June 2016 Journal Plus Magazine

SCOTT JEFFREYS | VERN LUDWICK | SLO NAZ CHURCH TURNS 50 | ALLAN HANCOCK

Journal JUNE 2016

PLUS

MAGA ZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

ANNE HARRIS AND CAPTAIN

805-543-2172

805-904-6616

21 Santa Rosa St. #100, San Luis Obispo

110 E. Branch Street, Arroyo Grande

w w w.FA R R E LL S M Y T H.c om In the Heart of the Central Coast Wine Country

Arroyo Grande

Looking for an opportunity to open a B&B? Look no further. This microclimate vineyard is the ideal stop for the Wine Aficionado who wants a taste of the good life. 1.65 acre parcel includes three bedroom home rich in history.

Dry-farmed Zinfandel grapes. Views. Here is a rare chance to purchase a prime property that is original-family owned since 1919.

This is definitely not a drive by. You really need to come inside to appreciate this beautifully remodeled home. Granite counters, bamboo flooring, plush carpeting, crown molding and the list goes on and on.

This open floor plan offers 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 2 car garage.

Large back patio with a brick BBQ. $519,500

The Fairways at Black Lake Golf Course

Beautiful home featuring 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms. Desirable floor plan, eat-in kitchen, formal dining room with french doors to back yard. Vaulted ceilings, loads of natural light. Driving range, clubhouse, restaurant, bar, private swim club, 27 holes of golf. $499,900

Upscale Tuscan Inspired

Super clean 2144 sq. ft. 3 bedroom plus loft/extra room, 2.5 bath attached townhome which features a open spacious living room with fireplace and wonderful backyard.

Garage is finished with epoxy floors and lots of storage cabinets and workbench. La Ventana community includes heated pool and clubhouse to hold celebrations and enjoy family time. Convenient to Hwy 101, hospital, shopping, etc. $349,000

www.5930ArdillaAve.com

www.313Concord.com

Attention investors and contractors! Small clean 2/1 cottage built in the 1940’s and sold in as is condition. Nice large open kitchen with refinished cabinets and cozy dining area plus bonus room. Back yard is fenced for pets or hobbies. Easy access to HWY 101 and close to downtown. Subject property has lots of potential with Residential Multi-Family MF20 zoning to build income units. Buyer to verify with the City. $339,000

This is a beautiful property with two up stairs master suites each with it’s own walk in closet. Parquet floors downstairs. There is a private patio for BBQ’s. It is in close proximity to major medical centers and quick accesses to Hwy 101. $314,900

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CONTENTS

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

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

654 Osos Street San Luis Obispo California 93401

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CENTRAL COAST OCEAN CARETAKERS

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 Jan Owens, Kyle Owens, Jim Parsons, Mike Pluneda

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SCOTT JEFFREYS

AUDREY JOHNS

ADVERTISING Steve Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. James Brescia, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Will Jones, Deborah Cash, Heather Young, Don Morris, Charmaine Coimbra, Ruth Starr, Chuck Graham, Dan Carpenter and Rebecca Juretic.

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 DEBORAH CASH

PEOPLE 8 10 12 15

SCOTT JEFFREYS VERN LUDWICK AUDREY JOHNS SLO MARATHON HALL OF FAME

HOME & OUTDOOR 16 18 20 20 24

CENTRAL COAST OCEAN CARETAKERS CAPTAIN THE THERAPY DOG ALLAN HANCOCK PADDLING SANTA BARBARA’S COAST FOOD / AT THE MARKET

COMMUNITY

26 27 28 30 31 32 34 42

SLO COUNTY ART SCENE PALM STREET Councilman, Dan Carpenter SLO NAZARENE CHURCH TURNS 50 SUMMER PROGRAMS AT OUR LIBRARY CENTRAL COAST’S GREATEST ATHLETES HISTORY: California 1814 - part 3 OUR SCHOOLS – Dr. James Brescia COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

36 EYE ON BUSINESS 37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening

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---- Coming up at the ----

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ---- San Luis Obispo ---CAL POLY MUSIC DEPARTMENT

RSVP XXI: ‘EVANGELINE’

JUNE 01 | 8:00 P.M.

MAMMA MIA!

JUNE 02 | 7:30 P.M.

STUDIO @ PRESENTS

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JUNE 03 & 04 | 7:00 P.M.

JUNE 04 | 8:00 P.M.

CAL POLY WIND BANDS'

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JUNE 05 | 6:00 P.M.

CORE DANCE STUDIO RECITAL

COASTAL DANCE & MUSIC ACADEMY

JUNE 25 | 10:00 A.M. & 2:00 P.M.

JUNE 25 | 1:00 P.M. & 6:00 P.M.

SOMETHING IN THE WATER

SPRING CONCERT

ENCORE!

www.pacslo.org

SPRING CONCERT

INFUSION

STEPPIN' UP

805.756.4849

From the publisher

T All the statistics in the world can’t measure the warmth of a smile.

Chris Hart

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11545 LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD SUITE A, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA

HE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. (MLK) High School Memorial Scholarship Committee, now in its 48th year, held its award ceremony

last month. This year thirteen $1000 scholarships and two $1300 scholarships were awarded. The funds generated come from an annual chicken BBQ in San Luis Obispo each Super Bowl Sunday (put Sunday, February 5th on your calendar now and help support this special program). The students fill out an application for the potential scholarship and committee members interview the finalists. It’s amazing what these students have accomplished at such an early age. There is no doubt that the future of this community is in good hands. Sandy Ahearn received the Community Service Award (pictured upper left), Regena Morton received the Directors Award and Rita DelKeskamp (pictured lower left with MLK Jr. President Mary Matakovich) received the President’s award Scholarship winners included: Marilyn Amores, Janae Caldera, Julia Charbonneau, Adrian Collen, Noah Miller, Rachel Ericson, Humberto Gaytan, Pamela Ibanez, Hillal Jarrar, Erika Perez, Elizabeth Reynaga, Mya Romero, Meghan Shields, I’raya Smith and Karla Zamora.

Plenty of good reading again this month, including stories on birds, bees and dogs.

Enjoy the magazine.

CALL US AT 805-541-5800 TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.

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Steve Owens

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PEOPLE

beekeeper

scott jeffreys: honey I’m home

By Ruth Starr

“It all started when my roommate took a beekeeping class at Cal Poly. He had been stung by bees and his ankles had become terribly swollen,” explains Scott Jeffreys. Scott was intrigued that an insect could disable someone. It took a full year after the roommate experience to get into the next spring class. However, it didn’t take long until Scott was hooked on beekeeping. He graduated from Cal Poly in 1980 with a degree in Crop Science.

Twenty years after college graduation Scott himself began teaching the beekeeping class at Cal Poly. He taught the bee class from the year 2000 until the end of 2012 before going into the business of selling queen bees. It’s the sights, the smells, the sounds and the honey that Scott finds exciting. He says the best honey anyone can get is fresh from a beehive. But it takes a bit of hunting to find true local honey.

In Germany people can go to beekeeper’s homes and the beekeeper visits his bees in the back yard in order to get a frame or 2 of honey

and spin it out to get fresh honey. This is a dream idea that Scott would like to be able to do. Most culturally managed beehives have wooden frames and the comb is held inside the frame which contains the honey and hatching bees.

Taking care of bees, is a complicated process. The queen’s job is to lay the eggs—the entire reason for her existence. The worker bees then feed the larvae (the result of the queen’s eggs)—that is their job! Scott catches the queens with his bare hands then sells the queens in boxes of 104—that is his job!

He sets up queen yards at various ranches around the county including one in Santa Barbara. The demand for queen bees exceeds the supply. The bee yards are set up as miniature mating nuclei.

Each miniature mating nucleus is the size of a small shoebox. They can also be called a baby nucleus. That’s where he goes to collect the queens. Every nucleus box contains one cup of bees. “All one needs is a cup of bees and a cup of sugar syrup and a queen cell that is about to hatch in order to set up each mating nucleus unit,” Scott explains. Within 2 weeks of starting the queen mating nuclei the queen hatches, mates in the air with the drones and then returns to her individual hive where she starts laying eggs. Temperature is also critical to allow this part of the story of the birds and bees to occur.

Anything less than 69 degrees F. inhibits the queen from performing her mating flights.

Worker bees and queens are all female. The queen larvae are fed a different diet from the worker larvae, and queen producers capitalize on this aspect to raise queens commercially. Four days after the queen lays eggs they hatch into larvae. The male is called the drone. The drone’s job is to mate with the queen and then he literally explodes in the act.

Each mating nucleus unit has a sugar feeder can that receives a heavy syrup which is made with sugar and water for the miniature hive to gather energy from. Each mating nucleus gets one mature queen cell, putting it between two frames of comb. While the cell hatches the worker bees convert the sugar syrup to honey.

Honey is the food of the bees and their source of carbohydrates, while their source of protein is pollen from the flowers. Pollen is pure protein.

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during introduction to a new beehive, in order to let the queen out into the new hive. The candy works as a time release mechanism and as a source of nutrition for the queen in transit.

For Scott the best part is the adventure of catching the queens.

Since the drought that has plagued the desert southwest, the honey part of the honeybee business in this industry has plummeted. He, however, is doing well just selling queen bees. There is more of a demand than what is available. Stinging is one of the things that happens often that he feels is beneficial. One of his clients with Multiple Sclerosis purchased worker bees from Scott to be stung— she felt it helped her. It’s anecdotal, but there are many people who hold this belief.

Scott and his wife, Jacque, live in Los Osos not far from Morro Bay. Scott makes the queen cages himself from recycled wood. The queen cage is a science unto itself—the type of cages he makes are called eastern three hole queen cages. The queen cage is used for a mailing cage and an introduction cage. It takes three days to introduce a queen bee into a hive that is queenless. The cage, which is about three inches long, is made with three large holes on the top. Two of the holes are empty while the third hole is filled with queen candy. There is a screen over the top of the 3 big holes and then there are two small holes at each end. One small hole is where the queen is put into the cage and then sealed with a small cork. The small hole at the other end covers the candy and that cork is opened.

During the next three days the worker bees eat through the candy

He made a bike carrier to haul their kayak to enjoy paddling around the back bay. Jacque also likes to sing while Scott accompanies her on the guitar. They have one grown daughter, Emmylou, who lives near Visalia and is a cattle farmer with her husband.

Part of his fun on Sundays is going to the Swap Meet in San Luis Obispo where he finds interesting things he can recycle to use for his bee business—such as wood, cork, nails, metal screening, and staples.

Scott calls the Swap Meet the “bee supply warehouse.”

Scott’s knowledge about the complicated science of bees and beekeeping make him unique. After all these years, he still loves his affinity with the bees.

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PEOPLE

vern ludwick birds of many colors

By Natasha Dalton photos by Sasha Dalton

I

f the City of San Luis Obispo ever decides to update its logo, adding a pair of colorful macaws might be a thing to consider.

Of course, macaws aren’t native to this area.

Neither is Spanish-style architecture, a great example of which—Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa—is the city’s most prominent landmark. However, SLO is also known for its philosophy of staying connected to nature— which makes it so appealing to its inhabitants and tourists alike.

For several years now (mainly thanks to the visitors to the Farmers’ Market), images of two local macaws, pirouetting over downtown, have been circulating the world.

Macaws George and Killian are just two in a family of birds that live in the house of Vern Ludwick. His interest in feathery creatures was sparked one Christmas Day, when a small bird hit the front window of his family home. Vern was just eight—and happy to see that the bird was ok.

As a child, Vern was raising chickens, pigeons and parakeets. “I even had a macaw for about a year,” he says, “but then we went our separate ways.” But this life-long hobby turned into a full-time “job” seven years ago, when a friend brought him Rosita.

Rosita is a beautiful 20-year-old macaw (half Military, half Scarlet), whose story is pain-

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fully common. Once a favorite pet, she was virtually abandoned when the children grew up and moved out. Smart but lonely bird, who for years “just sat in a cage and did nothing,” became very distrustful of people: “She bit my friend who came to rescue her,” Ludwick recalls. “And then she bit his girlfriend on their way to my house.”

But once Rosita settled down at Ludwick’s house, her attitude has changed. “She likes it here,” he says. Just two months after moving in, Rosita (whom everyone thought to be a boy) started laying eggs. “And so, suddenly we had a baby in the house, George (of whom we also first thought that it was a boy, but it’s a girl),” Ludwick says.

Hoping to find Rosita a mate, Ludwick brought in another bird, then several more were given to him, and before he knew it, he found himself a proud owner of nine different macaws. Are nine birds too many for one house? Maybe so, but can you turn down a request to save a life? Ludwick couldn’t. In fact, the actual number of macaws in his care right now is twice as many, because he is also helping a couple of elderly friends with their 12 birds.

“It really is a full-time job,” says Ludwick, who quit his position as a purifier technician to stay focused on the birds. “There’re many varieties of these birds in the world,” he explains. “In all the books that I’ve consulted, I haven’t seen one that contained descriptions of all the macaws that I have here.” The new varieties are being discovered all the time—not to mention the plentitude of mixed breeds (which are just as gorgeous). Some of these birds might look alike to an untrained eye, but in reality, the coloring on each macaw’s face is as unique as are human fingerprints. Same goes for their personalities.

If people knew better, they would choose macaws as the symbol of friendship and marital bliss. Unlike that of pigeons or swans, macaws’ lifespan is similar to humans. They mate for life, and are extremely protective of their partners. In captivity, this loyalty extends to humans, as well—and it never waivers.

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What else would explain the fact that after three years of attendance to his friends’ flock, Ludwick still hasn’t won them over? But he understands why: “The birds have been with this couple for 30 years; they’re very attached to their owners,” he says.

After all, his own birds are just as attached to him. “I can take them anywhere in the world, and they’ll always find a way back to me,” he says. And if traveling the world with the birds in tow isn’t practical, taking a few of them at a time to the other end of town is at times necessary. “To them, it’s like being in the other part of the world,” Ludwick says, describing the way his birds make sense of the new environment: “They’d fly around the area, often making several circles before

Tabasco

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Blackjack

coming back to me, and they always follow the same ritual: George lands on my shoulder; Killian—on the ground by my feet.”

We think of flying as a natural instinct for birds, but just as babies need to learn how to walk, birds need to learn how to fly. Exotic birds are expensive, and some collectors, viewing their birds as an investment, resort to clipping their wings. Ludwick never does that, but since most of his rescued birds never had a chance to learn how to fly, Ludwick’s daily routine includes flying lessons.

At first, even the most adventurous of them all, George, was hesitant to leave “mama’s apron.” She is really Vern’s “little girl:” Her mother didn’t know how to feed her, and so, from day one, he had to do that instead. When George got older and learned to land on him in the house, Ludwick began to take her out to the porch, from where she’d go onto the tree by the house and stay there overnight.

Killian, too, was initially afraid to be outside and Ludwick had to train him by taking him out on the walkway, and then letting him fly back towards the house.

After a while, he was able to take the pair to the street corner, and the birds would fly back to the house and land on the porch—until one day, when they didn’t. They flew around the town, and came back half an hour later, landing on the porch. This has become their daily routine ever since. Sometimes, when Ludwick is taking too long to give them “Go ahead!” George draws his attention by biting a button off his shirt.

Satan can chew a 2”x6”x20” plank into sawdust. “It’s like bubble-gum to him,” Ludwick says, and after seven years of nasty bites, he had enough: he found a new home for Satan, and a new mate for Rosita.

The switch happened in April, and things are looking up. Macaws are active only during daytime, and fall asleep at dusk. Everyone who ever had pets knows that their daily routine often dictates the schedule of their owners. “I never needed an alarm clock when Satan lived here,” Ludwick says. But now he is looking forward to more relaxed mornings. “I won’t mind staying in bed for an extra half an hour,” he says somewhat wistfully. To him, getting up at 7 a.m. really does feel like sleeping in.

“Everything is going well. The new boyfriend likes Rosita already; I hope she’ll like him back,” Ludwick says, explaining that, when it comes to mating, it really is a matter of hit and miss. “If you have 10 birds, 4 of them are likely to hook up, but the rest of them—you can’t do anything about it; you can’t do it for them.”

Not that he won’t keep trying to do what’s best for his birds. And that’s why we’re likely to see these beautiful macaws in SLO skies for many years to come.

“A five-year-old bird is like a five-year-old child,” Ludwick laughs, nonchalantly. “She also likes to chew beer bottle caps—can you imagine the strength of her beak?”

Now, it’s Blackjack’s turn to learn. This 10-year-old parrot spent seven years in a two-foot square cage biting off his flight feathers in distress, but these days, he can already fly fifty feet in a straight line and land without hurting himself.

Macaws’ display of affection for Ludwick is touching (and amusing to watch). But he had to learn how to deal with the other side of loyalty—jealousy, which can at times be a real problem, as was the case with Rosita’s “boyfriend” Satan.

Satan is an alpha male, and Rosita’s devotion to Ludwick didn’t sit well with him. Not only didn’t he let his mate anywhere out of his sight, but he also fought Ludwick every time he approached Rosita.

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audrey Johns Publishes her first book: Lose weight by eating

By Heather Young

A

udrey Johns’ first cookbook, “Lose Weight

by Eating,” was released in mid-April and is already into its second print run after selling out with numerous retailers both online and in-store.

Her cookbook, which was published with William Morrow, a subsidiary of HarperCollins Publishers, was a labor of love after she lost 150 pounds by tweaking the ingredients of her favorite foods, which allowed her to eat more, while not taking in more calories.

“I want to have all the food I want and not feel guilty,” Johns said.

After moving to Atascadero from Southern California, she found that in order to get a lot of the ethnic food she loved, and craved, she had to make it herself.

“Basically, I lost 150 pounds just by eating,” Johns said. “I was not able to go to the gym [because I was having surgeries].”

Audrey with her new cookbook

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PREPARE

FOR AN EMERGENCY? • It is important to be prepared for any type of emergency that could impact San Luis Obispo County. In the unlikely event of an emergency at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, it’s important to know if your home, workplace, or children’s schools are within the Emergency Planning Zone as well as any actions you may be directed to take. Your plan should include any assistance needed by elderly family members, those with medical needs, as well as your family pets.

• In an emergency, officials may direct protective actions to protect public health and safety. It is important to stay tuned to local radio and TV stations throughout the emergency to receive current information and actions you may need to take.

• For more information on how to prepare, visit: www.slocounty.ca.gov/oes or call (805) 781-5011.

OUR ALERT & NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS MAY BE USED FOR ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY OUR ALERT AND NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS MAY BE USED FOR ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY TSUNAMI

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FLOOD

NUCLEAR

FIRE

HAZMAT

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cadero] and the moms noticed I was losing weight and asked how I did it,” Johns said. “I struggled with weight my whole life so I just wanted to give it away for free.”

And she did. Until now.

Audrey and Sophie

While she said she did want to lose weight, she didn’t think the weight would come off by only changing the way she ate.

She started her blog, www.loseweightbyeating.com, to share her journey, and recipes, with others.

“I was taking [my daughter] to dance class every week at Motions Academy [in Atas-

It didn’t take long for Johns to get noticed.

Her blog went from 10 visitors a day to 10,000 visitors per day overnight. As of early April, she said, the website had between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors on a slow day. In early 2014, she got an email from a casting company that was scouting out potential contestants for reality shows. She got an audition for the reality show, The Taste, an ABC show that puts 16 competitors, who range from home cooks to professional chefs and everything in between, in the kitchen.

“I stayed at a friend’s house [the night before the audition] and cooked lamb meatballs and prayed that they stayed hot long enough,” Johns said, adding that once it was her group’s turn in front of the casting crew, she had five minutes to plate the meal she had already prepared.

She was cast in Season 2 of The Taste. Though she was one of the first ones eliminated from the show, she still stays in contact with her team and contestants from other teams.

“Out of all the teams, I think my team bonded the most,” Johns said.

When it was time for someone from her team to be chosen to go home, she said she volunteered to go home and was actually happy to go home because she was in a lot

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“They laid everyone off [at Chris’ work] two months before we had Sophie,” Johns said. “I was the sole bread winner. Then three months after I had Sophie, I went back to work and was laid off. It was a job, not a career.”

Because Johns’ job included free housing, they found themselves needing to move, so they decided to look at San Luis Obispo County after taking weekend trips to the area. They looked for homes in the Paso Robles area and found a place in Atascadero.

“We just love it here, this is our home,” Johns said.

Here is one recipe from Johns’ cookbook:

Protein-Packed Blue Cheese Buffalo Burgers Makes 4 burgers Per serving: calories 262; fat 5 g; fiber 2 g; protein 31 g; carbohydrates 20 g

Audrey, before and after

of pain from the nerve disease she got a few years ago after a car accident. Right after she was eliminated, she went in for a nerve block that alleviates a lot of the pain she suffers.

Before you skip over this recipe because it contains buffalo meat, give me one minute of your day to convince you to try this delicious, lean form of protein.

“When I got kicked off, I was glad to go home, I was in so much pain,” Johns said. “I didn’t tell anyone about it. They just thought I had a bad back.”

Her appearance on The Taste led to her getting a literary agent.

“The night of the airing of The Taste—that I got kicked off—I got calls from five different literary agents,” Johns said. Four of the five agents were in Manhattan. She ended up signing with Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc., out of New York City. One of the reasons Sterling Lord wanted to represent her, she said, was the way she represented her brand, Lose Weight by Eating. Promoting her brand was the reason she went on The Taste in the first place.

“We started working on a book proposal ... [my agent] shopped it around at all of the publishing houses. I had two days to talk to 35 publishing houses,” Johns said.

In the end, she chose to go with William Morrow.

Two years has passed and she has a finished book and has been promoting her book through interviews, book reviews, a sweepstakes and going on TV. Her first television appearance for the book was on the 700 Club on April 19. Although it was filmed earlier than the 700 Club, she appeared on the Rachael Ray Show with Bob Harper on April 26. She was on Hollywood Live on May 13. She has also appeared on other local and national television and radio shows since her book was released.

Her appearances on the 700 Club and the Rachael Ray Show really boasted the sales of the cookbook, Johns said.

Rachael Ray was huge for sales, that was the reason we sold out,” Johns said. “The day I was on the show I was the No. 1 book on all of Amazon and the No. 5 book on all of Barnes and Noble. … [The] website was flying when I was on those shows, at one point we had 1,300 people on the page all at once, we were lucky the servers held steady.”

Johns has lived in Atascadero with her husband of 10 years, Chris, and their daughter, Sophie, 7, since 2012 when they moved from Orange County. They found themselves at a crossroads after they both lost their jobs due to the recession. Audrey had been working as a property manager and Chris in the mortgage industry.

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Let’s start with the flavor.

If buffalo were gross at all, I would just tell you to get lean ground beef. But it tastes exactly like delicious beef, but with more protein, iron, and B12 and less fat and calories. Plus it’s usually available at your local grocery store. Try this lean and delicious meat yourself. You won’t be able to tell the difference, and you’ll be doing your body a favor.

1 teaspoon olive oil, for the grill 1 pound all-natural ground buffalo Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup Chunky Blue Cheese Dip (page 108) 4 whole wheat buns 1 cup baby spinach 1/2 red onion, sliced into thin rings Spicy brown mustard (optional) 1. Heat a grill to high heat and brush the grill grates with olive oil. (Alternatively, heat a grill pan over high heat and spray it with olive oil.)

2. Make four patties from the meat. Push your thumb into the center and create a little dimple on both sides. This will help the burger cook more evenly and keep a flat patty shape. Gently sprinkle the patties with salt and pepper.

3. Grill the burgers for 7 to 10 minutes, flipping once. Transfer the burgers to a large plate and let them rest for 5 minutes.

4. To assemble the burgers, spread some Chunky Blue Cheese Dip on the bottom of each bun, lay on some spinach and onions, and top with a burger patty. Spread some mustard, if using, on the top buns and place them on the burgers.

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slo marathon hall of fame honoring Sean Ricketts and Paul Spangler

By Sheryl Collmer

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oach Sean Ricketts is one of those rare people who inspires simply by example. The kids of the Arroyo Grande High School cross-country teams and Ricketts’ Central Coast running camps catch his enthusiasm for the sport of running, and fall in love with it themselves, almost by osmosis. His positive influence on youth is being honored by the SLO Marathon as Ricketts is inducted into the Hall of Fame for 2016.

Ricketts is most inspired by the drama of kids whose lives change for the better through running.

“The students are motivated by his commitment and time with them. He has created a close sense of family within his teams,” says Gayle Varvel, of the Physical Ed staff at AG High. Ricketts “has brought running to the forefront of Lucia Mar school district and the south county.” He has empowered countless athletes to continue to run in college, many on scholarships.

Growing up in San Diego, Ricketts was a standout athlete himself, claiming junior college cross-country titles all the way up to Big

West Conference Cross-Country Champion in 2003. Moving to the central coast to attend Cal Poly, he earned bachelors and masters degrees in kinesiology and educational leadership.

Armed with his teaching credentials, he began coaching cross country at AGHS in 2006.

Since then, Ricketts has coached both boys and girls cross-country teams to a total of nine PAC 7 League titles and four state meet appearances. This history of achievement is not lost on the students he coaches; he instills in them a pride in the success of the teams that preceded them. The kids are inspired by other AG students who have found hope and a future through running.

The story is told of one young man, who because of an expulsion, stood virtually no chance of a college education. However, with the work ethic, goal-setting and peer support he received from Ricketts’ team, that student was able to turn around his mistakes and be admitted to college, where he now runs.

To a lesser extent, that story repeats itself every year in Ricketts’ world. There are always kids who can’t quite believe in themselves, for whom the experience of working together on a team is life-altering. The ethic of acceptance and collaboration is central to the teams Ricketts coaches. He appeals to the desire of young people to be part of something noble.

Ricketts believes that running teaches skills that profit his athletes for the rest of their lives: patience and endurance, goal achievement, long-term perspective, confidence and the ability to have fun through hard work.

In addition to the many athletes who have come under his coaching at AGHS, Ricketts influences the community at large through his Central Coast Running Camps. These are spring/summer programs open to all students aged 7 - 18, especially those without track programs at their own schools, including homeschoolers.

Ricketts’ influence on young runners is the primary reason he was chosen for induction in the 2016 Hall of Fame. Simultaneously, Dr. Paul E. Spangler will be recognized posthumously, for his influence primarily on older runners.

Spangler took up running when he was 67 and subsequently captured nearly every

Sean Ricketts

US running title for his age group. He became an outspoken prophet for the active optimistic life, influencing many San Luis Obispans to “hit the road” with him. He asserted that both the body and mind are capable of improvement until the glorious end of life, overturning the assumption that the later years of human life are ones of impairment and dependence. Spangler died at the age of 95, happily training for the New York City Marathon.

A memorial plaque honoring Dr. Spangler will be installed at Laguna Lake Park, at the head of the fitness trails he designed and built there. “This posthumous recognition is well overdue. Dr. Spangler was SLO Running, back in the day,” comments Roger Warnes, coach of the SLO Roadrunners and the 2014 Hall of Fame recipient.

The Hall of Fame award recognizes accomplishment in running and/or coaching and significant contributions to the running community in San Luis Obispo and the sport overall. Past recipients are Brian Waterbury, Peter Dorn, Greg Hind, Roger Warnes and Stan Rosenfield.

The 2016 Hall of Fame award was conferred on Ricketts at the Expo/finish line of the SLO Marathon on the lawn of the Madonna Inn on May 1st.

Sheryl Collmer is a customer support rep for RaceSLO, the producers of the San Luis Obispo Marathon.

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central coast ocean caretakers

By Charmaine Coimbra

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he Central Coast coastline is considered “globally unique.” With an impressive variety of 26 marine mammals species, 94 diverse seabirds, 4 different kinds of sea turtles, over 340 categories of fishes, thousands of invertebrates, and more than 450 marine algae, the Central Coast is ideal for marine research, ocean-loving tourists, and citizens who work to keep SLO County’s coastline spectacular.

When I asked Margaret “P.J.” Webb, the chairwoman of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Citizens Advisory Council, to grade the state of San Luis Obispo County’s coastline, she gave it a “very healthy” status.

activism continued during her college years, which she now applies as a practicing attorney in Cambria addressing public interest issues.

About a decade ago, when the Central Valley proposed piping their waste water to the Central Coast and dispose of it in Estero Bay, Webb’s concern swooped in like a wave. “Environmentalists linked hands with the fisherman. We sang ‘Kumbaya,’ and we stopped the proposed waste dump in beautiful Estero Bay,” Webb said.

Along with Webb, I’ll also introduce you to Donovan Marley, who is presently immersed in protecting SLO county’s northern coastline.

It was threats like that that brought her to understand the importance of protecting California’s Central Coast. “We don’t have much industrialization, and agriculture is learning how to keep pollutants out from the water streams,” said Webb. “But that doesn’t mean that environmental impacting industries won’t continue searching out our coastlines for their uses. Right now an unusual blob of warm water is off California’s coast and wreaking havoc with the ocean environment, and we have domoic acid impacting our pinnipeds and Dungeness crab population, so, finding ways to keep our water healthy is not only good for our environment but for the economic future of San Luis Obispo County.”

P.J. Webb discovered her natural born activism at age 14 when she organized a walk for hunger to raise funds for food distribution. Her

Besides Webb’s multitude of marine-related volunteerism, she has also applied her legal skills to writing the June 2015 Chumash Heritage

That’s the good news—especially when considering that the overall state of our oceans worldwide is troublesome, according to experts in the field.

Webb is one of the many persons on the Central Coast who actively works to keep that “very healthy” grade applied to our coastal waters.

Chairwoman of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Citizens Advisory Council, P.J. Webb J U N E

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PEOPLE National Marine Sanctuary Nomination proposal to NOAA. The proposed marine sanctuary would begin at Santa Rosa Creek in Cambria at the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary southern boundary, and end at Gaviota Creek in Santa Barbara County, encompassing 140 miles of coastline.

California,” and are rich in both ancient and recent California history.

A January 2004 Playbill story announced that, “…shortly after the Denver Center Theatre Company’s 2004-05 season was the revelation that artistic director Donovan Marley will step down in July 2005, after 21 seasons.” But before Marley started with the Denver theatre company, he was part of a group of theatre professionals in Santa Maria, instrumental in establishing the Solvang Theaterfest building.

Marley and his wife, Barbara Sellers, both retired from their longstanding theater careers, left Denver, and moved back to the Central Coast, settling in Templeton. The twosome are now active volunteer docents for Friends of the Elephant Seal (FES).

David Helvarg, an award-winning journalist and author of “The Golden Shore— California’s Love Affair with the Sea,” said in a recent conversation, “In writing about how California has become a world model

Webb and Marley are like the many Californians who throughout this state’s history have cared enough about our coast and all of its wonders, and work to make a difference.

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for living well with our coasts and ocean it became apparent to me that what’s different here is that our citizens care enough to take action. From creation of our Coastal Commission, to the restoration of marine wildlife, to our unique marine sanctuaries and monuments, citizen initiatives and collaboration with science, business and government has defined how California protects and restores its Pacific frontier,”— all the elements that we hope will keep the Central Coast globally unique.

I understand how the beauty of that windswept bluff can inspire one to want to do more to assure that it stays beautiful and significant into perpetuity. So, when the late Jim Brouchet who managed the light station for BLM, approached Marley about attaining national monument status for both the federal land and state land, Marley brought the idea to the FES board of directors. The Piedras Blancas Light Station Association president, the FES board president, and Marley joined hands to propose the Piedras Blancas California Coastal National Monument.

Portions of the proposed national monument are already designated as an Outstanding Natural Area. But by changing this designation to a national monument, “…the designation … to protect and preserve America’s most important cultural and natural treasures (will)…protect the cultural treasures centered around the light house that crowns the Piedras Blancas Outstanding Natural Area,” explains a powerpoint presentation put together by Marley.

Recently, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the project. The effort to federally designate Piedras Blancas as a National Monument is now under the auspices of the California Coastal National Monument campaign that includes Trinidad Head, Lost Coast Headlands and Lighthouse Ranch in Humboldt County, and Cotoni-Coast Dairies in Santa Cruz County. The informational website, www.yourcaliforniacoast.org, notes that each of these locations “… represent some of the most spectacular areas in J U N E

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CAPTAIN

ADORABLE CERTIFIED THERAPY DOG BRINGS JOY & SMILES TO ALL HE MEETS

By Deborah Cash

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eople and dogs, as compatible friends, go back tens of thousands of years. Remember Dances With Wolves where—during the Civil War era—Kevin Costner befriended a wild canine prowling the edges of his solitary outpost, resulting in a mutually satisfying relationship? There’s even a social media meme where a Great Dane, lounging on its people’s indoor furniture muses, “Yes, we were once wild, then we discovered you had sofas.”

Parsons Russell Terrier Captain definitely enjoys lounging—whether on the couch or in the sun—but the little guy wasn’t always a dog of leisure and even today, enjoys part time employment as an Animal Assisted Therapy Dog, bringing happiness to children, folks in the hospital and anyone who wants to pet an adorable dog and enjoy his affection.

Captain’s human companion, Anne Harris, who rescued the lost little guy from the side of the freeway some eight years ago, recently shared that it’s amazing how many people remark post-visit, “Oh, Captain, you’ve made my day!” Harris and Captain currently visit patients and families at French Hospital in patients’ rooms, the waiting lounge and even ICU if a patient there requests a visit. “Basically, the team stops by patients’ rooms to see who wants a visit,” Harris said, “and most do.

People get to pet a cute little dog who’s friendly and sweet and it gives them a lift,” she said.

During our discussion, Captain—well aware he was the center of attention—was more than happy to talk about himself.

DC: How old are you and how did you come to live with your current family?

Captain with Anne Harris

Captain: I’m 77 (11 in people years) but I actually feel much younger than that most days. Anne found me on the 101 freeway in Atascadero. She pulled over and I hopped right in.

Harris: He didn’t look frightened at all. He had a collar and was wellfed so we knew he belonged to someone. We put ads in the paper and called the shelters and eventually located his then-family. It turned out he wasn’t a good fit for them so we gladly offered to keep him. His person had tears in her eyes when he left but I have a lot of respect for her because she wanted him to be in a happy home.

DC: So, tell me what you do as a Therapy Animal and how did you get certified?

Captain: Well, I mostly sit still and let people pet me, talk to me and read to me. They love when I wag my little tail and wiggle my behind.

I’m very well-behaved so I know to be careful around hospital equipment and quick movements. Plus, I’m never grumpy!

Harris: Captain loves people. I’ve always wanted to train a dog to help in disaster—I formerly volunteered in Search and Rescue—but the Border Collie I had really wasn’t on board with the idea. Captain showed up and I had just gotten involved with the Friends of the Atascadero Library. He had a perfect temperament for the kids there to read to him. From there, we enrolled through Pet Partners (formerly the Delta Society) for Captain to become certified in Animal Assisted Therapy. It was fairly comprehensive.

Captain: I passed the Canine Good Citizen Test! I can sit quietly, I don’t jump up on people and I’m not startled by loud noises. And, when you say ‘leave it,’ I will drop even the juiciest piece of steak. Not that that happens very often…

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Captain lives in Atascadero with Harris and her husband Mark Stengel, who, says Harris, did not grow up with animals. Fortunately for Stengel, in the early days of their courtship, Harris’ two dogs gave paws up all around for her beau and the couple has embraced many animals in their lives over nearly three decades together.

Harris acknowledges that animals can enhance our physical, emotional and social well-being and can be effective in eliminating depression, lowering blood pressure and offer people the opportunity to give affection as well as receive it. “Dogs have something we don’t have that helps them discern how people are doing and what they need,” she said. “It’s mainly about trust.”

Captain and friends, James Francisco Donaghe and Anne Harris on the Library float at the Colony Days Parade.

DC: So what’s a day at the hospital like?

Captain: Well, every day is different. Sometimes I’m around wheel chairs or people handle me a little clumsily so I really have to be calm and aware. I actually ride in a stroller ‘cuz it’s easier for Anne to help me up on beds and I don’t like hard-surfaced floors. I get lots of belly rubs—I like that part a lot.

DC: Where else have you had a job?

Captain: I really enjoyed being the Reading Dog at the Atascadero Library. The kids would sit and read to me and we’d all be cozy together. Anne helped raise money for the new Library where a special reading area was named for me, “Captain’s Family Corner!”

She also points out that it’s important to understand the difference between “Therapy Animal” and “Service Animal.” A Therapy Animal is trained to be versatile and work in a variety of settings with different populations. A Service Animal is a trained animal for a specific individual and is basically considered “medical equipment” and necessary for the individual. Service animals are registered with the ADA and by law have the right to go everywhere with their owner. Therapy animals and Emotional Support animals do not. “This distinction was made very clear to us as part of our Pet Partners training and evaluation. It was emphasized that I should not try to represent Captain as a Service dog because he is not,” Harris said.

Seeing the difference Captain has made, Harris offers, “Animals are a gift to us and can make our lives better. Captain is a gift I have been privileged to share.”

DC: Who are your animal friends?

Captain: Right now my best dog friend is Juno, a Weimaraner rescue who’s seven and joined our household last year. We love our horse buddy KC and donkeys Thelma and Louise. I also have a lot of dog friends in the neighborhood where I walk every day.

DC: What is your favorite movie?

Captain: All Dogs Go To Heaven. I like Cars, too, but it needs some dogs in it…

DC: Pet Peeve?

Captain: People who take a rescue home from the shelter and then after a week or so take them back ‘cuz the people said their rescue wasn’t working out. Geez! Adjustment to a new life takes time, particularly after the trauma of losing your family and being in a shelter.

Don’t give up too soon on rescues!

DC: How long will you keep up this doggone busy schedule?

Captain: Well, I’ve already scaled back to just a couple times a month and of course my naps in the sun and sitting on the ottoman looking out the window at the road and our mountain views are taking up more time these days. I’ll probably retire at the end of this year and let some other young pups take my place.

DC: So, chew toys or bones?

Captain: Definitely bones.

DC: Thanks Captain, Good Boy! J U N E

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history

allan hancock a man with the midas touch

By Ruth Starr

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ome of the students at Hancock college most likely don’t know who Allan Hancock was, nor his rich Californian history. Born in 1875, Allan grew up in Los Angeles.

His family owned Rancho La Brea, a “dry” farming area at the time.

His twin, Harry, died in infancy. Of his three brothers, Allan was the only one to survive. The family house is now called the Page Museum at La Brea Tar Pits in L.A. Allan was taught in a one room school house. He would eventually attend a small Catholic College in the Santa Cruz area called Notre Dame, where he studied Liberal Arts.

Local longtime San Luis Obispo resident Jane Brennan relates the story of her great grandfather Allan Hancock.

Allan’s father, Henry Hancock, died in 1883. Henry left the Rancho to his Mom Ida (pronounced Eda) Haraszthy Hancock. Henry was the second surveyor to survey Los Angeles County for payment for the Rancho. He bought more land in the area for $2.50 an acre.

Ida took over the Ranch and ran it with her brother-in-law John.

However, John seemed to be more interested in gold mining and spent most of his time at Mormon Island near Sacramento. Ida was “a tough cookie,” according to family lore. She was not averse to using a gun to run off squatters to manage the property. Allan moving back to the ranch, began selling tar to the city that was growing and needing more roads that used the tar.

Being ambitious, along with his mother and uncle, Allan began drilling for oil on the ranch. At one point there were 350 wells that had been drilled by 1915. Papa, as Jane refers to him, decided to use steam for power to drill. The oil was thick and heavy and the steam heated it up so it would flow faster. By 1907, Allan was a pioneer in steam drilling. He started the Rancho La Brea Oil Co. At the same time, scientists began coming to the ranch where they were finding fossils and ancient bones. Papa donated twenty-three acres of the property to L.A. for scientific purposes. From there everything turned to gold for the family. Today the La Brea Tar Pits are a major visitor attraction.

Next Allan began developing property in the L.A. area, working with William Orcutt, a Union Oil man. Together with friends from the oil company, they developed land in the area. The town of Orcutt was named after William. Orcutt was a geologist who was very interested in the fossils and bones that were found. The men told Allan about an area north of L.A. that was similar to L.A.: the City of Santa Maria.

All around the area was dry land farming as there was no water available. The Santa Maria Valley was a treeless, windswept wasteland that no one much wanted.

Allan felt there was oil in the area. He decided to settle in Santa Maria having his agents make the purchases, as he didn’t want anyone to know about the land. He had people dig for water and found rivers of water where people said there was none. From the auction block he bought a farm, the Santa Maria Valley Railroad, and land in Cat Canyon that was oil rich. He had a train that brought oil out of Cat Canyon to Union Pacific in Guadalupe. Ostensibly, he had gone to Santa Maria to retire.

Once he had water Allan was able to farm wet crops. Having a need for cooling Allan built an ice plant downtown. The Ice House was taken down in the 80s and apartment houses currently occupy the space.

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Allan was married three times. He married Genevieve in 1901 having two children, Rosemary and Bertram. Rosemary is Jane’s grandmother. Later after Genevieve passed away, he married Helen Leaf Morgan. That marriage ended in a divorce netting Helen a sizable divorce settlement of fifty million dollars. His third wife was Marian. He stayed with her until her death. Marian was Rosemary’s childhood friend.

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Hawaii then another stop in Fiji for fuel and then on to Australia.

He acquired a series of marine research ships that he took to the Galapagos Islands. Bringing animals from the Galapagos Islands, he helped start the San Diego Zoo, where he earned the title of Captain.

Great granddaughter Jane is steeped in all the family history. Her home is filled with scrapbooks, furniture, and memorabilia from the time of her great grandfather.

Allan Hancock’s great-grandaughter, Jane Brennan

Allan’s son Bertram wanted to see a ranch for cattle farming in June 1925. He and Allan drove separately from L.A. to Santa Maria and agreed to stay overnight in Santa Barbara at the Arlington Hotel. The hotel put them in separate rooms in the tower suites. The next morning a 6.3 earthquake hit Santa Barbara.

A huge water tank was stored on top of the hotel and when the hotel began shaking, the tank came down and killed Bertram. Allan was severely injured. A steel rod impaled Allan’s shoulder. He recovered but his injuries affected his speech the rest of his life.

She was born in Pasadena, coming up to this area often to visit and moving to San Luis Obispo in 1989. She currently works as a para educator in a special ed classroom at Sinsheimer school. The kids in her class are severely emotionally disturbed children. Jane says that it takes a lot of patience. She makes sure they celebrate each accomplishment no matter how small.

Jane has two daughters, Brenna, 24, and Sydney, 16. They enjoy doing things together as a family. Brenna shows and trains horses.

Daughter Sydney shows and trains dogs.

On any given day, there may be 4 or 5 dogs at the house. Sydney has won numerous

awards for her special dog Amber. Jane loves to travel, has competed in numerous triathlon and long distance cycling events and continues to enjoy skiing. A philanthropist in the tradition of her great Grandfather Allan Hancock, Jane is a Community Club Leader for the Edna 4H.

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Always interested in transportation, he bought the second car sold in California. He founded and started the first Automobile Club of Southern California. Those who knew him appreciated what a remarkable man he was, with so many accomplishments in his life.

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Jane said that Papa was intent on giving back to the community. Subsequent generations of the family have also made it a practice to give back to the community. Allan donated the airport land in Santa Maria where they named it Hancock Field. He gave the land now housing Allan Hancock College. He operated the College of Aeronautics now called Hancock College of Aeronautics. He also donated the land for the hospital and loved to voluntarily train cadets.

Aviation was a huge interest for Allan. He funded and owned the plane that made the first Trans Pacific flight from California to Australia in 1928. The plane began in Santa Maria landing next in Oakland where the official start began. There was a stop in

Allan Hancock’s living room

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Paddling Santa barbara’s wild coast

By Chuck Graham

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he incessant hum was deafening. While kayaking along desolate wind-sculpted sand dunes between Gootahs and Point Arguello in Santa Barbara’s North County, hundreds of migrating surf scoters ran on water, their wings furiously flapping creating a humming sensation that even drowned out the booming surf.

Ryland Grivetti and I were in the midst of a 5-day, 120-mile kayaking and surfing excursion to explore the mostly inaccessible North County, and hopefully score some uncrowded surf along the way. Eventually we finished our local paddling trip on Santa Barbara’s eastern fringe.

The rugged North County appeared like California once did; remote beaches, heaping sand dunes, sheer cliffs, guano-covered rock outcroppings and nearly devoid of people. Big fish were always on our minds with recent great white shark activity noted along Vandenberg Air Force Base.

Launching and landing was also an effort, because Vandenberg limited where we could land and several undefined surf lineups kept us guessing.

Humble Beginnings Our self-propelled journey began on Hidalgo Beach where towering sand dunes soaked in a rare fall rain shower. Our legs burned dragging our heavy, gear-laden kayaks a couple hundred yards in deep, soft sand to the shoreline. The surf was clean and closing out in the 3-to-5-foot range, but there were lulls between sets so timing was everything. My wife, Lori dropped us off and watched us launch, so were two surfers checking the conditions.

“No one has ever tried this here before,” claimed one of the onlookers, Lori well within earshot. “They’re not going to make it.”

“You have to stay positive,” Lori fired back. “They’ve done this sort of thing before.”

It didn’t appear that way at first as a sand-sucking, 4-foot wave unloaded on top of Ryland, who was paddling 20 yards in front of me, catapulting him into a backward summersault. Beyond that initial ejection, we made it beyond the surf and enjoyed the solitude of paddling along the breathtaking, 500-foot-tall dunes to Gootahs.

After gliding passed a deserted, pristine beach, we dodged some frothy rollers exploding over barnacle-encrusted crags along Gootahs amidst bellowing sea lions and steep, towering cliffs. From there it was at least a 10-mile stretch to Point Purisima, that sharky feeling creeping up on us like a rolling fog bank. We stayed as close as we could to the shoreline, but were narrowly picked off by several cresting waves while approaching the barren point encrusted in muscles and barnacles.

Eyes in the Back of Our Heads One week before our excursion, two kayakers fishing from their boats were attacked by a large great white ejecting them from their kayaks somewhere along Point Purisima. Fortunately a fishing boat was nearby and rescued them. Needless to say we were wary rounding Point Purisima especially being the only boats on the water.

We carefully picked our way to the craggy shoreline, weaving our way through 6-foot surf that would cap offshore and then back off. When we drew closer to shore we sprinted to an occasional channel, and from there landed without incident. Afterwards we dried soggy gear on a rocky slab, soaking in the last of a crimson sunset.

Unfortunately the surf nearly tripled in size through the night.

Launching was now in question, but still appeared doable. It was all about timing. We launched at the same time, and waited in what was left of the channel when suddenly a large wave swept across it. I pushed through and looked at Ryland who was now holding his board in his lap. Another wave washed through, but this time I didn’t see Ryland, just his surfboard floating in the water. I wouldn’t see him again for at least 30 minutes. I tried retrieving his board, but I had to turn and face several oncoming waves. The second wave ejected me out of my kayak and my surfboard broke free from my kayak. I wrapped myself around my kayak while being swept ashore. I pushed off an oncoming bluff, made a second attempt but that proved futile too. I found myself spent and on the same rocky slab where we dried gear.

With binoculars out and radio on, I searched for Ryland well over a half mile offshore. Huge waves capped on the hazy horizon with salty mist wafting skyward. After locating one lonely kayaker, we conversed on the radio on what to do next. “I feel like a shark biscuit out here,” said Ryland. There weren’t a lot of choices; either paddle in to me or paddle alone for 20 miles to Jalama. The tide was draining,

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tered point lived up to its unpredictable nature during our approach.

A light, warm east wind blew down from the canyons, but within minutes we were paddling into an annoying southeast headwind, whitecaps washing over our bows. A few moments further south we paddled underneath the lighthouse and the wind did a 180 degree swing. Now favorably at our backs, it propelled us along the Hollister Ranch and the scenic Gaviota Coast, the northern half of the county in our wake.

Three days later we finished our trip on the beach I grew up surfing on in Carpinteria. We pulled our kayaks in tight against the seawall and surfed for an hour. For a moment it felt like a new surf spot and I was a kid learning to surf all over again. Times like that it feels good to be a surfer…and a kayaker. the surf was getting bigger and paddling south solo around Point Arguello appeared to be the best option. At first it didn’t sit well with Ryland, but after several larger sets rolled through, he agreed it was the right move, sharky waters be damned.

With a plan in play Ryland dodged huge, capping waves amongst breaching dolphins, and I ran up the beach and located our missing surfboards. Amazingly I found both in the same cave! I then dragged my heavy, gear-laden kayak 2 miles in the soft sand down to the coastal access point and the train station in Lompoc. Then I ran back up the beach and grabbed both boards. Along the way I ran into many curious beach walkers all asking the same question.

“Don’t you know there’s sharks out there?”

Reconnecting Eventually I struck up a conversation with an 80-something-year-old local curmudgeon who was willing to give me a lift into town. After we unloaded all my gear on the sidewalk he handed me a postcard of Lompoc, and off he went. From a local coffee shop I called Lori to come get me. While I waited I wondered how Ryland was holding up.

My anxiety subsided a couple hours later when Lori arrived with a text from Ryland saying, “Made it to Jalama. All is good.”

Grateful about Ryland, Lori dropped me off at Jalama, and wearily drove home. Ryland and I discussed the day’s events huddling in the damp sand dunes. We were finally able to relax and laugh a little about the huge surf and his 20-mile solo paddle around Point Arguello to Jalama. Eventually the surf lulled us to sleep.

At dawn we left Jalama, kayaking easily toward Point Conception amongst wary sea otters and bobbing harbor seals. The wave-bat-

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at the market

Roast tomato bruschetta with pecorino and lemon

By Sarah Hedger

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ummer is officially here and soon we’ll be celebrating the longest day of the year, Summer Solstice. Getting out to our local markets this time of year is even more glorious, and rewarding, than usual. So many options to choose from ... we are quite spoiled! June brings us more of the summer fruits, including apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, as well as a plethora of tomatoes, summer squash, peppers, and if it hasn’t gotten too warm yet, herbs such as basil and oregano are still leafy, before they bolt during the hot spells.

This month’s recipe, is another two-fer, as it is for An Easy/Amazing Loaf and (using that loaf), Roast Tomato Bruschetta with Pecorino and Lemon. I won’t lie ... this is a heavenly combo, one that can be made all at once, or in parts, and enjoyed in a variety of ways. It can be finished on the barbecue, or made ahead, leaving just a simple assembly, when it’s time to eat. It can be a small meal on its own, a canape with a meal, or served with a poached egg for breakfast. It is beautiful in that it is simple, and lets the seasonal ingredients shine. The loaf is an adaptation from a book I’ve been reading cover to cover, called What the Fat? It is about shifting our diet from being one predominately of carbohy-

drates, to healthy fats and seasonal whole foods. It is a great concept, one that many “diets” achieve by eliminating empty calories. However this book goes a step further by increasing healthy fats to upward of 80% of the diet, encouraging the body to utilize fat as energy, as opposed to sugars. Interesting, and definitely worth more research, but I do like the idea of this loaf as it uses whole food ingredients, without having the yeast-inconvenience of normal breads, as well as the time it usually takes to make a loaf of bread. Every ingredient adds flavor as well as nutrients and fiber. All that aside, it tastes amazing and holds together while being gluten-free and grain-free (and dairy-free). That, and the bread is done, start to finish, in just over a half hour. Not bad!

I’ve been making a loaf and keeping it around as a slice of it is a great snack, especially slathered with some nut butter. Just saying…

The roast tomato portion of this recipe is beautiful on its own and turns beautiful, little Summer tomatoes into something extraordinary.

They could even be cooked at the same time as the loaf, making for more efficiency! It’s alright to turn the broiler on a bit in the oven as well as little dark, caramelized bits of the tomato adds flavor, texture,

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easy/amazing loaf and roast tomato bruschetta with pecorino and lemon Makes 1 loaf For the loaf: 1 ½ cup almond flour ½ cup psyllium husk ½ tsp of sea salt 2 tsp baking powder ½ cup olive oil ⅓ cup warm water 4 free range happy eggs, beaten ½ cup seeds – I use a poppy + chia seed combo olive oil for pan

and deliciousness. The tomatoes can be made ahead, and provide for amazing leftovers, if there’s any leftover! The little bits that add greatness to this dish include fresh oregano, pecorino romano cheese, which is a favorite of mine as it is a bit saltier and nuttier than parmesan, and just a squeeze of lemon brings it all together. So good you never want it to end. Just like Summer! Enjoy!!

The San Luis Obispo Vocal Arts Ensemble presents

Spring Summer IN

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A lush and complex collection of songs to celebrate the season and honor the power of nature and the human spirit...

JUNE 2, 4 & 5 - 2016

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and liberally oil one loaf pan with olive oil.

Place almond flour, psyllium husk, and salt in bowl. Add olive oil, water, eggs, and give a good mix. Fold in seeds and let rest for 5 minutes. Scoop mixture into loaf pan and give an extra liberal drizzle of olive oil. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown and slightly firm. Remove from oven.

For the tomatoes: 1 cup of fresh, small, cherry tomatoes of any color and variety, sliced in half 2 T olive oil 1 T fresh rosemary or oregano, finely chopped good pinch of sea salt 1 T fresh oregano, finely chopped fresh ground pepper Roast tomatoes in 400 degree oven with olive oil, salt, 1 T rosemary or oregano, and pepper for 30-45 minutes or until beginning to caramelize. Remove from oven.

For the bruschetta:

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Slices of the loaf Roasted tomatoes (above) Aioli or olive oil Slices of Pecorino Small squeeze of fresh lemon Fresh basil or oregano leaves, sliced Toast slices of bread in cast iron skillet with a little olive oil or place in toaster. Brush with some olive oil or aioli. Place roasted tomatoes on top, drizzling with lemon, fresh herbs, and slices of pecorino. Grill or leave as is.

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Paso Art Scene

the signature exhibition at studios on the park

By Robert Simola

I

magine you’ve gone to a chili cook-off featuring some of the best cooks from around the country and after tasting each of the chilis the one you like best isn’t even mentioned when the awards are given out. Or there is a cake contest and although your all-time favorite cake is a delicious chocolate cake, at this contest the cake that blew you away is a pineapple upside down cake. Well, this is the experience that awaits at the Signature Exhibition at Studios on the Park in Paso Robles.

I am not a judge of the Signature Exhibition, but just like everyone who comes to see the work, I did make judgements about the work on display and I am not going to recommend which are the best works in this exhibit because what I like the best you will probably not agree with.

Instead, my recommendation is to not look at the resumes. Don’t look at the artist’s long lists of accomplishments, exhibitions, and awards.

Instead look at the works themselves. Which painting are you drawn to? Which painting makes you want to come back and look at it again?

After all, if you buy that painting, you will be looking at it for a long time. Is there something about the work that will keep your interest?

What is your best on show? Have you always liked chocolate cake but this time it’s pineapple upside down cake that catches your interest? Have you always hated cilantro but this time the cook used it just right?

The judge’s favorites may not be your favorites, so trust your own taste. Do you like the way the artist uses color or texture?

What about the subject matter?

Do you like pastoral scenes and landscapes? Portraits? The weird or macabre? Are you drawn to technique like how the paint is applied to the canvas? Do you like bold, graphic images or subtle pastels?

Don’t decide on which is the best painting by looking for which one the judge said

We are working on the July issue NOW!

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was the best. On another day with another judge the best of show might differ.

The best painting is the one that will fit with your life and lifestyle? I sometimes hear artists say that what people want from them are couch paintings, meaning people want art work that will go with their couches and household décor. My response is that unless someone buys a work of art as an investment (always a bad idea) of course people want art that will fit in with their lives because they will be living with that art.

When I was teaching English I would get flyers and information about writing contests all the time, and one year, shortly after I had had my students write sonnets, I received information about three nation-wide sonnet contests for high school students. Thinking it was good for my students to see how they compared to students nationwide, I entered their sonnets and eventually the results came back. In the first contest my students came in first, second, and third. Students also came in first, second, and third in the other contests. But none of the winners of one contest placed in the other contests. This taught me that the winners of a contest are determined by who the judges are, what their interests are, and what their backgrounds are. The winners were not necessarily determined by the intrinsic value of the work.

So what do you like? At the Signature Exhibition you will find outstanding work from outstanding artists incorporating a wide variety of subject matter done in a wide variety of styles. So come to Studios on the Park and decide which paintings are the best of the best.

The Signature Exhibition will be on display at Studios on the Park through the month of June. Studios on the Park is a nonprofit open studios art center located at 1130 Pine Street in downtown Paso Robles. For more information, visit ww.StudiosOnThePark.org

palm street perspective Self-Help transportation tax

T

By SLO City Councilman, Dan Carpenter

he County Board of Supervisors has given initial support toward placing a countywide half-cent sales tax on the November ballot. The proposed tax will “sunset” in nine years and two thirds of the voters countywide would have to support the initiative in order for it to pass.

Most cities in our county already have half-cent sales taxes in place with a significant portion of those funds being appropriated to road maintenance and infrastructure improvements.

The new tax proposal is working its way through all the city councils before returning to SLOCOG (San Luis Obispo Council of Governments). Given its likely support from a majority of cities, SLOCOG and the Board of Supervisors will vote later this summer to officially place the measure on the November ballot.

As your local elected leader, I have an obligation to hold accountable our representatives in Sacramento who have blatantly mismanaged transportation funds leaving our roads and highways in disrepair and in need of significant improvement.

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vacant state positions, $685 Million, formalize a commitment in the State Budget General Fund for transpiration, CEQA relief for highway projects, foster private-public partnerships, and get the politics out of transportation projects. Done to the tune of $6.6 billion without raising taxes.

What’s to keep the local agencies from displacing their existing commitments to fixing roads with the new funds they’ll receive from the tax? There must be a safeguard in place so that local agencies don’t displace already inadequate funding for transportation with these revenues. Only 25% of this new tax will go to fixing regional transportation issues where 100% of the gasoline tax paid has been and should be spent on these same projects.

As Californians, should we reward the bad behavior of our representatives in Sacramento who squandered our gasoline tax resources to now trust them to make transportation a priority? I implore our leaders in Sacramento to do your job and return the gasoline tax to SLOCOG, our local transportation authority so we can fix our local roads. I encourage our advocacy organizations; California State Association of Counties and League of California Cities to fight harder in Sacramento, and not acquiesce to our irresponsible representatives.

My final question to our local transportation authority is; What’s your backup plan if this ballot measure fails countywide on the November ballot? Maybe advocating to end the boondoggle high speed rail project that has ballooned from $9.95 billion when passed by voters 8 years ago to now almost $65 billion, and will likely end up over $100 billion? It’s time to end the insanity.

As always, feel free to contact me with your thoughts or concerns anytime at (dcarpent@slocity.org) or 805-431-3174.

Californians pay some of the highest gasoline taxes in the country and yet our roads are neglected. The bottom line is our representatives in Sacramento have not made it a priority and have misappropriated the transportation funds to other purposes. Where is the money going? For example, last year the California Legislative Analyst’s Office found that Caltrans was heavily overstaffed by roughly 3,500 employees at a cost of $500 million a year.

You have to ask yourself why we should reward our legislators for their dereliction of duty in not prioritizing transportation funding in their last budget. We need to keep asking the question; where is the gasoline tax revenue going that should be covering these projects?

Who is looking out for the taxpayer, the elderly on fixed incomes who didn’t receive an increase in their social security benefits this year, and the lower-income families who pay a greater share of their incomes on sales taxes than the wealthy? This tax is regressive and contributes to our diminishing middle class. Is anyone concerned about the impact this will have on the small business owner who has to collect this additional sales tax in a market that encourages internet commerce that often avoids sales tax? I’m not hearing it from those who claim to be champions of our small businesses community.

What other options do we have?

Our State Assemblyman’s office has provided a road map to a $6.6 billion plan to fund transportation infrastructure and fix our roads with existing resources; Take 40% California’s Cap & Trade program, use existing funds from Vehicle Weight Fees, invest half of the Governor’s strategic growth fund into shovel-ready roads projects, eliminate redundancies at Cal Trans to the tune of $500 Million annually, eliminate and capture savings from J U N E

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celebrations

slo nazarene celebrates 50th

By Heather Young

50th anniversary photos by Donn Miyahara

The Nazarene Church’s current pastor, Doug Pittam

F

ifty years ago the SLOnaz Church moved from Santa Rosa Road to 3396 Johnson Road. The members in 1966 had visions of the future, both for its congregation but also for the community. The SLOnaz Church was started 88 years ago.

“It was fun bringing back the old times; they came from all over,” said the Rev. Doug Pittam, the Nazarene church’s current pastor.

Pittam has pastored the congregation for the last 10 years. SLOnaz has four buildings on its campus. The first two, the ones along Johnson Drive, were built in 1966; the third in 1967; and the Outreach Center and gym built in 1989.

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“It’s a busy, busy campus,” Pittam said.

A private daycare, Kids Corner, is operated on the church campus.

Pittam said the church used to run it in the past, but then decided it would be better to be privately run. The gym is open all week with open gym, gym classes for Mission Prep High School, men’s basketball league, Special Olympics, Elite Basketball Academy and more.

For the first time, Pittam said, AARP used the facility during tax season to prepare taxes for free for seniors in the community.

“They built this campus with the community in mind,” Pittam said.

The Nazarene Church’s 50th celebration

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no matter where they sit. “At a time when we didn’t have a lot, the community helped us.”

Currently, the church has 311 members with an average Sunday attendance of 217 people. On April 24, the day the congregation celebrated its 50th anniversary on Johnson Drive, more than 400 people were in attendance to remember those who were instrumental in the church’s move, those who attended the church and how the church has changed over the years. The theme for the 50th anniversary was “Celebrate the Past, Focus on the Future.”

The church’s 50th celebration dinner

Additionally, Divorce Care and Pure Desire support groups meet at the church.

“There’s a lot of cool stuff that goes on here,” Pittam said.

The church’s mission is “Welcome, Encourage and Build.” The website, slonaz.org, expands on that, saying “We exist to…Welcome people to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, Encourage people in a very discouraging world. Build people up to be life-long followers of Christ.”

Each Sunday, Bible Study starts at 9:15 a.m. and is followed by worship at 10:45 a.m. Central Coast Chinese Christian Church has been meeting on the church’s campus for the last 25 years.

The church holds weekly bilingual worship services on Sundays at 11 a.m. in the Outreach Center, following Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. For more on the Chinese church, go to www.ccchinesechurch.org or call 805-544-2145. In the past, Pittam said, Spanish and Korean churches have also rented space for worship.

For more about the church or about the community groups that use the church campus, go to www.slonaz.org, call 805-543-3192 or email office@slonaz.org.

“The message stays the same, it’s just the method that changes,” Pittam said about the changes, especially the technological changes, that have happened over the years. “It’s just how the church finds its way in an ever-changing world.”

A great dinner and Dessert was served at the 50th celebration.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

The SLO church is one of 12,000 Churches of the Nazarene in more than 160 countries. The first Nazarene church started in Los Angeles in 1895 as a mission to the poor.

Let our family take care of your family.

JUST LIKE HOME

“In the last 18 years, we’ve really been focusing on the campus or campus needs,” Pittam said, adding that a generous bequeath allowed the church to replace its previous gym floor with a state-of-the-art hardwood floor, which he said rivals Cal Poly’s.

Additionally, the sanctuary has been revamped, including the installation of monitors to allow people to follow what’s going on

Some of the children in attendance at the 50th

Happy Father’s Day!

Let our family take care of your family.

JUST LIKE HOME

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COMMUNITY

exercise your mind at your library this summer

By Rebecca Juretic

T

hough some may look with anticipation toward the lazy days of summer, San Luis Obispo County Libraries are challenging county residents to exercise their minds. The summer months will be packed with a host of free activities and events for all ages.

Magician, Chris Lopez, is scheduled this Summer.

and at www.slolibrary.org.

For kids, there is the highlyanticipated summer reading program. This year’s theme is “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read.” The program begins on June 11 and is open to young people, from birth through high school. When kids meet their reading goal, they will receive prizes from local donors, a pass to Legoland, a free book from the Foundation for SLO Public Libraries, and more. This year all youth who enroll in the reading program will receive a free swim pass for the San Luis Obispo Swim Center.

Information and signups are available at library branches,

Along with the reading program, there will be over 60 free events.

There will be free concerts, including Taiko drumming (pictured), a kids’ rock concert, and a performance featuring musical instruments from around the world. Science demonstrations and animal shows help kids learn about their world while having fun. For pure entertainment, kids can enjoy magic shows, juggling shows, and musical puppet theater. And there are also interactive experiences, such as a mini theater class, superhero school and a Jedi academy. There will even be an interactive “Snail Olympics” hosted by 4-H SLO County Scientist, sponsored by Rita’s Rainbows.

Teens will have their own set of activities, which include creating light sabers with experts from SLO MakerSpace, creating beautiful art with fused glass, and hands-on cartooning with nationally syndicated cartoonist Leigh Rubin. Some programs, including most of the teen events, require pre-registration. This year’s teen reading program will be entirely online at http://sanluisobispo.readingbydesign.org/ Libraries in Nipomo, Morro Bay, Cambria, and San Luis Obispo will also be partnering with the San Luis Obispo County Food Bank Coalition to provide healthy snacks and lunches for youth ages 0-18 this summer.

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Adults certainly aren’t exempt from summer fitness and fun at county libraries. “Exercise Your Mind. Read!” will include both an adult reading program, and thirty free events over the summer geared at helping people learn, create, and experience a healthy lifestyle. “This fourmonth event is a county-wide initiative to provide free programming to challenge your nerve endings and mobilize your brain functions,” said Joe Laurenzi, Regional Librarian for the North County Region of the San Luis Obispo County Library.

The 15 branches of the San Luis Obispo County Library has partnered with gracious community sponsors to present programs that include concerts, films, and book discussions, as well as talks and workshops on a range of topics, from healthful living to local history.

The Adult Summer Reading Program runs from June 1 through August 31. “This free program is geared toward adults who want to experience something new in their reading world,” said Laurenzi.

Participants will be encouraged to explore the many different types of materials available at the library, including books, audiobooks, and downloadable e-content. Libraries will have prizes and surprises for those who complete the program.

There are still more ways to exercise your mind during the summer months—and year-round. It’s a good time to check out the library’s Book Club in a Box collection. These are kits that include everything needed to start a book group, including multiple copies of each featured book.

Patrons can also exercise their creativity by visiting SLO MakerSpace, one of the library’s partners. A library card grants free access during library supported hours. Also, be sure to check out special displays at each library branch, including those for GLBT Book Month in June.

Keep up with all that’s going on at your local library by bookmarking the library’s web site at www.slolibrary.org. Better yet, “like us” on Facebook to get daily reminders about library services and events.

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the greatest athletes on the central coast

By Dr. Don Morris

pitch for the White Sox for the next eleven years.

Editor’s note: The reader response to the question “Who are the Greatest Athletes in the history of the Central Coast?” has been overwhelming.

More than 100 nominations have been received from readers from Ventura to Salinas and almost all the high schools and various sports were represented.

(Many of the nominations were about central coast men and women athletes who have gone on to compete professionally in sports like Olympic events, football, baseball, track and field, golf, boxing, ultimate fighting, tennis, kick boxing, basketball, rodeo, race-car drivers, etc). So far the following athletes have been featured: Ed Brown, Stephanie Brown Trafton, Chuck Liddell, Loren Roberts, Steve Patterson, Gene Rambo, Robin Ventura, Jordan Hasay, Chuck Estrada, Mike Larrabee, Ron Capps, Jamie Martin, Rusty Kuntz, Randall Cunningham, Jim Lonborg, Kami Craig, John Rudometkin, Ivan Huff, Chelsea Johnson, Michael Louis Bratz, Frank Minini, Scott McClain, Mel Queen, Napoleon Kaufmann, Katie Hicks, Mark Brunell, Gene Romero and Kenny Heitz. Please send nominations to Dr. Morris at dmmorris@calpoly.edu.

Thornton starr lee Thornton Starr Lee was nominated by sports aficionado Pat O’Daniels. Lee was nicknamed “Lefty” and attended Arroyo Grande High School from 1923 to 1925 and then went on to play football, basketball, baseball, and track at Cal Poly for one year.

Lee first pitched professionally at the age of 24, reaching the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians.

From the beginning, Lee showed a fine sinking fastball, good control and was effective holding runners and fielding, and produced with the bat as well.

Before the 1937 season, he was part of a three-team trade among the Indians, Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators.

Lee landed in Chicago and went on to

In his first four years with the Sox, Lee won 12 or more games each year, with a high 15 victories in 1939.

His most productive season came in 1941, when he paced all American League pitchers in ERA (2.34) and complete games (30). He also posted a career-high 22 victories (second only to Bob Fellers 25), 125 strikeouts (also a career-high) and was named to the AL All-Star team and he collected a $2,500 bonus for winning more than 20 games.

From 1942 to 1945 Lee fractured his arm and underwent two bone chip removals and a neck operation. He recovered his old form in 1945, going 15–12 with a career-high 2.44 ERA and 108 strikeouts, and pitched in the All-Star game for second time.

At the age of 42, Lee divided his time in 1948 between the National League, with the Giants, and the Pacific Coast League, where he contributed to the Oakland Oaks pennant championship. He retired at the end of the season.

On September 17, 1939, Ted Williams hit a home run off Thornton Lee, one of 31 homers he hit in his rookie season. Williams homered off Thornton’s son, Don Lee, of the Senators, on September 2, 1960, thus becoming the only player in major league history to hit a home run off a father and son.

Thornton Lee died in June 1997 in Tucson, Arizona at 90 years of age. He is survived by his son, Don, who pitched for five teams in the major leagues from 1957 to 1966. Thornton Lee was inducted into the Cal Poly Hall of Fame in 1988.

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history

California in 1814 Part 3

By Joe Carotenuti

T

he Spanish incursion into its most northern American region was more than an attempt to control more territory. At the time, Spain had more than enough of the Earth’s surface to defend from increasing national predators and insatiable expenses for defense. Creating a series of sub-regions in the vast territory known as New Spain was a more efficient—and less expensive—form of governance. Thus was the vision (among many) of the Visitador-generál Joseph Galvez. If the unsettled coastal lands to the north of Mexico City had little promise of producing more revenue for the ravenous demands of the royal treasury, the expenses would be lessened by settlements. One of the key points of his governmental reorganization was to be along the shore of Monterey. Known primarily from explorations in 1602, the promised harbor was the goal of the five separate expeditions launched in 1769 … three by sea and two by land.

A military presence was to assure safety from any opposition to the expansion, and the spiritual “conquest” was to save souls. As time and events quickly evolved, the latter proved the more sturdy as the Franciscan padres and the mission settlements not only endured the painful hardships of settling in a new land but prospered in creating separate establishments, each nearly autonomous in seeking ways to bring the benefits of the Iberian empire to the aboriginal peoples.

Some 45 years later, the administration in Spain seems to have lost contact with its distant holdings. To renew and refresh information, the 36 questions and answers found in As the Padres Saw Them is an amazing look into the past as those with first-hand knowledge attempted to explain, or at least respond, to the inquiries.

A major cluster of questions centered on historical data about the natives with a subset relating to possible pagan practices. Inquiries were made as to superstitions, sun and moon worship (none as observed by the padres) and human sacrifices (uniformly answered in the negative). Question 12 basically wanted to know if the indigenous neophytes retained any “tendency toward idolatry.” If so, the padres were to detail and “unfurl the means” used to combat the practices.

Amid the vast expansion of agricultural endeavors, brisk building programs and increasing residents and responsibilities, the answers vary from perfunctory to intriguing. Thus, relating reflections from 200 years ago, Msgr. Maynard Geiger, OFM, the translator and editor,

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Mission San Miguel today

provides some insights into the new Spaniards beliefs in an extraordinary journey into the past.

Here’s the story.

Generally, the responding padres are pleased with the results. Most often, time and preaching were seen as the remedy for any vestiges of pre-Christian practices. “No inclination towards idolatry is observed among our neophytes,” responded Fray Jose Senan from Mission San Buenaventura. At the time, he was the padre-presidente of the friars.

His answer is similar to those received from Missions Santa Barbara, Santa Inez, Soledad, San Juan Bautista, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco. San Antonio and other padres additionally characterized various practices and beliefs as merely “superstitions” which will be explored in a separate episode. Santa Clara and San Jose reported a “hankering” after beliefs from the past but do not provide any specifics.

Of the local missions, San Luis Obispo provided no response. However, the answer from the nearest mission at San Miguel makes clear reference to the fifth mission: “Neither at this mission nor at any other, so far as I know, is there any formal idolatry,” wrote Friars Juan Martin and Juan Cabot, both long serving Franciscans.

The most fascinating and detailed answer to contemporary practices was provided by Friars Peyri and Suner of San Luis Rey. Too lengthy to detail here, the ceremony involved “azuts” described as “very large hawks.” Captured at birth, the birds were raised by the village chief and sacrificed in an elaborate ceremony once grown.

The feathers were then made into some sort of skirt and kept by the chief. The padres were never able to determine the purpose of the ceremony.

Mission San Miguel in 1923

A Retirement Facil COMMUNITY 33

and though giver of rain, seeds, fruits and all rest Those residing at the Mission San Even the prospect ofthe moving m of things.” Petitions were presented in sacred Fernando were “inclined towards future, you owe it to yourself to learn h places “which were kept well cleared, swept idolatry” paying homage to “a pole living your own home and adorned within beautiful plumages fas- for man covered with bundles of feathers from carefree tened to poles.” Supplications began “Chief the crow … adorned with beads.” of all Chiefs, behold us, listen to what we say” Named were five gods: Veat, Jaimar, while elders told “fabulous stories” about the Chuhuit, Pichurut and Quichepet creation of the world. The padres assured the who was the husband of the goddess, It’sprovides a factseed of or life that asauthorities we get that older, Pristine is fully the same neophytes listened Manisar, who corn. pleasuretoo and attention” licensed during theirand insu some day-to-day tasks“with become While no idolatry was noted at San religious instruction. much to handle All of our worke Buenaventura, the natives acknowl-on our own. That Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com edged the Invisible Onemean as “the you authorhave doesn’t to move away are carefully scre Most often, whenever the natives were asked to explain the various purposes or origins of any practice or superstition, answers were vague or merely referred to a continuation of some ancestral custom. The natives at San Carlos considered it “very disrespectful” to talk of the dead. Thus, they avoided any mention or memories of the deceased and, thus, had “no means of remembering their ancestors.” More details as to burial customs will be included in a future article.

As to the persistence of any local custom, San Gabriel’s padres pointed to the “old men” as handing down the generational stories. “If they didn’t live with the young people, the myths would disappear,” wrote one. The padres were not sociologists and found no value in remembering (to them) the pagan past.

Cherished today as part of the lore of Native Americans, the oral heritage was not seen as a community asset.

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

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our schools education for the next generation

By James J. Brescia, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

—Colin Powell California’s teacher preparation system, once the national model, is currently under great pressure as we recover from our economic recession. Just a few years ago almost all new teacher positions were eliminated as districts were forced to reduce the workforce. Many of those considering education as a profession looked elsewhere as

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employment prospects were very poor. These previous budget reductions coupled with how young people view the profession reduced the number of applicants in educator training. Enrollment in statewide teacher preparation programs fell almost seventy-four percent between 2001 and 2013 while the number of teachers earning credentials during that period dropped more than fifty percent. Lawmakers have proposed several bills to reduce the cost of obtaining a teaching credential in response to the negative perceptions of the profession and the results of the recession.

Some of the bills include increasing the Cal Grant award for living expenses and textbooks to $3,000 for certain qualified students regardless of their interest of study. Another proposal would reestablish our state’s primary teacher recruitment center. This center was created in 1997 and funding was eliminated in 2003 because of the state budget constraints. Since the adoption of the Local Control Funding Formula in 2013 local school boards have authority over most of the state-provided education money, including those dollars that target educator preparation. Given this local control, it is unclear if the governor supports bringing back the primary teacher recruitment center. A bill proposed by Senator Ben $1,175,000 Allen would assist school districts in establishing teacher residency programs.

The goal of partnering educators with mentors for one academic year, while completing initial preparation coursework as an intern is part of this proposed legislation. Participants would also be eligible for tuition assistance and a stipend for living expenses (ACSA, 2016).

Loan forgiveness is another theme present in several of the proposed bills. Legislation that would revitalize a state program forgiving a percentage of student debt in exchange for service as a teacher in high-needs schools is proposed. When this type of legislation was in place previously the program covered up to $11,000 in college loans after a participant had completed four consecutive years of teaching in target schools. The governor did not approve this proposal during the 2012-2013 session and no funding for the program was included in last year’s budget. College debt has been a topic of discussion during this election cycle. According to a report issued by the White House (2016), nearly seventy percent of bachelor’s degree recipients leave school with some school-related debt.

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Legislation of a different nature includes pedagogy training with subject matter expertise. This proposed bill seeks to address the current restriction of student teachers completing their classroom preparation while still working on their undergraduate degree which is a practice in many other states. Assemblywoman

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Bonilla’s office believes that her proposed legislation may shorten the time a student becomes ready for credentialing. Bonilla’s bill would provide grant funding to colleges and universities to develop integrated or blended training programs that allow candidates to complete subject matter coursework and student teaching requirements within a four or five-year-period.

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JUNE CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

How our legislature prepares for a generational change in the education workforce will in part determine what type of education we provide for our children and grandchildren. Are these bills reactionary or proactive and forward thinking? How will these legislative proposals be paid for and what is the price tag? This large number of bills in committee sheds light on the seriousness of the legislature to improve our educational outlook and this election season should prove to be very interesting as many of our legislators become involved in addressing our looming educator shortage.

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” —Albert Einstein

© StatePoint Media

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: TV FAMILIES

ACROSS

1. Type of room 6. Pop-ups, e.g.

9. Plural of serum 13. One up 14. Hawaiian wreath 15. Pandemonium 16. “Frozen” hairdo 17. Hold title to 18. Like Siberian winters 19. Sheep’s wool 21. *Earl of Grantham’s last name 23. Modern address 24. Close an envelope 25. Louisville Slugger 28. Cozy corner 30. Like directory pages 35. *What the “Brady” kids did before our eyes 37. “Dark” movie

39. Mold a mind 40. Jack of all trades’ sphere of expertise 41. *Kardashian sister 43. Purse at the Emmy Awards 44. Swedish money 46. Smelting waste 47. Celt, alternative spelling 48. Famous existentialist 50. Trend-setting 52. Will Ferrell’s “Funny or ____” 53. *Alice in “the Brady Bunch” 55. *Ewing family business in “Dallas” 57. *Tim the tool man and family 61. *Windy city real ones 64. A do-nothing 65. Acid 67. City on Rhone River 69. Literature in metrical form 70. To increase, commonly used with “out” 71. Monocot’s alternative 72. Doctrines 73. “____ the season ...”

74. Like a mountain top DOWN 1. Have a bawl 2. Gang land 3. And others, for short 4. French farewell 5. *Like Pritchett clan 6. Burn-soothing plant 7. Blade drops 8. From then on 9. Playwright George Bernard ____ 10. James ____ Jones 11. *McGowan, starred as sister in “Charmed” 12. Grayish 15. Swiss structure 20. Thump 22. *Marie and Frank Barone’s son 24. Like an expert 25. *Uncle Philip or aunt Vivian 26. Ancient market 27. Andrea Bocelli, e.g.

29. Sounds of amazement 31. Onion’s kin 32. Archaic word for belated 33. Round openings 34. *Walter or Skyler or Walter Jr. 36. Bad impression 38. Cormac McCarthy’s “The ____” 42. Incite 45. Arsenal storage 49. Organ of balance 51. Lets pedestrians go first 54. Small body of land 56. Hoard like a squirrel 57. Cone-shaped quarters 58. Fusses 59. Original matter 60. Not as much 61. Lyric poems 62. Crazy, slang 63. President of Panem 66. Glide in Aspen 68. Hog haven

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eye on business talk about connecting the dots

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

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heard a great story recently— it’s fun and falls into the “what a coincidence” category, and I think it’s just right for this month’s column. It starts with CowParade—the whimsical public art, philanthropic, tourism-supporting and everything in between event that’s headed to SLO County this fall. Sponsors for the full size, soon to be decorated fiberglass cows are lining up. Local celebrities including Sheriff Ian Parkinson, Phyllis Madonna and Lou “The Hulk” Ferrigno have stepped up to help publicize the event. My firm has been bitten by the bug, too, but that’s not what we’re here to talk about. This conversation is about how CowParade brings people together.

So here’s the story. CowParade organizers were hosted by Noreen Martin at the Paso Robles Inn recently to introduce event plans to local community leaders. Attendees heard about how CowParade works and how it is an international program. Cities, generally large ones like Paris, Chicago and Berlin, apply to host a CowParade. Smaller cities and regions can also apply. Not all applicants are selected, making San Luis Obispo County’s winning a CowParade noteworthy all by itself.

One of the few smaller areas that have hosted a CowParade is the beautiful Australian region known as Margaret River. The region is south of Perth in Western Australia, and is studded with craft breweries, boutiques and wineries. Margaret River is well known to surfers for its fabulous waves, and its coastline is spectacular. My sister visited there years ago and confirmed it is a magical place— much like San Luis Obispo, she noted.

Margaret River’s success with CowParade did not come easily. Disagreements about the events, competitive issues and naysayers made it tough to pull together, but once it did, the success that followed far exceeded expectations. CowParade Margaret River was a community treasure. The locals loved it.

Visitors travelled from around the world to view the bovine art pieces. Media mentions kept on coming, trackable spending in the local economy surged, business was boosted across the region, and fundraising when it was all said and done totaled nearly $400,000 for local charities. It was, by all accounts, a grand slam home run.

CowParade SLO County organizers Alan Vander Horst and Tom Halen were familiar

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ThomaElectric.com (805) 543-3850

with the 2010 Margaret River event and excited to research and learn from it to help with the local celebration. Alan and Tom attended the Paso Robles Inn event and shared details from Margaret River, drawing parallels and creating interest in what was possible. The pair noted they had received an email from a woman who had heard SLO County was hosting a CowParade. She was interested, and had experience with events of this kind. In fact, she had been the executive director of the Margaret River Cow Parade. Her name is Francine Errico, former CEO of the Augusta Margaret River Tourism Association.

Francine had a wealth of knowledge and six years after her event is still glowing about how wonderful it was. She wants to help. And now here comes the amazing coincidence part of the story—it turns out Francine is no longer living in Margaret River. She moved nearly 10,000 miles away with her husband and young son for his new position with Lockheed Martin. His assignment? San Luis Obispo. Francine Errico, creator of CowParade Margaret River, is now a San Luis Obispo resident.

She charmed the crowd at the Paso event.

She talked about the sheer fun of the event as well as tourism increases of 11 to 18 percent during the CowParade, and more than $22M in economic benefit—in a program that was four months shorter than San Luis Obispo County’s will be.

Happily for us, Francine has joined the local team. Her enthusiasm is infectious and her experience valuable beyond words. Follow along with CowParade SLO County (and learn more about Francine) on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. There are still cows available for sponsorship. Learn more at CowParadeSLO.com. And meanwhile—small world, huh?

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

June 2016

Inside: Downtown Perspec t ive Downtown B usiness Spo tlights

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business people in the past is both historical and his month’s story is the third in a recent series business oriented, it’s how those stories are told of interviews with locals that have helped that makes them unique to Dave. It all starts with shape Downtown over the past 41 years. In the the smile and chuckle that initiate the story. It interview for this story I realized something that seems to give you a sense that you are about to be should have been blatantly obvious from the very let in on an inside joke or hear a story for the first beginning but didn’t hit me until I was sitting time. For me I was hooked on one such story that at a Downtown coffee shop with Dave Garth, happened to be a third party recount of a flooding retired CEO of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of of a certain basement in Downtown many years Commerce. That realization was quite simply, ago.

Dominic Tartaglia, the people that made Downtown special are Executive Director just as unique from one another as they are enerally when you hear a story about a similar. Unique in a sense that each person has flooded basement it is filled with a somber a very different recollection of events that changed our tone of a missed opportunity to prevent the flood or a Downtown and similar in that they all love Downtown. dollar amount for all of the damage, some negative and For Pierre Rademaker the emphasis of our interview was heavy thoughts. When Dave started out I knew that he had on the historical relevance of the district. For Deborah a different perspective than many others might have. I won’t Cash it was all about the businesses and resilience that the spoil the story for any inquisitive readers and I would also neighborhood has. preface this by saying that the story itself is not the point.

Dave’s rendition of the story is the point. It turns out a or Dave Garth, well let's just say it’s about people. young man’s curiosity and an honest mistake led to some Initially, I had a number of prepared questions to go damaged property but the rationale that the young man over with Dave but being the self starter that he is, we used not only made sense but also cracked both of us. Dave launched off into a conversation that quickly turned to a made the story relatable on a personal level to the point personification of our community and many great stories that I could see myself at that age and being the responsible about different characters. While sharing stories about

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On the Cover: Concerts in the Plaza, a 14-week concert series, will kick off June 10th in Mission Plaza with Young Dubliners. Visit DowntownSLO.com for our full line-up. Photo by Mukta Naran.

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party. Years later that young man would retell the story to Dave as a successful businessman.

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SLO. It really does take a team of doctors to keep our community running and that analogy is one that I may have missed had I never sat down to coffee with a people-person like Dave.

pend any time with Dave Garth and you will surely find that this is one of a multitude s we wrapped up our coffee Dave and I of his story collection about the people of turned our conversation back to the physical Downtown. He really does take interest in state of Downtown with regard to the sense of people and I have seen it in his professional culture and identity. With several big projects in life, his service with Rotary and personally. It construction Downtown I wanted his opinion on only seems fitting that when pressed about the Dave Garth: Retired CEO chain stores versus local shops both historically relationship of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of the San Luis Obispo and presently. “There have always been chains Chamber of Commerce of Commerce and the Downtown Association and locals in Downtown, and it’s a good thing.” he would personify our community as a human was his reply. The balance of the two is a very body with Downtown as the heart. In his explanation the Chamber is our general practitioner and the complex and abstract thing but the market tends to control Downtown Association is the cardiologist. Each organization that. We need the chains to pull in regional consumers just as much as we need the local shops to preserve the small is operating autonomously but complimenting one another town atmosphere that shoppers revel in. It is yet another and building a healthier body. case of two entities complimenting each other for the overall hink about that for a moment, our pets have doctors, good of the whole. our kids have doctors, we have doctors, heck even our vehicles have mechanics so why not the places we live. Who are the doctors for our community? It has to be organizations For more information on Downtown like the Downtown Association that focus on the highly specialized parts of the community which leaves the Association events, programs and activities, Chamber of Commerce and City to focus on our overall well or to sign up for our weekly Deliver-E being. That concept sticks with me as I start to think about newsletter, visit www.DowntownSLO.com all of the different organizations that keep San Luis Obispo,

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S p o t l i g h t sharing their expertise with customers in order to steer them to flavors that are pleasing to their specific tastes.

BarrelHouse Speakeasy and Barbershop Jason Carvalho, Owner and CEO 1033 Chorro Street (805) 296-1128 barrelhousebrewing.com

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At BarrelHouse, we don’t just cater to one specific demographic,” Carvalho says.

“We aim to reach people who appreciate and enjoy quality products, and who like to have fun. It should be a personal experience for anyone in the community”

ith the success of BarrelHouse Brewery in Paso Robles, owner Jason Carvalho has brought his craft beer and unique ideas to Downtown San Luis Obispo with the BarrelHouse Speakeasy and Barbershop on Chorro Street. After opening in early January, the business stays true to the BarrelHouse foundation of good times, good people and great beer with 16 unique beers on tap, ensuring there’s something for every taste. The taproom hortly after opening, the speakeasy incorporated the barbershop showcases the 100-year old property in the way it would’ve looked aspect of the business, hiring Carvalho’s own local barber. back in the days of prohibition, preserving the exposed beams and Complete with a 1920’s barber chair, Carvalho felt that adding brick walls. this commodity to the small unique street level space would compliment the space downstairs. arvalho began brewing from his garage as a hobby. After four years and extensive research on the industry and equipment, The barbershop aspect compliments the BarrelHouse he and his business partner Kevin Nickell made the move to experience,” Carvalho says. “It fits the old-school vibe and era, purchase their own equipment out of Canada. When brewing, it adds value to what we’re doing here in terms of showcasing our Carvalho likens himself and other taproom associates to mad historical location.” scientists, using trial and error to develop new and different craft beer flavors. arrelHouse’s Chorro Street location allows them to embrace the culture, character and history of Downtown, offering craft The type of wooden barrel we use really influences the taste beers and a space that will make you think you’ve gone back of the beer,” Carvalho says. “It adds layers of complexity to the in time. With ten portfolio beers, and six that constantly rotate beer, similar to the complexity of wine.” through, you are sure to have a different experience and find unique tastes each time you visit. he speakeasy also gives patrons a chance to learn about and sample the products. Taproom associates are extensively By: Jackie Steele knowledgeable on the beer-making process and passionate about

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The Thinkery

Karen Ames, Director 1010 Nipomo Street (805) 239-9333 www.slocm.org/thinkery

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he San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum is no longer just a museum, it’s now also home to The Thinkery, a preschool enrichment program. Karen Ames, a SLO native with a degree in early childhood education and over 19 years of experience as a preschool teacher, runs the school within the museum.

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nlike other preschools, The Thinkery is unique in that it has access to the entire museum as its classroom, and each day in class has museum time built into daily activities.

n addition to their activities at the museum, The Thinkery has helped with several STEAM Alley events sponsored by the Children’s Museum at the Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market, mostly helping with the big blue foam blocks that allow kids to build and interact.

Last year, the preschool also sponsored a large square at the via dei Colori SLO sidewalk chalk painting festival, which all Thinkery kids were invited to join in decorating.

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mes decided to call the school “The Thinkery” because it’s reflective of a place where children will be thinking, asking questions, examining and finding out why.

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The Thinkery is a preschool where kids are able to explore,” Ames says. “Children will receive a high quality preschool program, have a loving and caring teacher, and will be able to learn important things in a social environment.”

ince opening over a year ago, the school has been enrolling new students on a monthly basis in two classes, one for children ages 2 ½ to 4 and the other for 4 to 5 year olds. Each class is capped at a twelve-person capacity, in order for Ames to connect and relate to each child personally.

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mes welcomes parents who are interested in sitting in and participating to come to class, where their kids are encouraged to engage with their natural sense of wonder and curiosity.

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he Downtown location offers a unique experience for kids to be educated within a museum, an opportunity that is usually only offered in bigger cities. Ames hopes to continue to grow her classes with families looking for a well-rounded education for their kids right in Downtown San Luis Obispo.

By: Jackie Steele

2016

presents

Concerts in theplaza June 10

Young Dubliners Sponsor: Splash Café Seafood & Grill

June 17

Babylon Rockers Sponsor: Moondoggies Beach Club

June 24

Zongo All-Stars

Sponsor: Bladerunner Salon and Spa & Stephen Patrick Design

July 1

Diego’s Umbrella

Sponsor: Fatte’s Pizza

July 8

TROPO

Sponsor: Jules D.

July 15

Cuesta Ridge

Sponsor: Wing•Stop

July 29

The Mother Corn Schuckers Sponsor: Mother’s Tavern

August 5

Bear Market Riot

Sponsor: Creeky Tiki

August 12 proudly pouring

The JD Project

Sponsor: Pacific Western Bank

August 19

Resination

Sponsor: Frog & Peach Pub

August 26

Damon Castillo

Sponsor: SLO Transit

September 2

Captain Nasty

Sponsor: Bill Gaines Audio

September 9 FREE LIVE MUSIC FROM 5PM-8PM IN MISSION PLAZA, DOWNTOWN SLO NO OUTSIDE ALCOHOL • NO PETS • FOOD AND DRINK AVAILABLE • WWW.DOWNTOWNSLO.COM

Sam Sharp Band

Sponsor: Ernie Ball Music Man

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alzheimer’s Association RivAlz football game

Alzheimer’s Association RivALZ is a volunteer-driven event that engages local professionals in a friendly but fierce flag football game.

As part of the competition, teams are organized around the age-old rivalry—Blondes vs. Brunettes—that inspires fundraising, awareness and action in the fight against Alzheimer’s Disease. Every dollar raised benefits those affected by Alzheimer’s Disease in your community.

This year’s game is being held at Cal Poly University on June 25th. Kick-off at 1pm (tailgating at 11am). Looking to get involved? We need dedicated players. Want to cheer from the crowd? Donate to one of our players and you can receive admission to the game. It’s time to pick a side! Together, we can tackle Alzheimer’s. Two Teams, One Cause. http://act.alz.org/bvbslo2016

Mr. West started as a volunteer coach for the Atascadero Youth Basketball League, but had a strong desire to do more to help the program succeed. Over the years he has volunteered numerous hours and has become a “right-hand man” for the League. Last fall, Mr. West helped create a new youth drop-in evening basketball program to help get players ready for the Winter League. He has stepped in to coach multiple teams each season and always gives 100% to each and every team. West also volunteers his time to score-keep and officiate whenever needed, without hesitation.

Along with his involvement in many youth sports throughout the City of Atascadero, West is a member of the military and has served many years overseas; he continues to work out of Camp San Luis Obispo.

casa and meathead movers raise record funds

champion of the community award by cprs dist. 8 Meathead Movers and CASA of SLO County partnered for their Girls’ Night Out fundraiser recently at the SLO Country Club.

Together they raised nearly $20,000 for CASA; including $10,000 in tips earned by the tuxedoed Meathead Movers. All funds raised will enable CASA to continue their work with abused and neglected children in San Luis County. If you’d like more information about CASA of SLO County, visit www.slocasa.org or call 541-6542. In the photo, left to right: Tina Solomon, Patt Fuller, Ruth Nimeh, Meathead Movers Greg and Mac, Adrienne Walker, and Susan George had the winning table, raising the most money for CASA and earning raises for the gentlemen.

The City of Atascadero is proud to announce that the California Park and Recreation Society’s (CPRS) District 8 selected Mr. Heath West as Champion of the Community for 2015. West has been coaching for many years, volunteering his services for Atascadero Youth Sports programs including football, basketball, baseball and soccer. Throughout the years he has built up quite a following of Atascadero youth he has coached on one team or another.

free senior health care screening

Screening offers health screening for adults 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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THE BULLETIN BOARD local book “no one left to ask”

“No One Left to Ask,” written by Dottie Doak Thompson (pictured), is a story of her courageous and spirited Midwestern farm family, their struggle to survive the Great Depression, drought and pestilence, the freerange style of growing up, and her decision to not live the life into which she was born. She traces her roots to pre-Revolutionary War times, touches on Missouri history (Mormon wars, Bushwhackers, Frank and Jesse James), tells the tale of Grandpa Tarwater, who helped fight Chief Crazy Horse, and Grandpa Doak, a Methodist minister who performed drive-up buggy weddings. She proudly includes three of her brothers’ first-hand experiences in WWII and Korea. Why did she feel compelled to write her story? “These small Midwestern farms are mostly gone now. Where there were once fifteen or so homesteads, there is now only one. I have been a storyteller most of my life, whether anyone wanted to listen or not, and I want our time remembered long after I’m gone.” Available on Amazon.com in both paperback and Kindle. Ms. Thompson has lived in San Luis Obispo since 1985. If any book club is interested in having her speak at a meeting, she can be reached at: oneslodot@msn.com.

9th annual greek festival The 9th annual Greek Festival will be held at SLO’s Mission Plaza on Saturday, June 4th and Sunday, June 5th. The festival hours are 11am to 7pm on Saturday, and 11am to 4pm on Sunday. Admission is free. This event is a fundraiser for St. Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church which supports many charitable groups in San Luis Obispo County such as the SLO Food Bank and the Prado Day Center.

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first annual atascadero LakeFest!

The first annual Atascadero LakeFest is scheduled on Saturday, June 18th. A day of family fun presented by Friends of Atascadero Lake celebrating the return of beautiful Atascadero Lake. A 5k fun run/walk and pancake breakfast at 8am with the LakeFest beginning at noon. LakeFest begins with music, food, and fun, including games, competitions and demonstrations. Contact Friends of Atascadero Lake for additional event information or sponsorship opportunities: friendsofatascaderolake@gmail.com

slo county genealogical society program

The SLO County Genealogical Society is proud to invite the community to hear D. Joshua Taylor of PBS’ “Genealogy Roadshow” on Saturday, June 4th, 12 noon, at the IOOF Hall, 520 Dana Street, SLO. Taylor, who is the host genealogist of PBS’ popular “Genealogy Roadshow,” will share a unique look into the behind-the-scenes research that creates this successful TV production. He will also describe how to search the Web by using clustering to limit results. A drawing for a free subscription to Ancestry will take place. The event is free and open to the public. For more information see www.slocgs.org/ or phone 805-704-4133.

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Allstate supports Boys & Girls Club

slo elks donate to sheriff’s advisory foundation

The Allstate Foundation funded grants totaling $3,000 on behalf of agents Brian Iversen, Dana Iversen and Mary Rowan-Ishikawa for their volunteerism with the Boys & Girls Club of South San Luis Obispo County. This generous donation is a sponsorship for the Boys & Girls Club exciting event: STARRY SKIES & FIRE FLIES GALA. The Allstate donation will support Boys & Girls Club programs in the 5 Cities area.

“We appreciate the generous support from Allstate for this event and throughout the year. Their support improves the resources for the over 350 members of the Boys & Girls Club of South SLO County,” Beth Raub – Executive Director. The Boys & Girls Club serves members (ages 5 to 18) by providing before and after school enrichment programs and a Teen Center. The services are focused in the 5 cities areas.

The San Luis Obispo Elks Lodge donated $1,000 to the Sheriff’s Advisory Foundation benefiting the Women’s Honor Farm Sewing Program. The money will be used to purchase supplies to continue with the production of afghans and lap blankets for military veterans in treatment at area VA facilities. Each was handmade by Women’s Honor Farm inmates. Their original goal was to make 30. They ended up with more than 100. The program gives a sense of worth to the inmates and a sense of security and warmth to the veterans.

st. patrick school donates stickers

french hospital share the hope event

The French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) Foundation is proud to announce that its ninth annual “Share the Hope” event, held on April 9, 2016 at Hearst Ranch, raised an astounding $440,000. This exceeds the amount raised in prior years and now holds the record for most funds raised at any FHMC Foundation event. Over the past nine years, “Share the Hope” events have raised more than $2,050,000 to benefit the programs and services offered free of charge to cancer patients and loved ones at the Hearst Cancer Resource Center (HCRC) at FHMC.

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With stickers being something not regularly available to the fifth graders at Howrah Christian School in Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta), their fifth grade pen pals at St. Patrick School held a sticker drive in order to collect stickers to send to their friends across the globe. The fifth-grade class regularly exchanges letters and video messages with their pen pals and after sending boxes of school supplies last year, they decided that this year they wanted to send something that the students at Howrah Christian School would appreciate even more—the stickers being their favorite part of what was sent last year.

THE BULLETIN BOARD Twin cities hospital donates to paso pool

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ccfc grant to help kids music education

The lives of local youth will be more fully enriched through music, thanks to a $500 grant awarded recently to the SLO Wind Orchestra (SLO Winds) by Central Coast Funds for Children. The funds will be used to perform a children’s concert this fall. The SLO Winds, an orchestra of approximately 60 musicians, is working with Atascadero and SLO Coastal Unified school districts to target fifth-grade students. That is typically when they choose to play or not play in the school band and determine what instrument to play.

pismo preserve trails built in 3 months

Twin Cities Community Hospital donated $1,500 towards the reopening of Centennial Park Pool in Paso Robles. Paso Robles Councilman Steve Gregory (right) accepted the donation from Mark Lisa, Twin Cities CEO (center), and Ron Yukelson, Twin Cities Chief Business Development Officer.

partnership for children new executive director

Partnership for the Children of SLO County (PTCSLO), which supports the operation of Tolosa Children’s Dental Center (TCDC) in Paso Robles and San Luis, has announced the selection of their new Executive Director. Theresa (Tracy) Anselmo, MPH, BSDH, RDH will step from her position as a board member to fill the vacancy created

by Barbara Nicholson’s departure in December. Tracy’s resume includes over 25 years in the dental field. She is Master’s prepared in public health and has worked in the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She has served as a board member of several advisory boards and nonprofit organizations, including Partnership for the Children of San Luis Obispo County.

Eleven miles of phenomenal trails built in just three months at Pismo Preserve after the start of construction.

The trails were constructed with a miniexcavator and small professional crew, with the outstanding support of 20 to 30 volunteers per day, five days per week since January. The Land Conservancy and its partners set out with the goal to create a trail system that would be safe for all visitors, sustainable to protect fragile natural resources and reduce maintenance costs, and sensational and fun for all who traverse the new tread. The new trails meet or exceed the expectations of all involved. Volunteers braved the rain, the heat wave in February, rugged terrain, and the eight-foot tall mustard plants that grew this spring, and they never stopped smiling. There is still a fair amount of finishing work that needs to take place, but the vast majority of the work has been completed.

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Bob Gayle Reverse Mortgage Consultant 805/772-3658

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Reverse Mortgage Professionals is an Aegean Financial Company, CA BRE #1478751, NMLS #157935

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THE BULLETIN BOARD

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sierra vista receives top honor from tenet

June event at the slo Botanical Garden

Event: Pecho Coast and Diablo Canyon Plants at SLO Botanical Garden, Saturday, June 11, 1pm-2pm. Discover the flora along a protected strip of the Central Coast! Kelly Kephart (pictured), terrestrial biologist with PG&E, will be presenting on the plants and landscape management of this special region. Followed by free Garden tour. Slobg.org/pecho. Location: San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd. Cost: $5 for Garden members / $10 for public. Call 541-1400 x 305

red cross honors local heroes

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center was one of seven hospitals to receive Tenet Healthcare’s Circle of Excellence award for demonstrating outstanding clinical and operational performance in 2015. “This prestigious award recognizes Tenet hospitals that have excelled in delivering best-in-class patient care and patient experiences, attained superior satisfaction scores from physicians and employees, and demonstrated outstanding operational performance,” said Eric Evans, president of hospital operations for Tenet.” This marks the third time Sierra Vista has earned this prestigious award.

fpac adds five new board members and staff

The Foundation for the Performing Arts Center (FPAC) is pleased to announce the recent addition of four new members to its Board of Directors: Sharon Armstrong, Kathleen Choal, Noreen Martin and Honorary member Dr. Ben McAdams. Additionally, the Foundation welcomes Shannon McGee (pictured) as its new Marketing and Communications Manager. Established in 1986, the Foundation provides and promotes an extraordinary and accessible center for the performing arts that elevates the arts in our community. For more information on the Foundation, its mission, values and programs, please visit: http://fpacslo.org

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The American Red Cross of the Pacific Coast honored local heroes at the annual Heroes for the American Red Cross event held recently.

The event recognized local SLO County heroes who are seemingly ordinary people but have touched the lives of community members through their selfless acts of courage. These heroes may have helped save a life, performed an extraordinary act of compassion, or demonstrated an exceptional spirit of giving. This year’s 2016 Red Cross Heroes are: Peter Pepper, Service to the Armed Forces Hero.

Sandra Gould, Service to the Armed Forces Hero. Mary Thielscher, Health and Safety Hero. Beverly Jones, Health and Safety Hero.

Michael Knudsen and Josh Riley, Disaster Services Heroes. Bill Proll, Humanitarian Hero. Learn more about this year’s event and the local Red Cross by visiting redcross.org/sloheroes

opes advisors helped more people purchase homes in 2015

In business the personal touch and the ability to respond quickly, deftly and accurately to requests is key to building relationships.

This was borne out when Opes Advisors was named by Real Estate Market Reports as SLO County’s leading purchase lender for 2015. Opes Advisors handled 250 home purchases and 453 home finances in total. As a mark of Opes Advisors’ commitment to the Central Coast, it has moved to a larger office located at 1212 Marsh Street, SLO.

Reflecting a commitment to quality patient care, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center was one of seven hospitals nationwide awarded Tenet Healthcare’s Circle of Excellence for 2016.

“By partnering with physicians and empowering employees, we have demonstrated consistent outstanding clinical and operational performance in areas such as quality, patient and physician satisfaction, safety and growth.”

– Joe DeSchryver, CEO

SierraVistaRegional.com