RONDA BEAMAN | SUE MCGINTY | BILL DEVOR | PARENTS FOR JOY | PAUL HOOVER
JournalPLUS APRIL 2017
MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST
WILDFLOWERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST
805-543-2172
805-904-6616
21 Santa Rosa St. #100, San Luis Obispo
110 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande
w w w.FA R R E LL S M Y T H .c om Rare Opportunity in SLO!
www.1275MontecitoRidge.com
Here is a four bedroom home with a completely separate one bedroom unit above the garage. Located on an extra-large corner lot, this home includes a fireplace, laundry, separate dining room, two car garage, extra parking, solar electric, and a rocking chair front porch. Plus, a nice one bedroom unit over the garage for extended family or extra income. $949,000
Spectacular Ocean & Panorama Views. Infinite custom quality estate on 5 acres in gated community of Montecito Ridge Estates between San Luis Obispo/Edna Valley and east Arroyo Grande. $1,799,000 Also avail. 8 lots ranging from 5 - 10 acres. Starting at $349,000
Arroyo Grande Ranch Property
Desirable S. Salinas-Monterey Park Area
Ranch property conveniently located in an unincorporated neighborhood just south of the City of Arroyo Grande, near Highway 1 & Willow Road. 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on 2.1 acres. Additional features include crown moldings, laminated flooring, granite & tile countertops, brick-face fireplace with insert. Kitchen & Bathrooms have been updated. Horse Corral. $895,000
Awesome location! Huge corner lot home is just waiting for its new owners!! Located near schools, shopping, hospital and close to highway 68. Brand new roof and rain gutters installed February 2017. Newer dual pane windows and nice backyard with large deck. Living room has wood burning fireplace and is ready for your personal touches. This would be a wonderful purchase for someone wanting to update with their finishing touches. Don’t miss out, come check it out now!! $489,000
Beautiful Sierra Vista Estates Home
Oak Park Leisure Gardens
Near Pioneer Valley High School and Edwards Park! Located in the Northeast Santa Maria area, this home boast 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, open concept living room, dining room and kitchen with soaring ceilings, abundant light and views of the Mountains and Peaks! Oversized 2+ garage has large workbench, for the do-ityourself person in your life! Inviting front patio and a private back patio. $439,500
Excellent location on the border of Pismo Beach & Arroyo Grande. Prime single level corner unit. Kitchen appliances have been updated...Bosch dishwasher, JennAir Trash Compactor, Kenmore Elite Microwave. Two Bedroom, 1 Bath featuring a Large Master Bedroom. Fenced patio area off of the dining area is perfect for relaxing barbeques. Community Clubhouse. Close to shopping, doctor offices, hiking trails, and easy freeway access. $359,900
KIWANIS CLUB OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
DRIVE-THRU BBQ DINNER
The Kiwanis BBQ Crew
Friday, May 19, 2017 SLO Veterans Building on Grand Ave, SLO Tickets: $50 (purchased in advance) Each dinner feeds up to six people and includes: BBQ Choice grade beef Tri-Tip, Beans, Salsa, Salad & SLO Sourdough garlic bread All packaged in a beautiful re-usable tote bag
For ticket information contact your favorite Kiwanian or call the Journal office at 546-0609 Give the cook the night off, pick up a mouth-watering BBQ dinner and help support the Kiwanis programs that benefit the youth of SLO! 3 past scholarship winners
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
18
WILDFLOWERS ALL AROUND US
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, Don Morris, Ruth Starr, Chuck Graham, Jody Kocsis, Angela Martin, Charmaine Coimbra, Richard Bauman and Aaron Gomez. 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 PROVIDED BY CHUCK GRAHAM
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RONDA BEAMAN
SUE MCGINTY
PEOPLE 8 10 12 14
RONDA BEAMAN PAUL HOOVER SUE MCGINTY BILL DEVOR
HOME & OUTDOOR 16 18 22 24
FIRST FIVE WILDFLOWERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST WEEKEND GETAWAY – Nethercutts Museum FOOD / AT THE MARKET
COMMUNITY
7 26 27 28 30 32 34 36 41 42
GREATEST ATHLETES – William Brown PASO ART SCENE SLO ART SCENE PARENTS FOR JOY HISTORY ON THE “HOOF” Morro Bay HISTORY: California 1814, part 6 OUR SCHOOLS – Dr. James Brescia SLO BOTANICAL GARDEN – April events PALM STREET PERSPECTIVE – Aaron Gomez COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD
BUSINESS
37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening
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April Hero Profile
2017
Children’s Bill of Rights #4:
PASSION
As the children and youth of San Luis Obispo County, may we each be and feel safe everywhere we go.
ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE MARK & CLINT
APRIL’S HEROES
Teaching kids about positive life choices Dedicated & Determined NOMINATED BY
Clint Cole & Mark Fontecchio
San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s Office
Clint Cole and Mark Fontecchio are champions for children, helping hundreds of young people learn important life skills and stay on the right path. Both Deputies with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, Mark and Clint implement the GREAT program (Gang Resistance Education and Training) in schools across the county. GREAT teaches 6th grade students how to prevent bullying, respect others, make good life choices, manage anger and resolve conflicts.
Sheriff’s Youth Summer Camps), week-long day sessions that teach life skills to middle schoolers-- through classes, games and activities. The camps are free to any student who lives in unincorporated areas of SLO County. Community donations, acquired by the Deputies, provide healthy lunches for the participants-- also at no cost.
Mark, a GREAT Instructor, has been in law enforcement more than 30 years, 4 years with the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force, and the last 13 as a School Resource Deputy. Clint, a GREAT Instructor as well, also spent several years as a School Resource Deputy, and is currently a Detective at the Sheriff’s Office. Both men share a passion for empowering young people by providing valuable tools to help them become successful in life. GREAT now reaches 1,000 students in schools county-wide, every year.
Deputies Mark Fontecchio and Clint Cole are devoted to their jobs and communities, and want to help children realize their potential, become good citizens, and contribute in meaningful ways to society. Truly, this dedicated team is doing GREAT work for our Central Coast families.
Look for more on all of our Hands-On Heroes on COE-TV Channel 19!
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
Seeing the program’s impact, Mark and Clint launched the first ever GREAT Summer Camps (now called the
Thank you, Clint and Mark. You are true Hands-On Heroes.
From the publisher
A smile is the universal welcome. – MAX EASTMAN –
NEW PATIENTS WELCOME EVENING HOURS AVAILABLE
Ryan M. Ross, DDS
T
his year’s heavy rainfall has produced one of the best wildflower seasons in recent history. Chuck Graham took some great photos inside, including our cover, and tells us where to view them. If you haven’t done it already, take time out of your busy life and visit one or more of these spectacular sites. You won’t regret it.
This month we feature four people who make a difference on the Central Coast. We start with Ronda Beaman and her quest to make dreams come true for terminally ill adults. We move on to winemaker extraordinaire, Paul Hoover, then a quick update on writer Sue McGinty, and we finish up with Bill DeVor and how he is revolutionizing greenhouse farming. Our non-profits featured this month include the Parents for Joy program and SLO County’s First 5 – Children and Families Commission. Both of these organizations do great things for our community. Plenty of good reading again this month. Enjoy the magazine.
Michael Roberts, DDS 11545 LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD, SUITE A SAN LUIS OBISPO (805)541-5800
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RYANROSSDDS.COM
Steve Owens
greatest athletes on the central coast
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tennis player bill brown 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 and Dr. Paul Spangler. Please send nominations to Dr. Morris at dmmorris@calpoly.edu.
bill brown
junior singles events and he won two national junior doubles tournaments. Bill attended the University of Notre Dame (1963-1967) on a tennis scholarship and was the number 1 player from the day he got there until the day he left. (He was the team captain and an All American). Brown then attended the Graduate School of English at the University of Nebraska (1967-1968). He was drafted in September of 1969 and he was the highest ranking American tennis player in all the military services at that time. (#41 in singles and #9 in doubles and had received a coveted nickname from tennis journalist Bud Collins: “The Nebraska Cornstalk”). Bill was either going to take Arthur Ashe’s old job as assistant tennis Coach at West Point, or be the daily tennis partner of the base commander of Ft. McArthur in San Pedro. He arrived in San Pedro in December 1969. Bill was #1 on the Army tennis team and won the inter-service championships in 1970. In 1971 Stan Smith was #2 in the world and #1 in America and with Stan and two other players, Bill gave tennis clinics at Army bases throughout the United States. From the fall of 1971 through 1976, Bill played professional tennis full time. As a full time player he played in 18 Grand Slam Championships (Paris, London, New York and Melbourne) and defeated the national champions of 7 nations, who had achieved world rankings.
Bill Brown was born January 14, 1945 and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. At age 11 Bill walked 6 blocks from his home to Dewey Park to attend a series of free tennis clinics. At the end a tournament was held for the participants. Bill won that tournament and then the all-public parks tournament. Four years later Brown was #7 in America as a freshman at the Creighton Preparatory School, where for four years (1959-1963) he went undefeated, a record that still stands. Bill reached the quarterfinals of the national
Bill Brown also won USPTA: Indoor, Outdoor and Hardcourt doubles championships and the New Zealand Nationals (with three different partners).
Raul Ramirez and Bill Brown winning the American Airlines Game in 1975.
Brown held the record for the longest set of singles ever played, 36-34 in 1968 at the Heart of America event in Kansas City. Bill is a USTA life member #64. Brown has written tennis related articles for Tennis USA Magazine, International Tennis Weekly. He had a seasonal tennis club (Memorial Day to Labor Day) in New Canaan, Connecticut from 1977-1982 and designed and had built the San Luis Tennis Club in the Avila Valley—now the Avila Bay Club. The Central Coast Ladies Tennis League, which he started in 1979, still continues. In 1982, at the age of 37, Bill Brown went to law school in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska at the Creighton Law School. Bill had a stellar legal career. He wrote for the Creighton Law Review and had a clerkship with Justice John Grant on the Nebraska Supreme Court. Bill passed the bar in Nebraska and California, but stayed in California as a family law attorney. At the first three law firms he worked 100 dissolution cases. Eventually Attorney Brown represented children exclusively. He has appeared in over 3000 contested proceedings and 6 jury trials to verdict in PC 2960 cases. He was admitted to practice before all state and federal district courts in Nebraska and California and the United States Supreme Court. In the fall of 2008, Bill left full time practice to go back to teaching for three years and he wrote “Among the Angels, Stories From Kindergarten.”
Brown was inducted into various tennis Halls Of Fame including the Omaha Tennis Hall of Fame; Nebraska Tennis Hall of Fame; Missouri Valley Tennis Hall of Fame; Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame; Creighton Preparatory School Athletic Hall of fame; and in 2005 was named one of the Top 100 athletes (the only tennis player in the history of Nebraska); and was awarded the Bill Talbert Sportsmanship award. A P R I L
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ronda beaman ...making dreams come true By Ruth Starr
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he was an actress, a TV reporter, a professor, an author and delivered singing telegrams for a living. Ronda Beaman has always pursued her dreams. However, following a fund-raising event she attended in Santa Barbara in 2015, Ronda’s life took a new direction.
The event was in support of a group called the Dream Foundation. Their purpose is to make dreams come true for terminally ill adults. She was so moved and inspired that she was determined to bring their work to San Luis Obispo County. Ronda has always lived by the attitude: put up or shut up. She follows through on what she decides to do. Therefore, it wasn’t long before she became Founder and Executive Director of a similar organization in San Luis Obispo called Dream Makers. During the next three months, after she attended the Dream Foundation event, she put together an executive board, and a staff of thirty-five dream makers to help her do the work involved. A leading oncologist serves as a medical advisor. They were off and running. Dream Makers is an organization dedicated to fulfilling final dreams to terminally ill adults in San Luis Obispo County. Due to a lack of resources or connections these people are unable to obtain their dreams on their own. Ronda is a native Californian and has taught at Cal Poly for the last fifteen years in the Business School Leadership Development. She is the Chief Creative officer of the international consulting company PEAK Learning Co. Ronda is also a fitness advocate. She created fitness courses throughout the community, teaching at Boot Camp and a fitness course called Barre, which draws from ballet and is taught as
a form of dance. Currently she is teaching Barre at the Barn at Marshall Farms in Edna Valley. Her students are those who have helped her establish Dream Makers. The two leading counties in the U.S.A. for not-for-profits, are Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. Ronda believes that people are happy and grateful to be living in such a beautiful area and may be more willing to give of their time and money. No one has ever turned Ronda down to help or make contributions or to be on the team. Businesses have generously come to her and offered to help Dream Makers. Even her accountant graciously filed for non-profit status as a gift. Ambiance Clothing store hosted its largest fundraiser to date—people turned out in droves knowing that part of the sales receipts were going to Dream Makers. They raised $8000 in one evening. Additionally, The Granada Hotel has ongoing fundraisers for Dream Makers and Meathead Movers has a limousine van that they donate to help the dreamers get to their destinations. The first dream they did was for 20-year-old Corina who was battling cancer of her muscles. She was recommended by her doctor. Her parents were farm workers. Corina had never been anywhere before. Her dream was to see George Strait. As it turned out, he was going to be performing in three weeks in Las Vegas. It was estimated that she only had three months to live. Knowing their time was limited, they moved quickly to put her dream together. Everyone on the Dream Makers team mobilized to get this done. Fortunately the community jumped in to make this happen. She was able to fly to Las Vegas, her first plane ride. Her Grandma accompanied her on the plane from Santa Maria to Las Vegas. When she got there a limousine took them to the Aria Hotel where they had a deluxe room. Their dinner was cooked by an HGTV Chef. She received $1500 to shop for clothes and shoes. Corina had never had a new dress in her life. She had her hair and makeup done at a salon.
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the hospital. Smiling, Corina offered that she would take the memory of her dream come true with her. This venture is not just for the dreamer. Everyone who partakes becomes elevated. Ronda feels it is an honor and privilege to be doing this work.
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Ronda and her husband, Paul Stoltz and two sons, Chase and Sean were named America’s most creative family by USA Today and American Greetings. The family has ten acres of land in Arroyo Grande where she and Paul live. The two sons, 5 grandchildren and dogs live in their own places on the property. She is currently writing a book about it called Haul In the Family.
Dream Makers first recipient, Corina
She and Grandma had front row seats for the George Strait concert and a back stage pass. The Board President from Dream Makers SLO went to visit her during her final days in
Recently, she adopted a mini sheep dog, Scout who is eight months old. When Ronda was young, she was very active in Girl Scouts earning numerous badges and remembering that as a happy time. Naming the dog Scout creates a happy feeling. Scout is a sweet dog that rides along with her when she is out and about. Truly a Renaissance woman, Ronda has brought together her skills, talents and motivation along with her passion and drive,
Corina on her way to Las Vegas
to be the change that betters the world. Her ability to bring ideas and people together and follow through on those goals, has been a gift to many in our community.
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Paul Hoover
grapes on the vine, fish on the line... Paul hoover’s life is like a very fine wine... it simply gets better with time. By Deborah Cash “I’d grown up around animals and agriculture,” he said, noting that as a kid, his entrepreneurial spirit inspired him to cultivate produce, raise rabbits and other small livestock that he then sold. Hoover obtained his BS in Ag Business and Mechanized Ag, and worked tending bar at the San Luis Bay Inn. “I wasn’t a good bartender,” he laughed, “but I was a good talker!” His affinity for connecting with people and entertaining them emerged to lead him down an unforeseen career path. During this time, the late ’70s, the wine industry and hospitality/tourism industries were taking hold in the county. Hoover witnessed the early years of the “boom” and after graduation, found himself climbing the ladder of the industry eventually becoming the executive vice president of Laral Hotel Group, overseeing management of 10 hotels and several restaurants across the western U.S. During his 15-year stint with the company, he says he developed a strong knowledge and love of the retail side of wine industry.
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ruising the 80-acre vineyard in Templeton’s rural east side in a golf cart with Paul Hoover is more than a sightseeing tour. It’s a glimpse into Hoover’s love of life: his business, family, home, animals; his enthusiasm and commitment to joy and quality of life are reflected in everything he’s about.
Hoover’s the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance 2016 Paso Robles Wine Industry Person of the Year, awarded for his efforts promoting sustainable farming and Paso wine country as a whole. Hoover and his wife Patty own Still Waters Vineyards where they grow grapes and annually produce some 3,000 cases of varietals on site. Hoover is involved in every aspect of the grape growing and wine making process in addition to hosting events including concerts and weddings in the century-old olive grove overlooking vineyards, scenic vistas and country roads that define the character of the area. It’s fitting that this popular, high energy and “down home” multitalented personality would join the roster of those who’ve contributed to the growth, development and promotion of the north county wine and hospitality industries. In publicizing the award, the PRWCA said, “Whether in a leadership position on our board, with journalists in a seminar setting or speaking to visitors at a PRWCA event, Paul is a dedicated ambassador who leaves a lasting positive impression with everyone he meets.” Born and raised in Bakersfield, Hoover took his dad’s advice after high school to “get out of the oilfields”—oil production being a major industry in the San Joaquin Valley town where his grandfather, Orville J. Hoover, was one of the original wildcat drillers in the early oil boom. When Orville Hoover died, son Frank Hoover took over the business but preferred that his own son Paul not spend his life toiling there. Hoover decided to attend Cal Poly both for its proximity to home and because he felt it was a good fit with his interest in agriculture. A P R I L
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At his side through all these life changes—then and now—is Hoover’s wife Patty, who he met when he was 16 and she was 15. Hoover said his mom Ruth, a math teacher at West High in Bakersfield, was the water ski club leader and on one occasion asked her son if he would bring his boat to an outing. It was there that he became smitten with Patty whose job it was to throw ropes to the shore. Patty later followed Hoover to San Luis Obispo and they were married during his fourth and her third year at Cal Poly. Always poking a little fun, Hoover joshes, “She thought it had to be better than sharing a two-bedroom apartment with five girls!” During his early years in the hospitality industry, Hoover developed an interest in fine wines—like those that were appearing on the wine lists of hotels he supervised. “I was given a wine allowance of $150 a month to hone my knowledge and appreciation of what more and more people seemed to be enjoying,” he said. “I was a beer drinker from Bakersfield but I was in charge of the top wine lists in the area. I learned how to build a nice case of wine!”
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competitions. His Dusi Zinfandel won Best Wine at Mid State Fair in 2000, and soon his hobby became a passion. Patty was instrumental in moving Hoover’s next dream path forward. “She encouraged me to get serious about making wine,” he said. “Patty thought the enterprise was definitely better than being a dairy farmer, which I had also shown an interest in.” Friend and local winemaker, Gary Eberle—sometimes referred to as the ‘godfather of the local wine industry’—was also supportive. “He did advise me not to quit my day job,” he joked. “I bought the 80 acres we currently have in 2003 and built the winery in 2005.” Looking to make contacts in the industry, Hoover donned his suitand-tie to meet with influential wine critic Robert M. Parker whose greeting comment to Hoover was, “You sure as hell don’t look like a winemaker!” “It was terrifying,” Hoover recounted. But he persevered and has relied on his combined experiences from his varied career history to put together a business that includes everything he loves: hospitality, wine, agriculture, family, riding around in a golf cart surveying his vine-dom and settling back in a sofa by the tasting room fireplace sampling some recent releases. Hoover also makes time to fish and waterski—lifelong activities—play with his grandkids, collect eggs from his chickens and make olive oil from his own fruit to sell at the tasting room. He serves on the board of the Cal Poly Corporation, is on the SLO County Agricultural Preservation Commission and PRWCA board.
It’s fitting that this popular, high energy and “down home” multi-talented personality would join the roster of those who’ve contributed to the growth, development and promotion of the north county wine and hospitality industries.
“I’m doing something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I’m like Willy Wonka in my factory!”
With two children now in tow, Hoover realized his job that required a lot of travel wasn’t ideal for family life. “I looked at moving back east to help rebuild a company there but my friend Greg Morris of Morris and Garritano said, ‘Why would you want to do that?’ Greg thought I’d be great in insurance and, as someone who’d been one of Morris and Garritano’s biggest customers with the hotels, I took him up on the offer.” Hoover eventually became CEO of Morris and Garritano where he worked until 2012. Hoover’s son Ben, a Cal Poly graduate, now works for the company and according to his dad is a “leading producer there.” Ben and his wife Nancy have two children Charlie and Hadley. Hoover’s daughter Stephanie, also a Cal Poly graduate, is a pharmaceutical sales representative for Allergan and lives in Fresno. She and husband Ryan are parents to two-year-old Delany. During this phase of his career, Hoover’s interest in the wine and hospitality industry did not wane. Hoover said he’d already been making wine for a while and had a vineyard at their home in south Atascadero. Hoover, who worked as a 4-H Leader in the dairy goat and dairy heifer projects (“I had to drag my kids into it!”), took the opportunity when visiting fairs to simultaneously enter his wines in A P R I L
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writer
A Retirement Facility Even though the prospect of moving may be in the distant future, you owe it to yourself to learn how you can enjoy carefree living in your own home for many years to come.
Susan mcGinty
nuns influenced a los osos mystery writer’s popular series You Don’t Have to Move Feel Safe and Secure
It’s a fact of life that as we get older, Pristine is fully some day-to-day tasks become too licensed and insured. much to handle on our own. That All of our workers doesn’t mean you have to move away are carefully screened ittle nun andof some from did theacomfort yourex-nuns home. realize that and pass a criminal they sparked the imagination of a former Lockheed employee Pristine Home Services is a local background check and McGraw-Hill technical writer, Sue McGinty, to write a that helps San Luis Obispo and drug test, giving you peace of mind series ofcompany Central Coast-themed mysteries that feature an ex-nun who keeps stumbling into murder scenes. County residents avoid the high cost when someone from Pristine is working of moving to a retirement facility. in your home. The question of why the Los Osos mystery writer Sue McGinty, picked By Charmaine Coimbra
L
an erstwhile nun as her protagonist in her Bella Kowalski mysteries burned inside of me after I read her most recent book, Murder in a Safe Haven.
“She helps me with bathing and other personal care. She is so wonderful to me. All of our services can be provided She should be cloned! …and the price is That mystery itself chatted with McGinty about her daily,resolved weekly, orwhile on Ian as-needed basis. very reasonable. She even did my winsecond life as a popular local author. “I regularly visited my aunt in You pay for only the services you need her Dominican Sisters convent until she died at age 96,” McGinty dows!” R. Watson, San Luis Obispo andNow, weher provide at manner a priceas a explained. aunt livesthose on in a services most fictional “They took the time to ask me exactly former you nun named Bella, who lives in a windmill house in a California can afford. what I wanted. They arrived on time, did YARDConvenient MAINTENANCE · HANDYMAN SERVICES · PERSONAL CARE exactly what I asked, and the price was One-call Service reasonable. I would recommend Pristine Our personal care services include to a friend.” C. Hall, San Luis Obispo shopping,Services daily errands, meal preparaHome Specialist tion, transportation and non-medical Before you make any decisions that From handyman services to plumbing and preparing meals. There care. Our housekeeping services keepis no task could affect your future happiness 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 standard of living, take the time spotless. eventhose do services windows and services you need andWe we provide at a price you can afford. to read these two FREE reports: laundry. Our yard maintenance crews “What every senior needs to know and beyond my know how “Pristine to takegoes careabove of your favorite about living in a retirement facility.” I can live in the comfort rose bushesexpectations and keepsothe grass neatly of my home.” mowed. Our–Jay handyman services are “Four critical questions to ask a Baker provided by specialists in plumbing, service provider . . . before you let electrical painting, repairs and anyone work in or near your home.” Serving work, All of San Luis Obispo County safety rail installation. We invite you to call Pristine right CALL FOR RATES coastal town called Los Lobos. She writes obituaries for the local nownewspaper, so that the weCentral can send you these Coast Chronicle, and married a former detective with a slippery background. two FREE reports by mail. But wait. Bella is a former nun—her
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aunt was sent to the convent at age 12! “I also met a woman who was a former nun who was married, and I was enthralled by Karen Armstrong’s book The Spiral Staircase. That’s how Bella became secular.”
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(805) 543-HOME (4663) Call Today Presently writing the first drafts of the fifth in a series of Bella Kow-
alski mysteries, with the working title, Murder at WTF, McGinty has yet to determine her protagonist’s future. By the way, WTF is short for Wastewater Treatment Facility. That’s typical of McGinty’s book titles that include Murder at Cuyamaca Beach, Murder in Mariposa Bay (which haunts me every time I drive along the Morro
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“What would be your advice to an aspiring author?” I asked. “Read 100 books in the genre and sub-genre that you like; start to think about your character and supporting characters; and find a good writer’s group,” McGinty answered. “I use the newspaper for ideas and make constant notes, too.” “As a writer, I love the life I live. I meet interesting people … and my best move was coming here to the Central Coast. It is a great inspiration. The people are nicer here. It’s not utopia, but it is close.”
Bay State Park Road), Murder in Los Lobos, and her most recent title published in 2016, Murder in a Safe Haven—this one set in Detroit and in a convent. As the Nancy Drew mysteries inspired the likes of Supreme Court Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Sonia Sotomayor, so did the series captivate the young Sue McGinty. “The Nancy Drew mysteries were so compelling,” McGinty said. “My mother limited me to one a week.” Fast-foward to adulthood and working behind the early versions of computers at a small Lockheed plant in Southern California, McGinty said, “I would have to dump out my mind after work, so I read mysteries.” Her favorite mystery writers include Agatha Christie, P.D. James, and Michael Connelly. “Locally, Catherine Ryan Hyde is one of my writing heroes.” When McGinty left McGraw-Hill and moved to Los Lobos—I mean Los Osos, she joined SLO NightWriters and Sisters in Crime. Her short stories were published in anthologies, while she explored writing young adult fiction. “I couldn’t find my inner child,” McGinty laughed. “So I gave up on writing YA books. Next, I asked myself what was my schtick and I knew it was mystery writing.” Even though McGinty is proficient with technology, she begins her first draft of each work in free hand. “Right now, I’m writing with pen to paper the first draft of my new book. This is first-draft agony time.” “Is this how you find the story’s beginning, middle and end?” I asked. “Not always. I write early in the morning, then go for a walk. That’s often the time I have my aha! moment and it all comes together.” That’s the best part of writing, McGinty said. But she readily admits that the worst part of writing is “chaining myself to the computer and making myself write.” While her character Bella’s end is yet to be written and the fact that McGinty did not kill-off Bella’s morally dubious husband (yet?), McGinty is playing with a new mystery with new characters. “It’s a 1960s aerospace thriller in the heart of the cold war and an aerospace top secret worker’s hangout called Area 51,” McGinty said. She’s currently researching data to pile on to her experience working in aerospace during the cold war to propel her fiction writer’s literary liberties. A P R I L
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PEOPLE
greenheart farms manager
bill deVor
revolutionizing greenhouse farming By Angela Martin
L
ast spring, I was lucky enough to receive a full season’s-worth of organic veggie starters from Bill DeVor of Greenheart Farms. I had a lot of questions about where they came from and how Bill used his history of rose production to revolutionize the world of greenhouse farming so I decided to take a little field trip to see where all the growing happens.
Greenheart Farms has been in business for over 35 years. It currently is owned by Hoy Buell and is operated and managed out of Arroyo Grande by a long time San Luis Obispo local, Bill DeVor. Bill has been at Greenheart for 19 years. He was originally brought in as head grower where he revolutionized the rose production industry. He is a 4th generation rose grower so he definitely knows a thing or two about the planting, growth and mass production of all things green! Over his career with Greenheart, he has doubled the size of the farm (they now have 3 in California and 1 in Arizona) and helped reinvigorate a thriving vegetable business to the point that they now grow over a billion plants a year in record time. During the tour Bill said, “If you want to know in short, what Greenheart Farms does, we grow plants really fast!” The AG facility is Bill’s home base. He manages 45 farmed acres (64 in total) and 85 employees. The employees he works with feel his warmth daily and have truly come to appreciate his family-first style of management. The AG facility, thanks to Bill’s wealth of knowledge, is the largest and most highly renowned rose producer in the world. They sell wholesale greenhouse, completely indoor farmed roses, fruit and vegetable starters, as well as some outdoor crops, to all the big names in town (Home Depot, Driscoll’s, Talley Farms to name a few). They even have their own shipping fleets to ship across the country.
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Their processes are truly revolutionary and mostly instigated by Bill’s forward thinking management. From seed to ship most plants will only take days to weeks, not months to years like it used to be in the ’70s and ’80s. They use well water, have a recycling system, capture rainwater on premises and are constantly making moves to become even more sustainable and drought friendly. Bill truly has an engineer’s mind and a farmer’s hands. Even the machinery at the farm is made one of a kind for their facilities and designed by the workers themselves. The goal is to be 80% automated to keep costs low and production high. All greenhouses are on a completely computerized lighting/heating system that actually reflects the time of day, temperature and sunlight outside. For example, the sun produces about 14,000 lumen; their lights produce 11,000 and is automated to adjust for what the
PEOPLE The coolest part of the tour was seeing the first ever seed-to-farm organic strawberry starter—Bill’s brainchild of almost five years! Most “organic” strawberries are grown from a seed with pesticides and chemical fertilizer to keep them protected from bugs and nutrient deficiencies. Once they are planted at a farm, that’s where they start their “organic lifestyle” getting only plant or animal-based fertilizers. Most new organic greenhouse crops go through, on average, five years of research, trials and development before they hit a production line. Bill says his protocol notes over the years have been an invaluable reference in figuring out what works (and what doesn’t too of course). With an incredibly knowledgeable and passionate Chief Operating Officer, Greenheart
plants needs at every stage of their growth. How cool is that??
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Farms is sure to thrive. Within the past couple years they have successfully grown to a size they would like to keep. Their internal growth will come in maximizing their space, minimizing their staff and streamlining their production. Bill’s favorite part of his day is walking around with his farm dog, Pepper (who has been on the farm with Bill every day since her first year of life) and checking on his plants and employees. Although we can’t, as consumers, purchase any of Greenhearts organic greenhouse starters, Bill does promise that you’ll see his starters growing in many local farms until they are harvested for our culinary pleasure!
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They also make it a point to use mostly organic fertilizer (fish, seaweed, kelp, soy, and corn seed) unless the client tells them otherwise. Bill’s ideals of sustainability are also mirrored in their shipment procedures by using metal fabricated returnable freight containers packed with hard plastic starter containers. Growers will unload and immediately send the truck back with all the materials for the next load. If they don’t have the ability to reuse shipping containers they will use biodegradable cardboard for shipment.
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first 5 of slo county
...because when the children are well, then all is well. By Susan Stewart
M
ore than 80% of a child’s brain develops in his or her first three years of life. And since April is recognized as The Month of the Child, what better time to celebrate First 5 San Luis Obispo County, an agency dedicated to funding and supporting those programs and services that improve the lives of children prenatal to age 5, so that all children are healthy and ready to learn in school.
Created in 1998 by Proposition 10 (which added a tax on tobacco products) and the resultant Children and Families Commission, First 5 targets this previously under-recognized and under-supported age group—a critically important time in a child’s life.
Associate Director Jason Wells, Communications & Outreach Officer Misty Livengood and Executive Director Wendy Wendt.
“It feels like the most noble work we can do,” says First 5 Executive Director, Wendy Wendt. “Not just in one area, but across the spectrum. We take a holistic approach.” For nearly two decades now, First 5 has been making a huge difference in the lives of children by funding local programs and advocating for improved supports for young children and families. Four current areas of focus at First 5 cover a broad spectrum of services demonstrating this holistic approach. 1. Perinatal Readiness—offering breastfeeding education, mental health support services, stop smoking strategies, and “kits” for new parents before their child is born. 2. Child Health and Development—investments to help provide children early intervention and care including oral health, and vision screenings and treatment.
Access to healthy nutrition is at the core of this Children’s Farmers Market program, a partnership between the Food Bank and First 5.
Jason Wells sharing his favorite book A P R I L
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3. Early Learning—a variety of programs that support early childhood professionals, parent education, quality care, and school readiness sites, plus share the highly acclaimed Talk.Read.Sing campaign that encourages early literacy and bonding between young children and their parents or caregivers.
The Children’s Bill of Rights program.
PEOPLE Misty Livengood at the Children’s Day in the Plaza
Children’s Bill of Rights tab. It’s a real eye-opener and a welcome affirmation that there are so many people who care about kids, and who “get” that children are the future hope of our nation. Then, for even more inspiration, please read the 12 rights themselves. More than just words on a page, those involved in the drafting of this document say it can be used as a prescription for action, that it was designed to elevate the conversation, to protect our most vulnerable citizens, and emphasize the priority we must place on the young. Participants say the aspirational framework helps to remind us that we adults are their [our children’s] voice; that we must acknowledge children who are still in the shadows, who are unsafe, scared, or hungry.
4. Family Strengthening—providing resources for parents and caregivers of children with special needs, as well as counseling, guidance and peer-network support for families facing challenging life circumstances. This wide scope of services is customized for our county, to fit our specific demographics and needs. First 5 is present in every California county, but is not the same county to county. A 9-person commission oversees our county’s First 5 efforts, and a 3-person office carries out their decisions. “As the daughter of two teachers, being a part of First 5 is near and dear to my heart,” says Misty Livengood, First 5’s Communications and Outreach Officer. “As a new parent, sometimes you feel like you’re on your own island, so to know there are resources and people out there committed to the importance of these first five years is really comforting.” In 2013, First 5 SLO County held the first annual Children’s Summit. Comprised of early childhood teachers, caregivers, parents, and perhaps most importantly, the children themselves (albeit a few years older than five), this group was the first to celebrate the launch of our locally-created Children’s Bill of Rights. “This was a prime opportunity to lock arms with other kids’ advocates,” said Jason Wells, First 5 SLO’s Program Officer. “To express our hopes and honor our kids so they can thrive, realize their dreams, and truly maximize their potential.” For a poignant look at the process, do visit www.first5slo.org and click on the
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To recognize the quiet, unsung heroes who work so hard to bring the Children’s Bill of Rights into the real world, First 5 SLO County and other child-serving organizations host the Hands-On Heroes awards. These awards shine a light on the many individuals—teachers, nurses, community organizers, and volunteers—who give tirelessly every day to improve the lives of children and their families. Meet them all on the First 5 SLO website. A full list, plus intimate profiles and photos of winners past and present, is provided. The 2017 winners are also featured monthly right here in SLO Journal Plus. First 5 SLO County has been a ubiquitous presence county-wide for nearly 20 years. Its funded programs and advocacy efforts can be seen in hospitals, pre-natal classes, schools, neighborhoods, homes, and a myriad of help-
The early learning program
ing agencies. But the challenges of meeting the needs of young children are numerous and costly, and there is much more work to be done. So Misty Livengood, Wendy Wendt, and Jason Wells—along with the 9-member SLO County Children and Families Commission—will continue to deepen the work of First 5 SLO County every day. Wendt explained it this way: In Africa, members of the Masai tribe have a common greeting. Instead of saying as we do, “Hi, how are you?” to which we most often respond “Fine thanks,” they say “How are the children?” to which they most often respond, “The children are well.” As if to say, if the children are well, then all is well.
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wILDFLOWERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST FROM WATER SPRINGS LIFE By Chuck Graham
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t has been an unexpectedly and much needed wet winter, one that hasn’t been seen since at least 2005, maybe as far back as the last significant El Nino episode in 1997 – 98. If I recall correctly, both those winters were followed by vibrant wildflower blooms. Spring 2017 has the potential to be an amazing wildflower year. Not only did we receive ample rainfall, but overall it was the right type of rainfall received; steady, consistent rains that began in October and November, and then increased substantially in volume in December and January, before we received some powerful rains in February.
Here is a go-to list of wildflower hot spots within San Luis Obispo County. With such a diversity of landscapes there are several spots to choose from. Some of these spots produce sweeping palettes of color and other locales will produce hidden gems in the trough of a sand dune. In any event, take advantage of these rains, because you never know what next winter will bring.
Montana de Oro State Park This rugged state park near Los Osos is breathtaking to say the least, but when you combine its diversified landscapes like its coastal mountains and wave-battered bluffs with a colorful display of wildflowers, the contrast is stunning. On the park’s website Montana de Oro means “mountains of gold” which comes from the golden wildflowers that come to life in the spring. I’m assuming they’re referring to the California poppy, the state’s flower and that vibrant orange blanketing hillsides and the coastline.
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There’s a maze of trails within the park to choose from but to get the most out of a significant wildflower bloom I suggest spending the night for the best light which is morning and late in the day. Having said that, when it comes to poppies, they close up for the night and don’t open up again until late morning. They’re also susceptible to folding up in cold, windy weather so keep that in mind when looking for what is arguably one of the prettiest flowers in the state.
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You can easily see them near Spooner’s Cove, the beach closest to the campground, but don’t stop there. Get out and explore.
Guadalupe – Nipomo Sand Dunes National Wildlife Refuge There’s something about wildflowers growing out of the coastal dunes withstanding gale force winds and stinging sand, but coastal dune flora are some of the most hardy there is. The dunes extend from Pismo Beach south to craggy Mussel Rock. Oso Flaco Lake, “the Skinny Bear,” one of several freshwater lakes hidden in the dunes has a nice path leading out to the beach and all that native flora will be blooming this spring. My favorite section of dunes is out by Mussel Rock where the dunes are at their tallest topping out at 500 feet. Some of my favorite wildflowers out there that help stabilize the dunes are the silver lupine and coreopsis. Typically seen in the deep dune troughs it’s a beautiful contrast when they’re blooming against the ever shifting dunes. Some of the more common, low-lying plant species seen blooming in the dunes are sand verbena, morning glory, beach primrose and Indian paintbrush. What’s amazing about these flowers is how they endure in such a harsh environment.
Shell Creek Road It’s hard to explain why some places have lots of flowers and others don’t. Whatever it is about Shell Creek Road when all those seedlings come together and germinate in the right fashion, that little country road just off Highway 58 appears like a work of art.
Giant Coreopsis
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A Carrizo Plain view
Tidy tips and goldfields tend to dominant this little stretch of Central California just northeast of Santa Margarita, but the densities are amazing set against thick oak and sycamore trees. Look for owl’s clover, baby blue eyes, California poppies and fragrant bush lupine. Once you’re on Shell Creek Road time seems to slow down out there. I guess that’s what wildflowers can do to you. You want to take your time and marvel at nature’s palette because it won’t be there for long. There are no services out there so a full tank of gas, food and water will get you through the day.
Carrizo Plain National Monument Arguably one of California’s best wildflower venues, the Carrizo Plain’s wide open spaces can come alive following a wet winter. The last significant wildflower year on the grasslands was 2010. That year it looked as if someone had arrived on the plain with a giant paintbrush and splashed color on the grasslands and surrounding hillsides. Look for vibrant fields of tickseed coreopsis on the eastside of Soda Lake. At the north en-
Dessert Candles A P R I L
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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
Baby Blue Eyes
trance, search for magenta-colored owl’s clover. Anywhere on the plain is good for dense stands of tidy tips and carpets of brilliant goldfields. In the past between Traver Ranch and the KCL Campground and closer to the Temblor Range is what appears to be a “purple lake” that is actually a thick, giant patch of phacelia.
Caliente Range to the west. Last year wherever there were thick mudflows there were stunning stands of desert candles and blazing stars.
fastest land animal, the pronghorn antelope and Tule elk herds, some of the fastest growing herds in California.
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Entire hillsides can be covered either in the Temblor Range to the east or the
The best strategy on the Carrizo Plain is to drive slowly because you never know what you’re going to see. Of course a bonus on the grasslands is seeing wildlife in the wildflowers, especially North America’s
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weekend getaway
the nethercutt museum By Richard Bauman
T
he Nethercutt Museum and the Nethercutt Collection seem to be one of Southern California’s best kept secrets. Located in Sylmar, at the north end of the San Fernando Valley, together they are an impressive collection of exceptional cars, art, and rare musical instruments. The large, pale yellow museum building at the corner of Bledsoe St. and Bradley Ave., looks out of place in a neighborhood of older houses, factories, and a mobile home park. When you swing open the glass door to the museum, you come faceto-face with a couple of classic cars—a silver and blue, streamlined 1937 Talbot-Lago Type 150, and a sleek maroon-colored 1931 Bugatti Type 51 with swooping fenders and airflow lines popular in the 1930s. They are a tipoff that this is not an ordinary place. Just beyond them and the security desk, in symmetrical rows, are about 130 antique and rare cars. The museum actually owns more than 200 cars. Some cars are from well known prestigious carmakers and others from manufacturers that built cars for a short time and then faded away. Ever hear of the Diana? Me neither, until I saw the 1928 Diana “Light Straight 8 Sedan Deluxe” at the museum, built by the Moon Motor Company of St. Louis, Missouri. Like many of cars of its era, it’s big. It had to be to house its 240 cubic inch, straight eight cylinder engine. On the radiator is a bronze cameo shaped badge with the profile of a woman and the name Diana above it. It wasn’t an inexpensive machine. In 1928 a new Diana cost $2195, which converts to about $30,000 in 2017 dollars. Besides the Diana, the first row of cars has several Pierce Arrows, a 1933 Franklin with its 12 cylinder air cooled engine, and a 1937 V-12 powered Lincoln, to name just a few. To your right, are display cases
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full of hood ornaments, automobile badges, specialty shifters, clocks and watches and other early motoring accessories. While the displays are static, the cars aren’t. Some cars are regularly taken to classic car shows and concours d’elegance events, and often as not come back with a trophy and/or a blue ribbon. All of the cars at the Nethercutt are licensed for road use and get driven regularly. Many have “personalized” license plates. For example, one Pierce Arrow’s plate is “PA V12,” while a Franklin’s plate reads “NO H2O,” (it has an air cooled engine) and the 1937 Lincoln’s tag is “FYNE CAR.” Jack Nethercutt and his wife Dorothy, owners of Merle Norman Cosmetics, had always loved the old cars, and in 1956 they bought two antique cars, a 1936 Duesenberg convertible for $5000 and a 1930 DuPont town car for just $500. Neither car was in great condition. Nethercutt decided he would restore the DuPont himself, thinking it would take a couple of weeks. Eighteen months and $65,000 later, the car was finished. How good a job did he do? He took the DuPont to the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the world’s leading classic car contests, and took best in show. Over the next 15 years the Nethercutts collected more cars, and in 1971 they began sharing them with the public when they completed the multi-story building they called “San Sylmar” next door to the Merle Norman corporate headquarters. Their collection of cars, antiques, and musical instruments occupied the lower floors and the Nethercutts lived on the upper floor. They later built the museum building across the street.
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There are numerous rare cars in the museum, but possibly the most rare, at least from the relatively modern era, is the white bullet-nosed car with the license plate “California Historical Vehicle 6776.” It’s a 1948 Tucker Model 48 Sedan. The Tucker automobile was the brainchild of Preston Tucker. Built in Chicago his cars had numerous innovations including padded dashboards, a low center of gravity, and a center headlight that swiveled, to light the way, when the car was turned right or left. Not to be overlooked are plush interiors and doors that fared into the roof line. While that design feature is common today, it wasn’t in 1948. Only 51 Tuckers had been built when the company closed on March 3, 1949. Forty-eight of them have survived. The Nethercutt’s car is number 40. Pierce Arrow automobiles were built from 1901 to 1938 in Buffalo, NY, and the Nethercutt has numerous examples of these luxury cars from different years. But there’s also a different kind of Pierce Arrow vehicle at the museum—a Pierce Arrow Travelodge. It is an elegant travel trailer that has aluminum skin exterior, and elegantly finished wood interior. Only 17-feet long, it nonetheless could sleep four, had an icebox, a bathroom and a kitchen with a stove and sink. There was a heater to keep occupants warm and a built-in radio provided entertainment. The Travelodge sold for $1282 (about $21,000 today) and was declared the ultimate in travel comfort. Only 105 copies of the Travelodge had been made when the company went out of business. If Rolls Royce automobiles are a favorite of yours, there are plenty of them to see at the Nethercutt. The entire south wall is Rolls after Rolls from the early 1900s into the 1930s. Some people see the elegant, high fender vehicles as the epitome of automobile luxury. The design of most older cars betray their age or the era when they were built. The design of a few cars, however, surpass the decades between introduction and today. The 1954 Mercedes Benz 300SL is such a car. Especially sleek for its time, with its long nose, gull-wing doors, and rounded tail and fenders this coupe is still an outstanding looking car. When introduced in 1954 it was the fastest production car in the world. Even today it looks like it’s moving even when standing still. The silver 300SL at the Nethercutt is in a special display area at the front of the museum. It sits in a semi-circular alcove on a mirrored floor, bathed in sunlight that streams through more than 30 windows.
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THE COLLECTION Across the street from the museum is a boxy, multi-storied windowless building that looks like a factory or storage facility. But its blandness belies its contents—the Nethercutt Collection. Touring the museum is self-guided activity, but at the Collection docents guide visitors from floor to floor, exhibit to exhibit while revealing the history and significance of some of the cars, musical instruments and art pieces to be seen there. The roughly two-hour tour begins as you step through a lavish entryway, and into the Grand Salon, which is definitely the tour’s wow factor and sets the stage for the rest of the tour. There are about a dozen gleaming luxury cars—Rolls Royces, Duesenbergs and Delahays— positioned between the room’s three-story tall marble columns. Above the mirror-like black marble floor, crystal chandeliers dangle from the high ceiling. The ambiance evokes the luxury automobile showrooms of the 1930s. A circular staircase leads to the mezzanine level where you can admire the Nethercutt collection of rare hood ornaments, including delicate hood ornaments made of brushed Lalique crystal, as well as 18th and 19th century French furniture. The final stop on the tour is the fourth floor and the mechanical musical instruments collection. Instruments range from tiny musical pocket watches to midsize nickelodeons and gigantic electropneumatic “orchestrions.” They are mechanical marvels that produce amazing sounds. The 1926 Hupfield Excelsior Pan Orchestra features built in accordions, violins, drums, piano and no less than 500 pipes that can easily produce a patriotic march or a gentle lullaby. The celebrity instrument of the fourth floor, however, is the 1926 Hope-Jones Unit Wurlitzer, featuring more than 5,000 pipes. It is the largest Wurlitzer theater organ on the west coast. When it is played you can feel the music sort of push through your being. The Nethercutt Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Nethercutt Collection is open Thursday through Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., but you have to make advanced reservations. Call (818) 364-6464 to make reservations and for additional information. Admission to both facilities is free, and you are allowed to take pictures. They are located at: Nethercutt Collection at San Sylmar, 15200 and 15151 Bledsoe St. Sylmar, CA 91342. A P R I L
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at the market
Simple pickled beets and their greens By Sarah Hedger
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pring is here and in full swing on the Central Coast. Exciting times as there is so much goodness to choose from! April brings all kinds of veggie goodness, from artichokes and first season asparagus, to avocados, beets, carrots, and so much more. In the fruit goodness department, there are strawberries, lemons, grapefruit, and sometimes if the weather is warm enough, some early season stone fruit. Lots to choose from!
This month’s recipe is a little different. I don’t want to just start in on how to make pickled beets as many would stop reading right about here. But, alas! Pickling and the art of true fermentation is making a strong resurgence as few will argue the recent research linking our immune systems to gut health, which links straight back to what we eat, at every meal. While many look for supplements to fill these bacterial shortages in our guts, few things are actually absorbed and utilized better than whole, natural foods. The very reason why pickling began so many thousands of years ago, is because the billions of bacteria that actually prevent foods from
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rotting, also happen to be profoundly good for us (to consume). The confusing part for me is when the word ‘pickle’ is used (and abused) as it imparts a fermentation (pickling) process has taken place involving these amazing bacterium, however often short cuts are taken to make something ‘pickled,’ by skipping the actual fermentation process, through using vinegars. When making fermented pickled goodness at home (and some real fermented foods in the refrigerated section at good stores), there is an entire fermentation process that goes on, resulting in beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria, as well as the beneficial lactic acid which is what actually pickles, pickled (so to speak!). This fermentation process actually enhances the vitamin content (and bioavailability) of the vegetables, as well as
simple Pickled beets and their greens Makes enough for 1 litre jar (roughly 4+ cups) For the beets and greens (beet tops): 1 large bunch organically grown beets (and tops) 2-3 T sea salt A touch of water 1 litre mason jar, cleaned and sterilized (hot soapy water or dishwasher is good)
Cut beet tops off beet root, just below where it is attached, then cut lower inch off beet tops. Soak all in water, while scrubbing beet root clean. Remove and let drain to dry. Put on a dark top (and some gloves if you want stain-free hands), and finely chop (or grate) the beet root. Finely chop beet tops and place both root and tops in a large bowl, tossing with salt and mixing well.
preserving the enzymes in the food, making the food more digestible, which is a very good thing! Use this recipe as inspiration to begin. More (lacto) ferments as the weather gets warmer; it speeds up the fermentation process, making it possible to happen right in front of your own eyes. I personally love beets (and their tops!) so this recipe really is one I love having around, waiting in my fridge to be spooned on top of just about anything savory, adding a delicious bite, and nourishment. There is a reason why sauerkraut is served with corned beef in Reuben sandwiches, and, why, in so many countries and cultures, fermented veggies are served with every meal. Think about the amazing pickled carrots and jalapenos, escabeche, served with amazing Mexican food. It is because real lacto-fermenting adds to the digestibility of the nutrients in the meal because the good bacteria added is profoundly good for you. Pickling, or fermenting, is not rocket science! It is real fun to watch foods be transformed before your eyes, resulting in the end product being even better for you (and more tasty) than in its raw state. Thus, give this pickled beet recipe a go. If you don’t like beets, try a green papaya, or carrots and jalapenos. There is so much vegetable goodness to experiment with! Also, if you want a great book, with amazing recipes, and good reason behind the art of fermentation, have a look at Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Ellix Katx as it is a great read (and resource). Enjoy!
Push as much of the beet mixture into the mason jar as possible—it takes some force! The beets will be releasing juice at the same time, which is what you want as the solids need to be submerged in beet juice (brine). If there isn’t enough liquid to submerge this, add a little water and a little more salt until it is under.
Cover jar with lid or cloth and place in dark, slightly warm spot, for a few days. Ferment for 3-7 days, depending on the temperature. Ideal ferment temperature is 60-70 degrees as this allows veggies to stay firm to the bite, while promoting good bacteria. Watch the fermentation process as small bubbles will be visible once fermentation begins. Taste after a few days and see how pickled they taste. Once pickled, seal and place in refrigerator and enjoy (the pickling juice is very good to enjoy as well)!
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COMMUNITY Paso robles art scene
DEBORAH HOFSTETTER A PHOTOGRAPHER ON AN ADVENTURE By Deborah “Deb” Hofstetter
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ife is an adventure and photography is the adventure of a dream. It was only five years ago Deb took the leap to take her camera off “auto mode.” She simply wanted to improve the quality of her “people” pictures. While she continued to work in accounting, Deb took every community photography class offered at night, attended class photo shoots on weekends, and combed over magazines and textbooks for technical training tips. During her educational immersion she learned the differences between cameras, lenses, and their capabilities. While on a photo shoot in Yosemite she learned the value of having a good tripod. Good equipment is absolutely necessary to getting good results. “Grass is not cut with scissors and professional photographers do not get gorgeous National Geographic quality photos without good equipment and the technical training to use that equipment,” says Deb. In 2014 Deb purchased a Nikon D610 Full Frame Digital Camera as her first semiprofessional camera. Her kit includes Nikkor prime lenses, telephoto, zoom, macro, wide angle, and a fisheye lens. For five years she has practiced taking photos of friends, family and models. She’s done wedding photog-
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raphy, engagement, maternity, newborn, children and senior portraits. She’s worked with natural and multiple light sources as an event photographer for local wineries. She joined the Paso Robles Art Association Photo Guild three years ago as an opportunity to see other photographers’ work and have her own critiqued. The technical instruction she learned proved invaluable. The Photo Guild has provided tutorials, guest speakers, fieldtrips, and judged contests. Deb attributes a great deal of her rapid growth and success to the lessons learned and applied. Tim Bryan, guild member stated “Deb has accomplished so much in a short period of time from my point of view for three reasons. 1) She has a natural gift for finding the right composition and then the ability to frame it in the available light as best as possible. 2) She devotes a lot of time and energy into improving her skills 3) She is open to exploring new techniques and evaluating what other people have to say about hers. In short, it is the skill set she was born with coupled with her tenacity and work ethic that has made her work so well received.” Deb finds that she can express herself through the use of digital art and layers of effects such as lighting, textures, and adding elements of interest to help convey a feeling or tell a story. Her first digital art piece “Ocean Echoes of Paradise Found” is a compilation of two pictures layered together with additional layers of texture and during the final process a light texture was added to the entire photo. While the main portrait provided the elements of interest and emotion, the added photo added to the composition and the textures and light contributed to the overall feeling and emotion Deb had envisioned months before she ever snapped the first shot. She uses Lightroom, Photoshop, and a variety of filter plug-ins to post-edit and create images that appeal to her sense of art. Their uses are relatively new to Deb and she continues to experiment with a variety of effects that will add life to what may otherwise be a flat looking image though the composition is awesome or simply an image that needs a special touch. Deb creates her own textures by using pictures taken of fabric, dirty old windows, rust on cars, and moss.
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Hofstetter’s “Falling in Love”
Digital art has opened a new door for her. Once you’ve created a work of art, you own it—no other photographer can duplicate it. For the last two years she entered the MidState Fair Photography Division as a professional and had over 18 entries place top 3 both years. During the past eleven months Deb entered the PRAA judged art contests placing 1st twice, received 2nd and 3rd finishes and two Honorable Mentions. A year ago she started her business as “Central Coast Professional Photography.” In January 2017 she partnered with fellow photographer Dean Crawford Jr and painter Joe Thomas at Studios on the Park in downtown Paso Robles in Studio 4. Recently Deb was asked to do “bottle shots” or “reflective glass photography” for a winery client. Photographers consider this form of photography to be the most difficult. “In order to achieve this goal I knew I needed to take my skills to a higher level,” she said. Deb connected with her mentor, John Rector, retired pilot and photographer at the end of December 2016. John says, “Deb is passionate and excited about photography and has a desire to achieve the highest quality.” Together they’ve created a photography lab capable of providing quality wine bottle shots and are already producing images for clients. Ultimately, Deb is driven. She says, “I see images in my mind, beautiful visions that I am challenged to learn how to capture and create. If I must learn a new skill then I get on with it.” There is no end to this adventure, just new and creative art! Deb now works exclusively on her passion: photography in many forms. . and she’s just getting started. You can see Deb’s work at Studios on the Park, Studio 4, 1130 Pine Street, Paso Robles, Ca and www.ccprophoto.com.
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Jeff Campbell
new visions
california juried photography exhibition By Jody Kocsis
preservation of the visual arts on the Central Coast, is located at 1010 Broad Street, on the west end of Mission Plaza. Free admission; donations are appreciated. For more info, visit SLOMA.org.
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he San Luis Obispo Museum of Art and Central Coast Photographic Society are pleased to announce New Visions: California Juried Photography Exhibition from April 7 – May 2, 2017. This exhibition pays tribute to the compelling imaginations and technical skills of photographers today. The subject matter welcomed photographers to delve into all subjects, themes, and motifs that expose new images in the world today. Cash prizes will be awarded. Ruta Saliklis, Director of Exhibitions at San Luis Obispo Museum of Art will give a members-only curator’s talk at 5pm on Friday, April 7, followed by a public reception and awards ceremony with the artists from 6–9 pm in conjunction with Art After Dark. The exhibition juror, George Lepp, was challenged to select the best photographs
Night Fall – Kabe Russell
among the 164 images submitted by 64 photographers from across California. 49 photographs were chosen. Lepp is one of North America’s best-known contemporary outdoor and nature photographers. He is also the field editor of Outdoor Photographer magazine, where his “Tech Tips” column is widely read. His work is extensively published and exhibited; Getty Images, Corbis, and Photo Researchers represent his stock photography. To complement the exhibition, SLOMA’s film series is showing La Quete D’inspiration/The Quest For Inspiration on Monday, April 17 at 7 PM. This film was born of numerous solitary wanderings through autumnal forests by landscape photographer Alexandre Deschaumes. The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, dedicated to the education, presentation and
805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo
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parents for joy
working to build an all inclusive playground By Heather Young
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purred by an idea from another mom at a get-together, special needs moms Sarah Sullivan and Jenelle Allen decided they could indeed get a special needs park built in Atascadero. They formed the group “Parents for Joy” to make the park a reality. They took their idea first to the Atascadero City Council in May 2013 and were met by enthusiastic support. They’ve worked with the city over the last four years to design and fund the park. The city gifted 11,000 square feet of space next to the Colony Park Community Center to Parents for Joy to build Joy Park, which is named in memory of Allen’s daughter, Savannah Joy, who was born with Downs Syndrome and later died.
Donation from Idler’s
Donation from the Rotary Club of Atascadero A P R I L
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Sullivan researched the needs of different disabilities so that there is at least one piece of equipment to serve every disability. The park will even feature a treehouse that will be accessible to all children, even
Donation from the Community Church of Atascadero
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Donations from the Almond Acres Country Quilt Guild
those in wheelchairs. The entire park will also be fenced off to allow children prone to running away to be able to run free in the park without their parents worrying. While the park is designed with children who have disabilities in mind, the park is for all children. The park will even have 12 different swings to accommodate the different weights and harness needs. “It was difficult to take the children out,” Parents for Joy co-founder Jenelle Allen said. “Some are runners, [some are in wheelchairs].” Now, four years later, the park is closer to reality because of a large grant that the city has applied for on behalf of Parents for Joy. If approved, the group would receive $505,000 for building the park. The grant would come from the California Department of Housing and Community Development, which offers the grant as an incentive for cities to build affordable housing.
A group of Parents for Joy members and their children in front of the proposed playground
“It’s going to be all-inclusive,” Allen said. Sullivan said they’re not entirely sure of the timeline, but that the playground could possibly be built, or at least started, by the end of the year. I think it could be done in 2017—it’s amazing. It’s what we’ve been waiting for, for three and a half years.” Because the equipment company has come out with new equipment since plans for the playground were first complete, some of the equipment in the plans will be replaced with updated ones. Sullivan did add that the budget will remain close to the same and the footprint won’t change much.
sive playgrounds in Salinas or Palo Alto, which isn’t feasible most of the time. There are specific websites that include information on inclusive playgrounds, which the Atascadero playground will be listed on once it’s built. Sullivan said that will bring people to the area who may not have stopped otherwise. “People will come here specifically for the playground,” she said. For more information on the playground or to donate, go to www.parentsforjoy.org.
“Not much will look different,” she said. Sullivan’s oldest son is in a wheelchair and in order for him to be able to enjoy the playground, she has to take him to inclu-
When added to what the group has already raised and a matching grant of $100,000 from the playground company, the group will come in just over budget. In 2014, Allen said that $500,000 would be needed to construct the playground, but over the years, costs have increased. Today, Sullivan said the budget for the playground is now estimated at $750,000.
POWER TO GET THE JOB DONE
“We’re still fundraising,” Sullivan said. “There’s still a small chance we won’t get it.” Additionally, she added, the group is looking for in-kind donations for construction and excavation of the site. The surface of the park will be a soft rubber, which Allen said will serve the elderly who might not be able to stand on the hard concrete.
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ThomaElectric.com (805) 543-3850
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HISTORY ON THE HOOF DAY TRIPS INTO THE PAST
morro bay By Joe Carotenuti
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oday’s technology allows just about anyone to go anywhere if only through cyberspace. Nonetheless, geography is a major determiner of civilization. Early explorers looked for harbors and these became the earliest population centers. Waterway navigation promoted exploration and commerce (as well as war).
Near water or not, every community also has a topography Morro Bay Vizcaino history, a past rooted in the earliest sagas of the central coast. Wherever you visit, part of your day trip is to imagine the community sans the distractions of more contemporary additions … a history before things; indeed, before people. Few places present as spectacular a vision as Morro Bay. Let’s start. Any humans in your imaginary landscape will be the native Chumash who have left primarily archeological history allowing some modern glimpses into the area’s prehistory. Living along the edge of the ocean, they were some of the first to see the Spanish galleons in the distance as well as the few mariners who came ashore. What would any have thought? For us, the original people find historical notice beginning in 1769 with the landmark Portola Expedition. Thanks to the governmental directive to provide documentation of trips, there are several renditions of this seminal expedition. Most notable is Franciscan friar Juan Crespi’s meticulous daily notes available in Alan Brown’s exhaustive A Description of Distant Roads. Starting in San Diego in July, imagine the scene as the weary men on September 8, 1769 saw “…quite a high, round island rock in view in the shape of a sort of head (morro).” They would have seen the Rock at some distance traveling from the south. Crespi named the area San Adriano after the feast day of St. Hadrian. There was more than the scenery as he chronicles entering a “good sized village” with only one dwelling “underground” verified in a midtwentieth century report. Distributing beads to “well-pleased” villagers, the caravan settled into camp. In a journey where every day presented new views and struggles, el morro was unique. The caravan continued their journey as their goal was Monterey; not enjoying the scenery. A P R I L
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Crespi would not have known the formation is the northern “sister” of nine volcanic “plugs” extending southward through the county. Incredibly ancient (23 million years old), it is a giant testimony to our geological past. Yet, there were earlier mariners who came ashore for brief visits. Who could not make note of the pristine Morro Rock and harbor? While there is no evidence mariner Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo entered the harbor, he most likely saw the prehistoric formation during his coastal exploration in 1542. Given the extensive travels, what must the men have thought as the Rock loomed in the horizon? What is known is his ship, the San Salvador, paid a visit last year. The meticulously recreated vessel (docked in San Diego) delighted visitors and even offered passage back to its home port. Some 45 years after Cabrillo, Pedro de Unamuno entered the harbor. This event has had its historical questioning but for our purposes, it doesn’t stretch the imagination too much to see the small vessel dwarfed by the 570-foot gift of nature. Once ashore, it is reported an expedition hiked south to today’s San Luis Obispo. Named for the saint’s feast day, Puerto de San Lucas, Unamuno found the harbor a suitable spot for any Manila galleons as they sailed past on their way to Mexico. As was usual, he claimed all he saw for the King of Spain. It was a magnificent view and useful discovery and, if followed by more exploration, Morro Bay and not Monterey could have become the capital of Alta California. The bureaucracy of the times moved very slowly and the next notable visitor would be Sebastian Vizcaino in 1603 who named the Santa Lucia mountain range (among most everything else) and traveling north christened the “bay” at Monterey. Some 160 years later, using Morro Bay Museum
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some 170-year-old reports, Portola unsuccessfully tried to find the roadstead but unknowingly found the south arm of the great bay in San Francisco. However, he didn’t miss the Rock. In a community dedicated to tourism, there is much more to experience. Since 1870 the community has grown with el morro presiding over time and travelers. A waterfront facilitated the early shipping of dairy products followed by a thriving fishing industry and today the Embarcadero is a refreshing must-walk, all the way to its geological giant.
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While the Rock has been a witness of history for a very long time, it still appreciates visits. Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com
To find the Rock, just keep your horseless carriage going west. Along the way, stop at the Visitor’s Center (695 Harbor Street; www.morrobay.org) for tips on visiting the community and nearby points of interest. One of our favorites is the enterprising Maritime Museum. Seeking donors, it’s situated in a parking lot along the Embarcadero. A deep submergence vessel, the Avalon, used to rescue submarines in distress is a key exhibit. Don’t forget the Historical Society(http://historicalmorrobay.org), the nature preserves, even a skateboard museum enlightening for even non-skateboarders.
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history
california 1814 Part VI
By Joe Carotenuti
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t is not uncommon for history buffs to “wonder what it was like” as they roam through the corridors of the past. In other words, structures and artifacts help to visualize time but tell little as to daily life in it. Thus, first-hand accounts are an essential partner in recollections. As this series of insights into California’s past reference the “only body of direct observation”—the hope is to more accurately understand daily life in the missions. Copious records were kept of sacred and secular accomplishments but little as to the natives both baptized (neophytes) and those not (gentiles) living in the extensive mission compounds. Responding to a different culture, language, values and customs, it is difficult to imagine the individual. Given the diverse nature of backgrounds, what can be said of the routines and rewards of daily life? Participating in the cycle of planting and harvesting, animal
production and the manual arts, a temporal life was frequently punctuated with the religious requirements that had no season of rest or suspension. A rare moment in time was captured for the future when the 18 padres were required to respond to 36 questions in 1814. In a most historically fortuitous opportunity, How the Padres Saw Them translated and edited by Maynard Geiger, O. F. M. is an informative, often fascinating, glimpse into native life. The story continues. Wanting to know what today are called interpersonal relationships, the authorities in Spain asked in Question 5 if there was any “attraction or love for the Europeans or
Americans or do they manifest hate or complaint?” The responses depict a population typifying kindness and gentility. While no padre reports any visible animosity toward non-natives, the gente de razon, some characterize attitudes as “supremely indifferent.” Locally, Padre Luis Martinez of San Luis Obispo considered any complaints or “hard feelings” as more “accidental and proceeds, perhaps, from the bad treatment which is given them.” The sixteen-year veteran does not elaborate on specifics. Those at San Antonio were most positive noting “singular affection” to non-natives. Answered by few padres, Question 6 requested what remedies needed to be used to address complaints. Of the few sites responding to the question, Padre Martinez offered “charity” as a solution. Citing the original motivations to establish the missions as a guideline, he wrote “They will give each other the reward that his labors deserve.” Closely allied to the above, question 9 asked: “Which virtues are the most eminent among them?” Again, despite the various lengths of service by the Franciscan confreres, the overwhelmingly similar answers portray the most noticed virtues as compassion, charity, generosity, meekness, patience, and respect. Indeed, Santa Cruz lauded the obedience of the natives possessed “in a heroic degree, in eminent fashion.” San Juan Capistrano commented “toward material things, they show great indifference.” The response undoubtedly reflects the little “material things” anyone enjoyed in the mission outposts.
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The natives “receive anyone and give him to eat from their own poor meals
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Nearby San Antonio mused it was “always a matter of wonder what suffering they endure in their illnesses without complaint.” Most often, there was no distinction between men and women although a few missions reported females exhibiting more virtues. “The women,” reported San Miguel, “excel in this practice of charity.”
SLO Mission de Tolosa
with agreeable generosity,” noted the padres at San Buenaventura. This was a common observation from many sites. Many responses underscored the love for family and relatives although not to the exclusion of respect for others including strangers and the gentiles. Reflecting a more theological explanation, Santa Inez wrote their congregation exhibited “patient suffering in hardship, infirmities, and adversities.” Locally, Friar Martinez added a personal note to his answer. As to himself, the natives “regarded me as a father and endeavored to help me in such needs as I had especially three times when I was ill.”
On reflection, the summaries by the padres is even more remarkable when it is recalled the Spanish and the native first met a mere 45 years previously on the shores of San Diego. Unfamiliar with most everything Spanish including horses and cloth, suffering great hardships to simply find enough food to sustain life, the adversities had somehow led to the establishment of 19 missions and enterprises resulting in vast acreages of crops, hundreds of thousands of head of cattle and related industries including untold yards of weaving, reservoirs of tallow, and tons of hides. No one is ever perfect; nor expected to be. Few reported negatives including San Luis Rey commenting that virtues were motivated by “self-interest” and compassion restricted to family members. San Carlos was a bit blunter: “In truth, at the first sign of anger the Indians forget all sympathy, etc.” Yet, taken as a whole, the conclusion must be the times were more peaceable and altruistic than experienced today. With this episode, 1814 will be allowed to rest with other questions and answers including superstitions, vices, musical aptitudes, and lifestyles. Next, we’ll see what devastation a mere 40 years was to bring to everyone. Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com
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our schools
who will staff our schools? By James J. Brescia, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools “A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” —Henry Adams Local and state officials, lawmakers and teacher-credentialing institutions are working hard to ensure the question above has a reassuring answer. After all, as the authors of a new survey report state, “A highly competent teacher workforce is a necessary foundation for improving children’s educational outcomes, especially for those who rely on schools for their success.” According to the survey conducted by the Learning Policy Institute and the California School Boards Association, the majority of our school districts throughout the state are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers for the 2016-2017 school year. The greatest need has been in the major urban areas seeking special education teachers. The survey findings are part of a brief presented recently, called “California Teacher Shortages: A Persistent Problem.” In the report, more than 80 percent of the districts said that staff deficits have grown worse compared to three years ago. Communities “are experiencing alarming rates of teacher shortages,” the authors report. We have been fortunate here on the Central Coast to have a healthy applicant pool. However, in many of our specialty positions, San Luis Obispo County is also challenged with shortages. California lawmakers have been urged to look at creative paths to support working conditions within schools as a means of attracting and retaining educators. At a joint hearing of the education committees from both houses of the California Legislature, school officials from across the state reported on the effects of the workforce shortages, especially in schools serving lower income families. Research consistently indicates that educators leave the profession or transfer as a result of minimal support, salary and school culture. “There are things we can do such as
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make improvements in professional development, more feedback, establish collaborative work environments,” said Dr. Linda Darling Hammond, Stanford Professor, and chair of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. “This is a strategy that has been picked up in other places,” she said. “You want to make all the workplaces good, but mostly, we should be trying to make that less of a crap shoot.” Columbia University recently published a report detailing how teachers often make career decisions based on “sense of success” with the students they teach. Many teachers stay, change or leave assignments because of perceived success. This report emphasizes the need to support new teachers, teachers changing positions and those struggling with difficult assignments. Professional development and support is a critical element in employee satisfaction. Overall, the participants in this report indicated that it was the environment of their school that made success likely or unlikely. Faculty and staff employed in workplaces organized with a supportive and collegial interaction are more apt to remain. Organizations that provide opportunities for growth, adequate resources, and self-reflective structures are also places in which employees remain for longer periods of time, are more productive, more content, and promote higher levels of student achievement. Another concern that has been receiving attention since the end of the recession is a steep reduction in the number of college students enrolling in teacher preparation. Before the recession over 50,000 students were completing teacher certification. Since the recession, these figures have been reduced by nearly half. This reduction in workforce supply is occurring at the same time as education funding has stabilized and districts are once again hiring teachers. The need is especially acute for teachers trained to serve students with disabilities, or teach mathematics and sciences. Legislative leaders are having a serious conversation with Governor Brown about next year’s budget and the workforce shortages. In the previous fiscal year, the Governor and the Legislature agreed to provide funds aimed at streamlining the academic process required for college students to obtain both a degree and a teaching credential within four years. Any new program funding will be a difficult task, with many competing interests. Nonetheless, positive momentum has begun. Brandman University in Santa Maria moved forward in this process and currently offers such a program. The Commission on Teacher Credentialing also provided funding for classified school employees to become teachers through a competitive grant process. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education was successful in our grant application, and our county currently has 45 local classified employees working towards teacher certification. This grant along with our two previous Career and Technical Education grants reflect the high level of dedication and talent our local schools and districts enjoy.
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It is my hope that many of the bright, talented and caring individuals residing on the Central Coast consider serving as educators, support staff, and administrators preparing our future citizens.
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APRIL CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” —Albert Einstein
References Available on Request
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STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: AMERICAN WILDLIFE ACROSS
1. Upright monument 6. Likewise 9. *Eagle’s talon 13. *Entrances to groundhogs’ burrows 14. Objective male pronoun 15. CuraÁao neighbor 16. Islam’s Supreme Being 17. A in IPA 18. More silent 19. *Beaver-like rodent 21. *a.k.a Brown bear 23. Popular Thanksgiving tuber 24. SWAT attack 25. Between game and match 28. O. Henry’s “The Gift of the ___” 30. Make numb 35. ____sack 37. Drinks through a straw 39. Red Sea peninsula
40. Beyond natural 41. Single-mast boat 43. Soda pop recyclables 44. Little Boy and Fat Man 46. Way, way off 47. “Cogito ____ sum” 48. It’s meant to be 50. *Great leaper 52. Who’s from Mars? 53. Not that 55. Bobby sox dance 57. *Nocturnal mask wearer? 61. “Red sky at night, sailor’s ____” 65. Cool & distant 66. Public health approver 68. One who dares 69. Reg. alternative 70. Singer-songwriter Stewart 71. Accustom 72. One of many in an arena 73. “Four score and seven years ____” 74. Norbert, to his momma?
DOWN 1. Pillow that’s not for sleeping 2. Cough syrup balsam 3. Corner pieces 4. Prone to communicate secret info 5. Hindu retreat 6. Not this 7. Tin Man’s necessity 8. Last letter of Greek alphabet 9. Actress Penelope 10. Figure skating jump 11. Cain’s unfortunate brother 12. Extra cautious 15. NaNH2 and H3CONH2, e.g. 20. What hoarders do 22. Human cage part 24. Heists 25. *Striped stinker 26. Boredom 27. Flyer holders 29. *Desert monster 31. Likable
32. Take a piece from 33. Canine affliction 34. *a.k.a. buffalo 36. Poe’s “Annabel Lee”, e.g. 38. *Fly like an eagle 42. Nasa mission, e.g. 45. Depart 49. Short for although 51. *Not Bald one but ____ 54. Prefix with red 56. Baby grand 57. X-ray units 58. Away from wind 59. Kind of cola 60. *Snowshoe’s seasonal change 61. Carpenter’s groove 62. *Earthworms to a badger, e.g. 63. Lemongrass, e.g. 64. 3-point shot 67. *Prairie ____
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COMMUNITY Earth Day Music Festival 2017
SLO botanical Garden
San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden is excited to be part of the 2017 Earth Day Fair & Music Festival at El Chorro Regional Park, Saturday April 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring the whole family and share your love of nature as you enjoy the great weather and fun-filled festivities.
April Events
The largest free annual environmental event in SLO County, Earth Day Fest returns to the spacious outdoor setting of El Chorro Regional Park. San Luis Obispo County Parks and the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden will partner with Earth Day Alliance in producing the 27th annual SLO County Earth Day. Activities for the day include the Green Car Show, Kid’s Zone, Eco Marketplace, and much more. Returning as a major sponsor, Rapid Transit Authority (RTA) will provide free bus rides from every corner of the county, to the park and back all day long on April 22.
By Lindsey Collinsworth
More information about Earth Day can be found at www.EarthDayAlliance.com or slobg.org/earthday. San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden is located at 3450 Dairy Creek Rd. It is spread out on 150 acres in El Chorro Regional Park off Highway One between Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo. To learn more visit slobg.org, or the SLO Botanical Garden Facebook page.
Bay Friendly by Fred Moore
The San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden Presents: Bay-Friendly Yards, with a Local Master Gardener Planning a beautiful and colorful garden in windy, sandy, and sea sprayed coastal communities on the central coast can be tricky. We have some tips for creating a home garden in harmony with the natural environment that also helps preserve the health of our sensitive estuary! Join us on Saturday, April 8 at 1 p.m. at the SLO Botanical Garden as we collaborate with the Morro Bay National Estuary Program’s “State of the Bay” event to learn how you can create a sustainable home garden that helps preserve the beauty of our bay, presented by a local Master Gardener. Presentation is followed by a free docentled tour of the Garden at 2 p.m. Presentation is $5 for Garden members / $10 for public. No pre-registration required. For more information, visit slobg.org/events-classes.
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Downtown
Around
The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo
April 2017
Inside: Downtown Perspec t ive B eaut i f icat ion Award W inners Ne w B usiness Spo tlight
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the real halcyon years for the industry with retail n cities and towns across the country there are exploding.” Over the next eight years the shop few record shops that can boast a successful track continued to enjoy the boon of the record industry record across multiple decades, but in Downtown and in 1986 Mike bought into Boo Boo Records SLO we are proud to have Boo Boo Records. In as a partner and never looked back. Through that February I had a chance to sit down with owner period of time it is apparent that the shop was a Mike White and discuss the history of Boo Boo’s, great place to work. In fact, if you visit the shop’s shop culture, vinyl, and the music industry in website you can find a video in which Ed speaks general. As a continuation of my interview series of to the culture of the shop and the importance of Downtown SLO personalities I was really excited building a positive experience for the customers, to learn from Mike how the shop fosters such a and the lore of the shop that lives on today. When magical experience consistently. After all, I grew up Dominic Tartaglia, I asked Mike to explain he just laughs and explains shopping for albums in that shop and it was almost Executive Director that when the shop was named and the Cosmic a Wonka-esque experience with every flavor of music you can imagine and just a really happy and safe place. Rooster logo were developed it was in the drug haze of the ’70s. Enough said. ike White moved to San Luis Obispo as many other hile the name and logo creation are still very much young men do, with ambitions of pursuing higher a part of the business they take a second row seat to education. He grew up with a grandmother that shared her the level of customer service that the shop commands and passion for gardening with him and in 1974 Mike started that is a point of pride for Mike. In 2010 he bought out the studying Ornamental Horticulture at Cal Poly. In 1978, founding owners Ed Taylor and Glenn Forbes moved the shop remaining shares of the store and became the sole owner but you would never guess that the people working in the shop from its former location at Rail Road Square to its current don’t own it. Employees don’t really turn over in the shop and location at 978 Monterey Street. That year Mike joined on the folks that work there stay because they have the right vibe as an employee and unbeknownst to him, would be the to match the shop’s culture of creating a safe place to work. beginning of his vibrant career in the music industry. The record shop soon captivated his passion and after finishing his The personalities within the shop are just as diverse as the music in the shop—with characters like Fred Friedman, Frank degree he decided to stay on as an employee at the shop. Hayes and Malik Thorne—there is a personality to make any t that point in time there was no real manager for the genre of fan feel comfortable in the shop. shop so he took on that role and in his words, “it was
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On the Cover: Some children enjoying the festivities at last year's Bunny Trail Downtown. Photo by Mukta Naran
bunny trail Downtown april 13, 2017
Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market chorro street, 6:00-8:30 pM Bunny Trail Downtown
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he fact of the matter is, Boo Boo’s is a safe place for young metal heads and jazz fanatics to assemble under the veil of music without persecution. For instance, when you meet Frank you get the vibe that the guy is a heavy metal expert but what you may not know is that he also is a host of a jazz radio show in Morro Bay. The employees in the shop cross many genres of music and are more than capable of helping a new collector discover music that they have never heard before but may come to love. Mike states, “Music is the universal language that unites people—we need that more than ever.” If you listen to the full audio version of the interview, you can hear a bit of chatter on protest singers and the returning popularity of politics in music.
a record on a turntable and transforming a black disc into sound like new listeners’ parents and/or grandparents. To him, hearing an album on vinyl adds fullness to the recording that is apparent, especially in a comparison with digital media.
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till, he recognizes that all three current mediums for music are very complimentary; those media being vinyl, CD and digital download. When I asked Mike what he is currently listening to he laughs and responds that in the shop he is at the mercy of his employees and at home and in the car he is at the mercy of his kids but that he enjoys most of the music that they are all listening to. A few seconds of reflection and he admits that his standout album has been William Tyler’s most Mike White, Boo Boo Records Owner n the subject of returning trends in recent album. Naturally, in my journalistic photo provided by Boo Boo Records the music industry I pressed Mike pursuits of adequate writing I checked out on his take on vinyl and its recent gain in popularity. To my the album. The bottom line is to always trust the advice of a amazement he explained that even cassettes are making a record shop owner when it comes to music. Especially when small comeback and that he doesn’t see vinyl as a fad but as it comes to his one message that he would like to share with a true trend and a real hockey stick at that. The steep upward everyone. “Buy local if you can.” curve in vinyl sales is reflected in the fact that vinyl presses f you are in the hunt for some new music, a needle for your are being purchased and refurbished across the country and turntable or a Cosmic Rooster tee, be sure to swing by Boo every new released album is also being produced in vinyl. Boo Records and pay the team a visit. For more information The struggle that they face in the shop is getting stock of on their shop you can also visit their website and click on those releases. As we explored the topic a bit more I had to the “About” link to watch a short documentary on the shop. ask why there was a recent boom in that part of the industry. Lastly, for an expanded audio version of our interview you Mike credits it to the nostalgia of the whole event of putting can visit our website and listen to the podcast.
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You’ve heard the rumors, now hear the truth…
FORDEN’S IS MOVING! Look forward to Free Parking Improved Fireplace Showroom Outdoor Kitchen Inspiration Same Quality Customer Service WATCH FOR UPCOMING DETAILS!
857 Monterey Street, SLO Just a few steps from the Mission Mon-Sat 9:30-5:30 | Closed Sunday | www.fordens.com | 805-543-1090 Your Hometown Store...Continuing Our 78-Year Legacy In The Community!
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he SLO Downtown Association’s Design Committee oversaw the process from selecting the candidates to presenting the awards in categories including New Construction, Tenant Improvements, Merchandising, Maintenance and several special awards. SLO Downtown Association Beautification Awards Committee Chair Marshall Ochylski emceed the ceremony and presented a slide show while announcing the winners, along with help from Mayor Heidi Harmon who handed out the Mayor’s Award. Beautification Award Committee members Landy Fike, Ryan Brockett, Karen Kile, Bruce Fraser, Dominic Tartaglia and Brent Vanderhoof assisted Ochylski in jurying the candidates and categorizing the awards: the winners are as follows: Tenant Improvements: New: Merit SLO Brew, 736 Higuera Street Thomas Hill Organic Kitchen, 858 Monterey Street
Tenant Improvements: Hospitality, New: Merit Barrelhouse Brewing Co., 1033 Chorro Street
Signage/Awning: SLO Blowout Bar, 940 Chorro Street Downtown SLO Farmers' Market Banners, around Downtown City Wayfinding Signs, around Downtown Merchandising: Letter and Grain, 1019 Morro Street lululemon athletica, 840 Monterey Street, Suite B101 Maintenance: Charles Shoes, 867 Higuera Street Ubatuba Açai, 785 Marsh Street, Suite A The Movie Experience at Downtown Centre, 888 Marsh Street Historic Jack House & Gardens, 536 Marsh Street Seeds, 1133 Garden Street, Suite A
Executive Director's Award: Monterey Street/ Chinatown, 996 Chorro Street & 840-886 Monterey Street
Tenant Improvements: Hospitality, New: Excellence Guiseppe's Cucina Rustica, 849 Monterey Street Tenant Improvements: Hospitality, Remodel: Merit Blast 825 Taproom, 733 Higuera Street
Chairman's Award: SLO HotHouse, 872 Higuera Street
Tenant Improvements: Hospitality, Remodel: Excellence Flour House, 690 Higuera Street Tenant Improvements: Retail, Remodel:, Merit Cal Poly Downtown, 767 Higuera Street Tenant Improvements: Professional/Service, Remodel: Merit Mike's Barber Shop, 1033 Chorro Street, Floor 1; Roost Coworking, 1304 Garden Street
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Tenant Improvements: Professional/Service, Remodel: Excellence Ten Over Studio, 539 Marsh Street
Community Art: SLO Life Mural, behind Thomas Hill Organic Kitchen; CowParade SLO County, around Downtown
Tenant Improvements: New: Excellence SLO Brew Lofts, 738 Higuera Street
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Mayor's Award: Cal Poly Lofts, (pictured right) 996 Chorro Street
Cal Poly Lofts photo provided by Cal Poly University Housing
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Libertine Brewing Company
process and “flavors” it with local yeasts from the surrounding environment. They Tyler & Shannon Clark, also use local fruits in the brewing process Eric & Rodessa Newton, Owners and even ocean water in select beers. 1234 Broad Street Additionally, their food menu features the (805) 548-2337 brews incorporated in the cuisine, like elk www.LibertineBrewing.com sausage marinated in Wild IPA or brownies made with Imperial Stout. Clark says they inyl music, rad beers, and good source locally when possible and support food” are what folks can expect a closed-loop system: “The cheese is from at The Libertine Brewing Company, Stepladder Ranch, and we feed all their Downtown’s newest 10,000 square foot Tyler Clark, Libertine Co-owner cows and pigs our spent grain from our brewery and tap room located at 1234 brewing process.” The space in Downtown Broad Street. With 76 taps, including twenty of their own, SLO is the brewery’s second, after the flagship location owners Tyler & Shannon Clark and Eric & Rodessa Newton in Morro Bay and a tasting room in Buellton, which will have built a terroir-driven style brewery that’s as unique to open next year. The Libertine Brewing Company opened on the Central Coast as it is to Downtown. Co-owner Tyler Clark February 15, 2017 and is open 11am-10pm Sunday through explains: “The type of beer we make is unique to us and to Wednesday and 11am-11pm Thursday through Saturday. The our region, so the idea was to create a beer that showcases adjacent coffee shop is open from 6am-6pm every day and this region and shows off what we’re doing here on the coast.” features barrel-age cold brew coffee and kombucha. They also In that spirit, Libertine uses open-top cool ships to ferment serve espresso and hot coffee. their brews, which allows ambient air to aid the fermentation
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For more information on Downtown Association events, programs and activities, or to sign up for our weekly Deliver-E newsletter, visit www.DowntownSLO.com
COMMUNITY
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palm street perspective expectations
By SLO Councilman Aaron Gomez
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his will be my first article as a SLO City Council member, so I figured I would take a moment to give you some insight into this world. I am approaching three months in my position on City Council. I am not an expert, but I do have my own experiences. The image of trying to stuff 20 pounds of feathers into a 5-pound sack comes to mind when I reflect upon my new role. A commonly used term when attending our Department orientations was “Drinking from a fire hose.” It is a very appropriate term based on the volume of information we get presented with as newly elected officials. I quickly came to realize that most people, myself included, really have no idea the complexity of what a City government has to deal with on a daily basis. During a campaign we can certainly claim we will do many things to make our City a better place. Once elected, those claims are abruptly confronted with several tough realities.
Joking aside my point is that it takes someone who loves the community to be a good City Council member. A well run city is a never ending evolutionary process that has no finish line. There are constant course corrections along the way. It is no different from our own daily lives. We have all made decisions we are proud of and others that we look back on and say, “What was I thinking?” It is the mistakes we often learn the most from. Fortunately for my own sanity I am a very optimistic person and find a lot of joy in being able to participate in this political process. If I didn’t, I think I would have a long 4 years ahead of me :) After all, we do face endless critiquing, very little praise, and questioning of every decision. But at the end of each day, decisions have to be made. That is what we were elected to do.
Here are a few examples of the questions we constantly face: How do we fund a project? Does it fit in with our Major City goals? Does it have community support? Does it fit with our current policies? If not, do we need to change that policy? Have we fully explored the repercussions? Is this a best practice in other cities? Will this make our City a better place for the majority? Those are a fraction of the questions I ask myself when pondering the decisions that have to be made. You add on top of that the fact that we get constant public feedback. That is a key part of our job, but it is also the most time consuming. We hear from people who are very well informed and offer great insights. We hear from very uninformed people, but they have great intentions. Then we hear from people who seem to want to criticize just for the sake of criticism. It is the ultimate test in compromise, consensus building, and tough decision making. Imagine travelling with 20 people and having to decide, with group input, where you will go, how you will get there, and how you will pay for it. Add a dozen more factors and multiply the participants by 1,000. Welcome to governance! After reading that description above would you say, “I would most certainly take that job for $1,000/mo and....” We have an election coming up in 2 years! A P R I L
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slo elks donates to slo rugby team
jacob gersh named state winner for bb/bs
SLO Elks Lodge presented a $2,000 check to SLO Rugby team recently. This donation was funded by a grant from the Elks National Foundation. This Rugby team is led by Elk members Reggie Greenwood Director of Youth Rugby and Director of Coaching, Paul Cappellano. With this donation, the Rugby Club will be able to reach out to their players in need. The team does not wish to exclude any boy or girl who wishes to play rugby. This program gives these kids greater opportunities at brighter futures, and chances with college aspirations. This team participates in the Tri-County Youth regular rugby games with the Santa Barbara Stingrays, Arroyo Grande Orcas, Santa Ynez Cougars and the Central Coast Sharks. Rugby is growing in popularity and the games were first featured in the 2016 Olympics at Rio. Pictured, back row: Esteemed Lecturing Knight Richard Viar, Reggie Greenwood, Sean Anderson, Daniel Duffy and Paul Cappellano. Middle Row: Wayne Garcia, Jack O’Brien and Seamus Cappellano. Front Row: Silo Villanti and Cameron Berthiaume.
Jacob Gersh, a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County, just won the state-wide title, “California’s Big Brother of the Year.” Gersh, of Paso Robles, was nominated by his 13-yearold “Little Brother,” Arual, of San Miguel. They were matched in March of 2015. Gersh was recognized for the positive impact he’s had in Arual’s life, and in the community as a whole. After nearly 2 years of mentorship, Arual is a model of academic and personal success. He is on-track to achieve his long-term goals of becoming a chef and/or getting a degree in engineering. Gersh also supports families throughout the county by publicizing the program and recruiting volunteers. He has participated in newspaper and TV news interviews, public service announcements and in-person presentations both with and without his “Little Brother.” Gersh’s efforts helped Big Brothers Big Sisters to serve more children in 2016 than in any other year, since opening its doors in 1995. This is the fourth time our local agency has earned a similar title in as many years, with three state-wide “Big of the Year” titles between 2014 and 2017, and the nation-wide “Agency of the Year” award in 2016. Pictured from left to right, Little Brother Arual and Big Brother Jacob playing checkers.
cuesta college’s women of distinction awards
Cuesta College and the Community Foundation SLO County’s Women’s Legacy Fund are excited to announce the recipients of the 40th Women of Distinction awards. This year, the awards honor five Central Coast women for their professional and civic contributions. They are: Community and Public Service Award, Volunteer: Shelly Higginbotham. Community and Public Service Award, Professional: Nancy Walker. Progress for Women Award: Janna Nichols. Susan Dressler Educational Leadership: Mila Vujovich-La Barre. Grace N. Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award: Roxanne Carr.
jennifer thoma memorial ballet scholarship
The Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship announced this year’s recipient: Koby Wescom. Wescom, age 15, is a Templeton High School freshman who has been dancing since he was ten years old and he will use the award to attend a 6-week summer intensive with the Ballet West Academy in Salt Lake City, Utah. Ultimately, he hopes his training will lead to a career in dance. Wescom and his family live in Paso Robles and since joining the North County Dance & Performing Arts Foundation, he performed in several productions, including “The Nutcracker,”
D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years
Alan “Himself” A P R I L
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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“Cinderella,” and “Let It Be.” “We are thrilled by Koby Wescom’s passion and dedication to classical ballet and we look forward to a bright future for Koby as he continues to work hard through his training,” said Bill Thoma, founder of the Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship. Additional information about the Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship is available online through The Community Foundation SLO County, via www. cfsloco.org or by contacting Angela Hollander at (805) 543-2323.
men’s colony fundraiser for Jack’s helping hand
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morro bay aauw annual garden tour
The annual Morro Bay AAUW Garden Tour will be Sunday April 30, noon to 5 p.m. Visit five outstanding gardens in Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Cayucos. Tickets are $10 for the self-guiding tour and may be purchased after April 1st at Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore in Los Osos, Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay, and Farm Supply in SLO, Arroyo Grande, and Paso Robles plus any AAUW member of the Morro Bay Branch. Proceeds benefit community projects. For more information, morrobayaauw.org or call 805-528-2593.
john Denver tribute at the clark center
A group of California Men’s Colony inmates who work in the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) took the initiative to recently hold a fundraiser for local nonprofit Jack’s Helping Hand. They pooled donations and encouraged coworkers to donate, raising a total of $2,000. CALPIA provides productive work assignments that prepare inmates for jobs after release. It is important to note that CALPIA workers are paid between $0.35 and $1.00 an hour, so the individual donations of $20-$100 each are a significant percentage of their incomes. Karen Borges, Executive Director of Jack’s Helping Hand, was able to personally meet and thank the committee of inmates who spearheaded the fundraiser at a check presentation and awards ceremony.
The Clark Center Association will present Jim Curry—A Tribute to the Music of John Denver on Saturday, April 8, at 8:00 pm at the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande. The music of the late John Denver is like an old friend, outlasting trends and standing the test of time. Join acclaimed performer Jim Curry for this tribute to the music of one of the most beloved singer/songwriters ever to grace the stage. Jim Curry, whose voice was heard in the CBS-TV movie Take Me Home: The John Denver Story, has performed Denver’s music in sold out shows throughout the country and has emerged as today’s top performer of Denver’s vast legacy of multi-platinum hits. Tickets for Jim Curry—A Tribute to the Music of John Denver are $39-$45 and are on sale NOW. Call (805) 489-9444 for tickets or come to the Clark Center Box Office at 487 Fair Oaks Avenue, Arroyo Grande. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Clark Center website at http://clarkcenter.org/event/denver/
C rossword S O L U T I O N S
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wine-4-paws for Woods humane society
It’s time once again for Wine 4 Paws when over 70 local wineries join together to celebrate our love for animals and share proceeds with Woods Humane Society, headquartered in San Luis Obispo. This year’s event will be held April 8 & 9 when wine and animal lovers from all over the state will come together to enjoy our wineries while supporting our furry friends in need. And just in time for this year’s event, Woods is thrilled to announce a second, NEW North County location in Atascadero! In this County-wide event, each participating winery contributes to Wine 4 Paws in different ways. Some donate 100% of tasting fees, others a percentage of sales for the weekend. Many do something unique and exciting to represent their passion for this cause. You can find anything from doggie shaped chocolates paired with award winning wines to professional photo opps with your four legged best friend. Wine 4 Paws is held at participating wineries from SLO to San Miguel, making it easy to visit the wineries of your choice. We have over 70 wineries to choose from! Visit www.wine4paws.com for a complete list of participating wineries as well as a map.
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 A P R I L
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ccfc donates to Food bank & assistance league
Assistance League of SLO County has received a $2,500 grant from Central Coast Funds for Children. This grant will be used toward purchasing new, school-appropriate clothing for kindergarten – 12th grade students in need, living and attending school in the County. Central Coast Funds for Children (CCFC) has again generously supported the Assistance League over the years. Like Assistance League, CCFC is an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to benefit disadvantaged children in SLO County. To learn more about Assistance League and/or Central Coast Funds for Children, please visit: www.alslocounty.org and http://centralcoastfundsforchildren.org CCFC also donated $3000 to the Food Bank’s Summer program. Summer should be an exciting time, but for low-income children, hunger spikes because they no longer have access to the free or reduced priced meals that they receive at school. The Summer Meals Program fills the summer hunger gap, by bringing healthy meals to children and teens at risk for experiencing hunger. Each day during the summer, up to 1,700 children and teens enjoy one or more free meals (breakfast, lunch, and/or snack) provided through this Food Bank program. Meals are distributed at locations county-wide.
free senior health care screening
Screening offers health screening for adults throughout San Luis Obispo 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.
help our local veterans
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
THE BULLETIN BOARD casa receives donation from People first
CASA of SLO County recently received a $400 donation from People First of SLO. An affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy of SLO County, People First is a self-advocacy group directed by its members—people with developmental disabilities. The members collected funds at their annual holiday party; and the donation will be used for the ongoing recruitment, screening, training, and supervision of CASA volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. Pictured left to right: Jody Barker, People First Board President, presents a check to CASA Board President Tom Dobyns.
cuesta college accreditation improves again
Cuesta College continues to embark on quality improvement measures. Recently, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) notified the college that its October 2016 Follow-Up Report to the ACCJC was accepted and the institution’s accreditation has been reaffirmed. In February of 2015, the ACCJC reaffirmed Cuesta College’s accreditation for a six-year period while requesting the college ensure that distance education courses are of the same quality as face-to-face courses. The college was directed to submit a follow up report to the ACCJC in October 2016 to address the single recommendation. Cuesta College offers hundreds of distance education courses. Each semester, approximately 2,500 students enroll in online courses, equating to 20 percent of the college’s total enrollment. The next accreditation report due from Cuesta College is the Midterm Report in the fall of 2017.
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applications open for 2017 open studios tour
The SLO County Open Studios Art Tour, a program of ARTS Obispo, takes place annually two weekends in October. This year the Tour is Saturday and Sunday October 14/15 and 21/22, 10am to 5pm each day. The Tour gives fine artists and crafters who live or work in the county an opportunity to showcase their art and demonstrate their process. Artists are encouraged to apply, via online applications, by visiting artsobispo.org/open-studiosart-tour-participants. Participants have the choice of being open one or both weekends. All participants must be ARTS Obispo members at the Artist level.
Slo county poetry out loud winners
Graciela Maldonado, a 16-year-old junior from Nipomo High School, won the San Luis Obispo County Poetry Out Loud Competition last month at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in SLO. Graciela impressed a panel of five judges with her recitations of “Hyteria” by Dionisio D. Martinez and “Try to Praise the Mutilated World” by Adam Zagajewski. For her efforts, she won a $500 scholarship and will advance to the State Competition in Sacramento. Approximately 4,100 students at eight local high schools participated in the program. Each school then sent their champion to the County Competition. Morro Bay High School senior, Zainab Bhatti, earned runner-up honors.
We are working on the May issue NOW!
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cannon’s well worth it campaign raises $1800
casey bryson new atascadero fire chief
Cannon’s Well Worth It campaign raised $1,800 at its annual pancake breakfast this past Valentine’s Day. More than 160 people enjoyed the breakfast cooked and donated by Popolo Catering. Since the inception of Well Worth It in 2010, Cannon has helped raise more than $100,000 to build seven wells and fund a drilling rig. The firm has partnered with the organization “charity: water” to help serve more than 1,500 people with safe, clean drinking water. Photo: Mike Cannon (l), President & CEO, flips pancakes with PG&E meteorologist John Lindsey.
kevin drabinski named new food bank ceo
Atascadero City Manager Rachelle Rickard is pleased to announce the promotion and appointment of Atascadero Fire Captain Casey Bryson to the position of Fire Chief for the City. Bryson has been serving the City as Interim Fire Chief since January 1st of this year. With the departure of former Fire Chief Kurt Stone in June of 2016, the position of Atascadero’s Fire Chief was left vacant. Retired Five Cities Fire Chief Mike Hubert was appointed as Interim Fire Chief last year to fill the void temporarily, while a recruitment to fill the position was ongoing. Chief Hubert’s temporary appointment ended on December 31, 2016.
festival mozaic and paderewski festival present pianist jocelyn swigger
On Saturday, April 29th, in the historic Paso Robles Inn ballroom, Pianist Jocelyn Swigger will perform all 27 of the famously difficult Études, or exercises for piano, written by Polish composer Frederic Chopin. These are three sets of solo studies for the piano published during the 1830s. Chopin’s Études formed the foundation for what was then a revolutionary playing style for the piano. They are some of the most challenging and evocative pieces of all the works in concert piano repertoire. Tickets for the event are $40 and may be purchased by calling (805)781-3009 or online at http://www. festivalmozaic.com/wintermezzo-2016-2017. Discounted student tickets are available for $10. A P R I L
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The Board of Directors of the Food Bank Coalition of SLO County recently announced that they have selected Kevin Drabinski to be their new Chief Executive Officer. In making the announcement, Board Chair Jeff Mercer said, “During a competitive search, Kevin emerged as the candidate we felt was uniquely well qualified to set the direction for the operational and financial success of the Food Bank. We were impressed with his experience, education, and leadership skills and are confident he will help advance the mission of the Food Bank while working with its many agency and community partners to alleviate hunger in the County.” Drabinski most recently served as the senior field representative for the California State Assembly district office serving San Luis Obispo and northern Santa Barbara counties. To learn more about Food Bank Coalition and how you can help, please visit www.slofoodbank.org.
local firefighters return to the Seattle Firefighter stairclimb
19 local firefighters traveled to Seattle last month to participate in the annual Seattle Firefighter Stairclimb fundraiser event for Leukemia and Lymphoma. The firefighters climb the 2nd tallest building west of the Mississippi while wearing 60 pounds of gear.
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Back in 2015 firefighter, Andy Carlin gathered a team of 10 to participate in the event for the first time. One of the first adoptees was little Maysie, (pictured left in 2015 and below is Maysie today)who was our cover that year. Each year since then the local firefighters adopt a group of children fighting Leukemia or Lymphoma. Carlin states, “most importantly, its an opportunity for us as climbers to take in and absorb as much as we can, the weight of these families battles and the grief some of them carry having lost a child to leukemia or lymphoma. All of these emotions will help us stay focused, inspired and motivated on ‘Climb Day’—especially as we make our way near the top and fatigue starts to set in.” For more information about this great tradition contact Andy Carlin at tractorandy@gmail.com
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BENEFIT for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center will be held FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 31, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., to support their educational outreach. This elegant evening includes Central Coast wines, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, live music, a silent auction and an awards presentation. As guest judges, local celebrities will select their favorite orchid. Attendees get the first selection of orchids for purchase, and will have the opportunity to talk with the vendors prior to the show opening to the general public. TICKETS FOR THE BENEFIT ARE $50. You may purchase them online at www. dunescenter.org or by calling (805) 343-2455 or (805) 801-6850. A portion of the ticket sales goes to the Dunes Center. Check our website www.fcos.org for updated show information.
3 new buses for slo
local Books – Historic Santa Maria
A new 207-page book titled, Historic Santa Maria Valley, honors the legacy of longtime local families and other individuals who’ve built, shaped and impacted Santa Maria Valley through the years. Author Lucinda K. Ransick, the director and curator of the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum, said that the coffee tablestyle book was a community effort inspired by the museum with assistance from the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce and Visitor & Convention Bureau. More than two years in the making, the book is packed with historic photographs, maps and local artwork, and includes stories submitted by more than 90 local participants. Published by HPNbooks, ISBN#978-1-944891-25-1, Historic Santa Maria Valley is available only in hardcover, $35, through the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society Museum where orders may be placed by phoning the museum at: (805) 922-3130.
2017 central coast orchid show and sale
ORCHID HUNTERS, the 22nd annual CENTRAL COAST ORCHID SHOW & SALE and Companion Plants sponsored by the FIVE CITIES ORCHID SOCIETY will be held SATURDAY, APRIL 1, from 9 to 5 p.m. and SUNDAY, APRIL 2, from 10 to 5 p.m. at the SOUTH COUNTY REGIONAL CENTER, 800 WEST BRANCH STREET, ARROYO GRANDE. GENERAL ADMISSION IS $6 and includes a door prize ticket. Children 12 and under are free. The American Orchid Society will judge plants being exhibited. Vendors will offer a large variety of orchids, orchid books and orchid supplies for sale. Orchid culture re-potting demonstrations and plant doctors will provide valuable information to orchid enthusiasts. Don’t miss the fun in the kids’ activity area. The ORCHID SHOW PREVIEW
Three 40-foot buses, were purchased in part with a $1.1 million federal Congestion Mitigation & Air Quality grant which was facilitated by the Federal Transit Administration, SLOCOG and SLO RTA. The new vehicles are “Buy America” compliant, built by California-based bus manufacturer Gillig Inc. and are outfitted with many modern features designed to make public transportation more appealing. Those features include an onboard video infotainment system, public Wi-Fi, flexible seating arrangements, wider rear doors for faster exiting, hand sanitizers, LED and fiber optic lighting and sun-roof-like emergency escape hatches. The buses are also environmentally friendly, featuring the latest emission-reduction technology, improved aerodynamics and better fuel economy. A P R I L
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For the second year in a row, we helped more people purchase a home than any other lender in San Luis Obispo County.*
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