SLO LIFE Magazine Oct/Nov 2019 by SLO LIFE Magazine

SLOLIFE MEETMICHAELBOYER CARVING A PATH & STAKING OUT THE FUTURE OCT/NOV SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM2019

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10 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 SLOLIFE magazine CONTENTS Volume Oct/NovNumber1052019 2826201816 SneakInfo Peek In TimelineBriefsBox 14 PUBLISHER’SMESSAGE 32 VIEW 4038 OnFamilythe Rise 3634 NowQ&A Hear This 42 MICHAEL BOYER

Just ﬁve hospitals in state of California have honor of distinction. you to our nurses, sta for Sierra Vista and Twin Cities recognition as two of year since 2012.

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and volunteers

Hospitals achieve

the

the safest hospitals in America, every

HIGHEST HOSPITAL SAFETY RATING. 7 YEARS IN A ROW.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 11

this

helping

12 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 |726858CONTENTSHealthRealDwellingEstate 54 INSIGHT 92 BREW 8678 KitchenTaste 96 Happenings 88 WINE NOTES

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 13 DESIGN. BUILD. MAINTAIN. sagelandscapes.net 805.574.0777

They thought it was hilarious when the offensive line would pick up the class president’s tiny Yugoslavian car, walk it across the lot, and set it in the planter bed framing the main entrance.

Initially, we came up with the concept of a matching-funds program where we would match her dollar-fordollar on the purchase of a used car. In other words, if she were to save $1,500, we would then kick in another $1,500 for a $3,000 car. The only problem with that plan is between her jampacked schedule—school and dance—there is very little time left over for babysitting gigs. So, I came up with an alternative.

14 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

Live the SLO Life!

As she sunk deep into her chair, calculating how far away she could park from campus and still make it to her first-period class, while my wife and I wandered down memory lane. I talked about the hours I spent restoring the El Camino, which had been sitting on blocks in our driveway for years. Everything from overhauling the engine to re-upholstering the interior to an entirely new paint job. Nearly all the money I made working as the fullserve gas jockey down at the Union 76 station went into that car. If I instead invested it in an S&P 500 Index Fund, after thirty years, I would be, well, that’s depressing—I don’t want to talk about it.

By now, Geneva had both elbows on the table, hands cradling her forehead, looking down in obvious distress. “Don’t worry, kid,” I said, “our cars never let us down—except that time mommy’s driveshaft snapped in half—and that’s the whole point here, to go safely from Point A to Point B. Your El Yugomino will do just that, we promise.” My wife then concluded her story, telling our daughter that she kept her car running with duct tape and divine intervention and bubble gum until she went off to college, where she traded it to her landlord for two months of rent.

Recently, our daughter, Geneva, turned sixteen, and the State of California deemed her worthy of receiving a driver’s license. Leading up to that fateful day, there was much deliberation and speculation about what we would do for her first set of wheels.

The rosiness drained from my daughter’s face as I reminded her that my first car was a 1964 El Camino, which my grandpa used to drive around the ranch inspecting his cotton for boll weevil infestations. As for my wife, she drove a 1988 Yugo, which she inherited second-hand from her big brother. So, what do you get when an El Camino and Yugo fall in love and have kids? None other than an El Yugomino.

| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Point by point, I broke it down. She was to keep her savings, and mom and dad would be buying the car. But, and this was a very big “but,” we would have the ability to choose whatever vehicle we felt was best. And, as I reasoned that night, “Since you are a perfect combination of mommy and me, we thought it only made sense that your first car also be a perfect combination of our first cars.” I continued, “Geneva, I’ve given this a lot of thought, and what we are going to do is find you a hybrid—and I don’t mean a Prius.”

Get the story within the story by going to GrowWithTom.com and subscribing to Tom’sBombs to receive the next installment.

As we settled in for dinner one night, I announced my solution: “Geneva, since you’ve only got $196 in savings, we really don’t want you driving a $392 car. Instead, I’ve got a proposal.” She lowered her fork and leaned in, listening intently, as her social life hanged in the balance.

It turns out that Craigslist did not have any El Yugominos for sale, so we had to settle on the next best thing: a 2008 Volkswagen Beatle. But, there was a twist. It had a manual transmission. Hour upon hour was spent on seldom-traveled dirt roads teaching her the art of “driving stick.” Whenever she became frustrated by her lack of progress and grumbled something along the lines of, “Why didn’t you just get an automatic? It would have been so much easier.” We would respond, “That’s exactly the point—we don’t care about it being easy, we want you to learn— and, at least, you’ve got third gear.” I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who has had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of all, to our advertisers and subscribers— we couldn’t do it without you.

Next, my wife, Sheryl, talked about her car, a Yugo, which she noted, was the souped-up sport model, meaning it came with racing stripes. The aftermarket stereo system her brother had installed far exceeded the value of the car itself. Eventually, third gear wore down and did not work. As she was shifting, she would have to get going fast enough in second gear to skip third and go straight to fourth. The gas gauge didn’t work either, so refueling was a game of chance. Ironically, given its diminutive stature, parking was quite problematic, not just because reverse only worked properly with “driver’s assist,” which meant opening the door and pushing down Fred Flintstone-like to start the car backward, but also because of the varsity football team.

Tom tom@slolifemagazine.comFranciskovich El Yugomino

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 15 SHOWROOM HOURS MON-FRI 10-5, SAT 10-3 SLMARBLE.COM, 5452 ENDA RD TILE SHOWROOM & NATURAL STONE SLAB YARD CUSTOM COUNTEROP FABRICATION & INSTALLATION

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16 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 Elder Placements realizes the IMPORTANCE of listening to the client, in order to find the appropriate: Independent Living Assisted Living Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Homes Let their experienced Certified Senior Advisors take you on a tour to find the Retirement Home or Community that fits your loved ones Medical, Financial and Social needs, at NO Cost to you. Contact us today for FREE placement assistance. (805) elderplacementprofessionals.com546-8777 Nicole Pazdan, CSA, 4251 S. HIGUERA STREET, SUITE 800, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA info@slolifemagazine.comSLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM (805) 543-8600 • (805) 456-1677 fax PUBLISHER Tom Franciskovich CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sheryl Franciskovich GRAPHIC DESIGNER Alexandra Wallace CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Alexander Sam Blakeslee Erika AndriaPadenFitzgeraldHughesJaimeLewisMcGheeBrantMyersJessieRivasShawnStrongKaraWoodruff

If you would like to advertise, please contact Tom Franciskovich by phone at (805) 543-8600 or by email at tom@slolifemagazine.com or visit us online at slolifemagazine.com/advertise and we will send you a complete media kit along with testimonials from happy advertisers.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 17 True Community Banking “We’ve known Jay with American Riviera Bank for over five years. You can trace all the growth we’ve had at Scout back to that relationship.” Sara Peterson, Scout Coffee owner San Luis Obispo Branch • 1085 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.965.5942 • AmericanRivieraBank.com • Paso Robles • San Luis Obispo • Goleta • Santa Barbara • Montecito How can we help your business grow? Line of Credit | Business Acquisition | Equipment Jay Beck, American Riviera Bank Senior Vice President, with Scout Coffee owners Sara and Jon Peterson, at their Foothill Boulevard location

A SNEAK PEEK BY VANESSA PLAKIAS WITH MICHAEL BOYER

This little girl walked in with her mom, she had just gotten out of school. It was her treat day. I asked the mom if I could take a picture of her little girl, her name is Audrey, and she’s five. She got an ice cream and Michael got the same one and then they sat in a booth together. It was adorable. I asked him about what drew him to this line of work. He talked about how great it was to have a place for kids and families to share an experience together, a little moment of joy. He talked about how ice cream always brings smiles.

18 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

Michael said he had just returned from Alaska to visit his parents. He took his son along and they went camping with no electricity, no cell service. He talked about how much he likes being off the grid in the wild. He said they counted over a thousand caribou. the scenes

SLO LIFE | ON THE COVER BEHIND

While I was there, I was mesmerized by a model train that circles around the space. I wanted to get a shot with it stopped overhead, so they stopped it for me when it was in the perfect spot. You’ve got to have perfect timing in photography, but sometimes perfect timing comes with a little help.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 19 THE AVENUE CENTRAL COAST REALTY REAL ESTATE | PROPERTY MANAGEMENT | IN-HOUSE MARKETING 1333 JOHNSON AVE, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401 | (805) 548 2670 | THEAVENUESLO.COM Amy Owner/REALTOR®DaaneChrisOwner/BrokerEngelskirger JedOwner/REALTOR®Damschroder KellyeREALTOR®Grayson KrissyREALTOR®BellisarioDougREALTOR®Cutler MuktaREALTOR®NaranSachaREALTOR®Steel Because you deserve the very best. Let The Avenue guide you home. 1 BUENA VISTA, SLO offered at: $1,094,000 9177 CORY CT, ATASCADERO offered at: $454,900 205 CORBETT CYN RD, AG offered at: $695,000 StacieREALTOR®Kenny

20 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 UGANDA Take us with you! | IN BOX Hey, SLO LIFE readers: Send us your photos the next time you’re relaxing in town or traveling far and away with your copy of the magazine. Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com GLENEAGLES, SCOTLAND CHIANG MAI, THAILAND GALWAY, IRELAND TONI and CRAIG KINCAID SUZANNE and GLEN Sisters traveled to Ireland for Terri’s 60th Birthday. SARA, ARIC, BEN, and JONAH SHAFRAN TERRI MONELL and EILEEN AMARAL

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 21 ROUTE 66NA PALI COAST, KAUAI PALENQUE, CHIAPAS, MEXICO JUDE BASILE JACOB, MARVIN and JOE DISHER FOREST GROVE, OREGON Celebrating our 32nd Wedding Anniversary at Appolloni Vineyards. Cheers! THE ARIAS MCGRATH AND GARCIALANDEROSFAMILIES SLO LIFE Magazine traveled over 2,500 miles by motorcycle along Route 66 with three generations from Chicago to Santa Monica. LOUIE and ORIETTA VASQUEZ

22 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 LANA’I CITY, HAWAII PONT DU GARD, FRANCE VIETNAM | IN BOX SLO LIFE travels! STEVE MATHIS, JENNY MATHIS, PEGGY MYRICK, and LARRY MYRICK JESSICA DARIN AND BRADLEY KYKER took SLO Life Magazine on the Mekong River Delta, as we led a team of Cal Poly students on an Alternative Breaks Global Service trip to Vietnam. ASHLEY and AMANDA SIROIS visiting over 600 rescue cats at the Lana’i Cat GEYSIRSanctuary.HOTSPRING, ICELAND JOHN and FREDENE MAULHARDT PISA, ITALY ERIN and FRANK AVILA, KELLI THORNTON and CHARLIE RICHARDSON

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 23 LIMEKILN BEACH, BIG SUR LISA SCHOTT and dog PENNI LAUSANNE,KAUAISWITZERLAND CABO SAN LUCASLAKE TAHOE The SLO Tsunamis after completing a 12-mile swim across Lake Tahoe in the annual Trans Tahoe Relay. DIANE, NICK, STELLA and LENA WETTLAUFER KEY WEST, FLORIDA ANGELENA and NICHOLAS AGALOS at the Ernest Hemingway House and Museum. SARAH and BEN HAWKINS in front of the 849-year-old gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame. BRIAN andDZUKOLADIANE

24 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 Please send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com Follow SLO LIFE on Facebook: Visit facebook.com/slolifemagazine Visit us online at slolifemagazine.com Letters may be edited for content and clarity. To be considered for publication your letter should include your name, address, phone number, or email address (for authentication purposes). You showed us ! SAINTAMSTERDAMALBANS,VERMONT PISA, ITALY CHIANG MAI, THAILAND JANA WALKER Enjoying SLO LIFE Magazine at the 97th annual HAWKINS FAMILY reunion. TRACI KELTON,FERNANDES,andKYLERFound this cow in our Amsterdam hotel. Made me think of SLO! NINA HANSEN escaping the crowds with SLO LIFE Magazine at the Torre Pendente in Pisa.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 25

A new one-stop resource for public information and help before, during, and after a local emergency, brought to you by the San Luis Obispo County Office of Emergency Services. The cloud- hosted, easy-to- remember website is designed to load quickly and continue to work during large- scale emergencies when potentially thousands of people could be accessing the site at the same time.

$7.2 million 7,650

The percentage of incoming Cal Poly students who identify as members of a minority, making this the most diverse class in the university’s history. That’s 2,609 out of 5,769 transfers and firsttime freshmen enrolling for Fall 2019, including Hispanic/Latino, African American, Asian American, Native American, Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, multi-racial, and undocumented students.

SLO LIFE A new American collegiate speed record set in September at the 20th annual World Human- Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada. Cyclist Josh Gieschen pedaled a humanpowered,front-wheel-drive bike named Ambition, fabricated by a team of Cal Poly engineering students out of carbon fiber and Kevlar, to beat the previous men’s record of 61.29 mph set by a team from UC Berkeley in 1992.

| BRIEFS

TOP 10

“It’s pleasurea to have backCederquistCoachwithus.”

The honor earned owners (and sisters) Kay Porczak and Dede Bruington a five-page feature in the Fall/Winter 2019 issue.

$22,498.75

Picking Daisies, a San Luis Obispo-based small business, was named one of the Top 10 quilt shops in the nation by Better Homes and Garden Quilt Sampler Magazine.

That’s San Luis Obispo Blues general manager Adam Stowe announcing the return of former Blues coach Clay Cederquist as the new head coach for the 2020 summer season. Cederquist left SLO in 2016 to coach with the San Jose State Spartans. He replaces head coach Dan “Skip” Marple.

Four decades ago Gary Eberle released his first Eberle wine, a 1979 Cabernet Sauvignon bearing the iconic boar logo (Eberle means “small boar” in German). Since then, he has earned recognition for many firsts, including the first to use the Paso Robles appellation on his wine label, and the first to produce a 100% Syrah commercially. This year, Eberle celebrated forty years in the business by earning the esteemed Robert Mondavi Hospitality Award.

Joan Gellert-Sargen was recently was named the SLO County Philanthropist of the Year by the local chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals for her “generous, widespread and contagious” philanthropy.

The total number of students that San Luis Coastal Unified School District enrolled in the current school year at the district’s ten elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools, and two adult schools.

The annual pay, including benefits, of Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong, who began his tenure as Cal Poly’s ninth permanent president in 2011 at $333,662.25. That’s a 70% increase in his eight years on the job. Salaries and pension benefits of most California public servants are available at transparentcalifornia.com.

The August selling price of RR Auction’s Item #9517: a total of 30 original “neverbefore-seen” glossy photos that according to the auction house “vividly document the fatal car crash site of Hollywood actor James Dean,” including “terrifying aftermath photos” of Dean’s Porsche 550 and his No. 130 racing number. The crash site, a popular pilgrimage spot for movie buffs, is near the intersection of Highways 46 and 41 outside Paso Robles. The buyer has not been identified.

$566,574.78

ReadySLO.org

26 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

PhilanthropistoftheYear

63.68 mph

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 27

8/29

The second riot in two days breaks out at the California Men’s Colony in a medium-custody recreation yard at the facility in San Luis Obispo. Correctional officers immediately responded to the area where some fifty inmates were fighting and gave multiple orders to stop. Observation tower officers fired two warning shots, and other emergency responders used diversionary devices and non-lethal projectiles to quell the violence. Prison officials believe the incident and the riot the day before involving some forty inmates are related, and both events are under investigation. A total of four inmates were transported to hospitals for treatment of non-lifethreatening injuries. No staff injuries were reported.

8/30

Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham introduces a new plan to keep Diablo Canyon Power Plant running and encourage bankrupt Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to sell the facility. His proposal is in the form of a state constitutional amendment designating nuclear power as a source of renewable energy. Acknowledging it is a long shot, Cunningham says the amendment would open the door for someone else to buy the plant and keep it running long past its scheduled closure date in 2025. The plant, which could be worth as much as $3.6 billion, currently provides about 9% of California’s electricity.

AUGUST ’19

| TIMELINE Around

8/6

California State Parks introduces a new bilingual safety campaign just in time for the busy Labor Day weekend. The campaign reminds visitors to Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area that “Safe Dunes Start With You.” The effort encourages people to be aware of their surroundings while they enjoy the popular destination, and includes simple tips distributed through social media, local radio stations and printed handouts. The tips include Take It Slow, Scout Your Route, Know Your Limits, and Tread Lightly. The campaign includes a billboard with the “Dune Safety Starts With You” message on southbound Highway 101 near San Luis Obispo.

Cuesta College awards more scholarships and more money to more students than ever before at its 30th annual scholarship reception. A record-breaking 282 students received 510 scholarships totaling nearly $390,000. Scholarship recipients are current students at the college, incoming transfers, and high school students attending the fall semester. The numbers do not include the more than 900 Promise Scholarship recipients, who, as San Luis Obispo County high school graduates, receive two years of fee-free education at Cuesta. the ounty

28 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 8/28

8/14

A new public beautification project is unveiled in downtown San Luis Obispo designed to demonstrate the vibrancy of the community and convey a sense of welcome, diversity, and inclusion to visitors and residents. The pedestrian light pole banner art, installed throughout the downtown core, is the work of the City’s Promotional Coordinating Committee (PCC) and presents bold interpretations of iconic San Luis Obispo culture and locales, including the Fremont Theatre, Ah Louis Store, and the Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. PCC volunteers hope to expand the project throughout the city in the coming months.

The San Luis Obispo City Council joins more than fifty other California communities currently considering ways to encourage cleaner buildings, moving the city’s building code toward favoring all-electric structures beginning January 1, 2020. On a four-to-one vote (Erica Stewart dissenting), Council members approved a Clean Energy Choice Program that will provide only limited options to builders who want to develop new buildings with natural gas. New projects wishing to use natural gas will be required to build more efficient and higher performing buildings and offset gas use by performing retrofits on existing buildings or by paying an inlieu fee that will be used for the same9/17purpose.

Nearly 2,000 volunteers spread out across more than 100 miles of some fifty Central Coast beaches, parks and lakes for the annual SLO County Creeks to Coast Cleanup. Organized by ECOSLO and Central Coast Partners for Water Quality, this year’s event collected more than 11,500 pounds of trash and about 825 pounds of recyclables in just three hours. The most common items found were cigarette butts, glass and plastic bottles, trash bags, and food bags, although volunteers also found whole bags of trash, old clothes, and even fireworks.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 29

It’s been eighteen years since terrorists hijacked four planes and launched the deadliest attack in world history, killing roughly 3,000 people on American soil. Among those who died that day were 403 emergency workers who responded to the tragedy. The San Luis Obispo World Trade Center Memorial at Fire Station 1, designed by Kathleen Caricof and dedicated in 2015, includes a 1,500- pound steel beam from the World Trade Center. It is the site of an annual Day of Remembrance hosted by the City, American Legion Post 66 and SLO City Union 3523, and this year featured the posting of colors, artwork created by San Luis Coastal Unified School District students, bagpipes, and a bell

9/20 More than 500 nurses working at Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center and Twin Cities Community Hospital go on a twenty-four-hour strike in response to negotiations underway for several months between the California Nurses Association and Tenet Healthcare. The nurses are looking for less overtime and fewer on-call periods, along with staffing coverage for meals and breaks. Tenet Healthcare brought in replacement registered nurses and other caregivers during the action and both sides confirmed negotiations continue in the hope of reaching a resolution.

SEPTEMBER ’19 SLO LIFE

9/3ceremony.

Sheriff Ian Parkinson introduces a new state-of-the-art crime-fighting tool to help reduce agriculture thefts in the County. SmartWater CSI makes a liquid product that you can’t see, feel, or smell, but once a special light shines on the product, it emits a telltale yellow glow. The liquid has its own unique fingerprint or DNA encryption that is registered to individual farmers or ranchers who take part in the program. It lasts for years and can’t be scrubbed off. Signs and stickers are available to designate equipment and property as being a part of the program. In the past four years, deputies in the Sheriff’s Office Rural Crimes Unit have responded to 77 burglaries, 146 thefts, 28 vandalism cases, and 14 stolen vehicles.

9/21

9/11

Classic

This Spanish style Bassi Ranch home overlooks orchards, vineyards, surrounding mountains, & Avila Valley. Featuring a 2 story family-friendly ﬂoor plan, enjoy private living, while only minutes to downtown San Luis Obispo and the Avila Beach. The large game room and appointed cook's kitchen - open to the family room, yard & spa - make this home an entertainer's dream. Spacious master suite and adjoining terrace have views of the surrounding mountains and valley. Large windows throughout invite coastal breezes, and showcase the breathtaking views this private Bassi estate has to offer. ® , LIC. #01757338 805.748.2874 Crasftman style architecture emanates from this exquisite build situated in the coveted Colony Homes development in Atascadero. The immaculately maintained property features 3 bed/2 bath, and an abundant 2000+ sqft located on an oversized lot backing up to a beautiful park. Website: www 5452ViaViento.com

LINDSEY WOODWARD REALTOR®, LIC. #02056934 805.835.7516KIM REALTOR®,WURSTERLIC.#01018125 805.441.2112 Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Haven Properties 547 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442 1401 Park Street, Paso Robles, CA 93446 www.1290BASSIDR.com KIRK GRAVES, REALTOR ® , LIC. #00890773 805.550.4835 KURTIS WURSTER REALTOR®, LIC. #01931796 805.441.1419 Exquisite 3 bedroom, formal ofﬁce, 3 bath home with approx. 4,000 sqft of living space located in the gated golf community of Cypress Ridge. Gourmet kitchen including top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and breakfast bar accented with pendant lighting. Property Website: www.2289Brant.com KIM REALTOR®,WURSTERLIC.#01018125 805.441.2112 KURTIS WURSTER REALTOR®, LIC. #01931796 805.441.1419MADISON WARD REALTOR®, LIC. #01954514 209.450.6112

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30 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 E X P E C T B E T T E R S M BHGREHAVEN.COM 805.592.2050

Great views of the ocean and city comes with this upgraded 2 bed/2 bath, 1,188 sqft home. Upstairs boasts an open floor with natural light, fireplace and an ocean view. After a long day, step out onto the balcony to enjoy the sun setting over the water and enjoy the ocean breeze. Property Website: www.619VistaPacifica.com GRANDE OBISPO

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560 W. ORMONDE

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE 31 E X P E C T B E T T E R

This stunning, single level home and guest house on a 20 acre parcel exudes quality craftsmanship with grace and simplicity. Built in 2008, the 4,600 sq ft ﬂoor plan incorporates a spacious great room, gourmet kitchen and dining areas. A beautifully appointed ofﬁce enclosed with a wall of glass is located near the entry way. The master suite is complete with two walk-in closets, a spacious bath with over sized shower, jetted soaking tub and several vanity areas. A phenomenal guest wing features four additional bedrooms and baths. Car enthusiasts will love the 4-car garage and multiple storage rooms. The driveway meanders by the fruit orchard to the fully contained 1-bedroom guest house and drive-thru workshop.

It’s moments like that, whether on the sidelines of a SLO High game or up on Bishop Peak, that Nakamura sees an endless fountain of inspiration in the town he calls home.

The football games at San Luis Obispo High School are a regular haunt for Nakamura as well. “About four or five of the kids on the senior high school varsity football team for San Luis Obispo were in my kindergarten or fifth grade class over at Sinsheimer [Elementary School], so it was nice to see them grown up and doing well, performing and doing their best,” Nakamura said, “And, they won the game.” For most of his sports shots, Nakamura relies on his telephoto lens, but he almost always has two cameras at the ready, he explained. So during the timeout, when he noticed the pastel sunset behind the glaring green of the gridiron, he grabbed his

“I do love traveling, but some of the best vistas and the best scenery is right here in the county,” he shares, “and especially San Luis Obispo.” that his passion for photography, his community, and the natural world came together in one perfect frame.

32 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 backup camera outfitted with a 24-70mm zoom lens. Besides a simple “spotlight” effect done in Lightroom to brighten up Arroyo Grande’s huddled football team in the foreground, Nakamura said that what you see is what he shot. It was just the right moment to catch the sunset, something he’s used to scaling mountains and waiting patiently to capture. “This was kind of like the calm in the storm with the timeout and the two teams battling it out for supremacy, so I thought it was quite a serene place to catch that moment.”

BY JOE PHOTOGRAPHYPAYNE

LIGHTSNIGHTFRIDAY

“I was photographing the football game and there was a timeout on the field and I was on the opposite side looking towards the sunset across the field and I noticed how beautiful the sky was,” Nakamura said. “I thought it was the juxtapose of the rough and tumble football game versus the serene sunset that made a good balance.”

| VIEW SLO LIFE

Nakamura lives for a sunset or sunrise photo-op, literally getting up as early as 3:00 a.m. and hoofing it up a mountainside in the dark to be ready to catch a newly-illuminated vista. There are many favored spots around the city of SLO and throughout its surroundings, from the peaks of the Seven Sisters to the beaches of Montaña de Oro.

BY MARK NAKAMURA S easoned photographers such as Mark Nakamura can do it all: weddings, portraits, sports, you name it. But for the retired elementary school teacher who is now devoted to his passion fulltime, landscape photography gets him up early for sunrises and keeps him out late for sunsets. However, it was at a recent game between San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande high schools’ football teams

JOE PAYNE is a journalist, as well as a lifelong musician and music teacher, who loves writing about the arts on the Central Coast, especially music, as well as science, history, nature, and social issues.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 33

Before we wrap up, one last question just for fun: If you had to live somewhere other than the Central Coast, where would you go? I would go live on a homestead; maybe Montana or Alaska.

34 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

I love the idea of simplicity and reconnection with nature. It puts so many of the dramas of this world in perspective, because you realize the world is a beautiful place. We get so focused on what we feel are problems, and then you step out into a beautiful world, and you remember how blessed we are, how enduring these places are, and how fleeting our dramas are. And, so, yeah, if I could do more of that, and get back to a lifestyle that stayed in that head space and freed up my mind to focus on the things that are more permanent and beautiful, I would certainly love to do that. But, in the meantime, it’s politics, problem- solving, and kiddos. NEW FRONTIER

| Q&A

SLO

The smell of dirt is like nostalgic childhood for me. I feel on the inside that my spirit was made for manual labor, but my body was not. [laughter]

I love the outdoors, backpacking. And, when the season is ripe, as a good stress reliever, I love to chop firewood. I do. On the weekend, you can often find me with a weed-whacker and a shovel.

What came next for you? I did my graduate degree at the London School of Economics. I’m very interested in big social movements, and I was particularly fascinated by the rise of the religious right in the ‘80s. I wanted to study these big social, political, religious movements. And living in London was life-changing. I had a real sense of right and wrong, black and white. But, after living there, the world became ridiculously complicated. To interact with people from different countries, different cultures that had a totally different interpretation of international historical events, and the role of the United States in those events, it just softened me, because I saw that there were so many different perspectives, and made me much quicker to ask questions rather than assert my own opinions or positions. Can you give us the “why” behind the Foundation? With the Diablo closure, it created a kind of moment of... What would be the word I would use? Because I don’t want to say “urgency,” but you know, I would say “opportunity.” I think it was a catalyzing moment for people to realize that we cannot just assume business as usual. If we care about the future of our schools, then we have to lean in and be part of this next phase of investment and stewardship of our kids’ education. So, the closure of Diablo created that moment where everybody said, “We need new capacities, we need partnerships, we need to think about innovations in the model to draw in a larger collection of stakeholders and partners to drive outcomes for kids.” And the educators, boots on the ground, have this deep expert knowledge for how to deploy money for maximum impact. And so, that partnership is right there at the heart of our structure, and not even a full year into this enterprise, and we’re already seeing the fruits of that model.

Tell us a bit about yourself, Christine. Where are you from? Sure. So, I was born and raised in a small town called Antioch in the San Francisco east bay. I had what I consider to be something of an idyllic childhood. I’ve always joked that I was raised by Ward and June Cleaver. We were a very close Italian family, a lot of communication, long dinner conversations. My dad owned his own business, he was a landscape contractor, and my mom ran the business with him; it was very much a family operation. After school, we’d go pull weeds. I got to know this area because my grandparents had a ranch in Templeton and a home in Morro Bay that we used to visit. I always saw Morro Bay as just kind of this dreamy paradise when I was a kid. I could not imagine who got to live in a place like this. And, what were you like as a kid? I had a really strong sense of right and wrong; I felt issues very deeply. At ten years old, I was writing my congressman about the things that I was seeing in society. I was always very interested in issues and wanting to make the world better, and found lots of causes to get involved in, and felt a deep sense in my bones that I needed to find ways to drive change. And so, I would be researching and arguing for certain social causes and trying to get involved with groups. So, my high school was not spent doing social things or partying. I was looking for a demonstration I could go to, or some organization I could volunteer with, or some research library where I could find court cases that would help me frame up arguments. I was not the coolest kid in high school. My older brother and I both went to Cal Poly, and we both ended up marrying people who graduated from Morro Bay High.

For fifteen years, CHRISTINE ROBERTSON has worked behind the scenes to bring about positive change to the Central Coast, first, as Senator Sam Blakeslee’s chief of staff and then as the Associate Director at the Institute for Advanced Technology & Public Policy at Cal Poly. Today, she is on the front lines in the race to innovate the way our children learn in school as the Executive Director of the newly formed San Luis Coastal Education Foundation. She stopped by the office for a visit recently. Here is some of what she had to say… LIFE

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 35 Dog’s thoughts Join the Party! Start hearing better and stop missing the things you enjoy Too much foofoo, and not enoughFifi Helping you hear the things you love, since 1978 Call us today for your consultation 805 541-1790 www.KarenScottAudiology.com

36 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 | NOW HEAR THIS THE CRISPTONES BY SHAWN STRONG “Are you the police?” “No, ma’am. We’re Musicians.” —The Blues Brothers, 1980

Siblings are notorious for being less-than, well, cooperative. And even those siblings who do get along do not necessarily have the desire or the chance to build something together. It’s no surprise, however, that these two brothers, who are so accomplished on their own, have managed to come together and create something special; something where one plus one equals three.

Los Angeles born, SLO County raised, SHAWN STRONG’s passion for the local music scene and artists that have created it, fuels his writing and drives his commitment to living the SLO Life.

As for future plans, The Crisptones do not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. The duo plans to record an album. Additionally, both brothers were recently signed to Nashvillebased label Sharp Objects as songwriters. In the meantime, Rob and Mark continue to play locally on a seemingly non-stop schedule. In the coming weeks, the band is slated to play Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano, and Arroyo Grande, including a gig at the Arroyo Grande Beer Festival. The Crisp Brothers are equally entertaining off the stage as they are on. So, if you have the chance to see them play, don’t think twice about saying, “Hello.” They’re sure to make the exchange as memorable as their music.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 37

SLO LIFE

Crisptones. Their extensive musical catalog contains brilliant covers of well-known songs, as well as original pieces that cross genre boundaries and exalt proof of unparalleled artistic vision. Considering how long both brothers have pursued the craft, it’s impossible to consider them as anything but virtuosos in their own rights. Mark commands an effortless control over his guitar and provides crucial insight as a co-songwriter for the Crisptones. Robin also helps write the band’s music and contributes lap steel, dobro, piano, as well as additional guitar work. While the brothers originally hail from Visalia, they have quickly established themselves on the Central Coast as a reliable and talented group. The Crisptones can always be counted on to bring vigor and endless enthusiasm to their shows, and in this manner, they have made a name for themselves. Although both musicians are known to perform individually, when they come together under the Crisptones banner, they truly shine.

The duo cites many marquee acts as their inspiration: Paul McCartney, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Crosby Stills and Nash, Alison Krauss, and Dwight Yokum top the list. You can hear bits and pieces of all of these artists in their music, yet they are careful to avoid being too derivative of any one artist. The group describes their work as both familiar and contemporary, maintaining a comfortable, easy-going sound while staying relevant and exciting. Many of their original songs are imbued with Mark’s indelible sense of humor. That isn’t to say that the band is incapable of more intimate songs. From the bawdy, “I’m Just Here to Make You Look Good,” to the more plaintive ballad, “Mama’s Stew,” written about and dedicated to the bandmates’ late Markmother.names his older brother Robin as his primary influence.

rothers Mark Crisp and Robin Crisp are making noise—beautiful noise, it should be noted—through their musical collaboration under the name, The Mark’s nickname, “Dugie,” is a direct result of his older brother’s inability to pronounce the name “Tom Dooley,” from the popular Kingston Trio song, as a young child. Since the inauspicious beginning, Mark has gone on to make several notable achievements in music. He was named Singer/ Songwriter of 2007 by the Dallas Songwriters Association and scored a spot as a finalist in the Durango Songwriting Contest, as well as the 11th Annual Unisong International Songwriting Competition in this same year. Mark credits his big brother’s tutelage for breaking through with those accomplishments. But, it’s when the two combine their talents that the sounds they produce in tandem are worthy of any venue, and become uniquely their own. This phenomenon was made apparent when, together, the Crisptones were named Adult Contemporary Band of 2007 at the 17th annual Los Angeles Music Awards.

| FAMILY

For years, Avila Valley Barn was the sole place we went during the annual pilgrimage to pick our pumpkins, but this year we tried somewhere new: Brookshire Farms. It was everything you could want in a pumpkin patch experience tailored for the entire family.

PADEN HUGHES is co-owner of Gymnazo and enjoys exploring the Central Coast.

Kicking off the Holiday Season with a Pumpkin Patch Experience for the Entire Family t’s that time of year. That magical two weeks when we locals finally get to experience “fall weather.” We can’t help ourselves. In response to the crisp air and the desire to milk the experience for all it’s worth, we grab that calorie-rich Pumpkin Spice

Latte, don our pristine rain boots and that snuggly hat and scarf combo we got at the white elephant gift exchange last Christmas and we head to the most autumn experience we can think of... the pumpkin patch. That’s right. Where all things are harvest themed, orange and yellow, and we kick off the holiday season once and for all.

For me, it had a farm stand with freshly picked seasonal fruits and vegetables (all naturally grown without sprays). It also had mountains of pumpkins organized by size, shape, and color. And it had more than one obvious backdrop for the obligatory family picture for which we had clearly overdressed. For my husband, it had games like whacka-mole, corn hole, and a huge, incredibly challenging corn maze towering over our heads. He loved the challenge of trying to navigate the intricate maze that grew in the shape of a scarecrow’s face. He loves puzzles and while I may have been more willing to bail out and walk around the edge back to the entrance, he was committed. They also offered corn cannons for shooting corn at random targets.

If you can, go during a weekday as the ticket prices are a bit lower and the crowds smaller. Even better yet, families can stretch a buck by buying a weekday pass for $48. It’s good for up to six admissions and can be shared with others. Also, the little ones, as long as they are two years old and younger, get in for free. SLO LIFE energy kids who need some adventure. From inflatable obstacle courses to a huge jumping pad, her love of bounce houses was born and going nowhere. Her Dad and I may have also unleashed our inner kids and gotten just as much joy out of the Whileexperience.theprice of admission may seem high at first, once inside, the activities are free. You still have to pay for produce and pumpkins, which you’re happy to do after maximizing all things fall in a couple hours. It’s well worth your time and rumor has it for your high school-aged kids, the maze re-opens at night for a spooky Halloween themed corn maze challenge.

Location & Price Located on La Familia Ranch at 4747 Los Osos Valley Road on the left-hand side of the road as you drive from San Luis Obispo to Los Osos, the farmstand sits across the bridge from their parking lot adjacent to the ticket booths. Fresh-picked seasonal produce is available for sale there, and the price of admission, which does not include the maze, varies between $8 and $15.

Our daughter did go a little crazy for the inflatable jungle designed to enchant highBY PADEN HUGHES

BROOKSHIREFARMS

Insider Tips

If you are like me and love this, join me in exploring Brookshire Farm’s take on Christmas with their postThanksgiving Christmas Tree “harvest.”

38 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT SLO LIFE

What do you want people to know about you? I have to stay busy—I can’t sit around without doing anything for too long. If I have a lot of downtime, I’ll find something to do, like reading or sewing or designing a font or making numerous versions of the same list. I’m very much a list maker; I have so many Post-it Notes and pens—I just love office supplies!

What is important to you outside of high school? Outside of high school, I value my friends, my family, I’m involved in church, and hula is a big part of my life and my Hawaiian culture.

What else should we know? I absolutely love meeting new people. In elementary school, my teachers always characterized me as a little chatty. Speaking of elementary school, I attended Pacheco Elementary, where I learned Spanish, which is a skill I’m so grateful to have.

What career do you see yourself in someday? I want to be a teacher. All my life, I’ve loved helping and teaching people. I’ve worked in the Tiny Tigers preschool lab and am finishing the career pathway in child development. Right now, I am enrolled in teaching careers where I shadow Ms. Washmuth and help her teach her classes.

What is it that you look forward to most? I’m looking forward to being more independent when I’ll finally have time to pursue all of my hobbies. One of my goals is to eventually make a Hawaiian quilt.

| ON THE RISE

This seventeen-year-old San Luis Obispo High School senior has a heart for helping others, particularly children—something she hopes to continue to do throughout her life. Know a student On the Rise?

40 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

If you could go back in history and meet anyone, who would it be? I’d love to meet Sojourner Truth. She endured so much in her life and never gave up fighting for the rights of herself and so many people. Her speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” is probably one of my favorites.

What sort of recognition have you received? I won first place at the FCCLA regional level three years in a row at various competitions. I also have won first place at the state level for early childhood development. I have also earned my FCCLA chapter degree and received a Golden Tiger award for developmental psychology of children.

Kawailani Kiaha

What schools are you considering for college? I would love to go to BYU Hawaii, that’s sort of been my dream, but besides that probably some UCs or CSUs.

What sort of extra-curricular activities are you involved in? I’m the region president of Family Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). It’s a national student leadership organization that is family and consumer sciences oriented. I have also danced hula since I was two years old.

What do you dislike? I dislike it when there is toxicity between people. I can’t stand it when people do things just to harm others. I want everyone to be happy and nice to each other.

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OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 41 www.GardensbyGabriel.comRe-ImagineRetreat lic.# 887028805-215-0511

42 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 | MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

REPROACHBEYOND

Last summer—the first week of July—an email landed in one of the millions of inboxes registered to users of the genealogy website known as Ancestry.com. For MICHAEL BOYER, it was the first time he had ever exchanged words with anyone from his biological family—a long- lost aunt. As a young boy growing up, a misfit in a foreign land, he could not help but wonder about the man and woman who handed him over for adoption. Now, for the first time in more than forty years, he had a link, albeit a small one; a tiny window into a different life, a different path. He had tried and tried over the years to track them down, but they did not want to be found. His mother, as it turns out, lied on the birth certificate, providing false identification to the hospital. One dead end led to another. And, while a reunion may never happen, if his biological parents could see him now, they would undoubtedly marvel at how far he has come. Today, the Arroyo Grande resident, who beat long odds to go on to become the Chief Executive Officer of Doc Burnstein’s Ice Cream Lab, is guiding the company along an uncharted path toward a massive expansion— one that puts the community ahead of its shareholders. Here is his story...

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS

What did he do? I don’t want to get into it; we could write a whole book on that part of my life. Actually, there was a book written by Joe McGinniss, he won a Pulitzer Prize, called The Rouge about Sarah Palin. He interviewed me for it and, although my name does not appear in the book, when the stories about Todd came up, the Palins could pick me out of a lineup pretty easily. It was during those years when I began to understand the difference between macroaggressions and microaggressions.

What came next? I went off to college, to the University of Oregon. Up to that point, I had only encountered a few other black people in my entire life. Now, all of a sudden, there are thousands of them. It was a completely different world. I went there for track, the 400, but also played a little football, defensive end. It was good, and it helped me get through college. After I graduated, I started doing IT for a trust company before eventually finding my way to a small software company in Portland, about 25 employees. I became their chief operating officer and was doing a lot of business travel. In 2000, I went to my brother’s wedding down in Newport and hit it off with his wife’s best friend, who, as it turns out, was from Pismo Beach. We spent the next six months flying back and forth to see one another, and we got engaged a few months after that. Around the same time, I started getting recruited by a company here called Web Associates, which has since gone by Rosetta and several other names. Did you stay here? Yes, we settled in Arroyo Grande, and I worked for a few different tech companies before starting one of my own called AdSmart, which did mobile advertising. In 2015, Digital West here in San Luis Obispo bought my company, and I went to work for them as their chief operating officer for the next three years, until I joined Doc Burnstein’s as their CEO, because I was fascinated by their business model—their community-based business model. I’m really interested in the value that we bring to the communities and to our guests. It’s not just about ice cream. I mean, we make really good ice cream, for sure, but it’s also about giving back to our communities. Our whole idea is to say, “Yes, we have a profitable business, but we have identified the endpoint of that business as being able to provide community enrichment over shareholder enrichment.”

An example of a microaggression, which were more frequent, would be when someone would say something to me like, “Wow, you’re very articulate for a black person.” Whereas, a macroaggression would be when they would punch you in the face.

How did you navigate this part of your life? The thing that my parents hammered into me was this idea that I had to be beyond reproach. It becomes easy for people to make an example out of you when you stick kay, Michael, let’s take it from the top. Where are you from? I was born and raised in Alaska. The elevation where we were was about 4,000 feet above sea level; a place called Sheep Mountain. I grew up in a house without running water or electricity until I was twelve or thirteen years old. We hunted and

What do you plan to do with all that money? We’re opening 100 parlors here in California over the next five years. We have a plan to do it; now we’re executing on it. We had three stores, but we’ll have six by the end of >> fished and farmed. We were 150 miles northeast of Anchorage on the Alcan Highway, near milepost 114. I’m the only adopted child of a large family. I have five older brothers and sisters. My parents thought they were done having kids, but then they decided that they wanted one more. Growing up in a big, white, Irish family on a small farm in the mountains was interesting. Not only was I the only African American around, I was the only minority around. Period. I went to a tiny school—a bush school—fifty kids in all, K-12. What was that like? My parents had to be really upfront about my adoption from the beginning because I just didn’t look like my brothers and sisters. They spent a lot of time trying to keep me safe from prejudice, from violent situations outside of our family. But there’s a lot more awareness today that that type of behavior isn’t acceptable. Back then, that wasn’t the case. All those things were acceptable behaviors. I mean, your buddy wouldn’t get on you if you were calling somebody who looks like me bad names. Your buddy wouldn’t hold you back. Today, typically, you’re a pretty rogue person, a uniquely rogue person to do something like that without somebody stepping in to say, “Hey, what are you doing?” There was a lot of racism growing up, but it took me a while to realize it. I didn’t know what it was back then. I mean, I just thought that’s how people treated people. It wasn’t until I started junior high that I began to understand it. That’s when I met Todd Palin— he had just graduated from high school.

How do you do that? So, we’ve been a B-corp since 2012, the year that the designation first became available, and our founder Greg [Steinberger] asked the question, “How do we create a community-owned, communityoperated, community-based business?” And he was basing it off his experience from when he lived in Wisconsin where he is a shareholder of the Green Bay Packers. So he was, in his mind, trying to think, “Well, how can we do that here with ice cream?” In 2013, we did our first public stock offering and essentially said, “If you want to buy into Doc Burnstein’s, then buy into this idea of community engagement, community enrichment.” And, at $50 a share, we raised $400,000 with about 450 people. So, that’s kind of how it turned out. That was the first offering. Now we have around 600 shareholders. In 2017, we raised a million dollars with more community investors. Right now, we’re doing another stock offering, and we’re raising eight million dollars, all from community investors.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 45 out like a sore thumb. So, I had to excel in everything I did. They taught me how to play the game, how to fit in, how to be successful rather than just be a kid. So, I was involved in all the clubs, all the athletics. I got great grades. I played basketball. I ran track. I played football. I ran cross country. I mean, I did everything. I was on the school board as the student advisor to the school board. I did all of the student government stuff. I was in the academic decathlon, all of those things. Looking back on it now, it was an interesting scenario. I represented all of the students in Alaska on the state board of education when I was a junior, and I was chosen to spend a summer in Russia back when it was still the Soviet Union for a student ambassadorship.

You mean, as is in Sarah Palin’s husband? Yep, that’s the one. We moved to a little town in Alaska called Wasilla. It was life-changing because it was the first time I got to watch television and all that stuff. We had water and electricity. Compared to where we were, it was a much larger place, maybe about 4,000 people at the time. Wasilla, as you mentioned, was made famous by one of my classmate’s big sisters, whose name is Sarah Palin. When I knew her, she was Sarah Heath. Her dad, Chuck Heath, was my US History teacher in junior high. And, I knew her boyfriend, Todd, and his group of friends very well because they used to bully me. I really stuck out because I was a big kid—about six- two in seventh grade—and, of course, I’m black.

Let’s talk about that idea some more... The reason community is a huge value for us, and such a focus, is because we believe if we authentically engage our community, we will enrich the community. When we authentically engage, what that means is asking the question: “How can we help?” Our arms are open to helping our community. If we do that in an authentic manner, we will enrich the community. If we are able to enrich the community, we build brand loyalty. It’s very simple. We can track those things with data like a net promoter score, and a community impact index, and counting the number of hours we volunteer, and totaling the number of dollars we give to all of these organizations. I mean, we’ve given thousands to various organizations over the years and tracking that information in every market gives us the capability to understand how that affects our business over time. That’s a big deal to us.

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Wow. We also want to make sure that we’re taking care of not just our team, not just our shareholders, but also to the best of our ability, our environment. That’s why we keep taking steps in that direction, such as the reintroduction of glassware in our parlors. When you order our ice cream, we serve you in glassware rather than plastic and paper. Real metal spoons. Real glass. Because the environment is important to us, and every little bit we can do helps. It’s those little things, like switching our cream vendor because they are closer to us, and it doesn’t have to be trucked so far. With a B-corp, shareholder value doesn’t have to be your number one concern.

A lot of companies, they make all this profit, and they give a few pennies to charities, and they call that their giveback program, or whatever. We lead with giving back. >>

Of course, it is a concern with us, and it goes without saying; but, really, it’s about our team, our environment, and our community. We see all of those things as equal parts. We believe that if you offer health insurance, for example, which we started doing last February for the first time in 15 years, then by focusing on taking care of our team we are also taking care of our shareholders.

this year. Basically, our count will double each year. It may seem like a lot, but, remember, Starbucks had 137 in its first five years [of expansion]. But we don’t want to go into malls, and we don’t want to do this as a franchise. We want to go into Main Street USA, like the store we are opening in Chico next month. It’s on 2nd and Broadway, probably the best corner in town. And, it’s made possible by community investors there; people who will go to the shareholder meetings and have real input and make real decisions and make a real impact. And, it’s not just talk. One of our big tenants when it comes to community enrichment is training kids who work at the stores how to have excellent customer service skills. We have very specific programs to do that and, in addition, we offer them college scholarships so they can grow along with the company. Every year, we take one day of that year and allocate 100% of the sales to our scholarship fund, so pretty much every one of our employees who applies gets some money toward school.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 47 Soak up the sun in SummerlandfashioncoastalfromCo.1019Morro Street . San Luis Obispo 805.215.0428 | dunngardens.com DesignLandscapeInnovative Graham was introduced to us by a local real estate lender. Following Graham’s advice, we successfully closed the sale of our home in Pismo Beach for nearly $20,000 more than the appraised value 30 days prior. Graham hand-carried the process through some di cult challenges including repairs, changing lenders mid-stream, and documentation from multiple locations. We give Graham our highest recommendation. – Michael & Irene Mullen, Paso Robles, CA 3196 South Higuera Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.459.1865www.ccreslo.com|CalBRE #01873454 graham @ ccreslo.com “ ”

Okay, but, what about the ice cream itself? What makes it different?

Can you give me an example of what you mean by giving back? Sure, let’s take our Thursday night fundraisers, for example. A youth-based organization comes in and says, “We want to do a fundraiser.” And we say, “Okay, you got it—Thursday night, three hours. You bring your ‘celebrity scoopers,’ and we’re going to give you 15% of the sales, not just 15% of the profit.” And it’s not only the people who show us a coupon, or a flier—it’s anybody who comes in during those three hours and makes a purchase. We tell them, “Go promote it, bring in as many people as you can. Bring in your celebrity scoopers, and we’ll give you 15% right off the top.” It’s really straight-forward. And, also, you don’t have to be an official nonprofit. You don’t have to be organized as a 501(c)(3), because we know there are many worthy groups and causes that can’t get the designation because they may be too small, or they don’t have the start-up funds to do it, or whatever the case.

48 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 >>

Well, first of all, we’re a premium grade ice cream. We’re a 16% butterfat ice cream. Whereas, most of the others are in the 10 to 12% range. So,

My wife is the chairman of the board for the Clarke Center in Arroyo Grande. She’s also a San Luis Obispo housing authority commissioner. I’m on the board of the YMCA and Stand Strong and the AG Hospital Foundation, as well as Big Brothers, Big Sisters. We try to stay involved in

What do you do when you’re not working? We like to travel. We’re going to Honduras next month. We’re also a very service-oriented family.

they are a much lower grade product. The mouthfeel of ice cream is critically important, and you’ve got to have an outstanding product for customers to return; otherwise, it’s just a kid thing. By that, “a kid thing,”

I mean, take 31 Flavors, for example, they choose to go with a massproduced, low butterfat, really high sugar content offering to appeal to kids. Doc Burnstein’s, on the other hand, is small-batch, artisanal ice cream. We have a product that appeals to the most discerning adults, as well as to kids. We care about quality. Quality is a huge component of our success. If somebody comes in and the ice cream isn’t of the quality that they expect, they won’t come back. They just won’t. And, so, we have a high standard when it comes to the quality of the product.

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So, I figured out that I could have my own style by wearing a thumb ring. They couldn’t say anything about that, right. So, it just stuck. I still do it. It wasn’t inappropriate, but it was a little different; my own thing. That’s how it started. So, is it my own small little way of rebelling? Yeah. Maybe a little bit.

the community. We try to show our son that it’s a good thing to do also. This year was probably the first year that he got to do something like that. He was a junior leader at YMCA camp. So, he’s a seventh-grader helping out the first, second, and third graders. Before we wrap up, can you tell us about your two pierced ears and your thumb ring? [laughter] That’s funny. I don’t think anyone has ever asked me that. Yeah, I got my ears pierced when I was seventeen. My mom did it. Took an ice cube and a needle and poked it right through. I was definitely kind of an outlier. I mean, having both my ears pierced, that was very unusual back then. I think, just over the years, especially in high school, I was always thinking about the idea of just fitting in and being beyond reproach. This was the summer before my junior year, and I wanted something to be a little bit different. The earrings were that for me. And, for my first job in IT when I got out of college, we were required to wear a suit and tie— and no jewelry for men, except for rings.

SLO LIFE

for

It is a way of thinking and acting. We advocate solutions that maximize our resources in order to preserve natural

our

spaces for future generations to explore. TENOVERSTUDIO.COM SUSTAINABILITY ISN’T A CHECKBOX Hank and Georgia explore the super bloom at Carrizo Plain. ARCHITECTURELANDSCAPEINTERIORSMEDIA

planets

Proceeds

Heart of the Arts Gala

For more information, please visit fpacslo.org & Sidecar Loading Dock After Party Presented by BMW of San Luis Obispo Presenting Sponsor BMW of San Luis Obispo Sabrina Pratt & Adam Lesmeister SLO Movement Arts Center Jill CourtneyMarshallPatMcAdamsMeznarich&Kristin Hoover

the Performing Arts Center. Guests

Photo Credit: Heraldo Family Photo

Foundation for the Performing Arts Center

Hundreds of San Luis Obispo citizens gathered at the Center on Saturday September 7 to support the Foundation for were treated to evening of delight and madness all in support of the local performing arts. from the event will help make the performing arts accessible in San Luis Obispo County.

Performing Arts

Ben McAdams Laura Kirven Skye Christakos & Leann Standish

Trudie & Ty Safreno Skylar Stuck Joey Leslie Heidi Harmon & Billy Breed

Diablo Canyon’s decommissioning will be the largest, most complex EIR ever undertaken by the county. Likewise, the impacts created by the dismantling of all equipment, structure, and facilities will be the largest, most complex and mitigation-worthy event in the county’s history. The cost of the decommissioning (as estimated by PG&E and supported by the Board of Supervisors) is $4.8 billion—it will be a herculean endeavor. And imagine the impacts that come along with dismantling the massive industrial complex that is Diablo Canyon, as it creates decades of air and water quality degradation, dust, noise, and tens of thousands of trucks lumbering down Avila Beach Drive, as they haul away countless tons of heavy construction debris. This will be our burden to bear as residents of the Central Coast along with, of course, the existence of over 2,500 metric-tons of radioactive spent nuclear fuel (the most toxic substance known to man) that will likely remain in our backyard for decades or more to come.

A t its August 20, 2019 meeting, the Supervisors unanimously agreed to act as the lead agency for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process to decommission Diablo Canyon. And, since no other state or local agency seems to want the Some people like it, others do not. But the truth remains the same: Pacific Gas & Electric is closing its Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant by 2025. And, yes, this will significantly impact our community. It also presents an unprecedented opportunity to conserve and make available for public enjoyment the Diablo Canyon Lands, some 12,000 acres of unspoiled and scenic coastal bluffs and rugged mountains surrounding the plant which are no longer needed by PG&E. And that great opportunity lies in the hands our very own San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors: John Peschong, Bruce Gibson, Adam Hill, Lynn Compton, and Debbie Arnold.

So, it’s fair to ask: What is the appropriate mitigation for this jaw-dropping decommissioning burden? At a very minimum, it is the conservation of the Diablo Canyon Lands. All 12,000 acres. The Supervisors need to require this outcome as a meaningful offset for what our community will endure these next several decades. job, it’s likely a done deal. This means that the county will do three things: prepare the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for all decommissioning activities (including the removal of equipment, structures, and facilities); issue permits to undertake those activities; and, identify necessary mitigation to offset the substantial impacts to the environment and local communities that are the unavoidable consequences of decommissioning. It is the third item listed above—mitigation—where history will ultimately judge whether our Supervisors

THE SUPES MUST

54 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

DIABLOSAVE

| INSIGHT

BY KARA WOODRUFF AND SAM BLAKESLEE faced or failed an opportunity of a lifetime. If they face the opportunity, a world-class outdoor public recreational area can be created, bringing tourism dollars to the region while protecting scenic views, natural habitat, and wildlife. If the Supervisors fail to seize this opportunity, however, they will fail their constituents, and these precious lands may go the way of Southern California-style suburban development.

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56 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

Conserving the Diablo Canyon Lands—for hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping, and natural resource protection—is not a new notion. In 2000, the “Dream Initiative” was placed on a countywide ballot and passed by 75% of the popular vote. As an advisory measure, it urged the Board of Supervisors to enact policies to conserve and make available for public access all of the Diablo Canyon Lands after plant closure. The measure was supported broadly by a unanimous vote of all five Supervisors; our representatives in Congress, the State Senate, and the Assembly; local governmental entities; chambers of commerce; environmental organizations; and PG&E itself.

Twenty years ago, our Supervisors recognized the momentous opportunity to save the Diablo Canyon Lands once the plant was decommissioned. Notwithstanding deep philosophical divisions, they transcended politics to speak with one voice. We thank thenSupervisors Harry Ovitt, Shirley Bianchi, Peg Pinard, Katcho Achadjian, and Mike Ryan for their action and foresight. We now call upon our current Supervisors to implement the express will of the voters and to create a legacy for which they will always be remembered.

Kara Woodruff is an attorney/financial planner and American Land Conservancy project director for the successful Hearst Ranch conservation project of 2005. She serves on the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel, but writes as an individual rather than as a Panel representative.

• The public should be ensured access to the Diablo Canyon Lands to the greatest extent possible, while protecting and preserving sensitive habitats, cultural sites and other resources.

Additionally, in 2018, the future of the Diablo Canyon Lands was considered by the Diablo Canyon Decommissioning Engagement Panel, a group of local representatives tasked by PG&E and the California Public Utilities Commission to solicit public input concerning decommissioning. During an extensive civic engagement process, the community provided input about what they envisioned for the future of the lands. With near unanimity, the public called for their conservation and public access. In response to this input, the Panel’s recently released Strategic Vision contains these recommendations:

Want to share your Thoughts? Email us at: info@slolifemagazine.com

SLO LIFE

• The 12,000 acres of Diablo Canyon Lands surrounding the [Diablo Canyon Power Plant] are a precious treasure and a spectacular natural resource that should be preserved in perpetuity for the public and future generations, in acknowledgement of its significant resources values.

Sam Blakeslee is the President of Blakeslee & Blakeslee and former State Senator and Assemblyman representing the Central Coast. He is the author of the 2000 Dream Initiative.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

| DWELLING

HOUSETREE BY DAVID LALUSH

arthquake fault lines are fascinating to think about, mostly because of how little we contemplate them. They hold it all together diligently and silently for years and decades and centuries; everything is fine, until one day they snap. For Bob and Sallie Weatherford, it wasn’t a fault line that wreaked havoc upon their San Luis Obispo tri-level home. It was something much less nefarious: a hairline fracture on a toilet tank. The insurance company’s claims adjuster, who came out to study the brittle porcelain under a magnifying glass, said it was an accident waiting to happen. One day, it could not hold out any longer. While the couple was away for the afternoon, it ruptured. While it did not register on the Richter scale or make the six o’clock news, the fracture opened up in such a way that the valve was left on the “open” position for one hour after the next. By the time the Weatherfords had returned, the floors and walls and cabinets were ruined, all of them—total devastation. Everything had to be gutted; a complete remodel was in order. It would not be the first time the couple set out to alter the face of their hillside home, which a friend affectionately refers to as a “tree house for grown-ups.” But, previous efforts had always been modest, and mostly around >>

the margins. A little bit here, a little bit there. This project was taking it to an entirely different level. They would have to find an architect, a general contractor, a gaggle of subcontractors, not to mention a new place to live for the year-long venture. It would be the first time Bob and Sallie Weatherford had settled someplace other than in their tree house overlooking the city since 1985. Their two daughters, who were raised in the home, had grown up and relocated themselves on opposite ends of the Pacific Coast—Seattle and San Diego. So, the remodel would be an interesting project for the couple, they decided, and an opportunity to mold it into exactly what they always knew was possible. Plus, Bob would finally be able to put all those architecture classes he sat through at Cal Poly back in the day to good use. It wasn’t that he didn’t like the subject, he did, but he found a stronger tug pulling on him from the world of law. He went on to become an attorney based in San Luis Obispo, where he enjoyed a long and fulfilling career until he was able to retire. His wife, Sallie, was a graphic designer, so between the two of them, they felt up for the challenge presented in overhauling their 2,700 square-foot home. >>

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Sketches and magazines and product samples came next. The concept came together quickly as the couple shared, one starting the sentence and the other finishing: “We like all the same things, so it was easy.” With the vision in-hand, they set out to secure the building permits required from the city. For that task, they enrolled the assistance of Micah D. Smith, who quickly shepherded the project through the bureaucratic maze. Then, it was on to selecting the general contractor. The couple signed up with John Hunter of J.A. Hunter Cabinetry, who also built the cabinets and completed the finish work. A long list of local names rounded out the team: Keith Evans Hardwood Flooring, TileCo., Rod and Eli Gibson of Quality Tile in Arroyo Grande, to name a few. With all of the walls stripped bare, the old house became an empty canvas. But two things remained unchanged: arguably the best view in San Luis Obispo, spanning from Cerro San Luis on one side to Bishop Peak on the other; and all of the original redwood siding. Since the tree house is tucked away, mostly invisible from the street, it has a whimsical quality to it—an enchanted perch on which to bid the sun farewell each evening. For everything that changed, the best things remained the same. But there was much work to be done. >>

SLO LIFE

DAVID LALUSH is an architectural photographer here in San Luis Obispo.

The sheetrock went in first, followed by paint and floors— North Carolina kiln-dried white oak— and trim and molding. Mahogany cabinets and countertops were next, including an exotic zebrawood slab for the downstairs media room bar top. Extra attention was paid to the master bath where Bob took particular interest in the procurement and design of an unusual, asymmetrical soaker tub. And the sleeping quarters were fitted with sliding barn doors. The kitchen, always the most-used room of the house, came away with both stylish and sensible upgrades, including black granite countertops sourced at San Luis Marble. While they were at it, for good measure, they went ahead and replaced the aging roof, as well. In the end, the home simply became a better version of itself; a logical evolution tracing back to the first time

Bob laid eyes on it while his Cal Poly classmates were busy designing and constructing it in 1978. Seven years later, in 1985, through a twist of fate, he became the proud owner. And now, thirty-four years after that, he and Sallie marvel at how much—and how little—their old tree house has changed over those years. All thanks to a hairline fracture, which waited patiently for its moment.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

$1,214,45815$1,172,53296.55%68 2019 $1,502,55020$1,448,77596.42%82 +/20.59%23.56%33.33%23.72%-0.13%countryclub

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2018

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2018 $840,27744$827,58498.49%35 2019 $773,69448$761,62398.44%31 +/-0.05%-7.92%9.09%-7.97%-11.43%

lagunalake

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2018

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2018 $903,982$914,5454298.84%58 2019 $818,63453$799,91597.71%43 +/-25.86%-10.49%26.19%-11.51%-1.13%downtown

johnsonave

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2018 $1,022,28020$988,07496.65%22 2019 $1,032,459$1,065,3831996.91%31 +/-5.00%4.22%4.49%0.26%40.91%cal areapoly

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2018 $898,343$905,7873199.18%28 2019 $959,58635$913,95895.25%33 +/12.90%5.94%1.74%-3.93%17.86%foothillblvd

*Comparing 01/01/18 - 09/23/18 to 01/01/19 - 09/23/19

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2018 $884,484$891,4154199.22%36 2019 $834,55244$817,02797.90%33 +/-6.38%7.32%-7.63%-1.32%-8.33%

68 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS® | SLO CITY SLO LIFE

$845,094$850,6771399.34%31 2019 $801,024$811,5492198.70%29 +/-4.60%61.54%-5.21%99.10%-6.45%farmtank

ESTATEREAL

NUMBERSTHEBY

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 69 Don’t wait! Take advantage of this opportunity and reach out to us today to get started. Donna Lewis NMLS ID: 245945, CA - CA-DOC245945 • Dylan Morrow NMLS ID: 1461481, CA - CA-DBO1461481 • Maggie Koepsell NMLS ID: 704130, CA - CA-DBO704130 • Phyllis Wong NMLS ID: 1400281, CACA-DBO1400281 • Luana Gerardis NMLS ID: 1324563, CA - CA-DBO1324563 • NMLS ID #2611 (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) • CA - Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight, Division of Corporations under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act Lic #4130699 • Joe Hutson NMLS ID: 447536, CA - CA-DOC447536 Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed Rate for current rates and for more information. • In-house underwriting and closing • 24-hour underwriting turn times • Jumbo financing experts Work with a mortgage company that can offer low rates, great service and a fast, transparent process: Make sure you lock in a lower rate before it’s too late! Maggie Koepsell VP of Mortgage Lending O: (805) 335-8742 C: (805) maggie.koepsell@rate.com674-6653 Dylan Morrow Associate VP of Mortgage Lending O: (805) 335-8738 C: (805) dylan.morrow@rate.com550-9742 Donna Lewis Branch Manager/ VP of Mortgage Lending O: (805) 335-8743 C: (805) donna.lewis@rate.com235-0463 Luana Gerardis VP of Mortgage Lending O: (805) 329-4087 C: (707) luana.gerardis@rate.com227-9582 Joe Hutson VP of Mortgage Lending O: (831) 205-1582 C: (831) joe.hutson@rate.com212-4138 Rate.com/offices/CASanLuisObispo1065 1065 Higuera Street, Suite 100 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Phyllis Wong VP of Mortgage Lending O: (805) 706-8075 C: (805) phyllis.wong@rate.com540-8457 The leaves aren’t the only thing falling this time of year.

NMLS 395723 Sanblerner@flagstarretail.com1212MarshSt.,Suite1LuisObispo,CA93401 Ben Lerner (805) 441-9486 * Top 1% Mortgage Originator | Mortgage Executive Magazine Equal Housing Lender Member FDICflagstarretail.com Est. 1987© 2019 Flagstar Bank Not a commitment to lend. Programs available only to qualified borrowers. Subject to credit approval and underwriting terms and conditions. Programs subject to change without notice. Some restrictions may apply. Let me help you purchase oryourrefinancehome. Contact me today to learn more. * | SLO COUNTY SLO LIFE Arroyo CountywideTempletonSantaSanPasoPasoPasoPasoPismoOceanoNipomoMorroLosGroverCrestonCayucosCambria/SanAvilaAtascaderoGrandeBeachSimeonBeachOsosBayBeach(InsideCityLimits)(North46-East101)(North46-West101)(South46-East101)LuisObispoMargarita BY THE NUMBERS 2018 21152302722419127391090127107301182994387442481594 2019 2101209262237191083979211899441022874394452832185 REGION NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD 2018 15344515673914837585158783450825740958053 2019 104114405296689356396758648647666864436956 AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET 2018 $1,248,830$576,941$765,818$735,947$1,129,936$949,100$531,744$645,825$732,561$670,631$500,233$967,680$500,496$513,502$628,647$729,011$939,373$424,600$794,516$696,553 2019 $1,453,496$822,000$583,428$961,409$1,170,889$935,357$549,563$650,114$750,272$648,042$521,818$1,173,585$527,636$575,216$658,973$596,731$909,767$546,832$773,656$718,634 MEDIANPRICESELLING SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ®*Comparing 01/01/18 - 09/23/18 to 01/01/19 - 09/23/19 REAL ESTATE

ating back to the Roman empire, metals have been a staple in industrialization and everyday life. Known for their ingenuity, the ancient Romans constructed an intricate system of aqueducts to supply the city’s water. Physicians were aware that lead mining led to adverse health effects and, for this reason, ceramic pipes were preferred. Nonetheless, lead pipes prevailed in certain areas where modern testing shows ancient Roman “tap water” contained 100 times more lead than local spring waters. Not ideal, but not necessarily deadly.

METALSHEAVY

| HEALTH

72 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

Today, the dangers of lead poisoning are well-known and documented—but the threat of lead and other heavy metals in our environment remains far from obsolete. In January, Consumer Reports released a report documenting eyebrow-raising levels of inorganic arsenic, lead, and cadmium in 45 popular fruit juices. In this specific case, Consumer Reports recommends parents give kids less juice. But, the issue extends far beyond skipping the OJ aisle. So, what’s the real deal with heavy metals? BY ERIKA FITZGERALD

FITZGERALD is a writer and traveler with a healthy addiction to kombucha and kale. modern lens, these recipes contained enough lead to cause chronic and severe poisoning. Some researchers even attribute the fall of Rome to lead poisoning, pointing to the absent-minded and erratic Claudius as an example. Whether this is true or not, one thing we know for certain is that using lead for domestic purposes and water distribution presents a major health hazard.

Naturally, building and ruling an empire is hard work. To blow off steam, Roman emperors and aristocrats frequently indulged in the finer things—like sweet wines simmered down using lead pots and kettles. When examined under a ERIKA

Hidden Health Hazard or Overhyped Concern? D

Lead isn’t the only culprit when it comes to heavy metals. An ever-growing demand for seafood is pushing mercury deeper into our food supply chain as well. It’s no news that tuna, like most fish, contains heavy metal mercury—which is toxic when consumed in excess over extended periods of time. This means the average person would need to eat at least three cans of tuna every day for six months before suffering serious symptoms.

So, how does mercury get into our food supply? Naturally, small and benign doses of mercury exist in seawater before getting absorbed by algae. Small fish feed on the algae and larger fish feed on those fish, passing accumulated doses of mercury up the food chain. When people eat big fish—such as tuna, sea bass, halibut, and swordfish—they consume larger amounts of mercury.

#1 LIVING WITH LEAD AND OTHER METALS#2

CAUSE FOR CONSUMPTION CONCERN

NOT ALL HEAVY METALS

Heavy metals are naturally occurring chemical compounds that exist in the environment. Some metals— such as zinc, iron, and magnesium— are essential dietary nutrients. Other metals—such as mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium—not so much. When these stealthy contaminants accumulate in a person’s body, they pose health risks ranging from chronic fatigue and digestive problems to depression, anxiety, and insomnia. In more serious cases, heavy metals—particularly mercury and lead—can interfere with neuron function and cause long-lasting, irreversible cellular damage linked to autoimmunity and other chronic conditions. According to the CDC, long-term exposure to heavy metals puts people at risk for kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, learning impairment, and certain types of cancer. Children are among the most susceptible to these harmful effects, making the fruit juice findings particularly concerning.

SPELL DANGER From aluminum cookware to lingering lead-based paints and old water pipes, metals permeate our modern environment—and human activity has only increased its concentrations. Easy fix, right? Replace metal cookware, hire a painter, and filter water. Well, not exactly. According to Anthony William, author of the New York Times best-selling book Medical Medium: Secrets Behind Chronic and Mystery Illness and How to Finally Heal, “heavy metal toxicity—from metals such as mercury, aluminum, copper, cadmium, nickel, arsenic, and lead—represents one of the greatest threats to our health and wellbeing.” In the United States alone, lead currently affects more than four million households across 3,000 communities. Making wide-spread headlines, residents of Flint, Michigan suffered serious illness after a negligent change in infrastructure infiltrated the water supply. Other less-reported incidents include home renovations and deterioration where old leadbased paint comes into play.

Furthermore, as demand increases and the oceans become increasingly depleted, suppliers are turning to factory-farmed fish. Despite being a promising solution to overfishing, farmed fish present a whole new set of health problems. To satiate the massive number of farmed fish, farmers often use lowgrade feed consisting of corn, wheat, soy, and vegetable oils that are often rife with chemicals, antibiotics, and—you guessed it—heavy metals.

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In addition to fish, factory farming, industrial agriculture, and processing practices have turned up traces of heavy metals. Contaminants enter the food production chain through soil, water, and production equipment. For example, pressure-treated lumber used to grow grapevines leaks arsenic into wine and rice grown outside the United States absorbs arsenic directly from the groundwater. >>

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 75 ( 8 0 5 ) 5 9 5 1 9 6 2 3076 Duncane Lane . San Luis Obispo 805 549 0100

CO-EXISTING#4 IT OUT#5

Feeling a little sluggish? Chronic low-level metal toxicity is relatively common and widely underdiagnosed. If you suspect heavy metals are weighing you down, a functional medicine practitioner can test your levels and recommend a safe detox process. Different tests provide different levels of information—but the most common include blood tests, hair testing, chelation challenge testing, and bone testing.

While a thirty-day detox might give your body the boost it needs to reset, the best medicine is a healthy lifestyle. Seven to eight hours of sleep every night, whole plant-based foods, lots of water, and a daily dose of stress-free Central Coast sunshine does the trick.

Once heavy metal toxicity is confirmed, the first step is to remove their sources from your environment. The next step is to introduce detoxifying foods that bind to and flush out heavy metals. These include cilantro, garlic, wild blueberries, spirulina, chlorella, green tea, cruciferous vegetables, and lemon water. On the flip side, high-fat foods can attract and store metals—so a low-fat diet serves the body well during a heavy metal detox.

76 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 755 Alphonso Street . SLO [off Broad Street] 8420 El Camino Real . 805.439.1881Atascaderorevslo.com IN ONLY 6 MONTHS, REAL RESULTS AGE IS JUST A NUMBER.... MAKE IT HAPPEN! LOSE WEIGHT . BURN FAT GET IN SHAPE MEET NEW PEOPLE FOR MORE INFORMATION EMAIL US AT INFO@REVSLO.COM IT’S TIME TO MAKE TRANSFORMATIONYOURWITHREVSLOFITNESSHAZIEAGE66KENAGE67

CONTAMINANTSWITH

Most commonly, heavy metals enter the body through food and a host of household items, including cookware, pesticides, plastics, and aluminum-based deodorants. While few people will experience severe heavy metal poisoning as a result of their everyday environment, taking steps to minimize exposure is a simple way to improve general wellbeing and stave off long-term ailments.

SLO LIFE

To reduce exposure, look for all-natural alternatives to your favorite household products— especially antiperspirant deodorants, which often contain aluminum. As you might guess, rubbing microscopic particles of aluminum into a porous body surface is far from ideal. When it comes to cooking, swap low- quality metal cookware for ceramic, glass, and cast iron—as these materials are the least likely to add harmful toxins to the menu. Last, but not least, buy organic produce whenever possible. Luckily, SLO County is home to well over a dozen farmers’ markets stocked with local organic produce. If you suspect lead or other toxins might be lingering in your home—especially if your house was built before the ‘70s—consult with an expert to safely make necessary updates.

DETOX

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 77 YOGA BARRE SCULPT AERIAL w w w . s l o y o g a c e n t e r . c o m F a m i l y o w n e d a n d o p e r a t e d w i t h t w o l o c a t i o n s i n S L O

So, step away from the burrito wagon, if only this once. Dine deeper, both culinarily and geographically speaking. You may find that your new favorite dish hails from somewhere between here and Cape Horn. >>

78 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 | TASTE

MODERNLATINCUSINE

n this column, I’ve written about my quest for superb carnitas and juicy burritos. Of course, I’m not alone; wherever two or more Californians are gathered, discussion about Mexican food will ensue. The simple taco, wrapped in paper for take-out, will always have a cozy home in our hearts, but a handful of restaurants in SLO County offer Latin cuisine for times when we have more than a few minutes to eat—and more than a few dollars to spend. Each has its cultural roots somewhere in the Americas, and the heartfelt pride of each proprietor shines through in every bite.

BY JAIME LEWIS

JAIME LEWIS writes about food, drink, and the good life from her home in San Luis Obispo. Find her on Instagram/Twitter @jaimeclewis.

Think outside the taco shop.

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At La Cosecha Bar + Restaurant in Paso Robles, Latin pop music bumps from speakers along the long brick walls. Warm air breezes through the wide-open doors that face onto City Park, the tall bar stools a perfect perch for a sophisticated fall evening.

“This is his family recipe,” she says, explaining that each of the three little bundles before me contains beef, potatoes, veggies, and mild spices. Diving into the pastelitos, I taste the high note of cumin in every bite, as well as corn, peppers, and Despiteonions.the provenance of this dish, La Cosecha (which is Spanish for “homemade”) does not subscribe to the cuisine of any one place; other dishes hail from Peru, Brazil, and Spain. “We’re not confined to one country,” Carole says, reminding me that their first restaurant is Il Cortile, a high-end Italian restaurant up the street. “We have pizza on this menu, which has nothing to do with Latin food. Chef Santos just makes whatever he feels he’s good at.” >>

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ACROSS THE AMERICAS

I meet owner Carole MacDonal to talk Latin cuisine, and she brings me a long plate of three little dumplings covered in shredded cabbage and tomato slices. They are pastelitos catracho, traditional empanadas from Honduras, the homeland of her husband and restaurant partner, Chef Santos MacDonal.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 81 SECURED CAPITAL FINANCIAL Real Estate ESTABLISHEDLoans1997SCF WE ARRANGE REVERSE MORTGAGES 531 MARSH STREET . SUITE A SAN LUIS OBISPO . CA 93401 P 805.594.1050 F 805.594.0626 NMLS# 345506, 269870 . CA DRE# 01222435 Extra Income . Tax Free Cash Out . No Payments Medical Needs . Retirement Planning Enhanced Lifestyle . Federally Insured All Types of Owner Occupied Properties NEW and IMPROVED REVERSE MORTGAGES ARE BACK LUNCH LIKE THIS y o u d e s e r v e a F O L L O W @ N O U R I S H S L O F O R U P D A T E S O N O U R D A I L Y L U N C H S P E C I A L S O P E N 7 A M 3 P M M O N D A Y F R I D A Y 1 1 2 6 M O R R O S T R E E T , D O W N T O W N S L O p i c t u r e d : n o u r i s h b o w l , a d d c a l p o l y f a r m e g g , a d d a v o c a d o

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When I walk into Mestiza Bar y Cocina, the new Mexican eatery above Williams-Sonoma on Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo, the first thing I notice are the many cacti lining a dusty beige wall. Further down, globe light fixtures covered in woven fibers blend traditional notes with modern design.

Mestiza’s Executive Chef, Ricardo Ortega, is an owner along with Compass Health, which operates other Central Coast restaurants, including the Old Custom House in Avila Beach and Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach. But this restaurant is personal for him, he says, as his own family’s roots are in Michoacán. He shares that another chef in the kitchen, Armando Melendez, comes from Mexico City.

The term mestiza, Ortega explains, refers to a blend of cultures. “In some Mexican cities, in one city block you can see an ancient pyramid, an old Spanish cathedral, and a skyscraper,” he says. “It’s a blend of old and new, as well as the influences that made Mexico what it is today.” >> THE MIX

Ortega brings me a plate of quesadillas de flor de calabaza—pretty blue-ish quesadillas filled with Oaxacan cheese, epazote (an herb native to southern Mexico), and squash blossoms. A little pot of guacamole surprises me with pomegranates mixed in, symbolizing the red and green of the Mexican flag. The flavors are gentle, not overly spicy, and the squash blossoms lend an unexpected pillowy texture to each bite.

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Allegretta seats me at the raw bar to watch the kitchen staff prepare a dish called apasionada: meticulously sliced scallops in a pool of spicy-citrusy leche de tigre and aji limo. The word aji means pepper, and the Mistura menu is riddled with it: aji verde, aji amarillo, aji huacatay.

DESTINATION: LIFE

Indeed, Allegretta tells me, Peruvian cuisine comprises over twenty peppers. Fruity and nuanced, the flavors of sauces made from these peppers provide the bassline of nearly every Peruvian dish, including the apasionada before me. It manages to be sweet, tart, savory, and luscious all at once—a beautiful shape-shifter, much like the culture from whence it came.

PERU SLO

Nicola Allegretta is actually Italian, but his wife Jackeline, who is Peruvian, encouraged him to immerse in Peruvian cuisine. “She said ‘You need to be educated in Peru, to really learn all the regions of Peru,’” says Allegretta. “Mistura means a mix of cultures because that’s what Peruvian food is, too.”

Walking into San Luis Obispo’s Mistura, I’m struck by the seamless combination of modern art and traditional Incan patterns on the wall. Despite its sprawling size, the restaurant feels intimate and warm, with bossa nova lilting on the Mistura’sair.Chef

Allegretta became such an expert in the subject that, today, Mistura represents the Trade Commission of Peru; whenever Peru showcases its land, tourism, and industry in the United States, Mistura is there to serve Peruvian food as an example of the country’s bounty.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 85 WIRELESS INTERNET FOR THE CENTRAL COAST NO CONTRACTS . NO DATA LIMITS INSTALLATION ONLY $99 805.556.4065 | peakwifi.com “Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.” - Ted Turner on his secret to success Call us. We can help your business grow. slolifemagazine.com/advertise805.543.8600 SLOLIFE magazine

A rustic free-form tart, apple galette is the laid-back friend of apple pie, cooked on a baking sheet rather than in a pie pan. Keep it local by shopping at SLO Creek Farms or See Canyon Fruit Ranch—both farms offer you-pick apples or sell them by the pound and are open late August to mid October.

! !

| KITCHEN

APPLE GALETTE

BY CHEF JESSIE RIVAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOFIA RIVAS

JESSIE’S TIP: Treat Galette dough like pie dough. Handle it as little as possible, work quickly, and keep the dough cool. I like to chill the galettes after assembly for a few minutes and then put them straight into the preheated oven.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 87

juice Glaze Ingredients: 1 egg beaten 2 Tbs apricot jam 1 Tbs water 2 Tbs crystallized or raw sugar

¼ cup

1 tsp

APPLE GALETTE

On a ½ sheet pan lined with parchment paper, set both rolled out sheets of dough side by side. In the center of both add equal amounts of filling. Fold dough over the side of the filling with the center of the filling exposed. Paint all exposed dough thoroughly with the glaze and sprinkle with the crystallized or raw sugar. Bake in 350 degree preheated oven for approximately 1 hr and15 minutes or until dough is golden brown. Let rest at least 20 minutes before serving.

SLO LIFE Filling Ingredients: medium apples, cored, peeled, and cut into ½” wedges brown sugar sugar Tbs cornstarch cinnamon ground nutmeg pinch salt Tbs lemon

JESSIE RIVAS is the owner and chef of The Pairing Knife food truck which serves the Central Coast.

Dough Ingredients: 2 ½ cups flour 2 Tbs sugar tsp salt 1 cup butter, chilled cup sour cream cup fine cornmeal

6-8

1 ½

In a separate bowl, prepare glaze by mixing egg, apricot jam, and water. Pull dough from the freezer and flatten on cutting board or counter top. Cut in half and form two equal size disks. Roll out to pie dough thickness. Use fine ground corn meal to keep dough from sticking to counter or rolling pin.

1 ½

To make dough, in a mixing bowl stir together flour, sugar, and salt. Cut cold butter into cubes and add one at a time, just until combined. Add sour cream and stir well. Cover and chill in freezer until firm. Next, prepare the filling. Put apple slices into a medium mixing bowl. Add sugars, cornstarch, cinnamon, nutmeg, a pinch of salt, and lemon juice. Mix well by folding and let sit for a few minutes.

¼ t sp

Saucelito Canyon Winery // Gladys (Knight) the pug // Zinfandel

BY ANDRIA MCGHEE

| WINE NOTES >>

Why are dogs synonymous with wine culture? Maybe the answer lies in the way both dogs and wine can cause even the most hardened among us to open up, to drop down our guard and live a little. In the same way that wine is a social lubricant—a magical elixir that allows us to meet in the middle—so too are our four-legged friends. They serve as enthusiastic, yet often sleepy, mascots in wine tasting rooms, cheerleaders in the cellar, and faithful friends in the vineyards. So, pack the picnic basket, grab a bottle of wine, and explore some local canine-friendly wineries.

While at Saucelito, enjoy their old-world style Zinfandel. These are much lighter and fruitier than a typical warmer climate, “jammy” tasting Zinfandel. How do they get an old-world taste? The vines came from across the seas over a century ago before they were abandoned during prohibition. A rare find by Bill Greenough (“Greeno”), who took a gamble on them as Phylloxera, the wretched moth that killed most of France’s vines, killed many of the other Zin vines planted around United States. Miraculously, his were spared. Compare their 2017 Young Vine Zinfandel, which is bright and fruity with a bit of spice to their old vines 2016 Estate Zinfandel, which has a bigger nose and a slight cherry cola taste. You can tell these vines have a knowledge of the world that we can only begin to understand.

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The tasting room was Gladys’s first home. This funny-faced furball was rescued by tasting room manager Katharyn. Since then, Gladys has greeted visitors and basked under tables, especially those with the largest charcuterie plate.

ANDRIA MCGHEE received her advanced degree in wines and spirits from WSET in London and enjoys travel, food, wine, and exercise.

HAIR OF THE DOG

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 89 EDNA VALLEY PIONEERS • SINCE 1973 10 MIN FROM DWNTN SLO • CHAMISALVINEYARDS.COM Join us for a tasting of our world class Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Join us at the #MaleneScene - our 1969 Airstream mobile tasting room and picnic grounds, just 10 minutes from Downtown SLO. Dedicated to Rosé Inspired by Provence • Made in California 805.235.3338 • malenewines.com

Dick and Dolores Kelsey, who once maintained tugboats in the current wine barrel room, decided to retire and start a winery. Instead of simply stomping grapes for wine, they tried their hand with the apples that grew all around the canyon, as well. This was the birth of Red Delicious Apple Rosé wine, which is quite different than a cider. After nearby Sycamore Hot Springs begain selling the unique blend, it was renamed “Hot Tub Wine” by its guest. Fermented from equal parts apple and grape juice, it offers a taste that is difficult to describe.

Kelsey See Canyon Winery // Zeus the red lab // Apple Rosé Not only are peacocks welcome here, but as they won “SLO’s best dog-friendly winery” this year, dogs are just as common. Winemaker Jac Jacobs and his assistant, Joey Roedl, always have their loyal pooches, Oden and Zeus, by their sides. Oden is a great Pyrenees from a Paso sheepherding line. His big physique is less intimidating because of his full body wag when he sees visitors. Zeus is a Red Lab that is incredibly social, as well, but rarely leaves Roedl’s side, except when walking himself on the beach. These two are so endearing—I just want to hang there all day.

SLO LIFE Want to bring your furry friend with you to a winery?

90 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 Whalebone // 8325 Vineyard Dr, Paso Robles Bentley // Cabernet Sauvignon

Take a couple steps before visiting to ensure a great time. Call ahead to check their policy. Wineries often have a garden or patio space for guests with dogs. Always keep Fido on a leash and keep some waste baggies on hand. Bonus: be sure to bring along a bowl for water while you are drinking wine, just in case the winery doesn’t have one. Cheers!

When walking up to Whalebone, it is not uncommon to be greeted by Bentley, a three-year-old puppy—a lab in a bulldog’s body. The loyal, if not obedient, sidekick to the one of the winery’s owners, Janalyn Simpson, makes fast friends with visitors by asking them to play fetch with a piece of limestone that he drops at their feet. It is the same limestone that makes this area such a coveted winegrowing region. This winery is part of a 126-acre lot that Simpson and her husband Bob purchased thirty-three years ago when they asked a local winemaker for advice on growing grapes. The Simpsons loved Cabernet Sauvignon, so that’s what they grew. After rave reviews from friends, they decided to share this joy with everyone, and that is how the tasting room was born. The 2016 Estate Cabernet is delicious and features a great body. With a touch of Merlot, the cab shines its dark berry and spice taste similar to a Bordeaux blend. The Whalebone name is a fantastic reminder of the ancient marine seabed soil from which the vines now grow and get their fantastic flavor.

It’s just something you have to try. A touch of sweetness helps the fruit spring to life, while the grapes give it that smooth red berry flavor. It strikes a nice balance and, more than anything else, it doesn’t take itself too seriously and is just downright fun—just like Oden and Zeus.

BEFORE YOU GO

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 91 onlivetoarteclectic,smart, 1599 Monterey Street | 805.544.5900 | sloconsignment.com (at the corner of Grove Street, across from Pepe Delgados) Open Monday - Saturday 10-6pm

My wife drinks them. I still love her, though a little less once the cap comes off. It’s not her fault and she is far from your basic girl, Instagramming a pile of fallen red leaves. She’s just festive and starting to get excited about the upcoming holidays and cooler weather. Like seeing bags of bite-sized Halloween

The recipe is simple: make a beer (or just use one you have already on the brew schedule), then add cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice.

Boom! Pumpkin spice beer! I want to expound on this concept, but it is so simple that there’s not much more to say. I think this gets at the crux of why they are so derided. On that note...

S UDS

>> | BREW BY

candy fill the store shelves that just recently held sunscreen and inflatable pool toys, pumpkin beer signals the closing of the year and the beginning of a new chapter in our weather.

On the other hand are pumpkin spice beers. These are really what we think of when we conjure hatred of anything malty and somehow slightly orange.

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ven more derided than milkshake IPAs with their liberal use of the milk sugar, lactose, and revolting glitter beers stuffed full of swirling FDA-approved mica, are the dreaded pumpkin beers released every Fall. Each year, hundreds of breweries jump on the seasonal wagon and produce the autumnal equivalent of the Peep. Widely hated, yet BRANT MYERS

SEAS ONAL secretly consumed. More accurately, I’m talking about pumpkin spice beers that have been a thorn in the side of many a brew aficionado and have seen a steady rise in popularity. Yet I have never seen one being imbibed in the wild! So what are they, why are they so hated and who is drinking these abominations?

Before we dive into the cultural rift that these seasonal brews create, let’s distinguish that there are two types of pumpkin beer. The first is generally better accepted due to the fact that it is more technically difficult to make— an actual pumpkin beer. A perennial favorite has been El Gourdo, brewed by Jim Crooks and his team at Firestone’s Barrelworks in Buellton. They handpick and fire roast locally grown Cinderella pumpkins, adding walnuts and bay laurel for an earthy and smoky wild wheat ale that evokes early evenings spent cooking for family while catching whiffs of chimney smoke from the neighborhood. Now that is a pumpkin beer fit for Fall.

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 93 TUESDAY - SATURDAY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY 1075 COURT STREET, SUITE 204, SAN LUIS OBISPO 805.459.8323 | tohaveandtoholdbridalsalon.com TO HAVE & TO HOLD BRIDAL SALON SPECIALIZES IN AIRBRUSH MAKEUP, HAIR DESIGN, SALON SERVICES, AS WELL AS BRIDAL ROBES AND HAIR ACCESSORIES. WE INVITE YOU TO EXPERIENCE OUR UNIQUE SETTING IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN SLO. HappensHealing FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, SLO, INVITES YOU TO JOIN OUR SERVICES. At our Wednesday evening services, you will hear testimonies of healing and ideas shared on how Christian Science is applied to every challenge in the daily lives of our members. The laws of harmony and health revealed in the Bible apply today. You will be inspired. Healing through prayer is possible. Wednesday Testimony Meeting 7:00 p.m. Sunday Church Services 10:00 a.m. 1326 Garden Street, SLO prayerthatheals.org christianscience.org 805.927.0374 . ecotoneslandscapes.com . LIC # 767033 Drought-Tolerant, Lifestyle Landscapes Hand Laid Natural Stonework Design . Build . MaintainEST. 1999

SLO

The backlash against pumpkin beer has been dying down over the years as we begin to see some sharks being jumped, not only with the aforementioned milkshake and glitter beers, but with the rise of flavored seltzers. Even Anheuser-Busch’s Natural Light is now seen with pink flamingos on the can and strawberry lemonade flavors added to make Naturdays (ideally consumed through a plastic flamingo beer bong). After this abominable, consumer fueled phenomenon, how can we go back and tell brewers not to use spice in their beer? After all, spiced beer has been around for hundreds of years and dates back to many venerable Belgian breweries that are above reproach. American brewers have a natural predilection for a heavier hand in the addition of spices over the Belgians, but it still boils down to a gut feeling we have as consumers that there is something amiss. We have all experienced the dreaded “seasonal creep” as we’re simultaneously shopping for Halloween costumes and listening to Christmas music over the store speakers. This is no different in the beer world. We have one basic problem with timing that is inevitable and twofold: How do you make a quality pumpkin beer when the pumpkins are still growing? How do you brew, bottle, ship, distribute, stock and sell a seasonal beer before the season is over and before the beer loses its precious shelf life? Finding the balance is difficult. No one wants to drink pumpkin in the Summer, and no one wants to drink it after the turkey leftovers are gone. This is a small target to hit and using spices instead of gourds helps alleviate the time crunch, but it sacrifices quality. Consumers know this, even if only as a feeling. Consumers are savvier than ever and are naturally wary of gimmicks and

BRANT MYERS is a craft beer veteran and the founder of BIIIG, supporting local businesses in the hospitality industry.

So will I be drinking a pumpkin beer this year? Of course, but it’s going to be the best one I can find and my wife and I will enjoy the subtle, oak-aged nuances emanating from the glass, wafting through the kitchen and mingling with the natural buttery scents of diacetyl from the pumpkin being carved while seeds roast in the oven. Because isn’t that what fall is all about? So shop wisely, consume sparingly and remember that the best thing about beer is sharing a moment with those you love.

94 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019

thing about beer is the sheer variety of styles and that there truly is something for every taste.

heavy-handed attempts to garner sales from trends. So when we see orange labels start to dominate the coolers, we take a moment to lament the loss of the summer session IPA that used to occupy the same space. What do we do about it? Nothing. It doesn’t matter. The thing I love about beer is that it is the most democratic purchase you can make. Vote with your wallet and the breweries will listen. Only the strong will survive and that’s okay too, because my next favorite LIFE

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 95 Join SLO Life food columnist Jaime Lewis for candid conversations about life and flavor with area eaters, drinkers and makers. A PODCAST CONSUMED i TUNES LETSGETCONSUMED.COMSPOTIFY SPONSORED BY: 2976 INDUSTRIAL PARKWAY . SANTA MARIA 805-570-0019 . HANSDUUSBLACKSMITH.COMHANSDUUS@GMAIL.COMDUUSHANSBLACKSMITHINC Creators of bench built lighting fixtures by local artisans. The jewelry for your home.

October 13 // citytothesea.org

FESTIVAL

CITY TO THE SEA

All birding skill levels are welcome for a walk through the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden and the surrounding environs including El Chorro Regional Park, Dairy Creek, the Bluebird Trail, and grassy hillsides. See dozens of species in a variety of habitats, with likely sightings of White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, California Quail, Western Scrub-jay, Western Bluebird, and possible nesting Black-headed Grosbeaks and orioles. October 19 // slobg.org 30 31

CAMBRIA

October 1-31 // cambriascarecrows.com BOO BASH Meadow Park becomes a haunted hangout for family-friendly games and activities, edible goodies and a costume party for the kids, thanks to the City of SLO Parks and Rec Department. End the evening with a movie under the stars for a real Halloween treat.

October 25 // slocity.org

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The intersection of Higuera and Court streets in downtown San Luis Obispo is the starting point for this half marathon race open to runners and walkers alike. The USA Track & Field certified course winds through the city, taking runners along scenic backroads and ending alongside the Pacific Ocean in beautiful Pismo Beach.

96 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 | HAPPENINGS

Bring your dancing shoes (dance lessons are one of the evening’s highlights) and enjoy the true meaning of Greek culture and hospitality. An elegant, authentic Greek dinner awaits you at the SLO Vet’s Hall along with appetizers, a full bar, a fantastic Greek band and a silent auction to support local community programs. Don’t forget the baklava. OPA!

October 19 // greekfestivalslo.com

Whimsy runs rampant at the 11th annual assembly of hand-crafted folk art that draws thousands of visitors from across the country. Don’t miss hundreds of scarecrows bowling, bathing, painting, pedaling, fishing, and flying through Cambria, San Simeon and Harmony throughout the month of October.

FALL AUDUBON BIRD WALK

OCTOBER SCARECROW

DEATHTRAP

DIA DE LOS MUERTOS

CLASSICALLY SPEAKING

POP-UP ART SHOW

November 1-17 // slorep.org

Three separate events make up the 36th annual local celebration of words, and you can enjoy three of San Luis Obispo County’s recent Poet Laureates— Marguerite Costigan, Jeanie Greensfelder, and Ivan Brownotter – as they give voices to their written words in three different venues.

The San Luis Obispo Master Chorale celebrates two giants of classical music with the pairing of Igor Stravinsky’s “Symphony of Psalms” with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Requiem” at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. Guest performers include Alba FrancoCancél, Susan Azaret Davies, Paul Osborne, and Gabriel Manro.

SAN LUIS OBISPO POETRY FESTIVAL

Help support the Monday Clubhouse Conservancy Fine Arts Awards Fund by fostering the creativity of more than a score of Central Coast 2D and 3D artists, who “nourish the expression of one soul talking to another.” It’s perfectly timed for holiday giving and sharing. November 15-17 // themondayclubslo.org

OCT/NOV 2019 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 97

HAPPENINGS

November 1-2 // www.diadelosmuertosslo.org

NOVEMBER

Gasp-inducing thrills! Spontaneous laughter! Both are promised in SLO Repertory Theatre’s production of this ingeniously constructed “roller-coaster comic thriller” of a play written by Ira Levin and directed by Kevin Harris. A delightfully clever tale sure to be welltold by SLO REP’s creative crew.

November 24 // slomasterchorale.org

This festive, family-friendly, free community event is back for a sixth grand celebration in SLO’s downtown Mission Plaza, brought to you by Wilshire Hospice, SLO Museum of Art, Latino Outreach Council, and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Enjoy decorated altars, traditional dances, mariachi music, poets, artists and sellers, art and crafts activities, educational talks, costume contests, Mexican food and beverages, sugar skull decorating, and more!

November 2, 10 & 17 // languageofthesoul.org

November

98 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 Dr. Arnie Horwitz HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS Are you feeling overwhelmed and confused? I can help. Specializing in - Relationship Conflicts - Parenting & Self-Esteem - Separation and Divorce - Personal Life Planning - Grief and Loss - Career Uncertainty Therapy/Counseling/Coaching Dr. Arnie Horwitz • 30 yrs. 805-541-2752Experiencewww.doctorarnie.com slorep.org NOV 1-17 “Two-thirds a thriller and one-third a devilishly clever comedy. Scream a little. It’s good for you.” – cue magazine 888 MORRO ST SAN LUIS OBISPO WED-SAT7PMSAT-SUN2PM BY IRA LEVIN

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS

One of America’s pre-eminent humorists, David Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most observant authors addressing the human condition today. With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques, he presents an all-new evening of irreverent musings, laugh-out-loud monologues, and readings from new and unpublished works during this Cal Poly Arts presentation. 4 // morrobaytri.com

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 NOVEMBER | HAPPENINGS Give the gift of SLO LIFE! SUBSCRIBE slolifemagazine.comTODAY! OPPORTUNITY RUSSMEETLEVANWAY FAMILY, CONNECTING

wine

November

HARVEST ON beachfront extravaganza of food and wine in Avila Beach kicks off on Friday with a “Crafted on the Coast” collaborative winemaker dinner, followed on Saturday by a beachside Grand Tasting and Live Auction featuring artisan foods, live music and the opportunity to support local nonprofits. Then on “Surf’s Up” Sunday head out to SLO Coast wineries for all-day wine tasting, specials and even more live music. 1-3 // visitavilabeach.com

For the very first time the International Sustainable Winegrowing Summit will be held in the United States, running in conjunction with the Sustainable Ag Expo at the Alex Madonna Expo Center in San Luis Obispo. Bringing together leading experts from around the globe, the full-service tradeshow and equipment showcase provides an opportunity for farmers and ag pros to learn about the latest in farming research, resource issues, and business trends. November 11-13 // vineyardteam.org

THE COAST A

SUSTAINABLE AG EXPO

100 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | OCT/NOV 2019 WELCOMING OUR NEWEST OFFICE LOCATION IN DOWNTOWN PASO ROBLES BHGREHAVEN.COM SAN LUIS OBISPO • MORRO BAY • PASO ROBLES Here We Grow Again