October 2017 Journal Plus Magazine

NICOLE PAZDAN | TIM WA AG | MELISA BEVERIDGE | SLO HISTORY CENTER

JournalPLUS OCTOBER 2017

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

805-543-2172

805-904-6616

21 Santa Rosa St. #100, San Luis Obispo

110 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande

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Mountain View - San Luis Obispo

Historic Bungalow in Santa Maria

This three bedroom, three bath, split level offers a beautiful living room view of the mountains and is located across the street to the best parks in the city. The back yard features fruit trees and a finished storage building idea for a studio, exercise room, and more. Parquet floors, and tile counters add to the style of this very fine home. $809,000 www.930ValecitoCourt.com

Don’t miss out on this beautiful and historic large 4 bedroom home located in the desirable Bungalow District. Original 1930’s flare and character with hardwood flooring, arched entry ways, original door knobs and light fixtures, and so much more. Two separate entertaining areas and both have wood burning fireplaces. Kitchen is spacious with lots of storage, newer stainless steel appliances and large island. Hurry and schedule your private showing of this historic 1930’s charmer before it is gone! $469,900

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Freshly painted, new flooring. Single level 1 bedroom corner unit with garage located in well-established Planned Unit Development. Enclosed patio yard overlooks open space. Appliances included. $330,000

It’s All in the Music CLASSICS IN THE COHAN

Opening Night P E R F O R M I N G

A R T S

C E N T E R

OCTOBER 7, 2017 I 8 PM

Andrew Sewell, Music Director FO Bion Tsang, Cello TICKER T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .G ...

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pacslo .org

Lilburn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. . .Aotearoa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Overture ..............................................................

Dvorák . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. . .Cello . . . . . . . . . .Concerto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .in . . . .B . . .minor, . . . . . . . . . . . .Op. . . . . . . .104 .........................

Brahms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .I. .Symphony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .No. . . . . . .2 . . . in . . . .D . . . .major, . . . . . . . . . . .Op. . . . . . . .73 .......................

2017 I 2018 SEASON

805.543.3533 I slosymphony.org

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

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WHAR WOLVES RESCUE

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

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Steve Owens ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Erin Mott GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dora Mountain COPY EDITOR Susan Stewart PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Meinhold DISTRIBUTION Jan Owens, Kyle Owens, Jim Parsons, Gary Story ADVERTISING Steve Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. James Brescia, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Dominic Tartaglia, Deborah Cash, Heather Young, Dr. Don Morris, Ruth Starr, Chuck Graham, Becky Juretic and Heidi Harmon Mail subscriptions are available at $20 per year. Back issues are $2 each. Inquires concerning advertising or other information made by writing to Steve Owens, JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE, 654 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can call us at 546-0609, our fax line is 546-8827, and our e-mail is slojournal@fix.net. View the entire magazine on our website at www.slojournal.com JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE is a free monthly distributed to over 600 locations throughout the Central Coast and is also available online at slojournal.com Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission.

Opinions expressed in the byline articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE. COVER PHOTO PROVIDED BY OPERA SLO

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JODY BELSHER

NICOLE PAZDAN

PEOPLE 8 10 12 14 16

GREATEST ATHLETES – Tracy Compton JODY BELSHER NICOLE PAZDAN TIM WAAG MELISSA BEVERIDGE

HOME & OUTDOOR 18 20 22 24

WIND WOLVES PARK OPERA SLO COLLABORATIVE SLO HISTORY CENTER FOOD / AT THE MARKET

COMMUNITY 7 26 27 28 30 32 34 41 42

SLO LIBRARY PASO ART SCENE SLO ART SCENE WHAR WOLVES RESCUE HISTORY ON THE “HOOF” San Miguel HISTORY: William L. Beebee - part 2 OUR SCHOOLS – Dr. James Brescia PALM STREET PERSPECTIVEHeidi Harmon COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

36 EYE ON BUSINESS 37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening

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October Hero Profile 2017 Children’s Bill of Rights #10: As the children and youth of San Luis Obispo County, may we each know that adults and peers listen and support us as individuals while we grow, and respect our diverse cultures, backgrounds, circumstances, talents, OCTOBER’S HERO

Paula Lewis

PASSION

Helping guide individual children, through one-on-one time, love and attention ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE PAULA

Selfless

NOMINATED BY

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County

Paula Lewis is a champion for children, providing consistent support and mentorship as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County.

After 25 years as an elementary school teacher in Atascadero, Paula decided she wanted the opportunity to focus her efforts on ONE child— rather than an entire classroom. Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo County was a natural fit. Paula and her Little Sister, 11-year-old Julianna, have been paired in the program for two years now. Big Brothers Big Sisters aims to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally-supported, one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better. Children from the program tend to grow up with higher aspirations, greater confidence, have more educational success and healthier relationships.

Mentors like Paula are instrumental to these outcomes.

From baking, playing games and doing puzzles—to outdoor exploring, gardening and kayaking, Paula and Julianna have covered a lot of territory and created many special memories

together. When Julianna recently asked about making “slime,” Paula enthusiastically picked up the ingredients, and the two whipped up a recipe for an afternoon of messy, silly fun!

Perhaps Julianna summed it up best in her letter-to-theeditor for National “Thank Your Mentor Day” last January.

“I am so happy and grateful that [Paula] has come into my life. Having a Big Sister is something I have always dreamed of. We have gone on so many adventures: visiting animal shelters, taking walks on the beach, bike rides at Avila and making cookies at her house. She is my best friend.”

Thank you, Paula.

You are a true Hands-On Hero.

Hands-On Heroes is a special recognition of dedicated individuals who believe in and support the Children’s Bill of Rights, an achievable vision that our children grow up with healthy minds, bodies and spirits that enable them to maximize their potential. This program is coordinated by First 5 San Luis Obispo County in collaboration with local organizations that make a difference in the lives of children in our community. To find out more about First 5 and the Children’s Bill of Rights, please visit first5slo.org.

Design: Verdin

Look for more on all of our Hands-On Heroes on COE-TV channel 19!

From the publisher

T

his month our cover story features the Arts Community’s collaborative presentation of the Opera, Madama Butterfly at the SLO Performing Arts Center. Since Brian Asher Alhadeff began weaving in several established arts organizations together in a special relationship, the performances have been second to none. If you have not attended one of these sensational performances, you are in for a treat.

Inside we profile five individuals who continue to make a difference helping others on the Central Coast. We start with one of our Greatest Athletes, Tracy Compton. Next, we learn about Jody Belsher’s latest quest to educate our youth on the effects of Marijuana. We move on to Nicole Pazden’s passion for helping our seniors and we finish up with Tim Waag’s volunteer work with our homeless and how Melissa Beveridge uses her talents to give back.

Susan Stewart also tells us why the SLO History Center is not just a museum. The research center is open to the public and so much more.

Plenty of good reading again this month.

Enjoy the magazine.

Steve Owens

SLO library

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Indie Author day at the slo library

By Rebecca Juretic

F

or most writers, getting a book deal with a major publishing house is the ultimate win. But according to local author Sue McGinty, there are also perks to being an independent author. For instance, “indie” authors have more control over creative aspects of their own book. It’s “the joy of creating and masterminding your precious book through all phases of the publishing process,” she said.

But there are also challenges. For one thing, there is no publishing house to manage publicity. It’s up to the author to get his/her book out in front of new people, which takes “research and a lot of work,” said McGinty.

Luckily, independent authors have long had an ally in their communities: their local public library. Libraries often host readings, discussions and other indie author events. San Luis Obispo County Libraries do all of this and more, including hosting the North County Writers group at the Morro Bay branch.

A few years ago, indie author advocates began to wonder what would happen if they concentrated all of the community support generated by libraries into one event? The result was the first Indie Author Day in 2016 which involved 250 libraries in 45 states, hosting thousands of book fans.

On October 21, the San Luis Obispo Library will be a part of the second annual Indie Author Day. The event will showcase 35 local independent authors for presentations, readings, discussions and exhibits.

All of it is free for both authors and guests.

So far, there has been “an overwhelmingly positive response to our First Annual Indie Author Day from authors, local writers’ groups and the community,” said Roz Pierini, South County Regional Librarian.

The event will be a draw for readers of all ages and interests–from nonfiction to mystery. Guests will have the rare opportunity to browse books and discuss them with the authors themselves. Browsing independently published books is like a treasure hunt, yielding unexpected finds that are rarely found in mainstream book stores. For instance, many have local settings or involve local history and events.

For authors, the benefits are two-fold. There is the opportunity to make a connection with readers, which is another perk enjoyed by indie writers, observed McGinty. “The real joy comes when you take your books to a signing and selling event where you can meet readers, discuss the joys of reading and find out what they what they like to read,” she said.

“It’s incredibly important for all authors, regardless of whether they’re traditionally or independently published, to get involved with their fellows in the writing community, shop at their local bookstores, and frequent their local libraries,” said Renee Lamine of on-demand printing service, IngramSpark. “These are the individuals and institutions with the potential to be your biggest supporters.”

The schedule for Indie Author Day in San Luis Obispo will be as follows: 10:00 a.m. – Introductory Comments by library staff. 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Authors will display their books at tables in the San Luis Obispo Library Community Room and will be available to discuss, sell and sign their books. 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. – Participating authors will be giving readings from their works in the smaller Conference Room of the San Luis Obispo Library, which is adjacent to the Community Room.

For more information on the San Luis Obispo Library’s Indie Author Day, visit www.slolibrary.org. For more information on National Indie Author Day, see www.indieauthorday.com.

What exactly is an “indie author?” We asked local author Sue McGinty who has written numerous California Central Coast mysteries including “Murder in Los Lobos,” “Murder in a Safe Haven,” and the forthcoming “Murder at Smuggler’s Cove.” She is also a member of writers’ groups Sisters in Crime and SLO NightWriters.

According to McGinty, the term “indie,” with regards to publishing, can have several meanings but “is generally thought of as someone who has self-published through Amazon’s CreateSpace or other platforms such as Smashwords or Stafford.”

The term can also refer to a small, traditional publisher who is “not affiliated with a big publishing house,” she said.

There is also the chance to network with other authors, something that is often overlooked.

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PEOPLE

greatest athletes on the central coast tracy compton (davis)

By Dr. Don Morris

Editor’s note: “Who are the Greatest Athletes in the history of the Central Coast?” So far the following athletes have been featured: Ed Brown, Stephanie Brown Trafton, Chuck Liddell, Loren Roberts, Steve Patterson, Gene Rambo, Robin Ventura, Jordan Hasay, Chuck Estrada, Mike Larrabee, Ron Capps, Jamie Martin, Rusty Kuntz, Randall Cunningham, Jim Lonborg, Kami Craig, John Rudometkin, Ivan Huff, Chelsea Johnson, Michael Louis Bratz, Frank Minini, Scott McClain, Mel Queen, Napoleon Kaufmann, Katie Hicks, Mark Brunell, Gene Romero, Kenny Heitz, Thornton Starr Lee, Pat Rusco, Rusty Blair, the Lee Family, Dan Conners, John Iribarren, Jeff Powers, The Mott Family, Casey Todd Candaele, Bill Brown, Theo Dunn, Ed Jorgensen, Hamp Pool, Kevin Lucas, Mohinder Gill, Mark Conover and Dr. Paul Spangler. Please send nominations to Dr. Morris at dmmorris@calpoly.edu.

tracy compton (Davis) INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S SOFTBALL PITCHER FROM SANTA MARIA’S RIGHETTI HIGH SCHOOL Today, Tracy Compton (Davis) is a teacher of Geometry, Algebra2 and Trigonometry and volunteers to coach softball and assists the girls golf coach at Ernest Righetti High School.

BUT in 1979, 1980 and 1981 she was California Interscholastic Federation women’s softball player of the year at Righetti H.S. She earned a full ride scholarship and was recruited to U.C.L.A where she played on the Women’s Softball team and U.C.L.A. won the PAC 10 championship all 4 years that Tracy was at UCLA. (Tracy was an All American throughout her time at UCLA).

She still holds the season earned run average record for O C T O B E R

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The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF)at 0.00 that was established in her junior and senior years at Ernest Righetti High School. Tracy still holds the NCAA season record for earned run average at 0.04 and the career earned run average record at 0.15 and she still holds the record for consecutive shutout innings in CIF history.

Tracy has been inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame in the same year as Troy Aikman and Florence Griffen-Joiner (FloJo) were admitted.

In a May 23rd 1983 Sport’s Illustrated article Compton who was them pitching for U.C.L.A. is quoted as saying “All the guys think they can hit us. Especially the U.C.L.A. Basketball team. We practice inside when it’s raining, and they’re always bugging us. Last year, we pitched against Wilt Chamberlain. I struck him out on three pitches.” The Sport’s Illustrated magazine article goes on to say “Compton winds up and fires her 80-mph fastball. Zzziiippp. She never has to think about her delivery; she just does it. Compton, the hardest thrower in women’s softball, has a 21-1 record this season, with 17 shutouts, 162 strikeouts and an 0.04 ERA.” Compton and U.C.L.A.’s other pitcher Doom are the best pair of softball pitchers in the country and the two biggest reasons why UCLA is a good bet to win its second straight championship at the NCAA finals, beginning May 25 in Omaha. Both are right-handers, tall— Compton is 5’10”, Doom 6’1”—and have minuscule ERAs.” Tracy served on the United States Olympic Committee as the representative for softball from 1988 to 1991 when softball was first voted in as an Olympic sport. (Tracy served in the House of Delegation and on the athletes advisory council and the Education Council).

Tracy came out of retirement to play for New Zealand in the 1996 Olympic qualifier but the team lost to Japan. Tracy went on to play in five Olympic Festivals where she won 2 golds and 2 silver medals.

PEOPLE

Righetti H.S. Tracy won 3 Amateur Softball Association National Championships with the Orcutt Express, LA Diamonds and the Stratford Brakettes Women’s Softball teams.

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Tracy first played for team USA in 1981 after high school graduation at the Junior World Tournament and continued to represent our country on the women’s team from 1982 through 1989. Tracy played internationally in Canada, Taiwan, China, Korea, New Zealand, Australia and Italy.

Tracy moved to New Zealand in 1989 and met her husband Glenn Davis, who was also a softball pitcher. They were married in 1992 and had daughter Hayley in 1993. (All 3 of them have pitched for the New Zealand National Teams. Daughter Hayley now goes to “ole miss” where she was recruited on a softball scholarship.

Hayley is now in the Doctorate Program for Pharmaceuticals.)

Tracy was an all American in Amateur Softball Association women’s softball from 1983 to 1989 and also in her Senior Year at

The Davis Family moved back to Santa Maria in 1997 when Tracy started teaching at Righetti High School. Tracy had her son in Zealand in 2001. (He now plays club rugby and football for Righetti High School.)

Last year the PAC 12 network voted Tracy on the All Century team for PAC 12.

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jody belsher

filmmaker/non-profit president

By Ruth Starr

C

reative people often find themselves in pursuit of a myriad of endeavors. Creativity fuels ideas, challenges limits and continually takes people in a variety of interesting pathways.

Jody Belsher began her career as a press agent for rockin’ Rod Stewart— which lead her to 11 countries, 44 concerts and hanging out with such celebrities as Elton John. Those early days in the entertainment industry were adjunct to Belsher’s own musical pursuits as a singer/songwriter.

She has since recorded two CDs and performed in numerous venues—including performing locally at Steynberg Gallery and Songwriters at Play.

Belsher recently received her Master’s Degree in Addiction Studies, has a BA in Social Work, is a Certified Recovery Support Specialist, a Satori Lifestyle Coach and has attended numerous Insight Transformational Workshops. “I’ve always been attracted to furthering education. I love learning,” explains Belsher.

Following a move to San Luis Obispo in the ‘90s, Belsher utilized her creative skills as a graphic designer, creating logos, brochures, ads and

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more for the Mozart Festival and Woods Humane Society, among others. She continues to provide calligraphy services as well—an art form that’s become classic these days.

When an out of state client requested she produce several short films for their company, Belsher eagerly entered the world of filmmaking.

However, it would not be until several years later that she would find herself producing a full feature documentary.

“My child had become addicted to marijuana—today’s THC potent strains, which do not resemble what was smoked in the ‘60s and ‘70s,” explains Belsher. “I could not understand how this was possible—as I always thought it was such a benign drug.” That curiosity prompted her to fly to Boston and interview the top researchers on marijuana and the brain at Harvard University’s Addiction Center. What she learned while filming there made her realize there was a huge need to educate on this topic.

“There simply is not enough awareness,” says Belsher. “Parents and grandparents don’t know the THC content has changed, educators are unaware of the signs and symptoms of cannabis addiction, and family members don’t realize the potential harms to the developing brain, as well as the increased risks for mental illness. All this sets up for a low perception of

POSAFY (www.posafy.org) is tasked with creating educational materials, pursuing school curriculum, developing videos for social media, providing speakers for organizations and schools and community presentations. The goal is to start locally and eventually reach out nationally. POSAFY is currently looking for funding and open to support from the community.

In addition to her work with POSAFY, Belsher is completing work on a new documentary: Recovery Sustained, and is in pre-production on a “dogumentary” en-

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titled: Why We Love Our Dogs. Her creative company HeartsGate Productions (www. hearts-gate.com), produces films that are educational. Belsher also produces short films for other organizations. “Creativity makes me happy,” says Belsher. “I also enjoy beach volleyball, am an avid golfer, love hiking the SLO hills, playing pickleball, quilting, and spending time with my beautiful grandchildren. I’ve always appreciated the quote: ‘When we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change.’ I try to remember that when life presents challenges along the way.”

Jody and her son Jared on the beach.

harm, which leads to an increase in usage. That increase in usage has subsequently lead to the issues we are now seeing with our youth.”

Belsher set out to film across the United States and even went to Paris, France to interview at the European Union’s research center INSERM. Her documentary “The Other Side of Cannabis: Negative Effects of Marijuana on Our Youth” is the recipient of the Best Feature Documentary award from the Sunset Los Angeles Film Festival. It continues to educate students, parents, community members, law enforcement, professionals in the health field and others who are interested. Belsher travels throughout the U.S. as a keynote speaker, sharing her experience and her research. She continually updates her resources to gather the most current information, which she posts on her film website: www.oscdoc.com.

While traveling, Belsher found that it was difficult to educate teens. She says “Many of them have their minds made up. They believe that marijuana is safe, it’s a medicine, period.

They do not want to listen to what the studies show, what the hospitals are seeing, etc.”

That is when Belsher decided it was best to concentrate her efforts on educating youth.

In October, 2016, Belsher created POSAFY—a 501c3 non-profit organization (Prevention of Substance Abuse for Youth). She put together a diverse board of directors, including herself as board President, advisors Sheriff Parkinson, Under-Sheriff Tim Olivas, Police Chief Deanna Cantrell as well as Captain Chris Staley, Central Coast Alumni for Recovery President Carlos Guerrero, Educators Mila Vujovich-La Barre and Sharon O’Gara, Parent Lisa Guy and student Steven Savaarde.

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Nicole Pazdan

helping seniors find quality care

By Heather Young

A

t some point, most people are faced with a difficult choice—where should mom or dad live when they can no longer live on their own. Moving in with children does not always work out, especially when the senior needs a higher level of care. Nicole Pazdan herself was faced with the daunting task of figuring out which care facility would be the right one for her aging mom, who adopted Pazdan when she was only three days old.

“It was the hardest thing I ever had to do,” Pazdan said, adding that she was handed a list of 288 places in Marin County that her mother could move to. “After going through that process I realized there’s got to be a better way to do this. It was so overwhelming.”

So she started Elder Placement Professionals, which does not cost her clients anything. Instead, she is paid by the care facilities. She has preferred care facilities, ones that she knows give good level of service and perform the duties that they say they will.

“They all told me what I wanted to hear,” Pazdan said when she was looking for a care facility for her mom. “It’s really hard to know if you’re choosing the right one.”

So when someone is in need of finding a care facility for a loved one, Pazdan will sit down with them and go through their options. For many seniors, they’d like to stay in their own home, but that could have a price tag of $30,000 a month, which is not affordable for many.

She said once her clients have gotten over sticker shock, she runs through other options that will meet the seniors’ medical and social needs and their budget.

Nicole playing Polo.

Nicole and a service dog, Chanel

What motivates her to help others find the right placements for their loved ones is that she knows that seniors can thrive when they are in the right environment with proper care and stimulation.

Pazdan began her career in the business when she was 16 and working in a senior home. She then on went to California Nurses Assistant and Emergency Medical Technician licenses, and later went into home health care.

Years later she moved to San Luis Obispo from San Francisco with her three young sons in 1998. Five years later, she graduated from Cal Poly with a degree in business. However, before she decided to major in business, she wanted to become a nurse and put her name in for the lottery for the nursing program at Cuesta. All three times her number didn’t get picked, so she decided to pick something else.

In addition to her business, Pazdan is active in the community. She is a volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Association, both as a speaker and fundraising. One fundraiser she’s involved in is blondes vs. brunettes’ football, which is an event that raises awareness and money, for the association. The women, broken into teams by hair color, play flag football at locations around the country. Most recently, Pazdan travelled six hours with her assistant, Ana, to play in a game.

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PEOPLE Pazdan is also co-chair of the Elder Abuse Specialist Team, a board member of San Luis Obispo Rotary Monday Club, on the board of the SLO Legal Foundation and involved with Womenade.

Nicole and her husband, Ken.

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Nicole and the Alzheimer’s Football team.

“The whole focus,” Pazdan said of her volunteering, “of these is giving back to the community.”

She has been married to Ken Pazdan for the last 10 years, which they celebrated by going to Greece. Together, they have six children, Doug, Sarah, Joseph, Jr., Nate and Caleb.

Three of them live locally and three out of the area.

“Sometimes, life experiences make you who you are,” Pazdan said.

Help when you make the most important financial decisions of your life.

“We try to do something where the community can get involved and watch competitive women play for a good cause,” Pazdan said.

The players, she said, are people who the disease touches every day.

Pazdan also said it’s possible that there will be polo games in the future to raise funds for the association. Polo (done on horses) is a sport that she herself started doing a year ago.

“I always ask [my seniors] about life…they tell me ‘enjoy life. You’re never too old to live life,’” she said, adding that it was that advice that got her to stay active and learn something new.

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Nicole with her assistant Ana.

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TIM WAAG ADVOCATE FOR THE HOMELESS

By Ruth Starr

B

ack in 2003 Tim Waag belonged to the former church called Coast Life. When it was announced that they needed volunteers to staff the overflow of homeless people overnight, Tim volunteered. The overflow refers to the people who need somewhere to sleep for the night when the regular shelters are already filled. Many churches in this area set up cots and allow the people in for the night. The overflow is run very strictly so everyone is safe. They need two volunteers for every overnight of the month. Tim continues to volunteer today.

During an overnight Tim will sleep for four hours and then he is awake the other hours to monitor the homeless family groups.

People are brought to the various local churches while the name and location are not revealed to keep potential problems away.

Some of the volunteers are students and Tim instructs them on what to do if any problem arises. He says to only call 911 if there is an emergency. Try to handle the situation yourself and if not, call the people at CAPSLO and they will come out. CAPSLO oversees the Maxine Lewis Homeless Shelter and the Prado Day Center.

Tim grew up in Los Angeles, moving to SLO in 1992 along with his wife Sue, who is an employment law Attorney. When their two sons were toddlers, Andrew, now 27 and James 25, Tim stayed home with them while Sue continued with her practice. He loved that part of his life.

Tim has a Masters Degree from UCLA in math and computer science. From USC, he has an MBA and MS in math. He loves math, thinks it is abstract. He says it’s one of those things that you either

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PEOPLE like or don’t like. There is no middleground. He’s just very good with Math.

ers of Hope. This is a portable trailer that has two residential style bathrooms inside to serve the homeless as well. It has been a major effort to get this new feature available on the Central Coast. There are about 2000 homeless people in SLO County.

They go from temporary emergency shelter, then transitional housing to then, hopefully finding permanent housing.

Tim is also a man of many talents and interests. For twelve years he had a graphic design business. He owns a boat and loves to go to Morro Bay to fish and dive. He is a instructor in scuba and a regular presenter at Historical Societies where he does 12 to 15 presentations a year. Then there are the Native American Tribes that Tim has worked with for many years. He feels they are the most impoverished group in the country and helps them with their businesses and other problems.

Tim has boundless energy to be a productive human being. Being a member of the SLO Archeology Society, he is most excited about being a Historical Site Steward.

Places like the Carrizo plains are visited

by Site Stewards two to three times a year to see that they haven’t been vandalized or harmed by nature.

At the present time his hope is to get more affordable housing in the SLO area. It actually is a problem all over California. Tim meets regularly with the SLO City Council and helps

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Tim also supports the new program developing with Transitions Mental Health, where the homeless people are immediately put into housing. The program is called 50 Now Housing and houses the 50 most vulnerable and chronically homeless while assessing their needs.

where he can. He directs people to a group called Home Share SLO. They connect people with homes that may have an extra room or rooms that they can rent. This works well with Seniors as it helps with their expenses and gives them another person in the house.

Whether it’s working with the homeless, teaching scuba, finding archeological sites, or enjoying math problems, Tim lives a very full life benefitting a whole lot of people along the way.

Tim is currently the Program Manager of Becky Jorgeson’s latest effort called Show-

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PEOPLE

melisa beveridge natural history illustrator

By Will Jones

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ike so many talented, creative people who have migrated to the Central Coast, Melisa Beveridge, veterinary technician and accomplished natural history illustrator, followed a circuitous route to get here. She was born in Oberlin, Ohio, in 1975, lived in the country “in the middle of a bunch of cornfields.” Her father built a house on their property, adding a garden, a vineyard and an orchard. “We played outside a lot, in the big irrigation ditches and the fields.” Both Army nurses, her parents met while on duty in Vietnam. “They didn’t talk about their experience very much,” Melisa said quietly.

Spending time outdoors helped develop Melisa’s interest in nature.

“My dad paid us ten cents a bowl to pick peas and raspberries. He built a green bean tepee out of PVC and vines for us to hang out in.

That was my favorite. We collected toads, fireflies in jars, spiders.”

Melisa experienced her first success as an artist when she was ten, winning a county FFA poster contest. “I always thought my friend and I were the only two who entered,” she said with a laugh.

Melisa took all the art classes in high school, was a cheerleader, and ran cross country and track. She enrolled at Bowling Green University as an art major, the beginning of an odyssey that eventually brought her to the Central Coast. “I was a hippie type, going to Grateful Dead concerts, while studying computer art when that was new.” Melisa followed the Dead during the summer between her first two years in college, the last tour before Jerry Garcia died.

Melisa continued to travel when she returned to the mainland, settling in Montana for ten years after her van broke down in Missoula. She lived in Missoula and the Bitter Root Valley, working in a futon store, a coffee shop and an herbal medicine store. “I wanted to be an herbalist, but I didn’t get into the school I wanted to attend. Instead I apprenticed on an herb farm. Just before I started, my dad died in a car accident, so I went back to Ohio to help my mom, where I stayed about a month.”

Melisa returned to live in Blodgett, about forty-five minutes from Missoula. “I worked as a waitress, at a health food store, and a seed farm where I ran the farm and helped get it certified organic.”

Looking for a change, Melisa transferred to the University of Oregon where she studied art, ceramics and photography, living in a student co-op, in charge of the kitchen. After a year she quit school and spent two years traveling in Volkswagen caravans and lived briefly in Hawaii. “I just wanted to be free and live simply. I arrived on Kauai with two dollars. I supported myself by crocheting bikinis, selling them to boutiques, living on the beach.”

A broken leg suffered in a wake boarding accident derailed Melisa’s plans to buy into a local organic farm. She ended up in bed for almost a year while learning how to walk all over again. “That was the end of the farm idea. I couldn’t bend down. They thought I might not be able to walk again. Through intensive and painful therapy I got to where I could walk but with a stiff leg. My therapist agreed to go further with the therapy and eventually I could walk more or less normally. I

Melisa painting for the Cow Parade promotion.

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Melisa’s Art

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At a Sloth Sanctuary

Melisa in Surgery

received great support from the local community throughout the whole ordeal.”

With her options limited as a result of her injury, Melisa enrolled at the University of Montana to earn a degree in biology and complete her degree in art. She participated in a Wilderness and Civilization program.

As an internship for that program she drew a plant guide, which is when she realized what she wanted to do. “I wanted to draw plants, become a science illustrator. I looked into schools online and started attending the Guild of Natural Science Illustrator conferences to learn more and meet people who could help me get into a program in Santa Cruz.”

With a degree in biology, a degree in art, and a minor in wilderness studies, Melisa was accepted into the very competitive year-long Science Illustration Program at UC Santa Cruz. “It was really intense. We were drawing all day. I met talented people from all over the world.” Her work in Santa Cruz led to an internship at the Natural History Museum in New York City, where she drew turtle skull fossil reconstructions, which led to a job as an illustrator for the paleontology department. Melisa also interned with Natural History Magazine, eventually being hired and becoming the assistant art director.

“Then the recession hit. The magazine went out of business, no one had money to hire illustrators, and it was also a time when print was dying.” Melisa hung on at the museum, and through a previous contact she contracted to illustrate a beautiful butterfly book, “Inside Butterflies,” by Hazel Davies.

Love those Dogs

While again contemplating her future, and to honor an animal loving friend who had recently died, Melisa went to Costa Rica to volunteer at a sea turtle sanctuary to rescue sea turtles and protect them from poachers.

She also contacted a sloth sanctuary and arranged to trade drawings of sloth digestive systems for housing. “Protecting the sea turtle eggs from poachers was serious business. The poachers had guns and they shot at people.”

Melisa was hired by the Animal Care Clinic, working with five doctors including Bonnie Markoff, the clinic’s owner. “It’s challenging work, mentally, physically and emotionally, but that’s where I find my serenity, working with animals. I just love them so much. By helping animals I’m helping people. It’s stressful, but the work makes me feel closer to God, more calm and serene.”

Working at the sloth sanctuary, observing necropsies and surgeries, revived Melisa’s childhood interest in veterinary science. “I wanted to help animals through drawing, but I thought maybe I can help animals physically as well.” Back in New York, walking dogs for a living, unable to find work as an illustrator, she enrolled at Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York, to become a veterinary technician. “I got a job at One Love Animal Hospital in Brooklyn and spent the next three years working full time, learning to be a vet tech, going to school part time, interning at the Central Park, Prospect Park and Queens zoos.”

Melisa continues to work as a natural science illustrator. She painted an anatomically correct cow, inside view, for the fantastically successful Cow Parade which raised over $2,000,000 for local charities. The cow is on permanent display outside of the Animal Care Clinic on Tank Farm Road. She continues to freelance for the Natural History Museum doing publication design, and to work on a series of butterfly and moth drawings, as well as insects, one of her passions as an illustrator.

Pushed out of New York by the cost of living, and not really a city person, Melisa came to visit her sister who was living in Grover Beach.

“I wanted to be near my sister, Stacey, a science education teacher, and my young nephew. I traveled with her to visit schools and help her dig up worm bins, dropping off applications at animal hospitals along the way. We went to San Luis Obispo for lunch at the Bliss Café, and that’s when I knew I could live here.”

After a false start with one local hospital and an intensive interview process,

Melisa recently donated her art to the “Forget Me Not” silent art auction at The Villages, among many other fund raisers in the community to which she contributes.

“Through my work we raised over $13,000 for Pacific Wildlife Care, the Land Conservancy, Guide Dogs of America, Equestrian Therapy, and other nonprofits.”

“I feel like I’ve had a lot of different lives. I’ve done and experienced a lot, and I want to experience more. But I’m at ease right now, happy here on the Central Coast.”

You can view more of Melisa’s art and illustrations at www.naturalhistoryillustration.com.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

Weekend Getaway

wind wolves park the meeting place

By Chuck Graham

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followed a gurgling creek into gaping San Emigdio Canyon and its snow-covered mountains. Along the way black-tailed deer traversed the steep slopes above and a northern harrier swooped overhead, foraging the side canyons for possibly a brush rabbit.

These were my initial steps into one of the most uniquely diversified regions in California, a stupendous convergence of topography and habitats supporting a wide range of flora and fauna. At 93,000 acres Wind Wolves Preserve is the West Coast’s largest nonprofit preserve.

Wind Wolves is part of The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC), and is one of 15 properties throughout California. Wind Wolves is a place

where the Transverse Ranges, Coast Ranges, Sierra Nevada, western Mojave Desert and San Joaquin Valley all converge on the Kern and Ventura County borders “It’s an extremely diverse and unique ecosystem,” said Landon Peppel, Central Valley and North Coast Regional Director for TWC and Preserve Manager at Wind Wolves. “It’s a big preserve that’s influenced by a wide range of habitats.”

On my first morning hiking the preserve I took the San Emigdio Canyon Trail along the creek to the Canyon de los Osos Wetlands Trail. In the back of the canyon I was surprised to see a huge herd of sheep grazing the canyon floor. Considering the environmental impacts on such a stunning landscape, I was curious about the purpose of the herbivores.

Peppel explained to me that before Europeans arrived, the canyon and valley floors were carpeted in low-growing plants that benefitted what are now endangered and threatened species like San Joaquin kit foxes, antelope ground squirrels, blunt-nosed leopard lizards and burrowing owls. Today those sheep are enhancing a return to a natural balance.

“The goal of the sheep is trying to keep the thick grasses out and keep the wildlife happy,” continued Peppel. “These Mediterranean grasses are super competitive.

As the sheep continue to eat the thick grasses, native seeds are planted behind them. Wind Wolves has a whopping 550 plant species, and since 2012 approximately 5,000 plants have been put in the ground across the expanse of the preserve. Tule elk have also been returned to the preserve. Currently there are 200 elk. With the

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amount of acreage in Wind Wolves possession, the preserve has the ability to hold 2,000 Tule elk. Once the herd reaches that number Tule elk will die of attrition and allow for more foraging for endangered California condors.

The preserve was originally owned by John C. Fremont, a military officer and explorer back in the 1800s. With 52 animal species, close to 200 bird species and 23 reptiles and amphibians on the preserve, there’s a lot to protect at Wind Wolves.

“You have to look at the land,” said Peppel. “You have to pay attention. It’s challenging, but it’s the world we live in.”

This past spring I returned to Wind Wolves three more times. San Emigdio Canyon is the pulse of the preserve. It’s fortified north and south by steep mountainsides and the trails run along a boulderstrewn stream choked in oak and cottonwood trees and poison oak.

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year for wildflowers. A couple weeks later I returned with my wife Lori. What a difference a couple weeks more made. I’d never seen wind poppies before or the California jewel flower, an endangered wildflower and one of the Golden State’s rarest. There were sweeping carpets of yellows, oranges, purples and pinks and hardly anyone around. Watermelon-colored Mariposa lilies and stands of Parry’s mallow were still in bloom late into May. On the adjacent ridgeline is the Tule Elk Trail. The ascent up was steep and shrouded in hillside daisies, but once atop the windswept terrace more wildflowers, such as blue dicks and popcorn flowers had sprung to life in full bloom and the ridgeline offered incredible views into the depths of several side canyons leading into the Los Padres National Forest.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY Elevations in Wind Wolves fluctuate greatly from 600 to over 6,000

feet. It was noticeably cooler on the plateaus and there was no cover from the chilly winds blowing off the western Sierra. Then a small band of black-tailed deer momentarily took my mind off the frigid conditions, unique topography creating its own little microclimate in a preserve oozing in biodiversity.

Let our family take care of your family.

Wildflowers were beginning to carpet the hills and mountainsides.

Hillside daisies, California poppies, popcorn flower, valley phacelia and owl’s clover were all prominent in the preserve. A marauding coyote loped across the canyon floor. A sleepy gopher snake poked its head out of the crunchy leaf litter, and a Bewick’s wren filled the canyon with birdsong.

JUST LIKE HOME

http://wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_windwolves.htm.

I took the trail leading toward Reflection Pond. It was still a little early, but the potential was there. It was going to be an excellent

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HOME/OUTDOOR

madama butterfly

japan’s red sun rises in san luis Obispo october 14th and 15th

By Liz Dodder Hansen

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Internationally acclaimed soprano Rena Harms as Madama Butterfly.

ope. Devotion. Betrayal. Honor. One of the most beloved operas of all time, this October 14 and 15 Japan’s red sun rises in San Luis Obispo with a new Grand Opera production of Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece, Madama Butterfly!

Madama Butterfly immediately captures audiences with the mystery and exoticism of the orient. Set in the Port of Nagasaki, among cherry blossoms and the looming snow-covered Mount Fuji, a little hut overlooks the Sea of Japan. Alhadeff says “Madama Butterfly is a story linked to a very specific time and place in history. It’s the dawn of the 20th century and Japan’s borders are newly opened to colonialism with America eager to begin trade. That’s an exciting time that audiences can conjure a clear picture from Hollywood blockbusters like The Last Samurai (2003) and Memoirs of a Geisha (2005). Similarly, this is how Butterfly premiered in 1904 and a good part of the reason why it has remained in the top five most popular operas ever since.”

The Madama Butterfly production team (L-R), Justine Prado, Ryan Beck, Randon Pool, Lisa Deyo, Andrew Silvaggio, Brian Asher Alhadeff, Melody Svennungsen, Rick Adamson, Kimberly Gutierrez, Sharon Dobson and Edna Garabedian.

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The young, beautiful geisha named Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly) has renounced her family religion, adopted Christianity, and is about to be married to Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, an American naval officer.

While the impressionable Butterfly takes the marriage very seriously, Pinkerton is not sure whether his feelings for her are love or whim.

HOME/OUTDOOR Rena Harms as Butterfly Photo by Tom Bowles

Nevertheless they marry, and soon thereafter Pinkerton and his ship sail away. Abandoned by her friends and family, three long years pass and Butterfly is virtually destitute. She and her 3-year-old son believe in Pinkerton’s promise of return, and finally one morning, they spot his ship! As fate docks, Butterfly, her son, and faithful servant Suzuki joyously prepare for their reunion. Will Pinkerton and Butterfly find love again? Will their family finally be complete? Or will she be forgotten?

An internationally acclaimed cast of leading artists will settle in San Luis Obispo for this production, beginning with soprano Rena Harms as Madama Butterfly. Harms has recently performed the title role with English National Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and Arizona Opera. Praised by the San Francisco Chronicle for a “winningly liquid” voice as well as for her “dramatic vividness and vocal flourish,” Rena Harms is a Santa Fe native who brings an incredible body of opera experience to this production.

OperaSLO is also excited to welcome back another singer of international acclaim in the role of Suzuki, Karin Mushegain. Ms. Mushegain played the title role in OperaSLO’s 2013 production of Carmen. She also performed with Maestro Alhadeff and the OperaSLO

Brian Asher Alhadeff conducts the 2016 production of La Boheme.

Photo by Luis Escobar

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Grand Orchestra last August in Symphony at Sunset: Pops Under the Stars at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. “She is definitely one of my favorite living mezzos” says Alhadeff.

Ms. Mushegain, called “superb” by The New York Times, and possessing “a rich voice and infectious theatricality”

by Colorado Gazette, brings dynamic electricity to the role of Suzuki.

Larin Mushegain as Carmen in the 2013 Opera SLO production.

Tenor Christopher Bengochea Photo by Luis Escobar performs the role of Butterfly’s husband, Benjamin Franklyn throughout the United States and Asia.

Pinkeron. The Chicago Tribune described his voice as “flawless….He has comAndrew Silvaggio celebrates his sixth conmand of Italianate style along with ringing top secutive production with OperaSLO as Lead notes and a smooth legato–a fine, even draChoreographer. Alhadeff affectionately touted matic, tenor…”. Bengochea has enjoyed a very “Drew is an amazing talented collaborator with rich singing career performing leading roles in a keen ability to brilliantly choreograph across opera companies throughout the US and abroad a variety of genres.” And Maestro Alhadeff has including Opera San Jose, Atlanta Opera, Teatro again amassed a veritable army of artists behind Felice, and Opera Canada to name a few. “Mr. this Citywide Arts Collaboration. “Opera is the Bengochea sang with OperaSLO 15 years ago Olympics of classical music”, says Alhadeff, “and when he was early in his career, so it’s really our patrons thrill in seeing their artistic comexciting to bring him back and experience his munity harmoniously together on one stage.” talent come full circle,” says Maestro Alhadeff.

This production will include the collaborative talents of the Central Coast Children’s Choir, Baritone Gregorio Gonzales returns to OpCivic Ballet San Luis Obispo, Deyo Dances, and eraSLO in the role of Sharpless, Pinkerton’s Studio @-Ryan’s American Dance.

Japanese consul. Gonzalez was also featured

in last August’s Symphony At Sunset: Pops Under the Stars at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. He has been hailed by the great tenor Plácido Domingo as “possessing a beautiful and musical voice,” and has wowed audiences in major opera companies including Opera Virginia, San Diego Opera and Nederlandse Opera. Gonzalez was also a member of the original cast of LA Opera’s production of Daniel Catan’s Il Postino and went on to tour the work in Mexico’s Palacio de Bellas Artes, and at Vienna’s Theater an der Wien.

This production is directed by world famous mezzo-soprano Edna Garabedian, who has performed leading roles to critical acclaim with the San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, Houston Opera, San Diego Opera, Arizona Opera, Baltimore Opera, Spoletto Festival, Virginia Opera, Stuttgart Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Karlsruhe Opera, Nurnburg Opera, Staatsoper Bonn, and Munich Opera to name just a few. Ms. Garabedian was Deputy Stage Director for Raffa Productions “cast-of-a-thousand” European touring production of Aida that featured noted opera stars Leontyne Price, Grace Bumbry, and Raina Kabaivanska. She has directed over 100 different productions

OperaSLO is proud to feature a Children’s Arts Showcase: a new educational initiative directly connected to this production. Both performances will give 2,200 patrons the opportunity of seeing the lobby of the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo adorned with art inspired by Madama Butterfly, as created by young artists from public schools throughout San Luis Obispo County. This initiative is part of a growing partnership between OperaSLO, County Superintendent Dr. James Brescia, and the San Luis Obispo Offices of Education, demonstrating that music education is positively linked to the intellectual and emotional development of our youth.

In continuous operation since 1985, Opera San Luis Obispo is the region’s only professional opera company, and one of four Grand Opera producing companies in the state. OperaSLO productions feature full orchestras, choruses, ballet, lavish sets and costumes, and nationally and internationally acclaimed artists in leading roles.

Tickets for Madam Butterfly Oct 14 and 15 are available at PACSLO.org or at (806) 756-4849.

Join us for a pre-opera talk led by John Frey one hour before curtain at each performance.

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Uncovering our history, revealing ourselves

slo history center’s research room

By Susan Stewart

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umans have been telling stories since we first acquired the language to tell them. It’s been our way of understanding ourselves, of making sense of the world around us, of passing along what we’ve learned, of honoring those who came before us.

“We believe that the ability to remember and tell stories of our families and friends is the cornerstone of our humanity,” said Eva Ulz, Executive Director of the History Center of San Luis Obispo County.

“And the ability to collect and share those stories is an important human right!”

Since 1955, The History Center (then known as the San Luis Obispo Historical Society) has been gathering the documents, photographs, and objects that tell the story of our county from its earliest inhabitants to the present. The handwritten ledger books that were the preferred recording method at the time, have since evolved to a highly sophisticated “relational” software program capable of storing detailed metadata that can explain the origin of an obscure cattle brand, prove the heritage of a mysterious plot of land, provide the missing link in a family tree, or reveal the face of a long-lost relative.

Today’s History Center holds countless thousands of undiscovered facts, and its Research Room is one of the most undiscovered of them all! Between 2001 and 2002, a dedicated space in the Carnegie Library building (at 696 Monterey Street near the Mission) was created to house the collections, a non-circulating library of local history books, and subject files on the people, places, and events of our county. Open to the public Wednesday through Friday and Saturdays by appointment, it is staffed by Cindy Lambert, collections manager, and Aimee Armour-Avant, archivist. So, as the website says … “Whether you’re writing a book, researching a paper, or compiling your family tree, the Research Room is the place to start.”

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Volunteers Bill Pierotti (left) and Allan Ochs assist researchers.

HOME/OUTDOOR Headed by longtime volunteers, Allan Ochs and Bill Pierotti, there is also a dedicated cadre of talented volunteers, themselves passionate historians who’ve taken the time to learn the content of the collections and provide valuable assistance to visitors, students, and researchers.

Eva Ulz, Executive Director SLO History Center.

“Not only do they help visitors find answers to a wide variety of questions, they also maintain and build our subject files, work with staff to identify and catalog original materials, and answer questions via email,” said Ulz.

This past summer, for example, the descendants of H.M. Warden stopped by the Research Room looking for information that would complete their family history in progress. An important person in our city’s history during the late 1800s, Horatio Moore Warden founded the city’s first bank, served as a school trustee, and as a county supervisor. A local building and a bridge were named for him.

According to archivist Aimee Armour-Avant, the family and the History Center both benefitted from the modern Warden family’s visit to the Research Room. “Photos were exchanged, and important discoveries were made on both ends,” she said.

Last month, Collections Manager Cindy Lambert received in inquiry from the California Judicial Center Library in San Francisco. The caller was looking for biographical information on former California Supreme Court Clerks, one of whom lived in this county—one Preston K. Woodside. Lambert helped them find it, along with a photograph, to be included in a state-wide exhibit.

Another recent discovery helps to round out our knowledge of the Hearst family’s impact on our county. A deed was uncovered in the Research Room’s record book revealing that, in addition to buying the land where his son would soon build his famous castle, George Hearst (William Randolph’s father) had also purchased the mineral rights to land surrounding the Avila hot springs. “As far as we can tell, he never exploited them,” Ulz added.

But it’s the stories of everyday people that help us connect to each other, and to our shared human past. A 2017 Collections Inventory Report lists dozens of fascinating items divided into three categories: the Permanent Collections, the Research and Education Collections, and an Institutional Archive. Here, familiar names such as Sandercock, Sauer, Cattaneo, and Maino stand out, along with Sinsheimer,

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Preservation specialist Barclay Ogden teaches the staff to construct archival boxes for fragile ledger books.

Tognazzini, Dallidet, and Louis (as in the Ah Louis family). Drawings, sketchbooks, and illustrations can be explored along with artifacts like cattle brands, quilts, and scrapbooks. Toys, vehicles, and weapons share space with photographs, newspapers, and oral histories.

Aimee Armour-Avant uses bar codes to keep track of original documents and photographs.

Following the professional standards set by the American Alliance of Museums and other respected oversight agencies, the History Center has been working hard in recent years “… to improve and expand our cataloging system, digitize collections and make them available online … to make our items more discoverable to researchers in the digital age,” said Ulz. The Research Room is just one facet of the hard-working, multipurpose History Center. This summer the Center hosted three popular exhibits: Tranquility Disrupted, the story of Japanese exclusion during World War II; Once Upon a Time in the West, and The Way We Wore, a fashion retrospective. Coming soon is a new exhibition celebrating the Central Coast Wine Classic, now in its 32nd and final year. “We’ll salute Archie McLaren and the other dynamos who organized the auction … and highlight their important philanthropic contributions to our county,” Ulz explained.

Yes, humans have been telling stories forever. And in our county, the History Center is the place where individual stories come together to form a regional narrative. “I love the way that studying history can help us empathize with other people in the present time,” said Ulz, “and work with them to make better choices for our collective future.”

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at the market

german apple pancake muffins

By Sarah Hedger

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ctober is a great time of year on the Central Coast. The air is (hopefully) cooling a bit and with that Autumn produce can be found for the first time of the year.

Oh! And, the smell of new season apples in the air! Taking a drive or ride up See Canyon is not only beautiful to the eyes, but the sweet smell of apples is something that can stay in one’s memory for ages.

Other things to look forward to this month at the market are local nuts, including almonds, walnuts, even chestnuts. Fresh nuts are hard to beat! Other treats to be found are persimmons, kiwis, along with the beginnings of Winter squash and cooler greens. Lots of goodness to be found, and inspired by!

This month’s recipe, German Apple Pancake Muffins, is a bit of a combo platter, being two of my favorite things in one, convenient form.

German apple pancakes are a bit of a novelty however in a muffin form, they take perfectly sauteed apples in a perfect vehicle, being a pancake.

Take this one step further, to the convenience factor of being able to take pancakes on the go, as a muffin, and we have found a delicious,

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whole food based, good-for-you, convenience food. Winner! It also goes together in minutes, cooks in under 20, and provides awesome leftovers for snacks that are great sustenance for any time of the day.

Apples in Autumn are pretty special especially in our region where there are so many trees with so many varieties. It is always best to seek out apples that haven’t been sprayed, so ones that are organically grown, as they can harbor an excessive amount of pesticide that gets transferred straight to us when consumed. Not good! Thus, find naturally grown apples and, taste the difference! I do believe in a blind tasting, one can noticeably taste the difference between an organically grown apple and not. When baking with apples, different varieties can cook very differently. Thus, if you want to cook say applesauce, it will be very different than if you want to make an apple pie because for the sauce you would want a juicy apple that will not necessarily hold its form, and for a pie you do want the apples to be a little less juicy while holding their shape. Firm apples such as Granny Smith, Braeburns, and Jonagolds would be great for this month’s recipe, as for a pie or cobbler.

German apple pancake muffins Makes 8 Pancake Muffins For The Pancake Muffins: 4 large good eggs 2 T water or almond milk 2 T coconut oil or butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla paste 2 T coconut flour While Gala, Jonathan, and Honeycrisp would be good for applesauce.

There are some great guides online that will help with this as well. Anyhow, back to the German Apple Pancake Muffins! The in-season apples add enough sweetness that these muffins require little more, thus they are low in sugar, and high in natural goodness. The muffin itself has more of a pancake or crepe texture, which is good as they aren’t super starchy but more sustaining with the proteins and healthy fats of the eggs. So, get out and pick some local apples! And smell their freshness all the way home to your oven. Enjoy!

½ tsp baking soda 2 T coconut oil or butter 2 organic apples, finely diced 1 tsp raw honey 1 tsp cinnamon Pinch fresh ground nutmeg *Optional- coconut sugar or maple syrup

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray or line 8 muffin tins.

Whisk eggs, water/almond milk, coconut oil/butter, vanilla, coconut flour, and soda in a bowl. Let sit while you prepare the apples. Place a large saute pan over high heat with coconut oil and honey. When hot, add apples. Stir after a couple minutes, sprinkling with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Cook for a couple more minutes and remove from heat. Fold into egg batter. Spoon mixture into muffin tins, sprinkling with coconut sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup. Bake for 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove and serve warm with maple syrup (or as great leftover muffins).

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COMMUNITY

Paso art scene

dean crawford jr.

mixing graphic design with photography

By Dean Crawford Jr. majored in Art and Design with a minor in Social Science. He quickly completed all the art and photography classes available, receiving his degree with honors in two years.

Upon graduating, Dean was offered a position at Mt. San Jacinto College in their Multi Media department, which produced educational slide sets and filmstrips. As an illustrator, he drew and colored visuals which were then photographed and made into educational learning aides. Designing and printing catalogs and brochures were also part of his job duties.

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aised in Northern California, Dean loved the rugged coastlines and redwood groves of Mendocino County. When he was not surfing, he focused on Art and Photography at his local high school. He still remembers his first exposure to photography with a twin reflex film camera and the long darkroom hours in class.

In 1967, his family moved to Riverside County in Southern California. Attending his final year of high school there, he was recruited to help design and draw cartoons for the high school newspaper. Also during his senior year, he worked at the local city newspaper as their “Darkroom Assistant” and gained new experience in photography, publishing and printing.

In 1968, Dean attended Mt. San Jacinto Community College in the Hemet Valley where he

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Around 1975, Dean was hired by Imperial Valley Community College as a Media Specialist to focus on graphic design and photography for the college. During this time, an opportunity became available to take a series of UCLA “Teacher Preparation” classes and he studied how to develop course outlines.

After completing the series, Dean received his Vocational Teaching Credential in Art, Design and Photography for Community Colleges. His first teaching experience was at Imperial Valley College in Graphic Design.

Late in 1978, Dean accepted a job at Cal Poly as their Graphic Artist. Working in the Audiovisual Department, he was responsible for the design of all printed materials for the university which included assisting faculty and administrators in classroom media and their photography needs. Dean also started teaching Graphic Design with the evening college program at Cuesta College.

In 2007, Dean retired from education and Cal Poly with 35+ years of service. Finally he reached a time in his career to develop new skills and with his artist eye, he picked up a camera again, this time digital. Dean decided to mix his graphic design knowledge and skills with his new digital photography images.

The experiment was born! Using Photoshop and playing with colors, textures, positive and negative spacing as well as black and white images, Dean started to develop the mix of media he was looking for. In addition, with the use of special effects filters and more experimenting, his images came alive! Shortly

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In The Bay Rocks

thereafter, using his computer, he developed the look and style he was hoping for in his photography. He then set up a home print studio and office and began to show his new images to the public. With local shows at Cal Poly, city halls, libraries and Studios on the Park, his photography took off! As a photographer, Dean has received numerous first place awards and special merits of excellence for his photography in this county and beyond.

For the last several years, Dean has taught Adult Education courses for the City of Paso Robles. His “location shooting” classes for adults are offered 5 times a year and are full each session. Many local photographers and PRAA Photo Guild members have taken his classes on a regular basis. Dean is also a life time member of the Paso Robles Art Association and has been involved there with art shows monthly.

Dean and his wife Robin travel each year throughout parts of Canada and the north and southwest areas of the United States to photograph the great sights of our countries.

In January 2017, Dean and his friend and fellow photographer, Deb Hofstetter opened their own studio at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles, called Studio 4.

Dean continues to search for those unusual scenes and places in our own countryside to photograph for you!

You can reach him by email at discodean50@ yahoo.com. You can see more of Dean’s work at Studios on the Park, Studio 4, 1130 Pine Street, Paso Robles.

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slam: california contemporary sculpture

By Karen Kile

Flex Cube

“When I walk around a sculpture, I love to be surprised by what I see on the other side,” says Brigitte Micmacker, juror for this year’s SLAM, a biennial exhibition of contemporary sculpture by California artists, opening on September 1 at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art and running through October 29, 2017.

California Sculpture SLAM offers a unique opportunity to see current works by both established and emerging sculptors. This year’s call for entries, without adherence to strict thematic guidelines, inspired an extraordinary collection of sculpture, nearly

Red Diner

doubling the number of artist entries from the inaugural California Sculpture SLAM in 2011. Ranging from pedestal, to freestanding, to wall-mounted pieces, the 49 artworks in this exhibition were selected from 195 entries and include sculpture made from metal, wood, stone, glass, and fabric. The selected artists come from all over California. Twelve selected artists reside in San Luis Obispo County.

SLOMA curator, Ruta Saliklis has been looking forward to designing the look of this year’s SLAM, one of her most challenging exhibitions on the SLOMA calendar.

The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art is located at 1010 Broad Street, on the west end of Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo, California. It is a 501(c)(3) public benefit nonprofit arts organization dedicated to providing and promoting diverse visual arts experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds through exhibitions, education, creation and collaboration. It preserves the artistic legacy of the California Central Coast in its permanent collection. Since 1967 this organization has been the beacon

White Stack

Urban Fossil

for the visual arts in its region. The Museum of Art is currently raising $15 million dollars for a building fund to construct a 21st century building on its present location.

More information about the Museum of Art is available online at www.sloma.org

805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo O C T O B E R

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whar wolf rescue giving wolves a second chance

By Deborah Cash “To live while alive, to love freely and to share the earth with all beings”—Kristi Krutsinger Driving to my interview at the Whar Wolf Rescue sanctuary in Paso Robles, it didn’t occur to me that I might actually end up petting, talking to and running my hands through the fur of real live wolves. I mean, I’ve seen “Dances With Wolves,” and wolves adorn everything from t-shirts and coffee mugs to new age posters; I just assumed these lone, majestic, far-removed and wild creatures would be on one side of the fence where I’d observe in wonder—and they’d snarl back from the other side.

Don’t get me wrong—I was excited to learn more about this project where wolves and wolf-hybrids are given a second chance after being confiscated or abandoned. Captive wolves kept illegally as pets are often used to breed with non-wolves to produce expensive (and adorable) hybrid pups that can develop behaviors that the owners did not anticipate and can’t handle. Whar Wolf Rescue is dedicated to offering these animals a new life. However, no wolves are eligible for adoption; hybrids that are trained and rehabilitated may find new homes.

But, turns out my hopes for a chain link barrier were left at the gate.

After a brief greeting, Whar Wolf Rescue Director Kristi Krutsinger escorted me inside for a personal tour and said, “Let’s visit Shiloh, he’s the ‘Alpha male teacher’ here,” and into a kennel we went. A very large Shiloh came out, sniffed, nuzzled and bumped up against me.

Amazingly, I found that I wasn’t afraid at all and rather saddened at what was happening to these beautiful creatures that they would end up so far removed from their natural habitat—and thankful that they had this wonderful facility and loving people to care for them in spite of how they got here.

After tragically losing a family dog to an accident back in the ‘90s, Kristi and her family adopted two canines, Tundra, a 75 percent wolf

hybrid and Chinook, a Malamute. “We were warned against getting a hybrid,” she said. “There’s a lot of hysteria around wolf mixed breeds but with my background in investigative reporting, I realized there had to be more to the story than what you read in the papers.”

What she found out was that there was a lot of misinformation (e.g. these dogs are inherently dangerous, not true) but more importantly, there was a need of a rescue facility where these animals could be rehabilitated and perhaps adopted to new families. “I just knew I had to do this,” she said, adding that there are a great many wolf hybrids that, as cute young pups, seem like they would make great pets but within a few months begin exhibiting characteristics typical of their wolf/partial wolf parent. “You never know what you’re going to get with a pup,” she said. “It can take on dominant traits of one parent or the other; if it takes after its wolf parent, it will dig dens and bury food, become fiercely territorial, howl and need an incredible amount of space for exercise. Wolves are not domestic dogs, they are wild animals.” Oh, and they don’t play fetching games.

Kristi’s family started out with a few kennels for local hybrids that needed to be temporarily or permanently rehomed. She studied, travelled, took classes and obtained certification in working with the animals that would become her life’s work. An operation that shelters animals at this level must comply with inspections and guidelines by USDA, CA Fish & Wildlife and SLO County Animal Services—essential but expensive—to which end the non profit relies on donations and contributions from educational and tour activities. Because Whar Wolf is unique in its focus—accepting hybrids—they are not eligible for federal funding. “People don’t understand the hybrid,” she laments. “I hope that changes.”

She’s had to go to the mat for her cause: her first facility was on property subject to eminent domain by the county; she was able to work with that agency after much negotiation to rebuild on the current site. In another instance, she received a call from an attorney in Lake Tahoe representing a couple whose hybrid was on “death row” after its third strike of bad behavior. “The judge was convinced the dog—considered a wolf hybrid—was dangerous and destined to be destroyed. I was hired as a expert witness to testify as to the dog’s genetics and condition.” Kristi said she viewed videos of the dog and

Melanie Krutsinger and Shiloh O C T O B E R

Kristi and Harley

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Wolves are also very sensitive to boundaries—theirs and ours. “We don’t like strangers in our space,” she said. “Well, they don’t either. So many problems in societies revolve around boundaries and so understanding and respecting those—for wolves and humans—goes a long way to keeping the peace.”

Chief, a timber wolf used in movies and commercials.

determined there was no way this dog was part wolf. She travelled to Lake Tahoe, met with the judge and presented her argument: “Ultimately this wasn’t the dog’s fault, it was the breeder’s fault who did not represent the dog accurately and left these people with a Malamute breed that they couldn’t control.”

A happy ending: the judge ordered the dog released only to Kristi under a strictly written contract. “Yeah, the dog had issues,” she said, “but we retrained him and it wasn’t long after that he was rehomed to a doctor in the Bay Area. By the time he left, he was even getting along with my cat—no wolf gets along with a cat!”

Wolves are considered apex predators, meaning that in the wildlife ecosystem, they are at the top: when they feed, they also feed the environment around them—other predators, smaller animals, raptors and microorganisms all enjoy the abundance of their kill. They are also very social creatures, much like people.

“There’s so much we can learn from wolves,” Kristi said. “They are very cue-oriented and watchful. I have trained all my animals with the “Point and Shoot” method of basically pointing at them directly and explaining to them what they need to do. It’s actually how humans communicated before there was language: cavemen pointed at each other and then pointed at what they needed or wanted.

Even though we’re taught it’s impolite to point, it’s very effective,” she laughed, though she added more seriously that with her training methods, the wolves have also provided a way for them to convey their needs to her. “I know exactly what they’re thinking and what they want,” she said.

Kristi, her board, staff and volunteers work every day to care for their charges and raise the awareness of wolf-as-pet, wolf/hybrid issues. WHAR (Wolf Hybrid Adoption & Rescue) Wolf Rescue, according to the website whar.org, has gone from being a small-town animal rescue to an education and resource facility for captive born part and full blood wolves for the seven western states. Their facility, open for tours weekly Friday – Sunday, boasts a full-service mission of care, concern, education and heartfelt devotion to wolves and hybrids and welcomes visitors and anyone who’d like to be part of “anything wolf!”

Shiloh with visitors from the YMCA camp.

Your LOCAL Kitchen Shop is still here to serve you!

SPECIAL PRICING BY MENTIONING THIS AD Forden’s will be moving, but there’s still time to take advantage of popular brands at exceptional prices!

805-543-1090 Mon–Sat 9:30am–5:30pm

857 Monterey Street · SLO www.fordens.com O C T O B E R

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HISTORY ON THE HOOF DAY TRIPS INTO THE PAST

Mission San Miguel 1863

San Miguel

By Joe Carotenuti

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istory quite often works overtime to impress us. Just travel to major cities and there are multiple opportunities to visit the past. Museums, galleries, homes and buildings–even large expanses of the countryside like Gettysburg–defy available time…and budgets. It may even get a little disconcerting that locals seem unimpressed or even aware of the pageant of history in their own backyards.

Those of us along the central coast don’t need to worry about large concentrations of the past in one cosmopolitan – and congested location. Our history is spread like an uneven coat of peanut butter among various locations. There is little concern that a stop along the coastal ribbon called 101 (often tracing the earliest mission trails) will require making difficult choices as to where to visit. Indeed, we have the opposite. There isn’t an overabundance, and we may ignore some.

For instance, mention San Miguel to a history buff and the first response will refer to that alluring beacon into our pioneer past, the magnificent Mission San Miguel de Archangel. Some may even recall the gruesome Reed family murders, a business partner to the focus of our day trip. Mention 1850 and the expected response is the Gold Rush (which started two years earlier). Yet, within an easy walk from the 16th mission is a rare reminder that real people with real lives roamed the past seeking much of what today’s pioneers to future generations called a life.

Let’s start.

First, meet Petronilo Ríos born on the eve of the Mexican War of Independence in 1806. In many ways, his life was replicated by thousands of others during the “quiet years” of Mexican rule overtaken by that of America in the quarter century between the former’s accession to power (1821) and the latter’s invasion in 1846.

We know little of his early life except he received some form of education as he qualified as a corporal. Probably already a military member, he makes his historical appearance locally by the early 1830s. Our

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Golden State was not a popular destination as at one time, a criminal conviction could be served in a Mexican prison or “volunteering” to go to its northern Department of California. For Rios and for many, throughout our national history, the unknown land held a better hope for the future.

Rios served under the self-appointed General Mariano Vallejo as a corporal commanding the small detachment stationed at San Miguel Mission and included marriage to the twenty-year old Catarina Avila in 1832. Eventually, the two were parents to 12 children.

Retiring in 1840, two years later the family located on the Rancho San Bernabe in the Salinas Valley. Rios had obtained about a 9000 acre land grant. It was not unusual for retiring officers to be granted land as a reward for service. There the growing family raised cattle, crops, and wine grapes. They did not remain on the rancho for long as Rios came into ownership of the Rancho Paso de Robles.

In 1845, the brood moved to their new rancho. Good fortune must have been a companion as the next year, he and his partner William Reed bought the San Miguel rancho from the soon to be deposed Governor Pio Pico.

Rios’ good fortune continued but not Reed’s. While the former settled in Paso Robles, Reed established residence in the mission and in 1848, he and ten others were victims of one of California’s most horrific murders. Petronilo buried the victims and Catarina Rios later provided her remembrances of the gruesome story. This episode of central coast Rios Caledonia Adobe

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team moved into the adobe and continued their bucolic life with the now considered cursed (and for some today, haunted) mission within view.

The Rios family did not stay long in the area and by 1857 sold their Paso Robles holdings to that community’s most famous pioneers, the Blackburn brothers, and moved to Santa Cruz where Rios died in 1870. A new owner of the adobe in 1868, George Butchard, contributed the name Caledonia remembering his Scottish roots. Caledonia is another name for Scotland.

Mariano Vallejo

history is best told in Wally Ohle’s The Lands of Mission San Miguel.

Some sources recount the adobe had by then already been constructed around 1846 with Rios overseeing native laborers. Everything was built by hand from the adobe bricks to the hand-hewn timbers to the rawhide laced beams. In any case, by 1851, the entire family

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Through their diligent effort, we are the beneficiaries as the adobe contains many mementos helping us focus on the earliest life of the state’s pioneers. They sponsor events at the adobe and welcome all.

You are also invited to join this writer in October or November as we step back in time to remember the Rios family and visit their remarkable home.

Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com Please visit: www.joefromslo.com

Over the past 160 plus years, the house that Rios built has been an inn, stage stop, dairy, doctor’s office, school, family home and even a mattress factory. Given its age and the vagaries of time and human abuse, this gem could have returned to the earth as melted adobe.

Fortunately, heroes appeared to save the structure and enrich our lives. After purchase by the County four years previous, the Friends of the Adobes was formed in 1968 to promote the restoration and maintenance of the adobe as well as the Estrella Adobe Church, another deserving stop on your day trip.

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IN AN EMERGENCY?

• Knowing how to respond should a disaster strike is an important step to keeping yourself and your family safe.

Do not dial 9-1-1 unless you are in need of immediate lifesaving assistance. • First identify if you need to take protective actions by tuning to a local radio or TV station for emergency information. Emergency officials will use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to direct protective actions such as evacuations or sheltering in place. It is important to only take action if it is directed. Evacuating when it is not ordered may put you or others in harm’s way. • Only pick up children from school if you are directed to do so. • Evacuation routes and shelters will also be broadcast on the EAS. • During a large emergency, the county will activate a phone assistance center to answer questions regarding the emergency and actions you should take. • For more information, contact the County Office of Emergency Services at (805) 781-5011, or visit www.slocounty.ca.gov.

OUR ALERT & NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS MAY BE USED FOR ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY OUR ALERT AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS MAY BE USED FOR ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY TSUNAMI

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history

William L. Beebee Part 2

By Joe Carotenuti

F

rom his home on the east coast to a voyage around Cape Horn to South America and then to the newly conquered Mexican territory on the western front of the nation, the nineteen-year-old William L. Beebee was a curious (and courageous) young man imbued with a sense of wonder and opportunity. There was a promising future available somewhere. The task was finding just what opportunity was best for him.

After working the newly announced gold fields and a clerk’s position in San Jose, he even tried a bit of land speculation by purchasing a lot in San Francisco for less than $17 and selling it for nearly 1000 times more ($1600) in 1849. Life in San Francisco at the dawn of Statehood was far from stable as the only governance by the occupying federal forces had to contend with many a man rushing to the nearby beaconing call of riches called gold.

His story continues.

For the young pioneer, it is doubtful he had much interest in meeting anyone famous…or famous someday. While he may not have sensed their eventual notoriety, he must have sensed their enterprise. Indeed, he had already met some who are remembered today, not for knowing the New Yorker, but for other deeds. As Beebee sailed for Chili, another passenger was the American attaché, Henry D. Cooke. A year older than Beebee, he was ambitious and it was his observations during this trip that led to the founding of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, a pioneering effort to transport mail between the Isthmus of Panama and California. When the District of Columbia was legislatively declared a territory by Congress, he was one of only two governors appointed by President Grant serving between 1871 and 1874.

Another was Thomas Jefferson Farnham. While nearing the end of his life (1848), he had already traveled extensively in the west publishing his recollections. Travels in the Californias, and Scenes in the Pacific Ocean (1844) was the first of many including posthumously

issued books. The monotonous seaboard life left ample time for tales of trails and escapades.

The initial sea voyage to South America was not the only opportunity to meet future notables. On the Southampton to San Francisco, as mentioned last month, the Executive Office was John Lorimer Worden (1818-1897). Civil War buffs know him as the commanding officer of the USS Monitor that in the Battle of Hampton Roads (1862) sunk the Confederate vessel, Virginia, and changed naval history.

Another passenger for Monterey was George D. Brewerton, a lieutenant in Jonathan Stevenson’s New York Regiment heading to aide in the California conflict. Local pioneer, Walter Murray, was also in the regiment but on another ship. Today, Brewerton is well remembered for his paintings memorializing his varied and eclectic life.

After months of travel by sea and a temporary home ashore along with wanderings through the predominant Spanish-speaking new world, the raw prospects of the future Golden State held even more promise. Beebee’s fluency in Spanish would prove a lasting asset as he entered into another adventure with a new and lifelong friend, Samuel Adams Pollard.

While Beebee arrived on the west coast by ship, Pollard had done so primarily by land after service in the Mexican-American War. His generous contributions to local history have been extensively recounted in these pages (Journal Plus: July to September 2011). Five years older than Beebee, the enterprising young man (1824-1904)

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efforts to provide for an orderly community.

Eventually, the larger mission settlement needed the protection by Vigilance Committees, just as their new home would some ten years later.

There were few opportunities open to the young men outside the City on the Bay or the mines surrounding it especially for nonprofessionals. The large ranchos had little to offer other than manual labor. Non-agricultural jobs centered around servicing the agricultural community. Even “government” positions were few and mostly part-time.

There was no resemblance to the sinecures offered today. Salaries were often pegged to a percentage of any funds generated for civic coffers.

President Ulysses S. Grant

shared at least one attribute with his new friend: both were seeking a place in their world in a strange land with the best opportunities afforded those with both initiative and tenacity. If you were to make a mark in your world, you did it by your own grit. Today at least remembers Beebee with a street name; sadly, Pollard is all but forgotten.

Both must have found the San Francisco society uninviting and certainly unrewarding. Having attempted to seek his future as a clerk and gold miner, Beebee (as had Pollard) was ready for a move physically south and mentally to yet another opportunity for success. The decision to travel to San Luis Obispo, a small former mission settlement described by one traveler as “rusty,” or to enter into the mercantile world is not known.

Both had arrived in San Francisco in 1849 in time to experience the tumult and uncertainty of the mushrooming settlement. Gold was more than a fever but an enormously consuming obsession that obliterated any

True, they could emulate even earlier pioneers and marry into the landed gentry.

However, it was not the province of a prospective bride to agree but her parents and non-Hispanics were suspect. Eventually, Pollard did so with the Dana family in Nipomo.

There seemed only one possible avenue: selling merchandise not locally produced. While San Francisco had an abundance of business locations (that burned to the ground with disheartening regularity), records indicate few goods available locally.

It was a bold, unique investment. Simply constructing the adobe building was a major undertaking. Pollard left many records to the future including the expensive construction project.

Samuel Adams Pollard

Progress was not the only reward as the building was assessed $3000 within two years. By then, Beebee owned over 1000 acres that was sure to yield revenue for the county treasury.

Trade proved to be an initial investment in the community, and their lives. Both went on to other ventures. For Beebee, his tomorrows included ranching and the legal community.

He had finally found a home!

Finally, the opening of the new adobe store at the corner of Monterey and Chorro Streets was a major social event with an inaugural ball remembered for years afterwards. After all, two young men actually investing in construction before statehood underscored the determination to sink roots into the fledgling settlement! For those in the future County Seat, merchandise from San Francisco would be available. On the eve of Statehood, some progress had reached the valley.

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COMMUNITY

our schools

college night welcomes local students

By James J. Brescia, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools

“Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

—John Dewey Throughout life, each individual is ultimately responsible for his or her college or career pathway. Today’s rapidly changing world presents us with new educational opportunities and career paths that are constantly unfolding. Traditional paths are different, and shifts are taking place in occupation skills and educational requirements throughout every sector. These changes are a result of new technology, changes in organizational design and the trend towards global business operations. Because of this ever constant change, it is critical that we promote and take advantage of opportunities to obtain information and plan for the future.

Once a plan is in place an individual is better equipped to take advantage of changes in the economy and job market. An upcoming opportunity to plan is our county-wide College Night which will be held on the evening of October 30th at the Cuesta College’s San Luis Obispo Campus. Events such as College Night are excellent opportunities for local high school students and their families to meet with representatives from colleges and universities throughout California as well as other states. Many University of California (UC) and California State

University (CSU) Campuses, Cuesta Community College, the United States Military and Naval Academies, as well as other independent and private colleges, will make up the over 50 institutions planning to present. College Night is sponsored by the Harold J. Miossi Trust, the San Luis Obispo Community Foundation in partnership with Cuesta College, the Cuesta College Foundation and the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education.

College Night builds on similar events previously held in our county but has expanded to include free transportation from the north and south county courtesy of the San Luis Obispo County Regional Transit Authority (SLORTA). The event will be held at the Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo Campus, in the Student Services Center (Building 5400) with workshops held every hour on college preparation between 5:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Opportunities to meet college representatives will be from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Free parking is available.

College Nights are provided to assist students and their families with the array of decisions involved in selecting a college or university.

These decisions have grown increasingly complex over the years because of the variety of choices and the escalating cost of higher education. Budget reductions during the recession decreased high school counseling services that were once a mainstay in assisting students and their families with college and career decisions. Events like College Night are an important resource for students and families. The Central Coast is very fortunate that our community has stepped up to assist one of our most precious resources, our youth.

The evening will be a chance to meet and speak directly with representatives from the colleges and universities without having to make an appointment. Areas such as admission requirements, application procedures, campus housing, costs, availability of campus jobs, transportation, possible majors, and graduation rates are just some of the topics that will be addressed. Students at all high school grade levels should consider attending since decisions regarding college attendance should be considered throughout high school.

In addition to the representatives from the colleges and universities, the evening will also feature some workshops designed to assist students with their college decisions. These workshops include a session on Financial Aid presented by the Cuesta College staff; a presentation on NCAA eligibility and athletic recruiting for students who have prospects of gaining an athletic scholarship or assistance for college; a workshop on “Writing the Application Personal Statement” which is usually an important element in most college admission requirements; a presentation on completing the application for undergraduate admission; and much more.

Students planning to attend events like College Night should prepare to gain the most from these types of evenings. Planning may include: narrowing the possible college choices, consideration of the location of the school, possible offerings, and costs. Lack of pre-planning can

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easily create an overwhelming situation with too many choices. Presentation to any group or college recruiter should also be considered before the evening. We do not have a second chance at a first impression. Some questions to consider include: What are your interests?

Why are you considering this college? What makes your college different from the others?

What type of application is most favorably considered? Are there certain characteristics and qualities that a particular college is seeking to encourage attendance?

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OCTOBER CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

College Night is a unique opportunity for students and families to gain valuable assistance on college attendance. For additional information, contact Heidi Budraitis, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education at hbudraitis@ slocoe.org. There is also a Frequently Asked Questions section on San Luis Obispo County Office of Education’s website: http://www.collegenightslo.com/ “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” —Benjamin Franklin

© StatePoint Media

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: FOOTBALL ACROSS 1. Nancy Drew’s quest, pl.

6. Pilot’s estimate 9. Mummy’s home 13. Caterpillar precursor 14. *Former Jets and Bills head coach 15. Sri Lankan language 16. Modern letter 17. *”Gimme ____ ____!”, start of an Iowa State cheer 18. Kind of acid 19. *Super Bowl LI competitor 21. One practicing self denial 23. Delivery from Santa 24. Criticism 25. Robert De Niro’s 1976 ride 28. Vintners’ valley 30. Skeleton’s place 35. Double-reed instrument 37. Deficiency 39. Period in history

40. Type of parrot 41. Up and about 43. Way, way off 44. Radio receiver 46. Bottom of a boot 47. Cut with a beam 48. Three-dimensional sound 50. Parks on a bus 52. Any ship 53. Go to and fro 55. Swear words 57. *Not passing or kicking 61. *Final football destination 65. Intestinal obstruction 66. Lawyer group 68. Cherished 69. Beside, archaic 70. Port vessel 71. Accustom 72. Young fellows 73. Follow ems 74. *Wake Forest ____ Deacons

DOWN 1. Staff leader 2. Tibetan teacher 3. Europe/Asia mountain divide 4. Put out on a curb 5. Wild West hangout 6. Time periods 7. *Yards needed for first down 8. Relating to axis 9. Like a broken horse 10. Fail to mention 11. Short skirt 12. Country alliance 15. *Stop a player 20. African antelope 22. Baglike structure 24. Manufacturing plant 25. *Indiana’s team 26. Movie “_____ Last Night” 27. Transported 29. *Forward ____ 31. Iridescent gem 32. Chesterfields, e.g.

33. PayPal money 34. *Field goal value 36. Observer 38. Narc’s unit 42. Pine product 45. Fight the power 49. Movie “My ____ Private Idaho” 51. Like a rotten egg 54. Tequila source 56. UV light absorber 57. Iranian money 58. Arm part 59. Not want 60. Women in habits 61. Chows down 62. Female gamete 63. Infamous Roman tyrant 64. “I dream of Jeannie” star 67. Say no

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eye on business People make the place

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

W

hen this issue of Journal Plus hits the streets, Cal Poly will have been back in session for a couple of weeks. Anyone who has lived here a while is familiar with signs of a new school year: groups of WOW students making their way on orientation tours of downtown; parents and first time students loading up on supplies at Von’s, Bed Bath and Beyond and other stores, welcome banners and abundant green and gold greetings posted around town. It’s an annual tradition that brings a feeling of energy and enthusiasm with it. And for those of us who don’t work on campus or attend classes, it’s easy to think of Cal Poly as “over there” and not know much about the inner workings. Cal Poly is a big institution.

It’s also a collection of individuals passionate about what they do. It’s people, who, one by one and day by day, commit to student success and excellence. My husband, Dave, our daughters and I did not go to Cal Poly. My sentiments are not rooted in alumni fervor, but in a firsthand experience that warrants sharing.

Each year before classes commence, Cal Poly hosts a “Fall Conference” that I would

describe as a combination state-of-the-union report and welcome event. It’s held at the PAC and includes presentations by student and staff leaders and a comprehensive update from President Jeffrey Armstrong. I was a first-time Fall Conference attendee this year and was thoroughly impressed by it.

The event included an awards presentation recognizing 13 Cal Poly individuals for their extraordinary work and tremendous success.

Some honorees were nominated by students and some by staff and faculty. Each winner was introduced by a colleague who shared the impressive credentials that were being recognized, but I was most impressed by the personal piece of each nomination that spoke to dedication and commitment delivered day in and day out.

The 13 honorees include high level professors and extraordinary teachers along with staff members. Their stories are all online–and make for great reading--at www.fallconference.calpoly.edu. I want to share a bit about three of the staff members who were honored, because their stories reminded me it’s truly a family of people who make education work.

Josh D’Aquisto is Cal Poly alum (Kinesiology) who has been supervising the Cal Poly Rose Parade Float since 2006. He was ribbed for having a non-running ’72 El Camino parked at his house, while always assuring the Poly float makes it down Colorado Boulevard without incident. Josh dedicates hours and passion to the float project, supervising hundreds of students each year and leading an effort that regularly wins prestigious awards.

The Rose Parade timing on New Year’s Day makes for a crazy, clock ticking holiday season for the entire D’Aquisto family, who has embraced the float as a family affair.

Ray Ward retired in June after 28 years as an equipment technician in the architectural engineering department. A jack-of-all trades expert in everything from electronics to welding and machining, Ray was famous for keeping old and new equipment humming by borrowing parts and finding solutions.

He was on the team that developed the first human powered helicopter. He is described as well-regarded and collaborative, and his choice of shorts and Hawaiian shirt for the award event suggests he’s also someone who has fun. In addition to the workplace support he gave to students, Ray and his wife were active foster parents over the years.

And Monica Cantu is senior custodial manager for facilities management and development, a mouthful that translates to supervising a team of 80 people who care for more than two million square feet of campus spaces. Monica was called the “Energizer Bunny” of the department, doing her job and adding to it by personally providing safety and technical training and offering mentorship in the field. She was lauded for her energy, spirit, selflessness and kindness, and the sincere caring she has for her staff and co-workers along with students and faculty.

There was an oft repeated theme at Fall Conference: the power of people who care, of people who go the extra mile, and of people who believe that we can achieve greater success working together than individually.

What a great premise for starting off a new year in college, and in our community.

O C T O B E R

2017

Journal PLUS

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown SLO

October 2017

Inside: Downtown Perspec t ive Downtown B usiness Spo tlight Far mers' Marke t Vendor P ro f iles

D o w n t o w n

P e r s p e c t i v e

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ometimes, when I am trying to line up an interview for the Downtown Perspective, I find that the most interesting people to sit down with also happen to be the busiest. Jules DuRocher is one of those women. I have been trying to get an interview with her for a while, which is funny since we see each other in meetings almost weekly. At long last, Jules and I sat down to talk about her love for Downtown San Luis Obispo, Jules D. the shop, and her philosophy on Peace, Love and Gratitude.

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Dominic Tartaglia, Executive Director

ules moved to Atascadero as a 16-year-old girl from Riverside and quickly learned about Aggie culture and adapting to a smaller community. Over the years she would visit San Luis Obispo and explore Downtown while building up her wardrobe. She would come over the Cuesta Grade with her friends and make a day of visiting local shops and grabbing a drink at Linnaea’s Café to be a part of the fun scene the café is known for. Later in life Jules worked as

an interior designer and put in years in the industry before coming to a point where she was burned out. That's when Jules took what she calls her “career walk about” and found herself working in the Ducati and Vespa dealership on Monterey Street (now home to iFixit) and working with people. That was her inspiration to find a way to work with people directly and eventually Jules D.

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s the owner of a men’s retail boutique in Downtown San Luis Obispo, I

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he encourages men to come in and ditch the baggy dad jeans that they have been living in and take home a pair of jeans that will turn heads. Once you have a pair of proper fitting jeans, you won’t go back…

On the Cover: The cutest mouse ever made an appearance at last year's Halloween Costume Contest at Downtown SLO Farmers' Market!

This year’s contest is October 26, which is sponsored by Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab. Visit DowntownSLO.com for details on the contest or other Halloween festivities at The Market. Photo by Mukta Naran

FIRE PREVENTION NIGHT Thursday, October 12th Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market • 6-9 PM

Downtown SLO Presents...

Halloween Festivities D ow n tow n S LO F a r m e rs’ M a r ket

Thursday, October 26th

D o w n t o w n T r i c k - o r - T r e a t • 5-8pm Sponsored by: Sean M. Lee, Broker, GRI. THE REAL ESTATE COMPANY Trick-or-Treat in participating Downtown Businesses. Maps and treat bags available at the Union Bank parking lot (Higuera/Osos).

Come help us celebrate National Fire Prevention Week “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!” Meet firefighting heroes from all over San Luis Obispo County and see the newest equipment used in fire safety!

C o s t u m e C o n t e s t • 6:30-8pm Sponsored by: Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab Get creative and compete for some ‘wickedly’ cool prizes. Age groups: 0-2, 3-4, 5-8, 9-12, Pairs and Groups (can include older children, parents and pets!) KJUG will be on location. Sign-ups begin at 5 PM at the Union Bank parking lot (Higuera/Osos).

www.DowntownSLO.com (805) 541-0286 www.DowntownSLO.com

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pressed Jules for her perception on the changes in our neighborhood, and I love her answer. She refers back to the day when she was growing up with department stores and small shops and cafes, and the poetry and art scene and compares that to today's freelance culture that we find in some of the same cafes, certainly in the new ones. There are changes that she notices—but at the core of it—Downtown is still the center where people like to be. There is a Downtown San Luis Obispo experience!

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A Retirement F

P e r s p e c t i v e

ules is all about experiences.

In our interview she elaborates on the Jules D. experience that men have when they walk into her shop and is adamant that the shop is exclusively for Jules DuRocher men. She is passionate about curating her products of high quality with that cool factor that guys want. More importantly, her objective is to have guys leave her shop feeling confident in their appearance and feeling good. She encourages men to come in and ditch the baggy dad jeans that they

Even though prospect have been living in and take home a pair the of jeans that of m youofowe it tofitting yourself t will turn heads. Once youfuture, have a pair proper jeans, you won’t go back to the dad jeans: “You’re carefree living in your own home gonna look good. I love converting those guys.”

Don’t Have to Move T You It’s a fact of life that as we get older,

o get the whole Jules D. story, jump on over to our website and listen to the podcast and try not to laugh as you listen to her talk about her dailysome mantras: They’re a tasks direct become reflectiontoo of her day-to-day attitude and work ethic.

If you want to see much to handle on our own. Thather work ethic and style in action, stop by Jules D. at 672 doesn’t mean you have to move away Higuera Street in Downtown San Luis Obispo.

from the comfort of your home.

Pristine Home Services is a local company that helps San Luis Obispo For more information on County residents avoid the high cost Downtown SLO events, of moving to a retirement facility.

Feel Sa

Pristine licensed All of ou are caref and pass backgro and dru when so in your

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You pay for only the services you need visit www.DowntownSLO.com and we provide those services at a price you can afford.

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D o w n t o w n

B u s i n e s s

S p o t l i g h t

a loan, procured a location, went through the permitting process, and got it up and running Debbie Thomas, Owner ...in a mere three months. Now, after nearly a 858 Monterey Street successful decade of Thomas Hill Organics in Paso, (805) 457-1616 Thomas's SLO location features more fine dining www.ThomasHillOrganics.com and ethnic variety than the Paso location, which is more French-driven and open air (though there ith its large patio doors, vaulted ceilings, are synergies between the two locations). Though clean lines, and white furnishings, Thomas the farm no longer supports the restaurants, both Hill Organics rightfully feels grand. Located locations source from local farmers' markets, above Williams Sonoma in the Chinatown including our very own Downtown SLO Farmers' development on Monterey Street, owner Market on Thursday nights. Chef Dmitry Cotler Debbie Thomas opened the 4,000 square foot shops the markets himself, and is given creative restaurant last fall—a full seven and a half years freedom in his work: a quick review of the menu after the original Thomas Hill Organics was Debbie Thomas. reveals an immense variety of proteins, including opened in Paso Robles. Designer Barry Goyette Photo by Zoya Dixon free-range poultry, grass-fed meats, tuna, salmon accomplished the goal of an approachably and oysters; wood-oven pizzas; vegetarian red elegant fine dining establishment with the generous patio, curry; and a healthy smattering of seasonal fresh salads. Where whimsical light fixtures and plateware, and large scale black to begin? "I love the heirloom tomato & burrata salad and the and white floral photographs, all shot by Barry himself. smoked salmon on potato latkes" says Thomas; both are on the hile working in sales and marketing, Thomas ran a brunch menu. Local beer and wine pair nicely with many items community supported agriculture (CSA) program on her on the menu. Thomas Hill seats 122 and is open for lunch, ten acre organic farm, bestowed with 900 fruit and nut trees dinner and weekend brunch. Enjoy live music at the restaurant and row crops. After several of her accounts closed, and in on Saturday evenings and for Sunday brunch through October. a brilliant stroke of insight, Thomas decided to quit sales and

By Zoya Dixon open a restaurant, and successfully made a business plan, got

Thomas Hill Organics

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in country music as well as introduced the San Luis Obispo community to a few of their original pieces. Since that opening day in rand Ave. is the official band name for May the duo has grown significantly; they PJ Repetto and Derek Breshears. Grover continue to excite market-goers as often as Beach and Cal Poly have been places of huge possible at the Thursday night Market, as well significance for the pair, and both happen to as playing gigs at local venues such as Blast have streets titled Grand Avenue; using this 825 Taproom. The pair has recently enrolled as their band name felt like the perfect fit. in the Nash Next Competition and are finalists These fourth year students at Cal Poly met at KAT Country 103! They have an updated their Freshman year through their fraternity website where fans can read a bit about each PJ Repetto (left) & Derek Breshears. and later realized they shared a love for music of them, watch videos, and of course listen Photo by Ariana Burton that brought them together to begin playing. to their music. Check out their instagram, Luckily for Downtown SLO, their first-ever public performance Facebook, and website to keep up to date with Grand Ave’s was Thursday, May 25th, at the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market. performance dates. Everyone here at Downtown SLO is honored For a first session together, they were incredibly well received. to be the starting place for these incredible young musicians and Families, couples, friends, and children alike all danced along is looking forward to seeing their success continue to grow. as Grand Ave. covered some of today’s most popular songs

By Ariana Burton

Grand Ave.

grandavemusic.wixsite.com/grandave

G

Mama’s Preserves MamasPreserves.com

Since 1985, Mama’s Preserves has been family owned and operated by Lori and Randy Heal.

The whole company started from an excess of olallieberries and raspberries: Lori decided that she would turn these wonderful berries into a jam, and for over thirty years that is just what she and her family have been doing!

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offers about twenty different flavors of jam.

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n an effort to be more environmentally friendly, Lori reuses the glass jam jars, and also uses existing resources like tree clippings to fertilize the crops. One of Lori’s sons, Nick, states that his favorite part about the farm is that it is entirely family operated; he also loves watching the plants and produce grow and seeing the whole development process.

V

isit MamasPreserves.com for more n their thirty-two acre property in Arroyo information, and follow Mama’s Grande, they plant a variety of berries, Nick Heal. Photo by Emily Bishop Preserves on Instagram @2_peas_in_a_ vegetables (like purple Brussels sprouts), and pod_inc. Mama's Preserves is at The Market have even started growing hops, though of course they are weekly at Booth 117 on Higuera Street just off Chorro. known for selling their delicious blueberries and preserves.

Since preserves are so versatile—they can be used in sauces and By Emily Bishop served over cheese, meat, and ice cream, in addition to your standard toast—Lori continues to develop new flavors, and now

COMMUNITY

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palm street perspective The city has a good history of good planning

By SLO City Mayor, Heidi Harmon

T

he recent events in Houston were shocking to the entire world. Hurricane Harvey displaced thousands of people and the damage to public and private property is estimated to be in the billions of dollars. Recently, I was deeply grateful for the thousands of local people who made donations to help those in need over the Labor Day holiday. The caring and compassionate nature of the people of San Luis Obispo was on full display as baby items, clothes, toiletries and hygiene products were donated at locations throughout the County. As you read this article, these products are being dispersed in Houston to those directly affected by the devastation.

One of the stark realities of the situation was the power and ferocity of Hurricane Harvey. Scientists say that the impact and intensity of this Hurricane is clearly related to climate change. Sea level rise attributable to climate change and coastal subsidence meant that the storm surge was a half-foot higher than it would have been just decades ago. The destructive impacts of flooding and the storm surge were certainly more intense than normal.

The force of the storm was fueled by sea surface temperatures in the region that have risen about 1 degree over the past few decades to 87F. While this may not seem significant, this temperature change increased the amount of rain and winds and is significant given the scope of damages. With Hurricane Irma now heading towards the southern Atlantic coast, there is concern about similar impacts from this incredibly powerful storm now on the horizon.

The Central Coast is not immune to the impacts of climate change.

Early September brought the highest temperatures ever recorded in San Luis Obispo. San Francisco was actually hotter than Fresno which also set an all-time record high! These extreme temperatures prompted a statewide energy alert in anticipation of high energy needs to keep people cool. California’s electrical system was strained to keep up with demand and will likely be so in the future as extreme heat caused by climate change becomes more common.

Climate Change means that we need to be overtly conscious and thoughtful about the type of development that is occurring in San Luis Obispo. The City’s General Plan identifies areas for housing development that are closer to employment centers to reduce auto dependence and really make sustainable transportation, like walking and biking, a reality. Good planning also excludes land that has environmental constraints such as flooding, wildfires, and poor soils.

Houston is the largest city in the United States that does not have zoning laws. This laisse-fair approach to urban planning has contributed to sprawl around the Houston metro area, with strip commercial centers, large parking lots, and not a lot of care to where all that rain would go. Development has been virtually unchecked and has even been allowed in flood-prone areas. To be sure, no city has a drainage system designed to handle a once in a millennia storm

such as Hurricane Harvey. However, current practices that are in full force in San Luis Obispo will help mitigate the damage of future storms here at home.

It is clear that part of being a leader means that the Mayor weighs in on tough decisions about a range of issues, including development. The city has a history of good planning and I am pleased that our city continues to invest in planning and storm-water management to help us be a sustainable community. We have made a commitment to implement measures in our Climate Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gases, and are working to assess actions to become a model net-zero carbon city. These efforts will make a real difference in an uncertain future. No one can predict the scope of future natural disasters, but we can commit to being resilient and taking steps today to protect our future for ourselves and our children.

We have been lucky to have leadership at the city manager level to guide San Luis Obispo through both the good and the challenging times. Katie Lichtig has done an amazing job in insuring that SLO remains fiscally viable and thriving. While we are sorry to see her go, we are very much looking forward to Derek Johnson taking the reigns.

He will be the perfect person to implement the plans formed by the city and council as we strive to be both fiscally and environmentally sustainable. San Luis Obispo, like all cities, will likely face many storms ahead. And as Faye Wattleton says, “The only safe ship in a storm is leadership.”

As I write this there are many more storms on the way. Our hearts are with those who are suffering. My hope is that those communities will find the leaders they will need more than ever to rebuild what will surely be lost.

We are working on the November issue NOW!

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

slojournal.com for Advertising Information O C T O B E R

2017

Journal PLUS

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WOMEN’S SHELTER RECEIVES GRANT

mentoring relationships in the County. Central Coast Funds for Children has also awarded $1,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters’ School Based program. Central Coast Funds for Children was established to benefit children in need with special services in San Luis Obispo County and is a publicly supported, non-profit, tax-exempt charitable organization. Anna Boyd-Bucy said “We are so thankful for Central Coast Funds for Children’s support.

Their donation will help our School Based program at Sinsheimer Elementary, where each mentor relationship will result in two youth served. These children go on to have higher educational aspirations, greater confidence and better relationships with family and friends.” For more information on volunteering or contributing to Big Brothers Big Sisters, call 805-781-3226, or visit www.slobigs.org.

PERSONALIZED BACKPACKS FOR CHILDREN The Women’s Shelter Program of SLO County (WSP) is pleased to announce a grant award of $14,260 from The SLO Community Foundation. The funds were awarded through three programs and will support a wide variety of activities at the agency, including participation in enrichment activities for youth clients, updating outreach materials to reflect WSP’s inclusivity of LGBTQ clients, and conducting group counseling programs that encourage positive, personal growth. All these supportive services are offered to survivors of intimate partner violence and child abuse who seek support through the Women’s Shelter Program.

GRANTS TO BIG BROTHERS/SISTERS

Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County received a $1,500 grant from The Albertsons Company Foundation and The Vons Foundation, bringing their total donations to $36,000. Their funding will go towards the agency’s programs, providing quality one-to-one

Because of Anita Williamson, 25 children headed back to school this fall with brand new personalized backpacks full of goodies and school supplies. When Williamson got the idea for this creative way to support children in SLO County, she reached out to nonprofit organization Jack’s Helping Hand to inquire if backpacks and school supplies would be a benefit to families.

Jack’s Helping Hand provides assistance to local families whose children have cancer, disabilities or special needs. Once she received the information back, she personalized backpacks and lunch boxes to match the answers she received. Williamson filled every pocket and pouch of each backpack with school supplies and treats, making sure each child was equipped with plenty of goodies for the return to school.

D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years

Alan “Himself” O C T O B E R

alan’s draperies 544-9405 alansdrapery@gmail.com 2017

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252 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo (805) 541-TIRE

SLO FOOD BANK SERVES 125,000 BREAKFASTS

One out of five children in SLO County face hunger.

Summer can be a difficult time for these children who rely on free or reduced price breakfast and lunch programs at school during the school year. A $30,000 grant from Hunger Is, a joint charitable program of The Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, provided access to healthy breakfasts to children who face hunger in the County. To learn more about the work done by the Food Bank Coalition throughout SLO County, please visit their website www.slofoodbank.org.

FREE SENIOR HEALTH CARE SCREENING

Community Action Partnership, Adult Wellness & Prevention Screening offers health screening for adults 18 years and older throughout SLO County. Free services include: screening for high blood pressure, weight and pulse. Finger prick screening tests for: high cholesterol, anemia and blood sugar. Counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 544-2484 ext.1 for dates, times and locations.

THE BULLETIN BOARD

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36TH MORRO BAY HARBOR FESTIVAL

The Morro Bay Harbor Festival committee is proud to announce the 36th Annual Morro Bay Harbor Festival on Saturday, October 7th will once again celebrate “All Things Bay”. Featured will be live entertainment, dancing, delicious local food and beverages, fun shopping, children’s activities and back by popular demand – wine tasting from local wineries! Held on the Embarcadero between Harbor and Marina Streets, it will take place from 10 am – 6 pm.

Entrance will be free for all attendees. For more information call 772-1155, • Email info.mbhf@gmail.com • Website www.mbhf.com

HELP OUR LOCAL VETERANS

VA clinic in San Luis is asking for volunteers to serve our Veterans as shuttle drivers. To help pay tribute and express your appreciation for their service, learn about volunteering at your local VA clinic. For more information contact your local VA volunteer representative Mr. Larry Foster at 805-354-6004 or send an email to Lawrence.Foster@va.gov .

C rossword S O L U T I O N S

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ROTARY CLUBS AWARD $2500 TO BB/BS

Committee member, Sue Pino, Assistance League President, and Judy Hornaday, UU Fellowship Community Outreach Program Coordinator. To learn more about Assistance League, please visit www.alslocounty.org.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST FOR WOMEN’S EDUCATION

The Rotary Club of Pismo Beach gave $503, Grover Beach gave $580, SLO de Tolosa gave $1200 and Morro Bay gave $250 in donations to Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County. The funds will help the local agency provide kids in need with a caring adult mentor. Anna BoydBucy, Executive Director, said “The Rotary Clubs’ donations help us serve youth in SLO County. Children mentored in our program are more likely to avoid drugs and alcohol, avoid risky behavior, and have stronger relationships with family and friends.” For more information on volunteering or contributing to Big Brothers Big Sisters, call 805-781-3226 or visit slobigs.org.

ASSISTANCE LEAGUE RECEIVES GRANT

Assistance League of SLO County has received a $1,298 grant from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in SLO. This grant will be used toward purchasing new school-appropriate clothing for Kindergarten – 12th grade students in need, living and attending school in all ten school districts in SLO County. Pictured in the attached photograph (l to r), are: Bonnie Long, Grants

San Luis Obispo’s Best Kept Secret Power Carts Senior Discount (55) • 10 Play C ards • Tournaments Welcome • •

Tee Times on our website: lagunalakegolfcourse.org or call 805-781-7309

11175 Los Osos Valley Road, SLO O C T O B E R

2017

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On Saturday, October 7th the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Bay Osos Kiwanis Club will join forces to flip pancakes, scramble eggs and cook sausages from 8 to 11 am at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 2201 Lawton Ave in SLO. Tickets for the breakfast, served with juice and coffee, are $8 for adults and $4 for children under 10. To make reservations, call 805-439-1085. Money raised will be used to provide educational opportunities, research reports, legal support, and leadership programs for women.

Casa receives local donation

CASA of SLO County has received a donation of $350 from Athari Fine Jewelry and Designer Watch Shop. The donation was generated by a week-long sale event in which 20% of sales were donated to CASA. CASA recruits, trains and supervises volunteer advocates for abused, neglected and abandoned children in the County. CASA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. For information on volunteer opportunities or to make a donation, call 541-6542 or visit www.slocasa.org. Photo: Ali Athari presents donation to CASA Executive Director Teresa Tardiff.

THE BULLETIN BOARD CLARK CENTER SEEKING FINE ARTISTS

The Clark Center for the Performing Arts is now accepting applications from Fine Artists interested in exhibiting their work in 2018. Public art is displayed in both the Center lobby and in the Salon hallway and there is sufficient space for large bodies of work. Artists working with mixed media, oil, water color, pastels, pen and ink, sketching, etc. are encouraged to apply. The Application can be found on the Clark Center’s website here: Clark Center Art Application.

Artists will be juried for content acceptability and a total of 10 artists will be selected and paired to display their work for a two-month period during 2018. The deadline for applying is Friday, October 13th, 2017. The sale of art requires a contribution of 20% of the sale price to the Clark Center which is used for funding performing arts scholarships and grants. For more information or an application, please contact the committee by emailing art@clarkcenter.org

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Octagon Barn Center including site grading, the parking lot, and the widening of South Higuera Street with the addition of a left turn lane to serve the Octagon Barn site.

Cunningham dedicates highway to C. Walter

another ground breaking for octagon barn

The County of SLO, in cooperation with the Land Conservancy of SLO County, broke ground today on the Octagon Barn Site Improvements, Bob Jones Pathway Staging Area, and South Higuera Left Turn Lane construction project. The ground breaking ceremony was held at the Octagon Barn site, located at 4400 Octagon Way. The Land Conservancy manages the Octagon Barn site and has partnered with the County to enable construction of a public trailhead and staging area to serve the Bob Jones Pathway and the Octagon Barn Center located on South Higuera Street. At the ground breaking ceremony, Supervisor Adam Hill remarked “This has been a labor of love by so many folks devoted to our county’s history. And to now see it moving forward as a hub of many practical uses, is like a gift to the community from its past.” This phase of the project will cost approximately $2.5 million and will construct improvements at the

Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham announced today that his resolution ACR 88, which would dedicate a portion of Highway 1 in memory of Charles I. Walter, was approved by the California State Legislature. “Charles Walter built over 200 miles of highways and freeways throughout California. It is only appropriate to dedicate a five-mile portion of State Route 1, which runs through the old Walter family ranch, in his name.” ACR 88 dedicates the stretch of State Route 1 from Kansas Avenue to Canet Road in SLO in memory of Charles I. Walter. A highway contractor, Charles Walter was involved in constructing the very layout of San Luis, and played an active role in the community through his involvement in the Special Olympics, Women’s Shelter Program, SLO Historical Society, and other organizations.

5th annual boogie on the bluff

SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel and PG&E present the 5th Annual Boogie on the Bluff, a fun filled afternoon featuring live music and local food on the stunning Pismo Coast, benefitting United Way of SLO County.

“Boogie on the Bluff” is on Sunday, October 22nd from 2-5PM at SeaCrest Oceanfront Hotel in Pismo Beach. Guests will enjoy the delicious food and beautiful atmosphere while enjoying live music from Rio Salinas featuring Grammy Award winning musician Louie Ortega. Bring your own chair for lawn seating. Tickets are available online at www.unitedwayslo.org or call 541-1234.

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cambria film festival

Soon movies will be coming to Cambria. Long known for its art galleries, wine tasting, and quaint weekend getaways, Cambria will host a 4-day film festival dedicated to romance and romantic comedies February 8 -11, 2018. In keeping with the location, the films will screen mostly in intimate settings of approximately 100 seats or less. The Festival is currently accepting entries through the submittal site FilmFreeway.com. Features, shorts, documentaries, and animation are all sought—as long as they fall within the broad category of romance or romantic comedy.

Final deadline for submissions is October 15th. In addition to showing top entries, the Festival will also highlight some classics, including a special showing of a beloved romantic comedy as part of a Champagne Gala, to be held at the Hearst Castle State Park Theater, San Simeon, on Sunday, October 11, at 6 pm. For more information, visit www.CambriaFilmFestival.com or www. filmfreeway.com.

a wild weekend in morro bay

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Calling the first weekend in November a Wild Weekend, Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC) celebrates its 30th anniversary during the Soupabration! experience that includes a second event on Saturday, Nov. 4, the day prior to the Sunday, Nov. 5, Soupabration! main event.

For the first time, PWC will offer tours of its Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic during the Saturday

event, Morro Bay Wild. This is a rare opportunity to observe how injured or oiled animals are cared for, including the seabird room, surgery room, baby bird nursery, aviaries, aquatic habitat and pelagic pools. Each tour ends with refreshments including the 2016 winning soups from Soupabration! Tours will last approximately 30 minutes. An animal ambassador and handler will be present.

The main course is this year’s Soupabration! event on Sunday, in the Morro Bay Community Center. Fourteen restaurants from the entire county compete for the best soups around. Tagged as “It’s a Wild Thing,” Soupabration! will include celebrity chef judges who will blind taste and award the winning soups, wine tasting with six local wineries, auctions and other fundraising events. Visit www.soupabration.org for tickets and additional information.

Botanical garden October events

Event 1: Favorite Rare Fruits of the Central Coast at San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden. Time and date: Saturday, October 14, 1-2:30pm. Description: Discover rare and unique fruits that grow great in SLO County without a greenhouse. Cost: $5 for Garden members / $10 for public / CRFG Free. Event 2: Naturalist: Become a Citizen Scientist. Time and date: Sunday, October 22, 2pm4pm. Description: Learn how to contribute to scientific research while having fun taking nature photos! Cost: $5 for Garden members / $10 for public / Children Free. Event 3: Fall Fundraising Plant Sale.

Time and date: Saturday, October 28, 10am-1pm.

THE BULLETIN BOARD Description: Buy beautiful drought tolerant plants and benefit the SLO Botanical Garden at our semi-annual plant sale fundraiser.

Cost: Free to the public. Event 4: The Chumash Kitchen: Acorn Awakening. Time and date: Sunday, October 29, 8:30am-1pm.

Description: Learning and eating seasonally in the Chumash kitchen. Cost: Sliding scale $88-$120. Location for all events: SLO Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd. Events contact phone number: 541-1400 x 303.

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non-profit public benefit facility, which is organized and maintained by the South County Family Educational and Cultural Center, where local families can enjoy revolving science exhibits and interactive displays designed to spark the imagination and creativity of the youth in our community. They have developed a program to recycle electronics and divert them from landfills. The Exploration station rebuilds/refurbishes donated computers (5,000 computers have been recycled to date) that are then given to their Computers 4 Youth program, which has given over 3,000 computers to families, seniors, veterans and non-profit organizations.

lighthouse Keepers fundraiser

Friday October 13th will be a spooky film night featuring Edgar Allan Poe’s, LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER. “Marooned on a remote peninsula and haunted by frightening specters, a young man must confront the grotesque denizens of the night, or heed the Lighthouse Keeper’s cryptic warning to, ‘Always keep a light burning!’”

Filmed at the Point San Luis Lighthouse by local director and Arroyo Grande native Benjamin Cooper! The event is one night only. The film will show at the Avila Beach Community Center. Doors open at 6 pm. Tickets are $25. Ticket prices include admission, plus some frightful foods and spooky beverages. Local beers and wine will be available for sale. Raffles will be throughout the night. Proceeds support the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers. This event is 21 and up. To purchase tickets please go to PointSanLuisLighthouse.org or call (805) 540-5771.

exploration station receives donation

Supervisor Adam Hill and the staff of Exploration Station thanks the SLO County Garbagemen’s Association for their generous $5000 contribution to the Exploration Station. The Exploration Station is a

free tours at the slo airport

The SLO County Regional Airport is offering a sneak peek of its new terminal before it opens. The airport will open its doors on Sunday, October 15, to provide a series of free tours to the public. This is the local’s chance to take time exploring the new art pieces, large gate areas, and one-of-a-kind outdoor courtyard—without the stress of flying. The terminal has been under construction since 2015. At 56,000 square feet, it is almost 45,000 square feet larger than its existing terminal. High ceilings, natural materials and a new outdoor courtyard convey a strong feeling of the regional landscape in the terminal space. The size of the new facility also provides travelers with a variety of new amenities, from a larger checkpoint area to a food and beverage concession post-security. There are five 40-minute tour times available between 11am and 3pm. Guides will be on hand to share details and answer questions. Space is limited, so sign up today. To register for a tour, visit sloairport.com/tour.

Pismo Jazz Jubilee

The Pismo Jazz Jubilee will be celebrating the music and excitement of New Orleans on the California Coast during the last weekend of October. The Jubilee, now in its 41st year, is a high energy event, featuring hot swingin’ jazz and more in multiple venues in the heart of the California Central Coast. This premier West Coast jazz event presents many of the most sought-after traditional jazz bands from across the nation playing Dixieland, New Orleans, Zydeco, swing, early jazz and big band music. This weekend long party also features great food, California wines, libations and large wooden dance floors in every venue. For more information go to the Festival’s website: www.pismojazz.com/ JubileeByTheSea.htm

A reverse mortgage loan could help you fix up the place.

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805/772-3658

Division of Aegean Financial, CA BRE #01478751, NMLS #157935

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O C T O B E R

and remain current on property taxes, any fees and homeowners insurance.

Other conditions may apply.

2017

17-016

Journal PLUS

For the second year in a row, we helped more people purchase a home than any other lender in San Luis Obispo County.*

2015

2016

TOP LENDER

TOP LENDER

Let us help you finance that dream home in 2017.

Call us today!

Kevin Cunningham Mortgage Advisor NMLS 633249

805.458.5178

805.441.9486

Sarah Sweeny Mortgage Advisor NMLS 1107446

805.250.2406

Ben Lerner

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 395723

Rick Kirk

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 375012

805.459.4101

* Source: Real Estate Market Reports (REM). December 2016.

2017 Lender Activity Report San Luis Obispo County.

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Bill Mott

Landon Spitler

805.234.5081

805.471.0243

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 341086

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Ron Penir

Tim Robinson

805.709.3426

805.250.2404

Regional Director NMLS 325495

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