July 2017 Journal Plus Magazine

KIRSTEN RAMBO | ISAAC LEWIN | CHARMAINE PETERSEN | SHIRLEY SUMMERS

JournalPLUS JULY 2017

MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

MIKE CANNON

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CONTENTS

Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST

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

654 Osos Street San Luis Obispo California 93401

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SLO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM – NEW EXHIBITS

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

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

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

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ISAAC LEWIN

CHARMAINE PETERSEN

PEOPLE 8 10 12 14 16

KIRSTEN RAMBO MIKE CANNON ISAAC LEWIN CHARMAINE PETERSEN SHIRLEY SUMMERS

HOME & OUTDOOR 18 20 22 24

SLO CHILDREN’S MUSEUM FESTIVAL MOZAIC LETTERS FROM THE STARS FOOD / AT THE MARKET

COMMUNITY 26 27 28 30 32 34 41 42

PASO ART SCENE SLO ART SCENE PALM STREET PERSPECTIVE Christianson HISTORY ON THE “HOOF” San Simeon HISTORY: California 1856, part 3 OUR SCHOOLS – Dr. James Brescia GREATEST ATHLETES – Kevin Lucas COMMUNITY BULLETIN BOARD

BUSINESS

36 EYE ON BUSINESS 37 DOWNTOWN SLO What’s Happening

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From the publisher

I’ve got nothing to do today but smile.

J

uly offers several good events for you to enjoy on the Central Coast.

My two personal favorites are the Mid-State Fair and the Renaissance Festival. The Fair has something for everyone and their concert line-up is second to none. See page 7 for more information. Take time out to visit the Renaissance Festival at Laguna Lake Park as well. You will be amazed at the costumes, acting, events and the great food. Read all about it on page 21.

– PAUL SIMON –

We have five great profiles on people who make a difference this month. Our cover story gives us the personal side of successful entrepreneur, Mike Cannon. You’ll enjoy the trips he takes with his group of loose cannons. We also feature the Women’s Shelter’s Kirsten Rambo, Artist Isaac Lewin, Senior Consultant Charmaine Petersen and recently honored volunteer and added to the SLO County Women’s Wall of Fame Shirley Summers.

After a long break, Dave Congalton joins us again and writes about Clara McMahon’s collection of unpublished letters from the stars. Now many years later her daughter is putting them together and creating a book. Two of the letters are published inside.

Finally, there are plenty of new things going on at the SLO Children’s Museum this Summer. Heather Young gets us caught up on what’s happening.

Plenty of good reading again this month.

Enjoy the magazine.

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kirsten rambo slo county women’s shelter executive director

By Susan Stewart

W

hether it’s a need as fundamental as food or as complex as counseling, The Women’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo County (WSP) has been helping women who are survivors of domestic violence for nearly 40 years. And that makes its newest Executive Director, Kirsten Rambo, feel very good indeed.

“I love this job,” she says. “It’s so gratifying to know that we are part of the solution … that we are doing the things that work … that our clients leave us better off than they were when we first met them.”

Stepping into the top job at the WSP just six months ago, Kirsten Rambo spent her entire 20-year career preparing for it. Beginning with a graduate internship at the Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence in Dekalb County, Georgia, where she answered the crisis line and assisted survivors with legal measures—and ending with a leadership role at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she ran a national Intimate Partner Violence program while also fighting violence against women in the African nation of Malawi—Rambo brings an impressive portfolio of experiences to her new position. Along the way, Rambo also served as Executive Director of the Georgia Commission of Family Violence, as Director of Programs and Public Policy for the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, received her Master’s degree in English and her Ph.D. in Women’s Studies, and published a book: “Trivial Complaints”: The Role of Privacy in Domestic Violence Law and Activism in the U.S. Rambo took the helm at WSP in December of 2016.

“The timing was perfect,” she said, referring to husband Jeff AlMashat’s selection as the SLO Museum of Art’s Capital Campaign Director. So the talented couple, who met in Pennsylvania, was able to relocate together.

Rambo grew up in Philadelphia, PA, where her parents were both heavily involved in their community, setting a high bar for their two daughters. (Rambo’s older sister also works in the nonprofit world at

an agency providing outdoor experiences for at-risk children.) Her father worked for Nabisco (“It was pretty cool to have a Dad in the cookie business.”) before changing to the nursing home and assisted living industry. Her mother moved up quickly from secretary to major roles in the corporate philanthropy / grant-making fields. In their off time, her Dad coached girls’ softball and her Mom was a Girl Scout leader.

“I didn’t know then how lucky I was,” said Rambo. “To have that kind of family stability, good extended relationships, and parents who valued education.”

Rambo thrived as a student (she earned advanced degrees at Emory University and the University of Georgia), reveling in the

Kirsten with art work by WSP clients.

Kirsten with WSP counselors Ruby Balcazar, Clinical Director Kelsey Kehoe, and Tyler Hartford.

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Kirsten with her husband Jeff and their two canine family members.

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Last year, the WSP provided shelter, transitional housing, counseling, children’s services, legal assistance and crisis intervention to more than 1100 people. Rambo (and her board, staff, volunteers and our generous community) have high hopes for a future that reflects the WSP vision: “A society where intimate partners and family members treat each other with dignity, respect, and compassion; where oppression is replaced with equality … where children grow up with their self-esteem intact … in a society free from intimate and political wars.”

For more information, visit www.womensshelterslo.org. To volunteer or donate cash or gift cards (gas cards are particularly helpful), call 805.781-6401. For help, the shelter hotline is 805-781-6400. The WSP also has a Facebook page where current events and news are posted regularly.

exploration of leading edge theories and ideas. But she longed for a more hands-on, real-life experience so she started by volunteering at a local domestic violence program. There, she learned first-hand of the painful, often heart-breaking realities that women who seek escape from harmful settings can face. An excerpt from the SLO County Women’s Shelter Program’s mission statement says: “We understand that domestic violence and child abuse, in their fullest scope, impacts primary victims, family members, society, and future generations. With this in mind, it is our goal to stop the cycle of violence by providing crisis intervention, emergency shelter, advocacy, treatment, prevention and education.”

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A tall order, and though there have been many successes, …“The need is far greater than we can meet,” says Rambo. In addition to the difficulty of having to turn people away because the safe house is full, imagine what it must be like to finally ask for help from a counselor to find the courage to make a life-saving change, only to find out there’s a long waiting list. But the biggest challenge is the severely limited affordable housing in our area. Women seeking to escape from an abusive home life very often do not have the economic means to set up a household of their own.

Even with the addition of the Paso Robles-based RISE, which Rambo calls a “sister” agency serving the same population, there is still not enough room and not enough services for the many in need.

Still, Rambo is hopeful about the WSP’s enduring presence in the community. With a synergistic blend of longtime staff members who bring what Rambo calls “institutional memory” to the work, plus brand new staff and interns who bring new ideas and the latest thinking with them, the WSP has a continuity and a strength that keeps hope and help alive.

Quick to credit her hard-working board of directors, her dedicated staff, and selfless volunteers, Rambo also finds continual surprise at the level of community support the WSP receives. From individual donors to local retail shops, from big fundraisers like the wildly popular Phyllis Madonna Annual Musical Revue to the more modest events put on by local churches and service clubs, the outpouring of community support for the WSP is gratifying, and the number of people served is impressive.

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MIKE CANNON

fifth generation californian loving life with the loose cannons

By Angela Martin

T

he relentless pursuit of an elegant solution. If there were ever guiding words to describe the holistic mindset of San Luis Obispo local Mike Cannon, these are it.

While Mike spends the majority of his work weeks collaborating and consulting with his exemplary team of multi-disciplinary engineers at his firm, Cannon Corporation, he keeps his naturally adventurous and active lifestyle always at a forefront. For example, today he wears a form fitting navy suit and classy brown loafers as he tours me around his firm but I know through conversation that he is ever ready to trade it out for a bike jersey and helmet to go for a quick twenty miler on his lunch break or workout gear and tennis shoes to get a solid sweat and stretch in at the gym.

He positions this impeccable sense of style and breezy outdoor flow into every design he works on. Every nook and cranny of his facility is a sight for sore eyes. From the circular walkways around the engineers’ work stations, creating collaboration and harmony; the large glass windows surrounding all sides, allowing our nearly-famous and daily San Luis Obispo sunshine in; to the personalized wall hangings of monumental landscapes from his travels, tight group challenges accomplished by the Loose Cannons (more on this later) and his most proud Well Worth It campaign photos featuring shots of third world children pumping clean water for the first time out of their newly enhanced town center fresh water wells.

Mike has a charismatic way of leading and truly embodies strategic action. His consulting sparks interest and an entrepreneurial fire within his firm; his sense of refinement carries through to personal projects and beyond and his constant drive for bigger and more challenging experience shines through in his work, of course…but also his personal life.

As a fifth generation Californian, he grew up in an Irish-Finn household in Walnut Creek. He excelled in sports such as wrestling, gymnastics and soccer. But his true passion, downhill skiing, holds a special place in his heart even today. He started skiing in eighth grade and almost instantly fell in love with the snowy white scenery, the fresh chill in the air and the flight he felt down the runs. He shared his love of snow and skiing with his three children, Jessica, Travis and Stephanie. The whole family often vacations together; snowy destinations tend to be some of their most fondly remembered. Because of that love and deep connection to his family, he seizes every winter weekend he can to get out to snow-packed runs in the Sierras and Colorado. The Cannon clan spends their time on the mountain enjoying exceptional cuisine, connecting through lively social gatherings and experiencing pure magic on the thrillrides of a hard downhill mountain slope.

His affinity towards athletics and outdoor activities (as well as a knack for design and a brain for civil engineering) led him to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Soon after he began his work as an undergrad, he started an internship and later, a career at a local civil engineering and surveying firm. Years later he would end up outright owning the business and with a Professional Engineering license under his belt he began to expand this new company into the multi-disciplinary consulting firm it is today.

Looking back, Mike reflects upon the decision to buy the firm and chocks it up to a “mixture of ignorance and confidence.” That confidence led him to opening multiple offices throughout California and creating career opportunities that attract those who “value their quality of life and believe that balancing professional and personal lives leads to greater accomplishment and job satisfaction.”

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you wouldn’t go alone” and it is this sort of supportive tribe mentality that allows Cannon Corp. to grow, to diversify and to continue to take on those larger, more challenging yet ultimately more rewarding projects.

As a self-proclaimed strategist and problem solver, Mike spends a good amount of his day happily interacting with his firm’s design professionals on projects throughout California. His close-knit band of associates keep him efficient and well represented in the ever-changing business world. He uses technology such as video conferencing to collaborate with staff in other offices and is truly drawn to a lifestyle of communication and cooperation. Having a diversified business model nurtures his excitement for newness and motivation to find that unexpectedly simple yet refined solution.

Mike and his team of design professionals are inspired daily through elegant innovation, calm acceptance of a daunting challenge and the reliability that comes with constant collaboration. He strives to find resources and ways to create a more dynamic community center within and

outside of Cannon Corp.’s walls. His adventure destination-themed conference rooms (Big Sur, Shooters, Half Dome) serve as a community resource for local partners and businesses in need of a place to meet, work and put on fundraising events. Their list of local and global philanthropy is exhaustive, with Charity: Water, Habitat for Humanity, SLO Homeless Shelter, Lifewater, and Relay for Life at the top. Personally, Mike is also involved in such charitable organizations as Big Brothers-Big Sisters, the YMCA, Cal Poly Arts and the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center locally. His sense of connected community and drive to find bright spots, lead him to construct a world of compassion, vibrancy and limitless action surrounding him.

His after-hours adventure crew dubbed the Loose Cannons promote his belief that you “can’t function in the design world without teammates; you must challenge yourself physically and learn to maintain your calm out in the wilderness or in the face of an intimidating project.” The more you can rely on your teammates, the more comfortable you feel taking on a big goal. Creating this holistic environment where his team can be physically active and find what they truly like to do outside of the office has given rise to some incredible advancement within the firm. The Loose Cannons are known for their motto, “We’ll take you places

Holding true to his core beliefs, he has passed on this business savvy to his children along the years. Stephanie, the youngest is studying finance at our very own Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. His middle child, son Travis, stayed local and is working at Libertine Brewery in hopes of owning and running his own restaurant one day. Oldest, Jessica works in Human Resources in Portland, OR. Mike is truly a family man at heart and thinks lovingly about his children often. He anxiously awaits the warm and intimate moments they share around the kitchen table and couldn’t imagine a week without contact.

For fun, Mike likes to hike and bike anywhere in the world. He loves the time he gets to be with family and interact on a social level. He enjoys golfing and playing tennis with friends. He loves the beautiful simplicity that San Luis Obispo has to offer, with the peaceful hills and the seasonal vineyards. He is enticed by the harmony in nature this small town provides even if it lacks a little diversity and culture. On the weekends, you might see Mike at any number of local community events, dining at his favorite restaurants in town or at his home hosting fabulous and sometimes larger-than-expected regular Sunday night dinners. If you’re lucky enough to befriend Mike Cannon relish in his eventful stories and learn to live by some of his personal ways; you’ll be better off for it.

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isaac s. lewin interdisciplinary artist

By Will Jones

People think that raising human consciousness is not functional, but what really keeps us alive is our awareness of things visually—Isaac S. Lewin San Jose artist, Isaac S. Lewin, who grew up in San Luis Obsipo, never lacked for things to do as a child. “My mom would say, ‘You’re doing akido, art lessons and soccer.’ I liked soccer a lot, but even at a young age I didn’t like the idea of competition. Everyone in our family is tall, lanky, athletic looking, but we’re not coordinated, which is probably why we took to running,” a smiling Isaac said, a good example of his candor and sense of humor.

Isaac’s mother, Marlie Schmidt, is the principal of Los Ranchos Elementary School and his father, Rob Lewin, is the former San Luis Obispo County Cal Fire Chief and the current Santa Barbara County Emergency Management Director. His sister, Michaela, a graduate of Santa Clara University, lives and works in Boulder, Colorado. “At one point, my mom asked me what I was going to give up and I dropped art, but I was still drawing on my own. When I was fourteen or fifteen I really got into hip-hop music on KCPR radio. Like many teenagers I was trying to rebel, and angry black music really appealed to me.” As did an attraction to graffiti writing.

“We live on a dead end near the railroad tracks. The train was always going by with graffiti writing on it. I also grew up on the creek. We would walk through the creek all the way to the yogurt shop by the Mission or to Cuesta Park. There’s a whole tunnel and bridge system that’s full of graffiti art that’s really expressive, but the artist was a ghost. Who did this? Where else did they do this? What was the impulse? It’s a complex craft. When I was writing graffiti, I was painting the temples of the underground, not schools, churches or houses, not vandalizing. As a confused white, teenage male, it helped me figure out how I belong to an ethnic culture that appealed to me. Initially I was an observer, but then I had to engage.”

Isaac at work J U L Y

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Isaac graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 2006. “I loved my ceramics teacher, Cher Dubbink. She was outrageous, the wild, funky teacher. She gave me freedom. I did a sculpture of Tupac in her class.” He also took welding classes at Cuesta College for Kids and in the Ag Mechanics class at SLOHS, a skill that is a big part of his art today. “I should have taken more art classes, but, really, I survived high school by running. It’s a tough time, tough for anyone. I was getting all A’s, filling all the boxes, but it wasn’t fulfilling.”

After graduation, Isaac deferred his enrollment to the University of Puget Sound and went to Chile on a Rotary Exchange. In Osorno, where he lived, he found an explosive hip-hop and graffiti scene. “I’d go to the town plaza, and kids were in little crews, like gangs but without the violence. The country was still recovering from Pinochet. It entrenched me in graffiti culture because there was such a lack of stigma.” By the time Isaac arrived at UPS, in Tacomo, his opinion about graffiti was changing. “I began to think that graffiti wasn’t really art. It had art in it, but it’s a craft. If be-

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I’m really physical; I do a lot of heavy lifting in my work. I’m glad I know now why I was so tired, why I accidentally slept through class.

It’s awesome to be a human organism, look at all the great stuff I get to do, but you don’t always deal the cards.”

Isaac graduated in 2011 and, while creating his art, he supported himself by washing dishes and landscaping. He was doing printmaking and had discovered sculpture as a form of expression for his creativity. “In my last semester at Puget Sound I realized I could make art out of steel, make it physical. Rather than create an illusion out of pen and ink, I could actualize the illusion into physical objects that interact in your space.”

fore I felt oppressed and turned to graffiti, now I felt that graffiti was oppressing me.”

Isaac double majored in art and sociology. When his grades dropped below a 3.00 in his sophomore year, his parents told him they wouldn’t continue to support him, so he dropped out and went to work. “It was 2009, the pits of the recession. There was no work. I came back to school with a vengeance, this time doing just art, a decision my parents supported. It helped that my grandpa was an artist. I grew up surrounded by his art. Recently I’ve been in two shows with him.”

While in college, Isaac learned that he had a form of muscular dystrophy called myotonic dystrophy, characterized by progressive muscle wasting and weakness. Symptoms include slow speech, what Isaac called “my, low, stoned looking eyes,” jaw lock and fatigue. “It has to do with the tension and relaxation of your muscles. For example, if I clench my fist really hard it opens very slowly. Now I have a pacemaker. I might need a walker by the time I’m forty-five, but right now

Using his teachers as models for how to progress, he applied to San Jose State’s Masters in Fine Art program, where his use of steel as a medium accelerated. “For me it’s about asking a series of questions.

How do I create an illusion of energy? How does that translate into physical, actual space? How do I add the Z dimension to the XY? You create problems and figure out how to solve them. The question can be the interest point which leads to more probing rather than finished answers. As I learned about writing from my English teacher at SLOHS, Mrs. Avery, what are the further implications? What’s next?

It’s continuing inquiry. Knowing the answer is extinguishing. It’s better to keep exploring.”

Since turning his attention to using quarter inch steel as his medium, Isaac has been able to support himself as an artist, creating sculptures for both private and public spaces. “My clients have an idea of where they want the work to go and I try to create with that in mind.

Since the work comes off the wall a certain distance, shadows add another dimension, which creates the illusion of a bigger space. Each work is site specific and completely individual, a signature piece, evolving from a consultation with the client.”

Isaac’s studio is a space in San Jose called the School of Visual Philosophy, a communal non-profit. “I graduated from San Jose State in the spring of 2016. I get to interact with other artists every day, and I’m able to make a living creating art. I feel really fortunate. It’s really exciting. Cutting and laying out the steel is an organic process.

I might have some intentionality, but I don’t know exactly where it’s going. I’m drawing in physical space. I’m trying to illustrate unseen energy. I get to install my own work. It becomes what it needs to become when it’s installed. It needs to exist in the space I developed it for. That’s when it reaches its full potential.”

At the conclusion of our conversation, Isaac explained what he does in language that beautifully expresses the feeling that his work imparts. “There is something sacred about visual aesthetics. Doing something that doesn’t necessarily say something in the traditional sense, but gives a sensation and can give you peace of mind.”

When I first contacted Isaac about making him the subject of an article, I wrote, “I very much like your work because of its combination of clean beauty, geometry and open space. Lots for the eye and the mind to take in and enjoy without being overwhelmed. Challenging but soothing at the same time!” After spending two delightful hours with him, and having him graciously validate my observations, I encourage art lovers and those who are curious about art to visit Isaac’s website where you can learn more about his art. He is currently preparing for the Landmark Summer Arts Discovery Show in St. Paul, Minnesota, which will run until the end of August.

Isaac is a credit to our community and an artist we may be hearing a lot about for a long time to come: www.isaacslewin.com J U L Y

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charmaine petersen senior living consultant

By Ruth Starr

F

acing the reality of a loved one showing signs of dementia can be very painful. Navigating through what to do next can be confusing for the whole family.

When Charmaine Petersen was faced with her father’s onset of dementia, she realized there was a gap in senior services. As a result, Charmaine decided to fill the need to assist others with those difficult decisions.

After placing her father in assisted living care, she began working toward a “personalized consulting service” that would eliminate the confusion and worry of finding the right placement for a loved one.

She decided to devote her full attention to helping people with this complicated and demanding decision.

Charmaine’s first step to become a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA) was to enroll in a course. Following certification, she became a Placement Representative for Senior Living Consultants of SLO in 2007. The certification mandates an annual renewal, which helps keep advisors fully informed on issues such as Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Social, and Financial needs of Seniors.

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The process to place a loved one in an appropriate setting begins with either an evaluation over the phone or an in-person consultation. The service is free. The goal of the evaluation is to determine what changes are going on in the affected person’s life. This assessment helps the advisor best choose which type of Assisted Living Community will meet their needs.

Charmaine’s life has always been directed to helping others as a volunteer for various non-profit organizations including the Rotary Club and Meals that Connect.

Being a Rotarian is very important to Charmaine. This is a group that gives back to the community. Some of the projects include working on the Octagon Barn, a shopping spree with children in need and giving homeless children $100 to buy clothes for the holidays. Rotary International is an international service organization that brings together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards and advance goodwill and peace around the world.

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Charmaine and Rachel

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Charmaine and Brian

As the Secretary of Meals that Connect (the Senior Nutrition program) she serves on the board and takes notes during the board meetings. Charmaine states the 130,000 meals were served to the elderly and home bound people. The people who are served are never asked for money and do receive nutritious meals. In tune with seniors, she innovated a group called Central Coast Senior Care Alliance Network. The group meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at Whole Foods. Every month she has a speaker on a Senior Topic. Maintaining a weekly blog on the internet, she devotes it to senior topics ranging from depression in seniors to the importance of exercise.

Charmaine feels that helping families and giving back to our community has been her calling in life. She has a passion for what she does. She receives a lot of pleasure out of seeing a happy family and giving the family peace of mind that their loved one is in the right place.

Charmaine’s husband, Brian has been involved in senior consulting for the last 8 years as well. They have three children, Sean, Chantelle, and Kyle, who is also a Certified Senior Advisor.

Charmaine and Brian have been married for 38 years, loving the Central Coast where they have lived since 1999 and feeling blessed with their four grandchildren.

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Shirley Summers a woman for all seasons

By Deborah Cash

want to have children, won’t you?’ and then someone suggested I go apply for a job at the Welfare Department.”

“I wanted to do something with finance and investing and money,” she said. “But, in 110-degree weather, with my husband starting school, I headed out to take the test for the Welfare Department job and I started work the next Monday. I worked there until our children were born and then my next job was working for the City of Morro Bay. I was the assistant to the City Finance Director.” Summers added, “I didn’t like the work at all. I didn’t even know how to turn the adding machine on. I realized pretty soon that I was meant to be a social worker.” She philosophized, “There’s always good from disliking something as it helps you realize what you DO like.”

“Social Services hired me back,” she recalled happily, but at home, her life changed when her marriage ended and she became a single mom. Amidst these personal upheavals, she focused on family—her own and those of her clients. “I had great empathy working with families facing difficulties and seeking the best paths for them. Sometimes it took removing a child or children out of the home to start the process of healing.”

Summers said as a social worker she never came across a family who intentionally wanted to harm a child. “There were a lot of interventions,” she said. Sadly, she explained, some people were so drugdependent that “they’d leave their children for the drugs.” Summers said the initial interventions were a rewarding part of her job. “I’d review the information with law enforcement and jointly we’d make decisions about the children’s welfare and whether we could make them safe at home, needed to remove them and then work with the parents and the Juvenile Court to attempt reunification between he children and their parents.” While it was tough in many cases, it also was necessary work to ensure the health and safety of the children and reunification of the family if possible.

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n March, Shirley Summers joined an elite group of women honored as county leaders when she was inducted into the SLO County Women’s Wall of Fame. Her co-honorees for 2017 included Eloisa Medina and Jill Bolster-White who, along with a field of 15 nominees, were all celebrated at a luncheon sponsored by the SLO Commission on the Status of Women (an advisory body to the SLO County Board of Supervisors), and the South Bay Women’s Network. Summers’ contributions to the county were acknowledged as a “lifelong commitment to volunteerism and community-building.”

During all this, Summers worked toward a graduate degree in social welfare from UC Berkeley. “My first year was a practicum in San Francisco in the sexual abuse trauma unit and in my second year I worked at a school district (where, coincidentally she attended as a child) in foster youth services.”

“Berkeley was like an adventure,” she said. “I was the oldest person in the program!” Summers was proud that 30 years after earning her B.A., she was back in school and enjoying the friendships of her young

If young women starting out in life and career ever wanted encouragement from another woman’s story of meeting challenges, remaining committed to goals, pursuing ongoing life learning and caring about others, their inspiration could very likely come from the story Summers shares after recently having received this prestigious award for a lifetime of service.

“I graduated from college in 1965,” she says, “before the Women’s Movement. I had a degree in Economics from Fresno State and my husband was in graduate school pursuing his masters degree in social work.” Summers said, “I looked for a job but I couldn’t find a job. Mostly, I was told, ‘We don’t hire women for these positions’ (in finance related work), but they did ask how fast I could type!” Or, she shared, “They’d actually say, ‘You’re recently married, you’re going to J U L Y

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The Summers family

PEOPLE fellow students. In 1995, she received her Masters Degree in Social Welfare (M.S.W.).

When Summers returned to the Central Coast, she worked for a while at the County as a Social Worker IV providing services to families at high risk of losing their children and then moved to emergency response and adoptions. In 2008, Summers retired from the County and was hired as a case manager for mentally ill patients at the California Men’s Colony. She was later promoted to supervisor and worked with inmates on prerelease planning. “I loved the work,” she said of her six years working in the prison. “I had so much background with not only helping people but knowing how all the local agencies work together.”

For this goal-oriented, hard-working woman, life started out fairly complacently. Born in Albany, CA and raised in Pleasant Hill, Summers said she was into “Girl Scouts and kids’ kinds of things.” Early on she discovered she really liked to learn. “That part hasn’t changed,” she laughed. “I still study, read and attend Life Long Learning classes.” Summers is mom to two adult children, Eric and Melinda (Mindy), both of whom are social workers. Eric, with his MSW, from Cal State San Bernardino works for corrections and is an administrative parole agent for the San Bernardino area. “When I started working at the prison,” she noted, “Eric was my mentor!”

Daughter Melinda Summers Sandoval received her BA degree from Cal State Fullerton. After working through the AmeriCorps program with a position in SLO County Probation Department and then, with the San Luis Obispo County DSS Independent living Program she returned to school at San Jose State to obtain her MSW. Other social work positions for Mindy include working at Transitions Mental Health in SLO and Child Welfare Services in Monterey County with the Department of Social Services. She’s now a stay-at-home mom.

Summers herself is anything but stay-athome. While fully retired now—“Better to end while it’s good,” she jokes—her amazingly full volunteer calendar and travelling with grandkids on education adventures keep her busy and engaged. She volunteers with Red Cross Mental Health Disaster Response Team, Military Reconnection Workshops, Counseling and Assessment and for personal enrichment and fun, she belongs to the American Association of University Women, she’s in a Canasta group and a book club. She’s bilingual and continues her Spanish lessons traveling to

Sevilla, Spain, Mexico and Costa Rica for living, learning and cultural experiences.

When each of her grandkids turns 10 years old, she takes them on a summer holiday Road Scholar Intergenerational trip such as the STEM camp “where they learn to build robots and where they get to meet kids from all over the U.S.—and I get to meet other grandparents from all over the U.S. and we get to spend time together.”

Her love of life, of people, of community and family is evident in her beautiful smile and kind manner. When asked how, with her gentle nature, she was able to

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cope with the heart wrenching moments of a life in social work and maintain her own happiness, she replied, “People have their lives and we have ours. If we (social workers) weren’t there, their life would go on as it was. You leave yourself at the door and hope that things will be better because you were there but also realize they will still make their own decisions.”

Summers’ decision to “be there” for herself, her children, her work and her community definitely deserve to be honored among those who’ve made our county a better place to live, in all seasons.

est. 1977

40 Years of Comfort San Luis Obispo

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HUGE Event Sat. 29th!

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Meet Roxanne Saturday July 29th!

ALL WEEK LONG JULY 24th - 30th GWP while supplies last. Sale shoes on select styles while supplies last.

746 Higuera Mission Mall SLO 541-3320 J U L Y

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slo children’s museum new exhibits

By Heather Young

T

he San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum is an educational, and fun, place to take the children.

“It’s an environment that draws parents in to play with their children,” said Lisa Rizzo, board member and exhibit committee chair.

“It’s really a family museum,” SLO Children’s Museum Executive Director Michelle Jenkins added.

The base of the museum is made up of walls adorned with photographs and paintings done by local artists of local scenes To make it well worth the price of admission or membership, the museum’s board and exhibits committee is always looking for ways to improve and enhance their exhibits within the space they have.

“This year we’ve done enhancements to existing exhibits,” Rizzo said. “[The exhibits are] fun, but also educational,” exhibit committee member and past board member Linda Rawling said.

The largest addition to the museum is the western town that is located outside of the museum, but within the fenced area. There used to be a waterwheel located in that area, but that has been replaced by a couple of western looking buildings built by local artist Howard Wood.

In creating the space, museum volunteers worked with local historian Eva Ultz to make it historically accurate.

“It’s very representative of old-time SLO,” Rizzo said.

There’s a mercantile where children can play imaginatively, which also has historic photos of SLO. That area will include clothing, bonnets, chaps and other period appropriate clothing.

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Next to the mercantile, there is a horse racing area. Wood carved two horses and set up the mechanics for the children to move the horse, which also moves a smaller horse across a board so two children can have a horse race from mission to mission.

“I love the fact that it’s outdoors,” Rawling said.

“And it was wasted space before,” Jenkins added.

The western town opened in June.

Another exhibit that has been enhanced and is open now is the medical center, sponsored by Central Coast Pediatrics. The exhibit features large, lifelike photos taken of the doctors and staff inside the San Luis Obispo office.

“Our pediatric group wanted to give back to our community,” said Dr. Richard Macias of Central Coast Pediatrics. “We felt that our group wanted to show our appreciation to our community for the trust that they give us as we share in the care of their families. The exhibit at the children’s museum allows us to expose the children to the doctor’s office in a playful, nonthreatening manner.”

There is a large operation-like game where the children can extract organs from a “body.” The names of each is written in

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English and Spanish to incorporate bilingual education into the Children’s Museum.

“One of the things we wanted to do with recreating the medical area is that being a doctor is not the only job related to a medical office,” Rizzo said.

Another exhibit that will be enhanced is the SLO Trolley. Once a sponsor is secured, a GoPro will be put on the SLO Trolley at different times of day and then will be replayed on a screen inside the trolley at the museum.

Also going into the second floor, which is dedicated to imaginative play, is a horizontal climbing wall and a building zone.

“It’ll be a full construction zone,” Jenkins said of where the building equipment will be. That area features a wall-size photo of a building being built in downtown SLO. That area is sponsored by Lindamood Bell.

“Being on the exhibits committee, we are constantly thinking of new exhibits so we can keep the museum fresh,” Rawling said. “Those of use who work on the committee—we are kids at heart. Education is a guideline we follow too [when selecting or enhancing exhibits].”

When working on new exhibits, Rizzo and the committee members ask themselves “What can we do to improve the space? What can we imagine?”

“We’re not just a museum, we’re a community resource,” Jenkins said.

The museum is located in downtown SLO at 1010 Nipomo St. and is open in the summer Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and is geared toward children between 2 and 10 years of age. The museum will be closed on July 4. Each month, the museum hosts free moonlight hours on the third Thursday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m.

For more information, call 805-544-5874, email info@slocm.org or go to www.slocm.org.

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47th annual

festival mozaic

classical music meets classic california

By Bettina Swigger

E

ach summer since its beginnings in 1971, FESTIVAL MOZAIC transforms the Central Coast of California into a hotbed of classical music culture. July 19-30, 2017, Music Director Scott Yoo will lead a group of more than 50 visiting artists gathered from top orchestras and chamber ensembles from around the world in performances in scenic venues all over picturesque San Luis Obispo County combining music with classic California architecture, food and wine.

At Festival Mozaic’s Notable Encounters, learn more about the music in our interactive performances at one-of-a-kind places. Hear Messiaen’s transformative Quartet for the End of Time at sun-drenched Tolosa winery. Experience Beethoven in a beautiful barn in the middle of an avocado, lavender and olive oil estate. And explore the music of Ravel with brunch at the gorgeous grounds of Dallidet Adobe, a California State Historical Landmark.

As part of the Orchestra Series, head to wine country’s hill-top Serra Chapel, and sit outside the chapel’s back doors as Vivaldi’s timeless Four Seasons wafts over the vines. Arrive early for picnicking and enjoy the views! The Festival Orchestra also returns to historic Mission San Luis Obispo, built in 1772 and still used as a working parish. Explore evolutions of classical music by Vivaldi, Piazzolla, Mozart and Beethoven here at the root of SLO’s history. Don’t miss the inspiration for this summer’s theme, Strauss’ Metamorphosen, as 23 string players each play a unique part in this personal lament for the devolution of German culture during

the Nazi regime. This moving piece tops off the day’s concerts and events at the Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center, including a picnic in the courtyard.

These classic California and music experiences are just a few of the Festival’s concerts in the Orchestra and Chamber Series, as well as Notable Encounters, which are designed to be equal parts interactive performance and education. All events take place July 19-30 and tickets go on sale April 1 on the Festival’s web site.

With 28 events in 16 different venues, Festival Mozaic offers something for every kind of music lover and provides a welcoming and authentic SLO experience offering the best in culinary, coastal and cultural life.

At Festival Mozaic, the music of Mozart, Bach and Beethoven will be played alongside Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Richard Strauss, and many more. Listeners can also enjoy Britten, Harbison, Piazzolla, and a host of other musical masters and crossover artists in charismatic venues such as Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, Serra Chapel in wine country, and the state-of-the-art Cuesta College Cultural and Performing Arts Center.

Festival Mozaic also features laid-back midday mini-concerts and a Fringe Series with distinctly different kinds of crossover classical music acts, including the wildly popular string trio Simply Three, folk and classical duo Fire & Grace and Stephen Prutsman in an evening of music and silent films from the jazz age at the historic art deco Fremont Theatre.

Festival Mozaic embraces the power of world-class music to bring people together; classical music lovers and novices come together to enjoy the music and be inspired. The Festival aims to build a relationship between audiences and art form. It enriches concert presentations with events that provide an in-depth look at the social and cultural context for the music, as well as behind-the-scenes glimpses into what it takes to make truly great music. For more information go to www.FestivalMozaic.com

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the girl who touched the stars

By David Congalton

T

his is a story 72 years in the making. It begins in the spring of 1945 with a teenage girl, sitting alone on a fire escape in a poor New York City neighborhood, surrounded by her beloved books. Clara McMahon loved to read and to write. Literature was her best friend.

One day, Clara felt especially inspired. Although V-E Day was within grasp, the nation seemed weary from four long years of war and sacrifice. Clara, then a high school senior ready to graduate, decided to write the major Hollywood stars of the day with one simple question, “What is your favorite poem?”

The original plan was to print the responses in a class brochure. Using the Screen Actors Guild, Clara was able to have letters forwarded to major celebrities, including: James Cagney, Bing Crosby, Basil Rathbone, Jack Benny, Joan Crawford, Claudette Colbert, and a fellow teenager— Shirley Temple.

Clara, herself an aspiring poet, hoped for a few responses. She had to have been surprised when her mailbox burst with letters postmarked Hollywood. Clara quickly realized that she had more than a simple brochure in her hands. No, she decided. This would be a book, an inspirational publication for the military veteran and civilian alike.

“The returning boys and girls and the grim workers at home would get a spiritual exaltation from these gems, something, I feel very essential now,” Clara wrote at the time.

Clara McMahon

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So more letters went out and more stars wrote back: Cecil B. DeMille, Fred Allen, Loretta Young, Lana Turner, Bette Davis, and Boris Karloff, among others. Clara did not

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Donald Minck

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All those famous people who wrote to Clara McMahon in 1945 are now deceased, as are many of their fans. But Kathleen and her brothers remain convinced that there is an audience for their mother’s book.

“Our mother ended up with an interesting snapshot of a particular time in our history,” Kathleen says. “I believe this book will be of interest to a wide cross section of readers including film historians, classic movie fans, and poetry lovers.”

The signed letters alone would likely fetch a high price at any Hollywood collectors’ auction, but Kathleen and her brothers aren’t thinking about money. They’ve put together a book proposal and are searching for potential agents and publishers, hoping to finish a story that began on a New York fire escape in 1945.

Kathleen Minck

stop until she had more than 100 poems for her special book.

Then, Life happened. Clara went down a different path and her book project was put on hold indefinitely as she soon married and eventually became the mother of four young children. Daughter Eileen died of cancer at age 7 and Clara never completely recovered from that devastating loss.

Breast cancer would eventually claim Clara McMahon in 1977 at the age of 49. Even though her dream book was never published, Clara held on to the poems and Hollywood letters for more than 30 years.

Enter Kathleen Minck, a retired Arroyo Grande elementary school teacher and Clara’s oldest child. Kathleen and her brothers, Donald and Kevin, have become keepers of the poetic flame, determined to honor their mother’s memory by finally completing the project.

while I was working on ‘Kiss and Tell.’” Her favorite poem was “Sonnet” by Edna St. Vincent Millay.

Lucille Ball sent a four page handwritten letter, including personally writing out the poem “As I Gird On for Fighting” by A.E. Housman and asking Clara to see the final product (“If they are not for sale—could I see it? With the promise to return—of course.”).

William Boyd of “Hopalong Cassidy” fame dashed off a note suggesting a sonnet by Shakespeare (“Let me not to the marriage of true minds…”).

Boris Karloff selected “Flower in the Crannied Wall” by Tennyson. Gene Kelly, in a handwritten note, went with “Kubla Khan”

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (“I’m sure it must be a favorite with many others.”). The favorite poem of Basil Rathbone was “How Do I Love Thee?” by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (also selected separately by Loretta Young).

“My brothers and I were certainly surprised,” Kathleen recalls. “We had no idea that our mother had done anything like this. I read through the stack of letters and it seemed like a virtual Who’s Who of Hollywood stars.”

James Cagney thought that “Western Star”

by Stephen Vincent Benet was just dandy.

Bing Crosby, also a Benet fan, chose “John Brown’s Body.” Joan Crawford asked that “The Answer” by Sara Teasdale be included.

Cecil B. DeMille liked “If” by Kipling, while Ronald Colman preferred “Ode to a Grecian Urn” by Keats. George Burns and Gracie Allen agreed that “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer was their favorite.

The collection is impressive, a Turner Classic Movies fan’s dream. Shirley Temple, for example, apologizes for the tardiness of her response, “I am working hard catching up on the school assignments which lagged behind

“What my mother did was pretty amazing,” Kathleen says. “All these big movie stars took the time to respond to a high school student’s letter, many of them with personal notes. I don’t think that would happen today.”

Clara had not shared her story with any of the children. Kathleen, then a twentysomething teacher, was first shown the letters about a year before her mother died.

“We have a promise that the book will be beautifully printed,” Clara wrote to the stars in her original letter. “It will be something very precious for anyone to keep forever and will stimulate the love of poetry.”

805 Aerovista #103, San Luis Obispo

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at the market

summer ratatouille foccacia

By Sarah Hedger

J

uly at the market here on the Central Coast makes for pretty inspired meals as they are fresh and bursting with Summer flavor. There is also so much to choose from with the entire stone fruit family, including apricots, cherries, peaches, pluots, and plums. Also avocados, which are a great addition to every Summer salad, as well as corn, zucchini, cucumbers, garlic, tomatoes, and the mighty eggplant.

And, right when you think it can’t get any better, there are the Summer berries that add fresh deliciousness (and nourishment) to anything from breakfast granola bowls, to smoothies, to...the list really is endless!

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This month’s recipe, Summer Ratatouille Foccacia, is a bit of a two-fer as it is both a recipe for an amazing, simple, and beautiful ratatouille, as well as a grain-free (paleo) foccacia. While they are a bit of heaven together, they can also be enjoyed on their own just as well. Ratatouille really does encompass for me so many of the brilliant Summer produce fresh flavors, all rolled into one, perfect dish. I love making a big batch of it as it only gets better with a little time as well, so the options are endless for leftovers. I have been known to enjoy it the next morning with breakfast eggs, or great added to any salad or sandwich for lunch, and then it can be a great vegetable component for dinner, from a pasta add in, to being the vegetable component for

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just about anything. All of that and it can also completely be a perfect meal just on its own. It also is super nutritious with Vitamin C from the tomatoes as well as all the fiber from the vegetables and healthy fats from the olive oil. And, the garlic! How can we ever again mention health without including the often overlooked garlic. Garlic is at its prime in Summer as it is said to be planted on the shortest day of the year and harvested on the longest day of the year, Summer solstice, on June 21st. It’s just a way I remember that this is when it is freshest and most vibrant! Garlic helps boost the immune system any time of the year with its antimicrobial, antiviral, pungent properties. So much goodness packed into such a perfect package!

summer ratatouille foccacia Makes a 9 x 9 inch pan For the Foccacia: 1 cup warm water 1 T yeast Pinch of sugar 1 ½ cups sunflower seed flour or almond meal 1 ½ cups tapioca flour/starch 2 T psyllium husks 1 tsp sea salt 1 T cider vinegar 1 egg, beaten 2 T olive oil Extra warm water Extra olive oil The foccacia included is one of my favorite go-to’s, year round, as it can be topped with just about anything (or nothing) and taste perfect. It goes with soups, salads, can be made into sandwiches...just about anything! By making it with sunflower flour or almond flour, it shifts a bread-type component, usually full of empty calories and carbohydrate rich, into a more balanced meal, with healthy fats, proteins, and fiber. I like how it is a yeasted bread, and can go together quickly, or be left to rise overnight. Both the ratatouille and foccacia can be made concurrently, if time is limited, with components being cooked at the same time. If there is any leftover, it is great even cold for breakfast the next morning (stranger things have happened!).

Thus, have a play with it and enjoy the taste of Summer, all together in a perfect package of goodness!

We are working on the August issue NOW!

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Place the warm water, yeast, and sugar in a large mixing bowl and let sit for a few minutes to activate. Mix in flours, psyllium, salt, vinegar, egg, and olive oil, whisking well so there are no lumps. Add a little more water if needed (should be the consistency of thick pancake batter). Place some olive oil in the bottom of a baking dish and scrape batter in. Let rise for a couple hours in a slightly warm spot. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 degrees and when hot, place foccacia in and bake for 20 minutes, Remove from oven.

For the Summer Ratatouille: 1 red onion, chopped 1 tsp fresh red hot chile, or a pinch of dried chilli pepper 2 zucchini, chopped 1 eggplant, chopped in 1cm pieces 2 tomatoes (or 1 can of good quality tomatoes if not in season) 2 garlic cloves, minced 4 T olive oil 1 tsp sea salt 1 T good balsamic vinegar 4 ounces chevre Fresh basil, finely chopped Finely chop eggplant and place in roasting pan with 2 T olive oil and 1 tsp sea salt, roasting for 20 minutes (can be same time as foccacia is cooking). Meanwhile, saute onion over medium heat in olive oil. Once soft, add garlic, salt, and zucchini and cook for a few minutes. Add tomatoes, cooking for another few minutes. Finish with olive oil and balsamic, tasting for more salt. Spoon over foccacia, top with a good chevre, and bake for another 10 minutes. Remove from oven and top with fresh basil.

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Paso art scene

betty wick Paint it black

By Michael Stang

F

rom the time she was able to hold a pencil in her hand, and draw a line, Betty Wick never looked back.

Her grandmother kept a special box in the closet for all her pencils, pens and art paper.

Betty remembers drawing flowers to the sounds of Lawrence Welk in the background.

Betty grew up in a loving home that encouraged her art.

At one point, as life would have it, during her grade school years, Betty found herself as one of the “Cordettes, a group of a baton twirling kids, twirling a fire baton.

During those experiences, she met circus legends who followed the parades as added excitement for the town’s people of Northeastern Ohio. Betty met “Lobster Boy,” and the world’s famous Bearded Woman, whose beard was so long she had to have helpers keep it off the ground.

It was one of Betty’s high school teachers who influenced her by his passion for black and white art, and it took her by storm.

Traditional Funeral Services Memorial Services

2890 S. Higuera, San Luis Obispo Located next to San Luis Cemetery

543-6871 FD 374

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Cremation Care

Betty Wick majored in printmaking at Ohio University where her black and white art developed in complexity. After school, Betty moved to Boston and got a job at the Design Center. She learned from some of the best designers in the world, and was heavily influenced by their designs. She illustrated for a writer who did work for the Boston Globe, and the Washington Post: perfect for black and white. By that time, Betty Wick was starting to show her work nationally.

Betty Wick now lives on the Central Coast of California. She took a break from black and white when she illustrated a children’s book written by her husband. “It was a different world for me. A lot of fun splashing color around.”

Her son, Orion, a wine maker with his own brand “dilécta” needed wine labels for the bottles. Betty’s art was perfect for the task. So much so, that Betty recreated a canvas to be displayed on one of the walls at the dilécta tasting room. The tasting room is under construction at 5325 Vineyard Drive in Paso Robes, and will be opening soon.

One of Betty’s labels will be featured in the Wine Enthusiast magazine in a future edition.

Betty Wick became a part of “Studios on the Park” 1130 Pine Street, Paso Robles last February. “I love having my own space to do what I want.” Naturally, there is a lot of exceptional black and white art hanging on the walls. Anne Laddon, founder and lead curator had this to say in New Times, out of San Luis Obispo entertainment weekly “Her style is just so unique. It’s playful and edgy. She has a very high skill level.”

Betty Wick may be contacted at www.bettywick.com, or at bettywickart@gmail.com.

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30-foot moving sculpture greets slo visitors

By Melissa Mudgett

A

30-foot tall, moving sculpture now greets motorists south of the downtown area.

in 2010. The design was modified slightly in 2014, and construction permits were issued in 2016. To view photographs and renderings of the piece in motion, visit http://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/parks-and-recreation/public-art/current-projects.

Installation began Friday, June 9 on “Olas PortolaFuente Seca,” which means “Waves in a Dry Fountain.” The sculpture was created by kinetic sculptor Jeffrey Laudenslager and light sculptor Deanne Sabeck, both Southern California artists with numerous public art pieces.

The sculpture is situated in the original Portola Fountain base at the intersection of Higuera and Marsh streets. Project completion and dedication is expected later this summer.

The original fountain, built by the San Luis Obispo Monday Club in 1967, has become dated and minimized by the activity around it. The addition of “Olas Portola” will be the first kinetic sculpture in San Luis Obispo.

“The kinetic sculpture is sort of serious play,” Laudenslager said.

“Serious in the sense that I will create it in a truly monumental scale.

And playful by nature, using the wind to move its elements gently, like a perpetual and elegant Tai Chi.” Created on CAD software, Laudenslager’s pieces are described as kinetic sculptures that consist of geometric shapes, joined and balanced so that wind alone will activate them.

Sabeck, meanwhile, uses dichroic glass, which divides the light spectrum, transmitting one color while reflecting its opposite to create a sculptural light painting.

This public art project dates to 2009, when an art jury reviewed over 150 proposals and recommended a single public art design for the fountain location. The conceptual art design was supported by the Architectural Review Commission and approved by the City Council J U L Y

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COMMUNITY

palm street perspective

art, theater, music, history, food, culture, vision, parking

By SLO City Councilwoman, Carlyn Christianson

W

hat do the SLO Museum of Art, the newly renamed SLO Repertory Theater, the History Museum, the Children’s Museum, Mission Plaza and the Downtown Concept Plan Update all have in common?

The Palm-Nipomo Parking Garage! And YOU. A number of these beloved SLO cultural icons are looking to the future and so is the city. You may know that the SLO Museum of Art is now commencing its capital campaign to build its long-awaited gorgeous new building (on the same footprint where it now stands, across from the History Museum at the edge of Mission Plaza) and that the SLO Repertory Theater—formerly the SLO Little Theater—has moved into the spotlight with the name change only the first signal of exciting things to come. But what is the Downtown Concept Plan Update, and what is the Mission Plaza Master Plan–and how do they all relate? And what’s the deal with another parking garage? And most importantly, where do YOU come in?

The Downtown Concept Plan is the community’s long-range vision for San Luis Obispo’s downtown core, providing a road map for future public projects and guidance for private development. It’s been around for over 25 years and has helped guide property owners and decision-makers as projects develop in the downtown core,

roughly bounded by Nipomo and Santa Rosa, Monterey and Pacific.

As a visionary document, the updated Downtown Concept Plan will continue to be used to encourage general consistency with the plan and to provide decision makers with information on how each project can generally implement the Plan’s concepts. The Update project has been underway since December 2015, and is now at the public hearing stage, nearing final completion.

At the same time, the Mission Plaza Master Plan is dovetailing its final public hearing phase also. This related Plan deals specifically with the Mission Plaza area and the immediately surrounding streetscapes.

Both these Plans envision a cultural and artistic center in the city’s downtown core, where the celebration of art, history, music, and theater can be enjoyed by families, residents and visitors alike. They both represent the ongoing work of the general public, stakeholders, staff, consultants and city advisory bodies, and also a very special Task Force, the Creative Vision Team, made up of some of the originators of the first Downtown Concept Plan as well as newly dedicated residents.

Both Plans will come to the Council later in the summer for final review and approval. So this is your chance to give us your final thoughts and input if you haven’t already! Check www.slocity.org or www.slocity.org/downtown for exact hearing dates for the Planning Commission and Council, or to sign up for related e-notifications.

What connects all these organizations and Plans? The Palm-Nipomo Parking Garage. While on its face it may seem like the parking garage is just another place to park a car (and also meet projected increased parking demand), the fact is that this particular structure will help reinforce key synergies between cultural institutions and also enhance the Mission Plaza experience.

The success of the vision of a cultural and artistic downtown center, as well as the plans of all the nearby related institutions to thrive and grow, depends in part on the development of this parking structure first. The project is budgeted, and currently working slowly through the planning stages towards completion. (It will be located on the site currently taken by a street-level parking lot bounded on one corner by Palm and Nipomo Streets.)

As the city moves parking away from the streets, widens sidewalks to allow for pedestrians and cafes, and generally develops more density in this area, the parking structure may also, as it’s currently planned, provide a possible location for the expansion of cultural amenities such as a bigger theater for SLO Rep, or a viewing deck for the enjoyment of the surrounding beautiful city, or even options for resident parking.

Whatever the final Downtown Concept and Mission Plaza plans look like, your input together with the presence of the garage in this location will be key components to another visionary part of our wonderful San Luis Obispo downtown.

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July Hero Profile

2017

Children’s Bill of Rights #7: As the children and youth of San Luis Obispo County, may we each learn and master ideas and skills in and out of school that inspire us, help us understand and be ready for our place in the world.

JULY’S HERO

Pat Maduena PASSION

Ensuring children go to school with confidence and a love of learning ONE WORD TO DESCRIBE PAT

Resilient

NOMINATED BY

San Luis Obispo County Office of Education

Pat Maduena is a champion for children, creating a classroom filled with love, encouragement and imagination that helps young learners and their families feel empowered and connected.

Pat has been with CA State Preschool since 2003, after working in early education with the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District. Colleagues say Pat understands the cultures and needs of children and families living in San Miguel; she is known to go door-to-door and extend a personal invitation to her preschool. Pat helps parents achieve their goals for their children and themselves by breaking down barriers within the diverse population of San Miguel-- whether it’s helping a Mixtec-speaking mother communicate her hopes for her child with preschool staff, or inspiring preschool parents from all backgrounds to build a “family of families” through shared volunteer activities and social events.

When several families were struggling financially, Pat joined with other community agencies to provide quick, on-site access to basic food and clothing. Pat’s efforts eased the anxiety of these families and their children— who were then able to show up for school ready to learn after a nutritious breakfast and dressed in new clothes.

Pat emphasizes early literacy in her classroom through the “Raising A Reader” program, hosting family literacy nights and connecting children and caretakers with the local library.

Peers say Pat is a gift to our Central Coast, with her incredible heart and big smile as she greets little ones every day.

Thank you, Pat. You are a true Hands-On Hero.

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

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

Design: Verdin

As a Site Supervisor for the San Miguel State Preschool Programs, Pat generates unique opportunities for children and parents, fostering a sense of belonging that extends from the classroom—to the school campus—to the community.

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HISTORY ON THE HOOF DAY TRIPS INTO THE PAST

san simeon

By Joe Carotenuti

F

or the past several months, we’ve been directing our horseless carriage to various spots in the historyrich central coast. Generally, each community has a pioneer legacy with a few William Randolph Hearst by Travis Simpkins places, usually residences, to capture some of the past. In the last few months, we’ve visited the closely located two “C’s” along the ocean’s edge…Cayucos and Cambria. The third “C” while overlooking nearby San Simeon is a daytrip into a dream: the misnamed Castle of William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951).

It is misnamed because its original concept was as a wealthy man’s summer retreat surrounded by a very large ranch. The “castle” designation sounds grander than ranch house, but Hearst had enough resources to build his bucolic oasis to rival many official castles.

Who expects much splendor from a ranch house? Plus, the lure of the place in addition to its grandiose architecture and splendid gardens are its period pieces from all over the world placed in magnificent interiors.

Hearst had visited much of the world and his childhood memories undoubtedly influenced his version of opulence on the central coast. Today, in many respects, the castle/ranch house is really a memory of the past.

For tours, your conveyance must park at the bottom of the hill and a grand horseless carriage (aka bus) will bring you to the top for your fantastical tour. There are even remnants of the private zoo. The enterprising Hearst wanted to be sure any guest in his day or ours was impressed by the magnificence and grandeur of his inexhaustible supply of ideas

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and wealth. A commoner has not provided for this day trip…but a king.

Even its arrival on the view abundant hilltop took nearly a century. As with so much in history, the reality of today begins in a dream from yesterday. All the participants listed below deserve their own biography.

William didn’t buy all the hill (or surrounding thousands of acres) but inherited it from his mother, Phoebe, whose husband, George, had a knack for amassing fortunes and prudent investing. Both came from common backgrounds to incredible wealth but are most noteworthy for what they chose to do with it. Their son inherited both personalities plus his own unique sense of largess. A readable, comprehensive biography is David Nasaw’s, The Chief. Interestingly, Nasaw also wrote an equally compelling biography of Andrew Carnegie, another extremely wealthy man who left his own version of the American dream across the nation and world.

In 1865, George bought the Rancho Piedra Blanca (White Rock) from local resident, Jose de Jesus Pico. Thus, the beginning of Camp Hill…a place for the powerful Californian to retreat from the demands of both wealth and politics. William always considered the spot as one of his favorite places to live, if only for short times.

The rancho was only 48,000 acres. History buffs remember Jesus as the spared candidate of a firing squad courtesy of John C. Fremont.

While fortunate, Don José, cousin of California’s last Mexican governor, Pio Pico, would accumulate many debts as his entire herd of cattle and horses had been lost in the drought of 1863-64. While the future Senator (1820-1891) by then had amassed a fortune in silver, land still attracted the former farmer from Missouri.

George liked space and eventually bought two other ranchos: Santa Rosa granted to Julian Estrada in 1841 and San Simeon granted to his brother, Jesus, the next year. He even annexed land from the heirs of another local legend, John Wilson. Soon, he owned an extensive strip of coast land eventually totaling more than 50 miles along the ocean’s front.

Though George was busy with his mining interests, he took time to build up a large herd of cattle on his new rancho including the breeding and training of thoroughbred horses. As Camp Hill grew, so did the guests. George’s son decided his guests deserved more than a campout and the famous guests and lavish

COMMUNITY

George Hearst

parties at the estate are legendary. Take some time to imagine what an evening soiree with William Randolph must have been like. There is even a tour with docents dressed in period apparel to foster your imagination.

Of course, San Simeon needed a pier so coast steamers could dock.

Today’s version makes another enjoyable stop to accompany the Castle spectacular.

William added another 153,000 acres. By 1925, as the castle took shape under the guidance of architect, Julia Morgan, the Hearst Ranch totaled approximately 250,000 acres. The ruins of Mission

31

San Simeon Pier

San Antonio de Padua (see page 32) were then completely surrounded by Hearst property. In the mid-1940s, William donated some $250,000 for the restoration of the state’s missions.

If you are energetic…and curious, galloping a bit further north will take you to the Piedra Blanca Lighthouse. Begun in 1874, the lighthouse has suffered from earthquake damage and waits patiently for visitors and funds to be completely restored. The trip promises even more stunning views of the ocean.

While this castle is in plain view atop a hill open to the public, Hearst HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY had another—closed to the public—castle at Wyntoon in northern California when he tired of the central coast.

Let our family take care of your family.

From mission lands to rancho to a wealthy gentleman’s retreat to one of America’s top destinations, San Simeon is an enchanted day trip into a past of rugged frontier life transformed into a vision of extraordinary luxury and comfort.

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history

california 1856 Part 3

By Joe Carotenuti

A

generally cautious traveler, Henry Miller decided that a safe place to sleep was in a bear trap. What logic was used to arrive at this conclusion was not recorded in his journal recounting his 8-month trip from San Francisco with his mule to sketch the missions. In an Account of a Tour of the California Missions (Bellerophon Books, 2000), Miller was quite aware in 1856 a more pressing issue were the marauding thieves and murderers who plagued California.

Mission San Antonio 1883

The story continues.

Miller assumed he had kicked away the prop holding the trap door ajar while asleep. Having “exerted all my power” to raise the door, he decided he was in a “plight.” To be free of the bear trap, he must have hoped someone might rescue him, and not, at best, rob him. There was the specter of a contemplated meeting with Death inside the wooden tomb. As if scripted for a drama, salvation shortly came from two passing cowboys who “were lost in wonderment” at his predicament, but freed the hapless traveler.

His liberators searching for stray cattle settled for a little reward and a good laugh. Escaping what would have been an excruciating demise, Miller continued south toward San Antonio.

It was not too long before he had a gruesome reminder of his potential fate.

The third mission founded on July 14, 1771 and named after the renown 13th century Franciscan, St. Anthony of Padua was “preserved (in) a quite better condition,” he wrote, than his last stop at Soledad. While Miller describes an enlightening conversation

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Mission Soledad - Deakins

with an unnamed “jolly priest,” he spoke with Father Doroteo Ambris, the last serving prelate. When he died in 1882, the mission was abandoned. Miller’s casual notetaking briefly recorded the priest’s tale of exploitation of the mission. With few words, the artist encapsulates the ongoing saga of the destruction of missions, their fields and disbursement of the neophytes.

Among his woes, Ambris related the “rapacity” of the public administrators who “appropriated everything to themselves.” It was a tale repeated throughout the mission system for many decades.

For some of the spiritual centers, it literally destroyed most everything including the adobe that returned to mud once exposed to the elements.

The next morning, Miller continued south toward San Miguel and passed several large droves of cattle from San Luis Obispo heading for the northern markets.

As the day waned, he began looking for a secure spot away from the trails to bed down for the night “when getting to a clump of dark trees, a horrible spectacle met my eye.” In stark contrast to his journey to record the state of the missions, he was confronted with “part of a human skeleton bound to a tree; part of the bones had fallen to the ground, the flesh had all gone and only some dried skin was remaining. The skull laid on the ground, cleft in two toward the left temple.”

Remembering another double murder in the same area two months previous, the undoubtedly frightened Miller traveled a few more hours to San Miguel Mission founded in 1797.

The notoriety of the area was related in lengthy articles by local Walter Murray in 1858 to the San Francisco Bulletin. If Miller read the articles, he could attest to the viciousness he witnessed

Mission San Miguel 1863 - Vischer

A Retirement F COMMUNITY

33

Even though the prospect of m future, you owe it to yourself to carefree living in your own home

You Don’t Have to Move

Mission San Antonio

in the area. There soon would be a Vigilance Committee to address the local atrocities.

Miller found “a great number of adobe houses” but—except for the church—were roofless allowing the elements to melt the adobe walls. Inside, he described the mission named after an archangel as being “daubed with some coarse fresco painting.”

Today, the restored artwork is among the finest of mission frescos. Former silver objects were replaced with tin. Petronillo Rios, his guide, was the owner of the outpost along with his deceased partner, William Reed. Given his well-versed background, did Miller know about the horrendous Reed Family murders (1848) at the site? The eleven murders of men, women and children are still among the most chilling of demented mayhem and savagery in the state’s violent history.

Next, the rancho El Paso de Robles was “occupied by some hunters.” It was about this time that his host, Rios, sold the rancho to the enterprising Blackburn brothers and Drury James, a relative,

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COMMUNITY

our schools look ma, i have a job this summer

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

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” —Pele

Workplace learning is a tool used by business to staff and maintain effectiveness. Current literature indicates that the workplace might be one of the best places to learn. Employees or potential employees often respond to opportunities to help themselves perform better at jobs or acquire new skills to obtain additional work. This month’s article is a discussion on the current partnerships that the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education are promoting between our schools, Cuesta College, and local businesses. The partnerships are an effort to grow a local highly skilled workforce. In late spring of this year, another phase of the Career and Technical Education grant was launched with SLO Partners, Creating IT Futures, and the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, embarking on a new career training and apprenticeship program to grow the technology workforce in San Luis Obispo County.

This July Creating IT Futures launched two classes of eight-week IT Ready Career Programs. Each class accepted 25 students. Many of the students did not have technology, math or science preparation, yet expressed an interest in technology-based careers. The training program is at no cost to the students. Throughout the sessions, students receive assessment, training, certification and even placement in a tech-related position within San Luis Obispo County. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education’s Pre-Apprenticeship Grant underwrites the cost of the classes and provides each participant a $70 per day stipend. After the eight-week training sessions, 60 percent of the IT-Ready students will move forward into an apprenticeship program focussing on IT Networking Security and Automated Software Testing. This Apprenticeship Program will provide a competitive salary and on-the-job training with local employers. The other 40 percent of the IT-Ready students will be introduced to local employers wishing to fill immediate job openings.

I believe that when we engage both businesses and education in developing employment pathways our entire community benefits. Cuesta College has long been a partner in the Career and Technical Education arena promoting job skills that benefit San Luis Obispo County.

The Community College Chancellor’s Office awarded the grant to our county to complement the current efforts of businesses, Cuesta College, our local school districts, and the County Office of Education. Assembly Member Jordan Cunningham fully supports our apprenticeship efforts, “Apprenticeship opens doors for employment and builds a bridge between education and the workforce.” Russ Levanway, CEO of San Luis Obispo-based managed IT services,TekTegrity, says, “The IT-Ready model is very well thought out. The intense eight-week training, combined with taking and passing appropriate ComTIA certification tests, will provide students with a strong baseJ U L Y

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line knowledge. This training will set the students up for success as apprentices mentored by journeymen in the companies they work for during the on-the-job training phase. This program will bring quality people who need new opportunities in the local IT workforce.”

Charles Eaton, CEO, Creating IT Futures, indicates that the demand for workers skilled in multiple pathways is growing. “The tech industry needs more workers that are versed in both hard tech skills and softer employability skills such as communication and conflict resolution. Our IT-Ready program provides these skills.” Ten major U.S. cities have successfully implemented IT-Ready programs with sustainability and San Luis Obispo is set to join their ranks. The San Luis Obispo County Program provides hands-on labs taking apart and building desktop computers as well as other hardware. Students learn about motherboards, printers, peripheral devices, memory and physical storage devices. Lessons include tech connections, mobile devices, set up of computer networks, troubleshooting networks, display devices, printer configurations, operating system settings, hardware settings, secure network configuration, systems, and data.

Along with targeted technology skills, students receive professional development in critical business “soft skills” such as communications, how to give a presentation, teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Program completers are grounded in businessnecessary skills and prepared to apply these skills on the first day of their new jobs. Students complete the CompTIA A+ Certification Exam which covers desktop and help-desk technical support duties and competencies after the eight weeks of training.

Cuesta College’s North County Campus in Paso Robles and Cal Poly’s Nash Center are hosting the classes so participants from throughout the county might attend. Apprenticeship firms such as Mindbody, Amazon, iFixit, IQMS, TransUnion, Clever Ducks, TekTegrity, and others have joined in support of the program. Dan Weeks, business liaison for the County Office of Education and SLO Partners, likens this to a 14-week on-the-job training opportunity. “Each one of the companies we work with says they cannot find enough people with the right attitude and training. So we are taking the risk out of it for them, and local employers can get people they can afford, with great attitudes.” According to Weeks, industry estimates say by 2020, there will be 1.4 million computer science-related jobs in the United States. Comparatively, universities churn out only about 40,000 computer science degrees each year. “The deficit will have to be made up somehow,” Weeks said, “so why not focus on a larger, untapped population of potential workers already living here?” According to the 2016 Bureau of Labor Statistics report, employees in the tech industry make an average salary of more than $80,000 a year in San Luis Obispo County.

The SLO Partners’ mission is to engage business partners and education in aligning workforce needs with career and college pathways that provide work experience opportunities to ensure that students have the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the workplace and businesses have the skilled workers required for a sound growing economy. SLO Partners is committed to collaborating with local businesses and education for pathways and opportunities serving local talent. Collaborative training presents a prime opportunity to expand the knowledge base of potential employees without significant expenses. When collaboration occurs, employees can maximize time while attending training sessions. Partnerships such as the PreApprenticeship and Apprenticeship grants are making the investment in professional development a positive endeavor. When education and business join forces to provide a structured training and development program, the workforce receives a consistent experience and knowledge preparation.

Programs with partnership and consistency are especially relevant in today’s marketplace.

Training of employees that includes, not only technical skill sets, but soft skills, provides a competitive edge for the employee and the employer. This investment that the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education, Cuesta College, local school districts and businesses are making creates value added within our local economy. The Career and Technical Education support from the state, our local partners, and the federal government promotes a supportive and thriving workplace. Our students and future employees gain access to the training they might not have otherwise, feel appreciated, are more likely to remain productive members of the local economy and experience greater job satisfaction. I am proud to be part of today’s cutting-edge, rigorous and relevant Career and Technical Education programs that prepare our youth and adults for a broad range of high-wage, high-skill, and high-demand jobs.

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J U LY C R O S S W O R D S O L U T I O N S O N P A G E 4 3

References Available Upon Request

“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.”—Red Adair

STATEPOINT CROSSWORD THEME: FUN IN THE SUN ACROSS

1. Fastening device 6. Computer-generated imagery, acr.

9. Savannah College of Art and Design 13. Of the kidneys 14. Not decaf.

15. Flourishing 16. “The ____ of defeat” 17. Tide alternative 18. “PokÈmon,” e.g.

19. *Hitting the water 21. *In the open air 23. RNs’ org.

24. Not happening 25. Eastern title 28. Open-mouthed astonishment 30. Muslim woman’s headscarf 34. Foul substance 36. *Hang out till these come home 38. *July 4th and Labor Day events

© StatePoint Media

40. Novice 41. Addressable locker 43. Calf at a grocery store 44. Biased perspective 46. Ore deposit 47. Home to Sacramento Kings 48. “Live and ____” 50. Telephoned 52. Definite article 53. Same as eon 55. *Poison ____ 57. *Lawn pastime 61. Become undone 65. Nonsense 66. “Dancing in the Rain” dance 68. Window treatment 69. Plural of atrium 70. Id’s partner 71. Brickowski of “The LEGO Movie” 72. *Pick berries, e.g.

73. Movie director Howard 74. Back of the neck, pl.

DOWN 1. Underwater hermit 2. Toy brick 3. Dwarf buffalo 4. ____ ray 5. Applying oneself diligently 6. Rugged rock 7. Hair raiser 8. Meltable home 9. *Volleyball turf 10. The Muse of history 11. Shells in a magazine 12. Textile worker 15. Jamaican vernacular 20. Civil rights org.

22. “Gross!”

24. Neonatology patient 25. Play parts 26. *Fired up for BBQ 27. Same as auras 29. *Alternative to #33 Down 31. Indonesian island

32. Weather advisory, e.g.

33. *Cooling off spot 35. Spanish lady 37. Scotch accompaniment 39. Kind of gin 42. Xe 45. Cause for an ER visit 49. Clinton ____ Rodham 51. *Horticulturist’s patch 54. Weasel’s aquatic cousin 56. Stealing is bad ____ 57. Burn to charcoal 58. Traditional learning method 59. Edible pod 60. Witty remark 61. 2nd word in many fairytales 62. Femme fatale 63. D’Artagnan’s sword 64. TV classic “____ Make a Deal” 67. Gone by

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eye on business

business symposium packs a wallop

By Maggie Cox, Barnett Cox & Associates

T

his year’s Andre, Morris & Buttery Business Symposium, held at the Clark Center in mid-June, was one of those rare events where three very different speakers shared a similar theme—managing change—and the result was fabulous. There were many take aways from the afternoon that bear repeating.

lenge of retaining talent in an ever-changing workforce. An expert in employee retention and engagement, Sharon has worked with Fortune 500 companies including American Express, Boeing, Disney and Sony. Her latest book, “Love It, Don’t Leave It: 26 Ways to Get What You Want at Work,” has been translated into 15 languages.

Some background on the event: longtime local law firm AMB wanted to do something special in 2008 to acknowledge the firm’s 60th anniversary, and the idea of a one time business symposium took shape. The first event was so popular that the firm continued to a second annual event, then a third and on to #9 this year. Several prominent local firms stepped up to join as co-sponsors, helping grow the event to attract business and civic leaders from San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara counties. This year a crowd of 400 gathered on a Thursday afternoon to hear from best-selling author and employee retention expert Sharon Jordan-Evans; entrepreneur and media pioneer Stanley Fields and former Cal Poly baseball sensation Matt Imhof.

She is an engaging, entertaining speaker with a powerful message about what employees want. She spoke about the “stay” interview and offered tips for hanging on to high performing employees. She shared research about what motivates employees (money is not the top item), shared stories from her thousands of employee interactions and engaged audience members in series of “what do you think?” exercises that generated energy, active feedback and lots of laughs. Sharon’s primary message: Ask. Ask employees what they need and want, and then try, really try, to accommodate them. The reward is often a more dedicated, committed employee.

First up was Sharon Jordan-Evans, a Cambria resident and author of two Wall Street Journal best-sellers, who spoke about the chal-

Stanley Fields is the founder, chief executive officer and chief financial officer of United News International, a pioneering media organization that has garnered a billion views on Facebook. He’s a rainmaker, entrepreneur and dedicated capitalist with 30 years of

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experience identifying marketing opportunities. Stanley both charmed the audience with his down to earth, self-effacing good humor, and jolted attendees with details of the sweeping changes in news media. He empathized with the “what do you trust” struggle and spoke forcefully about social media and how business must harness it for increased success. Stanley’s primary message: Adapt.

Find new ways, and don’t give up or be overwhelmed by all the noise. And for the people personally uninterested in using social media, Stanley had a final bit of advice: “get a millennial to do it.”

Former Cal Poly Mustang pitcher Matt Imhof took the stage as the final speaker, invited to share his inspiring story of how he has made his way through life-altering change. Matt was a Cal Poly pitching phenomenon who was drafted in 2014 by the Philadelphia Phillies and on track to pitch in the Big Leagues when a devastating accident left him blind in one eye and ended his pro baseball career.

He was only 23. For the first time on a large stage, Matt shared his life story, beginning with his boyhood dreams and an unflaggingly supportive family, his success at Poly, the thrill of being a first round draft pick, and then in painful detail, the events around the accident. He was only 23 and being prepared for emergency surgery when he called his parents in the Bay Area from a hospital bed in Florida to tell them what had happened.

His mother was on the next plane. Matt spoke of the brutal days that followed the loss of his eye and the mental challenges of adjusting to a new life. He recalled a pivotal moment when his doctor told him his career had ended, but not his life.

Matt’s story was a moving one, with a simple message: embrace change. Accept it, find a path and move on. And in the perfect punctuation to a wonderful evening, Matt noted he was leaving the event to take his last final at Cal Poly, where he returned to finish his business degree. He was graduating on Saturday, and in September will start a new job with a wealth management firm that represents professional athletes. His future is amazingly bright.

Joining AMB as symposium sponsors were local firms Glenn Burdette, Morris & Garritano Insurance, CRS, Thoma Electric, BCA, Presqu’ile Wines and Pacific Premier Bank.

Speaker presentation videos will be available on www.amblaw.com in mid July.

Downtown

Around

The Magazine of Downtown SLO

July 2017

Inside: Downtown Perspec t ive Downtown B usiness Spo tlight Far mers' Marke t Vendor P ro f ile

D o w n t o w n

P e r s p e c t i v e

T

our heritage largely stems from an entrepreneurial his Independence Day we honor the spirit and when I look at our Downtown I cannot sovereignty of our nation and celebrate the help but feel patriotic. San Luis Obispo still has risks that our forefathers took to build a country that mom and apple pie vibe of a small town, yet with unalienable Rights including Life, Liberty and we are also a town that is quite sophisticated and the pursuit of Happiness. I see our Downtown as a far cry from Mayberry. While I have heard some the center for so many things patriotic such as our people from out of the area poke fun at SLO as the court house and government centers representing place where they still have cows in the middle of democracy, our businesses representing commerce the street, the only cows I know of in our public and economic prosperity; I see our creek and Dominic Tartaglia, spaces were the Cows on Parade and that was different houses of worship as that balance Executive Director part of a massive internationally acclaimed art between life in the natural world as well as the installation. What a juxtaposition, eh? spiritual; and lastly, I see people enjoying the presence of one another as the ultimate symbol of happiness. We are n 1975 our organization was formed, not by a government truly blessed to have a peaceful and beautiful place to call organization or corporation but by downtown merchants home and a Downtown that honors these traditions. In fact, that united to combine their resources to begin working to in the last 12 months our Downtown has hosted multiple build a better downtown. They asked the City of San Luis rallies where people have enjoyed their first amendment Obispo to allow them to self-assess their businesses and form rights and all the while our businesses have supported all an organization that would reflect their collective desires viewpoints. to implement progressive strategies that would boost their

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t may be cliché to say “Main Street before Wall Street” but when you look at the small towns across America you see that they really are the civic centers in their respective regions. They are the tangible geographic points that have a sense of place and togetherness. As Americans I believe that

bottom line, create a better place to live, work, and address social issues that were not conducive to a sense of place.

They set a work plan in motion to advocate for parking, beautify Downtown, promote special events, provide music in the public space and promote retail and trade in our

On the Cover: Bear Market Riot's Nick Motil is all smiles while jammin' at last year's Concert in the Plaza. You can catch them this year on July 7;, the full line-up can be found on www.DowntownSLO.com. Photo by Mukta Naran

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CONCERTS in the PLAZA July 14

The Kicks Roots Soul Reggae

Bear Market Riot Rompin’ Power-Folk Americana

Sponsor: Creeky Tiki Bar & Grill

Sponsor: Frog & Peach Pub

July 21

July 28

Moonshiner Collective Soulful Folk Rock/Americana

Resination

Roots Rock Reggae Positive

Sponsor: Bill Gaines Audio

Sponsor: Mother’s Tavern PROUDLY POURING

.com

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

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Downtown. In many ways those business owners were signing their own declaration of independence and setting the tone for 40 years of work to ensure that our Downtown had a future. Perhaps we should call it a declaration of independents, as in independent business leaders.

happiness and maybe a little piece of land to call home.

My hope is that years later in my life I can look back at my work in this organization and see that my contribution was a supportive effort to local independent businesses and that I was never an impediment to their success.

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s we know, however, collectively we accomplish so much more when we pool resources and rally together toward a cause. In our case business owners, volunteers and Downtown SLO staff have banded together into what I affectionately refer to as Downtowners. In the last 42 months that I have served as Executive Director, the passion and hard work of our Downtowners has impressed me. In March I prepared a presentation for our Board of Directors just to see how far our organization is coming along and just a brief overview of all of the projects took over an hour to skim through! That passion is synonymous with the entrepreneurial spirit of our country and the pursuit of the American dream of prosperity,

s community members and readers you have the ability to support our independents. By simply visiting locally owned shops in our Downtown and making purchases from your neighborowned business, you are helping them take a step toward their American dream.

Independence is just as much about defending our Freedom as it is supporting the individuals brave enough to dare to dream. Please enjoy this 4th of July in the presence of your fellow patriots and embrace those rights guaranteed to us and remember that collectively, we can do great things.

Happy Independence Day!

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

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PREPARE

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

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

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

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

FLOOD

NUCLEAR

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Twig & Arrow

Amanda Duckett, Owner 720 Marsh Street (805) 439-4444 www.TwigAndArrowSalon.com

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manda Duckett, owner of the newlyopened Twig & Arrow salon at 720 Marsh Street, wears many hats. Not only does she own and operate the aforementioned salon; she sees her own clients, runs The Wedding Beauty Collective out of the space, and designed the 1,900 square foot salon herself. Having trained at Tigerlily Salon for twelve years, Amanda opened up Twig & Arrow on February 13 with four stylists and one aesthetician on-site. The atmosphere in the salon is decidedly cool and calm: "Everybody wants to work together to be better", says Duckett, who values honesty in her approach to styling and a clean, uncluttered workspace where client

relationships are highly valued. Indeed, the "restoration hardware meets boho chic" design was curated by Amanda, with structural/architectural assistance from Peter Danciart of Danciart Architecture, and Ethan Dodgen of Whiskey Creek Woodmill & Co., who made the hair stations and mirrors.

A floating shelving system in the entry of the salon was also designed and made by Amanda herself, with rope procured off Craigslist for $1. This innovation extends to her work as a stylist and business owner: Amanda prides herself on her "hair mapping" technique, where your long-term style goals are met and managed by your stylist. It's all about forging enduring client-stylist relationships for Amanda: "I wanted clients to feel like they know the stylist next to me as well as they know me."

By Zoya Dixon

BoltAbout

clients to get where they need to go quickly and safely while simultaneously having fun.

"It's the best way to get Downtown," said Maxwell. Finding and paying for parking is an issue for many, particularly students who do not typically live close to Downtown. With BoltAbout, parking is no problem at all!

Matt Maxwell & Tavin Boynton, Co-Founders 872 Higuera Street (805) 242-6420 www.BoltAbout.com

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oltAbout, a Cal Poly startup, showcased their bike leasing business for the first time this spring at the Downtown SLO Farmers' Market. BoltAbout is not your average bike leasing company: they offer a month-to-month lease for high quality electric bikes, and include a helmet, lock and regular maintenance. Monthly payments of $79 additionally contribute to optional ownership of the bike, another enticing characteristic of BoltAbout. These bikes are perfect for both students and residents facing the hills of San Luis Obispo, or those simply wanting a nice and convenient ride.

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tarting the company just this past year, CEO Matt Maxwell has spread his services to over 150 members. Maxwell believes his company is so successful because it empowers

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oltAbout has its roots at the SLO HotHouse, a branch under the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The HotHouse serves as a business incubator for both Cal Poly students and SLO community members with a new business idea and offers work space and support while the company develops. The HotHouse is located at 872 Higuera Street and serves as the pickup station for these electric bikes.

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oltAbout plans to spread their business to San Diego this summer, where Maxwell already has over one hundred potential customers. Maxwell is excited to have a presence in a city with growing demand for bike transportation. To learn more about BoltAbout, visit their website at BoltAbout.com or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

By Rebecca Bauer. Photo courtesy of BoltAbout

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wner Rudy Domingo of Domingo Farms has been farming his entire adult life. He grew up helping on the family farm, which they have owned since 1950. Though he has been working in agriculture since "before the labor laws," as he joked, it was not until the mid-90's that Rudy took ownership from his father. Domingo Farms sits on 150 beautiful acres in Arroyo Grande, some of which is leased to other farms. Thirty acres are designated for supplying farmers' markets (including our very own Downtown SLO Farmers' Market), but they also sell to local restaurants including NOVO, Luna Red, CafĂŠ Fiero, Robin's (in Cambria), CafĂŠ Roma, Foremost Wine Company, and Apple Farm.

people, and how fun it is." Among the farm's variety of veggies and culinary herbs sold at the Market, their most popular product is by far lettuce. However, Rudy noted what sets his farm apart from others is that they are essentially flower growers: Domingo Farms supplies a lot of cut flowers to Market patrons. Eventually, Rudy would like to expand his supply of cut flowers, rather than produce, at the Market. Although he acknowledges how strenuous the work can be, he says it's fun to "play farmer" and be able to get outside as a part of his job, as well as form a greater connection to the community. Thanks, Rudy, for being a part of The Market for over two decades!

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By Phoebe Conrad

omingo Farms has had a presence at The Market for over 20 years. The reason he keeps coming back? "The

greatest athletes on the central coast

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By Dr. Don Morris Editor’s note: “Who are the Greatest Athletes in the history of the Central Coast?” So far the following athletes have been featured: Ed Brown, Stephanie Brown Trafton, Chuck Liddell, Loren Roberts, Steve Patterson, Gene Rambo, Robin Ventura, Jordan Hasay, Chuck Estrada, Mike Larrabee, Ron Capps, Jamie Martin, Rusty Kuntz, Randall Cunningham, Jim Lonborg, Kami Craig, John Rudometkin, Ivan Huff, Chelsea Johnson, Michael Louis Bratz, Frank Minini, Scott McClain, Mel Queen, Napoleon Kaufmann, Katie Hicks, Mark Brunell, Gene Romero, Kenny Heitz, Thornton Starr Lee, Pat Rusco, Rusty Blair, the Lee Family, Dan Conners, John Iribarren, Jeff Powers, The Mott Family, Casey Todd Candaele, Bill Brown, Theo Dunn, Ed Jorgensen, Hamp Pool and Dr. Paul Spangler. Please send nominations to Dr. Morris at dmmorris@calpoly.edu.

This July Column honors basketball player and Cal Poly Hall of Fame member Kevin Lucas.

kevin lucas During the 1981-82 Cal Poly basketball season, Kevin Lucas put together one of the most incredible offensive seasons in Mustang history.

In 1981-82, Kevin scored 579 points in a season, which was second all-time. At the time of his induction into the Cal Poly Athletic Hall of Fame, his 226 field goals in a season ranked him third overall in men’s basketball history. In his senior season he averaged 19.9 points per game, which helped lead Cal Poly to the playoffs and

a 23-6 record. In 1980-81, Kevin was a starting forward for the team that went 24-8 and finished third in the nation in Division II. Kevin was a CCAA Co-Player of the Year in 1982, First Team All-District 6, 7, 8, which included all West Coast Division II schools, and was CCAA Player of the Week three times as a senior. In 1982, he was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches West All-Star Team. He was one of two Div. II players selected to play in the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Star Game. Kevin started in all 61 games as a Mustang in which Cal Poly went 47-14.

He received a tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers and played semi-pro basketball in England for a season. Currently, Kevin is the owner of The Factory Fitness and Performance Center since he retired from the position of Project Manager for Florida & Light in Miami, Florida.

Kevin’s background in sports and athletics spans 40 plus years. Kevin was a Div II All American from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.

In his 4 year college career, Kevin scored 2,000 points and grabbed 1,000 rebounds as a 4 year starter. Kevin attended Bellevue Community College in Bellevue, Washington and Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Excluding his freshman year at Bellevue, his teams made the playoffs 3 out of the 4 years.

At Bellevue community college, Kevin was voted to the all-time team. He was conference MVP and 1st team all-league his sophomore year. His team also finished 3rd in the state that year. At Cal Poly, Kevin’s teams made the playoffs both years. During his junior year, the Mustangs finished 3rd in the nation and missed going back again his senior year by a single point. Kevin was voted to the National Association of Basketball Coaches West all-star team. He was one of only two Div II players to play in this game of Div I All Stars.

Kevin was voted to the Cal Poly Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995. During Kevin’s time in San Luis Obispo he played on a local semipro team Coached by Dr. Don Morris (who is the writer of this column). Upon graduation from Cal Poly Kevin tried out professionally for the Los Angeles Lakers and played in the English professional league.

Here is a photo from his day’s of playing

semipro basketball in California. In the photo are several local players who played on Coach Don Morris’ Simi-pro team including Kevin Lucas, Cliff Morris, Fred Andrews, Kurt Colvin (played professionally in Australia), and Shawn Chambers (played professionally in the Philippines from 1989 to 2001 and was named as one of the greatest players in the history of the of the Philippines professional league).

Kevin is certified by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, NSCA as a certified strength and conditioning coach.

Kevin is also certified by the International Sports Science Association, ISSA as a Master personal trainer, MPT-III (more than 1,000 hours). Russian Kettlebell Challenge instructor, RKC 2005. And is a certified sports performance coach through USA Weightlifting.

His extensive athletic background has served him well in figuring out the best strategy to get his clients to achieve their goals.

Kevin also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Cal Poly, SLO 1984.

Kevin worked in the utility industry (Nuclear Power) for 20 years for the Integrated Supply Chain serving in various capacities.

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2017 Caballeros de san luis obispo trail ride

serving our country

The Caballeros de San Luis Obispo held its annual ride over the Memorial Day weekend. This year’s ride was held on the Bonnheim Las Tablas Ranch. President Dan Dulitz presided over the event. More than 200 riders participated in this special event.

This year’s all-around cowboy award was given to Ross Ketchum, who won several rodeo events on the ride. On the Wednesday before the ride several members participated in a Blessing Ceremony at the Mission (pictured). Back in the 1940s and ’50s this ceremony was held each year. Pictured below, left to right, Caballero President, Dan Dulitz, saddle winner, Joe Diefenderfer and Caballeros board member Larry Shupnick.

A 2014 Lewis Palmer High School graduate and SLO native is part of an elite Navy helicopter squadron with a critical mission: hunting and destroying enemy mines in waters around the world. Airman Jackson Nelson serves with Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15, known as the “Blackhawks,” which operates out of Norfolk. Nelson works as aviation support equipment technician, which is responsible for operating, maintaining, repairing and testing automotive electrical systems in ground equipment, gasoline and diesel systems, and associated automotive, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. “I like that my job here is unique,” said Nelson. “Having the opportunity to work outside of my job description is pretty cool.” The squadron’s primary mission is to provide combatready helicopters for airborne mine countermeasures using a magnetic minesweeping sled.

local collectors’ 100th president

The California Association of Collectors (CAC) is entering its 100th year and simultaneously welcoming its 100th president: Sandy Lubin, Chairman and CEO of Coastal Recovery Solutions in SLO County. “To think that I follow in the footsteps of 99 Presidents that have brought the association to the level of success and recognition that it currently enjoys today is humbling,” said Lubin. CAC was founded in 1917 as the first organized association of collection professionals in the country.

The association provides a platform to address issues specific to third-party collectors in the state of California, with members including third-party collection agencies, creditors, asset buyers, attorneys and vendor associates.

D ressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 39 Years

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

Alan “Himself” J U L Y

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

Avila foundation donates to lighthouse

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continue to preserve and operate Point San Luis.” The Foundation awarded grants totaling $54,200 to twelve different organizations for the 2017 calendar year.

sierra vista volunteers award $13,500

Avila Beach Community Foundation Board of Trustee members Richard Zacky, Lisa Ritterbuck, Beverly Aho and Executive Director Rick Cohen, presented a check for $5,000 to representatives of the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers at a dedication at the Lighthouse recently. The matching grant was part of three projects funded by the Foundation over the past two years: 1) a new handicap ramp connecting to the Main Keeper’s residence to provide better access for guests with mobility issues, 2) the repair of the deck and stairs to the Head Keeper’s quarters and 3) restoration of the light station lamp housing. According to Executive Director Rick Cohen “The Point San Luis Lighthouse is a treasured historical landmark that provides year-round tours, events and educational opportunities for both residents and visitors of Avila Beach.” He added, “The Foundation’s mission is to financially support non-profit organizations and projects that help enhance the character of Avila Beach and we’re proud to support the Lighthouse Keeper’s efforts to

The Volunteer Auxiliary at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center has awarded $13,500 in donations and scholarships to 15 local non-profit organizations.

The awards included: $2,000: Cuesta College Foundation Nursing Program Book Grants; Cal Poly Endowment Fund, $2,000: Cal Poly Endowment Fund. $1,500: Cuesta College Foundation Student Scholarships; Cuesta College Foundation Eleanor Sears Endowment Fund, $1,000: Transitions Mental Health Association; Student Scholarship to Jennifer Tran, Sierra Vista Volunteer Auxiliary and $500: Hospice of SLO County; Meals on Wheels SLO; Meals on Wheels Morro Bay; Meals on Wheels 5 Cities; Prado Day Center; Senior Nutrition Program; SLO Noor Foundation. Founded in 1974 with 12 volunteers, today the Sierra Vista Volunteer Auxiliary boasts more than 100 volunteers doing everything from running the gift shop, to greeting visitors at the front desk to cuddling babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Last year, the Volunteers contributed more than 23,000 hours to the hospital.

C rossword S O L U T I O N S

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$5,000 donation to ymca

chevron supports bb/bs

The San Luis Obispo County YMCA recently received a generous donation of $5,000 from Rabobank, to support the Y’s Summer Camp programs. With nine summer camp sites from Arroyo Grande to Paso Robles, the Y offers families across the county a safe, reliable, and fun option for summer childcare. Rabobank’s gift will help ensure that no child is turned away from a YMCA Summer Camp due to an inability to pay. For more information about the Y and programs offered throughout the year, go to ww.sloymca.org or call the Y: 805-543-8235.

Chevron Corporation awarded a $3,000 grant to the Big Brothers Big Sisters countywide one-to-one mentoring program. The funding from Chevron, combined with additional sources, allows the agency to serve over 260 children throughout the county by pairing vulnerable local youth with quality adult role models. The local agency, which is based out of San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles, conducts targeted volunteer recruitment, screening and matching, as well as ongoing support for volunteers, children, and families, ensuring child safety to sustain successful long-term relationships.

united way youth board donates $4,000

villa auto receives world class tech award

Of the nearly 900,000 automotive technicians working in the United States, Villa Automotive has been awarded World Class Technician for 2017 by the Auto Care Association and National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Villa Automotive is one of only 17 to receive the honor based on 22 specific areas of automotive service according to Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association. “Recipients of the World Class Technician Award are truly the best of the best and the Auto Care Association is proud to recognize these professionals,” said Hanvey. John Villa, the owner of Villa Automotive said, “Since the World Class Technician recognition was established back in the 1980s, less than 2000 technicians have received this award.

To be named one of them is really an honor.” Villa Automotive & Auto Body has been a family owned business for over 65 years beginning with John’s father Elwood who owned a service station in San Luis Obispo.

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

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

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United Way of San Luis Obispo County’s Youth Board awarded a record number of grants to local youth projects this year. The Youth Board selected four grant recipients to receive $1,000 each: Jack’s Helping Hand: “Little Riders Therapeutic Riding

THE BULLETIN BOARD Program” to improve the therapeutic horse riding experience for children with neurological disabilities. Ms. Babka’s AVID class at Judkins Middle School: “The Power of Imagination through Art” gave students a chance to participate in art to increase their imagination and expression. Mr. DeCecco’s 5th grade class at Oceano Elementary School: “Oceano Dolphins Grow Healthy” project to build and promote vertical gardens at the school. San Luis Obispo FFA: “Bottomless Basket Project” designed to reach out to community members who struggle with food insecurity and provide them with fresh food containing high nutritional value. Youth Board grant applications are peer-reviewed and selected by the Board members. The students undergo difficult deliberations to decide which applications are the most meaningful for their community and will make the most impact.

fpac awards swanson grants

The Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, through the Clifton Swanson PAC Community Access Fund, has awarded $23,000 in grants to 7 community arts groups who will be performing at the PAC for the 2017-18 season. This year’s recipients include: Central Coast Dance and Music Academy (CDMA), Cuesta Master Chorale, OperaSLO, SLO Civic Ballet, SLO Symphony, Friendship Through Dance, and the San Luis Obispo Youth Symphony. This year’s grantmaking program is made possible through the generous support of donors who contributed to the Foundation’s mission of keeping the Performing Arts Center accessible by extending additional support to our community performance groups. In addition to the Swanson Community Access Fund, all community arts groups performing at the PAC receive a 75% rental discount ($3,750) from the Foundation and its partners, Cal Poly and the City of San Luis Obispo. More than 26 community groups presented over 100 shows at the PAC last year.

library honors volunteers

Library volunteers Mary Walters and Anne Bell were honored as the Library Volunteer of the Year 2016 and 2017, respectively, at the Paso Robles City Library’s volunteer reception on Wednesday, May 17. Walters (pictured left) began her service to the Paso Robles City Library in 2008; in addition to providing excellent customer service at the Circulation Desk she has assisted with numerous library programs and events over the years. She has also been very active

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in helping with community events, such as BookPlates!, a library fundraising event, Paso ArtsFest, a community art extravaganza, and the city’s 125th anniversary celebration. Bell (pictured left) began her service to the library in 2012 and has been a tireless supporter of the Friends of the Library since.

She is the current President of the Friends organization, manages all aspects of the gift store, including purchasing merchandize and the sale of donated items; organizes and oversees the book sales; and heads the Friends Holiday Extravaganza. Last April, she was honored by the City Council for serving more hours than any other volunteer in the City.

pg&E donates to Octagon barn center

The Land Conservancy of SLO County was recently awarded a $25,000 grant from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) to support the creation of the Octagon Barn Center. PG&E has been a long-time supporter of the Land Conservancy of SLO County’s work. The Octagon Barn in particular was identified as a good fit for the grant based on educational opportunities that will be provided at the Center, targeted support to underserved populations in the county, and the significant positive impact to the community that the completed Octagon Barn Center will provide. The Octagon Barn Center will become the future trailhead for the Bob Jones City-to-Sea bike path, allowing enhanced recreation and safety for the community, which includes many local PG&E employees and their families. With the PG&E grant and other recent community donations to be announced soon, The Land Conservancy is seeking $350,000 by the end of Summer 2017 to complete its $5.5 million Octagon Barn Center funding goal.

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wow! comes to the mid-state fair

Helm and Sons Amusements, Inc. of Colton, California has been selected as the new Carnival provider for the California Mid State Fair. Known for innovation, safety and value, Helm and Sons Amusements was selected after an extensive R.F.P. bidding process, by a committee including members of the CMSF Board of Directors. Using WOW! as their tagline, Helm and Sons Amusements proposal says that their goal is to have you say “WOW!” when you experience the midway this year. They have offered several new and unique attractions and programs to the CMSF in their massive proposal. Including new rides such as the water f lume ride Big Splash, Star Dancer, Shock Wave, Zombie House, and a Minion Themed Funhouse. New kid rides include a Lego-themed Block City and a Mad Birds- themed obstacle course as well as Cub Country glass house, and a turtle race. Value for Fair guests was also a point of emphasis in the Helm and Sons Amusements proposal. Their ride pricing structure is different than most other carnivals, offering individual ride tickets for 50 cents each. The 2017 California Mid-State Fair runs July 19 through July 30. This year’s theme is “Come One, Come All!”

black & gold boosters 1st annual golf tourney

Black and Gold Boosters Host the 1st Annual All Alumni “Clash of the Classes” Golf Tournament on Sunday, July 30th, at Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Arroyo Grande. They are hosting the 1st Annual “Clash of the Classes” Golf Tournament to raise much needed funds for enrichment programs and activities. Local restaurant owner and past SLOHS Alumni, Leonard Cohen, said “We are working to create an event that brings together our past alumni to reconnect with each other, enjoy an afternoon on the golf course and an evening of fun and memories. It’s a win-win for everyone—the alumni and past teachers have a great time and current high school students benefit from the funds raised!” 30 foursomes consisting of at least three same-year alumni, retired faculty or current students or staff, will have a chance to compete for the title of “Best Class,” with winners recognized on a trophy displayed in the high school’s new administration building.

Alumni golfers may register online at www.blackandgoldboosters. org or contact Lisa Guy at 295-9402.

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mission college prep honored

The SMART Competition is recognizing Mission College Prep Catholic School and Teacher-sponsor Ms. Nancy Alcombright for Educational Excellence in this year’s competition. Ms. Alcombright had a record six teams participating in this year’s competition. Two of the six teams finished the required deliverables and made their team presentations earlier this week. One of the teams won 2nd Place (pictured: Grace Cegelski, Makenna Parkinson, Lani Krossa, Hannah Ellingen, Avery Munster and Mentor – Dave Parkinson) and another won Honorable Mention in the global competition. The SMART Competition (www.smartcompetition.org) is a STEM and Career and Technology Education (CTE) program that provides high school students with a practical real-world design challenge that addresses sustainability, green design, localized power generation, architecture, the environment and the community.

2017 central coast shakespeare festival

CCSF presents our fourth season at the Filipponi Ranch with two delightful productions celebrating love. Join us July 14 through August 5 for Shakespeare (and more!) under the stars. Pack a picnic meal, bring lawn chairs, warm clothes and blankets.

Filipponi Ranch Cellar wines are available for purchase, so please, no outside alcohol. Piemonte’s Deli will also be selling deli salads and deli combo boxes. Much Ado About Nothing, set in the swing era, is a spirited romp between ever-warring wits Beatrice and Benedick. Both too proud and clever for their own good, they are forced together to combat a common enemy when the innocent Hero is dishonored and discarded on the wedding altar. Their brilliant banter and wordplay is matched only by their deep and abiding (if unspoken) love for each other. A first for the festival this summer—a modern play—Almost, Maine by John Cariani.

Come enjoy what the New York Times describes as, “A whimsical approach to the joys and perils of romance. Magical happenings bloom beneath the snowdrifts.” The Filipponi Ranch is located at 1850 Calle Joaquin Road, SLO. For more information go to centralcoastshakespeare.org

free senior health care screening

Community Action Partnership, Adult Wellness & Prevention Screening offers health screening for adults 18 years and older throughout SLO County. Free services include: screening for high blood pressure, weight and pulse. Finger prick screening tests for: high cholesterol, anemia and blood sugar. Counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 544-2484 ext. 1 for dates, times and locations.

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atascadero brings bluegrass to 4th of july

Residents and visitors of Atascadero will once again have a local option for the celebration of American independence with an evening of bluegrass, barbecue, boating, bounce houses, beer and wine, and more. The first-ever 4th of July Bluegrass Freedom Festival will let freedom strum on the ol’ banjo with a Colony Days fundraiser headlined by Snap Jackson & the Knock On Wood Players and the Honeysuckle Possums (pictured). Instead of competing with other 4th of July events in the area, the new festival will be held in the evening, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Locals and visitors can attend other 4th of July events before and after the bluegrass concert. The event has garnered the attention of residents and vendors from around the county. The event is free and you can prepay a discount for the barbecue at $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $8 for kids. The proceeds benefit Atascadero Colony Days Committee, and tickets can be purchased at atascaderofourthofjuly.com.

botanical garden july events

Event: Wine and Edible Weeds Walk at SLO Botanical Garden. Time and Date: Wednesday, July 12, 5:30pm-7pm. Event Description: Melany Vorass Herrera, Author of “The Front Yard Forager,” will lead a walk identifying how to identify, forage and cook edible weeds growing in our area. Enjoy a sipping glass of Halter Ranch Wine and nibbling on some edible weeds. Info at slobg.org/weeds. Cost: $10 for Garden members / $15 for non-members. No reservations needed.

Event contact phone number: 805-541-1400 x 303

Event: Fire Wise Landscaping at SLO Botanical Garden. Time and date: Saturday, July 15, 1pm-2pm. Event description: Join Ted Mathiesen from Cal Fire as we explore the best way to design your yard to be fire safe! Info at slobg.org/firesafe. Location: San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Rd. Cost: $5 for Garden members / $10 for non-members. No reservations needed. Event contact phone number: 805-541-1400 x 303.

Event: Summer Camp at SLO Botanical Garden. Time and date: July 18 – 21, 10am – 3pm. Event description: Let your kids explore handson activities like cooking, art and live animals this summer for our four-day outdoor summer camp. Info at slobg.org/camp. Cost: $160 for Garden members / $185 for non-members. Event contact phone number: 805-541-1400 x 303

mid-state fair rodeo finals

The California Mid-State Fair is pleased to announce that the Country Rodeo Finals will take place at the 2017 Mid-State Fair on Saturday, July 29. The exciting night of local rodeo action will take place in the Main Grandstand Arena starting at 7:00 pm. Tickets for the Country Rodeo Finals are $20/Adult (13+ years old) and $15/Child (3-12 years old). The price will increase to $25/All seats on the day of the show. Tickets can be purchased online at www.midstatefair.com or by calling 1-800-909-FAIR.

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For the second year in a row, we helped more people purchase a home than any other lender in San Luis Obispo County.*

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Mortgage Advisor NMLS 395723

Rick Kirk

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 375012

805.459.4101

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

2017 Lender Activity Report San Luis Obispo County.

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Bill Mott

Landon Spitler

805.234.5081

805.471.0243

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 341086

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 633244

Ron Penir

Tim Robinson

805.709.3426

805.250.2404

Regional Director NMLS 325495

Mortgage Advisor NMLS 343856

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