Henry Comes Home
It was a Wednesday morning at 10:23 when I first lost track of the time. I know that because a moment before entering Cloud Canyon I had checked my watch to calculate our pace.
I had gone backpacking before, including some overnighters to destinations at the end of well-worn trails, but it wasn’t until that Wednesday morning that I first “got it.” My youngest sister had been asking me for years to go on a backcountry backpacking trip with her. She’s an experienced high country trekker and has developed an extensive knowledge of the Sierras. So, I finally relented when Emily called and said, “Tommy, you just have to come with us this time. You have to. I’ve got a great group coming along and the route we have chosen is amazing.” Plus, she’s about to embark on the greatest journey of her life; she’s getting married, so how could I say no?
We spent the first day of our trip hiking through the hot, dusty, and welltrafficked “frontcountry” (loosely defined as anything within a full day’s walk from where you can park your car). I was adjusting to the fifty pounds I was carrying on my back, but I was also thinking about the distance we’d covered; whether or not I remembered to set my “auto-attendant” on my email (I didn’t); the number of days left in our trip; what my wife and kids were up to; how much time until our next stop; and what I was going to have for dinner. But, mostly, I questioned my sister’s choice of recreation.
Publisher Tom Franciskovich points to the other side of “Big Wet Meadow” as he talks with friend and Fresno Bee columnist, Marek Warszawski, upon entering Cloud Canyon. (You can find Marek’s article on our website where he recounts the journey, which, unfortunately, ended for him halfway through as he succumbed to altitude sickness)
It wasn’t until the morning of that second day, the day we unofficially entered the Kings Canyon National Park “backcountry,” that we encountered the most picturesque, awe-inspiring landscape I had ever seen. Setting foot on what is aptly called “Big Wet Meadow” of Cloud Canyon fully captured my attention. I was completely in the moment and no longer cared about our pace. Although the landscape we encountered throughout our trip was beyond my imagination, I will admit that, at least initially, I had been pretty focused on the idea of getting “somewhere” and wondering when we were going to get “there.” Over the course of six days and 73 miles, I began to understand the experience Emily had been talking about all of these years.
The concept of embracing the journey is not a new one, and anyone who has lived much life will readily offer the wisdom that “it’s about the journey, not the destination.” But, it’s a lesson that is easily forgotten, and I was grateful for the reminder. For me, the trip was the perfect metaphor as I returned my focus to this magazine. Just like that second day in Cloud Canyon, the journey here has really just begun with the publication of this second issue.
I would like to thank you for the overwhelming support you have given to the launch of SLO LIFE Magazine. Your emails and website submissions make my pack feel much lighter along the way. And, to our advertisers, thanks for making this journey possible in the first place. Live
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778 Osos Street, Suite C San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 contents 12 Meet Your Neighbor: life on point with Harmony The Way We Live: at home with The Rudd Family 16 25 Local Food by Local People: SLO families share their favorite recipes
The Way It Was: the history behind the name 6 8 20 23 30
805.439.2323 www.coastfiduciarylaw.com 8
Igrew up in San Luis Obispo before leaving to attend college and pursue my career as an attorney. After a decade of practicing litigation and estate planning, I was ready to return to the place I love, start a practice I believe in and make a difference in the local legal community by offering a competent and caring approach to the practice of law.
Central Coast Estate Planning and Fiduciary Services is the culmination of my personal and professional dreams. What makes my firm different is that I haven’t forgotten the human element in the practice of law. I focus on each family or individual and their unique needs and keep my firm small and specialized so that you are always my top priority.
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Talk of the Town : what do you like to do for fun? How I Found My Here : from SLO to Croatia and back again Let’s Talk Business : advice for the entrepreneur To Your Health : vitamin D Milestones & Memories : spreading good news far and wide No Place Like Home : family, farm and fun at The Barn Real Estate : local experts share their insight Community Calendar : the best SLO has to offer
“I remember getting leveled just as I released the ball,” says 34-year-old, Chad Henry, former Cal Poly quarterback. “My brother, Troy, was running a post-corner route, and I threw it out there for him because I trusted him to go get it, just like he’d always done when we were kids. I was on the ground trying to see what was going on but could hear the Poly side of the stadium erupt, so I knew we connected.”
It took Chad three years to reach his goal of becoming Cal Poly’s first African-American starting quarterback, but he said he will never forget that first touchdown pass to cap the first drive of his first start, fittingly to his younger brother in an away game against Sacramento State just a few miles from where they grew up.
Like so many other student-athletes, Chad, who was also a standout pitcher in high school, felt conflicted about what to do as his football career came to an end. Although he had initially enrolled at Cal Poly as an architectural engineering student, he graduated with a business degree that emphasized hands-on learning. “There was an opportunity to do a six month internship in Croatia, so I thought… why not?”
The initial placement with an old “Soviet-style” company left Chad feeling unchallenged, disillusioned, and ready to quit. Then one day he happened upon some people in the park playing baseball and word soon got around about his blazing fastball. It wasn’t long before Chad found himself negotiating through an interpreter with Mr. Mladinic, who was the owner of a specialty foods company and the sponsor of the fledgling Croatian baseball club. “He offered me a job doing exports for his company and a salary to be a pitcher for the club,” Chad explains. “For most of these Croatian guys, they didn’t grow up playing baseball. I was able to get 16 or 17 strikeouts per game with nothing but an 85 mile-per-hour fastball.”
Things starting clicking for Chad when he successfully placed the first Croatian specialty food item at Whole Foods, something called “Adriatic Fig Spread,” which can still be found there today. The next four years of life in Croatia continued to “go well,” but things came crashing down suddenly when it was learned that Mr. Mladinic was “cooking the books,” and that the company would not be around much longer. So, the former quarterback, who was now fluent in the Croatian language set out to start his own business exporting organic specialty items.
“I had to jump through all kinds of hoops with various international agencies to be able to advertise on my product labels: ‘prirodno, domaci, nešpricano’ which means ‘natural, domestic, unsprayed’… in other words 100% organic, Croatian-grown. So, I go visit these farmers, my suppliers, and see that they are spraying their crops with chemicals. And, I say, ‘Hey what are you guys doing!?... You’re not supposed to be spraying!’ and they’d say, ‘Oh, it’s just a little bit.’ Chad throws up his arms in animated exasperation as he retells the story. “I would say, ‘No. No. No. No spraying. Not even just a little bit. We are selling this to our customers as organic - it cannot be sprayed at all.’”
This constant uphill battle continued for nearly six years until he learned that a large Hungarianbased contractor, who won the bid to build a 17,000 seat handball arena, was looking for someone to head up media relations just prior to the 2009 World Handball Championship to be hosted in Croatia. Upon completion of the new stadium, which also meant the end of his contract, Chad’s six month Croatian visit had turned into ten years. He found himself at a crossroads, and decided to take what he thought would be a short vacation. “I came back to San Luis, and I remembered just how much I love it here. I brought a duffle bag with enough stuff to get me through a couple of days; that was April 26th and I’m still here!”
Today, Chad is employed by SLO-based TechXpress and can be found coaching football at Mission Prep. Although he has been back for a while, he does admit to feeling a bit of culture shock. “Sometimes people are talking to me about something and I just have no idea what they are saying. I’ve been gone so long that I’ll just completely miss the reference, but I keep it to myself and think, ‘Man, it’s good to be home.’”
How did you find your way here? Go to slolifemagazine.com and tell us your story.
While San Luis Obispo is a paradise, we have complex issues such as affordable housing, job scarcity, traffic circulation, homelessness, growth, and budget deficits to overcome.
Creating viable solutions will take a Mayor with a diverse background who is trusted in our community and has the determination to get things done.
We need a leader to collaboratively promote our economic stability while still protecting our unique resources.
This is why current Mayor Dave Romero and other community leaders have encouraged and endorsed Paul Brown to be our next Mayor.
Born some 736 years ago in Brignoles, France, prior to his sainthood, the young Louis was a military cadet of the Royal French “House of Anjou,” which until it became defunct in 1435, ruled much of Southern Europe. At some point during Louis’ childhood, his father was named the “King of Naples,” because of his personal relationship with a secretary to the King of France.
During one of the many feudal wars at the time, Louis’ father was taken prisoner in Italy, but he was able to obtain his freedom by offering his three sons as hostages [Gee… thanks, dad!]. So, Louis and his two brothers were hauled off to enemy territory in Barcelona, Spain and placed under the supervision of Franciscan friars who cared for the boys and educated them over a period of seven years.
At twenty-one years old, when his older brother died in 1295, Louis became the heir to his father’s throne. It was the same year that he was freed by the friars. So, you would imagine the young prince would spend his life in-waiting, enjoying the spoils of royalty and wealth, right? Well, not quite…
When presented with the choice, Louis elected to travel to Rome and announce that he would take the Franciscan vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. He then forfeited his royal inheritance and claims to the throne to his youngest brother.
Despite Louis’ desire to live a simple life in a monastery, his father’s political connections kept pulling him back into governance and the secular world. And, at the age of 22, the young Louis was appointed to the enormously important leadership position as “Bishop of
Toulouse.” Although he continued to impress the Church with his dedication and willingness to walk away from vast wealth, it was the fact that his uncle, Alphonse, the brother of his father, had recently been installed as the “Count of Toulouse,” but died suddenly without a son. As a result, the position of “Bishop of Toulouse” was appointed to his nephew, Louis. It was now his job to govern the affairs of the region.
Historical accounts of the time indicate that young Louis was an extremely popular and magnanimous leader, always putting the needs of others before his own. Although “mildmannered” he developed a reputation for actively serving the poor, feeding the hungry, and ignoring his own well-being. In fact, he worked so hard that just six months into his role as Bishop, he became so exhausted by his efforts that he was no longer able to function. So he quit.
Just a few months later, Louis died at the age of 23. Today, it is speculated that the cause of death was actually typhoid fever that was probably brought on by his exhaustion and overexposure to his many ailing subjects. The young bishop had literally worked himself to death.
After his passing Louis was never widely celebrated by the Catholic Church, but the Franciscans continued to embrace him and lobbied for his sainthood. They eventually won over Pope John XXII and Louis became Saint Louis. The Franciscans further honored him by creating a holiday in their calendar and moved his relics (essentially, his personal items) to Valencia, Spain where he was also made a patron saint. The unique bond that Saint Louis formed at a young age with the Franciscans was never forgotten. So, when Father Junipero Serra passed through this beautiful part of “Alta California” (the name the Spanish had given to lands North of Mexico) in 1772, he was inspired to name it “San Luis Obispo” which is Spanish for “Saint Louis, the Bishop.”
Know a bit of history? Go to slolifemagazine.com and share your story.
Just who was Saint Louis, and what did he do to get such a special place named after him?
In the second installment of our “Meet Your Neighbor” series, SLO LIFE
Magazine sat down to talk with Harmony True. She is a long-time Central Coast resident, a dance instructor at the San Luis Obispo Academy of Dance, a parttime nanny, and she makes her home in Los Osos with her husband, Sean, a history teacher at Morro Bay High School. Here is her story…
Let’s start from the beginning. Where are you from originally?
My family started off in Oxnard; my dad was a fisherman there. I’m the oldest of five children. Just before my brother Jacob, who is the second youngest, was born, my parents decided that they didn’t like the direction our neighborhood was taking. So, they went up to North County and found this little house literally out in the middle of nowhere. I was maybe 9 years old at the time.
What was that like?
As little kids we thought it was great. It was on 60 acres and just a huge playground to us. There was barley growing everywhere and all these animals. When we first moved, we really didn’t have any furniture, so we just camped out, which was fine because it was summer, and it was warm outside.
That’s a pretty big move… how’d your parents pull it off?
I don’t know; that’s actually a really good question. It was a surprise to us when we heard the news. You know how when you’re little, you usually know when your parents are talking about things… it wasn’t like that with this. We just moved. In a lot of ways it was a pretty big sacrifice for my parents, but I think they were at a point where they were going to do whatever it took to make it work. My dad continued to fish out of Oxnard and would commute three hours, and my mom did some interior design work on the side.
Do any memories stand out about growing up out in the country?
Oh, boy… there was so much. Actually, I do remember when I had just received my driver’s license. I was 16, and since I was the oldest, I would have to pick up all my brothers and sisters from school. Well, I thought I was the cool big sister
and decided that I would let Kaitlynne, who was probably 10 at the time, sit on my lap while we drove down the road of our property up to our house. So, we’re driving on the road, and everything’s going fine, and we’re about to put on the brakes when she steps on the gas, and we crash through this beautiful white picket fence that my parents had just built.
Uh, oh… What happened next?
My mom was home, and she came running out, and there was all this commotion. I was able to stop the car, and nobody was hurt. Anyway, my mom just said, “Your dad is going to flip out when he sees this…” and I could see her surveying the damage, and then she said, “I don’t want to deal with this right now. Come on everyone, let’s get it fixed before he gets home.” So we took out the hammers and nails and paint, and we filled in all of the holes with putty. It was a huge job, and thank goodness my dad was out of town until later the next day. I don’t know how he didn’t notice it, but to this day, he still doesn’t know about it [Hey, Harmony’s dad… surprise!].
Let’s switch gears now – no pun intended – and talk about dance. When did you realize you wanted to be a dancer?
When I was 7 years old, still living in Oxnard, I went to see the Nutcraker, and I just loved it. After that, I started dancing at home all the time. I would dress up my little brother, Ian, like one of the marching soldiers, poor guy. So, my mom gave me a tape of the Nutcracker, thinking it’s just a phase I was going through. Once I had the music, I did a performance that my family would have to watch pretty much every night. After a while, my mom decided to put me in lessons. There was a local community rec. center, and they had some really good classes… ballet, tap, and jazz. When we moved, I enrolled at Class Act in Paso Robles, and that’s when I really got involved and when I first got en pointe [pronounced “on point” and it means to dance on your tippy-toes].
I was able to go to New York for dance right after I finished high school. It was such a great experience. When I was there, I lived right in Manhattan and learned
how to take the subway. I shared a tiny apartment that, well, it really wasn’t much bigger than this room [this interview was conducted in a 10’ x 12’ conference room] and I had a roommate who I split the $2,000 rent with. It left me totally broke, but it was worth it! I mean, I got to live in this cool building with all these New Yorkers who knew what they were doing, and I got to sort of play along. But, really, the best part of the whole thing was being able to train with the instructors and the dancers from The Joffrey Ballet. They were amazing.
So, you’re living in New York City… Then I moved to Los Osos.
Well, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere, right?
I know, I know [laughter]. It took me a while to readjust to small town life. I took a job teaching preschool and started classes in ECE (Early Children’s Education), all the while continuing to dance. It was a couple of years later that Lori Silvaggio asked me to start teaching classes at The Academy. She really wanted to start a children’s dance program; she knew that I was teaching preschool, and she thought I would be the right person to make it happen. So, Lori and I met regularly for a couple of months, and we put together a program. I wanted it to be set up like a series of stepping stones, so when the kids left one class, they would be ready for the next one. I wanted the kids to really blossom.
It seems that teaching runs in the family… tell us about your husband, Sean. How did you two meet?
Okay, San Miguel High School needed a volunteer dance instructor and cheerleader coach. They had just started an outreach program to try to get their girls more active in after school activities, and I applied. The school didn’t have a big budget, but we managed somehow to get some uniforms together and have a really nice experience for the girls. Sean was a teacher there and led a lot of the after school activities, as well. He would put on the dances and organize the games, and he would help with plays and those sorts of things. I would have to go into his classroom quite a bit to coordinate with him on all of the after school activities.
Was it love at first sight?
Actually, the first time I met him, I didn’t like him. He was very rude to me. We were talking about colleges and, at the time, I was thinking about transferring to UC Davis and he said, “Why would you want to go there, that’s a horrible school,” and he kind of got on my case about it. I remember walking out of the room thinking, I really do not like him at all. He is not a nice person. I don’t care how much the students love him; he is not a nice person. I just said to myself, “Whatever!”
Okay, take us from “I do not like him at all” to “I do” if you would…
Well, some time passed and we started doing more and more after school activities together. For example, I chaperoned a dance that he had organized. So we kind of got to know each other,
and it turned out that he wasn’t such a bad guy after all. We became close as friends, and I really started to like him. The test was when I invited him to come see me perform in the Nutcracker. He said “Ok” and I said, “Really?” and he said,“Sure.” Anyway, after the show, I asked him what he thought and he said, “You know I had never been to a ballet before, but you know, I really liked it,” and he told me that I was a really good dancer. And, I thought to myself, ‘Wow. This is kind of nice.’
And he said, “Yeah, that would be nice.” So I gave it to him, and from then on we were pretty much inseparable. We’ve been together for nine years now. October will be our five year anniversary.
What does the future hold for you?
I want to teach. I’m going to continue to teach. I’m still going to school and probably always will. I love taking classes at Cuesta. I am going to stay in the area; I mean, I don’t think I could ever leave. I won’t. And, if Sean and I decided to start a family, this is definitely where we would want to raise our kids. I don’t think there is a better place, to be honest. Being married, teaching, and dancing has been so wonderful and has opened up so many doors that I don’t feel like I need to go a different route. I get to do what I love, and I get paid for it, which is a bonus. I feel very fortunate. I have always sort of questioned myself, and there have been times in my life where I think to myself, what am I going to do? Which direction should I go? But, it always seems to naturally work itself out. And, somehow I get reminded that what I am doing is all that I need to do. I don’t need anything else.
Now we’re getting somewhere. So, afterward we went out together for dinner. At the end of the night we’re sitting in the car, and I could tell that he was really shy. But we had such a great time, and I’m thinking to myself, ‘I know he wants my phone number,’ and was wondering why he wasn’t asking for it. So I finally turned to him and said, “Do you want my phone number?”
Harmony, thank you very much for visiting with us today. We are inspired by your passion for teaching.
Oh, that’s very sweet. Thank you so much.
SLO LIFE
Know someone we should meet? Go to slolifemagazine.com to introduce us.
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...somehow I get reminded that what
I am doing is all that I need to do. I don’t need anything else.”
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When our daughter, Belle, was four or five years old, she was playing with a dollhouse, and I noticed that she was putting a bunch of little squares neatly across the roof. I asked her what they were, and she said, ‘solar panels’,” laughs Meka Rudd. It turns out that a focus on conservation comes naturally to the Rudd children, as their father, Jeff, is both an avid surfer and committed environmentalist, who also manages the San Luis Obispo and Ventura offices for REC Solar.
Meka, who split time growing up between Northern California and Cape Cod, Massachusetts, remembers her family culture being one of conservation and respect for nature. “It’s something we really try to instill in our kids. I mean, it can be as simple as hanging out our clothes on the clothesline, or figuring out creative ways to reuse things. We actually have a lot of fun with it.”
A walk around the garden with Jeff is accompanied by a steady flow of facts and figures pertaining to conservation, and the discussion shifts easily between last season’s fruit production to the practical application of theories about tree shade and water savings. Between bites of a freshly picked fig Jeff reflects, “We really wanted to make our home centered around the backyard. Rather than having to take the kids to the park or a trail to explore nature, we can do it right here.”
The Rudd’s commitment to conservation has yielded some impressive results. Because of their rooftop solar system, they pay virtually no electric bill and expect that they may soon be able to sell some of their excess power back to the utility company. Jeff also engineered and built a simple water run-off collection system, which fills a 1,100 gallon tank purchased from Farm Supply several years ago. Jeff explains, “It’s not the ideal system since we have a composite roof; you really should have a metal roof to use the water for all purposes, but we are able save a lot by using our homemade collection system to water our lawn.” According to Jeff, the whole system cost less than $1,000, it uses no pumps, and the tank fills to capacity after “two good rains.”
Never quite satisfied, Jeff recently designed and built a solar-thermal system that allows him to take a warm shower after his surf sessions. “There was a bunch of this leftover PVC pipe from an old marketing display at work and I had been thinking about how to build one of these, so now we have one less traditionally heated hot shower, which yields a lot of savings. And, after I’m done, I use all the of the runoff water that is captured in the removable base of the shower to water the garden,” he explains.
Clearly, these are the impressive results of innovative projects that Jeff insists can be easily done at any home. Charmingly, we are reminded about his humble beginnings when Meka answers the question about where his resourceful garden skills were developed. “Honestly,” she recalls, “I bought him this lime tree for his first Father’s Day when we were still living in Shell Beach. The yard we had was so small, but we did manage to find a little spot to plant it. I thought it would be fun for him to be able to walk outside and grab a lime for his beer in the evening.”
A reader submitted a question to us that piqued our curiosity. He asked, “How do you go about buying a small business?” SLO LIFE Magazine was able to follow up by posing the question to a variety of small business owners, who have gone through the process and they indicated that now is a great time to “buy a job.” By that they mean, buy a small business. The reasons seem logical: the job market continues to be tight and financing is scarce, so small business owners have become increasingly creative with their succession plans. If you find yourself currently unemployed or “underemployed,” now might be the time to consider buying a small business. Although this is not intended to be an exhaustive list, below is a brief overview of what you might expect with a business purchase:
First, before you do anything else, identify the type of business you would like to own. Think about your strengths. Are you good at selling? Does managing people come easily to you? Be very honest with yourself. You wouldn’t want to buy a restaurant, for example, if you are not passionate about food and service.
Next, find a business that is for sale. Most of these resources can now be found online [if you go to this article on our website you will find links to all of the major business-for-sale websites]. Nearly all of the listings will identify the industry of the business (e.g., restaurant or roofer), the county in which it is located, its last full year of revenues, cash flow, and asking price.
Contact the listings which you would like to learn more about. This is now typically done with a request form through the website or by email. You can then expect to receive a reply from the business owner, or the business broker handling the sale. This person is similar to a real estate agent and customarily receives a 10% commission upon closing from the seller.
After the owner spends some time prequalifying you as a buyer, they will open up their books to you. Expect to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) requiring you to keep everything you learn confidential. The seller will not want his or her competitors or customers knowing about the sale until it goes through.
Once a good preliminary understanding of the business has been achieved via phone and email, a visit will be scheduled to the business itself, typically afterhours, on a weekend, or an off day. Usually, during this same visit, an extensive interview will take place between buyer and seller. There may be multiple visits to ensure that a good understanding has been achieved and the chemistry is favorable between buyer and seller. If it looks like a deal can be made, the buyer will have an opportunity to review the last three-to-five years of financial statements and tax returns. This is typically done with the help of an accountant or adviser who can read these documents.
Now, it’s time to make an offer. And, this is where things get really interesting. Unlike real estate, there are no set rules and creativity typically rules the day. For example, unless you are using an SBA loan, you do not necessarily need a 20% down payment and an 80% bank loan to finance the purchase. In fact, many small business deals end up with a significant seller “carry-back” (payments made to the seller over time). The key is finding something that works for both parties.
If the offer is accepted, an escrow account is opened with a title company that can handle small business transactions. This usually marks the due diligence period where the buyer has the opportunity to fully investigate all of the claims made by the seller (for example, checking sales receipts against bank deposits).
Once all of the conditions of the sales agreement are met and the title company verifies clear ownership, the business changes hands. Congratulations - you now own your own business!
SLO LIFE
Discretionary cash flow, or EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) times a multiple most often determines the asking price. The quality of the business, including its level of profitability, typically determine the size of the multiple. A highly profitable business with an impeccable reputation will gain a higher multiple than will a marginally profitable business with a poor reputation. Although valuing a small business is far beyond the scope of this article, here is one example:
Sales = $300,000 EBITDA = $85,000 Multiple = 3 Price = $255,000 ($85,000 x 3)
As you can see, the multiple is critical in this calculation and this number varies by industry, as well. Much like real estate, multiples in business transactions are often determined by comparable sales. But, unlike real estate, there are not nearly as many sales to study, so this is truly an inexact science. Most often the asking price is used as a point to begin negotiations. Where the price ultimately falls is determined by what makes sense for both the seller and the buyer.
Note - Other factors that may be valued differently or separately from this method are hard assets (such as equipment) and real estate.
Have a business question? Go to slolifemagazine.com to get an answer.
With three kids, it’s hard to find time to fit in a workout. REVSLO makes it fun to work up a sweat in a limited time.The trainers at REV create an environment that allows me to push myself in encouraging, fun, and challenging classes.
-Melissa Jackson, Mom of 3
Many of us equate Vitamin D with strong bones, which is true and a good place to start this conversation, but it doesn’t come close to telling the whole story.
Vitamin D is actually a “steroid vitamin,” which encourages the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. Although there are five known forms of Vitamin D, only two are relevant for nutrition: Vitamins D2 and D3.
During our research for this article, we encountered study after study indicating that Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the risk of developing certain cancers, osteoporosis, various autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases, Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure, chronic muscle pain and even depression.
Just how much Vitamin D do you need anyway? The government recommends 200 to 600 IU (International Units) per day, which is the minimum amount you need to prevent rickets, a rare disease caused by Vitamin D deficiency. Most researchers and health practitioners in this area now recommend much more, on the order of somewhere between 1,000 IU and 2,000 IU daily.
Fatty fish [remember them from our talk about Omega 3’s last time?] such as Salmon (360 IU), Mackerel (345 IU), Sardines (250 IU), and Tuna (325 IU).
Eggs (20 IU)
Beef liver (15 IU)
Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil (1360 IU)
Mushrooms (100 – 500 IU with some wild varieties providing as much as 46,000 IU!)
You may be asking, “Hey, how come milk is not on this list?” We wondered the same thing and had always assumed that Vitamin D was present in dairy products, which is often true but they are added, or “fortified,” after the fact with Vitamin D2. Many processed flours and breads are also fortified in this same way.
We think that D3 is the most interesting of the Vitamin D family because you can actually get it just by going outside! That’s right, sunlight triggers a photosynthetic process in our skin, which creates Vitamin D3.
So, what’s the problem? There’s loads of sunshine and great weather on the Cental Coast, and most of us spend a good deal of time outside. Well, as we have become wise to the dangers of overexposure to the sun, we have inadvertently but dramatically decreased our Vitamin D3 consumption. Some studies have found that as much as 97% of our Vitamin D3 intake from the sun has been blocked by our use of sunscreens [sometimes it feels like you just can’t win, doesn’t it?]. Also, aging skin produces less Vitamin D3. In fact, the average 70-year-old produces 75% less than a 20-year-old does. Skin color makes a difference too, as people with dark skin produce less Vitamin D than those with light skin.
If you’re looking for a personal analysis of your Vitamin D levels, you can go and get yourself tested, but we encourage you to draw your own conclusions because, again, many of the experts today claim that the “normal” levels are found to be overly focused on minimum levels which is great for preventing rickets, but may miss the bigger picture when it comes to achieving optimal health.
SLO LIFE
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…one study found that vitamin D supplementation could reduce the risk of getting type 1 diabetes by 80 percent. In the Nurses’ Health Study (a study of more than 130,000 nurses over 3 decades), vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of multiple sclerosis by 40 percent.
After 50 years and more than 40,000 deliveries, Sierra Vista knows babies. And moms and dads.
Welcome your baby in our newly refurbished Birth Center.
Private Rooms • Labor Tub •
Flat Screen TVs • Free Wireless Internet •
And should you need it: the only Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between Santa Barbara and Salinas.
Tours offered every week. Call today for information. (800) 483-6387
1010 Murray Avenue, San Luis Obispo
SierraVistaRegional.com twitter.com/SierraVistaRMC
We’re here to celebrate with you! And, we’ll pick up the tab, so you can use your money to buy a really fancy gift instead.
What better way to capture your moment than in print? Put it on your refrigerator, stick it in your scrapbook, or bury it in your time capsule. It’s yours... to keep.
Go to slolifemagazine.com and click “Post Your Announcement” (it’s the big green button). Just fill out the form, give a brief description of your celebration, and upload your photo. A little time, a lot of smiles!
Okay, it’s not like riding-a-rollercoaster-fun, but it’s fun, really fun. Really. Fun.
Whether marking a birthday, celebrating an anniversary, announcing an engagement, popping The Question, or giving a special thank you. Milestones & Memories is the place to share your good news.
Have an announcement to make? Go to slolifemagazine.com and click on “Post Your Announcement” to submit yours today.
Anyone who has traveled Avila Beach Drive has probably noticed a lot of folks stopping at the Avila Valley Barn. There’s good reason for that. The freshly harvested fare sold here makes it one of the best fruit and vegetable stands on the Central Coast. But, you’ll find so much more here than great produce.
It’s part petting zoo, part ice cream parlor, candy shop, and general store - it’s a place where you can find all things sweet that come from this valley. “We use our own olallieberries, our own apricots and peaches, everything goes into our jams,” explains owner Debbie Smith. “Our apples and our apple butters, our ice cream is used with a lot of our fresh ingredients, and now we’re starting deli sandwiches.”
And while you are welcome to just make a quick stop to pick up a few things on the way home, the idea behind the Barn is to bring you as close to the roots of the fruits as possible. That’s why so many people choose to pick their own. “In the spring we have berry picking, come summer we have peach picking. We’re now picking apples. We have pumpkin picking,” says Smith. “They can feed the goats and they can take the hayrides, and what you pick is what you pay for.”
The Barn has 90 acres to harvest from, so even if you choose to buy what’s already been picked for you, rest assured you are still getting the fruits of Central Coast labors. “Because we’re local, I think we need to buy local!” Smith exclaims with excitement.
It’s a place to be proud of, where kids can be kids and create memories that will last even longer than their fascination with the latest video game. And Smith has gotten to know a lot of kids over the years. “They came 15 years, 20 years ago for hayrides, and now they’re bringing their own kids back. We really see a resurgence of families and people wanting to be in touch with the farm,” she observes.
It’s Americana. Quite frankly, it’s a place you can just sit and relax for a while and it will make your heart smile.
The Barn opens in March and closes at Christmas. But in the months in-between, you can find plenty of proof here there’s no place like home.
Jeanette Trompeter, KSBY News anchor and reporter, hosts the “No Place Like Home” series every Thursday evening at 6pm.
I have been enamored with pumpkins since I was a young child, and some of my most beloved memories are of walking through the pumpkin patch with my family. When I had children of my own, I discovered a new sense of joy watching my little ones, Davey, Lucy and Joaquin, during harvest time, toddling through the pumpkins.
The year we moved to our new home, my oldest son, Davey, brought home a pumpkin plant from kindergarten. It was an incredibly windy spring, and the two tender sprouts peeked precariously over the edge of a small milk carton. As Davey ran proudly home to show me his plant, not one, but two sprouts snapped in the wind. My heart sank, but my young one insisted that we must plant his beloved pumpkin in the ground. My husband, Dave, and I looked at each other knowingly, assuming that his plant would not survive after breaking. Amidst the wreckage of a landscaping remodel, we staked out a plot for Davey’s pumpkin patch. Alongside his kindergarten plant, we planted heirloom pumpkin seeds in mounds. As these seeds sprouted, they were the only shreds of green in our sea of dirt. Amazingly, Davey’s pumpkin plant not only survived, but thrived, fruiting months later with beautiful, dark-orange pumpkins.
After seeding and roasting, I pureed and stored our pumpkins in mason jars in the freezer. I called my friend and fellow pumpkin gardener, Laura McCarley, to share ideas on recipes using pumpkin puree. Laura, who makes everything taste delicious, shared a recipe with me that inspired this soup.
PumPkin and Red LentiL SouP
1/2 cup butter or extra virgin olive oil
3 large onions, chopped
1 1/2 cups red or pink lentils, dried 10 cups chicken stock
3 1/2 cups roasted pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon marjoram, dried 1 teaspoon thyme, dried 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• This recipe also works with butternut squash • oPtionaL additionS
1 cup heavy cream (added at the end) a drizzle of toasted pumpkin seed oil
Roasted pumpkin seeds a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream
Fresh thyme sprigs or leaves
1. To roast pumpkin cut lengthwise and remove seeds, reserving them for later use. Rub squash with olive oil, both inside and out, and place facedown on a baking sheet. Roast in oven at 350 degrees for about an hour, until soft when pierced with a knife. Scoop flesh from cooled squash and puree in blender or food processor, adding small amounts of water if needed. Use, can or freeze.
2. To prepare soup, saute onions in butter or olive oil until soft. Add the remaining ingredients and simmer for about 40-45 minutes, or until lentils are soft. Because pink and red lentils cook quicker than other varieties, take care to watch the soup near the end. Blend soup to desired consistency. I enjoy the texture best when half of the soup is blended, leaving the other half chunky. Then mix both soups back together and keep warm on the stove. After soup is gently warmed through, top with any desired garnish and serve hot, with crusty bread, for a beautiful and comforting harvest feast.
We here at SLO LIFE Magazine have always heard that the real estate market in San Luis Obispo is unique, and we were curious to know exactly how it is different. So we decided to ask local realtors. In our many conversations, we were able to come up with a bit of a consensus, and we wanted to share this admittedly unscientific study with you…
The great weather and amazing landscape make this a desirable place to live. National magazines continue to put us at the top of various “Best Places to Live” lists, so the word is out [check out a new book called Thrive… Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way, published by NationalGeographic]. And, simple economics dictate that when something is wanted, or “in demand,” and the supply is constant, prices go up.
No matter what side of this issue you are on, it is true that there are not a lot of new housing starts in SLO. On the plus side, this has meant maintaining open lands and preserving natural beauty. On the minus side, it means less affordable housing and less availability. There are no easy answers to this one, and there are persuasive arguments on both sides.
Believe it or not, SLO still offers better property prices than many areas of the Bay Area or Southern California. It is still possible to sell a home in one of these urban areas and come to SLO where money goes further (although the difference in values continues to narrow). This makes for a smart financial move, especially for those who have been toiling away for the last 30-years paying off a mortgage in high-cost urban area.
Certainly, Cal Poly ads so much to life here in San Luis Obispo, but its 20,000 students also naturally affect the local housing market. First, there is a high percentage of Single Family Dwellings here rented to college students. Second, there has always been a trend of parents of students buying “starter” homes to rent to their kids and their friends.
The number of people living in SLO has remained remarkably stable and has even shrunk a bit in recent years. A college town like ours always has a fair amount of turnover each year, and since we are without a long list of big employers, people have to be creative in making a living. Moving here and staying here can be a challenge; therefore, the population has remained relatively constant.
Home Price $100,000 - $500,000 2009 2010 +/27 37 37.04% $430,204 $443,266 3.04% $410,689 $426,431 3.83% 95.46% 96.2% 0.74% 95 71 -25.26%
Home Price
$500,001 - $1,000,000 2009 2010 +/52 67 28.85%
$679,304 $681,498 0.33% $651,045 $645,713 -0.82% 95.84% 94.75% -1.09% 81 84 3.7%
Home Price
$1,000,001 - $2,500,000 2009 2010 +/3 6 100% $1,680,667 $1,960,033 16.62% $1,558,333 $1,737,333 11.49% 92.72% 88.64% -4.08% 212 120 -43.4%
SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of Realtors
The single most important thing to consider when purchasing a home is LIFESTYLE. It can be so easy to become distracted by all of the factors that go along with choosing a home that you can lose sight of the bigger picture. If you focus instead on what sort of lifestyle you are looking for – not only right now, but into the future – then all of the other answers for everything from financing to location will come naturally. And, this is not just a suggestion for the first-time homebuyer, but at all stages of life you will want to carefully consider what you are looking for in your lifestyle. Are you close to retirement? Expecting a family? Growing your family? These are just a few questions to get you started, but you will find that when you answer the question of lifestyle first, you will be quite successful in all of the other things that go along with buying a home. Fortunately, San Luis Obispo offers a large diversity of options sure to fit your lifestyle, both for today and tomorrow.
Gavin Payne The Real Estate Group of San Luis Obispo
You will save a lot of money and trouble down the road if you make sure that the house is in great shape before you buy it. The only way you can do that is by hiring an experienced, knowledgeable home inspector, who will thoroughly examine the structure and provide you with a detailed written analysis upon completion. This report will itemize any problem areas of the house so you will know what you are getting into. And, don’t fall into the trap of hiring the cheapest home inspector, as there are no certification or licensing requirements to become a home inspector. So, stick with someone who belongs to one of the major national associations (CREIA and/or ASHI); this will ensure that they have at least met all of the necessary on-going training requirements. When it comes time to make what will likely be your biggest investment, be sure to go into it with full knowledge of any problems that may exist.
There is a lot to consider when buying a house. From a lender’s perspective, I can offer that there is more to the issue of cost than just the price. There is the question of how much down payment is required to get in. Plus, there is the cost of the financing and what the payments will be over the long run. People are often amazed when they see what that adds up to. Then there is the seldom asked question about the operating and maintenance costs of the home. What are the utility costs and are there ways to make the home more energy and water efficient? Are there high cost maintenance items or a homeowner’s association that will affect long term affordability? My experience has been that many people get hung up on the price issue in negotiations for a home. While important, the bigger picture needs to be remembered including the taxes, insurance costs, maintenance, utilities, homeowner’s association fees, and whatever other costs may be applicable to a particular property.
Kevin Hauber The Mortgage House
Have a real estate question? Go to slolifemagazine.com to get an answer.
“What’s the most important thing to consider when buying a home?”Butch Vlako Cornerstone Home Inspection
September 4
Event Brews & Bites
Time 12:00pm - 6:00pm
Location Mission Plaza Contact slobrewsandbites.com
Description The San Luis Brewers Guild showcase their craft beers together with foods from local restaurants. Proceeds go to Woods Humane Society and Earth Day Alliance.
September 4, 11
Event Cal Poly Football Time 6:00pm
Location Alex G. Spanos Stadium Contact www.gopoly.com
September 3, 10, 17, 24
Event Endless Summer Time 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location Edna Valley Vineyard Contact ednavalleyvineyard.com Description Live music, wine and appetizers.
Event Hit & Giggle Golf Tournament Time 10:30am
Location Avila Beach Golf Resort Contact womenforcommunity.org Description Great Food, Fun and Frolic at every hole. The day will culminate with a cocktail reception and great prizes.
September 15
Event Taste of San Luis Time 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location Mission Plaza Contact www.downtownslo.com Event Dance the night away as you eat, drink, mingle with friends and enjoy a beautiful evening. Proceeds support beautification and promotions programs in Downtown SLO.
September 16
Event Women’s Legacy Fund Luncheon Time 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Location Embassy Suites, SLO Contact www.sloccf.org
Description Help build a permanent endowment to support programs and projects of local organizations that address the needs of women and girls.
September 19
Event Book and Author Festival Time 8:30am-4:00pm
Location SLO Library & Mission Plaza Contact slolibraryfoundation.org Description Costumed breakfast served at the Library followed by author presentations in the plaza.
September 19 - 20
Event Pallet to Palate
Location Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa Contact www.pallettopalate.com
Description Celebrate the importance of fresh, local food. Proceeds benefit The Food Bank Coalition of SLO County.
September 24
Event Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks Time 8:00pm
Location Spanos Theater Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Dan Hicks, long considered one of pop music’s truly original figures and America’s finest songwriters.
September 25
Event Bravo SLO! Time 10:00am
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org Preview the upcoming arts season at BravoSLO! 2010, a showcase for more than 20 organizations that perform at the PAC throughout the year.
September 26
Event Bill Cosby Time 3:00pm & 7:00pm
Location Christopher Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description America’s most popular comedians of all time, returns for two “face-hurtingly” funny shows.
September 26
Event Hunger Walk Time 2:00pm Location St. Stephen’s Church Contact www.slofoodbank.org
Description Food Bank Coalitiion and Central Coast Clergy & Laity for Justice team up in their 2010 Hunger Walk.
September 29
Event Benise Time 7:30pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description An evening of passion, music, and dance.
September 27 - October 3
Event Plein Air Festival Time All Day
Location Mission Plaza & Museum or Art Contact www.sloartcenter.org
Description Concert Under the Star, Kids Paint Out, Movie Night, Plein Air Poetry, Collectors Party, and more!
September 30 – October 3
Event Savor The Central Coast Location Throughout the County Contact savorcentralcoast.com
Description Celebrate the beauty and bounty of this unspoiled and largely unexplored part of the Golden State in an incredible four-day experience.
October 3
Event Off The Hook Time 2:00pm
Location Unity, San Luis Obispo Contact poeticjusticeproject.org
Description Explore redemption in prison by following the braided stories of four groups of inmates.
October 6
Event Steve Martin Time 7:30pm - 11:00pm Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Steve Martin pushes his creative envelope with his Grammy-winning, chart-topping bluegrass album.
October 7
Event Paula Poundstone Time 8:00pm
Location Spanos Theater Contact www.pacslo.org
Description An evening of laughout-loud standup. A benefit for the SLO Hep C Project.
October 8 - 31
Event Leading Ladies Location SLO Little Theatre Conact www.slolittletheatre.org
Description Some Like it Hot meets Twelfth Night in this hilarious farce!
October 8
Event Eperanza Spalding Time 8:00pm
Location Spanos Theater Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Classically trained Esperanza Spalding combines elements of jazz, folk, and world music into the enduring foundations of classical music.
October 8
Event Bishop’s Peak Carnival Time 5:00:pm - 8:00pm
Location Bishops Peak Elementary Contact www.bishops-peak.com
Description Support the school and enjoy food, games and fun for the whole family. Don’t forget to stop by the multi-purpose room for the amazing auction!
October 9
Event Ellis Marsalis Time 8:00pm
Location Spanos Theater Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Ellis Marsalis, modern-jazz innovator in New Orleans and renowned teacher.
October 10
Event Diane Schuur & SLO Symphony Time 3:00pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Diane Schuur, winner of two Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocalist and a repeat performer at the White House.
October 12
Event Drumline Live
Time 7:30pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Drumline Live offers a night filled with riveting rhythms and bold beats.
October 15
Event Hal Holbrook
Time 8:00pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description The one-man Emmy & Tony Award-winning show is the celebrated Mark Twain Tonight!
October 20
Event Taj Mahal Time 7:30pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Grammy Awardwinning blues and roots legend Taj Mahal joins rising star Malian artist Vieux Farka Touré.
October 21
Event Great Pumpkin Contest
Time 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Location Farm Supply, SLO Contact www.slofarmbureau.org
Description Come join us for the Central Coasts 5th Annual Pumkin Contest!
October 22
Event Sea Fare
Time 5:30pm - 9:00pm
Location Avila Beach Golf Resort Contact www.sealifecenter.org
Description Join us for seafood, wine, amazing auction items and a whole lot of fun while supporting the Sea Life Center’s marine education programs and promoting ocean awareness.
October 22
Event Wild & Scenic Film Festival Time 7:30pm
Location Spanos Theater Contact www.pacslo.org
Description The largest environmental film festival in the U.S. returns to SLO, featuring environmental and outdoor adventure films in a spirit of inspiration, education, and entertainment.
October 23
Event Jay Johnson
Time 8:00pm
Location Spanos Theater Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Jay Johnson offers an evening of heart-warming hilarity for the whole family with his classic ventriloquist routines.
October 28
Event David Sedaris Time 8:00pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Come experience the great skill with which master of satire David Sedaris slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness.
October 23, 30
Event Cal Poly Football Time 6:00pm
Location Alex G. Spanos Stadium Contact www.gopoly.com
November 4
Event Imago Theatre Time 7:30pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description In the comical ZooZoo, IMAGO will mesmerize the audience with acrobatic and sly movement while tantalizing the senses, the intellect, and the passions.
November 5
Event Winemaker Dinner
Location Et Voila
Contact claibornechurchill.com
Description Join Claiborne & Churchill for a sumptuous winemaker dinner prepared by Chef de Cuisine José Dahan.
November 5
Event Harvest Dinner Time 6:00pm - 10:00pm
Location Edna Valley Vineyards Contact ednavalleyvineyard.com
Description A feast with the Wine Maker.
November 5, 6, 7
Event SLO Vintners Harvest Celebration Location SLO Wineries and Avila Beach Contact www.slowine.com Description Winemaker Dinners & Mixers, Wine Seminar & Grand Tasting with Auction, and Open Houses at wineries.
November 7
Event Click Clack Moo Time 3:00pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description The hilariously “mooving” new musical, teaches the young ones all about compromise and caring.
November 5 - 14
Event Poetry Festival Time 7:00pm
Location San Luis Obispo Contact languageofthesoul.org Description Corners of the Mouth in conjunction with Cal Poly University WriterSpeak are pleased to announce the 27th Annual San Luis Obispo Poetry Festival.
November 10
Event The 5 Browns Time 7:30pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org Description Julliard-trained superstars will dazzle audiences with performances of classical selections.
November 13
Event Cal Poly Football Time 6:00pm
Location Alex G. Spanos Stadium Contact www.gopoly.com
November 19 – December 19
Event Nuncrackers
Location SLO Little Theatre Contact www.slolittletheatre.org
Description This fun-for-thewhole-family holiday musical is the perfect way to insure your holiday season is merry and bright!
November 26
Event Mariachi Los Comperos Time 8:00pm
Location Cohan Center Contact www.pacslo.org
Description Celebrate their 50th anniversary with Nati Cano and his Los Camperos through popular song and rich cultural stories.
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