April 2013 Journal Plus

RON MCCARLEY | MIRACLE MILES | SEAL VOLUNTEERS | MAT T REID & DAN PITOCCO

Journal APRIL 2013

PLUS

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

DAN CARPENTER

THE CARPENTER FAMILY

Larry D. Smyth Owner/Broker

805-543-2172 San Luis Obispo

www.farrellsmyth.com

www.ZinVineyard.com

805-904-6616 Arroyo Grande

www.347Branch.com

Jennifer Hamilton

Linda Aiello-Madison

Relocation Director

Broker-Associate

Ken Arritt

Broker-Associate

Gentleman’s Ranch 3.76 acres with vineyard and fully insulated 4900+ square foot steel shop with living quarters. Dry farming Zinfandel grapes. Electric gate + alarm system with cameras. Great opportunity for a car collector, or nicely located for potential tasting room. $1,275,000

SLO Downtown Bungalow

Excellent income property or owner occupant. Roomy 3 BR, 1 1/2 BA main house, 1450 Sq Ft with distinctive arched French Doors. Coved ceilings in LR and DR, cool retro kitchen with two built in china cabinets, and vintage Roper Range. Duplex is two 1 BD 1 BA units with a service porch and private yard for each unit. Plenty of onsite parking. Original wood floors in each unit as well. Excellent rental history. $749,500

Deane Naylor REALTOR®

Broker-Associate

Mary Rosenthal

Broker-Associate

Zoned Office-SFR, 2 bedroom with fireplace, hardwood floors. Located on the creek and adjacent to SLO’s serene Japanese gardens - and just around the corner from the SLO Downtown experience. $499,000

Arroyo Grande rural area near The Village. Remodeled 1750 square foot home, 3 car garage + 2 bonus rooms all on 1/3 acre. New roof, windows,flooring, heating, kitchen cabinets & appliances. Multi-family zoning. $459,000

Theresa Carroll

www.1740LosBerros.com

www.1750PrefumoCanyon.com

REALTOR®

Vicky Hall REALTOR®

Janet Shaner REALTOR®

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

Chris Stanley

Jerry Collins

Patricia Garrison

REALTOR®

www.157Clarence.com

Twila Arritt

Pamela Bliss

Annette Mullen

Country farm life close to town. Versatile 3 acres with charming 3 bedroom home + hobby/craft room and tool shed. Greenhouse. Apple, pear,citrus, and walnut trees. Circular drive with plenty of room for RV Storage. Creek on rear of property. Easy access to US101. $449,000

Warm & Inviting Condo in quiet, coveted location on Perfumo Canyon Road, remodeled kitchen granite countertops , walnut cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, Fridge, dishwasher, garbage disposal, the works! Freshpaint and carpet, master bedroom closet remodeled, bathrooms upgraded, as well! Private enclosed front patio, covered carport with storagespace and lovely complex with a pool. $295,000

Conveniently located in the heart of SLO & the Village of Arroyo Grande 21 Santa Rosa Street, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 110 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420

Marion Trombetta REALTOR®

Christine Williams REALTOR®

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CONTENTS

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

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

654 Osos Street San Luis Obispo California 93401

10 MATT REID AND DAN PITOCCO

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

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RON MCCARLEY

GONE FISHING

ADVERTISING Jan Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Deborah Cash, Charmaine Coimbra, Elise Greska, Jamie Baker, Dr. Michael deWit Clayton, Gordon Fuglie, and Kathy Smith.

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

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

PEOPLE

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RON MCCARLEY TWO SOLDIERS–Making a difference A MILLION DOLLAR VOLUNTEER JOB ELISE GRESKA–A year abroad DAN CARPENTER–The Carpenter family

HOME & OUTDOOR 20 22 24 26 28

MIRACLE MILES FOR KIDS GONE FISHING

COMMUNITY 30 32 34 36 41

MORTGAGE FACTS AND FICTION HISTORY: Andrew Carnegie HOSPICE CORNER / CROSSWORD PUZZLE PALM STREET–SLO Councilwoman, Smith COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening 46 EYE ON BUSINESS

FOOD / AT THE MARKET SLO ART SCENE Michael Barton Miller OUR SCHOOLS–Dr. Julian Crocker

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A proud tradition of serving our community for over 26 years

ARROYO GRANDE – Spectacular ocean and

dune views from nearly every room! This singlelevel contemporary home sits on 1.26 usable acres and fits into the surroundings with beautiful slate green & warm hickory wood floors. Abundant natural light pours in every window, and the chef in your family will love the commercial Viking range, abundant counter space & walk-in pantry. Informal dining area next to the kitchen and another dining area in the spacious great room. All of the bedrooms have ocean views and the master suite is luxurious. There is plenty of space for outdoor living too! Just minutes from Cypress Ridge golf course, wineries, and beaches. $997,500 #3108

Just Minutes from the Village of AG ARROYO GRANDE – This mini ranchette sits on just under 1 acre but feels larger. The main residence is a large 2 bedroom, 2 bath, with office extension/sitting area off the master bedroom, kitchen with tile floors & countertops, and dining area that opens into the large family room with wood burning fireplace. There is a 2-car garage and sizable laundry area & craft room. The large backyard features a newly built exotic hardwood 19x20 deck with outstanding views. The large 2-story barn on slab is perfect for farm equipment, workshop, RV storage or dream garage. $570,000 #3112

LOS OSOS – Completely remodeled single-level

home in Vista De Oro Estates. Upgrades include roof, windows, flooring, bathrooms and kitchen.

Manicured front and back yards on a large corner lot with a peek of the bay and Morro Rock. As clean as they get! $460,000 #3107

A Truly Remarkable Property

LOS OSOS – Great curb appeal, well-cared for home on a pleasant, quiet street in Los Osos; very near Elfin Forest and Linear Parkway.

Located 5 minutes from Morro Bay, 10 minutes from San Luis Obispo. Cathedral ceilings and lots of light in large 22ft. living room with corner fireplace creates comfortable setting. Takein the beautiful view of Hollister Peak from the living room window! All bedrooms have walk-in closets (2 in master)! Pre-plumbed electrical and gas in back wall of home for possible granny unit of up to 1000 sf. that can be built on property. Fully fenced yard for pets or entertaining. $429,000 #3110

SANTA MARGARITA – This is not an REO or Short Sale! This home is move-in ready with new paint, flooring, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and utility/laundry room. Huge yard with access from alley. And just minutes to freeway access. $330,000 #3102

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Roughly 8 acres of producing

ARROYO GRANDE – Spacious approx. 1920 sf

3 bedroom mobile home on one of largest owned lots in desirable Sunrise Terrace 55+ resident owned park. Features large family room with wet bar, living and dining room with built-in buffet, two bedrooms plus master suite and two full baths.

Gated park features clubhouse, swimming pool, BBQ area and many amenities. $230,000 #3100

vineyards and 24 acres ready for planting on this 80 acre property. Spacious 4 bed main home with extensive landscaping and pool, and 3 car garage with studio. The guest house features 2 master suites and 2 car garage, and the 1920’s 2 bedroom farmhouse and a mobile home provide farm support or rental income. The circa 1880’s barn has been refurbished into climate controlled wine storage, an office and equipment storage. Also features a 3000 sf newly constructed wine tasting and winemaking facility with spacious pouring bar.

3 AG wells and riparian rights to San Luis Creek, which runs through the property. Business is not a part of the sale. $3,499,000 #3105

SAN LUIS OBISPO – This 3 bedroom 2 bath secret garden with a detached full studio is a must see! Located close to downtown San Luis Obispo, this home has high ceilings, hardwood floors, skylights, a free standing fireplace, and many more wonderful features.

A new roof was just recently installed as well! $595,000 #3114

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

From the publisher

F

or more than eighteen years we have been writing family profiles on people that make a difference on the Central Coast. This month we feature the Carpenter family. Dan Carpenter gives us a history lesson on the five local generations of the Carpenters. You will be amazed at how many people’s lives and familiar places his family has influenced.

Two local soldiers are also making a difference. Matt Reid and Dan Pitocco have formed a nonprofit organization to help other soldiers coming home and needing help. They are having a fundraiser this month that will help get this new program started. You’ll enjoy their story inside.

Three people submitted personal stories that we thought our readers would enjoy. Dr. Michael Clayton writes a light-hearted story about his fishing trips in Baja. Charmaine Coimbra volunteers up the coast at the beaches where the sea lions hang out. She tells why it’s a million dollar volunteer job. Finally, Elise Greska spent a year abroad and writes about a butcher she met along the way.

Jamie Baker, from the Family Care Network, tells us about the upcoming Miracle Miles for Kids fundraiser.

The 10K Run/Walk from Morro Rock to the Cayucos Pier is scheduled for April 27th. He also explains where the money goes and how important this program is for the kids on the Central Coast.

Plenty of great reading again this month.

Steve Owens

COMING UP AT THE

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Jesse Cook 4/3 • 7:30 p.m.

Cal Poly Open House Concert 4/19 • 8 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by CP Theatre & Dance

Christopher Cohan Center

Alice in Wonderland w/ Ryan Lawrence's "Mourn" 4/6 • 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

4/7 • 2 p.m.

Ariel Quartet 4/20 • 8 p.m.

Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

Presented by Civic Ballet of SLO

Robin Hood 4/6 • 7 p.m. • 4/7, 2 p.m.

Charles Phoenix 4/21 • 3 p.m.

Christophetr Cohan Center

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

Presented by Ballet Theatre SLO

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Blue Man Group 4/8 & 4/9 • 7:30 p.m.

Cal Poly All-State Festival 4/21 • 2:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center

Christopher Cohan Center

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Presented by CP Music Dept.

The Magic Flute w/ Opera SLO 4/11 - 4/13 • 7:30 p.m.

Circa: 61 Circus Acts in 60 Minutes 4/23 • 7 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by CP Music Dept.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Romulo Larrea Tango Ensemble 4/14 • 7 p.m.

Cameron Carpenter 4/26 • 8 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britian 4/16 • 7:30 p.m.

Met Live in HD: Giulio Cesare 4/27 • 9 a.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Opera SLO & CPA

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

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

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PEOPLE

Radiant

ron mcCarley

By Natasha Dalton

J

azz visionary Ishmael Wadada Leo Smith, Manhattan Transfer, The Temptations, Chaka Khan, Bob Shepard, trumpeters Wayne Bergeron and Bobby Shew, trombonist Bill Watrous, saxophonist Miguel Zenon … Ron McCarley, who plays a score of wind instruments, got to perform with every single one of these musical stars—and with many other top-notch artists. Along with his salsa band in Cal Arts he opened for Cuban-born Latin jazz musician Paquito D’Rivera and for the music veteran Herb Alpert. McCarley even got to sing for Bobby McFerrin.

Singing for McFerrin was an impromptu. When McCarley toured Canada with the Dos Pueblos jazz band, his band kept running into McFerrin. In the band, McCarley and three of his friends formed a barbershop quartet ‘just for fun,’ and one day, upon noticing McFerrin at an airport, the quartet rushed to surprise him with a song.

“Bobbie was very nice—in spite of the fact that we weren’t very good,” McCarley chuckles. “He said, ‘It’s cool of you to do this.’”

Being ‘cool’ is one of McCarley’s favorite words. And he is pretty generous in assigning people to the ‘cool’ category. “I’m not good at name-dropping because as soon as I meet celebrities, I often discover that they’re just people,” he explains. That happened, for example, when McCarley met renowned flautist Jim Walker. “I always thought of him as super-human,” McCarley says, “but after I talked to him, I realized that he’s this super-nice guy. I like him more than ever, but he stopped being this mythological figure to me. The same is true for Ernie Watts and his wife.”

Hearing McCarley talk of his fellow musicians, you’d think he’d never met anyone he didn’t like: so quick is he with words of praise and admiration.

But when McCarley was just beginning his musical endeavors, things were different. While in a school band in Santa Barbara, he had a rival

from San Francisco. “We were the same age,” McCarley explains. “I was the lead soloist for my band; he was the lead soloist for his band.

And, he schooled me in every competition. I graduated from high school thinking that I probably wasn’t very good.”

This intense rivalry might’ve been one of the reasons why McCarley took his time in choosing a career. He started at the Berkeley School of Music, but then transferred to Westmont College—which gave him more time to think about the future.

As it often happens with the kids whose parents aren’t in the music business, he was encouraged to get “a real job.” After all, he was a good student, and could’ve become a good scientist or an engineer.

But in the end, music won.

His sense of self-worth as a musician rebounded when he saw his old competitor’s face on the cover of Downbeat magazine. All bitterness vanished when that same Josh Redman was covered by Time magazine. “It’s not that I stink, it’s that he’s that good,” McCarley realized.

McCarley was only 16, when he started giving private lessons, and eventually ended up teaching at many schools he previously attended: CCSB, UCSB, Westmont, Cal Arts. At 28, he began playing gigs, and soon became ‘the face’ of the Palace Grill, a popular restaurant in Santa Barbara, where he played sax. “After ten years of doing this, I became such a fixture, that when the owners took a picture for their new menu— I was in it,” McCarley says. “It’s still there now!”

The most satisfying projects aren’t always the ones that end up being commercially successful. Participating at the Live Oak Festival was “a fantastic experience.” On the other hand, even though the Hanson Brothers’ record “Middle of Nowhere,” where McCarley played piano and saxophone, sold over ten million copies, during that studio recording McCarley didn’t even get to meet the band.

Those who know McCarley as the Director of Jazz Studies at Cuesta’s Music Department may be surprised to learn that jazz wasn’t always his favorite musical genre.

Choro de Ouro

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“Before high school, I had never really heard jazz,” McCarley admits. “My folks weren’t particularly

tion extended to the likes of Cannonball Adderley, Chris Potter, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock.

Afterwards, when he went to Cal Arts, he found more musical influences. “Cal Arts was great,” McCarley says. “Both the teachers and the students were wonderful. All of them became very successful. I grew musically a lot when I was there.”

The McCarley family

hip; they didn’t like jazz. My dad likes John Philip Sousa.” But in the middle of McCarley’s freshman year, there appeared two openings in the jazz band: for a baritone sax player and for a drummer. It might’ve been sheer desperation that compelled Isaac Jenkins, the band director, to accept two boys who had never been in jazz bands before, but his instinct proved to be perfect.

“Emmanuel Baker (who went on to become quite famous) and I, we felt really honored to be in this group,” McCarley says. “It was a very good jazz band, and Jenkins was a very experienced director. Many of his students became band directors because we were so inspired; we’ve always looked up to that role as an honorable profession where you can affect a lot of people’s lives if you do it right.

He’s the guy who introduced me both to jazz and to the idea of teaching music.”

Having discovered jazz, McCarley became a big fan of Charlie Parker. “Unfortunately, he didn’t notice—he was long gone,” McCarley smiles. In later years, McCarley’s apprecia-

At Cal Arts, McCarley played with Adam Benjamin from Kneebody. “That was fun,” McCarley says. “These days there’re many bands that are doing really interesting things with jazz—it’s very exciting. I’m the kind of a guy who every couple of years needs to head in a new direction—just to keep things interesting. There was a period when it was salsa, then Indian classical music, then free jazz. A couple of years ago I got excited about photography. This is how I get through the day: by being excited about something. And I tend to do well when I’m doing something new,” McCarley adds.

These days (aside from his family and his work at Cuesta) McCarley spends lots of his time with the band Choro de Ouro, which he joined in 2011.

“Ron is so talented,” percussionist Lulu Orozco says. “He was our professor first, and now he is one of us. He plays alto flute, tenor sax, wooden flute and piccolo for the band (and can play many other instruments besides!), and he’s a fun person to be around! Magical things happen when we all play together.”

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of this exploration,” McCarley explains.

“What our band is doing isn’t a revival of the traditional music; we’re looking for a new way of doing it.”

If juggling teaching with live performances might seem too hectic for some, McCarley finds these two aspects of his work equally important. “There’s nothing like playing in a band when things are going really well,” he says. “But then there’re these little moments with your students, when you worked for a while, and you can see the results. Playing music is great; being a part of people’s lives is great, too.”

Luckily for us, the Central Coast supports every kind of music, from simple to complex.

“Everyone should listen to music; most people should play music, but very few should depend on it for a living— that’s the way our economy is set up,” McCarley says.

“There’re all kinds of music out there that are really fun. I like a lot of classical music, but also a lot of pop music, too. It tends to be more of the ‘high school’ stuff, ‘cause everyone likes what they listen to in high school.

I think it’s that age. I have no right to like these guys anymore, but I do. There’s no reason to get mad at yourself for liking what you like, or to pretend to be more sophisticated.

You are who you are. It’s cool.”

This year, Choro de Ouro is invited to perform at the National Flute Association’s conference in New Orleans. “They asked us to pay a tribute to the best flute-player in Brazilian history, Altamiro Carrilho,” Grant Chase, the band leader says. “It’s exciting.”

“Choro enthusiasts are curious to see where Choro music is going next; and we’re a part

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PEOPLE

Mind over matter

Matt reid and dan pitocco

two local marines take up arms against the alarming suicide rate among returning combat veterans

By Susan Stewart

I

n 2012, 349 active members of the U.S. Armed Forces took their own lives after returning home. That’s more deaths by suicide than were killed by the enemy in Iraq or Afghanistan. A recent 60 Minutes segment reported (using Veteran’s Administration statistics) that 22 soldiers kill themselves every day; nearly one every hour … every day. That’s a staggering figure. It’s a figure that demands our attention, one that mandates a response. After losing six of their fellow Marines—all of them friends, all of them “brothers in arms”—to suicide since July of 2011, two young men, Marine Sergeants Matt Reid and Dan Pitocco, heeded the call. And they invite us, implore us, to join them.

On April 27, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., at New Life Church in Pismo Beach, the public is invited to hear Matt and Dan speak, followed by a panel of three key experts on the topics of Post-Traumatic Stress and suicide prevention. A barbecue lunch will be offered after the program so that attendees and presenters alike can chat and get to know each other more informally. The program is presented by Mind Over Matter, the nonprofit organization started by Matt and Dan to do something, anything, that might help returning servicemen and women cope more effectively with life after “death”—the death and destruction our servicemen witness day after day, year after year, as they serve their fellow Americans in the heat-scorched deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mind Over Matter was formed by Matt Reid and Dan Pitocco in September of last year, with the express purpose to educate, raise awareness, generate support from the public, and empower all combat veterans, past and present, to address PTS and learn ways to mitigate the sometimes overwhelming feelings of powerlessness and despair felt by so many returning armed service personnel. With support from Greg Shearer of Veteran’s Express, the two have nearly completed the process of obtaining their 501c3 nonprofit status.

They held their first fundraiser, a Spin-athon event, on Veterans Day, November 11th of last year, where they raised an impressive $8000 which they donated, split evenly between Veterans’ Express and Ampsurf. The former is run through Ride-On, with Greg Shearer doing most of the driving, to provide door-to-door transportation to and from doctor’s and other appointments for veterans who cannot drive, and some who cannot walk. The latter is a nonprofit established to “promote, inspire, educate, and rehabilitate all people with disabilities and their families through adaptive surfing and other outdoor activities” (according to www.ampsurf.com).

“Greg [Shearer] is the driving force,” said Matt. “He doesn’t ask for anything … we wouldn’t be where we are without him.”

Founders Reid and Pitocco are, by Matt’s admission, “polar opposites in many ways,” who met in 2005 while assigned to the same company, Echo Company, a weapons platoon, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine, stationed at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. They served two deployA P R I L

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Matt and Dan

ments to Iraq together. Matt went on to serve a third deployment in Iraq and a fourth in Afghanistan. Dan served an additional deployment to Afghanistan but this time separately from Matt.

Dan Pitocco was born in Templeton and raised mostly in Tehachapi, where his parents and his sister worked at the state prison.

“I joined the Marines because I knew that if I didn’t it would have been a lifelong regret,” he said. “Combat is something I felt destined for, and I had to experience it. … I was also very curious about the bonds that develop between men in the most extreme of circumstances.”

A big NFL fan, especially the Pittsburgh Steelers, Dan describes himself as a laid back guy with a preference for heavy metal music. He is currently a personal trainer and group fitness instructor at Fitness Works in Morro Bay. Matt Reid was born in San Francisco and raised in Santa Rosa and Rohnert Park with two brothers.

“Joining the Marines has, for as long as I can remember, been my path. … I wanted to challenge myself and test my abilities while in combat.”

Matt’s a big Netflix fan and loves to go for long bike rides up and down the coast on his GSXR-750 motorcycle. He’s a full time student at Cuesta College with a degree in psychology in his sights. He’s also a bit of a gym rat, too, and loves to run.

Though they are in some ways different as night and day, Matt and Dan share the rank of E5 Sergeant and their mutual commitment to help their fellow servicemen live fuller richer lives now that they’re home. Why? Well, in an essay written for a class, perhaps Matt explains it best: “I’m now 26 years old with four combat tours under my belt. I’ve been recognized and awarded multiple times for doing my job … once for

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cans have no idea what’s going on. We don’t think about what’s happening across the ocean in the exotic deserts and towns we can barely pronounce. We aren’t aware of the terrible toll and irreversible damage to so many young lives as we go about the daily business of feeding the dog, taking the kids to school, and watching the newest episode of Modern Family. As Matt says, “Americans are at the mall; Marines are at the war.”

Dan in Afghanistan

Combat Valor. I’ve led Marines into some of the most harrowing territories and brought them back out with me. I’ve encountered bodies lying lifelessly on the ground, arms and legs at odd, uncomfortable angles; eyes glassed over and staring through me, mouths slightly open as flies crawl in and out. Blood forming pools at my feet and staining the ground an elegant crimson color. These are things I don’t often think about because they are unpleasant and brutal. … I put these memories behind closed doors long forgotten, but now they are working their way out. For eight years I was part of something much greater than myself: a brotherhood of warhardened men who would willingly give their lives for yours or mine. I was respected and looked up to, relied upon to get the job done and recognized as one of the best. Now all that is gone. Now, I’m just another veteran student surrounded by people who can’t fathom going a day without their cell phones.

At times, I feel utterly alone, thinking I should never have made it back.”

Says Dan: “When we get out, things slow down, and that gives us time to reflect, to find out what we’ve hidden in ourselves through the struggles we faced at war.”

Six of their buddies did not survive those struggles. The demons that tortured them at home, the remembered horrors of war, and the feelings of uselessness and isolation, grew too great. No one knows why exactly these and hundreds of others found suicide a better option than to go on living, but Matt and Dan offer some speculation born of experience.

1) Isolation. In the service, one is trained not to show or share emotions, much less to speak them aloud. That’s a good strategy during combat; but it doesn’t work after dis-

Matt in Afghanistan

charge. Matt and Dan know what it’s like to hold it all inside. They also know the courage it takes to start talking about it. As spokesmen for Mind Over Matter, their experience, shared with others, is as good as it gets.

2) Self-medication. Many returning combat vets turn to drugs and/or alcohol to keep their memories at bay, to stifle the emotions they were forbidden to express.

Matt and Dan “get it” like civilians never will.

They are working hard to engage all of us in their effort, so that the horrifying numbers of young men and women committing suicide will subside, perhaps someday down to zero.

As these two young men, in the prime of their youth, commit themselves to this cause, they remember their fallen brothers who gave the ultimate sacrifice, at war, and at home.

“They left a great responsibility for me,” said Matt, “to experience all that life has to offer and to give myself to those who need me.

Now it’s my duty to live for them.”

For more information about the April 27th event and Mind Over Matter in general, please call Matt Reid at 415-335-9051.

3) Prescribed medications. Sometimes returning vets get prescriptions for everything from depression to anxiety to nervous or physical conditions. These medications have the potential to be abused or to cause side effects worse than the condition they were prescribed for.

But perhaps the biggest, untold problem is that the families of the fallen are not approached by anyone. The VA offers suicide prevention courses and makes help for soldiers as available as their limited resource allow, but the families are the forgotten casualties. To date, there are no established provisions to help the thousands of families whose husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, mothers, daughters, sisters, wives have killed themselves—leaving the heartbreaking question “why” unanswered. Mind Over Matter hopes to help fill that cavernous gap.

“We want to raise funds to support research into why these deaths happen, to offer families the support they deserve, to put on more conferences, to increase awareness and to empower more vets to get the help they need,” said Matt.

“It’s more about what happens after [combat] than it is about preparation for it,” said Dan. The pervasive feeling among many returning servicemen and women is that most AmeriA P R I L

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PEOPLE

a million dollar volunteer job a gift of service in search and rescue Photos and Story by Charmaine Coimbra

F

at with pregnancy on the brink of birth, her bloated belly traveled through the wet sand. Gulls sensed an afterbirth delicacy in the works. Dozens swarmed the pregnant northern elephant seal that was dangerously close to the strong full moon tide. If she doesn’t get further from the surf, her pup could become another victim of a winter storm-ravaged sea. Northern elephant seal pups can’t swim. If a strong tide snares one, it sinks like an 80-pound anchor.

“Look,” a visitor shouted. “Look, that seal over there, the baby is part way out.” My binocular viewpoint concurred. For the first time in weeks, a pending elephant seal birth was at twelve-o’clock from where I stood.

This is a joyous moment for a volunteer docent. It makes all those days of standing in the sun with salty wind slapping your face while you answer the same question over and over to the many curious people who stop at the unique wildlife viewing point worth it. This northern elephant seal viewing point, a few miles north of Hearst Castle Historical Monument on Highway 1, is one of San Luis Obispo County’s most visited state parks. It’s called Piedras Blancas. The historic Piedras Blancas Light Station stands tall and white on Point Piedras Blancas nearby.

“Can you stop those gulls from picking at her?” asked a concerned viewer. My royal blue jacket with all the proper identification tells her that I’m her resource.

“If I could, I would. But this is where we watch nature take its course,” I replied.

The pinkish birth sack protruded about five inches out of her birth canal. A juvenile gull hopped around her. It stuck its beak as close to the birthing as it could. The seal showed intense agitation. Her contortions indicated that her pup would soon jettison into its new world.

State Ranger Mike came onto the scene. “Mike, get over here. We have a birth in progress,” I hollered and motioned.

“Wonderful. In two years I’ve not seen one birth!” he exclaimed as he extended his vision with binoculars.

Mom and her newborn

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A volunteer docent educating visitors.

The seal changed direction and we could no longer see her rear flippers and the protruding pup. Suddenly, the gulls flocked to another potential birthing about 100 yards away.

I kept her in my view and still answered questions like, “How many pups will there be?”

“Last year, over 4,000 pups were born here.”

“How many pups does a female have a year?”

“Just one pup a year,” I replied.

The seal turned and nothing protruded from her. Nothing. I knew she didn’t give birth because the gulls are always the harbinger of a birth.

I call them the clean-up committee.

PEOPLE

I questioned myself. I am not a marine biologist and maybe I misidentified. No. That was a birth sack and I guessed that her agitation and the fact that she was so close to the water’s edge with an incoming tide, that, somehow, the birth reversed itself.

This doubt is good. Each prospective volunteer is well-trained before he or she receives a docent’s royal blue jacket. Most haven’t spent their lives studying pinnipeds. I’ve either been a writer or a business owner and mostly far away from the Pacific shoreline. In fact, many of the 90 or so volunteer docents are not marine biologists. We range from retired teachers, engineers, professionals, artists, writers, and you-name-it lifestyles. There is no pay for the requested twelve hours per month that we give as a docent. The benefit is meeting people from everywhere, learning more about the world around us, and savoring one of the most magnificent views on California’s coast line.

Now on my fifth year as a volunteer docent, this on and off birthing caught me off guard. So I asked the resident expert who happened to be on the bluffs at the time. He looked at her and said, “No, you’re right. And she’s going to give birth in just a few.”

The seal wriggled her way into a harem further from the tide line. (A harem is how the pregnant and nursing female elephant seals assemble during the winter birthing and breeding season. One alpha bull male will breed the 20-40 females in his harem.) She arched her back and softly squawked. I drew a bead with my binoculars on her rear fins.

Yes! There it was—a breach birth—or fins first. No birth sack, so I guessed that the pesky gull might have earlier burst it—or not. For the next ten minutes she squirmed and we watched her contractions. Her huge eyes seemed watery (although it was probably the oil that forms around their eyes while they haul out on sandy beaches). She made a few soft whimpery-like barks. The other females and pups around her remained in their deep sleep. The surf pounded harder and the wind gusts increased in strength. The crowd grew. Like the women near me, I secretly pushed as if I was in labor. We almost grunted unison.

“Come on, Mama, come on,” I encouraged her as tears filled my eyes.

Still, just flippers showed. Her contractions were unsuccessful.

Questions shot at me like flotsam in a storm.

“Is it a still birth?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Is she having twins?”

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“Elephant seals never have twins.”

“Do you think this is her first time?”

“No, she knew to get away from the tide.”

“Will a male eat the pup?”

“No. Elephant seals fast when they haul out, and they don’t cannibalize.”

She arched her back again, lifted her rear flippers and out flew a healthy 80-pound pup. Its round black eyes blinked and looked about.

Its head turned under the sun, and the pup discovered the sounds and smells of its mother.

A million dollars just landed into my volunteer pay check. Well, not a dime landed in my pocket, but it was a million-dollar moment. And that’s why I volunteer.

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PEOPLE Meet

The butcher of panzano

culinary delight from a year abroad Story and photos by Elise Greska

Clean living in San Luis Obispo for under $400K! Just a couple minutes drive from downtown SLO and the University. Built in 2003 this end unit has only been lived in four of the last ten years. Common area features BBQ and picnic tables as well as a community garden. Super low HOA fees at only $76/month. Three bedrooms, two and a half baths, two car garage, back patio and deck off bedroom upstairs.

H

aving grown up in San Luis Obispo, these past four years have kept me busy while working towards my Bachelors of Architecture at Cal Poly’s School of Architecture and Environmental Design. This last year, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in a program that has involved Cal Poly Architecture since 1966. It has become tradition for a group of architecture students to live and study during their fourth year at our sister school in Florence, Italy. While living in Florence, we traveled and saw beautiful architecture that had been designed by our favorite architects and taught to us by our professors back home.

I learned so much and I loved every minute, but what I will always remember about Italy is the food.

In Italy, food is so deeply intertwined into a person’s everyday life.

Shopping at the markets involves carefully picking out your produce for the day, talking with your butcher, and knowing where that beef he is cutting for you came from. Any given meal can last hours as you chat with your friends and savor the fresh flavors on the plate in front of you. My favorite restaurant, the Antica Macelleria Cecchini,

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A view of Tuscany from Panzano in Chianti.

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Elise, her mom Carol and Dario

PEOPLE The macelleria’s counter full of meat.

crumb crusted burger, and Accoglienza, which included samples of steak tartar (yes, I tried it, and yes, I knew it was raw), Chianti tuna (a pork dish), pork with herbs and garlic, and meatloaf with a sweet bell pepper sauce (my favorite). Everything was so tender and fantastically flavored that we were all in a carnivorous heaven. We had to be rolled out the door and down the hill to the bus.

Before leaving, Dario invited me to stand behind the counter with him for a photo.

With his strong arm around me, he whispered in my ear “To beef, or not to beef,” and with a laugh, our picture was taken. Dario was so excited to hear that I was from California. In a

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combination of English and Italian, he told me that his wife is from California and that they were heading there in a few weeks to do some cooking for a restaurant in Los Angeles.

I visited my dear butcher Dario two more times during my visit, each time bringing more food fans with me and meeting more of the energetic staff. Now I am back at Cal Poly finishing my final year of studies and I keep that picture of Dario and me by my computer so I can forever taste that time I spent there.

If ever in Tuscany, the Central Coast’s cousin across the sea, please visit my butcher in the tiny town of Panzano in Chianti and enjoy the meal of a lifetime.

merged together everything the Italian and Tuscan cultures hold dear: everything is fresh and everything is local.

Located in the small town of Panzano in Chianti, the Antica Macelleria Cecchini is a butcher shop like no other. I had first encountered the butcher, Dario Cecchini, after reading about him in Bill Buford’s book, Heat, and on Anthony Bourdain’s food-travel show, No Reservations. Dario is the most famous and respected butcher in Italy, and quite possibly, the world. He runs his macelleria (butcher shop) as “a museum of Tuscan cooking.” Knowledgeable of all things Tuscan, from the writings of Dante to the food styles of the Medici family, he is a defender of Italian tradition. The macelleria has been passed down from father to son over the past 250 years and Dario is working with his own son to pass on the tradition. Every ingredient he uses is local and fresh, from the meat he cuts to the glass of Chianti wine served to me as I walked in the door.

With a group of my friends, we ventured by bus into the Tuscan hills on a food pilgrimage.

Arriving just in time for lunch, we pushed ourselves into the small shop. Crowded with locals and fellow foodies buying meats, the walls were covered with antiques and memorabilia, the fridge was hung full of waiting carcasses, and there was Dario himself, pouring me a glass of wine and handing out samples of wonderful Salami Toscana and Crustini con Lardo (toast topped with lard and Dario’s secret season salt.)

Through the kitchen, up narrow steps, and on the roof is Dario’s restaurant. There are only two items on the simple menu. We all shared orders of the Dario Doc, a half-pound, A P R I L

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PEOPLE

dan carpenter

...businessman, family man, councilman, citizen

By Susan Stewart Harford. Arriving with nothing but the clothes on his back, Joseph got a job picking up rocks in a field. When his employers found they couldn’t pay him, he was given a small piece of land instead, where Trinity Hall stands today.

But wait; there’s more. Dan’s paternal grandmother, Bernice, was a Squire, from the family who owned Squire Canyon. It was Dan’s grandmother’s grandfather (yes, my head is spinning, too) who first settled Squire Canyon just after the Mexican land grant era. Now that’s going back a ways.

To add even more spice to the family soup, Bernice’s father, (Dan’s great-grandfather), was a SLO County Assessor. And Dan’s greatuncle Lyle (his father’s uncle) was a SLO County Supervisor. Small wonder that this fifth generation SLObispan has such a strong inclination toward a life of public service.

“I have a huge extended family,” said Carpenter, “which was an important support group growing up. I had relatives all over town. … I might have ended up marrying one of them,” he jokes, “but my wife Sandy is not from here.”

O

urs is a city of strange bedfellows and odd coincidences. And no one knows this better than San Luis Obispo City Councilman and ardent town historian, Dan Carpenter. His family goes back five generations and their stories crisscross the county—from Port Harford to Squire Canyon; from Trinity Hall to the Independence Schoolhouse; from the historic JP Andrews Building to the Masonic Temple. These and other iconic city and county landmarks have all played significant roles in Dan’s family history, reminding him of the many links and surprising connections he encounters during his almost-daily downtown strolls.

For example? Long before his parents were born, and thus long, long before Dan himself was a twinkle in anyone’s eye, two men were partners in the bank that occupied the bottom floor of the JP Andrews building (currently home to Blue, an upscale restaurant/bar in the heart of downtown SLO). Those two men were Franklin Carpenter and Joseph Lewis (the Americanized spelling of Luis), Dan’s great-grandfathers.

Born and raised in San Luis Obispo, Dan Carpenter is the second of four children born between 1952 and 1962 to Robert and Dora (Serpa) Carpenter. He attended Bishop’s Peak Elementary (then known as Quintana School), then the Junior High on Lizzie Street, and graduated from SLO High in 1972. By 1976, he had earned a business degree from Cal Poly and went right into the family business, Hills Stationery Store. He’d been working there part-time since high school.

The success of that downtown anchor store, was due in part to Dan, who is a balanced blend of the best qualities in his very different parents. Robert Carpenter, who died just last year, was a quiet, reserved man of English ancestry. Dora, who died in 2009, was a playful, outgoing woman of Portuguese ancestry.

And that lovely little yellow schoolhouse at Orcutt and Righetti Roads? (It’s now home to Baileyana’s Wine Tasting room). Turns out Dan’s maternal grandmother, Cecelia (daughter of the abovementioned banker Joseph Luis) married Portuguese immigrant Enos Serpa when she was but a girl of 16 and he a man of 29. Cecelia was born on a ranch near Biddle Ranch Road and attended that one-room schoolhouse, where the teacher was her own mother, Dan’s greatgrandmother, Amelia (Machado) Lewis.

And then there’s Trinity Hall, home of the many seasonal Portuguese celebrations at the intersection of Price Canyon Road and Highway 227. That chunk of land was acquired by Dan’s great, great-grandfather who immigrated here from the Portuguese Azores through Port A P R I L

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L-R: Dan, his father, Robert, sister Cindy and brother, Stan

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Robert and Dora Carpenter (Dan’s parents) on their wedding day, 1950.

“Dad was formal and stoic,” said Dan. “Mom was fun-loving and boisterous. … They were from different sides of the tracks; Dad was well off. Mom was not. But it was a great combination!”

Enos and Cecelia Serpa (Dora’s parents) on their wedding day, 1924.

Dan stayed on at Hills for almost twenty years, running the business with his brother, Stan. He eventually hired Sandy, an attractive office assistant, and married her a year later, in 1983. During the ‘80s, the brothers

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Amelia Lewis (Dan’s great-grandmother) circa 1952.

divided the store into two parts: the Hallmark side, and the office supply side. The Hallmark side was later sold to MaryAnne’s Hallmark, and in 1994, Stan closed Hills permanently. But the buildings that occupy

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a portion of the block between Chorro and Garden, Marsh and Higuera are still owned by a Carpenter Family Trust, and the four siblings (Mike, Cindy, Stan, and Dan) manage and oversee their properties jointly. In fact, Stan built his residence above the business and lives there today.

When Hills closed, Dan took his years of finely honed business acumen to a new job with Cal Poly’s El Corral Bookstore where he stayed until his retirement in 2002. It was then that he began his life as a public servant, running for city council in 2008. But his preparation for this new career had really begun years before, when he served on a host of City advisory bodies. Dan has served on no fewer than 16 boards and committees—from the Cultural Heritage Committee to SLO Noor Foundation; from the Prado Day Center to the Performing Arts Center; from Rotary International to Boy Scouts of America. In fact, it was the latter organization that Dan says helped shape his values and morals. From his grandfather Merl, to his father Robert, to Dan and his brothers, the Carpenter men “were simply expected to achieve the highest rank in scouting: that of Eagle Scout.” And they did. In 1971, Dan attended the world Scouting Jamboree in Japan. “It was the highlight of my youth,” said Dan.

Now Dan is freer to devote more time to his passions. In addition to his highly visible and uniquely accessible life as a city councilman, Dan is heavily involved in the plight of our city’s homeless population, especially the overflow shelter program that rotates among local churches. “It is our biggest issue,” he said.

Perhaps because his roots are so firmly and Dan Carpenter with his family deeply planted, Dan has compassion for those who have none, not even a roof they can call their own. In his many service commitments to the homeless, Dan often finds himself in conversation with those who recognize his familiar face at the Prado Day Center, Homeless Shelters, and the People’s Kitchen.

“I take them jackets and blankets … I sit and listen to their stories, their struggles,” he said. “I never feel threatened. I give them the dignity they deserve,” he said.

Dan lost that first election, but in 2010, he ran again and was appointed to a vacant council seat that year. And in 2012, he was elected to a four-year term on the council.

Along the way, Dan and Sandy raised four children: Sara, 32; Adam, 29; Emily, 27; and Paul, 22, and now enjoy spending time with their three grandchildren.

Fellow volunteer and former SLO Chamber Citizen of the Year Jim Brabeck says of Dan: “Dan Carpenter … consistently gives back to the community he loves. His efforts are tireless, never self-serving, and he conducts all of his endeavors with total humility.”

“Part of our success as a couple is that Sandy is very private and I am not,” said Dan. “I’m outgoing and enjoy my public life.

She loves being out of the public eye and I respect her for that. It’s a great balance.”

It is certainly no mystery where his sense of civic duty came from. Merl Carpenter, Dan’s grandfather, owned San Luis Furniture Company on the bottom floor of the Masonic Temple building on Marsh Street.

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Merl joined the Navy during the war, and when he returned he went into business with the owners of Hills, soon to become the Carpenter “family business.” In 1957, Merl served as president of the SLO Chamber of Commerce.

Dan’s father Robert was chairman of the City’s Planning Commission when the first General Plan was adopted in 1960. Robert was also President of the Downtown Associations in 1975 when they created the Business Improvement Association to address parking and promotions in the downtown.

“My father was a man of few words,” said Dan, “so when he spoke, you listened. … He was small in stature; large in action.”

Today, Dan’s favorite pastime is walking the streets of downtown, stopping often to greet and talk with people from every walk of life.

He climbs San Luis Mountain and strolls Avila Beach as often as he can. He is deeply committed to both Cal Poly and Cuesta College, and he is—not surprisingly—a frequent volunteer at the SLO History Center.

Feeling very much a product of his rich and multi-cultural background, Dan feels an affinity with all his fellow human beings, and believes this is key to his success as a public servant. He told the Journal Plus that public service is the highlight of his adult life and that he hopes to serve in an elected capacity for as long as he is wanted there.

“It really does take a village,” he said. “And this is it.”

Some of the information for this article was gleaned from an oral interview with Dan Carpenter conducted by the Land Conservancy’s Oral History Project.

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10K Fun run/Walk from Morro Rock to Cayucos pier

10th annual Miracle Miles for kids Giselle Fernandez—official spokesperson

By Jamie Baker

S

ometimes a person walks into a room and her simple presence changes everything about the environment. It sounds corny, but it makes you feel like you’re in a movie. This feeling happened to me last month as I was waiting to meet Giselle Fernandez. I am sure that I’m not the first person who has had that experience with Giselle, since her many years of being in front of the camera have made her very recognizable. But that wasn’t why time seemed to stop when she walked in, and I wasn’t the only one who noticed it. She makes you pay attention. It’s not hard, because when she speaks you’re hanging on every word, and when you speak she is so focused she can practically finish your sentences.

Giselle is a five-time Emmy award-winning journalist, producer, filmmaker and Latin media marketing entrepreneur. This year, she will be the spokesperson for the upcoming

10th Annual Miracle Miles for Kids, Family Care Network’s 10k run/walk that takes place on April 27th benefiting the Family Care Network. Family Care Network is the largest child and family services agency on the central coast, serving over 1,600 children annually throughout Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County. Miracle Miles for Kids is the largest fundraiser of its kind attracting 2,500 runners, walkers, family and friends from eight different states and more than 160 cities. The run takes place along one of the most beautiful coastlines in California, stretching from Morro Bay to the Cayucos Pier.

Family Care Network is very excited to have someone of Ms. Fernandez’s stature as their Miracle Mile for Kids spokesperson. Her accomplishments and significant influence for positive change in people’s lives make her a very valuable partner in Family Care Network’s mission to help kids and families.

After hearing about the work that Family Care Network provides for the community, Giselle said “yes.” I responded with “Wait, I haven’t even asked you a question,” to which she replied, “It doesn’t matter; I want to help in any way I can.” Anyone who knows Giselle, knows that her plate is already full, but her giving and her work with helping people knows no limits.

In addition to being the spokesperson for the upcoming Miracle Miles for Kids, Giselle will also help FCNI strategize ways to recruit additional foster families in our area as well as preside over our Home for the Holidays Campaign that will be celebrated in December.

805 Aerovista #101, San Luis Obispo

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Currently, Ms. Fernandez is the Managing Director of Creative World Talent Manage-

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Giselle Fernandez

ment, a division of the Trump Group overseeing a diverse global media operation with special emphasis in Latin America and the U.S. Latin market. A much sought-after motivational speaker on issues of Latina empowerment, health, fitness and entrepreneurship, Fernandez is best known for her coverage of international news stories and major events over the past decade. Fernandez has made significant contributions to the CBS and NBC networks. Among her numerous posts, Fernandez anchored NBC’s weekend edition of the “Today Show” and Sunday edition of the “NBC Nightly News.” She also handled special and foreign assignments for the NBC network. Prior to that, Fernandez served at CBS News, substituting for Paula Zhan on “CBS This Morning,” Dan Rather on the “CBS Evening News” and Connie Chung on the “CBS Weekend News.” Additionally, Fernandez was a regular contributor to CBS “Sunday Morning,” “Face the Nation” and “48 Hours.”

Her on-the-spot coverage of international news stories from locations such as the Gulf War, the US invasions of Haiti and Panama, the Somalia and Bosnian Wars, Hurricane

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FOR SALE 4360 SUNFLOWER WAY, SLO Andrew, the 1993 World Trade Center and Oklahoma City bombings, and interviews with global leaders like Fidel Castro, Henry Kissinger, Presidents William Clinton and George H.W. Bush, Vice-President Al Gore, and U.N. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, earned her those five Emmy Awards.

Known for her unique style of interviewing, Fernandez also co-hosted “This Week in History,” a one-hour weekly documentary series profiling famous people and events in history on A&E Network’s History Channel, and profiled Hollywood’s a-list celebrities as the co-host of NBC’s nightly entertainment news magazine “Access Hollywood.”

From Barbra Streisand and Sharon Stone to Robert Redford and Tom Cruise, Fernandez was a favorite, and highly regarded as one of the finest interviewers in Hollywood. In the words of Oprah Winfrey after a Fernandez profile, the talk show Queen summed it up best with “She’s a magical, smart girl.” Most recently, before going into business, Fernandez co-anchored the Tribune Broadcasting Company’s morning news out of Los Angeles and KTLA Channel 5 News, and competed in the second season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars.

4 Bedroom 3 Bath $705,000

Born in Mexico and raised in Southern California, Fernandez graduated from Sacramento State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Government. She later parlayed her expertise in media messaging into a unique and keen knack for unlocking the mysteries of marketing and branding to the Hispanic market, becoming well known for her extensive network in the Latin world and in the U.S. Latin market. She has also been a consultant to corporate America on strategic marketing to the Latino consumer.

She is a member of the City National Bank Hispanic Advisory Board, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Latin Grammys, and also sits on the Board of Latina Magazine, the Board of Los Angeles Centre for Dance Arts, and the Board of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she founded and executive produces the hospital’s signature bi-annual fundraising extravaganza, Noche de Ninos, which has raised almost ten million dollars to date.

Fernandez was named the 2007 Philanthropist of the Year and the 2007 Hispanic Philanthropist of the Year. She was awarded the Hispanic Spirit Award by the Legislative Hispanic Caucus, the prestigious Nancy Riordan Award in 2007 by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for her contribution to the children of L.A., and was recently inducted into the Latina Women’s Museum in Sacramento honoring outstanding Latinas in California.

Over the years, Fernandez has become extremely well connected in California’s State Government and Latin business and social communities, as well as the Los Angeles business and philanthropic communities.

More recently, Fernandez is being contacted by organizations from Central and South America seeking to develop businesses in California.

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Gone Fishing...

never teach your business partners to fish

By Michael deWit Clayton, MD, FACS

F

or the last forty plus five, I have explored, studied, vacationed and fished the magnificent peninsula of Baja California. My fascination with this magnificent, ecological wonder began as a teenager with fishing trips to San Felipé and since then has continued down the old highway 1 to Cabo San Lucas. My family and friends have for decades been forced to endure my tales of fishing, life on the water, old mission and ranchero stories, and my explorations of this fascinating territory. But now, after one of my partner’s last trips to Bahia de Los Frailes on the East Cape northeast of Cabo San Lucas on the Sea of Cortez, I am reconsidering my excitement to introduce any more business partners to my favorite beaches and fishing locals.

Dr. Michael Clayton with son, Ryan and a Dorado, Mahi Mahi

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As president of Urology Associates of San Luis Obispo and a subscriber to nurturing physician wellness within our expanding physician group, I assumed a mandate to create an environment outside and removed from the rigors of this ever demanding medical practice. I envisioned a retreat to the most beautiful, isolated, and peaceful world I knew: our home in Bahia de Los Frailes, where Dr. Klosterman’s family and mine own a piece of paradise. Isolated from crowds or tourists, our home provides serenity, empty beaches, innumerable water sports, hiking and of course, fishing. My vision was that the partners could share and interact through some new interests, fish, and expand our private lives together outside of the world of hospitals and business meetings.

Armed with this new mission statement, I began introducing my partners to the Baja I have come to love. I started with Dr. Mel Herman (now retired) and a trip to Loreto, Baja California Sur and the first Mission established in the Baja or present California. Over the ensuing four days, the fishing was fantastic. The water perfect and the desert islands inviting for water sports and hiking.

We even took our children squid fishing at night with the local fishermen and had more fun than we deserved. The food and drink shared around the pool and warm evenings in the courtyard, bathed in the glow of candles, provided a casual atmosphere and added to our camaraderie.

Many more such evenings around a table and days on the water fishing were shared over the ensuing years.

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Dr. Clayton’s new corporate office

As the years passed, Dr. Klosterman and I coordinated several Baja drive-down trips “fishing and connecting” as partners. He asked me to outfit him

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Dr. Paul Klosterman with Roosterfish

Los Frailes home of Dr. Clayton and Dr. Klosterman.

with fishing gear. Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to freely spend someone else’s money on offshore, inshore and beach fishing equipment. I purchased poles, reels, lures, hooks and the works. I even bought a book on knot-tying and the basics of salt water fishing.

Since Paul had limited experience in fishing, I was obliged to be his fishing mentor. Kind of a guy thing. I was fulfilling my corporate mission, and enjoying every opportunity to teach and share my enthusiasm for Baja fishing.

The final straw occurred when Dr. Klosterman returned after a short trip to Los Frailes with his wife. After Paul’s return from Baja, I called him at his clinical office to discuss patient issues and recent corporate business matters. Naturally, as just a courtesy, I asked him how the fishing was during his last trip. He very politely, yet smugly answered, “You are going to be upset.” What does that mean, I wondered? I knew he was not considering retirement from practice yet, as he is younger than me and we had been busy with our three-and five-year strategic planning. The only other possibility was he must have information to rub in my face about fishing. I didn’t want to ask. But I had to know anyway.

Now, upon his return, and unlike previous trips, he couldn’t wait to talk to me and show me some pictures. Therefore, between operations at our Pismo Beach surgical center, I was invited upstairs to our medical office for my meal of humble pie and huge dose of Paul’s industrialstrength gloating. He asked me to sit down. A bad sign. He proceeded to show me a picture of a 30-35 pound roosterfish he caught from the beach. The story of the strike and ensuing battle up and down the beach boarded on nauseating. The pictures, taken by his wife, were excellent. I was jealous but proud of my new fishing student.

Chris Clayton with Roosterfish

Then the story got longer and substantially more painful. My stomach became a little queasy, as I placed my agenda paperwork down and reached for the second set of pictures being offered me over his desk. The next pictures documented an approximately 60-pound monster roosterfish taken fifteen minutes after the first rooster. Another great photograph.

A very happy beach fisherman, and a wonderful fish. This entire episode was framed on a pristine beach in Los Frailes, Baja Sur. What an Wife, Jenni, enjoys the Baja as well. experience. I thought I spied a bit of humility in Paul’s well-rehearsed description of the hookup and battle, but after another moment of consideration, I was wrong.

Just gloating, and well deserved. A trophy fish in a beautiful location, with his lovely wife.

Well, I am here to tell you that I am officially no longer teaching any more partners to fish. Ever since I began sharing my Baja adventures with my partners, I can’t get them to stay home long enough to get much work done anymore. They have fished virtually every spot up and down the Baja and have brought home more great fishing pictures than I care to see. But now, when I call someone with the inspiration for another great Baja fishing adventure, they are not to be found at home or in the office. They are already vacationing or fishing in Baja!

Although I would like to have caught those magnificent fish or been able to fish as often as my recently retired partner, I am proud to have introduced the beautiful and exciting Sea of Cortez to these now Baja-bitten physicians. However, as a corporate president, I must caution other administrators and make them fully aware of the perils of exposing your partners to travel and fishing in the Baja. The Baja experience can be responsible for significant employee absenteeism, decreases in corporate productivity, and management frustrations.

However, would you ever want it any different? Not me.

I have recently recruited a new physician to join our six-man urology practice. In the course of our interviews, I queried him on his hobbies. I asked him if he was fisherman? He stated that he has been an avid freshwater fisherman. He then added that he is excited for me to introduce him to fishing the Baja. Really? Good for him. He can learn on his own.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

at the market super seed mix with zesty yogurt and fresh seasonal fruit

By Sarah Hedger

S

pring is here! The colors of Spring run the gamut in April, allowing our taste buds to officially come out of hibernation while the days begin to warm. April at our local markets

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reflect a fresh new season, complete with strawberries, rhubarb, spring garlic, potatoes, avocados, arugula, beets, spring greens, fresh herbs, as well as late season citrus and apples.

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Recently, I was lucky enough to attend a talk

by Joel Salatin, who Time magazine calls “the world’s most innovative farmer.” Many know him as the face of Polyface Farms in Virginia, made famous as a subject in Michael Pollan’s Omnivore’s Dilemma, and the documentaries, Fresh, and Food Inc. Aside from being a farmer, he has become an educational speaker, promoting innovative, environmentallyfriendly farming practices. He travels the world speaking to those wanting to “develop emotionally, economically, environmentally enhancing agricultural enterprises and facilitate their duplication throughout the world.”

Joel Salatin with Sarah

What Joel has done, using his farm as a vehicle, is ditch the common farming orthodox. What impressed me is he truly walks the walk, so to speak. Polyface Farm is a farm in Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, his parents purchased in 1961. At that time, it had already been worn down and abused by traditional industrial farming practices. Joel, his family, and a good crew of helpers, have transformed Polyface Farms into a “diversified, grass-based, beyond organic, direct marketing farm.” Part of his philosophy is that of localizing our food sources by taking a good look at where the majority of our food originates, then utilizing our closest resources first and foremost. This is easiest when stores label where the items have originated, but is even easier at a local Farmers’ Market, and perhaps even easier still at the local farm stand you may find on the roadside. I have found it a fun scavengerhunt type activity, seeking to incorporate these local sources into our diets as much as possible. It makes sense, and it tastes superior to foods with high travel miles.

super seed mix with zesty yogurt and fresh seasonal fruit

Building off being more resourceful, this month’s recipe, Super Seed Mix with Zesty Yogurt and Fresh Seasonal Fruit, was originally inspired by a recipe in Gwyneth Paltrow’s My Father’s Daughter cookbook. By amping up the seed mix, it ends up being all the goodness of a good granola, without the grains, thus it hails to the super food department!

Best if made in a spice grinder (that doesn’t smell of coffee), or a powerful food processer, for grinding hardy seeds like flax. To me, this mix is everything lacking in grocery store granolas. It is nutrient dense, high in Omega 3’s, fiber, and more good things than we know about. What I do know is that I feel like a million bucks after eating it. It can do no wrong in my book as the goji berries, amazing chia seeds, and the underrated bee pollen are the stars, while being just the right combination of nutrients and deliciousness, fueling us through the morning. Don’t be surprised when brilliance (and unquantifiable energy) comes to you shortly after you consume just a couple tablespoons. The Super Seed Mix makes a bowlful (3 cups) so keep it in the fridge to enjoy it for future breakfasts. *Use local, organic/spray free ingredients as much as possible!

Place hemp, pumpkin, sunflower, almonds, flax seeds, and goji berries in food processor or spice grinder and process until finely ground. Stir in chia seeds, bee pollen and mix by hand. If you are keen for an extra bit of sweetness, which also brings out more flavor from the berries, add 1 T organic coconut sugar to the mix.

Store unused super seed mix, sealed in refrigerator.

FOR THE SUPER SEED MIX: ½ cup raw, shelled hemp seeds ¼ cup pumpkin seeds ¼ cup sunflower seeds ½ cup raw almonds ½ cup flax seeds, whole ½ cup goji berries ½ cup chia seeds ¼ cup good quality bee pollen

FOR THE ZESTY YOGURT AND SEASONAL FRUIT: 1 cup good quality plain yogurt or kefir 1 T good, local raw honey 2 tsp lemon zest + 1 tsp fresh lemon juice 2 cups organic or spray-free, seasonal fruit such as strawberries, cherimoyas, citrus, kiwi, etc.

Blend yogurt with honey, lemon zest, and lemon juice in small bowl.

To serve divide fruit in half and place each portion in the bottom of two serving bowls. Top with ½ cup zesty yogurt in each cup.

Sprinkle 1-2 Tablespoon(s) super seed mix over. Drizzle 1 T raw, local honey over each serving if your sweet tooth is calling for your attention. Enjoy!

Serves 2.

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

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HOME/OUTDOOR

slo county art scene Michael Barton Miller: Drawing sound

By Gordon Fuglie

A panorama of the Cuesta Gallery

E

very so often an important exhibition comes along that a gallery goer is chagrined to discover he has missed. (What? It closed a week ago!?) For me that moment was April 1, 2011, when Michael Barton Miller’s monumental installation of drawings, Super 8mm, closed at the Cuesta College art gallery. Scolding colleagues reminded me that ambitious projects like Super 8mm are infrequent in SLO County, and we need to be vigilant in showing up. What I missed, according to gallery director Tim Anderson, was the

Michael Miller in his studio A P R I L

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transformation of the gallery into a total artistic environment—a rarity. April Fool’s Day on me!

Early this year, I atoned for my sin of omission.

I visited Michael Barton Miller in his home above Morro Bay. For my benefit, the artist mounted a number of his figurative color drawings from Super 8mm in his studio, which he shares with his artist wife Tera Galanti.

a response to the pixilation of images as processed by digital media. In addition to his pointillism, large areas in his drawings (clothing, furniture, shadows on a wall, etc.) are rendered by overlaying washes of watercolor, imparting a liquidity of surfaces.

Miller occasionally uses a hair dryer to stream his globules of aqueous pigment across the glassy Denril. The overall image is a vision of speckles and pools.

Miller’s drawings are done on large sheets of Denril, a slick-ish, flexible polypropylene material that combines the properties of architectural drafting film and fine art paper.

Many of the Super 8mm works are large— three to four feet and larger; all are unframed. I learned Miller likes to shuffle the layout of his exhibits, and unrolling a tube of Denril sheets on the gallery floor allows him freedom to “cut and paste,” improvising a narrative akin to a film editor cutting from one scene to the next. The people in his images call to mind actors in film stills, posed to transmit a point in a story.

Key to understanding Miller’s work is to remember that contemporary artists have largely moved on from the imperative of slavishly representing the world around them. A camera can do that already, thank you. With unparalleled freedom of expression, the contemporary artist can now reckon with the world via myriad conceptual and aesthetic approaches. The risks are higher—will the artistic soufflé fall? But the successes are all the more exhilarating. Such prospects thrill artists like Miller, encouraging them to draw on diverse life experiences and interests to fashion new visual realms, like Super 8mm.

A head-on confrontation with the drawings brings surprise: Miller’s figures are not rendered in a uniform technique. Their faces, arms and legs are built up in a laborious pointillism, an intricate pattern of color dots. Some of the dots are in a graded shade range, others in stark contrast, i.e. dark/ light, warm/cool. A ruminator on bygone and evolving technologies, Miller’s dots are

A Cal Poly professor of art since 1997 where he has taught sculpture and drawing, Miller earlier explored a number of subjects while an undergraduate at Arizona State University 40 years ago. These included literature, political science, drawing and painting. Later he tried his hand at documentary filmmaking, working in South America. Miller also is a walking compendium of knowledge of

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In fact, elements of Super 8mm (the title is borrowed from a late 20th century film technology) show a movie set, albeit for Miller’s novel use of this theme to explore sound, and humankind’s various means of apprehending it. (I can’t help but being intrigued by drawings—flat silent objects—dedicated to auditory phenomena.)

An early work from this series, Listeninglass, shows a kneeling girl holding a drinking glass to her ear. For the Cuesta installation, Miller arranged numerous of his drawings at various heights, juxtapositions and overlays, combining collage, montage and filmmaking in one environment. In this spirit, he placed Listeninglass over a drawing of a large dark watery circle, perhaps a symbol of “consciousness.” Above Listeninglass is a third drawing, a miasmic zone in Prussian blue that depicts a string grid suspension of vertical cords with attached rings large enough to enclose a human head.

Miller told me this motif comes from a Buddhist temple in Thailand wherein an actual string network emanating from the head of a Buddha statue is connected to the heads of monk devotees, a spiritual sending and receiving. This idea is further developed via the identical ovoid shapes of the head rings and the floor circle, with the girl/devotee between them.

Listeninglass

classic art-house films by directors such as Werner Herzog, Andrei Tarkovsky, Krzysztof Kieslowski and Jean-Luc Godard, an influence that accounts for the cinematic themes in his work.

Miller calls Super 8mm and similar works “cross-disciplinary investigations,” akin to anthropology. A recent cancer survivor, he brings a gently ironic sense of humor to his imagery that is undergirded by intensive research and lots of hard thinking about the issues he ponders. For further information about Super 8mm and Michael Barton Miller, search for him at www.artslant.com. He can be reached at mmiller@calpoly.edu.

American Music From the 1930s, ’40s & ’50s Gary Lamprecht, Director

Thursday, April 18 · 7 p.m.

TwO SATURDAY ShOwS!

Community Presbyterian Church · Cambria

Saturday, April 20 · 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In the barrel room of Cellar 360 Winery* · Paso Robles

Sunday, April 21 · 3 p.m.

United Methodist Church · San Luis Obispo

Join Director Gary Lamprecht and the Vocal Arts singers for a wine and appetizer outdoor reception between the two Saturday shows – for patrons of either show – from 5-6:30 p.m. Separate ticket required for reception. Catering by Stein’s.

• Cellar 360 formerly Meridian Vineyards

Tickets: Online at VocalArts.org or call 805-541-6797 A P R I L

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COMMUNITY

Our Schools

public participation at school board meetings

By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools

SAN LUIS OBISPO SYMPHONY MICHAEL NOWAK, MUSIC DIRECTOR

SATURDAY, MAY 4 · 8 PM CHRISTOPHER COHAN CENTER SAN LUIS OBISPO F E AT U R I N G

Zuill Bailey, Cello Andrew Duckles, Viola JOSEPH HAYDN

W

hen a School Board faces a controversial issue, the Board meetings often become a balancing act. Is the meeting “a meeting of the Board in public” or “a public meeting?”

This is not just a semantic sleight of hand.

The purpose of School Board meetings is to conduct the business of the school district.

Agendas usually have several items that may cover district policies, instructional and curriculum issues, business and finance matters, personnel actions as well as various reports and presentations. The Board deals with each of these agenda items in full view of any person who wishes to attend and audience members can address the Board as outlined below. Just as with any business meeting, the Board is mindful of using the time effectively to address all items on the agenda.

A person who attends a School Board meeting is often there to listen and perhaps speak to a specific item on the agenda. Most school districts have a time limit on speakers in order to manage the entire agenda that the Board is addressing. This limit on speakers can sometimes appear to discourage or minimize the right of the public to address the Board.

What is at play here is a dilemma faced by the School Board of providing time for public comments as well as the need to address all items on the agenda in a reasonable time.

To address this dilemma, the Board first looks at what is required by the California’s Open Meeting Law, known as the “Brown Act” and then may seek some alternatives to receive public comment outside of a board meeting.

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2013

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Brown Act: The Brown Act was passed in 1953 and is named for state Senator Ralph Brown from Fresno who authored the original legislation. The Act states in part: “The people do not yield their sovereignty to the bodies that serve them. The people insist on remaining informed to retain control over the legislative bodies they have created.”

The simple purpose of the Act is to conduct the public’s business in public. There are several parts of the Act addressing notices of meetings, exceptions to the Act for closed sessions, defining what constitutes a “meeting” as well as public participation. All local governments in California, including School Boards, are governed by this Act.

dent of the district and follow the guidelines established for exercising this right.

There are additional requirements for School Boards to insure that the public has access to information discussed at a School Board meeting. The public has access to any recording of the meeting that was prepared by the district. Members of the public can also audio tape a meeting as long as it does not disrupt the meeting. All votes by Board members must be taken in public and all non-confidential material provided to the Board must also be available to the public.

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Members of the public obviously can contact individual members of the School Board concerning issues in which they are interested and not rely only on a Board meeting. This sometimes is more effective than addressing the Board during a meeting since it allows for discussion and an exchange of perspectives and viewpoints.

I believe that our local School Boards take very seriously their legal and ethical obligation to hear from the public that they serve.

Public Participation at Meetings: There are three opportunities for the public to address a School Board during a meeting as required by the Brown Act. The Board must allow the public to comment on any item that is on the agenda. The Board may limit this time, but it must hear from the public before making a decision. A second requirement for public comment is to hear from the public at each meeting on any item, not on the agenda, but under the jurisdiction of the School Board.

This opportunity to address the Board is usually on the agenda as “Public Comment.”

The Board cannot take any action on issues raised as Public Comments, but could put the issue on a future agenda for consideration.

Finally, the public has a right to place an item directly on the agenda for a meeting of the School Board as long as the item is under the jurisdiction of the Board. A member of the public simply needs to notify the Superinten-

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COMMUNITY Mortgage facts and fiction

Unraveling the myths of the mortgage maze

By Roxanne Carr

I

n this quarter’s column, I want to approach credit, one of my favorite topics in the mortgage world, probably because it is often the least understood and the most misrepresented.

We will have to do this in at least two parts, but I think it is well worth your time to understand how your credit is rated and why.

Credit scores are used widely by lenders, such as banks, mortgage companies and consumer credit card companies, to evaluate a person’s creditworthiness and their ability to repay what is being borrowed.

As I recall, the score development started in the late 1980s when Fair Isaac Corporation (formed by Bill Fair and Earl Isaac) introduced an automated credit scoring software package. With technology coming to the forefront in business, the timing was perfect. Credit card issuers embraced the concept right away, but the biggest change came when Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage giants in the secondary market, required lenders to incorporate scoring in their approval process. This was after many Fannie/Freddie lenders had supplied Fair Isaac with data from millions of facts on record about their servicing portfolios…what loans performed well, what loans did not, with full details about loan-to-value and qualifying ratios, for example.

The Fair Isaac Corporation is now identified simply as FICO, after changing its name in 2009. There are several scoring models, but the best-known and most widely used is this first one introduced, the FICO score. A FICO score may range from 300 to 850, with the higher being the best, and is calculated statistically with information from the consumer’s credit files carried by the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. It is well to remember that these bureaus will never have the same conclusion, each having its own database and method of interpretation. Odd, isn’t it? Well, that is not the only odd thing about FICO scores.

The exact formulas for calculating credit scores are kept secret, but FICO has disclosed the following components:

• 35%: Payment history on bills, such a mortgage, credit card or installment loans; of course, payments on time, as agreed, drive up the score. This is the largest percentage, and it is critical that you have open credit. Scores cannot be developed without at least one credit account with a minimum of six months’ history (although Collections can be considered open accounts and are very damaging). Note that most mortgage lenders require at least three accounts.

• 30%: Amounts owed or “credit utilization,” which is the ratio of current balances on credit card debt to total amount allowed; the lower the ratio, the better (so as not to be seen as using credit to live).

Getting a higher credit limit on a card can help your score; carrying any balance over 20% of the maximum allowed can hurt it (recently downgraded from 30%). All credit balances owed are combined and compared to maximums available to form a “utilization ratio.”

• 15%: Length of credit history; the longer the better. Closing accounts may hurt your score because old, established, good credit is a valued asset, especially if you have a limited amount of credit. Exceptions exist of course. For example, having more than five revolving accounts usually does nothing to help a score. New credit will take about four months to have a positive effect on your score, provided payments are on time of course.

• 10%: Types of credit used; a variety of standard kinds helps. Consumer finance accounts, the type generally offered to people with poor credit can have a negative effect on the score.

• 10%: New credit or recent searches for new credit. This can mean that you need more credit to exist. However, while all inquiries are recorded and displayed for a period of time, those made by the owner (self-checks), by an employer, or by companies initiating prescreened offers of credit or insurance do not have any impact. The same holds true when individuals are shopping for a mortgage, an auto or a student loan over a short period of time.

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Other special factors can strongly affect a credit score. Judgments, tax liens, collection accounts, bankruptcies, notices of default, foreclosures, and short sales, for example, carry additional negative penalties and only lessen their adverse effects with time or clearance. Consumer items stay for seven years, these legal items for ten (from the date last reported or cleared).

There are other credit scoring models, but FICO scoring is the one most commonly used for mortgage evaluations.

Others have tried to compete, such as the VantageScore, developed by the three credit-reporting bureaus to compete with FICO, the CE Score, sold to investment banks generally, and the NextGen Score, an additional model designed by FICO for consumer credit (among many other products designed by FICO).

Credit scores are widely used because they are inexpensive and largely reliable, but also because they fit smoothly into the technology component of today’s lending. Scores are easy for a machine to read, though there are critics. For example, scores do not take into account how long a person has been on a job, the cash assets they have or whether they have been budgeting their income wisely while renting, nor even the down payment being used in the transaction.

What else is not included? A FICO score does not include your race, color, religion, origin, sex, marital status, nor your age, your salary, where you live, the interest rate on your credit cards, obligations for rent or child support or alimony (though a judgment for non-payment will appear).

Check Your Credit: I encourage you to take advantage of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and check your credit annually for free at www.annualcreditreport.com (or 1-877322-8228). There are many other sites that include this service, such as the consumer division of FICO at MyFico.com and one for each of the credit bureaus mentioned above.

A friend of mine had heard of CreditKarma. com, and I used it to run my credit in order to evaluate it, but I would not recommend it.

I compared it to my credit report from the three bureaus and found it mentioned incorrect data as supposedly appearing or not appearing on my credit report (no actual copy of the credit report was given). According to a February 15, 2013 article in the Wall Street Journal, the Federal Trade Commission “released a study this month showing that one in five consumers has an error in at least one of their three credit reports.”

Copyright © 2013 Roxanne Carr Next time we will deal with identity theft, Even though the prospect of moving m Roxanne Carr is division president of The correcting errors and maybe what credit bufuture, you owe it to yourself to learn h Mortgage House, Inc. She has over 35 years’ reaus don’t tell you. I hope you all enjoy and living in yourbanking own home experience in the mortgage industry.for man benefit from the information in my quarterly carefree This article is a forum to explore real estate columns. I would greatly appreciate sugprinciples. It is not intended to provide tax, legestions for future “mortgage” topics that gal, insurance or investment advice and should interest you; just email me at roxcarr@gmail. not be relied upon for any of these purposes. com. Last January I dealt with current ReIt’s a fact of life Pristine is fully verse Mortgage guidelines and would likethat to as we get older, make one minor correction: I mentioned thetasks become too some day-to-day licensed and insu FannieMae HomeKeeper Reverse Mortgage much to handle on our own. That All of our worke product, but FNMA discontinued this prodyou have to move away are carefully scre uct when the FHA doesn’t limits weremean increased.

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COMMUNITY

history

funds to guarantee the library’s continuance.

Buildings come and go (many of his have been demolished) but literacy required consistent support. More than merely money for a project, Carnegie was intent on changing the world through enlightenment.

Andrew Carnegie

While a public library is a tax-supported benefit, one hundred years ago this was a novel concept. At the turn of the century, only the small city of San Luis Obispo was willing to share tax dollars with the library… and then only after the first “public” library required patrons to pay a fee. Carnegie simply disagreed with any notion that a library needed to be anything less than free to all.

By Joseph A. Carotenuti

L

ocal history is replete with tales of those who have called the central coast their home and are worthy of remembrance. Even fewer have left their legacy in some structure. Yet, two of the most significant buildings in the county were a gift from a non-resident.

While he may not have even visited here, Andrew Carnegie’s vision produced profound changes in the lives and culture of the area (and innumerable others) through his unparalleled acts of charity. He believed in libraries… and gave tens of millions of dollars to build them. The two local gems in San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles are the result of a complex development on how to change humanity.

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Here’s the story.

In 1868, Carnegie tired of the business world.

Having arrived in the United States some 20 years before as a poor Scottish immigrant, the years in between proved lucrative: his assets now totaled $400,000 (about $75 million today) with a yearly income of $50,000.

It was enough, he decided, and a new objective was to spend any surplus in “benevolent purposes.” Although he continued to aggressively pursue becoming one of the richest men in American history, he never forgot his philanthropic goal.

From a diverse economic portfolio—primarily in railroads—he decided the new steel technology developed by Henry Bessemer was now his future. David Nasaw’s biography, Andrew Carnegie, provides an authoritative history of the man and his fortune. In addition to the battles for wealth, the biography addresses its distribution.

Wealth, Carnegie wrote, required its distribution to “help those who will help themselves.” It was not sufficient to leave fortunes after one died but during one’s lifetime to “place within its (society) reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise.”

“The man who dies thus rich dies disgraced.”

At the end, even though he distributed an estimated 325 million dollars, Carnegie still died—in his words—“disgraced.”

What better way to help others improve their skills and learning than through libraries? However, more than simply wishing to construct a building, Carnegie wanted—and insisted—any municipality accepting the

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In 1902 when the local Library Board of Trustees sent a request for funds, they joined in Carnegie’s battle for literacy and, more importantly, a world dedicated to peace. If he ever knew of their specific activities, he might have been surprised but most likely pleased. As a community, the collection in the grand structure grew as did patrons. The City fathers, true to their word, dutifully included a separate tax dedicated to the library’s maintenance. However, the “ladies” of the library were not content to promote reading. They, too, had an agenda for change.

Both suffrage and temperance were considered legitimate activities for a progressive community. Many of the trustees and patrons were actively involved in both.

Thus, a granite sign proclaiming a “Free Library” (Carnegie did not require his name on any building) stands as one of this nation’s single most important acts of personal beneficence toward the spread of literacy and Lester liberation.

Knowledge Rogart& Nicole Pazdan, CSAwas indeed power but, more importantly, education was the antidote to the ills of mankind.

When he sold his steel empire to J. P. Morgan in 1901, Carnegie’s share was 226 million dollars (about 120 billion today). For Andrew, retirement left him a bit depressed but remembering that “the amassing of wealth” was “one of the worse species of idolatry,” he was now free to seriously distribute his wealth. Libraries were major beneficiaries as most—including those locally—were funded after his retirement.

His very first “library” was in one of his steel mills. For men who worked seven days a week, 12 hours per day, motivation to read was limited, even if they were literate in English.

Nonetheless, at his death in 1919, he contributed some 56 million dollars to build 2605 libraries throughout the world from Canada to Fiji. Lesser known, while not a religious man, he also supported church organs and donated over 7500 in his lifetime.

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Carnegie Building, SLO

Carnegie Building, Santa Cruz

Carnegie rarely attended a library’s dedication. However, he was intrigued by the new telescope he funded in California and so headed west for Pasadena and Mt. Wilson in 1910. It proved to be a very busy year. By its end, he endowed a new International Peace Conference with a 10 million dollar gift.

The latter opened in 1904 and bears a striking resemblance to the two local Carnegies. All three were designed by William H. Weeks.

So “Andy” decided it was also time for a family vacation to celebrate his daughter Amanda’s 13th birthday. Carnegie was a familiar passenger sailing east as he preferred to vacation in Scotland at Skibo Castle.

The elegance of a 200 room, 60,000 square feet castle (it required 20 gardeners to maintain the acreage) was far more comfortable than a train ride in their private car.

Nonetheless, leaving from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on February 14, the first stop was Santa Barbara to receive an award. Next, Monterey included a visit to his endowed libraries at Pacific Grove and Santa Cruz.

An intriguing question concerns the journey from south to north. Did the family stop on the central coast? If he did, there was no mention in the local press. Certainly, a famous man in his private car would have received some notice. However, in between the California stops, the tunnel through the Cuesta Grade collapsed (February 24) and may have required his diverting his route to the east and then north.

While fortunes are made and lost, the rich come and go, Carnegie is deservedly an honorary resident of our county.

An informative new booklet on the Carnegie Library is available from the History Center (543-0638). Donations are welcomed.

CONTACT: jacarotenuti@gmail.com

San Luis Obispo’s Experienced Professional Insurance Team With over 50 years of experience and as one of the largest independent insurance agencies in California, we take the worry out of insurance. Our Central Coast team goes above and beyond to provide you competitive premiums, comprehensive coverage and superior service, so you can focus on your business. Call us for a review of your insurance program.

BUSINESS TO HOME TO LIFE: WE WRITE IT ALL. Front Row left to right: Steve Hein, Kisa Maxwell, Linda Euler, Mary Schrader, Mary Lucido, Steve Devericks Back Row left to right: Gary Sage, Linda Doust, Field Gibson, Jim Lau, Michelle Dortch, Julie Black, Leonore Woolpert, Gary Andreini, Anna Echevarria, Tom Callahan, Jeff Priolo

Bakersfield · Dinuba · Fresno · Hollister · Lodi · Modesto · San Luis Obispo · Taft

100 Cross Street, Suite 203 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-593-1400 | www.dibu.com License #0E02096 A P R I L

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COMMUNITY

Hospice corner Journey along the Palliative Care bridge to hospice

By Cynthia Raccio, RN, BSN

P

alliative care services are a very important resource for those patients who have been recently diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Care needs may fluctuate throughout the course of any life-limiting disease.

Patients are increasingly choosing to continue aggressive treatment. With this choice, they continue to need added support while receiving these much needed services. Palliative care services may include: • Help navigating the healthcare system.

• Multiple symptom and pain management.

• Guidance with difficult and complex treatment choices.

• Emotional and spiritual supportive counseling.

Patients who are considering palliative care often wonder how it will affect their relationship with their current healthcare providers. It is not necessary to give up your own health care provider in order to get palliative care. A palliative care “team” is created to provide patient centered care. This team may include palliative physicians and nurses, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists, nutritionists and counselors. This results in well-planned, complete treatment for all your symptoms throughout your illness—treatment that takes care of you in your present condition and anticipates your future needs.

According to the American Nurses Association, palliative care is recommended for: • Any stage of illness.

• Used in conjunction with treatment.

• Helps with the transition from curative care to hospice.

With home health palliative care, patients can continue with their aggressive disease-oriented treatment, as ordered by their physician, while receiving much needed services. The network of support from the entire palliative care team may even aid the patient in continuing with their treatment. Studies have shown improved quality of life with the use of palliative care.

Palliative care is beneficial, not only for the seriously ill patient, but their families as well. This care can also make for a much smoother transition or “bridge” to elective hospice services at a later time.

BestCare Home Health has teamed-up with its sibling agency Hospice Partners to provide a bridge for the movement of the prehospice patient on to full hospice services without an actual crisis.

The new hospice patient admission can now be a tranquil, peaceful, and elected personal choice.

As our vastly educated population ages, the planning of our own personal end of life journey will become increasingly important.

No longer will patients be faced with the “treat or not-to-treat” decision following a diagnosis of a life-limiting disease. As the public and health care providers become more informed, and learn the importance of palliative care services for their families and patients, this transition will become a peaceful and tranquil experience for everyone involved. There are so many advantages to the patient receiving palliative care services and then bridging peacefully onto hospice services. End-of-life should be respected, and all resources should be offered and provided to the patient and A P R I L

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their families at that point in the diagnosis.

All treatment options as well as a referral to palliative care services should be initiated in order to assist the individual with the most beneficial and personally detailed plan of care to achieve their treatment goals.

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APRIL CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

The partnership between BestCare Central Coast Home Health and Hospice Partners of the Central Coast is to provide a palliative program with a bridge to hospice care. This program is team-centered and physician/ family driven. Consults are done within 24 hours, more urgently if needed, to bring comfort to the patient and decrease anxiety for the family.

This monthly Hospice Corner is sponsored

by Hospice Partners of the Central Coast.

Cynthia Raccio is the Director of Nursing at BestCare Home Health and Hospice Partners.

For more information, call (805) 782-8608.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: NAME THAT SPORT ACROSS

1. Money under mattress, e.g.

6. Convex and used for cooking 9. Practice in the ring 13. Male contessa 14. “A likely story!”

15. Pipsqueak 16. Run _____ of the law 17. George Gershwin’s brother 18. Speak like Pericles 19. *”Chariots of Fire” sport 21. *Mr. Miyagi’s sport 23. Sticky stuff 24. Not a hit 25. Writing point of pen 28. Comfy spot 30. Agitated 35. In a frenzy 37. To buy something “for a ____” 39. Stallion’s cry

40. What Simple Simon wanted to taste 41. Glorify 43. Expunge 44. Open-mouthed 46. Time for eggnog 47. Son of Aphrodite 48. *Manny Pacquiao’s sport 50. At a great distance 52. Lusitania’s last call 53. Flipside of pros 55. Part of smog 57. Gourmet’s organ?

60. *Grand Tour sport 64. Meeting place 65. Fish eggs 67. Divided country, e.g.

68. Compacted mass 69. Delivery vehicle 70. Give the boot 71. Freebie 72. Young newt 73. Office stations

DOWN 1. It’s often there for life 2. Vegan’s protein choice 3. Soon, to a bard 4. What bee did 5. Roman Sol 6. American Revolution supporter 7. Propel, in a way 8. Uniform shade 9. Evening in Italy 10. Everglades deposit 11. Chips, perhaps 12. Pastrami holder 15. Decline 20. Pirate’s necklace 22. ___ Wednesday 24. Marie Antoinette’s garments 25. Muslim ruler honorific 26. Insect, post-metamorphosis 27. Laundry booster 29. Jimi Hendrix’ “___ Lady” 31. Formally surrender

32. Wedding cake layers 33. Icy hut 34. *Bobby Fischer’s game 36. Civil War headgear 38. *Subject of “A Good Walk Spoiled” 42. Like kale and spinach greens 45. Live in a tent 49. Caught 51. Did this to one’s world 54. Bundle of axons 56. Taken to field in baseball 57. *a.k.a. “the sport of kings” 58. Mojito, _ ___ drink 59. Coal unit 60. Copper coin 61. Eye part 62. Adam’s apple spot 63. Gangster’s pistols 64. Communications regulator 66. Stumblebum

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palm street perspective

My own views on what a city council should be...

By SLO City Councilwoman, Kathy Smith

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es, indeed, it’s true! The remaining four SLO City Council Members opted to call for a Special Election . . . an all-mail ballot . . . to fill the vacant seat created when Andrew Carter resigned to become City Administrator of Guadalupe.

We expressed our commitment to Democracy by asking voters in this community to choose their elected leader.

This means you’ve had an election every year since 2010 . . . this is #4!

Some will say the Council should have used their authority to appoint a person to the vacancy. It’s done often, recently in Grover Beach and Santa Maria. We appointed in San Luis in 2010 (Dan Carpenter filled a vacancy for two years when Jan Marx became Mayor).

At the moment, however, all four members were duly elected by voters and such speaks well for the public process. It means each one had to gather supporters, raise money, meet voters face-to-face and answer a myriad of questions about their attitudes that should be known before a person takes office. And, guess what? They’re accountable to those same voters during their term of office.

• I’m a strong proponent of balance. By that I mean, I don’t want four others who mirror my age or agree with me on most issues. To appropriately represent the community, I feel a diversity of ages, views and lifestyles are vital. Council members need to challenge each other and agree to disagree. Consensus is not required.

• I want Council Members with experience/perseverance—who seize the opportunity to learn before they take office (serve on an Advisory Board) and diligently do their homework, absorbing agendas and listening to constituents.

• I want a Council that truly leads. While I acknowledge that the policy direction prescribed in the City Charter is sometimes limited, I believe Council Members should sign on to maximize the power of their public service. Such is the expectation of voters.

• Now, it’s your honor to think through what you want and match it to a candidate that best meets your vision.

I know each of us has an “ideal” of what a City Council should be. I discover vast differences in the expectations of citizens. For the sake of helping you explore your own views on this, let me share some of mine:

The deadline for filing to run for office was March 22 and ballots will be sent to the specified address of all registered voters in the City of SLO beginning May 20. If you’re not registered, you have until June 3 to accomplish that, so you can then receive a ballot and be an active participant in the election process.

• I want a City Council that is representative. Council is non-partisan, but each person has a special interest on such issues as finance, growth, Downtown, planning, business, transportation, environment, etc.

Somehow, as per our residents, varied points of view must be reflected.

Completed ballots must be mailed or delivered to City Hall by 8 p.m., Tuesday, June 18 with the Declaration of Results due July 12. Your new City Council Member will be administered the Oath of Office no later than July 16th!

• I want Council Members who have time to meet citizen expectations.

This becomes a greater challenge with each election as Council’s responsibilities have expanded to a full-time commitment, and beyond.

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Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

I n side:

April 2013

W hat ’s U p Downtown B usiness Spo tlight B eaut i f icat ion Award W inners

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e’re pleased to announce the winners of the 24th Annual Beautification Awards—those business owners who invested in their properties during the previous calendar year and help maintain the ambiance and attractiveness of the Downtown area. Started by Downtown business owner Marshall Ochylski, the Beautification Awards cover a range of categories from new construction to tenant improvements to merchandising to maintenance, and culminate with top honors including the Mayor’s Award.

n the following pages we’ve included photos of some of the honorees, a complete slideshow of the program and a listing of all the winners is available on our website www.DowntownSlo.com. If you’re Downtown, stop in some of these locations and let them know you appreciate their efforts.

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he Board of Directors held its annual elections last month. Six positions were Deborah Cash, CMSM, filled on the 11–member board for the term Executive Director 2013-15. Returning are incumbents Pierre Rademaker (Rademaker Design, incoming president) his year, 24 winners were honored at the March 8 and Greg Coates (Coates and Coates, LLC). Newly Beautification Awards Breakfast held at Mo Tav where serving are: Josh Haring (Mountain Air Sports), Marshall attendees enjoyed a delicious hearty morning meal, a Ochylski (Ochylski Law Firm), John Spears (Garden short program and presentation of the final awards.

Street Inn) and Beau Cram (The Sock Drawer). They t’s easy to take for granted the behind-the-scenes join current members Andrea Miller, Ron Meier, upgrades many property and business owners provide Therese Cron, Joe DiFronzo and Jim Duffy and two that benefit not only themselves but also the community ex officio members Landy Fike and Carl Dudley as in general. Walking around, one might not be aware of the new term starts April 1. Departing are Dominic new paint or awnings or signage per se, but nonetheless, Tartaglia, Jeff Olds, Tom Swem and Tres Feltman. there’s definitely a sense that things look and feel nice and fresh. The awards committee, however, hits the ll will hit the ground running this month as we get streets and looks carefully and closely for even the under way with the Strategic Plan update. On April smallest details that ultimately land someone a prize.

24 at 6 p.m., the public is invited to attend a TOWN

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On the Cover: The spring bounty is rolling in at the Downtown Thursday Night Farmers Market. Stalls are filling up with luscious fruits and vegetables and with the longer evenings, the market will be in full swing in no time. Here, a happy shopper stocks up on in-season produce from Green Farms. Photo by Deborah Cash.

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regular series, we’ll be hosting a SPECIAL TRIPLE HEADER on Friday, July 5 to offer a day’s worth of fun to those in town or off work for the 4th of July weekend and looking for something to do on Friday from 2 – 8 p.m. This year’s band lineup includes: Cuesta ou may have heard or Ridge, Big Daddy’s Blues read that the annual Band, Guy Budd Band ® Taste of San Luis has been with Inga Swearingen, Fish cancelled, for this year Out Of Water, Truth About anyway. After nearly 20 Seafood, Rusted Stone, years of hosting an elegant Burning James and the End of an era…after 20 years in Downtown SLO, jewelry artist Lili Clever evening in Mission Plaza as is closing her retail location and changing her business model. Lili will be Funky Flames, Nada Rasta, a fundraiser for Downtown offering her jeweled creations at trunk shows and private parties as well The Wild Blue, TROPO, as in-store at Hamilton Estate Jewelers. She can be reached at projects and promotions, Damon Castillo Band, The liliclever11@gmail.com. Photo by Deborah Cash the Board realized that the JD Project, Neon Russell, event was underachieving Bare Feet, and Resination. and needs either a makeover or replacement and The series begins June 14 and runs through decided to take this year and brainstorm. Thank you September 6 every Friday from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. to all who have participated whether as a guest, e’re excited to continue our efforts to keep vendor, supplier or volunteer—and stay tuned!

Downtown beautiful and fun—please join us in nd, finally, here’s a peek at what’s up for the summer celebrating everything fabulous we have to offer…

Concerts in the Plaza series. In addition to our around Downtown.

HALL MEETING to provide input into the process of moving Downtown forward for the next five years. Our ad in this month’s edition provides the details and we welcome any who care about Downtown and want to participate.

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The Public Is Invited To Attend

The San Luis Obispo Downtown Association’s

TOWN HALL MEETING Wednesday, April 24, 6 – 8 PM San Luis Obispo Museum of Art 1010 Broad Street The Downtown Association is working on a Strategic Plan Update Your input and ideas are important in developing a plan for the future of Downtown~ Please plan to attend this very important meeting!

Facilitated by Dale Magee, Catalyst Consulting

RSVPs appreciated 541-0286 Brent@DowntownSLO.com www.DowntownSLO.com

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Cook is the boss, McKnight is the clothing brand designer, and Hichborn specializes in marketing and project management.

The Radlife

Owners Austin Cook, Dillon McKnight and Micaela Hichborn (pictured) 940 Chorro Street (805)543-2432 www.theradlife.com www.facebook.com/THERADLIFESTORE Locally owned by Austin Cook, Dillon McKnight and Micaela Hichborn, The Radlife features quality-made California lifestyle clothing.

The Radlife brand had its first designs conceptualized

by Dillon McKnight in 2009; the brand is unique in that most of the clothing is designed and printed locally.

“We can make clothing for anyone’s idea of what is ‘rad’ or ‘cool,’” said Hichborn, part-owner of Quality Signs & Graphics with Cook. The Radlife store opened in Downtown San Luis Obispo on November 1, 2012.

Owners of The Radlife bring individual talent to the business:

B e a u t i f i c a t i o n Beautification Award Committee members Landy Fike, Bob Seeley, Pam Seeley, Jackie Crane, Lynn Hessler, and Brent Vanderhoof assisted chair Marshall Ochylski in jurying the candidates and categorizing the awards. The winners are as follows:

S p o t l i g h t s

“Our storefront is the same brand as we carry,” said Hichborn, “Most first time customers are enthusiastic about our store because there is nothing like it in San Luis Obispo.” Although the majority of clothing is targeted toward a male audience, The Radlife is steadily expanding into women’s clothing as well. The store currently offers men’s clothing, men’s jewelry including rosaries and chains, and women’s hoodies and tank tops.

In addition to local artwork featured in the store, The Radlife hosts free monthly in-store performances. Recent artists include James Kaye, JP the Diesel, KO the Legend, and DJ Mr. Butter. Want to know more about The Radlife? Look for The Radlife online on Kazbah, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Radlife is open daily from 10am-9pm.

By Erin Gray

A w a r d

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Executive Director’s Award: Downtown Tree Lighting (pictured below) - Higuera Street

Tenant Improvements: Retail, Locally Owned: Merit Jules D. - 1129 Garden Street, Suite A Change of a Dress - 1116 Morro Street Tenant Improvements: Retail, Locally Owned: Excellence Assets - 853 Monterey Street (Rose Alley) Tenant Improvements: Retail, Corporate/Franchise: Merit The Flip Flop Shop - 858 Higuera Street Tenant Improvements: Retail, Corporate/Franchise: Excellence White House | Black Market - 1070 Court Street, Suite 204 Tenant Improvements: Service: Excellence Tigerlily Salon - 659 Higuera Street Tenant Improvements: Hospitality: Merit Luna Red - 1023 Chorro Street Tenant Improvements: Hospitality: Excellence Luis Wine Bar - 1021 Higuera Street Tenant Improvements: Exterior: Excellence Clever Ducks - 1313 Broad Street Merchandising: A Muse Gallery - 845 Higuera Street Batch! - 1108 Broad Street Rocket Fizz San Luis Obispo - 699 Higuera Street Spirits of Africa Gallery - 672 Higuera Street Sugar Daddy’s Bake Shop - 1127 Broad Street, Suite A The Radlife - 940 Chorro Street Maintenance: Breaking Bread Bakery - 1074 Higuera Street Hand’s Gallery - 777 Higuera Street Oasis Restaurant & Catering - 675 Higuera Street Walk-Up Award: Old San Luis Barbecue Company - 670 Higuera Street, Suite B Green Award: Ambiance - 737 Higuera Street

Chairman’s Award: Parish Hall Renewal Project - 751 Palm Street Mayor’s Award: Granada Hotel & Bistro (pictured below) - 1126 Morro Street

THE BULLETIN BOARD 5th annual wine-4-paws

Join us in our FIFTH year as we raise funds for Woods Humane Society! Visit any of over 60 wineries on the Central Coast April 13th - 14th 2013, and enjoy our beautiful wine region while supporting a great cause. Pet-loving wine drinkers can help our four-legged friends by visiting ANY of the participating wineries throughout the weekend when a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Woods Humane Society! Print your free map/passport off the website, or grab one at any participating winery during the event. Get your passport stamped when you help generate a donation and you’ll be entered in our raffle. Visit www. wine4paws.com for more info.

art therapy program benefits cancer patients

French Hospital Medical Center’s (FHMC) Hearst Cancer Resource Center has partnered with the SLO Museum of Art to offer a new Art Therapy Program for community members affected by cancer. The program is open to all local cancer patients, survivors or caregivers and is held from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the SLO Museum of Art. Program participants will learn how to express themselves through a variety of creative projects including oil pastels, drawing, collage cutouts, sculpting and art interpretation. It’s facilitated by Anne Gill Kellogg, Registered Art Therapist, local artist and teacher. Anne has more than 21 years of experience as an art therapist and earned a masters degree in Marriage, Family and Clinical Art Therapy. For more information please contact FHMC’s Hearst Cancer Resource Center at (805) 542-6234.

NEW TO TOWN?

Get your free welcome packet!

5-Course native american-inspired dinner at opening of history center’s newest exhibit

California Native Americans were known to be hunter-gatherers and were adept at fishing. In celebration of the History Center of SLO County’s newest exhibit, “Native Baskets: The Spirit That Binds,” Chef Debbie Collins of Del Monte Café will prepare a five course dining experience reminiscent of the time. The courses will bring to life the California Native American culture of the time in which these native baskets were part of meal preparation. Attendees can expect to see dishes like huckleberry-glazed wild duck breast and fiddlehead fern salad. The goal of the exhibit is to shed light on the importance of the basket’s ancient past and bring it full circle into their significance today. The Painted Rock National Monument at the Carrizo Plains is a complementary theme as a symbol of the unity of Central California Native Americans from before the Spanish conquest to the present.

Throughout the exhibit viewers will see highlights of the function, form and natural fibers of over 40 unique baskets. Tickets are $65 without wine pairing and $80 with wine pairing. For further information on the event or to purchase tickets, please visit www.historycenterslo.org.

calling all moms— sign up for idler’s apple pie contest

Moms, preheat your ovens and rev up your rolling pins. Idler’s Appliances is searching for the next award-winning apple pie during the 29th annual Mom & Apple Pie contest that begins in April and culminates at the SLO Home Show on May 4th.

Contestants can sign up at any Idler’s Appliances store. Local celebrity judges will taste their way through the preliminary rounds. The first round begins Saturday, April 20 at Idler’s Appliances in Paso Robles and a second round takes place on Saturday, April 27 at Idler’s in SLO. Mom & Apple Pie Finals will take place at the SLO Home Show at the Alex Madonna Expo Center. All entries must be double-crust, traditional apple pies made from scratch and made at home. Only moms can enter and have the chance to win a KitchenAid gas range, valued at $2100.

For more information, call (805) 238-6020 or visit www.idlers.net.

Marie Moore, PhD

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Counseling

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

Liz Hiatt

•

SLO and Avila: Liz Hiatt 773-6418

773-6418

•

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

A FREE SERVICE TO NEWCOMERS

•

South County: Barbara Nicholson 748-4705

•

North County: Sandy Hexberg 235-1529

centralcoastwelcome@gmail.com

528-3782

Call your greeter or go to centralcoastwelcome.com

Owner

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

Bill Mott

Partner & Loan Officer

805.234.5081

bmott@commercemtg.com www.commercemtg.com CA DRE #01359516 NMLS #341086

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Cal Poly’s Chi Omega sorority make-a-wish event

Chi Omega hits jackpot for Make-a-Wish, reaching $88,500. Cal Poly’s most recent Sorority of the Year, Chi Omega, hosted their fifth annual Chi O Casino for Make-A-Wish on March 2, 2013. Chi Omega covered all the expenses so 100% of the proceeds from this mock casino night directly benefited Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties.

The event was held at Chumash Auditorium on the Cal Poly, SLO campus from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The $30,000 raised at the 2013 event brought the total raised to $88,500 during the last five years. “We love Chi Omega and Chi O Casino,” said Shanna Wasson Taylor, CEO for Make-A-Wish Tri-Counties. Taylor explains, “For each $5,000 raised, Chi Omega is able to adopt the wish of a local child with a life-threatening medical condition.” If you want to refer a child to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, call 1-888-899-9474 [WISH]. Donations may be sent to Make-A-Wish at 4222 Market Street, Suite D, Ventura, CA 93001.

12th annual greenhouse growers open house

Central Coast Greenhouse Growers’ Association will hold its 12th Annual Open House on Sat. April 13th, 9 am to 3 pm. Member nurseries in Nipomo and Arroyo Grande will open their doors

to the public. Many offer tours of their facilities in addition to their highly anticipated plant and flower sales. Each participating nursery proudly donates a portion of that day’s sales to the CCGGA Scholarship Fund made available to Horticulture students and CCGGA Grower members children. www.ccgga.com

Free senior health care 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.

sesloc offers education grants

SESLOC Federal Credit Union is making education grants available to schools in San Luis Obispo County. County school districts were recently made aware of the new program which offers grants of up to five hundred dollars each month. Each year SESLOC will

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

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

11175 Los Osos Valley Road, SLO YOUR CENTRAL COAST MORTGAGE CONSULTANT

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

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Gary A. Sage License No. 0E02096 100 Cross Street, Suite 203 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 gsage@dibu.com

(805) 593-1400 (805) 593-1401 fax (805) 593-1413 direct (805) 235-1043 cell

offer a total of $6,000 in grants for use in SLO County schools.

These grants are designed to support and enhance education in the county by expanding classroom level resources and supporting the Credit Union values of cooperation, education, innovation, and empowerment. SESLOC Assistant Vice President of Marketing, Carla Swift says “Our goal is to support learning experiences typically not available without private funding.” The grant program is open to kindergarten through 12th grade classroom teachers and directors of enrichment programs at accredited schools. More information and a grant application is available online at sesloc.org.

Capital campaign for french

The French Hospital Medical Center Foundation is pleased to announce its capital fundraising campaign. Appropriately named “French—Well into the Future,” the effort will enhance services, facilities and technology at French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) to meet the health care needs of our community today and in the future. To help lead the campaign, Dr. Michael and Jennifer Clayton and Aaron and Erin Steed have agreed to be Campaign Co-Chairs. Dr. Clayton is a local urologist and a member of the FHMC Community Board. He and his wife have been avid supporters of the hospital for many years. Aaron and Erin Steed, owners of Meathead Movers, have also been strong supporters and instrumental in raising needed funds for the hospital. Erin Steed is a member of the FHMC Foundation Board. The FHMC Foundation goal is to raise $6.4 million total, $4.5 million of which has already been raised. For more information, to see our video or to make a donation, visit the FHMC Foundation website at www. supportfrenchhospital.org or call (805) 542-6496.

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is an ideal opportunity to grow business relationships, find new suppliers, customers and partners. Exhibitors can visit with clients, make hundreds of contacts and check out the competition while capturing maximum exposure for their business. Exhibitor Space Fills Up Fast! Register Now! Visit www.pasorobleschamber.com For more information, contact the Chamber office at 805.238.0506.

santa maria evening kiwanis 23rd BasketBall spectacular This year’s Spectacular will be held

April 20 at Allan Hancock College. The Girls’ game begins at 5 p.m. and the Boys’ game is at 7 p.m. The event features the area’s top graduating high school basketball players--San Luis Obispo County vs. northern Santa Barbara County. There will be a girls’ game, a boys’ game, 3-point shooting contests, and a slam dunk contest. For more information contact Gary Prober at gprober@yahoo.com Frank

Annual morro bay aauw garden tour

The annual Morro Bay AAUW Garden Tour will be Sunday April 28, noon to 5pm. Visit six unique gardens in Morro Bay, and Los Osos.

Tickets are $10 for the self-guiding tour. Tickets may be purchased after April 1st at all Miner’s Hardware stores, Farm Supply SLO, Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore in Los Osos, Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay, and any AAUW member of the Morro Bay Branch.

Proceeds benefit community projects. For more information, morrobayaauw.org or call 805-235-5779.

paso robles chamber of commerce business expo

The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Business Expo is considered to be one of the largest Business Expos on the Central Coast. The Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Exhibitor Registration is now open for the 2013 Business Expo. The Annual Business Expo is set for April 23rd from 4pm – 7pm at the Paso Robles Event Center. The Chamber’s Business Expo

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18th annual central coast orchid show and sale

Nature’s Gems, the 18th annual CENTRAL COAST ORCHID SHOW AND SALE sponsored by the Five Cities Orchid Society will be held Saturday, April 6, from 9 to 5 p.m. and Sunday, April 7, from 10 to 5 p.m. at the South County Regional Center, 800 West Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA (east of US 101, between Brisco Road and Grande Avenue exits.) General Admission is $5 and includes a door prize ticket. Children 12 and under are free. The American Orchid Society will judge plants being exhibited and vendors will offer a large variety of orchids, orchid books and orchid supplies for sale. Orchid culture re-potting demonstrations, and plant doctors will provide valuable information to orchid enthusiasts. The weekend raffle will benefit the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center. A Preview Benefit for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center will be held Friday evening, April 5, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m., to support their educational outreach. This elegant evening includes Central Coast wines, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, live music, a silent auction and an awards presentation. Tickets for the preview evening are $40.00. You may purchase them online at www. dunescenter.org or by calling (805) 929-5749 or (805) 481-3991. Check our web site www.fcos.org for updated show information.

casa superhero walk for the child

Don’t miss CASA’s Superhero Walk for the Child. Walk around scenic Atascadero Lake for a great cause on Saturday, April 13th from 10 am to 2 pm. You can enjoy the fun and dress as your favorite Superhero! Families, kids, friends and co-workers can all walk or form teams to double the fun! The walk path is even stroller friendly. After the walk, Atascadero Kiwanis will BBQ and there will be music, a

D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years

Alan “Himself” A P R I L

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

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bounce house, and raffle prizes for the walkers! Everyone who raises a minimum of $100 gets a t-shirt. Rain or shine, we will walk for the children! The event will be broadcast via live remote at Coast 101.3 FM. Sign up at www.slocasa.org

Grant to public library

The Foundation for San Luis Obispo County Public Libraries has awarded a $17,500 grant to fund the Increasing Community Connections project to be launched next month by the San Luis Obispo County Library. The project, which will be conducted by the management consulting firm Orange Boy, will assess library patrons to determine unmet needs and make recommendations to library staff. The Foundation for San Luis Obispo County Public Libraries is a non-profit public interest corporation which conducts advocacy, fundraising and program activities to support and strengthen public libraries countywide. For more information on the foundation, or to make a donation toward this project, go to slolibraryfoundation.org.

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THE BULLETIN BOARD cal poly opera and opera slo’s Magic flute

Cal Poly’s Student Opera Theatre and Opera SLO will present the second “co-opera” collaborative partnership in a full production of Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, April 11-13, in the Spanos Theatre on campus. Tickets are $18 for the public, $16 for seniors, and $9 for students. Prices include all Performing Arts Center fees, and event parking is sponsored by the PAC. Tickets are sold at the Performing Arts Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. To order by phone, call SLO-4TIX (756-4849). For more information, call the Music Department at 756-2406.

Morro bay kite festival

Grab a kite and head for the beach in Morro Bay as hundreds of kite lovers gather for the 7th Annual Morro Bay Kite Festival, April 27 – 28. The skies around the rock will be filled with kites of all shapes and sizes as professionals and amateurs, children and adults show off their skills. This free, family event offers great entertainment for all ages. Professional kiteflyers and kitedancers from around the country will amaze the crowd with choreographed kite routines by teams and solo performances set to music. The first 500 children to attend on Saturday will receive free kites, donated by Central Coast Funds for Children. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For more information call Shaun Farmer at (805) 772-0113 or go to www.morrobaykitefestival.org.

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central coast wine competition accepting entries

The Central Coast Wine Competition has announced that it is now accepting entries for the 2013 competition, which will take place June 12-13. The competition staff strongly encourages wineries to take advantage of the opportunity to enter the competition online at http://cmsfw.fairmanager.com/. The entry book, which details the entry classes and guidelines, can be found at the California Mid-State Fair webpage or the CCWC blog at http:// centralcoastwinecomp.com. The Central Coast Wine Competition is the largest evaluation event for wines produced exclusively on California’s Central Coast and is hosted by five Central Coast fairs: the California Mid-State Fair, Santa Barbara County Fair, Monterey County Fair, Ventura County Fair, San Benito County Fair and the Grand National in San Francisco. Entries will be accepted through May 24th.

Santa Maria Coin and Collectibles show

Santa Maria Coin Club is holding a coin and collectibles show on Saturday, April 27th, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Elwin Mussell Senior Center, 510 East Park Ave. Admission is free. The show will have coins, casino chips, beanies and sports cards. All collectors are invited. Bring your coins for free appraisals. For more information call 937-1250.

MORRO BAY’S ANNUAL CITYWIDE YARD SALE

Morro Bay is aiming for a Guinness World Record with this year’s Citywide Yard Sale, set for April 6 – 7. In past years, close to 200 residents have participated, with yard sales all around the city, and this year’s event is on track to be even bigger. Special features include a raffle for items from the estate of Morro Bay’s most famous resident, Jack LaLanne, and free document shredding provided by The DocuTeam of SLO. (Limit: 4 boxes per household.) Yard sales around the city will begin at 8 a.m. Treasure maps, leading to all of the official yard sale sites, will be available at Hwy 41 Antique Emporium, 520 Atascadero Road. For more information call (805) 772-4467 or go to www.morrobaybeautiful.org.

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COMMUNITY

eye on Business

Happy #10, Shari Clark

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

Ruth Nimeh at their Tortilla Flats restaurant.

She joined BCA as a media buyer in 2003. Two things are especially notable about Shari: first, her job background didn’t lead from one job to the next—her interests in tackling new challenges did. And second, Shari never let work interfere with family life—and yet her job never suffered for family responsibilities. She ran Camp Fire activities and cheered on kids at water polo matches and golf tournaments.

She and Brian helped build floats and drive carpools. They raised resourceful, capable kids, and all the while Shari’s star continued to soar at BCA. Maybe some of it is in her DNA— Shari’s mom, Ethel Fauds, lives at Shea Trilogy and at 80+ is one of the highest-kicking members of the Follies dance troupe.

I

’ve been in business with my husband for almost 25 years, and while much has changed over the course of time, one irrefutable fact still guides us: we are only as good as the people who work for us. Ours is a service business. Our assets are people and the talents and commitment they bring to work. And fortunately for us, one of those people is Shari Clark.

Shari was a high energy multi-tasker before that juggling talent even had a name. She and her husband Bryan graduated from Humboldt State and made their way as young marrieds to a home in the South County. They eventually had a son, Tyler, and daughter, Sara, who both grew up to be scholar athletes. Tyler is now a Poly graduate working in the golf industry and Sara is a Poly freshman.

Shari’s professional background included a long time marketing position with renowned golf industry sculptor Malcolm DeMille before she became business manager for Elias and 2013

Shari is the kind of employee—the kind of person—who makes a business and a community better for being in it. We are so grateful to have her as a cornerstone of our business, and we are equally appreciative that SLO Journal Plus is joining with us in extending a wellearned salute. Thank you, Shari Clark.

As a business owner, I never cease to be amazed by and appreciative of Shari’s work ethic. She approaches her responsibilities with the focus and dedication of a company owner.

She cares. Really cares, and it shows. Shari is admired by colleagues and other industry professionals and is a tremendous team player. She is an eager student of new ideas and has educated herself on everything from social media

Shari is an account manager and media planner who recently celebrated her tenth anniversary with BCA. She is an amazing employee, and to offer an idea of just how terrific she is, SLO Journal Plus Publisher Steve Owens agreed that she warrants an Eye on Business-column shout-out. So here we go.

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to tourism marketing. She listens and learns and isn’t afraid to take chances. She is fierce in her values and readily stands for what she believes. All that and she is smart as a whip.

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