SLO LIFE Feb/Mar 2016

LIFE 

SLOmagazine 

HEALTHY TIP 

FOR YOUR BEL 

THERE’S 

NEW KID IN 

(AND WE MET HER) 

ON THE RISE 

BEACH HOUSE 

RENOVATI 

LAST 

WOR 

YO 

S 

THE REAL ESTATE 

HE NUMBERS 

A SNEAK PEEK 

EHIND THE SCENES 

EADERSHIP 

CAL MUSIC 

HM 

slolifemagazine.com 

FEB/MAR 2016 

MEET 

CLINT PEARCE 

LIFE ON THE RANCH 

& PRESERVING A LEGACY 

feb/mar 2016 | SLO LIFE Magazine | 1

2 | SLO LIFE Magazine | Feb/mar 2016


Ad design by: Jordan Triplett and Chris Ross Photo by: Siena Haz and Emily Sizemore 




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SLO LIFE 

magazine 

CONTENTS 

Volume 

7 

Number 1 

Feb/Mar 2016 

32 

CLINT PEARCE 

We spent an afternoon on the 

ranch talking about everything 

under the wide open sky. 

12 

14 

16 

18 

Publisher’s Message 

Info 

On the Cover 

In Box 

8 | SLO LIFE Magazine | Feb/mar 2016 

26 

28 

View 

During an afternoon in Shell Beach, DAVID LALUSH 

captures a timeless moment with focused precision. 

Timeline 

Look back at the most recent newsworthy events from in 

and around the Central Coast over the past two months.

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2016 | SLO LIFE Magazine | 9

| CONTENTS 

30 

Q&A 

New to town, DEANNA CANTRELL 

reflects on her 21 years in law enforcement 

and discusses her newly appointed role as 

the San Luis Obispo Police Chief. 

60 

Health 

A hot topic among researchers, we learn why a balanced 

gut is about more than just your belly. 

42 

Music 

With a country sound and an intuitive 

style, THE SHAWN CLARK FAMILY BAND 

is on the fast track. 

66 

78 

Special Feature 

We take a peak at the 25-year-old San Luis Obispo County 

institution known as LEADERSHIP SLO, and get to know 

some of the people who make up its rich fabric. 

Taste 

Perfect for warming your palette on a cold winter day, 

JAIME LEWIS hunts down some of the best local spots 

for a hot bowl of curry. 

86 

Kitchen 

If you want comfort food, look no further. CHEF JESSIE 

RIVAS shares a recipe for his classic linguine with clams. 

44 

Dwelling 

It’s the quiet comfort of her home that 

gives DEBBIE MENDES the strength she 

needs to persevere. 

88 

Happenings 

Check out the calendar to discover the best events 

around the Central Coast in February and March. 

54 

Real Estate 

We share the year-to-date statistics of 

home sales for both the city and the county 

of San Luis Obispo. 

58 

Explore 

Never one to pass up a challenge, 

PADEN HUGHES gathers up a few of 

her best and brightest friends to test 

themselves under lock and key. 

90 

Out & About 

For a community that loves live music, the thought 

of losing one of its long-standing venues was beyond 

depressing. As it turns out, not only did the local landmark 

keep its doors open (just down the road) but it’s also 

looking to expand its stage presence. 


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| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 

The Candle 

When my wife and I were considering having a third child, we received some great advice, “Be careful, 

because you will be going from a man-to-man defense to a zone.” While true to the prophesy, the parental 

defensive schemes have become infinitely more complex; the offense employed by the kids has also turned 

out to be equally impressive. 

The thing is, when you have two kids, you have two easily identifiable seats of power. Think of the USSR and 

the USA during the height of the Cold War. There is a constant struggle, complete with a well-defined global 

map outlining “us and them.” With three kids, however, it is more like dealing with marauding bands of 

rogue fiefdoms that are forever shifting alliances. 

Over the years, one of the stronger allied forces has come about when our sons—we call them the “The Brothers”—team up to torment their big sister, 

now a 7th grader. One day it dawned on me that things were abnormally quiet in The Brothers’ bedroom, so I poked my head in to check on them. 

Furious at their sister and vowing revenge—she had told on them—they converted their room into a munitions factory. I found them huddled over a 

baseball that they were wrapping with black crayon-colored paper and the word “BOMB” etched in red—they were plotting to unleash a level of fury 

not seen since the days of Wile E. Coyote. 

Trying my best to be a mature and reasoned adult was impossible; instead, I kneeled down to inquire about their plan of attack. “We’re going to wait 

until she leaves her room, then we’re going to put this bomb in her underwear drawer,” they reported after first swearing me to secrecy. “Ah, yes, smart,” 

I concurred. “The old preemptive sneak attack.” In that moment something came bubbling up from way down deep in my memory banks, and I began 

chuckling to myself. “Shhh! Dad, be quiet!” 

When I was just a little guy, a close family friend had dropped off a box of old “hand-me-downs.” Since the Vega kids were all a few years older than 

my sisters and me, we could count on an occasional bounty consisting of worn out Toughskin jeans and sun-bleached Veva Blunt Elementary t-shirts. 

But, on this day, something else was also included in the stash. Reaching down, my mom slowly lifted up what closely resembled a small human brain. 

Turning it over in her hands, she realized that it was, in fact, a candle. A very ugly—we all agreed, disgusting—candle. Looking up from the waxy 

medulla oblongata, my mom gazed off into the distance, now deep in thought, when a wry smile settled on her lips. 

Later that night, after dark, we piled into our sandy-beige Toyota Corona wagon for a recon mission. The first shot of The Great Candle War against the 

Vega Family was about to be fired. When we reached their house at the end of Cindy Lane, my mom turned off the lights and slipped the transmission 

into neutral. Now stealthy quiet, she coasted to a stop in front of their house; slipping out into the inky darkness she carefully placed the candle into the 

mailbox, slowly raising the red flag. Sliding back into her vinyl seat, she sped away as we joyfully buzzed with adrenaline from our mission accomplished. 

As the next few days passed, we thought it a bit odd that the Vegas never said anything about that candle—we figured they’d call to share a good laugh, 

and the whole thing would be over before it started—but the realization soon settled in that we were in for a long slog. As my parents began tilling the 

soil of the garden in front of our house a few weeks later, my dad’s shovel struck an unusually soft rock. Digging it up, they discovered that they were 

victims of a perfectly placed land mine. A month after that, an intrepid spy—one of my little sisters—somehow penetrated enemy lines making it into 

the Vega’s master bedroom where she tucked the candle neatly between the pillows of the queen-sized bed. Then, later that spring, on my birthday, the 

Vegas stopped by to deliver a massive layer cake. As we sliced through the white and blue frosting that night, we found, you guessed it, the candle. The 

war has gone on for decades, despite periodic détentes, and when our families get together many laughs are shared as tales of valor are recalled; that is 

until someone finally stops and says, “Wait a second—who’s got the candle now?” So, this year, it warmed my heart as I watched The Brothers sitting 

under the tree holding a beautifully wrapped present from their big sister; as they opened the box, they realized that they had fallen for the oldest trick 

in the book—a Christmas morning surprise attack. 

I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who has had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of all, 

to our advertisers and subscribers—we couldn’t do it without you. 

Live the SLO Life! 

Tom Franciskovich 

tom@slolifemagazine.com 


TILE SHOWROOM & NATURAL STONE SLAB YARD 

SHOWROOM HOURS MON-FRI 10-5, SAT 10-3 SLMARBLE.COM, 5452 ENDA RD 



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SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM 

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PUBLISHER 


CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Sheryl Disher 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Jeanette Trompeter 

Paden Hughes 

Dawn Janke 

Jessie Rivas 

Jaime Lewis 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Vanessa Plakias 

Trevor Povah 

David Lalush 

Jenny Doody 

Ian Wilkinson 

Renoda Campbell 

CONTRIBUTIONS 

Have some comments or feedback about something you’ve read here? 

Or, do you have something on your mind that you think everyone should 

know about? Submit your story ideas, events, recipes and announcements 

by visiting us online at slolifemagazine.com and click “Share Your Story” or 

email us at info@slolifemagazine.com. Be sure to include your full name and 

city for verification purposes. Contributions chosen for publication may be 

edited for clarity and space limitations. 

ADVERTISING 

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media kit with loads of testimonials from happy advertisers. 

SUBSCRIPTIONS 

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NOTE 

The opinions expressed within these pages do not necessarily reflect those of 

SLO LIFE Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced in whole 

or in part without the expressed written permission of the publisher. 

CIRCULATION, COVERAGE AND ADVERTISING RATES 

Complete details regarding circulation, coverage and advertising rates, 

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info@slolifemagazine.com 

4251 S. Higuera Street, Suite 800 

San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

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


| ON THE COVER 

A SNEAK PEEK 

BEHIND the scenes 

WITH CLINT PEARCE 

BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

For as long as I have lived 

here—first as a Cal Poly 

student and now with my 

family—I have always 

wondered about that palm 

tree in front the house next to 

the Madonna Inn. Whenever 

I have hiked up Cerro San 

Luis or driven by on the 

highway, it always captures 

my imagination, especially 

when it is decorated with 

Christmas lights during 

the holidays. Apparently— 

at least according to a 

photograph that is dated 

1917—that tree was planted 

in front of the old farmhouse 

sometime around 1912 when 

it was originally built. 

Growing up, I spent my weekends on an avocado ranch 

with my dad who was a wannabe cowboy; and later when 

I was a teacher I would take my students to the rodeo, so 

I was totally impressed with Clint’s roping skills. He did 

a little demonstration with the equipment he had set up 

near his house and nailed 100% of the targets. 

This is probably my favorite shot because it seems to capture Clint 

so well. I know this sounds dumb, so don’t quote me on this, but it 

just sums it up for me. Like, life is good. And he’s in a place where 

he belongs—Happy Trails and riding off into the sunset, all of 

those things come to mind; you know, quietly living the dream. 

During our shoot, Clint’s 

wife, Connie, drove up. She 

rolled down the window 

and cracked a joke, poking 

some fun at Clint. I asked 

her if I could include her in 

some photos and promised 

to make her look good. She 

shot back, “They always 

say that!” The two of them 

were so cute together. With 

some couples it doesn’t 

matter what you do to 

lighten it up, it’s just weird 

and awkward. I said, “Just 

pretend like you are at 

the prom,” and they both 

busted up. SLO LIFE 



| IN BOX 

You said it... 

LIFE 

SLOm a g a z i n e 

NOW HEAR 

THIS 

FRESH 

FARE 

LOCAL 

MUSIC 

SCENE 

RELAXING WITH 

REFLEXOLOGY 

POLITI 

REF 

HOLIDAY 

HEALTH 

ON THE 

RISE 

POWER 

THROUGH 

LITERACY 

KEEPING 

HE FAITH 

IFORNIA 

NGALOW 

MEET 

SARAH BELLUM 

TRASH TO TREASURE 

& THE ART OF ZERO WASTE 

Thank you for the joyous cover this month! 

SARAH BELLUM is so fresh and beautiful. 

She is the kind of person who makes San Luis 

Obispo look good. I applaud her values and 

you for recognizing they should be shared. 

There are celebrities out there who are phony, 

photo-shopped and doing things for all the 

wrong reasons. Sarah shows you can live your 

life quietly, cleanly and happily. Thank you for 

sharing her story. I will not put it away—every 

time I see it I smile. 

— CAROL CACCESE 


DEC/JAN 2 016 

| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 

Just a note to say how 

much my husband and 

I enjoy SLO LIFE. Your 

thoughtful work and 

commitment to quality 

shine through in each 

publication, and your 

contributors shine, 

too. You’ve created a 

community gem. Bravo!! 

— LINDSEY HARING 

Glad I made time to read 

your PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE, 

“Bad Grammar.” Great piece 

of writing! Nice respite from 

the holiday season. 

— JAN DOWNS 

Bad Grammar 

Words have generally come easy to me—math, not so much. That is why it felt like such a cruel irony 

when, as a seventh grader, I settled into my desk in the corner of the English 1 classroom. On the 

chalkboard, Mrs. Maddox scratched out something that looked suspiciously like long division; she called 

it “diagraming a sentence.” 

Up to that point, I had never given much thought to subjects and predicates—never knew they existed, actually. Most of the time, a story would pop 

into my head and I would jot it down on paper, oftentimes in one of those old composition booklets, then grab a football and head out to recess. 

Done deal. Now I was learning that there were rules involved, lots of rules. And, these weren’t the logical rules of mathematics. They were ridiculous, 

arcane, arbitrary rules. 

It was during a visit to my Aunt Melba’s house when I first debated proper comma usage. Aunt Melba was actually my mom’s aunt, which made her 

my great aunt. She was a child of the Depression who saved just about everything, and repurposed and reused almost all of it. She “upcycled” before 

it was cool. In her bathroom, which was so small that I could almost touch two of the opposing walls with my outstretched fingers, I found the most 

confounding bit of grammar I had come across up to that point in my young life. Sitting there on the back of the toilet was a framed, hand-stitched 

placard that read, “We aim to please you aim too please.” Although I suspected I was dealing with a dangling participle, at the very least I figured a 

comma or two was in order. Perhaps, one, “We aim to please, you aim too please.” Or, two, “We aim to please, you aim too, please.” Or, even three, 

“We aim to please, you aim, too, please.” 

It’s funny how much a comma—or lack thereof—can really screw up a sentence. And, it’s not uncommon for a healthy debate to break out here 

while copy editing the magazine. Consider some classic examples concerning the power of a comma. The most shared story, perhaps, is one you may 

have heard a variation of at some point. In the early twentieth century, a man went on an expedition to the Congo in search of a gorilla for a zoo 

in New York. The man sent a telegraph back to his boss which said, “They want $75,000 for the ape. Should I buy it?” His boss immediately replied 

back, “No price too high.” And, the man showed up a few weeks later with a seriously overpriced gorilla. The boss, of course, messed up the grammar 

after “No.” See how, “No, price too high” completely changes the meaning? 

If that is not enough to illustrate the point, consider another, much more controversial example. Think about how punctuation can affect this 

statement: “A woman without her man is nothing.” Depending on your point of view, and likely your gender, you may add a couple of commas. “A 

woman, without her man, is nothing.” But a different, and likely more accurate statement, comes about with different grammar. “A woman: without 

her, man is nothing.” You can see how complicated this stuff becomes, but also how important it can be. And in this new era of tweets, texts, and 

posts, bad grammar can be found everywhere. Yet, there is hope, as in the case of the man buying a gorilla in the Congo; if he were contemplating 

the purchase today, he probably would have done a video chat. 

I would like to take this opportunity to say “thank you” to everyone who had a hand in producing this issue of SLO LIFE Magazine and, most of 

all, to our advertisers and subscribers—we couldn’t do it without you. And, to you and your family, my best wishes for a happy holiday season and a 

healthy and prosperous 2016. 

Live the SLO Life! 


tom@slolifemagazine.com 


| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR 

YOUR 

CENTRAL COAST 

REAL ESTATE 

RESOURCE 

TRASH TALK 

By day, you can find SARAH BELLUM working at the Hemp Shak in downtown 

San Luis Obispo, by night she is busy trying to save the planet from its addiction 

to all things plastic. In her free time she can be found roaming Central Coast beaches 

collecting trash, crocheting bikinis from plastic bags, blogging about how to live life 

without creating any trash, and advocating a simpler existence for us all. 

L 

There’s a consumer muscle, and there’s a citizen muscle. 

And our consumer muscles are really strong. Everyone knows how to shop 

and consume really well. But, our citizen muscles—how to get involved 

in our community, how to make a difference—are pretty weak. 

We can all use a little strength training in that area. 

et’s take it from the top, Sarah. Where with 

different 

a girl who 

styles. 

grew 

One 

up in 

where 

the area 

the 

and 

TV 

she 

was 

told 

always 

me about 

on, and 

the 

there’s 

Central 

candy What are you up to these days? I’ve been making bicycle panniers— 

are you from? I’m from Portland, Oregon. I really loved it there, it was Coast. I’d never been here before. I just bought a one-way Amtrak ticket, 

and lots of packaged goods, potatoes from a box. And, then at the you know, those little racks on the back of bikes—out of plastic 

nice growing up by the forest and just having so much open space and and found paradise. That was five years ago now. I’ll never forget stepping 

other house, where my mom would make green smoothies. And kitty litter boxes that had been tossed out. They’re water proof and 

trees to climb. It’s a great city, friendly. But, when I turned 18 I just needed off the train in San Luis Obispo; the very first thing I noticed was that the 

we all care, we definitely care about the world and we care about really sturdy and durable. They’ll mount on the back of my bike for 

to get out. I needed something new and adventurous, something new in streets were sparkling in the sun. I was so excited. And the palm trees. I 

each other in the community, but it’s hard to take that caring and my ride up to Portland. I’m doing a zero waste bike tour and will 

my life. I was working at this place called Pizza Schmizza in Portland was so excited about the palm trees. It felt so tropical to me. 

that knowledge and translate it into activism, and actually doing be interviewing trash activists along the way, and stopping to visit 

something. My little brother, who is 16 now, thinks that I’m a totally 

Aside from crocheting with the stuff, what can you do? I personally 

landfills to see how they’re managed. In San Francisco they use some 

get started. We have to start reducing our consumption of the stuff. 

crazy hippie. [laughter] 

practice the zero waste lifestyle as best I can. And, so I shop at SLO 

very progressive processes, which will, hopefully, start to get adopted 

It’s really hard and it doesn’t happen all at once. But once you start 

Natural Foods Co-op; I bring my own reusable bags and buy in bulk. 

elsewhere. I’m leaving on February 2nd and will be camping out and 

moving in that direction, it gets easier every day. For some it may just 

Is he right? I don’t know. Some people probably think I’m crazy. I 

And I shop at the Farmers’ Market for produce. There was an “ah-ha 

blogging the whole way. You should check it out. It’s sarahbellums.com, 

mean picking up a reusable water bottle and stop buying plastic water 

think everyone’s a little crazy. It’s good to embrace it. But no, a lot 

moment” for me about a year ago after I had been crocheting with all 

that’s with an “s,” my name, sarahbellum.com was already taken. [laughter] 

bottles. When you start looking into it, you will be shocked by how 

of my friends in the community, they’re really supportive. People 

these plastic bags. I went to get a snack and opened my refrigerator 

The whole thing will be zero waste, zero emissions. Yeah, I’m going 

much plastic there is everywhere you turn. 

like what I’m doing. They like to see that at least I’m trying to do 

and said to myself, “Oh my gosh, everything’s wrapped in plastic.” So 

to camp and I’m trying to get gear right now. I’m going to get 

something to make a difference. We’re all just one person. We can do 

much food is contained in single-use plastic packaging. Since then, 

everything either used, or I’ll make it myself out of trash. I’m going 

Where might we be surprised to find it? So, for a long time, I was 

what we can, but we all have to realize too that we are so powerful. 

I have been steadily working toward zero waste and not having any 

to take my time and will drop in to talk with a lot of people who are 

thinking about toothpaste, right? Toothpaste comes in this little 

But in our consumer culture, they want you to feel disempowered, you 

plastic in my life at all. I think the important thing though is just to 

working on this issue to see what they’re up to. 

plastic tube, one-time use. And, oftentimes toothpaste actually comes >> 

know? And so I think it’s really cool to inspire people and empower 

everyone to be an activist, in their own way, themselves. Our culture So, you’ll ride your crocheted bike all the way to Portland then fly 

has taught us how to be great consumers and they have seduced us back? No, I’m actually, in 2016, I’m not getting into a car for the entire 

with all of these advertisements and such. And they don’t give—they year. No car, no plane, no petrochemicals. Just simplifying my life has 

don’t empower people to be great citizens. There’s a consumer muscle, been really eye-opening and feels really good, so I’m going to keep 

and there’s a citizen muscle. And our consumer muscles are really moving in that direction. No plane for me. I’ll be riding back. My plan 

strong. Everyone knows how to shop and consume really well. But, from there is to go with the flow and see what the universe has in store 

our citizen muscles—how to get involved in our community, how to for me next. We’ll see how it unfolds. I really just want to do whatever 

make a difference—are pretty weak. We can all use a little strength I can to best serve the world, really. Whatever I can do to make zero 

training in that area. 

waste more accessible to more people is what I will be doing. SLO LIFE 

I am writing to inform you of the reason(s) I had to pull your latest issue of 

SLO LIFE (Dec/Jan 2016) from my patient reception area. 

As was pointed out to me by a patient, the cover page shows 7 inches of skin, 

and 1 inch of clothing. Her p. 34 layout, replete with tilted head and left nipple 

poking through a bra-less tank t-shirt, looks like more of a Match.com profile 

picture or a romantic personal beach photo intended for a close friend, rather 

than an expose on an environmentalist. 

Her p. 40 skateboarding photo. Really? Her right hip and ass cheek is visible 

to the entire camera. Your Behind the Scenes section, just wow is all I can say. 

The top photo is very suggestive. Blowing up the photo, I can just make out 

Ms. Bellum’s medial border of her left areola. The bottom photo within the hula 

hoop, again, she is wearing next to nothing and seems more poised for skinless 

romance and sensual frolicking rather than saving the world. 

Your portrayal of women, girls really, as scantily clad sex symbols is offensive 

to this business and the plight of the modern woman. It’s okay if Ms. Bellum 

didn’t have the decency to dress appropriately for her photo shoot, but it 

doesn’t mean you should print it. 

More congratulations are in order though. For the first time I could detect in 

any SLO Life Magazine, you featured pictures of non white people (“Makeover” 

p. 68 and “Harmony of Gerald and Betty” p. 92). 

I respectfully ask that you put a stop to magazine covers and pictures of 

scantily clad women in suggestive poses. 

CLIENT FEEDBACK 

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CUSTOM WINE CELLARS 

WINE CLOSET CONVERSIONS 

HOME TASTING ROOMS 

| IN BOX 

Take us with you! 

Hey, SLO LIFE readers: Send us your photos the next time 

you’re relaxing in town or traveling far and away with your copy 

of the magazine. Email us at info@slolifemagazine.com 

ROSKILDE, DENMARK 

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Thursday March 10th 5:30pm 

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TASTING EDUCATION INSPIRATION 

Here we are enjoying SLO Life on our way to the Roskilde Cathedral 

and Viking Museum in Roskilde, Denmark. 

— Ysabel Moriarty, Aidan Moriarty, Charlotte Dierks, 

Lesley Santos Dierks, Allison Dierks, Trevor Moriarty (photographer) 

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This was a very windy day at Stonehenge in England. We spent a 

month touring the United Kingdom (England, Wales and Scotland). 

— NANCY AND MICHAEL JACKSON 


| IN BOX 

MO’OREA, FRENCH POLYNESIA 

We went to Mo’orea and we took a photo with 

your awesome SLO Life Magazine. 

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We took SLO Life to Machu Picchu when we went to Peru as part of a 

35-member I Care International team to help Peruvians improve their vision. 

— DR. CHUCK TRIBBEY AND KATHRYN TRIBBEY, NP, CNM 


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village accessible only by boat. 

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We were in Madrid visiting our daughter Amy and her family before 

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building in back. Notice the sign hanging, refugees welcome! 

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| IN BOX 

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Construction was started in 

the late 19th century and they 

are still working on it. I wanna 

check it out again in 10 years, 

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ClassicS IN THE COHAN 

CLASSICS CONCERT Iv 

MARCH 12, 2016 · 8 PM 

BRUCE ANTHONY KIESLING, CONDUCTOR 

STEPHEN LIN, PIANO 

SAINT-SAËNS / Bacchanale 

RACHMANINOFF / Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini 

MUSSORGSKY / Pictures at an Exhibition 

CLASSICS CONCERT III 

FEBRUARY 6, 2016 · 8 PM 

LAURA JACKSON, CONDUCTOR 

CAROLINE GOULDING, VIOLIN 

RAVEL / Mother Goose–Five Children’s Pieces: Suite 

ZHOU TIAN / Violin Concerto: The Infinite Dance 

BEETHOVEN / Symphony No. 7, op. 92 in A major 

CLASSICS CONCERT V 

MAY 7, 2016 · 8 PM 

THOMAS DAVIES, CONDUCTOR 

CUESTA MASTER CHORALE · CAL POLY CHOIRS 

MAHLER / Symphony No. 2, C minor, “Resurrection” 

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| VIEW 

ENDLESS 

SUNSET 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LALUSH 

Slowly, carefully, David Lalush put one 

foot down and then another on the 

soggy, slippery tide pool one wintery 

afternoon in Shell Beach. On his back, 

tucked neatly into a baby carrier, his 

not-quite-one-year-old son, cooed in 

his ear and played with his hair. As he 

set his gaze seaward, a fleeting thought 

bounced in Lalush’s mind: “I wish this 

moment would last forever.” 

The sunset that day appeared to be somewhat compliant, as 

it did hang around for an impossibly long time, especially 

for the dead of winter. “I’ve never seen anything like it,” 

Lalush remembers, “it was the most beautiful sunset ever, 

and it just went on and on.” With a close eye on the tide, 

the photographer set up his Nikon D800 atop a tripod no 

more than a half-inch above the waterline, so that the full 

reflection of the oil painted sky above could be captured in 

the tide pool below. Through a simple polarized lens filter, 

and with minimal touch-up in postproduction, the photo 

that you see here was made that day. 

Although Lalush graduated from Cal Poly with a degree 

in architecture, the profession never ignited his passion the 

way he thought it would. “I went to work for a large firm 

in San Francisco, and 90% of what I did there was buried 

into the computer never to see the light of day,” he shares. 

Photography became an outlet, a way to express an artistic 

side, a way to commune with nature, a way to connect with 

his family and his past. 

When he was young, Lalush lost both of his parents. With 

their passing, so many of the stories that are shared from 

one generation to the next were gone. Fortunately, he would 

learn later; photography ran in the family, as his parents 

left behind a treasure trove of archived 35mm slides. Over 

time, Lalush has been able to digitize the images, which 

has allowed him to bridge the gaps of his fading memory. “I 

feel like I’ve been able to reconnect with them,” he reflects, 

“photos stick with you forever—it’s like visual storytelling.” 

Now, a love for photography is something that Lalush 

hopes to continue for a third generation. When dramatic 

weather appears, his wife and two kids are coaxed out to the 

various corners of the Central Coast for a bit of adventure, 

and growth. “I see photography as the catalyst to get us 

outside to explore together,” the San Luis Obispo-based 

landscape and architecture photographer pauses to reflect. 

“And, I’m still learning—I’ll always be learning.” 




| TIMELINE 

Around the County 

12/1 

Developer Ryan Petetit, co-owner and CEO of San Luis Obispo-based 

PB Companies, stepped down following his Thanksgiving Day arrest 

for allegedly battering his girlfriend, who claimed that he had choked 

her and smashed her head through a window. During his arraignment 

where he was charged with five felonies, it was revealed that it was not 

the first time he had attacked a woman. PB Companies and Petetit’s 

business partner John Belsher had been involved in the Long-Bonetti 

Ranch project on South Higuera and Tank Farm Road, as well as the 

Foster’s Freeze property in downtown San Luis Obispo, and has since 

changed its name to Central Coast Developers. 

DECEMBER ‘15 

12/4 

Embattled Los Osos Community Services District (CSD) general 

manager Kathy Kivley was placed on paid administrative leave 

amid ongoing scrutiny following an independent audit of the 

2013-14 fiscal year, which found that she had made changes to 

the general ledger of the organization’s accounting. Kively, who 

was hired in 2013, had also been previously investigated for taking 

unpermitted time off. Later, in January, the CSD board reached a 

confidential settlement agreement, which included her retirement. 

12/22 

A hero’s welcome awaited Isaac Lindsey as he finally returned to 

his home in Templeton following a traumatic brain injury suffered 

more than three months prior in a football game against SLO 

High. His family credits the quick actions of medical personnel 

following his collapse after what was believed to have been his 

second concussion of the game. Following an emergency brain 

surgery at the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Clinic in San Luis 

Obispo, Lindsey had been transferred to a rehabilitation center in 

Santa Clara. 

12/25 

Testing reveals that toxic industrial solvents known as 

trichloroethylene, or TCE, and toluene, had been detected 

in somewhere between 11 and 21 domestic water wells 

in San Luis Obispo near Buckley Road. Officials were 

unable to determine the source of the contamination, but 

suspect that the TCE, historically used as a solvent and 

degreaser, as well as the toluene, a gasoline additive, could 

have originated at the nearby airport. 

12/26 

A longtime San Luis Obispo institution, The Sub, goes up in smoke as an inventory 

of one-of-a-kind collectibles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars is lost. Richard 

Ferris, the owner of the 10,000-foot store, was critical of the firefighters who took 

more than six-hours to extinguish the blaze. The fire was later determined to have 

been accidental, and likely began somewhere near the front of the building. 


JANUARY ‘16 

1/6 

Bus service is shut down in San Luis Obispo after a Cal 

Poly student stood up and addressed his fellow riders, 

warning them that there was a bomb on a SLO Transit 

bus, and to avoid riding it for a week. SLOPD later 

apprehended the computer science major, following his 

on-air interview with a KSBY reporter, but later released 

him to mental health services where he remained for 

several days following the incident. 

1/13 

The Morro Bay City Council unanimously approved an agreement to 

partner with Avila Beach-based non-profit Central Coast Aquarium to 

build a multi-million dollar waterfront aquarium on the Embarcadero. 

The facility would replace the old aquarium, which had been burdened by 

controversy over concerns for animal welfare, and would require somewhere 

between $7 and $10 million and four years to complete. As part of the 

terms of the agreement, the city-owned building would be leased to Central 

Coast Aquarium for $1 per year over a 40 to 50 year period. 

1/15 

As the spring semester begins, 85 members of the Cuesta 

College faculty picket on campus with signs that read, “The 

time is NOW! Fair pay for excellent work.” At issue was an 

impasse concerning compensation. The college had offered a 

4.46% increase, but the faculty union held firm to its 6.41% 

request. Cuesta College faculty had received 1% raises in each 

of the past two years. 

1/21 

Former South County Sanitation District administrator John Wallace— 

also owner and president of San Luis Obispo-based engineering 

company the Wallace Group—was subject to an independent review, 

which found multiple incidents of conflicts of interest involving hiring 

of his own company at inflated rates. The Sanitation Board voted 

unanimously to forward the report on to the district attorney, the FBI, 

and the state attorney general for possible criminal charges. 

1/21 

An email is sent out by Jeffrey Armstrong, president of Cal Poly, revealing that, “The university is discussing 

the possibility of developing a worforce-housing complex at the northeast corner of Grand Avenue and Slack 

Street. The employee housing complex would be built on 10 to 15 acres and could include up to 420 units.” 

The site in question had been designated for workforce housing in its Master Plan a year ago. SLO LIFE 


| Q&A 

People First 

Last month, the City of San Luis Obispo swore in its new chief of police, DEANNA CANTRELL, 

who had spent her entire twenty-one year law enforcement career with the Mesa, Arizona 

police department. We sat down to get to know her one recent rainy afternoon… 

So, Deanna, does policing run in the family? 

Not exactly, pretty much the majority of my 

family is on the wrong side of the law. I grew up 

poor in New Mexico. I grew up underprivileged 

with a lot of domestic violence. I thought I was 

going to be a teacher; I actually went to school 

to become an art teacher. I draw, I paint, I write 

poetry, I play the guitar, I write music. But, I 

ended up leaving college after two years to get a 

job. I did not have help from parents for school 

or anything like that, so having to support 

myself, the job came first; school would have to 

come later. 

How did it go? I realized pretty quickly that I 

really needed a career, not just a job. A friend 

of mine had a brother who was a police officer. 

He and I started talking about it and I had 

never really considered it because of my family 

situation; and it was never something I looked 

at as a noble profession or as anything I would 

want to do. But, I started talking to him and he 

told me about all the stuff he did in policing. He 

was a detective and he dealt a lot with victims 

of domestic violence. I thought, “Wow, I like 

the idea of being able to help;” especially kids, 

especially considering the way that I grew up. 

So, how did you get your start? I was hired at the 

Mesa Police Depart and eight years later, after 

becoming a sergeant, I went back to school. I 

was working graveyards and had three little kids 

at the time. But someone said to me, “Two years 

is going to pass. And, it’s going to pass whether 

you’re in school or not in school. And, at the end 

of two years you can have a degree or not have a 

degree.” I thought, “Well, that’s a good point.” So, 

I went back to school while I was working and 

ended up with my bachelor’s degree. 

Tell us about your family. My partner, Kristi, 

and I have been together 19 years. Our three 

kids were actually my brother’s kids. He’s a meth 

addict. He did not break the cycle of violence 

from our childhood. He’s used for a long time 

and it has kind of been on and off. When he’s 

clean he’s a really super good guy; but when he’s 

not, he’s not. And, so we ended up taking his kids 

when they were very young. The oldest one was 

six at the time. They were losing their apartment 

and were going to be living out of a car. We did 

not have any intention of having kids; it wasn’t in 

our plan. But, what are you going to do when you 

find out that your nephews and niece are going to 

be living out of a car? 

Your career path must have included some 

unique obstacles… Mesa is incredibly 

conservative. It is consistently voted one of 

the most conservative cities in the nation. I 

was the first out—gay person altogether, male 

or female—for our police department back in 

’94. So, yes, it most definitely did create some 

challenges. [laughter] So, yeah, I got hate mail. 

Yeah, it was a tough, tough beginning. There are 

quite a few folks there who are out now. And, 

four years ago the Mesa Police Department 

became the first one in Arizona history to march 

in a gay pride parade. Over the past few years 

other agencies have joined in. 

Did that experience make you a better leader? 

Earlier in my career, I didn’t understand 

leadership the way I do now. Looking back on it, 

I think that I was probably a terrible lieutenant. 

It was about the time that I was promoted to 

commander that I really started to understand 

that leadership is about people and not about 

tasks and not about accomplishments—it’s not 

about you. It is really about your people. Once I 

figured that out, it was so much better. I began to 

excel when I made people my priority. Once that 

change happened and I started to understand 

leadership at a different level, and I made people 

more important than anything else—including 

myself—that’s when all those pieces of the puzzle 

came together. 

How does that philosophy manifest itself on 

the front lines? I remember the day I went 

on a call for an older lady—she was probably 

75 years old—we were called out because her 

husband had just died. I was sort of rushing 

around her house, preoccupied as I was 

thinking about all the paperwork I had waiting 

for me back at my desk when the woman said, 

“Would you sit down and have some tea with 

me?” Sort of reluctantly I said, “Okay, okay.” 

So as we were sitting there drinking tea, she 

said to me, “This is the first conversation I’ve 

ever had with a police officer.” She had no idea 

how much of an impact that had on me. Here 

is this woman, who during her entire life had 

never had contact with a police officer, and 

in her time of need having just lost a loved 

one, without fully appreciating it, I had an 

opportunity to make a difference. But, I wasn’t 

thinking about her; I was thinking about me. 

That experience changed me forever—she had 

no idea what that cup of tea did for the way I 

see the world now. 



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| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR 


MOVING 

FORWARD 

In a wide-ranging interview with Madonna Enterprises 

president CLINT PEARCE, we talked about everything from rodeo 

to family legacy to real estate development to meditation. 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 


S o, Clint, we like to start from the beginning. 

Where are you from originally? Well, I was born in Roseburg, Oregon. 

When I was very young we moved to the Central Valley. I spent the first 

part of my life as a child in the Central Valley until I was between my 

freshman and sophomore year at high school. We lived in a little town 

called Snelling. It’s in the foothills, about 20 miles out of Merced. We 

lived on a cattle ranch. My mom and dad were cattle ranchers, so I grew 

up in a rural cattle ranching sort of culture and environment. I went 

to kindergarten through 8th grade at Snelling Elementary. I think it 

averaged around 80 students for the entire school for all grades combined. 

It was fun to grow up in a really small community like that. It was pretty 

rural there. Everybody knew each other. 

So, where did you go from there? I went to high school at Merced just 

one year. The freshman campus had a thousand students and it was very 

urban. I had always been involved with rodeo when I was growing up, 


which was a natural kind of outgrowth from loving horses and cattle, 

which then led to competing in rodeo and roping. So we lived there 

in Snelling until after my freshman year then we moved up to Central 

Oregon, to Redmond, which is on the eastern slope so it wasn’t wet and 

soggy like most people think of when they think of Oregon. When I 

found out that they had their own rodeo team at the high school up 

there, I was in heaven. After I graduated, all my friends were going 

up to Pendleton. There’s a junior college there called Blue Mountain 

Community College. I went up there with a lot of my buddies, so we 

could join the college rodeo team. 

Was your plan to stay in Oregon? You know, the whole time I was 

growing up—you know how as you grow up you just get these deepseated 

ideas of what you’re going to do, whether it’s in life or where 

you’re going to go to school or any of that? Well, my parents had both 

gone to Cal Poly and I grew up hearing about their Ag Department 

and their rodeo team. I always knew I wanted to go to Cal Poly, so I 

transferred there. And, the rodeo community is so tight-knit, like one 

or one-and-a-half degrees of separation. So, one day I bumped into 

someone from San Luis named Connie Madonna. She went to Cal Poly 

and was on the rodeo team—it was love at first sight. 

So, what happened next? We dated and were engaged. In ’91 I 

graduated with a business degree, and it was a terrible time to head 

out into the workforce because we were in the middle of a recession. 

Thankfully, her dad, Alex, offered me a job in his construction company. 

So I graduated on a Saturday, and on Monday morning I was flagging 

traffic as a laborer on Highway 46 out by Geneseo Road in Paso. I 

started at the bottom truly, which is where everybody really ought to 

start, especially when they’re inexperienced like that. But, I was happy 

to have a job. It paid pretty well. You can make some good money in 

construction. But, I knew that I didn’t want to be a laborer and a flagger 

the rest of my life. I wanted to work my way up the ranks. That’s the 

motivation and the ambition, to do what you can to build skills and 

learn about the business and work your way up. 

How did that turn out? It wasn’t until about three years later when I 

started estimating and project managing that I really worked day in 

and day out with Alex. It was challenging, but rewarding at the same 

time. He was a genius of a businessman. He was a very intelligent boss 

and so creative. He also never took setback and adversity as the final 

word. I think a really good example of that was when he threatened to 

turn Froom Ranch—over where Whole Foods is now—into a pig farm. 

He was having trouble getting his shopping center approved and there 

was some pushback saying that it should stay in agriculture, and so his 

answer to that was, “Well, if you want ag so much, why don’t we just go 

all the way and have a pig farm?” And he would roar with laughter every 

time he’d bring that up, because it’s just the way he was. He combined 

a wonderful sense of humor with a genius mind that was very creative, 

and he would just think of things that were really funny. And on the 

surface, it sounds like just a funny joke; but under the surface he was 

doing a masterful job of playing the county against the city to try to 

force the city into making a decision. 

Did you get involved with these types of projects back then? I got 

involved in development a little, but Alex—he was a self-made man. 

And he liked to make the decisions. And so you did what you were 

asked to do and you got as involved as he wanted, but you didn’t want to 

overstep the boundaries. So by about 2000, I had been doing the same 

job for several years and felt like I wanted a little bit more, so I went 

back to school and enrolled in Pepperdine’s Executive MBA course, 

which is a program that allows you to work at the same time you are 

going to school. So then I graduated in ’02 and continued working when 

Alex passed away in ’04. At that time Phyllis asked Connie and I if we 

would sort of step up and move into more of a management role to 

help her navigate and manage their overall businesses. So, that started a 

whole new chapter for us from that point forward. >> 

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What did you do first? We really kind of opened up the place, and, well, 

we cleaned up a lot. In fact, one of the first things that Phyllis said after 

Alex passed away, because she was in grief and this probably helped her 

with her grief; but she said, “I want to clean up that damn junk pile!” And 

so the old timers out there will probably remember the old equipment 

yard full of literally acres and acres of old construction equipment that was 

up there behind where the Expo is now and further down by the arena; 

that was all just a sea of old rusted construction equipment. A lot of it was 

still operable, but we sold it off and got out of the construction business. 

Construction is one of those businesses where you have to have a passion 

for it in order to be successful. If you’re not 100% passionate and all in on 

it, it can be a tough business. So Phyllis, her love was the Madonna Inn, 

and she really wanted to do the best we could for the Inn and not stay 

with the construction. 

So, how exactly were the responsibilities divided? Connie’s the general 

manager of the Madonna Inn. So she is the final word and the boss, if 

you will, over the Madonna Inn. That being said, we have a management 

team that includes myself, who all confer and discuss and a lot of times 

come to a group decision on different things. So we help Connie as an 

executive team. And then as far as what I’m in charge of, I suppose, is 

more of the development side of the business—development and property 

management. So we have the Home Depot/Costco/Irish Hills Plaza 

project and then across the street, the Target shopping center. Those are 

the properties that we have developed and we retained ownership on. 

And then in Santa Maria we have a shopping center and we’ve got a 

portfolio of office buildings and our newest project that is ahead of us in 

the pipeline is the Del Rio Marketplace, adjacent to the Wal-Mart center 

in Atascadero. We’re going to build the non-Wal-Mart portion of that 

shopping center out and then manage it in the future. 

What do you think Alex would say about how things are going? Actually, 

I’ve had a lot of dreams about Alex walking in, and Connie has too. I 

mean seriously, it sounds dumb, but when someone is almost larger than 

life in your eyes, he’s walked back in during the middle of the night and 

said, “Hey, how are you doing?” And, I’m thinking, “Oh my gosh; he’s 

going to see what we’ve done!” And that’s good and bad. It’s like, “I’m 

really not sure he’s going to like all this.” But at the same time, I think 

that—I hope—I hope that he would be happy with some of, if not a lot of 

what we’ve done. But, at the end of the day, some of the most important 

things that endure today are some of the lessons he taught. For example, 

Alex always returned a phone call. It didn’t matter if it was someone who 

he was in a bitter dispute with, he would still return that phone call. He 

never ignored anyone and I always remember that, and I always try to do 

that. It was a key component of his personal relationships that he had with 

people. Those personal relationships, I think, are really, really important. I 

think about that all the time. How important personal relationships are; 

and when you tell someone you’re going to do something, then you better 

follow through. 

Let’s talk about the state of development on the Central Coast. Are 

we on the right path? You know, that’s a good question and I think it’s 

one that the community really needs to think about, because you have to 

grow at least to some degree to not stagnate. But you don’t want to grow 

too fast either, because that creates a whole other set of problems. I think 

that if you look at all the projects that are on the books right now, around 

the area, around San Luis, it’s mind blowing; it’s staggering. I mean, my 

gosh, if all of this gets built, I don’t know what’s going to happen. But the 

reality is it’s not all going to get built or some of them might get built 

now and some might get tabled for the next 10 or 20 years. It’s hard to say. 

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answer it, is that there’s people in sort of the hypergrowth camp that think 

that we should do away with regulation and that we should streamline it, 

streamline every project and all that. Well, there are other countries in the 

world that do that. And sometimes, many times, that approach leads to 

unintended consequences. 

What about here in San Luis Obispo? I believe that we have a good 

system in San Luis. It’s not perfect. Everyone would like to get through 

different departments faster than they do. It is sometimes a little bit 

overregulated, but what that does is it creates a really good filter so that 

only the better—I don’t want to say the great projects, because not every 

project is great that gets permitted and built—but at least the better 

projects make it to the finish line. Not every concept that’s dreamt up 

makes it to a full build-out. That’s always a source of contention within the 

development world which I’m in, is that we’re overregulated. But I’ll tell 

you what, there’s a lot of security and safety in having some regulation too 

and having some real checks and balances to make sure that we really look 

hard at what we’re putting in the ground, because we’re going to be living 

with it as a community for a long, long time. So, I applaud the groups 

that—I don’t always agree with them—but I applaud the groups that 

really take the time to look at what’s going on in our community. 

Let’s shift gears and talk about the Madonna family… Absolutely, it’s 

a wonderful group of people that I’m proud to be a part of. They’re all 

different. They’re all incredibly bright and interesting and creative. And, 

with our kids, we kind of drilled into their heads that you’re nobody. You’re 

going to have to work for a living. Nothing’s entitled or handed out. And 

so they, I think that they have a good kind of grounded, I hope, sense of 

self and position in the community, and the understanding that whatever 

they get, they need to work for; whether that’s respect in the community, 

whether that’s good grades at school, whether it’s a paycheck. Our son 

Dalton is working in the maintenance department at the Inn and he 

says he prefers to plunge the toilets because he hates to paint. But guess 

what? He has to paint, too. And our daughter Audrey, she was ten when 

she started boxing up cakes in the bakery. She now works with us in our 

marketing department and is finishing up her bachelor’s degree at Poly 

and is looking to go on to get her masters. 

And, you and Connie recently started a rodeo team at Cuesta College? 

Yeah, so this is Dalton’s second year at Cuesta. They didn’t have a rodeo 

team when he started, but I know from my own experience that there 

were a number of times where I thought I was done. I was pretty fed up 

with school and I would have probably quit had I not been required to 

keep my grades up to be on the rodeo team. I mean, it meant that much 

to me to be part of that. So I thought, if just for that reason alone, if it 

keeps him and other kids hooked on school, it’s worth whatever time we 

spend to get it started and get it going. So, last year we started the rodeo 

team with 12 student-athletes that will go to the rodeos. This year we have 

27. So, we more than doubled it just in our second year. It’s been a very 

rewarding experience.>> 


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Here’s a question we like to ask: What would we be surprised to know 

about you? Oh, wow. That’s a tough one. I guess that I’m really happy 

just the way things are and don’t feel the need to try to affect change any 

more than what’s natural. There’s a saying, “However it ends up is the way 

that it’s meant to be.” And for me that gives me a lot of peace because 

we spend a lot of our lives, I think our egos spend a lot of time trying to 

dictate outcomes. So, being free from that and releasing it and letting go— 

you’re still motivated, and ambitious and you get enjoyment out of doing 

the best you can in whatever direction you’re headed in life—but at the 

same time you’re not trying to force outcomes. 

Interesting, I wonder if you could give us an example? Sure. Like we 

had talked about earlier with Alex, he loved confrontation; he was like a 

lion. He really had the heart of a lion. And I’m more, I don’t know, I don’t 

like conflict near as much. So a lot of times I’m looking for other ways 

to meet my objective or my goal. I’ve got a great mentor and she kind of 

helped me with that thinking. I also love the book A New Earth, which 

a lot of people read and it’s kind of trendy probably, but I feel that it’s got 

some really interesting things to say about your ego and how your ego can 

control you; basically, keeping you unaware, unconscious. Whereas if you 

just kind of let go, and if you let things turn out however they are going to 

naturally turn out, you’re probably better off. Of course you’re still doing 

your best, but if you’re in the moment doing the best you can and not 

worried about the finish line all the time then a lot of times you’ll wind 

up in a better space than you may have thought you were going to go; 

than you were trying to dictate from the beginning. I mean I’ve heard the 

story, or different variations of it, it seems like half-a-dozen times in the 

last year: someone goes in for an appendectomy, and during the surgery 

they find some cancer in its very early stages before it has spread. If it 

hadn’t been for the first ailment they wouldn’t have found what was even 

more important. How can you say then, “Man, I don’t want to have an 

appendectomy”—because maybe in the big scheme of things, maybe you 

do want to have one. 

So, Eckhart Tolle, the guy who wrote A New Earth is a big proponent 

of meditation. Is that something you practice in daily life? I never 

thought of it as meditation, but, this is long ago, probably 15 to 20 years 

ago, I started really thinking about the breath, especially when I’m getting 

nervous, particularly in a competition when I’d be getting nervous. I’d 

really focus on my breathing and I didn’t know —it was before the whole 

Power of Now and all that kind of stuff was out—but for myself, I knew 

that when I was breathing and concentrating on my breath, I could really 

kind of relax myself. And so, even now, when my shoulders start to kind 

of rise up toward my neck, and I realize that I’m getting way too worked 

up here; I just need to relax, and then that relaxation, that breathing comes 

into play. So it’s probably not in a formal sense, but I think I do meditate. 

And it sounds stupid, but when my mind really gets to doing some wacky 

stuff and when I get some really crazy thoughts going on, I try to shine 

a light on the ego so that I can quiet down the chatter. Because we don’t 

multitask like we think we can; we’re single-trackers, and so the breath, 

I guess, is the same way also. When I’m really focused on the breath, 

sometimes my ego will still outsmart me and will find ways to get back 

and start working on its chatter again, so I just keep going back to the 

breath; and just keep moving forward. SLO LIFE 


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| NOW HEAR THIS 

MUSIC SCENE 

FAMILY FIRST 

Imagine the whirlwind of writing a few songs, connecting with fellow musicians, 

starting a band, recording an album, and heading out on a US tour, all within a few 

short months. That’s how it happened for San Luis Obispo resident Shawn Clark. 

BY DAWN JANKE 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNY DOODY 

Kick up your boots when the band performs on these upcoming dates: 

February 21 . Grange Hall, San Luis Obispo . 7:00 p.m. with Sam Outlaw and Whitney Rose 

February 29 . Del’s Pizzeria, Shell Beach . 8:00 p.m. 

March 10 . Naked Fish, San Luis Obispo . 7:00 p.m. 

March 31 . Naked Fish, San Luis Obispo . 7:00 p.m. 

May 22 . Tablas Creek Winery, Paso Robles . 11:30 a.m. 

June 4 . Pioneer Days, Paso Robles . 1:15 p.m. 

Find out more at www.shawnclarkfamilyband.com 


ecently sat down with members of The Shawn Clark 

Family Band at Del’s Pizzeria in Shell Beach before their 

performance as part of Del’s Spaghetti Western night, and 

for a little over an hour, I felt like part of the family too. We 

laughed, shared a meal, and talked about the headlong start to 

Itheir down-home music. 

Even though Clark grew up in Ft. Worth, Texas, he says he never really 

liked country music, but when his grandfather passed away a few years 

ago he started listening to Hank Williams, Sr. “It was healing, and I 

understood it,” he explains. So when times got rough for Clark last year, 

he returned to country music to heal. “I got started writing songs because 

I was going through some crazy stuff in my life, and I needed an outlet,” 

says Clark. 

“I wrote some songs and shared them with one of my friends, Chris 

Deming. Deming encouraged me to write more and to play with him at 

an upcoming show.” At first Clark was hesitant, but the show happened to 

be on his birthday, April 3, and he thought: “That’s a weird sign—maybe I 

should do it.” That’s when the journey began. 

Clark agreed to be added to the performance bill and started writing more 

songs. “Everything just flowed,” he says. He had written songs before, 

but “never like that, and not that fast. I was super inspired.” When Clark 

performed on his birthday, Santa Maria native Kris Chavez, who plays 

mandolin and banjo for the band, joined him on stage and encouraged 

him to continue writing. 

“But then, the music was just kind of there,” says Clark, “and I wasn’t 

planning on doing anything else with it.” Enter guitarist Hilary Watson 

and fiddlist Kate Feldtkeller, who met Clark and loved his stuff. 

Feldtkeller says, “We have similar styles of music, and we were really 

excited to back him up with some vocals and instrumentals.” 

Since 2012, Watson and Feldtkeller have been performing together 

as Hilary + Kate, a bluegrass/folk duo that has toured both nationally 

and around the world. Feldtkeller also plays with the SLO Chamber 

Orchestra, so Clark felt like if they liked his work, maybe there really was 

something to it. 

Clark agreed to continue writing and playing music only if Chavez, 

Watson and Feldtkeller agreed to play with him, and the Shawn Clark 

Family began. Then, at a house show in April, the foursome ran into Mary 

MacLane, who grew up in Atascadero and now attends the School of 

the Art Institute in Chicago. When Clark found out she was a stand-up 

bass player, he asked her to join them on stage. By all accounts, the band’s 

performance was awesome. As Clark says, “It just felt right.” Welcome to 

the family, Ms. MacLane. 

Chavez explains that he and a few others have known drummer Teddy 

Ramirez for a long time, and they always wanted to play with him. 

Ramirez, a Paso Robles native, graduated from the LA Music Academy 

with a degree in music performance, has been a member of Eager 

Seas since 2011 [see the Oct/Nov ’15 issue], and also performs in the 

alternative rock group The Rocket Summer, a band out of Dallas, Texas. 

Ramirez was in. 

Watson and Feldtkeller had recently hired pedal steel 

guitarist Brenneth Stevens to perform a few shows 

with them. They suggested to Clark, “You have to meet 

Brenneth—you’ll be great friends, and he’s perfect for 

your music.” Stevens met Clark at a campout and heard 

him perform. He explains, “After that, I made sure I 

always stuck around.” And, Stevens made seven. 

Local audio engineer Nolan Perry also heard the 

band perform and said to Clark, “I’m gonna be the 

guy who records your music.” Perry thus served as the 

recording engineer for the band’s first full length album, 

Tumbleweed. And while tumbleweeds might conjure 

desolate, aimless wandering, the Shawn Clark Family 

Band is anything but. In just three weeks, the band 

recorded the album. 

Post-recording, at the end of May, the Shawn Clark 

Family Band performed live as a full band for the first 

time at Kreuzberg Coffee Company. Clark says, “It was 

insane because we didn’t know if anyone was going to 

show up.” But, the place was packed. Feldtkeller says, “I 

think that’s true to SLO—everyone is very supportive 

and comes out to support local music.” MacLane, who 

is classically trained on the double bass and played in 

the SLO Youth Symphony for a number of years, adds, 

“And outside of this band, we all have a lot of music 

connections in the area, so we brought in our friends, 

who brought in their friends.” 

In June, the band held their CD release show at Boo 

Boo Records, the day before Watson and Feldtkeller 

left for their own tour, and then for about two weeks in 

October they toured Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Colorado, 

and New Mexico. 

Clark says he likes to perform for the community, 

especially in SLO where folks are super supportive, and 

what he loves most is that people dance. “Remember 

that scene in Coal Miner’s Daughter with the band 

playing in the barn and everyone dancing? I want to be 

that band. I like when the community comes out and 

dances to our music.” 

And continue to dance, 

they will. The Shawn Clark 

Family Band has only been 

together for nine months, 

and Clark already has 

another album ready with 

eight original songs and 

two covers of local singer 

songwriters. Clark says, 

“There’s just so much talent 

on the Central Coast, and 

I want to honor that when 

I can.” SLO LIFE 

DAWN JANKE, Director, 

University Writing & Rhetoric 

Center Cal Poly, keeps her 

pulse on the Central Coast 

music scene. 


| DWELLING 

RESTORATION 

Homeowner, DEBBIE MENDES, shares her story of survival and how her 

“Happy Healing Place” provided the quiet strength she needed for the fight of her life. 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TREVOR POVAH 



It took Debbie Mendes more than a year of 

dedicated effort—lots of time and money—to 

finally obtain the permit to demolish her old 

oceanfront beach bungalow in Pismo Beach. 

Then, she decided not to do it. 

Following what was to be a final meeting with 

her architect, she met her three daughters, 

and a friend out for lunch. It was to be a 

celebration of sorts, as the demolition crew was 

scheduled to roll up on Cypress Street the next 

day. “They were all talking,” Mendes recalls, 

“and then something just hit me. I told them, 

‘I’m not going to knock it down.’ They all asked 

me, ‘Why?’ and I said, ‘I don’t know. I really 

don’t know why.’” 

It could be that Mendes saw something in 


that home that she also sees in herself. Both 

have been knocked around, but keep getting 

back up. For better or worse, they are kindred 

spirits. A year after buying the home that 

she had fallen in love with long ago, Mendes 

began experiencing strange symptoms. She 

thought she was having a series of strokes. 

One doctor referred her to another, then 

another until she found herself at the 

Stanford Medical Clinic where an AVM 

(arteriovenous malformation) was found 

in her brain. She was presented with three 

options, one being a very aggressive 6-hour 

nip-it-in-the-bud surgical option. Mendes, 

displaying her characteristic decisiveness, 

said, “Let’s do it. I don’t need to think about 

it. Take it out. It’s yours. I don’t want it.” The 

operation was a success, and Mendes spent 

many hours recuperating as she watched 

the tide roll in and back out again from her 

living room window atop the cliff north of 

the pier. It was during those early years when 

Mendes christened her house, “Deb’s Happy 

Healing Place.” 

Over time, the home came to represent family, 

and togetherness, as it served as a headquarters >> 


for Mendes’ seven grandkids who loved to visit 

grandma and spend precious time getting to 

know one another on the sun-drenched sand 

below. Despite its outward appearance, the 

little 1,660-square foot bungalow-by-the sea 

was wearing a brave face as it was taking a 

pounding from the heavy, salt-laden ocean 

air day after day. It was falling apart. Mendes 

knew it. And she had to do something. 

Tearing it down and building something new 

was the obvious choice. In the weeks leading 

up to demo day, one of her daughters brought 

over some markers. She thought it would be 

fun if everyone could say, “Goodbye,” to the 

old house by writing messages on one section 

of the hallway wall. Before long, everyone in 

the family took turns sharing their feelings 

for the house with every color the set of 

Crayolas provided. The commemoration grew 

to the dimensions of one of those oversized 

checks presented to lottery winners, and it 

sat quietly tucked away as it awaited its fate. 

Mendes stopped to read the notes each time 

she walked down the hallway. And the tribute 

opened a floodgate of emotions. 

Again, Mendes and her little house found >> 


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themselves in similar predicaments, as the 

diagnosis for both of them left little room for 

optimism. While the bungalow awaited its date 

with a bulldozer, Mendes was deep into a fight 

with cancer. She had recently learned that the 

lump in her breast had spread to her liver, and 

that twelve tumors were in her brain. Now, 

having endured twenty rounds of radiation, 

Mendes declares matter-of-factly, yet defiantly, 

“I’ve never felt sick. Never felt a thing. Felt 

great the whole time.” In her next breath, she 

heaps credit for her medical progress so far 

on her happy healing place. Mendes pauses to 

reflect for a moment. “When I’m here things are 

different,” she shares while taking in a sweeping 

ocean view. “I know I’m going to be okay.” 

When she called San Luis Obispo-based 

home builder Robbins|Reed Inc. to tell them 

about her lunchtime epiphany, explaining 

that she had opted for a remodel over new 

construction, it was a major blow. Months of 

planning, scheduling, estimating, ordering, and 

coordinating vaporized into the ether. Although 

the company specializes in custom home >> 


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HAPPY HEALING PLACE 

Wearing “Team Deb” t-shirts, Mendes is treated to the unveiling of 

her newly remodeled home by family, friends, and an assortment of 

people who had worked on the project. 

construction and shies away from remodeling 

projects, there was 

something about 

Mendes and her 

pluckiness that won 

them over. The team, 

after digesting the 

news, agreed to pivot 

along with their 

client and bring 

the happy healing 

place roaring back to 

vibrancy. If Mendes 

wanted a remodel— 

or more accurately a 

TREVOR POVAH is an 

architectural photographer 

here on the Central Coast. 


restoration—that is exactly what she would get. 

Since everyone was already geared up to build 

a home, the process was lightning-fast. Mendes 

spent her time in a rental property across town 

scanning the internet for ideas. Every time she 

found something she liked, a particular type of 

kitchen flooring for example, she would email a 

photo to the builder. Her ideas were added daily, 

on the fly. Because she was not able to drive, 

Mendes put a lot of trust in her team and her 

daughters, who became involved in the project 

along the way. Aside from an occasional Uber 

ride across town to check progress, Mendes 

was mostly kept in the dark as she waited in 

anticipation. When the completion date arrived, 

her family decided that a surprise, reality showstyle 

“reveal” was in order. The day Mendes 

walked up to the house for the first time since 

its makeover, she was overcome. Her family, 

friends, and the people who had worked on 

the project were all there, and the energy from 

the happy healing place was beaming anew. 

While she was being led through the remodeled 

3-bedroom, 2-bath house for the first time, 

she gasped with surprise as she stopped in the 

hallway; there, sandwiched between the family 

photos, was a framed piece of the wall from the 

original home—complete with the handwritten 

notes that said it all. SLO LIFE

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| SLO CITY 

REAL ESTATE 

BY THE NUMBERS 

laguna 

lake 

tank 

farm 

cal poly 

area 

country 

club 

down 

town 

foothill 

blvd 

johnson 

ave 

Total Homes Sold 

Average Asking Price 

Average Selling Price 

Sales Price as a % of Asking Price 

Average # of Days on the Market 































2014 

61 

633,643 

622,489 

98.39 

51 

2014 

28 

750,737 

740,442 

98.74 

39 

2014 

25 

625,342 

610,273 

97.80 

42 

2014 

15 

1,057,067 

1,024,972 

97.15 

65 

2014 

41 

742,041 

726,136 

98.27 

44 

2014 

57 

671,681 

659,129 

98.09 

40 

2014 

29 

673,190 

656,281 

97.66 

85 

2015 

63 

685,306 

669,075 

98.13 

61 

2015 

29 

739,441 

732,820 

99.16 

53 

2015 

34 

606,153 

582,841 

96.98 

34 

2015 

14 

1,054,929 

1,013,385 

96.34 

38 

2015 

28 

699,100 

697,371 

100.34 

22 

2015 

47 

756,500 

742,350 

99.45 

27 

2015 

49 

753,229 

727,780 

97.33 

42 

+/- 

3.28% 

8.15% 

7.48% 

-0.26% 

19.61% 

+/- 

3.57% 

-1.50% 

-1.03% 

0.42% 

35.90% 

+/- 

36.00% 

-3.07% 

-4.50% 

-0.82% 

-19.05% 

+/- 

-6.67% 

-0.20% 

-1.13% 

-0.81% 

-41.54% 

+/- 

-31.71% 

-5.79% 

-3.96% 

2.07% 

-50.00% 

+/- 

-17.54% 

12.63% 

12.63% 

1.36% 

-32.50% 

+/- 

68.97% 

11.89% 

10.89% 

-0.33% 

-50.59% 

*Comparing 1/1/14 - 12/31/14 to 1/1/15 - 12/31/15 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 



The New Partnership 

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us through the entire process with 

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| SLO COUNTY 

REAL ESTATE 

REGION 

BY THE NUMBERS 

NUMBER OF 

HOMES SOLD 

AVERAGE DAYS 

ON MARKET 

MEDIAN SELLING 

PRICE 

2014 

2015 

2014 

2015 

2014 

2015 

Arroyo Grande 

277 

316 

65 

70 

589,000 

666,750 

Atascadero 

369 

385 

61 

53 

425,000 

469,000 

Avila Beach 

19 

18 

60 

66 

810,000 

912,500 

Cambria/San Simeon 

132 

146 

102 

102 

566,250 

595,000 

Join us on HIGUERA STREET 

(BETWEEN OSOS & NIPOMO STREETS) 

EVERY THURSDAY 6-9PM 

Cayucos 

Creston 

55 

6 

49 

13 

133 

92 

92 

145 

820,000 

529,000 

865,000 

480,000 

DOWNTOWNSLO.COM 

Grover Beach 

99 

107 

51 

48 

405,000 

463,000 

It’s not chocolate, 

but it’s still a 

sweet deal! 

Los Osos 

Morro Bay 

Nipomo 

147 

134 

228 

182 

154 

246 

52 

82 

67 

44 

67 

65 

438,900 

504,500 

506,000 

460,000 

572,500 

549,450 

Oceano 

57 

54 

66 

47 

382,500 

387,925 

Pismo Beach 

107 

133 

71 

71 

700,000 

790,000 

Paso (Inside City Limits) 

419 

506 

58 

61 

387,000 

415,000 

Paso (North 46 - East 101) 

87 

109 

76 

80 

320,000 

320,000 

Paso (North 46 - West 101) 

89 

129 

134 

110 

365,000 

412,000 

Paso (South 46 - East 101) 

67 

72 

85 

77 

380,000 

424,950 


328 

361 

56 

47 

655,000 

668,305 

Santa Margarita 

14 

22 

55 

77 

398,775 

410,000 

BANNERS | WRAPS | VEHICLE GRAPHICS 

Templeton 

108 

110 

76 

72 

516,500 

557,500 

3001 Broad St., San Luis Obispo 

805.548.0413 

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Countywide 

2,742 3,112 

*Comparing 1/1/14 - 11/20/14 to 1/1/15 - 11/20/15 

69 65 475,000 519,000 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 

SLO LIFE

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| EXPLORE 

SUSPENSE 

GETTING OUT 

The Locked Inn 

12:10 pm - You have gathered some of your smartest friends together to willingly let yourselves be 

locked into a small room, filled with mind-bending clues and puzzles. You have exactly one hour to 

find the code needed to unlock the door and get out. 

1:05pm - Your heart is pounding, you have only five minutes left; the floor of the room is littered 

with clues, and your friends are all wracking their brains to find a four letter word needed to 

unlock the final padlock and solve the mystery. Welcome to the Locked Inn: live escape room and 

playground for analytical minds. 

BY PADEN HUGHES 


Between watching Sherlock Holmes, playing Settlers of Catan and 

being highly competitive, I have always loved strategy and solving 

problems. I first heard about “escape rooms,” embarrassingly 

enough, watching a friend experience one on reality TV from the 

Bachelorette last season. But when I heard that a couple in Grover 

Beach had designed their own, I knew I had to try it. 

First-timers at the only escape room open to the public in San Luis Obispo County, we 

did not know what to expect. We showed up fifteen minutes early and met Patrick Eaves, 

one of the owners. 

After giving the group a rundown, the game master brings you into the room, closes the door 

and then observes your group from his surveillance system. It’s debatable who gets more 

entertainment out of this hour, the participants or the game master. Eaves was our game 

master and he said, “I can normally tell in the first twelve minutes if a group has a chance to 

solve it or not.” 

Apparently in the history of the Locked Inn, there have only been three groups to ever 

complete the challenge in the hour time frame. I’m sorry to admit our group was not one of 

them. But when we ran out of time, Eaves, through an overheard speaker, asked if we wanted 

more time and we did; so he gave us two other clues that eventually pushed us in the right 

direction and we busted out in ten additional minutes. 

I was thankful to walk through the whole process and end up solving it. It was such a rush at 

the end as the pieces started to come together and we zeroed in on the final clue. All five of 

us were completely on a high from the time stress, the brain exercise and the thrill of figuring 

it out (thanks to Eaves’ final clues). My husband, Michael, noted, “ I felt about that room like 

I felt about playing golf for the first time. I was frustrated that I didn’t get it as quickly as I 

wanted, but I’m totally hooked!” 

“Escape rooms started in Asia, based on online game scenarios. Now they are popular all over 

and people love them,” shares Eaves. Both locals to Grover Beach, 

Eaves and his wife, Mariah, had gone to a live escape room and 

loved the idea of building a business and offering the entertainment 

experience back home. You would think you would have to buy 

the intricate strategy plan online somewhere to piece together 

something that complex and challenging, but interestingly, the 

Eaves actually created this escape room themselves. 

This was one of the best entertainment experiences I’ve had, and I’m 

thrilled to share that the Eaves are planning to open a new location 

locally within the next few months. They will offer multiple rooms 

and totally different puzzles to solve. I will certainly be quick to sign 

up for both of the other rooms, and encourage you to try something 

new and do the same. SLO LIFE 

PADEN HUGHES is 

co-owner of Gymnazo 

and enjoys exploring 

the Central Coast. 

Tip! 

• Bring people who love solving problems—an engineer 

and math whiz, if you can. And, you’ll need to 

communicate easily, This experience will test your ability 

to work together. 

• There’s a minimum of three people for a private booking, 

with a maximum of eight guests, designed for those 

over the age of 16. 

• View availability and sign up online for $35 per person. 

thelockedinn.com 

• The escape room changes every couple of months; 

great for locals who want to go back. 

• The experience is designed to be suspenseful, not scary. 


| HEALTH 

4 TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR 

Gut Health 

We’ve all heard the saying, “Listen to your gut.” And while that advice often refers to our intuition, 

it should also speak to our digestion. Quite literally, your gut is the epicenter of your mental and 

physical health. 

t’s been said that the gut is the second brain. Your gut’s “brain” is known as the enteric nervous system. This 

system is home to 100 million neurons within your intestinal wall. While the enteric nervous system initiates 

and sustains digestion on its own, signals from the brain, such as stress and anxiety, can have dramatic effects 

on how well it works. In addition, the brain receives chemical messages from the gut, which can affect your 

mood and emotions. In fact, the vast majority of serotonin (a neurotransmitter that regulates mood, sleep, 

anxiety, depression and more) is actually made in your gut, not your brain—it’s all connected. If you want better 

Iimmunity, efficient digestion, improved clarity and balance, focus on rebuilding your gut health. >> 


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STEP 1: REMOVE 

In this first step we remove the offending 

foods and toxins from your diet that could 

be acting as stressors on your system. This 

means caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, bad 

fats, and any other foods you think may be 

causing issues, like gluten and dairy. All of 

these irritate the gut in some form and create 

an inflammatory response. 

>STEP 2: REPAIR 

The next step is to begin to repair the gut and 

heal the damaged intestinal lining. You do 

this by consuming an unprocessed diet and 

giving your body time to rest by providing it 

with substances that are known to heal the 

gut, like L-glutamine, omega-3 fatty acids, 

zinc, antioxidants (in the form of vitamins A, 

C, and E), quercitin, aloe vera, and turmeric. 

>STEP 3: RESTORE 

This involves the restoration of your gut’s 

optimal bacterial flora population. This is 

done with the introduction of probiotics 

like Lactobacillus acidophilus and 

Bifidobacterium lactis. A probiotic is a good 

bacteria and is ingested to help reinforce and 

maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract and 

to help fight illness. In general, a healthy 

lower intestinal tract should contain around 

85% good bacteria. This helps to combat any 

overgrowth of bad bacteria. Unfortunately, 

in most people these percentages are 

skewed and this allows for the gut health to 

drastically decline. The human gut is home to 

bad bacteria like salmonella and clostridium, 

which is fine as long as they are kept in order 

and don’t get out of control. 

>STEP 4: REPLACE 

This involves getting your bile salts, digestive 

enzymes, and hydrochloric acid to optimal 

levels to maintain and promote healthy 

digestion. This can be done by supplementing 

with digestive enzymes and organic 

salt to help make sure you have enough 

hydrochloric acid. >> 


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RECOMMENDED FOODS AND 

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Probiotics 

They provide live strains of good bacteria to help bolster your defenses. 

Cinnamon 

It can help to improve digestion and, as an added bonus, is great at balancing blood 

sugar levels. 

Mint 

Great at soothing the stomach, mint can help to relax the gastrointestinal tract. 

Zinc 

An important supplement, zinc is utilized to form digestive enzymes and is also used in 

regulating hormones. 

Prebiotics 

In the form of fermented foods, prebiotics help to feed friendly bacteria and allow them 

to thrive in a healthy environment. Fermented foods include bio-available yogurt, kefir, 

kimchi, and sauerkraut among others. 

PH Balancing or Alkaline Foods 

Anything green is generally okay, like kale, spinach, broccoli, wheatgrass, parsley, chlorella, 

and spirulina. These are all great at keeping high stomach acid levels in order. SLO LIFE

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| SPECIAL FEATURE 

COMMUNITY 

LEADERSHIP 

BY PADEN HUGHES 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RENODA CAMPBELL 

Each year, in January, thirty-six San Luis Obispo County residents nervously 

eye each other from across a banquet room at the Wonder Valley Resort 

in the icy Sierra Nevada foothills above Fresno. Chosen through a lengthy 

application process to ensure maximum diversity, in terms of both personal 

backgrounds and industries represented, the group has no way of knowing 

that many of the strangers sitting across the room will eventually become 

lifelong friends. 


Leadership SLO follows a 

tried-and-true formula, which 

consists of a year-long learning and collaborating experience. 

Following a three-day retreat, which is intended to gel the 

group as they begin to grapple with questions, such as “What 

is a leader?” the format then settles into a once per month 

day session. Those day-long field trips to different areas of 

the county focus on different parts of life on the Central 

Coast, including Education/The Arts, Manufacturing & 

Agriculture, Media & Communication, Business/Economic 

Development, Sustainability, Criminal & Civil Justice, 

Health & Human Services, and Government & Political 

Process. During each day session, the Leadership class 

interviews panels of representatives (for example, during 

Criminal & Civil Justice day may include the sheriff, a 

police chief or two, both a prosecuting and defense attorney, 

etc.). The group then attempts to collaboratively answer 

both actual and theoretical questions facing the community 

(in the case of Criminal & Civil Justice day again, it may 

be “should we expand the jail? And why?”). At the end of 

the year, the class collaborates on a class “legacy project,” 

something of enduring value that is left to the community. 

The program, known simply as “Leadership,” now in its 25th 

year, boasts a wide alumni network. Over the course of this 

year, SLO LIFE Magazine, will be profiling one individual 

from each class who will be sharing their experience with the 

program. For this first installment of the multi-part feature, 

our own Paden Hughes sits down with Michael Cannon 

(Class I), Kris Kington-Barker (Class II), Pat Veesart (Class 

III), Jim Grant (Class IV), and Peggy Carlaw (Class V), in 

an attempt to understand how Leadership has become one of 

the most beloved institutions on the Central Coast today. >> 


1992 

>CLASS I 

For MICHAEL CANNON the timing of the program was perfect, he had just 

become president of his company and wanted to get more involved in the community. 

NOTES AND HIGHLIGHTS 

Michael Cannon 

DAVE GARTH, the former CEO of the 

San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce 

is credited for starting Leadership SLO 

in 1991. He called it the “most important 

work” of his 39-year career. 

The first retreat was held at Camp Ocean 

Pines in Cambria. 

JUDITH BEAN, who is the President 

& CEO of the Arroyo Grande/Grover 

Beach Chamber of Commerce was 

the Assistant Director of Leadership 

SLO (PG&E executive Bob Burke was 

the inaugural director). Bean led the 

program through its infancy. 

PATRICIA KOHLEN is an artist and 

philanthropist whose donation made 

the giant spheres in front of the PAC 

(commissioned by artist Ivan McLean) 

possible. 

CLIF SMITH passed away a couple of 

years ago after a career of service to 

the community, notably as SLO County 

Supervisor Harry Ovitt’s legislative aide. 

EVA VIGIL was the force that created 

the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden 

CAROLYN MOFFATT was an elected 

commissioner for the Port San Luis 

Harbor District up until last year when 

she stepped down. 

Cannon moved to San Luis Obispo in 1980 in order to attend Cal Poly and study 

engineering. While waiting for his future wife to graduate, Cannon took a job with a 

local civil engineering firm. He would always talk futuristically about going back to 

the Bay to get a “real job,” but he never left the Central Coast and never got a “real 

job.” 

Instead Cannon worked at a local company for four years before learning the owners 

wanted to close the firm. Believing it held promise, Cannon acquired the business. 

Starting with only a few people in the company, today CannonCorp Engineering 

Consultants employs over 150 people in four offices in California. It is one of those 

entrepreneurial success stories that we love hearing about on the Central Coast, where 

many have paved their own careers to stay and call San Luis Obispo home. 

So when offered the opportunity to try something new, Cannon joined Leadership 

SLO Class I. It was intriguing for him to be exposed to new things to satisfy his 

insatiable love of learning. 

“Leadership SLO was an elegant way to get involved, meet new people and expose 

yourself to community needs,” reflects Cannon. For a self-proclaimed introvert, the 

experience of bonding with 36 strangers in a weekend and then learning together 

about polarizing community issues was definitely out of Cannon’s comfort zone. The 

icebreaker exercises, designed to bring the group together and create meaningful 

connections, still stands out to Cannon today, as he credits them with developing 

lifelong friendships. 

Perhaps the most valuable takeaway Cannon recalls was during the day his class 

discussed the county’s growth issues. At the time there was a tremendous discord 

about how—and if—San Luis Obispo should grow. Going into a topic he was not 

only familiar with, but passionate about, and still connect meaningfully with someone 

on the opposite side of the issue was powerful. 

Always quotable, Cannon shares, “You don’t live in a community; you live community. 

We are all creatures of habit and we don’t naturally push ourselves out of our comfort 

zones. If you want to be a leader you have to be able to embrace all stakeholders in 

making decisions. If you don’t, you will make suboptimal decisions. Leadership SLO 

provides the kind of exposure leaders need to cultivate to be truly influential.” 

Today Cannon continues to lead his organization and give back to the community. 

He is a cycling enthusiast who started a riding group at CannonCorp that goes on 

extreme group rides and adventures, including hiking to the top of Half Dome. And 

to top things off, he has a passion for wine, so much so that he owns a winery. >> 

CLASS MEMBERS 

Rebecca Berner, David & Christine Blaine, Sylvia Bolander Muscia, 

Julie Bolger, Bob Burke, Michael Cannon, Lionel Chadwick, 

Robert Christensen, Dawna Davies, Karen Frees, David Garth, 

Frank Gonzales, Ann Grant, J.T. Haas, Wayne Hall, Deb Hossli, 

Patti Kohlen, Russell L. Lambert, Pat Lawson-North, Leah Licea, 

Mary Loomis-Genthner, Jerry Michael, Carolyn Moffat, Linda Osty, 

Mary K. Pagel, Richard Palmer, Chris Pillsbury, Jeanne Potter, 

Anne Quinn, Nancy Rosen, Patti Rowe, Sandi Sigurdson, Ann Slate, 

Cliff Smith, Drew Squyres, Marguerite Stafford, Raul Vasquez, 

Eva Vigil, Marcy Villa, Gary Wiseman 


H O W D O I 

PREPARE 

FOR AN EMERGENCY? 

• It is important to be prepared for any type of emergency 

that could impact San Luis Obispo County. In the unlikely 

event of an emergency at Diablo Canyon Power Plant, it’s 

important to know if your home, workplace, or children’s 

schools are within the Emergency Planning Zone as well as 

any actions you may be directed to take. Your plan should 

include any assistance needed by elderly family members, 

those with medical needs, as well as your family pets. 

• In an emergency, officials may direct protective actions 

to protect public health and safety. It is important to stay 

tuned to local radio and TV stations throughout the 

emergency to receive current information 

and actions you may need to take. 

• For more information on how to prepare, visit: 

www.slocounty.ca.gov/oes or call (805) 781-5011. 

OUR ALERT & NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS MAY BE USED FOR ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY 

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1993 

>CLASS II 

When you’ve been living in Arroyo Grande and have been working almost exclusively 

in the health care sector, opportunities to network outside of your industry can be 

both valuable and eye-opening. When KRIS KINGTON-BARKER was solicited 

to apply for Leadership SLO, little was known other than it was a new and exciting 

program that promised to provide unique insight into local government and find 

fresh avenues to volunteer. She joined Class II truly not knowing what to expect. The 

program was still evolving and growing organically. Kington-Barker was drawn to 

it, in part, because it seemed quite collaborative and the leaders were so enthusiastic 

about it. 


Kris Kington-Barker 

Back at Camp Ocean Pines, classmates 

were greeted with a unrelenting 

downpour, complete with floods and 

power outages. 

YVETTE YONG was a high school 

student when she was accepted to 

Leadership SLO and went on to Cal Poly. 

TOM FULKS is a journalist and energy 

expert, who continues to speak at 

Leadership SLO “day sessions,” including 

Communications Day, Government Day 

and Sustainability Day over the years. 

JEFF BUCKINGHAM, co-owner of 

Norcast Communications went on to 

serve as Chair of the Board for the SLO 

Chamber and Rotary de Tolosa, as well 

as becoming a board member at the 

Farm Bureau, Softec and the Cuesta 

College Foundation. 

It was an El Niño year and Kington-Barker distinctly recalls during that winter 

almost every day trip was fraught with unpredictable weather and operational 

challenges. Looking back she believes it actually brought the group closer together, 

because each day was an adventure and you had to remain flexible and positive. 

“The most eye-opening experience with Leadership SLO was the retreat itself. It 

kicked off the program with team-building exercises that were surprisingly physical. 

Everyone, myself included, combined our strength and succeeded together. As 

someone who was once afraid of heights, this pushed me outside my comfort zone 

on day one,” she said. “It’s ironic, because I am such a high ropes junkie now. I have 

a motto that I’ll trying anything once and love anything that safely pushes me out of 

the envelope. I think Leadership SLO helped me embrace that side of myself.” 

When she looks back almost 24 years ago to Leadership SLO, the most important 

takeaway is the value the program placed on diversity and learning from the unique 

perspectives and backgrounds of the classmates. No matter what your bias is—to 

remain flexible and open is to remain learning and growing. At the time Kington- 

Barker remembers considering controversial issues of the day and understanding local 

politics are not merely about what is right or wrong; more times than not it means 

picking between two good options and weighing which is best, or picking the least of 

two bad options. It’s complex. 

Today Kington-Barker is the compassionate and inspirational Executive Director 

for the San Luis Obispo County Hospice. She lives on Lake Nacimento with her 

husband and continues to enjoy adventure seeking in her spare time. >> 

CLASS MEMBERS 

Cindy Marie Absey, Linda Asprion, Barbara Bailey, M.D., 

Barbara Barker, Cynthia Becker, Adrian Bray, Jeff Buckingham, 

Cyndi Butterfield, Eric Caggiano, Albert Calizo, Kathleen Friend, 

Andy Frokjer, Tom Fulks, Brooke Fuller, Carol Ann Garsten, 

Steve Goschke, Mike Harkness, Candace Havens, Rick Hernandez, 

Kris Kington, Kathy Laster, Debbi Lopez, Debora Moore, 

Kathi Niffenegger, Kathleen O’Neill, Susan Polk, Grace Hayes Romero, 

Paul Severtson, Warren Stephenson, Sally Stoner, Peggy Thomas, 

Bruce Trueman, Barry Williams, Burma Workman, Yvette Yong 


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1994 

>CLASS III 

With a love of nature, rural beauty, and a penchant for hunting and falconry 

PAT VEESART has loved the Central Coast for decades. Moving here from LA 

in the 70’s, Veesart attended Cuesta College and started a career in construction. 

However, in the late 80’s Veesart started to become more involved with community 

issues and by the 90’s was a passionate advocate for conservation. 


Pat Veesart 

The annual retreat moved to Wonder 

Valley near Sanger in the Sierra Foothills. 

There was some controversy about 

going out of SLO County, but it turned 

out that carpooling on a three-hour 

drive spurred lots of conversation and 

fellowship. 

CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER has spent her 

career in public service and nonprofit 

management. Today she leads the Santa 

Maria Valley Humane Society. 

DEBORAH HOLLEY CASH went on to 

lead the SLO Downtown Association 

with distinction from 1995 to 2013 

before turning over the reins to Dominic 

Tartaglia, Class XXII. 

It is interesting to note that prior to attending Leadership SLO as a participant, 

Veesart was one of the original experts solicited to speak to Leadership SLO about 

conservation. When selected to participate in Class III, Veesart was flattered but did 

not expect it to be as good a program as he later found it to be. He already loved SLO 

dearly and loved to learn, and this program gave him a great opportunity to expand 

his breadth of knowledge. 

The day he found the most valuable was Media Day, where Veesart learned interview 

skills that served him well in the years to come. For example, he recalls learning how 

to appear credible when being interviewed, how important image is, and how to make 

the most of every opportunity to make your point. 

“The best part about Leadership SLO was that it reinforced the value of being a part 

of the community and exploring how to give back. This program is a great way to 

introduce that and give locals the confidence to join in,” says Veesart. 

At the time he participated, Veesart was still making his living as a general contractor, 

but the experience affirmed for him that he could make his passion for conversation 

his career, which he went on to do, eventually working as a San Luis Obispo County 

planning commissioner, becoming the state chapter liaison for the Sierra Club, the 

chair of the club’s Santa Lucia chapter in San Luis Obispo county, as well as the 

executive director of the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo (ECOSLO), just 

to name a few. 

Today Veesart is still involved in community issues and enjoys bird hunting and 

hiking in Eastern San Luis Obispo County, where he lives. >> 

JANICE FONG WOLF after a 20-year 

career in health services, is currently the 

director for grants and programs at the 

Community Foundation. 

CLASS MEMBERS 

Charlotte Alexander, Lori Atwater, Deborah Cash, Sheree Davis, 

Mike Driscoll, Fran Dukehart, Linda Easton, John Ewan, 

Suzanne Fritz, Lt. Col. Cary Gray, Dave Greewald, Cheryl Hertan, 

Deborah Holley, Jan Jensen, Kathy Johnson, Bill Keyworth, 

Margie Mortimer, Michele Murfin-Fanning, Cindy O’Hare, Dan O’Hare, 

Susan Price, Micki Ready, Dr. Philip L. Searby, DPM, Charlotte Smith, 

Patty Smith, Penny Sullivan, Jill Sylvain, Pat Veesart, Phil Wagner, 

Gail Wilcox, Janice Fong Wolf, Tom Zeulner 


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1995 

>CLASS IV 


Class Chair KEN HAMPIAN, former SLO 

City Manager, observed that, “The days 

of one great ‘man’ are over, and thus the 

idea that a single wise person can lead 

us to the mountain top is pure myth. 

Today it’s got to be us.” 

The Class IV myth is that they’re the 

“dysfunctional class.” 

Jim Grant 

Great friendships were formed by 

CARL DUDLEY (banking executive and 

nonprofit volunteer), DAVE JUHNKE 

(attorney, who became San Luis 

Obispo’s Citizen of the Year in 2011), 

MARY GAMLIN VERDIN (founded and 

operates an advertising agency), and 

DEBBY NICKLAS (now leads French 

Hospital’s philanthropy efforts). 

A couple of political careers were borne: 

CARLYN CHRISTIANSON, currently a 

SLO City Councilmember, and JERRY 

LENTHALL was a former SLO County 

Supervisor. 

And, classmates, GORDON JACKSON of 

the Pismo Beach Conference and Visitor 

Bureau, and SHERYL FLORES, now the 

Vice President of Peoples’ Self-Help 

Housing, have flourished as executives in 

the nonprofit sector. 

As the former County Administrator, JIM GRANT is widely credited with 

leading San Luis Obispo County with a steady hand through the recession as he was 

continually challenged to strike balance and fair compromises. Moving to San Luis 

Obispo with his wife 38 years ago, Grant found employment in social services and 

began working his way up the chain of command. 

By the time Leadership SLO was looking for local leaders for their fourth year of the 

program, Grant was being groomed for more responsibility at the County. Having 

observed several of his colleagues before him go through Leadership SLO, Grant 

saw it as a way to gain a better perspective, as well as to expose himself to different 

viewpoints from the business community, because when you work in government it 

can be difficult to keep a pulse on other stakeholders. 

From the beginning of the retreat and the team-building exercises, Grant recalls 

how fascinating it was to see the strategies utilized to bring 36 strangers together 

and create friendships. One of the most powerful things Leadership SLO does is to 

start with coalescing a group together, and then, once an initial bond is established, 

it facilitates education about sometimes polarizing local issues that naturally create 

passionate discussion within the group. 

“The most valuable part of the Leadership SLO experience is that if you take the time 

to get to know who you are talking to, their issues, their perspective, and you simply 

listen, you will undoubtedly make better decisions. My class was philosophically diverse 

and it could get heated. But we saw time and again when dissenters were able to digest 

an alternative perspective and at least see where they were coming from, our collective 

conclusions on local issues were stronger. It always involves compromise, but when you 

can reach a compromise, you’re not stuck and can move forward,” shares Grant. 

Looking back, Leadership SLO was an affirmation for Grant that being a public 

servant was the direction to pursue. Many of those in his class were influential in 

their respective industries and the relationships he made there served him well as he 

became County Administrator and needed alternative perspectives. 

Today Grant can be found mountain biking, pursuing his aviation passion, and 

teaching karate. Now retired, Grant is passionate about giving back and he actively 

serves on the board of the Homeless Foundation of San Luis Obispo and is involved 

in Rotary. To Grant, a common trait of all those involved in Leadership SLO is the 

desire to give back and the sense of volunteerism—it is part of what makes this area 

so great; people here have a strong sense of pride and want to work to make it better. >> 

CLASS MEMBERS 

Meredith Bates, Ben Beesley, Cynthia Boche, Fred Bond, 

Christine Burkett, Linda Caldwell, Carlyn Christianson, 

Russ Cracknell, Steve DiGrazia, Carl Dudley, Alan Fillmore, 

Gladys Fiske, Sheryl Flores, Jim Grant, Gary Henderson, 

Gordon Jackson, Catherine Jaeger, Susan Bailey Kadin, 

David Juhnke, Heathyr Knowles, Jerry Lenthall, Emmy McCormack, 

Debby Nicklas, Paulette Perlman, Mark Porczak, Angelo Procopio, 

Tim Quiggle, Karen Robert, Wilda Rosene, Eric Schwefler, 

Stephen Secrest, Karen Shanley, Mary Verdin, Ron Whisenand, 

Ann York 


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1996 

>CLASS V 

Twenty years ago the beauty and tranquility of the Central Coast called PEGGY CARLAW 

and her husband Malcolm to move from Laguna Beach and relocate to Cambria. 

As owners of a successful consulting practice, that for years required them to split 

time between Chicago and Laguna Beach, the Carlaws wanted life to slow down a 

bit. They bought a house in Cambria and after catching their breath, then decided to 

launch a successful reusable shopping bag company. After several years of enjoying 

Cambria, the Carlaws decided to move to the “big city” and relocated again, this time 

to the historic district of downtown San Luis Obispo. 


Peggy Carlaw 

This class built “The Wall,” treasured in 

Leadership SLO lore for inspiring both 

terror and triumph. The Wall, which 

measured 14’ was an obstacle that the 

class was challenged to climb, was 

an integral part of the Wonder Valley 

retreat experience for two decades. 

SANDEE MCLAUGHLIN, now vice 

president of student services at 

Cuesta College, was instrumental in 

the development and expansion of the 

Cuesta North County Campus. 

JEFF LEE is mayor pro tem of Grover 

Beach and now serves on the Leadership 

SLO Board of Directors. 

GEOF LAND was running ECOSLO 

when he was in Class V. In the years 

since, he has taught hundreds of young 

people at Paso Robles High School. 

After hours, he plays brass for local 

band The Rag Bone Saints. 

Desiring to engage with the business community in her new town, Carlaw decided 

to get involved in the SLO Chamber of Commerce where she was introduced to 

Leadership SLO. The program promised to teach participants about the city, as well as 

the county, and allow them to meaningfully connect with other professionals. Carlaw 

was intrigued and signed up for Class V. 

Looking back on the experience, Peggy says that the program far exceeded her 

expectations. It was in-depth and cultivated a greater appreciation for the County and 

opened her eyes to topics and elements of the city that she didn’t know about. 

“Going back twenty years, I remember being impressed with Media Day and the 

hostile interview experience. I distinctly remember learning to not repeat key, possibly 

inflammatory, words the interviewer chose when responding to a question,” shared 

Carlaw. “With my background in sales and marketing, I thought this was such a 

fascinating educational experience.” 

Another personally useful takeaway was gaining the understanding, with more clarity, 

exactly how local government functioned and the role locals play in the impact 

government can make on their daily lives. 

“At the time the Mills Act Program had been put forward, which proposed tax 

incentives to my neighbors and I to preserve our historical homes. We hadn’t thought 

to go and voice our support of this program to the city council. After the Government 

Day Session with Leadership SLO, I followed up on the program and learned no one 

had showed up for public comment, so it did not go through. I was disappointed, but 

had just learned the steps to take to get something like that passed. So my husband 

and I gathered the documentation and went door-to-door to get signatures and made 

sure that the program passed. This was a great value to us personally, but also the 

community; and I’m thankful, because of Leadership SLO, I paid attention to it.” 

Leadership SLO impressed Carlaw because it reinforced for her how much she loves 

her hometown with its many opportunities for locals to volunteer and continue to 

invest in its future. Carlaw continues to invest back into SLO today, and is involved in 

Cal Poly’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the HotHouse where she 

works with young entrepreneurs to help them build their dreams. In her spare time 

she enjoys learning how to make vegan food, hiking, yoga and working out. 

CLASS MEMBERS 

Larry Allen, Eileen Amaral, Jodee Bennett, Sam Blakeslee, 

Leslie Brown, Bob Bunch, Peggy Carlaw, Terri Cook, Dan Culhane, 

Carolyn Dominguez, Bob Grayson, Scott Gregory, Rona Griffin, 

Tom Harrington, M. Kim Heath, Susan Hughes, Jon Jaeger, 

Brandon Jones, David Juhnke, Leslie Jones, Deborah Kelly, 

Tanya Kiani, Geof Land, Jeff Lee, Mark McDougal, 

Sandee McLaughlin, Deborah McNeil-Amorteguy, Frank Mecham, 

Rod Neubert, Terri Palacios, Alison Peterson, Carol Pimentel, 

Dave Redel, Alice Reyes, Carrie Sims, Todd Sims, Pablo Torres, 

Brandon Weg 



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| TASTE 

SWEET, SAVORY 

AND SPICY 

On chilly winter days, nothing says 

cozy quite like a deep bowl of curry. 

When the mercury drops, I can often be found running to a steaming bowl of creamy curry 

over rice. There’s something magical—medicinal, even—about a spicy, exotic stew that clears 

the sinuses and sticks to the ribs. 

BY JAIME LEWIS 

n the Central Coast, curry is often understood in the context of Thai cuisine, in 

which a paste of spices and chilies is sautéed along with vegetables and proteins, 

bathed in hot coconut milk and topped with fresh garnishes. But the word “curry” 

is as generic as the wide variety of curries from India and Southeast Asia would 

suggest. Curries can manifest as a brothy soup or like a stir-fry; served over rice or 

noodles, or stand-alone. The common denominator? A complex melding of herbs 

and spices that’s an ideal antidote to the midwinter blahs. 

Here, I peel back the coconut curtain to explore what goes into the much-loved 

Ocurries of three SLO County restaurants. >> 

JAIME LEWIS is a 

sommelier, world traveler, 

and food writer, who lives 

in San Luis Obispo. 



Novo, San Luis Obispo 

This hip, modern eatery includes a little 

something from many corners of the 

world, from India and Korea to France and 

Spain. The Thai-style red curry originally 

developed in 2003 by Novo restaurateur, 

Robin Covey, has stood the test of time in 

part because the curry paste is house-made 

every day. “We go through about twelve to 

fourteen quarts of red curry per day,” says 

Executive Chef Ben Richardson. “Making 

the paste from scratch is key.” 

Ingredients in the paste include red chilies 

(responsible for the high heat factor), 

turmeric, onions, paprika and Laos powder, 

a term for dried galangal, an earthy relative 

of ginger. Partnered with coconut milk, 

pineapple, greens, shiitakes, and tofu (or beef, 

chicken or prawns), Novo’s red curry is a rich 

but balanced stew with plenty of upfront 

spice that mellows into three-dimensional 

flavor. “The focus here is on being authentic,” 

says Richardson, “not straying —even down 

to the garnishes.” >> 


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Basil Thai, Paso Robles 

Situated on Paso Robles’ City Park, Basil 

prepares authentic Thai cuisine with an 

emphasis on vibrant produce. “I’ve lived here 

over half my life,” says Basil’s owner and 

chef, Judy Hengcharoen, a native of Bangkok 

who originally learned to cook from her 

grandmother and, later, from culinary schools, 

before opening Basil in 2004. “I’ve had to 

adapt recipes here with what’s available.” 

In the case of Basil’s green curry, those 

ingredients include a house-made paste 

of Serrano chilies (native to Mexico), 

lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, galangal, cumin 

and garlic, along with coconut milk, chopped 

japanese eggplant, zucchini, green beans, 

onions, bell peppers, a drizzle of concentrated 

coconut cream and, of course, basil. “No curry 

is complete without basil,” Hengcharoen 

insists. The final curry is sage-green in color, 

creamy and herbaceous with subtle heat. >> 


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Noi’s Little Thai Takeout 

Los Osos 

It may come as a surprise to fans of this tiny, 

beachy Thai joint that Noi Miner didn’t start 

cooking until she came to the U.S. from 

Thailand. “I didn’t have any experience,” she 

says. “Friends said I should open a restaurant, 

but I was afraid to start something too big. 

That’s why Noi’s is so small. I was the only 

person cooking there for the first fifteen years.” 

Today, 23 years after opening, Noi has a small 

staff and second kitchen to accommodate the 

restaurant’s fiendish demand. 

Monday through Friday, Noi cooks a curry 

of the day, the most sought-after of which is 

Friday’s pineapple curry. To reserve a bowl of 

juicy pineapple, chicken, and red and yellow 

bell pepper floating in warm coconut broth 

and topped with fresh green onions, customers 

have to call ahead of time. Otherwise, when it’s 

gone, it’s gone. 

When asked why people go so crazy for her 

pineapple curry, Noi shares her trick: “Fresh 

pineapple,” she says. “It tenderizes the meat as 

it cooks.” SLO LIFE 

WHAT MAKES A RED CURRY RED? 

It has to do with the chilies and spices 

used, not the color of the final dish. A 

green curry is named after the fresh 

green chilies in its curry paste, red curries 

are named for the use of dried red 

chilies, and yellow curries often include 

curry powder rather than chilies—which 

generally means more sweet, less heat. 



| KITCHEN 

CLASSIC COMFORT 

LINGUINE AND CLAMS 

Treat the seafood lover in your family to Chef Jessie Rivas’ classic comfort favorite. 

This traditional Italian fare is sure to warm up even the coldest winter day. 

BY CHEF JESSIE RIVAS 


JESSIE’S TIP: 

When making pasta dishes always reserve 

some of the boiling pasta liquid to adjust 

the thickness of the pasta dish. It helps 

with sauces that get too thick when all the 

!ingredients are combined. 

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LINGUINE AND CLAMS 

1 lb linguine pasta 

6-8 large garlic cloves, sliced not minced 

4-5 dozen little neck clams 

1 cup white wine 

½ cup lager—Corona or any light beer will work 

crushed chili flakes to taste 

1 ½ tsp dried Mexican oregano 

3 Tbs butter 

2 Tbs chopped Italian leaf parsley 

½ to 1 cup Parmesan cheese 

8 oz. cherry tomatoes cut in half 

juice of ½ lemon 

olive oil 

1. Using a large sauté pan, coat the bottom of the pan with olive oil and warm 

to medium heat. Cook half the garlic to a light golden brown. Add half of the 

clams, beer and white wine. Cover and simmer just until all the clams open, 

about 5-10 minutes on high heat. 

2. Remove the clams, but reserve the liquid. Place the clams in a bowl to cool 

and then remove clam meat from their shells and 

discard the shells. 

3. Reduce the sauce left in the pan on medium heat 

for 4 minutes. Remove sauce from pan and set aside. 

4. Meanwhile start salted water for the linguine. 

5. Bring sauté pan back up to medium heat. Coat 

the bottom with olive oil and cook the rest of the 

garlic until golden brown. Add the rest of the clams 

in their shells, the previously cooked clams without 

their shells, sauce, oregano and chili flakes. Simmer 

until the clams open. 

6. When pasta is al dente, add it to the sauté pan 

JESSIE RIVAS is the owner 

and chef of The Pairing Knife with the clams and sauce. Season with lemon, 

food truck which serves the 

butter and Parmesan. Add tomatoes and parsley to 

Central Coast. 

garnish. Drizzle with olive oil. Serve with sliced 

sourdough bread. SLO LIFE 

SERVING 

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Morro Bay | AG | Cayucos 

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FEB 19 

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MAR 13 

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(805) 786-2440 | slolittletheatre.org 

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THAT’S AMORE 

Mesmerizing ocean views at the Dolphin Bay 

Resort provide the perfect backdrop for Opera 

San Luis Obispo’s annual Valentine-themed 

afternoon of song. Greatest Opera Ensembles 

performed by an internationally acclaimed 

quartet of opera stars. 

February 7 // operaslo.org 

FEBRUARY 

LEANN RIMES 

Grammy Award-winning country and 

pop vocalist will perform in an intimate 

acoustic setting that will show off 

the distinctive, emotionally rich and 

powerful quality in her voice. Presented 

by Rotary Club of SLO de Tolosa as a 

benefit for rotary charities. 

February 13 // pacslo.org 

CABARET 

This multiple Tony Award winning 

musical will be celebrating the 50th 

Anniversary of its Broadway debut 

in 2016. The scene is a night club in 

Berlin, as the 1920’s are drawing to 

a close. You know the story, you love 

the songs. 

February 19 – March 13 

slolittletheatre.org 

THE CRUCIBLE 

This is the suspenseful exploration 

of the Salem Witch Trials that 

sparked the infamous witch 

hunt. Arthur Miller’s classic play 

examines a community divided, and 

the pursuit of individual integrity 

within a landscape of compromise. 

February 25 – 27 // March 3 – 5 

pacslo.org 

WINTERMEZZO: TRIOS AND 

UNUSUAL PAIRINGS 

Enjoy a weekend filled with the art of 

music, wine and food pairings. Relax as 

the musicians take you on an exploration 

of the works in this performance. 

February 26-28 // festivalmozaic.com 


MARCH 

ONE NIGHT OF QUEEN 

A spectacular live concert, recreating the look, sound, 

pomp and showmanship of arguably the greatest rock 

band of all time. This World’s Premiere Queen Tribute 

Band have received rave reviews. 

March 10 // clarkcenter.org 

1351 Monterey Street . San Luis Obispo 

(805)783-2887 . clippersbarber.com 

CLASSICS CONCERT IV 

What a night it will be— 

Rachmaninoff and Mussorgsky— it 

doesn’t get better than that. Pianist 

Steven Lin and Maestro Kiesling join 

SLO Symphony for a picturesque 

evening using the full palate of 

orchestral colors. 

March 12 // closymphony.org 

CHECKPOINT CHALLENGE 

Grab a partner and head out to collect 

checkpoints on a kayaking, mountain 

biking, and trekking challenge through 

Santa Margarita’s beautiful backcountry. 

March 26 // alloutadventureseries.com 

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TAO: SEVENTEEN SAMURAI 

Explosive Taiko drums 

combine with athletic bodies, 

contemporary costumes and 

innovative choreography filled with 

extraordinary precision, energy 

and stamina to deliver modern 

entertainment based on the timeless, 

traditional art of Japanese drumming. 

March 21 // pacslo.org 

KAHULANUI 

There’s a new wave coming from Hawaii, 

a blend of traditional music and Big 

Band Swing. Come hear the Grammynominated 

nine-piece band. 

March 26 // calpolyarts.org 

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| OUT AND ABOUT 

PULSE 

LIVE MUSIC VENUE 

The closure of a longtime downtown San Luis Obispo 

concert venue, restaurant and pub is hardly the end of the show. 

BY JEANETTE TROMPETER 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN WILKINSON 

Amainstay for live entertainment on the Central Coast for more than 25 

years, SLO Brew held its last party on New Year’s Eve. The closure of its Garden Street location 

in San Luis Obispo was a heartbreaker for hundreds of locals who made regular pilgrimages for 

concerts and catch-up sessions with good friends. But as they say: “When one door closes....” 

The longtime bar and restaurant will re-open within a few weeks just around the corner, and will 

expand to a second location this spring. 

SLO Brew was a pioneer in micro brews locally and in bringing live music to the heart of 

downtown San Luis Obispo. “Where you can drink and dance and have a good time and it’s 

not pretentious at all,” explains Ariel Venglar. The venue gave live music lovers a place to flock 

to, shares Nancy Dwyer, “We saw Nicki Bluhm and The Grambers here. It was so great. She’s so 

great. And, I saw Jeff Bridges here, too.” Bartender Alexa Heter recalls, “One of my favorites is 

when I got to serve Snoop dog when he played here. It was just cool to see someone at that level 

be here in such an intimate atmosphere.” 

JEANETTE TROMPETER, 

KSBY News anchor and 

reporter, hosts the “Out and 

About with JT” series every 

Tuesday evening at 6pm. 

“You know without places like this, musicians got no place to stop 

in town trying to put together a tour from Northern California 

down to San Diego. It’s been a great stop,” says Lech Wierzynski, 

singer and musician with the California Honeydrops. “Good vibes,” 

adds Ben Malament, the band’s drummer. 

SLO Brew is growing, by getting back to its roots—beer. Hamish 

Marshall has owned SLO Brew for the last five years, and started 

resurrecting the business’s heritage as soon as he bought it by 

bringing back its original name and stepping up the focus on local 

brews. The move to a new location, he says, will just take that to the 

next level. “That next step was really to get the beer back out on the 

market and start promoting it, because SLO Brew was really one of 

the first micro-breweries,” says Marshall. 

When SLO Brew’s Garden Street location closed, important pieces 

like the old copper kettles and memorabilia from the original 

location were moved right around the corner to its new home 

on Higuera Street. “You know we’re going to take 

the red curtains across. They’ll be behind the stage 

to give heritage to the music that was over here,” 

Marshall explains. 

Everything old will be new again. Look for selfserving 

taster-taps, a new menu, outdoor dining, a 

whiskey lounge upstairs, as well as five hotel rooms 

and a rooftop deck. The new and dynamic plans for 

Higuera Street, though, are just part of the picture 

for the next generation of SLO Brew. A a larger 

facility, dubbed SLO Brew Rock, out by the airport 

will serve as the main tasting room and will offer a 

larger outdoor concert facility. 

“There are so many nice aspects we’re finally going 

to have that we’ve just done without for so long. I 

think it’s finally the facility that SLO Brew deserves 

and the venue that SLO Brew deserves,” says John 

Nguyen, who has worked for SLO Brew for more 

than a decade. 

You can check out the work happening now at the 

new SLO Brew location at 736 Higuera Street 

(across from Marshall’s Jewelers). Managers will 

only say, “Look for a grand opening in early 2016.” 

And there’s more to come with the addition of a 

second location on Aerovista this spring. It will 

expand its production capacity with a 35-barrel 

brewing system. The goal, say the owners, is to 

produce 2,500 to 3,000 barrels by the end of 2016, 

and 5,000 barrels the year after. 



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SLO LIFE Feb/Mar 2016

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