The results are in and Los Osos Heroes have been named.
The past Los Osos Citizens of the Year gathered in late December to select the 2025 Citizen of the Year out of an outstanding pool of 22 nominations, one of the most ever received. The public was invited to nominate any Los Osos resident or business owner they considered to be a true “hero of Los Osos.”
“The nominations were long and impressive and included many people who will certainly be future Citizens of the Year. Nominations with comprehensive and wide-ranging descriptions of their service to Los Osos provided the Citizen of the Year (COTY) Committee with enough substance and content to be able to make an effective choice,” said the selection team. “But it was still difficult because of the quality of the nominees.”
Criteria for Citizen of the Year
1) Outstanding service and proven dedication to benefit Los Osos over a sustained period of time.
2) Involvement in multiple community efforts to benefit Los Osos over a period of time, such as education, beautification, environment, service or organizations, youth, seniors, churches, business, non-profits, conservations, politics, community service, etc.
3) Must live, work, or own a business in Los Osos.
After much thought and discussion, it was decided to select two Citizens of the Year: Elizabeth Denny and Margarete Schmidt.
Elizabeth Denny
Elizabeth Denny, named Los Osos Citizen of the Year with her friend Dahila from the San Luis Obispo Animal Shelter who is waiting to be
adopted. Photo by Dean Sullivan
Elizabeth Denny arrived in Los Osos in her mid-20s and later founded an organization called The Positive Change Movement, a prominent community service initiative which connects people with volunteer opportunities, service projects, and ways to spread kindness in the community.
“She is the embodiment of the saying, ‘It takes only one person to start a ripple of change,’” said the (COTY) Committee. “She initiates projects to help the vulnerable in the community. Liz then sets up ways to make it easy for others to join her in the project, allowing many more people to each contribute what they can. Soon the project is fulfilled, ready to benefit local people in need. She also founded the Pawsitive Rescue Network, a separate initiative focused on rescuing dogs from high kill shelters and finding them permanent, loving homes.
She works for the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center and is a proud member of the Kiwanis Club of Bay-Osos. When she’s not working or volunteering, she loves traveling, cheering on the San Francisco Giants, and spending time with friends and family.
Margarete Schmidt
Margarete Schmidt was name on of the Los Osos Citizens
of the Year.
Los Osos’ Save Cuesta Inlet is a prime example of Margaret Mead’s famous quote: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Margarete Schmidt spent decades visiting Los Osos and spending time at Cuesta Inlet with her children before she made the decision to move here fulltime in 2019. Moving from Exeter, California where she had been a schoolteacher and partner in Sequoia Transportation, a third-party logistics provider for interstate transportation of produce and dry goods, she brought with her the organizational and people skills that would prove pivotal once she settled in. Like many people she assumed Cuesta Inlet was public property and it was the shock of seeing a “for sale” advertisement that catapulted her into action. Her vision: Cuesta Inlet should be preserved for public access in perpetuity.
“It is because of Margarete and her leadership, and a group of highly engaged volunteers that the non-profit Save Cuesta Inlet realized the dream of protecting the beloved Cuesta Inlet through 43 months of relentless work and community appeals,” said (COTY) Committee. “Their success, forged through tireless negotiation and patient advocacy, stands as a monumental triumph of grassroots preservation and benefits not only Los Osos/Baywood residents but visitors too.”
Purchasing private land involves navigating complex legal landscapes and appraisal processes, often requiring years of patient dialogue to align the organization’s conservation goals with the property owners’ financial or personal interests. Raising significant funds requires constant outreach, including social media, advocacy, public meetings, and community events to build a diverse donor base and prevent advocate fatigue over multi-year timelines. A vision became a reality as escrow closed on December 5. Now for the first time Cuesta Inlet is public property and we are all beneficiaries!
“These two exceptional individuals whose passion and unwavering dedication year after year forges a brighter, stronger community for all,” said (COTY) Committee. “This annual award honors those whose dedication to Los Osos/Baywood Park inspires extraordinary action and fuels their unprecedented leadership, outstanding service and selfless commitment to the town’s improvement, beautification, and overall well-being.
“These heroes go beyond their professional work, dedicating their time and energy to organizing youth programs, spearheading community-wide initiatives, executing beautification projects, and assisting neighbors in need — truly embodying “service above self” to make our cherished community an even better place to live. Their volunteerism creates measurable improvements to our quality of life, and they exemplify our community ideals. Their contributions act as a profound inspiration to us all.”
The public is welcome to help honor Elizabeth Denny and Margarete Schmidt at the South Bay Community Center on January 31. Details and ticket information were not available as of press time. Check out www.citizensoftheyear.com, for more information.
