JACK’S HELPING HAND | ANITA GARCIA | SUNNY ACRES | HELP FOR HONDURAS
Journal PLUS AUGUST 2010
MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST
MELISSA RACOUILLAT’S INCREDIBLE 155-MILE RACE
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CONTENTS
38 Journal PLUS MAGAZINE OF THE CENTRAL COAST
The People, Community, and Business of Our Beautiful Central Coast ADDRESS
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EDITOR & PUBLISHER Steve Owens ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Erin Mott GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dora Mountain COPY EDITOR Anne Stubbs PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Meinhold DISTRIBUTION Keith Malcomson ADVERTISING Jan Owens, Kristen Hathaway CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Susan Stewart, Natasha Dalton, Hilary Grant, Sandy Baer, Joseph Carotenuti, Dr. Julian Crocker, Sarah Hedger, Frank Rowan, Maggie Cox, Deborah Cash, Jan Marx, Dan and Lee Anna O’Daniel, Julian Varela, Margaret Kensinger-Klopfer, Rick Racouillat, Gordon Fuglie and Phyllis Benson Mail subscriptions are available at $20 per year. Back issues are $2 each. Inquires concerning advertising or other information made by writing to Steve Owens, JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE, 654 Osos Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401. You can call us at 546-0609, our fax line is 546-8827, and our e-mail is slojournal@fix.net. View the entire magazine on our website at www.slojournal.com JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE is distributed monthly free by mail to all single family households of San Luis Obispo and is available free at over 600 locations throughout the county. Editorial submissions are welcome but are published at the discretion of the publisher. Submissions will be returned if accompanied by a stamped self addressed envelope. No material published in the magazine can be reproduced without written permission. Opinions expressed in the byline articles are those of the writers and not necessarily those of the JOURNAL PLUS MAGAZINE. Cover photo provided by Rick Racouillat
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MELISSA RACOUILLAT PEOPLE
OLIVE GROWERS COMMUNITY
10 ANITA GARCIA 12 MELISSA RACOUILLAT’S 155 MILE RACE
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his issue begins our 17th year of publishing a monthly central coast magazine. We couldn’t have done it without you – our readers and advertisers. Thank you.
Over the years we have seen several magazines come and go out of business while absorbing three of them into the Journal. The expense of producing a quality magazine and having a solid distribution system makes it difficult for most to make a profit and thus eventually close their doors. We started this venture with a philosophy of sending out the good news happening here, and most everyone welcomed the change. Each month we give a little history of the area, we write about people who make a difference and give a boost to our non-profit organizations as well. What we have been featuring in recent months are our children’s generation, who are making a difference, including: SLO Teacher of the Year, Cathy Ahearn, artist, Jeff Claassen, SARP Executive Director, Kristy McCray and Rec Solar’s CEO, Angiolo Laviziano. This month is no exception. Our cover story features Melissa Racouillat and her latest adventure of running the 155 mile Atacama Crossing Challenge in Chile. You are going to love the story written by her father, Rick. Plenty of good reading again this month.
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anita garcia 100 years and a genuine local By Sandy Baer “Tis very certain the desire of life prolongs it.�
---Lord Byron
The diminutive, barely more than five feet tall Anita Garcia belies her size with spirit and a keen sense of humor, despite celebrating her 100th birthday on May 1st. Born at Newsome Hot Springs in 1910, her parents, Fred and Edna Jones, moved from the family ranch at Huasna to a cabin at the popular Arroyo Grande spa to be nearer a hospital as their first-born approached. “When I was born, my dad was one of the first ranchers in the Arroyo Grande area to own a car, a black Overland.� Garcia reminiscences. “Those were still the horse and buggy days, and it took a day’s ride from Arroyo Grande to the ranch.� “When I became school age, the Jones family, by then with a growing family, including two younger brothers and a younger sister, moved to Arroyo Grande, where the children attended elementary and high school.� Garcia pursued an education at what was then Santa Maria Junior College (now Hancock College) with additional post-graduate study in bookkeeping before moving to Oakland to attend Mills Col-
Anita Garcia today
lege, where she received a bachelor of arts degree with an emphasis on liberal arts. This was the 1930s, mind you! “My mother was a school teacher, and I always knew that I wanted to go to college.� Garcia says. “ I really attribute my having the opportunity to attend Mills College to the Dean of Women at Santa Maria Junior College. She encouraged me to apply for a scholarship and to get her off my back, I did. And low and behold, I was awarded the scholarship!�
Coastal habitats extend beyond the sea...
Garcia and her first husband, Lorenz Richardson, met car-pooling to Santa Maria Junior College, after which he went on to follow in his father’s footsteps and after a two-year advanced training in Los
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Anita Garcia and family on her 100th birthday A U G U S T
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PEOPLE Garcia is the great-granddaughter of Francis Ziba Branch, the founder of Arroyo Grande and the Branch Street namesake. Originally from New York, Branch discovered the area on a hunting expedition when California was part of Mexico. After marrying Maria Manuela Carlon in 1835, he was entitled to file a claim for a Mexican land grant, and Rancho Santa Manuela became the family home for their eleven children. Garcia was an active member of the South County Historical Society as well as the San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum (now the San Luis Obispo County History Center), serving as a docent for a decade. She was not only a docent. Garcia was the program committee chairperson for many years as well as serving on the Board of Directors.
Anita Garcia in 1930
Angeles, he returned to San Luis Obispo and began working for the Richardson Mortuary (once at the corner of Santa Rosa and Marsh Streets in downtown SLO). Garcia also returned to San Luis Obispo, and she and Richardson married in 1934 and reared two daughters, Sharon (Beller) and Savita (Carol) Wilder. “Even though my father thought he wanted to be a rancher in the family tradition, after we moved to Arroyo Grande, he discovered general contracting was more to his liking and continued to pursue that as a profession.” Garcia became involved with the Camp Fire Girls as her daughters grew older. Beginning as a volunteer leader, she soon was hired as the executive director for the Natoma Council of Camp Fire Girls, a position she held for 24 years until her retirement.
As her Museum docent colleague and longtime friend, Myron Graham (himself 98!) says, “Anita is a genuine local from San Luis Obispo County and knows its history intimately. Not only that, she has a keen memory and a treasure trove of tales of times past. We’ve witnessed a lot of changes and still endure.” In addition to her interest in County history, Garcia has also been active with the Soroptomist Club and the Monday Club. After being widowed 10 years, Garcia met Ernest Garcia at the Log Cabin, a popular dance hall on the southern outskirts of town. “It was quite the place at the time, pre- and post-World War II,” Garcia remembers. “My maternal grandmother taught me ballroom dancing as a child…waltz, two-step, fox trot and polka…and I have always loved to dance.”
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bored first!” Garcia has lived at the Manse on Marsh for the past four years, her apartment filled with travel mementos, heirloom family furniture, and photographs. When asked what were of some of her greatest pleasures during her century of living, Garcia responds, “Travel. I have seen most of the world, but my favorite memories are of Antarctica’s diversity of penguins. I traveled there when it was not a tourist destination but almost solely inhabited by worldwide scientists. I’ve also been to Alaska three times and drove both ways across the continental United States.” With travels limited these days to the Madonna Inn for breakfast on Saturday morning with a group of lady friends, Garcia maintains friendships of several decades as well as belonging to a “birthday club,” including many of the same women. Joyce Duarte, one of the groups says, “Anita has never said anything negative about anyone, and her spirit has inspired me very much. As she has aged so gracefully, I am hoping to apply some of her attitude along my way to aging.” Garcia attributes her longevity to “good blood lines,” as both her parents lived into their 90s. Her other secrets: “I believe that eating chocolate daily, an active lifestyle, and long-lived parents are the road to longevity.” She has a lot of legacy to leave with her two daughters, seven grandchildren, eleven step-grandchildren and numerous greatgrand children. Her advice: Eat chocolate, especially dark!
“Ernest was visiting relatives in San Luis Obispo and joined his family for a Square Dance Club confab, and that’s how we met.” Garcia says. “I was a ‘city girl’ and Ernest was a ‘rancher.’ All he knew were horses and cattle. After we married, we commuted between my home in San Luis Obispo and his ranch, depending on who got
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Melissa Racouillat’s incredible RACE The 155-MILE atacama crossing – 2010 By Rick Racouillat
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ur older daughter, Melissa, loves to run. We have watched her progress from an occasional 10K race to marathons and more recently, ultramarathons. At 34, Melissa brings her passion to her professional life as a physical therapist and hosts a website devoted to endurance training (www.infiniteendurance.com). So we were not surprised when she applied for a longer race, but we were stunned when she said: “The race will be in northern Chile and covers a distance of 155 miles that must be completed in 6½ days. And I must carry a backpack the entire distance with my sleeping bag, running gear, food and water.” A sharp pain raced through my stomach. As I mumbled a few words about psychiatric treatment, Melissa added: “Dad, this will be a challenge. I am not sure I can make the distance, but you should volunteer to work the race.” Now, could any father say “no” to that?
The 4Deserts Series The Atacama Crossing is one of four endurance races organized by RacingthePlanet™ (www.racingtheplanet.com). The other three races in the 4Deserts series are held in the Gobi Desert in China, the Sahara Desert in Egypt, and the last desert, Antarctica. TIME magazine ranks the 4Deserts series the second top endurance competition in the world, behind the Dakar Rally but ahead of such iconic races as the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and the Tour de France.
TIME magazine ranks the 4Deserts series the second top endurance competition in the world, behind the Dakar Rally but ahead of such iconic races as the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and the Tour de France. A U G U S T
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Flat, which lies in a 60-mile long depression at 7,500 feet squeezed between the Andes mountain range in the East and the Cordillera de Domeyko mountain range to the West. During the Atacama Crossing, temperatures will rise to the low 100 ºs on the hottest days, and drop to frigid low 40 ºs at night.
Race Preparation and Earthquakes Melissa prepared herself for the race with a generous mix of cross training and long distance runs while carrying a backpack filled with 20 lbs of rice; but a week before leaving for Chile, she experienced a hamstring and iliotibial band strain, which interrupted her preparation. On February 27, 2010, four days before our departure for Chile, there was another setback. An 8.8 magnitude earthquake struck southern Chile, leaving 486 dead and more than 500,000 people homeless. The quake triggered a tsunami that raced across the Pacific Ocean, that millions across the planet watched on television. Despite the earthquakes, Chilean authorities asked RacingthePlanet to continue the race. To accommodate late arrivals from interruptions in flights, however, the race was shortened by one day, but not the distance the competitors had to run. The runners would have 5½ days rather than 6½ days to complete the 155-mile course. What a happy compromise! The race meeting site was San Pedro de Atacama, a small village of 2,500 located just north of the Atacama Salt Flat. After arrival, the competitors went through an equipment check, signed liability waivers, and boarded buses to Camp 1, a dry box canyon at 10,670 feet. The Atacama Crossing was scheduled to begin the next morning on March 8th. Each race in the 4Deserts series follows the same format: competitors run 155 miles over 6½ days. Each competitor (and each volunteer) is self-supporting and must carry a backpack with everything for the race, such as a sleeping bag/pad, food for 6 days (think freeze-dried rations), and race gear (ear plugs, a blister treatment kit, a red night light, sunscreen, and toilet paper, for example). RacingthePlanet provides drinking water, hot water for food, and large 8person sleeping tents. As water cannot be used for washing without penalty, each kit must contain a generous supply of alcohol gels and handiwipes. Even with these precautions, one could not avoid the prevalent whiff of Perfum d’Atacama after a few days into the race. If you like punishing long-distance running without the aggravation of comfort, real food or a shower, the Atacama Crossing is perfect for you.
The Atacama Desert The Atacama Desert is arid, inhospitable and high with most elevations over 8,000 feet. To climatologists, the Atacama is an “absolute desert” and the driest place on Earth. Precipitation is so scarce that some areas have no evidence of rainfall. None. Located in northern Chile just south of the Peruvian border, the Atacama Desert features rolling sand dunes, windswept plateaus, steep foothills, and barren mountains, some towering up to 20,000 feet. The mineral-rich lunar-like landscape reflects a painter’s pallet of rich shades of grey, cinnamon and crimson, all set against a sweeping background of tans and dark browns. One’s eye is drawn, however, to the occasional azure lake of brine and the Atacama Salt A U G U S T
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The race started at 10,670 feet and over 5½ days, the race course descended to 7,780 feet with challenging climbs up sand dunes and barren mountain slopes onto high plateaus covered with hard salt plates and then steep descents down sand dunes to hard compact flats. The Race Some 157 competitors from 34 countries were selected to run the Atacama Crossing. The majority of athletes were men, although an impressive 23% were women. Half of the competitors were veterans of at least one other 4Deserts race, and 20% had competed in two or
more races in the 4Deserts series in the past. Melissa was running in the company of a surprising number of race veterans. Most racers sponsor and raise donations for a personal charity. Melissa raised more than $2,000 for Blue Planet Network, a global network of experienced water groups that bring sustainable safe drinking water to people in rural communities around the world. The race started at 10,670 feet and over 5½ days, the race course descended to 7,780 feet with challenging climbs up sand dunes and barren mountain slopes onto high plateaus covered with hard salt plates and then steep descents down sand dunes to hard compact flats. The runners crossed rutted mounds of hard salt and dirt over long distances. Through sweltering canyons, across glacial streams and wide expanses of soft sand, the competitors trudged. Even the relief afforded during an 800-meter run down the center of a glacial stream was followed by a rash of blisters that formed when runners later ran on compact trails with wet shoes. When the competitors reached the infamous Atacama Salt Flat, they treaded lightly so as
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If you like punishing long-distance running without the aggravation of comfort, real food or a shower, the Atacama Crossing is perfect for you. not to break through plates of crunchy salt and plunge into the putrid brine below, but most did. The runners complained of oppressive heat, high altitude, exhaustion, painful blisters and tent mates who snored (thus, the ear plugs). But the constant was the unflagging camaraderie among athletes from all parts of the world running in common cause.
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After four days, the competitors had completed more than 100 miles and were exhausted. Even the medical staff and volunteers, who rose daily at 5:30 am and returned to their tents at 11 or 12 at night, were nearly spent. In that setting, the next stage, Stage 5, posed a dreadful challenge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a single 46-mile run. Stage 5 started at 7,974 feet and included a lake crossing, sand dunes, a perilous mountain pass, a steep descent onto a hard packed dry stream bed, and finally a long run through a narrow canyon of soft sand late on a moonless night before reaching Camp 6, the final campsite. I volunteered to â&#x20AC;&#x153;sweepâ&#x20AC;? the last 26 miles of Stage 5 with a Chilean volunteer. Our task was to walk with the last runner to ensure that
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all competitors were accounted for and to retrieve all race flags and glow sticks. We had worked a checkpoint throughout the day and started our sweep at 9 pm. When we walked into Camp 6 just before sunrise, runners were stirring for the final stage, a 10k run to San Pedro de Atacama. Once the final stage started and the runners crossed the finish line in San Pedro de Atacama, they received a richly deserved welcome worthy of champions. It was a joyous and tearful celebration that trumped pain and exhaustion. After photographs and press interviews, we returned to our motels, took long showers to remove 6-days of hard grime, and then met at the trendy Kunza Hotel for the award dinner.
The Award Dinner The award dinner was an inspiring and emotional experience, a raucous celebration with boisterous ribbing and hearty congratu-
When the race director announced the winner of women runners ages 30-39, she said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The winner is new to the 4Deserts series and ran a very strong race. She placed 4th among all women runners and is going to have a very proud father tonight.â&#x20AC;?
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lations, group hugs and tears. When the awards were announced, Ryan Sandes from South Africa was declared the overall winner having completed the race in just less than 24 hours, the fastest time ever recorded in any 4Deserts race. Ryan ran nearly 6½ miles an hour the entire 155 miles, and was 5 hours ahead of the 2nd place finisher, also a seasoned veteran. When the race director announced the winner of women runners ages 30-39, she said: “The winner is new to the 4Deserts series and ran a very strong race. She placed 4th among all women runners and is going to have a very proud father tonight. The winner is Melissa Racouillat.” After the award dinner, I returned to my room. Despite more than 40 hours without sleep, I relived the experience shared with these remarkable, unforgettable athletes, many of whom completed the race fueled only by dogged determination and the unflagging support of other runners and volunteers. Believe me, I was honored and privileged to be a part of the race, albeit a small part.
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And then I thought about Melissa’s personal challenges and …. I lost it. Melissa had run the infamous Atacama Crossing and she had run well. I would not trade that experience with her for the world. What father could?
Postscript Despite early denials to the contrary, Melissa will likely sign up for the Gobi Desert run in 2011, if not the Sahara Race. Hmmmmm . . . to be continued ….
I would not trade that experience with her for the world. What father could?
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HOME/OUTDOOR
the village butcher
Central Meat Market in 1909. Unknown man on left; Matt Swall at center; E.C. Loomis at right. photo courtesy of Bennett-Loomis archives.
...then and now By Susan Stewart “
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ou see, John Loomis and I had quite a taste for hot dogs,” Gordon Bennett explained, telling a tale from his childhood. It’s a tale that recalls the charm of small town living in the 1930s, and the butcher shop that played such a prominent role in the lives of Arroyo Grande residents at that time. Bennett and Loomis were boyhood pals who’d do just about anything for a free hot dog. They used to save up glass bottles and trade them in for their favorite lunch. Out for a stroll one Saturday morning in 1936, the boys were enticed inside the Central Market by the promise of a free hot dog each. All they had to do, said Jim and Paul Wilkinson, the father and son who owned the meat market back then, was to take these firecrackers and toss them over the counter at John Monnin’s Shoe Shop down the block. “We snuck in the front door, crept behind the counter and set ‘em off, then took off running for our lives,” said Bennett. “There was this big roar, and then ole’ John Monnin came shouting out after us with a big box of shoe heels under his arm.” The boys hid in the back room at the market while the prankster business owners waged war, throwing shoe heels and wads of hamburger meat at each other until one of them cried uncle. “Then we came out to claim our hot dogs,” said Bennett, with a crooked half-smile. “And we figured they were well worth our time.” Today, Bennett and his wife Manetta own the building next door, Gather Wine, and have documents that bear witness to meat markets’ longevity. Now known as Arroyo Grande Meat Co., this amazing building has been a working butcher shop since it was first built by Pete Olohan in 1897. Built from local sandstone and bricks fired in local kilns, the shop was rented first to butcher Matt R. Swall. Though it changed hands often, the name Swall gave it, Central Market, stuck for many years. On the left, where Gather Wine is today, J.T. Richards ran a grocery store. On the right, where the South County Historical Society is The three buildings on E. Branch in 1898 photo courtesy of Bennett-Loomis archives.
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today, Misters Reinecke and Righetti ran a bakery called The Bazaar. And one door down from that, where Classique Hair Designers stands today, the U.S. Post Office set up shop in 1898. In 1901, Swall joined ranks with E.C. Loomis (grandfather of Gordon Bennett). They sold the business in 1903 to T.J. Steele, who ran the popular meat market on his own or with partner Jones until 1910. That year, butchers Mayer & Morgan held sway, adding Gilliam in 1911. Langenbeck & Hawn took over from 1912 to 1914, and then there’s a gap in the paperwork. From 1914 until 1921, there is no written record of ownership, at least not in the documents held by the Bennett-Loomis Archives, from which most of this history was gleaned.* Lathrop & Norton bought the store in 1921 and sold it in 1928 to the longest running owners to date: the Wilkinsons. Father Jim and son Paul ran Wilkinson’s Central Market for over 30 years, until 1959. Ray Finley and his wife Stevie ran the meat market for five years, turning it over to Mr. Bob Hizey and his wife Carol in 1964. In 1990, Mike and Charlotte Dykes purchased the business and ran it until 1992, when current owner, Henry Gonzalez, came along. Gonzalez has a deep respect for its legacy, and for the time-honored profession of village butcher. For 18 years, Gonzalez has cultivated a fiercely loyal clientele who come from as far south as Santa Barbara / Santa Ynez and as far north as Cambria for his superior meats and custom services. The same three buildings today.
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HOME/OUTDOOR Henry Gonzalez, current proprietor
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carries Sterling Brand—the top echelon of USDA Choice Certified Angus Beef. He stocks a remarkable variety of house-made sausages, smokes his own ham and bacon, and will custom-cut your roast, chops, or steak just the way you want them. About as far from the fast and impersonal supermarket as you can get, Gonzalez prides himself on being an old-fashioned butcher shop in all ways. “It’s an unfortunate truth that people are accustomed to being fibbed to,” he said. “So they’re naturally skeptical when they hear things like ‘We have the best meats in town.’ But we say what we mean, and we mean what we say. And our customers know they can count on that.”
Starting out in the chains, Gonzalez paid his dues as a journeyman meat cutter in both northern and southern California. He worked for Knob Hill Foods and later Albertson’s for a total of 13 years. But when he and his wife Julie decided to start a family, they chose the Central Coast. It was Julie’s father, Mr. Mike Cotter, who noticed that the Dykes had a meat market for sale, and Henry jumped at the chance to run his own business. Gonzalez credits Tyrone Klempke, meat manager for Spencer’s Market, with most of what he knows about the slaughtering and butchering end of the business. “Tyrone had so many great ideas; I just can’t thank him enough,” said Gonzalez. A dream-come-true for discerning cooks and meat lovers of any stripe, Gonzalez is one of only two butchers in the entire state who
In fact, when city officials recently threatened to close off Short Street, Gonzalez was eloquent in his objections voiced at town meetings. He was concerned that the planned closure would affect his and his neighbors’ businesses. “He kept saying he’s just a meat man,” said Manetta Bennett, “But when he spoke, he was so sincere, and people listened.” Plans have moved forward, but a compromise was reached and Short Street will be left open to one-way traffic, ensuring that the 113-year-old village butcher shop will continue to thrive. Today, as ten-year-old boys stroll E. Branch Street on a Saturday morning, they might be enticed by the heady aromas of roasting meats and the best tri-trip sandwich in the state coming from inside the Arroyo Grande Meat Co. It’s a sure bet that Henry isn’t feuding with the shoe shop down the block, so maybe they’ll even save up their allowance to buy one. *If Journal Plus readers can help fill in the blank between 1914 and 1921, please contact Gordon Bennett at 489-3596.
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central coast olive growers
Part 2
the next best thing By Natasha Dalton
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avarotti came up close and looked me in the eye. My heart melted. “He likes you,” said Art Kishiyama, gently stroking Rafael and El Greco, the other two alpacas who came to greet us on his farm.
Art and Lynn Kishiyama, like many other members of the Central Coast Olive Growers (CCOG), turned to olives after trying (and succeeding in) other careers first. Art, an architect, a retired colonel and a Disney Imagineering specialist, spent 41 years abroad before returning to his roots in SLO County.
“Is there a better place?!” he says. Standing at his Olio Nuevo Farm near Creston, where a perfectly oval blue pond is surrounded by the 3,700 evenly lined olive trees, with quiet dogs and graceful alpacas for company, one cannot escape the feeling of absolute serenity. The Kishiyamas’ Farm began producing olive oil commercially in 2005, and now annually sells 15-20 tons of extra virgin olive oil of exquisite quality. Like most local olive oil artisans, Art and Lynn insist on overseeing every aspect of their oil production, from harvesting to bottling. This attention to detail is what separates our local, boutique producers from big corporations. Some fifty years ago a big brand logo was a guarantee of good quality; today, it’s the small growers like Olio Nuevo Farm, who offer the best stuff.
Audrey Burnam and Marcus at Kiler Ridge Olive Farm
What a privilege it is for us to find ourselves in the middle of the olive oil revolution that’s happening right now on the Central Coast! The olive farms around us, like Olio Nuevo, are young, and it’s remarkable how quickly they have gained both experts’ and consumers’ approval. Some wine growers, realizing olives’ potential, extended their efforts to producing olive oils. Uwe and Martina Henze are one example of such growers. The Henzes have been in the food industry all their lives. They moved to California from Europe (where Uwe started his career as a chef), and now run Terrace Hill vineyard and olive orchard, with 1,250 trees of five Italian varietals in it. The Henzes were recently commended in the California Olive Oil Council’s Newsletter for the quality of their oils.
In a recent Bon Appétit review of the world’s olive oil producers, the United States wasn’t even mentioned. But the other leading foodrelated publications have noticed a surge in domestic oil production, especially in California, and welcomed it with open arms.
“It’s an amazing development to see these fabulous olive oils now being produced on the Central Coast by lots of small farmers,” says Audrey Burnam of Kiler Ridge Olive Farm. “We feel fortunate to be a part of it.”
Cook’s magazine verdict this year is unequivocal: when it comes to quality olive oil, the supermarket staples, which mostly include imported big brands, are far from being your best option.
Audrey Burnam and her husband Gregg Bone “became passionate about olive oil while bicycling through Tuscany” and “launched the dream of producing great olive oil in Paso Robles.”
One of the reasons for it is that the traditional olive oil exporter, Italy, simply cannot meet the world’s growing demand, saving its best product for the national market.
Right now their farm contains 1,500 organically-farmed olive trees, but Audrey and Gregg hope to expand to 7,000 trees.
But the other detriment for big oil brands is time. Unlike wines, oils deteriorate with age. While some place the oils’ age limit at two years, many connoisseurs believe that extra virgin olive oil should be consumed within 12 months of bottling. There’re about 700 olive varieties, whose individual flavors and aromas give oils their distinctive tastes. But these flavors lose their intensity over time, especially if the oils aren’t stored and shipped properly. Besides, as the foodie’s bible, The Rosengarten Report, notes, these days even in February, when the ships with imported oils are still far at sea, the freshest California oils are already available nationwide. A U G U S T
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Susan O’Reilly and Ron Sanders of Alto Cresta Orchard
HOME/OUTDOOR This year was the first year of commercial production for Kiler Ridge Olive Farm, and its oil managed to medal at the prestigious Los Angeles County Fair. So did the oil of Carolyn Shaffer, the CCOG’s President and a co-owner (with her husband Jerry) of Rancho Rendezvous. When Carolyn was growing up, her family had olive trees, but the focus then was on table olives, not oils. So in starting their organic olive oil business, the Shaffers had to rely on their own ingenuity, perseverance and studies. This year’s medal at their very first competition (and from a harvest of trees that were only 2 1/2 years old), “blew them away.” It’s clear that the Central Coast growers know what they’re doing, and with more trees on all these farms coming to maturity, we can expect more good news in the future. The admirable thing about local growers is their commitment to the best growing practices. Many farmers, like the owners of Kiler Ridge or Terrace Hill, are insisting on hand- picking their fruit. At Olio Nuevo, adorable alpacas provide all the needed fertilizers, whereas Alta Cresta employs analysis of leaf samples to determine the need for supplements. They use a solar electric system, and the orchards are watered with a highly efficient automated drip irrigation system.
many flavors, and each has its own use. This was highlighted in this year’s The Rosengarten Report review of more than 1500 oils from all over the world. A number of California oils got a favorable mention, and our own Mardesich Estate received four (out of five) stars. Just being mentioned by Mr. Rosengarten is a big deal for those in the food industry. “I would equate his favorable endorsement to winning a Gold Medal,” Jeanne Mardesich says. Mr. Rosengarten’s recommendation is much like the Michelin rating for restaurants. “The article has given us national exposure,” Jeanne explains; it’s no wonder that they were sold out in May. You can have an opportunity to meet members of CCOG, and try their oils on August 21 at the Olive Festival in Paso Robles. Don’t miss it! For details, go to www.oliveoilfestival.com
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“We’re all people who love being part of agriculture,” says the vicepresident of the CCOG Gidi Pullen. “We love what we do, but this isn’t a hobby – it’s our business,” comments Clotilde Julien, a co-owner with her husband Yves, of Olea Farm. “We want the Central Coast to have the best oil,” Clotilde says. “Our reputation is on the line.” The Juliens started earlier than many, but this is the first year when all of their 35,000 trees will be coming into production.
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“It’s somewhat of a guessing game,” explains Ron Sanders of Alta Cresta Orchard. “We make an estimate of when the fruit is expected to be ready, and reserve the time at the mill, a month in advance, so that when we get there, they’re all set to go.”
This custom-made giant is the biggest mill of its type in the world. The idea is to go from orchard to orchard to ensure that the fruit is pressed as soon as possible. “We know that we won’t be able to process for everyone,” Clotilde Julien, one of the partners, readily admits, but the mobile mill should ease the anxieties during harvesting. Another advantage in having the new mill is that the growers can now process their fruit themselves, which will allow them to put tasting rooms on their properties. According to Jeanne Meardesich of Mardesich Estate, located near Paso Robles, one of the ‘catch phrases’ in the olive oil business is “think outside the salad.” When his visitors brag about using olive oil in their kitchens, Art Kishiyama retorts: “How many?” It’s because olive oils come in
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The key to oil quality is freshness. Olives are fruit, and like all fruit, they begin to deteriorate the moment they come off the tree. Therefore local growers make a point of processing their fruit within hours of harvesting.
Until now, the only mill available to local farmers was the one at the Foxtail Farm on Highway 41 near Templeton. Organic growers used a mill in Santa Ynez, which specializes in organic crop. “Sometimes we would be processing after midnight, since not enough time was available to everyone,” Clotilde Julien explains. All of this is going to change this year, because three partners, two of whom are local olive growers, are bringing in a mill-on-wheels.
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HOME/OUTDOOR PULSE
zen & the art of health Part 2 By Julian J. Varela
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n our last article on Zen & the Art of Health, I proposed that optimal health is much more than a lean physique and great blood profile. While exercising regularly and eating a balanced and healthful diet may improve
your chances of avoiding disease and living a longer vibrant life, factors such as dissatisfaction with your career, relationship, living situation, stress level and your purpose in life should not be ignored. Life is much more than getting up, going to
work, going home, watching TV and going to bed. Asking yourself a few important questions and honestly answering them can do wonders for your health beyond that of exercise and nutrition. So the next time you’re on a run, ask yourself, why am I here? What’s the purpose of my life? Shouldn’t there be more? I mentioned this in the last article, and I’m going to say it again. This article is in no way an attempt to tout any certain religious belief. Don’t be scared, religion is simply a general set of beliefs explaining the existence of and giving meaning to the universe, usually involving devotional and ritual observance, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. You can take it or leave it, but you can’t argue that there are some fundamental truths that religion teaches which make philosophical sense and helps us understand how our connection with others, our mind and the world affect our personal health. The good news is that with a little bit of contemplation and reflection, we can improve our health without even leaving the couch. How great is that? Most of us are taught to get good grades, go to college and land a high paying job. It’s
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HOME/OUTDOOR about looking good, feeling good and having the goods right? Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure about that. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen many people who look good, seem to feel good, have all the goods but are miserable individuals. When asked about components of health most medical and fitness professionals would list the following components as important markers: blood pressure, lipid profile, body-mass index, body-fat percentage, family history of disease, tobacco use, alcohol use, regular exercise and good diet. Obviously these are just a few physical components and there are also psychological factors. Many have this common misery that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re stuck inside our skins and we distract ourselves from thinking about it. Sometimes we think that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a difference between whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inside and whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outside, but I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the case; we need to develop a healthy mind and healthy body. Some people refer to a healthy mind as bliss; some refer to it as enlightenment. A school of Mahayana Buddhism asserts that enlightenment can be attainted through meditation, self-contemplation, and intuition rather than through faith and devotion. Dr. Dean Ornish, best known for his holistic approach to reversing heart disease, is a big advocate of regular meditation and the role it plays in stress reduction and developing overall clarity. So what does one meditate about? There are a few fundamental truths that are perfect for contemplation and meditation and they are: equanimity, love, joy, and acceptance.
Spending 20-30 minutes a day quietly meditating on equanimity, love, joy and acceptance can do wonders to quiet your mind, your soul and ease tension and stress. You may find that following this practice will help you live in the moment and help you minimize focus on the past or an unhealthy obsession with the future. Ultimately, our success or our failures are our own creation. Our life is self-created and what we experience is our concept of the world. Julian J. Varela holds a Masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and is a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist. Julian co-owns Equilibrium Fitness and Equilibrium Fitness for Women. Julian can be contacted at Julian@eqclubs.com with questions or comments. Follow Julianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blog at julianvarela. blogspot.com.
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been feeling self-conscious, embarrassed, or limited in what you can do, and where you can go â&#x20AC;Ś
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Equanimity means equality or treating everyone as equals. Let me ask a question, if everyone was treated equally, how many wars do you think weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have at the moment? What if we treated each member of our family equally (even if you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stand your mother-in-law), our customers, our friends? We all have favorites and may tend to attach ourselves to one or two close friends or family members and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really no dire problem with that. However, if something happened to that specific relationship that you attached yourself to, it could cause tremendous pain. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not suggesting you dilute that relationship. However, I am suggesting that you try and treat everyone the same. Doing so helps remove attachment from one person and helps spread the love. Awe, now you can breathe the next time your mother-in-law visits. Love is more than just love for another; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also love for ourselves. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you how many clients Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked with over the years who have struggled with their health because they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t really feel that taking care of their own health should be a priority and/or they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think they deserved to be happy. We all deserve to be happy, and our actions should reflect that priority. Joy can be different than happiness. True joy can be experienced through that of another. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a parent and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve watched your son or daughter complete a major accomplishment, you know what Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m talking about. Learning how to experience the happiness of others is a joyful experience. Helping others succeed will help bring more joy into your life. Acceptance in my opinion is the most difficult as it requires us to set aside our pride and ego. If weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having a difficult time with work, relationship, current financial situation, or our health, it may be time to realize that we put ourselves in the situation to begin with. Taking responsibility for our actions or lack thereof removes blame from others and places it on our shoulders. However, now that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned love and compassion, we wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be too hard on ourselves now will we? Taking responsibility will now allow us to move forward and create what it is we truly desire. Be compassionate with yourself but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be too polite with the state of your health. Think about whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going wrong. How can you improve?
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SAN LUIS COUNTY LIBRARY Celebrating books and promoting literacy By Margaret Kensinger-Klopfer, Youth Services SLO County Library
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he Central Coast Book and Author Festival is celebrating 11 years of bringing together book lovers of all ages from around the county and beyond. This main event takes place on September 19th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at San Luis Obispo’s Mission Plaza. The festival is presented by the Foundation for SLO County Public Libraries, and benefits a host of library programs countywide including the Children’s Summer Reading Program. As always, this free event will feature lectures, readings and workshops by favorite local and celebrity authors, including noted children’s authors. Festival coordinators also anticipate over 60 exhibitors, including authors, publishers and book-related organizations. Exhibitor applications are still being accepted through September 1st. Back by popular demand is the festival art show, The Art of the Book, featuring the work of book artists and illustrators. Pieces will be on display at several county public libraries the month prior to the festival, then available for viewing and purchase at the SLO Museum of Art on the day of the festival.
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The Character Breakfast takes place the morning of the festival at 8:45 a.m. in the Community Room at the San Luis Obispo Public Library. At 9:45 a.m., the Little Theatre actors will lead a costume parade to Mission Plaza to kick off the festival. Tickets, which include a full breakfast, are $15 for adults and $10 for children ten and under. For information on how to obtain tickets, visit www.ccbookfestival.org. Also new this year is an evening with syndicated cartoonist Leigh Rubin entitled A Twisted Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste. Rubin will share his twisted take on the world and how real life situations provide the inspiration for his daily comic. “We’re fortunate to have as a member of the community someone who is such a huge supporter of libraries and does what he can to support them,” said Book Festival Chairperson, Maryellen Simkins. The evening with Leigh Rubin takes place Saturday September 18th at the SLO Library Community Room. A 5:00 p.m. reception will offer light hors d’oeuvres and beer and wine for sale. The interactive performance begins at 5:30 p.m. and will include a raffle of a signed Rubin print. The event is free of charge, but seating is limited. For more information on the Central Coast Book & Author Festival, or to download an exhibitor application, visit www.ccbookfestival.org or call (805) 546-1392.
Little Learners Curriculum Kits
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A new and highly-anticipated event associated with this year’s festival is the Character Breakfast. Actors from the SLO Little Theatre will be dressed as literary characters to delight guests of all ages. Guests are also encouraged to come dressed as a character from a favorite book.
Did you know that children begin acquiring literacy skills as early as infancy? To help daycare providers, teachers and
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parents foster those early literacy skills, the San Luis Obispo Public Library, in partnership with Community Action Partnership’s Child Care Resource Connection (CCRC), has developed new early literacy curriculum kits. These Little Learners Curriculum Kits were developed with funding from a federal grant. The curriculum kits are available for check-out at the CCRC’s Toy and Resource Lending Library. They contain materials that foster literacy skills, including books, literacy-related manipulatives (puppets, felt board stories, etc.), music, rhymes, craft ideas and finger plays. For more information, contact CCRC at (805) 541-2272 or toll free at (888) 727-2272.
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LOCAL BOOKS Nurse of Manzanar She Cried for mother russia History of the templeton fire department
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recently received a note from one of our readers, Lee White, to remind our readers of two local books available at the SLO Historical Museum. It also gave me a chance to re-read one of the books and learn from the other. The first book is the Nurse of Manzanar – A Japanese American’s World War II Journey. Copyright 2009. The book is written by Samuel Nakamura – Derived from My Memories of World War II, By Toshiko Eto Nakamura Samuel Nakamura discovered his mother, Toshiko Eto Nakamura’s account of her life as a nurse in San Luis Obispo in 1941 until her release from Manzanar War Relocation Camp two years later. She gives the reader a clear understanding of her experience as an American with a Japanese heritage. The book is broken down into six chapters, including: San Luis Obispo, Ducor, Arrival at Manzanar, The Hospital, One Nurse’s Life and Leaving Manzanar. Each chapter has photos, documentation and copies of articles from the local newspapers. I first learned about the Eto family when we did a story in April, 2002 on the newly dedicated Eto Park in San Luis Obispo. I met some of the Eto family at that time and was told their life story. Masaji Eto was a highly respected grower who served for 32 years on Farm Supply’s board of directors. Jim Brabeck, General Manager of Farm Supply, was the driving force in creating Eto Park with his Rotary Club. The peace of Eto Park is a tribute to their family and community oneness. The park is located on Brook Street, near the corner of South and Higuera Streets. The second book is She Cried for Mother Russia – a Princess in San Luis Obispo. Written by Friedl E. Semans Bell. Copyright 2009. Friedl Semans Bell lived across the street on Benton Way, from Tanya Kelly, formerly known as a Russian Princess called Tatiana. As a young
child, Bell became close friends with the Kelly family and tells her experiences while growing up. After Kelly passed away, a box was discovered that told the brutal truth of Kelly’s early years in Russia and how she escaped with her sister to America. The book pieces together the life of Princes Tatiana/Tanya Kelly. You’ll enjoy both books and gain a new respect for those families that were impacted by relocation orders and forced evacuation. The third book this month is presented by our historian writer, Joe Carotenuti. His review of the History of the Templeton Fire Department is below. When he was appointed Chief of the volunteer Templeton Fire Department in 1998, Greg O’Sullivan began interviewing department veterans about their memories and experiences. It was the beginning of over a decade of collecting pictures, documents and stories of one of the Central Coast’s finest municipal sagas. Profusely illustrated, the history recalls the earliest efforts of the small town to meet and defeat the “fire demon.” Various pieces of equipment purchased over the last century as well as an evolution of firehouses are interspersed with key events over the last century. A tribute to the community and residents it protects as well as the men and women volunteers who respond – day or night – to an emergency call, the history is a well-organized snapshot of a community’s commitment to its safety. When not responding to calls, the department can be found supporting various charities including the annual Fourth of July breakfast and parade as the centerpiece of its community activities. Maintaining a rigorous training regime, volunteers respond to hundreds of calls every year…never sure of what to expect but ready to devote their best to help save a structure from fire or a life in jeopardy…as well as an occasional cat stranded in a tree! Copies of the book ($20) are available at the station (206 Fifth Street), calling Assistant Chief Ron Hewitt (434-4913), or by email: fireprevention@templetoncsd.org.
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Get Your Deck Ready For The Season By Statepoint Media
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efore family and friends take to your deck or patio for barbecues, parties and other seasonal fun, you need to make sure it’s safe and in good shape.
“Now is the perfect time to take advantage of warmer days to inspect and revitalize your deck,” says Susan Uram of Olympic Exterior Stains. “And it shouldn’t take you that long if you know what to look for and have the right tools and products on hand.”
While the outdoors can be terrific for fun and relaxation, the elements can wreak havoc on decks, causing old or unprotected wood to warp, crack and grow mold or mil- Safety First dew. And age, moisture and wind can cause Inspect your deck, patio or porch for split railings, flooring or steps to loosen. or rotting wood, loose railings or handrails, and damaged support beams and plankIt’s time to inspect your deck or patio and ing. Repair any structural damage. Replace get it in shape. or hammer in nails or tighten loose screws,
bolts and spindles. You’ll also want to check outdoor benches, chairs, tables and planters to make sure they are stable. Apply Protection The wood on your deck has many small pores that can fill with water and dirt, caus-
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ing warping, discoloration and splintering. Mold and mildew also can break down structural integrity. First, give your deck a facelift by cleaning it with a suitable deck cleaner. Then protect it with a high-quality stain, such as those from Olympic Exterior Stains, which will penetrate and enhance the beauty of your wood for years. Be sure to choose appropriate deck cleaners and stains, which clean properly and protect against water, mildew, scuffs and UV damage from the sun. “If you’re unsure if it’s time to stain or seal your deck, pour a small cup of water on a few horizontal surfaces. If water is absorbed in less than 10 minutes, or if the surface color darkens, it’s time to stain or seal,” points out Uram. Beware Of Grills Everything you put on your deck can affect it. Your grill can drip grease, staining or eroding your deck’s finish. Position grills carefully, placing a hard rubber mat beneath them. Also be mindful of welcome mats. They can collect moisture, leading to wood damage.
Always dry out mats after it rains, allowing the deck’s surface to dry before replacing them.
Even though the prospect of moving ma future, you owe it to yourself to learn ho carefree living in your own home for many planters or benches with vibrant colors. For inspiration, you can visit www.Olympic.com for a how-to guide for garden Experiment and create disasDIY weprojects. get older, Pristine is fully tinctive looks showcasing your personality.
You Don’t Have to Move It’s a fact of life that
Feel Safe and
Complement with Accents some day-to-day tasks become too licensed and insu Liven up your deck by using stains with accent colors on railings, spindles, step risers Nothing beats sitting out on your newly much to handle on our own. That All of our worker and treads. Get creative with wooden stained deck, soaking in the great outdoors. doesn’tTry mean you have to move away are carefully scree furniture and accessories. staining
from the comfort of your home. and pass a crimin • Personal Pristine Home Services is• aHousekeeping local background chec Care that helps San Luis Obispo and drug test, giv • Yard company • Handyman Maintenance County residents avoid the high cost when someone fr Servingof moving All oftoSan Luis Obispo County a retirement facility. in your home.
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All of our services can be provided She should be clo daily, weekly, or on an as-needed basis. very reasonable. From housekeeping You to handyman services and plumbing to preparingyou meals.need There is no task too large or pay for only the services dows!” R. Watso too small for Pristineand Homewe Services. All of ourthose services can be providedatdaily, weekly, or on an as-needed provide services a price basis. You pay for only the services you need and we provide those services at a price you can“They afford. took the ti you can afford. what I wanted. Th Pristine Home Services made it possible exactlyforwhat I as Convenient One-call us to stayService comfortable and independent reasonable. I wo in our home. When Mary was diagnosed Our personal care services include a friend. with cancer, is no longer ato threat, the ” C. H shopping, daily errands, mealwhich preparapeople at Pristine became a very important tion, transportation part andofnon-medical Before you mak our team. They were trustworthy, care. Our housekeeping services keep reliable and always stood by ourcould side. Weaffect you our relationship their staff. your kitchen and thetruly restenjoy of your home withand standard of spotless. We even do windows and-- Don and MarytoSmith read these tw laundry. Our yard maintenance crews Before you make any decisions that could affect your future happiness and standard of living, take every se “What know how to take care of your favorite the time to read these two FREE reports: about living in rose bushes and keep the grass neatly “What every senior needs to know about living in a retirement facility.” mowed. Our handyman services are “Four critical q “Four critical questions to ask a service provider...before you let anyone work in or near your home.” provided by specialists in plumbing, service provid We invite you to call Pristine right now so that we can send you these two FREE reports by mail. electrical work, painting, repairs and anyone work i safety rail installation. Call for rateS We invite you to now so that we two FREE repor We Bring Assisted Living Home You Whatever you need...give us atocall
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HOME/OUTDOOR
at the market By Sarah Hedger
I
t’s hard to believe we are now on the homestretch of Summer here on the Central Coast. While there is so much brilliant produce in season right now, there are few things better than the smell of tomatoes fresh out of the garden. I’ve known people who have a strong aversion to tomatoes because they have only been exposed to Styrofoamtextured, imported (often out of season) tomatoes. It is the double-edge of what industrialization has done to the food supply when people forget what an in-season tomato smells like. Some say it reminds them of having a family garden when they were growing up, or picking their neighbors’ during summer months. It is important for us to remember this smell as this is one way we can tell our produce is fresh. Following your nose is the first step to reconnecting with the seasons and what is actually in season. Take the nose challenge yourself and find some freshly picked tomatoes. Then, smell them and compare
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the smell with those pale-colored, sad-looking, imported tomatoes at the grocery store during the winter. Now, compare! Your nose does not know how to lie! Our brilliant noses are a leading indicator to how good a food is for us and eating seasonally fresh (organic) foods is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. My last thought on this topic is tuning in to what your body craves on a seasonal basis. (Forgive me at this point if you are still reading and not a tomato fan)…But, have you ever noticed how certain summer foods, such as tomatoes or peaches and apricots, don’t sound so good in winter months?
Or how hearty root vegetables don’t sound particularly good during summer months? This is not an accident! This is your body telling you what it needs and wants, coinciding with the seasons. Another of one of our body’s brilliant designs! Listen to these cravings and your health will coincide! Now, onto a brilliant summer, one pot dish! If you have been dissuaded by risotto before, fear not! It is simple, beautiful, delicious, healthy, and you will have even more friends when you share it. The tomatoes in this dish are roasted so they get this warm, melting f lavor and when combined with fresh basil and garlic, it is no wonder why there is so much romance in Italy! Technically this isn’t a one pot dish as it works best to have the vegetable stock simmering on a back burner while it is slowly added into the risotto (and the tomatoes are roasted separately). Be patient with the risotto and enjoy the 15-20 minutes of love and attention that it requires to make it so lustrous, creamy, and buttery (without any cream or butter)! It tastes great fresh and makes fantastic leftovers- (it is one of those dishes that it is so good, it might even taste good cold for breakfast but you didn’t hear that from me). It is hearty enough to enjoy on its own, light enough for warm summer days, and versatile enough to be on the side of a great BBQ. So, with that, follow your nose and take a little trip to Italy via this Roasted Tomato Summer Risotto with Fresh Basil and Chevre. Enjoy and soak up the sunshine!
roasted tomato summer risotto with fresh basil and chevre
FOR THE ROAST TOMATOES: 4-5 medium organic tomatoes, quartered 2 garlic cloves, minced n/ 2-3 T. olive oil ½ n/ tsp sea salt ¼ tsp b fresh ground pepper 1 T. fresh basil, minced Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients in ceramic or glass baking dish. Place in oven and roast for 20-25 minutes, stirring once mid-way. Remove from oven and set aside. FOR THE RISOTTO: 2 T. olive oil ½ medium white or yellow onion, finely chopped ½ cup celery, finely chopped ½ tsp. sea salt ¼ tsp. fresh ground pepper 1 ½ cups Arborio (risotto) rice ½ cup white wine 1 + quarts good quality vegetable stock (preferably homemade) 2-3 ounces fresh Chevre 2 T. fresh basil, minced Heat stock and keep on low heat while preparing the risotto. In a thick-bottomed pot or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat. When hot, add onion and celery and sauté for 10 minutes, stirring for even cooking. Add salt, pepper, and rice, then stir for a few minutes, allowing rice to soak up all the flavors and it begins to smell nutty. Pour wine and stir until it is absorbed. Begin adding a couple ladlefuls of hot stock, stirring and waiting for rice to absorb what you have just added. Cook for 15-20 minutes, continuing to add stock by the ladleful until rice isn’t absorbing any more stock. Remove from heat and stir in all the lovely roasted tomato mixture. Add Chevre and adjust seasonings to your liking. Let risotto sit for a few minutes before serving, letting all the wonderful flavors meld together. Top with fresh basil and enjoy a little bit of Italy in Summer!
HOME/OUTDOOR
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Kitchen Ideas
dish, vegetable, and a salad, serve them, and then clean everything up afterwards. Maybe you are making the main dish while your spouse is working on the salad? This means you have to imagine the steps they will be taking as well, and make sure they don’t collide with your path. I do not want to take responsibility for marital discord in the kitchen!
By Lee Anna O’Daniel
OK, let’s start with the main dish. Find the recipe. Look in your pantry and refrigerator to see if you have all the ingredients – get them organized on an prep counter, get out your measuring devices, your mixing bowl and utensils. Next you wash some of the ingredients and peel and chop them, so you need a chopping block and knife and peeler. Hopefully you are near a sink and trash receptacle. Have you had to walk a mile already? Then you’d better rethink your layout.
beyond the basic work triangle
D
esigning a functional kitchen boils down to pure logic – the cooking of a meal. If cooking is a hassle, then it is not a good design – simple as that.
There is much talk about the work triangle. This was a concept developed in the 1950s to simplify the design process by reducing the kitchen design to three basic elements – the sink, the refrigerator and the stove. There are “rules” as to how far away these elements can be from one another – no more than 9 feet between each point, and no less than 4 feet, plus the whole triangle cannot be more than 26 feet. The trouble is, today there are many more appliances involved – a microwave, often a separate cook top and wall oven, and an outdoor BBQ for instance. And what if there is more than one cook, and they are constantly running into each other? It might appear on paper to have the perfect work triangle, but go and use the kitchen and it has now what I call “rhythm.” When I design a kitchen, the first things I consider are how many cooks will be using it, and what type of cooking will they be doing (meat and potatoes, pasta, stir-fry, casseroles, baking fancy desserts, etc). Does the cook want to interact with guests as far as socializing, or solicit help for various tasks, or does the cook want everyone to stay out of their way? If there is to be only one cook, then the basic work triangle – sink, primary cooking device (usually cook top and microwave), and refrigerator should be kept fairly compact, but with lots of prep area by and between all these elements. If there is to be more than one cook, then you need to analyze who generally does what, so that you can divide up the activity centers to minimize conflict. If you think about it, you go to the sink much more often than any other appliance, so a second sink is a big plus with two cooks. I think the best way to design a kitchen is to close your eyes and try to imagine all the walking steps you are going to take to make a main
Meantime, the recipe is calling for pasta, so you need to fill up your pot with water (again – is the sink clear across the room?), then put it on to boil with some salt and cooking oil (hopefully kept near the cook top). While that is going on, you are sautéing the vegetables you just scooped up off the chopping block. Add your seasonings. Time to drain the pasta – is the sink close by? Are people walking across your path to the sink while you are carrying boiling water? Try to design it so major circulation does not go through this dangerous path! If necessary, relocate the door. Now we go on to assembly. You get your baking dish, layer your ingredients, put it in the oven for 30 minutes. Whew! Now you get going on the side dishes – perhaps you are cooking some broccoli in the microwave. A little more rinsing and chopping and you’ve got that under control. Or do you have to take time out to wash the dirty pots and bowls you just used? If you have that second sink, one sink can be used for prep and another for clean-up. This will keep you in rhythm. Next the salad – finding ingredients, rinsing, chopping, mixing. Now you set the table – hopefully the silverware and dishes and napkins are conveniently located. The main dish and the broccoli are beeping and you are ready to call in the troops. So, half an hour passes and everyone is well fed – time to clear the table and start the clean up. Scrape the big stuff in the trash, rinse in the garbage disposal and load the dishwasher. Meantime, hand wash the pans and put them away. Put away the left-overs. Can you get into the refrigerator to put these away while the dishwasher is open? If all these tasks can be done efficiently and rhythmically, you have designed the perfect kitchen! If not, its time to start over! Don and Lee Anna O’Daniel have owned and operated San Luis Kitchen Company for the last 25 years. Both are architecture graduates from Cal Poly.
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dog next door
a Katrina dog finds her heart in SLO By Jeanne Harris
F
ive years ago this month, Hurricane Katrina descended on the city of New Orleans. Amid the chaos and destruction of the ensuing flood, a little white dog with brown and black markings on her head and soft, searching eyes struggled to survive. We’ll never know if she was stranded or abandoned, but she had no identification tags or microchip when she was rescued. She eventually ended up in Texas at a Jack Russell terrier rescue shelter. At the shelter, the little terrier was named Hollywood. Apparently someone there sensed she was destined for California. As fate would have it, a San Luis Obispo couple searching to adopt a Jack Russell terrier saw Hollywood’s picture on the Texas shelter’s website. Before long, the small pooch with the enduring spirit was on a plane headed for San Luis Obispo. Upon her arrival, the couple shortened the name to Holly, and the girl from NOLA became a SLO dog. The story might have had a happy ending there, but life circumstances for Holly’s new owners changed. With heavy hearts, they had to find her yet another new home. They didn’t have to look far. Since acquiring Holly, the couple had walked her every morning, stopping into BlackHorse Coffee along their route. The manager of the shop, Philip, got a kick out of Holly’s friendly, exuberant nature and looked forward to her daily visits. Although he had never been a dog owner, Philip had been thinking about adopting a dog and felt ready to assume the responsibility. So when the couple asked Philip if he would like to give Holly a new home, he said yes. That was a year and a half ago. At first, Philip called his new pal Buddy or Bud; Holly just didn’t fit for him. As he got to know the dog better and saw the way she leaped straight up in the air, it occurred to him that it looked like she was performing a maneuver skateboarders call an ollie, where the skater jumps into the air while maintaining contact with the board. So Ollie became the springy Jack Russell’s new name, and it stuck. Since adopting Ollie, Philip has become a true dog lover and can’t imagine life without her. Her favorite place to be is on Phil’s lap,
waiting for, expecting, and insisting on his pets of her smooth, suede-soft fur. She also loves riding in his truck where she stands on the console between the front seats. She watches the traffic intently and leans into turns, bracing herself against Philip’s right arm. On her daily walks with Philip, Ollie chases squirrels and digs for gophers, her stubby tail in perpetual, high-velocity-wag mode. And at the beach, she runs after seagulls, her short legs spinning so fast they are nearly invisible. She looks like she’s flying. But she avoids the water at all costs. And she’s fearful of sprinklers, running garden hoses, and rain. Perhaps the little terrier was always this way, but one wonders if her hurricane ordeal created fears that persist today. Generally, Ollie is a quiet, easygoing, obedient dog, until she hears Phillip’s car keys jingling and realizes he’s about to go somewhere – without her. She then expresses her disapproval in a unique voice. The sound she makes could best be described as a channeling of Marge Simpson, a kind of guttural screech wrapped in a howling whine. Whenever possible, Philip relents and takes Ollie
along. It’s too heartbreaking to hear such a pitiful cry coming from his scrappy girl. Philip and Ollie are kindred spirits. She keeps him company and makes him laugh; he provides her with a secure, loving home and plenty of belly rubs. Who knew that best friends could find their way 2,000 miles to each other? Although Katrina shattered lives and broke many hearts, happy-ever-after stories grew out of the storm, too. Philip and Ollie’s story is one of them. They are a match made in heaven. Or perhaps in this case, a match made by the saints.
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COMMUNITY
SLO county art scene new facilities and facts By Gordon Fuglie
N
orth SLO county recently gained an impressive new visual arts venue: The Gallery at Vino Robles Winery. Three miles east of the 101 Freeway (off Highway 46), the award winning winery’s Hospitality Center is among the more architecturally distinguished structures in the area. Completed in 2007, it was designed by Pults & Associates, San Luis Obispo. The Center’s palatial interiors evoke European grandeur while its horseshoe-shaped layout and porticoes suggest California mission design. Martin Columberg, Director of Hospitality, told me the idea to add The Gallery came about after VR put on hold plans to develop one of its wings into a restaurant. Since the Hospitality Center already displayed work by the Central California artist Tomas Panzarino, it was an easy move to dedicate a space for an art gallery, said Columnberg. Its high ceilings, moveable walls, adjustable hanging systems and track lighting inspire numerous exhibition possibilities. According to VR Managing Partner, Hans-R Michel, “art and wine are a classic pairing that we want to celebrate in our region. The
The new look at the SLO Museum of Art
Gallery affords us the opportunity to showcase artists from near and far.” Further south, in San Luis Obispo, summer is the backdrop for the rollout of the new look for the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (SLOMA), formerly the Art Center. This includes some remodeling of the lobby linking Broad Street and Mission Plaza and a new logo and web site. A grant from the James Irvine Foundation provided more than $100,000 for graphics and marketing for the 50 plus year-old facility perched above the creek bed at Monterey and Broad Streets. Among the exhibitions on view at SLOMA in August is Photomorposis, a juried display of “high dynamic range imaging” and other digital techniques in contemporary photography. Photomorphosis
The Vino Robles Winery Art Gallery
The view of Vino Robles Winery - The Gallery is on the right A U G U S T
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Dennis Curry’s painting, High Pasture
2007! (See also, www.robertburridge.com.) It seems there is something for everyone at the new SLOMA in August!
Stephen Patterson’s art, titled Time Machine
Center, 3700 Mill Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446, 805-227-4812, www.vinorobles.com. San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, 1010 Broad Street (on Mission Plaza), San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, 805-543-8562, www. sloartcenter.org.
The Gallery at Vino Robles Winery, Hospitality
was organized by the Central Coast Photographic Society and its president Renee Besta. To select the works, the group contracted with Stephen Patterson, a fine art landscape photographer from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a pioneer in digital photography. His work is known for its “morphing” of images into more abstract, expressionistic, and impressionistic forms. According to CCPS president, Renee Besta, recent digital technologies “more creatively and easily expand the emotional and spiritual content of a photographic image in directions previously not possible.” An evangelist for digital methods, Besta strove to raise the profile for CCPS exhibits by obtaining a variety of exhibition sponsorships including Nik Software products, LIGHT Photographic Workshops (formerly the Lepp Institute of Digital Imaging), Breathing Color, The Photo Shop, Frame Works, Jim’s Campus Camera and River Oaks Hot Springs & Spa. In addition to Photomorphosis, SLOMA will be featuring in the First Gallery the work of Cambria wildlife artist Dennis Curry, who does traditional paintings of Central Coast landscapes and multi-color lithographs of African animals. 2010 has already been a busy year for Curry who has earlier shown at the Porch Café, Santa Margarita and Castoro Cellars, Templeton. (See also, www.denniscurry.com.) Upstairs in the McMeen Gallery, Arroyo Grande painter Bob Burridge will display recent work. Formerly a corporate designer, he set this career aside 15 years ago to pursue art making full time. The energetic Burridge has long been a popular art instructor at the Art Center (now SLOMA) and maintains a website jam-packed with a wide range of artistic information including his “Bobisms,” e.g. “Believing you are creative is 50% of the creative process.” Site visitors are also invited to view Burridge’s irrepressible ArtsyFartsy News: Our shameless, irreverent self-promotion newsletter, online since A U G U S T
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34
COMMUNITY
seeing is believing ...two local surgeons give gift of sight to grAtEful hondurans By Susan Stewart
“
E
s un milagro!”– means “It’s a miracle!” in Spanish. This was the tearful phrase heard so often following the more than four dozen eye surgeries performed recently in El Progreso, Honduras just a few months ago. For one week in March, two surgeons from San Luis Obispo’s Pacific Eye – Dr. Robert Higginbotham and Dr. Adam Abroms – worked with a support team of scrub techs, RNs, and Rotarians to give 52 needy people the gift of their vision, returned to them after severe cataracts had left most of them blind. Four Rotary clubs – Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Pismo Beach, and Grover Beach – joined forces to obtain a grant to fund the endeavor, whose goal it was to donate time, talent, and equipment to patients with the greatest need for cataract surgery. El Progreso lies at important crossroads of Honduran Highways, making care accessible to more of the most needy.
Dr. Higginbotham with patient
“These were by no means your typical cataract patients,” said Higginbotham. “With no access to ongoing eye care, these were people whose cataracts had grown so hard and so thick that it rendered them blind, unable to care for themselves or even find their way into the clinic.” Working sun-up to sun-down, the surgeons conducted back-to-back surgeries on some of the most difficult cataracts they’d ever encountered. “Because of the level of difficulty, the surgeries took longer there than they do here,” said Higginbotham. “Our patients were incredibly grateful. Many of them hugged and kissed us in post-op.” “Most patients had to be led in,” said Abroms. “One fellow had no shoes and was dressed in rags … it really shakes you up. These people are so impoverished, and most were at higher risk than we’d anticipated.”
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Though Higginbotham and Abroms brought considerable experience and talent to this effort, they both admit that after one week in El Progreso, they now have the confidence to handle anything, no
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1250 Peach Street, Suite E San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 543-0814 Dr. Abroms with patient
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A patient being assisted
The waiting room at the clinic in El Progreso, Honduras
matter how challenging. Nearly all of the 52 patients who underwent surgery were restored to full 20/20 vision, which meant their independence was also restored. Now they can work again, play again, provide for their families. Among those providing support for the physicians was Dr. Higginbotham’s daughter, Erin. Currently a pre-med student at UC San Diego, Erin performed scrub tech duties with Lisa Evans as her backup. (As manager of Pacific Eye’s Surgical Center and as president of the Grover Beach Rotary Club, it was Evans who brought together the four clubs that financed the trip to Honduras.) Higginbotham said that one of the most rewarding aspects of this trip for him was seeing the sparkle in his daughter’s eyes at the end of a long day. “She’ll be a doctor, too, one day,” he said.
In addition to scheduled cataract surgeries, the doctors also addressed emergencies such as metal fragments in the eye and one patient with crossed eyes. “By day’s end, we were all exhausted, sweating,” said Abroms. “You gain a real perspective about how lucky we are in this country; how much we take for granted.” Both physicians have expressed a desire to return to third world areas for future medical missions. In fact, Higginbotham has a long history of these trips to Mexico and Vietnam. He’s formed a nonprofit called Pacific Eye Foundation, whose purpose is to set up eye surgery clinics in Vietnam for teaching and research. “It’s incredibly gratifying to help people see a new world,” he said.
35
Dr. Higginbotham with daughter, Erin
… the solution to vision problems has never been more within reach.” In addition to their recent international missions, Pacific Eye will be establishing a free clinic right here at home, in San Luis Obispo County, for those with little money and no resources for eye care. The public is invited to support these clinics by donating to the Pacific Eye Foundation. Find out how by calling (805) 545-8100.
Abroms has also been making a global impact for many years. He’s performed eye surgeries in Vietnam, India, and South America. “I’ve always had a passion for fixing things. As an ophthalmologist, I am challenged by fixing complicated medical problems. Today
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COMMUNITY
Our Schools: a school safety net By Dr. Julian Crocker, County Superintendent of Schools
A
t the end of this month, approximately 34,500 students throughout our county will be returning or entering our local schools for the 2010-2011 school year. For most of these students, school will be a traditional elementary, middle or high school. However, a small number of students will be enrolled in one of our county’s four Community Schools. For these students, our Community Schools are a last chance for school success and avoiding becoming a high school drop out. Community Schools serve students with intensive needs who have not been success-
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ful in school. Local districts often lack the resources to address the social and emotional issues faced by these students. For these students, the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education’s Community Schools offer a last “safety net,” a highly-structured, nurturing environment that allows them to recover from poor choices, acquire new skills, and make up lost ground to get back on track for graduation. Community Schools, by state statute, are designed to serve students who are: 1) expelled from their district of residence; 2) referred by a district’s Student Attendance Review Board for habitual truancy; 3) referred by the County’s Probation Department; or 4) are voluntarily referred by a parent or guardian. In San Luis Obispo County, about 70% of the students enrolled in Community School have been referred due to school attendance (truancy) problems, with the remainder being referred because they have been expelled by a local district for behavior issues. San Luis Obispo County’s first Community School was a single classroom housed in temporary quarters adjacent to the Juvenile Services Center. Today, our four Community Schools, with a capacity of approximately 300 students, are housed in modern facilities located strategically throughout the county to serve local districts. Three of the four Community Schools – Chalk Mountain Community School in Atascadero, Loma Vista Community School in San Luis Obispo, and Mesa View Community School in Arroyo Grande – serve students in grades 7-12 (Mesa View serves primarily students in grades 7-10), with each site designed for a capacity of 75 students. The fourth Community School, San Luis Obispo Community School, is designed for 50 students, serves students in grades 11 and 12. Each school is staffed by teachers who receive specialized training in addressing the
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unique needs of these students: a resource specialist teacher, instructional assistants, a Mental Health therapist, a Deputy Probation Officer, and a school nurse. Each school also has supporting staff, including a school psychologist, a behavior intervention manager, teachers-on-special-assignment and school administrators. Serving a small student population, these teams of dedicated professionals, with their complementary skills and knowledge, ensure that individual student needs – social, emotional, psychological, behavioral, physical, academic – are accurately diagnosed and that individual learning plans are developed with services in place to address those needs. Community School students typically face numerous barriers and challenges that have prevented them from achieving success in traditional school settings. Most have experienced repeated school failure and arrive at Community School as resistant learners. Addressing a student’s non-academic needs is usually the first priority when a new student enrolls in Community School. The school staff then begins to provide students with standardsbased educational opportunities that will allow them to make up deficits and recover lost credits. Students in a Community School are highly transient. New students enroll every two weeks, while others regularly transition successfully back to their home districts to complete graduation requirements at a comprehensive high school or a continuation high school. Some students, usually those who have been referred to Community School in their junior or senior year, do graduate directly from Community School. Our Community Schools are fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and all teaching staff participate in ongoing professional development targeting effective, research-based instructional strategies. Teachers are dedicated to reaching all students by challenging them to set and exceed new goals and assisting them to accomplish these goals. This past June, more than 70 students graduated from our Community Schools with a California High School Diploma. For those students who walked across the stage at the Elks Lodge in San Luis Obispo, it was a moment of triumph that they and their families had worked harder than
COMMUNITY
38
history
sunny acres Children’s home part 2
As the bureaucracy inched along, stunning news shocked local residents. Escapes were not uncommon but on a Sunday morning in May 1959 with only one matron on duty, seven desperate youths (ages 13-17) bound and gagged Maude Breeden, took her purse and car and made a dash south but were detained at the Mexican border. A few days later a deputy and his wife went to retrieve the gang. Yet another study committee was called with renewed requests for more security. Hallway knobs with locks that would open were approved for room doors along with the installation of a sprinkler system.
By Joseph A. Carotenuti
Could this be the future look of Sunny Acres?
A
noble building for a noble cause set in a spectacular setting, Sunny Acres opened in 1931 as a home for orphans and wards of the court. Indeed, one early advertisement also considered it a health farm. However, not all children were abandoned or abused and the older ones were quite often delinquents. The “home” suffered along with its charges. While more and more of the population became “difficult,” the structure and its original intention was to protect and nurture the young…not confine them. Populations became increasingly older, the police and
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tion. A new facility for 25 to 30 youngsters was explored and an architect hired for a $250,000 building.
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court authorities more involved until its name was Sunny Acres Juvenile Hall…a civic oxymoron. The building refused to cooperate with a new name as there were few locks. Some more aggressive youngsters were sent to the juvenile ward of the County jail…or simply sent home if facilities were not available. At one time, even the City jail was leased for confinement of delinquents. Supervision and care became increasingly difficult until serious consideration was made in the mid-50s to place locks on doors, create a “security ward” or build a new facility. The State Fire Marshal agreed with the structure: locks were not an op-
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Sunny Acres sunk further into a detention center. Wrote one resident: “The lawbreaker and the heartbreaker both get locked up – there’s no place else and no way else now.” By the end of the 60s another commentator was less philosophical. Sunny Acres had become “Hell’s Acres” with children “jammed into decaying, sweat-reeking, dungeon-like cells.” The county’s “heartbreak hotel” continued to degenerate until closed in 1974 after voters finally agreed to fund a juvenile hall. Few structures are as forlorn locally than Sunny Acres. The county home begun by those whose hearts and minds somehow found the resources to house the most vulnerable of its neighbors – the children – is left to decay. In a setting once cherished as beautiful and life giving to a desolate and barren perch, it is an abject reminder that the community’s resources cannot (or will not) save it. There is a rhythm and flow to the inanimate life of any structure. Planned, constructed,
COMMUNITY used, it ages sometimes gracefully and other times wounded and destroyed by the unrelenting march of time. As an indoor stage, the characters who walk its floors move on to other ventures, some with regret, some without even a glance backwards. Sunny Acres experienced it all…every second of the triumphs and defeats of life, holding memories longer than those who made them. From genuine consideration for the most unfortunate in the tragedies of the Great Depression to providing some sort of care for young lives gone awry, Sunny Acres as a Children’s Home and as a Juvenile Hall still remains as a reminder to those who shared the joy and fears of its walls. As with a treasured family scrapbook, the names and images continue to dim with time. The once icon of compassion is relegated to a dark corner in the community’s attic. While abused by vandalism and …even worse…neglect, it still cherishes its memories. The restoration and preservation of any structure is expensive and timeconsuming. Yet, its residents, staff and the materials of construction are the guardians of memories…of remembrances of times past…of hope for times yet to come. The inanimate cement and concrete and bricks and mortar are not only keepers of long-ago but greeters for the future. Generations may visit and somehow touch a bit of history, somehow might hear the voices of the happiness, sorrows, laughter and tears that make mankind more that the sum of the materials constituting the structure. Images abound – not as ghosts – but as guides to understanding what has gone before is most often at least a hint of what is yet to come. Sunny Acres has withstood – through the passionate pleadings of others – the “practical” recommendations to reduce it – and its story – to rubble. Why “waste” the view on some old relic whose voice grows dimmer with age, whose stories fade like a rainbow, who can be better remembered as “once upon a time” rather than as a living monument by the present to save its story for the benefit of the future. Few recognize history as therapy. In a world filled with the imminent demise of most everything, history starts with the answer – or at least a conclusion. Whatever the results, fret and frustration are laid to rest. What is is what was. For some, Sunny Acres is an old, useless and abandoned eyesore. As with the ending of any life, the universe diminishes. Its demise would insure a lesser future for everyone. Thanks to Nick Cano for suggesting this story.
39
a tour of california men’s colony (CMC) By Steve Owens
L
ast month Assistant District Attorney, Dan Hilford, organized a tour of the Men’s Colony (CMC). The tour included a meeting with the warden, who answered our questions for more than a half hour, visiting three of the factories on site, going into the quad during lunch hour and viewing a cell block. I couldn’t have been more impressed. There is always plenty of negative press when it comes to California’s prisons, below is some of the positive. I had no idea that all California annual license tags we put on our plates are made at CMC. They have a factory with the elaborate machinery to be able to accomplish this task. Millions of tags are printed each year. We watched the prisoners in action printing, cutting and packaging the 2011 and 2012 tags. We moved to the sock factory and watched several rows of sophisticated sewing machines in action. Thousands of socks are made for all the inmates in California and other California state employees including the CDF and Cal Trans. The factory also makes the t-shirt material for them as well. We then went to the boot factory and watched a boot being made from strips of leather to the finished product. Again, all the boots made here go to fit all the inmates in California and other state employees as well. The working prisoners make from 30¢ to 95¢ an hour for personal use. I was most impressed that part of their income was taken if there was any restitution awarded on the crime that they committed and paid back. Finally it was into the quad and viewing a one and two-person cell. It was a surprise to see how small the cell actually was. CMC has the smallest cells in California’s 33-prison system. There is very little room to move and it’s virtually impossible for two to be moving at one time. Most of us don’t realize the impact CMC has on the Central Coast. Their annual budget is $126 million and a good portion of that stays here. A good portion of that budget is returned from the work that is done inside.
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COMMUNITY
hospice corner The gift of the hospice partners Volunteer By Connie Bruton, Volunteer Coordinator
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any of the phone calls we receive from people who are interested in becoming a Hospice Partners volunteer are from people who have had personal experience with a our hospice program. They were a daughter, a mother, a brother, a husband or a friend of someone who received hospice care. The family member wants to “give back” by volunteering their time and compassion for a program that helped their loved one, and are grateful for the team of dedicated hospice professionals and volunteers who came into their home and provided end-of-life care. They often say “we couldn’t have done it without you!” Even though many of our volunteers have had personal experience with hospice services, they still go through a comprehensive training program. They learn all the elements of hospice care from the dietary needs of a dying person to the physiological and psychological aspects of death and dying. They meet the members of the team that they will be serving along side of – medical directors (physicians), nurses, home-health aides, social workers, spiritual counselors, dietitians, bereavement counselors, hospice musicians and administrative staff. One of the most important tools they carry when they complete their training is the awareness and know-how of joining the families wherever they are in their end-of-life journey and supporting them in that sacred place. We have a slogan that we live by at Hospice Partners and that is “Dying happens on the last day, every other day is about living.” The volunteers epitomize this and make it the heart of their work. They will do things like take a patient to the ocean and watch the waves, bake someone’s favorite cake, put together life books full of precious memories and give foot rubs. The Hospice Partners volunteer program is quite extensive. We have volunteers with unique talents and we match each person with a family by focusing on interests, hobbies and personality type. Some will provide therapeutic music by singing, playing an instrument or simply bringing a CD player to patients in nursing facilities and playing some of their favorite music. Vigil volunteers are experienced in-home volunteers that make themselves available 24 hours a day to support our patients and caregivers during A U G U S T
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COMMUNITY their last days/hours of life. The vigil volunteers have received additional training on the last stages of life. Our volunteers provide weekly support to the patients and families, offering companionship and relief for those caring for their loved ones. Our volunteers also run errands, do light housekeeping and needed chores. We had one volunteer who went to the home to provide some support for a spouse caring for her husband. When he arrived, the dog had become ill and needed to go to the veterinarian. The volunteer offered to take the dog into the vetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office so that the spouse could stay and continue caring for her husband. It was great comfort to her having someone take care of the family dog so she could focus all her energy on her husband. Hospice Partners also has volunteers who help in the office and provide invaluable clerical support to the staff. They help with special events, planning, promoting and assisting with fund raising and appreciation events as well. There are volunteer opportunities to fit anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs. While our patients and their families feel gifted by the experience of working with the volunteers it is the volunteers that feel truly gifted â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they feel they receive so much more than they give.
41
AUGUST SUDOKU PRESENTED BY
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711 Tank Farm Road, Suite 100
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 544-9242 Cell: (805) 235-0493
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This monthly Hospice Corner is sponsored by Hospice Partners of the Central Coast. Connie Bruton is the Volunteer Coordinator at Hospice Partners. The next training class for in-home hospice volunteers will be in the early fall. For more information, call (805) 782-8608.
SUDOKU SOLUTIONS ON PAGE 51 A U G U S T
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COMMUNITY solve the numerous problems of the 21st century and keep what they won.
Vets Voice
We received an email from Si Tenenberg, whom I have written about before. He and his spouse have Leo Dumouchelle today devoted most of their time in recent years to sending wanted and needed packages to our troops in Afghanistan. In fact they have been sending packages before Afghanistan became a major conflict. All through the previous administration it was kept on the back burner. He was the only one I know of, that was sending packages to Afghanistan at that time.
By Frank Rowan
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he members of the San Luis Obispo Association of the US Army recently honored WW II veteran Leo Dumouchelle of San Luis Obispo, for his WWII service. I have known Leo Dumouchelle as an Elk and Legionnaire. I had no idea how many combat operations he was involved in during WWII – from North Africa through Sicily, Italy, to the invasion of France in June of 1944 and then to the Honor Guard in Berlin in 1945. He was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. He did things like being dropped behind enemy lines to lay mines or destroy or capture bridges for the Allied forces following. Leo participated in eight of America’s major campaigns during his time as a paratrooper in Europe. Leo earned two purple hearts and many campaign medals that honored his bravery and his contribution to the defeat of the Nazi army. Some of Leo’s war memories were displayed, including a captured Nazi Flag. For more information about the Association of the U.S. Army organization please contact CW2 Saundra Peralta as the AUSA POC. She can be contacted at 805-594-6517. One of Leo’s missions included being dropped behind German lines on June 5, 1944, one day before the invasion at Normandy. He laid mines preventing German attempts to meet the allied forces on the beaches. On June 6 he was already at St. Lo and his group signaled Allied planes as
Leo Dumouchelle in 1944
his group was involved in the battle of the Bulge. Leo was wounded twice and captured by the Germans and escaped a half hour after capture. Enough combat for anyone. However before that theater of operation his Company made an amphibious landing near Gela, in Sicily. He and a new group went on to fight in the Naples campaign. They were dropped onto the beaches at Salerno. He later fought at Anzio where they received the Presidential unit citation. After being transferred to the European theater they were involved in the taking of the bridges over the Maas-Waas canal in preparation into the invasion of Germany. Sergeant Leo Dumouchelle was one of the 15-million Americans who won that conflict for us. We can never thank them enough. Hopefully our leaders today and tomorrow will manage to
NEW TO TOWN?
Get your free welcome packet! It includes maps, civic info, coupons from cafes, groceries, wineries, auto hardware, garden, medical, dental, etc.
Liz Hiatt
Call your hostess or email centralcoastwelcome@gmail.com
Owner
•
SLO: Mary Bettencourt: 545-0731
549-7755
•
Los Osos/Morro Bay/Cayucos/Cambria: Annie Clapp: 772-9707
•
Nipomo/5 Cities/Avila: Liz Hiatt: 549-7755
•
North County: Sandy Hexberg: 238-1529
centralcoastwelcome@gmail.com
A FREE SERVICE TO NEWCOMERS A U G U S T
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He has recently sent the 5000th package. You may remember the picture of his fancy pool table covered with packages and material being prepared for sending to the troops and his home walls covered with shelves to keep the inventory. Hurrah for Si. Keep up the great work. If you would like to make a donation to this cause you can call Si Tenenberg at 542-9435 and 234-3101 and help in this worthwhile work. While googling on my MAC the other evening, I found this list of veterans benefits. So here it is for your use. Well, it looks like that is a wrap for August. Enjoy your Summer, if we have one this year, and I will see you right here again in September. Remember 543-1973 and frowan248@att.net to give me something to write about for veterans.
Downtown
Around
The Magazine of Downtown San Luis Obispo
Inside:
W h a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s U p New Business News Feat ured Farmer
August 2010
W h a t ’ s
U p
A r o u n d
D o w n t o w n
?
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source of pride for the SLO Downtown Association is our Internship Program, now celebrating more than 20 years in existence. Since I came on board as executive director in 1995, more than 150 Cal Poly and Cuesta students, young men and women declaring a variety of majors and hailing from around the state and beyond, have spent time in our office and ‘on the street’ learning the ins and outs of event management, communication, public relations, local politics, office skills and the difference between “it’s” and “its.” (It’s its own reward…)
have political science, communications, business or other majors sign on hoping to broaden their understanding of community operations vis-à-vis downtown management. In the course of a three month stint, an intern can expect to write articles, such as the new business stories that appear in this publication, design and lay out marketing and advertising materials, interact with the public in the farmers market information booth, develop Deborah Cash, CMSM, promotions such as the Rib Cook Off or Downtown Executive Director Brown’s birthday, don elf suits in Santa’s House (winter quarter!), attend City Council meetings and be introduced to City dignitaries and staff in meetings and he relationships between our organization and the at events. During exit interviews most say they learned a university as well as our local community college lot about how our city runs, established valuable contacts, continue to be mutually beneficial as students come gained new skills and—this is important—had fun! They bounding in with creativity and enthusiasm, working up depart with a dossier of completed works, a letter of to 40 hours a week for credit (or resumé building); in turn, reference for prospective employers and our gratitude. the internships provide hands-on experience in a real life setting that allows students to get a better idea of their es, we read and hear the occasional complaints about chosen career path while honing their skills and building ‘those college kids,’ but the few certainly don’t represent their confidence. While we have agreements with both the many. It’s unfortunate that the efforts exhibited by our the Cal Poly Journalism and Recreation Administration interns and many others like them aren’t more visible and departments that guarantee the participants will be given appreciated because students are valuable contributors projects relative to their studies, it’s not uncommon to to our local economy and collective intellect. It is more
T
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On the Cover: Colors and textures...these beautiful, ultra light cashmere scarves and wraps are perfect for summer and are
available at a new Downtown jewelry/art/home decor business, IAN SAUDE, located in the Court Street Center. Come join the summer food and wine celebration at Court Street Centre August 7 and while there, stop by the Grand Opening of IAN SAUDE in the former "Taste" location. Photo by Deborah Cash
W h a t â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s
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typical than not that our interns show up on time, complete their shifts, take their work seriously and treat their time on the clock as a real job. They are well groomed, polite and professional. They are very smart and we learn from them. Some of our interns have ended up as Downtown Association staffers including former Promotions Coordinators Kristin Dennis and Christy Tiaga and currently holding that post, Reyes Miranda. (Nearly every staff member in our office in the past 15 years has attended or graduated from Cuesta and/or Cal Poly.) Out in public, our interns are friendly, helpful and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mind schlepping whatever has to be carted up and down the stairs or over to the Plaza. We are fortunate to have this resource in our communityâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;how many times have you heard someone say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get a Cal Poly clubâ&#x20AC;? to do something? Be prepared, however, to do your part in working with students; they need your input, your clear direction, your attention and your dedication to them. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked so well in our situationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we love them and they love us.
T
his quarter, we are blessed with a great crop of learners: Anthony Tan, a recent Journalism grad is Reyesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; right hand man; Maria Contreras, Communications, and Erin Shafquat, Business Administration with a PR concentration, are also on hand to
D o w n t o w n
?
keep concerts running smoothly as is Ramey Dallimonti, Business Administration, with a concentration in marketing, a minor in psychology and an interest in an advertising career who said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as an intern, mostly because I feel like I am helping out the community and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve also met a lot of great people.â&#x20AC;? Journalism student Chelsea Harden, majoring in public relations, is diligently working the farmers market booth along side Teresa Wisenhunt, a Cuesta student looking to transfer to Cal Poly and study nutrition. Both young women are looking toward careers that include event management.
Y
ouâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see them all in their staff shirts at Concerts in the Plaza or at farmers marketâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;stop and say hi, your kind words will mean a lot to these young people. I say this because I know firsthand; I myself served an internship with the Downtown Association â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;way back in the dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; as a Journalism student at Cal Poly. Though I was a bit older than the average student, having first spent a number of years in the wine industry and starting a family, I greatly benefited from the experience and now, as director, am committed to continuing the proud tradition of Downtown Association summer interns the programâ&#x20AC;Śaround Downtown. (L - R): Anthony Tan, Ramey Dallimonti, Maria Contreras, Erin Shafquat, Teresa Wisenhunt and Chelsea Harden.
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REIS FAMILY M O RT U A R I E S
& C R E M AT O RY
Over 55 Years of Service to SLO County by the founder and family. Funeral & Cremation Services Pre-Funding with Cost Guaranteed Veterans Discounts / Military Honors 4 Locations: SLO, Cayucos, Cambria and Arroyo Grande
805-544-7400 W W W. R E I S FA M I LY M O RT U A RY. N E T FD 949 CR 128 FD 880 FD 1800
New B u s i n e s s N e w s & Featured Farmer of the Month Salon Red
Mags Caputo, Owner 641 Higuera Street (805) 545-9069 www.facebook.com/SalonRed Mags Caputo, owner of new Downtown business Salon Red, moved to California from Dublin, Ireland 10 years ago seeking to start her own business. After owning a business called Spa Europa for nine years in Vandenberg Village in Lompoc, she decided to open a second business. Caputo came across the opportunity to buy Roxy’s Salon & Day Spa and opened Salon Red in December of 2009 after redesigning the interior to make the space her own. Located in the same building as Patrick James Men’s Clothing on Higuera with its entrance located around the corner on Nipomo Street, Salon Red offers everything from deep tissue massages to Swiss chocolate body wraps, facials, full-body waxing, hair, makeup and manicures.
David Vazquez, D.C.
Dr. David Vazquez, Owner 956 Monterey Street (805) 242-2013 Search on Facebook: David Vazquez, DC -- Upper Cervical Specific Chiropractor
One of the reasons Caputo wanted to open a business in San Luis Obispo is because of the energy of the city. “I love the people, shopping, mountains and ocean,” she said, “It reminds me of the streets of Dublin.” Caputo also said people will enjoy their experience at Salon Red because it offers a fun, professional environment with therapists who are experienced and knowledgeable. Caputo splits her time between her two businesses, at Salon Red Thursday-Saturday and Spa Europa Monday-Wednesday. She relies on her 19 year-old son and business partner, Michael, a San Luis Obispo Beauty College graduate, to run Salon Red in her absence. Salon Red is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.6 p.m. and stays open late during SLO Downtown Farmers’ Market. Caputo invites you to “Experience Red” by scheduling an appointment and offers discounts for new clients. By Aly Kline and Anthony Tan preventing normal motion and irritating the vital nervous system it protects. This may lead to neck and back pain, headaches, lack of energy, and a variety of other health conditions seemingly unrelated to the spine.
Dr. Vazquez creates personalized care plans for his patients, basing the duration of care on the severity of their complaint Residents of San Luis Obispo looking for a and the initial exam findings. During chiropractor to address their health issues now this time, he monitors the patient’s have another opportunity for their wellness care: progress using Infrared Thermography, an Dr. David Vazquez, D.C. Dr. Vazquez began instrument that measures nervous system function. It indicates his formal education at Cuesta College majoring in chemistry. After completing his undergraduate studies in Biochemistry at Cal the extent of injury, which in turn, allows Dr.Vazquez to Poly San Luis Obispo, he continued his education and graduated better diagnose the amount of correction needed to fix the from Life Chiropractic College West in the Bay Area in December problem. This is the key to better and longer lasting results. of 2008. After practicing in Oakland for a year, Dr. Vazquez Dr. Vazquez said he believes his practice offers a new choice for moved back to San Luis Obispo to start his new practice as an holistic health care to the community, adding that his attention independent contractor within People’s Chiropractic, an office to detail and compassion to serve add great value to those under run by Dr. Brian Buchanan, DC. From there, Dr. Vazquez opened his care. “With a properly functioning nervous system there is his own practice and now specializes in upper cervical care. hope for anyone to achieve their health goals,” Dr. Vazquez said. Upper cervical care is a specific application of chiropractic to the Dr. Vazquez’s office hours are 8-10 a.m. and 6-8 p.m., atlas vertebra. Located at the base of the skull, this ring-like bone Monday through Friday. New patient exams can be supports the weight of the head and accounts for most of its range made by appointment for Thursdays and Saturdays. of movement. It also helps to protect the brainstem and spinal By Anthony Tan cord. Damage to this vertebra may cause the atlas to misalign, than seven generations, they have been a premier grower of varietal roses such as: “Bullseye,” “Naranja,” “Tanga Vanga,” and “Circus.” Eufloria Flowers' roses are of rare quality and are consistently recognized as some of the most beautiful There is nothing better to temper those hot roses within the county. Eufloria Flowers August nights than with the sweet, cool smell has been a pioneer in its field, perfecting of roses. Eufloria Flowers, the SLO Downtown hydroponic growing methods that enable Association’s Featured Farmer of the Month their local business to set a standard for for August, provides fragrant, beautiful and quality and innovation in their industry. affordable roses for every occasion. If you are looking for that single rose for your loved If you would like more information Lisa Hunstad, Market Representative one or wanting to make a ‘bulk’ purchase about Eufloria Flowers, please visit for a large event, Eufloria Flowers can their website at www.EufloriaFlowers. accommodate your needs. Each and every Thursday, you can com or give them a call at 805-929-4683. find Eufloria Flowers near the storefront of Cold Stone Creamery on Higuera Street. The display of colors and smells will not only Visit Eufloria Flowers every week at Thursday Night Promotions Farmers’ Market in Downtown SLO. For more astound you but will also delight every sense in your body. information, visit the Downtown Association information Eufloria Flowers, established in 1984 as Koch Mesa Nursery booth or call Joey Chavez at 805-541-0286. and renamed in 2000, is headquartered in Nipomo. For more
Thursday Night Promotions Featured Farmer of the Month Eufloria Flowers
COMMUNITY
fundraisers
47
Jack’s Helping Hand
J
ack’s helping hand held its fourth annual fundraiser at the Santa Margarita Ranch last month. More than 650 guests attended a beautiful evening that included: music by the Mariachi Imperials and Paul Brown & the Bangin’ 58s and entertainment by Cactus Harris who showed the guests rope and whip tricks. There was dancing, plenty of food and wine, and a silent and live auction. A solid gold pendant, donated by Kevin Main Jewelry, was also part of the fundraising. More than $130,000 was generated to help the ongoing efforts to help children with special needs right here in our own community.
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BUSINESS
Palm Street Perspective MAKING OUTSTANDING PROGRESS
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By SLO City Councilwoman, Jan Marx
itchell Park was ablaze with red, white and blue and crowded with people on the Fourth of July. As I wandered through the sunny park to the tune of the County Band’s rendition of God Bless America, I felt swept away with love and admiration for our community, our city and our country. We are indeed blessed to live in this incredibly beautiful city! The city has been making outstanding progress regarding its resources lately. Council approved a new Water Element recently, the first one to include water from Lake Nacimiento, which we will draw from later this year. With the landmark addition of Naci water and our excellent pattern of conservation, for the first time our City is secure that it has sufficient water to last until build-out. The Element establishes a reliability reserve, consistent with our City Charter. The Naci pipeline is finishing early and under budget. I have been working with a Monterey County Supervisor to promote a bi-county educational campaign to keep the reservoir free from contamination of Quaaga Mussels. We are also adding to our Open Space resources. The City just approved an offer from the Bureau of Land Management to manage 78 acres which will allow people to climb to the ridge of the Irish Hills for an outstanding ocean view. On July 28, 2010 escrow will close on the City’s purchase of 310 acres of Froom Ranch open space from
Serving San Luis Obispo County for
Of course, we need to conserve resources, city wide and on the regional level. Serving as the city’s representative on the boards of the SLO Council of Governments, SLO Regional Transit Agency and Air Pollution Control District has made me increasingly aware of the importance of regional planning. This is especially true as it relates to planning for reduction of green house gases and adapting to climate change. I started wondering exactly how climate change will affect our region. This inspired me to work with the Local Government Commission (which developed the Ahwahnee Principles), the National Center for Conservation Science and Policy and Supervisor Jim Patterson to bring a series of conferences here, focusing on climate change as it will specifically affect San Luis Obispo County. What will happen? What should we do now to prepare ourselves? Ours is one of only two counties in the whole state chosen by the Kresge Foundation to study and help develop local climate change preparation strategies. Conserving our financial resources is also crucial, given the shortfalls in sales tax and transit occupancy tax and generalized economic uncertainty. With the skillful guidance of Katie Lichtig, City Manager, Council recently balanced the budget by making mid-cycle budget cuts of $3 million. Challenges lie ahead, like dealing with predicted structural deficits, negotiating labor contracts and deciding how to deal with rising PERS pension costs. These challenges will best be met by residents, businesses and city staff working together through our goal setting and budget process, which starts in January 2011. As always, I look forward to hearing your ideas and concerns. Please feel free to call 541-2716 or email jmarx@slocity.org.
YOU KNOW US. We are more than your local real estate brokers, we are your neighbors serving the entire San Luis Obispo County for over 30 years. For real estate sales, property management, financing & relocation services come to the company that has been trusted for Larry Smyth, Owner/Broker over 30 years.
30 Years
A U G U S T
the Madonna family. Thanks to the generosity of San Luis Obispo citizens, who donated over $60,000 and the gracious agreement of the sellers to an appraisal which lowered the price of the land, we swung the deal.
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Hospice “Pardners” Hoedown Saturday - August 21, 2010 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm
with
$85
Monte Mills & the Lucky Horseshoe Band
per person
at the Barbeque
Hearst Ranch Live Western Band
Attendance limited to 350 guests Hosted by Hospice Partners of the Central Coast Ticket purchase required prior to event
Dancing
Bar
Door Prizes
Proceeds benefit patients of Hospice Partners of the Central Coast & their families Call for Event Tickets
805-782-8608
2010 Sponsors Hearst Corporation Steve Hearst Journal Plus Magazine Rotary Club of Nipomo Spencer's Fresh Markets F. McLintocks Babe Farms Cattaneo Bros. Natalia Thompson
New Times Doc Burnstein's Ice Cream Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Hearst Castle Browder Painting Co. La Bella Olives Kimpton Group Ignition 36 Phyllis Tiegs
Food-4-Less Harvey's Honey Huts Mission Country Disposal Spectrum Color Images Farm Supply Trader Joe’s Miller Event Security Charles W. Miller Kristi & Jim Jenkins
Monte Mills & The Lucky Horseshoe Band Crystal Springs Water Bill Gaines Audio First Transit of San Simeon Taylor Rental KCOY 12 FOX 11
Hospice Partners of the Central Coast is a non-profit 501(C)3 state licensed, Medicare and Medi-Cal certified Hospice Agency and is affiliated with Wilshire Health & Community Services, Inc.
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THE BULLETIN BOARD
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sierra vista elects new board member
Real Estate
Lynn R. Cooper Broker Associate Seniors Real Estate Specialist
Office: 805-543-7727 Fax: 805-543-7838 Cell: 805-235-0493 Home: 805-544-0673
711 Tank Farm, Suite 100 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 E-mail: lynn.cooper@sothebysrealty.com Website: www.wilsonandcosir.com
Gil Stork, Ed.D., superintendent/president of Cuesta College, has been elected to the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center Governing Board. Stork will fill the remaining term of Dave Pelham, former superintendent/president of Cuesta College, who left the area.
cardiac wellness education series
French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) is offering a FREE 5-lecture series on how to live a heart healthy lifestyle. Valuable information will be provided for those who have a diagnosis of heart disease, those who have risk factors for heart disease, and/or those who just want to improve total body health. The classes take place the second Tuesday of every month from 1 to 2 p.m. in the FHMC Auditorium. Classes are team-taught by registered dietitians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, and exercise physiologists. They include lecture, hands-on participation and mild movement and stretching exercises. Upcoming summer/fall class dates are August 10, September 14, October 12, and November 9. For information or to register, contact Denise at (805) 542-6282.
Rotary de tolosa awards over $15,000
QUALITY AUTO REPAIR 805-543-3180 www.wronas.com
John Kimball
109 South Street SLO, CA 93401
“Specializing in Honesty and Integrity”
In a time when donations are down due to a struggling economy, ten local nonprofit organizations are the recipients of over $15,000 in grants from the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Through grants, Rotary de Tolosa supports projects and services that target the greater San Luis Obispo areas’ youth. Through annual fundraising events, over $15,000 to distribute to local nonprofit organizations, including: Arts Obispo, Big Brothers & Big Sisters of SLO County, Food Bank Coalition of SLO County, Girl Scouts of CA Central Coast, Jack’s Helping Hand, Opera San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo Literacy Council, San Luis Obispo County YMCA, Teach Foundation and Youth Outreach of the PAC (YOPAC). For more information, please log onto www.rotarydetolosa.org, or to www.rotary.org.
free senior health screening
Community Action Partnership, Senior Health Screening for seniors (50+) is available throughout San Luis Obispo County. Free services include: screening for high blood pressure, weight and pulse. Finger prick screening tests for: high cholesterol, anemia and diabetes. Take-home screening test kits for colo-rectal cancer available for $5. Nutritional counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 788-0827 for dates, times and locations. A U G U S T
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tina McEvoy named new marian hospice director
Marian Hospice is pleased to announce that Tina McEvoy, RN, BSN, CHPN, has been appointed as the new Director of Hospice and Palliative Care Services. As Director, McEvoy will be responsible for overseeing the direction and quality of the Marian Hospice Program. In addition to overseeing the Palliative Care Program at Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, McEvoy will also participate in oversight of the Palliative Care Programs at Marian’s sister Central Coast Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) hospitals: French Hospital Medical Center and Arroyo Grande Community Hospital. McEvoy has more than 25 years of experience in the hospice and palliative care field. For more information about McEvoy’s recent appointment as director of Marian Hospice and Palliative Care Services, please call (805) 739-3830.
volunteers needed to teach youth
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Quality Unfinished Furniture
Now Featuring Used Furniture – Antiques & Collectibles
2087 Santa Barbara Avenue • Historic Railroad District • SLO Same Location for 45 Years • 544-2505 JACK’S BACK!
After 30 years, I was having too much fun to retire. Come see me in my new location at the Brooks Woodcraft buildings. Specializing in:
• Lamp rewire & fixture restoration • Hard to find lamps & bulbs • Special lighting projects
“If you’re in the dark it’s because you don’t know Jack!”
Farris Jack Jack Farris
Historic Railroad District • 2087 Santa Barbara Avenue • SLO • 541-0365
United Way of San Luis Obispo County and Junior Achievement are working together with local volunteers to teach high school students about personal finance basics. The program was started in 2009 at San Luis Obispo High School, and thanks to the quality of the program and dedication of current volunteers, will expand to include Paso Robles High School in the fall. All sessions are taught by volunteer teams, and include topics such as budgeting, saving, credit, investing, identity theft and insurance. During each lesson, students learn about key terms and concepts, and apply their new knowledge to a group activity or game. Throughout the course planning, goal setting and thoughtful decision-making skills are emphasized. For more information or to volunteer, contact the United Way office at (805) 541-1234 or email info@unitedwayslo.org. For more information about Junior Achievement, visit www.ja.org; for general information about United Way of San Luis Obispo County, visit www.unitedwayslo.org.
SUDOKU SOLUTIONS Exterior & Interior Plastering
Custom Homes and Patch Repairs · Free Estimates · Call or stop by
Terry Evans, President
4180 Vachell Lane · San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805/541-4750 · 805/541-4118 FAX
cathi@sloplastering.com · terry@sloplastering.com CA LIC#759246
Let me help you review & compare your local insurance needs... & FINANCIAL SERVICES • LIFE • AUTO • HOME • RENTAL • MORTGAGE/PROTECTION
Shawn Minton SMinton@Minton-Insurance.com
805.546.8113 cell: 805.748.5819 Lic #0F43815
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rotary de tolosa names jeff priolo rotarian of the year
HowaRd J. NiCHolsoN, Mai, sRa, GRi, sREs BRokER/owNER
40 Years of Comprehensive Real Estate Experience •
Cal Poly Graduate • R.E. Broker • Real Estate Appraiser • Appraisal Institute Member • CA Licensed General Building Contractor
THE aGENT YoU sHoUld HaVE woRkiNG FoR YoU Call: (805) 440-4835 e-mail: hnicholson@charter.net
HYOSUNG
EXPERIENCE You Can TRUST • Factory Certified Technicians Service ALL MAJOR BRANDS • The Central Coast’s #1 Motorcycle TIRE SOURCE!
3566 S. Higuera, SLO
ccmechanics.com
(805) 786-4559
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa has named their 20092010 Rotarian of the Year. Jeff Priolo, broker and vice president at DiBuduo & DeFendis Insurance, is this year’s outstanding Rotarian. Rotary de Tolosa President Donna Lewis selected Priolo for the “amazing contributions he has made this year, truly demonstrating what the motto ‘Service Above Self ’ means.” Lewis explains that Priolo helped coordinate the Community Movie Night with the other two SLO Rotary Clubs, and was responsible for organizing and overseeing Teen Spree, 4H Presentation Day’s BBQ, Teen Track, and Charitable Giving. Most importantly, he supervised an essential joint project with the SLO Rotary and Daybreak Clubs, the Rotary Community Garden. Furthermore, he teamed up with the Simi Valley Rotary Club for an international project: donating sandals from Sprint Aquatics that were shipped to Honduras.
take a trolley to the point san luis lighthouse
Stew Jenkins, President of the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers announced that the Keepers have purchased a classic Trolley from the City of Morro Bay that visitors can regularly use on the 1st, and 3rd Saturdays of each month to visit the 30 acre Point San Luis Lighthouse Park. Trolley tours will be available noon, 1 and at 2 p.m. For reservations, call 540-5771.
Dressing Windows in San Luis Obispo for over 35 Years
alan’s draperies 544-9405
Alan “Himself” A U G U S T
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Knock out dull, rough, prematurely-aging skin with professional exfoliation! Ask your Dermalogica Professional Skin Therapist:
SABRINA CARELLI Board Lic. Esthetician Massage Practitioner & Make-up Artist
Kim & Co. Salon and Day Spa 2103 Broad Street, SLO
Photograph by Mike Larson
(805) 541-5424
•
www.kimandcosalon.com
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french hospital receives gold seal
By demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety, French Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval.™ Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission is the nation’s leading health care standards-setting organization. Specially trained investigators assess whether hospitals, nursing homes and other health care organizations meet very prescribed and stringent standards. FHMC earned the Gold Seal of Approval after the Joint Commission’s on-site survey in April. To learn more log on to www.frenchmedicalcenter.org.
252 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo (805) 541-TIRE
rotary OF SLO DAYBREAK NAMES BRIAN CONROY ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR
The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo Daybreak recently named member Brian Conroy as the club’s “Rotarian of the Year.” Conroy, a local architect and active community volunteer, received the coveted annual award in recognition for his tireless work behind the scenes in the club’s administration and at the weekly meetings. He also played a key role in Rotary’s “Community Garden” project in Meadow Park, a collaborative effort recently completed by the three San Luis Obispo Rotary Clubs.
volunteer with the literacy council
The Literacy Council for San Luis Obispo County has an ongoing and urgent need for volunteer tutors. Our free, 2-part, Tutor Training Workshop will take place on Saturday August 7th, and Saturday August 14th, at the Literacy Council’s office, 1264 Higuera Street, Suite 102, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. For more information or to sign up, please call 541-4219 or visit our website at www.sloliteracy.org.
San Luis Obispo’s Best Kept Secret Power Carts Senior Discount (55) • 10 Play C ards • Tournaments Welcome • •
Tee Times on our website: lagunalakegolfcourse.org or call 805-781-7309
11175 Los Osos Valley Road, SLO
SlO Symphony finishes season
Thanks to the support of more than 4,000 individual and corporate contributors over the past 12 months, as well as enthusiastic ticket buyers and attendees at more than 30 events, the San Luis Obispo Symphony ended their 2009-2010 Season with a balanced budget. The Symphony generated just over $1.1 million in earned and contributed income for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.
Video Surveillance Cameras Gary A. Sage License No. 0E02096 100 Cross Street, Suite 203 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 gsage@dibu.com
(805) 593-1400 (805) 593-1401 fax (805) 593-1413 direct (805) 235-1043 cell
Night Vision Cameras View on Cell Phone Wireless or Wired Lic# 943604
Dennis Gisler 800.660.3178 • 805.541.4488 • www.AdvancedPage.com A U G U S T
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COMMUNITY AUGUST 1945: Steve Martin was born in Waco, Texas. The
comedian said, “Comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke.”
AUGUST Almanac By Phyllis Benson
MUSIC 1960: The novelty song Alley Oop topped Billboard charts. The one-hit Hollywood Argyles recorded this story of a caveman riding dinosaurs and eating bearcat stew.
AUGUST 1990: Iraq invaded neighboring Kuwait and gained
“All I’ve ever wanted was an honest week`s pay for an honest day`s work.” --- Steve Martin
control over its oil reserves until thrown out by Allied forces the following year.
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS include actress Gillian Anderson, inventor
Charles Kettering, author Danielle Steele, and writer Garrison Keillor.
GARRISON KEILLOR said, “It’s a shallow life that doesn’t give a AUGUST 1860: Annie Oakley was born. Her Ohio hometown marks this 150-year anniversary with year-round events.
person a few scars.”
AUGUST MOTHS flutter at light bulbs and batter lampshades.
OAKLEY’S SHARPSHOOTING inspired a TV show, comic books,
California street names and outdoor woman achievement awards.
Our cat-owning neighbor says the moths are fine. Her problem is the moth-chasing cat sitting on the keyboard swatting at the computer screen.
AUGUST 1910: Hurricane-force winds carried wildfires across
SUMMER CONCERTS, wine tastings and car shows crowd August.
Idaho and Montana. Over three million acres burned with 80 to 100 people perishing in the firestorms. The fire, called the Big Burn, was the largest in American history.
ED PULASKI saved 45 firefighters during the Big Burn. Ranger
Pulaski knew better wildland tools could save lives. He modified a hand tool into a combination ax and mattock. The popular tool is called the Pulaski ax.
1915: Charles Kettering received a patent for an electric ignition device for an automobile. The device replaced hand-cranking to start a car.
KETTERING, a Delco founder, said “The world hates change, but it is the only thing that has brought progress.”
Our mechanic says car shows boost business. People go home and figure the old buggy deserves a tune-up and detailing.
WINE FACTS: California annually grows 3 million tons of
winegrapes used by 2,900 wineries. These winemakers produce about 90 percent of American wines.
W.C. FIELDS said, “I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.”
AUGUST IS ART APPRECIATION MONTH. Our art teacher uses
sidewalk chalking to inspire children. Parents offer driveways for impromptu drawings and garden hoses for clean-up.
SUMMER IS FOR TRAVEL, Iron riders head for the 70th Sturgis
AUGUST 1920: Women gained voting rights as the 19th Amendment was signed into law.
Rally in South Dakota. Flight buffs take off for the DC-3 aircraft 75th anniversary party in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Bicyclists, kayakers and motorhomers plan outings.
WILL ROGERS said, “Anything important is never left to the vote of
WE TRAVEL to the backyard, settle in the hammock and watch dogs
the people. We only get to vote on some man; we never get to vote on what he is to do.”
chase dream rabbits. Wherever you go, enjoy your August journey.
Service for All Your Cars Personal Service. Exceptional Car Care. For a full line of cars serviced by Rizzoli’s, please visit RizzolisAutomotive.com. Frank
For Over 32 Years
San Luis Obispo 805.541.1082 A U G U S T
Santa Maria 805.922.7742
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RizzolisAutomotive.com
SATURDAY AUGUST 28
NOON & AGAIN AT 12:30 PM The San Luis Obispo County Early Warning System sirens will be tested on Saturday, August 28. The sirens will sound twice – at noon and again about 30 minutes later – and will last 3 to 5 minutes. This is a test and does not require any action on your part. During the tests, local radio and television stations will be conducting normal programming. However, if you hear the sirens at any other time go indoors and tune to your local stations for important emergency information and instructions. When at sea, tune to Marine Channel 16.
Saturday, August 28 – it’s only a test.
Sponsored by the County of San Luis Obispo Office of Emergency Services and Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Paid for by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.