 in the late 1950's. The new drainage system will include a "major
engineering feat" channeling water underneath the railroad tracks.
The project underway is part two of a three phased Downtown Improvement Project
designed to provide sidewalk, lighting and landscape improvements along
the westerly side of Mission Street. The first phase of the project,
between 12th and 13th, was completed last year. The current phase is
for the block between 13th and 14th streets which is critical to
facilitating drainage from the downtown area to the Salinas River. The
final stage, from 11th to 12th is still in the early funding stage and
is expected to be constructed by early 2009.
New banner poles have been installed at the corner of
11th and Mission Street for the community to post special event banners
across the main thoroughfare. The San Miguel CSD will have jurisdiction
over the banner installations.
District 1 Supervisor Harry Ovitt continues to be
the driving force in securing the necessary funds. Funding largely comes
from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). |
Florist and Gift Shop Opens! |
Shannon Brown and Traci Tellant behind the counter at their new shop. |
Country Mountain Ranch Floral and Gifts opened their doors just in time to celebrate Valentine's Day and is already moving to a new location
on Mission St. next to "The Ranch" in San Miguel. The new store
features fresh flowers, houseplants, etched glass, rocks and fossils,
antiques and collectibles. Delivery of balloon and flower bouquets are
available in town.
Shop in San Miguel for birthdays, anniversaries and
other special occasions. Country Mountain Floral & Gift store hours
are Monday through Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, and Saturdays from 10 am
to 4 pm. Call the shop for more information at 805-467-2956 or visit
their partner website. |
PG&E Award to San Miguel Resource Connection |
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The San Miguel Resource Connection
(SMRC) was awarded a grant of $2,500 for their Economic Development
projects. SMRC is working towards bringing new businesses to the
downtown core and enhancement projects such as park expansion, sidewalks
and signage.
The Economic Development committee is currently working
with a grant writer to find additional funds for projects that benefit
the town. SMRC is working with architect intern, Shana Reiss to create a
brochure to attract potential businesses. A business forum is planned
in April to network commercial property owners, prospective business
owners and the resources needed to open a new business. Visit our Merchants Info page with a list of resources to open a business in San Miguel. |
