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SI TENENBERG | COLLEEN RUSSELL | RENEE BESTA’S ART | VETERANS COLUMN

JournalPLUS NOVEMBER 2013

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

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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

20 NEW VETS COLUMN “CALL TO COLORS”

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

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

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30

SI TENENBERG

NAIYERAH KOLKAILAH

ADVERTISING Jan Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Deborah Cash, Will Jones, Bob Huttle, Leslie Jones, Dawn Starr, Heather Young, Gail Pruitt, Gordon Fuglie, and John Ashbaugh.

Mail subscriptions are available at $20 per year. Back issues are $2 each. Inquires concerning advertising or other information made by writing to Steve Owens, JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE, 654 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can call us at 546-0609, our fax line is 546-8827, and our e-mail is slojournal@fix.net. View the entire magazine on our website at www.slojournal.com JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE is a free monthly distributed to over 600 locations throughout the Central Coast and is also available online at slojournal.com Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission.

Opinions expressed in the byline articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE. Cover photo by Tom Meinhold

PEOPLE 10 12 14 16

COLLEEN RUSSELL SI TENENBERG DIANE AND KENNY LEE LEWIS FRANK SHEAHAN AND PETER PEPPER

HOME & OUTDOOR 18 20 22 24 26

THE GROUP “HUMAN NATION” CALL TO COLORS FILIPPONI RANCH CELLARS

COMMUNITY 28 30 32 34 36 42

OUR SCHOOLS–Dr. Julian Crocker ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF SLO COUNTY HISTORY: SLO Cemeteries HOSPICE CORNER / CROSSWORD PUZZLE PALM STREET– Councilman John Ashbaugh COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening

FOOD / AT THE MARKET SLO ART SCENE Renee Besta

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From the publisher

T

his month’s cover story is on Filipponi Ranch Cellars. Herb and Diane Filipponi (pictured) have been giving back to this community their entire lives and have been friends of ours for more than three decades. The Filipponi family was our first family portrait feature in our premier issue almost 20 years ago. You’ll enjoy the story on their latest venture.

November 11th is Veterans Day and we have three related stories. Beginning this month, and writing quarterly, Gail Pruitt from the Veterans Museum will update us on our local Vets, events and museum happenings. We are also profiling Veteran, Si Tenenberg. Tenenberg recently sent his 10,000th care package to our troops. Learn more about Tenenberg and his fantastic program. Finally we write about two locals, Frank Sheahan and Peter Pepper who met in Officers Training School in 1964, lost touch and reconnected recently in San Luis.

Finally, we receive nice notes each month from our readers and this one we really enjoyed. “Thank you so much for publishing the article about Central Coast Women’s League! We all appreciate your assistance in our campaign to reach our 2013 goal. We were happy to let the community know who we are, plus the article in your September issue has brought us additional ticket sales and donations. Good for us and a good testament to the community spirit of the SLO Journal Plus and its readership! Best regards, Marilyn Kinsey.”

Plenty of good reading again this month.

Enjoy the magazine.

Steve Owens

COMING UP AT THE

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Jack Hanna's Into the Wild Live! 11/2 • 7 p.m.

Arab Music Ensemble Fall Concert 11/16 • 8 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by CP Music Dept.

Katya Gotsdiner-McMahan 11/3 • 3 p.m.

Potted Potter 11/17 • 2 p.m. & 5 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center

Christopher Cohan Center

Buddy Guy 11/6 • 7:30 p.m.

Million Dollar Quartet 11/18 • 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center

Christopher Cohan Center

SLO Symphony - Classics 2 11/9 • 8 p.m.

The Graduate 11/19 • 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by SLO Symphony

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Dance Theatre of Harlem 11/12 • 7:30 p.m.

Warren Miller Ski Film: Ticket to Ride 11/20 • 7:30 p.m.

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by PAC Outreach

An Evening With David Sedaris 11/14 • 7:30 p.m.

Bandfest 2013!

11/23 • 8 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by CP Music Dept.

CrossRoads 11/14 - 11/16 & 11/21 - 11/23 • 8 p.m.

CP Symphony Fall Concert 11/24 • 3 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by CP Music Dept.

Presented by CP Theatre & Dance

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10

PEOPLE

colleen russell clinic director and physical therapist

By Will Jones

S

omehow I wasn’t surprised when Colleen Russell, director of the San Luis Sports Therapy Clinic in San Luis Obispo, told me that she was descended on her father’s side from the famed 16th century Irish pirate and clan leader, Grace O’Malley. Perhaps it was her dark hair and blue eyes, or maybe her quick wit and megawatt smile, but it was easy for me to imagine Colleen holding her own with Queen Elizabeth, as her famous forbearer did in 1593.

Colleen grew up in the Cuyama Valley on a cattle ranch “that had no address. If the Santa Maria River was running wide we had no way to cross and get to school, so we had to anticipate conditions and make sure we brought our books home with us.” A sixth generation Californian, some of Colleen’s ancestors are buried at one of the county’s oldest cemeteries in the Carissa Plains.

Colleen attended Cuyama Valley High School and won varsity letters in volleyball, basketball and softball all four years, earning California Interscholastic Federation scholar athlete awards each year. In her senior year, 1996, she won a CIF sectional award and saw her name in lights on the scoreboard at Anaheim Stadium during an Angels game. “There were twenty-eight of us in our graduating class and eleven of us started together in preschool.” Her athletic mentor, Ron Barba, is now the women’s basketball coach at Cuesta College.

A serious knee injury in her junior year ended Colleen’s hopes of playing collegiate volleyball at Cal Poly, but the time she spent in physical therapy led her to entering Cal Poly as a kinesiology and pre-physical therapy major. “I wanted to stay in the athletic world so I volunteered in the athletic training room and at a local clinic while taking a full load of classes and working nights as a waitress at the Madonna Inn.” When Colleen graduated from Cal Poly she started working as a physical therapy aid at San Luis Sports Therapy clinics in Atascadero

and Paso Robles. After a couple of years, clinic director Jason Sanders, who Colleen considers an important professional mentor, told her she needed to return to school and earn her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. “He basically kicked me in the butt and told me he’d fire me if I didn’t go back to school.”

Colleen earned her DPT degree from the University of Southern California, “maxing out on student loans so I could also participate in non-paying internships.” Patients at San Luis Sports Therapy will meet many interns who assist the physical therapists on staff. “I learn a lot by teaching, and it’s also a way for me to give back to my profession by helping to train aspiring physical therapists,” Colleen said.

Now certified as an orthopedic physical therapist by the American Physical Therapy Board, Colleen went on to receive business management training from SLST, eventually becoming the director of the San Luis Obispo clinic where she supervises twelve employees while continuing to be a hands-on physical therapist. Colleen is also certified in sports specific rehabilitation.

At the beginning of her career, Colleen did things “by the book,” but with experience she learned the nuances of injuries so that she could assist with the less obvious causes of an injury, preventing it from occurring again. “It’s one thing to eliminate the pain and rehab the injury, but it’s another to watch someone’s mechanics and determine its cause.

Knee pain might originate in the hip or in the way someone walks.”

Cal Poly and Olympic track and field athlete Sharon Day’s performances improved after her work with Colleen. “I love that Colleen treated my whole body instead of just the site of the injury. There are lots of pieces to the puzzle when it comes to injuries and injury prevention and I feel like she sees the whole picture.”

One immediately senses great team spirit and a commitment to overall community wellness at SLST. Colleen started a staff coed softball team that recently won a league championship, and the trainers at

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difficult decisions people have to make when their insurance coverage ends and they have to pay cash for services. “Some clients simply can’t afford it, which hurts when you have a passion for helping people.”

Rewards are clinical, professional and personal. “Helping to eliminate and prevent pain, reaching or surpassing goals, seeing people confidently back on their feet: those are the rewards that motivate physical therapists.” Apparently Colleen and her colleagues throughout the organization are succeeding exceptionally well. The American Physical Therapy Association awarded SLST and Team Movement for Life the 2012 National Private Practice of the Year.

Team mud run

both Mission College Prep and San Luis Obispo High School are SLST staff members. The staff also provides free physicals to high school athletes and free evaluations for injured athletes, in addition to supporting breast cancer awareness campaigns and supporting the American Heart Association.

“We’re committed to overall wellness: education, prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation. Our clients range in age from three months to ninetyeight.” A big challenge is the current state of health insurance and the

Colleen, who owns a home in Shandon where she gardens and recently started raising chickens, has tested her own physical limits by running a half and a full marathon, as well as participating in a “Tough Mudder” event in Lake Tahoe, billed as “the premier adventure challenge series in the world.” Colleen, smiling the whole time, didn’t go into detail about this event, other than to mention mud, obstacles like rope climb walls and electric fences. That’s right … electric fences.

When Grace O’Malley was a young girl, her father refused to take her on a trading expedition because her hair was too long and would get caught in the ship’s ropes. Legend has it that Grace cut off most of her hair to embarrass her father into taking her, thus earning her nickname, Grainne Mhaol, meaning “cropped hair.” Like her famous ancestor, I have no doubt that Colleen Russell, home grown and proud of her roots, would go to any lengths to help one of her clients. Grace O’Malley would approve.

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PEOPLE

Si Tenenberg

10,000 Boxes and 10,000 Angels

By Susan Stewart

W

hen he was just 8 years old, Si Tenenberg had a visit from his Uncle Lester who stopped by on his way to the Philippines to say goodbye to his brother and nephew. The year was 1940, and Lester (who is one of five brothers) was on his way to serve his country as a member of the armed forces.

He would soon be captured and forced to march in the now-infamous Bataan Death March to a POW camp. Dr. Lester Tenney survived both the march and the camp. He returned home to California, earned his PhD from the University of Southern California and is today a proud 93-year-old World War II veteran. He is also one of Si Tenenberg’s biggest heroes and the inspiration for his own career in the Marines.

“That was one of the biggest influences on me, growing up,” said Si. He would remember that day a few years later while watching television newsreels of U.S. Marines fighting out of the Chosin Reservoir in Korea in 1950. “They were coming down out of the hills carrying the wounded and the dead,” Si recalled. “And I said to myself, ‘That’s where I want to be.’” Two years later, at age 17, Si Tenenberg signed up to become a Marine.

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Si was an “only” child whose father was a Deputy Sheriff and whose mother worked in a bank. He served 8 years in the Marines, achieving the rank of sergeant before leaving the military in 1960 to work as the Vice President of Marketing for a major division of Litton Industries.

He met his first wife, Florence, at a party where she was “set up” to meet another guy. But she liked Si better, and they were married soon after. Si and Florence had four daughters: Cindy, Bonnie, Michelle, and Nicole. Si’s civilian career spanned 27 years and took him on numerous international trips. After 37 years of marriage, Florence died in 1992. So far, there are seven grandchildren, and one great-grandson.

As any Marine will tell you, “once a Marine, always a Marine,” and for Si Tenenberg, that means taking care of the more than 60,000 service men and women still serving in Afghanistan. In fact, even after the drawdown, it is estimated that 10,000 to 15,000 will remain indefinitely.

Si can’t stop thinking about the kinds of things soldiers miss the most

Delivery of Si’s 10,000th box N O V E M B E R

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Si Tenenberg and his great grandson

so far away from home. Things as basic as soap, socks, magazines and books, even food. As one soldier wrote, *“We appreciate the reading material, but it’s 25 below zero outside. We’re cold and we’re hungry.” (*from an article by Camas Frank; SLO City News, June 2013).

And so in 2006, Si decided to do something about it. Starting with a goal to send out 80 packages via the U.S. Postal service and Army airdrops to remote combat outposts, Si met that goal and then expanded it. And expanded it some more. Packages include all manner of badly needed and highly coveted items: phone cards, bath wipes, sun screen, hot chocolate, microwave soups, fleece blankets, beef jerky, dried fruit, air freshener, aspirin, cough syrup, protein bars, underwear, … the list is long and heartbreakingly basic. Today, seven years after he started, the number of packages packed and sent has topped the 10,000 mark, and Si isn’t stopping any time soon.

Troop display for public events

PEOPLE

favorites is this little-known quote from Abraham Lincoln:

stantly fighting off camel spiders, scorpions, and wild dogs that infiltrate into their living area which takes away their focus from the ever present enemy threat. … Thank you for taking the time to support my troops.

It is comforting to know that there are still good people who appreciate the hardships America’s young men and women endure.”

In fact, having received thousands of letters and emails from grateful soldiers, Si has the ingredients down to a fine science. He even includes things for Afghani children (pencils, coloring books, stuffed animals) and bomb-sniffing military dogs (squeaky toys, balls, grooming supplies, leashes).

Si remarried in 1993 and his wife, Marilyn, gladly supports her husband, even as their garage and game room have been entirely taken over by boxes—full ones ready to be shipped, and empty ones ready to be filled with the stock being purchased daily to “take care of my guys.”

This year, the letters and emails continue to pour in: “Dear Si: I am a Special Forces Green Beret Doc at a remote combat outpost in Afghanistan. My team travels all over to some very dangerous areas. We recently received one of your packages. You need to know how much it was appreciated. There is no PX or store to buy the necessities contained in your boxes. I am completing my third tour in Afghanistan and will fly home to Utah shortly. May our Lord continue to bless you. Thank you.”

“My Marines live outside in crudely built defensive sandbag structures and are con-

“If the end brings me out all wrong, 10,000 angels saying I was right will make no difference; if the end brings me out all right, 10,000 angels saying I was wrong will make no difference.”

“ … I can tell you are a savvy care package giver. Our mission is to live with and help train up an Afghan paramilitary unit to be self-sufficient for after the drawdown. Your summer gear, hygiene gear, and snacks are a big boost to morale. … When it’s 110 degrees and we’re covered in dust and sweat, Febreeze is like liquid gold! Thanks a million. You really make us feel like we’re not forgotten out here.”

Si Tenenberg deployed

13

If you would like to help Si Tenenberg continue to support our troops abroad, please visit his website at troopcarepacks.org. Or email him at sitenspot@ aol.com. Or call him at 805-542-9435. Tax deductible contributions can be made by mailing your check (in any amount) made out to First Baptist Church of SLO with the notation “for the troops” mailed to 5738 Salisbury Ln., SLO, 93401.

“I, for one, have found a renewed spirit of hope for our nation in that I see from the acts of you and people like you that all the goodness is not yet gone from our hearts.”

“It’s like a little bit of America is sent to us in each package.”

Si is motivated by these messages and by what he knows from personal experience to be true. He puts in 60 hours some weeks raising the funds, then purchasing, packing, and shipping his precious boxes overseas.

His original goal has morphed into a “nonprofit giving machine” (SLO City News, June 2013) that makes use of local service clubs such as Kiwanis and Lions to help pick up items and pay shipping costs.

Si Tenenberg did not have an easy life. There were moments in his youth when he was rebellious and troubled. But somewhere along the way, he heard words that stuck—words that guide his life even today. One of his

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Kenny lee lewis & Diane Steinberg lewis deep musical Roots on the central coast

By Dawn Starr

A

fter spending time the prior evening with old acquaintances, B.B. King and Peter Frampton, Kenny Lee Lewis and his wife, Diane Steinberg-Lewis enthusiastically shared their fascinating, intertwining stories of their respective lives and experiences with me. The couple plays music locally in their band, the Barflyz, but are more well-known for Kenny being a member of the classic rock Steve Miller Band, and Diane for her role as “Lucy in the Sky” in the 1978 American musical film, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (in which Peter Frampton was also cast). Kenny described the Barflyz as an “acoustic pop-cabaret” band performing rearranged jazz, rock, blues, Latin, TV themes and original songs. The couple, who has been together 37 years, was more interested in recounting the history of Diane’s influential musical parents, than talking about themselves. To that end, they are currently compiling documentation, which included talking to B.B. King after he recently performed in Paso Robles.

Diane’s father, Luther Steinberg, played trumpet with legends Cab Calloway, Lionel Hampton, and Duke Ellington, was a Big Band leader, and did arrangements for artists including B.B. King. Diane’s mother, “Martha Jean the Queen,” was an African-American pioneer in radio and one of the first female D.J.’s in the United States. She helped to bring R&B music to the airwaves for the general public. Diane showed a photo of her mother on the cover with B.B. King on his album, My Sweet Little Angel, recorded in the 1950s, but not released until 1993.

B.B. signed the cover of Diane’s copy during their recent meeting. Diane and Kenny Lee have plans to meet with him again soon to discuss more of these memorable experiences to add to their memoir of Diane’s mother: Speaking of the Queen: from Memphis to Motown.

Born Martha Jean Jones in Memphis, she landed her first job there as a D.J. at WDIA. Its early format of country, swing and light pop was

Allee Willis and Diane recording N O V E M B E R

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Diane, Kenny Lee and Sophie at home

not successful. In 1947 WDIA became the first radio station to target programming to black audiences. It quickly rose to the number two radio station in Memphis, and then became number one after switching to all black music programming. B.B. King started working at WDIA in 1948 promoting medicine and then cigarettes, and became a D.J. in 1950 before launching his performance career. Though all genres of music are widely accepted today, in an era of resistance to integration of the military and Jackie Robinson playing baseball with white players, incorporation of black music into the mainstream was controversial in Memphis. When the “race” music being broadcast by WDIA reached the white suburbs of the south, it was the beginning of what would become the phenomenon of “Rock and Roll.”

Following her parents’ divorce, in 1963 The Queen moved with Diane and her two sisters to Detroit, where she continued as a D.J., and as a community activist through the 1970s. The Queen became involved in the ministry in 1984, and in 1997, after being named Michigander of the Year, purchased a radio station WQBH, an acronym for Welcome Queen Back Home where she worked until her passing in 2000.

Diane was influenced by the encounters and events she was exposed to by her musical family. At age six, when she began “playing” the babysitter’s dilapidated piano, her father purchased a new piano for her. She still has this piano, which their dog, Sophie, “played” during our interview when she wanted a snack. As a child, Diane’s father brought home many talented musicians who helped her hone her craft. In 1997, her father, his siblings and their father received the W.C. Handy Award for Authentic Beale Street Musicians. In 2010,

Mary Wilson (Supremes), Allee Willis with Diane and Kenny Lee

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New Zealand, and on the top of his television cupboard, a colorful boomerang peeked out.

Barflyz

Diane’s mother was honored with a W.C. Handy Music Legacy Award for her years in radio, and on the same day the Steinberg family was presented with a Brass Note on the Beale Street Walk of Fame.

Diane studied dance, and then music at college while simultaneously teaching high school. In 1972, she got her first record contract with Atlantic, and later recorded for ABC Dunhill and Word. She performs both secular and gospel music, and has written music performed by such artists as Natalie Cole and Cleo Laine, and wrote the theme music to An Evening at the Improv. She has performed with such music notables as Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and the Steve Miller Band. Diane met her future husband when getting ready to record an album for ABC and she needed a new bass player. Kenny was recommended as a replacement. Diane said they fell in love and married in 1984; he gently reminded her it was 1983. She smiled noting many men are not sure of their anniversary.

Diane has periodically returned to teaching in order to provide a more stable home environment to raise their two daughters. Diane recently recorded with Grammy Award-win-

ning songwriter Allee Willis, with a picture of the Queen as inspiration.

Kenny was born in Pasadena, but raised in Sacramento. He is self-taught, initially picking up the ukulele at age seven and then playing his brother’s acoustic guitar in the sixth grade.

Not long thereafter, he started playing an electric guitar he had borrowed. He credits his parents for being supportive of his musical focus. He was playing professionally at 15 and went on the road with his first band, Sand Castle, at age 17. He attended Cal State Northridge for a semester, but left when he got the chance to go on tour. After becoming a successful studio session bass player, he and Steve Miller drummer Gary Mallaber started a band, and were pursuing a record contract.

Steve Miller contacted Gary asking for songs for an upcoming album. Kenny, Gary and guitarist, John Massaro submitted their eight demos, and Steve took them all. Steve incorporated Kenny, Gary and John into his band. The album, Abracadabra, was released in 1982 which went multi-platinum. Kenny initially was guitarist for the band, but in more recent years has become the bass player.

The band just finished a tour in Australia and

Diane and Kenny moved to the Central Coast after visiting a friend and falling in love with the area. They describe the local music scene as “creative” and “original,” with less pressure to follow trends than in the L.A. music scene.

The Barflyz is one of their local groups, which also includes stellar musicians Danny Pelfrey on sax and flute, Ken Hustad on bass, Dean Giles on drums. They perform a variety of venues, but their favorite is D’Anbino Winery Tasting Room, near downtown Paso Robles. Diane and Kenny would like better venues for live music for more mature audiences in San Luis Obispo. They noted that there needs to be a dedicated, elevated stage that is large enough to accommodate a band, with inviting seating and ambience, and a place where less-than-tolerant community members won’t complain about noise. They noted often local live music seems to be added as an afterthought to the small corner of a winery or restaurant, which is not optimal for either the band or audience.

For more information: www.barflyzmusic. com. www.kennyleelewis.com

Sunday, November 10, 2013 4 p.m.

Cuesta College PAC Featuring the premiere of

To the God of Light and Shadow

by Dr. Meredith Brammeier; poetry by Bonnie Young with the women of PolyPhonics, conducted by Dr. Thomas Davies; and Caroline Tobin, clarinet

CRICKET HANDLER & JILL ANDERSON Artistic Directors

Tickets: $20 advance $25 at the door · $10 student

www.canzonawomen.org

805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo N O V E M B E R

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It’s a small world...Friends again

Frank Sheahan & Pete Pepper

By Heather Young

A

friendship started in 1964 when two young soldiers in Officer Candidate School met. At 21, Sgt. Pete Pepper had been in the Army a year longer than 19-year-old Sgt. Frank Sheahan. Today, Sheahan says he would not have made it through the 26-week intensive training that led him—and the 128 other men who completed the training out of 250 who began it—to become second lieutenants without Pepper.

“In 1964, Pete and I were assigned or volunteered to go to officers training school in Fort Benning, Ga.,” Sheahan said, adding that they went from enlisted status to second lieutenants. “I didn’t know squat.

I remember Pete helping me ... it gave me enough guidance and it gave me enough motivation to get through that course. It wasn’t easy.”

“The bonds you form are very intense,” Pepper added. “The thing about OCS is you have to help each other. You have to have someone who has your back.”

Sheahan said he thinks that the training is designed to break the soldiers down, because the soldiers come out as officers and will be leading soldiers, whose lives depend on their decisions and how they hold up to pressure. And with the conflict in Vietnam building, they needed to be able to lead the soldiers in war—though Pepper and Sheahan didn’t know it at the time.

After Pepper and Sheahan completed their training, they went their separate ways. Both serving in the Vietnam War, but in different units, their paths not crossing again for nearly five decades.

That friendship was rekindled this past summer when Sheahan was at the American Legion for an installation dinner. He overheard one guest say that she had been playing tennis with Pete Pepper. His ears perked up at the sound of Pepper’s name.

He went home from the American Legion dinner, Googled “Pete Pepper” and found that Pepper did indeed live in San Luis Obispo. With the address in hand, Sheahan drove out to the house, which is on the outskirts of the city. When he knocked on a door, a man that Sheahan said was one of his clients, told him that Pepper had sold him the home a couple of years ago. Sheahan told him how he knew Pepper and Sheahan left with Pepper’s new address, which is only three blocks from where he has had his insurance business for the last 32 years.

When Sheahan went to Pepper’s home, he found that Pepper was out of the country, but he told the story to Pepper’s stepson and left his business card. “[His stepson] said, ‘That’s not him, I don’t remember that,’” Sheahan said.

When Pepper returned from his trip, he found Sheahan’s card and said he remembered him. He then called Sheahan and asked if he could come over and he walked the three blocks to Sheahan’s to restart their friendship from 49 years earlier.

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Frank Sheahan and Pete Pepper today.

Living only three blocks away, Pepper said that he and his wife, Patty, often walked right down Sheahan’s block to get downtown, but he never noticed or connected Sheahan’s Insurance to the soldier he once knew.

Not only had they missed each other on Chorro in front of Sheahan’s office, but they also attend the same church—Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa—and have for years. That church, the pair noted, has more than 2,200 families as members and there are seven mass services each weekend, so it would be easy to miss someone you are not looking for. Pepper started attending that church after he met his wife a couple of years ago through eHarmony. Sheahan, on the other hand, has been a life-long Catholic and had attended service at the mission for several decades.

“I’m sure there were many Sundays that we attended mass together and walked by each other,” Sheahan said, adding that it was the name “Pete Pepper” that piqued his memory. “It is interesting to think 128 people left Fort Benning, Ga., ... that name ‘Pete Pepper’ was imbedded in my mind.”

Sheahan is originally from New Jersey, but after he got out of the service, he moved to SLO in 1973 when he was recruited by an insurance firm to do employee benefits. He left that firm in 1980 to form his own business. He has worked on the block his business is located on for 40 years.

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In SLO, Pepper is a volunteer for Veterans Helping Veterans, which is a treatment court for veterans who had service-related problems that are linked to criminal behaviors.

He also volunteers with Restorative Partners with his wife. Pepper and Sheahan also volunteer at their church.

“I am more involved in the church,” Sheahan said. “The church is a big part of my life.”

Frank Sheahan, 1964

Pepper is originally from California, having lived in both Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara before joining the Army. He went on to have a career as a broadcast journalist in radio and television in Hawaii and California. He moved to SLO in 2005 because he was looking for a place to retire and his brother lived

Over the past 40 years, Sheahan has been actively involved in the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, the Mustang Boosters, Boy Scouts, Cancer Society, Heart Association, YMCA, Achievement House, Woods Humane Society, Kiwanis De Tolosa and helped start Crimestoppers in 1981. He was also named Citizen of the Year by the SLO Chamber in 1990.

Pete Pepper, 1964

here. While he is retired, he was the writer/ producer/director for the documentary “Killing Memories” and has been working on other documentaries. “Killing Memories” is about Vietnam War veterans returning to Vietnam and reconciling what took place decades earlier.

“It’s a small world,” Sheahan said. “All those years and I can honestly say if it wasn’t for Pete’s help and guidance, I wouldn’t have graduated.”

Congratulations to San Luis Obispo student Emma Phillips While many young people spend a lot of time surfing the Internet, Emma spends a lot of hers at Project Surf Camp, an organization that educates individuals with special needs. She’s been volunteering there for the last four years and has developed a passion for working with special needs children.

Now that Emma has finished riding the waves with Project Surf Camp, she’s studying neurology at Brown University where she hopes to discover new innovative approaches to helping special needs children.

Emma is one of 10 students receiving a renewable Bright Minds scholarship of up to $30,000 a year. The PG&E Bright Minds Scholarship Program helps deserving high school, college and non-traditional students realize their goals.

Together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve.

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“PG&E” refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2013 Pacific Gas and Electric Company. All rights reserved.

Proud winner of a PG&E $30,000 Bright Minds scholarship

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HUMAN NATION’S MIGRATION

By Natasha Dalton

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rammy-winning composer John D’Andrea calls the Human Nation’s debut album Migration a “new and fresh approach to pop and jazz.”

D’Andrea is not the only one showering praise on Human Nation.

Right from the band’s inception in 2009, its bold arrangements and crisp, vibrant sound attracted a strong, dedicated following.

This shouldn’t be surprising, considering that all the band’s original members—Adam Levine on Guitars, Dave Becker on Saxes, Brett Mitchell on Keyboards, Bill Wingfield on Bass Guitars, and Dean Giles on Drums and Percussion—are seasoned musicians, with impressive track records. But another part of Migration’s attraction has to do with its music.

Even though everyone in the group has written music for other projects, most of the tunes on this album are composed by Adam Levine, the band leader—and the band members agree that that’s the way it should stay.

Darrell Voss—an elegant drummer with an impeccable sense of rhythm—insists that Levine has a true ‘composing gift.’ “This band is the tool, which allows him to be creative,” Voss, who often plays with Human Nation, said. “His arrangements and harmonic knowledge make his material simply wonderful.”

The album, which is the first comprehensive collection of Levine’s music, demonstrates the wide variety of styles he and his band can tackle with equal charm and confidence. Migration is not the type of album where, after hearing a couple of pieces, you can predict what’s coming next: The tunes on this album are refreshingly diverse.

The album’s title alludes to the fluidity of all boundaries, physical and spiritual, and the interconnectedness of everything on this planet. As the melodies move from R&B funk to Gypsy Jazz, to Brazilian Samba, we’re reminded that we all are a part of a larger world, full of wonder and mystery.

Some of the album’s later pieces reflect Levine’s fascination with modern circus music, which he describes as ‘cinematic.’ From the performer’s point of view, his music is quite difficult: it’s not something you can just glance at and begin playing right away. But, thanks to the band’s virtuosity, it comes across as fun and easy to enjoy.

Although the tunes on the album often draw from various ethnic sources, Migration is not a collection of regional music; it’s true fusion jazz, with all of its charm and complexity.

“We thrive on unpredictability,” bass guitarist Bill Wingfield said.

“It’s also important to us that we’re not focused on just one ethnicity; we’re one with the world.”

It’s this very diversity that made it hard, at times, to find just the right sound, the right instruments or even the right musical partners for the band.

When Levine, Mitchell, Wingfield and Giles first got together as a group they already knew each other’s credentials. Having played with many different bands in the past, what they were looking for was ‘synergy’—and the synergy between them turned out to be ‘fantastic.’

“It just gelled,” Levine said. For instance, the band’s drummer Dean Giles was ‘hired on the spot,’ when Levine, Mitchell and Wingfield met him at a gig at River Star Winery. Giles showed up with his mom, who was visiting him from Florida. “He was so nice to her, so I thought, ‘ok, that seals it; I like this guy; I like how he plays, and he is good to his mom—he is in,’” Levine said, recalling how the band’s core was created.

Cindy Dixon and Adam Levine

The four began playing together—and looking for someone to play horns, but finding that person took some time.

“We’re all over the map, and we needed someone who could be just as versatile,” Levine said. “One of the first sax players we had (and he was great), told us: ‘I don’t know if it’s for me. I don’t play all these different styles.’”

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Ron Wagner of Cirque de Soleil was another crucial contributor. Wagner, a percussionist at the Iris Show in Las Vegas, is mindbogglingly good, according to Levine, and a real find for the group looking for authentic sounds from around the world.

“It’s hard to find someone who can play Indian tabla, but it’s the predominant instrument on one of the tracks,” Levine said. Wagner, who is an expert in ethnic drumming, knew exactly how to add vivacity and excitement to Levine’s haunting melodies.

thing,” Wingfield said about Becker. “That’s what we needed: fearlessness. We needed a lion who was ready for everything.” With Becker’s arrival, the band was complete.

The place that gave Human Nation its first steady job was Café Vio in Paso Robles. “It really was an amazing thing for us,” drummer Dean Giles commented. “Guys brought tunes in; people started writing songs—we kept it rolling.”

However, on December 31 of 2009 Cafe Vio closed its doors. On the last day in business, its owner Pablo Marlen threw a party and, the band played there. “It was our ‘swan song,’” Marlen said. “It was very special: It was at Café Vio, after all, where the band found its chemistry, and where we all became such good friends.”

Fortunately for the band, lightning struck the same spot twice: just as Vio closed, D’Anbino opened—and became Human Nation’s new home. D’Anbino’s owners, John D’Andrea and Carmine Rubino, are known for their glorious careers in the music industry. But when they moved to Paso Robles and built a stage at their winery’s tasting room, they only thought about having a place for the family band to play.

Meeting Human Nation changed that: by bringing them in D’Anbino opened its doors to public events, and soon Human Nation’s concerts (and the Jazz Series that followed) put the venue on the map of the coolest music spots on the Central Coast.

“They already had everything in place: the stage, the lights, the sound system,” Dean Giles said about the new location. “Both John and Carmine are pros, and D’Anbino would’ve been successful no matter what.” But it’s gratifying for Human Nation’s fans to think that their

A few months ago the band’s sax player Dave Becker accepted a teaching position in Florida and moved out of the area. This would’ve been devastating for the band, had it not been for Danny Pelfrey— a remarkable musician with 2 Emmys and 6 BMI Awards to his name.

favorite band helped define the venue’s image.

Also, it was at D’Anbino’s where several tunes from the new album had premiered.

The album was produced by Levine and Wingfield, who readily admit that having five self-described perfectionists on-board was bound to slow things down when it came to deciding on final cuts. “As we got into the process, we discovered that we wanted to approach some of the songs from another angle,” Wingfield said. “There were times, after many tries, when Adam and I had to say: ‘Yeah, maybe it’s not 100% of what everyone wants, but it’s 99%, and we’ll have to go with that’—and move on.”

As it is, the recording was done in five different studios, with the final cuts mixed in Los Angeles by Paul Tavenner of Big City Recording Studios. Tavenner, who works with the biggest names in the industry, put so much effort into finalizing the sound, that the group began calling him their fifth Beatle. “We love the way he edited, and the sound that he got—it would’ve never been that good without him,” said the band’s manager Cindy Dixon.

“There was always this ‘edge-of-the-bladequality’ to playing with Dave, and it was exciting,” Wingfield said, recalling an episode at the Clubhouse when, responding to a request to play “Girl from Ipanema,” Dave launched into a lengthy avant-garde quote from various other songs.

While Becker’s spontaneity was exciting, Pelfrey blended right in by adding an element of steadiness to the band. What hasn’t changed is the band’s feel-good attitude and enthusiasm.

Human Nation’s first album was a long time coming, but the result was worth the wait.

While the band is planning its upcoming tours, they’re already thinking about the next album.

“We’re looking forward to it,” Levine said.

“This album is just the beginning for this band,” Dixon said. And the beginning looks very promising.

Migration is available at Boo-Boo Records, CD Baby or on iTunes. For more information, visit human-nation.com

NEW TO TOWN?

Get your free welcome packet!

It includes maps, civic info, coupons from cafes, groceries, wineries, auto hardware, garden, medical, dental, etc.

Liz Hiatt

Call your greeter or go to centralcoastwelcome.com

Owner

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SLO and Avila: Liz Hiatt 773-6418

773-6418

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

A FREE SERVICE TO NEWCOMERS

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North County: Sandy Hexberg 235-1529

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HOME/OUTDOOR new quarterly vets column

call to col0rs

By Gail Pruitt

W

ith this column the Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum renews its presence in the pages of Journal Plus. It is our great pleasure to once again have the opportunity to contribute to this outstanding publication. I trust readers will find value in our contribution. The column will appear quarterly.

As you may know, the Museum is situated on Grand near Monterey at 801 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo in the County Veterans Memorial Building. Look for the big, green tank out front. The Museum entrance is at the back of building next to the County Veterans Services Office. We are open Wednesday through Saturday 10am-3pm and admission is free.

The County of San Luis Obispo has graciously given the Museum the space it occupies. And we are fortunate to have a group of exceptional individuals who volunteer to serve as staff and docents. It is due solely to their remarkable dedication to the Museum and its mission that the Museum is possible. We operate on donations only.

Museum Gets Its Start The Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum (CCVMM) was initiated in 2000 by a dedicated group of local veterans to honor all veterans from the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and in addition the Merchant Marine. The Museum’s mission is “To honor all veterans past and present with emphasis on those from the Central Coast who have served America in her military by recognizing their contributions and by maintaining a museum containing military artifacts, historical memorabilia, and a research library for the education and enjoyment of the public.” It features many Central Coast veterans, such as the heroic Righetti brothers, among many others. Displays include items from the War of 1812 and World War I and II, Korea, and Vietnam continuing to the present wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Joy Becker interviews Jerry Deitz for the Library of Congress Military History Project.

Military Order of the World Wars and our Museum collaborated in the dedication of a display featuring General Vandenberg’s uniform, medals, flags, and other memorabilia donated by the General’s son, General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr.

Several Different Working Areas Within the Museum The Museum is actually made up of several different work areas each with their own functions but all of which come together in telling the story you see in each display. For example, the Archives researches and stores thousands of donated artifacts, large and small, fragile and indestructible, manufactured and hand-made; photographs, reports, flags, banners, uniforms, forks, blankets, books, weapons. The Curator and Assistant Curator deftly select from these items, putting them into a context to tell a story, many stories. Displays are changed frequently and some are permanent.

For research and the general reader, the Museum Library holds more than 3,000 volumes of military-related books, periodicals, and media.

The Museum is proud to have been chosen to house the artifacts of General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Sr. Members of the local chapter of the

Traditional Funeral Services Memorial Services

2890 S. Higuera, San Luis Obispo

Cremation Care

Located next to San Luis Cemetery

543-6871

Vietnam era 81mm mortar display

FD 374

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A view of the museum as you enter.

A number of our holdings chronicle the role Central Coast residents played in World War II and locations in the area, such as Camp San Luis Obispo and Camp Roberts, which were important in the war effort. The Library is available to the public by special arrangement. You will find a complete listing of our printed material on our Web Page at www. vetmuseum.org. Our web page is beautifully maintained and up-dated by one of our talented volunteers.

Our Armory displays the Museum’s collection of weapons. Our holdings cover a broad historic range from the age of the flintlock to the M-1 Garand, the M-14, the M-16 and much, much more.

The Museum is honored to be the local member of the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project. The Project collects and preserves first-hand accounts of wartime service from veterans nationwide. We have a small, specially equipped and sound-proofed studio here at the Museum where our interviews with veterans are conducted. Review and duplication of the resulting DVD are done in a second, speciallydesigned work station in another part of the Museum. Our specially-trained volunteer interviewers can travel to other locations in the county if a veteran cannot come in to be interviewed. War industry workers, USO workers, flight instructors, medical volunteers and others actively involved in the war effort also share their stories. The veteran’s interview is recorded on video, and he or she receives a free DVD of that interview. The Museum retains a copy and one is forwarded to the Library of Congress to become a permanent part of the national collection. To date Museum volunteers have interviewed more than 300 veterans.

If you know a veteran urge them to call the Museum now to participate. Many veterans need your encouragement to share their story.

Call To Duty is the quarterly Museum newsletter. A $30 yearly membership in the Museum includes four editions of Call To Duty,

and new members also receive a Museum lapel pin and membership card.

Finally, we are excited to announce that our Gift Shop will be opening soon. We’ll have Museum tee-shirts, hats, and mugs as well as books and selected antique militaryrelated items.

Your Central Coast Veterans Memorial Museum strives to chronicle the history of the invaluable contributions veterans have made and continue to make to the life of the nation and this community, a living remembrance of what we owe them now and always.

Did You Know?— Veteran Community News A recent flyer reports that “The San Luis Obispo County Veterans Services Office will now issue identification cards as proof of service in the United States military.

Proof of service is needed to access services, benefits, and receive veterans’ discounts at many local businesses. With the Vet-ID, veterans will no longer need to carry a copy of their military discharge papers (DD-214) to show proof of service.” Anyone who has served in any branch of the armed service is eligible. You will need a copy of your discharge papers and a photo ID. If you do not have a copy of your discharge papers, staff at the County Veterans Services Office can order a copy for you. Hours for processing ID cards may vary so contact their office to set up an appointment. The County Veterans Services Department can be reached at 805-781-5766 or visit www.slovets.org.

When you become a Museum Member you will receive a subscription to our quarterly newsletter, Call to Duty, a Museum lapel pin, and a membership card. The newsletter will keep you up-to-date on new displays, special events, Gift Shop specials. Membership is $30.00 a year.

Or you can join as a Business Sponsor for $200 a year. You will receive a special Museum decal for you to place on your business front door or window to show your support for the Museum

and Veterans everywhere. We will also print your business ad in our quarterly newsletter, Call to Duty and place your business cards where visitors to the Museum will see them.

If you would like to participate in the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project, call the Museum for an appointment 805-543-1763.

You will receive a free video interview about your military service, one free DVD of your interview, and free mailing of your DVD interview to the Library of Congress.

Additional copies of your DVD for family and friends are available for $10 each which covers the Museum’s duplicating expenses.

We are here for you.

Nicole Pazdan, CSA “Placing a loved one is full of complicated choices.

You can call on us to help guide and support you through this emotional decision .”

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Elder Placement Professionals, Inc (805)546-8777 www.elderplacementprofessionals.com

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HOME/OUTDOOR

FILIPPONI RANCH CELLARS

CRAFTFULLY BLENDING TOGETHER COMMUNITY AND FINE WINE

By Leslie Jones

Ranch owners, Herb and Diane Filipponi and Herb’s sister, JoAnn in front of their childhood house that will be re-modeled into a winetasting room.

S

lowly heading over the hill and down towards the old homestead, I soon spot family patriarch Herb Filipponi driving his tractor with his dog Sally contently trotting alongside. With panoramic views of the entire San Luis Obispo Valley in sight, wild turkeys, bobcats, road runners and black-angus cows can be viewed on any given day here at the breathtaking Filipponi Ranch. It is indeed paradise, and yet, there’s so much more here than what initially meets the eye.

Herb’s father, Lorenzo, immigrated to America from Switzerland in the early 1900s, purchasing and settling on a 300-acre ranch while starting a dairy. That original dairy barn is still on the premises, and is where each bottle of Filipponi Ranch Cellars wine is hand-crafted today.

Mourvèdre blend is smooth, soulful and indicative of the quality wines represented here at Filipponi.

While sipping the newly pressed Syrah on a gorgeous fall afternoon, grapes from the Paso Robles Cross Creek Vineyard, Templeton Gap and Edna Valley’s Dixon Ranch will be skillfully blended before bottling. Inspired by the Lorenzo blend, it’s yet another example of the creative winemaking techniques at Filipponi Ranch Cellars.

“Wine creates itself ... I’m merely driving the bus,” Peter Cron, Filipponi Ranch Cellars’ winemaker explains. “The unexpected leads to beautiful results. As a self-proclaimed optimist, I’m one who always believes that we’ll somehow figure it all out.”

Viewable from the southbound lanes of Highway 101, the original Filipponi homestead will soon move forward into the construction phase of the highly anticipated tasting room due to open in mid 2014. Architectural plans include high ceilings and a large room perfectly suited to welcome visitors on hand to enjoy Filipponi Ranch Cellars wines.

“I’m anxious to get this started,” exclaims Herb. “I’m looking forward to enjoying a reunion with those who have previously helped at the dairy while living here in the house. A homecoming of sorts will be in order.”

As a relatively new member of the San Luis Obispo Vintners Association, Filipponi Ranch Cellars is a small, boutique winery producing under 1000 cases of wine a year. On an exceptionally warm afternoon, the Chardonnay and Rosé are especially popular and the Lorenzo is always a favorite. Named after Herb’s Father, this Syrah, Grenache, N O V E M B E R

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Herb and JoAnn Filipponi’s parents on their porch circa 1940s

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One of the newest ventures here at Filipponi Ranch Cellars is the partnership with the Central Coast Shakespeare Festival, providing a new venue for presenting live, outdoor Shakespeare and other classic plays along the Central Coast. A ‘Friend-raiser’ will be hosted on November 16th (1–3 p.m.) at the Filipponi Ranch (1850 Calle Juaquin) for Shakespeare aficionados along with friends and family in celebration of this new partnership. The stage area will be nestled in the hillside far back on the property with viewing audiences enjoying live theatre while sitting under the peaceful sycamores.

Herb Filipponi and Winemaker Peter Cron

In the early 1980s, Peter started working for Estrella River Winery in Paso Robles. He moved back to Los Angeles and worked in the engineering field for a number of years until returning to the area soon after his father moved to the Central Coast and planted a small Cabernet vineyard. They opened a small winery specializing in the production of small lots of single-vineyard wines called Laverne Vineyard.

His newest label, Cronologie, stems from Peter’s great passion for experimenting with Spanish and Portuguese varietals. Housed under the Filipponi Ranch Cellars bond at the Filipponi Ranch, these newest creations will be offered through the Filipponi Ranch Cellars wine club as well as separately.

Both the Tempranillo and Verdelho varietals, due to be released in late 2013, were sourced from the Silvaspoons Vineyard near Lodi. Grower Ron Silva, often referred to as Lodi’s Portuguese grape king, offers fruit with exceptional flavors and well-balanced ripeness and acidity.

On the back label the term Cronologie is melodiously described as “The study of time through the science and art of winemaking.”

Further descriptive phrasing explains that “In the vineyard, time is measured by vintage. Every year Mother Nature deals us her hand.

We then craft and coax the juice from the grapes into fine wine using our winemaking experience of years past.”

Kelly McCleary, marketing consultant, has been instrumental in collaborative efforts with the Shakespeare Festival and has in the past been involved with other community-minded non-profits. She sees this new partnership as mutually beneficial for CCSF and the Filipponi Ranch: the Shakespeare Festival needs a new home, and by providing the venue, the Filipponi Ranch will introduce the Ranch and their wines to a wider audience. Filipponi Ranch is generous with other fundraising venues including the annual SLO Wine and Grill Affair for Transitions-Mental Health Association.

The Filipponi family was also instrumental in recently connecting the trailhead from Johnson Ranch to Froom Ranch / Irish Hills.

Thanks to their right-to-pass access, visitors are now able to hike from either end while enjoying the lovely views of Edna Valley and the sparkling Pacific. (The Irish Hills trailhead is at the end of Madonna Road, near Los Osos Valley Road. The Johnson Ranch trailhead is on the frontage road near Highway 101 at the southbound Higuera exit north of San Luis Bay Drive).

Whether it’s connecting trails for the community, sharing a passion for live theatre under the stars or bringing together friends and family for the latest BBQ and wine tasting extravaganza, there’s a feeling of camaraderie that is home grown and welcoming. “I’m over here with my BBQ during events and Peter is over there comfortably talking about the wines. We’re each doing what we love and it’s all working out just fine,” explains Herb with a smile of contentment.

Check out the Filipponi Ranch Cellars website at www.filipponicellars. com for upcoming events, and like them on Facebook at http://www. facebook.com/FilipponiCellars

Pastrami Reuben or

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

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

The same house today as the photo on the left and will be remodeled to become a tasting room.

750 Price Street, Pismo Beach 773-1922

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at the market

Sweet potato salad with toasted cumin, Lime, and fresh mint

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By Sarah Hedger

ovember greetings! As the seasons change and the soup pots meet the stove top, we continue to be fortunate with good findings at our local farmers’ markets. November sees the continuation of apple season, as well as persimmons, pomegranates and the highly beneficial cruciferous family of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and then the delicious yams and sweet potatoes as well. Quite a lot of options for cooking up an amazing stew and heartier fare for the upcoming winter season!

I recently learned about a neat organization we are lucky enough to have as a resource, called Slow Money SLO (www.slowmoneyslo.org), a local chapter of the larger organization, Slow Money, started by Woody Tasch, with the intention to connect small food and farm enterprises (and entrepreneurs), focusing on local, organic, sustainability, to investors with similar values, wanting to invest their money into the local food economy. Slow Money takes it a step further with supporting the natural systems, such as rebuilding the soil, to ensure our local food production can sustain itself for years to come. There is no question the goodness

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that comes from having an organization like this in our backyard.

Aside from providing funding support and options, they also help the businesses by providing advice, networking connections, and consulting, which for those who have their own businesses, can appreciate the added value of having strong support such as this.

A sampling of who they have aided since they began just over a year ago, is a sampling of many things delicious in our SLO community. They assisted SLO Natural Foods with their remodel so they can offer more items to the community with their larger store front; they assisted Benefit Foods, creator of the incredible, highly nutritious V Bar sold in biodegradable packaging; they have worked with Mama Ganache, the brilliant Fair Trade chocolate organization run by Dr. Tom Neuhaus, who also runs Project Hope and Fairness; and also Vert Foods, a farm to table organization providing nutrient dense meals to your doorstep. All of these organizations not only provide us with more nutritious options, they also are looking at the bigger picture of how to sustain a healthy community as a whole. Thus, a win-win for all involved (and all of us who enjoy high quality, delicious foods)!

sweet potato salad with toasted cumin, lime and fresh mint

This month’s recipe is a hearty one in the nutrient dense category as well as the flavor category. Sweet Potato Salad with Toasted Cumin, Lime, and Fresh Mint is something I came up with after roasting some sweet potatoes that came out tasting even better than the best roasted marshmallows. The toasted cumin adds nice warmth, while the lime takes it a bit south of the border, and the fresh mint and parsley finish it with brightness that leave the taste buds wanting just another fork full. The salad comes together with relative ease—don’t be dismayed by the list of ingredients or length of the recipe—it can be broken down and made in advance at any stage along the way. Enjoy.

FOR THE ROAST SWEET POTATOES: 2 lbs sweet potatoes/yams (I used 3 types for variety in flavor and color), scrubbed clean but not peeled, cut into 1cm pieces 1 T olive oil 1 tsp sea salt FOR THE TOASTED CUMIN DRESSING: 2 tsp cumin seeds, toasted in dry skillet until aromatic 1 ½ tsp sea salt 1 T apple cider vinegar 1 ½ T fresh orange juice (juice from ½ fresh orange) 1 T fresh lemon juice 1 T honey Pinch of cayenne/red chili powder 1/3 cup olive oil FOR THE CUMIN LIME SUNFLOWER SEEDS: ½ cup sunflower seeds 2 tsp fresh lime juice 2 tsp olive oil 1 tsp sea salt 1 tsp ground cumin 2 T fresh flat leaf parsley, minced 4 T fresh mint, minced Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and line a large baking sheet with baking paper. Toss sweet potatoes/yams with olive oil and salt.

Place on baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes or until soft and beginning to brown (some crisp brown spots are great).

Place all sunflower seed ingredients in small roasting pan (a loaf pan works great) and place in oven while the sweet potatoes are roasting. After 20 minutes, check to see if they are toasted and remove from oven as soon as they are lightly brown.

While sweet potatoes/yams and sunflower seeds are roasting, prepare dressing. If you have a mortar and pestle, grind toasted cumin seeds and salt to a rough powder. If not, use a (clean) coffee grinder. If no coffee grinder, place cumin and salt with all dressing ingredients except olive oil in a bowl or blender (an immersion blender works great for this). Blend until smooth and carefully/slowly add olive oil in a steady stream, until dressing is thick and creamy. Taste for salt/seasoning, and set aside.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

slo county art scene renee besta’s photographic memory

By Gordon Fuglie

F

or more than 160 years, camera images have dominated our visual culture as the least expensive and most persuasive means to record, instruct, publicize and give personal and aesthetic pleasure. Photography is everywhere; it has even become its own language in film, TV and electronic advertising. Some fear it will diminish writing and speech.

Because of their ubiquity, photographs have been paramount in transforming our ideas about ourselves, our institutions and our relationship to the world.

The most popular use of photography is the recording of personal moments and events, with the camera replacing the old parlor bible (with its pages marking births, baptisms, marriages, deaths, etc.) as the portal to our memories of loved ones. In the hands of an artist,

like Nicholas Nixon or Sally Mann, the camera captures families and friends in stages of life’s passages.

But people don’t need to be present in a photograph to have a presence. Fine art photographers like Lee Friedlander have composed haunting images of lonely cityscapes, domestic interiors, and silenced factories that fairly shout a human presence, even though no people are seen.

It is such imagery of human absence-yet-presence that has become a passion for artist Renée Besta of Paso Robles. This sensibility can be seen in her recent work that is enhanced by her mastery of digital high dynamic range photography, a technological advance that allows photographers to combine an unprecedented range of light settings, textures and exposures.

Besta originally studied biochemistry but retained an interest in fine art photography while she worked in the corporate world. She arrived in Southern California from St. Louis in 1977, and moved to SLO County in 2003 to take care of her ailing stepparents. Once here, Besta also enrolled at Cuesta College, studying photography under Patty Arnold (SLO Journal, June, 2013). I first met Besta in 2008 while I was the curator at the San Luis Obispo Art Center. She was active in the Central Coast Photographic Society as well as the Camera Club. She also was chafing at the bit to move beyond the conventional pictorial sensibilities and film-based technologies that preoccupied many in these groups. The technologically attuned Besta was eager to explore the expanding digital world with its sophisticated software and richly tonal ink jet printing.

Her choice was HDRI (high dynamic range imaging, or HDR), once the well-kept secret of Hollywood’s visual effects community.

An early adapter, Besta was quick to see that HDR resolved the age-old film dilemma of whether to expose one’s film for the highlights or shadows, in other words, sacrificing one to obtain the other. HDR eliminated this quandary, allowing photographers to capture the fullest range of luminosity in a scene, despite great differences in tone and contrast. From areas lit in bright sun to the darkest interiors, HDR captures everything in the highest clarity in a single image. Gorged with once unattainable tonal information, the result is a stunningly atmospheric print, a vision of surreality.

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Besta’s predilection for shooting abandoned and decaying buildings makes HDR her ideal technology for investing her subjects with an

HOME/OUTDOOR

Cabin Fever

intense melancholy. Indeed, such photographic subject matter has become a genre, Urban Exploration (UrbEx), creating apparitionlike compositions of derelict structures, mood-laden memorials to their former occupants.

Such are the remains of the Imperial Holly Sugar refinery plant in Betteravia, an abandoned town west of Santa Maria. In 1988, the plant suffered a major explosion and fire, critically injuring eight employees. Holly closed the refinery in 1993, demolishing most of the buildings, but leaving behind two towering, hermetically sealed silos.

Besta recognized that these ominous, rusting structures were an ideal UrbEx subject. Against a distant cobalt blue sky of foamy clouds, one can almost hear the clank of boots on the rusty ladders and catwalks.

The gigantic silos bring to mind the industrial dystopia of the silent film classic, Metropolis.

From the more distant past, deserted mining towns still dot the western landscape. Rhyolite, near the California/Nevada border and east of Death Valley National Park, was abandoned in the 1920s. It lives on through its ruins that served as backdrops to Hollywood films. It also is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The industrial origins of the town place it within the interests of UrbEx-ers, and Besta, who also loves to photograph the desert, made her way to the arid region, producing bleak, densely textured images of commercial ruins and human detritus. One of her strongest Rhyolite images is “Cabin Fever,” depicting the blown-out interior of a decaying residence. HDR is here highly effective in capturing the distinct wood grain of the weathered and warped floorboards, beams and planks of the shadowed interior, not to mention the bedspring and toppled stove. Who slept and cooked here?

In the five years since Besta invested in a digital camera ($3,000) and costly digital studio, she has mastered HDR and honed her vision. For me, what will add interest to future work is her discovering even more remote and less-known sites and structures, including abandoned modern buildings, shot at novel angles, further extending her UrbEx sensibility. In the meantime, the artist maintains a technically and historically informed website and I commend it to you: renmarphoto.com, and inquiries, rbesta@charter.net.

27

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COMMUNITY

Our Schools

homework—what’s a parent to do?

By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools he topic of homework in school often raises several questions for parents. How much homework is appropriate? What is the purpose of homework? How, if at all, can I best help my child with homework? These are good questions and deserve some thoughtful responses.

T

skills to new situations or problems. This is often the case with math problems or with an assignment to prepare a written review for a story discussed in class. Finally, homework can also be a useful communication link for parents to know how their student is progressing in school.

Homework has been around a long time and there have been two points of view about it for just as long. One position is that homework is an essential component for students to meet the increasingly competitive global academic expectations and necessary for high scholastic achievement. The other viewpoint, especially in the elementary grades, is that children are already under too much stress to achieve and taking up their time at home with more academic work denies them time for family, socialization, play and “just being a kid.” Parents are often conflicted over these two viewpoints.

The amount of homework is of course dependent on the age of the student and their experiences in school. A guideline often used is the “Rule.” Starting in first grade, about 10 minutes a day can be expected.

At each grade, an additional 10 minutes is added so that by 6th grade, about an hour is expected. In high school, depending on the courses, a student can be expected to spend at least a couple of hours daily, with some days requiring more, depending on the assignments and the rigor of the courses. For kindergarten, I suggest that the only homework is for parents to spend some time with their child, perhaps talk with them about their day and, most importantly, to read to them nightly.

What Is The Purpose Of Homework?

Teachers, parents and students need to be very clear about the answer to this question. There are legitimate reasons to assign homework as well as some misuses of homework. Homework should not be “busy work” or endless repetition just to take up time. Homework should not be used to teach new skills since this will often result in frustration and discouragement. Teachers have an obligation to know and explain how homework will help a student to gain mastery of a subject.

Homework can be used to provide practice and reinforcement for the learning of skills which have been introduced earlier. This is probably the most common use of homework and is often the reason that homework is assigned in elementary school. Homework can also be very useful as preparation when a student is asked to review some material that will be covered in depth the next day in class. This use can be tricky since the assignment needs to be familiar enough so the student is building on past learning, but challenging enough to retain interest.

A third purpose of homework is the application of previously learned

How Much Homework is Appropriate?

How Can Parents Help With Homework?

My daughter, a third grade teacher, tells me that the most important things a parent can do is to show interest in what has been assigned and to provide time and space at home that is dedicated for the child to complete homework. Parents who do this consistently are also modeling good time management and establishing a routine that will help throughout their child’s school career. The location does not have to be fancy, but just a quiet and dedicated location for study that a child can count on. Parents should be available to assist, but beware of confusing a child if you really don’t understand something (it happens!). It’s OK to say that you learned something differently and ask the child to ask the teacher the next day. A good rule to remember is to reinforce quality rather than quantity in homework. Protect children from feeling rushed or pressured to complete assignments in order to do something else.

Homework can be a very effective tool to assist student learning.

Parents are essential partners in this effort, but remember to balance helping with letting the child feel accomplishment.

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30

COMMUNITY

naiyerah kolkailah Islamic society of slo county

By Will Jones “The worldly comforts are not for me. I am like a traveler, who takes rest under a tree in the shade and then goes on his way.”

—Prophet Muhammed The Mosque of Nasreen on Walnut Street in San Luis Obispo is one of the newest landmarks in the local faith community. The spiritual home to nearly five hundred Muslims who live throughout the county, Nasreen opened in 2009. Naiyerah Kolkailah is the president of the Islamic Society of San Luis Obispo County. Along with her sisters Nahlah and Noha, she is a graduate of both San Luis Obispo High School and Cal Poly, where she majored in biology and religious studies. Nahlah recently completed her Masters in clinical psychology and Noha her Masters in education. Their father, Faysal, a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering, teaches at Cal Poly, and their mother, Rasha, has a Masters in English literature and a Ph.D. in Islamic studies. She has taught at Cal Poly, at the Qatar Foundation, and Al-Azhar University in Egypt, the oldest Islamic university in the world. After arriving in the United States from Egypt in 1977, the Kolkailah family moved to San Luis Obispo in 1984.

Naiyerah joined the Muslim Student Association at Cal Poly and eventually became president. “It was then that I realized there was so much education needed and so many misconceptions and stereotypes about Muslims. It really motivated me to understand my own faith, not just to better answer questions, but to work as a community to implement the faith, to worship God with more understanding and meaning.” While at Cal Poly Naiyerah took six months off to study Arabic in Egypt, and after graduating she studied in Doha, Qatar, where she earned a diploma in Islamic studies.

Naiyerah and her father, Dr. Faysal Kolkailah

includes activities for youth ages ten to seventeen. Naiyerah is also a private tutor, working with children at home or through Skype to teach the Koran and Arabic. “We have considered offering Arabic classes here for everyone in the community. There is interest, but we haven’t had teachers able to commit at this point.” A long term goal is to have a community center with an events hall, a school and a bookstore.

Although Qatar is a Muslim country, Naiyerah experienced homesickness while she was there. “I missed my family, the natural scenery, the ocean and the mountains.” When I said it was because she was a California girl, she said, “Yes, exactly. Sometimes when I walk down the street, especially after 9/11, because I dress traditionally and look different, people tell me to go back home, not understanding that I’m actually from here.”

Faysal joined our conversation and we talked about times during Naiyerah’s schooling when she experienced prejudice from other students.

“In 7th grade I had my scarf pulled off, I’ve had comments about going back to certain countries, usually those that are prominent in the media, but most of my experiences with teachers and classmates have been positive. A lot of it has to do with being open, being social, connecting with people. Also I was focused on getting good grades so I was too busy to get involved with that kind of attention.” Both Naiyerah and Faysal agreed that San Luis Obispo is a more enlightened community than many, helping to minimize negative interactions.

Naiyerah currently coordinates the Sunday school program at Nasreen, where they teach the Koran, Arabic and Islamic Studies. The program

“Wearing Islamic dress since I was ten-years-old naturally drew attention. For Muslim youth in this country you can either embrace that

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identity or not want to have anything to do with it. For me I had to understand the wisdom behind it and be able to articulate and communicate with other people about my Islamic identity. It was a source of strength and an incentive to learn more about my faith.” As a member of the Muslim Student Association at Cal Poly, Naiyerah gave many presentations about Islam, especially rewarding for her as a Muslim woman.

As an example of providing educational information, I asked Naiyerah what she tells someone who asks about the way she dresses. “I tell people that modesty is one of the greatest principles in Islam. People sometimes think the dress is oppressive, but it is something that comes from God and it’s a choice to obey God, but there’s always wisdom behind it. It actually liberates me from being looked at in a physical way or having to conform to societal standards for how women should dress. We have a cultural issue with women being objectified, seen as sex objects. Our dress makes a statement about valuing a woman for what she has to offer outside the physical, for her intelligence and for her contributions to society.” Ironic laughter, but agreement followed when I suggested that traditionally dressed Islamic women are actually making a feminist statement. “It’s uplifting women as dignified human beings for everything they have to offer,” Naiyerah said.

The Islamic Society of San Luis Obispo has existed as a registered nonprofit since 1985, first meeting in a classroom at Cal Poly. It became the Islamic Society of San Luis Obispo County in 2005. Two annual celebrations, known as Eid, one at the end of Ramadan and one during the month of pilgrimage, draw the largest number of Muslims to the Mosque of Nasreen. Regular congregational prayer occurs every Friday around 1:15 PM, which corresponds with the second prayer of the day. Students and workers try to arrange their schedules so they can attend.

The congregation is searching for a permanent imam, so currently prayer services are conducted by a variety of long standing members, like Dr. Kolkailah. While there is no formal mission statement for the Society, Naiyerah said “The idea is to bring the community together, to maintain the bond and to provide educational, religious and social services for both Sunni and Shia Muslims.”

Annual open houses and classes like Islam 101 have brought the community-at-large to Nasreen with overwhelmingly positive results.

Naiyerah spoke at a religion series sponsored

by Mt. Carmel Lutheran church and she is a

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beliefthough of one God.” I shared my almember of the San Luis Obispo Ministerial Even theWhen prospect oflifemoving m tering experience as a Catholic who attended Association. She welcomes the opportunity to future, you owe it to yourself to learn h a Quaker college preparatory school in Philaparticipate in interfaith activities. carefree living inconcluded your own home for man delphia, Naiyerah our conversation My dialogue with Naiyerah and Dr. Kolkailah with a statement that makes me grateful she is ranged over many topics, including important a leader in our community. events in Islamic history, such as the migra“It’s very enlightening to recognize that you tion of the Prophet Muhammed from Mecca It’sinaNovember, fact of and lifeanthat asdon’t wehave geta older, Pristine is fully complete monopoly over truth, to Medina, celebrated and that people from other faiths and cul-and insu understanding of the simplicity of Islam. As tasks some day-to-day become too licensed tures have something of value that you can Dr. Kolkailah stated, “There is no system. It is much handle on our own.

Allown of life ourto worke benefit fromThat and adopt into your between you and God. Islamto is not a religion. make more perfect It is a way of life, with a foundation in the doesn’t mean you have to itmove awayand meaningful.” are carefully scre • •

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COMMUNITY

history

rest in peace ... but somewhere else

By Joe Carotenuti

T

hey are world-wide but many are forgotten in the relentless march of time. Yet, if there is birth, then, too, there must be death. The balance scale of life requires both. Most often sad, a human’s final repose is remembered as an inevitable conclusion and for many, the portal to eternity.

Whatever our cultural or religious heritage, it is the duty of the living to care for the dead … including those in a small, unimportant spot on a trail in pioneer California.

Here’s the story.

“Next to the care of the living,” wrote Walter Murray in the local Tribune newspaper in 1870, “the dead claim our attention.” As with all mission settlements, the first local cemetery was located next to the church founded in 1772. Even so, Walter recalled when he first arrived in 1853, he found graves scattered about the settlement. Now his concern was for any cemetery to be at a distance from the town of3_75"x5"CrushedGrapeCMYKad10_13.pdf 1 10/10/13 8:14 AM limits as “the dead and the living ought not to be so close together.”

However, this was not the first complaint—nor the last—as to the final destination of those who died anywhere near San Luis Obispo and had a funeral. Some of the Vigilance Committee formed in 1858 felt no need to afford those hung for crimes any such service.

Death was a constant companion in the earliest history of the future state and burials were a religious, albeit utilitarian, ceremony. Undoubtedly for those who could afford one, a coffin was used. While there is no record of any burial practices, those in Santa Barbara probably reflect local rituals. There was no embalming, services were conducted soon after death and there were few headstones. Today’s more elaborate arrangements reflect both changing laws and sentiments about internments.

As with baptisms, First Communions, marriages, Confirmations, and agricultural results, a careful record was maintained for each death.

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the new site was relocated near today’s Pacific and Carmel Streets fronting Higuera.

The slightly more than four acres of ground was the complaint of Murray as being too close to the living. Catholics in good standing were usually buried within a fenced area while those not so or of other traditions were interred outside the fence. However, Murray’s concerns seem to involve both religious and health issues as the spread of disease from a corpse was always in question.

The first ordinance prohibiting the “burial of any dead person” within City limits was passed on April 7, 1877 with subsequent extensions.

Failure to follow the ordinance could result in a $500 fine and/or 10 days in jail.

The first burial here was for a child who died on October 4, 1772 after being the first to be baptized three days before at the fifth mission. From its founding, about 2,600 deaths are reported to 1846.

When Samuel A. Pollard built his store near the Mission around 1850, he paid William Breck to haul the dead (and the stench) from behind the Mission—by wheelbarrow—to a location near Buchon and Morro Streets. For each body, the pay was a bottle of cognac.

The deceased had succumbed in one of the reoccurring cholera plagues and the fear of contagion most likely deferred burials. Pollard declared that Breck was the town’s first undertaker and “my wheelbarrow” the first hearse.

Eventually, burials were discontinued in the Mission grounds. Any removal of the remains is not recorded but as late as 1905, workman uncovered several remains when digging a trench on Chorro Street. By 1860,

By October, however, there were protests that Catholic Bishop Amat had been granted enough time to establish a new cemetery. The protestors thought 30 days was “ample time to procure a cemetery and make the necessary improvements.” By December, the present cemetery—then located outside the City limits—bounded by Higuera and Bridge Streets, was opened. Charles W. Dana had purchased eight acres for the cemetery on behalf of the Catholic Church in October of 1877 for $800.

An article in the local press announced work had begun “on the removal of all bodies” to the new site. There is some indication that any non-Catholic would be removed to the “other” cemetery. By the end of October, the newspaper picturesquely announced all removals had taken place and “the old settlers will probably be disturbed no more until Gabriel toots his horn on the morning of the final round-up.”

On July 16, 1879, the new Bishop Mora was able to journey from diocesan headquarters in Los Angeles to bless the site. He noted there were five consecrated acres within the fenced area and three outside the fence.

town limits. Declared a “decided success,” an area was devoted to Odd Fellows and Masons with “plenty of room” for all others. Some in the community commented the town had been in “great need of a respectable place of rest for deceased Protestants.” Known as the San Luis Cemetery, locals still refer to the graveyard as the “Odd Fellows Cemetery.”

Today, many people confuse the more visible Odd Fellows Cemetery on Higuera at the corner of Elks Way as the Catholic one located across the street. In whatever location, may they (finally) all Rest In Peace.

Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com Visit some of the pioneer deceased as the History Center and re-enactors present SLO SOULS on Saturday, November 2 from 11am4pm at the San Luis (Odd Fellows) Cemetery.

In the meanwhile, in 1871, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows developed a 40 acre site for non-Catholic burials one mile from the

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COMMUNITY

hospice corner

I’d like to talk about my death, please

By Mark Wilson

B

e honest. Have you ever thought about your own death? I’ll admit I have … more than once.

I’ve wondered when and how I’ll meet my demise. If I’ll see it coming or whether I’ll get taken out without ever knowing what

happened. I’ve thought about the funeral and who might or might not show up. There will be lots of crying of course. I was clearly a great guy. I’ve even fantasized about ex girlfriends who might attend and, after finding out what a great and successful

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As odd as it may seem, I’ve decided to spend some time each month writing about death and dying from an Average Joe’s perspective.

I just happen to think it’s time to have an honest, open discussion about the one thing we know we all have in common with each other. Yup … I mean death and dying … buying the farm … taking a dirt nap.

I’m also going to spend some time talking about hospice care because, as someone who’s been fortunate enough to work with people that provide this care, I’ve witnessed, firsthand, the profound effect it has on patients and their families and friends. The real issue is that too few people understand what hospice is, and far too many believe it is something it isn’t.

www.slojournal.com

Journal PLUS

Here’s the rub. We Americans are seemingly willing to discuss just about anything. Sex, drugs, toe fungus. You name it, we’ll talk about it. And yet the National Hospice Association found that Americans are more likely to talk to their children about safe sex and

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

www.slojournal.com · 654 Osos Street · San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

2013

I recently attended an end of life seminar at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. When one of the panelists asked the assembled crowd for their reaction to the word hospice, many actually booed like they’d just witnessed a bad call at home plate during a Dodgers game. I get it of course. Hospice means you’re dying, right? So if people could avoid hospice care, maybe, just maybe, they could avoid death. At the risk of upsetting some of you, I feel it necessary to remind you of what you already know; you ARE going to die! Sorry folks. As they say, death and taxes ...

Allow me to give you my short version of hospice. Hospice helps patients and their families meet medical, emotional and spiritual end of life needs … often under some very difficult circumstances. Is it giving up on life? Does it mean that we’re just going to sit around and watch grandpa wither away and die? Absolutely not. It only means you’ve made the commitment to live your best life while you still have life. It means living out your remaining days with as much joy and dignity as possible … with as little physical and emotional pain as possible. You’re free to leave hospice care at any time. Trust me; it’s not a death sentence.

Your condition might improve, making you ineligible for hospice care, or you may even choose to pursue a new curative treatment.

Hospice simply provides choice and control of your own care and circumstances.

For Advertising Information Call 546-0609

N O V E M B E R

man I became in life, they’d kick themselves for letting me get away. Especially when they see how handsome I expect to look as I lie there motionless in my casket.

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COMMUNITY

drugs than to talk with their own terminally ill parents about end of life preferences and options. Why is that exactly? Why are we so reluctant to ignore our own fate and the fate of those we love the most?

35

NOVEMBER CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

Let’s imagine for a moment that you’ve been given 12 months to live. There’s a very small chance you could live 14 or 15 months but it will most likely be at a substantial cost of your comfort and, incidentally, a whole lot of money.

Thirty percent of Medicare dollars are spent in the last months of life…almost $150 billion annually. Beyond that, a quarter of Medicare recipients spend more than the total value of ALL their assets on out-of-pocket health care expenses during the last five years of their lives. Thanks, but I’d rather spend my money on something else. Anything else! When it’s my time I’d like some peace, tranquility and some dignity, and I fully intend to let my loved ones and my doctor know what my wishes are well in advance. I want to avoid opposing directions coming from family and friends … or fights about intensive care unit treatment options, or any other such issues that may risk my opportunity to experience the “good death” that I so deserve. I think I’ve earned it.

Mark Wilson is Vice President of Business Development at Wilshire Health & Community Services, Inc. email him at mwilson@ wilshirehcs.org

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: FOOTBALL

ACROSS 1. Dads 6. Common inquiries 9. *You can place a football one in Vegas 13. Throat dangler 14. Australian runner 15. Man with a mission 16. Sans-_____ font 17. Day ___ 18. Deserving of respect?

19. Rains and snows together 21. *Start of the game 23. Greatest possible 24. Hit the road 25. Hair raiser 28. Affirmative 30. *A ______ defense uses five defensive backs 35. Smell 37. “____ the night before Christ-

mas...”

39. Ronald Reagan’s wife 40. Formerly Persia 41. Certain saxes 43. Cow sounds 44. Goes great with onions 46. *Most players must be still until this 47. Whimper 48. Wiggle room 50. Moonfish 52. “___ the season ...”

53. Chapter 11 issue 55. Mutt 57. *Final destination 61. Like Anthony Kiedis’s group 64. Refined woman 65. Caustic chemical 67. Star in Cygnus 69. Cell phone bill item 70. *Received when deplaning to attend the Pro Bowl?

71. Dough or cabbage

72. Simon does this 73. Grass bristle 74. Correct DOWN 1. It causes inflammation 2. They go north and south in NYC 3. Opposite of knit 4. Venusian, e.g.

5. *Defensive score 6. Come clean, with “up” 7. It increases strength of signals 8. San Francisco’s 1906 event 9. Pitcher’s illegal move 10. Taro plant 11. Not kosher 12. Feudal laborer 15. Jelly ingredient 20. Kappa Alpha _____ 22. Wayside stop 24. Knickknackery 25. *Tailgating staple?

26. Creepy 27. Furlough

29. Hole-making tools 31. *Where football training happens 32. Flogger’s tool 33. Food safety threat 34. Plural of lysis 36. Was aware of 38. Cleaning bar 42. Elbow room 45. Radar + dome 49. Japanese capital 51. *Only 11 allowed here 54. Isabella Swan of “Twilight” 56. Watery discharge of the eyes 57. Plural of #14 Across 58. Org. with a mission 59. Normandy landing 60. Opposite of zigs 61. Bit attachment 62. In one case 63. Seaside bird 66. Coniferous tree 68. Made in the morning?

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palm street perspective

most homeless people do NOT panhandle.

By SLO City Councilman, John Ashbaugh

What’s being done to alleviate homelessness in SLO County? Sometimes it seems that every time we take a step forward, we take two steps back: CAPSLO’s Prado Day Center continues to operate, but in Santa Barbara a similar day center at Casa Esperanza has been forced to close due to lack of funding. In Grover Beach, People’s Kitchen has been given only 45 days to continue feeding people from a County-owned lot on 16th Street – ironically, the last meal will be Thanksgiving Day. CAPSLO’s proposal to build a new Homeless Services Center on South Higuera Street is being revived at a smaller scale, but another nearby site is still under consideration.

homeless ≠ transients ≠ Panhandlers

A

re you concerned about the growing problem of homelessness in San Luis Obispo? Is there anybody in this town who isn’t concerned? My Council colleagues and I receive complaints regularly about “transients” and panhandlers in the downtown area, and very often those complaints are directed at our population of homeless.

Occasionally, we get people who recommend that the City should simply “shut down homeless services”—based on the mistaken belief that equates being homeless with being transients, and/or with panhandling.

Regardless of your perspective, you’re likely to be curious about how many homeless people we have in town. You may want to know something more about how they got there and what, if anything, we can do about their desperate situation.

We now have the results from the County’s Homeless Services Oversight Committee “Point in Time” Enumeration and Survey. The Enumeration was conducted on a single 24hour period in January by trained volunteers, working in teams that included currently or formerly homeless individuals. The Survey consisted of interviews with a representative sample of homeless persons over February and March. Data from school districts were also compiled to estimate the population of homeless children and youth in the community.

The “point in time” Enumeration in January counted 2,186 homeless persons, up 3% from 2011. Over the course of the year, the Survey estimated that 3,497 persons in our community experienced homelessness at least for some period of time.

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Emergency shelters or transitional housing operated by organizations like Community Action Partnership of SLO, ECHO, and the Women’s Shelters provide beds for only about 11% of the homeless population; fully 89% are unsheltered on any given night. One-third of the homeless are females; 12% are children under 18. There were almost 200 homeless families with 438 total family members (20% of the overall population). Another 12% are veterans.

Most of our homeless are NOT transient; they are “home-grown”: 71% resided in San Luis Obispo County when they became homeless, and an additional 18% in another California county. Our homeless have no intention of going anywhere else, either: 85% intend to stay in SLO County for a year or longer. The vast majority do not “choose” to be homeless: 70% would move into safe, affordable permanent housing if it were available; 16% were unsure.

Why do people become homeless? Every story is different, but there are some common themes: Two-thirds of the homeless have one or more disabling conditions. Almost half (49%) report some mental illness (e.g., PTSD, bipolar, schizophrenia, chronic depression, etc.) Almost 40% reported experiencing injuries that were possible indicators of brain injury. Only 12% of the homeless are selfreported to be chronic substance abusers. The vast majority are law-abiding: 62% reported no jail time, although 8% had spent more than 50 nights in jail or prison over the last year.

This survey did not ask about panhandling, but national research indicates that most panhandlers ARE NOT HOMELESS—and conversely,

Journal PLUS

The homeless are not helpless, either: almost ¾ of them are high-school or college graduates, and 15% are working at least part-time. Racial and ethnic characteristics are not significantly different from the population as a whole: 69% are white.

The City just adopted a new ordinance that permits eligible property owners and nonprofits to operate more “safe parking” areas for homeless persons with RVs or vehicles, like the five-space facility at Prado Day Center that has already booked a full year of success.

The key to ending homelessness, however, is not just building more homes or “safe parking” areas: It requires a combination of effective and engaged law enforcement, a supportive community of businesses and residents, and a firm outreach that offers case management, supportive and transitional housing, mental health services, as well as emergency shelter. The County’s Homeless Services Oversight Council meets every other month, and we are tasked with implementing our County’s Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness – now five years in.

Are you in? Or are you content to just let the problem continue to fester? I hope not – and if you’d like to help us with constructive solutions that genuinely help our home-grown homeless population, contact me at jashbaug@slocity.org.

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

Inside:

November 2013

W hat ’s U p Mee t O ur Inter ns Downtown B usiness Spo tlights

W h a t ’ s

U p

A r o u n d

“I

gave at the curb” could become the new catch phrase if all goes as planned with a proposed “Directed Giving Campaign” currently in the development stages between the City of SLO, the Downtown Association and United Way of SLO County.

I

n an effort to reshape the culture and fallout of hand-to-hand “spare change” transactions, the three agencies will borrow from other communities’ models where designated parking-meter “stations” will offer an alternative for giving cash to panhandlers while providing an opportunity for those wanting to help donate directly to the needy.

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D o w n t o w n

?

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cross the nation, many urban areas are feeling the impacts of addiction-related activities on their infrastructure and service networks. Sadly, those who are in the throes of substance abuse or are intentionally service-resistant are those most likely to panhandle to obtain cash to continue their lifestyles. In SLO, as in many towns, there are many kind-hearted, compassionate people who find it difficult to pass by someone who is apparently down and out or at least bad off enough to have to ask for money. Fishing for Deborah Cash, CMSM, change or opening the wallet and moving on offers an Executive Director easy “out” whereas ignoring the person or declining the ask can be awkward and uncomfortable.

hough the problems associated with panhandling in our community are complex, the concept itself is rather simple: attractively decorated, easily identifiable parking meters will be positioned in areas throughout the Downtown with signage indicating that funds collected will be disbursed to one or more eligible social service organizations. In addition, a marketing message will accompany the program that illustrates what the facts bear out: (a) most people who give to panhandlers believe they are “helping” the person and/or they themselves feel good about giving and (b) most money given to panhandlers is used to fuel addictions and not for food or necessities, thus enabling the person—not helping them.

S

o the idea goes, those who have had the opportunity to donate prior, either through an organized fundraiser, direct mailing or as in this case, a meter station, feel less compelled to provide additional contributions when panhandled. “Sorry, gave at the curb.”

A

s for the details of the program, the good news is the team is assembled, funds are coming in and the marketing message is under way. At regular meetings throughout the fall and winter, decisions like the number and placement of stations will be made, sponsorships sought, artwork for the stations devised and non profit programs that serve the homeless/ transient community will be invited to submit an application to receive the funds collected at the stations.

On the Cover: Downtown Brown joins the festivities at last year's Veterans Celebration at the Thursday night market. The event will mark its fifth anniversary this year on November 7 featuring a procession down Higuera Street and a short program. Visitors will receive a free American flag to wave and are invited to view the Veterans and military-themed display booths on Chorro Street. For more information contact Diana Cotta at 541-0286. Photo by Deborah Cash

p re s e n t s

GeT YOUR HOLIDAY ShINe ON

May All Things Sparkle and Shine

SLO Downtown Association’s 38th Annual Holiday Parade

Founders Community Bank

Friday, 7 PM December 6, 2013

presents

Santa’s House

OPENING DAY Friday, November 29 th at 10 AM Come visit Santa and enjoy snacks, entertainment and more!

For more details about Opening Day and Santa’s House hours Call 541 - 0286 or visit www.DowntownSLO.com

call (805) 541-0286 or visit www.DowntownSLO.com

W h a t ’ s

U p

A r o u n d

I

t’s important to note that this campaign’s most compelling feature is its ability to create a sea change with regard to how people view panhandling and how we can create awareness around what really happens when the well-intended fork over cash.

H

ere, as in other communities, people are unlikely to know where the money they drop in the coffee can ends up.

In Seattle, for example, the Downtown Seattle Association launched “Have a Heart—Give Smart” to illustrate the A donation station meter near a park “deception and addictions” in downtown Laguna Beach accepts that surround panhandling. charitable contributions for local Field researchers for programs. Photo by Deborah Cash the program say they frequently see panhandlers “duck into alleys to buy drugs” as soon as they get a few bucks. The point of the Seattle program, as we hope to achieve here, is to go after the source of funding and redirect it to where it will be put to use helping those truly in need. At the same time, consistent and continuous

D o w n t o w n

?

messaging will hopefully reshape the thinking and actions of on-street donors until the problem—and its attendant issues— are resolved or at least reduced. Accompanied by the soon-to-be launched Downtown patrol enforcement program and an already active advocacy effort, this approach could be the key to success in achieving both City and Downtown Association goals of providing for the safety and well-being of everyone who lives, works and visits here.

W

hile the campaign is altruistic in nature, it was created as Messaging such as this poster image a public safety program will soon appear in local media. that some might feel is unfair to the poor and creates judgments and stereotypes. But locally, those affiliated with homeless and social service programs favor the idea of directed giving. Says Dee Torres, Homeless Services Director for Community Action Partnership, “We are very

Continued on next page

W h a t ’ s

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A r o u n d

Continued from previous page supportive of the donation stations and do not see them as 'anti-homeless,' in fact quite the opposite. The truth is that money most often goes to support destructive behaviors that hurt not only that person but also our entire community. We're hoping the program will begin to raise awareness and a deeper understanding of this extremely complex issue so that people feel good about supporting local programs to end homelessness rather than enabling it."

M e e t

K

O u r

?

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nitially, the pilot program is expected to include seven stations conveniently located in Downtown areas where they are not likely to be mistaken for parking meters; funds can be deposited using coin or credit card (these donations will appear on your monthly statement and are tax deductible). Look for more details in this column, on our website www.DowntownSLO.com and in other local advertising; come spring, we hope you’ll “give at the curb”…around Downtown.

I n t e r n s

atie Loitz is currently a senior at Cal Poly studying Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration with an emphasis on Event Planning and Management. Loitz grew up in Fremont, California where she spent the bulk of her time working on the board of the Teen Foundation, a local nonprofit organization and acting as a representative for the International Round Square Association.

Throughout her time at Cal Poly, she has become very involved both on and off campus working for STRIDE, a student and faculty run organization, and taking a part in her sorority, AOII. During Loitz’s free time, she enjoys baking, catching up on her never-ending reading list and making DIY craft projects she finds on Pinterest. Loitz is looking forward to beginning her internship with the SLO Downtown Association and says she can’t wait to participate in the production of all of their amazing holiday festivities.

D o w n t o w n

D o w n t o w n

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ravis Domingues is a fifth year undergraduate student at Cal Poly pursuing a degree in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration. While his concentration is in Sport Management, Domingues loves to be involved in community work. He has called the Central Coast home his whole life, being born and raised in Santa Maria then moving to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and held the position Vice President of Philanthropy. His efforts increased both their donation contributions and community service hours from previous years. He held positions working for Cal Poly Athletics, Intramural Sports and the Office of Conference & Event Planning.

Working to serve the Cal Poly community helped Domingues realize how much he enjoys servicing a public and will bring that same enthusiasm to the Downtown Association. His hobbies include golf, snowboarding and mastering the art of barbecuing.

B u s i n e s s

S p o t l i g h t s

editor, Molly Kiely, owner of Bright Age Productions.

Jennifer Alton - CEO and sole manager (pictured) The film explores the 1009 Morro Street, Suite #207 passion and purpose behind (805) 709-1248 the professions of several members in the community www.facebook.com/BrightenHallProject including county and city e turn the Downtown Business Spotlight on a new officials, local leaders, documentary film company, Brighten Hall Productions. artisans and businesspeople.

Jennifer Alton, CEO and sole manager, opened the production The project documents company Downtown because of their responses from three “its great energy” and as well, questions: her law practice is in the same location. Alton, an attorney 1) What calls a person to by trade, is also pursuing her their profession? passion to create documentary 2) What is their vision films, explaining, “My vision is to for that profession in 100 work on documentary projects years time? that would educate, inspire or 3) What would you write in a letter to the next "you" if it enlighten.” were opened in 100 years? lton produced and directed o it was only fitting that the film be put into a time capsule her first film titled, Passion & at the SLO Masonic Lodge’s Centennial Celebration just Purpose, which premiered at the Palm Theatre in October and has this past October and sealed away for the next 100 years. To learn more about Alton’s documentary projects, you can find plans to enter it into the 2014 SLO International Film Festival. Brighten Hall Productions on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ BrightenHallProject.

She worked on the project for nearly a year with local videographer, photographer and

Brighten Hall Productions, LLC

W

A

S

In the spirit of this national memorial event, Wilshire Hospice and Hospice of San Luis Obispo are pleased to co-host four Light Up A Life ceremonies in San Luis Obispo County.

Please join us for a time to remember and celebrate those close to us that are no longer with us. In addition to honoring those who have passed, this event will offer community resources that assist in coping with the extra challenges that may arise during the holidays for people who have lost a loved one.

We invite you to purchase a light in memory, or in honor of, a friend or loved one.

Additionally, you may light a candle during the ceremony as a symbol of remembrance.

SAN LUIS OBISPO Tuesday, December 3, 2013 6:00 PM | Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa

ARROYO GRANDE Thursday, December 5, 2013 6:00 PM | Village Gazebo

MORRO BAY Wednesday, December 4, 2013 6:00 PM | Coalesce Bookstore

PASO ROBLES Friday, December 6, 2013 6:00 PM | Paso Robles City Park

For more information please call (805) 782-8608, email lualwhoc@wilshirehcs.org or visit us at www.wilshirehcs.org.

A special Thank You to the following sponsors!

Journal Plus, San Luis Obispo

Joan Sargen print • apparel • creative • mail • web

Wilshire Hospice is a service of Wilshire Health & Community Services, Inc., a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization.

THE BULLETIN BOARD

42

new officers for assistance league

Assistance League of SLO County (ALSLOC) installed new officers for 2013-2014. Board members include: Gail Stoneburg, president; Susan Armstrong, treasurer; Jan Hutchinson, vice president membership; Marge Harris, vice president philanthropic programs; Donna Cumming, vice president resource development; Tawnee Hosick, vice president public relations; Carolyn Jones, recording secretary; and Anne Boyd, corresponding secretary. ALSLOC is a 100% volunteer organization whose members are dedicated to providing service to the community. The chapter’s goal is to help area children begin the school year with their basic necessities met, which will in turn enhance their pride and self-esteem, translating into a more successful academic experience. Through the chapter’s principal philanthropy Operation School Bell, more than 1,159 low-income students in kindergarten through sixth grade received new back-to-school wardrobes for the 2012-13 school year. An additional 276 seventh and eighth grade students received new clothing through the organization’s subprogram, Sue’s Stars. For more information go to alslocounty.org

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

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

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libraries receive funds

The Foundation for SLO County Public Libraries awarded a total of $13,157.53 from the Barbara Baltimore Library Endowment to fund projects all over the County in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. “I believe that Barbara Baltimore would have been very gratified and excited with the quality and diversity of the proposals we received for the first year of the grant program,” says Foundation Grant Committee Chair Ellen Polinsky.

“The four funded programs truly fulfill her mission to provide funds for projects that will be of lasting value to County libraries.” Baltimore Endowment funds, along with matching funds from the Friends of the Arroyo Grande Library, paid for the purchase of two Early Literacy Stations for the Children’s Department at the Arroyo Grande Library.

Funds were also provided to create, decorate and equip the Captain’s Family Corner in the new Atascadero Children’s Library. The informal, flexibly-furnished area will provide a casual spot for reading and exploration when it is not being used to support enrichments programs.

The ballooning use of eBooks system-wide in the library inspired a grant request for eight Apple iPads and staff training so that patrons can be taught how to download eBooks to their mobile devices.

slo wine country assoc. 23rd rockin’ harvest

The SLO Wine Country Association has selected the Assistance League of SLO County and the Sexual Assault Victim Education (S.A.V.E.) group as the 2013 beneficiaries of charity monies to be raised at SLO Wine Country’s Rockin’ Harvest Celebration Grand Tasting and Auction happening on Saturday, November 2 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Avila Beach Golf Resort. For information and tickets, visit www.slowine.com or contact (805) 541-5868, info@slowine.com.

free senior health screening

Screening for adults and seniors is available throughout San Luis Obispo 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.

Reach thousands of potential customers by placing your ad in the Journal Plus.

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

Call 546-0609 for Advertising Information

THE BULLETIN BOARD

43

cal poly faculty chamber recital

The Cal Poly Music Department will present a faculty chamber recital at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center (Building 45) on campus. This marks the fourth year of chamber recitals in which faculty join forces to perform masterworks of chamber music — both beloved gems and lesserknown works. The concert will begin with Johannes Brahms’ Cello Sonata No. 1 in E minor, Op. 38, performed by Jeanne Shumway, cello, and Susan Azaret Davies, piano. The second half of the concert will feature music of 20th-century composers.

Percussionist John Astaire and pianist Paul Woodring will perform Joseph Koykkar’s “Musica per Due.” The concert will conclude with Robert Muczynski’s Flute Sonata, Op. 14, performed by Suzanne Duffy, flute, and Susan Azaret Davies, piano. Admission is $5 at the door. The recital is sponsored by Cal Poly’s College of Liberal Arts and Music Department. For more information, call the Music Frank Department at 805-756-2406.

wallace group engineer receives state honor

The American Society of Civil Engineers recognized Wallace Group Civil Engineer Valerie Huff again on Saturday, October 5 as the 2013 Outstanding Younger Civil Engineer, this time for the Los Angeles Section title. Huff won the award for ASCE’s SLO Branch in June.

The LA section honor puts Valerie as one of four finalists running for the Statewide title. ASCE is a US-based international organization with ASCE Region 9 consisting solely of the State of California due to the large population and area of California. The awards will be announced Statewide in early 2014. The prestigious ASCE Outstanding Younger Engineer Award recognizes the engineering efforts of civil engineers under the age of 35 who further advance the field of engineering through innovative concepts, research and materials. Nominees must be registered Professional Engineers and active ASCE members. Valerie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering and her Master’s degree in Engineering from Cal Poly. Find more information about Wallace Group at www.WallaceGroup.us.

central coast wine classic auction donates $162,000 to must!

Charities must! charities announced today a $162,000 donation from The Annual Fund-A-Need Lot at the 2013 Central Coast Wine Classic Auction. The gift will be applied to the charity’s program “Real Food for Real Children,” in partnership with the Food Bank Coalition of SLO County. The Central Coast Wine Classic Foundation was created in 2004 to sustain 501(c)3 foundations in SLO County and Santa Barbara County whose missions are in the healing, performing or studio arts. From 2004 through 2013, the Foundation has granted $2,311,555 to 114 such non-profits. “It is very gratifying to be able to support at a substantive level a nonprofit whose vision is so far-reaching and whose embracement is so comprehensive,” shared Archie McLaren, Central Coast Wine Classic Founder and Chairman. Contact must! charities to learn more: Website: www.mustcharities.org

C rossword S O L U T I O N S Exterior & Interior Plastering

Custom Homes and Patch Repairs · Free Estimates · Call or stop by

Terry Evans, President

4180 Vachell Lane · San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805/541-4750 · 805/541-4118 FAX

cathi@sloplastering.com · terry@sloplastering.com CA LIC#759246

Frank

N O V E M B E R

2013

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THE BULLETIN BOARD

44

allan hancock college singers to perform with san luis chamber orchestra

Probably no piece of the twentieth century has introduced more listeners to the joys of classical music than the mighty Carmina Burana, a 1936 composition for chorus, soloists and orchestra based on medieval poetry drawn from many authors and spanning nearly 200 years.

On Saturday and Sunday, November 2 and 3, the Allan Hancock College Singers directed by Ann Lucas, DMA, and the San Luis Chamber Orchestra directed by Keith Waibel (pictured above) will collaborate in two performances of this spectacular masterpiece

by German composer Carl Orff. The November 2 concert will be presented at Santa Maria’s First Baptist Church, 2970 Santa Maria Way, at 8 p.m. On November 3, the concert will begin at 3 p.m. at Grace Bible Church, 100 Rodeo Drive, in Arroyo Grande. All tickets are $10, and there is no reserved seating. Tickets may be obtained in advance either at the college’s fine arts department (call 922-6966 ext.

3252 or visit building F on the Santa Maria campus) or by contacting Lucas at 922-6966 ext. 3412. Individual members of both groups will also be selling tickets, and tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis.

literacy council volunteer training

The Literacy Council for San Luis Obispo County has an ongoing and urgent need for volunteer tutors throughout the county. To volunteer, please visit our website www.sloliteracy.org for more information. The next training session is at the San Luis Obispo County Library, cost is $25.00, on Saturday, November 2nd.

D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years

Alan “Himself” N O V E M B E R

alan’s draperies 544-9405 alansdrapery@gmail.com 2013

Journal PLUS

local books

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Pismo Beach, by Effie McDermott.

The book was released recently and boasts more than 200 vintage images. Pismo Beach was home to some of America’s earliest people. Highlights include: images of the historic home on Shell Beach and the famous El Pizmo Inn. The book highlights the Pismo Beach history from the Chumash to WWII. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Friends of Price House. It’s available at area bookstores, and online or through Arcadia Publishing at arcadiapublishing.com

sesloc volunteers help build homes for low income families

Volunteers from SESLOC Federal Credit Union recently donated their time to help construct three homes for local families, in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity of SLO County. The 28 employees contributed a total of 224 work hours, which included clearing, cleaning, painting and dry walling the homes at the Rockview Place building site in SLO. SESLOC is SLO County’s longest established credit union.

chemistry of cocktails fundraiser

The Exploration Station in Grover Beach is hosting a special fundraiser event, the 3rd Annual Chemistry of Cocktails, where chemistry and cocktails collide, Sunday, November 3rd, 2–5 pm. The public is invited to the Exploration Station, 867 Ramona Avenue, to enjoy an afternoon of food, live music, fun activities, a silent auction, and cocktail tastings.

Local mixologists from the area’s top restaurants will compete in a bartending competition, featuring an original cocktail concoction of their design. All proceeds will benefit the Exploration Station’s science, technology, engineering, and math educational programs. Tickets for this, over 21 only, event are $45 and can be purchased by calling 4731421 or online at http://www.chemistryofcocktails.com

Marie Moore, PhD

Licensed Psychologist #PSY11506

Counseling

528-3782 Helping with lifestyle, health and family problems for seniors, both retired and still employed

THE BULLETIN BOARD canzona women’s ensemble 5th season opener

Canzona Women’s Ensemble opens its 5th season with Light & Shadow on Sunday afternoon, November 10 at 4pm at the Cuesta College Performing Arts Center.

The ensemble is co-directed

by Cricket Handler and Jill Anderson (pictured). The concert theme is inspired by our first commissioned work “To the God of Light and Shadow” by Canzona member and Cal Poly professor Meredith Brammeier. “There’s an inner soul that’s reaching out for something else, and that’s poetry” says local poet Bonnie Young whose poem was the catalyst for this new piece. Our concert will reflect on these themes of light and shadow with music that is serious and light-hearted; contemplative and whimsical. Clarinet soloist Caroline Tobin is our featured guest artist in this afternoon of musical contrasts. Dr. Thomas Davies and the women from Polyphonics, the advanced choral ensemble at Cal Poly will join Canzona on the concert.

Tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door for general admission and $10 for students. Order by phone at (805) 542-0506 or online through brownpapertickets.com; tickets will also be available at the door.

slo hotline launches new phone number

SLO Hotline has a new local and toll free phone number (805/800) 783-0607 that will provide greater access to services in the San Luis Obispo County community. SLO Hotline is a suicide prevention and mental health crisis line that is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Confidential telephone services are always available for anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis through this program. SLO

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Hotline is also available to answer less urgent calls from anyone in need of emotional support or mental health information or referrals.

Last year, nearly 4,000 calls were made to SLO Hotline by people in crisis or in need of support. SLO Hotline is a program of TransitionsMental Health Association, a community-based nonprofit. It began as a local crisis support and resources referral hotline and continues its service to the community now with a stigma-reduction, mental health recovery, and suicide prevention mission. Additionally, SLO Hotline will refer callers with other needs to 211, the resource phone number available for all other community information and referral needs. 211 is a program of United Way.

literacy council receives grant

The Literacy Council SLO County has received a $5000 grant from The Community Foundation SLO County (CFSLOCO). This grant will be used toward core operating funds such as books, fundraising, printing, staff development, and volunteer recognition. Incorporated in 1982, The Literacy Council San Luis Obispo County is a nonprofit organization committed to assisting adult learners and their families in the development of English language communication skills. Hundreds of dedicated volunteers spend thousands of hours assisting adult learners how to read, write, and speak English. For more information call (805) 541-4219 or go to www.sloliteracy.org

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THE BULLETIN BOARD

SLO ELKS HONORS TWO SHERIFF’S OFFICERS

The SLO County Sheriff ’s Office is pleased to announce the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge honored two members of the Sheriff ’s Office Crime Lab at the annual Elks Public Safety Appreciation Awards. Jeanine West and Ken Jones are Forensic Specialists who collect, process, and examine crime scene evidence. Some of their specialties include DNA collection, fingerprint processing, gunshot residue collection and crime scene photography. Both have received recognition for their expert testimony in court trials. Not only do our Forensic Specialists collect and examine evidence for the Sheriff ’s Office, they also respond to major incidents for a number of other local law enforcement agencies in the County. For their tireless work and dedication, the San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge awarded Jeanine West and Ken Jones with its Public Safety Appreciation Award.

SLO RAILROAD SAFETY TRAIL EXPANDS

Progress marches decidedly toward the 2013-14 Major City goal of expanding bicycle and pedestrian paths to improve connectivity and safety with the newest Railroad Safety Trail segment from Hathway Avenue to Taft Street, along California Boulevard. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held last month at the beginning of the Hathway-Taft segment at California Boulevard and Hathway Avenue. Representatives of Union Pacific Railroad and San Luis Obispo’s Bicycle Coalition and the City of SLO joined in to celebrate this accomplishment.

The Hathway-Taft segment is a symbol of the City’s commitment to significantly increase the percentage of all trips made by bicycle within San Luis Obispo. Construction of this multi-use path began in 1998 with a half-mile segment extending from the Amtrak Station along the railroad to Bushnell Street. Ultimately, the Railroad Safety Trail is planned to extend from Cal Poly along the railroad to the southern end of the City limits, connecting the northern and southern parts of San Luis Obispo. This means connecting neighborhoods, schools, workplaces, and businesses, while encouraging healthful exercise and a no-carbon “tread” for amateur and expert bicyclists alike. For more information on the Railroad Safety Trail or the reconstruction of California Boulevard, please contact Genevieve Fewell via email at gfewell@slocity.org or (805) 781-7012.

CUESTA COLLEGE ANNOUNCES THE CUESTA PROMISE

Cuesta College is removing financial barriers for future SLO County high school graduates with a groundbreaking scholarship program called the Cuesta College Promise. Beginning in fall of 2014 all newly graduated students can attend their first semester at Cuesta free of charge. Gil Stork, President of Cuesta College held a news conference last month to announce the new and exciting program. All local students are eligible. The Cuesta Promise is the result of a generous donation of more than $8 million to the College Foundation from the Charles and Leeta Dovica Family Trust. The scholarship endowment will save an average full-time student an estimated $626 for their first semester of college. Students can begin the application process by going to www.cuesta.edu/student/ aboutmoney/cuestapromise/.

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blackhorse espresso and bakery opens 4th store Blackhorse Coffee Shop opened its 4th San Luis store recently in the Bear Valley Shopping Center at 12300 Los Osos Valley Road. The popular bakery and espresso shop serves specialty coffees, freezes, cakes & pies, pastries, tea and paninis. Pictured is the famous local Coffee Group that was personally invited out by owner, Tom Brown, to view this upscale facility. The group has been meeting daily in Downtown SLO for more than 40 years and gave the “thumbs up” to the new facility.

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