When you give someone a handout you could actually be feeding their addiction and keeping them on the streets longer. Make change count.
Colorful donation meters have been installed in Downtown San Luis Obispo to collect coins to support local nonprofits that improve the lives of the homeless in our community. Support solutions by donating your change today or giving online at SLOhelpthehomeless.com.
Hello humankindness TM
Elder Placements guides you through the difficult decision making process.
After our evaluation, we take you to tour the appropriate facility that will give your parent the care and quality of life they deserve.
Whether it’s Assisted Living, Alzheimer Dementia Care or Independent Living, we do the legwork for you at NO COST.
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A couple of months ago, we taught our youngest son how to ride a bike. When he peddled out into the cul-de-sac without his training wheels for the first time, the expression on his face was one of pure joy.
As my wife and I watched him spread his wings—by that evening he was bombing down the hill and launching off the curb—I thought back to my early days on two wheels. As a kid, your bicycle equals freedom. Just like my five-year-old, I started within a strict set of boundaries on my street, which continued to expand as I gained my parents’ trust. Before long, I was able to ride the quarter-mile or so to the gas station where I would spend my hard-earned allowance on a pack of gum, usually Hubba Bubba.
Before long, my circle of competence expanded and I found myself at Long’s Drugs where I could mull over a massive assortment of candy bars, plus they had some pretty decent G.I. Joe figurines to look at in the toy aisle. Then, I advanced to the hobby shop—a big-time jump in my personal liberty. But, it was once I was able to meet my friends out around town that the genie was out of the bottle for good. Those first few pick-up football games in the park with my buddies were pure magic.
Now, when I see our little guy flying around on his Huffy “Rock It”—a hand-me-down from his big brother—I will admit that the feeling is bittersweet. Yes, I am super excited for him to eventually have the same sort of experiences with his friends that I did. But, he is the baby of the family, after all, and I often wish that we could freeze him in time forever. What I did not expect, however, was for some of that youthful exuberance to rub off on me, which is exactly what happened.
Inspired by my son, I decided to get myself a new bike. It had been years since I had one, plus I wanted to be a part of Regional Rideshare’s Bike Month, which this magazine was a sponsor. The idea of commuting to work has always intrigued me, so I figured that this was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. Immediately, I was transported back to those endless days spent riding around in a quixotic search for the baseball cards that were missing from my collection. Being on a bike is so different than being in a car, and I began to question why it took me so long to get back on one, especially since downtown San Luis Obispo, where 80% of my meetings are these days, is almost exactly between my house and my office, making a perfect bike-friendly triangle. Plus, whenever I arrive at wherever I am going I just feel so much better, although usually a little sweaty and out of breath.
Lately, when I come home I find my little guy out riding his bike up and down our neighbors’ driveways. He is so completely in the moment, so stoked. And, that’s when I realize that while I thought it was me who was teaching him all this time, it was really just the other way around. Now, if we could only find some Hubba Bubba.
I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who 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
Stephanie and I talked about a few different places that we could shoot—one of the local farmers’ markets or her commercial kitchen were early possibilities, but she suggested that we come out to her family’s farm in the hills above Highway 41, between Atascadero and Cayucos. I was instructed to pull off the highway at a specific landmark and call her so that she could lead me down the dirt road. Amazingly, we were still 20 minutes away when we wound our way through some pretty rugged terrain. They were definitely back there, far off the main road.
A SNEAK PEEK ”
BY CHRIS BERSBACH
Once we arrived, I found all kinds of interesting settings for our shoot. Her parents came out at one point to see what was going on. Her dad reminded me of my dad, as he had a lot of fun giving me a hard time. I will admit that all his good-natured ribbing did make it challenging because I am doing my best to engage my subject to get them to laugh or smile or whatever the case is. You can’t just say, “Okay, now smile.” You can see that immediately in the photograph, someone who is just following the directions but not reacting to something that actually makes them smile. I’ve got a few oneliners that usually seem to work for a genuine smile, but I was also taking some flack from the peanut gallery that day.
We hopped in the rugged old jeep—I’m not sure what vintage it was—and headed up to the ridge where you can see the ocean. Unfortunately, it was sopped in with fog so there wasn’t really an opportunity to shoot up there, but we found a couple of spots near her parents’ house and shot a roll of film at each, plus some digital coverage in a variety of additional locations.
As a “thank you” I also took some shots of Stephanie and her parents together—they were great, such nice people and so accommodating.
Stephanie was super easy to work with and willing to try everything I asked of her, and the light stayed right for longer than I expected.
Your playlist John Legend’s “All of Me”
Good read: Switch by Chip and Dan Heath Movie Usual Suspects
Cocktail Whatever you are serving.
Cup of joe from Coastal Peak Decaf or espresso Espresso in the a.m., decaf in the p.m.
Quote: Change your thoughts, change your life.
When I grow up I want to retire.
If you had theme music when you entered a room Hey Big Spender
Vacation destination Amalfi Coast of Italy
If I want to relax, I go for a long slow ride on my motorcycle.
Advice Everyone takes what they need from their experiences, then we move on to the next chapter. You are bigger than anything you do.
Embarrassing moment
Attempting to park my motorcycle and dumping it with a small crowd of onlookers watching.
Hardest thing you’ve ever done?
Trying to find a home in SLO.
Your playlist “Who Needs You” by The Orwells
Good read Queens of Noise: The Real Story of the Runaways
Movie Well, as a child of the 80’s, my day-to-day conversations always include a line or two from a John Hughes film. But, really my favorite film is Rocky. What can I say? I’m a sucker for the Italian Stallion. Sports I. Love. Sports. (ahem, watching I mean; not playing) I’m a die-hard Chicago Blackhawks fan, and every fall you will find me rooting for my kids’ AYSO teams.
Cocktail Generally I’m an IPA girl, but if I’m gonna have a cocktail it’ll be either a bourbon on ice or one of those fancy concoctions at Sidecar.
Cup of joe from Caffe Reggio in Greenwich Village Decaf or espresso Espresso –three shots, please.
Quote “And so love goes. And so life goes. And so I go.” (Neal Cassady)
If someone were to star as me in a movie, it would be a young Patti Smith (not because I am that cool, but because she is and it’s my movie, right?).
If I want to relax, I practice transcendental meditation twice a day.
Your playlist Jon Stephen “Out Of The Blue”
Good read Henri CartierBresson’s The Man, The Image, & The World or Edward Weston’s The Daybooks of Edward Weston Movie Chinatown or Play Misty For Me
Ice cream or sorbet Habanero Chocolate Sorbet
Quote “The negative is the score, the print is the performance.” (Ansel Adams) I use this to apply to life as well as my images. When I grow up I want to make a difference in peoples lives with my photographs.
Vacation destination Belize Restaurant Mama’s Fish House in Paia, Maui
Advice Continually give back in all aspects of your life. Embarrassing moment I was trying to teach my third grade photography students how to take a great picture until one student came up to me and whispered, “Mr. Kinney, your lens cap is on.”
Hardest thing you’ve ever done? Sit on an airplane for nine hours after getting very ill in the Amazon. Where’s Waldo? Residing at the Point San Luis Lighthouse.
Your playlist “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts
Good read The Aviators Wife by Melanie Benjamin Movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s Cocktail classic martini Cup of joe from Steaming Bean in Shell Beach because it’s on my way to work.
Decaf or espresso Espresso, please. Make it a double. Quote Leap, and the net shall appear.
When I grow up I want to work less, play more.
If you had theme music when you entered a room “Long Way Around” by Dixie Chicks
If someone were to star as me in a movie, it would be Charlize Theron. (And then I woke up.)
Vacation destination Hawaii. I hope. And soon.
Embarrassing moment I took a header trying to surf to shore on my paddleboard. That was embarrassing enough, but then when my ego had me wanting to stand up as quickly as possible to show anyone watching on the crowded beach it was no big deal, I failed to realize my bathing suit top was down around my waist.
Super hero power Invulnerability
We checked in with our contributors to show you who’s behind the pages of SLO LIFE Magazine this issue.Lance Kinney
Your playlist The new Gary Clark Jr. album, Blak and Blu
Good read Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan
Movie Chef, I love a good food movie, and Tampopo is my all time favorite. Cocktail Pisco Sour made with organic egg whites
Cup of joe from Joe Mammas, but Scout Coffee is a close second.
Quote Lets do this thing! When I grow up I want to Be somebody to look up to.
If I want to relax, I go to the beach. The ocean is the only place I can truly unwind. If you had theme music when you entered a room Any song from Pulp Fiction.
Vacation destination I can’t remember when I last vacationed, but skiing Tahoe with my family would be the top of my list. Advice Dreams take a lot of work for them to come true.
Food Fresh and local. That’s my style. Hardest thing you’ve ever done? Leave San Francisco!
Super hero power The power to sauté fish without sticking. I think that’s a super power? Where’s Waldo? He works for me on the weekends.
Good read Adventures of
Finn by Mark Twain
Movie It’s a Wonderful Life
Cocktail Dark & Stormy Cup of joe from Nautical Bean
Quote “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.” (Aristotle)
When I grow up I want to be proud of how I invested my time and talent. If I want to relax, I float down the Truckee river with my husband, friends and ice cold beer.
Vacation destination Next on my list: hire a skipper with a sailboat to take my husband and I and some close friends island hopping in the Caribbean.
Advice Time is the only resource you never get back.
Surprisingly I’ve been detained and then denied access to England because I didn’t have the right work visa.
Where’s Waldo? Cloned into hundreds, and riding on bikes through downtown SLO every “stripe night” theme after Farmers’ Market.
Your playlist I’ve been spinning Brody Dalle’s new album Diploid Love on a daily basis lately.
Good read All time classic: Lord of the Rings; Recently revisited: Neil Stephenson’s Snow Crash. Movie If I were trying to sound cool, I’d say something edgy like The Usual Suspects, but if I’m being honest, probably Jurassic Park.
Cocktail An old fashioned, made with very good, highproof bourbon or rye whiskey. Or Islay Scotch, neat.
Advice Just do the work.
Decaf or espresso? Caffeinated. Beyond that, enough sugar and cream will hide almost any crimes.
Cup of joe from Linnaea’s, as much for the people-watching as the beverages. Restaurant For daily fare, Jaffa Cafe or Taqueria Santa Cruz. For an unbeatable evening out, Cass House in Cayucos.
Surprisingly without a camera in my hand, I’m paralyzingly shy around strangers. Super hero power Flight. I dreamed about flying so often as a little kid that sometimes I woke up pretty sure I might actually be able to.
Chris Bersbach Jessie Rivas Paden Hughes
Twilight arrived quickly and Mark Nakamura’s family was ready to leave. But, not before one last shot. With his Canon 5D Mark III set up on a tripod with a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, he captured the shot you see here, which because of the near-perfect light, required minimal touch-up after the fact.
It is interesting to think about how this photo links Nakamura, who has a passion for travel—he once took a two-year sabbatical with his wife to Jakarta where his photographic skills blossomed—to another traveler: Gaspar de Portola. Nearly 250 years ago, Portola
likely stood in the same spot when the men of his expedition—hungry from a long day of travel—spotted a funny looking skinny bear, or oso flaco, roaming the shores. The bear became dinner that night for the weary crew. By morning, many of the explorers had fallen violently ill, and by the following day several of them had died. As they sorted through the aftermath, the Spaniards suspected that the native Chumash had poisoned the bear in an effort to prevent the ravenous forager from gobbling up all of the precious edible resources that Mother Nature was providing locally.
Today, Oso Flaco Lake is an oft-overlooked gem of the Central Coast. As part of the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area, the small body of water sitting just north of Guadalupe, is considered by those who know it well to be one of the best kept secrets of the county. For Nakamura, who has taught elementary school for nearly 30 years—he does wedding and portraiture photography on the side—the little lake is the perfect subject. As he explains, “I also wanted to capture the boardwalk to give the shot some context, but really it was just a matter of waiting for the light to be right. The colors and the texture were unlike anything you can imagine.”
Cal Poly celebrated another graduation. This time the closely watched fouryear graduation rate climbed to 40% from 31% the year prior. Identifying improvement to the subpar figure as a major priority on which he vows to “focus like a laser beam,” President Jeffrey Armstrong set a goal of achieving a 75% four-year graduation rate within 8 years, which would put the university on equal footing with other leading public institutions.
Dan Dow, a Deputy D.A., beat his higher-ranking colleague, Tim Covello, the Assistant D.A., in a contest to replace Gerry Shea as the next District Attorney. Also, the Board of Supervisors District 4 was unable to select a winner with more than 50% of the vote, so there will be a runoff this November between Caren Ray and Lynn Compton. At last count, the two campaigns had raised $400,000. The fiercely contested race, which is expected to have implications for both water and oil policy in the county, could top $1 million.
The City of Pismo Beach took a big step in its effort to expand its open space and continue to attract tourists. The city council unanimously voted to allocate $900,000 toward the purchase of the 900-acre property known as the “Pismo Preserve.” And, it also approved the city’s strategic plan with major improvements to its downtown, including converting its beachside parking lot into a public plaza complete with a Ferris wheel, fountain, and colorful, oversized letters that double as a sculpture spelling out “Pismo Beach.”
The 66-year-old retired landscaper who identifies himself as “Mule” passed through San Luis Obispo where it was determined that he camped illegally.
SLOPD refused to make an exception for the drifter, who is also known as John C. Sears, when he was cited for violating the city’s ordinance.
In 2012 he had passed through town with three mules, but he was down to two during this visit. Sears blogs about his travels on Facebook where nearly 28,000 people follow his “3 Mules” page. After his post announcing that the DA would not be pursuing his case, he received 548 “likes.”
Citing “adverse environmental impacts” including public safety, air quality, noise and traffic, a group calling itself the Alliance of SLO Neighborhoods filed suit against the California State University Board of Trustees to stop Cal Poly’s plan to build a 1,475-bed freshman complex near the Alta Vista neighborhood. At a city council meeting earlier in the month where members of the Alliance filled the seats, impassioned speakers expressed frustration at Cal Poly’s unwillingness to relocate the dorms elsewhere. [see “Help me, help you” on page 52]
A series of bond and taxation matters were announced over the span of a few days. Central Coast voters will be asked to make difficult choices in the November election concerning revenue matters, including the proposed Atascadero sales tax increase—taking it from 7.5% to 8.0%; the San Luis Coastal Unified School District’s $177 million bond to improve and update its facilities; a $48 million bond to improve Grover Beach streets; and there could be an additional bond request by Cuesta College in the $280 million range to repair its aging facilities. Further, San Luis Obispo residents will be asked to extend the half-percent sales tax, known as Measure G.
A protracted drought spurred the California legislature to criminalize water wasting. From this day forward, excessive use of water, such as hosing off sidewalks, is punishable by a fine of $500 per day. Locally, officials estimate that Atascadero Lake will become completely dry in a matter of months. In San Luis Obispo, however, the city council took the opportunity to revitalize its partially dry 100-acre Laguna Lake by allocating $10 million over 10 years to the project.
Facing major resistance from the neighbors, Dero Parker, a Bakersfield oilman, scaled back his permit application to drilling just one exploratory well in the Huasna Valley. Parker is representing a consortium of multinational energy companies who are backing his efforts to pump as many as 10 million barrels they believe are below the surface. One of the companies connected to the effort is Excelaron, which is the same multi-national firm that sued the county for $6.24 billion last year when its permit application to drill 12 wells was denied.
A surfer was attacked by what was believed to be an eightfoot-long great white in the water near Pier Avenue in Oceano. After taking an 11-inch bite out of his board, the surfer pushed away and the shark left. Yelling, “Shark attack! Everybody get out of the water!” the surfer paddled as fast as he could toward the beach. About an hour later, beachgoers spotted a shark swimming near the shore just south of the Pismo Pier. Later in the month, another great white, estimated between 10 and 12 feet, was seen at Avila Beach.
The county parks department was rebuffed by the California Coastal Commission in its effort to improve access to Pirate’s Cove. The plan had been 10 years in the making and would have included a variety of improvements: paving the parking lot, installing bathrooms, and building a proper beach access. The county, which was set to allocate $1.5 million to the capital project, was told by Commissioner Erik Howell, also a member of the Pismo Beach City Council, and a vocal opponent, that, “I have serious concerns.”
In a wide-ranging interview with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff we covered all the bases including zombie apocalypse preparedness, what it feels like to get punched in the face by Chuck Lidell, and the worst place to live in the event of a Santa Maria missile attack…
Be honest, Ian, just how worried are you about a zombie apocalypse? What!? [Laughter] Not at all. But, I will tell you that when we had the blackout seven or eight months ago the refrigeration alarm at the new morgue went off, meaning that there was some sort of unexplained temperature change over there. I was at home taking a look at Facebook and people were joking around saying, “the power is out because of the zombie apocalypse!” Just then I get a call from our dispatch about the alarm. It’s near my house so I told them that I would go check on it myself. So I get there and go inside the front door—it’s pitch dark. I don’t have my gun with me—why would you take your gun to the morgue?—I had a flashlight only. It’s pitch dark, and I’m walking in toward the autopsy room and still thinking about all of the zombie talk. And then it dawns on me that our coroners come in through the back door, and if one of them arrives right now they will scare the bejeezus out of me. I’m thinking if they do it on purpose they’re in frickin’ big trouble. And, even if they don’t do it on purpose, it’s still going to scare the hell out of me. Fortunately, I ended up being the only one there.
Speaking of scary, we heard that you have fought UFC champ Chuck Lidell. I’ve been kickboxing for twenty years. There are some guys here in the Sheriffs Office that I spar with now on the weekends. I really got into it when Chuck was an amateur and a good friend of mine; I’ve known him since he was at Cal Poly. We had the same trainer for a while, and I was one of his sparring partners. I’ve probably sparred with five other professionals over the years. A lot of the sparring was fairly medium-speed because Chuck was working on technique and sort of fine-tuning before a fight. But, every once in a while I could catch him with a punch that would wake him up and make him mad. I could always tell when he was playing around and not training very hard, and I could certainly tell when he was mad. At that point, I was trying to not get knocked out or beat up too bad. It was fun; I really miss it.
Switching gears, tell us about your father. Is it true that he invented GPS? Yes, he led the group of engineers at the Air Force who invented GPS. He never takes credit; he always says it was his team. He eventually retired as a colonel and went to Stanford as a professor. He taught there but also worked on a project for NASA called Gravity Probe B. They launched a satellite from Vandenberg—we were able to go watch it, this was ten years ago—in an attempt to prove Einstein’s second Theory of Relativity. After Stanford, he moved down here. He’s continued
to work; he’s just non-stop. He’s still very much involved in GPS and the upgrades and so forth. He still does stuff for Stanford and some things for Washington. He’s very humble, but very driven. He is definitely more intellectual than I am. [laughter] If there was a scale from 1 to 10 measuring aptitude for math, I would be at about a 0.5 and he would be at about a 10.5— it’s just not how my brain works. I’m interested in it and I want to see how it works, but that’s not how I function. On the flipside of that, when I talk about the things I do in my work, he’s very intrigued by that because it’s not something that he’s used to.
Let’s wrap up by talking about the trip you took to Israel last October. There were 15 of us, mostly heads of law enforcement agencies from around California. The Anti-Defamation League sent us to learn about the things they were doing to keep their country secure while also promoting peace and tolerance. One of the prime examples that we saw was at the border check stations. They have a problem with suicide bombers, so we asked, “Why don’t you just have dogs out here sniffing peoples’ cars?” They said, “We have a lot of Muslims come through, and they believe that dogs are filthy and do not belong with people.” They’re telling us this, and we’re thinking, “Wow, that’s extremely respectful.” So, what they do is to put this thing on their window when they drive up—it looks like one of those old drive-in movie speakers—and they talk to the driver. As they are talking the device is sucking in air from the cab of the car, and it goes down this pipe system to a room full of bomb-sniffing dogs. They figured out an alternative to show respect to the Muslims while also accomplishing the same thing. How do you get more tolerant than that?
What were the people like? The people there were unbelievable, not living in fear at all. Beautiful people. While we were there, we took a trip to the Syrian border where we could see explosions and hear gunfire. We stopped at a winery nearby for lunch. It was a family-owned operation similar to something you would see in the Edna Valley here. We asked one of the sons, “Aren’t you concerned about how close you are to Syria, that a missile could hit you?” He said, “No, we’re so close that it would just sail over our heads.” Who would say that in our world? I mean if Santa Maria were firing missiles at us we sure wouldn’t be living in South County. But, they refused to be victims. That’s the kind of stuff we saw over and over again there. Just an amazing country. I would go back in a heartbeat.
Inspiration struck STEPHANIE BURCHIEL a short time after selling her popular Morro Bay café and taking a 9-to-5 job: “Why am I not doing what I love?” she asked herself. Her dual passions for soup and local farmers’ markets—she was once known as “The Kiwi Girl” while manning her parents’ produce booth during her childhood—have since been documented in a book called Central Coast Farmers’ Market Soups. A lifelong local, Burchiel now lives in Cayucos and divides her time between the kitchen and farmers’ markets where she makes a living selling her vegan soups. Here is her story…
Where are you from originally, Stephanie?
I was actually born in Southern California, and lived there for, I believe, six months of my life. My dad was a cabinetmaker and he used to do some work here. He fell in love with the area and my parents jumped on the opportunity to move when they had the chance. That was in 1982, and then they bought the cattle ranch in probably 1990 or so. Los Osos is where I grew up, and the Central Coast is all I really knew. I went to Morro Bay High School and Cal Poly.
Five days before I graduated from Cal Poly with a psychology degree I bought—very inexpensively from a friend—the Shine Café, which is a little vegan restaurant in Morro Bay. I actually went in on it with my roommate. We talked each other into it. I had never cooked before; it was just super impulsive. After a couple of weeks he realized that it was actually a horrible idea so I bought out his portion; again, we’re talking a very small investment here. I had a knack for it and, for whatever reason, I was able to attract a different crowd than the previous owners—a whole new crowd who could really eat there consistently and would come out consistently to support it. And so it grew really, really fast and I really wasn’t prepared for that. I remember some days just hiding behind the counter, taking a few breaths to get through the day.
fancy restaurant. Because you know that you could probably go in that direction if you wanted. But it’s really taken some selfrestraint to stay small, and keep it realistic for the lifestyle that I want. But I think in the long run, health-wise you’re going to be happier and also lifestyle-wise and family-wise you’re going to be better off. It’s good to really give your attention and your time to what’s important.
At one point, you sold the restaurant and took a job. Tell us about that. I did. I thought I would go plug myself into the system. Get a state job, get the benefits and a retirement plan and live the dream. That worked for about an hour. [laughter] I hated it. Just really didn’t like the structure. I was bored the whole time. So my boyfriend and I started to think, “You know, maybe we’ll start a business.” We settled on pickles and we planted all of these pickle cucumbers thinking, “Okay, we’re going to be pickle makers and this is going to be our huge successful endeavor.” So, we grew all the cucumbers and got ready, but we didn’t know how to make pickles and weren’t at all set up for it and so, that kind of just like went “Poof!” and blew out. Very soon after that I had the idea of making soup. I just love making soup—it’s what cooking is. I like the idea of being at the farmers’ market so I could sell it there. The first market I did was on a Monday at Baywood Park, and the
So, what did you do?
You’ve got to persevere, right? I’m just so thankful for every little learning experience that place gave me because it taught me discipline and it taught me just how to learn really, really quickly. You know, it was like a do-or-die kind of situation. And I loved it so much that I didn’t really care about the stress level. I did that for five years and it was non-stop. Any restaurant owner will tell you that you are married to it. It was a 70 to 100 hour workweek, every single week.
Did you have any preparation for this?
I used to work at the Morro Bay movie theater. Making popcorn had been my only culinary training prior to buying the café. I always really respected the woman who owned the theater, and she gave me some great advice when I needed it most. I told her that I wanted to move the café into a larger space in a better, more prominent location. A few times I actually went forward with the plan, started to sign up for a business loan, scouted out commercial spaces and she always said, “You know, Steph, if you do this, you’re going to work twice as hard and make half the money.” That really resonated with me, and I think about that a lot now. It’s hard to not to let your ego get ahead of you and want the big,
soup sold out. So I knew I was maybe onto something, and then we kind of started increasing and increasing, and increasing. And now, it’s just full-blown—it’s supporting me and it’s pretty cool that it took off like that.
But it couldn’t have all been smooth sailing though, right? When I was first getting started, before I had my truck, I was transporting the soup to market in my Honda Civic Hatchback. I literally had to press myself against the side of the car to put everything in it. I drove all scrunched up and I had all of my holding containers in the back. So, this one day I was driving along South Bay Boulevard to the Baywood Farmers’ Market, and the woman in front of me slammed on her brakes and I heard my soup slosh forward and the lids came off and it literally filled the entire car with soup. It was comical just how much soup was in my car—it was a mung bean soup. I mean, it never recovered; the smell never left. I had to sell the car, and for way less than it was worth. It really needed to be completely reupholstered. I remember pulling off onto the side of the road and just shoveling it out of the car with whatever ladle I could find, into the bushes. I thought it was funny. No reason to cry over spilled soup.
It’s good to really give your attention and your time to what’s important.
You know, ironically, I grew up on a beef ranch. This was before my parents bought their organic farm, where they grow lemons and kiwis. We always had so much meat around and it just never really appealed to me. It wasn’t that I was necessarily labeled as a vegetarian; it was just not my preference, I suppose. So now I only eat meat myself on occasion. I usually stay away from red meat and pork and want to know where it’s sourced, where it came from. It’s so cool that there is a food obsession here on the Central Coast. People are really into local products. I see so many of our local restaurants out at the farmers’ markets shopping for produce. It’s great to see that happening and it’s great to see that people are attracted to supporting our local farmers. It’s going to make farming here sustainable.
What goes through your mind when you’re making soup?
I guess just, I don’t know. The love for what I do. Being in the kitchen, it’s an incredible experience to be alone working in the kitchen. I’m there with my headphones on, listening to music, and being able to produce this amazing food with these incredible ingredients. And then switching gears halfway through the day and being you know, in my element around all these people who I tremendously respect, just selling them soup. I guess my customers drive me, they actually feed whatever, I don’t know, desire I have to produce the stuff. I don’t really have very many bad days at the market.
Now, your dad played a role in your developing your soups, right? Yes, that’s right. He was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, which is an inflammatory disease and seems to be becoming more and more common. And he was introduced to a dietician when I had my cafe, who put him on this very strict diet of no wheat, no diary, no anything. No salt, no soy, no pork, no—the list was so long on what he couldn’t have, but within about six months, he had really turned it around, and now it’s under control. And he’s very, very aware of what he eats. He can get away with a little bit more now. But I watched firsthand how food change his life. He went from eating a lot of sugar and a lot of processed foods and all the fast food to eating whole foods and clean food and he really cleaned up his diet. Consequently, the whole family jumped on board; my mom is an amazing glutenfree baker. I tell her she should sell her baked goods, but she says, “Nah, I just cook for your dad.”
Whoa—timeout, quick break—why’s your dog growling at me?
[laughter] He’s a Jack Russell, Chihuahua, Poodle. He’s like all three kinds of angry mixed up in one dog. He’s a funny looking dude, isn’t he? Yeah, that’s Scooter. He was a package deal with the boyfriend. It was like an all-inclusive thing, and Scooter hated me for the first six months of our relationship; but now I think he likes me more.
Tell us about your book, Central Coast Farmers’ Market Soups . So that came out, let’s see, about a year-and-a-half ago. A friend of mine is a photographer, Sam Peck. He used to be a travel photographer for Thai Airways—I just love his work. He’s such a purist and an old-school photographer, he never really doctors anything up; he’s more the type that will get up at five in the morning to get the perfect lighting. That effort really comes through in the book because I think the recipes—maybe I’m too
close to the project—but I think they’re kind of secondary to the photography. He did such a phenomenal job and it has sold like gangbusters. We’ve been very fortunate. I was surprised because it was kind of a shot in the dark to write a cookbook. You know, as with everything I seem to do, it was very impulsive. [laughter] And it just kind of, it just started evolving. I wantedto make it all cutesy, but he had a real vision for the project. He broke it up by season, which really made sense, made it flow and then I was able to write the book as I was cooking the soups throughout the different seasons. In the end it just made sense.
I’ve lived in Los Osos, Morro Bay and here, and Cayucos is, by far, my favorite town. But it does turn into a totally different scene during the summer. It really does. Around the Fourth of July, it’s like a madhouse. I used to have to leave town, but now I just embrace the Fourth. I’ve stopped having a bad attitude about it. You know, now I just enjoy the fact that there are all these people having a great time in my little town. And then I go pick up trash the next day.
When I’m not in the kitchen I love taking long walks on the beach with Scooter. I also surf—as I get older, I think I’m heading more
toward the long board scene. I seem to gravitate toward the little, small, glassy days in Cayucos, like right about now. Summertime is starting to become my favorite. My boyfriend, he’s a surfer professionally and so he makes me look bad in the water. [laughter] But he’s still a good teacher. And I just got my motorcycle license. So I do that a lot. I ride what is called an enduro or dual sport and it can go on or off-road. I pretty much stay off the freeway and away from cars as much as possible. There are some great rides around the coast, especially some of the backroads off of 46. It’s just a beautiful area to go exploring.
The future? I don’t know? I don’t do well with change. I’m really hoping that I can kind of keep the status quo. That would be the ideal, you know. Keep cooking; keep living here. Maybe buy a house one day. I want to help my parents out as much as possible as they get older on the ranch to really make sure that they can hold on to that property. It’s a real special chunk of land. It’s nice to have Tuesdays off so that I can go and help them out. But doing this interview was a great excuse to not have to shovel dirt on the ranch today! [laughter] Seriously though, my dad asks me that question all the time, “What are you going to do in 10 years?” I always tell him, “Hopefully this— and, in 20 years, hopefully this.” SLO LIFE
Sixteen-year-old San Luis Obispo High School junior and the oldest of three girls, Bella Stenvall is energizied by writing, dancing and helping others.
Tell us about some of your achievements? I have been awarded the Presidential Award for Community Service, the Mayor’s Award and SLOHS Community Service Award twice, first place in the SLO County Writing Contest, acceptance to Stanford University Education Program for Gifted Youth (Environmental Science), the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, and two Tiger Awards for Class Top Ten.
What sort of extra-curricular activities are you involved in? I am involved with and hold various leadership positions in ASB, Environmental Club, Interact Club, and TWAC Dance Club on campus. However, I spend a bulk of my time engaged in as many volunteer events as I can. Next year will be my third year as a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), I serve on the United Way Youth Board, work with the Downtown Association’s Santa’s House, WinterWonderSLO for BBBS, help at various walks/runs for different causes, as well as many beach-clean ups and trail restorations.
What are your interests outside of school? Dance bloomed into a passion very early on for me. The Academy of Dance SLO has been my second home since I was two years old when my parents put me in a tutu for baby ballet. I spend about fourteen hours a week in the studio training. It takes time management and organization to balance such a schedule with school and other extra-curricular activites, but, wow, is it worth it. The sensation of performing is practically indescribable, and nothing brings me more joy.
And, you enjoy writing... I’ve been published in some teen magazines, mainly personal narratives. Writing has always come easily to me, words seem to flow rather naturally. I love poetry and fiction with vivid descriptions. I write for myself more than others.
We’ve heard your passionate about travel. Honestly, I just want to see as much of the world as possible. I inherited a love of travel from my parents. San Luis Obispo is such a tiny fraction of the country, let alone the planet. Traveling has opened my mind to new perspectives and cultures, and I want as much of it as I can get.
What is your favorite memory? Earlier this June I was fortunate to travel to Bali with my mother and little sisters. We spent some time living at the Slukat Learning Center, a place for local children to receive free education from international volunteers. I think just the magic of waking up every morning in a place so incredibly rich in spirituality, and interacting with kids who have such open hearts, will be something that I cherish in my memory forever.
What do you dislike the most? While I am completely guilty of this, I despise our culture’s use of technology and social media as a medium for relationship building. We are in a never-ending cycle of self-promotion, using texts to start or end conflicts simply because it’s easier. However, nothing compares to human-to-human contact, and I fear that we’re all losing touch with that. Did I mention that as a sixteen-year-old girl, I’m more at fault than many?
What career do you see yourself in someday? I am very enthusiastic about environmental studies. Using my love of science to help find alternative energy sources with minimal ecological downsides seems like one career possibility. This as well as focusing more on research and traveling around the world promoting environmental awareness in areas that haven’t quite realized the importance of protecting our planet yet.
What schools are you considering for college? If I had the opportunity, I would love to potentially attend a school on the East Coast just for a brand new experience. My dream schools include Duke, Columbia, Georgetown, and Yale. But I am also considering schools in California such as UCLA and UC Berkeley.
SLO LIFE
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Merriam-Webster defines inertia as: lack of movement or activity especially when movement or activity is wanted or needed; the feeling of not having the energy or desire that is needed to move or change.
Alongtime associate, Jessie, was moving from the corporate world to starting his own small business—a common phenomenon here on the Central Coast. Jessie had a successful career as an employee, and he felt well prepared to move on to doing his own thing. This move was something he wanted to do for a long time. He was very motivated to make a change.
Jessie put together a comprehensive business plan, including a well-thought-out marketing strategy. He got all the basic tools in order: a business license, insurance, business cards, website, company email, and accounting software. He set up his home office, phone, furniture, fax, scanner, and all the necessary
digital functionality. No detail was overlooked.
When the day came to pull the trigger and start executing the marketing plan to generate business, he suddenly found himself looking for anything he could rationalize as being more important than picking up the phone to make sales calls.
He could see himself procrastinating, but was unable to find the necessary motivation to move forward. He was stuck. Puzzled, frustrated and a little embarrassed, he called me. We arranged some coaching sessions and focused on getting him moving forward again.
After several sessions, we agreed on a twopronged approach: first, a short-term plan to create some movement, and then a longer-term effort to resolve the underlying issue.
In the short-term, our goal was to break down the feeling of overwhelm into smaller more manageable “bite-sized” pieces that were actionable for him. In the long-term, we began to work on understanding the real cause of his reluctance, and set out to build a strategy including a plan to conquer the issue once and for all.
Initially, we laid out the individual steps he needed to help get unstuck. In his case, this began with daily goals for making sales calls and executing his marketing plan. Each step was as small as it needed to be for him to complete it. Completing the small tasks became critical and consumed his entire focus. He had to get some wins, some success, no matter how small to create forward motion. With each passing day, he became more and more comfortable with the process and was able to set increasingly challenging daily goals.
For the long-term solution, we worked on uncovering the essence of the issue. After some time, we discovered he was struggling with fear of rejection and failure. While at first this seemed unusual since a good portion of his
success in the corporate world had been in sales, we came to realize this was different. His previous experience had always been selling the goods and services of his employer. The company had provided a buffer of sorts. Now, for the first time, there was no buffer. It was just Jessie and products. So each rejection— which is commonplace in sales— felt much more personal, much more frightening. And a failure would be devastating.
Discovering this core issue, which had been a major obstacle, was a very eye-opening experience for Jessie. And with his realization, a huge weight lifted. Clearly, his fear had to be addressed first. And, once the lights were turned on and the bogeyman disappeared, Jessie intuitively knew what to do and where to take his business next. Only after he gained a firm grasp of what was tripping him up— what was going on in his head—were we able to work together to begin setting concrete plans in place for him to move forward with momentum.
I checked in with Jessie several months later; he was back to being the confident, enthusiastic person I had known for years. His business was on track, and he could not be happier about his career choice.
Inertia can be a powerful foe, and I am always amazed at how indiscriminately it strikes. Frequently, I see it in my coaching practice when working with individuals making significant changes in their lives. However, as with Jessie, it can be overcome with the proper discovery and plan of action.
In these days of tablets, smart phones and computer screens that can read a book to you as easily as they can play a movie or video game, it’s not always easy to get kids excited about picking up a book. That is, unless they get Out and About to the home of a San Luis Obispo woman.
When people talk about doing something because it’s a labor of love, it’s usually because they love what they’re doing, or they love who they’re doing it for. In Liz Krieger’s case, it’s both.
A librarian at the San Luis Obispo library for decades, she now plays a similar role at a different location. “Let’s see, what kind of books do you like?” she asked a 6th grader who is wandering the stacks of books. Krieger now plays librarian out of her home.
Liz and her husband Dan share their living space with thousands of books, and every now and then a class full of kids from Hawthorne Elementary. Krieger has spent years collecting the books, and it’s a process that never stops. “We took a drive to Minnesota and Wyoming two years ago. We had to stop all along the way and pick up books,” she said.
Krieger spends days getting ready for every visit from the kids, starting with a questionaire sent to each and every one before they walk in the door. “Do they read for fun or not? How much TV and video games do they watch every day? What are their hobbies? What do they want to do when they grow up?” Krieger explains the type of questions she asks.
By the time the kids walk in, they have books waiting just for them. “Krieger possibly has stayed up all night picking out special books for every child... like soccer books for Eduardo, and Magic Tree House for Trinity,” said Laura Kirschner, resource specialist at Hawthorne Elementary.
Then the treasure hunt begins. “Take any of these books that you like, just have fun!” Liz instructs the kids as they are about to embark on their search for new discoveries in her home. Kids are blown away
by what they can find at Krieger’s house. I asked her, “Do you have the first Charlie Brown book?” reported student Andrew Vanderweele. “And she’s said, ‘Oh yeah, I totally do.’” He chucked, “So I took it home that night.”
There are no library cards, no fees, no donations necessary. Kids can bring the books back, pass them on, or Krieger would love to see them start building their own libraries. “It’s just amazing, she will go to bookstores and buy books and then give them away for free,” continues Vanderweele. “She’s such a kind-hearted person.Everyone who comes to Liz’s house which is basically the whole third through sixth grade at Hawthorne school, is learning about loving reading,” shares Kirschner.
And why does Krieger do it? Because while she loves tablets too, there’s something about wandering into a room full of books and discovering something that just catches your eye, and your attention when you open its pages. She is making sure kids get that experience. “I would say I’m still pushing books,” Krieger is in the middle of explaining to a reporter when a kid yells as he’s walking out the door, “Thank you Liz!” She immediately stops the interview and turns to yell to the child before the door shuts behind him, “I love you! Bye Eduardo! See you soon!” A labor of love indeed. Not only do Krieger and her husband have a library in their home and invite the students from Hawthorne for visits, they pick up the tab for the lunch served to the kids when they come, as well.
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BY DAWN JANKE
On the heels of their performance at Live Oak Music Festival mid-June, local band The Monroe sat down with me to celebrate the release of their new single, “Cut the Corners,” and discuss their plans for the future. After two years together, the band has garnered a buzz about them, and with two EPS, a new website, and a new van, The Monroe are ready to roll their big sound right to you.
And roll, they do. In fact, the band unanimously agrees that they like to define their music as “roll soul.” Lead singer Morgan Monroe’s vocal influences hover around the sultry sounds of Amy Winehouse, the soulful depths of Beyonce Knowles, and the smooth notes of R&B crooner Frank Ocean. Other influences on their sound range from guitarist Renny Currin’s love of the blues, keyboardist Doktar Robert Isapony XD’s old rock steady vibe, and drummer Taylor Belmore’s appreciation for singer-songwriters like Joanna Newsom.
The Monroe clearly draws from a wide variety of genres and considers their sound to be vibe music or what they laughingly refer to as “dumpster funk,” a term I think is absolutely brilliant (though it’s important to note here that the term “dumpster” is said with affection and represents the modus operandi behind those hip folk out there who see value and romance in all things discarded). The Monroe’s sound is definitely not garbage. “Our sound is hard to define, which is good,” says Currin.
Drummer Belmore explains that she is really liking the group vocals as their sound evolves (Belmore, Currin, and Isapony often beautifully harmonize with lead singer Monroe). Their latest single, written by Currin and developed collaboratively with the rest of the band, has a
somewhat mainstream pop sound to it, and all of the band members are excited about where they’re going with their music. Belmore says, “we go hard and we go together.”
After hanging with the band for a couple of hours, it’s clear that they do, indeed, go together. They banter with one another as they narrate their story, which begins something like this: Belmore and Isapony were a jazz and belly-dance combo who wanted to play a gig at Hush Harbor Artisan
Bakery & Cafe in Atascadero, but restaurant owner Donnie Monroe wouldn’t let them play unless they invited his daughter Morgan to sing. Monroe giggles as she admits that she was “forced on” Isapony and Belmore, but Belmore says, “Actually, when Morgan came in, people came.”
So, the band’s story starts at Hush Harbor with Belmore, Isapony, and Monroe performing as Morgan Monroe and the Robert Taylor Band, covering an Amy Winehouse song on a karaoke machine. Shortly thereafter, guitarist Currin and bassist Ryan Howl joined the mix, and they changed their name first to Lemon Row then to Le Monroe and finally, The Monroe. Oh, and probably most important: they got rid of that karaoke machine and purchased some proper speakers from which to amplify Monroe’s velvety voice. By now, with wins for both Best R&B Song and Best Live Performance at the SLO New Times Music Awards last fall, as well as an amazing performance on Stage Too at this summer’s Live Oak under their belts, The Monroe are on their way.
And what’s the next chapter in The Monroe story? A full length album? Maybe. Right now, the band wants to play every venue in the county and then hop in their new van and take their music on the road. For the most part, The Monroe just wants to be seen. They admit that they struggle with what I would imagine most up-andcoming musicians struggle with: the best, or right way to develop a fanbase. Some bands go the crowdfunding route, launching a campaign on a platform such as Indiegogo or Kickstarter. Should they or shouldn’t they? For The Monroe, there’s a level of morality at the heart of the answer to that question. Their songs are available for download on SoundCloud and ReverbNation, but for now, they mainly “want to hustle from scratch,” and believe that being seen live may help catapult them into success beyond SLO County.
However they get there, there’s no doubt they will. And, I, for one, am excited to follow as their story unfolds. The Monroe keeps it real, and that’s refreshing.They’ve got raw energy and dig deeply into the purpose behind their music. Isapony believes that music should release us from the daily grind, and Belmore says that the band carries emotion “like a wave,” and with each note The Monroe definitely draws forth a multitude of feelings. “I’d like to think the band can bring joy,” says Isapony, and that they do. One listen of “Cut the Corners” is all it takes for their groove to infect you. Isapony adds, “we don’t rock; it’s just roll.” The Monroe and their roll soul are most definitely moving forward, but while they’re still here living the SLO life, I’d recommend you catch ‘em when you can.
t would be difficult to overstate the impact that Pierre Rademaker has had on the overall look and feel of San Luis Obispo. From the redesigned and rehabilitated facades of so many downtown commercial properties to the city’s new logo, Rademaker’s fingerprints can be found all over town. And, it would only seem fitting for someone who is so passionate
about design to live in an exquisitely restored 100-year-old craftsman that he renovated himself.
Our initial conversation began early one Tuesday morning. Rademaker had invited us to meet him at his newly remodeled office downtown, which, of course, he designed. The space, previously
the long-time home of the Chamber of Commerce, had recently undergone an earthquake retrofit. Perched atop the corner of Higuera and Chorro, Rademaker’s vantage point provides a unique perspective on the hustle and bustle down below. Following a long conversation and a review of many of his firm’s completed projects, we wandered out in a meandering search for coffee.
With each building we encountered along our walk through downtown, Rademaker, wearing his signature Hawaiian print shirt, paused to share its history, “This one here was plastered over in the 60’s, as was the style then, but we uncovered the brick beneath,” he goes on to describe the intricate details involved in the restoration, including custom fabricating new facing to match the original that had been found in an old black and white >>
photo. The stories continue to flow, and for someone with such a sizeable body of work to his credit—including designing The GAP logo—there is not so much as a whiff of ego attached as part of what amounted to a fascinating lecture on architecture design provided by the former Cal Poly professor. It is almost as if he is standing next to himself, observing and sharing as a third party when he ticks off a long series of milestones throughout his career. As we settled in for coffee, the conversation turned to European architecture— he had just returned from a trip to the continent, his second this year—and then font design and readability, a fascinating topic for someone in the magazine business, and then finally his 100-year-old house.
A short walk from his office, Rademaker and his wife Terri, a retired speech pathologist of 33 years, live on a street framed on either side by what amounts to a small grove of fully mature Camphor trees. The craftsman, which sits far back on the lot in the middle of the block, was originally built in 1915 and after a series of owners, it went up for sale again in 2002. The couple, who was fond of the street, went out of their way to stroll around while dreaming of owning a home in the neighborhood some day. They had spent the last 23 years raising their family in a 1979 tract home and were ready for a change of scenery. A few weeks after their daughter’s wedding news came back from their real estate agent on an offer they had submitted, “If you take it ‘as-is’ the sellers will accept your offer.” The couple felt up >>
BEFORE AND AFTER (left) the property’s original floorplan (right) a repentation of the home as it is now
to the challenge and wanted to put their own stamp on the property anyway, so they decided to go for it. But, it needed “a ton of work”—new plumbing, new electrical, and a new roof just for starters.
It was not until they took the keys for the home that the scope of the project finally dawned on them. “None of the insurance companies would insure the house because of the galvanized pipes and the old knob and tube wiring,” Terri laughs. “We had to go to Lloyds of London
for insurance.” Although the home had “good bones,” namely old growth redwood true-cut studs, there had been some poorly conceived remodels over the years. For example, when the oven door was opened, it fully blocked the doorway to the kitchen—unsightly, not to mention dangerous. And layers upon layers of lead paint had covered up the natural wood traditionally associated with the craftsman aesthetic. Slowly and steadily the Rademakers tackled one project after another, always with an eye toward maintaining and preserving its original character. The
only exceptions were the expansion of the upstairs master bedroom, which was bumped out to include a walk through closet, a new master bathroom, and a complete remodel of the kitchen. The upstairs addition brought the square footage to 1,895.
As Rademaker leads the tour of his home, it is clear that considerable thought had gone into each design decision. Nothing is accidental, and everything has its place, and most of it was done with his own two hands. The home, which received a historic designation after the remodel, breathes as if it had received new life while also holding many memories of the families that have come and gone over the years within its walls. To this day, the home continues a fascinating relationship with the intersection of Higuera and Chorro. When Rademaker settles in at his desk each morning, he is directly above the old Lawrence Drug Company (the space now occupied by Avanti). The proprietor of the business, Westin Lawrence, was the original owner of the Mill Street home. He eventually sold it to Warren Burch. As it turns out, Burch was the city engineer who also operated a civil engineering firm, a partnership called Burch & Beck. His office, you guessed it, directly across Higuera. “If he were here today,” shares Rademaker, “we would be able to see each other while we worked.” SLO LIFE
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market
2013 33 549,980 540,590 98.35 55
2014 31 627,952 613,858 98.02 49
+/-6.06% 14.18% 13.55% -0.33% -10.91%
2013 14 694,543 698,028 100.50 16
2014 15 761,393 753,850 98.50 41
+/7.14% 9.63% 8.00% -2.00% 156.25%
2013 21 585,476 575,476 98.64 25
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market
2013 10 906,400 891,150 98.36 75
2014 18 631,708 620,156 98.43 37
+/-14.29% 7.90% 7.76% -0.21% 48.00%
2014 11 1,038,909 1,006,689 96.95 73
+/10.00% 14.62% 12.97% -1.41% -2.67%
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market
2013 24 598,881 578,125 96.62 57
Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market
2013 27 627,293 618,070 98.53 45
2014 21 725,138 715,100 99.32 38
+/-12.50% 21.08% 23.69% 2.70% -33.33%
2014 39 670,723 657,791 98.02 41
+/44.44% 6.92% 6.43% -0.51% -8.89%
2013 12 594,317 590,468 99.48 17
2014 9 679,989 651,538 96.04 89 johnson ave *Comparing 1/1/13 - 7/20/13 to 1/1/14 - 7/20/14
+/-53.57% 17.46% 15.07% -1.92% 161.54%
SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS®
433,000 800,000 575,000 775,000 506,500 385,000 431,250 500,000 497,000 407,900 685,000 397,000 318,500 320,000 379,500 651,576 402,550 535,000 480,000
Cal Poly is looking into building a hotel and conference center on its campus, but that idea concerns many San Luis Obispo residents—particularly as it relates to student housing. Is it the right idea at the wrong time?
BY TOM FRANCISKOVICHEarly this summer, San Luis Obispo’s City Hall chamber was full; and the energy in the room was palpable. One by one, long-time residents—many of them wearing purple “Alta Vista” t-shirts—rose to speak during the public comments segment. The light on the podium indicating their remaining time, quickly clicked down on each one of them from green to yellow to red while they expressed opposition to Cal Poly’s plan to build a new dormitory complex adjacent to a neighborhood. Then, Jeff Eidelman, a local podiatrist and 35-year resident dropped a bomb. While the neighbors had been encouraging Cal Poly to relocate the dorm to some other location on campus, preferably near the Highland Drive entrance, Eidelman, peering over his round-rimmed glasses to address the councilmembers, shared, “I’ve heard from two different sources that Cal Poly is in the midst of negotiating with an architecture firm in Irvine to design a convention center and restaurant in the area of the lemon grove between Highland and Stenner Creek off of Santa Rosa. If this is true, it’s no wonder that they could not use this site for the proposed new dormitory complex to be constructed at Slack and Grand. Certainly, once again, this is not an example of good faith on the part of Cal Poly.” It felt as if the air had been sucked from the room, and the council members shifted anxiously in their chairs. The timing of news about a conference center, especially in this context, could not have been worse. And the whole thing got me thinking…
If you had to pick a movie to best represent the current state of relations between Cal Poly and many of San Luis Obispo’s permanent residents, it would be difficult to do much better than the 1996 hit Jerry Macguire. In the
film, two of the most unlikely characters find themselves locked into a partnership where they are forced to work together and learn from each other in order to be mutually successful. During their lowest point, Maguire, a sports agent, and his only client, Rod Tidwell, a football player, are in the locker room after a game when, out of frustration, Macguire, played by Tom Cruise, goes ballistic as he finally overflows with a building frustration screaming at his client. Tidwell fires back and the pair reach an impasse. Finally, Macguire, now near a breaking point changes tack. “Help me. Help me, Rod. Help me, help you,” he begs. “Help me, help you,” now repeating more forcefully. After seeing his agent in a full meltdown, Tidwell bursts into laughter. An exasperated Macguire leaves the room while Tidwell follows him out shouting, “See, that’s the difference between us—you think we’re fightin’, and I think we’re finally talkin’!”
It’s not clear that we have reached our “Help me, help you” moment, but the 9th Annual Town-Gown Association Conference held in South Carolina this June may have sped things along. In a workshop called “The Tale of Two Cities,” a contingent from Cal Poly and three representatives from the City of San Luis Obispo made up one side of a panel, while representatives from Oregon State and officials from the City of Bend, Oregon made up the other. The breakout session was intended to showcase how each of the cities and their respective universities had dealt with issues such as student housing. Making the trip on their own dime and sitting in attendance were long-time San Luis Obispo residents, Rusty and Michelle Hall who live in the Alta Vista neighborhood near campus. What happened
next has been described alternatively by those in attendance, as something between an “incredibly clumsy and unfortunate presentation” to an “outright personal attack on some of our most respected past and current leaders.” When asked about the incident, Rusty Hall, an almond brittle candy maker, politely demurred: “I don’t want to focus on that or give it any energy.” And to their credit, the administration at Cal Poly acted swiftly and insisted that the presenter apologize to those who were called out, which he did. Yet, the damage had been done and it served as more fuel to the fire that was already burning. And, perhaps more importantly, as Hall observed, “[The incident] seemed to reflect an attitude that the university knows best, and that the people objecting didn’t have any credibility.”
Yet, during the city council meeting, which came a week after the conference, the neighbors remained focused on two themes: first, they claimed that mitigation—a onetime fee of $530,000 to be paid to the city for such things as traffic improvements in the area around the construction—was woefully inadequate. And, second, many of them asked the council members, in essence, to “stick up for its residents” by filing a lawsuit to stop the project. In a 2-2 split decision with Mayor Jan Marx recusing herself (she lives next to Cal Poly), city council was unable to take the first step in exploring the possibility of litigation. Dan Carpenter and Kathy Smith voted for the motion, but Carlyn Christianson, objecting philosophically to the idea of a lawsuit, and John Ashbaugh, also uncomfortable with litigation, voted against. A sea of purple shirts stormed out of the room in disgust, and ten days later they dug into their own pockets, lawyered-up and filed a lawsuit of their own.
Shortly after the Alliance of SLO Neighborhoods (ASLON) had served papers, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce circulated an email polling its membership, on behalf of Cal Poly, asking how they would feel about a conference center and hotel on campus. The 10-minute survey included a series of questions designed to judge the overall sentiments held about the university within the business community, but it included just a vague description of the project. According to Cal Poly President Jeffrey Armstrong the whole thing is just an “idea,” but he did reveal that a feasibility study had been completed and it came back “very favorable.” When pressed about exactly where it would be located, he explained that “there had been conversations, but that they had not gotten that far along yet.” He mentioned the area near the baseball stadium as a possibility. Considering the context within which the idea was presented, perhaps locating way out in left field would be most appropriate.
In many ways the challenges facing Cal Poly are reminiscent of a politician who is having trouble getting his message across. Consider Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election. The guy had some great ideas and was absolutely dead-on about climate change and the environment, but he lost out to someone who was simply better at connecting. In the polling question, “Who would you rather have a beer with?” George W. Bush won hands down. As Armstrong shares the specifications of the hotel project in an unmistakable Arkansas drawl—a 150 to 200 room facility with a 1,000 person conference center—I cannot help but think that Cal Poly has a similar problem; because their idea for a hotel and conference center, much like Gore’s prescience on global warming, appears well
thought-out and perhaps even a home run for the university and the city. But, the message will likely be drowned-out by all the background noise coming from the lingering questions and uncertainty remaining over the size of the student population and on-campus housing. The steady drumbeat is bound to become louder until we arrive at our “Help me, help you” moment. And there are signs that we are heading in that direction.
“In the next six-to-twelve months, we are going to be engaging in an open discussion looking into the appropriate size of Cal Poly with respect to the constraints we face within the city, especially off-campus housing,” Armstrong begins in a genuinely conciliatory tone. “We know that there are things we need to work on, and become better at, and we expect that in late September, early October we can start to have those sorts of conversations with the community.” Although he did not explain precisely what shape those talks may take, it is clear that Armstrong would much rather be thinking big ideas and moving the university forward than picking a fight with the neighbors. Yet, it is ASLON and the rest of the residents of San Luis Obispo, people referred to as “stakeholders” in the parlance of academic conferences, who are likely to determine the level of noise and distraction that will exist going forward. Or, maybe it is the building frustration that will finally allow for a breakthrough. As the almond brittle maker, Hall, reasons in an unhurried explanation: “That’s why it’s best to move forward with litigation, because it gives everyone a chance to pause and figure out what’s best for the campus and the community.” In other words, what may look like fightin’ may actually mean we’re finally talkin’. SLO LIFE
Armstrong sees a “tremendous opportunity” in developing a “premier” hotel and hospitality school at Cal Poly. Citing the fact that the industry is booming, yet there is no hands-on learning facility on the West Coast, the university has a chance to take the lead in this area. As Armstrong notes with regard to the current hospitality program, “We have a lot of the pieces, but have not put the puzzle together yet.” The property would be an operating hotel on-campus, but would serve as a prime example of “learn by doing,” as those in the program essentially run the business with oversight from faculty. The conference center would be an adjunct to the hotel and would be available to the community for events and conferences, as well. Further, a type of sports complex, which may house larger events, on the level of 5,500 to 6,000 attendees is part of the feasibility study and could be adjusted to house a large diversity of activities from basketball games to concerts.
What are your thoughts? Be part of the conversation by emailing us at info@slolifemagazine.com
“Octorocket” is an illuminated sculpture by artist Evan Chambers, made of nickel plated spun copper and cast bronze, with blown glass portlights. Dimensions are 12” tall by 5” at the tentacle base. Limited edition. This piece and other Evan Chambers creations also available.
$1,200 // Fiona Bleu Gallery
900 Embarcadero, Morro Bay (805) 772-0541 // fionableugallery.com
Jade Yoga is committed to making the world’s best performing, most environmentally-friendly yoga mats. They provide an optimum grip and offer better cushion and more resilience than any other mat—a difference you can feel.
$75 // Assets 853 Monterey Street San Luis Obispo (805) 781-0119 sloassets.com
Wine Enthusiast Magazine recently published their annual list of top 100 Wine Restaurants in America and our very own Novo Restaurant and Lounge has made the cut. “Our goal is simple, we want to make wine accessible to everyone,” says sommelier, Justin Brody. With beautiful creekside ambiance, a worldwide menu and true hospitality, Novo is a favorite locale in the heart of downtown SLO.
Novo Restaurant and Lounge 726 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 543-3986 // novorestaurant.com
Featuring an incredible 16.97 carat Multi-color Crystal Opal hailing from Lightning Ridge, Australia. The doublesided 18K Rose Gold setting boasts 1.96 carats of brilliant white diamond pavé, and gives you the option of showing either a ‘broad flash’ matrix on one side, or ‘floral’ pattern on the other. Gazing into this stunning Celestial Opal Necklace is like looking into an interstellar nebula all your own. Price available upon request.
Baxter Moerman Jewelry 1118 Morro Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 801-9117 // baxtermoerman.com
Hold the designer names and call them what you want. We call them simply functional. From luxurious leather to vegan varieties, our collection of purses include hand, shoulder, hobos and backpacks all priced to please. Also featuring wallets and coin purses from the four corners of the the world.
$10 — $120.00 // Turn To Nature 786 Higuera Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 540-3395 // turntonature.com
Luna Red’s menu changes with the seasons, four times a year. We source most of our produce and ingredients from local growers and purveyors to offer our customers the freshest, most flavorful dishes. Shown here are heirloom tomatoes with pistachio vinaigrette, basil salt, burrata cheese and purslane—an edible succulent, grown in Chef Shaun’s home garden.This dish is gluten free.
$12 // Luna Red 1023 Chorro Street, San Luis Obispo (805) 540-5243 // lunaredslo.com
PHOTOGRAPHY BY LANCE KINNEY
Against a stunning, wide-open backdrop of the gleaming blue-green water far below with the ocean breeze gently rustling the coastal oaks framing the scene, the fact that Port San Luis was once the world’s largest exporter of crude oil seems inconceivable. Yet, at one point the bay became so polluted with spilled oil and abandoned whale carcasses—whaling had also been a major industry—that historic ship logs are replete with notes about avoiding Port Harford, as it was known then, for fear of “fouling the props with all the debris floating around.”
As far back as recorded history will take us, the Pecho Coast was Chumash territory. The first known settler to the area, and the one responsible for the name was the famous Spanish (some historians claim he was actually Portuguese) explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Sometime during a mission along the California coastline in 1542, Cabrillo stumbled upon the Avila Bay and remarked that the cliffs running along the point just north of Port San Luis were bold and “chesty,” much like a soldier puffing up his upper body while standing at attention. That translated to “Pecho” and the dramatic landscape found there today, with the exception of the Point San Luis Lighthouse, likely looks pretty much like it did nearly 500 years ago from the decks of the San Salvador
It has been estimated that the Chumash had been living on the bountiful lands for approximately 9,000 years before Cabrillo’s arrival. And, during the Spanish mission period the lands were privatized as a sprawling ranch called “Rancho Cañada de los Osos y Pecho y Islay.” Since that time, those bold cliffs and secluded beaches have been offlimits to the general public. However, in 1993, PG&E, the current owner of the land, built a trail winding along the rugged coastline. The Pecho Coast Trail is accessible today to the general public through a volunteer docent-led tour.
At the end of the hike, almost two miles from the trailhead, is something that Cabrillo himself could have never imagined, although certainly would have appreciated: the Point San Luis Lighthouse. On May 1, 1888 the steamship Queen of the Pacific started taking on water 15 miles out
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from the Port Harford Pier. With nothing to guide his way, the ship’s captain zigzagged toward what he believed to be Port San Luis. He nearly made it, as his ship sank just 500 feet from its intended mooring. The event finally got Congress interested in the project, which local seamen had been advocating over the years. With a $50,000 federal grant, the Point San Luis Lighthouse finally became a reality and lit its beacon for the first time on June 30, 1890. The now-defunct San Luis Obispo Daily Republic tells the story:
“The light is shown from a black lantern surmounting a square frame attached to the southwest corner of a one and a half story frame dwelling painted white, trimmings lead color, blinds green and the roof brown. About 50 yards to the eastward stands a one and half-story double dwelling painted in a similar manner, between the two dwellings… stands the fog signal building with its two black smokestacks, and painted like the dwellings.”
The port continued to develop and expand in the years following when the breakwater—another federal project— was built up slowly over a period of twenty years beginning in 1893. With protection from the open sea, a small cove formed on the inside of the wall, which made it possible for the construction of a boat landing. This became the primary means for accessing the lighthouse. Today, Kristi Balzer, the executive director of the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers, the non-profit charged with maintaining and >>
preserving the structure, counts rebuilding the tiny working wharf as one of her priorities. “Not only would [the restoration] return it to the original, but it would give us the ability to share the lighthouse with so many more people,” she explains. According to Balzer, an important mission of the organization is to share the history with many more school-aged children, which becomes cost-prohibitive when the organization has to rent vans that are small enough to access it via the narrow one-lane road going in and out. “Having that dock,” she continues, “and allowing visitors to reach us by boat, would make a huge difference.”
In 1974, in what must have been an effort to save money and become more efficient, the character of the lighthouse changed dramatically when the Coast Guard fully automated the facility. By 1992, the 30-acre light station property had been transferred to the Port San Luis Harbor District. Three years later, the Point San Luis Lighthouse Keepers formed with the mission of preserving the property, and since the buildings are constantly absorbing salt water, the work, particularly the maintenance, is never done. But, the period detail, right down to the antiques found throughout the property, is remarkable. Perhaps the most moving remnant from the past is a note left by a local Chinese brick worker, an employee of the Ah Louis Company. Visible from the basement of the lighthouse, one of the bricks making up the foundation carries an exquisitely hand-painted set of Chinese characters. During the renovation, the Lighthouse Keepers had it translated, and it read: “As a bowl captures rain, may this house collect blessings.”
The Pecho Coast Trail is open to 20 hikers on Wednesdays and 40 hikers on Saturday. Check in is at 8:45am with a 1pm return time. It is a 3.75 mile round trip to the lighthouse and back. Sturdy hiking shoes are required as the trail is moderately strenuous with step cliffs
Pronounced “fray-nel,” the lens was designed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel specifically for lighthouses. Through a system of elaborate cuts, a network of glass is housed around a light source magnifying it many times its original brightness. In the late 1970’s
someone shot the original Fresnel lens at the lighthouse, and it was removed and placed in the custody of the San Luis Obispo Historical Museum. In 2010, as part of its 120-year anniversary, the lens was returned to the lighthouse where it is housed today in the visitor center.
If you would rather not hike the trail, but still would like to visit the lighthouse you can take “Lucy” the Lighthouse Trolley, which operates on Wednesday and Saturday. The fare is $20 for adults and $15 for children between 3 and 12 years old (children under 3 are free). From start to finish, the tour is 1 hour and 45 minutes.
For questions, call (855) 553-7843
Reservations are required, and tickets may be purchased directly online by visiting www.sanluislighthouse.org
and uneven footing. Children under nine years old are not permitted on the trail, and reservations are strongly recommended to avoid being turned away at the trailhead. Additionally, a signed waiver and $5 fee is required for a docent-led tour of the lighthouse.
For questions call (805) 528-8758
Reservations and waivers may be submitted online by visiting www.pge.modwest.com/pgereservations
My mom was a painter, but she had nine kids—I was number eight—so she really didn’t have time for art. Maybe there is bit of genetics that she passed down to me, but really, I think that anyone can be a painter if they work at it. You have to practice just like anything.
The thing about plein air that I love so much is that it’s all about how things look in different light, in nature. Natural colors. It’s all about the light. The long shadows of the morning and evening are best.
My friends think I’m so crazy because I’m fast and hyper; let’s go, let’s do it! I do have a lot of energy. And, I am very fast. It usually takes me an hour or two. I can do a painting in a half an hour. I can get three paintings done in a day. Maybe I am kind of crazy.
”
When I’m painting, it’s a form of meditation for me. I’m just totally in the zone. It’s very relaxing; you go somewhere else. Sometimes people come up to you and say, “Oh, what are you doing?” I scream because I don’t even hear them walk up.
I describe my art as loose and juicy. People laugh when I say that. But, it’s true. It’s more impressionistic. I don’t like things that look too tight, too realistic, too hard edge. I like lost and found edges as in the early California plein air style. It’s reality, but with an artistic bent.
BY PADEN HUGHES
hat girl hasn’t heard the line, “No one puts Baby in a corner” and hasn’t dreamt of dancing spontaneously with a romantic partner and never missing a step?
Unfortunately there aren’t too many men aspiring to become the next Patrick Swayze, so I had my work cut out for me when I tried to convince my husband to take ballroom dancing lessons for our date night recently. Don’t get me wrong, he can dance, but usually it’s among friends as he busts out his moves to Michael Jackson. So trying to redirect his passion for dancing away from moonwalking and into the Madonna Inn for a ballroom partner dance session took some persuading.
We researched online where to take lessons and narrowed our choices down to two: Cal Poly’s Ballroom Team and SLO Dance. Both offer a range of ballroom dance instruction from salsa, to tango, to foxtrot. I have had the pleasure of trying both and enjoy them on various occasions.
Cal Poly Ballroom Team is less expensive and offers free open dance for an hour after lessons. They offer a range of ballroom lesson series, switching every few weeks to different dance styles. I’ve taken Salsa there and seen huge improvements in my skills. They walk you through just enough steps to feel like you have a couple of new tricks up your sleeve, and they have you change partners in a circle to help you improve by learning with other dancers. The instructors are all ballroom dancers who perform at state and even national competitions.
SLO Dance is similar in format, but it is more expensive. Linda Drake, a renowned local dancer, is the exclusive instructor for these classes. She offers less styles of dance, but her series lasts more
than three weeks. If your intention is to truly master a style of dance and attend lessons more consistently this is perhaps a better option.
We tried Salsa, which is my favorite ballroom style. Once we got the basic step down, we soon learned some new moves, which made us feel elegant and successful. And it turns out that many first-timers, especially couples, come away with this same feeling. According to one of our instructors, Christopher Ellwood, “Dancing is a great activity to do together because it allows couples to have fun while strengthening their relationship. It is a very basic human trait to want to move to music. Practically every culture has some form of dance.”
SLO Dance with Linda Drake
Single class: $15; 7-class card: $70; 20-class card: $180 Odd Fellows Hall 520 Dana Street, San Luis Obispo slodance.com
SLO Swing $3 per lesson Sunday, 1pm-2pm Intermediate and 2pm-3pm Beginner Cal Poly Room 5-225 sloswing.com
Cal Poly Ballroom Team $5 for one or $7 for both Thursday, 7pm-8pm and 8pm-9pm Social Dancing 9pm-10pm Cal Poly Room 5-225 calpolyballroom.org
To practice outside of dance lessons, check out West Coast Swing Dancing at the Madonna Inn on Monday evenings 7pm-10pm.
You’ve probably noticed that the word “mindfulness” is popping up everywhere. Even though mindfulness meditation has been around for millennia, the practice of mindfulness has been steadily gaining the attention of the medical and mental health communities and here’s why...
ver the last 30 years, there have been hundreds of studies showing that when people practice mindfulness regularly, they experience desirable changes in their sense of well-being, their relationships, their ability to concentrate, and their capacity to enjoy life by gaining insight into the human condition.
If there is a modern day father of mindfulness meditation it is Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program (MBSR) was developed in 1979 by Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts Medial Center. The program aims to help patients manage pain, disease, and stress with the help of mindfulness meditation. It is an eight-week course that includes a combination of mindfulness meditation, body awareness, and yoga to help people
become more mindful. And that is the foundation of mindfulness meditation—becoming more mindful in our every moment.
The idea behind it is to observe your own thoughts in the present without passing judgment. Not to gloss over them, not to meditate into a blank mind, but to let them come and go without judgment. With practice, the goal is that individuals will be able to see how their thoughts and feelings can have a tendency to move in particular patterns. Eventually, it is thought that this will lead them toward living fuller, healthier, more internally connected lives.
Mindfulness meditation involves a daily commitment to meditate. And while we might not be able to spend an eight-week vacation in Massachusetts Medical Center for our very own private MBSR program we can get more mindful right now with these practical tips.
1MAKE A MINDFULNESS DATE WITH YOURSELF, which is a time in your day when you do something devoted to mindfulness. It could be taking a walk, eating a quiet meal, or meditating. Starting with a few minutes and increasing to twenty, notice your breathing. Sense the flow of the breath, the rise and fall of your belly. Begin to observe your thoughts.
TAKE A WALK. With each step tune into how your weight shifts and the sensation changes in the bottom of your feet. Focus less on where you are headed.
2COOK A MEAL. With every ingredient you use, smell it and allow yourself to appreciate what’s going into creating the meal without rushing. Notice what you are doing as you are doing it and tune into your senses. Slow down.
THINK FREELY Recognize that thoughts are simply thoughts; you don’t need to believe them or react to them, just be a witness to them.
OPEN UP Practice listening without making judgments and take notice how the mind likes to constantly judge. Don’t take it seriously. It’s not who you are.
Spend time in nature and notice the rustling of the leaves, the movement of the clouds and the uniqueness of each moment.
Ceviche—the refreshing dish of seafood marinated in citrus juice, a cooking process dating back 2,000 years—is perfect for this time of the year. It’s light and bright, plus it requires no heat to prepare.
2 lbs tiger prawns, peeled, deveined, split and rough chopped
1 lb bay scallops, rough chopped
1 whole mango, peeled and small diced
½ cup red onion, diced
2 whole roma tomatoes, diced
1 bunch cilantro, stems removed and rough chopped
2 Tbsp Fresno chili, seeded and minced
1 tsp cumin, toasted and ground
2 tsp honey
½ cup fresh lime juice
¼ cup canola oil salt and pepper to taste garnish options – cilantro sprigs, diced avacado, and/or chipotle lime cream
Mix lime juice and seafood together and let marinate refrigerated for two to four hours. Mix remaining ingredients together and add to marinating seafood for the last twenty minutes. Serve with homemade mini tostada or tortilla chips. SLO LIFE
Be sure to allow the seafood to fully “cook” in the lime juice for two hours, but don’t go longer than four hours otherwise you will end up with funky, stringy shrimp.
The timeless enchantment of a magical fairy tale is reborn with the originality, charm, and elegance of the infamous Rodger & Hammerstein. August 8 – 24 // slolittletheatre.org
Celebrate summer with an outdoor concert featuring the voices of OperaSLO performing the music of Broadway and more at the Chapman Estate. August 16 // operaslo.org
Join music director Michael Nowak and the San Luis Obispo Symphony for sun and fun featuring Jon Anderson, the voice of Yes, and singer/songwriter, Inga Swearingen. August 31 // slosymphony.org
For the 5th year in a row, cigar connoisseurs and wine enthusiasts will gather in celebration of premium cigars, premium wine and the good life. September 6 – 7 // crushandrollwest.com
SLO Little Theatre presents David Lindsey-Abaire’s award winning play, Good People, a smart, funny and suspenseful show that deals with the struggles and hopes of having next to nothing in America.
Septeber 5 – 21 // slolittletheatre.org
In keeping with a 23-year tradition, Via Dei Colori SLO will feature dozens of talented artists who will transform the streets surrounding Mission Plaza with colorful, large-scale street paintings. September 13 - 14 // viadeicolorislo.com
An evening of premier wines, gourmet dining, live and silent auctions and more. All proceeds benefit abused and neglected children in San Luis Obispo County. September 20 // slocasa.org
SLO Little Theatre’s Ubu’s Other Shoe Staged Reading series presents Richard Greenberg’s Tony Award winning play, Take Me Out, a story about baseball and the tensions that are found both on and off the field.
September 26 – 27 // slolittletheatre.org
Tim Haldeman
Jimmy apRoberts
Anne Cruikshanks
Brigitte and Bruce Falkenhagen
Cindy Green and John Thomas
Laura Hopkins Caryl Koberg Sandra Lee
Mona and Dan Lloyd Melanie Morgan and Mark Long
Litton’s Bakery
Kevin Dye – President
Lenny Jones – Vice President
Simone Michel – Secretary
Lisa Adams – Treasurer
Carol and Vic Ascrizzi
Carlen and Jim Eckford Candy and Bert Forbes Karen Morgan and Robert Wagoner Sharon and Dennis Schneider
Mona Lloyd Maegen Loring
Vina Robles
Cass Vineyard & Winery Chamisal Vineyards
Jon Ansolabehere
Jimmy apRoberts
Stacy Axan
Daniel R. Lloyd
Jen Melton
Melanie Morgan, DVM
