Worth posting again for 2014…always a fun party!! And tickets are sell out fast…they really do!! Go by the South Bay Community Center and pick up your tickets asap!None will be available at the door.

Just a wee bit of cash will buy you supper and song at the 3rd annual Scottish Irish Night Thursday, March 13 at the South Bay Community Center. Scottish meat pies with Irish mashed potatoes and peas, salad and dessert are only $10. After supper the Gillie Weesels (www.centralcoastceltic.com) will croon Irish and Scottish ditties and ballads while Duncan McQueen, donned in his finest kilt, might be convinced to play his musical saw. But the best Irish luck is every penny for these pleasures benefits People Helping People (PHP) of Los Osos.

PHP began in 1972 when Los Osos, Baywood Park, and Cuesta-by-the-Sea seniors created the non-profit to help special needs seniors. A “senior center” was intended when they sold their lot on 4^th Street for $38,000 and continued fundraising. Then the leadership realized the entire community had special needs, so PHP donated the seed money of $58,000 to construct the South Bay Community Center. Today Jim Quesenberry, 1^st Vice-President and coordinator of the food distribution program reports PHP averages 50 to 70 people daily at the Community Center and volunteers have stepped forward to help with distribution. “Our relationship with the Baywood Farmers Market renewed so we have fresh produce. The Food Bank and USDA provide the staples and proteins. We have a good time and thanks to board Secretary, Lynn Wise, donuts and coffee are available.” Beverly Ford volunteers in the office and admits they could use more help weekday mornings. She helps provide medical, housing and tax referral information and checks out the medical equipment PHP can loan for a nominal deposit.

Board president Richard Margetson anticipated the pending remodel at the Community Center that will offer more efficiency in operations to both the center and PHP. He explained, “The cost to expand space behind the stage area will cost approximately $56,000 and most is already donated by area businesses and tradesmen. The community center started as a grassroots endeavor and it continues to gather support. After all, it belongs to the community.”

Margetson succeeded Jerri Walsh as president of the board. “Throughout my life I’ve volunteered for homeless issues. I’m not sure how People Helping People captured my interest but I’ve been involved ten years. Jerri will be past president, Linda Owens is 2^nd Vice-President and Carol Cribbs is treasurer.” Scottish Irish Night tickets are limited to approximately 120 and must be picked in advance at the PHP office in the Los Osos Community Center, 2180 Palisades, Monday thru Friday from 9 to 1 pm. For more info call 528-2626.

The City of Morro Bay incorporated July 17, 1964. Throughout 2014 a citizens’ committee plans to celebrate established events while developing some new activities. Posted updates are at www.morrobay50th. At the kick-off dinner in January several individuals and groups were recognized for decades of contributions. Taylor Newton at 35 the youngest to be recognized, might be considered representative of Morro Bay’s future.

Native Morro Bayan, Cara Crye emceed the evening’s presentations. She announced, “Taylor has a love for community, environment, and beautification. He organized the Morro Bay Guerrilla Gardening Club which offers work and mentoring opportunities to youth in the community. They work with city, private enterprise and nonprofits to beautify the community and educate about recycling.”

A graduate of Cal Poly, Newton describes the GGC as a 501c3 nonprofit educational program that “allows young street-wise men and women over fifteen an opportunity to learn about plants, biology, and community through the learn-by-doing process.” He says the members are “youth who have fallen down in life and we need to teach them how to get up again and survive every challenge.”

Club dues consist of members volunteering to provide labor, planting, maintenance, composting, and waste management at festivals and events. In exchange members qualify for housing, food, clothing, education and employment opportunities.

“Everybody has value,” stated Newton. “We teach our members that when they pay their dues, they can participate in their community. We’re not here to change society, but how to get through life by making one’s space livable. We’re fighting against drug abuse, violence, profiling, and the revolving cycle of imprisonment.”

Justin Porter and Dylan Barker have been active members for about eight months. Barker appreciated “having people who accept you without being perfect.” Porter acknowledged, “GGC has given me a different outlook – chances I’d never seen before.”

GGC has created a demonstration garden with sustainable landscaping and a wholesale nursery at St.Timothy’s Catholic Church on Kennedy Way. The club contracts public and private landscaping projects and is developing an Urban Farming Facility. Contact them at http:/www.mbggc.blogspot.com or http://www.facebook.com/MorroBayGuerrillaGardeningClub.

Newton is president and a founding member of Eco-Rotary. He was featured in the international Rotarian Magazine for his development of GGC and a zero-waste program that encourages many San Luis Obispo county festivals and events to use recycled materials. Members of GGC are contracted to complete clean-up, thus, creating zero-waste events. In June, Eco-Rotary will present a second Eco-Faire showcasing area sustainable products and businesses.

Newton is a member of the Morro Bay Lions and serves on the Morro Bay Tree Committee and is growing 50+ trees to be planted in 2014 to beautify Morro Bay during the Morro Bay 50th celebration. He leads by example and gives and gives back to his community while his family-time with Jeni Randolf Taylor and the kids is golden. Note: Jeni is his rock with GGC and the family!

Pictures feature Taylor with former Councilwoman Carla Borchard and fellow Eco-Rotarian….and current Councilwoman Nancy Johnson…and Morro Bay Guerrilla Gardening Logo.