SLO LIFE Magazine Dec/Jan 2013

With Gratitude

to all of our nonprofit partners for the important work you do to make our community stronger.

At this special time and throughout the year, it’s our privilege to stand beside you in support of our friends and neighbors.

From everyone at SBB &T, thank you for your partnership in 2012.

Achievement House, Inc.

Alzheimer’s Association

Amazing Surf Adventures

American Heart Association

Arroyo Grande Rotary Club

ARTS Obispo

Atascadero Christian Home

Avila Beach Community Foundation

Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo

Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County

Bishop’s Peak PTA

Boys & Girls Club of North SLO County

Cal Poly Athletics

Canzona Women’s Ensemble

Central Coast Ag Network

Central Coast Economic Forecast

Central Coast Pug Rescue

Central Coast Vineyard Team

Central Coast Zoo Society

Children’s Creative Project

Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo

Community Health Centers Foundation

Court Appointed Special Advocates of SLO County

Cuesta College - Track & Field

Cuesta College Foundation

Dana Adobe Nipomo Amigos

Earth Day Alliance

Ecologistics, Inc.

El Camino Homeless Organization

Endeavour Institute

Estrella Warbirds Museum

Family Care Network, Inc.

Festival Mozaic

5 Cities Homeless Coalition

“Santa Barbara Bank & Trust has been a wonderful community partner both by financing permanent housing for very low income people disabled by mental illness and by supporting our small businesses, Growing Grounds Farm and Downtown Store. SBB&T’s continued support has been absolutely invaluable!”

Jill Bolster-White Executive

Director

Transitions-Mental Health Association

History Center of SLO County

Homeless Animal Rescue Team Hospice SLO

Jack’s Helping Hand

Jewish Community Center of San Luis Obispo Kids Cancer Research Foundation

Kiwanis of Greater Pismo Beach

Laguna Middle School PTA

Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo

Leadership San Luis Obispo

League of Women Voters of SLO County Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Life Steps Foundation

Literacy Council of San Luis Obispo Loaves & Fishes

Mission Community Services Corporation

Morro Bay National Estuary Program

Nipomo Area Recreation Association Noor Foundation

North County Connection

North County Women’s Resource Center

Opera San Luis Obispo

Pacific Wildlife Care

Paso Robles Art Association

Restorative Partners

Rotary Club of Paso Robles

Rotary District 5240 Charitable Foundation

San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce

San Luis Obispo Child Abuse Prevention Council

San Luis Obispo Child Development Center

SLO County Bicycle Coalition

SLO County Community Foundation

SLO County Housing Trust Fund

San Luis Obispo Downtown Association

San Luis Obispo Farmer’s Market

San Luis Obispo High School

San Luis Obispo Lions

San Luis Obispo Little Theatre

San Luis Obispo Museum of Art

San Luis Obispo Parks Open Space & Trails Foundation

San Luis Obispo Symphony

San Luis Obispo Tigers

Karen Kile Executive Director

San Luis Obispo Museum of Art

San Luis Obispo United Methodist Church

Senior Nutrition Program

Soroptomist International

South County Family Education and Cultural Center

“Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to partner with Santa Barbara Bank & Trust. Their contributions to our Board of Directors and support of our youth mentoring programs make a BIG difference in the lives of children on the Central Coast.”

Anna Boyd-Bucy

Executive Director

Big Brothers Big Sisters of SLO County

Food Bank Coalition of SLO County Foundation for SLO County Public Libraries Foundation for the Performing Arts Center French Hospital Medical Center

Friends of Hearst Castle

Friends of Prado Day Center

Grid Alternatives

Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce

Paso Robles Education Alliance

Peoples’ Self-Help Housing

Pismo Coast Association of Realtors Charitable Foundation, Inc.

REC Foundation

Special Olympics SoCal - SLO

Spokes Resources for Non Profits

Studios on the Park

The Monday Club of San Luis Obispo

The Paso Robles Association of REALTORS®

The SARP Center of SLO County

The T.E.A.C.H. Foundation

The Wellness Kitchen

Transitions Mental Health Association

Tri-Counties Regional Center

United Cerebral Palsy

United Way of SLO County

Vocal Arts Ensemble

Wilshire Health & Community Services

Women’s Community Center

Women’s Network of San Luis Obispo

Women’s Shelter Program of San Luis Obispo

Woods Humane Society

“The San Luis Obispo Museum of Art appreciates Santa Barbara Bank & Trust’s community partnership. It is partnerships like this that help the Museum of Art present thought provoking exhibitions and art education for all ages.”

Lost in Translation

Like most people who are stuck at a desk, I am always looking for ways to get my work done faster so that I can get unstuck sooner rather than later. So, when I heard about some software that allows you to talk to your computer instead of type on the keyboard, I was intrigued because I talk much faster than I type.

The software came in a box that also included a headset with a mic. I slid the disc into my computer and situated the headset over my ears. The whole thing felt a little strange, like I was in one of NASA’s mission control rooms. Uncharacteristically, I read the directions first, which told me that I would need to go through a series of tests so that the software could calibrate itself and begin to recognize my voice.

It started by asking me to recite some simple sentences that sounded a lot like the books I read with my three-year-old: “The big dog sat in the park…” As I read the words, they magically appeared on the screen. It was so cool! Then the sentences became increasingly more complex: “Astronauts are typically graduates of aeronautical and engineering institutions of higher education…” After a few read-throughs, the software started to recognize my speech. The instructions encouraged me to speak slowly, clearly, and to pretend that I was a television news anchor. I felt pretty ridiculous sitting at my desk with perfect posture pretending to be Brian Williams on the set of NBC Nightly News, but who cares, at least I didn’t have to type!

The thing about the speech recognition software is that there is a tiny “on-off” button that appears in the upper-left corner of the screen… you have to remember to turn it off when you are not dictating to the computer. That has been my biggest issue with the whole thing so far. As I am sitting there talking out a story, the phone will ring or someone will stop by my office to ask a question. This is when I learned that I am actually very un-Brian-Williams-like in my everyday speaking style.

For example, while I was writing this letter someone dropped by to ask me if I would like to have lunch later. Here is how my speech recognition software interpreted my response: “Hey ouch which I have been going with that reasonable mechanism at cow Polly and then prancing outside to cantaloupe the whole thing and I think this weekend my car is in Nevada having lunch at that new calligraphy casserole place…” I looked back down at the transcript after this brief exchange only to find myself burst into laughter to which my computer responded: “Unrecognizable, unrecognizable...”

I then realized that there must be all sorts of these entries into my other dictations so I scrolled through some of my earlier transcriptions. And, sure enough, I found one earlier that day that I believe came in response to a phone call: “Hi blender Tom oh yes tomato and toothpaste got together with milky tornado and good library today thistle but pipes whenever automated rocket at the beach…”

Well, I don’t know about the software making me more efficient, but it sure is good for a laugh! I hope your holiday season is full of good cheer and good health. Best wishes for a prosperous 2013. And, to our advertisers, thank you for making this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine possible.

Live the SLO Life!

Tom Franciskovich tom@slolifemagazine.com

Ground Control to Major Tom

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Tom

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

notes@slolifemagazine.com

4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

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

PLAY BALL!

Dear SLO LIFE, I’ve been meaning to write in ever since I read the Publisher’s Message on Kirby Puckett quite some time ago. The recent article on Adam Stowe prompted me to finally do it. I really appreciate the fact that SLO Life puts the spotlight on entities that do a lot of good in a community but often go unrecognized. Although I haven’t met Mr. Stowe, I like him already and wish him well in his endeavors. After completing a fairly undistinguished career as a college pitcher, including two years at Cal Poly, I finished up grad school in Boston and began a very long and fulfilling career in minor league baseball. My very first season was with the Salinas Spurs (Cubs) in 1983 where I worked as the assistant general manager. Future stops for me included running and/or owning minor league teams in Palm Springs, Lake Elsinore, Butte Montana and Casper Wyoming. I was fortunate enough to move back to SLO in 2002. In 2003, Scoop Nunes, who ran the Santa Maria Indians for 47 years, passed away. The Indians, as you may know, are the oldest semi-pro team in California. Informed that the Indians were probably going to fold, I took over the operation and kept it running through 2008. For a number of reasons the team didn’t operate for three years but we came back with a bang in 2012. Now based in Templeton, the North County Indians went 24-7 and are already planning for the 2013 season. Although we are not a member of the CCL, I’m hopeful that we’ll be playing the Blues on a regular basis beginning next June. Unlike the Blues, our focus will primarily be to develop ballplayers from SLO County so I’m not sure how competitive we’ll be initially but I’m looking forward to establishing a rivalry with our south county neighbor. I recently sold my last minor league club so I’ll have a lot of time to concentrate on the future of the Indians. I believe the Blues, with Adam and Jim Galusha’s leadership, have a lot to offer the city of SLO. My hope is to accomplish the same things in north county. Thanks again for reporting on the local sporting scene.

Sincerely, Kevin Haughian

Thank you for writing to us, Kevin, it was great to hear a bit of your story. We can hardly wait to hear the words “Play ball!” this spring. We wish you and the North County Indians the best of luck… except when you play the Blues!

SEISMIC TESTING

We received an avalanche of feedback on our “Seismic Testing” special feature in the last issue. In one of the most controversial matters to land on our shores in quite some time, last

month the California Coastal Commission unanimously and unequivocally denied PG&E their permit to begin seismic testing. Below is a sampling of the letters we had received…

Dear SLO LIFE, Compliments to you on bringing critical information together in a very interesting piece in your “Seismic Testing” special feature. The Peruvian connection is a significant part of the big picture. The ships log from the August 2012 2D testing off Oregon from M/V Marcus G. Langseth is very revealing if you get a chance to read it. “Take” quotas were exceeded early in the one week survey, 12 whales and way more other marine mammals, no mention of fish population. This is the ship under contract by PG&E for the Diablo study and would be using more powerful 3D technology. The more information that gets out to the public the better. Thanks again.

Steve Slaughter

Dear SLO LIFE, I was moved by your article about seismic testing and have shared it with friends and family. Thank you for writing it.

Rita Meehan

Dear SLO LIFE, Please get your facts straight- AB42 got vetoed by Arnold and there is nothing mandating 260db air canon seismic testing. And PG and E a good neighbor? You call generating plutonium a good neighbor, sucking in and killing larvae a good neighbor? I don’t even like my neighbors to have a garbage pile, much less plutonium that lasts 1,000,000 years! Dude, get it right please.

Joey Racano Los Osos

You make a good point, Joey, and we appreciate your taking the time to write to us. The original bill AB42 was eventually killed, but, in the arcane and hard-to-understand way that bills become laws, it was a subsequent attempt in the form of AB1632 that eventually passed. Although the story was researched extensively, somehow the incorrect bill number was cited, and, for that, dude, we are truly sorry. And, you also make a valid point in stating that that seismic testing is not mandated by the legislation. In fact, only mapping is required by the legislation, but since seismic testing is really the only way to do the mapping, we did not feel it was factually inaccurate to make the leap suggesting that seismic testing was required by the legislation. It seemed just a simple matter of deductive reasoning. Finally, nuclear power is a difficult issue that we all grapple with to some degree or another. On one hand, it generates mostly clean, carbonless power; on

the other hand, it creates radioactive waste as a bi-product. Diablo Canyon also generates a lot of sorely needed tax revenues for our local schools. So, to use your analogy, yes, our neighbors’ trash cans are piling up, but they always buy a ton of whatever my kids happen to be selling for their school fundraisers. Plus they are just really nice people who mean well. Honestly, that debate goes well beyond the scope of the article and we will leave that judgement up to our readers.

GOOD MOVE

Dear SLO LIFE, I thoroughly enjoyed the Oct/Nov 2012 edition of SLO Life Magazine! Every article was interesting and I especially enjoyed the pieces on Kara Woodruff Blakeslee and Adam Stowe. It is wonderful to hear about people with a true dedication to their families, passion for their profession and a commitment to the San Luis Obispo community. Of course, the fact that they were both Cal Poly alumni was an added bonus for me. My husband and I are glad that we made the decision to move to this community and I also have the honor every day of working with the wonderful faculty, staff and students at Cal Poly. Thank you for making our community even better with every issue of SLO Life Magazine

Sincerely, Betsy Kinsley San Luis Obispo

MISSING HOME

Dear SLO LIFE, San Luis - my hometown. Been gone three years, but am happy to be able to visit since we only live three hours or so away. Still have family and friends in SLO, so will always make a trek now and then. This magazine is great.

Brings home to LA. :)”

Robbin Baker

Los Angeles

Mote

PICTURE PERFECT

Dear SLO LIFE, I have a poem to share… it was inspired by this photo:

My utopia.

High, on rugged ground.

Lost in a clouded dream- possessed. Floating like an island in the wake of daylight. Casting rays of happiness to the gloom below. There is hope.

Laura Schwoerer

PISMO NIGHTS

My name is Larry Hammons...I’m not a professional photographer, but I like to take good pictures...especially if they might be able to tell a short story...I am sending you these pictures thinking maybe you might be able to use them in a future edition of your magazine, SLOLife...I’m not a writer, but what does happen to the self proclaimed “Clam capital of the world” once all the tourists are gone, and the sidewalks roll up at 6PM?...

I enjoy reading your magazine with its spot light on our local people and places...I know it covers more, but that is the part I like the best...anyway, here’s hoping you will be able to use these for an article....

Larry Hammons

notes@slolifemagazine.com facebook.com/slolifemagazine slolifemagazine.com/feedback

Letters may be edited for content and clarity. To be considered for publication your letter must include your name, city, state, phone number or email address (for confirmation purposes).

Temperatures in San Luis Obispo reach 110 degrees, shattering the previous record for the same date set at 95 degrees in 1965. More record-breaking tempertures were recorded on October 2nd at 102 degrees, and November 5th at 96 degrees. For those counting, that’s three new heat records set over the last two months.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issues a report concluding that Diablo Canyon can withstand an earthquake coming from the Shoreline Fault, which was discovered four years ago. The official language used in the report was “… its overall contribution to the hazard is relatively limited,” which prompted some to ask, “Hey, NRC, what exactly do you mean by ‘relatively’?”

October 1

October 16

Breaking an impasse with City Council, the 61-member Police Officers Association agrees to an across-the-board 4% reduction in salary with no cost-of-living adjustments for four years, plus the elimination of a $1,000 per year uniform allowance, and a requirement for a larger share of pension contribution. The union also agreed to a separate and lower salary scale and retirement benefits for new hires.

October 8

October 28

After many years of it “hitting the fan,” work officially begins on the $170 million Los Osos sewer system. The project is expected to come online in 2015, but don’t worry, there will still be something to complain about: monthly costs are projected to be about $140 per household. November 6

October 30

Pablo Sandoval (aka Kung Fu Panda) slugs his way to a World Series MVP as the San Francisco Giants sweep the Detroit Tigers.

San Luis Obispo voters opt for the status quo: Jan Marx returns as Mayor, while Dan Carpenter and John Ashbaugh also return to the City Council.

John Ryan Mason, whose trial for felony assault recently ended in a hung jury, is fired by the SLO Fire Department. The department’s code of ethics requires that its firefighters “uphold the public trust both on and off duty.” Apparently, beating someone unconscious in Pappy MacGregor’s bathroom after a wedding fails to meet that standard.

November 7

November 14

As a result of its year-long study, the Air Pollution Control District (APCD) board of directors approves Coastal Dunes Dust Control Rule 1001 requiring implementation of dust control measures on coastal dunes where vehicle activity occurs. The ruling sets up a showdown between the APCD, ATV enthusiasts, and the State Parks OHV division [see page 46 “Oceano Dunes” for an in-depth analysis].

By a 4-0 vote, SLO City Council, agrees to allow SLO Brew to move to a new, larger location on the 700 block of Higuera Street. Responding to neighbors who are concerned about additional late night noise, the authorization comes with eight pages of conditions determining how the business will operate, including, among other things, lowering capacity on the rooftop bar from 100 to 49 people.

November 16

The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium erupted with cheers as the Coastal Commission, by a vote of 10-0, denied PG&E’s permit to conduct seismic testing off the shores of Diablo Canyon. The Commission was unified in their view that PG&E had failed to show evidence that the studies would outweigh the harm they would do to the environment.

November 19

November 20

In what is thought to be the Central Coast’s largest lawsuit ever, oil exploration company Exceleron files paperwork seeking damages of $6.24 billion (that’s billion, with a “b”) from the county because the Board of Supervisors denied their permit to drill in the Huasna Valley. SLO LIFE

Rich Ferguson

He practices a form of magic called “mentalism” which relies on a keen understanding of human behavior. He grew up in poverty in Salinas in a household filled with drugs and violence. His mother was murdered when he was four-years-old and his father is in prison serving multiple life sentences. His up-from-the-bootstraps story inspired a documentary film, which went on to win a Telly Award. He recently appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno which followed up his guest appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show last year. With a compelling mixture of magic and personal history, the San Luis Obispo-based entertainer has been able to break through and form unique bonds with at-risk youth where he devotes a good portion of his time. We catch up with him before he heads off to Japan, where he has been invited to perform on one of their major networks…

Tell us about your recent Halloween prank, the video that went viral.

I made it with the sole intention of driving traffic to my YouTube site. I released it a couple of weeks before Halloween knowing that would be good timing. I knew it would be popular, but I had no idea that it would go uber viral. You never know, you hope, but you never know. So, it was a plan that I executed, it just so happened that it was done perfectly and the timing was perfect. [You can watch the video by going to this story on slolifemagazine.com and clicking the link].

What gave you the idea for the head drop?

There is a fellow in Japan who is my all-time favorite magician, his name is Cyril Takayama. He is phenomenal, just an amazing magician, extremely famous in the Orient. He did a version of the head drop illusion on a TV show. I saw that clip and it was exactly as I’ve always envisioned except without the black art—it was done live without all the lighting and all the trickery. And for me being a mechanical engineer major in college and my interest in magic, everything just kind of lined up. I hit the drawing board in my shop and figured out a couple of different methods and came up with three different prototypes. And the one I went with was really complex, a lot of moving parts. And it completely takes care of the whole waist and leg issue, which involves a couple of other tricks to it which I am not going to talk about, of course. [laughter]

What happened next?

The video got popular and I got a lot of calls for random appearances. The Today Show invited me to do a full Halloween segment. We had

this whole deal worked out where I was going to scare Matt Lauer because evidently he loved it, he was just mind-blown by it. So we were going to have me standing there posing as an animal expert and say, “Oh, hey, Matt, check this out, I have this really rare spider,” and then hand it to him while my head dropped. Then they were going to sit me down to talk about the viral video, you know, how I came up with the idea and those sorts of things, just like you and I are doing right now. But, Hurricane Sandy arrived and it got canceled. So, I got a call from the producers at Jay Leno who invited me to come on.

What was it like being on the Jay Leno Show?

Coincidently I had worked with Jay before; I had opened for him at various casinos in the past. He actually knew who I was when I came in with Traci, my wife, who

got to go backstage with me and hang out in the greenroom. So Jay came by and said, “Hey Rich, how are you? You still playing casinos?” It was kind of cool to see him just chilling out backstage and him somehow kind of remembering who I was even though he’s not a huge magic fan. Leno is just awesome; he’s just such a cool down-toearth-kind-of-guy.

Your brand of magic is improvisational and depends on reading people quickly… I just have a knack for observing stuff and retaining it and strategizing with it. I think it probably stems from the fact that I didn’t learn to read until I was 11 or 12 years old. It just wired me in a certain way. I had a weird childhood, living on the streets, druglords as a family, not going to school. It made me have to be sharp, on my toes,

watch people, make sure I’m safe. And not knowing how to read, I was left with one thing, and that was observation, which I’m pretty good at. I think that’s what got me through high school and college. I never took notes. I just sat in class and watched. If I watched and could see it happen, I remembered it.

You are a spokesperson and mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Tell us about that. Because of my background I have a real interest in helping at-risk youth. Ten years ago a film production company approached me and asked me if I would talk a little bit about my background and they turned it into a documentary. It was always kind of my own little secret; not that I was embarrassed by it or ashamed by it, but I just didn’t think there was any reason to talk about it. I mean I had close friends that didn’t know I had this type of upbringing. So we made this little documentary and then I came out and performed and spoke at a nonprofit event. I was 32 and it was the first time I had ever even talked about it, because I had no need to. It was actually a very moving experience, because it brought up stuff I had just kind of shoved away, and I thought to myself, “Wow, I can actually use my story to reach these kids in a big way.” It’s just kind of cool because I went through some rough stuff and I know these kids just need some mentoring, and need to hear from someone that has gotten out of it and now is doing something great—at least in their eyes. So with magic, I can get their attention quickly. And with my history, I can really connect with them. It just kind of fits together really well.

sisters

Consisting of a series of volcanic plugs, the Nine Sisters—often referred to as the Seven Sisters—are one of the most enduring, iconic trademarks of the Central Coast. The nine peaks making up the chain are Morro Rock, Black Hill, Cabrillo Peak, Hollister Peak, Cerro Romauldo, Chumash Peak, Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis, and Islay Hill [see “Getting to Know the Nine Sisters” on page 38]. Some say there is a tenth sister: the Davidson Seamount, which is 75 miles west of San Simeon and rises 7,800 feet from the seafloor, about 3,600 feet below the surface. The shot you see here was taken from Cerro San Luis facing northwest toward Bishop Peak by professional freelance photographer, Michelle Torres-Grant, who is also an avid hiker. Torres-Grant, who believes in capturing images in their natural light, does not own a flash for any of her cameras. Although passionate about local open spaces, she reflects that, “I’m not at all ‘in your face’ with my politics, but I really believe strongly in protecting our environment. For me, I feel that if I can just help people appreciate what we have a little bit more then I can do my part to preserve the natural beauty we have locally. I hope that my photography can influence people in some small way to get out on the trails. The biggest compliment I get is when someone says, ‘I saw your photo of some trail and I just had to get out there.’ That’s really what it’s all about.”

Lisa Leonard

In this installment of our “Meet Your Neighbor” series, SLO LIFE Magazine sits down for a conversation with Lisa Leonard. She, along with her husband, Steve, and their two sons, David and Matthias, moved to San Luis Obispo seven years ago, around the same time she started her jewelry business, Lisa Leonard Designs. Today, that business and her family are both thriving as she gracefully balances a hectic schedule that includes caring for her special needs child. Her family’s story has recently caught the attention of a lm producer who completed a trailer of the proposed reality television show “Life by Design.” Here is her story…

So, Lisa let’s take it from the top. Where are you from? I grew up in Orange County, in Cyprus, which is near Long Beach so it’s North Orange County, not the South Orange County that you see on TV. I would describe it as a typical Southern California childhood with beaches and shopping and trying to get a tan, which is really di cult for me because I’m so fair. [laughter] We had friends who went to church at Grace here in San Luis, that’s the one that is at the corner of Osos and Pismo downtown. And, about seven or eight years ago we heard through them that they were looking for a new pastor. So my husband, Steve, took over as the pastor there, that’s why we moved here. We had two babies when we moved here; they were one and two-yearold boys at the time. ey are eight and ten now.

What were you doing when you rst moved here?

I had been working in special education and was doing in-home therapy with toddlers with special needs. I had two babies at home, one with severe special needs, so it felt like I was doing the same thing at work that I was doing at home. I needed to break it up and do something di erent. And, also with the therapy work I was doing there was a lot of driving and a lot of time away from the boys. So I already had the jewelry business, but it was really just a hobby back then. We did in-home parties with friends and things like that. But Steve and I thought that if I take that time that I was putting into my work as a therapist, and instead put it into building a business, we thought we could really build something. So I quit my job and started approaching local boutiques about the jewelry.

How did you promote it?

I thought, I wonder if blogging can help the business? So it was kind of a shift from going very local to really opening up what we were doing and seeing if more people might be interested.

And it was super organic and it t between what I was doing with the boys day in and day out. Sometimes I would post a picture of the jewelry that I had just made and we started having people ask if they could buy whatever piece was photographed. We would just take a PayPal payment and mail it out to them. It was all very low-tech. We had no website and really no way to exchange funds. It was just that people started inquiring about how to buy the jewelry. So then we set up a payment system where people could just buy it right o of the blog, but it was super low-tech and ine cient—I had to write every order by hand. en Steve and a friend built our rst website, and as soon as we had an o cial website it just exploded. We were at the forefront of a handmade jewelry movement, customized pieces where you could have your kids’ names on it, for example. It had just started, but we had developed a full line of custom pieces and had a website. So we were at the beginning and just rode the wave, really. at’s how the business grew. Blogging has been huge for us and networking with other bloggers has been huge. I would nd other bloggers and send them a necklace and they would do a post on their blog about how much they love the necklace and where you can buy it and so on. It was super organic and grassroots with people talking about it. And yet it’s come a long ways since the beginning.

So it’s a family business, right? My husband runs the company. He loved being a pastor and I think he’ll go back to it, but the business had grown so much, and I’m really not a businessperson, but it became clear that we really needed someone full-time. So, we said either we hire someone full-time or Steve steps in and gets it to a place where it’s really structured so someone else can take it over. So it was a huge decision for us, but he jumped out of ministry and he’s been in this role for about three years full-time. He’s a really savvy businessperson and really good with systems and teambuilding. When he came on we were just subletting a space from the Mac Superstore in their old location—it was like a 400 square foot space. I just sat on the oor and worked on my computer and we still didn’t have enough space, but at least we weren’t in our garage anymore. So Steve came on and we moved into a new space on Sacramento Drive. He’s amazing, I mean, I am the creative person behind it for designing and identifying the trends, but as far as business and how it actually functions, and what are we going to do in the next year, or two, or three years—that’s what he does. He’s my secret weapon. We did not plan any of this when we started, but as opportunities have come we have taken advantage of them and it has grown so much.

Can you tell us about your son, David?

I went full term not knowing anything was wrong with David. e day before he was born it became clear that there were some issues, so they brought me in and induced. And we had this tiny baby that weighed only four pounds and had just two ngers on his left hand. And we had a multitude of questions, like, “Does his body work? Is he going to live or die?” And they weren’t giving us any solid answers. ey really weren’t giving us a lot of hope. ey told us that David will probably be a vegetable and that we needed to come to terms with that. So we were just devastated, just totally devastated. ere is no way to prepare for that kind of news, and I remember that both of us were just sitting on my hospital bed just sobbing. We had just talked to the doctor and we felt that our lives were over. And I’m like, “One of us has just got to pull it together, because both of us can’t be so crushed; one of us has to pull it together and be stronger.” I remember saying in that moment, “We don’t know what the future holds, no one can say that this is what David >>

will be.” I worked with kids with special needs and you can’t say that when they are born they’ll never do anything, which is what we felt they had told us: “ ere’s no hope for your son.” So I told Steve, “Let’s just try to love him.” Because, honestly, I just didn’t want him at rst. He wasn’t the baby I wanted, and in those moments I just wanted to go away. It’s hard to say that now because I just love him so much. We just tried to be good parents even though we didn’t know what we were doing, he was our rst.

What were those rst few months like? We would go into the NICU and just talk to him and hold him. We fought with the nurses because they didn’t want us to hold him. He was a full-term baby, but he looked like a preemie because he was so tiny, and the common wisdom with preemies is to just leave them alone and let them grow. But, we felt that because he was a full-term baby, we needed to bond with him. And with his rate of growth, with the research we had done, we expected him to grow slow. So we said, “If we wait we will never get to touch him.” So we just fought and fought with the nurses. And we said, “We are going to hold him, and we are to go to touch him, and talk to him, and read to him.” And I think, and I don’t know why, but that was di cult for them. Now looking back, we feel that those days were so important. And slowly, maybe it wasn’t slowly but to us it felt like slowly, we just totally fell in love with him. He has what is called Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. Usually they don’t like to be touched, they are sort of adverse to touch and they prefer not to be held. But David loves to be held—he’s a total cuddle bug. He loves to be hugged and snuggle and we feel that those early days were just so important with bonding in establishing that connection. So he came home at three weeks. He had a G-Tube [Gastrostomy Tube]. He had major surgery at four months because he had a malrotation of the intestines. He was vomiting, it was just really intense; those early weeks were really intense. He wasn’t growing, and we couldn’t gure out what was going wrong. And it was just this really intense time. And everything was sort of spotlighted on the fact that this is what we were doing, knowing that this is the most important thing, the only thing. Our faith was really rocked. We were just trying to gure out, is God who he says he is? If God really loves us then why would we have a son that has only seven ngers? What does this all mean? And we found out that David is a pretty tough little guy. Despite all of his challenges, he’s determined and feisty. at rst year he was G-Tube fed, but we spent a lot of time working on feeding by mouth. en Matthias was born when David was 18-months-old. And, literally, within a few weeks of Matthias’ birth, we got rid of the G-tube and David was eating by mouth. So I had two little babies that I was just feeding all of the time.

How do the boys get along?

David is just really fun and really loving and he smiles and laughs a lot, which, as a parent, I think is just so bonding and a rming. You want your child to be happy and to know that they love life, and David does. And Matthias has been just such a great balance. He kind of moves through the stages like you expect a child to do. For me, it has been so ful lling to just let David be David, and then to have a child that you just think is going to do everything you think a child is going to do. And I feel that I get the best of both worlds; Matthias is just so creative and loving. And the two of them have a really sweet relationship, too. I mean David will come over to Matthias and just look at him and Matthias will give him a hug and then they both kind of move on. So it’s unique, really. I think it’s really unique, but I really do think they care about each other. When we moved into our house two years ago and we asked Matthias, “Do you want to have your own room, or do you want to share with David?” He said, “Of course I want to share with David!” And, so I think there’s a lot of comfort for them in being together, it’s a pretty easy relationship. ey both get along really well.

Do you think in some way, with all of your experience working with special needs children, that you were preparing to raise David?

I totally think so. It feels that way. I think God was preparing us. I taught special education for ve years before David was born, and Steve and I had really processed through what makes a person valuable. And it was sort of this journey, even before we had David, of it’s not what you contribute to society, or how well you perform, or what you do. I think sometimes we put so much pressure on our kids to be something that we want them to be. So we kind of processed through that, and came to the conclusion that every person is valuable and precious, no matter what they give back to society or how they achieve. We had long heart-to-heart talks about those sorts of things and how every person has a soul. When I was working with kids with special needs some of them couldn’t even speak, or couldn’t move their bodies, or could not control their bodies—and yet you get to know their soul. You have the soul connection and it’s a really beautiful thing. So we had these conversations long before I was pregnant. I just really feel that a person may be broken on the outside, but that doesn’t mean that their soul is any more broken than yours or mine. So, with David, while his body is broken—he can’t speak—he still has the same thoughts, desires, the same humanness that we all do. We are all human and we all have humanness to us, and I think that when you know someone with special needs, you can see that. You get a glimpse into their soul, it’s not physical. But, it still was a real test of our faith, especially for Steve, I think. I mean, I de nitely struggled with, you know, “Why, why, why?” I couldn’t stop asking that question. I think for him—he was actually pastoring at the time David was born—and he would say, “I have to go teach a lesson and I don’t even know if I believe this is true.” But, I would say that we both went through that very di cult period and came out with a stronger faith and a stronger sense of purpose. I think we all have moments in our lives where everything crumbles, and you have to sort of put the pieces back together and go for a fresh start.

Rumor has it that you have a trailer out for a reality TV show. We weren’t looking into it actually. We were approached by a production company and we’re just kind of like, “What?” [laughter] We are so boring! Why would anybody watch what we do? ey said, “You know, you have this really intriguing mix of family life and creative business life that we think could make for a great show.” e show is really about hope in the every day and just being positive. We were not interested in something that would be full of drama, nobody wants to see that. I mean, maybe people want to watch us ght, but we’re not interested in showing people that. [laughter] Our big questions were like, “Can David be portrayed in a respectful manner? And how do we protect our marriage?” You see people get these types of opportunities then their marriages just crumble. It’s terrifying. So where we are at currently is that we’ve created this trailer [you can watch the “Life by Design” trailer by going to this article on slolifemagazine.com] and the production company is meeting with various networks to see if they can work out a plan. It would probably be on Hallmark or Oprah or something like that. So we’ll see. I don’t know. Maybe, maybe not. I’m a bit indi erent to the whole thing. Part of me says this is an amazing opportunity. If it can give people hope and encouragement that would be incredible. What it can do for the business is incredible. And on the ipside, I say, I really like our quiet little family life, and it’s a big risk to open that up. So I kind of gure we tread forward cautiously and see what happens. I feel like either way I could get excited if it got picked up and I could be totally okay if it just goes away.

Lisa, we know that you have to get back to your jewelry designs, but we would like to thank you for the visit. It’s been a pleasure talking with you. Best of luck with everything ahead. ank you, it’s been really nice visiting with you.

Where to start with getting help?

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.

Nicole Pazdan, CSA

the House on the hill

At the end of what must be the longest driveway in San Luis Obispo sits the home of Susie Norris and her husband Jay Mendelsohn. The driveway, actually it’s a little street called Blue Granite Lane, starts off of Foothill Drive (next to the old Clubhouse at this Old House) and continues a third of the way up Bishop Peak where three custom homes (plus a vacant lot) enjoy spectacular views of the Los Osos Valley.

When the couple and their two young boys, Aaron, age 9, and Andrew, age 7, went house-hunting in 2008, it was their grandpa, Jessie Norris, owner of the Sands Inn & Suites, that stepped in to help make the purchase possible. As the story goes, Grandpa Norris “fell in love with the property as much as the rest of us did.” The young family claims that without his help the purchase would have been out of reach.

And, the property has been enjoyed by many in the family, as it has hosted weddings and other gettogethers and features a full, detached guest house and massive multi-car/RV garage. Originally designed and built by Richard Warren, the 4,200 square foot home can be best described as “contemporary country” but with some unique touches, such as the tall Grecian lamp pillars designed by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan that greet visitors at the front door. But, it is the frugal sensibilities of the owners that immediately sets visitors at ease. Norris, who works in finance at her father’s hotel, is much more comfortable talking about the money she has saved buying “Craigslist furniture” than she is pointing out the stunning craftsmanship of the mahogany kitchen cabinets or the massive granite kitchen countertop.

But, it is her collection of bell pepper figurines that really gets her going. Ranging in value from $2 to $1,500, the collectible bell peppers are a nod to the first real dinner Norris learned how to cook: stuffed bell peppers. And, her collection is proudly displayed throughout the house and makes for a great conversation starter. “Don’t get them confused with chili peppers,” Norris warns, “bell peppers are much harder to find, believe me,” she adds with a laugh. Her father’s antique collection rounds out the interior decorations.

The boys’ rooms feature an eclectic mix of homegrown decorations, mostly their own artwork. And Aaron’s room is nearly a full two-stories tall with a ladder leading to a loft used for hanging out with friends, building forts, and general 9-year-old mischief-making. Little brother Andrew, not to be outdone, has also made creative use of his space with a collection of personal touches.

Although the home boasts extra high ceilings, many of which are vaulted, it is the thoughtful placement of the “wall of windows” that truly sets the home apart, as the views from far up the western slope of Bishop Peak can only be described as stunning.

REFINED BEAUTY

Mahogany kitchen cabinets and a granite countertop pair elegantly in this designer kitchen.

GRECIAN GREETING

Lamp pillars designed by Hearst Castle architect Julia Morgan welcome guests at the entryway.

the numbers

laguna lake

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

YTD 2011 42 486,792 470,476 96.54% 119

tank farm

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

cal poly area

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

country club

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

YTD 2011 25 610,904 595,996 97.61% 84

YTD 2012 47 573,340 558,786 97.85% 66

+/11.90% 17.78% 18.77% 28.15% -44.54%

YTD 2012 30 577,603 566,467 98.03% 62

+/20.00% -5.45% -4.95% 0.42% -26.19%

YTD 2011 17 566,465 542,052 95.35% 100

YTD 2012 21 500,195 479,369 96.09% 48

+/23.53% -11.70% -11.56% 0.74% -52.00%

YTD 2011 21 898,581 837,095 94.09% 116

YTD 2012 17 803,465 771,323 96.21% 130

+/-19.05% -10.59% -7.86% 2.12% 12.07%

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

YTD 2011 32 649,339 588,984 93.39% 97

YTD 2012 40 596,733 582,442 98.21% 59

+/25.00% -8.10% -1.11% 4.82% -39.18%

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

YTD 2011 39 540,684 515,447 96.08% 69

YTD 2012 45 529,334 523,468 99.13% 28

+/15.38% -2.10% 1.56% 3.05% -59.42%

johnson

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

YTD 2012 49 586,339 575,580 98.53% 62 ave *Comparing 1/1/11 - 11/20/11 to 1/1/12 - 11/20/12

+/44.12% 9.60% 13.31% 3.56% -29.55%

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS®

Photo

289,000 530,000 460,000 614,000 399,000 281,500 305,000 375,000 364,500 213,258 543,060 305,000 246,500 260,000 325,000 468,000 257,500 403,750 350,000

BY JEANETTE TROMPETER, KSBY NEWS

Storms are moving in over the Pacific, and that makes it a perfect time to find a cozy, warm place with an ocean view to watch it all unfold. And we have just the spot.

At the Sea Chest restaurant along Moonstone Beach in Cambria, you’ll find the views are as spectacular as the food. Mix in the personalities found there as well, and it’s more proof there’s No Place Like Home.

It is probably one of the few restaurants in America where the waiting area is in the parking lot. Scott Nelson comes regularly from Templeton to the Sea Chest and doesn’t mind waiting at all. “We’ve stood out here anywhere from 4:30 to 5:00, sometimes even in the rain, just to get in and get a seat at the oyster bar.” And the wait starts long before the restaurant even opens. Kathleen Jibson was first in line on Wednesday after eating here on Monday, “They’re closed on Tuesday!”

The view from the parking lot waiting area makes the wait less painful, for sure. “You can watch the sunset, watch the birds, and it’s just a beautiful atmosphere,” says Jibson. And there’s camaraderie to the ritual. Lori Worsham comes a couple of times a year from El Dorado County. “They told us about this place and said we can bring chairs, and we can bring wine, and I went, ‘Alright! Let’s go!’”

But ultimately, it’s what’s inside that brings customers to the restaurant. There’s quite a menu at the Sea Chest. You’ll always find four to five fresh catches of the day ranging from scallops to crab, ciopinot to oysters, and clams to calamari.

The name is appropriate because they serve up all kinds of treasures from the sea. What they don’t serve is anything but seafood. “What if I want a burger?” I ask Stephen Kniffin,

manager of the Sea Chest. “Well, you might want to try the Main Street Grill, they do great burgers downtown. There are enough people who like fish that we do okay.”

Kniffin says the secret is really good, really fresh fare. “And that can be hard in the seafood business where it’s basically still hunting. Those guys [the fishermen] are still going out hunting the product.”

It’s a 36-year-old business that has been booming since the start, largely because of repeat traffic. People may stumble in because of the location, but return because of the food… or maybe a combination of both.

The view makes window seats prime real estate, but a lot of regulars wouldn’t sit anywhere else except right at the oyster bar. That’s where they say the action is. It’s where there is plenty of banter back-and-forth between cooks and customers. Special orders and split dishes happen there.

The Sea Chest offers a homey atmosphere, from the line for the first seating, to the card games in the bar for those who arrive after the doors open. “There’s always a pretty decent crowd, and that’s kind of part of the program,” explains Kniffin. “And sometimes people will show up and they won’t have to wait. They’ll just come right in, and sit down at the table, and they’ll actually say, ‘You know we really didn’t like that.’”

Even if the wait is in the parking lot, those in “the know,” know it’s well worth it. “It’s that good. It’s that much fun,” says Scott Nelson. And it’s right in our own backyard. It’s more proof, there’s No Place Like Home.

Jeanette Trompeter, KSBY News anchor and reporter, hosts the “No Place Like Home” series every Tuesday evening at 6pm.

Morro Bay

camping

WRITTEN BY PADEN HUGHES

...we laughed, roasted marshmallows and enjoyed the crisp, chilly air. We went to bed that night feeling the bite of the breeze, and listening to the subtle lapping of the current. Morro Bay took us as far away from San Luis Obispo as any other camping destination could.

The soothing cadence of rhythmic waves in the distance, the crackle of a warm fire in the crisp night, the familiar songs of crickets and frogs serenading the great outdoors with a charming lullaby as the day winds down. These are the serene experiences that compel American families to pack up their cars, load them with food and laughter, and escape suburbia long enough to fill their hearts with the freedom of living outdoors. Camping is an American tradition and one that we can enjoy on the Central Coast year-round.

My husband grew up wakeboarding on Lake Nacimento, while I grew up camping in Kings Canyon, and it’s still one of my favorite pastimes. So I jumped at the opportunity to have our first camping trip as a married couple. Along with several of our friends, we began planning a camping trip. Tahoe, Yosemite, and Kings Canyon topped our list as timeless camping destinations. But after a little discussion, we realized that driving to them would take up half of our weekend. So I guess I wasn’t too surprised to hear the site that was settled on was a local one. Afterall, the beauty of a staycation is that you only have to drive 15 minutes to get the same experience as a destination vacation, right? I go to Morro Bay from time-to-time, and paddle the estuary, try to surf the breaks at Morro Rock, and explore the docks and local fishing boats... but never to camp.

My husband is a list writer, an organized and incredibly responsible business owner. Putting away work is easier for me than him, so I wasn’t sure how being within cell phone range and within a 15-minute drive to his gym would fit into our camping trip. But we agreed that all the camping gear our friends and family gave us when we married had to be tested.

So, off we went to Morro Bay. Heading down Highway 1, cutting left toward Los Osos/Baywood Park and taking South Bay Boulevard, we turned right onto State Park Road. It struck me immediately that the sight was breathtaking. Looking out to the right was Morro Bay’s 18-hole golf course, and to our left were the winding marshlands of the estuary, home to egrets and an abundance of wildlife. We continued along for about a mile and came to Morro Bay State Park, with its small campsites perched next to the bay.

Our friends had already staked out the campsite. The fire was blazing and hot food was waiting. Within an hour or so we were standing around the large campfire and, along with our circle of friends, we laughed, roasted marshmallows and enjoyed the crisp, chilly air. We went to bed that night feeling the bite of the breeze, and listening to the subtle lapping of the current. Morro Bay took us as far away from San Luis Obispo as any other camping destination could.

In the morning, the beauty of the Central Coast truly convinced me that we have world-class, boast-worthy campgrounds. The faint morning light softly welcomed us into the brilliance of the day ahead. We kayaked the bay and explored the rolling sand dunes that protect the wildlife from the fierce waves. As we tried to wind our way through the estuary, we were beached a couple of times, and decided not to disturb the wildlife by going further into their territory. We played cards, enjoyed conversation, explored the nearby natural museum, and truly relaxed together. The camping trip was a success. We spent more time outside than in a car driving to the destination, were able to collect local friends to join us on our staycation, and felt more relaxed coming back from the trip than we had in a while.

One of the most compelling aspects of the Central Coast is the power our coastline has in drawing us away from our work and daily pressures and never-ending to-do lists. Its beauty recharges us. I encourage you to take some time this season and explore what a camping staycation can offer. We are officially hooked!

After adolescence, whether you are a man or a woman, you begin to lose about one percent of your bone and muscle strength every year. “One of the best ways to stop, prevent, and even reverse bone and muscle loss is to add strength training to your workouts,” advises Troy Tuttle, MS, an exercise physiologist at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.

Strength training will elevate your level of endorphins (natural opiates produced by the brain), which will make you feel great. And if that weren’t enough to convince you to try it, strength training has also been shown to be a great antidepressant, to help you sleep better, and to improve the overall quality of your life.

You burn calories during strength training, and your body continues to burn calories after strength training. More calories are used to make and maintain muscle than fat and, in fact, strength training can boost your metabolism by 15 percent—that can really jumpstart a weight loss plan.

Studies have documented the many wellness benefits of strength training. If you have arthritis, strength training can be as effective as medication in decreasing arthritis pain. Strength training can help post-menopausal women increase their bone density and reduce the risk of bone fractures. And for the 14 million Americans with Type 2 Diabetes, strength training, along with other healthy lifestyle choices, can help improve glucose control.

Strength training is heralding a revolution in the maintenance of functionality into older age. The muscle mass decline and the unsteadiness that goes with aging may not be as inevitable as once thought. Your balance and coordination will improve, as will your posture. More importantly, if you have poor flexibility and balance, strength training can reduce your risk of falling by as much as 40 percent, a crucial benefit, especially as you get older.

*Strength training helps you develop better body mechanics.

*Strength training translates to more calories burned.

*Strength training plays a role in disease prevention.

9 Sisters

After 20 million years, the Central Coast’s most famous sisterhood has seen a bit of history. Here are a few highlights...

Getting to know the 1

Morro Rock (576 feet) received its name, “El Morro,” form Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542 because he thought the rock resembled the head-wraps worn by the Moors. Both the Salinan and Chumash tribes consider Morro Rock to be

sacred ground and continue to be the only ones to maintain access to its peak. Chumash ties to the rock date back as far as 6500 BC, when it was believed they first established a settlement near the mouth of Morro Creek. The tribe continues to climb the rock for its annual solstice celebration today. The Salinans, despite protests from the Chumash, also climb the rock annually to celebrate their legend of a hawk and raven who destroyed a two-headed serpent-monster, known as Taliyekatapelta, as he wrapped his body around the base of the rock during a great battle.

2 3Black Hill (665 feet) is part of the Morro Bay State Park. Rumor has it that its name originated from a tar seep on the north side of the hill. A grove of Monterey Pines on its slopes is called “Fleming’s Forest,” which was planted by John Fleming, a former park superintendent. Apparently, Fleming

miscalculated the number of pines needed for a different project, so when the nursery refused to accept the returns, he planted them on Black Hill where they served as a constant reminder of his mistake.

Cabrillo Peak (911 feet), also known as Cerro Cabrillo, resides in the Morro Bay State Park. Its east side boasts a rock formation called “The Tiki” because of its resemblance to the Polynesian carving. The hill is named after Cabrillo (the same guy who named Morro Rock), who was roaming around the local area

in 1542. Late in that year, around Christmastime, Cabrillo stepped out of his boat and lacerated his shin when he stumbled on a jagged rock while trying to rescue some of his men during a Chumash attack. The wound became infected and he died a week later from gangrene.

>>

4Hollister Peak (1,404 feet), which resembles a dinosaur, is named for the family that lived at its base in 1884. It is of deep religious importance to the Chumash and also hosts a gravesite. Although it has five trails on its east side and several more on the west, do not attempt to hike them—sadly, Hollister Peak is private property and the owners do not take kindly to trespassers. They do, however, open it up to the public and the Chumash on a few days each year.

5Cerro Romauldo (1,306 feet) is named for a Chumash man who received the 117-acre Rancho Heurta de Romauldo Mexican land grant from Pio Pico, the last Mexican Governor of California (“Huerta de Romauldo” translates to “Romauldo’s kitchen

garden or orchard”). Captain John Wilson bought the land from Romauldo in 1846. Later, in the 1890’s, rock from the hill was sold to Southern Pacific Railroad to build its tracks through the Central Coast. Cerro Romauldo, which was officially called Romauldo Peak until 1964, is now owned by the State of California and is used by the National Guard for fitness training.

Chumash Peak (1,257 feet) was officially named in 1964—thanks to the efforts of Louisiana Dart, curator of the San Luis Obispo County Museum, who filed papers with the US Department of the Interior on behalf of the Native Americans who lived in

the area. Rock from a quarry there was used in some buildings at Cuesta College. In what is a consistent bummer to local rock climbers and hikers, there is no public access to the peak which rests on private property.

>>

Bishop Peak (1,559 feet) is the tallest of the sisters, but don’t use a possessive (“Bishop’s”) when talking about the hill because you will give yourself away as a non-local. The peak was actually named for a bishop’s miter (those funky, little pointed hats worn by higher-ups

in the Catholic Church). Rock climbers love the “P-Wall,” which is the most prominent granite outcropping on the east side of the hill—years ago, an adventurous college student painted a “P” there for Cal Poly. Rock from its quarry is found in buildings all over San Luis Obispo, including in the curbs of some older neighborhoods. In 1976 the SLO City Council turned down the opportunity to buy the 450 acre ranch. But the area has been mostly protected since 1998 when the Gnesa and Ferrini Families, who in conjunction with the city, created the 350 acre Bishop Peak Natural Reserve. The remainder of the Bunnell Ranch is still subject to development.

Cerro San Luis (1,292 feet) is, depending on who you ask, also known as San Luis Mountain, Mount San Luis, and Madonna Mountain. The large white “M” is for Mission Prep High School which sits at its base and not Madonna as many believe, although that,

like its name, has been subject to much debate. Around 1900, a Civil War Veteran named G.W. Chandler lived on the mountain and decided to plant some citrus trees— lemons and oranges. The grove, which draws its water from two natural springs, still stands today as it overlooks the city to the south. The Lemon Grove Trail at the base of the hill takes its name from these trees. Sometime around 1958, Alex Madonna purchased much of the land around the mountain from the city to build the Madonna Inn.

Islay Hill (775 feet) is named after a Chumash word meaning “wild cherry.” A lieutenant who accompanied Gaspar de Portola to the hill in 1769 referred to it as “Yslay” in his journal. Its lack of distinguishing features is what makes it distinguishable from the other sisters. The

Rodriguez Adobe, constructed in 1858, remains at its base. The round, grassy hill is the southernmost sister and its north slope was preserved as open space in the 1980’s as housing construction began on Tank Farm Road.

SLO LIFE

Music by Design

Although he did not realize it until recently, Butch Boswell has been preparing his entire life to build guitars. With an established reputation as a top-quality guitar repairman with stints at Taylor Guitar Company and world famous Rudy’s Music Stop in New York City, Boswell, now the owner of Butch’s Guitar & Repair, figured he could further refine his understanding of guitar mechanics by attempting to build one himself. So, last year, he was able to secure some materials and set out to construct one. It turned out that it was a good first effort.

“People kept dropping by the shop to play the guitar and they started asking, ‘Will you make me one? How much would it cost?’ And I would throw out a number, just joking around,” Boswell shrugs his shoulders for emphasis, “I’d say, ‘It will be $10,000.’ And, then people started saying, ‘Okay, that sounds about right.’”

The orders kept coming in and it led to a 15-month-long effort to build seven guitars. The project became known as “The 7” and word spread quickly among potential collectors and customers (including some big names like Keith Richards). “It took everything I had, the shop suffered at times because I would get

how Butch Boswell engineered a better guitar

One of the guitars from that collection was sold to prominent Hollywood recording artist Tim Pierce (among many other projects, he created the music for the recent Spider-Man movie). But, what made it remarkable is that Pierce is one of those guys who guitar builders will give instruments to for free because his endorsement is considered so valuable. “The person that introduced me to him said, ‘You know, you may want to consider that option, you may want to just give it to him.’ But, he sat down and played it, and loved it, and he bought it, which meant a lot to me—it was really cool. I have already started getting some emails from some of his friends.”

Production has begun on more Boswell Guitars, and a move is underway for the business, which will occupy a much larger space in the Creamery across the sidewalk from where it has been located. The plan is to continue building guitars at a reasonable pace; everything is done by hand with extreme precision and exquisite attention to detail which means it takes about a year to build one. And, it is not only the time, but the thought and complete attention that makes it

a draining yet exhilarating experience for Boswell. Because each one is unique, and the wood and other materials used behave differently, there are always unanticipated variables. And like any creative endeavor, sometimes it just requires the right mindset for inspiration. “I’m always thinking about it in the back of my mind. And then once I figure out a problem I have been thinking about, I have to do it. It’s just a matter of totally focusing on the task at hand at that point— some people describe it as being in ‘the flow’ and I’d say that’s what it is for me.”

Boswell, a graduate of Cal Poly’s School of Engineering, says he now uses his education in a non-traditional way. “I tell students that there are a lot of things you can do with the major. Don’t let yourself get pigeon-holed with the idea that you have to be behind a desk crunching numbers someday. I am applying engineering principles every day now in both my guitar building and repair work. Look at all the things that engineering applies to, and look at all the things that having that education can be applied to—it just goes on and on and on. Everywhere you look things are engineered and require that kind of thinking, including right here with this guitar.”

OCEANO DUNES

BY TOM FRANCISKOVICH

I recently attended my 20-year high school reunion—and the most amazing thing to me was not the receding hairlines and the advancing waistlines of my old football teammates, but the astonishingly powerful draw of the Oceano Dunes. Redwood High School in Visalia is my alma mater and to get there from San Luis Obispo, you head down the main artery to the San Joaquin Valley: Highway 101 to Paso Robles, then east on Highway 46. I was travelling against traffic as I made my way down memory lane toward the Class of ’92 one Friday evening. It seemed that for many miles at a time we passed nothing but raised four-wheel drive trucks whose beds were loaded down with firewood and fuel canisters while towing “toy haulers” (RV trailers that also transport all-terrain vehicles, ATV’s) with distinctive markings such as “Sand Shredder” emblazoned on their sides. On one stretch of the trip, my 9-year-old daughter passed the time by counting the toy haulers going the other direction. She got bored with the whole thing after ten minutes and 153 rigs. If nothing else, the sheer numbers on display were impressive. And it got me thinking…

• • •

Proponents of the status quo at the Dunes commonly cite one figure as the most compelling reason to continue to allow vehicles on the beach: $200 million. This is the number they estimate visitors to the Dunes contribute to the local economy annually. Those who favor alternate uses for the park claim this number is far off the mark and, more importantly, it neglects to account for some significant costs. After a bit of digging, it appears that the $200 million figure came from a study commissioned in 1992 by the Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Program (also known as OHV) division of California State Parks which found that visitors to the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Riding Area (SVRA) contributed $94 million to the local economy. Andrew Zilke, Chief OHV Ranger at the Oceano Dunes, claimed that “by applying the Consumer Price Index, the $94 million per year figure would actually translate to $200 million in 2007.” In an effort to prove the claim, State Parks commissioned a study with Cal Poly called “The Economic Impact of Oceano Dunes SVRA Visitors,” which found that the number was actually $76 million not $200 million. Opponents of the SVRA argued that the number was vastly overestimated because the study included the full value of gasoline purchases, for which they claimed only $.04 per gallon remains in the local economy. An independent study was then released in 2007 by Dean Runyon Associates, a Portland, Oregon-based research firm, which found that the numbers were actually $17.5 million in 1992 and $23.5 million in 2005. Recently, the OHV division of California State Parks (or, simply “State Parks” for the purpose of this article) retained the Strategic Marketing Group based in South Lake Tahoe, who estimated the number at $171 million.

While powerful ATV-riding advocacy groups such as Friends of the Oceano Dunes, who boast a membership of 28,000, continue to push the economic impact argument, others are quick to point out the costs. To summarize the prevailing viewpoint of SVRA opponents: Visitors to the Dunes load up on groceries and fuel back home then drive directly to their camping destination (as opposed to traditional tourists who stay, shop, and dine locally) and they take a toll on area emergency rooms, and create a whole lot of dirty air for residents on the Nipomo Mesa. While it is impossible to know the costs in terms of injuries and deaths at the

Dunes (State Parks declined our request to provide information for this article concerning the number of injuries or costs to resolve wrongful death lawsuits resulting from vehicular recreation) it may be possible to understand one recent matter. It is the dust issue that has brought the two diametrically opposed points of view back into direct conflict in the most controversial sandbox on the Central Coast.

With its recently released Phase 2 study, the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) has kicked up quite a bit of dust of its own. The APCD, a state agency whose mandate is to “realize and preserve clean air for all” has become increasingly interested in the air downwind of the Dunes since 2004 with the Phase 1 component of this survey. In response to numerous complaints from residents living on the Nipomo Mesa, who live directly downwind from the ATV riding area, the APCD commissioned a more in-depth study—known as Phase 2—to measure the air quality in the area. According to Larry Allen, Executive Director of the APCD, “All you have to do is go have a look—you can actually see it. There is a huge dust cloud hanging over the riding area which is caused by the plumes the vehicles send up into the air. That then gets blown in to the Nipomo Mesa. There’s no mystery.” And their study did confirm that the air was not just dirty, but also dangerous. Particulates in the air that are less than ten microns in diameter (known as PM10) are known to be dangerous to humans—prolonged exposure can lead to a whole host of respiratory problems ranging from shortness of breath to a variety of cardio-pulmonary diseases. PM10’s have been found to be particularly harmful to children.

Allen is adamant that the studies that have led to the adoption of Coastal Dunes Dust Control Rule 1001, which would fine State Parks up to $1,000 per day for non-compliance, are exhaustive in their design and implementation and are based on scientific fact. “These are the facts,” Allen declares, “and they are based on a study that we conducted with an enormous amount of input from State Parks and CGS [California Geological Survey] geologists—we even had them choose the control areas.” But it is the control area locations, once endorsed by State Parks, that have suddenly become controversial after field data, which has been collected for a year and analyzed for mass and elemental composition, definitively shows that the air directly downwind of the riding area “regularly exceeded the California health standard for PM10,” while the control areas remained below the standard. [The Phase 2 study can be read in its entirety by going to this article at slolifemagazine.com].

Although State Parks had once been an active partner in the design of the Phase 2 study, it inexplicably pulled its participation on the eve of its implementation and immediately questioned the methodology used once the findings were made public. “You can get seven scientists in a room and you are going to get seven different answers,” explains Brent Marshall, District Superintendent of the Oceano Dunes SVRA. Marshall, a sincere and passionate advocate of off-road recreation, then goes on to explain some of the concerns that State Parks has about the study, including his belief that dust would be created naturally with or without ATV’s in the park. “If you look at some of the old aerial photos, it’s pretty clear that there are other dynamics at work out there.” And, he is not the only one that has questioned either the science or the process behind the Phase 2 study.

There is no more vocal defender of the Dunes status quo than Kevin P. Rice. A self-described government “watch dog,” Rice, who created the website slorider.com to share his passion for off-road motorcycle riding with other enthusiasts, has racked up a series of victories over the past dozen or so years by focusing his efforts on the details—specifically the process of governance. His first successful skirmish: besting the Cuesta College Police on the question of proper parking ticket writing. By disputing the manner in which the tickets were written, Rice walked away with his fines dismissed. Buoyed by his win, Rice then challenged the county on its dog licensing fees. It turned out that law-abiding dog owners had been overpaying by $5 per license. At 50,000 dogs since the error had been detected that amounted to $250,000. The victories kept piling up for Rice, who is a full-time firefighter with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and he became a bigger and bigger thorn in the side of local policymakers. “I want the process to be correct,” he explains earnestly, “because if it is not open and transparent then manipulation is happening—the little details matter.”

Not only does Rice have a problem with the process—he has filed a lawsuit against the APCD. And joining in Rice’s lawsuit are Friends of the Dunes and State Parks. Rice complains, among other things, that the public was not properly notified of hearings. He also questions the science. Rice, who ran for city council in San Luis Obispo during the last election, claims that “500 million pounds of sand are blown inland each year by a naturally occurring process.” His information comes from a US Geological Survey report in 2006 which states that, “For example, it has been estimated that about 150,000 cubic meters of sand are blown inland each year along the 55 kilometer stretch of coastline from Pismo Beach to Point Arguello.” The report entitled, “National Assessment of Shoreline Change Part 3: Historical Shoreline Change and Associated Coastal Land Loss Along Sandy Shorelines of the California Coast,” focuses on the shoreline and geological mechanics of sand creation, not airborne particulate matter, and the quote is lifted from the end of a highly technical passage that sites another study describing, essentially, how sand comes from the ocean.

The debate over the Oceano Dunes locally, in a lot of ways, mirrors the debate over climate change on the national level. Common to both of them is the questioning of scientific data in an effort to maintain the interests of a small segment of the population. For those who deny the science behind climate change, clearly there is a lot of money at stake when it comes to the fossil fuel industry, but considering the cost to the entire world, it pales in comparison. The same could be said for the Phase 2 study. There is an economic impact when all of those toy haulers pour into the Oceano Dunes to set up camp on the weekends, clearly. But, what is the impact? Is it a net positive, or is it possible that, when health costs are properly measured, is it actually a net negative? And what about the opportunity costs? What if instead of using the riding area for offroad vehicles, it becomes some other tourist attraction? Should that cost be counted, as well? But, rather than asking these questions and focusing on the health of those living on the Nipomo Mesa, it seems that the issue has become engulfed in a cloud of dust. SLO LIFE

Rowan Chase

Growing up without electricity or hot running water somewhere on the Paderewski Ranch in the hills between Paso Robles and Cambria, Rowan Chase spent his days wandering the thousands of acres of oak trees, building forts where he often slept out under the stars. His father, Hal Chase, a friend of Jack Kerouac and frequent subject in his novels, was determined to extend the Beat Generation with a minimalistic West Coast existence, leaving his young son with almost no adult supervision. Although unconventional and often difficult, Chase now credits the experience for his unique perspective on art, business, and life.

Chase now lives in Los Osos with his wife and two young children. He is also the owner of Fiona Bleu Gallery in Morro Bay and paints mostly local landscapes as well as abstracts with acrylic paints, and occasionally mixed media. As a surfer with a deep appreciation for retro VW buses, he is heavily influenced by the coastline, and many of his paintings reflect a positive, go-with-the-flow, Central Coast vibe. And his recent innovation— configuring his printed artwork as a lampshade to illuminate the colors and bring it to life—has been flying off the shelves. After just turning forty, Chase’s mood has been reflective, and when asked what sort of advice he might share with a young artist just getting started, he sets down his paint brush, pauses for a moment and shares, “My stepdad told me, Rowan, if want something badly enough you’ll make it happen.”

left CHANEY CYPRESS captures a lone cypress tree at the end of Chaney Street in Cayucos above left ACROSS THE BAY shares the view looking toward Cayucos from Montana de Oro above center AQUA LINES is an abstract work resembling a dreamy seashore-like landscape above right LOS BERROS on the Nipomo Mesa is recreated as an abstract artist rendering

Warming up Winter

Winter has arrived on the Central Coast and the holidays are in full swing. It’s the time of year when we like to break from tradition and try something other than mashed potatoes and gravy. This time we’re getting our comfort from aloo gobi, a potato and cauliflower based entrée. Like most Indian meals, it serves up well with naan or rice. And, we like to finish up with a sweet treat known in India as “chikki.” While the traditional brittle is often made with sliced almonds and sesame seeds, we paired up two of our favorites, Marcona almonds and coconut. Not only does chikki satisfy a post-dinner sweet tooth, it also makes a wonderful homemade holiday gift.

ALOO GOBI

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

½ teaspoon turmeric powder

1 red onion, quartered and sliced

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 cauliflower, cut into florets

1 large potato, peeled and cubed

1 teaspoon red chili powder

1 teaspoon coriander powder

½ teaspoon garam masala

CILANTRO PASTE

1 clove garlic

½ inch piece ginger, peeled

2 green serrano chilies, seeded

1 bunch fresh cilantro

2 tablespoons water

1 ½ teaspoons salt

1. Make cilantro paste by combining all ingredients in a blender. Blend until creamy. Set aside.

2. To start the aloo gobi, heat a wok or pan on medium heat. Add oil, and cumin seeds. Cook until seeds sizzle.

3. Add turmeric powder and sliced onions.

4. Sauté until onions are translucent, about five to seven minutes.

5. Add the cilantro paste and chopped tomatoes. Combine and cook for an additional ten minutes.

6. Add the cauliflower, potatoes, red chili powder, and coriander powder. Cook for five minutes uncovered.

7. Stir and cover with a lid. Reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes or until the cauliflower and potatoes are soft. Stir occasionally to avoid burning.

8. Remove from heat, add garam masala. Serve with naan or rice.

1. Grease two large baking sheets. Set aside. 2. In a three quart sauce pan combine sugar, corn syrup, water and butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches 275 degrees on a candy thermometer.

Stir in nuts and continue cooking until mixture reaches 295 degrees on a candy thermometer.

Remove pan from the heat, add baking soda, and stir to combine.

Immediately pour onto prepared baking sheets. While hot sprinkle with the toasted coconut.

Cool two to five minutes and score chikki with a knife or pizza cutter into 1 ½ inch squares.

Cool completely and break into pieces and store tightly covered for up to one month. Makes approximately two pounds.

It’s a Wonderful Life Nov 30 – Dec 23

SLO Little Theatre slolittletheatre.org

Experience the extraordinary, heart-warming journey of Bedford Falls resident George Bailey, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been buried under family obligations and civic responsibilities. Join your favorite characters: George and Mary, Clarence, Uncle Billy and, of course, the Scrooge-like villain, Mr. Potter! This family-friendly production not only celebrates the faith of the season, it also celebrates the American philosophy of life: hard work, fair play and the love and support of one’s family and community will be rewarded.

Holiday Parade

Dec 8

Downtown San Luis Obispo downtownslo.org

Enjoy the splendor of the Holiday Parade in Downtown San Luis Obispo! Experience the sights, sounds and social atmosphere that makes this a premier event on the Central Coast! This year’s parade theme is: “Dreaming of a Downtown Holiday.”

Christmas at the Castle Dec 1 – 31 Hearst Castle hearstcastle.org

Lunch Buffet

Mon - Sat 11:30am - 3:00pm $8.99

Monday Dinner Buffet

5:00pm - 10:00pm $9.99

Sunday Brunch $9.99

The Nutcracker Dec 8 – 9 Christopher Cohan Center pacslo.org

It’s Christmas Eve and Clara is about to have the night of her dreams! Audiences of all ages will marvel at the magic and wonder of this spectacular, professional production presented to you by the Civic Ballet of SLO and accompanied by a live orchestra!

Restaurant Month Jan 1 – 31

San Luis Obispo County sanluisobispocounty.com

Plan ahead and make sure to come out and savor San Luis Obispo County restaurants for the 6th Annual Restaurant Month. You will be able to visit participating SLO County Restaurants, during January, for a three-course, prix-fixe menu for only $30! Come enjoy the bounty of our county and indulge in fresh, locally grown produce and meats all prepared especially for you! Reservations are recommended if not required.

Brewer’s Dinner Jan 20

Monday Club, San Luis Obispo t-mha.org

Join Transitions-Mental Health Association for a magnificent presentation of gourmet food and imported and domestic beers. This is a fun evening of live and silent auctions, great food, and plenty of merriment and generous fundraising benefitting TMHA.