SLO LIFE Dec/Jan 2020

SLO LIFE 

magazine 

REAL ESTATE 

BY THE NUMBERS 

SEASONAL 

FAVORITES 

NOW HEA 

WINTER 

WONDE 

ADVENT 

HEALTH 

TRENDS 

CENTAL COAST 

WINEMAKING 

LOCAL 

CULTURE 

SAN LUIS 

OBISPO 

NEWS 

BRIEFS 

SAN LUIS 

OBISPO EVENTS 

DEC/JAN 2020 

SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM 

MEET 

WENDY WENDT 

EXPANDING OPPORTUNITY 

& STARTING STRONG 

DEC/JAN 2020 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | 1

We’re more than 

just ink on paper. 

2226 Beebee St, San Luis Obispo, CA 805.543.6844 prpco.com 

2 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | DEC/JAN 2020 

Print Mail Apparel Design Web 

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M O D E R N • C L A S S I C • J E W E L R Y 

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W W W . B A X T E R M O E R M A N . C O M 


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4 | SLO LIFE MAGAZINE | DEC/JAN 2020

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16 


magazine 

CONTENTS 

Volume 

34 

36 

38 

NOW HEAR THIS 

14 

PUBLISHER’S 

MESSAGE 

Info 

Family 

10 

Number 6 

Dec/Jan 2020 

On the Rise 

40 

WENDY WENDT 

18 

Sneak Peek 

20 

In Box 

26 

Briefs 

30 

View 

28 Timeline 


32 

Q&A

One new name. 

An extensive 

network of care. 

A COMMUNITY BUILT ON CARE 

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to meet all of your healthcare needs. So from urgent care centers, primary and specialty care clinics, and 

outpatient diagnostic services to our two acute-care hospitals, you can count on us to deliver advanced, 

compassionate care for your whole family. 

To learn more or to find a physician, 

call 833-300-8749 or visit TenetHealthCentralCoast.com 


| CONTENTS 

78 

Taste 

86 

Kitchen 

88 

WINE NOTES 

50 

COMMUNITY 

54 

68 

72 

Dwelling 

Real Estate 

Health 

92 

BREW 

96 Happenings 


DESIGN. BUILD. MAINTAIN. 

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| PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 

We had a tradition growing up, which was borne of the lean times. Rather than everyone ravishing through 

the opening of their Christmas presents at once, we would take turns. Long, drawn-out turns. This had a way 

of extending our time together at the base of the tree, and it made everything feel bigger and more bountiful 

than it really was. 

One year, I must have been eight or nine years old, I had fallen in love in a way that only a little kid can, 

with my idol: Danny White. Now, that may sound like an odd word choice, “fallen in love,” but it is the only 

way I can describe it. I tried writing that sentence a couple of times with alternatives, such as “admire” and 

“mesmerize,” but only the word “love” worked—brotherly love. I looked up to Danny White as if he were 

an imaginary big brother. I will never forget the first time I laid eyes on him. He was the quarterback of the 

Dallas Cowboys, and they were locked into battle with the Washington Redskins. When the team was on 

their own thirty-yard line facing fourth down with seven yards to go, White dropped back fifteen yards to 

punt the ball. It was the coolest thing I had ever seen, a quarterback who was also the punter. Wow! 

My parents had clued into my Danny White obsession that winter, and after adhering to the family rules for our slow-motion unwrapping of presents— 

mostly school clothes plus a new football and a kicking tee—I finally made my way to a card with “Tommy” written on the front. Inside, I found a 

three-by-five note card that read, “Go out to the garage.” I hopped up and the booties built into my pajamas skidded across the linoleum floor as I 

bounded through the kitchen on the way to the garage. Throwing the door open, I saw it: the chest of drawers my mom had been painting. Only, she 

was not just painting. She also plastered it with all of the photos of Danny White from the pages I had torn from Sports Illustrated, from that point 

forward preserving them in perpetuity under a double coat of shellac. Without thinking, I wrapped my arms around that old piece of refurbished, handme-down 

furniture for a “bro hug”—the same hug I imagined I would give Danny White after he threw me the first of many touchdown passes, that is 

before I took over for him at quarterback after his retirement. 

It was a few years ago now, my son Harrison would have been six or seven years old, when he and I flipped on a college football game one lazy Saturday 

afternoon in October. There was a play where the young Texas Tech quarterback scrambled, escaping a collapsing pocket before he scampered around 

and flicked a sidearm, no-look pass to his running back in the flat. I turned toward Harrison, who had a look in his eyes that I immediately recognized. 

The only thing he could manage to say was, “Wow!” In that instant, Harrison had found his Danny White. Only his name was Patrick Mahomes. 

When news surfaced that Mahomes had been drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, overnight Harrison became a die-hard fan, rarely leaving the house 

without his fire engine red baseball cap, “KC” emblazoned on the front. The whole family now gathers around the television whenever the Chiefs are 

playing, hooting and hollering and cheering them on to victory. And, Harrison has his future mapped out. He has done the math and figured that he 

will be a rookie quarterback for the Chiefs during the last year of Mahomes’ career. “That way,” he explains, “I can be his back-up for a year, and we can 

be friends, and he can teach me everything he knows.” He also adds, “Don’t worry, Mom and Dad, I’m going to buy you a condo in downtown Kansas 

City right next to Arrowhead Stadium, so you’ll never miss a game.” 

Last year, as my wife, Sheryl, was reviewing her list and checking it twice, she realized that she was one gift short for Harrison. I had an idea. She was 

skeptical when I shared it, but I said, “You’ve got to trust me on this one—I’ve got it.” So, when Christmas morning arrived, and the kids made their 

way—slowly, one-at-a-time, as is still the tradition—through all of their presents, one remained. It was tube-shaped and tucked behind a now empty 

tree. After Harrison unwrapped it, I stood up and held the unmarked cardboard cylinder in place while his mother unfurled a Fathead cut-out poster 

revealing a six-foot-three-inch life-sized version of Patrick Mahomes. Harrison was speechless, overcome with emotion, as tears streamed down his 

nine-year-old cheeks. I did the same—I couldn’t help myself. Then, I scanned our bombed-out living room, paper and boxes strewn everywhere, to reveal 

the best gift I have ever received: The entire family was wiping away tears, caught up in a moment of pure and complete innocence and joy. Mahomes, it 

turns out, did much more than win the MVP trophy last year. 

I want 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 2020. 

Live the SLO Life! 

Mahomes 

Tom Franciskovich 

tom@slolifemagazine.com 

Get the story within the story by going to GrowWithTom.com and 

subscribing to Tom’s Bombs to receive the next installment. 


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magazine 

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SLOLIFEMAGAZINE.COM 

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(805) 543-8600 • (805) 456-1677 fax 

PUBLISHER 

Tom Franciskovich 

Elder Placements realizes the 

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EDITOR 

Sheryl Franciskovich 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

Alexandra Wallace 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Charlotte Alexander 

Erika Fitzgerald 

Paden Hughes 

Zara Khan 

Jaime Lewis 

Andria McGhee 

Brant Myers 

Jessie Rivas 

Shawn Strong 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

David Lalush 

Vanessa Plakias 

Donald Quintana 

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 clicking “Share Your Story” or 

emailing 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 

If you would like to advertise, please contact Tom Franciskovich by phone 

at (805) 543-8600 or by email at tom@slolifemagazine.com or visit us 

online at slolifemagazine.com/advertise and we will send you a complete 

media kit along with testimonials from happy advertisers. 

Nicole Pazdan, CSA, 

Contact us today for FREE placement assistance. 

(805) 546-8777 

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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 express written permission of the publisher. 

CIRCULATION, COVERAGE, AND ADVERTISING RATES 

Complete details regarding circulation, coverage, and advertising 

rates, space, sizes and similar information are available to prospective 

advertisers. Please call or email for a media kit. Closing date is 30 days 

before date of issue. 

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 

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.

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| ON THE COVER 

A SNEAK PEEK 

BEHIND the scenes 

WITH WENDY WENDT 

BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

I noticed a special book, a children’s book, on 

Wendy’s shelf. One of her friends from Russia 

had written it and hand-drawn all of the imagery 

in it. She read a bit of it in Russian. It has a very 

inspiring story line, it’s about an elephant that 

feels misplaced before falling asleep and waking 

up to a new world of endless possibility. That, to 

me, pretty much summed up my impression of 

Wendy during our time together. 

We met at Wendy’s office in SLO where she 

showed me her favorite photo, which was her 

daughter’s hand mixed in with her schoolmates 

when she was just a little one. I loved the diversity 

of the shot, the symbolism—it was powerful. 

Next door to Wendy is Jason, and he is hilarious. A lot of good 

energy. Wendy said that he does a lot to help her out in her 

work, and he makes her job better and easier. They’re a strong 

team. Jason streams a read aloud and music on Facebook every 

Friday morning. He was wearing a t-shirt, which was part of 

First 5’s “Talk. Read. Sing.” campaign. You’ve probably heard 

the jingle, “Talk. Read. Sing. It changes everything.” 

We ended the 

shoot in a peaceful 

courtyard outside 

of the office. I asked 

her to run her hands 

under the water, 

which somehow 

seemed sort of fitting 

with the helping hand 

logo from First 5. 

And, symbolically, 

it was a source of 

replenishment—it was 

a warm, hot day—so 

it just seemed to fit. 

She said, “After all 

these years I’ve never 

tried this, and it’s 

lovely.” 



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| 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 

MOUNT WHITNEY 

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND 

MELISSA LATIMER 

JUNEAU, ALASKA 

CHRISTIE RAMSEY 

QUEBEC, CANADA 

SUZANNE and GLEN 

KEITH and SHARIE HAMILTON/ROUSE at Montmorency 

Falls—the falls are 30 meters taller than Niagara Falls! 


PARIS, FRANCE 

MAINE 

JEAN RENO, CINDY MCCOWN, ANN MARSHFIELD, and 

CINDIE RHODERICK started their friendship as youth in 

SLO. They plan an annual “girl’s gig” and this year’s travels 

took them to Maine! 

PEINADO FAMILY 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 

MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA 

JEAN and JOHN HYDUCHAK celebrating Jean’s very 

special birthday! 

RANDY and KIP DETTMER 


| IN BOX 

SLO LIFE travels! 

PINECREST, CALIFORNIA 

AEGINA ISLAND, GREECE 

SLO LIFE Magazine traveled with a group of teachers, 

students, and parents from SLO CLASSICAL ACADEMY to 

England, France, Italy and Greece this summer during our 

school’s Europe Through the Ages history trip. 

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, CANADA 

The FRANKLIN, VERES, and CALLAWAY families 

camping at the Lair of the Bear. 

JACKSON HOLE, WYOMING 

THE GILL FAMILY 

MICHAEL and NANCY JACKSON 


LAKE POWELL, UTAH 

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK 

JIM BAGNALL 

KARNATAKA, INDIA 

OWEN WELLS, GUS RINGLEY, SADIE LACHAPPELLE, 

NATALIE WELLS, WADE WERNICK, and AMELIA 

WERNICK at the Rainbow Bridge National Monument. 

HVAR, CROATIA 

JASON VORK and VICKI POBOR 

CHERNOBYL, UKRAINE 

MATT and KIM WORMLEY globetrotting with SLO LIFE 

Magazine at Mysore Palace. 

KAPALUA, MAUI 

TOM OHARA 

GLORIA WILLIAMS and 

CINDY HOLBROOK-WILLIAMS 


You showed us! 

ROME, ITALY 

LOS OLIVOS, CALIFORNIA 

JONATHAN YOUNG, LINDSEY YOUNG, PAM COSART, and 

TAYLOR YOUNG at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin 

in front of the Bocca Della Verità. 

NEW YORK CITY TIMES SQUARE 

SLO NEWCOMERS “Glamping Group” enjoying a 

get-a-way in Los Olivos while taking a moment to enjoy 

SLO LIFE Magazine! 

HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND 

NICK CASSUN 

RICH and CAROL GUENTHER at Highclere Castle, the main 

filming location for Downton Abbey. 


VENICE, ITALY 

SURPRISE, ARIZONA 

KENNY LEE LEWIS of the Steve Miller Band with his wife, 

singer-songwriter DIANNE STEINBERG-LEWIS at San 

Marco Square. 

BRENNECKE’S BEACH, KAUAI 

San Luis Obispo Country Club (SLOCC) USTA Women’s 

Tennis Team competed at the National Championships 

against regional winners from throughout the U.S., 

including Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The 

National Championship draw placed SLOCC in a tough 

position, playing the eventual semi-finalist and finalists 

in the first and second rounds, and only losing by a third 

set tiebreak. SLOCC went on to finish 12th out of the 

6,000 teams competing! 

ICELAND 

MARY BETTENCOURT 

and PATTY MANION 

JIM and SALLY BROOKS-SCHULKE 

with PAM FISHER 

Please send your photos and comments to info@slolifemagazine.com 

Follow SLO LIFE on Facebook: Visit facebook.com/slolifemagazine 

Visit us online at slolifemagazine.com 

Letters may be edited for content and clarity. 

To be considered for publication your letter should include your name, address, phone number, or email address (for authentication purposes). 


| BRIEFS 

| BRIEFS 

535,266 535,266 

calories calories 

SLO County commuters burned over half 

a SLO million County calories, commuters removed burned 14,272 over vehicle half 

trips a million from calories, county roadways, removed 14,272 prevented vehicle 

59.3 trips tons from of county CO2, roadways, and saved prevented $79,158 by 

riding 59.3 tons the of bus, CO2, carpooling and saved and $79,158 making by 

other riding smart the bus, commute carpooling choices and during making 

Rideshare other smart Week commute October choices 7-11. during 

Rideshare Week October 7-11. 

2,932 

The number of dogs and cats who have 

received The number accessible, of dogs affordable and cats who spay/ have 

neuter received surgeries accessible, at the affordable Daphne spay/ Fahsing 

Spay/Neuter neuter surgeries Clinic at the in Atascadero Daphne Fahsing during 

its Spay/Neuter first year of Clinic operation. in Atascadero Opened during 

November its first year 2019, of operation. the low-cost Opened clinic in 

operated November by 2019, Woods the Humane low-cost Society clinic 

provides operated sterilization by Woods Humane surgeries Society for pets 

from provides all over sterilization the county. surgeries for pets 

from all over the county. 

40% 

The increase in the cost to build a new 

county The increase animal in shelter, the cost up to from build an a estimated new 

$14.5 county million animal in shelter, 2016 to up $20.3 from an million estimated 

today. $14.5 The million price in has 2016 skyrocketed, to $20.3 million according 

today. county The officials, price has because skyrocketed, of the according ongoing 

boom to county in the officials, building because industry, of the including ongoing 

high boom demand in the building for contractors industry, and including labor, 

tariffs high demand on materials, for contractors and State-mandated and labor, 

skilled tariffs on labor materials, requirements. and State-mandated 

skilled labor requirements. 

905 905 lbs. lbs. 

How much did this year’s Great Pumpkin 

weigh? How much After did spending this year’s months Great caring Pumpkin 

for weigh? his giant After pumpkin, spending Bill months Quirk caring won 

first for his place giant in pumpkin, the fourteenth Bill Quirk annual won 

competition first place in in the downtown fourteenth San annual Luis 

Obispo’s competition Mission in downtown Plaza during San Luis Farmer’s 

Market Obispo’s on Mission October Plaza 17. during Farmer’s 

Market on October 17. 

“Now is the 

time to bring 

it home for 

the Preserve.” 

Executive Director Kaila Dettman 

announcing Executive Director in November Kaila Dettman that the The 

Land announcing Conservancy in November needs to that raise the just The 

$423,000 Land Conservancy more to complete needs to the raise $17 just 

million $423,000 Pismo more Preserve to complete project the and $17 

open million it to Pismo the public Preserve within project months. and 

open it to the public within months. 

slocleanair.org 

slocleanair.org 

Your source for current air quality 

conditions Your source and for forecasts, current air as quality well as 

advisories conditions that and can forecasts, make a as difference well as 

for advisories your health, that can such make as measuring a difference the 

impact for your of health, smoke such from as fires measuring Northern 

and impact Southern of smoke California from fires on in SLO Northern 

County and Southern residents. California on SLO 

County residents. 

30 YEARS 

2019 marks three decades for the San 

Luis 2019 Obispo marks three Botanical decades Garden, for the and San 

supporters Luis Obispo celebrated Botanical with Garden, a first-ever and 

Art supporters at the Garden celebrated show with and a first-ever fundraiser 

in Art November. at the Garden show and fundraiser 

in November. 

1.2 

1.2 

miles 

miles 

The length of a round-trip walk on the 

Cal The Poly length Pier of off a round-trip Avila Beach walk Drive on the 

just Cal Poly west Pier of the off San Avila Luis Beach Creek Drive Bridge. 

Normally just west of only the faculty San Luis and Creek students Bridge. get 

the Normally chance only to go faculty the distance, and students but once get 

a the year chance visitors go can the attend distance, “open but once pier” 

featuring a year visitors hands-on can attend touch an tanks “open filled pier” 

with featuring live marine hands-on creatures, touch tanks microscopes filled 

for with viewing live marine ultra-small creatures, sea microscopes 

creatures, and 

other for viewing interactive ultra-small displays—at sea creatures, the end and of 

other Pier, interactive of course. displays—at the end of 

the Pier, of course. 

“Our hearts 

“Our hearts 

go out to 

go out to 

those who 

those who 

have lost 

have lost 

loved ones to 

loved ones to 

overdose.” 

overdose.” 

SLO County Health Officer Dr. Penny 

Borenstein SLO County confirms Health an Officer alarming Dr. Penny increase 

Borenstein deaths from confirms fentanyl alarming overdose increase the 

county. in deaths From from May fentanyl to October overdose this in year, the 

ten county. people From died May from to toxic October levels this of year, the 

drug, ten people compared died from with two toxic or levels fewer of deaths the 

per drug, year compared in each with of the two previous or fewer four deaths 

years. per year Fentanyl in each is of a synthetic previous opioid four 100 

times years. more Fentanyl potent is a than synthetic morphine. opioid 100 

times more potent than morphine. 

@211slo 

Follow SLO County’s own 2-1-1 on 

Facebook Follow SLO or Instagram. County’s own The 2-1-1 phone on line 

is Facebook a free, confidential or Instagram. one-stop The phone access line to 

health is a free, and confidential human services one-stop information access to 

and health referrals and human twenty-four services hours information a day, 

seven and referrals days a week. twenty-four Bilingual hours assistance a day, is 

available, seven days too. a week. Bilingual assistance is 

available, too. 


E X P EC T B E T T ERSM 

AVILA BEACH 

www.3265LupineCanyon.com 

Stunning single level 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2,648 sqft home overlooking Avila Beach Golf Course and the oak studded hills of Avila Beach. Located in the Heron Crest 

development within the private gated community of San Luis Bay Estates, this property beautifully blends the peace and serenity of country living with the 

convenience of nearby hiking, shopping, dining, and beaches. Travertine floors, granite and marble countertops, cherry wood cabinets and interior doors, and 

Milgard windows are featured in the home. Bright and airy great room is adorned with natural light through large picture windows and features 10ft ceilings and 

gas fireplace. Great room and master suite open to back deck with sweeping views of the golf course and hills. 

KATE HENDRICKSON, BROKER ASSOCIATE, LIC. #01730943 805-801-1979 

SAN LUIS OBISPO MORRO BAY LOS OSOS 

Bungalow home with detached studio nestled in 

the heart of downtown SLO. Built in 1921, these 

renovated homes feature a remodeled kitchen, 3 

remodeled bathrooms; new electrical, plumbing, 

roof, windows. Boasting mature lemon, apple, 

orange trees, and passion fruit vines. 

Website: www.1221Pismo.com 

SUMMER WEBER 

REALTOR®, LIC. #02099729 

SARAH WEBER 

BROKER ASSOCIATE, LIC. #01077788 

650.279.2906 

805.550.6405 

3 bedroom 2 bath 1400+ sqft home features an 

oversized street to street lot with 2 bonus rooms. 

The home has recently been painted inside with 

new flooring. The large back yard and patio is fully 

enclosed for privacy and backyard entertainment. 

Beach access just blocks away. 

Website: www.2900Cedar.com 

STANLEY CRAIG 


SUSAN CRAIG 

REALTOR®, LIC. #01431785 

805.305.8882 

805.235.6079 

Breathtaking new construction boasting almost 

4000 sqft of living space on a generous, usable 

1.5 acres with stunning views. This modern 

farmhouse, Sea Ranch inspired home includes 

rustic hickory kitchen cabinetry, local live edge 

walnut bar, and custom kitchen island built with 

oak wine flavor sticks. Extensive back and front 

yard with professional landscaping. 

Website: www.1548LOVR.com 

HOLLY RODGERS 


805.215.2884 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Haven Properties 

441 Marsh Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

805 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA 93442 

1401 Park Street, Suite C, Paso Robles, CA 93446 

BHGREHAVEN.COM 

805.592.2050 


| TIMELINE 

Around the County 

OCTOBER ’19 

10/18 

Tennessee-based Contour Airlines begins nonstop 

service four times a week to Las Vegas from San Luis 

Obispo County Regional Airport. Contour’s thirty-seat 

aircraft serving the route features all-leather seating, 

complimentary snacks and beverages, and one free 

checked bag with every fare. The new service brings the 

number of airline carriers serving SLO residents to four, 

and the number of cities served to seven. 

10/7 

Thieves vandalize a playground in SLO’s Sinsheimer Park by removing a twelve-bytwenty-foot 

strip of synthetic grass. The estimated cost of repairing and replacing the 

section that was stolen from the slide hill is approximately $10,000. The SLO Police 

Department is investigating but no suspects have been identified. 

10/13 

The SLO Parks and Recreation Department completes installation of new graphic 

design wraps on the toll booths at all downtown parking structures. The colorful 

public art features iconic San Luis Obispo locales such as the Ah Louis Store, the 

Mission, the Fremont Theatre, and the “Iron Road Pioneers” statue in Railroad 

Square. The banner art was designed by a local creative firm, (iii) Design, and 

installed by Quality Tinting and Signs. 

10/17 

Cal Poly students pack up their half of the 2020 Tournament of Roses Parade 

float, shipping it off to Cal Poly Pomona, where students from both universities 

plan to continue assembling and decorating it in time for the Pasadena parade 

on January 1. The theme of the 72nd float on which the two universities have 

worked is “Aquatic Aspirations,” in keeping with the parade’s theme “The Power 

of Hope.” It features a submarine navigating around a sunken shipwreck that is 

home to colorful marine wildlife including animated turtles, jellyfish, swimming 

fish, a rocking ray, swaying kelp, and a thirteen-foot-high octopus waving its 

tentacles toward the crowd. 

10/19 

Architect, former mayor of San Luis Obispo, and 

“father” of Mission Plaza Ken Schwartz dies at age 

ninety-four. A resident of the city for nearly seventy 

years, the Cal Poly faculty member and 1993 SLO 

Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” served 

as mayor for a decade from 1969 to 1979. He is 

known for spearheading the development of Mission 

Plaza, working with Cal Poly students to construct a 

plan that resulted in the closure of Monterey Street in 

front of the Mission. In addition to his work on the 

plaza, Schwartz also contributed to the city’s General 

Plan, Downtown Concept Plan, Capital Improvement 

Plan, long-term water management plans, sign 

regulations, street tree planting, and acquisition of the 

Jack House. 


NOVEMBER ’19 

11/8 

County Agricultural Commissioner Martin Settevendemie releases a comprehensive 

economic analysis that shows agriculture supports nearly 14,000 jobs and 

contributes some $2.54 billion to the local economy every year. That’s $6.97million 

per day, or $290,000 every hour, or $4,833 per minute. That also makes agriculture 

one of the county’s top industries, representing seven percent of the county’s direct 

economic output. 

11/16 

Transitions-Mental Health Association and the Housing 

Authority of San Luis Obispo hold an open house for the 

long-awaited Bishop Street Studios, a visionary project 

eight years in the making. The project transformed an 

abandoned orphanage turned juvenile detention center 

into thirty-three single-occupancy apartments for adults 

living with mental illness. 

11/12 

The SLO City Council approves a new fifty-foot-tall $1.6 million parking 

structure as well as a new home for San Luis Obispo Repertory Theatre. 

Located at the corner of Nipomo and Palm street, the garage will contain 404 

parking spots, forty-three electric vehicle charging stations, and thirty-two bike 

parking spots. It is funded by the City’s parking fund, while SLO REP is raising 

the $9.5 million for the 23,344-square-foot theatre that will sit on Monterey 

Street behind the garage. 

11/14 

A power failure is blamed for an early morning sewage spill from the California 

Men’s Colony. Some 33,000 gallons of partially treated sewage was released without 

going through a final UV treatment process. The leakage was stopped within 

minutes but not before contamination reached Chorro Creek and the Morro Bay 

estuary. San Luis Obispo County health officials posted warning signs in areas 

impacted by the spill. 

11/17 

Hundreds of people attend a vigil to remember Kristin 

Smart, a Cal Poly student who went missing more 

than two decades ago in San Luis Obispo. Early on a 

Saturday morning in 1996, the 19-year-old left an offcampus 

party to return to her dorm, but has never been 

seen again. The vigil began at the gazebo in the Village 

of Arroyo Grande, then moved to the front of the 

family home of the last person seen with Smart before 

she disappeared. SLO LIFE 


| VIEW 

DAY AT 

THE BEACH 

BY JOE PAYNE 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONALD QUINTANA 

After years of experience photographing wildlife in San Luis 

Obispo County, the Central Coast, and beyond, Donald 

Quintana has learned not to let a foggy day get in his 

way. This shot of two breaching Humpback whales was 

captured after Quintana heard from a friend that the massive 

mammals had been out the day before, frolicking just within 

sight of the San Simeon pier. “People always say, ‘You should have been 

there yesterday,’” Quintana said. “So, I took a chance in hoping that they 

would make an appearance the next day and went out to capture them. I 

was thrilled they chose to make a second appearance while I was there.” 

But like many an autumn or winter day on the Central Coast, the scene 

was blanketed in white fog. Where a landscape photographer might call it 

quits, Quintana only saw opportunity through the misty shroud. “I think 

that adds to the feeling of the image,” he explained. “Weather shouldn’t 

deter you from going out and shooting. It’s a factor that can make your 

images stand out. Fog, or to be more exact, overcast cloudy weather, acts 

as one of the greatest diffusers of light.” Armed with his Canon EOS 7D 

and an EF500mm f/4L IS USM +1.4x teleconverter, Quintana was able 

to create an effective focal length of 700mm to push in on the breaching 

porpoises from his perch on the pier. 

He explained that the challenge with photographing whale is simple—you 

never know where they will surface. Humpback whale, which migrate along 

California’s coast during autumn and early winter, can hold their breath for 

up to forty-five minutes, but usually breach every seven to fifteen minutes 

for air. “Patience is key; you really have to wait sometimes for your subject 

to show up,” Quintana said. “Learning behavior can help you be in the 

right location at the right time, but having the patience to wait for them to 

show up is essential.” 

Not one to keep his methods a secret, Quintana often leads photographer 

excursions on the Central Coast and beyond and 

is a wealth of knowledge—he has literally been 

across the globe to photograph animals big and 

small, from grizzly bear in Yellowstone National 

Park to tarantula wasp in Hawaii. But the San 

Luis Obispo area has always been home for him 

and his ancestors who, he explained, first came 

to the area in the 1840s. It’s also the perfect 

place to be if you’re a wildlife photographer, he 

shares, “San Luis Obispo is a treasure trove of 

photographic opportunities for the nature and 

wildlife photographer, you just need to get out and 

about early enough to capture the animals when 

they are going about their days. We have a lot to 

photograph around here, from birds migrating 

through the area to all sorts of marine mammals, 

coyotes, elk, butterflies wintering in Pismo—there 

are just so many opportunities. We live in an 

amazing place.” SLO LIFE 

JOE PAYNE is a 

journalist, as well as a 

lifelong musician and 

music teacher, who 

loves writing about 

the arts on the Central 

Coast, especially music, 

as well as science, 

history, nature, and 

social issues. 



| Q&A 

HUMAN STORY 

We sat down recently with SCOTT SMITH, the executive director of 

HASLO—the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo—to talk about how 

things have changed in the local housing market since he moved here in 

1984. Here is some of what he had to say… 

Let’s take from the top, Scott. Where are you 

from originally? I’m a native Californian. Second 

generation. My parents were born in LA and 

wanted to get out of the rat race, so they headed 

to Santa Barbara. That’s where I was born and 

raised. I moved around after that: Berkeley, Los 

Angeles, Mexico, and Washington, DC, before 

returning. And, what brought me here was a 

job in housing. Honestly, I had no interest in 

housing and certainly had no intention of making 

it a career. I was more oriented toward wanting 

to help people. I was fascinated by third world 

poverty issues, so when I graduated from UCLA, 

I volunteered in Yucatan, Mexico. That’s where 

I met my wife. Then, off to graduate school. We 

were expecting our first child, so I was at a point 

where I just needed a job, and through a friend of 

a friend, I found something in housing. I realized 

very quickly that I was dealing with the same 

thing that I was always interested in, which is 

to answer the question: “How do you help poor 

people no longer be poor?” 

So, how do you help poor people no longer 

be poor? You start with a roof overhead. We 

provide affordable housing to roughly 7,000 

people every month throughout the county. We 

actively develop and operate housing locally. We 

also tackle this issue with the Housing Choice 

Voucher Program, formerly called Section 8. A 

tenant pays 30% of their income toward the rent, 

and we pay the rest. A lot of these folks are senior 

citizens or disabled and living on a fixed income. 

Many of them will get a disability check from 

Social Security, which amounts to about $900 

each month. So, 30% of $900 is $300, which is the 

amount that the government deems “affordable.” 

But, where are they going to find something for 

$300? Maybe in Bakersfield, but not here. So, 

let’s say their rent is $1,500. We then kick in the 

balance. Those are federal funds that come into 

the county to pay for this program—about $20 

million each year. 

And, what about people who would not be 

considered poor, but who cannot afford a place 

to live? My wife and I have three young adult 

daughters in their twenties and early thirties. 

And, we’re watching them try to make a go of it 

and seeing them struggle with the same issues 

so many of us struggle with as we are impacted 

by housing, as they ask the question: “How can I 

afford to stay here?” There are so many aspects to 

this issue in addition to just the general angst it 

creates. When you don’t have an adequate balance 

between housing costs and wages in a community, 

it has a lot of unintended consequences. It strains 

families when it becomes increasingly difficult for 

the younger ones coming up to find housing of 

their own. And, from a business standpoint, we 

know that we need workers at all wage and skill 

levels. So, how do we fill those jobs and retain 

people in those jobs when they can’t afford to live 

here? It’s not a healthy thing for the economy 

when someone has a full-time job but still cannot 

afford a modest one-bedroom apartment. There is 

something broken. 

How do you fix it? There is not one solution to 

the housing problem. We need a whole bunch 

of different solutions to keep us whittling away 

at the problem. And, each community is unique. 

If you look at San Luis Obispo, for instance, 

you’ve got Cal Poly, where many of their students 

are absorbing the rental housing stock in town, 

which is causing rent inflation. A working family 

can no longer afford to rent a three-bedroom 

house because it cannot compete with six or 

seven Cal Poly students whose parents are willing 

to pay whatever price. So, building more oncampus 

housing will absolutely make an impact 

on affordability locally. It will help open up 

supply and bring rents down to the point where 

permanent residents can go back into those 

neighborhoods and rent a single-family home. 

Can you give us an example of the need that 

exists here on the Central Coast? We see it 

every day. It’s a very emotional issue for people. 

It can be a traumatic issue. It’s a survival issue. 

Housing—permanent shelter—is a basic 

human need. And, there are programs that 

offer assistance with housing, but they all have 

super long waiting lists. I’m not sure the general 

public realizes this, but we get so many referrals 

and deal with so many truly heart-breaking 

cases, but there is a really long line of people 

that are having tough problems. When we 

opened up a new apartment complex on Broad 

Street recently, we received 900 applications for 

just 46 units. That gives you just a little bit of 

an idea for the demand. So, we’re all there on 

the day it opened, and people are showing up 

to move in with tears in their eyes. That’s when 

you see that housing is really about people, that 

it’s a human story. SLO LIFE 


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| NOW HEAR THIS 

GRAND AVE 

BY SHAWN STRONG 


San Luis Obispo County covers approximately 

3,616 square miles of land that is home to 

an estimated 284,000 individuals. Within 

these 3,600 miles is an exceedingly diverse 

landscape filled with vast, sweeping stretches of coastal 

hills, wide-open valleys, and serene mountain ranges, all of 

which are bordered by some of the most fantastic beaches in 

California. Driving through SLO County, it becomes obvious 

that as the terrain gradually transforms, so do the communities 

occupying these remarkable spaces. There’s a lot of life stuffed 

into this relatively small region, and despite the short distances 

between the cities and towns that reside within, the people that 

occupy them couldn’t be more unique. This is one of the most 

attractive aspects of the area and something that two local 

musicians recording under the name Grand Ave have sought 

to recreate. 

In their own ways, Repetto and Breshears have been musically inclined 

from childhood. The former pursued music in a more relaxed fashion, 

picking up the guitar in the fifth grade, forming a band in middle 

school, and eventually playing in church bands as well. Breshears 

went a more traditional route, studying music theory and learning 

to read music, playing saxophone in the school band. By the end of 

high school, however, he had moved on to learning guitar and drums 

while eventually picking up singing in college. It was at this point 

that the two artists met at a pledge event for the Theta Chi fraternity. 

After two years of impromptu jams and dorm room practice sessions, 

the two Cal Poly juniors officially formed Grand Ave and began 

playing around town, particularly at the weekly farmers’ market. Their 

performances quickly attracted attention and soon after, they released 

their first single “805 Summertime.” 

In the time since, Grand Ave has expanded to a full five-man band. 

Despite both musicians receiving attractive job offers, Breshears and 

Repetto decided to pursue music full time following graduation. 

Given that youth lends itself to the successful pursuit of the arts (with 

exceptions, obviously) and the nine to five grind accepts any willing 

Grand Ave is a project that sprung from the collective minds of 

Cal Poly alumni Derek Breshears and PJ Repetto after meeting 

during their freshman year. The name itself is a reference to 

the street on which Cal Poly has been located for decades and victim, regardless of age, it makes as much 

was home to the musicians for four long years. With Breshears 

sense as any. Grand Ave continues with steady 

and Repetto having completed their degrees in Industrial 

releases, including two music videos created 

Technology and Packaging, and Recreation, Parks, and Tourism 

by local media production agency Platinum 

Administration (RPTA), respectively, the duo has committed 

Peek Productions and a live performance 

to their musical pursuits in full. When questioned about the 

on local country music station 98.1 KJUG. 

goals for Grand Ave, the two artists say they’re dedicated to 

Additionally, the band is currently recording 

defining a musical genre all their own. A bold new approach 

to country music and beach pop that they lovingly refer to as 

a five-song album to be released soon. In the 

“coastal country.” The amalgamation of these two distinct sonic 

meantime, throw on an old pair of wranglers 

landscapes is what makes Grand Ave so evocative of San Luis and some flip-flops and hit the beach. Be sure 

Obispo County as a whole. By combining engaging storytelling 

techniques typical of traditional country music with the 

tranquil, easygoing sounds of the ocean shore, Grand Ave 

to bring a speaker and some brews, and put 

Grand Ave’s current catalog on repeat. Fall is 

on the way but Grand Ave is sure to give you 

delivers an undeniably infectious score that plays well anywhere. that summer buzz all year round. SLO LIFE 

Los Angeles born, SLO County 

raised, SHAWN STRONG’s 

passion for the local music 

scene and artists that have 

created it, fuels his writing and 

drives his commitment to living 

the SLO Life. 


| FAMILY 

MAGIC OF THE 

CAMBRIA CHRISTMAS 

MARKET 

BY PADEN HUGHES 

Most of my family lives 

in Europe and one 

year, while visiting over 

Christmas, we went to 

a German Christmas 

market and I was 

captivated by the magic 

of the experience. Wandering through warmly 

lit aisles where street vendors showcased truly 

unique items while I drank a hot buttered 

rum and scouted my annual ornament was a 

cherished memory I had no expectation of San 

Luis Obispo county being able to afford me. 

That is, until I heard about a little German 

Christmas market in Cambria. That is literally 

how it was described to me. If I hadn’t already 

experienced one in Europe, I wouldn’t have 

given it a second thought. I attended the market 

in Cambria three years ago and have loved it 

every year since, watching it expand and become 

more grandiose. The Cambria Christmas 

Market is now my number one favorite thing 

to do in SLO county during the holidays and is 

hands down my daughters’ favorite as well. 

Bringing in over 80,000 guests last year from 

over seventeen states and nine countries 

(including Germany), this event is truly world 

class. If you ever wondered about all the holiday 

selfies taken in a tunnel of rainbow Christmas 

lights, you now know that was the Cambria 

Christmas Market. 

The market is nestled behind and around 

the Cambria Pines Lodge; the property is 

completely transformed by over two million 

lights bringing to life countless Christmas 

themed scenes connected by a labyrinth 

of glowing walkways. Wandering into a 

truly magical world of lights, you could be 

mesmerized by the splendor if you stayed too 

long, or finished a second glass of glühwein 

(German spiced heated wine). 

“Our goal is to create a festive atmosphere for 

friends and family to relax and enjoy the holiday 

season. We have local, artisan vendors selling 

a variety of handmade crafts and traditional German gifts, 

food, and drinks,” shares Mike Arnold, the mastermind 

behind the event. 

The two best memories I have of this market are from last 

year, watching my one and a half year old walk boldly onto 

a stage in front of a crowd to sing karaoke to “Twinkle, 

Twinkle Little Star” and that same year telling Santa she 

wanted flying reindeer. To me, a truly great event is one 

where someone took the time to care about the details, think 

about how to wow their guests and set each attendee up to 

create memories they will have for a lifetime. The Cambria 

Christmas Market has never failed me in this regard. 

Cool Facts 

• Last year, the event welcomed an average of 3,000 guests 

each night 

• Two million+ lights 

• Twenty-eight local artisan vendors and twelve food 

vendors 

• This year, the market will be featured on ABC Family’s 

“The Great Christmas Light Fight” 

• The popular train ride addition from last year will be even 

better in 2019, with a secret light display just for riders 

• Cal Poly’s Engineering department partnered with 

Cambria Christmas Market on a mechanical light display 

of the advent calendar with twenty-five windows, each 

with a moving display 

Dates & Pricing 

Open 23 nights this season, November 29 through 

December 23 (Closed December 

2 and 9). Tickets range from $10 

to $25 depending on how far in 

advance they are purchased. 

Local Tips 

Book a room at the Cambria Pines 

Lodge or the Sea Otter Inn. Both 

offer amazing packages that include 

tickets to the event. Staying at the 

Cambria Pines Lodge allows you 

to walk to the event and many of 

the rooms have views of the lights. 

Guests staying at the Sea Otter Inn 

on Moonstone Beach can take the 

complimentary shuttle provided for 

hotel guests only. SLO LIFE 

PADEN HUGHES is 

co-owner of Gymnazo 

and enjoys exploring 

the Central Coast. 



| ON THE RISE 

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 

Evan Jenkins 

San Luis Obispo High School senior EVAN JENKINS 

has received numerous academic excellence awards, 

Medals of Honorary Merit in Latin, the Mayor’s Award 

for Community Service, and was recognized as a 

National Merit Scholar. We sat down to ask him a few 

questions about himself and his future. 

What extra-curricular activities are you involved in? I’ve been involved in the 

nonprofit organization GleanSLO, which harvests excess produce and donates it 

to the Food Bank for families in need. I have also been participating in many offseason 

track practices and going to the gym. There is a long time until the start of 

the season, but putting in the work now will help me have the best season I can. 

What do you like to do for fun? My favorite thing to do in my free time is going 

surfing. It keeps me outside and is a perfect mix of excitement—when I’m riding 

a wave; and calm—when I’m waiting for one. 

What is one of your favorite memories? My family took a trip to Oahu and 

I had a blast being able to always go to the beach and surf some of the best 

waves I’ve ever surfed. Learning about Native Hawaiian culture was also 

very interesting. 

What career do you see yourself in someday? I haven’t completely made up 

my mind of what I want to do, but I could see myself as an environmental 

engineer because I like spending time outside, and math is one of my stronger 

subjects in school. 

What do you want people to know about you? I would like to be known for my 

work ethic, but also my willingness to have fun. 

What experience has influenced you? I had a bone disorder in my elbow when I 

was playing baseball, and throughout middle school and into high school, I went 

through 3 surgeries, multiple casts, and an immense amount of physical therapy. 

It allowed me to realize how much we take our health for granted, and how 

lucky we are to live with access to many important resources. It pushed me to 

appreciate what we have instead of looking at what we don’t have. 

What is it that you look forward to most? I look forward to the college 

experience of making new friends and exploring all of what my new home has 

to offer. 

What do you dislike the most? I dislike when people make excuses, or say that 

they can’t do something. If you already have your mind made up that you can’t do 

something, you aren’t giving yourself a fair chance, and likely will not be able to 

accomplish that thing. 

If you could go back in history and meet anyone, who would it be? I would go 

back and meet President John F. Kennedy. I admire his leadership and way with 

words while leading our nation through serious issues. 

What is something that not many people know about you? I like to learn about 

nutrition. I think it is really important to know what you are putting in your 

body. I think this helps me make healthier choices. SLO LIFE 

Know a student On the Rise? 

Introduce us at slolifemagazine.com/share 



| MEET YOUR NEIGHBOR 

CHIEF 

EXECUTIVE 

OPTIMIST 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY VANESSA PLAKIAS 

Beneath the shiny, sometimes dreamlike exterior projected outward toward visitors of this 

magical place we call home, a place which none other than Oprah Winfrey herself once deemed 

“the happiest,” lies a dark secret: far too many of its children are not getting what they need. And, 

by need, we’re talking about the most basic of basics: adequate nutrition, a safe, nurturing home 

environment, and regular health and dental services. According to the science, it’s those first 

five years of life, which are so important, and, because that critical period of time arrives before 

kids attend their first day of kindergarten where they begin to receive some level of oversight, 

their needs often remain in the shadows, passing unnoticed. On the front lines of this everyday 

struggle to shine a light is an organization called First 5. We sat down for a visit with its chief 

executive, WENDY WENDT, a few days following her five-year anniversary with the non-profit. 

While she continually steered the conversation back toward local kids, and the coalition of people 

working in the trenches to change their lives, we finally coaxed her into sharing her own journey 

and philosophy borne of an unshakable optimism. Here is her story… 




et’s start from the beginning, Wendy. 

Where are you from? I grew up in the 

Midwest. I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, 

which is where my dad’s family is from, but, 

when I was two, we moved to Ohio. My dad 

got a job at the college there, actually it’s a 

college and a musical conservatory. And, so 

that’s where I grew up, in this little town Lof Oberlin—just two miles in diameter—there were about 8,000 people, 

and it grew to 11,000 when the students were in town. It was truly an 

idyllic upbringing: kids and bikes everywhere, come home by dark, and no 

fences between homes, and just a lot of wonderful childhood memories of 

growing up in that little place. 

What were you like as a kid? I was really into music, and I was verbal, very 

verbal. I liked to talk. I liked language. I did well in school. My friends 

used to say we were the nerds in the popular crowd. We hung out with 

the popular kids, but we were definitely the nerdy ones, the nerdy friends. 

Everywhere we went, our bikes were the mode of transportation. I rode 

my bike everywhere. Most everyone in Oberlin seemed to love music, a 

lot of my friends’ parents taught there also. I played in the youth orchestra, 

did musical theatre. I wasn’t the greatest athlete; drama was my thing. 

How did your family end up in the Midwest? I’m Jewish, my mother’s 

side of the family is Jewish. Her parents escaped the Holocaust when they 

left in 1938. My mom is of Austrian descent. She was born in Rochester, 

New York two years after they arrived, before they settled in Indiana. My 

dad’s side of the family comes from a long line of St. Louis Presbyterians. 

By the time I was getting ready to have my own family, I was feeling more 

of an affiliation with the Jewish side, just psychically and intellectually, it 

was more in line somehow; it just sat better with me. So, when my son had 

a bar mitzvah and my daughter had a bat mitzvah a few years ago, both 

my parents came out from Boston where they live now. Dad brought Bill, 

and my mom brought Peggy. 

Wait a second, hold up. Who are Bill and Peggy? [laughter] Okay, this 

is where things get a bit complicated. I was in my mid-twenties when my 

parents split. They had been married at that point for thirty-three years. 

Where the story takes a turn is when they both ended up partnering with 

same gender people. My dad, his name is Carl, partnered with Bill. And, 

my mom, Mary, ended up with Peggy. For the most part, they get along 

really well now, they even go on double dates. I’ll call my dad sometimes 

and he’ll say, “I can’t talk right now because Bill and I are heading out to 

meet Mary and Peggy for a beer.” Looking back on it now, I think my 

mom just had enough of this kind of cloaked secret life with my dad’s 

sexual orientation, which was the immediate impetus for her to leave, but 

there were other issues, as well. 

Did you know all this was happening when you were growing up? For 

my sister and me, no. We had no clue. But, I will be in a conversation 

with an old friend from high school or something, and I’ll say, “Can you 

believe my dad’s gay?” And they’ll say, “Yeah, we all knew it. We all knew 

it, Wendy. Why didn’t you know it?” But, the fact that now at eighty years 

old, with his health failing him, he’s in many ways, physically very, very 

uncomfortable. And, yet, I would venture to say, he’s never been happier. 

On some fundamental sort of psychic level, he’s in a loving relationship, 

he’s got a great house, he’s got wonderful friends, he feels good about 

himself in terms of the life he’s living. So, in moments when I doubt my 

own situation or what’s happening in my life, I look at my parents. 

How long has your dad been remarried? Dad and Bill only got married six 

years ago, but they’d been together maybe four years before that. So, they’ve 

been together about ten years now. And, then mom and Peggy, a couple of 

years before that, three or four years before that. And, Peggy has a daughter 

in San Francisco who is my stepsister. I’ll tell you, the thing that I took 

from their experience is that you just never know when you’re going to be 

the most happy in your life. Does that make sense? Here’s where we are. 

We’re here, right now. I’m not saying it quite right, but the whole thing has 

taught me that at any point in your life, something really great can happen 

that enriches it in ways that either it was meant to be enriched or you didn’t 

expect it would be. So, during all of those younger years, and I do think 

that my parents had some pretty wonderful chapters, at least segments of 

chapters, but there was always something missing. And, they both found it. 

Alright, let’s get back to you, Wendy. What happened after Oberlin? 

Okay, yes, I graduated from high school and then went off to college. I 

got lucky enough to be accepted at Brown University in Providence. So, I 

moved to the East Coast for my college experience. My college years were 

spent studying History and Russian. I became a Russian major, which was 

somewhat an accident of fate. I picked up a Russian novel in high school, 

Crime and Punishment, and it caught my interest. I was quite intrigued by 

how brooding and dark and complicated it all was. And, so I thought, “Who 

writes a book like this?” I think that, especially during those formative 

teenage years, there’s something that happens to us, whether it’s a book or 

a film or a trip or something that just captures our imagination. That’s what 

happened to me with Dostoyevsky’s book. 

What came next for you? So, I headed off to college and started dabbling 

in Russian literature classes. Then, I befriended some people in the Russian 

department. Finally, I said to myself, “Well, heck, if I want to understand a 

little bit more about the sort of psyche of these people in this place, I should 

learn the language.” And, this was during the end of the Cold War, so it 

also had a little bit of mystique to it. It was dark and dangerous, not at all 

like London or France or something. This was the ‘80s, so it was the Iron 

Curtain and scary. I did a term abroad in Leningrad, and when I returned 

I taught Russian for a year; it was more of an internship, really. Around 

that time, there was a huge surge of Russian Jewish immigrants who were 

applying for refugee status coming out of the Soviet Union. So, I ended up 

moving to Rome to work with a refugee resettlement agency called HIAS. 

I became a caseworker there and helped people file their paperwork with 

the US Embassy Immigration & Naturalization Service. After a year doing 

that work, I went to an exchange program at a physics and math school in 

Siberia. I taught English and took care of a group of high school exchange 

students. I stayed there, in Novosibirsk, for a year. 

Wow, a year in Siberia. Then, I came back, taught for a few more years at 

Andover and realized that I wanted to go back to graduate school, but I 

didn’t think I wanted to go into Russian. There just weren’t many jobs in 

that field. Is this too much detail? I feel like I’m talking too much. So, I 

ended up going back to school again. I got really lucky and had a chance to 

get a master’s in public administration at Harvard. I was really interested 

in the intersection between education and the schools and the community. 

After grad school, I worked at an agency in Cambridge, Massachusetts 

called Cambridge Community Services. I was the associate director there, 

and one of my favorite programs that we ran was called City Links. It was 

a program that was in partnership with a high school. The high school 

in Cambridge taught a civics government class for kids, who were either 

themselves immigrants or children of immigrants. And, in conjunction 

with the civics government class, they also got paid internships in city 

departments in Cambridge. >> 


What a great concept. How did it work? So, each student would work 

either at the police department, the library, the state clerk’s office, or the 

hospital. And then they’d bring their experience back to share with the 

class. So, that’s kind of an example of what I mean when I talk about the 

relationships between inside and outside of schools. It’s both challenging 

and, I think, ultimately quite enriching both for the broader community 

of people, whether they have kids in school or not, and for the students 

to be able to see the applications of what they’re learning as they go 

along. I mean, how often do we as parents think, “Our kids are learning 

all these things in school, but do they make that connection back to why 

it’s important? Why those things are important.” And we’ve, over the last 

twenty years, I would say, we’ve done a better job over that period with 

schools doing that type of reaching out and reaching in. But, it was fun to 

be part of that back in those early days. And, looking back now, I can trace 

a line from those experiences to where I am today. 

Let’s continue tracing that line… So, then I got married, and that sent 

me along with my then husband on a journey to follow his career. I 

was pregnant with our first kid at that time. We were bouncing around 

from Cambridge to Hawaii, spent a year-and-a-half in Hawaii for his 

postdoctoral fellowship, and then he got a job in North Carolina. Our 

son was born in Hawaii, and our daughter was born in North Carolina. 

Then, a couple of years later, he got a job at Cal Poly, so we came here. 

It was a tricky time, it’s hard when you are out of your element as the 

trailing spouse. I continued to do some work for my old employer, 

Cambridge Community Services, but I was also trying to raise kids and 

establish myself here, too. I began taking on freelance work with various 

non-profits. The projects that I took on varied greatly, as I worked on 

everything from creating strategic plans to facilitating board meetings. 

We moved here in 2002, and this went on for the next ten or twelve years. 

Overall, it was a tremendous learning experience. >> 


Don’t miss the first ever 

Damon Castillo Holiday Variety Hour 

A benefit for Big Brothers/Big Sisters 

December 15, 5pm. Court Street Terrace. 

Free Tickets available online at 

eventbrite.com/courtstreet 

A community celebration sponsored by 

The San Luis Obispo Collection 

Court street Monterey Street Downtown Centre 


When did you get introduced to First 5? I had been assisting First 5 in 

the drafting of their children’s bill of rights when the executive director 

position came open. It just felt like the right opportunity at the right time. 

And, it also didn’t require me to give up all of my broad-based kind of 

perspective on things, because pretty much all my projects had more than 

an organizationally affiliated kind of focus. And, so, it’s very diversified 

sort of assignment. First 5 itself is the same way. The only thing that binds 

it all together is the age stage, zero to five. It’s a program that is statewide 

and is manifested in local programs in all fifty-eight counties. And our job 

is to be stewards of public investment in public tax revenue from tobacco 

tax, a fifty cent per pack tax, which was an initiative—Proposition 10— 

that Californians voted for twenty years ago. 

What’s it like to do this work? I’m so lucky to work with the staff at First 

5, all of them. And, additionally, to work with the broader community 

of partners in San Luis Obispo County who work on issues related to 

kids. It’s been such an amazing learning experience, and a humbling 

opportunity to see the kinds of things people in this community are 

doing to try to lift the lives of local kids. And, because we get to work 

in so many different aspects of their lives, we get to spend our days with 

incredibly talented and dedicated pediatricians, preschool teachers, family 

advocates, CASA volunteers, people at department of social services, and 

other parents. It’s really pretty extraordinary, and also a little bit sobering, 

because despite everyone’s best intentions, there’s still a ton of work to do 

all the time. It’s just never ending. 

And, why is the focus on those first five years of life so important? Well, 

I think it’s a more straightforward answer than even ten years ago. There’s 

a lot to it, but I’ll start with the science. There’s a lot of science that’s come 

out in the last, let’s say, two decades, that shows what we’ve all known 

somewhat anecdotally as parents raising children; during those first five 

years of life, a lot is happening with children’s brain development. And, 

when positively reinforced, it provides a sort of launching pad for life. 

And when children suffer or struggle during those early years, it makes it 

that much harder to fully thrive. So, it’s this unique moment in time, an 

opportunity to, as a community, as a family, as parents, to prioritize the 

best possible start. Because, in the end, all of us are better off, our kids 

are better off, our community is better off, when we all thrive, when we 

all have a shot at living a better life and growing up to contribute to the 

greater good. 

>> 


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Family-owned and operated with two locations in SLO 

YOGA 

SCULPT 

BARRE 

AERIAL 

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匀瀀攀挀椀愀氀椀稀椀渀最䤀渀 

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Happy Holidays 

Thankful for the opportunity to help 25 buyers 

and sellers pursue their real estate goals this year. 

How can I help YOU in 2020? 

graham @ ccreslo.com 

805.459.1865 | Lic. #01873454 

www.ccreslo.com 

3196 South Higuera Suite D, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 


When it’s all said and done, what will you hope people say about 

you? My gosh. I think I’ll want to look back and see that by virtue 

of some of the things I’ve helped set in motion, because that tends 

to be the job that I’ve had over these many years, is setting things 

in motion, kicking up a good idea and kind of gathering the right 

people around the table to move it down the road, I’d like to look 

back and see that at least some of those efforts have taken hold and 

that there’s been a collective commitment to moving them forward. 

And, that it doesn’t have to somehow come back to, “And, Wendy 

thought that one up.” I almost would rather it not be that, but if I 

am sitting in my rocking chair and looking back, that I’ll know that 

I had something to do with the sun shining on that community 

challenge that has a solution if only people have the understanding, 

the vision, the courage, the creativity, and the sense of possibility to 

actually make things happen. 

And, what have you learned about yourself along the way? I just feel 

like there’s always potential for positive growth, learning from mistakes, 

new chapters. Which, I don’t know, it feels sort of childlike in a way, 

right? I mean, kids feel that way. Five-year-olds don’t have any sense of 

limitations, or pessimism, or cynicism. Even the ones who are struggling 

and have been given a really bad hand when they’re five, they still have 

this sense that the world has possibility. Because that’s the time when 

we can really help kids maintain that sense of optimism beyond their 

fifth birthday and carry that with them, carry that optimism, carry that 

sense of possibility, and creativity, and fun, and all that stuff that life has a 

way of knocking out of us. But, you know, I’m often accused of being an 

optimist. I think you have to be optimistic in this line of work because if 

you continually throw your arms up and say, “That can’t be done,” or, “We 

tried that ten years ago and it didn’t work,” then you’re just adding to the 

problem. We can do better for our kids. SLO LIFE 


Explore the 

Extraordinary 

www.GardensbyGabriel.com 

805-215-0511 lic.# 887028 

CONSUMED 

A PODCAST 

Join SLO Life food columnist 

Jaime Lewis for candid 

conversations about life 

and flavor with area eaters, 

drinkers and makers. 

SPONSORED BY: 

LETSGETCONSUMED.COM 

SPOTIFY 

i T U N E S 


| COMMUNITY 

GOOD BOOKS 

BY TOM FRANCISKOVICH 

The behind the scenes story of books and how they came to be and the inspiration that set the 

author into motion in the first place are often as fascinating and instructive as the books themselves. 

That is certainly the case for two recently published homegrown children’s books, both the result of 

small, dedicated teams of Central Coast residents who never once wavered in their commitments 

toward making tomorrow better than today. 

ACCESS & OPPORTUNITY 

The art table at Lindsey Haring’s house is well-worn. And, if it were 

up to her, every kid in every home, everywhere, would have the same 

opportunity to create and explore and expand. In other words, to do 

this thing we have come to call art. 

Last year, Haring’s second-grader, Jack, was showing promise with his 

burgeoning collection of cat art. The first installment, which he called 

his “ice cream cone cat,” was a hit with his classmates at C.L. Smith 

Elementary near San Luis Obispo’s Laguna Lake. Before long, Jack 

and his younger brother, Luke, had come up with an entire line of 

whimsical cat characters ranging from “top hat cat” to “donut cat.” 

Mom was certainly proud of her boys, of course, but did not think 

much beyond the family art table, until her sister, their aunt, had a 

look. Her reaction was immediate as she declared, “This could be a 

book.” The wheels began to turn, slowly at first. But, each conversation 

led to another and, before long, a project was launched with a very 

specific purpose: to expand access and opportunity by underwriting 

art classes at C.L. Smith Elementary, a Title 1 school. 

A conversation over coffee with Maureen Vazquez, who owns 

Pipsticks, led to the idea of self-publishing a book with the purpose 

>> 

Lindsey Haring with her sons Jack and Luke 


of fundraising for the school. A week or so later, after her thinking 

began to crystalize, Haring attended a PTA meeting where the topic of 

conversation centered around the need to cutback. Funds were scarce, 

just like always, and difficult decisions would be required. What should 

stay, what should go? “That was the night it all came together for me,” 

is how Haring recalls the unanimous support for her proposal of a book 

fundraiser. The parents, it was decided, had something tangible to rally 

around: Cats. 

With the title, You Can Be That Cat, in place, the numbers came into 

focus. Haring had done the math and realized how much a successful 

campaign would mean for the plucky little elementary school by the 

lake. If they could sell $30,000 worth of cat books, and subtract out the 

$5,000 or so in expenses (which were kept relatively low thanks to a 

grant from the Miossi Charitable Trust), the PTA would be left with 

$25,000—enough money to pay for five years of art classes for all of its 

400 first through sixth graders. A potentially life-changing experience, 

particularly for those who do not have an art table back home. 

C.L. Smith Elementary School students 

Driven by the vision, Haring willed herself into an unfamiliar role. 

“It’s been hard to be out in front. I’ve always been behind the scenes,” 

she reflects, “but I have this passion for it. It’s real; it comes from a real 

place.” And, with a leader taking the reigns, the team gelled quickly, each 

of its members offering some missing piece of the puzzle. Kyle Alghren 

came aboard to do the graphic design. Kendra Aronson raised her hand 

to handle the photography and videography. A local illustrator, Melissa 

Ormonde Guzman, pitched in to refine the kids’ creations. 

Authoring a book is generally considered a solitary experience, but that 

has not been the case for You Can Be That Cat; instead, it has brought 

people together. And, it has also demonstrated how creativity and effort 

can bring forth positivity and change, perhaps revealing an example of 

the adage, art imitating life. 

As of this writing, the book has raised just over half of its goal. Those 

interested in supporting the project are encouraged to visit the website, which 

can be found at YouCanBeThatCat.com. 

Kendra Aronson with the authors 

SUNSHINE AGAIN 

Nancy Ballinger tried everything, every tool she had at her 

disposal, and none of them were working. Although highly 

trained as both a marriage and family therapist and hospice 

children’s bereavement counselor, the situation was almost 

too much to bear. 

Twenty years ago, Ballinger found herself looking into 

the eyes of two of her youngest clients. They had suddenly 

lost their mother after she had succumbed to a protracted 

illness. They were hurting. That’s when the idea struck. 

And, in many ways, it required reaching back before 

moving forward. 

Stories carry an undeniable power. That has always been 

the case for as long as we human beings have roamed the 

earth together. First, it was the story of the hunt as we 

gathered around the campfire. Then, it was the language we 

used to understand the world around us. For Ballinger, she 

saw an opportunity to harness that power—the power of 

story—to reach a couple of fractured souls, two brave cubs. 

Left to right: Nancy Ballinger, Julie Frankel, Marcy Adams, and Linna Thomas 

The metaphorical tale flowed to the paper as if delivered >> 


personally by the Big Guy upstairs. It was a story that was meant to 

be, and it needed to be told. The words landed. They found a home 

in young ears. The kids listened in raptured silence until the little girl 

exclaimed, “That’s just like our mommy!” Ballinger knew the healing 

process had finally begun. 

Over the course of her career, Ballinger had retrieved the book—Two 

Brave Cubs—when the situation called for it. Grieving children were 

always the most challenging; she just wanted nothing more than for 

their pain to end. She wanted it to stop. Nothing ever really worked, 

but the story always helped. Somehow, it always seemed to come back 

to the story; it always made things a little bit better and often marked 

the beginning of the end. The day the sun began to shine again. 

It has been said before by different people in different ways and at 

different times: “Some things are just meant to be.” While the total 

circulation of Two Brave Cubs remained at just one copy for nearly 

two decades, Marcy Adams had always harbored a thought that 

just never seemed to go away. She wanted to illustrate a meaningful 

children’s book. Remarkably, Ballinger and Adams were both involved 

during the start-up days of Hospice of San Luis Obispo, yet neither 

could have predicted their future partnership. But, as they say, “Some 

things are just meant to be.” 

The author and the illustrator got to work on creating a proper, 

professionally crafted edition of Two Brave Cubs. “The thing that 

guided us was the enormity of grief that kids feel when they lose a 

parent,” Ballinger shares. “Trying to do something to make it better— 

that’s what propelled us.” And, to be sure, it did get them to a certain 

point, but they soon learned that publishing a book was not a simple 

DIY project. They both realized they needed to build out the team. 

First, they brought on Julie Frankel to take on the graphic design 

and page layout. Then, they reached out to Linna Thomas, who owns 

Coalesce Bookstore in Morro Bay, as well as operates a small imprint. 

With the foursome firing on all cylinders, Coalesce Press made Two 

Brave Cubs available for purchase during its “soft launch” early this 

year. While sales have trickled forth, the partnership has much larger 

plans in store for the book. They have collectively committed to 

keeping the price tag as low as possible—currently $9.99 each—and 

plowing all of the proceeds right back into printing more copies. The 

goal is simple: Reach as many grieving children as possible to help 

them begin the healing process. 

Beginning in January, the women are planning to do a nationwide 

media push to bring attention to our most vulnerable during their 

time of greatest need. The awareness that comes with the effort, they 

hope, will lead to bulk sales to large institutions and organizations, 

such as hospitals and schools and associations. Yet, no matter the 

scale, even if all of the fuss and toil and effort only makes a difference 

for just one child, the team agrees that the venture will have been 

deemed a success. SLO LIFE 

If you would like to support the mission of Two Brave Cubs by making a 

donation or buying a book, you can find it for sale at Coalesce Bookstore in 

Morro Bay or online at TwoBraveCubs.com. 


A new generation of housing 

cropping up in Spring 2020. 

RURAL REDEFINED 

Life at San Luis Ranch is in the heart of the city, but miles away from 

ordinary. With farmland in your backyard, vibrant downtown SLO, and the 

city’s job centers just a stone’s throw away, San Luis Ranch is rural redefined. 

Multi-family and Single family homes starting in Spring 2020. 

Exceptional 

Amenities 

Spectacular 

Location 

Farm to Table 

Lifestyle 

Join the Interest List – SanLuisRanch.org 


| DWELLING 

TINY 

TOWN 

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID LALUSH 



I 

t seems that everywhere you go these days, people are 

talking about tiny homes. Having recently hosted a Tiny 

Home Expo attended by over 6,000 people and making 

tiny living legal in the city, San Luis Obispo—Tiny Town— 

is on the forefront of the trend. Often described as an 

architectural and social movement, “going tiny” encourages 

a simpler lifestyle in a smaller space. People from all 

walks of life have determined that a large home and, more 

specifically, the large cost of living that comes with it, are 

both unnecessary and often an impediment to happiness. 

Those opting to downsize are doing so in a deliberate effort 

to reduce the financial and emotional burden of the all the 

stuff—stuff we call “stuff.” 

With all the buzz around this movement, it did not 

take long for Joe and Betsey Pollon to take notice. Joe’s 

background as a contractor coupled with Betsy’s natural eye 

for design and spatial planning makes them a tiny dream 

team. They have been building, remodeling, and designing 

since 1992. And, eight years ago they completed the most 

challenging project, their own home. >> 


To all the Clients, Consultants, Contractors 

and Agencies we have had the pleasure to work 

with over the years, we are extremely grateful 

for your support and encouragement. While 

we are very proud of our completed projects, 

we consider our true legacy to be the lasting 

relationships we have developed with you all. 

ARCHITECTURE 

LANDSCAPE 

INTERIORS 

MEDIA 

Thanks for helping us make it to our 5-year 

anniversary and for being a key part of our 

TEN OVER family. 

The TEN OVER family at our anniversary celebration. 

TENOVERSTUDIO.COM 



In researching the tiny home market, they found the 

largest segment of buyers were single women over fifty 

years old. They recognized that the elevated sleeping loft 

found in most tiny homes was not an ideal solution for 

this demographic, and a single level option was much more 

desirable. But, since tiny homes must be capable of traveling 

on public roads, there are certain size constraints. The 

maximum dimensions allowed, without obtaining a special 

permit, are eight feet, six inches wide, thirteen feet, six 

inches tall, and forty feet long. While this is the maximum, 

it is rare to see tiny houses longer than thirty-two feet in 

length, as they become increasingly difficult to maneuver. >>

C O M M E R C I A L & R E S I D E N T I A L 

Gratitude 

We at Ramsey Asphalt want to use this opportunity 

to thank all our employees who work so tirelessly 

throughout the year enabling us to work towards a 

future where we continue to grow and learn. We feel 

that we are so blessed to have met some of the 

most amazing people along the way and we couldn’t 

do it without all of you. Wishing everyone Peace and 

Love throughout the Holidays. 

www.RamseyAsphalt.com 

Lic# 881030 A/C12/C32 


The question the couple needed to answer was simple: 

How could the living space be maximized in a singlestory 

configuration while also maintaining a manageable 

length? Joe grappled with an answer until it occurred 

to him that the walls could be made to move. He then 

designed a mechanism which enabled the kitchen and 

bathroom section to retract into the bedroom and living 

space. In that way, when the home had to be moved, it 

could be done safely and legally. But, when it was parked 

and set up for living, it could expand to relatively roomy 

fourteen feet of interior width. Problem solved. And a 

new business was launched. 

“I wanted to create a tiny home that didn’t feel 

cramped,” he said. “After experimenting with different 

configurations, we came up with the Corbett Canyon 

model and Central Coast Tiny Homes was born.” >> 



Nestled in Corbett Canyon just north of Arroyo Grande, 

their model tiny home is secluded and serene. As I pulled 

in, my eye immediately searched for the wheels, but could 

not locate them. Betsy showed me through a gap in the deck 

boards how they dug out a sunken parking space to hide the 

wheels and then conceal them with a deck. This served a dual 

purpose: It enhanced the “curb appeal” of the structure, as 

well as created additional outdoor living space. 

After we walked into their 295-square-foot home, I had to 

confirm the dimensions because it felt much larger, even 

though it was only a single story. As we took a deep dive into 

their objectives around the design process, I began to understand 

how they were able to achieve this illusion. 

First, windows everywhere. My favorite design detail can 

be found on the bedroom and living room walls. The wood 

siding adds warmth and depth to the space while drawing 

attention upward. The triangle windows introduce visual 

interest and let in natural light. With the invention of the 

slide out design, the couple could now have two entry and 

exit points as well as four distinct “zones”—kitchen, living, 

bedroom, and bath. >> 



Creative storage solutions, as is a common thread in tiny living, has 

been taken to another level. Murphy beds, barn doors (or pocket 

doors), and storage within furniture are all found in abundance. 

Although it is a smaller space, there are plenty of opportunities for 

customization. For instance, the Pollon’s bathroom has washer and 

dryer hook-ups ready to go, but also a rod if you would like to opt for 

more closet space instead. The pair admitted that balancing storage, 

counter space, and appliances in the kitchen was a challenge, so they 

were forced to make a difficult trade-off by leaving the dishwasher 

out altogether. 

While it might not come to mind, an important variable to consider 

when building a tiny house is weight. Since these homes do need to 

be transported at times, they must be as lightweight as possible. In 

this case, all interior materials were analyzed and creative substitutions 

were made when necessary. For example, they swapped out drywall for 

plywood in constructing the walls and tile in the shower was replaced 

with stainless steel sheets. Both of those decisions melted away the 

extra pounds. >> 



And, the Pollons understood that life on the Central 

Coast affords a unique advantage, in that the living 

spaces do not have to be confined to the interior. 

A picnic table could host dinner. Yard games for 

entertaining. A bistro table for a quiet coffee break. 

Despite its diminutive stature, there does not seem to 

be anything that cannot be done when compared to 

a larger, more traditional single-family dwelling. The 

only difference, it seems, is that some of it requires 

more forethought and intention. 

Joe Pollon views his tiny houses as a potential alternative to 

assisted living. When family members begin to age they do 

not always need the full care services many assisted living 

facilities offer and would prefer to be close to family, he 

reasons. A temporary backyard for these small structures is 

an affordable way to keep an eye on a loved one while they 

retain their independence and their own personal space. 

And, with growing tiny home rental options, it can alleviate 

the burdensome cost of building traditional guest house or 

purchasing a tiny house. 

Just the second city in California 

to adopt a supportive ordinance 

adding tiny homes into its housing 

mix, San Luis Obispo is hoping 

property owners will bring 

these mobile buildings into their 

backyards as long-term rental 

units. While not the solution for 

everyone, they do offer a cozy, 

affordable option for those seeking 

to simplify and unburden their 

lives—leaving all the extra “stuff ” 

behind. SLO LIFE 

DAVID LALUSH is an 

architectural photographer 

here in San Luis Obispo. 


HAPPY 

HOLIDAYS 

FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS 

STEVEN PUGLISI 

ARCHITECTS, INC 

W W W. P U G L I S I D E S I G N .CO M ( 8 0 5 ) 5 9 5 - 1 9 6 2 

LIGHTING DESIGN 

Central Coast 

Lighting Experts 

Since 1926 

LIGHTING CONSULTANT 

Corey Stollmeyer 

Text: (805) 440-9945 

corey@stollmeyerlighting.com 

SHOWROOM 

2304 Broad Street 

San Luis Obispo 

. parking in back . 

stollmeyerlighting.com 


| SLO CITY 

REAL ESTATE 


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 































2018 

51 

$850,944 

$837,179 

98.38% 

36 

2018 

20 

$866,790 

$848,561 

97.90% 

41 

2018 

20 

$1,033,591 

$996,653 

96.43% 

23 

2018 

18 

$1,224,938 

$1,181,888 

96.49% 

79 

2018 

46 

$897,020 

$887,114 

98.90% 

54 

2018 

38 

$892,397 

$878,261 

98.42% 

29 

2018 

53 

$884,187 

$867,789 

98.15% 

45 

2019 

59 

$767,730 

$756,072 

98.48% 

31 

2019 

28 

$801,734 

$791,429 

98.71% 

28 

2019 

19 

$1,061,295 

$1,022,744 

96.37% 

36 

2019 

25 

$1,455,840 

$1,411,580 

96.96% 

73 

2019 

62 

$830,702 

$812,057 

97.76% 

42 

2019 

40 

$951,438 

$902,026 

94.81% 

46 

2019 

51 

$826,473 

$805,774 

97.50% 

33 

+/- 

15.69% 

-9.78% 

-9.69% 

0.10% 

-13.89% 

+/- 

40.00% 

-7.51% 

-6.73% 

99.10% 

-31.71% 

+/- 

-5.00% 

2.68% 

2.62% 

-0.06% 

56.52% 

+/- 

38.89% 

18.85% 

19.43% 

0.47% 

-7.59% 

+/- 

34.78% 

-7.39% 

-8.46% 

-1.14% 

-22.22% 

+/- 

5.26% 

6.62% 

2.71% 

-3.61% 

58.62% 

+/- 

-3.77% 

-6.53% 

-7.15% 

-0.65% 

-26.67% 

*Comparing 01/01/18 - 11/20/18 to 01/01/19 - 11/20/19 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 



Thank you for 

another amazing year! 

We couldn’t have done it without our incredible community. 

Don’t wait for the ball to drop! Reach out to us today to get started. 

Donna Lewis 

Branch Manager/ 

VP of Mortgage Lending 

O: (805) 335-8743 

C: (805) 235-0463 

donna.lewis@rate.com 

Dylan Morrow 


O: (805) 335-8738 

C: (805) 550-9742 

dylan.morrow@rate.com 

Maggie Koepsell 


O: (805) 335-8742 

C: (805) 674-6653 

maggie.koepsell@rate.com 

Phyllis Wong 


O: (805) 706-8075 

C: (805) 540-8457 

phyllis.wong@rate.com 

Luana Gerardis 


O: (805) 329-4087 

C: (707) 227-9582 

luana.gerardis@rate.com 

Joe Hutson 


O: (831) 205-1582 

C: (831) 212-4138 

joe.hutson@rate.com 

Rate.com/offices/CASanLuisObispo1065 1065 Higuera Street, Suite 100 San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Guaranteed 

Rate for current rates and for more information. 

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| SLO COUNTY 

Happy 

holidays 

to you and 

your family. 

BEN LERNER 

805.441.9486 

REAL ESTATE 

REGION 

Arroyo Grande 

Atascadero 

Avila Beach 

Cambria/San Simeon 


NUMBER OF 

HOMES SOLD 

2018 

290 

324 

15 

157 

2019 

293 

333 

26 

131 

AVERAGE DAYS 

ON MARKET 

2018 

50 

47 

68 

74 

2019 

55 

40 

87 

67 

MEDIAN SELLING 

PRICE 

2018 

$766,816 

$572,134 

$1,226,432 $1,395,843 

$749,028 

2019 

$807,192 

$582,846 

$925,323 

Cayucos 

51 

52 

85 

127 

$1,087,324 $1,224,864 

Creston 

10 

7 

153 

93 

$949,100 

$935,357 

Grover Beach 

119 

108 

44 

54 

$534,509 

$555,715 

Los Osos 

147 

156 

37 

41 

$650,300 

$672,802 

Morro Bay 

133 

120 

62 

65 

$738,000 

$749,541 

Nipomo 

270 

278 

51 

59 

$675,367 

$666,477 

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360 

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120 

345 

50 

78 

36 

67 

80 

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56 

59 

58 

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297 

337 

43 

45 

$929,772 

$909,255 

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29 

95 

93 

$424,600 

$510,017 

Templeton 

112 

99 

78 

72 

$829,711 

$813,759 

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Countywide 

2538 2591 

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53 57 $697,825 $724,374 

SOURCE: San Luis Obispo Association of REALTORS ® 

SLO LIFE

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| HEALTH 

BAD NIGHT’S 

SLEEP? BLUE 

LIGHT MAY 

BE WHY 

Artificial blue light may be wreaking havoc on our sleep cycles—and much more. 

BY ERIKA FITZGERALD 

Ever wake up feeling like you landed in a different time zone with a case of jetlag after latenight 

Instagram scrolling? Or after bypassing the “Are you still watching?” screen on Netflix 

more times than you care to admit? Well, you may have a blue light hangover. 

A recent report from the New Zealand Royal Society suggests that our increasingly 

“plugged in” lifestyle is wreaking havoc on our internal clocks—and the world at large. 

Here’s what you need to know before you power-up the brightness in your life. >> 

ERIKA FITZGERALD is a 

writer and traveler with 

a healthy addiction to 

kombucha and kale. 



#1 

WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT? 

Simply explained, blue light is a high-frequency wavelength that 

appears naturally with sunlight and moonlight. The amount of natural 

blue light varies based on location and weather but typically peaks in 

the early afternoon. 

Like all living things, we rely on this daily cycle of light and dark to 

wake up, stay up, wind down, and go to sleep. Soaking up blue light 

wavelengths at appropriate times during the day is good for all life on 

earth. In contrast, after-hours exposure to artificial blue light from things 

like energy-efficient LED bulbs and digital screens is cause for concern. 

The advent of blue light-emitting electronics and lighting is adding blue 

wavelengths to our environment at mind-boggling speed. In many ways, 

man-made light makes modern life easier. So what’s the problem? 

#2 

A GLOWING CONCERN 

Our brain receives environmental cues from our eyes, aligning when we 

feel sleepy or alert with the time of day. Exposure to blue light wavelengths 

after dark confuses our brain about the time of day. The result: trouble 

sleeping, morning grogginess, and impaired focus and productivity. 

Nothing sleeping pills and a double shot of morning espresso can’t fix, 

right? Well, according to research from Harvard Medical School, basking 

in blue light outside of our natural circadian rhythm may also contribute to 

the causes of diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and certain types of cancer, as 

well as eye strain, cognitive dysfunction, and depression. 

Our circadian clocks regulate many important functions, including 

metabolism, immune function, behavior and mood, and—of course—sleep. 

When these systems get thrown out of whack, our overall health and wellbeing 

suffers the consequences. 

#3 

BEYOND DEEP SLEEP 

Many of us spend a whopping 10 hours per day glued to a screen, 

according to a Nielsen media usage report. Not only does this mess with 

our sleep—but recent studies suggest it may also accelerate skin aging. 

In 2014, the journal Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, wrote that 

skin exposed to blue light showed “significantly more pronounced 

hyperpigmentation that lasted up to three months.” This doesn’t mean 

you should shun all your blue light-emitting devices and buy a pricey 

skin serum promising protection from blue light. 

Experts say there’s still a lot of research to be done on the relationship 

between blue light and premature aging. In the meantime, stick with 

your everyday broad-spectrum sunscreen and limit your screen time as 

much as possible. >> 


THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL 2019, 

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#4 

NATURAL CONSIDERATIONS 

We humans aren’t the only ones feeling the effects of artificial blue light. Plants, animals, 

and microorganisms also rely on light cycles to guide behaviors like photosynthesis, 

pollination, migration, hibernation, and reproduction. Blue light in particular influences 

circadian clocks in plants and animals. 

As cities grow and switch from traditional orange-yellow light-emitting street lights to 

white LED ones, we see an increase in blue light at night—which not only confuses the 

circadian rhythms of our fellow earthlings but also creates unhealthy light pollution. If 

you’ve ever looked up at the night sky from a crowded city, you may have noticed a starless 

glow looming overhead. This artificial “sky glow” is a result of scattered artificial light. All 

man-made light pollutes the night sky but blue light scatters especially easily, obscuring 

our solar system and altering our natural environment. 

While modern LED lights are good for saving energy, they can also interrupt natural 

biological processes that keep our ecosystems healthy. To be a good neighbor, simply shut 

off unnecessary outside lights and direct light downward so that it doesn’t spill into the 

night sky. 

#5 

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT 

Artificial blue light is still relatively new on the scene, meaning more research is needed 

to determine longer-term effects in many aspects of our daily lives. But the good news is, 

you can avoid it simply by replacing bright-white light bulbs with warmer soft-white ones, 

reducing screen brightness, using night-mode apps that reduce blue light emission, or better 

yet, unplugging with a good old-fashioned book. 

If you spend a lot of time behind a screen, blue light blocking glasses—or “blue blockers”— 

also work well to filter blue light. More and more optical brands are offering blue blockers 

with and without prescription lenses. You can pick up a pair of non-prescription blue 

blockers for less than $100. As the famous song lyrics go, “I wear my blue blockers at night, 

so I can, so I can sleep.” (Or something like that. You get the gist.) SLO LIFE

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| TASTE 

THE BREAD 

BASKET 

Want to understand a restaurant’s culinary philosophy? Look no further 

than the basket of bread on your table. 

BY JAIME LEWIS 

y friend Sharon Cumberland recently asked if I’d consider writing a column about bread service— 

you know, the basket of bread that shows up soon after you’re seated in a restaurant. At first, the idea 

seemed too pedestrian: isn’t all pre-meal bread the same? 

She patiently described how some local eateries go above and beyond, though, and I realized how 

easy it is to take bread service for granted. What would happen if it ceased to be served? Or what if Mour favorite bread-giving restaurants decided to charge for it? Very likely, a revolution would ensue. 

I visited three South County Italian restaurants, all of which draw accolades for specialties like tender butternut squash 

ravioli, perfect pizzas, and killer cocktails. But it’s the invitation to break bread that interests me here. This welcoming 

gesture shortcuts to the heart of a restaurant’s philosophy, I’ve learned; in this case, the bread might be free, but it offers a 

wealth of insight. 

JAIME LEWIS writes about 

food, drink, and the good 

life from her home in San 

Luis Obispo. Find her on 

Instagram/Twitter @jaimeclewis. 


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A TASTE OF THE OLD COUNTRY 

“You know what’s funny?” says Giuseppe ( Joe) DiFronzo of 

Giuseppe’s Cucina Rustica in Pismo Beach and San Luis 

Obispo. “This concoction is what people talk about, but the 

bread is really the star.” 

Anyone who’s dined at Giuseppe’s knows exactly what 

DiFronzo is describing: a blend of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, 

finely grated Grana Padano cheese, and minced garlic. 

Guests at Giuseppe’s receive a basket of warm crusty bread 

and a dish of this addictive dip before their meal. 

“Literally, that’s it, DiFronzo says. “We call it ‘Italian peanut 

butter’ because it’s so simple. But again, the bread is the star.” 

DiFronzo shares how he grew up working in the bakeries 

of his four uncles in the San Fernando Valley―all of them 

immigrants from Puglia, a province in southeastern Italy. 

The bread his ancestors baked is the same one he baked 

with his uncles, and the same one he bakes every day for his 

restaurants. Raised four times over the course of six hours, the 

bread is crusty on the outside and pillowy light in the middle. 

“The crust often gets criticized,” says DiFronzo. “People 

say it’s burnt. That’s because they don’t know Italian bread, 

or they’re not used to bread from the south of Italy. This 

bread is different. It’s for peasants who can eat it three days 

after it’s baked, with some olive oil and tomatoes, and call it 

dinner. It’s been that way for hundreds of years.” >> 


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IT ALL DEPENDS UPON YOUR APPETITE 

The setting at Gina’s Italian Restaurant in Arroyo Grande is one of cozy 

familiarity: a quintessential neighborhood place with exposed wood beams, 

a copper bar, and dependable comfort food. The restaurant has remained 

this way for decades, in part because owner Manuel Estrella purchased the 

property from its original owners and kept everything the same–including 

Gina’s famous bread and tomato dip. 

“It’s just tomato, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper,” 

says Estrella, who started as a cook in Gina’s kitchen. “It’s very simple.” 

He explains that the French-style bread is baked fresh in house, and then 

he brings out a basket for me. With the soft, sliced bread, he includes a 

little dish of tomato dip, which is not unlike a bruschetta topping. The 

flavor is tangy and tart, with juices that soak into the bread, turning it pink. 

With a bottle of red or a bottle of white, this simple combination could 

constitute a very satisfying meal, indeed. >> 


BELONGING: 

LOCAL EXPRESSIONS OF BLACK EMPOWERMENT AND POSSIBILITY 

A multimedia, multi-location 

experience February 2020 

R. A.C. E. MATTERS 

RESPONSIBILITY | ACTION | COMPASSION | EDUCATION racemattersslo.org 

R.A.C.E. Matters is a community-based organization who amplify the voices of Black 

and other People of Color; in an effort to build an actively anti-racist Central Coast. 

Check racematterslo.org for event updates. 

Want to support this project? Contact race.matters.slo@gmail.com 

to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities. 

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AN IDEA THAT STUCK 

I nab my friend (e.g. the impetus for this story) and we 

head to dinner at Del’s Pizzeria in Pismo Beach. When we 

arrive, owner Ryan Delmore welcomes us from the open 

kitchen window, and we sit at a table with a red and white 

checkered tablecloth and a view of the ocean, just down the 

street. Italian opera pipes through the speakers. 

Delmore brings us a little basket of rolls and a ramekin of 

whipped honey butter. I slather a roll with butter and take a 

bite. “Oh my gosh,” I say, my eyes rolling back in my head a 

bit, “this is like a cupcake.” 

The dough for the rolls, Delmore tells me, is the same 

dough for Del’s pizzas, and the honey butter is just that: 

local honey whipped into Irish butter. “It was Big Ed’s 

idea,” says Delmore, explaining that his grandfather 

thought up the rolls and honey butter concept in 1995, two 

decades after the restaurant opened in its original Shell 

Beach location. 

“Honey butter isn’t very Italian,” he says. “But honestly, we 

get more comments on this than anything else.” SLO LIFE 


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magazine 


! 

| KITCHEN 

HOLIDAY CHUTNEY 

Whether you are looking to dress up a winter meal or pass 

along a homemade treat to friends and family, this tasty, 

colorful chutney is the perfect choice this holiday season. 

BY CHEF JESSIE RIVAS 

JESSIE’S TIP: 

This recipe can be adapted to be a little spicy by 

adding whole Thai chilies, Sambal chili paste, or 

chili flakes. Add these ingredients as the chutney 

is cooling with the pectin. Just remember a little 

!spice goes a long way. 


HOLIDAY CHUTNEY 

Ingredients: 

4 cups Bosc pears or Granny Smith apples, diced 

¾ cup cider vinegar 

½ cup white wine 

¼ cup lemon juice 

½ cup golden raisins (optional) 

2 cups fresh cranberries 

½ cup small diced onions (yellow or white) 

1 Tbs kosher salt 

1 tsp allspice 

½ tsp ground cinnamon 

½ tsp ground cloves 

½ tsp ground ginger 

5 ½ cups granulated sugar 

1 pouch liquid fruit pectin 

Add all ingredients, except pectin, to a large non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir 

occasionally until the cranberries break down and sugar has dissolved. Take pan off heat and stir in 

pectin and allow to cool. Pour in heat resistant jars and cool completely. Keep refrigerated until ready 

to use—the chutney should last a couple weeks. 

JESSIE RIVAS is the owner 

and chef of The Pairing Knife 

food truck which serves the 

Central Coast. 

Serve the chutney at room temperature with turkey or pork. Pairs well with root and winter vegetables. 



| WINE NOTES 

CRUSHIN’ IT 

The best things are made with great care. Wine is no different. What happens from vine to barrel 

(or tank) that makes winemaking such a difficult profession? Where is all this wine being made? 

BY ANDRIA MCGHEE 

Let’s start with the little vines which take roughly two to three years to produce grapes for winemaking. Winemakers 

and vineyard workers monitor grapes, checking flavor and sugar levels. When the grapes’ ripeness and weather permits, 

they are harvested. 

The grapes in SLO are picked laboriously by hand, as they are in most of our county wineries. This process is done 

early in the morning to prevent fermenting in the bins on the way to the winery. Leading up to and after this point, 

every decision made is based on the wine to be produced. Winemaker Larry Brooks, a former Tolosa Winery Pinot 

Noir magician and wine consultant, commented on just how many decisions are made for one bottle of wine. Certainly, 

1,000 decisions are not far off. 

Grapes in bins waiting to be juiced need to be taken somewhere close and fast. Here’s the rub. If you have the talent to 

make wine, you don’t always have the cash to throw down for the expensive machinery. Fortunately, San Luis Obispo >> 

County is home to custom crush facilities. I used to think these were for hobby winemaking, and I’m sure they can be, 

but they are mostly for professional winemakers. These facilities provide a place to take the stems off grape clusters, 

crush the grapes, ferment the wine, drain the juice from its skins, and maybe even store wine for aging. 

ANDRIA MCGHEE received 

her advanced degree in 

wines and spirits from WSET 

in London and enjoys travel, 

food, wine, and exercise. 


new year’s eve pops: 

a night at the 

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PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, SAN LUIS OBISPO 

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I had the opportunity to help Coby Parker-Garcia and his family 

sort through grapes for his wine, El Lugar, at Center of Effort’s 

custom crush facility. Gorgeous Pinot Noir grapes that were freshly 

picked from Spanish Springs Vineyard at the beginning of the 

2019 harvest glistened with dew in their bins. The electricity was 

evident, even at 6:30 in the morning. Coby, super focused with rare 

and beautiful grapes in his hands, was sure to make the most of the 

opportunity. We sorted through de-stemmed grapes to make sure 

no leaves or green grapes got through. Want a chance to get in on 

this small production? To be notified of El Lugar’s tastings, join 

their mailing list at ellugarwines.com. If you can’t wait for one of the 

pop up tastings, the fun 2018 Pinot Noir Blanc as well as the 2017 

Spanish Springs Pinot Noir can be found at Wine Sneak on Broad 

Street or downtown at Central Coast Wines on Higuera Street. 

Mike Sinor and Cheri LaValle Sinor also used the Center 

of Effort crushing facility when they started their own label, 

Sinor-LaVallee (pronounced la-vahley). While working for many 

wineries, including Ancient Peaks, Mike dreamed of making wine 

from the ground up. So, with cleverness and determination, the 

couple bought a piece of land and grew grapes. Mike noted that 

although it is great to rent a place that cleans up after the crushing 

is done, it’s even better to use a machine at a moment’s notice and 

visit your wine whenever needed. Mike and Cheri recently moved 

to their own crush pad—it’s like getting your own place after 

having roommates. 

Mike’s wine can be tasted at the Sinor-LaVallee tasting room on 

First Street in Avila Beach (near the playground) and is also poured 

at many restaurants. Sinor-LaVallee makes a range of white wines as 

well as Pinot Noir and Syrah. Their white label appeals to a lighter 

palate, while the black label boasts a boomier taste. 

As an apprentice to so many winemaking greats, Mike is now 

paying it forward. Soon to share the Sinor-LaValle facility are up 

and coming winemakers, Mikey Giugni and Michael Brughelli of 

Scar of the Sea. Guigni and Brughelli have been producing wine 

in the Santa Maria Valley, but have been shimmying over to San 

Luis Obispo County as they have found it is one of the most special 

places to grow and make wine. You may have seen Scar of the Sea at 

Granada Bistro in downtown SLO or in some of the smaller shops. 

Their style is elegant and I can’t wait to taste what their Pinot Noir, 

Syrah, Chardonnay, and Pét-Nat from this area are like. You heard 

it here first. SLO LIFE 


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Open Monday - Saturday 10-6pm 


| BREW 

PILGRIMAGE 

BY BRANT MYERS 

Having just returned from the holy 

land of beer, Belgium, I thought it 

appropriate to revisit some of the 

iconic breweries and beer styles in an 

ongoing effort to brag, errr, educate 

readers about one of the oldest brewing 

traditions in the world. Come with 

me as I correlate travels through the 

Benelux region with the suds they’re intrinsically tied to. 

A mere half mile from the central train station in Brussels, 

Belgium’s capital, you can find one of the hottest breweries in 

the world—Cantillon. Known for their traditional Guezes and 

Lambics, you arrive with preconceived visions of a decrepit old 

farmhouse in the countryside making wild ales in a centuriesold 

tradition. Yet there you are, plop in the middle of the 

garment district in the center of town. It’s nondescript except 

for the throng of tourists taking photos of the exterior, a sure 

sign of any brewery in an industrial neighborhood. Not many 

folks take photos of storefronts unless there’s beer inside. Once 

inside, you’re hit with the distinct smell of invisible microbes 

growing, a scent that only musty cellars full of barrel-aged beer can give 

off. The smell is so unique, like that first whiff of your grandma’s house and 

fresh-baked cookies flooding you with memories of visits past. I opt out of 

the guided tour having seen my fair share of barrels in situ and head straight 

for the upstairs bar. 

The good stuff is being served in 750mL bottles, and brother, I hope you 

brought the antacids because it’s going to be the gut Olympics. I plop 

myself in the only open bar seat right in the middle of two guys feverishly 

discussing the various merits of the two vintages of Mourvèdre, a Lambic 

made with a blend of two grape varieties, 75% Mourvèdre and 25% 

Carignan. I quickly join the discussion while they fill my glass. Much like 

champagne from Champagne, Lambic is a beer made in Brussels due to the 

wild yeast and bacteria strains native only to that area. Further, they thrive 

in specific temperatures that give the brewers only a portion of the year to 

make the style. This particular pour is nice and tart, with a fruity aroma and 

acidic bite from the grapes. We move on to Gueze as our group expands to 

include a brewer from Slovakia buying bottles costing more than his round 

trip flight. We drink one of every bottle available and get kicked out as they 

close their doors, but not before I corner owner Jean- Pierre van Roy, and 

offer him a flabongo of Naturdays, because sharing is caring after all. >> 


Healing 

Happens 

FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST, SLO, 

INVITES YOU TO JOIN OUR SERVICES. 

At our Wednesday evening services, you will hear 

testimonies of healing and ideas shared on how 

Christian Science is applied to every challenge in the 

daily lives of our members. The laws of harmony and 

health revealed in the Bible apply today. 

You will be inspired. Healing through prayer is possible. 

Wednesday Testimony Meeting 

7:00 p.m. 

Sunday Church Services 

10:00 a.m. 

1326 Garden Street, SLO 

prayerthatheals.org 

christianscience.org 

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Having consumed enough Lambics and Guezes (a blend of old and young 

Lambics), I wake the next day and jump on a train to Brugge. This fairytale city 

hasn’t changed in 400 years, except for a better beer selection at the local bottle 

shops. I can see Brewery Bourgogne des Flandres from my hotel window so 

before the luggage even hits the ground I’m sampling their red-brown blended 

beer that mixes Lambic with top fermented ale to create a sweet and sour lowalcohol 

Flanders Red Ale. It hits the spot and makes me thirsty to try more. I 

walk past a myriad of stone buildings surrounded by canals filled with weeping 

willows and white swans. Pinch me. A short stroll down cobblestone streets and 

through a cathedral I come across De Halve Maan, the Half Moon, brewery 

and since I know what I’m about, I start with the blonde single cornerstone, 

Brugse Zot, and quickly make my way up the line to the dubbel, tripel, and 

quad beers. Now that I’m feeling just fine I befriend the British couple adjacent 

to my table, and next thing we know we’re at a restaurant having rabbit cooked 

in Kriek beer, another type of Lambic but with the addition of sour morello 

cherries. I have to say, the Belgians sure know their beer and I’m not arguing 

when they put it in everything. 

The next day, I finally find what I’m looking for, the holy grail of beers, 

Westvleteren 12, referred to as the“best beer in the world”by numerous sources 

and discerning palates. I drink it out of a plastic cup, much to the chagrin of 

my friends, but hey, work with what you’ve got (in a brazen act of frivolity, I 

also shared one directly out of the bottle with an equally enthusiastic Brit, but 

don’t tell anyone). This beer is not only an amazingly flavorful and balanced 

quadruple Belgian ale but has an almost cult-level status due to the incredibly 

rare nature of the beer itself. Brewed by five monks in a monastery of twentysix, 

they only produce enough to support themselves, they do not distribute 

their beers, and you have to go there during specific dates and times to get your 

maximum twelve bottle case. Father Abbott said it best, “We are not brewers. 

We are monks. We brew beer to be able to afford being monks.” I’ve been lucky 

enough to have this beer on only two other occasions, and it lives up to the 

hype. Truly world-class suds. 

There are too many breweries to visit and not enough time, 

so I make my way to Antwerp where I walk quickly past 

shop windows full of glimmering diamonds—you can’t 

drink diamonds!—and find one of the most unique drinking 

establishments I’ve ever visited, Het Elfde Gebod, the 

Eleventh Commandment, which deems “Thou Shalt Enjoy 

Thyself ” and I am happy to announce that I did. Only a 

young 594 years old, this small cafe is adorned from floor to 

ceiling with hundreds of angel and saint statues and surrealist 

art. I order a draft De Koninck, a Belgian pale ale brewed two 

miles away, and the mussels cooked in white wine. It takes a 

while, so I make sure to do thorough quality control and order 

a few more while I wait. The beer does not disappoint. Served 

in an iconic Bolleke glass with a shape similar to a half-round 

chalice. This glassware is so linked to the De Koninck beer 

that you can order one just by asking for a Bolleke. 

I finish my feast and go for a stroll 

mainly to enjoy the crisp fall air and 

take in the sights but also to check 

out some real estate because I could 

live like this forever. However, the 

trip is coming to an end and I was 

able to taste beer styles from around 

the country that have been brewed 

for generations before me. And what 

better place to savor the traditions of 

centuries past than the areas where 

they were born? So no matter where 

you are, make sure to drink local and 

take in not only the sights and sounds, 

but the flavors as well. SLO LIFE 

BRANT MYERS is a craft 

beer veteran and the 

founder of BIIIG, supporting 

local businesses in the 

hospitality industry. 


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| HAPPENINGS 

POPS: A NIGHT AT THE OSCARS 

Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Cal Poly 

Performing Arts Center with the San Luis 

Obispo Symphony, presenting selections 

from favorite award-winning Hollywood 

films. Be swept away by some of the most 

breathtaking and unforgettable scores in 

movie history, including Casablanca, 2001: 

A Space Odyssey, Lord of the Rings, 

Dances with Wolves, and more. 

December 31 // slosymphony.org 

DECEMBER 

PADDLEBOARD PARADE 

If you miss the annual Saturday night 

Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade, don’t 

forget this year’s non-motorized parade the 

next afternoon with decorated kayaks, SUPs, 

small sailboats, surfboards—anything that 

floats, really! 

December 8 // morrobay.org 

THE NUTCRACKER 

It’s Christmas Eve and Clara is about 

to have the night of her dreams. 

Audiences of all ages will marvel at the 

magic and wonder of Civic Ballet San 

Luis Obispo’s spectacular, professional 

production of Tchaikovsky’s timeless 

ballet accompanied by live orchestra at 

the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center. 

December 13-15 // civicballetslo.org 

DOWNTOWN SLO HOLIDAY STROLL 

See Downtown San Luis Obispo decked out for “Holidays Around the World” with retailers staying 

open late for shopping and social celebration. Start at Santa’s House in Mission Plaza and hop on 

the Classic Carousel, then meander through scenic Downtown streets, where participating stores 

offer treats and special holiday gift sales. Enjoy live music on street corners and peer in shop windows 

decorated with the holiday theme. 

December 13 // downtownslo.com 

HOLIDAY TIDINGS 

You don’t have to sing along, but it’s 

more fun! The San Luis Obispo Master 

Chorale presents famous choruses from 

Handel’s “Messiah,” followed by music 

of brass, choir and the Forbes Pipe 

Organ at the Cal Poly Performing Arts 

Center. This year’s holiday treat features 

the Westwood Brass Quintet. 

December 21 // slomasterchorale.org 


ORCHESIS 50 

In 1969, Dr. Moon Ja Minn Suhr established the Orchesis Dance Company at Cal Poly, and 

the first dance performance was held in 1970. Now, fifty years later, the company presents 

choreography inspired by previous concert titles and program cover artwork. “50” features 

ballet, modern, jazz, and contemporary performances by Cal Poly faculty and students as well 

as guest artists. 

January 17-25 // theatredance.calpoly.edu 

MACBETH 

The young performers of SLO REP’s 

Academy of Creative Theatre take on the 

challenge of the Scottish Play, bringing 

the classic story to life in an edited 

version specifically written for students 

in grades four through twelve. 

January 10-19// slorep.org 

JANUARY 

3-2-1 STUDENT FILM COMPETITION 

The Central Coast Film Society presents the winners 

of its student contest at the San Luis Obispo County 

Library. Films accepted for competition through 

December 31, 2019, are limited to three minutes, two 

characters and one location. 

January 11 // centralcoastfilmsociety.org 

KEN HUSTAD BASS RECITAL 

Active jazz musician and local favorite 

Ken Hustad performs music of Giovanni 

Bottesini, including the Double Bass 

Concerto No.1 in F-sharp Minor, “Elegia,” 

and “Gran Duo Concertainte” with violinist 

Brynn Albenese in this Cal Poly faculty 

recital. Pianist Paul Woodring accompanies 

all three pieces. 

January 17 // music.calpoly.edu 


RUSS LEVANWAY 

FAMILY, CONNECTING 

& OPPORTUNITY 

DEC 

7-22 

| HAPPENINGS 

888 MORRO ST 

SAN LUIS OBISPO 

Bring the whole family to 

A CHRISTMAS STORY for a funny, 

heartwarming, nostalgic holiday treat! 

slorep.org 

WOMEN’S MARCH SLO 2020 

The fourth annual Women’s March in San Luis Obispo brings thousands of local citizens 

together with others across the nation and the world to work toward a positive and just 

future for all. Advocating for women’s rights, human rights, civic engagement, and social 

and environmental justice, organizers are rallying around the 2020 theme “The Time Is 

Now,” saying “Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Your truth matters. Now is the time to 

make them count.” 

January 18 // womensmarchslo.com 

Dr. Arnie Horwitz 

HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS 

Are you feeling overwhelmed 

and confused? I can help. 

Specializing in 

- Relationship Conflicts - Parenting & Self-Esteem 

- Separation and Divorce - Personal Life Planning 

- Grief and Loss - Career Uncertainty 

Therapy/Counseling/Coaching 

Dr. Arnie Horwitz • 30 yrs. Experience 

805-541-2752 

www.doctorarnie.com 

FOR THE BIRDS EXHIBIT 

In celebration of the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, the Morro Bay Art Association 

presents its annual collection of fine art paintings and photography depicting the region’s vast 

array of indigenous species of birds, birds seen around the world, and all things bird-related. 

The 2020 featured artist is glass sculptor and California Glass Exchange co-founder George 

Jercich, who taught glassblowing, glass forming, 3D design and sculpture at Cal Poly for more 

than 35 years. 

January 9-February 17 // artcentermorrobay.org 

Give the gift of SLO LIFE! 

SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 

slolifemagazine.com 

SLOm a 

OCEAN LIFE 

ABOUNDS 


DATE NIGHT 

DINNER 

BLACK 

DIAMOND 

SLEEP WELL 

TONIGHT 

BY THE 

NUMBERS 

LIFE 

g a z i n e 

INSPIRED 

DESIGN 

ON THE 

RISE 

BUSINESS 

LOYALTY 

SURF 

SCENE 

CREATIVE 

SPACE 

MEET 

MOURNING GROUP 

Artists have long used their contemporary 

practices to wrestle with grief and 

mourning—both personal and collective. The 

Cuesta College Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery’s 

curated group exhibition running through 

February 27 features work by select artists 

who deal with these themes in a profound 

and direct way. It opens with a sneak peek and 

artist panel, followed by a reception. 

January 30 // cuesta.edu


IT IS WITH LOVE AND GRATITUDE THAT WE CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY SEASON 

WITH OUR CLIENTS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT 

AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW AND THRIVE. NOW IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, 

MORRO BAY AND PASO ROBLES... WITH MORE TO SHARE IN 2020. 


BHGREHAVEN.COM 

SAN LUIS OBISPO • MORRO BAY • PASO ROBLES

SLO LIFE Dec/Jan 2020

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