Morro Bay Life • August 2020

AUGUST 2020 • MORROBAYLIFENEWS.COM

You are

AMAZING t a h t r e b m e m e R Photo by local photgrapher Dave Pabinquit

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

SEE PAGE 8

THE RIGHT TO VOTE: A MILESTONE IN DEMOCRACY SEE PAGE 11

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 19 PASO ROBLES, CA

SEE PAGE 4

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS TO START IN JANUARY

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CENTRAL COAST WRITERS CONFERENCE GOES VIRTUAL

2 • August 2020 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

Through Print

making communities better

Hayley & Nicholas Mattson Co-Publishers

E

ach month as we plan and build out our upcoming publication, we are reminded of what incredible and resilient communities we live in and why we are proud to share and print the stories of the people who make it so special.

We are honored to be able to tell their stories, amidst the hard news as well. That is what balances it all. There is so much good in the world; however, there is a lot of devastation as well. How we handle, it is up to us. We live in a unique area and time, and we can choose to work together and create something that will make our children and grandchildren proud.

In this month’s issue, we feature a historical time in our history for women. 2020 marks the centennial anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, giving women the right to vote.

We believe our history is significant, that is what our publications are once they are printed, a piece of history.

We learn from what others have expe-

rienced, reading through their trials and tribulations, their loss, sense of despair, triumph, and successes can be what impacts us today to be the change we are seeking for our future.

Experiencing the stories of the courageous people of our past, even if today, we would look at some as ignorant, teaches us all a valuable lesson. And that lesson is not worth giving up.

If we could be open enough to imagine what a moment in their time looked like, we can be proud of how far we have come.

Of course, we still have work to do; we will always have work to do. That is the beauty of it all. The minute we do not see that change is needed in one form or another to address current issues, that is when we stop moving forward, and that is when we stop growing.

So, this month, we get to share how several women back in the late 1800’s early 1900’s fought to have their voices heard. The courageous leaders of that time

inspired other brave leaders, both women, and men, to find their way into history by being the change they sought. We are proud to tell their stories, and we are proud to know we are evolving.

Today I am proud to live a time that is not absurd for me to be a woman publisher, co-founder of a local media company, productive member of society, wife, and mother. My husband and I are a team, and together we divide and conquer, we are proud of what the women and men did together 100 years ago, they laid a foundation that we could all build upon, initiate change and inspire us to do better.

Life is not easy; at times, you may have to work every day to get to where you want to be. Some days may be harder than others, darker than others, but you always have the choice to start over. The choice is up to you.

We did not become publishers by chance.

I did not leave my medical executive position to become the co-founder of a media

company without a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. The road has not been easy, to say the least, but I will tell you every moment has been worth it, and our kiddos have been right there with us through it all.

As we continue to walk through these challenging times, of open and closures, school or no school, mask or no masks, vaccine or no vaccine, protest or no protest, please remember to love one another, give someone the benefit doubt, appreciate the differences of opinion before you shut them down completely, belittle them and spread hate as we see in the comments on our social media.

Remember the support, love, and “in this together “that we started this pandemic with because at the end of the day, that is all that matters.

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Morro Bay Life.

Stay safe, share love, and be a good human, because you are amazing… remember that.

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Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce

PAGE A monthly showcase of Chamber programming and membership.

3

805.772.4467 info@morrochamber.org morrochamber.org

Our chamber is always working with the “Three C’s” top of mind. We are catalyzing business growth through our Governmental Affairs Committee’s work on permit process improvement with the City of Morro Bay and we are connecting peers to one another in new and innovative ways.

In July, we hosted two “Property Walk and Talks” in the Downtown and Embarcadero areas of town. These walks are small, socially distant, mask-mandatory mini tours of commercial properties, new developments and opportunity sites in Morro Bay’s economic centers - and as a reminder that regardless of the pandemic, businesses in our City continue to transition, grow and innovate.

In August we’ll be facilitating walks in the North Morro Bay and Quintana areas of town, so be on the lookout on how to JOIN those if you are interested in learning more.

The Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce is reimagining its 2020 AVOCADO & MARGARITA STREET FESTIVAL, originally planned for September 12, 2020.

Instead of a large-scale, one day street festival, this year’s events will be a week-long series of events in the Fall that will include an array of scalable themed gatherings and content that will keep the spirit of the festival alive.

To kick off the festivities, we are delivering our famous Avocado Margaritas to your doorstep with our AvoMarg at home Guac-tail Hour kit.

A special thank you to our generous sponsors, who without their support our Avocado Margarita Festival “Reimagined” would not be possible:

You can purchase your Guac-tail Hour box today by going to avomargfest.com and your box will be delivered in early September when our avocados are perfectly ripe and ready for you to enjoy!

If you want to skip the shipping and pick up your kit in person, we can do that too. Let us know you prefer pick-up during check out and we’ll have your box ready at the Avocado Shack in Morro Bay when it is ready.

CITY + COMMUNITY + CHAMBER + BUSINESSES

NOW MORE THAN EVER.

TOGETHER.

The Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce is Here for You and Your Business. Now More Than Ever.

The Chamber has been a champion for the business community from day one and will continue to be a primary resource for information and support during and after this crisis. The Chamber gives businesses a seat at the table not only with local government but also with State policy makers. The Chamber advocates on behalf of businesses and leverages their wide network of leaders and stakeholders for positive outcomes.

Along with many others that have been impacted by COVID-19, the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce has lost major sources of revenue.

Now, more than ever, our business community needs your commitment. Show your support by being a member of the Chamber.

JOIN, RENEW OR UPGRADE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY! INFO@MORROCHAMBER.ORG

4 • August 2020 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

BUSINESS

Took Your 2020 RMD? Taxpayers who took RMDs as early as January 1 now have the option to roll the funds back into a retirement account by the end of August.

A

SARAH SANTANA COLUMNIST

s part of its provisions to help support individuals and businesses during this challenging period, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act suspended required minimum distributions (RMDs) for 2020. However, many taxpayers had already taken their 2020 RMD by the time this provision was passed.

On June 23, the IRS expanded the CARES Act, allowing taxpayers who already took an RMD between January 1 and June 23, from certain retirement accounts the opportunity to roll those funds back into a retirement account

by August 31. Beneficiary IRA owners can also roll over previously taken 2020 RMDs through August 31.

The relief provided by this provision is broad and applies to traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs, as well as 401(k), 403(b) and governmental 457(b) plans. Furthermore, the relief applies to both retirement account owners themselves and to beneficiaries taking stretch distributions.

Given the market volatility of the last few months, this change allows retirement portfolios that experienced recent declines time to recover potentially, and it might allow certain investors to draw income from more tax-efficient sources.

If you’ve already taken your RMD for 2020, there are strategies available that can allow you to return the distribution to your retirement account without tax consequences. Please contact your financial advisor for more information. He or she can work with your tax and legal professionals to determine how this legislation affects you directly.

EVENTS

Central Coast Writers Conference Will Take Place Virtually

By MEAGAN FRIBERG For Morro Bay Life

T

he Central Coast Writers Conference will look a bit different in 2020 — it’s moving online. With social distancing practices in place throughout California due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers considered whether or not to postpone or move forward with plans to hold the popular event.

“Once we looked at the logistics, and realized we had been successfully conducting business online for the past several months, it became clear that we needed to move forward and just change up the way we offered the conference this year,” said CCWC Executive Director Teri Bayus.

“On behalf of our amazing, talented, and dedicated staff, I am thrilled to announce that our 36th Annual Central Coast Writers Conference is becoming a reality!”

All of the expert advice, knowledge, and teachings that have made CCWC popular with writers for nearly four decades will be available again for three days in 2020 — Sept. 24, 25, 26 — in a virtual format via Zoom. Five 4-hour Master Classes will be offered on Thursday: Prewriting Your Novel, Composing Your Life Story, New Structures for New Audiences, Poetry, and Nonfiction

Central Coast Writers Conference Executive Director Teri Bayus with award-winning screenwriter Peter Dunne. Contributed photos

Success. Choose from a selection of 100 classes on Friday and Saturday with categories in novel, beginning writing, poetry, screenwriting, and business.

“Plus, attendees will have access to each of our keynote speakers,” said Bayus.

“Author Christopher Moore will kick off Thursday evening, and will also offer a live Q&A segment. Jordan Rosenfeld will open Friday with a keynote based on her book, How to Write a Page Turner. And, bringing everything to a close on Saturday will be the always-hilarious and inspiring Monica Piper.”

Moore is the author of 15 novels, includ-

ing International bestsellers, Lamb, A Dirty Job, You Suck, and Secondhand Souls. Rosenfeld is an author of several books, an editor, and writing teacher whose articles, essays, and short fiction have appeared in national publications. Piper is an Emmy-winning comedy writer, stand-up comedian, and motivational speaker.

Sponsored by Cuesta College, CCWC was named the “Best Conference in the Southwest” in 2019 by The Writer magazine. Writers of all ages and experience levels have raved about the annual event for years, with many attendees citing the knowledge and encouragement gained at CCWC as the

catalyst for completing their novel, screenplay, or memoir.

Chevron and Cuesta College are sponsoring scholarships for the Teen Program and Finding Your Voice Program; additional scholarships are also available. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit stories for possible publication in CCWC’s 2021 book, Connections.

“As I’ve said before, the show — in our case, the conference — must go on,” said Bayus. “We truly do have something to offer every writer, no matter their experience or skill level. From the very early beginner to the most experienced, our staff will help you take writers to the next level. Each year is different so, even if you’ve attended before, you will learn something new at CCWC 2020. And, since this year’s conference is offered exclusively online, even the most introverted among us — and that describes a lot of writers — will feel right at home!

Sign up today and join us in September.”

Find more information and registration forms at CentralCoastWritersConference. com. Contact Cuesta Community Programs at 805-546-3100 ext. 2284 or Teri Bayus at centralcoastwritersconference@gmail.com.

Follow on social media for the latest updates: Instagram and Twitter @CCWritersCon and Facebook @CentralCoastWritersConference

Publishers

Hayley & Nicholas Mattson hayley@13starsmedia.com MANAGING EDITOR

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Morro Bay Life • August 2020 • 5

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EDUCATION

Long Days of Summer n people The and their foundation for over a century. Generations of Americans have attended our schools with a somewhat shared experience of Americana.

Historical accounts of the school calendar indicate that our society’s agrarian needs greatly influenced the school year. Groups often ask me about why our school system continues to operate on what appears to be an outdated model based on agricultural labor needs. As Americans, we value local control and tradition.

Since the 1983 “A Nation at Risk” report, multiple administrations have urged educators to add more time to the school year as a mitigation to the achievement gap.

COVID-19 has also focused much dialogue on the inequities in our system associated mainly with economics. Families with fewer resources struggle to move to distanced education at higher levels than their peers with more resources. Resources include access to an online connection, technology devices,

well-being. It’s evident in mes, with decisions focused JIM J. BRESCIA, Ed.D County Superintendent of Schools

ng term, and crucial when

A

s a child growing up in Santa Clara, I could hardly wait for summer vacation. Playing stickball in the street until dark, sleeping in later than during the school days, working my paper route, and earning money doing yard work for neighbors or the local orchards. In Santa Clara County, during my youth, schools typically started the new academic year after Labor Day and the harvest of what was once some of the most productive farmlands in the state.

The school system has served as a societal

ances become difficult. That ed emphasis on people –

and a family member that can assist because they too can work remotely.

Our current situation may provide us some time to reflect on our past and adapt to a post-COVID-19 school setting. Schooling has looked different throughout the history of our country. Researchers note that as early as 1684, a grammar school founded in Massachusetts required 12 months of education. In 1841, Boston schools operated for 244 days, while Philadelphia implemented a 251-day calendar (Association of California School Administrators, 1988). At the beginning of the nineteenth century, large cities had long school years, and agricultural communities had six-month school years.

Education was delivered based on the needs of the local community.

Today we are faced with the same challenge and opportunity as our ancestors. Our school system was required to reconfigure in a matter of weeks because of COVID-19. Students,

ts, communities, advisors ociates – givesInus purpose, the depth of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an and a way forward.

faculty, and staff moved from traditional in-person services to largely online-based instruction across the state, nation, and world.

A system that is often slow, methodical, and filled with committees adapted quicker to this challenge than at any other I have observed in my 35 years of professional service.

Just as American businesses are redesigning how they deliver services, educational leaders, legislators, and policymakers should redesign how we provide education. Our education system is social justice in action.

A well educated populous builds our democracy, grows our economy, and makes us better people. America faces a challenge today of providing a safe environment, rebuilding our economy, and competing in the global marketplace. I believe that the long days of summer will prove that we are adaptive, resourceful, and hopeful. It is an honor to serve as your county superintendent of schools.

invincible summer. ~ Albert Camus

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STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY

SPORTS

High School Sports To Start in January

By CONNOR ALLEN of Morro Bay Life

T

How to Cope with COVID-19 in SLO County STAFF REPORT SAN LUIS OBISPO — The County Behavioral Health Department urges community members to continue to stay strong as COVID-19 continues to affect the physical and mental health of residents.

As COVID-19 cases rise in San Luis Obispo County, many residents may experience feelings of fear, burnout, frustration, grief, and hopelessness at the chance to get back to normal.

County officials say these feelings are natural and that there is comfort in knowing we are not alone. The County and other agencies, as well as neighbors and community members, are available to support you.

“Remember to take things day by day and to reach out for support when you feel burned out or stressed. Eat nutritious food, exercise, and practice self-care and mindfulness to cope with feelings around COVID- 19,” says Cassie Ueberrhein, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with the County Behavioral Health Department. “Also, focus on what you have control over, such as your own physical distancing, news and social media intake, virtual connections with loved ones, and your daily routine.”

Officials say that youth need extra support in these areas. The excitement of seeing friends and going back to school is not the same as in past years. Students are coping with feelings of missing out, as many of the usual social and extra-curricular experiences have been placed on hold. The community should support local youth and recognize their sacrifices by validating their feelings and acknowledging their grief.

Community members can provide alternate social interactions and recognize and celebrate a youth’s accomplishments, such as getting through the school week, completing virtual tests and assignments, and other personal and academic milestones. Virtual hangouts with friends, report card family dinner celebrations, and family game nights can bring normalcy in a time of so much uncertainty. Officials say youth are resilient and all need to remind them that this time will pass.

Resources to maintain mental wellness during COVID-19 are available at slocounty.ca.gov/bhcovid19 and the County Behavioral Health’s social media channels, @slobehavioralhealth.

Contact County Behavioral Health Services Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. at 800-838- 1381.

If you are in crisis, please call the SLO Hotline at (800) 783-0607. You may also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (The National Warm line) at 1-800273-8255 or text HELLO to ‘741-741’.

Visit ReadySLO.org for the latest local COVID-19 updates and recommendations or call the SLO Public Health information line at 805-788-2903.

his morning the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) determined that high school sports in California will begin in January and have cut the year down from three competitive seasons to two.

CIF’s press release is posted below:

“The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) has determined, in collaboration with our 10 Sections, that education-based athletics for the 2020-2021 school year will begin with a modified season of sport schedule. Our calendar reflects the season for each CIF sport and the last date for Section Championships and Regional/State Champi-

onships in those sports where a Regional/State Championship is currently offered.

Following this announcement, each CIF Section Office will release their own calendar to reflect regular season starting and ending dates and Section playoffs. It is anticipated that most Section start dates will commence in December 2020 or January 2021.

We are continuously monitoring the directives and guidelines released from the Governor’s Office, the California Department of Education, the California Department of Public Health, and local county health departments and agencies as these directives and guidelines are followed by our member schools/school districts with student health and safety at the forefront.

As these guidelines change, CIF Sections may allow for athletic activity to potentially resume under the summer

period rules of the local Section.

Also, given this calendar change, the CIF has temporarily suspended Bylaws 600-605 (Outside Competition) in all sports for the 2020-21 school year (see below for more specific information related to these changes).”

The CIF Central Section released the schedules for its two seasons, Fall and Spring for 20202021, and have highlighted a few points.

First, the Section is extending the “Summer period” for all sports through Dec. 12. The fall sports will be cross country, girls and boys water polo, boys and girls volleyball and football with practice officially beginning on Dec. 14.

Cross country, water polo and volleyball can have their first offi-

cially sanctioned games on Dec. 28, and North County football will officially return on Jan. 7.

The Spring sports — wrestling, baseball, softball, swim and dive, competitive cheer, boys and girls soccer, tennis, and golf — will have their start dates moved to the Spring. Soccer and can begin to practice on Feb. 22, swimming, wrestling, and basketball will start on March 8 with the rest of the sports beginning on March 15.

New Central Section Commissioner Ryan Tos said in his email to athletic directors, “This schedule also allows for normal Section Championship experiences and opportunities in all sports. The only exception is that football playoff brackets will be eightteam brackets as this allows schools to maintain an 11-week regular season with 10 contests.”

Tos added that they are working on a plan that will not eliminate any teams from the football playoffs and may even consider adding divisions, “if necessary.”

GOVERNMENT

Newsom Orders Online Learning for Schools on State’s COVID-19 Watchlist Waiver for in-person learning is available for K-5 elementary students

By BRIAN WILLIAMS of Morro Bay Life

G

ov. Gavin Newsom announced that public and private schools in California counties on the state’s “watchlist” will have to begin the school year with distance learning.

“Schools must provide meaningful instruction during this pandemic whether they’re physically open or not,” Newsom said. “We all prefer in-classroom instruction for all the obvious reasons, but only if it can be done safely.”

San Luis Obispo County is one of 32 counties currently on the state’s county monitoring list. There are 58 counties in the state. SLO was added to the list on Monday and has remained on it the entire week due to exceeding the state’s criteria for COVID-19 case rates.

SLO County has seen its numbers double since July 1, growing to over 1,500 as of Friday,

July 24.

A county has to be off the state’s COVID19 watchlist for 14 consecutive days before its schools can shift to in-person learning.

According to San Luis Coastal Unified School District, Aug. 24 will be the first day of school. Some school districts in the county had already planned to open the school year with distance learning.

“The one thing we have the power to do to get our kids back into school? Wear a mask, physically distance, wash your hands,” Newsom said.

For schools that can reopen, students from third through 12th grade and all staff have to wear masks in school. For younger students, face masks or shields are strongly encouraged. Those who refuse could be sent home for distanceonly learning.

Staff at those schools must keep 6 feet between themselves and others. Students are encouraged to do the same.

Campuses that stay open will start their school day with “symptom checks,” including temperature checks. Staff will be tested monthly for coronavirus.

Any class that sees one case of COVID-

19 will be sent home. An entire school will be sent home if “multiple cohorts” or more than 5 percent of the students test positive. An entire district will be sent home if 25 percent of their campuses are closed within a 14-day period.

Even for schools that only do online, distance learning, Newsom said the state will be making sure there are “rigorous” standards.

“If we’re going to have distance learning, we will make sure that it’s real, that we address the divide and it is quality,” the governor said.

“Learning is non-negotiable.”

Newsom said that districts that have to start the school year with distance learning must provide the following: • Devices so that all students can participate in distance learning.

• Daily live interaction.

• Instruction that is “challenging and equivalent to in-person instruction.”

• Support special education students and English learners.

School districts can apply for a waiver that would allow in-person learning for K-5 elementary schools. The waivers have to go through the county health department with input from state health officials.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Local Health Officials Seek Public Cooperation with Contact Tracers STAFF REPORT SAN LUIS OBISPO — County of San Luis Obispo health officials are asking those who test positive for COVID-19 to help slow the spread by answering phone calls from the County Public Health Department.

“Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 in SLO County. You can help keep SLO County healthy, open and strong by literally answering the call,” said County Health Officer Dr. Penny Borenstein. “There are positive cases in our community who are not answering our phone calls, nor are they calling us back. We are counting on people who recently got tested for COVID-19 to answer the phone and speak with one of our

public health officials so that we can all slow the spread.”

Officials say that while most people who test positive for COVID-19 answer the phone or call back, some do not cooperate. Anyone who tests positive and cannot be reached via phone call or text message will receive a letter in the mail from the County Public Health Department requiring them to isolate at home.

“Our team respects your privacy. We cannot legally share your personal information with others or with other governmental agencies,” Dr. Borenstein said. “If you have tested positive, we will call you and ask how you are doing, issue isolation orders, and help connect you with care and services, if needed. Answer the call and help us slow transmission.”

Contact tracers are trained public health investigators who follow up on each positive COVID-19 case to identify others who may have been exposed to the disease and help break the transmission chain. All personal information, including names, are strictly protected.

Health officials ask the community to continue to wear face coverings, maintain a safe distance from others who don’t live with you, wash your hands frequently, and stay home when you’re sick.

For updates on COVID-19 in SLO County, visit ReadySLO.org or call the recorded Public Health Information Line at 805-788-2903. A staffed phone assistance center at 805-543-2444 is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to assist with questions related to COVID-19.

Morro Bay Life • August 2020 • 9

Making Communities Better Through Print™

CITY COUNCIL

LOCAL NEWS

Morro Bay City Council Acts to Place Local Recovery and Emergency Preparedness Measures on the November Ballot STAFF REPORT MORRO BAY — The City of Morro Bay City Council voted unanimously to place a local funding measure to address community-identified local recovery and emergency preparedness priorities on the November ballot.

“With nearly 70% of calls to the Morro Bay Fire Department being related to medical emergencies and emergency rescue, the pandemic only proves the City must be prepared for any medical crisis,” said Fire Chief Steve Knuckles.

“This measure will maintain the services provided by our local Morro Bay Fire Department so our skilled, local firefighter-paramedics can continue to respond to

our local emergencies.”

The Morro Bay Recovery and Emergency Preparedness Measure will also address local recovery and relief priorities identified by the community through the City’s Join the Conversation community engagement effort over the last several months.

Of the hundreds of community responses, the following service needs and priorities were identified: • Preparing for a medical or catastrophic emergency • Maintaining 24/7 911 emergency response including paramedic, police and fire protection services • Keeping public areas healthy, safe and clean

• Protecting the financial stability of the City, its residents, and businesses Said City Manager Scott Collins, “We need an additional source of revenue for our local recovery efforts in Morro Bay – the County or Sacramento does not take one we control and that. We are working to maintain our locally controlled Police and Fire Departments and maintain quick emergency response times that our community is relying on – now more than ever.” For more information about the Local Recovery and Emergency Preparedness measure, please refer to July 14, 2020, City Council meeting agenda packet (item C-1). Link to the Council meeting agenda packet can be found at morro-bay.ca.us/ArchiveCenter/ ViewFile/Item/5385.

COMMUNITY

SLO Food Bank Output Increases While Input Decreases Amid Pandemic

By CONNOR ALLEN of Morro Bay Life

I

n the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, San Luis Obispo County’s need for food has multiplied, and the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo has answered the call with some help from the County, local farmers and the GleanSLO program.

“We have been doing a great job keeping a healthy reserve, and that is due in large part to the partnership with SLO County,” said Andrea Keisler, Director of Programs at SLO Food Bank. “The County partnered with us very early on at the end of March and started a home-delivery program for self-isolating seniors to deliver food and medication. The Food Bank was essentially in charge of providing all the groceries for that program, and it lasted from mid-March to mid-June. During that time, we provided food for about 10,500 deliveries.”

The County’s support came in the form of purchasing power to ensure SLO Food Bank reserves stayed at a reasonable level while also providing the nonprofit with a group of DSWs (Disaster Service Workers). The latter joined their workforce in delivering to those in need during the pandemic. At one point, the DSWs made up 20 percent of the organization’s workforce.

“We have basically doubled the amount of food that is going out the door per month [since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic],” Keisler noted.

However, now that the County’s funding has ended, for now, the SLO Food Bank is look-

From neighborhood food distributions to warehouse packing and Farmer’s Market prep, the SLO Food Bank has many volunteer opportunities to choose from.

Photo courtesy of SLO Food Bank

ing to replenish its reserves with both cash and local farmers.

One of the more notable food rescue operations in North County takes place once a week at the Templeton Farmers Market. Each Saturday, a group of volunteers collect produce that goes straight to Loaves and Fishes, North County’s local food pantry.

North County does not currently have many donations from large farms, but local homeowners have answered the call and are providing large amounts of citrus to the SLO Food Bank. The contributions from the large farms have come from South County.

“We haven’t had as many large-scale donors from North County as we have had large donations in the San Luis Obispo area and South County,” Wilson said. “Tom Ikeda has been donating regularly and has continued during the pandemic to give us greens. Cal Poly has donated a lot of citrus to the Food Bank over the last month, and Sage Finch of F&B Blue Sky Enterprises donated close to 1,000 pounds of blueberries. We have had some incredible

support from our local growers who have had a surplus during this time.”

SLO Food Bank is again looking for help as the need for food has not decreased even though their funding and partnership with the County ended. The pandemic has not only affected the community and who might need food but has also interrupted the organization’s most significant source of procurement, food drives.

SLO Food Bank’s popular “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive that usually takes place in May brought in nearly 70,000 pounds of food in 2019, this year it has been postponed due to COID-19.

“Stamp Out Hunger is a massive drive that we count on every year,” Keisler said. “It usually takes place in May and brings in over 50,000 pounds of food in one day. Those types of things can’t happen right now, so those streams of procurement have dried up, so we are looking at purchasing a lot more food as we move towards the future.”

To find out how you can help visit slofoodbank.org.

2020 General Municipal Election is November 3 STAFF REPORT

N

ominations for the 2020 election started on July 13 and will close on August 7, at 5 p.m.

The filing deadline will be extended to August 12, if nomination papers for an incumbent officer of the City are not filed by the August 7 deadline.

This extension period does not apply to incumbents.

The officers to be voted on in November are Mayor, full term of two (2) years, and two (2) City Council Members, full term of four (4) years.

COVID-19 INFO The City Clerk’s office is open by appointment only for candidates running for office in the November 3, election who need to obtain or return Nomination Papers. COVID-19 Safety Protocols must be followed during in-person appointments. For questions relating to the November 3, 2020 election or to schedule an appointment during the nomination period, email cityclerk@ morrobayca.gov or call the City Clerk’s Office at (805) 772-6205.

COVID-19 Safety Protocols to Protect Candidates and Staff For the safety of both candidates and staff, we have instituted the following protocols for in-person meetings at the City Clerk’s office: • All visitors must wear a face covering over their nose, mouth, and chin • Only two people may attend in-person appointments, including the candidate • Everyone must maintain a six-foot distance from others • Tables, doorknobs, chairs, and pens will be sanitized between appointments For more information on the election, measures, notices, and/or register to vote, please visit morrobayca.gov

10 • August 2020 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

LIFE INTELLIGENCE

Living with Uncertainty

VALENTINA PETROVA COLUMNIST

H

umans like uncertainty, the way they enjoy rollercoaster rides — short, exciting, and with a predictable outcome. We watch mayhem and destruction during an action-packed movie because we know the good guy wins in the end. But four months into a worsening pandemic without an end in sight, compounded by disorganization, conflicting information, conspiracy theories, protests, and economic devastation, strains even the most grounded, level-headed, self-controlled, and optimistic of us.

Too much uncertainty triggers anxiety and depression. With patience in short supply and money running out, many have become the worst versions of themselves, drinking, fighting, struggling, easily trig-

gered, and lashing out. Feeling useless and irrelevant, helpless, and strung out, people grasp for straws and throw angry tantrums.

But tomorrow will come. Someday we will have to look our neighbors in the eyes again. We will return to work. We will have to explain our actions and choices to our children. It is always darkest before the dawn, they say. But how to navigate the darkness now?

If you feel exhausted, you are not alone. If you feel frustrated, so are others. If you feel confused, it is because life is confusing right now. There are things you can do to survive this with dignity and decency.

Start by taking care of your physical and mental well-being. Eat well and exercise.

Educate yourself about all the things you can do to keep your immune system up and your unhealthy habits down. Meditate. Do yoga. Run. Bike. Surf. Take your vitamins.

Go out and enjoy the gifts of nature. Turn off the TV. Close your laptop. Walk your dog. As you shift your focus away from bad news, you will feel better. As you feel better in your body, you will sleep better. Doing something healthy and proactive for your wellness gives you a sense of control and puts you in a resourceful frame of mind. As you watch yourself do better, your sense of

self-efficacy and self-esteem increase.

You don’t have to be a victim of the circumstances. You can be the manager of your situation. What do you need to survive? What resources do you have? Who do you know? What can you do? Examine your finances, living and work situation — set priorities. Stay connected with people who could help you and people who you could help. Ideas and opportunities appear from unexpected places. Isolation makes everything worse, especially depression. Hiding makes the problems appear bigger. The cure for anxiety is handling your challenges and focusing on what you can do. Usually, people can do a lot more than they think they can.

Make time to dream. What do you want to do once this nightmare is over? Where would you like to go? Dreams feed your soul and motivate your very existence.

While most people despair, creative indi-

viduals have found the silver lining of this cloud, turning adversity into opportunity, and cashing out some serious checks.

Now more than ever, your community needs you to stand up, show up, and be your best self. David Deida said, “Ever ything you do right now ripples outward and affects everyone. Your posture can shine your heart or transmit anxiety. Your breath can radiate love or muddy the room in depression.

Your glance can awaken joy. Your words can inspire freedom. Your every act can open hearts and minds.”

Valentina Petrova has been helping people with life, health, relationships, financial, career, professional, and business challenges since 2015. She has a Master’s in Psychology and is a certified Life Coach. You can reach her at val@valentinapetrovaconsulting.com 805-909-1401.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT

Perfect Time to Adopt From Woods Humane Society

I

By CONNOR ALLEN of Morro Bay Life

t is always a good time to bring a fur baby into your home, but perhaps there is no time better than during a global pandemic that has forced most people inside like a bear in hibernation. The Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo agreed and adjusted its model to keep adoptions running during the pandemic, which led to a record amount of adoptions in the last fiscal year.

“We have been holding very steady with adoptions and saw a tremendous outpouring of community support, especially when the outbreak first happened. We have had very successful adoption months,” Woods Donor Engagement Manager Emily L’Heureux said. “We feel this is the perfect time to adopt into your family. We have seen people with unprecedented levels of time at home.

You can really dedicate the appropriate time to training with that animal and bonding with that animal and adapting them to your routines and vice versa.”

At the start of the pandemic, the Woods Humane Society reconfigured its entire system as many businesses did in recent months, including shutting down all additional services besides animal adoption and surrender. These other services include obedience training, spay and neuter clinics, youth educational courses, and even vaccines until they figured out a safe, responsible way

to do so.

Now with a few months of experience under their belts, the shelter has adapted and moved forward to an appointment-only model to reduce the number of people in the facility at once.

“We immediately changed to a by appointment only system and are sticking with that. We needed to maintain our social distance and maintain the health of our staff,” L’Heureux said.

“People call into the shelter when they are interested in an animal that they saw from our website or social media. We set up an appointment and set up a meet and greet and treat the whole process as normal, and we still have all the parameters and requirements for adoption.”

Even with the extra hoops to jump through in recent months, Woods set a record this year for adoptions. Woods Humane’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30, and this year they found happy homes for 3,100 animals.

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Most people don’t realize that Woods is privately funded and does not receive any form of governmental funding. Woods continues to run based on the generosity of the community, donations and fundraisers.

Like most events in the county, the shelter had to cancel its fundraisers going forward this year, including its most prominent, the Tails Gala scheduled for its 20th annual this past June.

In place of fundraisers, the shelter was on the lookout for other funding sources and found a partnership with a pet CBD oil and treatment c o m p a n y, Honest Paws.

The company is one of the largest pet CBD product distributors and agreed to a partnership with Woods Humane Society, pledging to give 30 percent of their online sales in California for the foreseeable future.

CBD is the nonpsychoactive part of cannabis and can help animals struggling with anxiety from being sheltered, recently spayed, or a multitude of other factors.

Thank you for your support!

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“We looked at facilities all over the country, and when we came across the Woods Humane Society, we knew we wanted to partner with them because their operation is so well managed,” Honest Paws Founder Min Lee said. “They really do so much for their respective community as opposed to some other shelters that we have looked at.”

Lee stated that there is no definitive end in sight for the partnership, saying, “We want to see how it goes through at least the end of the summer, but if it goes well, it is certainly something we would be happy to do in perpetuity.”

Through the partnership, Woods Humane Society has begun to use Honest Paws products on some of its animals and was so pleased with the results that they have added Honest Paw items to their retail.

“We were so excited when Honest Paws reached out,” L’Heureux said. “We don’t receive government funding, so we can do the work that we do because of a very generous community. So, when Honest Paws wanted to come on board and give us a percentage of their revenue from their California sales, we were, of course, grateful and explore any opportunities to bring in revenue.”

If you or someone you know is looking to bring home a new member of the family or are perhaps interested in donating time or money to the Woods Humane Society, visit its website woodshumanesociety.org.

y

After nearly three decades of service, the Coffee Pot Restaurant is closing, enabling owner Gordon Lu, to begin a well-deserved retirement. The restaurant has been a favorite of locals and a draw for visitors from other states and nations eager to meet the author of Double Luck. Amongst the many photos and awards on the restaurant’s walls is an especially valued certificate from the Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce recognizing Gordon as a national treasure. His feelings are the same for his home city and the many customers that have become part of his local family. He is extremely grateful for having had the opportunity to live and work in such a remarkable community. Special thanks to his crew for years of exceptional service.

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Morro Bay Life • August 2020 • 11

Making Communities Better Through Print™

HISTORY

Commemorating a milestone of democracy a century after the passing of the 19th Amendment

By MEGAN OLSHEFSKI & HAYLEY MATTSON

W

e live in a country where the right to vote permits us to voice our opinion on local and federal elections, granting us the ability to sway our government’s tides.

Throughout history, the desire to have a say in how one is governed has led to wars, revolutions, and movements. August 2020 marks the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the United States Constitution’s 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

After the founding of the United States in 1776, the thirteen states were left to decide separately upon their voting rights. This resulted in state-by-state requirements based on gender, religion, race, tax bracket, and property ownership. Initially, New Jersey’s 1776 constitution permitted “all inhabitants” (including women) the right to vote; but an 1807 law ensured the end of women’s attendance at the polls.

During this time, several reform groups started multiplying across the United States, temperance leagues,

The Right to Vote

religious movements, moral-reform societies, anti-slavery organizations, and in many of these, women played a prominent role.

At this time, many American women began rebelling against the “Cult of True Womanhood,” that is, the idea that the only “true” woman was a virtuous, obedient wife and mother concerned exclusively with home family. In turn, this contributed to a new way of thinking about what it meant to be a woman and a citizen of the United States.

As the years went by and women sought to pass reform legislation, the drive to change society intensified.

In 1848, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Martha Wright, Mary Ann M’Clintock, and Jane Hunt issued a call for a women’s rights conference at Seneca Falls, New York, where Stanton lived. Prior to the event, Stanton drafted the “Declaration of Sentiments and Grievances,” which she modeled after the Declaration of Independence. The declaration began with “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights…” she continued to lay out the present injustices against women in the United States. The declaration then called for women to be viewed as full citizens, and granted the same civil, economic, and political rights as men.

The convention sparked a national movement that lasted seven decades. During the 1850s, the women’s rights movement gathered steam but then lost momentum when the Civil War began.

Almost immediately after the war ended, the 14th and the 15th Amendments to the Constitution raised familiar questions of suffrage and citizenship.

The ratification of the 14th Amendment in 1868 extended the Constitution’s protection to all citizens and defined “citizens” as “male.” In 1869, the “National Woman Suffrage Association” (NWSA) was formed by Stanton and Susan B. Anthony to focus efforts on a federal constitutional amendment that would grant women the right to vote.

A year later, in 1870, the 15th Amendment guaranteed African American men the right to vote. Declaring that “the right of citizens ... to vote shall not be denied or abridged ... on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” the amendment still excluded women. Even after Stanton and Anthony, along with other activists, fought to have all women included, regardless of race, women were still denied that right.

As a result, some women’s suffrage organizations refused to support the 15th Amendment.

This led to the argument that it was not right to jeopardize African American men’s right to vote by tying to the evidently less popular campaign for female suffrage.

During that time, a pro-15th Amendment group formed called the “American Woman Suffrage Association” (AWSA) founded by abolitionists Lucy Stone and Henry Blackwell.

The group supported the 15th Amendment and feared it would not pass if it included voting rights for women.

This hostility between the two organizations eventually faded, and in 1890 the two groups merged to form the “National American Woman Suffrage Association.” Stanton was the organization’s first president.

Both Stanton and Anthony played a fundamental role in the women’s suffrage movement.

They both were pioneers who led future women activists, and both died before seeing their hard work come to fruition. The 19th Amendment was later known as the “Susan B. Anthony Amendment” to honor her work on behalf of women’s rights.

Over time, the suffragists’ approach had evolved. Instead of arguing that women deserved the same rights and responsibilities as men because women and men were “created equal,” the new generation of activists argued that women deserved the vote because they were different from men. This direction deemed their domesticity as a political virtue, using that to create a purer, more moral “maternal commonwealth.”

Locally around that time, Atascadero’s community had its own significant impact among these women’s groups, with its founding rooted in the women’s suffrage movement.

Atascadero founder Edward Garner Lewis (E.G., Lewis) placed his support behind the movement when he first published the Woman’s National Weekly magazine.

The magazine was the largest circulated publication in the world at 1.6 million copies per issue. Within the magazine, Lewis advertised his newly established group: the American Woman’s League; for which women gained membership by selling $52 worth of magazine subscriptions to Lewis’ Woman’s Magazine and Woman’s Farm Journal (the publishers promised to return half of the money to the American Woman’s League).

By 1910, the group roster saw the names of more than 100,000 members, over 700 chapters across the country, and brought in $1.25 million from subscriptions for them to use toward women’s issues.

By 1912, the group converted into the America Woman’s Republic, which continued to grant women educational opportunities to learn about the operations and affairs of government, politics, and businesses. The group’s own politics mirrored that of the United States by crafting their own Senate, House of Representatives, and Supreme Court.

Though the America Woman’s Republic was headquartered in Universal City, Missouri, the location was not to last as E.G., Lewis, and his wife (and officer of the America Woman’s Republic), Mabel Lewis, bought Rancho Atascadero with the backing of their investors and the group relocated to a new capital in 1916, Atascadero, California.

After countless efforts, on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified after passing both Congress’s houses and winning approval from the thirty-six states necessary for a two-thirds majority. The longawaited victory granted women the right to vote; and, in doing so, proclaimed to the entire country that like men, they deserved all of the rights that come with citizenship.

On November 2 of that year, after almost a century of protest, more than 8 million women across the United States voted for the first time.

Today more than 68 million women vote in elections.

Change and progress are possible when we stand up against injustices through organization, determination, and bravery. One hundred years after the ratification of the 19th Amendment, we honor our history and the sacrifices countless women and men made to acquire women’s rights.

By voting, we not only honor them, but we determine the world we leave our future generations.

Publisher’s Note: In honor of the centennial over the next few months leading to the 2020 elections, we will be writing a series of our history’s voting rights and sharing the brave and courageous individuals that fought for equality and for their voices to be heard.

References for this article were history.com, womensvote100.org, 2020centennial.org, biography.org, and “The Birth of Atascadero” by Marguerite A. Travis.

12 • August 2020 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

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