Morro Bay Life • September 2021

SEPTEMBER 2021 • MORROBAYLIFENEWS.COM

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

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NEWS FROM THE CITY

2 • September 2021 • Morro Bay Life

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Life exists only at this very moment, and in this moment it is infinite and eternal, for the present moment is infinitely small; before we can measure it, it has gone, and yet it exists forever… ~ Alan Watts

ASSISTANT EDITOR Melissa Guerra

LAYOUT DESIGN EDITOR Mike Michaud

Community Writer Camille DeVaul Patrick Patton

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Jen Rodman

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Cami Martin office@13starsmedia.com

CONTRIBUTORS James Brescia, Ed.D Jennifer Scales Sarah Santana Valentina Petrova Contact Us 805.466.2585

Visit our website! morrobaylifenews.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 product of 13 stars media .

O

ur nation is one of customs and traditions. The United States is a story of overcoming. We all have our own version of the story, and that has never been more evident than in the world of social — and anti-social — media. This month we pay tribute and honor the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001. We both remember that day well, as we were in our early 20s, and it was a televised and re-televised event that shocked our nation. We remember where we were and the outpouring of patriotism and all the American flags that followed. We both stood proudly behind our country.

We shared different sentiments; however, we both stand behind our good and just countrymen and with those who lost lives and loved ones on 9/11 and beyond. That is our patriotic duty to our brothers and sisters in America and around the world. We still wave our flag proudly because of the ideals we strive for and believe in. We will always stand against tyranny and violence, and our flag is our symbol of that stand, whether the attack is foreign or domestic.

We got into this business of publishing because we believe in readers. We believe in our community. So far, our faith is affirmed.

We understand people have different opinions, and the past 18 months have been especially complex. Still, it is those who we have been able to rely on and who have affirmed our continuing faith that hold our community together. We are diverse. Local parades dignify that diversity by those who choose to put their culture on display with pride and joy. Some of

Avila Beach Children’s Business Fair Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy and then open for business in this one-day marketplace

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the most entertaining and pleasing parade entries come from our proud Hispanic cultural representatives — dancing, colorful dresses, dancing horses, masculine costumes. We live in a world where families make culture; culture makes community; communities make nations.

Just like many of us remember where we were on 9/11, we will always remember where we were in March 2020 when the country shut down. Unsure of our future at the time, we continued to publish Morro Bay Life. We will always stand to reflect the resilience of our community as we celebrate what makes us great together.

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

Much love, Hayley & N ic

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congratulations Putting a Spotlight on Businesses The Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce is putting a spotlight on local businesses who are working hard and adapting to the ever-changing environment. Spotlight Businesses are nominated and selected by fellow business owners in Morro Bay as a standout business with exceptional ownership.

Business spotlights recognize Chamber member businesses that provide a consistent, positive customer experience, are actively engaged in the community and demonstrate resilience during challenging times. This month we’re highlighting four businesses that have proven to be good role models for how to keep employees and customers safe during the pandemic, and have gone to extraordinary measures to keep their doors open.

If you know of a business or non-profit that deserves a spotlight, please send your nomination to our Ambassador’s Committee for review by emailing Lynsey Hansen at lynsey@morrochamber.org.

Please help us CONGRATULATE these businesses on their spotlight award by visiting their establishments, purchasing their products or services, and leaving good reviews online.

TheChamber’sBeenBuzzing!

Time has flown by since the June reopening of our economy and the Morro Bay Chamber hasn’t wasted a moment in reconvening our members for celebratory and informative gatherings. We’ve also been very active on the policy and advocacy front, digging into paid parking, City Council Goals and Objectives, a brand new banner program, CARB rules impacting the sportfishing and recreational boating industries, and BOEM’s extended call area for Offshore Wind. Many thanks to Peck Planning and Development and DiStasio’s On the Bay for their sponsorship of the Squeaky Wheel Happy Hour event in July!

Photo Credit: Dean Sullivan

Our organization places value in the professional development of staff members. We recently sent Membership Director Lynsey Hansen to the three-year Western Association of Chamber Executives Academy program in Sacramento. Lynsey is in a class of 55 fellow chamber professionals from nine different states in the west learning everything from budgeting to marketing to delivering real value to our members.

Always Looking Forward

Way to go, Lynsey!

Board Nomination Season is Upon Us

One of the benefits of membership in the Morro Bay Chamber is eligibility to serve a three-year term on our Board of Directors. As a Director, you can directly contribute your perspective, expertise and care to the strategic initiatives of the organization and make an impact on the economic prosperity of our community. Interested Morro Bay Chamber members should contact the Nominating Committee at info@morrochamber.org by September 10th for information.

Gaia’s Garden is Open!

Introducing Gaia’s Garden, Morro Bay’s newly opened, women owned, crystal shop. Gaia’s Garden opened their doors April 3rd 2021. Located at 600 Morro Bay Blvd Unit C, the entrance on Shasta Ave. neighboring Morro Bay Drug and Gift. This new business is owned by a local mother daughter team, Sierra Mace and Summer Birchell, both experienced entrepreneurs. The women behind the magic are here to “bring a unique healing experience to their home town on the Central Coast’’.

Sierra and Summers’ business is driven by their passion and love for a different type of healing. Centered around spirituality and harmonizing the mind, body, and spirit. “What a better way to bring this gift to our community during these uncertain times other than opening a safe place of connection, unity, and healing” Mace and Birchell exclaimed!

Gaia’s Garden not only provides intuitively picked natural crystals, these ladies added a twist including a wide array of specialty house plants. Combining the two owners passions Birchell’s being the crystals and Mace’s being the plants. This dynamic duo couldn’t stop just there, they also love to support other local women in business including handmade jewelry, candles, and other metaphysical gifts! Birchell and Mace strive to “provide a safe and nurturing environment to our customers to express and explore oneself.”

Gaia’s is open Tuesday-Sunday 10am-5pm, Sierra and Summer can’t wait to connect more with the local community, and share what else they have in store.

Mention this article and receive 10% off your purchase!

4 • September 2021 • Morro Bay Life

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GOVERNMENT

News From the City of Morro Bay

Deadline Approaching: City is Accepting Applications to Fill a Council Vacancy

The City of Morro Bay is accepting applications for appointment to the City Council to fill the vacancy created by the passing of Council Member Robert Davis. The term of this Council seat is from the date of appointment to the certification of results of a Special Election to be held in 2022.

Candidates must be 18 years of age, reside within the corporate limits of the City of Morro Bay, and be registered to vote in the City of Morro Bay at the time the application is submitted.

Applications are available on the City website or by contacting the City Clerk’s office at (805)772-6205 or cityclerk@morrobayca.gov.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 3. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Sept. 14.

be shared with City Council during their review in October. Council will consider the study at that time and provide direction to City staff regarding any potential next steps.

The $50,000 study was paid for through Parking in Lieu Funds; no General Fund revenues were used to support the effort.

Bike Path Closed for WRF Pipeline Construction

The bike path between Atascadero Road and Main Street will be closed starting Monday, Aug. 16, for several months of pipeline construction as part of the City of Morro Bay’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) Pipelines. The WRF Program is the largest-ever City infrastructure program and will meet state water and wastewater regulations, protect the environment, and contribute a safe and reliable water source for Morro Bay’s residents and businesses.

What To Expect: For safety, the bike path must be closed to the public for pipeline construction. The posted detour for cyclists and pedestrians is Atascadero Road and Main Street. Please use extra caution when using the detour, as cyclists and vehicles will be sharing the road. Please plan for traffic delays and allow extra time when using the detour, including travel to and from Morro Bay High School.

Construction will be completed in segments along the bike path, including tunneling and trenching activities. The WRF Pipelines include two wastewater pipelines, one pipeline for the water treatment process discharge, and one purified water pipeline.

When: Construction is scheduled on weekdays, but for safety, the bike path will be closed continuously for several months starting Monday, Aug. 16.

The City is committed to clear communication and providing up-to-date information about construction activities. Properties along the construction area will receive printed notices before work begins near their address, and construction notices will be regularly posted on morrobaywrf. com. Contact wrfinfo@morrobayca.gov or 877-MORROBAYH2O with questions about the City’s WRF Program, and a team member will get back to you within one business day.

Community Event Honoring City of Morro Bay, Saturday, Sept. 11

Community event honoring the City of Morro Bay and the unveiling of original art and puzzle of Morro Bay on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Morro Bay Community Center from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is $1.00 per person. To learn more, visit morrobaybeautiful.org/

Morro Bay invites you to attend a Community Forum regarding the Power Plant Stacks The City of Morro Bay is holding a Community Forum on Wednesday, Sept. 8, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the future of the Power Plant Stacks. Zoom in to hear Facts about the stacks. Please send your questions to City Manager Scott Collins at scollins@morrobayca.gov

by Sept. 1. See flyer above for more details about the Forum.

To join the Zoom Webinar click here Password: 135692

City Council Seeking Community Input on Goals and Priorities

The City of Morro Bay is seeking community input about the direction of their local government. Members of the community are encouraged to take an online survey through POLCO, to provide the City with input about how things are going and what the City should focus on for the next couple years. That input is critical in helping City Council shape the goals and priorities for the City.

The POLCO survey can be found at polco.us/morrobay. For members of the community who have never used POLCO, please select “create account” to get started. Survey data is completely anonymous.

Community members are also encouraged to participate in two upcoming community forums on City goals. The first was held on the afternoon of Tues., Aug. 24. The second forum will be held on the afternoon of Wed., Sept. 29.

City Releases Parking Study; Advisory Boards and City Council to Review in September and October The City released the recently completed parking study of the Embarcadero, Morro Rock, and Downtown areas. The purpose of this study, conducted by Walker Consultants, is to understand existing parking needs, how parking is currently being used, and how to best plan for parking demands moving forward. The study presents an analysis of existing parking conditions during both summer and off-season periods and includes recommendations for parking management strategies.

The study found that there are parking challenges—particularly in the waterfront area—that could be addressed with several potential approaches, including paid parking.

The study will be presented to the Harbor Advisory Board, Public Works Advisory Board, and Planning Commission in September. Input gathered in those meetings and from the public will

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6 • September 2021 • Morro Bay Life

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COURTS

COVID-19 UPDATE

Following Governor Newsom’s Recent Vaccination Measures, Others Follow Suit CDC withdraws request from FDA for Emergency Use for the RT-PCR Diagnostic Test STAFF REPORT SACRAMENTO — Throughout August some of California’s largest employers – both private businesses and local governments—have announced that they will be following Governor Gavin Newsom’s lead in implementing employee vaccine and testing measures.

After California implemented new vaccine verification and testing requirements for state and health care workers last Monday and then President Joseph Biden followed suit this past Thursday, employers have implemented similar measures for thousands of employees throughout the state and nationally.

In the rollout, Newsom stated

that unvaccinated workers will be subject to at least one to two weekly COVID-19 tests and will be required to wear appropriate PPE. This requirement applies to high-risk congregate settings like an adult and senior residential facilities, homeless shelters, and jails.

The new policy for state workers took effect on Aug. 2, and testing will be phased in over the next few weeks. The new policy for health care workers and congregate facilities will take effect on Aug. 9, and health care facilities will have until Aug. 23 to come into full compliance.

This push for vaccinations and testing is still in the wake of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announcement on Jul. 21 that after Dec. 31 of this year, the CDC will withdraw the request to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of the CDC 2019-Novel

Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) RealTime RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel. The assay was first introduced in February 2020 for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 only.

According to the CDC, the PCR test that has been used solely in San Luis Obispo County and nationally is inaccurate and could potentially risk false results. Therefore, they encourage laboratories to consider adopting a multiplexed method to facilitate the detection and differentiation of SARSCoV-2 and influenza viruses.

Along with the CDC’s information, it was also confirmed that the current testing for COVID19 can not detect different strains such as the Delta variant.

Throughout the nation, there has been a decline in the number of individuals getting vaccinated.

This has led local government officials to create awareness campaigns to urge the public to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

To incentivize the residents of San Luis Obispo County to get vaccinated, the SLO County Public Health announced that starting on Aug. 2, anyone who gets their COVID-19 vaccine from a County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Clinic or mobile vaccination clinic will be eligible to receive a $25 gift card for each dose. Gift cards available will vary by clinic and will be provided on a first-come, firstserved basis.

“Increasing vaccination throughout SLO County is key to ending the pandemic, especially with the spread of the Delta variant,” said Dr. Penny Borenstein, County Health Officer. “These incentives are a prompt to act now to protect yourself and your family with the vaccine. While I hope the gift cards are a helpful motivator, the true value is being protected from the cost and suffering of COVID-19.”

SMART CASE UPDATE

Judge Denies Defense Motion to Disqualify District Attorney in Flores Hearing The hearing has been adjourned for the rest of the week and is expected to start again Monday, Aug. 30

By CAMILLE DeVAUL of Morro Bay Life SAN LUIS OBISPO — On the 13th day of the preliminary hearing for Paul (44) and Ruben (80) Flores, Judge van Rooyen denied the defense’s motion to remove the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney from the case.

The father and son are charged in connection with the 1996 disappearance and murder of 19-year-old Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. Paul has been charged with her murder, and Ruben is being charged with accessory after the fact.

Paul’s defense attorney, Robert Sanger, filed a motion to disqualify the DA’s office from the case based on him wearing purple ties—purple is said to be Kristin’s favorite color and is often worn in support of her case.

Sanger argued that wearing the color showed the prosecution is biased and also mentioned Detective Clinton Cole and other members of the court wearing purple throughout the hearing.

A representative from the Attorney General’s office appeared in court on Wednesday to address the issue. If the DA were to be disqualified, then the AG would take over the case.

He argued that California appellate courts have determined that colors do not matter during the preliminary stage of the case when there is

no jury.

Judge van Rooyen officially denied the motion saying he did not agree that the defendant would be prejudiced.

However, he did grant the defense’s motion for a review of Detective Cole’s personal records to look for any alleged misconduct with witness Jennifer during the Kristin Smart investigation or any of his other cases in the last five years.

Jennifer previously testified in the preliminary hearing that in 1996, she heard Paul Flores use a derogatory term to refer to Kristin Smart and said, “I’m done playing with her, and I put her out underneath my ramp in Huasna.”

However, she did not report this to law enforcement until speaking with Detective Cole in 2019.

Fo l l o w i n g We d n e s day’s motions, the court was

adjourned for the rest of the week and is expected to resume on Monday, Aug. 30.

Court was not in session on Tuesday so that attorneys could work on discovery. Discovery is the process in which the two sides collect and exchange information about evidence and witnesses in the case.

During Monday’s hearing, the court heard testimony from retired San Luis Obispo County Deputy Sheriff Henry Stewart, who was one of the early investigators on the case.

Paul and Ruben Flores were arrested this past April, nearly 25 years after Smart’s disappearance. She was last seen walking back to the dorms with Paul Flores after an off-campus party on the early morning of May 25, 1996.

Kristin’s body was never found, but she was declared legally dead on May 25, 2002.

Natural Healing Center Founder Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges Helios Raphael Dayspring charged with bribing a SLO County Supervisor and IRS Fraud STAFF REPORT SAN LUIS OBISPO — Helios Raphael Dayspring (35), the founder of the Natural Healing Center, a cannabis retailer, has pleaded guilty to bribery and failing to report millions of dollars in income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

According to the Department of Justice, Dayspring, who has shops in Grover Beach and Morro Bay, has been charged in Federal Court and agreed to pay $3.4 million in restitution to the IRS and cooperate in an ongoing government investigation.

Referring to his plea agreement, Dayspring admitted to bribing former San Luis Obispo County District 3 Supervisor Adam Hill to further his cannabis businesses.

Hill was found dead at his home in Pismo Beach on Aug. 6, 2020. The San Luis Obispo County Coroner’s Office ruled his death a suicide.

In March 2020, Hill was hospitalized for what he said was an attempted suicide. That same day the FBI carried out a search warrant at the San Luis Obispo County Government Center.

Neither Hill nor the FBI would comment on the investigation at the time.

The current charges against Dayspring are reportedly part of an ongoing public corruption investigation in SLO County.

Later in August 2020, Natural Healing Center announced Dayspring was stepping down as CEO “to devote his energy and attention to other personal avenues of opportunity.”

Natural Healing Center also has a location in Lemoore and plans to add shops in San Luis Obispo and Turlock.

In April 2020, Hill resigned his position as Chair of the Board of Supervisors but resumed his duties as District 3 Supervisor.

Dayspring reportedly started bribing Hill in the fall of 2016, paying him a total of $32,000 in cash and money orders. In exchange, federal prosecutors say Hill voted multiple times in favor of legislation that permitted Dayspring’s cannabis farms to operate before he had obtained final permitting approvals.

Dayspring also admitted to trying to bribe the mayor of Grover Beach in 2017 in exchange for two dispensary licenses.

John Shoals was the mayor at that time and reportedly did not respond to the $100,000 offer, and Dayspring did not pay the bribe.

Federal officials say Dayspring also admitted to underreporting his personal income on his federal tax returns for four years, resulting in the IRS losing more than $3.4 million in tax revenue.

Dayspring is scheduled to make his first court appearance in this case in Los Angeles in August.

Once he officially pleads guilty to the charges, officials say Dayspring will face a maximum sentence of 13 years in federal prison.

Federal officials ask anyone who has information related to this case or any other public corruption matter in San Luis Obispo County to email the FBI’s tip line at pctips-losangeles@fbi.gov or call the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office at (310)477-6565.

GOVERNMENT

State of California: Timing A Recall Election

By PATRICK PATTON of Morro Bay Life

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — The push to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom began in February 2020 and has since garnered over 2 million signatures, well over the 1.495 million required to trigger a recall election.

On Jul. 1, Lt. Governor Eleni Kounalakis issued a proclamation declaring a special election with an official date of Sept. 14. With the official date of the election set, three specific questions regarding its timing have sparked controversy.

The first timing issue presented itself on Monday, Jun. 28, with the signing into law of SB 152 by Newsom, which

amends the election code in several ways, two of which are to provide fewer in-person polling places and to give officials more days to count ballots.

However, the portion of the bill which has generated most discussion is the section that reverses the recently enacted requirement for the Department of Finance to estimate and submit the costs of a recall election after a 30 day review period. Instead, this bill has allowed the Secretary of State to certify the sufficiency of the signatures, speeding up the process by an entire month.

A little context: Democratic lawmakers created the 30-day budget review process in 2018 when State Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) was facing a recall election of his

own. At that time, Republicans saw the move as an attempt by Democrats to delay Newman's recall election.

Regardless of motive, the law delayed the election by 30 days but could not change the minds of the people who voted to recall Newman.

The timing of both the creation and reversal of the 30-day review period has left Democrats open to cries of foul play from the GOP. They accuse Dems of abusing their power by manipulating the election code to protect their own.

"Governor Newsom is manipulating the election date to strike while the iron is hot," said Chairman of the Republican Party of San Luis Obispo Randall Jordan. The iron being "the loosening of mask mandates and the smoke and mirrors of the return to normalcy."

The second timing issue also came to light on Jun. 28, when Newsom filed a lawsuit against California Secretary of State Shirley Weber—whom Newsom himself appointed in January—because she refuses to make a filing exception after Newsom's lawyer missed an important deadline. As a result, it appears that Newsom's name will not have a "D" next to it on the ballot.

Corresponding Secretary of the San Luis Obispo County Democratic Party John Alan Connerley did not seem worried about the potential omission.

"Democrats in California are very proud of Governor Gavin Newsom.

His name recognition is very high...I think most Californians know who he is."

The final timing issue has to do with

the fact that Governor Newsom's term is set to end on Jan. 2, 2023. According to the state Finance Department, the state and county costs to run this special election will total $276 million.

Thus, Democrats argue that the expenditure of the special election would be wasteful.

"They are now forcing an expensive election," said Connerley. "Why couldn't they just wait to do this next year as it was planned rather than costing millions of dollars? What happened to those fiscal conservatives?"

As if drought and wildfires weren't enough, a heated political campaign is sure to crank up the temperature in California this summer, culminating in the decision to either recall Newsom or to allow him to finish out his term.

Morro Bay Life • September 2021 • 7

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BUSINESS

A Vital Role; Family and Lifestyle Get off the sidelines when it comes to protecting your greatest asset: Your Health

SARAH SANTANA COLUMNIST

W

hen faced with a health issue, we turn to our doctor and other healthcare specialists for information, support, and a positive resolution.

But when you head to an appointment, do you go armed with research gleaned from reputable sources? Are you prepared to ask questions and voice your concerns if something doesn’t seem right?

It’s time to take charge of your relationship with your healthcare provider in a way that places you squarely on the same team, rather than on the sidelines. No healthcare provider, no matter how knowledgeable, has the understanding you have about your own body. Your ability to express your symptoms and your medical concerns will get you the care you deserve and the treatment you need.

TAKE CONTROL, STAT Your doctor is an expert, but why not take some time to do your own research about a medical issue you’re experiencing before heading to an appointment?

Your access to reputable websites, like those maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Mayo Clinic, can provide you with helpful information, so you know what to ask your doctor. Just be sure to avoid misinformation; rely instead on websites run by reputable, major hospitals, healthcare organizations, and government agencies.

Afterward, research any recommended procedures and prescriptions as well as costs through your state’s department of insurance and your insurance company’s website.

LOUD AND CLEAR Remember that you’re the boss. You have the right to respectful and considerate treatment, just as you have the right to ask questions and receive meaningful responses.

You have the right to a healthcare professional who will listen to you and take time to understand what’s going on. And you also have the right to ask for a second medical opinion and, if necessary, to change physicians to ensure you’re receiving the care you need.

KEEP YOUR RECORDS STRAIGHT If you’ve ever switched doctors or seen a specialist, you know that transferring your records can be a hassle. But, with electronic health records becoming the norm, it’s easier than ever to both obtain and then digitally maintain your own copies. By creating a personal healthcare file that tracks your medical history, you can advocate for yourself without worry of forgetting anything – an important consideration if you’re nervous and distracted during an appointment, or are not able to tell your medical provider yourself.

Learning how to advocate your own health is vital when forming a partnership with your healthcare providers to better participate in your own care, rather than simply receiving care passively. You are the only one who knows what it’s like to live in your body, so now is the time to begin to feel empowered, to voice your opinion, to ask questions, and to truly take control of your health.

NEXT STEPS Take full advantage of preventive care. Ask your healthcare provider about: • Screenings for cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other problems • Immunizations for illnesses • Counseling for mental health concerns • Your diet and activity levels • Weight and stress management • Smoking or substance abuse • Steps you can take to prevent chronic disease

Sources: medscape.com; webmd.com; urmc.rochester.edu; health.usnews.com; futureofhealthcarenews.com

Sarah Santana is an independent columnist for Morro Bay Life. She is the president of Santana Wealth Management and you can contact her at sarah.santana@raymondjames.com.

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8 • September 2021 • Morro Bay Life

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LITERATURE

POWER OF WORDS

Two Words

O

JENNIFER SCALES COLUMNIST

Local Authors Release YA Sci-Fi Novel The Time Trials by Jon and Dayna McConnell launches Sep. 21

By PATRICK PATTON of Morro Bay Life SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — Jon McConnell graduated from Atascadero High School in 2000, and Dayna McConnell graduated from Morro Bay High School in 2005.

Each ended up working at Mervyn’s Department Store, Dayna in the shoe department, and John in the men’s department. Little did they know that less than a decade later, they would be married with two kids, and both published authors of a YA sci-fi novel.

“We were just friends at first,” said Dayna, “truly just really good friends,” Dayna said that their friendship lasted for about 2-3 years before it became something more special.

They are now in their sixth year of marriage with two young children and both teachers living in Orcutt. Dayna teaches 3rd grade, and Jon teaches high school.

The idea for The Time Trials was something that the couple had talked about and slowly developed over the years.

“The spark that started it was the idea of competitive teams that travel back in time and accomplish certain tasks,” said Jon. Jon described writing until he came to a point where he felt stuck, at which point Dayna sat down and decided to give it a shot.

“It happened kind of naturally,” said Jon. “The experience of having a co-author was really valuable for me,” said Dayna.

“Yeah, it could have been a disaster,” said Jon, “but it worked out really well.”

Jon explained that there were some really great benefits to writing with your partner, including how fun it is to bounce ideas off of someone else who knows the story. For most writers, crafting a novel is a notoriously solitary and isolating process.

“You also have someone to write for,” said Jon. “Instead of trying to write for an audience, I found myself thinking, ‘oh, Dayna’s really gonna like this.”

“There’s a bit of an ‘opposites’ thing happening,” said Dayna. “He’s just a more fun person than I am! Jon is really good with the plot

and the world-building, and I tend to be better with the more poignant aspects and character development.”

As far as the actual process goes, Dayna said that she would write the more emotional scenes while Jon would write more of the action scenes, but when it came to the scenes with the actual time trials, the couple spent hours upon hours researching and developing those chapters together.

Jon and Dayna described the book as a PG-13 YA sci-fi novel intended for teens, though many adults would probably enjoy it. It is chock full of nineties throwbacks, heavy on teen angst, and has a YA relationship aspect.

“It’s not hard sci-fi,” Dayna said, “so it’s meant for teens and those who have never read sci-fi before.”

The story revolves around protagonist Finn Mallory, a boy who arrives to the Time Trials on scholarship. He’s dealing with the trauma of losing his parents and ends up at this highend school, feeling like an outsider in a world of elites, clinging to the image of his parents, who were musicians and deeply involved in the 90’s grunge scene.

“Finn is a bit stuck in the past,” said Jon, “which is one of the major themes of the story.”

“The major themes we deal with are redemption, classism, and found family,” Dayna added.

The two are already finished with the second installment of the series, which is due out in Jul. 2022. They expect there will be four books in this series. Make sure to pick up your copy of The Time Trials by Jon McConnell and Dayna McConnell when it’s released on Sep. 21. For more information on the authors and their work, visit mcconnellwriting.com.

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“It was a beautiful Saturday morning; the sun beamed in through the kitchen window as Trey Collins read his morning newspaper. He looked up from the newspaper for a moment as Brooke entered the room. He stopped, and he glanced at her again; something was different. Her hair, “Hum, shorter, looks good,” he thought. He went back to his newspaper without mentioning his thoughts to her; he continued reading the newspaper where he left off.

Trey and Brooke met after college, got married, and settled into their lives together. A decade had passed, and they had fallen into a holding pattern that left them minimally satisfied in their relationship. But they settle into their day-to-day existence, like roommates.

Trey put down his newspaper and took a moment to look at Brooke. For the first time in a long time, he really saw her. It wasn’t her hair change that stood out to him. There was something in her green eyes that was stunning.

That “something” had likely been there all along.

He smiled. “ You’re beautiful.” Then, like a thunderbolt of lightning, she looked up surprised and puzzled. Not knowing how to respond, she just stared back at him. They had been all about the work, and they had forgotten why they were a couple. In an instant, her puzzlement changed to acceptance and adoring eyes.

She finally responded, “Thank you.” Her eyes and smile shined with gratitude. At that moment, things were suddenly different between Brooke and Trey. They had rekindled the bond between them that had dim through the years of neglect. All Saturday morning, plans went out the window. Instead, they spent the rest of the day together, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company. Two words in one unexpected moment changed everything.

ur fictional story is an ordinary day, nothing special, a routine Saturday, probably like most Saturdays. On this day, only two words were exchanged between them. But those heartfelt words changed the course of their day and renewed their love for each other.

Our words have that kind of power. Words can do so many things; they can destroy, they can hurt, or they can uplift and encourage. What we say matters, and appreciating those we love is so important in cultivating a healthy relationship.

I am no expert on relationships, but I grew up with parents who loved each other deeply and openly displayed their affection. Unfortunately, my mother has recently passed away, and my father is living through loss and grief that only someone married for 63 years can understand. Their love and words made their relationship so strong. It was beautiful to see what amazing friendship they shared and how much they meant to each other.

Can you think of two words right now that may make or change someone’s day? Simply saying, “Love you” can change someone’s dark to light. Feeling appreciated and loved is a basic instinct and, even more importantly, is being able to express appreciation and love to others. This is not as instinctual or easy for some individuals to display. If you are one of those people that can express themselves openly, you are blessed. Share your gratitude and love to those around you. For those who struggle, keep trying. You’ll get there.

Each day is an opportunity to express truth and kindness. In the midst of chaos and uncertain times, our words can give clarity and support to those around us. Our expressions and heartfelt words can provide hope and light. Choosing words that heal and encourage can make the difference. Keeping in mind, words are easy to say but harder to take back.

Let us all strive to choose our words wisely and share love freely.

Live life with intention, expressing kindness and love in all you do. Live with purpose.

Morro Bay Life • September 2021 • 9

Making Communities Better Through Print™

EDUCATION

Virtual Arts OUTREACH JAMES BRESCIA, Ed.D County Superintendent of Schools

T

he entire central coast of California is rich with the arts and often serves as a refuge or haven for artists from both the Bay Area and Southern California.

Tourists and locals enjoy this beautiful slice of California located three hours between these northern and southern metropolitan communities. Our county stretches over 70 miles down the 101 Highway along the Pacific Coast and inland through desert and mountains to Kern County, covering 3,616 square miles, with just over 284,000 in population.

Some of our major economic drivers are agriculture, tourism, building & design construction, knowledge & innovation, advanced manufacturing, health services, and energy. What

does each of these economic drivers have in common? Arts-Based Leadership. According to the Oxford Academic Community Development Journal, the arts are often considered at the periphery of the community development process and only a minor player in regenerating areas. Nevertheless, despite increasing globalization, our central coast communities are beginning to recognize their own identities, culture, traditional art forms, and the value of working together at the local level. Take a look around, and you will notice a plethora of local art created by the youth in our communities.

According to the most recent Arts and Economic Prosperity Survey, San Luis Obispo County arts and arts-related activities enhance our local economy by over $30 million in funding and expenditures. Art is one of the most popular Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways selected by San Luis Obispo County students. The most recent Central Coast Economic Forecast refers to the arts’ positive impact on our local economy and community well-being.

Academics and business leaders acknowledge that arts-based instruction is an interdisciplinary approach to learning. Several firms on the

central coast use the arts as a pathway to explore non-art topics such as leadership, change, and business innovation. San Luis Obispo County is fortunate to have growing Arts Partnerships for many schools, districts, and communities.

We adapted practices because of the pandemic, and both Charter Communications public access television stations 2 and 19 feature the work of local arts organizations. These virtual and in-person partnerships acknowledge four profound leadership impacts. Involvement in the arts helps us quiet the mind and provides space for inner wisdom. The Arts create bonding experiences that facilitate collaboration and accelerate examining an issue from alternate perspectives. Arts-based activities can develop a sense of belonging, build trust, help participants find shared values, and shift perceptions. Finally, arts-based learning, along with whole-brain creativity and design thinking, can improve creative skills.

The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education Arts Partnership, consisting of multiple arts organizations throughout the county, has created a series of educational videos hosted on public access, social media, and the education portal. These media clips are free to the public

LIFE INTELLIGENCE

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

How to Talk to Difficult People

VALENTINA PETROVA COLUMNIST

I

know what you are thinking. You want to know how to argue with people who think differently than you and win! Everyone who disagrees with you is a difficult person.

This means that you are also disagreeable, by your definition, from the other person’s perspective. Before I give you a few tips, I’d like you to imagine what it must be like for someone else to be talking to you, especially in moments of conflicting ideas and priorities. Keep yourself in mind while you read the rest of this short essay.

The best argument is the one that didn’t happen. Not because you practice avoidance.

But because you can turn a potential argument into a productive discussion for the benefit of all involved. You can be combative or a co-creator, contributor, and generally the cool cucumber in the conversation. The only time you should run away from the opportunity to have a meaningful, possibly spirited discussion is when the person in front of you believes their own lies and loves their drama. It’s not that they refuse to accept reality. They simply live in a different one.

With no basis of shared understanding, common acceptance of facts and definitions, the two of you are doomed to failure before you even start. Be the wise person who recognizes the fool and keeps away (from the fool or the topic). Unless keeping away is not an option.

Like when you live under the same roof or share genetic material, and the Thanksgiving table or your paycheck depends on it.

Your power lies in your calm, your ability to stay in equanimity through whatever comes.

Possibly the person just wants to be heard or hear themselves talk. You need not respond. Just hum and nod your head in acknowledgment.

It goes a long way to soften the tone. Remember, people often vent, rage, and preach because they feel disempowered, helpless, and confused.

The talking, apparent conviction, and latching onto crazy ideas are their way of coping with uncertainty, insignificance, and powerlessness.

Give them some space to release the pressure valve. Tell them you appreciate them even if you don’t share their point of view. Remember, their opinion about something is not a judgment on you, even if they call you stupid for disagreeing.

They wear a filter distorting their perception.

You can only bring clarity to the situation if you can speak from a place of equanimity.

Try shifting the focus with a joke or another mental distraction. Point something out that has nothing to do with where the conversation is going. You don’t have to go off the cliff with it.

Your difficult person may realize what you are trying to do and be relieved that you can still

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and serve to promote the arts. To date, this partnership has allowed over 15,000 students to experience and interact with professional artists virtually. The media collateral, funded by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education and local patrons, involves local artists communicating with students and relating activities to state arts standards. Each media segment, 20 to 30 minutes in length, consists of visual examples of the art form and facilitates instruction at multiple grade levels.

Our county is also growing in cultural and artistic vibrancy because of the dedicated individuals that make the central coast their home.

Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reports that scientists, humanists, and art lovers value art because of the social importance, the communicative power, the capacity to increase self-knowledge, challenge preconceptions, and the beauty in art. We invite any interested arts organizations to partner with our local schools in building up our community. It is an honor to serve as your county superintendent. I hope that this article will spark discussion among all educational stakeholders about the power of becoming involved in arts outreach as a volunteer, patron, or participant.

CONGRATULATIONS, MORRO BAY MARITIME MUSEUM Dear Editor, I want to take this chance to congratulate the Morro Bay Maritime Museum for the successful premiere of their documentary, Morro Bay “Once The Abalone Capital of the World,” at the Bay Theater on Aug. 22. It was sold out! drink a beer together without hating each other.

On the other hand, they may simply follow in the new direction, not noticing. After all, the average attention span of an adult American these days is 2.5 minutes, the amount of time it takes to microwave a dinner plate.

Pick your battles wisely. You don’t have to fight them all. You don’t have to win them all.

You may be the one that’s off the deep end.

Keep an open mind. Practice healthy skepticism even towards your own convictions. You may learn something along the way and upgrade your programming.

But wait! There is more. Read the rest of this article and about How To Talk To Strangers on my blog at vpetrova.com.

Valentina Petrova has helped people with life, health, relationships, f inancial, professional, and more since 2015. Email her at valentinapetrovaconsulting.com.

Anyone who was there had a chance to see the colorful history of this town, and many of the people who attended were part of that history. After the movie, there was a question and answer session featuring Steve Rebuck, Trudy O’Brien, Dee Dee Pierce, and Eddie Pierce.

If you didn’t make it, the DVD is on sale at the Maritime Museum. Special thanks to Lori Mather and Scott Mather for all the time and effort they put into this project. I hope that the residents of Morro Bay realize what a special history the City of Morro Bay has and do all they can to support the Morro Bay Maritime Museum in its quest to preserve local waterfront history.

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10 • September 2021 • Morro Bay Life

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AGRICULTURE

The Western Drought and the Food Supply How it’s affecting farmers, and how it will affect the nation

By CAMILLE DeVAUL of Morro Bay Life

I

f you have driven through the California Valley, you’ve likely seen a sign that read “No Water = No Food.”

These signs are remnants from the State’s previous droughts and never taken down because of how likely another waterless year will be.

And here we are. California is facing yet another drought.

According to the California Farm Water Coalition (CFWC), 2021 is on track to being critically dry—the same as the State’s last drought, which lasted from about 2014 to 2016.

What’s worse is, as of June 2, over 2 million acres—more than one-quarter of Californian irrigated farmland—is receiving 5 percent or less of its water supply.

More than half of that is getting no water allocation at all.

In other areas of California, farms have reportedly had their water supplies cut by 25 percent or more, and 60,000 acres in Northern California will receive zero water this year.

Founded in 1989, the CFWC is a non-profit, educational organization that provides fact-based information on farm water issues to the public.

“We’re all about helping people understand the connection between farm water and their food supply,” said Mike Wade, executive director at CFWC. Due to lack of water, farmers across the State have had to face the crucial decision to reduce their planted acres.

And some farmers were given no choice but to plow under their crop— because the California Water Board (CWB) cut off their water supply by suspending the farmer’s water rights.

Farmers on the Russian River and the Sacramento-San Juaquin watershed have already had their junior water rights suspended by the CWB. “We’ve seen dozens of crops that are having reduced plantings this year.

Farmers are fallowing fields of annual crops,” Wade explained.

He continued, “What that does

is it doesn’t just affect the farmer, as important as that is. It affects communities. It affects people who depend on those farms for jobs. It affects related businesses, particularly transportation and processing all the way down the food chain to the grocery store where we see reduced supply and higher prices for consumers.”

The last driest year California saw was in 2015. According to drought. gov, “drought impacts to California’s agricultural sector resulted in $1.84 billion in direct costs, a loss of 10,100 seasonal jobs, and surface water shortages of 8.7 million acre-feet.”

California Governor Gavin Newsom was on the Central Coast July 8, where he signed an executive order for Californians, including agriculture, commercial and residential, to decrease water use by 15 percent.

As of July 13, 50 California counties have declared a drought emergency, including San Luis Obispo County, affecting 42 percent of California’s population.

While the Californian drought is proving to be damaging enough, it isn’t the only state experiencing a drought this year.

According to the U.S. drought monitor map, published by the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 11 states are experiencing extreme drought conditions: • New Mexico • Arizona • California • Nevada • Utah • Oregon • Washington • Montana • North Dakota • Colorado • Wyoming Additionally, some areas in Idaho and South Dakota are also suffering from extreme drought.

Wheat is the fourth top-selling commodity in the U.S., averaging an annual income of $5.13 billion.

Four of the states listed above are in the Nation’s top 10 wheat producers.

In a Spokesman Review article, a wheat farmer in Washington State said, “This is probably going to be the worst harvest we’ve had for the 35 years we’ve been doing this.”

Climates that generally don’t see over 90 degrees are getting temperatures above 100 degrees. High temperatures and lack of water mean lower quality wheat kernels and possible higher protein content—all factors to less tonnage for farmers and buyers wanting a lower price for wheat.

California produces over 400 different commodities, including two-thirds of the nation’s fruit and nuts, one-third of its vegetables, and one out of every five gallons of milk.

According to the CFWC, the following commodities have already been affected by water shortage in California: • Alfalfa • Lettuce • Almonds • Onions • Apricots • Peaches • Asparagus • Peppers • Beans • Pima Cotton • Cantaloupes • Rice • Corn • Sweet Corn • Garlic • Tomatoes • Grapes • Watermelons • Honeydew • Wheat Basically, the effects of higher temperatures and drought are already affecting farmers, and we will soon see it in the food supply.

Western states are undoubtedly experiencing the start of a potentially horrendous drought.

But in California, other factors are taking water from farmers.

“It’s the result of changing policies that have shifted the water that is available for farms, homes, and businesses to serve a greater number of environmental purposes. And when we get to a drought year like we have now, there’s no flexibility left in the system, and we end up with a couple of million acres of farmland with no water supply,” explained Wade.

On April 15, 2015, Channel 3 News in Sacramento interviewed former California Governor Jerry Brown. At the time, California was in the worse year of the 2014-2016 drought, and farmers in the California Valley saw water rights suspended.

During the interview with Channel 3, Brown stated, “Fifty percent of the water in California goes to protect the environment. Forty percent goes to agriculture, and about 10 percent goes to urban and commercial uses.”

Brown’s statement is backed up by the Public Policy Institute of Cali-

fornia (PPIC).

“Statewide, average water use is roughly 50 percent environmental, 40 percent agricultural, and 10 percent urban, although the percentage of water use by sector varies dramatically across regions and between wet and dry years.”

As for environmental water use, the PPIC says: “Environmental water use falls into four categories: water in rivers protected as “wild and scenic” under federal and state laws, water required for maintaining habitat within streams, water that supports wetlands within wildlife preserves, and water needed to maintain water quality for agricultural and urban use.”

The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is another Californian policy threatening farm water.

SGMA was enacted to halt overdrafts and bring groundwater basins into balanced levels of pumping and recharge. SGMA also requires local agencies to adopt sustainability plans for high and medium-priority groundwater basins.

According to the Blueprint Economic Impact Analysis: Phase One Results by David Sunding and David Roland-Holst at UC Berkeley: “Based on an analysis of SGMA and other anticipated water supply restrictions, we conclude that up to one million acres may be fallowed in the San Joaquin Valley over a period of 2-3 decades as a result of reduced ground and surface water availability.

This amount of fallowing is approximately one-fifth of all acres currently under cultivation in the Valley. The farm revenue loss associated with this fallowing is $7.2 billion per year.”

The report also says, “Counting indirect and induced job losses together with direct losses, the SGMA and future surface water restrictions will result in as many as 85,000 lost jobs and $2.1 billion in lost employee compensation annually.”

Wade explains, “It’s going to be difficult to continue to farm in the scale that we are now in much of the Central Valley in California because of the change in the accessibility to groundwater—it could lead to half a million acres or more farmland being

taken out of production.”

On July 23, the CWB announced an “emergency curtailment” order.

The order would inevitably cut thousands of farmers off from rivers and streams in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river watersheds.

The order would include pre-1914 appropriative and certain riparian water rights claimants.

On August 3, the CWB passed the emergency curtailment order with a 5-0 vote.

State regulators said farmers would have to stop diverting water from waters and streams leading into the Sacramento and San Juaquin Delta-the State’s two largest river systems-because the drought is rapidly depleting the California reservoirs and killing endangered species of fish.

The curtailment order will not take effect for another two weeks and excludes some uses, including water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, sanitation and generating electricity, and more.

Together, the Sacramento and San Joaquin river systems drain 40 percent of California’s land and account for at least a portion of the water supply for two-thirds of the state’s nearly 40 million residents.

“The fact remains that water supplies are extremely limited across the State, and we are running out of options,” said Ernest Conant, regional director of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, who supports the new rule.

The State has also hired 15 people to help enforce the emergency order, according to Erik Ekdahl, deputy director for the division of water rights. The rule gives State regulators authority to enforce it, including fines for noncompliance.

Chris Scheuring, senior counsel for the California Farm Bureau, said, “In general, farmers understand drought, and they understand lean rain years.

That’s the business we’re in,” he said.

“But they don’t understand the downward slide in water reliability we are facing in California, sort of on a systemic level.”

A story on the new curtailment order, its effects on farmers and the general public to follow.

For a complete list of resources, see the entire article on morrobaylife.com.

FARMSTEAD ED

First SLO County-Wide Open Farm Day Self-Guided Tour Mucho moo-la raised for local community and Ag education STAFF REPORT SAN LUIS OBISPO — On Saturday, Jul. 17, San Luis Obispo County came out in droves to attend the first Open Farm Day, a county-wide self-guided tour along with farms and ranches in the county.

Hosted by FARMstead ED, founded in 2014, whose mission is to educate the importance of sustainable practices, local land, and everything from meat to mixology via educational workshops and gatherings.

The committee shared, “No one knew what to expect from this first Open Farm Day—especially given the past year and a half. Fingers were crossed that community members would gather and travel the trail to tour, taste, and learn. What we gathered was so much more; they came out in droves, excited, engaged, and interested to truly

connect to our local agriCULTURAL experiences. The energy was amazing, the smiles were infectious, and as promised, the animals were adorable.”

The Open Farm Day raised over $6,000 that will go directly back into the community via Glean SLO, The Great AGventure, and FARMstead ED. “ALL the thanks go to our farmers and purveyors, who tried something they’ve never done before, jumped through hoops with planning and promotion, helped spread the word, and received the community with open arms (and gates) by hosting farm tours, workshops, demo’s, tastings and unique agricultural experiences. Guests blazed their own trail learning about luffa’s, how to milk a goat, observed busy bees in their hives, strolled through fresh flower fields, sipped hard ciders and local wines, grazed on locally grown groceries, tasted exquisite olive oils, hand-crafted aromatic and creative take-aways to remember the day by, toured the very

fields their lunches were harvested from, cuddled with newborn lambs, became educated gardeners, and so much more.” FarmSted Ed shared in a statement.

Open Farm Day participants included City Farm, Clearwater Color Nursery, Couleur de la vie, The Educated Gardener, Giving Tree Family Farm, The Groves on 41, Hambly Farms, Hartley Farms, Kelpful, Kiler Ridge, Kindred Oak Farms, Life Elements, the Luffa Farm, Reves de Moutons, Sierra Honey Farm, SLO Creek Farms, Talley Farms Fresh Harvest, Templeton Hills Beef, Vicarious Ranch, Windrose Farm, Yes Cocktail Co, Yvette Roman Photography and Casa Festiva.

Sponsors included SLO Co Farm Bureau/ Nationwide Insurance, Life Elements, Talley Farms, Windrose Farm/Finca Los Agaves, Reves de Moutons, Brittany App, Vicarious Ranch, James Healey, Tar Creek Ranch, General Store Paso Robles, Enjoy SLO, Jory Brigham Design, Hambly Farms, and the City of Atascadero.

Caption. Photos by Brittany App

Morro Bay Life • September 2021 • 11

Making Communities Better Through Print™

NEVER FORGET

Remembering September 11,

20 Years Later

By HAYLEY MATTSON of Morro Bay Life

T

wenty years ago, many of us started the day like all others, coffee, shower, with the morning news playing in the background. For me, I was getting ready for work at my house on Scott Street in Paso Robles.

I was 22 years old and, before this day, had no real idea of what war or a terrorist act was other than it did not happen on our American soil.

September 11, 2001, changed all that, and it is just as important today as it was then for all of us to remember and never forget.

That fateful morning as we watched the terror and horror of the aftermath of the first plane crashing into the North Tower of the World Trade Center and trying to make sense of it all, a second plane appeared and turned sharply into the South Tower. I remember watching the news reporter’s face trying to get a sense of what was happening, and I could tell she was just as fearful and confused as I was.

At that moment, it felt like the world stopped.

Twenty years ago, we did not have social media or cell phones that shared videos or even took quality photos. We relied solely on news sources to tell us what was happening.

Reports came in that a third plane hit the Pentagon just outside Washington, D.C. The news station switched between news anchors trying to explain what we were watching and experiencing. I remember hearing the fear in their voice, not knowing what to say.

No more than 22 minutes later, the South Tower collapsed, 56 minutes after the impact of Flight 175.

A fourth plane was then reported to have crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. At this point, I remember hearing the words, “we are under attack; this was no accident; we are under a terrorist attack.”

We all watched in horror as people trapped in the North Tower began to jump from the iconic towers that we visited, took photos of, and shaped how we pictured the skyline of New York City.

As a nation, we all held our breath and watched, frozen, helpless with tears running down our faces. The frantic news coverage continued, people running for safety through the streets, not knowing what they were running from, while police, firefighters, and first responders continued to run toward the site and instructing people to get as far away as possible.

Twenty-nine minutes later, the North Tower of the World Trade Center fell, 1 hour and 42 minutes after the initial impact of Flight 11. The Marriott Hotel at the base of the towers was also destroyed.

Cries, screams, and an unforgettable sadness filled the air and our hearts as we continued to watch in disbelief of what we just saw.

The reporter, now covered in soot, was crying as people ran by her. I have a vivid memory of her face that is branded into my memories, and thinking how brave she was for still being there to tell their stories, feel the impact firsthand, and share it with us. She was our eyes and ears; she and her camera operator helped keep us all connected. I remember her asking people as they ran by if they were okay. I remember people running together, sobbing, consoling one another.

Twenty-two minutes later, five Pentagon stories fell due to fire that broke out after Flight 77

crashed into it 1 hour and 13 minutes prior.

At that point, all you could see on the television was lingering grayish soot that covered everyone and papers flying everywhere.

Most of us stayed glued to the screens, trying to get ahold of loved ones that were either on flights or lived in the area to see if they were okay. Phone lines were busy, and you could not get through. I remember being on the phone with my mom and then my dad, who were both in Arizona at the time, trying to make sense of what we had all just seen over the last few hours that felt like an eternity.

Our family finally got ahold of my sisters, who lived back east, later that day.

September 11 ended with the 7 World Trade Center building adjacent to the towers collapsing as a result of the aftermath of the towers falling.

Almost 3,000 people died that day; our family, friends, colleagues, and our everyday heroes were among them.

A few years later, in 2003, I visited Ground Zero. Entering lower Manhattan, you could feel the loss lingering in the City. The chain-linked fence surrounding the area was filled with photos, letters, American flags, flowers, and clothing.

Missing posters of loved ones remained, and it felt as if we were walking through a graveyard. I remember how eerily quiet it was for New York City and seeing a woman kneeling and crying while others stood around telling stories of their loved ones they had lost on that tragic day.

I could feel the deep gratitude I had for my younger brother, who became a U.S. Marine following the events of that day. As I closed my eyes, I could remember listening to the news as our troops invaded Iraq earlier that year in March. My brother’s battalion was one of the first in; we went weeks on end without hearing from him; that felt like an eternity until finally, he was able to call and let us know he was okay.

As I continued to walk around the gated area, I placed my hand on the fence. I took a moment to remember the loss of life right where I was standing and all of the families, residents of New York, and our Nation. I thought of our loved ones who joined the military to fight for our freedom, and I thought of our first responders who continued to show up even after they lost members of their crew.

But I also remembered the news correspondent that covered the events of that day. I am grateful to the woman who inspired me throughout her coverage and showed me real journalism. She told the people’s story as they lived it without any attempt to interpret it in any way. She was vulnerable and honest. She showed care and concern for others, all while being terrified herself.

Twenty years later, most of us still remember it as it was yesterday, and with the turmoil throughout the Nation today, I have hope that we can come together once again. May we remember all the lives we lost that day and all who were lost fighting for our freedoms in the events that followed.

May we never forget.

It’s an extraordinary tale …of resilience, of survival, of courage, of love.

For me, this is the legacy of 9/11. ~ Gédéon Naudet

12 • September 2021 • Morro Bay Life

Making Communities Better Through Print™

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D SOL

1900 Tapidero Drive  Los Osos REPRESENT BUYER List Price $1,200,000 D SOL

D SOL

370 Bonita Street  Morro Bay REPRESENT SELLER Sold over list price $650,000 D SOL

Morro Cliff Condominium 209 Dunes St, #5  Morro Bay REPRESENT SELLER $970,000

182 Mindoro Street  Morro Bay REPRESENT SELLER Sold over list price $925,000 D SOL

2232 Emerald Circle  Morro Bay REPRESENT SELLER $1,395,000

3090 Beachcomber  Morro Bay REPRESENT SELLER Sold over list price $1,616,000

D SOL

1125 Pinewood Drive  Cambria REPRESENT BUYER List Price $1,350,000 D SOL

2242 Emerald Circle  Morro Bay REPRESENT SELLER $1,625,000

www.zillow.com/profile/Lisa-Mia/ MORRO BAY • CAYUCOS • LOS OSOS • SAN LUIS OBISPO • CAMBRIA • ATASCADERO • PASO ROBLES • ARROYO GRANDE

LISA MIA

805.279.9381

Lisa@Lisamia.com

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL LIC. #01945215