Estero Bay News Briefs 2-1-2024

Written by Theresa-Marie Wilson

Theresa-Maria Wilson has been a journalist covering the North Coast and South County area for over 20 years. She is also the founder of Cat Noir CC and is currently working on a novel.

February 1, 2024

100 Percent Pass Rate for Cuesta College RN Students 

Cuesta College’s Registered Nursing graduating class of 2023 ranks number one for students passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), which allows nursing graduates to be licensed as a registered nurse in the United States. 

“With the help of our dedicated nursing faculty and healthcare community partner support, our students are successfully passing the RN licensure examination, allowing them to obtain healthcare jobs in our community,” said Cuesta College Superintendent / President Dr. Jill Stearns.

Outperforming the average pass rate for the state of California (83.07 percent), this achievement not only makes Cuesta College the top-ranked program within California but also places it first among 2,219 Registered Nursing programs (BSN, associate degree, or diploma) across the United States and its territories. 

Nursing students are provided resources to assist in their goal to pass the licensure examination. The Student Success Specialist is pivotal in aiding students with practice questions from their first semester forward. In their last semester, courses are facilitated by nursing faculty with NCLEX-style test questions. Student progress is tracked and those who practice the most are awarded with gas cards and other incentives. 

Cuesta College’s accredited Nursing & Allied Health Program, established in 1967, offers degree and certificate programs in Registered Nursing, Licensed Vocational Nursing, Certified Nurse Assistant, Medical Assisting, Phlebotomy, Psychiatric Technician, Emergency Medical Services, and Paramedic. The recent launch of an accelerated track for the Registered Nursing Program further exemplifies Cuesta College’s commitment to providing a faster path to nursing education and entry into the workforce.

For more information on the Nursing & Allied Health Department, call (805) 546-3119 or visit the website here. 

Free Rapid COVID Tests

Free at-home COVID-19 tests are available at several locations in the county. Tests will only be available outdoors at these locations (such as in the parking lot) alongside Food Bank distributions during the scheduled times while supply lasts.

Pop-up COVID-19 Test Distribution Events:

• Thursday, February 1 from 3 – 4 p.m. at Santa Rosa Church, 1174 Main Street, Cambria

• Wednesday, February 7 from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. at Los Osos South Bay Community Center, 2180 Palisades Ave.

• Thursday, February 8 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. at CL Smith Elementary, 1375 Balboa St. SLO

• Tuesday, February 13 from 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. at Nipomo Elementary, 190 E Price St.

• Friday, February 16 from 11:00 – 12:30 p.m. at California Valley Community Center, 13080 Soda Lake Road

• Wednesday, February 21 from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 1010 Foothill Blvd. SLO

• Thursday, February 22 from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. at Del Mar Elementary, 501 Sequoia St. Morro Bay

• Tuesday, February 27 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at Sherwood Park, Santa Ynez Ave. & Creston Rd. Paso Robles

• Wednesday, February 28 from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. at Arroyo Grande Soto Park, 1275 Ash St.

Addis Pens Mushroom Act

Mushrooms, those delectable fungi that add an earthy flavor to almost any dish, are in-line for proposed protection for the farmers who grow them.

Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) introduced Assembly Bill 1833, the California-Grown Mushroom Act. 

“California is the second largest mushroom producer in the world,” said Addis in a news release. “It’s vital that mushroom consumers are provided transparency and that California’s farmers are recognized. AB 1833 will create marketplace transparency and recognition via a labeling system that lets consumers know if their mushrooms are produced right here in the Golden State. I’m proud to author this important bill that will create the first-ever grown in California label for California’s mushroom industry.”

AB 1833 tackles misleading marketing practices for mushroom products by creating a “California Grown” designation. Its sponsors include the California Certified Organic Farmers and Far West Fungi. 

“California farmers face some of the highest production costs in the world,” said Erin Raser, Operations Manager at Far West Fungi. “This bill would increase transparency for California consumers that want to support local farms and give farmers a marketing tool to distinguish their product.”

AB 1833 now awaits referral to policy committee. 

Send your news, community and business briefs to Editor@EsteroBayNews.com. Be sure to include the who, what, why, where and when information along with a contact person.

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