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MONICA GRANT | GEORGE NAUFUL | RON COMBS | PAUL PIETTE | BONNIE CARDONE

JournalPLUS APRIL 2014

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

SIERRA VISTA’S CEO JOE DESCHRYVER ON THE MEDICAL CENTER’S HELISTOP

805-543-2172

805-904-6616

www.farrellsmyth.com

21 Santa Rosa Street #100 San Luis Obispo

110 E. Branch Street Arroyo Grande

San Luis Obispo

www.ZinVineyard.com

Larry D. Smyth

Jennifer Hamilton

Owner/Broker

Relocation Director

Wine Lovers Paradise! West Paso Robles...rural yet close to downtown. Home, Land, Vineyard, 4900+ Linda Aiello-Madison square foot steel shop. All secured behind electric Broker-Associate gate. Owner will consider carrying financing. $1,500,000

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

Ken Arritt

Valerie Simpson

Broker-Associate

Twila Arritt

REALTOR®

Santa Maria

Atascadero

Broker-Associate

Simone Viola

REALTOR®

Serene Westside Atascadero 4.57 acre parcel with Majestic Mossy Oaks that surround the natural building pad. Only 1.3 miles to Hwy 101, but you’ll feel the you have found the quiet, natural spot to build your forever home. Positioned on the end of a paved Cul De Sac, a stunning neighborhood with upscale homes, each with plenty of space surrounding them. Make this the private spot your call home! $239,990

This is a beautiful, spacious 3 bed, 2.5 bath town home in a well maintained complex. Wrought iron gate opens into a courtyard entry with a nice patio. Living room has a large wood burning fireplace and slider opening to patio. 2 car garage. $199,500

www.1175MurrayAve.com

www.3211ViaEnsenada.com

Mary Rosenthal REALTOR®

Carol Beard

Laura Pyzer

Pamela Bliss

Richard Potter

REALTOR®

REALTOR®

Broker-Associate

SOLD!

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

Jerry Collins REALTOR®

Paddy Doron REALTOR®

Patricia Garrison REALTOR®

REALTOR®

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

Vicky Hall REALTOR®

David Hamilton REALTOR®

Linda Irigaray REALTOR®

Deane Naylor REALTOR®

Annette Mullen REALTOR®

Sierra Vista.

. e n i l e f i L e m i t e f i L Your

Birth Center • Heart • Spine • Emergency • Stroke

Quality. Service. Innovation.

1010 Murray Avenue, San Luis Obispo | www.SierraVistaRegional.com For physician referral, call 800.483.6387.

CONTENTS

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

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

22 CARRIZO PLAINS TRAIL

654 Osos Street San Luis Obispo California 93401

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

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

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MONICA GRANT

PAUL PIETTE

ADVERTISING Jan Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Will Jones, Deborah Cash, Bonnie Cardone, Chuck Graham, John Ashbaugh, Roxanne Carr, Heather Young, and Gordon Fuglie.

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

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

PEOPLE 8 10 12 14 16

JOE DESCHRYVER MONICA GRANT GEORGE NAUFUL RON COMBS PAUL PIETTE

HOME & OUTDOOR 18 20 22 24 26

CUESTA’S WOMEN OF DISTINCTION SECOND CHANCE CARRIZO PLAIN TRAIL FOOD / AT THE MARKET SLO ART SCENE

COMMUNITY 28 30 31 32 34 36 41

OUR SCHOOLS–Dr. Julian Crocker WINE FOR PAWS FUNDRAISER SLO ROTARY DONATIONS HISTORY: Murder at the Andrews HOSPICE CORNER / CROSSWORD PUZZLE PALM STREET Councilman Ashbaugh COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening 41 MORTGAGE FACTS 46 EYE ON BUSINESS

A P R I L

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A proud tradition of serving our community for over 30 years

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Three bedroom 1 bath home with detached garage located on 1/4 acre office zoned commercial lot. Prime commercial location with high visibility. A one of a kind opportunity. $549,000 #3188

NIPOMO – 2.97 acres with mobile home.

Neighborhood of Fine Homes

Currently on a month to month rental agreement. Acreage zoned AG with growers and horse facilities on surrounding properties.

Many potential uses for this acreage. Zoning offers many uses and the freeway frontage is outstanding for exposure to a small ag business like a nursery. $599,000 #3195

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Located adjacent to

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Magnificent unobstructed

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

Preliminary plans, perc test soils report and well test are available. $475,000 #3172

open space, just minutes from Laguna Lake Municipal Golf Course, Laguna Lake Park, schools and multiple shopping opportunities.

Beautifully landscaped, this lovely approx.

3071 sf home features 5 bedrooms and 5 baths with gorgeous wood flooring in the living room, dining room, kitchen and dining nook. Formal and informal dining areas offer convenient open access to the kitchen. All bedrooms have their own bathroom or private access to a shared bathroom. Huge lot with recent addition of outdoor kitchen. $1,169,000 #3197

SAN LUIS OBISPO – This home is so

charming!!! Recently painted inside and out, updated kitchen with granite counters and fixtures, canned lighting and so much natural light! This is truly a gem. The property is on a level corner lot and just a few blocks to downtown. Featuring 2 beds and 1 bath.

There is a small yard behind the 1 car garage. $549,000 #3198

Fantastic Opportunity in Great Location!

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Nicely updated home

in desirable Margarita Villas. This complex features a Pool, Spa, and Clubhouse!! Home includes 2 beds/2.5 baths with an open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, fireplace in living area and a 2 car garage! Rear yard is good size and fenced for the pups!! $425,000 #3200

ARROYO GRANDE – Two homes on one lot!

This property features a completely remodeled main home with over 3100 sq ft, 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms. Hardwood floors, custom kitchen, large living and family room, on demand hot water, vaulted ceilings, master suite with enclosed hot tub outside, and oversized 3 car garage! The guest home has 2 bedrooms and 2.5 baths, 1329 sq ft, new carpet and paint, and large upstairs patio. Enjoy lounging on the backyard pool and rinse off under the outdoor shower!

Too many features to list! $829,000 #3201

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Just a short distance to downtown San Luis Obispo. The modern kitchen features stainless steel appliances as well as stainless steel counter tops. New cabinets, new wood flooring, new carpet, front & rear patios, landscaping, second floor balcony, indoor laundry, good storage.

Washer, dryer, refrigerator are all included in price. There is a single car garage and covered carport. $349,000 #3199

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

805.541.2888

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

“

Smiling is the way the soul says hello.

JA R O D K I N T Z

”

FAMILY, COSMETIC, AND IMPLANT DENTISTRY

Call us at

805-541-5800 to schedule an appointment

From the publisher

W

e received plenty of feedback from the story we did on how the people of San Luis Obispo are helping out the small town of Dumarao, Philippines. The people of San Luis were also sent a wonderful thank you letter from their school principal and its students (pictured). If you missed the story, call it up on our website, slojournal.com. You’ll be happy you did.

This month we feature five outstanding people who make a difference. We start out with our cover story profiling Sierra Vista’s CEO, Joe DeSchryver. Next we feature YMCA Executive Director, Monica Grant and Grizzly Academy’s Principal, Paul Piette. Finally we follow up with recording business executive, George Nauful and the City Arborist, Ron Combs.

You will also enjoy Joe Carotenuti’s story on Murder at the Andrews. The photos of the old Andrews Hotel are priceless.

Plenty of good reading again this month.

Enjoy the magazine,

NEW PATIENTS WELCOME! Steve Owens 567 MARSH STREET · DOWNTOWN SLO

RyanRossDDS.com

COMING UP AT THE

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Solas: Shamrock City 4/4 • 8 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

Rock of Ages 4/16 • 7:30 p.m.

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

MET Live in HD: La Bohéme 4/5 • 9:55 a.m.

Northwest Dance Project 4/18 • 8 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center

Christopher Cohan Center

The Crucible 4/5 • 7 p.m. & 4/6 • 2 p.m.

Mexico de Noche 4/19 • 7:30 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

An Evening with Willie Nelson & Family 4/8 • 7:30 p.m.

Cameron Carpenter 4/22 • 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by CPA & Otter Productions

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Arts

The Great Guitars 4/11 • 8 p.m.

Cal Poly Festival Showcase 4/25 • 8 p.m.

Presented by CPA & Opera SLO

Presented by Civic Ballet of SLO

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu 4/12 • 8 p.m.

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Presented by Ballet Folklórico de CP

Christopher Cohan Center

Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Cal Poly All-State Festival Concert 4/27 • 2:30 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Leipzig String Quartet 4/13 • 3 p.m.

MBHS & LOMS Bands Spring Concert 4/30 • 7 p.m.

Alex & Faye Spanos Theatre

Christopher Cohan Center Presented by Cal Poly Music Dept.

Presented by Cal Poly Arts

Women Fully Clothed 4/14 • 7:30 p.m.

Christopher Cohan Center

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

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PEOPLE

A STUDY IN BALANCE

JOE DESCHRYVER: SIERRA VISTA’S NEW CEO

By Susan Stewart

L

ast year, Joe DeSchryver gave his friend a very nice bottle of wine for his 40th birthday. Dr. Chris Johnson was pleased but, he said, “Naturally, we haven’t had the time to drink it yet.” As the father of two pre-teen children, as an active volunteer with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Rotary San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, and as the new CEO at Tenet Healthcare Corporation’s Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, DeSchryver has a life that is … a bit busy.

Replacing Candace Markwith in the top position at the city’s largest private employer, DeSchryver took the helm in late 2013— December 29, to be precise. With a BS in Public Administration and a concentration in health policy from USC, plus a Master of Health Services Administration and an MBA from Arizona State

University (ASU), DeSchryver first served Sierra Vista as its Chief Operating Officer for eight years. During that time he racked up two Circle of Excellence awards (Tenet’s highest operational award), spearheaded an initiative that earned two regional awards for environmental stewardship, oversaw more than $40 million in construction and the implementation of the first-ever trauma center in our county’s history.

Describing our uniquely civic-minded county as “… something of an anomaly*; an outlier**,” DeSchryver might easily fit that description himself. Those who know him well say he is focused but relaxed, driven yet easy-going, reserved but fun-loving. DeSchryver himself says, “I always try my best to do what’s right … and have a good time doing it!”

Born in Santa Monica and raised in Valencia, California, DeSchryver was the oldest of four children. His mother, Pamela (who died last year) worked for the Santa Monica Police Department and his father, George (who now lives in Atascadero), was a sergeant with the LAPD.

The DeSchryver family: Joe and Laurie, with their two children, Kyle and Callie A P R I L

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“In high school and college, I was on the physician track,” he said.

But an internship as an undergrad showed him how important community involvement is in finding the resources and technology, plus the high-caliber personnel that will provide the best care possible for patients. Right out of college, DeSchryver also worked for a management consulting firm that served health care companies and hospitals nationally and globally. “I fell in love with that aspect of the industry,” he said, “and that led me to enroll at ASU in hospital administration.”

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Sierra Vista’s Bowl-a-thon team fundraiser for Transitions Mental Health

State Senator Bill Monning visiting with Joe and Pam Pall while touring the SVMC Neonatal Intensive Care unit

DeSchryver next spent five years as a hospital administrator in Florida and worked on regional projects for a dozen Tenet hospitals in that state. He eventually became Chief Operating Officer at West Boca Medical Center in Boca Raton. Who, but an outlier would trade the glamor of being a doctor for the relative obscurity of running a hospital?

1. “The hospital, now more than ever, is a true strategic partner with physicians, insurance groups, and other providers to ensure a coordinated approach to caring for patients

By way of an answer, DeSchryver offered, “Every day at Sierra Vista we ask ourselves two questions: What can we do to keep people close to home for care? Family is such a big part of the healing process.

And, secondly, what do our staff and physicians need to provide that care?” DeSchryver believes that if he can answer both those questions in the positive every day, then patients are better for it, and so is the community. These are the goals that inspire him on a daily basis.

3. There is an ongoing effort to eliminate waste and inefficiencies, holding us all accountable to quality and efficiency.”

Also inspiring are his wife, Laurie, and his two children. Kyle is 10 and Callie is 8, both students at Los Ranchos Elementary. When Kyle was diagnosed at 2 with Type I Diabetes, Laurie and Joe became active in the effort to find a cure. Laurie is a founding member of the tri-county regional branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and president of the school’s PTA. Kyle plays soccer and Callie is involved in competitive cheer. Most weekends, Joe can be found on one of the many soccer fields across the county supporting Kyle, or on a trip to cheer on Callie.

“Joe is a great athlete and an awesome Dad,” says wife Laurie. “Our kids are at the age where our lives revolve around them.”

Enter Chris Johnson, local physician, and father of four children, two of whom match up age-wise with Joe’s. Friends for several years now, Chris and Joe often find themselves together being supportive parents, hard-working colleagues, or just relaxing.

“Joe is pretty well-rounded,” says Johnson. “He deals with all kinds of different personalities … he has this knack for pulling them all together to get things done. It’s a significant strength.”

In 2006, DeSchryver was recognized by The Tribune as a Top 20 Under 40 leader, and by The Pacific Coast Business Times as a Top 40 under 40 member in 2009.

2. There are now alternative sites for care; outpatient settings where the care is taken to the patient, not vice versa

Sierra Vista has been serving our community since 1959. With nearly 800 employees, today it’s the largest private employer in the City, and the second largest in the County. Services include the County’s only neurosurgery program, a high risk pregnancy program, a 22-bed Level III Newborn Intensive Care Unit, and the County’s only dedicated pediatric unit and Level III Trauma Center.

About the latter, DeSchryver said, “The trauma center [started in 2012] was a huge endeavor, bringing physicians, staff, and first responders together to develop a coordinated approach to care for and treat the severely injured patient in a timely manner. The data show our impact has been positive on patient outcomes.”

As for the future? DeSchryver is excited. “We plan to roll out a new cardiovascular program,. … We’ll continue to recruit new physicians to the area with advanced skills. … I also want to see a comprehensive approach to the neurosciences; spine and brain injuries. … Get people to the right subspecialty at the right time.”

They are ambitious plans for an ambitious man. But Joe DeSchryver is an anomaly, an outlier in a good way; a man who works hard but knows how to leave work in its place and find time for friends and family and fun. A man who will soon find time to share a very nice bottle of wine with a friend. *anomaly—something unusual or unexpected; can’t be explained **outlier—a statistical observation that is markedly different in value from the others in the sample

Since accepting the top job at Sierra Vista, every day brings with it new challenges—the Affordable Care Act (ACA) being one of the biggest. “Change is hard,” DeSchryver explains. “The ACA has a huge impact on the health care delivery system. Leading the change efforts to meet the various aspects of the ACA will be challenging but necessary.” DeSchryver points to at least three positive effects of the ACA: A P R I L

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ymca ceo

monica grant

striving to make the county ymca a great one

By Heather Young YMCA’s mission: To develop the total person, spirit, mind and body, through values-based programs that build strong kids, strong families and strong communities Monica Grant is all smiles when she talks about the San Luis Obispo County YMCA of which she is CEO. She has been at the helm of the nonprofit organization since May 1, 2013, and said that while the YMCA was already a good one, she is striving to make it a great one.

“It’s the nice problem of how do you take a good Y and make it a great Y?” Grant said.

Grant has 15 years of history with the YMCA; she started working for YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly when she was a recreation major at Western Carolina University and then got an internship out of college at a YMCA in Bristol, Tenn., which led to fulltime employment with the organization. Those YMCAs were spread out from the East Coast to the West Coast. She left the YMCA organization for several years to pursue work doing nonprofit financial development, a position she said that didn’t exist in the YMCA in the ‘90s.

“Along the way, working for the Y, I became passionate about financial development,” said Grant, who is currently halfway through the masters program at Regis University in organizational leadership.

She ended up moving to Honolulu to work for the Nature Conservancy. That was until a former boss she had working for California YMCAs moved there with the Y. She was recruited to be vice president of the YMCA in Honolulu.

“I was happy to be back at the Y,” Grant said. “I knew if I wanted to be a CEO, I wanted it to be in the YMCA. It helped me refocus on what I wanted to be doing—that was director of a Y.” But then Grant, and her spouse, Colleen Murphy, decided to move back to the mainland because that’s where their family lived. When Grant

became CEO of the SLO County YMCA, Grant and Murphy, and their three cats, moved from Santa Cruz to Shell Beach. Murphy works for Santa Maria YMCA. Grant is on the Diversity Inclusion Committee for the SLO Chamber of Commerce and intends to get further involved in the community now that she’s been at the SLO YMCA for nearly a year.

“We never planned for her to work at a Y,” Grant said, adding that Murphy was her realtor when they met. Later Murphy became operations director for Homeless Services Center in Santa Cruz and has stayed in the nonprofit world since moving to SLO County.

The YMCA was founded as the Young Men’s Christian Association in London in 1844. The SLO County YMCA was started in 1943.

“The majority of our programs are out in the community,” Grant said.

The North County YMCA is run out of Centennial Park in Paso Robles and the main facility for the county is in SLO. However, there are programs in all areas of the county, run out of different facilities.

The county YMCA has a fitness facility in SLO, after-school programs at 14 locations county-wide, camps, preschools, specialized activities, sports programs and CPR, First Aid and AED training.

Grant with staff members, Shannon Grady and Adam Morgan A P R I L

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“We service 5,000 families countywide,” Grant said, adding that the SLO facility has 1,000 family members. “We welcome you as a member, whoever you are. It doesn’t matter who you are. The Y is not just an organization, not just a gym; we’re a cause—a national and worldwide movement. I think people are excited to be a part of it.”

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The Children’s reading and play center

In Grant’s short time as CEO, the SLO facility has received a facelift and new equipment and she has been implementing new programs throughout the county. One program she is working on is healthy eating, healthy activities for elementaryaged children.

“What I think is unique about the Y is it is for the full body—mind, body and spirit,” Grant said. “The Y has always been holistic. We really attract health seekers.”

She added that the nonprofit serves people of all ages, abilities and needs; that it’s very inclusive.

“I think people feel very comfortable at the Y,” Grant said.

She said that what she loves about the Y is that it creates a community.

One of the ways it does that is by being inclusive and not turning people away for lack of financial means. That is possible through donations from YMCA members. In 2013, Grant said, $70,000 was granted to families. For 2014, she has a goal of granting $100,000, but it depends on how much comes in via the organization’s annual support campaign.

“We grant out a lot for summer camp,” Grant said.

The summer camps see 800 children a day at its peak.

For more information on the SLO YMCA, go to www.sloymca.org or call 543-8235. The main facility is located at 1020 Southwood Drive in SLO. The North County office can be reached at 239-3047.

SAN LUIS OBISPO SYMPHONY MICHAEL NOWAK, MUSIC DIRECTOR

CLASSICS IN THE COHAN

MAY 3, 2014 · 8 PM

C H R I STO P H E R CO H A N C E N T E R , SA N LU I S O B I S P O

Jennifer Frautschi, Violin STRAVINSKY / Petroushka BEETHOVEN / Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 61 CONCERT SPONSORS

Clifford W. Chapman & Gene A. Shidler Silas & Jimmie Brewer

For tickets pacslo.org or call 805.756.4849

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george nauful

“you don’t retire from Music”

By Natasha Dalton and Brett Dalton

M

esa/Bluemoon Recordings may be a niche enterprise, if niche means not being of mass culture.

But there’s nothing miniscule or unassuming about the company whose catalog reads like a star-registry.

Mesa/Bluemoon caters to those who already have a musician’s album, and want to buy another. “To us, it’s all about the quality of the writing,” George Nauful, co-owner of Mesa/ Bluemoon says. John Scofield, Al DiMeola, Gilberto Gil, Brian Culbertson, Rick Braun, Lalah Hathaway …—each of these artists has his/her own unique and powerful voice. Their appearance on this indie label isn’t accidental: Nauful’s credentials include an MBA from Citadel, a degree in composition and arranging from the Southern California Con-

servatory of Music and years of experience.

Add to that the fact that he is an outstanding guitar player in his own right, and you’ll see why his intuition has to be trusted.

Nauful entered the music scene in the 1970s, after he and his two friends from South Carolina moved to California “to hook up with Rick Roberts (future song writer and lead singer for Firefall), who was staying in Gary Cooper’s old mansion.” The celebrity sighting began the night the group arrived in LA, when Roberts took them to play poker with some friends, who turned out to be the Eagles. “We knew who they were: They were just starting to be successful,” Nauful says. “We sat in the living room and played guitars with Bernie Leadon while the others were playing poker.”

Going around town and playing for some of the biggest producers and record labels: BMG, Warner Brothers, RCA, A&M—soon landed Nauful a production deal with Sound City, a recording studio in Van Nuys. “There’s a documentary on the whole Sound City experience, because some of the biggest acts in Rock history have recorded there,” Nauful explains. At Sound City, Nauful met Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, who were recording there as well. “We used to get together from time to time and play,” Nauful says.

He recalls the time when Buckingham asked him for help with a tune he was working on. Two weeks later Buckingham and Nicks joined Fleetwood Mac, and that tune (“World Turning”) appeared on their album. “Oh well, I missed that opportunity,” Nauful shrugs. He has nothing to complain about, though: many wonderful opportunities were just round the corner. As for Buckingham, he and Nauful remained friends: Buckingham played on Nauful’s first demo, and even used two of his guitars on the Fleetwood Mac album.

805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo

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Nauful’s band Hobo Grin (which later changed its name to Savanna) worked next-door to Fleetwood Mac, and Stevie Nicks

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hung out with them, too. “She’d say, ‘they don’t listen to me,’” George Nauful chuckles.

It was a fun time for them, especially when both bands were recording the percussion part for a song (“Let Us Plead”) for Savanna’s Straight At The Sun album.

Unfortunately, Savanna eventually broke up, even though they had a deal on Mercury. But never underestimate setbacks: in talented people, they uncover creativity that otherwise might’ve stayed untapped. Nauful put down his guitar, and became a businessman.

Starting with just a handful of carefully selected titles by independent artists, George and his friend Jim Snowden launched PARAS Group, and managed to make enough of a

George and Lisa Nauful

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splash to be noticed by Jem/Passport Records, who invited them to create a jazz label, and later bought PARAS Group. When, years later, Jem itself was sold, Nauful and Snowden started their Mesa/ Bluemoon.

A licensing deal with Enja Records and several other labels, they had, assured the incredible quality of their Jazz Catalog: They burst onscene with the last recording of Chet Baker playing live in Germany, and a Dizzy Gillespie album that brought them their first Grammy.

But Mesa was also developing its own repertoire, and their group Strunz and Farah soon became the first #1 World Music title in Billboard. The 5 Gavin awards, 9 Grammy nominations, and 3 Grammy wins that followed cemented Mesa’s standing in the industry.

Reggae has been a big part of Mesa’s World Beat portfolio, with names like Steel Pulse, Aswad, the Mystic Revealers—and Black Uhuru being the most celebrated and probably the most challenging band of them all.

During his touring days, Nauful shared stage with Dave Mason, John Stewart, Charlie Daniels, Jerry Riopelle and the Doobie Brothers; but at Mesa he made an inadvertent appearance on a reggae album.

It happened when Black Uhuru were on the verge of breaking up, but still had to deliver their last contractual album. They were running late: the day before the mastering date, one song was still missing.

“We already had everything but the masters,” Nauful recalls. “And then they said that I had to go download this master that had that other track on it.” To do that, Nauful had to first rent a studio. He did that; put the recording on—and discovered that it only had bass and drums, nothing else. That could’ve spelled the end of the project, but luckily, Nauful found a keyboard and a guitar, and overdubbed everything on that track. The next day, it was mastered.

“When the first reviews of the album came out, my partner rushed in with a picture of Black Uhuru with my face superimposed; because everyone raved about the track I finished,” Nauful chuckles. “Critics said, ‘they went back to their roots!’”

It wasn’t just the inner fighting that made it hard to work with some bands. Another problem was drugs. When Nauful brought Black Uhuru to America, he put them up in a hotel, and waited a whole month for them to show up in the studio—but when they did, they refused to perform because they were out of “ganja.”

But ultimately, music rights the wrong. “Right after the LA riots, Duckie Simpson had written an optimistic song called “One Love,” and

George performing with Dulcie Taylor

we shot a video with the rapper Ice T in a burned out building in South LA,” Nauful remembers. “We had that video on MTV; it was very cool.”

When Nauful and Snowden first started their label, they were distributed by Capitol. Two years later they did a joint project with Atlantic Records, distributed by Warner Music Group. Working at the top level in the industry was an unforgettable experience for Nauful.

Time spent with the legendary Ahmet Ertegün, who founded Atlantic records, is certainly one to cherish. So is work with Gerald Albright and Wayman Tisdale, a former professional NBA basketball player, who began his musical career in Motown (they called it MoJazz).

“Wayman was one of the most enjoyable people I ever worked with,” Nauful says. “He was an imposing figure at 6 foot 9, and weighing about 250 pounds. But he was a heart-warming person to be around, and a real hero for young people.”

And then, there’s King Sunny Ade. Nauful likes to remember the three weeks he once spent with Sunny, working on an album in a secluded studio in Louisiana. One day, Sunny somehow found out it was George’s birthday, and, when George entered the room, Sunny welcomed him with a Nigerian version of “Happy Birthday,” performed by his 17-member band, that went on for half an hour. Nauful still has this recording, and enjoys it immensely.

This May Mesa/Bluemoon is celebrating its 25th anniversary, and Nauful has a lot to be proud of: he worked with many amazing artists, who gave us lots of wonderful music.

In March the company released an outstanding album called Gypsy Dream featuring Ferenc —a Hungarian-born virtuoso whose father played violin in the Hungarian Symphony. Two other releases feature local artists: Julian Temple and Dulcie Taylor. Taylor is last year’s winner of the New Times’ “Best Songwriter” Award, and George’s performing partner.

“Eight years ago I finally bought George a baby Martin guitar,” explains his wife Lisa (also a musician). “George is always helping talented local artists. But it was ridiculous that he wasn’t playing.” Well, she changed that: for the last eight years, Nauful has been playing at popular local venues.

Tisdale’s Manager Robert Tauro, Wayman Tisdale, Smooth Jazz Artist Marc Antoine and George Nauful

“I don’t think I’ll ever retire,” Nauful says. “Music isn’t something you can ever retire from. What else is there to life?—Music, and my wife.” Lisa laughs: “It really is so,” she says. “For us, it really is all about music!”

For more, go to http://mesabluemoon.com A P R I L

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PEOPLE

arborist for the city of san luis

ron combs

work, family, fun and life... well-rooted and branching out

By Deborah Cash

A

s a boy growing up in Camarillo, CA, Ron Combs figured out pretty early on that anything he wanted— like bikes, spending money, sports equipment—would be bought with his own hard-earned cash, no matter that he was just a kid. So, not one to try and get around the fact of the matter, Ron went to work mowing lawns and learning from his dad how to prune fruit trees. Little did he realize then that his early work experience would eventually shape his career and life and take him to great heights, literally.

Today, Ron is the City of San Luis Obispo’s Arborist and has climbed and worked high above the City in some of its tallest trees, no small feat considering the inventory of more than 20,000 specimens under his care. Even better, Ron (whose actual title is Urban Forest Supervisor/City Arborist) loves his work and is happy to talk trees with anyone who’s interested. “I preserve and promote the Urban Forest,” he proudly offered when asked about what he does exactly. “I wear a lot of different hats,” he said citing such activities as reviewing tree

REIS FAMILY M O RT U A R I E S

& C R E M AT O RY

removal applications and development issues, supervising the tree crew and tree-trimming contractors and overseeing the commemorative grove and heritage tree programs. As well, he plans and executes the Arbor Day Celebration and enforces the municipal code. “I’m the tree cop,” he says with a slight grin.

Ron’s self-financed education in agriculture and horticulture programs earned him a Landscape Certificate and at 24, he was hired by the City of Thousand Oaks as a tree trimmer, though he says he supplemented his income with other jobs. In typical Ron fashion he says, “I bought my first house at age 27 with no outside help. I’ve always been like that, it was drilled into me: ‘Finish your plate, save your money. Be self-sufficient.’” When he heard of a job opportunity in SLO, he jumped at the chance and once hired, bought a home in Paso Robles on two acres where he lives with his wife, Cindi, and son Ryan, 18. Daughter Amanda, 23, lives nearby.

Ron, who at this point in his 25-year-plus career is “not so much up in the big trees,” said his desire is to eventually teach and consult on tree care and best practices. He wants to pass on his knowledge about things like “Right tree, right place,” and proper pruning techniques.

One of his pet projects is the Downtown Foresters, a volunteer-based tree crew that gathers bimonthly to “Plant, Prune and Protect” trees in the Downtown area. Ron, along with SLO Downtown Association Design committee members started the group in 2007; he often gets calls about the program from other communities and has spoken at statewide conferences about it. The Foresters garnered “Best Urban Forester Program” in California in 2012 thanks to Ron’s involvement.

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Ron and the rest of the City Arborist group

PEOPLE

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cuer.” Ron takes the “art” to another level, though, which is why there tends to be a lot of socializing and fun when he’s wielding the tongs and fork. “You have to make a show out of it,” he says, referring to his Chicken with Magic Stick specialty. (See recipe below.) Essentially, the stick is a “broom” of herbs used to baste, or “paint,” the bird and while it cooks, Ron regales guests with presumed tales of the stick’s origin. “Part of barbecuing is in the mystique,” he laughs, saying he’s not sure that his facts are all straight but it’s all about the fun.

Ron at the top of Mt. Whitney

Ron says his ongoing studies include topics like “new and dangerous pests, recycled water use, greening efforts and concepts of age and species diversity.” And, in addition to working with planners, engineers and contractors on preservation and education, he is a great “front man” with the public, taking time to talk with people, groups, appear at City Council and Tree Committee meetings, often after hours and on weekends.

This kind of dedication, however, does not hamper Ron’s ability to enjoy life, family, the great outdoors and even take on a little side work for friends or family where he often has Ryan in tow learning about tree care and becoming financially self sufficient.

When Amanda and Ryan were young, Ron says he was a fun dad “with lessons to instill” and enjoyed taking them on field trips, camping, water- and snow-skiing, backpacking and hiking. He also coached Ryan’s baseball team. “I wanted to be hands-on, be a part of their life. I also wanted them to understand the importance of getting an education,” noting that both are currently enrolled in Cuesta College.

Those who know Ron will all attest to his non-arboreal skills as a master barbecuer though Ron himself will only own up to being “pretty good.” When pressed, he did admit to winning the “Rib Award” at a workplace cook off; that led to Ron’s recount of how he honed his prowess at the grill. “It all started when I was a teenager,” he says, obviously delighted to share Ryan his tri-tip tales.

“My brother-in-law had a side business, Ranch Style Barbecues, and I used to work with him.”

Proudly he continued that he worked his way up the line from “Bread” to “Turning Tri-Tip” which is more serious than it sounds to the uninitiated.

“There’s an art to it and it’s very important to not overcook or undercook; to get to that point you have to be a confident, comfortable barbe-

Ron, who turned 50 last year, shows no signs of slowing down or letting up. “I’m very energetic and I love sports and activities,” he said.

For his half-century birthday, he hiked Mount Whitney and without a hint of braggadocio pointed out, “and not just the main trail either but The Mountaineer’s Route,” which he explained allowed him to use climbing skills he learned from, of course, climbing trees. “It’s the highest point in the continental U.S.,” he remarked, reinforcing a certain theme that whether at work, play or whatever he does, Ron Combs is definitely “high” on life.

Ron’s Chicken (or Ribs) with Magic Stick Gather or buy herbs, preferably in branches or with stems 8 – 12” long.

These can include rosemary, sage, basil, chives, green onion, parsley, marjoram and thyme depending on the meat. For instance sage goes well with chicken but is a little too savory for ribs. A little lavender may also be included to balance the rosemary.

Lay herbs lengthwise in a mixed bundle and gather at the top with a rubber band, or any material to make a “handle” and form a small broom.

In a saucepan, melt better (or use olive oil) and add garlic powder, salt and other desired seasonings.

Steep the broom in the warmed seasoned butter or oil and, when meat is ready to be basted, lift the seasoned herb bundle out of the saucepan and “paint” the meat as it cooks.

At the end, when the food is removed from the grill, toss the stick into the fire for a dramatic finale!

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Meet

PEOPLE

paul piette

Principal, grizzly youth academy

By Will Jones

A

s a senior golfer with modest skills, to enjoy the game I rely on experience, practice and the perpetual hope that my next shot will be better than my last. My friends and I like to play early, frequently at Dairy Creek, across Highway 1 from Cuesta College and Camp San Luis. Often we hear the students at the Grizzly Youth Academy, a partnership between the California National Guard, the Grizzly ChalleNGe Charter School, and the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, engaging in their morning drills, chanting in cadence as they begin their day.

Life isn’t a game, but for these students to enjoy it after what has been a rough start for most of them, they are relying on new experiences, new practices and the hope that their efforts and commitment will lead to a bright future. They are fortunate to have a leader like Paul Piette to help them achieve their goals.

Paul is an Orcutt native, the youngest of four children whose father worked on Titan missiles at Vandenberg and whose mother worked for the Catholic Church. He attended public school for eight years and then chose to attend St. Joseph’s. “I’m glad I went there because if I’d gone to the big public high school I would have gotten lost, there

would have been no accountability for me. It would have been easy to slip through the cracks. But being in that small environment, everyone knew me, there was no anonymity whatsoever.”

Paul graduated in 1985 after what he freely admits was an undistinguished academic career and a time of not always making the best choices. He had no college aspirations and “just started picking up some jobs, aimlessly trying to figure out what I wanted to do.” He worked in a full service gas station where he once forgot to replace the oil cap on a customer’s car, an example, Paul said humorously, of his “unformed frontal lobe. That experience helped me to develop a better attention to detail, which characterizes my work today.”

After “fumbling pretty badly” in his first couple of years out of the house, Paul’s dad offered him the opportunity to move home rent free if he would go to community college. Initially reluctant, an uncle convinced him to seize the opportunity, telling Paul that when you’re given a chance you have to take it. “I had no real desire to go to school but I had a desire to do better. I was open to good things happening.”

Paul attended Hancock where he started with general education classes and then gravitated toward psychology. He had been a reluctant learner throughout his life because he was rebellious, but at Hancock, because he was there by choice, he started enjoying learning in an academic environment for the first time. “I declared myself a psychology major, having no idea what I would do with that. A friend convinced me to transfer to Sonoma State and off I went.”

The Piette family: Paul and Alisa with their two children, Camille and Zoe A P R I L

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Now self-supporting, Paul used financial aid and part time work to get through college. A new friend invited him to dinner where he

PEOPLE met his future wife, Alisa, who is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a practice in San Luis Obispo. They have two daughters, Camille, 13, who attends Laguna Middle School, and Zoe, 10, who attends Teach School. “Alisa was, and is, an amazing person, who led a women’s resource center at Sonoma State and was heavily involved is supporting student rights. I’m happy for her clients, particularly teenage girls, who work with her. She’s fantastic.”

Paul had an internship at a Santa Rosa high school, where “I was the guy who was supervising the behavior room when kids got kicked out of class, and I began to realize I could work with them. I loved it. They were me. I knew why people get kicked out and I knew why they tried to get kicked out.” He also worked as a teaching assistant and had his first experience as a classroom teacher, which he enjoyed. “The teacher who hired me complimented me for my Socratic style.

At the time I had no idea what he was talking about, but I guess it worked.”

Paul and Alisa graduated in 1993 and got married in 1994. They scouted Santa Barbara for graduate school, but didn’t feel connected to the community. “On the way back to Santa Rosa we spent a day at Avila Beach and then had an ice cream in San Luis Obispo and we were convinced that was where we wanted to live. My mom started cutting out and sending us want ads.

We moved down and I immediately found a job I loved as an instructional assistant at the SLO County Community School,” a program primarily for students who have been expelled or who have had serious attendance problems.

While earning a credential through Chapman College, Paul started teaching at Community School. In 2001 he accepted an offer to be a counselor at the Grizzly Youth

Academy, opened in 1998. After only eighteen months, at thirty-three he became the principal, and is now in his twelfth year leading the program.

Under Paul’s guidance, GYA has grown from 100 to 240 students who participate in a five month residential program.

They can earn up to fifty-five high school credits while developing the discipline and skills required for success in life, college and work. All of the students attend voluntarily and the retention rate is 90%. A variety of counseling services are available and the school also works closely with Cuesta College. Students are followed for a year after completion of the program.

According to Paul, “Year after year, 92% or more are engaged in either school, work or a combination of both. We think that’s a pretty good measure of success.”

Blessed with talented and dedicated teachers and support staff, Paul feels his work is enormously rewarding. “They come with so little success and such a small world view: this is who I am, this is how I’ve always been and this is how I’ll always be. We get to open up their world, show them options they didn’t know existed. It’s transforming for them.

Connecting them to community college is one of the things we do. We have a strong partnership with Cuesta.”

Paul hopes that big school districts will learn from programs like Grizzly Youth Academy

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Grizzly Academy students at work

by working hard to be flexible and meet the needs of individual students. “Our curriculum is geared toward getting our students to be introspective, using that introspection to define goals, and for us to help them map out a path to meet their goals.”

To learn more about Grizzly Youth Academy, go to http://www.grizzlyyouthacademy.org.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

Women of distinction honorees announced

C

uesta College and the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County’s Women’s Legacy Fund are excited to announce the recipients of the 37th Women of Distinction awards. The awards honor four women from throughout the Central Coast for their professional and civic contributions. The honorees were nominated by their peers and chosen by a selection committee. The award ceremony to honor the recipients will be held March 20, 2014, from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. at Cuesta College in Building 5400, Room 5401. Tickets to the event cost $25 and can be purchased by visiting www.cfsloco.org or by calling the Community Foundation at (805) 543-2323.

Parking will be free for attendants in lot 2.

The ceremony will include appetizers, dessert, wine and other beverages.

and money to meet the essential needs of those in crisis. Since Womenade’s formation, more than $322,000 in funds have provided dental and medical care, diapers, furniture, rent, gas, groceries, and much more. In addition, hundreds of items, including furniture, formula, clothing, and more, have been donated. Richardson, who created Womenade after retiring from teaching at Laguna Middle School, coordinates need requests with potential donors and stores the donated items in her home until they are delivered.

Womenade is run solely by hundreds of volunteers, donators and Richardson.

Last held in 2010, the ceremony and awards have returned with their original purpose—to celebrate Women’s History Month (March) and recognize the contribution that women have made in the areas of volunteering in the community, their profession and in philanthropy.

Progress for Women Award: Helene Finger

Community and Public Service Award, Professional: Jeanette Duncan

Community and Public Service Award, Volunteer: Sandy Richardson In 2003, Sandy Richardson read an article about a pediatrician who had been helping local families with unmet financial needs.

Richardson thought the process sounded doable and contacted five friends who invited their friends to a potluck, and Womenade was formed. Today, the non-profit serves San Luis Obispo County and donates items, time, A P R I L

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organizations. Duncan graduated summa cum laude from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

Her numerous awards include 2012 Isabel P. Ruiz Humanitarian Award from the San Luis Obispo County Community Foundation; 2007 Pacific Coast Business Times “Top 50 Women in Business”; 2006 Santa Barbara Association of Realtors, Community Service Award; 2005 Women’s Economic Ventures, Trailblazer of the Year Award; 2003 Local Hero by the Santa Barbara Independent.

Jeanette Duncan has been serving as executive director of Peoples’ Self-Help Housing (PSHH) since 1977. She is responsible for the non-profit multi-county (San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura) affordable housing agency and its 30 affiliated nonprofit corporations and limited partnerships, which provide a variety of housing and community development programs and residential construction services. Duncan also serves as president of The Duncan Group, a PSHH affiliate property management corporation.

The Duncan Group’s mission is to raise the economic, educational and social levels of the beneficiaries of PSHH’s programs and services. Under Duncan’s visionary leadership, PSHH has grown to become a regional and national leader in affordable housing development, as well as one of the most respected and trusted names among non-profit

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Helene Finger is the driving force behind the much-celebrated Society of Women Engineers of Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, (CP-SWE), an arm of the College of Engineering that aims to support and promote females in science, technology, and mathematics. Finger is the faculty advisor for CP-SWE and has been the director of Cal Poly’s Women’s Engineering Program, which works with the university and industry to recruit and retain female engineering and computer science students by focusing on outreach, on-campus support, and professional preparation. Finger has inspired numerous innovative activities, including the CP-SWE’s Building an Engineer Day. The semiannual event’s objective is to introduce 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to the different types of engineering through fun, hands-on labs facilitated by Cal Poly professors and students. In addition to serving as WEP director, the Cal Poly alumna has taught in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department since 1997.

Grace N. Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award: Barbie Butz As a founding member and chapter president of the Assistance League of San Luis Obispo County, Barbie Butz was instrumental in the formation of the league in

HOME/OUTDOOR (OSB), a program to provide schoolappropriate clothing to children living in poverty. Since the inception of OSB, 18,000 children have been clothed. She was also the driving force behind Coats for Kids of SLO County, which is in its 26th year of distributing new and used coats and sweaters to those in need each year.

Her numerous awards include the 1999 Cuesta College Women of Distinction’s Community and Public Service Award, the 2005-06 Atascadero Unified School Dis-

the early 1990s. The League is a non-profit dedicated to recognizing the potential of volunteers in helping those less fortunate to a better, more meaningful life in SLO County. Butz has also served as the Atascadero parks and recreation commissioner, on the boards of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce, the Atascadero Youth Task Force and the Colony Days committee. She helped develop the philanthropic program “Personal Grooming Totes” in 1993, a project to assist clients of the Women’s Shelter Program. In 1995, she helped create Operation School Bell

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trict’s Lay Citizen of the Year and the 2013 Atascadero City Council 25th Anniversary Proclamation Award.

For more information on the event or about the Community Foundation, please visit www.cfsloco.org or call (805) 5432323. For more information about Cuesta College, please visit www.cuesta.edu or call (805) 546-3100.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

making the most of a second chance

By Bonnie J. Cardone

Then I got divorced and needed a job. I was thrilled when Skin Diver magazine hired me as an editor. However, putting out a monthly magazine (and being a home-owning single mom with two children) took nearly all of my energy. I didn’t write fiction for more than two decades, though I did publish two nonfiction books.

I loved my job with Skin Diver. In 22 years I wrote about 900 articles and became a photographer so I could illustrate them. I dived a great many tropical destinations.

Nothing lasts forever. Instead of continuing to grow, Skin Diver began to shrink (as did publications worldwide). The owner decided to sell all his magazines. When he did, I was laid off.

I need time alone to write fiction. Now I had a lot of that. With little else to do, I sat down at my computer and, in nine months, wrote my first mystery novel. I took a month off and finished the second novel nine months later. (It’s amazing that the gestation of a baby and a book appear to take the same amount of time!) I also rejoined the mystery organization and became a member of another that promoted women crime writers. I started attending mystery conventions and found a critique group. I took more writing courses and a couple of forensics courses.

A year after I was laid off I landed a wonderful part time job as the editor of a quarterly newsletter put out by the women’s mystery writers’ organization. I applied for it thinking it would be great for networking and was thrilled to discover it was a paid position. For the next nine years I was immersed in the mystery writing community, attending conventions as far north as Alaska and as far east as Washington, DC, photographing famous authors and even interviewing a couple for the newsletter. The job educated me on all aspects of the mystery community and was a great deal of fun.

In 2003, I moved to Santa Maria. To learn about police and police procedures, I attended a Lompoc Citizens’ Police Academy and a similar program offered by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff.

I

loved mystery novels from a very early age and always dreamed of writing them. As a stay-at-home mom in Los Angeles trying to make a little money, I took several writing courses, joined a mystery writers’ organization and wrote several short stories. While none of my fiction sold I did sell a couple of nonfiction articles. I also fulfilled another dream by becoming a scuba diver.

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Cremation Care

Meanwhile, I continued looking for an agent/publisher. There were two huge disappointments. An editor for a major New York publishing company called me after reading a newsletter article I wrote that had a notation at the end about my unpublished books. She asked to see one of them and I quickly complied. She kept the book for a year, returning it a month

HOME/OUTDOOR before the debut of the first book of a scuba diving mystery series written by another female author. The woman who had kept my book was that woman’s editor. I was crushed.

A small but prestigious publisher who winnowed out submissions by sending them to three readers held the third book for nearly a year. One reader liked it, one didn’t and one never responded. The manager of the program had been waiting to hear from the third reader but, based on the positive report of the one reader, gave me the option of reading her critique, revising my manuscript and sending it back. I did so just before the manager discovered he had cancer. A year went by while I waited to hear from him, which never happened even though I sent several inquiries.

Apparently, no one did his job while he was ill.

All of my books (and the three short stories that were published last year in an anthology and an online magazine) feature thirty-something Cinnamon Greene, a scuba diving photographer. Both diving and photography are integral parts of my life as well as the novels’ plots. Readers, however, don’t have to know anything about either subject to enjoy the books because I focused on the experiences, not the equipment or procedures. I want readers to see why I love diving so much that I have been doing it for 41 years.

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The first book (The Bride Wore Black) takes place in Cinnamon’s home town on the California coast (a fictionalized Carpenteria); the second book takes place during a spotted dolphin snorkeling and diving trip in the Bahamas as well as in California; and the third book, while Cinnamon and her boyfriend Danny are on vacation in the Caribbean.

For more on the Cinnamon Greene Adventure Mysteries see www.bonniejcardone.com, where you will also find photographs of some of the underwater creatures mentioned in the books.

It had taken me three years to write the third novel; the fifth took at least five. While working on that book, I realized my fiction writing skills had improved and photographic technology had changed. My earlier books needed major revisions. That was a daunting task! I couldn’t do it and the newsletter.

Much as I loved it, I resigned my editorship.

That was five years ago. My attempts to find an agent/publisher during that time were fruitless. My novels weren’t rejected, they weren’t even read. Also, it became increasingly easy to self-publish books and a few (yes, only a few!) have become bestsellers. I decided I had nothing to lose by self-publishing mine.

When the first one was finally ready, however, I developed a very bad case of cold feet. It had taken me 14 years to write that novel, what if I put it out there and no one bought it? Wasn’t it better not to know? Oh, the agony!

It took several days to find the needed courage and publish the book. The first book of the Cinnamon Greene Adventure Mystery series, The Bride Wore Black, became available as an Amazon Kindle book in July 2013. The second book, Murder Dives the Bahamas, was launched November 4 and the third book, Murder Dives the Caribbean, was launched in January 2014. A huge plus for the last book is the blurb it received from best selling author, Clive Cussler, whom I had interviewed and written an article on when I was at Skin Diver. You can read it by using the “Look inside the Book” feature on Amazon.

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HOME/OUTDOOR

hiking:

cross country to the carrizo plain

By Chuck Graham

I

didn’t think I’d see something so quickly, but there they were hiding behind a stand of pine trees along rolling hills. A herd of 14 Tule elk was moving east to west across a nondescript backcountry landscape in the foothills of the desolate Caliente Mountains.

I first learned of this trail’s existence several years ago while scouring over the map available at the visitors center at the Carrizo Plain National Monument, but I really didn’t chase the trail down until several months ago. As I kept spending time on the Carrizo Plain National

Monument my curiosity finally got the better of me. I wanted to walk into the Carrizo Plain on this trail.

I searched online and called the Los Padres National Forest Service coming up empty. Then I found someone at the Bureau of Land Management in Bakersfield who knew about this old trail.

“It’s an old BLM trail built in 1968,” said Ryan Cooper, Outdoor Recreation Planner for the BLM in Bakersfield. “It hasn’t been maintained for a long time.”

The trailhead is off Highway 166, just west of the Cuyama River Bridge. On a map of the Carrizo Plain National Monument, I estimated the length of the hike to be anywhere between 10 to 14 miles long. Just like the trail showed on the map, the route vanished somewhere at the base of the Caliente Range, but the distinct ridgeline of the Calientes was always in plain sight.

“After a couple of miles the trail runs out,” continued Cooper. “After that you’re traveling cross country to the Carrizo Plain.”

The name of the trail is the Caliente Access Trail. It’s part of the Chimineas—Carrizo Plain Ecological Reserve. During the year seasonal permitted hunting of dove, quail, wild pigs and rabbits is allowed.

I waited until winter to give it a go, nice cool temperatures for an off trail route that climbs to

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descent offered sensational views of the grasslands, the vernal pools and Soda Lake.

With my binoculars I saw a band of pronghorn antelope moving across the plain.

I made a couple more pit stops on my way to the campground, so much to explore across the grasslands and adjoining mountain ranges, certainly more than a lifetime’s worth on the Carrizo Plain National Monument.

For more information on the Carrizo Plain National Monument go to www.blm.gov/ca/ st/en/fo/bakersfield/Programs/carrizo.html.

5,106 feet on the Caliente Ridge, the highest point in San Luis Obispo County.

“The trailhead is difficult to see. It’s not next to the highway,” explained Cooper. “It’s tucked back in a draw.”

After several passes on Highway 166, my wife and I found the bullet-riddled Caliente signage standing in a draw just like Cooper described.

The plan was for me to be dropped off at the trailhead by my wife, and I would meet her later in the day at the Selby Campground overlooking the Carrizo Plain National Monument. I followed gradual switchbacks for about a mile before the route traversed over several open book draws heading east toward the Caliente Mountains.

That’s where I saw the small band of Tule elk moving slowly and browsing in a single file.

Their dull beige fur blended in well with the barren landscape. I followed the herd of elk for about a mile before they vanished into a deep shaded canyon. For the second year in a row there was very little precipitation on the Carrizo Plain. This past winter the National Monument received about a half inch of rain, far below its annual average of 6 inches.

After descending a deep draw, I immediately ascended back up to a fence line. From there my route steepened until I topped out on a maintained dirt road that led to a traffic control area. From there I followed the road across the Caliente Ridge until I saw the white glare that is Soda Lake, California’s largest natural alkali lake. Surrounding it was the rest of the sweeping Carrizo Plain below and the Temblor Mountains six miles further to the east. An icy wind was howling out of the east along the ridge.

There were still patches of snow clinging to the mountainsides. The only way to stay warm was to keep moving.

From there it was about a 3-mile descent down to the Selby Campground. The entire A P R I L

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at the market

CARROT & CITRUS SALAD WITH VADOUVAN CURRY granola

By Sarah Hedger

S

pring is here and the recent rains continue to be welcome, especially when it comes to the bountiful goodness growing in our backyards (and by local farmers).

Spring at the local markets here on the Central Coast is an amazing time of year as the options really are endless, often reflected in the beautiful array of fruits and vegetables (and other natural products produced locally). April brings all kinds of goodness, from spring herbs (and onions and garlic), asparagus, and artichokes, to strawberries and amazing beets and carrots. There is no shortness of inspiration to be found.

This month’s recipe, Carrot & Citrus Salad with Vadouvan Curry Granola, may sound a bit exotic but it is in all reality (and practicality) an example of how stunning a dish can be when simple, seasonal ingredients are used. The base of the salad are carrots and when there aren’t many ingredients in a dish, it is important to find the best tasting ones, which are the ones in season (as they haven’t travelled far) and grown the most nourishing way (in good soil), as they

N MacB EW In sto ook Pro ck no w!

N MacB EW In sto ook Pro ck no w!

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taste far superior to anything grown in an environment where notnatural substances have been added during the growing process.

It makes sense really, that the healthier vegetable will taste better, so we go with that logic as it is better for us and the environment (and the world at large if we want to get more philosophical). One research has shown that organic (pesticide-free, naturally grown) strawberries have more nutrients than non-organic strawberries and there is no doubt you can taste the difference, even blindfolded in a side-by-side experiment.

CARROT & CITRUS SALAD WITH VADOUVAN CURRY GRANOLA

Back to this month’s recipe, it is a simple salad with a bit of a flashy addition in the form of the savory (as opposed to sweet) Vadouvan granola. Vadouvan is an Indian curry blend but there is no reason why you can’t use your own favorite curry powder instead. It is a savory granola, so it adds a nice crunch, while having healthy bits of quinoa, amaranth, nuts and seeds in it.

Once dried (or dehydrated), it will keep for a month in an airtight container, so it is a good way to add some bonus deliciousness to salads, or dishes, even at the last minute. It is slightly sweet and slightly salty at the same time, while making one’s taste buds happy! The original recipe came from Daniel Humm and his cookbook, Eleven Madison Park, but I’ve adapted it to be gluten free and with the addition of some healthier ingredients, thus feel free to adjust it to your taste by changing up the grains, nuts, or seeds used. And, aside from tasting fresh and amazing, it is a looker. Which, at the end of the day is a nice bonus to paying good tribute to what’s in season. Enjoy!

1 orange, peeled and segmented, juice reserved

MAKES ROUGHLY ENOUGH SALAD FOR 4 + GRANOLA For the Carrot & Citrus Salad: 3 large carrots, grated

1 large handful cilantro, leaves only, minced 1 lime, juiced ½ warm red chili such as jalapeno or Serrano, finely minced 1 green/spring onion, greens only, finely minced 2-3 T good quality olive oil Pinch of sea salt Place all ingredients in bowl and give a good toss. Place reserved orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, and salt in bowl and whisk till incorporated (alternatively an immersion blender works great).

Pour over salad ingredients and give a good mix. Let sit for 5 minutes (or make ahead and chill until ready to eat).

For the Vadouvan Curry Granola: ⅓ cup mild olive oil ⅓ cup mild honey 2 T Vadouvan curry powder (or any other mild curry powder that smells good) 1 ½ tsp sea salt 1 cup cooked quinoa 1 cup cooked amaranth 1 cup puffed wild rice (cooked wild rice would work as well) 1 T chia seeds ½ cup each pistachio, sliced almonds, toasted hazelnuts, all roughly chopped Combine honey, oil, curry powder, salt, and 1 T water in a small saucepan. Bring to boil and whisk to combine.

Place quinoa, amaranth, wild rice, chia seeds, and nuts in large bowl. Pour honey/curry oil mixture over. Taste for seasoning, adding a pinch more salt if needed. Bake in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, stirring, until golden and nicely crisp. (Alternatively, you can place in a food dehydrator for a few hours to get extra crisp and dry).

Place carrot salad on plate and sprinkle with granola. Enjoy!

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

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slo county art scene pIECING TOGETHER THEIR ART: FRED AND DONNELL PASION

By Gordon Fuglie

F

red and Donnell Pasion were teenage sweethearts who attended Arroyo Grande High School and soon thereafter married. In the 1980s Fred started a landscaping and gardening business; Donnell worked as a part-time rural mail carrier. They bought a cute house on a corner lot in Grover Beach. As the routines of life stretched out over the years, Donnell found she enjoyed doing creative handwork and was attracted to mosaic, one of the oldest methods of floor and wall decoration.

Working from an original design, mosaic art entails the setting of numerous small tiles (tesserae) into a wet cement or lime-plaster surface. The tiles are usually made of opaque glass or glazed ceramics, including broken table china—an early medium favored by Donnell. Indeed, her first major work was a round café table upon which she arranged shards of floral patterned china. Over time Donnell expanded the range of her mosaic work to include garden sculpture and outdoor benches, as well as mosaic jewelry, tempered glass and “photo collage” mosaics. The yard adjoining their house is adorned with mosaic sculpture and decoration, set amidst their succulent garden.

Meanwhile, Fred’s landscaping business occasionally brought him clients who wanted to enhance their gardens with fountains, benches and sculpture. With Donnell’s encouragement he began learning the me-

dium, specializing in the structural basics of styrofoam shaping and concrete coating to produce the sculptural forms to which the couple would affix the mosaic designs.

Among their first major clients were Shirley and Mike Ritter of Avila Valley who in 2004 wanted a mosaic bench inspired by the Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí (1852 -1926). His undulating mosaic benches in Barcelona’s Parc Güell are among the boldest expressions of Art Nouveau architecture. The Pasion’s bench pleased the Ritters and they continue to commission Donnell and Fred to add mosaic elements to their home.

Sea Whimsy

The positive response to their work and the growth of the business led the Pasions to found Passiflora Mosaics. Both are selftaught and continue to learn their craft by commissions and widen their interests by ongoing personal exploration of the medium.

As the business expanded, the couple offered mosaic workshops. These are annually conducted at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria.

It now has a number their works installed on site. In addition, their success led to Fred’s leaving the landscaping business in 2011 to fully devote his attention to Passiflora Mosa-

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how to make mosaics at our workshops.” Their 2014 brochure lists 21 workshops at Camp Ocean Pines and their Grover Beach studio.

As they say, nothing succeeds like success and the Pasions have raised their sights, entering competitions for site-specific architectural and public art installations for projects outside SLO County. One of these was for the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital in 2011. Their designs included a marine-themed mosaic sculpture for the Pediatric Terrace and two neo-Gaudí mosaic “couches” for the hospital’s public garden. They were awarded commissions for both projects.

Sea Whimsy is a stack of five forms: at bottom a sea turtle is topped by a bug-eyed hermit crab, upon which is balanced a beach ball which is surmounted by a sky-blue fish. At top is seagull resting on the fish’s tail. The robust sculpture sits on a “sea” of blue tiles and occupies the central axis of the terrace.

Sunburst Bench and Firepit

ics. A year later the Pasions realized a dream and built a studio workshop adjacent to their home where they produce work and conduct instructional workshops, attracting students from throughout the US. Since 2002, they have participated in every annual Open Studios Tour presented by the San Luis Obispo County Arts Council. The 2013 Open Studios Tour included the first ever “Scavenger Hunt” where visitors voted for their favorites in 15 different categories. Passiflora Mosaics was voted the studio where more people said: “I wanna try that!” Donnell attributes this to the accessible and democratic nature of mosaic art and “people feel they can succeed in the medium, and want to learn

The hospital’s garden “couches” are bright blue, accented by orange floral motifs. One features quails and bay laurel. The other is aquaticthemed, with a setting sun, and stylized waves within which frolic a sea otter and garibaldi fish. Both look out upon a lawn and are the focal points of the space. Nature is a constant subject for the Pasions who said they are “inspired by the natural beauty of creation around us, especially where land and sea meet along the Central California Coast.”

For their next major commission, the Pasions have their hopes set on receiving the commission for a series of mosaics framing doors and windows for the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, Palo Alto.

(For further information, see passifloramosaics.com; email: passion@ passifloramosaics.com; phone, 805-489-8860. Their work is represented by The Gallery, San Luis and The Garden Shed, Cambria)

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Around

Our Schools “i’m not good at math”

By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools

Y

ou have probably have heard students say, “I’m just not good at math.” You have also probably heard about the need for more students to select careers in math and science. More precisely, the need is to select careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) fields. This need is based on the understanding that it is in our national interest to stay competitive in the global economy which is increasingly based on the STEM areas. There is also the conviction that the better paying and more coveted careers in the future will be in the STEM areas.

However, too many students still avoid math and science because they think these subjects are “too hard,” or that they are not “good at math and science,” or that these subjects are uninteresting. The irony here is that the use of personal technology, which is based on both math and science, is widely embraced and practiced by even the most reluctant science student.

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

What can we do to encourage more students to pursue careers in math and science for their own benefit and for the best interests of our country?

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Schools should actively recruit the best math and science teachers possible since what they do, and how well they do it, will have a significant impact on how students feel about math and science.

Schools can adopt the Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core State Standards in math. These actions outline what students should know and be able to do. These standards emphasize “math literacy” and “scientific thinking” going well beyond the bounds of the subjects themselves. Schools can also allocate funding to support these areas of the curriculum in terms of facilities, equipment and staff development.

As important as these efforts are, I suggest that it is the attitude that students bring to the study of math and science early in their school career that determines their later interest. Studies have shown that the strongest predictor of later interest in science is a student’s feeling of “confidence as a science learner.” It is we adults, parents and teachers, who stand the best chance to engender a positive attitude about math and science in young students.

This is where we need to start to turn around the negative feelings some students have about math and science. We need to foster a positive STEM attitude from the early grades, since a student’s perception of competence in math and science is formed by middle school and often earlier.

Parents can talk with their children about exciting careers in science and expose them to science related jobs even if they do not work in these jobs themselves. Families can take trips to such venues as science museums, planetariums, and aquariums. Parents can encourage enrollment in “science camps,” such as the Kids Learn STEM Summer Camp at Cal Poly, or attending events such

COMMUNITY as Family Science Nights at school, or other such activities showing students that science is not boring and has family support. The goal is to expose students to a more realistic view of science than “school science.”

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KING COURT CONDO IN SLO

Parents should also be available to help with math and science homework and not give the excuse that, “I was never good at math either,” which only serves to reinforce a negative attitude. Parents can also use games like Pop Bottle Science and Potato Chip Science for students to try out being a scientist. And don’t forget the many math lessons contained in Dominos.

Teachers can do a lot to encourage students to continue in math and science. Students report that “good” science teachers explain and demonstrate science rather than just telling students about science. The goal here is to enable students to succeed in science and not reinforce the perception that some students are just “good” in science and math. Teachers can also invite other adults whose jobs involve math and science to visit their classes and explain what they do on the job. Locally, we are very fortunate to have the Central Coast STEM Collaborative (www.ccstem.org) which is composed of businesses, schools, teachers, students and universities whose goal is to encourage students to get involved with math and science.

The next time you hear a student say “I’m just not good at math,” give him a hand.

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fundraiser

6th annual wine 4 paws

woods humane society fundraiser

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t’s time once again! The Sixth Annual Wine 4 Paws will be held at participating wineries throughout the Central Coast April 26 & 27. Wine 4 Paws has become a well-known weekend when numerous Central Coast wineries join together to celebrate our love for animals and share their proceeds with Woods Humane Society in San Luis Obispo. By going out and enjoying our wineries you can help the homeless animals at Woods who await their “forever home,” enabling Woods to continue to provide a high level of care to their guests. Come out to support our four legged friends in need! It’s the perfect excuse to buy wine—why not do it when your purchase goes to a great cause? Wine 4 Paws is held concurrently at participating wineries from Santa Maria to San Miguel April 26-27. We have over 75 wineries to choose from! Visit www.wine4paws.com for a complete list of participating wineries.

Wine 4 Paws began in 2009 as a way to help raise money for Woods Humane Society while promoting the Central Coast Wine Region. It has grown from our initial 35 wineries to almost 80! Overall, Wine 4 Paws has raised over $120,000 for Woods.

Director Sarah Tomasetti said, “We continue to be amazed at the support from our wineries and everyone who comes out each year to make it such a special weekend. With such loyal followers, it is just an incredible event and we are so thankful to have such dedicated wineries and wine drinkers!” Part of the fun is our free map with passport available to print from the Wine 4 Paws website, or at any participating winery during the event.

To see the full list of participating wineries and a get a free printable map & passport, go to www.wine4paws.com. Then head out to the wineries during the weekend of April 26-27. A portion of your sale

Sarah Tomasetti and Bubba

or your full tasting fee will be donated to Woods Humane Society on behalf of the wineries!

For the third year in a row we are thrilled to have Cloud Star Natural Pet Products as the main sponsor. Cloud Star is a local pet product company creating all natural dog and cat treats. Thanks to Cloud Star, every penny raised will go directly to Woods!

Woods Humane Society, Inc. is a locally owned private non-profit animal welfare organization that has served homeless companion animals since 1955. The shelter, located off of Hwy 1 and Kansas in San Luis Obispo opened its doors in August of 2005 and has been going and growing strong ever since. Aside from the hundreds of animals Woods cares for each year, the organization maintains partnerships with other local private and county operated animal shelters in an effort to provide the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of animals.

Woods Humane Society is also the only animal shelter on the central coast with a fully operational spay & neuter suite, which opened in September of 2006 and has performed over 20,000 surgeries. Their goal is to provide a premier level of care for all of the animals entering their doors. As the needs of the county grows, so too does the cost to operate their facility. They are experiencing a 20% growth in all aspects of the shelter on an annual basis. Woods can rise to meet the needs of our local homeless animal population, but cannot do this without the support of our community. They are solely funded through charitable gifts from the community and the need is greater than ever for ongoing financial support.

For additional information please contact Sarah Tomasetti, Director of Wine 4 Paws at info@ wine4paws.com.

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Service Club News

slo rotarians donate thousands annual BBQ raises over $3400 for local cancer resource center

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de Tolosa Clubs joined the effort. The three clubs participate each year on the event, and the Kiwanis Club provides the barbeque.

“It’s a nice thing for the three Rotary Clubs to come together on a project like this,” Norris said. “And having the Kiwanis Club here as well really shows the good we can do when we work together.”

Rotary International’s main objective is service—in the community, in the workplace, and around the globe. The 1.2 million Rotarians who make up more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in nearly every country in the world share a dedication to the ideal of Service Above Self. Rotary Clubs are open to people from all walks of life who want to dedicate their time to the betterment of their community.

For more information about Rotary, please visit rotary.org.

F

or more than three decades, Rotarian and Sands Suites & Motel owner Jessie Norris has hosted a fundraiser to raise funds for local charities.

This year, $3,440 was raised at the October 11, 2013 event and donated to the Hearst Cancer Resource Center (HCRC), located at French Hospital Medical Center.

“We were thrilled to be named the recipient of this year’s donation,” said HCRC Executive Director, Bev Kirkhart. “This resource center was built on community donations, and these funds are what make all of our services available free of charge to those living with cancer and their loved ones.” The HCRC helps patients maintain dignity and quality of life throughout all aspects of their cancer care.

They serve patients and their families, ranging from those newly diagnosed with cancer, in treatment, in recovery, and survivors.

Pictured L to R: Rotary de Tolosa President Jenifer Rhynes, Rotary Daybreak President Bernie Anne Lewis, French Hospital CEO Alan Iftiniuk, HCRC Director Bev Krikhart, SLO Rotary Club President Jim Salio, donors Delia and Jessie Norris.

June was diagnosed with cancer in 1995, the intent of the gift changed to always support cancer research efforts or those living with cancer. June Norris lived for 11 years after her diagnosis, and passed away in 2005.

In 1995 Norris’ Rotary Club extended an offer to the other two San Luis Obispo Clubs, and the Tuesday Daybreak and Wednesday

Norris plans and hosts the event at his hotel, filling the parking garage with tables and chairs, a speaker’s dais and setting up a Santa Maria-style buffet. He does this as a member of the Monday Rotary Club in San Luis Obispo, and has since 1978. Norris estimates that close to $100,000 has been donated to charity organizations since that time.

Originally the funds raised would go to a variety of organizations, but when Norris’ wife A P R I L

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history

murder at the andrews

By Joe Carotenuti

man in the country was looking for the culprit. Undoubtedly, many wondered just where was San Luis Obispo?

Helen M. King (born Nizza Helen Solomonidou) was born in the ancient city of Smyrna in Turkey in the late 1890s of Greek parentage.

The vagaries of time and circumstance found her married to a count in the Portuguese aristocracy. Cruelly, it was a brief marriage as he was killed in the war raging across Europe leaving the young, welleducated woman to fend for herself. Fluent in six languages, she met restaurateur Morley Vernon King (at least that was the name—among many—she knew) in Casablanca and the ill-fated refugee married the former sailor, bartender, gambler, cook and, eventually, murderer in 1930. Equally talented in languages, Morley (born Stanislaus F. Ludwig in West Virginia in 1901) was by then no stranger to the law. The couple moved about Europe and four years later to the United States and eventually California.

Responding to an advertisement, the Kings inquired about leasing the dining room business at the Andrews Hotel, and on May 11, Morley and a teenager he introduced as his niece, Beth Fogelman, arrived and “checked into a room.” The next day, King opened the business with himself as the chef and Beth as a waitress. Subsequently, the girl’s brother reported he had never heard of King. By early June, another young woman was employed as a waitress. By the end of the month, the divorced 19-year-old mother of two opened her own restaurant. Morley financed the new enterprise. In the meanwhile, Helen remained at home.

I

t has all the necessary ingredients. A widowed Portuguese countess, a philandering, cultured husband, the other woman (women), ready cash, a gruesome find in a trunk, a nationwide search, capture and trial, and even the interest of J. Edgar Hoover, the legendary director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Quite a scenario for a small town murder (population 12,000) in 1947! All that is necessary is the casting for the next Hollywood blockbuster (or at least a made-for-television production).

Here’s the story.

Most crime—even murder—is much too frequent and mundane to memorialize. Yet, the panorama of history encompasses more than the hero and heroines of the day. While Don Quixote was off chasing imaginary combatants in the magnificent story by the same name of illusion and redemption, there were—at the same time—those who stole or worse. As San Luis Obispo joined the rest of the nation and world recovering from the ravages of World War II, a brief resident of the community committed the ultimate crime … and soon every law-

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The strong odor was first noticed emanating from Morley’s room in early July shortly after he returned from Pacoima to bring Helen to San Luis after the sale of their home. When the smell lessened from the hotel corridor, it increased elsewhere. The repugnant

A Retirement Facil COMMUNITY

wasn’t sure of the cause of the deadly rage that consumed his better judgment.

33

Even though thecontribution prospectto of m community, King’s the moving least savory aspects of lifeitaretoworthy of recalling future, you owe yourself to learn h as well as condemning. carefree living in your own home for man

In any community’s history, there are, exIn the meanwhile, in summation of all the pectedly, both saints and sinners, those who joys and assaults on her life, a mute testiprovide a life of personal dignity as well as mony to its end lies buried beneath a simple a source of pride to others. In his few weeks headstone reading in San Luis Obispo, Morley Vernon King a fact ofhuman life that as we get older, Pristine is fully did neither. Yet, anyIt’s history of the Nizza Helen King fabric cannot discriminate in remembering some day-to-day tasks1896-1947 become too licensed and insu those of virtue and ignoring those of vice. much to handle own. That All of our worke Certainly not a model for this—or any— on our Contact jacarotenuti@gmail.com

You Don’t Have to Move

stench was finally traced to a strange trunk stored beneath the Andrews Hotel on July 9. In it, the press reported Helen’s “badly decomposed” body was intermingled with her clothing. She had been strangled by a green scarf knotted around her neck. The murder weapon was identified as belonging to her husband who hadn’t been seen since the day before.

It was the beginning of a saga lasting four years.

When J. Edgar Hoover, the Director of the FBI, initiated the Ten Most Wanted List, the dubious honor of being the first listed was James Holden, a triple murderer. When captured in June 1951, the second man first listed on March 15, 1950 was Morley Vernon King. His reign as dean of the list lasted four months until he was arrested in Philadelphia in October.

Even Morley commented on the length of time it took to find him. It was subsequently learned that he had spent the years traveling about the United States, spending little time in one place before moving on to another location. He must have had experience beforehand in keeping “one step ahead of the law.”

County Sheriff Murray C. Hathway (19381955) escorted the former fugitive to San Luis Obispo. A more detailed review of the legal maneuvers has been detailed in a fascinating article “The Countess and a Cook” (Bar Bulletin: May-June 2007) by local attorney, Jeff Radding. Eventually, the legal issues concluded with Morley pleading guilty to second degree murder. In March 1952, the cook was sentenced to five years to life and reportedly died at San Quentin State Prison.

Morley never once revealed why he strangled his wife of 17 years. Indeed, he spoke of her as “a good wife, a faithful wife.” While not a legal requirement to prove at trial, was this a crime of passion or impulse or a momentary lapse in sanity? The 46 year old—described as refined and courteous—preferred keeping his motivation to himself. Possibly even he

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doesn’t mean you have to move away are carefully scre from the comfort of your home. and pass a crimi • Personal • Pristine Home Services is aHousekeeping local background che Care that helps San Luis Obispo and drug test, gi • Yard company • Handyman Maintenance County residents avoid the high cost when someone f Servingof moving All oftoSan Luis Obispo County a retirement facility. in your home.

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All of our services can be provided She should be c daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. very reasonable From housekeeping You to handyman services and plumbing to preparingyou meals.need There is no task too large or pay for only the services dows!” R. Watso too small for Pristineand Homewe Services.

All of our those services can be providedatdaily, weekly, or on an as-needed provide services a price basis. You pay for only the services you need and we provide those services at a price you can“They afford. took the you can afford. what I wanted.

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When Mary was diagnosed Our personal care services include a friend. with cancer, is no longer ato threat, the ” C. shopping, daily errands, mealwhich preparapeople at Pristine became a very important tion, transportation part andofnon-medical Before you ma our team. They were trustworthy, care. Our housekeeping services keep reliable and always stood by ourcould side. Weaffect yo our relationship their staff.

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Our yard maintenance crews Before you make any decisions that could affect your future happiness and standard of living, take every s “What know how to take care of your favorite the time to read these two FREE reports: about living i rose bushes and keep the grass neatly “What every senior needs to know about living in a retirement facility.” mowed. Our handyman services are “Four critical “Four critical questions to ask a service provider...before you let anyone work in or near your home.” provided by specialists in plumbing, service provid We invite you to call Pristine right now so that we can send you these two FREE reports by mail. electrical work, painting, repairs and anyone work safety rail installation.

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hospice corner attention boomers! let’s get this right!

By Mark Wilson

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ne of my daughters turned 21 last week.

When my kids were little, they loved to hear the story about the days they each were born and would ask me to tell it again and again. Repeating it over and over was just one of those slightly annoying things a parent will do for their child. It’s love. Today, oddly enough, even though they don’t ask for it anymore, I still find myself delivering the blow-by-blow detail of everything that happened on the days they each drew breath for the first time. Now, the kids just smile at me politely.

I don’t care. My having raised them to adulthood, the least they can do is listen to the old man wax on about two of the most important days of his life.

I’m at the tail end of the Baby Boom generation, and, like so many others of our generation, my children came into the world via natural childbirth and with a great deal of preparation. My wife and I religiously attended child birth classes; she was diligent about diet and exercise; and, of course, she breast-fed our kids. Now I, on the other hand, much like many other Baby Boomers, was born to a mother under general anesthesia with my father in a waiting room with a bunch of other sweaty, expecting dads. Their contribution to the event was pacing the floor while chain-smoking cigarettes. It’s what they did back then. Natural childbirth, with the father coaching mother through labor, was as foreign to my parents as performing heart surgery on one another. It just wasn’t done. My mother and father would have considered that “hippie medicine” … more suited for those unwashed, weird progressives in San Francisco.

The point is, my generation of American Baby Boomers didn’t allow medicine to define the process of childbirth. We changed it, just as we’ve collectively transformed many other ideas held by our parents. Except one. Death and dying.

Advances in medicine have resulted in people living longer and often are successful in extending life by many years. The diseases and conditions that once led to a pretty quick death are now treated. That’s a good thing. What we didn’t count on was the increasing burden on caregivers and the medical system that living longer would create. We didn’t count on technology being capable of keeping us alive, albeit not very comfortably, for a long, long time. We, also, didn’t know we’d be so reluctant to even have the conversation about death and dying, let alone our own wishes for end-of-life care. The reasons are understandable.

Number 1. It’s depressing for Pete’s sake! Who really wants to talk about death? Number 2. There are so many other things to worry about. The economy, jobs, hurricanes, floods … these are all higher on the priority list.

Remember this, a diagnosis happens to an individual person, but illness and death happen to a family. Anyone who’s had to navigate the often-complex and sometimes-dysfunctional American health care system knows the toll it can take on a family. So, let’s ask our fully-evolved and enlightened Baby Boom generation a question. Do we want to burden our children with the pain and emotional strain of our future end-of-life suffering? Or, do we want to have a conversation NOW to make our very personal wishes known? 80 percent of Americans die in institutions, hospitals or nursing homes. 20 percent spend their last days in an ICU, often sedated to keep them from pulling out breathing tubes or catheters. There is an increase in people living their last days at home with the aid of hospice care; but, the point is that you have choices …. and, choices require a conversation. What do you want and how will you let others know?

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I believe being a responsible parent means having a conversation with your children and/or your family about your personal wishes for your own end-of-life care.

And, please try to block out the media’s constant bloviating about “death panels” or “pulling the plug on Grandma.” If we’re really going to protect our children’s future, we need to act decisively. We need to recognize that death is part of life and that we have choices in the care we want or don’t want. In much the same way we Baby Boomers transformed birth, we can also transform our actions about death.

Remember, hospice care neither hastens nor lengthens life. It only provides a quality life until the last day of life. It’s the reason you’ll hear people from Wilshire Hospice say, ”Dying happens on the last day … every other day is about living.” It says everything about what hospice is and even more about what it isn’t.

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APRIL CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

So gather your family. Pull up a chair and start talking, my fellow Baby Boomers.

We’ve managed to do well with some things and to screw up a bunch of others. Let’s get this one right.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: U.S. HISTORY ACROSS 1. Tropical fruit 6. Bug enemy 9. ____ bargain 13. Relating to Quechuan people 14. Monetary unit of Afganistan 15. “_____ Science” (1985) 16. Daughter of a sibling 17. “But I heard him exclaim, ____ he drove out of sight...”

18. Wall hanging of handwoven fabric 19. *Anti-Communist ______ Doctrine 21. *U.K. and U.S.S.R. to U.S (1939-1945), e.g.

23. One-shot Atticus Finch’s forte 24. *He sent naval fleet to support North in Civil War 25. Big fuss 28. Relinquish, as in property 30. Win an auction 35. Dull or dense

37. Dutch cheese 39. Game ragout 40. Carpet layer’s calculation 41. Indy 500 entrant 43. Cajole 44. Earvin Johnson, Jr. 46. Of long ago 47. Burkina Faso neighbor 48. Olympian Ted Ligety’s sport 50. Feudal laborer 52. Bathroom sign 53. Like unwelcome neighbor 55. Web address 57. *Underground Railroad conductor 60. They are notoriously slow 63. *Location of General MacArthur’s last war 64. ET carrier 66. Nymph of lakes and springs 68. Liturgy instrument 69. In favor of 70. _____ br˚lÈe 71. Bookkeeping entry 72. Unwelcome deduction

73. Industrial center of the Ruhr DOWN 1. Bathtub hooch 2. “U” in I.C.U. 3. Tree or shrub type having winged fruit 4. Absence of matter, pl.

5. Like one with low hemoglobin 6. *Nixon worked to do this to relations with China 7. Hudson’s Bay Company original ware 8. Bubonic plague carriers 9. Disembodied spirit 10. Italian money, 1861-2002 11. *The Colonial Period and Roaring Twenties, e.g.

12. Highly anticipated during Super Bowl 15. Toothy marine mammal 20. Arabian chieftain 22. ___-tzu 24. High tea padded accessory 25. *Washington’s veep 26. Relating to dura mater 27. Opposite of alpha

29. *June 6, 1944 31. A boor lacks this 32. “Ulysses” protagonist 33. Candidate’s concern 34. *Mason’s partner 36. Get-out-of-jail money 38. Insignificant 42. Old episode 45. Charles Ponzi, e.g.

49. Bygone bird 51. *Gave us Miss Liberty 54. A pinch in the mouth 56. Pinocchio and his kind 57. Civil wrong 58. Craving 59. Beacon light 60. Tender 61. *Things Washington didn’t tell?

62. “The more things change, the more they stay the ____” 63. Ornamental carp 65. Joker to Batman, e.g.

67. Bear home

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palm street perspective slo may ask voters to renew 1/2¢ sales tax

By SLO City Councilman, John Ashbaugh

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n April 1, your City Council will be reviewing a report by our “Local Revenue Measure Advisory Committee,” a citizens’ task force appointed last Fall with an important mission: 1. Analyze the City’s stewardship of Measure Y resources, 2. Seek community input regarding their preferences and local revenue measure spending priorities, 3. Develop recommendations specific to the November 2014 General Election regarding alternatives for reauthorization of Measure Y, or the creation of a new revenue measure, and 4. Assist the City in performing community outreach and education.

Measure Y is the ½¢ “local option” sales tax approved by the city’s voters in 2006. Called the “Essential Services Measure,” the extra ½¢ has been collected for exactly seven years (beginning April 1, 2007), and it is due to expire after eight years—i.e., April 1, 2015.

Measure Y revenues now amount to about $6.7 million annually, over 12% of our General Fund. Although the terms of Measure Y do not restrict how the Council may spend these monies, language within the 2006 ballot measure included the following guidance: “. . . To protect and maintain essential services—such as neighborhood street paving and pothole repair; traffic congestion relief; public safety, including restoring eliminated traffic patrol, Fire Marshal and fire/paramedic training positions; flood protection; senior citizen services or facilities; neighborhood code enforcement; open space preservation and other vital general purpose services.”

Although many citizens have come to believe that Measure Y was intended SOLELY to fund capital improvements—i.e., “hard objects” like buildings, roads, bridges, playgrounds, etc.—this belief is not accurate.

Careful examination of the ballot measure reveals that the measure was intended to protect essential services.

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Using that direction and citizen input through the budget process, over the last seven years your City Council has applied Measure Y revenues to a combination of services AND capital improvements. In every case where Measure Y revenues have been used, they have helped the City to meet the goals specified in Measure Y; however, we have also applied this funding to the evolving needs and “Major Goals” that are set by the City every two years as part of our goal-setting process.

The City accounts for all Measure Y revenues very carefully, and complete information about Measure Y spending can be found in a direct link from the City’s web site, www.slocity.org.

From my perspective, having served for over five years on the City Council, there is no doubt that Measure Y revenues have enabled the City to protect “essential services.”

The very first decision that I made as a Councilmember in 2008 was to use Measure Y funds to develop a much-needed parking lot to serve the Senior Center—complete with wheelchair spaces that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. We also remodeled the kitchen facilities there—just two of dozens of examples of small-butmeaningful projects that help the City and our non-profit partners deliver “essential services.”

In fact, Measure Y has enabled the City to survive two major fiscal crises that confronted the City within two years of its adoption: Crisis #1 was the adverse 2008 ruling by an arbitrator in the first (and only) case where “binding arbitration” was applied to resolve a long-running dispute between

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the City and its Police Officers Association (POA). The arbitrator ruled that the City must increase salaries for police by 30% and dispatchers by 37%. That ruling required that the City increase its budget for the Police Department in 2008-09 by $4.4 million, with an ongoing impact of at least $1.8 million in subsequent years. Binding arbitration was repealed in August, 2011 as Measure “B”; however, the POA obtained a ruling by an Administrative Law Judge for the State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) which requires that the City rescind Measure B and restore binding arbitration. The Council has appealed this ruling, but action by the full PERB on this ruling will require many months; meanwhile, the ruling will be stayed.

The other major fiscal crisis that engulfed all of the cities in California, and throughout the nation, was the “Great Recession” of 2008-2011.

General fund revenues dropped precipitously in that time, but the Council was able to continue to “live within its means” through a combination of tough fiscal discipline and long, painful negotiations with our employees to achieve significant concessions in our contract negotiations. In fact, by the end FY 2012-13, we were able to set aside $3 million to reduce the City’s exposure to long-term pension fund liabilities, and/or to pay off a debt owed to our liability insurance provider (Cal JPIA)… or both.

In summary, the Council will soon be considering the recommendation of our “LRMAC” to seek another eight-year renewal of our ½¢ “local option” sales tax, and it will then be up to the voters as to whether this is a burden they are willing to carry. So far, most of the voters I’ve heard from are favorable to this cause; after all, 72% of the sales tax revenue is derived from tourists and other visitors, and the benefits from these out-of-town visitors flow to our own residents at no cost to us!

There are many chances to participate still ahead, including meetings to follow the April 1 Council meeting. Final action to place a “local revenue” measure on the November ballot is planned for July—so get involved, call or write to me and my colleagues, and let us know how you feel about Measure Y renewal.

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

Inside:

April 2014

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

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arch was a busy month for our office here at peaking of a greater level of service. Our Board the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association. recently sent Board member Landy Fike and In the last month we put the Beautification Awards staff members Brent Vanderhoof and myself to our Breakfast under our belt, attended a California Main neighboring community’s Main Street in Hanford, Street Alliance Conference, held our 39th Board CA to attend a three-day conference held by the retreat and elected four new members to the Board California Main Street Alliance (CAMSA). While and re-installed an existing Board member for a at the CAMSA conference we were involved in two-year term starting this month. All of that great multiple day sessions with other community leaders activity is just building up for an extension of some to discuss and learn about what it takes to keep our great momentum leading into April, which is shaping Dominic Tartaglia, Downtowns running at full steam. Topics discussed up to be another month full of great Downtown include how legislation affects locally owned and Executive Director events ranging from our new Board’s first meeting to managed businesses, promoting entrepreneurship Health and Fitness Night at the market. in the Downtown core of communities, addressing parking districts and enhancing collaboration and networking among s I mentioned, last month marked the 25th year that the business owners of the Downtown community. It was Marshall Ochylski officiated the Beautification Awards certainly an exciting conference filled with some great for local businesses that go over and above what it takes to advice and lessons that we hope to implement here in our run a business Downtown. Each year we award the business own community to better serve all of you as our residents owners that have made a significant improvement to the and guests of San Luis Obispo. facades, retail space and overall aesthetics of their building ome of those new ideas will likely come along with our or business. In recognition for Mr. Ochylski’s dedication new Board of Directors as 4 new members bring fresh to the committee he was recognized for his service with a ideas, business practices and experiences to the current commemorative plaque and a few jokes thrown his way. board. We also welcome back Amy Kardel, Co-Owner of That humor and dedication of our membership is what helps Clever Ducks, to begin her first term as an elected Board this association continue to provide a greater level of service Member. Kardel was previously appointed to fill a vacant to the Downtown and San Luis Obispo as a whole. seat on the SLODA Board of Directors. The four new board

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On the Cover: Health and Fitness Night at Farmers’ Market returns this month on April 24th with interactive booths and displays for people of all shapes, sizes and interests. Photo by Sarah Ragan

Bunny Trail Downtown M a rc h 2 8 t h - 6 : 0 0 - 8 : 3 0 p m

Hop the Bunny Trail in Downtown SLO during Thursday Night Promotions Farmers’ Market, visit local businesses and collect candy!

Pick up your treat bag and map of par ticipating businesses at the corner of Garden & Higuera streets.

Don’t forget to take your photo with E. Bunny at Garden & Higuera streets too!

More information: (805) 541-0286 or w w w.DowntownSLO.com

Third Annual

Health & Fitness Night at Thursday Night Promotions Farmers’ Market April 24th

6:00 - 9:00 PM Chorro Street

~Live a Healthier Lifestyle~ Join local health & fitness-related businesses on Chorro Street!

Interactive demonstrations, exciting & fun displays & information booths

S p o n s o re d by :

M o re i n fo r m a t i o n : ( 8 0 5 ) 54 1 - 02 8 6 o r w w w. D o w n t o w n S L O . c o m

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members that I am pleased to announce are Joanne Currie, Co-Owner of Splash Café Seafood & Grill; Jules DuRocher, Owner of Jules D.; Kannyn January, Owner of Ambiance Clothing Boutique; and Kimberly Walker, Managing Partner of Granada Hotel and Bistro. The elections this year were a great showing of community involvement with over 100 ballots returned and a total of 12 outstanding candidates representing a full spectrum of the diverse business culture in town. Upon meeting with each of the candidates before they put their name on the ballot, it was apparent that there is a new energy surrounding Downtown and that the Downtown Association has great potential to start this month off with a spark of new energy.

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hen we combine that new energy with the current momentum that has built up it is apparent that our neighborhood is headed to new heights. Last month at our Beautification Awards Breakfast we showed the membership a new video that asked the important questions about why people have chosen to do business Downtown. The short film The Upside of Doing Business Downtown is available to view on our website at www.DowntownSLO.com and interviews local people that you may or may not know from around Downtown and expands on their insights as to why they made their choices to join a community that is known for higher rents just as much as it is known for its high volume of foot traffic. In less than four minutes the film elaborates on the underlying forces that drive our businesses as well as shares the visions of some of our newer members.

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his April we see that same kind of mix of new ideas with traditional experience in our Thursday Night Promotions at the market. We are starting off with all of our normally scheduled Farmers’ Markets with the same times of 6-9 PM and maintaining our annual Cal Poly Club Preview and Bunny Trail Downtown but we also are bringing the Health and Fitness Night back for its third year. The combination of events that we have held for many years with our new events ensures that our food and veggies are not the only things fresh at the market. Keeping things fresh is a great way for the market to continue to thrive and expand to meet the ever-changing preferences of our visitors and keep the streets full on Thursday nights. That being said, when our committee brings new ideas forward we get excited about stepping our game up. The process of spreading new Board members to our various committees is a great way to grow those thoughts into a new avenue to serve the community, and with the addition of some new business sectors this year we are sure to see some really exciting ideas.

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his month I look forward to implementing some of the lessons learned from Hanford and I am excited to hear the different ideas from our new Board members’ perspectives as well as the continuation of our current Board’s historical references of Downtown. With Marshall Ochylski, a 25 year SLODA veteran, taking the helm with a new crew of Board members I have faith that we will be setting a course to yet another great year of sharing the Downtown experience.

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Vanja Couture

Kier & Vanja Staeheli, Owners 779 Higuera Street (805) 547-1253 www.vanjacouture.com www.facebook.com/vanjacouture www.instagram.com/vanjacouture#

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eet the newest face of fashion in SLO! Vanja Couture (pronounced “von-ya”) bringing you the latest contemporary modern trends in fashion. They offer original designs as well as styles from designers around the globe. A drive to Santa Barbara is no longer required for fashion.

her worldly experience by working for Emirates Airlines as a flight attendant on the Airbus A380. Based in Dubai, UAE, she made international contacts in the fashion industry while working as an exclusive personal stylist. Vanja finds great personal satisfaction in helping others feel good about themselves by applying her fantastic sense of style in a way that brings out the best in anyone.

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ier and Vanja Staeheli began Vanja Couture online one year ago and selected downtown San Luis Obispo for their flagship store. Opening in December 2013, their newly remodeled location offers a stylish blend of Rodeo Drive with accents of historic SLO. They plan to expand to Santa Barbara, Australia, and South Africa.

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orn in Europe, raised in Australia, now based in the USA, Vanja has held a deep passion for fashion from a very young age. Vanja worked as a model in Europe, Australia, Middle-East, and the U.S. in a variety of professional fields from catwalk and promotional, to artistic and editorial.

Working with top photographers, designers, and other models enhanced her diversity in fashion. Vanja expanded

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Tenant Improvements: Retail, Remodel: Merit The Ritual Barbering & Apparel, 781 Higuera Street Vanja Couture, 779 Higuera Street Tenant Improvements: Retail, Remodel: Excellence Jules D., 672 Higuera Street, Suite 100 Tenant Improvements: Retail, New: Merit Wet Seal, 974 Monterey Street San Luis Traditions, 748 Marsh Street Tenant Improvements: Retail, New: Excellence Fromagerie Sophie, 1129-B Garden Street Tenant Improvements: Hospitality, Remodel: Excellence Splash Café Seafood & Grill, 893 Higuera Street, Suite D4 Tenant Improvements: Hospitality, New: Excellence Pluto’s, 1122 Chorro Street Tenant Improvements: Office: Merit Christian Science Reading Room, 1023 Nipomo Street, Suite 120 Stalwork, Inc., 1065 Higuera Street, Suite 100

Tenant Improvements: Exterior: Excellence Historic Stover Building, 1130 Garden Street Signage/Awning The Gold Concept, 740 Higuera Street

rop by and say hi. You might be pleasantly surprised by the variety of styles for a span of ages and body types.

Guys too... Vanja Couture carries a limited selection of stylish men’s wear.

Look good... Feel good...

Everyday is a fashion show and the world is your runway!

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Beautification Award Committee members Landy Fike, Bob Seeley, Pam Seeley, Jackie Crane, Karen Kile, Dominic Tartaglia, and Brent Vanderhoof assisted chair Marshall Ochylski in jurying the candidates and categorizing the awards, the winners are as follows:

Tenant Improvements: Exterior Patio: Merit Lynda Flynn at Willow Nest, 970 Chorro Street

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Merchandising: Adore Boutique, 716 Higuera Street The Mercantile, featuring Cattaneo Bros., 950 Chorro Street Maintenance: Maino Building, 1108 Garden Street Marsh Street Parking Structure, 871 Marsh Street SLO Bike & Run - Go For it Sports!, 883 Marsh Street The Gallery at the Network, 778 Higuera Street, Suite B Vieni Vai Trattoria, 690 Higuera Street Gardenscape Award: Higuera Street Planter, 868 Higuera Street Executive Director’s Award: San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, 895 Monterey Street Chairman’s Award: Warden Bridge, Mission Plaza Mayor’s Award: Marsh Street Commons - The Residences (pictured below), 1209-1225 Nipomo Street

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41

mortgage facts and fiction unraveling the myths of the mortgage maze

By Roxanne Carr

E

ver wonder why lenders ask for so much paperwork? We often find that our customers are really unclear about why we request so many documents and what the procedures are when we process a loan through to approval. All mortgage lenders deal with a lot of regulations and may respond to them a bit differently, however, the general approach is to document everything in order to comply.

make payments throughout the life of the loan.” In our best efforts we must analyze a person’s income stability, generally looking forward three years, their credit history and personal investment in the transaction, something every lender should always have been doing.

Believe me, we do not want to ask for a piece of paper for every detail in an application. But generally we must. Visualize as an example from the lender’s perspective—any moves a proposed mortgagor makes with their credit during the processing of their loan application may have an effect on the final credit check a lender must draw just before closing. All mortgage applicants must be carefully reviewed as to their qualifications for the loan in question, their ability to repay the loan based on their income, assets and credit history at the time. What if the borrower decides to quit his job a week before closing? It happens.

And the person who sees a good deal on new furniture a few weeks after application and agrees to take on a new installment loan of $150 a month when they were right at the cusp of qualifying? It happens. And it can throw a transaction into turmoil for all the principals at the last minute because there are times when even a small change in debt can make the difference between approval and disapproval.

DO NOT

We must also verify and look carefully at the funds needed for down payment, closing costs and sometimes adequate reserves after closing.

We are concerned that a borrower will have the minimum cash investment from their own funds for the program they have selected.

All agencies that a lender deals with require full documentation of the source of these funds, whether it be FHA, VA, FannieMae, FreddieMac or another institutional investor. Each has its own set of rules. If the funds are borrowed, we must qualify the applicant with the debt and review the source. For example, if a seller of the property (or any person who would financially benefit from the transaction) loaned money for a down payment, it would not meet program requirements. If the funds are derived from a gift, we must trace the gift to confirm its validity, that it is not a loan, and verify the actual transfer from donor to our client (some lenders may also require documentation of the ability of the donor to gift the funds). If the funds are coming from a borrower’s liquidation of assets such as stocks and bonds, again we are required to verify the actual sale and receipt to determine these funds were not borrowed.

Any out-of-the-ordinary deposits to an applicant’s bank account must also be sourced, whether it is to comply with Department of the Treasury anti-money laundering programs or again to verify monies not borrowed.

Many additional rules and requirements were imposed in January 2014 following the development of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and were brought about in great part by shoddy lenders making mortgages that should never have been made. We look to “determine that a borrower has the income and assets to afford to

I’ll finish with part of my little “Not To Do” list for loan applicants who are just beginning the process: • Open ANY new credit, for yourself or as a cosignor.

• Close ANY open lines of credit (this could affect your credit score adversely).

• Make any new major purchases (you could deplete your cash assets).

• Increase your existing loan balances—even credit card balances should be kept down.

• Spend ANY of the funds you have said you will retain for down payment and reserves.

• Allow your credit to be checked by any other creditor.

• Make ANY large deposits to your asset accounts that cannot be traced.

• Change jobs! Or quit. (Talk with your lender first.)

DO • Remember that we must run your credit just before loan closing to show no new debts have been incurred since approval.

• Keep a paper trail of any large deposits to your bank accounts.

• Maintain your current employment and the number of hours worked.

• Remember that your employment will be checked on the day of loan closing; any change could result in your loan being withdrawn.

Lessons learned from the past set the ground rules for the present.

This is certainly true of mortgage lending, going from “Stated Income” (including infamous “Liar Loans”) to full and complete proof of every facet considered important in qualifying for a new loan. It may feel like a burden if you are going through the process, but just consider it as doing your part to protect us from another financial meltdown.

Copyright © 2014 Roxanne Carr Roxanne Carr is division president of The Mortgage House, Inc. She has over 35 years’ experience in the mortgage banking industry.

Your e-mailed questions are welcomed through her website at: www. themortgagehouse.com or call her at 1-800-644-4030. This article is a forum to explore real estate principles. It is not intended to provide tax, legal, insurance or investment advice and should not be relied upon for any of these purposes.

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casa awarded grant from ccfc

CASA of SLO County recently received a grant for $2,000 from Central Coast Funds for Children (CCFC). These funds will support volunteer recruiting, screening, training and supervision costs associated with serving one abused child with one CASA volunteer for one year. Currently 95 trained volunteers provide advocacy and mentoring for more than 120 abused and neglected children in SLO County. Photo (L-R): CCFC Grant Review Chair Leslie Rodman, CASA Executive Director Teresa Tardiff, CCFC President Chris Poe.

Annual Morro Bay AAUW garden tour

The annual Morro Bay AAUW Garden Tour will be Sunday April 27, noon to 5 p.m. Visit five gardens in Morro Bay, Cayucos and Los Osos. Tickets are $10 for the self-guiding tour. Tickets may be purchased after April 1st at Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore in Los Osos, Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay, Sage Nursery in Los Osos, and Farm Supply in San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, and Paso Robles plus any AAUW member of the Morro Bay Branch. Proceeds benefit community projects. For more information, morrobayaauw. org or call 805-235-5779.

ecoslo to host second annual hike-a-thon

The Environmental Center of SLO (ECOSLO) has begun registration for the 2nd annual Hike-A-Thon. The Hike-AThon is intended to inspire people of all ages to enjoy the trails whether hiking, running, mountain biking, or horseback riding throughout the entire month of May. Pledges raised during the Hike-A-Thon will be used to provide trail maintenance and restoration, begin a new docent training program, as well as continue to advocate for open space. To register for the HikeA-Thon pick up a pledge packet at the ECOSLO office at 75 Higuera St., Suite 100 or register online at www.ecoslo.org/hike-

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 2014

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a-thon and start collecting pledges now. Registration is $10 per individual and $25 per family or team of 4. To compete for prizes, participants must collect $100 in pledges. Contestants will be provided with a hike tracker to log their outdoor adventures from May 3rd to May 29th. Hikers are invited to the Kick-Off on Saturday, May 3rd between 9am and 12pm at Laguna Lake Park.

The Kick-Off will feature a light brunch, music and mingling, docent-led hikes, trail information and exhibitors with giveaways.

Participants can register at the Kick-Off but earlier registration is encouraged. To become a sponsor, volunteer or donate prize items, contact Carolyn Huddleston, at hike@ecoslo.org or call (805) 544-1777. For more information on this event visit www. ecoslo.org/hike-a-thon.

SLO rotary spaghetti western fundraiser

Cowboy up and join the San Luis Obispo Rotary Club at their annual Spaghetti-Western fundraiser, April 5th. Enjoy Cafe Roma spaghetti, top sirloin BBQ, Western movies, games for children, and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit local charities and scholarships for high school and college students. The event is at the Ludwick Center, 864 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obipso. Takeout food is available from 4-5:30 pm; dine in from 5:30-8 pm. $25 adults, $5 children, children under 2 free. Tickets are available at www.slorotary.org or by calling 805-439-2000.

6th annual wine, waves & beyond surf classic

The 5th Annual Wine, Waves & Beyond: Central Coast Longboard Surf Classic returns April 30th-May 4th, to Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, and SLO. Proceeds from Wine, Waves & Beyond are donated to the Association of Amputee Surfers (AmpSurf), an organization that strives to promote, inspire, educate, and rehabilitate those with disabilities, especially veterans, through adaptive surfing and other outdoor activities. This four-day event includes a Surf Movie Night, Rabobank’s Barrel to Barrel, Hops & Hogs Throwdown, Central Coast Longboard Surf Contest, and the 805 Classic BBQ featuring the Firestone Walker Brewing Company, a Vintage VW Display, and Concert. Join in the festivities and be a part of the Central Coast’s premier lifestyle event. For a complete listing of events and more information, please visit www.winewavesandbeyond.com.

Free Senior health care screening

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

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sponsors sought for bands on the run

grant helps fund program assisting youth

Cuesta College’s Youth One-Stop was recently awarded a grant from the Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County’s Youth Opportunities Fund. The grant will pay a little over $38,000 over three years to fund a project titled “First Steps to Success.” The project will serve approximately 90 transitional aged youth ages 18-25 by providing work readiness training and certification in customer service. The Youth One-Stop is a testing site for the National Retail Federation Foundation Certificate. The project will train young adults through a series of workshops in customer service. The youth can then take an on-line exam that, upon passing, will certify them for three years in customer service. The project will also support assisting youth with completing applications and building resumes and cover letters.

The One-Stop will match the young people with local employers, such as Smart and Final, Kohl’s, TJ Maxx, and Marshall’s, and then monitor their progress on the job. Joining in the check presentation is Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County Director of Grants & Programs Janice Fong Wolf, Cuesta College Superintendent/President Gil Stork, Cuesta College’s Youth Programs Supervisor Jennifer Kirn and Cuesta College Foundation Executive Director Shannon Hill.

C rossword S O L U T I O N S

Bands on the Run will return May 31 with a music-driven half marathon, 10K and 5K along the sand to raise funds for the Morro Bay High School music department. After a successful inaugural year in 2013, run organizers say this year’s event will be bigger and better, with numerous live bands playing at key points along the course, including a rock band at majestic Morro Rock, the turn-around point for the 5K walk/run. The MBHS Music Boosters is a volunteer group of parents and community members committed to providing for the needs of the school’s music program that are not met by current school funding. Much of the money raised comes from race registration and participation fees, but sponsors are needed now to help with organizing expenses and promotion of the upcoming event.

Those interested in learning more about the benefits of sponsorship can contact Debbie Clark, president of the MBHS Music Boosters, at (805) 225-6040 or go to www.MorroBayBOTR.com. Registration information is also available at the Bands on the Run website or by emailing musicboostersmbhs@gmail.com

Books: Day hikes around big sur

Robert Stone has written another hiking book, his second edition of Day Hikes Around Big Sur. Stone personally hikes every trail in his Day Hikes series, which include 24 hiking guides. In his most recent book he features 99 great hikes in and around Big Sur. Each hike includes a map, distance, hiking time, elevation, difficulty, sun exposure and more. It’s an absolute must for you hikers out there. The book can be purchased at Mountain Air Sports, Back to Nature and Barnes and Noble.

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THE BULLETIN BOARD

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introducing the newest winery in edna valley

Partners and friends Mark Woolpert, Led Fortini, John Ronca, Roy Rawlings and Jerko Rendic are pleased to introduce Biddle Ranch Vineyard; the newest winery in the Edna Valley, and to announce the official release of its wine to the public.

Already achieving early success, the winery has crafted medal-winning wines from its small lot production. In addition to several silver and bronze medals, Biddle Ranch Vineyard’s 2012 Chardonnay received a gold medal in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and the 2010 Sangiovese won gold in the Grand Harvest Awards. Biddle Ranch Vineyard’s five varietals are available online at www.Biddleranch.com and plans for a tasting room on the property are in the works. Located at their Estate Vineyard is the “Un po ‘di Cielo” (a bit of heaven) vacation house. The vacation house, slated to be ready for guests and events this spring, is a mix of rustic, mid-century modern and contemporary.

The partners would also like to introduce the engagement of local Winemaker, Ryan Deovlet (pictured) as our Head Winemaker.

Ryan has traveled all over Australia, Argentina and New Zealand gaining firsthand experience in the vineyards and working crush, all while learning from renown winemakers. Upon Ryan’s return to California in 2005, he took a position with one of the legends on the Central Coast, Stephen Dooley, owner/winemaker of Stephen Ross Wine Cellars. Ryan attributes his foundation in oenology and in the cellar to his time at Stephen Ross. After two years, with intentions to further his education, he took the assistant winemaking position at Red Car Wine Company in 2007. While there, he was able to learn from consulting winemaker David Ramey and from top viticulturists Dr. Daniel Roberts and Ulises Valdez. Since 2008 Ryan has produced his own wines under the Deovlet label and is head winemaker at the Refugio Ranch project in Santa Ynez.

record number of people visit lighthouse

The Board of Directors of the Port San Luis Lighthouse Keepers today announced that more than 7,000 people visited the historic Port San Luis Lighthouse in 2013. “We were proud to welcome more than 7,000 visitors, which was the most on record,” said Board President John Lindsey. “Our visitors came by trolley, by trail, and kayak for events such as tours, weddings and special events. None of this would be possible without our amazing sponsors and supporters.” Many

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companies and people throughout the Central Coast provide support to this historic treasure. The Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers is a non-profit 501(c)(3), dedicated to the restoration and operation of the historic Point San Luis Lighthouse as a Public Historic and Recreational Park. For more information please visit our website at www.sanluislighthouse.org, or to reserve a ride call (805)540-5771.

help our local veterans

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

central coast orchid show and sale

The 19th Annual Central Coast Orchid Show and Sale sponsored by the Five-Cities Orchid Society will be held on Saturday, April 5th, from 9am-5pm and Sunday, April 6th, from 10am-5pm. The event will be held at the South County Regional Center in Arroyo Grande.

General admission is $5. An orchid show premiere benefit for the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center will be held on Friday, April 4th, at 6:30pm. Funds generated will go toward their educational outreach program. Tickets are $45. For more information call 929-5749.

United way youth board awards

The United Way of SLO County Youth Board recently awarded three $1,000 grants to local groups that have created projects having a positive impact on youth. This year, grants were awarded to One Cool Earth and the Lewis Middle School EnviroTech Class, Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County’s Teen Resource Center and Restorative Partners’ Juvenile Hall Book Club Project. Photo: Members of the United Way of San Luis Obispo County Youth Board present a check to the three $1,000 grant recipients at their February 18, 2014 meeting.

THE BULLETIN BOARD

Saturday at the Garden – Talkin’ Trash

35th anniversary of the slo triathlon

The City of SLO Parks and Recreation Department is hosting the 35th Anniversary of the San Luis Obispo Triathlon at Sinsheimer Park on Sunday, July 27th. The SLO Triathlon emphasizes completion rather than competition. From the novice to the seasoned triathlete, everyone (ages 15 and up) is invited to participate. The short-course event consists of a 0.5-mile swim, 15-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run. Registration for the SLO Triathlon opens April 26th, at www.slotriathlon.org and www.active.com. Cost is $74/person and $133/team. Those interested in volunteering may sign-up at www.slotriathlon.org. Sponsorship opportunities of all levels are also available. For more information, visit www.slotriathlon.org, stop by the Parks and Recreation Department at 1341 Nipomo Street, or call (805) 781-7305.

SLO hotline awarded crisis center accreditation

SLO Hotline has been awarded a 3-year Crisis Center Accreditation through the American Association of Suicidology (AAS). SLO Hotline 800-783-0607 is a SLO confidential mental health, emotional support and suicide prevention phone line. It is available free of charge, 24 hours every day. SLO Hotline is a program of Transitions-Mental Health Association (TMHA), a community-based nonprofit. The AAS, founded in 1968 by Edwin S. Shneidman, Ph.D., promotes research, public awareness programs, public education and training for professionals and volunteers. In addition, AAS serves as a national clearinghouse for information on suicide. Today the AAS has over 80 centers meeting stringent standards of service and training. For more information, visit www.T-MHA.org.

April botanical garden events Saturday at the Children’s Garden – Spring into Nature Saturday, April 5, from 1pm to 3pm Kids and parents will celebrate the outdoors in this free, hands-on nature crafts workshop. For reservations call 805-546-3190. More information at slobg.org/spring.

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Saturday, April 12, from 1pm to 3pm Discover the state of recycling and solid waste management in SLO County, as the SLO Botanical Garden and MBNEP welcomes Mike di Milo (pictured) of Integrated Waste Management. Learn how simple actions help preserve vital resources, take action in reducing waste, and help SLO County move toward a zero waste society. $5 for members/$10 public. Followed at 2 PM by a free Garden tour. More information at slobg.org/trash.

Earth Day Music Festival Sunday, April 27, 10am to 5pm On Sunday, April 27, the largest free annual environmental event in SLO County will take place at El Chorro Regional Park. The all-day outdoor event will showcase the eco friendly, climate change messages, products, or services of businesses, organizations, schools and college clubs.

Features will include a Green Car Show, Kid’s Zone, Eco Marketplace, Green Building & Energy Hub, Food and Drinks, a Beer & Wine Garden and a three stage Music Festival. Special kids’ activities taking place from 11am to 3pm in the Children’s Garden. More information at slobg.org

entire nursing team at twin cities honored

Fifty nurses from Twin Cities Community Hospital’s Definitive Observation Unit (DOU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nursing teams have received the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing this quarter.

This is the first time an entire nursing team, not just an individual nurse, at the hospital has been granted the DAISY Award. Part of the international DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Foundation, the quarterly, peer-elected DAISY AWARD program was created to provide meaningful recognition of “the super-human efforts nurses everywhere perform every day.”

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COMMUNITY

eye on Business lee and morty clean house

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

They focus on a pair of nonagenarian lovebirds who have become media sensations, logging nearly 6 million YouTube viewings alone.

The commercial is shot in home video style. It captures Morty and Lee finding a surprise box of Swiffer cleaning products on their doorstep and proceeding to try them out. The couple is engaging and genuine, and as a student of advertising and marketing, I just had to know more about them. I was not surprised to learn this is a real life married couple with a story as heartwarming as they are.

R

ecent Eye on Business columns have focused on young people. I’ve written about both the care and feeding of Millenials and the new-world realities of job searching. This month I’m going to skew to the other extreme and feature a pair of unlikely celebrities. Their names are Morty and Lee Kaufman and they live in Valley Stream, New York. Morty is 91 and Lee is 90. I just can’t get enough of this cute couple—and I’ve never met either one of them.

The Kaufmans are the housecleaning duo in TV commercials for Swiffer products. The commercials are adorable and compelling in their simplicity.

Morty and Lee are not actors. They’ve been married over 44 years and between them have six children and 15 grandchildren. They stumbled into show biz when their daughter Myra mentioned them to a friend who was casting a TV commercial. The casting agent wanted a couple in their 70s, but Myra suggested her parents might just fit the bill— and they did. The commercials were shot in the Kaufman home over a two day period. There was no script. What we see is the real deal and commercials that speak volumes about the power of being genuine.

Morty and Lee’s story is a sweet one. Both were widowed in their 40s with young children. Morty, a pharmacist, met Lee, a teacher and remedial reading specialist, when Morty’s son had reading challenges in grade school. Parent teacher conferences led to a dinner out, and now nearly 50 years later, the couple is still humming along together.

Morty and Lee are enjoying stardom. They’ve been interviewed by media from coast to coast, appeared on the Today Show and Ellen and participated in dozens of interviews. Morty has been retired from the pharmacy business for 30 years, but volunteers in a senior program at Nassau Community College. The commercials are still running and have inspired a cult like following. How can you not love a TV spot with lines like Morty’s “I don’t do any cleaning. I make dirt.” Or Lee’s “I came in under the assumption that it was clean. I’ve been living in a fool’s paradise!” As one blogger summed it up, “They’re the couple everyone wants to be.”

Important projects come In all sIzes

It’s easy to find Lee and Morty online. Just Google “Lee and Morty Swiffer.” The fun will roll, and so will the “awwwww” factor when Lee, prompted to sing a little something, launches into “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”

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Maybe well-loved seniors are just on my mind this time of year. My own dear dad turned 91 in March. He is as charming as Morty, and he cleans a lot more than his TV counterpart does. Happy Birthday, Dad. And Procter & Gamble: thanks for some great advertising.

KIWANIS CLUB OF SAN LUIS OBISPO de TOLOSA’s

DRIVE-THRU BBQ DINNER

The Kiwanis BBQ Crew

Friday, May 9, 2014 SLO Veterans Building on Grand Ave, SLO Tickets: $50 Each dinner feeds up to six people and includes: BBQ Choice grade beef Tri-Tip, Beans, Salsa, Salad & SLO Sourdough garlic bread All packaged in a beautiful re-usable tote bag

For ticket information contact: Lynn Cooper: 805 544-9242 or Steve Owens: 805 546-0609 Give the cook the night off, pick up a mouth-watering BBQ dinner and help support the Kiwanis programs that benefit the youth of SLO!

4 past scholarship winners

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