Avila Beach Life • August 2021

LOCAL NEWS ... BEACH VIEWS • AUGUST 2021

AVILABEACHLIFENEWS .COM

Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. ~ John F. Kennedy

4TH ANNUAL JULY DOGGIE PARADE PAGE 4

POINT SAN LUIS LIGHTSTATION THE STATION’S FIRST KEEPER PAGE 6

AVILA VALLEY GRAPEVINE

COMBATING POWDERY MILDEW PAGE 7

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COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

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ALSO INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

2 | Avila Beach Life — August 2021

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he beautiful summer months were just what we all needed, warm days full of sunshine, smiling faces, music, and gatherings. For a short time, we were able to remember what it felt like to live just for today, enjoy every precious moment together, and realize how important our freedoms are.

In July, we celebrated our Independence Day, filled with a day at the beach, the annual Avila Beach dog parade that we were honored to be asked to Judge this year, and fireworks in Cayucos! Our boys went on their first overnight camping trip without us at Camp Natoma in mid-July. After seven days and six nights, we were beyond ready to have them home (actually, we were ready after the first night). They both returned as young campers should, covered in dirt, older and wiser, with lots of stories that continue to be told even a few weeks later.

Publishers

Hayley & Nicholas Mattson editor@13starsmedia.com

LAYOUT DESIGN EDITOR Mike Michaud

Ad Design Jen Rodman

If it were not for hopes, the heart would break.

Ad Consultant Dana McGraw Jessica Segal

Administrator

~Thomas Fuller

Cami Martin office@13starsmedia.com

This month Mirac turns nine, and Maximus turns seven. Two big birthdays that they are excited to celebrate with family and friends full of Star Wars, Ninjas, a Bounce House, and of course, Lego.

We are continuing to homeschool this year and look forward to traveling and having them experience the world from a different point of view.

The times we are living in are not like any other, and we need each other now more than ever. We live in one of the most incredible places in the world, with some of the most caring and inspiring people. Each and every month, as we put our publications together, we strive to show you all just that.

CONTRIBUTORS Betty Hartig Dr. Cindy Maynard John Salisbury Kathy Mastako

Along with a reminder that our locally owned businesses are the heartbeat of our local economy, and when we invest in each other, we invest in the future of our communities for generations to come.

Mary Foppiano Patricia Alexander Rick Cohen

The time to make a difference is now; we decide how this part of the story will be written; it is up to us...We the People.

Visit our website! avilabeachlifenews.com avila beach life is published monthly. all rights reserved , material may not be reprinted without written consent from the publisher . avila beach life made every effort to maintain the accuracy of information presented in this publication , but assumes no responsibility for errors , changes or omissions . avila beach life is a product of 13 stars media .

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Avila Beach Life.

Much love, Hayley & N ic

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August 2021 — Avila Beach Life | 3 FOUNDATION NEWS & VIEWS

August: ‘Respected and Impressive’

Rick Cohen

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AVILA BEACH FOUNDATION

reetings, fellow Avilones. The month of August has arrived, and it won’t be long until yet another summer is in our rearview mirrors. Do you know that not only is August the eighth month on the calendar, but the word “august” is also an adjective meaning “respected and impressive?” It is with that in mind that I offer a belated shout out (via Avila Valley resident and local coastal waters aficionado Rob Mohle) to the Pale Kai Outrigger Canoe Club for their litter removal efforts along a stretch of Avila Beach Drive between San Luis Bay Drive and San Miguel Street, which the Club “adopted” 10 years ago to help keep our community beautiful. This group of paddlers, along with a number of other locals, have made it their mission to pick up after people who find it easier to just toss their trash out the window or on the beach. Our gratitude to you environ-

mentally responsible Avilones.

I rarely venture into the matters of other SLO County towns, but after reading a local article about the Oceano Dunes, I found a strong parallel between that which Avila Beach has already endured and the future Oceano may be facing. I imagine you are all aware of the decades-old fight pitting supporters for and against off-roading at the Oceano Dunes. Environment, safety, economy, and beach access concerns have dominated that conversation. I won’t offer my opinions or take sides on this topic. But portions of the story caught my eye that indicated there are fears for the type of unintended consequences that have occurred in Avila Beach.

One Oceano Advisory Council member pointed to Avila Beach, stating, “before the Unocal oil cleanup efforts, which involved tearing down and rebuilding much of the town, Avila Beach was home to mostly working-class people, funky shops, and restaurants. It had a lot of charm, cheap housing, and it basically got wiped off the map…and now median home prices in Avila are roughly twice that of other SLO County cities.” Some foresee the character of Oceano changing with the elimination of off-roading and have concerns that long-time locals will be priced out of the community as it becomes something different.

For good or bad, change is inevitable and

occurs routinely in coastal communities everywhere. Downtown Avila is still undergoing transformation 20+ years since the oil contamination removal. Continuing to disappear are single-family dwellings, being replaced by multiunit vacation rentals. Summers now belong to the throngs of visitors who just want a piece of how we live, and it’s hard to blame them for that. But it comes at a cost as the sense of community togetherness vanishes with each passing generation.

Which brings me to a parallel topic—that being the history of Avila Beach, which is rich and interesting. The “Foundation” has in the past hosted several events that focused on Avila’s past, and another such event is being considered.

Fortunately, there are a number of multi-generational Avila families still living in the area, and it has come to my attention that some possess historical artifacts, photos, and keepsakes they are willing to share. Likewise, we have a handful of community agencies also in possession of historical items of interest. The idea being bounced around is that of hosting, for lack of a better title, a “mobile museum,” whereby willing residents and agencies can display some of their collectibles for others to see at one or more local locations on a specified day or two. What do you think about this idea? Let me know if you have some cool stuff to share and/or if you would attend an event of this nature. You can respond to

avilafoundation@gmail.com.

A number of you have asked me about the property owned by Chevron, now known as Avila Point, at which the company had several years ago proposed the development of a major conference center. Unfortunately, amid community concerns and other matters, that project fell by the wayside, and future efforts were placed on hold. Chevron representatives attended the July AVAC meeting to present a new project concept that strays far from the earlier one. The property consists of 95 acres originally used by UNOCAL as a petroleum storage and shipping facility and was sold to Chevron in 2005. The new project concept consists of nine lots, some of which would be dedicated for public use, including new coastal and woodland trails. Other lots could be used for parking, public/private development, and more. The concept remains a work in progress and includes involvement by SLO County Parks & Recreation and the Avila Beach Community Services District. Stay tuned for more details as they emerge, or visit avilapoint.com/contact-us/ for updates.

Last but not least, be alerted that the next Avila Community Plan Public Workshop is scheduled via “Zoom” for August 5 at 6 p.m.

Contact the County Planning Department for details about how to “Zoom in.”That’s it for now, fellow Avilones. See you at the beach!

Inflation or Deflation—Does it Matter?

The big discussions now on Wall Street are whether the recent large increases in consumer prices (CPI)^ are “transitory” or whether we are going to get serious long term inflation. If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, it sure seems like “serious” inflation. Anyway, in theory, “value” stocks should like inflation while growth stocks shouldn’t. Is this true, or, is the bigger question, do our views on inflation matter? We think not. We think “price” is all that matters. We believe there may be a better way to achieve your goals. Please call for a short conversation to find out how. ^https://global-premium.econoday.com/byshoweventfull.asp?fid=522370&cust=global-premium&year=2021&lid=0&prev=/byweek.asp#top

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4 | Avila Beach Life — August 2021 A VIEW FROM THE BEACH

As Life Changes, Activities Return

Mary Foppiano

Avila Beach Civic Association

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present its Community Service Award(s). This free event, which is open i All! Life is really changing • Family Fun Bingo Night Friday, September 17, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., will be our first fundraiser of to the public, will be followed by a potluck dinner (bring a side dish to with the removal of most 2021. Tickets are $5/person, and each bingo card is $1. Wine and beer will share) and Carols, and holiday cheer with your family and friends. of the restrictions associbe for sale. There will be lots of prizes and snacks to be enjoyed by all ages. • Santa’s Doggie Parade ated with the COVID-19 pandemic. I Saturday, December 11, registration 10:00 - 10:45 a.m. and parade 11 know that the Delta variant is making • Fall Harvest Spaghetti Dinner/Bingo Night Friday, November 5, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m., we plan to host a great dinner a.m.-noon. Doggie treats will be donated by Petco Arroyo Grande, and its rounds, but we are all hoping that this with wine and beer for sale. As always, lots of prizes for all ages and a fun ribbons will be presented for costume contest winners. We will have will not result in future lockdowns. On night with your neighbors. Tickets are $10/person and $5/child, six and surprises that will make this parade as special as all of our parades! that note, I would like to update you on under, and each bingo card is $1.

For more information on our events, rental of the Center, volunteering, or some of the Avila Beach Community becoming a member, please contact me at (805)627-1997 or avilabeachcc@gmail.com.

Center fun activities that the Avila Beach • Holiday Potluck/Annual Meeting Friday, December 10, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., the Avila Beach Civic AssoI have faith that this will be a great year for all of us…and look forward Civic Association plans through the end ciation will host its annual meeting at the beginning of the evening and to seeing each of you in our beautiful Avila Beach. of 2021:

EVENT

4th Annual July Doggie Parade

By MARY FOPPIANO for Avila Beach Life

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The winners of our Costume Contest were: Best Costume: Angelia Hepburn with Xolo Vente

hat a wonderful way to kick off the grand re-opening of the Avila Beach Community Center with our annual 4th of July Doggie Parade. This year, we had 73 participants who “bow wowed” their audience.

Once again, Petco Arroyo Grande continued to support us and generously donated their tasty doggie treats for each dog. Our judges were led by Steve Kobliska with new judges Third District County Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg; Hayley Mattson, publisher of the Avila Beach Life; and Robin Weed-Brown, President of the Avila Beach Civic Association. Our volunteers consisted of Grand Marshall Adam Montiel of “Up & Adam in the Morning” FM104.5 with Audrey Tito and puppy Giorgi, Avila Beach Post Master Cindy Baker-Kobliska, Tammy Hay, Mary Matakovich, Lori O’Connor, Carol Sanderson, and Tom Sparks. Cheryl Stepaniak was with her two friends, Esmeralda Anguiano and Marianna Arredondo, in the puppy costumes.

Karen Flagg was the winner of our Doggie Fun Basket, who also participated in the parade with her dog Missy May.

Best Dog/Owner Look-Alike: Lucy and Amelia Vohra with Winnie Best Holiday Look: Michelle Smith with Scarlet and Paisley Funniest: Adam Montiel and Audrey Tito with Giorgi Best in Show: Vicki and Tray Johnson with Annie and Abbey Honorable Mention: Curren and Philip Toriello with Bingo and Rolly We are so very happy to congratulate our winners, thank our judges and volunteers, and looking forward to our Santa’s Doggie Parade on Saturday, December 11, at 11 a.m.

Please visit our website avilabeachcc.com for more information in the future.

FURRY SPOTLIGHT

Kallie

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is our Pet of the Month

By MARY FOPPIANO

hen Sandi and Bill Crewe lived in Chicagoland, they adopted Kallie as a semi-rescue 7-monthold Portuguese Water Dog who had already lived in two homes. It quickly became evident that Kallie was terrified of young men, but she bonded with them at the first tail wag. Until they moved to San Luis Obispo County in 2017, Kallie wedged herself between Sandi and the kitchen counter during meal preparation. She needed that closeness, and they adored her and all of her coping habits that got her through the day. Kallie had her wild girl moments, but her personality was very sedate…and reflecting back, she was probably sick long before her diagnosis of multiple myeloma.

Kallie’s life changed dramatically in a very positive way when they moved to Avila Beach. She enjoyed short walks

with Bill. She loved watching their turkeys when she encountered them and never once charging or chasing them…the same for deer. Incredibly, the biggest positive they saw was her relationship with their wonderful immediate neighbors, one of whom tolerated Kallie’s manipulation of their “Ring doorbell” to her own advantage. It only took her a couple of attempts before she trained them to quickly fetch treats for her. And, of course, she would go into fits to get to her personal UPS truck driver. Kallie became a people person in her short time in Avila Beach and was so, so happy.

Bill and Sandi are still having a hard time letting go of Kallie’s beautiful spirit, but they are very thankful for being led here by the powerful force that was responsible for The Best Year of Kallie’s Life!

NEXT MONTH’S ‘PET OF THE MONTH’ Please send me your pictures and a short paragraph about your pet to avilabeachcc@gmail.com.

Thanks, and introduce us to your furry friend next month!

August 2021 — Avila Beach Life | 5 AVILA BEACH + BOB JONES TRAIL

Photos courte sy

of Victoria M

orrow

Intriguing Pelicans

By BETTY HARTIG For Avila Beach Life

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alifornia Brown Pelicans are intriguing gray-brown saltwater birds. You may catch a glimpse of a few casually floating in the estuary along the Bob Jones Pathway. Sometimes they fly beneath the estuary bridge skimming the surface of the water. They are intelligent, masterful flyers but look somewhat awkward on land. While in flight, they resemble prehistoric pterodactyls, the winged reptiles from the past. The species is unique not only in appearance but in actions as well. Thank goodness they lack the teeth that filled the pterodactyl’s long beaks over 30 million years ago. Pelicans have distinct features, which make them easily identifiable.

One of the most interesting features of a pelican is the gular pouch that dangles from the bill. Pelicans use the large stretchy pouch to capture fish. After a fish is caught, its head tilts back to drain out the water. Then it immediately gulps down the fish. Often while pelicans are draining the water from the bill, seagulls will attempt to quickly snatch the fish right out of the pouch. All is fair game in wildlife survival.

Incidentally, that nifty pouch can hold 2-3 gallons of water.

Adult pelicans eat about 4 pounds of fish daily. Anchovies are a favorite. The pelican’s broad wings are 6-7 feet in length.

The seabird’s wingbeats are slow and deep as they fly in V-for-

mations or lines just above the water’s surface. To keep the mesh forming feathers in tip-top shape, they frequently preen to maintain a good seal that efficiently beads off moisture.

Strong legs and fully webbed feet allow pelicans to swim well.

Interestingly, pelicans have no voice. Instead, gestures are used for communication. Nestlings possess the ability to squawk and shrill when begging for food.

If you want to see an entertaining pelican aerial show, head for the beach. Pelicans can be plentiful, especially when the sea is filled with swarming small fish, known as bait balls.

That is a prime mealtime, an opportunity to witness a genuine feeding frenzy! This is when the aerodynamics of the Brown Pelican are at their finest. These acrobatic dives into the ocean are amazing to watch.

An extremely keen eyesight allows the bird to hone in on a fish and high dive with a spectacular plunge. Those arrow-like dives can occur from as high as 65 feet. The pelican hits the water with such force that fish six feet below the surface are stunned. You may wonder how they crash-dive without injuring themselves. This is because a pelican possesses special air sacs beneath the skin that inflate just before impact, providing essential protection for internal organs.

Pelicans also tuck and twist to the left to shield their trachea and esophagus from injury. As for the pelican’s diving success, it depends on experience. Adult California Brown Pelicans obtain a catch about two-thirds of their dives. However, young

pelicans have a significantly lower success rate; therefore, fewer than half survive the first year out of the nest.

Perhaps you have noticed that sometimes the pelican’s yellow head and white neck sport an additional color. During the breeding season, adult Brown Pelicans have bright red skin on their throats. California Brown Pelicans nest in colonies of up to several thousand pairs. Isolated islands free of predators are the ideal nesting locations. The remote West Anacapa and Santa Barbara Islands within the Channel Islands National Park are the breeding colonies of the California Brown Pelican.

Brown Pelicans build large nest structures on the ground, in trees, or on vegetation. They normally lay three eggs, and adults share incubation duties. The parents incubate the eggs with the skin of their feet, keeping them warm and well protected.

California Brown Pelicans are a good example of how successful wildlife conservation can be. North American pelicans nearly disappeared in the late 1960s and early 70s due to pesticides entering the food chain. As a result, in 1970, pelicans were federally listed as endangered. Thankfully with the ban on DDT and the pesticide endrin, which led to thinshelled eggs that easily broke under the weight of the parents, Brown Pelicans made a full comeback.

The varied bird population in Avila Beach is such an amazing treat! It is entertaining to observe the behaviors and view the beauty of the numerous winged residents that call Avila home as you enjoy a walk or ride along the Bob Jones Trail.

WHY I THINK YOU CAN

WRITE

By PATRICIA ALEXANDER For Avila Beach Life

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think it’s fascinating to learn that fleas can actually be trained.

Picture the little critters in a jar with a lid on it. At first, the fleas will jump up and down, bopping their heads on the lid. Ouch!

Eventually, an interesting thing happens: They figure out they can avoid the pain if they just shorten their jump. Now the lid can be taken off because they’ll never try to leap so high again.

Sometimes we humans are just like those fleas. Many people think they can’t write because of some comment that made

them feel criticized; usually, something said when they were young by a teacher, parent, sibling, or peer. That moment acts like that jar lid and causes pain. They decide they’re not writers and never will be – and they’ll never try again.

Having been a writer for over 45 years, I have been dismayed to learn that there are more people than we realize who have this poor self-esteem about their ability to write.

All it takes is being criticized or teased, being a bad speller or somewhat dyslexic, knowing someone else who is obviously gifted, or just not having the patience to rewrite first drafts.

Besides being sensitive to comments, we

are also affected by another dynamic. We are receiving a subtle but constant message from our culture that talent is innate and obvious and thus cannot be nurtured into blossoming. After all, aren’t we the society of instant everything?

Even children have accepted this false premise that we must be instantly good at something to pursue it. As a child, my brother was clearly gifted as an artist, so I was teased about anything I tried to draw.

I stopped drawing. Later in life, just out of curiosity, I got some instruction. I was delighted to learn I wasn’t bad, just slow.

Now think about seeds. Even smaller seeds can grow into a vibrant plant, given

sunlight and water, an accomplishment we accept as the seed’s nature. I maintain that it’s not the size of the seed of talent in us when we start. Rather, it is accepting that humans are creative by nature. Just like seeds, we all house a divine spark that can blossom in surprising ways if nurtured and not crushed by self-judgment. In the long run, it’s as Henry Ford said: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Can you talk? Writing is the same as talking. Writing is simply words sculpted to a specific purpose and personality. It’s a process you learn and improve upon over time. However, that’s only if you can embrace the excitement of learning and allowing that leads to growth.

We have all accepted lids in our lives. But when was the last time you checked to see if that lid was actually there? After all, we’re smarter than fleas.

Aren’t we?

Patricia Alexander has led limitedattendance Writing Support Groups for decades.

A local writer, editor, columnist. Patricia follows her passion to encourage and guide other writers. She welcomes your comments to PatriciaEmilyAlexander@gmail.com

6 | Avila Beach Life — August 2021 POINT SAN LUIS LIGHT STATION

The First Head Keeper A brief look at the Point San Luis Lighthouse and its first Keeper before the Coast Guard took charge

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Kathy Mastako

Board of Directors, Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers

Sketch of Henry Young at age 70, published in the San Francisco Chronicle December 13, 1908. Photos courtesy of the National Archives

Top, 1894 photo of Mary and Joseph Young in front of the Keeper’s dwelling. Middle, 1894 photo of two of Young’s children, Mary and Joseph, in front of the head Keeper’s wash house.

The Keeper’s privy is on the right. Right, 1894 photo of man standing beside the door to the fog signal building’s sitting room.

The man could be Henry Young, although we cannot be sure. It is likely, though, that Young posed for the photo rather than one of his two assistants.

hen the Point San Luis beacon was first lit in the summer of 1890, Henry Wilson Young was the head Keeper. He remained head Keeper for 15 years. Only five head Keepers served here during the station’s lighthouse period—before the Coast Guard took charge in 1939: Henry Young, William Smith, George Watters, Fred Saunders, and Robert Moorefield. Moorefield is more wellknown to our tour guides due to the oral histories and written memoirs his stepdaughter Lucy provided about her childhood at the light station during the 1930s, but Young’s history is important, too. After all, he was the light station’s first Keeper.

Henry Young was born in England in 1838. Although he learned to read and write, he never attended school. He came to America in 1854, when he was just 16.

A newspaper article about him written in 1908 describes Young as having wandered “every part of the globe excepting the Poles” before he entered lighthouse service. He told a reporter he was with Admiral Turner in the Pacific fleet during the Civil War and served 19 years with the United States Navy.

Young became a naturalized American on May 5, 1880, sworn in as a citizen in Solano County, Calif. He married three days later, at the age of 42. His bride Mercedes Velosa, sixteen years younger, was born in Chile in 1854; her family emigrated to America when she was still an infant.

The Youngs had five children: Henry, born in 1880; Frank, in 1881; Mary, in 1883; Joseph, in 1884; and Mercedes, in 1885. We know what became of Young’s two daughters, but we know virtually nothing about what became of his three sons. Entries in the station’s guest register give evidence that all three boys lived from time to time at Point San Luis during the 1890s. And, according to the federal census, Joseph was on the U.S.T.S. Adams in 1900, having enlisted as a 16-yearold in a training program for Navy apprentices. Nothing else about the boys has yet turned up.

Young entered lighthouse service in 1886 when he was 48 years old. His initial assignment was at Point Reyes as third assistant keeper. Shortly after beginning this job, however, he was transferred to Yerba Buena Island and promoted to first assistant.

In 1887, Young was reassigned to the Farallon Island lighthouse as first assistant keeper, then promoted that same year to head Keeper. In May 1890, Young was reassigned again, this time to Point San Luis, to assume management of the new lighthouse and supervision of the two assistant keepers, Stephen Ballou and Antonio Souza, both local residents who were new to lighthouse service.

Just prior to Young’s transfer to Point San Luis, tragedy struck. On February 25, 1890, an article appeared in the Daily Alta California about the death of his youngest child: Information was received yesterday from H.W. Young, lightkeeper at the Farallons, of the drowning on Saturday last of his little four-year-old daughter. It appears that the child was out in a boat with her brother when the craft was

capsized. The girl’s foot was caught in the gear of the boat, and being thus kept under the water, she was drowned.

Perhaps it was the loss of little Mercedes that provided the impetus for Young’s transfer. Point San Luis was certainly a safer, better, less remote posting for this lighthouse family than the Farallons, and they needed a fresh start to help heal from the death of this child.

Young’s rapid rise in the lighthouse service—from third assistant keeper to first assistant keeper, to head Keeper, all in the span of just two years—suggests he was well-suited to manage this new operation and oversee his two inexperienced subordinates. He was well-regarded by the local press and the local community. When the Avila schoolhouse was built in 1903, he was selected as one of its trustees.

While no verifiable images of Young have yet been found— only a sketch of his face in profile at age 70 published in the San Francisco Chronicle—the 1892 San Luis Obispo County voter registration rolls described him as 5’11” tall, with grey eyes, a fair complexion, brown hair, and tattoos on both arms.

Young served as head Keeper at Point San Luis until November 1905 when, with his wife, he transferred to Alcatraz Island. He was 67 years old. Whether he requested the transfer or whether the transfer was at the request of the government is unknown.

Three years before he transferred, his daughter Mary died of consumption at the home of Louis Enos in San Luis Obispo’s Laguna Lake district. Mary was likely staying with the Enos family to be near her attending physician, Dr. William Stover, a prominent member of San Luis Obispo’s medical community who later founded the city’s first private hospital. The children in the Enos family may have been Mary’s schoolmates and friends. She may even have boarded with the family during school terms.

Two years after Young’s transfer to Alcatraz, in March 1907, his wife suffered a fatal stroke. He buried her in Cypress Lawn cemetery and had Mary’s remains moved to the family plot there later that same year.

Less than two years later, in February 1909, he would be buried there, too.

Young was the head Keeper at Alcatraz Island at the time of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. His entry in the Alcatraz logbook for April 18, 1906, records: “5:30 A.M. violent and continuous earthquake...San Francisco on fire…is this the end of the world? Terrible seeing S.F. from here.”

Henry Young was the first head Keeper at Point San Luis.

He was also the last Keeper at the original Alcatraz Island light tower built in 1854—the first light on the Pacific Coast.

In their 1976 book, Lighthouses of San Francisco Bay, Ralph, and Janetta Shanks wrote: Alcatraz Island had become the site of an extensive military prison in the 19th century, and its buildings were ever-increasing in size and number. By 1909 the prison had so overshadowed the original beacon that a new lighthouse had begun. The lens was transferred from the old structure to the new, and the role of the West’s first lighthouse ended.

A longer version of this article, penned by the author, appeared in the August 2017 edition of The Keeper’s Log, the membership journal of the United States Lighthouse Society.

August 2021 — Avila Beach Life | 7 AVILA VALLEY GRAPEVINE

Combating Powdery Mildew that attacks a plant making a layer of many whitegray spores across the tops of the leaves. It can slow the growth of the plant and, if left untreated, will severely reduce fruit yield, quality, and quantity of flowers and fruit.

These spores are spread by the wind, vineyard crews, and machinery. We had a crew we borrowed from Edna Valley that had been working in a vineyard the day before that was infected with the PM help us finish up leaf pulling on a John Salisbury couple of acres in our bottom field next to the contributor creek that was a nightmare to slow down growth because they tapped into the high water table. t was an up and down weather season this It was always the worst spot for mildew with summer. A couple of record heat waves and the combination of being where the fog (high many wet, foggy mornings. The heat spells humidity) took longer to dissipate, less sun helped out suppressing Powdery Mildew which because on the west side of the ranch in a hole is not just a vineyard problem. I am sure some of and along with tall Eucalyptus and Sycamore you gardeners have run into it also with the ideal trees surrounding the vineyard resulting in big conditions of 60 to 80 degree days and foggy wet vines shading the grapevines. mornings here on the Central Coast. It doesn’t do A couple of weeks later, when I was out spraywell with temperatures above 90 degrees, so not ing at night organic mineral oil, instead of fungias big a problem over the Grade in Paso Robles cides, I got to that part of the field and noticed and was helpful on this side on those couple of almost to the vine where the crew had been workhot days. ing that the vines had been taken over by PM and Powdery Mildew (PM) can be found in a host every grape cluster was shriveled up, black, and of commercial plants besides grapes, including covered with the mold. strawberries, apples, roses, hops, basil, rosemary, That was because they didn’t change their cucurbits, and tomatoes. PM is a fungal disease clothes after working in the other vineyard and

I

carried the mildew with them. We had to go back in and douse the vines with organic mineral oil again (which encapsulated the PM) and then pick the grapes and bury them. When the leaves fell, we also cleaned them up and destroyed them.

For the next couple of years, we had to treat that spot more than the rest of the vineyard. It is also important to keep the vineyards free of trash beneath the vines because it can overwinter in the vines and trash.

There are many different types of fungicides for PM, but because it can grow resistant to many fungicides and requires using more than just one different chemistry when spraying with fungicides. After many years of using sulfur, we switched to an organic mineral oil spray (only a 2 percent/gallon mix) which was not only very useful in controlling the spores but also aphids, mites, and other soft-shelled insects, plus no fungicide residue. That is because the oil would encapsulate the spores and bugs, causing them to suffocate. The only caution was you didn’t want it to get over 90 degrees for 48 hours because, if so, your vineyard would look like oil-fried chicken and a reason not used in hot climates. By the time you are reading this, growers will be on the downside of mildew suppression and thinking about getting prepared for harvest around the first of September.

Now there is a new piece of equipment being tested that utilizes UV-C light at night when it is more efficient and has been around for several years but is now being improved to be a possible tool for growers. In an article in Vineyard Magazine by Dan Clark, scientists have found that UV light damages the DNA of many organisms, but many diseases can repair the damage from the blue light found in sunlight. But at night, especially during the “dark period,” which lasts four hours and is two hours or more before dawn, there haven’t been any problems using UV light as compared to fungicide-treated crops in yields, cluster weight and appearance, the vine itself, nor in early quality tests of the wine.

A robot that is pulled by a tractor has been developed that houses UV lamps in a cylindrical shape with polished aluminum reflectors housed in a box with curtains on the backside. It is slow (2.8 mph), expensive, and with only four optimum hours at night, would require several to cover the vineyard, all of which need to be improved to be commercially viable. Most farm equipment innovations take time and experiment to make them viable. However, as a concept, it has proved to be excellent suppression of PM and mites, good suppression of sour rot, and mild suppression of downy mildew plus 100 percent organic. The positives far outweigh the negatives.

HEALTH

Practicing Forgiveness and Letting Go of Resentments

Dr. Cindy Maynard

N

contributor

one of us are immune to injustices.

Divorce, road rage, rudeness, or domestic violence are all examples of situations we live with that impact us negatively. Some experiences can have a long-lasting negative impact on our daily relationships with others and our psyche. How we react to these injustices can determine whether we will suffer from depression, anxiety, stress or whether we will use methods that will help us overcome these situations to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. One method is practicing forgiveness.

Research has shown the benefits are numerous. Forgiveness has profound physical and psychological benefits that help improve our mental health. Forgiveness causes emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual healing and decreased painful feelings like anger, depression, or anxiety. Forgiveness can help decrease the hurt and pain from offenses and help us lead more peaceful, satisfying lives.

Forgiveness as a concept has existed for thousands of years, having its roots deep in the Christian gospels and many of the wellknown religions. More recently, forgiveness therapy has found its way into the psychology field, national conferences, major universities, and now talk shows. Countless international conflicts, from American slavery, Rwandan genocide to German Nazi war crimes, have employed forgiveness to help heal deep wounds.

At a forensic facility where I used to work, I co-facilitated a class for many years on Letting go of Resentments. I began to see what a powerful tool forgiveness was in helping these incarcerated men lower their resentments and grievances towards others and learn better ways of coping and healing their relationships. As one of the participants in the

forgiveness class said, “I hadn’t spoken to my brother for years. When he got sick and almost died, I had to let go of my anger – life was just too short, and I may not get another opportunity.” Another participant stated, “Forgiving myself and others has opened the door to self-nurturing and the love of family and friends that I once shut out because I felt so undeserving.”

Who of us wouldn’t want to let go?

And yet, many people get confused about what forgiveness is, which makes it harder to forgive. Some view forgiveness as being weak.

However, it takes strength and courage to forgive. Forgiveness is not condoning, denying, forgetting, or excusing one’s behavior. It doesn’t mean you have to reconcile or even see your offender again. It’s not about making them feel better, either. Forgiveness is, however, letting go of anger and hostility and finding peace through the process. It’s about taking back your power and feeling peaceful. It’s for you, not the offender. And it is a process, not a one-time event. For most of us, it takes daily practice to finally let go.

Here are some positive actions you can take to let go of resentments and grievances: 1. Accept your anger. Don’t deny it.

2. Talk it out with an empathetic person who understands the forgiveness process and will just listen 3. Ditch the victim mentality— remember it’s your process, not the offender’s 4. Make a commitment to forgive and practice 5. Start developing empathy or compassion towards the offender by viewing them as a human being, not an evil person. In other words, put yourself in the other person’s shoes.

You may find new meaning or purpose in life as a result of having gone through the forgiveness process, or at the very least, released a burden you’ve been carrying for years. Remember, this is for you, not them. It’s about moving on with your life and finding peace.

Here are some resources the students in my class used that helped them through the process: • Forgiveness books, seminars, podcasts, and CD’s • Journaling • Writing a letter to the offender (and either burning it or sending it)

• Sharing with a friend or therapist who understands the forgiveness process • Using faith and spirituality • Nature Holding onto hate, anger, hostility, and outrage will eventually poison us. Forgiveness helps us finish unfinished business. When we practice these techniques, we gain control

over the way we think and feel. We change our resentment story into a forgiveness story.

Cindy Maynard, Ph.D., RD, is a health psychologist, registered dietitian, and health and fitness writer. Dr. Maynard is passionate about the topic of health and wellness and motivating people towards better health. You can contact her at drcindymaynard@live.com.

8 | Avila Beach Life — August 2021

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