Good morning, San Luis Obispo.

Lumina Alliance, a San Luis Obispo nonprofit, reached a fundraising milestone with its Light the Way Lifeline Campaign that started a year ago amid state and federal funding concerns; it has raised $1.9 million and will aim for $2 million by June 30 — helping survivors access critical services.

The California Mid-State Fair will debut Kindness Corner, a quiet space for kids and families to relax, inside the Flower Building.

The area will open Friday, July 24 following a proposal by 2025 Miss California Mid-State Fair Queen Skye Davis.

Discounted carnival wristbands for the California Mid-State Fair are available for purchase at the Paso Robles Visitor Center through July 3, with one-day unlimited rides for $35 when exchanging a redemption card for a wristband at a fair ticketing booth.

A decades-old oak tree at the corner of Nipomo and Monterey has been approved for removal to make way for the new SLO Rep Theater, sparking community pushback.

Residents say five replacement trees won’t match the loss (removal date is unscheduled) and they hope to reverse the decision.

Justin Winery awarded $350,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations and educators in North San Luis Obispo County.

More than $300,000 will support mental health services, sports activities, and after-school programs, and $50,000 will go to classroom supplies (helping everyday local needs) in Paso Robles (as part of its Community Grants program).

Entrepreneurs, remote workers, and job seekers will gather Tuesday, June 16 at BridgeWorks in downtown Atascadero for the Central Coast Tech Networking Mixer.

The free event offers pizza and a chance to connect with local professionals.

Margarita Adventures opened two new science fiction escape rooms on June 1 that complete its Renegade trilogy from 2024 + teams face one-hour puzzles challenging them to restore power and stop a spaceship hijack.

Children and families can explore musical instruments at the free Instrument Petting Zoo on Wednesday, June 17 during the library summer reading program.

The event runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Culinary Arts Academy (1900 Golden Hill Road) where volunteers will show how instruments work.

Cal Poly's animal science department is preparing to open its first dedicated animal health center in the fall, adding 17,500 sqft of modern clinical and teaching space+research labs.

Faculty and staff will move in early while a public ribbon-cutting is scheduled for late August.

Cal Poly's beekeeping class has repeatedly moved its hives around campus amid construction projects, making it hard for both instructors and bees (the process requires extra planning).

The hives will move to the horticulture unit by the end of the year, and the class hopes for a permanent home soon.

Cal Poly will open suite-style dorms in fall featuring nine-person suites for freshmen and six-person suites for continuing students (Building A includes 500 beds) as part of a $1 billion, 10-year plan to add up to 4,000 beds.

The design aims to foster natural interactions among residents.

Cal Poly Baseball overcame injuries (including the loss of key pitchers) to reach its first NCAA Super Regional and validate Project Omaha’s potential.

The Mustangs fought a slow start and postseason challenges before turning the season around at Jackie Robinson Stadium.