SLO LIFE Dec/Jan 2012

SLO LIFE 

magazine 

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treats 

Bustin’ Buckets! 

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SANTA ANA, CA 

Dec/jan 2012 

La Isla’s 

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Meet Bridget Ready 

teaching, inspiring strength and Jack 

SLO LIFE Magazine Dec/Jan 2012 | 1

2 | SLO LIFE Magazine Dec/Jan 2012



What we heard in 2011: 

We tripled our business 

last year, and the only place we 

advertised was SLO LIFE Magazine. 

Since we are a small company and get 

to know all of our customers personally, we 

always get around to asking them how they 

heard about us and, more often than not, 

they say that they saw us in SLO LIFE. 

- Dan Melton & Rachael Hill 

SLO Veg 

We ran an ad 

for the first time in the 

last issue of your magazine, 

and, so far, we have picked 

up 6 new clients, and the phone 

has been ringing with inquiries 

from prospective members! 

- Travis Bobbitt 

The Yoga Centre 

We have had great 

results so far. On the day that the 

magazine was mailed out, our website 

registered more than three times the normal 

traffic! Thanks again for all your help. 

- Mark Shaffer 

FunRide 

What we want to hear in 2012: 

My friends, family and I always 

love reading SLO LIFE Magazine 

and I am so glad that I started 

advertising with them! 

- You 

Your Business Name Here 

If you are interested in gaining new customers in the New Year - call us. 

We can help. 

805.553.8820 

slolifemagazine.com/advertise 


| publisher’s message 

I love cold weather, but my car - which runs on waste veggie oil (WVO) - doesn’t 

care for it at all... and, I learned that lesson the hard way. 

It was December, three years ago, when I decided to convert my 1978 Mercedes - 

named “VeggieMatic” by my kids - to run on the waste oil discarded by restaurants 

after they empty their deep fryers. The total cost of the conversion was about 

$900, but when I looked at the price of diesel fuel, I figured we’d have it paid off in 

no time at all. Plus, I relished the idea of sticking it to the Big Oil Companies. 

My wife loved the concept, so Christmas came early that year for us. To 

celebrate, we loaded up the family for a trip to the mountains. We planned to 

spend a few days there leading up to Christmas Eve and then we’d head home 

just in time for Santa’s visit. I cannot begin to tell you how invigorating it was to 

drive by all the gas stations on the way to the mountains. Every time we’d pass 

one, I’d smile to myself knowing I had a tank full of WVO powering my “frybrid.” 

We made it all the way to a remote little mountain cabin outside of Yosemite. It 

was an incredibly beautiful scene as the snow began to fall. All was right with the 

universe. Except that it wasn’t. I woke the next morning ready to take VeggieMatic to the nearest market and stock up on groceries. When I turned 

the key, the engine struggled and refused to start. Feeling frustrated, I called the mechanic who helped me convert the car to run on WVO. I told 

him what had happened and, in grave terms, he explained that my car had just suffered a heart attack - the veggie oil had thickened in the cold 

weather and wasn’t moving. I wouldn’t be able to start the engine until it warmed up again. 

But, I couldn’t wait until spring - Santa was due at our house in less than 72 hours! And, more urgently, we needed groceries. So, I emptied my 

daughter’s pink Care Bears backpack of its dolls and toys, threw it over my shoulders, and started jogging the 10 miles to the market. Hours later, I 

came running back with food, and, considering our circumstances, even more importantly, beer. It was the first and only time in my life that I had 

literally gone on a “beer run.” 

We were stranded, but it didn’t matter. It was great fun playing in the fresh fallen snow, warming by the fire, and baking Christmas cookies. On the 

23rd (or, as we call it at my house “Christmas Eve Eve”), we decided to leave a couple of quartz heaters running overnight, one under the engine 

block and one under the fuel tank to, hopefully, loosen up VeggieMatic’s arteries and get its heart pumping again. 

It was four o’clock in the morning on Christmas Eve when I awoke. Snow was falling. I crept out of the cabin, slipped into the car and turned the 

key. Rrrr-rrr. Rrr-rrr. Rrr-rrr. It struggled to start. I closed my eyes and rested my forehead on the steering wheel. Pleading with Saint Nicholas to 

“Please, please grant me this one small Christmas miracle…” I turned the key again... Rrr-rrr. Rrr-rr. Vrrroooommmm!! It started! And, with that, 

VeggieMatic roared back to life. 

This has been a year full of Christmas magic with so much to be thankful for. At this time I would like to say “thank you” to you for your 

continued support and to our advertisers, who made it possible to send this magazine directly to your mailbox, well before Santa makes his way 

down your chimney. 

Live the SLO Life! 

Tom Franciskovich 

tom@slolifemagazine.com 


magazine 

4251 S. Higuera Street • Suite 800 • San luiS obiSpo, Ca 93401 

SloliFeMagaZine.CoM • (805) 553-8820 • (805) 456-1677 fax 

CONTRIBUTIONS: 

Submit your story ideas, events, recipes 

and announcements by visiting us online at 

slolifemagazine.com 

Contributions chosen for publication may be edited 

for clarity and space limitations. 

ADVERTISING: 

If you would like to advertise, please contact Tom 

Franciskovich by phone at (805) 553-8820 or by email 

at tom@slolifemagazine.com. 

6 | SLO LIFE Magazine Dec/Jan 2012 

publiSHer 

Creative DireCtor 

Contributing 

DeSignerS 

Contributing 

WRITERS 

pHotograpHer 

Contributing pHotograpHerS 

Tom Franciskovich 

Sheryl Disher 

Trent Thibodeaux 

Casey Miller 

Jeanette Trompeter 

Demitria Castanon 

Paden Followwill 

Sabina Miklowitz 

Vincent Shay 

Katie Osekowsky 

Elliot Johnson 

CIRCULATION, COVERAGE AND ADVERTISING 

RATES: 

Complete details regarding circulation, coverage and 

advertising rates, space, sizes and similar information 

are available to prospective advertisers. Please call or 

email for a media kit. Closing date is 30 days before 

date of issue. 

LETTERS TO THE PUBLISHER/EDITOR: 

4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800 

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

Letters chosen for publication may be edited for 

clarity and space limitations.


magazine 

16 

Meet Your Neighbor: 

Bridget Ready 

32 

Caring , Qualified 

Legal Representation 

20 

8 | Q&A 

10 | Notes 

Outdoors: 

Choose Your 

Adventure 

The Way We Live: 

The Siverson Home 

Estate Planning & Trust Administration 

Will, Trust & Conservatorship Litigation 

IRS, Assessor & FTB v. Taxpayer Disputes 

Personal Fiduciary Services 

Elder Law Planning & Litigation 

12 | Contributors 

14 | Places 

24 | Real Estate 

26 | Advice 

28 | Fashion 

30 | No Place Like Home 

34 | To Your Health 

36 | Music 

39 | Inspiration 

41 | Business 

44 | Local Food by Local People 

46 | Community Calendar 

Jed D. Hazeltine 

LL.M. Taxation 

Attorney At Law 

“As an estate planner and 

litigator, I review many 

estate plans that are 

broken and destined to 

fail. It’s never too late to 

create, revise or update 

your estate plan.” 

Currently serving San Luis Obispo County and Northern Santa Barbara County. 

778 Osos Street, Suite C 


805.439.2323 

www.coastfiduciarylaw.com 


| Q & A 

Jan Marx 

She has spent most of her life and career advocating for the preservation of open space. And, after retiring 

from her law practice last year, she is one year into her term as Mayor of San Luis Obispo. We dropped by one 

morning to get to know her a little better and find out how things are going in her new role so far… 

What’s it like being the mayor 

of Happy Town, USA? 

It’s all fun. I really enjoy it. I 

work over 50 hours a week, so 

it’s more than a full time job. 

And often it’s on the weekends 

and in the evenings, as well. But, 

I really like all of the community 

events. I spend a lot of time 

talking with constituents, 

answering emails, talking on the 

phone, and going to visit, for 

example, if a neighborhood is 

having a problem, I may go out 

there and meet with the people 

to see if there is any way that I 

can help. Sometimes, someone 

wishes to honor a person and 

they will give me a call. Things 

like, “Grandpa’s turning 101, 

would you come to his birthday 

party?” So, most of the time, I 

say, “Sure!” I like all of that stuff. 

How did you end up here? 

I was born in Long Beach, 

California. My father was 

stationed there during World 

War II. I went off to Stanford and 

got married while I was still an 

undergraduate – I’m still married 

to the same guy. He got a job 

teaching at Columbia University 

in New York. So, we went there, 

and I enrolled as a student. Then 

we moved to British Columbia to 

“the end of the road.” It’s literally 

where Highway 101 ends, a little 

fishing village called Lund. We 

homesteaded on 30 acres. We 

had all kinds of animals. We had 

our children there and founded a 

branch of a Canadian community 

college there. We lived in Lund 

for about 10 years, and we go 

back every summer. We still have 

a home there. It’s like a home 

away from home. 

What was it like living in rural 

British Columbia? 

It’s the hardest way of life that 

I’ve ever experienced, but I 

was in my twenties. If I get 

into a pinch now, I remember 

that I’m not taking care of 13 

goats, a horse, a half a dozen 

pigs, all these chickens, sheep, 

a cow, two kids and working 

full time and gardening. I was 

teaching children’s theatre in the 

elementary schools and trying 

to get the community college 

established. I was a theatre 

minor in college, and that is how 

I put myself through college, by 

doing children’s theatre. I really 

enjoyed that work. 

Somehow, moving to “the end of 

the road” sounds so poetic. What 

motivated the decision? 

We were kind of in retreat from 

the harsh political and urban 

reality of what was happening in 

the United States, and in New 

York City, when we moved to 

Lund, which was in 1970. We 

were getting ready to have kids. 

I was really looking to build 

community; that’s very much 

what I like to do wherever I 

live. So, that’s where I first got 

interested in land use planning 

because we were involved in 

making a master plan for the 

peninsula. Lund is at the end of 

the peninsula, it’s almost like 

an island. Our time there was 

really about providing education, 

building community, raising a 

family, and learning how to live 

off the land as much as possible. 

It was very much the kind of life 

my grandparents lived in rural 

Missouri. We were making most 

of what we used, raising most 

of our own food. We were really 

trying to raise all of our own food, 

but there are certain limits to 

that. You couldn’t grow wheat 

up there, or rice. It was a very 

short growing season. Here, it’s 

a great climate, and you can 

garden year round. Right now is 

a great time to plant broccoli, 

lettuce, and spinach. 

What do you like to do for fun - 

still raising farm animals? 

No, but I have a little Yorkie. She’s 

angry at me right now because 

I didn’t take her for a walk this 

morning, I came and saw you 

instead [laughter]. I like to hike, I 

enjoy reading, I’m part of a book 

group, I work out at the gym, and 

I’ve got four grandchildren. We 

have a son and a daughter and 

they each have two little boys. 

Two of my grandchildren live in 

San Luis and two of them live in 

Sun Valley, Idaho. This Christmas 

they’re coming out to visit us. 

We have our son’s surfboard and 

wetsuit in our garage, so that’s a 

guarantee that we get to see him 

– he likes the ocean. My husband 

and I are both really involved 

with the children and we like to 

travel. I like to cook, and I like 

to garden. I enjoy going to the 

theatre. I love music. 

Speaking of books, have you read 

anything good lately? 

River of Doubt, is an interesting 

book. Theodore Roosevelt is 

one of my heroes. I love all 

of the things he did for the 

environment, and he was 

also fiscally conservative. I’m 

conservative when it comes to 

spending money, and I want to 

make sure we get a good result 

for every penny we spend on the 

city. I also want to preserve the 

environment, and I’m interested 

in principles of social justice 

for people. River of Doubt is 

about what he did after he was 

president. It focuses on his 

expedition in Latin America. It’s 

a fascinating story. 



Have You Heard About 

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| NOTES 

Local, Handmade, 

Organic, Fair Trade 

1445 Monterey Street, SLO 

950 Chorro Street, SLO 

805.782.9868 

www.sweetearthchocolates.com 


HOT LEAD 

Dear SLO LIFE, 

I wanted to tell you about this interesting SLO 

couple. Susan and Joel Westwood are doing 

some really great things for our community. 

Susan started a program called PEAK (Providing 

Extracurricular Activities for Kids) at Pacheco 

Elementary School. This is a program designed 

to allow children to participate in activities 

outside of school (soccer, boy scouts, art, 

etc...) by assisting with costs, transportation, 

and equipment. These families would not be 

able to afford it otherwise. You can learn more 

by visiting the website at www.peakslo.org. Joel 

is a Cal Poly professor that helps students by 

fixing up bikes and lending them to students 

while they are living here. This seems like a 

great idea for students with little resources 

for a car and that live close enough to bike 

in to class. 

One of the things I love about living the SLO 

life is meeting so many people that have 

such amazing ideas about giving back to the 

community and working together to build 

each other up. I am constantly amazed by the 

generous hearts around us. 

Thanks, 

Meka Rudd 

San Luis Obispo 

We are constantly amazed too, Meka. And 

your note piqued our curiosity, so we asked 

Demitria Castanon to go out to Pacheco to 

have a look around. Many interviews and 

several drafts and a couple of edits later, we 

decided to run the story in this issue [see “The 

Tenth Sister” on page 39]. We really appreciate 

your thinking of us, and we would like to take 

this opportunity to thank others of you who 

have submitted story leads to us through our 

website (if you haven’t done so already, simply 

go to slolifemagazine.com and click the “Tell 

Us Your Story” button on the home page). 

Although we receive many more story ideas 

than we are able to print, please know that 

if you do not see yours published, it does not 

mean that we will not do so in the future… so 

keep ‘em coming! 


OFFICIOUS INTERMEDDLER 


Love the magazine. It is slick and looks great. 

You give ink to the people and places in SLO. 

My question, as “an officious intermeddler” 

is how do you and the magazine get your 

own ink and get picked up and get libraries 

and others to carry you. I think you have it 

on the Central Coast. Cal Poly, their scientists 

and programs may be a good way to get the 

magazine international exposure. 

Paul Lichtman 


We like how you think, Paul. Maybe you can 

help us go international someday! For now, we 

are content to continue expanding circulation 

right here on the Central Coast. But, please do 

keep us posted on whatever great ideas come 

to mind and know that we do not consider 

you to be “intermeddling” at all! In fact, your 

note spurred the idea to offer a special holiday 

deal. Be sure to check out page 38 where 

we are running a subscription promotion… 

maybe we can convince those super smart 

Cal Poly professors to buy Christmas gift 

subscriptions for their friends who live 

outside the area (hint, hint). 


MOM LOVES AMBIANCE 


I think that you should do a profile on my 

daughter Kannyn January. She purchased 

Ambiance Boutique in 2001 after graduating 

from Cal Poly, and she has followed the 

economic storm of uncertainty into making 

her boutique fit into what consumers can 

afford and remain unique and stylish. Kannyn 

is an asset to downtown SLO. When so many 

national chains are moving into our unique 

downtown, Kannyn has stayed the course and 

provided a place where local artists, jewelry 

designers and fashion designers can sell to the 

public. Kannyn is definitely a SLOtown jewel!!! 

Marian Willingham 

Cambria 

Thanks for your email, Marian. Although we 

figure you are probably just a tad bit biased, 

we applaud your daughter’s commitment to 

making Downtown SLO the cool, hip place 

that it is. We hope to drop by and introduce 

ourselves to Kannyn and pick up a gift or 

two in her boutique. In the meantime, 

we’d like to encourage all of our readers to 

shop our local retailers as much as possible 

this holiday season. It’s great for our local 

economy, plus where else can you find such 

unique gifts and fantastic service? Shop 

local, it’s good for all of us. 


FOOD CONNECTION 


Would you mind forwarding this message to 

Tiffani Ayers in response to the “Local Food by 

Local People” article about her in last month’s 

magazine: 

Tiffani, 

My grandparents went to Hong Kong in 1903 

and my parents, my siblings and myself were 

all born there. Unfortunately for me, I was 

4 when we left Hong Kong so my Cantonese 

consists of the foods I like and of course, 

“Aiya”! I was able to spend last weekend

listening to my family talk, tell jokes and 

generally have a great time in Cantonese 

while we celebrated my mother’s birthday. 

It was interesting though that when it came 

time to order food in Seattle’s Chinatown, 

they all placed me by the push cart aisle and 

turned to me for food recommendations. 

The article really hit a note as the “Chinese 

food connection” is what I have to pass on 

to my sons. In fact, for their birthday dinner 

they normally pick a Chinese restaurant 

or ask me to cook lap cheong and choy at 

home! Thank you for sharing your almond 

cookie recipe, you can be sure that it will be 

tried this weekend. 

Mandy Leastman, CFF, CPA 

EVP/Chief Financial Officer 

Founders Community Bank 

We just thought this note from Mandy was 

so cool, and, although it was written for us to 

pass along to Tiffani, we asked her if it would 

be okay to publish here. Tiffani’s feature in the 

last issue “Local Food by Local People” was a 

big hit with many readers as it was really more 

about about the way people connect through 

cooking than it was about her grandmother 

Fong Gong’s almond cookies – although they 

were phenomenal! Thank you, Tiffani, for 

sharing the story, and the recipe and thank 

you, Mandy, for your note. If either of you ever 

need any taste-testers in the future, we are 

located at 4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800. 


BEHIND THE SCENES 


We thought it might be interesting to do an 

article on all the people who play a role in 

putting your magazine together. I know there 

must be quite a few involved. My wife and I 

eagerly await each issue of SLO LIFE and read 

it cover to cover each time, but we can’t help 

but wonder who is behind the scenes. 

John G. Anderson 

Arroyo Grande 

You know, John, we get this question quite a 

lot. So, we figured it was time to introduce you 

to our amazingly talented contributors. Please 

turn the page and get to know the people that 

make it happen. 


IT WORKS! 

We knew that we needed to do some 

marketing, so we looked around at our 

options. We always love reading SLO LIFE, 

and we know lots of other people that are 

really into the magazine, so we thought why 

not try advertising in it. We gave them a call 

and the publisher came out and spent some 

time with us one afternoon. He asked a lot 

of questions and really took an interest in 

our business and what we were doing to try 

to grow it. He put together an advertising 

program for us that ended up costing a lot 

less than we had expected. All I can say now 

is… Wow, we have had an amazing response 

so far! We are so happy that we hooked up 

with SLO LIFE. 

Karen Cipolla 

Dream Dinners 

PHONE TAG 

You guys are running some killer ads on T.V. 

right now… what’s the deal with those guys, 

The Bucket Busters?? Those kids rock!! I have 

a couple of questions. Can you give me a call? 

My number is…” 

Randy 

Voicemail 

Hopefully you received our return call, 

Randy, we did leave a voicemail message. 

But, in case you didn’t get it, we would 

like to direct you to page 36 where you 

can learn all you want and more about the 

Bucket Busters. And, you are definitely 

right, those kids do rock!! 


Would you like to have your letter published? 

notes@slolifemagazine.com 

facebook.com/slolifemagazine 

slolifemagazine.com/feedback 

Get Back to the Business 

of Running Your Business 

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Call today and let us 

begin assisting you with 

all of your commercial 

insurance needs. 

(805) 783-7130 

Visit us online at 

www.rlassoc.com 

Letters may be edited for content and clarity. To be considered for publication your letter must 

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1363 Marsh Street, Suite A 



| Contributors 

Introducing the talented, hard-working people who made this 

issue of SLO LIFE Magazine possible... 

Vincent Shay 

has a contagious passion for adventure. As the owner-operator 

of SLO Coast Kayaks, he spends most of his time on or near the 

water introducing locals to his love of kayaking and stand-up 

paddling. Fortunately for us he still makes time for photography. 

Although he has traveled the world filming documentaries, 

it’s his outdoors action-adventure shots that he has captured 

locally that we love the most. 

Jeanette Trompeter 

is a news anchor and reporter at KSBY. Her deep roots in the 

community give her the local insight we all know and cherish. It is 

an absolute delight to collaborate with her on the “No Place Like 

Home” column where she continually reminds us why we love living 

on the Central Coast. But, it’s her passion for getting the story right 

by digging into them on her own and rightfully retaining the word 

“reporter” in her title that we admire most. 

Demitria Castanon 

has fully immersed herself into many different aspects of the production of this 

magazine. She’s an amazingly fast learner, who we have not hesitated to send out 

on important assignments including “A Day in the Life of SLO Veg” (Aug/Sep 2011) 

and “The Tenth Sister” (see page 39 in this issue). Although we hope she sticks 

around to continue helping us as our intern, we will not be surprised to see her 

name in the bylines with the likes of Sunset or Runner’s World before too long. 


Sabina Miklowitz 

fell in love with photography on her 9th birthday when she 

received her first camera as a gift. Today, she is responsible for 

most of the photography in the magazine, including the cover 

shot for this issue which was captured with a new lens she 

describes as having a “deliciously shallow depth of field.” She 

wants to become a fashion photographer, and we fully expect to 

find her work in the finest Madison Avenue agencies someday. 

Paden Followwill 

describes herself as a “sensation-seeker to the core,” so it is 

no surprise that she continually comes up with great story 

concepts that are based on her first-hand adventures around 

the Central Coast. She is an experienced journalist with a keen 

understanding of the business of storytelling. A globe-trotting 

world traveler, we are incredibly fortunate to benefit from the 

perspectives she has gained in the culmination of her many 

journeys both abroad and at home. 

Mike Roberts 

knows his stuff. As a graduate of the prestigious Brooks Institute, 

we are lucky to have the opportunity to work with him. By day, 

he is fully immersed in his work as Creative Producer at KSBY, 

which includes shooting and editing commercials for advertisers, 

including us. On the weekends, he can be found filming downhill 

skateboarding competitions, among other things. He is an incredible 

talent who has an uncanny sense for capturing beautiful images. 

Some of his recent commercials, including “Livin’ the SLO Life” and 

“Bucket Bustin’ the SLO Life” can be found on our homepage (go to 

slolifemagazine.com and click on the “See Our Commercials” icon). 

Katie Osekowsky 

happened to be walking by with her camera equipment in hand at Farmers’ 

Market the day we were filming our new commercial with the Bucket Busters. 

She graciously volunteered to photograph the scene, which resulted in some 

amazing nighttime photography (see “Bucket Busters” on page 36). Through her 

work at SLO Stoked Productions, she spends much of her time perfecting her 

craft and continues to be amazed at how “a quick moment, combined with the 

right timing and vision” can be captured forever. 


| Places 

THe Pac 


Culminating from a joint effort between Cal Poly, the City, and the non-profit foundation bearing its name, the Performing 

Arts Center opened to much fanfare in September of 1996. Today, it continues to inspire audience members and 

performers alike with a style and architecture all its own. “The PAC,” as it is known to locals, is a coveted jewel of the 

Central Coast. Last March, Steve Corey, as a member of the San Luis Obispo Camera Club (SLOCC), was invited to tour all 

of the “nooks and crannies that normally would be off bounds to visitors.” While the behind the scenes shots produced 

some interesting photography, it was this sweeping view from the stage of Sidney Harmon Hall, the main 1,289 seat 

auditorium, that left him awestruck, just as it did the first time he saw it fifteen years ago. 


Do you have an amazing photo to share? Email it to places@slolifemagazine.com 


| Meet your neighbor 

Meet 

bridget ready 

In this installment of our “Meet Your Neighbor” 

series, SLO LIFE Magazine sits down for a 

conversation with Bridget Ready. She comes from 

a long line of local ranching families, teaches 

at Bishop’s Peak Elementary, and, along with 

her husband, Paul, an attorney, she co-founded 

Jack’s Helping Hand, which was inspired by their 

experience caring for their son, Jack, whom they 

lost to a rare form of brain cancer seven years 

ago when he was just three-and-a-half years old. 

Here is her story… 

Let’s start from the beginning, bridget, where are you from? 

My family has been around here for eight generations. I was raised out 

on a cattle ranch in the middle of nowhere. My husband’s family has 

been around for quite a while, too. He told me that I had to marry him 

because he was the only one I wasn’t related to in San Luis County. I went 

off to school at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. I always knew I wanted to 

be a teacher from day one. 

Did anything influence you in making that decision? 

One of the best things my parents said was to “do what you love and 

the rest will take care of itself.” And teaching has continued to save my 

life. I love it. I have a Montessori credential; I studied for a year in Italy 

with Mario Montessori [son of Maria Montessori]. And then I went to 

Cal Poly where I received my teaching credential and Masters in Special 

Education, which is another love of mine. I first started teaching in 1982, 

back in the Dark Ages [laughter]. 

Tell us about your kids. 

I have Philip, who is 23 at Davis; Dana, who is 21 in Colorado; Grace, who 

is 16 and a junior at Mission Prep; and, Jack, who would be going on 11. 

Can you tell us about Jack? 

He was perfectly fine when he was born with a high Apgar score [a test 

administered to newborns immediately after birth to determine their 

relative level of health]. He did very well. He passed the Well-Baby exam, 

also. When he was three months old, he started crying and crying, and 

we couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so finally we took him to the 

hospital where he had a seizure, and they found a brain tumor. This was 

right after 9/11 happened, and the planes were grounded, but we had to 

get him up to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, which is on the Stanford 

campus in Palo Alto, because they had to operate immediately. They 

ended up sending a helicopter to pick us up. 

What was the hospital like? 

It’s a magical place, as most children’s hospitals are. I’ll never forget the 

first day when we were there at Stanford. I was sitting in the waiting 

room, and there was this old, African-American gentleman vacuuming 

the floor. And, as I was sitting there, I could see him sort of checking 


out this couple in the corner. It was obvious that they were quite poor. 

When he finished vacuuming, he walked over, pulled a ten-dollar bill out 

of his pocket, handed it to them and limped away. Also, the parking lot 

attendant would give candy to everyone, and there was a woman who 

came into our room each morning to mop the floor, and she’d always 

come in early to play peek-a-boo with Jack. I think your eyes are more 

open at that time, and you’re more appreciative of those small gestures. 

Was that what inspired you to create Jack’s Helping Hand? 

This is where it all starts. We had great insurance, but they would not let 

him leave San Luis County because they wanted him to stay and biopsy 

the tumor. And, Stanford was like, “No. You get him up here now. That 

kid’s going to barely make it through the night.” We ended up staying 

there for nine months in the hospital. He should have never made it, 

but he had multiple surgeries. And, he just fought like crazy, and he was 

adorable. During that time people here were so wonderful to us. 

What was it like when you finally came back to SLO? 

When we brought him home, he was cancer-free. And we immediately 

got started on his rehabilitation. At Stanford, we had become accustomed 

to great physical therapy facilities; they had everything. But we came 

home, and the first thing we did was to go to the California Children’s 

Services (CCS) therapy room, which was about the size of a little closet. I 

remember looking around and thinking, “You have got to be kidding.” 

So what happened next? 

We learned that CCS only got something like $600 or $800 per year 

for physical therapy equipment. So, we got to work on raising funds to 

improve it. I just thought, “I want state-of-the-art.” We worked with 

the county schools, and they gave us a huge, like triple-sized classroom, 

and we outfitted it gorgeously with every kind of piece of equipment 

you can imagine. It was painted with beautiful murals. But at that time, 

there were only 10 or 12, maybe 14, kids coming in. Now there are over 

a hundred. It was like “build it, and they shall come.” That is how Jack’s 

Helping Hand started. We just wanted to make sure that if you have a 

child here with special needs or one that is medically fragile, you had 

what you needed. 

continued on page 18

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| Meet your neighbor 

Today, Jack’s Helping Hand has grown to include assisting children and 

families outside of the physical therapy facility, correct? 

Yes, that’s right. As a family we incurred an extraordinary expense in 

driving back and forth to Stanford. Doing that two or three times a week 

easily added up to thousands of dollars per month. But, we realized that 

we weren’t alone. Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital contacted us and 

said, “We know you have the foundation, and we have some families that 

are coming up here from San Luis County. Could you possibly help them 

with gas cards, or lodging, or food?” 

And just who were these people? 

What we found was that the majority of the people that are hit the 

hardest are local, working people, many of them with insurance. And 

that’s what we’re there to fill. It’s the mom and dad who are working, 

who have to up-and-leave and stay in a hotel because they don’t qualify 

for any help. And they don’t have enough to pay for it on their own. They 

have to pay for gas. They still have to eat, they have to sleep, and all those 

costs really add up quickly for families. So, we just started noticing all 

these families in the same situation as us. 

“ 

It’s not that, in the end, 

we all succeed at what we’re 

aiming to do. It’s just that we 

give it our best shot. 

” 

So the foundation expanded its mission. 

Initially, Jack’s Helping Hand was just an effort to create a better physical 

therapy room for California Children’s Services, but then, out-of-theblue, 

came a boy named Owen Beck. He had cancer – he’s darling, oh 

my gosh! He’s going to be 24. He was 17 at the time, which was about a 

year after Jack died. Owen’s mom was a teacher, his dad was a farmer; 

it’s a classic story. He was diagnosed with cancer and had to have his leg 

amputated. And the only prosthetic leg he could get, the only one his 

insurance company would approve – and this was top-notch insurance – 

was something like a pirate’s leg. It hurt him. And he kept falling down. 

There was new technology out there, but it was going to cost $50,000. So, 

we decided to have a barbeque to raise funds. We continue this annually 

now, and it sells out every year. We’ve since been able to help a lot of 

other kids like Owen. We’ve bought wheelchairs, we’ve bought artificial 

limbs, hearing aids - you name it. 

Aside from the obvious health challenges, do you find that these kids 

have anything else in common? 

They are really the invisible children here because when you have a sick 

child, you cannot leave the house much. You’re not going out to the 

soccer games, or birthday parties, or the beach, and you are out of the 

area a lot for treatment. So, people don’t know you, and they really don’t 

know what you need. And, so, you get lost. 

Clearly it was Jack who opened your eyes to this world. 

Jack was three-and-a-half when he died. I think the one thing is that as 

we all live, we need to live with no regrets. There are many of us whom I 

know now who have lost children, and we can look back and know that, 

although it is a very difficult thing to go through, we are very lucky to 

have that experience. For me, it really opened up a world that I was not 

aware of. I was not aware of the special needs world. And we are part of 

this silent population. But, it was one of the best things for my children 

and my family to have a child like that. 

How did this change your perspective? 

I knew that, if our family ever had a chance after all this suffering - I was 

gone all the time, and we almost lost everything - I needed to know that 

we did our best with no regrets. We did that. And, you know what, we 

had fun. We got to see things that other people don’t see. 

top BRIDGET AND PAUL READY 

bottom (left to right) GRACE, JACk, PHILIP AND DANA READY 

How did your other kids cope? 

Luckily we had very good counseling, in fact I had a great psychiatrist 

who has since passed away of a brain tumor. But, we had a great deal of 

support. My 23-year-old - I don’t know that it has anything to do with his 

brother - he’s kind of a wild man [laughter]… he’s at UC Davis, hopefully, 

someday graduating. But, he doesn’t seem to be in a very big rush. But, 

honestly, I think it opened our kids’ world. They go to Special Olympics; 

they get it. They do not take things for granted, and I would say that is 


a gift. I also refused from day one to look at this experience - once Jack 

passed away - that this would do nothing but enrich our lives. You know, 

that’s a choice. And we all have to make a choice about how we see 

the world. And, we, as a family, have chosen to see it as an eye-opening 

experience, where we can help and understand others. 

How did you keep it together during that time? 

I have a great family and friends and faith. And, having a child like Jack 

brings out the best in others. People stepped forward who you would 

have never thought would step forward. And really you just live at a 

whole different level. Things that I thought really mattered, didn’t. And 

that’s one of the real blessings. You really get to see life from a different 

perspective of what is important. Through suffering comes greatness. 

It sounds like you had formed some tremendous bonds through the 

entire experience. 

When Jack died, Stanford actually sent a plane down loaded with nurses 

and doctors to attend the funeral. The head of the hospital called me and 

I said to him, “You know what - in life, all we know is that we give it our 

best shot. And we gave it our best shot.” And that’s what it’s about. It’s 

not that, in the end, we all succeed at what we’re aiming to do. It’s just 

that we give it our best shot. 

What came next for you? 

For a year after Jack died I was completely grief stricken and kind of just 

laid around. I really tried my best. I had great counseling once or twice 

a week; I did everything you were supposed to do. I exercised, I walked, 

I talked to really positive people, I saw friends, and I tried to clean my 

house. You’re just trying to find some sense of order. My husband finally 

said, “Ok, you’ve got to do something. What do you love?” I just said, “I 

love teaching elementary school, I love it.” I knew within the first two 

minutes of going back to work that I had made the right decision. I just 

knew that was it. I love teaching. It feeds my soul. 

How are things going now with the holidays coming up? 

It’s always bittersweet. Jack has a stocking that my sister sent him the 

day he was born. It’s an angel. Now I think, “Ah-ha - that makes sense!” 

It’s bittersweet. Time does help. It never goes away, but it does help. I 

think holidays are hard. I try to talk with other families because you want 

to give them hope that it’s a different life after you’ve lost a child. You 

can’t go back to the life you had before. That life’s done. So, you have to 

go out and build a new one. And I think that is so critical for parents to 

know. The heart grieving is the hardest work you will ever do. But, in the 

end, as you build your new life, you owe it to your child because they 

want you to go on, they want you to live. And, in honor of them, it’s your 

responsibility to do that. 

Do you feel that with Jack’s Helping Hand you are somehow keeping 

him alive? 

You know, it’s really interesting. I did not plan on that. What I am trying 

to do is to educate people to the needs of this community. I think 

that’s more how I see it. I was just so surprised to see so much need, 

particularly after raising three “perfect” children – I can tell you some 

great parenting stories I have [laughter], especially now that I have my 

third going through “teenage hood” – I just feel that I was brought into a 

world that is just so hidden with so many needs, and I just want to help 

as much as I can and fill those needs. That is what I am trying to do. 

What does the future hold for you? 

I’ve got another year until I get my daughter off to college then I am 

going to go back to horseback riding. You know, I really loved horseback 

riding. I grew up riding horses, and I am really looking forward to getting 

back on a horse. 

Thanks for taking the time to talk with us today, Bridget – we are truly 

inspired by your grace and wisdom. 

That’s very sweet of you to say. Thanks for your interest - it means a lot. 


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| THE WAY WE LIVE 

In 2007, Sky Bergman found her dream home 

just a block-and-a-half away from her apartment 

on Mill Street. She made an offer without even 

laying eyes on the inside of the home, which 

was then a rental property. “The location was 

perfect, but the house was a mess - it needed 

a complete remodel,” remembers Bergman, a 

Photography Professor at Cal Poly. 

To counteract the prominent “foursquare-style” 

architecture - characterized by the fact that the 

roofline is nearly a perfect square - Bergman 

enlisted the help of architect Enrica Lovaglio 

Costello. It became clear during the early design 

phase that the home, which was originally built 

in either 1904 or 1907 (Bergman has found 

conflicting documentation), needed something 

to smooth out its overall “boxy-ness.” 

The idea came about to soften the strong 

angular lines of the exterior by creating soft 

contours with winding walls and archways 

throughout the interior. This helped to preserve 

the original character of the structure, while at 

the same time introducing a more modern feel 

with a logical, clean interior flow. The result is 

a well-thought-out, light-filled interior which is 

warm and inviting. Exacting attention to detail is 

apparent throughout. 

Design and layout of the surrounding yard was 

conceived by Bergman, and features a whimsical 

“sculpture garden” that is especially popular 

with children. “It all started when my mom gave 

me this metal sculpted rooster for my birthday. 

I put it outside, then a friend noticed it and 

bought me another item, then someone else 

brought over something for the collection. It’s 

grown exponentially since then,” she laughs. 

For the rest of the landscape, the focus has 

been on water efficiency. There is no grass lawn, 

instead Bergman was able to recycle the brick in 

the fireplace which had been removed, and now 

it makes up the walkways that wind through 

the succulent gardens. Bergman, who has a 

fondness for the look of artichoke plants also 

took liberty in adding them, as well as a small 

plot of tomatoes. Somehow, all of the changes 

fit together to reflect a new unique, eclectic 

style to this historic Mill Street gem. 


The Bergman Home 

1265 Mill Street 

PhoToS By ELLIoTT JohnSon 


| THE WAY WE LIVE 

MODERN STYLING 

Bergman and 

Costello softened 

the “boxy-ness” 

of the foursquare 

structure by 

adding contours 

to the walls, 

archways, and the 

island, pictured 

here in the 

kitchen, where 

contrasting colors 

combine with 

abundant light to 

create an inviting, 

user-friendly space. 


BATHING BEAuTIES 

left The curved wall adds a modern feel when 

combined with mosiac tilework. 

below The clawfoot tub in the second bathroom, 

which is surrounded by extra tall wainscoting, 

pairs nicely with the classic-style black and white 

hexagon tile floor. 



| real estate 

New Year’s Resolution 

five projects to brighten your abode 

1 GETorganized 

If your home is feeling small and crowded 

it’s time to clear clutter. Create smaller 

manageable tasks by focusing on one room at a time 

organizing your closets, drawers, garage, and files. 

TIP! Wire shelving systems brings order to closets and 

garages - without costing a bundle. 

2 

clEan 

Don’t be overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning. 

Tackle the job in a room-by-room fashion or work in 

different zones of your home - wash windows, mop 

floors, deep clean carpets, polish furniture, etc. 

TIP! No time for a big scrubfest? Setting aside just 30 

minutes a day can make a huge impact. 

3weatherproof 

YOUR 

HOME 

Prepare your home for the 

seasonal change in weather by 

sealing gaps around doors and 

windows. Weather-stripping is an 

easy, inexpensive tool for sealing 

openings and reducing your 

heating and air conditioning bill. 

TIP! Take it a step further by 

installing dual pane windows. 

4 

PaInT 

a fresh coat of paint is the easiest and cheapest way to 

dramatically change a room’s appearance. It not only 

adds to your home’s appeal, it can even make it look 

cleaner. Plus, by using paints with low-volatile organic 

compounds (low VOC paints), you won’t produce the 

toxic fumes that traditional paints do. 

TIP! Paint a bold accent wall to bring drama to a room. 

5 

POWER wash 

Pressure washing is a fast and easy way to 

blast grime, mold and mildew off of your 

home’s exterior, decks, driveways, and sidewalks. 

TIP! Avoid windows, light fixtures, and anything else 

that could break under the pressure. 


the numbers at a glance 

Comparing the last four months to the same period last year (07/01/10 - 10/31/10 vs. 07/01/11 - 10/31/11) 

Home Price 

$100,000 - $500,000 

2010 2011 +/- • 

Home Price 

$500,001 - $1,000,000 

2010 2011 +/- 

Home Price 

$1,000,001+ 

• 

2010 2011 +/- 

1. Total Homes Sold 

31 47 151.62% 

45 39 - 13.33% 

4 12 200.00% 

2. Average Asking Price 

• 

3. Average Selling Price 

$430,861 $426,049 - 1.12% 

$416,984 $410,368 - 1.59% 

4. Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 96.78% 96.32% - 0.46% 

$687,993 $693,976 - 0.87% $1,876,750 $1,601,492 - 14.67% 

$659,909 $656,811 - 0.47% 

• 

95.92% 94.64% - 1.28% 

$1,643,750 $1,387,441 - 15.59% 

87.58% 88.63% - 0.95% 

5. Average # of Days on the Market 

69 45 - 34.78% 

111 80 - 27.93% 

247 264 6.88% 


• 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of RealtoRs 

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funride 

Transportation is an often overlooked area to 

save both money and resources. In fact, AAA 

Insurance estimates that just operating a vehicle 

costs over $700 per month! Many Americans 

believe that they have to own their own vehicle 

and cannot reduce their transportation costs. 

Ideally, you can reduce the number of vehicles 

in your household and get by with sharing a 

single car instead. If that is not possible, try 

committing to using your vehicle less by riding 

the bus, joining a vanpool, or biking to work. By 

setting all appointments and errands outside 

of the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays, for 

example, and finding an alternative the other 

three days of the week, you can reduce your car 

use by 60% during that time. And, if you are in 

the market to buy a new car, consider electric or 

natural gas. Try increasing your miles per gallon 

by 10 and reducing your fuel costs by 33%. This 

will make an enormous difference over time. 

With a little planning, you should be able to 

substantially reduce your transportation costs. 

We get this question a lot, and before our 

customers invest in solar panels or energy 

efficient heating, we recommend that they 

first maximize the efficiencies of their current 

systems. Simple things like replacing old 

refrigerators, properly sealing a home, and 

checking the duct work make a big difference. 

There was a study conducted by the Energy 

Commission last year in San Diego that found 

that 50% of the surveyed home’s heat going 

through the ducts was lost in the attic! 50%... 

and that was a new home! It is not uncommon 

to find up to 40% heat loss in the duct work 

of an average home. Keep in mind, too, that 

this work doesn’t have to be expensive. And 

there are government programs available 

currently to help with the cost. Once these 

things are completed, you will likely discover 

that you actually needed a smaller solar 

system than you initially thought. The same 

is true with hearth products. Maybe you 

won’t need as much heating capacity as you 

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JOhn ewan 

Owner 

Pacific Energy Co. 


SLO LIFE


| Fashion 

La isla 

SLO inspires designer’s bold move 

my mom had given me - it had belonged 

to my grandfather - and I’d take out all 

my paperwork and stuff it full of bikinis,” 

remembers Sanchez-Rivera. “But, I just got 

completely ripped apart by the buyers. They 

told me to get out of the business, that I had 

no idea what I was doing.” 

Undaunted, the young designer continued to 

refine the product with seamstresses in his 

native Colombia. He also began working with 

renowned fashion designer, Cedella Marley 

(daughter to Bob Marley). And, through her 

Catch a Fire label, Sanchez-Rivera’s design 

made its way to Miss Jamaica’s appearance 

in the Miss Universe competition. But, 

the real break came one day when Sports 

Illustrated called. “I had all of their numbers 

programmed into my cell phone because I 

sent them samples… I started to give them 

instructions as to how to return the suits, just 

as I did each year, and the person on phone 

said, ‘Wait, wait… I’m calling to tell you that 

La Isla has been chosen to appear in the 

Swimsuit Edition,” recounts Sanchez-Rivera. 

Not only did his suit make its way into 

the all-important Swimsuit Edition, but it 

appeared on the cover girl. Sanchez-Rivera and 

his La Isla brand exploded onto the national 

scene, and he became an overnight sensation 

in the industry. Calls poured in from other 

magazines, such as Surfing, and his swimsuit 

made a cameo on the David Letterman Show. 

EnriquE SanchEz-rivEra pictured here on 

the morning before his fateful drive north 

One of the world’s hottest bathing suit designers has just moved into town. And, for 

someone who has made a career out of discovering beauty, it is understandable that 

Colombian-born fashion designer Enrique Sanchez-Rivera has chosen San Luis Obispo as the 

new home for his La Isla bathing suit brand. The only surprise is how it all happened. 

Recently, while he was in Santa Barbara, Sanchez-Rivera decided to blow off some steam 

after a particularly intense photo shoot. So he took a quick drive up the coast. By chance, he 

pulled off at Marsh Street, which led him into downtown San Luis Obispo. Recalls Sanchez- 

Rivera, “It immediately captured me, it was just so beautiful, the weather was perfect. It had 

a really good energy, a good vibe and the beach is right here, which is a requirement for me.” 

Sanchez-Rivera, who had grown up in Colombia, left to attend college on the East Coast and 

started his career on Wall Street with a large mutual fund company. During one of his many 

visits back home, he walked into his old bedroom where he was surprised to find a huge pile 

of bikinis. He asked his sister what it was all about, and she replied that she had made them 

and was giving them to her friends. Sanchez-Rivera was intrigued. He brought some back to 

New York and gave them to a friend who owned a modeling agency there. One of the suits 

was used in a fashion shoot. The stylists and models raved about the bikinis. 

Spotting an opportunity, Sanchez-Rivera set out to get the suits into retailers around 

Manhattan. “I literally went door-to-door after work. I’d empty my brown Bali suitcase that 


Despite the notoriety, Sanchez-Rivera 

comes from an agricultural upbringing - he 

remembers rising at 4am as a child to help 

make cheese that he wrapped in plantain 

leaves with his grandmother - whose culture 

is on the other end of the spectrum from the 

fast-paced world of fashion. So, perhaps it 

is not so hard to understand why he chose 

the easy-going Central Coast to set up shop 

after all. Today, the designer, who spends 

a lot of time looking for ways to give back, 

has ongoing charitable partnerships with 

the Surfrider Foundation, Children of the 

Americas, and the Ocean Futures Society. He 

stresses that, “As crazy as this sounds: money 

means nothing to me. Nothing.” Instead he 

cites the fact that he employs 70 full-time, 

head of household seamstresses in Colombia 

as his most important accomplishment to-date. 

“Things are tough down there, and some of 

these women who started working for me 

were homeless; they couldn’t afford school 

for their kids. Then, two or three years later 

that changed. The difference I can make by 

doing this is enormous.” SLO LIFE

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Cheers to you 

| No Place like home 

The Great american melodrama 

By Jeanette trompeter, KSBy newS 

Happy Holidays from our family at 

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Schoolhouse in Avila Valley 

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15% discount for mentioning “SLO Life” 

TRUSTED IN-HOME CARE 

Respect & Care At Home 

the minute you walk in the door, you will 

realize that the Great american melodrama 

in oceano is a different world. the oldtime 

piano playing, the actors in costume 

showing you to your seats, and the saloontype 

feel of the place - anyone who’s ever 

been there will tell you it’s more proof that 

“there’s no place Like Home.” 

the folks at the Great american melodrama 

put on more than stage productions; they 

provide an experience. By the time the actors 

take the stage, you will have forgotten where 

you are, and wonder why you don’t do this 

more often. 

the place has been around since 1975. It was 

John and Lynne Schlenker who came up with 

the idea of turning the old rexall drug store 

into a melodrama. “I was thinking more of a 

hobby,” says John. “He was trying to live out 

a dream to put a live theatre in downtown 

oceano!” adds Lynne. 

John fell in love with melodrama as a 

performer in other areas of the country. 

“Virginia City, montana, the Virginia City 

players, mountain air players, Buckskin Joe, 

Colorado...” he lists them off. “The gold rush 

era of the United States is full of melodramas.” 

melodramas tell stories through comedy, 

heroes and villains and usually audience 

participation. “they were based around 

american folklore, around happenings in 

the old west, in streets of new york, and 

that sort of thing,” explains John. “and 

because they were about political issues, 

people would stand up and yell things, and 

say things or try to correct things, and they 

got a little bit rowdy.” 

a cast of six to eight performers does it all: 

provide the music, seat the guests, write 

a lot of the shows, and work the snack bar 

during breaks. and they are entertaining 

through out the duration. 

“A tip into the jar, a tip into the jar, what a 

glorious feeling, I need gas in my car,” the 

actors sing when someone puts a buck in the 

tip jar. “Somebody will bring their child and 

they’ll hand him a dollar or something, and 

the kid’s eyes just light up when they see what 

happens after they leave a tip. ‘Dad, can I have 

more money?’” Lynne laughs. 

the Great american melodrama is an 

americana classic, a throwback to the wild 

Wild West. Tourists book tickets before they 

book their vacations on the Central Coast. Yet, 

as often is the case, locals can miss out on the 

fun. “We run into people all the time, and we 

ask ‘How long have you lived here?’” explains 

Lynn. they’ll tell us they’ve lived here all their 

lives and we ask, ‘Have you ever been to the 

Melodrama?’ They’ll say ‘No,’ but that they’ve 

always planned on coming there and can’t 

explain why they haven’t done so yet.” 

even though that’s the case, the melodrama 

has survived and thrived in its unlikely location 

because rarely do people come here just once. 

each performance includes a melodrama, a 

vaudeville revue, and of course the sing-along. 

there’s beer, burgers and popcorn so 

you can eat there and just enjoy an evening 

appropriate for all ages. 

they are heading into the busy season, 

though. And the holiday show is a tradition for 

a lot of families around the Central Coast, so if 

you’ve been thinking about going, give ‘em a 

call and book it – it’s sure to remind you that 

“there’s no place Like Home.” SLO LIFE 

Jeanette Trompeter, KSBY News anchor and reporter, 

hosts the “No Place Like Home” series every 

Thursday evening at 6pm. 

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| OutdOOrs 

Choose Your Adventure 

Winter Kayaking 

Written by Paden FolloWWill | Photos by VinCent shay 


outdoor adventure challenges me in ways the workplace does 

not. it takes me out of the known and throws me into natural 

environments that often seem intimidating and unpredictable. 

Kayaking has helped me handle fear, intimidation, doubt, and 

physical exhaustion. 

a compelling element to living the “slo life” is that, unlike 

most of the rest of the country, our outdoor sports and 

adventures are not confined to seasons. So here we are with 

winter upon us, talking about kayaking. We truly live in a 

glorious place! 

Kayaking forces me right into the swells of an ocean i love and 

fear all at once. it carries power that demands my respect and 

it hosts a diverse array of wildlife that amazes me. our Central 

Coast offers a wide variety of jagged islands, crystal coves, 

seaside caves, ports and jetties ripe for exploration. 

Originally home to the Chumash, and later becoming a 

famous whaling and oil port, avila beach now provides a 

sanctuary to sea life and locals alike. From Port san luis 

kayakers can paddle out under the pier, alongside the 

bubbling lava rock cliffs, past Smith Island and continue 

along the jetty to the open, surging sea. 

I enjoy working my way out past the tip of the jetty to head 

toward the historic Avila Lighthouse. Curious seals bob up 

and down, surveying you as you move through the water. 

Otters, like playful water dogs, twirl in the floating kelp beds, 

looking comically like whiskered old men. they slip and slide, 

scrubbing their face and body with their flippers with focus 

and attention to detail. Sea birds of many varieties flock to 

the jetty in such density, watching your every move. Orange 

starfish and purple sea urchins stud the black jetty rocks, 

which stand in vibrant contrast. 

Many choose to stay in this sheltered bay, exploring the 

ins and outs of the wildlife and glassy waters. but for those 

seeking an adrenaline rush, find a day where the swells are 

large, and the wind has kicked up. this will thrust you right 

into the heart of the unpredictable ocean as it swells, breaks, 

churns, and ripples. 

Avila Bay is secluded and protected by a jetty quarried from 

Morro Rock. Kayakers wanting to feel the contrast of the 

open ocean waters to the glassy calm waters of the bay can 

paddle out past the edge of the jetty. Depending on the 

force of the wind and the depth of the swells, you will need 

to time your entrance so you do not meet the frothy crash of 

the waves as they battle the unnatural rock barrier. Once out 

from the protection of the jetty, you feel smaller than you 

imagined possible. 

Beyond the jetty rests the beautiful Avila Lighthouse, 

nestled into the mountains behind it. The large and rolling 

swells effortlessly pull your kayak up 15-20 feet and then 

leave it to slide down their backside as they move towards 

the shore. Never breaking but seeming to threaten, the 

ocean plays games. it sprays your face with icy water, and 

sends butterflies in your stomach as you roll up and down 

the largest sets of incoming waves. 


To get there: From 101 take Avila Beach Drive exit and follow it for about 3 miles until you reach the town of 

Avila, past San Luis Bay Golf Club. Avila Beach and Port San Luis will be on your left hand side. 


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New Year’s 

Resolutions 

trY 

keeping a food diary 

I don’t know about you, but 

if I have to write down “Dark 

Chocolate Covered Carmel” 

in my food diary, I’m a lot less 

likely to eat it. If you’re trying 

to lose weight, this is a sure 

fire way to stop you in your 

tracks and make you consider 

every morsel, or mouthful. 

trY 

I’m going 

to eat 

better 

setting realistic goals 

You don’t have to lose 30 pounds in month. Keep it simple - if the goal is too 

ambitious, you’re just going to feel badly that you didn’t reach it. Achieving a 

realistic goal will give you a great sense of accomplishment and give you the 

confidence to keep moving forward.

to Your HealtH | 

Keep it simple - 

if the goal is too ambitious, 

you’re just going to feel badly 

*that you didn’t reach it. 

trY 

keeping a notepad 

and pencil on your 

nightstand 

You’re just about to fall 

asleep, and then you think of 

something earth-shatteringly 

important that you have 

to do tomorrow. Instead of 

worrying about it all night 

and losing sleep, write it 

down and forget about it. 

I’m going to 

get more 

sleep 

relax 

restore 

rebalance 

trY 

trY 

adding some white noise 

You’re in the middle of that deep sleep you desperately need when your 

neighbor’s dog starts barking outside. Suddenly you are wide awake. Ever 

notice how easy it is to sleep during a rainstorm? The low, consistent sound 

masks all of the jarring ones. Put a quiet fan in your bedroom or buy some 

music with ambient sounds. 

I’m going to 

exercise more 

trY 

picturing your end 

goal 

If you’ve ever gotten in shape 

for swimsuit season or for 

competing in a triathlon, you 

know that picturing the end goal 

is a major motivator. Take some 

time every day to close your 

eyes and think about where you 

want to be. Whether it’s finishing 

a race or looking good in your 

bathing suit, putting an image 

in your mind will make it more 

tangible and more attainable. 

joining a group 

Have you ever had the best intentions for getting on the treadmill, and 

suddenly find yourself too busy. Committing yourself to meeting other people 

on a given day and time will help keep you on track. Besides, it’s a great way 

to meet new people and make exercise fun. 


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| Music 

Bucket Busters 

following the beat of a different drum 

DRAWiNG A cROWD 

Bucket Busters rocking Farmers’ Market in Downtown SLO 


BUCKeT BUSTIn’ THe SLO LIFe 

go to slolifemagazine.com and click on 

!“See Our Commercials” to see them in action 

Steve Hilstein, owner of Music Motive, clearly recalls that 

day fifteen years ago when a young mother brought her 

son in to inquire about the cost of drum lessons. “I could 

just see from the looks on their faces that they couldn’t 

afford it, and it just wasn’t going to happen. And it broke 

my heart. I thought that was just so unfair. I had to do 

something about it because it was killing me.” 

Up to this point, Hilstein, and his wife, Stephanie, 

had been quietly paying their instructors in cases 

like this, but they became maxed out as demand for 

these services was clearly outstripping supply. Simple 

economics dictated that the business take in more than 

it put out. And that hard reality was confronting Hilstein, 

who had just cashed out his life insurance policy for 

a mere $500 to keep things afloat. There was nothing 

left in the tank. The business, which had traditionally 

been heavy on retail sales, was now expanding its music 

lessons. But, many of the kids were still having trouble 

affording the tuition. 

Salvation came, as it turns out, at church. Knowing that 

he operated a drum school, a local church asked Hilstein 

if he might be able to organize a performance along the 

lines of “Stomp” [an urban percussion group that used 

common household items as instruments] which was 

becoming popular at that time. Hilstein showed up at the 

designated time with some of his students who rolled 

up on stage without much of a plan. The church-goers 

went wild over the unique sound and some of them 

hung around after the performance to inquire about the 

band’s future plans. “We didn’t even have a name at that 

point,” recalls Hilstein. “But, we had these cheap buckets 

we kept breaking, so someone there said, ‘Hey, you’re 

the bucket busters, why don’t you call yourselves the 

Bucket Busters?’” And so it began… 

The Bucket Busters have thrilled audiences throughout 

the Central Coast since that first gig with their unique 

sound, playing original music such as “Buckets of Fire,” 

“JLM,” and “Paradiddle Solo” on nothing but makeshift 

musical equipment, such as buckets, trash cans, and 

plastic water jugs. Best of all, the donations and 

performance fees the group has raised along the way 

have all gone toward scholarships for the kids. In other 

words, the money the group raises pays for the kids to 

have formal music lessons, which turns out is good for 

the kids and good for the business. A true “win-win” if 

there ever was one. 

Hilstein, who originally moved to San Luis Obispo in 

1980 from Los Angeles to a join a band as its drummer, 

remembers a time when music lessons kept him from 

veering off track. “It just means so much to these kids. 

They remind me a lot of myself at that age. And you can 

actually see how it makes a difference for them. They 

grow so much. It’s just so important.” 



Know someone out of the area who wants to live the SLO Life? 

Looking for a special gift for your clients? 

Need a last-minute stocking stuffer? 

For a limited time we are offering a year-long 

gift subscription to SLO LIFE Magazine for just $6 

…that’s 73% off the standard price! 

But, wait, there’s more! 


magazine 

Sign up before December 15th and we will send 

a 7th copy (this issue) to the person receiving the 

gift, in an envelope marked, “Please place under 

the Christmas tree.” An enclosed note will explain 

that you have given them a gift subscription. We 

will mail this bonus issue and the personalized note, 

so they will receive it just in time for Christmas! 

+sweet 

treats 

Bustin’ Buckets! 

Dec/jan 2012 

La Isla’s 

bold move 

home on 

@ Mill Street 

Meet Bridget Ready 

teaching, inspiring strength and Jack 

go to slolifemagazine.com/deals and click “buy now” 

$22 value for $6 

73% off the annual subscription! 

Note: if you have a long Christmas list requiring many subscriptions, 

*please call one of our elves at 805.553.8820 

slolifemagazine.com/deals 


InspIratIon | 

the tenth sister 

a new PEAK rises in San Luis Obispo 

BY DEMITRIA CASTANON 

THE FOuNDERS OF PEAK 

(left to right) Susan Westwood, 

Louise Kraemer, and Melanie Mills 

There are nine major peaks in San Luis Obispo County, hence the name 

“The Nine Sisters.” However, there is one peak that may one day stand 

taller than all of them put together: Pacheco Elementary School’s PEAK 

program, which is an acronym that stands for “Promoting Extracurricular 

Activities for Kids.” The program is designed to allow children to 

participate in activities outside of school by assisting with costs, 

transportation and equipment. 

Louise Kraemer, a bilingual Kindergarten Aide at Pacheco Elementary 

School had an “aha moment” last year while watching students play 

soccer at lunch time. She observed some phenomenal players on the 

school field, but realized she had never seen some of them play in an 

AYSO game. One sixth grade girl in particular displayed an amazing talent 

and really stood out from the crowd. In a moment of clarity, Kraemer had 

a defining idea that may have changed the six grader’s life forever. She 

offered transportation for the young girl and her family to attend AYSO 

soccer sign-ups and also paid the fees for her to join the league. When the 

season ended, the young standout could be found proudly wearing her 

well-deserved AYSO All-Stars jacket to school nearly every day of the week. 

Kraemer then met with two of her good friends, Melanie Mills and 

Susan Westwood, who are parents of students at Pacheco and active 

community volunteers, to share this rewarding experience. Inspired, by 

Kraemer’s success, the trio conceived of the PEAK program, where today 

thirty-one students are actively enrolled. 

PEAK’s mission is to enable all Pacheco Elementary students to 

participate in extracurricular activities. It is a volunteer organization, 

and all of its proceeds are used to pay tuition and operating expenses. 

Currently, it operates under the auspices of the Pacheco Elementary PTA, 

so all donations are tax deductible. 

Westwood explains, “It’s amazing how so little can give a child so much.” 

For example, forty dollars can carry a child through one year of soccer, 

and fifteen dollars can offer one child a year of Cub Scouts. The thinking 

behind PEAK is that it’s rewarding for a child to excel in a non-academic 

arena and exciting to see how that success can improve self-esteem, 

andteach valuable skills, which may lead to lifetime interests or possibly 

eventual careers. 

Recently, the trio was invited to a San Luis Coastal School District Board 

Meeting to discuss the success of the PEAK program. As a result of the 

meeting, the program will also be offered at C.L. Smith Elementary School 

starting next year. “Our goal is to transfer the program to every school 

in the San Luis Coastal School District,” states Mills. “As long as there is 

the community aspect behind you, any school can do this,” Westwood 

adds. PEAK scholarships are awarded twice per year to students 

attending Pacheco Elementary School who are earning satisfactory 

grades in all core classes. And the students know that if they want to 

keep their scholarship in PEAK, they have to maintain their academics 

at the standards that have been set by the program. Kraemer, Mills, and 

Westwood also maintain regular communication with all of the coaches 

and teachers to help ensure success of the scholarship recipients. 

Connie Reynoso, a second grade teacher at Pacheco, who has 

recommended students to PEAK said, “The program is like a doorway for 

them to succeed in life, and I am so thankful that it’s open for them.” And, 

Pacheco Elementary School principal, Rick Mayfield, eagerly concurs, “It 

helps them believe in themselves and believe that they can do whatever 

they set their minds to. When kids feel successful, like they belong, and 

like they can do it, then that translates directly to success at school.” 



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Business | 

it takes a 

Bakery 

changing lives, one sweet treat at a time 

Kendra Williams is a self-described “closet baker,” 

but it it’s not her sweet tooth that is motivating her 

plan to open It Takes a Bakery - it’s the at-risk teens 

that she works with daily. 

Earlier this year, Williams, a marriage and family 

therapist who specializes in working with atrisk 

youth, was exposed to a Los Angeles-based 

organization called Homeboy Industries. The nonprofit, 

which rehabilitates former gang members 

by providing them with jobs and counseling 

among other things - such as free tattoo removal 

- had representatives at a SLO County-sponsored 

symposium that analyzed the root causes of gang 

activity. Williams was intrigued so she made a trip 

down to Homeboy Industries to have a look for herself. 

continued on page 42 


| Business 

For a taste of the 

sweet treats, check 

out her recipes in 

Local Food by Local 

People on page 44. 

“Somebody asked me, if it was just 

about the bakery - if I had just 

inherited a bakery, would I do it. 

And the answer was, ‘No.’ 

” 

She came back to San Luis Obispo with the beginnings of a business plan for It Takes a 

Bakery (as in “it takes a village”) as a way to provide jobs and job training to local at-risk teens, 

many of whom have been convicted of a crime and have limited options for traditional 

employment. “I want to show them that there is something different than what they have 

been exposed to and to help them transition on to another job, or to Cuesta College, for 

example,” explains Williams. 

To get things started, Williams knew that she first needed a great product, so she began 

creating and perfecting her baked goods at home. Each Thursday afternoon, after she 

finishes her workday, she turns her kitchen into a “sweets laboratory” where she bakes 

late into the evening. She has also launched a Facebook page inviting her “fans” to come 

by her house the next morning to pick up a sweet that she leaves at the front door before 

she heads back to her day job. The treat is free to the taster, but they are asked to leave 

their email addresses in a logbook. Williams then follows-up with a questionnaire inquiring 

about what the taster liked or did not like about the recipe. 

This process has gone on since May, and Williams has now developed a set of recipes that 

are receiving consistently rave reviews from an eager and growing group of taste-testers. 

The next step in the bakery’s evolution is for Williams to hire her first teenage employees 

and to begin selling their products at local farmers’ markets. For that purpose, she has 

been searching for a commercial kitchen that holds a special license that will allow her to 

take the food off-site to be sold. 


Williams, who admits that, “business is the other side of the spectrum from the type of 

work I have been doing,” shares that a permanent storefront in San Luis Obispo is the 

ultimate goal. “I see this as an opportunity to give back to these kids who have given so 

much to me. I have learned so much about life and resiliency through them.” 

SLO LIFE


| LocaL food by LocaL peopLe 

It Takes a bakery 

SHARED BY KENDRA WILLIAMS | PHotoS BY SABINA MIKLoWItZ 

CELEBRATING 

THE HOLIDAYS 

Kendra Williams readily admits, it’s not her love of sweets that drives her desire to 

open a bakery; it’s her love of the at-risk youth that she intends to employ. Still her 

creativity and meticulous taste-testing yield amazing recipes, and, lucky for us, she 

generously shares them. 

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oaTmeaL cherry NuT cookIes 

Baked: New Frontiers In Baking 

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1215 Avila Beach Drive 


1 ½ cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 

1 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 

1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom 

¼ cup granulated sugar 

1 ¼ cups firmly packed dark brown sugar 

2 large eggs 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 ¾ cups rolled oats 

1 cup (8 ounces) dried cherries ½ cup (4 ounces) chopped toasted walnuts 

1. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom together 

and set aside. 

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugars 

together on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy. Scrape down the bowl and add the 

eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated. Add the vanilla, and beat for 5 seconds. 

3. Add half of the flour mixture, and mix for 15 seconds. Add the remaining flour mixture, and beat 

until just incorporated. Scrape down the bowl, add the oats, and beat until just combined. Use 

a spatula or wooden spoon to fold in the cherries and walnuts. 

4. Cover the bowl tightly, and refrigerate for 6 hours. 

5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 

6. Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets. With the palm of 

your hand, gently press each cookie down so it forms a cylinder shape. Do not press too hard, 

and do not press it flat. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through the baking 

time, until the cookies just begin to brown. 

7. Remove the pan from the oven, and cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes. 


Gardens of Avila Sign photo by Mike Larson Photography

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red VeLVeT cupcakes 

United Cakes of America: Recipes Celebrating Every State 

By Warren Brown 

10 ounces (2 ¼ cups) cake flour 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 

2 tablespoons cocoa powder 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter 

1 teaspoon salt 12 ounces (1 ½ cups) superfine sugar 

1 teaspoon baking soda 2 whole eggs 

1 cup buttermilk 1 ounce red food dye 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1. Preheat oven to 335 degrees, and place the rack in the middle position. For cakes, line the 

bottoms of two 9-by-2-inch round pans with parchment. For cupcakes, spray a cupcake pan with 

nonstick oil-and-starch spray, and line the cups with paper liners. 

2. Measure the dry ingredients and wet ingredients into separate bowls. Whisk each to combine. 

3. Measure the butter and sugar into the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle 

attachment. Cream together on low speed for about 5 minutes. 

4. Add the eggs one at a time to the well-creamed butter and sugar. Beat in the dye. 

5. Alternately add the dry and wet ingredients, about a quarter at a time, until mixed. 

6. Pour the batter into the prepared pans, and bake for approximately 30 minutes for the cakes or 

20-24 minutes for the cupcakes, or until a wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out 

clean, and the surface is even but not very dry. 

7. Cool for 5 minutes before inverting cake onto a flat surface. Cool completely before frosting. 

Have a recipe to share? Go to slolifemagazine.com to tell us about it. 


Serving 

• San Luis Obispo • Avila • 

• Los Osos • Five Cities • 

• Nipomo • 

www.sloveg.com 

805.709.2780 


| community calendar 

Butlerz Event Services 

Let Us Make Your Indoor 

Or Outdoor Event Amazing 

805.878.4283 | beachbutlerz.com 

christmas at the castle 

december 1st - 31st 

Hearst castle 

hearstcastle.org 

During the Holiday Season, Hearst Castle presents an opportunity for visitors to experience 

the Castle as it might have been on Christmas in the 1920’s or 1930’s. The Grand Rooms Tour 

and the Evening Tour are excellent tours to see many of the decorated rooms. Christmas at the 

Castle is an event that is not to be missed and is fun for the entire family! 

a christmas Story 

december 2nd – 23rd 

San Luis Obispo Little Theatre 

slolittletheatre.org 

Presenting the best 

in professional 

entertainment at the 

Performing Arts Center! 

Humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of growing up in 

the midwest in the 1940’s follows 9-year-old Ralphie 

Parker in his quest to get a genuine Red Ryder BB gun 

under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case 

before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus 

himself! A Christmas Story is the perfect, familyfriendly 

way to celebrate the season! 

WWW.CALPOLYARTS.ORG 

Don Pasquale 

Performing Arts Center 


Friday & Saturday 

March 30 & April 1, 2012 

Victorian christmas 

open House and candlelight tours 

december 9th – 11th 

Jack House, San luis obispo 

slocity.org 

Come enjoy the splendor of a Victorian 

Christmas with docent-led tours of the 

historic Jack House. Following tours, hot 

cider and cookies are served in the Victorian 

kitchen, and visitors may enjoy unique items 

in the Wash House Gift Shop. 

operaslo.org 


Hot Shaves • Cold Beer • ESPN • Quality Service 

Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm • Sunday 11am-4pm 

the nutcracker 

december 10th – 11th 

christopher cohan center 

civicballetofslo.org 

It’s Christmas Eve, and Clara is about to have the night of her dreams! Audiences of all ages 

will marvel at the magic and wonder of this spectacular, professional production that has 

delighted the Central Coast for more than 30 years. 

1351 Monterey Street . San Luis Obispo 

(805)783-2887 . clippersbarber.com 

Shalimar 

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Lunch Buffet 

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

Monday Dinner Buffet 

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Sunday Brunch 

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2115 Broad Street, SlO 

805.781.0766 | shalimarslo.com 

Polar Bear dip 

January 1st @ 9:30am 

cayucos Pier 

cayucoschamber.com 

Hundreds of people show up each January 1st to kick off the New Year by jumping into 

the cold waters of the Pacific Ocean off Cayucos as part of the Carlin Soulé Memorial 

Polar Bear Dip. No wetsuits are allowed, and most participants wear swimming suits 

or come in costume - including pirates and ladies in fancy hats, or with accessories, 

including sombreros, wedding dresses or anything fun they can think up. The festivities 

begin at 9:30 am, with the Polar Bear Dip at noon. 

Art After Dark 

January 6th @ 6:00pm – 9:00pm 

downtown San luis obispo 

sloartscouncil.org 

Dog Training • Premium Daycare • Boarding • Grooming 

FIRST DAY OF DAYCARE FREE! 

173 Buckley Road • San Luis Obispo 

(805) 596-0112 

thousandhillspetresort.com 

SENSENBACH 

F I N E A R T 

Over 20 galleries and non-traditional art venues 

(think restaurants, boutiques, and salons) 

spotlight the best of established and emerging 

local artists. They sometimes also feature 

the works of nationally and internationally 

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sensenbach.com 805 471 9528 


The Payne Team 

www.HomesofSLO.com 

Our approach to real estate is about 

much more than property... it’s about people. 

www.1640CorbettCanyon.com 

Jed Damschroder 

805-550-7960 

The Payne Team 

Denise Silva Topham 

805-801-7389 

Gavin Payne 

805-550-3918 

962 Mill Street, San Luis Obispo, California 93401

SLO LIFE Dec/Jan 2012

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