Arroyo Grande

Fire Dept. to sponsor blood drive

Arroyo Grande Fire Department will sponsor a blood donation drive for United Blood Services Central Coast from 1 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Fire Station, 140 Traffic Way.

All those who donate blood will be entered in a drawing to win a gift certificate from F. McLintocks Saloon & Dining House.

For more information on requirements for being a blood donor, call the blood center in San Luis Obispo at 543-4290 or Santa Maria at 928-2546.

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Santa Maria

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Purchase books for young readers

Throughout November and December, the public is invited to purchase books for young children at B. Dalton Booksellers at 177 Santa Maria Town Center in Santa Maria.

Friday through Sunday, a portion of all purchases made at Barnes and Noble Booksellers at Paseo Nuevo in Santa Barbara will be donated to buy books for needy children.

For more information about the importance of early literacy, call 884-8085.

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Central Coast

Local residents pass bar exam

Central Coast residents were among the 4,571 people who passed the July 2007 California Bar Examination.

Provided they satisfy other requirements for admission, the new attorneys include Chrystal Leigh Anderson of Santa Maria, Michael Allen Okerblom of Nipomo, Collette Ann Hillier of Arroyo Grande, David Geoffrey Gross of Lompoc, Kenneth Allen Kupres of Los Olivos and Kevin Matthew Gallagher of Buellton.

The local residents were part of the 56.1 percent of those who applied to the bar who passed the exam. The results were released Nov. 16.

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Grover Beach

Open house planned with tree-lighting

Grover Beach will hold an open house at City Hall and the Police Department and Fire Department at 154 S. Eighth St. from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday to coincide with the annual tree-lighting ceremony on the lawn.

A variety of displays are planned to show people what projects the city is working on, said City Manager Bob Perrault.

“The open house will offer the community the opportunity to come in and meet with city staff and take a look at city equipment and basically how we're putting the taxpayers dollars to work,” Perrault said.

The tree-lighting ceremony, set for 5:30 p.m., will include free cookie decorating, hot chocolate, entertainment that includes an appearance by “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” real snow to play in and a visit from Santa Claus, who will be available for photos with children.

Donations of unwrapped gifts for less-fortunate families will be accepted at the Fire Department.

- From staff reports