Central Coast Journal • February 2022

history 250TH CELEBRATION OF SLO MISSION

art THE STIFLING OF CREATIVITY

viticulture COMPARING WINE COUNTRY

Joan & Larry

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e Scan her arted! t e to g st

C O NTE NTS

16

FEBRUARY 2022

POINT SAN LUIS CISTERNS IN NEED OF A MAKEOVER

By Kathy Mastako

ON THE COVER

18

JOAN & LARRY PARKER

40 YEARS & ONE EPIC TREK

By Will Jones

25

COMPARING WINE COUNTRY

PASO ROBLES VS. SONOMA

By Robert Walker

Something Worth Reading 8

Publisher’s Letter

PEOPLE SPOTLIGHT 16

Round Town 10 12 14 15

Behind the Badge | SLO County Sheriff’s Office 18 SLO County Office of Education | What is an Apprenticeship?

History | Getting to know Mission San 23 Luis Obispo Paso Art Scene | 24 The Stifling of Creativity

Preservation | Point San Luis Cisterns

25 26

FEATURES

Viticulture & Enology | Comparing Wine Country Crossword

Events

Joan & Larry Parker | 40 Years & One Epic Trek

27

SLOcally Sourced

30

Calendar

Last Word

Flavor of the Month | Valentines Day Full of Homemade Sweets 30 Agriculture | The Great Cannibus Debate

Acclaimed Author | Joan Didion Passes Away at 87 Directory of Advertisers

On the Cover

Joan & Larry Parker. Photo by Tom Meinhold Photography 6 | FEBRUARY

Central Coast Journal

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FEBRUARY 2022 | 7

Something Worth Reading

FROM THE PUBLISHER The month of January was a cold one; we are looking forward to warmer, longer days ahead. Our family went through some major changes this last month; we sold our beautiful home in Atascadero with sights of moving to more land for the boys to grow up on.

That plan has yet to come to fruition, so for the time being, we are a traveling family in a 41-foot fifth-wheel trailer.

It is something to get used to, but we are enjoying it for now.

publisher, editor-in-chief hayley mattson

layout design editor

copy editor

michael michaud

michael chaldu

assistant content editor

ad design

camille devaul

jen rodman

ad consultants dana mcgraw jamie self

February brings out all the hearts and love, we were excited to hear that the Paso Robles Studios on the Park will once again host their annual “Sweetheart Luncheon” on February 15, and in Atascadero, the annual “Father Daughter Dance” is back as well on February 4 and 5.

office administrator cami martin

|

office@13starsmedia.com

contributing writers

Our cover story this month is San Luis Obispo residents, Joan and Larry Parker.

Will Jones shares the couple’s journey to celebrating their milestone wedding anniversary with a 2,650 adventure-filled mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican to the Canadian border (page 18). Truly an inspiring story for all of us to get out and enjoy the beautiful trails we have available right in our own backyard.

Each month we have so many wonderful and educational stories to tell, and coming out of a very challenging two years, we are honored to be able to continue to share them with all of you.

We value all of our loyal advertisers and readers; thank you for sharing your stories and following our journey. We love our community, which is why we are building our company here to be able to offer career positions to local people who love California and the San Luis Obispo County. Our team is growing, and we are so proud to work with each one of them.

ian parkinson james brescia, ed.d. kathy mastako connie pillsbury karyn blaney

will jones barbie butz robert walker judy abel

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Thank you for supporting our mission and our team. Together we are so much more.

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Central Coast Journal.

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We hope you enjoy this month’s issue of Central Coast Journal.

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Round Town

Law Enforcement

BEHIND THE BADGE:

SLO County Sheriff’s Office

by Ian Parkinson, SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF

LAW ENFORCEMENT HOPEFULS TACKLE THE ACADEMY BEFORE THE ACADEMY

I

t’s the second month of the new year. For some of you, that may mean the resolutions you made back in January may not have made it to February. And that’s OK. It happens to us all. But there is one group that is keeping its resolution to seek out a new challenge, a new opportunity, a new career, and quite possibly a new life. This group of men and women is looking to join the ranks of law enforcement professionals.

The Sheriff ’s Office is always looking for qualified candidates to become a part of our organization.

Typically, we send new recruits to a The pre-academy training for potential San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Deputies includes in-your-face training from drill instructors. law enforcement academy for six months of training to become a Deputy Sheriff. But before that happens, we usually conduct pre-academy training. Think of it as the academy before the actual academy. But don’t think of it as a watered-down version of the real thing. Oh, it’s the real thing, alright. It’s a week-long quasi-military-style training designed to get the recruits ready for what to expect when they attend the police academy.

And just because it has police academy in the title, don’t think this is anything like the popular film comedies of the ’80s. No hijinks here.

Just some serious training. This intensive training is done with a purpose.

Not only to get the recruits ready for the academy, which is even more intense. But to get them ready for the ultimate test. Taking that training and knowledge to the streets and dealing with real-life events when they finally make it to patrol.

Those taking pre-academy training conducted by the Sheriff’s Department also include recruits for other law enforcement agencies on the Central Coast.

Sheriff’s Department instructors put a class through it paces during a session of pre-academy training. Contributed photos

The pre-academy consists of both classroom training as well as inyour-face training from drill instructors. There are a number of classes to teach the recruits about topics like ethics, report writing, radio codes, uniform inspection, physical training, basic firearms exposure, a basic law class, a drill and ceremony class, and a lesson in mentorship. That’s a lot to learn in a week. But it’s not when compared to the training they’ll get in six months in the academy.

and six from the Santa Maria Police Department.

It’s been almost 15 years since the pre-academy began. Originally it was just recruits for the Sheriff ’s Office. But then we began accepting recruits from other law enforcement agencies locally who saw a need for this type of training. This pre-academy class consists of two recruits from the Sheriff ’s Office, two from the San Luis Obispo Police Department, two from the Atascadero Police Department, three from the Paso Robles Police Department, one from the Arroyo Grande Police Department,

The Sheriff ’s Office provides this training at no cost to those agencies.

Why do we do this? Because every law enforcement agency has a need in their organization for people who are highly motivated, exceptionally skilled, and who operate at a high level of professionalism. As a result, this benefits us all. It’s pretty simple, really. Better training means better recruits. Better recruits mean better Deputies. And better Deputies mean a safer community.

10 | FEBRUARY

So why do they do it? As one recruit said, “My Dad was in law enforcement, and I knew since I was a kid that I wanted to follow in his footsteps. What’s great about this pre-academy is that it’s preparing me for my best shot of success for the POST academy, making me as ready as I’ll ever be.”

Central Coast Journal

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Round Town

Education

SLO COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION:

What is an Apprenticeship?

by James J. Brescia, Ed.D., COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

W

hat is the next chapter in your story? How do we best prepare for life after high school graduation? What if I want or need to change employment opportunities? Our most recent SLO Career and Technical Education (CTE) foundation meeting fielded these questions. Similar to the 2015 Oxford University and 2018 Cambridge University conferences I have written about, these questions apply beyond the borders of San Luis Obispo County. Those international conferences addressed audiences from the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa on the importance of thoughtful recruitment, training, and retention of employees. The U.K., London in particular, continues to face similar shortages to those in California. European, African, and Asian countries have consistently implemented aggressive CTE in secondar y schools. O ur CTE foundation reviewed successBenjamin Franklin. ful programs and recommitted resources to additional programs. San Luis Obispo County is fortunate to have our local Assembly Member, Jordan Cunningham, and local State Senator John Laird also supporting these efforts in the legislature.

An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.

Education in the United States and across the globe continues to experience challenging times. The recent census reports that one out of three Americans (33 percent) attained a bachelor’s degree, and 12 percent hold an advanced degree such as a master’s, professional, or doctorate. Almost 9 out of 10 Americans (88 percent) possess a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Educational attainment continues to vary by age, sex, race, nativity, and disability status. As America continues to navigate through federal and state mandates that impact our classrooms, our leaders must continue to include CTE as a piece of the educational puzzle. If you ask 12 | FEBRUARY

a puzzle master, you are advised to identify a suitable strategy leading to an acceptable solution. Like the puzzle master’s advice, CTE is a vital piece of the educational quest for student success. As we face an ever-changing world, it is essential to explore avenues that present multiple paths for students. CTE curriculum and subsequent apprenticeship programs strive to pair academics and high-level workplace skills necessary for the 21st century. Students, administrators, teachers, business members, community leaders, and even politicians have endorsed CTE programs across the country for the following reasons: • CTE-related jobs are in high demand.

• CTE preparation can meet individual and community workplace needs.

• CTE programs reduce drop-out rates in research and practice.

• CTE classes serve to increase student engagement in both CORE and CTE classes.

• CTE curriculum increases student achievement during and after school.

• CTE has the potential to maintain a cutting edge for U.S. business interests.

According to recent research, California is improving how it makes available timely and transparent information about career readiness and apprenticeships. However, we still have to prepare our community for post-secondary options and report our progress to the public. A central element of California’s positive move toward transparency and accountability is the California School Dashboard. The Dashboard shows how districts and schools are performing on a range of measures of student success, including tests, scores, graduation rates, and suspension rates. Our Dashboard is part of the significant shifts to the state’s public education system, including new standards, new assessment, and a locally driven funding formula. The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the Local Control

Accountability Plan (LCAP) use state and local indicator data from the Dashboard to monitor student progress. When Dashboard indicators identify student subgroups as low performing or low growth, districts should engage in continuous improvement to develop strategies and then monitor their effectiveness.

Our regional consortium, SLO Partners, convenes business, industry, education, and community leaders committed to working together for collective impact in workforce and economic development by aligning education systems and employment programs with economic opportunities. The Workforce Development Board, County Board of Supervisors, the Community College Chancellor’s Office, and local funders have supported SLO Partners in Pre-Apprenticeship and CTE programs. The San Luis Obispo County Office of Education (SLOCOE), Cuesta College, every school district, and charter school in our county continue to join forces in leveraging CTE funding to best serve the students in our county. I encourage everyone to learn more about our highly successful partnerships with Cuesta College, businesses, participants, and the community. SLOCOE and SLO Partners continue to engage in discussions and reviews of research related to recruitment, training, and workforce retention.

SLO Partners’ mission is to engage business partners and educators in aligning workforce needs with career and college pathways. We facilitate work experience opportunities to ensure that students have the skills and knowledge necessary for success in the workplace. We promote opportunities for businesses to maintain skilled workers required for a sound, growing economy.

SLO Partners facilitates industry certifications, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and CTE dual enrollment. It is an honor to serve as your county superintendent of schools. 

Central Coast Journal

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Round Town

Celebration of History

1772-2022, 250TH CELEBRATION:

Getting to Know Mission San Luis Obispo

BY CONNIE PILLSBURY

H

ow many times have you traveled down Highway 101 and noticed the ‘State Historical Landmark Mission San Luis Obispo’ sign near Broad Street, remarking to your family, “We really need to go visit the Mission someday.”

Well, this is the year, as 2022 marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Mission by Franciscan Priests from Spain, Father Junipero Serra, and Father Jose Cavaller. Unique to the Mission story, San Luis Obispo was not part of Spain’s original plan for populating Alta California through the establishment of missions, presidios, and pueblos. The first four missions, San Diego, Carmel, San Antonio, and San Gabriel, had run out of food, and the whole experiment risked abandonment. However, grizzly bears were found in what is now Los Osos, ‘the valley of the bears,’ and this meat basically saved the mission movement.

With the discovery of the meat-providing bears, Father Serra added another mission to the chain, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. The first humble site was located on the confluence of Stenner and San Luis Obispo Creeks, only to be flooded out and moved upstream. The second site also flooded, prompting the selection of the ‘highest’ spot along the creek for the third and final location. From there, the interesting saga of the construction of California’s oldest large building begins.

with the Mission in one visit.

For children, activity tables featuring Native American games, bead making, and pictograph painting will be scattered throughout the garden. The whole family can visit the Bell Tower to get a birds-eye view over Mission Plaza and San Luis Creek.

Of significance to those of us in North County, all of the mission ranching operations were located at Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia, which was a sub-mission to San Luis Obispo. Thousands of head of longhorn cattle ranged throughout North County, foraging up and down the Salinas riverbed. The cattle provided not only meat but also valuable hides, called “California Dollars.” Taken by ox-cart to what is now Avila Beach, the hides were soaked in the saltwater and traded with Yankee, Asian and Russian ships for needed goods for the Mission.

You will be able to learn the rest of the story Also important to North County is the from Mission Docents at the first 250th cele- 1776 De Anza Expedition consisting of 200 brative event on Sunday, February 20, from 11 colonists on the way to create a settlement a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free and open to the public. in the areas of San Jose and San Francisco for Spain. The group stopped at Mission San The outdoor courtyard celebration will give Luis Obispo for several days of rest before you the opportunity to tour the Mission, with heading up the grade to follow the Salinas docent-led tours every half hour. Music, au- River north, with their livestock and cattle, thentic food, spinning and weaving demon- families, and goods. strations by local weavers, Native American basket display, branding exhibit, and more will Many residents don’t realize that the land provide a unique chance to become familiar we live on in North County was part of Spain

14 | FEBRUARY

for 300 years, from 1541 to 1822. After the revolution of 1822, Mexico became the second occupant of this area called Alta California.

The Mexican Ranchero era lasted 26 years, ending in 1848 with the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo.

California was admitted into the United States as the 31st state in 1850, thus becoming the third country to govern the land we live on and call home. Understanding the rich history of Spain and Mexico’s presence here in Alta California adds depth to the present experience of living here.

Take advantage of the 250th Courtyard Celebration at San Luis Obispo on February 20 to immerse yourself in that history through authentic food, music, and hands-on learning! 

Central Coast Journal

The aRT SCENE

PASO ROBLES STUDIOS ON THE PARK:

The Stifling of Creativity

by Karyn Blaney

“Flowers are red; green leaves are green. There’s no need to see flowers any other way than the way they always have been seen.”

I

families, and communities through the creative process applied to psychological theory. After working with the therapist, Amy said after therapy, “I realized I could do it, and it didn’t have to be cookie-cutter and please everyone.”

recently listened to these lyrics for the first time sung by Harry Chapin. If you haven’t heard the song “Flowers are Red,” do yourIf you want to create and are feeling stifled, consider this: be coachself a favor and take a listen. It’s a beautifully written warning to able, but consider the source. Believe in yourself even when others don’t. those that abuse the privilege of teaching.

Try not to take things personally and never give up.

The story goes something like this…a young boy attends school with all the color and light of the world in his mind, but soon his teacher corrects him, noting that his color choices are wrong and he should color the flowers as she sees them. Flowers are red, and leaves are green, period. By the end of the song, I found myself cheering for the boy, hoping he would continue with his own beautiful color choices, but sadly he does not.

We are lucky artists like Amy, Diane, Vincent, and Claude didn’t stick to the “flowers are red, green leaves are green” theory. Today, we have the privilege of witnessing and enjoying their creations. They did what the boy in the song wanted to do. He said, “There are so many colors in the rainbow, so many colors in the morning sun, so many colors in the flower, and I see everyone.” 

While teaching students, they often share with me the horror stories of their youth. All too many times, I hear tales of crotchety old art teachers that told them they had “no artistic talent” or that they were “doing it wrong.”

I work with two talented artists, Diane Demeter and Amy Beeman, who both have had similar experiences in art school. One professor stated to Diane that “I would fail his class because I didn’t work in a style that he could grade.” Amy’s Drawing II instructor “made people cry with her evaluations of their artwork.” After this class, Amy didn’t pick up a pencil or paintbrush for ten years.

Amy and Diane are in good company. Monet’s work was mocked and rejected by the artistic elite. And it may be hard to believe, but Van Gogh barely received any acclaim for his work. During his life, he only managed to sell one of his paintings, to a friend, for a very small amount of money.

I think there is something to be said about developing a thick skin and being receptive to feedback, but that’s easier said than done, especially as a child. In Amy’s case, she sought the help of a therapist who worked in art therapy. Art therapy helps enrich the lives of individuals,

Y

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 FEBRUARY 2022 | 15

Round Town

Preservation

POINT SAN LUIS CISTERNS:

In Need of a Makeover

by Kathy MastAko

M

ost of the light station has been beautifully restored thanks to a dedicated corps of volunteers, visionaries, and donors. But the restoration of the station’s cisterns remains an urgent need.

The cisterns are historically important: they date back to 1890 and stored the water needed to produce the steam for our original fog signal.

Now their insides are unstable, and their covers have deteriorated so badly that they must be surrounded by security fencing—a real eyesore—for the safety of visitors. While water is no longer needed to operate a fog signal, it is vital for the station’s fire protection.

There can be no doubt that the cisterns must be saved.

But first, a little history…

Originally there were five cisterns at the site: three 10,000-gallon aboveground cisterns and two 50,000-gallon in-ground cisterns.

Dan Mosier, a California brick expert, examines the cistern bricks in August 2019.

His examination confirmed the bricks came from the Ah Louis brickyard in San Luis Obispo.

Photo courtesy of the Point San Luis Light Station archives

The bricks used for the cisterns came from one of Ah Louis’s brickyards.

W. H. Heuer, the 12th district lighthouse engineer at the time, wrote to the Lighthouse Board in April 1980 that the five cisterns had a combined The above-ground cisterns were for household use; they were designed capacity of about 130,000 gallons. But Heuer was concerned about the to capture rainwater runoff from the dwellings’ roofs. These cisterns no lack of water. He wrote: longer exist. The double-keeper’s dwelling and cisterns were demolished in 1960; the cistern originally placed on the west side of the keeper’s “I have caught from all available sources and now have on hand dwelling is long-gone and has not been rebuilt. at this station about 30,000 gallons of water, and no prospects of getting any more from rainfall…before next November.

The two in-ground cisterns were built to hold water needed for the boilers in the fog signal building, as the first fog signal was a steam whistle.

The quantity of water on hand is ample to supply the keepers and their families until next November but is far from sufficient According to the Lighthouse Board’s 1890 report: to establish and maintain the steam fog signal. The nearest good water to the station is in a creek about 3-1/2 miles distant from the “A separate contract was made for the duplicate fog signal set up station. This water is excellent in quality and ample in quantity, and I in place…A space, within 100 feet of the signal, was cleared and estimate that I can lay a pipe and fill all our cisterns…in fact, procure cemented for a water-shed, and underground cisterns, with a capacity an abundant supply for all the wants of the station by laying a pipe of 100,000 gallons, were built for the storage of water.” from the station to the creek...

16 | FEBRUARY

Central Coast Journal

As there is no wagon road to the station, water cannot be hauled there, and there is no practicable way of getting it there other than by piping it. The creek is on private land; the parties owning the creek also own the land between the creek and the lighthouse reservation.

They will not object to laying a pipe on their land, but may want some compensation for permitting us to use the water, as well as for the use of the land on which the pipe may be laid. If the compensation which they ask should be reasonable and fair, I deem it proper that we should pay it…

burst into tears, worried her father would fall in.

Darrel Beerbohm, officer-in-charge from 1965 until 1967, recalled the pipeline from Pecho Creek leading to the cisterns that were next to his quarters: “Water always seemed to be plentiful as the spring never dried up, and of course, we had the water tested often and chlorination systems to keep it safe. Just above the station, there was a large cement slab where at onetime rainwater was caught and drained into the cisterns, but this system was no longer in operation.”

Jay Conlin, who served at Point San Luis during 1971, recalled that water came to the light station through inch-and-a-half PVC pipe:

“The water went into two large [cisterns] to the right of the keeper’s residence on the same level. We then pumped it up to the water tank on the hill behind the station. Once a month, the chief would send one of us up with a gallon of Photo courtesy of Michael L. Baird Point San Luis cisterns, urgently in need of restoration. Photo courtesy of Bob Mihelic bleach to pour into the tank for chlorination. Can you believe At all events, we must get water to run the fog signal and maintain that? Climbing that old ladder and pouring it in after avoiding it until the next rainy season sets in or else defer the establishment of rattlesnakes on the climb up?” the fog signal until the rains commence next November…I have a surplus of about $17,000 left from the appropriation for establishing Which brings us to now… this station, and if permitted to get the water in the way aboveThe restoration of the cisterns has been pending for several years recommended, I think our tanks can be filled within 15 days after due to lack of funding but has recently become a more pressing need the receipt of authority and that we can have an abundant supply of because of climate change and the constant threat of a fire that could water thereafter as long as our pipe lasts without additional expense destroy this historic site. to the Government…”

Our remote location is only accessible by a one-lane, one-and(The creek Heuer wrote about was Pecho Creek.) a-half-mile steep, and winding road. In case of fire, the cisterns are our only source of water for fighting the blaze. The extreme fire And some memories… danger was recently demonstrated by a controlled burn behind the Those stationed at Point San Luis over the years remember the lighthouse, which took off like a tinderbox even though brush was cisterns well. still damp from a recent rain. The controlled burn went off without a hitch. But what if it hadn’t?

Judy Moorefield, daughter of Keeper Bob Moorefield, recalled: Through the generosity of many donors and our ongoing fund“The ground was rough, and I had a tricycle. It was a joy for me raising efforts, we have accumulated $90,000 toward the cisterns’ to ride my tricycle on the smooth wooden surface that covered restoration. But this falls short of our need. We need to raise an the cistern but the possibility that it might break and plunge additional $230,000 in order to complete the project this year. me into the water frightened my mother beyond words. What a spanking I received when my father caught me one time riding You can help us do this. You can donate online through our website my tricycle at this forbidden location.” www.pointsanluislighthouse.org, call 805-540-5771, or send a check to P.O. Box 308, Avila Beach, CA 93424, payable to the Point San Gail Settlemier Lay, daughter of Coast Guardsman Robin Settle- Luis Lighthouse Keepers. mier, who was stationed there during 1959 and 1960, recalled that the cisterns were extremely off-limits. She and her siblings were told not The light station has a proud 130-year history. Let’s not lose this to play near them, and certainly not to play on them. This was drilled history for lack of a way to protect it.  into them. Gail recalled a time when her father had to measure the water level in one of the cisterns. With a tether attached, he walked onto the cistern cover, and two other guardsmen opened it up. Gail CentralCoastJournal.com

FEBRUARY 2022 | 17

On the Cover

JOAN & LARRY PARKER:

40 Years and Then an Epic Trek

by Will Jones

W

hen most couples think about celebrating a milestone wedding anniversary, their ideas might range from good food and champagne at a local restaurant, a luxury weekend at a spa, or maybe even a trip to Hawaii or Europe. But not San Luis Obispo residents Joan and Larry Parker. Their idea of an appropriate celebration was to hike 2,650 adventure-filled miles on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican to the Canadian border.

Larry and Joan met as undergraduates at UC Berkeley. Larry grew up in Fremont and Joan in Concord. Both were athletic and outdoors-oriented. Joan played two seasons of water polo for Berkeley. Larry was a swimmer and an Eagle Scout, and, later, a Scoutmaster.

A few months after they started dating, in February 1980, Larry took Joan on her first backpacking trip in Little Yosemite Valley. It was memorable for three reasons: a bear removing a pack Joan was using for a pillow from beneath her head while she was sleeping and neatly consuming five pounds of trail mix and a pound of salami; an ascent of Half Dome; and Larry proposing after the initial excitement was over. Joan still has the ring Larry fashioned from pine needles. Larry was 23 and Joan 22 when they married in October of 1981.

The Parkers moved from Walnut Creek to San Luis Obispo in 1993 when Larry, a mechanical engineer, was transferred to Diablo Canyon

by PG&E. Joan, a financial adviser, commuted to Walnut Creek for a couple of years until she was hired by Wacker Financial Planners in 1995.

Backpacking continued to be a family activity as their sons, Scott, 34, and Eric, 31, were growing up.

“We tried to do a trip every summer,” Larry said. “To have that time on the trail with them was priceless. In the wilderness, they’d share all the things that were going through their minds, things they didn’t have time to talk about during busy lives at home.”

The second most ambitious hike the Parkers completed was section hiking the John Muir Trail during the summers from 2013-16, four separate one-week hikes covering over 200 miles.

“We actually found that more difficult than the PCT because we had to acclimatize four different times and get on and off the trail several times,” Joan said.

They also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro as a family in 2010.

Larry and Joan started thinking about hiking the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT) in 2013.

Joan and Larry Parker celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in October 2021. Contributed photos 18 | FEBRUARY

“We’d be hiking and meeting young women hiking the PCT Central Coast Journal

alone, thinking if they can do it alone, we can weeks to go,” he said. “At the top of an undo it together,” Joan shared. named pass, I took my pack off, put it on a rock, the pack rolled off the rock, across ground One challenge before leaving for the trip was that didn’t look like it had much slope, but it for Joan to find a way to unwind the financial kept rolling, went between two trees, down a planning business she had started.

30-foot cliff and out of sight. In the fog and mist, I could still hear it tumbling.

“I found a company to merge with and spent most of my time transitioning my clients while “We only had a couple of hours to search Larry was doing all of the preparation,” Joan before we would have to hike to the pass and said. hitchhike into town to get all new gear. Plus, our wallets and passports were in it. I went Getting a permit was also a challenge. One down a couple of switchbacks and across a person can’t sign up two people, so on the day couple of slopes, hanging onto berry bushes. the permits became available, they were on It was really steep. Finally, I saw my mask, two devices hoping to win the PCT “lottery.” which had fallen out of the only open pocket.

I went directly down from there and found my “Once you start the process, you only have pack. It had tumbled over 500 vertical feet, just 20 minutes to complete it,” Larry explained.

“We didn’t get the best lottery pick, but it was close to what we wanted.”

short of going into a lake.”

It took a while for Joan and Larry to reconnect on the trail with the help of another hiker, trail name Sausage.

“We went down a couple of switchbacks, and all of a sudden, I saw Larry’s head pop up,” Joan said.

Both agreed that the most beautiful and memorable section of the trail was getting to the top of Muir Pass.

“Hiking in snow, we got to the Muir Hut at about 4:30,” Joan said. “We started heading down Evolution Valley, the most stunning view, Continued on Page 20

Larry started planning and getting physically prepared in August of 2020. He read all of the maps, figured out the resupplies, determined how far to hike each day based on mileage, altitude gain, water availability, and their goal for completing the trek.

“We had family and friends (also known as Trail Angels) meet us at various points along the trail,” he said. “We only had to mail six packages to pick up ourselves.”

Committed to attending a family wedding on September 19, 2021, Joan and Larry started their hike on April 6. They entered September 16 as their exit date, which meant they had to average 16 miles per day. Achilles tendinitis slowed Joan for the first three weeks, but in the end, they completed the hike in 155 days, which included 22 rest days, averaging over 20 miles per day.

Rest days meant getting to town in the evening, spending the night, spending the next day resting and getting resupplied, and spending another night in town.

“We spent 44 nights sleeping in a bed. I was very proud of that,” Joan said.

One break included three days in Lone Pine in May, waiting out a snowstorm. Despite the rest days, Larry, whose trail name was Lar Bear, lost 25 pounds, and Joan, whose trail name was Sunshine, lost 15.

Pacific Crest Trail hikers encounter countless challenges, but Larry singled out one in particular.

“We were in Washington, less than two CentralCoastJournal.com

Together, Joan and Larry have hiked the John Muir Trail, Half Dome, and Mount Kilimanjaro, just to name a few. Contributed photo FEBRUARY 2022 | 19

On the Cover

Continued from Page 19

view, covered with snow. We were post-holing up to our hips, soaking wet, cold, but so beautiful. It’s like being let into Yosemite, and you’re all alone.”

Finishing at the Canadian border was also an exciting time. They were frustrated because they couldn’t get into Canada due to COVID. They had to hike 30 miles back to Hart’s Pass in northern Washington, the closest place a car could get to.

“We got to see a lot of people we’d already seen on the trail who were approaching the finish, to share stories, exchange phone numbers, and share the excitement,” Larry said.

“The trail is so simple,” Joan said. “You know what you’re doing every day: hiking, eating, sleeping. We really enjoyed the vagabond lifestyle, sleeping somewhere new every night. We were like an orchestra, knowing each other’s moves, setting up camp, packing up in the morning.”

A lasting memory for Larry and Joan is the determination of their fellow hikers: moving forward with problems like a broken rib, or navigating difficult creek crossings with precarious snow bridges. Also memorable is all the trail angels who met them along the way, including their sons.

Once they reached Seattle, after coming off the trail, they indulged in haircuts, massages, and new clothes. Ironically, Larry said, “The transfer van dropped us off two miles from our hotel, so of course, we walked with our packs.”

To celebrate their milestone anniversary, the two hiked 2,650 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mexican to the Canadian border.

Contributed photo

At the end of our interview, Larry said, “Hiking together was both a blessing and a curse. It wouldn’t be worth doing it by myself. But being together increased the odds of one of us getting hurt and forcing us off the trail.”

But, Joan said, “We didn’t want to let the each other down. We wanted to help and motivate each other, make sure we could make it.”

It took Joan and Larry five months to hike the trail, finishing just in time for a family wedding in September 2021. Contributed photo

20 | FEBRUARY

Maybe five months on the trail together is the perfect metaphor for a successful 40-year marriage. But you will have to ask Joan and Larry. You can find them hiking the trails in the county, still as enthusiastic about hiking as when a bear enjoyed Joan’s lunch on that first backpacking trip over 40 years ago.  Central Coast Journal

Flavor of the Month

TASTE OF AMERICANA:

Valentine’s Day Full of Homemade Sweets

by Barbie Butz

F

ebruary is a special month. We celebrate the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln with President’s Day on the 15th. But, don’t forget that on the 14th, it’s time to celebrate the “sweet” people in our lives who love us and support us. Traditionally, we celebrate by sending Valentine greeting cards, bouquets of flowers, chocolates, and other sweets.

Nothing says, “I love you” better than a homemade dessert. So here’s a recipe that is certain to please all of your “special” people.

Ingredients

For the cake:

• 2 cups fresh raspberries

• ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided • 2 tablespoons water

• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup cocoa powder

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature • 1 cup brown sugar

• 3 eggs, room temperature • 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted

• ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream For the compote: • 1 large orange

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar • 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 teaspoon orange zest • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

• 4 cups fresh raspberries

• 2 tablespoons Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur

CentralCoastJournal.com

T

o make the cake, combine the raspberries, 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, and water in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook the raspberries until they break down into a sauce. Push the raspberry pulp and juice through a fine-mesh strainer. Cool the puree to room temperature or chill before using.

seconds on low speed until the batter is smooth.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, brown sugar, and ¾ cup of granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy (about 5 minutes), scraping once.

Add the eggs one at a time, scraping well after each addition. Mix in the melted chocolate.

2 hours before serving, remove the compote from the refrigerator. Cut the cake into wedges, and serve the compote alongside the cake. Hold leftover cake covered at room temperature and put the compote in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Spoon the batter into the prepared pan. Bake the cake for 40 to 45 minutes or until the top springs back when touched. Cool to barely warm before removing the cake from the pan. Cool the cake completely before serving.

To make the compote, peel the orange and clean off the white pith and webbing. Cut the segments into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup). Combine the orange pieces, brown sugar, honey, zest, and salt in a medium pot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer for about 5 minutes. Stir in the raspberries and the Grand Marnier. Cover Sift the flour, cocoa powder, salt, and baking soda and refrigerate the compote overnight. in a medium bowl.

If you’ve made the compote the day before, about Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease the bottom of a round 10-inch cake pan and line with a circle of parchment paper. Do not grease the sides of the pan. (this cake releases easily from the sides, and greasing the sides means the cake doesn’t have anything to hold on to while it rises during baking.

This recipe is sure to please chocolate lovers. It’s Combine the yogurt and raspberry puree in a just one tall, super moist layer. medium bowl and set aside. With the mixer on low Happy Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!  speed, mix half the dry ingredients into the butter mixture until almost combined. With the mixer running, add the raspberry mixture. Then mix in the remaining dry ingredients until almost combined.

Scrape the bowl again and mix an additional 30

FEBRUARY 2022 | 21

Slocally Sourced

Agriculture

CALIFORNIA:

The Great Cannabis Debate

by Camille DeVaul

Then, in 1996 California was the first state to legalize medicinal marijuana with Proposition 215, which “allowed qualified patients and approved caregivers to possess and cultivate ne of the most medical cannabis and ultimately led to the controversial top- formation of collectives and cooperatives to ics currently dis- serve medical patients throughout the state.” cussed on the Central Coast seems to be the cultivation, Three bills were passed in the Medical Canuse, and distribution of nabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA) cannabis. which “created a state licensing and regulatory system for the existing medical market. MCRBefore discussing SA also established the state’s three cannabis various viewpoints licensing authorities – (Bureau of Cannabis of the topic, we first Control, CalCannabis Cultivation Licensing, need to know the background and Manufactured Cannabis Safety Branch).” and timeline for the legalization of cannabis in CalHowever, these bills were repealed in 2017 ifornia. when California State Legislature passed Senate Bill 94. This bill combined MCRSA with In 1913, California was one of the the Adult-use Marijuana Act (AUMA) first to ban marijuana but decrimto create the Medicinal and Adult-Use inalized the substance in 1975.

Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), “a single regulatory system governs the medicinal and adult-use cannabis industry in California.”

O

In November 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, which allows “adults 21 years of age or older can legally grow, possess, and use cannabis for non-medicinal purposes, with certain restrictions. Additionally, AUMA also made it legal to sell and distribute cannabis through a regulated business as of January 1, 2018.”

Although the use, distribution, and cultivation of cannabis are now legal in California, MAUCRSA establishes a dual licensing structure where both state and local governments have guidelines. This means 22 | FEBRUARY

the state sets minimum requirements that all licensees must follow, and local governments can set additional requirements.

Within SLO County, you have varying rules on the use and distribution of cannabis in each city or territory of the county.

Paso Robles City Limits Rules: Cannabis Dispensaries: Dispensaries with storefronts open to the public are prohibited.

Delivery dispensaries are limited to medical-only dispensaries (mobile deliveries).

Commercial Cannabis Cultivation: Commercial cannabis cultivation, indoor and outdoor, is prohibited.

Personal Cannabis Cultivation: Six cannabis plants total, grown indoors, per dwelling unit, for personal use, are permitted. Outdoor personal cultivation is prohibited.

Cannabis Activities: Cannabis testing facilities are prohibited. Cannabis manufacturing facilities are prohibited.

Atascadero City Limits Rules: Cannabis Dispensaries: Dispensaries with storefronts open to the public are prohibited.

Deliveries of recreational and medical cannabis are permitted when the dispensary is located outside of City limits.

Commercial Cannabis Cultivation: Commercial cannabis cultivation, indoor and outdoor, is prohibited.

Personal Cannabis Cultivation: Six cannabis plants total, per dwelling unit, for personal use, are permitted. Outdoor and indoor personal cultivation is permitted.

Cannabis Activities: Cannabis testing facilities are permitted. Cannabis manufacturing facilities are prohibited.

As for unincorporated areas of the county, the County Board of Supervisors set cannabis-related policies.

Unincorporated areas in SLO County include: Central Coast Journal

Agriculture

Adelaide, Cholame, Lake Nacimiento, Oak Shores, San Miguel, Shandon, Whitley Gardens, Baywood Park, California Men’s Colony, Cal Poly State University, Cambria, Cayucos, Cuesta-by-the-Sea, Cuesta College, Harmony, Los Osos, San Simeon, Avila Beach, Country Club, Edna-Los Ranchos, Edna Valley, Rolling Hills Estate, Shell Beach, Squire Canyon, Sunset Palisades, Black Lake Canyon, Callendar-Garrett, Cuyama, Halcyon, Huasna-Lopez, Los Berros, Nipomo, Nipomo Mesa, Oceano, Palo Mesa, California Valley, Creston, Garden Farms, Pozo, Santa Margarita.

The county has regulations for personal cultivation, dispensaries, commercial cultivation, nurseries, manufacturing, testing, and distribution facilities. in California recognize the incompatibilities and simply don’t allow it,” said Van Duren.

There are additional requirements for any permitted cannabis activity, such as cultivation, Beth Parham, a resident of Paso Robles, nurseries, distribution, and manufacturing, works for a dispensary in San Luis Obispo. among a few others.

Parham only recently started working and showing interest in the cannabis industry. She First is Separation from Sensitive Uses: “All and her husband use it about once a month. permitted cannabis activities are required to be separated at least six-hundred (600) feet from Parham and her husband started to grow any pre-school, elementary school, junior high their cannabis plants out of curiosity and fun school, high school, library, park, playground, when it became legalized. When a position recreation or youth center, licensed drug or opened up at a dispensary in SLO, she thought, alcohol recovery facility, or licensed sober liv- why not try it out. ing facility.

“I am absolutely in favor of commercial However, nurseries and cultivation are re- cannabis operations, including cannabis culquired to be separated by 1,000 feet but can tivation. Cannabis growers aren’t the stoners request a modification. or criminals people imagine. They are farmers, just like all the produce farmers in the area, When it comes to cannabis cultivation, including the vineyards. Really, cannabis is water is a big concern for many. The county just another crop that people are hesitant to has a one-to-one water offset requirement allow in the community, just like grapes were for cannabis cultivation and nurseries in areas years ago. The only difference is that cannawhere the groundwater basin is at a severe level. bis, according to reports, uses less water. And Cannabis activities may not truck in water for since it is harvested as a whole plant and isn’t their operations. left to go dormant, poses less of a fire hazard.

Tax revenue isn’t the only benefit cannabis can But the split vote between county supervi- bring to a community. It brings jobs, income, sors is just an example of how split our county and medicinal properties, including what some is on cannabis. believe to be an alternative to pharmaceuticals.”

Drew Van Duren, a resident of Templeton, For many who support the cannabis industry has been an active voice in the county against in SLO County, increased tax revenue is one cannabis cultivation. He has previously spoken of the first points they bring up. out against a potential cannabis farm near his home.

Van Duren counters by saying cannabis is an unethical way to bring money into the county.

“My stance is laser-focused on the commercial growing and production of cannabis, and He says, “Whether or not cannabis makes I’m very much against it being done in places money for the county is entirely beside the where it can have a detrimental effect on the point. What matters most is how it makes environment, resources, and the health and that money. We should all question the ethical wellbeing of the population that shares that backbone of any county official or Supervisor environment. Proposition 64 didn’t authorize who endorses a policy that pads cannabis inthis. Furthermore, 79 percent of the counties dustry and county coffers on the backs of comCentralCoastJournal.com

munities and their own constituents. There are over 2 million acres of unincorporated land in SLO County; a huge portion of that is zoned agricultural, some rural-residential. Most of those acres are in the strike zone of today’s SLO County cannabis ordinance, this despite the fact that the USDA does not categorize marijuana cannabis a ‘right to farm’ commodity to begin with.”

Parham feels people in our community who want to invest in cannabis cultivation are not trying to harm our community but instead bring in revenue and help rebuild our economy.

She explains, “The cannabis industry isn’t here to take over our communities. It isn’t here to bring crime or a decline in the quality of the community. It isn’t here to be a detriment. It is here to be a benefit. It is here to bring people a possible alternative to traditional pharmaceuticals. It is here to possibly bring a more profitable life to local farmers. It is here to bring more tax revenue to a community that was troubled by COVID and to provide more jobs for individuals like you and me. It isn’t the nightmare some people think it is. And, properly regulated and monitored, could be an incredibly advantageous addition to our community.” 

If you or someone you know would like to share your insight into the subject, send an email to: camille@13starsmedia.com.

FEBRUARY 2022 | 23

Slocally Sourced

viticulture & Enology

PASO ROBLES VS. SONOMA:

Comparing Wine Country

by Robert Walker

P

aso Robles triggers vivid memories of family, adventure, and diversity of place. When people ask me to give them the insider’s view into Paso Robles, I always start with saying, imagine what happens when you mix together a bunch of surfers, ranchers, and farmers, with a dash of college town lifestyle. Imagine a place where you can have large open spaces, mountains, beaches, forests, and a rugged coastline. Imagine a place where there’s space to move around that’s not overbuilt, overcrowded, and yet has the amenities that command the respect of serious travelers. It’s one of the bestkept secrets in California, but word has gotten out.

Then after they visit, Paso Robles and the larger Central Coast becomes a revelation.

I’ve seen many visitors jump into the Paso Robles scene with a short weekend trip, usually to learn more about the wineries and vineyards in the area, pulled there by the strong critical acclaim that the vintners receive. Others are drawn in by the coastline, beach towns, and attractions such as Hearst Castle. Some get their first taste via the college roadshow, as they shuttle their college-bound high schooler to San Luis Obispo to visit Cal Poly State University. However the path to Paso Robles, the rewards are appreciated.

I personally draw a lot of parallels between Paso Robles and Sonoma County. I grew up on the Central Coast yet have lived in Sonoma County for the last ten years. Working day-to-day in the wine industry, supporting both Paso Robles and Sonoma County, has afforded an interesting perspective into both regions. Paso Robles and Sonoma County have a lot to offer, as do other wine-focused regions in California. In this article, we take a look specifically at Paso Robles vs. Sonoma and how they compare and contrast, each in their own unique way.

San Francisco and 255 miles from Paso Robles.

There are 58 counties in California, and in terms of area, San Luis Obispo County is the 17th largest county in California (3,304 sq miles) with a population of 283,000 residents, whereas Sonoma County is smaller in size (1,576 sq miles) but more populous (504,217).

In 2014, the 612,000 acre Paso Robles American Viticulture Area (AVA) was divided into 11 smaller AVAs, comprised of 41,000 acres planted to vineyards. Sonoma County is comprised of 18 AVAs, with more than 62,000 acres planted to vineyard.

Both regions are blessed by the natural landscape that creates diversity, with wide ranges of ocean influence, rainfall, elevation, and soil types. Average annual temperatures are similar for both areas, with Paso Robles at 59.7 degrees Fahrenheit and Sonoma (Santa Rosa) at 59.1. However, Paso Robles averages a slightly higher average high as well as a slightly lower average low in comparison, whereas Sonoma County averages two and a half times the rainfall of Paso Robles. These temperature and rainfall differences impact the types of grapes grown and the general profiles of the wines from each area. It is important to note that both regions have conjunctive labeling laws that help preserve the brands, Paso Robles and Sonoma, while still letting the lesser AVAs stand out on their own.

WINERIES AND WINE PRODUCTION

Paso Robles and Sonoma County are quite similar in that they are densely populated with small production family-owned wineries, many of which have had multi-generational histories. Paso Robles has over 200 wineries, with the majority within a short driving distance of downtown Paso Robles.

Over 85% of the wineries in Paso Robles make less than 10,000 cases. Sonoma County has over 500 wineries, but different than Paso Robles in that they are more geographically separated. No matter Paso Robles vs. Sonoma: the location, these family businesses share common Comparing Wine Country opportunities as well as challenges and work closely with each other to promote the values of each THE REGION AND CLIMATE region. Whether it’s a helping hand at harvest or sharing resources at the end of an all-night pick, The Paso Robles wine region is located in the these tightly knit vintner communities showcase northern part of San Luis Obispo County, which values unseen in most industries, with the ultimate is roughly equidistant (205 miles) between both desire to share the result of their hard work. the San Francisco Bay Area to the north and the greater Los Angeles area to the south. The heart Paso Robles and Sonoma differ in their focus on of Sonoma County is approximately 55 miles from the types of grapes planted. Both regions are well 24 | FEBRUARY

Central Coast Journal

popular wines are focused on single varietals, with the top three grapes making up 70% of the total – Chardonnay (27%), Pinot Noir (22%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (21%) – and the remaining 30% dispersed amongst other suited to planting a wide range of grape vari- varietals well suited for the climates, including etals and take pride in their diversity, and both some iconic Zinfandels from Dry Creek and boast of having over 60 varieties planted in their Alexander Valley of Sonoma. respective AVAs. Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape for Paso Robles (approximately EVENTS 50 percent of total), with the remaining 50% focused on over twenty types of Rhône varietals The Paso Robles wine event scene offers an (such as Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre), plus assortment of events for wine connoisseurs as Zinfandel and other varieties. While the top well as curious new fans. The season typically Cabernet Sauvignons rival other areas in Cal- kicks off in March with the Vintage Paso: Zinifornia, the grape diversity create a natural ad- fandel Weekend, followed by the Paso Robles vantage for creative red and white wine blends, Wine Festival in May, then bookended with showcasing the personality of the area and the Harvest Wine Weekend in the fall. Throughvintners. Zinfandel plantings were among the out the year, there are always plenty of unique first in the Paso region, and it is still known events, hosted by single or multiple wineries, as the heritage varietal of the region, which and positioned around special themes, such is similar to Sonoma. Sonoma County’s most as culinary, nautical, and animals, solving for a wide array of interests. Sonoma County has multiple showcase events, such as the Sonoma County Wine Auction, which raised over $6 Million in 2019 for local non-profits. Due to the beauty and easy access, Paso and Sonoma are popular wedding destinations, with affordable solutions to be found for savvy planners.

the award-winning wine from Napa Valley in the Judgement of Paris was from Sonoma. In the early 80’s, both Sonoma (1981) and Paso Robles (1983) established their official AVA boundaries. At that time, Paso Robles also established its signature event, the Paso Robles Wine Festival. Through the 1990s, there was a boon to California wine country with many acres planted, which was the same for Paso Robles and Sonoma. Then into the 2000s till today, smaller brands born out of the passion from young winemakers looking to start their journey has been where the growth lies. It is hard to believe that wine has been made in these counties for over two centuries, and while many things remain the same, recent developments in technology, hospitality and winemaking bring a new vision to the areas.

CONCLUSION Paso Robles and Sonoma County share a number of common characteristics while also clearly providing unique attributes. They have striking similarities with rolling hillsides dotted with vineyards and oaks, hundreds of family-owned and operated wineries, a diverse selection of wines, and a laid-back yet welcoming style of hospitality.

It is important to mention that due to COVID-19 restrictions, large gatherings are currently on hold. Please be sure to check out the Paso Robles, Sonoma, and California wine region sites to learn more.

In Sonoma, you find a focus on both Burgundy and Bordeaux style wines, as well as closer proximity to bigger city urban life. In Paso Robles, you see the commonality in the production of Bordeaux wines, but a focus on world-class Rhône wines and proprietary HISTORY blends that have brought critical acclaim to the region, as well as smaller town and less The first vines in Sonoma were planted in urban atmosphere.

1812 by Russian colonists, followed 40 years thereafter by the first major commercial winery, Whichever area you choose, I know you will Buena Vista, which stands today as the oldest not be disappointed in their offerings.  functioning winery in California. Paso Robles has a similarly deep history, with Andrew York establishing Ascension Winery in 1882. Early on, both regions were known as excellent sources for high-quality fruit. A little-known fact is that a portion of the Chardonnay from CentralCoastJournal.com

FEBRUARY 2022 | 25

FEBRUARY CROSSWORD

(Solutions on page 28)

ACROSS 1 Musical McEntire 5 Bank acct. underwriter 9 Skate parts 15 Church seats 19 Students at Yale 20 -- avis (one of a kind) 21 Actor Shaw 22 Take one’s leave 23 Photoelectric cells used for IDing 25 Title heroine of a 2001 French film 26 Onetime rival of Nintendo 27 Charges to get some quick cash 28 Property of a body in motion 31 Vardalos of the screen 32 Morales of “Bad Boys” 34 Roman 1,501 35 Noisy tot toy 36 Principles of household management 42 Rooted (in) 43 Hidden obstacle 44 Kitchen flooring, to a Brit 45 Sullen 47 Gore and Pacino 50 Humorous impact 58 Tightens, as one’s fist 63 Track circuit 64 Chute-deploying jumper 65 Goth foe 66 Fixed fashionably 68 Dollar part 70 Author -- Rogers St. Johns 71 Taj Mahal locale 73 Person on a most-wanted list 77 Geraint’s patient wife 78 Averse (to) 80 Swanky 81 Diplomat 83 Suffix with ethyl 84 Strong coffee 26 | FEBRUARY

87 Suffix with fact 89 One frosting a cake, e.g.

91 All-out attempt 94 Potentially shocking fish 95 Discontinued iPod 96 Rock concert equipment 99 Speak like Daffy Duck 103 Hits, as a fly 108 Imaginary band on the earth’s surface 113 Form a single file 115 “-- tu” (Verdi aria) 116 Healing sign 117 Drink in a schooner 118 Luge, diving and biathlon 123 Saintly 125 Sit heavily 126 Clause’s cousin 127 Face-off area in hockey (or what’s found in eight answers in this puzzle) 129 Article in Germany 130 Yamaha products 131 “-- girl!”

132 The Bradys’ Alice, e.g.

133 Elk relative 134 Sharply focused 135 Low in pitch 136 Poker cost DOWN 1 Sends back into custody 2 Euphoria 3 Female honcho 4 “You wish!”

5 Most liberated 6 Go on a brief yacht outing 7 Furious state 8 Wine vessel 9 Marlon of film 10 Chinese noodle dish 11 Aid in wrongdoing 12 Sandwich shop 13 Actor Bana of “Munich” 14 Control the course of 15 Pre-euro Spanish money 16 Puts forth

© 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

“Slick Middle”

17 Move like a hula dancer 18 Didn’t leave 24 Ho-hum grades 29 “No worries, dude” 30 Catch red-handed 33 Here, to Yves 37 Pulitzer-winning novelist Jennifer 38 Ltr. extra 39 Uncanny 40 Wets a bit 41 “Ew, gross!”

46 Marina del --, California 48 PC screen type 49 Frigate, e.g.

51 Ralph of “The Karate Kid” 52 Duel weapon 53 Govt. med approver 54 Bona -55 Smoothed (out) 56 “My Heart Will Go On” singer Dion 57 Brokerage employee

58 Alpine abode 59 “The Raven” co-star Bela 60 Absorbed 61 Academy URL ending 62 Writ for court appearance 67 Arafat’s gp.

69 Dayton-to-Toledo dir.

72 Trac II successor 74 “Time -- the essence” 75 Team VIP 76 Olden times 79 Clucking bird 82 “-- -haw!” (rodeo shout) 85 Bad deed 86 Swindle 88 “Doggone!”

90 Penne -- vodka 92 Mental haze 93 “You’re oversharing,” in texts 97 They may run Windows 98 Some trig functions

100 ti” 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 109 110 111 112 114 119 120 121 122 124 128

Like “penne” and “graffiSeek pleadingly Go ahead of Went uphill or downhill Baseballer Mays “Who’s interested?”

Tone down Have dinner Liam of film Author Hemingway Australia’s main airline Force along Kid-lit’s Longstocking Uppercut landing area Part of QED Windmill part Healing sign Columnist Bombeck Socrates’ “H”

Central Coast Journal

Stay up on all the events and happenings in San Luis Obispo County!

FEBRUARY

SUBMIT UPCOMING EVENTS TO: office@13starsmedia.com

DUE TO COVID-19 ALL EVENTS ARE TENTATIVE AND DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. PLEASE CALL AHEAD OR CHECK ONLINE FOR MORE DETAILS.

EVERYDAY UNTIL FEB. 28

FEB. 9

FEB. 12

TOUCHY TOUCHY ART EXHIBIT

FILMMAKER FILIPE DEANDRADE: UNTAMED

SPEND THE EVENING WITH PAULA POUNDSTONE

SAN LUIS OBISPO MUSEUM OF ART

HAROLD MIOSSI HALL, CAL POLY

CUESTA COLLEGE, ROMAULDO RD

TIME: 11:00 a - 5:00 p DETAILS: Come share this great experience with your whole family, this exhibit allows for touching and looking at the artists taste on a mother’s physical sensitivity to their child’s consistent touch.

TIME: 7:30 p DETAILS: Filipe DeAndrade, star of Nat Geo’s series, Untamed, works to save the animals that saved him. pacslo.org

TIME: 8:00 p DETAILS: Paula is a humorist, author, and she stars in Disney/Pixar’s movie Inside Out 13+ And $30-$80. Visit pacslo.org

FEB. 12

FEB. 14

FEB. 20

CALIFORNIA GOAT YOGA

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

250TH CELEBRATION — SERIES OF EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

ALEX MADONNA EXPO CENTER

DETAILS: Make sure you let that special someone in your life know how much they mean to you!

MISSION SAN LUIS OBISPO, 751 PALM ST.

TIME: 9:30 a DETAILS: Experience yoga with goats at this Valentine’s weekend all-ages and all-levels outdoor yoga class. For more info visit californiagoatyoga.com or call (661) 238-3072

TIME: 11:00 a - 3:30 p DETAILS: FREE EVENT. Fun for the whole family with tours of the Mission and Bell Tower, crafts and music. Afterwards, stroll through Downtown San Luis Obispo and enjoy food, craft beers and cocktails, as well as dozens of retail stores.

For more info visit missionsanluisobispo.org

FEB. 24-27

FEB. 26

BLENDFEST ON THE COAST DINNERS

SLO CRAFT MUSIC + BEER FESTIVAL

SAN SIMEON AND CAMBRIA

ALEX MADONNA EXPO CENTER

DETAILS: Experience a taste of Paso Robles Wine Country on the beautiful California coast. Paso Robles’ winemakers love to blend wine, mixing varieties to craft something unique and delicious. BlendFest celebrates rule-breaking, traditional, and unconventional wine blends throughout the weekend. Discover more about dinners, tastings, excursions and more at pasowine.com.

TIME: 12:00 - 5:00 p DETAILS: Celebrate the brewers of craft beer and raise a toast to their unique and wonderful creations. To purchase tickets and for more info visit slocraftbeer.com

TUESDAYS

WEDNESDAYS

THURSDAYS

PASO SAN LUIS ATASCADERO OBISPO ROBLES 11TH & SPRING STREET SUNKEN GARDENS HIGUERA ST. TIME: 9:00 - 11:30 a

TIME: 3:00 - 6:00 p

TIME: 6:00 P - 8:30 p

FRIDAYS

MORRO BAY MAIN STREET

AVILA BEACH PROMENADE

TIME: 2:00 - 4:30 p

TIME: 4:00 - 8:00 p

SATURDAYS

SAT. / WED.

ARROYO TEMPLETON GRANDE 6TH & CROCKER SAT. = A.G. VILLAGE TIME: 9:00 a - 12:30 p WED. = SMART & FINAL TIME: 12:00 - 2:00 p (Sat.) TIM: 8:30 - 11:00 a (Wed.)

CentralCoastJournal.com

FEBRUARY 2022 | 27

Events

Calendar

Government COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

All meetings below meet at the County Government Center, Board of Supervisors Chambers, 1055 Monterey St, Room D170, San Luis Obispo.

Subdivision Review Board • 1st Monday, 9 a.m.

Board of Supervisors • 1st & 3rd Tuesday, 9 a.m.

Parks & Recreation Comm.

• 4th Tuesday, 6 p.m.

Airport Land Use Comm.

• 3rd Wednesday, 1:30 p.m.

Air Pollution and Control Board • 4th Wednesday of every odd numbered month, 9 a.m.

Local Agency Formation Comm.

• 3rd Thursday, 9 a.m.

Planning Department Hearing • 1st & 3rd Friday, 9 a.m.

County Phone Directory: (805) 781-5000 slocounty.ca.gov.

San Luis Obispo Regional Transit Authority (805) 781-4472 179 Cross Street, Suite A San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 slorta.org

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce (805) 781-2670 895 Monterey St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 slochamber.org

Cambria Chamber of Commerce (805) 927-3624 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Please call first on weekends.

767 Main Street Clerk-Recorder San Luis Obispo Cambria, CA 93428 info@cambriachamber.org (805) 781-5080 Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Cayucos excluding holidays 1055 Monterey Street Ste. D120 Chamber of Commerce (805) 995-1200 San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 PO Box 106 Cayucos, CA 93430 cayucoschamber.com SLO County Office of Education (805) 543-7732 3350 Education Drive San Luis Obispo, CA 93405 slocoe.org

FEBRUARY CROSSWORD SOLUTIONS

Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce (805) 772-4467 695 Harbor St. Morro Bay, CA 93442 morrochamber.org

Avila Beach Community Services District.

(805) 595-2664 100 San Luis Street Avila Beach, CA 93424 Mailing address: PO Box 309, Avila Beach CA 93424 avilabeachcsd.org Point San Luis Harbor District (805) 595-5400 3950 Avila Beach Drive P.O. Box 249 Avila Beach, CA 93424 Los Osos / Baywood Park Chamber of Commerce (805) 528-4884 781 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos, CA 93402 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6282, Los Osos, CA 93412 lobpchamber.org Pismo Beach Chamber of Commerce (805) 773-4382 649 Dolliver St Pismo Beach, CA 93449 pismochamber.com

SUBMIT UPCOMING EVENTS TO: office@13starsmedia.com

GET MORE EYES ON YOUR AD Promote your business throughout San Luis Obispo County.

Starting at $275/month!

MENTION THIS AD AND GET 10% OFF YOUR 1/8 PAGE AD FOR 12 MONTHS

(805) 466-2585 28 | FEBRUARY

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Central Coast Journal

PHOTO OF THE MONTH To submit your Photo of the Month, send a high resolution (300 dpi) jpeg photo by email to editor@centralcoastjournal.com, along with where in SLO County the photo was taken and the photographer’s name.

Photo by Rick Evans, bright flamingo at the Atascadero Charles Paddock Zoo. FEBRUARY 2022 | 29

Last Word

A Special to Central Coast Journal

ACCLAIMED AUTHOR

Joan Didion

PASSES AWAY AT AGE 87

J

by Judy Abel

oan Didion, famed essayist, novelist, journalist, memoirist, and screenwriter, passed away on December 23 in her Manhattan apartment.

Didion may not have put Malibu, California, on the map, but her cool, unflinching voice will forever be enshrined in the public sensibility. “The hills are scrubby and barren, infested with bikers and rattlesnakes, scarred with cuts and old burns and new R.V. parks. For these and other reasons, Malibu tends to astonish and disappoint those who have never before seen it, and yet its very name remains, in the imagination of people all over the world, a kind of shorthand for the easy life. I had not before 1971 and will probably not again live in a place with a Chevrolet named after it.”

A fifth-generation Californian born in Sacramento, Didion parlayed an essay contest win while at UC Berkeley into an entry-level position at Vogue magazine in New York City. There she rose to associate features editor and was trained in a journalistic rigor and terseness that helped define her best work.

She returned to California in 1964 with her writer husband, John Gregory Dunne, shortly after the publication of her first novel. Settling in Los Angeles, her first book of nonfiction, “Slouching Towards Bethlehem,” collected magazine pieces on such topics as Haight Ashbury and the Santa Ana winds and is considered a seminal work in New Journalism. In 1970

her Hollywood novel, “Play It As It Lays,” was published. In the same year, she and Dunne wrote the screenplay for “Panic In Needle Park,” which became Al Pacino’s first starring role.

The Julian Wasser photo of her that year in front of her 1969 yellow Corvette Stingray made her a style icon.

In the early 1970s, Didion, Dunne, and their young daughter moved to Malibu. Their house on Pacific Coast Highway was so dilapidated they hired a young carpenter, Harrison Ford, to help with its disrepair. Ford, who went on to become one of the biggest box office stars in Hollywood, stayed friends with the family. In 1978 Didion and Dunne decamped to Brentwood.

But it was in Malibu where Didion wrote some of her most memorable works, including 1977’s “A Book of Common Prayer” and her 1979 collection of essays “The White Album.”

After leaving California in 1988, Didion undertook political reportage and, after Dunne’s death, wrote what many consider the greatest description of widowhood, “The Year of Magical Thinking.” She was introduced to a new generation with the 2018 Netflix documentary on her life, “The Center Will Not Hold,” directed by her nephew Griffin Dunne.

The concluding essay to “The White Album,” entitled “Quiet Days in Malibu,” describes the Malibu of the 1970s: “In the part of Malibu where I lived from January of 1971 until quite recently we all knew one another’s cars, and watched for them on the highway and at the Trancas Market and at the Point Dume Gulf station. We exchanged information at the Trancas Market. We left packages and messages for one another at the Gulf station. We called one another in times of wind and fire and rain, we knew when one another’s septic tanks needed pumping, we watched for ambulances on the highway and helicopters on the beach and worried about one another’s dogs and horses and children and corral gates and Coastal Commission permits.”

While much in Malibu has changed, we still worry about one another’s families and Coastal Commission permits. And some old-timers swear that if you go to PCH at golden hour and squint toward the west a little past Decker, sometimes you can see a faded yellow Corvette Stringray. 

DIRECTORY TO OUR ADVERTISERS CENTRAL COAST JOURNAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY Alan’s Draperies...............................................13 Ekmanian Tax & Accounting............................13 Elder Placement Professionals.........................7

30 | FEBRUARY

Farrell Smyth.....................................................2 First 5 San Luis Obispo County.........................3 FREDERICK LAW FIRM, A LAW CORP..............13

Reverse Mortgage Specialist..........................13 Robert Hall Winery............................................5 San Luis Obispo County Office of Education....7

Senior Living Consultants...............................13 Spirit of SLO.......................................................9 The Tire Store...................................................15

Tom Meinhold Photography..........................13 Wheeler Smith Mortuary................................15 Wine Country Alliance.......................................4

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