French Hospital Earns an ‘A’
French Hospital Medical Center was awarded an “A” Hospital Safety Grade for the 26th consecutive time by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit watchdog organization. This accolade recognizes French Hospital as one of only 12 hospitals in the country and one of only two in California to earn an “A” Grade continuously since 2012. French Hospital is also the only hospital on the Central Coast to achieve 26 straight A’s.
“Our team’s dedication and expertise shine through in French Hospital’s incredible achievement,” says Sue Andersen, president and CEO of French Hospital, in a news release. “This commitment to patient safety makes us a leader in health care excellence, and I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved,”
The Leapfrog Group assigns an A through F grade to all general hospitals across the country on over 30 measures of errors, accidents, injuries and infections as well as the systems hospitals have in place to prevent them.
The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade is the only hospital ratings program based exclusively on preventable medical errors, injuries and infections that can harm and even kill. The grading system is peer-reviewed, fully transparent and free to the public. Grades are updated twice annually, in the fall and spring. French Hospital earned an “A” every time the grades were updated since the creation of the Hospital Safety Grade in 2012.
To see French Hospital’s full grade details and to access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit HospitalSafetyGrade.org.
Holiday Trolleys Return to SLO
San Luis Obispo’s Holiday Trolley service has returned adorned with festive lights and cheerful decorations. Each ride costs less than a dollar and is available through
December 29, on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m. and on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 to 8 p.m.
“Downtown San Luis Obispo is the perfect destination this holiday season, and the Holiday Trolley is just one of the many attractions our town has to offer,” said Jennifer Rice, the City’s Public Works deputy director of Mobility Services.
“We encourage everyone to hop on board, explore, and enjoy the festive atmosphere.”
For just 50 cents (or 25 cents for seniors or disabled riders), the Holiday Trolley provides a festive transportation option in the heart of Downtown SLO and its surrounding hotel areas.
“It is perfect for traveling to and from downtown for dinner and shopping, and even the Thursday Evening Farmers’ Market,” Rice said.
For more information on the Trolley Service routes and schedules, go to www.slotransit.org or call at (805) 541-2877.
Groundbreaking at Poly’s Animal Health Center
The Cal Poly College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences recently held a groundbreaking celebration to celebrate the construction of the Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center, which broke ground this fall.
Plans for the new center include 15,500 square feet of multi-use space flexible for teaching, research and clinical training — including wet labs, a surgery suite and a necropsy area. The center is set to become an interactive, experiential animal facility that embraces hands-on learning, supporting the next generation of leaders in veterinary medicine, animal healthcare and animal agriculture.
“The Charles and Claire Jacobson Animal Health Center is more than a new building,” said Interim Dean Bill Hendricks in a news release. “It represents everything that Cal Poly and the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences stands for: hands-on, interdisciplinary learning that prepares our students to address the current and future needs of the industry.”
The College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences offers one of the largest animal sciences programs in the country, with 75% of students entering with a desire to become a veterinarian – and serves as a much-needed pipeline for students who seek to enter a career in large animal veterinary care.
The center, located off Via Carta Road, will be walking distance to the Oppenheimer Family Equine Center and horse paddocks. New student housing designated for students who work in the college’s 15 student-run production facilities was recently built adjacent to the center.
The building, designed by Gensler, a global architecture, design and planning firm and constructed by Hensel Phelps, will reinforce teaching, research and clinical training for animal science students in a modern, state-of-the-art facility that will meet the growing demand for animal health and science professionals.
The building, expected to be complete in winter 2026, is completely donor funded. Charles (Animal Husbandry, ’54) and Claire Jacobson were generous supporters and passionate advocates of student achievement.
Other key donors to the project include the Shaw Family, Tracy and Paul Pezzini, Tim and Alex Eastman, Dave Fly and Bonnie Snyder-Fly and Hunt and Debra Turner.
Naming opportunities in teaching, research and clinical training areas for gifts ranging from $50,000 to $5,000,000 are still available. For more information about the project, please contact Director of Development, Abigail McCullough, at ammccull@calpoly.edu.
Camp Fire Looking for Club Leaders
Readers passionate about helping young people grow and discover their unique sparks, there’s a job for that. Camp Fire Central Coast of California is looking for dedicated individuals to become Community Club Leaders.
Camp Fire Central Coast of CA is a youth development organization that empowers young people of all backgrounds to thrive through outdoor adventures, day camps, after-school programs, teen leadership opportunities, and community service. Our programs are designed to help youth explore their passions, develop life skills, and build confidence in who they are.
Club Leaders plan and lead activities, meet weekly or bi-weekly with their group for 1-1.5 hours after school from August to June, and participate in a monthly evening leaders meeting and several weekend events throughout the year. Participants will lead a group of 10-15 youth at local sites, such as schools or libraries, in engaging activities that promote growth, curiosity, and community connection.
For a full job description, go to campfirecentralcoast.org and hit “jobs” under the “about” tab.
SLO Buy Local Returns
Shoppers who spend $100 at San Luis Obispo businesses can qualify for a $25 gift card to another San Luis Obispo business, while supplies last.
“To qualify for a gift card, spend $100 or more on gifts this holiday season at small, local retailers here in San Luis Obispo and bring a copy of your itemized receipt(s) to the San Luis Obispo Visitor Center,” said City officials in a press release. “Qualified participants can then choose between currently available gift cards from other local businesses including retailers, eateries and personal service providers in SLO. Shoppers can qualify up to three times through Christmas Eve or until the program sells out. While multiple receipts may be used to qualify for a single entry, one receipt cannot be used for more than one entry.”
In 2023, the program injected more than $940,000 into the local economy, selling out with 5,000 qualified shopper entries. The City of San Luis Obispo and the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce are partnering for the fifth year in a row to boost local spending throughout the holiday season. The City is purchasing gift cards from local businesses to support SLO’s economic vitality at a time when online shopping is a serious threat to local retailers.
“We know how important the Buy Local Bonus program is to our community each year and we’re thrilled to bring it back for its fifth iteration,” said SLO City Manager Whitney McDonald. “San Luis Obispo businesses are the heart of this community, so this season, support your favorite places that help make SLO so special. For every $100 you spend locally, you get a $25 gift card. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!”
This program is not limited to a defined list of businesses, folks can qualify by shopping at any of your favorite small, local retailers in SLO. In the spirit of shopping small, receipts from the following business types do not qualify for Buy Local Bonus: Big box retailers, convenience and drug stores, grocery stores and supermarkets, lodging businesses, and fueling or gas stations. Gift cards will be available from a wide range of participating businesses, with gift card options rotating regularly.
Are you or a neighbor Taking Care of Business. Is your business, including non-profits, supporting our community? Maybe you’re launching a new business, or you’re making updates to your current business model, or re-opening. Perhaps you have a job opportunity, or have been doing some volunteer work, or are collaborating with another business or a non-profit. Or maybe you know someone who is. Submit your awesome local efforts for publication to EditorEBN@gmail.com.
