In collaboration with San Luis Obispo County Parks, CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo/County Fire will conduct a vegetation management project at Monarch Grove Preserve in Los Osos. Hand crews will utilize chainsaws and chippers to remove dead, dying, and diseased vegetation and manage vegetation in an effort aimed at enhancing fire safety and improving ecosystem health.

WHAT: Vegetation management project in Los Osos

WHEN: Planned for multiple days starting on Wednesday, November 5, and continuing through the end of the year for approximately 10 days, weather permitting.

WHERE: Monarch Grove Preserve, Los Osos

WHY: This operation is designed to reduce the accumulation of flammable vegetation that contributes to wildfires. Additionally, it supports long-term ecological health by promoting native species and enhancing biodiversity across the landscape.

This vegetation management project is part of a proactive, science-based approach to land management. Fire crews will be on site throughout the operation along with resource management staff. Environmental surveys have been conducted prior to project implementation and will continue as needed to avoid impacts to sensitive species.

County Parks and CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo County Fire remains committed to reducing wildfire risk through strategic partnerships, community collaboration, and environmentally responsible land stewardship.

Los Osos Community Services District, in cooperation with CAL FIRE/SLO County Fire Department, Station 15 – South Bay has initiated a hiring process to select prospective LOCSD Reserve Firefighters. Reserve Firefighters are expected to cover two 12 hour shifts per month, attend required training and drills, and return for emergency call backs at CAL FIRE/Station 15 – South Bay.

In order to qualify for the Reserve Firefighter position, an application must be submitted  with a valid DMV report dated within 30-days. A Resume/Application Review will be conducted with a preference for applicants who are current San Luis Obispo County Paid-Call/Reserve Firefighters and/or proof of accredited Firefighter 1 Academy completion.  The Reserve Firefighter application and additional information can be obtained at CAL FIRE/Station 15 – South Bay, located at 2315 Bayview Heights Drive in Los Osos, CA (Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm) and online at Hiring Reserve Firefighters

If an applicant is selected, the next step is a Firefighter Physical Agility Test to be held at Cal FIRE/Station 15, followed by an Oral Interview. Information on the Physical Agility Test is in the Application packet. The final step will be a background investigation and a successful completion of a pre-employment physical.

If you have any questions, please contact CAL FIRE/Station 15 – South Bay Fire Department at (805) 528-1053.

From Our friends at IWMA

When you go trick-or-treating, you may be wondering what to do with all those wrappers. To reduce your waste, the best thing to do is politely refuse any candy that won't get eaten in the first place. Most candy wrappers are not recyclable. This is because they are made of mixed materials, most of the time plastic and foil (called "metallised plastic"). But what candy packaging can you recycle, and what goes in the trash? 

Gray Bin (Trash)

• Candy wrappers are trash! Wrappers from Skittles, Sour Patch Kids, Kit-Kats, Twix, etc. all belong in the garbage. 
• Waxy wrappers from a Starburst or bubble gum are trash, but these are a great craft material! Try following a tutorial to use them in a paper chain. 

Blue Bin (Recycle)

• Hard plastic canisters, like a tube of Mini M&Ms
• Boxes, like a box of Nerds or Dots
• Aluminum foil, like from a peanut butter cup or a Hershey's Kiss. These are unable to be recycled individually; to recycle, save them up and roll them all together into a ball until it's about the size of a tennis ball. Then they can be recycled as one ball in your blue bin.  
• Make sure that any food packages that go into the recycle are clean and free of food residue. 

Green Bin (Organics)

• Any unfinished, unpackaged candy belongs in your green bin, like all food waste. 
• Paper lollypop sticks, like from a Tootsie Roll Pop (only paper sticks, not plastic ones)

Don't trash uneaten candy! Look for donation opportunities, like the Treats for Troops program. 

Here are some more waste reducing tips for this upcoming spooky season: 

1. When trick-or-treating, choose a small bag and finish up for the night when the bag is full. This ensures you won't take more candy than you'll finish. 
    
2. Shop second-hand for your Halloween costume. Don't waste money on a costume that's only going to be worn for one night. Many thrift stores in our area have rolled out racks of barely-worn costumes that rival the selection at any retail store. Often the best starting point for a creative, original costume is your own closet! 
    
3. Compost your pumpkin. When your jack-o-lantern starts to rot away, you can throw it directly into your green bin curbside, where it will be brought to a local composter!

For more information on any recycling information, please see IWMA's website here: https://www.iwma.com/recycling-guide

LOCSD is also continuing with their regularly scheduled Board, Utilities Advisory Committee, Finance Advisory Committee, Emergency Services Advisory Committee and Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meetings. 

Information for each meeting and how to get connected will be available on the Agenda for each meeting. Agendas can be found on the LOCSD Website (losososcsd.org) which is posted a minimum of 72 hours before the meeting time.

Our upcoming meetings are: 

• Board of Directors Meeting Open Session - November 6, 2025  @ 6:00PM
• Utilities Advisory Committee Meeting - November 19, 2025 @5:30PM
• Emergency Services Advisory Committee Meeting - November 20, 2025 @5:30PM
• Finance Advisory Committee Meeting - Monday December 1, 2025 @ 5:30PM
• Board of Directors Meeting Open Session - December 4, 2025  @ 6:00PM

For more information about the upcoming meetings for LOCSD, please go to our website, or click here.