SLO LIFE Magazine Jun/Jul 2023

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Show Your Colors.

The San Luis Obispo Collection is Proud to Sponsor Downtown SLO’s Pride Celebration

Last month, I was played. Scammed. Bamboozled. And it was an inside job: My wife, Sheryl, and our son, Harrison, teamed up on the con.

Our family has always had a dog. But after our Anatolian Shepherd, Cannoli, passed away a few years back—the B.D.E., as we called him for “Best Dog Ever”—we were heartbroken. There had been no serious talk of adopting another until recently, not coincidentally, right around the time our other son, Donovan, enlisted in the Navy. Determined to remedy a partially empty nest by expanding the family, Sheryl and Harrison forged their partnership. It seemed to me that every time I would enter the room, they were deep in conversation comparing and contrasting various breeds. “Uh—no way,” I’d interject. “No more dogs. We already had the B.D.E. How’re gonna top that?”

Then, a day or two later, I noticed Harrison looking at a puppy on his phone. When I asked about it, he said, “What? Mom sent it to me. She wants to go see it.”

This time, I was emphatic with Sheryl. “No dog. I already let you adopt three cats, and I don’t even like cats.”

“But look at him,” she pointed at her computer, “he’s sooo cute.”

“No, no way, not a chance,” I stammered. “Besides, you can’t pick a dog based on his picture.”

Long ago, I don’t remember who it was who shared this wisdom, but I remember him saying, “You don’t choose the dog, the dog chooses you.” He then explained how he would go to the animal shelter and sit back and wait for his dog to approach him, rather than the other way around. Since that time, that’s always how we’ve found our dog. They choose us. “Remember how banged up and sick Cannoli was when we met him?” I reminded her. “Then, he just leaned into you, like he was giving you a hug? That’s how it works. Cannoli chose us.”

“So, then,” she smiled, “do you want to go to the pound with us?”

“Not only no,” I said, “but absolutely not.” I ran through the long list—again—of all the reasons why adopting a dog was a terrible idea. All the time. All the money. Then, she started spamming me with emails. I would receive messages with a link to a local animal shelter. Reluctantly, I’d click on them, look at the dog, then tap out the same message: “You don’t choose the dog, the dog chooses you.”

The reply would come back, “Well, then, let’s go see who chooses you.”

No. Absolutely not.

But mother and son were relentless, and now embracing an air of inevitability about the whole thing, which really started to annoy me. The email frequency increased, as the photo line-ups at dog pounds as far south as Los Angeles were being scoured. Again and again, I’d reply with a message that left no room for interpretation: “Nope” and “No way, Jose” were popular choices.

One day, the subject line read, “Knox.” There was no message, only a link. I clicked on it and found a Rottweiler pup with his head half-cocked and ears perked, as if trying to understand something. I leaned in. There was something about this dog, almost like he was trying to speak to me. I don’t know why, but throughout the afternoon, I kept clicking the link, kept locking eyes with this curious, young guy, Knox. Still, I had no interest in expanding our family, but I found an opportunity to finally put the conversation to rest. I agreed to accompany them on a visit to the pound the next morning on the condition that they drop the subject afterward. “You can get a goldfish instead,” I said.

We arrived a few minutes after visiting hours opened and Sheryl inquired about Knox. “Oh, he’s such a sweet soul,” the attendant said. “But he’s sick. I’ll bring him out in a separate pen after you visit the other dogs.” The pound was full. Every type of dog imaginable, and just about every breed represented. But it felt like we were on a reality dating show—none of them were “that in to us.”

Knox limped in, wheezing and coughing, both eyes drooping and bloodshot. He reminded me of a punch-drunk boxer struggling to stay on his feet through the final round. Then, as if leaning into the ropes to hold himself upright, he did the same with me, resting his full body weight against my shin. Kneeling down, and massaging the sides of his face, I said, “Knox chose us.”

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Live the SLO Life!

Tom Franciskovich tom@slolifemagazine.com

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Sheryl Franciskovich

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Charlotte Alexander

Dad Fredman

Paden Hughes

Zara Khan

Jaime Lewis

Paula McCambridge

Brant Myers

Joe Payne

Brian Schwartz

Tim Townley

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Jaeden Barlett

Emily DesJardins

David Lalush

Todd Meaney

Mark Nakamura

Nick Pavlakis

Mariah Vandenberg

Melissa White

Lily Wolfe

CONTRIBUTIONS

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4251 S. HIGUERA STREET, SUITE 800, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA

ON THE COVER WITH TERRANCE HARRIS

behind the scenes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY DESJARDINS

This guy is busy. But Terrance makes time for the important things in life and his family is at the heart of it all. He’s a father of three girls; eleven-year-old twins, Jolee and Mikayla, and a five-year-old daughter, Alicia. Along with his wife, LeBren, they have the sweetest family.

Cal Poly is a big part of Terrance’s life. It’s where his parents went to school, where he went to school, where he met his wife, and where he works. So, we decided to start our photo session at his office and on the track at the college. And, since he went to Mission Prep for high school and now coaches their basketball team, we also took photos at the Mission Prep gym. I really enjoyed my time with his family.

TAKE US WITH YOU

MEXICO

BAJA, MEXICO

JIM GERPHEIDE

TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA

YVONNE and PETER JURGENS

CURACAO

BEVERLY AHO with SANDEE COMBS

KAREN PETERSEN

MARVIN, JOE, and JACOB DISHER

INA HUNT

HUALIEN, TAIWAN

LAGUNA CEJAR, ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE

SABRINA and SOPHIA GARCÍA

ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER, GERMANY

GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA

SARAH SINDERMAN and ERIC HOLMEN

JENNY and STEVE MATHIS

TREKKING THE GLOBE

COSTA RICA

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

PUERTO AVENTURAS, YUCATÁN, MEXICO

KYLEMORE ABBEY, IRELAND

AMY STEINER, KAREN PETERSEN, and JEN FLACHMAN

CAROL MEES, DIANE CLAUSEN, MARYJO DESIO, BARBRO BOND, CHERIE SEIVER, ANN APPEL, LORRAINE KRAKER, and DEBBIE VALENTINE

THE HARING FAMILY

TAMARINDO, COSTA RICA

DAN LEVI, KAREN VAN SPANKEREN, JON VAN SPANKEREN, MARY SQUELLATI, and LINDEN NELSON

LIZ LACOCO

BARBARA MCGOVERN

TOOWOOMBA, AUSTRALIA

KATE FITCH and MICHELE CANTRELL

DANIEL, KATHERINE, DAVID, CLAIRE, and LINDSEY NOLAND

ADVENTURE AWAITS

MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN, CA

DUBROVNIK, CROATIA

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

CATALINA ISLAND

MCMILLAN and FRANKLIN KIDS

ISLA MUJERES, CANCÚN

CYNTHIA SAN MARTÍN and PACHY DOVER

TABGHA, ISRAEL

GREGG and SANDY CATO, STEVE and LISA HOYT, KIP DETTMER and CARRIE LANE

DONOVAN, HARRISON, and GENEVA

BRAD and EILEEN HILL

JOSÉ DAHAN

1. CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER is an awardwinning writer and editor with more than twenty years experience in nonprofit organizations, higher education, and media.

2. Portrait photographer JAEDEN BARLETT loves the beach, golfing, and going on adventures with friends. Follow her on instagram @jaedenb.photography.

3. EMILY DESJARDINS is an editorial photographer based out of her home town in San Luis Obispo County. Contact her at behance.net/emily_desjardins emilydesjardinsphotography@gmail.com.

4. DAN FREDMAN is a SLO native immersed in the wine realm. He prefers LPs to streaming, Mac to PC, Fender over Gibson, and has nothing against screwcaps.

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

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

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

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

9. TODD MEANEY is a landscape, product, and lifestyle photographer living the SLO life. You can follow him @toddmeaney.photography.

10. PAULA MCCAMBRIDGE is an awardwinning writer and longtime editor who has told stories of California’s Central Coast for fourteen years.

11. BRANT MYERS is a the founder at slobiiig.com, a hospitality consulting firm, and Toddler Timber, where he makes wooden children’s toys.

12. MARK NAKAMURA is a wedding, event, family, architectural, commercial, and landscape photographer. Find him on Instagram: @nakamuraphoto for landscape photography and @marknakamuraphoto for everything else.

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

14. BRIAN SCHWARTZ is the Director of the Central Coast Writers’ Conference and a publishing consultant. You can contact him at brian@selfpublish.org.

15. MARIAH VANDENBERG has a background in neuroscience and is an active photographer, artist, musician, and outdoor enthusiast.

16. LILY WOLFE creates dynamic portraits and graphic compositions. Follow @ lilywolfephotography on Instagram to see what she’s working on.

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LOCAL

april 11

Friends of the Earth, an advocacy group based in Berkeley and Washington D.C. working to “protect people and the planet over corporate profits,” files a lawsuit in San Francisco Superior Court to stop PG&E from continuing to operate Diablo Canyon Power Plant after 2025. The group is asking the court to order the utility to abide by a 2016 contract between the Friends and PG&E that the facility would close by 2025, an agreement reached in exchange for the group dropping a lawsuit over environmental and public safety concerns. A Friends of the Earth spokesperson says that ever since the NRC determined PG&E could continue operating the plant past 2025 while the relicensing process is underway, the utility has been acting as if the 2016 contract doesn’t exist.

april 2

The Cal Poly Women’s Polo Team wins the 2023 national title at the United States Polo Association Division II National Intercollegiate Championships on its home field at Central Coast Polo Club. The eight members of the team, under the coaching of USPA-certified arena polo umpire and instructor (and Cal Poly alum) Megan Judge, worked since September to prepare after earning a “wild card” slot leading up to the finals. The team defeats the University of Wisconsin 12-11 in penalty shot overtime, then Oklahoma State 10-7, and finally the University of Connecticut 9-8 to earn its first-ever national championship.

april 7

The Gala Pride and Diversity Center hosts a rally for transgender rights in downtown San Luis Obispo in front of the County Courthouse. Members of the gay and lesbian community and their allies say they are concerned about the growing number of laws across the country that target transgender people, and even though rights supporting the local transgender community seem secure, they say it’s important to remain vigilant. Gala Executive Director Dusty Colyer-Worth says that trans families are under attack from all corners and the rally supports the ability of transgender people to live their lives how they want without interference.

april 18

The SLO City Council takes action to encourage denser and more affordable housing in the city, voting unanimously to approve a Downtown Flexible Density Program, allocate funding for two Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo affordable housing projects, and adopt a resolution to work with People’s Self-Help Housing. The actions support the creation of as many as 500 studio and one-bedroom apartments in downtown SLO, a supportive and transitional housing project for up to thirty families, forty affordable units for unhoused individuals and residents at risk of homelessness, and thirty-four affordable units of one, two and three bedrooms geared toward families.

april 26

Camping at the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area resumes after strong winter storms caused beach erosion, and unusually high flows from Arroyo Grande Creek closed the area in early March. California State Parks will continue to alert the public of future closures of the Arroyo Grande Creek crossing, which is closed to vehicles when the water exceeds twelve inches. They encourage visitors to check tide tables and plan to arrive and exit during low tide, as campers can get stuck on either side of the creek for up to eighteen hours at a time when the crossing is closed.

REVIEW

may 1

Wade Horton voluntarily leaves his position as administrative officer of the County of San Luis Obispo with a severance package and a separation agreement including a non-disparagement clause. He will continue to collect his monthly salary for six months—almost $150,000 in total—along with any vacation and sick leave he has accumulated. His agreement also says that if Horton is sued for his work at the county, the county will defend him in court. Horton took over the position in 2017, after serving as SLO County director of public works and deputy director of the utilities department. He is now the Santa Barbara County assistant county executive officer. SLO County plans to begin a nationwide search for Horton’s replacement.

may 3

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission hosts a public meeting organized by Congressman Salud Carbajal to hear concerns and explain the re-licensing process for the Diablo Canyon Power Plant as PG&E moves forward with plans to keep it running through 2030. Carbajal says the plant represents the opportunity of renewable energy, but also the peril of nuclear materials. PG&E plans to submit a license extension application by the end of 2023, and the NRC is allowing Diablo Canyon’s twin reactors to continue operating while the application is in process. The current licenses for both reactors are set to expire in 2024 and 2025, but the extension is moving forward and representatives of Mothers for Peace say they are concerned that the NRC has less than a year to look over the license renewal.

may 12

The State of California completes improvements to the popular Moonstone Beach Boardwalk in Cambria. Work began on May 10 to demolish an existing bridge and install beams for a new bridge between Leffingwell Landing and the Windrush Inn on Moonstone Drive. The bridge replacement is part of the Moonstone Boardwalk Accessibility Improvements project designed to meet accessible trail standards between the north end of the boardwalk at Leffingwell Creek to the Santa Rosa Creek Day-Use area.

may 15

march 5

SLO County’s annual Special Olympics Spring Regional Games return to Cuesta College after being on hiatus for three years. More than 300 athletes from thirty schools and day programs in SLO and Santa Barbara counties take the field, cheered on by more than 1,000 friends, family members, volunteers, and public safety officers. SLO Police Chief Rick Scott and founding athlete participant Rick Blankenburg carry the Olympic torch to kick off the competitive events including basketball, corn hole, and track and field.

Citizens for Estero Bay Preservation, a group formed in opposition to the building of a lithium battery storage plant on the Embarcadero in Morro Bay, submits an initiative to the city to block construction of the proposed Vistra Energy facility. The group wants the twenty-four-acre site preserved for future visitor services rather than used for industrial purposes. The measure would require the city to follow its General Plan guidelines adopted in 2021 and approved by the California Coastal Commission. Members will need to collect at least 800 signatures to get the measure, which they say will help preserve Morro Bay as a world-renowned tourist destination, on a future ballot.

@CaltransD5

Follow Caltrans Central Coast on Twitter to keep up on Highway 1’s closure from Ragged Point north of San Simeon to just south of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn. Repairs to a series of landslides along the scenic road are taking months of work following the severe storms that slammed into the Central Coast the first three months of this year. Electronic signs are in place to warn drivers about closures.

$5,500

The maximum that an individual, business, or political action committee can now donate to a local candidate for office in a county election. In April, the SLO County Board of Supervisors reversed a 2020 decision that set the local donation limit to $25,000. The amount now matches the current state spending limit and will be enforced by the California Fair Political Practices Commission.

15,000

The number of jars of jam Cal Poly food science students produce each year. What began as a food science lab exercise four decades ago has become a successful, studentled, four-flavor commercial enterprise. Find your favorite—olallieberry, raspberry, strawberry, or blackberry—in local grocery stores and on campus.

SLO Mayor Erica Stewart at an April news conference in Sacramento ahead of a gathering of California city, county, and state officials urging Governor Gavin Newsom and lawmakers to provide $3 billion in annual funding to address homelessness. She says the city needs state funding to continue serving unhoused residents.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Brandon Swanson offered some sound advice following another recent sighting of a mountain lion in the Prefumo Canyon area of SLO. Although the big cats typically pose little threat to humans, he said wild animals and their behaviors are unpredictable. Best to stay alert on trails and do not hike, bike, or jog alone at dawn, dusk, or night.

San Luis Obispo County’s rank on the list of fastest growing counties in California between July 2021 and July 2022, with an increase of 2,764—just shy of one percent of the 282,013 total population. According to the Census Bureau, however, the county lost a bit more than one percent of its population between 2020 and 2021, so the net population over a two-year period remains at a loss.

73,113

The record-high number of applications Cal Poly received from hopeful first-time freshman and transfer students wanting to attend the university in fall 2023. That’s up more than seven percent from last year, which was also a new record. A few more spaces are available for applicants thanks to a budget increase for the CSU system, and that could translate into a record enrollment this fall of more than 22,500 students.

$3,036,298

The minimum amount San Luis Obispo County spent to investigate and convict Paul Flores for the murder of Kristin Smart. It’s not the complete financial picture, as not all of the expenditures were tracked, especially in the first years after the Cal Poly student’s disappearance in 1996. More than half of the money was spent in the last five years of the investigation, before Flores was convicted in March 2023.

Two recent training school graduates who joined the California State Parks SLO Coast District in March to help guard Hearst Castle. The pair of German shepherds, both cross-trained in patrol and explosives detection, answer to commands in German, and will accompany their partners, Officer Benjamin Ellis of Morro Bay and Officer Andrew Bampton of Piedras Blancas, on- and off-duty.

“Face the animal, make noise, and try to look bigger.”

“We need help. We believe every single person deserves housing. The cities alone are not going to be able to do this forever.”

K-9 Jerry & K-9 Zuma

The story of a guy who gave up on love and music, and the girl who inspired him to dream again.

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Black and white photography is a way of seeing the world that is both timeless and contemporary. It can be used to capture the beauty of the natural world, the drama of urban landscapes, or the intimacy of everyday moments. When done well, black and white photography can be both artful and evocative.

- Ansel Adams

SHADES OF GRAY

BY MARK NAKAMURA

Have you ever been on a mountaintop and wondered where to point your camera while looking down at the vista below? This is a conundrum I know well. I enjoy shooting landscape photographs from the tops of mountains and ridges. And, many of my landscape and seascape photographs are panoramic, allowing me to share the whole view with family and friends.

This black and white photograph was taken on TV Tower Road, at the top of Cuesta Grade, turning west (left as you are headed north on Highway 101). Follow the rutted, dirt road until coming to an overlook. This view is one of the few places where you do not have to hike to see such a vast expanse.

To get this shot, I stitched together four different photographs using my Sony 100-400mm lens, overlapping each frame by about a third, using a tripod to get the frames leveled as I panned left to right. I set the

camera to manual mode- manual focus (usually infinity), manual ISO (usually set to 100), manual aperture (usually f8 or f11 for the sharpest setting), and manual shutter speed (usually around 1/60- 1/8000 of a second). Don’t have a digital single-lens reflex camera or a mirrorless camera? No problem. Use your iPhone or smartphone by setting it to “Panorama” or “Pano” mode.

Black and white photography has many advantages. You can focus on the subject without the distraction of color. Here, you see the shapes and curves of the hills and the layers of mountains, which are compressed using a long telephoto lens.

Another advantage of black and white photography is the contrast between light and dark. I photograph in color but convert many of my color images to a high-contrast black and white, adding drama to the

scene. As a photographer, I can transform the reality of color into a surreal vision of light and shadow and share a truly new perspective.

Have you ever looked back on your early photographs of prints from film and thought they look dated? Next time, try black and white—it lends itself to a sense of timelessness.

World-renowned photographer Ansel Adams stated that black and white photography could be used to capture the essence of a scene, characterized by its dramatic contrast between light and dark, writing, “Black and white photography is a way of seeing the world that is both timeless and contemporary. It can be used to capture the beauty of the natural world, the drama of urban landscapes, or the intimacy of everyday moments. When done well, black and white photography can be both artful and evocative.” SLO LIFE

RACHEL CEMENTINA SABALBORO

A month into a new job and two months into a new marriage, the recently appointed San Luis Obispo Symphony Executive Director RACHEL CEMENTINA SABALBORO stopped by the office for a get-to-know-you visit. Here are a few highlights from our conversation . . .

So, Rachel, where are you from? I was born and raised here in San Luis Obispo. Went to school here: Los Ranchos, Laguna, and SLO High. I was the middle child. I have an older brother and a younger sister. I guess I’d say that I was a quiet kid, very involved in church. And I tried a lot of things—dance, played the flute, piano, theater, sang in the choir—but never really stuck with any of them. It took me a long while to find the thing that stuck, the hobby I love, which is baking. I love to bake. Especially cakes. I recently baked my own wedding cake.

You’ve got a couple of interesting last names. What part of the world are they from? They’re both actually Filipino. I grew up with the last name Cementina, which people always thought was Italian. But we really didn’t know anything about the Philippines until somebody did a 23andMe test online. We learned that my grandpa immigrated from there. So, when I started dating my husband, he asked me about my last name and his eyes just lit up when I told him where it was from. Turns out, his grandpa is also from the Philippines. It’s been a lot of fun because I never knew anything at all about the culture, but now we are making lumpia and even learned to say a few words in Tagalog. Since we both have roots there, I wanted to embrace the culture.

How did your family end up in the area? was my grandparents who moved the family here. My grandpa was hired as a dean at Cuesta College. Then, my dad, who was a drummer on tour with a Christian musical group, met my mom, who was a singer. This was back in the seventies. One thing led to another, and they got married and settled down here. I should also mention that my dad—and here’s where I’m going to cry because he passed away in August—he was actually a member of the SLO Symphony for almost thirty years. I remember watching him play in the symphony as a kid. We’d be in the crowd whispering to each other, “Where’s Dad? Where is he? Can

you see him?” Then we’d spot him there in the percussion section doing what he loved most.

So, walk us down the path for how you ended up at the symphony yourself. Sure, so, college for me was at Biola, which is down in Southern California. I studied business there. And as part of that curriculum, I took a non-profit marketing class, and that’s where I realized that I could use my business degree to help the community for good. Right then and there I decided that I wanted to be in non-profits and haven’t looked back since. My first job after graduation was with the AmeriCorps. I was placed with the United Way of SLO County, which turned into a full-time role after my service year. Locally, that led to stints at the Link Family Resource Center, and the YMCA. Then, one day, a friend forwarded the job description to me [for the SLO Symphony executive director position] with a note that said, “Hey, Rachel, have you seen this?” I just thought to myself, “Wow, this is it—this is what I want to do.”

What challenges are you seeing in your new role? The primary challenge right now comes in navigating our sixty-year-old community symphony to the other side of pandemic recovery. I’ve really come to understand just how hard the symphony, and the arts community as a whole, were hit by the pandemic. It’s like the car was cruising along at sixty miles an hour, then slammed on the brakes, coming to a complete stop for a whole year, and now we have to start driving again. So, now, and not to any of my credit, but this season has definitely increased over last season, which was actually an increase over zero, a non-season. It’s so great to see that people are back and ready to go to concerts again. We just need to keep building upon that momentum now, which, because so many positive things were already in place before, it’s actually more of a rebuild.

Bracero Social club

BY JOE PAYNE

It was an oddly clear night between historic rainstorms when the Bracero Social Club filled the outdoor stage at The Olde Alehouse in Los Osos. The air was crisp, and the crowd wore layers, but the band started with a warm twang of guitars met by organ and drums.

The five-piece band played a familiar Freddy Fender tune as visitors sipped beers and waited on orders from the kitchen. Inside, heads turned toward the patio and stage anytime the back door opened, and the driving music filled the restaurant. A handful of visitors abandoned the warm indoor setting and braved the cold, enticed outside by the energetic sounds.

The group played with a honed edge, diving headfirst into a Joy Division song and then taking an unexpected turn to Vicente Fernandez. Heads continued to turn in the direction of the stage along with smiles and cheers. I wondered, what were these guys going to do next? “I always say music is a working man’s therapy,” said Mario Jiminez, the lead singer/songwriter and guitarist for the Bracero Social Club in a later interview.

When Jiminez and his band mates aren’t working their regular day jobs, they make time to get together to practice and perform regular gigs. As the weather warmed this year, the number of gigs increased and the audiences have grown. The group has played at many familiar haunts in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Atascadero, Los Osos, and the Five Cities.

Bracero Social Club members include Jiminez along with guitarist and singer Sabastian Luna, bassist Mat Pinto, drummer Joe Baltazar, and keyboard/ accordionist Jason Lee Downing. They all hail from different parts of California, stretching from the San Joaquin Valley to Los Angeles as well as homegrown on the Central Coast in SLO County, but each shares a similar yet unique lived experience of musicianship. “There was a cultural connection between us all because we’re all of Mexican descent, but we always feel somewhere in the middle between two cultures in California. We’ve really connected that way,” he said. “There’s a saying, ‘ni de aquí, ni de allá,’ you’re ‘neither here nor there,’ you’re somewhere in the middle, not being accepted in the full Mexican culture and not being accepted in the full American culture.”

For Jiminez, that mix of cultures is illustrated in the pages of his life, recalling his teenage years blasting punk rock music through headphones at his agriculture industry job. The name Bracero Social Club is a shout out to this shared heritage among the members and their family connections to Mexico, agricultural work in California, and passion for music–both American and British wave punk rock and the rancheras and chicano rock sung in Spanish. “It’s an identity crisis to a certain extent, but being placed in the middle, you’re at a great vantage point to see a lot of great influences and you’re exposed to a lot more,” he said. “We’re in a comfort zone when we talk about how we grew up and those influences.”

With some originals by Jiminez under their belts and some recordings in progress, Bracero Social Club is a SLO-area band to watch. SLO LIFE

Information about upcoming gigs can be found on the band’s Facebook and Instagram pages @bracerossocialclub.

pro file

Seven seconds. When the three-pointer splashed down, one side of the gym erupted, the other side gasped. Seven seconds. That was all the time remaining on the clock when the other guys hit the clutch shot. And that’s how close the Mission Prep basketball team came to going to the state championship game. Despite the disappointment—or maybe because of it—head coach TERRANCE HARRIS knew that the magical season and improbable playoff run would never be forgotten. The lessons the San Luis Obispo native had hoped to impart to his players were now hard-wired. Here is his story . . .

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EMILY DESJARDINS

Where are you from originally, Terrance?

About a mile down the road. Literally, I grew up off of South Higuera Street. My dad came from Fresno and my mom came from Los Angeles; two city kids that came here to go to school at Cal Poly, got a good education, and never left. I was born and raised here. Went to school all the way through at Mission, then off to Cal Poly. I spent a year in San Diego but came back at my first opportunity. I’m just a small-town kid. Life has pretty much revolved around sports, church, school, and family—that was, and still is,

the routine. I played a lot of sports growing up; played basketball, football, and baseball. I was the youngest of three boys. My folks still live in the house that I spent the majority of my childhood in. We live about a quarter mile from my parents now, in the same neighborhood, and my two older brothers still live here with their families. This is home. The SLO Life is my life.

And, so, you followed in your parents’ footsteps to Cal Poly? Yes, I majored in psychology. I was one of our university ambassadors; started off as a student assistant in the admissions office. And then after I left for a year, I came back. I started working in admissions and recruitment and worked my way up through the ranks. I carried on the family tradition by going to Cal Poly, and that’s where I met my wife, LeBren. We didn’t actually date when we were in college. We knew someone in common who introduced us, but we were just friends. She was busy running track— and I was just running around. But we became friends. She got to know my family because she and a group of her friends would come over to my parents’ house occasionally on Sundays after church and have a homecooked meal since they didn’t get too many of those being away from home. We’d also bump into each other randomly when she was coming back from working out at the track. Then, we had a class together. We used to walk back and forth to that class together, but we were just friends for the longest time.

Okay, but somewhere along the line something happened. I needed some help. I was pretty clueless. Finally, one of her friends says to me—we were in the rec center just shooting around, playing basketball—she said, “Are you ever going to make a move on LeBren?” And I’m like, “Oh, uh . . . is that . . . okay.” I was a little slow and naive and needed some assistance from a friend. But that sort of planted the seed. Still, from there, it was some time before we moved in that direction. Like I said, “slow and naive.” By then, we had both graduated and I was coaching basketball. She had moved to Ohio to go to Cleveland State for her master’s program, and we were playing in a tournament out in Chicago. So, she came to visit me at the tournament, and we spent some time hanging out, and that was actually when we said, “All right, well, let’s see.” We waited until we lived a couple of thousand miles away from each other, but now we’re saying, “Let’s see if we can make this work.” So, here we are all these years later with our three little girls at Mission, twins who are now eleven and our youngest who is five.

And you’re pursuing a doctorate now, too, right? Yes, it’s in Educational Leadership, which is a focus on what’s transpiring in higher education from demographic shifts to policy that impacts funding and enrollments, those kinds of things. With the Ph.D., I’m trying to better myself and also eliminate ceilings and barriers. I’m at a point in my professional career where a lot of the folks in the cabinet-level positions have doctorates. And, so, for me personally, that was a part of the motivation, staying up to speed and on par, eliminating obstacles, and opening up opportunities. Also, to be a lifelong learner. And, quite honestly, a big part of that was, there was so much going on nationwide, civil unrest and a lot of dialogue around issues of diversity and culture and those types of things. I’m not an activist. I don’t think of myself as an activist, but I did think, “Well, how can I be engaged and involved and become a difference-maker?” So, I thought that through the research I’d be doing and gaining a doctorate might create some opportunities to impact public policy, to impact the root causes of injustices that occur. And so, that was a part of the catalyst as well, to position yourself to be able to have a seat at the table, to be involved in discussions when things come up, to have a good baseline of understanding and knowledge to help positively impact the world around you.

Have you ever experienced injustice yourself? Of course. I feel very blessed and very fortunate. I’ve lived a really good life. I truly have. But the world isn’t always warm and fuzzy. And there are times and spaces where, whether overtly or covertly, I experienced things that were uncomfortable, experienced things that were unjust, experienced things that didn’t speak to equity or being treated humanely, which is probably too strong of a word, but with the respect and dignity that >>

humans should treat each other with. I’ve certainly had my share of tough experiences, like I said, some more overt than others. But for me, the emphasis was less about me and actually more about me knowing and understanding where I sit and the fortunes that I’ve been given; but, I know the world hasn’t been as kind to others as it has been to me. Given that, I’ve been asking myself: “How do I put myself in a position to help those around me that maybe aren’t as privileged as I am?”

Who gets the credit for the privilege you’re describing? My parents. I give them a lot of credit for the way that they raised us, the way they taught us, the way that they positioned us, and in some ways probably insulated us. And we were very fortunate growing up to be around a lot of good people, and have a lot of good relationships, a lot of good opportunities. Not everybody is as fortunate. And I’ve always believed in bringing others along. You know the saying, “When you find success, you build a bigger table, not a taller fence.” Because I’ve been the beneficiary,

I’ve had a lot of good people around me who have helped me to the point where I am at right now. So, now, in this second half of my career, the second half of my working experience, where I’m benefitting from leaders who’ve been in front paving the way for me; well, now it’s my turn to do that for others. And so that’s a focus of where I am. I’m spending a lot of my time now asking the question: “How can I help the next generation?”

Which leads us to coaching. How did you get into it? So, when I graduated from Mission, I went to Cal Poly and tried out for basketball. I didn’t make the team, but I wanted to stay engaged in the sport, I wanted to stay involved. I thought that giving back to a place that gave me so much would be pretty cool. So, I reached out to the coach at Mission and said, “Hey, do you have a need for an assistant?” And he was like, “Absolutely!” We coached together for six or seven years. And then I ended up succeeding him as the head coach of the program when he left. I figured I’d be there in that role for maybe a year or two and then >>

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move on. Well, here we are some seventeen years later. I think of it as my community service, honestly. It’s my community service, my ministry, working with those kids. Working with my alma mater helps me to stay connected to the community in a lot of different ways. It’s also a competitive outlet for me. Honestly, just being a mentor to our youth and staying engaged in a meaningful way with my former school is a true blessing.

How so? I believe that basketball is a tool to help young men become men. There are a lot of parallels between what you experience being a part of a team and what you experience throughout life. There are upsand-downs, there are successes, there are failures, and how you respond to those failures is just as important as the successes that you find. I always talk to those young men about the fact that being part of a team is going to be with you for the rest of your life, whether it’s in business, whether it’s your family. You don’t get to exist in isolation. There’s give

and take in everything you do. And so, being about something bigger than yourself is critically important, and in basketball, and all team sports for that matter, you get to learn how to do that in this safe space, safe environment.

How do you communicate this idea with your team? We have a little bit of a mantra, muditā, which is a Bhuddist concept that essentially means “to have joy in the success of others.” This is really, really challenging in today’s world. One of my coaches loves to say, “We’re trying to teach young men to be unselfish in a very selfish world.” Well, being a part of a team is about us. It’s not about any one individual. And so just trying to get young men to understand that, to buy into it and truly, truly root for one another and to embrace the idea that “your success is my success and vice versa.” That’s not easy. And it’s not like we achieve nirvana, but the closer you get to that place, the better the experience is going to be for everybody involved. >>

What else are you trying to impart? We also talk about being the best version of yourself. Every individual that shows up has a different skillset, has a different knowledge base, has something different to give. And I can’t ask you to give what someone else is capable of; I need you to be the best version of yourself that you can be. Whatever that means. Again, it’s a metaphor for life—just comparing myself to the man or woman next to me, that’s just going to rob me of my own opportunities. I need to be the best version of me that I can be and do the work to find out where I can support the people around me and help them become the best version of themselves. And don’t be somebody that you’re not. Don’t compare yourself to somebody else. Instead, give me your best effort. Be the best version of you that you can be. And we’re going to be successful if everybody on the team is doing that.

What do you do when you’ve got a little downtime? Downtime

usually means finding a chance to spend time with the family. Somebody will call and say, “Hey, what are you guys doing? Come on over.” Both of my brothers have kids, so our kids, the cousins, get together quite a bit. There’s always great food, and a lot of it. Usually, some sports are involved. Either the game will be on, or we’ll go watch the kids play somewhere. But whether it’s a family dinner, or a Sunday brunch, it’s usually the whole family. And when the kids are playing sports, we all show up, rolling deep to games. Afterwards, we’ll celebrate with a meal. My mom and dad and both my brothers are all really good cooks. I was the youngest of three, so with a mom that was a great cook, a dad that was a great cook, and two older brothers, I became really good at eating. And I left it at that. I enjoy the fruits of their labor. And so did my friends when we were growing up, they’d say, “Oh wait, let’s go to your house on Sunday.” Because they knew there was going to be some feasting going on over there. SLO LIFE

256 words with Deborah Veldkamp

Born in Idaho, I moved to California when I was young. I am a full-time artist “born with a paint brush in my hand.” My mother, aunt, and uncle were all professional artists. As a child, I followed their path, painting, drawing, illustrating, and writing. I’m also a published author. I attended the ArtCenter College of Design to study illustration and the California College of the Arts in Oakland for the fine arts curriculum.

I also studied privately in Walnut Creek for five years with Peter Blos, an artist from Munich, Germany, in his Advanced Figure and Portrait Class. He was the biggest influence as he taught me how to paint. I was only fourteen years old when Peter began teaching me in his very small classes.

Besides Peter Blos, I would name Vincent Van Gogh as the first artist to influence me. Then, Honoré Daumier, Käthe Kollwitz, Joaquin Sorolla, John Singer Sargent, Maynard Dixon, Carl Rungius, and William Wendt, who painted much of California, including the Central Coast. I draw inspiration from Sorolla who once answered a question asking how often he paints, “I am painting all the time with my eyes.”

I try to convey beauty and light through my work. Pastel painting is a recent inspiration for me—a few years back I got out my leftover pastels from art school days and became so enamored I invested in a new set.

People can stop in and see my work at Art Central’s current exhibit “Luminous Pastels” or at my annual Open Studio.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARIAH VANDENBERG

Dog Days

BY BRIAN SCHWARTZ

What does it take to see your book at the top of the bestseller list? While Teresa Rhyne says she got lucky, there was plenty of hard work that led up to her success. Her debut novel “The Dog Lived (and So Will I)” became a #1 New York Times bestseller in 2013. With critical acclaim, it has been translated into eight languages and continues to sell well today.

Rhyne, a Paso Robles author, lawyer, canine activist, and cancer survivor is living proof that it’s possible to find success with a memoir, without the fame we normally see that goes along with it.

The inspiration for her entrance into the publishing world was lit when she went searching for a book that didn’t exist. “The Dog Lived” offers a unique pointof-view that only someone going through cancer can have. The emotional roller coaster, the treatments, the despair, and through it all, the faith to persevere. Rhyne’s willingness to pen her experience has helped others who have faced similar challenges.

Before penning her book, she launched a blog. While many of us know writing can be therapeutic, the act of sharing her writing on-line allowed her to create a connection with others. She gave visitors to her website an ‘insiders’ view of what it was like on a day-to-day basis to battle cancer, while she continued to hone her writing skills. It ultimately led to her book when she decided to tell the story of

her beloved pet beagle Seamus’ cancer battle and how the simple mantra: “The Dog Lived, and so Will I” helped carry her through her own journey.

As aspiring authors know far too well, having a platform is key. In addition to the readers of her blog, Rhyne developed partnerships with both dog rescue and breast cancer non-profits. Her book helped their mission, which in turn helped hers. From dog walks to speaking at fundraisers, Rhyne put in the hard work.

Then the stars aligned. “The Dog Lived” was published In 2012, at the height of the popularity of the Kindle eBook reader. Her book was prominently displayed in a ‘Kindle Daily Deal’ campaign by Amazon. That single promotion led to over 60,000 copies of her eBook being sold in a single day. Lightning struck again when they featured it in a subsequent ‘Best of Daily Deals’ promotion.

Rhyne has written three ‘Dog-oirs’ to date—part memoir, part dog-book. Her next goal is to break into fiction, so she’s taking a canine along. Her yet-to-be-published novel will appeal to not only dog lovers, but fans of fiction as well. Rhyne continues her practice as a full-time lawyer, writes, and still finds time to advocate for the causes she believes in.

Teresa Ryne will be one of the featured speakers at this year’s Central Coast Writers’ Conference in October where you can meet her in person. You can learn more about her at TeresaRhyne.com. SLO LIFE

Get Axed

BY PAULA MCCAMBRIDGE

It begins with the axe. I was instructed to hold it from the base of the handle, like a hammer. I feel the heft of it in my right hand.

“You don’t have to be an athlete,” shared a Chop Shop coach, known as an axe-whisperer. “It’s not about brute strength. It’s definitely about finesse, like a golf swing.”

The only golf I’ve played is miniature, so I interpret his instruction by envisioning a scenario where I hold a drink in one hand and watch children in my periphery while I flailingly launch the sharpened-steel axe across the room.

TIP!

ATown Chop Shop is located at 6250 El Camino

Real in Atascadero. Their number is (805) 439-1004. Reservations can be made on their website, atownchopshop.com

Walking into Atown Chop Shop in Atascadero is to pass through a transformational axe-throwing experience —when I left, I was not the same person as when I arrived.

It is not what he means. Safety is number one here, so I face the wood target, take one step forward with my dominant foot to stabilize my throwing stance. I then move the axe up into the air, landing gracefully behind my back, imagining my face painted half blue and half white, a resurrection of Braveheart.

In one, fluid motion, I swing the axe overhead toward the target, release my weapon with a banshee yell and feel my inner warrior spring to life as the blade resoundingly sinks into the wood about twenty feet away.

Once is not enough. “AGAIN!” is my silent yell as I stomp toward the target to wiggle —no—to yank, wrench, and muscle my axe

from the wall for another throw.

This entire life-altering adventure is possible because of the dream of Matt and Jennifer Corning who first threw axes together on a family trip to Arizona a few years ago. “Our journey has been a pretty awesome one,” Matt said. “When we were in Arizona, Jen and I were looking for something to do, and my sister found a place.”

Not only that, Matt’s mother, in her 70s joined them, and found her own inner warrior. “She gave it a go and was really good,” Matt said. “Axe-throwing isn’t just for young people—it’s for grandmas too. My mom came in third place beating all these hulking guys.” >>

The experience was so energizing that Matt and Jennifer hatched a plan of their own. “We started talking. It lit a flame under us,” Matt said. “We were hot and heavy to open a place then March 2020 happened.”

That was the start of the Covid pandemic, so opening a permanent site wouldn’t have been a good business move just yet, but they didn’t quit their idea. Instead, they opened a mobile unit where they could travel to private gatherings and corporate team-building exercises. They call their mobile unit—still available for private parties—SLO AXE Company, which is the name they use on their social media pages.

“We put a lot of thought, love, and creativity into this. We’ve worked very hard, and seeing the permanent shop open is pretty awesome,” Matt said. “It’s a blend of Medieval Times and Modern Technology.”

The Atown Chop Shop is a contrasting scene of dark and lights. Motorcycle parts collected from scrap bins are embedded in the concrete countertops built by the artists at local Concast Studios. Turn-of-the-20thcentury barn wood from Huasna Valley right here in San Luis Obispo County covers the walls. Under the bar is the entire grill of an old Dodge found in a field in South Dakota. A seven-foot-wide bull head with red eyes and smoke wafting from its nostrils adorns one wall.

When visitors walk in for the first time, Matt shares, “People look at you like you’re crazy, ‘We’re going to do

what now?’ Then by the end, they’re hugging you. You watch the empowerment.”

One of their regulars, known in Atascadero simply as Uncle Dave, first met Matt at his mobile unit at BarrelHouse Brewing Company in Paso Robles. “I went there with some friends for a concert then we end up getting to throw an axe,” Uncle Dave recalls. “No person on earth doesn’t want to try that. That was my first time. Now, I have my own custom axe, German steel.”

The Cornings empower family as well as the public—they have five children in their blended family, all of whom are now axe-throwers.

The Chop Shop is a lounge with a giant, roll-up metal garage door that will be open during business in good weather, so visitors can relax inside or out to have a beer and what Matt calls “basic food” before or after their experience.

Everyone age ten or over (children only with adults) are welcome. Reservations are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome too. And if you’re local and can’t get enough, join a league. There will be two. League members can use their house axes or bring their own, some of which will be for sale at Chop Shop.

They tell guests to channel their inner lumberjacks. Plaid flannel shirts and oversized blue oxes are optional. SLO LIFE

below Matt and Jennifer Corning

Sofia Cooper STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MELISSA WHITE

With AP scholar status as well as the Hispanic National Recognition Award to her name, this seventeen-year-old Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School senior is preparing for a bright future.

What extra-curricular activities are you involved in?I have been dancing at the Academy of Dance since I was eight and am a Company Member and mentor with the Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo. I credit this program for much of the personal and creative growth I have experienced in nine years of performing. I have also been fortunate enough to letter on the Varsity Women’s Soccer team at Mission College Prep [MCP] since I was a freshman. I am a co-founder and leader of MCP’s Social Justice Club. As an MCP student, I have served as a Royal Ambassador, a selected mentor and tutor, and a leader of several retreats, including Kairos. As a means of pursuing my passion in health care, I have volunteered and shadowed at Community Health Centers in Oceano and at Hospital San Miguel in Villa Serrano, Bolivia, endeavors which have allowed me to emulate the real-life responsibility and schedule of a healthcare worker. I’ve also spent my time volunteering in several other projects, like tutoring at Pacheco Elementary and Election Day ballot collecting.

What is important to you outside of high school? Learning about global change through a course in environmental science, along with some outside reading on the subject, has made environmental justice and the fight against climate change more and more important to me. Along with incomplete coverage and criminal censorship of the issue, we are in denial. It isn’t until we accept the issues through an educated lens that we can genuinely put effort into helping it. We have many ways to renewably create change, it is just a means of putting them into action: solar, wind, hydrogen fuel-cell technology, hybrids, green-roofs, geothermal power stations, etc. Environmental justice is something I hope to continue studying and proactively supporting.

Do you have a career path in mind? I would love to eventually become a physician who is actively involved in public policy. As much as I enjoy the intricate science, I equally want to prioritize activism to bridge the gaps that produce medical insecurity. I want to aid the efforts to make healthcare more accessible and remedying medical inequities across several fronts. I feel as though this path and vocation includes my passion for the living sciences as it does a life of service.

Where will you attend college? I recently committed to University of California, Berkeley under the College of Letters and Science. I intend to double major in Molecular and Cell Biology and Public Health. I feel super grateful to have been granted the opportunity to study at the hub of several revolutionary technologies that have serious implications in the future (for example CRISPR tech), and to become a golden bear. SLO LIFE

to

smart, eclectic, art

EST. 1999 live

805.927.0374 . ecotoneslandscapes.com . LIC # 767033

Dora

BY JAEDEN

BARLETT

This French Bulldog is well known in the SLO pickleball community as their unofficial mascot. She enjoys sunbathing on the sidelines, eating treats, and showing off her dancing skills to all her admirers. Some of Dora’s other favorite things to do are chasing birds on the beach, and exploring local hiking and walking trails. SLO LIFE

PHOTOGRAPHY

Coastal

BY ZARA KHAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LALUSH

Comfort

FFinding a more qualified couple to take on a home build would be impressive. With fourteen remodels and new construction projects under his belt and five under hers, Brian and Michele Healey couldn’t resist the idea of building on the lot in Pismo Beach when they came across it. It was a great location, had stunning views, and though every lot has its challenges, they could see the potential for the home’s layout.

On his first construction project, Brian had a mentor and during the process he paid close attention and absorbed as much as he could. It wasn’t long before he was ready to do it all over again—and after successfully completing it on his own the rest is history. He continued to work on his personal projects alongside his career in the window and door industry. Brian started to visit the Central Coast when his Pella Window and Door territory expanded to include San Luis Obispo County and it didn’t take long for him to recognized that it was a special place. Like many, Cal Poly drew Michele to San Luis Obispo and after remodeling her own home in Shell Beach, she realized that she had an eye for it, but more importantly, she enjoyed the process. >>

Brand New Homes in SLO are a Rare Find!

Nestled between award-winning vineyards on the quiet side of Highway 101, the brand new homes at Avila Ranch celebrate everything that makes this part of the California Coast so special. Homes in the neighborhood are connected to nine planned parks by a network of paths and trails, so you can leave the car in the garage and enjoy SLO’s natural beauty right outside your front door!

Come visit us today so you can tour the models, pick your homesite and floorplan, and take the first step toward the sun-drenched lifestyle you’ve always wanted.

With their combined experience, the Healeys knew whom to call on for the different aspects of their project. Jerry Shaw Residential Design worked with them to lay out the floor plan of the home—a two-story design with the top floor at the street level. They decided to place the main living area upstairs as you walk into the home from a practical standpoint, but also because the first thing that greets you is the stunning ocean view. Downstairs, they designed two ensuites for when friends and family visit with a separate living and entertaining area.

Windows and doors have always been high on the priority list, so the couple reached out to Steve Gardener of Old World Door Co. Gardner helped them design a custom front door that sets the tone for the house from the minute you walk up. Chuck Quinn at Quinn Home helped with the tile—the Walker Zanger backsplash is a favorite of almost everyone who visits. Brian Robertson at Green Goods built the cabinetry throughout the home and Zara Khan Interior Design worked closely with Michele to make sure the design was cohesive and added special touches throughout their home. >>

The design style for this home was more modern than what the Healeys were accustomed to, but they felt like it was what the home needed. They knew they wanted to keep with the coastal style due to their proximity to the beach and stunning views. It’s easy to assume when working on a new construction project that the lack of existing constraints makes the project easier, but that isn’t always the case, trade-offs still need to be made. The pair wanted to avoid using soffits to hide ducting on the bottom level of the home. Instead, they decided to run radiant heating in the floors, which enabled them to keep their ceiling height and not detract from the views.

It’s hard to choose a favorite design detail, but if they had to, Brian’s would have to be the windows and doors, especially the slider downstairs. On the bottom floor, when their slider is open it recesses completely into the side wall giving them an unobstructed indoor and outdoor living space. They opted to install the same travertine tile inside and outside so there was no transition between the spaces.

For Michele, the kitchen has her heart—from the statement tile, to the cabinet stain and hardware, everything came together perfectly and works with >>

their lifestyle. Although, the range hood presented quite the challenge even though it didn’t look complicated in the renderings. From a construction standpoint, the dimensions had to be perfect since they framed the hood shape first and the cabinets had to go in before the countertops. The space in between the two had to be just right so that the countertops could slide in and complete the kitchen. Luckily, they had a strong team and after a lot of strategizing, they had a successful installation.

With their experience behind them, the Healeys offer a bit of advice. Brian strongly urges hiring a General Contractor. There are so many variables at play when it comes to pricing and scheduling, it’s wise to have an experienced professional on your team advocating for your best interest. Michele recommends keeping in mind that nothing will be perfect, and things won’t necessarily go as planned. Whether it’s improvising for construction constraints or the implementation not being exactly what you had in mind. She points out that sometimes it turns out for the better and often the hiccups feel like a much bigger deal than they will once the project is complete. SLO LIFE

cal poly area

laguna 2022 6 $1,811,500 $1,947,169 107.49% 9

lake 2023 6 $1,950,667 $1,975,653 101.28% 20

farm +/0.00% 7.68% 1.46% -6.21% 122.22%

Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2022 15 $1,264,867 $1,355,550 107.17% 27 2023 9 $1,150,878 $1,144,000 99.40% 50 +/-40.00% -9.01% -15.61% -7.77% 85.19% down town Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2022 8 $1,238,750 $1,358,875 109.70% 18 2023 11 $1,018,873 $1,026,773 100.78% 34 +/37.50% -17.75% -24.44% -8.92% 88.89% foothill boulevard Total Homes Sold Average Asking Price Average Selling Price Sales Price as a % of Asking Price Average # of Days on the Market 2022 13 $996,531 $1,138,462 114.24% 19 2023 9 $1,211,444 $1,199,333 99.00% 35 +/-30.77% 21.57% 5.35% -15.24% 84.21% johnson avenue *Comparing 01/01/22 - 05/15/22 to 01/01/23 - 05/15/23

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Coastal Association of REALTORS ®

Donna Lewis

Branch Manager & SVP of Mortgage Lending

O: (805) 335-8743

C: (805) 235-0463

donna.lewis@rate.com

Ermina Karim

VP of Mortgage Lending

O: (805) 329-4095

C: (805) 602-0248

ermina.karim@rate.com

Eileen Mackenzie

VP of Mortgage Lending

O: (805) 212-5204

C: (831) 566-9908

eileen.mackenzie@rate.com

Maggie Koepsell

VP of Mortgage Lending

O: (805) 335-8742

C: (805) 674-6653

maggie.koepsell@rate.com

Matthew Janetski

VP of Mortgage Lending

O: (805) 329-4092

C: (619) 300-2651

matt.janetski@rate.com

Joe Hutson

VP of Mortgage Lending

O: (831) 205-1582

C: (831) 212-4138

joe.hutson@rate.com

Mike Luna

VP of Mortgage Lending

O: (805) 456-5799

C: (805) 610-0105

mike.luna@rate.com

VP of Mortgage Lending Luana Geradis

O: (805) 329-4087

C: (707) 227-9582

luana.gerardis@rate.com

BY THE NUMBERS

CHILL OUT

for Optimal Wellness

I’m someone who loves social media and am greatly influenced to buy or try things that the experts I follow recommend. And in the last two years it’s been hard to ignore how many personal development superstars have been talking about how they take cold showers or practice cold plunges daily— health claims range from regulating the nervous systems to building up mental toughness and as a reminder that we can do hard things. Honestly, filling my bathtub with ice and submerging myself in it for five-to-ten minuets sounded just awful. But I’m happy to say I found a much better way to try cold therapy at Sloco.

I signed up for a cryotherapy session, having no idea what to expect. If you’re like me and haven’t heard about cryotherapy, it basically involves exposing the body to extremely low temperatures for a short period of time, usually about two to three minutes. Sloco Owner, Natasha Prybyla shared, “Even though we had been offering Cryotherapy since 2019, we doubled down on our investment in 2020 to bring better technology to SLO County during a time where people really needed something that could boost their mood, relieve pain, and improve their health.”

Upon arriving, I was greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable staff member who explained the process to me. I was given a robe, gloves, and I brought my UGG boots to keep my feet warm. They gave me headphones and

BY PADEN HUGHES PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK PAVLAKIS >>

allowed me to pick a song to listen to from my phone while I went into the icy chamber. I was guided on how cold I wanted to take it and what duration I wanted to try. I chose the intermediate level.

The chamber itself was sleek and modern, with a large window so that I could see out into the room. It was covered in frost and when they opened the door fluffy, white, snow-like ice floated out of it. I hyped myself up and stepped inside and was instructed to remove my robe, leaving me in my bathing suit, UGGs, and gloves.

The chamber was filled with nitrogen gas, which lowered the temperature to around -200 degrees Fahrenheit. The sensation was intense but not painful. I felt a tingling sensation all over my body, but it was also refreshing and energizing. I focused on my breath and then started to close my eyes and imagine I was spring skiing in Tahoe in a bikini. Having done that before, it was as close to reality as I could dream up and it made the experience more playful and fun.

After just two-and-a-half minutes, the session was over. I put my robe back on and was taken to a private area where I was able to warm up, relax, and change back into my clothes. The entire experience in and

out was only about fifteen minutes, but I felt invigorated and rejuvenated.

So, what are the health benefits of cryotherapy? There are thought to be many. First and foremost, it can help reduce inflammation throughout the body. This is especially beneficial for athletes or people who suffer from chronic pain. Cryotherapy can also help improve circulation, boost the immune system, and improve overall skin health. It has also been shown to help reduce stress and anxiety and improve mood.

To find out more about Sloco’s offereings check out their website at slocohealth.com.

That Old Black Magic

Brush up on your chemistry with cocktails and cuisine from The Alchemists’ Garden

A couple of years ago, the five owners of a new bar and restaurant in downtown Paso Robles started a text chain to brainstorm names for the business. The criteria? It had to invoke the mystery and transcendent quality of an apothecary: the overlap of nature and nurture, ancient and modern, the earth and the heavens.

“We were throwing out lots of ideas,” says Quin Cody, one of the owners. “Then Andrew spat out, ‘The Alchemists’ Garden’ right as I was texting him the exact same name.” She smiles ear-to-ear at the kismet. “We were like, ‘No way! That’s it!’”

Perhaps it’s no surprise that Cody and fellow owner Andrew Brune shared a brain on this occasion. After all, they were friends who had worked together several years at The Allegretto Vineyard Resort— she as wine director, he as bar director. Brune’s wife Alexandra Pellot also came from The Allegretto as food and beverage director, and mixologist Tony Bennett had launched the bar program at the 1122

BY JAIME LEWIS PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILY WOLFE

Speakeasy. Together, the four of them had worked, traveled, eaten, and imbibed enough to fantasize about opening their own place.

“We started joking around, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we owned a bar together?’” says Brune. When they discovered the bar and restaurant at the corner of 12th and Pine Streets was for sale, they crossed their fingers and signed the papers in February of 2020. Yes, February of 2020.

It speaks to the nature of alchemy that Bennett, Cody, Brune, and Pellot were able to weather the Covid pandemic and turn an empty building into the thriving, bustling place it is today. On a Wednesday evening at 5:30, the bar is packed, and the dining room is energetic. Music bumps from the speakers, and cocktail shakers jangle brightly. An army of houseplants cascade from the windows and walls to the floor, enriching the room’s oxygen. A sign above a doorway reads, in green neon, “What you imagine you create.” >>

The vaguely woo-woo aesthetic of the place seems to stem from the origins of the cocktail itself: a concoction of herbs, tinctures, tonics, and spirits.

“We’re all bartenders at heart,” says Brune, whose resume of developing bar programs is long and varied, with stints at La Cosecha, Ember, and The Hatch. “The cocktails come first here, and the food complements it.”

To emphasize the point, he opens the menu, whose first four pages feature lists of signature cocktails and spirits, followed by three pages of food offerings. Fan favorites include the Alchemists’ Gold cocktail: a play on an Old Fashioned, with cacao nib-infused bourbon, banana liqueur, bitters, sugar, smoke, and a few flecks of real gold.

“Alchemists were always known to turn something from ordinary to extraordinary,” he says, using a platter of deviled eggs as an example. He explains that while “a deviled egg is a deviled egg,” the kitchen at The Alchemists’ Garden elevates the dish by pickling the eggs with turmeric and blending the yolks with cumin, curry, chives, and pickled mustard seeds for the filling. The result is a neon-yellow bite-sized snack with serious flair, capable of accompanying any number of cocktails made at the bar. Other dishes on the menu are similarly eclectic, from the decadent duck chalupa and harissa-marinated prawns to jerk chicken wings and an Argentine skirt steak.

While the food is an apropos accompaniment to the cocktails, the cocktails themselves are what really set The Alchemists’ Garden apart—particularly in its new member spirits lounge, The Remedy. Seeing an opportunity to capitalize on an unused banquet room, Brune, Pellot, Cody, and Bennett used their dark arts to turn it into a sort of bar-within-a-bar, including its own dedicated mixologist and a menu of outrageously gastronomic cocktails. Accessible only by a separate entrance and with advance booking, The Remedy is decorated to evoke something like a very chic secret chemistry lab.

“Our cocktails at The Remedy are next-level,” says Brune. He describes using foams in drinks, and making caviar beads with calcium waterbaths and sodium alginate. The “Soil & Snow” martini is garnished with something he calls “olive oil snow.” And a frozen Manhattan is made with Averna amaro that mixologists freeze tableside with liquid nitrogen.

“Craft cocktails are the trend,” Brune says with a smile, looking through the front windows of the restaurant, onto The Alchemists’ Garden patio and tree-shaded City Park. Indeed, he is right: Paso Robles seems to be waking up to a demand for more than just wine. And the result is a greater diversity of beverage options, with the cuisine to match.

“It’s very hard to go to any bar [in Paso Robles] and not get a great cocktail here,” he says. “And that’s good for everybody.” SLO LIFE

Downtown Below the Surface

BY BRANT MYERS

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TODD MEANEY

San Luis Obispo has a problem: a proliferation of patios. Now, we all know sitting in the sun is nice, and great weather is likely one of the main benefits of living here, but what about when you want to avoid that pesky circadian rhythm for a spell? Even our city’s most notorious dive bar moved to a building that had a patio, then they recently expanded that patio even further into the parking lot. We can’t even have a can of domestic swill without the sun barging in to remind us that time is fleeting and I “should probably get going soon to be with my family!”

Well, hello darkness, my old friend. The Barrelhouse Brewing San Luis Obispo Taproom and Speakeasy is a big name for a small joint. Located in the center of downtown SLO, the Speakeasy is spitting distance from the Mission Plaza and can be easily missed if you’re walking down Chorro while chatting and people watching. With an unassuming façade nestled between Luna Red and Park 1039, you’ll see a half-dozen windows opening into a small sitting room and a large staircase headed straight down into what just might be oblivion. Who knows? While definitely not as daunting as the Deep Dark running beneath the streets of downtown, it is an unusual site in a city full of brightly lit window displays and short jaunts through a dining room to a back deck overlooking San Luis Obispo Creek.

the same time together, so I know my cohort well and went straight for a couple known entities as well as a few new ones that weren’t even on my radar. Drinking a previously unknown beer for the first time is akin to the feeling you get as a child when you find the elusive last few Easter eggs; a short burst of elation followed by the sweet, sweet reward of ravenously consuming found treasure.

The first taster was the most intriguing. A relative blip in the world of craft beer, but still an interesting one, is the recent popularity of hop waters. Think a non-alcoholic mashup of sparkling water and an IPA. These came on my radar a few years back when my designated driver was pregnant with my son and wanted a refreshing alternative to malty non-alcoholic beers. This one from BHBC has the welcome addition of passion fruit to add a fruity nose to an already refreshing drink. Now that I’m hydrated, its time to drink seven beers. Despite being dark in color, it’s always a good practice to try stouts and porters before Pale Ales or IPAs. I have the aptly named Stout next. It’s a great beer for drinking under Edison bulbs and I appreciated the roasted, nutty aromas coming from my glass reminiscent of a light breakfast of coffee and toast.

Head down the staircase and watch the sun quickly set no matter what time of day you enter. As your eyes adjust to the shade, you’re greeted by an open taproom with dark wood furnishings and a very prominent steel beam jutting out of the ceiling. The friendly bartender greets you from across the room with a smile and a “hello.” Hello indeed. Dark. Inviting. Beer. Check, check, and check. Todd Meaney, the ever intrepid photographer, and I introduce ourselves to Alicia Miller, the Taproom Lead, and get some beers flowing. Miller quickly starts a flight for me while Meaney gets a full pour and starts clicking away before the foam settles. BHBC and the beer tour company I founded grew up around >>

Now we’re off to the races with the hoppy stuff. Punny beer names never go out of style as is evidenced by the

below Alicia Miller, Taproom Lead

Hazed and Confused tropical hazy IPA. Haze refers to the unfiltered, murky nature of the beer style commonly called New England India Pale Ale, or NEIPA for short. This was highly quaffable as the pillowy character of the added wheat flake give it a smooth mouthfeel, while the addition of Sabro and El Dorado hops release aromas of tropical fruit with a touch of citrus. Luckily this is a year-round offering and I made sure to grab a six-pack of cans to go before I left. The next glass in line is their Big Horn Experimental IPA. The problem with IPAs is that the big, brash characteristics that make them so popular also have a tendency to blow out your tastebuds real fast. I was detecting notes of melon, which would come from the “experimental” part of the name. At this point the staff changed over from day to night (I’m assuming; time has no meaning here) and I was able to pick Taproom Lead Bradley Hendrix’s brain about this beer. As no stranger to working at breweries, Hendrix confirms that the hop varietal is from New Zealand and the experimental part is derived from the hop which has no name, but is likely a cross-breed of known varieties with some amalgamation of alphanumeric designations in lieu of a clever pun. It was good.

My next beer is the Kong, a hazy double IPA. Or is it a double hazy IPA, as they say? It is hazy, but clocking in at over eight-percent ABV I’m going to classify it as a DIPA. This beer is unique to their lineup as it utilizes Thiol. Without getting too deep into the weeds it’s a naturally occurring additive that is used to increase the aromas of boxwood, citrus, and tropical fruits. Breath deep and inhale that boxwood. Well, my tasting notes are getting minimal

and illegible. This one simply says “deceptive” twice. Not sure if I was trying to correct my chicken scratch or just forgot halfway through the beer that I was being deceived.

After saying goodbye to the staff, I walk up the stairs and am greeted by the sun. I guess it’s still there after all, but as the days get hotter and longer, the Speakeasy is looking like a great place to escape from outside, the downtown hustle and bustle, or just life in general. Stop in next time and try a beer, or eight, just don’t complain to me when you come out and the earth rotated a bit more than you expected. Raise a glass with me and salute the time void that is the Barrelhouse Speakeasy.

The Science Behind the sip

BY DAN FREDMAN

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to be a winemaker, but Steve Autry’s background in aerospace hasn’t hurt him any.

Autry Cellars may be San Luis Obispo’s smallest winery. Run by Autry with a little help from his daughter, Kristen, and a few friends, his winery and tasting room lies in the center of Edna Valley, next door to Tolosa and underneath the SLO airport flight path. For the past twenty years, he’s been crafting small quantities of prizewinning wine and brandy from grapes all sourced within San Luis Obispo County.

Growing up on his grandfather’s chicken ranch in Rialto, he says he has agriculture in his blood. “I became a beekeeper, which kept me involved in agriculture, but I picked up extra work as a machinist at night. From there I moved into design and fabrication jobs in the aerospace industry and even spent a few years working with orthotics and prosthetics. The balance between nature and machinery has been a longtime fascination for me, and nowadays, as a small winemaker, having been a jack-of-every-conceivabletrade has certainly been a benefit. It doesn’t make the process easy, but at least it makes it possible.”

Autry’s “aha” moment came in 1983 when he and his wife were camping in Big Sur. At a restaurant in the Pfeiffer State Park, a bottle of the 1977 Monterey Peninsula Amador Zinfandel was recommended and turned out to be life-changing. He was inspired to make wine and brew beer at home, and during a lull in the aerospace industry, he took a job with Doc’s Cellar, a home winemaking and brewing supply shop in SLO.

“At Doc’s” he says, “I was working with 1,500 different clients, and they’d bring their wines in for us to taste. I was getting exposure to all these great, new-to-me grapes and wines and a few years in I tasted one that gave me the same feeling I got from that Monterey Peninsula bottle. It came from a grower out in Creston named Paul Hoover, and his Still Waters Vineyard has been my primary source for red grapes ever since.”

Most of Autry’s white wines are made from grapes grown in Edna Valley. “I get Grüner Veltliner and Chardonnay from within a halfmile of my tasting room.” Over the past few years, a lot of the vines around Edna Valley have been pulled out and replaced by lemon trees. “I’m concerned about where I’ll buy grapes to make wine” laughs Autry, “but I’m a distiller too, and I see a great future ahead for limoncello.”

Autry’s interest in distillation developed naturally. He had a greatuncle who’d done time for moonshining and the thermodynamics aspect of the process fascinated him. He eventually designed and constructed his own still. He calls it a “triple parallel column, vapor management compound fractionating still” and he uses local grapes and apples for his material. The Autry brandy took the Double Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition last year, and he also makes a grappa out of leftover skins from the grape fermenting process. “It’s not recycling, it’s upscaling,” according to Autry. >>

“People tell me that my wines have a particular style,” says Autry. “I like my grapes a little riper than most winemakers around here, just like vine-ripened tomatoes or tree-ripened fruit, because that’s where the flavor is. I learn as I go, usually working out how to solve problems with my science background. My wine education is almost completely self-taught. I came out of aerospace research and one thing we figured out there was how to figure things out. We do that through scientific method, where we only change one thing, and if it’s different, you can blame it on that one thing.”

“Over the years, I’ve zeroed in on a fermentation protocol that I like: I make all of my white varieties the same way, and make all of my red varieties the same across the board. The only thing different is the grape variety, and that varies based on the grape variety itself and the vineyard it was grown in. I’m trying to show people the unique differences between all of these grapes. We do single vineyard, single varietal wines almost exclusively, but we do make two blends out of the fifteen different wines I usually make each year. Up until recently, all of my wines have been fermented in American oak barrels, but lately I’ve been moving to barrels made from Hungarian oak.”

A visit to the Autry Cellars is a unique experience. The wines reflect Steve Autry’s focus on making wines the way he thinks they should be made, and in between the array of airplanes crossing overhead, you’ll experience an amazing selection of birds that live around the property. On the right day, you could see red tail hawks, bald eagles, or peregrine falcons, all being watched from the ground by Mustcat and Mustache, the winery’s cats.

And about the winery’s logo: it’s a big bass clef. Autry is a longtime bassist, having played in a number of local bands over the years. SLO LIFE

*Tasting Notes

2021 Albariño // Edna Valley $38

Lychee, grapefruit, tangerines, and green apples predominate on this wine’s nose and palate. Light and lithe in the mouth, Albariño should be your go-to variety when the summer heat kicks in.

2020 Sauvignon Blanc // Still Waters Vineyard // $35

The wine is crisp and clean, with just enough grassiness to make it a perfect pairing with Thai or Chinese cuisine. Five weeks in neutral American oak give it body without interfering with the flavors or aromatics.

2020 Primitivo // $40

For years, Primitivo, aka: Zinfandel, has been the standout red wine in SLO County but over the years it’s ceded its enodomination Pinot Noir, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre blends, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Autry’s version brings it back to its beginnings as a slightly rustic, semi-fruity wine to enjoy with a meal. Easy to drink, but still a serious bottle of wine.

Autry Brandy Aged in Hungarian Oak // 750ml // $80

Distilled from Albariño, this distillate spent five-and-a-half years in a neutral Hungarian oak barrel. The oak influence is subtle, resulting in a sense of coconut, and marzipan, basically the essence of “tropicality.” Great on its own but also works well in cocktails.

Culture & Events

MARELA ZACARÍAS: STORYTELLING

SLOMA hosts the first West Coast museum exhibition by an artist who creates painted sculptures of undulating forms as if they were fabric bodies filled with movement and expression. Zacarías’ works, created using window screens and plaster, weave together ancient stories and myths, drawing on her interest in exploration and reflecting on specific geographies.

Through July 9 // sloma.org

LOVE THE LAND

Local landscapes created by Arroyo Grande artist Laurel Sherrie are featured at Joebella Coffee House in Atascadero. The original oils celebrate special places throughout SLO County, including the wildflowers of the Carrizo Plain, ranch scenes, and of course local coastlines. The artist hopes her work inspires people to get out and experience public lands for themselves.

Through July 31 // laurelsherrie.com

ONCE

The story of a guy who gave up on love and music, and the girl who inspired him to dream again, is SLO Repertory Theatre’s final production of the 2022-23 season. From the very first note, the musical draws you in and never lets go. Over the course of one fateful week, an unexpected friendship and collaboration quickly evolves into a powerful but complicated love story, underscored by some of the most beautiful music in modern musical theatre.

June 9-July 2 // slorep.org

RINGO STARR

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band, featuring Steve Lukather, Colin Hay, Edgar Winter, Warren Ham, Hamish Stuart, and Gregg Bissonette, comes to Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Roble as part of their spring 2023 West Coast tour.

June 16 // vinaroblesamphitheatre.com

JUNETEENTH

Mission Plaza plays host to the city’s sixth annual historic celebration, also known as the second Independence Day. Celebrate with song, dance, spoken word, food, and fun throughout the day. Includes a resource fair for vendors focusing on health and wellness and exhibits of African American History.

June 17 // downtownslo.com

LIVE OAK MUSIC FESTIVAL

Musicians from all over the globe perform traditional folk, bluegrass, gospel, blues, jazz, soul, and world music in the beautiful El Chorro Valley where the sound is second to none for an outdoor venue. The threeday event includes music on three stages, a collection of arts and crafts booths, music workshops, fireside jamming, dances, and entertainment for children of all ages.

June 23-25 // liveoakfest.org

ART IN THE PARK

Three days of fine art and quality crafts—a rich mixture of works in a variety of mediums— attract artists and crowds to the Morro Bay Art Association’s showcase fundraising weekend. Proceeds help fund children’s art classes and provide scholarships and other programs throughout the year.

July 1-3 // artcentermorrobay.org

AMERICAN MARIACHI

When a forgotten record album sparks her mother’s memory, Lucha and her cousin come up with a radical idea: an all-girl mariachi band—in the ’70s when women can’t be mariachis. José Cruz González’s hilarious and heartwarming comedy about family, the freedom to go after your dreams, and the music that unites us is played live on stage at PCPA in Santa Maria.

July 13-29 // pcpa.org

RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

There’s something for all ages at the thirty-seventh annual Central Coast celebration of all things Elizabethan. Step back in time into a world of wonder and excitement, magic and merriment, the grandeur of Queen Elizabeth and legendary characters like William Shakespeare. Dukes, earls, lords, and ladies, all dressed in their finest attire, are waiting to entertain you.

July 15-16 // ccrenfaire.com

SEX N’ THE CITY

A super-unauthorized musical parody of everyone’s favorite singles series comes to the Clark Center, tackling topics like “Will I ever find the one?” and “Can you ever really be over your ex?” Join Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha on a hilarious trip through New York City in the ’90s.

July 14 // clarkcenter.org

SUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL

Each summer for more than fifty years, Festival Mozaic brings together the finest musicians from around the world and music lovers near and far to enjoy premier concerts and events in a festive and stimulating atmosphere. An immersive experience in the heart of California’s Central Coast, the 2023 festival features twenty-one concerts throughout SLO County.

July 22-29 // festivalmozaic.org

MID-STATE FAIR

The California Mid-State Fair’s 2023 theme, “Shake, Rattle & Roll!,” incorporates the glitz and glamor of vintage Las Vegas into the seventy-seventh annual schedule of games, rides, concerts, animals, competitions, auctions, pageants, and food. Music headliners include Tim McGraw, The B-52s with Lou Gramm, and Styx.

July 19-30 // midstatefair.com

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate HAVEN PROPERTIES recently acquired Coldwell Banker Premier Real Estate! We could not be more excited to welcome their wonderful agents to the HAVEN FAMILY. As the fastest growing real estate firm on the Central Coast and supported by the most recognizable name in all things home and lifestyle, HAVEN PROPERTIES can better represent the communities we serve before, during and after meeting your real estate goals.

WITH OFFICES IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, MORRO BAY, PASO ROBLES, PISMO BEACH, AND SANTA MARIA