Good morning, San Luis Obispo.

Paso Robles Recreation Services volunteers will host a free garden workshop on Saturday, Sept.

27 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Uptown Family Park Community Garden on 36th Street — attendees of all ages will learn about planting fall bulbs and rhizomes while children join a rock painting activity with snacks provided.

Today, the county DA filed murder charges against a 35-year-old Arroyo Grande man accused of stabbing an elderly couple, and a new roundabout on Avila Beach Drive is set to open Saturday with construction continuing until early January.

LEAP is collecting diaper donations throughout September for families in need, and city officials in Morro Bay are reviewing erosion concerns at Bayshore Bluffs Park—emergency repairs may be needed.

On Monday, Judge Timothy Covello allowed 62-year-old Gaea Powell to represent herself in court on nine election fraud charges tied to the 2022 and 2024 Arroyo Grande mayoral elections + she faces nearly nine years in prison if found guilty for offenses including voter registration fraud and failing to file campaign finance reports.

SLO Winds Orchestra announced its 2025/2026 season with concerts starting September 28 featuring Broadway classics by Rodgers & Hammerstein and including shows on December 13, March 21, March 29, and May 3 at CPAC and Atascadero United Methodist Church—tickets are available online as conductor Jennifer Martin presents a mix of powerful symphonies and bold new compositions.

Opolo Vineyards is hosting its 24th Harvest Festival Dinner and Grape Stomp on Oct.

17 at the winery’s estate vineyard in the Willow Creek District—guests will enjoy grape stomping in shallow vats, live Balkan music, dancing, dinner, and wine tasting with a buffet featuring dishes like roasted lamb and Sarma.

The Monday Club and the Foundation at Hearst Castle will host two fashion shows on Oct.

4 to support historic preservation and education with garments from the Living History Collection and rare pieces from private collections. Emmy Award-winning journalist Jane Wells and community leader Robin Smith will emcee the events while funds raised will conserve 17th-century tapestries and support free field trips for local students.

Cal Poly was named the top master’s-level university in the West for the third year in a row and its engineering programs received high national rankings—Computer Engineering ranked first and Civil Engineering second.

The university also integrated the Maritime Academy from Vallejo to offer more career opportunities for students.

Cal Fire San Luis Obispo started a prescribed burn near Chorro Creek on Tuesday, Sept.

23 and will continue it through Friday, Sept. 26, with a potential second burn window from Sept. 30 to early October. The burn on 260 acres near Highway 1 between Adobe and Gilardi roads aims to reduce wildfire risk and boost native species — fire crews will monitor weather conditions for safe execution.

San Luis Obispo Council of Governments will hold six free community workshops from Sept.

27 to Oct. 15 to get public input on the Local Roads First initiative, which proposes a countywide transportation tax to fund road repairs, safety upgrades, and other transportation needs. Five in-person sessions will occur at local venues such as the Public Library and Cal Poly while one session will be on Zoom — feedback from residents will help guide future projects.

Santa Margarita Ranch introduced The Preserve at Santa Margarita Ranch, a development of 111 heritage homesites on a 3,621-acre conservation easement that keeps more than 3,000 acres of oak woodlands+the first 38 homesites became available on Sept 23 and the project is part of a 14,000-acre ranch about 10 miles from San Luis Obispo.