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NATHAN & LINDSAY MEINERT | RUTH SELLERS | CLAUDE HARTMAN | KELI MOORE

JournalPLUS MARCH 2014

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

SHOPATRON’S CEO ED STEVENS

805-543-2172

www.farrellsmyth.com

21 Santa Rosa Street #100 San Luis Obispo

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

www.1175MurrayAve.com

www.ZinVineyard.com

Larry D. Smyth

Jennifer Hamilton

Owner/Broker

Relocation Director

Wine Lovers Paradise! West Paso Robles...rural yet close to downtown. Home, Land, Vineyard, 4900+ square foot steel shop.

Linda Aiello-Madison All secured behind electric gate. Owner will consider carrying Broker-Associate financing. $1,950,000

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

Ken Arritt

Valerie Simpson

Broker-Associate

Twila Arritt

REALTOR®

Lovely home in Pismo Beach with some ocean views from the kitchen, dining, master bedroom , and large deck! Come enjoy the sunsets in this 3 bedroom, 3 bath , 2 car garage, with gleaming wood floors.

There is a large yard for gardening, playing, or entertaining. Well maintained, original owner. Come take a look! $625,000

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

San Luis Obispo

REALTOR®

Mary Rosenthal

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

Pamela Bliss

Richard Potter

Broker-Associate

REALTOR®

Beautiful Craftsman inspired 3 bedroom, 2 bath home in San Luis Obispo. Spacious floor plan, courtyard and a two car garage. Close to Cal Poly. $362,000

Theresa Carroll REALTOR®

REALTOR®

Janet Shaner

www.santamariabeauty.com

Carol Beard

Jerry Collins

REALTOR®

www.3211ViaEnsenada.com

Pismo Beach

Broker-Associate

Simone Viola

Paddy Doron REALTOR®

Patricia Garrison REALTOR®

Spacious, open and airy single-family 4 bed/2 bath beautiful Central Coast modern home. Entertainers delight with finished backyard, storage shed, and 2 separate paved dog runs. Short distance to schools, parks, and exercise trails. Living room has a fireplace and opens to formal dining. Family room wired with surround sound speaker system. Other benefits are alarm system, office area, indoor laundry, and huge accessible attic. Master bath recently remodeled. This home has it all! $354,000

Vicky Hall REALTOR®

David Hamilton REALTOR®

Linda Irigaray REALTOR®

Deane Naylor REALTOR®

Annette Mullen REALTOR®

CONTENTS

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

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

10 CLAUDE HARTMAN & EXPLORATION STATION

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, Kyle Owens

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SHERI EIBSCHUTZ

THE MEINERTS

ADVERTISING Jan Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Will Jones, Karen Kile, Deborah Cash, Taylor Coffman, Charmaine Coimbra, Sherry Shahan, Ruth Starr, Jim Gregory, Carlyn Christianson, Kathleen O’Neill, Heather Young, and Gordon Fuglie.

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

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

PEOPLE 8 10 12 14 16 18

ED STEVENS CLAUDE HARTMAN RUTH SELLERS VIOLET CAVANAUGH SHERI EIBSCHUTZ NATHAN & LINDSAY MEINERT

HOME & OUTDOOR 20 22 24 26

RAISING CHICKENS KYLE BEAL WOMMACK FOOD / AT THE MARKET

COMMUNITY 28 29 30 32 34 36 41

OUR SCHOOLS–Dr. Julian Crocker MEET KELI MOORE REMEMBER WHEN HISTORY: Making/Preserving History HOSPICE CORNER / CROSSWORD PUZZLE PALM STREET Councilwoman Christianson COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening 46 EYE ON BUSINESS

SLO ART SCENE

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A proud tradition of serving our community for over 30 years

SAN LUIS OBISPO – New kitchen with

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Magnificent unob-

custom cabinets, 33 ft of granite counters, tile floors, 3612 square ft. with spectacular views of both San Luis Mountain and Bishop’s Peak. The 4 bedrooms, den, and baths are on the main level. Oversized three car garage, with hobby & wine rooms, with extra storage space. Numerous fruit trees, garden area, large patio with built in barbecue in a very secluded setting. $960,000 #3164

The Historic Stanton House

structed ocean views as well as panoramic views of the 7 sisters, including Morro Rock, San Luis Mountain, Bishop’s Peak, and Hollister Peak from this truly spectacular site. There is paved road access on Prefumo Canyon Road to the entrance of this lot and then the lot wraps around a knoll to give you a private building site, set back from the road. The seller recently drilled a great well – tested at 10 gallons per minute. This is a oneof-a-kind opportunity to be on acreage and just minutes from San Luis Obispo. Ready to build your dream house! Preliminary plans, perc test soils report and well test are available. $475,000 #3172

SAN LUIS OBISPO – This graceful Victorian,

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Welcome to Canyon

Country! Beautiful Verde Canyon only minutes to SLO, Arroyo Grande and Pismo Beach.

This 5 acre parcel has stunning oaks and an existing well, ready for your custom home to be constructed. Verde Canyon is very private with only a handful of home sites. Come take a drive and see for yourself. Local lender financing available to qualified buyer. $544,000 #3146

with a majestic wrap-around porch and original curved corner windows, has long been a crown jewel of the coveted Buchon neighborhood. The interior features beautiful carved woodwork, polished original wood floors, spacious rooms with high ceilings & two fireplaces. The home was recently restored with impeccable taste – in keeping with the period style. This home is approved for Mills Act which significantly reduces the property taxes. $1,949,000 #3190

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Broad Street Village commercial space. Development has grown into a very professional enclave. Located close to shopping center with business support, local coffee shop, wine bar and only minutes to the downtown business and shopping district. $225,000 #3192

Great Location!

ARROYO GRANDE – Charming 1930’s home

within walking distance to the village of Arroyo Grande. This 3 bedroom/2 bath home has beautiful hardwood floors, custom paint, and a gas fireplace to warm you up on those chilly nights. Orange and lemon trees line the side yard while leaving room for your RV or boat! New roof within the last 4 years.

Located within walking distance to the high school and ready for you to add your personal touches. $439,000 #3189

ATASCADERO – Beautiful upgraded, low

maintenance PUD in the heart of wonderful Atascadero. Open floor plan and vaulted ceiling featured in the approx. 1140 sq foot home with 2 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. Granite in kitchen, remodeled bathrooms and gas log fireplace in living room. A bonus room used as a workout room, but can be used as an office or even guest bedroom. Great fenced patio with view of neighboring hills. Central heating and AC unit were replaced in 2006. Enjoy the clubhouse and recreation room, spa and pool. $239,000 #3191

PASO ROBLES – Wonderful 3 bedroom home with open floor plan and large, almost 1/2 acre lot. Loads of natural light, fireplace in the living room, living and family room and more. The yard is very large with wonderful views and it is the largest lot on the cul-desac! $379,000 #3187

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

805.541.2888

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

“

Smiling is the way the soul says hello.

JA R O D K I N T Z

”

From the publisher

T

ucked away on the Central Coast are brilliant entrepreneurs and their leading-edge businesses that most of us don’t realize exist here! One of these is our cover story this month: Ed Stevens, CEO of Shopatron. Stevens recently wrote a book and we thought it was time to profile him and his business. You will enjoy his story.

Next we feature two San Luis High School teachers that are making a difference with our students, Nathan and Lindsay Meinert. The Meinerts teach Math and as new teachers and only 25 years old, are making a big impact.

Arroyo Grande History teacher, Jim Gregory, writes about growing up in South County and attending Branch Elementary School. You will love his personal photos of the past.

FAMILY, COSMETIC, AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY

Call us at

805-541-5800

A small community in the Philippines is rebuilding after the devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan. Don’t miss Kathleen O’Neill’s story (in our Bulletin Board section) about Central Coast people who are helping them in that effort half way around the world.

Plenty of good reading again this month.

Enjoy the magazine,

to schedule an appointment NEW PATIENTS WELCOME!

567 MARSH STREET · DOWNTOWN SLO

RyanRossDDS.com

Steve Owens

COMING UP AT THE

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER As You Like It 3/1 & 3/6 - 3/8 • 8 p.m. & 3/8 • 2 p.m.

University Jazz Bands' Just Jazz 3/15 • 8 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by Cal Poly Theatre & Dance

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

Arab Music Ensemble Winter Concert 3/1 • 8 p.m.

Symphony Winter Concert: Student Soloist Showcase 3/16 • 3 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

MET Live in HD: Prince Igor 3/2 • 2 p.m.

Michael McDonald 3/18 • 8 p.m.

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

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Out of This World: Classics 4 3/8 • 8 p.m.

Rhythms 2014: Shine Always 3/21 & 22 • 7 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by SLO Symphony

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by CORE Dance

Wind Bands' Winter Concert 3/9 • 3 p.m.

Mike Super 3/21 • 7 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

West Side Story 3/10 • 7:30 p.m.

SLO Symphony Family Concert 3/30 • 3 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by SLO Symphony

MET Live in HD: Werther 3/15 • 9:55 a.m.

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

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

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PEOPLE

WHAT DO RUSSIA, RETAIL, AND RUGBY HAVE IN COMMON?

ED STEVENS ShOPATRON’S CEO

By Susan Stewart

A

ccording to WhatIs.com, “disruptive technology” is a term coined by a Harvard Business School professor to describe a new technology that unexpectedly displaces an established technology. Disruptive technology does not seek to build upon an existing method, but rather to replace it with something completely new. Think telephone, automobile, printing press. In Allied to Win: How I Launched and Led a Leading eCommerce Company, author Ed Stevens describes how he turned one nagging idea into a powerful disruptive technology that is driving the future of retail. Anything but disruptive (to use the more traditional definition of that word), Stevens reports a passionate, yet carefully considered, trajectory to his current success.

Ed Stevens was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and grew up near Akron. His father, Cliff, still owns and runs the furniture store where Ed spent many an after-school hour working for his Dad. “I was right at his side,” said Ed, “watching him with vendors and customers, seeing how he carried himself, how he conducted business. He was a giant influence on me.”

The middle child of five, Stevens said, “I was always the one brokering the solution to where we would go for dinner, or what we would do on a Sunday. … I became known for keeping the peace.” Today, he still takes pleasure in bringing people together to achieve a common goal.

Out of high school, Stevens was accepted at the U.S. Naval Academy where grueling drills and high academic standards shaped his personal expectations and crafted his goals. During this time, Stevens was exposed to Russian military matters and the culture that fostered them. He was fascinated and wanted to know more, so when he later applied to Stanford University, he chose Russian Literature as his major. “I always knew I would return to business,” he said, displaying a prescience unusual for college age. “And I also knew that if I was ever going to live an intellectual life, now was the time.”

Armed with a B.A. in Russian Lit, Stevens began his working life in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the marketing department of a company that produced aviation components. This led to the founding of NORVEL, Stevens’ U.S.-based importer of components for the toy and hobby industries. It was here that he saw the fundamental disconnect between retailers and e-commerce that prompted a nagging question: “Why isn’t anyone doing this?”

“You always know a good idea when it won’t leave you alone,” said Stevens, recalling how the question haunted him. “Back then [1998/99], the pervasive fear was the Internet would put retailers out of business.

I could see that manufacturers wanted to use local retailers as partners in their e-commerce. I knew that retailers like my father were doing fine … and so were retailers in the hobby industry. The Internet is a M A R C H

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Ed and Robin after another triathlon.

The Stevens Family: Ed and Robin with their two children, Lydia and Collin.

connection, I thought, not a threat.” By the year 2000, he’d founded FirePoppy, where he developed the model for his flagship product. And by 2006, the company was re-branded as Shopatron.

Headquartered in San Luis Obispo, the now 12-year-old Shopatron has “… transformed the way retail channels work together to put products in the hands of online shoppers, setting industry standards for in-store pickup and ship-from-store fulfillment,” said a recent press release. With Shopatron, retailers and manufacturers connect their online and offline channels to provide broader delivery options for shoppers, and drive traffic into local stores. Today, Shopatron serves more than 750 clients over 13 countries.

Stevens’ “work hard; play hard” philosophy is evidenced not just in his business success, but in his personal life as well. He married his college sweetheart, Robin, and they have two children, Lydia 17, and Collin 15. Four years ago, his children came home from a swim practice and suggested their Dad start training to be a triathlete. “Maybe,” he replied. But when Lydia and Collin promised to do it with him, he was inspired. Even Robin got involved. “Actually, she’s the most triathlonish of us all,” Stevens admits. The whole family has been participating in area triathlons for the past four years, an endeavor that serves Stevens well in his current athletic passion, rugby.

A founding member of the San Luis Obispo Rugby Club, Stevens is intent upon making it one of the top rugby clubs in the nation. “It’s a fantastic sport,” he expounds. “Rugby has all the elements of living I like best … it’s intense, focused … the ultimate team sport.”

That would be because he follows his own advice: “Make sure you’re exhausted when you go to bed every night,” he says. “I want to get the most out of every day, every situation.”

CEO, athlete, family man, cook, author—Ed Stevens brings all the experiences of his youth, the rigors of the naval academy, the intellectual exercise of his Stanford education, and the lessons of international commerce to his “every day, every situation.” All of which makes Allied to Win an apt title for his first book.

Ed Stevens at the U.S. Naval Academy

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Adding to his busy but balanced life, Stevens loves to cook—mostly in the Italian / Mediterranean style. Where does a successful CEO/ author find the time for all this?

“I have no trouble sleeping at night,” he smiles.

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PEOPLE

claude hartman volunteer extraordinaire

By Heather Young

C

laude Hartman has been a volunteer for Exploration Station in Grover Beach since 2006, but his science interest goes back much, much further. The retired science teacher first got interested in physics when he was in high school, because, he said, physics “has the best toys.”

While Hartman has been interested in physics for a long time, he said he was never a physicist, but always a teacher. After he got his bachelor’s degree from San Jose State in 1960, he got his teaching credentials in 1961. He then taught high school science in the Hayward school district, then San Jose. In 1969 he got his master’s in physics teaching from Purdue. He then went on to teach physics at the junior college level for 23 years, after teaching at the high school level for 10 years.

His education came after he served in the Air Force. He joined in 1953 as the Korean War was winding down and served for four and a half years active duty and then did a couple years in the reserves. Hartman calls Portland, Ore., his hometown, but because his father was in the Navy he said he averaged one new school a year growing up.

His experience in the Air Force was useful to Exploration Station when it had a theme of flight. Now, Hartman said, the center does not have rotating exhibits.

He retired from teaching at Cerritos College near Long Beach in 1993.

In 1998, he and his wife, Sherle, moved to Arroyo Grande. He has three sons and three grandchildren all living in California—one of those sons living in Arroyo Grande with Hartman.

“We’d been visiting this area because we’d been visiting friends from the Bay Area,” he said.

When they arrived in South County, he discovered Exploration Station and stopped to offer his knowledge of exploratoriums because he had been a volunteer at the San Francisco Exploratorium and was working to start an exploratorium in the area he lived in Southern California, but it ended up not becoming a reality. He never heard

The purpose of the center is to give children hands-on experience in trying to figure out and explain why things happen the way they do. back from the director then. After his wife died in 2006, he returned to the Exploratorium and made toys—exhibits—for the center.

“Me? I make little toys at home and bring them here,” he said when asked in what capacity he is involved. “If a dummy like me could do it, then anyone could do it.”

He is also the holder, or at least the source, of several “cookbooks” for making the exhibits. Those cookbooks can be used by anyone—or any group— that wishes to contribute by making an exhibit. Some of the exhibits have been made by local Girl Scout troops, Cal Poly and other groups.

“We struggle to make ends meat because we’re not funded by any government agency—all are private donations,” Hartman said and noted that the majority of the funds come from the center’s e-waste collection. “The admission price doesn’t cover costs.”

A view of some of the displays at Exploration Station M A R C H

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Hartman said that the purpose of the center is to give children handson experience in trying to figure out and explain why things happen the way they do. Because of that, he said he doesn’t want them to have fake or simulated experiences. While the solar system children can view

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by Clark and his wife, Mary-Lee, in the late 1990s. The fire station building was proposed by the city of Grover Beach in June 2000 with the help of the Clarks, who also deeded two parcels located nearby. In spring 2001, the center opened, providing educational programs to youth between the ages of 9 and 13.

said. “All of that is building and experience.”

Exploration Station, which is located at 867 Ramona Ave in Grover Beach, is organized and maintained by the South County Family Educational and Cultural Center Incorporated. Exploration Center was incorporated in November 1999 when Clifford Clark filed the nonprofit papers with the California Secretary of State. The idea of turning the old fire station into a youth facility was promoted

For more information about Exploration Station or to volunteer or make an exhibit, go to www.explorationstation.org or call 473-1421.

A unique microscope/computer display.

through a telescope is projected on a monitor, the telescope is not fake.

“I don’t want to do anything fake—I want these kids to get the real experience, not a simulation,” Hartman said.

Admission is $3 for children 3 and older and seniors, adults are $3. The center is open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Lego Club meets the third Saturday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for children 4 and older.

“Those kids really get involved,” Hartman The Wind Power display

She’ll love it here Classy, fun and always there for me – mom and The Manse on Marsh have a lot in common.

Visit us and you’ll fall in love with the elegant boutique retirement community in the heart of downtown San Luis Obispo. Schedule a visit to The Manse on Marsh today to see why so many families know “it’s the one.”

Visit today.

TheManse.net (805) 541-4222

475 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo

Starting at juSt $2,495

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ruth sellers

Rose Alderson and Ruth Sellers

a mother’s love

By Natasha Dalton

“Let me give you a hug,” Ruth Sellers said to me shortly after we met. “It’s such a nice day.”

Mrs. Sellers lives in Paso Robles with her daughter Rose and her sonin-law Gene Alderson. But she was born in Massachusetts, grew up in Rhode Island, and only moved west after the family doctor advised her and her husband Bob to seek a warmer climate for their son, prone to pneumonia. Bob, who’d been to Oregon before, thought it would be a nice place to raise a family. “We didn’t know it would rain so much in Oregon,” Mrs. Sellers says with a chuckle.

Rain or not, the family loved it in Oregon: “I was a city girl, but I wanted to be a country woman,” Mrs. Sellers explains. The family enjoyed having 5 acres of land for the kids to run around, and a big house, built by Bob. “He was a jack-of-all-trades,” Mrs. Sellers says about Bob, who passed away in 1999. “I miss him very much. We had so much fun together.”

In Oregon, Ruth raised chickens, “had a barn full of cats and kittens,” plus dogs, and all kinds of other animals, including deer; and her kids had baby lambs, sheep, a duck and even a turkey to play with.

Having all this space to grow was important: the Sellers were a big family, and their house was always open to friends and neighbors.

Ruth, who always liked to cook (and passed her passion on to her kids), asked her husband to build her kitchen the old-fashioned way, and he put in two stoves for her: gas and wood. Often, when the school bus would stop by the house, the kids would bring in their schoolmates, attracted by the aromas of freshly made biscuits and gravy.

“I told these kids: ‘You want to come to the house? Tell your mom and dad to come over too,’” Mrs. Sellers remembers. They did, and the family often had big crowds around their dining table. “I have so many friends,” Mrs. Sellers smiles. “I know that I can go back to any place where I lived, and be welcome.”

Ruth Sellers was 47 when she and her husband decided to adopt a Five Generations: Cynda, Rose, Logan, Anastasia, Misty and Ruth

2-year-old; the following year another toddler joined the family; a couple of years later (when Ruth turned 50), the Sellers took in a 10-month-old baby. “These children were cousins to my grandchildren,” Mrs. Sellers explains. “Their mother couldn’t care for them. Her brother [and the Sellers’ son-in-law] couldn’t either.” So, when Bob brought up the issue of adoption, Ruth’s only words were: “Fine, where are they?”

Ruth’s own parents were killed when she was a baby, and she, too, grew up with adopted parents, and took care of her younger sisters.

Trained as a nurse, she cared for her in-laws and her husband when they got sick. Bob’s parents shared the house with him and Ruth, and helped out with the kids. “My mother-in-law was like a sister to me,” Ruth says. “We were all very close.”

“Everything we did, we did as a family,” Rose Alderson, Ruth’s eldest daughter, remembers. “We went to the beach to dig clams, and had a really good time.”

Bob had a booth at a local flea market and loved to entertain children by making funny balloon shapes. For 44 years he and Ruth played Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus at a neighborhood school. “If they were doing something for the kids, we all always went with them,” says Rose. “We also used to sit around the radio and listen to all the stories. I think it was a very good thing.”

Once the family bought its first TV set, the family would watch it together as well: Lassie was even more fun with mom’s cake and ice cream!

At one point, Ruth became aware of a boy, Jimmy, living in a school for the mentally retarded, and began visiting him. “That’s when grandma and grandpa were living; and we all would go down there,” she says. She wanted to learn more about the boy, and eventually, she did.

What she found out was that Jimmy ended up in a mental institution because he was an unwanted child. The Sellers began to look for ways to get him out. “I said, he is a normal kid,” Mrs. Sellers recalls. The authorities weren’t sure. “He has to be in a straightjacket,” they insisted.

Defying them, Ruth brought Jimmy home—and for the first time in his life, the boy was happy. “We took him to the beach, and he talked to me,” Ruth remembers. He proved her right: there was nothing

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“Regrettably, that happened a lot in the past,” says Gene Alderson, Mrs. Sellers’s son-in-law and a retired LVN. “Kids got stuck in the system because they were classified as retarded.

Fortunately, this doesn’t happen anymore.”

As the Sellers’ own kids got older, Ruth and Bob began helping other kids stuck in the system.

The first boy the couple took in was Bobby M. from the Reform School. Like Jimmy, he was abandoned by his parents. “He was 12 when we met him, and he was wild,” Mrs. Sellers recalls. “But I tamed him in less than a week.”

Then, as the new kids began to show up in the house, it was Bobby who was warning them: “You have to do what mom tells you.”

Mrs. Sellers fought the state of Oregon to let her keep her foster kids till they reached adulthood. And even though Bobby didn’t get to stay with her that long, many others did— thanks to the personal permission granted by Governor McCall.

There were years when Ruth and Bob had 35 foster children all living under the same roof—and all of them managed to get along.

Although many of those kids had difficult

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pasts, including brushes with the law, Ruth didn’t despair.

“I never felt that I couldn’t handle them,” she says.

“I told them: when you’re in the house, you don’t fight,” she adds. “They went to school every day.”

When they were having problems, Ruth called on the school counselor and his wife to help them. Looking back at the days when she used to go around with her gang in tow, she tends to remember the good things. “People were complimenting my children on their nice behavior,” she smiles. “We’ve never met more pleasant kids,” they’d say.

Ironically, this superwoman, who raised seven kids of her own, adopted three more, and then cared for 77 foster kids, was once told by her doctor that she’d never be a mother.

Mrs. Sellers chuckles, recalling her (and her doctor’s) surprise when her first baby— Rose—was born. Apparently, she wasn’t showing and had no idea what had happened

Ruth, Rose, Gloria and Gene

license just to make sure it’s me, but she remembers everyone’s names and all these numbers,” he laughs.

“That’s what my dad taught me,” Mrs. Sellers says. “‘You’re the smartest in the family,’ he’d say; ‘you have to remember dates.’”

In her long, busy life, Mrs. Sellers didn’t have much time to think about herself. But she has stories to tell to her 85 grandkids, 52 great-grandkids, and 66 great-great grandkids. “If I could go back in time, I’d do it all over again,” she says.

“I know that I can go back to any place where I lived, and be welcome.”

Ruth Sellers with her granddaughter, Tami

when her water broke. Bob was in Chicago at that time, and Ruth had to send her brother to fetch the doctor. The incredulous doctor arrived when the baby was already born. “He looked at her and said: ‘She is gone,’ Mrs. Sellers remembers. “But I picked her up, and spanked her bottom and her feet, and she began to cry. Rose, my miracle baby.”

This year Mrs. Sellers is turning 95, but she is not slowing down. She spends a lot of time with Rose and her husband Gene. They’re retired, and enjoy traveling. And wherever they go, Ruth goes with them.

At home, she still watches “Wheel of Fortune,” “Jeopardy,” “Amazing Grace,” and even car racing and football (“Come on Oregon Ducks!”), and she isn’t the kind who falls asleep in a chair. “You name the game, I’ll watch it,” she says.

“This lady is so sharp,” Mr. Alderson says.

“Sometimes I have to look at my driver’s M A R C H

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introducing

violet cavanaugh

local entrepreneur, Horsewoman, chumash descendant... “made in a good way”

By Deborah Cash

V

iolet was born at home in 1977 to Fred and Susan Collins in Davis Canyon, near See Canyon (Avila Beach). Her father is a direct descendant of Antonio Lopez, a Chumash native who lived in the area of what is now Lopez Lake, which is named after him. In his era, the mid 1800s, there stood homes, a school and farms on the land now covered by a reservoir that provides water for much of the south county.

Lopez’s daughter Katherine married Henry Soto and they lived on his farm homestead in See Canyon, a Williams Act property. While both were of Chumash descent, their ancestry was never discussed and in fact, was hidden. At that time in California, a bounty was offered for native people as the lands they held were desired by those coming to the West Coast for, first the gold rush, then later during the dust bowl. Violet explained that for more than 150 years, her ancestors couldn’t celebrate their heritage. “Native persons were considered heathens, pagans. People wanted their lands.” Over that time span, the Sotos and the Sees built See Canyon road and their families lived in the area. Katherine and Henry’s daughter Consuelo left her 100-acre inheritance to her son Fred and his sister and they eventually sold to a nearby neighbor.

Fortunately, the legacy of the clan did not diminish with a change in residence. In fact, Violet states, “In the ‘50s and ‘60s, across the nation, human rights movements and AIM (American Indian movement) started a resurrection of their culture. It became more acceptable to be native again.” To Violet and her sister Charity’s young ears, the story of their ties to a fascinating local people awakened something in them.

Violet, while peaceable by nature, says she feels she must be involved.

“Our ancestors need us to protect what’s left of the environment,” she said. “From the health of the ocean, which was always vital to the native cultures along the coast, to farming, Violet is proactive in native affairs; family members often participate in monitoring of sacred Chumash Violet with her bees

sites under construction.

Violet met husbandto-be Aaron Pruitt in Avila; later they would exchange wedding vows on Limuw (Santa Cruz Island) in the Channel Islands. Aaron, a native of Cherokee and Choctaw heritage grew up in Taft, CA, is an avid outdoorsman, farmer and beekeeper. They arranged their ceremony to coincide with an annual Chumash gathering at the island where a few hundred people camp on the island; a select group paddles canoes from Ventura across the channel in traditional tomols (a traditional redwood plank canoe). Some may remember the island, Limuw, as the setting for the tale “Island of the Blue Dolphins.”

Violet and Aaron

Violet had started her own business, Native Herbs and Honey Company, but said she was at a point in her life where she felt “something was missing.” When she turned to the native philosophies and her background growing up with herbs, medicine plants and doing things “in a good way,” she found her answer. “I knew right then I wanted to make ‘Made in a Good Way’ my motto,” she said. “I wanted to make products that are good for people. I also wanted to be completely self sufficient.”

A dream come true, her (and Aaron’s) business has been producing native herbal concoctions, seasonings, soaps, candles and honey from their own hives. “Our business has grown from the first day,” she said.

Violet’s been selling at local farmers markets and at festivals, fairs and shows for several years. She recently opened her first storefront location in Los Osos; she and Aaron live nearby and have property where they keep their hundred-plus hives and seven spoiled horses. Violet adds, “I think about putting love into all our products, taking care of the earth’s healing energy and understanding how herbs can complement modern western medicine. I want to make people feel better.”

It was during this time that Violet was diagnosed with cancer at age 33. While it threw a curve in their plans and projects for a while, she responded well to treatment and has been cancer-free for two years.

“It’s only made me appreciate my opportunities, my great friends and customers more,” she said.

In addition, Violet manages the Pismo Beach farmers market for the Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday afternoons and says she is interested in developing a nonprofit to mentor and encourage new farmers. “There are a lot of markets in the county,” she said, “but a static number of farmers. We want to encourage local farmers,” she said, “and we’d like to see more choices for people in the way of agricultural products.”

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PEOPLE While one might think Violet’s got a full plate, ask her what she really loves to do and her answer is quick, “Be with my horses!”

Violet is proud that she has raised all of her Arabian horses in a good way, like her Chumash Vaquero ancestors would have done. Essentially, vaqueros were natives whose method was to train horses gently, without cruelty, and they kept their horses for their entire lives. At the time of the Missions, local ranchers Native herbs and honey hired Antonio Lopez to train horses and he even worked at the One of Violet’s biggest concerns is the Dana Adobe. A few people still teach and pracdwindling bee population. “We’ve lost tice the vaquero way and Violet said when she hundreds of hives this past couple years befriended Sheila Varian of Varian Ranch, she due to the lack of water,” she said. Along was surprised and happy to learn that Sheila with colony collapse disorder and the was a master in Vaquero traditions and also use of pesticides, the drought has further grew up riding in the Lopez area. Sheila was impacted production levels to the tune of trained by a Lopez cattle rancher and pioneer about 50 per cent loss in the past five years. woman, Sid, in this special approach. “It was “I haven’t seen a swarm in more than a interesting to see how she was connected to year,” she said, “and we haven’t been called the Lopez family in this way,” Violet said. in a couple years to remove a swarm. It’s scary.” Another problem, sadly, is theft of beehives. Violet and Aaron began painting their boxes in bright colors with Chumash emblems to discourage hive hoodlums. Violet talks about getting into beekeeping, “We have great friends and have met and become close to amazing beekeepers who have welcomed us into the industry and supported us and helped us get started,” she said, with her usual penchant for finding the positive and “the good way” in life.

What would she like people to know about her? “I’m a realist. I gain my happiness not

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Aaron with baby Arabian Manache in Los Osos

from others, but from the energy of the planet, moon, stars, sun and the ocean. I think the most important thing is to be yourself, to keep your integrity and don’t be afraid to speak your mind. My scars, visible from cancer, life and the invisible scars and struggles of family have made me a more interesting, compassionate and strong person.” Visit nativeherbsandhoney.com for a glimpse into Violet’s enterprise and philosophy of “Made in a Good Way.”

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Meet

PEOPLE

sheri eibschutz Homeless advocate

By Ruth Starr

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heri Eibschutz has been an advocate for the disadvantaged since she was 18 years old. While living in San Diego she was introduced to community service by working with poor people in Mexico.

In 1997 she and her husband Barry and two daughters, Sydni, now 18 and Liesl, now 15, moved to San Luis Obispo. Community service was always an important element of the growing Eibschutz family.

Barry, a physician, regularly donated his time to seeing patients at the Community Health Centers. Sixteen years ago Sheri was invited to help organize a Christmas dinner for the homeless. Along with Naomi Blakely they got to work on what would become an annual opportunity for homeless people to not only have a warm meal on Christmas, but to also get much needed clothing and sleeping bags.

That first year Sheri and Naomi rented a dirty poorly heated hall and scoured it for hours. Then they fed the homeless who were soaking wet after waiting in line in the rain. They let them sort through some used clothing, and sent them on their way. It was an emotionally painful evening leaving her feeling ashamed Sheri and Liesl and empty.

Sheri Eibschutz and Naomi Blakely

This rare opportunity to really do something profound for our community was handed to her. She felt she could do more. The following day Naomi and Sheri met to have a heart to heart about what happened. They vowed that they would transform this event into a real holiday party and use it as a means of providing the county’s homeless with a delicious dinner and new winter clothing care packages to help them survive the cold and wet wintry months.

Since that time, the Christmas dinner has evolved steadily to become the beautiful event that it is today. With 2,357 homeless in San Luis Obispo County, only 235 receive shelter. This past Christmas nearly 375 people attended the dinner. For two hours people lined up for the turkey dinner, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, bread, beverages and pies donated by Marie Callender’s. With the generous support of the SLO Community, they now provide a community Christmas party to the County’s homeless and anyone in need. Instead of slogging through bad weather and oftentimes rain, the guests are transported by Ride On shuttle to the Odd Fellow’s Hall. They are seated at beautifully decorated tables and receive a hearty meal while

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Country Oaks CARE CENTER M A R C H

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

PEOPLE Callender’s, and the talented musicians: Billy and Charlie Foppiano, Frankie Parades, Jerome Taylor and Paul Rinzler.

The local newspaper recently reported, ninety percent of our County’s homeless are unsheltered—making this county the third worst in the nation compared to other small counties. Fundraising begins in January each year so that as Christmas nears, they have sufficient funds to purchase the winter clothing care packages. Those looking to support the event can send checks to United Way SLO with “Homeless Christmas” in the memo to P.O. Box 14309, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93406 or people can email Sheri for more information at sherie5678@aol.com.

A night of helping others.

listening and dancing to live music played by local bands and are entertained by champion Irish dancers, including Sydni and Liesl. Both daughters help with the overall event. Once they have had their dessert and are relaxed, the guests proceed into two enormous heated tents where each guest receives a winter care package containing a new sleeping bag, hooded sweatshirt, socks, underwear, field jacket, scarf, beanie, and toiletry bag. Additionally, age appropriate presents are given to the children and teenagers.

Sheri feels that this is unquestionably a community wide effort. Nearly everything is donated. In addition to the hundreds of volunteers who cook and work throughout the day, there are numerous individuals and businesses that annually donate goods, equipment and services: Each year she can count on her volunteer partners: SLO Odd Fellows Hall, United Way of SLO, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, SLO Campn-pack, Congregation Beth David, Temples Ner Shalom and Ohr Tzafon, JCC of SLO, Mountainbrook Community Church, First Solar Electric, Promega Biosciences, Quota International of SLO, Roman Bukachevsky, Talley Farms, San Luis Sourdough, Doc Burnsteins, U-Haul, PG&E, Ride-On, San Luis Garbage, Apple Farm Inn, Marie

Liesl, a sophomore at SLO High School said that last year she was shocked to learn that a substantial number of SLO High students are either homeless or come from families currently experiencing significant financial difficulties. Those students are an invisible minority on campus avoiding the limelight.

They don’t want anyone to know they exist or what they are experiencing. Being a teen is hard enough with typical teenage stressors about their friends, their tests, where they will go to college. She explains that it’s hard to understand that some students are also worrying about where they will sleep that

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night, finding a place to study, and how can they help the family pay the bills.

Thinking about how those students could get help, Liesl founded the SOS Club last spring for this purpose. SOS stands for Strengthening Our School. The goal of this club is to raise funds for SLO High students who have true financial needs. The club recently completed a holiday fundraiser that brought in $2600 worth of gift cards (teen clothing, food, gas, and school supplies, money and SLO High Tiger sweatshirts). The guidance counselors are working with the school district to distribute these items to students in need. People interested in donating to the students in need can issue a check to SOS Club and mail to SLO High School, 1499 San Luis Drive, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, Mrs. Ingles. For more information, Liesl can be contacted at liesle222@gmail.com.

Sheri is very proud of her daughters and their compassionate involvement in community service. She is also grateful to her friend and co-organizer Naomi Blakely for her unwavering commitment to this event. “The outpouring of love and kindness from the community is sometimes overwhelming,” explains Sheri. Our community has more to do to assist our homeless population, we can individually participate by volunteering our time or donating funds to give those less fortunate a helping hand. Many local organizations work hard as volunteers feeding the homeless at Prado Day Center throughout the year. Clothing, toiletries and other necessities are always welcome and can be dropped off at The Maxine Lewis Center on Orcutt Rd. With her strong belief in helping others and her ability to coordinate the Christmas dinner for the homeless, Sheri Eibschutz is a true advocate and example of the benefits of volunteerism.

Lynn Cooper Broker Associate SRES

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

cell 805.235.0493 Lynn@HavenSLO.com M A R C H

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PEOPLE

NATHAN & LINDSAY MEINERT

HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICS TEACHERS

By Will Jones “So what’s your major?”

Like many undergraduates before him, that was Nathan Meinert’s first question when he met Lindsay Weed while watching a football game at a friend’s house several years ago. Neither Nathan nor Lindsay could have imagined the seemingly magical journey they have traveled since that first question: graduation from Cal Poly as credentialed math majors and teachers, marriage, and being hired to teach mathematics full time at San Luis Obispo High School, Lindsay in 2011 and Nathan in 2012. Finally, at the end of his first year, Nathan was chosen by the student body to receive the Frances M. Warren Memorial Award for Excellence in Education. At twenty-five, they’re off to one of the best starts imaginable for any young, talented couple.

If the phrase ‘math anxiety’ sounds redundant to you, then you are one of millions of Americans who struggled to understand, enjoy and appreciate the value of mathematics starting in 7th or 8th grade, which is around the time teachers started substituting letters for numbers in math problems. However, given the almost sacred importance of math in today’s world, it has become the responsibility of educators like Nathan and Lindsay to transform learning mathematics into a challenging but rewarding and pleasurable experience, regardless of their initial level of interest or skill. Fortunately, both of the Meinerts knew early on that they wanted to become teachers and prepared themselves well for the career.

Nathan grew up in an educational environment. “My dad is a math teacher. When I was fourteen we moved from La Mesa to Thousand Oaks and I attended Oaks Christian High School where my dad was hired to teach. I started tutoring in tenth and immediately loved the challenge of helping students to learn and enjoy math, and that’s when I decided I wanted to teach. In my senior year I helped one of my friends pass math who was inches away from not graduating, and that’s when I knew for sure I could do it.”

The Meinerts at the dress-up party day at SLO High School

Lindsay grew up near Poughkeepsie, New York, and moved to San Jose when she was twelve. She attended Branham High School. “I knew I wanted to be a teacher in fifth grade. My teacher made a big impact on me. Everyone said he was the worst teacher to get because he was so strict, but we all loved him once we were in his class. I first thought I would teach elementary school, but when I reached trigonometry class in high school I realized I wanted to major in math and teach at a higher level. I was teaching people in my class all the time, helping my friends.” Lindsay also worked at an after school day care program and helped elementary school students.

Nathan and Lindsay balance their long hours of preparation, teaching and grading by staying physically active. Nathan plays basketball three or four times a week, before school starts on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the SLOHS gym and at Grace Church, where they are active members of the congregation. He’s a Lakers fan who intends to “stick with them even though it’s been a tough year.” Lindsay is a runner who recently completed the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco, and she is currently training for the San Luis Obispo Marathon. Her father has completed an Ironman Triathlon.

After they met and began dating, Nathan and Lindsay started taking classes together, manipulating their schedules to make it work. They were engaged in November of 2010 while Lindsay was working on her credential and Nathan was in his senior year. “The interview for SLO High was the week of our wedding,” Lindsay said. “We were in San Luis Obispo for a conference. I wasn’t sure I wanted to interview because it was too stressful with the wedding coming, but Nathan said I should go. I wanted to work there so I went, and three days before our wedding I was blessed to get the job.”

Nathan student-taught at SLOHS during Lindsay’s first year, and said “I did everything I could do to let people know I wanted to teach there. I had no idea if it would pay off, but there was a golden handshake that year, math positions opened up, and I was hired.”

They love working together. During my after school interview with them, Lindsay said, “It’s amazing. This is the first time I’ve seen Nathan since we left home this morning, but it’s comforting to know

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PEOPLE teacher-of-the-year award, but Meinert’s wedding photo by Rachel Blackwell acknowledged “that where we’re placed and the classes we teach are best suited for who we are right now.” Lindsay currently teaches Algebra I and II classes while Nathan teaches Advanced Placement Calculus. While all students vote to determine the finalists, seniors vote again for the ultimate winner, which in some years tends to favor upper level teachers. “We push each other to be better. I would not have done that well if it wasn’t for her,” Nathan said. “She dragged me through that first year, especially on the mornings I was so tired we’re on the same campus and we work I might not have made it to work.” really well as a team, building curriculum, sharing ideas.” According to a smiling Both Nathan and Lindsay acknowledge they Nathan, “It’s easy to share stories at home joined the profession at a critical time for because we work at the same place and know math instruction. “It’s fun for me to show the same people. And the students get a kick students the importance of math, its practical out of it. They’re all telling me what to buy applications in the real world, especially for her for Valentine’s Day.” students who don’t necessarily like math. We start every chapter talking about why we’re Lindsay confessed to “working through” some learning the material. For example, showing professional rivalry when Nathan won the a video and talking about how parabolas are

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the basis for the way light is dispersed by a flashlight. It wasn’t as easy to find a video for rational functions!” Nathan likes to give students “a real life problem that initially they can’t solve, but as they learn and build knowledge they can find a solution.” They share the common philosophy that understanding math is a skill that can be developed, not a talent that only a fortunate few possess.

Nathan and Lindsay Meinert are excited about sharing a career, maintaining their enthusiasm and commitment for the many years ahead of them. As Nathan stated it, “continuing to have the emotional energy to care about students as learners and as people, to have real conversations about their lives.”

According to Leslie O’Connor, the principal of SLOHS, they are prepared for the challenge. “I am happy that we have two very committed, extremely intelligent and articulate young people who engage and motivate students to further their knowledge and understanding of math. Lindsay and Nathan are part of that new generation of educators who benefit from the improvements in teacher training programs. Lindsay and Nathan know math and know how to reach teenagers today.”

N MacB EW In sto ook Pro ck no w!

N MacB EW In sto ook Pro ck no w!

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christine heinrichs

Backyard Poultry expert at home in slo county

By Charmaine Coimbra

N

ested in her cozy Cambria home tucked into a hillside oak grove, Christine Heinrichs is either at her computer blogging about environmental issues, updating one or both of her books, or tending to her backyard chickens—which hatched her specialty, a “professional poultry journalist.”

In line with the locavore trend of raising backyard chickens, along with her own chicken raising experience, Voyageur Press said yes to Christine’s proposal to write How to Raise Chickens, now in its updated second printing.

“When the first edition came out in 2007, people asked me, ‘Chickens? Why Chickens?’” Christine recalled. “Now places like Lowe’s can’t keep the book stocked and everyone wants to chat about their chickens.”

In 2009 the subject of raising all poultry varieties became her second book, How to Raise Poultry.

Little did Christine know that when she said yes to her 5-year-old daughter’s request for some chickens in their San Jose backyard, that her journalism degree and curiosity would bring her to the forefront of writing about poultry, and land her smack dab in the sustainable backyard movement.

“I bought some chicks and put them in a plastic laundry basket. I had no idea what to do next,” Christine confessed about her late

Sunday, March 23, 2014 4 p.m. · Cuesta College CPAC Canzona will be joined by accordion player Duane Inglish of Café Musique to add a true Gallic flavor to the afternoon.

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

www.canzonawomen.org CRICKET HANDLER & JILL ANDERSON Artistic Directors M A R C H

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1980s adventure. “There was nothing out there, and being a writer, well, I wrote what I learned.” Poultry magazines bought her work, which eventually became the foundation for How to Raise Chickens.

Meanwhile, urban homesteading entered our lexicon along with new phrases like sustainable backyards, and a suburban revival of the Victory Garden. For instance, in 2007, a website, backyardchickens.com boasted 50 members. Now over 200,000 members frequent the website.

This is why How to Raise Chickens was fertile for updating. In other words, “When you call your county Planning Department enquiring about local ordinances for backyard chickens, they’ll likely switch you to a chicken expert,” Christine explained.

Locally, ordinances vary. For instance, San Luis Obispo Municipal Code (Sec. 6.28) allows up to 25 chickens, so long as they are housed 75 feet from the nearest dwelling.

Fewer than five can be 50 feet from the nearest dwelling. But in Paso Robles Ordinance No. 691, hens qualify as small animals, like dogs and cats, and you can have up to a total of six critters with a setback of 20 feet. If you have a 75-foot setback, you can have up to 20.

Naturally, a small flock of hens reign supreme in Christine and her husband, Gordon’s Cambria backyard. Cambria, like Los Osos and Cayucos, is covered by the county’s Coastal Land Use Ordinance (Sec. 23.08.046). Up to 20 chickens or other poultry are allowed.

They must have a coop or pen. No roosters.

When I asked Christine what is the most extravagant backyard chicken coop she’s ever seen, it was Gordon who jumped in and laughingly said, “The one in our backyard.”

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movement is chickens,” she said. “Almost anyone can have chickens and join the zero waste club.” By that, she means, chickens are grateful for your food waste, which results in a rich fertilizer that in turn feeds your vegetable garden.

Are backyard chickens for you?

Christine suggests that, unlike her first backyard brood, “…don’t get into it without knowing anything. Have a plan.”

As a former hotelier for backyard chickens (Yes, my chicken coop was over the top—a Victorian playhouse designed for hens), I will attest to the joys and the heartbreaks.

The Heinrichs also volunteer as Friends of the Elephant Seal (FES) docents, and they get to play dress-up as volunteer Living History docents at Hearst Castle.

When Christine became an FES docent, she learned about the unsolved mystery of the 2008 shooting death of three elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas rookery. No one could answer her questions, so she applied her journalism skills, and soon resolved the mystery in a two-part series first published locally in 2011. Death Before Dawn earned Christine the Mayborn School of Journalism Mayborn Literary Nonfiction Conference, Reported Narrative division award.

It is safe to state that Christine is committed to environmental issues that include the local food movement. “The mascot of the local food

The joy is the eggs. Once the hens begin laying, everyday is an Easter egg hunt. Hens easily become pets. But what to do if a hen gets sick?

What about when the hen ceases laying after a few years? Feed is not cheap. What about predators?

“Chickens are prey birds,” Christine reminded. “They need security.”

As several SLO backyard chicken enthusiasts learned in 2011 when a black bear repeatedly raided backyard coops, chickens will and do attract predators. I recall the horror of the day I discovered that a pack of dogs broke through the gulag-style fencing around my Victorian coop. Then it was a raccoon. And I’ll always remember the high jump I took when a very long snake was on the hunt for eggs and vermin.

Truth is, home raised chickens will not result in bargain eggs. But then, neither do most tomato plants result in cheap tomatoes. But no one challenges the benefits of fresh and tasty.

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kyle beal wommack:

planning the good life

By Sherry Shahan

mom didn’t like my snarky attitude when I was in high school,” she confesses. “So she signed us up for a family Outward Bound course.

Rock climbing, repelling, river rafting in Utah. It was hard, a real challenge. But the experience changed my attitude—actually, it changed my life. I realized I was stronger than I thought.”

Kyle was born in Southern California, but moved to the Central Coast at an early age with her parents and sister when her dad was hired as a Golf Pro at Paso Robles Country Club. Her mom worked at home as a freelance magazine writer with aspirations of writing children’s books.

After graduating from Templeton High School—where Kyle won All State as a second base player on the school’s softball team, and became Homecoming and Prom Queen in the same year—she began planning a year-long round-the-world backpacking trip with her longtime boyfriend. After paying for airfare they only had $2,000 between them.

“We started in Portugal, then traveled to Spain, Italy and Greece.

We hitchhiked from town to town because we couldn’t afford public transportation.” She pauses to tell the boys to pick out books for bedtime. “We were dirty and starving and only lasted 6 months.”

After bumming around the world it isn’t surprising that Kyle packed up and moved from California across country to attend college. She lived and worked in a tiny seaside town in Maine while attending University of New Hampshire. Basically, her degree is eco-tourism.

Kyle admits she probably would have stayed in the east longer if it weren’t for the winters. “There’s a certain romance around the routine of getting ready for each season. But after a while, shoveling snow loses its charm.”

The Vineyard Team’s Earth Day Food and Wine Festival was just getting off the ground when Kyle’s sister, Kris Beal, Executive Director of the Vineyard Team, said she could use some help.

“It was the event’s second year and my tasks weren’t supposed to take much time,” Kyle recalls with a wistful smile. “But as it turned out, ticket sales tripled from the first year to the second and I was swamped.”

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yle Beal Wommack starts with an admission. “Planning is in my DNA,” says the thirtysomething Event Specialist. This interview takes place in the kitchen of her modest two bedroom home in Paso Robles, where she’s dishing up dinner for her sons, Cooper (7) and Chase (5).

Kyle is now the Vineyard Team’s Event Director and looks forward to a new venue for 2014, Castoro Cellars on April 12th. “In the be-

“Looks like I’ll be pulling another all-nighter.” Kyle gives a nod to her work space—a converted closet with a makeshift desk for her computer and business files.

Such is the life a full-time free-lancer who often racks 100-plus hours a week preparing for events like Sunset SAVOR The Central Coast, the annual food and wine extravaganza at historic Santa Margarita Ranch.

“I lived in a trailer on site the week before that one,” she says, brushing back blonde bangs. “We built a city with tents and gardens and populated it with chefs, cookbook authors, farmers, wine-makers, a tireless staff, and a slew of volunteers.”

Dressed in her standard uniform—T-shirt, hip-hugging jeans, and work boots—Kyle doesn’t hesitate when asked how it all began. “My M A R C H

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Kyle with her two sons, Cooper and Chase

HOME/OUTDOOR Kyle loading up the truck for another event.

ginning people just wanted to sample area wines and experience great food grown by local farmers. Now participants come from all over the world and ask sophisticated questions about grape growing and sustainable farming practices.”

While Kyle’s duties may vary from event to event, she’s generally in charge of rentals; ordering party tents, tables, chairs.

Organizing security personnel, filling out county permits, coordinating onsite medics, making sure staff and volunteers are well-fed, etc. She’s been spotted more than once brandishing a plunger in a portable restroom. “Whatever it takes to keep things running smoothly.”

It may be hard to imagine this petite woman in the cab of an unwieldy vehicle with its counter-intuitive controls, but Kyle loves driving a forklift. “There are lots of perks to being self-employed,” she says.

“I can go on the field trips with the kids and take a day off when they’re sick. It just means I have to stay up late to make up for the lost time.”

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historic sites she and the boys will be visiting on their upcoming trip to Central America.

“They’re thrilled to be going to another country,” Kyle says. “We’ll be visiting schools while we’re there and donating books. I signed the boys up for Spanish classes two hours a day. This type of travel is so much more authentic than going to a resort—not that we haven’t spent many a day at Disneyland.”

Cooper is quick to pipe up, “I get to go to a school where kids speak a different language!”

Chase joins in. “I’m going to see a blue butterfly!”

Next to the poster is a glass jar with dollar bills. “We’re saving money so we can buy souvenirs for our family,” Cooper explains.

Would Kyle ever consider a more conventional lifestyle? “Sometimes I dream about a job where I can come home and not think about work until the next day,” she says. “But for now I wouldn’t trade my life for anything.”

A large poster of Nicaragua leans in the window of the dining room. It’s a collage of

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at the market

Rockin’ banana walnut pancakes or glorious granola 2.0

By Sarah Hedger

Editor’s note: Sarah recently won the Mindfood magazine’s Home Cook of the year competition. She was nominated last June when one of her recipes (a southwestern lamb chilli recipe) won their recipe contest, which nominated her for the annual competition. They flew her to Auckland, New Zealand for the cook off (pictured above at the cook off event) and she won it. Congratulations Sarah!

Happy March! March brings glorious new Spring beginnings to our local markets. Here on the Central Coast, we are lucky enough to experience that first hand. The produce available comes with a wave of color, from the first season’s strawberries, beets, and carrots, to artichokes, asparagus, and spring garlic. The inspiration to incorporate these delicious (and healthy) ingredients into our lives is endless. Bright salads begin replacing soups and the cooked components of our meals slowly shift to fresh, which our taste buds seem to welcome with open arms!

Often when the fruit season is raging with options, and I want to start the day off on the right foot, I’ll try to incorporate a good amount of fruit into breakfast. It feels energizing, while providing nutrients and fiber that help fuel me throughout the day. Granted, fruit isn’t all I eat as there is a good chance I’d be hungry within an hour if it was! As the saying goes, “Part of a complete breakfast?”. I usually make a protein smoothie with heaps of fruit, which is easy (and mobile), or lately it has been some good homemade granola and on Sundays (of late), a batch of special treat banana walnut pancakes. All of which are amazing vehicles for fruit and can be nutrient dense when done right. Thus this month offers a couple different options to enjoy our local fruits for breakfast, be it Rockin’ Banana Walnut Pancakes or Glorious Granola 2.0, both provide whole food nourishment while being good for you and tasting even better with some fresh Spring fruit on top. Both recipes provide healthy fats in the form of coconut oil and nuts, as well as seeds for added nutrients, fiber, and health. They also happen to be easy to prepare, as well as being gluten free/dairy free/grain free, which may help to be more easily digested.

Enjoy your Spring and get your fruit on!

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glorious granola 2.0

rockin’ banana walnut pancakes

(gluten free/dairy free/grain free)

(that happen to be gluten free and vegan)

Makes 10 cups

Makes 4 large pancakes

¾ cup good local honey ½ cup coconut oil or good quality mild olive oil 1 tsp flaky sea salt 1 tsp cinnamon 3 cups dried coconut chips 3 cups unsweetened coconut (fine thread) ½ cup sunflower seeds ½ cup pumpkin/pepita seeds ½ cup hazelnuts, coarsely chopped ½ cup slivered almonds (or whole and coarsely chopped) ¼ cup each flax seeds and chia seeds ½ cup organic currants (or raisins)

3 bananas, mashed 4 eggs 2 Tablespoons coconut oil, melted, (or other neutral oil such as rice bran) 1 tsp cinnamon 2 Tablespoons ground flax seed 1 Tablespoons chia seeds 2 Tablespoons coconut flour 2 Tablespoons tapioca starch 1/2 tsp baking soda (or 1 tsp baking powder) Pinch of salt ¼ cup (give or take) of water (or rice milk) to thin mixture out

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet/dish with baking paper. Bring honey, coconut oil, salt, and cinnamon to boil over medium high heat and cook for 5 minutes. Mix remaining ingredients (except currants) in large bowl and pour honey mixture over, mixing well. Pour into prepared dish and bake for 20 minutes (stirring every 10 minutes) or until beginning to turn golden. Remove from oven and stir in currants. Serve with a good unsweetened yogurt and seasonal fresh fruit.

Place mashed bananas in large bowl, adding eggs and whisking well. Add cinnamon, linseed, chia seeds, coconut flour, tapioca starch, baking soda/powder and salt. Whisk well until no lumps of coconut flour remain and let sit for at least 5 minutes. Give a good whisk and add just enough water/milk until mixture is pancake consistency.

Find this recipe and more seasonal inspiration at http://www. seasonalalchemist.com

Heat heavy duty cast iron or non-stick pan over medium heat.

Brush pan with a tablespoon of coconut oil, or other neutral oil.

When pan is hot (it sizzles when a splash of water is dropped on it), pour ¼ of the batter in, and let sit for a minute or until there are bubbles on top and it is a bit puffy (you can test by gently lifting one side with a spatula to see if it is golden. Gently flip pancake and let cook on other side for a minute. Serve with heaps of fresh seasonal fruit and maple syrup.

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slo county art scene patricia kohlen’s plaza of spheres

By Gordon Fuglie

R

ecently, and due to a very determined and conscientious patron, San Luis Obispo added three impressive new sculptures to the Performing Art Center (SLOPAC) at Cal Poly. Patricia Kohlen, with her late husband, Cal Poly architecture professor Ken Kohlen, have been long-time patrons for the SLOPAC, which was completed in 1996 after more than ten years of planning and fundraising. Prior to the completion of the Center, the Kohlens created a trust with a provision to sponsor art at the site. Originally, they stipulated that resources for this would be available after both were deceased. Ken Kohlen died in 2006.

In 2012, Patricia Kohlen concluded that there was no compelling reason to wait for commissioning art at the SLOPAC and decided to initiate the patronage process and be involved with the selection. Patron involvement can be a good practice, especially if the patron has a clear idea of what s/he wants and can work with various committees in the review phase.

Kohlen recalled seeing a sculptural work while she and her husband were visiting Washington, DC in the 1980s, and tried to locate the artist only to discover that he had died years ago. So she began an internet search and found three artists who appealed to her, including Ivan McLean from Portland, Oregon.

As it turned out, McLean grew up near Point Reyes and attended Cal Poly in the 1980s to pursue an agricultural degree. While working in the “farm shop,” he learned welding, and welding later led to his making iron and steel gates and fences for clients. Not long thereafter, he moved to Sausalito and began “fooling around” with welding abstract sculpture, taking one of his creations to a local flea market where he sold it for $30.

This modest success spurred McLean on to venture into making functional metal arts, e.g. wine racks, candlesticks and Judaica which Ivan McLean

he often sold at flea markets or craft fairs. Relocating to Portland, McLean was surprised when a real estate developer dropped by his studio and asked him to make “something to put on the exterior of my building.” This presented a challenge to the craftsman to artistically raise the bar of his work. He rose to the occasion and set his sights on becoming a serious sculptor. As a result, McLean was introduced to architects and landscape architects who helped him secure commissions, as well as guide his aspirations.

When I interviewed McLean, what struck me about him are the short distances between seeing aesthetic potential in metals, his welding abilities, to realizing a work of art. He didn’t attend art school and did not undergo class sessions of theorizing and critique, mental habits that can clot creativity. As a result, McLean doesn’t second-guess himself. His artistic temperament is open, cheerful, generous, and “can-do.” As a master welder and problem solver, he finds almost

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anything is possible; and if he encounters a new challenge, he relishes finding a way forward.

His track record of successful projects proved to be the perfect complement to Kohlen’s aspirations for the SLOPAC plaza. When McLean learned he was a finalist for the project, he promptly hitched a trailer to his pickup truck, loaded it with large sculptures, and drove from Portland to San Luis Obispo to meet Kohlen at the plaza. She watched with delight as he off-loaded his works, placing them here and there on the pavement for her consideration—and noted that he listened to her comments. The patron had found her artist.

Any sculptor planning work to be placed before the Alberto Bertolidesigned SLOPAC needed to reckon with the dramatic sweeping planes of glass and steel of the building’s façade. Figurative work or designs with thematic (religious, racial or historically-referenced) content would not complement the abstract forms. McLean’s nonsolid filigree spheres proved the perfect solution, and Kohlen proposed three—measuring ten, seven, and five feet in diameter—that the campus committees approved. The spheres were installed in January.

Their success in the plaza owes to their simultaneous simplicity and complexity. As elemental geometric forms, the spheres, however, are constructed of thousands of short thin rods of steel. These produce a tight and dense pattern of rectangles and squares that reflect light, while also permitting the viewer to see through the near and far curved planes of each sphere. Walking past them, the planes shift and the sphere appears to move, a dynamic encounter.

Moreover, on clear days the changing positions of the sun produce on the pavement a moving pattern of lacey shadows from dawn to sunset. From so simple an idea, a multiplicity of optical events are produced, making each stroll through the SLOPAC plaza a new experience. Kudos to Patricia Kohlen, the Cal Poly committees and Ivan McLean for delivering an enlightened outcome!

(For further information on Ivan McLean’s sculpture and his various commissions: www.ivanmclean.com)

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A NEW TRAIL IN OUR FUTURE AVILA TO MONTANA DE ORO

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Our Schools California momentum for preschool

M

By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools

omentum is building for making quality preschool available to all 4-year-olds in California. First, the research continues to affirm the value of preschool, especially for English language learners and children living in poverty. These are two groups of students who are at the lower end of the achievement gap and quality preschool experience for these children seems to have a direct, positive relationship to closing that gap. Second, the research also verifies that an investment in early childhood education yields impressive financial benefits in terms of reduced costs of school drop outs, unemployment and dependency on public assistance later in life. Studies give a range of cost benefits ranging as high as a $7 “savings” later for every $1 spent on preschool early in a child’s life.

The advantages of preschool have been known by educators for some time, but now the public discussion is more prominent. In his January State of the Union address, President Obama again called for a nationwide investment in preschool. National columnists have become

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champions of the value of a robust preschool program. One of the characteristics of most countries whose students outperform our students on international tests is that they have a tradition of universal preschool and child care.

So what is our state doing about preschool? First, we need to remember Proposition 10 from 1998 that created a Children and Families Commission (First 5 Commission) in each county and is focused on children from birth to age 5. The funding comes from a 50 cent tax on each pack of cigarettes. The goal of First 5 is to ensure that all children grow up healthy and ready to learn when they enter kindergarten.

Thank you Rob Reiner! A significant portion of First 5 funding goes to support quality preschools. In our county, the First 5 Commission funds two universal preschools, one at Oceano Elementary School in the south county and the other at Georgia Brown Elementary School in Paso Robles.

Also, our state has participated in two publicly funded preschools for well over 40 years. The California State Preschool Program that began during World War II as a child care program for women who were needed to work in the war effort has continued to serve low income families. In 1965, Congress passed the Head Start program that has been serving thousands of children from lower income families in our county.

The current California effort is focused on a bill by State Senator Darrell Steinberg, the President pro Tempore of the State Senate, known as the Kindergarten Readiness Act of 2014 (SB 837). This bill expands the current Transitional Kindergarten (T-K) program over the next six years to include all 4-year-olds by 2019-20. The Transitional Kindergarten program was first implemented two years ago in recognition of the need for children with fall birthdays for additional readiness prior to entering kindergarten at age 5. In Place effect, this has created a pre-school program for about a third of Postage the state’s 4 & 5-year-olds. Senator Steinberg’s bill would include Here all 4-year-olds, thus creating a universal preschool for this age group and actually adding a grade to our public schools by 201920. Participation would not be mandatory, just like kindergarten is not mandatory, but would be open to all eligible children and funded by the state.

Clearly, this is a very ambitious proposal and certainly puts California on track to provide universal preschool for all 4-years-olds. Starting in 2015-16, about 56,000 additional 4-year-olds would be eligible to be enrolled in this preschool program and a similar amount would be added each year until an additional 400,000 new students would be eligible to attend at a total cost of about $1.33 billion. This is a big number; however, remember the anticipated offsets from reduced expenditures later.

I am strongly in favor of this initiative. However, I think there is a significant issue that needs to be addressed as the bill moves through the legislative process. The proposal anticipates that many children will attend a half-day program, with only income-eligible parents receiving an extended day program. With the prevalence of two parents working, all children need to be provided a full-day program in order to be attractive to all parents.

It will be very interesting to see if this momentum for preschool in California continues to gain energy during this legislative session.

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keli moore

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surfer girl and tv newscaster

By Taylor Coffman

I

STOPPED AT TRADER JOE’S on South Higuera. I hadn’t been there in months. While pushing my basket down the produce aisle, I spied a celebrity (to my way of reckoning). She could just as well have been Hoda Kotb or Kathie Lee Gifford. But the young lady proved to be Keli Moore, direct from the KSBY Studio here in San Luis, wearing a stylish blue dress. She was shopping along with many other people on a busy day.

No one else seemed to notice her. To my surprise, star-conscious as I am (thanks to Charter cable TV, the Los Angeles Times, and glossy magazines), no heads were turning toward Keli. Nobody was asking for her autograph.

I later learned that Trader Joe’s is where she always shops. Keli’s beloved grandmother Lala had done the same. And thus a stop at TJ’s spells fond memories for Lala’s granddaughter every time.

Two aisles over, I saw Keli again. I asked if she was “the news lady.”

I half expected her to say I should mind my own business and not intrude. After all, even a newscaster has to keep her kitchen stocked.

Keli, however, was warm and open, friendly and talkative. Her website says she loves “learning about the community and crossing paths with many of its diverse community members.” That’s precisely what we were doing on a January afternoon—crossing paths. And as luck would have it there was more to come while we were still at Trader Joe’s.

The Daybreak crew: Dan Shadwell, Keli and Richard Gearhart

Yes, that’s exactly what Keli meant. She filled me in on a few details, all of them unknown to most folks. The best I could think of saying was that, sleep deprivation aside, she seemed completely fit and awake and in tip-top shape.

“That’s because I surf,” she said.

“No kidding?” I told her that I used to surf. To which she immediately countered with, “Why not any more?” She had me dead to rights: an over-the-hill, ex-surfer was all I could boast of being. Optimist that Keli obviously is, she encouraged me to resume surfing—to get “back in the water,” as the parlance goes.

I didn’t tell her that the last time I surfed was in 2003, at C Street in Ventura, when the shoulder-high waves were as good as Malibu or Rincon—a classic way for me to bow out. I could further have said that, as a writer, I’ve remained a surfer since then, at least in spirit.

We checked out at the same time, at adjoining counters. I asked Keli what time she had to rise for her morning shift at KSBY. “Two-thirty,” she amazed me by saying. I was truly astounded. I’m sure anyone else would have been.

The Internet postings about Keli also say that “she’s especially excited to explore the breaks of the Central Coast.” Amen! I could recount some choice tales for her, show her some surf spots that in the early ‘70s were still secret, ranging from Cambria all the way to Big Sur.

“You mean two-thirty a.m.?”

The postings also describe Keli as an Arizona native. She grew up in Sedona, south of Flagstaff. I know that area from when I stopped at Oak Creek Canyon, during a solo trip I made around the American West in 1967 when I was just 17. I was on my way back to Los Angeles after several weeks, homesick for the coast and its waves.

Surfing is Keli’s passion

Keli started college way down under—at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. Then she returned to a school closer to home: Arizona State University in Tempe, near Phoenix. She graduated in 2003. Her first job was in yoga, which she taught and which found her managing a yoga studio. Next she went to Los Angeles in 2005 and entered a Master’s program at USC’s Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism. Upon graduating she went into broadcasting and worked at the CBS affiliate in Palm Spings as a reporter and producer. Fine credentials, surely—and they’ve led her to San Luis Obispo, where she’s been at KSBY since the summer of 2012.

In Keli Moore’s case, I’ll do more from here on than glance at the Today show on NBC. She’s a new friend in San Luis that I’m happy to have. As I told her, though, she’ll be hitting the big time someday in Los Angeles or New York. I don’t doubt it for a minute.

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Remember When

Photo courtesy of Pam DeTilla from SLO County Library.

glory days

early days at branch elementary school

By Jim Gregory

I

wish I had more old photos of my days at Branch Elementary School in the Upper Arroyo Grande Valley, which I attended between 1958 and 1966.

I started at the 1880s schoolhouse, but in 1962, we moved into one of those Sputnik School of Architecture schools that was twice as big as the old school. It had four rooms.

I remember seeing one photo of me, Dennis Gularte, and it might’ve been Melvin Cecchetti, all decked out like cowboys, down to chaps and Mattel Fanner 50’s (“If it’s Mattel, it’s swell!”) on our hips.

For the uninitiated, a “Fanner 50” is a replica double-action Old West six-shooter that allows your shorter Old West gunfighter to get off approximately 1,200 shots without reloading. It was a marvel.

That was back in the days when gunfights on the playground were still culturally permissible, although they were limited to Fridays, which remains my favorite day of the week.

There was even a glorious, if very brief, time—our teachers would decide to draw the line at high-capacity ammunition drums—when the television show The Untouchables was popular and so we re-enacted the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre with Mattel-It’s-Swell Tommy Guns.

We died spectacular deaths after we had lined up, hands up, against one wall of the school. We took turns pretending to be the Moran Gang victims and Capone’s button men. We were a democratic bunch.

The girls on the swings just thought we were gross. But they were girls, mind you, and they liked to pretend they were horses, which we found damned peculiar.

We liked to pretend we were 1962 Corvettes.

So us Branch School kids—all 70-odd of us, first through eighth grades—were both rootin’ and tootin’. But we also could be very good.

One example: The third and fourth grades went on a field trip to Morro Bay, in a little yellow bus driven by Elsie Cecchetti, whom I will always love, and we all walked through the crew quarters of the Coast Guard cutter “Alert” without awakening the young man snoring softly in his bunk. We were impressed with how white his underwear was.

The Coast Guard is a well-laundered service branch.

During that tour, we requested, but were denied, authorization to fire off a few rounds from the 40-mm Bofors gun on the forward deck, which put quite a damper on an otherwise fine outing. It would’ve lifted our spirits and sustained us when, later in the day, we had to visit the abalone processing plant.

Abalone, we discovered, have little Stage Presence, so we watched, stifling yawns, as they lay lifeless and inert, pounded by sad, unfulfilled men with wooden hammers, until they achieved abalonability.

Years later, with a shock of recognition, I saw the same abalone factory ennui when I took some of my AGHS European history students to Munich and ate schnitzel in a massive auditorium while an oompah band performed and two girls, in traditional costume, more or less danced. It must’ve been about their eighth performance of the day, in front masses of greasy-cheeked, ungrateful American teenagers— except for our kids, of course—and they danced with the abandon one might have seen in suspects temporarily released from Gestapo custody, ordered to perform or their families would be shot.

By the time the disconsolate abalone pounders had finished with their victims, they looked disgusting, like Neptune’s cow patties. By the time we were old enough to realize that they were tasty, they had all been eaten. Sea otters were the alleged culprits, but my money was always on the Morro Bay Elks Club.

By the way, we didn’t always have the luxury of Elsie’s school bus. We first had a pickup painted school bus yellow, with two benches bolted to the truck bed and a tarp over the top, and when we crossed the creek, we all bounced like a bagful of marbles and squealed with delight.

Not everybody enjoyed the pickup. One morning, one of us got sick, and we decided he’d had scrambled eggs for breakfast.

We also used to go to Poly Royal, and loved that jet engine fired off in Aeronautical Engineering, before the event deteriorated into the

Branch Elementary School is a family home today.

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Jim (with the drum) and the gang on his 8th birthday - 1960.

kind of Roman Bacchanalia that would make Caligula blush.

We most of all loved the biology department, because its centerpiece was the genuine stuffed two-headed calf.

We spent some time pondering another of their exhibits, an aquarium tank full of bullfrog tadpoles that was labeled, soberly, “Elephant Sperm.”

In our day, Branch no longer had the steeple and bell that originally was standard equipment for rural schoolhouses, but it did have the first multi-purpose room in San Luis Obispo County.

The hallway in between the two classrooms was used for both hanging up your coat and for beating students with yardsticks. This encouraged us to learn harder and accounts for why, to this day, I still know all my state capitals, down to the fact that Pierre, South Dakota, is pronounced, “Peer,” of which our teachers had none.

Yes, in that hallway, Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Fahey had perfected a technique called “Bad Cop, Other Bad Cop.” They wore Eleanor Roosevelt cotton print dresses, our teachers did, which made them look, even then, like exhibits from a fashion museum, but either one could’ve humiliated Roger Maris in pre-game batting practice at Yankee Stadium.

They also would’ve made Billy Martin sit perpetually in the corner of the Yankee dugout, his nose pressed against the water cooler, which, given Martin’s notorious partying, might’ve considerably lengthened Mickey Mantle’s career.

The powdered soap dispensers out back were incorporated into language lessons, which is

why there are only two documented instances of That Word being uttered with impunity at Branch Elementary between 1888 and 1962, and I believe one of those involved a carpenter and the other a school board member.

It’s a home today, and painted yellow, but in our day it was pink, sheathed in what I think what former classmate Michael Shannon has said were asbestos shingles, which serve as wonderful insulation, but, by the time you’re in your fifties, your school days suddenly begin to produce clouds of what look like chalk dust every time you sneeze.

Jim in front of their home on Huasna Road, A.G. in 1958.

But none, please, of Mrs. Brown. She still makes my palms sweaty.

Jim Gregory teaches history at Arroyo Grande High School.

For the health-conscious reader, not to worry. On summer mornings, when school wasn’t in session, my favorite thing to do was to wave at the biplane that crop-dusted the fields next to our house and then go frolic and gambol in the clouds of herbicide.

Of course, in those days, everybody smoked (Camel shorts), soon after they’d taken their first steps (“Jimmy’s walking! Here, son, light one up on Pop!”), and the only seat belts in use were those fastened around Ham, the Space Chimp, the precursor to the Mercury astronauts.

We were a hardy breed, us Baby Boomers.

Hack. Wheeze.

There were good things, too, mind you, like actual Pismo clams at Pismo Beach. You didn’t even need a clam fork. They’d just walk up to you and surrender, as if it were North Africa, not Pismo, and they were the Italian Army. But I digress.

The point is that I just don’t seem to have a single picture from those days except of my eighth grade graduation when, of course, I looked not just like a dork, but like a parody of a dork.

So if there are any in your collection at home, Arroyo Grandeans, I’d love to see them.

805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo

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history

making (and preserving) history

By Joe Carotenuti

V

ision is not for sale. Embraced or condemned, emulated or scorned—but never bought—vision accompanies history through many a dark night of development.

Thus, the hopes and anxieties for a community require first a vision and then attempts at implementation. Today, we are at the same time both heirs and ancestors as the threads of vision and accomplishments recede into the unknown past and evaporate into the unknown future. Everyone shares in everything … the continuum of humanity.

Fortunately, bits and pieces float to the conscience of the present to find some measure of fleeting immortality in being remembered, in between pages of publications, or penned in some ancient chronicle.

When the Pilgrims were being tossed about as the Mayflower headed for New England or the Spanish soldiers and padres struggling up the Baja Peninsula some 150 years later pursuing their visions, neither group of pioneers was much concerned about history or its threads.

Survival demands attention be riveted on the present. Today, we are the beneficiaries of their fascinating remembrances. Few recognize historical events while in them. Only afterward, if at all.

Locally, day-to-day civic governance has the expected stress of management (usually financial), occasions of success (hopefully), and those of despair (rarely). There are even unusual instances characterized as being “historic” in nature.

Here’s the story.

Just such an event (granted, not on the same level of audaciousness as the English or Spanish) is quietly occurring locally. The City of San Luis Obispo is in the process of preserving the oldest known municipal records from well over a century ago. This vision is more than simply an attempt to preserve some paper but a community’s recognition that the past is relevant to the present. Just as the present is grateful our national ancestors from both coasts kept remembrances of their struggles, future generations will remember with gratitude the preservation of our civic inheritance as a gift to them.

Trying to govern any city is a tough business. Imagine trying to establish one. There were no laws or rules of behavior or consequences—or ways to collect revenue. It happened here. With no legislative experience and few formal laws, the settlement in a new state needed a blueprint of survival.

While the earliest preserved ordinance dates from 1859, there were earlier laws passed in the preceding years known today, unfortunately only by their titles. After the May 5 election in 1859, the new trustees quickly addressed the community’s needs including changing the name of Mission Street to Monterey.

Officer fees were next. Basically, taxes and fees paid the expenses of the Town (not a city until 1876) but most employees generated their own income. Compensation was a combination of possibly a modest salary and a percentage of collected revenue from a real and personal property tax to license fees, the most popular being on liquor and M A R C H

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Dr. W.W. Hayes, the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees

dogs. Ordinance #6 allowed the Marshal $1 for serving legal documents, the Clerk $3 for taking minutes but only $2.50 for preparing a deed, the Assessor $5 per diem while “actually employed” and the Treasurer three percent of all collected funds. Eventually, the Clerk was named Assessor and the Marshal, Tax/License Collector (a sensible move as he carried a gun).

Additional laws concerned cleaning the dirt streets, the publication of laws, disorderly conduct, fines, and the Town Seal. All are echoed in today’s regulations. Indeed, today’s City’s Seal is only the second used by the municipality.

Year after year, Trustees met, passions vented over one issue or another, elections held and more laws passed as the small settlement relatively isolated from the rest of the State—let alone Nation—struggled to envision itself as a place to live, conduct business, as well as be safe. In the pioneer years, the latter quickly became of paramount importance as lawlessness was a frightening issue everywhere. As the

A Retirement Facil COMMUNITY

lure of gold dissipated in a few fortunes and many more failures, some chose to victimize others in one of the most dangerous decades and places ever in American history: California between 1850 and 1860.

Eventually, a semblance of law and order allowed for more concentration on local affairs with ordinances regulating animals, streets, the water supply, and the ever-present attempts (and protests) to increase revenue.

Bureaucracy is never at a loss as to how to spend other’s money.

Re-incorporations in 1858, 1863, and 1876 brought ordinances reflecting the changing community needs beyond revenue: no one could ride on (wood) sidewalks, the speed limit was 8 m.p.h., firecrackers were prohibited along with concealed weapons, and trees were not to be abused. Minors were not to frequent saloons (unless seeking or accompanied by their father) and such establishments were warned not to become “disorderly.” Some ladies routinely paid little attention to the stricture.

State legislation always required municipalities to keep a record of its laws. Upon city-hood in 1876, large Books of Ordinances were maintained as well as the individual laws, often written on pieces of paper that somehow defied the ravages of time and man. The ledgers represented a substantial attempt to not only preserve the laws but announce to the world the importance of this place.

The heavy tomes provide a written tour of the collective community will as laws addressed creating a police commission, granting franchises for “street railroads,” the continuous revision of revenue laws, and the persistent sewer problems—including an often ignored injunction prohibiting discharges into the San Luis Creek.

It is all there—the vision requiring increasingly complex rules and regulations struggling for reality. There are ghastly laws: prohibiting laundries as fire and noise nuisances—but solely affecting the Chinese; there are positive laws: such as regulating the sale of used clothing to decrease the likelihood of spreading disease.

Presently, some of this collective civic conscience is available in the professional preservation of often-fragile slips of paper.

The evolution from a spiritual compound to a secular city—a community’s dreams and fears—can be read as an assortment of saints and sinners sought to identify just

what their municipality, and their lives, were to be about.

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Even though the today’s prospect moving m the shadows of time, legacy,of once preserved, be posterity’s treasures. Waitfuture, youwillowe it to yourself to learn h ing for the kindness of the present, every bit carefree living in your own home for man of the past—a record of the vision—so pre-

There is much to do for our successors.

Desperate for the generosity of donors, corserved is truly an accomplishment and gift of respondence dating from 1864 and petitions historic proportions for the community! for community lots dating even earlier wait patiently—but not forever—to be rescued Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com a fact of lifeinto that as we get older, Pristine is fully for the future. EachIt’s provides a glimpse the emerging community as generations some day-to-day tasks become too licensed and insu attempt to provide much for themselves (and us).on our own. That to handle All of our worke While many treasures have disappeared into

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

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hospice corner See you at the ball

By Mark Wilson

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’m going to ask you to forgive me for talking about money. I ask for forgiveness only because I know it can be a subject almost as taboo as talking politics and religion for some people. I’ve known more than a few folks in my lifetime who’ve believed that money can solve all problems. I think we all know it can’t. For our purposes, though, I’d like to have a discussion about money, Wilshire Hospice’s not for profit status and, more specifically, an upcoming fundraiser that helps us continue our mission of providing care to our local community on the basis of need rather than the ability to pay.

Every year for the past 15 years, Wilshire Hospice has met its mission to provide comprehensive hospice care to anyone in our community who found themselves or a family member in need. We did it before we changed our name from Hospice Partners to Wilshire Hospice (more on that subject in another column, by the way) and we continue to deliver on that promise today thanks to the generous donations of local businesses, individuals, and countless volunteers and supporters, many of whom have been touched by the death of a loved one and felt the positive outcome that outstanding hospice care can

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provide for patients, family and friends. There are countless stories of Wilshire caring for the homeless, the indigent or any number of others who may have, otherwise, fallen through the cracks. It’s who we are. It’s what we do.

While Medicare, MediCal and various private insurances carry a hospice benefit, many of the core services provided by Wilshire, including some pain medications and other treatments, are often provided at Wilshire’s expense with no insurance reimbursement at all. We do it not because we enjoy spending money that we don’t have to, but because our clinical staff feels it necessary and in the best interest of the patient.

The Wilshire Hospice Center for Grief Education and Healing is another example of the organization’s mission to provide comprehensive care and support; in this case, at a cost of several hundred thousand dollars a year. The center’s bereavement staff are experts in grief counseling for adults, adolescents and children, and our services are not only available for our hospice patients and family, but for the community at large. Once again, no insurance reimbursement. We do it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s who we are and what we do.

Wilshire Hospice’s Supportive Music Program is nationally recognized, a powerful resource for the local community and yet another program that is fully supported by Wilshire and by grants and donations. In formal studies, as well as anecdotal personal experience, music has been proven to calm agitation, to improve the efficacy of medication and to ease the mind and heart, as well as the body. Our staff Therapeutic Musicians are highly trained and certified. I can tell you they make a positive difference in people’s lives 365 days a year, weekends and holidays included. Wilshire is also leading in this field by providing information, inspiration and

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a model to other supportive music programs across the U.S.

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MARCH CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

In short, I think we’re doing some really important and good work in our community.

I hope you agree. But, we need the funds to continue it. Look out … here comes the pitch.

Please join us for our Dazzling Diamond Ball on March 15th at the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom in San Luis Obispo. You’ll be transported to one of Italy’s most glorious cities thanks to the magical artistry of Mark Padgett. We’ll sip good wine and cocktails; eat a multicourse gourmet dinner; enjoy music from Café Musique and San Luis Jazz Band, dance, carouse ... and then ... we’ll bid on some pretty spectacular items in the auction. Trips to Italy and/or a spectacular piece of diamond jewelry designed by Marshalls Jewelers do anything for you? I thought so.

Just go to www.wilshirehcs.org and click on Events under the News button. It’s black tie optional but if you’re spending money, I don’t really care if you show up in your pajamas. Just please show up. The money we raise that night will benefit local patients and their families and will help us continue our mission to never turn a patient away based on ability to pay.

Thanks, again, for indulging me folks. See you at The Ball.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: IN THE KITCHEN ACROSS 1. On a day like this, one can see forever 6. Barley bristle 9. “____ up!”

13. Former French currency 14. *Poor man’s caviar 15. Walk through slush 16. “He’s _ ____ nowhere man” (The Beatles) 17. Mike’s sugary partner 18. These lips sink ships 19. *Cook briefly 21. *Cook in oil 23. ___ Gabriel 24. Greek muse’s strings 25. Before now 28. Le Corbusier’s art 30. State further 35. *Coffee servers

37. Clever tactic 39. Bristles 40. San Quentin, e.g.

41. Shocking gun 43. Inmate’s blade 44. Full-length 46. Of higher order 47. Famous Amos 48. Three-dimensional sound 50. Tree branch 52. *Salt in cocina 53. “In the ____, you can sail the seven seas” 55. OB-GYN test 57. *Firm pasta, not hard 61. Not sidesaddle 65. Shade of purple 66. Bubble maker 68. Bushed 69. More eccentric 70. *_ __ mode 71. _____ Zola 72. Astute

73. ___ degree 74. Pine product DOWN 1. Form of approval 2. Italian money 3. ____ and anon 4. Omani and Yemeni 5. To add another magazine 6. Brown part of apple seed, e.g.

7. *Chinese convex pan 8. Down and out 9. Pig food 10. *Pig part, often served pickled 11. America’s WWII ally 12. He plus she 15. Lodging ad: “______ four” 20. Incompetent 22. Pitcher’s stat 24. More or less 25. *For dipping 26. Hollywood’s legendary Cary 27. *Chilled

29. *Can be hard-shelled or soft-shelled 31. Boll weevil, e.g.

32. Distinctive spirit of a culture 33. Nigerian money 34. *Coat with hot seasoning 36. Result of too many drinks 38. Sasquatch’s Asian cousin 42. Stadium walkways 45. Ten dollar bill, slang 49. *Bran source 51. *It’s coated on fish of chicken before frying 54. *Strictly vegetarian 56. *Like standing rib roast 57. Crazily 58. *Serve soup, e.g.

59. City slicker on a ranch 60. Balanced 61. Asian nurse 62. Fleur-de-lis 63. *Cured meat and cold cuts 64. Genesis garden 67. Final, abbr.

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palm street perspective It began with an idea

By SLO City Councilwoman, Carlyn Christianson

“It began with an idea.” This was the common thread of the speeches during the January ground-breaking celebrations of the city’s Water Resource and Recovery Facility (WRRF). The details of what and why SLO is undertaking this project have been reported elsewhere, but what impressed me most during the festivities was the open recognition that without the Utilities Department’s pioneering way of paying and advancing employees, the WRRF project would have been just another routine upgrade, costing millions and delivering improvements, but doing nothing for the environment and saving little in costs.

Instead, we have a truly ground-breaking (pardon the pun) project, so innovative and advanced that many cities and counties are asking SLO how to copy it, and PG&E is adopting its energy-saving approach as they work with other utilities to repair or replace their aging systems. The WRRF will, over time, save the city millions of dollars and make a tangible difference in our local environment.

The way an employee’s simple idea turned into an environmental and fiscal showcase came about because the Department’s “SkillsBased Pay” (SBP) program and supportive culture provides the opportunity for our best and brightest employees to shine. As it is more formally described, SBP provides

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“incentives for increased skills to improve service levels to the community, drives innovation and change within the operations area, implements succession planning and knowledge transfer, and allows for increased focus on planning for the operational supervisors.” SBP supports the City’s mission of community service and shares goals with a number of the City’s official Organizational Values (which you can find on the City’s website www.slocity.org).

What does this mean in plain English? It means that because of the way the Utilities Department hires and pays its employees, when they come up with a good idea, the department is set up to take advantage of that idea, and the employee is set up to take the idea and make it happen. This means that creative, enthusiastic, dedicated people get to use their brains and their energy to make San Luis Obispo a better place, and save the city money while contributing to its major goals, like energy savings and environmental improvements. SBP means that employees move from one step to the next based on clear and objective criteria that the employee continually demonstrates. This is different from the City’s more traditional salary structure, which primarily rewards tenure, and it encourages communication, leadership and independent problem-solving skills.

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SBP especially means that the city benefits both directly and indirectly from good ideas and good people, which are at the heart of superior city services and operations. SBP provides the opportunity for all employees to develop traditional technical skills, but also cultivate the “soft” skills that exemplify leadership—supporting a more cohesive, thoughtful, service-oriented organization, implementing modern technology and efficient work practices, and streamlining decision making and problem correction.

The good news is that the Council recently voted to expand the impressively successful SBP approach from the Utilities Department to the Public Works Department, in the area of maintenance operations for Buildings, Parks, Trees, Streets, and Fleet. As the city prepares for a future of ever more efficient budgets coupled with ever higher service expectations, the City is eager to continue testing SBP as a means to make positive changes to our compensation systems without sacrificing quality and service.

Indeed, if history has anything to say, this change should lead to better recruiting and retention opportunities and more productive and supported employees. Best of all, SBP should lead to more innovative ideas that save the city many times over the costs and go a long ways towards the city goals of fiscal responsibility and efficient use of all resources—including our vital human resources. After all, it’s people that make the city work, and it’s their ideas, energy and enthusiasm that make it work best.

See the November 19, 2013 Council Agenda staff report, Item B1, on the City’s website for SBP details. To report a problem or ask a question, go to the “Report a Problem” button on the website, or contact the City at 990 Palm Street, SLO, 93401, 805-781-7100.

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

Inside:

March 2014

W hat ’s U p Downtown B usiness Spo tlights

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site visits in Downtown to determine which arch marks the start of spring! And here businesses will be recognized for categories at the Downtown Association, we are including new signage and interior tenant already springing into action and gearing up improvements. This year the committee went for the month. This month kicks off with our out armed with what started as a two and a Beautification Awards Breakfast and ends with half page list and trimmed it down through a five new faces joining our Board of Directors collaborative voting process. Volunteers on the at the annual Board Retreat. Amidst those big committee come from various backgrounds dates we are sending several staff members off in retail, hospitality, professional service and to the California Main Street Alliance’s Winter Tartaglia, media, and that diversity really brings a lot of Conference to seek out information and bring it Dominic Executive Director discussion to the table during the voting process. back to our community so we can continue to The winners will be revealed at the Breakfast make magic happen in Downtown. Outside of along with a special presentation from our staff and a those big events this month we are seeing the transition sneak peek from one of the bands that will be playing of winter into spring and the beginning of Daylight Concerts in the Plaza this summer.

Savings Time which means longer days and longer daylight hours at the Market on Thursday nights. hile I get to start this March off eating breakfast

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ur 25th Annual Beautification Awards Breakfast will be held on March 7th at Mother’s Tavern (reserve your seats at www.DowntownSLO.com). This year 27 local businesses and property owners will be honored for going the extra mile to create, improve or maintain the appearance of their store with an esteemed Beautification Award. Each year a committee of volunteers gathers for a series of meetings and on

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with our membership, I will be ending it with ice cream at the California Main Street Alliance’s Winter Conference in Hanford, CA. Sure, there is no Doc Burnstein’s in Hanford but what they do have is a tour of the Rosa Brothers Milk Company to start out a comprehensive conference with fellow Main Street Alliance members. The conference includes sessions and round tables that relate to improving business

On the Cover: The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center displays a large "Welcome” sign to visitors of Downtown and will be honored this month with a Beautification Award from the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association. Photo by Dominic Tartaglia

Five Fabulous Reasons To Shop Downtown SLO

We are here for you.

es!

at eateri Food: Dozens of gre

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ether!

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s to get tog Friends: Cool Place

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Fashion: Great shops for the entire family!

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Fun: Events! Events!

Event

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Film: Theatres, the S LO Film

s!

Festival

Fabulous! Why go anywhere else?

For more info: www.DowntownSLO.com

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

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

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• Extensive knowledge of Central Coast facilities.

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networking within downtowns, incorporating art into downtown spaces and promoting entrepreneurship in downtowns. While I do have to spend a few days away from our Downtown, I expect to bring back some great ideas to share with our Board of Directors at the retreat immediately following my return.

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istorically, the Downtown Association has a day set aside to introduce our new Board of Directors to the programs and policies of the organization as well as to review our mission statements and measure our overall success at achieving our goals. This year Novo Restaurant and Lounge is graciously hosting us for the entire day while we conduct icebreakers and breakdown our budget for the coming year. In previous years we have invited community leaders to join us to provide valuable insights into current issues affecting our membership and this year will be no different as the City of San Luis Obispo is preparing for some important changes in local funding and policy. If that’s too vague or you feel out of the loop, consider keeping an eye out for information regarding the Land Use Circulation Element, Measure Y, homeless services and local development projects. The Downtown Association certainly will be staying involved with those issues.

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elieve it or not, the Downtown Association is involved in many more things than just Concerts

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in the Plaza and Thursday Night Promotions Farmers’ Market. Recently, a new Downtown Association committee was developed to address food, beverage and services issues and on the weekend preceding Saint Patrick’s Day you will see just how they will be making an impact on the Downtown. If you have lived in San Luis Obispo long enough it’s fair to say that at some point in years past you saw the results of a rowdy Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Without going into too much detail of what those results used to look like I will tell you the Food, Beverage and Services Committee (formerly Safe Night Life) took notice and has put together a game plan. Their plan will keep Downtown safe, clean and inviting while still serving the population of folks who come Downtown to party on March 17th. The plan will consist of portable restrooms placed strategically so visitors will utilize a proper restroom facility instead of the alcoves and alleys of our businesses. Additionally, SLO Safe Ride and transportation alternatives to driving while intoxicated will be present to ensure people get home safely if they have been drinking. This committee is planning ahead for Graduation weekend as well as Hallowe’en and is currently looking into other ways they can create a better experience for guests of Downtown.

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nother way we are actively participating in improving the Downtown experience is in collaboration with SLO Police Department and United Way of San Luis Obispo County to address the prevalence of aggressive transient behavior in Downtown. The Association recognizes there is a profound difference between chronic homelessness and aggressive transient behavior exhibited by program resistant individuals. Through many conversations with community stake holders, SLOPD, homeless service representatives and our Board of Directors, we have identified a plan to help get the chronically homeless the services they need and to pursue

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alternative means of correcting aggressive behaviors of the transient population. Later this month you will likely see how the efforts of this group will change the way we address homelessness in San Luis Obispo with a positive light.

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peaking of light, Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9th, which means longer hours of natural light at our Thursday Night Promotions Farmers’ Market. It’s only a matter of time before the sunset will coincide with the end of the Market on Thursday nights and Friday nights will kick off with live, local music at Concerts in the Plaza.

In the meantime, this March promises to be a busy start to the spring season of 2014. Make it a great month!

Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab

Greg Steinberger, Founder (pictured) 860 Higuera Street (805) 474-4068 www.DocBurnsteins.com

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owntown was a buzz with the recent opening of Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab in San Luis Obispo. Over 400 people lined the sidewalks to get a glimpse of the new parlor as it opened its doors to a whole new design.

Customers are transported into the fun and whimsical Lab of the Doc himself. Bright colors light up the walls as an ways. There are “Fun”draiser Nights, monthly blood drives ice cream waterfall cascades down to the floor, proving once again that Doc’s mission is to create a memory that entitled “Give a Pint, Get a Pint”, and annual scholarships for student employees to achieve their goal of higher its guests can remember for a lifetime. education. ore than just the new design makes Doc’s unique. oc Burnstein’s has been a staple on the Central Anyone who knows Doc Burnstein’s, knows it’s Coast since 2003 when Greg Steinberger opened more than just an ice cream store. Each time you visit a its flagship parlor in Arroyo Grande. All of their ice Doc Burnstein’s parlor, you are helping the “Giving Back” pledge that makes Doc’s beloved by our community. The cream is handcrafted on-site in Arroyo Grande and SLO, using local quality ingredients when available, and is company pledges to give 10% of its annual profits back the highest quality ice cream currently made on Central to the local community through many clever and fun Coast.

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vThirtyFive Development Studios Jack Dugan, Manager 559 Higuera Street, Suite B (805) 704-4475 www.vThirtyFive.com

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ne of the biggest goals for businesses today is connecting consumers to their services. That’s the main goal of vThirtyFive Development Studios located in Downtown San Luis Obispo. vThirtyFive is a team based, native app development studio focused on connecting the consumer directly to what a business has offer. Some of their work on the Central Coast involves developing apps for local wineries including Opollo and Tolosa.

They have also developed mobile app solutions for communities of business such as the Central Coast Wine app, Maui Activities and Maui Dining app. Everything that vThirtyFive does, they do to get solid, proven financial benefits for businesses.

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has a heavy background in print advertising, having published a magazine for a number of years. He moved to app production when he began to see the transition of print to digital media. The inspiration for the name was quite simple actually, “Our first app we completed was the thirty-fifth version of that app, and it seemed to fit,” says Dugan. While he’s been in the area doing contracted work for about three years, Dugan and vThirtyFive Studios just recently got the office space in Downtown. While they only have three employees in the Downtown office, there are about six more developers and employees stationed in other areas. If you would like more information about their work or to view their portfolio, visit their website at vThirtyFive.com.

fter growing up in Maui, manager Jack Dugan has been around the Central Coast for eight years. Dugan By Travis Domingues

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It is not easy for them to communicate with us either. No one has smart phones or internet in Dumarao. Alma’s family takes photos with a simple camera, then travels two hours away to the nearest city with internet to download photos and email us. Dumarao is still without any electricity, and they do not expect any until May 2014 at the earliest as the power poles and lines were knocked down in the typhoon. They recharge what phones they do have taking turns with one generator in a neighboring village.

with your kind donations, progress is being made in dumarao, Philippines To my knowledge, no relief agency from the “outside world” has reached Dumarao yet. So they are surviving through their own efforts and the generous donations from you and others like you who cared about their survival after super typhoon Haiyan.

Thank you so very much. With our combined donations, the approximately 1,300 villagers are being fed basic food (rice and sardines that I know about); and they are slowly rebuilding their homes. I have heard that they are salvaging bamboo and wood from their destroyed homes to rebuild them again. Let’s hope that another typhoon does not come through as these are not solid homes. I wish we could build them all concrete homes.

About three weeks before Christmas my daughter-in-law Alma’s sister Sally who lives in Dumarao called Alma saying that she wanted to throw a Christmas party for the children who lived there, saying that they were very traumatized after having lost their homes, schools, and belongings. She wanted to pick up their spirits and give each child $.50 worth of presents. We thought “$.50 each, that’s all?” Due to your generosity, we sent $2.00 per child or $800; and the 400 children of Dumarao enjoyed a Christmas party that they had never imagined. Sally dressed up as Santa Claus, using a costume she had once purchased when she used to live in a city. In she walked to three different school districts bearing gifts and chanting the typical “ho ho ho.” They children had no idea what she was and were initially afraid as they had never seen a Santa Claus. But when she started to give away presents, they were sooo overjoyed. Each child received a small bag of some candy (which they NEVER get), some bread, a pencil, a handkerchief and a little talcum powder. They posed behind big signs thanking us for giving them Christmas.

As there are so many needs there and not enough money to do it all, we asked them to prioritize what they wanted rebuilt first. Their first priority is to rebuild their small chapel. We don’t have enough funds to rebuild their larger church; so the chapel will have to do.

They send Alma a list of all materials needed to rebuild the chapel; and using all villager labor, the materials alone will cost $800. So we sent them $800 via Western Union, and construction of the chapel is ongoing now (“before” photos included here). Their second priority is to rebuild a preschool that was 100% destroyed to the ground, but I do not have a cost estimate on that. Later the elementary schools, church, and private homes would be rebuilt with adequate funds.

When Alma was a little girl, if she was hungry, she just went into the forest and picked some fruit to eat. Those fruit trees are gone now, and it will be many years before new trees bear fruit. The rice paddies that were all flooded are being replanted. Since yams were one of the foods that survived the storm, they are now planting more vegetables underground rather than above ground. Even though the news media has gone off to other parts of the world, know that the recovery in the Philippines, like Haiti, will take many years, even with help.

Donations can be made at any Rabobank to the “Dumarao Philippines Relief Fund.”

Kathleen O’Neill

The villagers of Dumarao are so very grateful for all our help, saying they cannot believe that people on the other side of the world who don’t even know them care enough to help them survive. 100% of the money sent to them goes to direct aid with nothing going to overhead or some intermediary government official. They are so conscientious about what they are spending our donations on that they justify what they need before we send them any money and then photograph their receipts for purchases.

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the facilitator and beneficiary of the event. “It is also a show that features a lot of vehicles you would not normally see at a concours event like Pebble Beach.” SLO Concours also celebrates featured marques each year. This year’s event invites owners of Mustangs and Mercedes-Benz. For tickets, VIP packages, vehicle entry requirements and other information, visit www. sanluisobispoconcours.com or call Hospice SLO at (805) 5442266. All proceeds from the SLO Concours benefit Hospice SLO.

Ecoslo hosts e-waste collection drive

SLO Night-time Kiwanis donates to library

The Kiwanis Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa made a $630 donation to support the SLO Friends of the Library In-School Reading Program. “This money will go directly to purchase books for the children in the Friends In-School Reading program” said Dr. Richard Riggins, Secretary of the Kiwanis. The reading program began four years ago initiated at Hawthorne Elementary School by the Friends board of directors. According to Linda Thompson, program coordinator, “Program volunteers work in the classroom with individual students to help them improve their reading skills. At the end of the school year, all students in those classrooms receive books selected by their teachers to take home with them.” Pictured are Ken Barclay, President, SLO Friends of the Library; Dr. Richard Riggins, Secretary, Kiwanis Club; Linda Thompson, Friends board member and program coordinator; and Sally Hillis, Friends board member and program volunteer.

2014 Concours to feature mustangs, Mercedes

The annual SLO Concours kicks off on Friday, June 6, with a series of events throughout the weekend in a lead-up to the main event on Sunday. The SLO Concours offers an exciting and unique experience for automobile collectors and enthusiasts alike. The SLO Concours Main Event, held on June 8 from 10am to 3pm, brings together a large and eclectic mix of classic, unique, interesting and fun vehicles. Notable vehicles at past events have included a 1936 Delahaye 135 Competition valued at millions of dollars, an antique fire engine, military vehicles, travel trailers, wooden boats, the “World’s Fastest Indian” motorcycle and even a display of historic bicycles. “This show is unique in the area because it is the only car show locally that features a number of high-end quality vehicles being judged by concours standards,” said Kris Kington-Barker, executive director of Hospice of San Luis Obispo County (Hospice SLO),

D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years

Alan “Himself” M A R C H

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

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ECOSLO is hosting a community e-waste collection drive.

Residents who drop off e-waste, such as inkjet cartridges, laser toner, and cell phones, will keep local landfills cleaner and raise money for a good cause at the same time. Each piece of acceptable waste donated to ECOSLO will raise money to help preserve and protect our environment. Drop off e-waste (inkjet cartridges, laser toner, and cell phones) at the ECOSLO office at 75 Higuera Street, Suite 100 from 9am to 1pm. We are currently working on having other drop-off locations throughout the community for your convenience. ECOSLO has been inspired to make a difference, but we cannot do it alone. We need help and volunteers from the community in order to make the e-waste drive successful. An estimated 350 million inkjet and laser cartridges and used cell phones are thrown away every year, so there are plenty of them available to be recycled. Any inkjet cartridge can be recycled, regardless of brand type: HP, Lexmark, Xerox, Compaq, Brother, Dell, Canon, and Apple. For more information contact: Michael Heater, ECOSLO Program Coordinator, 544-1777.

SLO Friends of the library book sale

The SLO Friends of the Library will be presenting their highly-anticipated 35th Annual Book Sale, March 6-8th. The sale takes place at the SLO Veterans Memorial Building, 801 Grand Avenue. There will be a large selection of items this year, including approximately 5,000 audio-visual items. More than 15,000 books will be available, with an especially large inventory of children’s, art, literature, history, cooking, and health 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. An excellent selection of Special Price Books will be available, which are rare or unusual titles of interest to the collector or specialist. Proceeds from the sale will go toward materials and improvements for the San Luis Library. In the past 8 years, the sale has raised over $100,000 for the library. Keys to the success of the sale are the large number of volunteers (over 100 are needed) and the large number of donations from the community.

Those interested in donating materials or volunteering may contact Paul Murphy at 544-3033.

Strike a pose—Women’s shelter fundraiser

Phyllis’ Musical Revues 27th annual show benefiting the SLO Women’s Shelter will be held on Friday, March 7th and Saturday, March 8th. The lunch show is at 11am with tickets from $65-$75.

The dinner show is at 5:30pm with tickets from $120-$130 and 10pm dancing. For more information, call Madonna Inn Boutique at 784-2441 or email cheri@madonnainn.com

2014 cayucos sea glass festival

Thousands of visitors from all over the world will converge at the 4th Annual Cayucos Sea Glass Festival March 8 and 9 to enjoy art, hand-crafted jewelry, family friendly activities, live music and more. “Our vendors say that this is the best sea glass craft show in the nation because they sell more products here than at any other show,” Festival Chairwoman and co-creator Catherine “Kiki” Kornreich said. “Thirty-eight vendors will be travelling to Cayucos from all across the country. With all of these various vendors, festivalgoers can experience the most diverse selection of sea glass merchandise in comparison to past years.” The festival will take place at the Cayucos Veterans Hall right at the foot of the historic Pier in Cayucos, CA on March 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entry fee for both days is $5, but the first 200 guests will be admitted an hour early each day for a Preview Shopping hour from 9 to 10 a.m. The entry fee for the Preview Shopping hour on both days of the festival is $15. All proceeds from the festival will benefit the Fourth of July Cayucos Fireworks Show. For more information, lodging options and updates, visit www.CayucosSeaGlass.com.

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free senior health screening

Community Action Partnership, Adult Wellness & Prevention Screening for adults and seniors is available throughout San Luis Obispo County. Free services include: screening for high blood pressure, weight and pulse. Finger prick screening tests for: high cholesterol, anemia and blood sugar. Counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 544-2484 ext. 1 for dates, times and locations.

central coast olive competition

The 5th annual Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, which is hosted by the California Mid-State Fair, will take place in May 2014 and feature over 150 olive oils produced in California. The overall goal of the Central Coast Olive Oil Competition is to provide a venue for California olive oils to be professionally judged and to educate consumers regarding the quantity and styles of olive oil produced in California. For more information on the contest visit www.midstatefair.com. Entries can be completed online at cmsfw.fairmanager.com and are due Friday, April 4, 2014.

applications available for miss cmsf pageant

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014 Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant. Contestants must be between the ages of 17-22 on opening day of the 2014 Fair, be a current resident of San Luis Obispo County, and have never been married. Each contestant will compete in five categories: Interview, Platform, Talent, Swimsuit and Evening Wear. In addition, each contestant will establish a platform of service for the Fair. If selected as Queen or a Princess, they must be able to attend every day of the 2014 Fair and participate in numerous public events. The pageant takes place on Tuesday, July 15th. A no-obligation orientation meeting will be held Wednesday, March 9th at 6 p.m. in the Skybox at the Paso Robles Event Center. Applications are officially due Friday, April 4th and are available at the Paso Robles Event Center, Paso Robles or on-line at www.midstatefair. com. For more information, contact pageant coordinator Patti Lucas at 805-612-6971 or via email at pglucas19@gmail.com.

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canzona women’s ensemble concert

girls night out—a benefit for casa

A lively night out for women with entertainment provided by Meathead Movers at the San Luis Country Club. Raffles, tapas, no-host bar & dancing make this an evening not to be missed! Best of all, tuxedoed Meathead Movers lavish attention on guests at the event and compete for tips, all of which are donated to CASA. The big event takes place on Thursday, March 13, 6 - 9pm. Tickets are $70 per person. For more information go to slocasa.org or call 541-6542.

jack’s helping hand hires new executive director

Jack’s Helping Hand recently announced that Karen Borges has been named as its new executive director. Borges is now responsible for overseeing the administration, programs and strategic plan of the organization, and working closely with the Board of Directors to fulfill the nonprofit organization’s mission. As Borges helps Jack’s Helping Hand grow, she will work alongside Administrative Assistant Jill Gentilly to coordinate Jack’s Helping Hand programs and provide various resources offered by the organization. Borges brings 15 years of medical and administrative experience to Jack’s Helping Hand, and was most recently an accounting specialist at Verdin Marketing. Borges replaces Mary Illingworth, who retired in November after seven years as the executive director. Visit www.jackshelpinghand.org or call (805) 547-1914 for more information.

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Canzona Women’s Ensemble concludes its fifth anniversary season with a concert entitled “Singtime in Paris” on Sunday afternoon, March 23 at 4 p.m. at the Cuesta College CPAC in SLO. The 24-voice group is led by co-directors Cricket Handler and Jill Anderson and accompanied by pianist Janis Johnson and accordion player Duane Inglish (of Café Musique fame). The program will highlight five centuries of Frenchinspired music, ranging from the Renaissance and 19th century to 20th century cabaret and musical theatre. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $10 for students. They can be ordered online through the website: www.canzonawomen.org, or through brownpapertickets.com.

For information, call (805) 542-0506. The CPAC is located off Highway 1 on the Cuesta College Campus.

haslo brings affordable homeownership to slo

Affordable homeownership in San Luis Obispo is now a reality.

Moylan Terrace, a project by the SLO Housing Authority (HASLO) proves they can. By all accounts the population of the City of San Luis Obispo nearly doubles during daytime hours, but is short on housing that is affordable. Thus the dream of HASLO—to provide homeownership opportunities for nurses, teachers and other middle income workers in the community. Phase 1 of Moylan Terrace completed construction and quickly sold out in August 2013.

Affordable homes in Phase 1 sold for $162,900, and market homes started at $363,900. Twenty-four homes in Phase 2 are currently in construction and scheduled to be completed in spring 2014. Units are set aside for very low-income, low-income, moderate income and market rate families, with prices adjusted based on income category.

The units consist of two and three bedroom townhomes. Lenny Grant at RRM Design Group designed the homes to strict “green building” standards; all homes exceed California’s rigorous Title 24 energy code by 26% to 46% depending on the floor plan and location of the home.

A total of 80 homes are planned for Moylan Terrace, which will be constructed over several more phases. Anyone interested in learning more about this project should go to the project website at http:// www.moylan-terrace.com. General inquiries can also be made to HASLO Executive Director Scott Smith at 594-5323.

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rsvp volunteer opportunities

Put your life experience to work with RSVP. Join with many other seniors, age 55 and over, who are taking time to help improve the lives of others. RSVP can match your talents and interests with community needs. RSVP needs dynamic, creative people to serve on the Senior Volunteer Services (SVS) Board of Directors and on the RSVP PAC (Policy Advisory Committee), Project Lifesaver, The Central Coast (Oceano) Senior Center, Five Cities Meals on Wheels – Pismo Beach – has immediate need for office help, The Good Neighbor Program, SLO County YMCA, The Literacy Council. Call 544-8740 for more information.

St Patrick’s day annual celebration/dinner

botanical garden march events

Saturday at the Children’s Garden – Kid’s Garden Party. Saturday, March 1, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Join us in the Children’s Garden at SLO Botanical Garden for a hands-on learning experience for the whole family! Learn gardening essentials and have fun in the Garden! $5 donation for nonmembers. No registration required. More information at slobg.org/party.

Saturday at the Garden – Edible Landscaping. Saturday, March 8, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Learn how to combine form and function in your yard by using plants as stunning design features. Join Master Gardeners at the SLO Botanical Garden as we discover the ease and beauty of incorporating edible plants into a traditional landscape. $5 for members/$10 public. Followed at 2 p.m. by a free Garden tour. No registration required. More information at slobg.org/edible.

Special Guest Speaker – Poop: The Process of Elimination by Alhy Muelher. Monday, March 10, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The topic of excrement may make you blush, or steer clear, but you won’t want to miss this fun and informative presentation at the SLO Botanical Garden. Discover how poop of all shapes and sizes can be helpful in your garden! Nursery owner, Alhy Muelher will present this delightful and humorous topic. $5 for members/$10 public. No registration required. More information at slobg.org/poop.

The 18th Annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration dinner of corned beef and cabbage, with all the trimmings and dessert, will be held on March 15th, from 4-7 p.m. in the church hall, 501 Fair Oaks Avenue. Dinner tickets ranging in price from $4 for children under the age of 13, $7 for seniors and $8 for adults will be on sale beginning March 1 after Masses. Tickets will also be available at the door on March 15th or in the church office during business hours. Tickets for three cash prizes will also be sold. Winners need not be present.

simkins named interim symphony director

The SLO Symphony recently announced that Maryellen Simkins will serve as the Interim Executive Director until the permanent position is filled. Maryellen Simkins brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Symphony. She has worked closely with a number of organizations including the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, SLO Little Theatre, Carmel & Naccasha, and Parks Management Company. Simkins is currently the President of the Board of Directors of the PCPA Foundation and consults for both non-profit and for-profit entities particularly in the areas of executive searches, human resources and team building. More information can be found at www.slosymphony.com.

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COMMUNITY

eye on Business

start up business owners and companies looking to expand.

Score’s 30th is something to celebrate

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

I

first became acquainted with SLO SCORE, the acronym for the Service Corps of Retired Executives, when I worked at the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce in the 1980s. The Chamber donated meeting space for the group, at the time an all-male troupe of volunteers who offered counseling and support to startup businesses. The members of SCORE were just what the name says—retired executives who had a wealth of real world experience and success to share.

Think about it—the ’80s were a time when there was no internet. Information needed to launch a business—things like how to set up a bookkeeping system, principles of marketing, assessing risks and opportunities was gathered by painstaking research using everything from text books to phone books to pamphlets that could be obtained from the government. SCORE became a lifeline—a one stop source for not just the facts, but the fiction of business.

I got to know the SCORE volunteers well— people like the late Ralph Reese and Floyd McGee led the charge. I saw firsthand what they did to help launch businesses—as well

as gently advise against life savings being invested on wobbly business plans.

Years later, my husband Dave and I were happy to offer office space to the SCORE team. We saw firsthand what these execs did week in and week out, all year round.

The economic devastation of 2008 and 09 hit and SCORE was there to help countless people forge new paths when old jobs evaporated. And while technology may have simplified tasks like research, the internet has also catalyzed a whole new level of fierce competition, making the services of the SCORE volunteers even more valuable.

SLO SCORE is celebrating its thirtieth anniversary in SLO County. The once allmale team has grown to 30 members and is now peppered with women, including this year’s Chapter Chair, Lorna Whiteaker (who shares her time with SCORE and her own business, MoneySmart Business Solutions).

The SCORE group hosts business startup training seminars and offers individual counseling and mentoring on a long list of topics. One of SCORE’s most valued services is the vital support system it provides to both

The SCORE Hall of Fame is an impressive list of some of the county’s well known businesses. SCORE clients over the years have included Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab, then in Arroyo Grande and now in three locations, including a hot spot in downtown SLO; House of Bread (attorney Sheila McCann’s hobby-turned thriving business), Advantage Answering Plus, the popular Budget Café, and Cornucopia Tool and Die in Paso Robles. When San Luis Sourdough (now owned by Sara Lee Corp) founders Dave and Charlie West first cobbled together a little bakery in a SLO business park, they did it with the help of SCORE. Retired Mattel exec Joe Whitaker now leads the group’s marketing effort, and he is working hard to share the SCORE story. He points out that 2/3 of all local SCORE clients are actively in business. In 2012 the chapter assisted in the creation of 32 new businesses and helped 42 existing companies grow their firms. And SCORE is its own success story: the chapter outgrew our offices and is now located in space offered by RRM Design Group.

You’ll be hearing more from SCORE as its 30th anniversary celebration unfolds. In the meantime, I want to extend an enormous “thank you” to a most deserving—and productive—group. There’s nothing “retired” about this gang.

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