ARROYO GRANDE LIVING A New Lifestyle Magazine
Front Cover Photo: Pismo Beach, CA
Sphere Shot Charlotte Scott
FROM
THE PUBLISHER
BOO!
Hello, and welcome to the second issue of Arroyo Grande Living. We are so happy that the debut issue was SO well received – this truly is a labor of love, and it’s been wonderful bringing this publication to life. This month's issue is filled with more of your community stories, personalities and history. We’ve got a feature on Rhizome Theater’s Nice Town, Normal People; an interview with historian/author Jim Gregory; a piece on the 80th Anniversary of the AG Women’s Club; a chat with a long-time resident with a glamorous Hollywood past, and many more treats and surprises! With another fabulous Harvest Festival behind us and Halloween right around the corner, we are rushing headlong into the holidays. It’s hard to believe that another year is almost over, so before we fall back into daylight savings time, I urge you all to take a moment to enjoy your community and all it has to offer. Wishing you a safe and Happy Halloween, -Melissa Walker-Scott, Publisher
As always, additional copies of this current issue and (back issues) are available online at:
www.blurb.com
NOTE: search term Arroyo Grande Living for the current issue!
Contributors
Kolfinna Kolbeinsdottir Teen Writer/Photographer
Charlotte Scott
Jr. Writer/Photographer
Russell Scott Writer/Editor
OUR MISSION is to highlight the people, places, businesses and
Griffin Davies Writer/Artist
stories that make Arroyo Grande a unique and vibrant community. We also want to highlight AG’s middle and high schools by featuring student submitted photography, artwork and student-written articles, as well as teacher profiles and interviews. We feel that getting kids involved in celebrating their community is an important part of building self-confidence and creativity. Our objective is to be a window into the unique, creative and kind spirit of our community. TELL US YOUR STORY! Become a contributor, Jr. Writer or a teen contributor. We’re planning to feature the history of Arroyo Grande from people in the community that tell us their stories. We’re also looking for couples that have been married for 50+ years that would like to be interviewed (and maybe share a vintage wedding or family photo or two).
Alisa Davies
Writer
Are you a business owner? Tell us about it for our Business Beat feature! Got a cool vintage car? Tell us the story and let us take a look! Got a great pet? Let us know! We’ll photograph them for our Precious Pet of the Month. We will always help out a charity with announcements. We'll also be featuring upcoming community events, so keep us posted.
Michelle C. Torres-Grant Writer/Photographer
www.mctgphotography.com
Drop us a line!
TO CONTRIBUTE contact us at editor@arroyograndeliving.com
Community Events Saturday, October 28th Pumpkins in The Park Dinosaur Caves Park 10am - 1pm Annual Halloween Halloween Carnival and Maze Elm Street Park 4:30pm - 7:30pm Fall Plant Sale 3450 Dairy Creek Road, SLO 10am - 1pm Saturday, November 4th Book Signing/Meet the Author Jim Gregory, SLO County Outlaws The Village Antique Mart 12pm - 3pm Saturday, November 18th The Arroyo Grande Woman's Club Artisan Faire 10am - 4pm
RELAY FOR LIFE
Join A Relay Team To Help Fight Cancer!
A Community Tradition: The 80th Annual Arroyo Grande Harvest Festival
Photography by Melissa Walker-Scott
Classic Car Corner
A CALIFORNIA CLASSIC By Melissa Walker-Scott
" I love you for your pink Cadillac, crushed velvet seats, riding in the back, cruising down the street" - Bruce Springsteen
I was thrilled to spend some time with the FABULOUS Linda Vleit, cruising in her gorgeous 1960's
Pink Cadillac and seeing her Elvis-themed home. What a kind and truly fun lady. If you see her cruising around town, please give her a big smile and a wave. She's a local treasure! - Melissa Walker-Scott
MY story with Pinnkky began in 1987 when I purchased her from a "little old lady from Visalia". Her
family wanted her to stop driving and she wasn't happy about it. She really loved her car, so she was happy that the person buying the car would restore and take care of it. Pinnkky was born about 2 months later when she got her first coat of pink paint. She was born painted white, but since she had rose interior and a maroon dash, she really wanted to be pink. I bought Pinnkky to have fun. I've had many, many miles of fun ifor the last 30 years. I've done car shows, but I've also done lots of benefits to help charities raise money. We've been featured in a video about Pismo Beach and have also appeared in magazines, newspapers and the National Cadillac Club newsletter.
Pinnkky was also on the BBC with Monica Lewinsky. Monica was in town at the Madonna Inn and
they wanted to film her driving the "classic California car" so they called and asked if she could be filmed driving Pinnkky. The show was called Postcards From America with Monica Lewinsky. It was great working with Monica and the British film crew, as well as hanging out with Alex and Phyllis at the Inn. I'm a big Elvis fan, so doing the display in the trunk with Elvis memorabilia was a natural thing to do. The first car Elvis used for touring was a 1955 pink Cadillac, and he went on to own many Cadillacs, plus he was famous for giving Cadillacs to his friends and even strangers. I love talking to people about their childhood memories of Cadillacs. I love all the Elvis stories I hear from people at car shows or when I'm out and about and they stop me to talk. I've met lifelong friends at car shows and events with Pinnkky. It's amazing how Pinnkky has influenced my life and my life path. The phrase I hear most often when I'm out with Pinnkky is: "You just have to smile when you see this car." Pinnkky and I will keep doing what we do if only to make more people smile! - Linda Vleit
BUSINESS BEAT Deanna Delore of Voce Studio
Keep Singing!
By: Russell Scott
It’s more than a slogan, it was a life preserver Deanna Delore, owner of Voce (vo-cheh) Studio, located in the Village of Arroyo Grande, California, never dreamed she would have a flourishing vocal studio. Ten years ago she was single, newly divorced, and broke as heck, so she relocated her twin toddlers from Folsom, California, to the Central Coast. It was the middle of the recession, and jobs were scarce. One night, she had a dream that prompted her to open her own studio. Deanna recalls, “ I sat up in bed and grabbed a pen to write down my vision. Right away, I knew what the studio would look like - I knew the colors it would have, and what art to display. I visualized a baby grand piano, and saw the slogan, ‘Keep Singing!’” Soon, she met local musician Jim Barnett, a pianist and former Hollywood entertainer. They decided to share studio/teaching space at 116 W. Branch Street, next to Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab. Jim and Deanna became fast friends and made the natural decision to start gigging together as a duo, which they still do! The idea of starting a private voice studio in the middle of a terrible recession was risky and challenging, and the likelihood of failure was very real. With less than $1,000 to her name, a free set of business cards from Vista Print, and Craigslist ads to find students, Voce Studio was born. Deanna grew her vision into a full-fledged vocal studio where she teaches approximately 35 students a week, ranging from elementary school students to retirees, and with skill levels ranging from beginner to professional. Deanna is the only certified vocal instructor in the region, which really makes her stand out. “As an IVA Certified Instructor, I am required to maintain a very high level of educational training, vocal training, AND teacher training,” said Deanna. She explains that singing is a very personal thing that usually comes with some psychological hurdles to overcome; fear of how one sounds, how he/she will be received by the audience, insecurity about one’s self image, or working through a harsh comment someone has made about his/her voice.
“I teach the person, not the voice. The voice is a complex internal instrument that is affected by several external factors. Hydration, fatigue, anxiety, illness, weather, stress, allergies all affect singers,” Deanna stated. “I take a student (and their voice) where they are that day, and get tangible results that leave them singing better than when they arrived.” Although teaching voice is her main occupation, Deanna is also a professional singer. Classically trained from elementary school through college, she is a graduate of Chapman University, where she attended on full vocal scholarship. These days, Deanna specializes in the Great American Songbook.
“Being a versatile vocalist has enabled me to get work with orchestras as a classical soprano soloist, Pops Orchestras for Broadway tunes, Big Bands for the jazz standards, and the small combo for intimate jazz gigs in homes, small concert venues, and restaurants.” As for her slogan “Keep Singing,” Deanna explains it as her personal philosophy. “That slogan was there in my initial vision of starting the studio. At first glance, people see a simplistic, cheery salutation from a singing teacher. But it represents much more. Singing gave me back my joy and helped get me on the healing path after the dark time of divorce. Whenever we go through challenging times, the first thing to go is our ‘fun’ thing, our passion, what we love. We stop doing it, as if there is no energy to expend on the ‘extras. Our instinct is to turn inward and withdraw, and just get through it. But you know what? Whatever that ‘fun’ thing, that passion is, that is ultimately what will pull you through and help you find your joy again. For me, it was singing. For you it might be art, writing, sports, playing an instrument, hiking, whatever your passion is. Keep doing it! Keep Singing!”
In addition to teaching vocal pedagogy, Deanna coaches students in stage performance, microphone technique, engaging the audience, and song delivery. She even choreographs some pieces for students that are wanting to step up their stage presence. If you are interested in voice lessons for yourself or as a gift, you can learn more: www.KeepSinging.net Deanna is a freelance vocalist, available for hire from small home parties to stages as big as the Vina Robles Ampitheatre in Paso Robles. For booking info: www.DeannaDelore.com
RESIDENT SPOTLIGHT Nikolai Alexandrov
I happened to arrive in Hollywood at a very, very good time. It was truly the Golden Age.
Everyone cared about what they did, how they looked; the studios cared as well. I was signed to a five-year contract with MGM. They told me what to wear, where to go, when to go and who to go with – they really ran your life. They also trained people – they took people and made them stand out, individually and beautifully. It was a marvelous age. I look back and think how lucky I was to have been a part of it. It was the grandest time of my life. Besides MGM where I was under contract, I also worked at Paramount, Columbia, and 20th Century Fox. I grew up in England. My father owned a film company called Rex Film, which was later bought out by the Rank Studio Organization. I made my first film when I was seven. It was a murder mystery and I knew then that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. When WWII broke out, we were in Germany where my father was making a film. I was sent to an English-speaking school, but my father was worried about my safety, so he loaded me into a car and had me taken to the coast so I could flee the country. The car went off the Autobahn and I was found under the back seat. Part of my rehabilitation from the accident was learning to dance, so that I could become normal again. I say “normal” in quotes, by the way. Learning to dance was an opportunity for which I am ever grateful. I remember in one film, I played a young Indian poet. I had red hair, and I begged them not to dye it, so they put a black rinse on my hair. One day outside of the studio, it was raining cats and dogs, and the black rinse was running down my face and I looked like a terrible fright.
My father was lost at Dunkirk. After the war, I was accepted to the Royal Academy of
Dramatic Art in London and studied there for two years. Then, I went to the US to live with my mother. I studied acting with Madame Ouspenskaya, who is a legend. I got lucky and was invited to join a nightclub act. Nightclubs were very popular in the 40s, and Ciro’s in Hollywood was one of the biggest. Peggy Lee played at Ciro’s and we were her opening act. Then I got REALLY lucky – a scout saw me and said, “How would you like a “grooming contract?” MGM signed me to a three year-contract. This was a wonderful time. They fixed my teeth – still perfect, by the way. They taught me everything – ballet, water skiing, fencing, dancing, singing, elocution, you name it. Anything that would be useful on camera, they gave me lessons. So yes, they were Golden Years. Sometimes I pinch myself to realize how fortunate I was. And I worked with so many truly talented people. I worked with Judy Garland in the film Summer Stock. She was always friendly and always fun. Judy had a scene that I was featured in. She came to the set early for three days just so we could work out a dance routine together. Unfortunately, the scene was later reworked, and I was cut from the number. She was a consummate professional and a super colossal talent. I worked on the film Down to Earth. Rita Hayworth was an amazing personality. I met her early on, and she was still learning to be who she would become… The day I showed up to the set, they were carrying people out on stretchers. There had been an accident – one of the giant birdcages had fallen and injured some of the cast and crew. Anyway, I worked with Gwen Verdon, who was a fabulous dancer, and she took me under her wing and got me in the chorus line of the dream sequence. I had a role in An American in Paris. I’m in the ballet sequence with Gene Kelley. I’m the one in the kaftan robe and really tall hat.
In Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, I played an old man in the barn-raising scene. I was anemic at the
time. I passed out on camera during a scene and Howard picked me up and carried me to a bench and stayed with me until the medics arrived. He saw to it that I could do a retake. Howard Keel was such a gentle and thoughtful man. The King and I was the most amazing film I ever worked on. Yul Brynner spoke Russian, and I spoke Russian, so we were able to converse. I was madly in love with Deborah Kerr. She was very dear and very ladylike. The first day on set, we were told, you are no longer in L.A., you are no longer on a movie set, you are in Tibet. And we were! It was like we WERE in Siam. I was thrilled. My bit in the film, which I’m very proud of, I played the devil god in the house of Uncle Thomas. I had a magnificent costume. In the scene, the young girl is in love with someone else, so she performs the play of Uncle Thomas for the King. It was a marvelous scene. Arroyo Grande I worked at Warner Brothers as the head of the drama department. One of the last studio schools, I had seven teachers working on staff. Eventually, I grew disillusioned with the new Hollywood. The glamour was gone, and I was ready to retire. I moved to Arroyo Grande in 1988. I bought a house in Wildwood Ranch and never looked back. After I’d been here a while, I decided to form a nightclub act with some talented local actors. We performed from Sacramento to San Diego. I sang and danced in the show. It was a lot of fun. I then turned to a more behind-the-scenes role, doing fundraising for the Clark Center, and went to a lot of social events and women’s clubs. Contributing to the arts was my way of giving back to the community, because the arts were so very good to me. It really was a golden age.
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Rhizome Theater By Russell Scott Nice Town, Normal People: An exploration of Home in Arroyo Grande Rhizome Theater Company Clark Center 805-801-5023
www.RhizomeTheater.org rhizometheater@gmail.com
According to the playbill, Nice Town, Normal People is “a storytelling project years in the making.” The play is an experiential examination of small town life – THIS small town – and achieves its lofty goal with a constantly shifting narrative that is culled from hours of real-life interviews with the titular normal people of Arroyo Grande. To create a powerful work with such an ambitious concept is an achievement; to pull it off with a bare stage, two performers and a musician (and tech crew) is nothing short of amazing. The actors deliver a myriad of stories, shifting narratives and connections that form a powerful tapestry of a town and its people. The captivating oral history that is the heart of Nice Town, Normal People is an emotional kaleidoscope: simultaneously funny, sad, poignant, socially aware, brave, and, most importantly, hopeful for the future. The two actors, Kyle Berlin and Ashlin Hatch, effortlessly transition from character to character, bringing to life voices from all walks of life – male, female, young, old, all carrying the same inherent dignity. The result is a fascinating, innovative and entertaining package. Adding an interactive element to the experience, the actors challenge the audience to talk to their neighbors during intermission, and at the conclusion, present the audience with a chance to participate in the story by helping decide how the charitable funds generated by the production will go to use to further help the community. There is wisdom here, and an empathic understanding of human nature that belies the youth of the performers; that is a good thing indeed. That they are learning from the past while actively asking questions about the future bodes well for the future of every nice town with normal people.
Interview with Kyle Berlin What was your inspiration for Nice Town, Normal People? I was disturbed, as many people were, by the extreme political and social divisions in this country that were laid bare in the 2016 election. Regardless of which "side" you were on, the divisions, animosities and seemingly radically different worldviews seemed extreme and somewhat baffling. I wondered if there was something I could do, concretely, that may help with whatever it was that was going on. My longtime friend and collaborator Ashlin Hatch had extensively studied this type of community-based theater-making and it seemed like asking “what's going on?� in our hometown and then reflecting it back to the larger community could be a way of approaching the moment honestly and earnestly. How did the project come together? The seeds of the project began about a year ago, when we first started dreaming about doing something like this. Because we were all in different places, we began pulling things together remotely. In early 2017, we received the Davis Projects for Peace grant, which gave our project funding as well as credibility. We began in earnest in May at the Strawberry Festival in the Arroyo Grande Village, where we were kindly given a booth to spread the word about the project and begin collecting names and interviews. June tand July were spent interviewing people and transcribing those interviews. We turned all the transcripts into a script that centered around a number of themes we saw emerge in the nearly one hundred interviews. August was spent memorizing the script, making the music, designing the stage and lights, reaching out to community organizations inviting them to attend, and generally producing and putting on the show!
Tell us about your theater group. Our theater group is called Rhizome Theater Company. It's entirely nonprofit and committed to sowing the seeds of social cohesion, awareness, and empathy through live documentary theater made by the community for the community about the community. Our team includes a number of diverse collaborators with both historical and recent connections to the AG community--and we are always looking for more people who want to get involved! It was truly gratifying to receive the support that we did for this project from so many people who gave of their time and resources --it was a true community effort and testament to the generosity of this place. We call ourselves "Rhizome Theater Company" because a rhizome is a non-hierarchical shape with many entry and exit points. It comes from the botanical term for a plant stem that shoots out underground roots. It is also the name of a philosophical theory that encourages people to stop thinking about history and culture as linear narratives, and start envisioning them as ever-shifting, ever-expanding maps of relationships. Both of these understandings of the rhizome represent the kind of theater we want to make: inclusive, thoughtful, non-hierarchical, focused on forging and taking stock of the complex system of connections that make up the stem and roots of our community.
How did the three of you become friends and start the company? Ashlin Hatch, Makulumy Alexander-Hills and I all met at Judkins, where we went to middle school, and then were classmates and friends at AGHS where we all worked on AGHS Theater Company productions! As Ashlin and I floated the idea of doing this project, we thought that there would be no one better to work with than Makulumy, who is truly a musical genius and a lovely human being. The three of us had already worked together well and shared an artistic sensibility and wanted to make this sort of theater together, so creating the company was a natural result.
Additional photos by Michelle Berlin
What are your future plans? Makulumy is working as a professional freelance musician and music director in New York City; I'm finishing up my final year at Princeton University, after which I have no idea what I'll do (suggestions welcome!) Ashlin plans to make more community-engaged theater and eventually attend grad school and perhaps become a teacher. Tell us about your upcoming projects. Many people told us that we should take the show "on the road" because it spoke to so many small towns in America, not just Arroyo Grande. Local organizations have reached out asking if we'd be willing to perform the show again for their members. We'd also like to hold community discussions inspired by some of the content of the show and stage the question of "What next?" We are looking into the feasibility of all of these opportunities and hope to make this possible in the near future. Of course, we also have ideas for a new show that asks different questions of our community--but for now, we're still recovering from this one! As always, we'd love suggestions for ideas about what we ought to do next. Do you have any advice for up and coming performers? I think that it's extraordinarily easy to become discouraged in today's world, especially as a young performer or a young person. But--if you'll allow this little rallying cry--I think the arts speak vitally to our experience as humans on this earth. They can bring us together and make us feel more alive and empathic and more aware of who we are and who others are and what we're doing. And that's tremendously important. So no matter who you are, no matter where you come from, no matter where you're at: What you're doing is important. Don't doubt that. Just keep on keeping on. Literally everyone has the ability to change the world, in ways small and large. Every other human being is a world; if you can change one tiny part of one human being through performance, you have changed the world.
NEIGHBORHOOD SPOTLIGHT By Russell Scott
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The Taming of the Shrew Arroyo Grande High School
Clark Center William Shakespeare’s classic romantic comedy is given a modern spin in this 50s-themed production, presented by the AGHS Theater Company. No medieval finery here – the cast sports leather jackets, tweed blazers, mid-century dresses and poodle skirts. But despite the jukebox update, the poetic language remains as the young cast breezes effortlessly through some of the most complex dialogue ever written. The story is familiar, and has influenced centuries of stage and screen. (Younger audience members may recall 10 Things I Hate About You. Musical fans will recall Kiss Me Kate and TCM fans have no doubt seen the Liz Taylor/Richard Burton film version.) Cody Schmidt and Kaitlyn Alliani (Tamer and Shrew, respectively) lead an accomplished cast that also includes Isaac Capp, Dylan Krebs, Colin Toohey, Jude Walker and Sophia RiffenburghKirby. Directed by Sean Blauvelt, this version of “Shrew” shines brightly, and is a top notch entertainment. The Bard, were he in attendance, would be proud. ** Special thanks to all the behind the scenes people (Sets, Costumes, Tech, Teachers and Parents) to whom without, an endevor like this would not be possible **
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Image 1: Jude Walker, Aidan Strope, Isaac Capp & Eliana Nunley Image 2: Isaac Capp & Jude Walker Image 3: Kate Vogan, Danika Cornejo, Sammi Scott, & Evelyn Claire Smith Image 4: Kaitlyn Alliani & Cody Schmidt Image 5: Jude Walker, Sophia Riffenburgh-Kirby & Eliana Nunley Image 6: Sophia Riffenburgh-Kirby & Jude Walker Image 7: Jude Walker
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The Klondike Ghost By Pamela Frost Dennis
In 1988, my husband, Mike, and I opened Klondike Café—now Klondike Pizza* in the Village of Arroyo Grande. Right away, several customers asked if we’d met the ghost yet. We thought they were joking (or nuts), until one dark and stormy night…. We had young kids, so Mike and I took turns opening and closing. That fateful night was my turn. I’d finished closing the front, so I said goodnight to the crewmembers in the kitchen and went home. A few minutes later, they heard me calling from the dining room. “Hey, guys. Come out here.” They pushed through the swinging kitchen door and were stunned to find every chair and bench perched on top of the tables—something we never do. And I wasn’t there. Needless to say, they were spooked. Through the years, we’ve had too many experiences to write about all of them in this short piece, so here’s just a few: · A forty-pound block of cheddar cheese levitated in the kitchen while we were doing morning prep. · A shadowy figure has been seen many times floating through the dining room and into the wall where the piano sits. · We’ve heard “someone” whistling in Nanooks (the side room) numerous times—of course, no one is there. Pretty good whistling, too. · Garbled voices coming over the sound system—when it’s off.
· Our administration office is upstairs, and a couple of years ago I went to the hall bathroom and found the door ajar. I pushed to open it, and it was forcibly slammed shut against my hand. Flustered, I said, “Sorry. I didn’t know you were in there.” After a few quiet minutes, I knocked. “Are you okay?” Silence. Finally, I opened the door—to no one. · Not too long after that, our office door suddenly swung open and crashed into the wall so hard that a hanging mirror broke. You should’ve seen our bookkeeper’s face. She’d been hoping for a ghostly encounter, and she got one! · One day we had a nasty drunk guy harassing the crew, and our manager was trying to kick him out. Instead, he went into the bathroom. Moments later, he ran out screaming, “There’s a ghost in there! I’m never coming back!” I guess that means we have a “ghost-bouncer.” Sure wish he were available on demand. · I was doing some repair work in the dining room—by myself. I bent over and got soundly slapped on my derrière. Don’t know what to say about that. · Customers asked if something weird was going on. They felt like someone “else” was sitting with them. When I explained about our ghost, I expected them to laugh—certainly didn’t expect them to believe me, but instead, they smiled and said, “We thought it was something like that.” We’ve often talked about holding a séance, but have never followed through. Paranormal investigators have approached us—but we passed on that, too. Why stir things up? Nevertheless, we’ve always wondered who our resident ghost is, or rather, was. And then, one evening, during a rowdy town council meeting**, a local historian spoke about the Village’s history. She said, “We even had a hotel back in the day.” The Olohan Building, constructed in 1906. The street level had a grocery store and a grill, and the upper level was a hotel—that’s where our Klondike office is located. She went on to say there’d been a saloon with pool tables down in the basement—now the Klondike. But what she said next, blew me away. A man named Richard Chambers was murdered in the saloon in 1922, and his autopsy was performed on a pool table. I’ve not been able to verify that story, but these days, whenever something unexplained happens, I always say, “Hi, Richard. How's tricks?” I’ve posted this story on our Klondike Pizza website. I hope former employees and customers who’ve had close encounters with our ghost will add their experiences in the comments. *We changed the name to Klondike Pizza because we were tired of people getting mad at us for not serving what they considered “café” food. Mashed potatoes, meatloaf, chicken fried steak, liver and onions…. ** The Village was endeavoring to make some drastic changes/improvements—depends on what side of the fence you were on. Many did not want any changes, and others wanted too much. I think we wound up with the perfect compromise.
Local Author: Jim Gregory
THE AGL INTERVIEW
JIM GREGORY
Jim Gregory knows things about Arroyo Grande that would make Jesse James blush. He has written extensively on the subject, illuminating the town’s role in history both locally and as part of a larger narrative that connects it to American and world history. A former history teacher with a knack for storytelling, Jim sat down with us to share his take on researching the wildest town in the west.
-Interview by Russell Scott
AGL: Hi Jim, and thank you for chatting with us. Now, tell us about you, the man behind these wonderful books about our hometown! JG: My name is Jim Gregory. My formal name is James Douglas Gregory. I’m named after my great-grandfather who was a brigadier general in the Confederate Army. He was killed in action in Arkansas. AGL: You have created your own genre writing about your hometown of Arroyo Grande. Have you lived here your whole life? JG: I’ve lived in Arroyo Grande since the age of four. I also lived in Los Osos, San Luis Obispo and Shell Beach. I was a teacher at Mission Prep in SLO, and then at Arroyo Grande High for 19 years. I taught World History, US History and AP European History. In 2010, my AP class went on a trip to Europe, and we visited the American Cemetery in Normandy. We found three young men from San Luis Obispo County buried there.
AGL: When did you decide to become a writer? JG: I always wanted to be a writer. I was a reporter for the Tribune for a short while, but always wanted to write. Once I retired, I decided to write a book, which became World War II Arroyo Grande. I wanted to write local history that would connect to world history – what were people here doing during WWII? How did we end up with 60 Civil War veterans buried in our cemeteries? That was the subject of my second book, Patriot Graves. My current book has that same connection. Jesse and Frank James lived in Paso Robles for about a year, the Dalton brothers were here, Al Capone visited Pismo Beach in 1927 before the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. He had a rum-running operation off the coast. I really wanted to show that even a small town like Arroyo Grande has connections with the big historical events and personalities of our times. AGL: Now comes the fun part. Tell us about your books, starting with your debut, World War II Arroyo Grande. JG: Well, My car didn’t pass a smog test, and I was passing time in a cemetery across the street. I found a tombstone from a marine who, judging by the date, was killed in Iwo Jima, two days before he turned 21. That was the hook. I wanted to find out as much as I could about this young man. In researching his life, I found that his parents emigrated from the Azores Islands in Portugal. This became a major theme in my writing as well – the large role that immigrants played in our history. In fact, the book is as much about immigration as it is about history.
As I researched, I learned the stories of the soldiers, some brave, some funny, some tragic. I found preserved letters the soldiers sent home, and this added a real, personal layer to the story. I wanted people to know the stories behind the names on the markers and monuments. I wanted them to get to know them as people, like I did. Another major part of the book was the internment of our local Japanese-American citizens. In 1942, 40% of the senior class was relocated to the Arizona desert south of Phoenix, where they endured 109 degrees for the first month. Growing up, the Japanese-American families never talked about it. In a controversial move, the AG principal drove to the internment camp and held a small graduation ceremony, and gave the kids their diplomas, and that’s a wonderful thing. AGL: Tell us about your second book, Patriot Graves. JG: I was researching my family tree on Find-a-Grave, and I stumbled onto a list of Civil War veterans buried here in Arroyo Grande. I was immediately intrigued. How did they get here? After the Civil War, people were restless – they wanted to put the war behind them. It reminded me of the post WWI “Lost Generation,” and I again wanted to trace the stories that connect the Central Coast to our larger history.
AGL: Your new book is called San Luis Obispo County Outlaws, which sounds like a wild time. JG: It was! But first, a little background: Dan Krieger is a local historian who has a column in the Tribune. He wrote several columns about outlaws, and I dedicated the book to him. He really is a fascinating guy and a great lecturer. Anyway, it turns out that San Luis Obispo County was the most violent county in America. The murder rate here was 178 per 100,000, which is far worse than any today! The book starts in 1848 with a murder of a gang of ship jumpers. I also cover the Jack Powers gang who would ambush cattle buyers on Hwy 101 between San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara. There were running gun battles, a lynching in 1886 in Arroyo Grande, and we go all the way to the roaring ‘20s and prohibition, with Al Capone, rum-running and all kinds of cops and robbers excitement. This book was really a lot of fun to write. AGL: Your upcoming book will be called Central Coast WWII Aviators. What can you tell us so far? JG: That’s the working title. This book will be about the brave young men and women who flew during wartime on the Central Coast. Amelia Earhart was here, as well as Harriet Quimby. We had 18 local men lost in action, or aviation accidents. Two women who were WASP pilots, who would test fly the planes for their male counterparts. One woman who I interviewed is still alive. 99 years old!
AGL: Switching gears for a moment, tell us about your family. JG: My wife Elizabeth and I met while we were teaching at Mission Prep. She currently teaches at St. Joseph High School. I have two sons, John and Thomas. We also have Molly and Bridget, the Irish Setters, Wilson the Basset Hound, a tortoise named Lucy and a cat. AGL: What works inspire you as a writer? JG: I loved Midnight in Paris. I love For Whom the Bell Tolls. I admire Hemingway, the economy of his prose. I have always loved Graham Greene. Non-fiction? Bruce Catton’s Civil War histories were favorites of mine. What’s great is so many history writers are young women. Laura Hillenbrand who wrote Seabiscuit and Unbroken. She is an amazing writer. Barbara Tuchman who wrote August, 1914 and Guns of August. She’s an incredible writer and probably my biggest influence. AGL: How about film? Any favorites come to mind? JG: The Searchers is my favorite film. Beautifully composed, visually gorgeous. The Searchers is probably the finest American film. Also, Casablanca. I obsessively read about the making of Casablanca. Those two films I never tire of. I also love 2001: A Space Odyssey. And The Godfather and its sequels are a wonderful way to learn about the immigrant experience in America. AGL: As a historian of Arroyo Grande, how has it changed over the years? JG: Arroyo Grande has changed dramatically. None of the housing developments were on the hills. The traffic between Arroyo Grande and San Luis was non-existent. The population was about 3,000 people. It’s now close to 17,000. It’s also more affluent now. One of the reasons I wanted to write books was for the people who are now coming to live here, as well as long-time residents, can have the opportunity to learn more about the history of this wonderful place. AGL: Do you have a favorite literary quote to leave us with? JG: In closing, I quote noted satirist and author Kilgore Trout, “So it goes.”
Eighty Years Young: The Woman's Club Of Arroyo Grande
By Melissa Walker-Scott
THE WOMAN'S CLUB OF ARROYO GRANDE
The Woman's Club of Arroyo Grande is celebrating its 80th year (and we have the proclamation to prove it!). The club’s mission is to promote teamwork through participation in community projects, to recognize youth through scholarships, and to value the beauty of friendships among women. One such fundraising initiative has been a music and dance recital, which raises money for a student music/dance scholarship. Next up for the club is their annual Artisan’s Faire on Saturday, November 18th from 10-4. “Dedicated to self culture and advancement and civic betterment,” Arroyo Grande's very first Woman's Club meeting was held in May, 1937, in the grammar school auditorium. Meeting on the site where the Ford dealership now stands at the corner of Traffic Way and Fair Oaks, the new club presented a fashion show, hosted speakers from the SLO Monday Club, and gave a tea. In all, 150 ladies attended and 70 signed on as charter members. A fund-raising project was chosen which would involve the entire community, emphasizing the debt owed to the local farmers: a country fair, to be held at harvest time. It was a two-day event, held at the grammar school, with some 1100 people attending to enjoy exhibits, concessions, entertainment and food. They cleared $500--a goodly amount in 1937.
The Harvest Festival became an annual tradition, growing in size and stature until its 10th year, when it had finally become too large for the club to handle. Ultimately, a civic committee was formed to manage the popular event. Still, the Woman's Club continued to take part in the Harvest Festival, helping with fundraising and finding creative ways to participate each year. Members performed in a vaudeville show as CanCan dancers. One memorable year, club member Mrs. Brown prepared FIFTY apple pies, which were baked in the ovens at Carlock's Bakery on Branch Street. (Ron Carlock's father--you know-Ron's Nursery.) By the 1980s, members dressed in clown costumes and sold balloons. Club clowns were also invited to appear at various nursing homes, health fairs and other public gatherings. These days, The Woman's Club participates by riding in the Harvest Festival’s annual parade, a tradition that they love! The Woman's Club has held other fundraisers over the years: bazaars, rummage sales, flower shows, book sales, art shows etc. And they had their share of fun. Older members still remember “Hi Jinks”, our members-only, R-rated talent show! So here we are, 80 years from our beginnings. As a club, we have enjoyed many years of friendship, as well as hard work for our community. We should all be very proud of our accomplishments! Ginnie Howells, 1977, 2002, 2017
Grandpa George Folkrod and his pal Ralph Keane, circa 1950.
Debra Audet I'm the current President of The Woman's Club. Over the past five years, our club has worked closely with the city to plan a major kitechen renovation. Together with the Lion's Club, a community fair called "Celebrate Arroyo Grande" brought in over 30 groups for an auction and barb-q. Also a yard sale and the city selling personalized bricks for the patio etc. has made it possible for the remodleling to start on january 2, 2018. I joined several years ago due to a deisre to give back to my community. Ginnie Howells I'm 91 years old. I joined the The Woman's Club when I moved to AG in 1965. I was a librarian at Harloe Elementary. I was president of the WC in 1984-85. The Woman's Club has meant wonderful companionship for me. I was welcomed with open arms and have made so many new friends. Karen Lujan I have been an AG resident for 42 years. I joined the club in early 1980s and was president in 2011 and 2014. I joined with my mother Lila Hora. It has been the best group of ladies ever. They are awesome and we all work hard to make this community a better place. Joan Goodall I have lived in AG since 1989 and I joined the womans club in 1995. I didn’t know anyone when we moved here and then my friend Jenny got me involved. It’s a club where there is something for everybody and a way to keep active. I love that were are not just here raising money for “us”, that what we do goes to help others. I really enjoy it.
Diane Krajsa I moved to Pismo beach in 1997, but had been coming to this area since 1962 for vacations. I jpoined The Woman's Club in 1998. My neighbor was president at the time. Her name is Donna Barktow, and she will be 92 this year and she is still a member. I joined because I liked the idea that this was a service organization and not a social club. It was to raise money to help the community and I am very into volunteerism. I loved the fashion shows we used to hold, those were great events. I’ve met so many wonderful people. Mary Carson I have lived in AG for 15 years. I've been a member of the club since 2005. I immediately became very involved. I had never been a member of a club before and it's been a wonderful experience. I was president of the club,. I think im the only one that has done it for three years in a row. We work very hard fund raising for our scholarship endeavors. The applications we receive are so impressive and iIm thrilled we are able to help with their education. I have also been very involved with the kitchen renovation for the club. I have enjoyed it so much. These are the greatest women that are members of this club. Allison Stuart I have been a member for about 5 years, so I'm a newer member. I spearheaded a new scholarship for the club. It’s a music/dance-centric scholarship. This will be my third year working on this scholarship. We have bingo in March, and the Artisans Faire and other fundraisers through the year to help fund the scholarhsips. Whatever we raise goes right back in to the scholarhsips. I just really love being a part of this wonderful organization with these amazing ladies.
Water is Life: Paulding's Middle School Muralists by Charlotte Scott – 8th Grade Paulding Middle School, Digital Media Arts
The Arroyo Grande Creek Cleanup & Mural event was held on Coastal Clean-up Day, 9/16/17. The event was sponsored and organized by Village Creek Plaza, Central Coast Salmon Enhancement, and Rootamental Signs for Change. Rootamental’s Scott Kam designed the 1,200 Sq. Ft. mural. The mural’s theme, "Water is Life" will serve to build community appreciation and respect for our waterways. Paulding Middle School's Jeff Lahr led the student volunteers on this project, who were more than happy to help out. The students got to help create an important art awareness project for their community, and have fun with their friends! We asked several of the student volunteers about their experience helping to create the mural. Here they are, in their own words: I wanted to be able to create something that would still be there in years to come. I will remember having an amazing experience with my friends and getting to contribute to my community. I would like to encourage the community to get involved because you will get a really good experience. – Elizabeth Bandey, 7th grade I wanted to help out in the community. I enjoyed working with others in this area on something important. I will always remember the fun I had helping out. – Haylei Leslie, 8th grade
I wanted to contribute to my city and paint a wonderful mural. It was an interesting mural - a bunch of waves with weird colors. I will remember talking to my friends and getting paint all over me. – Noah Wildey, 7th grade
I wanted to participate because I’ve never really helped the community before and it sounded like a good opportunity to do it. It was fun to get out there with my class and paint a giant ocean. I will remember that I was one of many people to help paint the mural. –Sophia Furness, 7th grade I thought it was a fun community-helping project. I will remember painting by the creek and knowing I was helping out. I think we should do more activities like the mural. – Maddie Gonzales, 7th grade I felt like it would be fun to make my community a better place. I enjoyed painting with my friends and teachers. I will remember spilling paint on myself and having to change. – Brianna Stephenson, 7th grade I wanted to participate in this project because it was something to help this world be a better place. I came to help the community and it really put an impact on my life. I will remember all of the little kids enjoying every part of it and everyone just helping the community out. – Brooke Madson, 7th grade Christopher Lim of Central Coast Salmon Enhancement enjoyed the students’ contribution as well: “From the start, it was envisioned that Paulding Middle School students would be the stewards of the mural, and we could not have done it without them. We hope to see Paulding students add to the mural in coming years.” All in all, the Arroyo Grande Creek Cleanup & Mural event was a success, and has left our community with a work of art that will inspire us for years to come! Photos: Chrystie Richards & Jeff Lahr
PRECIOUS PETS OF THE MONTH For the Love of Mature and Lost Horses
Robby Gussman loves horses. I know this because I have been going weekly to Robby's stable with my daughters to brush, hug, snuggle, and feed massive amounts of carrots to these wonderful "seniors." Robby is a true savior of these regal beings, and sees to it that they live out their golden years in style. From getting meds for vaious ailments, giving them wonderful food, keeping them shod often and (by an expert) and giving them SO much love and affection, Robby is truly the horse's best friend. A kinder soul you will never meet and it warms my heart to know that there are still people like Robby in this world. I'll let Robby take it from here, as she introduces her four legged family members to you: Printz - My first horse. 30 years old and still full of it. Retired for 5 yrs. when I first got him, he had just had a metal plate put in his jaw. He pulled back at the hitching post and caught his halter. Thank goodness for Alamo Pintado Hospital. Sweet, but also a grumpy old man at times. Has bad arthritis, but loves still hanging with his buddies, Bailey and Summer.
I am not a rescue, but sort of a senior assisted living home. - Robby Gussman Baby - Have had her for what seems like forever. She is just an easy-going girl whose only two thoughts are "Watch out for Mamacita!" and "When is the next meal?" She is also in her 30s. Mamacita - Truly a regal lady with lots of years behind her, She was a "freebie" to Pacific Dunes Stables. It took four of us an hour and a half just to catch her to bring home. Ken finally said "Get some grain." Two minutes later, she was in the trailer on the way home. A kind hearted soul at 34 years old. White Bailey - I have had him for about 5 years. He was a great guide horse at Pacific Dunes Stables. He is now retired. I took him home because my good friend Yvonne rode him all the time. He is in his 30s. Yorti - The newbie to my house. Was at Pacific Dunes Stables for a long time as a loyal line horse. Was retired a while ago and hung out in the pasture. The rest is history. 30 ish. Bailey - A husband horse, but didn't realize my husband meant a motorcycle when he mentioned horsepower! A boy with a great personality, Bailey hasn't been ridden in 2 years, even though he is only 22. Retired due to injury. Still loves to get crazy with Summer and Printz. Can smell the vet from miles away.
"A good time was had by all." -Everyone One last look at our fabulous 80th Annual Harvest Festival! See you in November for our next issue, featuring more stories about the people, places and things you love about Arroyo Grande Living!
Ads/Sponsor/Partnership Opportunities Editor@ArroyoGrandeLiving.com
Photo Melissa Walker-Scott
A Regal Rooster!