SLO LIFE Magazine Jun/Jul 2021 by SLO LIFE Magazine

LIFE SLO magazine

HEALTH TRENDS SUMMER GETAWA

LOCAL SCENE

TASTE KIDS FAVES

REAL ESTATE BY THE NUM

RE ST GS

TA K I N G IN THE VIEW SEASONAL FAVORITES

EXPLORING SAN LUIS OB BIKE TRAIL CENTAL COAST JUN/JUL 2021 SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

MEET

DANA MCGREGOR JUN/JUL 2021

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M O D E R N • C L A S S I C • J E W E L R Y

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THANK YOU. Thank you for wearing face coverings, maintaining physical distancing, washing hands thoroughly, staying home when feeling ill and using SLO Transit for essential travel only. Thank you SLO for preserving the health and wellness of our community. We appreciate you.

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“What We Need, When We Need It”

“We’re very, very comfortable with American Riviera and their concept of supporting a small business. They understand our cashflow requirements, what we need and when we need it. And they’re very responsive to that.” — Michael and Margene Mooney, Chateau Margene

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TEN OVER is on a mission to amplify local voices working to better our community.

To this end, we are donating the following ad space to local nonprofit organizations in need. Together, we can leave the world better than we found it.

TENO VER S TUD I O. C OM

our habitat. our home. This last year has elevated the importance of what home means to all of us. A home provides security, comfort, and joy during difficult times. We believe everyone deserves a safe place to call home. With your help, we can give strength and independence to local families by investing in the stability of homeownership. Support our mission to bring people together to Build Homes, Communities, and Hope right here in San Luis Obispo County.

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Tenet Health

Health

Central Coast

Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center

Stronger Together

Your Partners in Neurosurgical Care Together, with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center is providing a stronger network of neurosurgical services on the Central Coast. Combining nationally recognized expertise and advanced technology, we can help keep you close to home for specialized neurosurgical care. Why Choose Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center? • Integrated care with UCSF Medical Center, which ranks number two in the nation and best in California in neurology and neurosurgery by U.S. News & World Report • Advanced technology for enhanced precision of brain and spine procedures • Advanced Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center Certification • Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery • The only designated trauma center in San Luis Obispo County

To meet our specialists, visit TenetHealthCentralCoast.com/UCSF JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

CONTENTS 22 Briefs 24 View 26 Q&A

30 MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

12 PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

14 Info 16 Sneak Peek 18 Inbox 20 Timeline 8

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| JUN/JUL 2021

NOW HEAR THIS

Volume 12 Number 2 Apr/May 2021

38 Author

Surf is Up Downtown

Moondoggies’ Randy Adler with son Dane

MoonDoggies Beach Club Central Coast native Randy Adler wins our award for the most diligent merchant in Downtown SLO. During the past year we watched as he worked incredibly hard to keep his locally-owned surf shop on Monterey Street open, and he tells us that his business now couldn’t be better. “It’s almost unbelievable. People are looking for new outdoor activities, and surfing is one of the biggest beneficiaries of that. Our surf equipment and apparel business is doing really well.” If you ask us, it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy, and we’re proud to have Moondoggies as an important part of the San Luis Obispo Collection. D OW N TOW N

S LO

I S

T H E

P LAC E

W E

WA N T

B E .

Co u r t S t r e e t • M o n t e r e y S t r e e t • D o w n t o w n Ce n t r e JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| CONTENTS

56 Real Estate 60 Health

74 WINE NOTES

TASTE

40 ARTIST

42 Explore 44 On the Rise

78 Brew

46 Dwelling

82 Happenings

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| JUN/JUL 2021

exceptional landscape design + build contractors 805.574.0777 www.sagelandscapes.net @sagelandscapes JUN/JUL 2021

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| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Ark

This summer feels different. It’s actually reminding me of a different season: spring. Specifically, the spring that blossomed along the California coastline twenty-six years ago following the El Niño deluge of 1994/95. Then, I was a college student living in the Crown-Merrill Apartments on campus at UC Santa Cruz (Go Slugs!). I had never seen rain drops so large. It felt as if I were aboard Noah’s ark alongside shivering giraffes and pandas, hypnotized by the metronome-like redwoods swaying under sheets of cascading water. We were all so hunkered down, sometimes told to stay at home for fear that we’d end up under the trunk of a fallen tree. This was before Zoom meetings. And it didn’t matter anyway because the power was often out. We studied by candlelight. One day, it stopped. That spring was unlike anything I had experienced before. After so much cold and wet and gray—and isolation—everyone seemed to be vibrating on some higher ethereal plane when the sun finally came out again. It feels that way now. Except it’s not spring, it’s summer. And it’s not 1995 but 2021. Historians describe a cyclicality to events, as in “history repeats itself.” Many say we’re on the brink of a “new Roaring Twenties.” I’m not sure what that means exactly, and while speakeasies and dance crazes sound great to me, the historical cycle I’m most interested in right now is my own. This time around, I’m not a college student, instead I’ve got one of my own. Between our three kids, I’ve lost count for how many “graduations” my wife and I have attended (for the record, I put the word “graduation” in quotes because I don’t really count moving from the first grade to the second as graduating). Still, there’s always a ceremony and everyone shows up to take pictures and clap deliriously when the “diplomas” are conferred upon those deemed worthy of coloring between the lines. The fact that our first-born is graduating high school this year—a week before her eighteenth birthday no less—is forcing me to continually ponder a question: Where did the time go? Of course, there is nothing unique about that particular question, which has been tackled with vigor by philosophers and scientists alike. The truth is, it simply evaporates like an El Niño mud puddle drying out while we race around to dance recitals and t-ball games and “graduations.” This past year has been tough. A long winter. Cold and gray. But there were rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds at times as we bobbed up and down on the ark, squinting hard in the search for land on the horizon, somewhere to dock. With nothing else to do, we turned toward one another, those on board with us, the giraffes and pandas, our families, friends, and neighbors. We didn’t have to ask where time went because we were in it—together. Now, when that question starts to bubble up in my mind again—“Where did the time go?”—I answer it differently, with a question of my own, borrowing the intellectual jujitsu so often expertly employed by our sixteen-year-old son. It turns out that the answer to one of life’s most enduring and intractable questions is “Who cares?” Trying to figure out where time went only serves to accelerate its departure. I’m better off, I’ve decided, to embrace every fleeting moment I’ve got with the giraffes and pandas, give thanks for the sun—and the rain—hold on, and enjoy the ride. 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. Live the SLO Life!

Tom Franciskovich tom@slolifemagazine.com p.s. If you’d like to read more visit me at tomfranciskovich.com 12

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4251 S. HIGUERA STREET, SUITE 800, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM info@slolifemagazine.com (805) 543-8600 • (805) 456-1677 fax PUBLISHER Tom Franciskovich

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sheryl Franciskovich CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Charlotte Alexander Jeff Al-Mashat Brant Myers Lauren Harvey Paden Hughes Zara Khan Jaime Lewis Andria McGhee Joe Payne Brian Schwartz CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS David Lalush Todd Meaney Mark Nakamura Vanessa Plakias Nicole Pratt CONTRIBUTIONS Have some comments or feedback about something you’ve read here? Or, do you have something on your mind that you think everyone should know about? Submit your story ideas, events, recipes, and announcements by visiting us online at slolifemagazine.com and clicking “Share Your Story” or emailing us at info@slolifemagazine.com. Be sure to include your full name and city for verification purposes. Contributions chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations. ADVERTISING 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.

Nicole Pazdan, CSA,

SUBSCRIPTIONS Ready to live the SLO Life all year long? It’s quick and easy! Just log on to slolifemagazine.com/subscribe. It’s just $24.95 for the year. And don’t forget to set your friends and family up with a subscription, too. It’s the gift that keeps on giving! NOTE The opinions expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect those of SLO LIFE Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher.

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Letters chosen for publication may be edited for clarity and space limitations.

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Fusion Quartzite Designed by: Honeycomb Home Design & Pack Design Lisa Maksoudian Photography

1111 EL CAMINO REAL, ARROYO GRANDE, CA 93420

(805) 481-1122

WWW.PACIFICSHORESTONES.COM

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| SNEAK PEEK

ON THE COVER

behind the scenes DANA MCGREGOR

BY VANESSA PLAKIAS

Let’s see, shirtless surfer—once soccer pro— wearing a Captain America Goat cape while “rainbowing” a soccer ball over his goat …Yep! This was going to be a super fun shoot!

When I first arrived, I met Cody. He had just finished up a surf lesson with Dana. Cody was thrilled to surf on a board with a goat. He just went for it! It’s a memory Cody and his family will cherish forever.

At one point, we heard some commotion behind us. Someone had lost their dog and good samaritans were trying to help the nervous pup. They needed a leash and Dana was quick to grab his goat rope to lend a hand. Everyone was grateful the dog made it back to its owners safe and sound.

his mo m ca me me dic/su rfe r, Ne il, a nd Du rin g ou r sho ot a pa ra res he r rig ht fro m ref lk nt in for a mi we il Ne . ats go the et s wa rm a nd ove r to me Di a ne, the n me! It wa m, mo his en Th t! tea s the goat’ cin na mo n we re. ere the ch oco lat e a nd cre a my a nd I as ke d wh SLO LIFE

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SPONSORED

RAY OF

Hope

FOR SENIORS & PATIENTS ON THE CENTRAL COAST Ranelle Franklin Baldwin President & Founder

“TO CARE FOR OTHERS, TO TRULY CARE, GIVES MEANING TO OURSELVES, WHICH IN TURN GIVES MEANING TO MANKIND.”

President and Founder, Ranelle Franklin Baldwin, shares how her commitment to to the quality and not the quantity of patients being cared for is what truly sets apart the service provided by Dignified Hope Care. How did Dignified Hope Care get started? Ranelle Franklin Baldwin, President & Founder, has been caring for seniors for over a decade. She attributes her inspiration and success to her mentors: religious advisors, political figures, the countless professionals working in the medical community, specifically the geriatric care community, and the patients themselves that she has cared for. She is dedicated to the high standards she maintains within the staff she hires and coaches.

Can you tell us about the business? Dignified Hope

What sets your business apart from others? Dignified Hope Care is the only caregiving service that’s employs solely licensed caregivers. All of our caregivers are EMT’s, CNA’s, and MA’s while other companies employ non medical workers with minimal requirements. Typically seniors in need of care are either a rehab patient healing from surgery or end of life patient—both need a skilled professional to attend to real care needs. Non-medical staff can be appropriate for companionship needs, but if you have health concerns, a medically trained care provider is necessary. In addition we also have Rn’s and Lvn’s on staff to assist medication management and/or nursing shift needs.

What services do you offer? We provide Senior Care specifically designed and detailed for our clients. Our staff of Registered Nurses and Licensed Vocational Nurses are available for Clinical In-Home Services. We also work with all the local Hospice to provide Palliative/ End of Life Care. And for those wanting to stay at home, it can mean varied adjustments are needed to maintain independence— we have you covered with our Senior Handyman Services. Additionally, for new mother’s we offer Placenta Encapsulation and New Mother Care plans.

Care is a locally owned company here on the Central Coast. Our staff is committed to professional and compassionate care needed for your loved one. The individualized care provided is specifically tailored for each person’s needs. Maintaining independence and quality of life is our approach to assistance.

We all want the best for our loved ones. Visit our website to take our confidential In-Home Care Online Assessment to see if you or your loved one requires care.

Dignified Hope Care

(805) 510-1234 1242 Monterey St, Suite 120, San Luis Obispo, Ca 93401 www.DignifiedHopeCare.com JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| INBOX

T A KE US W I T H Y O U! Send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com or visit us online at slolifemagazine.com CASTLE ROCK, CODY, WYOMING

SEDONA, ARIZONA

SHU GERPHEIDE

EMILY and GREG BUERGLER with KARA

YOSEMITE, CALIFORNIA

MAMMOTH, CALIFORNIA

GRACE, GEORGE, BLAKE, JULIA, and KAITLYN

BISCAYNE NATIONAL PARK, FLORIDA

MEEKS and MILO

MULTNOMAH FALLS, OREGON

AMANDA, KEVIN and FINN SELMAN 18

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OWEN and CAMILLE SCHWAEGERLE

B E C AU S E YO U D E S E RV E T H E V E RY B E ST C E N T R A L C OAST R E A L E S TAT E R E P R E S E N TAT I O N .

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Chris Engelskirger Owner/Broker

Amy Daane

Owner/REALTOR®

Jed Damschroder Kellye Grayson Owner/REALTOR®

REALTOR®

41 21ST ST, CAYUCOS offered at: $1,525,000

Doug Cutler REALTOR®

Krissy Bellisario REALTOR®

Sacha Steel REALTOR®

333 TWIN RIDGE DR, SLO offered at: $1,850,000

Mukta Naran REALTOR®

Yatin Naran REALTOR®

Alex Wilkerson REALTOR®

Kristi Donati REALTOR®

Scott Debernardi REALTOR®

THE AVENUE CENTRAL COAST REALTY REAL ESTATE

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JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| TIMELINE

LOCAL april 2 The Pentagon approves the use of Camp Roberts, a California Army National Guard base in northern SLO County, to temporarily house unaccompanied migrant children. It is not clear if, or how many, children might be placed at the camp, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirms that the camp is under consideration. After being processed by the Border Patrol, children are transferred to Health and Human Services, then eventually released to a sponsor, usually a parent or close relative.

april 19 Attorneys for Ruben and Paul Flores enter “not guilty” pleas on behalf of their clients during an arraignment hearing in connection with the May 1996 death of Cal Poly student Kristin Smart. The father and son were arrested by San Luis Obispo County Sheriff ’s officials on April 13 at their separate homes. Paul, 44, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly killing Smart while trying to rape her, while Ruben, 80, is charged as an accessory after the fact for allegedly helping conceal Smart’s body after she was murdered. A preliminary hearing date is tentatively set for July 6.

april 25

PHOTO BY NICOLE PRATT

april 18 Team Coastal Cancel Cancer Crew, a multi-generational coterie of seventeen volunteers, hosts “Run for a Cure,” a five-mile fun run relay held at the beautiful Chateau Noland in Avila. The Crew, led by SLO High School students Matthew Davi, Savanna Henderson-Witt, and Mattea Kalpakoff, joined two other teams, each running in honor of a local Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Hero—three children battling blood cancer. Even with COVID restrictions on the number of runners, the three teams together raised more than $7,500 to support cancer research and patient support.

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The City of San Luis Obispo begins replacing old outdated parking meters at individual parking spots with all-new multi-space pay stations. The change, in line with a City plan to open up sidewalks and expand the parklet program, means people pay for their parking at one strategically-placed station, rather than at individual meters, which clutter up the sidewalk. Drivers simply punch in their license plate numbers, select an amount of time, pay the fee, and go on their way. Plans call for completing the replacement of downtown meters at twohour spaces by July 2022, as well as developing a parking app by July of this year that allows people to bypass the stations and simply use their cell phones.

april 27 Alaska Airlines announces it will offer daily nonstop flights between San Luis Obispo and both Portland and San Diego beginning June 17. The San Diego service had been launched in January 2020 but was put on hold during the pandemic, and the Portland service was scheduled to begin last June but never launched. Alaska already provides nonstop service twice daily between SLO and its hub in Seattle.

REVIEW may 6 Thursday Farmers’ Market, closed since March 2020, returns—concentrating its usual five blocks into two on Higuera Street from Osos to Chorro streets in downtown SLO. The first phase of opening includes familiar farmers and vendors, but precludes on-site dining, entertainment, and handling fresh produce. Designed like an outdoor grocery store, the smallerscale market offers produce and staples such as bread and coffee beans from more than thirty vendors, while a full-scale revival is projected for June depending on government restrictions.

may 2 Cal Poly alum and NASA astronaut Victor Glover, along with three other astronauts, splashes down in the Gulf of Mexico after spending nearly six months in space aboard the International Space Station. Their safe return to Earth on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon was the first nighttime splashdown since the Apollo missions of the 1960s. The crew spent 167 days on board the space station, completing 2,688 orbits around Earth. The mission was historic for Glover, the first Black crew member aboard the ISS for an extended stay. He is one of eighteen NASA astronauts selected for the Artemis program, which aims to send humans back to the moon before 2030.

may 3

Senators Dianne Feinstein and Alex Padilla introduce the Protecting Unique and Beautiful Landscapes by Investing in California (PUBLIC) Lands Act to increase protections for public lands throughout the Central Coast, northwest California, and Los Angeles. The package consists of three bills originally introduced in the House of Representatives, including the Central Coast Heritage Protection Act that would designate 288,000 acres of public land in the Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument as wilderness, 159 miles of streams as wild and scenic rivers, and two national scenic areas totaling 34,880 acres, and would establish a 400-mile-long Condor National Scenic Trail stretching from LA to Monterey County.

may 4

Seven SLO County Library branches open their doors for limited Grab & Go service after closing during the pandemic along with seven smaller branches. Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Cambria, Los Osos, Morro Bay, Nipomo, and San Luis Obispo libraries are open Tuesdays through Saturdays for browsing, “holds” pickups, and express computers. No seating is available for leisure reading, however, and program rooms will remain closed. Cayucos, Creston, Oceano, San Miguel, Santa Margarita, Shandon, and Shell Beach libraries remain shuttered until further notice, but patrons can always “Ask a Librarian” at www.slolibrary.org.

may 10 One police officer is killed, and another wounded, in a shooting at an apartment on Camellia Court in San Luis Obispo. Detective Luca Benedetti, a twelve-year law enforcement veteran and member of the SLO regional SWAT team, died after a burglary suspect opens fire on officers serving a search warrant at his apartment. Another SLOPD detective, Steve Orozco, is wounded but expected to fully recover. The suspect, identified by police as Edward Zamora Giron, opened fire at the detectives and was wounded by return fire. He later committed suicide.

may 13 The director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announces that people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks or practice social distancing indoors or outdoors. State and local laws, however, remain in effect, meaning that wearing face masks indoors in California—and thus in SLO County—is still the rule. The future looks brighter, however, as the County announces plans to demobilize its Alternate Care Site at Cal Poly by May 31 and return it to its pre-pandemic status as the campus rec center. And earlier in April, Governor Gavin Newsom declared that California plans to discontinue its colorcoded re-opening tiers for individual counties in June, meaning the entire state could move at once to open up for “business as usual” on June 15. SLO LIFE JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| BRIEFS

$1.7 million Grant funds from the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Program to help the City of San Luis Obispo improve the Anholm Neighborhood Greenway, a bicycle and pedestrian route along Chorro and Broad Streets connecting the downtown to Foothill Boulevard and the Highland Drive entry to Cal Poly. Construction, including safety lighting and public art, begins in early 2022.

Plaza Pop-Ups A series of month-long activations adorning Mission Plaza in downtown SLO through summer 2021 and perhaps beyond. Featuring a different cultural nonprofit each month and funded by the City, each art installation is unique to its nonprofit’s mission.

10,107 AF San Luis Obispo’s available water supply last year in acre-feet (AF), which is consistent with the City’s current water supply needs. That’s according to the 2020 General Plan Annual Report, which outlines the City’s four sources of H2O: Salinas Reservoir (Santa Margarita Lake); Whale Rock Reservoir; Nacimiento Reservoir; and recycled water from the City’s Water Resource Recovery Facility. 22

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Cracking the Government Code A series of interactive, fast paced, and informative sessions featuring experts who have wrestled in the trenches of community governance. Brought to you by the SLO Chamber of Commerce, it is designed to create lasting connections and share ideas in a safe, fun, and collaborative space.

5,000 The number of free showers that a local nonprofit has provided to people without access to running water and other hygiene supplies. Shower the People launched in October 2018 with sites in San Luis Obispo and Grover Beach. All guests also receive a new pair of underwear, socks, a t-shirt, and more.

“Considering all that 2020 brought, it was a good year for California olive oils, especially the Central Coast.” Central Coast Olive Oil Competition chief judge Paul Vossen praised the olive varietals from the 2021 contest when results were announced in April. The thirteenth annual competition saw Pleasant Valley Farms in Aptos win Best in Show. Singled out for several Best of Class medals were Boccabella Farms and Rancho Asul Y Oro in San Miguel; Stagg Hill Cuvee, Mountain Springs Olive Ranch, and Fandango in Paso Robles; and Homestead Olive Ranch in Templeton.

$75 Your contribution to SLO Botanical Garden’s public art fundraiser “Pickets for Programs,” which could provide support for vital operations and expands educational programs. Each donation lets you paint a picket (instructions, brushes, and high-quality paints supplied) to adorn the fence surrounding the Children’s Garden. And it stays in place for three years for everyone to enjoy.

ATP Cycle 5 The California Transportation Commission is funding the County Parks Department Bob Jones Trail extension project to the tune of $18.25 million as part of Cycle 5 of its Active Transportation Program (ATP). The “City to Sea” project, a top priority for the SLO Council of Governments for more than two decades, will connect the existing trail in Avila to the Octagon Barn at the South end of San Luis Obispo.

48% The percentage of SLO County’s population that Public Health officials estimate at the end of April had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The County’s clinics in Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, and San Luis Obispo administered 3,144 vaccines on April 22, the most in a single day since the County began providing the vaccine in December. SLO LIFE

E XPEC T BE T TER

125 INDIO DRIVE, PISMO BEACH This incredible ocean front property welcomes you to mouth watering views and amenities. Recently updated with the finest materials and craftsmanship, large windows frame the expansive ocean and sunset views along the Pacific Coast. The home has two family rooms with gorgeous fireplaces, a remodeled kitchen with breakfast nook and dining room, a master suite featuring its own balcony and fireplace, and views from almost every window. Several outdoor conversation areas await you on the patio including a stone fire pit with seating, a putting green, a hot tub, and unmatchable ocean views.

LISA THOMPSON, REALTOR ® , LIC. #01417618

805.878.6206

SOLD

MORRO BAY

MONTECITO SOLD for $15,975.00! A rare opportunity to enjoy panoramic ocean and mountain views within the serenity and privacy of nearly 11 flat acres, dotted with majestic oaks and mature plantings. The long graceful driveway leads you to the main residence, guest house, pool, pool house, and shop.

COLLEEN CLARKE

805.550.1015

ROB ROSE

805.471.8351

BROKER ASSOCIATE, LIC. #01267325 REALTOR®, LIC. #02035157

On occasion, a property comes to market that is truly rare, this is one of those. This Blufftop, Tri-level, Bayfront condo has 2 bds, 2 ba + a loft. The master is downstairs, second bedroom on the second floor. 3rd level loft is an ideal space to use as a home office. 1 car garage, 1 carport space & includes a storage unit. Great opportunity and the moment is now…

This single level 3-bed home features vaulted planked ceilings, engineered hardwood flooring, built-in cabinetry, and a 400 sq ft apartment over the garage. The kitchen features a large butcher block island with second sink and Ceaser Stone countertops. Family room could be a 4th bedroom or spacious office. The two sets of french doors lead to the private backyard.

Website: 209Dunes.com

Website: 1624PhillipsLane.com

LISA MIA

REALTOR®, LIC. #01945215

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Haven Properties 441 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo 805 Main Street, Morro Bay 1401 Park Street, Suite 103, Paso Robles 2646 Santa Maria Parkway, Suite 106, Santa Maria

SAN LUIS OBISPO

805.279.9381

TERRY GILLESPIE

REALTOR®, LIC. #01815083

805.459.2022

BHGREHAVEN.COM 805.592.2050 JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| VIEW

WALKING BY MARK NAKAMURA

o you have a bucket list of things you want to do before you kick the bucket? See the aurora borealis? Run with the bulls in Spain? Walk the Camino de Santiago?

How about seeing a cloud inversion on the Central Coast? A cloud inversion is when the normally warm air near the ground and the cooler air above it is flipped. The cooler air below is trapped near the ground and the warmer air is above it. This allows for a view of looking down on the clouds. It’s hard to get out of bed early in the dark and start hiking with a headlight to arrive at the top of the mountain before sunrise, but when it’s foggy in San Luis Obispo, chances are that if you go a thousand feet up in elevation, you can be looking down on a sea of clouds. Cerro San Luis, Bishop Peak, the mountain that is above the “P”

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| JUN/JUL 2021

at Cal Poly, and, my favorite, Reservoir Canyon Trail (also known as “The Tower” hike) are places of interest. Sometimes, you don’t have to get too high in elevation. Terrace Hill is an excellent place for photographs of the cloud inversion when the fog is low. This photograph was taken at the top of Bishop Peak on a foggy morning in San Luis Obispo. There were several Cal Poly students up there after I arrived and took this couple’s photograph with the clouds below them. One of the trailheads is on Foothill Boulevard, which is the one I use. SLO LIFE

MARK NAKAMURA, pursues his passion in landscape photography as well as capturing the joys of weddings, families, events, and sports around the Central Coast. Find him on Instagram @nakamuraphoto

ON AIR

JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| Q&A

Born to be Wild In 1987, Pacific Wildlife Care was founded to deal with the oildrenched pelicans showing up on the beaches around SLO County following the Apex Houston oil spill. Fast-forward to today, the nonprofit organization now boasts over 200 volunteers, a small paid staff, a rehabilitation center, a full-time wildlife veterinarian, and for the first time in its history, an executive director, former Morro Bay City Councilwoman, CHRISTINE JOHNSON, who visited with us the other day. Here is some of what she had to say…

We always start with this question, Christine: Where are you from? So I was born in Pennsylvania, on the western part of the state, but grew up on the eastern side, in Bloomsburg. My parents were teachers. I’ve got one brother, he’s younger, and in higher education now. We lived in a rural area and always had wildlife all around us. You learned quickly that you had to share your garden with the rabbits and deer. I had an aunt, actually a great aunt, Aunt Kay. She was an avid birder. We would spend a lot of time with her during the summer. At one point, I remember thinking to myself, “I’m just like my Aunt Kay, I love birds.” Did you go away to school? Yes, college was at Penn State, where I met my husband, Lee, and then I went on to get my master’s in student affairs and higher education. From there, I spent the first five years of my career in Philadelphia. I worked at Peirce College, which was originally established in 1865 to educate Civil War veterans. It’s very diverse and, I’d say, 80% of the students were first-generation college students. It was very empowering to be a part of that, I really loved it. But, my husband, through his job had an opportunity to transfer to the West Coast, to Long Beach, so we did it. That’s when I first got involved working for a nonprofit, the Girl Scout Council. How long were you there? Five years, then we had another opportunity through my husband’s work again, and we decided to do it. He was with an international shipping company, so I had to very much reinvent myself as the trailing spouse. We went briefly to Columbus, Ohio before bouncing around during the next ten years: Santiago, Chile; Korea; Northern New Jersey where our son was born, he’s now sixteen; Panama; Brazil; St. Louis; and then Morro Bay. Back in 1990, when Lee and I graduated from college, we took a trip along the California coast, just like every other tourist from the east does. 26

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We camped here for two days and just fell in love with the area, as so often happens with people. We never forgot about it. Okay, so how did you get involved with wildlife rehabilitation? So, first off, everybody here in Morro Bay has seagulls in their neighborhood. And, one day, we found one in our yard that had been injured and unable to fly. I didn’t know what to do, so I asked my neighbors and one of them said, “Oh, you should call these people.” And I did. There was a hotline, and they take these kinds of calls. Somebody came out right away, picked up the gull, rescued it. The whole experience was great, it was so good to know that there was somebody doing that. That was my introduction to Pacific Wildlife Care, or PWC. They’ve been operating for over thirty years, doing this great work in our community rescuing wildlife. The idea is to rehabilitate the animal and get it back out into the wild as soon as possible. Let’s talk about our local wildlife. You know, that’s a big reason why we ended up here on the Central Coast in the first place. We’re so abundant in wildlife here. There’s so much biodiversity here in this county. You just feel like you’re so much a part of the natural world every day, which is so much different than living in a city where you barely see any other living thing except for people. I’d say it’s similar in some ways to where I grew up in rural Pennsylvania, in terms of daily encounters with wildlife, and understanding, too, that our human interactions have an impact on those animals. And so, PWC does a great job in my opinion of helping us balance out important things that we do need to do for people, like more housing and better transportation. But there is sometimes a cost to that, to the natural world. So, I feel happy to be able to play a role in maintaining that balance by helping wild animals as much as we possibly can. SLO LIFE

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| NOW HEAR THIS

Bringing BY JOE PAYNE PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRASS MASH

the Brass 28

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| JUN/JUL 2021

ccording to The Power of Live, a global study that captured the trends and behaviors of music fans ages thirteen to sixty-five from eleven countries, live music is one of the most powerful human experiences and the ultimate escape from digital overload.

Anyone who has been to a Brash Mash show can attest to the studies findings. Performing live the first Friday of the month at Liquid Gravity in San Luis Obispo, the band can be found mashing up unexpected pop tunes with artful horn arrangements. The venue allows for outdoor gatherings to enjoy live music, band leader Colin Dean explained, and the response has been huge, “There was a two-hour wait to get in the door last time and people waited!” Dean said. “Maybe it’s the tacos, maybe it’s the beer, maybe it’s us.” Whatever it is, Brash Mash is a tacos and beer kind of band. The group usually performs with anywhere between eight or 12 players, Dean said. Most are “band nerds” who’ve grown up, and in the case of Dean and a few members, are actually band directors at local schools. “We have a whole fleet of saxophones, trumpets, trombone, tuba, and we have some killer kit drummers,” he said. “What’s specifically fun is having people who are trained in classical and jazz; everyone in the band, if they don’t have a music degree, it’s pretty close.” Dean is a trombone master himself, comfortable when he “kicks up in the high register” or going low for some “elephant sounds.” While a brass group like his is best known in New Orleans, Dean says that Brash Mash is not a “NOLA band,” but rather a horn ensemble perfectly suited to the San Luis Obispo area. As band leader, Dean is also the group’s principal arranger. As the “onthe-nose” band name suggests, he mashes up two or more known pop songs. The point is usually to combine two songs you never thought

you’d hear together, and to cater to the taste of the locals all at the same time. “This isn’t an urban place, this isn’t a rural place, we’re like our own thing here,” he explained. “It’s like 30 percent classic rock, 30 percent pop music, and like 30 percent random things that people like including country and Americana--infused things.” There’s an inherent humor to the choices Dean makes, a playfulness only understood when you hear Britney Spears somehow combined with Black Sabbath. That humor was a big part of his formative years as a musician. “Honestly, it’s kind of a band nerd thing,” he said. “For those who grew up in band in high school, people are always joking around with each other musically, and trying to play the most annoying song.... We’re always trying to one-up each other.” That camaraderie is part of what makes a great band, and brass players understand that earlier than most musicians. With literally a whole gang of band directors and devoted horn players with him, Dean admits he’s “spoiled” by both the level of skill and the camaraderie of his compatriots. Dean’s current lineup of dedicated performers for Brass Mash are Brett Malta on tuba, Sean Sullivan on drums, Sam Franklin on baritone saxophone, Anthony Yi on alto saxophone, Tim Crooks on tenor saxophone, Ben Kerr on trumpet, and Breanna Chambers on trumpet. They are often joined by a few revolving members as well, Dean said, all of whom contribute to an engaging and fun live concert. “The hang is the best,” he said. “I get to hang out with horn players all day? And they’re killer players? And they’re smart? And we get to play Offspring songs and BS? And do something that’s fun and people enjoy it and keep showing up? That’s amazing.” SLO LIFE JUN/JUL 2021

JOE PAYNE is a journalist, as well as a lifelong musician and music teacher, who writes about the arts on the Central Coast.

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

joy ful

| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS

“Iconic” and “Toyota Prius” are words that very rarely go together, except here on the Central Coast where the overloaded “goat-friendly hybrid” is a familiar sight at local beaches. The driver, DANA MCGREGOR, transports his precious cargo that includes a dozen surfboards strapped precariously to the roof, a handful of damp and sandy wetsuits in the trunk, and a goat named Pismo riding shotgun. It’s all done for one purpose: “To bring joy up and down the coast.” And, judging by the smiles of curious onlookers, it appears that the mission is being accomplished. From professional soccer to the art of clearing poison oak, from cryptocurrency to childrens’ books, here’s his story…

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| JUN/JUL 2021

JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

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kay, Dana, let’s talk about where you’re from. I grew up here, Pismo Beach, California. I went to Arroyo Grande High school, went to Shell Beach Elementary, Ocean View, so I kind of grew up in this neck of the woods. We moved here in the fourth grade. My family basically moved up here from Riverside area. My dad was a general contractor, and his grandfather was a goat surfer . . . no, I’m just joking! That’d be funny if we had an ancient history of goat surfing and I’m just carrying on the next generation. I think our family, the McGregors, we got kicked out of Scotland for stealing sheep. So, we went for goats instead. Actually, I think that McGregor is a common shepherding name from Ireland and Scotland, but I’ve also got some Belgian in me, too, so I’m kind of mixed. What were you like as a kid? I’ve had a passion for soccer since I was twelve years old, and I wanted to play at the highest level I could. I kept playing every single day and practicing until I made the Olympic development team. I did that for a couple years, then I got a soccer scholarship to play at Fresno State. I actually didn’t want to play in college. I wanted to go straight to Europe to play, but that was the only opportunity that was open at the time. So, I went to college and ended up having a “come to Jesus moment” during my freshman year of college, and my life kind of transitioned from that point. I finished playing soccer there in Fresno and then sort of got burned out on the sport. What did you do instead? I worked for a couple years after college at a Christian group home. One day, one of the kids there said, “Mr. McGregor, why don’t you go play professional soccer?” And it hit me. I was probably twenty-three or twenty-four at the time. And dang, that hit me really hard. Why don’t I do that? I kind of stopped playing for a couple of years after college, I stopped doing something I loved. So, I thought it through and realized, “Oh, you know what, that makes sense and I’m still young enough to do it,” so I ended up trying out for a semi-pro team in Oregon. And that team had a thing called Professional Soccer Ministry where they sent two players to different countries to play professional soccer. We went to South Africa, Cape Town. Then, I lived in Beirut, Lebanon for a season. After that, I went to Ohio for a couple of years where I played for the Cleveland City Stars. How long did you play professionally? I was probably about twenty-nine when I finished my career—I’m forty-two now—so, I moved home when my folks were going through a separation. I felt like I needed to go home and take care of the fam and see for myself what was going on. So, it was then, when I returned, that I saw someone bring in a bunch of goats to clear out the poison oak. They eat that stuff, no problem. A year, maybe two, later, we kept dealing with poison oak in my mom’s backyard. So, I thought it would be kind of cool to bring in a goat, have it around a little bit so it could clear away the poison oak. Then when my friends from Africa would come into town we’d eat it. That was a big part of what we’d have for dinner over there. But, every time I’d leave the house, the goat, who I called “Goatee” would start to cry. And I’d be like, “Oh dang it, we can’t have that.” I didn’t want him to be upset. Well, what did you do? So, I loaded up the goat in my car whenever I went somewhere, including when I’d go surfing. One day, she was acting like she wanted to go out in the water, so on a whim, I took her out there with me. And I was like, “Dude, this is so awesome!” And it just sort of took off from there. Before we knew it, we’re on the Today Show, just me and Goatee riding waves. It was funny because I never meant for it to be anything except for just messing around and having fun. But it somehow blossomed. Every time I’d leave the country, she’d get pregnant because I’d leave her at the goat farm. Now I’ve got Pismo and Grover, too. Pismo’s the one who likes to surf the most. He’s more of an adrenaline junkie like me. Okay, so what’s it like to surf with a goat? I describe it as an out of body experience, or an out of this world experience. I mean, when you’re doing it, the whole time you’re thinking, “Wow, this is incredible!” You’re putting an animal that is out of its element in this super unique environment and it’s experiencing that feeling that you can only get from riding waves. And then when get them to kind of like it, it’s a whole different level! So, the whole experience is a trip, it’s pretty supernatural, pretty crazy. And then once you get other people involved so they can have the experience, too, it takes it up another notch. And how do you think the goats feel about the whole thing? I mean, if we wipe out and eat it, which we’ve done many a time, he’s not too happy with me. That’s not an enjoyable feeling. So, I try to have some success with it where we get a good ride in, and especially on this huge board that I have, it’s pretty large. It’s pretty darn safe now for him so we rarely wipe out, unless you try to go too big. To be >> JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

honest, it’s really fun. Even wiping out. I honestly think when he wipes out, he’s a better goat. It kind of humbles him. It’s like people. We kind of get humbled when a big wave gets us. It’s kind of the same thing. It’s like, “Dang, wow, okay.” It just puts things in perspective and brings us back to humility. And he trusts me because we’ve been through some hard times and hard waves. How do you get the goat and all of your equipment to the beach? Well, you may have seen me driving my Prius around town. It’s got a picture of Goatee on the side. That’s my transport, my goat-friendly hybrid. I took the seats out and put down some artificial grass. From there, I walk him down the beach. He goes pretty willingly straight to the water. Most goats don’t like water. In general, I’ve found that to be true. But Pismo’s cool with it for the most part. So, what I do is, I lead him to the beach, then I’ll pick him up, put them on the board, so he doesn’t even really get wet. He kind of looks like royalty. He gets to go surfing almost without getting wet. It’s pretty funny. He looks like a king out there, like he’s on his throne. Is this what you do for a living? It’s a very big part of my lifestyle, but I wouldn’t say it generates a major income. I do other stuff. I invest in cryptocurrency. I’ve been doing it for four years. So, that’s been working 34

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out. It’s kind of freed me up to be able to do more of the things I love, and I love helping people and bringing joy to people. For example, this last week we had a really cool situation. It was totally unplanned, but we just met this kid. He wasn’t supposed to make it to his seventeenth birthday because he has some sort of very rare disease. Only several people have it worldwide. Well, he just made it to seventeen and I asked him if he wanted to go surfing. He was really excited, so I asked him, “With our without the goat?” He said, “With.” So, I said, “Well, let’s do it!” So, we put the goat on the board and he’s holding onto the goat for balance. And every time we go over the waves, he’s letting out this shout of joy. I’m just thinking to myself, “Oh my God, it’s Magic Mountain, but in the ocean.” It was so cool. That is so cool. I enjoy doing stuff like that because you don’t have to charge them. I can kind of pay myself a little or do whatever, just enough to take care of myself, so I can do stuff like that for free. And we do have a nonprofit where people can donate, if they want. But we also do individual surf lessons, or we have surf lessons with a group that includes the big party wave board. We call it “the Rapture” because it takes people really high, gets people real high. Gets people really full of joy. It’s pretty rad. You could take six or seven people and a goat on it. It’s pretty hilarious. That’s what inspired a children’s book that I wrote, it’s actually the >>

JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

second one and it’s coming out soon. It’s called “Pismo’s Party Wave.” It’s kind of about a dream that came to me one night, a story I tell through Pismo’s perspective. What times stand out the most for you? Oh, wow. There’s a lot of them. I would say almost every one of them involves kids. We do these things we call “Beautifully Abled Camps.” We take kids with autism or Down syndrome out with Pismo. We’ve even taken a kid out who was blind. He surfs now! I’m like, “Wow, these kids are amazing and they’re going in my next book because they need to get recognized.” I mean, they’re surfing, doing something that’s so cool—surfing without having the ability to really do it. So, those experiences have been really special to me, just seeing how much joy it brings to people and kids. Has anything ever gone sideways out on the water? [laughter] Okay, this is not a bad thing, but it’s sort of funny. There was one time that I took Pismo out on my board when we had a good swell. We caught this big wave and I sort of lost my balance for a moment and sort of pushed him off on accident. He was not happy. So, then, on the next wave he’s like, “Oh, no you don’t—you’re not pushing me off this time, buddy!” We were riding along on the wave and he head butts me right off the board! 36

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And, keep in mind, this was a good-sized wave, eight foot, maybe nine. I fell off and got thrashed around for a minute until I finally made my way up to the surface. I treaded water and just watched Pismo ride that wave all the way into the beach. I was like, “Are you kidding me?! You’ve got to be kidding me!” Somebody got a video of it, and they screened it at the Fremont [Theater] one year for the film festival. People were asking, “How’s that even possible?” Is that the typical response? Usually, they’re kind of wowed by it. Everyone’s so different, but I would say the majority just stop on the beach and they have to watch us surf for a bit. They have to kind of witness it. Yeah. When we’re done, I’ll usually play soccer with him a bit. I’ll throw the ball at Pismo and he’ll hit it back to me. It’s a pretty crazy thing to watch. He’s a pretty cool goat, kind of a dog personality. I think people can relate to that for the most part. But, you know, we’re mostly just trying to bring joy. That’s what it’s about. That’s the only reason we do it. In addition to the camps and the lessons, we also do a little work with some rehabs. And I think we’re going to do a surfing goat documentary about how the goats have impacted our community. We’ll probably do that, but mostly we want to just keep doing our thing, making people happy—bringing joy up and down the coast. SLO LIFE

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SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| AUTHOR

LOCAL READ

From the Persian Gulf to the Central Coast BY BRIAN SCHWARTZ

efore becoming a successful author and independent publisher, Ed Cobleigh flew fighter jets with the US Air Force, US Navy (TopGun), Royal Air Force, French Air Force, and the Imperial Iranian Air Force. During his service, he also worked with the CIA, FBI, and MI6. Visiting over fifty countries in his lifetime has given Ed a wealth of experiences to draw from.

In 2005, his memoir, “War for the Hell of It,” was published by Berkley Publishing Group. Cobleigh later revised and republished it in 2016 and it soon reached #1 on Amazon (in his genre) and continues to sell well to this day. As an independent publisher, his books have sold over 27,000 copies in twelve countries and three languages. In Cobleigh’s second fictional work (published at the end of 2020), he takes us from the lethal skies over the Persian Gulf to California’s coastal wine country. Fly with the Falcon delivers romance, ethical dilemmas, falcon lore, and a showcase of the central coast from an aerial perspective. I first met the author at SLO Nightwriters, a support group for writers in San Luis Obispo. While his life as a fighter pilot in Vietnam was the source of his highly successful memoir, I wanted to learn more about his latest work which has a strong connection to the beautiful California Central Coast. What inspired you to write “Fly With the Falcon?” I wanted to write a novel set on the Central Coast, a book touching on sexual harassment, and a subject I know best, flight. The creative challenge was to meld these disparate themes into a single tightly written narrative.

What do you hope readers will take away from it? For world-wide readers, the allure of our part of California. For locals, the fierce grace of Morro Rock’s peregrine falcons. For everyone, the problem with sexual harassment and the promise of redemption from it. Why did you decide to venture into the sensitive topic of sexual harassment now? The #metoo movement publicized this serious problem. I portray the wild falcon as a symbol and a tool of escape from a harassment victim’s mental prison. As a past presenter at the Central Coast Writers Conference, Cobleigh is generous with his time and advice to aspiring authors. For the younger set, Cobleigh teaches a STEM course on the aerodynamics of raptors. He and his wife, Heidi, currently reside in Paso Robles. You can learn more about Cobleigh’s other books on his website at www.edcobleigh.com. SLO LIFE 38

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BRIAN SCHWARTZ is a publishing consultant and advocate for local authors. He can be reached at brian@selfpublish.org.

smart, eclectic, art to live on

TIMELESS DESIGN FOR A CHANGING WORLD

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| ARTIST

PROFILE

Abbey Onikoyi BY JEFF AL-MASHAT

There are a number of variations on this quote, but Jerry Garcia’s style of playing music has been described as “never wasting a note.” As has also been said about Garcia, “every note had a purpose.” If there is a painter whose work is akin to that concept, it’s the Central Coast’s Abbey Onikoyi. Every brushstroke seems exciting. It is electrifying to look at his work, because there is so much to experience as you move your eyes around the canvas. Movement seems to define Onikoyi’s life, whether physical, spiritual, or geographical, and his paintings reflect that principle. The Los Osos-based painter began life’s journey in Nigeria, where he was one of 18 children. From there, he moved to Newbury, England, where he spent his boyhood, while his father worked in advertising. Eventually, Abbey moved to the United States to pursue further education. In Chicago, where, like his dad, he pursued a career in advertising, working for industry giants like Ogilvy and BBDO. Then he was on to Hawaii, where he gave up many of the creature comforts he had become used to as an advertising executive to dedicate himself to his art full-time. While living in a tent in a friend’s backyard, he would often paint through the night and sleep during the day. Full time painting led him to Big Sur’s Esalen Institute, where he taught about drawing, painting and culture. It was also an opportunity to further develop his painting style and process, which starts with music, dancing and splattering paint across the canvas: “From there, I seek to find out what is there.” Oftentimes, it is family or friends, people who have inspired him, or spirits he has a connection to. Onikoyi never sketches anything out in advance. Once he begins a piece, his eyes move throughout the work connecting colors and shapes--but the figures that emerge never look back. All of the eyes of Onikoyi’s subjects are closed. “I realized that I didn’t like eyes looking back at me,” he says. “When the eyes are open, the viewer focuses on those eyes. Having them shut allows people to look deeper into the painting.” Onikoyi says that he wants people to experience the spirituality in the paintings and shape their own journey. While he admits it is hard for him to stay in one place, he feels at home in Los Osos. Advertising film shoots had brought him to San Francisco and Los Angeles earlier in life. He fell in love with the California vibe, the land, and the climate. But it wasn’t until living in Big Sur that he traveled down the coast to San Luis Obispo and couldn’t believe there was a place like it on earth. SLO LIFE

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

JEFF AL-MASHAT is a writer and visual artist with an MFA in painting from Georgia State University. He lives in Grover Beach.

| JUN/JUL 2021

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ADVENTURE, PASSION & POLITICAL ACTION

| EXPLORE

Going Electric BY PADEN HUGHES Recently my family showed up in Avila Beach on a beautiful sunny day and cruised into BoltAbout, a bike store located behind the restaurant Blue Moon Over Avila. BoltAbout was started by three Cal Poly grads. They originally intended to provide fun transportation specifically for students. They pivoted their business model to serve locals and tourists alike in Avila. Upon our arrival we were greeted by a cute little shop lined with charming beach cruiser electric bikes, ready for rent. They also had scooters, which is next on the top of my list for fun date ideas (sans kids). We had made a reservation online for two bikes and a kids trailer. I told my kids it would be like royalty pulled in a carriage— 42

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they bought into the idea and were thrilled to hop into their attached cart. Within 5 minutes we were dodging tourists and their dogs and happily throttling our way out of downtown Avila towards the Bob Jones Trail. I have walked, jogged, golf carted and pushed a stroller down Bob Jones Trail what seems like a hundred times since moving to the area in 2004, but never have I enjoyed it as much as I have on an electric bike. Now as someone in fitness, advocating for an electric experience over using your own athletic performance, is about as rare as it gets. But in the name of fun, electric wins for me for a couple of reasons. First, you can arrive dolled up for a date and jump on an electric bike and not break a sweat. So, anyone who is worried it’s too physical, rest assured—the only thing you will be experiencing on an electric bike is the wind through your hair and enjoying the uphill as much as the down. Now of course electric is only there if you want it. You can still choose to peddle your heart out. I thought I would do that, but then I found the throttle lever. Which brings me to my second reason I had so much fun: the thrill of bolting ahead so easily and smoothly, took over. It was the

TIP! Check out bikeslocounty.org for regional bicycle maps and future bikeway paths.

most fun Michael and I have had on an outing with the kids in months and a crowd pleaser for the whole family. If you start on the Bob Jones trail in Avila you can ride it to the trailhead in San Luis Obispo at Ontario Road, right off Highway 101. Since 2007, the League of American Bicyclists recognized the city of San Luis Obispo as a Bicycle Friendly Community. With more than 75 miles of bike lanes and paths, and over 150 secured bicycle parking spaces, it’s not hard to see why cycling in SLO, whether electric or not, is so popular. For our next trip we plan to start in Avila Beach and head south off the Bob Jones Trail into Shell Beach and explore. SLO LIFE

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

JUN/JUL 2021

SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| ON THE RISE

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Genevieve Dandurand PHOTOGRAPHY BY LANDEN WILLIAMS

With multiple awards and accolades to her name, this San Luis Obispo High School senior is ready for the next leg in her journey towards a successful future.

What recognition have you received? I’ve been acknowledged as an AP Scholar With Distinction; College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program Winner; Rotary Youth Leadership Award; 1st in Art and 3rd in History at California Junior Classical League Convention; 2nd Place Team at AP Statistics Math Competition; and my writing is published in American Library of Poetry’s Annual Anthology “Accomplished.” What extra-curricular activities are you involved in? Throughout high school, I have been involved in the SLO County United Way Youth Board (Director at Large); SLO Noor Foundation (Volunteer); Speech & Debate Team (Vice President); Model United Nations; Harvard Model Congress; Latin Club (Associated Student Body Commissioner); Interact Club; National Honors Society; Young Democrats Club; Astronomy Club; Ceramics Club; Cross Country Team; Track & Field Team; Water Polo Team & Club; and Stanford Medicine Clinical Summer Internship Admit. What do you enjoy outside of school? For fun, I enjoy making ceramics that I sell at Harmony Glassworks and online at Etsy.com. I also love walking/hiking, reading, listening to music, and yoga. What experience has influenced you the most? The summers after my freshman and sophomore year, I took classes on scholarship at Harvard, Stanford, and Brown University and having to go alone in such different environments really helped me blossom into the person I am today. I don’t believe I was ever shy, but these experiences made me very outgoing and independent. Do you have a career path in mind? I intend to become a Doctor, but from a PhD or Medical Degree, I am not sure. I plan to study either English, Bioengineering, or Human Biology, as I aim to become a professor or doctor to help others, while maintaining my own happiness. If you could go back in history and meet anyone, who would it be? “It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do.” These cathartic words, uttered by Jane Austen, appear on a sticky note adhered to my mirror, amplifying, “DO SOMETHING!” To be witness to the life of such a pioneer female authorship, would surely be my wish. Where did you decide to attend college? One of the happiest moments of my life was getting into Stanford University. I had been wanting to go since I was a freshman and it finally felt like all my hard work had paid off. When I opened the decision letter at almost midnight, I was overcome with joy and was so energetic and for some reason the song “Here’s to Never Growing Up” by Avril Lavigne kept going through my head so I went on a drive and with the windows down in SLO was belting out the lyrics to some cathartic songs. SLO LIFE

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PICTURE

PERFECT BY ZARA KHAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LALUSH

JUN/JUL 2021

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im Moroney knew early on that he wanted to be involved with wine when he retired and planted the seed early on to his wife Barbara. While attending college in the Bay Area, the high school sweethearts, spent quite some time becoming well aquatinted with the classic Cabernets and Chardonnays in Napa Valley. Though they didn’t always live in California, they were always finding reasons to visit the golden state. While living in Texas, close friends of theirs decided to relocate to Cambria, and whenever the Moroneys visited their trips included wine tasting in Paso Robles. They were drawn to the rolling hills and down to earth people—this is where they felt they belonged.

The Moroneys were no strangers to the building process. Each time they moved, they always made some changes to their new found house to make it feel more like a home. With a few remodels and one other new construction project under their belt they were ready for the next project. It was undeniable that the site had breathtaking views just waiting to be captured, but they knew enough to know that this project needed a solid, >>

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In addition to being an interior designer, ZARA KHAN is also a shoe aficionado and horror movie enthusiast.

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creative team because of the site constraints. They also knew the team would be their eyes and ears throughout the project since they would be living in Texas during the build. John Mitchell could not have come more highly recommended. It’s not often that you find a licensed Architect and General Contractor in one person. Mitchell found that this combination was key in his career. He had the unique ability to guide clients through the design process and also educate them on the budget and feasibility throughout the process. When it came time to bring the project to life, he had already worked through the challenging details in his mind. Throughout his career he had collaborated with Michelle Fanning of Design Collaborative and never passed up an opportunity to work with her. Before they could start the design, their first hurdle was how and where to position the home. The property had a major gas line running through it and even though it was a large parcel it came with a lot of constraints when you factored in the Moroneys’ desired list and limitations from the soil type, slopes and easements. A lot of planning when into the infrastructure—it was a complex puzzle to pull utilities to the site. The Moroneys had two requests: capture the views and make it a space where friends and family felt comfortable during their visits. To achieve the first, windows and glass >>

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were placed in as many places as possible. A majority of the walls are either glass panels or sliders that open up completely for a seamless indoor/outdoor experience. The home features a unique floorplan. All of the bedrooms in the home have independent walls and entrances so that guests really feel like they are having a private getaway. There is actually no way to access the bedrooms from inside the house, creating an added layer of privacy. During the planning phase, Mitchell had designed a unique ceiling featuring a 30’ popup lined with windows. It was his creative intuition that told him this would be an important architectural detail and the Moroneys trusted his recommendation. While its execution was one of the most challenging elements in the building process, its completion is one of the most striking details of the home. Fanning fell in love with the feature and used it as her inspiration for the kitchen design. When I asked the Moroneys, Fanning, and Mitchell what their favorite details of the home was they all had the same answer—the back kitchen. This concept was used to accommodate the Moroneys preferred entertaining style. The home has two kitchens. One visible kitchen and one hidden behind it. This allows them a full catering kitchen which keeps the behind-the-scenes hustle and bustle out of sight, while still allowing access to full kitchen for everyday use. They also appreciate the extra space and appliances when they have a full house of visitors. >>

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Selling Paso - by Miranda Battenburg

Selling Paso - by Miranda Battenburg Over 20 years local experience Miranda brings strong branding & marketing to your listing Berkshire Hathaway HomeSerivces knows great homes Full service local brokerage Complementary market analysis Represents buyers and sellers Quality properties

Miranda Battenburg Realtor DRE#02131203

800 11th St. Paso Robles CA 93446 805-712-1362 805-237-4700 miranda@sellingpaso.com www.sellingpaso.com ©2021 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.® Equal Housing Opportunity. If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard this offer. It is not my intention to solicit your listing.

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Once their home began taking shape, the team started to shift their focus to bringing Jim’s dream to life—opening their own tasting room just below the home on the hillside, called Sixmile Bridge. With winemaker Anthony Yount at the helm, Jim knew that they would focus on Bordeaux wines even though the hillside was best known for producing Rhone varieties—it made the most sense to make what he liked to drink even if it was going to be a challenge. Along with the successful completion of the build, a friendship developed between the team and owners. Inspired by their camaraderie, I asked if they had any trade tips. Fanning advises getting an early start with the design process to make the project run more smoothly—if you are framing and don’t have a designer on board yet, it’s almost too late. Mitchell shares that there are times in a project where it is easy to get blinded by details and it is important to remember when it is all said and done, it is a home—a place to connect and DAVID LALUSH is an make memories. The Moroneys architectural photographer here in San Luis Obispo. believe the key is to assemble a team you trust, and trust them to advocate for you. SLO LIFE 54

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BY THE NUMBERS

REAL ESTATE

| SLO CITY

laguna lake

2020 Total Homes Sold 16 Average Asking Price $674,863 Average Selling Price $667,969 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 98.98% Average # of Days on the Market 57

2021 31 $731,038 $740,509 101.30% 20

+/93.75% 8.32% 10.86% 2.32% -64.91%

tank farm

2020 8 Total Homes Sold $800,255 Average Asking Price $795,451 Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 99.40% 59 Average # of Days on the Market

2021 28 $973,180 $962,976 98.95% 43

+/250.00% 21.61% 21.06% 99.10% -27.12%

cal poly area

2020 Total Homes Sold 10 Average Asking Price $1,081,700 Average Selling Price $1,069,900 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 94.92% Average # of Days on the Market 10

2021 19 $1,045,089 $1,014,686 97.09% 24

+/90.00% -3.38% -5.16% 2.17% 140.00%

country club

2020 Total Homes Sold 4 Average Asking Price $1,249,250 Average Selling Price $1,211,800 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 97.00% Average # of Days on the Market 54

2021 9 $1,414,444 $1,401,883 99.11% 15

+/125.00% 13.22% 15.69% 2.11% -72.22%

down town

2020 Total Homes Sold 19 Average Asking Price $1,036,579 Average Selling Price $1,005,485 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 97.00% Average # of Days on the Market 24

2021 36 $965,100 $977,718 101.31% 35

+/89.47% -6.90% -2.76% 4.31% 45.83%

2020 Total Homes Sold 14 Average Asking Price $754,314 Average Selling Price $762,179 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 101.04% Average # of Days on the Market 51

2021 15 $880,027 $886,967 100.79% 28

+/7.14% 16.67% 16.37% -0.25% -45.10%

2020 Total Homes Sold 18 Average Asking Price $1,084,133 Average Selling Price $1,048,078 Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 96.67% Average # of Days on the Market 60

2021 21 $1,071,457 $1,109,953 103.59% 27

+/16.67% -1.17% 5.90% 6.92% -55.00%

foothill blvd johnson ave

*Comparing 01/01/20 - 05/19/20 to 01/01/21 - 05/19/21

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS

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Do you have big dreams for your new home? At Guaranteed Rate, we’re ready to help, with all the tools, technology, and dedicated support you need to make those big dreams a reality.

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VP of Mortgage Lending

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ken.neate@rate.com

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VP of Mortgage Lending

O: (805) 329-4095 C: (805) 602-0248

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joe.hutson@rate.com 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. Donna Lewis NMLS #245945; CA - CA-DOC245945 | Dylan Morrow NMLS #1461481; CA - CA-DBO1461481 | Eileen Mackenzie NMLS #282909 | Joe Hutson NMLS #447536; CA - CADOC447536| Ken Neate NMLS ID #373607; CA - CA-DBO373607 | Luana Gerardis NMLS #1324563; CA - CA-DBO1324563 | Maggie Koepsell NMLS #704130; CA - CA-DBO704130 | Matthew Kanetski NMLS #1002317; CA - CA-DBO1002317 Guaranteed Rate, Inc.; NMLS #2611; For licensing information visit nmlsconsumeraccess.org. • CA: Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Residential Mortgage Lending Act

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| SLO COUNTY

REAL ESTATE BY THE NUMBERS

REGION

BEN LERNER Originating Branch Manager

NMLS395723

805.441.9486 www.blerner.com ben.lerner@myccmortgage.com

the lerner team

CROSSCOUNTRY MORTGAGE™

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| JUN/JUL 2021

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET

MEDIAN SELLING PRICE

2020

2021

2020

2021

Arroyo Grande

107

133

$800,944 $940,790

Atascadero

104

142

$569,824

Avila Beach

$1,109,477 $2,023,667

Cambria/San Simeon

$815,642 $1,007,574

Cayucos

164

$1,257,912 $1,485,097

Creston

$956,000 $1,186,667

Grover Beach

$570,611

$708,562

Los Osos

$655,942

$815,174

Morro Bay

$642,271

$957,021

Nipomo

110

$699,460

$791,553

Oceano

$563,760

$687,269

Pismo Beach

$909,825 $1,193,965

Paso (Inside City Limits)

166

$542,562

$567,280

Paso (North 46 - East 101)

$698,830

$801,559

Paso (North 46 - West 101)

109

$596,172

$930,596

Paso (South 46 - East 101)

$618,118

$858,474

San Luis Obispo

113

183

$929,719

$1,013,973

Santa Margarita

108

$577,050 $802,490

Templeton

$825,649 $1,008,621

828

1,185

$714,850

Countywide

NUMBER OF HOMES SOLD

*Comparing 01/01/20 - 5/19/20 to 01/01/21 - 05/19/21

2020

2021

$692,297

$858,678

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS

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| HEALTH

All About Adaptogens They’re the newest wellness craze. But do they work?

BY LAUREN HARVEY

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shwagandha. Maybe you’ve heard of it? Perhaps you recognize it from your new face cream, the supplements at the health food store, or even at your local smoothie stop. It’s promoted as a “stressrelieving super plant.” But really, what is ashwagandha and what, if anything, does it actually do? Ashwagandha is an adaptogen, “a class of herbs intended to boost your resistance to and tolerance of stress – emotional and physical,” explains Brierly Horton, MS, RD. That is precisely what makes adaptogens like ashwagandha, and the en vogue cordyceps mushroom (often touted as a coffee replacement) so appealing to the masses.

| JUN/JUL 2021

Allegedly, adaptogenic plants can reduce stress, squash fatigue and hone focus. Such claims can often skate by untested, hooking consumers with lofty life-changing promises left unfulfilled. Today, we’ll reveal the truth behind adaptogens: if, and how, they work, what types there are, and ultimately, if they are worth all the fuss. Let’s dive in. >>

LAUREN HARVEY is a creative writer fueled by a love of cooking, adventure, and naps in the sun.

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Dr. Brenda Powell, co-medical director of the Center for Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine at the Cleveland Clinics Wellness Institute explains further, “Adaptogens train your body to handle the effects of stress.” While adaptogens don’t magically disappear stress, they do enhance your body’s ability to process it. “Adaptogens may tweak hormone production and physiological responses to stress to ensure that your body—from your mind to your immune system to your energy levels—functions as it should,” says Powell. However, it is imperative to note that not all adaptogens effect our bodies in the same way. Each of the over 70 adaptogenic plants provides different benefits. Ashwagandha, for example, was found to aid in managing anxiety in a 2014 study, while rhodiola can be used for stress relief and focus. A double-blind, placebocontrolled 2012 study found that, “regularly taking rhodiola helped fight the kind of fatigue that dulls our mental performance and concentration,” notes Horton.

HISTORY OF A SUPER PLANT The term adaptogen was first coined by a scientist in the USSR in 1947. Essentially, scientists were seeking a ‘superhero pill’ that would allow military pilots to fly better, faster, and for longer periods of time. The Soviet Union scientist formally categorized adaptogens as “plant-derivatives that can nonspecifically enhance the human body.” How wonderfully vague! The practice of seeking out and consuming adaptogens, however, has a much older, richer history. Rooted in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, “some of the original adaptogens include ginseng root [as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory] and astragalus [for immune system support],” notes Keri Marshall, MS. “From a [traditional] Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine perspective, adaptogens are meant to literally help ground you so you can get your roots back, in an effort to restore balance in your life.” These roots and herbs, used for centuries, have recently catapulted into the mainstream, integrated in everything from tea to face cream. While I don’t believe adaptogens (or anything, really) can live up to the expectation of eliciting supernatural responses out of natural beings, adaptogens must provide some value if they have been safely used and consumed for thousands of years.

ADAPTOGENS AT WORK The question remains: Do adaptogens really perform as well as its proponents claim? Mostly, yes. “More recently, several adaptogens have gone through scientifically rigorous studies and have come out with the equivalent of a scientific thumbs -up,” says Brierly Horton, MS, RD. The results are promising, boding well for adaptogen enthusiasts. Horton goes on to note that, “clinical trials have found several herbal preparations with adaptogens to reduce stressinduced endocrine and immune impairments, while also boosting attention, endurance and resistance to fatigue.” Scientific studies are now proving what Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine practitioners have known for centuries—these adaptogenic plants help support us in ways we need it most. “As the name suggests, [adaptogens] adapt to meet your needs. [They] bring balance the way a thermostat controls temperature: they turn up your energy when you’re fatigued and help you relax when you’re restless,” explains Horton. 62

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As for adaptogenic skincare, Los Angeles dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, MD recommends moringa and marshmallow root. “Stress has been shown to impair the skin barrier, leaving it prone to water loss and dehydration,” notes Dr. Shainhouse, “Moringa and marshmallow root may help to repair the skin barrier and increase skin hydration.” Whether you choose adaptogenic skincare, supplemental capsules, sip adaptogenic tea, or incorporate a premixed powder into soups or smoothies, the key to adaptogenic success is consistency. Laura Slayton, a nutritionist in New York, believes, “adaptogens need to be consumed consistently to see any effects.” Unfortunately, one cup of cordyceps is unlikely lower cholesterol or boost endurance. So remember, if you’re into the adaptogen experimentation mood, opt for investing in a powder, supplement, or tincture. As Slayton says, “If you’re putting a smudge of ashwagandha in your smoothie here and there, it’s unlikely to do much.”

UNREGULATED Not all adaptogenic supplements, powders and tinctures are created equal. However, the burden of checking the quality of these supplements falls on consumers. “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t monitor the quality of herbs and supplements like over-the-counter products,”’ says Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D, R.N. When buying adaptogens, get to know the brand. Check the ingredients, seeking purity and lack of fillers. If you seek the cream of the adaptogenic crop, naturopathic doctor Keri Marshall, M.S. recommends opting for liquid tinctures. “Generally, liquid versions are going to be better than a powder. That’s because when a liquid extract is made, you have the ability to pull out the important medicinal components you want… Essentially, a liquid extract is more pure.” As for side effects, nothing major has been reported. Dr. Powell says, “there’s little evidence to suggest that adaptogens can cause side effects or health problems—though, like any plant, they can be allergenic or cause gastrointestinal distress for some people.” Furthermore, Keri Marshall, MS discourages adaptogen use, “if you’re on immune-modulating drugs.” Adaptogens themselves are immune modulators and may result in undesirable interactions. Jenn Miremadi, MS suggests it’s best to consult with your healthcare provider, “before taking any new supplements, including adaptogens.” >>

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For all of their beneficial qualities, it’s imperative to remember that adaptogens are not a cure for anything. Adaptogens recent rise in fame may be due to their stress management qualities, appealing to those seeking relief from the increased stress of life in the 2020s. “People are basically wanting to take these adaptogens all the time for their chronic stress that they’re not managing otherwise,” says Dr. Powell. If taking a pill and being stress-free sounds to good to be true, that’s because it is. “There’s no good research that suggests adaptogens are a cure-all. And certainly not a substitute for triedand-true stress management techniques and medical care,” says Horton, MS, RD.

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Not even the incredible power of adaptogens can cure us of all our fatigue, anxiety, and stress. Adaptogens are best used as a supplement combined with an overall healthy lifestyle, structured stress management, and attentive self-care. We may never be as stress-free as we’d like, but integrating adaptogens into our self-care routines will enhance our bodies natural abilities to keep itself balanced.

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Adaptogens are a class of plants that assist our bodies’ natural stress management processes. Taken regularly, they may help manage stress, anxiety, and fatigue. Consult a medical professional before incorporating adaptogens into your daily routine. SLO LIFE

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ENCOURAGING A LOVED ONE TO TEST THEIR HEARING

Peter A. Lucier Hearing Instrument Specialist

Did you know that one in three people over the age of 65 experience some degree of hearing loss? Chances are, there is someone in your life who experiences a hearing loss and might not even know it yet. As an invisible condition, hearing loss affects many different areas of one’s life but is not immediately understood as the root of the problem. If you believe that your loved one may have a hearing loss, it is important to encourage them to take a hearing test. Hearing tests are simple and painless, and they provide useful information on a person’s hearing abilities. Because hearing loss is a sensitive topic, here are a few tips for the conversation. Do Your Research: Studies are published about how hearing loss affects your cognitive abilities (Johns Hopkins University), how untreated hearing loss may lead to lower earning power, and how hearing loss has been linked to an increased risk of accidents and falls. Before talking to your loved one, make sure you have the facts straight. Check to see the signs and symptoms of hearing loss match what you experience with your loved one. Arm yourself with useful facts about hearing loss that could help encourage your loved one to take a hearing test. Find a Quiet Time and Place: Hearing loss makes speech recognition

difficult. With hearing loss, people may ask others to repeat themselves or they may check out completely if they cannot compete with background noise to hear. For this reason, it is important to have your conversation in quiet place. Moreover, hearing loss may be a taboo subject for some. Rather than gathering a huge group of people – which may put your loved one on the defensive – have a one on one conversation so that you can clearly communicate your concerns.

Speak from Your Own Experiences: Data show that the mere process of aging can often result in social isolation. Add hearing issues to the mix, and those with untreated loss pose higher risks for finding themselves in a dark corner. They may feel abandoned by the family, ignored by friends, and excluded from activities, all because they cannot hear well enough in these social situations.

Talk about the Benefits of Treating Hearing Loss: Treating hearing loss helps people stay in

touch with their loved ones and to their communities. Studies indicate that people who do not treat their hearing loss have a smaller “life space”—they are not as mobile as people who treat their hearing or have normal hearing. Hearing loss interferes with the ability to drive and communicate, and also leads to a higher rate of accidents and falls. By treating hearing loss, your loved one would be investing in their own independence and security.

Support Your Loved One: Taking a hearing test is a simple and painless procedure, but of course there’s more to it than that. Ensure your loved one that you will be there to support them on their journey to better hearing—from making the appointment, to accompanying them to the hearing test, and—if a hearing loss is detected—helping them adjust to their new hearing aids. To begin the process, schedule a consultation, or talk to a hearing expert, contact us at Hearing Aid specialists of the Central Coast today.

Peter A. Lucier, has been a practicing Hearing Instrument Specialists for 22 years. If you would like more information, please contact us today for an appointment.

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| TASTE

Kid Food Think grown-ups are the only ones interested in eating good food? These SLO kids will teach you to think again. BY JAIME LEWIS

n what universe do children choose a bento box, shakshuka, or peshwari naan as their favorite foods? This one, it turns out.

Over the last several months, I’ve learned there is a clutch of savvy kids who read this food column on the regular. (Children of SLO: thank you for being my most loyal readers!) After all these years of telling them where I like to eat, I figured it’s time I asked where they like to eat. So I invited a few of my pintsized foodie friends to show me the San Luis Obispo culinary scene through their eyes. 68

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Did they choose burgers, hot dogs, pizza and/or ice cream? Nope. Instead they chose Japanese, North African and Indian cuisine — with no guidance or input from me. Really. This bodes well for the future of SLO and the future of humanity, in my opinion. Our kids are more aware and open than I ever was as a child. Good folks are coming up in the world, I’m happy to report. (My only concern is that they’ll put me out of a job.) Without further ado, meet Simon, Isaac, Ari, Leila, Lucy and Poppy, your guides to the good life in San Luis Obispo. You’re in excellent hands.

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

A place for everything, everything in its place Simon, seven years old, tells me he likes the kids’ bento box at Kumi Ko restaurant in SLO’s Marigold Center. We sit down together with his 10-year-old brothers, Ari and Isaac, plus my 11-year-old Corban and 8-year-old Lulu, for a delicious Monday night takeout dinner. Visually, the contents of the bento box are ravishing: the bright colors of the vegetable tempura (veggies lightly battered and fried), the mound of sushi rice dusted with black and white sesame seeds, thin slices of chicken teriyaki, and spirals of apples and oranges. Every element gets its own compartment, a sort of prescribed orderliness that’s hard to resist. The bento box’s defined edges remind me how much all of us — kids and adults alike — need our boundaries. Aesthetics aside, the tempura is shatteringly crispy, the rice impeccably sticky, and the teriyaki perfectly sweet and salty. I watch all five kids chow down on their dinner, and realize I haven’t heard a single complaint. Lulu flings her dumpling across the table, trying to get the hang of using chopsticks. (#reallife) As she switches to a fork, I ask the group why they like this bento box so well. “There’s a lot to it,” says Isaac. No one else speaks up. I only hear the sounds of munching, which is explanation enough. >> JUN/JUL 2021

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So dang good

“A bad poached egg is really bad,” says 10-year-old Lucy as she and her twin sister Leila slurp shakshuka with poached eggs and feta from Big Sky Cafe. This pureed tomato-based stew is a traditional North African breakfast, served at Big Sky with several slabs of pita bread. The girls introduce me to it, and I’m hooked on the sweet, salty, and spicy richness that Big Sky draws from the raw ingredients. “Yeah,” says Leila with a shiver, “a bad poached egg can be, like, sticky and gooey. Just wrong.” Corban is here, too, learning, listening, jostling for pita. “I like all kinds of things,” he says between bites. “Just not fish.” Leila’s jaw drops. “I love anchovies!” she cries, aghast that anyone could feel this way about seafood. “They’re so dang good!” “I like lima beans,” says Lucy, while breaking the poached egg and stirring it into the stew. The group goes quiet until Leila leans over her bowl once again and says, to no one in particular, “We have to come here more often.” >>

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Where everybody knows your name

When my daughter Lulu and I arrive at Shalimar Indian restaurant in SLO, 8-year-old Poppy and her mom Lizzy are already in deep discussion with owner Aasim Sajjad. As we sit down to join them, it’s clear that Poppy is a star customer. “I can give you menus,” says Sajjad, “or you can just ask Poppy. She knows the menu by heart.” I ask the star customer to order and she asks for peshwari naan, a dish that’s new to me. When it arrives, I’m completely taken aback: it’s soft naan bread filled with a thin, pureed mixture of maraschino cherries, coconut and pistachios. The color is electric pink, and the flavors are liltingly sweet, almost floral. Lulu and I applaud Poppy’s choice to eat dessert first. We order vegetable fritters to share, bright yellow savory dumplings as light as a whisper. I’m taken in by all the vibrant colors: pink cherries, marigold fritters, emerald mint sauce. What child wouldn’t want to eat a rainbow like this? I put in an order for chana masala, the piquant chickpea stew I’ve always loved. Lulu looks a little nervous. “Will it be spicy?” asks my precious girl. “Don’t worry,” Sajjad tells her with a smile, and looks over at Poppy. “I’ll make it mild—Poppy mild.” SLO LIFE 72

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| WINE NOTES

rosé roots BY ANDRIA MCGHEE

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| JUN/JUL 2021

here’s no denying, France is the motherland of wine. We learn a lot from the French, but they also do from us with our willingness and ability to be more experimental in winemaking. It might not come as a surprise that our Central Coast vineyards mimic some very famous regions in France. Edna Valley is similar to Burgundy in the east of France while Paso Robles is like the Rhône and Southern France regions. We have a similar climate, similar soil, similar grapes to those world-class places, but we still have our own special terroir. Let’s take a look at how these areas have influenced our Central Coast selection of rosé. >>

ANDRIA MCGHEE received her advanced degree in wines and spirits from WSET in London and enjoys travel, food, wine, and exercise as a means to enjoy those around her.

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L’Aventure Rosé 2020 // $32 Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Graciano, Petit Verdot Winemakers from all over the world who want to make the most of the varieties that we grow here meet every year at Hospice du Rhône in Paso. The collaboration of these winemakers is magic, improving the skill of winemaking for all parties involved. You have probably seen wines made from Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, as well as Cinsault (san-soe), Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier (vee-yoneyay) that grow so well in our Paso soil and have a strong history in the south of France and the Rhône valley. Our climate in the Templeton Gap feels like the cool breeze Rhone receives from the Alps that whips over the land to cool down the fruit when the days warm up. In France, the wines are named after their location, like Chateauneuf-du-Pape or Provincial whereas in California they are called by the grape, a brand name, or a winery. Both wines are highly sought after. How does L’Aventure make such an impact in our area with its winemaking? Stephan Asseo made wine in Bordeaux for 17 years and was frustrated with the strict rules that he had to comply with within that region of France. After a lot of research, he found Paso Robles to be an ideal place to grow wine, as well as an ideal place for their three children to get an education. In 1997 he quickly started building a house and learning which vines work best in their new land. Asseo was free to make the wine that makes him and his wife happy. And he never ceases collaborating with winemakers. The 2020 Rosé, made at the request of Asseo’s wife Beatrice, is made mostly of Rhône grapes. It is very much like the rosé found in Southern France, such as Provence. The red grapes are picked later in the harvest season than other rosés, crushed, all the juice escaping the skins with minimal contact and then fermented in steel instead of a wood barrel. The flavor is luscious. I could say it is like strawberry and rose petals but It is a flavor of its own. Because of its later harvest, the flavor is so well balanced with acid that you don’t even notice anything until your glass is empty. It’s a perfect start to something special.

Baileyana Rosé 2018 // $24 Pinot Noir Where we learn so much from our pioneers in the old wine worlds, such as France, Catherine Niven and her husband Jack had a hand in pioneering what our Edna Valley AVA is today. They observed the weather and the changes that happened to the valley over time: where the wind was, what the soil was made of. With the help of experts, they founded Paragon Vineyard, the oldest vineyard in the Edna Valley. Still to this day they care about the farming practices. They aim to use wilderness to help take care of the vines they have worked so hard for. For the last 20 years, winemaker Rob Takigawa has kept the same care in winemaking that the Nivens have focused on that reflects the terroir of the Edna Valley. His specialty out of Cal Poly was Soil Science which is unique in understanding what the soil gives a grape and the wine it makes. This region compares to the Burgundy region in France where they grow primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Like Edna, it benefits from the fog pockets that sit and cool off the grapes but then burn off with the sun rays, giving the grape skins a chance to dry off. This cooler climate makes worldclass Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines. Most of the rosé in this region is made from Pinot Noir. The rosé featured right now is from 2018 and is a delight. Have you ever had a basket of ripe local Okui strawberries that have been sitting in the sun? That is the taste of the rosé except with the bonus of a little touch of acidity that pairs well with some snacks or just with a chair and some sun. SLO LIFE 76

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SLO LIFE MAGAZINE

| BREW

Taste of the Town BY BRANT MYERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD MEANEY

n my excitement to rejoin society again, my first outings were naturally to my favorite breweries. With the ability to visit seven breweries on an eight-mile route, it was a no-brainer to visit them all in a single trip. So, I grabbed some friends and hit the San Luis Obispo Beer Trail. I wanted to try one flagship beer from each brewery so that I could revisit their particular styles, check out any changes to their décor, and re-educate my palette for the local brewing scene. So, come join me in discovering what we’ve been missing this whole time.

Liquid Gravity Brewing Company Crashing the party before it started, I was greeted by the owners of Liquid Gravity, Brendan and Celeste Gough, as they were getting ready for a night filled with live music on their outdoor stage and the hottest pies in town from Benny’s pizza. Despite being closed, they were sympathetic to my need for their beer, so I was poured an LG IPA and we chatted at the bar about how fast the industry is shifting back to having an immediate need for more staff to keep up with their growing demand for Liquid Gravity beers both on draft at their tasting room and can for distribution. I try to get out of their way, so I make my way to the edges of their expansive back patio and watch the LG team furiously coordinate a night that is sure to be just another house party at their massive second home for serious beer fans. Liquid gravity IPA is a clean, modern West Coast IPA with a bright, tropical hop character, refreshing bitterness, and crisp finish. Bursting with an intense bouquet of passionfruit, guava, and tangerines, this 100% mosaic dry-hopped beer is the cornerstone of the Liquid Gravity lineup. >>

SLO Brew Rock Thirsty for a cold beer on a warm afternoon, my first stop was SLO Brew’s The Rock. Local workers and hungry patrons were enjoying their lunches in the airy taproom and scattered around the large outdoor space. The design of the facility with a large rock in the middle is great for breaking up into small groups and finding the perfect niche to enjoy beers under the sun. We cruised around, poking our head into the music venue, which looked to be set for an intimate show, complete with sofas, plush chairs, and tables to keep pints frosty while listening to tunes. I ran into an old acquaintance, John Nguyen, who offered to take me behind the scenes on his way into a meeting. I had a cold pint of their flagship IPA, which has changed names but is still the gold medal and award-winning standard IPA that has become synonymous with the West Coast. According to SLO Brew, their Mustang IPA is “dedicated to the 100,000+ alumni that have made SLO Brew an institution.” Crisp, clean, and clocking in around 7% ABV, this beer has tasting notes of hop-forward piney resin and an aroma of citrus, mainly orange and Meyer lemon. It quenches the thirst and is a great segue over to the grassy lawn and cornhole sets waiting to be played with.

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BRANT MYERS is a beer industry veteran and founder of SLO BIIIG, a hospitality consulting firm.

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Oak and Otter Brewing Company Tucked away on the corner of a building a few hundred feet behind Trader Joe’s, Oak and Otter offers an intimate tasting room where you’re likely to be served by the owner while watching the brewer run back and forth between the back and front of the house. I flag down Dylan Roddick as he’s doing this exact thing and pick his brain for a bit about the beers he currently offers. Readers might remember that I featured O&O around this time last year, and they are back at it again with the collaborations with local environmental non-profits. It’s always a beautiful sight to see a tasting room beer board full of new brews. Staying true to my plan, I go with a beer that is about as permanent a feature as possible for a brewery that rotates styles and brews whenever they can. I get a pour of their Hoppy Otter IPA, a light-bodied West Coast IPA full of citrus notes and bursting with hop aroma derived from the generous use of Mosaic and Amarillo hops. Reminiscent of a Sierra Nevada pale ale, with a subtle pineapple scent, I grab my pint and sit outside on their quiet patio and soak in the sunshine.

There Does Not Exist Walking into TDNE, I was pleased to see the owner/founder/brewer Max Montgomery there as he came over and joined us at the bar. We discussed his popular artwork, our passion for the narrow Kolsch glasses, and he poured me an Infinite Eclipse IPA. While drinking and jawing I noticed some new glassware, a row of dimpled mugs. Not a traditional pint style outside of Germany. Max went on to show off his very cool foamer taps and explained that he uses it with his Moonset Dark Lager to pour a layer of foam first, then pour the beer underneath. This wet-foam method protects the beer from touching outside air to minimize oxidation even while drinking. Neat stuff ! I had to drink one and it immediately took me back to Munich. My first beer was the Infinite Eclipse, a West Coaststyle IPA brewed with 2row & Pilsner base malts to keep the body light and dry. It was hopped, hot side, with Chinook, Mosaic, and Talus. This laid down a citrusy/stone fruit base for a double dry-hopping with Citra, Simcoe, and more Talus. The resultant beer is super tropical with notes of papaya, green mangoes, mandarins, and a little bit of lemon zest.

Libertine Brewing Company Heading into the heart of downtown, we next visit the Libertine’s SLO location for a palette cleansing wild ale. Although always experimenting with different barrels and fruit combinations, I go with their yearround offering of Pacific Ocean Blue Gose. This tart and slightly salty golden ale is a brewery favorite and offers an extreme terroir of the Central Coast region with the use of Pacific Ocean seawater for salt additions. That’s right, it’s brewed with ocean water pulled directly from the Pacific. It has a mid-level tartness that’s softened by the addition of salt. The restaurant is just getting ready to come out of the afternoon lull and get fired up for some dinner service, as the bar is full of friends of the staff enjoying a drink and a conversation.

Central Coast Brewing Ending closest to home, we head into CCB like it is my second home. Being so close to me, I spent many an afternoon in their tasting room and was happy to see their front patio facing Higuera street full of familiar faces. After getting two beers, one for each hand, I walked through to the shaded and quiet rear patio as we stood over the creek and commented on the orange trees lining the riparian environment. I sipped my Lucky Day IPA like I was comforting an old friend. This beer has a firm upfront bitterness, a soft midpalate, and a resinous lingering bitterness that is sure to appease any hop lover. The aroma is loaded with tropical fruit, citrus, and pungent hop flavor and then heavily dry-hopped to achieve its intoxicating aroma. There are many breweries and styles to explore here in town, so I suggest grabbing a few friends and checking out some of your old haunts, and maybe even a new one while you raise a pint glass and toast to the best coast. Cheers! SLO LIFE

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TODD MEANEY is a landscape, product, and lifestyle photographer living the SLO LIFE with his brewery-loving Great Dane.

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| HAPPENINGS

Culture & Events 100 Years After the 19th Amendment

Barefoot Concerts on the Green

Commemorating a century of women’s constitutional right to vote, the SLO County Bar Association presents a traveling exhibit at the SLO Public Library curated by the Library of Congress and showcasing the largest expansion of democracy in American history. The seven-banner free-standing exhibit features historic photos and artifacts, identifies issues of gender equality that remain today, and celebrates Black, Native, Latina, and Asian American suffragists. Through September 18 // slobar.org

Sea Pines Golf Resort’s Barefoot Concerts on the Green series has returned to entertain Central Coast friends and families with live music and barefoot dancing on the putting green. Join Greg Mendoza on percussion, Brian S. Cram on bass, and Bob Boulding on guitar for some great music-making on a midsummer Saturday afternoon. June 26 // seapinesgolfresort.com

SLO Grilled Cheese Festival Grab a map online and head out across SLO County to discover some of the best grilled cheese and twists anywhere. The third annual event, benefiting Restorative Partners, supports local restaurants and gives you a chance to vote for your favorites: Most Ooey Gooey, Best Twisted, and Best in SLO. Through June 30 // slogrilledcheese.com

MBAA Salon 2021 Celebrate seventy years of Morro Bay Art Association members with selections of their own work that each feels best represents his or her own personal artistic journey. You be the judge of the exhibit, which is installed in the traditional French Salon format, large groupings at different heights and in alphabetical order, at the Art Center Morro Bay. The three who receive the most public votes for “best artist” will be featured in a future show. Through July 12 // artcentermorrobay.org

Atmospheres Deep

The SLO Museum of Art and SUPERCOLLIDER, a Los Angeles-based gallery that creates immersive science and art experiences, presents a multimedia group exhibition guest curated by Richelle Gribble and Emma Akmakdijan. This journey is designed to reawaken a connection to the ocean, examining coastal regions above and below the ocean’s surface to uncover the human impact on a vast region of multispecies cohabitation. ” Through August 1 // sloma.org 82

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Future Veterinarians Camp Light Towers A stunning new exhibit at Sensorio has been created by internationally acclaimed artist Bruce Munro to celebrate the variety of the Paso Robles wine country. Colorful six-foot-tall towers composed of more than 17,000 wine bottles are illuminated with glowing optic fibers whose colors morph to a moving musical score. In addition to “Light Towers,” Sensorio continues to offer its “Field of Light” attraction made up of 58,000 solar-powered, fiber-optic lights. Through September 30 // sensoriopaso.com

This virtual session of Woods Humane Society’s week-long Critter Camps lets youth in grades three to six learn about basic vet care, shelter medicine, careers in the veterinary field, and more. They meet a practicing veterinarian, take on fun at-home challenges and activities that can be completed in home or yard, and receive a collectible camp button memento. A must for all future vets! June 28-July 2 // woodshumanesociety.org

Funding Our Future BBQ The Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo hosts a drive-through barbecue to raise money for scholarships awarded to local students who have faced significant personal challengers while excelling in their studies. Purchase meal tickets online for $35 in advance or $40 dayof. Each meal feeds two people and includes your choice of chicken, tri-tip, or vegetarian, along with sausage, beans, sourdough bread, and dessert. June 6 // slorotary.org

California Mid-State Fair The date for this year’s “biggest little fair anywhere” is set, with the safety of attendees, exhibitors, and staff remaining a top priority. If State guidelines allow, expect all the carnival rides, livestock, exhibits, corn dogs, live music, and cold beer you’ve come to enjoy. July 21-August 1 // midstatefair.com SLO LIFE

JUN/JUL 2021

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