Morro Bay Life • June 2020

JUNE 2020 • MORROBAYLIFENEWS.COM

Finding our way

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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2 • June 2020 • Morro Bay Life

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in this

Together Hayley & Nic Mattson

L

Co-Publishers

ife as we knew it may not be returning anytime soon, but this last weekend, we were able to see some glimpse of a new “normal,” and that is a good thing. With restaurants re-opening and now retail shops, we can start to feel less like we are living in fear and captivity and more in control of what we are comfortable with moving forward.

We may not be ready to join everyone in a restaurant, but at least we have that option, and we may not want to walk into the post office or retail shop without a mask, but they are open, so we can determine that when we are ready.

We now have the ability to assess what we are comfortable with and what we don’t, and that is a really good thing.

We commend all the county officials that walked us through the last few months of uncertainty. We truly believe they did their very best with the information they had; it prepared us and allowed us the ability to make sound, informed decisions for ourselves as we begin to move forward.

May we remember to be gentle and kind with one another with those decisions, and if we do not feel comfortable allowing people in our space, then we ourselves need to remain diligent in maintaining social distancing; however, we feel comfortable.

Business needs to resume, we all need to get back to work, and at the same time, we need to maintain healthy practical measures that are appropriate in order to keep the affected number of people to a minimum. The coronavirus will not go away, we can all count on that, but we can get back to business and help one another stay safe as we do that.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Morro Bay Life, and may you all continue to be well.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY Hayley Mattson As a young child, Father’s Day was filled with cheesy gifts that my father would never use and trips to Morro Rock to sit and watch the waves break, followed by clam chowder at the local market in a bread bowl. It was his idea of the perfect day.

Later in my adult life, I realized how special those moments were with him. He was a strong man, an Olympian that won three gold medals and one silver in swimming during the 1968 Olympics. A real estate attorney, a youth sports coach, and a loving dad. I was a spit-fire as a kid, and he really put up with my shenanigans, but he taught me a lot about love, compassion, patience, and commitment. Everyone loved him. He never met a stranger. He had a boisterous laugh that you

could hear from afar and every loud whistle I hear I still turn my head thinking he is calling us in.

When he was diagnosed with lymphoma back in late 2009, we all thought he would beat it no question. He was the strongest man that I knew, so of course, he would. No more than seven months later, he was transitioning onto Hospice. He passed away on June 14, 2010, just eight months after we were first told the devastating news.

Now ten years later, as I sit here writing this and the raw emotions rise again, I am honored and blessed to have had him as my father. He was a wonderful man who loved his family and would do anything for his children. His love of people and the communities he lived in were

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always better when he was around. He cherished his relationships and friendships and genuinely wanted to help kids find their drive and passion.

He was a force to be reckoned with. Today I am blessed to have a husband that resembles him.

Nic’s love and care for people emulate my father, and his commitment to being the best dad he can to our kids is undeniable. Nic is my partner and best friend and reminds me of my dad often.

I am blessed to have had them both in my life, and I know my father is still with us every step of the way.

Happy Father’s Day to my incredible husband and to all the dads’ and papa’s out there that continue to love and guide our kiddos each and every day.

Morro Bay 510 Quintana Road 805-772-1265 Paso Robles 1171 Creston Rd. # 109 805-369-2811 San Luis Obispo 1336 Madonna Road 805-544-5400

Morro Bay Life • June 2020 • 3

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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

Flight of the

eni

x

P

ho

Shadows become distant, Darkness be no more, Light will prevail Opening every door.

Brightly it burns, Then bursts into flames Demolishing the anguish, The turmoil, the strain.

Then rise will I Through the ashes and dust And winds sweep them away With one big gust.

Slate wiped clean Reborn for all to see Extend my wings, Soaring…. Free.

It’s amazing how a challenging period can be both scary and wonderful at the same time.

Today, as many businesses are slowly reopening, we are choosing to look forward (albeit cautiously) with hope rather than fear. After all, there are signs of revival all around us: • Many offices are evaluating permanently allowing employees to work from home, which may lead to a better quality of life for employees, less congestion on the roads and potential cost reductions for businesses.

Poem by Torian Lee

Seeping into the cracks, Mending the busted seams, Encompassing my heart, Shielding from tormented screams.

RISE UP MORRO BAY

• Some restaurants and retail stores have found new ways of reaching their customers through online selling or marketing.

• Other business owners have taken this time to remodel their space or refresh their business plan.

• And many volunteer groups and private citizens have found new ways to support and beautify the community.

This time has and will most likely continue to be challenging for months to come, especially for those businesses who are in later stages of the Governor’s Resilience Roadmap. We ask community members to please continue to support their local businesses with positive reviews or gift certificate and voucher purchases for future visits. They need us now, more than ever.

Even with the challenges, though, there is hope on the horizon. There has to be. Our hope stems from our community and its ability to rise up through the ashes – like a phoenix. This isn’t the first time we’ve had to come together to help one another get through a difficult time and it certainly won’t the last.

Morro Bay community members please give yourself permission to take a moment of pride for your fortitude in this time of crisis. It doesn’t matter if you’ve stayed at home for ten weeks or if you’ve been getting takeout from local eateries daily, your choices during this pandemic thus far have played a role in keeping our community safe. Keep up the good work and please stay kind and compassionate as businesses, community members and neighbors adapt their services to life in the time of COVID-19.

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 • June 2020 • Morro Bay Life

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COMMUNITY FEATURES

Local Residents Adopt Graduating Seniors

T

By HAYLEY MATTSON of Morro Bay Life

hroughout the days of COVID, several Facebook groups have formed to offer support. Gathering individuals that are willing to be of service and assisting those in need. As the weeks went on and schools became closed indefinitely, there was a unified sense of loss for our youth that would be graduating Hig school. This loss ignited a fire within Regina Orosco, a parent and North County community member that lives in Atascadero.

Orosco had stumbled upon a Facebook Group that was created in Southern California at her old alma mater. The group featured high school seniors from around the county that were being “adopted” by parents, teachers, community members, and local businesses.

Orosco quickly looked up San Luis Obispo County, to see if we had anything like it and realized there was not. She spoke to a few friends, and the response she received was excited and supportive. So she launched the Facebook Group “Adopt a High School Senior 2020 San Luis Obispo County.”

With a “Friends” like theme for a logo and the saying “Seniors 2020, The One Where They Were Quarantined,” the group began to receive some attention. First, from friends and family and then it started to

spread like wildfire.

When Orosco started the group, she had no idea how many people would jump on board and get involved.

“We have retired teachers, local business, and community members adopting our seniors from all areas of the county,” she said. “It is a way we can all share our love and support. Some of these kids may be the first in their families to graduate, or go off to college, walking in your cap and gown is a big deal, and that is why I knew I had to do something.”

Orosco does not have a senior in high school, but she and her husband are very involved in the local school district by helping with non-profit organizations and PTA’s.

She herself has adopted ten different seniors and will continue to do more. “The most important part of all of this is to let these kids know that they are supported, and we are all behind them during this time.”

As we all continue to walk through this pandemic, Orosco’s number one goal is to provide a space that offers hope and joy.

“This is a hard time, there is nothing to look forward to, but in this group, it is all positive, no negative. I look forward to waking up and checking the feed to see who posted a video or what student was adopted or who still needs adopting,” she shared with us.

Orosco and the 2800 plus members have

MB Graduating Senior Alex Pinedo (left) and adopter Alyssa Stover.

Contributed photo

adopted over 500 seniors from around the county, and she is hoping to hit 1000 by June 3. So, what does it mean to “adopt” a senior? A parent or guardian may add their senior to the group by posting a photo along with details about their personality, achievements, school, community involvement, and future goals. The student is then tagged with an “adopt” button that allows community members to see their profiles and adopt them if they are able.

“We made a rule that each child is only allowed to be adopted once; that way, every

student has the ability to be adopted,” Orosco said. She continued, “once the student is adopted, the adopter and parent set up a time to “surprise” the student by arranging a visit. These visits maintain social distancing and safety for both parties. They are filled with love and laughter, and you can see the pure joy on the student’s face, and that is how I know we are making a difference.”

“This is a joint community effort,” Orosco said, “I am just hosting the page and trying to do my part in all this. It is an honor to see the community come together and support our youth during this time. We are making long-lasting relationships for years to come, and my hope is that the students continue to share their updates and life as they go off to college or get their first job, so we can continue to support them as they grow.”

Orosco said that she will keep the group going through the end of June and then transition it into something everyone can follow the progress of the students that have adopted. She is not sure what that will look like and will focus on that later on, but for now, she will continue to do her best in making sure every student that wants to be adopted is with the help of our incredible community.

For more information or to get involved, visit the Facebook Group at “Adopt a High School Senior 2020-San Luis Obispo County.”

Kristin Smart Scholarships Awarded to 2020 Recipients

By HAYLEY MATTSON of Morro Bay Life

M

onday, May 25, Memorial Day, marked the 24 year, that local Cal Poly student Kristin Smart has been

missing.

Smart was 19-years old when she vanished, and despite the new developments, warrants served, and a viral podcast, we are still waiting in suspense to find out what will come of the newly found evidence.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, the interest in her disappearance peaked to new heights, and amid the shelter-at home, the case continues to be on everyone’s mind.

A “Cruise for Kristin” was formed on the anniversary to honor her memory. They drove through the Arroyo Grande’s Village, down Grand Avenue, through Pismo Beach on Highway 1, and ended at Smart’s memorial in Shell Beach. The group was decorated in purple, Smart’s favorite color, and local musicians played some of Smart’s favorite songs that were requested from Denise Smart, Kristin’s mom. People shared their

stories of hope and love while still taking into consideration social distancing.

Chris Lambert, the creator and host of the viral podcast “Your Own Backyard,” has not yet released a follow up to his episode 7, The Iceberg, that was published on January 29. However, that one was packed full of new information. Following that podcast, several warrants were served to

the various homes of the Flores family. Since then, we are all still waiting to see what the outcome of those will be.

In 2017, after 21 years, the Smart family decided to turn this tragedy into something that would honor their beloved daughter’s memory.

The Kristin Smart Scholarship was formed to help other young women pursue their dreams in architecture and international relations, which were both passions of Smarts. In addition to those the scholarships, it also focusses on young woman that are interested in perusing a degree in law enforcement and/or forensic science. The Smart family stated on their website that they noticed that women are critically underrepresented in law enforcement. And according to the grant applicant description, “a woman’s perspective, insight, and intuition are said to help better keep the peace while building safer and more inclusive communities. Women in forensic science are often the key to bringing justice to victims and holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. Our hope is that no other family will have to endure 24 years without answers or justice.”

This year two out of the five recipients of the

Kristin Smart Scholarship were from San Luis Obispo County, Lily Stewart, a senior at Arroyo Grande High School in Arroyo Grande, and Danna Martinez-Maravilla a senior at Morro Bay High School in Morro Bay. Both plan to pursue a degree in Criminology, to help bring justice to other families if ever a loved one was to go missing.

As we walked through another anniversary of Smart’s disappearance and she is still missing, the hope shared by many is that this will be the year that the Sheriff ’s office can bring closure and justice for Kristin. Next year we should be honoring her memory after she has been brought home.

To connect directly with the organization, or to read the full details about the scholarships, go to kristinsmart.org. You can find “Your Own Backyard” on your favorite podcast source.

Editor’s Note: The statute of limitations, in this case, has expired on everything except for murder, anyone who comes forward with any information will not be charged with any crime. Contact San Luis Obispo Sherriff ’s office at 805.781.4500 or Anonymous Tip Line at 800.549.7867

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6 • June 2020 • Morro Bay Life

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Anthony Randazzo

hen Anthony Randazzo talks about the homestyle beef jerky he makes in small, specialty batches, he is telling a story beyond the arousing flavors and fine cuts of beef he is known for. His story is one of perseverance, personal connections, and passion.

Randazzo, a realtor at Coast Realty and lecturer at Cal Poly, has long been an entrepreneur, launching his own line of surf and snowboard clothing and a screen-printing and graphics business, Synergy, after graduating from Cal Poly. A line of retail stores, including Morro Bay Surf Company, Los Osos Boardshop, and San Luis Surf Company, soon followed. However, with the economic downturn in 2008, those dreams were shattered.

“It’s been a long time since we had to close the doors,” he said. “It served as a good lesson that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Now, a little more than a decade later, Randazzo is beginning again by launching a memberonly jerky subscription club dubbed “Really Dead Cow.” “It has been on my radar and in my soul to start something else and get back on the horse,” Randazzo said. “It has taken time to get the confidence and to find the focus to figure out what would come next, but I’ve always known that I just want to do what I am truly passionate about.”

Customers can shop online and choose from varying monthly subscription options and beef jerky flavors such as Hubie Chipotle, Peppered Mesquite, and Hickory Kick.The beef, all sourced locally, and the recipes have been refined over a period of more than seven years, each one handmade in small batches and tested

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by Randazzo’s closest family and friends until he got the rich flavors to be exactly what he wanted them to be.

“Over time, I got a reputation with my friends for making really good jerky compared to what you could find in the stores, and they encouraged me to move forward with the business,” he said.

“I spent the first couple of years having fun, the best kind of projects are those when it doesn’t feel like work, just like you are having some fun.”

Randazzo, an Atascadero native, was excited at how receptive everyone was and began to finetune his flavors and style.

“My style is a little more cowboy,” he said. “It is not overly tender like compressed meat. You bite into it and is more like an experience, by the end of chewing, you’ve tasted the unique blend of flavors and experienced each one.”

Randazzo said he was inspired by his godfather’s homemade beef jerky that he grew up eating. He worked with his uncle Joe to learn as much as he could before adding his own signature flavors to the mix.

“I’ve made hundreds of different batches over the years, trying different marinades, dehydration styles, and tenderizing techniques to get it

By AnnMarie CORNEJO for Morro Bay Life

where it is today.”

Ultimately, he wanted to put a unique product on the market. But his new business venture is not without its own challenges. This time he opened for business one month before a worldwide pandemic. However, he is determined not to let it stop him.

“I’m trying to see the silver lining in the storm,” Randazzo said. “Maybe now people are considering ordering more snacks online.

We will make a delicious batch of homestyle beef jerky and ship it right to our members’ front doors once a month.”

Randazzo suggests that new customers start with a sample pack of each flavor to see which ones they prefer and then customize their order in the following months of quantities ranging from three to nine bags a month. And while it can’t be found on the shelves yet, it can be shipped anywhere in the United States.

“I’m keeping to small monthly batches, for now, putting extra love and a little fresh ground pepper into each batch.”

To sign up or learn more about Really Dead Cow’s subscription-based beef jerky offerings: visit reallydeadcow.com.

Morro Bay Life • June 2020 • 7

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8 • June 2020 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

BUSINESS

Kid-Approved, Quarantine-Friendly Activities

K

SARAH SANTANA COLUMNIST

eeping kids entertained is no easy feat.

And that’s never been truer than now when schools and daycares across the country have transitioned to online learning and families stay put as we await the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. But being home doesn’t have to mean being bored. Here are our top tips to make the most of the extra family time while keeping kids engaged, educated, and having fun.

EMBARK ON A VIRTUAL GETAWAY — With the magic of live streams, you and your little ones can explore scenes far beyond your living room.

Spot underwater creatures with the open sea cam of Monterey Bay Aquarium; check in on the wild residents of the San Diego Zoo live cams; a journey to some of our country’s breathtaking national parks with Google Arts & Culture; or have an out-of-world experience with NASA’s ISS live stream of Earth from space. For an artsy adventure, consider virtual tours of the Van Gogh Museum; the iconic British Museum (which counts Egyptian mummies among its hundreds of

artifacts); and the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, one of South Korea’s most popular museums.

SEE WHAT’S COOKIN’ — Delight your kids or grandkids by finding a viral recipe – such as delectable Japanese soufflé pancakes or a kid-friendly version of Dalgona coffee – and making it together. You can even use the experience as an interactive math lesson by calculating recipe measurements for different serving sizes.

BRIGHTEN UP THE NEIGHBORHOOD — Color your days with a bit of creativity by using poster boards to make new art with your kids.

Once your masterpieces are finished, display them on your front door or windows to help gift your neighbors an impromptu art show.

Encourage your kids to create new pieces each day with uplifting messages or thank-yous to essential workers. And if your aspiring artists want to hone their skills ahead of time, have them watch doodle tutorials by Mo Willems, an award-winning illustrator of children’s books and artist-in-residence at The Kennedy Center.

ADD A DOSE OF MAGIC — Whether your kids are fans of the Wizarding World or simply intrigued by the wonder of magic, the internet is brimming with “Harry Potter” activities that are sure to amuse them. They can start by becoming official Hogwarts students with courses like the History of Magic, Potions, and Herbology on Hogwarts Is Here or develop their analytical skills with a digital Hogwarts

escape room. For about $20, they can also partake in a professionally guided virtual tour of the “Harry Potter” film sites, which includes a Hogwarts house sorting, reenactments, and more. Another option is the online exhibition Harry Potter: A History of Magic, or J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter at Home hub, featuring an e-book and audiobook of the first “Harry Potter,” articles for first-time “Harry Potter” readers, and a variety of other kid-friendly activities and resources.

BRING OUT YOUR KIDS’ INNER SLEUTH — The right tools can help turn a simple car ride or neighborhood walk into an exciting outing for your little ones. Start by writing a scavenger hunt-style list of items for your kids to spot on a drive, or create a series of clues that lead to one big prize at the end. (For at-home hunts, you can also hide a few treats to help keep kids motivated.) Turn the experience into a family event by having grandparents or other loved ones mail-in scavenger hunt items, such

as notecards listing things your kids are likely to see on your walks. Entire neighborhoods have even gotten in on the fun with massive scavenger hunts that consist of kids drawing rainbows and displaying them on their homes for other children to find.

FOCUS ON FINANCIAL LITERACY — Last but not least, you can also use this time to help kids understand the importance of financial literacy.

One option is to open up a quarantine store, like one mom recently did, and have your kids buy items like gum, pieces of candy, or fruit with play money they earn doing house chores.

For a family game night, check out board games with built-in money lessons, such as Monopoly, Life, and Pay Day. Additionally, you can find hundreds of free lessons on personal finance for grades K-12 on EconEdLink, or use BizWorld for age-appropriate teachings on business, savings, entrepreneurship, and more.

Authors Sources: nymag.com; travelandleisure. com; huffpost.com; forbes.com; edutopia.org

The Peter Family

By LISA BAHR of the Morro Bay Chamber

W

PUBLISHERS

Nicholas & Hayley Mattson morrobay@13starsmedia.com

LAYOUT DESIGN Editor Mike Michaud mike@13starsmedia.com

Administrator

Cami Martin office@13starsmedia.com

Editorial

Neil Farrell Valentina Petrova Sarah Santana

Advertising Sales

Dana McGraw dana@13starsmedia.com Morro Bay Life is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. Morro Bay Life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions.

Morro Bay Life is a division of Colony Media.

Contact Us

805.466.2585

Visit our website! morrobaylifenews.com

hat do you get when you combine midwestern roots with a background in managing tech start-up companies? You get a recipe for ingenuity with a layer of kindness, otherwise known as the Peter family.

The Peter family has been long time residents of Morro Bay since 1966. Marlene Peter and her son Dave are active in the community and very well known.

Dave and his wife Aglaja own and operate the popular fine dining restaurant, The Galley, Seafood Grill & Bar on the Embarcadero. Dave also manages his mother’s five-unit property on the corner of Main and Harbor Street.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dave and Marlene have stepped up to support their tenants by giving them a reprieve from paying rent during the crisis.

“We saw what was happening and knew that businesses were going to struggle, so we wanted to take some of the pressure off,” Dave Peter said.

“We want them to make it through this period, and we’re fortunate to be able to help.”

When non-essential businesses were ordered to close, and restaurants were mandated to provide only takeout and delivery or close altogether, Dave’s start-up instincts kicked in.

In order to allow employees to take advantage of unemployment benefits quickly, The Galley laid off nearly all of its staff on March 16. From there, they pulled out their whiteboards and started to outline their company mission, values, and opportunities in a compressed time frame. They worked on a menu of delivery concepts that would support employees that they displaced while providing a service to their community.

Within 72 hours, The Galley was reinvented.

They transitioned to a simple menu and focused on one to-go-proof family meal a day.

The menu has been a success, but after a few months of enjoying the current limited menu, regional regulars have made many requests for more Galley favorites.

As such, the restaurant returned to its roots with a new seafood-focused menu, where you could once again indulge in the meals that have

The Peter Family. Photo courtesy of the Morro Bay Chamber made them a Morro Bay institution.

Today, after a very long two and a half months, The Galley were excited to open their doors once again for sit-down dining on May 29. All your favorite menu items are available once again, and the Peter Family looks forward to seeing everyone enjoying good company and delicious food once more.

To see The Galley’s current menu or to make reservations visit them at galleymorrobay.com

Carousel Taffey

By LISA BAHR of the Morro Bay Chamber

T

he David Ross family is what we’d call legacy Morro Bay. The Ross family has roots in Estero Bay, going back to 1950, where they built a name for themselves in the hospitality and fishing industries here on the Central Coast of California.

Today, their legacy lives on in one of the most recognizable businesses on the Embarcadero, Carousel Taffy.

Carousel Taffy is managed locally

by Sam Ross and his brother Bryan.

His sister Deana helps with business matters remotely. Their father, David, was the original owner of

this magical candy shop until he passed away two years ago. The business was named after his love of boardwalks and carousel rides. It was established as one of the first tenants of the waterfront boatyard.

Given the family has been in Morro Bay for decades, David, his siblings, and his children all have strong ties to Morro Bay High School (MBHS). In fact, David was a student in the first graduating senior class.

“We wanted to check in to see if there was something that we could do to support graduating seniors,” Deana Katajima said, co-owner of Carousel Taffy.

“We feel blessed to be able to

donate 250 bags of MBHS-themed candies to be distributed to seniors picking up their diplomas during their drive-thru ceremony, as well as MBHS staff.”

Supporting MBHS during this challenging time was a bit of a no-brainer for Carousel Taffy. After all, they’ve supported the school with donations for sports and ceremonies in the past and were eager to give the gift of sweets to students who have worked so hard.

Carousel Taffy is now open for curbside pickup and is taking additional safety precautions for their employees and customers. Locals get a 15% discount, and your orders can be delivered at the curb. Support

this local confection purveyor and know your candies come from a family with a sweet spot for Morro Bay. Visit their website and order your bag today at carouseltaffy.com.

Morro Bay Life • June 2020 • 9

Making Communities Better Through Print™

LOCAL NEWS

Battery Storage Facility Runs Out of Juice

By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life

T

he idea of the Morro Bay Power Plant playing a part in the state’s energy future has apparently run out of juice after a proposal to build a battery storage facility on the power plant property was withdrawn.

Vistra Energy, the owners of the plant property after a 2018 merger with Dynegy, had proposed building a 200-megawatt lithium-ion battery storage facility directly behind the main power plant building and adjacent to an active Pacific Gas & Electric substation.

As Morro Bay Life reported this past January, Vistra had applied in November 2019 for a conditional use permit and coastal development permit for the battery facility that would be used to store sustainable energy like wind and solar when it’s plentiful and feed it into the power grid when it’s actually needed.

It’s one way the State is looking to both promote sustainable energy sources and match that up to when the demand is highest. One of the knocks on wind and solar is that they are plentiful only when the wind blows and the sun shines, and not necessarily when demand spikes.

At the time, Meranda Cohn, Director of Media Relations & Corporate Affairs for Vistra Energy, said, “Customers in California continue to express interest in battery energy storage options, and Vistra Energy believes there will continue to be potential

for these projects across the State.”

With that in mind, Vistra took the first steps in anticipation of potential future development of a battery system at the company’s retired Morro Bay Power Plant by applying for interconnection and taking the initial application steps for the California Environmental Quality Act permitting.

Just a few months later, on Feb. 14, Vistra pulled its application. In an email to the City obtained by Morro Bay Life, Vistra’s Eric Cherniss wrote to City Planner Cindy Jacinth, “I would like to withdraw our application for approval of Coastal Development Permit #CDP19-041 and Conditional Use Permit #CUP19-14 for the proposed 200-megawatt Battery Energy Storage System project located at 1290 Embarcadero Road, Morro Bay, California.

“We enjoyed working with you and the City and wish you all the best.”

Morro Bay Life tried to contact Cohn for comment, but she did not respond before deadline.

The Battery Energy Storage System or BESS project would have constructed a 45,000 square foot, 2-story building (90,000 s.f. total floor area), housing 60,000 “battery modules” arrayed in 2,240 “battery racks.”

They’d planned to use either lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries or lithium-iron-phosphate [lithium-ion] batteries, each with its own room, with fire barriers and safety systems, according to the application.

Morro Bay Fire Chief Steve Knuckles and Fire Marshal Matt Vierra went to Monterey

County to tour a similar battery facility at the Moss Landing Power Plant. The chief was impressed.

“Wow,” Chief Knuckles said. “I was really impressed with the technology of the fire suppression system. I was impressed with the concept of storing the energy from when it’s generated during the day to when it’s needed at night.”

They went up there to be prepared and, “To make sure it would be safe for our community,” Knuckles said. “We’re not like Moss Landing, which sits out by itself. Our power plant is in the middle of town.”

With lithium-ion batteries, especially, there is a potential fire hazard, as such batteries in cell phones and laptops have been known to overheat. Indeed charging batteries is one possible cause of the deadly fire aboard “The Conception,” a scuba diving charter boat out of Santa Barbara where 34

passengers died last September.

Chief Knuckles said he was also impressed

by PG&E, which built the BESS in Moss Landing — and it’s fire suppression system at the plant. Each of the 70,000 batteries, which he said were each about the size of a desktop computer tower, has its own fire sprinkler head, and the batteries were arranged in larger arrays, each housed in a fireproof room.

“They had triple redundancy with the sprinkler heads,” Chief Knuckles said, adding that he believes that they could make a BESS in Morro Bay work for the community.

They would, of course, need special firefighting equipment. Still, he expects that Vistra/Dynegy would pay for that, just as the owners of the power plant have always paid to help equip the local fire department for potential emergencies at the plant.

Another possible snag in the BESS plans is the fact that the State Department of Toxic Substances Control or DTSC is in the midst of reviewing a PG&E request to leave in place identified contaminants in the soil and groundwater. Instead of cleaning up the contamination, they would record a deed restriction that would limit the future uses of the property to commercial/industrial and prohibit residential or mixed-use unless the contamination is first cleaned up.

If DTSC allows PG&E’s plans to go forward and the contamination is left in place, it would require whoever owns the plant to monitor the contamination and issue annual reports to the agency.

Embarcadero Leaseholder Wants to Walk Away

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By NEIL FARRELL for Morro Bay Life

ne of Morro Bay’s coveted waterfront lease sites will likely be up for bid soon after the master leaseholder decided to turn it back on the city rather than pursue a redevelopment project.

San Luis Obispo businessman, Burt Caldwell, who has the master lease for 801 Embarcadero, currently the home of the Libertine Pub, said in a letter to the city, “Even before this virus hit, I had notified Scott [Graham], in planning that I didn’t want to move forward with another proposal for a project.”

Caldwell’s had a number of proposed projects go before the city dating back to about 2008, answering the City’s request for proposals to redevelop what is one of the oldest buildings on the Embarcadero.

His lease site, along with the former Off the Hook space next door, have been in turn proposed for combining into one large site, then being divided out again, only to be combined in another round of bidding, and finally separated out again by the City Council when it didn’t like the bids that came in.

It has been like a carousel going round and round until Caldwell said he finally decided to cut his losses.

“As many of you know,” Caldwell’s letter continued, “I’ve had numerous plans in front of the City over the past five years at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars. I’m at a stage of my work career, being 73-years old, where another plan just is not attractive.”

The Coronavirus shutdown of the economy and the shelter-at-home orders that effectively halted the tourism trade was the final straw.

“When my tenant notified me that he could not pay rent for April, and is still not able to pay,” Caldwell said, “I realized then, that the best course for all involved was to contact you about the possibility of me assigning back my lease to the City now instead of when the lease expires this September.”

The lease was originally slated to expire in

September 2018 but was extended by the City.

“With me out of the way,” Caldwell wrote, “the City would be able to contact my tenant, The Libertine Brewing Co., to see if there is a way to keep him in the space when businesses reopen.”

Caldwell told Morro Bay Life, “I’m tired. I’m just worn out.”

When he took over the lease site, he reopened the former Fish Bowl Restaurant as the Embarcadero Grill, a barbecue restaurant that evolved over the next few years into a microbrewery, complete with brewing equipment making a house beer. He even hosted a live comedy show for a time, organized by Bob Zany, on the building’s second floor.

Embarcadero Grill saw mild success until, “We hit upon the Libertine model,” he said. That brewpub, with dozens of beers on tap, became a hit, and Caldwell sold the business in 2015.

“When I sold him my business in 2015,” Caldwell’s letter said, “he was paying me a lease payment of $9,600 a month. This covered my lease payment to MB, and my bank payment for all the improvements I had made to the business. For the past two years extension of the lease, I dropped his lease to half [bank note was paid off] that amount, $4,800, so I could cover my payment to the City, insurance, property taxes and recoup some of my losses to date in planning, etc.”

Of the monthly rent, $2,333 of it goes to the City, he said. He asked for a waiver of any owed monies after he gives the lease back to the City, and a new arrangement is worked out with the tenants, assuming they can reopen.

Harbor Director, Eric Endersby, was hesitant to discuss the matter because the City Council discussed it in a closed session meeting, saying only that the Council took no reportable actions out of closed session.

The City really doesn’t have much choice but to accept the lease site back. Endersby said the Council would have to revisit the matter to decide the direction the City wants to go in, but he could probably put together another RFP in the next month or two.

Endersby added that the site was one of the

last of the so-called, “Pipkin leases” that dated back to when the City took over management of the Embarcadero lease sites in the 1960s from SLO County. Such leases had favorable terms to tenants, and it’s been a City priority to get rid of them through the redevelopment of the lease sites.

Caldwell reflected on the situation on the waterfront overall. It’s going to be hard to keep tenants in their spaces, he said, with zero income for months. He said even if restaurants were allowed to reopen dining rooms, at 50% capacity, it wouldn’t be enough to survive. The Embarcadero has some 25 eateries spread over seven blocks.

“These restaurants make little money from October to December,” Caldwell said. “And in January-February you could roll a bowling ball down the street and not hit anything. You have to have a spring and summer to make it.”

Spring is shot, and prospects for summer are not looking good. “This is not an ideal situation for anybody,” Caldwell said. “The last thing I need is another 5-year project.”

When Caldwell spoke with the Community Development Director, Graham, in January, he was told that the City would like an economic feasibility study done on the redevelopment idea to change the second story to motel rooms and keep the bottom floor a restaurant.

That’s what is being done now with Rose’s Landing next door, transforming the secondfloor restaurant space into motel rooms.

Caldwell, more so than most, can attest to the difficulty of investing in this town.

He had originally proposed, and the City Council approved in 2008 a 2-story building with restaurant and retail shops on the bottom floor and a large meeting room for business conferences on top.

It was sized for about 400 people, covered both lease sites, and sought to provide something City officials and local business people have long desired, a way to bring in small to medium-sized business conferences.

But that project had problems from the start. It got more complicated after the Coastal Commission in 2009 took the city-approved project and chopped off the top floor to enhance the view from the Centennial Staircase.

That, along with a nationwide recession that struck at the same time, threw the viability of the project in question. “I couldn’t have built that anyway,” Caldwell said.

In March 2011, the City Council terminated negotiations with Caldwell on a new lease. He needed to finance the conference center project, something the city council had never done before or since.

Caldwell now looks forward to simplifying his life when he turns back the lease to the City, and once the shelter-at-home orders ease, he has a new grandchild in another state that he and his wife would like to visit for the first time.

“My priority has always been my family,” Caldwell said.

10 • June 2020 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

COUNTY NEWS

SLO-ing the Spread and Opening the County The local COVID-19 numbers remain low as the state increases opening

By NICHOLAS MATTSON of Morro Bay Life

A

s California awakens from its Covid shelter-slumber, guidance, statistics, and information ping-pongs around news outlets, social media circles, and business groups as people try to sort through details of what is open, how open, and how long.

Daily updates continue to modify criteria and parameters at the national, state, and county levels.

California’s Moving Targets On Monday, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Janice Hahn announced via Twitter that California “retail stores statewide will now be able to reopen for in-store shopping under the same rules Target and Walmart have been able to operate under throughout this crisis.”

A San Luis Obispo County task force spent hundreds of hours putting together the START Guide only to have it shut down by the State.

Then in mid-May, the State rolled out Stage 2 criteria that cracked the door open on the local economy, to the chagrin of thousands of

local residents who had been locked out of their careers and jobs for the past eight weeks.

The State criteria locked SLO County into a nuanced debate over health numbers, with arbitrary limits holding the county to restrictive limitations as local leaders delivered appeals to the State. Weekly, the State requirements relaxed to allow SLO County to self-certify with an attestation, which was approved last week. The clearance allowed SLO County to open up in-store restaurants and retail. California’s new change allows all counties to make independent decisions about in-store retail without attesting.

The State also relaxed restrictions for places of worship over the weekend. The new guidelines allow for places of worship to host 25 percent of their capacity or a maximum of 100 persons.

National Comparisons Meanwhile, media outlets around the U.S. post headlines of a national death toll reaching 100,000. New York leads the states with more than 23,000 coronavirus-related deaths; followed by New Jersey with more than 11,000.

Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois combine for an additional 21,000 to account for more than 50 percent of all U.S. related deaths in just six states.

California, the nation’s most populous state with 39 million residents, has a death toll of 3,708 as of Monday, May 25 — less than .01 percent of the population. The total runs about

7 percent of the state’s typical death rate, which The odds mentioned above of community is 4,567 per week. The realistic toll on lives will spread are based only on confirmed cases, which not be available until 2020 comes to an end. does not account for unknown cases. Sheltering is credited for the low spread, compared to SLO the Spread Sweden which imposed the lightest sheltering San Luis Obispo County reported one coro- restrictions worldwide. A recent study released navirus death total.

by Sweden’s Public Health Agency reported The pandemic measured tragedy uniquely an antibody rate of 7.3 percent, which over the across the continent, nation, states, counties and course of 11 weeks reduces to a median active even cities. The health crisis emerged in commu- rate of 1.3 percent over a 14-day period. nities. Each community felt individual impacts.

Reopening with Care As of Monday, SLO County reported 259 total confirmed cases since March, with 9,650 Every region in the world faces an individutests — a 2.68 percent positive test rate that alized circumstance based on population factors reduces to less than one percent when looking from age, general health, geographic criteria and only at the past 14 days. cultural habits.

Of the 283,000 SLO County residents, .09 SLO County has fared exceptionally percent have tested positive. With the econ- compared to surrounding counties, and openomy opening, many expect that number to rise, ing the economy and community opens the door with national expert Dr. Anthony Fauci warning to a resurgence of COVID-19 spread, as health both of the danger of opening, and the danger experts warn. of ongoing closure.

Coronavirus remains an invisible disease with a high rate of transmission, and health experts What Are the Odds? continue to encourage distancing, good personal By the numbers, the odds of running into hygiene, and general health practices. a San Luis Obispo County resident who has Meanwhile, local businesses, organizations, tested positive for COVID-19 is much closer to and institutions continue to open for service zero than the positive test ratio. With a median at a steady pace. Restaurants and retail, professpan of 14 days of illness from COVID-19, sional services, construction, and pet services according to health experts, the 39 positive tests are allowable to varying degrees. It is recomover the past two weeks point to a potential mended that businesses are contacted before community infection rate of .014, or one in arriving for details and requirements specific to 7,300 people, based purely on confirmed cases. each establishment.

Covered California Special Enrollment Provides Response for COVID-19 Pandemic STAFF REPORT

• Special enrollment provides response for COVID-19 pandemic • Staff Report • More than 58,000 people have signed up for coverage through Covered California since March 20, when a special-enrollment period was announced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Covered California has seen a tremendous surge in consumers visiting CoveredCA.com and the website’s Medi-Cal page.

• The special-enrollment period allows anyone uninsured and eligible to enroll in health care coverage through Covered California to sign up through June 30.

• Consumers can enroll in as little as 30 minutes, either through CoveredCA.com or over the phone, with the help of one of Covered California’s thousands of Certified Insurance Agents or enrollers.

• In addition, Medi-Cal enrollment is open yearround for consumers who qualify.

C

either through Covered California or Medi-Cal,” said Peter V. Lee, executive director of Covered California. “We know there are hundreds of thousands of people out there who have either lost their health insurance or were uninsured when this crisis began, and we want them to know there is a path to coverage ready for them.”

The enrollment data covers the three-week period from March 20, when Covered California opened the health insurance exchange to any eligible uninsured individuals who need health care coverage amid the COVID-19 emergency, through April 10.

Anyone who meets Covered California’s eligibility requirements, which are similar to those in place during the annual open-enrollment period, can sign up for coverage through June 30.

In addition, Covered California has seen tremendous consumer interest online, with more than 885,000 new users visiting CoveredCA. com, which is twice the number of visits seen during the same time period last year. During the same period, of those coming to CoveredCA. com, there were also more than 129,000 unique page views to the Medi-Cal page.

“While Covered California is enrolling tens of thousands of people, we know that is only a small part of California’s response and that many, many more people will get the health care they need through Medi-Cal,” Lee said.

overed California announced that 58,400 people had enrolled in health care coverage since the exchange announced a special-enrollment period in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pace of sign-ups has been nearly three times the level Signing Up for Health Care Coverage that Covered California saw during the same period in 2019.

Consumers can easily enroll through “We want to remind consumers that they can CoveredCA.com and find out whether they get access to the care they need during this crisis, are eligible for financial help through Covered California or if they are eligible for no-cost or low-cost coverage through Medi-Cal. People Smart for your wallet - Smart for the environment who sign up through Covered California will have their coverage begin on the first day of the following month. Those eligible for Medi-Cal FREE Estimates can have coverage that is effective retroactively “No Job Too Small” to the first day of the month from when they Jeff Smart submitted their application.

General Contractor “We are living in unprecedented times, and California is doing everything it can to make (805) 215-8909 sure people have access to care during this public Builder of The Siren health emergency,” Lee said. “Having more people insured and protected is the right thing 2greensmart@gmail.com Lic#995347

GREEN-SMART CONSTRUCTION

able to lower the cost of their coverage if they have experienced a loss of income due to the economic impacts of the COVID- 19 pandemic.The price of consumers’ monthly premiums is based in part on their income, and if that income goes down, they may be eligible for additional financial help from the federal government, state, or both.

Consumers can report an income change by logging in to their account at CoveredCA.com.

Consumers who are having trouble accessing their for California’s families and helps keep every- account can reset their password online. one better off as those with insurance don’t delay Coverage You Can Count On getting needed care.”

In addition to enrolling online, consumers who need health care coverage can visit Covered California’s “ Find Help” page to get assistance over the phone from one of Covered California’s thousands of Certified Insurance Agents. The “Help on Demand” feature allows consumers to get a call back from a certified enroller.

“Right now, when social distancing is the new normal and an essential response to the coronavirus pandemic, health insurance is only a phone call away,” Lee said. “Being restricted to your home does not mean you cannot get personal and confidential help that is free.”

Consumers can easily find out if they are eligible for Covered California or Medi-Cal and see which plans are available in their area by using the Shop and Compare Tool and entering their ZIP code, household income, and the ages of those who need coverage.

Reaching the Unemployed

During this public health emergency, it is important to note that all health plans offered through Covered California and by Medi-Cal provide telehealth options for enrollees, giving individuals the ability to connect with a health care professional by phone or video without having to personally visit a doctor’s office or hospital.

All medically necessary screening and testing for COVID-19 are free of charge. This includes telehealth or doctor’s office visits as well as network emergency room or urgent care visits when necessary for the purpose of screening and testing for COVID-19. In addition, Medi-Cal covers costs associated with COVID-19 testing, evaluation, and treatment services in both its managed care plans and with the fee for service providers.

Covered California health plans will help cover costs that arise from any required treatment or hospitalization.

In addition, most Covered California plans offer “first-dollar” coverage, meaning outpatient services are not subject to a deductible.

“A core part of our mission is improving access to high-quality health care, and that has never been more important than it is right now in California,” Lee said.

Those interested in learning more about their coverage options can also:

Covered California is also working with California’s Employment Development Department (EDD) to alert the uninsured that they can get health care coverage through the exchange or Medi-Cal. Covered California produced the following insert, which is being included in unemployment benefits that are being sent to consumers. During each of the next three • Visit CoveredCA.com. months, Covered California plans to deliver 3.5 • Get free and confidential assistance over the million inserts to EDD for distribution. phone, in a variety of languages, from a certi-

fied enroller.

• Have a certified enroller call them and help them for free.

Existing Covered California consumers may be • Call Covered California at (800) 300-1506.

Lowering the Cost of Coverage for Those With Insurance

Morro Bay Life • June 2020 • 11

Making Communities Better Through Print™

SENIOR LIVING

Let’s Stay Positive, Look on the Bright Side of Life

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By JOANNE PETERS for Morro Bay Life

ow is not the time to retire from life. Joining the ranks of what society calls senior citizens begins about the same time the aging process begins! This surely should be the beginning, not the end.

It is the start of what is next! Our choices are the hinges to destiny. Or you could say, our destiny hinges on the choices we make.

So, let us stop apologizing for growing older.

Make the rest of your life the best of your life.

Let it happen now; stop Growing Older, start Growing Bolder.

If we look back on our life, we find the choices we made hinged on our destiny.

What if something happened like the Coronavirus? Well, actually, it just did. Will you blame someone else for making you stay home, like the government, or whomever you don’t like and let the chips fall where they may? Or are you going to take responsibility for your actions? Will you take this valuable time to make some positive changes for yourself and your families? Or will your choices leave a negative impact on your health and wellbeing far after the COVID-19 virus is gone? Here’s a fun activity to do. Take a look at your life as if it were a movie and write the screenplay, perform as you are the leading lady or man, now imagine how that movie will end.

Be creative, bold, and imaginative. Are there scenes that you need to rewrite? What would

the critics say after you were gone? Dig deep and begin today to grow your life, not just go through life.

Focus on the Outcome and Expect Success For retired seniors, much of our days revolve around routines. From the first day of retirement, we realize some habits are helpful. Practices keep us on track. We want to stay healthy by exercising and eating right. If not, we may find ourselves floundering around, no plan for the day, no purpose to your skip, mental capacity begins to dim. Seasoned retirees say daily schedules are beneficial.

When it comes down to it, by surrounding yourself with positive people and those who you have something in common with, surely will brighten your days. Make sure you don’t isolate yourself. Keep engaged with friends, check-in by phone, text or email, walk around the lake, and go out for coffee. This act of kindness could bring a smile to someone else’s life, only because you cared to check-in and be present in their life. Caring for others will make your day bright, but having a pity party will only bring you down.

If you decide to tackle an important project during this downtime, focus on the outcome, and expect success. When you have a good outlook and a plan to improve your life, the message will get to the universe who comes in to help you achieve your goal. The most constant thing in life is change. Change is our friend; it is our vehicle to ride into success.

Show Up as the Gift We must show up every day. A friend of mine who is a fellow member of a club I belong to, once said to us, “I didn’t want to get up early this morning to join our pre-dawn meeting. I knew if I didn’t show up, I would be missing something important; I would be missing my friends.” When it comes down to it, she knew she had to show up, and something good would happen. Otherwise, she would be missing out on something that always made her feel good!

Each of us has a God-given talent. “You” know what it is. It could be music, writing, athleticism, or a good listener and conversationalist. No matter what your “gift” is, bring it with you always. We get more time as we grow older to give our gifts of wisdom and experience. This quote by Anne Frank says, “No one has ever become poor by giving.” It reminds us that giving to others is a gift to yourself. Try rewriting your narrative as you age, find out where your voice is, where your heart is, and begin to utilize it in a variety of ways. Begin giving back.

What is Your Legacy?

When it comes down to it, Mike Middleton, founder of Growing Bolder, believes our Legacy is nothing more than what people would say about you after you’re gone. We remember each other’s gifts, kindness, their empathy toward others. We do not realize what WE are IS enough. Our Legacy is more than what we leave behind. It is what we did

while we were here. Be an encourager, and we can make others feel they are the only other person in the room we are talking to, giving full attention to your friends, no distractions.

In this case, the WILL must be stronger than the SKILL. As we age, the service we do for others (sharing our gifts) is the rent we must pay for being on earth.

Move from Pandemic to Planned Demic.

If we become fearful of information overload, uncouple from this uncertainty. Stop reading, watching, or listening to that which is frightening for you. Build your Tribe of people you trust to guide you along the way. Hang out with those who share your vision and who want you to be happy. Most important focus on the outcome of your eye. The universe has given us this time-out to be creative, reinvent ourselves to create a loving, kind human being.

Many of these tips were from stories I learned watching the webinar “Growing Bolder Presents The Ultimate Pandemic” Pep Talk by Dr. Jim Smith, Jr. Companies and organizations turn to Dr. Smith to help inspire teams to reach their full potential. If you would like to watch the entire interview, please go to growingbolder. com, where Inspiration and Possibility awaits.

If you have been finding it hard to remain cheerful during this global pandemic, or have been struggling to make plans for the future, start looking forward to what’s next, then I hope you will be able to see the brightness that is awaiting you. You must show up!

LIFE INTELLIGENCE

In Transition

VALENTINA PETROVA COLUMNIST

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ach life is a story. Each story emerging from a unique set of interruptions to our linear expectations of how life should progress. Collectively and individually, we stand in the middle of a massive disruption of our lives as we transition into a new life story with uncertain outcomes. Here are a few things to keep in mind as we move through this.

First and foremost, even though this particular time of our lives feels hugely unsettling, meaningful changes abound and

seem to cluster together. It would be nice if one calamity follows another in an orderly fashion with nice breaks in between.

But as life accelerates and complicates, most of us will have multiple career paths, more than one life partner over time, move residences multiple times. Redefine and refine our identities, change spiritual affiliations, broaden our interests, and question our truths.

Transitions become the stuff of life, not the exception. If you feel unsettle now because you can’t go to work, eat care-free at a restaurant, or wear a mask. Think of the people who, at the same time, are struggling with the loss of a loved one, divorce, custody battles, who lost their homes, or attempted suicide. Think of the victims of domestic violence or child abuse who feel stuck, wronged, ashamed, and scared. Think about how much work it would take to overcome any combination of these circumstances, to transition into a new life story, and to repair the damage. And yet, people do.

Transitions take a lot longer than you want, but exactly as long as you need.

According to research, people face life disruptions about three dozen times in a lifetime. About three to five of these will be of major life-changing magnitude, and on average, each will consume five years of your life. For many, these major life-changing transition will define their life’s story and purpose. Some will emerge inspired to help others, build things, or create.

Transitions require paying attention to your self and your needs, effort to make a difference, and sacrifice of your old ideas, beliefs, friends, habits, and, most importantly, your old life story’s narrative. To transition successfully and into a better place, you will also need help. No one can do it alone.

At the same time, transitions are essential. They re-order reality for each one of us.

They are opportunities to build character, resilience, and grow wise. For the faint of heart, the self-centered, spoiled, and arrogant, transitions are major inconveniences,

places they could get stuck and even ruined.

Wanting what was and resisting what is leads to more suffering when change relentlessly slaps you in the face and demands your attention: resistance and avoidance cost time, resources, and wrecks emotional havoc. Sadly, not only for the ones resisting and avoiding but everyone else around them.

Two months of sheltering-at-home is a huge life interruption. Scholars and analysts predict a multi-year recovery ahead and not just economically.

How do you plan on handling that?

What will your new life look like? What have you learned about yourself and your life’s story? Who do you want to be going forward? And why?

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.

Happy Father’s Day!

12 • June 2020 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

CONNECTION, COMMUNICATION & COMMITMENT We are finding our way through the storm YOU.ME.US

Our homes, now more than ever take center stage to give us a place to shelter, a place to work, and a place to reflect. We are entering the next phase of the shelter in place orders and real estate services are evolving.

We live in one of the most desirable regions in the state.

Currently, home values are strong and increasing during this pandemic.

Complimented by limited inventory and low-interest rates clients are taking full advantage of this time to both sell and purchase.

Keeping people safe is our # 1 priority.

Superior guidelines and best practices inline with state and county executive orders, we are adopting new ways to show listings. Virtual appointments and state‐of‐the‐art camera equipment have made this possible and we have been highly successful in listing and selling homes using our 3D Virtual Tour technology.

Many homes are selling fast with multiple offers.

If you are considering selling your home now is a very good time.

I welcome both Listing & Buying Clients.

Featured photo by Hoang Nguyen

MORRO BAY • CAYUCOS • LOS OSOS • SAN LUIS OBISPO • CAMBRIA • ATASCADERO • PASO ROBLES • PISMO BEACH

LISA MIA

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL LIC. #01945215

805.279.9381 Lisa@Lisamia.com www.zillow.com/profile/Lisa-Mia