OZZIE SMITH | ALICE REW | VETS–CALL TO THE COLORS | FRED FRIEDMAN
JournalPLUS NOVEMBER 2017
MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST
CHARLENE ROSALES
805-543-2172
805-904-6616
21 Santa Rosa St. #100, San Luis Obispo
110 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande
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Knollwood At Callender Grove
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Single Level living in this 3183 SF, 3 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, Large Bonus room could be 4th Bedroom on over an acre. Outside features include large Deck, Koi Pond, and lots of Fruit Trees. $875,000
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CONTENTS
Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST
The People, Community, and Business of Our Beautiful Central Coast ADDRESS
654 Osos Street San Luis Obispo California 93401
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THREE BRIDGES OAK PRESERVE TRAIL
PHONE 805.546.0609 E-MAIL slojournal@fix.net WEBSITE www.slojournal.com
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Steve Owens ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Erin Mott GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dora Mountain COPY EDITOR Susan Stewart PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Meinhold DISTRIBUTION Jan Owens, Kyle Owens, Jim Parsons, Gary Story ADVERTISING Steve Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. James Brescia, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Dominic Tartaglia, Deborah Cash, Heather Young, Dr. Don Morris, Judythe Guarnera, James Statler and Gail Pruitt Mail subscriptions are available at $20 per year. Back issues are $2 each. Inquires concerning advertising or other information made by writing to Steve Owens, JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE, 654 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can call us at 546-0609, our fax line is 546-8827, and our e-mail is slojournal@fix.net. View the entire magazine on our website at www.slojournal.com JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE is a free monthly distributed to over 600 locations throughout the Central Coast and is also available online at slojournal.com Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in the byline articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE. COVER PHOTO BY TOM MEINHOLD
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FRED FRIEDMAN
ALICE REW
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GREATEST ATHLETES – Ozzie Smith FRED FRIEDMAN KELLY AND KAREN FERGUSON ALICE REW MAUREEN SHARON
HOME & OUTDOOR 18 20 22 24
THREE BRIDGES OAK PRESERVE WEEKEND GETAWAY – CAMARILLO VETS – CALL TO THE COLORS FOOD / AT THE MARKET
COMMUNITY 26 27 28 30 32 34 41 42
PASO ART SCENE 8TH ANNUAL BIONEERS CONFERENCE SLO CHAMBER’S CHARLENE ROSALES HISTORY ON THE “HOOF” Harmony HISTORY: William L. Beebee, part 3 OUR SCHOOLS – Dr. James Brescia COMMUNITY COUNSELING CENTER COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
BUSINESS
36 EYE ON BUSINESS 37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening
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November Hero Profile 2017 Children’s Bill of Rights #11: As the children and youth of San Luis Obispo County, may we each have opportunities to contribute in meaningful ways to our community by voicing our ideas, sharing in decisions and offering service to others. NOVEMBER’S HERO
Annie Storrs
PASSION
Giving her time and energy to help improve the lives of others ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE ANNIE
Positive
NOMINATED BY
United Way Youth Board
Annie Storrs is a champion for children and an example for all of us on how to put actions behind words, “get involved” and encourage others to do the same! At 18 years young, Annie already has an impressive list of accomplishments as a leader and connector in our community. Since middle school, Annie’s been blazing a trail of volunteerism and activism that spans the county. For several years, she served as a Camp Reach for the Stars counselor with Jack’s Helping Hand, a nonprofit agency that provides assistance and programs for children with cancer and special needs. Annie also shared her talents within a number of organizations while a student at Mission College Prep High School, where she graduated in June. Among her many passions: Interact Service Club, Campus Ministry, Surfing for Hope, Basketball, Swimming, Tennis, Soccer, Volleyball, Band, and the Green Team Environmental Club. Perhaps one of Annie’s greatest impacts can be felt in the field—literally. As a Harvest Leader for GleanSLO, she rallied countless classmates and friends on many occasions to
help collect leftover produce from local farms, and deliver it to food pantries that serve those in need. Participants say Annie’s enthusiasm and bubbly personality are infectious, resulting in dozens of new recruits for the program. No matter what cause she takes on, Annie always motivates and inspires her peers to serve alongside her, and she consistently proves to be a cheerleader for change. We can only assume that her light will continue to shine just as brightly as she begins an exciting new life chapter at the University of Oregon.
Thank you, Annie. You are a true Hands-On Hero.
Hands-On Heroes is a special recognition of dedicated individuals who believe in and support the Children’s Bill of Rights, an achievable vision that our children grow up with healthy minds, bodies and spirits that enable them to maximize their potential. This program is coordinated by First 5 San Luis Obispo County in collaboration with local organizations that make a difference in the lives of children in our community. To find out more about First 5 and the Children’s Bill of Rights, please visit first5slo.org.
Design: Verdin
Look for more on all of our Hands-On Heroes on COE-TV channel 19!
From the publisher
T
his month our cover story features Charlene Rosales. Rosales has a long list of nonprofit organizations that she supports including: Woods Humane Society, Rotary Club, SLO Downtown Association, SLO Chamber and so much more.
Inside we also profile four individuals and one couple who continue to make a difference helping others on the Central Coast. We start with one of our Greatest Athletes, Ozzie Smith. Next, we interview Kelly and Karen Ferguson, an amazing couple that is an inspiration to us all. We move on to Alice Rew’s passion for reading and Maureen Sharon’s quest to get more people to volunteer, and we finish up with KCBX DJ Fred Friedman. We celebrate Veterans Day this month and Gail Pruitt updates us on what’s happening at the Vets Museum and profiles one of our very own war heros. Plenty of good reading again this month. Enjoy the magazine.
Steve Owens
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greatest athletes on the central coast OZZIE SMITH By Dr. Don Morris
Editor’s note: “Who are the Greatest Athletes in the history of the Central Coast?” So far the following athletes have been featured: Ed Brown, Stephanie Brown Trafton, Chuck Liddell, Loren Roberts, Steve Patterson, Gene Rambo, Robin Ventura, Jordan Hasay, Chuck Estrada, Mike Larrabee, Ron Capps, Jamie Martin, Rusty Kuntz, Randall Cunningham, Jim Lonborg, Kami Craig, John Rudometkin, Ivan Huff, Chelsea Johnson, Michael Louis Bratz, Frank Minini, Scott McClain, Mel Queen, Napoleon Kaufmann, Katie Hicks, Mark Brunell, Gene Romero, Kenny Heitz, Thornton Starr Lee, Pat Rusco, Rusty Blair, the Lee Family, Dan Conners, John Iribarren, Jeff Powers, The Mott Family, Casey Todd Candaele, Bill Brown, Theo Dunn, Ed Jorgensen, Hamp Pool, Kevin Lucas, Mohinder Gill, Mark Conover, Tracy Compton Davis and Dr. Paul Spangler. Please send nominations to Dr. Morris at dmmorris@calpoly.edu.
OZZIE SMITH “THE WIZARD” OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Ozzie Smith, known throughout baseball as “The Wizard” is arguably the best fielding shortstop of all time. He redefined the position in his nearly two decades of work at one of the game’s most demanding positions. He enjoyed a brilliant college career at Cal Poly where he was a four-year starter and an All-American athlete at Cal Poly. Ozzie holds Cal Poly school records for career stolen bases (110), stolen bases in a season (44) and career at bats (754). He took over as shortstop midway through his freshman season in 1974. After his junior year at Cal Poly, the Detroit Tigers selected Ozzie in the seventh round of the 1976 free-agent draft; he did not sign and returned for his senior year. Ozzie twice earned All-California Collegiate Athletic Association first-team honors. N O V E M B E R
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In 1977, after leading Cal Poly to a school record 41 victories and a birth in the NCAA Division II championship tournament, Ozzie was drafted by the San Diego Padres. After four years with the Padres, Ozzie spent 15 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. During his 19-year career, he was a 15-time All-Star and won 13 consecutive Gold Gloves. He holds National League records for fielding percentage. Smith set major league records for career Assists (8,375) and double plays (1,590) by a shortstop, as well as the National League (NL) record with 2,511 career games at the position. “The Wizard” won the NL Gold Glove Award for play at shortstop for 13 consecutive seasons (1980–92). Besides the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Ozzie has also been inducted or honored in other halls of fame and recognitions. In 1999, he was honored with induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Alabama Sports Hall of Fame, and received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Cal Poly. In January 2014, the Cardinals announced Smith is among 22 former players and personnel to be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum. “The Wizard” later became known for performing backflips on special occasions while taking his position at the beginning of a game (photo below). Smith won his first Gold Glove Award in 1980, and made his first AllStar Game appearance in 1981. Smith won the NL Silver Slugger Award as the best-hitting shortstop in 1987. Smith made it into the Professional Baseball Hall of Fame with 91.7 percent of the vote. In 1996 the Cardinals retired his jersey. He also served as host of the television show “This Week in Baseball” from 1997 to 1998.
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of your career up in the air. That makes it difficult for a sculptor to do something with it”.
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Following the 1987 season, Smith was awarded the largest contract in the National League at $2,340,000. Smith won his final Gold Glove in 1992 and his 13 consecutive Gold Gloves at shortstop in the National League has yet to be matched. Ozzie Smith’s number 1 was retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996. Smith finished his career with distinctions by the accumulation of more than 27.5 million votes in All-Star balloting. Smith was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on his first ballot by receiving 91.7% of the votes cast.
Smith was also an exceptional basketball player and during my (i.e. This Column’s writer Don Morris) time at Cal Poly he had the opportunity to play half-court basketball on and against some of Ozzie’s basketball teams. It was always a pleasure to see Ozzie in action and he was always a generous gentleman in sharing the ball).
Smith has also been an entrepreneur in a variety of business ventures. Smith opened “Ozzie’s” restaurant and sports bar in 1988, started a youth sports academy in 1990, became an investor in a grocery store chain in 1999, and partnered with David Slay to open a restaurant in the early 2000s.
Since retiring from baseball, aside from appearing in numerous radio and television commercials in the St. Louis area, Smith authored a children’s book in 2006 and launched his own brand of salad dressing in 2008.
Smith set the single-season record for most assists by a shortstop (621), and began his string of 13 consecutive Gold Glove Awards. A statue of Smith in his honor is outside Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Smith was in attendance for the unveiling of a statue in his likeness. At the ceremony Sculptor Weber told Smith, “You spent half
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fred friedman
kcbx jazz dj and so much more By Will Jones Life is a lot like jazz…it’s best when you improvise.—George Gershwin Fred Friedman, one of those happy people who seems to always have a smile on his face, accented by his ample Fu Manchu mustache, first started listening to jazz when he was sixteen. He lived and worked in an integrated neighborhood in Los Angeles, and the people he worked with at a White Front discount store listened to jazz in the morning before the store opened. He was introduced to Miles Davis, the Gerald Wilson Orchestra, John Coltrane and other jazz greats, especially one of his all-time favorites, Ray Charles. “One of the guys I worked with said his brother-in-law was having a Christmas party and asked if I’d be interested in going. When I asked him who his brother-in-law was, he said, ‘Ray Charles.’ I said, ‘Heck ya!’ I went to the party in Leimert Park where I ended up playing gin rummy with Ray using braille cards!” Fred was born in 1947 and attended both Los Angeles High School and Hamilton High School, graduating from Hamilton in 1965. Always good at mathematics, he majored in mechanical engineering at UC Santa Barbara. “During the summers I worked for Hughes Aircraft as a draftsman and in the machine shop. I knew that I didn’t want to work in aerospace after working at Hughes, so I did my senior project in an area of biomedical engineering, a small field at the time. I went to work for Beckman Instruments where I was hired as an engineer in the clinical instruments division.” Back in Los Angeles, Fred was listening to the jazz radio station known as KBCO 105, at the time, before it became KKGO 105. “I was a regular at clubs like Shelley’s Manne Hole in LA and The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach. At Shelley’s I saw Miles Davis right after he released ‘Bitches Brew’, one of the more interesting concerts I attended. The performers came on one-at-a-time and started playing, and finally Miles came out without any introduction. As he was famous for, he played with his back to the audience. Ninety minutes later one musician after another walked off the stage until no one was left and that was it.” In 1973 Fred and his then wife traveled to Avila Beach to meet family and camp out. Driving around, they saw how beautiful it was on the Central Coast and thought, “Man, this is nice. We found a two bedroom one bath house on Castaic Street in Shell Beach for seventeen thousand dollars. We came up for a couple of weekends and loved it, so we both quit our jobs and moved. I got a job as an engineer at Diablo Canyon and my wife as a secretary at Cal Poly. Fred transitioned to teaching not long after moving to Shell Beach. “When Cal Poly advertised for a teaching job in the engineering technology department, I applied and was hired as a lecturer.” While working for Beckman, Fred attended night school to earn a graduate degree, and in 1975 he applied for a tenure track position and got it. He taught at Poly until he retired in 2000. Not content with just teaching and enjoying his new home, Fred, urged by a neighbor, joined the Pismo Beach Fire Department. Like the other N O V E M B E R
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Friedman at the station.
firefighters he was on “paid call” status, which meant he got paid by the call and for training three hours a week. “I wasn’t a joiner, but I was with the department for seventeen years, some of the best work I’ve ever done. Going out on a medical aid or rescue call, to go out and save someone’s life by doing CPR is a reward that’s difficult to describe.” Fred eventually became the last part time Fire Chief for Pismo Beach. Fred first started listening to KCBX in 1979, and was excited when he heard jazz. The station had a program guide that came out every month, and he thought he might be able to write reviews of jazz albums. He talked to the general manager, Steve Urbani, who said they didn’t need any articles, but they needed someone on the air. “That had never occurred to me, but I learned how to use the control room equipment. One day the person who did
Fire Chief Friedman
Friedman at the station.
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Friedman oat Boo Boo Records
the morning show couldn’t make it, so they called and asked if I would do it. I gave it a try, my first time on the air. A regular slot opened up in 1980, and I’ve been there ever since.” For over 30 years, jazz fans have been listening to Fred’s “Jazz Liner Notes” program on Thursday nights from ten to midnight. Since 2002, Fred has continued to nurture his interest in music by working part time at Boo Boo Records. “I love it. I get to play music that I want to listen to during the day, I get to talk to people about music, and the people I work with are great. I’m like a kid in a candy shop. Rolling Stone magazine selected Boo Boo Records as one of the top thirty independent music stores in the country.” Fred manned the Boo Boo’s concession stand at the Live Oak Music Festival for many years, and he was also on the booking committee for the festival. He has great memories of working with wonderful artists like Mavis Staples, Jerry Douglas and Carolyn Wonderland, who Fred described as “one of the nicest musicians I’ve ever worked with. When she was signing autographs she talked to everyone. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a nicer person than Carolyn.” Fred also served for many years on the board of the San Luis Obispo Symphony. A charter member of the San Luis Obsipo Jazz Federation, Fred has a great appreciation for the quality of the jazz musicians on the Central Coast. “We have so many good players: Dylan Johnson, Darrell Voss, Dave Becker, and many more, could play for outstanding bands anywhere in the world. My wife, Rochelle, the head chef at the Cypress Ridge Pavilion, is taking bass lessons from Dylan. He’s world class!”
I asked Fred which legendary jazz musicians he would pick for a great sestet. He didn’t hesitate to name Miles Davis on trumpet, John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley on saxophones, but it took him awhile to add Keith Jarrett on piano, Jack DeJohnette on drums and Christian McBride on bass. He was equally thoughtful when I asked him about the future of jazz. “I think it has a strong future. It’s changed over the years. When it started, in the early 1900’s, jazz was what we call Dixieland Jazz. Then it evolved to big bands, bebop and fusion. If you think about jazz being called fusion and jazz being called Dixieland, those are two different genres of music, but we still refer to them as jazz. Who knows what jazz will be ten or twenty years from now.” Whatever the future holds for jazz, its fans and listeners, there’s no doubt that Fred will be playing it on the air and at Boo Boo Records, and advocating for it wherever he goes.
Friedman with his wife, Rochelle and daughter, Deven.
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kelly ferguson adapting every day items for those with disabilities By Heather Young
K
elly Ferguson missed being able to hang with his friends and play video games. So he adapted a controller so he could play with them and his twin sevenyear-old sons, James and Liam. Kelly is a quadriplegic, though he has full use of his arms. He is a mechanical engineer, who designs adaptive equipment for people like him. He suffered a spinal cord injury on the C5 level between his freshman and sophomore years at Cal Poly. He was working for a construction company in Salt Lake City when a strong gust of wind caused a pile of wood forms to fall on him — they were not properly tied down and weighed more than 100 pounds each.
Kelly and Karen Ferguson
“I never saw it coming,” Kelly said. “The next thing I knew I was waking up in the hospital.”
ing. At that time he also drew editorial cartoons for a newspaper in San Diego. He also had a website for his cartoon, “Basket Case,” that he was attempting to get syndicated.
He spent two to three weeks in the hospital there and then was flown to a hospital in Los Angeles where he spent five months “learning to do everything again.”
He submitted his cartoon to all the syndicates around the United States twice and he has “all the rejection letters to prove it,” he said
The accident happened in September 1995 right before the fall quarter began, and he was back at Cal Poly by March 1996. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering with a minor in English in 2000. He moved to San Diego in 2001, where he was a consultant for a company that did adaptive engineer-
The Ferguson family: Karen, Kelly, James and Liam N O V E M B E R
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Kelly with his adaptive pen holder.
PEOPLE They married in June 2006 in San Diego and a month later had a reception in Morro Bay. It was then that they decided they wanted to move out of the hustle of the city to the Central Coast, where Karen grew up.
Adapted cell phone case
Not only did the Fergusons have geographical and budget constraints to work with when looking for a home, but also layout of the house and property. They needed a home with one level, no steps or hills to get to and from the house. The house they settled on is three houses down from Karen’s mom, Maryann Hanson. The house needed updating from its 1960s style. Kelly and Karen hired a contractor to modify the home to accommodate their wheelchairs. All counters were lowered about four inches and allow them to roll under the counters. The footprint remained the same, but functionality changed to be accessible to Kelly and Karen.
Adapted Playstation controller.
with a laugh. He also continues to submit cartoons to the New Yorker every once in a while. He met his wife, Karen, on Match.com at the end of 2004. In his profile photo his wheelchair wasn’t visible as the photos were either of him behind a desk or headshots. He and Karen, who was a senior at Fresno State University at the time, started exchanging emails and he knew after a few emails that he needed to come clean about his disability. So he told her he was wheelchair bound. The email that he got in return, surprised him. Karen told him that she is also wheelchair bound. “Neither of us realized the other was in a wheelchair,” Kelly said. Karen was born prematurely with a spinal bleed and is considered paraplegic, though she said her disorder is more like a nerve issue than a spinal one. “I’ve been disabled my entire life,” Karen said, adding that she got her first wheelchair when she was three years old. While Kelly had to relearn how to do everything after his injury, Karen grew up only learning how to do things in a wheelchair. The couple dated long distance while Karen finished up her degree in interior design. She then she moved to San Diego, which she had planned to do even before she met Kelly.
After moving back to the Central Coast, they were ready to start a family. After many unsuccessful attempts, they consulted with their doctor. Karen found that she has a rare genetic disorder that wouldn’t allow her to get pregnant. “It’s funny that even if we’d both been ablebodied, we still would have had to do IVF,” Kelly said.
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time. He gets ideas from his own life or from his wife, and then figures out how to make it. He designs it and often builds a prototype to perfect the design before printing it on his 3-D printer. Before getting a 3-D printer two years ago, Kelly would send his design to machinist who would then build it. That would take a few months to get the design back; with the printer, Kelly has the product done in a few hours. He started designing adaptive equipment when he was in the hospital and needed something to help him grip a pen to write. Now, he can print the device on demand when he needs a replacement or when someone orders one from his website, www. kfkdesigns.com. Karen also works from home. A year and a half ago she became a LuLaRoe retailer, which is something she can do from home as well. Kelly said he always has three projects he’s working on for himself and has at least five more on the back burner. One of those projects is designing a hand cycle that he can attach to his wheelchair by himself. The one he has now requires two people to help attach it. “The goal is independence,” Kelly said, adding that the hand cycle would allow him to go riding with Karen and their sons. Karen has a hand cycle that she transfers into herself.
Karen then became pregnant with twin boys, who were also born prematurely and spent a few weeks in the NICU. “They were perfectly healthy, just tiny,” Karen said. While most new parents have to adapt to life with baby, the Fergusons had to adjust to life with two newborns and both being wheelchair bound. While Karen could carry and change the babies’ diapers, Kelly couldn’t, but he could hold and feed them and cook for the family.
Kelly’s painting titled Synapse
“We just figured it out,” Kelly said. The biggest challenge they faced with the babies and being in wheelchairs was getting the babies in and out of the car. So they traded in their Honda Element for minivans that were adapted for their wheelchairs. Both minivans had the middle rows removed so both parents could wheel into the vans and be able to get the babies in and out of their car seats. In addition to working for clients as an engineer, Kelly also has several personal engineering projects he’s working on at any given N O V E M B E R
Kelly’s painting titled Recession
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alice rew chapter of a novel life By Deborah Cash
“I was a reader all my life. I taught myself to read at age five—with my mother’s help—by reading things like brand names on household products,” said Alice Rew, lifelong Atascadero resident, career Librarian at Atascadero High School and Friends of the Atascadero Library board member. “My first book was Walt Disney’s character book and I still have it,” Alice said, recalling the fond memory. “I was always the reader in my family,” she shared, adding, “I would go off with a book and hide so my mom wouldn’t find me and give me chores to do!” “I was born in Atascadero—in the house where I grew up,” she said. Rew’s parents, Edwin and Louise Creasy, were from Mapleton, Maine and her father came out west with her grandparents who’d seen an ad in an E.G. Lewis publication about the ‘utopia’ Lewis was promoting. (E.G. Lewis was the visionary founder of the Atascadero Colony and also owned a printing business whereby he published and distributed magazines across the nation that glamorized the area during the early 20th century as a beautiful, affordable and self-sustaining community.) “They drove across the country,” she said, “and that was not an easy trip. The roads weren’t so great and it was a long distance.” “My mom Louise eventually joined my dad Edwin and they were married in the house my dad and granddad built,” she said, pointing out her childhood home that still stands just off El Camino Real toward north Atascadero. Rew was third child of the four Creasy children who all attended an E.G. Louis-constructed grammar school (now torn down). Always studious and raised to be well mannered, Rew said, “I was drawn to a career in the library field by a local county librarian, Helen Larsen.” Rew obtained her B.S. in Home Economics at Cal Poly. A newly married Rew recalled, “Our house was being remodeled. It was such a mess. I escaped the dust by going to the local library and wound up with some clerical duties.”
Rew at the Library. N O V E M B E R
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Having attended high school at Atascadero High, Rew was interested in a position with the library there. Though she had yet to obtain the necessary credential, “I lucked out,” she said. “I promised the principal—whom I knew and who knew me very well—that I would pursue the required certification and did so over three summers obtaining my Librarian credential from San Jose State. That gave me the opportunity to teach Library at any level,” she said. During her 36-year tenure at Atascadero High School, Rew said she most enjoyed working with books and also the students. “I loved
Rew shows off her “one and only” craft project.
PEOPLE when the kids came in and I could help them. I got them to understand what they were doing in the library; how to find materials and rate the quality of materials they needed. I like to think I was a LibrarianTeacher,” she said. Rew also introduced computers to her workplace. “I brought my own computer to school in 1980 and used it for recordkeeping,” she explained. “Shortly thereafter, the school district established labs in the classroom that eventually took off.” She remained dedicated to working with students who were serious about learning. “I tried to get students to check their sources—especially those obtained on the Internet—to make sure they were reliable by comparing to standard reference materials. The library is not just a collection of books,” she firmly stated. Towards the end of Rew’s career, Friends of the Atascadero Library then-President Sarah Gronstrand invited her to come on board with the organization. Rew accepted and has served on the board of the Friends of Atascadero Library about 18 years, saying
it was an easy transition to volunteer work because “It’s nice to do things I like to do but don’t have to do! Also, my parents were volunteers and I chose to emulate them.” She laughs, “I’m not sure how I took on the bookstore but being a major donor to the library, I guess it was assumed I would do it.” Rew says she “comes in every Wednesday to sort books and then pops in from time to time to say hi” but asserts that “I’m actually kind of lazy,” though her history and enthusiasm prove otherwise. Rew married her husband Rex in 1960 and inherited a ready-made family that included his two sons. The family enjoyed hitting the open road and camping wherever they ended up in their VW van that her husband had retrofitted with a built-in utility box so they had lots of storage. “We’d go to Nevada, Utah, Arizona—wherever we felt like,” she recalled happily. “We started out life in a little rental and spent six years planning our house,” Rew describes. “We designed it jointly but I had total say over the kitchen!” Rew, whose husband died in 2007, still lives in the same home for which
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she is grateful that its rooms are “few but big” as her mobility over the years has lessened and the space enables her to maneuver her home in her scooter. Her interests include genealogy and she enjoys Botanical Society activities including helping the organization catalog their books and materials. Rew said she is a person who is highly principled and devoted to her community, greatly due to her mother who before her marriage worked as a governess and “had a lot of experience with children.” “I was very glad for her, she was the most even-tempered mother I’ve ever seen and she never raised her voice. She taught us the importance of being respectable and responsible and that community is important.” To that end, Rew has established two major donations to the Atascadero Library: the Edwin and Louise Creasy Study Room and Creasy Technology Center—ensuring that future readers have access and opportunities to enrich and enjoy life through libraries. Or, just hide out.
INC
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COMMERCIAL + RESIDENTIAL LANDSCAPES + MAINTENANCE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
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PEOPLE
maureen sharon the eclectic volunteer By Judythe Guarnera “When I was eleven, I wanted to learn to make mushroom-barley soup.” This confused me as I’d asked Maureen Sharon when she’d begun volunteering. She grinned and explained. Next-door neighbor, Betty, a good cook, needed a babysitter. She and Maureen traded services, which satisfied both. Little did she realize the value of sharing to meet needs would lead to fifty years of rewarding volunteering. Maureen’s grandmother raised eight daughters after her husband died. A love of music, dance, and acting led the sisters to open three theater arts schools for children in Chicago. One of their venues was an orphanage, where they performed for free for children, who might otherwise never have been exposed to the arts. Grandma was proud of the strong, independent women her daughters became. Maureen carried on that tradition.
Maureen and her husband, Jared.
This was her introduction to the fact that helping others had its own payback—in this instance how to make yummy barley soup. Other benefits might not have been as tangible, but they did highlight the dual benefits.
her passion as Coordinator of Psychological and Educational Services at a center for education therapy. She worked as Director of Early Childhood Programs and later at Stanford as the Executive Assistant to the Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid.
JOY OF LEARNING:
VOLUNTEERING: A WAY TO KEEP LEARNING
As a child, Maureen wanted to teach. Her hero was Eleanor Roosevelt, whom she described as strong, brilliant, soft-spoken and impactful. Hmm, that definition easily describes Maureen. Wanting to belong to a group dedicated to making a difference, Maureen volunteered on Hubert Humphrey’s presidential campaign; she also spent hours in the Free Speech area at Cal State, LA, as she marched for civil rights, and against the war in Viet Nam. Maureen earned her undergrad degree with a teaching credential in Elementary Education and a Masters in Psychology. She discovered
“The important thing is not to stop questioning; curiosity has its own reason for existing.” – Albert Einstein Although Maureen doesn’t suggest she’s discovered the fountain of youth, her reason to live a long life is to have more years to learn. She agrees with Einstein, and statistics show that learning and volunteering extend life. I met Maureen during our rigorous training to become Senior Peer Counselors. Afterwords, we attended weekly sessions to discuss the best approaches to help our elderly, mostly home-bound clients, who dealt with the losses, physical and emotional, of aging. The greatest gift the Peer Counselors gave them was listening. I’m reminded of the question: if a tree fell in a forest with no one there, did it make a sound. Maureen believed that being heard helped these seniors to feel they were still a part of the world. Maureen loved being a resource to older people in the community, in a setting of supportive networking and interactive learning.
OUT OF ISOLATION INTO THE LIGHT Senior Peer Counseling wasn’t enough for Maureen, so she became a Caring Caller. Once a week, she’d spend social time with an elderly client—providing transportation to appointments or shopping, and visiting. When a person ages and friends die, families move away, or are too busy to visit, a friendly visit is a great gift. Maureen at the Kiwanis All Access booth. N O V E M B E R
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Maureen’s favorite client was Esther. “It was like I had my mom back again.” Again, both women benefitted from their friendship.
PEOPLE FOLLOWING YOUR PASSION In college, Maureen applied for a job at the Jewish Center in the Early Childhood program. She became convinced her interviewer was baiting her. His questions pushed her buttons until she stepped out of her softspoken demeanor and got riled. He explained he needed to see her passion— a pre-requisite for working there. Maureen’s passion and caring are evident in everything she’s done and continues to do. Andrew Harvey, a modern-day mystic, teaches his followers to identify a need which engages their passion and then work to fix it.
MAKING YOUR COMMUNITY A BETTER PLACE Maureen’s passionate, but she’s persuasive, too. I’ve bought many tickets to pancake breakfasts and other fund-raising activities for the South County Kiwanis Group. Once she begged her friends to vote for Kiwanis to receive funds to build a playground for children with disabilities. Although they didn’t win, she assured me they’d continue raising funds, until the local children had a playground designed to accommodate their special needs. Maureen promoted and I voted. Another example of individuals joining forces for a cause.
KIWANIS OFFERS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Kiwanis runs the Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival Parade and for two years chaired the entire event. They sponsor the Key Club at Nipomo High School and provide scholarships to South County students. They donate to programs such as Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Scouts.
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nate food and supplies to a local food bank. They participate in Read Across America by reading at a local elementary school, in addition to collecting children’s books to donate to the libraries.
A single rock in a downhill creek is joined by others in a rainstorm and once they’ve joined forces, they might create a dam and stop the flow of water. Every little bit of help combines with others to make a difference.
When I asked Maureen which of these activities brings the biggest smile to her lips, she cited the free, local holiday Melodrama performance. Kiwanis transports 200-300 seniors from care facilities, with their wheel chairs, walkers, caregivers, and facility staff to a private performance. The elders are served popcorn and sodas, sing along with Santa, and enjoy the performance. Even the most solemn individuals can’t help smiling.
NEVER TOO YOUNG TO VOLUNTEER
“So how did you get involved with Kiwanis?” Maureen’s husband, Jared, a member for over thirty years and their son, Jon attended weekly meetings until Jon and his family moved to Israel. Maureen joined so there would still be two Sharons. “Does volunteering get you out of bed in the morning?” She chuckled and said, “Well, Kiwanis starts at 6:00 am, so . . .” “If someone made a movie about your life, what should they call it?”
Maureen, influenced by her family, has been serving her community since she was a child. Statistics show volunteers follow the example of their families; early engagement is critical. She appreciates that schools require students to engage in community volunteering. As giving behavior is modeled, the youth get to know themselves, to identify their passions, interests, and skills, and learn to empathize as they give to others. In return, they’ll experience friendship, support and joy. For fun, Maureen reads and paints, both oil and watercolor. She loves fantasy baseball and is always up for a visit with friends. Family is important to her. Above all, she wants her grandkids to know they are loved and cherished, and are valuable people. “What do you want to be remembered for?” She mentioned kindness and caring. I assured her people will remember her authenticity, her insight and awareness of who she is, and what others need. Maureen stresses that it’s never too late to
“The Eclectic Volunteer,” she replied. OnDAY begin volunteering. All ages, volunteers and HAPPY VALENTINE’S their recipients, benefit. the screen, she imagined a Willow tree with leaves and branches—”The Giving Tree— Making the World a Better Place.”
Let our family take care of your family.
And sometimes, one might even learn to make barley soup.
JUST LIKE HOME
In addition to fundraising, they mail boxes monthly to troops overseas, collect and do-
Maureen knows others can’t volunteer as frequently as she does. Opportunities to suit individual needs, inclinations, or skills, can be tailored to the time and energy levels of the volunteers. There are many unmet needs—a place for everyone.
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take a hike
three bridges oak preserve
north county’s newest hiking adventure By Deborah Cash
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railblazers Mike Orvis, Bruce Bonifas and John Goers—all members of the Atascadero Land Preservation Society (ALPS)—are more than a little excited about the recently opened hiking trail dubbed “Three Bridges Oak Preserve” in west Atascadero that’s also a boon for dirt bikers and equestrians.
Though the trio comes from diverse professional backgrounds—Orvis is a retired PG&E engineer, Bonifas enjoyed a 30-year career with the California Conservation Corps (CCC) in youth development and environmental projects and Goers is a retired Cal Poly biochemistry professor—they have in common a penchant for outdoor activities and being involved in the community. These interests led them, along with a cadre of volunteers, CCC workers and ALPS board members, to develop the beautiful four-mile round-trip trail, traversed three times by bridges over Atascadero creek and whose turn-around peak at 1,640-foot elevation rises from the trailhead some 700 feet below.
Bruce Bonifas, John Goers and Mike Orvis at the trailhead.
The 103-acre property acquired by the ALPS has a story of its own. “It was part of the Davis Land Company,” Bonifas explained, “and it had been for sale for a long time—more than 30 years. People may remember the old ‘for sale’ sign with the longhorns on it along 41.” The Davis Land Company was a former cattle ranch covering a major portion of the hills in west Atascadero and over time was sold off in parcels for developments including 3F Meadows just to the north. At one point, it looked like the property would be gifted to ALPS for open space but that deal fell through when the owner died and it was up to the City of Atascadero to determine its eventual use. “ALPS founder Marj Mackey had already spearheaded the creation of several park and open space areas and we were looking for our next project,” Bonifas said. “We recognized it would be a quantum leap to take on a project of this size but through synergy, successful grant writing and public support, we made it happen.” They paid $780,000 for the parcel in 2011; nearly one million dollars in funding was obtained from the California River Parkways Grant Program and California Natural Resources Agency—primarily due to Bonifas’ grant writing ability. While working to develop a plan for the trail, other benefits of the project came to light such as, said Goers, “The land would be protected and provide watershed safety to Atascadero Creek.” A partnership with Atascadero Mutual Water Company conducts watershed hikes, giving visitors a better appreciation for the value of their water and insight into how the watershed works. Moreover, for dozens of homes located on the hillside to the north that for many years relied on a single road in and out, this project provides an emergency access gate that opens at the trailhead to allow a second escape route in case of emergency. “We received a lot of letters of support for this project for a variety of reasons,” Goers said. Title and permits in hand, next step, said Bonifas, was to hire a topographer. Working with thick natural vegetation that includes grasslands, oaks, California chaparral and nearer the top, madrone was challenging, Bonifas said. “The bushes were right in our face as we pushed forward looking for a path through.” With the assistance of trail design engineer Don Beers in 2013, a trail corridor emerged and work began. In 2014, a small volunteer force took the first orientation hike, “There were about eight of us,” said Bonifas. “We started cutting brush along the flag line and eventually got to the top.” After that, the construction started; over two years and with a crew of about 40 workers—many “hard core regulars,” Bonifas noted—the trail was nearly complete. This also consisted of hiring a CCC crew for which development grant funds were used. “We ended up being a band of brothers and sisters,” Bonifas said. “It was great; the experience provided a camaraderie we hadn’t expected!”
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facts. There are no restrooms or facilities; the point, says Bonifas, “is to keep the area as natural as possible.” The trail is open from “sunrise to sunset” and dogs are allowed but must be leashed.
Volunteers “digging” a day of trail work.
Throughout the process, said Orvis, the City Council was very supportive of the concept, probably because they were kept in the loop about not only the progress of the project but the benefits to the community particularly in terms of how the project could be promoted for the opportunities it provides: recreation, environmental—things that appeal especially to young adults. “This will bring them here not just to hike but to live as well,” Orvis said. Goers concurred, “When we met with all five council members they said they were behind the project. But they also wanted to make sure the neighbors were okay with it.” Goers said a thorough outreach effort to residents in the area netted positive feedback. “They were great and very cooperative.” Bonifas pointed out, “This is a million-dollar-plus facility for Atascadero and a major asset for the community.” Hiking, biking or riding the TBOP trail is a unique experience in that one is quite close to “civilization” at the trailhead but within a short distance it’s a different world. Native
vegetation, wildlife, interesting rock and land configurations, light and shadows (much of the trail is canopied), peace and quiet… whether out for exercise, clearing the mind, enjoying the outdoors or observing nature, the trail offers something interesting around every turn. The reward upon reaching the highest elevation is a view of the California Coastal hills, mountains and valleys in a panoramic vista perfect for reflection—or a selfie! Most of the trail offers level ground or gentle inclines with slightly increasing difficulty closer to the top. Fragile conditions near the upper elevations limit access to hikers only. Because the trail crosses Atascadero Creek, Three Bridges Oak Preserve is open only when water flow is low or dry, typically April through November though the website notes the creek was dry until December 15 last year.
ALPS, a local nonprofit land conservancy, manages the property under an agreement with the City of Atascadero. Supported primarily through memberships, the organization is looking for volunteers and board members, Goers noted, to maintain the momentum established so far with all its properties. There’s truly a desire in the community to provide public spaces and to that end, ALPS is hoping to eventually extend the trail through the proposed Eagle Ranch so that a connection will, says Bonifas, “enable you to ride your bike from Atascadero to Los Padres National Forest without ever being on pavement.” Bonifas counted 40 hikers of all ages in two hours one recent Saturday morning—including a month-old infant; “Being carried in a baby pack still counts,” he laughed. But with the fledgling project still in infancy itself, Bonifas was a little more down to earth saying, “We want it to be big but not too big!” Happy Trails! Visit www.supportalps.org/properties/threebridges-oak-preserve to volunteer or for info.
Reaching the trailhead is fairly easy; take Highway 41 west to San Gabriel, take a right then watch for signage and anticipate some winding roads. On-site kiosks provide maps, details about the trail and other interesting
805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo The view at the top of the trail. N O V E M B E R
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Weekend Getaway
camarillo’s old town By Sherry Shahan is one of the largest in the state. Benches are situated in shady spots throughout, perfect for a picnic lunch. From the Ranch it’s a five-minute walk to Institution Ale Co., a popular brewery-slashtasting room (www.institutionales.com). The pizzas are homemade, assembled on a conveyor belt and beyond cheesy. New offerings are always popping up, though Artichoke Alfredo remains a favorite. Or rake soft pretzels through IPA mustard and a cheesy jalapeño-chipotle sauce. Dessert? Create a float by dropping a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream into your favorite brew.
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St. Mary Magdalen
amarillo was founded on a coastal plain that was once part of a Mexican land grant. The community is passionate about its cultural heritage. There’s a zest for early 1900s buildings even while trendy shops appear on the main drag: Bakeries, epicurean eateries, laid-back pubs, and down-home cafes.
Adolfo Camarillo (1864-1958), the town’s namesake, took the reins of his family’s 10,000-acre ranch in his mid-teens. Landmark Camarillo Ranch House (www. camarilloranch.org) is open to the public. He built La Casa Grande in 1892 for his wife and their children. The 6,000 square foot Queen Anne Victorian features multi-cupolaed red rooftops. Inside teems with period furnishings. Docent led tours are led on weekends. Gardeners during this period often planted shrubs, perennials, and annuals to attract butterflies and hummingbirds: Sages, lavenders, milkweed, etc. Closer to the house, Victorian style gardens wrap around a gazebo and the cistern fountain, a water source for the Camarillo family. Their Morton Bay Fig N O V E M B E R
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Head to Old Town Cafe (www.myoldtowncafe.com) a favorite breakfast and lunch spot. The café was once the enclosed pool area of the historic Candlelight Motel built in the mid-1960s, which is now Bella Capri Inn and Suites. (www.bellacapriinn.com). Egg lovers get creative with Build Your Own Scramble or Omelet. The Wake Me Up! Waffle (shot of espresso, chocolate chips, and bacon enveloped into the batter) is as perky as the congenial staff.
Over time her work has become more abstract, representing ideas, emotions, and often the struggles of life. She likes to play with the unpredictable, pressing unexpected objects into clay. If possible, visit the first Saturday of the month when more artists are on site. Free admission and parking. On the other side of the street, the sheen of satin and sequins draws the vintage obsessed to the Green Goddess Boutique. Racks crammed hanger-to-hanger add to the fun of ferreting through the fashion ages. Score great deals on beaded bags, feather boas, fur-trimmed hats, retro shoes, and more. Space constraints mean only a smattering of the 200 hats and gloves can be displayed. So, ask if you’re hunting for something specific. Owner Claudia Richardson is as intriguing as her shop, still working in the L.A. fashion scene, styling and prepping photo shoots. She and her staff will spend as much time as needed to create an ensemble for that special event or themed party. “Sometimes a client
A couple blocks away, an abandoned elementary school campus has become a thriving art enclave, Studio Channel Islands. (studiochannelislands.org) The Black Board Gallery (formerly the school auditorium) features rotating exhibitions and a gift store boutique (ex-teachers’ lounge). Forty or so Artists in Residence create their magic in individual studios (bygone classrooms) where an assorted mess of paint, clay, and other materials show how inspiration becomes art. Visitors can wander the corridors on any given day to see whose door is open, be it painters, sculptors, weavers, potters, ceramicists, jewelry-makers, or creators of collage and assemblage. Mary McGill discovered ceramics while at Moorpark College working on a degree in interior design, where she admits to peeking in the window of the nearby pottery studio. Once she signed up for a class she never looked back. Early pottery pieces were functional, bowls and mugs.
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Artist Mary McGill
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vorites, like Chinese Checkers and Scrabble. Teens carry on conversations while pushing Monopoly icons around the board. No electronic games. Play your day away for $5 or a 30-day pass for $25. At the south end of Old Town stands the landmark four-tier bell tower and intricate stained-glass windows of St. Mary Magdalen (www.smmcam.org). The mission-style church was established in 1913 when Adolfo Camarillo’s youngest daughter, Carmen, handed workmen a box with the family’s history and mementos. The box was laid in the foundation and the cornerstone set. A fall visit promises T-shirt weather under blue skies. Check out: www.visitcamarillo.com
Landmark Camarillo Ranch House.
will bring in an item long forgotten in her closet,” she said. “We can build a whole new look around one piece.” Longtime Camarillo resident Jeanne Sikoff was driving by a local donut shop when she noticed a group of teens out front, all glued to hand-held screens. “We can do better than this for our community,” she said. After working more than two-and-a-half decades in the travel and tourism industry, Jeanne wanted to create a family-friendly place that offered something to do at night. Zander’s Game House (www.zandersgamehouse.com) is a joint venture with her husband Brian. The name Zander is the nickname of their 10-year-old son Alexander. With over 850 tabletop board and card games there’s literally something for every age and taste. Tiny tots crawl around the store’s centerpiece, an oversized lawn chess set. (Remember Operation with its tiny buzzing tweezers?) Other sections include Retro-Classics, Fantasy, Sci-Fi and role-playing Dungeon and Dragons. The demographics are as diverse as the well-stocked shelves. Grandparents get a kick out of introducing their grandkids to old-time fa-
Zander’s Game House
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honoring our veterans
Call to the colors
Telling the stories of military veterans so that all generations may more fully understand the costs of peace and realities of war
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By Gail Pruitt
aturday, November 11th, 2017 is Veterans Day; the Museum will be open from 10am to 3pm. There will be free refreshments, and our docents will be on duty, as usual, to give you a tour of the Museum or to answer questions while you browse at your leisure. Please join us on this special day to honor all veterans, past and present. Admission is free, as always.
Inside the Museum is a large Wall of Honor. The military service of veterans from all branches of the Armed Forces is memorialized with personalized bronze plaques on the Wall. Al Findley has a plaque there, and he recently arranged to have similar plaques placed, alongside his, to honor the service of his crewmates as well. Friends, family, and fellow veterans can order a plaque to memorialize their own or a loved one’s military service. The bronze plaques for placement on the Wall of Honor can be ordered through the Museum. Call for pricing information: 805-543-1763. The Museum was one of the many community groups with displays at Sheriff’s Family Day at the Madonna Ranch in September. It was a great day, wonderfully organized, and boasted the largest number of visitors ever to attend the event.
KVEC News Talk Radio 920 AM/96.5FM in San Luis Obispo recently aired a captivating interview with Al Findley, (pictured left) one of the Museum’s docents and a WWII veteran. The interview is one of the many episodes from Hometown Heroes Radio hosted by Paul Loeffler. Loeffler travels the country connecting with veterans from coast to coast. “Hometown Heroes Radio is a weekly radio show honoring the men and women whose service and sacrifice have secured our freedom, featuring interviews with veterans primarily from the World II generation, Hometown Heroes presents history through the perspectives of those who lived it.” As Loeffler says at the beginning of the show, “No matter where you’re from in this great country of ours, no matter how big, or how small your hometown might be, there are heroes around you.” KVEC News Talk radio is one of several radio stations in California to sponsor Hometown Heroes Radio. You can hear Findley’s interview by visiting www.HometownHeroesRadio.com (select episode 488) or by visiting the Hometown Heroes Facebook page. Al Findley was a radio operator on a B-24 and flew 26 missions from Attebridge, England over Germany. His plane was shot down over Germany, and he and his surviving crewmembers became POWs. N O V E M B E R
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Sheriff’s Day
The Museum helmets from World War I and II, Vietnam, and Afghanistan which kids always like to try on, offered stickers for the kids to stick on their shirts. Our assistant curator, Dennis Enos, brought fascinating collection from his extensive personal collection of snow gear used by the 10th Mountain Division during WWII. “The original 10th Mountain Division was formed in November 1941… the Division fought in northern Italy for over 110 days in combat…1,000 of the division were lost in action, many more were wounded…” according to the 10th Mountain Division Foundation webpage. The 10th Mountain Division is today based at Fort Drum, New York.
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flag, know what type of ship it flew on, confirm the commander’s identity, and learn what action the ship might have seen. The original donor told us the flag flew on a ship commanded by LTJG Milo J. Morrison (picture left) and that his ship participated in the Normandy invasion on June 6th. So, Gail took a “deep dive” info Fold3, Ancestry.com, and various other reference books and online military history resources to try to confirm the information we had and to fill in the many missing pieces of the story. Coast Guard veteran and docent, Frank Civiello, (pictured above, today and in 1950) was recently interviewed by our own Sandra McGregor, secretary & librarian, about his service. In 1950 with the start of the Korean War, Frank joined the United States Coast Guard. He was set to report after Christmas. However, on December 20, 1950 Frank received orders from the Army to report for duty. When he called the Coast Guard, asking what he should do, he was told not to open those orders but to immediately report to Alameda, California, for Coast Guard boot camp. When he and his buddy arrived at Government Island, however, the WWII barracks had only just been reopened. They had to hurriedly assemble cots, and uniforms weren’t issued until after Christmas. In 1951 Frank was reassigned to Yerba Buena Island in the San Francisco Bay aboard the 130-foot long United States Coast Guard Lighthouse Service Tender, Columbine. Then in 1952 he was assigned to a station at Point Arena Lighthouse north of San Francisco. Meteorologists trained the Coast Guardsmen in how to observe and report weather conditions. Using rain gauges and observing sea conditions and cloud formations, every three hours they sent out weather information to Coast Guard cutters, weather stations, and airports all over the world. Frank was later stationed at Morro Bay assigned to air/sea rescues.
As it turns out, the ship, USS LCI(L)-16, was part of LCI(L) Flotilla Two and was under command of LTJG Milo J. Morrison. He took command of the ship from its commissioning in November, 1942. After crew training he took LCI(L)-16 to join the LCI(L) flotillas crossing the Atlantic via Nova Scotia headed for bases in England. USS LCI(L)-16 would shortly see action transporting troops in the European-Middle East Theatre. Flotilla Two went to North Africa for the Tunisian operations from 27 March-9 July, 1943; to the Sicilian occupation from 9-15 July, 1943; the Salerno landings, 9-21 September, 1944; and the West coast of Italy operations for the Anzio-Nettuno advanced landings of 22 January-8 February, 1944. USS LCI(L)-16 would later transport British soldiers to Sword Beach during the Normandy invasion from, 6-25 June, 1944. However, a different commander was signing the ship’s muster logs beginning in March, 1944. Where was LTJG Morrison? Gail has not yet been able to track LTJG Morrison’s duty station after March 1944. Documents show he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1945. Further information indicates he did survive the war and lived in Milwaukee later in life. The search continues! Watch this space.
Frank was discharged from the Coast Guard in 1954 and he returned to Fresno to work with his father. He and his family moved to the Central Coast in 1979.
Ship Flag
Gail Pruitt, the Museums’ archivist has an extremely interesting job. One of the first tasks is to trace the history of donated artifacts in order to tell the story of the person who used it. Recently, she wanted to clarify and confirm the history of the ship’s
Loading Troops at Terminilmerese Sicily, 1943
Loading Troops at Bizerte, Tunisia for invasion of Sicily, 1943
SUPPORT THE MUSEUM — BECOME A MEMBER!
Your $30 annual Membership includes a subscription to the newsletter CALL TO DUTY Name________________________________________ Street Address________________________________________________ City__________________________________________ State_____Zip_________Phone___________________________________ Email____________________________________________________________ Preferred delivery method:____ Print____ Email For your annual membership and newsletter subscription send your 501(c)(3) tax-deductible check for $30 made out to: CCVMM along with your name and address to: CCVMM Treasurer, 801 Grand Ave., San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401. You will also receive a Museum membership card and lapel pin, plus 10% off any Gift Shop purchases. You will receive 4 copies of the quarterly newsletter. Thank you for supporting the Museum! N O V E M B E R
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at the market The great, super salad By Sarah Hedger
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ovember on the Central Coast means we are right on the cusp of...Winter! Fortunately, there are still so many options to choose for fresh goodness at the local markets. Apples are in the prime of their season, with an endless number of options to choose from. Pumpkins and Winter Squash are obviously made for the pickins this month, along with persimmons, pomegranates, and nuts. Early season brassicacaes begin to show up as well, including brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale. Lots of great options!
This month’s recipe is a gem and one we can’t get enough of lately. Sometimes there are seasonal recipes that can be enjoyed year round, as the recipe itself has enough flexibility that different, seasonal ingredients can be used, depending on the time of year. If there is one thing I could wish for a little more in my life, it would be salads. They can be so good! When done right, they offer all the freshness of the season, and the fewest ingredients can turn into the most beautiful of salad combinations. This month’s recipe is
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an adaptation from one of my favorite cookbooks, The Broadsheet Melbourne Cookbook. It highlights recipes from Melbourne’s best restaurants and let me tell you, the pages are full of inspiring goodness that can be made at home. The Great, Super Salad is one of those recipes that can adapt all year long to whatever is in season, from the local Farmers Market, or your own backyard. In Winter, the greens can be shaved green cabbage, or spinach, or bits of kale leaves. In Summer, it can be fresh greens in the form of mizuna, or delicate heirloom leaves. We are lucky in that avocados are in season nearly year round in California, which makes us pretty lucky as they are a powerhouse of goodness in their own right. Carrots and beets offer just a touch of sweetness and color to the salad as well. Nuts are also best this month, as they are freshly dried and ready to be enjoyed. The last version of this salad I made with toasted walnuts, but hazelnuts, or almonds could be great as well. They can be toasted on the stove top, or in the oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. Easy! What makes this salad really pop in freshness when eaten, is a combination of the pomegranate molasses, and fresh herbs of parsley and mint. If you have never had pomegranate molasses before, go get some! This is the perfect recipe to use it for. There really is no substitute as it is sweet and tart and molasses-y all at the same time. The quinoa rounds out this salad as a complete meal as it actually has all nine amino acids, thus brings a complete protein to the salad, making it filling enough to eat on its own, which you can’t say about many salads! Quinoa is great as it is gluten free, and technically a seed of the amaranth family. And, it tastes great! I usually soak mine for a few hours or even the night before, as it makes it more easily digestible, and cooks in a fraction the time (10 minutes). That said, most parts of this salad can be made beforehand,
the great, super salad Makes one great salad for 2 or 3 For The Cashew Mayonnaise: (can be made ahead) 1 cup raw cashews, soaked for 2 hours 2 dates, soaked for 2 hours ½ cup chopped cauliflower ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup warm water ¼ cup lemon juice 1 tsp dijon 1 T cider vinegar ½ tsp sea salt so the actual finished product can come together real quick, which is always nice! If you have any edible flowers in your yard (yellow mustard flower petals even), top off a beautiful salad that is as nice to eat as it is to look at. Enjoy!
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Place all ingredients in Nutri Bullet or other similar-type, high horsepower blender. Blend for a minute until super smooth. Set aside. For The Salad: 1 cup quinoa, soaked and cooked till just firm 3 cups fresh salad greens (finely chopped kale or shaved cabbage is good in here as well) 1 carrot, grated 1 beet, finely grated 1 cup freshly minced mint and flat leaf parsley 1 avocado, chopped ¼ cup pomegranate molasses
Bill Mott
¼ cup olive oil
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1 cup any combo of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, toasted (toasted walnuts are great too) Add 1 T pomegranate molasses, 1 T olive oil, and a pinch of salt to the quinoa and give a good stir. Place salad green mix in large bowl and scatter carrots, beets, quinoa, avocado, mint, and parsley around. Drizzle with 2 T pomegranate molasses, 2 T olive oil, and a pinch of salt. When ready to serve, give a good toss and top with cashew mayonnaise, seed/ nut mixture. Enjoy!
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Paso art scene
fine craft as an art form By Toni Bouman
The most exciting and challenging aspect of my craft is the fact that, unlike other art forms, there is only so much control that the artist has over her materials. At a certain point in my process, I have to “let go” and let the silk and the dye “do their own thing”. The textile artist must have an intimate knowledge of the type and weight of the fiber they are working with and what that specific fabric will and won’t do. They must also know how each fabric will accept dye. They must know the different dyes and how they interact with different fabrics. Some dyes take longer to absorb than others and some will need to be steamed in a water bath to “set”.
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hroughout history, in all cultures, the need for textiles has been a priority, providing clothing, utilitarian items as well as home goods. It has generally been the women in each society that created their textiles by developing various methods of textile design and dyeing to add color, symbolism, and many times self expression. Over the years these textiles have begun to be recognized not only as functional, but also as an art form or fine craft. Women, not being happy just creating basic textiles, began creating their own unique styles and designs and discovered ways to create dyes to incorporate color into their work. I became fascinated with textiles at a very young age. After a very short and unfulfilling career as a clothing designer making mass produced garments, I searched for a way to express myself artistically. I began working in batik and from there silk painting which uses
a “resist” to restrict the flow of colored dye on silk. While many textile artists excel in these mediums, I found them repetitive and restrictive. However, working with silk did lead me into the ancient Japanese textile craft of Shibori which is a method of manipulating fabric, creasing it, submerging the fabric in
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water, and then dyeing the fabric. Additionally, there are numerous types of Shibori. I work in Arashi Shibori, which requires that the silk is wrapped and stretched on a pole prior to dyeing; Itajame Shibori, which utilizes clamps and wooden blocks; and rope wrapping, whereby the silk is literally wrapped on a section of rope, and tightened with string.
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Recently I have been introduced to natural dyes and mordants and the world of botanical dyeing. This is the process of transferring the image of living plants onto fabric which results in breathtaking textiles with no two ever being identical. I am now incorporating this technique into my Shibori. There is nothing more satisfying than learning and honoring a centuries old craft and taking it into an entirely new realm. Toni Bouman is an Associate Artist at Studios on the Park
8th annual
cc bioneers conference By Rebecca Juretic
B
ioneers UPRISING is the theme for the 8th annual Central Coast Bioneers Conference, hosted by Ecologistics, Inc., to be held Saturday, November 4 at the SLO Guild Hall in San Luis Obispo. Central Coast Bioneers is a member of the Bioneers Network, and the regional conference site for Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties. This year’s conference events will include: • Video presentations of keynote lectures from the National Bioneers Conference in San Rafael including Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! • Local Renewable Energy Goals: A report by April Price of Santa Barbara’s Community Environmental Council on the CEC’s ongoing efforts on a coalition to move forward 100% renewable energy goals in the San Luis Obispo-Santa-Barbara-Ventura region. Also, a video presentation from the National Bioneers Conference of Speaking Truth to Power: Taking on Coal & Nuclear Domination featuring Executive Director of New Energy Economy, Mariel Nanasi. • Carbon Farming Presentation: A talk by National Bioneers keynote speakers John Wick and Calla Rose Ostrander on the rapidly growing movement among farmers across the country to sequester carbon from the atmosphere back into soil, a process known as “carbon farming.” This video presentation will be followed by local expert Tim LaSalle, Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, CSU Chico and Professor Emeritus of Cal Poly. Other speaker videos from the National Bioneers Conference include ecologist Suzanne Simard on how trees communicate with each other, public policy expert Heather McGhee on using deep democracy to create a sustainable future, and anthropologist Jeremy Narby on our culture of anthropocentricism. This year Ecologistics will also be holding, in conjunction with the conference, a one-day Empower.SLO Advanced Activism Training session at the Guild Hall for progressive nonprofit leaders and volunteers. The training will cover nonprofit free speech in advocacy, creating a communications agenda and working with the media, how to locate background information on elected officials to find common ground, and direct action organizing – how to create strategies and tactics to accomplish your goals. Presenters for Empower.SLO will be media management and public relations expert Tom Fulks, strategic planner Rosemary Wrenn, attorney Joel Diringer and Cal Poly Sustainability Coordinator Kylee Singh. Tickets are $45 for adults and $25 for students. One ticket provides entrance into both events. Go to www.ecologistics.org to register or for more information. Central Coast Bioneers is a local, selforganized Bioneers Resilient Communities Network Event. To learn more about Bioneers visit www.bioneers.org.
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slo chamber of commerce’s
charlene rosales of cupcakes and community By Susan Stewart
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dozen years’ experience in public service, a dozen homemade cupcakes, plus a heavy dose of “happenstance” led Charlene Rosales to the job that was clearly made for her. As Director of Governmental Affairs for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce since 2013, Rosales brings a balanced blend of knowledge, commitment, collaborative spirit, and love of community to this key position. Advocating on behalf of the business community at the local and state levels, Rosales works with the Chamber president and its Board of Directors to develop policy positions on relevant community issues. Born and raised in Santa Barbara (as were her parents before her), Rosales grew up in an atmosphere of caring for others. Her mother was a preschool teacher and her father worked for the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department. Her grandparents, who lived well into their 90s, demonstrated a strong work ethic balanced by love and … fun! They modelled deep caring and commitment to serving others, as well as the need to relax, revive, and enjoy life. “They believed in a good party whenever life called for it!” she smiled.
But it was her involvement in team sports and the family vacations they took each year that taught Rosales the core values she brings to the workplace today. Sports underscored the value of teamwork, the importance of recognizing and honoring people with ideas and styles different from her own. For three weeks every summer, her family explored the Western United States in a tent or tent trailer, mostly in the great national parks like Yellowstone, Glacier, and Bryce Canyon. Here, Rosales learned about the importance of preserving nature and protecting animals. Impressed by the abundance of diverse wildlife, Rosales went to work as a veterinarian’s assistant while still in high school. She would
Supporters of Woods Humane Society, Kevin Dye and Charlene Rosales with their dogs Bodi and Lucille. N O V E M B E R
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eventually attend Cal Poly as an Animal Science major. Later in life, her love for animals would lead to her current position on the Board of Directors for Woods Humane Society—just one of many board positions she has occupied over the years. After graduation, Rosales wondered what was next. She opted to stay in San Luis Obispo, landing a job as Fitness Programs Director for Cal Poly’s ASI Recreational Sports. But it was her work as program coordinator for the school’s Student Life & Leadership department that brought the importance of our nonprofit sector to the forefront.
Charlene with SLO Chamber staff members volunteering at Concerts in the Plaza.
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whereupon the CEO mentioned two positions that needed to be filled. Did she know anyone who might be interested? “Sure!” she thought. “I am!” After a rigorous application and interview process, Rosales landed the job. That was in February of 2013. Since that time, she has witnessed both the challenges and rewards of her position. “Our biggest challenge comes from deciding which issues rise to the top. … The business community needs to thrive, so we have to focus on those policies that support them, while also preserving our quality of life.” That can be a complex process, taking care to include the many differing opinions, and looking hard at the long-range decisions that will affect the future.
1972 celebrating Old Spanish Days in Santa Barbara in a costume made by her Grandmother.
Directed to help students fulfill their Americorps commitments, Rosales was introduced to the many nonprofits in our county dedicated to improving life for the socially and economically underserved. “That really hit home for me,” she recalls. “And I got very involved. Rotary [for example] has been a big part of that. … They have heart for both where they live, and for the more global community.” That introduction to the nonprofit world would also lead Rosales to work with the American Cancer Society, the American Red Cross, the City of SLO’s Human Relations Commission (among others), the SLO County YMCA, the Downtown Association, the Elks Lodge, and finally an eight-year stint with the United Way of San Luis Obispo County, the latter as Chief Operating Officer. As part of her job with the United Way, Rosales became a Chamber of Commerce board member, serving on several committees, including the Issues Evaluation Committee, the Economic Development Committee, and chairing the Homeless Services Center Task Force. She was increasingly aware of the key role the chamber plays, and was impressed by how hard the staff worked on a daily basis. So one day, she stopped by the Chamber offices to deliver a box of homemade cupcakes,
That challenge is offset, Rosales explained, by the impressive people she works with, and the Chamber members who show up in such large numbers for the volunteer committee memberships, task forces, and mixers that make the Chamber so vital. “There is such a high level of involvement from our members,” she said. “These are the people who are ready to roll up their sleeves, willing to work, not just for the business community, but for the good of the larger community.” Rosales said she is also deeply appreciative of the processes she and her team use with regard to policy. “If I can put on my nerdy policy hat for a minute,” she grinned, “we are a convener of different ideas, a catalyst for change, with a hearty appetite for seeing both sides, for looking at the overall picture as well as the specific, the pros and the cons. … Every month 120 volunteers show up to serve on their committees: the Economic Development and Legislative Action Committees, plus the Business Council, giving their time to study complex issues so that we can be as well informed as possible in order to stand by a given policy position.” New for Rosales and her team this year is the updating of the Chamber’s Economic Vision where every few years members ask themselves “What type of community can we be in the future?” This year, that vision will be quite different as Diablo Canyon prepares to close, prompting questions like: What opportunities does that open up for our county? And What can we learn from others? The team will be looking at forming
Helping out at the SLO Daybreak Rotary Club’s annual golf tournament fundraiser.
new partnerships, new collaborations to develop a new vision for the future. One of the most significant changes, Rosales reports, is the new and emerging work force now engaging with the Chamber. At 110+ years old, the Chamber has tackled major shifts and changes in the economy. It’s equally vital that the young professionals now leading the future be a strong part of the Chamber’s efforts. “It’s so exciting to see this new wave,” said Rosales. “We are seeing in them a big heart for service. … We need to seek different ways to acknowledge this new generation, to use social media to attract new members, to tap into their fresh ideas, their new thoughts. To ask the question, What does this work force need to be successful?” For Rosales, these and other exciting new challenges only serve to deepen her commitment to broaden and diversify Chamber membership, to welcome new partnerships, and to look forward to new possibilities— while not losing sight of what is still working. More than anything, it’s the people—those she works with and those she serves—who inspire Charlene Rosales, and inform the work she does. “I’ve grown to love this community more than I ever thought I would,” she said. Those who know her unanimously agree that she inspires them in equal measure.
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HISTORY ON THE HOOF DAY TRIPS INTO THE PAST
harmony By Joe Carotenuti
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here are times when the tumult of daily life requires a withdrawal, almost a retreat, from the present. History on the Hoof is meant to provide a variety of suggestions where a personal horse powered vehicle travels back in time to days that seem less complicated and conflicted. Of course, it is an illusion because a requirement for humans at any time is to be engaged in the everyday challenges of existence. Those trials are what promote a need to retreat. Of course, there is also a need for constructive fantasy in all lives as well. Certainly, a drive along the rim of the Pacific (pacifico in Spanish) Ocean provides ample opportunities to allow the present to withdraw into the past for a different perspective and rejuvenation. Do you see the Spanish galleons plying the round-trip trade routes from Mexico to the Philippines laden with treasures (many still reposing at the bottom of the seas along with the hapless crews)? There are also opportunities along the way to visit the three Cs: Cayucos, Cambria and the Castle of Hearst (see Journal Plus: May, June, and July 2017). There is, indeed, another respite beckoning any world-weary traveler. What better temporary fleeing from current issues than a two and one-half acre, one street village carved into the majestic coastline with a name conjuring feelings of contentment and peace…Harmony.
A painting of the old Creamery Building N O V E M B E R
Let’s start. In the latter part of the 19th century, a transformation occurred in parts of the coastal county. From the vast cattle ranchos of previous eras to smaller land holdings, an industrious population was lured from Europe and other parts of America to raise cows…not for meat, but for milk. The saga of the Swiss immigrants deserves its own remembrance but locally their contributions to the diversity of the central coast lingers in many places especially as dairy pioneers. To this day, family names dating to this era of county development remind us that we all have familial ties back to the dim recesses of history. It began with the Excelsior Cheese factory in 1869. From the seemingly endless labor and grit, the coastal settlement expanded into recognition. A pioneer, Chauncey Hatch Phillips, famous for his role in bringing the Southern Pacific Railroad to Templeton in the late 1880s, also played a vital role in the area’s development. In the mid-seventies, his sub-division of the Rancho Moro y Cayucos provided for a variety of smaller acreages thus inviting more owners to develop the former land grant. A thriving but competitive dairy industry had already emerged in the valley but conflict seemed as prevalent as cows. Local lore describes an agreement by the combatants to live in a “forevermore truce” … and thus the name. Granted in 1915, the new post office provided the name Harmony for the enterprising town. Centered about the Harmony Valley Co-operative Dairy, vast productions of milk and milk products sustained the community and even saw the likes of William Randolph Hearst and his worldfamous guests stopping by to purchase the local products on their way to the fabulous ranch atop “La Cuesta Encantada” (Spanish
Creamery workers in front of the Creamery Building.
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The Harmony Chapel.
for the Enchanted Hill). At its peak, production reached tons of butter and cheese as a daily output. Today, crafted ice-cream alone is worth the stop. Progress included dirt paths to transport goods and people as well as a post office (closed officially but still there for information…and possible reopening) and much later, a gas station. California emerged as a national leader in dairy production and San Luis Obispo County a major contributor to various statistics. A state-of-the-art Dairy Science Department at Cal Poly is still nationally recognized for innovation and quality education. However, the Harmony enterprise lasted for over a half century and by the midnineteen fifties, the creamery closed as costs and competition took its toll. Somewhat forgotten by time, there has been a resurgence as the perpetually counted 18 residents invite the visitors to enjoy the past
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The Harmony Mayor 1973 to 1995
as the town’s historic landmarks, including the main creamery, were restored and reopened as restaurants and shops. Described as “a charming and quirky homestead,” its only “mayor” was a cat named Freddie. Living in a pasta restaurant, his full name was Fettuccini Alfredo. Be sure to pay your respects at his grave. Using its historical remnants combined with modern appeal such as a wedding chapel or family picnic outdoors among the invigorating scenery adds new relevancy to the tiny community’s heritage. Purchased in 2014, a developing renaissance promises to provide a cure for today’s woes or simply an opportunity to remember and thank those who confronted their days with valor and left just a little behind for those yet to come – with a reminder to live in peace and ............ Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com
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history
William L. Beebee Part 3
By Joe Carotenuti
L
ooking at the only known image of William Leland Beebee (found in Myron Angel’s seminal study History of San Luis Obispo County) sketched at least 15 years before his demise in 1899, it’s a challenge to envision the young man arriving locally in 1849. The image is a typical rendition of a “pillar of society,” a member of the “establishment” –in the best sense of the word–which are apt descriptions. Yet, how did a 14-year-old, cast adrift from his family, meander through time, trials, tribulations and triumph into the sketch? All life stories are unique to the individual but Beebee’s is repeated in assorted ways by many of the pioneers on the central coast. Each found themselves adrift from familial roots and by land and/or sea beginning their major life’s journey to the western rim of the Union. The rigors of travel, let alone the dangers, molded their character and seeped into their physical and moral fiber. Many were bi-lingual; not through formal education but as a necessity for survival in the predominantly Hispanic west. Yet, the skill proved most useful as they pursued various attempts to support themselves and families. We have met many in the pages of Journal Plus. From birth in New York, William tried clerking, the gold mines, merchandising and ranching. Undoubtedly given his fortitude, he could have succeeded in any venture, but within a few years after his arrival, the judiciary proved the most beneficial…but only for a while. His story continues. To recap: coming to the small crossroads called San Luis Obispo before statehood, he and Samuel Adams Pollard had enough capital to build the first commercial structure. It is yet to be discovered how the two met but both had tales of adventure to relate and, undoubtedly, dreams of the future to share. Both worked for merchant firms. It is not hard to imagine each noting the income flowing into the firms’ coffers. At 20 and 25, Beebee and Pollard had both the audacity and bravado of youth to imagine being their own firm. If one dream did not end well, they had learned to simply try another dream. Settling into the rural community and business, within a few years, Beebee garnered 18 votes and became a Justice of the Peace followed within six months as an Associate Judge of the Court of Sessions. For the first two years as a county, the ultimate authority rested with this Court until the State Supreme Court banned a judicial body acting
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in a legislative capacity. Pollard became the first chairman of the first County Board of Supervisors along with William Goodwin Dana. When Dana needed to be replaced, it is no surprise Beebee was his replacement. There is no exact date, but he withdrew from the merchandising business and concentrated on a newly acquired ranch. While William and Samuel came to the valley before statehood, the settlement was far from serene. The Gold Rush brought a flood of humanity into California. Ambitious and hard-working men (with few women in the population) from other parts of the nation and world pursued the alluring and illusive wealth at the end of the gilded rainbow. It was also a haven for the brutes who looked for any opportunity to find their fortunes in another’s pocket and too often at the cost of their victim’s life. By late 1858, following the lead of San Francisco, Beebee was a signatory to the Vigilance Committee manifesto and contributed $50 to its treasury. With little, if any, governmental protection, the community formed its own system of justice. Two years later, by two votes, he lost a bid for the State Assembly. The loss was to the
Avila Port Harford
A Retirement F COMMUNITY 33
judge, Walter Murray, for the office of County Treasurer. In the meanwhile, his political aspirations were boosted by leadership with the relatively new Republican Party in support of the Union during the Civil War. Avoiding the popular vote, Governor Leland Stanford (1862-1863) appointed him to the county judgeship. He was successfully elected for the same office until he lost his bid in 1871.
About the same time, the lumber business Evenwharf though the and prospect of m found another in Cayucos a lifelong friendship future, with youJames oweCass. it toIndeed, yourself to it was Cass who submitted a brief biography carefree living in your own home of his friend to the Society of California Pioneers. Beebee was a charter member of the organization.
You Don’t Have to Move
Leland Stanford
paramount historically important Charles Henry Johnson. Beebee was politically persistent and the next year lost again. This time it was to a future
Feel Sa
When Beebee died on May 31, 1899, he had It’s a fact of life that asmuch we ofget Pristine experienced his older, world having grieved at the death child and of his first wife, licensed In the meanwhile, the disastrous drought some day-to-day tasksof abecome too Alida, and celebrated his marriage in the sixties proved an end of his ranching much to handle on our own. That afterwards All of ou to Arletta. Traveling to Alaska and Europe, days and he sold his land. Beebee now added have to move away are caref heyou was honored with his name gracing a ship his judicial career and ranchingdoesn’t to the list mean of plying the trade routes. his former endeavors, but not asfrom an endthe to comfort ofPacific yourOcean home. and pass the future. Business beckoned again but, this Pristine Home Services local Certainly leadingisa a robust life, Beebee’s backgro time, it was much more than one store. company thatinherent helpsability San toLuis Obispo navigate the shoals of and dru despair and disappointment and maintainwhen a First, after selling his ranch in 1869, BeeCounty residents avoid the high cost so healthy equilibrium is the story of many men bee moved into a town of about 1000 and of moving to a retirement facility. in your h and women who pass through the pageant of partnered with John Harford of Avila fame the world. For those who wish to remember, as having the harbor facilities and Louis “She he San Luis Obispo has a short street named for Schwartz who had the timber contacts to person one of its most illustrious pioneers. embark in a lumber business. Beebee’s role All of our services can be provided She sho was selling and managing the business. Contact: daily, or on jacarotenuti@gmail.com an as-needed basis. Within a few years, his capital was suchweekly, he very re was one of 13 investors in the first Bank of for only the services you need You pay dows!” Visit: www.joefromslo.com San Luis Obispo, followed by a year as chairand we provide those services at a price men of the last Board of Trustees for the “They t you can afford. Town that became a City in 1876.
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what I YARDConvenient MAINTENANCE · HANDYMAN SERVICES · PERSONAL CARE exactly One-call Service reason Our personal care services include to a fri shopping,Services daily errands, meal preparaHome Specialist tion, transportation and non-medical Before From handyman services to plumbing and preparing meals. There is no task care. Our housekeeping services keep could a too large or too small for Pristine Home Services. All of our services can your kitchen and the rest of your home be provided daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. You pay for only the and sta spotless. eventhose do services windows and services you need andWe we provide at a price you can afford. to read laundry. Our yard maintenance crews “Wha and beyond my know how “Pristine to takegoes careabove of your favorite abou I can live in the comfort rose bushesexpectations and keepsothe grass neatly of my home.” mowed. Our–Jay handyman services are “Four Baker provided by specialists in plumbing, servi electrical work, painting, repairs and anyon Serving All of San Luis Obispo County safety rail installation. We inv CALL FOR RATES now so two FR
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805-543-4663 www.pristinehomeservices.net 710 FIERO LANE, UNIT 16 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 N O V E M B E R
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our schools
what if we were measured by one morning at starbucks? By James J. Brescia, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools
“It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data.” —Arthur Conan Doyle One fall morning I was driving to the office in San Luis Obispo from our home in Paso Robles and listening to an EdSource Podcast report on California’s new accountability system which is available online and called the California School Dashboard. The Dashboard includes an Equity Report, where users can see how student groups within a district are performing on a variety of measures. It is important to note that these reports contain multiple data points such as test scores, graduation rates, suspension rates, and English language development. This accountability provision under state law has a clear focus, ensuring districts receive additional support if they have one or more student groups struggling with one or more indicators. The Smarter Balanced Assessment scores across our county remained relatively constant with slight increases in, at, or above target, compared with the same groups two years ago. It is important to note that college eligibility rates increased, attendance rates increased, suspension rates decreased, and the number of students participating in dual enrollment of college-level courses is at an all-time high. These are all multiple measures of school performance that do not make quick or tantalizing headlines. Readers are probably asking what this has to do with Starbucks in the morning. As I was listening to the podcast, I was heading into the Starbucks parking lot to pick up a cup of coffee, a ritual many of us practice on a regular basis. While parking the car, I observed a young parent I recognized, driving her SUV through the parking lot, having a somewhat animated conversation on her phone and then with her adolescent daughter. Suddenly, an elderly patron of the coffee shop was exiting the walkway unobserved by the mom in her SUV. There was a horrified look on both the pedestrian, and the young mother, as the vehicle and phone conversation came to a sudden stop. Fortunately, both were uninjured just startled. Previously, I have experienced morning encounters with this same parent and observed calm behavior with her daughter, careful driving and even a brief chat as we waited in line. I believe she is a physician at the local hospital and her daughter attends the local middle school. What if my opinion of this young parent was based only on her less than satisfactory driving that morning in the Starbucks parking lot? What if we were all measured by a single data point determined by an agency that only views us via an identification number? Sue Burr, a close advisor to Governor Brown, and member of the State Board of Education, advised the public to look at the whole picture, not just test scores. There is also a danger that parents, advocates, and others who want to see rapid improvements, may be tempted to describe progress as a failure if they ignore graduation rates, attendance rates, college acceptance rates, matriculation to employment, and dual enrollment rates over test scores. Test scores do have value in showing how well students are doing compared N O V E M B E R
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to previous years. According to Education Trust-West, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing academic achievement gaps, “They (test scores) are essential for goal setting for Latino students, students of color and low-income students. If we believe we can narrow and close the opportunity and achievement gaps in the state, then we need to look at the data and make decisions based on that, the scores help us do that.” These results will most likely present a description of whether California is on the correct path or needs to apply a different course of action yet again. Many of our current reforms introduced during Governor Brown’s tenure, were approved by the legislature in 2013, and grant more decision-making to local school districts. I often think about the San Luis Obispo County demographics when we purchased our Paso Robles home in 1989. I was hired to teach at the city’s only middle school (there are now two) because I could speak Spanish, and there was a need to hire a second teacher to work with the growing English language learner population. The English language learner population in our county is significantly larger than it was ten years ago, and there is no comparison to the change when we moved to San Luis Obispo County because housing was considered affordable. The students in our classrooms today represent approximately ten percent of the county population, are more diverse ethnically, and differ economically from the rest of San Luis Obispo County. Cambria, one of the most expensive communities in the county, serves over 40% English Language Learners and over 50% of their students qualify for free and reduced lunches. State data indicates nearly a 20% increase compared to just a decade ago, for not only Cambria, but other districts throughout our county. What I see in our data, is that our county as a whole, is becoming more affluent, older, and housing costs now make San Luis Obispo County one of the most expensive in the state. At the same time, our population of students enrolled in our schools is increasing in English Language Learners, those living in poverty, and those with both parents/caregivers working outside the home. Our county has been very supportive of our schools through school facilities bond issuance, volunteer time and community outreach. As we examine the data about our schools, it is important to consider multiple measures, our demographic changes, and the progress we are making across the county. This year California’s Local Control Funding Formula requires the county office of education to provide additional support to our local school districts. Support provided by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education will be tailored to address the specific needs, based on the performance of each student group, including ethnic and racial groups, low-income students, English Language Learners, foster youth, and students with disabilities. As my staff begins to work with school districts across the county, I will do my best to remember the young physician in the parking lot with her
daughter and remind my staff, our stakeholders, and the community the importance of examining multiple measures. We have many reasons to give thanks in our county. More students complete high school, attendance rates have increased, more students are entering career pathways during high school, more students are receiving college credits while in high school through Cuesta College’s dual enrollment, and, yes, our test scores are improving, if only slightly. We have much work ahead of us to continue California’s education overhaul. Improving outcomes for all students will depend on new ideas coming from many voices and empowering local communities to work together for the greater good.
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NOVEMBER CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43
References Available Upon Request “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” —Vince Lombardi
© StatePoint Media
STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: HOLLYWOOD ACROSS 1. *____ Jessica Parker 6. Bag, in Paris 9. Diplomat’s forte 13. Opposite of cathode 14. *”Chinatown” sequel: “The ____ Jakes” 15. Chocolate tree 16. Considering everything 17. Pro vote 18. Sleep spoiler? 19. *Famous filmmaker Cecil 21. *”The Jazz Singer” was the first one 23. “To Kill a Mockingbird” recluse 24. *Cary Grant in “His ____ Friday” 25. FedEx competitor 28. Family room staple 30. *Hollywood, a.k.a. ____town 35. Not kosher 37. Perfect houseplant spot 39. Mother-of-pearl
40. Tiny amount 41. _____ Island, NY 43. Pre-college school 44. Opposite of rappel 46. *Japanese American actor with star on Hollywood Blvd. 47. Religious offshoot 48. Trojan hero 50. Superbright 52. Pilot’s deadline 53. “____ we forget” 55. Ballerina’s support 57. *Famous boulevard 60. *Grauman’s ____ Theatre 64. A mood disorder 65. Before 67. Did not smell good 68. Discrimination against seniors 69. Immeasurable period 70. Fear-inspiring 71. *Scorcese and De Niro flick 72. “____ the wild rumpus begin!” 73. Goes down
DOWN 1. Aforementioned 2. *Hathaway or Bancroft 3. Knock about 4. Impromptu 5. How-do-you-dos 6. Eye affliction 7. Leave speechless 8. Raccoon’s South American cousin 9. *Feature film actors first did it in the 1920s 10. Antioxidant-rich berry 11. Kind of package 12. *Director Ford or actor Hanks 15. Summon one to enter 20. *Clint Eastwood’s “Every Which Way but ____” 22. *Motion picture, a visual ____ form 24. Dandy 25. Carthage’s ancient rival 26. Proletarian, for short 27. Become established 29. *The industry
31. Takes a siesta 32. Rocks at mountain base 33. Upright 34. Former Greek coin 36. *Walk of ____ 38. Facebook button 42. Truth, in the olden days 45. Type of fir 49. “Savvy?” 51. Made noise 54. Stainless stuff 56. *Bruce Lee’s “____ the Dragon” 57. *”Hollywood ____” by brother of 19 Across 58. Computer operating system 59. Inconclusive 60. Copper coin 61. Eurozone money 62. Edward Scissorhands’ sound 63. Augments 64. Dojo turf 66. Future fish
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eye on business
I hated econ classes, but I love this By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates
November 3rd. This is excellent timing for business people looking for inspiration and direction, because, let’s face it, by December it’s just too late to get ahead of the curve.
Caroline Beteta, President and CEO of Visit California
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ith 2017 careening to year end, the time is now to start planning for success in 2018. That’s a tough one to wrap our heads around with holiday preparation and other distractions in high gear, but the Central Coast Economic Forecast may help get the thinking started. This is the annual program that comes up in early November each year, with the 2017 version slated for Friday,
The Central Coast Economic Forecast was created years ago by a group of volunteers who saw a gap in the market: a lack of solid economic information and the analysis needed to make decision based in data. We had no ready way to identify trends or even know what was really going on until we were in the middle of it. Course correction was out of reach. We made seat-of-the-pants calls instead of data-based decisions; flying blind and in many cases muddling through. I clearly remember sitting with printed SLO County sales tax reports -- five or six quarters behind, trying to figure out what was going on with the local retail market. Can you imagine trying to run a business today using an 18-month old report as a guide? The challenge on the local front was to find a way to get better, faster, insightful information. We needed help with knowing what was happening in our community as well as throughout the state and the world. It all sounds very simple now with the speed of
POWER TO GET THE JOB DONE
CA License # 274276
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ThomaElectric.com (805) 543-3850
communication and access to the internet, but even today, we need someone to sort through it and make sense for us. That someone became Beacon Economics, headquartered in Los Angeles and recognized throughout the world for expertise in economic analysis. The board members of the Economic Forecast raised funds through business, government and organization sponsors and retained the services of Beacon’s experts. What started as a fledgling relationship years ago has become a well-oiled machine. On November 3rd, close to 500 local business leaders will gather to hear three speakers share their points of view. From Beacon Economics, Principal Chris Thornberg will deliver his always interesting and often irreverent analysis of what is happening in California, the nation and the world. Thornberg will be joined by his Beacon colleague and executive director of research, Robert Kleinhenz, who will offer statistical insights on the local economy with a close focus on SLO County. Kleinhenz made his debut on the Central Coast last year and quickly established himself as the go-to expert for SLO County analysis. Joining Thornberg and Kleinhenz this year is Caroline Beteta, president and CEO of Visit California and the director of tourism in the governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development. Beteta is credited with leading sweeping changes in tourism marketing in support of economic development. She will shed light on the global scale connections between tourism and business investment. Besides an informative morning, the Economic Forecast delivers the always entertaining MC’ing of Bob Wacker (Wacker Wealth Partners). There’s a great energy in the room that for me, translates to anticipation of the year ahead. Spend a morning and get a good shot in the arm. If you can’t attend (Friday, Nov. 3rd, 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. at Alex Madonna Expo Center), watch for follow-up reports and online information. It’s an investment that pays off. www.centralcoasteconomicforecast.com.
Downtown
Around
The Magazine of Downtown SLO
November 2017
Inside: Downtown Perspec t ive Downtown B usiness Spo tlight Far mers' Marke t Vendor P ro f iles
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environmental awareness, and most notably, owntowners, today I find myself listening her unabashed demand for civic engagement. to the Star Wars Radio station on iTunes as I write this. Not because I am a fan of orn and raised in Pasadena, Heidi promised the series but because I wanted a taste of from the age of 12 that she was going to what gets the City of San Luis Obispo Mayor be the best parent for her future children that Heidi Harmon motivated and gives her the she could be. Perhaps at that time she didn’t incredible amount of energy that guides her realize that this would soon be the catalyst for leadership. (For the record, I am still a fan her political endeavors. Some thirty years ago of the original trilogy but Phantom Menace Dominic Tartaglia, she moved to San Luis completely alienated me from the remainder Executive Director Obispo to pursue her of the franchise.) Mayor Harmon’s candid sit education at Cuesta College and down with me revealed so many terrific angles of what eventually Cal Poly, and along makes up such a dynamic and empowering woman: her that path started a family and terrific sense of humor, passion for equality for women, raised two “super kids”. Even after her two children graduated from college, she still found herself feeling a strong maternal drive to guarantee a prosperous life for them: climate change could quite literally jeopardize their lives and the lives of other Heidi Harmon. Photo provided by Heidi Harmon children across the globe.
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Heidi confidently states that “it is incumbent upon us as individuals to show up, stand up and step up for one another.”
On the Cover: Come see Santa at Santa's House opening November 24 running through December 24 in Downtown's Mission Plaza, sponsored by Pacific Premier Bank. Visit DowntownSLO.com for details and additional upcoming Holiday events. Photo by Mukta Naran
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in Las Vegas, Nevada. In more ith no political background ways than one, we are fighting but armed with a against evils and sadness in resolution to do her part to affect spite of strong and capable positive change in the world, leaders like Mayor Harmon. Heidi started getting involved When asked what message with local organizations. As she would like to share with a member of the League of the world to inspire people Women Voters, Heidi made to build a brighter tomorrow, a decision to challenge an Heidi confidently states that incumbent Assemblyman who “it is incumbent upon us as was running unopposed on a individuals to show up, stand up platform of issues that she could and step up for one another.” not let stand. She threw herself Heidi pictured with her children Zoie & Jack Harmon. into her campaign with little Photo provided by Heidi Harmon o better understand Mayor expectation to win the race but Harmon’s approach to life a belief that she would bring to light important issues that and politics, I encourage you to take a few minutes and needed to be addressed. Her account of the story is told listen to the full-length podcast on our website at with great humility, and leads into how she eventually www.DowntownSLO.com. As always, there are some fun ran for Mayor and her guiding principles in leadership. stories in there that don’t make it to print. Who knows, t the time of our interview America was still grappling maybe you will find yourself listening to a little Star Wars Radio with an even greater admiration for our mayor. with the tragedy of the Route 91 Harvest Festival
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For more information on Downtown SLO events, programs and activities, or to sign up for our weekly Deliver-E newsletter, visit www.DowntownSLO.com
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Metro Brewing Company & Underground Brewing Company
counterparts: quite the opposite. In fact, with roots in Santa Cruz and Colorado, Head Brewer Eric Brown is a new Rai Reynolds, Owner transplant who has fully embraced the SLO 1040 Broad Street life. Apprenticed at Rock Bottom Brewery, (805) 439-4200 Brown admits that the Downtown www.MetroBrewCo.com brewing community is growing, and that while competition is present, everyone t's apparent when walking into Metro is willing to help one another out, an Brewing Company that owner Rai observation more aligned with the tightReynolds is a native Chicagoan. At first Rai Reynolds (left) with Head Brewer knit Central Coast community than that Eric Brown. Photo by Zoya Dixon it's the obvious skyline logo that greets of an uber-competitive big city. In that patrons and affirms this isn't just a Central spirit, the philosophy of the brewery Coast, beach-and-rolling hills kind of place. Then there's is one of inclusion, and kinship. The guiding principles the sleek interior, all glass and metal with a 217 gallon of Underground are what Rai called the "3 C's: Craft, brewing vat taking center stage behind the bar. The menu Compassion, and Creativity", or simply, honoring one's features classic, quintessential gastropub fare, like chicken craft, living with compassion, and thinking innovatively. and waffles, tater tots, and dirty fries: beer-battered fries Rai states: "Come in here, hang out. Have a good time. covered in chili con carne and slathered with a melted We're all equal ...there's no differentiation between pub cheddar sauce (!). Then you get to the beer, which is black, white, gay, straight ....And that's what important just as flavorful and diverse as Rai's big city roots, offering to [me] and what I'm doing here." The beer's good, several of their own craft brews and guest cider. But that too. All are welcome to visit Underground Brewing doesn't mean to say that Metro and Underground (Metro's Company at 1040 Broad Street, right by the creek. downstairs bar, which hosts comedy shows, television
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screenings, and live music) don't fit in with their California
F a r m e r s ' Aero Aerial
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By Zoya Dixon
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what Char Man Brand Hot Sauce blossomed out of, it is the Verde Hot Sauce that is currently their best seller. In addition AeroAerial.com to these two, Chris offers a Caribbean Hot Sauce. Chris Aaron Wilson of Aero Aerial greatly enjoys selling at The Market because it allows him is an experienced cirque style to meet new faces. Meeting new people and exposing them aerialist and entertainer who to his products at the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market is recently relocated to California's especially valuable for him because he is new to the Central Central Coast from Las Vegas, Coast: Chris lives and runs his Char Man Brand operations Nevada. A former gymnast, he and commercial kitchen out of Ventura. The process of started aerial arts when he was growing his own business from the ground up is what 21 and hasn't looked back. Aaron Chris finds to be the best part about Char Man Brand Hot has flown through the air, done Sauce. Unlike other hot sauce companies, who often utilize death defying drops and daring outside help such as co-packers, Chris takes it upon himself routines on aerial silk, chains, to execute much of the cooking and production process rope, lycra, trapeze, and other by hand, with local chilis and other plants. Continual apparatus. He has a wide variety Photo Provided by experimentation allows Chris to work toward discovering the Aaron Wilson of acts and has performed at next greatest hot sauce and to truly make Char Man Brand many different venues across Hot Sauce his own. At the end of our interview, Chris’s multiple states including the Las Vegas Strip. Learn more final words were, “Burn and book him for your next event at aeroaerial.com. Local,” which cleverly refers to both the burn By Aaron Wilson of hot sauce and Char Man Brand’s use of local Char Man Brand Hot Sauce chilies to fire roast in their CharManBrand.com recipes. Learn more at Chris Sutton (pictured left) has been in the hot sauce charmanbrand.com and business for about eleven years, but his spicy creations have find them at The Market been in the making far longer than that. Chris's family started on Higuera Street between a restaurant in 1985, and the Original Hot Sauce currently Broad and Nipomo. sold by Char Man originated as a sauce paired with the sushi Photo by Phoebe Conrad. By Phoebe Conrad. rolls at the restaurant. Although the Original Hot Sauce is
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GIFT TO CCC HONORS LOCAL PSYCHOLOGIST By James Statler
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hanks to a gift in memory of the late San Luis Obispo psychologist Dr. Michael Emmons, the Community Counseling Center of San Luis Obispo County announces enhanced access to its program of affordable mental health therapy for economically disadvantaged and uninsured residents of the Central Coast. Dr. Emmons, widely known and locally revered as one of the Central Coast’s most talented and caring psychologists and mental health educators, died in October 2016 after a long illness.
The Michael Emmons Memorial Fund was created by Dr. Robert Alberti of Atascadero, retired psychologist, author and book publisher. Emmons and Alberti were colleagues, co-authors and friends for more than 47 years. Their bestselling book, Your Perfect Right: Assertiveness and Equality in Your Life and Relationships, first published in 1970, launched Impact Publishers, the county’s first commercial book publishing enterprise. The book, originally Emmons’ idea, has sold more than 1.3 million copies and has been published in more than 20 languages worldwide. “The success of our book has kept Michael’s name associated with assertiveness, but his life and work had a much broader focus,” Dr. Alberti points out. “He was a holistic therapist–focusing on body, mind, and spirit–before almost anyone knew the meaning of that term. The Community Counseling Center’s mission is also holistic, true to Michael’s legacy and reflecting his passion to serve those most in need. The purpose of the Emmons Fund is to make professional counseling available to those who could not otherwise afford it,” Alberti says. CCC has served the most economically vulnerable clients in San Luis Obispo County since 1968, currently providing therapy services to many clients each year. The Emmons Fund is expected eventually to add hundreds more to that number. The Center currently employs, on an all-volunteer basis, more than 100 licensed therapists and supervised interns. “There is a critical need for expanded public outreach, education, professional training, referral and direct service within the mental health system in our county,” CCC Executive Director James Statler explains, “and we at CCC are working with other mental health agencies to meet that need. The Emmons Fund will be a very big help.”
James Statler along with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Alberti.
Background: Michael L. Emmons, Ph.D. (1938-2016), enjoyed a distinguished career. He served as counselor, professor, and trainer of marriage and family counseling interns at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. He also maintained a limited private practice, and became an in-demand consultant to clinical, educational, government and business organizations throughout the nation. He is recognized worldwide as author/co-author of seven books in popular and professional psychology. Although Michael’s focus on assertive living took center stage, he also was an innovator in holistic–mental/physical/ spiritual–approaches to dealing with mental health issues. Michael’s “driving need to help and serve” is an inspiration that Community Counseling Center is excited to integrate with its mission. Robert E. Alberti, Ph.D. is a retired licensed Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist who has lived and worked in San Luis Obispo County since 1969. From 1969 to 1978 he was a counseling psychologist and professor at California Polytechnic State University, leaving that position to assume the full-time reins of the book publishing enterprise–Impact Publishers, Inc –that he co-founded with Michael Emmons. Dr. Alberti served as president of the San Luis Obispo County Psychological Association (now Central Coast Psychological Association) 1978-1980 and has been active in disaster mental health, emergency communications, and public library support organizations. He is author/co-author of seven books and dozens of articles in professional and popular psychology.
Local residents in need of counseling services, or anyone interested in supporting or learning more about the Michael Emmons Memorial Fund are urged to contact Community Counseling Center via email: director@cccslo.com or by phone: (805) 543-7969. ============================== N O V E M B E R
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Local books - SLO County Outlaws
Arroyo Grande writer, Jim Gregory has written his third local history book, SLO County Outlaws: Desperados, Vigilantes and Bootleggers. California was a wild and lawless place in the 1850s and SLO County was no exception. Outlaws and bandits passed along the El Camino Real, now Highway 101, leaving a trail of victims. The James brothers, the Daltons and even Al Capone made their mark here, while lawmen worked to tame this piece of the western frontier. Jim Gregory details these activities lost in time in this well-done book. The book can be purchased at ArcadiaPublishing.com and will be available locally as well. ISBN:978-1-6258-5926-6. It’s $21.99, 160 pages with plenty of great photos as well.
svs 2nd annual tea and fashion show
Senior Volunteer Services (SVS) will be holding its 2nd Annual Tea & Fashion Show on Sunday, November 5, 2017 from 2-4PM. The event will be held at MINDBODY and hosted by East Wellbeing & Tea. The Fashion Show will be by 2 Blondes Boutique & Jules D Men’s Apparel with the models selected from members of the community. The event will start with a wine and cheese pairing & silent auction. The tables will be decorated by women from the SLO community with their own personal china. The Master of Ceremonies will be Garret Olson, SLO City Fire Chief. Call 805544-8740 for tickets. $40 each.
a wild weekend in morro bay
Calling the first weekend in November a Wild Weekend, Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) celebrates its 30th anniversary during the Soupabration! experience that includes a second event on Saturday, Nov. 4, the day prior to the Sunday, Nov. 5, Soupabration! main event. For the first time, PWC will offer tours of its Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic during the Saturday event, Morro Bay Wild. This is a rare opportunity to observe how injured or oiled animals are cared for, including the seabird room, surgery room, baby bird nursery, aviaries, aquatic habitat and pelagic pools. Each tour ends with refreshments including the 2016 winning soups from Soupabration! Tours will last approximately 30 minutes. An animal ambassador and handler will be present. The main course is this year’s Soupabration! event on Sunday, in the Morro Bay Community Center. Fourteen restaurants from the entire county compete for the best soups around. Tagged as “It’s a Wild Thing,” Soupabration! will include celebrity chef judges who will blind taste and award the winning soups, wine tasting with six local wineries, auctions and other fundraising events. Visit www. soupabration.org for tickets and additional information.
slo mayor helps raise funds for womenade
Heidi Harmon, Mayor of SLO, used her birthday potluck to raise funds for Womenade! Her amazing friends donated $1,300, plus a
D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years
Alan “Himself” N O V E M B E R
alan’s draperies 544-9405 alansdrapery@gmail.com 2017
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252 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo (805) 541-TIRE
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gas card, diapers and wipes! Every bit will go to help someone in need in our county. Calista Stewart’s Lemonade for Womenade stand at the event earned $93! Pictured l-r: Gwen Stewart holding True Kirchner, Boone Stewart, Heidi, and Cali.
ag hospital receives $10,000 grant
Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation is pleased to share that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Community Foundation SLO County in support of its Cancer Care Fund. The Cancer Care Fund exists to provide cancer patients and survivors with their immediate basic needs as they undergo treatment or transition into recovery. Pictured from left to right: Len Smolburd, Grants Manager, Community Foundation; Montisa Phelan Lopez, Vice President, Philanthropy, Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation.
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$80,000 grant to launch reentry program
A major seed grant was awarded this week to launch a reentry program and services for formerly incarcerated individuals being released into SLO County. The Hughes Charitable Foundation awarded the $80,000 seed grant to Sister Theresa Harpin’s organization, Restorative Partners. Restorative Partners is a nonprofit organization founded in 2011 that serves people impacted by crime with a continuum of services and programs designed to meet a diverse array of community needs. “With the recent passage of Prop 57, more and more people are returning home early from prison to our community,” said Dan Dow, SLO County District Attorney. “It is imperative that our community put in place the necessary support structure, like what Restorative Partners provides, to enable those individuals to succeed with a crime-free life. Without supportive mentoring relationships, education, and job opportunities, many are likely to fail and return to prison.” For more information about Restorative Partners, visit restorativepartners.org.
slo Wine Association selects food bank
The SLO Wine Country Association has selected the Food Bank Coalition of SLO as the 2017 “Fund-A-Need” beneficiary of charity monies to be raised at the “Harvest on the Coast Celebration Grand Tasting and Auction” happening on Saturday, November 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Avila Beach Resort as part of the larger “Harvest on the Coast” celebration weekend (November 3rd – 5th). The live auction portion of the November 4 event will feature the “fund a need” live auction lot. All proceeds from this lot will go directly to the Food Bank Coalition of SLO. During the past eight years, the SLO Wine Country auction has raised a total of more than $100,000 for a variety of local non-profit organizations including Womenade; Cal Poly SLO; CASA; SAVE; Assistance League of SLO; SLO Hospice; and Big Brothers Big Sisters. For details and wine tasting information, visit SLOWine.com.
C rossword S O L U T I O N S
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empty bowls luncheon raises over $40,000
fhmc gala raises $373,000
The Empty Bowls Community Luncheon held recently raised more than $40,000 for homeless programs and services in southern SLO County. The sixth annual event, with more than 120 gallons of soup from a score of local restaurants consumed, and very few bowls left of the 800-plus that were handmade and donated by local artists and students. “We couldn’t be more pleased with the turnout and support from the local community,” according to event organizer Shelly Higginbotham. “We are grateful to St. Patrick’s Church and the many businesses, congregations and organizations who work hand in hand with us – not just on the event, but throughout the year to address homelessness.” The funds raised couldn’t come at a better time, according to 5CHC Executive Director Janna Nichols. “We respond to thousands of calls each year,” she said. “Resources from events like Empty Bowls are especially helpful so we can allocate the funds to where they are needed most.”
The French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) Foundation is pleased to announce that the Twelfth Annual Celebration of Caring Gala raised more than $373,000 to support patient programs and services at FHMC, a not-for-profit community hospital. The annual event’s remarkable success is due to the incredible generosity of its sponsors, contributors, and 500 registered guests. Since 2006, the Gala has raised more than $2,500,000 to support FHMC patient programs and services. Event highlights included the presentation of the Louis Tedone, MD, Humanitarian Award to Noreen Martin, Martin Resorts Board Chair, for her exceptional dedication to SLO County through leadership and philanthropic efforts. Pictured from left to right: Leo Selker, Dr. Louis Tedone, Award Recipient Noreen Martin, Alan Iftiniuk, and Liz Summer.
sesloc donates $7500 to Jack Ready park
SESLOC Federal Credit Union members and staff raised $7,500 recently to help fund the Jack Ready Imagination Park, a universally accessible park for all children being built in Nipomo. During SESLOC’s annual month-long campaign, members and staff are encouraged to donate to the park, which is being built by Jack’s Helping Hand, a local nonprofit that provides assistance to children with disabilities, illnesses or severe injuries. Over the past three years, the SESLOC campaign has raised $20,480 for the park. The project is expected to cost between $1 million and $2 million. For more information, visit jackshelpinghand.org.
San Luis Obispo’s Best Kept Secret Power Carts Senior Discount (55) • 10 Play C ards • Tournaments Welcome • •
Tee Times on our website: lagunalakegolfcourse.org or call 805-781-7309
11175 Los Osos Valley Road, SLO N O V E M B E R
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Volunteer at Literacy for life
Literacy For LIFE has a countywide need for tutors, crucially in North and South Counties. Our 2-part Tutor Training Workshop will take place on Saturday, December 2nd and Saturday, December 16th. The training will be held in the conference room at Union Bank, 995 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo. Tutors MUST go to both training sessions. A registration fee of $25.00 is required that covers both days of the training. The sessions begin at 10am and end at about 3:30pm. For more information or to sign up, please call 805-541-4219 or visit our website at www. literacyforlifeslo.org.
THE BULLETIN BOARD wine classic raises $145,700 for farm workers
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for the Afghan Army and the National Police in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . L to R: Brigadier General Kelly A. Fisher, Congressman Salud Carbajal, New Commanding Officer of Camp San Luis Obispo Lt. Col. Angel Ortiz and Joseph Sweeney Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the United States Army(North).
Art on display at Paso Robles library
In SLO County, we rely on thousands of vineyard and farm workers to plant, care for and harvest the fruits, vegetables and wine grapes we are fortunate enough to enjoy. Recently these men, women and their families received significant support from the local community. One of the largest Fund-a-Need contributions in the history of the Central Coast Wine Classic raised $145,700 for The Fund for Vineyard and Farm Workers (the Fund). Established in 2004 by Brian and Johnine Talley, this fund is an endowment held by the Community Foundation SLO County that provides grants to nonprofit organizations that assist County agricultural workers and their families.
carbajal honors lt. col. angel M. ortiz
At a recent meeting at Camp San Luis Obispo’s Officer’s Club Lt. Col. Angel M. Ortiz was honored for his recently assuming the Command of Camp San Luis Obispo. Previously, Lt. Col. OrtIz served in Operation Iraqi Freedom at Camp Fallujah and also as the Director of National Logistics
Color images of America’s Southwest taken by Russ Surber will be on display at the Paso Robles City Library the month of November. Taken over the past year in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, the photographs document the vastness of the West and make us wonder how those broad vistas and soaring mountains help mold the character and outlook of the men and women who followed Horace Greely’s famous advice, “Go west, young man, go west.” Surber is a retired Senior Foreign Service Officer who has travelled through much of the world, always with camera in hand, and now safely settled in Paso Robles has turned his lens to landscapes from Los Osos and Morro Bay to Chaco Canyon and Sedona’s red rocks. He believes there is beauty all around us if we can take a few moments simply to look and wonder, and hopes his images encourage us all to do just that. The Paso Robles City Library is located at 1000 Spring Street and is open Monday – Friday 10-8, and Saturday 10-5. For more information on library programs and events, please call 237-3870 or visit www.prcity. com/library.
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THE BULLETIN BOARD
tri city sound chorus invites singers
Nemat-Gorgani on piano, Nariman Assadi on tombak (goblet drum) and daff (frame drum), and Hannah Romanowsky as choreographer and on dance. The other half of the program will feature the Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble presenting works by some of the most celebrated composers, performers and poets of the Eastern Mediterranean, including Sayyid Darwish and Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab of Egypt, Fairuz and the Rahbani Brothers of Lebanon, and Adham Efendi of Turkey. SLO dance director Jenna Mitchell will lead the Arab Music Ensemble dance troupe in colorful choreographies in dialogue with the music. Tickets to the concert are $12 or $14 for the public, and $9 or $12 for students. Event parking is sponsored by the PAC. Tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To order by phone, call 805-SLO-4TIX (805-756-4849).
realtors donate to transitions mental health Tri City Sound Chorus, a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, invites women who love to sing to join them for the Christmas season. Women interested in learning about a cappella, barbershop-style music are welcome to join in on the seasonend rehearsals and Friends & Family Christmas Show, all held at Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 4725 S. Bradley Road (corner of Bradley and Patterson roads), Orcutt. There is no cost to participate. Rehearsals will be held from 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 30 & Dec. 7. The Christmas concert will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 14, 2017 with donations earmarked for the student scholarship program. For more information, check out www.tricitysound.org or call 736-7572.
cal poly arab music ensemble
The Cal Poly Arab Music Ensemble and special guest artists will perform a diverse program of Arab and Iranian music and dance at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, in Harman Hall in the Performing Arts Center. Half of this special program will be dedicated to the presentation of vocal and instrumental music as well as dance stemming from the art and folk traditions of historical and contemporary Iran. An ensemble of critically acclaimed guest artists from the San Francisco Bay Area will perform Iranian music and dance, including Neema Hekmat as director and on santur (hammered zither), Nasser Sabouri on vocals, Azadeh
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The Central Coast Realtors® Charitable Foundation (CCRCF) recently donated $10,055 to Transitions Mental Health Association (TMHA) from funds that were raised during the Foundation’s 1st Annual Poker Tournament. Last week, a check was handed over to TMHA Executive Director Jill Bolster-White on behalf of the many local Realtors® and affiliates that made this possible. The Poker Tournament was an exciting event which included dinner, drinks, live music and a silent auction. The event was held at Holland Ranch with over 125 community members participating. Prizes for the top winners included a 3 night stay at a condo in Maui, season passes to China Peak and a $400 gift certificate to Luna Red/Novo. The Central Coast
THE BULLETIN BOARD REALTORS® Charitable Foundation, Inc., is the charitable arm of the San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS® and affiliate members in the area. Over $100,000 has been donated to local charities in the past 6 years alone from funds generated through the Association’s Golf Tournament and other fundraising events”. The Association currently has approximately 500 members, including affiliates. For further information, contact association executive Cindy Doll, RCE, at 4251 South Higuera #701, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. Call: 805-541-2282, e-mail: Doll@slorealtors. org http://www.slorealtors.org/
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local credit unions raise $54,000 for hospital
Polar bear presentation at Botanical garden
Event: Polar Bear Presentation at SLO Botanical Garden. Time and date: Saturday, November 18, 1pm-2pm. Event Description: Learn about polar bear hunting and survival skills from retired veterinarian, while viewing recent photos and sipping hot cocoa. Followed by a free docent led tour at 2pm. Info at slobg.org/ polarbears. Location: San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd. Cost: $5 Garden Members / $10 public / Children FREE. Event contact phone number: 805-541-1400 x 303
After participating in an annual fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN), representatives from two local credit unions delivered a check for $54,067 last week to the Cottage Children’s Medical Center in Santa Barbara, the Central Coast’s regional CMN children’s facility. Geri LaChance, President and CEO of SESLOC Federal Credit Union, was joined by Jeff York, President and CEO of CoastHills Federal Credit Union, in a ceremony to deliver the check – along with a red wagon full of learning toys for young patients. The two local credit unions participated in the Credit Unions for Kids Wine Auction last spring, an annual fundraiser supporting children’s hospitals in California and Nevada. Funds raised during the event are distributed proportionally to 11 hospitals in the two states. This year’s auction, held in Dana Point, raised more than $1 million for the third consecutive year. The gala event has raised $6 million since 2006, and Cottage Hospital has received more than $200,000 of those funds over the past five years. More than 10 million kids enter children’s hospitals like Cottage every year. To provide the best care possible, children’s hospitals rely on donations and community support since Medicaid and insurance programs do not fully cover the cost of care.
help our local veterans
2017 Festival of trees
IT’S TIME FOR SOMETHING NEW! This year’s Festival of Trees is dressing up and moving “outside the box.” The 2017 Gala event will be held at Cambria Pines Lodge. Ticket price of $50 per person, includes a fabulous buffet dinner, complimentary champagne and musical entertainment. Bid in a lively auction of unique live trees, fabulous fakes and artistic creations. All proceeds benefit local non-profit organizations. www. cambriachamber.org
free senior health care screening
Community Action Partnership, Adult Wellness & Prevention Screening offers health screening for adults 18 years and older throughout SLO County. Free services include: screening for high blood pressure, weight and pulse. Finger prick screening tests for: high cholesterol, anemia and blood sugar. Counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 544-2484 ext.1 for dates, times and locations.
VA clinic in San Luis is asking for volunteers to serve our Veterans as shuttle drivers. To help pay tribute and express your appreciation for their service, learn about volunteering at your local VA clinic. For more information contact your local VA volunteer representative Mr. Larry Foster at 805-354-6004 or send an email to Lawrence.Foster@va.gov.
A reverse mortgage loan could help you live more comfortably. Call today to learn more about this HECM loan program* for accessing your home’s equity.
Bob Gayle
805/772-3658
Division of Aegean Financial, CA BRE #01478751, NMLS #157935
Reverse Mortgage Owner must be 62, maintain Specialist property as primary residence
Real Estate Broker, California Bureau of Real Estate, License 00466813 • NMLS License. 582948
*THIS PRODUCT OR SERVICE HAS NOT BEEN APPROVED OR ENDORSED BY ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY AND THIS OFFER IS NOT BEING MADE BY AN AGENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT.
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and remain current on property taxes, any fees and homeowners insurance. Other conditions may apply.
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