June 2017 Journal Plus

MARK STENGEL | KEVIN DRABINSKI | ALEX LITTLEWOOD | LORETTA GRONDAHL

JournalPLUS JUNE 2017

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

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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

20

SEA OTTERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST

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, Gary Story ADVERTISING Steve Owens CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. James Brescia, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Dominic Tartaglia, Deborah Cash, Heather Young, Don Morris, Ruth Starr, Chuck Graham, Will Jones, Charmaine Coimbra and Jody Kocsis Mail subscriptions are available at $20 per year. Back issues are $2 each. Inquires concerning advertising or other information made by writing to Steve Owens, JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE, 654 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can call us at 546-0609, our fax line is 546-8827, and our e-mail is slojournal@fix.net. View the entire magazine on our website at www.slojournal.com JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE is a free monthly distributed to over 600 locations throughout the Central Coast and is also available online at slojournal.com Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission.

Opinions expressed in the byline articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE. COVER PHOTO BY TOM MEINHOLD

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KEVIN DRABINSKI

ALEX LITTLEWOOD

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GREATEST ATHLETES – Hamp Pool KEVIN DRABINSKI OLIVIA LOPES LORETTA GRONDAHL ALEX LITTLEWOOD MARK STENGEL

HOME & OUTDOOR 20 SEA OTTERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST 22 COASTAL DISCOVERY CENTER 24 FOOD / AT THE MARKET

COMMUNITY 26 27 28 30 32 34 42

MUSIC SCENE SLO ART SCENE CENTRAL COAST FUNDS FOR CHILDREN HISTORY ON THE “HOOF” Cambria HISTORY: California 1856, part 2 OUR SCHOOLS – Dr. James Brescia COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

36 EYE ON BUSINESS 37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening

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June Hero Profile

2017

Children’s Bill of Rights #6: As the children and youth of San Luis Obispo County, may we each visit a doctor, dentist or counselor when needed to help us stay physically and mentally healthy.

JUNE’S HERO

Navid Fardanesh, DDS

PASSION

Making sure children have healthy, happy smiles ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE NAVID

Determined NOMINATED BY

Public Health Department, County of San Luis Obispo

Navid Fardanesh is a champion for children, working relentlessly to ensure that all children in the county get the dental care they need, regardless of their income or type of insurance.

As the Oral Health Program Manager, Navid has two primary roles. He offers direct services for children - oral screenings, fluoride, cleanings, brushing/hygiene education and care coordination in many settings, including WIC clinics, family day cares, and preschools. He also organizes the County’s Children’s Oral Health Coalition, which brings together public and private practitioners, community-based organizations, professional dental provider networks, school personnel and more to collaborate on ways to improve the way our community helps growing kids develop healthy teeth.

Colleagues describe Dr. Fardanesh as a model of caring. He readily puts children at ease during oral exams, sometimes the first such experience of their young lives. When he sees

preschool children suffering from serious dental decay, he persists to get them timely treatment. He has developed a rapport with local private dentists, many of whom have offered to help low-income children in need—working around insurance issues and/or providing pro-bono services.

In addition to developing a private-provider referral network for little ones in highest need of dental care, Navid has engaged undergraduate pre-dental students at Cal Poly to support elementary school-based screenings.

This project is helping to inspire a new generation of pediatric dental professionals dedicated to making good on our children’s right to a healthy start in life.

Thank you, Dr. Fardanesh.

You are a true Hands-On Hero.

Look for more on all of our Hands-On Heroes on COE-TV channel 19!

Hands-On Heroes is a special recognition of dedicated individuals who believe in and support the Children’s Bill of Rights, an achievable vision that our children grow up with healthy minds, bodies and spirits that enable them to maximize their potential. This program is coordinated by First 5 San Luis Obispo County in collaboration with local organizations that make a difference in the lives of children in our community. To find out more about First 5 and the Children’s Bill of Rights, please visit first5slo.org.

Design: Verdin

A licensed dentist for nearly two decades, Dr. Fardanesh decided two years ago to forego his private practice and tackle the broader health care needs of his community by working for the County of San Luis Obispo Public Health Department.

From the publisher

I’ve got nothing to do today but smile.

– PAUL SIMON –

D

ue to space limitations in our April issue we edited out some of the copy on William “Bill” Brown’s profile honoring him as one of the greatest athletes on the Central Coast. Most people we profile have enough copy to fill a book and we try our best to please each honoree with our limited space. We aim to please, so below is more copy on Mr. Brown’s accomplishments.

As a full time player William “Bill” Brown played in 18 Grand Slam Championships (Paris, London, New York and Melbourne) and defeated the national champions of 7 nations, who had achieved world rankings as follows: Ilie Nastase (# 1 Rumania, # 1 world; Canadian Open, Toronto); Vijay Amritraj, (#1 India, # 16 world, Shreveport and Omaha); Onny Parun, (#1 New Zealand, #19, world, Timaru, New Zealand); Zelko Franulovic (#1 Yugoslavia, #33 world, Midlands Indoor); Mark Cox (#1 England, #19 world, Vancouver); Ivan Molina, (#1 Columbia, # 40 world, Midlands Indoor); Jun Kamawazumi (#1 Japan, Tokyo)and Paulo Bertolucci, (#2 Italy, #12 world in Paris at the French Championships).

Mr. Brown had the honor of playing against some of the greatest players in the history of the game including in singles: Rod Laver, Stan Smith, Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Ilie Nastase, Manolo Orantes and in doubles—Roy Emerson, John Newcomb and Bjorn Borg.

He reached the second round in major championships in singles and the round of 16 in doubles in London and New York.

Mr. Brown won 7 Grand Prix doubles titles with 7 different partners including Cincinnati, (twice) and Columbus, Ohio; American Airlines Games in Tucson; Midlands Indoor (Omaha); Shreveport Indoor; Australian Hardcourt’s, Sydney.

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He was ranked #86 in the word in singles in 1975.

There is plenty of good reading again this month, including five people profiles and another greatest athlete on the Central Coast honoree.

Enjoy the magazine.

11545 LOS OSOS VALLEY ROAD, SUITE A SAN LUIS OBISPO

( 8 0 5 ) 5 41- 5 8 0 0 RYA N R O S S D D S . C O M

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greatest athletes on the central coast hamp pool

By Dr. Don Morris Editor’s note: “Who are the Greatest Athletes in the history of the Central Coast?” 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, Kenny Heitz, Thornton Starr Lee, Pat Rusco, Rusty Blair, the Lee Family, Dan Conners, John Iribarren, Jeff Powers, The Mott Family, Casey Todd Candaele, Bill Brown, Theo Dunn, Ed Jorgensen and Dr. Paul Spangler. Please send nominations to Dr. Morris at dmmorris@calpoly.edu.

One of Paso Robles All Time Greatest Athletes/Coaches—Football player Hamp Pool—was nominated as “One of the greatest Athletes in the History of the Central Coast.”

He dominated Central Coast football in the 1940s and later became the Football Coach of several Professional Football Teams.

hamp pool

In the 1940 NFL Draft, he was a seventh round draft pick of the Chicago Bears and played four seasons with the Chicago Team. During that stretch, he played at both fullback and end, catching 35 passes for 840 yards and scoring 11 touchdowns. His efforts helped the team to NFL titles in both 1940 and 1941. (Pool scored one of the Bears’ nine touchdowns in the 73–0 thrashing of the Washington Redskins). In 1942, the Bears were undefeated during the regular season, but were upset, 14–6, by the Redskins in the NFL Championship game.

During the final two years of World War II, Pool served as an underwater demolition officer and a player-coach for the Fort Pierce Naval Amphibious Base.

In 1946 when WW II ended, Pool officially entered the coaching arena and served as an assistant for the All-American Football Conference’s Miami Seahawks.

After the Seahawks became the Baltimore Colts, Pool stayed with the revamped franchise until accepting an assistant’s position with the AAFC’s Chicago Rockets.

In 1948, Pool returned to his native California to serve as an assistant at San Jose State University. The Spartans finished with a 9–3 record. Pool departed after the season to enter private business, but stayed connected to the sport as an assistant coach at San Bernardino Valley College.

Coach Pool returned to the professional football ranks when he was hired as backfield coach of the Los Angeles Rams. Over the next two seasons, Pool handled the team’s offense and defense, the former being one of the most potent in league history. During this period, the Rams reached the NFL title game in both seasons.

Football player Hamp Pool graduated from Paso Robles High School in 1933, and then played for the University of California Berkeley’s freshman football team. He then entered the United States Military Academy for one year. He then returned to resume his athletic endeavors at Stanford University and played as an end and also performed for the school’s track team.

RAM Coach Stydahar resigned on September 30, 1952, and Pool took his place. The Rams rebounded to win nine of their final 11 games and the New York Daily News awarded Pool Coach of the Year honors.

In 1953, the Rams again finished 9–3, but had to endure a number of key injuries that kept them out of the playoffs. Team owner

Dan Reeves stated that he would keep Pool but Coach Pool quit and that ended his Rams’ head coaching career with a 23–10–2 mark.

In 1956, Coach Pool was hired as head coach of the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts and earned the biggest coaching contract in league history.

When Bob Waterfield was named head coach of the Rams in January 1960, he named Pool as an assistant and later Pool became a scout for the team.

Coach Hamp Pool is also famous for his book FLY T FOOTBALL by Hamp Pool as told to Joe Nordman. This is a complete guide to one of the most successful football offenses.

The book tells what Fly T Football is...how to install and teach it to high school, prep and junior college teams. More then 150 diagrams were published 1957 by Prentice Hall Inc. The Fly T Football book also receive the following complements.

“Hamp Pool was a man half a century ahead of his time. What he was doing in LA starting in the late ’40s, adapting Clark Shaughnessy’s T schemes to a true 3-end offense, was just amazing. And it worked!”

Pool later helped start the league’s first scouting combine, Quadra, and served as a talent scout for the next few decades. In 1964, he moved from Southern California to a ranch in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and died of congestive heart failure in Mariposa, California.

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kevin drabinski

...food bank’s new executive director

By Heather Young

they were things I believe in,” Drabinski said.

“This may be my most fulfilling work yet—a lot of that has to do with my staff.

As executive director, Drabinski works with 28 staff members who work out of the new warehouse location in SLO. “The people who work here are passionate and animated about the work we do,” Drabinski said.

The Food Bank provides food to more than 130 agencies in the county, who, in turn, provide food to more than 46,000 people.

“I’ve never seen another nonprofit connect with so many agencies in a community,” Drabinski said.

The Food Bank works to feed those who are food insecure. In the county 40 percent of the people served are children and 20 percent are seniors. In 2016, the Food Bank distributed 6 million pounds of food, nearly half of which was fresh produce.

“One of the problems with hunger is sometimes the less expensive food can be low in nutrition,” Drabinski said. “We want to use those distribution points not only for distribution, but also as education about better eating and to improve public health.”

One way the Food Bank does that, in addition

K

evin Drabinski took over leading the Food Bank Coalition of San Luis Obispo County in February, just weeks after long-running executive director Carl Hansen retired.

Drabinksi has lived in San Luis Obispo County since 1987. He came after graduating from the University of California Berkeley with a degree in Spanish.

“I just took the job as activities director at the Newman Center for a year,” Drabinski said.

“I thought this was too small a town.” He’s still here.

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his wife of 25 years this month, who was the office manager at the center. They have two daughters, who are 22 and 24 years old.

He then taught at Mission College Prep for one year. He also worked for the SLO Mission as an administrator for six and a half years and as director of communications for the Dioceses of Monterey. Most recently, he worked with Katcho Achadjian, both running his campaign and then serving as Achadjian’s representative, until he termed out of office in November 2016.

“I’ve been very fortunate that I could be able to put my life wholeheartedly into my work,

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hundreds of pounds. That is the same with the Food Bank, Drabinski said, the three strings are the organization’s staff, volunteers and board, and the hinges are all the agencies that work with the Food Bank to distribute the food to those in need around the county. “[Together] a lot of positive things happen when a family can sit around for a meal,” he said.

The Food Bank’s annual Hunger Awareness Day will be held on Friday, June 2 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at locations around the county. For each $1 donated, $10 worth of food is provided to local residents. To volunteer or to find out where to donation, go to www.slofoodbank.org.

to providing produce and healthier food choices, is by having a specialist prepare a recipe using food available at the food bank and then provide samples of that recipe to the people who receive the food.

In addition to providing food to those in need, Drabinski said that the Food Bank also works to provide nutritious food. One way it does that is through its GleanSLO program, which gets extra produce from local farms.

To house all the extra produce the food bank gets from the GleanSLO program, as well as the grocery store rescue program, a 20,000-square-foot warehouse facility was constructed in 2016 in San Luis Obispo near the airport. That facility consolidated the Paso Robles and the Oceano facilities. While Drabinski said the two totaled close to 20,000 square feet, it did not have the additional third tier in height, which will allow the Food Bank to grow over the years.

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Another new thing offered by the Food Bank are “no cook” bags, which allow those who do not have a kitchen to get more nutritious meals. Drabinski said a can opener is not even needed, as the cans have pull-off tops.

One of Drabinski’s favorite things about the new Food Bank facility are the pallets that surround the front entry. He explained that the wood used for pallets is the lowest wood on the spectrum. He described it as wood that is used to start a fire, but not one to keep the fire going.

While one slat of the pallet is not strong enough, when three strings of the wood are used and reinforced with seven hinges, it can lift

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Olivia lopes

in custody program director restorative partners

By Will Jones Restorative Justice: a system of criminal justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community at large.

Restorative Partners is a nonprofit whose mission is “to mobilize and coordinate programs that create positive changes and promote a restorative justice approach to crime.” Through a partnership with the San Luis Obispo Sheriff ’s Department, Restorative Partners works with “stakeholders to initiate, sponsor and coordinate services at the SLO County Jail, Juvenile Hall and in the community.”

Olivia Lopes, the In Custody Program Director for Restorative Partners since November, 2015, arrived in San Luis Obispo from San Diego when she was one month old, adopted by her parents, Cliff and Carol Lopes. She joined her older sister, Nina, also adopted, from Honduras. Olivia attended Montessori School through fourth grade, and completed her local education at Sinsheimer Elementary, Laguna Middle School and San Luis Obispo High School, graduating in 2008.

Olivia went to Scripps College for Women, where she majored in foreign languages and Africana Studies, and studied abroad her junior year. “That was really pivotal. My parents had both worked and lived abroad, so I knew that would happen for me. With my sister adopted from Honduras and a cousin adopted from India, we have a family history of crossing lines.” Olivia went to Senegal for one semester and Peru for another, and then back to Senegal to do research for her graduation thesis, an analysis of Senegalese rap music and racism in the United States.

Cliff Lopes is an electrician and Carol Lopes works as a teacher and an advocate for people with developmental disabilities.

Acknowledging their influence, Olivia said, “As an alternative to

Olivia and friends having dinner in Rwanda J U N E

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being drafted during the Vietnam War, my father was in the Peace Corps in India. He was from a small town, Dos Palos, so India was a life changing experience. When he returned they tried to draft him again, so he went back to the Peace Corps, this time to Ecuador. After that he traveled around the world, which helped him formulate his broader life views, from small town family culture

Helping out in Senegal

PEOPLE

Rwanda Marathon

to more global. My mother lived in Italy and Ireland, helped build a boat in Greece and sailed it back to the United States. I grew up learning their values and watching my mother practice those values, doing social justice work day in and day out.”

Describing herself as very close to her parents, “the kind of kid who was afraid to spend the night at a friend’s house,” leaving home for college was scary. “I chose Scripps because it was close enough that I could get back here. But my parents separated when

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Rwanda Wedding

I was a freshman; very difficult for me, having been so connected, and then having that shattered. It was like my home was erased.

I was frantic to find one. I was so uncomfortable wherever I was, that if I was going to be uncomfortable anywhere, I figured I could go anywhere, a kind of silver lining that opened up.”

After graduating from Scripps in 2012, Olivia went to Rwanda on a Fulbright Scholarship. She spent half her time teaching English at a rural university and the other half on a research project. She

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PEOPLE AVP Graduation

Quilting at the Women’s Honor Farm

lived in a convent along with others the nuns had taken in who were elderly or struggling with mental health issues. “I went all over the country trying to understand how people individually and collectively approached healing following the genocide. In Peru, I had looked at how governmental response to natural or manmade disaster in the Global South is to send children away en masse, usually to the Global North. My adoption, and the international element of my sister’s and my cousin’s adoptions, where they lost their language and culture, made me want to know more about that topic and guided me toward restorative justice work.”

“Rwanda was the hardest place I’ve lived. It was a police state, everyone watching everyone else. If, during the genocide, your husband could kill you or if your best friend could kill you, if no one was really safe, I could see why you’d be looking over your shoulder. My light went out there. I’m a political person, passionate, fiery, but I didn’t want to talk about anything. It was really psychologically and emotionally upsetting. I felt as if I was prepared from my studies, but when I got there I realized how implicated I was as a human being in what happened there. It’s not a Rwandan or a German or a Bosnian thing, it’s a human thing.

We do this to each other, this belief that the ‘other’ is the problem and if we exterminate what is external we will solve our problems.

It could happen anywhere.”

When she returned in 2013, Olivia interned at the International Rescue Committee, in San Jose, which works to resettle refugees in the United States. “I was helping refugees from Eretria, Ethiopia, Iraq, and some Syrians, resettle in the San Jose area.” Refugee resettlement goes through the government and then is contracted out to agencies like IRC. “The brain child for this kind of work was Albert Einstein. He saw the need for it.”

laughed and said, “I don’t know what they think. They probably wonder if I’ll stick around!” Even with all of her experiences, Olivia was “still struggling with depression, still wondering where’s my home, who and what do I belong to, who do I want to be. I had to figure out a way to be with me.”

Having lived in Senegal and Morocco, in communities that were religious and devout in their practice, at least culturally, and feeling envious of the practicality of their belief, like praying five times a day, fasting and other rituals, their sense of community, Olivia thought, “There’s got to be something that fits for me, something that could help give me that sense of belonging. I decided to study yoga and meditation more intensively. I’d been doing it since high school here and there. I came back to do yoga teacher training at the Yoga Center in town. While I was doing that I saw a job posting for Restorative Partners, and I thought, ‘This is my dream organization right here in SLO,’ where I never thought I would find it. I didn’t get the job, but I started volunteering intensively, became trained in all their programming. The day before I left to live in an ashram, Sister Theresa Harpin, the founder, called and offered me the program director position.”

Olivia oversees two hundred active volunteers and thirty programs at the County Jail and the Juvenile Services Center. She is much more personally involved at County Jail, as a yoga instructor and as a facilitator for the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program and the Alternatives to Violence program.

After her internship, Olivia went to Morocco to help establish a neuro-trauma rehabilitation center. “I had met a woman in Rwanda whose husband was opening a center in Morocco. He needed someone to help push the center open. He was Moroccan but living in the US. I helped the staff get visas, went to the construction site every day to make sure progress was happening, attended meetings; I was the manager of operations.”

“The best way for me to define restorative justice is to compare it with the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system is based on three questions: what law has been broken; who did it; and what do they deserve as a consequence. The restorative justice approach looks, first and foremost, at who was harmed; what are their needs; and whose obligations are those. We find that the stakeholders in that last question are much wider than one offender or group of offenders. As a community, as a society at large, we have a responsibility to the offender, and, likewise, the offender has responsibility to the victim. The underlying assumption with restorative justice is that a harm done to one is a harm done to all. Healing has to occur across the community.”

When I mentioned how impressive her resume must be to those who read it, how much she’s done at such a young age, Olivia

At this point in its development, Restorative Partners has just begun its relationship with the San Luis Obispo County District

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Attorney’s office, specifically focusing on victim/offender work.

“Since we started in 2011, what was available to us through the Sheriff ’s Department was the offender population. What we’re finding, as is the case everywhere, ‘hurt people hurt people,’ so in that sense we are working with victims. Right now, the major way we engage restorative justice is in the third question: getting the community involved, recognizing our obligation, not just to the victim, but to the offender as well.”

Olivia identified four Restorative Partners programs as having what she considers the biggest positive impact. “First is the Mentorship program where we match people in the community with people who are incarcerated to form a relationship while in custody and when they are released for a year. Next, the Alternatives to Violence program, an international program started in the United States by the Quakers and the inmates at Attica prison. It’s phenomenal, miraculous.

I see the Yoga and Meditation program as a powerful day-to-day tool for people to create interruptions in that space for themselves.

And, finally, Thinking for a Change, our Cognitive Behavioral Therapy program. And we have a lot of spiritual services as well. People who get connected tend to do better.”

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In her time with Restorative Partners, Olivia’s perspective has changed from a traditional view of accountability, that each of us is one hundred per cent responsible and accountable for every action we take, or every belief we hold, to a place where “I can say, that’s my part. I am able to identify and acknowledge a part in something. There’s a lot more that goes into every situation than just any one person’s actions and responsibility for those actions.”

Olivia concluded our interview with a remarkably honest insight about the work she does. “I’m meeting myself every day. That is both really beautiful and really painful. It’s not just in the people in custody I work with, but in my approach to the correctional staff, the way I love it when people say, ‘Oh, what good work you’re doing.’ I keep meeting me, the person I am. I hoped that I was meeting someone else, that I could help them, fix them, serve them in some way. But it’s not that easy. From a young age you’re told if you go through this forest and confront these obstacles you’ll get to a giant field and there’s chocolate cake and you can just sit down and eat it.” With a wonderful smile and laugh, Olivia said, “It’s not that simple, because I’m in the field!” Given her experience, commitment to her work, and continuous self-reflection, it appears as if Olivia Lopes is the perfect person for the job.

To learn more about Restorative Partners and volunteer opportunities, go to www.restorativepartners.org.

Bill Mott

MORTGAGE ADVISOR

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loretta grondahl gone to the dogs

By Ruth Starr

A

s a young girl in the ’60s, Loretta Grondahl always had a pet dog. However, in those days, most dogs lived in outdoor dog houses, not in the family home. Every time Loretta would see a stray she would ask her Mama if she could take them in. Even though the answer was a resounding “no,” one time Loretta found a Poodle mix and hid it under her covers. Her love for homeless animals came naturally at a very young age.

Eventually it became trendy for people to bring their dogs inside the home. By the time Loretta was grown and about to leave her parents’ home, they too had begun letting their dog sleep inside.

Born in Sacramento, CA, Loretta’s family moved to Riverside when she was still an adolescent. As a young adult she enrolled at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1972, where she studied Biology—Loretta’s dream was to become a Veterinarian. However, after a short time, Loretta was discouraged by the lengthy program to become a Vet. Instead, she decided to take courses to become a Medical Technologist. It wasn’t long before she was hired by Sierra Vista Hospital as a Med Tech.

Loretta has worked at the hospital for the past 40 years. She became a part-time employee when she gave birth to her son Andy, who is now 28 years old. She continues to enjoy working 2-3 days a week.

Loretta and her husband Ed live in SLO where they have a household filled with numerous dogs and cats. Ed retired from Energy Management Systems and often finds himself inundated with animals in their home. Ed has been very supportive of Loretta’s love for animals and the volunteer work she does. He does have to remind her from time to time that there is a limit to the number of animals they can care for.

When Loretta’s mother passed away in 2008 and her son Andy left for college, she began volunteering at Animal Services as a dog walker. It wasn’t long before she was introducing dogs to people to try to find appropriate homes for the dogs. Soon after, Loretta began fostering dogs at home while waiting to find good homes for them. Several of

her foster dogs had puppies. It was always a treat for her to take a mama dog and her new pups or a cat and her kittens to her home until they were ready to find their “fur”ever homes. She would work hard to find a good home for the mama dog as well.

Loretta also fostered cats. She and Ed ended up keeping a few of the rescues. At the time, Loretta was working 10 hour shifts at the hospital, leaving Ed to care for all the critters she would bring home. One of the dogs they kept was a Rat Terrier who came in with a broken leg.

After the Vet put a pin in the dog’s leg it took four months to heal.

Loretta was unable to let her go.

Some of the dogs are so frightened when they arrive that they bite the person helping them. While this deters some volunteers, Loretta rarely gives up on a dog. Recently a dog named Doug came into the shelter. He was a Border Collie Pit Bull mix. He had come from a hoarding situation and was terrified of new people. It was difficult to find someone to adopt Doug. He was in the shelter for seven months.

Fortunately Doug never tried to bite anyone. A kind couple who had adopted a dog from Animal Services ten years prior heard the story about Doug. They came right over to meet him. Although he was still shy, they were certain he would come around, so they adopted him.

Several of the volunteers burst into tears with relief and happiness for sweet Doug—who had stolen their hearts.

When a Kelpie mix named Tracker’s owner was moved to assisted living, she was unable to take him along. She had adopted Tracker as a puppy 9 years before. He was terrified and kept looking for his owner at the shelter. Tracker growled at everyone and would not come out of his kennel. Loretta went into the kennel with a long loop leash and gently got it around his neck to coax him out of the kennel. All he wanted to do was go out to the parking lot and look for his owner. After weeks of loving care from the volunteers, Tracker began to relax.

He was still cautious of people. He finally was adopted by a wonderful woman but when her adult son tried to hug his mother Tracker bit him. She was heartbroken but brought him back to the shelter. The shelter supervisor was willing to give Tracker another chance. A short while later another couple came to the shelter. They had previously had a snappy dog like Tracker. When Loretta put them together in the yard, Tracker walked over to the man and put his head on his lap.

They adopted him and now Tracker naps in a chair with the man and sleeps in their bed.

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Sugar Bear was a Pitbull who came into the shelter with a crippled hind end. All the volunteers fell in love with her. A volunteer named Dorsey ordered custom made wheels for Sugar Bear to get around.

She took to those wheels like a fish to water. Sugar Bear loved to run, play fetch, dig for gophers and eat grass. She was in the shelter for many months. Her story was seen by a family whose daughter nearly died in an accident and overcame great odds to walk. Their daughter continues to do therapy for her injuries. The family decided to bring Sugan Bear home because they understood what it was like to live with a handicap. Sugar Bear does therapy with them and best of all, she finally found her loving forever home.

Loretta delights in watching the volunteers win the trust of dogs who come into the shelter scared, shy and sometimes growly or nippy. To see a dog go from hiding in the corner to wagging with joy when they are greeted by people, melts her heart. When a kind adopter comes in and is willing to give those dogs homes, it makes Loretta teary every time.

After Loretta was at the Shelter for a couple of years, she began taking pictures of the animals to go on their website for the public to view the available adoptees. Some of the animals enjoy having their picture taking, while some are a challenge. All the volunteers help in the photographing.

We are fortunate to live in a community where we don’t get a lot of animals. Most owners have their pets spayed or neutered and adoption has become more popular now that the puppy mills have been exposed for their horrible treatment of dogs. Loretta and the volunteers discourage purchasing animals from a pet store as many have been bred at the puppy mills.

Sometimes Loretta’s heart gets broken, but then she remembers about all the dogs that have been saved. She believes if a dog dies, grief is appropriate. Hopefully, in time, when the grief subsides, there may be room for another animal who could use some love.

Loretta says, “Working with these dogs is pretty much of an addiction for me. When they get to know you, and greet you like their long lost friend, how can you resist that? I believe there is nothing like the relationship between dogs and humans. They watch for us, love us unconditionally, sometimes save our lives, and bring us so much happiness.”

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PEOPLE

alex Littlewood’s motoroso a community for customizing cars

By Susan Stewart

E

ven before he knew how to say the words, Alex Littlewood was obsessed with man-made things that go fast. His first word, in fact, was “train.” That he would grow up to become the founder / CEO of Motoroso, a company that will be seen in Season 4 of the HBO hit show Silicon Valley, was not so much the result of any one thing, but rather a convergence of passion and place—as in “right place, right time.” To which we should add talent and drive (pun intended). The name, Motoroso, is a clever combination of two Spanish words: motor (meaning just about anything you drive or ride), and amoroso (meaning loving).

Born in England, but raised from the age of 2 in the early days of the culture that built what we now know as Silicon Valley (Santa Clara and environs), Alex Littlewood grew up watching the brave new world of internet marketing unfold. His father was an electrical engineer, smack dab in the center of that world. In his spare time, his Dad built a small kit airplane in the family garage, engaging Alex every step of the way. Later, father and son would take a small plane trip across the country together.

“I grew up in start-up heaven,” Littlewood explains. “And my background in social media marketing let me see what is possible.”

He earned a degree in Marketing and Finance from Cal Poly and, like so many students, fell in love with the area’s beauty and freshness. He returned to Silicon Valley after graduation because job opportunities here were limited, but it has been a dream of Littlewood’s to return to

San Luis Obispo to work and to live, and to offer others the chance to do the same.

Racking up a decade’s worth of experience in such companies as Liquid Agency, Wildfire (a division of Google), Piqora (formerly Pinfluencer), with such job titles as Social Media Strategist, Marketing

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PEOPLE to build a future on? Think again. No fewer than 20% of U.S. drivers (that’s 40 million Americans) consider themselves “enthusiasts,” and they spend $80 billion dollars annually in this steadily growing, incredibly passionate industry. Motoroso connects everyone ranging from hardcore gearheads to weekend hobbyists to the parts, accessories, information, and people that will make their fondest go-fast dreams come true. Think Houzz.com (a similar website for home builders) for cars.

Manager, and VP of Customer Success & Marketing, Littlewood has paid his dues. He credits Cal Poly alum and Liquid Agency’s CEO, Scott Gardner, as well as friend and mentor Steve Hermosillo, with providing strong early guidance and inspiration.

“Don’t be afraid to fail,” Hermosillo advised.

“Just do it!”

Motoroso blends Littlewood’s passion for cars and motorcycles, with his expertise in social media marketing, in a company that offers “gearheads” like him a one-stop online location where they can Plan, Build, and Share (Motoroso’s tagline) the car or bike of their dreams. Using interactive software, hundreds of brands, personal success stories, and a gorgeous array of finished projects, Motoroso customers can discover what they love, uncover the details of how it was built, find out where to buy the parts, find service providers, and then share their own results with other auto and powersports enthusiasts in Motoroso’s community.

Think that market is too small, too esoteric

Here’s what the About Us section of Motoroso says: “Leveraging features inspired by Pinterest and Houzz, Motoroso makes it easy for users to … uncover products, videos, articles, how-tos, and service providers directly within an image.” Users simply find a finished project they like on the site and then click on the interactive markers directly within the image to reveal the names of parts, accessories, prices and other details that can “… fuel their passions from inspiration to purchase.”

To raise the needed funds to build the technology and launch Motoroso, Littlewood applied for and was accepted into the prestigious Techstars Accelerator program where he was one of 100 applicants chosen from a field of 35,000 to participate in 2015.

Techstars gave Littlewood the coaching, mentoring, and connections he needed to bring Motoroso to consumers. He closed his crowd-funding campaign at $102,500, putting Motoroso among the 1% of crowdfunding campaigns that ever surpass the $100k mark.

to Motoroso in droves. This January, Motoroso was selected as the official interactive content platform of the 2017 NAIAS (North American International Auto Show) in Detroit.

Understanding how important early inspiration and guidance was to his own career, Littlewood allocates some of his time mentoring and coaching a number of Cal Poly and SLO-area startups based out of the Center for Innovative Entrepreneurship’s HotHouse, an incubator, accelerator, and co-working space located in downtown SLO, which is committed to supporting new tech ventures in San Luis Obispo.

A constant companion for work and for play (Littlewood still loves to ride motorcycles and drive cars for fun) is Rupert, the French Bulldog. If he could talk, Rupert would invite anyone with a love for all things “motor” to visit Motoroso and create their own account for free; to spread the word to fellow gearheads; and to watch for the big black Motoroso truck around town, and on HBO’s Silicon Valley this month.

But the real coup came when the auto giant Ford tapped Littlewood’s Motoroso to leverage their technology to power 30 interactive screens at SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), the third largest trade show in America. Held annually in Las Vegas, the show occupies 1.5 million square feet of showfloor space, and Ford has an elaborate presence both inside and outside the hall. Attendees used the touch-screens (powered by Motoroso) to identify the parts and accessories that went into making the stunning vehicles they were looking at. (visit www.motoroso.com/FordSEMA2016 to see examples).

“That Ford would entrust a small start-up like mine with [that task] at our industry’s premier event, and one of the largest shows in America, is not an insignificant thing,” said Littlewood.

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His customers agree. And they are flocking

805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo

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mark stengel

as one chapter ends, another exciting chapter begins...

By Deborah Cash in the occupation began in the Midwest where he obtained his B.A. in English, moved to Washington and completed his M.A. in English and eventually obtained his M.S. in Library/Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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n the Atascadero bungalow where Mark Stengel was staying as he winds down his career at Cuesta College and prepares to join his wife Anne Harris in their new home in Arkansas, Stengel showed little of the anxiety he probably felt knowing that his wife was weathering a huge Midwest series of storms that included tornadoes, heavy rain and flooding and who knew what else by herself along with their menagerie of animals—two dogs, a cat, a horse and two miniature donkeys unfamiliar with such events having lived most of their lives on the Central Coast. But those who know Stengel realize that while he’s a calm, understated presence on the outside, he’s at the same time a take charge person in his career, in the community and his passions and was probably very much concerned about his far off family even while we spoke.

Stengel’s position at Cuesta was, he said, interesting and varied. He was responsible for library services at the SLO and Paso Robles campuses and at Arroyo Grande High School where Cuesta offers evening classes.

He supervised three full time librarians, 10 part-time librarians, and six support staff; he also oversaw budget development and worked to meet the instructional needs of the college’s programs. His favorite part of the job was developing and maintaining collections of the resources needed by people attending the college and using the campus library— important, he says, for an academic library because the students there rely on the materials available to help them in their studies.

Stengel knows the value of having first-rate resources. “When I was young, I had to navigate a system with incomplete tools,” he said.

“That was ‘back in the day’ when everything was in print, card catalogs and the Dewey Decimal System or Library of Congress—you had to know your way around. If you got

Stengel retires this summer after serving as the Director of Library and Distance Education at Cuesta College since 2008, a job he says has been extremely rewarding and that he will miss. Stengel’s 30-year-plus history J U N E

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lucky, you would find something.”

In the digital age, he said, “It’s all different.

Finding information isn’t the problem—now, in the age of ‘fake news,’ it’s more important than ever for libraries and educational institutions to teach the importance of information literacy: critical thinking so people can tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not.” “There’s a lot of competition for eyeballs,” Stengel said. “So it’s up to us to collect, make available and preserve resources that will help students make educated choices.”

Reaching out to faculty to understand their students’ research needs helps Stengel and the library staff provide a range of resources appropriate for the students—a slightly different take from someone who works in the non-academic library institutions. Another challenge is actually getting people into physical libraries. “It’s so easy to find things online and so some people just don’t feel the need to go to libraries,” Stengel said. “But this is where I enjoy my job very much—helping libraries decide what resources and programs to offer so that students and the community will realize that libraries are more than just books. There is a world of scholarly literature out there and not all of it is available online and much of it is not free, particularly published materials that students might not access otherwise.”

Stengel says he came to the world of libraries “pretty late.” Born in Lake City, Minnesota— the birthplace of water skiing circa 1922— Stengel says, “I grew up in a small town, along with three brothers, where my parents (father Bjarne, who taught journalism and social studies and mother Ariana) appreciated education. Stengel attended college in Iowa and grad school in Washington state. “Then I ran out of steam,” he said. “I started working in a library and spent seven years there—it was great for ‘overeducated people who didn’t know what to do,’” he chuckled. “And I was the least educated person there!”

Mark as a young boy

Later, working in St. Louis as a reference librarian, Stengel said he discovered he was “born to do that.” His work in the library’s

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seeking to hire a systems librarian. The new hire, Anne Harris, observed the book “A River Runs Through It,” on Stengel’s desk and remarked she thought it was a good book. Stengel, an avid fly fisherman, noted her interest. After a friendship of a couple years, the two eventually moved to Virginia and were married.

Stengel’s new life included lots of adventures that took him and Harris to Virginia, California and Texas along with any assortment of horses, dogs and cats. He did note that they lived in Atascadero for a time some years ago—he worked at Cal Poly—and later returned. “Of all the places we lived, this is the only place we came back to.”

business resource department was amazingly rewarding. “The phones were ringing off the hook,” he said “I went to a conference and all the business publishers came by to tell me I was a great customer. In that department, I learned a lot about the stock market and finances.”

Locally, Stengel has been involved in the community through Vocal Arts, Friends of the Atascadero Library and RISE where he was SOLE MAN volunteer at last year’s Wine, Women, and Shoes fundraising event. He and Harris have travelled to New Zealand, Hawaii and Turkey and Stengel annually meets friends to fly fish in Montana.

This summer, he will join his wife in Fayetteville, Arkansas to start a life of retirement that will include continued involvement with Trout Unlimited for starters. Stengel remarked about the trout in Arkansas, “In the tail waters they get big!” He added with a parting thought that he wants to say good things about public libraries. “Where I grew up, the library was a spooky, old dark place. But the truth is, public libraries are the Peoples’ College,” he says. “The purpose of libraries is to bring together people and recorded knowledge in as fruitful a manner as possible. Formats may change over time, but the purpose won’t.”

A favorite story was that one day he saw a guy in the library wearing a UCLA shirt and, says Stengel, I made a comment about last weekend’s football game in which Washington State—my old school—beat UCLA.” But then, they started talking and Stengel learned the gentleman wanted to start a nonprofit organization for recovering addicts and parolees to learn workplace skills. “He had a great idea but didn’t know where to start,” Stengel said. “We got together and spent six months working on his business plan and looking for funding. He eventually realized his dream and right before I left the library, I was serving on the Board of Directors for the group.” The story proves that libraries can change lives, he said, “and gave me yet another reason to really love libraries.”

At some point, Stengel realized he wanted to shift to working in an academic library and moved to Idaho to work at Lewis-Clark State College. It was during this time that he served on an interview panel

Anne and Mark at the Dancing with our Stars fundraiser for the Atascadero Library J U N E

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otter watch Sea otters on the central coast

By Chuck Graham

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he nearly impenetrable canopy of kelp, a tangled combination of giant bladder kelp and even thicker elkhorn kelp gently swayed with the ebb and flow of the rising tide. It was late afternoon somewhere along the Big Sur Coast and kayaking conditions were stellar, nary a ripple of water out of place.

Then suddenly the tranquil setting was interrupted by a raft of southern sea otters that had wrapped themselves up in the gnarled kelp and were frolicking atop the canopy. I was still a good 100 feet away from them when in a collective splash they dove into the aquatic forest not to be seen again.

I’d always wanted to paddle the Big Sur Coast, where those towering, daunting cliffs converge with pounding surf. Wavebattered and mostly inaccessible the Big Sur Coast is fraught with mysto reefs, craggy, rocky spires and those vital kelp forests, perfect habitat for southern sea otters.

Once prolific along the California Coast, sea otters were nearly wiped out by fur traders by the early 1800s. Sea otters were highly sought after for their fur, the densest in the animal kingdom. But Big Sur proved to be the last bastion for southern sea otters, where a small band of around 50 animals had kept to themselves camouf laged in those crags and dense kelp near the Bixby Bridge. They were discovered there in 1938, and that merry band of otters became worldwide news.

Over many years and with protections in place, the species has slowly rebounded and today the total population hovers at around 3,000. If that number holds steady for three years, the southern sea otter can be considered for delisting from the Endangered Species List. That narrow gene pool clinging to the Big Sur Coast proved to be just enough, replenishing the population along the Central California Coast, mainly between Monterey down to Northern Santa Barbara County.

There have been some hiccups along the way though. In 1987 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) translocated 140 otters from Central California to San Nicholas Island, a remote isle owned by the U.S. Navy. That was part of a deal in an attempt to begin another population of otters and appease the sea

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Avoid the High Cost o HOME/OUTDOOR A Retirement F 21

are a significant limiting factor.

Even though the prospect of m

“The single biggest impact to the population is currently morfuture, you owe to yourself to tality from white shark bites,” continued Harris.

“It’sithaving a population level effect.” carefree living in your own home Harris said the stretch of coast between Pismo south to Vandenberg has seen the largest impact, where 70 percent of the beached sea otters found alive or dead are shark bitten.

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urchin diving community with the implementation of the “No Otter Zone,” where sea otters were supposed to stay put between Monterey and Santa Barbara and not expand their range beyond that specific boundary. The USFWS was responsible for keeping tabs on roaming otters and trapping any strays before returning them to the Central Coast.

Realistically though, the program was doomed to fail. After all how do you keep otters from going where they want? It’s certainly not like herding cattle with fencing in place, and we’re talking about the ocean, so keeping track of meandering otters proved futile. In 1993 the “No Otter Zone” was suspended, but not officially shelved until 2012. Even so, there’s been very little, if any expansion since the “No Otter Zone” was lifted.

“Range expansion has been very slow,” said Mike Harris, a biologist focusing on southern sea otters since 1991 for California Fish and Wildlife. “In early 2016 we had some sightings beyond the established range boundaries. Much of the range is considered to be at carrying capacity.”

Southern sea otters face a throng of stressors along the coast.

They seem to be the poster child for oil spills, but according to Harris there was no evidence of otter mortality in the Refugio spill along the Gaviota Coast in 2015.

Pollution from biological and chemical sources has impacts, especially associated with terrestrial pathogens. Harris said there is a high rate of infectious disease amongst otters. Food sources

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Disturbance a significant problem, particularly females caring for pups.” offor moving to a retirement facility. in your h

While paddling inside the Morro Bay estuary I came across a fe“She he male otter tending to her adorable pup. She had it wrapped up in persona kelp while banged away on can a freshly caught clam. I observed All she of our services be provided She sho from afar giving her plenty of space where she multi-tasked in daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. very re the shadow of Morro Rock.

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Coastal discovery center a local treasure

By Charmaine Coimbra tuguese whalers and George Hearst, is where 17,000 visitors in 2016 discovered how special this corner of the world is.

As you drive into the parking lot at William Randolph Hearst Memorial Beach, the Center welcomes visitors with its colorful structure and opened doors on weekends and holidays. This is where adventures in oceanography, natural history, and exploration begin. The Coastal Discovery Center offers interactive exhibits, opportunities to collect and study plankton, participate in a Junior Ranger program and summer Saturday public programs.

A

lost mermaid would be drawn to the bright ocean-themed mural that covers the front of the Coastal Discovery Center—a hotbed of seaside activity in a cool little corner of San Luis Obispo County.

The Coastal Discovery Center is a local treasure for learning more about Central California’s coastline and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (MBNMS), which operates the Center in partnership with California State Parks.

Besides the natural attraction of seabirds, sea mammals, and other sea life, this wedge of California State Parks and MBNMS in old San Simeon, where native people thrived long before the arrival of Por-

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Carolyn Skinder, the Southern Region Program Coordinator, oversees the operation assisted

by California State Parks staff and volunteers.

Skinder shows live microscopic plankton off San Simeon Pier Skinder is most pleased by the fact that the Center has become a resource for schools, camps, and other educational outlets. “The Coastal Discovery Center, in its 10 years of operation, has continued to grow with annual visitors, as well as working in partnership with the Central Coast community,” Skinder said.

Celebrating 25 years, MBNMS is a federally protected marine area offshore of California’s central coast that begins in Marin and ends in Cambria and is part of the California Current—which makes this region special. According to NOAA, the California Current “moves south along the western coast of North America, beginning off southern British Columbia, flowing southward past Washington, Oregon and California, and ending off southern Baja California. It is tagged as the Serengeti of the Sea. In 2011, a reporter explained the designation for a British newspaper, “(The Census for Marine Life) found that schools of fish and seals are going north towards Alaska to feed in the summer and come south towards Mexico in the winter on the Californian Current like migrating wildebeests. Sharks stay in the area like lions. Species like turtles and seabirds are coming from as far away as Indonesia and Japan to feed in the area.” Consequently, the 6000 square miles of MBNMS “harbors an incredible variety of marine life, including 34 species of marine mammals, more than 180

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to Arroyo Grande. “Kids often return with their family after a school group visit, and become the teacher themselves,” Skinder added.

With the center now an integral part of the Central Coast community, the Center and the sanctuary’s future includes finding ways to communicate to the broader audience on ocean-based issues. Among other issues to be addressed will be climate change, underwater acoustics, ocean acidification, and marine debris.

Recruitment for new docents will take place this spring. Call the Center for more information at 805/927-6291. The Coastal Discovery Center is open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and holidays from 11am-5pm. School groups can make appointments to visit by calling (805) 927-2145.

species of seabirds and shorebirds, at least 525 species of fishes, and an abundance of invertebrates and algae,” according to the MBNMS website. With this variety of sea life, the southern end of the sanctuary is a perfect location to help visitors learn more about this unique environment. In 2006 the building that once held a recreational fishing operation was converted into today’s Discovery Center.

The Center’s volunteers undergo “a comprehensive training program to learn about local history as well as the natural and cultural resources in the area,” according to its website. Besides greeting visitors and answering questions, the Center hosts school groups—about 1,500 students a year from both San Luis Obispo County and the Central Valley. Visitors are introduced to citizen science programs conducted by volunteers such as weekly plankton monitoring for the Department of Health Services, monitoring rocky tide pools, and beachcombing each month to count and record beach cast marine mammals and seabirds.

“Our reach is about building relationships, locally and nationally, with people who care deeply about the ocean,” Skinder said. “Our interagency message is that we can affect positive change to become better stewards of our ocean in this very special place. “ The center has made a difference. For instance, it has developed an ocean science class with Leffingwell HS; has served about 8,500 students since 2006; and its outreach with librarians, schools and camps has resulted in a strong two-way collaboration from San Simeon J U N E

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at the market

Breakfast Chia Puddings with Raspberries, Apricots and Almonds

By Sarah Hedger

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une brings so many options at the markets on the Central Coast.

Summer is here and an abundance of freshness is at our fingertips! Avocados are available, as well as artichokes, corn, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes. In the fruit department there are so many options! The stone fruits hit their peak sweetness in the warm months of June and July, with apricots, plums, peaches and so much more. There are more and more combinations of fruits going on, such as apriums, which is a cross between apricots and plums. Hopefully not a result of confused bees! There are also heaps of berries to choose from. From late season strawberries to blackberries, blueberries, raspberries ... so much berry goodness!

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This month’s recipe might look like a lot as there are 3 parts to it, but they can all be made ahead of time and enjoyed on their own, if there are any leftovers. Thus it is a bit of a breakfast recipe, but could easily be eaten any time of the day, even dessert!

Breakfast Chia Puddings with Raspberries, Apricots, and Almonds is a real gem as it goes perfectly with all 3 components together, but each can be eaten individually at any time. Chia is the magic little ingredient that makes the jams ‘gel’ and the pudding set. Chia seeds are pretty amazing little gems. When soaked in liquid, they create this gelatinous mixture around them, swelling up in size and making them more digestible in the process. They have been

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put in the unofficial ‘superfood’ category recently as they have a high amount of Omega 3’s fats, which many claim to be greatly beneficial to our bodies’ overall health.

Chia are also very high in fiber, while having good proteins and healthy fats. Their nutrients are most beneficially absorbed by our bodies when they have been soaked in a liquid however, contrary to flax seeds that need to be ground to be absorbed into our bodies, chia just need to be soaked. And, a quick soaking at that makes them quite convenient!

These puddings also are an amazing showcase for Summer fruit, with fresh, tart raspberries, and golden ripe apricots. Other

breakfast chia puddings with raspberries, apricotS and almonds Makes 4 servings For the Raspberry Chia “jam” 2 cups organic raspberries (frozen work well too) 1 T water 3 T chia seeds *sweeter to taste: 1 T honey or rice malt syrup or a pinch of stevia Place all ingredients into small saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring until raspberries have broken down and mixture has thickened.

For the Coconut Chia puddings: 1 cup coconut cream 1 cup almond milk ½ cup chia seeds Pinch of vanilla seeds or vanilla essence berries or stone fruit can be easily substituted, such as strawberries and peaches, thus there are many combinations that would be delicious. There aren’t many ingredients, so the key is finding great tasting, ripe fruit. Easy assignment on the Central Coast! You can easily make these puddings the night before and enjoy for a treat of a breakfast the next morning. You can also take them another direction, adding some cacao and a little more sweetness to the coconut chia pudding portion, turning them into cacao chia puddings with berries. Yum! Taste each portion when you are making them so you can decide on the sweetness that you want as often recipes have A LOT of sugar added when all it does is spike our blood sugars and distract from the fresh beautiful ingredients, when the recipe actually needs very little sugar, if any. I often half the sugar or remove it altogether in recipes, only noticing that the end result is more flavorful and delicious. Enjoy these puddings, they are full of Summer goodness!

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*sweeter to taste: 1 T honey or rice malt syrup Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl and taste for sweetness.

For the Apricot Chia “Jam”: 8 organic apricots, pitted and quartered ¼ cup water 1-2 T honey 2 T chia seeds Place apricots in small saucepan with water and honey. Cook over medium heat, simmering for 10 minutes, until apricots are soft. Mash with fork and mix in chia seeds.

Topping: Fresh raspberries or apricots, Slivered almonds Edible flowers such as pansies, violas, borage, or lavender to assemble: Layer raspberry jam, coconut chia pudding, then apricot chia jam in jars or bowls. Chill for a minimum of 1 hour.

Top with fresh raspberries, apricots, slivered almonds, and some pretty edible flowers. Enjoy!

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music scene

concert of thanks for Tom and Susan Davies

cal poly choirs and alumni bid farewell to conductor and Accompanist

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he Cal Poly Choirs will celebrate Thomas and Susan Davies at a Spring Concert titled “With Thanks to All” on June 11, as the couple acknowledges their extended family of university students and colleagues during their final concert.

Tom Davies is retiring after 34 years as Cal Poly’s director of choral activities and vocal studies. Susan Azaret Davies has accompanied the choirs all the years her husband has conducted them.

The Davies’ final Cal Poly concert will include performances by students and an alumni choir. It will be held at 2 p.m. in Harman Hall of the Performing Arts Center’s Christopher Cohan Center.

Cal Poly’s Early Music Ensemble, European Tour Choir, and an 80-voice combined choir will perform. All have been members of PolyPhonics and/or the University Singers in recent quarters.

An 85-voice alumni choir will also perform. A special salute to the day will be made by Men-So-Forte, Cal Poly’s award-winning men’s barbershop quartet from 2003-05. The group’s bass, Paul Tabone, is traveling from Minnesota for this event. In addition to the men’s quartet, other surprises are planned, including an offering of women’s barbershop music.

During the second half of the concert, students and alumni will combine forces for Handel’s exciting “Zadok, the Priest,” with Paul Woodring featured on the organ. This will be followed by the final number, Beethoven’s “Choral Fantasy” for piano solo, chorus, and orchestra. Azaret Davies will be the soloist. Cal Poly students, faculty, and community members will make up the orchestra.

Tom Davies has taught at Cal Poly since 1983. He has been conducting three choirs: PolyPhonics, the University Singers and the Early Music Ensemble, and teaches conducting, as well as a course in literature and rehearsal techniques. He was a recipient of Cal Poly’s Distinguished Teacher Award for 2010-11.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, Tom Davies earned his Bachelor of Music J U N E

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Education degree at Bowling Green State University and his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Southern California.

In addition to his work at Cal Poly, he is the musical director and conductor of the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale, a community ensemble that performs major works for chorus and orchestra. He served as the director of the Master Class in Choral-Orchestral Conducting at the Taipei Bach Festival in 2010 and 2012 and the Oregon Bach Festival from 2007-11, and he was a faculty member of the Idyllwild Summer Arts Choral Festival from 2004-07. He is a former President of the ACDA Western Division.

Azaret Davies holds bachelor and master of music degrees in piano and accompanying from the University of Southern California.

A professional singer as well as pianist, her festival appearances include the Oregon Bach Festival, the Cabrillo Festival, the Festival Internacional de Musica de Morelia, Mexico, Idyllwild Summer Arts, CSU Summer Arts and a series of concerts with the Gachinger Kantorei of Stuttgart and the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center.

She is an accompanist for the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale, the choir director/organist at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, and principal keyboardist for the San Luis Obispo Symphony. She will continue in the department as a lecturer and staff accompanist.

Concert goers are invited to attend a reception in the Performing Arts Center’s Rossi Grand Lobby following the concert.

The Music Department is compiling anecdotes and well wishes for a memory book for Tom Davies. Those wanting to contribute can do so on the Music Department website.

The tour choir will depart June 21 for concerts in England and Wales. Tour support donations honor of the Davies can be made securely online.

Beginning in fall 2017, Scott Glysson will be Cal Poly’s new choral director. Glysson, who plans to attend the June 11 concert, most recently served as director of choral activities at West Liberty University in West Virginia.

Tickets for the event are $12 or $14 for the public and $9 or $12 for students. Event parking is sponsored by the PAC. Tickets are sold at the Cal Poly Ticket Office between noon and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. To order by phone, call 805-SLO-4TIX (805-756-4849).

The concert is sponsored by Cal Poly’s Music Department, College of Liberal Arts, and Instructionally Related Activities program. For more information, call the Music Department at 805-756-2406 or visit the department’s calendar website.

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by the sea ceramics by patricia griffin

By Jody Kocsis journalism and founding a successful advertising and marketing firm, Griffin was, “feeling a sense of creative burnout.” In search of a creative outlet, Griffin began taking art classes at a community college.

Finding inspiration with clay, Griffin began taking all the ceramics classes she could. Ten years ago, Griffin moved to Cambria and made the transition to full-time artist. She continues to perfect her individual style and sgraffito technique. Sgraffito (in Italian “to scratch”) is produced by applying layers of color to pottery and then scratching off parts of the layers to create contrasting images, patterns, and texture to reveal the clay color underneath.

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HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

Today, Griffin’s ceramics have been shown in exhibitions across the country.

Her artwork serves as a reminder of the beauty that surrounds us. It illustrates the integral role our natural environment has in creativity, artistry, and communal well-being.

Let our family take care of your family.

atricia Griffin is an expressive ceramicist whose unique work captures the natural beauty of the Central Coast. The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art has been looking forward to showcasing By The Sea: Ceramics by Patricia Griffin through July 2, 2017.

Griffin’s new body of artwork features colorful graphic interpretations of plants,

animals, and rhythms of Griffin’s natural environment.

The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, dedicated to the education, presentation and preservation of the visual arts on the Central Coast, is located at 1010 Broad Street, on the west end of Mission Plaza.

Free admission, donations appreciated. For more info visit SLOMA.org.

JUST LIKE HOME Patricia Griffin grew up in Bakersfield, California in a family of newspaper publishers and printers. Her time spent in the printing shop as a child is reflected in the graphic sensibility and functionality of her artwork. After completing an education in

Happy Father’s Day!

Let our family take care of your family.

JUST LIKE HOME

Rehabilitation Therapy · Medicare, Medical, HMOs Short Term Rehabilitation · Long Term Care

805.922.6657 www.CountryOaksCareCenter.com 830 East Chapel Street, Santa Maria

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Central coast Funds for children another year of giving more than $100,000 in grants to our non-profits

By Kristy Wilson

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CFC hosted their annual Supporters Luncheon this Spring at the San Luis Obispo Country Club. It was a wonderful event and a special day for all.

There was lots of laughter and tears as the members of CCFC introduced each recipient and heard where the grant funds were targeted. CCFC raised more than $104,000 in 2016 that went to 37 agencies and since 1994 the group has given grants of more than 1.5 million dollars. CCFC is a group of 35 women, all volunteers, and all monies raised go towards helping the Children of the Central Coast. The list of recipients is below. For more information on CCFC you can go to Centralcoastfundsforchildren.org

GRANT RECIPIENTS 2016 CCFC Board of Directors: (L-R) Paula Tolbert, Leslie Rodman, Claudia Grant, Joanne Rogoff, Linda Rundstrom, Corinne Cilli, Patti Hempenius and Murial Harkins

Ann Hansen and Chris Poe

CCFC member Jeanette Meek with Anne Brown at the luncheon

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ACTS/ABUSED CHILDREN TREATMENT ALPHA ASSISTANCE LEAGUE ATASCADERO LOAVES AND FISHES BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF SOUTH SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CAMP FIRE CENTRAL COAST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO CENTER FOR FAMILY STRENGTHENING CENTRAL COAST LINK CHILD DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE CENTER COASTAL PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION COAST UNION HIGH SCHOOL GARDEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF ESTERO BAY EQUINE ALLIANCE YOUTH FOUNDATION FOOD BANK COALITION OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY FORT HOPE FRIENDS OF MARTHA’S PLACE INFINITE MUSIC FOUNDATION LEARN, CONNECT, PLAY FOUNDATION NIPOMO AREA RECREATION ASSOCIATION OPERA SAN LUIS OBISPO, INCORPORATED PASO ROBLES CHILDREN’S MUSEUM PASO ROBLES HOUSING AUTHORITY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, SLO PROJECT SURF CAMP RESTORATIVE PARTNERS, INC., RISE SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY ROYAL FAMILY KIDS OF SLO SAN LUIS OBISPO BOTANICAL GARDEN SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY LIBRARY SAN LUIS OBISPO HIGH SCHOOL/SOBER GRAD NIGHT SAN LUIS OBISPO LITTLE THEATRE SAN LUIS OBISPO SYMPHONY SOUTH COUNTY YOUTH COALITION SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRANSITIONS MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION TOLOSA DENTAL HEALTH

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HISTORY ON THE HOOF DAY TRIPS INTO THE PAST

Cambria

By Joe Carotenuti

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he temptation will be there to bundle one day-trip to the two “C’s” since they are so close together along the scenic central coast. Indeed, a third “C” might be considered for the stout-hearted and fuel cost-conscience traveler.

From Cayucos to Cambria to the Castle built by William Randolph Hearst, a trip into the past would be a long day.

Don’t do it.

Each spot is capable of filling a day with gems of the past as well as delights from the present. Last month, we rode our horseless carriage along the easily distracting coast highway to the small community of Cayucos (population: @2500). In comparison, the next day-trip is to a metropolis called Cambria … with over 6000 residents enjoying a splendid location and active community life.

Let’s start.

As with all day trips into the past, first consult the local experts at www.cambriahistoricalsociety.com. From walking tours to a strangely engaging “home” in the hills, you’ll find more than enough to engage your day, let alone browsing shops, etc.

Cambria shares its earliest history with most of the California coast as in 1769, the courageous Portola Expedition camped in the area and Fra Juan Crespi, the traveler’s chronicler, noted the kindness of the natives. In addition to offering some pinole, “they brought along with them a tame bay-colored bear that they had caught while small in a cave; it was still a cub.” Needless to add, Portola had limited supplies and didn’t need to care for a pet bear. Considering the site as suitable for a future mission, Crespi continues, “I named the spot San Benvenuto,” while the soldiers referred to the spot as paraje del Osito (the small bear), it was the earliest, but not the only name for our destination. They stopped again on the return trip to celebrate the first Christmas Mass in the new territory.

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Cambria in the early days

While a mission named after St. Buenaventura would be founded much further south in 1782, as with much of the early California history, the fertile countryside remained part of the mission lands until a War of Independence (1821) placed the Spanish land under Mexican rule.

A more contemporary history began when the 13,290-acre Rancho Santa Rosa land grant was awarded to Julian Estrada in 1841. The name is familiar to local history buffs as the Estrada family owned much of the central coast real estate including the Santa Margarita grant.

At the time, today’s Leffingwell Landing (a splendid coastal stop) was the approximate northern boundary of the grant and site of the tobe-expected wharf for coastal settlements. Since homes were built of rough pine lumber provided at pioneer William Leffingwell’s mill, the name Slab Town is most appropriate.

Undoubtedly, the area would have remained part of the vast California ranch system if not for the discovery in the early 1860s of cinnabar, a toxic mercury sulfide mineral also known as quicksilver. Cambria became a boom town as prospectors filed claims and searched for the local version of el dorado. As with the fabled gold strikes to the north, the boom would bust as prices declined and prosperity wilted under the declining economic sun by 1880.

Cambria became more than a stop between here and there as the character and population of the enclave evolved over time. Others came, often seeking a livelihood. Another important pioneer—almost

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Post Office and Fire Station 1910.

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Cambria Santa Rosa Chapel

forgotten in local lore—was Samuel Adams Pollard. Buying property in the area, undoubtedly seeking riches from cinnabar, he is credited with building the first store in the community in the late sixties. He had already accomplished the same feat in 1849 in San Luis Obispo (where he has been equally ignored historically). A long life filled with varying and interesting ventures worthy of celebrating (1824-1904), Pollard married into the Nipomo Dana family and, yes, opened another store at the family’s adobe.

Ridge. While Hearst built a spectacular “ranch” house to the north, a garbage collector composed a folk-art masterpiece using refuge from his daily tasks overlooking the community. Privately-owned, tours can be arranged (805-927-2690).

As the mines closed, another economic door opened and a major dairy industry led by the immigrant Swiss created a new prosperity for the community. Today, some of the sturdy homes built in this era are part of a walking tour centered near the intersection of Burton and Main Streets. One of the architectural gems is the GuthrieBianchini residence, home of the resourceful Cambria Historical Society. It is worth planning your trip to match the museum’s limited open hours.

Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com. Please visit our new webpage: www. joefromslo.com.

Cambria came to the rescue when a cargo ship was torpedoed in 1941. However, the saga of the SS Montebello must wait for a future installment.

Another serene stop is the Santa Rosa Chapel. Built in 1870, and one of the oldest churches in the county, the chapel has been saved for posterity by the heroic determination of local history buffs. The cemetery remembers many who struggled through life only to rest in peace in the tranquil setting.

While there is much more to do in the beautiful seaside community, Cambria is also home to a unique structure that defies architectural or historic descriptions. If at all possible, arrange a visit to Nitt-Witt

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history

Mission and College at Santa Clara

california 1856 Part 2

By Joe Carotenuti

L

ooking into the past with attention to accuracy is enormously enriched by first-hand narratives.

Letters, journals, diaries, or any sort of personal accounts add a certain immediacy and intimacy to any recollection and brings the researcher into personal contact with the chronicler of the past.

Often, the writer had no intention of including anyone but him or herself as the reader. So, when Henry Miller began his travels along the California coast in 1856, it’s doubtful he considered his notes to be of any interest except as a personal ledger of his trip. He was hoping his sketches would become the center of focus for eventual publication. As to their artistic merit, the reader must decide.

However, his narrative is an invaluable guide as to what he saw in addition to what he drew.

Whatever his plans when he began his tour of “the ancient California missions” on February 5, 1856, Miller had only visited (and sketched) three within the first three months of his eight-month sojourn. Compiled in the California Missions (Bellerophon Books, 2000), this first attempt to systematically sketch the 21 missionary outposts was never completed.

The story continues.

Having left Santa Clara on May 9, Miller experienced a “severe shock of an earthquake” as being “nothing uncommon” as he headed for the mission of San Juan Bautista. Throughout his narrative, Miller provides credible information—although brief—of the countryside as he made his way from spot to spot. He was especially keen on descriptions as to suitability for farming.

Imagining any but small outposts of settlers most likely was beyond even his creativity. On this segment of his trip, he also mentioned the droves of cattle being driven from the south. As one of the “cow counties” supplying the more densely populated northern region of the state, possibly some of the herds were from local ranchers.

Arriving at the 15th mission founded in 1797 in early May, he Mission Santa Cruz

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sketched both town and mission, the “greatest part” of the latter in ruins. Miller was fond of using very straight lines and much of the “ruins” he lamented are barely noticed in his sketches.

It would be another month before his journey continued to Santa Cruz. During his travels, Miller seems to have sketched as a source of income along the trail and this may explain his delays in travel. Heading for the 12th mission, he commented he slept little as “stray bears” were always possible and undoubtedly would find his mule a tasty meal, if not him.

He described the frontier settlement of Santa Cruz as being an upper town with its “ancient” mission (founded in 1791) surrounded by ruins and a lower town inhabited “only” by Americans. He did not linger and after a few sketches departed for the former capital of Monterey.

First, there would be a short side-trip the next day to Point Pinos and the newly-built lighthouse. Today, it is the oldest operating lighthouse on the West Coast. He was greeted by the lighthouse keeper whose husband had been killed by one of the notorious bandits of the time. As throughout his narrative, the wellinformed Miller relates just enough history for us to wish he had written more.

After sketching the new structure, Miller moved on to Carmel and the Mission San Carlos Borromeo. He found the “heap of ruins” further defiled as any statue left inside was “riddled with bullets.” Possibly Miller preferred remembering what the mission might have looked like as his simple sketch betrays little of the ruins.

By the last week in June, he arrived at the “great heap of ruins” still visible today: Nuestra Senora de la Soledad. Buying some Mission San Carlos, Monterey

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Point Pinos Lighthouse

Mission at Soledad

provisions from a French storekeeper and after a “miserable” cup of coffee, Miller noted the land was now owned by the Soberanes family, commented on the aqueduct system built by the natives, but little else. “There being nothing to attract me,” he planned to continue south the next day but almost found eternity in a bear trap.

mule and both their safety. A seemingly perfect answer to the latter was for him to sleep inside a massive bear trap discovered along the trail! Assuring himself that the trap door was sufficiently propped open so as not to be captured “without the possibility of getting out again,” he went to sleep. In his notes, he doesn’t indicate he was fearful a bear just might visit.

Of course, during the night, the huge trap door closed and, of course, Miller escaped as will be recounted next month.

Contact: jacarotenuti@gmail.com. Please visit our new webpage: www.joefromslo.com.

When traveling, Miller was quite concerned with caring for his

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our schools north county arts collaboration

By James J. Brescia, Ed.D. County Superintendent of Schools

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”

—Thomas Merton A conversation in a coffee shop can be a very powerful tool and lead to actions we cannot imagine. One of my favorite pastimes is to play chess at some of our local North County coffee houses. During one of my Saturday morning matches, I was approached to become more involved in some of our local music association boards. I was very involved with the San Diego Opera and local theater groups before children graced our household, and working with arts organizations is something I support. I have always professed that an integral part of our human development must include education in the arts. Some of my previous SLO Journal articles featured educational research that examines the learning processes and the importance of the arts as part of our development and scholarship. My most recent partnership with the arts involves the San Luis Obispo Opera, Pacific Ballet, Vina Robles, the Paso Robles Education Alliance, and the Moca Foundation.

These wonderful groups joined with the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education to sponsor our first ever children’s performance of Peter and the Wolf at the picturesque Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, at no cost to schools. The performance was held on May 30th, and was free of charge to all children, their teachers, and families. Peter and the Wolf is the first of what I hope will be many endeavors designed to support the engagement of our schools in the broader arts community. Humanities researchers detail the arts as one of the defining characteristics of the human species, and conclude that every culture has a distinct artistic aspect. Our cognitive ability to create art separate from the body is thought to have originated in Africa, but the practice may have begun at different times both genetically and culturally, across the globe (Morriss-Kay, 2010). We must consider the arts as a critical component of our academic experience.

“Arts Education” refers to education in the disciplines of music, dance, theater, and visual arts. A study in the arts is integral to our society and our human spirit. The arts have connected with many parts of the cultural heritage of Americans. Philosophers state that the arts are what make us most human, and most complete as a people. Research teaches us that the arts cannot be learned through occasional

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or random exposure any more than we can acquire math or science through osmosis. Education and engagement in the fine arts are an essential part of the school curriculum, and an important component of the educational program for every student. Sufficient data exists to support the study and participation in the fine arts as an essential element in improving all academic areas of study. Involvement in the arts has been shown to reduce student dropout, raise student attendance, develop better team behaviors, foster a love of learning, improve student dignity, enhance student creativity, and better prepare citizens for the workplace.

Our schools throughout the county are increasing engagement in the arts during the school day and within the community. Our largest school district in the county, Lucia Mar Unified, partners with the Clark Center to promote performing and cultural arts for the enjoyment, entertainment and education of our community. Coast Unified recently hired Jill Southern as their next elementary school principal.

Jill’s experience in the arts as an administrator and film director will most certainly enhance the arts experience of Cambria’s students.

North County students from Shandon, San Miguel, Paso Robles, Templeton, and Atascadero regularly receive art lessons from a team of eight local, professional artists. Art Smart, Studios on the Park, and the local school districts have all joined forces to pencil arts into school budgets. Local partnerships, such as the Paso Robles Art Association, are joining forces with schools to provide scholarships and mentoring opportunities for students throughout the county, all in support of arts formation.

Evidence from brain research is only one of many reasons education and engagement in fine arts is a vital component of the educational process. The arts develop neural systems that produce a broad spectrum of benefits ranging from fine motor skills to creativity and improved emotional balance. We must realize that these systems often take months and even years to fine-tune. In a study conducted

by Judith Burton of Columbia University, research evidenced that subjects such as mathematics, science, and language require complex cognitive and creative capacities “typical of arts learning” (Burton, Horowitz, & Abeles, 1999). “The arts enhance the process of learning.

The systems they nourish, which include our integrated sensory, attentional, cognitive, emotional, and motor capacities, are, in fact, the driving forces behind all other learning” (Jensen, 2001).

During the past several decades, numerous published articles examine the extent and value of the arts. This valuable body of research has informed the public and educators as to the positive effects of arts education on student learning. This type of research has provided much-needed data for informing future curricular decisions and for enhancing arts education in our state’s schools. It is my hope that this article will provide an impetus for continued discussion about the benefits of an education that includes the fine arts (music, art,

dance and theater). Why is it so important to keep the arts strong in our schools? How does the study of the arts contribute to student achievement and success? These are just a few of the discussion topics I hope to spark from this article.

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JUNE CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

We must maintain or expand levels of fine arts education in our schools, including schools with high percentages of poor and minority students. In the face of economic stress, schools and districts may be tempted to reduce their investment in anything that appears to be “extra” or unnecessary; but as previously mentioned, the arts play a significant role in supporting student learning beyond the boundaries of the fine arts classroom. In line with maintaining or expanding arts education, we must work together to see that all students have equal access to courses in various arts disciplines, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds. We need to recognize fine arts classes as core aspects of the academic curriculum rather than as merely “add-ons” or “feel-good” electives. The research is clear in indicating that students at all grade levels (including middle school or junior high) should be required to study fine arts. To increase student opportunities, we should assure maintenance of funding and partnerships for arts education in our schools.

References Available Upon Request © StatePoint Media

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: ALL ABOUT WEATHER ACROSS

1. Request to Geico, e.g.

6. Short for oftentimes 9. Plague carrier 13. *Like a plant in Zone 2 14. Column’s counterpart 15. Exclude 16. *More bitterly cold 17. Computer-generated imagery 18. One of Florida Keys 19. *Fahrenheit alternative 21. Nanking cotton 23. Make weblike fabric 24. Giant Himalayan 25. Geological time period 28. Russian parliament 30. Join the military 35. 100-meter ____ 37. One in a million 39. Crude commodity transporter

40. Icelandic epic 41. Rock bottom 43. Aquarium scum 44. Sends 46. Foal’s mother 47. Tear violently 48. *A blast from the North Pole 50. Belgian port, in Dutch 52. Fish eggs 53. T on a test 55. “____ we there yet?”

57. *End-of-summer 61. *Average weather pattern 65. Theater guide 66. ET’s craft 68. Capital of Ghana 69. Large numbers 70. Have a cold 71. Audition tapes 72. Little piggies?

73. Bulb type 74. Like a disreputable neighborhood

DOWN 1. Swanky 2. Fabric related to #23 Across 3. Seed covering 4. “That is,” to an Ancient Roman 5. Indefinitely large number 6. Tolkien villains 7. *Cause of low visibility 8. Strong string 9. “Don’t give me any ____!”

10. Plural of lira 11. U2 guitarist 12. Longest division of time 15. *a.k.a. The Little Boy 20. Driver’s 180 22. Had a meal 24. Distance to a golfer 25. Swelling 26. *Meteorologist’s tool 27. Echo sounder 29. Madam, to a cowboy 31. Baron Munchhausen, e.g.

32. Sicker 33. Repeat, in music 34. *____ winds 36. “Stop!” to marchers 38. De Valera’s land 42. Kidney-related 45. Hindustani guitar, pl.

49. “____, the Beloved Country” 51. “The Three Stooges” and “Peter, Paul and Mary,” e.g.

54. “The ____” to a bartender 56. Wedding singer, e.g.

57. *____ Bowl 58. Nobel Peace Prize capital 59. Clarified butter 60. *What grass does in the morning 61. *Kind of front 62. Crowning point 63. Trampled 64. Not difficult 67. Exclamation of disgust

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eye on business plenty to celebrate

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

A

s a marketer, I can’t help making quick calculations regarding anniversaries and milestones. If you tell me someone started with a company in 1997, it translates to “20 years” to me. I love looking for an angle or connection point, and in the case of 2017 and two longtime local businesses, that’s easy. SESLOC Federal Credit Union, founded way back in 1942, is celebrating an impressive 75th anniversary this year, and Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton is noting its 40th. These are long years of success for two local institutions, and milestones that deserve recognition.

Let’s start with the youngster: Twin Cities Community Hospital. North County locals will tell you the February, 1977 opening was five months ahead of schedule and the price tag was a mere $5 million. The “Twin Cities” name came from the hospital replacing two aging facilities: Atascadero General Hospital and Paso Robles War Memorial Hospital.

And what I didn’t know until I heard comments from Chief of Staff Dr. Andrew Anthony at a recent anniversary celebration was that the original hospital’s EKG was purchased in part by an aggressive Betty Crocker box tops drive. That speaks volumes about

the spirit of community and what it can produce.

Mark Lisa, Twin Cities CEO, acknowledged the employees who were with the hospital on Day One and still work there today. Paso Robles Mayor Steve Martin (a former Twin employee), talked about the volunteer organization at Twin and how it was used as a model by the Paso Robles City Library. Atascadero Council Member Heather Moreno noted the importance of the hospital in helping train the city’s paramedics, and SLO County Supervisors John Peschong and Debbie Arnold shared the mike to talk about how Twin Cities is a very real part of their own family’s lives. Twin Cities Community Hospital is clearly a point of community pride.

Today the 122-bed hospital has 500 employees, numerous honors for excellence and is the anchor of a bustling community of medical offices and support services that surround the hospital. Another 100,000 square feet of new medical space already approved for development. Twin Cities continues to be vital to the health and wellbeing of genera-

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tions of north County residents and visitors.

Happy Anniversary.

And then on to SESLOC Federal Credit Union, or the School Employees of San Luis Obispo County was called when it was first established. In 1942 ten local residents gathered to discuss forming a credit union as a way for people of “ordinary means” to borrow at reasonable interest rates under “thoroughly honest and fair conditions.” On January 8, 1943, thirty-two San Luis Obispo County school employees were present when Superintendent Charles E. Teach (namesake of Teach School in SLO) called the first official meeting of the group to order. An election was held. Operations began with assets of just $500 and (a present-day tale of the group’s being kept in the treasurer’s Cal Poly desk drawer).

While originally created for those in education, SESLOC membership is now available to residents/employees/students and their families in SLO and Northern Santa Barbara Counties. More than 48,000 members have joined the SESLOC family, whose operations have grown to include 150 employees and offices in Paso Robles, Atascadero, Arroyo Grande and Santa Maria, in addition to handsome flagship headquarters on Broad Street in San Luis Obispo. SESLOC was founded with a nod to community, and that same commitment defines the organization today. It’s not easy to make it to 75, especially in the financial services business. Kudos to the staff, members and community leaders who’ve helped see it through.

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown SLO

June 2017

Inside: Downtown Perspec t ive Mee t our Downtown Ambassador Downtown B usiness Spo tlight Mee t our Inter ns

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appy summer Downtowners! Summer is finally here and right on schedule. Over the past few months our Downtown SLO team and Board of Directors have been pushing hard to get through some really great things that will definitely help to advance our mission of fostering an economically vibrant Downtown. In May we went live with our shiny new brand and website. This month we will host an official launch with our membership to get them all up to speed with the website and all of the great tools available. The new DowntownSLO.com is like a Swiss Army knife for our merchants and we want to make sure that they are familiar with each new feature.

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attend the first show or order online.

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hat’s right, we built in an online store with the new website where you can buy one of our limited edition pint glasses, Downtown SLO apparel, Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market apparel and coming soon, tickets for our events. Whoops! I think I just spilled the beans on upcoming-ticketed events. Well since the cat is out of the bag, we are bringing back the Taste of San Luis in a reincarnated version with a new name and a completely different format. On Dominic Tartaglia, September 29th, leave your tuxedoes and cocktail Executive Director dresses at home and come Downtown to enjoy the Downtown SLO Sip and Saunter.

ow that we have the website up and running we are ready to jump right into everybody’s favorite Downtown SLO tradition, Concerts in the Plaza. This year marks our 22nd summer concert series and my guess is that some of you Downtowners have been to at least one show per season, over each of those years. That is impressive in itself and I appreciate your support for all of those seasons and your continued support of this organization as we continue to grow and work hard to build the best concert series that we can for you. This year we will start off on June 9th with TROPO and their crowd stunning live, organic, electric music. All fourteen of our bands pair well with our beverage sponsors Chamisal Vineyards and Firestone Walker Brewing Company. To get a commemorative stainless steel Concerts in the Plaza pint glass, make sure to

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ip and Saunter is a culinary experience shared across participating shops that have partnered with local wineries, breweries, cideries and eateries. Tickets will be on sale soon and we hope that you will come down and join us in the fun.

All proceeds will go right back into keeping our Downtown interesting and beautiful. Of course, the nostalgic fans of Taste are more than welcome to dress up in their finest attire and saunter from each establishment but we are thinking that is a lot of walking around in those dress shoes. Boat shoes might be more appropriate, but hey, that’s your call.

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f you cannot wait to get together with fellow Downtowners, worry not. We are putting together our next Downtown Foreword presentation at the SLO Library, will be announcing the date and topic in the next few weeks. Keep your eyes on

On the Cover: Diego's Umbrella's Vaughn Lindstrom rocking out at last year's Concert in the Plaza. You can catch them this year on June 30, a full line-up can be found on the following pages. Photo by Mukta Naran

SeasonFinale W HO

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Experience 90 singers on stage, both current members and alumni, singing the very best work of the past 40 years from this award winning choir. Sparkling wine and dessert post-concert reception included with your ticket purchase!

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tickets $20, $30, $40

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, SAN LUIS OBISPO

www.pacslo.org • 8 0 5 - 7 5 6 - 4 t i x ( 4 8 4 9 ) Bette Kulp

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our new calendar on the website for the details. While you are there you can take a look at the rest of our events including Concerts in the Plaza, Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market and all of the other special events that we are bringing online for the summer. Everything from our expanded produce section at Downtown SLO Farmers’ Market (with Negranti Creamery coming back!) to a new summer concert series hosted by BarrelHouse Brewing Co. on Chorro Street. Yes, there will be delicious and cold BarrelHouse beer for sale and four great opportunities to celebrate with them as they bring their speakeasy up stairs and into the street.

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peaking of nice cold beverages at The Market, you will also start seeing our other Downtown breweries bringing their tasting room out to The Market on Broad Street, and why not? From the start of our market 34 years ago, we have

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been all about discovering local flavor. From the beginning, with F. McLintock’s stoking the first oak pit, through today— we are making sure that locals can come to Higuera Street every Thursday for a bite to eat, produce and some solid entertainment. Until recently we just did not have the ability to include our local craft breweries and wineries. That all changes this summer and we hope that you will come taste a new side of our locally produced agricultural economy by raising a glass with your friends and family.

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ith all of that being said, we have had a lot of irons in the fire this year and the Downtown SLO team is still hard at work to bring you the best Downtown in the country. We love to see you smile when you are down here. If you want to encourage our Downtown SLO team or just brag to your friends and followers across social media, feel free to love #DowntownSLO.

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ustin Bertucci considers himself a local, though he was originally born and raised in Torrance and Redondo Beach. He grew up in a warm loving family of six and enjoyed reading, biking, swimming, skateboarding, surfing, playing guitar and attending school. After a quick Google search, he applied to Cal Poly and was miraculously accepted. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration in 2014. His love for community, interpersonal communication, team dynamics, the outdoors, farming, and San Luis Austin Bertucci

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Obispo all blossomed while studying here in SLO. Austin is our weekday Downtown SLO Ambassador, and he does his best to serve his beloved community.

He greatly enjoys meeting new people, interacting with locals, transients, store owners, and employees alike. Each day varies and he's happy to be in the best city around. For fun, you will most likely find him singing, biking, hiking, walking, reading with some tea in hand, or praying at the old mission church. If you see Austin out and about Downtown, don't be a stranger and say hi!

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IN AN EMERGENCY?

• Knowing how to respond should a disaster strike is an important step to keeping yourself and your family safe.

Do not dial 9-1-1 unless you are in need of immediate lifesaving assistance. • First identify if you need to take protective actions by tuning to a local radio or TV station for emergency information. Emergency officials will use the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to direct protective actions such as evacuations or sheltering in place. It is important to only take action if it is directed. Evacuating when it is not ordered may put you or others in harm’s way. • Only pick up children from school if you are directed to do so. • Evacuation routes and shelters will also be broadcast on the EAS. • During a large emergency, the county will activate a phone assistance center to answer questions regarding the emergency and actions you should take. • For more information, contact the County Office of Emergency Services at (805) 781-5011, or visit www.slocounty.ca.gov.

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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The Queen's Court

Ashley Kantner, Owner 1075 Court Street, Suite 204 (805) 305-2021 TheQueensCourtSlo.com

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fter searching for real estate for a mere 20 days, Ashley Kantner signed the lease for The Queen's Court, a full service nail studio located at 1075 Court Street, Suite 204. Both the timing and the name were fortuitous, since Ashley had decided upon the name before even finding the location. The 150 square foot space has just enough room for a manicure station and a pedicure "throne" and is an intimate, quiet setting where customers get treated like royalty. As she is located on the second floor above Peet's Coffee & Tea, Ashley relies on word of mouth and social media marketing to get the word out, and it's working: the studio recently celebrated it's one

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year in business this past April. That may be partially because of the density of the Downtown workforce and the community she has built up here: "I built my foundation Downtown," says Ashley. "It's important to support the Downtown community." That said, clients from as far away as Cambria and Shell Beach come to the appointmentonly studio to get their mani/pedi fix in. Ashley offers everything imaginable when it comes to nails: gels, acrylics, nail art, and applications of glitter, foil and Swarovski crystals, which she is certified in. Ashley credits her husband, Jeremy, for his help and support during her first year in business. (They remodeled the entire space in a mere ten days). She says, "He's been awesome...He was the one that pushed me further." The Queen's Court is open Wednesday through Friday from 8am-7pm and Saturday from 8am-2pm. Photograph by Ballads Photography.

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owntown SLO is excited to have our interns on board!

Every quarter, we rely on our interns to help support our staff at events and assist with daily office duties while learning the ins and outs of managing Downtown SLO. This spring, we welcomed Matt Casadona, Phoebe Conrad, and Rebecca Bauer.

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att is extremely excited for the opportunity to be more active in the San Luis Obispo community and to see what he can bring to the Downtown SLO team. Matt is a second year at Cal Poly and is currently studying Business with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Psychology. Matt originally grew up in Long Island, New York and moved to sunny San Diego where he developed a love for the outdoors, Matt Casadona music, and traveling. In his free time, he enjoys adventuring around SLO and attending as many music festivals as he can. He has a passion for event planning and is excited to see what the future has in store for him. Matt is thrilled to be a part of this team and is excited to meet you!

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hoebe is originally from Southern California but came to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly as an English major. She is now in her third year, and her love for San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast continues to grow. In her downtime, she enjoys

reading, cooking, spending time outside, hiking, running, and exploring new places. She appreciates the endless opportunities to get outdoors that SLO provides while also offering a plethora of restaurants and shops to explore.

Phoebe is excited to get more involved as a member of the community because she will be able to contribute to the strong sense of community she so greatly appreciates.

While living in San Luis Obispo, she has pursued a passion for volunteering by working with a number of different organizations, which has also allowed her to meet people from all over the area. She is very enthusiastic about the opportunity to organize events for Downtown.

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ebecca is a Cal Poly senior studying Agricultural Communication. Rebecca grew up in Sacramento, where she developed an appreciation for agriculture and its importance at an early age. She is especially passionate about farmto-fork and believes the Farmers' Market is the best way to promote this growing movement. By combining her passions for both agriculture and marketing, Rebecca plans to increase Rebecca Bauer awareness of The Market and share the stories of the local farmers and businesses. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys exploring San Luis Obispo and its surrounding area. She loves the beaches, the people and especially the food, never missing an opportunity to eat at one of the many delicious restaurants. She is very excited to begin her internship and hopes to use her knowledge and creativity to shine light on the incredible San Luis Obispo community.

Phoebe Conrad

For more information on Downtown SLO events, programs and activities, or to sign up for our weekly Deliver-E newsletter, visit www.DowntownSLO.com

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vocal arts 40th season finale

The SLO Vocal Arts Ensemble is celebrating a milestone Ruby Anniversary Season; 40 years of performing beautiful choral music! Capping this celebratory season is this season finale concert at the Performing Arts Center on June 4th at 3PM and featuring over 90 singers on stage, including current members and alumni, singing the very best music from their four decade collection. Most numbers were selected from requests by patrons, current singers and alumni. Our founder and musical director, Gary Lamprecht, is at the helm of this special season, and in his honor the newly created “Gary & Patricia Lamprecht Music Education Endowment” will award an annual scholarship to SLO County graduating seniors pursuing a college degree in music studies, starting in 2017. Tax-deductible donations are being accepted through the United Way of SLO County. Order tickets online at pacslo.org or call 805-756-4TIX (4849)

community foundation awards food bank

The Community Foundation SLO County recently awarded a $15,800 Grant to the SLO County Food Bank. Pictured is a member from the 5Cities Homeless Coalition picking up “NoCook bags.”

new exalted ruler for slo elks lodge

volunteer with literacy for life

Literacy For LIFE has a countywide need for tutors, crucially in North and South Counties. Our 2-part Tutor Training Workshop will take place on Saturday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 10th in the conference room at Union Bank, 995 Higuera Street, SLO, from 10am to 3:30pm. A $25 enrollment fee is required at your first session. For more information or to sign up, please call 805-541-4219 or visit our website at www. literacyforlifeslo.org

The 2420 members of the SLO Elks Lodge #322 recently elected new Exalted Ruler Ann McDowell for 2017-2018 year.

For the first time in local Elks lodge history, back to back

D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years

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

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252 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo (805) 541-TIRE

THE BULLETIN BOARD female Exalted Rulers will head the lodge. (Left to Right) Past SLO Elks lodge Exalted Ruler Teresa Lara presents the new Exalted Ruler Ann McDowell with the leadership gavel for the 2017-2018 year. The Elks lodge serves our central coast community by contributing charitable support to men, women and children. Those charitable activities include scholarships, Christmas food baskets to needy families, direct support to veterans hospitals and other related causes like Operation Surf, Americanism essay contests for school children, Boy Scouts, Hoop Shoot, Youth Soccer, related Youth Activities, disabled children and many other community charitable programs.

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Patrick O’Hara is a well-known financial planner. But by night, Patrick and his son, Michael O’Hara, share a passion for giving back to the community while spreading Irish traditions through song. They performed free of charge and made separate cash donations to the HCRC and the Assistance League.

serving our country

young ireland concerts benefit local groups

Local Irish folk band Young Ireland held two concerts in March that raised $3,245 for The Hearst Cancer Resource Center (HCRC) and $2,270 for the Assistance League of San Luis Obispo County. The concerts were made possible

by Presenting Sponsor Wacker Wealth Partners. By day,

Seaman Brendan Quinn, from SLO, uses hand signals to communicate to Sailors on the forecastle to lower him into the ocean during a search and rescue portion of a seamanship training team drill aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108). Wayne E. Meyer is on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative to extend U.S. 3rd Fleet command and control functions into the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike groups have routinely patrolled the IndoAsia-Pacific for more than 70 years.

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dance fundraiser for restorative partners

Some of SLO’s most prominent figures will be donning cowboy boots and competing in a country dance competition as part of Restorative Partner’s annual fundraiser. On Saturday, June 3rd, attendees can vote for their favorite contestant at the “Gone Country” event. Contestants will include SLO County Sheriff Ian Parkinson, SLO Mayor Heidi Harmon, District Attorney Dan Dow, Executive Director of Restorative Partners Sister Theresa, Robert and Rosa Reyes of the Probation Department, and Carissa Phelps, CEO and Founder of Runaway Girl, Inc. Voting will take place online at restorativepartners.org as well as in person. Voters do not need to be in attendance in order to vote.

The event will also include a silent auction as well as a country BBQ dinner (with vegetarian option). Tickets can be purchased at restorativepartners.org/fundraiser. All proceeds will benefit Restorative Partners, a restorative justice organization with a mission to create a more healing response to those affected by crime. The event will take place at Elks Lodge in SLO on June 3rd from 5-9 PM. Tickets are $50.

Local books: 100 things to do before you die

Former SLO City news columnist, Gareth Kelly has published 100 Things to Do in SLO County Before You Die. Whether you are a local or a first time visitor this book is jam packed with things to do, places to see and memories to be made all over this county. It’s a very simple guide giving you a one-page teaser on what to see next. The book is paperback and can be purchased for $16 at Barnes and Noble or you can contact ReedyPress.com

slo greek festival set for june 3 & 4

A.G. hospital Foundation receives $25,000

Arroyo Grande Community Hospital Foundation is pleased to share that it has received a $25,000 gift from Rabobank N.A. to benefit the Foundation’s Legacy Campaign, which includes the expansion of Emergency Department capacity, upgraded imaging technology and services, enhanced Acute Rehabilitation services, and Oncology services. In recognition of the donation, a therapy room in the Acute Rehabilitation Center at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital will be named the Rabobank Acute Rehabilitation Center Therapy Room. Pictured: From left: Mike Morrison, Dan Snowden, Ken Dalebout, Steve Harding, and Montisa Phelan Lopez.

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

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

11175 Los Osos Valley Road, SLO J U N E

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The 10th annual SLO Greek Festival will be held at the Mission Plaza located at the corner of Chorro and Monterey St in downtown SLO on Saturday, June 3rd and Sunday, June 4th. The festival hours are 11 AM to 7 PM on Saturday, and 11 AM to 4 PM on Sunday. Admission is free. This event is a fundraiser for St. Andrew the Apostle Greek Orthodox Church which supports many charitable groups in SLO County including the SLO Food Bank and the Prado Day Center.

free senior health care screening

Community Action Partnership, Adult Wellness & Prevention Screening offers health screening for adults 18 years and older throughout SLO 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.

THE BULLETIN BOARD sheriff’s bicycle program gets huge boost

Christmas came early to the Sheriff ’s Office Bicycle Program.

That’s because 87-year-old Dr. Don Morris bought and then donated 85 bicycles that remained after Cal Poly held its annual bike auction. The bikes were loaded up and taken to the Sheriff ’s Honor Farm where they will be completely refurbished by inmates and then handed out to kids in need this holiday season during the Sheriff ’s Office Christmas Bicycle Giveaway. This isn’t the first time Don has done something like this. He’s donated bicycles from the Cal Poly auction to the Sheriff ’s Bicycle program for several years. Don says he always gets “great joy” in making his donation because he knows it’s going to a great cause, the children in our community. Sheriff Parkinson was on hand to accept the donation.

The Sheriff and the entire Sheriff ’s Office extends a big thank you to Don for his generous gift and giving spirit.

mark borjon reappointed to fair board

California Governor Brown announced that Mark Borjon has been reappointed to the 16th District Agricultural Association, California Mid-State Fair Board of Directors. Creston’s Mark Borjon has been the dealer principal for Borjon Auto Center since 1991 and has been a cattleman and horseman in Paso Robles since 1995. He is a member of the National Automobile Dealers Association, California Motor Dealers Association, Rancher Vistadores, California Cattlemen’s Association, SLO County and Monterey County Cattlemen’s Associations and American Quarter Horse Association. The 2017 California Mid-State Fair runs July 19 through July 30. This year’s theme is “Come One, Come All!”

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C.C. Realtors’ foundation gives $50,000 to shelter

The Central Coast REALTORS® Charitable Foundation just completed their “Agents for Change” pledge to raise $50,000 toward construction of the new Homeless Services Center at 40 Prado Road in SLO. The decision to support this project came with the goal of putting a roof over everyone’s head and the $50,000 raised will sponsor one of the family dorms at 40 Prado. The Association currently has approximately 500 members, including affiliates. For further information, contact Foundation President Graham Updegrove at 805.459.1865. Pictured from left to right: (Foundation Past President Robin Foreman, Foundation Current President Graham Updegrove, Foundation Board Member Tyler Bennett, 40 Prado President John Spatafore).

1st annual shelby Sudbrink Scholarship fundraiser

Shelby Sudbrink was a senior at Templeton High School when she lost her life in an automobile accident in January. She was an honor student, captain of the varsity girls’ basketball team, and a friend to all. The Shelby Sudbrink Memorial Scholarship Foundation was created to honor her legacy. The Foundation’s mission is to award one scholarship per year to a female senior athlete from Templeton High School who exemplifies the qualities of Shelby.

As a tribute to Shelby’s #12 athletic jersey, the award recipient will receive $1,212.12 per college academic term for up to eight terms.

To help honor Shelby, please join us on June 3rd at the American Legion Hall in Templeton for dinner, live and silent auctions and live music. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the Templeton Recreation Department or Upscale Resale in Templeton. For more information, visit LiveForShelby.org or contact Emily Sudbrink at (805) 468-9521.

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bill thoma joins community foundation board

The Community Foundation announced the election of Bill Thoma to serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Thoma is President and CEO of Thoma Electric, Inc. Thoma has served our community in a variety of capacities, including on the Board of the French Hospital Foundation from 2004-2014 and he is a long-standing member of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, Thoma and his children established the Jennifer Thoma Memorial Ballet Scholarship at The Community Foundation, in memory of his wife. Six dancers have since received the scholarship award.

Thoma lives in Avila Beach with his wife, Linda.

League of women voters honor katcho

Former State Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian was honored for his years of public service to residents of the Central Coast at a luncheon hosted by the League of Women Voters of SLO County. Trudy Jarratt, former President of the League of Women Voters, presented Mr. Achadjian with a photo commemorating his support for the League and for the celebration of 100 years of women’s right to vote in California in 2011. The League of Women Voters encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. The local League, founded in 1962, has more than 125 members representing all of SLO County. For more information on the League of Women Voters contact the League at (805) 782-4040 or by email at info@lwvslo.org or go to the website at www.lwvslo.org. Pictured: Trudy Jarratt, former President of the League of Women Voters, presents Mr. Achadjian with a photo commemorating his support.

Miossi trust recognized for $100,000 program

Big Brothers Big Sisters recognized the Harold J. Miossi Trust at the agency’s Shareholders Reception. Over the past 5 years, the Trust has provided over $100,000 in support to their School Based Programs in SLO and Morro Bay. Anna Boyd-Bucy, Executive J U N E

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Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters said “The Miossi Trust has ensured multi-level mentoring for elementary Littles and their teen mentors. We would not have a School Based Program at Del Mar Elementary without this support.”

morro bay 55+ celebration Day

On Saturday, June 17, from 10AM to 3PM the Morro Bay Active Adults 55+ will present the first Annual 55+ Celebration Day and Open House. The town is dedicating this day to showcasing all the activities that are available to this age group with free demonstrations and lessons. The Community Center will be open and all the rooms will be alive with activities including pickleball, bocce ball, disc golf, exercise classes, dance lessons, pool, ping pong, card games and an art show! The main lobby will be filled with information tables and vendors providing important information and handouts concerning medicare, insurance, legal questions, Cuesta College Emeritus class registration, senior living options, etc. Refreshments will be served all day. Downtown, multiple bands will be playing music especially selected for the 55+ listener at Grandma’s Frozen Yogurt with Grandma herself offering complimentary lemonade ices to all those 55+ music lovers! Many downtown businesses will take part, offering exclusive one day “specials” for this age group and a free shuttle service will be available to transfer riders between the Community Center and the downtown businesses so no one has to miss any of the activities. Bring yourself, a friend, your parents or your grandparents to this informative and fun event! For more information call 772-4421 or stop by the Community Center on or before June 17 to pick up your activity sheet and learn how you can win a lifetime membership to Morro Bay Active Adults 55+.

mcp student, bella yaguda honored

Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School (Mission College Prep) announced today that junior student, Bella Yaguda, is one of four finalists at the Play Works Competition at the International Play Works Festival, a celebration of student achievement in the performing arts, at the University of Nebraska. Several dozen high school thespians submitted their work to the competition and only four were selected as finalists. Those finalists will travel to the University of Nebraska in Lincoln this June to watch their plays be produced and performed. Bella’s play, “Talking to Your Child About Death” is a 16 minute, single act with quick, short dialogue. The entirety of the play takes place at a bus stop, where an elderly man, “Clipper,” waits. Clipper struggles with memory loss and confusion; illustrated with him having a dog on a leash that is depicted by a stuffed animal since, in reality, his dog recently died.

The only other character is a very young girl, “Eve,” for whom this bus stop is the stop for her school bus.

Essentially, the world has ended, and the two characters realize that they are the only two people left.

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strongest man & woman competition at fair

For the first time in its history, the California Mid-State fair is pleased to present the California Mid-State Fair Strongest Man & Woman Competition, which will take place Sunday, July 30. The competition will feature some of the strongest athletes and human beings from all throughout the great state of California and across the USA. Competitors will have the opportunity to put their brute strength on display for all fair-goers in attendance. There will be a total of six weight classes consisting of Men’s and Women’s Lightweight, Middleweight and Heavyweight divisions. The event is being jointly promoted by the California Mid-State Fair and SLO Strong. Those interested in competing can find the entry form at https://www.slostrong.com/mid-state-fair- strongman. Sign-ups are capped at 30 competitors total and the entry will close on June 30.

Spectators can watch free of charge with paid Fair admission.

grants awarded to ymca and transitions

The Community Foundation is pleased to announce $200,000 in grants that have been awarded from the Gertrude and Leonard Fairbanks Foundation Fund held at The Community Foundation.

SLO County YMCA and Transitions-Mental Health Association have been selected to each receive a grant of $100,000 to support their programs serving youth within the County. Working in partnership during 2016, The Community Foundation supported the Gertrude and Leonard Fairbanks Foundation Board in their process of learning more about the important work being done by the many organizations serving youth. “We are honored to announce these significant grants being made by the Gertrude and Leonard Fairbanks Foundation,” said Heidi McPherson, CEO of The Community Foundation. “These important investments in our community affirm our mutual commitment and support of local nonprofit organizations serving those in need and the importance of the issues these programs will address.” For more information on The Community Foundation’s grants program, please visit www. cfsloco.org or contact Len Smolburd at (805) 543-2323.

casa honors volunteers

As part of National Volunteer Appreciation Week, CASA of SLO County recently recognized its volunteers who serve throughout the county. Volunteers were recognized for their years of service and commitment. Some volunteers also received the President’s Service Awards in recognition of hours served in 2016. Awards are categorized as Gold, Silver and Bronze depending on total hours served. This award included a certificate of recognition, a letter signed by former President Obama and a pin. Photo: Superior Court Judge Linda Hurst (front row left) with CASA Executive Director Teresa Tardiff (front row right) with recipients of the President’s Bronze Service Award.

morro bay art association’s summer classes

Diana Tabarez will be teaching classes in Morro Bay. Tuesday and Thursday morning sessions are designed for ages 7-10, afternoon sessions for ages 11-14. Saturday art workshops are great for families, couples and friends. Children under age 6 should be accompanied by an adult. Diana Tabarez is an alumnus of Morro Bay High School and graduate of University of California Davis, with a Bachelor of Art degree in Art Studio and minor in Education.

Diana studied Art Studio in France and exhibited her artwork at several venues including the Chancellor’s Honorary Show in 2015. She has painted three murals with youths from elementary and junior high schools in Davis and Sacramento. She has spent many hours as an elementary teacher’s assistant, interacting with children during after school programs and giving independent art lessons. Her real talent lies in helping young students discover the magic of art! Summer art programs are designed to get students excited about art, and help them learn new skills and techniques.

Mediums include painting, drawing, clay, printmaking, mixed media and more. Prior experience is not necessary to participate.

All art supplies are provided. Lessons are subject to change based on student’s interest and energy levels. For class descriptions please visit our website at: https://artcentermorrobay.org/index.php/ comingevents/childrens-classes/

12 martin luther king, Jr. scholarships awarded

The Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Memorial Scholarship Committee, now in its 49th year, held its award ceremony last month. This year ten $1100 scholarships and two at $1300 were awarded. The funds generated come from an annual chicken BBQ in San Luis Obispo each Super Bowl Sunday (put Sunday, February 4th 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. Scholarship winners included: Benjamin Alonso, Tatiana Alvarado, Elias Chavez, Michelle Cuevas, Yasmin Dajani, Gloria Flores, Meghan Fox, Andrea Hernandez Galindo, Shelby Holquin, Juan Rodriguez, Margot Spear and Amandalyn Wayland. Three other awards we given to people that support the program, they included: Tom and Gail Garris, Veryl Ann Duncan and Leslie O’Connor.

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* Source: Real Estate Market Reports (REM). December 2016.

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