1 14 journal plus by SLO Journal

LESLEY SANTOS DIERKS | QUINCY FREEMAN | BURT BAUMGARTNER | 5-CITIES MEN’S CLUB

JournalPLUS JANUARY 2014

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

SLO JET CENTER’S ANDREW ROBILLARD

805-543-2172

www.farrellsmyth.com

21 Santa Rosa Street #100 San Luis Obispo

805-904-6616 110 E. Branch Street Arroyo Grande

www.1175MurrayAve.com

www.ZinVineyard.com

Larry D. Smyth

Jennifer Hamilton

Owner/Broker

Relocation Director

Wine Lovers Paradise! West Paso Robles...rural yet close to downtown. Home, Land, Vineyard, 4900+ square foot steel shop. Linda Aiello-Madison All secured behind electric gate. Owner will consider carrying Broker-Associate financing. $1,950,000

Development Potential - Great bungalow located adjacent to Santa Rosa Park. Recently upgraded with the addition of a third bedroom and bath. Plumbing and electrical upgraded at the same time. The City has approved development plans for three additional 2 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath units. This property is ready for development in a super location between downtown and Cal Poly. $715,000

www.3211ViaEnsenada.com

Ken Arritt

Twila Arritt

Chris Stanley REALTOR®

Move-in Ready! Don’t miss this great 2 bedroom 2 1/2 bathroom PUD located in the desirable Margarita Villas. Interior features new carpeting throughout, Cathedral Ceilings, Skylights and a Fireplace. Each bedroom has its own private bathroom. Nice fenced patio and a two car attached garage. $429,000

www.35Stenner.com

In the quiet bedroom community of Soledad you will find this Single story, contemporary family home, 3 bedrooms 2 full baths, formal dining. Freshly painted in and out on a spacious size lot. Newer kitchen appliances, vaulted ceilings give the kitchen and living room a spacious feel. Stunning evening mountain views are enjoyed from the backyard. This is move in ready! $314,000

REALTOR®

Janet Shaner

REALTOR®

Pamela Bliss

Mary Rosenthal

Broker-Associate

REALTOR®

Great Opportunity in SLO! Desirable Cedar Creek Complex. 2 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Upstairs unit with Cathedral Ceilings. Great location, close to Cal Poly. Complex features pool and quad area. $285,000

Great Cedar Creek unit near Cal Poly. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, with carport parking. Complex features pool and quad area. $275,000

Theresa Carroll

Richard Potter

REALTOR®

Simone Viola

www.45Stenner.com

Carol Beard

Jerry Collins

REALTOR®

www.812PortolaStreet.com

Broker-Associate

Christine Williams

REALTOR®

Paddy Doron REALTOR®

Patricia Garrison REALTOR®

Vicky Hall REALTOR®

David Hamilton REALTOR®

Linda Irigaray REALTOR®

Annette Mullen REALTOR®

Deane Naylor REALTOR®

CONTENTS

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

The People, Community, and Business of Our Beautiful Central Coast ADDRESS

654 Osos Street San Luis Obispo California 93401

16 SAUCELITO CANYON VINEYARDS

PHONE 805.546.0609 E-MAIL slojournal@fix.net WEBSITE www.slojournal.com

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Steve Owens ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Erin Mott GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dora Mountain COPY EDITOR Susan Stewart PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Meinhold DISTRIBUTION Keith Malcomson, Kyle Owens

QUINCY FREEMAN

5-CITIES MEN’S CLUB

ADVERTISING Jan Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Deborah Cash, Will Jones, Bob Huttle, Joe Zentner, Vicki Leon, Sherry Shahan, Rebecca Leduc, Michael Cervin, Kathy Smith, Heather Young, and Gordon Fuglie. Mail subscriptions are available at $20 per year. Back issues are $2 each. Inquires concerning advertising or other information made by writing to Steve Owens, JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE, 654 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can call us at 546-0609, our fax line is 546-8827, and our e-mail is slojournal@fix.net. View the entire magazine on our website at www.slojournal.com JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE is a free monthly distributed to over 600 locations throughout the Central Coast and is also available online at slojournal.com Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in the byline articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE. Cover photo by Tom Meinhold

PEOPLE

8 QUINCY FREEMAN 10 LESLEY SANTOS DIERKS–SPOKES 12 BURT BAUMGARTNER

HOME & OUTDOOR 14 16 18 20 22 24 26

ENJOY CALIFORNIA’S WINTER OUTDOORS SAUCELITO CANYON VINEYARDS ACI AND THE SLO JET CENTER HOT AIR BALLOONING TRAVEL–Quebec FOOD / AT THE MARKET

COMMUNITY

28 29 30 32 34 36 41

OUR SCHOOLS–Dr. Julian Crocker JIM RUDDELL’S SMOKEHOUSE 5-CITIES MEN’S CLUB HISTORY: The First Newspapers HOSPICE CORNER / CROSSWORD PUZZLE PALM STREET–Councilwoman Kathy Smith COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening 46 EYE ON BUSINESS

SLO ART SCENE

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Congratulations to the San Luis Obispo 2013 Realtor of the Year

Susie Brans!

From the publisher

know that baseball season is long over, but thought you’d like to know that local boys Cooper Benson and Brooks Lee made the cover story of the National Baseball Magazine for Kids, Baseball Youth. This last summer their youth baseball team, the Santa Yenz Titans, won the National Youth Baseball Championship in Memphis, Tennessee. Congratulations guys ... one more time. This month’s cover story is on the SLO Jet Center and the two men that run it, Bill Borgsmiller and Andrew Robillard. We have had several requests to do this story ever since their large building went up at the airport. You’ll enjoy their success story.

Another year that The Real Estate Group of San Luis Obispo has produced a Realtor of the Year.

“Opening doors since ‘84”

We also feature four profiles on individuals that make a difference, Saucelito Canyon Vineyards, ballooning on the Central Coast and the 5-Cities Men’s Club. Plenty of good reading again this month. All the best in 2014.

Johnny Hough Owner / Broker

(805) 801-5063

johnny@realestategroup.com 962 Mill Street, SLO See more listings at www.realestategroup.com

Steve Owens

COMING UP AT THE

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Mandy Patinkin - Dress Casual 1/10 • 8 p.m.

Cat Internet Video Festival 1/21 • 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center

W. Terrence Spiller Piano Recital 1/11 • 8 p.m.

Jerry Seinfeld 1/23 • 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by JSL Entertainment

MET Live in HD: Falstaff 1/12 • 2 p.m.

Paul Woodring: Forbes Pipe Organ Recital 1/26 • 3 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts & Opera San Luis Obispo

Presented by Cal Poly Cat Program

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Robert Irvine LIVE! 1/15 • 7:30 p.m.

Tommy Emmanuel 1/27 • 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Up, Up and Away! 1/16 • 6 p.m.

The Irish Rovers 1/28 • 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Foundation for the PAC

The Haumana 1/16 • 7 p.m. Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by CP Multicultural Center

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Vitality: Orchesis Dance Co. 1/31 • 8 p.m. & 2/1 • 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. & 2/6 - 2/8 • 8 p.m. Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by CP Theatre & Dance

Fine Arts Quartet 1/17 • 8 p.m. Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by Cal Poly Arts

WWW.PACSLO.ORG | 805-756-4TIX

PEOPLE

QUINCY FREEMAN RODEO AND ART: A WESTERN LOVE STORY By Susan Stewart

ou’ve seen the movie. It’s a classic cowboy fairytale spooling out in grainy black and white, usually on a classic cable movie channel late at night. A dark-eyed Mexican beauty (invariably the daughter of a rich and powerful Mexican don) shades her eyes with one hand as she peers through the bright Texas sunshine at the handsome American cowboy cresting the sage-brushed hillside in the distance. She watches as he makes his way deftly down the steep trail, admiring his effortless way with the dashing ebony horse he rides. As he slows respectfully to ride past her, their eyes meet. It’s love at first sight. By the end of the movie, they are married, and together, they ride off into the sunset toward their honeymoon night and the Wild West ranching life they will build together. But wait … That familiar scene happened in real life. And it happened to Quincy Freeman’s grandmother, whom Quincy affectionately calls “my Nona Rose.” Nona Rose began life as Rosita (Spanish for “little rose”) Camarillo, the privileged daughter of a Spanish land grant don, for whom the city of Camarillo was named when he donated it to the people who lived and worked there. As a young girl, Rosita showed an undeniable talent for art and was sent away to art school. It was while on a spring break in Nevada that she met Tom Marvel. Her first glimpse of him was on a horse called Red Wing, cresting a hill in the blue-skied, cloudless distance. It really was love at first sight and Rosita and Tom were wed, just like in the movies. “She became the ultimate rancher’s wife,” said Quincy. “A classic.” Their daughter, Sally Marvel, would grow up to marry her own handsome cowboy, Bill Freeman, continuing the line of first California cattle ranchers she was born into. Nona Rose, her mother Sally, her father Bill, a host of uncles, and a nun called Sister Lucy would shape young Quincy’s life, leading to the kind of success and achievement usually reserved for someone much older. At just 22, and not yet a college graduate, Quincy Freeman has worked hard to create her own classic western fairytale.

jokes. Raised on a cattle ranch in Reedley (between Fresno and Visalia), the riding, roping, and ranching legacy built before her is long and storied.

Born in Visalia, California, Quincy was the youngest by far of a blended family of five children. “I was either the accident or the blessing,” she

“The whole family on both sides rodeos,” said Quincy, making a verb out of the noun rodeo that includes all the events rodeos are famous

Quincy in competition J A N U A R Y

Quincy roping in competition

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project for a startup women’s fashion boot designer / supplier. She went to Chicago as the representative for the Cal Poly Innovation in Entrepreneurship (CIE) at the Collegiate Entrepreneurial Organization (CEO). Competing against 60 contestants from all over the nation, Quincy was among the first cut to 12, and then among the next cut to six. “That’s when I knew it was serious,” she said. As the last contestant up to the podium before a panel of five judges, Quincy focused on her own pitch versus those of her competitors and emerged the winner.

Quincy is third from left

for. “All my uncles were saddle bronc riders … One of them was a world champion. … My mother roped her first mustang when she was 13.” Quincy’s father, Bill Freeman, grew up on a farm in Oregon and came to Cal Poly for its growing reputation as a great “Ag” school. In addition to cattle ranching, Bill would eventually be among the first to innovate online cattle trading. Her mother, Sally Marvel Freeman, trained cutting horse riders for the rodeo. And her sister won the title of rodeo queen in 1993. So it is not surprising that young Quincy’s high school and college years would be filled with competitive rodeo-ing. The road to now, however, was paved with struggle early on. “I didn’t do well in school at first,” she said. “I cried my way through second grade.” Quincy admits she wasn’t quite as quick as some of the other kids and it took her a long time to take tests and absorb the material. A compassionate nun named Sister Lucy took her aside and gave her a lesson she would never forget. “You’re just like everyone else,” Sister Lucy insisted. “You just have to work harder.” “I benefitted from that in the end,” said Quincy, “because I got used to working really hard for what I wanted. It’s not about being the smartest … it’s about hard work and passion.” Passion she had! And work she did. In high school, Quincy started showing her own artistic flair in the rodeo arena. She began wearing hand-painted belts and decorated tac back when those items were traditionally plain. “My Nona Rose always emphasized the importance of looking your best while competing in a world dominated by men,” Quincy explains.

Soon she added sparkle, sequins, and roses— the latter becoming the Freeman family signature design. During her senior year, Quincy found herself at the national rodeo finals in Farmington, New Mexico, where tac and apparel and boot companies all show up to sell their wares. A representative from famed boot company, Ariat, liked her “look” and snapped her photo. Three weeks later, Quincy got a phone call from Ariat asking for samples of her designs. They offered to fly her to their headquarters in Union City, California. The year was 2009, and Quincy was just 18. “I took my handmade portfolio with me … and when they asked me if I would design a boot for them, I said sure, even though I had never designed a boot before in my life,” she recalls. The first Quincy Line for Ariat came out in 2009, featuring a collection of tattoo- and Mexican-inspired art. Her second line was inspired by the women of the West—their diverse ethnicities, strength, and courage. “They played such a huge role in making America what it is today,” said Quincy. “A role that is often overlooked.” Her fifth line is due out this Fall. Quincy credits a list of strong supporters with her success, and chief among these is the Cal Poly professor who sent her to compete in what became a national elevator speech competition. “Dr. York became my advisor and mentor,” said Quincy. “He insisted I start with the Cal Poly competition where 90 percent of my competitors were boys.” (A fact that only ignited the flame to burn brighter.) Quincy won it and went on to the state and then the national versions of the contest. Her 90-second elevator speech was pitching the business plan she’d developed as her senior

What’s next? Well, first up is graduation from Cal Poly this year with a degree in Agricultural Communications and a concentration in Ag Business. After that, Quincy is entertaining a number of options. A continuing future with Ariat; her own company; marriage and family somewhere down the road. “Anything is possible with hard work,” she says. “And with God, all things are possible.” Quincy has a strong faith that comes from an early foundation laid at Mission Catholic Church. “Find out what makes you tick and go for it” she advises others on their path. Quincy found out early what made her tick: her love for the rodeo and her passion for fashion, which she has parlayed into her own line of designer rodeo wear while crafting a future bright with possibility. And like those old Western movies from the ‘30s and the real-life romance of her grandparents, Quincy Freeman is the undisputed star of her very own Western fairytale.

Pastrami Reuben or

Check out our Daily Lunch & Philly Steak Sandwich Dinner Specials including: Served with fries and slaw • Chimichangas $8.50 Check outMahi ourTacos Daily • Mahi Lunch and Dinner • Chicken Enchiladas Specials Casual Atmosphere Serious Food Casual Atmosphere –- Serious Food OPEN 11:30 M-F

Lunch & Dinner 7 days a week Breakfast served Sat. & Sun. 9:00 Full Bar · Nightly Specials Owners — Scott & Dana Milstead

750 Price Street, Pismo Beach 773-1922 J A N U A R Y

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lesley santos dierks

spokes help nonprofits be the best they can be By Heather Young

pokes CEO Lesley Santos Dierks has wanted to help nonprofits since she was young.

“My dream was to lead the Getty Center,” Santos Dierks said, adding that she wanted to do public relations for museums. “I’ve always been an active volunteer.”

Growing up she said her parents instilled a rich sense of volunteering in her. After high school she went to the University of South California. She then met her future husband and father to her two daughters. Today she is a single mother of 10- and 7-year-old daughters who she co-parents with her ex-husband. She began her career working for California ScienCenter, as development officer and grant writer. She later went to work for Adobe Systems running its corporate philanthropic program. “I loved working at Adobe,” Santos Dierks said. She quit that job to have her second child and stayed home with both daughters for several years. “I really missed my career—I really loved being a mom,” she said. She had telecommuted to work at Adobe Systems after she and her then-husband moved to San Luis Obispo from the Bay Area, so she didn’t have many business contacts. It was then that she attended the Leadership SLO program. The first person she met in the program ended up referring her to the Nonprofit Support Center based in Santa Barbara three months later. She started J A N U A R Y

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working there in June 2010 as the Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo regional manager. In 2011, the decision to close the Santa Maria/SLO office was made. It was then that Santos Dierks went to Greg Hind—the Hind Foundation was the only donor in the area—to let him know that the local office would be closing. After talking with him, Santos Dierks wrote a business plan. Hind then donated the first two years of starting funds for what is now known as Spokes. The nonprofit launched in January 2012 and Hind died in October 2012. To commemorate Hind’s part in the funding of the nonprofit, a photo of him hangs in the entry to Spokes office. The inspiration, Santos Dierks said, for the name “Spokes” came from how a wheel uses spokes to help people get where they want to go, faster and more efficiently. Spokes helps nonprofits tune or replace their operational “spokes.” “Our mission is empowering nonprofits to accomplish their missions,” Santos Dierks said. She said that most people become involved in nonprofits because they believe in the work that the nonprofit does, but aren’t necessarily skilled in all of the things needed to run an organization. “There’s no place that teaches you to be a board member,” Santos Dierks said. “My goal is to raise the professionalism of our nonprofit leadership.” While Spokes is a nonprofit, its clients are other nonprofits. Santos Dierks said the indirect benefit of Spokes is that everyone in the com-

PEOPLE munity benefits when nonprofits run smoothly. Spokes helps nonprofits by offering classes and seminars, as well as resources online and in the Spokes office. Additionally, member nonprofits can also utilize the Spokes conference room for meetings. Spokes has also purchased several licenses for online databases specifically for nonprofits. Santos Dierks said Spokes even has a member from the United Kingdom and one from Chicago because membership to Spokes costs less than a subscription to Linda.com. Spokes has 10 licenses to Linda.com and nonprofits can check it out for a week at a time. Spokes hosts a monthly brown bag roundtable for executive directors of member organizations. “It’s a really great peer support group,” Santos Dierks said, adding that the executive directors will share what they are excited about as well as what’s worrying them and then those assembled will work as a sort of think tank. One aspect that she made a point to share is the Standards of Excellence that Spokes offers. It is a list of standards that a nonprofit would need to meet in order to be accredited. While accreditation is not required of nonprofits, Santos Dierks said that she believes it could happen in the future because the IRS knows that some nonprofits are not operating as they should be. She said that the Standards of Excellence are not just for nonprofits seeking accreditation, but for any that would like to have a better run nonprofit. Spokes works with the nonprofits to go through all 55 of

the bench marks and for each “no” the nonprofit then works to make that answer a “yes.” “It is scary to make huge donations … you want some insurance that your money will be well used,” Santos Dierks said. Spokes helps make a road map for the nonprofit to work toward meeting its goals. “We’re all about keeping things easy,” she said. “I’m all about baby steps and focusing on the [purpose]. What would our community be without [nonprofits]?” Santos Dierks herself is a volunteer. She’s involved in the United Methodist Children’s Center, PTA, Kiwanis, AYSO and Get on the Bus. “Volunteering is really important to me,” she said. “My parents have always been outstanding volunteers. They really instilled an appreciation of the importance of volunteering.” She said that when she was a stay-at-home mom, she found herself taking on really big volunteer projects and knows that if she weren’t working for a nonprofit, she’d be volunteering. “I wouldn’t want to live in a world without [nonprofits],” Santos Dierks said. To learn more about Spokes, go to www.spokesfornonprofits.org.

N MacB EW In sto ook Pro ck no w!

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PEOPLE

BURT BAUMGARTNER: DREAMS COME TRUE By Natasha Dalton

urt Baumgartner’s first claim to fame came when he was still in high school: his band opened for the Gollywogs (the future Creedence Clearwater Revival). At that concert Baumgartner’s band made $35—quite something in the days when the cost of gas was only 25 cents. “Somewhere I have an autographed album from Fogerty saying, ‘Don’t spend it all in one place,’” Baumgartner says. Music, it turned out, could mean good money. Burt’s dad was a car dealer, and passed his people skills and his love of cars on to his son. But Burt didn’t want to sell cars. He made friends with a couple of DJs who helped him to get in the door of a radio station. Soon, he was subbing as a DJ and doing sales. Hip, smart, and charming, he brought in young listeners, and so much ad revenue that a competing station offered him a job. In the tug-ofwar over young Baumgartner, his station won, but not before they gave him a full-time job in prime time. “All my friends were listening to me,” Baumgartner says. “They’d come down to the station and bring a pizza and a six-pack. I just loved it.” Besides popularity, the job gave Baumgartner a chance to meet some of his music idols. “The Beatles and the Beach Boys were probably the reason I wanted to be a part of the music business,” Baumgartner says. And now, he was working with them. “I was just this baby DJ, on weekends in Sacramento, when the Beach Boys came to town to do a show,” Baumgartner recalls. “I was a bit intimidated when I saw Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Carl Wilson in person, but it was fun.” J A N U A R Y

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At 21, Baumgartner was already working in San Jose, just 45 minutes away from San Francisco, where all the ‘record people’ were, and in 1977 joined RCA Records to become one of “them.” In 1978 Columbia Records, the biggest record label in the world, made Baumgartner an offer he couldn’t refuse, and he quickly ascended its corporate ladder. He was the Senior Vice President when he left, only to be scooped up by Capitol Records to serve in the same executive position. Baumgartner’s house looks like a museum: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Pink Floyd, the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, and many, many other stars have become a part of his life. The Beatles were long gone by the time Baumgartner joined Capitol; but he worked on their 1999 album “1.” “They expected to sell a couple of million records, but ended up selling 10 million,” Baumgartner says. “The Beatles were all happy, and to me, it was the greatest thing, ever.” He also helped to discover new talents, such as LL Cool J, Michael Bolton, and Mariah Carey. “The fun part was to watch them grow,” Baumgartner says. Mariah Carey was a waitress when Baumgartner first met her. While serving dinner, Carey discovered who her customer was and slipped him a cassette with her music. Baumgartner didn’t expect much, but did put it on in his car on the way home. After the third song, he turned around, and came back to the restaurant. “Let’s talk,” he said to Carey. She was only 19 at that time; a couple of years later she became one of the biggest stars in America.

PEOPLE Burt with Mariah Carey

Working for the industry, Baumgartner spent 10 years in San Francisco, 10 years in New York and another 10 in Los Angeles. Everywhere he worked long hours. And after work, there were dinners to go to, and bands to see. “Once in a while I’d go to a place I’ve never been to— home,” Baumgartner says. “The good news is you have a driver and a car. The bad news is you have a driver and a car: There’re no limits on alcohol intake. When you’re in a club, and the band is bad, you need your alcohol so you can say Hi to them, although you know you’d never sign them. Or, if you’ve already signed them, you need alcohol—even more!—because you realize it’s too late to do anything about it.”

Michael Bolton was a wanna-be-rock-star when Baumgartner began working with him. He was all about black leather and such then, until, having spent a lot of time with him on the road, Baumgartner realized that it’s Bolton’s ballads that made girls go crazy. “Wait a minute, we’re barking up the wrong tree here,” he remembers saying to Bolton. “Put on some nice clothes, cut your hair, and go sing some ballads. From that moment on, it was: #1, #1, and #1 again,” Baumgartner says. Some of the encounters with celebrities were more challenging than others. One time, in the ’80s, Baumgartner had to meet Johnny Cash at the San Francisco airport. The same morning he also had to see off the British band Boomtown Rats, and the plan would’ve worked out beautifully, had Baumgartner not spent the previous night in Columbia’s limo, driving the Brits around town and showing them a good time. When Cash got into the limo, it still reeked of drugs and alcohol. As soon as the limo hit the freeway, Cash (who was on the wagon then), took out his Bible, and proceeded to read it out loud all the way to Santa Rosa. To the weary Baumgartner, “it was like hearing the voice of God himself.” And the troubles didn’t stop there. Because of miscommunications, there were no fans at the promotional event in Santa Rosa. Baumgartner saved the day by convincing a bus full of Chinese tourists to meet an American Star (and buy his CDs).

“The hardest thing was telling the artist: We’re done,” Baumgartner adds. “When people get signed, they think: I’m on Columbia Records, the home of Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel! But it’s just the beginning. You still need to get recognized. It’s like being a model. You made it to the Miss America pageant? Congratulations! Now you’re 1 out of 53!” Looking back at the golden age of recording, Baumgartner admits that the industry ignored the computer revolution at its own peril. “We thought it was just a bunch of kids listening to music on their digital devices,” he says. All of a sudden, everyone started doing that, and the business of making records shrank: the scale is much smaller now. “Music has come full circle: vinyl singles, albums, 8-tracks, cassettes, CDs; and then digital,” Baumgartner says. “Now Apple is the biggest company in the music business, and they don’t even make music!” “Most records were sold as a piece of art that you had to listen to from beginning to end,” Baumgartner says. “There were struggles in the studio about the order of the songs on albums: musicians wanted to tell a story. Now, instead of albums, people are buying singles again— on iTunes.” As for Baumgartner, he’s still sent all the new releases. He loved his job, but he doesn’t miss it: for too long, music was pressure. “It was what you think it was: sex, drugs and rock-n-roll,” he says. “I’m just glad I survived it.” He likes living here: there’s plenty of music; many bands come through town. “I sometimes put them up in my house,” Baumgartner says. “We play guitars, remember the old days—it’s great.”

The only way for recording companies to recover big money spent on its talent was through sales of their records, and it was Baumgartner’s job as the promotion guru to keep the numbers high. Talk about pressure. “Billy Joe’s song Pressure was written when Joel was noodling on the piano trying to come up with something—anything,” Baumgartner says. “Pressure, he kept repeating, pressure. And then the song ended up in the Top 10 in the Charts”—probably because all of us can relate. “Making a hit is an art, Baumgartner says, but it’s also a power play, akin to wheeling and dealing in Washington: much of it happens behind the scenes. “It was great when they handed me a new record that I knew it would do well,” Baumgartner says. That was the case with Boy George’s Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? Boy George looked nothing like a star, but Baumgartner realized his song would be a smash the minute he heard it.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

California Cool:

THE GOLDEN STATE’S WINTER PLAYGROUNDS By The California Travel and Tourism Commission

alifornia is well known for its starring role as a hotspot for sunny getaways. But in a state celebrated for its diversity, it should come as no surprise that when winter rolls around, California looks great in white too. Far beyond the beaches, the mountain towns and resorts of the Sierras and elsewhere provide the perfect setting for a season’s worth of adventures including worldclass skiing, snowboarding and other alpine activities including snowshoeing, snow biking and photography hikes. Off the slopes, California’s mountain resorts also deliver with fine dining, abundant nightlife, shopping and enough activities and diversions to ensure a peak experience all season long.

On the Slopes Skiing and Snowboarding From towering Mt. Shasta in Northern California to popular Southern California ski resorts such as Big Bear, the opportunities to escape to California’s mountain resorts are literally as big as the state itself, with easy access from urban centers such as San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles. What you’ll discover is a full array of skiing options including alpine, telemark and cross country plus snowboarding. Up north, sparkling Lake Tahoe segues spectacularly into winter with multiple California mountain destinations—six major resorts in all—including Alpine Meadows, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Northstar, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Squaw Valley. Whether you’re on the hunt for serious off-piste adventures or familyfriendly bunny slopes, you’ll find the perfect escape here. Choices range from the stunning Lake Tahoe views and backcountry ski adventures found at Alpine Meadows to the five-star amenities and world-class terrain parks of Northstar, home to Olympian Shaun White. Other popular mountains and amenities to check out include the challenging chutes and bowls of Squaw Valley (site of the 1960 Winter Olympics), as well as the tree skiing, extensive backcountry terrain and innovative freestyler terrain parks of Sierra-at-Tahoe, which is also a haven for newbies thanks to its four beginner-only lifts. If you’re an early season skier, prepare to fall in love with Heavenly. The 4,800acre ski resort boasts the West Coast’s largest snowmaking system, allowing it to open as early as the Thanksgiving holidays. And if you like hitting the slopes with your four-legged friend, dogs are good to go at the Tahoe Donner Cross Country Ski Center which features over 100 kilometers of groomed trails that include two dog-friendly trails. In the Central Sierra, family-friendly Bear Valley Resort cozies up to kids by offering fifth graders the chance to ski and ride free every weekend. With more than 1,600 acres of varied terrain and 70 trails, the resort also features an expanded ski and snowboard school and new learning center that can accommodate more than 150 youth skiers and boarders each day. And if you’re interested in tuning up your ollies, the ski and snowboard school offers station-based learning designed to give beginners a better way to master one skill set before moving to the next station. Celebrating its 60th anniversary during the 2013/14 season, the Eastern Sierra’s Mammoth Mountain proves it just gets better with J A N U A R Y

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Ski Slopes in California’s High Sierra Credit: CALIFORNIA TRAVEL AND TOURISM COMMISSION/ GETTY/ JIM ARBOGAST

age thanks to new enhancements, including the re-opening of June Mountain which will now focus on families and entry-level skiers and riders. At the other end of the spectrum, the US Ski and Snowboard Association also calls Mammoth Mountain home, utilizing the area’s more challenging terrain as the Official Training Ground for US Freeskiing and Snowboarding as athletes prepare for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. The big picture is that with thousands of acres of groomed runs and backcountry terrain and more than 150 named trails, Mammoth can handle just about anyone from novice to black diamond aficionado. And thanks to an impressive altitude of over 11,000 feet, Mammoth is your spring season headquarters with one of the longest skiing seasons in North America. If you like your skiing and riding on the wild side, Mt. Shasta Ski Park offers their Beyond the Boundaries backcountry tours, an ideal way to acclimate to rugged off-piste adventures. These guided excursions feature an introduction to backcountry touring including avalanche avoidance and rescue techniques.

Other Winter Sports & Activities Maybe you’re a skier who wants to try something new or maybe you just don’t schuss. No worries; there are plenty of other ways to explore our mountains during winter. In addition to cross country skiing, try North Lake Tahoe’s Royal Gorge Cross Country to explore our mountains during winter. In addition to cross country skiing, North Lake Tahoe’s Royal Gorge Cross Country offers winter adventurers the opportunity to participate in snowshoeing and fat tire snowbiking on dedicated trails. Think single track mountain biking in a winter wonderland and you get the idea. Thanks to its extensive size, Mammoth Mountain serves up an array of experiences even for non-skiers including snowmobile rides on 75-miles of snow-covered trails courtesy of Mammoth Snowmobile Adventures. If you want to get to the mountain’s 11,000-foot summit without the windburn, Panorama Gondola tours are the perfect way to get that epic Facebook profile shot. At the summit, you can visit the interpretive

HOME/OUTDOOR two hours from most So Cal cities, you can ski the highest lift-served peaks in the Southland or try your hand at skill-building terrain parks at Big Bear. Beyond the slopes, another favorite adrenaline-fueled activity here is winter zip-line tours that will have you zinging past snow-covered treetops. The mountain resort is also home to Snowshoe the Bear, Southern California’s biggest snowshoe celebration held every February, featuring marked 5K and 10K courses utilizing National Forest Trails.

Off The Slopes

Credit: CALIFORNIA TRAVEL AND TOURISM COMMISSION/ ROBERT HOLMES

center or enjoy a meal at the Top of the Sierra café. You can also cap off a perfect day on the slopes with an unforgettable mid-mountain dinner on the Parallax Snowcat Dinner excursion. With lifts closed for the night you’ll arrive by Snowcat and have a privileged perch in the restaurant enjoying a three-course meal served with a side of epic mountain views. Yosemite is rightly famous for its warm season attractions, but the famed national park is also home to one of California’s oldest ski areas, Badger Pass. Besides extensive skiing and snowboarding opportunities, the ski area offers guided snowshoe hikes that allow you to explore some of Yosemite’s most pristine areas covered in a blanket of snow. Southern California might be more famous for Hollywood and palm trees, but just

Don’t let winter’s chill fool you: California’s mountain retreats are home to a hot scene found up and down the state at events such as Heavenly’s monthly Winter Snow Blast series and Tamarack Lodge, where the Unbuckle après ski party sizzles with DJs, food, and drink specials Thursday though Sunday. Every year, the SnowGlobe electronic music festival rings in the New Year and for families, there’s Heavenly Holidays, an annual two-week countdown to Christmas that includes Santa, ice sculptures, performers and live music.

inner foodie at the annual Chef’s Holidays dinners (January – February) featuring some of the world’s most acclaimed chefs. Whichever activity you choose, your options off the slopes of California’s mountain resorts are sure to prove a feast for the senses.

Destination Links Shasta Cascade: www.shastacascade.com North Lake Tahoe: www.gotahoenorth.com Tahoe South: www.tahoesouth.com Mammoth Lakes: www.visitmammoth.com Big Bear: www.bigbear.com Bear Valley: www.bearvalley.com Yosemite: www.yosemitepark.com

Mammoth Lakes is more than moguls and terrain parks. It’s also about craft cocktails and locally sourced cuisine as you’ll discover at foodie finds such as newly opened CAMPO restaurant, chef Mark Estee’s eatery in The Village, lauded as one of Esquire’s best new restaurants. And bringing a little Hollywood to the slopes, the Underground Lounge gives you an after-dark option with a tasty mash-up of music, tapas and signature cocktails. If you’re visiting Yosemite’s Badger Pass, make the most of your time off the slopes by enjoying the many winter diversions found here. A greatest hits list has to include taking a spin on the ice skating rink located on the Valley floor under the majestic shadow of Half Dome. You can also enjoy a tour of the historic Ahwahnee Lodge or indulge your

Lynn Cooper Broker Associate SRES

I have been a real estate professional for over 45 years and a resident of the San Luis Obispo area for nearly that long. I served as the Mayor of San Luis Obispo from 1979-1981 and was awarded the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year award in 1993. I have witnessed the highs and lows of real estate and successfully represented my clients through it all. office 805.592.2050

cell 805.235.0493 Lynn@HavenSLO.com J A N U A R Y

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time in a bOttle:

saucelito canyon vineyards By Michael Cervin

Tom Greenough with his Dad, Bill in their vineyard

n the 1970s singer Jim Croce hit number one with his song, “Time in a Bottle.” Though it wasn’t about wine it could easily have referred to Saucelito Canyon Vineyards.

For over 130 years Zinfandel has been made here from original historic grapevines, known as ancient vines. This eight-acre vineyard deep in the remoteness of San Luis Obispo County has withstood the test of time unencumbered by disease, drought, debt, and Prohibition. It is truly time in a bottle. In 1879 British ex-pat Henry Ditmas planted Zinfandel, Muscat, apple and pear trees in a remote canyon east of Arroyo Grande, 89 years before Lake Lopez was ever built. By all accounts his Rancho Saucelito was fairly prosperous up to the beginning of World War II. After that the property fell into disrepair and was forgotten until 1974 when Bill Greenough was looking for vineyard land. Though the property wasn’t on the market, Ditmas’s granddaughter struck a deal with Greenough and Bill found himself the owner of one of the few truly ancient Zinfandel vineyards in all of the U.S. But this one was even more unique. It had never developed Phylloxera (a problematic louse which has destroyed vineyards across France and California) and therefore was never replanted, was still on its own roots, was its own clone, and was still producing fruit after three decades of neglect. These vigorous ZinJ A N U A R Y

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Tom working in the vines

HOME/OUTDOOR original cuttings came directly from Europe and Bill surmises that, since San Luis Obispo didn’t have rail service until 1894 vine cuttings came by boat, not an east coast nursery. Today the Saucelito Canyon vineyard is no less remote and the property is not open to the public, with the exception of a few winery events held each year. Their tasting room located on Biddle Ranch Road is the only place to sample their diversity of wines. Otherwise the lonesome land is hidden from view behind a locked gate, miles down a languid dirt road, populated by occasional deer, cattle, and the distinctive screech of hawks.

fandel vines were untouched and unharmed since 1880, now hidden by high weeds and intertwined with poison oak. After clearing out the property Bill saw that his vines were sending out shoots so he dug down to the root ball, clipped away any unhealthy shoots, then trained the best positioned tendrils up a stake, thereby keeping the plant in tact. These days Bill and his son Tom pull about two and a half tons of fruit per acre. Of the 14 virus-free old vine Zinfandel cuttings housed at UC Davis in Sacramento, Saucelito is one of them. “Phylloxera doesn’t like sandy soil because it can’t move,” Bill suggests. “Heavier soils crack, acting as a pathway for it. We’ve never had Phylloxera, and if we ever did get it, it wouldn’t do well.” Seems even the pesky louse couldn’t find the secluded vineyard anymore than anyone else could. The family history says that the

To understand the complexity of this small plot of land it’s important to know that this region was once ocean front property. “This is uplifted sea terrace,” says Bill, “about four and half feet of top soil but still pretty sandy and loose going down about 70 feet.” And Bill tells me he has found fossilized oyster shells, sand dollars, and sharks teeth here. The plot is dry farmed (no applied irrigation) and always has been because the climate here is mild and the water table is at 25 feet, so the roots can easily make their way through the calcium rich soil and tap into an underground stream. “The coastal valleys are the best place to grow grapes,” Bill says. “This vineyard is a straight shot from Morro Bay, keeping us cooler and more humid. We get an afternoon breeze keeping us about 80 to 85 degrees.” Nearby Lake Lopez also has a cooling influence on the breezes as they make their way through the serpentine canyons. But farming an old vineyard is not an easy task. Sure, there is a sense of longevity, a desire to be part of a chain of caretakers after 133 years, but the grapes aren’t perfect. “You have one cluster that’s not dimpled, next to it is one with 60 percent raisining,” says Tom Greenough, Bill’s son who took over the winemaking duties in 2008. As I examine the clusters, they are all over the map; small, fat, red and green. Therefore Bill and Tom find themselves in a unique spot: producing a truly historic wine, but without the ability to make more of it. Their “1880” a Zinfandel exclusively pressed from the old vines routinely sells out of its 150 cases, if they’re lucky to get that much. A 1935 newspaper clipping

from the local Arroyo Grande newspaper offered Saucelito Canyon Zinfandel for a mere 50 cents a gallon. These days the 1880 retails for $70 a bottle. Saucelito Canyon has a visceral feel to it, a hushed quality, a sense of time standing still and in the distance you can clearly see geological striations on the surrounding mountains, a silent geological upheaval standing guard over this improbable eight acres. Bill is more pragmatic. “It’s climate, soil and our clone,” he says matter-of-factly. Then he pauses, scrutinizing the dusty earth beneath his feet. “I think maybe the plant community around us, spiritually, might have an impact on this place. I feel very comfortable here,” he says. In fact most everyone who gets the chance to visit, as I have done for a decade, feels the same way—a kind of restrained reverence. But Saucelito Canyon is a reminder that much of our vineyard heritage in the U.S. was destroyed by Prohibition, and that the current fascination with clonal selection, GPS mapping, and manipulation of soils and rootstock may very well produce exceptional wines, but they can never gain the provenance of what Saucelito Canyon has achieved by accident.

805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo

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Huttle up

ACI and SLO Jet Center’s Bill Borgsmiller and Andrew Robillard

slo jet center

Wheels up. Next stop: Iceland By Bob Huttle “Off we go into the wild blue yonder Climbing high into the sun.” —The Air Force Song I seem to have a recent fixation on airplanes. Not unusual, really, as I’ve been around them most of my life one way or another. My dad was a pilot, worked for an aircraft firm for thirty five years, was associated with the Navy’s Blue Angels flight demonstration team, and finished his career as vintage aircraft restoration volunteer for San Diego’s Aerospace Museum. Attending air shows was a love of mine from an early age. Still is. So it was with a dose of intrigue and surprise that I recently noticed low altitude flights out of SLO airport by a military transport plane that seemed to roar directly over my home. I marveled at this magnificent plane but it was flying way too low, in my estimation, and I was curious why. I sent a letter to The Tribune inquiring about this and a few days later received a message back, not from the newspaper, but from Andrew Robillard, Vice President of Operations for Aviation Consultants, Inc. (ACI) at the airport. He explained to me that he was helping oversee the schedule for this aircraft, which was from Great Britain and involved in a training exercise at Fort Hunter Liggett. He also assured me that he would meet with the flight crew of the aircraft and remind them about their takeoff route and altitude requirements. My friend, Chris, kidded me about being “Chicken Little,” who cried “The sky is falling” in the old children’s fable. But my letter apparently did the trick because the “problem” ceased. The idea for this column began forming and it solidified after my same friend told me he had recently watched a documentary about private executive jets based here in San Luis Obispo. You know, like the kind the FBI team travels in at the beginning and end of every episode of the TV show Criminal Minds? Andrew had invited me to come out to the airport to see what was going on; his company was responsible for chartering and maintaining

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these high-priced aircraft. I knew I had my subject for the next “Huttle Up” and accepted his offer. Was I in for a totally unexpected treat. On one of our only recent rainy afternoons, friend Chris and I arrived and were warmly greeted by Andrew, who gave us the VIP tour of the facilities. ACI is a global aviation company providing corporate aircraft management, personalized consultation, and world class charter services. It maintains, schedules, and flies ten aircraft all over the world for those with the desire, need, and means ($$$$). There are three divisions of the company: ACI (charter/management), Jet Solutions (maintenance), and Fixed Base Operations/ FBOs (San Luis and Paso Robles Jet Centers). I doubt teachers Chris and I can afford to be passengers any time soon. But Andrew was gracious enough to take us on board for a glimpse of the good life, if only for a few minutes on the ground. These magnificent jets are owned by ACI, private individuals or companies. Two of the aircraft can fly from SLO to Iceland nonstop. The fleet includes a Citation X, the highest flying (50,000+ ft.), fastest (600+mph) corporate jet in the world. Cost: $20 million new. The smallest jet holds 7 passengers ($2,600/hr.), the largest, 12 ($7,000/hr.). All planes are equipped with Wifi and the latest in aeronautical avionics technology. The majority of clients are business people, some local, some from far away. Entertainers, sports figures, politicians, and giants of industry have all used ACI’s services.

HOME/OUTDOOR Four federally licensed dispatchers camp out in a state-of-the-art situation room at ACI’s facility, tracking flights on a real time map, filing proper permits, setting up flight plans and schedules, booking flight crews, and handling the desires and whims of their clients, from flight times to hotels, security, ground transportation, and catering (Mama’s Meatball is a local favorite). The flight department is coordinated by chief pilot Kellee Valentine. Pilots all have Airline Transport Pilots licenses, as well as commercial ratings; many have cargo or airlines backgrounds and are a mixture of veteran and young fliers. The two largest jets have cabin attendants. In all, ACI employs more than 80 people. The company is also the sole fuel provider for both the SLO airport (2 million gallons of jet fuel annually) and Paso Robles airport (750,000 gallons a year). Fed Ex bases two planes here for daily runs. There is also a fully-equipped, thoroughly modern maintenance center called Jet Solutions. Its employees are top notch mechanics and specialists who can handle everything from changing an engine to refurbishing passenger cabins with the highest grade woods and leathers. I’m guessing only the finest quality food, wine, and spirits are served. Just guessing. An operation of this size must have a leader and, in this case, there are two: ACI President William (Bill) Borgsmiller and Director of Jet Centers Operations, Andrew Robillard. Without them, this company would not have achieved the success, notoriety, and excellence that it has. Bill Borgsmiller, a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, told his mom when he was four that he wanted to be a pilot. By age 18, he had earned a commercial pilot’s license, his instrument rating, flight instructor’s license and most of the experience necessary to get an aircraft mechanic’s license. He flew corporate jets for Sierra Pacific Industries based in Redding, California. Eager to expand his horizons—and to settle on the Central Coast—he moved here and, with the help of a few investors, bought his first airplane, which effectively launched ACI in 2001. Over time, more aircraft were purchased or leased, new and larger facilities (FBOs) were constructed and ACI became what it is today, a leader in the industry. Bill is quick to share credit with his employees (“they are an amazing team”) and especially credits Andrew Robillard for the growth and positive reputation of the company: “To be honest, Andrew deserves the large majority of the credit for the Jet Centers’ growth and success over the last few

years. He has managed to form meaningful relationships as far away as England with people and organizations (Her Majesty’s Royal Air Force) in a way that brings business and prosperity to our unique and special region of California.” Andrew started with ACI in 2005. He was also an air show kid, and followed in Bill’s footsteps at Embry-Riddle, where he majored in aeronautics and minored in aviation safety. He also has his private pilot’s license. Andrew oversees the day-to-day operations of the FBOs/SLO and Paso Robles Jet Centers, interacting with people in commercial and private aviation at the airport, moving from one part of the facility to another, taking curious observers on tours, and generally making sure that everything runs smoothly and efficiently. The Jet Centers are full service ground support facilities offering passenger waiting areas, restrooms, crew lounge, refreshments, ground power carts, aircraft towing, oil, oxygen, nitrogen, rental cars, and more.

security, and emergency services. The Cessna was used to provide quicker access to crisis sites around the country, which in the past would take anywhere between 2-7 hours on bad roads to reach communities in need of help. A video of this adventure can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/55329239 Sometimes surprising things are happening on the Central Coast which few people know about. Having read this article, you are now aware of ACI, a local success story. The next time one of those private jets flies over your home, headed for exotic locales without you, think about the people who put it into the sky, our good friends at ACI. And dream that one day you’ll be along for the ride. Like I do. You can reach Bob (Huttle Up) at rhuttle@ charter.net. He welcomes your comments.

Thank You For Your Business!

Last year, ACI spearheaded an effort to bring crisis relief to Kenya, Africa. In partnership with Rockwell Collins, a pioneer in the development of aircraft communication and electronics solutions and who provided logistical support and flight planning, and Patrick Carter and NFlightcam, which provided pilot services and video documentation of the journey, ACI coordinated a flight by a single-engine Cessna 182 from SLO to Kenya. This plane was donated by a private owner. The flight took 22 days, 70 hours of flying, and covered 13 countries. Upon arrival, the aircraft was put to work helping the Crisis Response Development Foundation (CRDF) and the people of Kenya. Working with area communities, the CRDF identifies locally available resources and expertise to assist in community safety, J A N U A R Y

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hot air ballooning on the central coast By Joe Zentner “As Icarus and Daedalus flew, the ploughman stopped his work to gaze, and the shepherd leaned on his staff and watched them, astonished at the sight, thinking they were gods who could cleave the air.” —From Thomas Bulfinch’s Mythology Imagine floating in near-total silence, drifting slowly over the Central Coast while watching patches of green, brown and blue merge, creating the illusion that it is the earth and not you that is moving. Your journey is similar to a dream, an airborne fantasy where loud ground noises are muffled and all motion slows. It is as though the earth is staging a slow-motion parade, and you are the only observer. It wasn’t until the 1960s with the advent of synthetic fabrics and a system of efficiently burning propane to get aloft—and to regulate the temperature thereafter—that hot-air ballooning really took off. Why the interest in ballooning? At a time when many people seem addicted to personal watercraft and loud, off-road vehicles, ballooning is an environmentally harmonious activity. In a hot-air balloon, one does not terrorize wildlife nor rend the air with raucous sounds. A balloonist travels largely at the mercy of the wind and in peace with nature. It is an age-old childhood pastime: blowing iridescent soap bubbles, then watching them float away and wishing you could be on one, just for the fun of it. Ballooning may not exactly fulfill that wish, but today, as more and more people every year are discovering, it comes about as close as a person can hope for. From the vantage point of riding in a wicker basket and seeing things from beneath a seven-story-high balloon, the world seems transformed. The land shrinks to Lilliputian dimensions; horses run from this spectacle in the sky, while people peer up and wave. A balloonist can drift just above the treetops and see wildlife that cannot be seen from the ground. Viewed from the basket of a hot-air balloon, the world is halcyon, innocent. There is no sound when one is aloft, save for the occasional “whoosh” of the propane burner.

Even people petrified at the top of a tall ladder, seldom experience fear when standing in a balloon basket. There’s no sensation of movement, because you’re moving with the wind. There’s also no sensation of being parted from the ground. It’s like being in a museum and looking down at a model city laid out at your feet.

A Look Back Balloon flight is the fulfillment of an age-old dream. It is the fantasy of Dorothy and Toto soaring with the Wizard over the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz, and of Phileas Fogg crossing the English Channel at the start of his 80-day trip around the world. Some 120 years before the Wright brothers etched their names into aviation history at Kitty Hawk, two French brothers accomplished a feat that may have been as noteworthy. Etienne and Joseph Montgolfier, paper makers from Annonay, France, observed that small containers rose in the fireplace of the family chateau outside Paris when the fireplace was lit. That gave them an idea. The brothers began experimenting with smoke-filled balloons. Believing that smoke possessed some magical property, they tested several varieties, burning such items as old shoes and rotten meat. The Montgolfiers settled on a combination of straw and wool (they did eventually come to realize that hot air alone is what provides upward thrust). The first manned hot-air balloon was built by the Montgolfier brothers and flown by intrepid volunteers Pilatre de Rozier and the Marquis d’Arldes on November 21, 1783, in France. (King Louis XVI had initially wanted the volunteers to be prisoners, whose sentences he’d

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After an hour or so of flight, the pilot will select a safe landing site and notify the crew of his intention to descend. The chase vehicle’s crew that follows the balloon during the flight will meet you at the landing site, help you out of the basket and begin deflating and packing up the balloon. Balloon flights typically are offered twice a day. The morning flight departs at (or soon after) sunrise; the afternoon flight leaves approximately two hours before sunset. Balloon pilots prefer these times because winds then tend to be the calmest. The breezes will carry you over meandering streams and fields, as well as considerable wildlife. If you’ve ever seen a balloon in flight, you know it’s akin to something out of a fairy tale. To see a balloon above you is an exhilarating experience, to be sure. However, to ride in the basket of a balloon is to know freedom.

commute if they survived the trip, but his attendants convinced him that the thrill of the first flight should not be wasted on mere ruffians.) Around the beginning of the 20th century, the smoke balloon (heated by a fire on the ground) was a frequent county fair opening event. After the initial climb, the hot air cooled, and the rider then jumped from the balloon, praying that his parachute would open. Hot-air balloons have played a distinctive role in history. Balloons smuggled French Republican statesman Leon Gambetta up and away from the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War, and served as barriers to help protect London from attacks by the German Luftwaffe during World War II.

The Ballooning Experience Who can fly? Anyone who is in good physical condition, can stand for an hour, is at least four feet tall and isn’t pregnant may ride in a balloon basket. An adult should accompany children under 12 years of age. It is not uncommon for many people to express a fear of heights, or uneasiness about flying. That’s natural, especially if you’ve never been around a hot-air balloon. The truth is: from the basket of a balloon, there’s no sensation of movement, and, unless you look down, you’ll hardly realize you’re up in the air, or moving at all. Riding in a balloon is like becoming a cloud. One meanders through the air seemingly without a care in the world. At higher altitudes, it’s as though a huge carpet of scenery is being slowly unrolled beneath you. People who like speed probably won’t enjoy a balloon ride, since it is anything but fast. But if you prefer to mosey along, you’ll find a balloon ride to be most enjoyable.

In the film To Fly, screened at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., the opening scene shows a balloonist in colonial times. As he is about to leave Mother Earth, he addresses the crowd that has gathered to cheer him on, proclaiming: Until today, Birds alone were meant to take to the sky. But now, Because of men like me, All men of earth shall fly. Beyond the clouds, Twixt thunder and the sun. Today, a new age has begun. High in the heavens where Icarus flew, the quest to touch a rainbow continues in a manner stretching back well over 200 years. Shimmering like bubbles blowing in the air, hot-air balloons drift freely with nature, carrying with them those individuals who seek only sunshine and the wind’s gentle caress. The Central Coast has never looked more beautiful. Enjoy. For balloon rides around the Central Coast, contact in San Luis Obispo, Let’s Go Ballooning at 805-458-1530, The Wine Wrangler offers hot air ballooning paired with wine tasting tours, including meals and pick-up from a San Luis Obispo hotel. The telephone number is 805-238-5700.

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Travel

beautiful book ends:

Quebec city and san luis obispo Story and photos by Vicki León and Joyce Gregory Wyels

his last summer we discovered that San Luis Obispo has a French-Canadian twin—a fresh-water beauty called Quebec City. Three time-zones east of California, it hugs the shore of the St. Lawrence River. Like SLO, QC’s stunning coastline and mountains attract beaucoup visitors every year. Like San Luis Obispo, this city has an intimate, smalltown feel. It also revels in locally grown produce, handcrafted foods from cheese to chocolate, and superb alcoholic surprises of all kinds. Furthermore, like our own fun-loving region, Quebec City likes nothing better than to throw a party, from its popular 2-week winter festival to casual kid-friendly events lit by fireworks. As it happened, we were just in time for such a celebration. The shindig in question? Bilingual locals call it “Les Fetes de la Nouvelle France”—the Festival of New France.

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HOME/OUTDOOR the lineup of savory sidewalk cafes near the main entrance, this paragon also offered selfserve wine bistros on several floors. What did this mean for wine aficionados who wanted to do a tasting in our bathrobes after a hard day’s sightseeing? Picking up the sparkling goblets in our room, we headed for this convenience on our floor. Operated with a smart card, the bistro let us choose among eight vintages, from port to ice cider. We could select a sip—or a generous pour, upon finding a palate pleaser. The dispensers also kept the wines on offer oxygen free. “Brilliant idea,” we toasted one another. Once we were home again, our research turned up examples of this delightful “liquid app” in a few California wine establishments; the self-serve bistro is not yet widespread in the U.S., however.

We tend to brag about San Luis Obispo’s past—all 241 years of it. Compared to this region, however, we’re teenagers. In 2008, Quebec City threw itself a 400th birthday party. It was such a hit that everybody clamored to make the fete an annual event. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Upon our arrival, we were struck by the area’s lush vegetation. From our hotel room, we admired the dove-gray stone of the ancient walled city, surrounded by parks and plazas filled with flowers and huge expanses of emeraldgreen grasses. Later we spotted vineyards with vigorous, fruit-laden grapevines. How is this possible, we naively asked, recalling Quebec’s long, snow-filled winters. We soon learned that Quebecois growers outwit their climate’s challenges with special hybrids and close attention to coaxing full ripeness from their grapes. Furthermore, as one vintner explained, they deliberately keep some grapes on the vines and net them. Once covered with snow, each grape freezes. In December, that icy crop is harvested to make ice wine. We soon lunged at a chance to taste it—and were stunned at ice wine’s flavor and delicacy. Slightly sweet but never cloying, the vins de glace we enjoyed also had a hint of the bubbly. Our next discovery? Quebec City conspires to make wine-tasting as comfortable as possible for its guests. Take, for example, our own hotel, the beautifully run Hotel Chateau Laurier. Besides its panoramic views of the harbor and

Honoring the good sense of their French ancestry, QC locals take time to linger over wine and meals. And what meals! We often ate alfresco, enjoying fresh fish plated with fruit and vegetables picked that day on nearby Ile d’Orleans. French-Canadian fare also has a hearty, rib-sticking aspect. We eagerly inhaled entrees such as guinea fowl; and on other occasions, venison with kalamata olives, tenderly cooked in its own dark juices.

to the drums and brass voices of the trumpets. Each participant became his or her imagined ancestor, solemn or cheeky. They moved slowly past us—some curtseying, some clowning, others fighting mock battles, still others singing. Among them gallivanted a number of giant figures and stilt-walkers in costume whose characters sometimes lampooned historic figures of the past. To our dismay, all too soon the daily novelties, the nightly gatherings to hear traditional music while drinking and eating nonstop, the boisterous fun came to an end. On the last night of the fete, we crammed into a rustic open-air theatre in the round. Like their Old World ancestors, the New World Quebecois have a superb sense of drama. The climax of the festival? An hour of heart-stopping moments as members of the Cirque du Soleil flew above our heads, flung their bodies in gravity-defying ways, and performed feats of physical legerdemain as we gaped and gasped. Now adored worldwide, the Cirque du Soleil had its origins right here, in this charming city where founder Guy Laliberté (a dedicated stilt-walker himself) was born.

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Just as our county boasts a large population of bronzed, well-buffed Californians, Quebec City has an extraordinary number of handsome men and women with great cheekbones and those bold French eyebrows. We got to see them at their most joyous during the Les Fetes de la Nouvelle France. Locals, justly proud of their heritage, remember their founding families in numerous ways during festival week. In the historic Old Quarter, we visited booths where mementos and personal histories of each family were on display. Much of the festivities took place on the cobblestoned streets, a cozy maze of hang-out-awhile sidewalk cafes, steep Norman roofs and flower-filled windows. Thousands of residents donned costumes for the fete. No Hallowe’en costumes here—their outfits were of the period, handmade in ways still remembered by clever hands. We noted with interest that locals often chose to be kitted out as maidservants, priests, cobblers, soldiers, and pirates rather than as royalty or bejeweled muckymucks. Young and old alike took part in the hourslong grand parade through the heart of the walled city. QC residents didn’t merely strut

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at the market

butternut squash soup with pear, cider and vanilla bean By Sarah Hedger

appy New Year! While tempted to start the new year with a salad recipe (and a good resolution to incorporate and grow more of my own seasonal goodness), soup is another brilliant way to incorporate whole food, seasonal ingredients from our local markets. While January brings the cold weather of Winter, we are lucky in that it still delivers amazing produce. Wandering around our farmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s markets, we can find hearty greens such as kale, spinach, broccoli, but we also find the lovely winter squashes including butternut and pumpkins, late season pears and apples, as well as the fresh citrus family to keep our immune systems strong with healthy doses of Vitamin C. Soups in their own right are one pot wonders. They usually go together with relative ease, can be prepared in advance, and can

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be extremely healthy (and filling) at the same time. The other great thing about soups is that they usually taste even better the second day. Often in Winter I will prepare a big batch of soup (sometimes in the form of chili) on a Sunday, leaving healthy meals for the week ahead. I grew up with my dad, who, still to this day, makes most of his soups in the morning, to fuel the tummies for the week ahead. This monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recipe, Butternut Squash Soup with Pear, Cider, and Vanilla Bean, is a breath of fresh air. It is one of the best soups my taste buds have enjoyed in some time. While beautiful things come in so many different forms, there is something extra special about this soup and how it warms the soul in the best of ways. I adapted it from one of my favorite food writers, and a beautiful book called A Homemade Life, by Molly Wizenburg. Her story is

inspiring while humbling and humorous. She and her husband own a restaurant in Seattle called Delancey, while she is also one of the hosts for one of my favorite past time podcasts, Spilled Milk. It is a breath of fresh air in its own right, where the hosts conquer a single ingredient, and teach us everything fun and factual in less than 20 minutes. While Molly herself does indeed write like an angel, her recipes are inspiring too. So, when I came across this recipe again the other day, with all ingredients on hand, I decided to go out of my comfort zone and see how it would turn out. There is something to be said for how much trust (hopefully) good chefs and/or food writers have, as we purchase the ingredients to follow their recipes, put in the time and effort, in hopes it will deliver something delicious, or what the picture gives us hope to accomplish, in a meal. Yet with some trust, I decided it was time to try a new version of a butternut squash soup recipe, and wanted to adapt it in a way that it eliminated the dairy components. I also didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have any broth on hand, so decided to pull extra flavor from ingredients that would be in a good broth. The result was a soup that delivers in a meltingly wayâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the kind of way you need to be sitting down to give it the time, tribute, and attention it deserves. The result is a gluten free, vegan soup that warms you from the inside out. All while leaving you very happy to be right where you areâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;A brand new year.

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Butternut squash soup with pear, cider, and vanilla bean Makes 6 hearty soup servings FOR THE SOUP: 3 T olive oil 4lb butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and in 1 inch pieces 4 firm pears, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces 2 yellow onions, peeled and coarsely chopped 1 small carrot, finely chopped 1 large shallot, peeled and finely chopped 2 cups fresh apple cider/juice 2 bay leaves 8 cups water 1 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp white pepper 1 cup coconut milk 1 vanilla bean or 1 T good vanilla bean paste Heat oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy duty pot over medium heat. Add squash, pears, onions, carrot, and shallot. Stir and saute for 15 minutes, until the onion is transparent and the pears are beginning to fall apart. Add the cider, bay leaves, water, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, then reduce to medium low heat and simmer, partially covered for 30 minutes, until the squash is tender. Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender (and very carefully as the soup is still extremely hot), puree until very smooth. Return to pot and cook, uncovered, until reduced by half. Add coconut milk and vanilla and cook for another 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning, adding a touch of sea salt if needed. Serve hot and if desired, a drizzle of good quality olive oil and fresh ground black pepper.

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Collecting

Felicia Brown’s doll collection By Ruth Starr

orld War II came to Lithuania in 1939 when Hitler took a part of it and gave it to Prussia. The Prekeris family was happy and settled in their home in Lithuania at the time. Their younger daughter Felicia was two years old. However, in 1940 the Soviets came and took over. They made Lithuania an independent part of the Soviet Union. Then in 1941 Hitler had his blitzkrieg into Russia and occupied Lithuania once again. Hitler and Stalin signed a pact that consigned all three Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia) into Soviet hands. Life became very difficult for the Prekeris family: Felicia, her older sister Milda and her mother and father. Their life was horrible under Hitler and was becoming impossible under Stalin. Under Hitler the Jews of Lithuania were rounded up and exterminated. Under Stalin the Lithuanians were exiled to Siberia, particularly anyone who had been in a position of responsibility—such as policemen, teachers or educated people. Her father was pressured by the Russians to spy on his fellow teachers, which he couldn’t force himself to do. The Prekerises were on the list to go to Siberia but miraculously in 1941 Felicia’s family escaped to a little village where they were hidden in a swampy forest. The stay in the forest was brief, as the Germans overtook the Russians. The family returned home where things were extremely difficult, such as getting food, clothing, and medical care. The Soviets retaliated in 1944 and the Prekeris’s house was bombed. The only place to go was deep into Germany. Previously Mr. Perkeris had been a teacher and school inspector. He traveled from school to school to determine how the teaching was going. Her mother worked for the railroads sending and receiving telegraph messages. Suddenly they had no idea of what they were going to do. When Felicia was six she had begun school in Lithuania. As a child the only thing she ever wanted was a doll. Her father finally got a doll for her. When the house was bombed the doll went up in flames. Eventually she got another doll and gave it away to a little girl who was smaller than her and extremely persuasive. In 1945 at the end of the war, the Prekeris family was on the wrong side of Germany. They managed to get across to the Americans who then sent them back to the Russian side. The camp commander sent them back across the Elbe River into the British zone. For three years the family lived in a displaced persons camp. Each nationality in the camps formed their own schools. Felicia was there through the fifth grade. Her father, at the time, became very ill. To their frustration, obtaining medical supplies for him was nearly impossible. In 1947 England was looking for women to work in menial jobs. Her mother and sister went to work in England as cleaning maids in a hospital. The only means of having things for these displaced people was to barter as they had no money. The Prekerises had no money or anything of value left for bartering. The parents thought that her J A N U A R Y

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mother could send things back from England to her father that could be used to barter for food and medical supplies. A year later Felicia’s father became healthier and was given permission to go to England. However, there were no arrangements for children. They did not know what would happen to Felicia. Her mother eventually found an English couple to be foster parents. Felicia was terrified that they might not like her and send her away. But the English couple did get to like her because she had learned to darn socks, sew hems, put patches on clothes, make buttonholes and other sewing needs. Clothing in England was rationed and people had to take care of their clothes with repairs. She kept herself very busy repairing clothes and learned to speak in English. The Prekeris family stayed in England for three years. Felicia loved England, but it was hopeless for her parents because they could not get decent jobs. Through a cousin and good friends they managed to get papers to emigrate to America. They arrived in 1952 just as Felicia turned fifteen years old. She promised her parents and sister that someday she would write all of this in a book. In America she went to the College of New Rochelle in N.Y. for her Bachelors degree and Middlebury College in Vermont for her Masters degree. Her Masters degree was in French Language and Literature. She wrote her thesis on Albert Camus. Felicia taught French in high schools for many years, moving to California when she was 25. She went to UCLA to get a PhD but didn’t finish and years later went to law school at Western State University in Fullerton, CA. She worked as the Chief Court Investigator in the superior court in San Jose. She loved her job.

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the title is that shortly before the war ended, bombers and tanks and planes were all around them and her mother said, “We’re going to die here.” Felicia looked at the sky and saw swallows darting free and she wanted to fly away with them so she prayed to God to give us wings. Felicia married Lew Brown in 1970 and has one son, Al. Al lived in Lithuania for the past 18 years and just returned to the U.S. Attracted to dolls throughout her life, in 1970 Felicia began collecting them. She has more than 1000 dolls in her collection. She collects ethnic dolls from every corner of the world. It is an inspiring collection. Felicia can explain every doll, including its history and country of origin. The dolls are kept packed in boxes most of the time. They are on display only every five or six years because she says the house is not large enough for dolls and books and her love of books is equally important to her. Finally, when she was 74 years old she started to write about the family’s experiences. It took 2 ½ years to finish the book. The book

is called God, Give Us Wings. The book can be found on Amazon, Kindle or can be ordered at any book store. The reason for

Never knowing her next move as a child, Felicia is securely rooted in her Arroyo Grande home shared by her husband Lew, her dolls, and her books.

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COMMUNITY

Our Schools the smartest kids in the world

By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools

ne of the gifts on my “list” was a book entitled The Smartest Kids In The World: And How they Got That Way by Amanda Ripley. I recommend this book if you are interested in how public education in our country compares with the educational system in other countries. This topic has always interested me, especially when we regularly see and hear reports of how poorly students in American schools compare with students in other countries on international tests. The author follows three American students as they attend school in Finland, Poland and South Korea. Students in these three countries score higher than American students on international tests, especially in math and science. The purpose of the book is to investigate and describe what these three countries do in their schools to promote high achievement. The sub-text is what we in this country can learn from these countries.

These three countries were all different and the author does not recommend adopting everything that these countries do. For example, she refers to schools in South Korea as “pressure cookers” where students are under intense pressure to achieve academically in order to be competitive. Korean students often spend great amounts of time in formal schooling including weekends and additional time with tutors. There are at least two commonalities that these countries share and that seem to promote increased student achievement. I also note that these two traits are regularly confirmed by substantial research investigating what factors contribute significantly to increasing student achievement. The first characteristic is the recognition that teacher quality is essential. The message is that any effort to increase student achievement that does not start with what the teacher is doing in the classroom is probably not going to yield sustained results. This emphasis on teacher effectiveness may seem obvious, but I have a long list of “good ideas” such as improved textbooks, the latest technology, variations in school schedules, changing the sequence of courses, etc. that may have some value, but only in the hands of a skilled teacher.

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These countries take a very supportive and collaborative approach to addressing teacher quality. They commit substantial resources to both attracting and assisting teachers to be as effective as possible. They allocate substantially more time during the year for teachers to receive training and to reflect on their teaching with other teachers. In our county, districts allocate 2-4 days a year dedicated to staff development when students are not in school. The comparison countries allocate more time for staff development. The emphasis on the continuous improvement of teaching struck me as a noticeably different emphasis than in our country where much of the discussion seems to be more punitive and related to how to “fire bad teachers.” These countries recognize that dismissing incompetent teachers, while necessary, does not equate to increasing teacher effectiveness for other teachers. The second commonality in the three comparison countries is the adoption of a set of rigorous standards (expectations) for all students. Having rigorous standards by themselves will not produce results, but they are an essential step to guide instruction. We in California have had a set of high standards for most subjects for a number of years. We are also participating with 44 other states in adopting a common set of national academic standards know as Common Core State Standards (CCSS). Ms. Ripley believes that the CCSS movement in our country is an important step in the same direction as the comparison countries. I also agree that the emphasis on higher order thinking skills such as analysis and synthesis as well as requiring more depth of learning on fewer standards is consistent with the comparison countries. When comparing our country with others, I offer two caveats to remember. The first is that size matters. The school population in the United States much larger and more diverse than any of the comparison countries. There are more students just in our California public schools than in the entire population (children and adults) in Finland! Changing large and complex systems takes time and requires patience and persistence. Secondly, governance matters. A major difference in international comparisons of educational systems is to remember that our country has over 5000 local school districts each with a governing board. In the comparison countries there is a national system of education controlled by a single ministry or bureau. Again, bringing change to 5000 local school districts is substantially more difficult than dictating change from a central source. We should look very carefully at other countries and learn from those that consistently produce high student achievement. However, these lessons will always be tempered by our unique system of locally governed public schools.

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MEET

jim Ruddell

ruddell’s Smokehouse: Finger Lickin’ good! By Sherry Shahan

ressed in his standard uniform—shorts, flip-flops, baseball cap—the owner of Ruddell’s Smokehouse in Cayucos explained how he fell into the restaurant business. “I’d been fascinated with smoked food for years,” Jim Ruddell said from behind the deli case. “My people are from Louisiana, so I’ve had a personal relationship with barbeque my whole life.” Jim and his wife Kathy moved to Morro Bay from Los Angeles in 1992. “My daughter Rose was born during the riots that year,” he explained, recalling widespread arson, looting, and assaults. Property damage topped one billion dollars and 53 people were killed. “I remember telling my wife, I’m done. We’re out of here.” Back then there was an abundance of great fish like albacore coming into Morro Bay harbor. Jim was surprised no one was smoking it. “I talked a rancher friend into letting me build a smoker in his pole barn.” Jim grinned at the memory. “I made a sign and sold smoked albacore on the side of the road.” When asked what type of wood he uses, he replied, “Alder, across the board, with all of my fish. Fish doesn’t take well with heavy tannic woods like oak.” Alder is also the preferred smoking wood in Europe. “Wood is a big part of the flavor.”

point they realized meat stored in a smoky space developed a richer flavor. Over time it became apparent that pre-curing meat in salty brines helped aide in the preservation process. The technique appears to have developed independently by different cultures around the world. Today’s way of smoking the fish is different than 13 years ago when Jim started his business in the tiny space that was once occupied by Taco Temple. “We don’t use nitrates at all and we’ve cut way back on salt,” he added. “A few old timers still use a lot of salt—you notice it in the quality of their tacos. The fish is definitely drier.” Jim sources his fish from various places depending on availability. When swordfish is biting he always goes local. “But our waters have been fished out for the most part. These days most local fishing boats have to travel further out to sea or go to other locations.” Today his albacore comes from Oregon and salmon is flown in from Alaska. Jim pinched off a bit of smoked albacore and offered it to a reluctant customer. “Try this.” Not surprisingly, the guy said, “This doesn’t taste fishy at all.”

Cooking time ranges between 2 and 2 ½ hours depending on the amount of fish laid out on the racks. “Since fish is moist to begin with there isn’t any reason to add liquid,” he said. “Albacore gets a dry rub of kosher salt and brown sugar. Salmon gets the same with a stroke of apricot glaze. No reason to overwhelm the fish.”

The only place to sit in this 250-square-foot restaurant is outside where a few tables and chairs crowd the sidewalk. Since the Smokehouse is a happening place, especially during lunch hours, many customers take their food across the street to the seawall benches. Either way, there’s an impressive view of the coast and Morro Rock.

A corn tortilla brushed with olive oil and sprinkled with cumin is slapped on the grill before getting a smear of aioli sauce. Jim’s aioli recipe is simple: high quality mayonnaise and Gulden Spicy Brown Mustard. He makes it by the bucketful. His signature smoked albacore is piled on next, then lettuce, tomato, sliced carrots and celery. “It was my wife’s idea to add chopped Fuji apples.”

Jim also slow smokes whole chicken and pork loin for his sandwiches. “These meats cook over hickory, so I can’t smoke fish and meat together.” Chicken and pork are available for sale in his deli case alongside a variety of vacuum-sealed smoked fish.

People are often surprised to learn his wood arrives in bags—that he smokes with sawdust and not logs. “It smolders nicely so you don’t have to babysit it like you do wood.” According to historians, smoking food pre-dates recorded history when cavemen hung meat to dry in caves. Lacking chimneys, these rock dwellings could get really smoky. It’s believed that at some

It takes a lot of dedication to get up at one or two o’clock in the morning day after day. “After 12 full years I never put my key in the lock and didn’t feel happy to be here,” he said with a broad smile. “How many people can say that about their job? I fire up the smoker and crank up ZZ Top. It doesn’t get any better than that.” Lately Jim has been experimenting with Cajun-seasoned shrimp smoked in cherry wood. “Shrimp has a delicate flavor so it’s a perfect marriage.” Then he pulled out his phone and placed an order for a 40-pound bag of cherry wood sawdust. “I use that shrimp when I make tacos for myself,” he said. “It’s a home run, man.” Jim admitted that not all of his experiments have been successful. He laughed at the failure of an early attempt at cold-smoking cheese. “The temperature was too high and cheese dribbled through the rack. It looked like cheese udders.” What’s on the horizon for Ruddell’s Smokehouse? “A food truck with the same smoked products that are available in the restaurant,” Jim said. “You can’t find what we have any place else. That’s what makes it unique.” J A N U A R Y

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5 cities men’s club

Men’s Club member, Phil Cohl with scholarship winner and future firefighter, Eric Bergstrom

men making a difference By Will Jones

im Storton, former San Luis Obispo County Sheriff and the retired owner of a private investigation agency, is a big, robust man with only a shock of white hair hinting at the fact that he was born during FDR’s first term as President. His basketball playing days ended a few years ago. He played softball until a recent knee replacement, although lately he was recruited to play for an over-eighty softball team. He’s thinking about it. Tim is also writing a history of the San Luis Obispo Sheriff ’s Office, including intensive research about all those who have served as Sheriff since 1850, a subject about which he spoke enthusiastically. A founding member and a former president of the 5 Cities Men’s Club, he made it clear that he and his fellow club members bring the same enthusiasm to public service that Tim has and does to his personal interests. The 5 Cities Men’s Club has raised and donated over $450,000 since it was chartered in 1996. According to a message from president Tom Holbrook, “Our goal is to give service by donating our time and manpower, or by making financial contributions. We do many different kinds of volunteer projects in the 5 Cities area for non-profit organizations, local schools, city parks, Boy Scouts, Campfire, the Chamber of Commerce and others. We truly believe in our motto, Men Making a Difference.” The original twenty-four members of the club split off from the Pismo Beach Rotary Club, so they had a template for running a successful service organization. Currently at thirty-four and growing, the club includes men from a wide variety of professions ranging in age from the mid-thirties to well into retirement age. “All of the money that we raise stays here in the community, almost all of it in the 5 Cities, but

some of it to places such as Cal Poly and Hancock Community College,” Tim told me. The club meets every Tuesday at noon at Rosa’s in Pismo Beach, and each meeting features a speaker from outside the club. Guests are welcome. A recent speaker was Lance Easley, a replacement National Football League referee who made a controversial call in a game between the Green Bay Packers and the Seattle Seahawks. Easley has since written a book, Making the Call: Living with Your Decisions, about how he coped with the publicity and challenges that followed. Responsibility for finding speakers rotates among the club members. Recruiting new members for service organizations is a challenge, according to Tim. “It’s easier for retired people because they can make it to meetings and participate in our projects. The younger generation still has financial and personal responsibilities for their families, so it’s a little bit more difficult. We try to make it easy by limiting rules for attendance and such. Our costs are reasonable.” In our conversation Tim emphasized that “All of our money, with rare exceptions, goes to things that will benefit the community, not an individual.” One exception is a memorial for Harold Hatley in Grover Beach Park. “Harold was in Denny’s one day when a guy came in shooting a weapon. Harold tackled him and was shot and killed.

One of the projects of the 5-Cities Men’s Club

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MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

The finished BBQ Pit

We sometimes support individuals, like an Eagle Scout for example, engaged in a project to benefit the whole community.” There is also a new scholarship program for high school graduates going into a trade. Future fire fighter Eric Bergstrom from Arroyo Grande High School was last year’s first winner. The list of projects and organizations supported over the last seventeen years is extensive, focused mostly on youth: Arroyo Grande High school soccer and baseball fields; AYSO soccer; and 5 Cities Youth Basketball, for example. Also included are big projects like the sound system and stage lighting for the South County Regional Center and the Ramona Park Gazebo Project. BBQ’s are also an FCMC specialty. The club is currently dedicating twelve to fifteen thousand dollars to remodel the basketball court next to Mentone Basin in Grover Beach. Fundraisers, donations and member fees allow the club to maintain a healthy community service account. The biggest project of all, according to club member J Johnson, is the 5 Cities Recreation Center. J is also president of the 5 Cities Community Service Foundation, which has raised over 2 million dollars to build a 55,000-square-foot multigenerational recreation center on a lot at the intersection of Old Ranch Road and West Branch near the Regional Center. The center, for which there is already an approved plan, will include four basketball/volleyball courts, several offices, a balcony jogging track and a climbing wall. It will be available for use by youth organizations, schools, seniors and private instruction in activities like yoga. Once the funds have been raised and the building completed, it will be turned over to Arroyo Grande Parks and Recreation, but the foundation and 5 Cities Men’s Club will stay involved through an ongoing endowment fund. Most of the money raised so far has come from private donations. Call 481-1969 for more information or to find out how you can contribute. The president’s message goes on to say, “Our focus is to encourage the development of local youth. We want to instill in them a belief that the giving of one’s self in service to others will advance the wellbeing of human kind and our community.” Based on their seventeen year history, the members of the 5 Cities Men’s Club are leading and teaching by example.

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COMMUNITY

history

the first newspaper By Joe Carotenuti

oday, newspapers face stiff competition from the brief, episodic news items on television as well as smaller devices. There was a time, however, when there were no local papers. News was old as it traveled most often by ship from San Francisco. Myron Angel, who captures much of the early county history in 1883, reported having a local press was an “indispensable concomitant of (an) enlightened society and progress.”

The Tribune’s composing room 1900

“No such excitement or greed for news was felt amid the quiet, grazing grounds of San Luis Obispo,” Angel explained regarding the lack of newspapers in the thinly populated, rural and self-contained community. Certainly in the earliest years of the County seat, there was plenty of less than mundane news to report. The decade of the 1850s was a most violent time along the coast requiring the formation of the Vigilance Committee to address the rampant lawlessness. Yet, Angel writes, there was no “thought of establishing that great power and element of civilization.” Such was the sad state of journalistic affairs until 1868. Here’s the story. When the first issue of the appropriately named San Luis Obispo Pioneer appeared on January 4, 1868, locals undoubtedly had no idea that a community tradition was started and continues to this day. Rome Gillett Vickers was about 28 years old and shared his youthful enthusiasm with his readers. Asking for the public’s support and “pledging ourselves to be untiring in our endeavors to publish…the latest Eastern and state news, market quotations, general miscellany & local intelligence…,” the Pioneer was to be “an independent weekly journal, devoted mainly to the interests and advancement of San Luis Obispo County.” Today, the newspaper is a rare and invaluable insight into the past. Available for $5 yearly “invariable in advance,” the front page of the four-page, six-column weekly newspaper presented a variety of items seemingly at random to tempt further reading: poetry, short stories, inspirational items, and professional advertising. Names long associated with the earliest history of the community included eventual rival Walter Murray. Other attorneys noted are William J. Graves and Peter A. For-

rester—another important pioneer ignored in local lore. The lone “physician and surgeon” William Williams Hays is another community icon. The remaining pages—replete with more advertising—include a prolonged escape from jail by a 17-year-old, the meeting of town officials, a new flour mill, a drowning in Placerville, an “Eastern News Summary” and how to grow walnuts. Readers needed to search the print carefully for any particular story as there were no headlines. “Avoided by the Democrats and distrusted by the Republicans…” and despite the avowed intent to remain politically neutral, on July 18, 1868 Vickers declared his disappointment in support and himself a Democrat. The Pioneer hoisted its new editorial preference coinciding with the national party conventions. With the Presidential election looming on the horizon, Civil War hero Ulysses S. Grant was pitted against Democrat Horatio Seymour (former Governor of New York). The newspaper vigorously promoted the party that was going to “rescue the Government from anarchy and ruin.” Not everyone agreed then— or now. The election did not fulfill his expectations. Energetically promoting its partisan position, a noteworthy August edition chastised the reigning Washington politicos: “Taxes! Taxes! Nothing but taxes.

The Tribune’s flatbed press used in the early to mid 1900s

Taxes upon all that man can eat, Taxed on our flour and taxed on our meat. Taxed upon all that covers his back, From his cotton shirt to his broadcloth back” Lamented Vickers, Americans were being “taxed from the cradle plum into the grave.” Despite appealing to Democrats, Vickers was unsuccessful in continuing his business. Certainly, a major cause of his woes was the inauguration of San Luis Obispo’s second newspaper, the Tribune, on August 7, 1869. Owned by H. S. Rembaugh and Company, the “Company” was the prominent Walter Murray. The Tribune was openly J A N U A R Y

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Avoid the High Cost of Mo A Retirement Facilit COMMUNITY 33

parade across the pages in aof procesfor all sorts of medicinal quackery, a hodge- Even though thewhite prospect moving may sion of importance in their day. They podge of fiction, non-fiction, and near fiction, future, you owe it to yourself to learn how are a reminder that real people faced the the paper opened the literary gateway for carefree living in your own homethefor many ye exigencies of life—just as today—with public news. Even Angel (who would become same courage or cowardice marking the the owner/editor of the Tribune) lauds the progress, or lack of it, in this community. few editions as “valuable records of the past.”

You Don’t Have to Move

Feel Safe and S

San Diego remembers the intrepid Rome E. There would be other newspapers and witholder, a street name while locally he publications covering community It’s the a fact of life that asVickers we get Pristine is fully and the Pioneer sadly are but a small footduring the next 145 years. Yet, these early some day-to-day tasksnote become too licensed and insured in municipal history. reports are some of the most interesting much All of our workers (albeit hard to read) peeks to intohandle the com-on our own. That Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com munity’s past as names, places, and events doesn’t mean you have to move away are carefully screene

from the comfort of your home. and pass a criminal • Pristine Home Services is aHousekeeping local background check Personal Care that helps San Luis Obispo and drug test, giving • Yard company • Handyman Maintenance County residents avoid the high cost when someone from Servingof moving All oftoSan Luis Obispo County a retirement facility. in your home. •

More than a century ago The Tribune was located above the Chicago Brewery Depot. Today the site is occupied by SLO’s Mission Plaza.

a Republican newspaper and the subtle and not-so-subtle written battle between the two newspapers makes for some lively reading reserved today for the grocery store tabloids. Among other issues, Murray took great care in notifying Tribune readers of Vickers’ editorial shortcomings. Unable to withstand the decline in revenue, the Pioneer published its last edition in November. In part, too few residents were barely sufficient to keep one good newspaper alive. “Two cannot be sustained,” wrote Murray. While reported as having a circulation of 900 subscribers, the number most likely was inaccurate in a County of about 4000 residents. Vickers blamed unfulfilled promises for the demise of the newspaper and left for southern California to explore journalistic opportunities at the newly discovered gold mines near Julian. He eventually returned to the bay area where he died in 1886 according to the San Francisco Call. While not a successful venture for Vickers, the Pioneer deserves an honored place in municipal history as promoting a local constituency for news. Filled with wild claims

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All of our services can be provided She should be clone daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. very reasonable. Sh From housekeeping You to handyman services and plumbing to preparingyou meals.need There is no task too large or pay for only the services dows!” R. Watson, S too small for Pristineand Homewe Services. All of our those services can be providedatdaily, weekly, or on an as-needed provide services a price basis. You pay for only the services you need and we provide those services at a price you can“They afford. took the time you can afford. what I wanted. The Pristine Home Services made it possible exactlyforwhat I aske Convenient One-call us to stayService comfortable and independent reasonable. I would in our home. When Mary was diagnosed Our personal care services include a friend. with cancer, is no longer ato threat, the ” C. Hal shopping, daily errands, mealwhich preparapeople at Pristine became a very important tion, transportation part andofnon-medical Before you make a our team. They were trustworthy, care. Our housekeeping services keep reliable and always stood by ourcould side. Weaffect your f truly enjoy our relationship with their your kitchen and the rest of your home and staff. standard of liv -Don and Mary Smith spotless. We even do windows and to read these two laundry. Our yard maintenance crews Before you make any decisions that could affect your future happiness and standard of living, take every seni “What know how to take care of your favorite the time to read these two FREE reports: about living in a rose bushes and keep the grass neatly “What every senior needs to know about living in a retirement facility.” mowed. Our handyman services are “Four critical que “Four critical questions to ask a service provider...before you let anyone work in or near your home.” provided by specialists in plumbing, service provider We invite you to call Pristine rightwork, now so that we can sendrepairs you these two FREE reports by mail. electrical painting, and anyone work in o safety rail installation. Call for rateS We invite you to c now so that we ca two FREE reports

(805) 543-H Call T

We Bring Assisted Living Home You Whatever you need...give us atocall 805-543-4663 www.pristinehomeservices.net 710 FIERO LANE, UNIT 16 SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 The SLO Pioneer Newspaper, January , 1868

H O U S E K E E P I N G · YA R D M A I N T E N A N C E · H A N D Y M A N S E R V I C E S · P E R S O N A L C A R E J A N U A R Y

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hospice corner

give your physician a break already By Mark Wilson

was 12 years old when I ceremoniously announced to my parents and grandparents one Sunday afternoon that…I WOULD BECOME A DOCTOR. I was coming off a pretty impressive report card and being that I was as smart as my exceptional grades indicated, medicine was clearly what I had to do. Saving lives was the least a straight A, sixth grade student could do for humanity. I immediately asked my pharmacist grandfather if I could borrow some of his books on human physiology and anatomy. “I’d like to get started right now,” I told my family. “And oh yeah, I’m still going to play professional basketball, too.” My coach let me know in our last practice

that I showed potential to be a star player. Maybe even get a college scholarship. I was as convinced as any 12-year-old could be that I would, without a doubt, become a doctor AND an NBA basketball star. So there it was. From then on I would devote all my efforts to the worthy pursuits of medicine and basketball; a true overachiever. I would be rich, famous and certainly admired by all. My view of physicians back then was shaped, in part, by my parents and grandparents. What family wouldn’t want their kid to grow up to be a physician? Only the smartest, most decent, trustworthy and accomplished

people could be one. You could ask a doctor everything about anything and they’d have the right answer. They were healers, counselors and an advocate for all that is good. They were the very embodiment of honor and success. They were omnipotent. I never realized my ambition to become a doctor, but I do still carry that same respect and admiration for physicians with me today, and it’s only been enhanced as a result of my work at Wilshire Hospice. I’ve acquired a much deeper understanding of how truly stressful a physician’s life can be and I can assure you it’s far from the glamour portrayed on television shows. Physicians today are under great pressure. The financial, intellectual, social, mental and physical demands of the job are enormous. And then there’s the stress of doing what doctors are supposed to do every day and for every patient without fail. Make us healthier. Cure our sickness. Save our lives. But what if your life couldn’t be saved? What if there were still treatments to be administered and procedures yet to be done, but the results appeared to be less and less likely to cure you? What then? At what point does the doctor bring hospice into the conversation? I’m pretty confident when I say that most physicians will agree that hospice care improves the quality of life for a patient with a life limiting illness. And yet many don’t refer their patients to hospice until the final days or hours of life rather than earlier so that patients and families can fully benefit from the services available. The reality is that, as smart and accomplished as physicians need to be, they are, in the end, human. Truth is, your physician may have as much trouble as you accepting that you’re going to die. They may have treated many members of your family and have a long-term relationship with each of them. Talking about your death or the death of a loved one is just damned uncomfortable. Think about it. We tend to make the mistake of judging the physician by lives saved and sicknesses

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cured. Hospice is too often viewed as giving up…failing. Please allow me to give you some food for thought:

JANUARY CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

- The New England Journal of Medicine published a 2010 study on terminally ill lung cancer patients that showed that those who received palliative care offered by hospice had a better quality of life and lived an average of three months longer than those who did not seek palliative care. - A 2007 Duke University study concluded that patients with Congestive Heart Failure lived an average of 321 days without hospice care and an average of 402 days with hospice care. An average increase of 81 days. - Colon cancer survival rates increased by an average of 33 days. I marvel at modern medicine and I know there are people being cured of various diseases and conditions every day…some miraculously…but most because of the skill and competence of a good physician. I just think we ought to give doctors a break. They struggle with death too. We can help by at least letting them know that we understand what hospice is….and what it isn’t. That hospice care isn’t a death sentence. It’s a quality of life sentence.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: POP CULTURE

40. Continental currency 41. Iron Age priest

ACROSS 1. “The buck _____ here” 6. Augment 9. Like a jury unable to agree 13. Orca, e.g. 14. *Photographs in text messages 15. Wiser 16. Buddhist who has attained nirvana 17. Australian runner 18. Sign of life 19. *Movie host 21. *Like popular TV genre 23. Hot springs resort 24. Ski lift 25. Sensitive subject to some 28. Delhi wrap 30. Boredom 35. “____ Free” (1966) 37. *What a judge does on “Top Chef” 39. Straight muscles

43. Churn 44. Make more attractive 46. Major European river 47. “Fool me ____, shame on you” 48. Rodent and name of outdoor gear maker 50. Fungal spore sacs 52. Articulate 53. Coffin along with stand 55. Mozart’s “L’___ del Cairo” 57. *One Direction, e.g. 61. *Modern book 65. Architectural projection 66. Jelly-like stuff 68. *”Say Yes to the Dress” target 69. Calyx part 70. Emergency responder 71. Saint _____ of Rome 72. *American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest 73. Unidentified John

74. City in Belgium DOWN 1. Go to and fro 2. Through, to a poet 3. Pearl Harbor location 4. Surveyor’s maps 5. Arrangements 6. D’Artagnan’s weapon of choice 7. *Kourtney and Khloe’s sister 8. Beyond suburbs 9. Drag 10. Tangerine and grapefruit hybrid 11. Egg holder 12. *Multi-shaded Christian 15. Merciful one 20. Talked like a sheep 22. *”The Biggest Loser” isn’t supposed to do it a lot 24. Like a noble dignitary 25. At right angles to ship or plane 26. Known for its common red casing 27. Computer message

29. Like pink steak 31. Audition tape 32. *They’re on an iPhone screen 33. Carthage’s ancient neighbor 34. *From Disney to pop star 36. “Cheers” regular 38. *The Jonas bros 42. Interior designer’s focus 45. Cricket penalty 49. Sn, on periodic table 51. First-aid item 54. Bordered 56. Frustration, in print 57. *One of Miami Heat’s “Big Three” 58. Filling treat 59. Pitiful puppy cries 60. *”Teen ____” mag (1967-2007) 61. Besides 62. Have supper 63. Original garden? 64. R in RIP 67. Rock music style

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palm street perspective

2014 goals and resolutions By SLO City Councilwoman, Kathy Smith

s the 2014 new year becomes reality, there’s that yearly challenge of creating a unique list of goals/ resolutions and I want to help. Remember, in 2013, we commemorated some major gifts to our world through the efforts of elected U.S. public servants: • November 3 – the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. His famous words 1/20/61 at his inauguration: “Ask not what your country can do for you— ask what you can do for your country.” • November 19 – the 150th anniversary of The Gettysburg Address (1863) when President Abraham Lincoln (also eventually assassinated) proclaimed: “that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth.”

I encourage you to take another look at your 2014 list! I also encourage you to consider adding some elected public service opportunities . . . like throwing your hat in the ring for Mayor or Council Member of San Luis Obispo. If that feels overwhelming, maybe you could consider applying for one of the 14 appointed citizen Boards or Commissions governed by more than 100 resident volunteers. You see, “what you can do for your country” is make an investment in assuring that “government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from this earth.” Applications for the 14 Advisory bodies are due at City Hall on Friday, January 17 before 5 p.m., but filing for Mayor/Council candidates is a decision you can ponder between July 14 and August 8. That’s the official filing period. As I share this encouragement: I willingly admit there’s a concern that the impact “of the people, by the people, for the people” is in peril in our community. Using the ruler of experience having served on Council 1994-98, I see an erosion of resources for elected officials and a changing focus of bowing to the well-funded efforts of staff. Even in instances when the Council has “given direction,” the staff implementation of that direction doesn’t exactly mirror Council intention.

This is complicated, but let’s consider one example: At the 1/17/12 City Council session, with the written suggestion of Mayor Jan Marx, the Council voted to give direction re: the Land Use and Circulation Element (LUCE) commitments that included: “The process should begin with workshops in the neighborhoods, occurring during the same time that the new questionnaire is in the hand of residents. It should be in writing and should be based on the 1988 questionnaire, with additional updated questions if need be. Workshops and questionnaires’ input should take place before the LUCE Task Force is formed or meets.” Council concurrence was 5-0 in favor. While I envisioned “neighborhood” meetings as sit-down discussions in familiar surroundings, the staff/consultant team came up with locations scattered throughout SLO after the task force was in place and developed professional displays to inform and seek feedback. Sessions occurred at the Monday Club, Elks Lodge, Laurel Creek Community Center, Senior Center, etc. and were primarily stand-up gatherings. In our “happiest” city of 45,000 people (a lot of whom actually know each other), there’s a growing arms-length formality more typical of metropolitan areas as staff accesses consultant-driven approaches. Certainly, residents have participated in many open houses/forums. And our community Task Force is to be congratulated for their gift of time through, would you believe, 30 meetings! Nonetheless, the spirit of our SLOTown feels headed in a big city direction. Each of you, as protectors of our SLO values, need to consider how you can “make a difference” as an elected official. Every two years, three positions are up for grabs. . . Mayor and two Council Members. How about you . . . in 2014?

NEW TO TOWN?

Get your free welcome packet! It includes maps, civic info, coupons from cafes, groceries, wineries, auto hardware, garden, medical, dental, etc.

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SLO and Avila: Liz Hiatt 773-6418

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Los Osos/Morro Bay/Cayucos/Cambria: Annie Clapp 878-8876

A FREE SERVICE TO NEWCOMERS

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South County: Barbara Nicholson 748-4705

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North County: Sandy Hexberg 235-1529

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Call your greeter or go to centralcoastwelcome.com

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

Insi d e:

January 2014

W h a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U p D ow n tow n B u si n e ss Spo t li g ht s Holi da y W in dow Decora t i n g C ontes t

W h a t ’ s

U p

A r o u n d

D o w n t o w n

Happy New Year from the Downtown Association... looking forward to 2014 in Downtown SLO. Here's a photo review of last year's activities!

On the Cover: What a way to start the new year—with a hug from the beloved Thursday night mascot Downtown Brown! Downtown Association intern Hannah Brott is all smiles as she starts her shift at the market's information booth. Happy 2014! Photo by Deborah Cash

Thursday Night Promotions Farmers’ Market

Every Thursday All Year ‘Round — Still the Best Deal in Town! w w w. D o w n t o w nS L O . c o m

W h a t ’ s

U p

A r o u n d

D o w n t o w n

Dominic Tartaglia, Incoming Executive Director

DONATING YOUR CAR

Y PP HA W NE AR YE

SAVE MONEY BY

ook for next month's column from Downtown's new Executive Director, Dominic Tartaglia.

Decisions…

About Your Financial Future Should Be Made

Face-to-Face. Tired of telephone talk with your financial advisor miles and miles away?

The Cohl Hosick Group Phil Cohl

Senior Vice President/Investments Portfolio Manager – Solutions Program and

Tawnee Hosick

Financial Advisor, Branch Manager

Proceeds from sale may be tax deductible! We do all DMV paperwork!

are available full time to meet with you.

All vehicles offered for sale in San Luis Obispo benefiting Local Goodwill Programs. Donations support workforce development services in SLO County. “Our business is changing lives.”

544-0542 or 1-800-549-5920 GOODWILL INDUSTRIES, SAN LUIS OBISPO 880 Industrial Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

(805) 903-1063 | www.thecohlhosickgroup.com

999 Monterey Street, Suite 360 | San Luis Obispo, California 93401 Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated Member SIPC & NYSE | www.stifel.com

D o w n t o w n

B u s i n e s s

VegThisWay

Kate Mecozzi, Caine Fair, Sabrina Mutillo and Kaitlin Munoz, Co-owners 955 Morro St. (925) 337-5793 Info@VegThisWay.com

et’s be honest; eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables is not always the easiest thing to do, not to mention how hard it can be to get children to do the same. At VegThisWay, a new company based out of the SLO Hot House, that is exactly what they’re trying to accomplish. Managed by Cal Poly graduates Kate Mecozzi, Kaitlin Munoz, Sabrina Mutillo and Caine Fair, VegThisWay has the mission of getting healthy snacks into the hands—and mouths—of as many children, and adults for that matter, as they possibly can.

S p o t l i g h t s

added sugar and using natural fruit flavors to blend tastes together, their product certainly achieves a new level of healthy standard for a children’s snack.

egThisWay may be in its early stages as a business, but From left to right: Kaitlin Munoz, Kate Mecozzi, Sabrina Mutillo and Caine Fair they are certainly planning for a very bright future. “We just got approval to start selling our product in stores, and from there we hope to tarted as a contestant in a product development keep spreading through California and someday be able to competition at Cal Poly and carried through their senior spread the product nationwide,” Mecozzi said. As of now, the project, VegThisWay really kicked off after winning an company produces three flavors: sweet potato, beet, butternut elevator pitch competition and being placed in the SLO Hot House’s incubator program over the summer. They believe the squash and is working on their fourth, kale. Rawr bars can be uniqueness of their product, called a “Rawr Bar,” is what sets it purchased at the Monday Farmer’s Market in Los Osos and will apart from the competition. “With half a serving of vegetables soon be available in stores in the area. in it, no other bar is a fruit snack like ours,” says food science By Travis Domingues graduate Munoz. Made using no artificial preservatives or

Holiday

Window

Decorating

Contest

The Downtown Association Design Committee recently judged participants in its annual Holiday Window Decorating Contest and chose winners from among the 31 entries. The contest is held to showcase those Downtown businesses who designed and developed their business storefronts for the holiday season, contributing to the festive atmosphere of Downtown and demonstrating Downtown community spirit and pride. The winners for the 2013 contest are: Third Place: A Muse Gallery Second Place: B. Anthony & Co. Jewelers First Place: Ambiance Best in Theme: Jules D. (Get Your Holiday Shine On) People’s Choice: The BladeRunner Honorable Mention: Cal Poly Downtown EcoBambino

A Muse Gallery 845 Higuera Street

B. Anthony & Co. Jewelers 674 Higuera Street

All participants receive a certificate of recognition for their efforts; winners receive award certificates and gift baskets. Besides the winners, participants include: Adore Boutique Assets Forden’s Fosters Freeze Fromagerie Sophie Garden Street Goldsmiths Hands Gallery Heart’s Desire Soap Co. HepKat Ian Saude Jewelry & Lifestyle Kevin Main Jewelry Michael’s Optical Paper Sky Powell’s Sweet Shoppe Ritual !Romp Shoes San Luis Traditions Starlette O’Hara Stephen Patrick Design Sugar Daddy's Bake Shop Takken’s Shoes The Sock Drawer Turn to Nature Urban Optics

Ambiance 737 Higuera Street

The BladeRunner 894 Monterey Street Jules D. 672 Higuera Street, Suite 100

THE BULLETIN BOARD

UNITED WAY YOUTH BOARD GRANTS

The United Way of SLO County Youth Board is proud to announce its members for the 2013-2014 year. This group of 35 high school students hail from 9 cities across SLO County and seek to increase philanthropy and leadership in SLO County youth, improve programs to better serve our community, and promote positive relationships between youth and adults. This year’s officers are Brendan Bych (President), Kelsey Harper (Vice President), Trey Lowerison (Secretary), Leila Assal (Treasurer), and AnnaSara Bridgeford (Director at Large). Members are: Nick Attala, Griffin Berlin, Becca Canfield, Miranda Chinichian, Jeremy Costello, Will Coughlin, Nick D’Acri, Sophia Gardner, Samantha Good, Jenny Grady, Blake Griffith, Adam Hinrichs, Madalyn Hosick, Hillal Jarrar, Celeste Koch, Aiysha Mahmood, Malea Martin, Jack Mooney, Evan New-Schmidt, Tessa Oates, Tamra Olin, Kieren Reynolds, Page Smith, Tori Smith, Bella Stenvall, Rebecca Teng, Connor Troy, Elizabeth Trujillo, Mollie Walker, and Keenan Wells. As part of their philanthropic work, the Youth Board will award three $1,000 grants to local youth-driven programs. For more information visit www.unitedwayslo.org.

NEW NEIGHBORHOOD OFFICER PROGRAM IN SLO

The City of SLO Police Department has launched a Neighborhood Officer Program that divides the city into 13 distinct “neighborhoods,” each with dedicated patrol officers assigned to address city neighborhood issues. The Neighborhood Officers will act as a liaison between the Police Department, the community, and a variety of city agencies. The Neighborhood Officers will assist with public education, crime prevention, and neighborhood specific problems and help with coordination of other city services and departments to ensure a professional response to the citizens of San Luis Obispo. Citizens can determine who their neighborhood officer is by accessing the SLOPD website and clicking the Neighborhood Officer tab or go to the following: http://www.slocity.org/police/neighborhoodOfficers.asp

THE FITTING IMAGE HAS MOVED

After 22 years in the Laurel Lane neighborhood of SLO, TFI Alterations has moved to a bright new location to better serve their customers. They provide alterations and tailoring for men, women, and young people, as well as bridal and formal wear, adaptive clothing, outdoor & sporting gear including zipper repair, and even wetsuits. The staff of 13 can alter or repair most any garment or soft goods. Come check out the new store at 3000 Broad Street #104 (next to STAPLES) 541-0117 or check us online @ www.TFIslo.com.

JANUARY BOTANICAL GARDEN SEMINARS

Saturday at the Garden—Stay Sharp: Tool Maintenance 101 on Saturday, January 11, from 1 PM to 3 PM. Don’t get rusty this winter! Join us at the SLO Botanical Garden as we learn garden tool maintenance. Master Gardeners Wes and Ray will guide you through all you need to know about cleaning, sharpening and prepping your tools for the coming season. $5 for members/$10 non-members. Followed at 2 PM by a free docent-led tour of the Garden. More information at slobg.org/tool. Saturday at the Children’s Garden—Explore the Outdoors on Saturday, January 18, from 1 PM to 3 PM. Join us at the SLO Botanical Garden Children’s Garden as we explore the natural world around us. Sprouts, mushrooms, flowers, bugs, frogs and so much more live in the garden. Experience the winter garden while we plant, draw, and explore! $5 donation for non-members. More information at slobg.org/explore.

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS PUBLICATION

The League of Women Voters of San Luis Obispo County is working with county libraries to make the Guide to California Government, a reference work produced by the California League, available to local residents. The County Library System has announced that copies of the 15th edition of this five-star reference book are now available at all branches. Chris Barnickel, Director of Libraries, called the Guide a “valuable resource for the entire community.” For more information on the Guide to California Government, call the League of Women Voters at 805 782-4040.

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THE BULLETIN BOARD

Sister” through the Big Brothers Big Sisters School-Based program. In addition to being a “Big” every Thursday after school, Bella has also volunteered at the Winter WonderSLO fundraising and iceskating event at Madonna Expo Center, as well as participated in the 2013 Bowl For Kid’s Sake campaign. For more information on volunteering or contributing to Big Brothers Big Sisters, call 7813226, or log onto www.slobigs.org.

FOURTH ANNUAL SLO JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE RECEIVES $5000 GRANT

Assistance League of SLO County (ALSLOC) has received a $5000 grant from The Community Foundation SLO County (CFSLOCO). The Foundation is a public trust which meets the changing needs and interests of the community. The grant will be used toward our Operation School Bell (OBS) program which provides new school wardrobes to students in need in kindergarten through fifth grade as well as OSB’s sub-program, Sue’s Stars, which provides a shopping experience for children in grades 6th, 7th and 8th at local retail stores. All children clothed live and attend the 10 school districts in the County.

BIG SISTER EARNS PRESIDENTS VOLUNTEER AWARD

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County is pleased to announce that Big Sister Bella Stenvall has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Agency staff presented Bella with a certificate, bearing the signature of the President of the United States, along with a letter of commendation from the White House, and two commemorative pins. Bella, a sophomore at SLO High, has completed more than 100 service hours. This is her second year mentoring her “Little YOUR CENTRAL COAST MORTGAGE CONSULTANT

Donna Lewis, Principal (805) 783-4000 donna@ccmortgageconsultants.com NMLS #245945

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The 2014 San Luis Obispo Jewish Film Festival will return to the Palm Theatre for the fourth consecutive year on January 11 & 12th. The movie screenings are at the Palm Theatre in SLO, receptions to take place at Luna Red. The festival kicks off with an Opening Reception, followed by the Lifetime Achievement Award and opening screening at the Palm Theatre. There are three screenings on Sunday, which include Q&A sessions with the filmmakers. Also on Sunday is the Sponsors and Filmmakers Reception, for an intimate time with the filmmakers. Sponsorships are now available and can be purchased online at www.jccslo.com/become-a-sponsor. Individual tickets and ticket packages go on sale starting January 1st. For more information please call (805) 426-5465.

ALL-DAY GENEALOGY SEMINAR

The SLO County Genealogical Society is sponsoring an all-day seminar, “Genealogy Now! Growing Your Family Tree” on Saturday, February 1, 2014. The event will be held at the United Methodist Church, 1515 Fredericks Street, SLO, from 8-4. It will feature Judy Russell, nationally known as the Legal Genealogist, as well as professional genealogist, Sharon Hoyt, and Geoffrey Rasmussen of Legacy Family Tree. Attendees will select from a variety of presentations. Some of the topics are: “Using Court Records to Tell the Story of our Ancestors’ Lives,” “Online Search Tools and Tips,” “Immigration After the Civil War,” “Making Sense of Tax Lists,” “Genealogical Sources and Family Legends,” “Family Research In the Upper Midwest,” “Digital Images for Genealogists,” and “Cemeteries Go Digital.” Cost is $50 if pre-registration is received before January 30th, $60 thereafter. Go to www.slocgs.org to download registration form. Register early to get a copy of the syllabus. It will be a fun day, with excellent speakers, vendors, and raffles. More information on website (www.slocgs.org) or call 805-489-5457.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 2013 HUMANITARIAN AWARD

The Community Foundation SLO County (CFSLOCO) presented the 7th Annual Isabel P. Ruiz Humanitarian Award to Community Action Partnership’s (CAPSLO) Director of Child, Youth and Family Services Division, William Castellanos, (Pictured center) during a San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisor’s Meeting. The Isabel P. Ruiz Humanitarian Award annually recognizes a local individual for

outstanding efforts in advocacy and caring for local people in SLO County. Castellanos supervises CAPSLO’s Regional Head Start, Early Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, State Child Development, and Child Care Resource Connection programs. His efforts have helped thousands of children and low-income families by ensuring that high quality childcare and education are being offered through the programs, along with initiating programs that teach fathers parenting and communications skills.

CUESTA COLLEGE RECEIVES $1 MILLION DONATION

The Cuesta College Foundation recently received an unprecedented donation intended for the North County Campus (NCC) Children’s Center. Bertha Shultz, former long-time resident of Atascadero, left the Foundation approximately $1,050,000 in her trust for the specific purpose of funding the NCC Children’s Center. The donation will be used to help build a permanent building to house the center, which currently resides in a modular structure. The recent update to the NCC site plan includes a new state-of-the-art children’s center situated near the Dale and Mary Schwartz Learning Resource Center.

volunteers needed at literacy council

The Literacy Council for SLO County has an ongoing and urgent need for volunteer tutors throughout all communities in SLO County. Our 2-part, Tutor Training Workshop will take place on Saturday January 11th and Saturday January 25th, at the Literacy Council’s office, 995 Palm Street, SLO County Library, from 9:00am

THE BULLETIN BOARD

to 3:30pm. A $25 enrollment fee is required at your first session. For more information or to sign up, please call 541-4219 or visit our website at www.sloliteracy.org

cuesta college spring registration open

Those considering taking courses at Cuesta College during the spring 2014 semester, which runs from January 21 through May 23, can now register for classes by using the “Find Classes” link at www.cuesta.edu. Hundreds of courses are being offered through Cuesta’s SLO, Paso Robles, South County Center campuses and online. There is still time for new students to apply for the spring semester by visiting http://cuesta.edu/student/getstarted. Courses are $46 per unit. There is also still time for SLO County high school seniors to apply for the Promise Scholarship. Students can apply for the scholarship until March 2, 2014, by going to www.cuesta.edu/ student/aboutmoney/cuestapromise/. Frank

THE SLO MUSEUM OF ART (SLOMA) BEGINS THE NEW YEAR WITH ARTWORK FROM THE SINUOUS TO THE SUBLIME. Carolyn Lord, well-known to local art lovers for her participation in SLOMA’s past plein air festivals, lives in Livermore but loves painting the landscapes of SLO County, has a one-woman exhibition of her new watercolors and oils entitled “Cloudy with a Chance of Persimmons” in SLOMA from January 3 through March 2, 2014. Michael Hannon, an Arroyo Grandebased sculptor is being paired with David Limrite, an LA area artist, for their two man exhibition “Art of the Figure: Sinuous Marks” on view January 3rd through Febrary 9th. SLOMA is located at 1010 Broad Street, on the west end of the Mission Plaza. Hours are 11 am - 5 pm daily. Closed Tuesdays. Free admission. For more info visit SLOMA.ORG

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J A N U A R Y

2014

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pressure, weight and pulse. Finger prick screening tests for: high cholesterol, anemia and blood sugar. Counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 544-2484 ext. 1 for dates, times and locations.

SHORELINE RECEIVES $10,000 PG&E GRANT

$5000 GRANT TO WOMENADE

SLO County Womenade has received a $5,000 grant from the Dunin Opportunity Fund at The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County. Womenade is grateful for the support this grant will give to individuals in need throughout our community. Janice Fong Wolf, Director of Grants and Programs (Left) and Claire Clark, Interim Executive Director (2nd Right) present a $5000 grant to Womenade Board members (Left to Right) Julie Jones, Linda Bishop, Linda Jankay and Sandy Richardson.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Greg Pruett visited the San Luis area on November 20th with a special delivery for Goodwill’s Shoreline Workforce Development Services: a grant in the amount of $10,000. Shoreline Workforce Development Services is the education, training and employment division of Goodwill Industries. Shoreline provides workforce development services to anyone seeking employment through its five career centers on the Central Coast. These services include assisting job seekers to find employment, resume development, re-training, On-the-Job Training (OJT), and on-line learning. In San Luis Obispo County, Shoreline partners with the Workforce Investment Board and Department of Social Services to operate two Business and Career One Stops, one in San Luis Obispo and the other in 5-Cities. Shoreline also assists employers with their staffing needs by providing well qualified candidates to meet job openings. These services are supported through the sale of donated goods in Goodwill’s sixteen stores. For more details on Shoreline Workforce Development Services, visit www. shorelineworks.org

free senior healthcare screening

Community Action Partnership, Adult Wellness & Prevention Screening for adults and seniors is available throughout San Luis Obispo County. Free services include: screening for high blood

D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years

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alan’s draperies 544-9405 alansdrapery@gmail.com 2014

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OCTAGON BARN CENTER AWARDED $263K

The Land Conservancy’s Octagon Barn Center (pictured above in 1928) was awarded $263,538 in funding from the 2012-2013 Environmental Enhancement and Mitigation Program (EEMP) administered by the California Natural Resources Agency and the California Transportation Commission. The grant funds Roadside Recreation amenities at the Octagon Barn Center including the installation of 150 trees, over 1,000 shrubs, and a ¼-mile walking path. Funding also covers grading, electrical, irrigation and water system improvements required to use the site. The grant helps offset the impacts of the Los Osos Valley Road Interchange project, and provides direct benefits to residents and community members impacted by the transportation modification. In partnership with San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation, The Land Conservancy plans to develop the site as a staging area for the Bob Jones Pathway. An additional $150,000 needs to be raised to cover fire sprinklers and electrical infrastructure requirements to make the Barn safe for public use. For more details go to www.LCSLO.org or call (805) 544-9096.

Union Bank partners with the SLO Performing arts center

The Foundation for the Performing Arts Center is delighted to announce our new partnership with Union Bank. A team from the San

Luis Obispo branch presented Heather Cochrane, Executive Director of the Foundation, with a check for $10,000 last month. Photographed: Dustin Reese, Mark Korenko, Donna Milne, Branch Manager, Heather Cochrane, ED of the Foundation, Marian Anderson, Cathy Larsen.

concert series kicks off february 2nd

Vocalist Judy Philbin will be featured Sunday, February 2, 2pm, for the kick-off of the Chamber Music series at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in SLO. She will be joined by Adam Levine, guitar, and Ken Hustad, bass, for an eclectic program of bebop and jazz standards to gospel and folk. Judy’s performances are known for their energy, passion, humor and nuance. Her pure, clear tone has been called uplifting, healing, evocative and above all, beautiful. Levine has recorded with artists on Capitol, Warner Brothers, and Motown Records. Hustad is an active performer in classical, jazz and commercial groups, as well as a teacher and studio musician. Other artists for the series include: April 6: Chamber Players from the SLO Youth Symphony; April 27: Peter Jandula-Hudson and Torsten Juul-Borre (viola and piano); and June 8: Jim Riccardo, Ann Lucas and David Passage (violin, piano, horn). Tickets are $20 ($15/event for season ticket holders); $5 for students; children under 12 are free. Tickets at the door or in advance by calling (805) 786-4331.

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COMMUNITY

eye on Business New year brings new opportunities

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

o, here we are catapulted into a new year, and we can likely all agree that one question, namely, “where did 2013 go?” remains unanswered. Zoom zoom and gone, that’s for sure. But there’s something energizing about a new year. We get to make a fresh start, rev up with new energy and try new ideas. It’s a great time to think about business—what worked and what didn’t, what fixes are needed and what opportunities lie ahead. And for anyone whose business includes employees, it’s also a perfect time to recommit to coaching the best out of every staff member. We all know that happy, productive employees are the lynchpin to successful businesses. Building happy staffs starts with understanding the differences between the generations, because, like it or not, they are different. One size does not fit all. I’m a Baby Boomer who has spent a lot of career time with Gen X’ers. Those are the people born in the 1960s (post WWII Baby Boom) into the early 1980s. On their heels have come a new group, first called Generation Y by Advertising Age Magazine in 1993, a group described as being born from roughly 1982 into the early 2000s. This group is also called Millenials because of birth dates spanning the change to a new millennium, and it’s this group that is providing our new young employees.

And as for what matters to Millenials, the answer found in a recent NY Times study may surprise you. It did me. It’s not money, an easy job and early retirement. Nope. What matters to this group of employees is about being happy—and that happiness is less about material prosperity and much more about doing work perceived to have meaning. They want to make a difference in the world and they want to throw themselves into work that makes them feel part of something important. Altruism is a high value. Employers of Millennials can benefit from keeping these ideals in mind. We need to remember that the best jobs in Millennials’ minds are those that offer the opportunity to connect with important causes and engage in volunteerism. Day to day tasks of course need to be done—and done well—but it’s the desire for meaning that drives real passion in this group. Find the connection points and real success may follow. That’s good information to have as we roll into a productive new year.

2014

mcox@barnettcox.com.

And a postscript that’s unrelated but timely: your New Year “out with the old” office

Much has been written about Millennials, and not all of it favorable (words like “coddled” and “self-absorbed” come into play). But take heart and believe in the future: the Pew Research Center also notes that, despite entering the job market about the time the Recession hit, this group is upbeat and confident. These people are not afraid to consider new ideas. They are committed agents of change. They are ambitious and focused. They get along with their parents (not just because many Millennials still live at home) and they respect elders. They’re on track to be the most educated generation this country has ever produced. J A N U A R Y

housecleaning may include a computer upgrade. Before you haul old equipment to an e-waste recycling center, think about sharing it instead with a young student. Your computers may be outdated and in need of replacement, but the moment before being unplugged for the last time they were still useful. They still are. We recently found homes for half a dozen old computers with middle school students whose families had none. Now the students are completing tasks we take for granted—things like producing a typed, error free paper—feeling successful and taking pride in their work. We’ve received thank you letters that are humbling reminders of how little some local families have. It’s easy to help; send me an email if you have computers to share.

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