FEBRUARY 2018 • EVERYTHING MORRO BAY • MORRO-BAYLIFE.COM
Right in our own
BACK YARD
A TRIP TO KERN NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SEE PAGE 4
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
RACIAL ISSUES EXAMINED SEE PAGE 2
CLIMATE SERIES COMES TO MB SEE PAGE 5
ON STAGE: “EXIT LAUGHING” SEE PAGE 6
WHAT’S ODD ABOUT THEM? SEE PAGE 8
In this workshop the latest research will be presented by Dr. Strawa, currently Chief of the Technology Transfer Office at NASA Ames Research Center. Recognizing the great divisions, political, religious, and economic that have animated the discourse on climate change, your role and that of the community will be explored
Sat. Feb. 17, 2017 at St. Timothy’s Parish Hall 9am to 2pm Registration Fee: $35 includes materials, morning coffee & lunch. Deadline: Feb. 10. Note Seating Limited Checks payable to: St. Timothy’s Women’s Guild Questions: Ruth Vasconcellos 805.772.1806
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From Reflection to Action A Dialog Around Global Warming and Ecological Crisis
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2 - Morro Bay Life - February 2018
LOCAL
Gathering examines racial issues in Morro Bay BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE
O
n Wednesday, Jan. 17, Morro Bay Police Chief Greg Allen convened a meeting at the Morro Bay Fire Department’s conference room to discuss recent racial issues that have surfaced in Morro Bay. More than 50 people crowded the room, and many were Morro Bay city officials, members of political and humanitarian organizations, and law enforcement individuals from other cities. Several attendees were there to support a local black female resident who has experienced racial hate speech on the streets of our town. The issues at hand were to establish whether there are ongoing racial problems here and whether the Morro Bay Police officers are handling it well. A white mother of two black boys told how when she moved here she held fears that law enforcement might profile her sons just because of their skin color. She made sure that the police were aware of her sons and the fact that they were residents of Morro Bay. However, she still harbors her fears. Another person spoke to the issue regarding her friend who had suffered the hate speech while only walking down the street and felt that she certainly wouldn’t want a member of her family to endure something like that and then not be taken seriously by a police officer. Some of the complaint was that officers were not very compassionate and even tried to lay blame on the black woman for the
Some of the 50-plus people gathered for the Racial issues discussion held by Chief Greg Allen. (Photo by Ruth Ann Angus)
incident saying, “What did you do to provoke this person,” when all she had done was walk down the street and pass by this person who then started shouting obscenities at her. Chief Allen said that often he is kept awake at night worrying about his officers and the things they encounter on their patrols and the safety of them and community members is uppermost on his mind all the time. He commented that he thoroughly investigated the incident and found that his officers had acted according to proper police procedures. He reminded the gathering that police officers place their lives on the line every day for people they don’t know. He also said he hopes the community realizes that he is racially sensitive. Chief Allen is an African American and was raised in the Los Angeles area where he too encountered racial discrimination. He comes to Morro Bay after a long employment with the Los Angeles Police
Department. However, the consensus after much discussion is that there are racial problems in our town and many of us ignore them. Many spoke about whether the police actions were carried out successfully. Did the officer give the woman a ride home to protect her? Did she have to ask for that service? Should that service be available especially to women without someone having to ask? These were the questions that arose. Chief Cantrell of the San Luis Obispo Police Department was in attendance and told of how she suffered a prejudicial incident while living in Arizona and part of the problem was that she had been wearing her police uniform. “People judge us by our uniform,” she said, “and we are picked on because of that.” Cantrell also said that hate speech is not a crime and many police departments will not take a report
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about it, but San Luis Obispo does because it gives them a barometer as to how the community is thinking. “Often hate speech turns into hate violence,” she commented. The San Luis Police Department has instituted PACT which stands for Police And Community Together through which they hold meetings, offer education, and work on issues together. Police training was discussed, and Chief Allen commented that recently the entire department was required to attend Racial Bias Training, which is a state requirement every two years. A representative from the NAACP commented that many of the people residing in Morro Bay came from areas like the Central Valley where it is very conservative and where there is a history of racism. He felt racism needs to be addressed here because we live in “the land of Dixie.” It was also commented that the current political times seems to have made it easier for people who harbor prejudice to be more vocal. Chief Allen asked for solutions from the group, but of the representatives of groups that spoke to this request, not one had a concrete solution. One person did suggest that education as to how the police force works and what to do in the event of a hate speech or any other incident should be made available to the public. Setting up a PACT similar to what is done in San Luis Obispo appears to be a possible solution. Look for more on this issue in upcoming issues of Morro Bay Life.
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4 - Morro Bay Life - February 2018
OUTDOORS
Right in Our Own Backyard: A trip to Kern National Wildlife Refuge BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE
Along with the national parks there are more than 500 national wildlife refuges in the country where visitors can view a variety of birds and animals. At this time of year, I visit as many of them as I can. Just a short drive inland from the Central Coast is the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. It was here recently on a bright sunny morning that my friend Mary and I joined up with Rangers Mike Ritter of Kern NWR and Nick Stanley of Pixley NWR for a guided tour. Kern was established in 1960 as a wintering area for ducks and geese that migrate south along the Pacific Flyway. These birds once numbered in the millions, depending on the natural marshes of the Tulare Lake Basin. In the early 1800s nearly the entire length of the southern San Joaquin Valley was a vast wetland. All the major rivers of the valley drained into the great Tulare Lake.
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Photo by Ruth Ann Angus)
This body of water at 200,000 acres was the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. Settlement changed that by diverting the rivers for agricultural irrigation. Marshes were drained, trees cut, uplands plowed until by the turn of the century, the wetlands were reduced to a tenth of their original size. Today Kern, as well as other
wildlife refuges in California, is flooded in fall and managed as marsh from October through March. “The primary job at both refuges,” Ritter says, “is to protect several endangered species.” I knew about one of them, the Tipton kangaroo rat, but Ritter explains that the San Joaquin kit fox and the blunt-nosed leopard lizard
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Design Luke Phillips 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.
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were the other two. “We also have a number of other threatened and endangered species. Some are birds and there are several mammals and even plant species.” Peregrine falcons, sandhill cranes, white-faced ibis, white pelicans, and southern bald eagles are birds that fall into these categories, which are seen regularly in season at Kern and Pixley, located 20 miles to the northeast, a 6,192-acre refuge that is not open to the public. At Kern we take the six-mile auto tour route, a loop that goes around Unit Two. “The ducks and geese that come to the refuge rely heavily on it for food, protection and shelter,” Ritter said. “Even though the natural wetlands have all but disappeared, these birds still use the same migration routes. So, places like Kern, Pixley, San Luis, Merced, and Sacramento National Wildlife Refuges are really important to them.” We stop at the numbered signs along the route, each one explaining a different aspect of the refuge. “There are some shovelers,” I say, pointing at the large-billed ducks in the adjacent pond. Northern shovelers are dabbling ducks that use their ungainly bills to sift through the marsh muck for bits of food. We also spy mallards, pintails, and some cinnamon teal along with hundreds of American coots. “Do hunters shoot the coots?” Mary asks. “I’m afraid that bird isn’t a delicacy,” Nick says, “and not many hunters take them.” “Someone needs to come up with a good recipe for coot,” she suggests, “then maybe they could reduce their numbers.” We all laugh. We come to area number seven, a ditch that has water flowing down it. “This is part of our water delivery system,” Ritter tells us, “the water is delivered up Goose Lake Canal and then dispersed into a variety of ditches like this one that feed the wetland units.” “Where does the water come from?” I ask. “All of it comes from the California Aqueduct. The units here are constructed using dikes and levees which help divide the larger units into small benches,” Ritter explains. “This reduces the amount of water needed to create appropriate habitat.” It was obvious to us that what appeared to be a simple group of flooded basins was a complex, coordinated system. One section contained an abundance of cattails or tules. Nick CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Morro Bay Life - February 2018 - 5
UPCOMING
Concentration on Climate Film series comes to First Christian Church
BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE
Citizens and faith based people are lately turning their concentration to the issue of climate change. In September of 2017 First Christian Church of Morro Bay established an Earth Care Ministry to look at ways they can address climate issues such as global warming and humanity’s carbon footprint. Earth Care begins this year with a concentrated effort to bring before the public these climate change problems facing the world today. A film series begins on March 4 and will be held bi-monthly at the church hall. Films selected come from producers that have worked with Climate Reality, National Geographic, the Sundance Film Festival and more. The films are chosen to encourage dialogue and run approximately and hour and a half. A discussion session will follow where each person can express their views and ideas on the topic presented. The first film Racing Extinction will show on Sunday, March 4 at 3 p.m. This film produced by the Academy Award winning filmmakers of the National Geographic Society exposes the forces that are leading our planet to its next mass extinction with the
SALLY LIGHTFOOT CRAB IN THE GALAPAGOS (Photo by Margaret Yun)
possible result being the loss of half of all species. Then film is an in-depth view of an international wildlife trade operating in the shadows, and reveals how creatures that have survived millions of years may be wiped from the earth in our lifetime. Also brought out is the other great force that the oil and gas companies don’t want the world to recognize. Using covert tactics and state of the art technology “Racing Extinction” exposes these two forces in an inspiring affirmation to preserve life as we know it. The end of the film is uplifting and shows the extent to which the filmmakers
went to bring images of endangered species to the public by using technology to place film footage on the sides of public structures including the United Nations building in New York. A photographic display of Margaret Yun’s photos of wildlife in the Galapagos Islands will also take place. Yun first became interested in marine biology during a twoweek city college class in Bahia de Los Angeles on the Sea of Cortez, in 1975. After a career as a technical writer and systems analyst in the financial industry, she went on to a career working to provide housing for the homeless and disabled, and
most recently as interim pastor at First Christian Church in Morro Bay. In December 2014, the Cambria resident joined National Geographic Expeditions for a seven-day exploration of the Galapagos Islands. Yun stated, “What spurred me to visit the Galapagos at that particular time were forecasts of a catastrophic El Nino event brought on by global warming - an event that could wipe out the marine iguana population and significantly affect the ecological balance of the islands.” She continued, “When I reflect on the expedition, there’s one passage that particularly comes to mind, it’s ‘I came that they may have life - have life abundantly.’ ‘Abundance’ describes these islands best, I think. In seven days we saw such a variety, from the waved albatross to the Nazca booby, to short-eared owls, red-billed tropicbirds, Darwin’s mockingbird, cactus finch, marine turtles, giant tortoises, marine iguanas, the Galapagos penguin, sharks. I’m so pleased to be able to share some of my photos from that incredible experience.” The film Racing Extinction is free to the public and refreshments will be served. Presentation will begin at 3 p.m. on March 4 at First Christian Church, 2050 Ironwood Ave. in Morro Bay.
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6 - Morro Bay Life - February 2018
ENTERTAINMENT
By the Sea Productions begins new season BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE
B
y the Sea Productions starts off the new year with a comedy by Hollywood writer/director/ playwright Paul Elliott entitled “Exit Laughing,” and directed by Lisa Woske. At the play’s core are three lifelong friends who are facing then loss of their “fourth Musketeer.” It is the empty chair at the bridge table that is the core of this play. Exit Laughing is about embracing life and living it to the fullest so that when the time comes, one exits through the joy of having spent a life will-lived. This show has been described as a “Steel Magnolias” meets “Golden Girls.” The vibrant cast of this season opener play their parts facing life head on and the laughs quickly follow. Through some clever surprise twists and plot points, these delightful characters learn some key life lessons from each other... and beyond. This is Lisa Woske’s first time directing for By the Sea Productions but not her first time directing having worked previously at SLO Little Theatre, now known as SLO Rep. She has directed numerous comedies and dramas, including Neil Simon’s “Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Dinner with Friends,” and “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Woske was “discovered” by Janice
The cast of Exit Laughing poses for photo at recent rehearsal.
(Photo by Ruth Ann Angus) Peters when she worked with her at SLO Little Theatre in “Miracle on 34th Street.” “I’m excited to be working with By the Sea Productions.” Woske said. “Bringing live theater to Morro Bay is a wonderful idea. When they approached me with this wonderful script I immediately said, ’yes.’ There is so much talent on the Central Coast and to have another community theater venue is a great gift to performers and audiences alike.” Woske, who has a penchant for British comedies, likes “slice of life” relationship plays that include friendship, romance, and character development because these types of
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shows “get the message across.” The cast of “Exit Laughing” includes Marilyn Blake playing Connie. Blake has been acting on the Central Coast for years, primarily at SLO Little Theatre in “Guys & Dolls,” and “Steel Magnolias,” as well as Neil Simons’ “Rumors” at Cambria Center for the Arts/CCAT. Jennifer Blumfield plays Leona in the show and has performed lead roles in 65 productions working locally with SLO Little Theatre, Chameleon Productions, and Wine Country Theater. She teaches drama at Mission College Prep. Janice Peters is Millie in the play and is the Morro Bay resident/ actor/director and has appeared in over 30 productions in the past seven years, including “Oklahoma,” “Menopause the Musical,” and “Steel Magnolias.” Nicole Carter plays Rachel, the
young girl in the show, and has worked at Cambria Center for the Arts/CCAT, SLO Rep, and Pewter Plough Playhouse with roles in “Guys & Dolls,” “Red Herring,” and “Period of Adjustment.” Greg De Martini plays Bobby and has recently worked primarily at SLO Rep with Reader’s Theatre roles in “The Baltimore Waltz” and “The Great God Pan,” as well as a main stage role in the musical “Oliver.” Production Assistant for Exit Laughing is Jo Jackson who has stage-managed dozens of shows for SLO Rep, and worked for Cambria Center for the Arts/CCAT. Jackson and Woske work together often. By the Sea Productions formerly, Pewter Plough Playhouse, had a wonderful 2017 year at the Erickson Parish Hall at Saint Peter’s By the Sea Episcopal Church in Morro Bay. “Our main shows and readers theatre productions were well attended and enjoyed,” Janice Peters reported, “and we are very happy to be part of this community.” For 2018 By the Sea Productions is offering five full productions and three reader’s theatre shows. A full line-up of shows is available on their web site www.bytheseaproductions. org. This non-profit is looking for sponsors, donors, and advertisers to help met their operational costs. They especially could use help with the wish list which is searching for a laptop computer, funds for promotional t-shirts, six LED lights, gift cards from stores such as Miners, Dollar Tree, ASAP, Home Depot, and Staples, and an either used or new light control board. Call 805-776-3287 for more information.
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8 - Morro Bay Life - February 2018
LOCAL
What’s odd about them? BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE
They are called Odd Fellows, and no one really knows exactly why. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows serves the community in Morro Bay as Bay Rock Lodge No. 300 with their membership that meets at their hall on Harbor Street. The IOOF are dedicated to improving and elevating the character of mankind by promoting the principles of friendship, love, truth, faith, hope, charity, and universal justice. Members work to help make the world a better place to live by aiding each other, the community, the less fortunate, the youth, the elderly, the environment, and the community in every way possible. They hold the belief that all men and women regardless of race, nationality, religion, social status, gender, rank, and station are brothers and sisters. An Odd Fellows lodge is a place for fellowship in all its forms, from hanging out and just having fun, to discussion, to networking, to collaboration on creative and constructive projects, all with an eye not only to their own satisfaction but on what they might offer to the
The Three Link Fraternity symbol of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows with Friendship, Love, and Truth encircled. (Photo by Ruth Ann Angus)
community at large. Bay Rock Lodge No. 300 On Harbor Street accomplishes much of this kind of work by offering their facility to groups that need a place for their meetings. Alcohol Anonymous is just one of those groups that utilizes use of the hall regularly for their meetings. Odd Fellows began on the coast in Cayucos in the 1800s, and kept in a glass-enclosed bookcase in the Morro Bay hall is a membership book dating to 1840. Captain James Cass, who built the pier, a warehouse that became the Vet’s
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hall, and his Victorian home in downtown Cayucos was an Odd Fellow. The Cayucos lodge burned down and in 1945 the Bay Rock Lodge in Morro Bay was chartered. Odd Fellows are not necessarily odd people. The name may have come about in the 1700s in England among common laboring men who formed a fraternity for social unity and fellowship. At that time, it was unusual for people to offer aid or mutual help to one another or to their community and that is what this group did so they were considered peculiar or “odd.”
Another explanation is that a group formed from men who worked at odd trades and they banded together. However, the true reason for the name is not known but it has been the object of public curiosity for well over 200 years. Bay Rock Lodge No. 300 participate in the Special Olympics and once a year in July they hold a large yard sale at their facility. Many lodges participate in an essay contest that is offered to high school students. Winners are taken to visit Washington, DC, Philadelphia, PA, Gettysburg, and Canada to attend Parliament, and are treated to a New York show. Bay Rock Lodge has participated in years past and will probably do so again in 2019. Supporting young people with events like these is a primary interest for Odd Fellows. Being an Odd Fellow is not exclusively for men, women are also members. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was the first fraternity to accept women as members which they did in 1851. Women belonged to the Rebekahs and still do, but these days women can join the men’s fraternity and CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
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10 - Morro Bay Life - February 2018
J
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Community Calendar
THURSDAY, FEB. 8
Morro Bay Women’s Connection Luncheon Morro Bay Women’s Connection Luncheon will feature Los Osos Cares. They offer information, referrals and services concerning employment, economic sustainability, health, housing and recreational needs. Also, former history teacher, Julie Camell will share how to prevent history from repeating itself through an Extreme Makeover. At Rock Harbor, 1475 Quintana in Morro Bay. First time guests free. From noon to 1:30 p.m. Reservations / Questions call Rita at 534-1739.
FRIDAY, FEB. 9
Joe and Hattie Craven and The Sometimers Joe Craven with his fantastic assemblage of musicians known as “The Sometimers”: Bruce MacMillan on guitar and Jonathan Stoyanoff on bass. Be prepared for a real treat as Joe’s daughter Hattie joins the mix! This promises to be a show filled with delight and surprises. Show is at Coalesce Bookstore at 45 Main St in Morro Bay and starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 and available at Coalesce Bookstore by calling (805) 772- 2880
SUNDAY, FEB. 11
Improv at the Libertine starts at 6 p.m. Sunday February 11. Morro Bay Historical Society Meeting Presenter John McCabe talks about the geological formation of the Morros and history of Morro Rock.
Potluck meets at 4:30 p.m. and program starts at 5:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Meeting at the Presbyterian Church, 485 Piney Way, Morro Bay. John McCabe, geology tutor at Cuesta College, will talk about the tectonic forces that caused the formation of the morros and how these volcanic plugs got to where they are located today with a focus on Morro Rock and its role in the development of Morro Bay.
TUESDAY, FEB, 12 Art Center Demonstration of Fabric Weaving By award winning artist Sandra Rude. Slide show and discussion with demonstration of weaving scarves, tapestries, and more. All from 3 to 5 p.m. Art Center Morro Bay, is located at 835 Main Street in Morro Bay.
TUESDAY, FEB. 13 Annual Fat Tuesday Dinner The Annual Spaghetti Dinner will be served on Tuesday, Feb. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. Tell a friend and come on down to the Estero Bay United Methodist Church to have some delicious dinner and to hear the sounds of The Low Expectations Hillbilly Band. Join us in the fun! Great food and great music! Spaghetti and meatballs or vegetarian sauce catered by Sandee Helow of Something’s Cooking. Spaghetti, green salad, garlic bread and homemade desserts. Adults-$10, Children 4 to 13-$5, Under 4-Free. To go boxes available, tickets at the Church office or at the door. 3000 Hemlock Ave, Morro Bay. For more information call the Church Office at 772-7644.
SATURDAY, FEB. 17 Resin Beach Art class
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Class fee is $80, instructor provides materials. For more information, contact, Joan Fee, Instructor (805) 286-5993. Art Center Morro Bay, is located at 835 Main Street in Morro Bay.
Sea Glass Wire Wrap From 1 to 3 p.m. Class fee is $60, instructor provides materials. For more information, contact, Joan Fee, Instructor (805) 286-5993. Art Center Morro Bay, is located at 835 Main Street in Morro Bay.
ONGOING
Old World Drawing and Painting with Jason Mayr 10-month course - Bi-weekly on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Begins February 5. Cost $35 for members and $40 for non-members. Full course description at www.artcentermorrobay. org. Register at jkmayr@aol.com or call 234-6931. Art Center Morro Bay, is located at 835 Main Street in Morro Bay.
Bay Main Street Market Buy directly from local farmers, crafts persons, fishers, artisans, food makers, and more. The Main Street Market is a Certified Farmers’ Market regulated by the cores and guidelines of the California Farmers’ Markets Association Rules and Regulations for Certified Farmers Market Program.
Downtown Morro Bay at the intersection of Main ST and Harbor ST, Morro Bay. From 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., every Saturday, weather permitting. Due to holidays and citywide events, the Market is closed an average of 2 weeks out of the year.
Angel Healing Circle On the second and fourth Wednesday, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. for the cost of $20 each to enjoy class with Mary Hiestand, ATP The Angel Healing Circle at Ruby Dragon is a peaceful time designed to help you relax, meditate, and connect to your Angels. For more information, visit rubydragon.info.
Friday Metaphysical Discussion Group
Come out to the Garden Chapel at Coalesce Bookstore Fridays at noon to 1 p.m. 845 Main Street Morro Bay. We continue our group gathered together to discuss the big ideas and participate in C some heartfelt sharing about spiritual topics, wisdom traditions and belief systems from around the world. With an open mind, in a seminar style give and take format, we explore symbology, the study of secret meanings that are often hidden in plain sight, and take up a different topic each week. Drop ins welcome! These juicy group meetings are led by Tobey White Heart Crockett PhD with Catherine Kincaid on Fridays at noon. Suggested donation $10 -20.
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Bingo Occurs the first Friday of every month at the Vet’s Hall. Early Bird at 5 p.m. and regular bingo at 6 p.m. Free coffee, water and cookies. Entrees are available for $4 dollars.
Peace activist on climate change coming to SLO BY RUTH ANN ANGUS OF MORRO BAY LIFE
Peace Activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee John Dear returns to the Central Coast sponsored by Yes We Can Peacebuilders, Earth Care Ministry of First Christian Church Morro Bay, and People of Faith for Justice to present his latest book, They Will Inherit the Earth: Peace and Nonviolence in a Time of Climate Change on Tuesday evening, March 6th at the United Church of Christ Congregational, 11245 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo at 7:00 P.M. In this landmark work, the
author connects the way of active nonviolence with solidarity with creation, and shows how our global epidemic of violence and war is only leading to catastrophic climate change. “I cite Jesus’ third Beatitude Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the earth as the basis for this work,” Dear says, “In the words of Thomas Merton, meekness is the biblical word for nonviolence.” Dear, who has lived the nonviolent life personally for almost four decades shares his experience serving as a pastor in the mission church at Yosemite and his encounters with New Mexican
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indigenous women who live at one with the earth resisting nuclear weapons production at Los Alamos, New Mexico. In the book Dear reflects on the work of environmental leader Bill McKibben and Pope Francis’ monumental encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si. He ends with suggested steps into conscious, mindful solidarity with all creatures and Mother Earth through active, steadfast nonviolence that he calls “eschatological nonviolence,” walking the earth in the footsteps of the nonviolent Jesus. Dear notes how Jesus connected nonviolence with oneness with creation, how he
practiced nonviolence and lived at one with creation, and how we need to do the same. McKibben, author of EAARTH; Making a Life on a Tough New Planet and founder of 350.org says of Dear’s book: “This is a remarkable testimony summing up a remarkable life: nonviolence is our greatest tool, and here you see it wielded with kindness, firmness, and skill.” Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, an author and activist says: “John Dear is an extraordinarily lucid writer on peace and nonviolence. If we are to save this world from destruction, we need to wake up and start building CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Morro Bay Life - February 2018 - 11
JOHN DEAR Continued from 10
peace and nonviolence.” Yes We Can Peacebuilders of Morro Bay, the Earth Care Ministry First Christian church Morro Bay, and People of Faith for Justice are excited to bring this international lecturer and proponent of nonviolence to the residents of the Central Coast. John Dear will invite us to rise to the occasion, deepen our nonviolence, take new steps into active solidarity with the earth and suffering humanity, and do what we can to welcome a new culture of peace and nonviolence. The event is free to the public and copies of the book will be on hand for purchase. Call 805-7719565 for more information.
ODD FELLOWS
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men can join the Rebekahs. One of the younger members of Bay Rock Lodge No. 300 is Sean Gibson, who is studying at Cal Poly University to become a teacher. Gibson is Recording Secretary and looks forward to helping his lodge become more involved in community work. “We’d like to join in and help those groups that are doing things for the homeless,” Gibson explained, “and we are open to joining with other civic
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KERN NATIONAL WILDLFE REFUGE Continued from 4
organizations and people taking action to work on community causes.” Gibson also emphasized that Odd Fellows has the large hall that is available to community members for a reasonable fee for meetings and events. The only thing not allowed is alcohol. “I’m hoping we will attract some new younger members,” Gibson said, “so that an organization like this will continue and thrive. There is a lot here for everyone.” The Independent Order of odd Fellows meets on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
tells us that this was the habitat type typical of the San Joaquin Valley back in history. “We manage these areas by adjusting water levels,” Nick says, “but also burn, mow and disc the area.” This allows germination of food plants and improves the habitat by setting back the plant growth. Other plants that are propagated on the refuge are swamp timothy and millet that are important food sources high in carbohydrates for wintering waterfowl. Hawks and owls frequent the area using the stands of cottonwood and willow trees for roosting and nesting. “Do many people come here,” I ask. “Not as many as we’d like,” Ritter answers. “We get more hunters in season than we do people coming for bird watching, like you.” I think that this fact seems like a real shame since this is such an accessible spot. With our visit ending, we thank Mike and Nick and climb back in our car to start home. Mary and I spotted 30 species of birds; two were life lists for us – the Redhead duck and Cassin’s kingbird. Brush rabbits, ground squirrels and an appearance of a wandering coyote rounded out the mammals encountered. It was a complete day and it was right in our own backyard! Check out www.fws.gov/refuge/kern/ for more information. Kern NWR is located 20 miles west of Delano, CA on Corcoran Road.
12 - Morro Bay Life - February 2018
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