March 2011 Journal Plus Magazine

RICK TOYOTA | PETE HOWARD | JUVENILE MEDIATION | JIM AND ARLENE L AU

Journal PLUS MARCH 2011

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

CASA’S BOARD PRESIDENT

MATTHEW WILD

Serving the entire SLO County since 1978 Twila Arritt Broker-Associate

805-543-2172 www.farrellsmyth.com

www.648JanuaryStreet.com

Pamela Bliss Broker-Associate

Excellent neighborhood. 1-story 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. 1642 SF. HUGE master suite, remodeled kit. Private back yard. $334,900 www.1633Partridge.com

www.7900SanClemente.com

You don’t have to go far to feel like you are living in the mountains when you step inside this custom 3 bedroom, 3 bath, 2460 sqft home with office and loft overlooking the living room. $489,000

Laura Rizzoli REALTOR®

SLO Pride-of-ownership home, wonderful neighborhood. Gorgeous yard and grounds. Great floor plan, 3 bedroom, 2 bath and ALL single-level. Heads above the rest - Don’t miss this one! $499,000

Single-level, fully remodeled inside and out!

Turn key condition. Lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bath with versatile floor plan, two fireplaces, family room/office. Beautiful landscaping and courtyard w/ water feature. $532,500

www.1356Berwick.com

www.5847Tamarisk.com

Mary Rosenthal REALTOR®

Janet Shaner REALTOR®

Vicky Hall REALTOR® Unique 3 bed, 2 1/2 bath home in Morro Bay. First time on the market. Relax and entertain on the ample decking while enjoying the ocean views and awesome sunsets. $689,000

Jennifer Hamilton Relocation Director

Annette Mullen REALTOR®

www.1358Kentwood.com

Theresa Carroll REALTOR®

Patricia Garrison REALTOR®

Stephanie Hamilton REALTOR®

Lovely single-level Country Club Estates. 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home located on the 16th Tee, with beautiful mountain and golf course views.

Charming, gated community. $954,000

21 Santa Rosa Street, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Conveniently located in the heart of San Luis Obispo.

Our office is open 7 days a week.

Larry D. Smyth Broker

I

n this era of corporate crime and personal greed, who can you trust with your financial future?

An ethical local firm with a 50-year track record

We have known Al Moriarty since the early 1970s. Al put us in the right insurance and annuities from the beginning. He always puts his clients first. He researches everything he does in minute detail and presents the proposals in a very understandable way. We also had some 401ks that needed to be consolidated and Al was there to the rescue. His expertise saved us a lot of money and we are very appreciative. We have been partners in real estate projects also. He did all the research and basically put the projects together. They have done extremely well. He never forgets his clients, always updating their portfolios and presenting them with new ideas that can help their financial stability.

In closing, we have known Al for almost 40 years. Over the years, he has helped us in a lot of venues. It is our honor to call Al and his lovely wife, Pat, our friends. We would like to recommend Al as a financial advisor for your needs. It will be one of the best investments you ever make.

Bacciarini Bros. Farming Reno Bacciarini Art Bacciarini King City, California

"Integrity, as in nature, will always be supreme"

B

efore you make another major financial decision, call for a no-obligation appointment to evaluate your resources and goals.

M

(You won’t be asked to make any investments then, since solid financial planning requires research.) Ask about upcoming FREE seminars.

MORIARTY ENTERPRISES Financial Services since 1954

P.O. Box 970, Grover Beach, CA 93483

Phone: (866) 546-1366 Lic. No. 0144566

Al Moriarty Financial Advisor

CONTENTS

14 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

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

PETE HOWARD

10

12

RICK TOYOTA

MARK HITESHEW

ADVERTISING Jan Owens, Kristen Hathaway CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Hilary Grant, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Deborah Cash, Jan Marx, Julian Varela, Judythe Guarnera, Leslie Jones, Bob Huttle, Gordon Fuglie and Phyllis Benson 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 distributed monthly free by mail to all single family households of San Luis Obispo and is available free at over 600 locations throughout the county.

Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission.

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

PEOPLE 8 10 12 14 16

MATTHEW WILD RICK TOYOTA MARK HITESHEW PETE HOWARD JIM AND ARLENE LAU

HOME & OUTDOOR 17 18 20 22 24

PULSE JUVENILE MEDIATION TRANSITIONS – SLO STIGMA CAMPAIGN HOME DESIGN DISTRICT FOOD / AT THE MARKET

COMMUNITY

26 28 30 32 34 36 46

SLO ART SCENE HUTTLE UP – Taking Care OUR SCHOOLS Dr. Julian Crocker HISTORY: SLO City Seal HOSPICE CORNER / SUDOKU PUZZLE PALM STREET – SLO Mayor, Jan Marx ALMANAC – The Month of March

BUSINESS

37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening 41 EYE ON BUSINESS 42 THE BULLETIN BOARD

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Journal PLUS

A proud tradition of serving our community for over 26 years

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cost of construction was $2500 per square foot and now we have it listed for $675 per square foot! Completed in 2009, coveted neighborhood, minutes to Downtown and very private and completely over the top.

For a complete list of amenities and extensive slide show visit www.2191SantaYnezAve.com $1,250,000 #2736

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Iconic 1930’s Mission

Premier 40 Acre Parcel Situated in the Edna Valley Wine Region, this premier 40 acre parcel enjoys stunning views of the Santa Lucia Mountain Range and is adjacent to Corbett Canyon Vineyard.

Corbett Ridge is a versatile property offering the possibility of additional equestrian, agricultural and vineyard development; as well as another private residence and guest house. $4,950,000 #2712

style home. Featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, this home is the epitome of historic San Luis Obispo. Featuring hardwood floors throughout remodeled bathroom and fireplace in the living room. Located on a large parcel, close to downtown, shopping, schools and all the core of what San Luis Obispo has to offer. $629,000 #2755

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Outstanding 2007 construction in the old Country Club. Open kitchen and living room with 12-foot ceilings. 3 bedrooms 3 baths, gourmet kitchen with bamboo flooring throughout. Spacious master suite with amazing walk-through closet, fireplace and private patio.

Private front patio with great views and pristine landscaping. Truly a one of a kind home that must be seen to be appreciated. $889,000 #2772

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Single level home in the most sought-after location in SLO. Newer carpet, paint, and fixtures add character to this roomy property. Numerous large windows allow for natural light penetration into this comfortable home. Mature vegetation and landscaping add privacy as well as a natural park-like setting all on a oversized lot. $725,000 #2791

Shell Beach Gem AVILA BEACH – Beautiful 10 acre Estate in See

Canyon features two homes built in 2007. The main residence offers 4 bedrooms and 3 baths with an attached 3-car garage. The second home has 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, office and an attached 2-car garage. Both homes are finished with the finest materials. There is a detached game room, perfect for parties! The entire property is beautifully landscaped. $1,500,000 #2763

Classic Cape-Cod style beach home with woodshingled exterior and fabulous unobstructed ocean views! Meticulously maintained with wool berber carpeting, hardwood floors and attention to detail. Enjoy endless sunsets from the high-ceilinged living room and front deck. The gourmet kitchen features granite counters, mahogany cabinets, Thermador range & Sub-Zero refrigerator. The atriumstyle dining room is delightful! A spacious master suite takes advantage of the incredible views. $1,850,000 #2720

SAN LUIS OBISPO – LOCATION, LOCATION!

This charming bungalow has never been on the market before. Built in 1959 with one owner, it is truly a rare opportunity to live in this desirable neighborhood, close to downtown San Luis Obispo. You will love the spacious living room with brick fireplace and sunny kitchen. All three bedrooms have hardwood floors. Amazing price for a home in this location! $549,000 #2792

For more information on these and other Real Estate Group of SLO listings call us at

805.541.2888

962 Mill Street U San Luis Obispo, California 93401 U www.RealEstateGroup.com

From the publisher Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

New Year New Smile with Lisa Van Mouwerik & Lisa Mills

O

ne of our favorite organizations that does a great service to our community is CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Several times a year we update you on all the wonderful things they do to help children. This month we feature Matthew Wild, the newly elected Board Chairman. Matthew’s full-time job is running San Luis Sports Therapy; he chairs the CASA Board to give back to our community.

Recently, I had the opportunity to sit next to Rick Toyota at a special dinner at Cafe Roma. Rick is the Director of Hospitality and Wine Educator of Niner Winery and one of the very few who has achieved the distinction of being a Sommelier.

As we talked throughout the evening I became more impressed with his story – from his days working at Disneyland, opening the Mondavi Wine and Restaurant there and running Niner Winery today. I’m sure you’ll enjoy his story as much as I did.

This month we also feature two local programs: Juvenile Mediation and the latest Transitions Mental Health Campaign. Judythe Guarnera is a writer and also works in the Juvenile Mediation program. She gives us a firsthand view of what the program is all about. Leslie Jones writes about the SLO The Stigma Campaign, sponsored

by Transitions.

Plenty of good reading again this month.

Enjoy the magazine,

Steve Owens

N\Ëm\ ^fe\ ^i\\e% Now view our printed calendar of events entirely online.

Visit our website today and find your way to the best seats in the house.

w w w . p a c s l o . o r g

upcom ing e v en ts Thurs.-Sat., Mar. 3-5, 8 pm Saturday, Mar. 5, 2 pm Falsettos

Saturday, Mar. 12, 8 pm SLO Symphony Classics IV

Cal Poly Theatre & Dance Dept.

SLO Symphony

Sat., Mar. 19, 7 pm Sun., Mar. 20, 2 pm Arts for Autism Gala - The Firebird

Friday, Mar. 4, 7:30 pm Saturday, Mar. 5, 3 pm Cal Poly Opera Workshop

Sunday, Mar. 13, 7 pm One Night of Queen

Saturday, Mar. 19, 8 pm Mark Nizer: Live in 3-D

Cal Poly Arts

Cal Poly Music Dept.

Ballet Theatre SLO

Cal Poly Arts

Saturday, Mar. 5, 8 pm Cal Poly Wind Bands’ Winter Concert

Friday, Mar. 18, 8 pm Philharmonic of Poland

Saturday, Mar. 19, 8 pm Melinda Doolittle

Sunday, Mar. 6, 3 pm Cal Poly Symphony Winter Concert

Saturday, Mar. 19, 10 am MET Live in HD: Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor

Wed., Mar. 23, 7:30 pm Legally Blonde

Sat., Mar. 19, 5:30 pm Sun., Mar. 20, 12:30 pm

Thurs., Mar. 31, 7:30 pm W. Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Cal Poly Music Dept.

Cal Poly Music Dept.

Tuesday, Mar. 8, 7:30 pm Balé Folclórico da Bahia Carnival Cal Poly Arts

Cal Poly Arts

Cal Poly Music Dept.

805.SLO.ARTS Phone | 805.756.2787 Fax | 805.756.6088

WWW.PACSLO.ORG

Cal Poly Arts

Opera SLO

Arts for Autism PrePerformance Reception

Ballet Theatre SLO

Saturday, Mar. 12, 8 pm Just Jazz Concert

Cal Poly Arts

Cal Poly Arts

PEOPLE

matthew wild a voice for the children ...court appointed special advocates speak up for abused and neglected children

By Susan Stewart

F

or most people, getting a speeding ticket is annoying, embarrassing, or just plain unfair. It’s rarely described as a positive, pivotal experience. But for 17-yearold Matthew Wild, the events that unfolded after that hot summer day in Dayton, Ohio would be life-altering—not just for himself, but for the countless children his efforts have helped, through a program called CASA. Wild admits he had one of those idyllic Ozzie-and-Harriet childhoods, right down to his two loving parents, his two older brothers, his neighborhood paper route, the swim team he practiced with, and the wood-sided family station wagon he was driving that day. As part of his plea agreement for the speeding offense, Wild was assigned to a 12-hour ride-along with the fire department’s paramedic unit. Wild said they must have answered 20 calls that night, one right after the other – to crack houses, fights, beatings, and car accidents. It was the final call that affected him most.

When the team arrived at the dark and shabby apartment, they found a young mother sprawled on the living room floor, comatose from an apparent drug overdose. Her 11-year-old daughter sobbed in anguish while the other adults in the apartment paid no attention.

The paramedics rushed the victim to the hospital, taking the little girl with them as there was no one who could take responsibility for her.

The image of that young girl, waiting alone in the hospital hallway for news of her mother’s condition, haunted Wild. “She has no chance,” he thought. “I’ll go home to my safe warm house tonight, but what will happen to her?”

A competitive swimmer while in high school, Wild says he spent a lot of time “staring at the bottom of the pool” during his long hours of practice. “I had a lot of time to think and imagine,” he said. “I used to think about what I’d read in the newspaper that morning, about what’s wrong in the world, and what could be done about that.” A chance radio announcement informed him about CASA, and Wild decided to volunteer.

Matthew and his longtime girlfriend, Jocelyn M A R C H

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Twenty years later, Wild serves as president of the board of Journal PLUS

Teresa Tardiff and Matthew Wild with some of the resources CASA uses for the children Tom Meinhold photo

directors for San Luis Obispo County’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a nonprofit program of specially trained volunteers who represent the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Every year, more than 700,000 children experience foster care in this country. The overburdened legal and social service systems leave many of these children to languish in inappropriate, even dangerous settings. In 1977, a juvenile court judge in Seattle worried about making critical decisions without sufficient information, so he conceived the idea of training volunteers – Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASAs – to advocate and speak up for the best interests of children in the courtroom. In 1990, the U.S. Congress passed the Victims of Child Abuse Act that encouraged the expansion of CASA. Today, the San Luis Obispo County program is one of more than 1,000 such programs across 49 states.

“My interest in CASA wasn’t so much altruism as it was a desire to know more about the system itself,” said Wild, who is also CEO of San Luis Sports Therapy. “I knew it was broken, but I wanted to know why.”

CASA volunteers undergo extensive training as well as background checks, and are required to stay with a case for at least a year. They serve as a consistent presence in the child’s life, as a mentor and friend.

CASA volunteers may also be called upon to monitor and assess living situations, help ensure that court orders are followed, gather information, and make recommendations to the Judge, even testify in court.

Wild began with CASA as a volunteer and over three years and three cases, he got exactly what he wanted: an inside look at the “system.”

After earning a degree in Accounting and Entrepreneurship at the University of Arizona, Wild later became a Certified Public Accountant. He parlayed his swimming expertise into several coaching and teaching positions and eventually landed a job as U of A Athletic Department Facility Manager and Events Coordinator. In 2003 he moved to San Luis Obispo to take a position as CFO of San Luis Sports Therapy, moving into the CEO position in less than a year.

As CASA board president, Wild comes at the task from a business background. “How can I take our success [at San Luis Sports Therapy] and apply it to CASA?” he wonders. “The goal is to get an advocate for

PEOPLE

children from San Luis Obispo County. Wild is doing all he can to establish strong local partnerships and longer-term funding sources.

“These kids don’t have a big presence like the Heart Association or the Cancer Society,” he said. “It’s really hard to get people excited about supporting something you can’t talk about [due to the confidentiality issue].” In order to bring a real face and a compelling story to the public, Wild and his board are working on creating and distributing a DVD that will show CASA volunteers and former foster children telling their own true stories.

CASA Volunteer spending time with her kids

every kid who needs one. Because helping them goes so much farther; it affects everyone.” Wild believes, and studies have shown, that children who receive help from CASA have a much better chance at a stable, productive life than are children who do not. And CASAs are both vetted and well-trained.

“My training … was top-notch,” says Amy, a local CASA volunteer whose first case involved two brothers. “I felt well-prepared for what I was expected to do, and I had ample support to fall back on if I needed it.

“Being a CASA is truly a life-changing volunteer experience,” Amy continued. “But it’s a big commitment. The training takes 30 hours and …The in-person visits, phone calls, and court reports can be time-consuming.”

Confidentiality is paramount at CASA, so Amy was not able to give details about her case. She said her greatest reward in her nearly three years with CASA has been “… watching my boys establish their personalities and voices. I am so proud of them.”

“We want to attract, train, and retain the best people we can,” said Wild, of his goals for the future of CASA. “There are still hundreds of kids with no voice, no help, no support,” he explained. “It will take us to fix that. They didn’t choose their lives; it’s just an accident of birth.

And just because we don’t know about it, doesn’t mean it’s not there.

It’s our obligation to help those who can’t help themselves.”

Matthew Wild never forgot his night as a ride-along paramedic, nor the little girl they’d had to leave alone in a hospital waiting room. He is grateful for the privileged life he has led, the chance he was given to help those less fortunate, and especially for the speeding ticket he got that day in Dayton—an event he calls a stroke of good fortune.

Help him help more kids in trouble by supporting Matt Wild during the 16th Annual “Kiss the Pig” contest, a fund-raising effort to benefit CASA. Here’s how: Vote for Matt by visiting www.slocasa.org or by calling 541-6542. Businesses who donate $100 or more will receive recognition on the CASA website, Facebook, and Twitter. Kiss the Pig finale and announcement of the winner will happen April 9th, 2011 at Children’s Day in the Plaza.

As CASA board president, Wild regularly hears emotionally moving stories of the plight of local children, and how CASA has made a difference. Take the toddler with Type I diabetes, for example. As an infant, his drug addicted mother neglected his special needs, which could have resulted in permanent organ damage. His CASA advocated for his placement with a foster family that already had a diabetic child, and helped get his mother into treatment. Today, mother and child are reunited, and both are thriving. Or the teen-aged boy who’d been badly burned in a house fire when he was just a pre-schooler. He’d lost his mother in that fire and had been molested by relatives for years as he was shuffled from place to place. Not surprisingly, his school performance was at the second-grade level. His CASA helped him get a scholarship from Lindamood-Bell for specialized tutoring, and he has jumped up two grades in just a few short months. His CASA will continue to advocate for him until he finds a “forever” home. And then there were the four siblings, all under ten, who were physically abused and removed from their parents’ home. Their CASA strove to get specialized services for each of the four children, as well as treatment for their parents. Today, the family is reunited, safe, strong, and healthy and still in touch with the CASA who played such a critical role.

“CASA … is doing some incredibly important work,” said Amy. “The judges, lawyers, and social workers have so many cases they’re not able to maintain consistent personal relationships with all the children under their care. CASAs act as the court’s de facto eyes and ears while making the children feel special and cared for.”

CASA of San Luis Obispo County is the only non-profit allowed by state law to provide those services to children in our county. Local CASA programs depend on support from individuals and private funding sources. All funds raised here are spent here for services for M A R C H

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PEOPLE Rick Toyota Wine Educator, experienced Sommelier and more

By Natasha Dalton “Wine educators sometimes make it sound too complicated,” Rick admits. “All wine is just a fermented juice.” We’ve all met servers who are more enthralled with what they know than with selling wine off the wine-list – in other words, finding out what their client might enjoy. “We have to remember: we’re not doing it for ourselves,” Rick says. “We’re doing it for the customer, who just wants to know whether he likes the wine or not. It’s as basic as it gets.”

I

n the popular TV series Frasier, the brothers Crane, trying to outdo each other in descriptions of the wine they were tasting, could instantly (and precisely!) name the particular estate where the wine came from (not to mention its varietal, region and vintage). Asked to imitate that, Rick Toyota – Director of Hospitality at Niner Wine Estates, an experienced Sommelier and a Certified Wine Educator, who served on the Board of Directors of the Monterey Bay Chapter of American Institute of Wine & Food – shakes his head. “Those boasts at Frasier’s wine clubs are mostly gobbledygook,” he says. “Yes, you can develop the ability to figure out vintage, varietal and region, but it’s still guessing,” he says. “Am I able to do it 100% of the time? Not even close.

I may be right more times than I am wrong, but there’re so many variables.”

“Certainly, some of the things are intrinsic to a region,” Rick explains. “If I have a Cabernetbased wine from a Bordeaux region and a Paso Robles Cabernet, I could probably guess which is which.” But when you see people act as if they can distinguish the taste of the grape, picked on the such-and-such slope of the suchand-such hill in the such-and-such vineyard – it’s make-believe. That never happens.”

In fact, in today’s world even the brothers Crane might find guessing their wines increasingly hard to do. In the last ten years, the wine industry went global, with lots of wines acquiring many universal characteristics as a result.

Evaluating wines is a part of the training, but it’s not the sommeliers’ ultimate goal. Their skill is in knowing the proper wine to offer to the customers.

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It’s possible that Rick is so aware of the customers’ needs because his own understanding of wines developed over time. While pursuing his BA in Communications from UCLA, he originally considered a career in photojournalism. But during his college years he got a part-time job at the Wines and Spirits Department in Long’s Drugs, and found a new passion. “I knew nothing about wine when I started,” he remembers. But the reps Rick worked with sent him on winery tours and pretty soon he turned into a real wine geek.

In his twenties, he also worked at Disneyland, first part-time as a Lead and Ride Operator and then, after graduating from college, as a manager. In Rick’s opinion, the Disney Management Intern Program provided him with one of the most extensive training one could find.

At Disneyland he was involved in many aspects of operations, from the daily functioning of the attractions to the logistics of providing services to tens of thousands of people coming through the facility.

“In the summer months in the mid-/late 1980s when I worked at Disneyland, we would see 60,000 to 70,000 people a day – the highest concentration of population in Orange County at that point in time,” Rick explains. The Park’s popularity brought serious responsibilities.

During his five years at DisneyA view of Niner Winery land, Rick had to

Journal PLUS

handle some pretty intense situations, such as when a girl was hit by a stray bullet, which came from outside of the Park, or a suicide at one of the attractions. On the other end of the spectrum there were Grad Nites, with 20,000 teenagers at once descending on the Park; emergency drills and dignitary visits – all of which required a well- planned and coordinated effort.

“It was one of the best jobs and one of the worst jobs I ever had,” Rick sums up. “The pay wasn’t very good, the hours were extremely long, but I learned a lot, which I could carry over to almost any job afterwards.”

This proved to be true when Rick joined a newly-built Bloomingdale’s in Newport Beach. “I was working everything, from operations to sales,” Rick remembers; “from departments where you’d expect me to be, like Men’s Clothing, to managing Cosmetics.”

It was there that he met his future wife, Judy, who worked at the store as a salesperson. “It was one of those relationships where people didn’t expect us to become a couple – because we’re so opposite,” Rick chuckles. Especially at that time. There was a union drive going on at the store, and while Judy was involved with the pro-union group, Rick worked to defeat it. Yet, they continued to date. “We were fighting at work against each other all day long, and then we were meeting for dinner in the evenings,” Rick remembers. “Neither side knew that we were doing that.”

“We’re polar opposites, in politics and everything else,” Rick admits, “like James Carville

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and Mary Matalin.

But we don’t let these things get in the way.

Let’s just say we’re mature enough to work through things that interfere.”

Meeting Judy was a life-changing experience, and not only because in her Rick found the love of his life. It was Judy who Four generations of first born daughters of Judy’s family. pointed him toward Judy is on the left. the job where he could combine his knowledge of wine, high-end retail background and Disney experience.

Victorian style home located in a quiet neighborhood of Arroyo Grande. Master bedroom suite with balcony and vaulted ceilings. Huge third bedroom with vaulted ceilings. Wood Blinds, custom lighting, wired for security system, new carpet, new wood flooring, new paint. New garage door. $369,000. www.1170Brittany.com

It was the time when the famous winemaker Robert Mondavi was building a Wine Pavilion for the California Adventure Park, and Rick, with his qualifications, was a perfect fit for this project. By joining it, Rick, who by then had become a serious wine aficionado, got an opportunity to turn his hobby into a “cool job.”

Technically employed by Disney, Rick spent the following five years fully immersed in the intricacies of the wine industry. He joined Mr. Mondavi at a winery in Napa, and by the time the project had wrapped, Rick had obtained extensive formal training, gotten certified, and gained valuable experience while working first as Sales Manager and then as Operations Manager. Meeting the Mondavis became a turning point in Rick’s career.

“I’d found my bliss and I haven’t looked back since,” he says.

Judy followed him into the business, too. She worked with Rick for Clos LaChance at Morgan Hill, in the San Martin area and, after moving to the Central Coast, she poured wine at Edna Valley.

Even though they got into wine in a “round-about” way, now it’s something they are completely “hooked on.” Interestingly, Rick’s life is filled with such “round-about” criss-crossings. Years before joining Mr. Mondavi’s operations, Rick had met him on one of his early winery tours. He saw Judy (without yet knowing who she was) at a PGA Tournament – two years prior to being introduced to her at Bloomingdale’s! A similar story happened with moving to the Central Coast. “I’ve always been a fan of this area,” Rick says. “My dad and I used to come down to Cayucos for jay hunting; we spent Christmases in Cambria; met with friends in Morro Bay… When I saw what they’re doing here at the Niner, I thought it was an opportunity of a lifetime.”

By now, Rick has been in the area for a little over a year, and he’s “loving it.” “There’s a way of life here that’s very appealing, very positive,” he says. Both his job and his involvement with the Economic Vitality Corporation where he serves on a panel looking at agriculture and tourism in the County, make him feel a part of the community.

At his Hospitality Center, building on Mr. Niner’s idea of creating a unique vineyard experience, Rick just rolled out his 20-month-long wine-education series. His Center also offers cooking classes with both local and celebrity chefs. Ultimately, it’s not the snobby Cranes, but real, no-nonsense experts like Rick, who help us find that special wine for a perfect party.

If you consider yourself a lover of modern architecture, high end design, seamless construction or state of the art electronics then you must see this marvel. It is simply unlike any other house in the City of San Luis Obispo. Perfect location with the ideal climate. Very private. The owner spent See the web-site for additional photos and more information. Asking $1,350,000. www.2191santaynezave.com

Remodeled unit just a short distance to downtown San Luis Obispo. Modern kitchen features stainless steel appliances, stainless steel counter-tops, new cabinets, new wood flooring, new carpet, front & rear patios, landscaping, second floor balcony, indoor laundry, good storage.

Washer, dryer, refrigerator are all included in price. $305,000. www.2250kingtcourt.com

Johnny Hough Owner / Broker

(805) 801-5063

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

As Mr. Mondavi would say, “Wine by itself is simply a beverage, food by itself is simply nutrition, friends and family by themselves are simply company, but all together they create memories.”

M A R C H

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MULTI-MEDIA, MULTI-TALENTED

MARK HITESHEW The ART Of ADAPTATION

By Susan Stewart

H

e’s worked in nearly every artistic medium there is. He has painted with oils, watercolors, and acrylics; has sculpted in bronze, glass, and clay. He’s worked in both etched and stained glass. He has drawn with pen and ink, made wood block prints, created illustrations for children’s stories and comic books, developed animation and storyboards for commercials and video games. He has designed and produced special effects and animatronics for movies and theme parks, working for both private and commercial vendors, and has even made medical prosthetics. He has worked in silk screening, costuming, and prop designs; has painted murals and portraits; created trophies (for the Country Music Awards and the Indie 500), and specialty reproductions.

Over the past half century, there are few forms of visual artistic expression that Mark Hiteshew has not tried and excelled at.

Hiteshew’s work has been featured in more than 40 galleries around the world, including Harrods in London, the Royal Hawaiian Art Gallery, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Saks 5th Avenue New York. His famous clients include Johnny Carson, Arsenio Hall, Michael Jackson, Charlie Sheen, Frank Sinatra, and former Japanese emperor Hirohito.

And he has worked for such high-profile companies as McDonald’s, Knotts Berry Farm, Universal Studios, and Disney.

Born in Paso Robles and raised in San Luis Obispo, Hiteshew is one of three children.

His father, Donald, was a Social Security claims representative, and his mother, Anne, holds the longest-standing daycare license in the state. When his father was still a student at Cal Poly, Hiteshew and his siblings lived on campus with other kids whose fathers were also going to school on the GI bill.

“They were all military kids, well-traveled, and really interesting,” he recalls. Summers were spent with cousins in Salinas, and they visited artists’ meccas often, like Monterey’s Cannery Row and Carmel by the Sea.

The Beauty of Natural Stone...

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Hiteshew says he has been filling up sketchbooks since the age of five. Recognizing his talent, Hiteshew’s teachers gave him the time and the freedom to work as much and as often as he wanted. “I was in the right place at the right time,” he says, acknowledging his good fortune to be attending public schools when there was still funding for the arts.

And of course, there was Beth Law, who owned Law’s Hobby Shop, every local artist’s favorite hangout. “Beth was a big influence,” said Hiteshew. “She used to give me new product lines to try for free, and she was very generous with credit.”

Hiteshew attended Cuesta College in the early ‘70s, when classes were held in army huts.

Here, he began to experiment with multiple media, often setting up four easels at a time in a circle. Hiteshew would stand in the center, painting the same subject on all four, but with different media – like acrylics, oils, watercolors, and pen and ink. He credits teachers Chet Amyx and Bob Pelfrey with allowing him to experiment and find his artistic footing.

“Pelfrey taught me so much more than just color wheels,” said Hiteshew. “He would have us collect images, move them around, and construct collages … and then he would say ‘Now do that in your mind.’ I still use that method in what I do today. He taught us imagination.”

At age 22, Hiteshew got some devastating news. He was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and told he would likely be blind by age 60, due to a condition called diabetic retinopathy. Shortly thereafter, he had the first of what would be dozens of eye surgeries.

Undaunted, Hiteshew pressed on, establishing Hiteshew Studio of Design in 1976, and opening his own stained glass shop in San Luis Obispo and later, Los Osos. In 1984, he joined Hooper Studios, an etched glass, stained glass, and hot glass design studio as their specialty stained glass and etched glass artist. In the 1990s, Hiteshew became Art Director for a high-tech special effects company, Garner Holt Productions, where he designed and produced animatronic figures, rides, sculpture, and set design for theme parks. He was also Partner and Special Effects Art Director for Richard Bluebird resin garden lamp commisLinton Pressioned by Peggy Peterson ents before

PEOPLE

Stained Glass Piece

health complications forced his early retirement in 2000.

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Obispo County. Originally commissioned for a north county restaurant, the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art recently displayed this remarkable work and will be incorporating these panels into its permanent new construction plans set for next year.

“What keeps Mark going,” says Denman, “is his indomitable sense of humor. Mark has a way of laughing with life, even when it seems as though life is laughing at him. He never tires of exercising his imagination … It’s great fun to watch Mark at play.”

Hiteshew is currently on the lookout for ways he can bring his expertise to bear where it might be most useful. He is especially drawn to the victims of the Haiti earthquake and has offered his background in prosthetics to help create silicone prosthetic “gloves” for amputee victims. He also hopes to create a children’s fantasy carousel – a “Care-O-sel” to help raise awareness and funding for children’s healthcare-related cures, especially for juvenile diabetes.

Adept at adapting, Hiteshew continues to be driven by the joy of the artistic process, no matter what the medium. When he was working in animatronics, for example, he delighted in using electronics and robotics—plus his extraordinary imagination—to sculpt lifesized characters and puppets for movies and theme parks. Which helps to explain his typically glib advice to those who share his passion. “Keep at it!” he says. “If life hands you lemons, make a puppet out of ‘em.”

“My artistic life has been a matter of adapting,” says Hiteshew of his deteriorating vision and other physical limitations brought on by either his illness or his work. He can no longer etch glass due to lung damage from silicosis (glass dust). And adapt he does.

Though he is now color blind, has diminished depth perception, and no longer sees clearly, advances in technology and the talents of some fine local surgeons have stabilized Hiteshew’s vision loss, staving off the earlier prediction that he would be blind by now.

“With blindness in mind, I have always tried to create art with the idea that later in life I would use those images for writing,” he said.

Today, Hiteshew and his fiancé, professional songwriter Viqui Denman, are writing a series of children’s books. Denman writes and Hiteshew illustrates such titles as Nightmare on Elf Street and The Forgetful Angel.

He is also returning to sculpting, though now instead of life-sized bronze statues, he is working in clay and casting in Hydrostone, creating signature sconces and mirrors.

“Having Viqui there to help me ‘see’ what I’m doing allows me the chance to once again contribute to the art world,” he said.

Locally, you can see Hiteshew’s work in homes and businesses all over the county.

Two of his exquisite “Bluebird” lamps warm the patio at Peggy Peterson’s San Luis Obispo home. At Hearst Castle, Hiteshew recreated to historic perfection in resin, 135 alabaster lamps. And if you’ve ever been to McLintock’s Saloon in downtown SLO, you can’t miss the nude above the bar. That’s a Hiteshew, too.

Twenty years ago, Hiteshew created three deep-etched glass panels for a total of nine images depicting iconic scenes of San Luis M A R C H

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PEOPLE

PETE HOWARD

ROCK MUSIC HISTORIAN, ARCHIVIST AND JOURNALIST

By Hilary Grant magazine ICE as well, and then penned a regular column for Rolling Stone magazine.

“I’m quite the serious collector,” says Howard, “and have been a music historian my entire adult life.”

I

t was a rallying cry for millions of baby boomers: Rock and Roll Forever!

But SLO resident Pete Howard has done a good deal more than shout those words: he has made the 1960s anthem his life’s work and passion.

These days, as hands-on founder and owner of Poster Central, Howard is a world-class collector of vintage rock music posters, correspondence and concert postcards from around the world.

The one-man company is simply another notch in Howard’s all-music career, which has also included working as a disc jockey and an executive for CBS Records. Howard created and published the legendary CD

Howard’s 350-piece ephemera assemblage includes early Bruce Springsteen posters printed long before the New Jersey rocker became The Boss; Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin artifacts, and 1950s icons Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley placards.

Indeed, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland displayed ten of Howard’s items when its doors opened more than 15 years ago, and since then, the legendary facility has kept several of his posters in rotation.

Most recently, Howard loaned a rare 1963 Beatles poster to The Grammy Museum in downtown Los Angeles for an upcoming exhibit set to feature Yoko Ono as co-curator.

In addition, the soon-to-open Ray Charles Museum, also in Los Angeles, has just borrowed a similar vintage Charles poster.

on the bottom as ‘The Beetles,’” he says. “I once came within an inch of owning the only known original.

“I also covet an original poster from Buddy Holly’s ill-fated Winter Dance Party tour, which ended with Holly’s death in 1959.

And I’d love to get my hands on the earliest known Elvis Presley printed concert poster from January of 1955.”

Born in Santa Monica to parents Fran, a homemaker, and Jim, a research consultant, Howard credits his only sibling, older sister Kathy, with introducing him to rock and roll.

“Music hit me like a ton of bricks with the Beatles’ arrival in 1964,” he says. “Luckily, Kathy ushered them into our house and made sure we watched their earthshaking first Ed Sullivan performance.”

Pete Howard in 1969

Howard collects paper artifacts that span only the years 1920 through 1970.

“They’re musicians from such a golden era,” he says. “Early Louis Armstrong in the 1920s, to Billie Holiday the next decade, Hank Williams after that, then Elvis Presley.

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Howard prefers posters from these decades since, he says, “Music wasn’t a big business yet. There aren’t corporate sponsorships logos on the posters – in fact, many are full of naïve annotations, hilariously cheap ticket prices and jumbled-up printing sometimes rife with misspellings.

“That’s because they were designed to be thrown away the day after the concert – never meant to be kept forever and displayed in a museum!”

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“There are scads of others from the ’60s, but some are Bob Dylan, The Beatles, the Stones and Motown artists.”

Perhaps not surprisingly, Howard has a wish list of memorabilia he would still love to own.

“There’s the 1961 Beatles poster from Liverpool where the group is listed way down

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The Howard Family– Pete, Cheryl and children, Stephen, Brian and Nicole

PEOPLE The Beatles in 1961 – before Ringo

After that, Howard discovered the Beach Boys and Bob Dylan, and once Woodstock hit, “I became a big fan of most of the artists we now refer to as classic rock.”

Part of Howard’s teens was spent in Morro Bay. “I didn’t appreciate all of the nice things the town has to offer to adults,” he says. “It was a small, sleepy place that was so far away from the action I had grown up around in Los Angeles.

“But I do remember my dad driving me to the Fremont Theatre for the opening of the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine!”

After one year at Cal State Northridge, where, Howard says, “my major was going to rock concerts,” he became a disc jockey in Lake Tahoe.

“I liked radio, but I loved the record business,” says Howard. “It was really where I wanted to be. So I found another career with one of the world’s leading entertainment firms in – London, New York or Los Angeles, right? Nope – Santa Maria!”

The employer, explains Howard, was CBS Records, and the company’s Central Coast location adjacent to Stowell Road was home to a large factory where all of the company’s records for the entire Western United States were manufactured. Smaller labels also paid CBS to press their albums at the facility.

Here, Howard’s official title was Expediter – the person who made sure those outside label products were pressed and shipped in a timely manner. His two best clients were Chrysalis Records – “right when Blondie was hitting it big” – and ABC Records, when Steely Dan was at its peak.

By 1986, Howard had a new venture in mind.

“I had traveled to Europe alone that summer and saw the explosion of a new format – compact discs,” he says. “I came back wanting to start a CD business.”

Howard narrowed that idea down to two choices: create a CD-only retail store – “which would probably take $100,000 of start-up capital” – or start a newsletter about the skyrocketing phenomenon just beginning to hit America.

He opted for the latter, he says, “Because I could discuss this hot new format with all of its pluses and pitfalls, and all it would take was the computer and daisy-wheel printer I already had sitting on my desk in Santa Monica.”

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The Beatles Poster in 1961

Ray Charles Poster for San Diego Concert in 1961

Howard was in the right place at the right time.

The fledging idea took off, and ICE – short for International CD Exchange – grew to 10,000 subscribers in 20 countries, becoming known for its timely coverage of new releases and reissues on CD. “In the pre-Internet era, there was a real need for up-to-the-minute, reliable information on new music releases mailed to your doorstep,” explains Howard. “Our average reader owned 2,500 CDs. Yikes!”

It was also around this time that Howard was recruited to write a Rolling Stone column on CDs, a gig that lasted from the late 1980s to the mid-’90s.

In 2006, after 19 years and 228 issues, Howard closed ICE – a direct consequence of readers now having access to the same information for free via the web, as well as the invention of MP3 players and easy downloading of songs.

But ICE started Howard’s then-new career of collecting vintage posters.

“When I moved the magazine out of my home and into an office,” he explains, “all of a sudden, I needed appropriate stuff to put on the walls. I was able to fill the large five-person office with cool, framed music posters for the next 15 years.”

Howard and his family (spouse Cheryl, a Visalia native, and their three teenagers, Stephen, Brian and Nicole) moved to the Central Coast a year after the magazine folded.

That relocation has, says Howard, “also happily resuscitated my announcing career.”

To that end, Howard serves as Master of Ceremonies at the monthly Comedy Club Central get-together at the Grange Hall, and also calls football, basketball and volleyball games for SLO High. He’s also gearing up to emcee a spring fundraising carnival for C.L. Smith Elementary School.

“I wanted to change our lifestyle to a small-town feel, but not too small, which is why being right in SLO was perfect,” he says. “We also very much had an eye on raising our kids in a nice community, away from the gangs and traffic of Los Angeles.

“Everything pointed to SLO – and nothing pointed anywhere else.”

Find out more about Pete Howard and Poster Central at postercentral.com.

Reach Howard directly via pete@postercentral.com, or (805) 540-0020.

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Arlene and Jim Lau

Jim Lau

...Former CIA Executive and Cal Poly Professor

By Ruth Starr

I

n 1942 they got married and have lived together for sixty-eight years. Jim and Arlene Lau are both ninety-four years old. They originally met in 1939 at Detroit Edison where Jim was working as a cashier and Arlene happened to be his supervisor.

During Jim’s last year attending Michigan State Normal College, he was drafted into the United States Army. It was World War II. He became an officer in the Counter Intelligence Corps during the seven years he was in the service. He and Arlene spent time in Ft. Lewis, Washington where there were German Africa Corps prisoners of war.

He learned to speak German, which was a big help for him during his years to come in Germany.

After the war was over, Jim was assigned to the army of occupation in Germany. Arlene, back home, joined the U.S. Civil Service and arranged to be assigned as a secretary to Jim’s Counter Intelligence Corps unit in Bremen, Germany, which afforded them to be together.

She typed, took dictation and ran the mimeograph. Jim had the job of countering communist activities against Allied occupying forces and of rounding up wanted Nazis. While overseas, Jim and Arlene visited the Nazi concentration camps – stating it was an unbelievable and horrible experience. It was hard for them to understand how these atrocities could have taken place. They went overseas in 1946 and returned to the United States in 1948.

Thinking he was finished with his career in the army, Jim went to the University of Michigan on the GI Bill to work on a Master’s Degree in Sociology and a PhD in Social Psychology. Surprisingly, while at the University of Michigan he was called back to duty to go to Korea. But, instead of going into the Korean War, Jim had an offer from the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) to go to Vienna, Austria accompanied by his family.

Jim and Arlene were stationed in Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich and West Berlin where Jim participated in intelligence activities against the Soviet and Satellite countries – our major opposition forces during the Cold War. Their daughter was born in Vienna and their two

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sons were born in this country while Jim was finishing his PhD at the University of Michigan.

One son, James, went to school on the East Coast and currently lives here on the central coast where he works as an insurance broker. Their daughter lives in the state of Washington where she is a special education teacher. Their other son is in a care facility in Washington. He had been a science teacher and unfortunately developed a brain cancer that left him disabled and surviving long after doctors predicted he would.

Jim’s final assignment for the CIA was to the original faculty that created the Federal Executive Institute (FEI). President Lyndon Johnson, just before leaving office, decided a strategic, creative planning institute was needed whereby select government Super-Grade Executives could study, dialogue and set long rang goals, both domestic and foreign. It is located just off-campus at the University of Virginia. The FEI provided an eight-week residence for sixty executives.

Retiring from the CIA in 1971, Jim was recommended by the FEI’s Director to a colleague here at Cal Poly. Jim taught in the College of Business for sixteen years. He originated the textbook Behavior in Organization in 1975.

Eight days after arriving in San Luis Obispo, Arlene bought a lot above Johnson Avenue where she planned to build a new family home. She knew exactly what she wanted and had Cal Poly architecture and landscape students draw up the plans. Through a local bank, she found a contractor who would work on a cost-plus basis and who would welcome her involvement in changes as the project progressed.

She had built a house previously in Virginia. Jim had nothing to do with it by choice. She designed the downstairs as a separate living area so family and guests could visit – and they still do. In the beginning there were only a few houses in that area which is now completely developed.

Arlene was a volunteer docent at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art for 20 years. She enjoys bridge and Scrabble and admits she is pretty good. She and Jim were in a bridge group for over 30 years. Arlene attended exercises at the YMCA for over 20 years and put more than 10,000 miles on her Schwinn bike at home.

Jim retired from Cal Poly in 1987. For years he jogged and played golf, now he continues to walk a mile and a half each morning. He greatly appreciates the opportunity to participate in the Retired Active Men’s group (RAMS).

Both Jim and Arlene are dog-lovers, taking their granddaughter’s dog with them on daily shopping trips. Their happiest times are with family, and ensure frequent gatherings by having burrito night once a week. They continue to live independently in the same house for 41 years. Their appreciation for health and happiness is abundant. After 68 years of marriage, they are still the best of friends.

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when the going gets tough...

By Julian J. Varela

H

ere’s the deal. If you’ve already tried to complete the title sentence, your response might have gone a number of ways. Was it “When the going gets tough, the tough get going?” Or: “When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping?” Maybe it was “When the going gets tough, it’s time to get tougher;” or how about “When the going gets tough, run the other way!” How you chose to complete this sentence says a lot about how you deal with obstacles. At some point, unless you live in a padded closet, you’ve encountered a challenge or two in your life, and just as sure as the sun will rise in the morning, you’ll be facing some more.

If the past is any reflection of the future, you can use your previous responses to obstacles to predict what you’ll do at the next roadblock.

Or not. What if you used those previous responses to change what you’ll do next time?

When I was a kid, our school hosted a demonstration performance by what were then known as Strong Men. Now I’m not talking about the Strong Man contest where guys pull semi-trucks and bench press cars; I’m talking about the Strong Men who blew up hot water bottles, bent iron rods with their bare hands, and ripped phone books in half.

Remember those guys? You just knew that no matter how impossible the feat, they’d get ‘er done. I always expected the Strong Men to burst the hot water bottle with their steel lungs or rip the phone book in half in the first attempt. But sometimes they failed.

On one memorable occasion, the Strong Man flexed his massive forearm muscles, took in a deep breath and applied all his might to a 3-inch thick phone book. Nothing. Not even a tiny tear. But here’s what happened. With nary a nano-second’s hesitation, a gleam appeared in the Strong Man’s eye, a hint of a smile twitched on his lips,

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and a ripple of excitement emanated from his being. This man was not about to give up. Using his new-found determination, he took another deep breath and tore the heavy book smartly in half, the triumphant ripping sound breaking through the pin-drop silence. He had used his failure to galvanize his energy, to fuel his desire, to feed his strength. And therein lies the solution.

When faced with challenges and outright obstacles, many of us give up way too soon. At the first sign of trouble, we either “run the other way” or “go shopping,” another way of saying we look for a diversion.

Life’s too short, we tell ourselves. It’s just easier to give up than it is to face our failures and try again. But what if we used that failure to recharge our batteries? What if we could get excited about the challenge, could cultivate a determined gleam in our eyes, could secretly smile at the thought of success just around the corner.

You may be in the process of applying to graduate schools. Like so many, maybe you’re interviewing for a new job. Or perhaps you’re thinking of starting your own business. The naysayers will tell you that no one can afford graduate school these days; that the competition for that job you want is too keen; that starting a business in this economy will surely meet with failure. There is a kernel of truth in all of these warnings. But how you choose to respond to these challenges will shape the person you become and ultimately, the future you will create. You can either give in (give up) to the fear of failure, or you can use the challenge before you to add energy to your efforts.

You can either walk away from a failed business (or a rejected application, or a job that went to someone else), or you can use that failure to strengthen your determination. Yes, you may fail at the new job, the new business, the new school. But the biggest failure of all is not to have tried at all. Let failure be your teacher, and sweet success will surely follow.

Julian J. Varela holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Julian co-owns Equilibrium Fitness and Equilibrium Fitness for Women.

Contact Julian at Julian@eqclubs.com with questions or comments.

Follow Julian’s blog at julianvarela.blogspot.com.

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Juvenile dependency mediation The human face of child welfare

By Judythe Guarnera “

N

o, no, please! Don’t take my daughter,” Mary pleaded when the judge told her that her child would be placed in a permanent foster home. Her attorney put his arm around her as the judge demanded order and then led her from the courtroom, the sound of her sobs echoing her slow departure.

Mary had been arrested for substance abuse a year earlier. Ten-year-old Lissa had been placed in foster care. Mary had attended a court hearing where she’d been told her daughter would remain in foster care until she had completed her case plan (drug and alcohol rehab, parenting classes, etc.). She told her attorney after the hearing that no one had listened to her.

“They don’t care what I’m feeling,” she said.

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“I love my daughter and she belongs with me.” Mary blamed the system.

If you’ve ever been a party in a lawsuit, for whatever reason, you know how stressful court is. Mary’s attorney said, “People are often forced to take hard and unrelenting positions in court proceedings. This can hamper their ability to take responsibility and see themselves as contributing to the problem.”

Children are removed from their homes when conditions are considered unsafe.

This includes situations where there is spousal or child abuse – physical or emotional; neglect; parental substance abuse; and/or incarceration or violation of parole.

Even children who have suffered in a dysfunctional family can love their parents and experience removal from the family home as frightening and heart-wrenching. Although Moms and Dads may lack the skills to effectively parent their children or deal with the issues which brought them into the Child Welfare System, they suffer, too, because they love their children. Both the circumstances which lead to removal, as well as the process itself create trauma for the entire family.

Child Welfare helps parents to eliminate the conditions which caused the safety issue. They provide opportunities for parents to get help for alcohol and drug problems, to take classes to improve their parenting skills and for both parents and children to get counseling. Early in the Dependency

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Samantha Watkins, Mediation Program Coordinator

process the court assigns attorneys to all parties, including the children, to assure that everyone’s rights are protected.

Parents who are used to making all the decisions concerning the care of their children often balk when the county takes over and become defensive and angry, as did Mary.

She refused to comply and was sent back to court. The situation worsened when she realized that a judge who did not know her or Lissa was making a decision which would change their lives.

Five years ago Creative Mediation and the San Luis Obispo County Child Welfare System initiated a Juvenile Dependency Mediation (JDM) Program to offer an alternative to court hearings. (“Dependency” refers to the fact that the children are dependent on the County, not on their parents, for their care.)

A JDM offers a safe and non-confrontational environment where issues can be resolved.

Mediation validates parents’ feelings and helps them to accept responsibility for what

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As the mediation progressed it became apparent that Rosa had felt overwhelmed by the challenges in her case plan and her feelings of helplessness had been escalating. She wanted her daughter back. She needed hope.

The group’s acknowledgement of Rosa’s love for her daughter gave her a taste of hope. Jill, her social worker, expressed concern about the supervised visits between Rosa and her daughter. She pointed out that during these visits Rosa’s angry rants about the unfairness of the system had a negative effect on her daughter, Sara. Rosa yelled and Sara’s agitation increased. By the time the visits were over, Sara was out of control and screaming at everyone, including her mom. Now, with that infusion of hope Rosa was able to hear that concern. happened. Most importantly, mediation enables them to see themselves as part of the solution.

If the issues in Mary’s case had been discussed in the informal mediation setting instead of in court, the outcome could have been more satisfying for all parties.

An attorney assigned to participate in these mediations said that parents involved in a mediation, “Will carry positive attitudes … attitudes which will enable them to do the work they need to do to get reunited with their children.” He stressed that the sooner reunification happens, the less trauma the whole family will experience.

“Rosa, your daughter is absorbing your anger,” her attorney said.

“That anger is causing her to act out with her foster family, her teachers and everyone in authority. She picks fights at school. She’s so angry that she doesn’t respond to her therapist. She’s stuck and unable to move forward. It’s keeping both of you from getting the help you need. Sara needs to see you accept responsibility for your situation and see that you’re willing to work on your case plan.”

The support and concern in the room was almost a palpable presence.

Rosa’s hands unclenched and she sat back in her chair. The others in the room sensed the shift to positive energy. Tense postures relaxed.

Another attorney pointed out that the “rules of evidence,” part of the court process, “do not allow for a free exchange of ideas.” There is no time for brainstorming in court, but it is a common practice in mediation. Parents in the system often lack good communication skills.

Developing those skills in mediation will serve them well.

Rosa’s attorney suggested that she and her daughter could be working through their issues in counseling simultaneously. Rosa began nodding her head in agreement. What had seemed like an insurmountable list of abstract tasks to her now morphed into a single concrete goal which she believed she could reach with small steps.

In a safe environment plans can be developed that will provide parents the opportunity to improve their parenting skills, use public resources to overcome drug and alcohol addictions, and/or gain new job skills, while the children remain safe. The children can receive services to help them address problems arising from the dysfunction in their families.

Rosa’s time for receiving services had run out, but her JDM team delved into problem-solving mode. They explored what they could do to get her the services she needed outside the system, with Rosa as a co-operating member of the team. To make the tasks concrete, Rosa’s attorney put a time frame on the task.

Creative Mediation is represented by a volunteer mediator, who serves as a neutral party whose job is to support everyone in the room. From that neutral vantage point the mediator can help create and maintain an environment in which individuals in conflict can address their fears and concerns. When parties feel heard they are often able to recognize possibilities they could not recognize before.

Rosa, who also was arrested for drug abuse, chose mediation. She was contesting the end of her services (the same as Mary.) The first hour of the mediation gave little indication that she was ready to accept responsibility for not completing her case plan.

“Rosa,” her social worker said, “you were assessed by Drug and Alcohol and given a plan to complete, but you never attended any of the required meetings.” As each concern was voiced by her social worker and the attorney for her child, she continued to offer excuses, some of which sounded legitimate, while others did not.

“I didn’t have any way to get there,” she said. “I didn’t have money for gas and then my car broke down. I wanted to go. I love my daughter so much and she wants to be with me.” Rosa had been balancing on the edge of her chair with her hands clasped tightly together in front of her.

“I can hear how much you love your daughter and how worried you are about her behavior,” her attorney said in a soft voice as she gently touched Rosa’s hand. There was a murmur of agreement by the others in the room. Rosa sighed, but remained perched on her chair.

“Rosa, if both of you work hard for a year, reuniting could be a reality.” Everyone agreed. Now Rosa’s smile lit up her face and she relaxed into her chair.

When the JDM started, the feeling of confusion in the room had seemed like a giant puzzle with a thousand pieces, all similarly shaped and colored with none of the pieces fitting together. Suddenly they began to fall into place. The team was quick to recognize the shift. They shared their hope with Rosa. As she relaxed, she could believe that she would succeed. She acknowledged that she couldn’t continue doing things the same way, if she wanted change.

What are the odds that Rosa will succeed? No one in the room could say.

There are many variables and much to be accomplished. How strong and determined she would be when she left the room and began the ongoing journey to sobriety were unanswered questions. But her chances for success seemed more possible than when the mediation began.

“Resolution reached through compromise and understanding has a greater chance for successful implementation than one imposed by court order,” a JDM attorney commented. He went on to say that mediations speed up the process for the parents and their children who deserve to have their issues resolved as quickly as possible.

Mediations save money because they reduce court time and the children spend less time in foster care.

Juvenile Dependency Mediations enhance the human face of Child Welfare.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

slo THE stigma campaign

A group from Transitions promoting the SLO the Stigma campaign

Unveiling the Journey from isolation to recovery

By Leslie Jones

I

n the opening scene four San Luis Obispo County residents, shown partially hidden in the shadows, share their candid thoughts about living with mental illness. While describing their day-to-day struggles and gradual journey from isolation into recovery, this riveting documentary “SLO the Stigma” follows them through the initial stages of feeling alone and seeking help to venturing into recovery and ultimately enjoying life again.

Compassionately weaving together these poignant stories, this public awareness campaign’s key message conveys that regular people have mental illness, that their lives do not have to be governed by it, and that treatment leads to fulfilling, happy lives.

First launched in early 2010, “SLO the Stigma” is a collaborative marketing effort between Transitions-Mental Health Association and 20/20 Creative Group, funded by the Mental Health Services Act (Proposition 63).

Jill Bolster-White, Executive Director of Transitions, has received very positive feedback about the “SLO the Stigma” campaign. “It

has raised an awareness and curiosity that is slowly transitioning into a more permanent educational tool throughout our community,” she explains.

“This has been a compelling year-long campaign with a powerful, localized appeal. It speaks directly to the people here in our area with its use of local residents and familiar landscapes. The slow unveiling of the campaign’s message symbolizes the gradual journey into the light, ultimately conveying the hope that comes with the recovery process,” she adds.

For over 30 years, Transitions, a local non-profit organization, has been dedicated to providing housing, employment, case management and life skills support to mentally ill adults, at risk youth and homeless adults in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties. You can learn more about their wide range of services at www.t-mha.org.

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SLO Hotline, a county-wide suicide prevention, mental health and emotional support phone line now directly affiliated with Transitions, is also a significant partner in the campaign by providing confidential, bi-lingual support and referrals to free and low-cost treatment. The warmth of a human voice can always be heard at the other end of the line on a 24/7 basis at 1-800-549-4499.

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Alec Ramsey, Cal Poly graduate, Creative Director and Co-owner of 20/20 Creative Group was very instrumental in the creative success surrounding this campaign. “This campaign has exceeded all of my expectations,” explains Ramsey. “It’s been so satisfying to see the impact, to see how much it has affected people. This has whet my appetite to do more of this type of work where we’re impacting and improving lives. I came out of this saying ‘Let’s do that again.’ It is a personal passion that I want to further develop in the future,” he adds.

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“The true test is the viewing audience – when you see tears as feedback, you know you’ve succeeded,” he mentions. “Where there has been apprehension for many to share stories before, this documentary lends them a voice. Professionals have also offered a great deal of praise and mentioned how urgently this message is needed in our community,” Ramsey adds.

“I hoped that those featured would be able to bare their souls for a more meaningful impact. It turned out to be such a remarkable, cohesive story. This was their life happening in front of the camera at their mercy,” Ramsey explains.

Amanda Nelson, one of the four participants in this documentary has had an amazing journey this past year. “Often, those who have seen me in commercials come up to me on the street to share their own stories,” she explains. “Sharing a big part of my life with others has helped raise my own comfort level as well.”

“People often tell me that they never would have thought that I’d had issues with something like bipolarism,” mentions Nelson. “Emotional disorders are not black and white like medical conditions. People can’t see them and oftentimes it’s the extremes seen in the news that people connect it with. There is such a wide spectrum when it comes to mental illness,” she adds.

Frank Warren, the Mental Health Services Act Division Manager with the County of San Luis Obispo’s Behavioral Health Department was also a key player in this campaign.

ment. Additional outreach efforts have included guerilla and event marketing, print media, and TV and radio ads as well as the use of billboards.

Cal Poly students and community supporters alike have been seen venturing down the streets at San Luis Obispo’s Farmers’ Market, promoting the ongoing campaign. People from all walks of life are affected by mental illness and this campaign has brought many sectors of our community together in the name of awareness, education and recovery.

You can visit www.SLOtheStigma.org to watch the documentary and to find a list of locally-based, readily available support resources.

Compassionately weaving together these poignant stories, this public awareness campaign’s key message conveys that regular people have mental illness, that their lives do not have to be governed by it, and that treatment leads to fulfilling, happy lives.

“When I saw the documentary, the name, tone and imagery all fell into place,” explains Warren. ”The way it captured visuals of San Luis Obispo County was what brought it all together for me. This was about my town, the place I grew up,” he adds.

“This campaign has been a proactive, collaborative approach between the public and private sectors. Everyone wins in this situation,” adds Warren. “Mental health issues such as depression have not been openly discussed in the community whether in the schools or elsewhere. When it comes to stigma, until we change the paradigm, what does help mean? Addiction is a chemical drive but mental illness means different things to different people,” he adds.

“The new conversation in the coming year will hopefully be now what?

SLO the Stigma doesn’t say what stigma is and what to do about it.

This campaign is a sprinkling of seeds…some will grasp it and it will continue forward in a more educational capacity. Perhaps people will start asking themselves sooner if they too might be at risk in order to receive the assistance they need much sooner,” Warren continued.

As an example of its community-wide effectiveness, SLO the Stigma helped bridge the gap between County Mental Health Services and Drug and Alcohol Services. “Both entities embraced this concept and took ownership of it. It’s a huge connector of the two agencies, acting as a natural anchor,” explains Warren.

The SLO the Stigma documentary is one of many components of a broad effort to raise public awareness of mental illnesses and available treat-

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S L O IPNF EFTJHO EJTUSJDU

Easy Ways to Enhance Your Home’s Curb Appeal

By Statepoint Media

W

hether you’re planning to sell your home or wish to grow old in it, you want it to look its best.

While we all want to enhance our homes’ curb appeal, most homeowners don’t want to undertake expensive home improvements, such as installing new roofs or siding or replacing all windows and doors.

A few simple touch-ups can give your home that new-house look without that new-house price.

tention to details you can improve for little cost and a lot of “oomph!”

Landscaping is a great way to enhance your home’s external appearance for a reasonable price and with minimum bother.

Consider adding planters to both sides of the entrance way. Use flowering plants and trees, or native perennials that do not need a lot of maintenance. Make sure to clear broken branches, twigs, or leaves from the yard. Trim shrubs and trees to freshen your home’s appearance.

Details Matter Another relatively easy way to add flair or The difference between ordinary and drama to your house is to install awnings extraordinary is often in the details. Pay at- over windows or entrance ways. They add

shape, dimension and color, and can be custom-designed to fit a home’s unique character and style.

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With interest rates at historic lows, there has never been a better time to buy or refinance a home. At Bank of Commerce Mortgage, we can customize the right loan to meet your unique needs. In a matter of minutes over the phone, we can discuss your objectives and financing options. Since we work with the nation’s largest lenders, you’ll get the most competitive interest rate and terms.

But that’s just the beginning. Our commitment to providing a superior level of personal service means that you will have a smooth and positive mortgage experience.

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I P N F E F T J H O E J T U S J Dfuture, U you owe it to yourself to learn ho “Awnings come in many styles and colors and can be used to echo the architecture of a traditional residence. Or, they can complement more modern-styled buildings with innovative designs,” says Michele Sahlin, Managing Director of the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association.

“They’re also a practical and affordable way to protect you and your guests from the elements while coming or going.”

Elbow Grease There are many inexpensive things you can do yourself if you just roll up your sleeves.

If you’ve been diligent about maintaining your home, it may just need some elbowgrease to look brand new.

A new coat of paint can do the trick, but if you don’t have the time or money for a full-blown exterior paint job, consider just painting the house’s trim – which often sees the most wear and tear.

You should also clean all window exteriors seasonally. Using a pressure washer is a great way to make them sparkle.

Lastly, put some shine on doorknockers and doorknobs. A little vinegar works well for this task.

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Easy Elegance If your house is not distinctive, it may not be your fault. Many homes do not stand out simply because they are cast in shadows.

a nice interplay of light and shadow on your home’s exterior.

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24

HOME/OUTDOOR

at the market Spring frittata with zucchini, fennel, and fresh thyme

By Sarah Hedger

A

s confused as Mother Nature may seem at times here on the Central Coast, Spring is near! While it can feel like a warm summer day one day and a chilly winter day the next, we hope the local produce (and its farmers) keeps an even helm through all the ups and downs. March is a pretty exciting time at Farmers’ Markets because we begin to see the emergence of more Spring fruits and vegetables. It isn’t that Winter produce is glum by any stretch of the imagination; it’s just that Spring marks a fresh beginning to the year with an abundance of Spring produce, including the first strawberries, asparagus, and fresh herbs. There aren’t many people who don’t look forward to strawberry season, especially now with the resurgence of the delicious little heirloom varieties coming back into the marketplace. While we all got a bit used to seeing massive strawberries in the stores, there is no question the smaller strawberries pack more flavor into a smaller space than their larger siblings. Thus, Spring also marks a time when our taste buds begin to crave less cooked produce and more Spring salads and raw veggies. I am a bit embarrassed to

Fresh Veggies ready to start the Spring Frittata dish

admit how long it took me to eat certain veggies raw. It is fortunately becoming more common and there really are few things that taste better than a fresh (naturally organic) salad out of your garden (or even freshly collected from the local farmers’ market).

This month’s recipe is a delicious addition to the repertoire as it is simple and delicious, while being easy to prepare (and healthy). It is a Spring Frittata with Zucchini, Fennel, and Fresh Thyme that will pleasantly surprise you with how elegant a frittata can really be. While it is usually traditional breakfast or brunch fare, keep it in mind as a fun, light dinner option, especially when served next to that fresh green salad. I am convinced that even the savviest of carnivores won’t be asking for the meat element after they have enjoyed this frittata. For the health conscious, the frittata incorporates fresh spring veggies as well as antioxidant-rich tomatoes, and my new favorite,

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protEctIng our clIEnts’ futurE drEAms AgAInst tomorrow’s uncErtAIntIEs. Cary Adler, Dave Belmont and Kevin Dye work hard to support their clients and community. Years of experience means that they can put together the coverage you need and the service to back it up. If you are evaluating your business insurance needs, call Adler Belmont Dye and let them put their experience to work for you.

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Pre-Roast Spring Veggies for Frittata

fennel. I seemed to have held off a long time to discover fennel as I didn’t understand the whole concept of incorporating an “anise” flavor into savory foods. It confused me a bit to be honest. Isn’t anise flavor what makes licorice taste like licorice? Long story short is fennel is a brilliant boost of goodness that is delicious fresh or roasted.

It is also known as a vegetable having medicinal carminative qualities while also containing Anethole, which is known for its antibacterial properties. Thyme is another wonderful addition to this frittata as it compliments the roasted flavors of the spring veggies in the best of ways and is a simple herb to not only find, but also to grow. As usual, feel free to use this frittata as a base to throw in other veggies and herbs as spring progresses. It would be delicious as well with the addition of asparagus and basil or spinach and tarragon. If you aren’t a fan of goat cheese, by all means find a good cheddar and use this instead. There is no going wrong with this one…you will be a fan and your taste buds will be impressed! Enjoy!

spring frittata with zucchini, fennel, and fresh thyme For the Frittata: 1 zucchini, cut horizontal and diced into ¼ inch half-moons 1 small fennel, thinly sliced into ¼ inch sections 1 small bunch of spring onions, finely chopped 10-15 cherry tomatoes, halved 4 T. fresh thyme, minced 2 T. olive oil 1-2 tsp. sea salt and ½ tsp. freshly ground pepper 5-6 free range eggs, lightly beaten with 1 tsp. salt and ½ tsp. ground white pepper 2 ounces fresh goat cheese (try Happy Acres from Templeton) or Chevre, in ½ inch chunks

Place rack in top third of oven. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Place squash, fennel, spring onions, tomatoes, 2 T. thyme, olive oil, salt and pepper in 9x9 baking dish or oven proof skillet (preferably ceramic for a dish or stainless/cast iron for a skillet and keep in mind shape doesn’t matter so much as size) and mix thoroughly. Roast for 20-25 minutes (stirring mid-way), until just beginning to brown. Remove from oven and (on sturdy heat proof counter), pour in egg mixture, remaining 2 T. of thyme, and stir with fork so thoroughly incorporated. Gently place goat cheese chunks on top of frittata. Return dish to oven and bake for 10 minutes, or until frittata is puffed, firm, and golden brown.

Remove from oven and serve immediately. (Also good at room temperature and even cold the next day). *Feel free to email me at sarahhedger@gmail.com if you have any food-related questions.

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COMMUNITY

SLO county art scene Peet Cocke: art as information/ informative artist

By Gordon Fuglie

F

or ten years Peet Cocke has been making and teaching art on the Central Coast. Currently on the studio art faculty at Cuesta College, his career journey in California has seen him move in stages northward since coming to the state more than twenty years ago. Arriving from Virginia as a teenager, he enrolled in the fine art program at UC San Diego, graduating in 1989. After that, it was “up” to Los Angeles where he earned the Master of Fine Arts degree at USC in 1991. Cocke made it to the mid-state in 2000 and has been a very busy guy, occupying himself with teaching, art making, writing/theorizing, organizing art events, and performing and traveling

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throughout the US. He and I recently met at (where else?) Peet’s Coffee & Tea on Higuera where I learned about the constantly full plate that is Peet Cocke’s career.

What struck me about him is that he is a-swirl with ideas and observations, and these take precedence in his art.

Indeed, his work is often packed with information, images, symbols and texts – not to mention layers of meaning.

Cocke is passionate about environmental issues and social concerns, and has found compelling ways to present these without merely illustrating them or telling the viewer what to think.

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displaying the actual food item, driving home the point.

Gallery goers were curious about “Science is Building a Better Tomato,” perhaps because of its scientific trappings and cool presentation of alarming statistics. Cocke says he still hopes the work incites people to think about how our food is grown, processed and distributed. By the way, according to Steinman’s assertions, peanut butter fared among the worst – with high levels of residues. It is at the lower left of the installation. Next time you are at the supermarket, will you think twice about putting that jar of peanut butter in your cart? Hmmmm – all that information.

In this regard, he freely admits his debt to Hans Haacke, a German artist who has shown often in the United States. Haacke gained prominence in the 1980s for his tough, socially provocative work and his combinations of various objects that eschewed traditional art materials. He called these works “interventions,” confronting viewers with economic and political facts, encouraging them to look beneath surface appearances. Well, danke Hans – so much for a pleasant outing at the art museum!

Cocke’s Already Have I Once Been, a pencil drawing and collage from 1999, is a straightforward example of his kind of artistic intervention. Using an engaging spiral form, he has hand-lettered the scientific names for various animals that are on the endangered species list. The circling texts are punctuated by small, round collaged images of specific animals, e.g. Vulpes macrotis mutica, the San Joaquin Valley Kit Fox. Cocke’s spiral is an endless, receding configuration, implying that such threats to the biosphere are systemic and ongoing, not exceptional.

And what are you going to do with this information, dear viewer?

“Science is Building a Better Tomato” is a mural size installation that keeps getting attention in the art world. First made

by Cocke in 1991, and re-made in 2000, the multi-piece work was inspired by the artist’s reading of David Steinman’s controversial Diet for a Poisoned Planet: How to Choose Safe Foods for You and Your Family. Cocke’s installation displays various foods that are categorized like a periodic table (the standard scientific chart for the display of the properties of the chemical elements), but adapted by Cocke to reveal levels of pesticide residues that Steinman claimed were found in a variety of products sold in supermarkets. Each food is described on an 11” x 11” panel that the artist made by hand. Correspondingly, small shelves are attached to the panels,

In addition to his teaching and art making, Cocke keeps abreast of developments in “new media” such as digital film applications; tracks art educational trends; and directs an intriguingly named series called the “Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival.”

Cocke speculates that he may be ready again for another northerly move – perhaps Oakland, to explore opportunities in the Bay Area art scene. In the meantime, he’s doing yeoman work at Cuesta, helping students take their first steps on the artistic journey.

For further information on the ever-informative Peet Cocke, his work and his writings, visit www.peetsbrain.com.

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Huttle up taking care

By Bob Huttle

“The greatest wealth is health.”

---Virgil

Let’s face it: I’m not as young as I sometimes think. So to combat the added years of wear and tear, I work out – sort of. I’ve never been an exercise fanatic, though I go to the gym three or more days a week. Of course, this pales in comparison to the regulars who, I swear, must be there from sunup to sundown every day and who probably sit outside the shuttered doors on Christmas Day, wondering how on earth they are going to survive without an exercise class for twenty-four hours. Actually, I secretly admire their consistent attention to personal fitness and I marvel at their commitment to their well-being. I suspect, though, that their bodies will wear out before mine does. Ah, rationalization is a wonderful thing.

As for eating, let’s just say that my wife, Darrylin, endeavors to keep both of us following a fairly healthy diet – lots of fresh veggies (some from our community garden plot), fruit, fish, chicken, a bit of red meat now and then and Pelligrino mineral water to wash it all down – while I tend to lay in the little treats in moderation to balance it all out: wine, Klondike ice cream bars, pasta, Trader Joe’s cheese snacks, along with some wonderful meals out to reward us for being retired (alas, we commit numerous gastronomic sins when we go to Ian’s Grill, Café Roma, the Cass House, or Bistro Laurent or hit the Dine About San Francisco promotion once a year).

Jack LaLanne, God bless him, would have been much more impressed with my wife, the bike spinner/Zumba class dancer/swimmer/hiker, than with me, the TV watching/elliptical machine running/light weights hefting/small medicine ball stretching/spa tubbing pseudo jock. She works out hard, sweating buckets, shedding calories; I towel off little droplets of water and could probably wear my nearly-pristine gym clothes two or three days in a row (relax; I don’t). It’s yin and yang, don’t you think?

Despite my understanding that I should conduct my daily life in a healthy and reasonable manner, there are those times when I need help to feel tip top, my wife not-withstanding. When I was teaching, the germs in my classroom on any given day must have numbered in the billions. “Stay away from me!,” I’d shriek at runny-nosed, frog-coughing students. Thankfully, I have medical insurance and some very important health care experts who have treated me over the years here in San Luis Obispo. Dr. David Leece, MD, Dr. Michael Colleran, DDS, Jana Cervi, registered dental hygienist, Dr. Paul Vanderheyden, periodontist, and Dr. Jon Wells, chiropractor (DC), have kept me chipper. Let’s meet them, shall we?

Dr. David Leece has been my general physician for over 20, maybe 25 years. It’s hard to tell his age because when I met him he looked about twelve years old and I thought maybe he was just pretending to be a doctor.

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I was a little skeptical at first that someone who looked like he should be playing Little League baseball could actually diagnose bronchitis or prescribe the correct medication. But, over the years, Dr. Dave has taken care of me (and my wife) and he has, thankfully, aged; he looks every bit of 25 now. I don’t mind going to see him. His right hand nurse, Mary Anne, never lacks a smile, a warm hug, and good cheer. Maybe she’s the one who infuses him with his sunny disposition. I always have the feeling I’m in good hands when Dr. Dave walks into the examination room. I’ve heard that in his free time he is somewhat obsessive about riding very long distances – often over 100 miles – on his bicycle. Jack LaLanne should have given him a gold medal. I give David my trust.

Then there’s Paul Vanderheyden, periodontist extraordinaire, who once roto-rootered my gums and keeps them healthy and happy.

I find it hard to believe that anyone wants to do this for a living. Can you imagine?

Talk about dirty jobs. But Paul seems to love what he does and has taken great pains (ha!) to make sure I’m comfortable and calm whenever I see him (which has been rare, thankfully). He loves to cure diseased, inflamed tissue the way I loved to teach school, both of us passionate about our calling in life. Paul was the first doctor I ever had who called me at home to see how I was feeling after surgery. I think that’s the way he treats everyone. And get this: he also looks far younger than his years AND he also rides a bike long distances up and down mountains both here and abroad! Maybe riding a bike is a pre-requisite for a medical degree. What a valued member of our community Paul is. I know he (and his wife) generously support a variety of SLO fine arts events and fund-raisers. I thank him; my gums thank him.

As an aside, I want to say that in all the glorious history that has been written throughout time, some people have showed courage, some cowardice. For much of my life, I have been the cowardly lion, exhibiting shameful behavior when it comes to visiting the dentist.

I conveniently blame my childhood for this.

When I was just six years old, my mom took me for my first check up and we discovered, much to our horror, that I had 23 cavities in my baby teeth (I don’t think I’m not making this up). In those days – older readers will remember this – dentists’ drills were clunky, noisy, and very slow. For many years, if I heard the word “drill” in any context I felt faint and began to sweat more than I ever did doing any exercise workout. I was almost hospitalized during the last presidential campaign every time McCain/Palin supporters yelled “drill

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Most of the responsibility for taking care of myself is up to me. But when I need additional help staying healthy, I turn to those special folks whose expertise bolsters me. Here’s to them, and other healthcare givers in SLO. Thank you Darrylin, David, Paul, Michael, Jana, and Jon. Bob can be reached at rhuttle@charter.net. He welcomes all voices but apologizes if he doesn’t respond right away. At any given moment he might just be visiting one of our local medical offices.

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You’ve probably heard the bad rap against chiropractors; some people say they’re not really doctors and they don’t know what they’re doing, blah, blah, blah. But a few years ago - when I couldn’t move my head or shoulder without sharp pain, thanks to sitting too long each day in front of my classroom computer, which was about as un-ergonometric as you can imagine, it sitting on a flat table in a public school classroom, used by a teacher who apparently didn’t warrant the proper computer station - I found a savior from pain, Dr. Jon Wells. I remember him asking me many questions on my first visit and I thought, “Enough with the questions, just make the pain stop.” And before too long, he did. Jon – I call him “Dr. Jon, the Night Tripper” – might be the most physically fit, “go for it,” extreme athlete I have ever met and yet he doesn’t gloat about his accomplishments or make fun of me, a most un-extreme non athlete. Sometimes, when he stretches my spine and cracks away my aches, we talk about his outdoor adventures like climbing the wall of El Capitan in Yosemite, or bombing along Highway 1 on his Harley. Often, I wonder whether he needs a chiropractor more than I do. When I first met Jon he was an unmarried man. Now, when he adjusts my neck or back I know that his hands are no longer covered with abrasions from rocks; today they’re smooth and warm from the loving touch of his beautiful wife, Nicki, and his first child, son Luke.

Without Jon, life for me would be one pain in the neck. I told him never to even think about taking me rock climbing, but fly fishing, another of his diversions? I’m game for that.

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And Dr. “C” also puts me at ease. At first glance, he looks like he should be a lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s a big guy. His dental tools disappear in his large hands. But when you get to know him he unleashes his wit and I forget that he’s poking around in my mouth and there’s no pain. None. Plus, my dental work stays put and my stomachaches from dreaded upcoming visits have disappeared.

This guy is good.

NOW LEASING

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baby, drill.” Hence, my habit of canceling dental appointments, sometimes three or four times. It got to be a joke with the receptionist: “Hi Mr. Huttle. Do we need to reschedule you again?” Now, thanks to my dentist, Dr. Michael Colleran, and my dental hygienist, Jana Cervi, I am brave, resolute, and prompt for my appointments.

Most visits usually beDr. Michael Colleran with Jana Cervi gin with a cleaning by the wonderfully thorough Jana. She works her magic in about forty five minutes, gently but firmly cleaning away tartar and accumulated gunk with her new whiz-bang laser wand and sonic zapper. While I have not entirely thrown away my dental crutches – I admit I still use nitrous oxide gas for a cleaning – I now relax more, thanks to Jana.

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for leasing and sales

805.878.0090 garcia architecture + design

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COMMUNITY

Our Schools:

thanks to jack O’connell

By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools

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want to offer a thank you from our county’s public schools to recently retired State Superintendent of Schools, Jack O’Connell. It is rare for an elected official to have such a solid record of accomplishments as Jack has had over his 28 years of serving in public office. The great majority of Jack’s undertakings have been to assist our public schools to provide a quality education for all students. I believe that the schools in San Luis Obispo County are better places for students because of Jack’s work over many years. We should be proud to count him a local resident.

Jack began his career as a high school teacher in Oxnard and also served on the County Board of Education for Santa Barbara County.

In 1982, he was elected to the State Assembly representing the central coast and he served in that capacity for 12 years. Jack was

then elected to represent our county in the state senate for two terms from 1994 to 2002. Many of us remember his ever present card tables set up on local street corners as a way to meet and talk with voters. In 2002, Jack was elected as the 26th California State Superintendent of Public Instruction and re-elected in 2006 with over two million votes and winning in every county in the state.

I can personally attest to Jack’s sincere desire to improve California public education and his willingness to lead this effort. He was always responsive to the needs of our county’s schools and could be counted on to visit schools, speak with parents or meet with students. I am impressed by how he stayed in touch with local issues, even when the demands of much larger constituents from Los Angeles or the Bay Area demanded his attention. Here are a few of his accomplishments.

Update on Dental Care

Present An EvEning With

SPEncEr AbrAhAm Former Senator and United States Secretary of Energy

A DiScuSSion of AmEricA’S EnErgy criSiS with interviewer David P. Christy Dean, Orfalea College of Business, Cal Poly State University

Audience Q&A and Book Signing Tuesday, March 15, 2011 7:00–9:30 P.M. Embassy Suites, San Luis Obispo

This event is FREE. Seating is limited. Accordingly, it is essential to RSVP. RSVP: 805.549.0760 (or) oasis@oasisassoc.com

Today’s Dentistry…

Going after life full-blast!

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eauty is in the eye of the beholder, yes. And so is self-esteem.

The darkened tooth that drives o n e i n d iv id u a l Dr. Dassenko crazy may matter little to another. You may have a space between your front teeth that, rather than distract from your appearance, is rather engaging.

A good cosmet ic dent a l practice considers your selfimage, as you see it. Fine cosmetic dentistry is not so much about creating “per fection,” but minimizing the defects that interfere with your personal success. Defects that may prevent a smile from coming naturally.

So dialogue between you and your dentist is key. You’ll carefully explain what you see that needs shoring up. And the dentist, after

consultation, translates that need into a realistic result.

And the translation can be breath-taking. New whitening techniques can brighten teeth visibly in a very short amount of time. A bond here, a bond there, reshapes a chipped tooth in a single visit. Porcelain veneers are a newer option for contouring front teeth.

Ou r practice bel ieves in consult at ion a nd eva luat ion before we begin. We get “inside your head” as far as we can to determine what treatment is best for you. We’re here to answer your questions—give us a call.

Pamela Dassenko, DDS practices cosmetic and family dentistry at: 1250 Peach Street, Suite G San Luis Obispo CA (805) 549-8483 www.DrDassenko.com

A Paid Health Commentary

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COMMUNITY pated with millions of California students benefitting from the increased attention they could receive from their teachers. All of the districts in our county participated each year since the beginning until recently. Unfortunately, this program has been one of the casualties of the recent decrease in state funding resulting from our State budget crisis. Hopefully it will return in better economic times.

Class Size Reduction (1996). The Class Size Reduction legislation was authored by Jack.

The purpose was to increase student achievement, particularly in reading and math, by decreasing the number of students in kindergarten through third grade classrooms to 20 or fewer students per teacher. Almost one billion dollars was allocated for additional teachers and facilities which represents the largest single appropriation for educational reform in California history. Although the program was voluntary, 99% of school districts partici-

California High School Exit Exam (1999). Again, this legislation was authored by Jack O’Connell. The purpose is to insure that at least a basic level of proficiency in reading, writing and math is achieved by all students as a condition to receiving a high school diploma. Students first take the exam at the beginning of their sophomore year and have several opportunities to take the exam by the end of their senior year. This exam is now part of the public accountability requirements for student achievement that has been a strong part of Jack’s career.

Local Bonds for School Facilities (Proposition 39 in 2000). Jack was a tireless

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advocate for local districts to be able to provide new schools to meet the growth in enrollment. He was the author of Proposition 39 that lowered the requirement from two-thirds to fifty-five percent for the passage of local bond measures. Now over 75% of local bond measures to fund improved facilities pass each year and over 21,000 new classrooms have been built since 2002-03. Locally, the recent passage of a $117 million school improvement measure in the Atascadero Unified School District would not have passed under the old twothirds requirement.

Statewide Growth in Student Achievement (2002-2010). During his tenure as State Superintendent, standardized test scores increased every year. The percentage of students scoring proficient or above on tests of English-language arts and math increased each year and the number of schools meeting the Academic Performance Target of 800 increased from 26 to 46 percent.

Thank you Jack O’Connell for your many contributions to California’s public schools.

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history

slo city seal

By Joseph A. Carotenuti

Who are you?

How do you prove your answer is correct?

Imagine the same question asked of a document. Since it can’t respond, we must depend on its mute authority that it is, indeed, what it purports to represent. Long before birth records began to attest to a human’s lineage, an official seal verified a document’s legitimacy.

Long a civic imperative, today’s notary public has historical beginnings in the Roman Empire.

Seals of authenticity were not only stamped on governmental documents but were used less formally in times past (and present) for individuals and businesses, and were often of elaborate design encapsulating some bit of

SLO City Seal 1856-1876 Tim Olson Photo

SLO City Seal 1876 to present

history or family coat of arms. The familiar wax seal impressed by the king’s ring was long ago replaced by cumbersome cast iron presses. While the official seal for the County of San Luis Obispo is an outstanding example of official recognition of our past, not so for the City.

Board of Town Trustees. There is little evidence that any municipal document required

Here’s the story.

The earliest evidence of a municipal seal dates from 1859 when Ordinance No 7 was passed by the then-called

Cast Iron City Seal

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COMMUNITY a seal before this date. While there had been two previous incorporations of the Town (1856 and 1858), this was the first official notice for a seal. Thus far, the ordinance title is the only clue as to the seal’s existence and no impression of the seal from this era has been found on any document.

Following yet another incorporation as a Town ten years later, Ordinance 23 was passed and is preserved on a document from the following year. This may have been in response to yet another legislative incorporation of San Luis Obispo in 1868. The first impression found is dated May 18, 1870 when Dr. W. W. Hays, warden for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, submitted a request for a church lot in its current location.

creating a town, 2011 is the Centennial of the Charter City of San Luis Obispo.

Not quite another incorporation, the city was designated as being of the “Sixth Class” by the Legislature in 1884. The designation was used for small communities under 3000 population that had specified duties and obligations differing from other “classes” of cities and towns… primarily in taxation powers. An unusual notation in the Minutes for March directs the Clerk “to have the date of the charter erased from the present City Seal” which would then “constitute the Corporate Seal” of the city.

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Since impressions from both before and after this directive are the same, it is assumed any erasure was not done or once impressed upon a document, a change was written.

The heavy, long armed cast iron device has given way to a much smaller device used today although the older one is still used on maps. Evidence points to the original seal (and its lack of sharpness) being duplicated for use on the handier device.

Possibly a newly designed seal would be a fitting tribute to a centenary celebration?

Most likely a stock impression, this seal depicts a side view of the biblical Solomon, noted for his wisdom, with Town information around the edge. This may well have been the original seal design. It is highly unlikely the city fathers would have changed the municipal seal from ten years previous as incorporations over various years still were for the “Town” of San Luis Obispo. Furthermore, a new seal would require expenditure from the town’s often precarious “treasury.”

Incorporation as a City in 1876 required a new seal. When the newly elected municipal body – now called the Common Council – convened, it was presided over by a Mayor. Quite different from today’s municipal leader, the Mayor could not vote (except to break a tie) but could veto any ordinance decreed by the five councilmen. Given the astonishing absenteeism by the elected officials, a mayor voted quite often and still maintained veto power!

This new seal was first preserved on a document dated May 4, 1876. This is the seal used today depicting the personification of justice (holding the scales) and agriculture or bounty holding a sheaf of grain and a sickle.

The verbiage “Chartered May 1st 1876” (the date of the first meeting of the new city’s elected officials) is not quite correct as the Legislature passed the act creating the city on March 20, receiving the Governor’s signature a few days later.

The use of “chartered” has also created its own confusion. While today San Luis Obispo is a Charter City, it became so in 1911 under different state laws conferring certain privileges and responsibilities on a community…and not in 1876. The last “incorporation” in the city’s history (there have been at least six) will be detailed in a future article.

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COMMUNITY

hospice corner Opening the door to the new hospice inpatient unit

By Janet Jeffery, RN, MS, CHE

H

ospice Partners of the Central Coast is pleased to announce we are opening the door to a special Hospice Inpatient Unit that will provide a warm and dignified environment for pain and symptom management when patients’ symptoms cannot be adequately managed at home, and round-the-clock nursing care is required.

In late 2009, Hospice Partners began collaborating with Compass Health, Inc. to change a 32-bed wing at Mission View Health Center in San Luis Obispo, into a dedicated nine-bed Hospice Inpatient Unit.

In May 2010, Hospice Partners started a fundraising initiative to support renovations and create reserve for the first two years of operating expenses of the new Unit. The Hearst Foundation provided early support with a grant, and many local families, individuals and businesses

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stepped forward and generously donated money to help us open the door to the new Hospice Partners Inpatient Unit.

The 4,500 square-foot Hospice Inpatient Unit, located at Mission View Health Center on Woodside Drive in San Luis Obispo, has seven spacious suites: five private rooms and two semi-private rooms. In addition to comfortably appointed common areas, each patient suite has a sofa bed to accommodate family members who may choose to spend the night. The Inpatient Unit has a number of features to create a home-like atmosphere.

The ultimate goal of the Hospice Partners Inpatient Unit is to be a place of transition. Staff will provide intensive nursing care and symptom management for our hospice patients in an effort to stabilize uncontrolled symptoms. Once comfortable, patients will then be able to return home. The new Inpatient Unit, an extension of our agency, is managed and staffed by professional members of our Hospice Partners team. Personalized care is designed in accordance with our mission: to provide comfort and dignity to hospice patients while caring for their emotional, spiritual, physical and psychosocial needs in a home-like environment. A registered nurse is on duty 24 hours, every day; and our medical social workers, certified nursing assistants and spiritual care counselors are available throughout the day, as well as our volunteers, who spend one-on-one time with patients and families.

Why open a Hospice Inpatient Unit like this one instead of a completely free-standing hospice inpatient facility, as many hospices across this country have done? Well, in addition to providing the most extensive hospice program in our area, Hospice Partners strives to also be innovative and fiscally responsible. We looked seriously at the five to six million dollar cost to build a free-standing Hospice Inpatient facility and decided a less expensive path to achieve the same goal was in order. We chose to do something no other hospice in this country, as far as we know, has done: partner with a skilled nursing facility company and convert an existing wing into a dedicated Hospice Inpatient Unit. We expect the total cost of the project to be about one-fifth that of the free-standing facility project, saving Hospice Partners and our donors a huge sum of money. If this project is the success we think it will be, we plan to replicate it with Inpatient Units in both northern and southern San Luis Obispo County areas, enabling us to efficiently serve larger numbers of residents.

As a non-profit Hospice Agency, we always need the community’s financial help to continue our mission of providing end-of-life care to all qualified hospice patients who ask for our help. Please visit our website at www.hospicepartnerscc.org for information about all the hospice and palliative care services we provide, as well as a video about the new Inpatient Unit.

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MARCH SUDOKU PRESENTED BY

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This monthly Hospice Corner is sponsored by Hospice Partners of the Central Coast. Janet Jeffery, RN, MS, CHE has been the Administrator for Hospice Partners since its inception in 1998. For more information, call (805) 782-8608, or visit our website at www.hospicepartnerscc.org.

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SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43 M A R C H

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COMMUNITY

Palm Street Perspective

committed to representing the entire community

By SLO City Mayor, Jan Marx

REAL PATIENTS REAL STORIES They just aren’t the words you ever expect to hear. “You have prostate cancer.” Most men are shell shocked. I know the feeling.

But I survived and today, I give back by volunteering at French Hospital’s Hearst Cancer Resource Center.

Why does San Luis Obispo rank so high on the happiness scale? Is it, as Parade Magazine said recently, that we have joy “in the tap water.” Not quite. In my opinion one of the crucial factors is our sense of place and of community. We have created a unique thinkdifferently, respect-your-neighbor, improve-quality-of-life kind of culture; a healthy culture of sustainability, a culture you can’t find anywhere else.

As former Mayor Ken Schwarz, Pierre Rademaker and I agreed while being filmed for the Oprah show, it is no accident that San Luis Obispo is such a great place to live. We stated our community vision in our Land Use Element, and Council after Council has adhered to it. San Luis Obispo’s Vision states in part: “Our vision is of a sustainable community, within a diverse natural and agrarian setting, which…will maintain its healthy and attractive natural environment valued by residents, its prosperity, and its sense of safety and community, within a compact urban form...where people know each other and where their participation in government is welcome and effective…” It is striking how many aspects of our Vision turn out to be “happiness factors.”

On January 29, 2011, the City Council set budget goals for the 201113 Financial Plan. Here is a brief overview of our eleven goals: Major City Goals: Economic Development, Preservation of Essential Services and Fiscal Health, Neighborhood Wellness and Traffic Congestion Relief. Other Important Goals: Open Space Preservation, Infrastructure Maintenance, Planning and Affordable Housing/Homeless Services. Address as Resources Permit: Parks and Recreation (Damon-Garcia Sports Fields), Climate Protection and Historic Preservation. See slocity.org for more details.

— Richard Hathcock, cancer survivor

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Although well-known as a friendly, livable city where many residents happily volunteer, San Luis Obispo has now been officially declared one of the “happiest places on earth,” according to Dan Buettner in his book Thrive. Beyond anyone’s (but Oprah’s) wildest dreams, images and praise for our fair city have been telecast around the world.

Our community, of course, is not Disneyland. Like every other city these days, we have real budget problems. The city has a projected budget gap of $3 million per each year of this two year financial plan and beyond. The first real step toward closing this gap was taken by all five city employee unions. Hats off to them for voluntarily giving up increases they had a right to in their contracts, so as to help ease the budget crunch.

The Man-to-Man group I help facilitate is one of many free resources available at the Center to cancer patients and their loved ones. The support group is important because we hear others tell their story, hear the decisions they made and why, and listen as they share in a relaxed and open way. I am a husband, father, grandfather, combat veteran, a retired commercial pilot, and cancer survivor … and I hope to help you too.

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hank you again, San Luis Obispo, for electing me Mayor. My predecessor was right—this is the best job on earth! I am really enjoying leading the new council.

It is a dedicated, diverse, get-down-to-business, high energy team.

These first ten weeks have whirled by, everything from the New Mayors conference in Sacramento, to meeting the new Cal Poly President, to being on the Oprah Winfrey show, to budget goal-setting.

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As Mayor, I am committed to representing the entire community, so please keep in touch with your ideas, issues or concerns. (jmarx@slocity.org or 781-7120.) I would like to hear from you.

Together, we will make our city even better. If we can channel our collective energy for the common good, there is no problem we can’t solve, no opportunity we cannot seize, no stopping us. Go San Luis Obispo!

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

Inside:

W h a t ’s U p New Business News

March 2011

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more than 700 business tax certificate holders that conduct business within a 40-square-block area AND at the same time serves as a safe and attractive gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

his month we come to the final segment of the “Committees of the Downtown Association” series.

Over the past months, I’ve taken the opportunity to showcase the people and programs that keep your Downtown economically, aesthetically and environmentally healthy and strong. Meet the Economic Activities (EA) Committee, the fifth and ‘newest’ of the board-appointed groups that works hard on one of the Four Points® of revitalization as outlined by the Main Street program.

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ommittee member Branden Welshons, Better Business Financial Services, says he joined up about a year and a half ago due to a “desire to know where Downtown stands economically.” Welshons, who also serves on the Board of Directors, said, “We Deborah Cash, CMSM, cover various topics from what businesses are coming Executive Director he mission of EA is to “encourage and maintain in, to our quarterly sales tax reports. These issues a healthy economic environment in Downtown directly reflect the businesses we represent.” Welshons also SLO” and includes a wide range of projects from finding expressed a desire to "bring the light" to Downtown at night, signage to private security, construction mitigation to a common theme among the group this year, “Lighting trees hospitality zones, legislative, code and development Downtown has long been a goal of the Board and we feel review and recommendations on transient and homeless this would allow our city to be more inviting in the evening.” issues. In short, anything that affects the Downtown ep, Downtown lighting!” committee chair Tres Feltman, area economically qualifies for consideration.

Hands Gallery, echoed. Feltman, board and committee hile most people associate the Downtown Association member, says he’s gained insight into the ‘workings of our with the events and activities we host—think Farmers’ Downtown’ after publicly lamenting the dark evenings Market and Concerts in the Plaza or jazzy lookers like the Downtown more than two years ago. Advised to get involved recent BoxArt program—many are unaware that committee and help bring a solution to the valid concern, Feltman signed and board members are hard at work behind the scenes up. “I am interested in how our Downtown functions,” he to ensure that Downtown remains a viable district for the

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On the Cover: Synonymous with Downtown Thursday Nights is the ubiquitous barbecue--nine vendors offering all types of grilled meats,

ke babs, ethnic dishes, corn on the cob and pretty much anything you can cook over an open flame. With the days getting longer, so are the lines for ribs, tri tip, chicken and sausage. While many are content to sit on the curb and really 'get down' with their meal, others may be happy to know we offer table and chair seating on the corner of Broad and Higuera streets, courtesy of ASAP Movers. Photo by Deborah Cash.

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said, adding that he hopes “we can provide the City of SLO with specific recommendations to help improve Downtown.”

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oining the committee this past year is Charlene Rosales, Executive Director for United Way. Rosales says she’s interested in “identifying ways for the DA to support the strong economic engine that is the Downtown area” mainly because doing so strengthens the rest of the City with tax dollars, jobs and tourism and, that in turn, means “more dollars for our city and a better quality of life for our residents.” Rosales expressed that a recent topic of discussion—Downtown newsracks—was provocative due to its complex nature and myriad considerations of many parties. “Who knew?” she asked. Rosales believes the Downtown must retain its reputation as a highly valuable asset if we are hoping to attract businesses and jobs. “The committee’s programs of a diverse Downtown culture will result in SLO being a desirable place to visit, work and live.”

Favorite program? You guessed, it: Downtown lighting!

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ity liaison to the committee, economic development manager Claire Clark, said her role, now going on five years, could be primarily described as one of facilitating open communication between the City and the Downtown Association. “Committee work gives members a more complete understanding of the roles” the DA and the City play in Downtown management, she said, underscoring the importance of teamwork in achieving the goal of a having a great Downtown. Clark, formerly the city’s seismic coordinator, says she’s enthusiastic about future

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programs that will enhance the business district.

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itty gritty, brass tacks? No problem. Committee and board member Therese Cron, Copeland’s Properties, brings her ability to get things done and see the big picture even as she says she’s ‘learning about the Association’s strategic planning and organizational structure.’ Cron, who also serves on the Promotions Committee, says she wants to be a voice for business owners and get the word out about how important the DA programs are. Though a visionary, she’s also practical when looking ahead, “Let’s get through the Beautification project (on Higuera Street) and see what we should focus on next!”

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roving that even stalwart business entities can have a heart, committee member Alex Gough serves as liaison to the committee for the Friends of Prado Day Center. The Downtown Association, along with the Chamber of Commerce, was instrumental in the genesis of the successful and sorely needed program to provide meals and day services to the homeless and hungry in our community back in the mid ’90s. As part of the DA’s continuing commitment to Prado, Gough serves on the Friends’ board of directors and is active in fundraising efforts. Beyond that, Gough—property and business owner and many-years Downtown resident—wears his heart on his sleeve for Downtown. “It’s been said in Sunset magazine that we have ‘the BEST Downtown in the Western U.S.’ If you love and believe in Downtown,” he said, “the Economic Activities Committee is the place to have some impact.”

Continued next page

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under a warm blanket and listen to music. As a caring and considerate dentist, Dr. Colleran can make any dental procedure comfortable.

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Economic Activities Committee continued from previous page

ince the early years of the Downtown Association (mid’70s), Brad Bilsten (B. Anthony & Co., Gold Concept) has served on the board and a variety of committees because, he ough says he’s served five years ‘mas o menos’ and says, “Downtown is the heart and soul of SLO and what truly represents other groups he belongs to including historic property owners, owners of unreinforced masonry buildings and makes this community worth anything.” Bilsten also serves on the Parking Committee. “I enjoy the networking and hearing the real estate community. “I think we have to rediscover the about what is going on Downtown… importance of our historic Downtown before it actually happens!” fabric and recognize that our old buildings are of great importance.” ormer Board president and Gough’s wish list? Better Downtown committee chair Natalie Tartaglia, lighting and a nighttime economy that Tartaglia Realty says she believes the focuses on families and mature adults. health of Downtown is important to the City overall. “Until I served ocal architect and committee on a committee, I didn’t have much member George Garcia said he of an idea of what goes into having enjoys the committee’s involvement in such a great Downtown,” she said, new construction/redevelopment/new adding that she particularly enjoys business enterprise issues. Garcia, learning about new businesses and whose mark is evident in and around developments. “I’m looking forward Downtown, said he values the The Downtown Association Economic Activities to the day we have full street lighting committee for its ability to look ahead Committee meets the third Thursday of every including twinkling lights in the trees, at long-term planning and vision, and month in the Downtown Association office. inviting people to stay Downtown advocates that anyone who wants to Pictured here (l – r) are Tres Feltmen, chair, longer and enjoy the evenings “add value to the business climate in Reese Davies, Steve Owens, Charlene Rosales, in beautiful Downtown SLO.” Downtown SLO” consider checking George Garcia, Brad Bilsten, Natalie Tartaglia, it out. Interestingly, Garcia points Alex Gough, Therese Cron and Deborah Cash. owntown’s Grand Poobah Photo by Sarah Ragan to the DA’s successful events like Pierre Rademaker, Rademaker the world famous farmers market, to Design, concurs that “a healthy, “stimulate and elevate exposure for Downtown businesses and diverse Downtown economy is crucial to the quality of life we the entire Downtown area as a retail destination,” illustrating all enjoy. Downtown is more than a mere shopping center and the proven success of the four points of promotions, design, we must do everything we can to encourage a wide variety economic restructuring and organization working together. of economic, social and cultural activities,” he said. On his wish list? Lighting, maintenance, cleanliness and safety. ongtime friend, fan, former DA member and current committee member Steve Owens, Journal Plus here cannot be sufficient kudos for the time and brain power Magazine, said he’s been around for 15 years because contributed by this exhilarating group of committee members. it “keeps you informed on what’s happening Downtown.”

Join me in thanking them; they are the collective energy that Which, he says, “gives you a chance to be part of creates the magic and beauty we all enjoy…around Downtown. keeping it vibrant.” You can’t win if you don’t play!

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A French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon

Patricia Kaspian, Owner 1023 Nipomo St., Suite 100 (805) 785-0340 www.FrenchTouchSalon.com www.facebook.com/afrenchtouchsalon

W

hen Patricia Kaspian opened her French skincare salon in San Luis Obispo in February of 2010, she desired to bring her results-oriented skincare to women on the Central Coast. Her passion for skincare and commitment to her clients’ needs has resulted in a professional, elegant Parisian getaway where women are not only pampered, but also receive customized services that provide visible results based on their goals.

A

French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon sets itself apart by solely dedicating itself to skincare, including facials,

peels, makeup application, and waxing, allowing a peaceful spa experience for women of all ages. Her commitment to world-class products and treatments provide effective, beautiful results for her clients.

“I love to see my treatments instill a new confidence in women,” says Patricia.

P

atricia learned the art of French skincare from her mother, who owned a renowned skincare salon in Los Gatos, California for 25 years. She also received training from Decléor Paris and Rene Guinot.

A

French Touch Parisian Skincare Salon is located at 1023 Nipomo St., Suite 100 right along the creek in Downtown San Luis Obispo. They are open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.

FrenchTouchSalon.com or call (805) 785-0340.

By Alexandra Canedo

BUSINESS

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Students AJ Forsythe, Taylor Morosco and Howard Reiss showing off their ideas at the Forum. The three individuals were prize winners

eye oN business

Cal Poly Entrepreneurs fast on their feet

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

S

ay you have a fabulous business idea and the lack of cash is the only thing standing in the way of launching a sure success. And say you have the good fortune to find yourself alone on an elevator with a Donald Trump-type investment kingpin. You have 90 seconds of undivided attention to make a case and win over support. Can you find a believer in the time it takes to ascend a skyscraper?

imagine doing something like that when I was in college. Each presenter had a solid idea and had given thought to how to market the product or service. Each student showed creativity and passion. And, most impressively, each was hungry for criticism and feedback from the group – both mentors and peers. A great conversation followed and I left feeling encouraged about the next generation of business leaders.

That’s the idea behind the recently completed Ray Scherr Elevator Pitch Contest sponsored by the Cal Poly Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Center hosted a competition with real cash prices of $750 a piece, and more importantly, an audience with a panel of judges who know how to get things done. Great connections.

Then off the students went to prep for the real competition, slated as part of the Entrepreneurship Forum at Cal Poly’s Tech Center on February 3rd. A schedule conflict kept me away from the finals, but the reports on it offer stellar reviews. Eight pitches made the finals – five individuals and three teams – for a total of eighteen students overall.

Matt Slette and his team took first in the team competition for a pitch promoting “BevCool,” a product that rapidly cools beverages, and also captured the people’s choice award for audience favorite. The team walked away with a total of $1250 to invest in their product prototype. First place to an individual went to AJ Forsythe for his service that repairs cracked screens on smart phones. Students presented to a prestigious group of judges, including Jeff Witous, CP Alum, high-tech entrepreneur and investor; Carson Chen, CP Alum and founder of Innovation Quest, the organization that awards seed money for student ideas; Mike Selfridge, Northern California Regional Manager, Silicon Valley Bank; Tracy Trent, CEO of Prox-

I had the fun of being involved in an early stage of the contest. Lucia Cleveland, Spice Hunter founder, Jim Glinn of Athlon Sports Fitness and I were invited by the Center’s own innovator, Jon York, to come to an orientation meeting and offer tips on delivering winning presentations. Everything from starting with a firm handshake to capturing attention with a good opener was under discussion. We asked the students to tell us stories, convince us, make a connection and not just deliver a speech. What an engaging evening it turned out to be.

First surprise – a packed room of students interested in hearing more. Evening time, no class credit, purely voluntary activity and it was standing room only. There was tremendous energy and interest. But an even bigger surprise: after hearing about the competition and what is allowed (speaking only; no props, no handouts, no nothing but your own powers of persuasion), several students volunteered to step forward and give it an impromptu try. Each had a real idea for a business and one of them was already underway as a student-run business. On the fly, each volunteer made a pitch. Jon stood by with a stopwatch and assured a presentation of 90 seconds start to finish.

Forum Judge, Roy Sardina (left), with Orfalea COB Dean, Dave Christy and Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong.

imetry; Bob Desautels, CP Alum and CEO of ATI Architects & Engineers; Roy Sardinia, high-tech entrepreneur and investor and Jon York, event moderator.

The second half of the evening included a panel discussion with event judges, “What You Need to Know Before You Go: Funding the Entrepreneurial Start-Up.” The panel shared advice for students, anecdotes and war stories focusing on their own experiences, also holding the audience riveted.

What an engaging way to literally “learn by doing.”

I was impressed with the students’ sheer willingness to participate. I sure could not M A R C H

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ballet theatre-slo presents firebird Real Estate

Lynn R. Cooper Broker Associate Seniors Real Estate Specialist

Office: 805-543-7727 Fax: 805-543-7838 Cell: 805-235-0493 Home: 805-544-0673

711 Tank Farm, Suite 100 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 E-mail: lynn.cooper@sothebysrealty.com Website: www.wilsonandcosir.com

Ballet Theatre-SLO presents an Arts for Autism Gala featuring Gilbert Reed’s The Firebird to be held at the PAC SLO’s Cohan Center on March 18-20. This exciting program has been made possible by the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center through a grant from the Hind Foundation.

BT-SLO will collaborate with the Central Coast Autism Spectrum Center (CCASC), plus local dance, music, and visual artists in an inaugural, annual festival to achieve autism education, awareness, and financial support for the CCASC through art. “Sketches on the Spectrum” is a world premiere ballet depicting life through the autistic’s experience; concept by Theresa Slobodnik, choreography by Lisa Deyo; ostinato composed and performed by cellist Aksel Slobodnik. Full Performance information and Reception Tickets at pac.slo.org or 756-2787. Art Exhibition/Sale info at SSegal@AutismSpectrumCenter.com YOPAC performance of The Firebird reservations at (805) 440-1439.

Unique ceremony for newest Mb policeman

QUALITY AUTO REPAIR 805-543-3180 www.wronas.com

John Kimball

109 South Street SLO, CA 93401

“Specializing in Honesty and Integrity”

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After graduating No. 1 in his class from the Allan Hancock College Police Academy, David Smith was to be sworn in as the 17th police officer on the Morro Bay Police Department recently. The problem was his wife Caroline was nearly seven months pregnant and on complete bed rest at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. So that Caroline was able to attend the swearing in ceremony, Morro Bay Police Chief Tim Olivas graciously offered to move the ceremony to the Sierra Vista Auditorium. “I just thought that was one of the sacrifices (not attending the ceremony) that I would have to make as a police officer’s wife,” Caroline said. But with about 30 family and friends – and her doctor – in attendance, Morro Bay Mayor Bill Yates did the swearing in honors after a brief talk by Chief Olivas. Caroline was there to proudly pin her husband’s new badge on his chest, making it official.

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NEW TO TOWN?

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

Call your hostess or go to centralcoastwelcome.com

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Los Osos/Morro Bay/Cayucos/Cambria: Aloma Davis: 235-1131

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Nipomo/5 Cities/Avila: Liz Hiatt: 549-7755

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North County: Sandy Hexberg: 238-1529

centralcoastwelcome@gmail.com

A FREE SERVICE TO NEWCOMERS

slo community foundation 2011 board The San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation’s (SLOCCF) 2011 Board of Directors and Officers was announced this month, with Dee Lacey taking on her new role as President, Ann Robinson as Vice President, and introducing Rabbi Norman Mendel as the newest board member. The 2011 Board of Directors represents a diverse group of professionals and geographic areas in the county.

Pictured above: Norman Mendel, Mike Patrick, Mike Miner, Ann Robinson, Dee Lacey, Bill Raver, Barbara Bell, Wendy Brown, Nick Thille. Front row, L to R: Johnine Talley, Steve Jobst, Barbara Partridge, Lee Hollister, Nancy DePue

16th annual central coast orchid show Five Cities Orchid Society will be held Saturday, April 2, from 9 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 3 from 10 to 5 p.m., at the South County Regional Center, 800 West Branch, Arroyo Grande. General Admission is $5.00 and includes a door prize ticket. Children 12 and under are free. The American Orchid Society will judge the plants being exhibited, vendors will offer a large variety of orchids, orchid books and orchid supplies for sale. Orchid culture, re-potting demonstrations, plant doctors and show tours will provide valuable information to orchid enthusiasts. A weekend raffle will benefit the 5 Cities Homeless Coalition. Please call (805) 929-5749 or (805) 481-3991 for preview tickets and information.

SUDOKU SOLUTIONS Exterior & Interior Plastering

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Frank

M A R C H

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HowaRd J. NiCHolsoN, Mai, sRa, GRi, sREs BRokER/owNER

40 Years of Comprehensive Real Estate Experience •

Cal Poly Graduate • R.E. Broker • Real Estate Appraiser • Appraisal Institute Member • CA Licensed General Building Contractor

THE aGENT YoU sHoUld HaVE woRkiNG FoR YoU Call: (805) 440-4835 e-mail: hnicholson@charter.net

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students raise $6000 for prado day center Local students from the Children’s House Montessori School raised more than $6,000 for Prado Day Center though a Jog-AThon held at the Atascadero school. More than 65 children from Kindergarten through 6th grade ran at the Children’s House Jog-A-Thon. The students ran a total of 3,375 laps in the rain to raise $6218.88 for the homeless center. “Every child who participated showed such passion, commitment, determination and pride. Not to mention incredible stamina!

I was so impressed and extremely proud of each and every one of them,” said Korey Dudley, owner and director, Children’s House Montessori School. “It’s wonderful to see young people involved in helping the community. We are touched that the students worked so hard, and in the rain no less,” said Paul Wolff, Co-President of the Friends of Prado Day Center.

slo friends of the library book sale

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alan’s draperies 544-9405

Alan “Himself” M A R C H

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The SLO Friends of the Library will be presenting their highly-anticipated 32nd Annual Book Sale, March 3rd-5th. The sale takes place at the SLO Veterans Memorial Building, 801 Grand Avenue. Times will be as follows: Thursday, March 3rd 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Members only, with memberships sold at the door) Friday, March 4th 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday, March 5th 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. There will be 5 to 10,000 audio-visual items, and 15 to 20,000 books, including a larger-than-usual number of children’s books. Books will be sold at $1 per inch. CDs and DVDs will be $1. VHS tapes, audio tapes and books on tape will be 50 cents. Proceeds from the sale will go toward purchasing materials for the San Luis Obispo Library, including books and audiovisual materials. The SLO Friends of the Library also funds library improvements. Those interested in donating books or volunteering may contact Paul Murphy at 544-3033.

new president of peoples’ self help housing Carolyn Johnson has been elected president of the board of directors of Peoples’ Self-Help Housing. Other newly-elected officers include vice president David Gustafson, secretary Jolie Ditmore, and treasurer Charles Fruit. Johnson previously served as secretary of the board. Johnson is the Planning Manager for the City of Pismo Beach. “People’s Self Help Housing’s mission is to provide affordable housing and programs leading to self-sufficiency for low-income families, seniors, and other special needs groups on California’s Central Coast. This mission has been accomplished for thousands over the last 40 years, resulting in economic independence for so many people. I’m honored to work with such a successful organization and look forward to continuing Peoples’ Self-Help Housing efforts in the coming years,” stated Johnson. For more information on Peoples’ Self-Help Housing call Annette Montoya at (805) 781-3088 x457 or visit www.pshhc.org.

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free senior health screening Free Senior Health Screening for seniors (50+) 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 diabetes. Take-home screening test kits for colo-rectal cancer available for $5. Nutritional counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 788-0827 for dates, times and locations.

new officers and board members of cmsf

FHMC awards $40,758 in grants to non-profits French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) proudly awarded $40,758 in grant funding to six community non-profit organizations recently.

These grants will help provide critical health and human services to residents of San Luis Obispo County. This year, the FHMC Community Grants were awarded to the following local organizations: Alliance for Pharmaceutical Access, Inc. (APA), San Luis Obispo ALPHA, Inc., El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO), Enhancement, Inc., Gatehelp, Inc., SLO Noor Foundation, Transitional Food and Shelter, Inc., and Wilshire Community Services.

big brothers/sisters honor monique carlton Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County Board Member and longtime donor, Monique Carlton, was awarded the “Big in the Spotlight” honor recently. Carlton has tirelessly served on the agency’s Board of Directors for 10 years and has a huge heart for the program, coordinating its Golf Tournament for 7 years. In addition to personal donations, she has raised over $100,000 in donations for the agency, ensuring that over 100 children in our community have benefited from the time and attention that a mentor can provide. Carlton exemplifies outstanding commitment to youth mentoring in our community! For more information call 781-3226, or log onto www.slobigs.org.

Dance spectrum concert at allan hancock “Dance Spectrum,” Allan Hancock College’s annual spring concert, runs March 17-20 in Santa Maria at the Marian Theatre on the main campus in Santa Maria. Twelve original dances performed and choreographed by faculty and students include ballet, jazz, modern, and hip-hop. Shows are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets ($12-$15) are available at the college’s Performing Arts Center Box Office or by calling (805) 922-8313.

The Board of Directors for the California Mid-State Fair is pleased to announce that new officers have been elected and new members have been appointed for 2011. Dee Lacey has been elected as President and John Peschong has been elected as Vice President. New CMSF Board members for 2011 are Fred Aguiar and Kathy Filipponi. The Board of Directors officially govern the 16th District Agricultural Association and are represented by Fred Aguiar, Steve Arnold, Mark Borjon, Chris Darway, Kathy Filipponi, Dee Lacey, John Peschong, Larry Putnam and Karl Wittstrom (Paso Robles). The Fair runs July 20th through July 31st. This year’s theme is “Mountains of Fun.”

avila beach sea life center hosts fundraiser The Avila Beach Sea Life Center is hosting a scavenger hunt to increase awareness of their mission and raise funds to support their hands-on marine science youth educational programs. The event will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Sea Life Center. The scavenger hunt will kick-off with a welcome to the two new fish being added to the center. Raffle drawings will take place throughout the day along with carnival games, face painting, a bounce house, and a dunk tank. Tickets, which include a treasure map for the scavenger hunt, will be $5 the day of the event. Refreshments and food will be available for purchase. For further information please contact Priscilla Kiessig at (805) 595-7280.

special book event for wachtang botso korisheli The Coalesce Bookstore’s Garden Chapel, 845 Main Street, Morro Bay is hosting a special book event on Sunday, March 20th from 2-4 p.m. Dr. Botso Korisheli will speak and answer questions on his book, “Memories of a Teaching Life in Music: The Autobiography of Wachtang Botso Korisheli.” His autobiography adds a whole new chapter to the life of this fascinating and multi-talented local treasure. This event offers locals the opportunity to honor him and his many contributions to SLO County as a musician, educator and sculptor. All book sale proceeds will be donated to the Youth Symphony which he founded and to the feature-length documentary being produced about Korisheli’s extraordinary life. For more information call 772-2880.

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

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

11175 Los Osos Valley Road, SLO M A R C H

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COMMUNITY California is home to famous trees like Methuselah, the

world’s oldest living tree, and General Sherman, the world’s largest redwood tree.

march Almanac

march 1931: The Nevada state legislature legalized gambling. As

the mining industry declined, the state bet on gambling business to survive the Great Depression.

By Phyllis Benson “Teaching a child not to step on a caterpillar is as valuable to the child as it is to the caterpillar.”

---Bradley Miller

Dean Martin said, “When your opponent’s sittin’ there holdin’ all the aces, there’s only one thing to do: kick over the table.”

March 1961: The Peace Corps was established. Over 200,000 this is humor month. Take time for laughter. From a chuckle to a belly-laugh, good humor raises your spirits and clears your mind.

Americans have served overseas with the Peace Corps.

Billy Carter said, “My mother went into the Peace Corps when

Laugh Lab reports a good laugh increases heart rate equal to ten

minutes on a rowing machine or fifteen minutes on an exercise bike.

she was sixty-eight. My one sister is a motorcycle freak, my other sister is a Holy Roller evangelist and my brother is running for president. I’m the only sane one in the family.”

march 4, 1861: Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as

March 1981: President Ronald Reagan was shot in the chest by

president. One week later, the Confederate States of America adopted its constitution.

John Hinckley as he left a Washington hotel. Reagan later quipped to his wife, “Honey, I forgot to duck.”

Our Historian says if you think that is coincidence, you slept

Spring ahead March 13. It is Daylight Savings Time, sometimes

through your Civil War class.

called Summer Time, and clocks are set ahead one hour.

century girl: Actress Jean Harlow was born March 3, 1911.

Go Wild during National Wildlife Week from March 13-20. Our

The blonde bombshell died in Los Angeles at the age of 26 from kidney failure.

park ranger says go outside, check out the wild things, and plant wildflowers for backyard critters.

Jean Harlow’s home in Westwood is on a list of California

Spring begins March 20. Get out the planting tools but keep the

haunted houses due to spooky events attributed to her ghost.

umbrella handy.

century boy: Playwright Tennessee Williams was born in March

March winds lift kites over beaches, parks, and meadows. Flying

26, 1911. The author of A Streetcar Named Desire wrote, “I don’t want realism. I want magic!”

March 5 is the official start date for the Iditarod, the dog team race along the National Historic Trail in Alaska.

March 7: Arbor Day is held on Luther Burbank’s birthday. The

and kite-making clinics take over weekends.

Our park artist paints kites on balloons for small fry fliers.

Youngsters are happy and so are camera-toting grandparents.

Get ready for spring magic. Unroll the hammock, hose off the

horticulturist spent most of his career in Santa Rosa developing plants.

lawn chairs, and watch the dogs do barrel rolls in the grass. Enjoy these March days.

Last year Arbor Day Foundation members planted nearly 200,000 trees in Burbank’s honor across the state.

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CARE CENTER M A R C H

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805.922.6657 830 East Chapel St. Santa Maria www.countryoakscarecenter.com

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