Morro Bay Life - April 2019

APRIL 2019 • EVERYTHING MORRO BAY • MORRO-BAYLIFE.COM

GARDEN TOUR TIME SEE PAGE 7

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

PEACE THROUGH MUSIC IS HIS GIG

SEE PAGE 2

SEE PAGE 6

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Man helping woman into car — transportation service. (Photo courtesy of SLO Village)

It Takes A Village

BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE

MORRO BAY — Perhaps you’ve heard the term it takes a village, well, taking that to heart, the organization SLO Village has stepped up to the plate to help provide services for seniors.

“This is not The Villages retirement community,” explained Sally Kruger, board member, “and it isn’t just for San Luis Obispo.”

Kruger was attending Homeshare SLO’s recent “Get to Know” event in Morro Bay and was asked to explain the offerings of this organization.

SLO Village is a community-based membership organization focused on empowering older adults to live happily, healthfully, and successfully in their own homes as they age. SLO Village provides easy access to a screened network of volunteers and local businesses, as well as organizing social events for the members.

“We are a local non-profit 501(c)(3) organization” explained Dave Kuyken-

dall, President of the Board of Directors, “and a member of the Village to Village Network, representing 350 Villages nationwide.” The Village Movement is a grassroots concept that is a new retirement model designed to encourage, protect, and enable at-home independence for seniors.

A “village” is a group of people in a geographic area who come together to figure out and develop the resources they will need to age comfortably in their own homes. Like Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs), villages embrace the strategy of bringing services to people rather than moving people to services.

The first village, Beacon Hill Village in Boston began a decade ago when 12 older adults joined forces to create a way for them to “age at home” and remain independent as long as possible. There are now over 190 villages nationwide with over 185 more in development. There are over 55 villages in California.

Utilizing volunteers, transporta-

tion, home repairs, technology help, in-home services and courtesy calls are offered. Through vetted businesses, the organization provides access to plumbers, painters, handymen, home health care, housekeeping and more.

Other services may be offered, depending upon both partnerships and the skill set of the volunteers.

SLO Village Volunteers choose their assignments from an active list of service requests from members. They select the request that matches their interest and their schedule. They can volunteer as much or as little as they would like. SLO Village volunteers are fully vetted with a complete background check, driving record check and are covered by insurance.

Currently, SLO Village serves members in Arroyo Grande, Avila Beach, Grover Beach, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Nipomo, Oceano, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and Shell Beach. Expansion to other areas is dependent upon access to a suitable base of volunteers.

The membership fees for SLO Vil-

lage are $500 a year for a single person, $750 for a household (two people at the same location). There is no additional cost for volunteer services.

Vetted business services are generally provided at a discounted rate.

Associate Members are social and financial supporters of SLO Village.

They can participate in all the SLO Village events and have access to vetted businesses, but do not receive Village services. Associate members pay a reduced annual fee that may be tax deductible.

SLO Village was honored as the “Senior Citizen Program of the Year”

by Area Agency on Aging on May 21, 2018.

“Our members are people who want to stay in their homes but need some level of support,” said Kuykendall, “We help them become connected to the community and less isolated.”

To contact SLO Village call 805242-6440 or email office@slovillage. org. Also check their website at www. slovillage.org.

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Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce

PAGE

A monthly showcase of Chamber programming and membership.

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RANCHO OLIVOS IS A TRUE FAMILY BUSINESS

Our goal is not to just produce outstanding olive oil, but also to share our artisan oils with everyone who appreciates unique, locally grown, handcrafted olive oils and want to enjoy them in their homes.

We sustainably farm our trees in the Santa Ynez Valley. Here the dry climate with warm long days and crisp evenings is an ideal environment for olive trees. We hand pick and mill the olives within a few hours of harvest to assure the highest quality and freshness in all our artisan extra virgin olive oils.Shannon and John give particular care to the entire process of the tending the orchards, harvesting the olives, supervising the milling and bottling of our oils, opting for quality rather than quantity. We love to offer a truly local, fresh, flavorful hand crafted extra virgin olive oil.

DEALER’S CHOICE

We at Dealer’s Choice are happy to announce the opening of our 3rd car lot here in Morro Bay. We have been in business since 1983 and are happy to help you find your next vehicle. Visit or our website at 805deal.com, or come by and see our inventory at 1598 Main Street in beautiful Morro Bay!

COMMITTEE Open Call

Three Chamber committees are forming in the following areas: Government Affairs, Events, and Membership. Please contact info@morrochamber.org or call 805-772-4467 for more information.

Committee seats are open to Morro Bay Chamber members.

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4 - Morro Bay Life - April 2019

Central Coast Pastel Spring 2019 Exhibit

California Central Coast Pastel Society’s Spring Open Exhibition will be on display from April 3 to May 31. (Photos contributed) STAFF REPORT

Editor Brian Williams bwilliams@atascaderonews.com

Editorial Ruth Ann Angus Camas Frank

Advertising Sales Adriana Novack anovack@atascaderonews.com Glo Rivera grivera@pasoroblespress.com

Design Brian Williams Morro Bay Life is published monthly. All rights reserved, material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher. Morro Bay Life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication, but assumes no responsibility for errors, changes or omissions.

Morro Bay Life is a division of the News Media Corporation.

Contact Us

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MORRO BAY — California Central Coast Pastel Society is proud to present its first-ever Spring Open Exhibition, Two Worlds Meet: Living Together Along the Shore, hosted by the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay. This special event is a juried art exhibition within the beautiful setting of Morro Bay State Park.

The show features a collection of exceptional pastel paintings by talented artists who have been selected from entries around the United States.

Award-winning artist, Dotty Hawthorne, is serving as juror/ judge for the exhibit.

Hawthorne works in pastel, oil and watercolor. She was represented by and recently was co-owner of The Gallery at the Network in San Luis Obispo. Her paintings have been featured in nationally distributed publications. She is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and has paintings included in the permanent collection of the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art, Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara, Marian Hospital in Santa Maria, and SESLOC in San Luis Obispo.

For more information, about Hawthorne, visit her website at https:// dottyhawthorne.com/.

The theme of this exhibit captures the essence of life along the Central Coast, from coastal mountains to the valleys and dunes between Oso Flaco and San Simeon.

Subjects include a broad range of natural and cultural history exploring our place in the world.

Whether you visit this extraordinary exhibit to experience the beauty of nature or to purchase a work of art representing the area, you are in for a delight. Two Worlds Meet: Living Together Along the Shore will be on display from April 3 through May 31.

A special Meet the Artist reception will be held on Saturday, April

6, from 1 to 4 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

Admission to the Natural History Museum is a fee of $3 for adults 18 and older. Children are free.

WHAT: Two Worlds Meet: Living Together Along the Shore WHEN: April 3 to May 31, 10

a.m. to 5 p.m. daily RECEPTION: Saturday, April 6, 1 to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Morro Bay State Park Museum of Natural History, 20 State Park Rd., Morro Bay COST: $3 Adults, Children 17 and younger free CONTACT: info@3CPS.org WEBSITE: www.3CPS.org

Morro Bay Life - April 2019 - 5

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6 - Morro Bay Life - April 2019

Peace Through Music is His Gig

BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE

I

sat in on Mr. Bill’s Wild Ride radio show on The Rock 97.3 FM and 107.9 FM in Morro Bay and had a blast! I discovered Mr. Bill the week previous while writing up a little article about the station’s fundraiser and logged onto the website and there it was, my kind of music — folk rock. Mr. Bill is Bill Musial and has been doing radio on and off since 1993 beginning in Cambria on the now defunct, but missed, KOTR. But let’s start at the beginning.

Musial was born in 1965 right at the heart of the 60s peace movement. “My parents were somewhat hippies, so I grew up with a peace and nonviolence set of values,” he said. In 1970 the family moved to San Luis Obispo and Mr. Bill had all his schooling here. During the 1980s he met and married his wife and ultimately fathered three children.

After obtaining his degree he went into teaching and taught the fourth grade and eighth grade as well as some alternative education classes in Paso Robles. The economic set back of 2008 saw him facing layoff. He then decided to obtain his master’s degree in History at Cal Poly and for his thesis wrote the History of Rock Music. He is now well known as a rock and roll historian. “There isn’t much I don’t know about rock music,” he commented.

When The Rock radio station began in 2013, he joined the eclectic group of guys and gals who volunteer as the air talent for the station. Hal Abrams, founder and president, of The Rock asked him to take a spot every Thursday from Noon until 4:20 p.m.

He decided not to return to teaching and began driving limousines doing wine tours which keeps him busy from Friday through Tuesday. Since the Thursday radio time fit into his schedule, he agreed to take it on.

The title of his show, Mr. Bill’s Wild

Bill Musial of Mr. Bills’ Wild Ride holding a new release ‘record’ at The Rock radio station. (Photo by Ruth Ann Angus) Ride, came about by borrowing from “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” from Disney and Mr. Bill from “Saturday Night Live.” Mr. Bill favors British, Irish, Welsh, and Breton folk-rock music.

The program is divided into segments with the first beginning at high noon as the “Mystery Theme” for one hour where Mr. Bill invites his audience to figure out the theme of the day by identifying the selections he chooses. For the next two hours it is “Nap Time” but don’t fall asleep because you don’t want to miss the presentation of new arrivals of recordings of the current-day folk-rock musicians.

Mr. Bill plays CDs but mostly plays what are nowadays termed vinyl LPs but what we always referred to as records.

“I think the quality of sound is

better on the vinyl recording,” he explained. So, the next segment is aptly titled “Vinyl Frontier” and highlights new records.

At the third hour, it is “Folk Freak Out” and Mr. Bill’s favorite time when he plays those British Isle folk songs and occasionally American folk. At 4 p.m., it is time for the “Epic Ending” where he plays songs that are at least 10 minutes long.

Every other Thursday evening at 7 p.m., Mr. Bill joins Drew Ross’ Rock program where they play a little musical chess called “Dueling Turntables.” This consists of one of them playing a selection and in the time that song plays the other needs to come up with a selection that matches it either musically or lyrically to be played next.

These shows are themed too with one

recent program playing only songs from 1979 or they will do songs from a performer who is having a birthday and many other ideas. In these duels, Drew usually chooses songs based on music while Mr. Bill is inclined to choose songs based on lyrics.

Mr. Bill believes we can achieve peace through music and his selections on Mr. Bill’s Wild Ride bear up his belief. Listening to his show isn’t so much a wild ride as it is a musical treasure trip sometimes down memory lane and sometimes what’s current in folk-rock music.

“This is my church,” he said, and he means it. “I love music!”

Mr. Bill’s Wild Ride Thursday from 12 to 4:20 p.m.. on www.centralcoastradio.org or 97.3 FM and 107.9 FM The Rock.

It’s a British Invasion for The Rock

BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE

MORRO BAY — Things are jolly well at 97.3 FM and 107.9 FM on the radio dial as they celebrate their sixth year on the air with their annual fundraising extravaganza on Sunday, April 6 at the Morro Bay Veterans Hall at 5:30 p.m. with a “British Invasion.”

The show features the group Unfinished Business, The Vinylistics and Slogrrrl and there is a silent auction to bid on and a 50/50 raffle as well as four different food concessions to choose from and freshly tapped beer and wine flowing.

With fond memories of the 1960s era and the Beatles and the Animals among others, the evening highlights the contribution the Brits have made to our musical heritage and continue to do so. Plus, you get to meet all the DJs and air talent.

The Rock is the Central Coast’s only fully volunteer-operated and listener supported community radio station and serves communities on the coast in Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Cayucos and

in North County, Atascadero and Paso Robles. It also reaches far and wide across the country online at www.centralcoastradio,org. Statistics show that there are many listeners utilizing the online connection.

Programming is diverse with musical genres from pop, rock and roll, jazz to old-timey folk and interspersed with eclectic conversation programs covering topics from peace and nonviolence, food, dog care, health, astronomy, local and far-reaching politics and more.

What began in a tiny closet in Founder and President Hal Abrams’ home has blossomed into a first-class radio station. But it takes money to run a radio station despite the volunteer talent. This year the station needs to raise $21,000 and you can help by either donating online or come on out to the free fundraising concert and have some fun.

“It’s truly amazing to see the community come together to donate their services, time and money to make this concert and the station a phenomenal success,” commented Hal Abrams.

The concert is free. Just bring along

your valid ID and invite your friends. A great way to end a day of shopping at the City Yard Sale.

The Rock likes to thank their sponsors, Megan’s Organic Market, Morro

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Morro Bay Life - April 2019 - 7

Left, a mature cactus garden is one of the highlights of the 2019 AAUW Morro Bay Garden Tour. Middle, Los Osos Gardener Bobbye Thompson takes a breather while prepping her garden for Tour visitors. Right, the Thompson garden is full of colorful surprises. (Photos courtesy of Morro Bay Chapter of AAUW)

33rd Annual Garden Tour is April 28 STAFF REPORT

MORRO BAY — The Morro Bay Chapter of the American Association of University Women has selected five outstanding gardens in Morro Bay, Los Osos, and Cayucos for showcasing on its 33rd annual garden tour which will take place Sunday, April 28, from noon to 5 p.m.

Proceeds from the highly anticipated community event fund scholarships, prizes for academic achievement, and send outstanding seventh-grade girls to Tech Trek, AAUW’s science and technology camp held at the University of California at Santa Barbara each summer.

Tickets are $15 and may be purchased after April 1 at Volumes of Pleasure Bookstore in Los Osos, Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay, and Farm Supply in San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, and Paso Robles or from any AAUW/Morro Bay member. AAUW is a national organization founded in 1881 to open the doors of education to women.

For more Garden Tour information, see morrobayaauw.org or call 805-772-1364.

AAUW members Sharon Meyer and Louise Gorfain welcome Garden Tour guests.

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1. You’re going through a big transition 2. You need motivation, accountability, and support 3. You want to achieve your goals faster 4. You need clarity, direction, a plan of action 5. You want a better life 6. You want a successful business 7. You suffering through relationship challenges 8. You want to be healthy, well, and happy 9. You don’t know what to do after you retire 10. You want to resolve setbacks

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8 - Morro Bay Life - April 2019

A view of the main building with the solar panels. (Photo by Ruth Ann Angus)

The Sun Shines on the Inn at Morro Bay

BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE

MORRO BAY — You can’t miss them. Drive into the parking lot at the Inn at Morro Bay and they are there standing out, bright and shiny, on the roof of the main building that houses the offices, restaurant, meeting rooms, and beautiful lounge — solar panels!

They’ve also been installed on the roof of the buildings with the guest rooms.

General Manager Charlie Yates was excited to tell that the Inn is committed to its responsibility toward the environment and taking all steps to reduce their carbon footprint. This is the first step and what the environmental community hopes get taken up by other hotels and motels.

The Inn has installed 582 solar pan-

els of 275 W each for a total system size of 160.05 Kilowatts. This system will produce approximately 275,000 Kilowatt-hours (KWh) of energy annually. That is 67.7 percent of their total energy consumption each year. This is equivalent to reducing the carbon-dioxide emission of 178,891 pounds or recycling 57 tons of waste going to the landfill or saving about 193 acres of the forest.

During the last three years the Inn’s owner, Pacifica Companies has embarked on a major mission to reduce its carbon footprint and has installed over 10 Megawatts of Solar photovoltaic systems on over 50 properties under its portfolio.

Pacifica partnered with Soorya Unlimited for installation thanks to an attractive financial package that includes

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the federal government’s 30 percent tax credit with accelerated depreciation that equals 100 percent in the first year.

“Taking those incentives into account this installation will be free in as short as two and half years,” commented Yates. “The entire solar equipment is warranted for 25 years, which means that after two and a half years, we will be enjoying 67% of electricity for free.”

Yates went on to say that Soorya Unlimited has installed solar energy systems now on more than 30 properties and consistently delivers a high-quality system using only Top Tier Solar Panels and Micro-Inverters. “It’s very unusual that Soorya Unlimited uses Micro-Inverters on commercial installations,” Yates said, “which are much more expensive and are primarily used for residential Installations. The com-

plicated engineering design required is possible with the in-house capabilities of this vendor.

“More companies are switching to solar,” Yates explained “and as much as we would like to think environmental issues are a main driver, the reality is the financial benefits tend to be of greater interest. With PG&E charging as much a $0.56 for a single kWh of energy, returns on investment are great.

Environmental benefits just happen to be one of the side effects of making an investment in solar.”

Even though it’s foggy in Morro Bay a lot of the time, the sun shines often enough to make going solar more than just a financial investment. Hopefully, the town will see more of its tourist businesses following in the footsteps of the Inn.

Morro Bay Life - April 2019 - 9

Life Intelligence: Resumes and Eulogies “Success without fulfillment is the ultimate failure.” — Tony Robins

T

his line is my mantra. I hope it becomes yours by the end of this short piece. Why? Because if you continue to live for your resume, your eulogy will be short, boring, and depressing!

Our most technologically advanced and resource-rich society happens to be the most depressed and medicated one.

We complain about everything! We hope that politicians will fix our life crisis and alcohol will help us feel alive. We blame “the system,” our parents, and whoever is convenient, for our troubles and bad mood. But the answers we seek elude us, as they sit right in front of our eyes.

I like precision, so here are some numbers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employed people spend close to nine hours, on average, at work. Meanwhile, self-employed people and top executives don’t really know when and how not to work. We work to get ahead, to pay the bills, to establish ourselves professionally, for retirement, for status, and to feel useful and significant. We introduce ourselves with what we do. Our professions and occupations define us. Therefore, when we lose a job, or must close down the shop, we fall into

a pit of despair. The loss of identity for many comes in a package with shame, guilt, and a sense of powerlessness, feeling useless, angry, and resentful.

Really? Are you nothing more than an economic unit of production?

I concede. Some people feel passion for what they do because they do it for deeper reasons. Those are few and far in between. Most people race through their career path like life depends on it. It does in a way. The mortgage must be paid, and the kids need to go to school. But work should be a part of your life, not your entire life. That house is your home and you should spend some time there enjoying your surroundings. Your dog needs you to toss a ball occasionally.

Your kids want to learn stuff from you.

Your significant other needs you to remember how you felt when you first met, hold hands, make out, and go on vacations without you answering work calls all the time. You need to have backyard BBQ’s for your friends, go to the movies, play silly games, read books, and discuss your dreams.

Most of your life should be about building deep, close, personal relationships with people who make you feel safe to be yourself and laugh your pants off with spaghetti coming out of your nose. The kind of people that will sit next to your hospital bed and hold your hand waiting for you to get better. People who can tell you to your face exactly how crazy you are and set you straight because they care about you enough to do it.

More numbers… Robin Dunbar,

an evolutionary anthropologist from England, found that on average people can remain meaningfully connected in a variety of ways to a total of about 148 others. But each one of us needs about five close friends and/or family members. And we used to have that in the 80’s. But as of late, studies show, that most people have only one or two close friends. Many have none. If you have no close friends, who’s going to write your eulogy and what are they going to say?

Turns out, we derive more meaning out of what we do for each other and the roles we play in each other’s lives then out of any professional achievement. The quality of your personal relationships determines the quality of your life. Yet, we give our best at the office and take home the leftovers. We make money while losing friends. We build resumes at the expense of our health and wellbeing.

Then we spend our money on medicating ourselves.

If you want to feel better, simply work a little less, play a little more, and love the good people in your life enormously! Balance the working achiever in you with the loving relationship steward. I promise, you will feel more successful than ever because you’ll feel full! Full of meaning, joy, and responsibilities for no pay towards people you can’t wait to help and support.

No one will read your resume out loud at your memorial service. What do you want to be known and remembered for? Arrange your life accordingly.

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10 - Morro Bay Life - April 2019

Goddess Goods owner Summer Mote is celebrating one year in business. (Photo by Camas Frank)

Goddess Goods Going Strong A Year On

BY CAMAS FRANK OF MORRO BAY LIFE

MORRO BAY — March 14 was a packed and perfect day on the Morro Bay waterfront and a happy occasion for one business owner marking a full year running a small cafe on the corner of Beach and Front streets.

Goddess Goods, with a crystal-clear view of the Rock, and a menu of vegan breakfast and lunch offerings paired

with coffee roasted in Atascadero, has brought some health and color to a block many visitors used to pass by.

Owner Summer Mote didn’t tell all that many people that the business’ anniversary was coming up but the natural flow of traffic kept her busy.

Technically a “Vegetarian Cafe” because she wasn’t about to deny coffee lovers the option of cow’s milk if they ask for it, Mote has a good relationship with carnivores even if she’s ended

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up catering to vegan and gluten-free guests. Nextdoor to the House of Jerky, she says the two shops balance each other out with a nice Yin and Yang.

Currently training seasonal employees during the calm before Morro Bay’s expected tourist rush, a lot of attention is being given to her trademark homemade hummus and a taco Tuesday featuring vegan street tacos made with chipotle walnut “meat,” black beans or smoked chickpeas.

“My fiancé and I are very ‘clean’ eaters,” she explained, “it was kind of a fluke that I ended up catering to a specific clientele because that wasn’t the point except to be healthy.”

While not holding her family to a strict diet, they do follow most of the guidelines set for the shop kitchen, including organic and local ingredient sourcing and protein from vegetarian sources. Her fiancé Cody St. James notes he’s lost a whole 130 pounds on the diet, coincidentally about what the petite Mote said she weighs. While St. James remained a tall and strapping man, exercise is important to those results, so Goddess Goods isn’t going to make guarantees on their customers’ fitness.

Mote enjoys being able to offer uncommon options for customers though, proud of the fact that European tourists return daily for her Joebella Coffee

espressos during their Central Coast vacations and having guests from Fresno and Bakersfield revel in finding healthy lunch options while their friends stop for a burger or fish and chips up the street.

As for the stylized Earth Mother or Goddess figure hanging above the door and welcoming trekkers on the Front Street bike and walking path, Mote said it represents her view from the shop.

“It’s not a feminist statement; I’m more of a humanist, but the figure and the name are pretty simple. I’m the ‘Goddess’ sitting offering my ‘Goods’ for everyone to enjoy,” she said.

Non-edible offerings include a little shelf space devoted to colorful handmade, natural fiber bags, sunscreens from Morro Bay-based All Good, candles and even a little spot for CBD oil balms.

Indoor seating is somewhat limited with a counter across the “clearview” front windows, but there’s always room for improvement, “it’s on the drawing board, I still have to see about it with the landlord, but some accordion doors right here would open the whole space on a nice day.”

Currently open 6:30 a.m to 5 p.m., plug 1124 Front St. into GPS or go online to goddessgoodmb.com or Instagram food shots @goddessgoodsmb.

April

Morro Bay Life - April 2019 - 11

Community Calendar SATURDAY, APRIL 6 SWAP First Saturday

Join the SWAP Weed Warriors on Saturday, March 2 from 9 a.m. to noon to do weeding, trail trimming and erosion control in the Elfin Forest in Los Osos. The SWAP Weed Warriors perform other tasks as needed. Weed Warriors will be served home-baked cookies after the work party and new Weed Warriors will receive a Weed Warrior badge. It is important to arrive at 9 a.m. to receive equipment and instructions.

The work party will be canceled in the event of rain. SWAP First Saturday work parties are held from 9 a.m. to noon on the first Saturday of each month. Please dress for wind, fog, or sun. Layers work well. Wear sturdy shoes, long pants, and sleeves and bring work gloves. Meet at the north end of 15th Street at the Elfin Forest entrance.

Avoid blocking driveways or mailboxes when you park. For more information, call 805-528-0392.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7 From Natural to Abstraction and Pottery by Jim Gregory

“From Natural to Abstraction” and Pottery by Jim Gregory will be on display from April 4 through May 13 at the Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay. Meet the artists at the opening reception Sunday, April 7, from 2 to 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Art Center Morro Bay is open from noon to 4 p.m. daily.

Abstraction indicates a departure from reality in depiction of imagery in art. This departure from accurate representation can be slight, partial, or complete, as abstraction in art exists along a continuum. Even art that aims for realism of the highest degree can be said to be abstract since perfect representation may be elusive.

Concurrent with this exhibit, MBAA is proud to feature, fine artist, Gregory. Gregory earned a bachelor’s degree at Grambling State University where he became Grambling’s “White Tiger,” the first quarterback at a predominantly all black school.

“I feel fortunate to have been a small part of the Civil Rights Movement of the late 60’s and early 70’s. This was a positive experience for me.”

Gregory went on to earn a master’s at Oregon College of Education, now Western Oregon State University. He returned to the Central Valley to teach pottery at Reedley High School for 33 years and at Reedley Jr. College for 26 years as an adjunct faculty member. He relocated to the Central Coast where he makes pottery that is masterfully produced with horse hair for beautiful earth tones to raku with vibrant color. Come in to explore these stunning artworks that are both decorative and functional!

THURSDAY, APRIL 11 Morro Bay Women’s Connection monthly luncheon

The Morro Bay Women’s Connection invites you to their Thursday, April 11 luncheon where nutritional therapist Courtney Coleman will speak on how good health starts in your own kitchen. Lynne Leite will

tell us How to Be A Princess, or Ever Feel Like the Mad Hatter?

The luncheon will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Rock Harbor, 1475 Quintana Rd. Morro Bay. $5, first-time guests free. For reservations, call Rita at 805-534-1739.

by at 845 Main St, Morro Bay, CA 93442.

More information visit www.slofolks.org or www.shannonmcnally.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 13

ence required.

Cost is $55 members/$65 nonmembers.

Pre-register at www.artcentermorrobay.org.

A meet and greet with the instructor will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26 at the Art Center.

FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Coalesce Bookstore book-signing with author Dennis Frahmann

Painting with Polymer Workshop: Brooches

Morro Bay Embarcadero Art Walk Friday

Spend an enjoyable evening strolling along Morro Bay’s beautiful waterfront from 5 to 8 p.m. Converse with many talented local artists about their fine art, jewelry, crafts and more! Enjoy refreshments and music provided by participating galleries, restaurants and shops. Marina Square Complex, 601 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA 93442.

For more information call 805-772-1068.

April Artists Opening Reception at the Gallery at Marina Square

Gallery at Marina Square presents featured artist Sharon West and guest artist Janet Newland. Come join these artists at the reception from 5 to 8 p.m.

Sharon West’s exhibit is a Fine Art Photography and will start April 1 and continue to April 29.

“I love photographing Wildlife and Landscape. I am always looking for a new friend to join me early in the morning sitting out in the cold freezing my body off to get great photos of birds and any other wildlife that I can capture. Most of my photography is done here on the Central Coast, Morro Bay is a favorite, and Atascadero Lake. I also like to photograph the Milky Way during the spring. Favorite spots being the Milky Way over the ocean. The Milky Way over vineyards and Camp Roberts. I live in Atascadero with my husband and a typical 16 year old, two mastiffs and three cats. I hope you enjoy my nature photos as much as I do taking them.” said Sharon.

Janet Newland’s watercolor paintings also on display for April are colorful, light, and airy. It’s evident that she appreciates the sometimes unpredictable nature of watercolor. “It’s fun for me to allow the paint to flow and suggest the outcome.”says Newland. With subject matter ranging from tide pools to tea time, Janet creates joyful moments outside the hustle and bustle of your everyday.

The Gallery At Marina Square is located at 601 Embarcadero, Suite 10 in Morro Bay. Call 805-772-1068 for more information.

SLOfolks presents Shannon McNally at Coalesce Bookstore

Shannon McNally has made a name for herself in the inner circles of the Rock/ Pop/Blues world, and now she brings her Americana/folk side to our stages this April.

She’s collaborated with many luminaries in the musical realm, and has teamed up with Rodney Crowell to produce her latest release “Black Irish”. With a sound that conjures up Emmylou Harris or Bonnie Raitt, she’s sure to impress! She’ll perform for the SLOfolks music series as a duo. Show starts at 7 p.m. at Coalesce Bookstore. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at Coalesce Bookstore by phone 805-772-2880, or email at coalescebookstore@gmail.com or stop

Coalesce Bookstore invites you to a book-signing, Saturday, April 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. with author of The Long Table Dinner

by Dennis Frahmann.

Here is an expert from the book.

“For over a century, the historic Mazzetti Ranch has hugged the coast of Central California. Its owner, Teddy, has never been one to welcome the occasional visitor, not even those seeking out his well-regarded grass-fed beef or domestic abalone. But now, in a moment of weakness, he has agreed to allow an outside firm to host a dinner for over two hundred people on his beloved cliffs.”

“Little does he know that this event will draw out the attendance of both friends and foes, long-term and new. Faced with the uncertainties of his future and the lost opportunities of his past, Teddy Mazzetti just needs to find the strength to survive the Long Table Dinner. And maybe, just maybe, learn that there’s more to life than his beloved coastline.”

Dennis Frahmann is a journalist, writer and award-winning marketer who grew up in small farming and resort towns in Wisconsin and now lives in the small seaside town of Cambria, California. He holds a B.A. from Ripon College in English and philosophy, and a masters in journalism from Columbia University. After an initial stint as a restaurant reviewer and reporter for Mpls. St. Paul Magazine, Frahmann worked in marketing for a variety of high-tech companies, including Control Data, Xerox, and Sage. His most recent novel “The Long Table Dinner” is set on the Central Coast of California. His previous novel, “The Devil’s Analyst,” completes a trio of novels that interweave a related cast of characters and their same small hometown in northern Wisconsin.

The earlier works are “Tales from the Loon Town Cafe” and “The Finnish Girl.”

You can learn more about Frahmann’s works by visiting www.loontown.com.

SATURDAY, APRIL 27 Steampunk Whale Workshop

You will have a whale of a time in the Steampunk Whale Workshop led by mixed-media artist Christi Friesen from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay. You will create a fun whale using polymer clay, then embellish it with mixed media in a steampunk style. Not into steampunk?

Use crystals for a bling whale! Or leave it au naturelle.

Friesen is an award-winning artist, specializing in polymer clay, embellished with mixed media. She uses a variety of gems, pearls, beads, fiber, artifacts, metal and found objects in her jewelry, figurines, vessels, 2-dimensional art and sculpture.

The finished piece can be a brooch or pendant or a small wall piece. All materials are provided. Just bring a smile!

All skill levels welcome, no prior experi-

Painting with Polymer Workshop: Brooches led by mixed-media artist Christi Friesen is Saturday, April 27, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay. Polymer clay is very versatile. In this workshop, you will explore creating bas relief style sculptural pieces and adding painterly details with pastels and real gold leaf.

Friesen is an award-winning artist, specializing in polymer clay, embellished with mixed media. She uses a variety of gems, pearls, beads, fiber, artifacts, metal and found objects in her jewelry, figurines, vessels, 2-dimensional art and sculpture.

The finished pieces can be brooches or pendants or even small wall pieces. All materials are provided. You just bring your smile!

All skill levels welcome, no prior experience required.

Cost is $55 members/$65 nonmembers.

Pre-register at www.artcentermorrobay.org.

A meet and greet with the instructor will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, April 26 at the Art Center.

THURSDAY, MAY 9 ‘New to Medicare’ Presentation

HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) will sponsor a FREE seminar for people interested in better understanding Medicare. The New to Medicare presentation will be held Thursday, May 9, beginning at 2:30 p.m. at the Morro Bay Library, located at 625 Harbor St., Morro Bay, CA. For more information about the ‘New to Medicare’ presentation and to reserve a seat at this seminar, contact the local HICAP office at 1-800-434-0222, 1-805-928-5663, Seniors@kcbx.net or register online at CentralCoastSeniors.org.

ONGOING Qi Gong By The Bay

Qi Gong is a health and spiritual development system with roots dating back thousands of years. Come learn this powerful practice by the water in Tidelands Park, Morro Bay. Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Call first: Devin 805-709-2227.

Bingo Is Back

Come join us 1st Friday of every month.

Doors open at 4 p.m. Pre-Early Bird game at 5:40 p.m. Early Bird & regular games at 6 p.m. “Bingo Bistro Cafe” opens at 4 p.m.

Held at Vets Hall, 209 Surf St, Morro Bay and sponsored by Morro Bay Seniors. Questions? call Louise Topper at 805-345-7117.

18 and over are welcome.

Fibromyalgia Support Group

Meets every second Saturday at the San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm St. from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and every fourth Wednesday at Morro Bay Library, 625 Harbor St. from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

12 - Morro Bay Life - April 2019

Grainz by Alfredo de Liema. (Photo contributed)

MBAA Student Juried Exhibit STAFF REPORT

MORRO BAY —The Morro Bay Art Association is proud to present the MBAA Central Coast Student Juried Art Exhibit. The show runs from April 4 to May 13, from noon to 4 p.m. daily.

Twenty-five students will be selected from a juried process to receive mattes and frames at participating local high schools, provided by Art Center Morro Bay. Scholarship winners will receive cash awards for Best of Show $150, 1st Place $100, and 2nd Place $50. Awards this year are sponsored impart to the Kara Kolb Scholarship Fund and Morro Bay Art As-

sociation. Kara Kolb was a lifelong art enthusiast who enjoyed participating in Creativity, a free art program offered to the community at large by MBAA. During this exhibit, you will find a variety of contemporary photography and paintings. Whether attending to support these gifted students or to purchase, this exhibit is sure to please! An opening reception will be Sunday, April 7, from 2 to 4 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public.

To view student entries and read juror remarks visit www.artcentermorrobay.org or https://artcentermorrobay.org/index.php/student-art-exhibit/ For more information, contact Art Center Morro

Bay, 805-772-2504 or Liz Moore, Lmoore@slcusd. org.

WHAT: MBAA CENTRAL COAST STUDENT JURIED EXHIBIT 2019 WHEN: April 4 to May 13, noon to 4 p.m.

RECEPTION: April 7, 2 to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Art Center Morro Bay, 835 Main St., Morro Bay COST: Free CONTACT: 805-772-2504 or email artcenter. morrobay@gmail.com

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Morro Bay Life - April 2019 - 13

Left to right, are the people behind Elemental Herbs and the brand All Good — Ryan Rich, Caroline Duell, Lindsey Bolton, Ian Maulhardt, Lindsey Mitchell.JPG. (Photo by Camas Frank)

All Good marks milestone

BY CAMAS FRANK OF MORRO BAY LIFE

MORRO BAY — Elemental Herbs and the brand All Good, based out of an office in the old Sun Bulletin building in Morro Bay, are celebrating a decade being run under California’s guidelines for a Certified B Corporation.

The certification allows an approach to business which places ethics above profit, but they’re not doing too badly for themselves. Started as a sole proprietorship by founder Caroline Duell, the business grew into a traditional corporate structure before filing for B-Corp certification in 2009. In 2016, they moved operations into their new home, which surprisingly to a visitor, still bears some marks of a newspaper office, albeit one with a fleet of bicycles in the lobby, yoga balls and colorful diversions around chalkboards and low couches for meeting rooms.

The whimsical nods to creature comfort might be expected in a Silicon Valley startup, but explains company representative, or if you prefer “All Good Community Rockstar” Lindsey

Bolton, during a tour of their sales, shipping and labeling facilities, it’s the little touches behind the scenes for energy and water efficiency during remodeling with LEED certification in mind that let them stay Green.

The company is rated every two years to see how well they’re living up to the ideals they’ve set up for themselves, and while Bolton does reference how well individual improvements in their operations rate, the B-Corp concept is simpler, “It gives customers a way to see the work we’ve done and vet us for themselves up front,” she said,adding that, should Duell and her husband Ryan Rich ever step back from leadership roles,the company bylaws have enshrined their ideals.

Starting with the flagship product All Good Goop, an organic herbal ointment Rich came aboard as VP of Sales as an extended line of body care products became more popular. Sunscreen, lip balm, salves and topicals for sore muscles are now distributed across the nation in larger health-food and sportCONTINUED ON PAGE 15

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South Pacific Documentary to Show for Maritime Museum

BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE

MORRO BAY — Thanks to good friends of the Morro Bay Maritime Museum, Lance and Lyndia Leonard, the community has a rare chance to view an hour-long film entitled “We, The Voyagers” on Sunday, April 7. The event is being held at the Inn at Morro Bay, and starts with a social hour from 5 to 6 p.m.

The main program starts at 6 p.m.

This one-hour film (part one of a three-part series) created by anthropologist Marianne “Mimi” George, PhD and H.M. Wyeth explores the almost lost boat building and navigation skills of the Taumako Polynesian people. George will be present for a live question and answer after the film.

The cost to attend is $10 or $15 with one raffle ticket or $20 with two raffle tickets with all proceeds to benefit three community service organizations. Tickets at the door or at the Morro Bay Maritime Museum on the Embarcadero or the Inn at Morro Bay. In the far western Pacific Ocean, in a remote part of the Solomon Islands, the Polynesian communities of Taumako and Vaeakau know something that most of the rest of the world has forgotten.

They build voyaging canoes, or vaka, using only local, sustainable, natural materials. They sail hundreds of miles with no modern equipment. They find their way precisely using comprehensive knowl-

Sailing craft built by Taumako Polynesian people used in film. (Photo contributed) edge of wind, waves, currents, stars, and observations of phenomena that are unknown to modern mariners and other Polynesian revival programs.

The Vaka Taumako Project (www. vaka.org) is a team of volunteer sailors, navigators, canoe-builders, students,

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teachers, scholars, doctors, documentarians, cooks and gardeners; men, women, children and elders from the Solomon Islands and the United States, working to perpetuate the practice of ancient Polynesian voyaging knowledge. Officially, the Vaka Taumako Project operates under the aegis of the Pacific Traditions Society, a non-profit organization since 1988.

The team learns how to build and sail voyaging canoes from the last Polynesian people who are experienced in doing that, using fully ancient methods, materials and tools. They document the technology and meanings of voyaging for the crews and communities involved.

They create cultural and educational collaborations and international awareness of ancient arts as they are being practiced and learned and shared by Taumako artisans and way finders.

Since the Vaka Taumako Project officially started in1996, the group has worked in Temotu Province, Solomon Islands. Until now the international administrative office of the VTP has been located in Hawaii but will eventually be handed over to Taumako leadership. A new charitable organization called the Vaka Taumako Project of the Solomon Islands (VTPSI) is being established.

The Vaka Taumako Project aims to perpetuate ancient Polynesian seafaring knowledge and practice by training a new generation of Taumako youth to build, sail, and navigate using the ancient methods, materials, and tools used by their ancestors, and by research, documentation, and dissemination of this knowledge.

George is an anthropologist, sailor, and writer specialized in voyaging cultures. Before the Vaka Taumako Project, she documented voyaging traditions of islanders in New Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Siberian Yupik Eskimos on the Alaskan and USSR sides of the Bering Straits. Her research voyages have included using ancient polar technology, and the early 19th-century European technique of wintering-over in a sailboat frozen in the sea-ice of Antarctica. In the Vaka Taumako Project, she studies Poly-

nesians building vessels and making voyages using ancient technology, materials, tools, and navigation methods. Geroge made 25 inter-island voyages in the Santa Cruz Islands, and one voyage from Duffs through Vanuatu.

The Leonards, who are friends of George, are also co-founders of the Meredith Project (www.meredithproject.org) that assists young people to find a life of purpose through the art and science of traditional wooden boat building and sailing.

Morro Bay Maritime Museum Looking for a Few Good Women . . Or Men

Do you like history? Does your heart yearn for the bygone days of sailing vessels? Then you might be interested in volunteering with the Morro Bay Maritime Museum.

A docent program is in process as the summer season approaches and the museum plans to be open five days a week beginning April 15. Days of operation will be Thursday through Monday and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Docents will work in shifts with two people and two shifts a day.

A professional well-planned Volunteer Training Manual is required for volunteers and is offered at $20. The manual covers everything a volunteer would need to know from how to open the museum, handling money, safety, interpretation basics, visitor interaction, rules and regulations, care and cleaning, maintenance and how to close up.

Training on each element of the museum collection is also included in the manual. Volunteers will learn about the Tule Boat Exhibit and the Salinan Tribe, the painting of the Half Clipper South American and some artifacts, the California Commercial Abalone Industry and Diving, The Montebello Incident, the El Toro Dinghy, and Sir Francis Drake and the Golden Hind.

For further education, the manual contains a bibliography and reading list as well as a glossary.

Training is already starting so interested parties should contact Larry Newland at 805-550-4929 or call the museum line at 805-225-5044.

Morro Bay Life - April 2019 - 15

Wicked Harvest Continues to Boom

all their story and focus remain.

“We are growers,” says Jim, adding that using hazelnuts allows them to “help other growers expand their market.”

The couple are partners with other successful successful pistachio, almond and pecan growers with orchards in California and Arizona. In addition, Jim is a partner in Meridian Growers, recently served on the Food Science and Nutrition Advisory Council at Cal

Poly San Luis Obispo and has been chairman of Fresno-based American Pistachio Growers.

Gloria was a former teacher, vice principal, principal and assistant school superintendent who also used to train principals and school districts.

The idea for nut-infused bourbon aged in wine barrels came out of a side conversation with Steve Thompson, owner of Kentucky Artisan Distillery.

The two were at a meeting at Cal Poly

and began talking about how to blend their products to create something new and roughly three years and 38 iterations later Wicked Harvest Pistachio Bourbon was brought to market.

The couple went door to door personally telling their story to shop owners on the Central Coast and in the Central Valley with the hope of being poured or sold at their establishments.

Gloria remembers that first sale like it was yesterday. She went to Cork ‘N Bottle in San Luis Obispo.

“I can remember still going in that day and I was just shaking almost not knowing what to say,” Gloria says.

One sale quickly turned into two and by the last count, Wicked Harvest was available in more than 100 locations in three different states, says Gloria.

“It’s been fun,” Gloria says. “I was thinking back to when we were just in a few locations. It was just Jim and I bootstrapping it on the ground trying to get Wicked Harvest into our favorite places.

“It’s still a matter of going in and connecting face to face. We find that still gives us the best results,” Gloria adds.

Since going to market they have poured at trade shows and medaled in three competitions. Wicked Harvest Pistachio Bourbon took silver at the Central Coast Craft Spirit Competition at the Mid-State Fair. Their bourbon was also one of the ingredients that helped Matt Hanson of Fish Gaucho win the Get Crafty mixology competition with a drink dubbed the “Wicked ‘Itch’ of the West.”

All of these face to face interactions allow the Zions to tell their story.

“There are real people behind it,” Jim says. “There are actual humans making this product, putting blood, sweat and tears, money, hopes and dreams into it and when you tell people that they have this connection to it. They say ‘You know what, I like the product, but I also like you.’

“And what I find is if they like you they want you to succeed,” Jim adds.

For more information on Wicked Harvest, including where to purchase the bourbons, visit www.wickedharvestspirits.com.

sides, it’s nice to tell where you’re covered compared to the mixed results of popular spray ons.

With the company for five years, Bolton adds that a lot has changed for the B-Corp movement in even that time. For instance, the company has partnered with a certified green prac-

tices financial company to provide employees 401k plans.

Compared to when Elemental Herbs was first chartered there is now an entire ecosystem of fellow B-Corp companies with which to do business, in the neighborhood of 2,500 compared to 15 a decade ago.

“That’s been a real asset for us,” she said. “all of these companies have to be committed to that transparency as well as meeting their own goals. For us, that’s one People, then two Planet, and then Profit, number three. So far so good being able to do that in balance with nature.”

BY BRIAN WILLIAMS OF MORRO BAY LIFE

MORRO BAY — A lot has changed since Jim and Gloria Zion unleashed their flagship Wicked Harvest Pistachio Bourbon Whiskey on the world a little more than a year ago.

Over the past 12 months, the husband and wife team from their Morro Bay home have seen their bourbon grab the attention of new and old whiskey drinkers, bring home some hardware, and their lineup expand with the introduction of their second offering — Wicked Harvest Hazelnut Bourbon Whiskey.

“It’s become a passion for us,” says Jim. “It’s a fascinating business. We have learned a lot in a short time.”

Like their first-to-market pistachio-infused bourbon aged in Merlot barrels from the Central Valley, the hazelnut offering is another first and pays homage to Gloria’s Oregon roots.

“Gloria’s childhood all grown up in a glass,” says Jim. Diced and roasted hazelnuts are infused using the same 6-year-old bourbon distilled by Kentucky Artisan Distillery outside of Louisville and finished in Pinot Noir barrels from Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Wicked Harvest Hazelnut went to market at the beginning of November 2018 and is being well-received, no doubt buoyed by the success of the pistachio bourbon.

“We are finding that true bourbon aficionados are tending to like the hazelnut better because it drinks like a true bourbon,” Gloria says. “You have a little bit of toasted nut in that product from the diced and roasted hazelnuts.”

There is no secret to their success.

The Zions are passionate about their products and are willing to put in the work needed to get a fledgling venture off the ground.

“We are the only employees,” says Gloria, whose business card reads “Director of First Impressions” while Jim’s reads “Director of Everything Gloria Doesn’t Want to Do.” Along with the growth has come the creation of Velvetree Foods and Wicked Harvest merchandise but through it,

ALL GOOD

Continued from 13

ing goods chains.

Calendula, an herb present in most of their products with healing properties as an insect-bite soother and repellent, as well as a moisturizer, is grown on 15-acres just outside of Atascadero.

It’s the global reach of their sunscreen line which has gained the most attention aside from the B-Corp status of late though.

The zinc-mineral base in the All Good sunscreen for surfers and divers is one of the few skin protectants known to be safe for Coral Reefs, as Bolton notes, any particles that wash away simply fall to the bottom of the ocean instead of being ingested by the reefs or helping bleach them as other chemical applications do.

She demonstrates that, yes, it takes a little bit to rub in compared to nanoparticle infused solutions which go on clear, but proven safe for people as well as reefs is a selling point. Be-

16 - Morro Bay Life - April 2019

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SOLD 2260 EMERALD CIR, MORRO BAY SELLER

SOLD 2629 KOA, MORRO BAY

CLOISTERS & BEACH TRACT I have cash buyers ready to purchase in The Cloisters and the Beach Tract with budgets ranging from $850k to $1.2M. If you are considering selling your home please give me a call.

MORRO BAY • CAYUCOS • LOS OSOS • SAN LUIS OBISPO • CAMBRIA • ATASCADERO • PASO ROBLES

LISA MIA

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL LIC. #01945215

805 MAIN STREET MORRO BAY, CA 93442

LISA@LISAMIA.COM 805.279.9381