North County Life July 2012

JULY 2012

Life

Swing, batter North County Indians (pg. 6)

NORTH

Cookie Canvas

July 4th fun!

Celebrations galore (Pg. 8)

COUNTY

Paso Robles mom Elizabeth Adams puts her paintbrush to use – with irresistible results

FOOD & WINE

Jennifer Best Jennifer Best is a San Luis Obispo native who recently moved to Creston with her husband and children. She is the author of "Best Family Adventures: San Luis Obispo County" and "Best Family Adventures: Santa Barbara.” Though her great grandparents included farmers, a dairyman and builder of hand-crafted homes, Jennifer's still working out the basics of country living: sawing in a straight line and raising a garden in spite of gophers and squirrels. If you've worked out the secrets to flourishing in the country, or have a story idea, contact her at JBest@BestFamilyAdventures.com.

Jennifer Best

W

hen Elizabeth Adams puts her paintbrush to work, chances are slim she's painting on traditional canvas. When all is said and done, she's just as likely to eat her creations as give them away.

Adams is an internationally recognized painter of cookies, a cookie baker and decorator – in modern parlance, a “cookier.”

"The community of the cookier is worldwide, cookies are huge online and the challenges posed there open your mind up," she said. “There are just so many amazing ideas out there and it's inspiring to be friends with all these creative people. It's a very supportive community.”

The Paso Robles stay-athome mother of three youngsters began documenting her cookie decorating efforts in 2010 after creating a particularly ornate, monogram-andpolka-dot design for her daughter's 7th birthday.

In 2012, her cookie decorating and documentation project took off.

“I didn't know there was such a large community of

cookiers. I started posting for myself because when you eat your art you kind of forget what you've done. You lose track of your creations," Adams said.

Today, her blog (ArtyMcgoo.blogspot.com) has more than 5,000 followers, and she's been selected as a presenter for CookieCon, an international cookie making, baking and decorating convention slated for Salt Lake City, Utah in November.

“There's always a reason to have cookies," Adams said.

Cookie decorating involves a long process. Once the cookies are cut out, baked and cooled, they receive the Royal Icing treatment and must sit for COOKIE pg. 11

FENOMENAL Sustainable treats (pg. 12)

PHOTO

Photo by Jennifer Best

FRESH FROM THE OVEN – Elizabeth Adams is an internationally recognized painter of cookies.

Beating the clock at Farm Supply’s annual Extreme Quiz Jam Competitors race through agriculture challenges for the best time 2012 GRADUATES

Jandy Jones Jandy Jones is a fifthgeneration San Luis Obispo County native and calls Creston home. She has a degree in journalism from Cal Poly and a passion for agriculture.

Jandy enjoys exploring the county along with her husband and two dogs.

Moving up, onward (pg. 9)

FITNESS

Jandy Jones

Photo by Jandy Jones

THEY KNOW THEIR AG – Senior Quiz Jam champions pose after being awarded the fastest time in the 14 to 18 age bracket. The agriculture-based youth competition returns to the Mid-State Fair on July 22.

W

hen it comes to Mid-State Fair time, most people think of the animals, the carnival rides and of course, fair food. For some though, the year-long anticipation is due to Quiz Jam. Extreme Quiz Jam, created by Farm Supply Company employees Sue Traglia and Susan Hayes, is a series of agriculture-related challenges that children race through for the best time.

“The event is fun and educational,” Farm Supply Company Marketing Coordinator Cara Crye said. “It’s the perfect way to start off the fair experience for these junior livestock exhibitors.”

The participants, ages nine through 18, compete in teams of four against the clock. The challenge is to successfully complete five agriculture-related stations and race across the finish line. Each age bracket has champiQUIZ JAM pg. 7

The Spin Cycle Life’s good on the bike (pg. 15)

Paso Robles Press P.O. Box 427 Paso Robles, CA 93447

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July 2012 North County Life

page 2

Life NORTH

COUNTY

Summertime fun!

This year, Fourth of July events abound in North County.

Atascadero is putting on its first citywide event in many years, Paso Robles will be alive with fireworks and there’s more to see and do in this month’s community calendar.

We hope you’ll get out there and celebrate with us – even if you just fire up the grill in your own backyard.

NEWS: 3

COMMUNITY: 4 BEAUTY: 8

Hayley Thomas, FITNESS: 14

Editor, North County Life community@pasoroblespress.com

CALENDAR: 10

PUZZLE: 11 GOOD EATS : 12

NORTH COUNTY

PUBLISHER Jeremy Burke

Life

Published monthly by Paso Robles Press & Atascadero News Paso Robles Press P.O. Box 427 Paso Robles, CA 93447 Ph: (805) 237-6060 Fx: (805) 237-6066 www.PasoRoblesPress.com

Atascadero News 5660 El Camino Real Atascadero, CA 93447 Ph: (805) 466-2585 Fx: (805) 466-2714 www.AtascaderoNews.com

www.YourNCL.com

EDITOR IN CHIEF Hayley Thomas community@pasoroblespress.com STAFF WRITERS Jandy Jones Creig P. Sherburne Meagan Friberg Lisa Pretty Josh Petray Janis Switzer Heather Young Jennifer Best

Life

NEWS COMMUNITY SPORTS

NORTH

COUNTY

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North County Life July 2012

Tom Martin Day makes a splash

page 3

Templeton Rotary Music Fest raises voices, funds for high schools Near sell-out crowd packs Templeton Performing Arts Center

Contributed

T

he Paso Robles Children’s Museum at the Volunteer Firehouse celebrated another year of growth, exuberance and learning while remembering its founder, Tom Martin. The event kicked off in June at The Ravine Water Park.

Organizers credited Ravine Water Park owner Brett Butterfield for helping host a funfilled day with family friendly activities. A popular activity offered was the “Rubber Duck Derby.” Attendees were able to purchase “a duck for a buck” and proceeds went directly to PRCM. The ducks where then released into the Lazy River, and the top ten ducks to finish their journey won prizes for their owners.

“Tom Martin was a man with a dream for our children. He had a vision to enhance the quality of the play experience for the children of our community,” said museum manager Tamara Richardson. “His passion for children is the heart of the Museum. It’s truly evident in the friendly experience you feel when you come to the Firehouse.”

Richardson said she felt the same way when she was first introduced to Butterfield.

“He also has a dream for the children and the families of our community and it’s evident in the passion and hard work he dedicated to the Ravine and our community,” she said.

“This was a perfect location to celebrate the life and legacy of Tom Martin.”

The Paso Robles Children’s Museum File photo is located at 623 13th St., Paso Robles.

Grandchildren of the late Tom Martin, Riley and Mace Visit www.pasokids.org or call 238-7432 Sherlock, splash at the Ravine as the Paso Robles for more information.

Children’s Museum celebrated Tom Martin Day.

By Josh Petray

C

horal notes rang through the Templeton Performing Arts Center last month, spurring a sense of joy and satisfaction on behalf of a local service club who – for the second year-in-a-row – has made it a point to help support the arts and music programs throughout the entire North County and beyond.

The Templeton Rotary Club hosted its second annual Templeton Rotary Club Music Festival, whose proceeds benefit music programs in the county. Celebration Chorus was the audience favorite. The Rotary Club gave two high school honorariums of $500 each and two first-prize awards of $500, totaling $2,000.

Morro Bay took home first place in the high school division, and the Cuesta Chamber singers were the judges' choice.

For more information on the Templeton Rotary Club, visit www.templeton rotary.com.

Photos by Josh Petray

Above, The Cuesta Chamber Singers perform at the Templeton Performing Arts Center, taking home the top judges’ choice award for non-youth performers. Below, tap dancers sing and shine.

page 4

July 2012 North County Life BUSINESS FEATURE

Instilling excellence, one student at a time Central Coast Academy of Taekwondo – not your average fitness facility Meagan Friberg

H

umble. This is the word that comes to mind when talking with Central Coast Academy of Taekwondo President and Grand Master Glen Boyer. Executive director of the Paso Robles nonprofit martial arts school, Boyer holds a 7th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido.

A quiet, simple man by all accounts, one only has to spend an hour at Boyer’s martial arts school to know there is a bit more to this humble man.

“We fell in love with Master Boyer from the very beginning,” Julie Wouters said.

Wouters and her family, husband, Justin and children Evie and Tristan, are all students at the academy.

"He introduced our family to a whole new world."

Wouters, a Tae Kwon Do champion, is currently taking a break from training during pregnancy. She said Boyer is very tied in with presidents of various Taekwondo associations and he has introduced her family to most of them.

"We had never done martial arts before and my husband wanted to try it," Wouters said. "It is something we can all do together as a family, and it is a good workout. It’s a wonderful environment — it's something that pushes you mentally as well as physically."

Organizations such as the World Tae Kwon Do Federation in Seoul, Korea, United States Olympic Committee, California Unified Tae Kwon Do Association and CCATKD’s parent organization, the South Western Association of Martial Arts and others too vast to mention also recognize the school and Master Boyer’s commitment to excellence.

In business on the north end of Paso Robles for the past three years, the Central Coast Academy of Taekwondo is recognized as one of the premiere schools of martial art not only in Paso Robles but across California and the entire nation as an outstanding college of martial arts, fitness and health.

For the past two years, several CCATKD students have achieved California state championship status.

“Our job, our motto is to develop leaders and cultivate champions,” Boyer said. “It’s so easy to deflate an ego. We don’t want to do that here. We want to build up our students.”

• Commitment to excellence According to Boyer, at the academy the emphasis has always been placed upon excellence – excellence in personal discipline, physical achievements, academics and in martial art technique and fighting ability. In addition, students are

HELPING HAND – Grand Master Boyer provides personal instruction to his students during a recent class.

Photos by Meagan Friberg

MASTER BOYER – Grand Master Glen Boyer works with Andie Boardman, left, and Tristan Wouters as they train alongside fellow students during a recent class.

held to standards for a high level of moral and personal attitude and achievement.

“Oftentimes, students who come in here for one reason end up doing different things,” Boyer said.

“Their grades improve, Bs become As because they learn how to focus, they learn how to concentrate, they learn to stick with a topic. We connect mind, body and spirit. That spills over into school, work, other sports, even surfing – it works for everything. We work on agility and dexterity. It is hand-eye coordina-

tion down to its finest.”

Boyer grew up in San Diego, spent six years as an Air Force Military Policeman in Korea and Vandenberg, graduated college and worked as an IT director before reconnecting with a military buddy who had moved to the Paso Robles area. In addition to Tae Kwon Do and Hapkido, he has also studied boxing and kickboxing, Shaolin Kenpo, Kendo, Judo, Jui-Jitsu, Muay Thai and Escrima. He offers instruction in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, kickboxing, fitness, health and

nutrition.

“This is my full-time gig now,” Boyer said. “I had been doing this just for fun.

I got my start as a kid at the old YMCA. I have friends who were on the U.S. Team and were Olympic champions. That’s where I was supposed to go, but I decided to go into the Air Force. It was not in my heart to compete; my heart was to do something for my country.”

P.J. Boreham, Andia Lashlee, Jonathan Bluff and Justin Wouters currently assist Boyer in coaching stu-

dents at the school. Many of the academy students serve or have served in the United States Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force or Coast Guard.

The academy boasts success in the area of rehabilitation training and has been called upon to provide rehabilitation for individuals injured in accidents as well. In addition, patients from a variety of medical and clinical treatment programs, as well as individuals needing assistance with weight loss, nutrition alternatives, building confidence and personal self defense are among those who have benefited from the classes and personal attention offered through the school.

Action-packed fun ■ Enjoy classes in Tae Kwon Do, Hapkido, kickboxing, self-defense and fitness ■ Classes offered Monday through Friday ■ Located at 2101 Vanderlip Ct. #1 in Paso Robles ■ Call 975-2281 for more information or e-mail MasterBoyer@ccatkd.com

North County Life July 2012

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Ninth Pinot & Paella simmers in Templeton ■

A steamy $25,000 raised for Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation Hayley Thomas

T

he summer sun wasn't the only thing sizzling last month as a record 700 visitors flocked to Templeton Community Park for the ninth annual Paso Robles Pinot & Paella Festival.

Twenty pinot noir producers and nearly just as many chefs chefs gathered for the culinary celebration, which featured live music

by Incendio and plenty of fresh ingredients to nosh on. Each paella featured a lively twist, from coconut curry flavors to traditional Spanish flare. Savory pork, chicken and seafood combinations simmered in

large, flat pans in the afternoon sun. Tasters were encouraged to vote on each dish, although choosing a favorite proved nearly impossible for many. A refreshing breeze kept tasters cool and ready for seconds, thirds and fourth helpings.

The first Pinot & Paella Festival began nearly a decade ago at Windward Vineyard, which produces pinot noir exclusively.

The event now boasts the best pinot noir from a range of local wineries inLe Vigne, cluding Sculpterra and Adelaida Cellars, among others.

Windward Vineyard Tasting Room Manager and Pinot & Paella Festival or-

ganizer Anna Tognazzini was encouraged by this year's support.

“We sold out far in advance. The people have been coming from all over the state,” Tognazzini said.

“All the chefs were sure to prepare extra paella in preparation of a sold-out event.”

The festival raised more than $25,000, which was presented to the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation during its Summer Revue event held on Thursday, June 14.

Said Tognazzini, “This year's festival has been really spectacular.”

Photos by Hayley Thomas

YUM – Paella mixed with king salmon, starry flounder, lingcod, manilla clam, littleneck clam and blue mussels prepared

by Dockside.

From left, Estrella Executive Chef Ryan Swarthout and Chef de Cuisine Travis Borba serve up a vibrant dish for a good cause.

GET IT WHILE IT’S HOT – Hundreds line up for hot portions of paella last month. The event raised $25,000 for local youth programs. BELOW: Chef Charlie drizzles his paella with Olea Farms olive oil before serving.

TOAST – Windward Vineyard Tasting Room Manager and Pinot & Paella Festival organizer Anna Tognazzini was encouraged by this year's support.

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July 2012 North County Life

Play ball! Templeton’s semi-pro team has arrived

Meagan Friberg

alling the first two weekends of play "a tremendous success," North County Indians’ Photos by Meagan Friberg owner and general manager Kevin Haughian said he is encouraged by the size of the Former Paso Robles Bearcat crowds showing up to cheer on Templeton’s new semi-professional baseball team.

Brett Wise takes his turn at “We had a great crowd opening night,” Haughian said. “We appreciate all of the supbat during the Indians’ four port and enthusiasm.” game series against the Nor The Indians arrived in style to their grand opening ceremony last month courtesy of Cal Longhorns.

Central Coast Trolley. Ladies in attendance received a red carnation provided by Templeton's Adelaide Floral. The Templeton High School Band as well as local favorite The Fair Weather Four Barbershop Quartet performed for the crowd. Ceremonial first pitches were thrown out by Templeton Unified School District Board President Dr. Nelson Yamagata, Atascadero Mayor Bob Kelley and San Luis Obispo County’s District One Supervisor Frank Mecham.

Following opening ceremonies, the Indians took to the field in their first of a four-game series against Nor Cal. The Indians secured a 4-3 victory after the Longhorns left what would have been the tying run on third base for the final out.

“It was an exciting ball game for us,” Indians’ head coach Dan Marple said.

The Indians returned the next day with added strength, beating the Longhorns by a whopping 26-1 in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

“We swung the bat very well,” Marple said.

He also praised the pitching performance of Cal Poly recruit Casey Bloomquest, who threw five solid innings. “All of the guys played a really good game.”

The win set the team up for a tough night cap game according to Marple because he said a team that scores 26 runs has a tendency to let down a bit after a seven-inning ball game.

“I told the players before the second game that we were going to be in a battle,” Marple said.

That statement held true as the Indians were down 3-0 at the end of the fifth inning.

After scratching for a run in the sixth inning, the Indians managed to mount a good comeback, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh to claim a 4-3 victory over the Longhorns.

The Indians suffered their first defeat of the season in the final game of the series last month as they fell 7-4 to the Longhorns.

“We are off to a nice start,” Marple said. “I could not be more pleased with the makeup of this club – they hustle, they play hard and they all get along. They have blended well together in just two short weeks. That’s really a tough thing to do in a summer ball club because we have players coming from all over California.”

Haughian agreed, saying he is very impressed with everyone in the lineup and cited three Cal State Northridge players – Aaron Ashston, Mike Lovingston and Ryan Raslowsky — as standouts.

He also pointed to two of Cal Poly’s top recruits, catcher Brian Mundell and pitcher Casey Bloomquest as welcome additions to the lineup. According to Haughian, Mundell, a catcher from Valencia, was drafted this week in the fifth round by the Dodgers but decided to take a full ride to Cal Poly instead.

“It’s a good blend of local high school, junior college and four-year college ball players,” Haughian said. “The community is going to see some real good baseball, some great on-field promotions, fun songs from the announcers and a few silly things, too. It’s good, affordable family fun.”

Bring the entire family out to watch the North County Indians as they continue their summer program.

“We will be here to play and we will play hard,” Marple said, adding he encourages the community to come out and support their local semi-pro team. “With the Indians, you are going to see a team that really hustles, puts the ball in play and plays good brand of defense.”

For a full schedule and more information, visit www.northcountyindians.com and be sure to “like” them on Facebook for photos and updates.

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North County Life July 2012

page 7

“There was really a renewed enthusiasm with the kids in teams having to work together.” – Susan Hayes

QUIZ JAM Continued from Pg. 1

ons and reserve champions that walk away with sweatshirts, savings bonds and gift certificates. All competitors get goody bags filled with hats and other souvenirs. Some even have coupons for free jeans or passes to The Ravine Waterpark. Competitors earn their rewards hard by facing off with tractor tires, roping dummies and safety gear. But it wasn’t always this way.

“It was a contest of knowledge,” Susan Hayes said about the Quiz Jam’s inception.

It started as a quiz of 50 questions related to horses, cattle, goats, dogs, cats and more. Each participant had to answer 10 questions at five stations in a set time. The top scores won prizes and each participant walked away with souvenirs. As popularity grew, Hayes and her fellow organizers realized they needed to change it up it to keep the children on their toes. Extreme Quiz Jam was born.

“We just want to get kids exposed to different things like changing a tire,” Hayes said. “Just get them more hands-on.”

It wasn’t easy though. The challenges had to be user friendly and couldn’t be dangerous. Ideas were tossed around and vetoed out, mainly due to safety issues. In the end, organizers came up with

Photos by Jandy Jones

Changing a tractor tire is just one of several challenges competitors face in Extreme Quiz Jam.

six stations: Changing a tire, vaccinating and ear-tagging a fake calf, roping and branding a fake calf, tacking up a fake horse, moving hay bales and identifying items.

The children are broken into two age divisions: Nine through 13 and 14 through 18.

They compete in teams of four to accomplish the challenges. In the past, the event has taken up to 50 teams.

“There was really a renewed enthusiasm with the kids in teams having to work together,” Hayes said.

It has been seven years since Quiz Jam went “extreme,” and it continues to grow. Hayes said it’s not only because of the youth enthusiasm, but the sponsors as well.

The event would not be possible without the help of the community. The sponsor list tops at 25 mostly local businesses and friends of the jam. It’s also run by an assort-

ment of friendly volunteers.

The community has always been amped about sponsoring the event; it’s easy to help out the children, Hayes said.

Many loyal volunteers have been assisting with the event since it went extreme seven years ago, and the stands are always full.

“It’s quite entertaining for the spectators too,” Crye said.

Recently, the event has changed some of the challenges because rumors were floating around that competitors were practicing in the “off season,” Hayes said.

The event is free with fair admission and will be held on July 22 at 7 p.m. in the horse show arena at the fairgrounds.

To pick up a registration form or for more information visit Farm Supply or call 2381177.

Competitors must eartag and vaccinate a “calf” as part of the Extreme Quiz Jam challenge.

As his team mates look on, a brave roper attempts to wrangler the “steer” to be branded.

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page 8

July 2012 North County Life

Wine, Lips & Beauty Tips FEATURED WINERY VINOTHERAPY’S RED SOLES WINERY

A

fter years of wanting to experiment with their own fruit, Cheryl Phillips finally convinced her husband, Randy, to make some wine.

Not having any equipment, the pair crushed that historic first barrel with their own feet. Following a fruitful romp in that first bin of grapes, the couple stumbled upon the name Red Soles while admiring each other's red, grape-stained feet. That first crush of Petite Sirah and Zinfandel grapes later became the founding partner's premier vintage, their 2004 KickOff. This uniquely successwine-making duo happily run the tasting room themselves. Each wine in their line-up is estate-grown, and the duo is proud of the fact that they do not source their wine grapes from any vineyard other than their own.

Although the winery is definitely a full-time business, the main focus of Randy and Cheryl's company will always be farming. There is something extremely satisfying about being able to be part of a wine grape's journey from

dust to vine and vine to barrel. Currently, the pair owns two hundred acres of wine grapes; half are on the east side of Paso Robles and the other half are at the winery site in the Templeton Gap. Only a small percentage of what is grown gets turned into Red Soles wine; the rest of the grapes are sold to large wineries, most of whom they have been doing business with for years.

If you want an afternoon to remember, stop by the tasting room, meet the owners, taste some delicious wines and bring your friends on over for a relaxing picnic on the oak and vine edged lawn.

SIP NOW EVENTS ROBERT HALL 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION 6 - 10 p.m.

Eat, Drink and Dance under the 4th of July Fireworks. Live Entertainment by the Tom Nolan Band.

Your ticket includes a full meal from Ribline with Ribs, BBQ Chicken, BBQ Baked Beans, Garden Salad and Brownies. $42/pp; $34/Club Members, $22/children. Call 2391616.

JULY 7

by Nena Benson

Brought to you by Vino+Therapy Studio. The skin and body wine experience is located at 5990 Entrada Ave. in downtown Atascadero.

HWY 46 BLOCK PARTY AT CASTORO CELLARS 6:30 p.m.

The Famous, Fabulous Hwy 46W Neighborhood Block Party is back. Taste wine from the 14 member wineries and enjoy a casual 'mini-wine festival' atmosphere. Enjoy a delicious All American BBQ by Popolo Rotisserie Cafe and great live music by Nataly Lola and Michael Shelton. $35/pp Call 238-0725.

JULY 8 VERIS CELLARS WITH VINOITHERAPY STUDIO 12 - 2 p.m.

Complimentary chair massage with tasting provided by Veris Cellars, home of JanKris, Ben Hogan & Nova Vita wines. Get pampered by the vine while drinking wine. Every second Sunday of every month. Call 434-0319.

JULY 13 FIRST CRUSH WINE MAKING EXPERIENCE 3 - 5 p.m This seminar provides guests a wonderful introduction to Paso Robles wine country, its wines, and how to taste

them. The presentation gives guests an overview of how terrior influences wine taste and learn how wine is made, along with learning how to evaluate wines.$30/pp. Call 4342772.

BEAUTY TIPS EYE TREATMENTS Eyelash Perm $50 Beautifully curls your lashes, lasting up to two lush months.

Eyelash Tint $20 Darkening the lashes emphasizes the eyes without the use of make-up. An excellent option for those with an active lifestyle.

Eyebrow Tint $15 Darkening the brows emphasizes the eyes without the use of make-up. An excellent option for those with an active lifestyle.

Botox & Fillers On July 18 get half-off pricing on Botox & fillers at Vino Therapy. Call 4668466 for an appointment.

BOOK A GIRL’S NIGHT OUT PARTY hy go to the bar, when you can drink, eat and be pampered? (Groups of four or more only) $40 Per Person: A Glass Of Wine, Wine Foot Soak & Champagne Sugar Scrub Foot Treatment, Port Infused

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Truffles, Chair Massage $65 Per Person: A Glass Of Wine, Wine Foot Soak & Champagne Sugar Scrub Foot Treatment, Port Infused Truffles, 30 Min Vino Massage or Coco-Cab Facial $85 Per Person: A Glass Of Wine, Wine Foot Soak & Champagne Sugar Scrub Foot Treatment, Port Infused Truffles, an array of appetizers, Vino Massage or Facial.

Then, continue with an educational wine tasting at The Barrel Room, which features seven different boutique wineries. The Barrel Room is located next door to Vino Therapy in downtown Atascadero.

Atascadero to gather for citywide July 4th fun Heather Young

F

or the first time in decades, citizens of Atascadero can stay in town for a Fourth of July celebration. For many years, no official celebration has taken place in Atascadero on the federal

holiday.

While there will be no fireworks this year, Mayor Bob Kelley said it could be discussed in the future. According to the city of Atascadero, the last year fireworks were held in Atascadero was 1982. Atascadero City Fire

File photo

A slew of events are slated for The Fourth of July in Atascadero, including free zoo passes, lakeside festivities and more.

Department Chief Kurt Stone said that due to fire risk, the city council passed an ordinance that banned the use of fireworks within city limits.

“We thought it might be too big of a thing to jump into the first time,” Kelley said, adding that the ex-

pense was prohibitive, as well as having to change the city’s ordinance that bans fireworks.

Regardless of whether or not fireworks will be a part of future events, Kelley said that he and the other members of the community committee want it to be a family day at the Atascadero Lake Park.

“I think it’s really going to be great,” Kelley said.

He said that Councilman Jerry Clay came up the idea to restart the annual celebration, but it was when Kelley was walking through Winter Wonderland that he really “got it.”

“I was just walking through and caught myself grinning,” Kelley said. “I saw all these families [having fun] without having to pay anything.”

The day will start at 7 a.m. with 10K, 5K and onemile runs and a Lions Club pancake breakfast. It will end at 7 p.m., giving, Kelley said, people who want to see fireworks time to travel to one of the cities that do

put on firework shows.

In addition to various activities throughout the day, the Charles Paddock Zoo will offer free admission.

Kelley said that donations will be accepted throughout the day for those that would like to make a donation to the zoo.

The wading pool next to the lake will also be open for free that day.

In addition to the runs sponsored by Kennedy Club Fitness, K-Man Cycle & Run will sponsor a bike ride starting at 10 a.m. and a Babe Ruth baseball game will also start at 10 a.m. at Alvord Field.

Committee member Steve Martin said arts and crafts, informational booths, cotton candy, kettle corn and other vendors are being sought. Martin said that the vendors should not compete with the main food vendors.

Those interested in being a vendor should contact Al Fonzi at 423-5482 or ajfonzi@hotmail.com.

The committee is still seeking sponsors to add to

those it already has: Wysong Construction, Rabobank, Mission Community Bank and the Atascadero News.

“It’s not to make any money, but to just have a nice day at the park,” Kelley said.

He said that any money left over from this year will be held over for next year’s event.

Kelley also said the committee is seeking volunteers to help with the event.

To volunteer, call Martin.

In the evening, while parents enjoy music by the Martin Paris Band, a free movie will be shown at Galaxy Theatres for children.

For more, go to vistatascadero.com.

For more July 4th events, see the community calendar on page 10.

North County Life July 2012

page 9

GO, GRADS! SENIORS TAKE CENTER STAGE Atascadero, Templeton, Paso Robles cheer on class of 2012 Photo by Hayley Thomas

LEAD THE WAY – PRHS Senior class president Elizabeth Kerr encouraged her peers to push through challenges on the road ahead.

Photos by Hayley Thomas

Paso Robles High School Class of 2012 graduates are applauded by their family, friends and peers.

Photo by Colleen Goodman

Templeton High School graduates recieve their diplomas.

Photo by Creig P. Sherburne

Andrew Bergdorf, a Top 30 and freshly-graduated Atascadero High School student who had a specific mention in Commencement speaker Kennedy Fields’ speech, heads back to his seat, diploma in hand.

Photo by Colleen Goodman

Templeton High School graduated 180 seniors in the Class of 2012 last month.

Photo by Creig P. Sherburne

Hats show off the personality and panache of AHS’s Class of 2012.

Photo by Creig P. Sherburne

Now graduated, 345 AHS students move on to the next phase of their lives.

page 10

July 2012 North County Life

Community Calendar Get involved, see, taste and play TUESDAY, JULY 3 TUESDAYS AT THE PARK The Atascadero Chamber of Commerce will host Tuesday Evenings at the Lake from June 19 through Aug. 28. The Atascadero Elks barbecue crew prepares the meals that are hosted by various community organizations.

Barbecued chicken and sirloin with beans, bread, salad and beverage is served from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by the Atascadero Community Band performing free “Big Band” concerts from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Lake Park Bandstand. Tickets are available at the event or from any member of an organization that’s hosting a barbecue, or call the Chamber office at 4662044 for additional information. Tickets are $12 each for those 12 and older, seniors 60 and over are $10 each and children 11 and under are $6. Takeout will be available. The hosts of the July 3 event are Quota International and Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 ROBERT HALL CELEBRATION Robert Hall Winery's Annual 4th of July celebration will feature food, drink and dance under the 4th of July fireworks from 6 to 10 p.m. Live entertainment will be provided by the Tom Nolan Band. Your ticket includes a full meal from Ribline with Ribs.

Enjoy a glass of wine and an amazing view of the fireworks. $42/person ($34 Cavern Club members) and $22 a plate for chil-

dren 6-12. Blankets and lawn chairs welcome. No outside alcohol allowed.

For more information, call 239-1616.

ATASCADERO FOURTH OF JULY The Atascadero Fourth of July celebration will be held at Atascadero Lake Park on July 4 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The day will start with three fun runs — 5K, 10K and one mile — and a pancake breakfast by the Lion’s Club. The day will include lunch and dinner for sale, old-fashioned games, live music, free admission to the zoo and wading pool and more. For more information, go to www.visitatas cadero.com.

TEMPLETON FOURTH OF JULY Templeton’s annual Independence Day Parade, sponsored by the Templeton Kiwanis Club, will be held on July 4 at 10 a.m. and will run along Main Street. After the parade, there will be an awards ceremony, food, entertainment, music, fun and games. Before the parade, the Templeton Fire Department will hold its annual pancake breakfast from 7 to 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $4 a person or $1 for children under 10. For more information, call Kay Walker at 237-9825.

SANTA MARGARITA FOURTH OF JULY Santa Margarita will hold its annual Fourth of July celebration on July 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community members are encouraged to decorate bikes and wagons in red, white and blue and join the parade down H street. After the parade there will be live music, games, contests, art and craft faire and more at Santa Margarita Community Park. For more infor-

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Come make a Difference!

Call today or check online about our volunteering programs.

mation, call 438-5011 or go to www.santamargari tacc.org.

PASO ROBLES FOURTH OF JULY There will be a 4th of July celebration and fireworks display at Barney Schwartz Park in Paso Robles. Parking is $10 per car and $15 for RVs and trailers. Limited free parking available at the park, paid parking at adjacent Chandler Ranch lot: look for signs. The park opens at noon. Music and food will be provided all day.

Bounce houses open at 2 p.m. Kids games begin at 3 p.m. The official program goes from 7:30 to 8 p.m.

Fireworks begin at approximately 9:15 p.m. For visit www. more, pasofireworks.com.

FRIDAY, JULY 6 PASO ROBLES CONCERTS IN THE PARK Contemporary rock will be on-hand during the Concerts in the Park series as Truth about Seafood take the stage on Friday, July 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles City Park Gazebo. A long time favorite of the Central Coast with a blend of acoustic driven rock and a classic rock sound, this band draws a wide range of fans. For more concerts in the park, visit www.prcity.com.

ALMOND COUNTRY QUILT GUILD Please join the Almond Country Quilters Guild for its July meeting on Friday, July 6 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Road in Paso Robles. Social begins at 6:30 p.m., and the general meeting begins at 7 p.m. The July agenda will include a lecture by Sue Rasmussen titled "The Ins and Outs of Sewing Machine Needles and Threads." For more information about the guild, please check out www.almondcountryquilters.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 7

www.centralcoasthospice.com P: 805-540-6020 F: 805-540-6025

ATASCADERO PARK CONCERTS The city of Atascadero will host its summer concert

series July 7 through Aug. 11 at Atascadero Lake Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Pacific Harvest Catering will have gourmet barbecue for purchase. On July 7, the Jammies will perform.

TUESDAY, JULY 10 STORYFEST The Atascadero library will host Evening Storyfest for Families will take place on Tuesdays from July 10 to 31 from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles are invited to bring their youngsters to a funfilled evening. Each session will feature a special guest appearance. All are welcome to come in pj’s and to bring a stuffed cuddly toy or “blankee.” Storyfest is free to the public.

FRIDAY, JULY 13 ACOUSTIFY The Concerts in the Park series presents classic pop Acoustify on Friday, July 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles City Park Gazebo. Acoustify is made up of members of the bands Shades of Gray and The Rhythm Method to make one cool, laidback acoustic sound, perfect for a summer evening.

SATURDAY, JULY 14 LAVENDER FESTIVAL The fourth annual Central Coast Lavender Festival will held in the Downtown Paso Robles City Park on July 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The free event celebrates the lavender industry–an emerging local product–and features lavender producers from throughout the county, who will serve tastes of lavender cuisine, sampling of lavender oils, dipping sauces, lavender ice cream, and education on lavender, lavender growing, and sustainable farming practices. There will be free seminars on distilling lavender, benefits of lavender, and demon-

– MID-STATE FAIR RETURNS – The California Mid-State Fair will take you on “The Great American Road Trip” July 18 through 29. Don’t miss all the fair food, wild rides, livestock shows, mutton bustin and good times. Visit www.midstatefair.com for more details.

strations throughout the day in the City Park Gazebo. Learn more about the Lavender Festival at www.centralcoastlavenderfestival.com.

MID-STATE CRUISERS The Mid-State Cruizers will hold its monthly Show & Shine gathering at the Adobe Plaza on the second Saturday of the month at 5 p.m. Bring a car or just stop by and look at the cars. For more information, call 4663853.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18 CALIFORNIA MID-STATE FAIR The California Mid-State Fair will take you on “The Great American Road Trip” July 18 through 29.

Don’t miss all the fair food, wild rides, livestock shows, mutton bustin and good times.

Visit www.midstatefair,com for more details.

THURSDAY, JULY 19 PEAR VALLEY MUSIC Bring a picnic and your friends to Pear Valley Estate Wine at 4900 Union Road and listen to the Grammy Award winning music of Louie Ortega while enjoying a Paso Robles sunset as the Pear Valley Estate Wine Summer Sunset Concert series continues on Thursday July 19 from 5:30 to 8:30

p.m. This is a complimentary event – Pear Valley wine will be available for purchase, please no outside alcohol. Call 2372861 for more information.

FRIDAY, JULY 20 OLD CALIFORNIO Urban cowboy music will be on hand during the Concerts in the Park series as Old Californio takes to the stage on Friday, July 20 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Paso Robles City Park Gazebo.

THURSDAY, JULY 26 PANCAKE BREAKFAST A free pancake breakfast will be offered from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Downtown City Park.

Pancakes, eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee will be served. Music, rides from Harris Stage Lines and Rawhide Express Train and exotic animals from Zoo to You will also be featured.

Breakfast is free, but you must have a ticket. Tickets are available Monday, July 11 through Wednesday, July 28 at downtown merchants displaying a "Free Breakfast Tickets" sign.

North County Life July 2012 COOKIES Continued from pg. 1

a day to dry. Then the decorating can begin.

Adams bakes by day or night, typically decorates after the distraction of family has gone to bed, takes her own photographs and writes her own blog entries which may include family stories, project directions or entirely random missives.

"I lose time when I create. Sometimes I watch the sun come up," Adams said. "I have to do something creative – it's a need – or I go crazy. This is fulfilling that need.”

Adams said she comes rightly by both her artistic tendencies and her motherhood skills.

"I've been artistic since I came out of the womb," said Adams, an Atascadero native and daughter of Daphne and Larry Kessinger. "My dad's a painter. I've always seen him up late at night painting, and he's always asking about my latest creations. My mom’s

the quintessential, apronwearing mother. My parents are amazing supporters."

Now, she’s providing lasting memories for a new generation.

The younger Adams children, 8-year-old Bailey and 6-year-old Denver, don't really care how much work her mother puts in to creating the sweet treats. For them, it all comes down to taste.

"They're yummy," Bailey said. “I like the lemon ones best.”

Perhaps, art appreciation comes with age.

"I like it when she has time to be with me, but it's fun to see her paint. It's fun to see her make a cookie into a piece of art," 11-year-old Sage said.

The Adams kids all have tried their hands at the art form.

"It's good to start with food markers to get the feel of how the icing takes the color," Elizabeth Adams said. "People put it on thick and wonder why it doesn't work. You have to think of it

FARMER’S Markets Atascadero Farmer’s Market WEDNESDAYS 3PM - 6PM Albertsons parking lot Atascadero (805) 239-6535

Paso Country Farm & Craft Market SATURDAYS 9AM - 1PM 11th and Spring streets Downtown City Park Paso Robles (805) 238-4029

Paso Robles Farmer’s Market TUESDAYS 3PM - 6PM 11th and Spring streets Downtown City Park Paso Robles (805) 237-9254

Paso 101 Open Aire Farmer’s Market THURSDAYS 3PM - 6PM San Paso Truck Stop (off HWY 101) Paso Robles (805) 286-1436

Paso Robles Farmer’s Market FRIDAYS 4PM - 7PM Golden Hills Plaza at Lowe’s Paso Robles (805) 610-5023

Templeton Farmer’s Market SATURDAYS 9AM - 12:30PM City Park at 5th and Crocker streets, Templeton (805) 239-6535

page 11 like you think of water color."

Adams typically paints her toothsome canvases using regular, fine paintbrushes and standard food die. She adds water to thin the colors, but seldom uses white food dye.

"A lot of people plan out their cookies in incredible detail, down to the layers of paint they're going to use. I just don't do that. I sit down and create whatever's in my head," she said.

Themes vary from the nautical to matrimonial, portraiture to literature.

Her favorite creation of all time sits, indubitably stale, on her counter.

A “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” depiction includes all the key characters and props: a blond-haired little girl, three bears of varying sizes and ages, three chairs, three bowls of porridge.

"It was a cookie community challenge that I particularly enjoyed because it let COOKIES pg. 13

Photos by Jennifer Best

TIME FLIES – Cookie-maker Elizabeth Adams leaves the world behind when she gets lost in her love for cookie decorating.

page 12

July 2012 North County Life

Decadant and decent! Fair Trade chocolate delights Photo by Lisa Pretty

POPPIN’ CHOCOLATE – Try this recipe for Pop Rock Chocolate (made with fair trade ingredients) and impress your friends, or stop by Fenomenal in Paso Robles and pair it with a nice glass of port.

Life FOOD & WINE

“

When you buy Fair Trade chocolate, you are helping the cocoa farmers who produced the raw ingredients to get a higher price for their goods and as a result develop a sustainable framework for continued production. - Lisa Pretty

Lisa Pretty SPECIAL TO NORTH COUNTY LIFE

F

enomenal is my new favorite place to hang out in downtown Paso Robles.

Located at 835 12th Street across from the park, Fenomenal offers a wide range of international wines and global fusion cuisine.

They have all my favorite things in one place: excellent service from friendly staff, an interesting wine list that changes frequently and a creative menu featuring dishes inspired by global cuisine.

The tasty menu at

Fenomenal is something that keeps drawing me back to visit.

The credit here goes to Executive Chef Thomas Drahos. A Central Coast native, Drahos developed his passion for cooking at an early age. His first teachers in the kitchen were his mother and aunt who taught him how to prepare the food sourced from their own 55-acre farm.

Drahos continued his culinary training by completing the Cuesta Culinary Arts Program and subsequently the culinary arts program at Johnson & Wales University in Denver, CO. He also honed his skills while working in the kitchen at

[Fe-nom-e-nal] World fusion tapas - innovative cockatils International & local beers and wines Fenomenal is located at 835 12th Street, Suite A On The Park, Paso Robles. The restaurant is open Tuesday and Wednesday 5:30 to 10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday noon to 10 p.m. and Sunday 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. Visit www.fenomenalplace.com for more.

the Restaurant at JUSTIN, Artisan and as a pastry chef at Windows on the Water.

As a pastry chef, Drahos found himself using a lot of chocolate to create impressive desserts – typically 13 to 14 pounds of chocolate every week.

Due to his interest in Molecular Gastronomy techniques, Drahos began hosting cooking demonstrations at Cal Poly, where he met Tom Neuhaus.

It was Neuhaus who educated the chef on the facts about chocolate production and an organization known as Project Hope and Fairness.

More than 75% of the chocolate consumed in

the U.S. comes from 600,000 cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast where 60% of the children receive no education at all.

Children are sent to work at a very young age and will work six hours to produce the cocoa to be used in one bar of chocolate. American consumers eat half of the world’s supply – 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate annually. Project Hope and Fairness is a 501(c) (3) charitable organization that promotes sustainable cocoa farmers through direct assistance, education and encouraging producers to cocoa products to adopt Fair Trade policies.

When you buy Fair Trade chocolate, you are

helping the cocoa farmers who produced the raw ingredients to get a higher price for their goods and as a result develop a sustainable framework for continued production. In San Luis Obispo you can find Fair Trade at Trader Joes and other locations where chocolate is sold. A few companies, including Tom Nuehaus’ company Sweet Earth Organic Chocolates (www.sweet earthchocolates.com), are committed to using 100% Free Trade chocolate.

Thomas began as a Sous Chef at Fenomenal when they first opened and was promoted to Executive Chef after a short period of time. He loves working for a business

with a family oriented feeling surrounded by people truly passionate about food and wine where he can be creative.

Still involved with Project Hope and Fairness, Thomas purchases only 100% Fair Trade chocolate products.

Thomas continues to create fun new chocolate desserts on a regular basis, all using fair trade organic chocolate. Try his recipe for Pop Rock Chocolate and impress your friends, or stop by Fenomenal and pair it with a nice glass of Port.

I tried his Pop Rock Chocolate dessert with a glass of Cass Port and it was – well – phenomenal.

SEEING RED– Pop Rock Choclate decadence on display. This treat is luscious, yes, but it was also crafted responsibly with the use of Fair Trade Chocolate. RIGHT: Executive Chef Thomas Drahos is busy creating creative temptations.

North County Life July 2012

page 13

Ecluse Wines

Chocolate & Pop Rocks

A Lock on Gold

Recipe by Chef Thomas Drahos ■

Chocolate Marquise

12 ounce dark chocolate (fair trade organic) 8.5 ounces unsalted butter 4 large eggs, separated 4 large egg yolks 1 1/3 cups powder sugar 1/3 cup coco powder (fair trade organic) ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream 2 teaspoons granulated sugar ■ Over a double boiler melt chocolate and butter. Once melted, place in the refrigerator to chill and to make the mixture safe for the eggs. While the chocolate is cooling, whip the heavy cream to medium stiff peaks and reserve in the refrigerator until ready to mix.

■ Next, whip 4 egg whites and sugar to stiff peaks. Sift coco powder and powder sugar together. Remove the semi warm chocolate from the refrigerator and mix in 9 egg yolks.

■ Add the powder sugar mix and fold with a rubber spatula. Fold the egg whites half at first then the rest once the first half is completely mixed in.

■ Then add the whip cream into the chocolate mixture using the same techniques as with the egg whites from above. Put in desired mold and chill for ten hours or until set. Garnish with pop rock chocolate chips and fruit.

■

Pop Rock Chocolate Chips

3 pop rock candy packs 4 ounces chocolate (fair trade organic) ■ Temper the chocolate and pour over a silicone mat spread 1/8 inch thick using a spatula. Sprinkle pop rocks into the chocolate and then pour a second coat of chocolate over them. Chill and break into desired pieces. Store no longer than two days.

COOKIES Continued from pg. 11

me gather my own images, images I've collected in my mind for more than 30 years, and create my own image of the story," Adams said.

Her strong, steady hands are equally adept with the piping bag, and recently she's begun experimenting with painting over piping for more depth and detail.

"There aren't a lot of fail-

ures," Adams said. "There are times when I'm frustrated because it's not what I wanted, but I work it to make it something I want."

A canvas painting of a telephone that hangs in the family room provides constant reminder of that hardearned lesson.

"I think a lot of art has to go through an ugly phase, and that's where most people give up. I almost gave up on that (phone) painting, but I kept working on it and it

Janis Switzer

n France, Ecluse is the name for the locks on the canals that gently carve their way through the French countryside. In Paso Robles, Ecluse refers to a different set of locks: Steve and Pam Lock, and their Lock Vineyard on Kiler Canyon Road.

Renowned for their highly acclaimed grapes, the Locks have provided fruit to some of Paso’s best known wineries, including Linne Calado, Chateau Margene, Four Vines, Vina Robles and RN Estates. But it is the wine made under their own label, Ecluse, that has been their pride and joy in recent years.

For the fifth year in a row, each of the Ecluse wines they submitted to the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition received medals this year, and two of those medals were gold. Last year their Ecluse 2008 Lock Vineyard Cabernet took home the coveted Sweepstakes Award for the Best Red Wine at the event: a notable achievement for a winery less than 10 years old.

“We view the award thing as a true validation of the wine,” Steve said.

They are very picky about what competitions they will enter, preferring only those with the most qualified judges.

“It isn’t something we go out and chase,” said Pam, who handles marketing for the winery. “We just keep going back [to San Francisco] because we’ve done so well there.”

The Locks didn’t come to making and marketing wine by any traditional route. Steve is a native Californian and UCLA graduate who worked in the publishing business for 15 years. Frustrated by the corporate world, they moved to Washington state and started working in a wide range of private ventures, only to find themselves yearning for something more.

In 1996 they came down to visit a close friend in Paso Robles who was starting his own vineyard. They were so impressed with the beauty of the area, and so intrigued with the idea of owning a vineyard, they started seriously exploring the idea of relocating here. Just a year later they purchased a 30-acre property in the midst of the rolling hills off Arbor Road and Highway 46 West.

Knowing nothing about growing

I

turned into one of the best things I've ever painted," she said.

And if all else fails, "I just eat it if it's really that bad. I eat a lot of cookies and a lot of cookie dough.

I'm all about quality control."

Today, her baking projects are limited to distribution as gifts to family and friends, thanks to stringent food safety laws which require salable foodstuffs to be prepared in commercial

grapes or making wine, the couple enlisted the help of Robert Nadeau of Nadeau Family Vineyards. He introduced them to Jim Smoot, who then helped them plant the original 24 acres of cabernet sauvignon, syrah and zinfandel in 1998. Other local growers helped them with everything from setting up their books to getting labor for harvest.

“It’s a very generous community,” Pam said.

Among the many winemakers they met and consulted with was Scott Hawley, who purchased Lock Vineyard fruit for Summerwood Winery, and acted as their consulting winemaker for the first few years of Ecluse.

After Hawley moved on to focus on his own label, Torrin, Steve assumed sole responsibility for all the winemaking decisions, in addition to all the decisions in the vineyard.

Steve gives individual attention to the nearly 25,000 vines that make up Lock Vineyard. He uses meticulous care in tending to their needs, and uses sustainable viticulture practices throughout the winery and vineyard.

With an annual production of about 2,300 cases of wine a year, he’s small enough to be hands-on in every aspect of winemaking, and now that he’s using most of the fruit that he grows for his own label, he doesn’t plan to get any larger.

“I’m kind of glad to be the size we are,” Steve said.

But being a small, boutique winery also has its challenges, especially when it comes to marketing and sell-

ing. When they won the big Sweepstakes award last year, they realized they needed to do more to get their brand out in front of people.

“That was the beginning of realizing that we needed to do something other than put it on a chalkboard in the tasting room and assume everyone knows about it,” Pam said with a laugh.

They hired former PRWCA director Stacie Jacob to help them with marketing and brand development, and used Clever Concepts of Paso Robles to develop a new Web site. Their goal, like many other small wineries, is to sell as much wine through their tasting room and wine club as possible, to avoid the costs and travel associated with distribution. The recent medals and recognition go a long way towards making that happen.

The small winery they built three years ago serves as both a production and storage facility, as well as a tasting room. Only open on weekends, or by appointment, either Steve or Pam are usually behind the tasting bar, sharing not only their wine, but their intimate understanding of the vineyard and their unique winemaking processes. The cozy, rustic room with barrels on one side, and a wall of medals on the other, perfectly exemplifies what a family-owned, boutique winery should look and feel like, and is a perfect place to experience authentic Paso wine country.

Visit www.eclusewines.com for more information.

Courtesy photo

Steve and Pam Lock bought the westside property in 1997, planting the vineyard with the help of Jim Smoot a year later.

kitchens. A cottage industry bill introduced earlier in 2012 may soon change that.

"I know a lot of people who do cupcakes and it would be great to be able for all of us to be legitimate businesses," Adams said. "I don't think everything you enjoy has to make money, but if it's something that could, it's kind of nice when it does.”

Meanwhile, Adams is considering other outlets for her artistic venture. Future

projects may include monetizing her blog, publishing books or even creating a cookie-based television show.

"I see all these reality shows where you can see people drink their own urine or search for Sasquatch or random things, but I'm interested in cookies as are many people. I'd love to see a show about cookies. I think it would be fun to do it," she said.

In March, she and her

husband, John Adams, took one step toward that vision.

With video camera in hand, they entered another cookier’s domain to create the first episode of "Mixing It Up!" "Going into other cookiers' kitchens and documenting their methods and styles is a way to promote their art," she said.

"My canvas changes now and again. I may use actual canvas. But I love baking,” she said.

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July 2012 North County Life

North County Life July 2012

Life

FITNESS

page 15

Life in the spin cycle Atascadero fitness guru offers a fun cardio workout

“It’s an intense cardio workout you just can’t get in other situations. For the time you’re on that bike, you’re burning a lot of calories.”

– Natalie Long

Creig P. Sherburne

Cycling instructor Natalie Long and a few early arrivals warm up before a Tour class at Kennedy Club Fitness in Atascadero.

Creig P. Sherburne

ometimes getting out on a bike ride means staying in for a bike ride.

That was the case for Atascadero resident Natalie Long a few years ago, anyway. Long was mostly a mountain biker, but between it being hard to get out due to her husband’s work schedule and the fact that when she did make it out to the trail, it got boring and dangerous being by herself.

Looking for a good workout, safety and some camaraderie, she headed indoors for cycling class at Kennedy Club Fitness in Atascadero.

“It was a crazy challenge,” Long said. “It’s a lot of exercise in a little time.”

She said she attended classes on and off for four years. She got involved teaching while listening to the radio.

“I started thinking in terms of, ‘what would I do with this song in a cycling class?’” she said.

For that to make sense, readers have to understand how an indoor cycling class works. At Kennedy, there’s a room full of stationary bicycles, including one up on a stage for the instructor to use. The bikes employed at Kennedy are fully adjustable and will accommodate almost anybody’s height, no

S

matter how short or tall, and up to 350 pounds.

On a normal bike, the pedals are hooked up to the rear wheel, and pedaling pushes a rider forward. On a stationary bike such as those at Kennedy, the pedals are hooked up to a 30-pound flywheel with a brake that offers resistance. So if you’re “going up a hill,” that’s represented by putting more resistance on the flywheel.

Attendees show up with a bottle or two of water, comfortable clothes and a willingness to work hard.

The instructor turns on some music — we’ll come back to that in a minute — and leads the class through the routine.

And that routine can include seated pedaling, standing up, intervals, sprints and imaginary hills.

Also of note are the terms “spin” and “spinning,” which are trademarked.

Though in practice, it’s quickly turning generic. Nobody ever says, “I’m headed to my stationary indoor pseudo bicycling class at the gym,” after all.

Long said that stationary cycling isn’t actually a whole lot like “proper” outdoor cycling on an actual bike, though.

“You’re not propelling yourself forward,” she said.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

But, she added, as a cardio workout, it’s hard to beat.

“It’s something that can push you out of your comfort zone,” she said. “It’s good for endurance training.”

But let’s get back to music. Long said music is an important part of any spinning class, but it’s impossible to please everybody with the musical selection.

“Music is the key to the class,” she said, “but it’s difficult. You enter into it knowing you’re not going to please everybody.”

Long said that music matters a lot. So if she hears a song on the radio or else-

lection — it’s stage fright.

“Certain days, yeah, it’s the hardest part,” she said. “I just don’t think about it.”

But she gets up on stage and does it anyway. And, she said, it’s always rewarding, no matter how bad it was initially stepping up in front of people.

“But sometimes it’s real easy,” she said. “People are energetic, giving you good feedback.”

And she’s right about indoor cycling being a good cardio workout. It’s more intense than running or going on a normal 30-mile group ride, but it’s also hard to compare indoor cycling to anything else. There’s no clear “road biking is to indoor cycling what thing A is to thing B” comparison.

But all types of people participate in Long’s classes.

Everybody from neophytes to folks training up for 100mile “real” bike rides and everything in between shows up regularly, and everybody gets out of the class what they put into it, she said. It’s also great for serious cyclists during the very cold or rainy seasons.

“It’s an intense cardio workout you just can’t get in other situations,” Long said.

“For the time you’re on Atascadero resident Natalie that bike, you’re burnLong and her son, Nathan, ing a lot of calories.”

where that she thinks will be great for a long uphill, she’ll test it out on her own first to be sure.

She said it’s possible to build a playlist of, say, 100 songs, show up to class, hit random and do your best.

But Long said she prefers to have a specific playlist with each song prompting a specific activity — more like a soundtrack to a class than just music playing while a class goes on.

“It just works better when I plan what I’m going to do,” she said.

Long said that the hardest part of being a cycling instructor isn’t the actual instruction or the music se-

4, share a fun moment.

One thing Long said she likes a lot about cycling in general is that it’s a low-impact workout. That means there’s not a lot of heavy hitting or stop-go-stop-go or stuff that’s hard on a person’s knees or hips, for instance.

Also, she said, newbies can come in and participate at the level they’re able. But, she warned, it’s important to push at least a little harder than is immediately comfortable.

“You’re not going to get what you want if you don’t engage,” she said. “Interval work, yeah, you want to hate it. … [But] if you’re not happy in my class, try someone else’s instead of just stopping.”

But to be clear, Long isn’t a proponent of stopping everything just to do indoor cycling. She said there’s a lot of compelling reasons to do it, but it doesn’t have to be an “either/or” thing.

When Long isn’t teaching the cycling class, she can often be found volunteering at San Gabriel Road Elementary School, where her daughter, Amelia, 6, attends.

Her son, Nathan, 4, isn’t in school yet, so shuttling him from here to there occupies another large chunk of her day.

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July 2012 North County Life