July 2011 Journal Plus Magazine by SLO Journal

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Journal PLUS JULY 2011

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

MID STATE FAIR “MOUNTAINS OF FUN”

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CONTENTS

20 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

PHONE

805.546.0609

E-MAIL

slojournal@fix.net

WEBSITE

www.slojournal.com

ESTRELLA WARBIRDS MUSEUM

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

ERIN PERRY

FFA WINNERS

PEOPLE

COMMUNITY

ADVERTISING Jan Owens, Kristen Hathaway CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Hilary Grant, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Maggie Cox, Deborah Cash, Ruth Starr, Margot Silk Forrest, Andrew Carter, Sharen Rund Bloechl, Bob Huttle, Gordon Fuglie and Phyllis Benson 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 distributed monthly free by mail to all single family households of San Luis Obispo and is available free at over 600 locations throughout the county. Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in the byline articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE. Cover photo provided by the Mid-State Fair

8 10 12 14 16

BILL AND TRISH KESSELRING MARY PARKER SHARON SMITH ERIN PERRY BETSY HARDIE

HOME & OUTDOOR 18 20 22 24

FFA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ESTRELLA WARBIRDS MUSEUM HOME DESIGN DISTRICT FOOD / AT THE MARKET

26 28 30 32 34 36 46

SLO ART SCENE HUTTLE UP – Frank Warren OUR SCHOOLS Dr. Julian Crocker HISTORY: Samuel Adams Pollard HOSPICE CORNER /CROSSWORD PUZZLE PALM STREET – Councilman, Andrew Carter ALMANAC – The Month of July

BUSINESS

37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening 42 THE BULLETIN BOARD 45 EYE ON BUSINESS

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Serving the entire SLO County since 1978 Twila Arritt Broker-Associate

805-543-2172 www.farrellsmyth.com

www.3835MontereyRoad.com

Pamela Bliss Broker-Associate

Nice feel and good flow to this in town ranch style spread, with all of the city services. 1.24 acres on the Westside. Suitable horse property, with infrastructure in place. 3Br/2Ba Open floor plan, vaulted ceilings, fireplace. Move in Ready! Sparkling fresh and inviting, Solar heated, in ground pool. $334,900 www.1356Berwick.com

www.7900SanClemente.com

You don’t have to go far to feel like you are living in the mountains when you step inside this custom 3 bedroom, 3 bath 2460 sq.ft. home w/ office, interior laundry, 2 car garage and kitchen with plenty of storage. Nicely landscaped back yard includes fruit trees, lawn, chicken coop and tool shed. Lots of oak trees throughout the property. $419,999 www.5847Tamarisk.com

Theresa Carroll REALTOR®

Patricia Garrison REALTOR®

Annette Mullen REALTOR®

Laura Rizzoli REALTOR®

Beautiful 3bed, 2.5 bath home in Morro Bay. First time on the market. Relax and entertain on the ample decking while enjoying the ocean views. Over sized garage and doors w/large work bench area. Plenty of room for the boat and toys. Awesome sunsets. $609,000 www.347Branch.com

Lovely single-level Country Club Estates. 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath home located on the 16th Tee, with beautiful mountain and golf course views. Charming, gated community. $889,000

Mary Rosenthal REALTOR®

www.406Ferrini.com

Janet Shaner REALTOR®

Vicky Hall REALTOR® Great 3 bedroom home w/ additional two - 1 bedroom units. Main house has been redone to reflect the period of the home. Hardwood floors wood sash arched windows. A real doll house. Each unit has washer/dryer hookups, on site parking. $749,500 Jennifer Hamilton Relocation Director

Stephanie Hamilton REALTOR®

Classic 1960’s Four-Plex half a block from the Highland entrance to Cal Poly. All two bedroom, one bath units, with large bedrooms and on-site laundry. Lower units have back doors to patio area and upper units have private decks. $829,000

21 Santa Rosa Street, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 Conveniently located in the heart of San Luis Obispo. Our office is open 7 days a week.

Larry D. Smyth Broker

From the publisher It’s like living in a REALLY nice tree-house. An architecturally pleasing home in Monterey Heights. Great location close to both downtown San Luis and Cal Poly University. Three bedrooms with three baths. Recently updated with bamboo flooring, carpet & paint. Great decks for entertaining with plenty of sunshine. Views of San Luis Mountain. Asking $609,000. www.350sanmiguel.com

A completely redone home just a block from the water in Shell Beach. Pottery Barn Style. From a new roof, windows, doors to plumbing to flooring to fixtures to paint. Everything has been remodeled and updated. Two big bedrooms and two baths. Private yard in back and an actual garage with space for storage. Absolutely turnkey. Asking $515,000www.250SantaFe.com

If you consider yourself a lover of modern architecture, high end design, seamless construction or state of the art electronics then you must see this marvel. It is simply unlike any other house in the City of San Luis Obispo. Perfect location with the ideal climate. Very private. See the web-site for additional photos and more information. Asking $1,250,000. www.2191santaynezave.com

Johnny Hough Owner / Broker

(805) 801-5063

johnny@realestategroup.com 962 Mill Street, SLO See more listings at www.realestategroup.com

uly is the busiest month of the year for special events. Two of my favorites include the Mid-State Fair and the Renaissance Festival. The Mid-State Fair opens July 20th and this year’s programs are the best yet. We didn’t do a full story this year but did list the big-name entertainment on page 47. You can also go to midstatefair. com and get all the information you need to prepare your day. The 27th Annual Renaissance Festival runs the weekend of July 16th and 17th. More than 800 costumed entertainers, three stages of events and a real joust await you. See page 21 for more information. We have six people profiles this month who make a difference on the Central Coast, including a tribute to Frank Warren. Bob Huttle caught up with Frank It’s summertime! and tells us his story about working with our youth. Two other profiles on young individuals are also inside. The first is on Bill and Trish Kesselring. After graduating from Cal Poly, Bill has been helping our local wineries succeed. The second profile updates us on what Sharon Smith has been doing since she graduated from San Luis High School. While still in grad school she has had her first book published.

Local historian, Joe Carotenuti, writes about one of our first retail store owners in San Luis Obispo, Samuel Adams Pollard. Finally, if you like wines, the biggest and best wine classic happens July 7th-10th. Take a look at page 31, you will want to participate in this one. Plenty of good reading again this month.

Enjoy the magazine,

Steve Owens

We’ve gone green. Now view our printed calendar of events entirely online. Visit our website today and find your way to the best seats in the house.

W W W . P A C S L O . O R G

UPCOM ING E V EN TS Saturday, July 16, 8 pm United States Coast Guard Band Concert

Friday, Sept. 9, 7 pm La Guitarra: Pepe Romero/SF Guitar Quartet

Sat., Sept. 10, 6:30 pm La Guitarra: Roland Dyens

July 16 & 23, 2 & 7 pm July 17 & 24, 2 pm Seussical the Musical

Saturday, Sept. 10, 9 am La Guitarra: Ana Vidovic Master Class

Sunday, Sept. 11, 9 am La Guitarra: Pepe Romero Master Class

Cal Poly Music Dept.

Cal Poly Arts

Kelrik Productions

Cal Poly Arts

Sunday, Aug. 14, 2 pm Dancin’ 2011 The Academy of Dance

Sat., Sept. 10, 11:30 am La Guitarra: Adam del Monte

Sunday, Sept. 11, 11:30 am La Guitarra: Pavel Steidl

Cal Poly Arts

Thurs., Aug. 25, 7:30 pm Lewis Black: In God We Rust

Sat., Sept. 10, 1:45 pm La Guitarra: Thomas Viloteau

Sunday, Sept. 11, 1:30 pm La Guitarra: Johannes Moller

Cal Poly Arts

Saturday, Sept. 10, 4 pm La Guitarra: Chris Jacome Flemenco Quartet/Calmenco

Sunday, Sept. 11, 3:15 pm La Guitarra: Dr. Craig Russell Lecture (Free)

Cal Poly Arts

Friday, Sept. 9, 1:30 pm La Guitarra: Adam del Monte Master Class Cal Poly Arts

Friday, Sept. 9, 4 pm La Guitarra: Roland Dyens Master Class Cal Poly Arts

805.SLO.ARTS Phone | 805.756.2787 Fax | 805.756.6088

WWW.PACSLO.ORG

Cal Poly Arts

PEOPLE

bill and trish kesselring: running peloton cellars winery By Hilary Grant

ere’s one formula for happiness, Central Coast style: take two 20-something Californians, one with a fledging teaching career near Los Angeles, the other attending Cal Poly as a plant science major. Have his best friend introduce them to one other, and make sure to use a shared sugar packet to exchange phone numbers. Then begin dating, tie the knot and add two adorable kids. Oh, and have the couple – here’s the SLO County twist – work at what they love best…creating prize-winning wines. In a nutshell, that’s the story of South County residents Bill and Trish Kesselring. The duo are partners, along with Bill’s two closest friends and his brother, of Peloton Cellars, a winery whose grapes all come exclusively from this area’s wine region. “Peloton is a French word meaning group,” says Trish Kesselring, who handles marketing and special events for the company. “It’s actually a cycling term referring to the main pack of riders in a race.” Since all of the founders are avid bike riders, along with the fact that the company’s specialty is French style wines, Kesselring says the name fits them perfectly.

Started in 2006, with a current roster of about 20 clients, KVCS offers advising services for every aspect of vineyard development and management. Sustainable farming practices are integral to every recommendation Bill gives, with guidance including optimum pruning techniques, pest management and plant nutrition. Because of his educational background – in addition to Bill’s plant science degree, he’ll soon have a Master’s in Viticulture from Cal Poly, and is also a state certified pest control advisor – he’s also tech savvy, and on the cutting edge of vineyard advances. Thanks to this other, literally-in-the-dirt career, Bill has been able to “get all of our grapes from ranches that I either farm completely, or at least consult for.” Indeed, Bill truly has full control of the entire winemaking process. “This allows us to know exactly where to pick our fruit from, and to pay close attention to those grapes all season long,” he says. “The small details are what can make a good wine a great wine!”

Only six years old, Peloton has snagged some notable awards.

As with any enterprise, there are bumps along the way.

There are the 90 percent ratings by Wine Enthusiast magazine for its 2007 Zinfandel and 2006 Cabernet, and Peloton’s 2008 Sauvignon Blanc was also named Editor’s Choice by the same publication. In addition, the San Francisco Chronicle has graced the company with gold and bronze metals for its Zinfandel and Syrah offerings.

“Our biggest challenge right now is getting our products out there to taste, and for people to hear Peloton’s story,” he says. “Since we have very little publicity budget, we need to make sure we’re at all of the events, spending time pouring wine and telling our history.”

Of course, Peloton may have an edge because of this: Bill Kesselring also created, and runs, Kesselring Vineyard Consulting & Services (KVCS).

Later this month, Peloton will open its first tasting room.

That part of the business may be getting easier in the very near future. The 600-plus square foot space is in a new building in Avila Beach, and will be managed by Trish. “Bill and I chose this spot because we really feel this area is going to become the newest art and wine center of SLO County,” she says. “Also, we love the beach and this location fits our down-to-earth, relaxed lifestyle which we hope to carry over in the room.” The couple is making the space environmentally friendly, too, with décor designed and constructed out of reclaimed lumber and other green materials. Hand-made pottery, jewelry, gourmet foods and art work from local artists will also be in the mix. Another big-deal event is scheduled for August: Peloton’s second Annual Winemaker’s Dinner. Catered by chef and good friend Tara Stumph, the five-course meal will take place at a farm in the hills above San Luis Obispo, and will

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A Retirement Facil boast five award-winning Peloton wines, including an Albarino, Cabernet Sauvignon and late harvest Sauvignon Blanc. The couple knew they could make a good team almost from the beginning. “Bill called me two weeks after we met, and invited me out on our first date,” remembers Trish. “We drove up to a lake, to a hilltop spot Bill had scoped out the day before, and then he rolled out a blanket, wine, and cheese and crackers.” There, while watching the sunset, and later over dinner, the two discussed college life – Trish had begun teaching but was a recent Cal State Fresno grad – and their goals.

PEOPLE

Even though the prospect of moving m

for college more for its incredible cycling Adds Bill: “Wine, grapes and bikes – I can’t owe it toforyourself program than the education – but I came out future, think ofyou a better business us. We wantto to learn h with a degree anyway! Of course, the Central carefree encourage peoplein to slow in life, whichfor man living yourdown own home Coast is blessed with some of the most beaumeans riding bikes, and enjoying good wine tiful rides in the country.” along the way. It’s definitely a healthy life style!”

You Don’t Have toFindMove Feel includSafe and out more about Peloton Cellars,

More than anything, the Kesselrings value their family unit and It’srelationship a fact ofwith lifeGod. that

news about its new tastingPristine room and is fully asingwe get older, Winemaker’s Dinner, at pelotoncellars.com, someBill day-to-day too licensed and insu “I love, trust and support with all of my tasks or become call (805)720-5226. heart,” says Trish. “We bothto puthandle our faith in much on our own. That All of our worke Jesus to guide us through all of the decisions doesn’t mean you have to move away are carefully scre we make for ourselves and our children.” from the comfort of your home. and pass a crimin • Personal • Pristine Home Services is aHousekeeping local background chec Care company that helps San Luis Obispo and drug test, giv • Yard Maintenance • Handyman County residents avoid the high cost when someone fr Servingof moving All oftoSan Luis Obispo County a retirement facility. in your home.

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“Conversation flowed easily, and Bill’s fun personality quickly showed up, keeping the evening full of laughter.” Married in a candlelight ceremony at Grace Bible Church in 2000, the Kesserlings, with sons Jaston and Toby, along with cat Alli, make their home in Grover Beach. The house was originally a rental, but, says Trish, “Bill understood the investment opportunity it could be. We offered to buy the home and once that offer was accepted, we got busy landscaping, painting and remodeling. “When those projects were completed, we decided to build a house in the backyard. For the next year, we spent our evenings and days off building our beautiful home.” In spite of work and family obligations, the couple still makes time for an active lifestyle – the two both love surfing and hiking. On their own, Trish participates in triathlons, and Bill is an avid bike rider. “I started riding in fifth grade,” he says. “To be completely honest, I choose Cal Poly

All of our services can be provided She should be cl daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. very reasonable From housekeeping You to handyman services and plumbing to preparingyou meals.need There is no task too large or pay for only the services dows!” R. Watso too small for Pristineand Homewe Services. All of ourthose services can be providedatdaily, weekly, or on an as-needed provide services a price basis. You pay for only the services you need and we provide those services at a price you can“They afford. took the t you can afford. what I wanted. Pristine Home Services made it possible exactlyforwhat I a Convenient One-call us to stayService comfortable and independent reasonable. I wo in our home. When Mary was diagnosed Our personal care services include a friend. with cancer, is no longer ato threat, the ” C. shopping, daily errands, mealwhich preparapeople at Pristine became a very important tion, transportation part andofnon-medical Before you mak our team. They were trustworthy, care. Our housekeeping services keep reliable and always stood by ourcould side. Weaffect yo our relationship their staff. your kitchen and thetruly restenjoy of your home withand standard o Smith spotless. We even do windows and-- Don and Mary to read these tw laundry. Our yard maintenance crews Before you make any decisions that could affect your future happiness and standard of living, take every s “What know how to take care of your favorite the time to read these two FREE reports: about living in rose bushes and keep the grass neatly “What every senior needs to know about living in a retirement facility.” mowed. Our handyman services are “Four critical “Four critical questions to ask a service provider...before you let anyone work in or near your home.” provided by specialists in plumbing, service provid We invite you to call Pristine right now so that we can send you these two FREE reports by mail. electrical work, painting, repairs and anyone work i safety rail installation. Call for rateS We invite you t now so that we two FREE repor

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PEOPLE

mary parker Chairperson of the board For people’s kitchen By Ruth Starr

eople’s kitchen provides hot meals 365 days a year to people who are hungry. When Mary Parker first got involved in 1995, 50-60 people would show up for lunch. Today that number has doubled, serving between 90110 people each day.

the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Mary joined the board in 1995 and ten years ago she became the Chair as a result of what Mary calls default. A few of the chairs had moved and were no longer able to lead the group so she agreed to take it on and has been there ever since.

At the time Mary was asked to serve on the board of the People’s Kitchen, she was the Director of Nursing at Cuesta College and was raising four children, ranging in age from eight to fourteen years old. Mary was invited to join the board by her close friend, Jean Gordon, the original “founding mother” of the People’s Kitchen. They met through

The mission of People’s Kitchen is to provide food to anyone who is hungry. There are about 35 different local groups that rotate serving food every day. Some of the groups serve one day every month; others serve every other month. Many of the volunteers come from church and synagogue groups, some are from businesses and service clubs, and some are groups of caring friends. Mary personally organizes two groups. The first one is from Cuesta College and is made up of faculty, management, and students. The second is called the SLO Mamas and Papas, which is a group of friends. All the food is donated from the various groups. As a volunteer, she spends about 2-3 hours working with People’s Kitchen every week. The kitchen is located at the Prado Day Center. “I like the fact that People’s Kitchen donates tangible food items directly to those in need,” explains Mary. “You know exactly where your donation is going.” Every day a scheduled volunteer group comes to the kitchen. They bring all the food, serve those in need and clean up afterwards. Volunteers are often touched by this remarkable experience. Mary has always felt that we have a responsibility to help those less fortunate than ourselves. She feels that we all have an obligation to try to help people. She pursued her education in helping fields true to her character. Her Bachelor’s Degree was in Nursing at Florida State and then she earned her Masters in Nursing from the University of Florida. While living in Florida, Mary worked in Obstetrics and the emergency rooms in Gainesville and Miami. She then attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she was awarded a Doctorate in Education. At Cuesta

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College where she was teaching, her doctoral focus was on curriculum development. In 1971 she moved to California where her then-physician husband was named chief resident at University Hospital in San Diego. The marriage didn’t last and she moved to San Luis Obispo in 1972. Mary felt very fortunate to get the job at Cuesta College and has absolutely loved living here. She taught at Cuesta from 1972 to 1994 where she was the Director of Nursing and Allied Health. In 2007, Mary decided to retire and immediately took up golf. It was a sport that she had always wanted to participate in and never had the time. She loves the game, the people she plays with and the mental aspect of the game, which helps keep her focused. She has a good sense of humor and can laugh at shots gone astray. Once in a while, Mary can be seen climbing down to the creek bed at Laguna Golf Course to retrieve balls, her own and other friends,’ who didn’t quite make it across. Mary’s four children are a source of great happiness to her. Jacob, known as Coby, is a winemaker at a local winery. Davila lives in Seattle and is an architect. Daniel is a Civil Engineer who lives in San Francisco, and Krystal is a substitute teacher here in San Luis Obispo. Rounding out what she calls a wonderful life, are a dog and two cats. They are all rescue animals. The dog came from Woods Humane Society and one of the kitties was found in a dumpster. In addition to her continued leadership and dedication to the People’s Kitchen, Mary feels blessed to have great friends, wonderful children, and activities that help her feel like she is making a difference.

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PEOPLE continues with stepby-step instructions on effective ways to lobby politicians, hold demonstrations and define one’s future in the green movement.

sharon smith ...greening the globe, one activist at a time By Hilary Grant

his is true: nearly every movement that has radically changed the social landscape of America wasn’t started by politicians… but by passionate and committed citizens. Whether that means the decades’ long battle to secure a woman’s right to vote and a 40-hour work week, or doing away with segregation laws and children working in sweatshops, millions of people, young and old, rich and poor, have stepped up to the proverbial plate to do the right thing. Now, in the last decade or so, another huge force is sweeping the world – the Green Movement. Loosely defined as learning how to become responsible stewards of the environment, “living green” can be simple. As a matter of fact, many are already at this place – recycling bottles and paper, buying freshly picked produce from local farmers, and sticking to a set number of weekly miles spent behind the wheel of a car. But what about someone who wants to go green in a much bigger way – perhaps turn around the policy of a logging corporation, get toxic chemicals out of the ground in a nearby town, or green the heating system at a school? Look no further than The Young Activist’s Guide to Building a Green Movement and Changing the World. Published this past winter by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Random House, its author is 33-year-old Sharon J. Smith, a SLO town native who has trained thousands of young people around the world to advocate for social change. Currently a full-time graduate student at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, Smith also works with Earth Island Institute, a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to supporting people creating solutions to protect the planet. Here, Smith is program advisor for its annual Brower Youth Awards, which, says the Institute web site, “recognizes people who have shown outstanding leadership on a project or campaign with positive environmental and social impact.” “For the last several months, I’ve focused on spreading the word about this book – the kind of tool I wished had been available to me when I began my own journey as an activist,” says Smith. Indeed, densely packed and numbering more than 200 pages, Building a Green Movement has just about everything a green thinking mover and shaker needs. Divided into nearly a dozen sections, the first and second chapters focus on how to find your passion and create an action plan. It J U L Y

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Smith also includes contact information for resource organizations and a thoughtprovoking, green topics book list. Many past recipients of the Brower award are included, too. There’s 11-year-old Alex Lin, who persuaded his school superintendent to restore and distribute computers to those who could not otherwise afford them; Alec Loorz, a gifted speaker and founder of Kids Versus Global Warming, whose mission is to educate youth on the science of global warming, and Erica Fernandez, who persuaded the California Coastal Commission to unanimously vote against a gas pipeline being routed through her low income neighborhood. “I want people to realize that these kids, who are the success stories, are average people, like you and me, who simply decided to take action to make changes in their local school, community or state,” says Smith. “Sometimes these efforts grew to be national or international in scope, but they nearly always started small,” she continues. “Getting started doing something – anything – is often the hardest part. When I started out, I failed to get started because I didn’t know how, and I didn’t want to fail. “I hope my book helps dispel all of the mystery surrounding a new effort.” Smith was born in San Luis Obispo to now retired dad Craig, who worked at Diablo Canyon for years, and mom Linda, in administration for a number of state and county offices. Even as a young teen, Smith was anxious to make her mark in the world. “It took me a while to find my crew,” remembers Smith. “But by my junior year at SLO High, I was involved with student government and had more freedom because of driving.” As a compromise to dropping out at 16 and heading straight to college, Smith attended high school half days in order to take classes at Cuesta College. The seeds of Smith’s activism were already blossoming. “From a very early age, I was interested in forests – particularly the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia,” she explains. To that end, Smith “pored over” photos of Olympic National Park and dreamt of a visit there. At 19 – she was a U.C. Berkeley student by this time – Smith studied tropical ecology in Costa Rica, and then followed monkeys in Panama under the auspices of a Smithsonian research facility. Although these journeys were satisfying, Smith says she grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of conservation efforts by her academic colleagues.

PEOPLE “Researchers were seeing research sites threatened, but didn’t see any roles for themselves as advocates for protection,” explains Smith. “I realized that if I wanted to conserve rainforests, I would need to choose a path other than research – which led me to advocacy. I have deep respect for scientists, but I saw my role as someone coming up with policy solutions.” To that end, Smith’s first job out of college was working with the Heritage Forests Campaign, an organization that sought to protect millions of acres of roadless forests from industrial logging. She continued to work on that goal with the Rainforest Action Network, focusing on teaching young people how to protest in direct, but non-violent, ways.

“I hope my book helps dispel all of the mystery surrounding a new effort.” During this period, Smith also “had the amazing opportunity” to work with a team which successfully pressured Citibank to make a public commitment to climate change mitigation. Smith next helped launch a marketing campaign with the Grassy Narrows First Nation, a Native American tribe in Canada pushing for the protection of lands in their traditional territory and other areas of that country. After that, Smith took two years off to “travel the globe, bike cross-country, volunteer with and learn from grassroots organizations across two continents, read voraciously, and care for ill friends and family.” Then returning to the Bay Area, she joined Earth Island Institute as program advisor for the Brower Youth Awards. What’s the best part, and the most challenging part, of being a hands-on green activist? “Best is that I get to work in a community of committed dreamers, visionaries and organizers,” says Smith. “Winning when the odds seem stacked against you is incredibly empowering. “The most challenging aspect is seeing that our efforts don’t seem to keep pace with the level of destruction and consumption we see in America, and beyond, today. So much of America today is focused on advancing the

quality of life of individuals, rather than the collective. I want to see communities thrive!”

“To grow up, able to leave my front yard and go for walks in the hills – how lucky is that?”

Smith includes SLO as one of those places.

Contact Sharon J. Smith, or purchase The Young Activist’s Guide to Building a Green Movement and Changing the World, at buildagreenmovement.org. The book can also be found at most online book sites, or ordered at local bookstores. All author proceeds go to Earth Island Institute’s Brower Youth Awards to support the next generation of young activists.

“Regardless of where we live, we need natural beauty, including in our cities,” she says. “I’m so grateful to forward-thinking city planners who built a beautiful, bicyclefriendly, navigable city surrounded by some of the most beautiful open spaces I’ve encountered in California.

San Luis Obispo has many things to be proud of. We’re proud to serve San Luis Obispo. Ever since we opened our doors in this community, we’ve made it our business to help people become better investors. How? By listening to you, then talking. By being not only at your side, but on your side. It’s a commitment we make to every person who trusts us with their hard-earned money. Call or visit a branch today. No matter what level of investor you are, we can help you in your financial decision making.

San Luis Obispo Branch Come see our new location at: 733 Marsh Street Suite 100 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-3901 (805) 788-0502

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erin perry

artist pays tribute to soldiers and civilians Photos and story by Margot Silk Forrest

hen Erin Perry was in kindergarten, her teacher gave her an “unsatisfactory” in Cut & Paste. She is now a mixed media artist specializing in collage and altered books with a solo show opening July 1 at Linnaea’s Café in San Luis Obispo. Perry, a Morro Bay resident, has created a body of work entitled “The Pity of War,” which focuses on the world wars of the 20th century. Her collages feature shell casings, vintage photos of children being evacuated, torn Stars of David, military insignia, shards of glass, old coins, paper poppies and ribbon rosettes. Of her work and the unusual materials she uses to create her pieces, Perry says, “I am a dreamer and an alchemist. I collect the detritus of the street, the shore and the secondhand — the rusty, the worn, the tattered and torn. It sits in my studio and marinates – sometimes for days, sometimes for months, until the dream takes shape. “Then I combine it with canvas, paint, pastels, cheesecloth, paper – and all is transformed into mixed media collage and assemblage. Working with these materials, I have developed a fine sense of history and

an empathy for the people who first used and touched them. This has been especially poignant for me as I have worked on ‘The Pity of War.’” The spark for this show was ignited four years ago, Perry says, when she stood in the Poets Corner of Westminster Abbey at the graves of several of the WWI poets. She was struck by the words of Wilfred Owen engraved in his marker: “My subject is War and the pity of War. The Poetry is in the pity.” “I did not live through either of these wars, but traveling through England – where every tiny village has a war memorial literally covered with names of the dead, and evidence of the Blitz still scars London’s streets – made the tragedy of both these conflicts very real to me. I was deeply moved not only by the sacrifices of the fighting forces, but by the bravery and resilience of the people at home. I think we enjoy the freedoms we have today because of the sacrifices of the generations who fought in the World Wars.” This show has also been a way for Perry, 59, to offer a belated, heartfelt appreciation to her father who, as a sergeant in the Army Air

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Corps, fought during WWII in North Africa, Italy and France. One of the altered books in the show focuses on his war experiences. “Working on these pieces has been very emotional for me,” she says. “As a result, I think it’s some of the best work I have done.” In addition to being an artist, Perry has worked for the San Luis Obispo City-County library for nearly 20 years. Currently she is a supervising library assistant in Cambria. What originally attracted her to the field of altered books was not her library experience, however. (Just the opposite — as a lifelong lover of books, it took nerve to suddenly start “defacing” their pages and covers with paint, stamping ink, and glued-on bits of ephemera.) What intrigued Perry was the fact that there are no rules when creating altered books: Anything goes. That freed her from any worry that she might do it “wrong.” Once she got started, her love of mixed media grew like wildfire. From working at a tiny table in the corner of a small sunroom, she has expanded to a full-fledged artist’s “command center” — as her family calls it — that takes up a good third of their great room. For Perry, there is almost nothing that is too “used” to serve as an art supply. She has old cigar boxes tidily labeled with their contents, including “Bones,” “Bottle Caps,” “Tickets,” “Wheels,” “Rusty Metal” (she has two boxes of those), “Doll Heads” and even “Old Tea Bags.” From altered books, she went on to assemblage — a 3D version of collage — and mixed media collage. The unifying aspect of all her art work is that it turns found and vintage objects and images into entirely new statements about life and the human experience. Perry’s art has appeared in Somerset Studios magazine, at galleries and juried shows in San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, Cambria and on the Open

Studios Tours. She has been profiled in the New Times and the Tribune. Perry is also a prolific writer. She blogs daily at http://www.alteredbythesea.blogspot.com/. Her website is www.alteredbythesea.com. A “Meet the Artist” opening reception for “The Pity of War” will be Friday, July 1, from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., during Art After Dark. The show will run through July 31.

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betsy hardie and the north County concert association By Natasha Dalton

efore moving to Paso Robles 14 years ago, Betsy Hardie worked at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in L.A. Being a part of a 300-bed inpatient program, designed to help veterans whose health problems were exacerbated by homelessness, mental illnesses and substance abuse, was a challenging experience for everyone involved. Not all veterans admitted ended up completing their treatment course. And it fell to Betsy to deal with the appeals of those who “fell off the wagon” and as a result, were discharged from the program.

proof that turn-arounds are indeed possible. “We gave the opportunity,” Betsy says about her program. “And if people worked at it, it worked for them, too.”

“I usually upheld the decision,” Betsy says. She and her treatment teams worked hard, and expected hard work on the part of their patients, too. But they also experienced some wonderful successes. “I was able to hire, in my time, probably about 15 of the veterans,” Betsy says. In fact, her last staff assistant was one of her former patients and a daily

Her new life in the slow lane began with all the picture perfect ingredients on-hand: a beautiful house in a quiet neighborhood; a charming rose garden; dear friends nearby; and – to top it all off – a set of season tickets for the local concert association.

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Reflecting on 35 years at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Betsy seems almost surprised at how long she ended up staying there. “It was a hard job,” she admits. “But I tried to make a difference.” And when she eventually retired and moved to the Central Coast, the transition couldn’t have been easier. “I was ready for it,” she says. “It’s such a warm community. I love it.”

But retirement isn’t necessarily idleness, and Betsy was reminded about it when she was asked to become the next North San Luis Obispo County Concert Association’s (NSLOCCA) President. That surprised her. “I love music, but I can’t read it, I can’t play anything, I can’t even carry a tune to sing. I don’t think I’d be a very good president,” she argued. But the association’s founding member Kakie Madden thought otherwise, and in the end she convinced Betsy to try. “Ok, as long as I don’t have to sing or dance, I’ll do it,” Betsy agreed. Her vast experience in dealing with longterm scheduling and overseeing the logistics of various events came in handy for building the programs for her concert association.

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Initially, all the concerts were booked through a national community concerts organization, which also took care of the promotions. The only thing that Betsy and her selection committee were responsible for was choosing the acts they liked – and could afford. “Before the concert, I’d get up and introduce the entertainers, and maybe bring them a bottle of water; that was about it.” But things didn’t stay that easy for long. By 2003, “all kinds of rumblings” began to roll Betsy’s way. Due to the booking agency’s mishandling of its funds, NSLOCCA suddenly

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found itself facing some serious financial difficulties. Simply put, the agency, unbeknown to NSLOCCA, stopped paying its musicians. When NSLOCCA found out about it, it felt obligated to compensate its entertainers from its own reserves. “We double-paid,” Betsy explains. “That was horrendous, and it was happening nationwide.” To make things worse, as a result of the San Simeon earthquake, NSLOCCA lost its concert venue. “We were really in a difficult position then,” Betsy remembers. But even with all these hardships, NSLOCCA completed the season though it had to move its last two concerts to the First Baptist Church in Paso Robles. Still, the cost of running the organization was getting out of hand. The whole concept of community concerts, built on the notion of providing top-notch entertainment at a reasonable price, was in jeopardy. To Betsy and her board of directors, raising the cost of the membership was simply out of the question. “There’re people in the community with limited resources and they can only afford so much. We want to take care of our own and to provide for them. That’s always been our goal,” Betsy says. So, NSLOCCA’s officers appealed to its members for help. “And from $5 and up, fabulous donations came,” Betsy smiles. “That helped us a great deal.” At that time Betsy was also working with several other local non-profits, which inspired her to adopt some of their fundraising concepts. One idea came from Patti Franke who suggested recycling used ink cartridges. This, as well as ordering Texas grapefruits as Christmas time presents, have become NSLOCCA’s signature fundraising strategies. These days NSLOCCA works with Live on Stage Inc. based in Nashville, but it also does its own research. The association was founded in 1948 with the explicit purpose

PEOPLE of exposing local audiences to national and international music. Still mindful of this intent, in recent years NSLOCCA began to embrace the state talent as well. “When I hear about inspiring local artists,” – and ‘local’ for Betsy means ‘Californian’ – “I want to bring them in,” she says. Every year in September, when the new season at NSLOCCA is about to begin, Betsy meets with her team of dedicated volunteers to make selections for the next season. They get to see what’s new in today’s world of musical entertainment, and choose the acts that are likely to please hundreds of their concert-goers, many of whom have been with the association for decades. “There’s a lot to choose from,” Betsy says, “and we’re trying to find something for everyone.” In the past, the association predominantly focused on classical repertoire, but with Betsy’s encouragement, it opened its doors to jazz, blues, folk and Broadway performers. “We lost a few old-timers over that,” Betsy admits. “But I personally enjoy jazz and blues, and I think that we should welcome a wider participation. We also should consider interests of the younger generations.” Quality, affordability and access have always been the cornerstones of NSLOCCA’s philosophy. Emphasizing the importance of music education for children, it brings its outreach programs to the local schools. The collaboration with Trinity Lutheran School in Paso Robles “has been marvelous,” Betsy says. Children aren’t always an easy audience. “The artists are going to be paid, but they also want to be appreciated, and we found that our outreach at Trinity Lutheran proved to be a satisfying experience both for students and the musicians,” Betsy states. The association is now extending its invitation to the home-schooled kids and to St. Rose Catholic School. “We want to reach more children. We’d like to have as many outreaches as we have concerts. That’s what we’re working on right now,” Betsy explains. Today, when many respectable musical outfits – like the Santa Maria Symphony Orchestra, or the North County Symphony Guild – have folded, NSLOCCA continues to guarantee its members at least four quality musical productions a year. Not only that, but membership in the North County Concert Association gives its members access to the concerts of every other similar association nationwide. Considering the relatively low cost of the season tickets ($15 for a student; $55 for an adult; $60 for a single parent family) – it’s really quite a deal.

It also makes it easy to turn a simple shopping trip to a nearby town into a fulfilling staycation. “Bakersfield, for example, has a wonderful 2000-seat auditorium, and with our reciprocity policy, you can drive there, have some wonderful Basque food, perhaps spend the night, and enjoy a concert in a very beautiful setting. I’ve done that,” Betsy says. “We honestly believe that we’re the best game in town,” Betsy insists. “Now that schools are cutting many programs, our concerts are becoming more important than ever. We encourage people to bring their children and their grandchildren.”

When three years ago, after 75 years in business, the SLO Concert Association dissolved, it was sad news for the NSLOCCA members as well. They lost one of the excellent venues they could always count on before. But Betsy wants all the music lovers in the county to remember that the North County hills are still alive with the sounds of music…and she’ll be happy to see you there. To learn more, go to www.NSLOCCA.org or call 239.2770.

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Valerie Williams Santa Barbara, CA

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ffa leadership conference they’ve only just begun! ...Slo High students shine at state conference By Susan Stewart

s more than a dozen teenagers sweat out their anxieties in a small room—often for hours on end over a three-day weekend—many of them wonder what in the world prompted them to turn in their application for this intense competition a mere 90 days ago. They’ve attended a gala dinner, given a carefully prepared speech in front of 5,000 people, have endured three days of harrowing interviews, and made it through two rounds of cuts. They’ve watched their numbers dwindle from the original 50 candidates down to 15, then to the final 6. There will be just one winner, announced in a countdown from sixth to first, on the final morning of the conference, while thousands of members, coaches, friends, parents, and, of course, their fellow candidates watch and wait. No, this is not the auditions for American Idol … it’s the 83rd Annual State FFA Leadership Conference, State Public Speaking Finals and Fresno Field Day held April 14-19, the culmination of months of training, practicing, hoping and dreaming. At 500,000 members strong, the National FFA Organization is the largest youth organiza-

“I can’t wait to serve as an ambassador for the agriculture industry!”

Ashley Judge, Jessica Judge, Bailey Riedel, Lauren Huffaker, Coach Becky Judge

tion in the country, and this year, history was made. San Luis Obispo High School’s FFA team not only took top honors in all major public speaking state contests (beating out 34 competitors), but one individual, Ashley Judge, also placed First High Individual (out of 126 competitors) at the State Finals Livestock Judging Contest – for a history-making third year in a row. “That’s something that no one has ever done; it’s a huge accomplishment,” said SLO High Ag teacher and coach, Anna Bates. Judge also won 1st place in the State for Prepared Public Speaking with her 8-minute speech titled Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyard Administration: Threatening 30 Years of Progress, presented to a crowd of 5,000. Judge will go to the nationals next fall where she’ll compete for California. “I’m not usually a very emotional person,” said Judge, “but when they called my name, it was automatic tears.” Sophomore Emma Phillips placed 2nd in the State for Extemporaneous Public Speaking; and freshman Benjamin Peterson placed 3rd in the State for the Creed Speaking Contest. SLO High FFA’s Farm Power Team took 3rd High Team in the State with 3rd High Individual sophomore, Peter Brazil. For Ashley Judge, the real highlight of the year was not her individual wins, but the announcement of SLO High as high team at state finals. “We were all crying as they announced the names,” she said. “When they announced second place, we knew we had won. But as soon as they said SLO, I dropped to my knees … it was a moment for which I had worked and waited for four years … four years of dedication, hard work and bonding with girls who will be my friends for life.” As if that were not enough, the conference had one more local surprise to deliver: SLO High graduating senior Kenna Lewis was elected State FFA Vice President, one of only six officers to represent more than 70,000 FFA members. She’ll devote the next year of service traveling to high schools and leadership conferences putting on workshops and teaching the value of leadership and the importance of agriculture. “We’ll spend about 300 days out of the next year on the road,” said Lewis. “I didn’t fully realize how big an opportunity it truly is until I began receiving schedules for the year … seeing exactly how jampacked our year will be. I can’t wait to serve as an ambassador for the agriculture industry!”

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coach, and department head, Jodi Evans. “We have a great team … three strong teachers with a passion for the agriculture industry and the teaching profession. We balance each other nicely.” “They’ve [my coaches] always believed in me no matter what happened,” said Judge, who also credits her hard-driving parents. “I cannot be happier that they have constantly [encouraged] me to achieve greater things.”

Ashley Judge, State Champion Prepared Speaking

A cadre of supportive teachers, coaches, and parents was cited by this year’s winners as the main reason for their success. In fact, the SLO High trio of teachers, Anna Bates, Jodi Evans, and Patrick Smith, was recently awarded the CATA (California Ag Teachers Association) Outstanding 2-3 Person Department award for the South Coast region (L.A. to San Jose). “This has been the most successful year we’ve ever had,” said SLO High Ag teacher,

Founded in 1928, The National FFA Organization (then called the Future Farmers of America) did not let females become members until 1969. Today, 38% of its members are female, who hold more than 50% of the state leadership positions. With the motto “Learning to do, Doing to learn, Earning to live, Living to serve,” FFA educates members about agriculture and prepares them for careers in any field. In 84 years, past members of FFA have included such famous names as Morris Dees (founder of the Southern Poverty Law Center); Chris Johns (editor-in-chief of National Geographic); U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma, Wes Watkins; entertainers Don Henley (of the Eagles), Lyle Lovitt, Tim McGraw, Taylor Swift, and Willie Nelson;

Kenna Lewis, State FFA Vice President

numerous sports heroes, prominent business leaders, educators and politicians; even former president Jimmy Carter. Joining their illustrious ranks are the winning members of this year’s SLO High FFA team. As Kenna Lewis says, “I am anxious to see where the future leads!”

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estrella warbirds museum By Sharen Rund Bloechl

here was a time when almost everything around the Estrella River and its plains was home to the Estrella homesteaders who braved heat, drought, and isolation to wrest a living from land that had never before been tilled. As part of the heritage, the greater Paso Robles area saw their contribution to World War II via soldiers and airmen at the Estrella Army Air Force Base [now the Paso Robles Municipal Airport]. Based on this history, a group of people started putting together memorabilia from times past in which the primary goal would be to preserve, perpetuate, and display American aviation history, especially that of our nation’s military services. They started out in Freedom Hall, filling it with old uniforms – both American and from other countries, gas masks, German WWI helmets, model planes hanging from the ceiling, pins, medals, hospital tent and so on. All the items on display have been donated or purchased for a nominal sum and lovingly restored by volunteer members. As the wars were winding down and men were being shipped home, many of them came home with souvenirs and, as time went by, they got passed from family member to family member until some people no longer had room for them and donated, them to the museum in the family name. Larger items like motorcycles, jeeps, tanks, etc. were left behind and “claimed” by the locals. One such motorcycle was acquired by an Englishman who stripped it down and made it into more of a Harley type. Along the way, locals were able to get hold of this bike and restored it to its original look. There’s such a large number of items and not enough room to display it all that the curator and volunteer staff are constantly rotating displays so each time you go, you’ll see something new. On display in the Brooks Building are jeeps, side arms, early communication devices, antique ambulances, bombardier sites, modern missiles, unique personal items carried into combat during the previous century, and artifacts of airplanes which made aviation history.

Outside the museum buildings are the numerous parked planes – among this collection of early year aircraft are fighter jets, some recently retired from active duty. If you can’t fly one of these planes, how about the next best thing? An FA/18 Hornet Flight Simulator from Eagle Flight Sims is in Freedom Hall. Available during most normal museum hours – reservations for half hour flight time are suggested. Once you’re in the cock-pit you can now choose to fly one of over 30 different military planes, from a radial engine F4U Corsair to a transport jet the C5 Galaxy! The “heads-down” digital display in the cockpit changes to simulate many of the gauges typical to that plane. Once you, the pilot, receive your pre-flight briefing, you will be able to communicate with the control tower. 3D sound provides increased realism to the cockpit and the large “heads up” projection display covers the front wall of the simulator room, all of which adds to the visual sensations of flight. The thrill is yours! J U L Y

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HOME/OUTDOOR You can choose almost any type of flying, from being a first time pilot in a normal airspace, to a high energy pilot in the middle of combat. Take off from a dirt runway or launch via a catapult from the USS â&#x20AC;&#x153;Connie.â&#x20AC;? Fly day or night, in cloud or fog cover, with multiple aggressor aircraft to fight against, and a whole slew of armament and ordinance systems. You can even experience mid-air KA4D. Refueling planes remain aloft to provide support if you run low on jet fuel. Had enough of planes, tanks and other military? How about walking down to the newest collection at the museum? Cars. Woodland Family Automobile Museum houses another chapter of history, automobile racing. As GIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s returned home after WWII, they found a need for excitement and entertainment. Out of this search, automobile racing really took off on many levels. Although the â&#x20AC;&#x153;open cockpitâ&#x20AC;? Sprint Cars and Midgets had been around long before the war, it became far more popular afterward. Most people could not afford to purchase these â&#x20AC;&#x153;state of the artâ&#x20AC;? race cars. Consequently, numerous drivers started out in the more affordable but equally dangerous Track Roadsters working their way up to driving the Sprints and Midgets. Since these cars were so dangerous and costly, they were replaced by the Hard Top, and Jalopy. These were affordable and safer race cars could be built with a few tools and a cutting torch, starting out with inexpensive older cars like the plentiful â&#x20AC;&#x2122;30s and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;40s Fords, Chevs and others. All of these race cars were extremely popular through the late 1940s and into the 1960s. Then, with the exception of the Midgets, they began a transition to becoming one basic form of race car. The Track Roadster gave way to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;open cockpitâ&#x20AC;? Sprint Car. The Jalopy/Hard Top evolved into the Modified or Super Modified which in many ways was similar to the Sprint Cars but with one major exception, a â&#x20AC;&#x153;full roll cage.â&#x20AC;? However, in the mid to latter part of the 1960s, due to numerous fatalities in open cockpit racing, there was a major outcry that â&#x20AC;&#x153;open cockpitâ&#x20AC;? Sprint and Midget racing was far too dangerous and full â&#x20AC;&#x153;roll cagesâ&#x20AC;? were mandated. Once they were added to the Sprint Cars, it was only a matter of time until the Modifieds and the Super Modifieds were absorbed into a â&#x20AC;&#x153;cagedâ&#x20AC;? Sprint Car class. Today, these cars are virtually unchanged with the exception that some associations allow large reverse air foils, â&#x20AC;&#x153;wings,â&#x20AC;? on their Sprint Cars while other associations still race the more traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;non-wingedâ&#x20AC;? version.

Most of the cars in the museum have been restored to the original condition as they were when first built. Some of the cars came off the track and required little to no restoration. This is a unique collection in that you can see, up close and personal, cars which were well known on the various racing circuits. The collection also includes some street rods and cars of the â&#x20AC;&#x2122;50s and â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s. Located its at the south end of the airport , itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a short drive off Highway 46E to Airport Rd and a left on Dry Creek Rd to 4251 youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll

find the Estrella Warbirds Museum on your left. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the few â&#x20AC;&#x153;fly-in or drive-inâ&#x20AC;? facilities in the nation. Hours: Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10 am-4 pm, Sunday: 12-4 pm Admission: $10 per adult; Children 6-12 years: $5; Toddlers under 6 FREE; Students with student photo ID Card and Seniors 60+ $8.00; Family Maximum $20 For more information and/or reservations on the following, call 805-467-3521.

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How to Throw a Great BBQ By Statepoint Media

armer weather means it’s time to take the party outdoors. But don’t settle for simply doling out burgers and dogs on a paper plate. Unique party themes and dishes can help you wow your guests from the comfort of your back porch. Here are some ideas to consider before your next barbeque: Pick a Theme A party without a theme is like a song without a rhythm. It provides the beat of the party and informs all creative decision making, from food to music to decoration. No matter where you live, consider a summer beach theme, encouraging guests to wear bikinis and board shorts. Other great themes include a Hawaiian luau, a Texas BBQ or a southern hoedown. These grill-friendly party options are a perfect way to celebrate the season.

Go Beyond Burgers All too often, hosts confine their barbeque to burgers with little flavor on a tasteless bun. “Grilling is not simply a matter of tossing food over fire,” says Andrew Schloss, co-author with David Joachim of “Fire It Up: More Than 400 Recipes for Grilling Everything.” Schloss and Joachim say you can go beyond the burger by grilling just about anything, from duck to dessert. They also say you should be flexible with flavor and advocate innovative recipes for sprucing up your brisket with espresso or turkey with a smoky coconut rub. It’s all about trying new flavors and dishes to create a unique barbeque experience. Entertain You’ve got the food and decorations covered, but you’re not done yet. Be sure to set up speakers in your backyard so guests aren’t straining to hear tinny beats from your laptop. And if your friends are the type to engage in a loud dance party, always warn the neighbors. Lawn games are also a fun addition to a summer shindig. Badminton, whiffle ball and bocce ball are easy to set up and sure to be crowd pleasers. For those less athletically minded, a card game is a fun follow up to dinner.

Keep It Safe Grilling can be dangerous if you aren’t careful. Keep it safe by grilling outdoors, away from children and pets. Use clean, undamaged equipment. And while nothing goes better with a BBQ than beer, the grill master should avoid impairing his or her reflexes and judgment. “If your grill catches fire, turn off your grill and gas supply,” says Joachim. “If the fire is anywhere near the fuel source (propane or natural gas), evacuate the area and call the fire department.” For more grilling tips and recipes, check out the new “Fire It Up” cookbook or visit www. davejoachim.com. With a little creativity, you can turn a good party great in your own backyard.

A proud tradition of serving our community for over 26 years

CAYUCOS – Prime ocean front location in the heart of Cayucos downtown business district. This mixed use building with ocean view residence is just steps from the beach and the popular Cayucos Pier. The first story has street front retail on Ocean Avenue. The second story has three offices with private decks, plus a stunning ocean view residence with rooftop deck. $1,895,000 #2864

SHELL BEACH – A completely redone home just a block from the water in Shell Beach. Pottery Barn Style. From a new roof, windows, doors to plumbing to flooring to fixtures to paint. Everything has been remodeled and updated. Two big bedrooms and two baths. Private yard in back and an actual garage with space for storage. Absolutely turnkey. $515,000 #2865

Custom Tuscan Home

SAN LUIS OBISPO – This home has it all

with the master suite on the main level and two more bedrooms up the elegant staircase, each with their own bath. The gourmet kitchen has a center island with full sink, and built-in stainless appliances including a wine cooler, warming drawer and large gas griddle/cooktop with water source. The large family room has an oversized fireplace and the formal dining room is in addition to the in-kitchen dining area with french doors out to the backyard. The private front courtyard with a fireplace is an entertainer’s dream. Fully landscaped and irrigated yards and courtyard make this a lower maintenance home. $949,000 #2860

SAN LUIS OBISPO – HUGE VALUE for the $$$! Nearly new 5 bedroom, 3 bath home with over 3189 sq. ft. Features large kitchen that opens to huge family room with fireplace, separate formal living room, dining room, parlor & 1 bed/bath downstairs. Upstairs is a large master suite, 3 bedrooms & large open loft. Private yard, landscaped front. Hurry – this won’t last, priced $30K less than its nearest competition! $649,000 #2861

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Gorgeous views of Bishop’s Peak. Single level, 3 bedrooms 2 1/2 baths. Large, formal living room, formal dining room and comfortable family room with wood burning fireplace and 1/2 bath. This home offers a fantastic opportunity to remodel and customize your dream home in one of San Luis Obispo’s highly coveted neighborhoods. $769,000 #2866

Monterey Heights Home

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Large, private lot on a quiet cul-de-sac in the Old Country Club. Nice single-level 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home with a ton of potential. Fenced backyard and large front yard with a closedin deck accessed by two of the bedrooms. $499,000 #2867

SAN LUIS OBISPO – It’s like living in a really nice tree-house. An architecturally pleasing home in Monterey Heights. Great location close to both downtown San Luis and Cal Poly University. Three bedrooms with three baths. Recently updated with bamboo flooring, carpet & paint. Great decks for entertaining with plenty of sunshine. Views of San Luis Mountain. $609,000 #2855

TEMPLETON – Beautiful home in excellent neighborhood in west Templeton. 3 bedrooms, 2 bath, 1400 square feet. Many upgrades and finishes in kitchen and bathrooms. Well taken care of home with flowing floor plan. Nicely landscaped yards with concrete patio with brick edging. Get inside this home, easy to show. $359,000 #2852

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

805.541.2888

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

HOME/OUTDOOR

at the market Barbecued pizza By Sarah Hedger

Joe’s. There was no man in my life at the time so I figured I had better figure out how to be self-sufficient in the barbecue department. After reading several success stories of barbecuing pizza, I decided to give it a go. I’ll be honest because the first time was not the greatest as I didn’t flip the pizza on the barbecue, essentially only cooking one side of it, leaving it a bit doughier than normal, but alas it still tasted great (and left me wanting more). My barbecue skills have evolved and one thing I really like about barbecue pizza is it can reflect the seasons in the topping selection and funny enough, fewer topping ingredients usually results in a better tasting pizza. The appeal of the barbecue really shines, especially mid-summer

s we roll into July and Mother Nature seems to be pleasuring us with the anomaly of rainfall to water our gardens, it is easy to see the abundance of produce growing on the Central Coast. The farmer’s markets are as colorful as ever with all things apricot, berries, plums, peaches, tomatoes, basil, zucchini, and melons to name a few. The sky really seems to be the limit when it comes to what can be grown in this region. Something to be said for our good soil and our temperate climate that promotes plants to grow! This month’s recipe is a little out on the limb as it uses the barbecue for something not everyone is accustomed with – Pizza! I really feel like barbecued pizza is one of the best ways to cook pizza as most barbecues reach an internal temperature comparable to a good pizza oven. I remember the first time I barbecued pizza after having purchased (yes, purchased) some pizza dough from Trader

It’s About ExpErIEncE. It’s About pErsonAl sErvIcE. It’s About thE clIEnt.

L to R: Cary Adler, Dave Belmont, & Kevin Dye

©San Luis Obispo County VCB

protEctIng our clIEnts’ futurE drEAms AgAInst tomorrow’s uncErtAIntIEs. Cary Adler, Dave Belmont and Kevin Dye work hard to support their clients and community. Years of experience means that they can put together the coverage you need and the service to back it up. If you are evaluating your business insurance needs, call Adler Belmont Dye and let them put their experience to work for you.

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when it is more appealing to be outside than inside with the oven on. This month’s recipe, Grilled Pizza with Fresh Basil Pesto is very rewarding with a little planning. The fresh basil pesto for this pizza is something I stumbled upon recently after not having all the usual ingredients for traditional pesto, so I improvised. I used cashews in place of pine nuts, which was a double bonus because I didn’t have any cheese on hand either and the cashews actually give a parmesan texture to the pesto, leaving a blind taster unable to notice the difference! I use a fraction of the olive oil with the addition of some hot water to bring the pesto to the right consistency. Adding in some good sea salt, the pesto tastes remarkably like the original version, with no dairy and less fat. The two ingredients that I feel make pesto so special are the basil and garlic. Basil’s brilliance is not to be overlooked as it is pretty unique and adding a little fresh basil to anything, you immediately infuse the freshness of summer! And that leads us to the not so humble garlic. Garlic, with all its healing properties that continually get written up and when we probably only know a fraction of benefits to date, can cure just about any common cold with its raw cloves. Thus, this pesto ends up being simple, delicious, nutritious, easy (and vegan)! If you don’t have the time to make the pizza dough, it is fine to purchase but with just a little bit of planning, the dough can be waiting for you at the end of your day, ready to be barbecued and needing little prep. Your fellow eaters will be really impressed when you say you whipped up the dough from scratch and barbecued it and made the fresh pesto. You really will be pleasantly surprised with how fun barbecuing pizza is and don’t be surprised if you are tempted to grab a cold one while manning the grill. Happy July!

Grilled pizza with fresh summer basil pesto For the Pesto: 1 cup raw cashews 1 cup basil 3-4 garlic cloves, peeled ½ cup olive oil ½ cup hot water 2 tsp sea salt ½ tsp fresh ground pepper If using an immersion blender, place all ingredients in tall cup or high sided bowl and puree. If using a blender, place all ingredients into blender and puree until smooth. If pesto is too thick (i.e. peanut butter), add a little more hot water and puree. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary.

For the Pizza: ½ tsp active dry yeast 1 ½ cups flour (spelt flour works well too) 1 tsp kosher salt ½ cup kalamata olives, pitted and split in half 4 ounces Chevre, sliced into ¼ inch pieces * Optional – 1 tsp crushed dried red pepper

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Place ¾ cup lukewarm (body temp is good) into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast over water and give a gentle stir. Add the flour to the bowl and sprinkle in the salt. Mix with a wooden spoon until dough comes together. You may need to add more flour until the dough begins to come away from the bowl. It should be a thick dough, not like pancakes! Scrape the dough off the spoon and knead until dough is smooth and form into a neat ball. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Place both pieces of dough on a large plate or baking sheet, covering with plastic wrap (not airtight!) and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator one hour prior to cooking. Preheat BBQ to high heat. Clean grill and lightly brush with olive oil. With lightly oiled hands, gently form dough into rounds 6-8 inches in diameter. Gently lay pizzas on grill, reduce heat to medium, and cover. Cook for 3-5 minutes (check bottom with spatula to make sure they aren’t burning). Flip pizzas and liberally brush fresh pesto on each pizza following with olives, Chevre, and crushed red pepper. Cover with BBQ lid and cook for a remaining few minutes, or until cheese is warm and molten like. Remove from grill and sprinkle with some good olive oil and enjoy! *Feel free to email me at sarahhedger@gmail.com if you have any food-related questions

COMMUNITY

SLO county art scene Art supply side economics By Gordon Fuglie

ur county of some 260,000 holds a surprisingly high number of folks who practice art. Whether professional, recreational or somewhere in between, these artists need materials and tools. In researching this column, I learned of three notable businesspeople and their bricks-andmortar storefronts that cater to county artists.

Locally, among the better-known art supply stores are The Artery in Atascadero; and San Luis Art Supply and Art Central, both in SLO. By no coincidence, their owners are all practicing and passionate artists. All were welcoming of my visit and had plenty to say about keeping their artist customers happy and progressing in their work.

Like many other commercial products, the merchandising of art materials has found a niche on the Internet where, with a screen pointer and mouse-click, one can order a box of oil pastels without leaving home. The problem with these virtual art supply stores, as many artists tell me, is that art materials are personal, tactile and are best physically compared and selected. They are not simply consumer entertainment, like books or DVDs. Pencils, paints, pastels, chalks and inks require experimentation and failure on the road to mastery. The most costly tube of oil paint (Sennelier’s Cadmium Red Light, at $45) won’t guarantee you will become a maestro, but it will make your painterly execution easier if you understand its properties.

In Atascadero, I met Bobbi Nunez, owner of The Artery, whose justifying motto proclaims, “because art is in your blood.” Nunez was once the picture framer at Laws Hobby Center in downtown SLO. (The venerable Laws succumbed to economic woes in 2008.) In 2003 Nunez opened her own 1200 square foot store in Atascadero’s downtown Colony District. Also helping run The Artery is Nunez’s son, Chauncey, who told me the store is oriented to serve fine artists, but also is proud of the range of non-toxic art materials and creative products for children. I was impressed by their wide and varied selection of deluxe art papers, stored in an imposing wooden flat drawer file. Above the racks of materials and tools, the upper walls of the store serve as a gallery for local artists.

Denizens of art supply stores told me that interacting with materials and tools in a real place in real time – fingering chalks, uncapping tubes of pigment, furling a sheet of Arches paper to test its weight, is vital to an artist’s way of knowing. There is nothing virtual about making that first pencil line on a sheet of paper. Likewise, a cross-the-counter interaction with an art supplier can be key to making the right selection of materials. Moreover, retailers of artists’ materials often know personally the manufacturers, attending product conventions and seminars.

South in downtown SLO, I introduced myself to Neal Breton, the redoubtable full-bearded proprietor of San Luis Art Supply, an intimate and product-packed 725 square foot space, including a circulating “anarchy library,” perhaps a social complement to the ideal of artistic freedom. He has been in business on Morro Street for three years, after re-locating from Southern California. In showing me his line of Peerless Water Colors, I was surprised that they were not in a tube or glass container, but manufactured as small sheets of “paper leaflet paint.” Invented in 1885, these watercolors were the first to be marketed in dry form, later made soluble by the artist. More than a salesman, Breton used his Peerless Water Colors to paint a cover for the weekly New Times. He also is proud to sell the cleanly elegant Duho Studios art panels. I admired their beautiful wood grain; it almost seems a shame to paint on them! In northeast SLO on Monterey Street, I met Etty Pacifico (nom d’artiste, Etty Klinger),

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a transplant from suburban New York since 2000. She opened Art Central early this year, transforming a former pet store into nearly 4000 square feet of inventory and gallery space. She courts a wide customer base, offering the option of a membership that entitles purchasers to discounts. I was particularly taken with Art Central’s “encaustic color sets” by R & F Paints, small beguiling boxes of vivid cakes of color that are mixed with beeswax to produce an encaustic painting. After prehistoric cave murals, encaustic is the oldest painting medium in the world. One half of Art Central is devoted to gallery space with track lighting and display cases. The gallery hosts individual and group shows. The gregarious Pacifico also maintains an art blog, notifying site visitors of new product arrivals, media-based workshops, artist opportunities and local exhibits. Nunez, Breton and Pacifico share a desire to provide a range of quality artist-grade (distinguished from the “artsy” hobbyist market) materials to professional, aspiring and student artists, “pushing their customers forward” (as Nunez says) to different and higher quality levels of materials – as customers request or need to achieve their goals. In their respective capacities, these three enterprises perform an important role in fine art education in our county. The Artery, 5890 Traffic Way, Atascadero, 93422, 464-0533, www.theartery.info; San Luis Art Supply, 1116 Morro Street, SLO, 93401, 787-0348, www.sanluisartsupply.com; and Art Central, 1329 Monterey Street, SLO, 93401, 747-4200, and the store’s blog, www. artcentralslo.wordpress.com.

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Hospice Partners of the Central Coast is a non-profit 501(C)3 state licensed, Medicare and Medi-Cal certified Hospice Agency and is affiliated with Wilshire Health & Community Services, Inc.

COMMUNITY

Huttle up Frank Warren By Bob Huttle Bob and Frank

“Nice guys finish last”

---Leo Durocher

Nope. Sorry Leo. Ain’t true, at least not always. Sometimes a nice guy wins the whole shabang. Leo, you would have liked Frank Warren. He’s a big baseball fan who came along years after you were gone. You were Brooklyn Dodgers, he is San Diego Padres. The first time I met Frank, he was sitting in my 12th grade Advanced Placement English classroom at SLO High School. It was September, 1984. I remember asking my students to tell me the name of a book that had made a significant impact on them. Any book, any grade level, any subject. They began to respond: “Where the Red Fern Grows,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” “King Lear” (just kidding), “War and Peace” (well, some WERE quite bright and would say anything to impress me). Then it was Frank’s turn: ‘”The Umpire Strikes Back,”’ he nodded his head. “By Ron Lucciano, about baseball?” I asked. “Yup,” Frank smiled. Okay....that’s a different answer, I thought. Little did I realize at the time the impact and influence Frank would later have on our community. Frank graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1985 and then from Cal Poly in 1989, a fairly standard journey for a bright SLO young man in those days. But Frank, who was also a lover of music and a drummer, marched to a different beat from most of his peers. At an age when many young adults were absorbed in themselves, believing that the world revolved around them and that it owed them happiness and success – this attitude still exists, by the way – Frank would come to reflect the core ideas expressed in Shel Silverstein’s classic book, “The Giving Tree:” be a giver, not a taker, serve others, extend yourself to help make life better for those who need a leg up and support them when life gets shaky. I sat down with Frank recently and we talked about the path he has chosen to follow. He told me: “When I was in high school I saw some of my peers get involved with drugs and alcohol. This bothered me because I

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While at Cal Poly, Frank’s “go for it” attitude began to emerge. His love of music landed him a position with the school’s KCPR radio station, first as a DJ (“Ballpark Frank”), who was inspired by the wacky antics of Cal Poly alum Weird Al Frank Warren Yankovic, then as program production director. “People offered me new opportunities and I just kept saying yes.” Frank briefly toyed with the idea of heading into a music industry career. However, another option presented itself: “I became a volunteer in Cal Poly’s Week of Welcome (WOW) for incoming new students and I realized how much I enjoyed organizing activities and working with young people. WOW promoted healthy, enjoyable events, as well as providing an orientation to San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast. I loved the planning, the results, and the “Wowies.” Frank’s involvement in WOW led to the opportunity to launch an orientation-games program at Cal Poly and eventually to other schools including St. Mary’s College and UC Davis. Frank still provides WOW-a-Rama for thousands of college freshmen each September. His focus now set, Frank moved forward, helping others to achieve more fulfilling lives. In 1994 Frank became SLO County Coordinator for Friday Night Live (FNL), a statewide program for high school students that promotes healthy living choices and a positive lifestyle free from drugs and alcohol. When Frank took over, our county had six high school chapters. Under his guidance, FNL grew to thirty two chapters, from Nipomo to Shandon. Programs included FNL Mentoring, which pairs middle school kids with high school buddies, Club Live, a middle school version of FNL, and FNL Kids, for students in grades 4-6. In all, over 1600 students are currently active. Frank is also an officer in the California FNL Collaborative. He explains: “We ushered in a ‘youth development’ framework which provides a science-based approach to drug and alcohol prevention, unlike the old days of throwing a dance just to get kids off the streets for a few hours. Friday

The Warren family: Frank, Christina, Allison, Campbell J U L Y

never took an interest in this and still haven’t. Sometimes friends would come to me and we’d talk about their choices. I found myself listening, then trying to help. I think they appreciated my concern and understanding.”

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COMMUNITY Night Live has just celebrated its 20th year in SLO County and we now have the state’s first college FNL chapter at Cal Poly!” Frank’s success with FNL led him to his current position as Division Manager for Prevention and Outreach for the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA). His major focus is to improve mental health services locally. He oversees prevention and early intervention programs, as well as community partnerships and contracts. Frank’s daily workload also includes FNL, stigma reduction campaigns (i.e. SLOtheStigma with Transitions Mental Health Association), and the Cal Poly/Cuesta high risk drinking and drug use prevention program.

issues now and this is a big, positive change from ten years ago. Young people are resilient and they want to do the right things. They are looking for a better outcome for their lives. Parents seem to have a clearer understanding of their role in prevention.”

Middle School in the fall. And in his “spare time” (ha!) he recently completed a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Cal Poly and is overseeing $2 million worth of “Innovation” programs meant to test new practices within the state’s public mental health system.

Oh, have I mentioned Frank’s “other” job, the one he considers #1 of all? He’s a loving husband to wife Christina and an active, involved, and proud father to daughters Allison, a-soon-to-be junior at SLOHS, and Campbell, who heads to 8th grade at Laguna

From that baseball-loving kid, to the passionate, committed, and successful man of today, Frank is proof that Leo Durocher was wrong. Sometimes nice guys finish FIRST. Bob welcomes your comments. He can be reached at rhuttle@charter.net.

As if this isn’t enough, Frank also coordinates SLO High School’s 24 Hour Relay Challenge, held at SLOHS each Memorial Day weekend for the past twenty years. Frank is responsible for organizing volunteers who are the core of each year’s success (“I couldn’t begin to pull off an event like this without the dedication of numerous volunteers, as well as the vision created by founders Greg Bettencourt and Mila Vujovich”). In truth, Frank is the man in charge. Final decisions rest with him. This year’s Relay drew sixty eight teams. Over 700 high school and community members and 150 parents and volunteers participated and raised thousands of dollars for healthy lifestyle programs at the high school. Frank says “the Relay Challenge makes a statement that allows for dialog between diverse groups in our community.” Frank doesn’t live in an “ivory tower,” disconnected from the realities and complexities of modern life faced by many people in our community. He realizes that daily challenges are significant and not easily solved. He says “alcohol is the number one drug of choice among all ages in our community. Binge drinking has increased among high school and college-aged young people. Marijuana, Meth and Ecstasy use pose serious problems and concerns. There are more alcohol licenses per capita in the city of SLO than other cities in California; furthermore, 60% of sexual assaults involve drugs and alcohol use.” Is Frank disturbed by these statistics? “Certainly,” he says. But he finds reason for optimism too: “The percentage of high school age drinkers has decreased over the past few years. A majority (56-58%) of kids DON’T drink or use drugs, based on recent Healthy Kids surveys. Schools continue to find ways to build the whole student. SLO and Morro Bay High Schools are leaders in this area. These campuses provide a safe place for most students and a safe, warm, caring school IS prevention. The openness is there; we can talk about many J U L Y

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COMMUNITY

Our Schools: three ideas to consider again

By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools

he school year from mid-August to midJune is a busy time. This month is a time without students and gives us a chance to step back and look at some policies and practices that might be changed to assist our schools to deliver high quality education in the most efficient manner. It is important to keep in mind that the state has not avoided examining its overall policies and practices for K-12 education. There have been several efforts over the years to develop a comprehensive reform or improvement plan. The most recent effort was in 2002, when the Joint Committee to Develop a Master Plan for Education in California issued its final report to the state legislature. Here are three recommendations for change to current policy and practice that still have relevance today several years after the final report was issued.

State-Level Responsibility and Accountability The need in this area is to streamline and simplify the current state level governance structure for K-12 education. Public education is a state responsibility although it is delivered primarily through a system of local school districts. At the state level there are multiple sources of authority that can be confusing for local districts. Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Constitution establishes the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) as an elected, non-partisan, constitutional officer. This position also manages the California Department of Education. This position does not have any legislative or fiscal authority since these two functions belong to the legislature and Governor. Since 1991, there has also been a Secretary of Education appointed by the Governor as a policy advisor. There is also the State Board of Education that is appointed by the Governor and has prescribed constitutional functions. With these multiple sources of authority, it is difficult to attribute accountability and local districts can be confused with conflicting advice and directives. The Master Plan recommends that both the authority and management of K-12 education be moved to the Governor and re-designate the position of Superintendent of Public Instruction to the role of accountability and data collection. Although controversial, this plan would consolidate the policy, management and fiscal functions for K-12 education within one office (Governor) and change the role of the State Superintendent to keeping the public informed about the academic performance of school districts.

Local Governing Board Responsibilities The report seeks to specify the roles, duties and responsibilities of local Governing Boards (Boards of Education). Some of the responsibilities for local boards include establishing a vision and goals for the district; employing the senior leadership, most importantly the Superintendent, for the district; adopting a fiscally responsible budget each year; and ensuring that the district is meeting its goals and that students are making sustained academic progress. The need here is to be explicit about what the local Governing Board is accountable for and what accountability is assigned to other sources of authority in the state. Practically speaking, these roles are generally understood, but it would be very helpful to be explicit about the scope of authority and accountability that can be expected from a local Governing Board.

Unified Districts and Consolidation One of the more controversial recommendations is to suggest that all districts should be organized in a unified (grades K-12) manner. Also, the recommendation is to encourage the consolidation of many of the smaller (1000 students or less) districts or to at least join together in networks or consortia to share costs and attempt to realize some economies of scale. The result of this recommendation would be to eliminate many smaller K-8 districts and combine them within an existing or new unified (K-12) district. The rationale for only K-12 districts is to encourage a more comprehensive and less isolated structure for the delivery of instruction that will result in a smoother education path for students. Presently, for some students, there can be a disruption in their education when they transfer from one district to another as is the case when students move from a K-8 district to attend high school in a neighboring unified district. These are three interesting and controversial ideas for K-12 education in our state that continue to stimulate our thoughts in the educational policy area.

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SLOJournal ad

5/15/11

12:13 AM

Page 1

JULY 7-10, 2011 • www.centralcoastwineclassic.org

Schedule of Activities

Unless otherwise indicated, all Central Coast Wine Classic activities are presented at The Avila Beach Golf Resort in Avila Beach, California

T H U R S D AY, J U LY 7

2 PM to 5 PM – Barrel Tasting, featuring yet-to-be-released wines from an array of California wineries at the Avila Lighthouse Suites in Avila Beach – $30.00 per person 5 PM – Dinner at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, featuring Hawaii Chefs Roy Yamaguchi, D.K. Kodama and George Mavrothalassitis, six courses with matching wines from Vintner Dignitaries – $1250.00 Per Person 7 PM – Fifth Annual Central Coast Wine Classic Paulée/ “Bring-Your-Own Special Bottle” Dinner – $95.00 per person

F R I D AY, J U LY 8

Join us for the festivities of the 27th Annual Central Coast Wine Classic, featuring four event-filled days celebrating the wines, cuisine, music, art and lifestyle of California’s Central Coast.

8 AM to 1:30 PM – Central Coast Cycling Classic with Carissa Chappellet, including winery visits, a wine luncheon in wine country & return transportation – $75.00 per person 9:30 AM to 10:45 AM – Malbec Varietal Symposium, hosted by wine educator and author, Karen MacNeil, featuring Malbec from Argentina and from an array of excellent California wineries. – $45.00 per person 11 AM to 1:30 PM – Cooking Demonstration & Luncheon, hosted by Narsai David and featuring Chef D.K. Kodama and Chef Mavro, with the Cuisine paired with Fine Wines – $95.00 per person 2 PM to 4 PM – Maisons, Marques & Domaines Fine Wine Symposium, hosted by Xavier Barlier, presenting Rare and Fine Wines from throughout the world at the Avila Lighthouse Suites – $55.00 per person 2 PM to 4PM – Cheese Symposium with Kent Torrey, Owner of The Cheese Shop in Carmel – $45.00 per person 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM – Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Sparkling Wine Discussion & Reception, hosted by Xavier Barlier and Archie McLaren, at the Avila Lighthouse Suites – $45.00 per person 7 PM – Winery Dinners at Restaurants and Wineries throughout San Luis Obispo County – $95.00 per person 7 PM to 10 PM – VIP Outdoor Dinner and Concert at the Avila Beach Golf Resort, the concert featuring world-renowned percussionist, Airto Moreira, and his group of remarkable, stellar percussionists, with Cuisine presented by Central Coast Chefs Laurent Grangien, Rick Manson, Ian McPhee & Frank Ostini, and Fine Wines from Ancient Peaks, Center of Effort Winery & Sinor-Lavallee – $125.00 per person

S AT U R D AY, J U LY 9

10 AM to 5 PM – Rare & Fine Wine & Lifestyle Auction and Silent Auction, including Luncheon presented by Chefs Laurent Grangien, Rick Manson, Ian McPhee and Frank Ostini – $125.00 per person

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10 AM to 11:15 AM – Chardonnay Terroir Symposium, hosted by Master Sommelier and Vintner, Larry Stone, presenting fine Chardonnay from an array of California appellations – $45.00 per person 1 PM to 4 PM – Reserve Wine Tasting, featuring the Most Special Wines of 50 California wineries, with culinary samplings from fine Central Coast restaurants – $45.00 per person

Please contact Archie McLaren for further information and registration: email: archie@slonet.org;Telephone: (805) 544-1285; cellular 878-3124; fax 595-2742; Wine Classic website: www.centralcoastwineclassic.org

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COMMUNITY

history Part 1

Samuel adams pollard By Joseph A. Carotenuti

History can be fickle. So often, the remembrances of the past present a panorama of people and/or events with little attention to the details. Characters are allowed to cross pages of recollections but seem more ghosts than guests. The echo of the times fade and few are the reminiscences in the next generation. Fortunately, tucked away in archives, libraries, attics, cellars and memories, the past is patient. Waiting to be discovered – often to no avail – are those who in deeds large and small – in the day-to-day demands of living – create most of history and then are forgotten. Looking through old ledgers and records of all sorts, the exquisite penmanship or the barely legible scribble were the acts of a person. Most are lost in the mists of time, but a few insist on being remembered in the present. Most often (except for the very famous) there is

little to reconstruct a life. However, remembering just one life often is a model for many more. Fortunate, indeed, for the historian who encounters someone who enjoyed writing and left some interesting accounts of events – and of himself. Here’s his story. Samuel Adams Pollard was by no means unimportant in his day. His life on the central coast was one that wove richly through both the civic and business fabric of the county as well as fulfilling responsibilities as a husband and father. As with most others, he lived his life with its moments of accomplishments as well as moments of despair, undoubtedly exhibited pride in his abilities as well as cursed those he wished he had. He neither composed a book nor collection of essays nor poems but primarily shared his talent through the local newspaper. It is doubtful he ever considered his prose as comparable to his other accomplishments, but today, because he wrote, bits of his life emerge from the historic haze…an ordinary life, neither heroic nor mundane, yet providing a rare opportunity to visit a community ancestor. Born in Virginia on January 9, 1824, Pollard’s family had a long history in the anti-bellum South including his grandfather Robert who was secretary of the James River Canal Company – a project surveyed and planned by George Washington. The family of at least four children was in New Orleans by the mid-thirties and along the way, the young southerner received a J U L Y

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competent education most evident in his employment and writings in later years. Besides being literate, Pollard was adventurous and credited John C. Fremont as his inspiration to enlist during the Mexican-American conflict and serve as a member of Colonel A. W. Doniphan’s Regiment in 1847. Pollard related being “fascinated with the adventures of the Great Pathfinder of the Rocky Mountains” – probably those written by Fremont’s wife Jessie Benton. Years later, his hero would find a place to sleep atop Pollard’s store counter in San Luis Obispo. After being mustered out of military service, he recalled hearing “the first information the world had of the discovery.” The year was 1848; the “discovery” was gold in California! “With the unrest that war produces in a young man, this new excitement just suited me.” With a “smattering of the Spanish lingo,” Pollard and other men sailed from New Orleans to Tampico, Mexico and then overland to San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara, north to Tepic reaching the western port of Mazatlan. Everywhere the old women beseeched the young men not to go further as “ladrones” (thieves) were sure to kill them. While making the journey safely, the party saw many a “ladrone” along the way “hanging, dried into mummies.” Undoubtedly a journey of exploration, he had no money to book passage north. Pollard lamented over the “many tempting ways for a young man” to spend his savings traveling through the rugged country. Fortunately, he earned passage by brokering some treasury notes

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for a merchant. The Benjamin Euphemia sailed into San Francisco Bay in early 1849 after a month’s journey. The ship probably never set sail again as by the end of the year, it was converted into the first prison ship for the territory. Still with no money, he was not permitted to leave the ship as he needed $1 for a hospital tax. The strong and healthy Pollard found work immediately by unloading a coal ship. In the burgeoning, raucous settlement, he was hired as a bookkeeper. However, San Francisco – “wild with dissipation” – was not to his liking and he ventured south to open his own store. Compared to San Francisco, San Luis Obispo was at best a somnolent crossroads in the yet declared state. Some 75 years after the establishment of the Mission, the small settlement named after a French saint had survived (barely) as most of the natives and mission lands had disappeared in great ranchos granted by the Mexican government. There was no railroad to bring goods or people, the cove in the Avila bay provided little assurances for a safe mooring and, most ominous, there was no governance to provide safety. It was an act of courage to travel to the place by either land or sea. Thus, it was a signal event when the young, articulate gentleman was not only going to bring merchandise but actually build a store to supply a slowly growing population with goods. Pollard was an instant success! Next month: The young Virginian brings not only his wares but also multiple talents to the emerging town and county.

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hospice corner what do we do with your money? By Ron McEvoy

ost of the residents of our community know that Hospice Partners is a non-profit hospice that provides comprehensive end-of-life care in our area. Many in our community open their hearts and thank us for taking care of their relatives and their friends during their end-of-life journey. We often hear “we couldn’t have done it without you.” Well, the Hospice Partners team sincerely says to our community – “WE couldn’t have done it without you!” Only because of the generosity of this community can we say that no one will be turned away who qualifies for hospice care. When all costs for hospice care services are taken into consideration, Medicare, Medi-Cal and private insurances only partially cover those costs. Some of the pain medications that our patients receive are very expensive. While we always use generics when possible and try to prevent the use of unnecessary medications, there are some situations that require medications that cost more than the average amount of money set aside for pharmacy costs. There was the hospice patient who, over three weeks, required extreme amounts of pain medications that totaled over $30,000. Medicare reimbursement for all the hospice care provided to that patient, including medications, amounted to under $4,000. Your contributions pay for these expensive, but necessary pharmacy situations that help make a patient comfortable. We also use contributions for procedures that are “outside the usual costs” for hospice patients, such as radiation therapy for pain management. We provide care for hospice patients who have no insurance or means of payment. It is your donations that allow us to proudly say that we will serve every hospice patient, whether they can pay for care or not. And every patient will receive the same high quality, compassionate end-of-life care and service they need and deserve. Over the last two years, because of the severe economic recession, we have more and more hospice patients in their forties and fifties who are coming to us without medical insurance. They are not turned away. I can remember the 45-year-old man, with a terminal liver cancer diagnosis, who lived alone in a mobile home in a coastal community, and had no insurance. There were many problems. He was estranged from his only child and had no committed caregiver. He was too weak to care for himself, experiencing uncontrolled pain, and had no pain medication because he couldn’t afford to pay for it. To dull the pain he was drinking a liter of alcohol a day. The Hospice Partners team immediately answered his plea for help. The nurses worked with the MD and quickly managed to get his pain under control. Hospice Partners provided all his medications. Home Health Aides gave him baths and personal care, which improved his comfort. The Medical Social Worker facilitated getting his friends to agree to stay with him, and also succeeded in contacting his estranged daughter. The daughter was able to underJ U L Y

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stand that her father was going to die soon, and she reconnected with him. They had the time to say goodbye.

J U LY C R O S S W O R D SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 43

Death at the age of 45 is not normal in our culture, but it is still an unfortunate reality for some. He accepted the help we offered, was happy to be able to once more see his only child, and died peacefully in his own home – all because of those who donate to Hospice Partners. Most of us have been affected by the recession. Our donations are down. But we are confident that our community will continue to help us by providing the donations that allow us to fulfill our mission: to provide compassionate end-of-life care, emphasizing life, choice, and dignity in partnership with patients, families, and the community. Know that everything you do to help us does make a difference in the final days of our hospice patients and their families. This monthly Hospice Corner is sponsored by Hospice Partners of the Central Coast. Ron McEvoy is responsible for fundraising. For more information, call (805) 782-8608.

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: HEALTHY EATING ACROSS 1. *Food past its sell-by date 6. Online pop-ups 9. “____ to My Lou” 13. Furiously angry 14. Gift topper 15. Manicurist’s board 16. “Rolling in the Deep” singer 17. Id’s partner 18. Katmandu country 19. *Food _______ 21. *Source of resveratrol 23. Rogue or rascal 24. It comes to mind 25. Drumstick 28. Give certain impression 30. Treeless plains 35. Copycat 37. Petri dish gel 39. South American camelid 40. *Needs calcium

41. *Like low-calorie version 43. Demonical 44. Door signs 46. Tarot card reader, e.g. 47. Bristle 48. Auditorium 50. Sun beams 52. Acid 53. Annoyingly slow 55. Goes with “aah” 57. *Should not be too large 61. Like localized disease 65. *Pungent natural healer 66. Finish 68. Habituate 69. To call by name, archaic 70. Hawaiian wreath 71. Cancelled or reversed 72. Broflovski of “South Park” 73. Allow 74. En _____, all together DOWN 1. Lover’s strike 2. Neat

3. Affirm with confidence 4. Jasmine’s kin 5. Dropsies 6. In bed 7. “___ Day Afternoon” (1975) 8. *_____fish, rich in Omega3 9. Eurasian duck 10. Confederate soldier’s hat 11. Ayatollah Khamenei’s home 12. Gomer on “The Andy Griffith Show” 15. Ultimate goal 20. Utopia, e.g. 22. *Sushi item 24. Similes or allusions 25. *Source of food information 26. Ingredient in strong adhesives 27. Relating to a gene 29. Knight’s chest plate 31. A in IPA, pl. J U L Y

32. Innie or outie? 33. Leaves out 34. *Starter or side 36. Network of nerves 38. Actress Perlman 42. Done before buying clothes 45. Lying on your back 49. Holstein sound 51. *Too much can increase blood pressure 54. Death announcer 56. Reddish brown natural dye 57. Chicken pox scar, e.g. 58. Unrivaled 59. Cambodian money 60. Drink too much 61. Revise for publication 62. Clays or mucks 63. Author Murdoch 64. Get rid of 67. Maiden name indicator

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Palm Street Perspective August all-mail ballot

By SLO City Councilman, Andrew Carter

ity Council has called a special election in August on two City Charter measures. The election will be conducted using an all-mail ballot.

All registered voters in the City of San Luis Obispo will be mailed ballots by the County Registrar. Ballots will be mailed to those who regularly vote absentee and to those who regularly vote at the polls. Ballots will be mailed on Monday, August 1st. Completed ballots are due back by Tuesday, August 30th at 8:00 pm. Completed ballots can be mailed to the Registrar or dropped off at the County Government Center, 1055 Monterey Street. Completed ballots must be received by August 30th. A ballot received after that date even with an August 30th postmark won’t count. This is the first time an all-mail ballot has been used in the City, although it has been used in the County. The advantage of an all-mail ballot is lower cost plus the ease of voting. You can vote from the comfort of your home, and ballots arrive with a postage-paid return envelope for ease of return.

What’s on the Ballot City Council has placed two City Charter measures on the ballot – Measures A and B.

The one-year incremental cost of the award in FY 2008-09 was $4 million. The on-going incremental cost is $2.5 million annually.

Find Out More To find out more on the ballot measures, I would direct you to three different websites. The first website is maintained by the City. As required by law, it is an informational website, not an advocacy website. Go to www.slocity.org and click the link to the section having to do with the “2011 Special Election.” You’ll find the City Attorney’s impartial analysis of both measures. You’ll also find the official arguments in favor of both measures and opposed to both measures plus rebuttals to those arguments. The impartial analysis plus arguments and rebuttals will be mailed to all voters along with their ballot. In addition, you’ll find Council agenda reports, Council resolutions, and background information on both measures. The second website, www.CitizensForSLO.org, is an advocacy website developed by “San Luis Obispo Citizens for Fiscal Responsibility.” This is a volunteer group which has formed to support passage of Measures A and B.

Measure A seeks to amend the current Charter section on public employee pensions. Currently, Council has the authority to increase employee pensions without voter approval, but not decrease them. Measure A will give Council that authority.

The third website, www.SLOtruth.org, is also an advocacy website. It’s been developed by the San Luis Obispo police and fire unions. They are opposed to Measures A and B.

Under any scenario, City Council has the legal obligation to negotiate proposed pension changes with its employee groups.

City Council called the election for August because most contracts with City employee unions expire on December 31st. Negotiation of new contracts will begin in September. Measures A and B impact the process by which these negotiations will take place. Council felt it important to settle that process before negotiations began.

Measure B seeks to eliminate the Charter section requiring the use of Binding Arbitration to settle contract disputes with the City’s police and fire unions. This section was added to the City Charter in 2000. Binding arbitration was used by the City police union to settle a contract dispute in 2008. The dispute involved the 2006 through 2009 labor contract. An out-of-town arbitrator gave the police union cost-of-living increases of 30% over that four-year time period. The underlying inflation rate was 11%. Many police officers also received additional “step-in-grade” longevity increases of 22%. Prior to receiving the award, San Luis Obispo police were paid more than any other police or sheriff’s department in the County. After the award, SLO police are making more than Los Angeles police. J U L Y

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Vote

Please get informed and vote in August. Make sure your voice is heard.

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo

Inside:

W h a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U p New Business News

July 2011

W h a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s

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a new Downtown rising from the retrofits, with young people moving in (ĂĄ la San Luis Art Supply, Dr. Cainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Comics, Chinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rock n Tacos, EcoBambino) and working within the new reality to create a commercial district that may ultimately look quite different from what we see today.

ecently, I got a call from a local media outlet wanting a statement on the decline of Downtown and â&#x20AC;&#x153;all the empty buildings.â&#x20AC;? It reminded me of my first week on the job in July, 1995 when I think I got the exact same call (different caller?). Earthling Bookstore had just closed, along with a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shop and one or two other small businesses.

tâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perturbing that the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;newsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; would be about whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wrongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with Downtown. Except for our new business stories in this publication and the y response at that time was essentially that I Deborah Cash, CMSM, occasional press release or short mention in other didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t perceive the closures as indicative of Executive Director media, the general public really isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t privy to the any trend or wholesale boarding up of Downtown, fluid nature of whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going on here. Within a few hundred and that business, like life, can be full of surprisesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;good feet of my office, we will soon have three new restaurants and bad. But I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t then, and wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t now, declare and a sports bar. A block over, a chocolatier, a tavern Downtown doomsday mainly because it simply isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t true and a specialty cafĂŠ just popped up. A new French sushi and also because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a lot of really positive, upbeat restaurant and a Scottish pasty (thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pas tee, short â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;) news about Downtown you should know about. bistro will open soon. How about a story on â&#x20AC;&#x153;whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s with es, businesses close. Yes, the economy is weird. Yes, all the food?â&#x20AC;? as a fun feature that points to Downtown there are some empty storefronts. There are also new as not only a commercial hub but a culinary capital as businesses moving in all over Downtown, entrepreneurs well. So, just sayinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, if you call me wanting a sound byte creating clever business models, property owners on Downtown going to the dogs, well, fyi, I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t bite. investing in their buildings and creative financing going owever, I do love dogs and have a Downtown dog on among business owners, bankers, landlords and story to share because it has a (mostly) happy ending wherever else people get money from. We're witnessing

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On the Cover: Concerts in the Plaza continues this year through Labor Day weekend with Zongo All Stars (shown here) slated for July 8. Plan to make an evening of it Downtown with all the great eateries and shopping, open later hours for your convenience. For more information about Concerts, Thursday Night Farmers Market or other Downtown Association activities visit www.DowntownSLO.com. You can also find facebook pages for those events as well as the Taste of San LuisÂŽ, held this year on September 14. Photo by Deborah Cash

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and also illustrates that we’re about real people down here, with dreams and dilemmas—and dogs. Hopefully you’ve had a chance to visit Turn to Nature at 786 Higuera Street owned by local and long time graphic designer Paul Karlen, and his sidekick, Bailey. Usually Bailey hangs behind the counter in his little dog bed with one eye on the front door but sometimes you’ll see him sunning out in front of the store or jogging alongside Paul to the coffeehouse.

urn to Nature has lots of cool ‘gadget’ kinds of things and so I dropped in to get my dad a birthday gift. Bailey’s bed was empty so I asked where he was. Paul’s long face told part of the story—something wasn’t good. He explained that in a freak accident, Bailey was injured and at the vet waiting for surgery. What happened was a mom came into the store with her little boy who spotted a mannequin on display near the door. The tot twirled the mannequin that then fell over onto a very large glass bird feeder type item. The glass shattered and jettisoned all around, including into Bailey’s eye. The upshot is that Bailey’s ‘mom’ Beverly got him to the vet immediately and even more fortuitously obtained the services of a specialist from Fort Hunter Ligget (nearest one) who, after three hours and six stitches across the cornea, sent patched up Bailey home with eight meds. Paul’s

D o w n t o w n

back in the store with Bailey sleeping quietly upstairs and a hope that business clicks along. “There’s so much support and so many positive comments,” he said, acknowledging that it can be a bit of a roller coaster. “But I have an idea for some nice San Luis Obispo t-shirts since people always ask me where they can get one.” He showed me the prototype of a REALLY nice souvenir type t-shirt that he hopes will take off. Trust me, you’ll want one. I am continually amazed at the resiliency, creativity and spunk exhibited by our Downtown business owners, their belief in their dreams, their ways of dealing with their dilemmas and even their soft spots for their pets.

o my way of thinking, Paul’s story is far more newsworthy than yet another pessimistic prognostication of Downtown’s demise—and there are lots more like his. P.S. Bailey’s not entirely out of the woods as far as his vision goes. “We’re very hopeful he won’t end up a ‘pirate’ dog,” said Paul.

Turn to Nature owner Paul Karlen cradles buddy Bailey recovering after a recent in-store mishap. Photo by Deborah Cash

ut even a one-eyed pooch can clearly see that Downtown isn’t ‘going to the dogs’ unless, of course, that means more business owners bring their canine partners to work…around Downtown.

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Tina Bhakta, Owner 641 Higuera Street, Suite 102 (805) 547-1967 Search on Facebook: Bella Brows Threading For those searching for safe hair removal that leaves the face soft and hairless without the use of hot wax or tweezers, threading is the answer to shapely eyebrows and smooth skin. An ancient method of hair removal has made its way to Downtown San Luis Obispo. Threading, a facial hair removal process practiced with the sole use of cotton thread, is practiced by Tina Bhakta, owner of Bella Brows. Men and women in need of facial hair removal should visit Bella Brows to learn about the importance of skin care when removing hair.

Bella Brows opened its doors on February 12th and welcomes men and women who are in need of facial hair removal or have a desire for henna tattoos. Threading is a rising trend, as the practice gently removes facial hair with the use of a thread as opposed to waxing and plucking. Bhakta, raised in Canada and a native of India, has personally used threading as a method of hair removal for 25 years. The owner chose to open her business in San Luis Obispo to draw students, locals, and visitors to the safe practice of hair removal. Walk-ins are welcome. With a presence on Facebook, Bhakta hopes to grow her business and make the public more aware of threading as a method of hair removal and Bella Brows’ henna tattoo services. Hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday 10-6pm. By Natalie Stone as many people as I can in their own health and fitness goals.”

Downtown Pilates

Melissa Hastie, Owner 793 Higuera Street, Suite 3 (805) 546-1050 www.downtownpilatesslo.com As you walk into Downtown Pilates' studio, you’re greeted by the soft aroma of lavender, the serene and relaxing sounds of a waterfall, and large windows that supply enough natural sunlight to make you feel like you’re outside. Downtown Pilates, located on the corner of Chorro and Higuera, offers an opportunity for anyone and everyone to try pilates, no matter your age, experience or flexibility. Melissa Hastie, owner of Downtown Pilates, wants to bring awareness and accessibility to San Luis Obispo. “I love this community. I really love the town and I want to bring what I am passionate about here to really help

Hastie first experienced pilates three years ago after a spinal injury that left her with little mobility. Hastie turned to pilates as an alternative to surgery and part of her rehabilitation. Today, she is in the best shape of her life. At Downtown Pilates, people can expect an encouraging and positive atmosphere where they can feel comfortable and relaxed. It’s important to Hastie to promote a positive self and body image, which is why she doesn’t allow any negative self-talk in her studio. Downtown Pilates offers individual sessions, group mat classes and semi-private sessions (two people per session). The studio has multiple mat, two reformers and one trapeze table/Cadillac. Please call to schedule your session. By: Alison Moore

Mott. “I was born and raised here. Ron -- originally from the Central Valley -- relocated to this area eight years ago. And Ben, after graduating from Cal Poly, decided to stay.” The trio recently joined Bank of Commerce Mortgage to launch its San Luis Obispo branch. With in-house processing, loan offerings from multiple investors plus Making its home in The Forum building local underwriting and appraisal on Marsh Street in Downtown SLO, management resources, Bank of Bank of Commerce Mortgage is a Commerce Mortgage offers the relative newcomer to Downtown – but highest level of personalized service and choice. At the not when it comes to its people or lending experience. new San Luis branch, customers will find loan officers Tim Partners Bill Mott, Ron Penir and Ben Lerner have served Robinson, Maria Lyon, Rick Kirk and Mark Brown. All are the San Luis Obispo community as mortgage lenders for a seasoned professionals in the mortgage industry who volunteer combined 35 plus years. “Providing excellent service to our clients and the realtor community is of the utmost importance regularly for local charities. “Giving back has always been to us,” said Bill Mott, Partner for Bank of Commerce Mortgage. one of our core values,” said Ron Penir, Vice President and Regional Manager, Central California, for Bank of Commerce “We understand every facet of the San Luis market, as each Mortgage. “It’s just the way we conduct business.” of us represents a different type of San Luis resident,” added

Bank of Commerce Mortgage 733 Marsh Street, Suite 200 Partners: Bill Mott, Ron Penir and Ben Lerner Phone: (805) 548-8180 www.bankofcommercemortgage. com

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new executive director at slo botanical garden Mike Bush has been named Executive Director of the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, taking over the reins from Elizabeth Scott Graham. Bush has crisscrossed the world developing and operating botanical gardens, with posts in Santa Barbara, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Bermuda and Singapore. His most recent assignment was at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, where he was responsible for construction and pre-opening operations of a $400 million horticulture conservatory. According to Dr. Ping Tsao, president of the board of directors of the Garden, timing and a shared vision combined to make Bush the ideal candidate for the position. Pictured above is Bush being congratulated by Graham and Dr. Ping Tsao.

Summer camps at the Slo Museum of art The SLO Museum of Art has scheduled several Summer Art Camps for children and teens beginning June 20th. Classes include Drawing, Painting, Contact Printing, Art, Music, Poetry, Photograms, Wood Structures and much more. For more information go to www.sloma. org or call the Art Center at 543-8562.

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From the legendary 1579 landing at Drakes Bay and rumors of long-lost treasure to the landmark Spanish Franciscan Mission in Santa Barbara to the infamous ghost town of Bodie, California is filled with an amazing past and a vibrant present. Author and photographer, Gary Crabb, delves into the people and places, the history and activities that have defined California, and his stunning color photography makes this book a perfect addition to your library. It retails for $25 and is available at bookstores and online at voyageurpress.com

The 11th Annual “Great Kitchens of Cambria” kitchen tour benefiting the Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, will be held on Saturday, July 30th, from 11 am - 3 pm. The tour features eight new or remodeled kitchens with delicious food, drink, demos, displays and wonderful raffle prizes. For more information: 805-927-2856 or visit http:// cambriakitchentour.com/Site/index.html

sixth graders make quilts for sierra vista Two sixth graders from BellvueSanta Fe Charter School in Avila Beach donated handmade quilts to the Pediatric Unit and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center recently. Leah Maier, 11, and Claudia May, 11, have been making quilts for the past few years and turned this passion into their Sixth Grade service project. Each quilt came with a handmade tag that reads “Every Child is Special.” Pictured (l-r) are Leah Maier, Sierra Vista volunteer Marsha Carlson, who coordinates the hospital’s Cuddler Program, and Claudia May.

THE BULLETIN BOARD

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Los Osos/Morro Bay/Cayucos/Cambria: Aloma Davis: 235-1131

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41st season of festival mozaic Festival Mozaic (formerly the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival) has announced its 2011 summer season, which marks the festival’s 41st year of presenting intimate musical experiences on California’s picturesque Central Coast. The annual summer festival will take place July 14-24 in more than ten locations across San Luis Obispo County. The 2011 festival presents works by Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Dvorák, Ravel, Debussy, Corigliano, Copland, Poulenc and Grieg. Two world premieres will be featured: a quintet by Patrick Zimmerli and a cello sonata by John Novacek. Each summer, more than 7,000 attendees enjoy Festival Mozaic concerts in spectacular San Luis Obispo County venues such as the historic Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Chapel Hill in Paso Robles wine country, and in scenic wineries, parks and gardens. Subscription packages may be ordered online at www. festivalmozaic.com or by phone (805) 781-3009 / (877) 881-8899.

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THE BULLETIN BOARD

new book – The sobering truth HowaRd J. NiCHolsoN, Mai, sRa, GRi, sREs BRokER/owNER

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Local doctor, Jeff Herten, has written an updated edition of his first book, “An Uncommon Drunk” and renamed it “The Sobering Truth.” Writing from personal experience, Herten goes into great detail on the effects of alcohol and how it changed his life. Herten also writes about several recent, alcohol-related tragedies. In addition, he sets aside several chapters explaining which diseases can be attributed to alcohol abuse and challenges you to stop drinking. This book is not just for the heavy drinkers, it’s for anyone interested in learning the effects of drinking alcohol. You will be surprised at the long list of health-related problems it can create. The book has been selected the FINALIST of the 2011 Indie Excellence Award in the category of Addiction and Recovery. It is available for purchase at www.soberingtruth.com. And local bookstores including Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay.

First Bank changes name

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

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Pacific Capital Bancorp (Nasdaq: PCBC) recently announced that it has changed the name of its national banking subsidiary from Pacific Capital Bank, National Association, to Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, National Association. The name change is in conjunction with the Company’s strategy to consolidate its five bank brand names into the single brand of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. The Bank has operated in its Central Coast markets under the brand names of Santa Barbara Bank & Trust, First Bank of San Luis Obispo, First National Bank of Central California, South Valley National Bank, and San Benito Bank. As of July 11, 2011, all retail branches and other lines of bank business will operate under the name Santa Barbara Bank & Trust.

SLO rotary Clubs support cancer research To fight cancer, a recent luncheon meeting of the three San Luis Obispo Rotary Clubs of San Luis Obispo was held at Rotary member Jesse Norris’ Sands Hotel and Suites. Jesse Norris has sponsored this event for 17 years and has raised over $70,000 dollars to support the local medical programs that are designed to battle cancer. The three Rotary Clubs, with a combined membership of over 220 local members, attend this event annually. The Kiwanis Night Time Club barbecues and serves the meal. This year Dr. Spillane explained the different treatments available for cancer and new advance treatments that are now available.

french hospital honored

Dressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 35 Years

alan’s draperies 544-9405

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French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) has been honored, once again, by Avatar International with two prestigious awards for its Emergency Department Services. The first award is the Avatar Five Star Service – Loyalty and Endorsement – Emergency Award for 2010. The Emergency Department Award is given to the hospital with the highest patient satisfaction score of Emergency Services in Avatar’s national database, which includes approximately 400 hospitals. FHMC is also being honored with the Exceeding Patient Expectations 2010 Award. The Exceeding Expectation award is given to facilities whose patients’ expectations of service and excellence are exceeded. FHMC has been honored with this award for 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, and now 2010.

THE BULLETIN BOARD

eye oN business

1983 Doesn’t seem so long ago By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

hen Dave Garth (pictured right) retires on July 1 as president and CEO of the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, he will have logged 38 years at the helm of the business promoting organization. I was fortunate to have been one of his employees for eight of those years. It was 1983. I had been married for ten days, was brand new to SLO and was hired as the Chamber’s communication director. I eventually had the opportunity to become the assistant manager and director of government affairs. Dave’s legacy as a powerful voice of business and a leader passionate about the community is well documented. He has left a lasting mark on the Central Coast. As he exits his position and many tributes are paid, I want to add mine. Not Dave Garth, chamber exec, but Dave Garth, teacher. One thing I know from first hand experience is that Dave wants his employees to grow and succeed. He pushes hard and demands much, and the result, for me, was a tremendous learning experience that helped prepare me for my own business. It started with writing. One of my first assignments was simple enough—produce a four page newsletter. I was given a list of stories needed and I set out to research and write them. I got tangled up along the way. My writing was convoluted and clumsy. I was frustrated and embarrassed and finally Dave said to me, “Stop. Tell me what you’re trying to say.” I responded in a simple sentence or two and he said, “Write that.” It was a powerful lesson for me and one I use today with my own employees and student interns. Under Dave’s tutelage I learned how to produce special events. How to promote and publicize the city. I learned volumes about working with volunteers and managing groups. Consensus building. Crisis communication. When I came to the Chamber I didn’t know much about business and I had no experience in government relations. I learned to speak at city council and board of

came close friends with me and mine. We’ve had all kinds of great times and butted heads, mopped up messes, and stomped around a few times, too. One of the things I liked best was being able to really argue a point with Dave. He is fast on his feet and wrangling with him calls for one to be on top of her game. Years ago, a Chamber member asked me if Dave Garth was my husband. “No,” I said, “why would you think that?” The answer: “Well, I

supervisors’ meetings; advocate for Chamber positions in one-on-one conversations with elected officials; interact with state and federal leaders and create successful working groups. These skills were invaluable when, years later, I had the privilege of working on the grassroots support that made the Hearst Ranch Conservation Project a success. That remains one of my most gratifying career achievements and the kernels of it came from my days at the Chamber. The Chamber was an amazing connection point for a community newcomer. It taught me more than business and communication skills. It helped me make friends and develop relationships that I still treasure today. Chamber staff. Chamber members. Community leaders. Dave and his wife Sandy are prominent in my family’s scrapbook, starting with Dave Garth gift photos of our daughters when each baby was just a few days old. We have a 28 year relationship that began with a boss who was a teacher and whose family be-

know your husband’s name is Dave, and the way you and Garth talk to each other, I just figured you had to be married.” I found that a high compliment and one I share again with Dave Garth today. I hope Dave knows the lasting effect he has had on the many employees who have been part of the Chamber. I close with a huge thank you for Dave’s teaching me that the best kind of business is one with a heart.

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7 5 0 P rice St., P i s m o B e a c h 773-1922 J U L Y

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COMMUNITY july 1941: Prime Minister Winston Churchill boosted the “V for Victory” campaign as a hand sign of resistance.

Bikinis made their fashion debut in July 1946. The tiny two-

JU ly Almanac

piece swimsuits, named after the atomic test site Bikini Atoll, fit into a matchbox.

By Phyllis Benson

bikini designer Louis Reard said, “A bikini is not a bikini unless it can be pulled through a wedding ring.”

“Man cannot live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter.”

Spain: The city of Pamplona holds the running of the bulls. The annual

--- James A. Garfield

San Fermin festival began in 1591 in honor of the city’s patron saint.

Pamplona picks up tourist dollars, trampled pedestrians and 700 tons of trash from their famous bull running event.

Canada: National Day is on July 1. In 1887, provinces joined together as the Dominion of Canada.

weather: Canadians joke that their four seasons mean winter, still winter, almost winter, and road construction.

july 4: This is the 235th year since the Declaration of Independence was adopted.

school joke: What did King George think of the American colonists? He thought they were revolting.

july 1811: English novelist William Makepeace Thackeray was born. Thackeray said, “Good humor is one of the best articles of dress one can wear in society.”

july 1846: Commodore John D. Sloat sailed into Monterey and declared California annexed to the United States.

Golfers enjoy summer golf and golf tricks. Duffers roll out golf

balls that explode into dust, unroll as spiraling ribbon, or will not roll straight when putted.

champion arnold palmer joked, “I have a tip that can take five strokes off anyone’s golf game: it’s called an eraser.”

baseball is in full swing. Manager Tommy Lasorda said, “Baseball is like driving, it’s the one who gets home safely that counts.”

Summer means work and play. Work is in the gardening, mowing and house-painting. Play is in the travelling, golfing, and camping.

Some Travelers head for Minnesota this month where the Arctic

Cat, famous for snowmobiles and ATVs, holds its 50th birthday bash. The machine’s fans visit the swap meet and ogle vintage snowmobiles.

The Cat, once a snow stalker, now prowls trails, dunes and camp-

july 10: Arroyo Grande celebrates its 100th cityhood anniversary.

grounds. Riders go birding, sightseeing, fishing and farming. It’s a far cry from shank’s mare or walking.

century: Beautiful downtown Burbank had 500 residents when it

Old Camper Tip: A hot rock placed in your sleeping bag keeps your

incorporated in 1911. Today the head count is over 100,000.

wartime 1941: Belgian refugee Victor De Lavelaye urged his

people to use the letter V as a symbol for victory against occupying Nazi forces.

the V symbol spread through Morse code, with dot-dot-dot-dash

tooted with whistles, broadcast on radio, and played as tunes. The letter V was chalked on walls and stamped on letters.

feet warm. A hot enchilada works almost as well, but the cheese sticks between your toes.

the neighbor’s grandkids are camping in the garden this year. He hopes their giggles chase off veggie-raiding wildlife like moonprowling raccoons and rabbits.

Summer days are full of festivals and visitors. We savor the eve-

nings for classic movies and star-gazing. Have a classic, fun-filled July.

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7/26 - Jason Aldean with special guest Thompson Square

7/27 - Kid Rock with special guest Leroy Powell

7/28 - Lady Antebellum with special guest Troy Olsen

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