2016 april paso magazine

MEET THE FOUR CANDIDATES FOR FIRST DISTRICT SUPERVISOR April 2016

pasoroblesmagazine.com

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Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

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CONTENTS

APRIL 2016 volume 15 number 12

A MONTHLY LOOK AT LIFE IN OUR REMARKABLE COMMUNITIES Feature S tories 10 Four Candidates Seek to Replace Mecham as 1st District Supervisor

43 City of Paso Robles Library and Recreation Cool stuff to do for the month ahead

Dale Gustin, John Hamon, Steven Martin and John Peschong vie for seat

47 Business

• What’s Happening on Main Street

44 Hoofbeat by Dorothy Rogers

- By Millie Drum

and Hoofbeat Calendar

• Local Goods Report by The Team at

General Store Paso Robles

• Honoring the Hearst Legacy at Fort Hunter Liggett

Departments

• Business Spotlight - By Meagan Friberg

51 Time & Place

18 Education

Where to find just about anything and everything to do in April

PRHS Students Use Their Talent for Good • Local Students to Host Broadway Bound Workshop April 9 • Supervisor Mecham Offers Insight to Youth Commissioners • The Tin Woman Performed

by Shandon Drama Class • Pleasant Valley School Color My Future Run • PRFFA Spring Fundraiser at The Ranch • Asking Businesses to Hire “Just 1” •

23 Paso People • • • • • • • • • • • •

Brittany App Documentary: Where There Once Was Water A Piece of History for Hire at Harris Stage Lines April Auto Arts Event in Downtown Park At the Paso Robles Library Paso Robles Pickleball Club Hosts 3rd Annual Tournament Everyone in the Pool fundraiser to resurrect Centennial Pool This N That Paso Robles AAUW presents 2016 Home Tour 25th Anniversary Paso Robles Rotary Golf Tournament Chamber Roblan of the Month and Business Expo The Voice of the Visitor Center - By Karyl Lammers American Idol vintners open winery for Theater Group

35 Round Town • • • • • • • •

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‘Earth Day Food and Wine’ events set for April 23-24 Warbirds Wings and Wheels 8 Open House and Car Show set for May 7 County Perspective - By Bruce Curtis Wildflower - “The Woodstock of Triathlon” Relay for Life - The First Survivors Luncheon 25th Sagebrush Days - San Miguel Reflections By Lynne Schmitz Templeton Events ahead…including wine, beer festivals in May CASA Seeking North County volunteers The 8th Wine4Paws set for April 9 and 10

54 Last Word

Help Operation Headstrong bring hope to local combat veterans - By Meagan Friberg

Brittany App, Creator of Documentary Film: ON THE COVER Where There Once Was Water

photo by Heather Young

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EDITORIAL DEADLINE:

of each month preceding publication

ADVERTISING DEADLINE:

10 th of each month preceding publication

HOW TO REACH US

Phone: (805) 239-1533 E-mail: bob@pasoroblesmagazine.com Mailing address: P.O. Box 3996, Paso Robles, CA 93447 In town drop off: Dutch Maytag, 1501 Riverside, Paso Robles Web: pasoroblesmagazine.com

Founding Co-Publisher: Karen Chute 1949-2004 Publisher/Editor: Bob Chute Editorial Consultant: Chris Weygandt Alba Advertising: Millie Drum, Pam Osborn, Jamie Self, and Bob Chute

WE VALUE YOUR INPUT!

Paso Robles Magazine (PRM) © 2016, is owned and published by Bob Chute. No part of this periodical may be reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent from Paso Robles Magazine.

PRM is published monthly and distributed FREE to every residence and business, including rural addresses, in Paso Robles, Templeton, Shandon, Bradley and San Miguel (zip codes 93426, 93446, 93451, 93461 and 93465). Postage paid at Paso Robles, CA 93446. PRM is also available for our visitors through local restaurants, Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, North County Transportation Center, and other high traffic tourist-oriented locations.

Annual subscriptions to PRM, mailed to areas beyond the described distribution areas, are available for $18 per year (for orders outside U.S., add $10 postage). Mailing address: P.O. Box 3996, Paso Robles, CA 93447. Phone: (805) 239-1533, e-mail: bob@pasoroblesmagazine.com. Find us on the web at www.pasoroblesmagazine.com For advertising inquiries and rates, story ideas and submissions, contact Bob Chute at any of the above numbers. In town drop point for photos, letters, press releases, etc. at Dutch Maytag Home Appliance Center, 1501 Riverside.

Graphics Advertising and Editorial – Denise McLean, Mode Communications. Editorial composition by Travis Ruppe and Art Production by Sue Dill.

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Just a CHANGES ON THE HORIZON Thought Welcome ‘Paso Pops’ to the Cen- Exchange Program, San Luis Obispo Coast…over 27,000 copies every

By Bob Chute

Upcoming Election San Luis Obispo County First District Supervisor Frank Mecham has decided not to seek reelection and four candidates are vying for his chair on the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election ballot.

I contacted each of the candidates and invited them to submit a 650 word statement on why they believe they are qualified for this position and why our residents should vote for them. Their responses begin on page 10.

For the May issue of PASO Magazine I will be contacting each candidate again with specific questions regarding topics of interest to the First District…to be answered by each candidate to the best of their ability.

Paso Pops ‘Paso Pops’ is a new Paderewski Festival Event for SLO County celebrating Independence Day with wine, food, live music…and fireworks!

Heard of “Boston Pops?” Been to the Hollywood Bowl?

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tral Coast. Think 1812 Overture… with fireworks! The Paderewski Festival has announced a new annual patriotric-themed concert and Independence Day celebration on the Saturday closest to the 4th of July - July 2nd in 2016. This year’s event will be held at the new Paso Robles Horse Park, at Dry Creek Road and Airport Road.

The San Luis Obispo Symphony - paired with Youth Symphony members and led by Tulare County Symphony and Pasadena Youth Symphony conductor Bruce Kiesling - will perform a 90 minute patriotic “Pops” program with a fireworks finale.

Festivities will start at 6 p.m. with a two hour wine tasting with 30 local wineries for adults and patrons purchasing table seats or chair seating, while interactive arts, games and painting activities organized by Studios on the Park and the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation will be available for young families.

Net proceeds from ‘Paso Pops’ will be distributed to the Paderewski Festival Youth Piano Competition and Student Cultural

Youth Symphony, Paso Robles Youth Art Foundation and Studios on the Park Youth Art Program.

Watch for more ‘Paso Pops’ details in the May PASO Magazine.

This month marks our 15th anniversary serving the local communities as the Paso Robles Magazine… next month we undergo some changes…changes we believe will be for the better. The logo above will be just the beginning of several planned changes. We’re going to make a concerted effort to clean up our act a bit as well…an updated look with larger type, larger and better photos.

We’ll be expanding our distribution to include all area motels/hotels/B&Bs…we currently mail the magazine to 100% of area homes and businesses from Templeton to San Miguel and Shandon to about halfway between Paso and the

month. Our total number of copies distributed, beginning in May, is still being defined. Our saturation coverage, coupled with quality content, makes for loyal readership and an effective advertising vehicle for businesses.

As I’ve asked in the past…please continue to support our local merchants. They make the free mailing of the Paso Robles Magazine… make that PASO Magazine…possible.

We’ll also be taking advantage of social media to get the word out… this old typewriter will do his best to make sure you know we’re still the same gang. Watch for us on Facebook, Instagram and other vehicles I don’t understand but others around here swear by them.

Rest assured you won’t be losing your friendly and comfortable PRM - we’re just tweaking it a bit and seeking to better serve our local residents as well as the ever-increasing number of visitors we welcome to our incredible community throughout the year.

How cool is it that we get to LIVE here?!

Watch for the new PASO Magazine next month!

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

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FOUR CANDIDATES seek to replace Mecham as 1st District Supervisor Frank Mecham has decided not to seek reelection to the position of San Luis Obispo County Supervisor for the First District. Mecham served two terms and four candidates are vying for his chair on the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election ballot.

The candidates include, in alphabetical order, retired attorney Dale Gustin, businessman and Paso Robles City Council Member John R. Hamon, Jr., Paso Robles Mayor Steven W. Martin and independent businessman John Peschong.

I contacted each of the candidates for First District County Supervisor and invited them to submit a 650 word statement on why they believe they are qualified for this position and why our residents should vote for them in the upcoming primary election on June 7. If a candidate receives a majority of the cast ballots they will be elected. If not, the top two vote-getters will run-off in November. Their comments follow.

DALE GUSTIN Retired Attorney

Dale has been active in this county since moving here in June of 1979. He has served on several committees for the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce and on their Board of Directors twice for double terms in the 1980’s.

He was one of the primary team members responsible for the formation of a separately chartered United Way for San Luis Obispo County, which included the merger of same with Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors and United Way and he drew up the documents to allow that to happen. This brought about the formation of a single organization to serve the citizens of San Luis Obispo County.

After that merger, Dale served on the new Board of Directors for many years and was honored as one of the Citizens of the Year by that organization for his part in bringing about the consolidation of Neighbors-

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For the May issue I will be contacting each candidate again with specific questions regarding topics of interest to the First District…to be answered by each candidate to the best of their ability.

The First District boundaries extend from the Monterey County line to the north, to the Kern County line to the East, it includes the community of Templeton to the south and extends to the mountain range that includes Adelaide and York Mountain to the west. The First District is about 651,000 acres, with a population of approximately 53,860 residents. There is one incorporated city in the district which is Paso Robles.

Bob Chute, Publisher Paso Robles Magazine

Helping-Neighbors and United Way. He continued to serve on that new organization’s first Board of Directors until his maximum number of terms expired.

The Economic Opportunity Commission as a part of its Community Action Program selected Dale as the Board Member of the Year in 1990 for all of his services to non-profit organizations.

Dale has been active as a member of the Paso Robles Rotary International Club since 1979 having served on its Board of Directors and as President in 1991-1992.

Dale is a regular attendee at Paso Robles City Council and Planning Commission Meetings and at the Paso Robles School Board Meetings as well and feels that the North County concerns are not being adequately presented to the Board of Supervisors and wants to change that.

Here is a partial list of his community service: Rotary International Paso Robles 1979 - Present, 1988 - 1989 - Board of Directors, 1991 1992 - President; United Way San Luis Obispo County 1986 - 1995 - Board of Directors and Founding Member, 1989 - 1990 - Humanitarian of the Year; Camp Fire Boys and Girls, 1986 - 2000 - Adult Member; Chumash Council of Camp Fire 1986 - 1992 - Board of Directors/ President, 1992 - 1999 - Board of Directors,

1997 - 1999 - President & Founding Member; Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce 1979 1983 - Board of Directors, 1986 - 1989 - Board of Directors, May of 2001 - named Roblan of the Month; Paso Robles Wine Festival, 1983 Present - Volunteer and Founding Member.

Hospice San Luis Obispo County 19841988 - Volunteer for Clients; 1984 - Present Volunteer for Fund Raisers; North County Industries (NCI) 1984 - 1988 Board of Directors; County Bar Association 1979 - 2014 - Member; County Bar Association/Family Law Section 1983 - 2014 Member; 1984 - 1985 President and Founding Member; Central Coast Natural History Association 1995 - Present - Member, 1995 - 1998 - Board of Directors, 1996 - 1997 - Vice-Chair; Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee 1980 - Present - Committee Member, 1998 - 2001 - Board of Directors; Paso Robles City Senior Citizens Advisory 1999 - 2011 Board Member, 2000 - 2002 - Chair; Friends of the Fair, 2000 - Present - Volunteer; Friends of Hearst Castle 2000 - Present - Volunteer; and Paso Robles Main Street 2004 - Present Board of Directors.

Now Dale wants to serve the North County by representing the citizens of the North County as your District One County Supervisor.

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FOUR CANDIDATES for 1st District Supervisor (continued) JOHN R. HAMON, JR.

Businessman and Paso Robles City Councilmember

I am running for our 1st District Supervisorial seat. I have a record of representing Paso Robles with a strong, conservative, common sense approach to government and wish to represent the entire North County with my strong conviction of keeping government in its place.

I am the best qualified to assume this office because of my years of experience and knowledge.

I have been elected three times by the citizens of Paso Robles, currently serving as a Councilmember in my 10th year. I have a record of listening carefully to the interests and views of constituents and then bringing them to the table of many county boards such as the Air Pollution Control District, Integrated Waste Management, and the Nacimiento Water Commission, to make our voice be heard. I am asking for your important vote of confidence in this election year to become your next 1st District Supervisor.

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I am the great grandson of a Portuguese immigrant who settled here in the 1890’s to work on the Cuesta Grade train tunnels. I am deeply rooted in San Luis County having been educated at Cal Poly, making a 40 yearlong business history as an employer, raising our children here, and giving my time as a community volunteer by serving as a Fire Fighter/Captain, City Planning Commissioner, Boy Scout leader, St. Rose Minister, and by serving on non-profit boards and service clubs during those 40 years.

As a fiscally conservative leader, I have a record of not only listening to the communities’ voice and vision, but also acting on it. On the question of water, our North County must have the reasonable and beneficiary use of all resources such as our ground water and to be free from irrational outside government rule. I will protect property rights.

Understanding what our views are and having that voice heard on County Board of Supervisors is of critical importance if we are to have a say in what our County will become in the future. The Board of Supervisors must take a governance role to lead our County before the State or an adjudicating Justice does it for us. I will always support local control.

Without experience and knowledge, I believe there is little wisdom from an elected official. My 40 years of owning and operating our very successful family door business has given me the critical understanding that anyone running for a public office should have when it comes to making decisions about our economy and the businesses that

drive it. The all-important employment opportunities that are created by our many manufacturing, agricultural, construction, retail, tourism, and service industries are key to San Luis Obispo County’s economic health and stability. I will advocate for local business.

An important lesson I have learned and one that I wish more of my colleagues would study, is that by controlling an agencies’ budget, you can control government. I do not support expansive government but rather efficient use of tax payer dollars. I was the only member of the Paso Robles City Council to oppose higher salary increases to city employees at a time when returning city revenues from the recessionary downturn, should have gone to public services, road and facility maintenance first.

I am running because I believe elected officials should be public servants, not politicians. I do not need a job, and I don’t have an ego that wants or seeks out higher recognition. I am not the most polished speaker but I do fight for what I believe in. Our 1st District seat has always been a pivotal vote on which way the County is to go into the future. I see an opportunity to keep our voice more prominent and to work with like-minded Supervisors for positive change. I want to serve because I believe I can best represent my home, our community’s thoughts and hopes better than the other candidates. I know I can do the work; I have the qualifications, the knowledge, and the heart to be your voice on the Board of Supervisors. Give me your vote to make our North County heard.

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FOUR CANDIDATES for 1st District Supervisor (continued) STEVEN W. MARTIN

Paso Robles Mayor I see a bright future for San Luis Obispo County. It is a future where our water is managed fairly and responsibly, where local people can get local jobs, where economic development is valued, where we ensure a healthy environment for all, where we improve and maintain our infrastructure and where civil discourse replaces partisan bickering.

I grew up in the North County and am a 43year resident of Paso Robles. My wife, Jennifer, and I raised our family here. I served on the Paso Robles City Council from 1987 to 1996 and as Mayor from 1988 to 1990. I was elected again to the Paso Robles City Council in 2012 with the largest number of votes and then ran unopposed for Mayor in 2014.

I have focused on maintaining and enhancing the city’s water resources, restoring and improving local government services and bringing head of household jobs to the community and the North County.

I have also been active in many local organizations over the years including the Economic Vitality Corporation, Homeless Services Oversight Committee, CAPSLO, ECHO, and the SLO County

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Regional Transit Authority. I have participated in Kiwanis, Optimists, Rotary and the American Cancer Society, The Link and the Symphony of the Vines to name just a few. I have worked with many groups and individuals on projects such as Sunset Savor the Central Coast, Cycle de Mayo, RISE Women’s Service fundraisers and the establishment of the first Mayor’s Fundraiser to help fund the re-opening of Paso Robles’ Centennial Pool.

I have also served communities beyond Paso Robles. I was the Executive Director of the Atascadero Main Street Association from 2002 to 2012. During that time I helped that community define and improve its downtown business district utilizing the four-pronged Main Street approach: Organization, Design, Economic Restructuring and Promotion. I assisted that city with tourism development and was the Atascadero Chamber’s Community Volunteer of the Year in 2007. Opportunities to participate in the two cities and at the County level have given me unique perspectives on how communities can and should work together.

My endorsements are broad-based, including: Dee Lacey (Community Leader): “I am supporting Steve Martin…because he is an experienced leader… good listener… problem-solver and a consensus-builder. He understands the issues that the North County is facing and will work for all of us.”

Gere Sibbach (SLO County Auditor-Controller, ret.): “…he will be an effective, informed and fair representative… he has a record of conservative budget management.”

Tom O’Malley (Mayor, Atascadero): “I strongly support Steve for 1st District Supervisor and believe he is the best candidate to get the job done.”

William Monning (California State Senator): “Steve’s track record of bipartisan problem solving and coalition building will serve the North County Community well.”

I am running for the Board of Supervisors to bring my skills and track record of bipartisan problem-solving and coalition-building to address the important regional issues we now face. I will work for the fair and responsible management of water supplies county-wide. I will support a balanced approach to development to encourage existing and new industry while protecting our environment. I will continue to listen, lead and communicate in the service of the people of the North County while establishing a productive working rapport with all the members of the Board of Supervisors, always striving for civil debate and an end to partisan bickering.

As your First District Supervisor I will listen to your concerns, ideas and inspiration. I will communicate about the County’s direction and actions. I will work with everyone to find the best solutions for everyone, not just one narrow band of constituents. I need your support to bring my experience, skills and passion to the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors.

I see a bright future for San Luis Obispo County. Do you see it too? If so, I respectfully ask for your vote.

Thank you.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

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FOUR CANDIDATES for 1st District Supervisor (continued) JOHN PESCHONG Independent Businessman

San Luis Obispo County has been my home for the past 15 years and the quality of life here in unmatched by any other place in California.

This is where my wife and I are raising our children, and this is where I started my business.

There is no place better to live, work and raise a family and we need to preserve the special character that makes SLO County our home. This is one reason why I’m running for office and I would be honored to receive your vote for First District Supervisor, which includes the City of Paso Robles as well as the communities of Templeton, Heritage Ranch, San Miguel, Shandon and Oak Shores.

One my favorite things about San Luis Obispo County is our residents’ level of commitment to community service. As an active 4-H parent, the former President of the Mid-State Fair Board of Directors, and President of the Central Coast Taxpayers Association, I see first-hand the dedication of people here to community involvement as well as their willingness to help their neighbors.

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The strong sense of community must be preserved, and in order to do that, we not only need effective law enforcement to keep our streets safe, but also a strong economy that’s built on the success of small businesses. We need a Supervisor who is willing to stand up for these priorities, and if elected, I pledge to work hard every day in support of them.

District Attorney Dan Dow has endorsed my campaign because I am willing to give law enforcement the resources they need to combat gang activity in every corner of our county. Recent changes to state law that loosened penalties for criminals have led to spikes in crime around California. It is more important than ever that we give our public safety officers the resources they need to keep us safe. The residents of San Luis Obispo County should not have to live in fear of crime, and I will make sure we are able to maintain our quality of life.

Additionally, we need to put smart policies in place that support small businesses—the driver of the Central Coast’s economy and the key to providing jobs for our families. Unlike other regions who are reliant upon large employers, it’s small, local companies that provide the vast majority of our jobs; meaning working partnerships with these employers is a must for county government and its leaders. As a small business owner myself, I will bring valuable experience to the board and ensure our county remains a good

place for companies to operate.

Agriculture is one industry in particular which is made up of small businesses that we must continue to support. While difficult drought conditions have created enormous challenges for local farmers, their resilience is emblematic of the type of community we are. Finding solutions to meet their long-term water needs is something in which I will focus.

We also need to keep taxes affordable which is made possible if we run county government as efficiently as possible. In our community, it is essential that we protect seniors and families from runaway property tax bills, and I’m proud to say that the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association has endorsed my campaign. I have always been a strong supporter of property rights and the protections given under Proposition 13.

During my career, I have established myself as an effective manager and my strong work ethic as well as unique skill set will help preserve San Luis Obispo County as the best place to live in California.

I am proud to have earned the support from a broad coalition of community leaders that include: John Lacey, Assessor Tom Bordonaro, Supervisor Debbie Arnold and Supervisor Lynn Compton, and I hope to earn your support too.

If you have questions please call me on my cell phone at (805) 440-7818.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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EDUCATION & YOUTH

Free theatrical training offered by Paso High Theatre Company

PRHS students to host Broadway Bound Workshop April 9

By Meagan Friberg Time is quickly running out to sign up your child for free theatrical training as the Advanced Drama students with the Paso High Theatre Company host their first annual Broadway Bound Workshop on April 9. This workshop, geared towards students in grades 1-12 interested in any and all aspects of theatre, is an exciting opportunity not only for those students that sign up, but for those leading the two jam-packed hours of skills training as well.

PRHS sophomore Reagen Lomanto calls being part of a theatre group, “a beautiful and easy way to discover all that we can do” and points to the Broadway Bound Workshop as “a great opportunity for kids to find out who they are.”

Whether your child is interested in acting, singing, dancing, improvisation, or strengthening performance

skills before a live audience, Broadway Bound promises to highlight all areas of the theatrical life. Although the workshop is being overseen by PRHS Director of Theatre Arts Marcy Goodnow, she stressed that it is her Advanced Drama students that are taking the lead and “running the show.

“These students are ready to pass on what they have learned and we are all very excited about offering this free workshop,” said Goodnow.

Senior Julia Schultze and junior Jacob Bausch are among the members of Paso High Theatre Company that have been busy making preparations for the workshop for the past several weeks. Schultze said that offering the workshop free of charge is a way to help forge connections in the community as well as expose younger children to theatre.

“Theatre is super special and everyone should get the opportunity to try it out,” said Bausch. “If your child even has the smallest interest in theatre, I seriously recommend doing this workshop.”

The Broadway Bound Workshop will take place at the Paso Robles High

School Performing Arts Center on April 9 from 10 a.m. to noon. For more information, email Marcy Goodnow at megoodnow@pasoschools.org or call 769-1500 ext. 38289. Preregistration is required at: www.eventbrite.com/ e / b r o a d w a y - bo u n d - w o r k s h o p tickets-21569569162.

Paso High Theatre Company Advanced Drama students Cassidy LeClair and Raegan Lomanto are eager to share their dance skills with local youth at the Broadway Bound Workshop on April 9.

Advanced Drama students Daniel Vigil and Graham Farrell will teach improvisation to participants during the Broadway Bound Workshop.

Local youth use their talent for good Many young people in our community feel lost, alone, and are silently suffering from different forms of bullying. God Squad Dance Crew, has been able to share encouragement through dance at schools and local public events. Their dances depict memorable stories like “Where is the Love” confronting bullying, and the “Everything Skit,” that connects to kids dealing with cutting, appearance, drinking, drugs, sexual pressure and suicide.

A picture can tell a thousand words, how many words can a dance full of pictures tell?

God Squad Dance Crew (GSDC) has a mission to spread truth in love through

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music, dance, and testimonies of God’s Love. Comprised of local, North County dancers ages 11-21, meeting and rehearsing four hours per week.

You may have seen them holding encouraging signs at the Walmart/

Albertson’s intersection on Niblick, an outreach they call “Signs” to simply encourage and uplift our community. There have been many responses to signs - some just love the encouragement, some are renewed in hope for our future when seeing these young people doing something positive, some yell profanities or finger gesture, others are so positively impacted that they decided to LIVE, and another to leave the life of gangs and burn his drugs in the fire after driving through the intersection!

After a first-time participation with Project Dance (a world-wide traveling dance outreach to communities in Major cities- see www.pro-

jectdance.com.) Jocelyn Willis, director of GSDC, was approached by the project dance founder, Cheryl Cutlip.

She was amazed at the impact of the unique and talented group, and asked GSDC to join Project Dance at their future events in New York, Chicago, Japan, Hawaii, and Costa Rica.

With limited funds available to the small-town group of dancing disciples, they had to choose to travel to one event. Cheryl requested GSDC’s presence in Costa Rica, believing with the group’s unique ability to tell a story through dance, which transcends cultural and language barriers, GSDC will be an asset in a foreign country. The trip is set for June 7 to 15, 2016. If you would like to donate, check out www.gofundme. com/gsdcmission2016 or through their PayPal account on the website: godsquaddancecrew.com.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

Lift up

a child’s voice.

A child’s life.™ Help an abused or neglected child® North County training starts soon

slocasa.org 805-541-6542

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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E DUCATION & YOUTH

Supervisor Mecham offers insight to Youth Commissioners County Supervisor and past four-term Mayor of Paso Robles, Frank Mecham provided student members of the Paso Robles Youth Commission valuable insight into City and County government process and offered words of encouragement during the Youth Commission’s monthly meeting during February at the Paso Robles School District Office.

The Youth Commission is an organization close to Mecham’s heart, as he spearheaded the establishment of the City’s first Youth Commission in 1999.

“The Youth Commission was so important to me because I knew how valuable it would be to hear directly from the youth of our City and learn about their thoughts and concerns,” Mecham told the seven Youth Commission members in attendance.

The County Supervisor offered life lessons and insight on a range of topics including being punctual, “If you can’t be on time, be early,” he told them.

Mecham also encouraged the students to stand up for their beliefs and remain committed, “Sometimes your vision will go against the grain, but keep at it,” he said. The students shared their goals and future plans with Mecham and learned about current water issues in the County as well.

The Paso Robles Youth Commission serves as a formal advisory body to the Paso Robles City Council and is comprised of twelve high school students (three of whom are alternates). All candidates are interviewed and ultimately appointed by the City Council.

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The meeting began with a team building activity in which the Youth Commissioners were divided into two groups working in partnership with Mecham, City Council members John Hamon and Steve Gregory, Library and Recreation Services Director Julie Dahlen, and School Board representatives Dave Lambert and Joan Summers. The teams were challenged to build the tallest tower possible using only plastic drinking straws and tape.

“The Youth Commission is a strong and positive voice of teens in our community,” said Lynda Holt, Recreation Services Manager. “Commissioners bring forth issues, work on a variety of community service projects, offer the Recreation division ideas for youth programs in Paso Robles and do advocacy work. In the process, they learn a great deal about how city

Youth Commission with Frank Mecham, center.

government works.”

Paso Robles School District Superintendent Chris Williams who attended the group’s recent meeting agrees. “The Youth Commission provides students the opportunity to connect with local government and to be the voice for our youth,” added Williams. “It is an outstanding opportunity for students to make a difference and to cultivate their leadership skills.”

For more information about the Youth Commission or to apply to be a member of the Commission for the 2016-2017 school year visit: www. prcity.com/government/advisorybodies/youth.asp or contact Lynda Holt, Recreation Services Manager at 237-3987. All Applications must be received by April 8, 2016.

The Tin Woman performed by Shandon Drama Class The Shandon High School Drama Class will present the heartwarming play

The Tin Woman on April 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. The play, by Sean Grennan, will be performed at the school, 101 S. First Street in Shandon through special arrangements with Playscript Inc. The play deals with a young heart recipient dealing with survivor guilt who decides to meet up with the family of the donor. While a serious subject, the play is full of laughter and warmth. Student performers include Daisy Alvarez, Cassidy Brimer, Zechariah Erdman, Raina Hagen, Damaris Licea, Juan Sanchez and Lexy Stockdale.

Tickets are available at the door, adults for $7 and students, $5. For more information call 238-0286.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

E DUCATION & YOUTH

Pleasant Valley School Color My Future Run Come out and support your favorite country school…when Pleasant Valley School in rural San Miguel will be hosting its third annual Color My Future 5K Run. This year parents and staff hope to raise enough money to give students a better-than-ever educational experience. All the proceeds for this run will go to English/ Language Arts textbooks for every student at Pleasant Valley School.

The initial estimate for this purchase is over $30,000. The current textbooks are older than any of the students currently enrolled at the school, having been adopted in 2002.

The textbooks are desperately need-

ed to keep up with the rigors of the new California standards.

The Run will begin at Pleasant Valley School, 2025 Ranchita Canyon Road in San Miguel, at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 17. The 5K course runs through the Record Family vineyard adjacent to the school. Participants will be running, skipping or walking on the school’s behalf.

Support is needed from the community by way of sponsorship, donations, and prizes. The Pleasant Valley Color Run Committee is looking for local businesses to help sponsor the event and have many levels of sponsorship available. For

those businesses that may not want to sponsor, but do want to get involved, they are also looking for raffle items such as gift certificates or other merchandise gifts. As Pleasant Valley is a public school, operates under a nonprofit status and all donations are tax deductible. The tax ID is 48-1295656.

Pleasant Valley is a one-school district and is one of the oldest school districts in San Luis Obispo County. It was established in 1884 and includes Kindergarten through 8th grade. This small country school with 115 students has been hit especially hard by the state’s budgets

PRFFA Spring Fundraiser at The Ranch Exciting adventures ahead! For the first time ever, the PRFFA Boosters is hosting a large-scale fundraiser at The Ranch in San Miguel on Sunday, April 10, from 2 to 6 p.m.

The Inaugural Spring Fundraiser features a BBQ, live auction with World Champion Auctioneer Rick Machado, a gun raffle, Silent Auction, live music and more.

PRFFA Boosters are looking to

the community for support in the form of goods, services, a n d monetary donations.

Together, we will help provide resources and programs that support and promote these students. Your generous donations help fund; leadership conferences, livestock projects, awards, and three scholarships in

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

2016 and beyond!

Your tax-deductible support allows them to fulfill these commitments to agriculture students. PRFFA Boosters will feature you on their Facebook page and you will be acknowledged the night of the event. PRFFA Boosters is a 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization comprised of

cuts and current economic times.

Though times are hard right now, the Pleasant Valley Color Run Committee, parents and staff hope that you would consider helping its children.

You are welcome to contact Debbie or Shelly at 467-3453 for more information about becoming a sponsor or making a donation. parents, educators, alumni, and community members. All funds raised by PRFFA Boosters directly benefit the more than 500+ agriculture students at Paso Robles High School.

Tickets are available for $30 each or a table discount of $200 (8 tickets per table). Tickets also available for purchase online www.liveatthe ranch.com Contact Melissa Dordon, Paso Robles FFA Boosters President, 610-4591 if you have any questions, or would like to arrange for pickup of items.

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E DUCATION & YOUTH Your business can hit a home run next month! The Just 1 program, asking businesses to hire “Just 1” high school student for the summer, leads to that great home run!

Last year, Just 1 was launched through a partnership between the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce and Paso Robles High School. Local Paso businesses heartily responded by hiring nearly 80 students for meaningful summer jobs that enabled the students to put into practice many of

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the skills they learned in one of the high school’s career pathways. This year, Just 1 is a North County effort – with the Templeton and Atascadero Chambers of Commerce joining the Paso Chamber in supporting their own high schools by reaching out to businesses in those communities.

So hit that home run and head to first base where a student is waiting to use what they’ve been learning in classes for a career in either healthcare, veterinary medicine, video production, jour-

nalism/communications technology, agriculture science, child development and education, information technology, construction and design or more!

Round the next two bases knowing that by hiring Just 1 student, your business is taking a step to ensure its own future success. Workers are the most valuable resource for any business. By supporting high school programs that prepare our youth for college and/or careers, your business is actively building its own “talent pipeline” for the years to come.

Slide into home plate knowing that your business has not only helped a young person in a significant way but

played a role in ensuring your business’ own success and taken a key step to keeping our community strong! Our quality of life in North County needs a strong talented workforce to keep our economy on track. Hiring Just 1 student is an important step in building that necessary workforce.

Just 1 summer job fairs will be held at the North County high schools in May, all coordinated by SLO Partners in Education (SLOPE). If your business is able to hire Just 1 student for the summer and you’d like more information, contact Pam Avila, Work Experience Coordinator for SLOPE, at pavila @slocoe.org or 712-2229.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

PAS0 PEOPLE

BRITTANY APP IS MAKING A

DOCUMENTARY ABOUT WATER

By Heather Young Brittany Anzel App is making a documentary about the water situation in California. She kicked off a 25-day KickStarter campaign on Feb. 10 to raise $25,000 to fund the project. It ended at midnight on March 6, raising $32,449 with 474 backers.

“It feels like a big, huge hug from the entire community,” App said of raising $7,449 more than her goal.

The film, called “Where There Once Was Water: A California Story,” will be her first feature-length documentary. She began the project “Where There Once Was Water” two years ago with still photography. While her documentary is not about the drought, but about the deeper and more complicated issue surrounding water in California, she found that the easiest way to bring the issue to people’s attention is by photographing the dwindling bodies of water in the area.

“I found [the issue] was too complex to share without the medium of film,” App said. “In 2014, I created a short film titled ‘The Five Gallon Challenge‘ as a respectful alternative to the popular ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. It quickly became a viral YouTube success, challenging participants to live on only five gallons of water for a day.”

While she self-funded her first six months of work on the documentary, she now finds that she cannot continue without investors, which she sought via a KickStarter Campaign. Before asking for funding, she said she knew she had to put some time into this to see if this was something she really wanted to do, and if it was something that would interest others.

She found out the answer is yes to both those questions once she posted the trailer to the film.

She said people are ready to see the full documentary after seeing the preview.

“This film will be a solution-focused discussion about California’s current and future water landscape,” App said. “It will present a collection of innovative ideas and methods for interacting with water more sustainably, in hopes of inspiring behavioral change, on all levels, towards a more respectful and lasting relationship with water. I want to make a film that’s real, a film that’s poetic, honest, beautiful, and oozing with hope.”

Prior to the KickStarter campaign, she had interviewed eight people. Immediately following the close of the campaign, she left on a weeklong trip to Los Angeles to interview six more people.

App is working with Garrett Russell and Michael Mariant as drone operators and Erin Inglish, who created the title track for the film.

Lake Isabella

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

She has interviewed experts of the state’s current water landscape about what is working and what is not working, and has more planned.

“I will talk with progressive thinkers, with farmers, politicians, authors, activists and scientists,” App said. “About big ideas. About hope. And most importantly, about solutions.”

App expects that research and production will last about a year from March to March 2017 and then enter post-production, which includes editing, graphics, music and sound.

“I plan to deliver the film to my KickStarter backers in October of 2017,” App said. “I will spend the last few months of 2017 submitting my film to film festivals for inclusion in the 2018 film festival circuit.”

Laguna Lake Her KickStarter campaign goal is $25,000, which includes gear and research, aerial and drone footage, travel costs, website, graphics and design, crews, permits and transcription, editing, post-production and licensing, and miscellaneous fees and expenses.

“I have created a base-line budget that includes only my most elemental needs to bring this project to life,” App said. “This budget is based on the donation of my time, and the continuation of my work as a photographer to cover my monthly living expenses.”

She’s not sure exactly what the extra funds will go toward yet, but she said that it will likely include more aerials and more drone work. Additionally, App said California Water Environment Association has reached out, wanting to help. She said that work could include additional funding and help getting experts.

She said this project is important because water is life and she wants to inspire change in relationship to how people use water, especially in California.

Owens Valley Lake

Brittany App with photo of her documentary title page.

“My real and honest goal here is to follow my heart, to give a voice to water, and to make a big, brave, beautiful, and truly independent film that carries with it the potential to change our hearts and our world for the better,” App said.

Though the big hurdle of getting funding has been accomplished, she said she now has to make the film. One thing she has learned from jumping into it is that she wants to be a documentary filmmaker.

“This is perfect for me, once this project transitioned to a film, I realized I know what I want to be when I grow up,” App said with a laugh. “I love everything about it. There have been challenging moments out there, but I’m learning.”

App plans to work a little more than parttime on the film and a little more than part-time for her photography business, App’s Photography. The 36-year-old graduated Morro Bay High School in 1998 and currently resides in Atascadero with her husband, Steve Anzel.

She credits her spiral into water advocacy to the semester she spent at sea in 2008. She was the official photographer for Semester at Sea, which took her to places she’d never been to before, such as Africa, India, Brazil and others.

“I remember seeing a woman in India, older than my mom,” App said, ” in a muddy puddle in the middle of the street doing laundry.”

She said that it was a sight she continued to see on her travels because that was the only water available to people. So when she returned home she started raising money for WaterAid and donates a portion of all her sales in photography exhibits to WaterAid. To follow App’s journey making the documentary, go to her website www.wherethereoncewaswater.com and like the project on Facebook.

Photos of Brittany App by Heather Young All other photos by Brittany App

Lake Oroville

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PASO PEOPLE

By Millie Drum collection is a stagecoach, The history of the American chuck wagon, Ben Hur West is just one of the passions chariot, hay wagon, and an shared by Tommy Harris and Amish buggy. One of the Stephen Yergers. The other “few” most impressive vehicles are authentic and reproduction is the hand-carved “1906 Tommy & Debby Harris and Stephen Yergers with the 2016 buggies, wagons, carriages, surreys, Hearse” pulled by a team of Rose Parade award buckle and “Farthest Traveled” award stagecoaches, buckboards; the veblack horses; available for fuThe famous stagecoach with from San Antonio Western Heritage Parade. hicles that brought our forefathers neral services locally and naTommy driving the team! tionally. The enormous semi-truck years, the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo and to the American West!

Over 22 years ago, Tommy broke a team of palo- and trailer carry the vehicles and horses to anywhere in Western Heritage Parade, and the Southwestern minos for Stephen. Friends ever since, they’ve traveled the U.S. Tommy says, “Stephen and I have enjoyed our Exhibition and Livestock Show in Fort Worth. our country; participating in parades, special events and venture that has allowed us to travel the United States.” With many distinguished awards and accolades, many occasions that are more spectacular with their Tommy’s wife Debby and son Cactus occasionally go Debby adds, “We’ve been putting Paso Robles on authentic Western equipment and horses. Each horse- on the road too. the map for sure!” drawn vehicle has its own story. Every community that Harris Stage Lines Ranch Headquarters hosts school Down the road, the focus will surround sharing Tommy and Stephen visit has a special historical signif- field trips, children’s horse day camp, weddings, parties, Tommy’s knowledge and keeping the traditions of icance; particularly the Amish in Ohio. meetings and corporate events. A tour group package the Old West alive at Harris Stage Lines through Tommy adds, “Stephen’s collection, SRY Coaches includes lunch or BBQ dinner, tour of the carriage col- education and entertainment for all ages. Tommy is headquartered at Harris Stage Lines. The unique lection, the live “Real Horse Power Show” and a stage- adds, “Our hats are off to Judy Honercamp and Judy collection is one of a kind and always growing to in- coach or hay ride. Tommy adds, “We open up the horses Bedell for bringing kids to the ranch for education. clude Western vehicles as well as the “city” vehicles and really give them a ride and a feel for what our fore- “People have complimented Tommy and Debby that were used by aristocrats in the 1800s. What’s fathers endured as they came to the West.” about the way they mold their kids,” says Stephen. special is the size of Stephen’s collection and that all If you’ve ever dreamed of driving a single horse The lessons are not often easy. Tommy states with of them are available to drive.” The more elegant ve- to a 6-up hitch, driving for pleasure or competition, conviction, “We teach them to rake and shovel to hicles are the French Caléche, the Handsome Cab and learn to ride horseback or start a carriage business, be able to ride and drive” and recalls a quote from the 5 Glass Landeau. The collection takes a step back in SRY Coaches and the Driving and Training School Will Rodgers, “The outside of a horse is good for time; truly a living museum because every horse drawn at the Harris Stage Lines is the best resource there is! the inside of a man.’ vehicle can be hitched up and driven!

Stephen and Tommy take it a step further with advice Home for Harris Stage Lines is 5995 North Riv All of the horse-drawn vehicles are available for on buying the right horse, the right harness, and the er Road, Paso Robles. For info, call 237-1860, info@ weddings, rehearsal dinners, special events, parades, fu- appropriate horse-drawn vehicle.

HarrisStageLines.com, www.HarrisStageLines.com nerals, filming, commercials and promotions, complete Harris Stage Lines has been in the famous Rose and SRY Coaches at 237-1860 or 441-9277, www. with harnesses and the appropriate attire. Among the Parade 4 times, our Pioneer Day parade for over 20 SRYcoaches.com.

April Auto Arts Event in downtown park

PRAA promotes art displays, juried fine art exhibits, classes, lectures, workshops, and offers “April Auto Arts” is a fine art sale, in collabo- Main Street event. member’s fine art for sale in the Association’s Galration between the Paso Robles Art Association Proceeds from the sale will help fund the Gallery in lery within the Studios on the Park building at 1130 (PRAA) and Paso Robles Main Street, to be held Studios on the Park and pursuing the PRAA Mission, Pine Street. in City Park from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 23, in which includes scholarships and services to children.

PRAA has served Paso Robles for over 60 years. conjunction with the “Vintage Sidecar Rendezvous, Paso Robles Art Association is a 501c3 non-profit Membership is open to both artists and communiRecycled Treasures, Antique Motorcycles & British organization with about 200 members. The purpose of ty members who wish to support the arts. Annual Vintage Car Club” event. the Paso Robles Art Association is to provide North events include the Arte de Tiza chalk art festival and PRAA will be selling a variety of fine art created by San Luis Obispo County with quality artwork and to “Small Treasures,” a unique opportunity to obtain its members, including but not limited to, framed and raise awareness and appreciation of art in the commu- original art at a very low cost. For more information unframed art works at reasonable prices. There are nity. The mission has a component of youth education about membership and to learn about pending exalso discussions underway regarding possible on- in local schools and community outreach programs, hibits, classes, and activities, see the PRAA website the-spot photography of cars and participants in the and provides scholarships to further art education. at www.pasoroblesartassociation.org.

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Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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PASO PEOPLE Friends Book Sale April 21-23 The Paso Robles Friends of the Library are holding their much-anticipated Book Sale, their biggest event of the year, with Bargain Shopping and No Sales Tax from Thursday thru Saturday, April 21 to 23 at the Library Conference Room, 1000 Spring Street. There will be thousands of hardcover and paperback books in every genre along with popular authors.

DVDs, books on CD, tape and VHS will also be available.

Friends of the Library Members Only on Thursday from noon to 7 p.m.

If not a member you can join at the door ($10 for an annual membership fee) and get the Early Bird Selection.

Public Sale is Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

All proceeds go to the Library. The combined efforts of the 150-member Friends group of volunteers result in thousands of dollars a year in donations for purchase of needed new library books and materials, as well as sponsorship of special events to entertain and inform the public.

Friends of the Library Bursting at the Seams Once again, the Friends of the Paso Robles Library is outgrowing its

AT THE PASO ROBLES LIBRARY space and now is spreading out over two locations to serve its many library-supporting customers. While the Friends Gift Store will continue to sell quality merchandise and donated magazines in its current location off the lobby, donated books will now be available for purchase in the new Friends Book Store, inside the library, across from the Circulation Desk.

Additional volunteers are needed in both locations to help meet the needs of the organization’s growing customer base. Morning and afternoon shifts are available Tuesday through Saturday; shifts are approximately 2.5 hours per week. For more information about volunteering in the Friends of the Library Gift Store or Book Store, contact Suzanne, 237-3870, or srobitaille@prcity.com. Applications to volunteer are available in the library and at www.prcity.com/library.

Paso Robles City Library Offers New App to Connect Patrons to Library The Paso Robles City Library now offers a new mobile application to connect patrons with their local

act. You’re trying to keep your family afloat, with two jobs and two children.

You’ve always been an optimist, but it libraries. The app, designed by Ca- isn’t easy. That’s Jess Thomas’s life in a pira Technologies, allows patrons to nutshell, and it’s about to get a whole search the library catalog, place holds lot more complicated. on resources, access their account, Spring into Action at the renew items, pay fines, search library Paso Robles City Library events, and view digital resources The Paso Robles City Library infrom their mobile device or tablet. vites young and old to a month of In addition, the new app allows programming. patrons to download digital resources April 1-13: 3rd Annual Peeps Dioraincluding audio and eBooks, mag- ma Contest Voting and Awards azines, comics, streaming films, and view local historical photo collections. April 6-8: Brushmarks Juried Art The free app available for all An- Exhibit for Teens droid and IOS devices can be down- April 21, 7 pm: Book Group Discusloaded from www.blackgold.org and sion on One Plus One by Jojo Moyes is available in Spanish. Patrons can April 21-23: Friends of the Library also get the app by searching for Book Sale “Black Gold library” in the Google April 28, 6:30 pm: Pajama Storytime Play or Apple App stores. with Tony Wallace One Plus One equals April’s More information on each event Good Read at the Library can be found in the current Activity The public is invited to join the Guide, online at: issuu.com/prcity/ Library Book Group for a lively docs/activity_guide_winter-2016, or discussion Thursday, April 21, by calling the library.

7-8:30 pm.

The Paso Robles City Library is Jojo Moyes’s novel, One located at 1000 Spring Street and is Plus One, promises to be open Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 8 hilarious, heartbreaking p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a compelling read.

For more information on library proSuppose your husband grams and events, call 237-3870 or has done a vanishing visit www.prcity.com/library.

Paso Robles Pickleball Club hosts 3rd Annual Tournament Unofficially known as the Wine Country Spring Tournament, the Paso Robles Pickleball Club hosts the 3rd Annual Tournament, a non-sanctioned event May 14-15, open to all participants across the U.S. Play will include Age/Skill Level Classifications in: men’s doubles, women’s doubles on Saturday, and mixed doubles on Sunday. Thirteen courts at Paso’s Centennial Park, 600 Nickerson Drive will be available to the expected 150+ players.

Enhancing the wine theme in a first-ever in pickleball tournament history, the “Official Winery,” Cal-

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careous Vineyard will host a private tasting and specially prepared 3-course sit-down dinner with wine pairings in their mountain-top tasting room Saturday night.

In another, first, the “Official Hotel” La Quinta Inn & Suites in Paso Robles is offering discounted rooms to registered players, their families and friends.

To register for the Spring 2016 Pickleball tournament, Wine Dinner, and room registration information, go to: pickleballtournaments. com/welcome.pl?tid=575 For registration questions or

comments: contact Dave Bones at pasoroblespickleball@gmail.com or 805-591-7051; Jan Passama, Tournament Director at japassama

@gmail.com or 510-786-8723; Steve Sidwell, USAPA CoDistrict Ambassador, at steversid well@gmail.com or 805-452-5455.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

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PASO PEOPLE

Community members have joined together for the Mayor’s Fundraiser… an Island party at Centennial Pool, Everyone in the Pool, on Saturday, April 30, from 5 to 9 p.m.

“The main purpose in getting the pool open is to provide swimming lessons for kids,” said Councilman Steve Gregory, who is heading up this project, working with Mayor Steve Martin.

“I love kids and I love life and while a number of third graders have been receiving lessons through the schools, and this year middle schoolers and additional third graders will be included, but still over 1500 are missing out every summer without the pool.

“Looking back to the origins of the pool, the Paso Robles community came together with our ‘can do attitude’ and collected the funding to build our family oriented Centennial Park in the mid-1980’s. The park provided a swimming venue to over 20,000 swims every summer for children and families not to mention all of the uses by Daniel Lewis Middle School and the community at large for aqua aerobic and swimming. In

‘N’

THIS

THAT

A collection of stuff

Judy Philbin in concert April 17 Celebrating their 67th season, the North SLO County Concert Association presents Judy Philbin in concert April 17, 3 p.m. (doors open 2:30 p.m.) at Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Road in Paso Robles.

Judy moves effortlessly from jazz to popular to contemporary folk, delivering each song with the skill of a lyric storyteller. Her pure, clear

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2008 a recession, like we have never seen before, began and we had to make touch decisions: We closed Centennial Pool to save costs and it has been closed for 5 years.

“Today, our dream is alive again.

The Paso Robles City Council voted to spend more than $250,000 to bring the facility into compliance with current / ADA requirements and re-open the pool this coming summer of 2016.

Once again, the spirit of Paso Robles’ ‘can do attitude’ is back and the city’s doers and dreamers have the opportunity to help make the re-opening of Centennial Pool a great success for our children with the Mayor’s Annual Fundraiser Dinner, Everyone in the Pool. Everyone will have the opportunity to contribute to the pool fund, from the most modest individual donation to the larger corporate sponsors. Major sponsors will be commemorated with special ‘lifesaver’ signage that will remain on display every summer.”

The evening will include a ukulele dinner show featuring delicious appetizers, buffet dinner with your choice

of smoked tri tip, jerk chicken and seared wahoo, drinks and live and silent auctions for a Lifesaver price of $75. An after dinner Polynesian dance group, Hula Halau Na Mele Oke Kai will entertain with ancient hula and chanting. Tickets are $75 each or $600 for a table for eight, all inclusive, and 100% of the proceeds go to the repairs at Centennial Pool.

Event and beverage sponsors include the Paso Robles REC Foundation, J.Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Firestone Walker Brewing Company and Hearst Ranch Winery. To find out more about how to be an event sponsor, purchase tickets or just get more information go to facebook.com/everyoneinthepool or call Committee Chairman Steve Gregory at (805) 234-4850.

Tickets are also available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/ 2450384.

For questions or further information, contact Steve Gregory at (805) 434-4850 and to buy tickets: facebook.com/everyoneinthepool. REC Foundation is the event sponsor, Tax ID 77-0537083.

tone has been called uplifting, healing and evocative. Judy will be joined by some of the finest Central Coast musicians for an afternoon top-flight “Her voice is a bell-clear of musical fun and thing of beauty – playful, nuanced, and entertainment.

Tickets are $20 able to effortlessly convey emotion...” at the door. For more information, — Reviewer Glen Starkey. call 239-2770 or 237-8122.

Hesperia Chicken BBQ Hesperia Hall “Annual Chicken BBQ and White Elephant Sale” April 24, food 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

at historic hall. Chicken, beans, salad, French bread, coffee, lemonade, homemade dessert of choice. Adults $10, kids 6-12 $5, free for kids under 6. “White Elephant Auction,” auctioneer fun, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Great package deals too!

Unveiling annual raffle quilt. www. hesperiahall.org for directions (interlake road to Bryson-Hesperia Road, follow Bryson-Hesperia Road approx. 2 miles to the hall)

REC Foundation donation - pictured from left Steve Fleury, Brandon Medeiros, Cindy Paup, Maribeth Bonomi, Pat Bland, Jeff Penick, Kathleen O’Connor, Jamie Smith, Steve Gregory, Lynda Holt, & Steve Martin

Councilman Steve Gregory (left) and Mayor Steve Martin (right) accept a $5,000 donation from Paso Robles Waste & Recycle CEO Dale Gomer (2nd from right), Isiah Gomer (center), and Ian Hoover (2nd from left) to help defray the cost of the Centennial Pool repairs.

Heritage Oaks Bank donation: L to R: Mayor Steve Martin, Rick Arredondo, President, Heritage Oaks Bank, Councilman Steve Gregory, and Ann Cochrane, Heritage Oaks Bank Vice President

Supervisor Candidates Forum The Paso Robles Main Street Association presents a 1st District Supervisor Candidates Forum on Wednesday, April 27, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Park Ballroom, 1232 Park St., #200.

For information call 238-4103.

Community Action Partnership Adult Wellness & Prevention Screening offers health screening for adults throughout San Luis Obispo County. Free services include: screening for high blood pressure, weight and pulse. Finger prick screening tests for: high cholesterol, anemia and blood sugar. Counseling and referrals as needed. Please call 544-2484 ext.1 for dates, times and locations.

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PASO PEOPLE

SAVE THE DATE! Paso Robles AAUW presents 2016 Home Tour The Paso Robles Association of University Women present the home tour of four spectacular homes on Saturday, May 7, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. This is a major fundraiser for the group’s scholarship fund. Donations are $25 each. Tickets available April 1 at The Blenders and from AAUW members.

The Granite Ranch is a home redesigned by the Zenobios using a beautiful array of Granite in the peaceful setting just west of the city limits.

The “Doc Kennedy House” on Olive Street has received a recent dramatic lift by new owner Deborah Scarborough. A lot of cosmetic work has been done inside and outside, in-

cluding moving the gazebo to make better use of the back yard.

The Klosterman home in the newer section of Red Cloud is a contemporary home offering beautiful modern fixtures, lighting, Cararra marble, and wood flooring. The home presents a unique stylized home reflecting the owner’s passions.

Villa Vetta is a Tuscan Masterpiece right here in Paso Robles. You will be amazed at the construction, 90% of which was created by the owners, Tom and Rebecca Allen themselves over only three years.

For tickets, visit The Blenders clothing shop on 12th Street or call Bev Howe 239-1817.

Olive Street

Mountain Springs

Camino Vina

Red Cloud

25th Anniversary Paso Robles Rotary Golf Tournament This year’s 25th Anniversary Paso Robles Rotary Golf Tournament, sponsored

by Derby Wine Estates, will be held at Paso Robles Golf Club on Saturday, May 7, with a Shotgun Start tee time at 8:30 a.m., 7:30 a.m. check in.

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All are welcome - Four Player Team Scramble Format is packed with pleasure.

Do not miss this fun event featuring: Awards for 1st and 2nd Low Net; 1st and 2nd Low Gross; Awards for “On The Green” drawing; Prize for Longest

Drive; Gift Bags for all golfers; and many wonderful gift items for each golfer including a Paso Robles Rotary golf shirt and a bottle of fine wine.

Awards immediately following the tournament and a raffle with take home prizes of golf merchandise and wine.

A before the tournament Friday Night Reception, on May 6, from 6-8 p.m., will be held at Derby Wine Estates with wine tasting and a silent auction, wine tour and other valuable prizes For information: Rick Goree 227-1560 / cell 610-5215

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

PASO PEOPLE

Hugh Pitts honored as March Roblan During the Chamber’s March mixer local Realtor Hugh Pitts was honored as the Roblan of the Month.

Hugh has lived, worked and sold real estate in the Adelaida area since 1987, where he raises commercial Charolais Cross and English Cross cattle on Chimney

Hugh Pitts

Rock Ranch. His community involvements include the Adelaida Historical Foundation Board, Heritage Foundation board member, chair for Foundation for Ag Awareness, past president SLO County Farm Bureau among others. He joined RE/MAX Parkside Realty in 2000 and been named

several times as a ‘Top Producer.’

Register for the 2016 Business Expo! New Venue - Be There!

The Annual Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Business Expo will be held this year at River Oaks Hot Springs, 800 Clubhouse Drive in Paso Robles on Wednesday, April 20, 4 to 7 p.m. Free admission for the general public.

With a theme of “Around the World

the Paso Way!” this is sure to be a high quality business event that brings everyone together with over 60 exhibitors displaying new products and services as well as music, beer, wine, food, and fun.

Why do people attend?

• To learn about new businesses, products and services • Discover innovative technology • Connect and network with professional peers • Establish new business relationships Please see EXPO page 32

The Voice of the Visitor Center

By Karyl Lammers Executive Director/ Visitor Center The best kept secret is out! Paso Robles has been discovered by global travelers who have read about us in various magazines. We are that flourishing California destination, beautifully (hills resembling green velvet) located half-way between Los Angeles and San Francisco and only 40 miles from the Pacific Ocean. “This stunning retreat offers untouched natural beauty, a bounty of farm-fresh cuisine, 250 + wineries; a historic grassy square in the heart of downtown surrounded by first-class

the World the Paso Way” with travel and destination themes.

Then on Friday the 22nd we are introducing our 1st “Luxury Beer Tour.” shopping; wine tasting and dining; a cles from all over the world to the park We will be leaving the Chamber office at wide selection of accommodations; golf, the weekend of April 8 thru 10.

10:30 a.m., after enjoying a continental entertainment and a vibrant arts com- We are rolling out of April on the breakfast, escorted by SLO Safe Ride to munity. The variety of activities and ex- 23rd, with the first outdoor event of the Red Soles Distillery for a taste of Brandy periences appeal to everyone including year offered by The Downtown Main and Cinnamon Hooch. From there we families, couples, getaway gatherings, Street Association, it’s a time when the are off to The Barrel House to taste and weddings and more.” And it’s topped off community comes out and enjoys the enjoy lunch. Then we travel to Firestone with the friendliest people you will find City Park and Downtown after a long Brewery for a tour and a flight tasting. If anywhere. Now, how blessed are we to quiet winter. We are celebrating the time allows we will include a fourth stop. live, work and play here!

9th Annual “Vintage Sidecar Rendez- For additional information call Andy at The Downtown City Park comes out vous” which fills the park with sidecars, the Chamber Office 238-0506. of hibernation in April (following a win- motorcycles, British sports cars and in- Enjoy April and the season of spring! ter of much needed rain). The last main cludes vendors displaying and selling art “And Spring arose on the garden fair, event was held in October, “The Gold- and treasures.

Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; en Oak Honey Festival.” We’re going The Chamber is jammin’ in April.

And each flower and herb on to start the month rolling with “Eroica We have our popular “Business Expo” Earth’s dark breast California – A ride to the Ocean,” this is on April 20 at River Oaks Hot Springs rose from the dreams of its wintery rest.” a bicycle event that brings vintage bicy- from 4 until 7 p.m. featuring “Around

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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PASO PEOPLE

American Idol vintners open winery for Theater Group Villa San-Juliette is opening its barrel room for Wine Country Theatre’s April 8-26 production of the musical The Last Five Years. Secluded in eastern outskirts of San Miguel, the winery’s Mediterranean villa and surrounding vistas look like a film location in the Tuscan countryside. The theatricality may be no accident because Villa San-Juliette is the creation of Nigel Lythgoe and Ken Warwick, TV producers for such highly successful enterprises as American’s Got Talent and American Idol.

At the intersection between the Villa San-Juliette and Wine Country Theatre is Melanie Portney who plays the female lead in The Last Five Years. Portney works at the winery and acts for the Paso Robles based theater group. After performing in Wine Country Theatre’s November 2015 production of Last of the Red Hot Lovers, the petite red head pitched the idea of showing The Last Five Years at Villa San-Juliette to Cynthia Anthony, Wine County Theatre’s Director.

“We were all sitting around after the show and talking about our favorite musicals,” said Portney, who graduated from the UCLA theater department.

“The first show that I thought of was

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The Last Five Years. The next thing I thought was, why not?

It has huge appeal within our local theater community and Wine Country had already done a successful show at a winery, so I put the question to Cynthia.”

“Although Park Ballroom in Paso is our home,” reflected Anthony, who founded Wine Country Theatre in 2014, “we are always looking for interesting venues to keep our productions engaging and fresh – and for locations that further the telling of a play’s story.

We thought that Villa San-Juliette’s intimate cellar and romantic surroundings would do nothing but enhance our audience’s experience.”

The Last Five Years is Tony-Award winner Jason Robert Brown’s poignant and smart contemporary musical about five years in the relationship of an ambitious young writer, Jamie, and his struggling actress wife, Cathy. Since its Off-Broadway premiere in 2002, Brown’s devastatingly honest two-person production has enraptured audiences around the world with its spellbinding score and libretto.

The funny and uplifting story is told in a unique non-linear form. Cathy tells the story from the end of their marriage;

Melanie Portney and Cody Petit perform The Last Five Years in April.

Photo by Brittany Weinstein

Jamie begins from when they first meet.

As the musical unfolds, Cathy moves backward in time to the beginning of the relationship as Jamie moves toward the end; they meet only once, in EXPO from page 31 The Wednesday, April 20 event will be promoted throughout San Luis Obispo county. Participating businesses will be featured in Chamber email communications and in local media prior to the event. Don’t miss

the middle, at their wedding. From the beginning to end, and in between, the show captures universally felt moments of modern romance.

The play shows April 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, and 24 at 7:30 p.m. and April 10, 17 and 24 at 2 p.m. Villa San-Juliette wines will be showcased and are available for purchase along with gourmet snacks. The kitchen opens at 6 p.m. for evening performances and 11 a.m. for matinees. General admission is $25, and student is $15 with ID. For tickets and information, go to www.winecountry theatre.com or call 1-800-838-3006.

Wine Country Theatre is a non-profit community theater of Project Theatre Foundation. They have produced eight shows since 2014 and are committed to bringing the community together through the participation in, and the enjoyment of, professional-caliber community theater. this opportunity to gain exposure for your company and grow your local business connections.

Register today! The deadline is Wednesday April 6.

For more information, contact the Chamber, 1225 Park Street, Paso Robles 238-0506 www.pasorobleschamber.com

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

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April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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PASO PEOPLE

Oak Park 2 is now open for leasing with 70 new multi-family units The transition continues from old to new with the just completed Oak Park 2 affordable housing project, located between 29th to 32nd Streets, and Park to Railroad Streets, now open for leasing with 70 additional multifamily rental housing units. An Open House is slated for Thursday, April 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the site.

The Oak Park Phase 1 Grand Opening was held September 12, 2014 when 80 families moved into their new homes and now fully leased. When all phases are completed, a total of 300 affordable housing units with modern amenities and renewable energy standards will replace the original 148 units built on the approximately 25 acre site, built as military housing in the early 1940s.

“The vision for this project started 9 to 10 years ago,” said Paso Robles Housing Authority Executive Director David Cooke at the original grand opening. “About 20 months ago we held a rather unusual ground breaking on this spot with heavy equipment tearing down one of the units that had stood since 1942.”

The Monterey County Housing Authority Development Corporation

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(HDC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and serves as developer of Oak Park in partnership with Paso Robles Housing Authority (PRHA), who manages the property. Phases 3 and 4 will be on line in the next 2 to 3 years, said Cooke. Oak Park serves families earning between 30 and 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).

“Why Oak Park?” said Cooke.

“Housing matters…this is a huge difference for these families, especially the children who can be proud of their home. For those in low and very low income housing we’re especially proud of this effort. Wow, what a transformation!”

The Oak Park Apartments is a net-zero energy development, and has been designed to offset 100% of the common area and residential units use. The site has solar energy generated to offset all common area usage as well as a portion of the tenant’s usage.

There is also low flow water fixtures, energy-efficient appliances and tankless hot water heaters to enhance the efficiency of the buildings, meaning better utility cost for tenants.

Unit amenities include central air,

blinds, carpet, storage, walk-in closets, patio/balcony, refrigerator, oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal and washer/ dryer hookups. An on-site manager, laundry and community rooms, picnic area, playground, soccer field, basketball and volleyball courts are on property.

Additional environmental features include Railroad Street with previous concrete to collect storm water for eventual percolation into the soils beneath the site. Project Architect is Paul Davis Partnership, Civil Engineer is North Coast Engineering (NCE) with General Contractor Ashwood Construction.

Local companies NCE designed, and Dave Sprurr Co. installed, the award winning pervious concrete street at the back of Oak Park 1 and 2. This is the longest contiguous street of its kind in the County. Pervious concrete is a special type of concrete with a high porosity used for concrete flatwork and street applications that allows water from precipitation and other sources to pass directly through, thereby reducing the runoff from a site.

Go to www.pasoroblesha.org for a full list of Oak Park 2 amenities.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

ROUND TOWN ‘EARTH DAY FOOD AND WINE’ EVENTS SET FOR APRIL 23-24

By Melissa Chavez The 2016 Earth Day Food & Wine event in North San Luis Obispo is a culinary romp throughout in beautiful surrounds to celebrate the best in flavorful and sustainable fare. Hosted by the nonprofit Vineyard Team, everyone can break bread with the Central Coast community of farmers, winemakers and talented chefs, sip the region’s best wines and listen to great live music, all while helping to benefit scholarship education for relatives of farmworkers. For complete event information, visit www.earthdayfoodandwine.com, call (805) 466-2288 or write kyle@vineyardteam.org.

Saturday, April 23

Castoro Cellars: Main Event

1266 N. Bethel Rd., Templeton (888) DAM-FINE • castorocellars.com

By Bob Chute The Warbirds Wings and Wheels 8, sponsored by Firestone Walker Brewing Company, includes an Open House extravaganza, featuring a Classic and Vintage Car Show, set for Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Estrella Warbirds Museum and Woodland Auto Display, 4251 Dry Creek Road in Paso Robles. No admission charge to spectators.

Plus, WWW8 is going to be spotlighted on ‘My Classic Car,’ a weekly television program that captures America’s love affair with the automobile.

Dennis Gage, the handlebar mustachioed host, “takes you along for the ride with his unique perspective and enthusiasm for things automotive.” As their website declares: “from local cruise-ins to the most prestigious car shows in the world, this program covers it all!”

How to Enter YOUR Car Park your car among the warbirds for that special picture! To enter your car in the show go to www.ewarbirds. org and click on the car show link for further information or stop by the museum and pick up an entry form. Entry fee is $40 per car through April 30, $50 after. All entries will receive a goody bag, dash plaque, tee shirt, poster and a picture of their car with a plane as they enter the museum. Plus car show participants can enter a drawing to win $600 first prize, $400 second, and

1 p.m. : Premiere Admission ($115) and Reserved Table ($800) VIP guest seating kicks off the weekend under the oaks with early entry for unlimited food, wine, beer and cider.

Premiere Admission tickets include a goodie-filled tote of sensational samples from favorite restaurants, wineries and vendors from throughout SLO County.

2 p.m. : General Admission seating includes a generous assemblage of unlimited wine, beer, cider and delectable food selections for $75.

Also featured is a live demo by cookbook author Brigit Binns.

Transportation, Parking, tickets & FAQs: Luxury Coach transportation is provided by Silverado Stages on April 23 for the Main Event. Pickup locations are available in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero and Paso Robles for $10-$15. Onsite parking is $25

$200 for third. Vehicle parking begins at 7 a.m. and ends at 9:45 a.m. the day of the event. Judging is 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The Awards ceremony begins at 3 p.m. All vehicles are to remain in the display area until the Awards Ceremony has ended. Questions, call (805) 227-0440. See photos of last years’s show at www.ewarbirds.org

per vehicle. See www.earthdayfoodandwine.com for directions, ticket info, FAQs about family, pets, designated drivers and more.

Sunday, April 24

Tablas Creek Vineyard

9339 Adelaida, Paso Robles 237-1231 • tablascreek.com 12 noon – 3 p.m. : Tablas Creek wines will be available to pair with your picnic lunch as the duo of Bear Market Riot rocks the patio. New Tablas Creek Vineyard wine releases and tastes of 2013 reds will also be pouring as you take in views of the Westside wine grape growing region. Check out www. reverbnation.com/bearmarketriot.

Windrose Farm

5750 El Pharo Drive, Paso Robles 239-3757 • farmsteaded.com 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. : Windrose Farm will offer a relaxed late morning and afternoon of two activities for $25 each, including a hands-on Heirloom Tomato

Dunning Vineyard Estate 1953 Niderer Rd., Paso Robles 238-47637 • dunningvineyards.com 11a.m. – 5 p.m. : Dunning Vineyards VIP Wine Tasting offers two complimentary tastings plus 10 percent off any wine purchase at this sustainably-farmed, family winery in the beautiful Willow Creek AVA District.

Family Fun Day For Everyone on Saturday, May 7

There is no cost to enjoy the day’s line up of activities for the Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 7 with plenty of free parking adjacent to the 250 cars and specialty vehicles parked among military aircraft and equipment on display vying for 1st Place Class Awards in 22 classes and Woodland Auto Display Choice of Show Award.

North County Cloud Clippers will be there with remote control aircraft flying skills demonstrations.

Now is a great time to visit Estrella Warbirds Museum. All Estrella Warbirds Museum and Woodland Auto Display buildings will be open Barn Dinner and Dance Mixer with free tours for the day. They’ve been working through the year adding Friday Night Car show participants and the gen- new displays, new airplanes, plenty of eral public are invited Friday night, new vehicles and artifacts.

May 6th for good ol’ Barn Dinner/ There’s a new 6000 square foot Dance to start the car show festivities addition to the Woodland Auto Disoff with dinner and dancing to the play with new vehicles and memoratunes of Monte Mills and the Lucky bilia to see, including an Indianapolis Horseshoe Band. Tickets are $30 500 garage display with actual doors per person including dinner. Must from the track! Also a brand new RSVP by May 4th. Special parking 5000 square foot Red Ball Express for hot rods. Location is at the Estrella Motor Pool building displaying large Warbirds Museum and Woodland WWII vehicles General Patton used Auto Display 6 to 10 p.m. with dinner to supply his troops. at 6:30 p.m. and dancing at 7 p.m. Beer Firestone Walker will be pouring their selection of brews, plus wine, and wine available for purchase.

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

Workshop at 10 a.m. plus four plants to take home, and a Plant Your “Palate” garden pallet planting workshop at 1 p.m. A picnic lunch by Kitchenette in Templeton is available for purchase, plus olive oil tasting, an heirloom plant sale and free farm tours.

sodas and water will also be available along with a variety of palate pleasers in the expanded food court alongside vendors with event shirt and hat sales and auto-related items.

Live music will be playing throughout the day of the car show. Raffle prizes, 50/50 cash drawing, special drawing tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. There will be 2 tickets drawn. Two special drawings in addition to 50/50, raffle prizes. One for a Tour for 4 to Jay Leno’s Big Dog Garage including a one night stay at a Burbank hotel. The other is for a 2015 Honda 125 Gram Motorcycle. Winner does not have to be present to win.

Visitor gates open at 10 a.m. and run through 4 p.m. Bring the whole family! Plenty of parking. The museum is located by the Paso Robles Airport at 4251-A Dry Creek Road, normal hours it is open Thursday through Sunday and Memorial Day, Labor Day and Veteran’s Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For additional information, call (805) 2270440 or www.ewarbirds.org.

All proceeds help to support Estrella Warbirds Museum, A non-profit 501 ©(3) corporation. Tax ID#770324714.

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ROUND TOWN

COUNTY PERSPECTIVE Gasoline and Matches: or, politics and social media…some musings for the upcoming electoral season. If you’re fed up with the political nonsense, you’re not alone. People are posting to social media in record numbers. A recent Pew Poll says nearly half of us get political info from social network sites (SNS), but we would be wise to count the collateral cost in reputation, lost friendships and personal frustration.

Social media political posting is fraught with risk. Go online, vent your spleen and you’ll feel better… until the haters and zealots rocks your world like hammers of Thor.

That we don’t all politically agree is obvious; some of us rub our hands in lascivious glee as the FBI closes in on Hillary, while others prove Godwin’s Law* by practicing serial excoriation on Donald Trump. Political posts on social media make us something like celebrities, without the fame or the stalkers, just the hate mail. We need a disclaimer: “Posting political rants on Face book could result in anxiety, stress, even heart attack!”

As I write this, the special election deciding the fate of the proposed Paso Robles groundwater management district is in the hands of area voters, pitting neighbor against neighbor, business and vineyard against community activist and rancher across an acrimonious landscape that respects not even bystanders.

County supervisors wanted to distance themselves from the controversial question, the majority having little interest either in run-

BY BRUCE CURTIS ning a water district or holding a to vie for Lois Capps’ soon-to-be Proposition 218 special tax vote to vacated congressional seat. So far, pay for it. there are five Democrats, four Re Paso Robles council members publicans and an independent, all no doubt were concerned about verified eligible for the June 7th the fireworks when they recently primary. Gird up your loins, the ad asked staff to plan for the evac- flyers and robo-calls are just around uation of the homeless from the the corner.

Salinas riverbed.

More Work: Countywide Personally, I’m convinced the jobless numbers are down again, to council action had nothing to do 4.4%, almost a percent lower than a with those early March winds and year ago, a net increase of 400 jobs. rain. The Salinas River threatens Transportation, gas, electric and to be a battleground and more other utilities added some 1,100 likely the city simply wanted to jobs, while hospitality and leisure avoid casualties. sectors added well over a thousand More seriously, rains and strong new jobs. Government lost more storms in March put the county in a than two thousand jobs, a drop of somewhat better footing; although just less than 10%. In Paso Robles, Paso Robles has its own policy, re- employment grew slightly less than quired to relocate the Salinas River’s the county average, bringing Januhomeless by March 11, the month’s ary’s jobless count to 4.9%. rain and wind came in like a lion. The sunny jobs report is marred The good news is that rainfall to- by the usual disclaimer that state tals began to resemble a normal employment development departyear, with area lakes filling to levels ment figures are based on a labor not seen in 2015. Several energetic force made of people employed or systems lined up across the Pacific looking for work; not counted are could bring back the umbrellas. those who have given up, or are un Auto(mobile) Registra- deremployed. tion: And speaking of the electoral Big Bust: San Luis Obispo process, you’re now automatically Sheriff ’s deputies and other cenregistered to vote when you ap- tral coast law enforcement put ply for a California driver’s license, a big dent in organized crime. thanks to recent legislation.

Operation Matador, a multi-state I’d mention that a relatively small project put fifteen members of percentage of citizens apply for a MS-13 behind bars while detaindriver’s license in any given year, ing another 40 suspects. or that California gives licenses to Central American-rooted Mara people who can’t prove they’re in Salvatrucha – the gang’s full name the US legally, but that would touch – reportedly has tens of thousands off a firestorm on social media, and of members across several counI wouldn’t want that. tries, and is thought to be behind More complicated than that is last year’s murder spree in Santa the roster of candidates signed up Maria.

Sheriff Ian Parkinson noted that the size of the task force was proof that MS-13 won’t be allowed to freely move across county lines to San Luis Obispo without facing a “very watchful eye.”

Pot Protocol: Now that county officials have their emergency ordinance to keep the state from regulating marijuana locally, supervisors and staff have buckled down to the job of writing county rules regarding medical marijuana cultivation, sales and distribution.

Marijuana remains a controlled substance under US Title 21, but Los Osos Supervisor Bruce Gibson expects the little green leaves and buds will eventually be legalized, so it is in the board’s best interest to have a framework in place. Since the real money is in cultivation, with greenhouse-grade pot going for much more than the street-quality drug, Nipomo Supervisor Lynn Compton isn’t sanguine about Nipomo being to marijuana what Gilroy is to garlic.

What would be in the ordinance? Rules protecting neighbors from odors, probably other rules that prevent criminal activity, loitering, public intoxication and more; perhaps much more.

When? Probably not anytime before the end of the year. Few states make medical marijuana legal; even fewer allow recreational pot use. Several measures legalizing marijuana in California are on the November ballot, some competing, so it is not likely the county can finalize an ordinance until that vote goes down. * Godwin’s Law: If an online discussion goes on long enough, the probability that someone or something will be compared to Hitler, reaches 100%.

–Attorney & Author, Mike Godwin

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Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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Wildflower - “The Woodstock of Triathlon”

By Millie Drum What began in 1983 as a small bluegrass festival and triathlon, Wildflower has grown to be called the “Woodstock of Triathlon” attracting thousands of participants and spectators to Lake San Antonio, April 30 to May 1.

The festival feeling is strong this year despite the drought! There’s plenty of water in Harris Creek to host the swimmers! Due to the lake levels, the swim portion has been held in Harris Creek – characterized as the Drought Tolerant Course. The creek has been an excellent alternative while our area struggles with the drought!

Participants will enjoy camping at Lake San Antonio or with the new

sponsor RVPlusYou, where they can “glamp” for a more comfortable experience. Hundreds of Cal Poly students volunteer at the event that includes live bands, Sierra Nevada beer tents, 15C wine tasting, yoga classes and fun in the “Kids Zone” with face painting and arts and crafts!

Wildflower Triathlon has always been known for the tough long race and Olympic distance race. This year includes the new on-road Sprint triathlon; adding to the existing line up of off-road Sprint, an Olympic distance, a Long Course and Collegiate Championship triathlon. For the first time, registration will allow a new block pricing

Relay for Life of Paso Robles

The First Survivors Luncheon

By Millie Drum Miracles happen and silent prayers are answered. Someone we know has survived cancer. Broken hearts mend once more. We learn to embrace the sorrow and cherish the memories of those no longer with us. Cancer cannot stifle our courage or break our faith. Cancer will not crush our hope

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or damage our peace. Let’s celebrate our survivors because cancer cannot conquer our spirit.

To honor cancer survivors in our community, the American Cancer Society and Relay for Life of Paso Robles cordially invites survivors to the inaugural Survivor’s Luncheon held on Saturday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 1

structure and added “Club Competition Incentives.”

Race organizers say this promises each participant a personal racing experience.

Wildflower triathlon is now part of Tri Club Championship Series, where some of the top triathlon clubs in California allow athletes to earn points and prizes for participation an age group/gender placing. “We are excited to bring continued dedication to the Wildflower weekend which has always been a race that is built around community, experience and the consumer,” said Terry Davis, Founder and CEO of Tri-California Events. “This year, our athletes will

have new opportunities to customize their experience with us in an effort to keep the tradition while bringing new things to the sport every year.”

Tri-California Events is an event managing company producing triathlon, swimming and running races throughout California. The goal is to motivate individuals to lead a healthy life by “exercising with a purpose.” Visit www.tricalifornia.com for information and registration.

p.m. at the Paso Robles Elks Lodge, 1420 Park Street.

The luncheon is complimentary “free of charge” for the survivor and one guest.

Due to limited seating, your RSVP is required by April 22 to Natalie Riloquio at 473-1748 or natalie.riloquio@cancer.org.

The lunch will be provided by The Wellness Kitchen and generously served by volunteers from the Elks Lodge and The Wellness Kitchen.

Menu includes Curried Sweet Potato

and Mango Soup, Kale & Butternut Squash Salad, Broccoli Millet Salad with cherry tomatoes and dill, Roasted Organic Chicken Breast, Garlic and Herb Focaccia Bread, Chocolate Brownies - all gluten and dairy free.

Relay for Life of Paso Robles will be held on June 25 and 26 from 9 a.m. to 9 a.m. To register a team, sponsor or donate, visit relayforlife.org/ pasoroblesca. For help 24/7, visit www. cancer.org, call 1-800-ACS-2345.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

ROUND TOWN

Note Saturday, April 23 on your new 2016 calendar.

This will be the day to dress for old times’ sake, hitch up the mules and head ‘em out to San Miguel’s 25th annual Sagebrush Days Parade. Back around 1990, longtime resident Alan Belden decided San Miguel should put on a parade. So he called together a bunch of residents of the area - the people from local organizations who ‘do all the work’ - and proposed a day modeled on the Paso Robles Pioneer Day shindig – a parade and food and fun for families.

San Miguel was declared a township in the month of April, so the committee decided to hold the event on the last Saturday of April. Alan proposed calling it “Sagebrush Days” and all present agreed. The parade would line up north of 14th Street and from there proceed south to circle Fr. Reginald Park next to the Old Mission and return. Everyone could see the parade twice.

The first parade was held on April 27, 1991. The honored Parade Marshall was 100-year-old Ernest Konekamp. In later parades a queen was chosen. A sizeable number of entries, good food, good fun and a large number of attendees made the day a big success. Over the years there have been variations in the events surrounding the parades.

One year a play was staged in the park. A few years ago a Peddlers’ Faire was added and has proved very popular.

This year the parade begins at 11 a.m. with the Color Guard leading the way. It will make the circle and everyone will be able to see both sides of the cars, horses, floats and marchers. The Peddlers’ Faire is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Games for the children, Chicken Bingo and an Apple Pie Contest are ongoing through the day. As always, the Lions Club will be there to barbeque. Restaurants and businesses are open.

Entry forms are available online at www.discoversanmiguel.com for the parade, the Faire and the Apple Pie Contest. For more information

see Mike at the San Miguel Mer- music. Vendors welcome, call (805) cantile downtown or call 712-9120. 440-7173 for information.

Deadline for entries is April 19.

In September enjoy Fiesta at Old Looking ahead Mission San Miguel and Caledo More fun is scheduled in our nia Days, showcasing the old west, little town after the dust of Sage- on September 25. Dutch oven brush Days settles. Between the demonstrations, bbq and more Chamber of Commerce and the food plus music wine tasting and Rios-Caledonia Adobe several vendors of all kinds. more events are scheduled that you Return to the Caledonia on the might want to add to your calendar evening of October 22 at 7 p.m. to as long as it’s open. hear true ghost stories and tour the On May 1 the long-awaited haunted Adobe.

Wally Ohles Library at the Ri- The Toys for Tots run will be os-Caledonia will hold their Grand held in November on a date to be Opening for the public from 1 to announced.

3 p.m. Mr. Ohles was a history Our annual Christmas Lights teacher, historian and writer of Parade brings holiday fun and haplocal history. He amassed a large piness this year on December 17.

We have two museums in San number of books in his lifetime.

May 27 and 28 will be the 5th Miguel. Mission San Miguel muannual Cruise Night and Car Show seum is open seven days a week which is fast becoming a premier from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and there event in San Miguel. The last is a minimal charge. The Adobe is San Miguel car show drew over open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 100 entries. from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also there On June 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. is a large museum at Camp Robthe Model A and T Car Show at erts, just a couple of miles north of the Rios-Caledonia this year in- San Miguel open on Thursday and cludes a new category for V-8s. Saturday. All have gift shops and Food for sale, wine tasting and live accept donations.

Piano and French Lessons 20 Year teaching experience.

Very friendly & patient teacher.

Ages 5 to 105 welcome

Music is Good Therapy & Great Mental Stimulation April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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TEMPLETON EVENTS AHEAD…

Deli, and the district office on April 24.

For more information, call 434-4900 or go to www.templetoncsd.org. ven. Tickets are $10 for adults and Templeton Wine Festival $8 for students and seniors and may Templeton Chamber of Commerce be purchased at the door or at www. will host Templeton Wine Festival in

By Heather Young savu.brownpapertickets.com. This is a Templeton Community Park on Satfundraiser for THS Drama Boosters’ urday, May 14 from 1 to 5 p.m. TickCoffee with a CHP “Eagles in Edinburgh” campaign. For ets are $30 each in advance or $40 the

California Highway Patrol more information, go to www.temple- day-of the event and include wine Templeton office commander Lt. tonhs.schoolloop.com/drama.

Scott Parker hosts Coffee with a CHP tasting, souvenir stemless wine glasses the second Tuesday of each month at Spring Dinner Theatre and live music by James Sweetwater Nature’s Touch Nursery & Harvest, merce’s Women in Business meets the Templeton High School Drama and J.D. Project. Designated Driver or 225 Main St. in Templeton, at 8:30 second Tuesday of the month at 11:30 Department will have its annual Under 21 attendee tickets are $5. Food a.m. The idea is have a way for people a.m. at rotating locations. The April Spring Dinner Theatre on Saturday, is available for purchase. No outside interact with local law enforcement meeting will be held on April 12 at April 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in alcohol, coolers or pets are allowed. personnel on a more personal level.

Templeton Community Center, 420 Templeton Legion Hall. Tickets are Low back chairs or picnic blankets Templeton Business Expo Crocker St. The cost is $20 for cham- $30 each. For more information, go are welcome. Tickets are on sale on The annual Templeton Business ber members and $25 for non-mem- to www.templetonhs.schoolloop.com/ the Chamber’s website or in our office, Expo will be held at Courtney’s House bers. To RSVP, call 434-1789 by the drama. or call 434-1789. at 311 6th St. in Templeton, on Thurs- Thursday at 5 p.m. before the luncheon. Templeton Clutter-to-Cash Templeton Beer Festival day, April 7 from 4 to 7 p.m. Booths Sound Alliance and community-wide yard sale The inaugural Templeton Beer will dot the historic Victorian home, Vocal Union Concert Templeton Community Services Festival, produced by Rotary Club of on the wide veranda, inside the home Sound Alliance/Vocal Union Con- District will host its annual Clutter- Templeton and Hole Hop Producand out in the garden. This event is cert will take place on Friday, April to-Cash Yard Sale on Saturday, April tions, will take place on Sunday, May free and open to the public. For more 15 at 7 p.m. at the Templeton Per- 23 starting at 8 a.m. Residents who live 15 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Templeton information, call Sarah Maggelet at forming Arts Center. The16-mem- within the district’s boundaries are able Community Park. Truth About Sea434-1789 or email sarah@templeton- ber band and 13-member choir from to participate in the community-wide food and Taylor Mac will be the muchamber.com.

Brigham Young University-Idaho yard sale. Maps of participating yard sical entertainment. There will also April Women in Business will present a multi-faceted pro- sales will be available at Templeton be food and gift vendors. Tickets are Templeton Chamber of Com- gram with both ensembles interwo- Donut Shop, Templeton Market and $30 in advance and $40 at the event.

INCLUDING WINE, BEER FESTIVALS IN MAY

CASA SEEKING NORTH COUNTY VOLUNTEERS

Expanding advocacy in North County for abused children CASA of San Luis Obispo County recently entered into a four-year partnership with must! charities which will provide $262,551 to CASA during the collaboration. The investment will allow CASA to focus additional volunteer recruitment efforts, training and assignment of those volunteers to infants, toddlers, children and youth in the North County.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA volunteer is a trained community member who is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child who has been removed from home due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.

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Volunteers advocate for needed services and appropriate placements for the children and generally spend time with their assigned child every week. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer becomes the most consistent adult in their life, providing nurturing support during a very frightening and confusing time. Abused children who are assigned CASA volunteers do better in school, spend less time in foster care and are more likely to find safe, loving and permanent homes.

Currently there are 460 youth in the jurisdiction of the court countywide and 180 of those are from the

northern region of SLO County.

Currently, CASA has the capacity to serve 60 of these children, with 120 remaining on the waitlist.

CASA has selected Melanie Barket as supervisor for the must! charities collaboration. Melanie is a Cal Poly graduate with a degree in Psychology and Human Development.

She has lived in the North County for eight years and has provided health education for local youth in the past. Melanie has been with CASA for two years and developed and implemented the CASA Mentor Program for transitional aged youth.

CASA is in great need of more

must! charities entered into a four year partnership with CASA, SLO County, providing $262,551.

volunteers to serve the most vulnerable children in North County. CASA provides five training sessions, including two in North County, every year. To learn more about volunteering, view a list of Info Sessions and training dates, visit slocasa.org or call 541-6542.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

41

ROUND TOWN

The 8th Wine4Paws set for April 9 and 10

By Chuck Desmond In Paso and our neighboring pueblos, it’s no secret that we love our furry friends. There are a fair number of private facilities plus North County Animal Shelter and County Animal Services in SLO. And then, there is Woods Humane Society – also in SLO and right next to Animal Services. Our county is huge (it’s three times the size of the entire State of Rhode Island!) and with a gazillion acres of open land and residents who love their dogs and cats – most of us have multiple critters – animal control is a monstrous undertaking. 50% of stray and surrendered pets in the entire county come from North County.

Local private shelters are always strapped for money. Fundraisers are a primary source of curing those financial ills. Wine 4 Paws is definitely a fun and easy helping-hand for Woods which in turn works with the other organizations.

Woods got a great boost 8 years ago when Sarah Tomasetti, her husband, Steve and some friends were enjoying wine in the back yard

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Spirit and Grace

with their Jack Russells leaping around. The conversation morphed into one of, “Hey, let’s buy wine and help animals.”

With Sarah’s heart-felt pitch to Woods’ management, the idea of tying wineries to raising needed funds that help support the cause became a reality. In 2009 Woods was of course thrilled to have the fledgling group do what they could.

Tasting rooms have cats curled up in window baskets with maybe one eye open and a tail moving just enough to let us know they are real; all breeds of hounds have their tails-a-waggin’. Tasting room visitors love them.

With Sarah’s and Steve’s proposals, the wineries were all-in to help out! Under their dedicated

leadership and fewer than a dozen other volunteers, the April weekend event has gained both notoriety and fund raising awareness.

On average, about $40,000 is raised each year! Funds are used for food, bedding, vet services, adoption marketing, spay/ neuter services and keepin’ the electricity on.

This year, 82 wineries (90% in North County) and 2 Olive Oil Tasting Rooms have signed on to be involved. This support makes Wine 4 Paws, the largest Springtime fundraiser for Woods.

During the Wine 4 Paws weekend event, participating wineries and olive oil makers donate a portion of their sales revenue to the cause. The more you buy, the bigger the portion! Tip jars are on the counters for ad-hoc donations.

My fellow leash and corkscrew users – for the weekend of April 9 & 10, all information is at www.

WINE4PAWS.com. There you will find the list of participating wineries and olive oil tasting rooms. It’s also where you can print out your passport that qualifies your eligibility for prizes issued from draw-

ings. Prizes include a cottage stay at Wine Country RV, lunch for 2 and tasting at Villa San Juliette, private tasting at Eberle, VIP tasting at Dunning and barrel tasting for 8 at August Ridge. Passports are also available at the wineries; pick one up at your first stop and have it stamped as you move from one to another over the 2 days.

To contact Sarah to help, donate or ask a question, she may be reached at Info@Wine4Paws.com.

Thank you to the Tomasettis and their crew for their tireless work to help those who can’t help themselves! Let’s drink and bark to them!

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

43

HOOFBEAT

By Dorothy Rogers Most of you have already heard that we have an empty saddle here.

We lost one of our equine community members, Sheila Varian.

I could run the history of the ranch or tell you about the countless championships, international personalities who have sought her advice, or that more than 70 per cent of the Arabian show horses today have direct breeding to the VA horses. You can Google that. There will be dozens of articles chronicling her achievements.

I’d like to share a very little about Sheila and her life long dreams.

Robert Frost was right: it matters what path/trail you take. Sheila liked adventure and discovery.

Like many of us, Sheila was a shy, but horse crazy, country girl.

For a variety of reasons, she did not come up in the normal social whirl and often felt an outsider.

Her desire was to create a beautiful athlete. She dedicated over six de-

cades to this idea importing Polish Arabian mares to start her breeding program. This forever changed the breed.

Syd Spencer, who raised Morgan horses nearby, gave Sheila a great gift. No one rides another person’s spade bit horse. Syd allowed Sheila to ride her horse under pain of death if she pulled on the horse’s prized and pristine mouth. The teen was instructed to work her way in and around the myriad trees keeping in mind the idea of cutting warm butter with a hot knife: no sticking spots, just flow. What a gift! Sheila endeavored to recreate the feeling of floating with her own horses. The bar was set high. Syd also taught her to work cattle in the hills.

We pushed cattle down the main road through Creston moving them to another ranch with more feed.

Sheila was entranced with my black tri Aussie, “Chirra.” who knew when to hold a small group till we were ready. But it was a compliment for my mare (old style AQHA) “Kit” and how lovely she was in the bridle that nearly brought me to tears.

It didn’t matter to Sheila if you rode an Arabian or not: she appreciated how it was done.

Sheila Varian’s life’s work continues on as new foals start their education the Varian Way. Older horses and their owners will participate in the Varian Hands On Clinic this month at Varian Arabians in AG. Riding spots are filled, but there is space in the auditor section. Contact the Varian staff to reserve your spot.

A name that has come to be known throughout the world for his approach and creative equine solutions, was Tom Dorrance. This was a lifestyle. Tom used the CA vaquero concept of observation

which had nearly been lost in practice. He showed up at the Varian ranch unexpectedly and taught her a few principles in regard to interacting with horses. Telling her it would take her a year to assimilate the concepts, he left. A year later, Varian family illnesses and Sheila’s teaching job made spending a week with Tom and trying to absorb what he was imparting more than difficult. Tom recognized something in Sheila so he persisted. She spent time on the phone with Tom until the week he passed.

This came to be the greatest influence of her life.

Tom, his brother Bill, then Ray Hunt shared a different approach to horsemanship with others around the world. For the past few years, adding her own feminine touch now known as “The Varian Way,” people sought to learn from Sheila. A rather private person, she would not give lessons, but told charming stories while demonstrating her methods in front of a group whether at the VA open houses at her ranch, as part of CA vaquero style demos at a variety of gatherings or Bank of America sponsored clinic/demos.

Please see HOOFBEAT page 45

Call today to learn more about this government-insured program for accessing your home’s equity.

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Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

HOOFBEAT HOOFBEAT from page 44 You haven’t missed all of it: associates and the Varian staff will pass some of this information on this month (see Hoofbeat Calendar) “Hands On the Varian Way.” Sheila was internationally known for showing Arabians in many disciplines. But, her first love was the CA bridle horse and the reined stock horse. In 1961, she loaded up her mare, “Ronteza” and headed north to compete at the crown jewel, the Cow Palace. What followed was the beginning of a legend.

They won their division and went on to be named Stock Horse Champion for all breeds. This win turned the stock horse world upside down: an amateur in the open division, riding an Arabian, a mare and a young woman went home with the championship. She was there alone without a built in cheering section. Sheila didn’t know how to celebrate. Facing the people and not knowing how to handle it, shyness over took her. She loaded “Ronteza” in the single horse trailer and drove home. Those in attendance imagined her to be stuck up when actually she was in shock. She continued to show stock horses for three

or four years after the Cow Palace win only in Open divisions across California never placing lower than third (by her recollection). While Sheila won many buckles over the years, the Cow Palace championship buckle she won is now worn thin from daily use.

Vaquero artist, Ernest Morris and Sheila would entertain audiences with teasing quips during demonstrations. She became a spokesperson for the bridle and hackamore horse developed in this region long ago. Ernie and his grandfather, Jesse made the hackamores and bosals that Sheila bought as a young woman and used for the rest of her life on her personal horses.

While Sheila was well known in the horse show ring, she lead a dual life working cattle on local ranches and crawling through the brush with her horse following behind.

Sometimes when a young horse needed extra attention she would take it to a favorite ranch for some wet saddle blankets. Such was the case when the staff sent a couple of horses for her to use. One bay horse was loaded in the trailer by mistake. After a day of riding the young horse all over the hills, Sheila knew he didn’t know much, but

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

he was willing and did pretty well.

Then, she noticed he had not been gelded and after investigation she realized he had not been ridden before. Sheila kept him as one of her personal horses. His name was “Lightly Bey,” but I thought he should have been renamed “Likely Bey.” For many years he helped Sheila with demonstrations and also as an ambassador for Arabians and her breeding.

There came a difficult time in Sheila’s life more than once. In the mid 1970’s, a bad vial of vaccine was sent to the ranch. Devastating to her dream, the brood mares suffered. In an effort to save the living treasures, untold hours which turned to weeks found an exhausted team bolstered by people who came to help. These were not just locals, but some traveled across the nation. It didn’t matter what breed was in trouble: the folks were united by their love of horses and respect for Sheila. That year all of the foals were aborted save the jokester “Huckleberry Bey.” The sole survivor of the foal crop, the stallion continued the line Sheila had started and went on to become a national champion. Sheila didn’t remember a lot of that period, but

she said that because of this, Varian Arabians survived.

Leading a simple life with her dogs and horses, Sheila always put herself in the middle of the action. We were having lunch in SLO once when there was a scurry of little feet heard. Sheila realized that her new puppy, “Libby,” had escaped the tote Sheila used to sneak her into the restaurant and was running about under the tables. Fear of being discovered, our champion was on her hands and knees with us trying to corral the wayward pup.

Alone in her private world, despite a long term dedicated staff, Sheila reached out. She realized that she would need the company of women, so she joined a book club of ladies who were no strangers to the saddle. One member suffered from terminal cancer so the ladies each took turns spending time with her. The remarkable members in the circle changed Sheila’s life, helped her to grow and gave us a model of how to pass on, give love and help one another in doing so. In giving they all grew.

The trail she took was less traveled, but it made all of the difference.

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HOOFBEAT April 1-5 CA Ranch Experience Photo Workshop, V6 Ranch, Parkfield, 441-3507 www. v6ranch.com April 1-5 Spring Horse Day Camp Beg. to Adv., Harris Stage Lines, N. River Rd., ages 7-18, ride & drive horses, all 5 days or choose, Debby Harris 237-1860, www.harrisstagelines.com April 2-3 Kick Off Schooling Show, Hughes Parkway off of Airport Rd., free admission for spectators, be prepared to walk, beautifully designed & executed April 1-5 H S Rodeo #8, Santa Maria April 5-7 26th Cattlemen’s Western Art Show, Event Center, BBQ lunch $10/plate, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Sat. & Sun. entry free, Fri. no host bar $20 tickets required, Don Weller featured artist is joined by 49 others, benefits scholarship fund, www. cattlemenswesternartshow.com April 6 CA High School Rodeo Assoc. District 7 Rodeo #8 w/Jr. High #7 Santa Ynez Equestrian

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HOOFBEAT CALENDAR Center www.chsra.org April 10-14 Cowboy Academy, V6 Ranch, Parkfield, ranch skills, www.v6ranch.com, 441-3507 April 11 Young Horse Event Qualifier, Twin Rivers Ranch, 8715 N. River Rd., PR, 235-0412, www.twinrivershorsepark.com April 12 Atascadero Horsemen’s Club meeting, 6 p.m. no host dinner, 7 p.m. program, 8 p.m. meeting, AJ Spurs, Main St., Templeton, www.atascaderohorsemensclub.com April 14-17 Spring Horse Trials & 3 Day Event, Twin Rivers Ranch, N. River Rd., PR, 2350412 www.twinrivershorsepark. com April 16 Mini Expo, Tack Sale, ranch estate sale, Golden Hills Farm, 8455 Creston Rd., booths available, free for non-profits, deadline for space 3/4 rain or shine, horseconnectioncenter @gmail.com April 16 Ray Berta Horsemanship Clinic, Carmel Valley Trail & Saddle Club, see www.rayberta.com

April 16-17 Pleasure Days Carriage Driving Show, Pierce College, Woodland Hills, Whip ‘R Snappers Driving Society, Veronica 562-431-7264 April 16 CGA competition, Halcon & Viejo Camino Rds., Atascadero, 8 a.m. sign up, ride 9 a.m., spectators admitted free April 18-21 V6 Ranch Cattle Drive V6 Ranch, Parkfield, 4413507 www.v6ranch.com April 20-24 LA Equestrian Festival, Griffith Park April 23 Vulcan Mesa Hunter Jumper Show, Atascadero, www. thesmithgroup@yahoo.com April 23-24 Varian Way HandsOn Clinic, Varian Arabians, 1275 Corbett Canyon Rd., AG, personalized answers to your questions, wonderful catering, Jaime Hernandez, Mike Perez, Jack Brainard, Donna Duvall, Brett & Marjory Becker, ground work, under saddle, sold out except unlimited auditors, your horse or lease a Varian, www.varian arabians.com, 489-5802

April 24 Rodeo, Cal Poly, part of what was Poly Royal, April 27 CA High School Rodeo Assoc. District 7 Rodeo #9 (no Jr. High) Parkfield, www.chsra.org April 30-May 1 Brass Oaks Driving Society, Pacific Region Driven Dressage Festival, PR Horse Park, Hughes Parkway, off of Airport Rd., show info www. brassoakdriving.com April 30 Ray Berta Cattle Working Clinic, Carmel Valley, www. rayberta.com

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

BUSINESS

What’s happening onMain Street ?

Meet the Candidates for 1st District Supervisor The Downtown Paso Main Street Association is hosting a Candidates Forum on Tuesday, April 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 at F. McLintock’s, 1234 Park Street in downtown Paso Robles. The four local candidates running for 1st District Supervisor in the November 8 election are John Hamon, Steve Martin, Dale Gustin and John Peschong. The forum will allow the public to hear the candidates’ views on the most important issues facing the present and future of Paso Robles and the North County. Out of the 5 districts in San Luis Obispo County, District #1 has the largest population of 53,656 residents.

The Board of Supervisors represent people who reside in their supervisorial district as well as work for the general welfare of the entire county.

Among other subjects and a Q & A segment, the candidates will have

A Huge Success!

Main Street’s Wedding & Special Event Expo is the longest running event of this kind in the North County. Marci Abarquez, left, and Erica Fryburger served as Co-Chairs for the Expo held on March 6 at the Paso Robles Inn Ballroom.

By Millie Drum

the opportunity to offer their strategy on the economic development of the North County; a critical concern for the viability of the Main Street programs and the success of the business community at large. For the Q & A portion of the forum, members of the public will submit their written questions to be tossed in a hat for random selection.

The Refreshed Main Street Approach After building on over 35 years of success, an updated model of the Main Street Approach encompasses the economic, social, physical and cultural assets that set a community apart. That approach is implemented, tangible results benefit the entire community.

Main Streets throughout the country implement the proven framework of the Four Points: Economic Vitality, Promotion, Design and Organization.

The Main Street Approach is most effective in cities where community residents have a strong emotional, social and civic connection. The residents are motivated and more likely to be involved to make a difference. Main Street brings out the best in our community’s sense of pride by supporting small business, preserving historic buildings and traditions, and creating events that bring thousands of people to downtown Paso. Our promising economy, and the world renowned wine and hospitality is attracting a growing number of entrepreneurs and innovators that are willing to invest in the North County. The historic preservation

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

piece of the equation is in place by the way we preserve the older and historic structures, support local museums and collaborate with events and attractions that tell Paso’s story. That community-driven, grassroots movement has attracted people to get involved with our Downtown Paso Robles Main Street Association.

All About Olives!

The Pre-Olive Festival Social Mixer & Olive Oil Tasting is June 3 at the beautiful Allegretto Vineyard Resort from 6 to 8 pm. This event is sure to be a sell-out. For tickets, call 238-4103. Admission is $25 per person. Socialize with olive oil producers, downtown merchants, industry experts and enjoy the “People’s Choice” Olive Oil Award ceremony.

Paso Olives You! It’s the 13th Annual Olive Festival on June 4 from 10 am to 5 pm in the Downtown City Park. The event showcases the local olive industry with sampling, vendors, demonstrations, and cooking contest.

Culinary Row features farm-fresh, artisanal food topped off with Olive Oil ice cream! For vendor applications, visit pasoroblesdowntown.org.

NOSTALGIA BUFFS REJOICE! On Saturday, April 23 from 9 am to 3 pm, Main Street presents the 9th annual Vintage Sidecar, Antique Motorcycle, Recycled Treasures, and British Car Club Rendezvous.

Vintage pre-1950 sidecars, motorcycles and British cars will gather in the downtown City Park surrounded by arts, crafts and a new exhibit of art and photography by the Paso Robles Art Association.

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BUSINESS

LOCAL GOODS REPORT

from

GENERAL STORE PASO ROBLES

What is your favorite of the General Store teas, and why?

Spring is here, bringing the colors and I love the Nice Chai because it took a while to perfect the combination tastes of one of our favorite seasons. of ingredients, and I really think others would be hard pressed to duplicate It also brings Mother’s Day, and we have it. Also, it truly is a labor of love to prepare, and it can be enjoyed in so many something we know she’ll love: Swan ways - iced, hot, with milk, sweetened. And, it is beautiful to look at! We Sisters tea, in blends made locally, just agree! Nothing like a glass of their Nice Chai iced on a hot Paso afternoon. for us. We have a giant jar of their “Good Vibes” tea in our office, and What is your favorite thing about living on the Central Coast? many afternoons you’ll find us drinking The natural beauty is always something I appreciate, as are the lack of some from our new Have a Pasotastic Day crowds and how much easier it is to slow down and enjoy life! diner mugs!

Any fun ideas or recipes?

We loved learning how the owner I have actually put some of my jasmine pearls in the rice cooker to add a went from being a fan of the teas to buying the business, and also how the Swan Sisters philosophy steeps beautiful aroma to rice, and I’ve put a tea bag of Lapsang Souchong in my teriyaki to add a lovely smokey flavor. their products in kindness and beauty.

We think Swan Sisters embodies so much of what we love in our local makers: adding something mindful to our everyday lives.

How did you find Swan Sisters?

Sign up on Facebook or Instagram to learn when Swan Sisters will be in I found the original owners at a farmer’s market in Cambria, and fell store offering samples of Nice Chai, Good Vibes, Flower Power or any of in love with their teas. Then one day I noticed their inventories seemed the other special blends they make for us. to be low on their website, so I emailed them and asked if everything was okay. They were moving on to different phases of their lives, and OTHER LOCAL GOODS ON OUR RADAR THIS MONTH looking for a buyer, and so I made them an offer!

With asparagus hitting the farmer’s market, we’re dipping heavily into What do you love most about what you do? our stash of flavored olive oils from Olivos de Oro. After grilling or roasting, I always promised myself it would be a business that was always a drizzle the asparagus with our Sweet Orange Olive Oil, then season liberally pleasure. I was not going to let any part of it be painful or forced. As a with a good, crunchy sea salt (we find our Sel Gris or Maldon salt work well.) result, I am only working with suppliers, product and people I enjoy, and Serve warm or at room temp, and use any leftovers to make a lovely quiche. every day I have to smile at how nice it is to work with folks who love tea! Happy Spring, neighbors!

The Team at General Store Paso Robles

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Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

BUSINESS

By Amy Phillips, FHL PAO On Feb. 24, Fort Hunter Liggett (FHL) conducted one of three events to celebrate their 75th Anniversary with more than 200 on and off-post participants. The Hearst Castle historian, Victoria Kastner, was the guest speaker providing an insightful presentation of the Hearst family and their influence in the area. She also shared rarely seen cutting ceremony and a tour of historical buildings in the area. photos from the Hearst Archives.

The event also included a cake Displays from community groups

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

with missions to preserve the local and historical heritage helped enhance the event: the Mission San Antonio, San Antonio Valley Historical Association (SAVHA) and the Nacitone Regional Interpretive Center (NRIC).

The Mission displayed a 5-foot replica of the Mission, SAHVA displayed historical photos of structures in the local area while NRIC displayed a fully-functional replica of a chuck wagon.

“The ceremony was marvelous from start to finish,” commented Mary Levkoff, Hearst Castle Museum Director.

FHL will conduct two more events to celebrate their 75th Anniversary on May 4 and July 28. More information will be posted on FHL’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ forthunterliggett) and FHL’s website (www.liggett.army.mil). Information can also be requested at the FHL Public Affairs Office: 831-386-2690.

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BUSINESS

Business Spotlight

Main Street Small Animal Hospital The friendly, knowledgeable, and experienced team at Main Street Small Animal Hospital practices veterinary medicine based on their core values of profesers,” he says. “We take sionalism, integrity, and the time to educate respect. Keeping pets people and build a plan happy and healthy while that helps the animals educating and empowerbe healthy. Our clients ing pet owners, they care like coming here befor cats, dogs, and the occause our standard of Dr. Ryan Ehlinger and casional bunny at their care is high, it’s peaceDr. Robin Schmidt Templeton practice. ful, they are being “We truly care and we do our best heard, and their animals are getting to help our patients and their fam- good care.” ilies,” says Ryan Ehlinger, DVM, For more information, call Main owner. “We see the best part of Street Small Animal Hospital at people – how much they love their (805) 434-2002, stop by 80 South pets and want them to be healthy – Main St. in Templeton, or check out and we see pets being happy with templetonvet.com. their owners.”

Along with their support staff, Patricia Alexander Dr. Ehlinger and his fellow veteri- North County Writing narians, Dr. Robyn Schmidt and Dr. Support Group Meghan DeClue, work in a beauti- If you’re ready to take your writful, historical building that boasts an ing to the next level, it may be time inviting lobby area, indoor and out- to check out the North Coundoor kennels, a peaceful, low-light ty Writing Support Group led by recovery room, and exercise yard. award-winning author Patricia AlUsing up-to-date x-ray, ultrasound, exander. With a background that and lab equipment, their full spec- includes working for Rona Barrett trum of veterinary services include when she was on Good Morning, internal medicine, surgery, dentistry, America, she has spent 40+ years as and chemotherapy. a writer and editor.

“As veterinarians we practice inWorking in the ternal medicine, we are surgeons, magazine and newsdermatologists, cardiologists, neupaper industry, with rologists, human psychologists, and advertising agencies grief counselors all in one day,” says and PR companies, Dr. Ehlinger. “We are challenged Patricia’s career conwith science and medicine as we try tinued an upward Patricia to help an animal, but also with edspiral when she Alexander ucating people and being good comstarted her freelance municators.” business and later became an inspi Referring to his staff as being ex- rational speaker, marketing consulperienced and compassionate, Dr. tant and workshop leader. She coEhlinger says they take their time to wrote The Book of Comforts: Simple, understand the concerns of people Powerful Ways to Comfort Your Spirit, and their pets.

Body & Soul with her late husband, “We listen and try to understand Michael Burgos. An IBPA Benjathe needs of animals and their own- min Franklin Award silver finalist

By Meagan Friberg

for Best Spiritual Book, the inspirational book is available locally at EarthTones and on Amazon.

“I’ve had a unique and full life,” Patricia says. “I’m a communicator, with a love for the written word and other writers. I feel impassioned to inspire and help people achieve their dreams.”

Patricia’s motto is simple – Deadlines are my Muse! The point of her writing support group, she says, is to move a project forward. The energetic North County Writing Support Group helps participants awaken their writing passion, provides deadlines, eager ears, encouragement and meaningful feedback.

Group participant and author Hugo Haselhuhn, in his acknowledgements for his first book in the Lucas Lightfoot series, wrote, “Patricia Alexander has been a tremendous help in bringing clarity and honesty to my writing and to my characters. She has a keen ear and listens carefully for the emotions, sentence structure and the appropriate language for the intended reader.”

For more information, call or text Patricia Alexander at (805) 4797778, via email at PatriciaEmilyAlexander@gmail.com or go to www.

BookOfComforts.com.

RaG’s Home Renovation & Repair Richard & Gwen Atilano Richard and Gwen Atilano, owners and operators of RaG’s Home Renovation & Repair, are committed to helping their clients find the best and most cost-effective solutions to a wide variety of home maintenance, repair, and renovation needs.

Providing quality, affordable work and services, this dynamic husband

and wife team brings decades of experience and knowledge to every job site.

“Why remodel when you can save money and refresh your home using RaG’s Home Renovation and Repair?” asks Richard, who received his contractor’s license in 2015 after more than 30 years of performing home and apartment renovations and repairs for HUD low income housing.

A recent client, Cam, praised Richard’s skills, dedication, punctuality, and enthusiasm, saying he was, “indispensable in getting me moved into my home on schedule. An added benefit was that it was a pleasure to work alongside him.”

Dianne, who hired Richard after seeing the RaG’s advertisement in Paso Robles Magazine, found him to be “extremely Richard & Gwen k n o w l e d g e a b l e ” Atilano when it came to correcting problems in her aging house while Gwen offered her “wellthought ideas on design services.”

“Prompt call backs, easily to understand estimates, and a firm timeline for contracted services; all work was completed as promised,” says Dianne. “Without hesitation, I can recommend RaG’s.”

An all-around handyman, Richard is experienced in carpentry, painting, plumbing, and flooring and more. In addition, he can take care of any and all of your fencing, electrical, and landscaping needs. Need help with space planning or design elements? Is the house you are selling or buying in need of repairs before the close of escrow? Give RaG’s Home Renovation & Repair a call today!

For more information or to schedule a free estimate appointment, call RaG’s Home Renovation & Repair at (805) 341-6807 or check out ragshomerenovationandrepair.com.

Custom Dressmaking & Tailoring

by Mary Ann Austin

• Expert alterations & fine tailoring for men and women.

• Custom garment construction, Bridal, Special Occasion, Prom.

• I cover pillows and shams.

Located at 1716 COMMERCE WAY (next to Full Belly Deli) Paso Robles

Mondays & Wednesdays 9:00 am - 4:00pm For appointment call

(805) 440-7500

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Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

TIME & PLACE A monthly look at local events, meetings, entertainment and special occasions.

To submit a listing, email bob@pasoroblesmagazine.com, bring info to drop box at Dutch Maytag, 1501 Riverside Ave., or mail to PO Box 3996, Paso Robles, 93447 by the 7th of each month.

Questions? Call 239-1533.

APRIL 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • Speak Easy Toastmasters Club, Fridays, 12:10 to 1:15 pm, Founders Pavilion, Twin Cities Community Hospital. http://9797.toastmastersclubs. org. 235-8567.

2, 9, 16, 23, 30 • Grief Share –13 week Saturday seminar/support group for people grieving a loss.10 am to noon, Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Rd., Paso.

Info: Deaconess Juliet Thompson, 2383702, ext. 205.

4, 11, 18, 25 • Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce Toastmasters, Mondays, 6 to 7 pm at the Chamber Office, 1225 Park St. Call Lisa Marrone 441-9557.

4, 18 • Writing Support Group. Complete writing projects with encouragement, kindness and truth with award-winning author/editor Patricia Alexander. Every other Monday, 6:30 to 9 pm. $25 per or $20 for 4 meetings paid in advance. Call for location: 479-7778. www.BookOfComforts.com.

5, 12 • MOPS – Mothers of Pre-schoolers, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 am, Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Road, Paso. Support, speakers, creative activities, play dates, “mom’s night out.” Rachel Wisener, 559-473-8258, northcountymops@gmail.com.

5, 12, 19, 26 • BNI – Business Networking International – Early But Worth It chapter, Tuesdays 7 to 8:30 am, Paso Robles Golf Club. Visitors welcome, visit bni.org for info and chapter website.

6, 13, 20, 27 • Life Community Toastmaster Club, Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 pm, Life Community Church, 3770 Ruth Way, Templeton. 712-0671.

6 • North County Newcomers Club, first Wednesdays for residents living here less than 2 years, 11 am to 1:30 pm, northcountynewcomers.org for events and activities.

7, 14, 21, 28 – BNI - Business Networking International – P B & J Chapter, Thursdays 7 to 8:30 am. Paso Robles Golf Club. Visitors welcome, visit bni.org for info and chapter website.

7 • Estero Bay Advanced Toastmasters, first Thursdays, 7 to 9 pm, Kennedy Club Fitness, 500 So. River Road, Paso. 238-

0524, www.930206.toastmastersclubs.org.

8 • Almond Country Quilters Guild Meeting, 6:30 pm, Lyn Mann (www. quiltsbylyn.com) presents trunk show/ lecture “Head for the Border.” Visitors welcome! Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Road, Paso. almondcountryquilters.org. Info: lisajguerrero@msn.com.

9 • Almond Country Quilters Class by Lyn Mann - “There is No Such Thing as an Ugly Fabric.” Sign up at sunzia2@charter.net.

Class held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso.

9 • Central Coast Violet Society, 10 am to 12 pm, Brookdale Senior Living activity room, 1919 Creston Road, Paso Robles, second Saturdays, 459-6070 10 • Daughters of the American Revolution, second Sundays, 1:00 for buffet lunch ($20) at SpringHill Suites in Atascadero.

Info: Donna Cohen 395-0630, dmcpatriotdaughter@gmail.com.

10 • PR Grange Pancake Breakfast, second Sundays, 7:30 to 11am, 627 Creston Road, Paso.

13 • North County Multiflora Garden Club, 1 pm, Paso Robles Community Church 2706 Spring Street, 712-7820, Second Wednesdays except June, July, Aug. 15 • North County Women’s Connection Luncheon – 11 am to 1 pm., $12. Fashion show featuring Upscale Resale Vine Street Collection, Faron Elizabeth and Apropos.

Templeton Community Center, 601 So. Main St. RSVP and info, JoAnne Pickering, 239-1096. Newcomers welcome!

18 • Paso Robles Republican Women Federated, third Mondays, Paso Robles Golf Club, 1600 Country Club Drive.

Check-in and social at 11:30 a.m. Lunch at 12 noon. Guest speakers and guests welcome. Reservations by April 4 to 226-5620 or katemorgans@gmail.com. $22, prrwf.org.

18 • Santa Lucia Rockhounds, third Mondays (except Sept. and Dec.) at Templeton Community Center, 601 South Main St. Open to all who enjoy rocks, fossils and minerals. Guest speakers, education, raffles, silent auction, rock show. Visitors welcome.

Visit slorockhounds.org 19 • Chronic Pain Support Group Meeting – CRPS (Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome), Third Tuesdays, 5 to 6 pm, Rabobank, 1025 Las Tablas Rd, Templeton. Info: Suzanne Miller 7045970, suzanne.miller@ymail.com.

19 • North County Parkinson’s Support Group, 1pm, Templeton Presbyterian Church, 610 So. Main St. Speakers welcome.

Third Tuesdays except July and August.

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

26 • Board of Supervisors Candidate Forum sponsored by Paso Robles Main Street Association, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, F. McLintock’s, 1234 Park St., Paso.

28 • North County Prostate Cancer Support Group, 7 pm, Last Thursdays, Twin Cities Community Hospital Pavilion Room. Info: Bill Houston 995-2254, American Cancer Society, 473-1748.

28 • “Lunch and Learn” Nutrition and Cancer hosted by Cancer Support Community, 1 to 2:30 pm, Marisa Bolivar, MS, RD, CSO. Light lunch provided. 1051 Las Tablas Rd., Templeton, RSVP 238-4411. www.CSCslo.org.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

238-0506 | pasorobleschamber.com.

15 • Women in Business Luncheon, 11:30 to 1 pm.

20 • Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, River Oaks Hot Springs, 4 to 7 pm.

27 • Wake Up Paso! 7:30 to 9 am.

28 • North County Young Professionals Mixer, 5:30 to 9 pm.

Local Farmers Markets

Paso Robles Country Farm and Craft Market, Saturdays, 9 am to 1pm, Downtown City Park.

Templeton Farmers Market, Saturdays, 9 am to 12:30 pm. Templeton Park, Crocker and 6th Streets.

Art, Museums, Events, Fundraisers and Entertainment 2 • Art After Dark Paso – First Saturdays, self-guided walks through art galleries, wine tasting rooms and businesses featuring local artists. 6 to 9 pm, Downtown Paso. Coordinated by Studios on the Park.

3 • California Spectacular Elite Show Pig Sale and Field Day, PR Event Center, 5 • Golden State Classic Car Club meets at PR Elks Lodge, first Tuesdays, 7pm, 1420 Park St., Paso. Goldenstateclassics.org 6 • Monthly dinner at Estrella Warbird Museum, first Wednesdays, 6 pm. Reservations required. Museum features American aircraft, vehicles and artifacts, 10 am to 4 pm. Thursday – Sunday. Group tours by appointment. Admission $10, $5 ages 6 – 12, free under 5. 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles. Call for group tours. ewarbirds.org.

227-0440, 238-3897.

8 • Paso Goes Red Luncheon presented

by American Heart Association and French Hospital Medical Center. 11 am to 12 pm Health Fair, lunch and program at 12:00.

Paso Robles Golf Club, 1600 Country Club Drive, $55 p/p. Tickets: PasoGoesRed. heart.org.

8-10 • Eroica California – Vintage Racing Bicycle Concours d’Elegance, Vendor and Exhibitor Fair, Paso Downtown City Park, www.eroicacalifornia.com 8-10 • Cattlemen’s Western Art Show & Sale. Free admission Saturday/Sunday.

Artists Reception on Friday, 5 to 9 pm, $20, Paso Robles Event Center. www. cattlemenswesternartshow.com.

9 • Shrimp Boil & BBQ to benefit Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation, 4 pm, $60/ person, $460/table. Tickets: www.pryaf.org/ upcoming-events/ or at PRYAF office 3201 Spring St., Paso Robles. 238-5825.

9-10 • Wine 4 Paws benefit for Woods Humane Society. Over 70 wineries share their proceeds with local animal shelters.

No advance tickets needed. Visit www. wine4paws.com for map and passport, or at any participating winery.

9 • Wild Wild West Casino Night & BBQ Fundraiser, Centennial Park, 6 pm, tickets $45 at www.prysc.com. Benefits Paso Robles Youth Sports Council.

9 • Classic Car Cruise Night – 5 to 7 pm, Second Saturdays (weather permitting), King Oil Tools, 2235 Spring St., Paso. Info: Tony Ororato, 712-0551.

12 • Exchange Club meets 2nd Tuesday, 12:15 – 1:30 pm, McPhee’s in Templeton. 610-8096, exchangeclubof northslocounty.org.

13 • Mayor’s Monthly Museum Tour Estrella Warbird Museum, 10 am, 4251 Dry Creek Rd., Paso.

14-16 • Hospice du Rhone, Paso Robles Event Center, www.hospicedurhone.org.

16 • Dog Jog Paso Robles at Vina Robles Vineyards and Winery. 9 am check-in and late registration. 10 am jog begins. Event benefits Sherwood Dog Park, parks4pups.org, info@parks4pups.org.

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS held at RISE Sponsored by HospiceSLO 1030 Vine St., Paso Robles 544-2266 • hospiceslo.org Bereaved Parents Group Tuesdays, 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

General Grief Support Wednesdays, 5:00 to 6:30 pm.

Suicide Bereavement Support (for those left behind) – 4th Wednesday each month, 3 to 4:30 pm.

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TIME & PLACE

17 • North SLO County Concert Association presents vocalist Judy Philbin and Central Coast musicians, doors open at 2:30, concert 3 pm, $20 at the door, Trinity Lutheran Church, 940 Creston Road, Paso Robles. Info: www.nslocca.org, 2392770, 237-8122.

21 • Third Thursday Shop, dine and drink in downtown Paso Robles. A portion of the proceeds benefit must! Charities.

Visit facebook.com/pages/Third-Thursday-PasoRobles.

23 • Day Food and Wine Festival, Castoro Cellars, 1 to 4 pm, www.earthdayfoodandwine.org.

23 • San Miguel Sagebrush Days, 9 am Vendor’s Faire, 11am parade, downtown San Miguel.

23 • Vintage Sidecar Rendezvous, Recycles Treasures, Antique Motorcycles & British Vintage Car Club. 9 am to 3pm. Downtown City Park. A Main Street event, 238-4103.

30 • Everyone in the Pool – Mayor’s Fundraiser, Island Party at Centennial Pool. 5 to 9 pm, $75, food/drink, live/ silent auction. Tickets facebook.com/ everyoneinthepool. Brownpapertickets .com, 234-4850.

30 • Bearcat Serenade, 5:30 pm, Pear Valley Winery, 4900 Union Road, Paso Robles. $50/person, www.prhsband.com.

Dinner by the Paso Robles Culinary Academy.

30-May 1 • Three Speckled Hens – Antiques and Old Stuff Shows, Paso Robles Event Center, Tickets and info: threespeckledhens.com, antiques@ threespeckledhens.com.

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THE WELLNESS KITCHEN AND RESOURCE CENTER

Paso Robles Inn Steakhouse & Cattlemen’s Lounge 1103 Spring Street • 226-4925

1255 Las Tablas Road, Templeton • 434-1800 • TheWKRC.org

Steakhouse: Prime Rib Wednesdays!

Cattlemen’s Lounge: Happy Hour, 4-7 pm, includes cocktail and menu specials Monday Industry Night, 6 to 9 pm, 20% off for all professionals; Taco and Tequila Tuesdays 5 to 9 pm; Tuesday Tunes 6 to 8 pm: 4/5 Adam Rowland, 4/12 Billy Manzik, 4/19 Kenny Taylor, 4/26 Daniel Palmer; Wednesday Locals Appreciation Night Happy Hour 4CLOSE; Friday & Saturday Live Entertainment, 9:30-11:30pm: 4/1-4/2 Rumble, 4/8-4/9 Nataly Lola, 4/15-4/16 Bobby Santa Cruz, 4/22-4/23 Stellar, 4/29 Kenny Taylor, 4/30 Stellar.

WEDNESDAYS: 13 • WELLthy Living Workshop – Superfood Smoothies with Ashley Beels, 6:30 to 8pm. $15 material fee or donation and 1 Helping-Hands Scholarship spot.

RSVP required. 27 • Intro to Wellness: A Taste of Change with Ashley Beels, 5:30 – 6:30, 10 simple things for your “clean eating journey.” FREE. THURSDAYS: 7 • The Truth About Weight Loss with Gerrie Adams, Healthy Eating Specialist, 6 to 8 pm, snack. $20 fee. First Thursdays. 14 • Hispanic Cooking Class with Yessenia Echeverria, 6:30 to 8:00 pm. $15 or donation. 21 • Healthy Cooking for People Touched with Illness – Eating a Rainbow with Nancy Walker, 5:30 to 7:30, free to those with illness, friends/caregivers welcome for a $20 fee or donation. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. RSVP required. 434-1800 or nancy@TheWKRC.org. 28 • 3 Way Series with Kim Aubuthnot - $20 p/p or donation. RSVP required, 434-1800.

FRIDAYS: 8 • Children’s After School Cooking Class – Eating a Rainbow with Terri Knowlton. 3:30 to 5 pm, $15 or donation. 22 • Healthy Cooking for People Touched with Illness – Eating a Rainbow, 11 am to 1 pm. Same class 4/21 taught at Idler’s Appliance, 122 Cross Street, San Luis Obispo. 22 • Children’s After School Cooking Class – Bountiful Breakfast with Terri Knowlton. 2 to 3 pm, $15.

CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY

NEW LOCATION: 1051 Las Tablas Road, Templeton

The Cancer Support Community provides support, education and hope to those with cancer. Visit CSCslo.org and call 238 - 4111 for information.

Please RSVP as noted. Some facilitators request a 4-person minimum. Cancer Support Community answers questions and gives emotional support. Cancer Support Helpline, 888-793-9355, 6 am to 6 pm PST. Online blog at www.CancerSupportCommunity.org.

Monday: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 Yoga 11:30 am SPECIAL EVENT: April 28 • “Lunch and Learn” Survivorship Presentation: Nutrition and Cancer, 1 to 2:30 pm by Marisa Bolivar, RD and Certified Oncology Nutritionist. Light lunch will be provided.

MONDAYS: 4, 11, 18, 25 • Yoga 11:30 am to 12:45 pm, Wellness Yoga, 1329 Spring St., Paso. 4 & 18 • Meditation, 10:30 am Senior Center, 270 Scott St., Paso. 25 • Reiki Circle 5:30 to 7pm, RSVP. TUESDAYS: 5, 12, 19, 26 • Tai Chi Chih 9 to 10 am, Coffee Café 10:05 am, Frankly Speaking CSC Podcast 1 pm, Tai Chi Chih 1 to 2 pm at Cayucos Senior Center, 200 S. Ocean Ave., Family/Caregiver Support Group 3:30 to 4:30 pm; 12 Intro to Tai Chi Chih 10:30 to 11:30 am, Young Survivors 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

WEDNESDAYS: 6, 13, 19, 26 • Living with Cancer Member Support Group 10 to 11:30 am; Tai Chi Chih 11 am to 12 noon at Hearst Cancer Resource Center, 1941 Johnson Ave. Ste. 201, SLO. 13 • All Blood Cancer Support, Hearst Cancer Resource Center.

THURSDAYS: 7, 14, 21, 28 Tai Chi Chih 9 to 10 am, Coffee Café 10:05, New Member Orientation 11am to 12 noon, RSVP. 28 • Men’s Prostate Group, 7 pm,Twin Cities Hospital Founders Pavilion.

FRIDAYS: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 • Navigate with Shannon, Workshop, 11 am to 1 pm, RSVP. 1 & 15 • Grupo Fuerza y Esperanza, 6 to 8 pm.

Other programs include Cancer Well-Fit®, Kathy Thomas, 610-6486, kathytomas10@hotmail.com, Look Good Feel Better ®, 800-227-2345 and Silhouette Breast Form and Lingerie, 559-432-7199.

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

bob@pasoroblesmagazine.com

Vintage Community Church 692 Peterson Ranch Road, Templeton Services: 9 & 11 a.m.

Coaches: Aaron Porter, Dayn Mansfield (805) 543-0943

April 2016, Paso Robles Magazine

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LAST WORD

USING INNOVATIVE, CUTTING-EDGE NEUROFEEDBACK TECHNOLOGY TO HELP THOSE STRUGGLING WITH PTSD

Help OPERATION HEADSTRONG bring hope to local combat veterans

By Meagan Friberg Many combat veterans exhibit signs of Statistics show most combat veterans are on an Local veteran Lance Iunker, whose PTSD such as hypervigilance, flashbacks, average of nine different medications daily and personal experience with posttraumatic anxiety, nightmares, and insomnia. Iunk- 22 veterans on average die by suicide every day. er’s showed up during his stay at the rehab Through Operation Headstrong, Iunker hopes stress set him on a path to serve our nation’s heroes, is leading a unique and highhospital back in Georgia and continued to to give veterans the opportunity to “retrain” their ly-innovative program focusing on neuroprogress once he returned home. brains to help with symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, feedback therapy, Operation Headstrong, “Physically I was fine when I returned depression and more. a project of the Institute for Advanced home, but not psychologically,” he said.

“Neurofeedback can help us to self-regulate Technology and Public Policy at Cal Poly.

Medically retired from the military in and calm down the brain waves,” he said, “pro Iunker struggled with PTSD after July 2008, Iunker moved back to SLO. ducing better sleep which gives the brain time to returning home from combat and has had He married Laurie, an elementary school heal from trauma; if that is the only thing veterans significant relief thanks in part to neuteacher in Guadalupe, in November 2009. get from this, we are already half way there.”

Lance Iunker rofeedback therapy. After signing up for The opportunity to make a change in his Veterans participating in the local case study a delayed entry program to join the United States psychological health happened when he became will use a portable, user-friendly Versus headset Army during his senior year, Iunker started his a candidate for a neurofeedback therapy trial in in the comfort of their own home – the technolmilitary career just days after graduating from Templeton; he drove from SLO four times weekly ogy was developed by Operation Headstrong and SLO High in June 2006, when he started his and participated in 80 sessions. the Institute, in partnership with SenseLabs out training to become an Airborne Infantryman at Iunker started speaking on of Atascadero – with an iOS Fort Benning, Georgia before his orders took him veteran issues and, working compatible device. The cost to Fort Bragg, North Carolina as part of the 82nd with then-California Goveris just $400, including preAirborne Division. In January 2007, he was moved nor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and post-assessments, a neuro-profile, and a personalized to a Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisi- traveled to various locations intion (RSTA) unit in Baghdad. cluding Washington DC where training protocol. $30,000 in On Sept. 10, 2007, Iunker’s unit was one of sev- he addressed the Democratic funding is needed to purchase eral that captured 19 of Baghdad’s most wanted Caucus and spoke at the White the Versus headsets and for during what would be the last of his estimated 180 House, the Pentagon, and more. operating costs related to the SenseLabs of Atascadero in target missions and raids. Heading back to camp, He attended Cuesta and Cal study. Iunker is looking for lopartnership with Operation Headcal businesses and individuals the driver of Iunkers’s troop transport truck struck Poly, earning his BA degree in some debris on an overpass and lost control. The Political Science. For his senior strong developed an iOS compatible to come forward to support device with Versus headset.

Operation Headstrong. truck toppled over the guardrail, fell 50 feet, and project, Iunker co-founded the landed upside down, crushing all inside. Seven Student Veterans Organization and created the first “We need help getting the local case study funded so we can move things forward,” he said. of Iunker’s brothers-in-arms and three detainees Veterans Success Center at Cal Poly. were killed. Eleven soldiers were severely injured, It was during this time, with so much happen- “Any financial contributions to Operation Headincluding Iunker, who spent 10 months in a Geor- ing in his life, when Iunker realized that his neuro- strong are greatly appreciated.” gia Army hospital and rehab center before being feedback therapy sessions were paying off – he was To help Lance Iunker and Operation Headmedically discharged. sleeping, no longer had nightmares, and his flash- strong meet financial goals and get the research project Iunker suffered four shattered vertebrae, spinal backs decreased tremendously and were not as vivid. underway, go to www.operationheadstrong.com and cord damage, a bruised heart, a crushed chest, col- “I was having moments of peace and didn’t feel make a tax-deductible donation. Iunker is available for lapsed lungs and contusions, broken eye orbitals like I was constantly fighting these demons,” he said. local speaking engagements; contact him at (805) 458and facial bones, and a severed right ear. A plastic Neurofeedback works to slow down a person’s brain 0671 or liunker@calpoly.edu for more information. surgeon happened to be visiting Baghdad and went waves, something that can be difficult for veterans that to work on Iunker, repairing his ear and correcting have been trained to be on high alert during their time other damage; it took 70 staples to put Iunker’s skull in combat. The more relaxed and less-stressed a person back together. becomes, the easier it is to fall asleep and stay asleep.

“I like to joke that I look better now after having “It’s during those deep REM cycles of sleep that the plastic surgery than I did before,” Iunker said. brain is able to heal itself and process things better.”

3 Speckled Hens 37 Adrienne Hagan 30 Advanced Concrete 8 Advanced Construction 13 Amdal In Home Care 38 American Oak 3 Arlyne’s Flowers 28 Artfully Unusual 44 Artworks 15 Austin, Mary Ann 50 Baker, Richard 46 Bankston, Kim 10 Bella Jule Designs 17 Berry Hill Bistro 4 BlakesTrueValue 8 Blakeslee&Blakeslee 39 Bland Solar 29 Blenders 37 Body Basics 15 Bridge Sportsmen 17 Brooklin Oaks Pharmacy 11

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Cal Paso Solar 11 Cal Sun Electric 34 CASA 19 Casey Printing 44 Casper, EJ, DDS 47 Chad Woodrum Const 33 Chalekson, Dr. Charles 41 Cider Creek 19 City-Recreation 43 Clear Choice Prop 33 Cone & Associates 13 Connect Home Loans 11 Desmond, Heater 4,5 Diffley, Marty 17 Eddington Funeral Svs 51 Edwards Barber Shop 14 El Paso Storage 52 Estrella Warbirds 7 Farmhouse Motel 25 Foxhill Pool & Spa 28 Friends of Library 27 Frontier Floors 22

DIRECTORY TO OUR ADVERTISERS

Gallagher Video 38 General Store 49 Gilliss, Keith/PRIME 39 Golden Collar

24 Golden Reverse Mortgage 13 GRL Computing 52 Gustin, Dale for Supervisor 34 Hamon, John for Supervisor 25 Harris Stage 45 Healthy Inspiration 25 Heart to Heart RE 49 Henry, Lisa-Patterson Real Estate 14 HFG Insurance 37 Horse Connection Center 45 Idler’s 56 K-Jon’s Jewelers 9 Kennedy Fitness 16

Klockenteger, RDHAP 22 Knights Carpet 15 La Casa de Amayah 22 Lansford Dental 37 Lube N Go 36 Main St Animal Hosp 41 Mayor’s Fundraiser-Pool 55 Michael’s Optical 18 Mikulics, Dr 40 Mode Communications 27 Mr. Tom’s Tile 29 Natural Alternative 32 New With Tags 48 Nose to Tail 51 Odyssey Cafe 16 Paso Jules 33 Paso Massage Therapy 50 Paso PetCare 30 PR Chamber 27 PR District Cemetery 27 PR Door & Trim 37

PR Handyman 42 PR Insurance 13 PR Main Street 48 PR Pet Boarding 47 PR Safe & Lock 15 PR Waste 21 Patricia Alexander 40 Peck, Bibiche 39 Perfect Air 29 Photo Stop 30 Placer Title 31 PW Construction 26 Rags Home Renovations 51 Red Scooter Deli 48 Relay for Life 32 Reneau, J Scott 32 Reverse Mortgage Pros 44 Salinas Valley Fair 33 San Luis Sports Therapy 34 Sauret’s Errand 36 Scoles,Law Office of Patricia 52

SESLOC 19 Simple Lending 42 SolaraloS 17 Solarponics 25 Sotheby’s-Cassidy 45 Spice of Life 29 Sprains Draperies 24 St Rose School 19 Stifel Nicolaus 4 Ted Hamm Ins 46 Teresa Rhyne Law Group 38 Tolosa Dental 20 The Loft 16 Tree of Life

20 Twin Cities Hospital 2 Vic’s Cafe 20 Wallace Music Studio 18 Western Janitorial 22 Wildflower Festival 42 Whitehorse 46 Wine Country Theatre 12 Worship Directory 53

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

Paso Robles Magazine, April 2016

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